Congressional Research Service Reports - 77 Matching Results

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Appropriations for FY2000: Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs: Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and budget reconciliation bills. This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress passes each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittees.
The Department of Energy’s Spallation Neutron Source Project: Description and Issues: This report describes the SNS's management, project costs, schedule, site selection, and funding, and discusses issues raised by some congressional critics of the project, such as management problems, potential cost overruns, and schedule delays.
The Advanced Technology Program: The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) was created by P.L. 100-418, the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, to encourage public-private cooperation in the development of pre-competitive technologies with broad application across industries. This activity has been targeted for elimination as a means to cut federal spending. This report discusses the ATP and related issues of federal appropriations (or the lack thereof).
Electric Power and the Year 2000 Computer Problem: The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) at the request of the Department of Energy is coordinating an effort to minimize the vulnerability of the nation's electric utility system to disruption resulting from computer failures as the date changes to January 1, 2000, the so-called Y2K computer problem. NERC now believes that the electric power industry would be able to reliably meet demand during the transition from 1999 to 2000 with the systems that are now Y2K ready. Nevertheless, at least 30% of the nation's utilities and 35% of the nation's nuclear power plants are not now expected to be Y2K ready until the last half of 1999.
Hearings in the House of Representatives: A Guide for Preparation and Conduct: This report covers how House committees plan and conduct hearings; it also reviews post-hearing activities of committees. It discusses applicable rules of the House, rules adopted by individual committees, and common committee practices.
Accident Prevention under the Clean Air Act Section 112(r): Risk Management Planning by Propane Users and Internet Access to Worst-Case Accident Scenarios: This report briefly describes two issues associated with EPA implementation of risk management planning requirements in the Clean Air Act Section 112(r): whether dealers and distributors of propane and other flammable fuels should be covered by the law, and whether electronic access to off-site consequence analyses (OCA), and especially worst-case analyses, should be restricted to avoid misuse by terrorists or criminals. These issues are addressed by S. 880, as reported, and H.R. 1301 in the 106th Congress. The statutory requrrements and EPA implementation to date also are described. Covered facilities must submit risk management plans by June 21, 1999. This product will be updated when events warrant. For information on the status of legislation, see CRS Issue Brief lB10004, Clean Air Act Issues in the 106th Congress.
The D.C. Circuit Remands the Ozone and Particulate Matter Clean-Air Standards:: On May 14, 1999, in American Trucking Ass'ns v. EPA, a U.S. court of Appeals ruled that deficiencies in EPA's promulgation of new primary and secondary air quality standards required that they be remanded to the agency for further consideration. The decision is controversial, in part because the two-judge majority opinion relied principally on a long-moribund legal doctrine known as the nondelegation doctrine. The decision, if it survives appeal, will thus have implications for all delegations of congressional authority to agencies. In addition, its holding that the revised ozone ambient standard cannot be enforced has sparkled debate. By itself, however, the decision is unlikely to have major short-term effects on the ozone and particulate matter control programs
NAFTA: Economic Effects on the United States After Five Years: No Description Available.
Systemic Risk And The Long-Term Capital Management Rescue: No Description Available.
Trade and International Competition Policy: No Description Available.
Judicial Improvement Act of 1999, S . 248, 106 th Congress P. L. Morgan Legislative Attorney: No Description Available.
Retransmission of Network Programming Under the Satellite Home Viewer Act: Summary of the PrimeTime 24 Decision: No Description Available.
Tobacco-Related Activities and Programs in the Federal Government: A Summary: No Description Available.
MORTGAGE ESCROW ACCOUNTS: AN ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUES: No Description Available.
Uniform Standards in Private Securities Litigation: Limitations on Shareholder Lawsuits: No Description Available.
Appropriations for FY1999: Military Construction: This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that congress passes each year. It summarizes the current legislative status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels and related legislative activity.
Appropriations for FY1999: Military Construction: Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and budget reconciliation bills. This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress passes each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Legislative Branch Appropriations.
The Department of Energy's Tritium Production Program: Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen used to enhance the explosive yield of every thermonuclear weapon. Tritium has a radioactive decay rate of 5.5% per year and has not been produced in this country for weapons purposes since 1988.
Disease Funding and NIH Priority Setting: Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has strong political support, but a heated debate rages over the allocation of NIH funds among various diseases. NIH contends that decisions are made based on scientific opportunity while critics of the NIH process charge that spending often follows current politics and political correctness.
WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION COPYRIGHT TREATY: AN OVERVIEW: No Description Available.
Banking and Finance: Legislative Initiatives in the 105th Congress, Second Session: This report reviews major banking and finance issues that are receiving congressional attention in the 2nd session of the 105th Congress.
Banking and Finance: Legislative Initiatives in the 105th Congress, Second Session: This report reviews major banking and finance issues that are receiving congressional attention in the 2nd session of the 105th Congress. It will be updated periodically to reflect legislative developments. Relevant CRS products are referenced.
Indonesia: U.S. Relations With the Indonesian Military: This report describes the history and the issues involved in the longstanding differences between Congress and the executive branch over U.S. policy toward the Indonesian military (ABRI). The report describes two past episodes when these differences broke out: the period of Indonesian radicalism under President Sukarno in the early 1960s and the initial years of the Indonesian military occupation of East Timor in the late 1970s. It outlines the different views of the Indonesian military between its congressional critics and executive branch officials who have promoted close U.S. relations with it.
Morocco: Political and Economic Changes and U.S. Policy: No Description Available.
S. 2271: The Property Rights Implementation Act of 1998: From Summary: "This report supplements CRS Report 97-877, which examines in detail the Senate-reported version of H.R. 1534 and the two House-passed bills (H.R. 992 and H.R. 1534) of which it consists."
The Americans with Disabilities Act: HIV Infection is Covered Under the Act: This report includes significant decision advancing the rights of individuals who have asymptomatic HIV infection.
The False Claims Act and Health Care Fraud: An Overview: The Federal False Claims Act provides for the judicial imposition of civil monetary penalties and treble damages for the knowing submission of false claims to the United States Government. This report contains information on the background of the Federal False Claims Act, current False Claims Act provisions, and health care fraud and the False Claims Act.
Major Tax Issues in the 105th Congress: A Summary: Taxes are again a focus of policy debate in during the first part of 1998. Many in Congress favor a tax cut, although the size of a possible cut is under discussion. Another issue is whether a tax cut should be offset by spending cuts and revenue raisers or instead financed by the expected budget surpluses -- in effect returning the surpluses to taxpayers in a manner similar to a rebate.
The Property Rights Implementation Act of 1998: On July 7, 1998, Senator Hatch introduced S. 2271, the "Property Rights Implementation Act of 1998." The bill appears to be the likely replacement on the Senate floor for H.R. 1534 as reported by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. S. 2271 retains the basic "process" approach of its predecessor, but makes numerous changes. Among these are a restriction of H.R. 1534's takings-ripeness provisions to real property rather than all types of property, a new definition of "futility," different restrictions on district court abstention, and new provisions as to attorneys fees and prior notice applicable to parties suing local governments for takings under 42 U.S.C. sec. 1983.
Air Quality and Transportation Enhancement Provisions in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991: This report describes how the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ) and enhancement programs function, examines the policy issues surrounding them, and summarizes relevant provisions in major legislation to reauthorize ISTEA in the 105th Congress.
Air Quality and Transportation Enhancement Provisions in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991: Federal funding to assist states in addressing the environmental impacts of surface transportation is a major issue for the second session of the 105th Congress. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991 (P.L. 102-240) authorized a total of $155 billion for transportation projects from FY1992 to FY1997. This report describes how the Congrestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ) and enhancement programs function, examines the policy issues surrounding them, and summarizes relevant provisions in major legislation to reauthorize ISTEA in the 105th Congress.
Campaign Finance Debate in the House: Substitute Amendments to H.R. 2183 (105th Congress): This report summarizes and compares the 11 substitute amendments to campaign finance reform bills that have passed the House and Senate.
Campaign Finance Debate in the House: Substitute Amendments to H.R. 2183 (105th Congress): This report provides a summary and comparison of the 11 substitute amendments to H.R. 2183, a campaign finance reform bill offered by Representatives Hutchinson and Allen, that, under H. Res. 442, will be in order for consideration by the House. The House began consideration of the bill and these substitute amendments (as well as additional perfecting amendments) on May 21, 1998. This report is intended for use by House Members and staff in preparation for and during House debate and assumes basic familiarity with the underlying issues. It may be updated to reflect further legislative actions.
The Chip Mill Industry in the South: Chip mills turn trees into chips for paper, particle-boards, and exports. While the federal government does not collect data on a chip mill industry, chip production in the South has apparently been expanding. The timber supply appears sufficient to allow some increased harvests, but could be depleted by continued industrial expansion. The federal government does not directly regulate timber cutting but could become engaged if requirements of the Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts were triggered. The government also has export promotion programs and export tax incentives. Recently, concerns have been expressed to Congress about the possible effects of clear-cutting for chip exports on water quality and wildlife habitat. This report will not be updated.
Congressional Primary Dates, 1998: This report lists the dates of 1998 primary elections and, where applicable, runoff primary dates for the states and the District of Columbia.
Congressional Primary Dates, 1998: This report lists the dates of 1998 primary elections and, where applicable, runoff primary dates for the states and the District of Columbia. The election dates listed herein were provided by the respective election offices in the states and the District of Columbia; they are the dates for congressional primaries and for other state offices for which primaries will be held in 1998.
Highway Funding, the States, and New Air Quality Standards: The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), PL. 102-240, set aside $6 billion from FY1992 to FY1997 for the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ) to assist states in complying with federal air quality standards by funding transportation projects that lower emissions.
Hong Kong After Its Return to China: Implications for US Interests: Hong Kong's return to China on July 1, 1997, went surprisingly smoothly. In the ensuing months, policy analysts are trying to assess how the territory will fare in the longer run under Chinese rule. The answer is important to U.S. interests because of the enormous U.S. economic presence in Hong Kong; because any adverse developments in Hong Kong are likely to affect U.S.-China relations; and because China's promise to give Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy under the "one-China, two-systems" policy has major implications for Taiwan. But given the political situation, the American ability to affect the course of events in Hong Kong seems marginal unless the U.S. decides to confront Beijing more directly. Developments in U.S.-China relations in recent years suggest Washington might be hesitant to do so.
Restructuring Electricity Markets, Public Power, and Tax-Exempt Bonds: An Economic Analysis: Tax-exempt bonds subsidize public power's cost of capital and enable it to lower price. The subsidy is economically beneficial (enables public power price to reflect the true cost of electric service) only if the private market fails to provide the correct amount of electricity. In general, the private market does provide the correct amount of electricity; in those cases when it does not, the tax-exempt bond subsidy is unlikely to correct the problem. Tax-exempt bond legislation over the last 30 years is consistent with this perspective; its focus has been to prohibit the spread of subsidized public power beyond its traditional service areas.
Stormwater Permits: Status of EPA's Regulatory Program: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and states are implementing a federally mandated program for controlling stormwater discharges from industrial plants and municipalities. Because of the large number of affected sources and deadline changes and extensions that have led to confusion, numerous questions have arisen about this program. Impacts of the program;s requirements, especially on cities, are a continuing concern. EPA has recently proposed permit rules to cover smaller cities and sources that currently are unregulated. Debate on impacts of these rules could be an issue during reauthorization of the Clean Water Act, which could occur in the 106th Congress.
Civil Rights Commission Reauthorization: This report provides a brief overview of the reauthorization of the civil rights commission.
Civil Rights Commission Reauthorization: The Civil Rights Commission Act of 1998 (H.R. 3117) would reauthorize the commission through FY2001. It was introduced by Representative Canady on January 28, 1998, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and reported with an amendment on March 2, 1998. It passed the House, amended, by voice vote on March 18.
Conservation Compliance for Agriculture: Status and Policy Issues: This program, known as "conservation compliance," was amended in 1990 and 1996. This paper reviews the compliance concept, the program requirements, and the implementation record. It also introduces three policy topics: the effect of compliance on erosion rates and patterns; the effectiveness and flexibility of implementation; and the possible impact of changes to commodity policies enacted in the 1996 farm bill.
Global Climate Change: Selected Legal Questions About the Kyoto Protocol: This report discusses the Kyoto Protocol and whether the United States is now legally bound by the Protocol, the legal implications of signing it, whether it could be implemented as an executive agreement without submission to the Senate, and whether the Protocol could be used as the legal basis for regulation of emissions even prior to ratification.
Federal Timber Harvests: Implications for U.S. Timber Supply: No Description Available.
Federal Timber Harvests: Implications for U.S. Timber Supply: The importance of federal timber has been debated at length over many years. The federal government owns about 20% of U.S. timberlands, concentrated in the west, and about 30% of U.S. timber inventory (and 44% of the softwood inventory). Declines in federal harvests in recent years, and legislation to end federal harvests, have led to concerns about the impacts on forest health and on the economy. The national impacts appear to be relatively modest, but local and regional effects could be substantial.
Small Business Administration: Overview and Issues: No Description Available.
Small Business Administration: Overview and Issues: No Description Available.
Appropriations for FY1998: Energy and Water Development: This report includes Energy and Water Development Appropriations for FY1998. This report is guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress passed each year.It summarizes the then current legislative status of the bill,its scope,major issues, funding levels, and related Legislative activity.
Environmental Reauthorizations and Regulatory Reform: From the 104th Congress to the 105th: No Description Available.

Congressional Research Service Reports - 77 Matching Results

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