This report discusses the idea of "unanimous consent" in the Senate. Without its tradition of unanimous consent, the Senate would find it harder to process its complex workload.

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The report first examines several benefit-constraint options. Among them are raising the age at which full Social Security retirement benefits can be received, changing the way initial benefits are computed, and constraining cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). It also illustrates the effects of creating new personal savings accounts and presents their projected impact as a supplement to, or partial replacement of, the existing system, or as a means to close the gap between the benefit levels promised by the existing system and what can be paid under its projected future income. Finally, because across-the-board cuts may be seen as too severe for several types of recipients, other options that would ameliorate their effects, including one that would raise revenue, are also illustrated.

This report discusses the committee rules for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee which stipulates that, insofar as practicable, “proceedings of the Committee will be conducted without resort to the formalities of parliamentary procedure.”

This report discusses the House amendment tree, a chart that depicts the maximum number and types of amendments that may be offered to a measure before any amendment is voted upon.

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This report outlines the terms of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), identifies U.S. and Vietnamese motivations for entering into the deal, analyzes the reasons for Vietnam's delay in signing the agreement, and explains Congress' role in the process of restoring normal trade relations treatment to Vietnam.

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This report includes information regarding current issues in Saudi Arabia, background to Saudi-U.S. relations, and congressional interest in Saudi Arabia

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In response to the foreign challenge in the global marketplace, the United States Congress has explored ways to stimulate technological advancement in the private sector. The government has supported various efforts to promote cooperative research and development activities among industry, universities, and the federal R&D establishment designed to increase the competitiveness of American industry and to encourage the generation of new products, processes, and services. Among the issues before Congress are whether joint ventures contribute to industrial competitiveness and what role, if any, the government has in facilitating such arrangements.

Although the Social Security system is now running surpluses of income over outgo, its board of trustees projects that its trust funds would be depleted in 2038 and only 73% of its benefits would be payable then with incoming receipts. The trustees project that on average the system's cost would be 14% higher than its income over the next 75 years; by 2075 it would be 45% higher. The primary reason is demographic: the post-World War II baby boomers will begin retiring in less than a decade and life expectancy is rising. By 2025 the number of people age 65 and older is predicted to grow by 73%. In contrast, the number of workers supporting the system would grow by 13%.

textiles and apparel have been major issues in U.S. trade relations with a number of countries and regions. In attempts to resolve conflicts between the interests of exporters and importers, a number of agreements (multilateral and bilateral) have been signed over the years bearing on, and generally restricting, the quantities of textiles and apparel traded. Developing countries, whose exports have been limited, believe that developed countries have unfairly delayed import liberalization, and continue to press for accelerated implementation of the phaseout of quotas. Congress eased trade terms on textiles and apparel from Caribbean and sub-Saharan nations in its latest move to boost economic growth in poorer regions. This report will be updated as events warran

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This report discusses issues related to the identification and misidentification of children with disabilities.

This report contains the different forms and requirements to vote in the Senate.

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