US v. Jones on GPS Monitoring, and More from CRS
New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following.
United States v. Jones: GPS Monitoring, Property, and Privacy, April 30, 2012
China’s Rare Earth Industry and Export Regime: Economic and Trade Implications for the United States, April 30, 2012
Federal Agency Actions Following the Supreme Court’s Climate Change Decision in Massachusetts v. EPA: A Chronology, May 1, 2012
The U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement: Background and Issues, April 27, 2012
Issues and Challenges for Federal Geospatial Information, April 27, 2012
Cybersecurity: A Bibliography, and More from CRS
New and updated Congressional Research Service reports that Congress has withheld from direct public access include the following.
Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources, April 26, 2012
The Budget Control Act of 2011: The Effects on Spending and the Budget Deficit When the Automatic Spending Cuts Are Implemented, April 23, 2012
Budget “Sequestration” and Selected Program Exemptions and Special Rules, April 27, 2012
U.S. Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing: Industry Trends, Global Competition, Federal Support, April 27, 2012
Foreign Assistance to North Korea, April 26, 2012
Chile: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations, April 6, 2012
Canada-U.S. Relations, April 5, 2012
Carbon Capture Research, and More from CRS
Noteworthy new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has not made readily available to the public include the following.
Carbon Capture and Sequestration: Research, Development, and Demonstration at the U.S. Department of Energy, April 23, 2012
Members of Congress Who Die in Office: Historic and Current Practices, April 25, 2012
Hydraulic Fracturing and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): Selected Issues, April 25, 2012
Domestic Content Legislation: The Buy American Act and Complementary Little Buy American Provisions, April 25, 2012
The STOCK Act, Insider Trading, and Public Financial Reporting by Federal Officials, April 19, 2012
Data Security Breach Notification Laws, April 10, 2012
Requiring Individuals to Obtain Health Insurance: A Constitutional Analysis, April 6, 2012
Stephen Daggett, Defense Spending, and More from CRS
We note with sadness the death last week of Congressional Research Service analyst Stephen Daggett, who tutored generations of Members and congressional staff in the intricacies of U.S. military spending. Although I did not know him personally, I read his work and learned from him for many years. Our condolences to his family and his CRS colleagues.
A new report co-authored by Mr. Daggett, presumably his final contribution, is FY2013 Defense Budget Request: Overview and Context, April 20, 2012
Other new and updated CRS reports that Congress has not made available to the public include the following.
Army Drawdown and Restructuring: Background and Issues for Congress, April 20, 2012
Reexamination of Agency Reporting Requirements: Annual Process Under the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 (GPRAMA), April 18, 2012
Iraq: Politics, Governance, and Human Rights, April 19, 2012
Economic Growth and the Unemployment Rate, April 18, 2012
Multilateral Development Banks: Overview and Issues for Congress, April 18, 2012
The Evolving Missions of the Secret Service, and More from CRS
Though it does not mention anything about Secret Service agents hiring prostitutes in Colombia last week, a newly updated report from the Congressional Research Service provides a timely discussion of The U.S. Secret Service: An Examination and Analysis of Its Evolving Missions, April 16, 2012
Some other new or newly updated CRS reports obtained by Secrecy News include the following.
An Overview of Tax Provisions Expiring in 2012, April 17, 2012
Private Health Insurance Market Reforms in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), April 16, 2012
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC): A Fact Sheet, April 16, 2012
Nanotechnology: A Policy Primer, April 13, 2012
U.S. Energy Overview, and More from CRS
Newly updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has not made readily available to the public include the following.
Millennium Challenge Corporation, April 12, 2012
The G-20 and International Economic Cooperation: Background and Implications for Congress, April 12, 2012
U.S. Trade Deficit and the Impact of Changing Oil Prices, April 13, 2012
Teenage Pregnancy Prevention: Statistics and Programs, April 12, 2012
U.S. Energy: Overview and Key Statistics, April 11, 2012
Classified Info in Criminal Trials, and More from CRS
Former CIA officer John C. Kiriakou is to be arraigned today on charges of leaking classified information to the press in violation of the Espionage Act and the Intelligence Identities Protection Act — charges that he denies. See The Case of An Accused Leaker: Politics or Justice? by Carrie Johnson, National Public Radio, April 13.
A newly updated report from the Congressional Research Service discusses Protecting Classified Information and the Rights of Criminal Defendants: The Classified Information Procedures Act, April 2, 2012.
Another newly updated CRS report finds that federal agencies spent $750.4 million last year to pay for “advertising services.” But though non-trivial, it seems that this amount was less than was spent for such purposes in any previous year since 2003.
The term advertising is not strictly defined in budget documents, and may include various forms of public relations, public service notices, and the like. “Government advertising can be controversial if it conflicts with citizens’ views about the proper role of government,” the CRS report stated. “Yet some government advertising is accepted as a normal part of government information activities.”
Federal advertising expenditures have actually decreased over the past two years and haven’t been lower since 2003. The highest level of advertising expenditures in the past decade occurred in 2004, the CRS report found. See Advertising by the Federal Government: An Overview, April 6, 2012.
Some other updated CRS reports that have not been made publicly available by Congress include these:
Detention of U.S. Persons as Enemy Belligerents, April 11, 2012
Rare Earth Elements in National Defense: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress, April 11, 2012
The Lord’s Resistance Army: The U.S. Response, April 11, 2012
Kuwait: Security, Reform, and U.S. Policy, April 11, 2012
Pakistan: U.S. Foreign Assistance, April 10, 2012
Technology Assessment at the Congressional Research Service
The elimination of the congressional Office of Technology Assessment in 1995 was a self-inflicted wound that left Congress with diminished capacity to evaluate the challenging scientific and technological issues that continue to confront it. But the need for such an enterprise to support the legislative process has not gone away, and to a limited extent it is now being addressed by the Congressional Research Service (as well as the Government Accountability Office).
Last month, CRS completed a substantial 139 page report entitled Energy Storage for Power Grids and Electric Transportation: A Technology Assessment. At first glance, it looks like an informative piece of work.
“This report attempts to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding energy storage technologies for both electric power grid and electric vehicle applications. It is intended to serve as a reference for policymakers interested in understanding the range of technologies and applications associated with energy storage, comparing them, when possible, in a structured way to highlight key characteristics relevant to widespread use.”
Two other recent CRS reports discuss the implications of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” the controversial technology for injecting fluids into underground wells to stimulate oil and gas production. See Hydraulic Fracturing and Safe Drinking Water Act Issues, April 10, 2012, and Hydraulic Fracturing: Chemical Disclosure Requirements, April 4, 2012.
Some other newly updated CRS reports that Congress has declined to make available to the public include the following.
Defining Homeland Security: Analysis and Congressional Considerations, April 3, 2012
Small Business Size Standards: A Historical Analysis of Contemporary Issues, April 10, 2012
Medicare Trigger, April 9, 2012
Western Sahara, April 5, 2012
Yemen: Background and U.S. Relations, April 10, 2012
Pink Slime, and More from CRS
New reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has not made publicly available include the following.
Lean Finely Textured Beef: The “Pink Slime” Controversy, April 6, 2012
Government Procurement in Times of Fiscal Uncertainty, April 9, 2012
An Analysis of STEM Education Funding at the NSF: Trends and Policy Discussion, April 9, 2012
Federal Depository Library Program: Issues for Congress, March 29, 2012
Export-Import Bank: Background and Legislative Issues, April 3, 2012
The Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR): Developments in Trade and Investment, April 9, 2012
U.S. Oil Imports and Exports, and More from CRS
New and newly updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include these.
U.S. Oil Imports and Exports, April 4, 2012
Navy Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism Operations: Background and Issues for Congress, April 6, 2012
Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Issues and Options for Congress, April 6, 2012
Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carrier (CVN) Homeporting at Mayport: Background and Issues for Congress, April 6, 2012
Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress, April 6, 2012
The Republic of the Philippines and U.S. Interests, April 5, 2012
The U.S. Infant Mortality Rate, and More from CRS
New or newly updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following.
The U.S. Infant Mortality Rate: International Comparisons, Underlying Factors, and Federal Programs, April 4, 2012
The Peace Corps: Current Issues, April 4, 2012
Women in Combat: Issues for Congress, April 5, 2012
Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress, April 4, 2012
Navy Ohio Replacement (SSBN[X]) Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress, April 5, 2012
Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy, April 4, 2012
National Science Foundation: Major Research Equipment and Facility Construction, April 4, 2012
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve: Authorization, Operation, and Drawdown Policy, April 2, 2012
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA): A Summary, April 5, 2012
Navy Submarine Procurement, and More from CRS
Newly updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following.
Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress, April 2, 2012
China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues, March 30, 2012
Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s Financial Problems, April 2, 2012
Effects of Radiation from Fukushima Dai-ichi on the U.S. Marine Environment, April 2, 2012
Expiring Farm Bill Programs Without a Budget Baseline, March 30, 2012
Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance, March 30, 2012
Military Justice: Courts-Martial, An Overview, March 14, 2012
Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison with Funding for Nuclear Energy, Fossil Energy, and Energy Efficiency R&D, March 7, 2012