Japan and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and More from CRS
New reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made available to the public include the following.
Japan’s Possible Entry Into the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Its Implications, August 24, 2012
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meetings in Vladivostok, Russia: A Preview, August 16, 2012
501(c)(3) Organizations: What Qualifies as “Educational”?, August 21, 2012
The Budget Control Act of 2011: Budgetary Effects of Proposals to Replace the FY2013 Sequester, August 24, 2012
US Arms Transfer Agreements Reach Record High
Arms transfers from the United States to other nations increased significantly over the past year, and exceeded previous levels, according to new data reported by the Congressional Research Service.
“In worldwide arms transfer agreements in 2011 — to both developed and developing nations — the United States dominated, ranking first with $66.3 billion in such agreements or 77.7% of all such agreements. This is the highest single year agreements total in the history of the U.S. arms export program,” the CRS report said. “Russia ranked second in worldwide arms transfer agreements in 2011with $4.8 billion in such global agreements or 5.6%. The value of all arms transfer agreements worldwide in 2011 was $85.3 billion, a substantial increase over the 2010 total of $44.5 billion, and the highest worldwide arms agreements total since 2004.”
The 85-page report is filled with an assortment of official arms sales data that was provided to CRS, but that is not generally made available otherwise.
The report was first reported in the New York Times. A copy was obtained by Secrecy News. See Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 2004-2011, August 24, 2012.
Presidential Claims of Executive Privilege, and More from CRS
New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has not made available to the public include the following.
Presidential Claims of Executive Privilege: History, Law, Practice, and Recent Developments, August 21, 2012
Congress’s Contempt Power and the Enforcement of Congressional Subpoenas: Law, History, Practice, and Procedure, updated August 17, 2012
Iraq: Politics, Governance, and Human Rights, updated August 21, 2012
An Overview of the “Patent Trolls” Debate, August 20, 2012
Crisis in Mali, and More from CRS
New reports from the Congressional Research Service on diverse topics of current interest are provided below. Pursuant to congressional policy, CRS is prohibited from making these documents directly available to the public.
The Posse Comitatus Act and Related Matters: The Use of the Military to Execute Civilian Law, August 16, 2012
Turkmenistan: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests, updated August 17, 2012
Pipeline Cybersecurity: Federal Policy, August 16, 2012
Gifts to the President of the United States, August 16, 2012
Health Insurance Exchanges Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), August 15, 2012
Crisis in Mali, August 16, 2012
JP Morgan Trading Losses: Implications for the Volcker Rule and Other Regulation, August 16, 2012
Why Some Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Are Not Sold Domestically, August 17, 2012
Armed Conflict in Syria: U.S. and International Response, updated August 20, 2012
The Palestinians: Background and U.S. Relations, updated August 17, 2012
Gun Control Legislation, and More from CRS
Recent products of the Congressional Research Service that CRS has not been authorized to release to the public include the following.
Gun Control Legislation, August 3, 2012
El Salvador: Political, Economic, and Social Conditions and U.S. Relations, August 13, 2012
Honduran-U.S. Relations, July 25, 2012
Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances, July 24, 2012
Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive, August 13, 2012
Kazakhstan: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests, August 10, 2012
Wiretapping and Legal Ethics, and More from CRS
New reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been released to the public include the following.
Wiretapping, Tape Recorders, and Legal Ethics: An Overview of Questions Posed by Attorney Involvement in Secretly Recording Conversation, August 9, 2012
The Speech or Debate Clause: Constitutional Background and Recent Developments, August 8, 2012
FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Policy Issues, August 9, 2012
Major Fiscal Issues Before Congress in FY2013, August 10, 2012
FY2013 Appropriations: District of Columbia, August 10, 2012
Newly updated editions of earlier CRS reports that Congress has also not made readily available to the public include these:
Navy Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism Operations: Background and Issues for Congress, August 10, 2012
Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, August 10, 2012
Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Issues and Options for Congress, August 10, 2012
Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carrier (CVN) Homeporting at Mayport: Background and Issues for Congress, August 10, 2012
Navy Shipboard Lasers for Surface, Air, and Missile Defense: Background and Issues for Congress, August 10, 2012
Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress, August 10, 2012
Budget “Sequestration” and Selected Program Exemptions and Special Rules, August 9, 2012
Unemployment Benefits for Millionaires, and More from CRS
Thousands of Americans who have a gross annual income of more than a million dollars have also been collecting unemployment benefits, according to IRS data compiled in a new report from the Congressional Research Service.
That description fits only a tiny fraction of a percent of those receiving unemployment benefits, and is obviously not typical of recipients of unemployment insurance. But neither does it violate any law. The issue has prompted pending legislation to restrict benefits based on income. See Receipt of Unemployment Insurance by Higher-Income Unemployed Workers (“Millionaires”), August 2, 2012.
A persistent controversy in Japan concerning a U.S. Marine base in Okinawa is reviewed in another new report from the Congressional Research Service. See The U.S. Military Presence in Okinawa and the Futenma Base Controversy, August 3, 2012.
Other new and updated CRS reports that CRS is not authorized to release to the public include the following.
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty: Background and Current Developments, August 3, 2012
U.S.-China Relations: Policy Issues, August 2, 2012
Uzbekistan: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests, August 3, 2012
Global Security Contingency Fund (GSCF): Summary and Issue Overview, August 1, 2012
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education: A Primer, August 1, 2012
Continuing Resolutions: Overview of Components and Recent Practices, August 6, 2012
Department of Homeland Security: FY2013 Appropriations, August 3, 2012
Medicaid Financing, Mountaintop Mining, and More from CRS
The Congressional Research Service has not been authorized to publicly release the following new and updated reports.
China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities — Background and Issues for Congress, July 31, 2012
Organization of American States: Background and Issues for Congress, July 31, 2012
Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress, August 1, 2012
Mountaintop Mining: Background on Current Controversies, August 1, 2012
Budgetary Treatment of Federal Credit (Direct Loans and Loan Guarantees): Concepts, History, and Issues for the 112th Congress, July 27, 2012
When Congressional Legislation Interferes with Existing Contracts: Legal Issues, May 31, 2012 (published July 31)
Comparing Compensation for Federal and Private-Sector Workers: An Overview, July 30, 2012
Medicaid Financing and Expenditures, July 30, 2012
US Arms Sales to Pakistan, and More from CRS
New products of the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include these:
Major U.S. Arms Sales and Grants to Pakistan Since 2001, July 25, 2012
Direct Overt U.S. Aid and Military Reimbursements to Pakistan, FY2002-FY2013, July 27, 2012
Georgia [Republic]: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests, July 13, 2012
The Proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement: Background and Key Issues, July 19, 2012
Trade with Sub-Saharan Africa, and More from CRS
Newly updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has not authorized for broad public distribution include the following.
U.S. Trade and Investment Relationship with Sub-Saharan Africa: The African Growth and Opportunity Act and Beyond, June 26, 2012
The Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI): Budget Authority and Request, FY2010-FY2013, July 27, 2012
Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress, July 26, 2012
Housing for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS, July 3, 2012
Federal Pollution Control Laws: How Are They Enforced?, July 7, 2012
Cuba: Issues for the 112th Congress, July 20, 2012
The Executive Budget Process, and More from CRS
New reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has not made readily available to the public include these.
The Executive Budget Process: An Overview, July 27, 2012
“Amazon” Laws and Taxation of Internet Sales: Constitutional Analysis, July 26, 2012
The Obama Administration’s Proposal to Establish a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, July 25, 2012
Moving to a Territorial Income Tax: Options and Challenges, July 25, 2012
An Overview and Comparison of Senate Proposals to Extend the “Bush Tax Cuts”: S. 3412 and S. 3413, July 25, 2012
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2013 Budget and Appropriations, July 23, 2012
Military Service Records and Unit Histories: A Guide to Locating Sources, updated July 26, 2012
Climate Change and the Law, and More from CRS
New reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made otherwise available to the public include these.
Climate Change and Existing Law: A Survey of Legal Issues Past, Present, and Future, July 2, 2012 (published July 19)
A Brief Overview of Actions Taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in Its First Year, July 18, 2012
Conflict Minerals in Central Africa: U.S. and International Responses, July 20, 2012