Congressional Research Service Reports - 490 Matching Results

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Child Nutrition and WIC Programs: Background and Funding

Description: Federally supported child nutrition programs and related activities — including school meal programs and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (the WIC program) — reach over 37 million children and almost 2 million lower-income pregnant/postpartum women. In FY2004, anticipated spending on these programs is $16.6 billion, and the FY2004 appropriations law (P.L. 108-199) supports this spending level (although with new appropriations of a lesser amount, some $… more
Date: August 3, 2004
Creator: Richardson, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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How the Food Stamp Program Works

Description: This report briefly describes the present operation of the Food Stamp program, reflecting legislative revisions through 1982.
Date: October 7, 1982
Creator: Richardson, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Peanut Program: Evolution from Supply Management to Market Orientation

Description: This report discusses the effect of the overhauled peanut program under the 2002 farm bill which repeals the limit set on the amount of peanuts that farmers can sell domestically for food consumption. Background of the peanut program, market, and legislative activity are also detailed.
Date: August 8, 2002
Creator: Jurenas, Remy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The "Farm Bill" in Brief

Description: Federal farm support, food assistance, agricultural trade, marketing, and rural development policies are governed by a variety of separate laws. Many of these laws periodically have been evaluated, revised, and renewed through an omnibus, multi-year farm bill. This report discusses the "farm bill" and it's components.
Date: December 19, 2005
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Food Stamps: 1982 Legislation

Description: This report discusses legislative issues regarding food stamp appropriations. Authorization for food stamp appropriations was to have expired at the end of FY82; in addition, the FY83-85 budget resolution assumed substantial savings in food stamps. As a result, and with the potential of an FY82 food stamp funding shortfall averted by the appropriation of a $1 billion supplemental, Congress acted to reauthorize appropriations and limit program costs in the 1982 budget reconciliation process.
Date: January 10, 1983
Creator: Richardson, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Nutrition Labeling: Fresh Meats

Description: This report provides background information and a brief history of nutrition labeling information on the labeling issue of fresh meats proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on January 18, 2001.
Date: April 25, 2001
Creator: Porter, Donna V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Chronology and Brief Description of Federal Food Assistance Legislation, 1935-1983

Description: Since 1935 when Congress first approved the donation of agricultural surplus commodities to low-income populations and school lunch programs, some 57 laws have been passed creating and revising Federal food assistance programs. This report is a chronology of these laws. It briefly describes the major provisions which have led to the network of Federal food assistance programs we know today-- the food stamp program, school lunch and breakfast programs, summer food and child care food programs, s… more
Date: June 25, 1984
Creator: Jones, Jean Yavis
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Animal Identification and Meat Traceability

Description: U.S. animal agriculture is seeking to improve its ability to trace the movement of livestock from their birthplace to slaughter. The livestock and meat industries are working with the U.S. government to develop a national animal identification (ID) plan for livestock disease tracking purposes. This report focuses on animal ID and, to a lesser extent, on meat traceability.
Date: September 2, 2005
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Animal Identification and Meat Traceability

Description: U.S. animal agriculture is seeking to improve its ability to trace the movement of livestock from their birthplace to slaughter. The livestock and meat industries are working with the U.S. government to develop a national animal identification (ID) plan for livestock disease tracking purposes. This report focuses on animal ID and, to a lesser extent, on meat traceability.
Date: March 7, 2006
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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A Concise History of the Food Stamp Program

Description: The Food Stamp Program has undergone a number of major changes since its modern version was established in 1961. It is now one of the largest "welfare" programs and provides an income supplement to the food-purchasing power of more than 18 million persons each month, at a cost of nearly $7 billion annually. This report traces the history of the program from 1961 through 1979, with an emphasis on how program rules, philosophy, participation, and costs have changed over the years.
Date: November 16, 1979
Creator: Richardson, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Farm Commodity Programs: Honey

Description: This report discusses the honey price support program, which was first created by the Agricultural Act of 1949 (P.L. 81-439) to provide market price stability for honey producers and to encourage maintenance of sufficient bee populations for pollination
Date: December 3, 2004
Creator: Canada, Carol
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Food Assistance in Disasters: Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Description: This report discusses federal food assistance in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Food Stamp program, child nutrition programs, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (the WIC program), and federally donated food commodities delivered through relief organizations provide major support in disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Existing laws authorize the Agriculture Department to change eligibility and benefit rules to facilitate emergency aid… more
Date: September 23, 2005
Creator: Richardson, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Meat and Poultry Inspection: Background and Selected Issues

Description: This report discusses the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for inspecting most meat, poultry, and processed egg products for safety, wholesomeness, and proper labeling.
Date: December 12, 2005
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages: Should a Radio and TV Ban be Imposed?

Description: This issue brief discusses the ongoing debate centered around television and radio advertising of alcoholic beverages, especially as it relates to the possible negative influence on the drinking habits of minors.
Date: July 26, 1985
Creator: Mulock, Bruce K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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African Famine: U.S. Response

Description: This report discusses the 1985 African famine situation, especially regarding U.S. emergency assistance at a time of U.S. domestic budgetary restraints, the adequacy of U.S. measures for monitoring and anticipating food emergencies, and the scale and nature of U.S. agricultural development programs intended to prevent future famines.
Date: June 27, 1985
Creator: Hanrahan, Charles E.; Copson, Raymond W.; Epstein, Susan B.; Kenworthy, Holly & Nowels, Larry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Agricultural Biotechnology: Background and Recent Issues

Description: Since the first genetically engineered (GE) crops (also called GM [genetically modified] crops, or GMOs, genetically modified organisms) became commercially available in the mid-1990s, U.S. soybean, cotton, and corn farmers have rapidly adopted them. As adoption has spread, there have been policy debates over the costs and benefits of GE products. Issues include the impacts of GE crops on the environment and food safety, and whether GE foods should be specially labeled. Congress generally has b… more
Date: March 7, 2005
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Artificial Sweeteners

Description: This report discusses the artificial sweeteners have been a source of controversy in the U.S. for over 73 years. One of the factors driving these issues has been an interplay of a large consumer demand for low calorie sweeteners and controversy concerning certain safety standards set forth in the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA.
Date: July 12, 1985
Creator: Taylor, Sarah E
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Asian Soybean Rust: Background and Issues

Description: This report discusses the background and issues regarding Asian soybean rust (ASR) that was discovered in the United States in an experimental field in Louisiana. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is coordinating a plan to deal with ASR that encompasses various USDA agencies, state land-grant universities, and industry participants. The arrival of ASR has implications for several public policies including pest control research (particularly the development of resistant varieties), pesti… more
Date: January 12, 2005
Creator: Schnepf, Randy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cash and Non-Cash Benefits for Persons with Limited Income: Eligibility Rules, Recipient and Expenditure Data, FY1981-83

Description: This report summarizes basic eligibility rules, as of May 1984, for more than 70 cash and non-cash programs that benefit primarily persons of limited income. It also gives funding formulas, benefit levels, and, for fiscal years 1981-1983, recipient numbers and expenditure data for each program.
Date: June 18, 1984
Creator: Burke, Vee
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Charitable Contributions of Food Inventory: Proposals for Change

Description: Early in the 109th Congress, both S. 6, the Family and Community Protection Act of 2005, and S. 94, the Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Act, have been introduced to encourage gifts of food by businesses for charitable purposes. While current law provides a deduction only to C corporations, these bills would expand the tax break to all business entities. The value of the existing deduction is the corporation’s basis in the donated product plus one half of the amount of appreciation, a… more
Date: January 31, 2005
Creator: Talley, Louis Alan & Jackson, Pamela J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Child Labor in West African Cocoa Production: Issues and U.S. Policy

Description: This report outlines how and where cocoa is produced, discusses the use of abusive child labor in the industry, efforts by Congress to counter abusive child labor — including the Harkin-Engel Protocol, and initiatives by affected governments and international organizations to address the problem. This report also provides possible policy options that might undertaken to stop the use of child labor in cocoa production.
Date: July 13, 2005
Creator: Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji; Hanrahan, Charles E. & Cook, Nicolas
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Comparing Quota Buyout Payments for Peanuts and Tobacco

Description: The purpose of this analysis is to provide a generally consistent comparison of the benefits provided to peanut quota holders and producers and proposed benefits concerning tobacco. It is not the intention of this analysis to attempt to determine the appropriate size of these buyout payments.
Date: October 14, 2003
Creator: Womach, Jasper
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Dietary Supplements: International Standards and Trade Agreements

Description: The dietary supplement industry has long been concerned about international activities that could have a potential impact on supplement trade. As originally proposed, FDA reform legislation contained provisions on mutual agreements and global harmonization that would have applied to most products under FDA jurisdiction. However, Congress explicitly exempted supplements from the final provisions of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-115), which means that these … more
Date: July 15, 2005
Creator: Porter, Donna V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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