Congressional Research Service Reports - 144 Matching Results
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- UPDATE: Public Sector Union Dues: Grappling with Fixed Stars and Stare Decisis (Part I)
- This report discusses the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of "Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council." In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that public-sector agency fee arrangements violate the First Amendment, overruling its 1977 decision in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education.
- UPDATE: Supreme Court Takes Fourth Amendment Case about Cell Phone Location Data
- This report provides an update to a June 2017 report on the Carpenter v. United States case on government collection of cell phone location information. On June 22, 2018, the Supreme Court held in a 5-to-4 decision in Carpenter v. United States that government acquisition of historical cell site location information (CSLI) constitutes a Fourth Amendment search. The Court further held that the government needs a warrant supported by probable cause.
- UPDATE: Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador: Key Takeaways and Analysis
- This report is an update to a February 2, 2018 report discussing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations and answering questions regarding the recent termination of TPS for El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Sudan. The update discusses the termination of TPS for Nepal and Honduras.
- North Korea: Legislative Basis for U.S. Economic Sanctions
- This report discusses the economic sanctions the United States imposes on North Korea for activities related to weapons proliferation, destabilizing the region, anti-terrorism, and undemocratic governance.
- An Overview of U.S. Immigration Laws Regulating the Admission and Exclusion of Aliens at the Border
- This report discusses U.S. immigration law as it relates to the Trump Administration's zero tolerance policy to criminally prosecute migrants who unlawfully enter the United States at the southern border; a policy which has led to the separation of children from parents awaiting prosecution for unlawful entry.
- The Rise and Decline of the Alien Tort Statute
- This report explains the original purpose of the Alien Tort Statute (ATS), restrictions placed on the ATS by the Supreme Court, the effect of the recent case Jesner v. Arab Bank, PLC, and the response from Congress.
- A Primer on U.S. Immigration Policy
- This report provides a broad overview of U.S. immigration policy. The first section addresses policies governing how foreign nationals enter the United States either to reside permanently or to stay temporarily. The second section discusses enforcement policies for excluding foreign nationals from admission into the United States, as well as for detaining and removing those who enter the country unlawfully or who enter lawfully but subsequently commit crimes that make them deportable. The third section addresses policies for unauthorized aliens residing in the United States.
- Iran Sanctions
- This report discusses U.S. sanctions against Iran and the 2016 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement which led to the lifting of sanctions based on nuclear proliferation in Iran. The bulk of the report outlines the various sanctions against Iran and their current implementation status, international efforts to bring about compliance, and their effects. Recent discussions regarding President's Trump announcement that the U.S. was decertifying the nuclear agreement and the possibility of reinstating certain sanctions are also discussed.
- Update: What Constitutes "Sexual Abuse of a Minor" For Immigration Purposes
- This report provides an update of an earlier report from April 6, 2017, providing the final decision by the Supreme Court in the case of "Esquivel-Quintana v. Sessions". The case concerned the question of whether an immigrant alien who was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor where the minor was under 18 but at least 16 (in this case statutory rape in California between a 21 year old male and a 17 year female) was removable for an aggravated felony under immigration law. The Supreme Court ruled that the immigration law required the victim be under 16 before the removal of an alien for an aggravated felony would be allowable.
- Unmanned and Unregulated? Court of Appeals Rejects FAA Regulation of Many Drones
- This report discusses a ruling by the DC Circuit Court of Appeals which said that model aircraft including many drones were exempt from the FAA's registration rule. Carious implications of the ruling are also discussed.
- President Trump's Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement Raises Legal Questions: Parts 1 and 2
- This report discusses various legal questions raised by President Trump's announcement of the U.S.'s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement. Questions addressed include the withdrawal process, whether the agreement is binding or non-binding, the role of United States in other international climate meetings, and why President Trump announced the exit.
- Implementation of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Amendments (P.L. 114-182)
- This report summarizes select EPA actions to implement the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) amendments over the past year since their passage on June 22, 2016 as a part of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for 21st Century Act (P.L. 114-182). Brief discussions and lists of various chemicals that are being evaluated or have been evaluated under the law are included.
- When is Running Guns from the Philippines to Mexico a Federal Crime?
- This report discusses the case "United States v. Ubaldo" which concerns whether a gun smuggler who smuggled guns from a foreign country through the United States and then into another foreign country can be charged with a federal crime. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the conviction for conspiracy and causing the importation of weapons in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and ban on importing military firearms.
- Broadband Data Privacy and Security: What's Net Neutrality Got to Do With It?
- This report is the third in a series discussing the potential impact of the Federal Communications Commission's proposal to reclassify broadband Internet access services (BIAS). This report focuses on the proposal's possible effect on the regulation of BIAS providers' privacy practices.
- President Trump's Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement Raises Legal Questions: Parts 1 and 2
- This report discusses legal questions related to President's Trump's announcement that the United States intends to leave the Paris Climate Agreement.
- Iran Sanctions
- This report analyzes U.S. and international sanctions against Iran and provides some examples, based on open sources, of companies and countries that conduct business with Iran.
- Update: The Microsoft Ireland Decision: U.S. Appeals Court Rules that ECPA does not Require Internet Service Providers to Produce Electronic Communications Stored Overseas
- This report discusses the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in the case of "Microsoft Corporation v. United States" where the court ruled that the U.S. could not enforce a subpoena asking Microsoft to retrieve emails stored on a server in Ireland. On June 28, 2017 the United States filed for reversal of the decision through a writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court.
- Burma's Political Prisoners and U.S. Policy: In Brief
- This report discusses the current issues in Burma (Myanmar) in regards to political prisoners and the resulting U.S. sanctions against the nation.
- Cuba: Issues for the 114th Congress
- This report is divided into three major sections analyzing Cuba's political and economic environment, U.S. policy, and selected issues in U.S.-Cuban relations. Legislative initiatives in the 114th Congress are noted throughout the report, and four appendixes provide a listing of enacted measures, bills receiving some action in 2015, bills seeing action in 2016, and additional bills and resolution this Congress.
- The Open Skies Treaty: Issues in the Current Debate
- This report discusses the current debate surrounding the Treaty on Open Skies, which the United States, Canada, and 22 European nations signed on March 24, 1992. The treaty entered into force on January 1, 2002, and now has 34 member states. Each participant must permit unarmed observation aircraft to fly over its entire territory to observe military forces and activities.
- Iran's Foreign Policy
- This report provides an overview of Iran's foreign policy, which has been a subject of numerous congressional hearings and of sanctions and other legislation for many years. The report analyzes Iranian foreign policy as a whole and by region.
- Financing U.S. Agricultural Exports to Cuba
- This report discusses a new policy approach toward Cuba that, in part, seeks to reduce the role of long-standing U.S. sanctions on commercial relations with Cuba while also promoting greater engagement and normal relations with the island nation.
- Legislative Options for Financing Water Infrastructure
- This report discusses several options considered by Congress to address the financing needs of local communities for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects and to decrease or close the gap between available funds and projected needs.
- The Department of the Interior's Final Rule on Offshore Well Control
- This report discusses regulations regarding blowout preventer systems and well control for oil and gas operations on the U.S. outer continental shelf (81 Fed. Reg. 25887). The regulations aim to reduce the risk of an offshore oil or gas blowout that could jeopardize human safety and harm the environment.
- U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production in Federal and Nonfederal Areas
- This report examines U.S. oil and natural gas production data for federal and non-federal areas with an emphasis on the past five fiscal years of production.
- Cuba: Issues for the 114th Congress
- This report is divided into three major sections analyzing Cuba's political and economic environment, U.S. policy, and selected issues in U.S.-Cuban relations.
- Economic Development Administration: A Review of Elements of Its Statutory History
- This report discusses about Precursors to the Creation of EDA and Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965: Building on Past Lessons. It further discusses about Area Redevelopment Act.
- Electronic Voting System in the House of Representatives: History and Usage
- This report examines the legislative history of electronic voting in the House of Representative, discusses the design and initial use of the electronic voting system, and examines the day-to-day operations of the system, including the process for conducing a vote electronically.
- Federal Stafford Act Disaster Assistance: Presidential Declarations, Eligible Activities, and Funding
- This report discusses the Overview of Stafford Act Declarations, Types of Assistance and Eligibility, Funding Caps and Cost Shares, Disaster Relief Fund etc.
- Oil Spills: Background and Governance
- This report reviews the history and trends of oil spills in the United States, and identifies the legal authorities governing oil spill prevention, response, and cleanup.
- ”Dirty Bombs”: Background in Brief
- This report examines the legislation and oversight by Congress to protect the United States against terrorist threats, especially from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons. Radiological dispersal devices (RDDs) are one type of CBRN weapon. Explosive-driven "dirty bombs" are an often-discussed type of RDD, though radioactive material can also be dispersed in other ways. This report also provides background for understanding the RDD threat and responses.
- Overview of EPA and the Army Corps’ Rule to Define “Waters of the United States”
- This report describes the revised rule of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) which defines the scope of waters protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA).
- Canadian Securities Administrators CSA Consultation Paper 91-406 Derivatives: OTC Central Counterparty Clearing
- The report discusses the board committee, advisory committees, fees, CCP Rules, Committee recommendations, Protection of Assets etc.
- CRS Issue Statement on NATO
- This report discusses NATO-Russia relations deteriorated in 2008 as Russia vocally opposed U.S. and alliance proposals to strengthen relations with Georgia and Ukraine and as ties in the NATO-Russia Council were suspended in the wake of the Russia-Georgia Conflict.
- Low-Income Assistance Programs: Trends in Federal Spending
- This report examines the spending trends of 10 major need-tested benefit programs or groups of programs: (1) health care from Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); (2) the refundable portion of the health insurance tax credit enacted in the 2010 health care reform law; (3) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); (4) assisted housing; (5) financial assistance for post-secondary students (Pll Grants); (6) compensatory education grants to school districts; (7) Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); (8) The Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC); (9) Supplemental Security Income (SSI); (10) Family Support Payment
- EU-U.S. Economic Ties: Framework, Scope, and Magnitude. June 2010
- This report provides background information and analysis of the U.S.-EU economic relationship for Members of the 111th Congress as they contemplate the costs and benefits of closer U.S. economic ties with the EU.
- Appropriations and Fund Transfers in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)
- This report provides information about the mandatory appropriations and fund transfers in patient protection and ACA.
- Uganda: Current Conditions and the Crisis in North Uganda
- This report provides the conditions and crisis in North Uganda.
- Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Role of Congress in Trade Policy
- This report presents background and analysis on the development of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), a summary of the major provisions under the expired authority, and a discussion of the issues that have arisen in the debate over Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) renewal. It also explores some of the policy options available to Congress.
- Franking Privilege: Mass Mailings and Mass Communications in the House, 1997-2012
- This report is categorized into six categories: (I) Introduction, (II) Methodology, (III) Aggregate Volume and Costs, (IV) Quarterly Variation, (V) Election vs Non-Electron Year and (VI) Discussion.
- CRS Issue Statement on Environmental Cleanup and Waste Management
- This report discusses about environmental cleanup and waste management that involves the cleanup of contaminated sites under the super fund program that has generated continuing debate of various issues within Congress over the past several years.
- The Federal Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes
- This report contains an explanation of the major provisions of the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes as they apply to transfer in 2014.
- The ADA Amendments Act: Judicial Decisions Relating to Testing Accommodation
- This report summarizes the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and discuses its expansions by the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA). The report specifically targets "substantially limits" in its investigation that relate to testing accommodations gained under the ADAAA.
- Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act: Operation and Issues for Congress
- This report provides an overview of the operation and issues for Congress on the federal land transaction facilitation act.
- The European Union and Latin America
- This report includes information regarding the background, political and parliamentary dimensions, and trade development dimensions between the European Union and Latin America
- Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: An Economic Analysis
- Foreign direct investment in the United States in 2014 dropped by more than half from the amount recorded in 2013, reflecting in part a large stock buyback by a major U.S. communications firm. This report provides an economic analysis of foreign direct investment in the United States.
- The Bayh-Dole Act: Selected Issues in Patent Policy and the Commercialization of Technology
- This report is categorized into Five categories: (I) Introduction, (II) An Historical Perspective, (III) Bayh-Dole Act and Related Law, (IV) Current Issues and Concerns, and (V) Concluding Observations.
- The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): An Overview
- This report provides an overview of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- China/Taiwan: Evolution of the “One China” Policy—Key Statements from Washington, Beijing, and Taipei
- This report discusses the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) of 1979 that has governed U.S. policy in the absence of a diplomatic relationship or a defense treaty. It also points out U.S. Policy on "One China", Statement during George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush and Obama Administration.
- Egypt in Transition
- This report provides a brief overview of the transition underway and information on U.S. foreign aid to Egypt. It also discusses about about U.S.-Egyptian Science, Business, and Technological Cooperation.