CRS Reports

Appropriations for FY2004: Legislative Branch

Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and budget reconciliation bills. This Report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress passes each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Legislative Branch Appropriations.

May 27, 2003

The Child Care and Development Block Grant: Background and Funding

This report discusses several federal programs support child care for low-income families, the principal being a federal block grant program: The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). The CCDBG is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and provides allotments to states, according to a formula, which are used to subsidize the child care expenses of low-income families with children under age 13.

Apr 7, 2003

Federally Supported Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Programs

This report provides background information on the types of water supply and wastewater treatment projects traditionally funded by the federal government and the several existing programs to assist communities with water supply and wastewater recycling and treatment.

Mar 25, 2003

North Korea: Economic Sanctions

Jan 24, 2003

Clean Air Act: A Summary of the Act and Its Major Requirements

This report summarizes the Clean Air Act and its major regulatory requirements. It describes the Act's major provisions and provides tables listing all major amendments, with the year of enactment and Public Law number, and crossreferencing sections of the Act with the major U.S. Code sections of the codified statute.

Jan 3, 2003

Arms Sales: Congressional Review Process

This report reviews the process and procedures that currently apply to congressional consideration of foreign arms sales proposed by the President. This includes consideration of proposals to sell major defense equipment, defense articles and services, or the re-transfer to third party nations of such military items.

Dec 20, 2002

Farm Disaster Assistance

Nov 5, 2002

Recess Appointments: Frequently Asked Questions

Sep 10, 2002

Appropriations for FY2003: Legislative Branch

Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and budget reconciliation bills. This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Legislative Branch Appropriations.

Jul 12, 2002

Discretionary Spending Limits for FY2002: A Procedural Assessment

This report discusses discretionary spending, which is provided in annual appropriations acts, is constrained in part by limits set in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.

May 23, 2002

Appropriations for FY2002: Legislative Branch

Conferees on the FY2002 legislative branch appropriations bill agreed to $2.97 billion for legislative branch operations, an 8.9% increase over the FY2001 funding level of $2.73 billion ( P.L. 107-68 ). Total FY2002 funding made available for the legislative branch is $3.23 billion, when including emergency response funds transferred pursuant to P.L. 107-117 , the FY2002 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks (in Division B, chapter 9). P.L. 107-68 contains funds for 79 new Capitol Police positions, funds for Capitol Police training programs, language providing comparability in the pay of the Capitol Police with the Uniformed Division of the Secret Service and the Park Police, an 18.1% increase in the police budget, an additional $70 million for construction of the Capitol visitors' center, and several measures to recruit and retain employees of the Senate and the congressional support agencies. In July, 2001, Congress also agreed to a $79.5 million FY2001 legislative branch supplemental appropriation ( P.L. 107-20 ), containing $61.7 million for House internal operations, $1 million for the Capitol Police, and $15.9 million for the Government Printing Office. The terrorists' attacks of September 11, 2001, prompted moves toward an even more stringent security environment on Capitol Hill, which affected the legislative branch budget. On September 21, September 28, and December 3, the President released $376.9 million for Capitol Hill security measures. These funds were part of a $40 billion FY2001 terrorism emergency supplemental bill approved by Congress on September 14, and signed into P.L. 107-38 on September 18. The President proposed, and Congress approved, an additional allocation for Capitol complex security of $265.1 million, which, unlike the other allocations for security, required approval by Congress. The $265.1 million supplemental was contained in P.L. 107-117 , the FY2002 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, signed by the President on January 10, 2002. Among elements considered by Congress were proposals to: merge the Capitol Hill, Library of Congress, and Government Printing Office police into a consolidated force; Senate report language directed the General Accounting Office to study the issue; authorize and fund programs to enhance staff retention and recruitment, such as repayment of student loans, and implementation of performance-based recognition and compensation proposals; P.L. 107-68 contains language authorizing student loan repayments for employees of the Senate and Congressional Budget Office; and approve $42.5 million for repair of the Capitol dome; P.L. 107-68 contains $1.6 million for painting.

Apr 10, 2002

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act: Background and Issues for the 107th Congress

Apr 2, 2002

Tax Cuts and Economic Stimulus: How Effective Are the Alternatives?

Apr 2, 2002

Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms: Economic, Program, and Policy Issues

Apr 2, 2002

Navy CVNX Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress

Feb 19, 2002

Multilateral Development Banks: U.S. Contributions FY1990-2002

Feb 14, 2002

Clean Water Act: A Summary of the Law

This report presents a summary of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, or Clean Water Act, describing the essence of the statute without discussing its implementation.

Jan 24, 2002

The World Trade Organization

Jan 21, 2002

Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background, Status, and Issues

Jan 11, 2002

Broadband Internet Access and the Digital Divide: Federal Assistance Programs

Some policymakers, believing that disparities in broadband access across American society could have adverse economic and social consequences on those left behind, assert that the federal government should play a more active role to avoid a “digital divide” in broadband access. One approach is for the federal government to provide financial assistance to support broadband deployment in underserved areas. Others, however, believe that federal assistance for broadband deployment is not appropriate. Some opponents question the reality of the “digital divide,” and argue that federal intervention in the broadband marketplace would be premature and, in some cases, counterproductive.

Oct 24, 2001

Special Operations Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom: Background and Issues for Congress

Oct 15, 2001

Tax-Exempt Bonds: A Description of State and Local Government Debt

Oct 10, 2001

The Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA)

Jul 20, 2001

Monetary Policy: Current Policy and Conditions

Jul 20, 2001

North-South Korean Relations: A Chronology of the "New" Dialogue

Apr 30, 2001

Elections Reform: Overview and Issues

This report discusses several issues as the Congress considers legislation to reform the voting process, a number of issues have emerged as part of the debate: the reliability of different types of voting technologies; voting problems and irregularities in the 2000 election; problems for militaryand overseas voters; the electoral college; and early media projections of election results.

Apr 30, 2001

Major Decisions in the House and Senate on Social Security: 1935-2000

Mar 26, 2001

Critical Infrastructures: Background and Early Implementation of PDD-63

Feb 27, 2001

Filibusters and Cloture in the Senate

Jan 17, 2001

Appropriations for FY2001: Legislative Branch

Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and budget reconciliation bills. This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress passes each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Legislative Branch Appropriations.

Sep 11, 2000

Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress

Jul 31, 2000

Appropriations for FY2000: Legislative Branch

Jun 28, 1999