The Congressional Research Service is the department within the Library of Congress that works exclusively as the research and reference arm for the Congress of the United States. The Service is mandated to work for every Member of Congress, every committee, and for their staffs. In addition to providing a great diversity of research and reference services, CRS staff provide close support to Members and committees through analytic reports and consultations, bill analysis, analyses of alternative legislative proposals, assistance in hearings and other phases of the legislative and oversight processes, factual statements, bibliographies, translations, assistance with public opinion polls and surveys, and with identifying and assessing long-range goals and objectives, and analysis of emerging issues and trend data. The Service also sponsors and conducts workshops and seminars on public policy issues for Members and staff. To provide for the most effective use of CRS and other resources available to congressional staff, a program of Legislative Institutes, District Workshops and other briefings has been developed.

CRS is the congressional support agency with the mandate to provide the entire range of analysis, research and information to the entire congressional community. We do this on a non-partisan basis, in virtually every area of public policy and subject interest. CRS also provides substantial support to three sister agencies: the Congressional Budget Office, the General Accounting Office, and the Office of Technology Assessment, and to other specialized groups of Congress. In fiscal 1986, the Service responded to over 433,600 requests from Congress for research and reference assistance.