Most frequently bookmarked reports

Amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Set to Expire in 2009

MacRonin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Several recent amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) will sunset on December 31, 2009.

Section 6001(a) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Protection Act (IRTPA), also known as the "lone wolf" provision, changed the rules regarding the types of individuals that could be targets of FISA-authorized searches. It permits surveillance of non-U.S. persons engaged in international terrorism, without requiring evidence linking those persons to an identifiable foreign power or terrorist organization.

Iran's 2009 Presidential Elections

MacRonin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0000

On June 12, 2009, following a heated campaign between reformist candidate Mir Hussein Musavi and incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranians turned out in record numbers to vote in the presidential election. Shortly after the polls closed, the Interior Minister announced that President Ahmadinejad had been reelected by a 62% margin.

Fairness Doctrine: History and Constitutional Issues

MacRonin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0000

The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or
Commission) that required broadcast licensees to cover issues of public importance and to do so
in a fair manner. Issues of public importance were not limited to political campaigns. Nuclear
plant construction, workers? rights, and other issues of focus for a particular community could
gain the status of an issue that broadcasters were required to cover. Therefore, the Fairness
Doctrine was distinct from the so-called ?equal time?

Greeenhouse Gas Legislation: Summary and Analysis of H.R. 2454 as Reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce

MacRonin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0000

H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, was introduced May 15, 2009,
by Representatives Waxman and Markey, and was subsequently modified (both technical and
substantive changes) and ordered reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on
May 21, 2009. The bill was reported (amended) June 5 (H.Rept. 111-137, Part I). Among the
major provisions of the bill are the following:
H.R. 2454 contains provisions that would amend the Clean Air Act to establish a cap-and-trade
system designed to reduce U.S.

The Department of Defense's Use of Private Security Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Background, Analysis, and Options for Congress

MacRonin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:00:00 +0000

The United States is relying on contractors to provide a wide variety of services in Iraq and Afghanistan, including security. Private firms known as Private Security Contractors (PSCs) are hired to protect individuals, transport convoys, forward operating bases, buildings, and other economic infrastructure, as well as train security forces. While DOD has previously contracted for security in Bosnia and elsewhere, it appears that in Iraq and Afghanistan DOD is for the first time relying so heavily on armed contractors to provide security during combat or stability operations.

Health Care Reform: An Introduction

MacRonin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Health care reform has emerged as an issue in the 111th Congress, driven by growing concern about widely discussed problems. Three predominant concerns involve coverage, cost and spending, and quality. Commonly cited figures indicate that more than 45 million people have no insurance, which can limit their access to care and their ability to pay for the care they receive. Costs are rising for nearly everyone, and the country now spends over $2.2 trillion, more than 16% of gross domestic product (GDP), on health care services and products, far more than other industrialized countries.

Privacy: An Overview of Federal Statutes Governing Wiretapping and Electronic Eavesdropping

MacRonin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

This report provides an overview of federal law governing wiretapping and electronic eavesdropping. It also appends citations to state law in the area and contains a bibliography of legal commentary as well as the text of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). It is a federal crime to wiretap or to use a machine to capture the communications of others without court approval, unless one of the parties has given their prior consent.

Financial Regulatory Reform: Analysis of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) as Proposed by the Obama Administration and H.R. 3126

MacRonin — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0000

In the wake of what many believe is the worst U.S. financial crisis since the Great Depression, the
Obama Administration has proposed sweeping reforms of the financial services regulatory
system, the broad outline of which has been encompassed in a nearly 90-page document called
the President’s White Paper (the White Paper or the Proposal).

Amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Set to Expire February 28, 2010

MacRonin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Three amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) are set to expire (sunset) on February 28, 2010. S. 1692, a bill reported favorably by the Senate Judiciary Committee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, would extend the sunset date by four years and make various modifications to existing authorities. H.R. 3845 would likewise establish a new sunset of December 31, 2013, but it would reauthorize only two of the three expiring provisions.

F/A-22 Raptor

MacRonin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0000

The F/A-22 Raptor is a next-generation fighter/attack aircraft that features the latest stealth technology to reduce detection by radar. Using more advanced engines and avionics than the current F-15 Eagle, the F/A-22 is intended to maintain U.S. Air Force capabilities against more sophisticated aircraft and missiles in the 21st century. This report examines the Air Force's F/A-22 Raptor program, including costs and schedule; considers several key issues, and concludes with a synopsis of recent legislative activity the program.

Spyware: Background and Policy Issues for Congress

MacRonin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

The term "spyware" generally refers to any software that is downloaded onto a computer without the owner's or user's knowledge. Spyware may collect information about a computer user's activities and transmit that information to someone else. It may change computer settings, or cause "pop-up" advertisements to appear (in that context, it is called "adware"). Spyware may redirect a Web browser to a site different from what the user intended to visit, or change the user's home page.

Economic Stimulus: Issues and Policies

MacRonin — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Recent policies have sought to contain damages spilling over from housing and financial markets
to the broader economy, including monetary policy, which is the responsibility of the Federal
Reserve, and fiscal policy, including a tax cut in February 2008 of $150 billion and two
extensions of unemployment compensation in June and November of 2008.

Government Collection of Private Information: Background and Issues Related to the USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization

MacRonin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Congress enacted the USA PATRIOT Act soon after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The most controversial sections of the act facilitate the federal government's collection of more information, from a greater number of sources, than had previously been authorized in criminal or foreign intelligence investigations. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), and the national security letter (NSL) statutes were all bolstered.

"Gang of Four" Congressional Intelligence Notifications

MacRonin — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Gang of Four intelligence notifications generally are oral briefings of certain particularly sensitive non-covert action intelligence activities, including principally, but not exclusively, intelligence collection programs, that the Intelligence Community typically limits to the chairmen and ranking members of the two congressional intelligence committees, and at times, but not always, to their respective staff directors.

Tax Havens: International Tax Avoidance and Evasion

MacRonin — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0000

The federal government loses both individual and corporate income tax revenue from the shifting of profits and income into low-tax countries, often referred to as tax havens. The revenue losses from this tax avoidance and evasion are difficult to estimate, but some have suggested that the annual cost of offshore tax abuses may be around $100 billion per year. International tax avoidance can arise from large multinational corporations who shift profits into low-tax foreign subsidiaries or wealthy individual investors who set up secret bank accounts in tax haven countries.

Trafficking in Persons: U.S. Policy and Issues for Congress

MacRonin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Trafficking in people for prostitution and forced labor is one of the most prolific areas of international criminal activity and is of significant concern to the United States and the international community. The overwhelming majority of those trafficked are women and children. According to the most recent Department of State estimates, roughly 800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year. If trafficking within countries is included in the total world figures, official U.S. estimates are that some 2 to 4 million people are trafficked annually.

Sensitive Covert Action Notifications: Oversight Options For Congress

MacRonin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Legislation enacted in 1980 gave the executive branch authority to limit advance notification of especially sensitive covert actions to eight Members of Congress the Gang of Eight when the President determines that it is essential to limit prior notice in order to meet extraordinary circumstances affecting U.S. vital interests.

Estimates of Carbon Mitigation Potential from Agricultural and Forestry Activities

MacRonin — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0000

In the United States, the agriculture and forestry sectors account for less than 10% of current estimated total U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually. Combined, these sectors are estimated to emit nearly 600 million metric tons CO2 equivalent (MMT CO2-Eq.) each year, most of which is emitted from the agriculture sector.
Current estimates of the combined amount of carbon sequestered by the agriculture and forestry sectors is reported at about 800 MMT CO2-Eq. per year, most of which is attributable to carbon stocks and uptake by trees in the forestry sector.

Judge Sonia Sotomayor: Analysis of Selected Opinions

MacRonin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0000

In May 2009, Supreme Court Justice David Souter announced his intention to retire from the Supreme Court. Several weeks later, President Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who currently serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, to fill his seat. To fulfill its constitutional advice and consent function, the Senate will consider Judge Sotomayors extensive record compiled from years as a lawyer, prosecutor, district court judge, and appellate court judge to better understand her legal approaches and judicial philosophy.

Legal Analysis of Religious Exemptions for Photo Identification Requirements

MacRonin — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0000

The 111th Congress has considered the issue of possible exemptions to federal photo identification requirements under the REAL ID Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-13). The REAL ID Act contains a number of provisions relating to improved security for drivers licenses and personal identification cards. The REAL ID Act also requires, without exemption, that a digital photograph appear on each document.

Access to Broadband Networks: The Net Neutrality Debate

MacRonin — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0000

As congressional policymakers continue to debate telecommunications reform, a major point of contention is the question of whether action is needed to ensure unfettered access to the Internet. The move to place restrictions on the owners of the networks that compose and provide access to the Internet, to ensure equal access and non-discriminatory treatment, is referred to as net neutrality. There is no single accepted definition of net neutrality.

Cumpulsory DNA Collection: A Fourth Amendment Analysis

MacRonin — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Despite relying on different legal standards, courts have generally upheld laws authorizing law
enforcement?s compulsory collection of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as reasonable under the
Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. However, several developments might call this
judicial consensus into question.

The Role of the Department of Defense During A Flu Pandemic

MacRonin — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0000

A flu pandemic is a worldwide epidemic of an influenza virus. As such, the United States response to a flu pandemic would have both international and domestic components. Additionally, the domestic response effort would include contributions from every governmental level (local, state, tribal, and federal), non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. This report will focus largely on the role of the Department of Defense (DOD) in supporting the nations domestic response effort, although it will also touch on DODs international role.

Presidential Authority to Conduct Warrantless Electronic Surveillance to Gather Foreign Intelligence Information

MacRonin — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 18:16:41 +0000

VXX Presidential Helicopter: Background and Issues for Congress

MacRonin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0000

On January 28, 2005, Navy officials announced the award of the VXX helicopter contract to Lockheed Martin Corp. Critics of the award have raised concerns about the effect on the U.S. defense industrial base, U.S. trade, and whether Buy American statutes apply. Some question whether the competition was fair. Legislation has been introduced regarding some of these issues. This report will be updated as warranted.