Policy Library

6,587 documents

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Recent Activities and Ongoing Developments
Congressional Research Service · 2015-04-17 · Reports · 7,783 words
In the wake of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, federal agencies, state and local government agencies, and responsible parties face...
Issues in International Trade: A Legal Overview of Investor-State Dispute Settlement
Congressional Research Service · 2015-04-16 · Reports · 24,388 words
Ongoing trade negotiations among the United States and several Pacific Rim countries regarding the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement and between the United States and the European Uni...
2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force: Issues Concerning Its Continued Application
Congressional Research Service · 2015-04-14 · Reports · 8,683 words
In response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States, Congress enacted the Authorization for Use of Military Force (2001 AUMF; P.L. 107-40; 50 U.S.C. §1541 note) to autho...
Food Safety Issues for the 114th Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2015-04-10 · Reports · 15,469 words
Congress passed comprehensive food safety legislation in December 2010 (FDA Food Safety Modernization Act [FSMA], P.L. 111-353), representing the largest expansion and overhaul of U.S. food safety aut...
Reaching the Debt Limit: Background and Potential Effects on Government Operations
Congressional Research Service · 2015-03-27 · Reports · 17,819 words · PDF available
The gross federal debt, which represents the federal government’s total outstanding debt, consists of (1) debt held by the public and (2) debt held in government accounts, also known as intragovernmen...
H.R. 37 Derivatives Provision May Create Broader Exemption
Congressional Research Service · 2015-03-27 · Resources · 1,536 words
The 114th Congress has debated the pros and cons of financial reform in H.R. 37, the Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act (commonly referred to as the financial reform bill)....
Cyberwarfare and Cyberterrorism: In Brief
Congressional Research Service · 2015-03-27 · Reports · 6,531 words
Recent incidents have highlighted the lack of consensus internationally on what defines a cyberattack, an act of war in cyberspace, or cyberterrorism. Cyberwar is typically conceptualized as state-on-...
Educational Accountability and Reauthorization of the ESEA
Congressional Research Service · 2015-03-23 · Resources · 1,444 words
Federal policies aiming to improve the effectiveness of schools have historically focused on inputs, such as supporting class-size reduction and compensatory programs or services for disadvantaged stu...
Firearms at Army Corps Water Resource Projects: Proposed Legislation and Issues in the 113th Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2015-03-16 · Reports · 5,421 words
As part of its civil works mission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages water resource projects. Areas behind and below Corps dams and around Corps locks, levees, and waterways are popular recrea...
Offices and Officials in the Senate: Roles and Duties
Congressional Research Service · 2015-03-16 · Reports · 6,793 words
Article I, Section 3, clause 5 of the United States Constitution authorizes the Senate to choose its own officers, but does not specify their titles, roles, or duties. This report provides a brief ov...
Chicken Imports from China
Congressional Research Service · 2015-03-12 · Resources · 1,563 words
In August 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) granted equivalency to China’s poultry processing system. This determination allows China to exp...
U.S. Circuit and District Court Judges: Profile of Select Demographic Characteristics
Congressional Research Service · 2015-03-11 · Resources · 1,266 words
The demographic characteristics of U.S. circuit and district court judges are of ongoing interest to Congress. Such interest is demonstrated especially at the time circuit and district court nominatio...
Recess Appointments: Frequently Asked Questions
Congressional Research Service · 2015-03-11 · Reports · 5,960 words · PDF available
Under the Constitution (Article II, §2, clause 2), the President and the Senate share the power to make appointments to high-level policy-making positions in federal departments, agencies, boards, and...
Federal Employees’ Retirement System: The Role of the Thrift Savings Plan
Congressional Research Service · 2015-03-10 · Reports · 11,029 words
Federal employees participate in one of two retirement systems. The Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) was established in 1920 and covers only employees hired before 1984. Participants in the CSRS...
U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations During President Obama’s First Six Years (2009-2014): Comparative Analysis with Recent Presidents
Congressional Research Service · 2015-03-09 · Reports · 8,974 words
The selection and confirmation process for U.S. circuit and district court judges is of continuing interest to Congress. Recent Senate debates over judicial nominations have focused on issues such as ...
Constitutional Analysis of Suspicionless Drug Testing Requirements for the Receipt of Governmental Benefits
Congressional Research Service · 2015-03-06 · Reports · 8,707 words
For decades, federal policymakers and state administrators of governmental assistance programs, such as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grants (formerly Aid to Families with D...
Implementation of Chemical Facility AntiTerrorism Standards (CFATS): Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2015-02-25 · Reports · 7,975 words
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implements the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) regulations, which regulate security at high-risk facilities possessing more than certain am...
Climate Change Adaptation by Federal Agencies: An Analysis of Plans and Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2015-02-23 · Reports · 41,909 words · PDF available
Though Congress has debated the significance of global climate change and what federal policies, if any, should address them, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) since 2013 has identified the c...
How Legislation Is Brought to the House Floor: A Snapshot of Parliamentary Practice in the 113th Congress (2013-2014)
Congressional Research Service · 2015-02-13 · Reports · 3,767 words
The House of Representatives has several different parliamentary procedures through which it can bring legislation to the chamber floor. Which of these will be used in a given situation depends on man...
Department of Housing and Urban Development: FY2015 Appropriations
Congressional Research Service · 2015-02-11 · Reports · 11,798 words
In FY2015, the Department of Housing and Urban Development was funded as part of the FY2015 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act (P.L. 113-235), enacted on December 16, 2014, followi...
A Guide to Describing the Income Distribution
Congressional Research Service · 2015-02-05 · Reports · 12,937 words
The distribution of income in the United States features heavily in congressional discussions about the middle class, program funding and effectiveness, new and existing target groups, government tax ...
Alien Removals and Returns: Overview and Trends
Congressional Research Service · 2015-02-03 · Reports · 15,057 words
The ability to remove foreign nationals (aliens) who violate U.S. immigration law is central to the immigration enforcement system. Some lawful migrants violate the terms of their admittance, and some...
Presidential Appointments to Full-Time Positions on Regulatory and Other Collegial Boards and Commissions, 112th Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2015-02-03 · Reports · 14,540 words
The President makes appointments to positions within the federal government, either using authorities granted to the President alone or with the advice and consent of the Senate. There are some 149 fu...
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2015
Congressional Research Service · 2015-02-02 · Reports · 36,408 words
President Obama’s budget request for FY2015 included $135.352 billion for research and development (R&D), a $1.670 billion (1.2%) increase from the FY2014 level of $133.682 billion. Funding for R&D i...
Common Questions About Federal Records and Related Agency Requirements
Congressional Research Service · 2015-02-02 · Reports · 5,629 words
Federal departments and agencies create federal records in the course of their daily operations. Congress first enacted the Federal Records Act (FRA; 44 U.S.C. Chapters 21, 29, 31, and 33) in 1950. Co...
China as the World’s “Largest Economy”
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-29 · Resources · 1,492 words · PDF available
Various media have recently reported that China has overtaken the United States to become the world’s largest economy (a position the United States had held at least since 1913), based on estimates of...
Everglades Restoration: The Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP)
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-29 · Resources · 1,140 words
Overview What Is the Everglades? The Everglades is a unique network of subtropical wetlands in South Florida. Due in part to federal water supply and flood control projects (as well as agricultural an...
Medical Loss Ratio Requirements Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA): Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-29 · Reports · 11,454 words
The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, P.L. 111-148) requires certain health insurers to provide consumer rebates if they do not meet a set financial target known as a medical loss ...
U.S. Natural Gas Exports: New Opportunities, Uncertain Outcomes
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-28 · Reports · 11,731 words
As estimates for the amount of U.S. natural gas resources have grown, so have the prospects of rising U.S. natural gas exports. The United States is expected to go from a net importer of natural gas t...
Government Assistance for GMAC/Ally Financial: Unwinding the Government Stake
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-26 · Reports · 6,226 words
Ally Financial, formerly known as General Motors Acceptance Corporation or GMAC, provides auto financing, insurance, online banking, and mortgage and commercial financing. For most of its history, it ...
Border Security: Immigration Inspections at Ports of Entry
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-26 · Reports · 19,781 words
About 362 million travelers (citizens and noncitizens) entered the United States in FY2013, including about 102 million air passengers and crew, 18 million sea passengers and crew, and 242 million lan...
Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Legislation in the 113th Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-22 · Reports · 11,919 words
Defendants convicted of violating certain federal criminal laws face the prospect of mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment. Bills offered during the 113th Congress would have supplemented, enhanced,...
National Security Letters: Proposals in the 113th Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-22 · Reports · 18,461 words
A National Security Letter (NSL) is roughly comparable to an administrative subpoena. Various intelligence agencies use NSLs to demand certain customer information from communications providers, finan...
Insurance Agent Licensing: Overview and Background on Federal NARAB Legislation
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-20 · Reports · 5,114 words
The individual states have been the primary regulators of insurance in this country for the past 150 years. Congress specifically authorized the states’ role in the 1945 McCarran-Ferguson Act (15 U.S....
Terrorism Risk Insurance Legislation in the 114th Congress: Issue Summary and Side-by-Side Analysis
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-20 · Reports · 5,473 words
Prior to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, insurance covering terrorism losses was normally included in commercial insurance policies without additional cost to the policyholders. Following t...
Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines: Process and Timing of FERC Permit Application Review
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-16 · Reports · 7,341 words
Growth in U.S. shale gas production involves the expansion of natural gas pipeline infrastructure to transport natural gas from producing regions to consuming markets, typically in other states. Over ...
The Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program: Status and Issues
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-15 · Reports · 7,964 words
The Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program is a Department of Energy (DOE) program designed to reduce petroleum use in vehicles and promote domestic manufacturing. It was estab...
The Affordable Care Act and Small Business: Economic Issues
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-15 · Reports · 13,484 words
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; P.L. 111-148 and P.L. 111-152) contains several provisions to encourage employer-sponsored health coverage, particularly among small businesses. Th...
Presidential Appointments to Full-Time Positions in Independent and Other Agencies During the 112th Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-13 · Reports · 12,567 words
The President makes appointments to positions within the federal government, either using the authorities granted to the President alone or with the advice and consent of the Senate. This report ident...
Proposals to Change the ACA’s Definition of “Full Time”
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-13 · Resources · 1,485 words
Background Context. For the purposes of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA; P.L. 111-148, as amended) employer penalty, “large employers” are defined as firms with 50 or more “full-time equivalent” employ...
Presidential Appointments to Full-Time Positions in Executive Departments During the 112th Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-08 · Reports · 15,120 words
The President makes appointments to positions within the federal government, either using the authorities granted to the President alone or with the advice and consent of the Senate. There are some 34...
The Network for Manufacturing Innovation
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-08 · Reports · 6,157 words · PDF available
In December 2014, Congress passed the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014 (RAMIA), as Title VII of Division B of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 20...
Cyber Operations in DOD Policy and Plans: Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-05 · Reports · 15,700 words
Cyberspace is defined by the Department of Defense as a global domain consisting of the interdependent networks of information technology infrastructures and resident data, including the Internet, tel...
Desalination and Membrane Technologies: Federal Research and Adoption Issues
Congressional Research Service · 2015-01-02 · Reports · 8,425 words
In the United States, desalination and membrane technologies are used to augment municipal water supply, produce high-quality industrial water supplies, and reclaim contaminated supplies (including fr...
Public-Private Partnerships for Purposes of Federal Real Property Management
Congressional Research Service · 2014-12-31 · Reports · 19,338 words · PDF available
While public-private partnerships (PPPs) have long been used to manage real property, congressional interest in PPPs has recently increased due to the large number of underutilized and excess building...
U.S. Crude Oil Export Policy: Background and Considerations
Congressional Research Service · 2014-12-31 · Reports · 20,452 words · PDF available
During an era of oil price controls and following the 1973 Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries oil embargo, Congress passed the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), which ...
Secret Sessions of the House and Senate: Authority, Confidentiality, and Frequency
Congressional Research Service · 2014-12-30 · Reports · 3,406 words
Secret, or closed, sessions of the House and Senate exclude the press and the public. They may be held for matters deemed to require confidentiality and secrecy—such as national security, sensitive co...
Rehabilitation Act: Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants
Congressional Research Service · 2014-12-30 · Reports · 6,507 words
The federal government is authorized to make grants to state agencies for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services. These grants support services to help individuals with disabilities prepare for and e...
NASA: Issues for Authorization, Appropriations, and Oversight in the 114th Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2014-12-22 · Reports · 18,544 words
Spaceflight fascinates and inspires many Americans, but in a time of constrained federal budgets, it must compete with a multitude of other national priorities. As the 114th Congress conducts oversigh...
Reauthorization of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA)
Congressional Research Service · 2014-12-22 · Reports · 9,532 words
One hundred sixteen million U.S. households watch television. Approximately 86% of those households subscribe to a service that carries the retransmitted signals of broadcast stations over fiber optic...