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| Date Nov. 26, 2008 |
Report No. 98-728 |
Title
Order Code 98-728 Updated November 26, 2008 Bills, Resolutions, Nominations, and Treaties: Characteristics, Requirements, and Uses Richard S. Beth Specialist on the Congress and Legislative Process Government and Finance Division In each chamber of Congress, four forms of legislative measure may be introduced (or, for resolutions, submitted) and acted on: bills, joint resolutions, concurrent ...
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| Date Nov. 26, 2008 |
Report No. 98-611 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress From the earliest days of the federal government, Presidents, exercising magisterial or executive power not unlike that of a monarch, from time to time have issued directives establishing new policy, decreeing the commencement or cessation of some action, or ordaining that notice be given to some declaration. The instruments used by Presidents in ...
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| Date Nov. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL32682 |
Title
Order Code RL32682 Children in Poverty: Profile, Trends, and Issues Updated November 25, 2008 Vee Burke, Thomas Gabe, and Gene Falk Domestic Social Policy Division Children in Poverty: Profile, Trends, and Issues Summary Child poverty persists as a social and economic concern in the United States. In 2007 12.8 million children (17.6% all children) were considered poor under the official U.S. ...
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| Date Nov. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL32554 |
Title
Order Code RL32554 An Overview of Tax Benefits for Higher Education Expenses Updated November 25, 2008 Pamela J. Jackson Specialist in Public Finance Government and Finance Division Christian Gonzalez Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division An Overview of Tax Benefits for Higher Education Expenses Summary Government subsidies for education are available at the ...
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| Date Nov. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL33800 |
Title
Order Code RL33800 Water Quality Issues in the 110th Congress: Oversight and Implementation Updated November 25, 2008 Claudia Copeland Specialist in Resource and Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Water Quality Issues in the 110th Congress: Oversight and Implementation Summary Although much progress has been made in achieving the ambitious goals that Congress ...
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| Date Nov. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL34158 |
Title
Order Code RL34158 The New GSE Affordable Housing Funds: The Housing Trust Fund and the Capital Magnet Fund Updated November 25, 2008 N. Eric Weiss Specialist in Financial Economics Government and Finance Division Katie Jones Analyst in Housing Domestic Social Policy Division The New GSE Affordable Housing Funds: The Housing Trust Fund and the Capital Magnet Fund Summary One key feature of the ...
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| Date Nov. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL34021 |
Title
Order Code RL34021 Iran: Ethnic and Religious Minorities Updated November 25, 2008 Hussein D. Hassan Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group Iran: Ethnic and Religious Minorities Summary Iran is home to approximately 70.5 million people who are ethnically, religiously, and linguistically diverse. The central authority is dominated by Persians who constitute 51% of Iran s ...
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| Date Nov. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL31595 |
Title
Order Code RL31595 Organic Agriculture in the United States: Program and Policy Issues Updated November 25, 2008 Ren e Johnson Specialist in Agricultural Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Organic Agriculture in the United States: Program and Policy Issues Summary Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) in 1990 as part of a larger law governing U.S. Department of ...
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| Date Nov. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL34662 |
Title
Order Code RL34662 Tax Basis: What Is It? Why Is It Important? Updated November 25, 2008 Carol A. Pettit Legislative Attorney American Law Division Tax Basis: What Is It? Why Is It Important? Summary Tax basis is one factor used to determine the income tax consequences when an item is disposed of, whether by sale, abandonment, or contribution. The initial basis is usually cost; however, the basis ...
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| Date Nov. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RS22711 |
Title
Order Code RS22711 Updated November 25, 2008 Considering Regular Appropriations Bills on the House Floor: Current Practice Regarding Comprehensive Unanimous Consent Agreements Christopher M. Davis Analyst on the Congress and Legislative Process Government and Finance Division Summary Regular appropriations bills have traditionally been considered in the House of Representatives under the terms of ...
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| Date Nov. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL34366 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress The Electronic Voting System in the House of Representatives was used for the first time on January 23, 1973, 87 years after the first proposal to use an automated system to record votes was introduced. The concept of automated voting dates even farther back to 1869, when Thomas Edison filed a patent for his vote recorder and demonstrated the system ...
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| Date Nov. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL31121 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress On June 20, 2000, congressional leaders of both parties gathered to participate in a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). The center, which is officially open to the public on December 2, 2008, was designed to enhance the security, educational experience, and comfort of those visiting the U.S. Capitol. The decision ...
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| Date Nov. 24, 2008 |
Report No. RL34150 |
Title
Order Code RL34150 Climate Change and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS): Kyoto and Beyond Updated November 24, 2008 Larry Parker Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Climate Change and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS): Kyoto and Beyond Summary The European Union s (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is a cornerstone of the EU s efforts to ...
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| Date Nov. 24, 2008 |
Report No. RL34412 |
Title
Order Code RL34412 Containing Financial Crisis Updated November 24, 2008 Mark Jickling Specialist in Financial Economics Government and Finance Division Containing Financial Crisis Summary There is no precise definition of financial crisis, but a common view is that disruptions in financial markets rise to the level of a crisis when the flow of credit to households and businesses is constrained ...
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| Date Nov. 24, 2008 |
Report No. RS22989 |
Title
Order Code RS22989 November 24, 2008 The World Bank s Clean Technology Fund (CTF) Martin A. Weiss Specialist in International Trade and Finance Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Jeffrey Logan Specialist in Energy Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Section Summary The United States Treasury has led efforts to create a $10 billion Clean Technology Fund (CTF), located at the World ...
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| Date Nov. 21, 2008 |
Report No. RL33542 |
Title
Order Code RL33542 Broadband Internet Regulation and Access: Background and Issues Updated November 21, 2008 Angele A. Gilroy Specialist in Telecommunications Resources, Science, and Industry Division Lennard G. Kruger Specialist in Science and Technology Resources, Science, and Industry Division Broadband Internet Regulation and Access: Background and Issues Summary Broadband or high-speed ...
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| Date Nov. 21, 2008 |
Report No. RL34763 |
Title
Order Code RL34763 Islamist Militancy in the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Region and U.S. Policy November 21, 2008 K. Alan Kronstadt Specialist in South Asian Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Kenneth Katzman Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Islamist Militancy in the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Region and U.S. Policy Summary ...
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| Date Nov. 21, 2008 |
Report No. RS21687 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Ecuador, a small, oil-producing country in the Andean region of South America, has experienced ten years of political and economic instability. On January 15, 2007, Rafael Correa, a left-leaning, U.S.-trained economist, was inaugurated to a four-year presidential term, becoming the country s eighth president in ten years. President Correa has ...
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| Date Nov. 21, 2008 |
Report No. RL34658 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress The safety of construction workers who toil in close proximity to cranes garnered congressional attention after tower cranes were involved in multiple fatalities at buildings under construction in 2008 (e.g., nine deaths in two incidents in New York City). Additional crane-related fatalities occurred since the House Education and Labor Committee ...
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| Date Nov. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RL34756 |
Title
Order Code RL34756 Nonmarital Childbearing: Trends, Reasons, and Public Policy Interventions November 20, 2008 Carmen Solomon-Fears Specialist in Social Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Nonmarital Childbearing: Trends, Reasons, and Public Policy Interventions Summary In 2006, a record 38.5% of all United States births were nonmarital births. Many of these children grow up in mother-only ...
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| Date Nov. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RL33818 |
Title
Order Code RL33818 Federal Budget Process Reform in the 110th Congress: A Brief Overview Updated November 20, 2008 Robert Keith Specialist in American National Government Government and Finance Division Federal Budget Process Reform in the 110th Congress: A Brief Overview Summary During the 110th Congress, the House and Senate have faced a wide array of budget process reform proposals, pertaining ...
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| Date Nov. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RS22555 |
Title
Order Code RS22555 Updated November 20, 2008 Membership of the 110th Congress: A Profile Mildred Amer Specialist on the Congress Government and Finance Division Summary This report presents a profile of the membership of the 110th Congress. Statistical information is included on selected characteristics of Members, including data on party affiliation, average age and length of service, occupation, ...
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| Date Nov. 20, 2008 |
Report No. 97-831 |
Title
Order Code 97-831 Updated November 20, 2008 Clean Water Act and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) of Pollutants Claudia Copeland Specialist in Resources and Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to identify waters that are impaired by pollution, even after application of pollution controls. For those waters, ...
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| Date Nov. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RL34300 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) procedures play an important role in enforcing budget policies with respect to the consideration of revenue and direct spending legislation. Generally, the purpose of PAYGO procedures is to discourage or prevent the enactment of legislation that would cause, or increase, a deficit or reduce a surplus. PAYGO procedures are not a ...
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| Date Nov. 19, 2008 |
Report No. RS22958 |
Title
Order Code RS22958 Updated November 19, 2008 Mental Health Parity: An Overview Ramya Sundararaman Public Health Policy Analyst Domestic Social Policy Division Summary Mental health parity laws aim to eliminate disparities in insurance coverage of mental illness and other physical illnesses. A partial federal mental health parity law, which requires parity only for annual and lifetime limits in ...
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| Date Nov. 19, 2008 |
Report No. RS22065 |
Title
Order Code RS22065 Updated November 19, 2008 Military Base Closures: Cleanup of Contaminated Properties for Civilian Reuse David M. Bearden Specialist in Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary In 2005, the 109th Congress approved a new Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round. As the Department of Defense (DOD) implements the new round, issues for Congress include ...
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| Date Nov. 19, 2008 |
Report No. RS22987 |
Title
Order Code RS22987 November 19, 2008 National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF): Credit Union Deposit Insurance Pauline Smale Economic Analyst Government and Finance Division Summary The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF) is the federal deposit insurance fund for credit unions. This insurance fund is administered by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), an ...
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| Date Nov. 18, 2008 |
Report No. RL31764 |
Title
Order Code RL31764 Spectrum Management: Auctions Updated November 18, 2008 Linda K. Moore Analyst in Telecommunications and Technology Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Spectrum Management: Auctions Summary Radio frequency spectrum policy issues before Congress are characterized by economic, technological and regulatory complexity. Of particular interest to policy makers are the ...
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| Date Nov. 17, 2008 |
Report No. RL34648 |
Title
Order Code RL34648 Bush Administration Policy Regarding Congressionally Originated Earmarks: An Overview Updated November 17, 2008 Clinton T. Brass, Garrett L. Hatch, and R. Eric Petersen Government and Finance Division Bush Administration Policy Regarding Congressionally Originated Earmarks: An Overview Summary During the 110th Congress, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the George W. ...
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| Date Nov. 17, 2008 |
Report No. RL34748 |
Title
Order Code RL34748 Developments in Oil Shale November 17, 2008 Anthony Andrews Specialist, Energy and Energy Infrastructure Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Developments in Oil Shale Summary The Green River oil shale formation in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming is estimated to hold the equivalent of 1.38 trillion barrels of oil equivalent in place. The shale is generally acknowledged ...
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| Date Nov. 17, 2008 |
Report No. RL34343 |
Title
Order Code RL34343 Tax Reform: An Overview of Proposals in the 110th Congress Updated November 17, 2008 James M. Bickley Specialist in Public Finance Government and Finance Division Tax Reform: An Overview of Proposals in the 110th Congress Summary Tax reform has been of congressional interest in the 110th Congress. This report examines three main categories of tax reform: fundamental tax reform, ...
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| Date Nov. 14, 2008 |
Report No. RS22985 |
Title
Order Code RS22985 November 14, 2008 Fast Track Parliamentary Procedures of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act Christopher M. Davis Analyst on the Congress and Legislative Process Government and Finance Division Summary The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Division A of H.R. 1424, P.L. 110-343) empowers the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase certain troubled assets as a means ...
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| Date Nov. 13, 2008 |
Report No. RL33792 |
Title
Order Code RL33792 Federal Lands Managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service (FS): Issues for the 110th Congress Updated November 13, 2008 Ross W. Gorte, Carol Hardy Vincent, and Marc Humphries Resources, Science, and Industry Division Kristina Alexander American Law Division Federal Lands Managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service (FS): Issues ...
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| Date Nov. 13, 2008 |
Report No. RL34746 |
Title
Order Code RL34746 Power Plants: Characteristics and Costs November 13, 2008 Stan Kaplan Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Power Plants: Costs and Characteristics Summary This report analyzes the factors that determine the cost of electricity from new power plants. These factors including construction costs, fuel expense, environmental ...
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| Date Nov. 13, 2008 |
Report No. RL34743 |
Title
Order Code RL34743 Federal Loans to the Auto Industry Under the Energy Independence and Security Act November 13, 2008 Stephen Cooney Specialist in Industrial Organization and Business Resources, Science, and Industry Division Brent D. Yacobucci Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Federal Loans to the Auto Industry Under the Energy Independence ...
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| Date Nov. 13, 2008 |
Report No. RL33521 |
Title
Order Code RL33521 Gasoline Prices: Causes of Volatility and Congressional Response Updated November 13, 2008 Carl E. Behrens Specialist in Energy Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Carol Glover Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group Gasoline Prices: Causes of Volatility and Congressional Response Summary The high price of gasoline has been and continues to be a ...
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| Date Nov. 13, 2008 |
Report No. RL34638 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Food and Drug Administration (FDA) funding for the first five months of FY2009 is provided in the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2009 (the CR), which is Division A of the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 110329). It allows most agencies to continue at the same rate of spending as set by ...
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| Date Nov. 12, 2008 |
Report No. 93-875 |
Title
Order Code 93-875 Expulsion and Censure Actions Taken by the Full Senate Against Members Updated November 12, 2008 Jack Maskell Legislative Attorney American Law Division Expulsion and Censure Actions Taken by the Full Senate Against Members Summary The authority of the United States Senate (as well as of the House) to establish the rules for its own proceedings, to punish its Members for ...
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| Date Nov. 10, 2008 |
Report No. RL34737 |
Title
Order Code RL34737 Homeland Emergency Preparedness and the National Exercise Program: Background, Policy Implications, and Issues for Congress November 10, 2008 R. Eric Petersen, Coordinator and Bruce R. Lindsay Government and Finance Division Lawrence Kapp Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Edward C. Liu; David Randall Peterman American Law Division; Resources, Science, and Industry ...
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| Date Nov. 10, 2008 |
Report No. 98-401 |
Title
Order Code 98-401 GOV Updated November 10, 2008 House Administrative Officers and Officials Lorraine H. Tong Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division Article I, Section 2 of the U. S. Constitution empowers the House of Representatives to choose its Speaker and other officers. The Constitution does not specifically identify the other officers, who currently are the ...
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| Date Nov. 10, 2008 |
Report No. RL33882 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Recent and projected large federal budget deficits have generated congressional interest in the feasibility of raising revenue by reducing the tax gap. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) defines the gross tax gap as the difference between the aggregate tax liability imposed by law for a given tax year and the amount of tax that taxpayers pay ...
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| Date Nov. 7, 2008 |
Report No. RL34067 |
Title
Order Code RL34067 Climate Change Legislation in the 110th Congress Updated November 7, 2008 Jonathan L. Ramseur Analyst in Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Brent D. Yacobucci Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Climate Change Legislation in the 110th Congress Summary Congressional interest in climate change ...
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| Date Nov. 6, 2008 |
Report No. RL33731 |
Title
Order Code RL33731 Education for the Disadvantaged: Reauthorization Issues for ESEA Title I-A Under the No Child Left Behind Act Updated November 6, 2008 Wayne C. Riddle Specialist in Education Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Education for the Disadvantaged: Reauthorization Issues for ESEA Title I-A Under the No Child Left Behind Act Summary Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary ...
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| Date Nov. 6, 2008 |
Report No. RL34696 |
Title
Order Code RL34696 The 2008 Farm Bill: Major Provisions and Legislative Action Updated November 6, 2008 Ren e Johnson, Coordinator, Geoffrey S. Becker, Tom Capehart, Ralph M. Chite, Tadlock Cowan, Ross W. Gorte, Charles E. Hanrahan, Remy Jurenas, Jim Monke, Jean M. Rawson, Randy Schnepf Resources, Science, and Industry Division Joe Richardson Domestic Social Policy Division Donald J. Marples, Mark ...
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| Date Nov. 6, 2008 |
Report No. RL34739 |
Title
Order Code RL34739 Temporary Farm Labor: The H-2A Program and the U.S. Department of Labor s Proposed Changes in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) November 6, 2008 Gerald Mayer Analyst in Labor Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Temporary Farm Labor: The H-2A Program and the U.S. Department of Labor s Proposed Changes in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) Summary The H-2A temporary ...
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| Date Nov. 5, 2008 |
Report No. RL34734 |
Title
Order Code RL34734 Argentina: Background and U.S. Relations November 5, 2008 Mark P. Sullivan Specialist in Latin American Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Argentina: Background and U.S. Relations Summary A South American nation with a population of around 40 million, Argentina returned to elected civilian democracy in 1983 after seven years of harsh military rule. In 2001-2002 ...
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| Date Nov. 5, 2008 |
Report No. RS22981 |
Title
Order Code RS22981 November 5, 2008 The Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIG TARP) Vanessa K. Burrows Legislative Attorney American Law Division Summary This report discusses the Special Inspector General provisions in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, H.R. 1424, which was enacted as P.L. 110-343 on October 3, 2008. This Act created a Special ...
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| Date Nov. 5, 2008 |
Report No. RL34572 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Roughly a dozen chemicals known as phthalates are used to make the plastics found in thousands of consumer products, ranging from medical tubing to automotive dashboards to bath toys. These phthalates are not tightly held by the plastics and are released into the environment over time. Congress is concerned about possible human health effects from ...
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| Date Nov. 4, 2008 |
Report No. RL33879 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress A number of housing-related issues have been prominent in the 110th Congress. Possibly the most visible issue is the prevalence of subprime loans and growing mortgage default and foreclosure rates. On July 30, 2008, the President signed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-289) into law. In order to assist troubled borrowers, P.L. ...
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| Date Nov. 3, 2008 |
Report No. RL33776 |
Title
Order Code RL33776 Clean Air Issues in the 110th Congress: Climate Change, Air Quality Standards, and Oversight Updated November 3, 2008 James E. McCarthy Specialist in Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Clean Air Issues in the 110th Congress: Climate Change, Air Quality Standards, and Oversight Summary Attention to environmental issues in the 110th Congress focused ...
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