Climate Change : EU and Proposed U.S. Approaches to Carbon Leakage and WTO Implications

Congressional Research Service assets.opencrs.com/rpts/R40914_20091104.pdf [Summary] Both the United States and the European Union (EU) have proposed policies to mitigate the potential economic and environmental (i.e., “carbon leakage”) impacts of carbon policies on energy- or greenhouse gas- intensive, trade-exposed industries. While studies have found little effect of carbon policies on EU competitiveness in the present, the … Continue reading »

The Role of Federal Gasoline Excise Taxes in Public Policy

Congressional Research Service http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/R40808_20090911.pdf [From summary] American drivers, compared to those in other industrial- ized nations in Europe, pay relatively low federal, state, and local gasoline and diesel excise taxes. The Federal taxes are used specifically to fund annual highway construction, maintenance, and mass transit. Over the years, proposals have come forth to raise the … Continue reading »

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) : Selected Regulatory and Legislative Issues

Congressional Research Service http://opencrs.com/document/RL34201/ [Summary] Much progress has been made in assuring the quality of public water supplies since the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was first enacted in 1974. Public water systems must meet extensive regulations, and water utility management has become a much more complex and professional endeavor. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) … Continue reading »

Earthquakes : Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research

Congressional Research Service http://opencrs.com/document/RL33861/ [Summary] …An ongoing issue for Congress is whether the federally supported programs aimed at reducing U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes are an adequate response to the earthquake hazard. Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the … Continue reading »

Agricultural Disaster Assistance

Congressional Research Service http://opencrs.com/document/RS21212/ [Summary] The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers several permanently authorized programs to help farmers recover financially from a natural disaster, including federal crop insurance, the noninsured assistance program and emergency disaster loans. Since 1988, Congress regularly has made supplemental financial assistance available to farmers and ranchers on an ad-hoc basis, … Continue reading »