Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Selected Issues for Congress (open access)

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Selected Issues for Congress

This report provides an overview of selected issues related to the Deepwater Horizon incident and is not intended to be comprehensive.
Date: July 31, 2010
Creator: Hagerty, Curry L. & Ramseur, Jonathan L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Appropriations: CRS Experts (open access)

Appropriations: CRS Experts

None
Date: July 31, 2012
Creator: Lake, Jennifer E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress

This report covers potential oversight issues for Congress in regard to China's military modernization effort. The following topics are discussed: whether the U.S. Navy in coming years will be large enough to adequately counter improved Chinese maritime anti-access forces while also adequately performing other missions of interest to U.S. policymakers around the world; the Navy's ability to counter Chinese ASBMs and submarines; and whether the Navy, in response to China's maritime anti-access capabilities, should shift over time to a more distributed fleet architecture.
Date: July 31, 2012
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress

This report looks at the cost to fund the Coast Guard's program of record's (POR) call for procuring eight National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and 58 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) as replacements for 90 aging Coast Guard cutters and patrol craft. It also addresses issues for maintenance, future acquisition, and definitions of the types of cutters.
Date: July 31, 2012
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
District of Columbia: A Brief Review of Provisions in District of Columbia Appropriations Acts Restricting the Funding of Abortion Services (open access)

District of Columbia: A Brief Review of Provisions in District of Columbia Appropriations Acts Restricting the Funding of Abortion Services

This report provides A Brief Review of Provisions in District of Columbia Appropriations Acts Restricting the Funding of Abortion Services in the District of Columbia.
Date: July 31, 2012
Creator: Boyd, Eugene
System: The UNT Digital Library
Drought in the United States: Causes and Issues for Congress (open access)

Drought in the United States: Causes and Issues for Congress

This report provides information about the Causes and Issues for Congress on Drought in the United States. Drought has extended across two-thirds of the United States and had adversely affected agricultural producers.
Date: July 31, 2012
Creator: Folger, Peter; Cody, Betsy A. & Carter, Nicole T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Organization of American States: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Organization of American States: Background and Issues for Congress

This report covers the background of the Organization of American States (OAS). It discusses the importance of U.S. participation in this organization in order to exert authority and shape outcomes in the Western Hemisphere.
Date: July 31, 2012
Creator: Meyer, Peter J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses (open access)

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

This report discusses the reasons that Iran is considered a threat to U.S. security, including Iran's nuclear program, involvement with terrorist organizations, and involvement with neighboring countries' local governments. The report also discusses ways which the U.S. hopes to modify Iran's behavior with sanctions, and the effectiveness of these sanctions.
Date: July 31, 2013
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses (open access)

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

This CRS Report for Congress contains descriptions of U.S. policy response, legislation, and sanctions pertaining to Iran. Updated July 31, 2013.
Date: July 31, 2013
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iran's Nuclear Program: Tehran's Compliance with International Obligations (open access)

Iran's Nuclear Program: Tehran's Compliance with International Obligations

This report provides a brief overview of Iran's nuclear program and describes the legal basis for the actions taken by the IAEA board and the Security Council. It will be updated as events warrant.
Date: July 31, 2013
Creator: Kerr, Paul K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Regulation of Fertilizers: Ammonium Nitrate and Anhydrous Ammonia (open access)

Regulation of Fertilizers: Ammonium Nitrate and Anhydrous Ammonia

This report will focus on some of the federal regulatory programs overseeing storage of ammonium nitrate and anhydrous ammonia by retailers. The report will not address federal regulation of material in transport. It will discuss federal occupational safety, environmental, and security statutes and regulations applicable to each chemical. Select policy issues regarding these federal regulatory programs will be highlighted. It does not address various law enforcement activities related to tracking of anhydrous ammonia used for illegal drug synthesis (e.g., methamphetamine).
Date: July 31, 2013
Creator: Shea, Dana A.; Schierow, Linda-Jo & Szymendera, Scott D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy

This report discusses the current state of Bahrain, which has undergone substantial political reforms since the late 1990s, but which still suffers from tension between the Shiite majority and the Sunni-led government. This report focuses particularly on Bahrain's relationship with the United States.
Date: July 31, 2014
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cuba: U.S. Policy and Issues for the 113th Congress (open access)

Cuba: U.S. Policy and Issues for the 113th Congress

This report discusses the current political conditions of Cuba as well as its relationship with the United States. In particular, the report focuses on U.S. policy regarding Cuba including various economic sanctions, human rights issues, and foreign aid appropriations.
Date: July 31, 2014
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The European Union: Questions and Answers (open access)

The European Union: Questions and Answers

This report provides a brief overview of the European Union (EU), an economic and political partnership between 27 sovereign member states. The report describes the formation of the EU, the three main institutions of the EU, and the EU's relationship with the United States.
Date: July 31, 2014
Creator: Archick, Kristin
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Help America Vote Act and Election Administration: Overview and Issues (open access)

The Help America Vote Act and Election Administration: Overview and Issues

This report discusses the Help America Vote Act (HAVA; P.L. 107-252) enacted in 2002. It provides background information about HAVA and its provisions, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), funding for the agency and for state programs to improve elections, and a number of enduring election administration issues.
Date: July 31, 2014
Creator: Coleman, Kevin J. & Fischer, Eric A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
NATO: Response to the Crisis in Ukraine and Security Concerns in Central and Eastern Europe (open access)

NATO: Response to the Crisis in Ukraine and Security Concerns in Central and Eastern Europe

This report addresses the NATO and U.S. military response to the crisis in Ukraine. It does not discuss political, economic, or energy policy responses.
Date: July 31, 2014
Creator: Belkin, Paul; Mix, Derek E. & Woehrel, Steven
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) program, which is carried out by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Navy, and gives Navy Aegis cruisers and destroyers a capability for conducting BMD operations.
Date: July 31, 2014
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress

This report presents background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Navy's Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) and Zumwalt (DDG-1000) class destroyer programs. The Navy's proposed FY2015 budget requests funding for the procurement of two DDG-51s. Decisions that Congress makes concerning these programs could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: July 31, 2014
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) class aircraft carrier program. Congress's decisions on the CVN-78 program could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: July 31, 2014
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Ohio Replacement (SSBN[X]) Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Ohio Replacement (SSBN[X]) Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report focuses on the Ohio replacement program as a Navy shipbuilding program. This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Ohio replacement program (ORP), a program to design and build a new class of 12 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to replace the Navy's current force of 14 Ohio-class SSBNs.
Date: July 31, 2014
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Shipboard Lasers for Surface, Air, and Missile Defense: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Shipboard Lasers for Surface, Air, and Missile Defense: Background and Issues for Congress

This report focuses on potential Navy shipboard lasers for countering surface, air, and ballistic missile threats. It does not discuss the use of lasers on Navy aircraft or submarines, or the use of lasers by other military services.
Date: July 31, 2014
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) program. The Navy's proposed FY2015 budget requests $5,883.6 million in procurement, advance procurement (AP), and Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) funding for the program. Decisions that Congress makes on procurement of Virginia-class boats could substantially affect U.S. Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: July 31, 2014
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Party Leaders in the United States Congress, 1789-2014 (open access)

Party Leaders in the United States Congress, 1789-2014

This report briefly describes current responsibilities and selection mechanisms for 15 House and Senate party leadership posts and provides tables with historical data, including service dates, party affiliation, and other information for each.
Date: July 31, 2014
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie
System: The UNT Digital Library
Social Security: The Trust Fund (open access)

Social Security: The Trust Fund

This report covers how the Social Security program is financed and how the Social Security trust fund works.
Date: July 31, 2014
Creator: Nuschler, Dawn & Sidor, Gary
System: The UNT Digital Library