Category «Congress»

Policy Center: New Recommendations to Streamline U.S. Financial Regulatory Structure

“The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) today published a new report through its Regulatory Architecture Task Force with recommendations to make better sense of the fragmented U.S. financial regulatory system. The report is authored by the task force’s co-chairs Richard H. Neiman, former New York State Superintendent of Banks and member of the congressional Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) oversight panel; and Mark Olson, former …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents, Legislation

Big Step for Public Access to Legislation

Via Daniel Schuman at CREW – “Earlier today, the House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee made a major move towards improving public access to legislative information. In layman’s terms, the committee said that by the beginning of the next Congress information about the disposition of bills—where they are in the legislative process and who authored or …

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Internet, Legal Research, Legislation, Libraries

CRS – Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress. Ronald O’Rourke, Specialist in Naval Affairs. February 27, 2014. “The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region’s future. The United States, by virtue ofAlaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial interests …

Subjects: Climate Change, Congress, Economy, Environmental Law, Government Documents

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): A Legal Analysis

CRS – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): A Legal Analysis “In the wake of the worst U.S. financial crisis since the Great Depression, Congress passed and the President signed into law sweeping reforms of the financial services regulatory system through the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act), P.L. 111- 203. …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Education, Financial System, Government Documents, Legislation

The Volcker Rule: A Legal Analysis

CRS – The Volcker Rule: A Legal Analysis, David H. Carpenter, Legislative Attorney; M. Maureen Murphy, Legislative Attorney. March 27, 2014. “On December 10, 2013, more than two years after the statutorily mandated deadline, five federal financial regulators published final regulations (hereinafter, the regulations) implementing  Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (hereinafter, Section 619 or the statute). Together these …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

Supreme Court’s 5-4 Ruling on Campaign Finance

McCutcheon v FEC. Apppeal from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, No. 12-536. Argued October 8, 2013 – Decided April 2, 2014. “The Government has a strong interest, no less critical to our democratic system, in combatting corruption and its appearance. We have, however, held that this interest must be limited to a …

Subjects: Congress, Courts, Government Documents, Legal Research

Federal Employees’ Retirement System: Budget and Trust Fund Issues

Federal Employees’ Retirement System: Budget and Trust Fund Issues, Katelin P. Isaacs, Analyst in Income Security, March 24, 2014 “Most of the civilian federal workforce is covered by one of two retirement systems: (1) the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) for individuals hired before 1984 or (2) the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS) for individuals hired in 1984 or …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents

Senate Staff Report Details Target’s Missed Opportunities to Stop Massive Data Breach

“Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV released a staff report titled, “A ‘Kill Chain’ Analysis of the 2013 Target Data Breach.” The report details how Target possibly failed to take advantage of several opportunities to prevent the massive data breach in 2013 when cyber criminals stole the financial and personal information of as many as …

Subjects: Congress, Cybercrime, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation, Privacy

Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy Steven

CRS – Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy, Steven Woehrel, Specialist in European Affairs. March 24, 2014 “Ukraine, comparable in size and population to France, is a large, important, European state. The fact that it occupies the sensitive position between Russia and NATO member states Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania adds to its geostrategic significance. Many Russian politicians, as well as ordinary …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Government Documents

Legislative Research for Congressional Staff: How to Find Documents and Other Resources

CRS – Legislative Research for Congressional Staff: How to Find Documents and Other Resources. Ada S. Cornell, Information Research Specialist; Laura A. Hanson, Information Research Specialist; Michael Greene, Information Research Specialist. March 25, 2014. “During the legislative process, many documents are prepared by Congress and its committees. Governmental and non-governmental entities track and record congressional activities, and many more entities chronicle and analyze the development …

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Government Documents, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Libraries