Congressional Research Service Reports - 80 Matching Results

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Agriculture Biotechnology: Background and Recent Issues

Description: This report discusses issues regarding the impacts of GE crops on the environment and food safety, and whether GE foods should be specially labeled. Underlying these issues is the question of whether U.S. regulation and oversight of biotechnology—with responsibilities spread primarily among the U.S.
Date: February 13, 2009
Creator: Cowan, Tadlock & Becker, Geoffrey S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Alternative Fuels and Advanced Technology Vehicles: Issues in Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of current issues surrounding alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles. It includes background information on various kinds of alternative fuels and issues, recend developments, and related legislation.
Date: February 13, 2009
Creator: Yacobucci, Brent D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The America COMPETES Act and the FY2009 Budget

Description: This report consists of the America competes act and the FY2009 budget.
Date: March 13, 2009
Creator: Stine, Deborah D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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America COMPETES Act and the FY2010 Budget

Description: This report discusses in detail the America COMPETES Act, which is intended to increase the nation's investment in research and development (R&D), and in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. This report discusses the funding increases authorized by the act for various relevant institutions, e.g., the National Science Foundation (NSF); the act's education activities intended to enhance the skills of STEM educators; and if Congress will continue to similarly fund th… more
Date: April 13, 2009
Creator: Stine, Deborah D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Political Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests

Description: 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.
Date: July 13, 2009
Creator: Nichol, Jim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Army's Future Combat System (FCS): Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report describes the Future Combat System (FCS) program, which was to be the Army's major research, development, and acquisition program consisting of 14 manned and unmanned systems linked by an extensive communications and information network.
Date: March 13, 2009
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Capturing CO2 from Coal-Fired Power Plants: Challenges for a Comprehensive Strategy

Description: This report examines the current effort to develop technology that would capture CO2 (carbon dioxide). It outlines the current status of carbon capture technology; examines the role of government in developing that technology, both in terms of creating a market for carbon capture technology and encouraging development of the technology; and concludes with a discussion of implications of capture technology for climate change legislation.
Date: February 13, 2009
Creator: Parker, Larry; Stine, Deborah D. & Folger, Peter
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Capturing CO2 from Coal-Fired Power Plants: Challenges for a Comprehensive Strategy

Description: This report examines the current effort to develop technology that would capture CO2. First, the paper outlines the current status of carbon capture technology. Second, the paper examines the role of government in developing that technology, both in terms of creating a market for carbon capture technology and encouraging development of the technology. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of implications of capture technology for climate change legislation.
Date: February 13, 2009
Creator: Parker, Larry; Stine, Deborah D. & Folger, Peter
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Chemical Facility Security: Reauthorization, Policy Issues, and Options for Congress

Description: The statutory authority to regulate chemical facilities for security purposes, granted to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by the 109th Congress, expires in October 2009. The 111th Congress is taking action to reauthorize this program, but the manner of its reauthorization remains an issue of congressional deliberation and debate. Key policy issues debated in previous Congresses are likely to be considered during the reauthorization debate. These issues include what facilities should b… more
Date: July 13, 2009
Creator: Shea, Dana A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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China's Currency: A Summary of the Economic Issues

Description: This report explores various aspects of the Chinese economy, including specific policies that some Members of Congress consider a form of currency manipulation, the U.S.-China economic relationship, and the state of the Chinese economy with respect to the current global economic crisis.
Date: April 13, 2009
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M. & Labonte, Marc
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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China's Holdings of U.S. Securities: Implications for the U.S. Economy

Description: This report examines the importance to the U.S. economy of China's investment in U.S. securities, as well as U.S. concerns over the possibility that China might unload a large share of those holdings, the likelihood that this would occur, and the potential implications such action could have for the U.S. economy. The report concludes that a large sell-off of Chinese Treasury securities holdings could negatively affect the U.S. economy, at least in the short-run. As a result, such a move could d… more
Date: January 13, 2009
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M. & Labonte, Marc
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Colombia: Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of recent political developments in Colombia, including the administration of President Uribe (2002-2010), continuing into the election of President Juan Manuel Santos. It discusses the political issues including Colombia's longstanding conflict with internal armed groups and ongoing challenges such as human rights, demobilization and displacement, drug trends, and Colombia's regional relations.
Date: November 13, 2009
Creator: Beittel, June S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Community Development Block Grants: Neighborhood Stabilization Program; Assistance to Communities Affected by Foreclosures

Description: Report regarding the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, P.L. 110-289, which allocates federal financial aid to all state and local governments with high amounts of foreclosed homes, subprime mortgage loans, and delinquent home mortgages. The report focuses on the assistance that aids in aquiring, rehabilitating, and reselling foreclosed and abandoned homes.
Date: March 13, 2009
Creator: Boyd, Eugene & Gonzales, Oscar R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Conforming Loan Limit

Description: This report analyzes the implications of raising the conforming loan limit in high-cost areas.
Date: May 13, 2009
Creator: Weiss, N. Eric & Jickling, Mark
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Conservation Reserve Program: Status and Current Issues

Description: This report provides information about the Status and Current Issues of Conservation Reserve Program. The CRP enacted in 1985 provides payment to the farmers to take highly erodible or environmentally sensitive cropland out of production for ten years or more.
Date: May 13, 2009
Creator: Cowan, Tadlock
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Criminal Restitution in the 110th Congress: A Sketch

Description: Congress enacted two restitution provisions in the 110th Congress, one as part of the Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act of 2008, and the other as part of the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008. It also devoted considerable time and attention to other restitution proposals that did not see final action before the end of the Congress.
Date: January 13, 2009
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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CRS Issue Statement on Abortion, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health

Description: The 111th Congress will likely consider a variety of issues involving family planning and reproductive health. Legislation related to family planning and Title X of the Public Health Service Act, including appropriations measures that could affect the funding of Title X family planning initiatives, is expected.
Date: March 13, 2009
Creator: Shimabukuro, Jon O.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Department of Defense Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Background and Analysis

Description: The Department of Defense (DOD) increasingly relies upon contractors to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, which has resulted in a DOD workforce in those countries comprising approximately a comparable number of contractors (218,000) as uniformed personnel (195,000). This report discusses the issues raised by this fact including (1) what role contractors should play in contingency operations, (2) whether DOD is gathering and analyzing the right data on the use of contractors, (3) what … more
Date: August 13, 2009
Creator: Schwartz, Moshe
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification

Description: This report discusses E-Verify, a program in which participating employers submit information about their new hires (name, date of birth, Social Security number, immigration/citizenship status, and alien number, if applicable) from the I-9 form. This information is automatically compared with information in Social Security Administration and, if necessary, DHS databases to verify identity and employment eligibility.
Date: March 13, 2009
Creator: Bruno, Andorra
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Emergency Communications: The Future of 911

Description: This report discusses possible paths toward the modernization of the 911 emergency response system's infrastructure.
Date: January 13, 2009
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act and Recent Financial Turmoil: Issues and Analysis

Description: This report briefly introduces aspects of the current financial instability. Following this, it outlines the EESA legislation, the steps that Treasury has taken to implement EESA, and current legislation amending the EESA. The report concludes with a more in-depth analysis of the current financial instability, including potential causes of financial instability in general, some sources of the current instability, and how financial instability may spill over into the broader economy.
Date: January 13, 2009
Creator: Webel, Baird & Murphy, Edward V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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