What’s Next in Afghanistan, and More from CRS
An updated report from the Congressional Research Service proposes a series of questions to help inform and guide congressional debate on the future of the U.S. war in Afghanistan and its aftermath. See In Brief: Next Steps in the War in Afghanistan? Issues for Congress, June 15, 2012.
Other new and (mostly) updated CRS reports that Congress has not made publicly accessible include the following.
Navy Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism Operations: Background and Issues for Congress, June 13, 2012
The Navy Biofuel Initiative Under the Defense Production Act, June 13, 2012
Navy Ship Names: Background For Congress, June 15, 2012
Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress, June 14, 2012
Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress, June 14, 2012
Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress, June 13, 2012
Employee Stock Options: Tax Treatment and Tax Issues, June 15, 2012
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), June 15, 2012
U.S. Response to the Global Threat of Malaria: Basic Facts, June 15, 2012
U.S. Response to the Global Threat of Tuberculosis: Basic Facts, June 15, 2012
U.S. Response to the Global Threat of HIV/AIDS: Basic Facts, June 15, 2012
U.S.-Taiwan Relationship: Overview of Policy Issues, June 15, 2012
Drought in the United States: Causes and Issues for Congress, June 12, 2012
Some More CRS Reports
New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service which have not been made publicly accessible include the following.
Alternative Fuel and Advanced Vehicle Technology Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs, June 12, 2012
SBA New Markets Venture Capital Program, June 12, 2012
Health Insurance Premium Credits in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), June 13, 2012
The U.S. Postal Service: Common Questions About Post Office Closures, June 13, 2012
Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress, June 13, 2012
Iraq: Politics, Governance, and Human Rights, June 13, 2012
The Jackson-Vanik Amendment and Candidate Countries for WTO Accession: Issues for Congress, June 13, 2012
Russia’s Accession to the WTO and Its Implications for the United States, June 13, 2012
Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) Status for Russia and U.S.-Russian Economic Ties, June 13, 2012
Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Issues and Options for Congress, June 13, 2012
Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress, June 12, 2012
The Latest Crop of CRS Reports
New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
Mexican Migration to the United States: Policy and Trends, June 7, 2012
Mexico’s Drug Trafficking Organizations: Source and Scope of the Rising Violence, June 8, 2012
International Monetary Fund: Background and Issues for Congress, June 12, 2012
The Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative, June 11, 2012
The American Opportunity Tax Credit: Overview, Analysis, and Policy Options, June 11, 2012
Qatar: Background and U.S. Relations, June 6, 2012
Iran’s Nuclear Program: Tehran’s Compliance with International Obligations, June 8, 2012
Navy Ohio Replacement (SSBN[X]) Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 12, 2012
Defense Department Energy Needs, and More from CRS
The Department of Defense is by far the largest government consumer of energy, having spent around $17 billion on fuel last year, according to a new report from the Congressional Research Service.
“DOD’s reliance on fuel can lead to financial, operational, and strategic challenges and risks,” which are explored in the report. See Department of Defense Energy Initiatives: Background and Issues for Congress, June 5, 2012.
Other new and updated CRS reports that Congress has barred CRS from publishing online include the following.
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2013, June 1, 2012
Reaching the Debt Limit: Background and Potential Effects on Government Operations, May 31, 2012
The U.S. Postal Service’s Use of Contractors to Deliver Mail: Background and Recent Developments, May 29, 2012
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations: A Summary of the House- and Senate-Reported Bills for FY2013, June 1, 2012
Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts, June 5, 2012
Ability to Repay, Risk-Retention Standards, and Mortgage Credit Access, June 5, 2012
Judicial Vacancies on the Rise, and More from CRS
President Obama began the fourth year of his presidency with more vacant circuit and district court judgeships than when he took office, a new report from the Congressional Research Service observed.
The growing number of vacancies in the federal judiciary and the factors that increasingly impede the successful nomination and confirmation of new judges were examined by CRS.
“District court vacancies have grown in number over the course of the Obama presidency, from 42 judgeships vacant when President Obama took office to 59 at present,” the CRS report said. During that period 150 district court judges were nominated but only 117 of them were confirmed.
“During the Obama presidency thus far,… fewer Obama district court nominees have been confirmed by the Senate than were confirmed during the first terms of the four preceding Presidents,” CRS found.
A copy of the new CRS report was obtained by Secrecy News. See Nominations to U.S. Circuit and District Courts by President Obama During the 111th and 112th Congresses, June 1, 2012
Other new and updated CRS reports that have not been made readily available to the public include the following.
What Is Systemic Risk? Does It Apply to Recent JP Morgan Losses?, May 24, 2012
SEC Climate Change Disclosure Guidance: An Overview and Congressional Concerns, May 24, 2012
Cybercrime: Conceptual Issues for Congress and U.S. Law Enforcement, May 23, 2012
Mexico’s 2012 Elections, May 23, 2012
Pakistan-U.S. Relations, May 24, 2012
Pakistan: U.S. Foreign Aid Conditions, Restrictions, and Reporting Requirements, June 1, 2012
U.S.-China Diplomacy Over Chinese Legal Advocate Chen Guangcheng, May 29, 2012
Countering Violent Extremism in the United States, May 31, 2012
Congress’s Contempt Power, and More from CRS
Newly updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
Congress’s Contempt Power and the Enforcement of Congressional Subpoenas: Law, History, Practice, and Procedure, May 8, 2012
The Financial Action Task Force: An Overview, May 9, 2012
Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank: Issues and Policy Options for Congress, May 7, 2012
The National Nanotechnology Initiative: Overview, Reauthorization, and Appropriations Issues, May 22, 2012
U.S.-EU Cooperation Against Terrorism, May 21, 2012
The Chicken and the Egg, 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.
Table Egg Production and Hen Welfare: The UEP-HSUS Agreement and H.R. 3798, May 14, 2012
Intelligence Authorization Legislation: Status and Challenges, May 21, 2012
Central Asia: Regional Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests, May 18, 2012
U.S.-Vietnam Relations in 2011: Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy, May 18, 2012
The U.S. Export Control System and the President’s Reform Initiative, May 18, 2012
Proliferation of Precision Strike, and More from CRS
New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has instructed CRS not to release to the public include the following.
Proliferation of Precision Strike: Issues for Congress, May 14, 2012
By one official reckoning, there were 35 terrorist incidents in the United States between 2004 and 2011. See The Domestic Terrorist Threat: Background and Issues for Congress, May 15, 2012
It costs $179,750 per hour to operate Air Force One, the President’s official aircraft, according to the latest cost data from the Air Force. See Presidential Travel: Policy and Costs, May 17, 2012
How FDA Approves Drugs and Regulates Their Safety and Effectiveness, May 18, 2012
Submission of the President’s Budget in Transition Years, May 17, 2012
Canadian oil sands are 14-20% more greenhouse-gas-intensive than the crude oil they would replace in U.S. refineries. The effect of the Keystone XL pipeline would be to increase the U.S. greenhouse gas footprint by 3-21 million metric tons, equal to the greenhouse emissions from 588,000 to 4 million passenger vehicles. See Canadian Oil Sands: Life-Cycle Assessments of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, May 15, 2012
Discretionary Spending in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), May 18, 2012
Economic Recovery: Sustaining U.S. Economic Growth in a Post-Crisis Economy, May 17, 2012
Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP): Implementation and Status, May 18, 2012
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria: Issues for Congress and U.S. Contributions from FY2001 to FY2013, May 15, 2012
Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990, May 17, 2012
NATO Summit Meeting in Chicago, and More from CRS
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization will hold its 2012 summit meeting in Chicago on May 20-21. The meeting, hosted by President Obama, will be closed to the public. The assembled heads of state are expected to discuss the future of the conflict in Afghanistan; NATO defense issues, including the possible reconsideration of the role of nuclear weapons in NATO; and other matters.
A preview of the NATO summit meeting was presented in a new report from the Congressional Research Service. See NATO’s Chicago Summit, May 14, 2012.
Other new and updated CRS reports that were obtained by Secrecy News include the following.
Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy, May 10, 2012
U.S. Assistance Programs in China, May 11, 2012
Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy, May 14, 2012
Medicare Financing, May 11, 2012
Medicare: History of Insolvency Projections, May 11, 2012
Job Growth During the Recovery, May 10, 2012
Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: An Economic Analysis, May 10, 2012
Outsourcing and Insourcing Jobs in the U.S. Economy: Evidence Based on Foreign Investment Data, May 10, 2012
Keystone XL Pipeline Project: Key Issues, May 9, 2012
Immigration of Foreign Nationals with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Degrees, May 11, 2012
Federal Labor Relations Statutes: An Overview, May 11, 2012
FEMA’s Community Disaster Loan Program: History, Analysis, and Issues for Congress, May 10, 2012
How Measures Are Brought to the House Floor: A Brief Introduction, May 14, 2012
Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS): A Primer, May 14, 2012
The Presidential Nominating Process and the National Party Conventions, 2012: Frequently Asked Questions, May 14, 2012
Secrecy News will be back next week.
Understanding China’s Political System, and More from CRS
New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has instructed CRS not to make publicly available include the following.
Understanding China’s Political System, May 10, 2012
Youth and the Labor Force: Background and Trends, May 10, 2012
Vulnerable Youth: Employment and Job Training Programs, May 11, 2012
Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation and Security Issues, May 10, 2012
Comparison of Rights in Military Commission Trials and Trials in Federal Criminal Court, May 9, 2012
Immigration-Related Worksite Enforcement: Performance Measures, May 10, 2012
Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians, May 10, 2012
Same-Sex Marriages: Legal Issues (CRS)
The laws and policies governing same-sex marriages were exhaustively surveyed in a newly updated report from the Congressional Research Service. See Same-Sex Marriages: Legal Issues, May 9, 2012.
What is National Security “Partnership”? And More from CRS
New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has not made publicly available include the following.
In Brief: Clarifying the Concept of “Partnership” in National Security, May 4, 2012
U.S. Nuclear Cooperation With India: Issues for Congress, May 7, 2012
Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress, May 4, 2012
U.S. Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage, May 3, 2012
Interest Rates on Subsidized Stafford Loans to Undergraduate Students, May 4, 2012
Racial Profiling: Legal and Constitutional Issues, April 16, 2012
Trade Primer: Qs and As on Trade Concepts, Performance, and Policy, April 16, 2012
Judicial Activity Concerning Enemy Combatant Detainees: Major Court Rulings, April 6, 2012