Congressional Research Service Reports - 48 Matching Results
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- Health Insurance Continuation Coverage Under COBRA
- This report provides background information on continuation health insurance under Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) and on the COBRA population.
- U.S. Aerospace Manufacturing: Industry Overview and Prospects
- This report primarily provides a snapshot of the U.S. commercial (non-defense, non-space) aerospace manufacturing industry and a discussion of major trends affecting the future of this industry.
- Job Loss and Infrastructure Job Creation During the Recession
- The report examines trends in employment and job loss since the start of the latest recession then focuses on job creation estimates associated with increased spending on infrastructure, placing a heavy emphasis on explaining the limitations with the methodology that is often utilized to develop the estimates.
- Chrysler Corporation Loan Guarantee Act of 1979: Background, Provisions, and Cost
- A look at how the Chrysler Loan Guarantee Act of 1979 affected TARP funding for the Detroit Big Three.
- Iraq: Oil and Gas Legislation, Revenue Sharing, and U.S. Policy
- This report reviews proposed legislation and contracts, analyzes the positions of various Iraqi political actors, and discusses potential implications for U.S. foreign policy goals in Iraq.
- Chrysler Corporation Loan Guarantee Act of 1979: Background, Provisions, and Cost
- A look at how the Chrysler Loan Guarantee Act of 1979 affected TARP funding for the Detroit Big Three.
- Financial Market Turmoil and U.S. Macreconomic Performance
- This report looks at causes of the 2008 financial crisis and ways that government policy can help to fix it.
- U.S. Motor Vehicle Industry: Federal Financial Assistance and Restructuring
- This report reviews the U.S. automotive industry at present, aspects of the industry's financial situation, and relief options. It includes an analysis of the current situation in the U.S. automotive market, including efforts to address problems of long-term competitiveness and the impact of the industry on the broader U.S. economy. It focuses on financial issues, including credit questions, and legal and financial aspects of government-offered loans or loan guarantees. This further includes consideration of legacy issues, specifically pension and health care responsibilities of the Detroit 3. It also reviews potential solutions to the financial crisis, including options of government receivership and participation management, and various forms of bankruptcy. Finally, the report reviews stipulations that Congress might impose on auto manufacturers as conditions of providing assistance.
- U.S. Motor Vehicle Industry: Federal Financial Assistance and Restructuring
- This report reviews the U.S. automotive industry at present, aspects of the industry's financial situation, and relief options. It includes an analysis of the current situation in the U.S. automotive market, including efforts to address problems of long-term competitiveness and the impact of the industry on the broader U.S. economy. It focuses on financial issues, including credit questions, and legal and financial aspects of government-offered loans or loan guarantees.
- The Global Financial Crisis: The Role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- This report discusses two potential roles the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may have in helping to resolve the current global financal crisis
- Aviation Congestion and Delay: System-Wide and New York-Area Issues
- This report addresses System-Wide and New York-Area Issues of Aviation Congestion and Delay.
- Federal Advertising Law: An Overview
- This report provides a brief overview of federal law with respect to six selected advertising issues: alcohol advertising, tobacco advertising, the federal trade commission act, advertising by mail, advertising by telephone, and commercial e-mail.
- Is the U.S. Current Account Deficit Sustainable?
- No Description Available.
- Influenza Antiviral Drugs and Patent Law Issues
- This report identifies and analyzes the patent law aspects of the avian influenza drug situation.
- Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies: Current Status and Analysis
- This report discusses these tax provisions. The first section discusses the origin and evolution of the oil and gas tax subsidies that were incorporated into the 2005 act. The second section summarizes each of the oil and gas tax subsidy provisions in the 2005 energy act and reports its corresponding revenue loss estimate. Section three describes other oil and gas tax subsidies and the final section describes several tax provisions that benefit the oil and gas industry.
- Accounting Problems at Fannie Mae
- This report summarizes the critiques the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Supervision (OFHEO) made of accounting practices at Fannie Mae. The OFHEO's two main issues are under the domains of: amortization of discounts, premiums, fees involved in the purchase of home mortgages, and the other being accounting for financial derivatives contracts. The report emphasizes that these discrepancies created a false image of the company's earnings and in one case was the cause of the company's executives to receive bonuses.
- Inequality in the Distribution of Income: Trends and International Comparisons
- This report examines the distribution of income in the United States, including factors that may help explain it, how it has changed over time, and how it compares with those of other countries.
- Tobacco Farmer Assistance
- No Description Available.
- Tobacco Farmer Assistance
- No Description Available.
- Tobacco Quota Buyout
- Report on the termination of U.S. tobacco farm price supports and the ripple effects of this decision, including payments to quota holders, producers, lump sum payments, imports, and more.
- Tax Incentives for Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles
- No Description Available.
- Appropriations for FY2005: VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
- This report discusses the Veterans Affairs (VA), Housing and Urban Development(HUD), and Independent Agencies Appropriations for FY2005.
- Barriers to Corporate Fraud: How They Work, Why They Fail
- The report focuses on the internal controls on American corporations (including corporate governance, business ethics, managerial structure and compensation, internal counsel, and whistleblowers), as well as external controls (government regulation, external auditors and accountants, and the judicial process). A recurring theme is the limited efficacy of many safeguards and watchdogs in cases of "control fraud," where fraud is directed or abetted by top management, and where unethical or abusive practices may become the organizational norm. Another broad question raised by the report is whether the post-Enron scandals were a one-time event, made possible by the stock market bubble of the 1990s and several other unique historical developments which together constituted a "perfect storm," or whether fraud is a cyclical phenomenon associated with the end of long bull markets.
- Accounting Problems at Fannie Mae
- This report summarizes the critiques the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Supervision (OFHEO) made of accounting practices at Fannie Mae. The OFHEO's two main issues are under the domains of: amortization of discounts, premiums, fees involved in the purchase of home mortgages, and the other being accounting for financial derivatives contracts. The report emphasizes that these discrepancies created a false image of the company's earnings and in one case was the cause of the company's executives to receive bonuses.
- Can the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Be Restored to Financial Health?
- In 2003, the Bush administration made a proposal for reform to strengthen pension plan funding and the financial condition of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). Various bills with the goal of reforming the PBGC were proposed in the 108th Congress but none were enacted into law. The doubling of the PBGC deficit from fiscal 2003 to fiscal 2004, has heightened awareness about the PBGC deficit situation. Congressional leaders from both parties have announced their intention to move aggressively on legislative solutions in the 109th Congress.
- Highway and Transit Program Reauthorization Legislation in the 2nd Session, 108th Congress
- This report discusses significant legislative provisions in the two provisional bills that are likely to be the subject of congressional discussion to reauthorize federal highway, highway safety, and transit programs.
- Exempting Food and Agriculture Products from U.S. Economic Sanctions: Status and Implementation
- This report includes information background and analysis regarding exemption for and agriculture products from United States economic sanctions. This report also details debates, enacted provisions, sales, and developments regarding this subject.
- FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products: A Policy and Legal Analysis
- This report examines the legislative debate over giving FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products and provides some analysis of S. 2461/H.R. 4433. It begins with an overview of the FDA’s 1996 tobacco rule that includes a summary of the agency’s arguments for asserting jurisdiction over tobacco products. That is followed by an analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in FDA v. Brown & Williamson, which overturned the FDA tobacco rule. The report then reviews the 1997 proposed national tobacco settlement, which would have codified the FDA rule and given the agency explicit authority to regulate tobacco products as medical devices. It includes a discussion of the FDA provisions in the McCain tobacco bill, which was introduced and debated in the 105th Congress in an attempt to implement the proposed settlement. The final section of the report summarizes the provisions in S. 2461/H.R. 4433 and discusses some of the key issues, including preemption and the regulation of reduced-risk products.
- Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator Budget Request and Plan, FY2005-FY2009
- No Description Available.
- Strategic Petroleum Reserve
- This report includes information regarding strategic petroleum reserve. Background and analysis, purchases of crude oil, and drawdown of the reserve are among topics discussed in this report.
- Telecommunications Services Trade and the WTO Agreement
- No Description Available.
- Dairy Policy Issues
- Several major dairy policy issues are addressed in the context of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107- 171, the 2002 farm bill), which was signed into law on May 13, 2002. Included in the enacted 2002 farm bill are a reauthorization of the dairy price support program for an additional 5 ½ years, and new authorization for direct payments to dairy farmers through September 2005, triggered whenever the market price of farm milk falls below a target price level.
- Insurance Regulation and Competition: Background and Issues
- No Description Available.
- Electricity: The Road Toward Restructuring
- The Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA) and the Federal Power Act (FPA) were enacted to eliminate unfair practices and other abuses by electricity and gas holding companies by requiring federal control and regulation of interstate public utility holding companies. Comprehensive energy legislation has passed the House and Senate. The House passed H.R. 6 on April 11, 2003. On July 31, 2003, the Senate suspended debate on S. 14, inserted the text of H.R. 4 (107th Congress) as a substitute, and passed H.R. 6. A conference agreement was reached November 17, 2003, and passed by the House the next day. H.R. 6 includes an electricity title that would, in part, repeal PUHCA, would prospectively repeal the mandatory purchase requirement under PURPA, and would create an electric reliability organization. On June 15, 2004, H.R. 4503, a comprehensive energy policy bill, passed the House.
- Federal Railroad Safety Program and Reauthorization Issues
- The Federal Railroad Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation is the primary federal agency that promotes and regulates railroad safety. To implement its safety responsibilities, the Federal Railroad Administration uses numerous strategies including the Safety Assurance and Compliance Program, field inspections; and to help improve its regulations, the administration uses the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee. This report contains information on the Federal Railroad Administration's Safety Program, railroad safety statistics, key reauthorization issues, and related information.
- Postal Reform
- No Description Available.
- Highway and Transit Program Reauthorization
- This report discusses significant legislative provisions in the two provisional bills that are likely to be the subject of congressional discussion to reauthorize federal highway, highway safety, and transit programs.
- Small Business Innovation Research Program
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism Insurance - Comparison of H.R. 3210, S. 2600, and Conference Report
- No Description Available.
- Small Business Administration: Overview and Issues
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism Insurance in the Post September 11 Marketplace
- No Description Available.
- Internet Tax Bills in the 107th Congress: A Brief Comparison
- No Description Available.
- Small Business Innovation Research Program
- No Description Available.
- Industrial Competitiveness and Technological Advancement: Debate Over Government Policy, December 3, 2001
- This report discusses contribution of technological advancement to economic growth and productivity increases. Because technology can contribute to economic growth and productivity increases, congressional interest has focused on how to augment private-sector technological development.
- Industrial Competitiveness and Technological Advancement: Debate Over Government Policy, December 28, 2000
- This report discusses contribution of technological advancement to economic growth and productivity increases. Because technology can contribute to economic growth and productivity increases, congressional interest has focused on how to augment private-sector technological development.
- Internet Transactions and the Sales Tax
- This report is an introduction to the economics of electronic commerce and its potential impact on sales and use tax collections. Presently, 45 states (and the District of Columbia) require that retail outlets add a fixed percentage to the sales price of all taxable items (inclusive of federally imposed excise taxes).
- Federal Railroad Safety Program and Reauthorization Issues
- This report details the Federal Railroad Safety Program, and includes information such as background, statistics, and legislative issues.
- Industrial Competitiveness and Technological Advancement: Debate Over Government Policy
- This report discusses contribution of technological advancement to economic growth and productivity increases. Because technology can contribute to economic growth and productivity increases, congressional interest has focused on how to augment private-sector technological development.