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• Trump Administration's Foreign Policy: A Mid-Term Assessment, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, February 27, 2019

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  This is the February 27, 2019 hearing on "The Trump Administration's Foreign Policy" held before the U.S. House Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the Opening Statement of Eliot L. Engel: "As we have so far, this committee will continue to grapple with the most immediate and critical challenges around the world. At the same time, I think it is important that we take a step back and look more broadly at the overall state of American leadership and foreign policy and to lay out our own vision and ideas." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Madeleine K. Albright.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2019
• Department of Justice to Guantanamo Bay: Administration Lawyers and Administration Interrogation (Rules Part I), Hearing Before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties of the Committee of the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred and Tenth Congress, Second Session, May 6, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Jerrold Nadler. "hearing will begin the Subcommittee's investigation of the role of Administration lawyers in formulating the rules for conducting interrogations. The Subcommittee has been investigating this Administration's interrogation policies and will continue to do so. […]How we got this point, what is the legal basis for these actions, and what are the asserted parameters of these policies, these are the subjects of this first in a series of hearings. […]today we hear from experts in the field who will discuss what is known, or what the private investigations have been able to discern, and what the law says about that information. […] this is the first in a series of hearings and that we will in subsequent hearings receive testimony from those individuals who played a central role in the formulation and the implementation of these policies." This hearing "Department of Justice to Guantanamo Bay: Administration Lawyers and Administration Interrogation (Rules Part I)", before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties of the Committee of the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred and Tenth Congress, Second Session, on May 6, 2008 included statements from Jerrold Nadler, a Representative in Congress from New York, and Chairman, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, Trent Franks, a Representative in Congress from Arizona, and Ranking Member, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil, John Conyers, Jr., a Representative in Congress from Michigan, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, and Member, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, David B. Rivkin, Jr., Partner, Baker Hostetler, LLP, David J. Luban, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law, Marjorie Cohn, Professor of Law, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, President, National Lawyers Guild, and Philippe Sands, Professor of Law, University College London, Barrister, Matrix Chambers.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2008
• Diplomatic Assurances and Rendition to Torture: The Perspective of the State Department's Legal Advisor, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred and Tenth Congress, Second Session, June 10, 2008

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  From the opening statement of William D. Delahunt. "the topic of diplomatic assurances. And […] how the [State] Department interprets its obligations under the Convention Against Torture and FARRA, the implementing legislation passed by Congress in the 1990s. And how diplomatic assurances are invoked in that context. Diplomatic assurances […] refers to the commitment another country makes not to torture a particular individual we decide to send them under a variety of various scenarios. Under the Convention Against Torture and FARRA, [the U.S. is] obligated not to send someone to a country where there will be torture. […]How does the Bush administration attain that is assurances before sending someone to a country with a poor human rights record? How do you assess their sufficiency? Who makes the call on whether or not they are accepted? Who exactly is the administration willing to take assurances from? And what can you do to ensure that the other side, the other nation, maintains its side of the bargain? Well, that is today's purpose. That is the purpose of this hearing." The hearing "Diplomatic Assurances and Rendition to Torture: the Perspective of the State Department's Legal Advisor", before the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred and Tenth Congress, Second Session, on June 10, 2008 includes a statement from John B. Bellinger, III.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2008
• Ensuring Homeland Security While Facilitating Legitimate Travel: The Challenge at America's Ports of Entry: Field Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, January 3, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Bennie G. Thompson: "Today we'll hear testimony from Government witnesses about the challenges they face in keeping our Nation secure while also facilitating legitimate travel and trade throughout ports of entry. We will also hear testimony from local stakeholders who are directly affected by increasing wait times at bridges in this growing border community. I look forward to the discussion because it is increasingly apparent that there is a growing problem in America's ports of entry. Last year America witnessed the well-publicized Andrew Speaker incident. A patient with a very serious strain of tuberculosis was able to re-enter the United States through a northern border port of entry, though he should have been detained. We know that the Speaker incident was not an isolated one. In addition, a recent Government Accountability Office report revealed that thousands of unauthorized individuals entered the United States through ports of entry in a single year. At the same time the lines to enter the United States continue to get longer, which El Pasoans and residents living along both our Nation's land borders know all too well. It is important to note that the overwhelming majority of Customs and Border Protection officers and other personnel at our ports of entry are dedicated individuals working under extraordinarily difficult conditions for relatively low pay." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bennie G. Thompson, Thomas S. Winkowski, Lurita A. Doan, Richard M. Stana, Bob Cook, Colleen M. Kelley, Kathleen Campbell Walker, Victor Carrillo, John F. Cook, Richard E. Dayoub, Eliot Shapleigh, Dan Stamper, and Miguel Teran.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2008
• United Nations Peacekeeping Reform, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on International Operations and Terrorism of the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session, July 27, 2005

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  From the text: "The expectations that are placed on U.N. peacekeepers have grown tremendously over the past 6 decades and the United Nations, as well its member states, have sometimes had a difficult time adapting to these new and challenging times. Perhaps the biggest changes have come in the last decade and a half since the end of the cold war. As the recently released report on the congressionally mandated task force on U.N. reform notes, between 1948 and 1990 the United Nations initiated some 18 peacekeeping operations, but between 1990 and today, the Security Council, with the support of the United States, has initiated more than 40 peacekeeping operations. That alone is an indication of the challenges that are faced by those that have supported peacekeeping operations through the United Nations." Other speakers: Dibble, Philo L., Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Department of State, Jane Holl Lute, Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations, John E. Sununu, U.S. Senator from New Hampshire, and Zeid Al-Hussein, His Royal Highness Prince Zeid Ra'ad, Permanent Representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, United Nations.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2005-07-27
• Current Manning, Equipment, and Readiness Challenges Facing Special Operations Forces, Hearing Before the Terrorism, Unconventional Threats, and Capabilities Subcommittee of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred and Tenth Congress, First Session, January 31, 2007

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  The following is taken from the opening statement of Adam Smith. "we are very interested, obviously, in the mission of Special Operations. We know we are trying to increase the size of the force and that challenges come with that. I want to hear a little bit about that. I am also very interested, not just the direct action piece, but in the hearts and minds piece, which General Brown and I have talked about before, and how we can use that more comprehensively in many places in the world." This hearing "Current Manning, Equipment, and Readiness Challenges Facing Special Operations Forces" before the Terrorism, Unconventional Threats, and Capabilities Subcommittee of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred and Tenth Congress, First Session, on January 21, 2007 included statements from Adam Smith, a Representative from Washington, Chairman, Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, Mac Thornberry, a Representative from Texas, Ranking Member, Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, Bryan D. Brown, Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Army, Dennis J. Hejlik, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, U.S. Marine Corps Joseph Maguire, Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, U.S. Navy, Robert W. Wagner, Commander, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, U.S. Army, and Michael W. Wooley, Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, U.S. Air Force. The hearing addressed the "current manning and readiness challenges facing Special Operations Forces (SOF)."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2008
• Technologies to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities of the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, March 12, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Jack Reed: "The subcommittee meets today to hear testimony on technology to combat weapons of mass destruction (WMD). We are fortunate to have started with a demonstration of a number of technologies being developed or fielded for our military and other government agencies, including some technologies that are used here in the Homeland to protect our population. […] We hope to learn today about the challenges you all face in trying to develop these technologies, the successes that you have had, and how this technology fits into our numerous efforts to combat WMD. We thank you and all of those who you work with for your dedicated efforts to keep our Nation and our military forces safe from these dangerous threats. We appreciate that your agencies also had a role in the response to and decontamination of the Senate office buildings after the anthrax attacks of October 2001. We look forward to hearing your testimony." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jack Reed, James A. Tegnelia, Stephen Reeves, and T. Jan Cerveny.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2008
• Resilient Homeland: How DHS Intelligence Should Empower America to Prepare for, Prevent, and Withstand Terrorist Attacks, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred and Tenth Congress, Second Session, May 15, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Jane Harman opening statement. " For more than 6 years, the Bush administration has been relentlessly sounding the alarm about apocalyptic terrorist groups, but meaningful guidance to first responders about what to look for and what to do about these apocalyptic terrorist groups has been in short supply. […] This subcommittee has spent the last year-and-a-half working to get intelligence right for State, local and tribal law enforcement officers, the people who will most likely see something out of place and act to prevent the next attack." This document is the hearing "The Resilient Homeland: How DHS Intelligence Should Empower America to Prepare for, Prevent, and Withstand Terrorist Attacks", before the Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred and Tenth Congress, Second Session, on May 15, 2008 has statements from the Honorable Jane Harman, a Representative in Congress From the State of California, and Chair, Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment and the Honorable David G. Reichert, a Representative in Congress From the State of Washington, and Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment. The witnesses in this hearing are Dr. Stephen E. Flynn, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies, Council on Foreign Relations, Mr. Amos N. Guiora, Professor of Law, University of Utah, and Mr. R.P. Eddy, Executive Director, Center for Policing Terrorism, the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2008
• Food and Drug Administration's Critical Mission and Challenges for the Future, Hearing Before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, First Session, May 1, 2007

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  From the Opening Statement of Henry A. Waxman: "Today we start this effort. We are in the fortunate position of looking first at an agency that has not been decimated by the pressures placed upon it or the lack of resources made available to it, but there have been a number of public health crises, from the belated withdrawal of Vioxx to deadly bacteria in spinach to contaminated pet food. These have revealed alarming cracks in the foundation of FDA's ability to protect the American public. The warning signs are clear. FDA is an agency in crisis. We need to act now and to learn from the vast experience of those who have managed the agency through the years. Today we are fortunate to have an unprecedented assembly of experts, including three former FDA Commissioners and the current Commissioner, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, in addition to former Commissioners whose schedules did not allow them to be here in person. We will submit written testimony. [...] I hope that this series of hearings will lead to real solutions for FDA and for Government, restoring the full capacity and preparing this agency and others to serve its critical mission many years into the future." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Tom Davis, Donald Kennedy, David Kessler, Andrew von Eschenbach, and Frank Young.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2007
• H. Rept. 116-579: Aircraft Certification Reform and Accountability Act, Report to Accompany H.R. 8408, November 16, 2020

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  From the Purpose of Legislation: "The purpose of H.R. 8408, the 'Aircraft Certification Reform and Accountability Act,' is to improve aviation safety by reforming the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aircraft certification process; ensure that the FAA and aircraft manufacturers develop and maintain robust safety cultures; establish enhanced safety requirements related to the design of new aircraft, engines, propellers, and appliances, as well as enhanced requirements for the FAA's processes for certifying new designs as safe; and understand and address issues identified related to international pilot training, human factors, and automation in the cockpit."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020-11-16
• H. Rept. 116-590: Fraud and Scam Reduction Act, Report to Accompany H.R. 2610, November 16, 2020

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  From the Purpose and Summary: "H.R. 2610, the 'Fraud and Scam Reduction Act', was introduced by Representatives Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-DE) and Tim Walberg (R-MI) and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bill's original short title was 'Stop Senior Scams Act'. H.R. 2610, as reported, establishes a Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Group at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to collect and disseminate model educational materials for retailers, financial institutions, and wire-transfer companies to use in preventing scams that affect seniors. [...] The legislative text of H.R. 2301 directs the FTC to establish an office to advise the FTC on the prevention of fraud targeting seniors and to help monitor marketing materials for fraud targeting seniors. H.R. 7699 requires the FTC to submit a report to Congress on scams targeting seniors, including policy recommendations to prevent senior scams, especially scams related to national emergencies. H.R. 8127 directs the FTC to submit to Congress a report on unfair or deceptive acts or practices targeted at Indian Tribes or members of Indian Tribes. Lastly, H.R. 8152 requires the FTC to conduct a study on facilitating and refining existing efforts with State Attorneys General to prevent, publicize, and penalize frauds and scams perpetrated on individuals in the United States."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020-11-16
• H. Rept. 116-588: Pandemic Effects on Home Safety and Tourism Act, Report to Accompany H.R. 8121, November 16, 2020

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  From the Purpose and Summary: "H.R. 8121, the 'Pandemic Effects on Home Safety and Tourism Act', was introduced by Representatives Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) and Rodney Davis (R-IL). H.R. 8121 requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to study and report to Congress on the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on injuries and deaths associated with consumer products. The original short title of H.R. 8121 as introduced was 'COVID-19 Home Safety Act of 2020', however, it was changed during committee markup when the original bill was combined with H.R. 8122. During full Committee consideration of the bill, an amendment in the nature of a substitute was adopted incorporating legislative text based on H.R. 8122, the 'Protecting Tourism in the United States Act' ('Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL)' and 'Fred Upton (R-MI)),' a bill referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce on August 28, 2020. H.R. 8122 directs the Department of Commerce (DOC) to conduct a study and report to Congress on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry in the United States. H.R. 8121, as reported, will help ensure a full understanding of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on home safety and tourism."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020-11-16
• H. Rept. 116-592, Part 1: Spectrum it Modernization Act of 2020, Report to Accompany H.R. 7310, November 16, 2020

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  From the Purpose and Summary: "Representatives Michael Doyle (D-PA), Robert L. Latta (R-OH), Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Tim Walberg (R-MI) introduced H.R. 7310, the 'Spectrum IT Modernization Act of 2020'. Given the ever-increasing need for shared spectrum for wireless communications technology, the 'Spectrum IT Modernization Act of 2020' would help to promote more efficient use of our Nation's airwaves. H.R. 7310 does this by first requiring the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), in consultation with the Policy and Plans Steering Group (PPSG), to identify a process to establish goals for the modernization of infrastructure of covered agencies related to the management of Federal spectrum. The NTIA must submit a report to Congress that contains the plans of the NTIA and covered agencies to modernize and automate their infrastructures relating to managing the use of Federal spectrum. The legislation would also require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct oversight of the implementation of the modernization plans submitted by the NTIA and covered agencies and report to Congress annually on that process."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020-11-16
• H. Rept. 116-591: Combating Pandemic Scams Act of 2020, Report to Accompany H.R. 6435, November 16, 2020

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  From the Purpose and Summary: "H.R. 6435, the 'Combating Pandemic Scams Act of 2020', was introduced by Representatives Earl L. 'Buddy' Carter (R-GA), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Ann M. Kuster (D-NH), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE). H.R. 6435 aims to protect Americans, especially senior citizens and people with infirmities and disabilities, from deceptive and fraudulent scams while the United States continues to face the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Specifically, H.R. 6435 directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to develop and disseminate information to the public about scams related to COVID-19. H.R. 6435 also requires the FTC, in consultation with the Attorney General and Secretary of Health and Human Services, among other relevant agencies, to establish a comprehensive national database to track all instances of scams relating to COVID-19."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020-11-16
• H. Rept. 116-720: Legislative and Oversight Activities of the Committee on Homeland Security, 116th Congress, January 2, 2021

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  From the Overview: "The Committee on Homeland Security met on January 30, 2019, for an organizational meeting for the 116th Congress under the direction of Chairman Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi. The Committee Membership was set at 31 Members with 18 Democrats and 13 Republicans. Subsequently, the Committee Membership was updated to 32 Members with 18 Democrats and 14 Republicans. The Committee established six subcommittees: The Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations; the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation; the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery; the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism; the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability; and the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021-01-02
• Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, February 26, 2008

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  From the Opening Statement of Bennie Thompson: "When I assumed the Chairmanship of this committee last January I highlighted the need to shield the Nation's critical infrastructure from foreign and domestic terrorism as one of my eight goals in charting the course toward freedom from fear. That is why this committee has dedicated considerable resources toward drafting legislation to extend DHS's authority over chemical plants beyond October, 2009, when it is slated to expire. Today, we are meeting to discuss a draft bill that this committee has been working on for the past several months, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008. It is important to me that we have worked in an open and bipartisan manner to develop this legislation." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bennie G. Thompson, Peter T. King, Ginny Brown-Waite, Robert B. Stephan, Kevin L. Wattier, David C. Pulham, Rick Hind, and Russell Melancon.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2008
• Reducing the Budget Deficit: Tax Policy Options [August 8, 2011]

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  "Tax reform and deficit reduction are two issues being considered by the 112th Congress. In recent months, a number of groups have published various plans for tackling the nation's growing deficits. Other groups, such as the Senate 'Gang of Six' and a group led by Vice President Biden comprised of Members of Congress, have engaged in deficit reduction negotiations. This report analyzes various revenue options for deficit reduction, highlighting proposals made by the President's Fiscal Commission and the Debt Reduction Task Force. Others, such as House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan and the Obama Administration, have noted the importance of tax reform as part of deficit reduction plans. These plans, however, do not provide the same level of detail as the Fiscal Commission and Debt Reduction Task Force, and are therefore not reviewed in detail as part of this report. […] There are other options for generating additional revenues outside of the current tax system. The federal government could raise revenues through additional consumption taxes, excise taxes, or by imposing a tax on carbon. The President's Fiscal Commission and the Debt Reduction Task Force took different approaches in the tax reform components of their fiscal sustainability plans. The President's Fiscal Commission raised additional tax revenues primarily through comprehensive income tax reform. The Fiscal Commission chose to broaden the tax base, allowing for both lower tax rates and increased federal revenues. The Debt Reduction Task Force's proposal also recommended individual income tax reform. The individual income tax reforms recommended by the Debt Reduction Task Force were designed to enhance efficiency and increase progressivity in the income tax system. Additional revenues in the Debt Reduction Task Force's plan originate from the proposed 6.5% debt-reduction sales tax."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sherlock, Molly F.

  2011-08-08
• Reducing the Budget Deficit: Tax Policy Options [July 13, 2011]

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  "Tax reform and deficit reduction are two issues being considered by the 112th Congress. In recent months, a number of groups have published various plans for tackling the nation's growing deficits. Other groups, such as the Senate 'Gang of Six' and a group led by Vice President Biden comprised of Members of Congress, have engaged in deficit reduction negotiations. This report analyzes various revenue options for deficit reduction, highlighting proposals made by the President's Fiscal Commission and the Debt Reduction Task Force. Others, such as House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan and the Obama Administration, have noted the importance of tax reform as part of deficit reduction plans. These plans, however, do not provide the same level of detail as the Fiscal Commission and Debt Reduction Task Force, and are therefore not reviewed in detail as part of this report. […] There are other options for generating additional revenues outside of the current tax system. The federal government could raise revenues through additional consumption taxes, excise taxes, or by imposing a tax on carbon. The President's Fiscal Commission and the Debt Reduction Task Force took different approaches in the tax reform components of their fiscal sustainability plans. The President's Fiscal Commission raised additional tax revenues primarily through comprehensive income tax reform. The Fiscal Commission chose to broaden the tax base, allowing for both lower tax rates and increased federal revenues. The Debt Reduction Task Force's proposal also recommended individual income tax reform. The individual income tax reforms recommended by the Debt Reduction Task Force were designed to enhance efficiency and increase progressivity in the income tax system. Additional revenues in the Debt Reduction Task Force's plan originate from the proposed 6.5% debt-reduction sales tax."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sherlock, Molly F.

  2011-07-13
• Federal Funding for Wildfire Control and Management [February 13, 2012]

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  "The Forest Service (FS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) are responsible for protecting most federal lands from wildfires. [...] There are three basic categories of federal programs for wildfire: federal lands protection, non-federal lands protection, and other fire-related expenditures. The vast majority (about 95%) of federal wildfire funds are spent to protect federal lands--for fire preparedness (equipment, baseline personnel, and training); fire suppression operations (including emergency funding); post-fire rehabilitation (to help sites recover after the wildfire); and fuel reduction (to reduce wildfire damages by reducing fuel levels). [...] Four issues have dominated wildfire funding debates. One is the high cost of fire management and its effects on other agency programs. [...] Another issue is funding for fuel reduction. [...] A third issue is the federal role in protecting non-federal lands, communities, and private structures. [...] A federal policy review recommended increased state and local efforts to match their responsibilities, but federal programs to protect non-federal lands have also expanded, reducing incentives for local participation in fire protection. Finally, post-fire rehabilitation is raising concerns. Agency regulations and legislation in the 109th Congress focused on expediting such activities, but opponents expressed concerns that this would restrict environmental review of and public involvement in salvage logging decisions, leading to greater environmental damage. Legislation was introduced but not enacted in the 110th Congress to provide alternative means of addressing post-fire restoration in particular areas. The large wildfires to date in 2011 have reignited concerns about post-fire rehabilitation."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bracmort, Kelsi; Gorte, Ross W.

  2012-02-13
• Is Biopower Carbon Neutral? [July 6, 2011]

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  "Congress has been increasingly interested in biopower--electricity generated from biomass. Biopower, a baseload power source, has the potential to strengthen rural economies, enhance energy security, and improve the environment, proponents say. Biopower could be produced from a large range of biomass feedstocks nationwide (e.g., urban, agricultural, and forestry wastes and residues). One challenge to biopower production is a readily available feedstock supply. At present, biopower requires tax incentives to be competitive with conventional fossil fuels. Congressional support for biopower has aimed to promote energy security, and has generally assumed that biopower is carbon neutral. An energy production activity is typically classified as carbon neutral if it produces no net increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on a life-cycle basis. The premise that biopower is carbon neutral has come under scrutiny as its potential to help meet U.S. energy demands and reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions is more closely examined. […] In addition, the June 2010 release of the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences Biomass Sustainability and Carbon Policy Study led to a noteworthy discussion in the media and the scientific community about biomass energy and its GHG impacts. The study centered on substituting forest biomass for fossil fuels in the Massachusetts energy sector. The study found that, using conventional combustion, more GHGs are emitted per unit of energy produced from forest biomass than from fossil fuels. The study's assumptions and parameters, including the time frame necessary to pay off the carbon debt (i.e., the excess GHG emissions) and the single biomass feedstock, would need to be changed to have application to the national carbon-neutrality debate."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bracmort, Kelsi

  2011-07-06
• Meeting the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Mandate for Cellulosic Biofuels: Questions and Answers [January 11, 2012]

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  "The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was expanded under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA; P.L. 110-140) in an effort to reduce dependence on foreign oil, promote biofuel use, and stabilize transportation fuel prices, among other goals. Over a 15-year period, the RFS seeks to establish a market for biofuels in the transportation sector by requiring that increasing amounts of biofuels--36 billion gallons by 2022--be blended into transportation fuel. The mandate is to be accomplished with an assortment of advanced biofuels, including cellulosic biofuels--fuels produced from cellulosic materials including grasses, trees, and agricultural and municipal wastes--which will ramp up over time to comprise some 44% of the RFS in 2022."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bracmort, Kelsi

  2012-01-11
• Wildfire Protection in the Wildland-Urban Interface [January 23, 2012]

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  "Congressional interest in funding to protect against wildfire threats has focused on communities in and near forests, an area known as the wildland-urban interface (WUI). The WUI is expanding in size and population, leading to increased concern for life and property that could potentially be damaged by wildfires. Approximately 9% of all land in the lower 48 states is classified as WUI. A significant concentration lies along the East Coast, although western states have the highest proportions of homes in the WUI. Federal funding for wildfire protection has increased significantly over the last decade. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) receive the bulk of funding to prevent and suppress wildfires. Nearly half of the USFS budget in 2010 was allocated for wildfire funding. A portion of this funding is spent on WUI efforts."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Gorte, Ross W.; Bracmort, Kelsi

  2012-01-23
• The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): Waiver Authority and Modification of Volumes [January 26, 2017]

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  "The Clean Air Act requires that transportation fuels contain a minimum amount of renewable fuel. This renewable fuel standard (RFS) was established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The RFS includes scheduled volume mandates that grow each year (starting with 9 billion gallons in 2008 and ascending to 36 billion gallons in 2022), with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determining the annual volume amounts following 2022. Within the overall RFS, there are sub-mandates for advanced biofuels, including cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, and other advanced biofuels. EPA, which is responsible for administering the RFS, has the authority to waive the RFS requirements, in whole or in part, if certain conditions outlined in statute prevail. More specifically, the statute identifies a general waiver for the overall RFS and waivers for two types of advanced biofuel: cellulosic biofuel and biomass-based diesel. [...] The potential for full or partial RFS waivers can contribute to uncertainty for policymakers, industry, financiers, and other interested parties. [...] This report discusses the process and criteria that EPA may use to waive various portions of the RFS and the reset section and briefly analyzes the potential impacts."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bracmort, Kelsi

  2017-01-26
• Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): Waiver Authority and Modification of Volumes [August 1, 2017]

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  "The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requires that the nation's transportation fuel supply contain renewable biofuels. This mandate--established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct; P.L. 109-58) and expanded in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA; P.L. 110140)--requires the use of renewable fuel, but it does not explicitly require the production of that fuel. Obligated parties, such as refiners or importers of gasoline or diesel fuel, are responsible for complying with the RFS requirements. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers the mandate, which is an amendment of the Clean Air Act, under its authority to regulate fuels. The statutory renewable fuel volume amounts increase annually until 2022, with EPA determining the volume amounts after 2022 within certain limitations. In general, EPA has the authority to waive the RFS requirements, in whole or in part, if certain conditions outlined in statute prevail."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bracmort, Kelsi

  2017-08-01
• Tax Incentives for Charitable Giving in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1) [November 17, 2017]

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  "Provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1) would decrease the tax incentive for charitable giving. Under current law, taxpayers itemizing deductions can deduct contributions made to charitable organizations. Generally, the deduction is limited to 50% of adjusted gross income (AGI), although there are lower AGI limits for certain types of non-cash gifts and for gifts to certain types of recipient organizations. H.R. 1 would decrease the tax incentive for charitable giving by substantially reducing the number of taxpayers itemizing deductions. Specifically, the standard deduction would be nearly doubled, causing fewer taxpayers to itemize. Additionally, most other itemized deductions would be repealed, pushing more taxpayers under the standard deduction threshold. Currently, about 29% of taxpayers itemize deductions. Under the proposal, an estimated 6% of taxpayers would itemize in 2018. Only taxpayers that itemize deductions have a tax incentive to give. Lower effective marginal tax rates under H.R. 1 would also tend to reduce the tax incentive to give."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sherlock, Molly F.

  2017-11-17
• Expired Tax Provisions and 'Tax Extenders' [January 16, 2018]

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  "A number of temporary tax provisions expired at the end of 2016. Although some temporary or expired provisions were addressed in the 2017 tax revision (P.L. 115-97), most of the provisions that expired in 2016 have not been extended beyond their 2016 expiration date. Some have suggested that a tax extenders bill enacted early in 2018 could retroactively extend expired tax provisions. Alternatively, another policy option is to allow expired tax provisions to remain expired."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sherlock, Molly F.

  2018-01-16
• Revenue Baseline for Tax Reform [April 14, 2017]

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  "Tax reform remains an issue of interest in the 115th Congress. An open policy question is whether any proposed tax reform might increase the projected budget deficit, reduce the deficit, or leave the deficit unchanged (i.e., be revenue neutral). To inform this debate, this Insight provides information on the current revenue baseline as calculated by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). This Insight also discusses how the enactment of changes in tax policy can potentially change the baseline, and implications of these changes for subsequent legislation, such as tax reform. This Insight does not discuss the implications of certain baseline levels on the enforcement of budget rules or on the use of the budget reconciliation process for tax reform."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sherlock, Molly F.; Driessen, Grant A.

  2017-04-14
• Energy Tax Provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1) [November 08, 2017]

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  "The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1) proposes a number of changes to energy-related tax provisions. These changes are summarized in Table 1. H.R. 1 includes a broad restructuring of the federal income tax system."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sherlock, Molly F.; Hughes, Joseph S.

  2017-11-08
• Taxpayers with Zero Income Tax Liability: Trends Over Time and Across Income Levels [March 10, 2017]

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  "An estimated 44% of U.S. households will pay no federal income tax in 2016. Some individuals or households do not pay federal income taxes because their income was below the filing threshold. Other individuals or households filing federal income tax returns pay no federal income tax due to either structural features or special provisions in the tax code. A 2011 analysis found that of nontaxable 'tax units,' about half were made nontaxable by tax expenditures (special provisions in the tax code such as credits and deductions). The other half were made nontaxable by structural features of the income tax system, namely the standard deduction and personal exemptions. Many tax units with no federal income tax liability have positive payroll tax liability. In 2016, an estimated 27% of tax units have zero or negative federal tax liability, when both income and payroll taxes are considered. For these tax units, it is possible that refunds from the income tax system offset or more than offset positive payroll tax liability. The proportion of tax units with no income or payroll tax liability in 2016 is estimated at 18%."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sherlock, Molly F.

  2017-03-10
• Distribution of the Tax Policy Changes in H.R. 1 and the Senate's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act [November 21, 2017]

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  "Distributional analysis can be used to illustrate how changes in tax policy would affect the economic well-being of taxpayers. The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) regularly prepares distributional analyses of major tax proposals. On November 14, 2017, the JCT released a distributional analysis of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1). H.R. 1 passed a vote in the House on November 16, 2017. The JCT has also released a distributional analysis of the Senate's version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sherlock, Molly F.

  2017-11-21