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crs_RL33819 | crs_RL33819_0 | 5581 (Dodd) to S. 3001 , H.R. 6913 (Flake), and H.R. On May 21, 2008, the Senate passed S.Res. 573 (Martinez) by unanimous consent, which recognized Cuba Solidarity Day and the struggle of the Cuban people. Unless the regime changes, our policy will not. 2764 , the Senate approved S.Amdt. 707 (Rangel) to H.R. 2419 , th... | Since the early 1960s, U.S. policy toward Cuba has consisted largely of isolating the communist nation through economic sanctions, which the Bush Administration has tightened significantly. A second policy component has consisted of support measures for the Cuban people, including private humanitarian donations and U.S... |
crs_R40833 | crs_R40833_0 | Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Green Jobs
In the United States, growing awareness of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the possible implications for global climate change have combined with recent high energy prices and economic uncertainty to rekindle interest in renewable energy. Renewable energy technol... | In the United States, growing awareness of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the possible implications for global climate change have combined with recent high energy prices and economic uncertainty to rekindle interest in renewable energy. Renewable energy technologies generate electricity from resources such as the ... |
crs_RS20958 | crs_RS20958_0 | As U.S. Steps Taken By the United States to Advance Its Policy Goals
The United States has been active in international efforts to address the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. The United States continues to participate in international fora aimed at addressing various issues associated with the internati... | This report provides general background on U.S. policy regarding the international trade in small arms and light weapons (SA/LW). It outlines major questions associated with the international trade in these items, and reviews United States efforts to assist in controlling the illicit transfers of these items. This repo... |
crs_R44161 | crs_R44161_0 | 113-146 , enacted on August 7, 2014, creates new authority for removing an individual in a senior executive position in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Section 713(a)(1) authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to remove an individual employed in a Senior Executive Service (SES) position if the Secretary determ... | This report discusses selected legal issues relating to the authority for summary removal of individuals in senior executive positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Section 707 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, P.L. 113-146, enacted on August 7, 2014, created this authority by adding Sect... |
crs_RL34586 | crs_RL34586_0 | Introduction
Although a number of U.S. agencies and departments implement global health programs that might improve child survival and maternal health (CS/MH), this report focuses only on CS/MH programs conducted by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from FY2001 to FY2008. In 2006, an estimated 9.7... | Appropriations for child survival and maternal health programs (CS/MH) have grown by about 22% during the tenure of President George W. Bush. Most of that growth occurred in FY2008, when Congress provided $521.9 million for CS/MH programs, up from $361.1 million in FY2001. Although Congress provided support during this... |
crs_RL34131 | crs_RL34131_0 | When the Mississippi River rose to near record levels in 2011, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) intentionally broke several levees along the river, thereby flooding normally protected areas in order to prevent greater damage elsewhere. The 2011 Mississippi River floods brought renewed attention to federal liabi... | Over the past century, the federal government has undertaken a number of civil works projects to prevent widespread damage from flooding of various waterways. These flood control projects generally have been designed and constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). Despite the existence of these flood contr... |
crs_R43538 | crs_R43538_0 | The professional experiences of judicial nominees are also of interest to interest groups, particularly professional organizations such as the American Bar Association (ABA). In light of ongoing interest in the professional qualifications of those nominated to circuit court judgeships, this report seeks to inform Congr... | This report provides an analysis of the professional qualifications and experiences of U.S. circuit court judges who are currently serving on the federal bench. Interest in the professional qualifications of those nominated to the federal judiciary has been demonstrated by Congress and others. Congressional interest in... |
crs_RL33586 | crs_RL33586_0 | 102-194 ), the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program is the primary mechanism by which the federal government coordinates its unclassified networking and information technology (NIT) R&D investments. The director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) ... | In the early 1990s, Congress recognized that several federal agencies had ongoing high-performance computing programs, but no central coordinating body existed to ensure long-term coordination and planning. To provide such a framework, Congress passed the High-Performance Computing and Communications Program Act of 199... |
crs_RL32551 | crs_RL32551_0 | The National Commission on TerroristAttacks Upon the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission, was to
make a full and complete accounting of thecircumstances surrounding the attacks, and the extent of the United States' preparedness for, andimmediate response to, the attacks; andâ¦investigate and report to the... | On July 22, 2004, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States,known as the 9/11 Commission, issued its final report, detailing the events up to and including theSeptember 11, 2001 terrorist attacks upon the United States. The report contained 41recommendations on ways to prevent future catastrop... |
crs_R44939 | crs_R44939_0 | Consequently, the secure operation of both the power grid and pipelines are national priorities. While physical threats to the U.S. power grid and pipelines have long worried policymakers, cyber threats to the computer systems that operate this critical infrastructure are an increasing concern. Furthermore, with ever g... | While physical threats to the U.S. power grid and pipelines have long worried policymakers, cyber threats to the computer systems that operate this critical infrastructure are an increasing concern. Cybersecurity risks against the power and pipeline sectors are similar, as both use similar control systems, and there ap... |
crs_RL34269 | crs_RL34269_0 | Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have a history of supporting programs that foster diversity of broadcast station ownership, in general, and minority and female ownership, in particular, as a means to achieve that goal. Structuring the programs narrowly may be necessary in order to survive a jud... | Amidst growing media ownership consolidation and a significant decline in minority ownership of telecommunications businesses, there has been renewed interest in programs that foster diversity among telecommunications business owners. One potential avenue under consideration is to revive, in revised fashion, a tax prog... |
crs_R40498 | crs_R40498_0 | The second are those MBSs that are packaged and issued by private market participants (i.e., mortgage companies, savings and loans, and commercial banks), known as private label MBSs. This report will provide an overview of the registration requirements for private label MBSs under the Securities Act. It outlines poten... | Mortgage-backed securities that are packaged and issued by private industry participants are required to comply with the Securities Act of 1933. Issuers of so-called private label mortgage-backed securities must either register these securities pursuant to the rules the Securities and Exchange Commission has set forth,... |
crs_R44903 | crs_R44903_0 | The reconciliation instructions included in S.Con.Res. 1628 , the American Health Care Act (AHCA) of 2017. The House subsequently passed the AHCA with amendments on May 4, 2017, by a vote of 217 to 213. The House bill was received in the Senate on June 7, 2017, and the next day the Senate majority leader had it placed ... | Per the reconciliation instructions in the budget resolution for FY2017 (S.Con.Res. 3), the House passed its reconciliation bill, H.R. 1628—the American Health Care Act (AHCA)—with amendments on May 4, 2017. The House bill was received in the Senate on June 7, 2017, and the next day the Senate majority leader had it pl... |
crs_R44787 | crs_R44787_0 | On June 24, 2016, Republicans released a tax reform blueprint, "A Better Way for Tax Reform." This blueprint proposes to consolidate the seven individual income tax brackets under current law into three, and to eliminate the alternative minimum tax (AMT). Statutory rates also provide limited information on the economic... | Tax reform is a stated priority of the 115th Congress. In June 2016, Ways and Means Committee Republicans released the "Better Way" tax reform blueprint. The proposal seeks to make the individual income tax system "simpler, flatter, and fairer" by consolidating the number of individual income tax brackets. Looking at s... |
crs_RL33578 | crs_RL33578_0 | Energy Tax Policy from 1918 to 1970: Promoting Oil and Gas
Historically, federal energy tax policy was focused on increasing domestic oil and gas reserves and production; there were no tax incentives for energy conservation or for alternative fuels. Relatively low oil prices encouraged petroleum consumption (as oppose... | Historically, U.S. federal energy tax policy promoted the supply of oil and gas. However, the 1970s witnessed (1) a significant cutback in the oil and gas industry's tax preferences, (2) the imposition of new excise taxes on oil, and (3) the introduction of numerous tax preferences for energy conservation, the developm... |
crs_R41750 | crs_R41750_0 | Introduction
In June 2008, the Supreme Court issued its decision in District of Columbia v. Heller , holding by a 5-4 vote that the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States protects an individual right to possess a firearm, unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that firearm for traditiona... | In District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in a 5-4 decision that the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States protects an individual right to possess a firearm, unconnected with service in a militia, and the use of that firearm for traditionally lawful purposes, su... |
crs_R40934 | crs_R40934_0 | Introduction
Introduced in various incarnations in every congressional session since the 103 rd Congress, the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA; H.R. 1755 / S. 815 in the 113 th Congress) would prohibit discrimination based on an individual's actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity by... | Introduced in various incarnations in every congressional session since the 103rd Congress, the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA; H.R. 1755/S. 815 in the 113th Congress) would prohibit discrimination based on an individual's actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity by public and private... |
crs_R42674 | crs_R42674_0 | Main Points
Russia will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's (APEC) week-long series of senior-level meetings in Vladivostok on September 2-9, 2012. The main event for the week will be the 20 th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting to be held September 8-9, 2012. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will represent th... | Russia will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's (APEC) week-long series of senior-level meetings in Vladivostok on September 2-9, 2012. The main event for the week will be the 20th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting to be held September 8-9, 2012. President Barack Obama will not attend the event; Secretary of Stat... |
crs_R40098 | crs_R40098_0 | Introduction
Although much progress has been made in achieving the ambitious goals that Congress established more than 35 years ago to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters, long-standing problems persist, and new problems have emerged. Water quality problems are... | Although much progress has been made in achieving the ambitious goals that Congress established more than 35 years ago in the Clean Water Act (CWA) to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters, long-standing problems persist, and new problems have emerged. Water qualit... |
crs_RL32587 | crs_RL32587_0 | In one common usage, outsourcing simply means the use by a firm of inputs produced outside the firm, either by foreigners or unrelated domestic firms—the important fact is simply that someone else performs the function. The focus of this report, however, is the international economy; its analysis is confined to what mi... | The impact of taxes on international trade and investment has been debated for decades. Most recently, a variety of bills addressing international taxation were introduced in the 110th Congress—some would have cut taxes for U.S. firms overseas, while others would have increased taxes on foreign investment. The debate o... |
crs_RS21903 | crs_RS21903_0 | Despite this, the Muslims of Asia are perceived to be on the periphery of the Islamic core based in the Arab Middle East. Some analysts believe that as long as the Muslim world views the U.S.-led war against terror as a war against Islam there will be significant limits on the extent to which Muslim states will be able... | There exists much diversity within the Islamic world. This is particularly evident in Asia. This diversity is to be found in the different ethnic backgrounds and in the different practices of Islam. The Muslim world of Asia has been experiencing an Islamic revival. This has had an effect on moderate as well as radical ... |
crs_R44107 | crs_R44107_0 | In some instances, the President makes these appointments using authorities granted by law to the President alone. Other appointments are made with the advice and consent of the Senate via the nomination and confirmation of appointees. This report identifies, for the 113 th Congress, all nominations submitted to the Se... | The President makes appointments to positions within the federal government, either using the authorities granted by law to the President alone, or with the advice and consent of the Senate. There are some 351 full-time leadership positions in the 15 executive departments for which the Senate provides advice and consen... |
crs_R41475 | crs_R41475_0 | Scope of the Agriculture Appropriations Bill
The Agriculture appropriations bill—formally known as the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act—provides funding for the following agencies and departments:
all of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (except th... | The Agriculture appropriations bill provides funding for all of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) except the Forest Service, plus the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and, in some cases, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Appropriations jurisdiction for the CFTC is split between two subcommittee... |
crs_RL34536 | crs_RL34536_0 | In the consolidated cases of Boumediene v. Bush and Al Odah v. United States , decided June 12, 2008, the Supreme Court held in a 5-4 opinion that aliens designated as enemy combatants and detained at the U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have the constitutional privilege of habeas corpus . The Court also fou... | In the consolidated cases of Boumediene v. Bush and Al Odah v. United States, decided June 12, 2008, the Supreme Court held in a 5-4 opinion that aliens designated as enemy combatants and detained at the U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have the constitutional privilege of habeas corpus. The Court also found... |
crs_R41275 | crs_R41275_0 | Background on the Blockade
Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, but retained control of the territory's borders. Some countries and organizations, including Turkey, consider Hamas a democratically elected, legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Hamas remains in control of Gaza. In recent years, ... | Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, but retained control of its borders. Hamas, a U.S. State Department-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), won the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections and forcibly seized control of the territory in 2007. Israel imposed a tighter blockade of Gaza in... |
crs_R44915 | crs_R44915_0 | Introduction
The Trump Administration requested $75.1 billion for the Department of Transportation (DOT) for FY2018, 2.6% ($2 billion) less than DOT received in FY2017. On July 21, 2017, the House Committee on Appropriations reported H.R. 3353 . The committee recommended $77.5 billion for DOT, a 0.5% ($430 million) i... | Congress appropriated $86.2 billion for the Department of Transportation (DOT) for FY2018. This represented a $9.1 billion (11.8%) increase over the amount provided in FY2017. The principal reason for the higher spending level was increases in funding from the general fund for highways, public transportation capital in... |
crs_R43438 | crs_R43438_0 | Introduction
In vitro diagnostic (IVD) devices, including genetic tests, provide information that is used to inform health care decision making. Federal oversight of IVDs spans several federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The use of... | In vitro diagnostic (IVD) devices are used in the analysis of human samples, such as blood or tissue, to provide information in making health care decisions. Examples of IVDs include (1) pregnancy test kits or blood glucose tests for home use; (2) laboratory tests for infectious disease, such as HIV or hepatitis, and r... |
crs_98-666 | crs_98-666_0 | Natural phenomena—predators, droughts, floods, and fluctuating oceanic conditions—stress salmonids and contribute to the variable abundance of their populations. Currently, 28 distinct population segments of five salmonid species have been listed as either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA,... | Along the Pacific Coast, 28 distinct population segments of Pacific salmon and steelhead trout are listed as either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), with three additional populations identified as "species of concern." While no species of anadromous trout or salmon is in danger of near-t... |
crs_R40143 | crs_R40143_0 | While not yet fully understood, the ecological and economic consequences of ocean acidification could be substantial. What Is Ocean Acidification? As increasing CO 2 from the atmosphere dissolves in seawater, seawater chemistry is altered. As the number of hydrogen ions increases, the pH of the ocean decreases, and the... | With increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, the extent of effects on the ocean and marine resources is an increasing concern. One aspect of this issue is the ongoing process (known as ocean acidification) whereby seawater becomes less alkaline as more CO2 dissolves in it, causing hydrogen ... |
crs_RS20995 | crs_RS20995_0 | RS20995 -- India and Pakistan: U.S. Economic Sanctions
Updated February 3, 2003
Recap of Nuclear Tests Sanctions (1)
In May 1998, India and Pakistan each conducted tests of nuclear explosive devices, triggering sweeping U.S. economic sanctions as required by the ArmsExport Control Act (AECA) and the Export-Import Ba... | In 1998, India and Pakistan each conducted tests of nuclear explosive devices, drawingworld condemnation. TheUnited States and a number of India's and Pakistan's major trading partners imposed economic sanctions in response. Most U.S. economic sanctions werelifted or eased within a few months of their imposition, howev... |
crs_R42618 | crs_R42618_0 | Overview
The term "conflict minerals" is used to describe metal ores that, when mined, sold, or traded, are widely reported to play key roles in fueling armed conflict and human rights abuses in several far eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, formerly Zaire). The main minerals at issue are... | "Conflict minerals" are ores that, when sold or traded, have played key roles in helping to fuel conflict and extensive human rights abuses, since the late 1990s, in far eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The main conflict minerals are the so-called the "3TGs": ores of tantalum and niobium, tin, tungsten, ... |
crs_R44271 | crs_R44271_0 | Introduction
The United Republic of Tanzania is an East African country of nearly 54 million people that is about twice as large as California. The country has substantial natural resource wealth and agricultural potential, however, and multiple socioeconomic development indicators have generally improved in recent y... | Tanzania is an East African country comprising a union of Tanganyika, the mainland territory, and the semiautonomous Zanzibar archipelago. The United States has long considered Tanzania a partner in economic development and, increasingly, in regional security efforts. With nearly 54 million people, Tanzania is one of t... |
crs_R44226 | crs_R44226_0 | By and large in identical language, the two would amend existing mandatory minimum sentence provisions found in federal drug and firearms laws, by and large in identical language. The most obvious difference is that the Senate proposal, S. 2123 , the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015, features an extensive ... | As introduced, the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015, S. 2123, and the Sentencing Reform Act of 2015, H.R. 3713, use virtually identical language to reduce the impact of the mandatory minimum sentences which federal courts must now impose for certain drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
Key Takeaways
Exi... |
crs_RL34192 | crs_RL34192_0 | Background
HIV/AIDS
Revised Epidemic Estimates
The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that 33.2 million people are living with human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS); some 16% fewer people than it initially estimated in 2006 (about 39.5 million). UN... | The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that 33.2 million people are living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The U.N. organization believes that in 2007, some 2.5 million people will contract HIV and it will kill about 2.1 million. Sub-Saharan Afri... |
crs_RL30857 | crs_RL30857_0 | Regular and Special Elections of the Speaker
The traditional practice of the House is to elect a Speaker by roll call vote upon first convening after a general election of Representatives. Customarily, the conference of each major party in the House selects a candidate whose name is formally placed in nomination befo... | Each new House elects a Speaker by roll call vote when it first convenes. Customarily, the conference of each major party nominates a candidate whose name is placed in nomination. A Member normally votes for the candidate of his or her own party conference but may vote for any individual, whether nominated or not. To b... |
crs_RL33579 | crs_RL33579_0 | First, preparedness and response are different. When there is a catastrophe in the United States, state and local governments take the lead in response activities. When the resources of states and localities are overwhelmed, the President can provide certain additional assets and personnel to aid stricken communities, ... | When there is a catastrophe in the United States, state and local governments lead response activities, invoking state and local legal authorities to support them. When state and local response capabilities are overwhelmed, the President, acting through the Secretary of Homeland Security, can provide assistance to stri... |
crs_RL34489 | crs_RL34489_0 | It is in this context that the United States and other developed countries agreed both to reduce their own emissions to help stabilize atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases and to take the lead in reducing greenhouse gases when they ratified the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC... | This report examines six studies that project the costs of S. 2191 (S. 3036) to 2030 or 2050. It is difficult to project costs up to the year 2030, much less beyond. The already tenuous assumption that regulatory standards will remain constant becomes more unrealistic, and other unforeseen events loom as critical issue... |
crs_RL31805 | crs_RL31805_0 | The Senate passed the bill by 95 to 3 on November 12. The Administration agreed to a new benefit that provides concurrent receiptof military retirement and disability payments to all military retirees with disability ratings of 50%or higher as well as an expansion of those eligible under the "Purple Hearts Plus" progra... | With passage of the FY2004 DOD Authorization Act by the House on November 7 and bythe Senate on November 12, 2003, Congress completed action on this year's defense authorization( H.R. 1588 / H.Rept. 108-384 ). The President signed the bill on November 24, 2003( P.L. 108-384 ). On September 30, just in time for the new ... |
crs_R42000 | crs_R42000_0 | The proposal would change, for example, the way the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is computed, as well as COLAs under other federal programs. Rather than using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) to compute the Social Security COLA, the proposal calls for basi... | In recent years, various proposals have been discussed in the context of ways to reduce federal budget deficits. One of these proposals calls for the use of a different measure of consumer price change to index various provisions of federal programs, including cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). For example, under curr... |
crs_RS20607 | crs_RS20607_0 | The revenues are deposited in the U.S. Treasury. By law, if Social Security revenues exceed expenditures, the "surplus" is credited to the Social Security trust funds in the form of U.S. government securities. Section 201 of the Social Security Act provides the following guidelines for trust fund investment. In recent ... | The Social Security Act has always required surplus Social Security revenues (revenues in excess of program expenditures) to be invested in U.S. government securities (or U.S. government-backed securities). In recent years, attention has been focused on alternative investment practices in an effort to increase the inte... |
crs_R44869 | crs_R44869_0 | Critics argue that these reforms went too far and that the burden of financial regulation now exceeds the benefits. Recent Congresses have debated legislation to amend the Dodd-Frank Act. Approaches for Congress
Through legislation, Congress provides financial regulators with the authority that underpins the regulatio... | The 2007-2009 financial crisis led to significant changes in financial regulation, but critics argue that the burden these changes have imposed now exceeds their benefits. Congress and the Administration are considering financial regulatory relief from various postcrisis regulatory changes, including the Dodd-Frank Act... |
crs_RS22309 | crs_RS22309_0 | Introduction
When a Senator introduces a bill or joint resolution, the measure is usually referred to committee, pursuant to provisions of Senate Rules XIV, XVII, and XXV. When the House informs the Senate that it has passed a bill or joint resolution that was introduced in the House, and the Senate receives the meas... | When a Senator introduces a bill or joint resolution, or a House-passed bill or joint resolution is received in the Senate from the House, the measure is often referred to committee, pursuant to provisions of Senate Rules XIV, XVII, and XXV. The Senate may, however, use provisions of Senate Rule XIV to bypass referral ... |
crs_R41515 | crs_R41515_0 | While TSA strategies for all-cargo operations have focused most intensely on the hijacking threat, recent events suggest that terrorists may again be seeking to target U.S.-bound air cargo shipments by exploiting weaknesses in air cargo security overseas. One of the devices had traveled on two passenger flights, from Y... | The October 2010 discovery of two explosive devices being prepared for loading on U.S.-bound all-cargo aircraft overseas has heightened concerns over the potential use of air cargo shipments to bomb passenger and all-cargo aircraft. The incidents have renewed policy debate over air cargo security measures and have prom... |
crs_R43261 | crs_R43261_0 | Introduction
The executive branch of the U.S. federal government has mandated for decades that developers of border crossing energy facilities must first obtain a Presidential Permit. However, controversy over the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline—a project that would transport oil sands crude from Alberta, Canada, i... | Controversy over the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project has focused attention on U.S. requirements for authorization to construct and operate pipelines and other energy infrastructure at international borders. For the most part, developers are required to obtain a Presidential Permit for border crossing facilities. ... |
crs_RL31811 | crs_RL31811_0 | 2673 , the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004. This represents a $1.4 billion, or a 7.4% reduction from the President'srequest, but $1.3 billion, or 7.9% higher than approved in regular Foreign Operationsspending for FY2003. Introduction
The annual Foreign Operations appropriations bill is the primary legislativeve... | The annual Foreign Operations appropriations bill is the primary legislative vehicle through which Congress reviews the U.S. foreign aid budget and influences executive branch foreign policymaking generally. It contains the largest share -- about two-thirds -- of total U.S. internationalaffairs spending.
President Bush... |
crs_RL31621 | crs_RL31621_0 | In this paper, key policy components of the ecosystem restoration effort in the South Florida ecosystem, which includes the Everglades, are examined to provide potential lessons for other ecosystem restoration efforts. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), authorized in the Water Resources Development A... | Several complex water resource systems are receiving increasing intergovernmental and private sector efforts to balance human and broader ecosystem values. Examples include the Florida Everglades, San Francisco Bay-Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta, and the Chesapeake Bay, among others. The Florida Everglades is espec... |
crs_R44609 | crs_R44609_0 | A large majority of scientists and governments accept that stabilizing the concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere and avoiding further GHG-induced climate change would require concerted effort by all major emitting countries. Toward this end, 195 governments attending the 21 st Conference of Parties... | The Paris Agreement (PA) to address climate change internationally entered into force on November 4, 2016. The United States is one of 149 Parties to the treaty; President Barack Obama accepted the agreement rather than ratifying it with the advice and consent of the Senate. On June 1, 2017, President Donald J. Trump a... |
crs_R44327 | crs_R44327_0 | Introduction
Benefits and services for low-income families have received increased attention from policymakers in recent years. However, it is more challenging to identify how these programs interact with each other and how they cumulatively provide benefits to families and individuals. Specifically, this report prov... | Need-tested benefits have received increased attention from policymakers in recent years, as spending levels for these programs remain elevated well into the economic expansion that followed the 2007-2009 recession. While information is available on the number of people who receive benefits from individual programs, it... |
crs_R44101 | crs_R44101_0 | Beyond the Internet content that many can easily access online lies another layer—indeed a much larger layer—of material that is not accessed through a traditional online search. The furthest corners of the Deep Web, known as the Dark Web, contain content that has been intentionally concealed. The Dark Web may be acces... | The layers of the Internet go far beyond the surface content that many can easily access in their daily searches. The other content is that of the Deep Web, content that has not been indexed by traditional search engines such as Google. The furthest corners of the Deep Web, segments known as the Dark Web, contain conte... |
crs_RS22803 | crs_RS22803_0 | Court Cases
It appears only two cases have addressed whether state laws taxing interest earned on bonds issued by other states while exempting interest earned on bonds issued by that state violate the Commerce Clause. Dep't of Revenue of Kentucky v. Davis
In the Davis case, the Kentucky court of appeals held that the... | Most states exempt from state income taxes the interest earned on bonds issued by that particular state and its political subdivisions, while taxing the interest earned on bonds issued by other states and their political subdivisions. Some argue that these state tax schemes violate the Commerce Clause by discriminating... |
crs_RL33270 | crs_RL33270_0 | Recent changes in the way the program is funded have largely addressed concerns at the federal level about "spiraling costs"; however, the new funding structure has not reduced budget pressures for the local public housing authorities (PHAs) that administer the program. Noting these concerns, the Administration has arg... | The Bush Administration has proposed eliminating the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program and replacing it with a new program in each of the past several years. While the specifics have changed, each proposal would significantly alter key features of the current program, including its administration, funding distri... |
crs_R45005 | crs_R45005_0 | These activities generally are categorized as fuel reduction, preparedness, suppression, and site rehabilitation. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service (FS) carries out wildfire response and management across th... | The federal government's wildfire (or wildland fire) management responsibilities are fulfilled primarily by the Forest Service (FS, in the U.S. Department of Agriculture) and the Department of the Interior (DOI). These responsibilities include prevention, detection, response, and recovery related to fires that begin on... |
crs_R40185 | crs_R40185_0 | Endangered and threatened species—and the law that protects them, the 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA, P.L. 93-205 , as amended; 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531-1543)—are controversial, in part, because dwindling species are often harbingers of resource scarcity. The most common cause of species' decline is habitat loss or alterati... | The Endangered Species Act (ESA; P.L. 93-205, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531-1543) 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. Under ESA, species of plants and animals (both vertebrate and ... |
crs_RS22145 | crs_RS22145_0 | Environmental activities of the U.S. Coast Guard fall within the service's program for protection of natural resources, and consist of maritime oil spill prevention, marine debris, and pollution response preparedness. The Coast Guard's prevention/preparedness duties are based on international agreements and federal sta... | The U.S. Coast Guard's environmental activities focus on prevention programs, accompanied by enforcement and educational activities.
A key component of the Coast Guard's environmental activities involves maritime oil spill prevention. As required by several environmental statutes, including the Clean Water Act and the ... |
crs_RS22486 | crs_RS22486_0 | India has never shared U.S. assessments of Iran as an aggressive regional power. However, India-Iran relations have not evolved into a strategic alliance and are unlikely to derail the further development of a U.S.-India global partnership. At the same time, given a clear Indian interest in maintaining positive ties wi... | India's growing energy needs and its relatively benign view of Iran's intentions will likely cause policy differences between New Delhi and Washington. India seeks positive ties with Iran and is unlikely to downgrade its relationship with Tehran at the behest of external powers, but it is unlikely that the two will dev... |
crs_R40556 | crs_R40556_0 | To some extent, a carbon tax and a cap-and-trade program would produce similar effects: both are estimated to increase the price of fossil fuels, which would ultimately be borne by consumers, particularly households. In addition to the policy shift in the executive branch, a number of states have taken actions in recen... | As of the date of this report, Members in the 111th Congress have introduced nine stand-alone proposals that would control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The proposals offered to date would employ market-based approaches—either a cap-and-trade or carbon tax system, or some combination thereof—to reduce GHG emissions. ... |
crs_R44765 | crs_R44765_0 | Introduction
As India's economy continues to grow, its energy needs, including for natural gas, will likely grow as well. Its population is expected to surpass China as the world's largest by 2022, reaching approximately 1.4 billion people, creating greater demand for energy. By 2050, India has the potential to overt... | India's population is expected to surpass China as the world's largest by 2022, reaching approximately 1.4 billion people, creating greater demand for energy. India has the potential to be a much larger producer and consumer of natural gas. Competing political and economic factors have limited the government's effectiv... |
crs_RL34364 | crs_RL34364_0 | Introduction
In 2007, much higher than expected defaults and delinquencies in the "subprime" segment of the mortgage market, led to a significant slowdown of the housing market. Most of these mortgages were financed not by traditional banks, but by global capital markets through asset or mortgage-backed securities. T... | Beginning in 2007, higher than expected defaults and delinquencies in "subprime" mortgages led to a significant slowdown of the housing market. Most of these mortgages were financed by capital markets through asset- or mortgage-backed securities, rather than by traditional banks. Thus, rather than being confined to the... |
crs_R44570 | crs_R44570_0 | Based on that perception, the Obama Administration waived most of the sanctions on Burma, particularly after Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy won the 2015 parliamentary elections and a new NLD-controlled Union Parliament took office in April 2016. Certain events since 2016, however, have led some ... | Major changes in Burma's political situation since 2016 have raised questions among some Members of Congress concerning the appropriateness of U.S. policy in Burma in general, and the current restrictions on relations with Burma (Myanmar) in particular. During the 115th Congress, two bills were introduced—the Burma Uni... |
crs_R41623 | crs_R41623_0 | Introduction
Over the past several decades, U.S. household indebtedness has generally risen regardless of macroeconomic or financial conditions. Household debt reduction (or deleveraging) may have important implications for job creation and economic recovery. Deleveraging may translate into a reduction in near-term c... | Since the third quarter of 2008, U.S. household debt has steadily fallen. Household debt reduction is known as deleveraging, and such substantial and persistent deleveraging (reflected in Federal Reserve data) has been uncommon over the past several decades. Given that much household debt is used to finance consumption... |
crs_RL30740 | crs_RL30740_0 | Introduction
The National Security Agency (NSA), one of the largest components of the U.S. Intelligence Community, hasreached a major watershed in its history. Responsible
for obtaining intelligence from international communications, (1) NSA's efforts are being challenged by the multiplicity of new types of communica... | The National Security Agency (NSA), one of the largest components of the U.S. Intelligence Community, has reached a major watershed in its history. Responsible for obtaining intelligence from international communications, NSA's efforts are being challenged bythe multiplicity of new types of communicationslinks, by the ... |
crs_RL33255 | crs_RL33255_0 | Since the Chicago Convention, international civil aviation rights have developed primarily through a series of bilateral agreements between the United States and foreign countries. Stated another way, to operate in the United States as an air carrier, an entity must be a U.S. citizen and must be judged by the Secretary... | Much of the law regarding civil aviation has been developed through a combination of domestic laws and international agreements between the United States and other nations. In 1992, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) introduced the "Open Skies" initiative and began negotiating and entering into modern... |
crs_R45147 | crs_R45147_0 | Introduction
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation's largest domestic food assistance program, serving about 42.2 million recipients in an average month at a federal cost of over $68 billion in FY2017. SNAP has typically been reauthorized in a farm bill approximately every five years; thi... | The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation's largest domestic food assistance program, serving over 42.1 million recipients in an average month at a federal cost of over $68 billion in FY2017. SNAP is jointly administered by state agencies, which handle most recipient functions, and the federal ... |
crs_RL34041 | crs_RL34041_0 | Introduction
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against an otherwise qualified individual with a disability solely by reason of disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance or under any program or activity conducted by an executive agency or the U.S.... | Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against an otherwise qualified individual with a disability solely by reason of disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance or under any program or activity conducted by an executive agency or the U.S. Postal Service... |
crs_RS22448 | crs_RS22448_0 | In addition to the Medicaid state plan benefits, in 1981, Congress authorized HCBS waivers under Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act (SSA). Home and Community-Based Services State Plan Option: Section 6086 of the Deficit Reduction Act
Section 6086 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA, P.L. 109-171 ) author... | Section 6086 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, (DRA, P.L. 109-171), established a optional Medicaid benefit giving states a new method with which to cover home- and community-based (HCBS) services for Medicaid beneficiaries, starting in January 2007. Prior to DRA's enactment, states needed HCBS waivers authorized i... |
crs_RS21311 | crs_RS21311_0 | RS21311 -- U.S. Use of Preemptive Military Force
Updated April 11, 2003
Background
During the summer and fall of 2002, the question of the possible use of "preemptive" military force by the United States to defend its security was raised byPresident Bush and members of his Administration, including possible use of s... | This report reviews the historical record regarding the uses of U.S. military force ina "preemptive" manner, anissue that emerged during public debates prior to the use of U.S. military force against Iraq in 2003. It examinesand comments on military actions taken by theUnited States that could be reasonably interpreted... |
crs_R42720 | crs_R42720_0 | This Executive Order requires executive agencies to submit significant rules to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review; however, it does not require the independent regulatory commissions (IRCs) to comply with these requirements. This report discu... | Federal agencies regularly adopt rules, which have the force of law, to implement the statutes and programs authorized by Congress. Unless a statute directs otherwise, agencies generally must follow the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act to promulgate rules. However, beginning with President Reagan, Presi... |
crs_R42852 | crs_R42852_0 | Introduction
On January 13, 2012, President Barack Obama announced that he would ask Congress to reinstate so-called presidential reorganization authority, and a legislative proposal that would renew this authority was conveyed to Congress on February 16, 2012. Bills based on the proposed language were subsequently i... | On January 13, 2012, President Barack Obama announced that he would ask Congress to reinstate so-called presidential reorganization authority, and his Administration conveyed a legislative proposal that would renew this authority to Congress on February 16, 2012. Bills based on the proposed language were subsequently i... |
crs_RL32250 | crs_RL32250_0 | Drug trafficking has helped to perpetuate Colombia's conflict by providing earnings to both left- and right-wing armed groups. When President Santos was inaugurated on August 7, 2010, he pledged to continue the successful security strategies of his predecessor while pursuing democratic, economic, and social reforms. As... | Colombia, a key U.S. ally, has made measurable progress in providing security despite having endured the longest internal armed conflict in the Western Hemisphere. It has long been a source for both cocaine and heroin. Drug trafficking has helped to perpetuate civil conflict by funding both left-wing and right-wing arm... |
crs_RL34613 | crs_RL34613_0 | Over the next few years, government security forces acted extremely aggressively to tamp down the range and scope of the insurgency by aggressively carrying out over a thousand counter-terrorism operations (termed "zachistki" or "cleaning-up" operations) in Chechnya and elsewhere in the North Caucasus. During these ope... | Terrorist attacks in Russia's North Caucasus—a border area between the Black and Caspian Seas that includes the formerly breakaway Chechnya and other ethnic-based regions—appeared to increase substantially in 2007-2009. Moreover, civilian and government casualties reached levels not seen in several years and terrorist ... |
crs_R43478 | crs_R43478_0 | Among other things, the crisis has heightened concerns in the United States and in Europe about the future direction and scope of the transatlantic security relationship and the cornerstone of that relationship, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Some policy makers and analysts have called for a reassessmen... | Russia's actions in Ukraine and its alleged role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 have caused observers and policy makers on both sides of the Atlantic, including Members of Congress, to reassess the role of the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in upholding European security.... |
crs_R41871 | crs_R41871_0 | Introduction
The United States Supreme Court recently held that the police may enter and search a home without the usually required warrant if they reasonably believe steps are being taken within the home to destroy the evidence they seek, Kentucky v. King . In doing so, the Court rejected limitations which some of t... | Authorities may enter and search a home without a warrant if they have probable cause and reason to believe that evidence is being destroyed within the home. So declared the United States Supreme Court in an 8-1 decision, Kentucky v. King, 131 S.Ct. 1849 (2011)(No. 09-1272).
The Kentucky Supreme Court had overturned Ki... |
crs_RS22658 | crs_RS22658_0 | This report describes how the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organization (WTO) deal with the issue of currency manipulation. The IMF can exercise "firm surveillance" but it cannot compel a country to change its exchange rate. Unique among the major international trade and finance organizations, the ... | Congress has been concerned, for many years, with the possible impact that currency manipulation has on international trade. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has jurisdiction for exchange rate questions. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is responsible for the rules governing international trade. The two organiza... |
crs_RL33468 | crs_RL33468_0 | 109-449 ( S. 362 ), establishing NOAA and Coast Guard programs to manage marine debris and address its adverse effects on endangered species. Background and Analysis
Overview
The 1973 ESA ( P.L. 93-205 , as amended; 16 U.S.C. A stated purpose of the ESA is to protect the ecosystems of which listed species are a par... | The 109th Congress considered numerous proposals to amend the Endangered Species Act (ESA; P.L. 93-205, 16 U.S.C. §§1531-1543). Major issues in recent years have included changing the role of science in decision-making, modifying critical habitat (CH) procedures, incorporating further protection and incentives for prop... |
crs_R40472 | crs_R40472_0 | The budget resolution creates enforceable parameters with which spending, revenue, and debt legislation must be consistent. Instead, its purpose is to establish a framework within which Congress considers legislation dealing with spending and revenue. The budget resolution is not intended to establish details of spendi... | The budget resolution sets forth aggregate levels of spending, revenue, and public debt. It is not intended to establish details of spending or revenue policy and does not provide levels of spending for specific agencies or programs. Instead, its purpose is to create enforceable parameters within which Congress can con... |
crs_R40501 | crs_R40501_0 | Introduction
The number of foreign-born people residing in the United States is at the highest level in U.S. history and has reached a proportion of the U.S. population—12.6%—not seen since the early 20 th century. Of the 38 million foreign-born residents in the United States, approximately 16.4 million are naturaliz... | There is a broad-based consensus that the U.S. immigration system is broken. This consensus erodes, however, as soon as the options to reform the U.S. immigration system are debated. The number of foreign-born people residing in the United States is at the highest level in U.S. history and has reached a proportion of t... |
crs_R44310 | crs_R44310_0 | Introduction
In 1970, the K visa category was created for foreign national fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens. The first visa within the category, the K-1 visa, is a nonimmigrant visa that grants temporary admission to the United States for fiancé(e)s in order for them to marry their U.S. citizen petitioners. Since the visa... | The K nonimmigrant visa category was created in 1970 through P.L. 91-225, which amended the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Within the K visa category, the K-1 visa is a visa for fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens and the K-2 visa is a visa for the fiancé(e)'s children. Congress later enacted legislation to provide pro... |
crs_R41742 | crs_R41742_0 | C riminal prosecutions involving classified information inherently create a tension between the government's legitimate interest in protecting sensitive national security information and a criminal defendant's rights under the United States Constitution and federal law. This tension was the primary factor leading to th... | A criminal prosecution involving classified information may cause tension between the government's interest in protecting classified information and the criminal defendant's right to a constitutionally valid trial. In some cases, a defendant may threaten to disclose classified information in an effort to gain leverage.... |
crs_R41880 | crs_R41880_0 | The Obama Administration's U.S. This report discusses the evolution of private sector involvement in U.S. foreign assistance programs over recent decades, how globalization has driven the modern approach to development partnerships, potential benefits and drawbacks of PPPs, and how partnerships are being used by other ... | The flow of private sector resources to developing countries has increased significantly in recent decades. Seeking opportunity in this changing environment, government development assistance agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department are working with private sector entities... |
crs_RL33083 | crs_RL33083_0 | Overview
Medicaid is jointly financed by the federal and state governments, but each state designs andadministers its own version of the program under broad federal guidelines. The complexity ofMedicaid can present an enormous challenge in meeting the needs of Hurricane Katrina's victims,especially when evacuees cros... | Medicaid is jointly financed by the federal and state governments, but each state designs andadministers its own version of the program under broad federal guidelines. The complexity ofMedicaid can present an enormous challenge in meeting the needs of Hurricane Katrina's victims,especially when evacuees cross state lin... |
crs_R44153 | crs_R44153_0 | T rade Adjustment Assistance for Workers (TAA) provides federal assistance to workers who involuntarily lose their jobs due to foreign competition. Workers may also be eligible for other benefits, including a tax credit equal to a portion of qualified health insurance premiums. After a brief discussion of the program's... | Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers (TAA) provides federal assistance to workers who have involuntarily lost their jobs due to foreign competition. It was last reauthorized by the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015 (TAARA; Title IV of P.L. 114-27). This report discusses the TAA program as enact... |
crs_R40913 | crs_R40913_0 | Many of the current programs have been reauthorized and redesigned periodically to meet changing economic conditions and national interests. The programs apply broadly to sectors ranging from industry to academia, and from state and local governments to rural communities. Since 2005, Congress has enacted several major ... | Energy is crucial to the operation of a modern industrial and services economy. Concerns about the availability and cost of energy and about environmental impacts of fossil energy use have led to the establishment of a wide variety of federal incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency. These incentives are a... |
crs_RL34018 | crs_RL34018_0 | Introduction
Electric utility generating facilities are a major source of air pollution. The objective would be to balance the environmental goal of effective controls across the pollutants covered with the industry goal of a stable regulatory regime for a period of years. The Bush Administration's Proposals
In Febr... | With the prospect of new layers of complexity being added to air pollution controls, and with electricity restructuring putting a premium on economic efficiency, interest is being expressed in finding mechanisms to achieve health and environmental goals in simpler, more cost-effective ways. The electric utility industr... |
crs_RS22921 | crs_RS22921_0 | Other economists have expressed concerns that efforts by the Chinese government to control "hot money" inflows could have significant negative consequences for the U.S. and global economy in the form of slower growth, greater inflation, or both. Some Chinese experts reportedly predict that the amount of "hot money" in ... | China has experienced a sharp rise in the inflow of so-called "hot money," foreign capital entering the country supposedly seeking short-term profits, especially in 2008. Chinese estimates of the amount of "hot money" in China vary from $500 billion to $1.75 trillion. The influx of "hot money" is contributing to China'... |
crs_RL30850 | crs_RL30850_0 | The rules provide individual Senators and numerical minorities with impressive means to influence the Senate's agenda and decisions. But this decision requires an extraordinary majority vote. Rule XXII provides that three-fifths of the entire Senate must vote to invoke cloture under most circumstances; on a proposal to... | The rules of the Senate emphasize the rights and prerogatives of individual Senators and, therefore, minority groups of Senators. The most important of these rules allows unlimited debate on a bill or amendment unless an extraordinary majority votes to invoke cloture. Senators can use their right to filibuster, and sim... |
crs_R41774 | crs_R41774_0 | Introduction
Willie Davis was a passenger in a car stopped by police in Greenville, Alabama, for a traffic violation. The police arrested Davis for giving a false name. After handcuffing him and placing him in the back of a patrol car, the police searched the passenger compartment of the car in which Davis had been r... | In Davis v. United States, the Supreme Court held that evidence seized in violation of the defendant's Fourth Amendment rights is admissible at trial when the police seized the evidence in good-faith reliance on "binding appellate precedent." The petitioner in that case, Willie Davis, was a passenger in a car that was ... |
crs_R41867 | crs_R41867_0 | Overview
Mongolia is a vast, sparsely populated, mineral-rich nation sandwiched between Russia and China. Formerly a Soviet satellite state, the country peacefully ended one-party Communist rule and launched democratic and free market reforms in 1990. Congress has shown strong support for Mongolia since that date thr... | Mongolia is a sparsely populated young democracy in a remote part of Asia, sandwiched between two powerful large neighbors, China and Russia. It made its transition to democracy and free market reforms peacefully in 1990, after nearly 70 years as a Soviet satellite state. A quarter of a century later, the predominantly... |
crs_RL34570 | crs_RL34570_0 | The action of voting in the House of Representatives appears to be a straightforward process, but it is an activity steeped in parliamentary complexity. Largely, voting procedures in the House and the Committee of the Whole have evolved to become similar since the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (LRA). The first... | Record voting in the House of Representatives appears to be a straightforward process but is an activity steeped in parliamentary complexity. While this report analyzes the evolution of voting beginning with the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (LRA), some House rules related to voting have existed since the Firs... |
crs_R41216 | crs_R41216_0 | The Obama Administration has emphasized in strategy documents that it views the NPT as the "centerpiece" of the nonproliferation regime and has pledged to strengthen the treaty. The 2010 Nuclear Posture Review, for example, says that progress on arms control is "a means of strengthening our ability to mobilize broad in... | The nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which entered into force in 1970 and was extended indefinitely in 1995, is the centerpiece of international nuclear nonproliferation efforts. The NPT recognizes five nations (the United States, Russia, France, Britain, and China) as nuclear-weapon states; 189 countries are pa... |
crs_RS21405 | crs_RS21405_0 | In some cases, later legislation is enacted to extend these beginning and ending dates for the purpose of broadening eligibility for veterans' benefits. "periods of war" and those dates given in the declarations of war beginning and the proclamations, laws, or treaties terminating such conflicts. Moreover, armistice da... | Many wars or conflicts in U.S. history have federally designated "periods of war," dates marking their beginning and ending. These dates are important for qualification for certain veterans' pension or disability benefits. Confusion can occur because beginning and ending dates for "periods of war" in many nonofficial s... |
crs_R41997 | crs_R41997_0 | Introduction
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; P.L. 111-148 , as amended), the definition of income for eligibility for certain Medicaid populations and premium credits in the exchanges is based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). The initial intent of using MAGI was to standardize the ... | Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; P.L. 111-148, as amended), the definition of income for eligibility for certain Medicaid populations and premium credits in the exchanges is based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). The initial intent of using MAGI was to standardize the definition of in... |
crs_R44509 | crs_R44509_0 | In less than 20 years, the entire nature of Member-constituent communication has been transformed, perhaps more than in any other period in American history. Electronic technology has reduced the marginal cost of Member-constituent communications; unlike postal letters, Members can reach large numbers of constituents f... | The mediums through which Members and constituents communicate have changed significantly over American history and continue to evolve today. Whereas most communications traditionally occurred through the media, via postal mail, or over a telephone, the adoption and use of electronic communications via email and social... |
crs_RS22675 | crs_RS22675_0 | In March 2007, Prime Minister Margoyan died, and President Kocharyan appointed then-Defense Minister Serzh Sargisyan as the new prime minister. The political campaign was mostly calm. Implications for Armenia
Since President Kocharyan is constitutionally limited to two terms, the parties showing well in the legislativ... | This report discusses the campaign and results of Armenia's May 12, 2007, legislative election and examines implications for Armenian and U.S. interests. Many observers viewed the election as marking some democratization progress. The Republican Party of Armenia increased its number of seats to a near-majority and term... |
crs_R42644 | crs_R42644_0 | It compares the President's request for FY2013 funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the enacted FY2012 appropriations for DHS, the House-passed and Senate-reported DHS appropriations legislation for FY2013, and the final DHS appropriations legislation included in Division D of P.L. Most Recent Develop... | This report describes the FY2013 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Administration requested $39.510 billion in adjusted net discretionary budget authority for DHS for FY2013, as part of an overall budget of $59.501 billion (including fees, trust funds, and other funding that is not appro... |
crs_RS22660 | crs_RS22660_0 | The bill contains the same text as S. 525 and H.R. Under current law, it is illegal for anyone to import a prescription drug other than its manufacturer. Permitted Countries
Current law would allow the importation of prescription drugs from Canada, if the HHS Secretary were to certify that the program of importation w... | Current law prohibits the importation of a prescription drug by anyone other than its manufacturer. S. 1232 would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to change that. It would allow commercial and personal-use importation. The legislation would create a detailed set of procedures to address concerns relating ... |
crs_R40180 | crs_R40180_0 | Federal water resource construction waned during the last decades of the 20 th century in response to fiscal constraints, interest in more local control of water and land resources, and requirements to assess environmental impacts of federal actions and to protect fish and wildlife. Even so, demand continues for tradit... | The federal government is involved in management of water resources throughout the country, primarily through construction, operation, and management of numerous infrastructure projects, such as dams, levees, and navigation works. Increasingly, the federal government is also involved in ecosystem restoration and protec... |
crs_RS20991 | crs_RS20991_0 | Next, a time line for solving the problem should be determined. Should the event(s) be held in the Member's district or state, in Washington, or throughout the country? Outline for Project
Goal
What criteria are used to determine success? Legislative success? Has the project ever been tried in the past? Is the proj... | The Congressional Research Service frequently receives inquiries about legislative planning. Legislative and office action plans are often used by congressional offices for almost every significant project, from organizing an extensive conference in the district or state to introducing and guiding legislation. A major ... |
crs_R41507 | crs_R41507_0 | The energy sector is the fastest-growing water consumer in the United States. Projections attribute to the energy sector 85% of the growth in domestic water consumption between 2005 and 2030. Much of the energy sector's growing water demand is concentrated in water-constrained regions. Whether the energy sector helps e... | The energy choices before Congress represent vastly different demands on domestic freshwater because water is used in varying amounts in most aspects of the energy sector. Transitions in the energy sector, such as the pursuit of greater energy independence and security, produce changes in how much and where the energy ... |
crs_RL30878 | crs_RL30878_0 | Fossil fuel fired electric generating facilities are major emitters of gases (see table 1), with clean air controls currently directed at three pollutants: sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulates (PM). For many years the complexity of the air quality control regime has caused some observers to c... | Fossil fuel fired electric generating facilities are major sources of air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and mercury (Hg), and of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). A patchwork of regulations to limit PM, SO 2 , and NOx emissions exists, with furthe... |
crs_R41169 | crs_R41169_0 | Introduction
In an April 2009 speech in Prague, President Obama said that nuclear terrorism is the "most immediate and extreme threat to global security," and announced "a new international effort to secure all vulnerable nuclear material around the world within four years." To mobilize world leaders to meet this goa... | In an April 2009 speech in Prague, President Obama pledged that his Administration would launch "a new international effort to secure all vulnerable nuclear material around the world within four years." To motivate world leaders to achieve this goal, the President hosted a Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, on ... |
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