Congressional Research Service Reports - 90 Matching Results
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- Unemployment Insurance: Available Unemployment Benefits and Legislative Activity
- No Description Available.
- Access to Broadband Networks: The Net Neutrality Debate
- This report discusses the current debate over "net neutrality." While there is no single accepted definition of "net neutrality," most agree that any such definition should include the general principles that owners of the networks that compose and provide access to the Internet should not control how consumers lawfully use that network, and they should not be able to discriminate against content provider access to that network.
- Medical Device User Fees and User Fee Acts
- No Description Available.
- An Overview of Proposals to Establish an Independent Commission or Board in Medicare
- No Description Available.
- Social Services Block Grant (Title XX of the Social Security Act)
- No Description Available.
- Estimates of Carbon Mitigation Potential from Agricultural and Forestry Activities
- No Description Available.
- The Endangered Species Act: A Primer
- This report discusses the major provisions of the Endangered Species Act, both domestic and international, and also discusses some of the background issues, such as extinction in general, and the effectiveness of the statute.
- Follow-On Biologics: The Law and Intellectual Property Issues
- This report presents the Law and Intellectual Property issues of Follow-On Biologics.
- Navy LPD-17 Amphibious Ship Procurement: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Potential Implications of a Carbon Offset Program to Farmers and Landowners
- No Description Available.
- Comparing U.S. and EU Program Support for Farm Commodities and Conservation
- This report compares farm support in the United States and the European Union, given available quantitative data and information for these two economies.
- The Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the 111th Congress: Conflicting Values and Difficult Choices
- The Endangered Species Act has been one of the more contentious environmental laws. This may stem from its strict substantive provisions, which can affect the use of both federal and nonfederal lands and resources. This report discusses oversight issues and legislation introduced in the 11th Congress to address Endangered Species Act implementation and management of endangered and threatened species.
- Measuring and Monitoring Carbon in the Agricultural and Forestry Sectors
- No Description Available.
- The Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Federal Funding and Issues
- This report provides information about the Federal Funding and Issues on Corporation for Public Broadcasting.CPB receives virtually all of its funding through federal appropriations.
- Federal Rulemaking: The Role of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
- This report discusses the paperwork Reduction Act of 1980. It also discusses Possible legislative issues involving OIRA.
- The Jurisprudence of Justice John Paul Stevens: The Chevron Doctrine
- No Description Available.
- Continuing Resolutions: Latest Action and Brief Overview of Recent Practices
- This report provides information about the Latest Action and Brief Overview of Recent Practices on Continuing Resolutions.
- Animal Waste and Hazardous Substances: Current Laws and Legislative Issues
- The animal sector of agriculture has undergone major changes in the last several decades: organizational changes within the industry to enhance economic efficiency have resulted in larger confined production facilities that often are geographically concentrated. These changes, in turn, have given rise to concerns over the management of animal wastes and potential impact on environmental quality.
- The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and All-Hazard Warnings
- This report provides an overview of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and all hazard warnings. EAS is one of several federally managed warning systems which administers with FEMA and FCC.
- Asian Carp and the Great Lakes Region
- This report is on Asian Carp and the Great Lakes Region.
- The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Particulate Matter (PM): EPA’s 2006 Revisions and Associated Issues
- No Description Available.
- Early Childhood Care and Education Programs: Background and Funding
- Several federal programs support child care, education, or related services, primarily for low-income working families. In addition, the tax code includes provisions specifically targeted to assist families with child care expenses. This report includes an update on FY2010 funding developments and the status of FY2009 appropriations in the early childhood care and education arena. This report also provides a six-year funding history and brief descriptions of the various related programs and tax provisions.
- U.S. Immigration Policy on Haitian Migrants
- No Description Available.
- Unintended Acceleration in Passenger Vehicles
- No Description Available.
- Local and Regional Procurement for U.S. International Emergency Food Aid
- This report discusses the controversial issue of local or regional procurement (LRP) as an alternative to commodity donations as methods of international food aid. Experiences with LRP, such as the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), are evaluated in discussion with current LRP initiatives of the United States.
- International Law and Agreements: Their Effect Upon U.S. Law
- This report provides an introduction to the roles that international law and agreements play in the United States. International law is derived from two primary sources--international agreements and customary practice. Under the U.S. legal system, international agreements can be entered into by means of a treaty or an executive agreement. The Constitution allocates primary responsibility for entering into such agreements to the executive branch, but Congress also plays an essential role.
- Bosnia: Current Issues and U.S. Policy
- This report presents an overview of the economic and political situation in Bosnia. It starts out by describing the current situation, the negotiations on forming a new central government, the international role in Bosnia, and the last part discusses the implications of U.S. policy.
- The European Parliament
- This report provides background on the Congress-European Parliament (EP) relationship and the role of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue (TLD). It also explores potential future options that could strengthen ties between the two bodies.
- Comparison of Rights in Military Commission Trials and Trials in Federal Criminal Court
- This report provides a brief summary of legal issues raised by the choice of forum for trying accused terrorists and a chart comparing selected military commissions rules under the Military Commissions Act, as amended, to the corresponding rules that apply in federal court.
- Climate Change and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS): Looking to 2020
- This report discusses the European Union's (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is a cornerstone of the EU's efforts to meet its obligation under the Kyoto Protocol. It covers more than 10,000 energy intensive facilities across the 27 EU Member countries.
- Veterans' Benefits: The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program
- This report describes Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service (VR&E) program services available to veterans with service-connected disabilities and to their families. It provides information about eligibility and entitlement, the application process, and resources available through other agencies. A brief history of the program is also provided.
- Currency Manipulation: The IMF and WTO
- This report describes how the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organization (WTO) deal with the issue of currency manipulation. It also discusses apparent discrepancies in their charters and ways those differences might be addressed.
- Emergency Communications: The Future of 911
- This report discusses possible paths toward the modernization of the 911 infrastructure. Efforts to splice newer, digital technologies onto the aging infrastructure have created points of failure where a call can be dropped or misdirected, sometimes with tragic consequences.
- Veterans' Benefits: Pension Benefit Programs
- This report describes several pension benefit programs for veterans and their families, including the eligibility criteria and current benefit levels.
- Border Security: Key Agencies and Their Missions
- This report briefly describes the role of various agencies in securing the borders of the United States. These agencies are the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the United States Coast Guard, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
- Illegal Drug Trade in Africa: Trends and U.S. Policy
- This report provides an introduction to the rising drug trafficking threat and discusses the drug trafficking trends in Africa and the U.S. policy.
- The U.S. Motor Vehicle Industry: Confronting a New Dynamic in the Global Economy
- This report provides an in-depth analysis of the 2009 crisis in the U.S. auto industry and its prospects for regaining domestic and global competitiveness. It also analyzes business and policy issues arising from the unprecedented restructurings that occurred within the industry. The starting point for this analysis is June-July 2009, with General Motors Company (GM or new GM) and Chrysler Group LLC (or new Chrysler) incorporated as new companies, having selectively acquired many, but not all, assets from their predecessor companies.
- Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding
- This report provides a brief legislative history of Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and an overview of the crimes addressed through VAWA. The report concludes with a brief description of the most recent reauthorization of VAWA.
- American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics
- This report is written in response to numerous requests for war casualty statistics and lists of war dead. It provides tables, compiled by sources at the Department of Defense (DOD), indicating the number of casualties among American military personnel serving in principal wars and combat actions.
- Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses issues Congress faces regarding the Navy's proposed FY2011 budget, particularly as relating to destroyer procurement plans and programs.
- Intelligence Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the efforts currently underway to improve coordination and encourage better analysis amongst the various agencies within the U.S. Intelligence Community, especially with regard to the ongoing and prominent issue of international terrorism. In particular, this report addresses the false intelligence regarding Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and the current efforts in Iraq and Iran in general.
- Distribution of Small Business Ownership and Income by Individual Tax Rates and Selected Policy Issues
- This report examines how small business owners may be affected by tax increases by exploring what is known about the share of small business owners and of small business income that is subject to the top two marginal income tax rates.
- Iran Sanctions
- This report focuses on the United States' relationship with Iran and how the Obama Administration is handling prior administration's economic sanctions against Iran. The Obama Administration's policy approach toward Iran has contrasted with the Bush Administration's by attempting to couple the imposition of sanctions to an active and direct U.S. effort to negotiate with Iran on the nuclear issue.
- Democratic Reforms in Taiwan: Issues for Congress
- Taiwan, which its government formally calls the Republic of China (ROC), is a success story for U.S. interests in the promotion of universal freedoms and democracy. Taiwan's people and their leaders transformed politics from rule imposed from the outside with authoritarian abuses to the relatively peaceful achievement of self-government, human rights, and democracy. This report succinctly discusses Taiwan's transformation and current concerns, paying particular attention to the role of Congress and implications and options for U.S. policy.
- U.S. Offshore Oil and Gas Resources: Prospects and Processes
- This report examines questions around lifting the moratoria on Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) exploration and production and the significance of the change on U.S. oil and natural gas supplies and markets. The report presents the current U.S. oil and gas supply-and-demand picture and provides a discussion of legislative issues, resource assessments, the leasing system, and environmental and social issues associated with offshore oil and gas development.
- Financial Regulatory Reform: Systemic Risk and the Federal Reserve
- The recent financial crisis contained a number of systemic risk episodes, or episodes that caused instability for large parts of the financial system. The lesson some policymakers have taken from this crisis is that a systemic risk or "macroprudential" regulator is needed to prevent similar episodes in the future. This report defines the potential duties and responsibilities of a systemic risk regulator, relating those duties to events that potentially contributed to the recent crisis. It then identifies the powers that would need to be given to a regulator to perform those duties, and compares those powers and responsibilities to the Fed's existing powers and responsibilities. It discusses advantages and disadvantages of giving those responsibilities to the Fed or the executive branch. The report also includes a brief overview of major elements of the Administration's proposal, H.R. 4173, which passed the House on December 11, 2009, and the Restoring American Financial Stability Act, which was ordered to be reported out of the Senate Banking Committee on March 22, 2010.
- U.S. International Trade: Trends and Forecasts
- The U.S. trade deficit was shrinking through June 2009 because of the global financial crisis but has begun to increase again. The crisis caused U.S. imports to drop faster than U.S. exports. The global simultaneous recession, however, implies that exporting countries cannot rely on increased foreign demand to make up for slack demand at home. Even though U.S. imports are down considerably from 2008, companies competing with imports still face diminishing demand as the domestic economy has been hit by recession. This report provides an overview of the international trade climate and U.S. trade policy. The report also discusses common perceptions about the deficit and trade balances.
- Disaster Relief Funding and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
- This report describes the various components of the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including (1) what authorities have shaped it over the years; (2) how FEMA determines the amount of the appropriation requested to Congress (pertaining to the DRF); and (3) how emergency supplemental appropriations are requested. In addition to the DRF, information is provided on funds appropriated in supplemental appropriations legislation to agencies other than the Department of Homeland Security. Aspects of debate concerning how disaster relief is budgeted are also highlighted and examined, and alternative budgetary options are summarized.
- Navy SSBN(X) Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the Navy's plan to develop and design a class of 12 next-generation ballistic missile submarines, or SSBN(X)s, as replacements for the 14 Ohio class SSBNs currently in operation. The report explores certain related issues for Congress, including the affordability of the project and its potential impact on other Navy shipbuilding programs, alternatives to the program, and which shipyard or shipyards will build the proposed ships.
- Recall of Legislators and the Removal of Members of Congress from Office
- Under the United States Constitution and congressional practice, Members of Congress may have their services ended prior to the normal expiration of their constitutionally established terms of office by their resignation or death, or by action of the house of Congress in which they are a Member by way of an "expulsion," or by a finding that in accepting a subsequent "incompatible" public office, the Member would be deemed to have vacated his congressional seat. This report discusses the manner in which a Member of Congress may be removed from office by "expulsion," and then examines the issue of "recall" of legislators.