Congressional Research Service Reports - 149 Matching Results
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- The Advanced Spectroscopic Portal Program: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report summarizes the Domestic Nuclear Detention Office's (DNDO) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program centered on advanced spectroscopic portals (ASPs). Moreover, the report covers the cost and history of the program while outlining ways in which Congress may move forward such as weighing the potential economic and security benefits against financial cost.
- Agricultural Export and Food Aid Programs
- This report discusses the recent development in different programs administered by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with the goal to promote agricultural exports and to provide food aid. These programs include direct export subsidies, export market development, export credit guarantees, and foreign food aid.
- Air Quality: EPA's 2006 Changes to the Particulate Matter (PM) Standard
- On October 17, 2006,3 the EPA published its revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulates to provide protection against potential health effects associated with short- and long-term exposure to particulate matter (including chronic respiratory disease and premature mortality). In order to better understand EPA's actions, this report provides an analysis of the agency's final 2006 revisions to the particulates NAAQS, and the estimated costs and benefits of the new standards and of more stringent alternatives analyzed.
- Allocation of Wastewater Treatment Assistance: Formula and Other Changes
- This report consists of Allocation of Wastewater treatment assistance: Formula and Other Changes.
- Allocations and Subdivisions in the Congressional Budget Process
- The report discusses the annual budget resolution sets forth total spending and revenue levels for at least five fiscal years.
- The America COMPETES Act and the FY2009 Budget
- This report discusses in detail the America COMPETES Act, including the funding increases authorized by the act for various relevant institutions; the act's education activities intended to enhance the skills of STEM educators; and if Congress will continue to similarly fund the America COMPETES Act in the FY2010 budget.
- America COMPETES Act: Programs, Funding, and Selected Issues
- This report provides an overview of the America COMPETES Act provisions, summarizes its legislative origin and the origins of some of the new programs it authorizes, analyzes selected America COMPETES Act programs that are the focus of appropriation discussions, and provides a comparison of the President's budget, congressional appropriations, and America COMPETES Act authorization levels for FY2008.
- Animal Waste and Water Quality: EPA Regulation of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)
- This report provides background on the 2003 environmental rules, the previous Clean Water Act rules and the Clinton Administration proposal, and perspectives of key interest groups on the proposal and final regulations.
- The Animal Welfare Act: Background and Selected Legislation
- The Animal Welfare Act was first passed in 1966 to prevent pets from being stolen for sale to research laboratories, and to improve the treatment and wellbeing of animals intended for research. The passage in 2007 of legislation on animal fighting marked the sixth time Congress has amended the act to strengthen enforcement, expand coverage to more animals and activities, or curtail practices viewed as cruel, among other things. The Animal Welfare Act amendments in the 2008 farm bill band the importation of puppies under six months of age for resale, tighten prohibitions of dog and other animal fighting activities, and increase penalties for violation of the act.
- Are Carbon Dioxide Emissions Rising More Rapidly Than Expected?
- This report discusses the recent emissions estimates with the greenhouse gas (GHG) and addresses the question, are carbon dioxide emissions rising more rapidly than expected?
- Are Carbon Dioxide Emissions Rising More Rapidly Than Expected?
- At least one recent report and numerous news articles suggest that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are rising more rapidly than expected. While CO2 emissions associated with human activities continue to rise -- and may be worthy of alarm because of their influence on climate change -- any short-term comparisons between actual emissions and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios miss the mark. This report analyzes this issue and the issues associated with IPCC scenarios and trajectories. It also describes the importance of monitoring CO2 emissions and analyzing the factors and forces behind increasing CO2 emissions.
- Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Political Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests
- This report discusses the relationships between the United States and Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, as well as these three nations' political and economic conditions. The report also discusses key related issues in the second session of the 111th Congress, including the question of the United States' role in the South Caucasus, the significance of regional energy resources to U.S. interests, and other pertinent issues.
- The Army Corps of Engineers’ Nationwide Permits Program: Issues and Regulatory Developments
- No Description Available.
- Auction-Rate Securities
- This report discusses auction-rate securities (ARSs), which most are long-term bonds, although some ARS are structured as preferred shares and so have no maturities.
- Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy
- After instability during the late 1990s, Bahrain undertook substantial political reforms, but the Shiite majority continues to simmer over the Sunni-led government's perceived manipulation of laws and regulations to maintain its grip on power. Bahrain's stability has long been a key U.S. interest; it has hosted U.S. naval headquarters for the Gulf for nearly 60 years. In September 2004, the United States and Bahrain signed a free trade agreement (FTA).
- Balkan Cooperation on War Crimes Issues
- Balkan cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague remains an issues of ongoing U.S. and international concern. Full cooperation with ICTY has long been a key prerequisite to advancing the shared goal of closer association with and eventual membership in the European Union and NATO for the western Balkan countries. This policy of conditionality has affected Serbia the most, but also other western Balkan countries to varying degrees.
- Biofuels in the 2007 Energy and Farm Bills: A Side-by-Side Comparison
- This report provides a side-by-side comparison of biofuels-related provisions in Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA, P.L. 110-140) with prior law, and with comparable provisions in the House and Senate farm bills.
- Biofuels Provisions in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-140), H.R. 3221, and H.R. 6: A Side-by-Side Comparison
- This report discusses the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the key biofuels-related provisions of the final legislation.
- Biotechnology in Animal Agriculture: Status and Current Issues
- This report describes several scientifically emerging animal biotechnologies that are raising a variety of questions concerning risks to humans, animals, and the environment, as well as ethical concerns. The report examines applications of the technologies and discusses major issues that may arise.
- Blue-Slipping: The Origination Clause in the House of Representatives
- This report presents the The Origination Clause in the House of Representatives through the House's primary method known as Blue-Slipping.
- Border Searches of Laptop Computers and Other Electronic Storage Devices
- This report discusses a developing issue in the law of search and seizure: whether the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution permits warrantless searches of the content of laptop computers and other electronic storage devices at U.S. borders. The federal courts that have addressed this issue have held that the border search exception to the Fourth Amendment applies to these searches, making warrantless searches permissible.
- Bosnia: Overview of Current Issues
- This report provides an overview of prominent current issues in Bosnia that may be of interest to Members of the 110th Congress.
- Brazil’s WTO Case Against the U.S. Cotton Program
- The "Brazil cotton case" is a long-running World Trade Organization dispute settlement case initiated by Brazil - a major cotton export competitor - in 2002 against specific provisions of the U.S. cotton program. This report details the overview of the case, background on the U.S. cotton sector, a sequence of events in the case, specific claims of Brazil on the U.S. Cotton policy being against World Trade Organization ordinances, panel recommendations, and related information and figures.
- Brazil's WTO Case Against the U.S. Cotton Program: A Brief Overview
- This report provides a brief overview of Brazil's case against the U.S. cotton program, the evolution and current status of the case, and the potential role for Congress.
- Brazil's WTO Case Against the U.S. Cotton Program: A Brief Overview
- On June 2, 2008, a World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body (AB) publicly released its final report upholding a December 2007 compliance panel ruling that the United States has not fully complied with a March 2005 WTO ruling against certain U.S. cotton support programs. This AB ruling was part of a prolonged dispute settlement case (DS267) originated by Brazil against certain aspects of the U.S. cotton program in September 2002. This report provides a brief overview of Brazil's case against the U.S. cotton program, the evolution and current status of the case, and the potential role for Congress.
- Broadband Loan and Grant Programs in the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service
- The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) houses the only two federal assistance programs exclusively dedicated to financing deployment of broadband Internet access in rural America. This report provides detailed background information on the RUS broadband loan and grant programs, outlines criticisms of how the RUS broadband program has been implemented thus far, and discusses issues that Congress considered during the reauthorization process.
- Bush Administration Policy Regarding Congressionally Originated Earmarks: an Overview
- This report provides an analysis of Bush Administration policy regarding congressionally originated earmarks, focusing primarily on the veto threat and E.O., and related issues for Congress.
- Business Tax Issues in 2008
- This report details the information related to business tax issues for the year 2008.
- Campaign Finance Law and the Constitutionality of the "Millionaire's Amendment": An Analysis of Davis v. Federal Election Commission
- In a 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court struck down a provision of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA), also known as the McCain-Feingold law, establishing increased contribution limits for congressional candidates whose opponents significantly self-finance their campaigns. This provision is frequently referred to as the "Millionaire's Amendment." The Court found that the burden imposed on expenditures of personal funds is not justified by the compelling governmental interest of lessening corruption or the appearance of corruption and, therefore, held that the law is unconstitutional in violation of the First Amendment.
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Pipelines for Carbon Sequestration: Emerging Policy Issues
- This report summarizes policy issues related to CO2 pipeline development, including uncertainty about pipeline network requirements, economic regulation, utility cost recovery, regulatory classification of CO2 itself, and pipeline safety.
- Child Welfare Issues in the 110th Congress
- As the U.S. Constitution has been interpreted, states have the primary obligation to ensure child welfare. However, Congress provides significant federal funds to help states exercise this responsibility ($7.9 billion appropriated in FY2008). Most of this support is provided for children who are in foster care and who meet specific federal eligibility criteria. This report discusses the federal framework for child welfare policy; reviews the scope of activities, and children and families served, by state child welfare agencies; summarizes several child welfare-related hearings that were held in 2007; describes child welfare and related legislative proposals that have been introduced in the 110th Congress; and reviews child welfare programs for which funding authorization has expired or is set to expire on the last day of FY2008.
- China and the Global Financial Crisis: Implications for the United States
- Over the past several years, China has enjoyed one of the world's fastest growing economies and has been a major contributor to world economic growth. However, the current global financial crisis threatens to slow China's economy. China is a major economic power and holds huge amounts of foreign exchange reserves, and thus it could play a major role in responding to the current crisis. For example, in an effort to help stabilize the U.S. economy, China might boost its holdings of U.S. Treasury securities, which would help fund the Federal Government's purchases of troubled U.S. assets. However, this could raise a number of issues and concerns for U.S. policymakers.
- China-U.S. Relations: Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy
- This report mainly focuses on Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy of China-U.S. Relations.U.S relations with China remarkably smooth from 2001-2004 have shown signs of becoming somewhat more problematic again since 2005 as some U.S policymakers.
- Chrysler Corporation Loan Guarantee Act of 1979: Background, Provisions, and Cost
- A look at how the Chrysler Loan Guarantee Act of 1979 affected TARP funding for the Detroit Big Three.
- Clean Air Permitting: Status of Implementation and Issues
- This report provides information about the Implementation and Issues of Clean Air Permitting. It also describes the statutory background of Title V and the status of implementation, in terms of federal approval and local permitting authorities.
- Clean Water Act: A Summary of the Law
- This report presents the Summary of the Clean Water Act Law describing the essence of the statute.
- Clean Water Act: A Summary of the Law
- This report presents a summary of the law, describing the essence of the statute without discussing its implementation. Other CRS products do discuss implementation, including CRS Report RL33800, Water Quality Issues in the 110th Congress: Oversight and Implementation, and numerous products cited in that report.
- Clean Water Act: Legislation Concerning Discharges from Recreational Boats
- This report discusses background of the Clean Water Act; bills introduced in response, two of which were passed by Congress on July 22 (S. 2766 and S. 3298); and draft permits proposed by EPA on June 17.
- Clean Water Act: Legislation Concerning Discharges from Recreational Boats
- The Environmental Protection Agency is attempting to develop a regulatory response to a 2006 federal court ruling that vacated a long-standing rule that exempts discharges associated with the normal operation of vessels from permit requirements of the Clean Water Act. Concern that this ruling could require millions of recreational boaters to obtain permits has led to the introduction of legislation to exempt these and other types of vessels from water quality regulation. This report discusses background to the issue; bills introduced in response, two of which were passed by Congress on July 22; and draft permits proposed by EPA on June 17.
- Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2008 Appropriations
- This report is a guide to the regular appropriations bills that Congress consider each year. It lists the key CRS staff relevant to the issues covered and related CRS products.
- Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies: FY2009 Appropriations
- This report is a guide to one of the regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. It summarizes the status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity, and is updated as events warrant.
- Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies: FY2009 Appropriations
- This report is a guide to one of the regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. It summarizes the status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity, and is updated as events warrant.
- Community Reinvestment Act: Regulation and Legislation
- This report begins with a brief outline of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (CRA) statute and the regulations. It also assesses the costs and the benefits of the 1977 act. The report then turns to regulatory agencies’ recent CRA compliance rules. The two last sections of the report briefly summarize the provisions of the Community Reinvestment Modernization Act of 2007 and conclude with some implications.
- Constitutionality of Applying the FCC’s Indecency Restriction to Cable Television
- This report examines whether such as extension would violate the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech.
- Consumer Product Safety Commission: Current Issues
- The Consumer Product Safety Commission, one of the agency's two current Commissioners stated recently, is at a crossroads. According to Commissioner Thomas Moore, either Congress will reverse the agency's steady decline or the Consumer Product Safety Commission will become so weakened as to be irrelevant. This report details a background of the commission, recent recalls, congressional concerns, and more as related to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Cruise Ship Pollution: Background, Laws and Regulations, and Key Issues
- This report describes the several types of waste streams that cruise ships may discharge and emit.
- Defense: FY2009 Authorization and Appropriations
- This report is a guide to one of the regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense. This report summarizes the status of defense authorization and appropriation bills, their scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity.
- Dependent Care: Current Tax Benefits and Legislative Issues
- This report provides information about the Current Tax Benefits and Legislative Issues on Dependent Care. The dependent care tax credit use the same definition of qualified employment related expenses.
- The Depreciating Dollar: Economic Effects and Policy Response
- This report addresses the concern about the health of the U.S. economy regarding the depreciation of the dollar and examines the likely reasons for the dollar's fall, the effects the depreciating currency could have on the economy, and possible policy responses that could be considered to attempt to alter the dollar's path if needed.
- Developments in Oil Shale
- No Description Available.