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Patterns in selected data on U.S. agricultural exports
Title
Patterns in selected data on U.S. agricultural exports
Date
1987
Summary
This paper provides a series of tables on U.S. agricultural exports in terms of both value and volume since 1977. By covering a nine-year period, the tables demonstrate export growth and decline. U.S. agricultural exports in 1986 are just above 1977's, and the 1986 trade balance is the lowest in the nine-year period covered in this paper.
Overview of the independent counsel provisions of the ethics in government act
Title
Overview of the independent counsel provisions of the Ethics in Government Act
Date
1986
Summary
This report provides an overview of the provisions of the Ethics in Government Act concerning the appointment of an independent counsel (formerly "special prosecutor"), the duties and authority of the independent counsel, and the congressional oversight of the independent counsel.
Research into "psi" phenomena
Title
Research into "psi" phenomena: Current status and trends of Congressional concern
Date
1983
Summary
The status of past and present research into psi phenomena, including extrasensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis (PK), is reviewed and summarized. It is concluded that at present, the psi research community is minimally funded, diffuse in nature, largely unstructured, and somewhat hesitant with regard to research methodologies. Nonetheless, progress is being made slowly to better understand the nature and potential of psi phenomena. Effective realization of the potentials or pitfalls of psi will require an open, humanistic perspective as well as the rigor and scientific discipline provided by conventional research tradition.
Clean Air Act provisions to protect national parklands
Title
Clean Air Act provisions to protect national parklands
Date
1985
U.S.-Latin American trade
Title
U.S.-Latin American trade: An overview
Date
1986
Summary
U.S.-Latin America trade flows have changed dramatically over the last few years. This paper briefly examines U.S.-Latin American trade to determine, among other things, the cause and possible consequences of the shift in trade flows.
Brief history of congressional pay legislation
Title
A brief history of congressional pay legislation
Date
1986
Federal agency programs in living aquatic resources and aquatic habitat protection
Title
Federal agency programs in living aquatic resources and aquatic habitat protection
Date
1987
Summary
This report identifies activities of Federal agencies that administer or coordinate significant programs on behalf of fisheries, other living aquatic (freshwater and marine) resources, and aquatic habitats. This report describes agency responsibilities, major statutory authority, a ten-year history of budget and personnel levels, a five-year history of personnel by Civil Service grade, studies about national policy and/or goals, interagency and State-Federal coordination mechanisms, and periodic reports.
National minimum drinking age
Title
National minimum drinking age: Provisions and analysis
Date
1984
Summary
The National Minimum Drinking Age (NMDA) law reqiures that States not in the compliance with the 21-minimum-age-law by fiscal year 1987 face a loss of a portion of their Federal-aid highway funds. The report discusses the provisions and sanction effects.
Medicare, Medicaid, and maternal and child health programs
Title
Medicare, Medicaid, and maternal and child health programs: An overview of major legislation enacted from 1980 through 1986: Background paper prepared for the use of the members of the Committee on Finance
Date
1987
Summary
This report traces the major Medicare amendments which have effected hospitals, physicians, and beneficiaries since 1980. It also reviews the major Medicaid amendments affecting Federal financial participation in the program, coverage of pregnant mothers and children, as well as those amendments designed to give States increased flexibility in administering their programs. Lastly, the report describes the consolidation of Federal health service programs for mothers and children under a new block grant authority.
Credit cards
Title
Credit cards: Selected references
Date
1985
Summary
Credit cards offer an alternative to using checks or cash for payment transactions. Currently there are over 600 million credit cards in circulation. This bibliography lists publications concerning the credit card industry and related subjects.
Selected options for federal support of state and local technology development programs
Title
Selected options for federal support of state and local technology development programs
Date
1987
Summary
In an attempt to foster regional economic growth, many State and local governments have developed and are supporting programs to enhance technological advancement within their jurisdictions. These programs are based upon the idea that economic benefits accrue from the creation of new firms and from increases in productivity in existing companies through the application of technological products and processes. These efforts very by State and often a jurisdiction supports several different approaches. Several Federal programs and policies have facilitated State and local technological development activities. These include programs to strengthen the science and technology capabilities of State governments, to encourage industry-university cooperation, to expand the use of Federal technical resources, and to strengthen the research capacity of universities. There is congressional interest in exploring ways to augment Federal support for State and local technological advancement efforts. Various options are identified to assist Members in determining if future congressional action is necessary, and if so, what types of activities might build upon an infrastructure already in place.
Interest deductibility after the Tax Reform Act of 1986
Title
Interest deductibility after the Tax Reform Act of 1986
Date
1986
Summary
This report briefly describes the limits placed by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 on the deductibility of interest by individuals. It includes the categories of business interest, consumer interest, home mortgage interest, investment interest, interest on activities subject to the passive loss limits, and interest on rental real estate in which the taxpayer actively participates.
Analysis and critique of National Organization for Raw Materials' (NORM) proposed National Economic Stability Act (NESA)
Title
Analysis and critique of National Organization for Raw Materials' (NORM) proposed National Economic Stability Act (NESA)
Date
1985
Summary
The purpose of this report is to explain, analyze, and critique the National Economic Stability Act proposed by the National Organization of Ray Materials (N.O.R.M.). N.O.R.M. believes that most of today's economic problems, such as high rates of bankruptcy, the negative balance of trade, unemployment, and spiraling public and private debt, are related to our Nation's treatment of agriculture and other raw material producers over a long period of time. When raw material prices are cheap, below "full honest parity," rural America is short of buying power, and urban businesses are unable to operate at full capacity without the economy going into debt. N.O.R.M. proposes replacing existing farm programs with a law prohibiting the sale of certain basic agricultural commodities at less than their parity price.
Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)
Title
Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs): Proposed changes in House-passed Tax Reform Bill (H.R. 3838)
Date
1986
Summary
The House-passed tax reform bill (H.R. 3838) would make three changes in Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs): (1) correct an anomaly in the "spousal IRA," (2) coordinate certain "elective deferrals" to 401(k) plans and 403(b) annuities with the IRA deduction limits, and (3) increase the additional income tax on "early withdrawals" from 10 to 15 percent. Although the Administration an the House Committee on Ways and Means had common goals in developing changes to IRAs, their proposals differ. This paper discusses and analyzes these differences.
The tax reform act of 1986 (h.r. 3838)
Title
The Tax Reform Act of 1986 (h.r. 3838): Effective versus statutory marginal tax rates
Date
1986
Summary
Under the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (H.R. 3838) there would be only two statutory marginal tax rates for individuals, 15 and 28 percent. In addition to reducing statutory marginal tax rates, H.R. 3838 would phase out certain tax provisions over various income ranges. These phaseout provisions would produce an effective marginal tax rate schedule considerably different from the statutory schedule. This paper describes the phaseout provisions contained in H.R. 3838 and analyzes their effects on marginal tax rates.
Joint sessions and joint meetings of Congress, April 6, 1789 - January 27, 1987
Title
Joint sessions and joint meetings of Congress, April 6, 1789 - January 27, 1987
Date
1987
Joint and several liability
Title
Joint and several liability: Recent changes in state tort law
Date
1987
Summary
About half the states have recently modified or eliminated their laws on joint and several liability. In these states, if two or more defendants contribute to a tort, then, at least in some circumstances, each is liable only in proportion to his share of responsibility, instead of 100 percent liable.
Housing and homelessness provisions
Title
Housing and homelessness provisions: A side-by-side comparison of H.R. 4, H.R. 286, and H.R. 558
Date
1987
Summary
This paper compares the provisions of three bills introduced in the 100th Congress: H.R. 4, H.R. 286, and H.R. 558. All of these bills attempt to provide not only support services and emergency shelter for the homeless, but also strive to prevent homelessness through the preservation of the existing housing stock occupied by low-income persons.
Hospital capital cost reimbursement under medicare
Title
Hospital capital cost reimbursement under medicare
Date
1986
High power voltage lines and extremely low frequency communications systems
Title
High power voltage lines and extremely low frequency communications systems: Health and safety concerns
Date
1984
Summary
There continues to be public concern about the health and safety impacts of high-voltage AC and DC power lines, either already existing or planned, and of proposed United States Navy extra-low-frequency (ELF) communications antennas. The Departments of Energy and Navy have taken the position that no significant biological, ecological, or human health effects are to be expected from these technologies. However, certain members of the scientific community have presented evidence over the past four years that there may be subtle, adverse health effects of low-level, low-frequency electromagnetic radiation of the type produced by power line and communications systems. Examinations continue to confirm or deny these latter observations.

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