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
Cities need to rapidly become compact, efficient, electrified, and nature‑rich urban ecosystems where we take better care of each other and avoid locking in more sprawl and fossil‑fuel dependence.
Hurricanes cause around 24 deaths per storm – but the longer-term consequences kill thousands more. With extreme weather events becoming ever-more common, there is a national and moral imperative to rethink not just who responds to disasters, but for how long and to what end.
The program invites teams of researchers and local government collaborators to propose innovative projects addressing real-world transportation, safety, equity, and resilience challenges using mobility data.
The Pentagon’s new report provides additional context and useful perspectives on events in China that took place over the past year.