|
Date ↓
|
Report No.
|
Title |
| Date Oct. 16, 2007 |
Report No. RL32712 |
Title
Order Code RL32712 Agriculture-Based Renewable Energy Production Updated October 16, 2007 Randy Schnepf Specialist in Agricultural Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Agriculture-Based Renewable Energy Production Summary Since the late 1970s, U.S. policy makers at both the federal and state levels have enacted a variety of incentives, regulations, and programs to encourage the ...
|
| Date Oct. 15, 2007 |
Report No. RL34208 |
Title
Order Code RL34208 Comparative Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness Research: Background, History, and Overview October 15, 2007 Gretchen A. Jacobson Analyst in Health Care Financing Domestic Social Policy Division Comparative Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness Research: Background, History, and Overview Summary Comparative clinical effectiveness research has been discussed as ...
|
| Date Oct. 15, 2007 |
Report No. RL33112 |
Title
Order Code RL33112 The Economic Effects of Raising National Saving Updated October 15, 2007 Brian W. Cashell Specialist in Macroeconomic Policy Government and Finance Division The Economic Effects of Raising National Saving Summary Raising the share of income saved is a frequent aim of public policy. That may be particularly apparent in debates about the size of the federal budget deficit, but ...
|
| Date Oct. 12, 2007 |
Report No. RL33770 |
Title
Order Code RL33770 Department of Homeland Security Grants to State and Local Governments: FY2003 to FY2006 Updated October 12, 2007 Steven Maguire Analyst in Public Finance Government and Finance Division Shawn Reese Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division Department of Homeland Security Grants to State and Local Governments: FY2003 to FY2006 Summary This report ...
|
| Date Oct. 12, 2007 |
Report No. RS22674 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress On May 9, 2007, President George W. Bush issued National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD) 51, which is also identified as Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 20, on National Continuity Policy. The directive updates longstanding continuity directives designed to assure that governing entities are able to recover from a wide range of ...
|
| Date Oct. 11, 2007 |
Report No. RS21322 |
Title
Order Code RS21322 Updated October 11, 2007 Homeland Security: Evolving Roles and Missions for United States Northern Command William Knight and Steve Bowman Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary In 2002, the Department of Defense (DOD) established United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM). Five years later, the organization continues to mature and adapt to evolving national ...
|
| Date Oct. 10, 2007 |
Report No. RS22735 |
Title
Order Code RS22735 October 10, 2007 Spending by Employers on Health Insurance: A Data Brief Jennifer Jenson Specialist in Health Economics Domestic Social Policy Summary To attract and maintain a skilled workforce, many businesses provide health insurance and other benefits for their employees. As the cost of health insurance rises, employers face a growing challenge paying for benefits while ...
|
| Date Oct. 10, 2007 |
Report No. RS22736 |
Title
Order Code RS22736 October 10, 2007 Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: Proposed Amendments in the 110th Congress R. Chuck Mason Legislative Attorney American Law Division Summary The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), P.L. 108-189, was enacted on December 19, 2003, as a complete overhaul of the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of 1940 (SSCRA). The SCRA provides certain rights and legal ...
|
| Date Oct. 10, 2007 |
Report No. RS21824 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress The Higher Education Amendments (HEA) of 1998 added a provision to the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, to suspend eligibility for federal student assistance (grants, loans, or work assistance under Title IV of the HEA) for any student who is convicted of a state or federal offense for the sale or possession of a controlled substance. This ...
|
| Date Oct. 9, 2007 |
Report No. RS22370 |
Title
Order Code RS22370 Updated October 9, 2007 U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians Paul Morro Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary In June 2007, the United States and the European Union (EU) resumed assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) after President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah party reasserted control over the PA in the West Bank. For the ...
|
| Date Oct. 5, 2007 |
Report No. RL31973 |
Title
Order Code RL31973 Programs Funded by the H-1B Visa Education and Training Fee, and Labor Market Conditions for Information Technology (IT) Workers Updated October 5, 2007 Linda Levine and Blake Alan Naughton Domestic Social Policy Division Programs Funded by the H-1B Visa Education and Training Fee, and Labor Market Conditions for Information Technology (IT) Workers Summary Congress has ...
|
| Date Oct. 5, 2007 |
Report No. RL32456 |
Title
Order Code RL32456 Productivity: Will the Faster Growth Rate Continue? Updated October 5, 2007 Brian W. Cashell Specialist in Macroeconomic Policy Government and Finance Division Productivity: Will the Faster Growth Rate Continue? Summary While policymakers have at least some direct or indirect influence over many economic variables, productivity growth may be among those that remain relatively ...
|
| Date Oct. 5, 2007 |
Report No. RL34200 |
Title
Order Code RL34200 Burning Crosses, Hangman s Nooses, and the Like: State Statutes That Proscribe the Use of Symbols of Fear and Violence with the Intent to Threaten October 5, 2007 Kathleen Ann Ruane Law Clerk American Law Division Charles Doyle Senior Specialist American Law Division Burning Crosses, Hangman s Nooses, and the Like: State Statutes That Proscribe the Use of Symbols of Fear and ...
|
| Date Oct. 5, 2007 |
Report No. RS22431 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress A gift card is a prepaid financial product that can serve as a replacement for a paper-based payment instrument such as a gift certificate. Current federal consumer protection laws do not regulate gift card programs. Typically, a gift card is a credit card-sized piece of plastic with a preloaded value. First introduced as closed-system prepaid ...
|
| Date Oct. 3, 2007 |
Report No. RS20315 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress How does ERISA distinguish between federal and state authority? ................................... 1 Why is the distinction between federal and state roles important?..................................... 1 What are the most controversial issues? ............................................................................. 2 What are the state ...
|
| Date Oct. 2, 2007 |
Report No. RL31223 |
Title
Order Code RL31223 Medicare: Supplementary Medigap Coverage Updated October 2, 2007 Jennifer O Sullivan Specialist in Health Care Financing Domestic Social Policy Division Medicare: Supplementary Medigap Coverage Summary Medicare is a nationwide health insurance program for the aged and certain disabled persons. Although the program provides broad protection against the costs of many, primarily ...
|
| Date Oct. 2, 2007 |
Report No. RL32545 |
Title
Order Code RL32545 Health Care Spending: Context and Policy Updated October 2, 2007 Jennifer Jenson Specialist in Health Economics Domestic Social Policy Division Health Care Spending: Context and Policy Summary The United States spends a large and growing share of national income on health care. In 2007, health spending is expected to approach $2.3 trillion and account for more than 16% of gross ...
|
| Date Oct. 2, 2007 |
Report No. RL34196 |
Title
Order Code RL34196 U.S. Trade Statutes: Expiration Dates and Mandated Periodic Reports to Congress October 2, 2007 Mary Jane Bolle, Coordinator, William H. Cooper, Ian F. Fergusson, J. F. Hornbeck, James K. Jackson, Vivian C. Jones, Danielle Langton, Michael F. Martin, and M. Angeles Villarreal Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Jennifer E. Lake Domestic Social Policy Division Charles E. ...
|
| Date Oct. 1, 2007 |
Report No. RL33379 |
Title
Order Code RL33379 Legislative Branch: FY2007 Appropriations Updated October 1, 2007 Paul E. Dwyer Specialist in American National Government Government and Finance Division Ida A. Brudnick Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division The annual consideration of appropriations bills (regular, continuing, and supplemental) by Congress is part of a complex set of budget ...
|
| Date Sept. 28, 2007 |
Report No. RS22732 |
Title
Order Code RS22732 September 28, 2007 Campaign Finance: Developments in the 110th Congress R. Sam Garrett Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division Summary Recent events suggest continued congressional interest in campaign finance policy. This report provides an overview and analysis of 110th Congress legislation addressed in hearings or that has passed at least one ...
|
| Date Sept. 27, 2007 |
Report No. RL33688 |
Title
Order Code RL33688 The Military Commissions Act of 2006: Analysis of Procedural Rules and Comparison with Previous DOD Rules and the Uniform Code of Military Justice Updated September 27, 2007 Jennifer K. Elsea Legislative Attorney American Law Division The Military Commissions Act of 2006: Analysis of Procedural Rules and Comparison with Previous DOD Rules and the Uniform Code of Military Justice ...
|
| Date Sept. 27, 2007 |
Report No. RL32494 |
Title
Order Code RL32494 Medicare: Physician Self-Referral ( Stark I and II ) Updated September 27, 2007 Jennifer O Sullivan Specialist in Health Care Financing Social Policy Division Medicare: Physician Self-Referral ( Stark I and II ) Summary Self-referrals occur when physicians refer patients to medical facilities in which they have a financial interest. This interest can be in the form of ownership ...
|
| Date Sept. 27, 2007 |
Report No. RL34191 |
Title
Order Code RL34191 Ethanol and Other Biofuels: Potential for U.S.-Brazil Energy Cooperation September 27, 2007 Clare Ribando Seelke Analyst in Latin American Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Brent D. Yacobucci Specialist in Environmental and Energy Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Ethanol and Other Biofuels: Potential for U.S.-Brazil Energy Cooperation Summary ...
|
| Date Sept. 27, 2007 |
Report No. RL33482 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Saving is the portion of national output that is not consumed and represents resources that can be used to increase, replace, or improve the nation s capital stock. The U.S. net national saving rate reached a post-war peak of 12.4% in 1965 and has then trended downward since to a low of 1.9% in 2006. Many analysts claim that saving is too low. Among ...
|
| Date Sept. 26, 2007 |
Report No. RL34187 |
Title
Order Code RL34187 Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 1999-2006 September 26, 2007 Richard F. Grimmett Specialist in National Defense Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 1999-2006 Summary This report is prepared annually to provide Congress with official, unclassified, quantitative data on conventional arms transfers to ...
|
| Date Sept. 26, 2007 |
Report No. RL34186 |
Title
Order Code RL34186 Rail Transportation of Coal to Power Plants: Reliability Issues September 26, 2007 Stan Mark Kaplan Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Rail Transportation of Coal to Power Plants: Reliability Issues Summary Half the nation s electricity comes from coal, and most of that coal is delivered to power plants by railroads. The ...
|
| Date Sept. 26, 2007 |
Report No. RL31374 |
Title
Order Code RL31374 Health Expenditures in 2005 Updated September 26, 2007 Paulette C. Morgan Analyst in Social Legislation Domestic Social Policy Division Health Expenditures in 2005 Summary In 2005, the most recent year for which data are available, just under $2 trillion was spent on health care and health-related activities. This amount represents a 6.9% increase over 2004 spending. The ...
|
| Date Sept. 25, 2007 |
Report No. RL33666 |
Title
Order Code RL33666 Asset Bubbles: Economic Effects and Policy Options for the Federal Reserve Updated September 25, 2007 Marc Labonte Specialist in Macroeconomics Government and Finance Division Asset Bubbles: Economic Effects and Policy Options for the Federal Reserve Summary After several years of steady growth, stock market prices began to rise rapidly in 1995, more than tripling over the next ...
|
| Date Sept. 25, 2007 |
Report No. RL34184 |
Title
Order Code RL34184 The Section 198 Brownfields Tax Incentive: 2007 CRS Survey September 25, 2007 Mark Reisch Analyst in Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division The Section 198 Brownfields Tax Incentive: 2007 CRS Survey Summary What was regarded as a key brownfields tax incentive in the Internal Revenue Code expires on December 31, 2007. Originally enacted in the Taxpayer ...
|
| Date Sept. 25, 2007 |
Report No. RS22656 |
Title
Order Code RS22656 Updated September 25, 2007 Scientific Evaluations of Approaches to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Carmen Solomon-Fears Specialist in Social Legislation Domestic Social Policy Division Summary The long-awaited experimentally designed evaluation of abstinence-only education programs, commissioned by Congress in 1997, indicates that young persons who participated in the U.S. Department of ...
|
| Date Sept. 25, 2007 |
Report No. RS22730 |
Title
Order Code RS22730 September 25, 2007 Architects of the Capitol: Selected Biographical Information Mildred Amer Specialist on the Congress Government and Finance Division Summary Prior to 1989, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) was appointed by the President for an unlimited term without any direct action by the Senate. A provision in the FY1990 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act (P.L. 101-163 ...
|
| Date Sept. 25, 2007 |
Report No. RS22662 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress The intent of H.R. 1852 as stated would modernize and update the National Housing Act and enable the Federal Housing Administration to use risk-based pricing to more effectively reach underserved borrowers, and for other purposes. Specifically, the bill would make reforms to the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) program, a federally operated ...
|
| Date Sept. 24, 2007 |
Report No. RL34185 |
Title
Order Code RL34185 Consumer Spending by Older Americans, 1985 to 2005 September 24, 2007 Patrick Purcell Specialist in Income Security Domestic Social Policy Division Consumer Spending by Older Americans, 1985 to 2005 Summary The population of the United States is growing older. Because of the aging of the population and the decline in income that occurs when people retire, both the amount and the ...
|
| Date Sept. 24, 2007 |
Report No. RL34190 |
Title
Order Code RL34190 Pandemic Influenza: An Analysis of State Preparedness and Response Plans September 24, 2007 Sarah A. Lister Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology Domestic Social Policy Division Holly Stockdale Analyst in Health Care Financing Domestic Social Policy Division Pandemic Influenza: An Analysis of State Preparedness and Response Plans Summary States are the seat of most ...
|
| Date Sept. 24, 2007 |
Report No. RS21647 |
Title
Order Code RS21647 Updated September 24, 2007 Facsimile Advertising Rules Under the Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2005 Patricia Moloney Figliola Specialist in Telecommunications and Internet Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary On July 9, 2005, President Bush signed S. 714, the Junk Fax Prevention Act ( the act or JFPA) (P.L. 109-21) and on April 5, 2006, the Federal ...
|
| Date Sept. 21, 2007 |
Report No. RL34182 |
Title
Order Code RL34182 Financial Crisis? The Liquidity Crunch of August 2007 September 21, 2007 Darryl E. Getter, Mark Jickling, Marc Labonte, and Edward V. Murphy Government and Finance Division Financial Crisis? The Liquidity Crunch of August 2007 Summary Firms are said to be liquid when they are able to meet current obligations or short-term demand for funds. A firm is said to be solvent but ...
|
| Date Sept. 21, 2007 |
Report No. RL31038 |
Title
Order Code RL31038 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the 2007 Meetings in Sydney, Australia Updated September 21, 2007 Michael F. Martin Analyst in Asian Political Economy Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the 2007 Meetings in Sydney, Australia Summary There is apparent agreement between Congress and the Bush Administration that ...
|
| Date Sept. 21, 2007 |
Report No. RS22728 |
Title
Order Code RS22728 September 21, 2007 Brazil s WTO Case Against U.S. Agricultural Support: A Brief Overview Randy Schnepf Specialist in Agricultural Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary On July 11, 2007, Brazil requested consultations with the United States, under World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement rules, to discuss two charges against U.S. farm programs first, ...
|
| Date Sept. 19, 2007 |
Report No. RL34177 |
Title
Order Code RL34177 A Summary of Fusion Centers: Core Issues and Options for Congress September 19, 2007 Todd Masse Specialist in Domestic Intelligence and Counterterrorism Domestic Social Policy Division John Rollins Specialist in Terrorism and International Crime Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division A Summary of Fusion Centers: Core Issues and Options for Congress Summary This report ...
|
| Date Sept. 19, 2007 |
Report No. RS21711 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress This report provides a legal analysis of issues related to prescription drug sales on the Internet, including issues involving online pharmacies and physicians who prescribe medications over the Internet. Specifically, this report provides an overview of the various federal and state laws that regulate this field, including laws and regulations ...
|
| Date Sept. 18, 2007 |
Report No. RL33702 |
Title
Order Code RL33702 Health Insurance Basics: Roles for the Market and Government in Providing, Financing, and Regulating Private Insurance Coverage Updated September 18, 2007 Jennifer Jenson Specialist in Health Economics Domestic Social Policy Division Bernadette Fernandez Analyst in Health Care Financing Domestic Social Policy Division Health Insurance Basics: Roles for the Market and Government ...
|
| Date Sept. 18, 2007 |
Report No. RL34166 |
Title
Order Code RL34166 Lobbying Law and Ethics Rules Changes in the 110th Congress Updated September 18, 2007 Jack Maskell Legislative Attorney American Law Division Lobbying Law and Ethics Rules Changes in the 110th Congress Summary Significant changes were made by Congress to the current lobbying laws, and to internal House and Senate rules on ethics and procedures, by the passage of S. 1, 110th ...
|
| Date Sept. 18, 2007 |
Report No. RS22724 |
Title
Order Code RS22724 September 18, 2007 Canada s WTO Case Against U.S. Agricultural Support: A Brief Overview Randy Schnepf Specialist in Agricultural Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary On June 7, 2007, the Canadian government requested the establishment of a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel to consider two charges against U.S. farm programs first, that ...
|
| Date Sept. 18, 2007 |
Report No. 97-1007 |
Title
Order Code 97-1007 Updated September 18, 2007 Nuclear Testing and Comprehensive Test Ban: Chronology Starting September 1992 Jonathan Medalia Specialist in National Defense Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion. It was opened for signature in 1996. In 1997, President ...
|
| Date Sept. 18, 2007 |
Report No. RS22725 |
Title
Order Code RS22725 September 18, 2007 Congressional Advisory Commissions: An Overview Matthew E. Glassman Analyst on the Congress Government and Finance Division Summary A congressional advisory commission is a formal group often established for the purpose of obtaining advice, developing recommendations on complex policy issues, or finding solutions to contentious problems. Congressional ...
|
| Date Sept. 17, 2007 |
Report No. RL34175 |
Title
Order Code RL34175 U.S. Health Care Spending: Comparison with Other OECD Countries September 17, 2007 Chris L. Peterson and Rachel Burton Domestic Social Policy Division U.S. Health Care Spending: Comparison with Other OECD Countries Summary The United States spends more money on health care than any other country in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The OECD ...
|
| Date Sept. 17, 2007 |
Report No. RL33853 |
Title
Order Code RL33853 Canada s WTO Case Against U.S. Agricultural Support Updated September 17, 2007 Randy Schnepf Specialist in Agricultural Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Canada s WTO Case Against U.S. Agricultural Support Summary On June 7, 2007, the Canadian government requested the establishment of a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel to consider two ...
|
| Date Sept. 17, 2007 |
Report No. RS22712 |
Title
Order Code RS22712 Updated September 17, 2007 What Happens if SCHIP Is Not Reauthorized ? Chris L. Peterson Specialist in Social Legislation Domestic Social Policy Division Summary The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 created the State Children s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and provided nearly $40 billion in appropriations over the 10-year period FY1998 to FY2007. Legislative action would be ...
|
| Date Sept. 14, 2007 |
Report No. RS20646 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress The District of Columbia College Access Act of 1999 (H.R. 974), enacted on November 12, 1999 (P.L. 106-98), created the District of Columbia (DC) Tuition Assistance Program. The DC Tuition Assistance Program provides scholarships for undergraduate education to DC residents ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. Scholarships may be used to attend public ...
|
| Date Sept. 14, 2007 |
Report No. RS22511 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law on April 20, 2005 (P.L. 109-8), was intended to prevent the filing of abusive bankruptcy petitions and to require debtors with regular incomes to repay as much of what they owed as possible. Overall, the perceived effect of these amendments was to make the bankruptcy code ...
|
