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Introduction The rental assistance programs authorized under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. §1437f)—Section 8 project-based rental assistance and Section 8 tenant-based vouchers—have become the largest components of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) budget, with comb... | The Section 8 low-income housing program is really two programs authorized under Section 8 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, as amended: the Housing Choice Voucher program and the project-based rental assistance program. Vouchers are portable subsidies that low-income families can use to lower their rents in the private... |
Background In its 2005 opinion United States v. Booker , the U.S. Supreme Court declared that the once-binding federal sentencing guidelines (the Guidelines) set by the United States Sentencing Commission are now only advisory, in order to be compatible with the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution. Until 2007, the Guid... | Pursuant to the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, Congress established basic sentencing levels for crack cocaine offenses. Congress amended 21 U.S.C. § 841 to provide for a 100:1 ratio in the quantities of powder cocaine and crack cocaine that trigger a mandatory minimum penalty. As amended, 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A) require... |
Background The Randolph-Sheppard Act, originally signed into law by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, requires that blind individuals receive priority for the operation of vending facilities on federal property. The 1974 amendments to the act changed the term "vending stand" to "vending facility" and defined the term as m... | The Randolph-Sheppard Act requires that blind individuals receive priority for the operation of vending facilities on federal property. "Vending facilities" include automatic vending machines, cafeterias, and snack bars. This report will discuss several significant court decisions and recent legislation related to the ... |
The Immigration and Nationality Act Since 1903, the INA has contained two separate provisions addressing the public charge grounds. One provision, currently codified in Section 212 of the INA, addresses the public charge grounds of inadmissibility (formerly, excludability) and specifies that "[a]ny alien who ... is li... | The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) has long provided for aliens' exclusion and deportation from the United States on "public charge" grounds. Under current law, aliens outside the United States who seek to obtain visas at U.S. consulates overseas, or admission at U.S. ports of entry, are generally denied entry i... |
Background The 111 th Congress is considering legislation ( S. 707 and H.R. 1722 ) to foster the development of telework in executive agencies of the federal government. Senator Daniel Akaka, for himself and Senator George Voinovich, introduced S. 707 , the Telework Enhancement Act of 2009, on March 25, 2009, and it wa... | Legislation to augment telework in executive agencies of the federal government is currently pending in the 111th Congress. S. 707, the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010, and H.R. 1722, the Telework Improvements Act of 2010, were introduced on March 25, 2009, by Senator Daniel Akaka and Representative John Sarbanes, res... |
Introduction Some Members of Congress have expressed concern that the cost of redeveloping closed military property may place a burden on local communities. On March 12, 2009, Senator Olympia Snowe (Maine) introduced in the 111 th Congress on behalf of herself and Senator Mark L. Pryor (Arkansas), the "Defense Communit... | Several bills (S. 590, H.R. 1959, and H.R. 2295) that would modify or expand statutory authorities granted to senior executives of the Department of Defense (DOD) have been introduced to the 111th Congress. These authorities relate to the exchange of real property, the outsourcing of some military installation support ... |
Developments in the First Half of 2014 South China Sea Tensions and Sino-Vietnam Relations1 In the late spring of 2014, longstanding tensions between Vietnam and China over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea flared, deepening U.S.-Vietnam cooperation on maritime security issues in Southeast Asia. In e... | After communist North Vietnam's victory over U.S.-backed South Vietnam in 1975, the United States and Vietnam had minimal relations until the mid-1990s. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1995, overlapping security and economic interests have led the two sides to expand relations across a wide range of ... |
Introduction Early in the 110 th Congress, the Chairmen of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees introduced essentially identical versions of the Court Security Improvement Act of 2007, as H.R. 660 and S. 378 , that mirrored legislation that passed the Senate at the close of the 109 th Congress. Each House reported... | The proposals of the Court Security Improvement Act of 2007 ( P.L. 110-177 , H.R. 660 and S. 378 ), fall within one of four categories. One consists of amendments to existing federal criminal law. The bill increases the penalties for manslaughter committed during the course of an obstruction of justice and for witness ... |
Expiring Provision Defined For purposes of this report, expiring provisions are defined as health insurance-related statutes in current law that are time limited to expire and may require the attention of Congress. The list of expiring provisions covers those that are scheduled to expire between the date of this report... | This report provides a list of expiring health insurance provisions. Specifically, it lists Medicare, Medicaid, State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and private health insurance programs and activities under Chapter 7 of the United States Code (U.S.C.)—Social Security—and Chapter 157 of the U.S.C.—Quality,... |
Labor Supply The effect of marginal tax rates on labor supply occurs through what economists term the "substitution effect." In the context of labor supply, the substitution effect represents the effect of taxes on the relative prices of leisure and consumption. According to economic theory, the substitution effect pre... | One source of interest in a tax reform that broadens the base and lowers the rate is the potential increase in growth, as labor supply and investment respond to lower marginal tax rates. Yet, studies of a signature reform in the past, the Tax Reform Act of 1986, found little effect on growth. The act was revenue and di... |
Introduction Congress continues to focus attention upon both medical innovation and the growing cost of health care. The Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, commonly known as the Hatch-Waxman Act, addresses each of these concerns. Through amendments to both the patent law and the food and dr... | Congress has for many years expressed interest in both medical innovation and the growing cost of health care. The Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, commonly known as the Hatch-Waxman Act, addressed each of these concerns. Through amendments to both the patent law and the food and drug law... |
Introduction The United States has long distinguished temporary migration from settlement migration. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) establishes the circumstances under which foreign nationals may be admitted temporarily or come to live permanently. Those admitted on a permanent basis are known as immigrants,... | U.S. law provides for the temporary admission of foreign nationals, who are known as nonimmigrants. Nonimmigrants are admitted for a designated period of time and a specific purpose. There are 24 major nonimmigrant visa categories, which are commonly referred to by the letter and numeral that denote their subsection in... |
Setting the Context In 2000, 189 U.N. member states, including the United States, adopted the U.N. Millennium Declaration. In the Declaration, countries made commitments to achieve a series of measurable development targets worldwide by 2015 known as the "Millennium Development Goals" (MDGs or Goals). In all, there are... | From September 20 to 22, 2010, heads of state and government convened at United Nations (U.N.) Headquarters for a High-level Plenary Meeting to review progress toward the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs are a group of measurable development targets agreed to by 189 U.N. member states—including the Un... |
Background In FY2006, the federal government spent approximately $17.7 billion for 1.1 quads of site-delivered energy for buildings and fuel for vehicles. Buildings consumed roughly 40% of energy end-use, while vehicles consumed the remaining and most significant portion—63%. Overall, energy costs represented less than... | This report identifies incentives for and barriers to federal agencies achieving the energy efficiency goals and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets outlined in recent laws and executive orders. The federal government is the single largest consumer of energy in the United States, but consumes only 1% of the total en... |
Introduction In one survey, a large majority of consumers have reported that the health insurance market is very complex and that they required assistance in choosing a plan. Health insurance agents and brokers, collectively called "producers" by insurance companies, assist consumers in choosing and enrolling into insu... | Health insurance agents and brokers, collectively called "producers" by insurance companies, assist consumers and small employers in choosing and enrolling in health insurance products. Producers are licensed and regulated by the states. Traditionally, the federal government has had no role in regulating producer activ... |
Introduction This report discusses the fiscal year (FY) 2017 defense budget request and provides a summary of congressional action on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2017 ( H.R. 2943 / P.L. 114-328 ), and the Defense Appropriations Act, FY2017 (Division C of H.R. 244 / P.L. 115-31 ). The FY2017 proc... | This report discusses the Obama Administration's FY2017 defense budget request and provides a summary of congressional action on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2017 (S. 2943/P.L. 114-328), and the FY2017 Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 244/P.L. 115-31). In February 2016, the Obama Administration ... |
U.S.-Latin America Trade Agreements Latin American countries have made noted progress in trade liberalization over the past three decades, reducing tariffs significantly and entering into multiple subregional agreements of their own. Early Latin American trade agreements (1960s), however, were inward looking, defensive... | Trade is one of the more enduring issues in contemporary U.S.-Latin America relations. Latin America is far from the largest U.S. regional trade partner, but historically is the fastest-growing one. Between 1998 and 2009, total U.S. merchandise trade (exports plus imports) with Latin America grew by 82% compared to 72%... |
Introduction The creation of post-9/11 intelligence/information fusion centers does not represent a totally new concept, but suggests an extension of pre-9/11 state and local law enforcement intelligence activities. Most state police/bureau of investigation agencies have run intelligence or analytic units for decades. ... | Although elements of the information and intelligence fusion function were conducted prior to 9/11, often at state police criminal intelligence bureaus, the events of 9/11 provided the primary catalyst for the formal establishment of more than 40 state, local, and regional fusion centers across the country. The value p... |
FDA Laws, Regulations, and Guidance Documents on Off-Label Use Relevant Provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and Related Regulations Until the FDA has approved a new drug pursuant to either a new drug application, an abbreviated new drug application, or an investigational new drug submission, the new ... | New drugs may not be introduced or marketed without the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). When a person submits a drug application to the FDA for approval, the application includes samples of the proposed labeling. The FDA may refuse to approve an application if the drug is not safe or effective for t... |
Overview of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) What Is the CRA? The Congressional Review Act (CRA) is an oversight tool that Congress may use to overturn a rule issued by a federal agency. When Congress passes a law, it often grants rulemaking authority to federal agencies to implement provisions in the law. That deleg... | The Congressional Review Act (CRA) is an oversight tool that Congress may use to overturn a rule issued by a federal agency. The CRA was included as part of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA), which was signed into law on March 29, 1996. The CRA requires agencies to report on their rulemaki... |
Reclamation's Water Reuse (Title XVI) Program To address growing challenges in western water management, in 1992, Congress directed the Secretary of the Interior to establish a federal water reclamation, recycling, and reuse program to share project costs in the West (Title XVI of P.L. 102-575 , as amended (43 U.S.C. ... | Congress authorized the Department of the Interior (DOI) to undertake a program to provide federal financing for water reuse (i.e., planned beneficial use of treated wastewater and impaired surface and groundwater) with passage of the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Studies Feasibility Act of 1992 (Title XVI of ... |
Introduction Concerns about the safety of Presidents have existed throughout the history of the Republic, beginning with George Washington in 1794, when he led troops against the Whiskey Rebellion in Pennsylvania. The intervening years have witnessed a variety of incidents of actual and potential harm to Presidents (as... | Direct assaults against Presidents, Presidents-elect, and candidates have occurred on 15 separate occasions, with five resulting in death. Ten incumbents (about 23% of the 43 individuals to serve in the office), including four of the seven most recent Presidents, have been victims or targets. Four of the 10 (and one ca... |
Introduction Federal executive branch agencies hold an extensive real property portfolio that includes more than 871,000 buildings and structures, and 40 million acres of land worldwide. These assets have been acquired over a period of decades to help agencies fulfill their diverse missions. Agencies hold properties wi... | The federal government holds thousands of properties that agencies no longer need to accomplish their missions. When the government disposes of unneeded properties—through transfer, donation, or sale—it generates savings by eliminating maintenance costs. In addition, when state or local governments, nonprofits, or busi... |
Background Many adults in the United States have low levels of literacy or numeracy, or limited English language proficiency. Under the authorization of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), the federal government has made grants to states to provide services to improve these skills among adults who are ... | Enacted in 1998, the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) is the primary federal legislation that supports basic education for out-of-school adults. Commonly called "adult education," the programs funded by AEFLA typically support educational services at the secondary level and below, as well as English lang... |
Background: Geography and Military Balance The Korean peninsula lies at a nexus of military, economic, and political concerns with global implications. From North Korea'sperspective, it is surrounded by world powers: to the west and north are China and Russia, to the East is Japan, andto the South isSouth Korea and mil... | North Korea has confronted the United States with its decision, failing other securityaccommodations, to pursue production of nuclear weapons. The Bush Administration has stated that, although thesituation isunacceptable, it will pursue its resolution through diplomatic means. Military means, however, could be consid... |
Introduction Large-scale disasters that cause extensive damage (such as Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy) or loss of life (such as the 9/11 terror attacks) often spur discussions concerning whether the existing federal framework for responding and recovering from disasters can adequately meet the needs brought on by such e... | The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act) is the principal authority governing federal emergency and disaster response in the United States. The act authorizes the President to issue three categories of declaration: (1) major disaster, (2) emergency, or (3) fire management a... |
Overview and Legislative History In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy impacted a wide swath of the East Coast of the United States. President Obama had, as of January 31, 2013, declared major disasters for 12 states plus the District of Columbia under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergen... | On January 29, 2013, the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013, a $50.5 billion package of disaster assistance largely focused on responding to Hurricane Sandy, was enacted as P.L. 113-2. In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy impacted a wide swath of the East Coast of the United States, resulting in more than 120 de... |
Federal Budget Outlook In recent years, the budget deficit, the difference between spending and revenues, has significantly exceeded economic growth. If the budget deficit exceeds economic growth for a sustained period, a variety of problems could result. These include a lower national saving rate, higher interest rate... | The federal budget is on an unsustainable path. Though deficit levels are currently elevated, they are expected to fall towards the middle part of the decade as the economic recovery continues. Looking beyond this decade, however, the country's fiscal outlook becomes more bleak as spending on programs like Social Secur... |
Background Several statutes authorize the use of administrative subpoenas primarily or exclusively for use in a criminal investigation in cases involving health care fraud, child abuse, Secret Service protection, controlled substance cases, and Inspector General investigations. The Child Protection Act of 2012, P.L. 11... | Proponents refer to administrative subpoenas as a quick, efficient and relatively nonintrusive law enforcement tool. Opponents express concern that they pose a threat of unchecked invasions of privacy and evasions of the Fourth Amendment warrant and probable cause requirements. The courts have determined that, as long... |
Introduction: Obama Administration Plans for Afghanistan and Iraq In February and March 2009, President Obama approved the deployment of an additional 21,000 service members to Afghanistan in the spring and summer of 2009, meeting most of the request from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and General David McKiernan, ... | In February and March 2009, the Obama Administration announced its plans to increase troop levels in Afghanistan and decrease troop levels in Iraq. In Afghanistan, 30,000 more troops are deploying this year while in Iraq, troops will gradually decline to 35,000 to 50,000 by August 31, 2011 with all troops to be out of ... |
Introduction Under federal law, an array of civil rights statutes is available to protect individuals from discrimination. Although these laws share similar features, the type of discrimination that they prohibit and the circumstances under which they operate vary from statute to statute. This report provides a brief o... | Under federal law, an array of civil rights statutes is available to protect individuals from discrimination. This report provides a brief summary of selected federal civil rights statutes, including the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Voting Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Housi... |
Introduction Over the past decade, the United States has recognized the human immunodeficiency virus and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) as a key foreign policy priority. Congressional authorization of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2003 brought unprecedented attention and... | The human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is one of the world's most pressing global health challenges. Since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 60 million people have been infected with HIV, approximately 30 million of whom have died of HIV-related causes. At the end of 2010... |
Is the Outgoing or Incoming President Required to Submit the Budget? The Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, as amended, requires the President to submit a budget annually to Congress toward the beginning of each regular session (31 U.S.C. §1105a). This requirement first applied to President Warren Harding for FY1923. T... | At the time of a presidential transition, one question commonly asked is whether the outgoing or incoming President submits the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Under past practices, outgoing Presidents in transition years submitted a budget to Congress just prior to leaving office, and incoming Presidents usually ... |
Introduction The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) provides financial assistance to taxpayers whose children (or who themselves) are pursuing post-secondary education. This report examines how the AOTC works, its impact on encouraging attendance at higher education institutions, and issues with administering the c... | The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)—originally enacted on a temporary basis by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA; P.L. 111-5) and made permanent by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act (PATH; Division Q of P.L. 114-113)—is a partially refundable tax credit that provides financial assistance... |
Introduction On August 1, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a terrorism alert forcritical financial institutions in New York, Washington, DC and Newark, NJ. Press reports indicatedthat these institutions employed security guards, and that surveillance by terrorists included thelocation, armament, a... | The Bush Administration's 2003 National Strategy for the Physical Protection of CriticalInfrastructures and Key Assets indicates that security guards are "an important source of protectionfor critical facilities." In 2003, approximately one million security guards (including airportscreeners) were employed in the Unite... |
Introduction to the Troubled Asset Relief Program Following a boom and bust in residential real estate and a meltdown in financial markets, Congress enacted a program to purchase troubled assets from financial institutions in October 2008. The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) was created by Division A of the Emerge... | Following a boom and bust in real estate and a meltdown in financial markets, Congress enacted a program to purchase troubled assets from financial institutions in October 2008. The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) was created by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (EESA, P.L. 110-343). Under TARP, the Secreta... |
Introduction The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) is a proposed regional free trade agreement (FTA) currently under negotiation among 12 Pacific Rim countries. Initiated under President George W. Bush, the TPP concept has wide bipartisan support. As the negotiations progress, provisions concerning textile trad... | Textiles are a contentious and unresolved issue in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations to establish a free-trade zone across the Pacific. Because the negotiating parties include Vietnam, a major apparel producer that now mainly sources yarns and fabrics from China and other Asian nations, the agree... |
Introduction Congressional interest in carbon capture and sequestration (or carbon capture and storage, CCS) has been renewed since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) re-proposed standards for carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from new fossil-fueled power plants on September 20, 2013. As re-proposed, the standards wou... | Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is widely seen as a critical strategy for limiting atmospheric emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2)—the principal "greenhouse gas" linked to global climate change—from power plants and other large industrial sources. This report focuses on the first component of a CCS system, the CO2... |
Most Recent Developments Gasoline and crude oil prices surged to record levels in May 2008, but as the summer driving season ended they moderated somewhat, and then plunged as economic worries cut consumption. (See Figure 1 .) Cumulative consumption of gasoline for the first 311 days of 2008 was about 3% less than the ... | The high price of gasoline has been and continues to be a driving factor in consideration of energy policy proposals. Despite passage of the massive Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005, P.L. 109-58), and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (H.R. 6, P.L. 110-140), numerous other proposed initiatives came ... |
Introduction Federal officials, policy analysts, and homeland security experts express concern about thecurrent state of chemical facility security. Referring to them as "the single greatest danger of apotential terrorist attack in our country today," some experts fear these facilities are at risk of apotentially catas... | Federal officials, policy analysts, and homeland security experts express concern about thecurrent state of chemical facility security. Some security experts fear these facilities are at risk ofa potentially catastrophic terrorist attack. The Department of Homeland Security identifies chemicalfacilities as one of the h... |
Introduction and Background Child support is the cash payment that noncustodial parents are legally obligated to pay for the financial support of their children. It is generally established when parents divorce or separate or when the custodial parent applies for welfare. It is usually paid on a monthly basis. Child su... | Child support orders are almost always expressed in fixed dollar amounts, and over time the needs of the child and the financial circumstances of one or both parents may change. However, without periodic modifications, child support obligations can become inadequate and/or inequitable or may not correspond to the noncu... |
The Reconciliation Process The purpose of the reconciliation process is to allow Congress to use an expedited procedure when considering legislation that would bring existing spending, revenue, and debt limit laws into compliance with current fiscal priorities established in the annual budget resolution. In adopting a ... | The purpose of the reconciliation process is to enhance Congress's ability to bring existing spending, revenue, and debt limit laws into compliance with current fiscal priorities and goals established in the annual budget resolution. In adopting a budget resolution, Congress is agreeing upon its budgetary goals for the... |
The Issues Before Congress Since September 11, 2001, Congress has passed several significant pieces of legislation intended to help surmount failures in public safety radio communications such as (1) insufficient interoperability among radio systems, a problem that hampered rescue efforts on and after September 11; an... | Effective emergency response is dependent on wireless communications. To minimize communications failures during and after a crisis requires ongoing improvements in emergency communications capacity and capability. The availability of radio frequency spectrum is considered essential to developing a modern, interoperabl... |
Introduction Imports of crude oil derived from Canadian oil sands have increased dramatically over the past decade. Oil spills involving oil-sands-derived crude oils have generated interest from policymakers and a variety of stakeholders. Several oil spills, including both the 2010 Enbridge pipeline spill in Michigan a... | In 2005, the United States imported approximately 217 million barrels of oil-sands-derived crude oils from Canada. In 2015, that figure increased to 587 million barrels, accounting for approximately 22% of crude oil imports from all nations. Pipeline oil spills, including the 2010 Enbridge spill in Michigan and the 201... |
Introduction Health plans and health care providers and their business associates are subject to the federal health information privacy regulation (45 CFR Parts 160, 164). The privacy rule gives patients the right of access totheir medical information and prohibits health plans and health care providers from using or d... | The HIPAA privacy rule gives patients the right of access to theirmedical information and prohibits health plans and health care providers from using or disclosing individuallyidentifiable health information without a patient's written authorization except as expressly permitted orrequired by the rule. Plans and provi... |
Introduction: The Price Versus Quantity Debate In general, market-based mechanisms to reduce GHG emissions, the most important being carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), focus on specifying either the acceptable emissions level (quantity) or the compliance costs (price) and allowing the marketplace to determine the economically eff... | Three events provide impetus for revisiting the cost issue with respect to designing a greenhouse gas reduction program. The first is the election of a new President publicly committed to substantial reductions in greenhouse gases over the next several decades. The second was passage of H.R. 2454 by the House that woul... |
Introduction This report provides background on the Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition workforce. Specifically, the report addresses the following questions: 1. What is the acquisition workforce? 2. What is the current size of the acquisition workforce? 3. How has Congress sought to improve the acquisition workfor... | Congress and the executive branch have long been frustrated with waste, mismanagement, and fraud in defense acquisitions and have spent significant resources seeking to reform and improve the process. Efforts to address wasteful spending, cost overruns, schedule slips, and performance shortfalls have continued unabated... |
Introduction Most federal and state programs of financial assistance to poor and low-income families either increase income or subsidize the purchase of goods and services to help them meet their basic, immediate consumption needs. The exceptions are education and training programs, that seek to build "human capital." ... | Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) are savings accounts to help low-income families and persons save for specified purposes, usually education, purchase of a home, or to start a business. IDA programs match an individual's contributions, much like retirement 401(k) accounts. The Assets For Independence (AFI) Act, e... |
Background While the U.S. Constitution assigns explicit roles in the Supreme Court appointment process only to the President and the Senate, the Senate Judiciary Committee, throughout much of the nation's history, has also played an important, intermediary role. From 1816, when the Judiciary Committee was created, unti... | The appointment of a Supreme Court Justice is an event of major significance in American politics. Each appointment is of consequence because of the enormous judicial power the Supreme Court exercises as the highest appellate court in the federal judiciary. To receive appointment to the Court, a candidate must first be... |
History of the SGA Differential This different treatment for the blind began with enactment of P.L. 95 - 216 in 1977. During consideration of H.R. 9346 , the Social Security Financing Amendments of 1977, the Senate adopted by a voice vote an amendment by Senator Birch Bayh that provided disability benefits for blind in... | In the Social Security disability program, the level of earnings that constitute "substantial gainful activity" (SGA), and therefore disqualifies a person from receiving benefits, is set by regulation at $1,070 a month for 2014. However, the law provides a different SGA level for the blind at $1,800 a month for 2014, w... |
Overview of U.S.-China Relations As China's economic and strategic clout has grown over the last three decades, the United States' relationship with China has expanded to encompass a broad range of global, regional, and bilateral issues. With China's economy now the second largest in the world, Washington seeks Beijing... | The United States relationship with China touches on an exceptionally broad range of issues, from security, trade, and broader economic issues, to the environment and human rights. Congress faces important questions about what sort of relationship the United States should have with China and how the United States shoul... |
Introduction The legislative process on the Senate floor is governed by a set of standing rules, a body of precedents created by rulings of presiding officers or by votes of the Senate, a variety of established and customary practices, and ad hoc arrangements the Senate makes to meet specific parliamentary and politica... | The standing rules of the Senate promote deliberation by permitting Senators to debate at length and by precluding a simple majority from ending debate when they are prepared to vote to approve a bill. This right of extended debate permits filibusters that can be brought to an end if the Senate invokes cloture, usually... |
Introduction Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis famously praised the division of sovereign powers included within America's constitutional structure for its capacity to encourage states to "serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country." This legislative ... | May a state authorize the use of marijuana for recreational purposes even if such use is forbidden by federal law? This novel and unresolved legal question has vexed judges, politicians, and legal scholars, and it has also generated considerable public debate among supporters and opponents of "legalizing" the recreatio... |
Changes in Federal Spending Assuming that the BCA's Automatic Spending Reductions are Implemented On January 2, 2013, a set of "across-the-board" reductions in non-exempt programs are set to take effect via a sequestration process. These cuts will affect the remainder of FY2013 and will occur unless Congress and the Pr... | The Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA; P.L. 112-25) provided for an increase in the statutory limit on the public debt in conjunction with a variety of measures to reduce the budget deficit. Included in these measures was the creation of a Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, which was tasked to develop and submi... |
Status of Legislation This report summarizes key provisions applicable to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in H.R. 3590 , the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), as passed by the Senate on December 24, 2009. The bill, a comprehensive health reform proposal, resulted from the m... | This report summarizes key provisions applicable to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as passed by the Senate on December 24, 2009. In general, the bill would expand health insurance coverage to many Americans who currently are unin... |
Introduction Many governments acknowledge that environmental degradation and climate change pose international and trans-boundary risks to human populations, economies, and ecosystems that could result in a worsening of poverty, social tensions, and political stability. To confront these global challenges, countries ha... | The United States contributes funding to various international financial institutions to assist developing countries to address global climate change and other environmental concerns. Congress is responsible for several activities in this regard, including (1) authorizing periodic appropriations for U.S. financial cont... |
Introduction Life insurance policies taken out by and payable to companies on their employees, directors, officers, owners, and debtors are commonly known as corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) policies. (COLI is also known as company-owned life insurance.) Such policies enjoy the same two basic preferences under the... | Life insurance policies taken out by and payable to companies on their employees, directors, officers, owners, and debtors are commonly known as corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) policies. (COLI is also known as company-owned life insurance.) Such policies are separate and distinct from typical group life insurance... |
Introduction to the IDEA The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides federal funding for the education of children with disabilities and requires, as a condition for the receipt of such funds, the provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for children with disabilities. The IDEA's pred... | Since the enactment of P.L. 94-142, the predecessor legislation to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), in 1975, the federal government has played a prominent role in encouraging the principle of educational equality for children with disabilities through a permanent, broad-scale federal assistance p... |
Background The Census Bureau's release of the first figures from the 2010 Census on December 21, 2010, shifted 12 seats among 18 states for the 113 th Congress (beginning in January 2013). Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania each lost one seat; New York and Ohio ea... | On December 21, 2010, the Commerce Department released 2010 Census population figures and the resulting reapportionment of seats in the House of Representatives. The apportionment population of the 50 states in 2010 was 309,183,463, a figure 9.9% greater than in 2000. Just as in the 108th Congress, 12 seats shifted amo... |
Introduction Commemorative commissions are entities established to oversee the commemoration of a person or event. These commissions typically coordinate celebrations, scholarly events, public gatherings, and other activities, often to coincide with a milestone anniversary. For example, the Christopher Columbus Quincen... | Commemorative commissions are entities established to oversee the commemoration of a person or event. These commissions typically coordinate celebrations, scholarly events, public gatherings, and other activities, often to coincide with a milestone anniversary. For example, the Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Jubile... |
Introduction The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins Act) is the primary federal law aimed at developing and supporting career and technical education (CTE) programs at the secondary and postsecondary educational levels. Prior to the 115 th Congress, the Perkins Act had most recently been reauth... | The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins Act) is the primary federal law aimed at developing and supporting career and technical education (CTE) programs at the secondary and postsecondary educational levels. Prior to the 115th Congress, the Perkins Act had most recently been reauthorized in 2006... |
Introduction Rockets, satellites, and the services they provide, once the domain of governments, are increasingly launched and managed by privately owned companies. Until 1982, the U.S. government launched all civil and commercial payloads into orbit, and U.S. launch vehicle manufacturers produced vehicles only under c... | Rockets, satellites, and the services they provide, once the domain of governments, are increasingly launched and managed by privately owned companies. Although private aerospace firms have contracted with federal agencies since the onset of the Space Age six decades ago, U.S. government policy has sought to spur innov... |
Introduction The recent enactment of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) demonstrates congressional interest in the patent system. Most of the provisions of the AIA apply to any type of patented invention. For example, the first-inventor-to-file priority system, prior user rights, and post-grant and inter partes ... | Congressional interest in the patent system has been demonstrated by the enactment of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) in the 112th Congress. Most of the provisions of the AIA apply to any type of patented invention, whether it consists of a chemical compound, mechanical device, electrical circuit, or other te... |
Introduction Each year, in October, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes the Short-Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook (STEWFO). The purpose of the STEWFO is to provide estimates of expected average annual heating fuel expenditures in comparison to the previous year. While the STEWFO provides estimate... | The Energy Information Administration (EIA) in its Short-Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook (STEWFO) for the 2010-2011 winter heating season projects that American consumers should expect to see heating expenditures rise by 2.5% on average compared to last winter. Average expenditures for those heating with natural g... |
Corruption and the IFIs Corruption is broadly defined as the abuse of public or private office for personal gain. Thisincludes, but is not limited to, taking bribes, granting a contract or choosing a project in order tomake a profit or to allow someone else to make a profit, or coercing someone else to act in a corrupt... | The international financial institutions (IFIs) all have procedures to prevent, identify, and punish corruption within their organizations. The World Bank appears to have the most extensive anddetailed process for addressing corruption issues, but the other multilateral development banks(MDBs) have or are establishing ... |
Overview The State of the Union address is a communication between the President and Congress in which the chief executive reports on the current conditions of the United States and provides policy proposals for the upcoming legislative year. The State of the Union address originates in the Constitution. As part of the... | The State of the Union address is a communication between the President and Congress in which the chief executive reports on the current conditions of the United States and provides policy proposals for the upcoming legislative year. Formerly known as the "Annual Message," the State of the Union address originates in t... |
Background Since at least the 18 th century, governments, industry, philanthropic organizations, and other nongovernmental organizations throughout the world have offered prizes as a way to reward accomplishments in science and technology (S&T). Napoleon's government offered a 12,000 franc prize (worth more than four y... | Prize competitions are a tool for incentivizing the achievement of scientific and technological innovation by offering monetary and nonmonetary benefits (e.g., recognition) to competition participants. Prize competitions have a long history of use in both the public and private sectors, but have gained popularity in re... |
Introduction This report outlines the purpose and legislative background of providing benefits to the surviving dependents of a deceased member/retiree of the uniformed services. In certain cases, individuals other than dependents can be designated recipients of survivor benefits. This report describes the categories o... | The military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) was created in 1972. Since its creation, it has been subjected to many legislative changes. This report describes the basic provisions of the military Survivor Benefit Plan and all relevant changes or modifications that have occurred. Specifically, the military Survivor Benefit ... |
Introduction Shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), also known as MANPADS (man-portable airdefense systems), developed in the late 1950s to provide military ground forces protection fromenemy aircraft, are receiving a great deal of attention as potential terrorist weapons that might beused against commercial ai... | Recent events have focused attention on the threat that terrorists with shoulder firedsurface-to-air missiles (SAMs), referred to as Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), pose to commercial airliners. Most believe that no single solution exists to effectively mitigate thisthreat. Instead, a menu of options may be... |
Background On September 12, 1972, the Defense Property Disposal Service (the forerunner to DLA Disposition Services) was established under the Defense Supply Agency (now DLA). Defense property disposal offices were established worldwide on or near major military installations. DLA Disposition Services is responsible fo... | The effort to dispose of surplus military equipment dates back to the end of World War II when the federal government sought to reduce a massive inventory of surplus military equipment by making such equipment available to civilians. (The disposal of surplus real property, including land, buildings, commercial faciliti... |
Introduction The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them vulnerable to attack. The difficulty and cost of protecting the transportation sector from attack raises a core question for policymakers: how much effort and resource... | The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transportation sector from terrorist attack is difficult, measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The dilemma facing C... |
Most Recent Developments The Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 ( P.L. 112-10 ) provides $4.54 billion for legislative branch activities for FY2011. This act continues funding and language contained in the FY2010 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act ( P.L. 111-68 ), unless otherwis... | The legislative branch operated on continuing resolutions from October 1, 2010 (P.L. 111-242, P.L. 111-290, P.L. 111-317, P.L. 111-322, P.L. 112-4, and P.L. 112-6) until the enactment of P.L. 112-10 on April 11, 2011. P.L. 112-10 provides $4.54 billion for legislative branch activities. The legislative branch appropri... |
Why a U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement? The USAFTA is one among a number of bilateral and regional free trade agreements the BushAdministration has negotiated In the last few years, it has negotiated and entered into free tradeagreements with Jordan, Singapore, and Chile. Along with the USAFTA, the Bush Administrati... | After more than a year of negotiations, U.S. and Australian trade officials concluded a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) on February 8, 2004. The negotiations proved unexpectedly difficult. President Bush and Australian Prime Minister Howard had committed to completing the negotiationsby the end of 2003, but differ... |
Historical Background The current dispute began in 1981, when letters from Members of Congress and a petition from the U.S. lumber industry asked the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to investigate lumber imports from Canada for a possible CVD. The ITC found preliminar... | U.S. lumber producers have long raised concerns about softwood imports from Canada. They argue that Canada subsidizes its lumber producers with low provincial stumpage fees (for the right to harvest trees). In Canada, the provinces own 90% of the timberlands, which contrasts with the United States, where 42% of timberl... |
Introduction At the end of 2010, the lower income tax rates provided in the 2001 tax cuts were to expire. President Obama had proposed to extend most of the income tax cuts, but to continue some higher tax rates for couples with income over $250,000 and singles with income over $200,000. The most important element of t... | At the end of 2010, the lower income tax rates provided in 2001 were to expire. The President had proposed to extend most tax cuts, but to continue higher rates for couples with income over $250,000 and singles with income over $200,000. The most important element of this proposal, as measured by revenue effect, is all... |
Why Oman? Why Now? U.S. interest in Oman stems from a number of factors. Oman is a small exporter of oil and natural gas that is strategically located at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, 35 miles directly opposite Iran. It is not a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Oman is a moder... | In aiming to fight terrorism with trade, the United States negotiated and the President signed on January 19, 2006, the U.S.'s fifth bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) in the proposed 20-entity Middle-East-Free Trade Area (MEFTA). This FTA is with Oman. Other U.S.-FTAs are with Israel, Jordan, Morocco, and Bahrain. A... |
Introduction As Congress considers different approaches to reform the housing finance system, one of the major policy issues to emerge concerns the role of the federal government in supporting affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households. Much of this debate centers on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two gove... | Congress is considering different approaches to reforming the housing finance system. One of the major policy issues to emerge concerns the role of the federal government in supporting affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households. Much of this debate centers on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two government-s... |
Introduction Seclusion and restraint have been used in various situations to deal with violent or noncompliant behavior. One of the most common settings for their use has been psychiatric hospitals, but seclusion and restraint have also been used in other residential facilities and in schools. Because of congressional ... | Seclusion and restraint have been used in various situations to deal with violent or noncompliant behavior. Because of congressional interest in the use of seclusion and restraint in schools, including passage of H.R. 4247 and the introduction of S. 2860, 111th Congress, first session, this report focuses on the legal ... |
Background and Overview Titles III and VI of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, P.L. 111-203 , address certain issues that many Members of Congress, including the major drafters of the legislation, the House Committee on Financial Services and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing... | The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, P.L. 111-203, has as its main purpose financial regulatory reform. Titles III and VI effectuate changes in the regulatory structure governing depository institutions and their holding companies and, thus, constitute a substantial component of the re... |
Introduction In the wake of accounting scandals involving the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and its sister organization the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and, more recently, with various housing problems beginning with the subprime mortgage crisis, Congress has launched effor... | The Department of the Treasury is developing a more formalized approach for approving Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's debt issuances. Although the Department of the Treasury has traditionally used its approval authority merely to coordinate the timing of debt issuances, the department may seek to regulate the amount of ... |
Introduction Over the past several years youth have experienced a dramatic decline in employment. This includes during the summer months, when youth labor force activity tends to be higher than other times of the year. One potential policy option for addressing youth employment is providing support for summer job progr... | Labor force activity for youth ages 16 to 24 has been in decline since the late 1990s. This trend has been consistent even during the summer months, when youth are most likely to be engaged in work. Labor force data from the month of July highlight changes in summer employment over time. For example, the employment rat... |
Introduction There is a broad agreement in the scientific community that the earth's climate is changing and that the primary cause over the past few decades is an increasing concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. Most climate scientists have concluded that human activities—e.g., fossil fuel combus... | Instituting policies to manage or reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would likely impact different states differently. Understanding these differences may provide for a more informed debate regarding potential policy approaches. However, multiple factors play a role in determining impacts, including alternative desi... |
Expedited Removal Authority at Department of Veterans Affairs Section 707 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, P.L. 113-146 , enacted on August 7, 2014, creates new authority for removing an individual in a senior executive position in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Section 707(a) of P.... | This report discusses selected legal issues relating to the authority for summary removal of individuals in senior executive positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Section 707 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, P.L. 113-146, enacted on August 7, 2014, created this authority by adding Sect... |
Overview Congress and the Administration have increased their interest in foreign assistance programs in the post-9/11 environment, prompting a re-examination of the purposes of assistance, and how best to achieve those objectives. The renewed interest occurs as the Administration has initiated many new programs that i... | Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the role of foreign assistance as a tool of foreign policy has come into sharper focus. The President elevated global development as a third pillar of national security, with defense and diplomacy, as articulated in the U.S. National Security Strategy of 2002, and reit... |
Scope of the Agriculture Appropriations Bill The Agriculture appropriations bill—formally known as the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act—provides funding for: All of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) except the Forest Service, which is funded i... | The Agriculture appropriations bill funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), except for the Forest Service. It also funds the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and—in even-numbered fiscal years—the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Agriculture appropriations include both mandatory and discretionary ... |
Introduction On November 19, 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved AquaBounty Technologies' application to produce AquAdvantage Salmon, a genetically engineered (GE) Atlantic salmon, for human consumption. This is the first GE animal that has been approved for human consumption in the United States. FDA... | On November 19, 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved AquaBounty Technologies' application to produce AquAdvantage Salmon, a genetically engineered (GE) Atlantic salmon, for human consumption. This is the first GE animal that has been approved for human consumption in the United States. FDA also has pro... |
Background Radioactive waste is a byproduct of nuclear weapons production, commercial nuclear power generation, and the naval reactor program. Waste byproducts also result from radioisotopes used for scientific, medical, and industrial purposes. Waste classification policies have tended to link the processes that gener... | Radioactive waste is a byproduct of nuclear weapons production, commercial nuclear power generation, and the naval reactor program. Waste byproducts also result from radioisotopes used for scientific, medical, and industrial purposes. The legislative definitions adopted for radioactive wastes, for the most part, refer ... |
Types of Pension Plans Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Plans There are two categories of pension plans under federal law: defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans. In a defined benefit plan, an employee is promised a specified future benefit, traditionally an annuity beginning at retirement. The am... | Both federal courts and Congress have recently addressed the issue of whether cash balance pension plans violate federal laws that prohibit age discrimination. The relevant age discrimination provisions are found in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), and the Age Discri... |
Federal Government Resources The following information includes general sources on federal student aid (FSA) programs, and on federal departments and agencies' scholarships, grants, fellowships, internships, and cooperative education programs. Federal resources related to health professions and veterans are in the " Se... | Congressional offices are frequently contacted by constituents who are researching how to pay for postsecondary education. This report identifies various online sources targeted to students and parents that provide information on planning and acquiring funds for postsecondary education. Some resources also contain info... |
Introduction Congress uses data from the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) to inform policy decisions and develop appropriate responses to crime. Such crime data have been used to shape policy in a variety of ways. For e... | Crime data collected through the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) are used by Congress to inform policy decisions and allocate federal criminal justice funding to states. As such, it is important to understand how each ... |
Introduction In 2007, much higher than expected defaults and delinquencies in the "subprime" segment of the mortgage market, led to a significant slowdown of the housing market. Most of these mortgages were financed not by traditional banks, but by global capital markets through asset or mortgage-backed securities. Thu... | Beginning in 2007, higher than expected defaults and delinquencies in "subprime" mortgages led to a significant slowdown of the housing market. Most of these mortgages were financed by capital markets through asset- or mortgage-backed securities, rather than by traditional banks. Thus, rather than being confined to the... |
The Five-Month Waiting Period for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits Title II of the Social Security Act provides that certain individuals may be entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits under the federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program if they meet the fo... | Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is authorized by Title II of the Social Security Act and provides income replacement for eligible individuals who are unable to work due to a long-term injury or illness that is expected to last at least one year or result in death. Current eligibility requirements include (1... |
Background At the time that Hatch-Waxman was being debated by Congress and subsequently implemented by the FDA, the biotechnology industry was just beginning to develop its first biologics for use as human therapeutic agents. The first FDA approval of a biotechnology drug for human use, human insulin, occurred in 1982,... | On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law a comprehensive health care reform bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA; P.L. 111-148). PPACA establishes a new regulatory authority within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by creating a licensure pathway for follow-on biologics, also calle... |
Geopolitical Considerations From December 2011 to January 2012, some Iranian government officials openly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a major artery of the global oil market, if sanctions are imposed on Iran's oil exports. Iran's first Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi first stated that threat on Decembe... | Some officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran have recently renewed threats to close or exercise control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's threats appear to have been prompted by the likely imposition of new multilateral sanctions targeting Iran's economic lifeline—the export of oil and other energy products. In the p... |
Background Prior to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, insurance covering terrorism losses was normally included in general insurance policies without additional cost to the policyholders. Following the attacks, both primary insurers and reinsurers pulled back from offering terrorism coverage. Because insurance... | Prior to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, insurance covering terrorism losses was normally included in commercial insurance policies without additional cost to the policyholders. Following the attacks, this ceased to be the case as insurers and reinsurers pulled back from offering terrorism coverage. It was f... |
Introduction It has long been the policy of the federal government to assist minority and other "socially and economically disadvantaged" small businesses become fully competitive and viable business concerns. The objective has largely been pursued through the federal procurement process by allocating federal assistanc... | Since the early 1960s, minority participation "goals" have been an integral part of federal policies to promote racial and gender equality in contracting on federally financed construction projects and in connection with other large federal contracts. Federal contract "set-asides" and minority subcontracting goals evol... |
Fundamentals of the Civil Service Retirement Programs The Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) was established by P.L. 66-215 in 1920, 15 years before Congress created the Social Security system for workers in the private sector. Because CSRS was designed to provide both retirement and disability benefits, federal em... | This report describes recent trends in the characteristics of annuitants and current employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) as well as the financial status of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF). In FY2016, 94% of current ... |
Background The issue of women's rights in Afghanistan and Iraq has taken on new relevance following the U.S.-led military actions in Afghanistan in 2001, the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, and subsequent reconstruction efforts in both countries. One of the major questions facing the United States in the post-war re... | This report reviews U.S. funding for programs directed toward women in Afghanistan and Iraq. Women in these two countries have faced particularly difficult conditions under the Taliban and Baathist regimes. Although there have been notable improvements since the ouster of these regimes in 2001 and 2003, respectively, w... |
Introduction Employer health care pl ans benefit from the ability to exclude the value of the insurance paid by the employer from employee income and payroll taxes. This provision, known as the employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) tax exclusion, has been viewed by some as encouraging too much spending on insurance and th... | The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; P.L. 111-148, as amended) included a provision to impose an excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) coverage beginning in 2018 (recently delayed until 2020). This provision, popularly termed the Cadillac tax, imposes an excise tax on ESI coverage i... |
What Is the Wildland-Urban Interface? The term wildland-urban interface (WUI) has been used for more than two decades to suggest an area where structures (usually homes) are in or near wildlands (forests or rangelands). There is no standard WUI definition. However, the definition listed in a 2001 Federal Register notic... | Congressional interest in funding to protect against wildfire threats has focused on communities in and near forests, an area known as the wildland-urban interface (WUI). The WUI is expanding in size and population, leading to increased concern for life and property that could potentially be damaged by wildfires. Appro... |
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