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Social Issues

Reducing the Budget Deficit: The President's Fiscal Commission and Other Initiatives

Posted Thu, 04/28/2011 - 23:00

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 Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and net interest are projected to consume a larger portion of the total federal budget.

Child Welfare: Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits for Children in Foster Care

Posted Tue, 04/26/2011 - 23:00

Of the more than 400,000 children in foster care on a given day, as many as 24,000 (about 6%) receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or other Social Security benefits. Some research suggests that a greater number of children in foster care might be eligible for SSI benefits if this assistance was sought. SSI benefits are available under Title XVI of the Social Security Act for certain disabled children from families with low incomes and minimal assets.

The Federal Budget: Issues for FY2011, FY2012, and Beyond

Posted Mon, 04/11/2011 - 23:00

The federal budget is central to Congress's ability to exercise its "power of the purse." Over the last several fiscal years the imbalance between spending and revenues has grown as a result of the economic downturn and policies enacted in response to financial turmoil. In FY2010, the last completed fiscal year, the U.S. government spent $3,456 billion (23.8% of GDP) and collected $2,162 billion in revenue (14.9% of GDP), resulting in a budget deficit of $1,294 billion (8.9% of GDP).

Universal Service Fund: Background and Options for Reform

Posted Sun, 04/10/2011 - 23:00

The concept that all Americans should be able to afford access to the telecommunications network, commonly called the "universal service concept" can trace its origins back to the 1934 Communications Act. Since then, the preservation and advancement of universal service has been a basic tenet of federal communications policy, and Congress has historically played an active role in helping to preserve and advance universal service goals. The passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (P.L.

Tort Suits Against Federal Contractors: An Overview of the Legal Issues

Posted Wed, 04/06/2011 - 23:00

Pending litigation and judicial decisions in recent tort suits filed by U.S. civilian and military personnel, other U.S. persons, and other parties against federal contractors have prompted congressional and public interest. Many of these suits allege that contractors were negligent or committed fraud or intentional torts (e.g., false imprisonment, infliction of emotional distress) in the course of providing services in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Privacy Protections for Personal Information Online

Posted Tue, 04/05/2011 - 23:00

There is no comprehensive federal privacy statute that protects personal information. Instead, a patchwork of federal laws and regulations govern the collection and disclosure of personal information and has been addressed by Congress on a sector-by-sector basis.

Libya: Unrest and U.S. Policy

Posted Mon, 03/28/2011 - 23:00

Over forty years ago, Muammar al Qadhafi led a revolt against the Libyan monarchy in the name of nationalism, self-determination, and popular sovereignty. Opposition groups citing the same principles are now revolting against Qadhafi to bring an end to the authoritarian political system he has controlled in Libya for the last four decades.

Political Transition in Tunisia

Posted Thu, 03/03/2011 - 23:00

On January 14, 2011, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the country for Saudi Arabia following weeks of mounting anti-government protests. Tunisia's mass popular uprising, dubbed the "Jasmine Revolution," appears to have added momentum to anti-government and pro-reform sentiment in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Algeria, Jordan, and other countries. Although Tunisia's pro-democracy movement has been internationally heralded, it has also contributed to concern over stability in a region long associated with seemingly secure, autocratic, pro-Western regimes.

Africa: U.S. Foreign Assistance Issues

Posted Fri, 02/11/2011 - 00:00

U.S. aid to Africa initially reached a peak in 1985, when global competition with the Soviet Union was at a high point. After the cold war ended, security assistance levels for Africa began to decline. In 1995, at the outset of the 104th Congress, substantial reductions in aid to Africa had been anticipated, as many questioned the importance of Africa to U.S. national security interests in the post-cold war era. As the debate went forward, however, congressional reports and bills emphasized U.S. humanitarian, economic, and other interests in Africa.

International Food Aid: U.S. and Other Donor Contributions

Posted Fri, 02/11/2011 - 00:00

The United States is the world's major provider of international food aid to low-income developing countries. This report provides three indicators of the U.S. contribution to global food aid: (1) shipments of major donors compiled by the International Grains Council (IGC), (2) U.S. contributions to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), and (3) the U.S. commitment under the 1999 Food Aid Convention (FAC). Data from the International Grains Council show that U.S. food aid accounted for 58% of food aid shipments by major donors during 1995/96-2008/09. A substantial portion of U.S.