Congressional Research Service Reports - 531 Matching Results
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- Electric Transmission: Approaches for Energizing a Sagging Industry
- This report discusses factors that have contributed to the lack of new transmission capacity and some of the resulting issues.
- Lebanon: Background and U.S. Relations
- This report provides an overview of Lebanese politics, recent events in Lebanon, and current issues in U.S.-Lebanon relations.
- International Trade and Finance: Key Policy Issues for the 112th Congress
- This report highlights major international trade and finance issues Congress may address this year and next.
- The German Economy and U.S.-German Economic Relations
- This report first examines Germany's economic performance in historical perspective and assesses some of the domestic factors that may be contributing to Germany's suboptimal performance; the second discusses the reform challenges facing Germany's political leaders; and the third section evaluates a few salient U.S.-German economic policy differences and strains that seem to be influenced by Germany's weakened economic situation.
- Export-Import Bank: Overview and Reauthorization Issues
- This report provides: (1) a general background of Ex-Im Bank; (2) a discussion of the international context of the Bank; (3) analysis of key issues that Congress may consider in a reauthorization debate; and (4) the congressional outlook on Ex-Im Bank.
- Unconventional Gas Shales: Development, Technology, and Policy Issues
- This report discusses the Barnett and Marcellus Shale formations, which serve to illustrate the technical and policy issues that are most likely common to developing all gas shales.
- The U.S. Congress and the European Parliament: Evolving Transatlantic Legislative Cooperation
- This report provides background on the Congress-EP relationship and the role of the TLD. It also explores potential future options should an effort to strengthen ties between the two bodies gain momentum.
- Sexual Violence in African Conflicts
- This report covers the issue of sexual violence in the midst of civil conflict in African nations. Civilians in Africa's conflict zones are often vulnerable to sexual violence, including rape, mutilation, and sexual slavery. This violence is carried out by government security forces and non-state actors, including, rebel groups, militias, and criminal organizations. Some abuses appear to be opportunistic, or the product of a larger breakdown in the rule of law and social order that may occur amid conflict.
- International Criminal Court Cases in Africa: Status and Policy Issues
- This report provides background on current International Criminal Court (ICC) cases and examines issues raised by the ICC's actions in Africa, including the potential deterrence of future abuses and the potential impact on African peace processes.
- The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases
- This report discusses how the total debt of the federal government can increase, a historical overview of debt limits, and how the current economic slowdown has led to higher deficits and thereby a series of debt limit increases, as well as legislation related to these increases.
- The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction
- This report discusses the complicated body of rules, precedents, and practices that governs the legislative process on the floor of the House of Representatives.
- Health Care for Veterans: Suicide Prevention
- This report focuses on suicide prevention activities of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VHA's approach to suicide prevention is based on a public health framework, which has three major components: (1) surveillance, (2) risk and protective factors, and (3) interventions.
- Internships, Fellowships, and Other Work Experience Opportunities in the Federal Government
- This report describes Internet resources on major internship, fellowship, and work experience programs within the federal government. It is intended as a selective guide for students of all levels: high school, undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate.
- Legal Issues Related to Livestock Watering in Federal Grazing Districts
- This report discusses proposed regulations related to livestock watering in federal grazing districts.
- Energy Policy: Historical Overview, Conceptual Framework, and Continuing Issues
- No Description Available.
- Appropriations for FY2004: Energy and Water Development
- This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year, related to energy and water development. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development. It summarizes the status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity, and is updated as events warrant.
- Appropriations for FY2004: Energy and Water Development
- This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It summarizes the status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity, and is updated as events warrant.
- Extending NASA's Exemption from the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act
- This report discusses NASA's exemptions from the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 (INA) as it relates to the International Space Station (ISS). It provides background information on the ISS and nonproliferation as well as INA origins and relation to the ISS. It also discusses amendments to the INA, current plans for the ISS, and related issues.
- Energy and Water Development: FY2011 Appropriations
- This report discusses the energy and water development appropriations bill that provides funding for civil works projects of the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, the Department of Energy (DOE), and a number of independent agencies.
- Energy Policy: 113th Congress Issues
- This report discusses energy policy in the United States that focus on three major goals: assuring a secure supply of energy, keeping energy costs low, and protecting the environment.
- The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11
- This report analyzes the war funding for the Defense Department and tracks funding for USAID and VA Medical funding.
- FY2010 Supplemental for Wars, Disaster Assistance, Haiti Relief, and Other Programs
- This report discusses the $64 billion in requested supplemental appropriations for FY2010, which includes $2.8 billion for Haiti earthquake-related reconstruction and foreign aid and $243 million for activities related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and more.
- The European Union's Energy Security Challenges
- This report examines some of Europe's critical energy security challenges and EU efforts to coordinate a common European energy strategy. It also includes an overview of broader transatlantic energy security cooperation and will be updated as needed.
- Intelligence Issues for Congress
- This report explores the various issues currently facing Congress in regards to intelligence and counterterrorism activities, including the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (P.L. 108-458), signed in December 2004; the position of Director of National Intelligence (DNI), which that act created; the importance of collaborative efforts between various intelligence agencies to successfully carry out counterterrorism measures; and other pieces of legislation relevant to such matters.
- The Discharge Rule in the House: Principal Features and Uses
- This report discusses the "discharge rule" of the House of Representatives, which allows a measure to come to the floor for consideration, even if the committee of referral does not report it and the leadership does not schedule it. The rule permits either (1) the committee of referral to be discharged from the measure itself; or (2) the Committee on Rules to be discharged from a special rule for considering the measure.
- Lame Duck Sessions of Congress, 1935-2010 (74th-111th Congresses)
- This report discusses how lame duck sessions occur, and the background of the lame duck sessions between 1940 and 2010. A “lame duck” session of Congress occurs whenever one Congress meets after its successor is elected, but before the term of the current Congress ends.
- Federal Credit Reform: Implementation Of the Changed Budgetary Treatment of Direct Loans and Loan Guarantees
- No Description Available.
- Libya: Background and U.S. Relations. July 2007
- This report provides background information on Libya and U.S.-Libyan relations.
- Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations
- The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by the Al Saud family since its founding in 1932, wields significant political and economic influence as the birthplace of the Islamic faith and by virtue of its large energy reserves. This report provides background information about Saudi Arabia and analyzes current issues in U.S.-Saudi relations.
- International Population Assistance and Family Planning Programs: Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the U.S. population assistance issues, policy issues in the U.S. family planning debate, and U.S. funding levels.
- U.S. Efforts to Address Global Violence Against Women
- This report briefly examines legislative issues regarding Violence against women, which includes random acts of violence as well as sustained abuse over time, can be physical, psychological, or sexual in nature.
- The United Nations Human Rights Council: Issues for Congress
- This report provides historical background of the Council, including the role of the previous Commission. It discusses the Council's current mandate and structure, as well as U.S. policy and congressional actions. Finally, it highlights possible policy issues for the 113th Congress, including the overall effectiveness of the Council in addressing human rights situations, implications for U.S. membership, and U.S. financial contributions to the Council.
- Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms: Economic, Program, and Policy Issues
- This report discusses the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs, which were authorized by Congress in the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to help workers and firms adjust to import competition and dislocation caused by trade liberalization. It provides information about TAAF program and policy issues, as well as legislation to reauthorize the TAAF program.
- National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190): A Bibliography
- This report is a bibliography on the National Environmental Policy Act, that requires federal agencies to take into account the environmental impact of their policies.
- Community Development Block Grants and Related Programs: A Primer
- This report provides an introduction to the laws and rules governing the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and related programs. It contains information on eligibility of entities and activities, national objectives and program requirements, formula allocation, and related programs.
- District of Columbia Voting Representation in Congress: An Analysis of Legislative Proposals
- No Description Available.
- District of Columbia Budget Autonomy: An Analysis of H.R. 733, 110th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Algae’s Potential as a Transportation Biofuel
- This report discusses the status of algae-based biofuels (ABB) research and development, federal funding, and legislative concerns.
- Wildfire Management: Federal Funding and Related Statistics
- This report provides wildfire management statistics (e.g., number of wildfires, acres burned, select state wildfire activity, firefighter personnel), presents wildfire management (WFM) appropriations from fiscal years 2008 to the present, and discusses two related issues--wildfire suppression funding estimation and air tanker readiness.
- Wildfire Protection in the Wildland-Urban Interface
- This report describes the growth of the wildland-urban interface, wildfire suppression efforts, post-fire responses, and especially the programs and options for protecting the interface before the next wildfire strikes.
- The Federal Minimum Wage: In Brief
- No Description Available.
- The Vacancies Act: A Legal Overview
- This report first describes how the Vacancies Act operates and outlines its scope, identifying when the Vacancies Act applies to a given office, how it is enforced, and which offices are exempt from its provisions. The report then explains who may serve as an acting officer and for how long, focusing on the limitations the Vacancies Act places on acting service. Finally, the report turns to issues of particular relevance to Congress, primarily highlighting the Vacancies Act's enforcement mechanisms.
- Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects
- This report is intended to address questions that arise frequently related to the topic of government shutdowns. It discusses the causes of funding gaps and shutdowns of the federal government, processes that are associated with shutdowns, and how agency operations may be affected by shutdowns. The report concludes with a discussion of potential issues for Congress.
- U.S. Crude Oil Exports to International Destinations
- This report discusses the export of crude oil produced in the United States and policy considerations in the wake of a provision contained in P.L. 114-113 which repealed a 40-year prohibition on the export.
- Congressional Salaries and Allowances: In Brief
- This report provides basic information on congressional salaries and allowances and recent developments. First, the report briefly summarizes the current salary of Members of Congress; limits or prohibitions on their outside earned income, honoraria, and tax deductions; options for life and health insurance; and retirement benefits. Second, the report provides information on allowances available to Representatives and Senators to support them in their official and representational duties.
- Members' Representational Allowance: History and Usage
- This report provides a history and overview of the Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) and examines spending patterns in recent years.
- Federal Business Taxation: The Current System, Its Effects, and Options for Reform
- No Description Available.
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): Frequently Asked Questions
- This report discusses the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) June 15, 2012 announcement that certain individuals who were brought to the United States as children and meet other criteria would be considered for relief from removal for two years, subject to renewal, under an initiative known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.
- Unauthorized Alien Students: Issues and “DREAM Act” Legislation
- This report examines the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or the DREAM Act. The bills were introduced in the 109th Congress, one of which was incorporated into the immigration reform bill passed by the Senate. A key issues in the current debate about immigration reform is how to address the resident unauthorized alien population.
- U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea: Living Resources Provisions
- This report describes provisions of the LOS Convention relating to living marine resources and discusses how these provisions comport with current U.S. marine policy.