Library of Congress Copyright Office, Salaries and Expenses OVERVIEW The mission of the Congressional Research Service (CRS) is to work exclusively and directly for all Members and Committees of the Congress in support of their legislative and oversight functions. CRS provides high quality research and information services that are authoritative, timely, objective, nonpartisan, and confidential. The Service's expert staff support the Congress' decision making by addressing public policy issues in a multi-disciplinary, integrative manner. CRS also works cooperatively with other congressional support agencies - the Congressional Budget Office and the General Accounting Office - and with other formal entities of the Congress. To carry out its mission, CRS offers a broad range of multi-disciplinary research services directly related to the public policy deliberations of the Congress. These services include confidential, individual policy consultations and memoranda; analytic reports; econometric and computer-simulated modeling; risk assessments; and a secure CRS web site available only to the Congress. CRS experts assist Members and their staff as they address public policy problems by analyzing the extent of the problems, options for addressing the problems, and the consequences of those options. This assistance is provided throughout the legislative process – from the development of legislative proposals; through the design and content of congressional hearings; during Member deliberations in committee, on the floor, and in conference; and as policy is implemented and evaluated. FY 2003 ACCOMPLISHMENTS Library of Congress Goal 12: Carry out the statutory mission of the Congressional Research Service to assist the Congress as it undertakes its legislative responsibilities by providing multidisciplinary, nonpartisan, confidential, timely, and objective analysis of public policy problems and their possible solutions. This goal was achieved through staff and financial resources expended on three focused objectives: Objective 1 - Develop and execute a research agenda based on the current legislative needs of the Congress. Congressional Needs: Congressional needs for significant research and analytical support were sustained throughout the year across an increased number of major policy areas. Many of the policy problems facing the Congress were especially challenging because of the lack of relevant precedents and a sense of urgency and importance for ensuring the well-being of the nation. |