A Thousand Advisory Committees, and More from CRS
As of last year, there were 1,009 federal advisory committees comprised of 72,220 members who provided advice to the government at a cost of more than $367 million.
The operations of these federal advisory committees — which may also include commissions, councils, task forces, or working groups — are examined in a newly updated report from the Congressional Research Service. See Federal Advisory Committees: An Introduction and Overview by Wendy Ginsberg and Casey Burgat, October 27, 2016.
Other new and updated CRS reports that have not been made publicly available online include the following.
Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy, updated October 28, 2016
Iran: Politics, Human Rights, and U.S. Policy, updated October 25, 2016
Israel: Background and U.S. Relations, updated October 28, 2016
Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy, updated October 27, 2016
Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated October 25, 2016
Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress, updated October 25, 2016
Navy Columbia Class (Ohio Replacement) Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated October 25, 2016
Department of Homeland Security Preparedness Grants: A Summary and Issues, October 28, 2016
DHS Appropriations FY2017: Security, Enforcement, and Investigations, October 27, 2016
Treatment of Noncitizens Under the Affordable Care Act, updated October 27, 2016
Video Broadcasting of Congressional Proceedings, October 28, 2016
The Social Security Retirement Age, October 28, 2016
Social Security: Calculation and History of Taxing Benefits, updated October 27, 2016
Did a Thermostat Break the Internet?, CRS Insight, October 26, 2016
We came out of the longest shutdown in history and we are all worse for it. Who won the shutdown fight? It doesn’t matter – Americans lost. And there is a chance we run it all back again in a few short months.
Promising examples of progress are emerging from the Boston metropolitan area that show the power of partnership between researchers, government officials, practitioners, and community-based organizations.
Americans trade stocks instantly, but spend 13 hours on tax forms. They send cash by text, but wait weeks for IRS responses. The nation’s revenue collector ranks dead last in citizen satisfaction. The problem isn’t just paperwork — it’s how the government builds.
In a new report, we begin to address these fundamental implementation questions based on discussions with over 80 individuals – from senior political staff to individual project managers – involved in the execution of major clean energy programs through the Department of Energy (DOE).