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COPYRIGHT 2005 Information Today, Inc.
Have you ever been asked to research any of the following topics: AIDS, digital TV, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Social Security, budget reconciliations, stem cell research, the PATRIOT Act, gasoline prices, political developments in other countries and how they affect U.S. interests, global climate change, IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts, not the Irish Republican Army), the Clean Air Act, dietary supplements, information technology in public schools, copyright, random drug testing of professional athletes, federal aid to libraries, or religious freedom? Researchers at the Congressional Research Service (CRS), which is part of the Library of Congress, have--and they've written reports on them.
If you're wondering what these topics have in common, it's public policy. The CRS [www.loc.gov/crsinfo/], according to its Web site, "is where Members of Congress turn for the nonpartisan research, analysis, and information they need to make informed decisions on behalf of the American people. CRS employs a highly educated professional staff who are hired, retained, and promoted on the basis of merit and accomplishment."
When confronted by difficult, some might say intractable, public policy questions, Congress has an advantage its own research department and reference librarians in the form of the CRS. The structure of the CRS gives clues about its main research concerns. It is organized into the American Law; Domestic Social Policy; Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade; Government and Finance; Knowledge Services Group; and Resources, Science and Industry interdisciplinary research divisions. Smaller subdivisions, which focus on specific areas of public policy, exist within these divisions.
LOOKING FOR ANSWERS
With that in mind, let's look at some specifics. Here are some provocative questions for which CRS reports have answers.
How much have foreign direct investments in the United States declined since 2000?
"Foreign direct investment in the United States declined sharply after 2000 from a record $300 billion to about $100 billion in 2004" [James K. Jackson, specialist in international trade and finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division, "Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: An Economic Analysis," www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS21857.pdf].
How can I track federal legislation and regulations...
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