The heightened commodity price volatility of 2008 and the subsequent acceleration in U.S. food price inflation raised concerns and generated many questions about farm and food price movements by Members of Congress and their constituents. This report responds to those concerns by addressing the nature and measurement of retail food price inflation.

A report that describes the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) biodiversity conservation and forestry programs for fiscal year 2008.

This report describes investigations into predation by piscivorous colonial waterbirds on juvenile salmonids (Oncorhynchus spp.) from throughout the Columbia River basin during 2008. East Sand Island in the Columbia River estuary again supported the largest known breeding colony of Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia) in the world (approximately 10,700 breeding pairs) and the largest breeding colony of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) in western North America (approximately 10,950 breeding pairs). The Caspian tern colony increased from 2007, but not significantly so, while the double-crested cormorant colony experienced a significant decline (20%) from 2007. Average cormorant nesting success in 2008, however, was down only slightly from 2007, suggesting that food supply during the 2008 nesting season was not the principal cause of the decline in cormorant colony size. Total consumption of juvenile salmonids by East Sand Island Caspian terns in 2008 was approximately 6.7 million smolts (95% c.i. = 5.8-7.5 million). Caspian terns nesting on East Sand Island continued to rely primarily on marine forage fishes as a food supply. Based on smolt PIT tag recoveries on the East Sand Island Caspian tern colony, predation rates were highest on steelhead in 2008; minimum predation rates on steelhead smolts detected passing Bonneville Dam averaged …

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Established in 1964, Job Corps is the nation's largest residential, educational, and career training program for economically disadvantaged youths. Administered by the Department of Labor (Labor), Job Corps received about $1.6 billion in program year 2007 and served about 60,000 students. Some have expressed concern that Job Corps centers are not meeting planned enrollment goals, particularly for women. To address these concerns, GAO reviewed the (1) extent to which Job Corps centers are operating at or near capacity for residential students; (2) major factors that affect the recruitment and retention of residential students, particularly females; and (3) steps, if any, Labor has taken to address the recruitment and retention of residential students. To address these objectives, GAO analyzed Labor's enrollment data, surveyed Job Corps recruiters and center directors, and visited seven Job Corps centers."

None

This report contains the political conditions and U.S. policy with Venezuela.

None

This report provides a brief overview of selected legal issues including emergency measures, civil rights, liability issues, and employment issues.

This report provides a brief overview of selected legal issues including emergency measures, civil rights, liability issues, and employment issues.

Financial report for the University of North Texas System (including the UNT Denton, Texas campus and the UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas) contains information about revenues and expenditures for the organization during the 2008-2009 fiscal year. It includes general statements, schedules of accounts broken down by category, and other supplementary notes.

This report discusses health care reform, which was at the top of the domestic policy agenda for the 111th Congress, driven by concerns about the growing ranks of the uninsured and the unsustainable growth in spending on health care and health insurance.

None

This report provides a brief overview of selected legal issues regarding the H1N1 influenza, including emergency measures, civil rights, liability issues, and employment issues.

This report provides a brief overview of selected legal issues regarding the H1N1 influenza, including emergency measures, civil rights, liability issues, and employment issues.

This report provides an in depth look at political and economic conditions in Venezuela and examines their impact on U.S. policy.

None

This report tracks developments in U.S. policy toward Cuba and legislative initiatives in the 111th Congress.

This report provides background on events leading up to Zimbabwe's event in March and June 2008.

None

None

The report discusses the budget reconciliation process that operates as an adjunct to the budget resolution process. The chief purpose of the reconciliation process is to enhance congress's ability to change current law in order to bring revenue, spending, and debt-limit levels in conformity with the policies expresses in the budget resolution.

This report discusses the current political and economic state of Haiti, as well as the U.S.-Haiti relationship.

This report provides information about the Background and U.S. Relations of Costa Rica. Costa Rica has established a diverse economy with a strong export sector.

This report provides information about the Background and U.S. Relations of Costa Rica. Costa Rica has established a diverse economy with a strong export sector.