This Overview focuses on budget issues including reaction to the proposed FY 1988 budget -- the first trillion dollar budget, deficit reduction, and the domestic spending-military spending trade-off. The Overview is divided into three sections. The first contains two newspaper articles on the proposed FY 1988 budget. The second includes editorials selected from regional and local papers from around the United States; this section is arranged by the name of the newspaper. The third part is a listing of public opinion polls on these issues.

During the 99th Congress, a number of labor issues have received considerable attention. This paper gives a brief description and analysis of these issues as well as other labor and labor-related issues that are likely to receive some attention in the second session of the 99th Congress. This paper is an update of Labor Issues in the 99th Congress: An Update, Report 85-941 E, September 12, 1985.

To assist congressional offices in responding to requests for information about internships, fellowships, and other work experience programs, CRS has prepared this report on congressional internships, other Federal Government internships, and congressional, judicial, and Presidential fellowships. Detailed information on additional programs is outside the report's scope. However, an annotated bibliography lists further sources of information on internships, fellowships, and summer jobs. The publications listed can be used to locate additional work experience opportunities, both inside and outside the Federal Government.,Introduction -- Congressional Internships -- Other Federal Government Internships -- Congressional, Judicial, and Presidential Fellowship Programs -- Bibliography.,Betsy Reifsnyder, Reference Specialist, Congressional Reference Division,CRS 87-237 C,"May 1, 1987.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3

Marsha Cerny, Senior Bibliographer, Education and Public Welfare, Library Services Division.nnCRS 87-175 Lnn"February 1987"nnSuDoc # LC 14. 18/3

This paper compares the provisions of three bills introduced in the 100th Congress: H.R. 4, H.R. 286, and H.R. 558. All of these bills attempt to provide not only support services and emergency shelter for the homeless, but also strive to prevent homelessness through the preservation of the existing housing stock occupied by low-income persons.

The current interest in reform of public elementary and secondary schools has resulted in renewed attention being focused on pre-service and in-service training for elementary and secondary school teachers. This paper reviews past and current Federal programs providing such assistance and summarizes current program options.,K. Forbis Jordan, Senior Specialist in Education, Office of Senior Specialists and Nancy B. Borkow, Research Assistant, Office of Senior Specialists.,CRS 85-644 S,"March 25, 1985.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3

This paper focuses on three select groups of children and youth who appear to be "at risk" for depressed educational attainment - those from single-parent families, those from persistently poor families, and those who give birth during their teenage years. It addresses three basic questions: (1) Are these groups of children and youth at risk of depressed educational attainment? (2) How might these characteristics lead to depressed educational attainment? (3) What implications does the current research have for examining Federal responses to the educational needs of these children and youth?,Abstract -- Introduction -- Analytical Summary -- Public Policy and the Education of "At Risk" Children and Youth -- Educational Attainment -- Children from Single-Parent Families. Summary of Findings ; Statistical Overview ; Educational Attainment and Performance -- Children from Persistently Poor Families ; Summary of Findings ; Statistical Overview ; Educational Attainment and Performance -- Childbearing Teenagers. Summary of Findings ; Statistical Overview ; Educational Attainment and Performance -- Conclusion -- Appendix A: Technical Note.,James B. Stedman, Specialist in Education, Education and Public Welfare Division,CRS 87-290 EPW,"April 1, 1987.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3

This report discusses the major factors which have made, and continue to make, the comparison of risks from different energy sources a difficult task. In particular, it addresses six areas of fundamental difficulty in making such comparisons. These areas include--portion of the fuel cycle included, technologies to be used, level of technology, assumptions of market penetration and siting, allocations between energy and non-energy risks, and comparing dissimilar risks. The report illustrates the magnitude of the problems of risk comparison by demonstrating the range of results obtained from some of the major energy risk assessments. A compilation of recent major energy risk assessments and energy risk comparisons in both the U.S. and other countries is also included.,Abstract -- Introduction -- Analytical Difficulties. What portions of the Fuel Cycle Are/Should Be Incorporated in the Computation of Total Risk? ; What Technologies Are/Should Be Used to Compute the Risk From Each Source? ; What Level of Technology Should Be Used to Compute Risks for Each Energy Source? ; Should the Same Market Penetration, Siting, and Other Factors be Assumed for Each Technology? ; How Should Risks Be Allocated Between Energy and Non-Energy Sectors ; How Does One Compare Apples and Oranges? -- Conclusion -- Appendix I: References.,Gail H. Marcus, specialist in Science and Technology, Science Policy Research Division,CRS 85-730 SPR,"May 2, 1985.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3

This study assesses the effects of three tax reform proposals: the Administration's proposal, the House passed bill (H.R. 3838), and a proposal for a business transfer tax made by Senator William V. Roth on international competitiveness. The results suggest that the effects of these proposals will be relatively small and that international competitiveness is not a major issue in evaluating tax proposals.

The Commission on Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries is activated every four years for the purpose of studying the compensation available to top officials of the U.S. Government. The enabling legislation for this Commission has been substantially amended several times. This report provides a topical history of the Commission. It discusses the responsibilities of the Commission, the President, and the Congress. Membership, funding, and staff support are also discussed. The closing section of the report contains tables showing various Commission's recommendations, those of the President, and the disposition of the Presidential recommendations. The five tables at the end of the report present the following salary rate data: 1) salary in effect when Commission met; 2) Commission salary recommendations; 3) President's salary recommendations; and 4) information on whether the President's recommendations went into effect. [N.B. No summary is provided for this report because it is not conducive to being succinctly or usefully summarized.] For companion CRS reports see: Paul E. Dwyer and Frederick H. Pauls, A Brief History of Congressional Pay, CRS Report No., 86-1022 GOV, November 24, 1986 and, by the same authors, A Brief Report on Congressional Pay, CRS Report 86-1051 GOV, December 29, 1986; CRS Report 86-1004 GOV, Rate of Increase of Selected Public and Private Wages and Public Pensions Compared with Change in Consumer Price Index, 1969-1987, by Frederick H. Pauls, Paul E. Dwyer, Kirk Brown and Roger Walke, November 20, 1986; and, Federal Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Compensation, Report No. 86-1021 GOV, December 30, 1986, by James P. McGrath.

In recent years, spouse abuse has received increased public and congressional attention. Although there are varying estimates on the number of abused spouses, many observers suggest that the problem is widespread. Many States and the Federal Government have responded to the problem by providing some form of assistance to victims. This paper presents a brief discussion of the issues relating to spouse abuse, its incidence, and Federal programs that may provide services to victims.

This paper summarizes the final report of the Study Group on the Conditions of Excellence in American Higher Education. The report was released in October 1984 and represents the first of several studies on higher education quality that are anticipated over the next 18 months. The Study Group consisted of seven members appointed by the Director of the National Institute of Education.,David S. Osman, Specialist in Education, Education and Public Welfare Division,CRS 85-506 EPW,"December 28, 1984.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3

This report delineates in detail the provisions of the Higher Education Amendments of 1986 (P.L. 99-498), the major piece of legislation reauthorizing the Higher Education Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-329, as amended) through FY 1991. Additional titles of Higher Education Amendments of 1986 are discussed that add authorities and amend legislation other than the Higher Education Act.

This report compares the potential economic effects of several tax reform and deficit reduction proposals on the State-local sector, through their treatment of deductibility of State-local taxes from Federal taxable income and the exemption of interest on State-local bonds. The proposals considered are the Treasury, Kemp-Kasten, Bradley-Gephardt, DeConcini, and Quayle tax reform plans, and the floor and ceiling deductibility proposals for deficit reduction. Among the more important conclusions are that these proposals would differ in their potential effects on the State-local sector's own tax revenues and the distribution of the sector's revenue losses across States. Also, the effect on the State-local bond market from the Treasury, Bradley-Gephardt, and Kemp-Kasten proposals would differ from the effect of the DeConcini and Quayle proposals.,Dennis Zimmerman, Specialist in Public Finance, Economics Division,CRS 85-503 E,"January 18, 1985.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3

This illustrative collection of editorials is taken from newspapers monitored by CRS. The sources look at the controversy surrounding the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings amendment to the debt limit increase for the purpose of reducing budget deficits and balancing the budget by 1991. An introductory section contains newspaper articles presenting press coverage on the issue. The articles and editorials are arranged chronologically, with the most recent dates appearing first. [Current Editorial CE79 on budget deficits is also available; it includes editorials on this topic received in Library Services since November 1, 1985.],Felix Chin, Senior Bibliographer, Economics, Library Services Division,CRS 85-1029 L,"October 1985.",SuDoc# LC 14. 18/3

The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-570) established a program of grants to State and local agencies for drug law enforcement. Under that statute, the Bureau of Justice Assistance is authorized, under the State and Local Assistance for Narcotics Control Formula Grant Program, to make grants to States, for use by States and local units of government. These grants are awarded to State and local governments to enforce laws that establish offenses similar to offenses established in the Controlled Substances Act. These funds may be used to support programs which improve the apprehension, prosecution, adjudication, detention, and rehabilitation of drug offenders. Eradication programs, treatment programs, and programs which concentrate on major drug offenders are also eligible for funding.

Protection and guarantees for employees covered by private pension and welfare benefit plans are provided in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). This report summarizes the provisions of ERISA and pertinent provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended through the Single-Employer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1986.

This paper presents the potential implications funding reductions might have for selected programs administered by the Department of Education. Also included is data on program funding levels since FY 1980 adjusted for inflation, the estimated number of recipients, the estimated Federal share of financing the program, and the types of services provided and activities supported by these programs.,Angela M. Evans, Specialist in Education, Education and Public Welfare Division.,CRS 85-521 EPW,"January 14, 1985.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3

Karen J. Lewis, Legislative Attorney, American Law Division,CRS 85-664 A,"March 11, 1985.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3

This report traces the major Medicare amendments which have effected hospitals, physicians, and beneficiaries since 1980. It also reviews the major Medicaid amendments affecting Federal financial participation in the program, coverage of pregnant mothers and children, as well as those amendments designed to give States increased flexibility in administering their programs. Lastly, the report describes the consolidation of Federal health service programs for mothers and children under a new block grant authority.,Janet Kline, Jennifer O'Sullivan, Specialists in Social Legislation and Joseph A. Cislowski, Analyst in Social Legislation, Education and Public Welfare Division,CRS 87-296 EPW,"April 3, 1987.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3