Congress continues to debate NASA's program to build a permanently occupied space station in Earth orbit where astronauts live and conduct research. NASA expects that research performed in the near-zero gravity environment of the space station will result in new discoveries in life sciences, biomedicine, and materials sciences. The program is currently called the International Space Station (ISS); the facility itself does not have a name although individual modules do.

This report provides a brief background analysis and recent developments regarding China’s Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles. The report includes topics such as: Recent Proliferation Transfers, chemical, nuclear, and missile technology sales to Iran, Pakistan, Libya, Syria, trade controls, nonproliferation and arms control.

Seeking to encourage a transition to democracy and free-market economics in the states of the former Soviet Union (FSU), the United States, since December 1991, has offered roughly $7.3 billion in grants for economic and technical assistance to the region. Most of the grant assistance has been provided throughthe AgencyforInternationalDevelopment (USAID). In addition, $4.3 billion has been provided in food aid through the Department of Agriculture, and $2.3 billion by the Department of Defense for nonproliferation purposes. The United States has also subsidized guarantees for more than $12 billion in credits from the Export-Import Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the Department of Agriculture.

None