|
Date ↓
|
Report No.
|
Title |
| Date Aug. 1, 2008 |
Report No. RS22602 |
Title
Order Code RS22602 Updated August 1, 2008 Public Health and Medical Preparedness and Response: Issues in the 110th Congress Sarah A. Lister Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology Domestic Social Policy Division Summary The 2001 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and concerns about an influenza ( flu ) pandemic have sharpened congressional interest in the nation s systems to track and ...
|
| Date Aug. 1, 2008 |
Report No. RL33959 |
Title
Order Code RL33959 Has the Economy Become Less Volatile Over Time? Updated August 1, 2008 Marc Labonte Specialist in Macroeconomic Policy Government and Finance Division Why Has the Economy Become Less Volatile? Summary Congress is concerned with the health of the U.S. economy, which affects the living standards of all Americans. The 2001 recession was unusually mild and brief by historical ...
|
| Date Aug. 1, 2008 |
Report No. RL32194 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Total nonfarm private employment has fallen since the beginning of 2008. Job loss is one of the most important macroeconomic problems facing policymakers, both in terms of its economic and social cost. But what is often missing from the policy debate is a distinction between net job loss and gross job loss. Gross job loss is the total number of jobs ...
|
| Date July 31, 2008 |
Report No. RL34464 |
Title
Order Code RL34464 Tax Gap: Administration Proposal to Require Information Reporting on Merchant Payment Card Reimbursements Updated July 31, 2008 James M. Bickley Specialist in Public Finance Government and Finance Division Tax Gap: Administration Proposal to Require Information Reporting on Merchant Payment Card Reimbursements Summary The high current and forecast budget deficits as well as pay- ...
|
| Date July 31, 2008 |
Report No. RS22264 |
Title
Order Code RS22264 Updated July 31, 2008 Federal Employees: Human Resources Management Flexibilities in Emergency Situations Barbara L. Schwemle Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division Summary Federal executive branch departments and agencies have available to them various human resources management flexibilities which can be utilized in emergency situations, such ...
|
| Date July 31, 2008 |
Report No. RS21834 |
Title
Order Code RS21834 Updated July 31, 2008 U.S. Assistance to North Korea Mark E. Manyin and Mary Beth Nikitin Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary This report summarizes U.S. assistance to the Democratic People s Republic of North Korea (DPRK, also known as North Korea). It will be updated periodically to track changes in U.S. provision of aid to North Korea. Since 1995, the United ...
|
| Date July 31, 2008 |
Report No. RS22547 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Soon after the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations came to a standstill in July 2006, the European Union (EU) announced its intention to enter into more bilateral and regional free trade agreements (FTAs). While the EU historically has been a leading force for preferential trade agreements, its main priority from 2001-2006 was negotiating ...
|
| Date July 30, 2008 |
Report No. RL34283 |
Title
Order Code RL34283 Higher Education Act Reauthorization in the 110th Congress: A Comparison of Major Proposals Updated July 30, 2008 Blake Alan Naughton, Coordinator Analyst in Education Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Rebecca R. Skinner, David P. Smole, Jeffrey J. Kuenzi, and Ann Lordeman Specialists in Education Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Higher Education Act Reauthorization ...
|
| Date July 30, 2008 |
Report No. RL34445 |
Title
Order Code RL34445 Tibet: Problems, Prospects, and U.S. Policy Updated July 30, 2008 Kerry Dumbaugh Specialist in Asian Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Tibet: Problems, Prospects, and U.S. Policy Summary On March 10, 2008, a series of demonstrations began in Lhasa and other Tibetan regions of China to mark the 49th anniversary of an unsuccessful Tibetan uprising against ...
|
| Date July 30, 2008 |
Report No. RS22892 |
Title
Order Code RS22892 Updated July 30, 2008 U.S.-Russian Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: Issues for Congress Mary Beth Nikitin Analyst in Nonproliferation Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary The United States and Russia signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement on May 6, 2008. President Bush submitted the agreement to Congress on May 13. This report discusses key policy ...
|
| Date July 30, 2008 |
Report No. RL32619 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress In the 110th Congress, lawmakers reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) broad new authority to regulate the manufacture, distribution, advertising, promotion, sale, and use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. The House passed H.R. 1108 on July 30, 2008, by a vote of 326-102. The Senate ...
|
| Date July 29, 2008 |
Report No. RL34601 |
Title
Order Code RL34601 Community Acceptance of Carbon Capture and Sequestration Infrastructure: Siting Challenges July 29, 2008 Paul W. Parfomak Specialist in Energy and Infrastructure Resources, Science, and Industry Division Community Acceptance of Carbon Capture and Sequestration Infrastructure: Siting Challenges Summary Congressional policy makers are becoming aware that a national program of ...
|
| Date July 29, 2008 |
Report No. RL31176 |
Title
Order Code RL31176 Financing Issues and Economic Effects of American Wars Updated July 29, 2008 Marc Labonte Specialist in Macroeconomics Government and Finance Division Mindy Levit Analyst in Public Finance Government and Finance Division Financing Issues and Economic Effects of American Wars Summary The increased government outlays associated with wars can be financed in four ways: through ...
|
| Date July 29, 2008 |
Report No. RL34467 |
Title
Order Code RL34467 U.S. Airline Industry: Issues and Role of Congress Updated July 29, 2008 John W. Fischer Specialist in Transportation Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Bart Elias Specialist in Aviation Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Robert S. Kirk Specialist in Transportation Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division U.S. Airline Industry: Issues and Role ...
|
| Date July 29, 2008 |
Report No. RL33572 |
Title
Order Code RL33572 Biofuels Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs Updated July 29, 2008 Brent D. Yacobucci Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Biofuels Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs Summary With recent high energy prices and the passage of major energy legislation in 2005 (P.L. 109-58) and 2007 (P.L. 110-140), there is ongoing ...
|
| Date July 28, 2008 |
Report No. RS22929 |
Title
Order Code RS22929 July 28, 2008 A Brief Overview of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 Shannon S. Loane Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group Summary The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, enacted as Title V of P.L. 110-252 on June 30, 2008, provides enhanced educational benefits for veterans and servicemembers. It establishes the Post ...
|
| Date July 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL31199 |
Title
Order Code RL31199 Medicare: Payments to Physicians Updated July 25, 2008 Jennifer O Sullivan Specialist in Health Care Financing Domestic Social Policy Division Medicare: Payments to Physicians Summary Medicare law specifies a formula for calculating the annual update in payments for physicians services. The formula resulted in an actual negative update in payments per service for 2002. ...
|
| Date July 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL34600 |
Title
Order Code RL34600 Retroactive Immunity Provided by the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 July 25, 2008 Edward C. Liu Legislative Attorney American Law Division Retroactive Immunity Provided by the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 Summary On July 10, 2008, P.L. 110-261, entitled the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, was signed into law. Although many of the changes enacted by the FISA Amendments Act were ...
|
| Date July 25, 2008 |
Report No. 97-508 |
Title
Order Code 97-508 Updated July 25, 2008 Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods Geoffrey S. Becker Specialist in Agricultural Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary The 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171) required retailers to provide country-of-origin labeling for fresh produce, red meats, peanuts, and seafood by September 30, 2004. Congress twice postponed implementation for all but ...
|
| Date July 25, 2008 |
Report No. RS22097 |
Title
Order Code RS22097 Updated July 25, 2008 Balkan Cooperation on War Crimes Issues Julie Kim Specialist in International Relations Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary Balkan cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague has long been an issue of ongoing U.S. and international concern. On July 21, 2008, the Serbian government ...
|
| Date July 24, 2008 |
Report No. RL31698 |
Title
Order Code RL31698 Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA) Under Medicaid Updated July 24, 2008 April Grady Analyst in Health Care Financing Domestic Social Policy Division Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA) Under Medicaid Summary Medicaid, a means-tested federal/state program that provides health care coverage to certain groups of individuals, requires that states continue Medicaid benefits for ...
|
| Date July 24, 2008 |
Report No. RS21387 |
Title
Order Code RS21387 Updated July 24, 2008 United States-Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Free Trade Agreement Negotiations: Background and Potential Issues Danielle Langton Analyst in International Trade and Finance Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary Negotiations to launch a free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and the five members of the Southern African ...
|
| Date July 24, 2008 |
Report No. RS22914 |
Title
Order Code RS22914 Updated July 24, 2008 The Future Role of U.S. Trade Policy: An Overview Wayne M. Morrison and William H. Cooper Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary The United States has become increasingly integrated with the rest of the world economy. This integration has offered benefits and presented challenges to U.S. business, agriculture, labor, and consumers. Those who ...
|
| Date July 24, 2008 |
Report No. RS22449 |
Title
Order Code RS22449 Updated July 24, 2008 U.S. Forces in Iraq JoAnne O Bryant and Michael Waterhouse Information Research Specialists Knowledge Services Group Summary Varying media estimates of military forces in Iraq have raised concerns about the actual number of troops deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Interest in troop level deployments continues in 2008. Last year, a major ...
|
| Date July 23, 2008 |
Report No. RL34592 |
Title
Order Code RL34592 P.L. 110-275: The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 July 23, 2008 Hinda Chaikind, Coordinator Jennifer O Sullivan, Sibyl Tilson, Paulette C. Morgan, Holly Stockdale, Jim Hahn, Gretchen A. Jacobson, Richard Rimkunas, Evelyne P. Baumrucker, April Grady, Jean Hearne, Elicia J. Herz, Julie Stone, Gene Falk, and Emilie Stoltzfus Domestic Social Policy ...
|
| Date July 23, 2008 |
Report No. RL34154 |
Title
Order Code RL34154 Possible Expiration (or Extension) of the 2002 Farm Bill Updated July 23, 2008 Jim Monke, Coordinator, Tadlock Cowan, and Charles E. Hanrahan Resources, Science, and Industry Division Joe Richardson Domestic Social Policy Division Possible Expiration (or Extension) of the 2002 Farm Bill Summary The 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171) authorized an array of agricultural, rural, and ...
|
| Date July 23, 2008 |
Report No. RS22924 |
Title
Order Code RS22924 July 23, 2008 Credit Union, Bank, and Thrift Regulatory Relief Act of 2008 Walter W. Eubanks and Pauline Smale Specialist in Financial Economics and Analyst in Financial Economics Government and Finance Division Summary Credit unions, banks and thrifts (savings associations) are subject to numerous safety, soundness, and consumer protection laws and regulations. Since 2001, both ...
|
| Date July 23, 2008 |
Report No. RS22923 |
Title
Order Code RS22923 July 23, 2008 Department of Defense Fuel Costs in Iraq Anthony Andrews Specialist in Energy and Energy Infrastructure Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Moshe Schwartz Analyst in Defense Acquisition Policy Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary Since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the average price of fuels purchased for military operations in Iraq has ...
|
| Date July 22, 2008 |
Report No. RL34440 |
Title
Order Code RL34440 Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Drought: Species and Ecosystem Management Updated July 22, 2008 M. Lynne Corn Specialist in Natural Resources Resources, Science, and Industry Division Kristina Alexander Legislative Attorney American Law Division Eugene H. Buck Specialist in Natural Resources Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint ...
|
| Date July 22, 2008 |
Report No. RL34495 |
Title
Order Code RL34495 Continuation of Employment Benefits for Senate Restaurant Employees Updated July 22, 2008 Jacob R. Straus Analyst on the Congress Government and Finance Division Continuation of Employment Benefits for Senate Restaurant Employees Summary The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration is reportedly considering contracting the Senate restaurant system to a private vendor. On ...
|
| Date July 22, 2008 |
Report No. RS21659 |
Title
Order Code RS21659 Updated July 22, 2008 NATO s Prague Capabilities Commitment Carl Ek Specialist in International Relations Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary With the end of the Cold War, NATO began to reassess its collective defense strategy and to anticipate possible new missions. The conflicts in the Balkans highlighted the need for more mobile forces, for greater ...
|
| Date July 21, 2008 |
Report No. RL34169 |
Title
Order Code RL34590 FY2009 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Policy Issues July 21, 2008 Lawrence Kapp, Coordinator Specialist in Military Manpower Policy Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division David F. Burrelli and Charles A. Henning Specialists in Military Manpower Policy Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Richard A. Best, Jr. Specialist in National ...
|
| Date July 21, 2008 |
Report No. RL32544 |
Title
Order Code RL32544 High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and High Power Microwave (HPM) Devices: Threat Assessments Updated July 21, 2008 Clay Wilson Specialist in Technology and National Security Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and High Power Microwave (HPM) Devices: Threat Assessments Summary Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) is an ...
|
| Date July 21, 2008 |
Report No. RL32780 |
Title
Order Code RL32780 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Amendments: 110th Congress Updated July 21, 2008 Harold C. Relyea Specialist in American National Government Government and Finance Division Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Amendments: 110th Congress Summary Enacted in 1966 after 11 years of investigation, legislative development, and deliberation in the House and half as many years of such ...
|
| Date July 21, 2008 |
Report No. RL34460 |
Title
Order Code RL34460 Current Law and Selected Proposals Extending Unemployment Compensation Updated July 21, 2008 Julie M. Whittaker Specialist in Income Security Domestic Social Policy Division Current Law and Selected Proposals Extending Unemployment Compensation Summary This report examines recent proposals to create a new temporary extension of unemployment compensation. The recent proposals to ...
|
| Date July 21, 2008 |
Report No. RL34585 |
Title
Order Code RL34585 The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC): An Overview July 21, 2008 Bruce R. Lindsay Analyst in Emergency Management Policy Government and Finance Division The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC): An Overview Summary The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) is an agreement among member states to provide assistance after disasters overwhelm a state ...
|
| Date July 21, 2008 |
Report No. RS22538 |
Title
Order Code RS22538 Updated July 21, 2008 Unemployment Compensation: The Cornerstone of Income Support for Unemployed Workers Julie M. Whittaker Specialist in Economics Domestic Social Policy Division Summary A variety of benefits may be available to unemployed workers to provide them with income support during a spell of unemployment. When eligible workers lose their jobs, the Unemployment ...
|
| Date July 21, 2008 |
Report No. RS22921 |
Title
Order Code RS22921 July 21, 2008 China s Hot Money Problems Michael F. Martin and Wayne M. Morrison Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary 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 ...
|
| Date July 18, 2008 |
Report No. RL34586 |
Title
Order Code RL34586 Child Survival and Maternal Health: U.S. Agency for International Development Programs, FY2001-FY2008 July 18, 2008 Tiaji Salaam-Blyther Specialist in Global Health Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Child Survival and Maternal Health: U.S. Agency for International Development Programs, FY2001-FY2008 Summary Appropriations for child survival and maternal health ...
|
| Date July 18, 2008 |
Report No. RL34588 |
Title
Order Code RL34588 China s Foreign Policy: What Does It Mean for U.S. Global Interests? July 18, 2008 Kerry Dumbaugh Specialist in Asian Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division China s Foreign Policy: What Does It Mean for U.S. Global Interests? Summary Since the late 1990s, China s robust international engagement has caught many by surprise and prompted growing American debate over ...
|
| Date July 18, 2008 |
Report No. RL34332 |
Title
Order Code RL34332 Engineered Nanoscale Materials and Derivative Products: Regulatory Challenges Updated July 18, 2008 Linda-Jo Schierow Specialist in Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Engineered Nanoscale Materials and Derivative Products: Regulatory Challenges Summary Scientists and engineers can now examine, design, and manipulate materials at the molecular level, ...
|
| Date July 18, 2008 |
Report No. RL31766 |
Title
Order Code RL31766 Iraq: United Nations and Humanitarian Aid Organizations Updated July 18, 2008 Thomas Coipuram, Jr. Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group Iraq: United Nations and Humanitarian Aid Organizations Summary Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) overthrew Saddam Hussein s regime in 2003 and a permanent (four-year) Iraqi government is now running the day-to-day operations of ...
|
| Date July 17, 2008 |
Report No. RL34049 |
Title
Order Code RL34049 Community Reinvestment Act: Regulation and Legislation Updated July 17, 2008 Walter W. Eubanks Specialist in Financial Economics Government and Finance Division Community Reinvestment Act: Regulation and Legislation Summary The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) addresses how banking institutions meet credit needs in low- and moderate-income (LMI) neighborhoods and certain other ...
|
| Date July 17, 2008 |
Report No. 98-188 |
Title
House Committee Markup: Vehicle for Consideration and Amendment Updated July 17, 2008 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov 98-188 House Committee Markup: Vehicle for Consideration and Amendment Summary The markup begins with the chair calling up a particular measure for consideration by the committee. The next action depends on the nature of the markup vehicle (i.e., the ...
|
| Date July 17, 2008 |
Report No. RS22904 |
Title
Order Code RS22904 Updated July 17, 2008 Summary of Major Provisions in P.L. 110-275: Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 Hinda Chaikind, Jim Hahn, Paulette C. Morgan, and Jennifer O Sullivan Domestic Social Policy Division Summary P.L. 110-275, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MPPA) became law on July 15, 2008, after Congress overrode a ...
|
| Date July 17, 2008 |
Report No. 98-267 |
Title
Order Code 98-267 GOV Updated July 17, 2008 House Committee Markup: Reporting Judy Schneider Specialist on the Congress Government and Finance Division At the end of the amendment process, the chair normally entertains a motion to report a measure favorably to the House. By House rule, a majority of a committee must be physically present. Once agreed to, a bill is ordered reported; it is actually ...
|
| Date July 17, 2008 |
Report No. RL33396 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is an independent foundation that seeks to attract and rapidly disburse new resources in developing countries aimed at countering the three diseases. The Fund is a financing vehicle, not an implementing agency. The origins of the Fund as an independent ...
|
| Date July 16, 2008 |
Report No. RL34206 |
Title
Order Code RL34206 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): Issues for the 110th Congress Updated July 16, 2008 Gene Falk Specialist in Social Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): Issues for the 110th Congress Summary Enactment of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA, P.L. 109-171) ended more than four years of congressional debate on ...
|
| Date July 16, 2008 |
Report No. RL30260 |
Title
Order Code RL30260 Federal Advisory Committees: A Primer Updated July 16, 2008 Wendy Ginsberg Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division Federal Advisory Committees: A Primer Summary Federal advisory committees are frequently chartered by the Chief Executive, Congress, and agency heads to render independent advice and to make recommendations. An advisory committee can ...
|
| Date July 16, 2008 |
Report No. RL33771 |
Title
Order Code RL33771 Trends in U.S. Global AIDS Spending: FY2000-FY2008 Updated July 16, 2008 Tiaji Salaam-Blyther Specialist in Global Health Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Trends in U.S. Global AIDS Spending: FY2000-FY2008 Summary It is estimated that HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria together kill more than 6 million people each year. According to the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/ ...
|
