This report discusses the major innovations that were planned for the 2010 Census, problems encountered in the attempt to automate certain decennial field operations, issues of census accuracy and coverage, and efforts to ensure an equitable count.

This report analyzes the primary actors driving transnational crime in Burma, the forms of transnational crime occurring, and current U.S. policy in combating these crimes.

The Federal Tort Claims Act is the statute by which the United States authorizes tort suits to be brought against itself. With exceptions, it makes the United States liable for injuries caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any federal employee acting within the scope of his employment, in accordance with the law of the state where the act or omission occurred. This report discusses, among other things, the application of the Feres doctrine to suits for injuries caused by medical malpractice in the military, the prohibition of suits by victims of atomic testing, Supreme Court cases interpreting the discretionary function exception, the extent to which federal employees may be held liable for torts they commit in the scope of their employment, and the government contractor defense to products liability design defect suits.

In late 2007, the Department of Defense (DOD) launched a major procurement initiative to replace most uparmored High Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) in Iraq with Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles by FY2009. MRAPs have been described as providing significantly more protection against Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) than uparmored HMMWVs. DOD's decision to acquire a new, smaller MRAP variant for use in Afghanistan; MRAP mechanical, logistical, and readiness concerns could be potential policy issues for congressional consideration. This report will be updated.

This report provides background on Section 1206 of the National Defense Authorization Act, which provides the Secretary of Defense with authority to train and equip foreign military forces and foreign maritime security forces.

This report discusses proposed legislation to establish a free-mail-to-troops postage benefit. Various bills introduced in Congress would provide members of the Armed Forces serving overseas with free-postage vouchers every month. Recipients of these vouchers would be able to transfer them to family members or other persons in the United States, who then could use the vouchers to mail a letter or package to the troops postage-free.

This report discusses the recent development in different programs administered by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with the goal to promote agricultural exports and to provide food aid. These programs include direct export subsidies, export market development, export credit guarantees, and foreign food aid.

This report provides information about the concern that has been raised over a "digital divide" between rural and urban areas with respect to broadband deployment.

This report covers state actions that directly and explicitly address greenhouse gas emissions. First, the report describes the different types of state actions, both individual and cooperative efforts, that are either proposed or underway, and highlights several of the more significant developments. Second, the report examines state actions from a federal policymaking perspective, including both the potential effects of state-led actions and their limitations.

The central issue before Congress wit respect to clinical trial reporting and publication is how to balance the potential beneficial public health effects of requiring that clinical trial data be made public with the burdens that such requirements may place on companies and their own innovation.

This report is on The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA): Origin, Characteristics, and Institutional Authorities.

This report provides the developments and issues of the federal initiatives in Cooperative R&D.

This report discusses factors that have contributed to the lack of new transmission capacity and some of the resulting issues. This report reviews approaches being taken to address the lack of investment in transmission infrastructure and transmission congestion.

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This report uses the data compiled by WRI to examine a pivotal and long-running issue surrounding U.S. climate change policy, the appropriate roles of developed and developing countries in addressing climate change.

This report provides the California action and the regional greenhouse gas initiative on the greenhouse gas reduction. The first section of this report discusses the activity in California. The second section focuses on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cooperative effort of nine states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.. The report's final section considers these state-led actions from a federal policy making perspective, examining the potential effects, limitations, and legal challenges of state-led climate change actions.

This report discusses the information related to gun control legislation. The contents include Gun-related statistics, federal regulation of firearms, legislative action in the 109th and possible issues in the 110th Congress

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The Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 authorized a drinking water state revolving loan fund program to help public water systems finance infrastructure projects needed to comply with federal drinking water regulations and to protect public health.