Most frequently bookmarked reports

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.

Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative: Legal Authorities and Policy Considerations

MacRonin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Federal agencies report increasing cyber-intrusions into government computer networks, perpetrated by a range of known and unknown actors. In response, the President, legislators, experts, and others have characterized cybersecurity as a pressing national security issue. Like other national security challenges in the post-9/11 era, the cyber threat is multi-faceted and lacks clearly delineated boundaries. Some cyber attackers operate through foreign nations military or intelligence-gathering operations, whereas others have connections to terrorist groups or operate as individuals.

The State Secrets Privilege and Other Limits on Litigation Involving Classified Information Edward C. Liu

MacRonin — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:00:00 +0000

The state secrets privilege is a judicially created evidentiary privilege that allows the government to resist court-ordered disclosure of information during litigation, if there is a reasonable danger that such disclosure would harm the national security of the United States. The Supreme Court first described the modern analytical framework of the state secrets privilege in the 1953 case of United States v. Reynolds. In its opinion, the Court laid out a two-step procedure to be used when evaluating a claim of privilege to protect state secrets.

Covert Action: Legislative Background and Possible Policy Questions

MacRonin — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Published reports have suggested that in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Pentagon has expanded its counter-terrorism intelligence activities as part of the global war on terror. Some observers have asserted that the Department of Defense (DOD) may be conducting certain kinds of counterterrorism intelligence activities that would statutorily qualify as "covert actions," and thus require a presidential finding and the notification of the congressional intelligence committees.

The 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) Outbreak: Selected Legal Issues

MacRonin — Wed, 06 May 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Recent human cases of infection with a novel influenza A(H1N1) virus have been identified both internationally and in the United States. Since there has been human to human transmission and the new virus has the potential to become pandemic, it is timely to examine the legal issues surrounding this emerging public health threat. This report provides a brief overview of selected legal issues including emergency measures, civil rights, liability issues, and employment issues. There are a number of emergency measures which may help to contain or ameliorate an infectious disease outbreak.

Terrorist Capabilities for Cyberattack: Overview and Policy Issues

MacRonin — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Tighter physical and border security may encourage terrorists and extremists to try to use other types of weapons to attack the United States. Persistent Internet and computer security vulnerabilities, which have been widely publicized, may gradually encourage terrorists to develop new computer skills, or develop alliances with criminal organizations and consider attempting a cyberattack against the U.S. critical infrastructure. Cybercrime increased dramatically between 2004 and 2005, and several recent terrorist events appear to have been funded partially through online credit card fraud.

Insolvency of Systemically Significant Companies: Bankruptcy vs. Conservatorship/Receivership

MacRonin — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0000

One clear lesson of the 2008 recession, which brought Goliaths such as Bear Sterns, CitiGroup, AIG, and Washington Mutual to their knees, is that no financial institution, regardless of its size, complexity, or diversification, is invincible. Congress, as a result, is left with the question of how best to handle the failure of systemically significant financial companies (SSFCs).

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

MacRonin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:00:00 +0000

President Obama has said his Administration shares the goals of the previous Administration to contain Irans strategic capabilities and regional influence, but the Obama Administration has formulated approaches to achieve those goals that differ from those of its predecessorin particular through expanded direct diplomatic engagement with Iran. Prior to Irans marred June 12, 2009 presidential elections, this U.S. outreach was put into practice with messages to the Iranian people by President Obama, and through invitations to and contact with Iranian diplomats at multilateral meetings.

Airport Passenger Screening: Background and Issues for Congress

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

Over the next several years, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will likely face continuing challenges to address projected growth in passenger airline travel while maintaining and improving upon the efficiency and effectiveness of passenger screening operations. New initiatives to expand the role of TSA personnel beyond screening operations, as well as initiatives to improve screening efficiency and effectiveness through the deployment of new technologies, will likely require additional investment.

The 2009 Influenza Pandemic: An Overview

MacRonin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:00:00 +0000

On June 11, 2009, in response to the global spread of a new strain of H1N1 influenza (flu), the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak to be an influenza pandemic, the first since 1968. WHO said that the pandemic declaration was based on the geographic spread of the new virus, not on increasing severity of the illnesses it causes. Officials now believe the outbreak began in Mexico in March, or perhaps earlier. The novel H1N1 swine flu was first identified in California in late April. Health officials quickly linked the new virus to many of the illnesses in Mexico.

Authoritative Resources on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

MacRonin — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0000

The following list of authoritative resources is designed to assist in responding to a broad range of constituent questions and concerns about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), P.L. 111-5. Links to the full text of the act, Congressional Budget Office estimates, White House fact sheets, and federal, state, and municipal government websites are included, along with other useful information. This list reflects information that is currently available on the Internet. It will be updated regularly as other relevant material becomes available.

The Google Library Project: Is Digitization for Purposes of Online Indexing Fair Use Under Copyright Law?

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

The Google Book Search Library Project, announced in December 2004, raised important
questions about infringing reproduction and fair use under copyright law. Google planned to
digitize, index, and display “snippets” of print books in the collections of five major libraries
without the permission of the books’ copyright holders, if any. Authors and publishers owning
copyrights to these books sued Google in September and October 2005, seeking to enjoin and
recover damages for Google’s alleged infringement of their exclusive rights to reproduce and
publicly display their works.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.