Congress opposes direct public access to most Congressional Research Service reports, so people who care to read the reports on current policy issues must work around the Congressional barrier.  Some noteworthy new reports from CRS include the following (all pdf).

The U.S. Export Control System and the President’s Reform Initiative, July 14, 2011

A Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment: Background and Congressional Options, July 8, 2011

Selected Characteristics of Private and Public Sector Workers, July 1, 2011

The Sustainability of the Federal Budget Deficit: Market Confidence and Economic Effects, June 28, 2011

War Powers Litigation Initiated by Members of Congress Since the Enactment of the War Powers Resolution, June 22, 2011

Recent reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf).

Enforcement of Congressional Rules of Conduct: An Historical Overview, June 14, 2011

Mandatory Spending Since 1962, June 15, 2011

Veterans and Homelessness, June 15, 2011

Iran Sanctions, June 22, 2011

Congressional Oversight Manual, June 10, 2011

Recent reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf).

FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Policy Issues, June 20, 2011

The U.S.-Canada Energy Relationship: Joined at the Well, June 17, 2011

Foreign Assistance: Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), June 13, 2011

Considerations for a Catastrophic Declaration: Issues and Analysis, June 21, 2011

International Climate Change Financing: The Green Climate Fund (GCF), June 23, 2011

Legislative Branch: FY2012 Appropriations, June 15, 2011

The Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory, June 16, 2011

Congress has directed the Congressional Research Service not to make its reports directly available to the public. This policy does not make any practical sense and does not command respect inside or outside of government, but it has proven easier to work around the policy than to change it. Here are some new CRS reports obtained by Secrecy News (all pdf).

Brief History of the Gold Standard in the United States, June 23, 2011

Military Construction: Analysis of the FY2012 Appropriation and Authorization, June 22, 2011

Warrantless, Police-Triggered Exigent Searches: Kentucky v. King in the Supreme Court, June 17, 2011

The Smart Grid and Cybersecurity — Regulatory Policy and Issues, June 15, 2011

DNA Databanking: Selected Fourth Amendment Issues and Analysis, June 6, 2011

A substantial new report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) considers the potential threat posed by radiological dispersal devices or “dirty bombs.” At the direction of Congress, the CRS does not make its publications directly available to the public.  The “dirty bomb” report, as well as a shorter, abridged version of the report, and the other new reports listed below were obtained by Secrecy News (all pdf).

“‘Dirty Bombs’: Technical Background, Attack Prevention and Response, Issues for Congress,” June 24, 2011

“‘Dirty Bombs’: Background in Brief,” June 24, 2011

“Amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Extended Until June 1, 2015,” June 16, 2011

“Gun Control Legislation,” June 9, 2011

“State Taxation of Internet Transactions,” June 7, 2011

“Kazakhstan: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests,” June 1, 2011

“U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians,” May 31, 2011

“New Zealand: Background and Bilateral Relations with the United States,” May 27, 2011

The Congressional Research Service is prohibited by congressional secrecy policy from making its reports directly available to the public.  These new CRS reports on various topics of current interest were obtained by Secrecy News (all pdf).

“Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes in the United States,” May 26, 2011.

“Defense: FY2012 Budget Request, Authorization and Appropriations,” June 15, 2011.

“FBI Directorship: History and Congressional Action,” June 7, 2011.

“Presidential Authority to Impose Requirements on Federal Contractors,” June 14, 2011.

“Funding Emergency Communications: Technology and Policy Considerations,” June 14, 2011.

“The Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI): Budget Authority and Request, FY2008-FY2012,” June 1, 2011.

“Legislative History Research: A Basic Guide,” June 15, 2011.

“Mongolia: Issues for Congress,” June 14, 2011.

“Application of Religious Law in U.S. Courts: Selected Legal Issues,” May 18, 2011.

A comprehensive new account of U.S. aid to Pakistan was prepared by the Congressional Research Service this week.  See “Pakistan: U.S. Foreign Assistance,” June 7, 2011.

Also newish from CRS is “Imports from North Korea: Existing Rules, Implications of the KORUS FTA, and the Kaesong Industrial Complex,” May 24, 2011.

New reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following (all pdf).

“Text and Multimedia Messaging: Emerging Issues for Congress,” May 18, 2011.

“The Motor Vehicle Supply Chain: Effects of the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami,” May 23, 2011.

“Executive Branch Reorganization Initiatives During the 112th Congress: A Brief Overview,” May 26, 2011.

“Status of Mexican Trucks in the United States: Frequently Asked Questions,” May 16, 2011.

“Promoting Global Internet Freedom: Policy and Technology,” May 26, 2011.

Policy issues surrounding the use of geospatial information are examined in two new reports from the Congressional Research Service.

“Geospatial information is data referenced to a place–a set of geographic coordinates–which can often be gathered, manipulated, and displayed in real time. A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer data system capable of capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced information.”

“The federal government and policy makers increasingly use geospatial information and tools like GIS for producing floodplain maps, conducting the census, mapping foreclosures, congressional redistricting, and responding to natural hazards such as wildfires, earthquakes, and tsunamis. For policy makers, this type of analysis can greatly assist in clarifying complex problems that may involve local, state, and federal government, and affect businesses, residential areas, and federal installations.”

See “Geospatial Information and Geographic Information Systems (GIS): An Overview for Congress” (pdf), May 18, 2011,  and “Issues and Challenges for Federal Geospatial Information” (pdf), May 18, 2011.

The Congressional Research Service has just updated its Congressional Oversight Manual, which details the considerable legal authorities, legislative instruments and investigative tools for conducting oversight that members of Congress and congressional committees have at their disposal. See “Congressional Oversight Manual” (pdf), May 19, 2011.

Other new or newly updated CRS reports of interest include the following (all pdf):

“Building the Capacity of Partner States Through Security Force Assistance,” May 5, 2011.

“Department of Defense Trends in Overseas Contract Obligations,” May 16, 2011.

“Department of Defense Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Background and Analysis,” May 13, 2011.

“The Department of Defense’s Use of Private Security Contractors in Afghanistan and Iraq: Background, Analysis, and Options for Congress,” May 13, 2011.

A new overview of relations between Pakistan and the United States in light of recent events was prepared by the Congressional Research Service.  See “Pakistan-U.S. Relations: A Summary,” May 16, 2011.

Some other new CRS reports include the following (all pdf).

“Interagency Collaborative Arrangements and Activities: Types, Rationales, Considerations,” May 9, 2011.

“Insourcing Functions Performed by Federal Contractors: An Overview of the Legal Issues,” May 5, 2011.

“Internships, Fellowships, and Other Work Experience Opportunities in the Federal Government,” May 12, 2011.

“Increasing awareness of the power of DNA to solve crimes has resulted in increased demand for DNA analysis,” according to a new report (pdf) from the Congressional Research Service, “which has resulted in a backlog of casework.”

“Some jurisdictions have started to use their DNA databases for familial searching, which involves using offender profiles to identify relatives who might be perpetrators of crimes,” the report said  See “DNA Testing in Criminal Justice: Background, Current Law, Grants, and Issues,” May 2, 2011.

Other new CRS reports include “The Global Challenge of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria” (pdf), May 3, 2011, and “U.S. Global Food Security Funding, FY2010-FY2012” (pdf), April 28, 2011.