CRS Reports

U.S. Nuclear Cooperation with India: Issues for Congress

Jul 29, 2005

Recess Appointments: A Legal Overview

Jul 26, 2005

U.S. Trade Deficit and the Impact of Rising Oil Prices

Jul 22, 2005

U.S.-China Counter-Terrorism Cooperation: Issues for U.S. Policy

Jul 21, 2005

Community Services Block Grants (CSBG): Funding and Reauthorization

Community Services Block Grants (CSBG), administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), provide federal funds to states, territories and Indian tribes for distribution to local agencies to reduce poverty. Several related national activities — Community Economic Development, Rural Community Facilities, National Youth Sports, Community Food and Nutrition, Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) and Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) — also provide grants to local communities for a variety of anti-poverty initiatives.

Jul 20, 2005

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Medicare: The 24-Month Waiting Period for SSDI Beneficiaries Under Age 65

Jul 14, 2005

Military Aircraft, the F/A-18EF Super Hornet Program: Background and Issues for Congress

Jul 13, 2005

American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics

This report is written in response to numerous requests for war casualty statistics and lists of war dead. It provides tables, compiled by sources at the Department of Defense, indicating the number of casualties among American military personnel serving in principal wars and combat actions. For the more recent conflicts, starting with the Korean War, more detailed information on types of casualties, and when available, demographics have been included. This report also cites sources of published lists of military personnel killed in principal wars and combat actions.

Jul 13, 2005

Air Quality Issues and Animal Agriculture: EPA's Air Compliance Agreement

In an effort to collect scientifically credible data regarding the effect of animal agriculture on water resources (specifically animal waste and emissons from animal feeding operations (AFO), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in January 2005 announced the Air Compliance Agreement. The agreement is intended to produce air quality monitoring data on AFO emissions during a two-year study, while at the same time protecting participants through a “safe harbor” from liability under certain provisions of federal environmental laws. This report discusses the agreement and the perspectives of both its supporters and opponents.

Jul 12, 2005

Regular Vetoes and Pocket Vetoes: An Overview

Jul 11, 2005

Judicial Recess Appointments: A Legal Overview

Article II of the Constitution provides that the President “shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and counsels, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for and which shall be established by law.” As a supplement to this authority, the Constitution further provides that “[t]he President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.” The Recess Appointments Clause was designed to enable the President to ensure the unfettered operation of the government during periods when the Senate was not in session and therefore unable to perform its advice and consent function. In addition to fostering administrative continuity, Presidents have exercised authority under the Recess Appointments Clause for political purposes, appointing officials who might be viewed unfavorably by the Senate. While the President’s exercise of the recess appointment power in any context may give rise to controversy, the use of the Recess Appointments Clause to appoint judges to temporary positions on Article III courts can be particularly politically contentious. Presidents have made over 300 recess appointments to the federal judiciary, including twelve to the Supreme Court, since the first Administration of George Washington. The practice of making such appointments lessened considerably after the Eisenhower Administration, with only four judicial recess appointments having occurred since 1960. Despite the controversy attendant to judicial recess appointments, the President’s authority to make such appointments has been challenged only in a handful of instances, with the most recent litigation arising from President George W. Bush’s recess appointment of William H. Pryor to the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on February 20, 2004. This report provides an overview of the legal and constitutional issues pertaining to the recess appointment of judges to Article III courts, with a particular focus on the proceedings involving the appointment of Judge Pryor.

Jun 30, 2005

Unauthorized Employment of Aliens: Basics of Employer Sanctions

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) sought to end unauthorized employment by imposing penalties on employers who knowingly hire or continue to employ aliens not authorized to work in the United States (e.g., illegal aliens and foreign tourists). The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA)amended some of the provisions of IRCA by reducing the number of acceptable documents for completion of the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (Form I-9) purposes, providing employers with the possibility of a good-faith defense against technical paperwork violations and providing some protection for employers who are part of multi-employer associations. This report summarizes the employer sanctions. This report will be updated as events warrant.

Jun 29, 2005

Recruiting and Retention: An Overview of FY2004 and FY2005 Results for Active and Reserve Component Enlisted Personnel

Jun 22, 2005

Proposed Changes to the Conforming Loan Limit

Jun 22, 2005

The Power to Regulate Commerce: Limits on Congressional Power

Jun 17, 2005

The United States and Europe: Current Issues

Jun 10, 2005

Air Quality Issues and Animal Agriculture: A Primer

This report focuses on the environmental quality of water resources as affected by animal agriculture, specifically animal waste, which can harm water quality through surface runoff, direct discharges, spills, and leaching into soil and groundwater. This report also discusses the contribution of emissions from animal feeding operations (AFO), enterprises where animals are raised in confinement, to air pollution.

Jun 10, 2005

The Bayh-Dole Act: Selected Issues in Patent Policy and the Commercialization of Technology

Jun 10, 2005

The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape

Jun 9, 2005

Homelessness: Recent Statistics, Targeted Federal Programs, and Recent Legislation

May 31, 2005

U.S.-Mexico Economic Relations: Trends, Issues, and Implications

May 25, 2005

WTO Decisions and Their Effect on U.S. Law

Congress has comprehensively dealt with the legal effect of World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements and dispute settlement results in the United States in the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA), P.L. 103-465, which provides that domestic law prevails over conflicting provisions of WTO agreements and prohibits private remedies based on alleged violations of these agreements. As a result, WTO agreements and adopted WTO rulings in conflict with federal law do not have domestic legal effect unless and until Congress or the Executive Branch, as the case may be, takes action to modify or remove the statute, regulation, or regulatory practice at issue. Violative state laws may be withdrawn by the state or, in rare circumstances, invalidated through legal action by the federal government. In addition, the URAA places requirements on federal regulatory action taken to implement WTO decisions and contains provisions specific to the implementation of dispute settlement panel and appellate reports that fault U.S. actions in trade remedy proceedings.

May 24, 2005

Senate Consideration of Presidential Nominations: Committee and Floor Procedure

May 24, 2005

Labor Union Recognition Procedures: Use of Secret Ballots and Card Checks

May 23, 2005

Kuwait: Post-Saddam Issues and U.S. Policy

May 18, 2005

Meat and Poultry Inspection: Background and Selected Issues

May 17, 2005

Exemptions from Environmental Law for the Department of Defense: An Overview of Congressional Action

Several environmental statutes contain national security exemptions, which the Department of Defense (DOD) can obtain on a case-by-case basis. Since FY2003, DOD has sought broader exemptions that it argues are needed to preserve training capabilities and ensure military readiness. There has been disagreement in Congress over the need for broader exemptions in the absence of data on the overall impact of environmental requirements on training and readiness.

May 16, 2005

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Amendments: 109th Congress

May 16, 2005

China's Exchange Rate Peg: Economic Issues and Options for U.S. Trade Policy

The continued rise in the U.S.-China trade imbalance and complaints from U.S. manufacturing firms and workers over the competitive challenges posed by cheap Chinese imports have led several Members to call for a more aggressive U.S. stance against certain Chinese trade policies they deem to be unfair, such as China’s policy of pegging its currency (the yuan) to the U.S. dollar. Some Members assert this policy constitutes a form of “currency manipulation” intended to give China an unfair trade advantage and is contributing to the loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs.

May 10, 2005

U.S.-China Military Contacts: Issues for Congress

May 10, 2005

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)

May 9, 2005

Outsourcing and Insourcing Jobs in the U.S. Economy: Evidence Based on Foreign Investment Data

May 4, 2005

House Committee Funding Requests and Authorizations, 104th-109th Congresses

May 3, 2005

Trade Remedies: A Primer

May 2, 2005

Social Security: Raising or Eliminating the Taxable Earnings Base

May 2, 2005

U.S. Direct Investment Abroad: Trends and Current Issues

Apr 29, 2005

Renditions: Constraints Imposed by Laws on Torture

Apr 28, 2005

The Army's Future Combat System (FCS): Background and Issues for Congress

The Future Combat System (FCS) is the U.S. Army’s multiyear, multibillion dollar program at the heart of the Army’s transformation efforts. The FCS program exists in a dynamic national security environment which could significantly influence the program’s outcome. The FCS is experiencing a number of program development issues - with some technologies advancing quicker than anticipated, others progressing along predicted lines, while still others not meeting the Army’s expectations. Congress, in its authorization, appropriation, and oversight roles may wish to review the FCS program in terms of its capabilities and program costs.

Apr 28, 2005

Pesticide Use and Water Quality: Are the Laws Complementary or in Conflict?

Apr 25, 2005

Cloture Attempts on Nominations

Cloture is the only means by which the Senate can vote to limit debate on a matter, and thereby overcome a possible filibuster. It would be erroneous, however, to assume that cases in which cloture is sought are the same as those in which a filibuster occurs. Cloture may be sought when no filibuster is taking place, and filibusters may occur without cloture being sought.

Apr 22, 2005

European Union’s Arms Embargo on China: Implications and Options for U.S. Policy

Apr 15, 2005

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Legislation in the 109th Congress

This report reviews the status of energy efficiency and renewable energy legislation introduced during the 109th Congress. Action in the second session has focused on appropriations bills; the first session focused on omnibus energy policy bill H.R. 6 and several appropriations bills. this report describes several major pieces of legislation, including the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Transportation Equity Act. For each bill listed in this report, a brief description and a summary of action are given, including references to committee hearings and reports. Also, a selected list of hearings on renewable energy is included.

Apr 12, 2005

The Budget Reconciliation Process: Timing of Legislative Action

Reconciliation is a procedure under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 by which Congress implements budget resolution policies affecting mainly permanent spending and revenue programs. The principal focus in the reconciliation process has been deficit reduction, but in recent years reconciliation has encompassed revenue reduction generally and spending increases in selected program areas.

Apr 7, 2005

VXX Presidential Helicopter: Background and Issues for Congress

Apr 1, 2005

The Endangered Species Act: A Primer

The Endangered Species Act (ESA)1 receives significant congressional attention. The associated power and reach of its comprehensive protection for species identified as endangered or threatened with extinction has ignited concern that there be appropriate bounds on this power. The following discussion provides an overview and background on the various features of the ESA that contribute to its stature and yet spark an ongoing debate over its implementation.

Mar 31, 2005

Environmental Laws: Summaries of Statutes Administered by the Environmental Protection Agency

A dozen major statutes form the legal basis for the programs of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Many of these have been amended several times. The current provisions of each are briefly summarized in this report. The Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) seeks to prevent pollution through reduced generation of pollutants at their point of origin. The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires EPA to set mobile source limits, ambient air quality standards, hazardous air pollutant emission standards, standards for new pollution sources, and significant deterioration requirements; and to focus on areas that do not attain standards.

Mar 31, 2005

Gun Legislation in the 109th Congress

Mar 31, 2005

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions

Mar 31, 2005

Immigration: Terrorist Grounds for Exclusion of Aliens

Mar 30, 2005

Lawsuits Against State Supporters of Terrorism: An Overview

Mar 28, 2005