"Covered Bonds: Issues in the 111th Congress," by E. V. Murphy

This useful fourteen-page report from the Congressional Research Service was written by Edward V. Murphy, a specialist in financial economics.  Here is the table of contents:

Definitions

Policy Issues

"Skin in the Game" and Underwriting

Transparency and Investor Confidence

Capital Requirements and Lending Volume

Maturity Mismatch

Failing Depositories and the Deposit Insurance Fund

Agency Actions on Covered Bonds

Treasury Proposals and Best Practices

FDIC Financial Institution Letters

Legislation in the 111th Congress

H.R. 2896: Equal Treatment for Covered Bonds Act of 2009

H.R. 4884: United States Covered Bond Act of 2010

Performance in Europe During the Financial Crisis

The report, dated July 15, 2010, does not include coverage of a revised version of the United States Covered Bond Act of 2010 — H.R. 5823 — introduced in Congress on July 22.

To download a PDF of  "Covered Bonds: Issues in the 111^th Congress," click on "20100715 CRS Report" under "Attachment," below.