New Congressional Research Service Reports for Environmental Journos

Congress, you may remember, has exempted itself from the requirements for open government — and that included a ban on publishing taxpayer-funded explainers by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Thanks to the Federation of American Scientists' Project on Government Secrecy, you can read them anyway. Here are some new ones that may be of interest to environmental journalists.

• "U.S. Trade with Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Partners," Congressional Research Service (R44044), May 21, 2015, by James K. Jackson.
• "Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): Frequently Asked Questions," Congressional Research Service (R43491), June 12, 2015, by Ian F. Fergusson and Richard S. Beth.
• "Earmark Disclosure Rules in the House: Member and Committee Requirements," Congressional Research Service (RS22866), May 21, 2015, by Megan S. Lynch.
• "Earmark Disclosure Rules in the Senate: Member and Committee Requirements," Congressional Research Service (RS22867), May 21, 2015, by Megan S. Lynch.
• "Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations for Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Stewardship," Congressional Research Service (R43948), June 5, 2015, by Jonathan E. Medalia.
• "Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress," Congressional Research Service (RL34391), June 2, 2015, by Ronald O'Rourke.
• "Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress," Congressional Research Service (R42784), June 1, 2015, by Ronald O'Rourke.
• "U.S. Trade Deficit and the Impact of Changing Oil Prices," Congressional Research Service (RS22204), June 1, 2015, by James K. Jackson.
• "U.S.-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement," Congressional Research Service (RL33192), June 4, 2015, by Mark Holt, Mary Beth D. Nikitin, and Paul K. Kerr.