None

This report examines policy issues the Davis-Bacon Act has sparked through the years and which remain a part of the Davis-Bacon debate of the 1990s. These include such questions as: wage rate determination procedures, reporting requirements under the Copeland Act, an appropriate threshold for activation of the statute, interagency relationships with respect to Davis-Bacon enforcement and compliance activity, administrative or judicial appeals procedures, the use of "helpers" and other low-skilled workers on covered projects, and the right of a President to suspend the statute as well as the conditions under which such a suspension may occur. That the fundamental premise of the Act remains in contention after 60 years may be, itself, part of the public policy debate.

This report provides background and discussion of policy issues relating to U.S. ethanol production, especially ethanol made from corn.

The Brownfields Act authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to award grants for the assessment and cleanup of sites that pose a less serious threat to human health and the environment than sites addressed by the Superfund program. The authorization expired on September 30, 2006. In the 109th Congress, a reauthorization bill, H.B. 5810, was reported from the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on July 28, 2006, but went no further. This report contains information on the EPA's involvement in the program, EPA appropriations, Housing and Urban Development's involvement in the program and appropriations, other federal Brownfield programs, and Congressional actions of the 109th and 110th Congresses as related to the programs.

None

None

None

This report provides basic information on congressional salaries and allowances. The report briefly summarizes the current salary of Members of Congress, limits on their outside earned income and honoraria, and applicable health insurance and retirement benefits. The report also provides information on allowances available to Representatives and Senators. Lastly, this report lists the salaries of congressional officers and officials and committee staff.

This report provides an historical overview of Israel, and discusses the most recent developments in Israel, such as the government and politics, economy, foreign policy, and relations with United States.

None

The depreciation provisions in the U.S. tax system are of recurring interest to Congress. More than 100 bills were introduced in the 109th Congress that addressed some aspect of depreciation. Concerns about the U.S. depreciation system tend to begin with the criticism that updates to the system have not kept pace with technological advancements of the assets for which it is utilized to account. This report provides information on the depreciation systems of selected European Union countries (France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, and the United Kingdom) by presenting depreciation rates for buildings; computers; expensable assets; motor vehicles; patents; plant, equipment, machinery, and tools; and software.

This report provides the policy and legal analysis of the FDA regulation of tobacco products.

None

None

None

This report is about the Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI) and related Funding Programs in the fiscal year 2007.

None

None

None

This report examines the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or the DREAM Act. The bills were introduced in the 109th Congress, one of which was incorporated into the immigration reform bill passed by the Senate. A key issues in the current debate about immigration reform is how to address the resident unauthorized alien population.

This report discusses the Integrated Deepwater Systems (IDS) program, or Deepwater program which is the largest and most complex acquisition effort in Coast Guard history, encompassing 91 new cutters, 124 new small surface craft, and 244 new or converted airplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

This report discusses the legislative history and current law regarding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides funds to states so that they may help low-income households pay home energy expenses.

This report begins by exploring three core concepts: college cost, sticker price and net price. It concludes with an overview of relevant issues for re-authorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

None