Search Results from beSpacific
February 05, 2010 - Al Qaeda and Affiliates: Historical Perspective, Global Presence, and Implications for U.S. Policy "Al Qaeda (AQ) has evolved into a significantly different terrorist organization than the one that perpetrated the September 11, 2001, attacks. At the...
Metropolitan Transportation Planning, William J. Mallett, Specialist in Transportation Policy, February 3, 2010 "Federal law requires state and local governments to designate a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) in each urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or more to help...
The U.S. Postal Service’s Financial Condition: Overview and Issues for Congress, by Kevin R. Kosar, Analyst in American National Government, January 19, 2010 "This report provides an overview of the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS’s) financial condition, recent legislation to alleviate...
Terrorist Attacks on Commercial Airlines: Federal Criminal Prohibitions. Charles Doyle, Senior Specialist in American Public Law, January 22, 2010 "A handful of terrorists have been prosecuted in federal court for attacks on commercial airlines or their passengers. Most often they...
CRS: Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder, updated January 7, 2010 "Starting in late 2006, commercial migratory beekeepers along the East Coast of the United States began reporting sharp declines in their honey bee colonies. Because of the severity and unusual...
CRS - Federal Employees: Pay and Pension Increases Since 1969, Patrick Purcell, Specialist in Income Security, January 20, 2010 "Congress has linked increases in federal pay to the ECI so that wages for federal employees will remain competitive with wages...
CRS - Displacing Coal with Generation from Existing Natural Gas-Fired Power Plants, Stan Mark Kaplan, Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy, January 19, 2010 "Reducing carbon dioxide emissions from coal plants is a focus of many proposals for cutting greenhouse...
January 15, 2010 - The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)--Responsibilities and Potential Congressional Concerns "The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) was established in 2004 to ensure that information from any source about potential terrorist acts against the U.S. could be made available...
U.S. Immigration Policy on Haitian Migrants, January 15, 2010:" The environmental, social, and political conditions in Haiti have long prompted congressional interest in U.S. policy on Haitian migrants, particularly those attempting to reach the United States by boat. While some...
CRS: International Terrorism and Transnational Crime: Security Threats, U.S. Policy, and Considerations for Congress, January 5, 2010. "This report provides a primer on the confluence of transnational terrorist and criminal groups and related activities abroad. It evaluates possible motivations and...
CRS Report - Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy, Kenneth Katzman Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs, December 30, 2009 "Upon taking office, the Obama Administration faced a deteriorating security environment in Afghanistan, despite a steady increase in U.S. forces...
The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act: Overview and Issues for Congress, Kevin R. Kosar, Analyst in American National Government, December 14, 2009 "President George W. Bush signed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA; P.L. 109-435; 120 Stat. 3198) on...
Who Regulates Whom? An Overview of U.S. Financial Supervision, Mark Jickling, Specialist in Financial Economics, Edward V. Murphy, Specialist in Financial Economics, December 14, 2009: "Federal financial regulation in the United States has evolved through a series of piecemeal responses...
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Background and Policy Issues, Luisa Blanchfield, Specialist in International Relations, December 2, 2009 "U.S. ratification of the United Nations (U.N.) Convention on the Rights of the Child (hereafter referred to...
Cars and Climate: What Can EPA Do to Control Greenhouse Gases from Mobil Sources - James E. McCarthy, Specialist in Environmental Policy, December 9, 2009. "EPA has received 10 petitions asking that it make endangerment findings and proceed to regulate...
Follow up to previous postings on high speed passenger rail transport in the U.S., via New York Times: "But faster trains are critical to [Amtrak's] future. So while Amtrak got some desperately needed financing from the federal government this year,...
Privacy: An Overview of Federal Statutes Governing Wiretapping and Electronic Eavesdropping, December 3, 2009: "Depending on one’s perspective, wiretapping and electronic eavesdropping are either “dirty business,” essential law enforcement tools, or both. This is a very general overview of the...
News release: "House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) released a report prepared by the Congressional Research Service on several issues concerning the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). The report was requested by Chairman Conyers and House...
The Rise of China’s Auto Industry and Its Impact on the U.S. Motor Vehicle Industry, Rachel Tang, Analyst in Industrial Organization and Business, November 16, 2009 The automobile industry, a key sector in China’s industrialization and modernization efforts, has been...
Via U.S. Dept. of State: Lobbying the Executive Branch: Current Practices and Options for Change, Jacob R. Straus, Analyst on the Congress, December 1, 2009 "This report outlines the development of registration requirements for lobbyists engaging executive branch officials since...
Follow up to previous postings on health care reform, today's news release: "U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) released the following statement today regarding a new report by the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) that shows that 60 percent of...
The Market Structure of the Health Insurance Industry, D. Andrew Austin - Analyst in Economic Policy, Thomas L. Hungerford - Specialist in Public Finance. November 17, 2009 "Congress is now considering several proposals to reform the U.S. health care system...
Temporary Extension of Unemployment Benefits: Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08), November 17, 2009 "In July 2008, a new temporary unemployment benefit, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) program, began. The EUC08 program was created by P.L. 110-252, and it was amended by...
CRS Report R40901 - Terrorism Information Sharing and the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Report Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress, November 05, 2009 "The 2004 National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (the 9/11 Commission) cited breakdowns in information...
Federal Employees’ Retirement System: Legislation Enacted in the 111th Congress, Patrick Purcell, Specialist in Income Security, November 12, 2009: "On June 22, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law H.R. 1256, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of...
Job Loss and Infrastructure Job Creation Spending During the Recession, Linda Levine, Specialist in Labor Economics, October 2, 2009 "A question that typically arises during congressional consideration of economic stimulus legislation is which approach produces the most bang for the...
Health Reform and the 111th Congress, Hinda Chaikind, Specialist in Health Care Financing, October 14, 2009 The health reform debate in the 111th Congress has continued and expanded upon the work begun in the 110th Congress. On November 12, 2008,...
November 04, 2009 - Income of Americans Aged 65 and Older, 1968 to 2008 October 30, 2009 - Private Health Insurance Provisions of H.R. 3962 / Note: related postings on H.R. 3962 October 28, 2009 - Systemic Risk and the...
Poverty in the United States: 2008, Thomas Gabe, Specialist in Social Policy, October 6, 2009 "In 2008, 39.8 million people were counted as poor in the United States—an increase of 2.6 million persons from 2007, and nearly the largest number...
How Many Energy Vampires are in your House? — Oct 26, 2009: "Energy vampires are things in your house that consume electricity all of the time, even when they are turned off or not being used. TVs, VCRs, DVD players,...
October 02, 2009 - Income and Poverty Among Older Americans in 2008 October 01, 2009 - Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance October 01, 2009 - Air Force C-17 Aircraft Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress September 30, 2009 -...
September 21, 2009 - Social Networking and Constituent Communication: Member Use of Twitter During a Two-Week Period in the 111th Congress September 16, 2009 - FEMA Disaster Housing: From Sheltering to Permanent Housing September 16, 2009 - Wildfire Fuels and...
CRS Report - Social Networking and Constituent Communication: Member Use of Twitter During a Two-Week Period in the 111th Congress...
Qui Tam: The False Claims Act and Related Federal Statutes, August 6, 2009 - "Qui tam enlists the public in the recovery of civil penalties and forfeitures. It rewards with a portion of the recovered proceeds those who sue in...
September 11, 2009 - Pension Sponsorship and Participation: Summary of Recent Trends September 08, 2009 - Electric Power Storage August 31, 2009 - Access to Government Information In the United States August 27, 2009 - FY2010 National Defense Authorization Act:...
New York Times - U.S. Increases Its Share of Worldwide Arms Market: "Despite a recession that knocked down global arms sales last year, the United States expanded its role as the world’s leading weapons supplier, increasing its share to more...
Department of Defense Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Background and Analysis, Moshe Schwartz, Specialist in Defense Acquisition - August 13, 2009 "The Department of Defense (DOD) increasingly relies upon contractors to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, which has resulted...
August 25, 2009 - Treatment of Noncitizens in H.R. 3200 [America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009] August 19, 2009 - Insurance Regulation: Issues, Background, and Legislation in the 111th Congress August 14, 2009 - Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and...
CRS: Private Health Insurance Provisions of H.R. 3200, July 27, 2009 "This report summarizes key provisions affecting private health insurance in H.R. 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, as ordered reported by House Committees on Education and Labor...
Federally Funded Innovation Inducement Prizes, Deborah D. Stine, Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, June 29, 2009 "Since at least the 18th century, philanthropic organizations, industry, governments, and nongovernmental organizations throughout the world have offered many different kinds of prizes...
The U.S. Newspaper Industry in Transition, July 8, 2009 "The U.S. newspaper industry is suffering through what could be its worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Advertising revenues are plummeting due to the severe economic downturn, while readership habits...
Secrecy News: "The new CRS report - "Gang of Four" Congressional Intelligence Notifications, July 14, 2009 - explains the role of the "Gang of Four," meaning the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, who are...
June 29, 2009 - Tunisia: Current Issues June 29, 2009 - Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program: An Overview June 26, 2009 - Iraq: U.S. Casualties June 26, 2009 - The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and All-Hazard Warnings June 26, 2009 -...
June 23, 2009 - Homeland Security Department: FY2010 Appropriations: "This report describes the FY2010 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Administration requested a net appropriation of $44.1 billion in budget authority for FY2010. This amounts to a...
CRS - Judge Sonia Sotomayor: Analysis of Selected Opinions, June 19, 2009: "In May 2009, Supreme Court Justice David Souter announced his intention to retire from the Supreme Court. Several weeks later, President Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who currently...
News release: " As part of its ongoing efforts to protect human health and the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has posted a list of 44 “high hazard potential” impoundments containing coal combustion residuals, commonly referred to as coal...
May 04, 2009 - How Would Medicare Part B Premiums Be Affected If There Is No Social Security COLA? April 30, 2009 - The 2009 H1N1 \"Swine Flu\" Outbreak: An Overview - See also related postings. April 29, 2009 -...
CRS Report - The 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) Outbreak: Selected Legal Issues - May 4, 2009: "Recent human cases of infection with a novel influenza A(H1N1) virus have been identified both internationally and in the United States. Since there has been...
March 05, 2209 - Legal Issues Related to Funding for Religious Schools in P.L. 111-5, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 April 23, 2009 - Airport Passenger Screening: Background and Issues for Congress April 20, 2009 - Insolvency...
Legal Analysis of Religious Exemptions for Photo Identification Requirements, April 13, 2009. Federal Advisory Committees: An Overview, April 16, 2009. Piracy Off the Horn of Africa, April 21, 2009. FY2009 Spring Supplemental Appropriations for Overseas Contingency Operations, April 17, 2009....
April 08, 2009 - Savings and Household Wealth in 2007 - April8, 2009 - Business Tax Issues in 2009 April 06, 2009 - Setting and Valuing Health Insurance Benefits April 03, 2009 - The Global Financial Crisis: Analysis and Policy...
The Global Financial Crisis: Analysis and Policy Implications, Dick K. Nanto, Coordinator, Specialist in Industry and Trade, April 3, 2009. "What began as a bursting of the U.S. housing market bubble and a rise in foreclosures has ballooned into a...
Follow up to April 5, 2009 posting Senate Staff Working Draft of Cybersecurity Act of 2009, see this related CRS report: Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI): Legal Authorities and Policy Considerations, March 10, 2009 "In response to the CNCI and...
Ambassador Stephen W. Bosworth, Special Representative for North Korea Policy, U.S. Department of State, Briefing at the Washington Foreign Press Center on U.S. Policy Regarding North Korea, Friday, April 3, 2009. CRS Report on North Korea Ballistic Missile Threat to...
March 10, 2009 - The United Arab Emirates Nuclear Program and Proposed U.S. Nuclear Cooperation March 10, 2009 - Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative: Legal Authorities and Policy Considerations March 10, 2009 - Medicare Primer March 10, 2009 - Filling U.S....
March 04, 2009 - The Economic Effects of Capital Gains TaxationMarch 03, 2009 - Medicare Advantage...
Who Regulates Whom? An Overview of U.S. Financial Supervision, February 24, 2009 "Federal financial regulation in the United States has evolved through a series of piecemeal responses to developments and crises in the markets. This report provides an overview of...
March 04, 2009 - The Economic Effects of Capital Gains Taxation March 03, 2009 - Medicare Advantage February 27, 2009 - Economic Stimulus: Issues and Policies February 25, 2009 - Cuba: Issues for the 111th Congress February 25, 2009 -...
R40224, Troubled Asset Relief Program and Foreclosures, February 17, 2009 "Increasing foreclosure rates and problems in financial markets are some of the issues addressed in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-343), which created the Troubled Asset Relief...
"Wikileaks has released nearly a billion dollars worth of quasi-secret reports commissioned by the United States Congress. The 6,780 reports, current as of this month, comprise over 127,000 pages of material on some of the most contentious issues in the...
February 02, 2009 - Medicaid: The Federal Medical Assistance Percentage February 02, 2009 - Proposed Funding for Workforce Development in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 January 29, 2009 - Causes of the Financial Crisis January 29,...
Via Secrecy News: Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty: Background and Current Developments, updated January 28, 2009. War in Afghanistan: Strategy, Military Operations, and Issues for Congress, January 23, 2009. Homeland Security Intelligence: Perceptions, Statutory Definitions, and Approaches, updated January 14, 2009. Israel...
CRS Report - Retirement Plan Participation and Contributions: Trends from 1998 to 2006,January 30, 2009 "The U.S. Census Bureau periodically collects information from individuals about their participation in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The most recent such survey was conducted from February...
January 22, 2009 - Proposed Funding for Education in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 January 16, 2009 - Health Insurance Continuation Coverage Under COBRA January 16, 2009 - Economic Stimulus: Issues and Policies January 15, 2009 -...
CRS Report - Economic Stimulus: Issues and Policies, January 23, 2009 "Recent policies have sought to contain damages spilling over from housing and financial markets to the broader economy, including monetary policy, which is the responsibility of the Federal Reserve,...
Job Loss and Infrastructure Job Creation During the Recession, December 23, 2008: "After the long economic expansion that characterized much of the current decade, the nation entered its eleventh postwar recession in December 2007. The unemployment rate rose from 5.0%...
Presidential Libraries: The Federal System and Related Legislation, Updated November 26, 2008. "Through the National Archives and Records Administration, the federal government currently manages and maintains 12 presidential libraries. Inaugurated with the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955, these entities are...
December 12, 2008 - U.S.-Iraq Withdrawal/Status of Forces Agreement: Issues for Congressional Oversight December 11, 2008 - The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: Final Part B Regulations December 08, 2008 - Chrysler Corporation Loan Guarantee Act of 1979: Background, Provisions,...
Follow-up to previous postings on the auto industry, this CRS report, U.S. Motor Vehicle Industry: Federal Financial Assistance and Restructuring, December 3, 2008: "The three domestically owned U.S. manufacturers of cars and light trucks are requesting federal financial assistance in...
November 14, 2008 - "Fast Track" Parliamentary Procedures of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act November 13, 2008 - China and the Global Financial Crisis: Implications for the United States November 13, 2008 - Reporting Requirements in the Emergency Economic Stabilization...
The U.S. Financial Crisis: The Global Dimension with Implications for U.S. Policy, November 18, 2008 Reporting Requirements in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, updated November 13, 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act and Current Financial Turmoil: Issues and...
CRS Report: Midnight Rulemaking: Considerations for Congress and a New Administration, November 18, 2008 "Summary: At the end of every recent presidential administration involving a change in the party controlling the White House, the level of rulemaking activity by federal...
November 03, 2008 - Section 811 and Other HUD Housing Programs for Persons with Disabilities November 01, 2008 - Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies: FY2009 Appropriations October 31, 2008 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act: Preliminary Analysis of Oversight...
CRS Report - Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Outgoing and Incoming Administrations, October 23, 2008. "The smooth and orderly transfer of power can be a notable feature of presidential transitions, and a testament to the legitimacy and durability of the electoral...
Follow up to previous postings on perchlorate and drinking water contamination, this recent CRS report: Perchlorate Contamination of Drinking Water: Regulatory Issues and Legislative Actions, October 16, 2008 Perchlorate is the explosive component of solid rocket fuel, fireworks, road flares,...
Telework Legislation Pending in the 110th Congress: A Side-by-Side Comparison of Provisions, October 20, 2008 S. 1000, the Telework Enhancement Act of 2007, and H.R. 4106, the Telework Improvements Act of 2008, are currently pending in the 110th Congress. Two...
CRS Report - Status of a Senator Who Has Been Indicted for or Convicted of a Felony, October 22, 2008 "There are no federal statutes or Rules of the Senate that directly affect the status of a Senator who has...
Individual Retirement Accounts and 401(k) Plans: Early Withdrawals and Required Distributions, Updated October 27, 2008 "In the interest of encouraging workers to save for retirement, Congress has authorized several kinds of retirement savings plans that qualify for reduced or deferred...
October 16, 2008 - Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Federal Civil Service Annuities October 14, 2008 - Potential Offset Supply in a Cap-and-Trade Program October 14, 2008 - Federal Personnel: Conversion of Employees from Appointed (Noncareer) Positions to Career Positions in the...
October 08, 2008 - Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies: FY2009 Appropriations October 06, 2008 - Supreme Court Appellate Jurisdiction Over Military Court Cases October 03, 2008 - Presidential Succession: Perspectives, Contemporary Analysis, and 110th Congress Proposed Legislation October...
October 03, 2008 - Income and Poverty Among Older Americans in 2006 September 29, 2008 - Economic Stimulus Proposals for 2008: An Analysis September 29, 2008 - The U.S. Financial Crisis: Lessons From Japan September 29, 2008 - The U.S....
September 22, 2008 - Proposal to Allow Treasury to Buy Mortgage Related Assets to Address Financial Instability "Financial markets underwent severe stress during the week of September 15-22, 2008. After Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy and AIG received a bridge loan...
September 23, 2008 - The Cost of Government Financial Interventions, Past and Present "In response to ongoing financial turmoil that began in the subprime mortgage backed securities market, the federal government has intervened with private corporations on a large scale...
September 18, 2008 - Royalty Relief for U.S. Deepwater Oil and Gas Leases September 18, 2008 - Reauthorization of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC): Opportunity to Reexamine the Congressionally Mandated Antitrust Exemption for Ocean Liner Carriers? September 16, 2008 -...
From the CRS summary of S. 3406, passed by the Senate on September 11, 2008: "ADA Amendments Act of 2008 - (Sec. 4) Amends the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) to redefine the term "disability," including by defining...
August 21, 2008 - State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2009 Appropriations August 15, 2008 - Comparing Global Influence: China's and U.S. Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Trade, and Investment in the Developing World August 15, 2008 - Capturing CO2 from Coal-Fired...
Via FAS - CRS: Journalists’ Privilege: Overview of the Law and Legislation in the 109th and 110th Congresses, Updated July 29, 2008 "In Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665, 679-680 (1972), the Supreme Court wrote journalists claim “that to gather...
RL34380 - The Executive Schedule IV Pay Cap on General Schedule Compensation, February 15, 2008 "Annual pay adjustments for about 1.3 million employees under the General Schedule (GS) and certain other systems are governed by Section 529 of P.L. 101509,...
Via FAS: Terrorism and Security Issues Facing the Water Infrastructure Sector, July 28, 2008: "Damage to or destruction of the nation’s water supply and water quality infrastructure by terrorist attack or natural disaster could disrupt the delivery of vital human...
Via FAS: Intelligence Reform at the Department of Energy: Policy Issues and Organizational Alternatives, July 28, 2008 The U.S. Secret Service: An Examination and Analysis of Its Evolving Missions, July 31, 2008 U.S. Nuclear Cooperation With India: Issues for Congress,...
August 04, 2008 - Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990 July 31, 2008 - The U.S. Secret Service: An Examination and Analysis of Its Evolving Missions July 31, 2008 - Panama: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations July...
News release: "The Committee on Energy and Commerce...released a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report that shows the Department of Energy’s (DOE) efforts to consolidate and streamline its counterintelligence program may be veering off course, potentially jeopardizing its ability to protect...
RS22916 Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's Financial Problems: Frequently Asked Questions, July 15, 2008 "What risks do Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac face in today’s economic environment? Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have traditionally kept some of their mortgages in...
News release: "The Miller Center's National War Powers Commission, co-chaired by former Secretaries of State James A. Baker, III and Warren Christopher, today recommended that Congress repeal the War Powers Resolution of 1973 and substitute a new statute that would...
Via Secrecy News: U.S.-Russian Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: Issues for Congress, updated June 26, 2008 Department of Justice (DOJ) Appropriations for FY2008 and FY2009, June 10, 2008 A Brief History of Veterans' Education Benefits and Their Value," June 25, 2008...
June 26, 2008 - Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies: FY2009 Appropriations June 25, 2008 - Veterans Benefits: An Overview June 23, 2008 - International Drug Control Policy June 23, 2008 - Iran's Nuclear Program: Status June 23, 2008 -...
The New Yorker: The Bush Administration steps up its secret moves against Iran, by Seymour M. Hersh,July 7, 2008. "Late last year, Congress agreed to a request from President Bush to fund a major escalation of covert operations against Iran,...
June 16, 2008 - Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA): What Is It, and How Might One Be Utilized In Iraq? June 16, 2008 - Boumediene v. Bush: Guantanamo Detainees' Right to Habeas Corpus June 11, 2008 - Telework Legislation Pending...
American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics, updated May 14, 2008 National Security Strategy: Legislative Mandates, Execution to Date, and Considerations for Congress, updated May 28, 2008...
Via Secrecy News: National Security Strategy: Legislative Mandates, Execution to Date, and Considerations for Congress, May 28, 2008 Science, Technology, and American Diplomacy: Background and Issues for Congress, May 22, 2008 Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress, updated May 23, 2008...
May 22, 2008 - Alien Smuggling: Recent Legislative Developments May 21, 2008 - Statutory Individual Income Tax Rates and Other Elements of the Tax System: 1988 through 2008 May 21, 2008 - Youth Transitioning From Foster Care: Background, Federal Programs,...
Via Secrecy News Defense Contracting in Iraq: Issues and Options for Congress, updated May 6, 2008 The National Security Council: An Organizational Assessment, updated April 21, 2008 Homeland Security Department: FY2009 Request for Appropriations, May 6, 2008 Japan's Nuclear Future:...
Via Secrecy News: Defense: FY2009 Authorization and Appropriations, May 5, 2008 Second FY2008 Supplemental Appropriations for Military Operations, International Affairs, and Other Purposes, updated May 8, 2008: Director of National Intelligence Statutory Authorities: Status and Proposals, updated April 17, 2008...
May 09, 2008 - Islam in Africa May 08, 2008 - Extending NASA's Exemption from the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act May 08, 2008 - Rising Food Prices and Global Food Needs: The U.S. Response May 08, 2008...
News release: "Today, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) released a Congressional Research Service (CRS) study on the implications for U.S. economic and security interests of China’s rising global influence. The study, which...
Via Secrecy News, Africa Command: U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa, updated March 10, 2008 High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and High Power Microwave (HPM) Devices: Threat Assessments, updated March 26, 2008 Second FY2008...
April 11, 2008 - District of Columbia v. Heller: The Supreme Court and the Second Amendment - "In Parker v. District of Columbia, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in a 2-1 decision...
CRS Report: International Violence Against Women: U.S. Response and Policy Issues, March 31, 2008 "In recent years, the international community has increasingly recognized international violence against women (VAW) as a significant human rights and global health issue. VAW, which can...
Avatars, Virtual Reality Technology, and the U.S. Military: Emerging Policy Issues, April 9, 2008: "This report describes virtual reality technology, which uses three-dimensional user-generated content, and its use by the U.S. military and intelligence community for training and other purposes....
April 02, 2008 - Taiwan's 2008 Presidential Election April 01, 2008 - Medicaid and Outpatient Hospital Services April 01, 2008 - The REAL ID Act of 2005: Legal, Regulatory, and Implementation Issues March 31, 2008 - Understanding Stagflation and the...
CRS Report - Government Interventions in Financial Markets: Economic and Historic Analysis of Subprime Mortgage Options, March 25, 2008. N. Eric Weiss, Analyst in Financial Economics, Government and Finance Division. "This report summarizes and analyzes four previous government market interventions...
Averting Financial Crisis, Updated March 21, 2008, Mark Jickling, Specialist in Financial Economics, Government and Finance Division. "There is no precise definition of “financial crisis,” but a common view is that disruptions in financial markets rise to the level of...
RL34404 - Border Searches of Laptops and Other Electronic Storage Devices, March 05, 2008 Summary: "The Fourth Amendment generally requires a warrant to support most searches and seizures conducted by the government. Federal courts have long recognized that there are...
CRS Report RS22826 - Impact of Rising Energy Costs on Older Americans, March 04, 2008 Summary: "Energy-related expenditures include spending for utilities and fuel to operate, heat, and cool homes and spending for gasoline and motor oil for private transportation....
Congressional Research Service, Disability Retirement for Federal Employees, March 18, 2008. Patrick Purcell, Specialist in Income Security, Domestic Social Policy Division: "Federal civilian employees earn 13 days of paid sick leave per year. Sick leave can be used because of...
CRS Report: Payable Rates and Effective Dates, 1789-2008, Updated January 8, 2008. Ida A. Brudnick, Analyst in American National Government, Government and Finance Division. "Under the annual adjustment procedure, Members were scheduled to receive a 2.7% increase in January 2008....
February 28, 2008 - The D.C. Circuit Rejects EPA's Mercury Rules: New Jersey v. EPA February 28, 2008 - Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty: Issues and Arguments February 27, 2008 - Consumer Product Safety Commission: Current Issues February 27, 2008 - The...
Center for Democracy and Technology: "Efforts to make Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports more accessible to the public received another boost today from Sen. Joe Lieberman, (ID-Conn.), who asked that a complete system be crafted that is readily accessible to...
February 21, 2008 - FDA Fast Track and Priority Review Programs February 20, 2008 - Constitutional Limits on Hate Crime Legislation February 20, 2008 - Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Workers: Current Issues and Legislation February 20, 2008 - Federal...
Nick Schwellenbach, national security investigator at the Project On Government Oversight (POGO): "The Department of Defense rebuked Air Force demands for more C-17 cargo planes in favor of upgrading C-5s, according to a February 14, 2008, Pentagon letter and supporting...
CRS Report: Instances of Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2007, updated January 14, 2008 "The following list reviews hundreds of instances in which the United States has utilized military forces abroad in situations of military conflict or potential...
February 14, 2008 - Background and U.S. Relations February 13, 2008 - Earmarks Executive Order: Legal Issues February 13, 2008 - The Bali Agreements and Forests February 13, 2008 - Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs): Issues with Use and Disposal...
How Large is China's Economy? Does it Matter? Wayne M. Morrison and Michael F. Martin, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division, February 13, 2008 [via IWS Documented News Service] Summary: "China's rapid economic growth since 1979 has transformed it into...
February 07, 2008 - Serbia: Current Issues and U.S. Policy February 01, 2008 - The DHS Directorate of Science and Technology: Key Issues for Congress February 01, 2008 - Tax Rebate Refundability: Effects and Issues February 01, 2008 - The...
CRS Report, January 23, 2008. What is a Recession, Who Decides When It Starts, and When Do They Decide? Brian W. Cashell, Specialist in Macroeconomic Policy, Government and Finance Division, The Library of Congress. "A recession is one of several...
Follow up to previous postings on nuclear power, this new CRS report, Nuclear Power Plant Security and Vulnerabilities, January 18, 2008: "The physical security of nuclear power plants and their vulnerability to deliberate acts of terrorism was elevated to a...
CRS Report, U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean: FY2006-FY2008, December 28, 2007...
January 14, 2008 - Foreign Ownership of U.S. Financial Assets: Implications of a Withdrawal: "This report provides an overview of the role foreign investment plays in the U.S. economy and an assessment of possible actions a foreign investor or a...
CRS Report - Higher Education Act Reauthorization in the 110th Congress: A Comparison of Major Proposals, December 13, 2007. "The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) as amended, authorizes the federal government’s major federal student aid programs (Title IV), as...
Iran Sanctions: Impact in Furthering U.S. Objectives Is Unclear and Should Be Reviewed, GAO-08-58, December 18, 2007. "The 2006 U.S. National Security Strategy stated that the United States faces challenges from Iran, including Iran's proliferation efforts and involvement in international...
CRS Report - How Crime in the United States Is Measured, January 3, 2008 (via FAS) "Crime data collected through the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) are used...
January 3, 2008 - The Effect of State-Legalized Same-Sex Marriage on Social Security Benefits and Pensions January 2, 2008 - National Aviation Security Policy, Strategy, and Mode-Specific Plans: Background and Considerations for Congress December 31, 2007 - Pay-As-You-Go Procedures for...
Tanzania: Background and Current Conditions, December 20, 2007 Data Mining and Homeland Security: An Overview, updated December 5, 2007 Polygraph Use by the Department of Energy: Issues for Congress," updated December 10, 2007 Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations, updated December...
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: A Brief Overview of Selected Issues, Updated December 14, 2007: "The current legislative and oversight activity with respect to electronic surveillance under Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) has drawn national attention to several overarching issues....
Entering the Executive Branch of Government: Potential Conflicts of Interest With Previous Employments and Affiliations, Updated December 11, 2007 [via FAS] "Ethics and conflict of interest concerns have been expressed about the impartiality, bias, or fairness of government regulators, administrators,...
CRS Report - U.S. Arms Sales: Agreements with and Deliveries to Major Clients, 1999-2006, December 20, 2007 "This report provides background data on United States arms sales agreements with and deliveries to its major purchasers during calendar years 1999-2006. In...
Side-by-Side Comparison of Climate Change Provisions in Omnibus Energy Legislation in the 110th Congress, updated December 14, 2007....
How Long Can the Defense Department Finance FY2008 Operations in Advance of Supplemental Appropriations? December 10, 2007 Russia's December 2007 Legislative Election: Outcome and Implications, December 10, 2007 FY2008 Supplemental Appropriations for Global War on Terror Military Operations, International Affairs,...
The FCC's 10 Commissioned Economic Research Studies on Media Ownership: Policy Implications, December 5, 2007 China's 17th Communist Party Congress, 2007: Leadership and Policy Implications, December 5, 2007 State Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Comparison and Analysis, December 5, 2007 Labor, Health...
Via OpenCRS - CRS Report, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT): Issues for Congress, December 5, 2007 (27 pages, PDF). "Open source information (OSINT) is derived from newspapers, journals, radio and television, and the Internet. Intelligence analysts have long used such information...
Press release: "A report released today by the Washington, DC-based National Environmental Trust demonstrates that many U.S. states individually emit more greenhouse gases than hundreds of developing nations combined. The report, Taking Responsibility: Why the United States Must Lead the...
Botnets, Cybercrime, and Cyberterrorism: Vulnerabilities and Policy Issues for Congress, Updated November 15, 2007. "Cybercrime is becoming more organized and established as a transnational business. High technology online skills are now available for rent to a variety of customers, possibly...
Via Secrecy News: Weak and Failing States: Evolving Security Threats and U.S. Policy, November 15, 2007 Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation and Security Issues, updated November 14, 2007 The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since...
Iran's Ballistic Missile Programs: An Overview, November 8, 2007 U.S. Arms Sales to Pakistan, November 8, 2007 Pakistan's Political Crisis and State of Emergency, November 6, 2007 Pakistan-U.S. Relations, October 18, 2007 Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security, October 31, 2007...
Press release: "At the request of Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a new analysis released [November 9, 2007] by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) found that legislative language in the energy bill currently being considered by the Congress would...
Via FAS: Managing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Policy Implications of Expanding Global Access to Nuclear Power, November 1, 2007 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background, Status, and Issues," updated October 25, 2007 Navy DDG-1000 Destroyer Program: Background, Oversight Issues,...
November 5, 2007 - Understanding Mortgage Foreclosure: Recent Events, the Process, and Costs November 2, 2007 - Director of National Intelligence Statutory Authorities: Status and Proposals November 2, 2007 - The MS-13 and 18th Street Gangs: Emerging Transnational Gang Threats?...
October 17, 2007 - Medicaid Citizenship Documentation October 17, 2007 - Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Federal Civil Service Annuities October 17, 2007 - Retirement Savings Accounts: Fees, Expenses, and Account Balances October 16, 2007 - Electronic Rulemaking in the Federal Government...
Via FAS, National Strategy for Combating Terrorism: Background and Issues for Congress, November 1, 2007 (19 pages, PDF): "Inherent in the National Strategy are a number of issues for Congress. These include (1) democratization as a counterterrorism strategy; (2) the...
House Budget Committee hearing: The Growing Budgetary Costs of the Iraq War, Wednesday, October 24, 2007. Witness statements as follows: Dr. Peter Orszag, Director, Congressional Budget Office: Testimony on Estimated Costs of U.S. Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and of...
Commodity Futures Trading Commission: Trends in Energy Derivatives Markets Raise Questions about CFTC's Oversight, GAO-08-174T, October 24, 2007 Information Technology: VA and DOD Continue to Expand Sharing of Medical Information, but Still Lack Comprehensive Electronic Medical Records, GAO-08-207T, October 24,...
Mexico's Drug Cartels, October 16, 2007 Intelligence Issues for Congress, October 16, 2007 Iran's Activities and Influence in Iraq, October 12, 2007 Burma Sanctions: Background and Options, October 10, 2007 Burma-U.S. Relations, October 4, 2007...
Defense: FY2008 Authorization and Appropriations, updated September 28, 2007 Spending by Employers on Health Insurance: A Data Brief, October 10, 2007 Burma Sanctions: Background and Options, October 10, 2007 Federal Indian Education Programs: Background and Issues State Statutes That Proscribe...
US Courts: "The Judicial Conference has expressed concerns about proposed regulations issued by the Department of Justice for states seeking to qualify for expedited federal habeas corpus review procedures in capital cases. Concerns about the certification-implementation regulations proposed June 6,...
Journalists' Privilege: Overview of the Law and Legislation in the 109th and 110th Congresses, September 28, 2007 Campaign Finance: Developments in the 110th Congress, September 28, 2007 PEPFAR [President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief]: From Emergency to Sustainability, September 28,...
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies: FY2008 Appropriations, September 29, 2007 Ethanol and Other Biofuels: Potential for U.S.-Brazil Energy Cooperation, September 27, 2007 Public Transit Program Funding Issues in Surface Transportation Reauthorization, September 27, 2007 Conventional Arms Transfers to...
Defense: FY2008 Authorization and Appropriations, updated September 17, 2007 Presidential Claims of Executive Privilege: History, Law, Practice and Recent Developments, updated September 17, 2007 Arms Sales: Congressional Review Process, updated September 12, 2007 Afghanistan: Post-War Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy,"...
Via FAS, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Iraq and Afghanistan: Effects and Countermeasures, updated August 28, 2007....
Congress and the Internet: Highlights, August 29, 2007 (24 pages, PDF), by Walter J. Oleszek. "Today, every lawmaker is an "electronic legislator" to one degree or another because the major functions of Congress - representation, lawmaking, and oversight - are...
RL34163 - The Death Penalty: Capital Punishment Legislation in the 110th Congress, September 07, 2007 (36 pages, PDF) RL34169 - The FY2008 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Policy Issues, September 07, 2007 (25 pages, PDF) RL34165 - The...
Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security, updated September 6, 2007 (62 pages, PDF): "Increasingly in 2007, U.S. commanders have seemed to equate AQ-I with the insurgency, even though most of the daily attacks are carried out by Iraqi Sunni insurgents."...
"A member of Congress has agreed to provide [Center for Democracy and Technology} CDT with a running list of new Congressional Research Service reports in order to help bolster CDT's OpenCRS project, which provides the reports to the public at...
CRS Report - P.L. 110-55, the Protect America Act of 2007: Modifications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, August 23, 2007 [via FAS] From LLRX.com, See also - Commentary: The Protect America Act and Legislation Related to the Domestic Surveillance...
Congressional Research Service reports on current agricultural and food law and policy issues are online courtesy of the The National Agricultural Law Center, here. The National Agricultural Law Center has several hundred reports for users to read, accessible via a...
Iraq: Government Formation and Benchmarks, Updated August 10,2007 Iran's Influence in Iraq, Updated August 9, 2007 Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, Updated August 6, 2007 Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America: An Overview and Selected Issues, August 2,...
Via Secrecy News, CRS Report - American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics, June 29, 2007: "This report is written in response to numerous requests for war casualty statistics and lists of war dead. It provides tables, compiled...
Via Open CRS: August 01, 2007 - Congress's Contempt Power: A Sketch - "Congress's contempt power is the means by which Congress responds to certain acts that in its view obstruct the legislative process. Contempt may be used either to...
CRS, State E-Government Strategies: Identifying Best Practices and Applications - July 23, 2007: "Although electronic government ("e-government") is currently one of the leading approaches to government reform, a lack of coordination or communication between various initiatives increases the risk of...
CRS Report for Congress: The House Passed 2007 Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) At A Alance, July 31, 2007. (22 pages, PDF) [George Krumbhaar]...
Congress's Contempt Power: Law, History, Practice, and Procedure," July 24, 2007 [via Secrecy News]...
Energy: Selected Facts and Numbers, Updated July 24, 2007 Trade Promotion Authority and Fast-Track Negotiating Authority for Trade Agreements: Major Votes, Updated July 17, 2007 Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, Updated July 17, 2007 The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan,...
Potential F-22 Raptor Export to Japan, Updated July 2, 2007 Iraq: Government Formation and Benchmarks, Updated June 27, 2007 Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, Updated June 27, 2007 Iraq: Oil and Gas Legislation, Revenue Sharing, and U.S. Policy, June...
Private Security Contractors in Iraq: Background, Legal Status, and Other Issues, updated June 21, 2007 (33 pages, PDF). [via Secrecy News] Related government documents and news: Hearing, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, May 10, 2007: from the transcript of testimony...
Follow up to June 24, 2007 posting, Skelton/Conyers Introduce Habeas Reform Legislation, see these additional related government documents: S.185 - A bill to restore habeas corpus for those detained by the United States. Sponsor: Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] (introduced 1/4/2007)...
Follow up to June 13 posting, Judiciary Chairmen Leahy, Conyers Issue Subpoenas For White House Officials, Documents see these related government documents and Congressional statements issued today: Press release from Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT): "As the Committee opens its Executive...
Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security, Updated June 20, 2007 Post-War Iraq: Foreign Contributions to Training, Peacekeeping, and Reconstruction, Updated June 18, 2007 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2008 Appropriations, Updated June 13, 2007 Turkey's 2007 Elections: Crisis of Identity...
H.R. 2545: To make available on the Internet, for purposes of access and retrieval by the public, certain information available through the Congressional Research Service web site. Sponsor: Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] (introduced 5/24/2007). (1) IN GENERAL - The Director...
Identity Theft Laws: State Penalties and Remedies and Pending Federal Bills, June 1, 2007 Defense Acquisition: Overview, Issues, and Options for Congress, June 4, 2007 The Terrorism Risk Insurance Program: Current Issues and Background, May 31, 2007 Liability of Interactive...
06/05/07 Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB): Quarantine and Isolation 06/05/07 Iraq: Government Forrmation and Performance -- Updated 05/31/07 Exporting Software and the Extraterritorial Reach of U.S. Patent Law: Microsoft Corp. v. AT&T Corp. 05/31/07 The U.S. Farm Economy -- Updated 05/30/07...
Iran's Influence in Iraq, Updated May 22, 2007 Immigration Fraud: Policies, Investigations, and Issues, Updated May 17, 2007 Africa Command: U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa, May 16, 2007 Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy...
Immigration Reform: Brief Synthesis of Issue, Updated May 10, 2007 Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security, Updated May 10, 2007 Iraq: Government Formation and Performance, Updated May 2, 2007 Israel: Background and Relations with the United States, Updated April 30, 2007...
CRS Report, FDA's Authority to Ensure That Drugs Prescribed to Children Are Safe and Effective, May 1, 2007. "The Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA, P.L. 107-109) and the Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA, P.L. 108-155) allow the Food and...
Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security, Updated April 27, 2007 U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians, Updated April 27, 2007 Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, Updated April 25, 2007 China's Anti-Satellite Weapon Test, April 23, 2007 The Proposed South Korea-U.S....
RS22654 - Veto Override Procedure in the House and Senate, April 30, 2007: "A bill or joint resolution that has been vetoed by the President can become law if two-thirds of the Members voting in the House and the Senate...
CRS Report: Greenhouse Gas Emission Drivers: Population, Economic Development and Growth, and Energy Use, April 24, 2007. (36 pages, PDF) "In the context of climate change and possible responses to the risk associated with it, three variables strongly influence the...
CRS - State and Local Economic Sanctions: Constitutional Issues, April 2, 2007....
Iraq: Elections, Constitution, and Government, Updated April 10, 2007 U.S. Trade Policy and the Caribbean: From Trade Preferences to Free Trade Agreements, April 4, 2007 The Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve in the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 (H.R....
Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security, Updated March 27, 2007 Pakistan and Terrorism: A Summary, March 27, 2007 Post-War Iraq: Foreign Contributions to Training, Peacekeeping, and Reconstruction, Updated March 21, 2007 U.S. Foreign Aid to Lebanon: Issues for Congress, March 21,...
Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - Administration Oversight - Hearing Investigates Allegations of Misconduct at GSA: "This hearing focused on allegations that GSA Administrator Lurita Doan failed to follow proper procedures for awarding federal contracts, attempted to intervene in contract negotiations,...
CRS Memo - Meetings. Conferences as "Political Activities" in a Federal Office, and Hatch Act" Considerations, March 26, 2007 (11 pages, PDF). See also Hearing Investigates Allegations of Misconduct at GSA. March 28, 2007...
Congressional Redistricting: The Constitutionality of Creating an At-Large District, March 20, 2007: "Among other provisions, H.R. 1433 (110th Cong.), the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007, would expand the U.S. House of Representatives by two Members to...
An Overview of Recent U.S. Supreme Court Jurisprudence in Patent Law, March 16, 2007 "...Patent law jurisprudence is continually being developed through litigation over activities that allegedly infringe a patent holder's rights. The losing party in these cases may appeal...
Via Secrecy News: CRS Director Daniel P. Mullohan issued a memo to all CRS staff, entitled Distribution of CRS Products to Non-Congressionals, stating that "prior approval should now be required at the division or office level before products are distributed...
The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11 - Updated March 14, 2007. "With enactment of FY2007 appropriations, Congress has approved a total of about $510 billion for military operations, base security, reconstruction, foreign...
Iraq: Tribal Structure, Social, and Political Activities, March 15, 2007 Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security -- Updated, March 12, 2007 The Budget for Fiscal Year 2008, March 12, 2007 The Whistleblower Protection Act: An Overview, March 12, 2007 Iran's Nuclear...
Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues for the 110th Congress, January 23, 2007...
Iraq: Elections, Constitution, and Government, Updated February 27, 2007 Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security, Updated February 22, 2007 Iran's Nuclear Program: Recent Developments, Updated February 22, 2007 Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, Updated February 20, 2007 China-U.S. Relations: Current...
CRS Report, RS22605, FY2008 Budget Documents: Internet Access and GPO Availability, February 13, 2007: "This report provides brief descriptions of the budget volumes and related documents, together with Internet addresses, Government Printing Office (GPO) stock numbers, and prices to obtain...
CRS Report, RS22606, Mergers and Acquisitions: Primer on Economic Considerations in the FTC and DOJ Horizontal Merger Approval Process, February 15, 2007. "The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) jointly enforce antitrust laws that cover mergers and...
Press release: "Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and Subcommittee Chairwoman Linda Sanchez (D-CA) released a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report [U.S. Attorneys Who Have Served Less than Full Four-year Terms, 1981-2006, February 22, 2007] showing the recent...
DHS' Management of BioWatch Program, OIG-07-22 (PDF, 30 pages), January 7, 2007. Related government documents: Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-18, January 31, 2007 - Released on January 7, 2007 - Subject: Medical Countermeasures against Weapons of Mass Destruction The BioWatch Program:...
Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security, Updated February 1, 2007 Iran's Influence in Iraq, Updated February 2, 2007 Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, Updated January 23, 2007 Congressional Authority to Limit U.S. Military Operations in Iraq, January 29, 2007 Energy...
The Iraqi Security Forces: The Challenge of Sectarian and Ethnic Influences, Updated January 18, 2007 Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security, Updated January 17, 2007 Iran: Profile and Statements of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, January 16, 2007 Iraq: Regional Perspectives and U.S....
Via FAS, CRS Policy Statement: Interacting With the Media, effective January 16, 2007....
State of the Union Address - Background Information - Wikipedia [open source content] President Bush's State of the Union Address 2006 The President's State of the Union Message: Frequently Asked Questions - CRS Transcripts of State of the Union Messages...
110th Congress - Background Information 110th United States Congress - Wikipedia U.S. Congress - U.S. Department of State Preview of the 110th Congress - Foreign Press Center Briefing U.S. Senate Senators-Elect 2006 U.S. House of Representatives New Members - 110th...
CRS Report, International Crises and Disasters: U.S. Humanitarian Assistance, Budget Trends, and Issues for Congress, December 21, 2006....
CRS Report, Federal Drug Price Negotiation: Implications for Medicare Part D, January 5, 2007....
CRS Report - Islam: Sunnis and Shiites, updated December 11, 2006. "The majority of the world's Muslim population follows the Sunni branch of Islam, and approximately 10-15% of all Muslims follow the Shiite (Shi‘ite, Shi‘a, Shia) branch. Shiite populations live...
12/20/06 U.S. Army and Marine Corps Equipment Requirements: Background and Issues for Congress 12/15/06 Incapacity of a Member of the Senate 12/15/06 U.S. Arms Sales: Agreements with and Deliveries to Major Clients, 1998-2005 12/12/06 The WTO, Intellectual Property Rights, and...
CRS Report, 9/11 Commission Recommendations - Implementation Status, December 4, 2006. Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007, (279 pages, PDF). Published January 5, 2007 - via GPO....
The No Child Left Behind Act: An Overview of Reauthorization Issues for the 110th Congress, December 16, 2006....
Follow-up to previous postings on EPA library closings, via FAS, this recent CRS report, Restructuring EPA's Libraries: Background and Issues for Congress, updated January 3, 2007. "EPA determined that the utility of some of its libraries had declined as the...
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade: Key Issues for the 110th Congress, December 20, 2006....
CRS Report, Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security, Updated, December 28, 2006....
Iraq: Elections, Constitution, and Government -- Updated, December 22, 2006....
Energy: Selected Facts and Numbers, Updated November 29, 2006....
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade: Key Issues for the 110th Congress, December 20, 2006....
CRS Report for Congress, 9/11 Commission Recommendations: Implementation Status, December 4, 2006 (73 pages, PDF)....
CRS Report to Congress, Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 109th Congress -- Updated, December 7, 2006 (41 pages, PDF)....
Recent CRS Reports made available by FAS: Iraqi Civilian Deaths Estimates, November 22, 2006 Intelligence Estimates: How Useful to Congress?, November 21, 2006...
India and Iran: WMD Proliferation Activities, November 8, 2006...
Televising Supreme Court and Other Federal Court Proceedings: Legislation and Issues, updated November 8, 2006. Related news: Verdict out on cameras in Supreme Court...
CRS Report - Iraq: Elections, Government, and Constitution -- Updated November 20, 2006....
The following are available via FAS: Intelligence Estimates: How Useful to Congress?, November 21, 2006 Iraqi Civilian Deaths Estimates, November 22, 2006 Anti-Terrorism Authority Under the Laws of the United Kingdom and the United States, September 7, 2006...
Press release: "GalleryWatch and Pennyhill Press are pleased to announce that the GW CRS reports have now been posted for 1994, meaning we now the most complete set of reports available online for the years 1994 - 2006. We have...
Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security, Updated November 7, 2006 Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, Updated November 1, 2006 Covert Action: Legislative Background and Possible Policy Questions, November 2, 2006 Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 109th Congress, Updated November...
CRS Report, Covert Action: Legislative Background and Possible Policy Questions, November 2, 2006....
Covert Action: Legislative Background and Possible Policy Questions, November 2, 2006 Pakistan-U.S. Relations, Updated October 26, 2006 Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 1998-2005, October 23, 2006 Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security, Updated October 18, 2006 Weapons of Mass Destruction:...
North Korea's Nuclear Test: Motivations, Implications, and U.S. Options, October 24, 2006 (22 pages, PDF)...
Voter Identification and Citizenship Requirements: Legislation in the 109th Congress, September 18, 2006....
Pakistan - U.S. Relations -- Updated October 26, 2006....
The War Crimes Act: Current Issues, updated October 2, 2006 [via FAS]...
Protection of Security-Related Information, September 27, 2006. "The terrorist attacks of September 11 prompted a reevaluation of how to balance public access to information with the need for safety and security. The accumulation of confidential business information from owners and...
Charlie Savage, Boston Globe: "In a 27-page report written for lawmakers [see related info below], the research service said the Bush administration is using signing statements as a means to slowly condition Congress into accepting the White House's broad conception...
Protection of Security-Related Information, September 27, 2006 (via FAS, 29 pages, PDF) Related postings on use of various designations for government documents to restrict public access...
Presidential Signing Statements: Constitutional and Institutional Implications," September 22, 2006 (via FAS, 30 pages, PDF). Related postings on signing statements...
CRS Reports, by Stephen Young (updated) Commentary: Previously Unreleased FCC Reports on TV Localism Raise Questions About Media Diversity, by Beth Wellington...
Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses -- Updated September 11, 2006 Iraq: Elections, Government, and Constitution -- Updated September 11, 2006 Iran's Nuclear Program: Recent Developments -- Updated September 6, 2006...
Homeland Security: Coast Guard Operations - Background and Issues for Congress, updated September 12, 2006....
CRS Report, Undisclosed U.S. Detention Sites Overseas: Background and Legal Issues (24 pages, PDF), September 12, 2006....
CRS Report, European Approaches to Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism, July 24, 2006. "This report examines homeland security and counterterrorist measures in six selected European countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. None of these European countries currently...
RL32812 - The Budget for Fiscal Year 2006, July 25, 2006, Philip D. Winters (29 pages, PDF)."In March 2006, the House passed a $92 billion supplemental appropriation (H.R. 4939). The funding, requested by the President, included $68 billion for military...
CRS report, Detection of Explosives on Airline Passengers: Recommendation of the 9/11 Commission and Related Issues, updated August 9, 2006 (via FAS)....
CRS Report, Homeland Security Intelligence: Perceptions, Statutory Definitions, and Approaches - August 18, 2006....
CRS Report, The Public Health and Medical Response to Disasters: Federal Authority and Funding, July 28, 2006 (32 pages, PDF)...
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Reconstruction Efforts: Includes links to Useful Internet Sites, U.S. Government Documents, Speeches, Fact Sheets, Congressional Research Service Reports (CRS)....
CRS Report, International Terrorism: Threat, Policy, and Response, August 9, 2006...
Israel: Background and Relations with the United States, Updated July 26, 2006 Israeli-Arab Negotiations: Background, Conflicts, and U.S. Policy, Updated July 25, 2006 Lebanon, Updated July 24, 2006 Syria: U.S. Relations and Bilateral Issues, Updated July 27, 2006...
CRS Report: The Department of Defense Rules for Military Commissions: Analysis of Procedural Rules and Comparison with Proposed Legislation and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, updated July 25, 2006....
Campaign Finance: An Overview, July 31, 2006....
Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah: The Current Conflict, July 21, 2006 (45 pages, PDF)...
CRS Report - World Trade Organization Negotiations: The Doha Development Agenda, updated July 10, 2006 (21 pages, PDF) Doha Development Agenda (DDA) - Fact Sheet - USTR, July 24, 2006 WTO World Trade Report focuses on subsidies: "Government subsidies can...
FEMA Reorganization Legislation in the 109th Congress, July 7, 2006 (39 pages, PDF)...
Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, updated July 13, 2006 (48 pages, PDF) Israel: Background and Relations with the United States, updated May 18, 2006 (19 pages, PDF) Lebanon, updated June 8, 2006 (19 pages, PDF) Syria: U.S. Relations and...
Follow-up to postings on documents and news related to the terror finance tracking program, this recently published CRS report, posted by FAS: Treasury's Terrorist Finance Program's Access to Information Held by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), July...
Iraq: Elections, Government, and Constitution, Updated June 15, 2006 Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security, Updated June 14, 2006...
Federal Emergency Management and Homeland Security Organization: Historical Developments and Legislative Options, Updated June 1, 2006 (44 pages, PDF)...
Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, CRS Report, June 2, 2006 (47 pages, PDF)...
CRS Report, The Changing Demographic Profile of the United States, May 5, 2006 (31 pages, PDF): "The objective of this report is to highlight some of the demographic changes that have already occurred since 1950 and to illustrate how these...
The Final Report on the fiftieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women is now available. CRS Report - The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW): Congressional Issues, updated December 14, 2006...
CRS Report, Government Access to Phone Calling Activity and Related Records: Legal Authorities, May 17, 2006 (19 pages, PDF) Related postings on domestic surveillance program...
Senate Intelligence Committee Open Hearing: Confirmation Hearing of General Michael V. Hayden to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, May 18, 2006. Opening Statement by Michael V. Hayden, Unclassified (5 pages, PDF) Via FAS, full transcript of the...
CRS report, Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 109th Congress, May 12, 2006 (37 pages, PDF) White House: President Bush Discusses Border Security and Immigration Reform in Arizona, Yuma Sector Border Patrol Headquarters Yuma, Arizona, May 18, 2006 White House,...
From the State Department, the following resources on Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) - U.S. Government Resources - Background Information; International Organizations - Resources; Avian Flu Experts; Publications/Documents; Fact Sheets; and Congressional Research Service Reports (CRS)....
The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11 (40 pages, PDF) "CRS estimates that Congress has appropriated a total of about $368 billion for military operations, base security, reconstruction, foreign aid, embassy costs, and...
Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses - CRS Report (45 pages, PDF), April 6, 2006: "Summary - According to an Administration national security strategy document released on March 16, 2006, the United States "may face no greater challenge from a...
Press release: "In a letter to President Bush, Rep. Waxman asks for a full accounting of the President's and Vice President's actions in authorizing leaks of classified intelligence about Iraq, while at the same time concealing the President's knowledge of...
USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005: A Legal Analysis (74 pages, PDF): "This report describes the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (the Act) and, where appropriate, discusses the modifications to law made by the USA...
March 21, 2006 - National Security Letters in Foreign Intelligence Investigations: A Glimpse of the Legal Background and Recent Amendments "Five statutory provisions vest government agencies responsible for certain foreign intelligence investigations (principally the Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]) with...
CRS Report via FAS: Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends (20 pages, PDF), updated March 9, 2006. "International terrorism has long been recognized as a serious foreign and domestic security threat. This issue brief examines international terrorist actions and...
Managing Sensitive Information: Departments of Energy and Defense Policies and Oversight Could Be Improved, GAO-06-369, March 7, 2006. Full text | Highlights: "...the lack of training requirements and oversight of the Official Use Only (OUO) and For Official Use Only...
CNN: "A review of a United Arab Emirates-owned company's plan to take over a portion of operations at key U.S. ports never looked into whether the company had ties to al Qaeda or other terrorists, a key Republican lawmaker told...
Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS) "The United States has traditionally welcomed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and provided foreign investors fair, equitable and nondiscriminatory treatment with few limited exceptions designed to protect national security. The Exon-Florio provision...
CRS Report: USA PATRIOT Act Additional Reauthorizing Amendments Act of 2006 (S. 2271) - "S. 22711 amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and the five federal statutes providing national security letter (NSL) authority to federal intelligence investigators in the...
WSJ free feature today: In Search of Presidential Earmarks Pork, a Capitol Hill Staple, Also Is White House Custom, But Much Tougher to Track. CRS report referenced in the WSJ article, via FAS: Earmarks in Appropriation Acts: FY1994, FY1996, FY1998,...
More terrific research by Michael Ravnitzky has been posted to the Memory Hole. Minutes of the Legislative Reference Service, 1947-1953, The Forerunner of the Congressional Research Service (26 pages, PDF)....
There have been several recent congressional communications and related articles addressing whether or not authors of CRS reports on issues pertaining to domestic surveillance have demonstrated bias in their research. Links to relevant documents are in chronological order, as follows:...
01/27/06 The Federal Government Debt: Its Size and Economic Significance -- Updated...
Data Security: Federal and State Laws, February 03, 2006 "This report provides a brief discussion of federal and state data security laws. The security of personal information and risks to data are paramount concerns addressed in federal and state law,...
Yesterday's posting, Judiciary Cmte. Requests Extensive Info On Domestic Spying Program From Attorney General, relied heavily on links to the Washington Post, and for good reason. The newspaper's investigative reporting on the domestic spying issue has been picking up steam,...
Congressional Research Service, Memorandum to Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Subject: Probable Cause, Reasonable Suspicion, and Reasonableness Standards in the Context of the Fourth Amendment and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, January 30, 2006 (via FAS)....
CRS Report, Congressional Gifts and Travel: Legislative Proposals for the 109th Congress, January 17, 2006 (10 pages, PDF): "It has been a decade since the House and Senate examined their rules on the acceptance of gifts and travel expenses. Press...
From CDT: "Less than a year after the Center for Democracy & Technology made Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports freely available to the public, members of the Internet community have responded by downloading more than 1 million of the informative...
Following up with reports related to January 17, 2006 posting, Comparison of Congressional Oversight During Clinton and Bush Administrations, Secrecy News has posted two CRS reports as follows: Congressional Oversight, updated January 3, 2006 (6 pages, PDF) Protection of Classified...
Notable articles today: New York Times: Delicate Dance for Bush in Depicting Spy Program as Asset Washington Post (reg. req'd) Bush Defends Domestic Spying - Deputy National Intelligence Chief Says Program is Targeted on Al Qaeda President Discusses Global War...
On January 4, 2006, Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA) sent a letter to President Bush stating that "... the practice of briefing only certain Members of the intelligence committees [on NSA programs] violates the specific requirements of the National Security Act...
January 09, 2006 - Federal Spending by Agency and Budget Function, FY2001-FY2005 (PDF) "This report provides federal spending data by agency and by budget function for fiscal year 2001 through fiscal year 2005. The data, ranked by size, reveal the...
The Environmental Opinions of Judge Samuel Alito (6 pages, PDF, January 06, 2006 Summary: "The nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr., to serve on the Supreme Court has prompted close scrutiny of his judicial opinions during 15 years as...
Status of a Member of the House Who Has Been Indicted for or Convicted of a Felony (14 pages, PDF), January 5, 2006. "There are no federal statutes or Rules of the House of Representatives that directly affect the status...
A Legal Analysis of the NSA Warrantless Surveillance Program, by Morton H. Halperin, January 6, 2006 Secrecy News: "Halperin, a leading civil libertarian and former Pentagon and State Department official, played an influential role in the enactment of the Foreign...
CRS: Authorization For Use Of Military Force in Response to the 9/11 Attacks (P.L. 107-40): Legislative History, January 4, 2006. [via FAS]...
CRS Report - The Google Book Search Project: Is Online Indexing A Fair Use Under Copyright Law (6 pages, PDF), Published 12/28/2005, by Robin Jeweler, American Law Division. Abstract: "Google, Inc. is digitally scanning the collections of several prominent libraries...
CRS Report, January 5, 2006: Presidential Authority to Conduct Warrantless Electronic Surveillance to Gather Foreign Intelligence Information (44 pages, PDF) Related references: New York Times, Report Questions Legal Basis for Bush's Spying Program: "President Bush's rationale for authorizing eavesdropping on...
From FAS, this link to a new CRS report, National Security Whistleblowers, December 30, 2005 (47 pages, PDF): "To discharge its constitutional duties, Congress depends on information obtained from the executive branch. Domestic and national security information is provided through...
Today the The National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas School of Law announced the availability of a website which currently provides access to over 200 CRS reports on agriculture and food law policy related issues. The site's...
Press release: Senator Feinstein Releases Nonpartisan CRS Report that Concludes Congress Did Not Have Access to Full Scope of Prewar Intelligence. CRS Report, Congress as a Consumer of Intelligence Information, December 14, 2005: Limitations on Congressional Access to Certain National...
Combating Terrorism: The Challenge of Measuring Effectiveness, November 23, 2005 (via FAS, 15 pages, PDF)....
Senate Democrats invoked rarely used Rule 21 to force a closed door meeting today with the goal of obtaining an agreement to fully investigate the administration's use of WMD documents as a justification for the Iraq war. According to a...
CRS Report, Terrorist Capabilities for Cyberattack: Overview and Policy Issues, October 20, 2005....
U.S. Agriculture After Hurricane Katrina: Status and Issues (23 pages, PDF) The Role of HUD Housing Programs in Response to Disasters (21 pages, PDF) Hurricane Katrina: Medicaid Issues (34 pages, PDF) Tax Policy Options After Hurricane Katrina (17 pages, PDF)...
Gasoline Prices, New Legislation and Proposals, Updated October 5, 2005 (14 pages, PDF)....
CRS Report, NEPA and Hurricane Response, Recovery, and Rebuilding Efforts, September 28, 2005 (12 pages, PDF)...
The Chief Justice of the United States: Responsibilites of the Office and Process for Appointment, updated September 12, 2005 [thanks to GalleryWatch.com]...
Katrina's Wake: Restoring Financial Services (6 pages, PDF) Hurricane Katrina: The Response by the Internal Revenue Service (6 pages, PDF) Hurricane Katrina: Insurance Losses and National Capacities for Financing Disaster Risk (23 pages, PDF) Unemployment and Employment Programs Available to...
Joshua Ruihley of Open CRS contacted me with this link for researchers to facilitate direct access to 35 Katrina related CRS reports that the site makes available for free. The Open CRS Network updates their database regularly, so make this...
The following recently published CRS Reports are available free on USCongress.com: Federal Disaster Recovery Programs: Brief Summaries (13 pages, PDF) Emergency Communications: The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and All-Hazard Warnings (19 pages, PDF) Supplemental Appropriations for the 2004 Hurricanes and...
From USCongress.com: Oil and Gas: Supply Issues After Katrina (6 pages, PDF) Hurricane Katrina: Fishing and Aquaculture Industries--Damage and Recovery (2 pages, PDF) New Orleans Levees and Floodwalls: Hurricane Damage Protection (6 pages, PDF) Price Increases in the Aftermath of...
A new website was launched by the Congressional information services company Gallerywatch.com, called USCongress.com. The site, whose content and sources will expand in upcoming weeks and months, is already a significant resource for government documents on a wide range of...
Although not a surprise to members of the organization, as well as special librarians, researchers, publishers, Congress and...in any case, here is a link to an article from the ABA Journal acknowledging the American Library Association's successful lobbying efforts on...
As long as access is at issue, what is Congress' excuse?, an editorial by Craig Hines: "Congress should move toward regular release of much of its massive and impressive work product." Related references: Open CRS Project Provides Searchable Access to...
Exposing the Plame case mistake - "The pundits say the law that protects covert agents' identities won't put anybody away in this investigation. Here's why they're wrong." [LA Times, reg. req'd] Related references: 21 Administration Officials Involved In Plame Leak...
According to an August 9, 2005 article in the New York Times, "More than a year before the Sept. 11 attacks, a small, highly classified military intelligence unit identified Mohammed Atta and three other future hijackers as likely members of...
Recess Appointments, A Legal Overview, July 26, 2005 (20 pages, PDF), focuses on the "historical application and interpretation" of the Recess Appointments Clause of the Constitution. Related references: Rappaport, Michael B., The Original Meaning of the Recess Appointments Clause, (October...
White House press release: President Signs Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 S.544: A bill to amend title IX of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the improvement of patient safety and to reduce the incidence...
"This edition is a hypertext interpretation of the CRS text. It links to Supreme Court opinions, the U.S. Code, and the Code of Federal Regulations, as well as enhancing navigation through linked footnotes and tables of contents." [Link]...
Supreme Court Appointment Process: Roles of the President, Judiciary Committee, and Senate, updated July 6, 2005 (53 pages, PDF). Related documents: The Supreme Court of the United States: Highest Court in the Land, An Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department...
July 14, 2005 Text of Letter from Reps. Frank and Conyers to CRS's American Law Division Requesting Opinion on the Impeachability of White House Staff....
"American taxpayers spend nearly $100 million a year to fund the Congressional Research Service, a "think tank" that provides reports to members of Congress on a variety of topics relevant to current political events. Yet, these reports are not made...
White House Press release: President Visits National Counterterrorism Center "I mean, not only are we sharing information here at home, we're sharing information with our allies, with our coalition partners. See, terrorists are willing to strike at anybody who loves...
Updated May 11, 2005, Copyright Protection of Digital Television: The Broadcast Flag: "This report addresses the adoption of a broadcast flag system by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to protect digital television (DTV) broadcasts from unauthorized redistribution. The report also...
CRS Report, Internet: An Overview of Key Technology Policy Issues Affecting Its Use and Growth, April 13, 2005 (47 pages, PDF). [via FAS]...
'Real ID' Faces Reality: "The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates it could cost states as much as $750 million to implement measures required by the act, including some $80 million to create links among state databases." From the Washington...
Tracking Current Federal Legislation and Regulations: A Guide To Basic Sources (18 pages, PDF), posted by FAS and link via Marcus P. Zillman....
Membership of the 109th Congress: A Profile - CRS Report...
Access to Government Information in the United States, updated January 7, 2005....
CRS Report - Spyware: Background and Policy Issues for Congress, Updated December 22, 2004. "Internet privacy issues encompass concerns about the collection of personally identifiable information (PII) from visitors to government and commercial websites, as well as debate over law...
Access to Government Information in the United States, updated January 7, 2005: "Throughout the first 150 years of the federal government, access to government information does not appear to have been a major issue among the three branches or for...
Data Mining: An Overview, updated December 16, 2004....
From Data Mining: An Overview, updated May 3, 2004: Data mining has become increasingly common in both the public and private sectors. Organizations use data mining as a tool to survey customer information, reduce fraud and waste, and assist in...
Interstate Travel: Constitutional Challenges to the Identification Requirement and Other Transportation Security Regulations, Congressional Research Service, November 4, 2004 (via Secrecy News) Related postings on Gilmore v. Ashcroft: Requirement to Show ID for Ground and Air Transport...
State Election Laws: Overview of Statutes Regarding Emergency Election Postponement Within the State, September 22, 2004: "Due to the possibility of an emergency or disaster, including the threat of a terrorist attack, occurring immediately before or during a scheduled election,...
From Steven Aftergood and the Federation of American Scientists, the following links: The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: An Overview of the Statutory Framework and Recent Judicial Decisions, updated September 22, 2004 (90 pages, PDF) Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: Selected Legislation...
CRS Report, The Information Quality Act: OMB's Guidance and Initial Implementation, Updated September 17, 2004. "In December 2000, Congress passed and the President signed the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (P. L. 106-554). Section 515...
Lawmakers question policy on transportation security information Lawmakers letter dated September 14, to the Government Accountability Office, on Sensitive Security Information (SSI). Related reference: CRS Report, - Sensitive Security Information and Transportation Security: Issues and Congressional Options, June 9, 2004....
Aviation Security-Related Findings and Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, August 24, 2004. 9/11 Commission Recommendations: A Civil Liberties Oversight Board, August 9, 2004. 9/11 Commission Recommendations: Joint Committee on Atomic Energy -- A Model for Congressional Oversight? August 20, 2004....
From the Sunday, August 29 New York Times Book Review section, The 9/11 Report: A Dissent, by Richard A. Posner. Related references: The 9/11 Commission Report and 9/11 Commission Releases Two Staff Reports. A Joint Committee on Intelligence: Proposals and...
As referenced in Secrecy News: Secrecy Versus Openness: New Proposed Arrangements for Balancing Competing Needs, updated August 26, 2004. The Protection of Classified Information: The Legal Framework, updated August 5, 2004. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: Term Limits and Assignment...
Gumshoe Librarian: "Where in the World Is..." A Bibliography of Recommended Websites for Global Research Issues Search Engine Comparison Chart Social Software in the Library Document Product" Strategy: Optimizing Precedent Investment for Higher Profits and Better Service Enter the World...
From Secrecy News (all reports in PDF): Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends, CRS Issue Brief, updated July 6, 2004 ">The USA Patriot Act Sunset: A Sketch, updated June 10, 2004 USA Patriot Act Sunset: Provisions That Expire on...
As an update to previous postings concerning access to CRS reports online, The Thurgood Marshall Law Library, University of Maryland, provides a searchable archive currently comprising 400 CRS reports on 50 topics, from 1993 to present (the most current entry,...
From the May 17 press release: "GalleryWatch.com has expanded its partnership with Penny Hill Press to provide subscriber's access to all numbered Congressional Research Service (CRS) documents and Electronic Briefing Books, from January 2003 to the present. The services are...
According to the New York Times, a nine page CRS memo released on May 3 (anyone have a link?) states that when a federal government actuary was directed to withhold data from Congress on the actual cost of the new...
The American University School of Information, in Washington, D.C. hosts this website on Critical Infrastructure Information and Protection, providing links to topical government documents including those from the White House, Executive Agencies, State Legislation, and GAO and CRS Reports....
Balancing Scientific Publication and National Security Concerns: Issues for Congress, by Dana A. Shea, updated February 2, 2004 Sensitive But Unclassified and Other Federal Security Controls on Scientific and Technical Information: History and Current Controversy, by Genevieve J. Knezo, udpated...
Presidential Advisers' Testimony Before Congressional Committees: A Brief Overview "Congress has a constitutionally rooted right of access to the information it needs to perform its Article I legislative and oversight functions. Generally, a congressional committee with jurisdiction over the subject...
RL32336 -- FBI Intelligence Reform Since September 11, 2001: Issues and Options for Congress: From the report's conclusion - "Should the Congress choose to influence the direction and/or outcome of the FBI's intelligence reform, numerous options, from support of the...
From zFacts.com, using Google technology, Find 'Congressional Research Service' Reports provides a searchable interface to locate the 1,000 reports that are available to the public free on the web, hosted by a variety of advocacy sources. Supports keyword search as...
As reported by AP, Rice to Testify in Public Under Oath. The statement by the 9/11 Commission indicates this agreement is "consistent with [their] mandate to provide a full and complete accounting of the terrorist attacks of September 11." President...
Press release: DHS Launches Protected Critical Infrastructure Information Program to Enhance Homeland Security, Facilitate Information Sharing: "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today the launch of the Protected Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII) Program. The PCII Program enables the private...
USA Patriot Act Sunset: Provisions That Expire on December 31, 2005 by Charles Doyle, January 2, 2004 Sensitive Security Information (SSI) and Transportation Security: Background and Controversies, by Mitchel A. Sollenberger, February 5, 2004 See also 49 CFR 1520.7, Transportation...
From Secrecy News, a copy of a Congressional Research Service internal memo from December 2003 that addresses the escalating controversy on restrictions to public dissemination of CRS reports....
Intelligence Identities Protection Act by Elizabeth B. Bazan, Legislative Attorney, American Law Division, CRS, October 3, 2003. (via Secrecy News) Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982 (50 U.S.C. 421 et seq.)...
Via Secrecy News, this link to an important recent CRS report, Continuity of Government, Current Federal Arrangements and the Future. From the Summary: "Continuity of government refers to the continued functioning of constutitional government under all circumstances. Arrangements for the...
An incisive news article from the December 12 Ohio Times-Reporter presents Congressional and advocacy group perspectives on public access to CRS reports, a controversial issue about which I have posted a number of times. CRS does not maintain a public...
On November 21, Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) introduced the Congressional Research Accessibility Act (H.R. 3630), To make available on the Internet, for purposes of access and retrieval by the public, certain information available through the Congressional Research Service Web site....
From FAS, this link to CRS reports for Congress on First Amendment topics, from the First Amendment Center. The 16 reports were published in 2003, and address topics that include Internet privacy, freedom of press and speech, and regulation of...
From FAS, news about this CRS report: "The occasional practice of holding closed door sessions of Congress is surveyed in Secret Sessions of Congress: A Brief Historical Overview by Mildred Amer, Congressional Research Service, updated August 5, 2003."...
The Memory Hole announced that it has added links to over 300 Congressional Research Service Reports (Long Reports, Short Reports, Issue Briefs, Appropriations Reports) that were recently removed from free public web access. These CRS research are only a selection...
Each year the Congressional Research Search (CRS) publishes approximately 1,000 reports of which the public may have access to several hundred. In an interesting change of policy, Secrecy News reports that access to selected reports previously provided via the websites...
New from the Law Librarians' Society of Washington, D.C. (LLSDC), Selected Congressional Research Service Reports on Congress and its Procedures. This resource also provides numerous links to other sources of CRS reports on the web from government, asssociation, commercial and...
According to Mary Alice Baish, Associate Washington Affairs Representative, American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), there are more than 30 organizations who support providing public access to all CRS reports on the Internet. Please see Senate Resolution 54, submitted by...
Congressional Research Service Products: Taxpayers Should Have Easy Access. From the report: "$81 million of tax-payer money funded the Congressional Research Service (CRS) in FY 2002. CRS authors products at the request of current Members of Congress, many of whom...
Professor Annette Nellen of San José State University has created an extensive, well documented and up-to-date resource on net taxation issues: E-Commerce Taxation - Guide to Understanding the Current Discussion & Debate + Links. She includes the full-text of her...
Orbitz is no doubt pleased with the Department of Transportation's decision not to propose new regulations on the advertisement and sale of airline tickets on the Web. See my previous relating posting here....
Gallerywatch.com has announced that this September they will offer subscribers access to summaries of all, yes, all, published CRS Reports. The thousands of reports issued annually are not made available online, but there are resources that selectively provide the full-text...