The Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, also known as Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, subjects agriculture to the same budget reductions as other non-exempt programs ordered. However, due to the unique nature of the agriculture budget, special provisions were included on how to achieve those cuts in farm spending. This report discusses this new law with regard to agriculture programs. An updated version of this report will be issued when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announces how it will implement the across-the-board reductions.,Geoffrey S. Becker, Analyst, Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division,CRS 86-547 ENR,"February 5, 1986.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3

This paper describes satellite survivability measures in general. It then provides separate write-ups on each generic type of U.S. military satellite system, including national security. Each write-up states the current situation, with regard to satellites in orbit, and future plans, emphasizing survivability measures.,Arthur F. Manfredit, Jr., Specialist in Aerospace Policy, Science Policy Research Division.,CRS 86-581 SPR,"February 26, 1986.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3

Federal housing policy for rural areas is now at a crossroads. Since 1949 more than two million rural families have received benefits through housing programs of the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) and about 700,000 through the deep-subsidy programs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Early in 1985 the Reagan Administration proposed that additional aid under these programs be suspended for two years, after which all subsidized housing in rural areas would be provided by HUD. While Congress has not yet concurred in these proposed changes, deep cutbacks in proggram levels are expected in the process of reducing the Federal budget deficit. nnIn this transition period, legislators and community groups are going back to the drawing board and asking basic questions about rural housing needs and programs. The questions include the following: (1) What kinds of housing difficulties face low and moderate income families in rural areas? (2) Is there a chronic credit gap for housing in rural areas? (3) What is the connection between the problems of the farm economy and housing problems in rural areas? (4) Are the Federal and State programs now in place able to deal effectively with these problems? (5) Are additional or alternative measures--private as well as public--called for?,Morton J. Schussheim, Senior Specialist in Housing.,CRS 86-517 S,"January 17, 1986.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3

This report briefly describes the limits placed by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 on the deductibility of interest by individuals. It includes the categories of business interest, consumer interest, home mortgage interest, investment interest, interest on activities subject to the passive loss limits, and interest on rental real estate in which the taxpayer actively participates.,Abstract -- Business Interest -- Consumer Interest. Phase-Out Timetable ; Interest on Borrowing Associated with Life Insurance Policies -- Home Mortgage Interest. Ministers and Military Personnel -- Investment Interest -- Interest on Activities Subject to the Passive Loss Rules -- Interest on Rental Real Estate Activities in Which the Taxpayer Actively Participates -- Related CRS Reports.,Nonna A. Noto, Specialist in Public Finance, Economics Division.,CRS 86-556 E,"December 9, 1986.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3

Rita Ann Reimer, Legislative Attorney, American Law Division.,CRS 85-552A,"January 22, 1985.",SuDoc# 14. 18/3

Daniel Hill Zafren, Specialist in American Public Law, American Law Division,CRS 86-748 A,"June 30, 1986.",SuDoc# Lc 14. 18/3

This report presents the most recent available statistical data on the United States' trade with Nicaragua and Nicaragua's overall foreign trade. It contains a survey of trade sanctions imposed by the United States against Nicaragua, and a listing of articles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade that are most relevant to the imposition of trade sanctions.,Vladimir N. Pregelj, Specialist in International Trade Finances, Economics Division,CRS 86-754 E,"July 8, 1986.",SuDoc# LC 14. 18/3

This report discusses compensation for high-level Federal officials including the Vice President, Cabinet and sub-cabinet officers, agency heads, Members of Congress, and the Federal judiciary. It sets forth arguments for and against the substantial increases recommended by the special 1986 Commission on Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries as well as the President's pay recommendations submitted in his FY88 Budget Message (see Appendix for these) and presents factors that enter into determining an appropriate and adequate pay for these officers of the Government.,Abstract -- Summary -- Introduction -- What Should the Nation's Hightest Public Officials Be Paid?. Current Pay Status ; Why Some Favor An Increase ; Why Others Oppose a Pay Raise -- Factors Which Complicate Efforts to Set Pay Levels. Linkage of Salaries of Top Officials to Congressional Pay Levels ; Compression ; Political Considerations Affecting Federal Officials Pay-Setting ; Problems Inherent in Comparing Federal and Private Pay Standards -- Commission on Exectutive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries -- What the Fiscal 1985 Commission Found. The Approach and Findings of the 1985 Commission ; Changes Proposed by the 1985 Commission -- Outlook for Federal Exectutive Pay in 1987 -- Appendix: Pay Recommendations of the 1986 Commission on Exectutive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries.,James P. McGrath, Analyst in American National Government, Government Division.,CRS 86-1021 GOV,"December 30, 1986.","Updated January 9, 1987.",SuDoc# LC 14. 18/3

Between 1979 and 1983, the propotion of children aged 5-17 in the United States who were in poverty families rose from 15.3 percent to 21.3 percent, falling to 20.3 percent in 1984. This report examines the possible implications of this trend for the Federal program of compensatory education for educationally disadvantaged children under chapter 1, Education Consolidation and Improvement Act. Specific topics discussed include the correlation of poverty and educational disadvantage, the specific effects of poverty concentration and duration on educational achievement, and a comparison of trends in chapter 1 participation with those in the number of poverty children.,Abstract -- Introduction -- Relationships Between Child Poverty and Chapter 1, Education Consolidation and Improvement Act -- Correlation of Poverty with Educational Disadvantage. General Consolidations ; Summary of Research Findings ; Findings of Individual Major Reports ; Sustaining Effects Study, Final Report and Technical Report Number 20 (1983 and 1982, respectively) ; National Institute of Education Compensatory Education Study (1977) ; Synthesis of Correlation Studies by Karl White (1982) ; Analyses of the Relationship Between Poverty Concentration and Educational Disadvantage ; Relationship Between the Duration of Poverty and Educational Disadvantage -- Possible Implications of Recent Child Poverty Trends for Chapter 1 Programs,Wayne C. Riddle, Specialist in Education, Education and Public Welfare Division,CRS 86-773 EPW,"July 10, 1986.",SuDoc# LC 14. 18/3

Vincent E. Treacy, Legislative Attorney, American Law Division,CRS 86-843 A,"August 11, 1986.",SuDoc# LC 14. 18/3