Although paid for with taxpayer money, the excellent explainers produced by the Congressional Research Service are not released to the public. Thanks to the Federation of American Scientists' Project on Government Secrecy, however, we can share some recent CRS reports of interest to environmental journalists.

• "U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emission Trends and the Role of the Clean Power Plan," [2] Congressional Research Service (R44451), April 11, 2016, by Jonathan L. Ramseur.
• "U.S. Sugar Program Fundamentals," [3] Congressional Research Service (R43998), April 6, 2016, by Mark A. McMinimy.
• "U.S. Crude Oil Exports to International Destinations," [4] Congressional Research Service (IN10472), April 6, 2016, by Phillip Brown.
• "Agricultural Disaster Assistance," [5] Congressional Research Service (RS21212), April 6, 2016, by Megan Stubbs.
• "Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress," [6] Congressional Research Service (RL34391), April 4, 2016, by Ronald O'Rourke.
• "Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): History and Overview," [7] Congressional Research Service (R43935), March 28, 2016, by Dana A. Shea and John F. Sargent Jr.
• "Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas and Crude Oil: Federal and State Regulatory Authority," [8] Congressional Research Service (R44432), March 28, 2016, by Brandon J. Murrill.
• "Congressional Efforts to Amend Title I of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)," [9] Congressional Research Service (IN10430), March 30, 2016, by Jerry H. Yen.
• "The Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Leak: State and Federal Response and Oversight," [10] Congressional Research Service (IN10461), March 9, 2016, by Richard K. Lattanzio and Paul W. Parfomak.