|
Date ↓
|
Report No.
|
Title |
| Date Oct. 31, 2008 |
Report No. RL33226 |
Title
Order Code RL33226 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Legislation for Disaster Assistance: Summary Data Updated October 31, 2008 Justin Murray Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group Bruce R. Lindsay Analyst in Emergency Management Policy Government and Finance Division Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Legislation for Disaster Assistance: Summary Data Summary This report ...
|
| Date Oct. 31, 2008 |
Report No. RL34625 |
Title
Order Code RL34625 Gasoline and Oil Prices Updated October 31, 2008 Robert Pirog Specialist in Energy Economics Resources, Science, and Industry Division Gasoline and Oil Prices Summary American gasoline consumers faced rapidly escalating prices during the first half of 2008, followed by declining prices in the second half. As prices increased to over $4.00 per gallon, consumers faced difficult ...
|
| Date Oct. 31, 2008 |
Report No. RL34727 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Senate Amendment 5662, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2008, was submitted as an amendment intended to be proposed to H.R. 5151 on September 26, 2008. Two existing packages have been paired to form S.Amdt. 5662: S. 3213 is a collection of over 90 individual bills which is on the Senate calendar, was combined with an additional 53 bills ...
|
| Date Oct. 31, 2008 |
Report No. RS22722 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Rising defaults in the subprime mortgage market have drawn attention to the regulatory framework for mortgage lending. Traditionally, banks subject to federal regulation have extended loans to potential home buyers and kept the loans in their own portfolios. Alternatively, mortgage lenders can sell their loans to the secondary market, where the ...
|
| Date Oct. 30, 2008 |
Report No. RL33578 |
Title
Order Code RL33578 Energy Tax Policy: History and Current Issues Updated October 30, 2008 Salvatore Lazzari Specialist in Energy and Environmental Economics Resources, Science, and Industry Division Energy Tax Policy: History and Current Issues Summary 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 ...
|
| Date Oct. 30, 2008 |
Report No. RS22813 |
Title
Order Code RS22813 Updated October 30, 2008 The U.S. Postal Service s Use of Contractors to Deliver Mail Kevin R. Kosar Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division Summary During the 110th Congress, three measures, H.Res. 282, S. 1457, and H.R. 4236, have been introduced to address the U.S. Postal Service s (USPS s) use of private contractors to deliver mail. This ...
|
| Date Oct. 29, 2008 |
Report No. RL34483 |
Title
Order Code RL34483 Runaway and Homeless Youth: Reauthorization Legislation and Issues in the 110th Congress Updated October 29, 2008 Adrienne L. Fernandes Analyst in Social Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Runaway and Homeless Youth: Reauthorization Legislation and Issues in the 110th Congress Summary The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) was signed into law in 1974 as Title III of the ...
|
| Date Oct. 29, 2008 |
Report No. 98-856E |
Title
Order Code 98-856 E Updated October 29, 2008 Federal Reserve Interest Rate Changes: 2001-2008 Marc Labonte and Gail E. Makinen Government and Finance Division Summary The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decided at its scheduled meeting held on October 29 to lower the target rate for federal funds to 1% from 1 % set at its unscheduled meeting of October 8, 2008. In making its decision to ...
|
| Date Oct. 29, 2008 |
Report No. RL33820 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress This report provides a detailed history of mental health parity legislation, including a discussion of bills introduced in each Congress, and accompanying legislative action, including hearings, markups, and floor votes. The legislation is in response to concerns about the coverage of mental health benefits in group health plans, which is often more ...
|
| Date Oct. 28, 2008 |
Report No. RL34699 |
Title
Order Code RL34699 The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights: History, Funding, and Current Issues Updated October 28, 2008 Garrine P. Laney Analyst in Social Policy Domestic Social Policy Division The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights: History, Funding, and Current Issues Summary The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was enacted to investigate issues concerning the civil rights of American citizens. Among other ...
|
| Date Oct. 28, 2008 |
Report No. RL34236 |
Title
Order Code RL34236 Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: Changes to the Regulation of Their Mortgage Portfolios Updated October 28, 2008 N. Eric Weiss Specialist in Financial Economics Government and Finance Division Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: Changes to the Regulation of Their Mortgage Portfolios Summary This report analyzes the costs and benefits of the Fannie Mae s and Freddie Mac s retained portfolios ...
|
| Date Oct. 28, 2008 |
Report No. RL33652 |
Title
Order Code RL33652 The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): Congressional Issues Updated October 28, 2008 Luisa Blanchfield Analyst in International Relations Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): Congressional Issues Summary The U.N. Convention on the ...
|
| Date Oct. 27, 2008 |
Report No. RL32824 |
Title
Order Code RL32824 Federal Crime Control: Background, Legislation, and Issues Updated October 27, 2008 Kristin M. Finklea Analyst in Crime Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Lisa M. Seghetti Specialist in Domestic Security and Immigration Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Federal Crime Control: Background, Legislation, and Issues Summary States and localities have the primary ...
|
| Date Oct. 27, 2008 |
Report No. RS22716 |
Title
Order Code RS22716 Updated October 27, 2008 Family Caregiving to the Older Population: Recent and Proposed Legislation Kirsten J. Colello Analyst in Gerontology Domestic Social Policy Division Summary It is estimated that about 5.5 million adults aged 65 and older, or 16% of the U.S. population 65 and older, receive long-term care services and supports.1 Of those older Americans who receive long- ...
|
| Date Oct. 27, 2008 |
Report No. RS22975 |
Title
Order Code RS22975 October 27, 2008 Haiti: Post-Hurricane Conditions and Assistance Maureen Taft-Morales and Mark P. Sullivan Specialists in Latin American Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary In August and September 2008, four major storms directly hit or passed close to Haiti, causing widespread devastation. As of early October, 2008, the U.S. government has either ...
|
| Date Oct. 27, 2008 |
Report No. RS22977 |
Title
Order Code RS22977 October 27, 2008 Azerbaijan s October 2008 Presidential Election: Outcome and Implications Jim Nichol Specialist in Russian and Eurasian Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary This report discusses the win by incumbent Ilkham Aliyev in Azerbaijan s October 15, 2008, presidential election. It describes the campaign and results, and examines implications for ...
|
| Date Oct. 24, 2008 |
Report No. RL34598 |
Title
Order Code RL34598 Veterans Medical Care: FY2009 Appropriations Updated October 24, 2008 Sidath Viranga Panangala Analyst in Veterans Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Veterans Medical Care: FY2009 Appropriations Summary The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides benefits to veterans who meet certain eligibility rules. Benefits to veterans range from disability compensation and pensions ...
|
| Date Oct. 24, 2008 |
Report No. RL33381 |
Title
Order Code RL33381 The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources During a Pandemic Updated October 24, 2008 Nancy Lee Jones Legislative Attorney American Law Division The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources During a Pandemic Summary The emergence and rapid spread of a new avian influenza virus (H5N1) and its potential ...
|
| Date Oct. 24, 2008 |
Report No. RL34720 |
Title
Order Code RL34720 Reporting Issues Under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act October 24, 2008 Darryl E. Getter Specialist in Financial Economics Government and Finance Division Reporting Issues Under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act Summary Recent developments in the subprime home loan market have triggered concern in Congress and the public at large as to whether borrowers were fully informed about ...
|
| Date Oct. 24, 2008 |
Report No. RL34637 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress In the absence of comprehensive federal health care reform, states and localities have undertaken certain initiatives in an effort to expand the provision of health care to residents. One type of measure has been the fair share law, which generally requires employers to choose between paying a certain amount towards health expenditures or coverage ...
|
| Date Oct. 23, 2008 |
Report No. RL34723 |
Title
Order Code RL34723 Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 2000-2007 October 23, 2008 Richard F. Grimmett Specialist in International Security Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 2000-2007 Summary This report is prepared annually to provide Congress with official, unclassified, quantitative data on conventional arms transfers ...
|
| Date Oct. 23, 2008 |
Report No. RL34380 |
Title
Order Code RL34380 The Executive Schedule IV Pay Cap on General Schedule Compensation Updated October 23, 2008 Curtis W. Copeland Specialist in American National Government Government and Finance Division The Executive Schedule IV Pay Cap on General Schedule Compensation Summary Annual pay adjustments for about 1.3 million employees under the General Schedule (GS) and certain other systems are ...
|
| Date Oct. 23, 2008 |
Report No. RS22325 |
Title
Order Code RS22325 Updated October 23, 2008 Methamphetamine: Legislation and Issues in the 110th Congress Celinda Franco Specialist in Social Legislation Domestic Social Policy Division Summary Illicit methamphetamine (MA) production and use are longstanding and severe problems in some states. In recent years, concerns were raised that this drug problem was spreading nationwide, and MA issues ...
|
| Date Oct. 22, 2008 |
Report No. RL34324 |
Title
Order Code RL34324 Campaign Finance: Legislative Developments and Policy Issues in the 110th Congress Updated October 22, 2008 R. Sam Garrett Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division Campaign Finance: Legislative Developments and Policy Issues in the 110th Congress Summary During the 110th Congress, the House and Senate s campaign finance work has overlapped in three ...
|
| Date Oct. 22, 2008 |
Report No. RL32658 |
Title
Order Code RL32658 Wind Energy: Offshore Permitting Updated October 22, 2008 Adam Vann Legislative Attorney American Law Division Wind Energy: Offshore Permitting Summary Technological advancements and tax incentives have driven a global expansion in the development of renewable energy resources. Wind energy, in particular, is now often cited as the fastest growing commercial energy source in the ...
|
| Date Oct. 22, 2008 |
Report No. RS22974 |
Title
Order Code RS22974 October 22, 2008 Annuities and the Securities and Exchange Commission Proposed Rule 151A Baird Webel Analyst in Financial Economics Government and Finance Division Summary The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently released a proposed rule that would effectively reclassify equity indexed annuities as a security product in addition to being an insurance product. Since ...
|
| Date Oct. 22, 2008 |
Report No. RS22627 |
Title
Order Code RS22627 Updated October 22, 2008 Who Are the Middle Class ? Brian W. Cashell Specialist in Quantitative Economics Government and Finance Division Summary There is no consensus definition of middle class, neither is there an official government definition. What constitutes the middle class is relative, subjective, and not easily defined. The mid-point in the distribution is the median, ...
|
| Date Oct. 21, 2008 |
Report No. RL33463 |
Title
Order Code RL33463 Trade Negotiations During the 110th Congress Updated October 21, 2008 Ian F. Fergusson Specialist in International Trade and Finance Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Trade Negotiations During the 110th Congress Summary The Bush Administration has made bilateral and regional free-trade agreements (FTAs) an important element of U.S. trade policy, a strategy known as ...
|
| Date Oct. 21, 2008 |
Report No. RL34546 |
Title
Wind Power in the United States: Technology, Economic, and Policy Issues Stan Mark Kaplan Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy October 21, 2008 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL34546 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Wind Power in the United States: Technology, Economic, and Policy Issues Summary Rising energy prices and concern ...
|
| Date Oct. 21, 2008 |
Report No. RL34715 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress The child tax credit was enacted in 1997, as Congress addressed concerns that the income tax structure did not adequately reflect a family s reduced ability to pay taxes as family size increased. Initially, for tax year 1998, families with qualifying children under the age of 17 were allowed a credit against their federal income tax of $400 for each ...
|
| Date Oct. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RL34232 |
Title
Order Code RL34232 The Process, Data, and Costs of Mortgage Foreclosure Updated October 20, 2008 Darryl E. Getter and N. Eric Weiss Specialists in Financial Economics Government and Finance Division Oscar R. Gonzales Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division David H. Carpenter Legislative Attorney American Law Division The Process, Data, and Costs of Mortgage ...
|
| Date Oct. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RL34529 |
Title
Order Code RL34529 Pay-for-Performance: Linking Employee Pay to Performance Appraisal Updated October 20, 2008 Wendy Ginsberg Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division Pay-for-Performance: Linking Employee Pay to Performance Appraisal Summary In many occupations today, pay is intended to reflect employee performance or how effectively, efficiently, or thoroughly one ...
|
| Date Oct. 20, 2008 |
Report No. 95-353 |
Title
Order Code 95-353 Updated October 20, 2008 Federal Farm Promotion ( Check-Off ) Programs Geoffrey S. Becker Specialist in Agricultural Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary The U.S. Supreme Court in 2005 affirmed the constitutionality of the so-called beef check-off program, one of the 18 generic promotion programs for agricultural products that are now active nationally. ...
|
| Date Oct. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RS22972 |
Title
Order Code RS22972 October 20, 2008 The Senate: An Overview Walter Oleszek Senior Specialist in American National Government Government and Finance Division Summary Decisions made at the Constitutional Convention about the Senate still shape its organization and operation today. Several of these features merit discussion, because they highlight important and enduring characteristics of the Senate. ...
|
| Date Oct. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RL32514 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress The constitutional standard by which laws that burden an individual s First Amendment right to exercise his religion are measured has evolved over the last half-century through U.S. Supreme Court decisions and legislative action by Congress in response to those decisions. After decades of requiring that laws burdening the free exercise of religion ...
|
| Date Oct. 17, 2008 |
Report No. RL34425 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress This report traces the legislative history of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA; P.L. 107-16) and its extensions, shows their time line, and provides a general overview of their implications and revenue effects. The report focuses on the measures that extend or curtail the key tax relief provisions of EGTRRA and ...
|
| Date Oct. 17, 2008 |
Report No. RS22970 |
Title
Order Code RS22970 October 17, 2008 Are Carbon Dioxide Emissions Rising More Rapidly Than Expected? Jane A. Leggett Specialist in Environmental and Energy Policy Resources, Science and Industry Division Jeffrey Logan Specialist in Energy Policy Resources, Science and Industry Division Summary At least one recent report and numerous news articles suggest that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are ...
|
| Date Oct. 16, 2008 |
Report No. RL33985 |
Title
Order Code RL33985 Veterans Benefits: Issues in the 110th Congress Updated October 16, 2008 Carol D. Davis, Coordinator, and Shannon S. Loane Knowledge Services Group Christine Scott, Libby Perl, and David P. Smole Domestic Social Policy Division Douglas Reid Weimer American Law Division Veterans Benefits: Issues in the 110th Congress Summary Congressional interest in benefits for veterans has ...
|
| Date Oct. 16, 2008 |
Report No. RL34054 |
Title
Order Code RL34054 Public-Private Partnership for a Public Safety Network: Governance and Policy Updated October 16, 2008 Linda K. Moore Analyst in Telecommunications Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Public-Private Partnership for a Public Safety Network: Governance and Policy Summary This report summarizes salient points of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) actions regarding ...
|
| Date Oct. 16, 2008 |
Report No. RL32820 |
Title
Order Code RL32820 Architect of the Capitol: Appointment, Duties, and Current Issues Updated October 16, 2008 Mildred Amer Specialist on the Congress Government and Finance Division Architect of the Capitol: Appointment, Duties, and Current Issues Summary The office of Architect of the Capitol (AOC) dates from 1793, when construction of the Capitol building began. The responsibilities of the ...
|
| Date Oct. 15, 2008 |
Report No. RL34163 |
Title
Order Code RL34163 The Death Penalty: Capital Punishment Legislation in the 110th Congress Updated October 15, 2008 Charles Doyle Senior Specialist American Law Division The Death Penalty: Capital Punishment Legislation in the 110th Congress Summary Most capital offenses are state crimes. In 1994, however, Congress revived the death penalty as a federal sentencing option. More than a few federal ...
|
| Date Oct. 15, 2008 |
Report No. R40056 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress This report provides data and analysis concerning legislative branch staffing levels since 1954. Legislative branch staff include congressional staff, who work in the House or Senate, and legislative agency staff, who work in a legislative branch agency. Legislative branch staff are counted by full-time equivalent (FTE) positions or payroll ...
|
| Date Oct. 15, 2008 |
Report No. RS22719 |
Title
Order Code RS22719 Updated October 15, 2008 Capital Punishment Legislation in the 110th Congress: A Sketch Charles Doyle Senior Specialist in American Public Law American Public Law Division Summary Most capital offenses are state crimes. In 1994, however, Congress revived the death penalty as a federal sentencing option. More than a few federal statutes now proscribe offenses punishable by death. ...
|
| Date Oct. 14, 2008 |
Report No. RL31401 |
Title
Order Code RL31401 The Americans with Disabilities Act: Supreme Court Decisions Updated October 14, 2008 Nancy Lee Jones Legislative Attorney American Law Division The Americans with Disabilities Act: Supreme Court Decisions Summary The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides broad nondiscrimination protection for individuals with disabilities in employment, public services, public ...
|
| Date Oct. 14, 2008 |
Report No. RL34710 |
Title
Order Code RL34710 The Striving Readers Program October 14, 2008 Gail McCallion Specialist in Social Legislation Domestic Social Policy Division The Striving Readers Program Summary Many reports have been issued in recent years summarizing what is known about effective methods for improving adolescent literacy. These reports have also included suggestions for school level responses, as well as ...
|
| Date Oct. 14, 2008 |
Report No. RS20993 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Advances in wireless telecommunications technology are converging with Internet technology to foster new generations of applications and services. Presently, the United States and other countries are moving to third-generation (3G) and fourthgeneration (4G) mobile telephony. The leading choices for 4G technology are Long Term Evolution (LTE) and ...
|
| Date Oct. 10, 2008 |
Report No. 95-406 |
Title
Order Code 95-406 Child Pornography: Constitutional Principles and Federal Statutes Updated October 10, 2008 Henry Cohen Legislative Attorney American Law Division Child Pornography: Constitutional Principles and Federal Statutes Summary The First Amendment provides: Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. Although the First Amendment, in general, protects ...
|
| Date Oct. 10, 2008 |
Report No. RL34587 |
Title
Order Code RL34587 Female Genital Mutilation as Persecution: When Can It Constitute a Basis for Asylum and Withholding of Removal? Updated October 10, 2008 Yule Kim Legislative Attorney American Law Division Female Genital Mutilation as Persecution: When Can It Constitute a Basis for Asylum and Withholding of Removal? Summary Female genital mutilation (FGM) encompasses a wide range of procedures ...
|
| Date Oct. 10, 2008 |
Report No. RS22036 |
Title
Order Code RS22036 Updated October 10, 2008 Expedited Funds Availability/Check-Holds Pauline Smale Economic Analyst Government and Finance Division Summary In 1987, Congress passed the Expedited Funds Availability Act (EFAA),1 which addressed the check-hold policies of depository financial institutions for various types of transaction accounts. The act was meant to ensure timely access to ...
|
| Date Oct. 10, 2008 |
Report No. RS22776 |
Title
Order Code RS22776 Updated October 10, 2008 Military Airlift: The Joint Cargo Aircraft Program Allan Hess National Defense Fellow Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) is a joint acquisition program between the Army and Air Force intended to procure a commercial off-the-shelf aircraft capable of meeting Army and Air Force requirements for intra-theater ...
|
