The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers several permanently authorized programs to help farmers recover financially from a natural disaster, including federal crop insurance, the non-insured assistance program and emergency disaster loans. In recent years, Congress frequently has made supplemental financial assistance available to farmers and ranchers on an ad-hoc basis, most notably in the form of direct crop disaster payments and emergency livestock assistance. Congress provided an estimated $3.1 billion of such assistance in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-7) for 2001 and 2002 crop and livestock losses. Some farm groups would like to see similar assistance provided for 2003 losses, particularly in regions of the Midwest and West that have experienced prolonged drought conditions. To date, no ad-hoc assistance has been made available for 2003 losses.

This report is prepared annually to provide unclassified quantitative data on conventional arms transfers to developing nations by the United States and foreign countries for the preceding eight calendar years. Some general data are provided on worldwide conventional arms transfers, but the principal focus is the level of arms transfers by major weapons suppliers to nations in the developing world. The data in the report illustrate how global patterns of conventional arms transfers have changed in the post-Cold War and post-Persian Gulf War years.

This report summarizes principal federal disaster assistance programs for possible use by Members of Congress and staff in helping address the needs of constituents. A number of federal agencies provide assistance to victims; to state, territorial, and local governments; and to nongovernmental entities following a disaster. Among other forms of assistance, federal programs can provide grants, loans, loan guarantees, temporary housing, and counseling.

The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act) authorizes the President to issue a major disaster declaration to speed a wide range of federal aid to states determined to be overwhelmed by hurricanes or other catastrophes. Financing for the aid is appropriated to the Disaster Relief Fund(DRF), administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Funds appropriated to the DRF remain available until expended (a “no-year” account). The Stafford Act authorizes temporary housing, grants for immediate needs of families and individuals, the repair of public infrastructure, emergency communications systems, and other forms of assistance.

One reason that Social Security reform is on the congressional agenda is the large projected long-term fiscal shortfall facing Social Security, estimated at an average of 0.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) between now and 2080. But relatively little attention has been given to the potential long-term shortfall faced by the rest of the government, which is estimated to be more than 6.5 times larger than Social Security’s shortfall

Most provisions of the current “farm bill,” the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (FSRIA) of 2002 (P.L. 107-171), do not expire until 2007. Nonetheless, various policy developments have brought farm bill programs into play during the 109th Congress. For example, the FY2006 budget resolution (H.Con.Res. 95) directs the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to find five-year savings of $3 billion from programs under their jurisdiction. Hearings on a 2007 farm bill itself could begin later in 2005. This report will be updated if events warrant; for a more extensive discussion of the issues, see CRS Report RL33037, Previewing a 2007 Farm Bill.

None

This report discusses the background, status, and current issues of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The F-35 JSF, also called the Lighting II, is a new strike fighter being procured in different versions by the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy. The F-35 program is the Department of Defense's (DOD's) largest weapon procurement program in terms of total estimated acquisition cost. This report details the Obama Administration's proposed FY2010 defense budget requests for F-35 program funding and outlines the issues that Congress must consider when deciding whether to approve, reject, or modify the administration's funding requests.

Disregard restriction header and footer -Mr. H.T. Johnson, ASN (I&E) met with approximately 30 members of subject council in Room 4D584 at 0800 on 25 Mar 2004. The list of attendees is contained in enclosure (1). CAPT Walter Yourstone, USN, and Commander Robert. E. Vincent 11, JAGC, USN, IAT Recorder were also present.

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD From Richard A. Snow, BRAC Staff Analyst SAF/FMCE, SUBJECT: COBRA Data Requirement for Enlisted (E-5) Basic Allowance for Housing DISREGARD RESTRICTIONS HEADERS AND FOOTERS:

MEMORANDUM FOR SAF/IEB From Richard A. Snow, GS-14, SAF/IEBB –SAF/FMCE SUBJECT: Certification of Installation Data and Information for BRAC 2005 DISREGARD RESTRICTIONS HEADERS AND FOOTERS:

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD dtd 04/11/05 from Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Gerald F. Pease (SAF/IEB) regarding COBRA - MILCON Estimates. DISREGARD RESTRICTIONS HEADERS AND FOOTERS:

Community Correspondence - Letter from Portland Oregon concerned citizen, Kelly Novak, to the BRAC Commission regarding Portland International Airport Air Guard Station.

Community Correspondence - Letter from Lee Aldridge to the BRAC Commission regarding the Consolidation of Air and Space C4ISR Research, Development and Acquisition, Test and Evaluation to Operations Support Systems Wing at Hanscom AFB Massachusetts.

Community Correspondence - Letter from Frank E. Blasingame, Lt. Col (Ret) to the BRAC Commission regarding Ellsworth AFB.

Disregard restriction header and footer - The Honorable BJ Penn, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Environment), met at 0931 on 11 March 2005 with Mr. Den Knecht and Mr. George L. Freeland, Jr., Jackson County Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (JCEDF), and Mr. Mark L. McAndrews, Director, Port of Pascagoula, regarding the future of NAVSTA Pascagoula, MS. The meeting took place in Room 43523 of the Pentagon. Mr. Frederick Latham; CAPT John Cohoon, USN, Commander Navy Installations; In addition, CDR David Sienicki, USN, OASN (I&E) ; and LCDR>Vincent J. Moore, JAGC, USNR, ODASN (IS&A) were also present.

Disregard Restriction of Header and Footer: Data certification letter for COBRA Inflation Assumptions for BRAC 2005.

Disregard restriction header and footer - Mr. Wayne Amy, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Installations and Environment (ASN (I&E)); BGen Willie J. Williams, USMC, Assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics (Facilities); and Mr. Paul Hubbell, Deputy Assistant Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics (Facilities), HQMC met with members of the Beaufort Military Enhancement Committee, including John Payne (Col, USMC (Ret.)), Chair, Military Enhancement Committee; Samuel Murray, Mayor, Town of Port Royal; Wm. Weston J. Newton, Beaufort County Council; William Rauch, Mayor, City of Beaufort; Robert Semmler (Col, USMC (Ret.)), Vice-Chair, Beaufort Military Enhancement Committee; James Shufelt (BGen, USA (Ret.)), Chair, Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee; and, Laura Solomon, Executive Director, Beaufort Military Enhancement Committee in Room 4D583 at the Pentagon at 1330 on 1 September 2004. Additionally, CAPT James Heffernan, US

Disregard restriction header and footer - The Honorable BJ Penn, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Environment), met at 1032 on 17 March 2005 with Ms. Becky Skillman, Lieutenant Governor of Indiana, concerning possible BRAC action to close or realign Naval Support Activity, Crane, IN, and/or its major tenants, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane (NSWC) and the Crane Army Ammunition Activity (CAAA). The meeting took place in Room 43523 of the Pentagon. Also attending were: Mr. John W. Clark, Senior Advisor-Economic Growth to the Governor of Indiana, Mr. Peter Murphy, and Mr. Jim Lariviere. In addition, CAPT John Cohoon, USN, Commander, Navy Installations Command; CAPT James D. Heffernan, USN, OASN (I&E); and LCDR Vincent J. Moore, JAGC, USNR, ODASN (IS&A) were also present.

Disregard Restriction of Header and Footer: Data certification letter for facility sustainment and plant replacement value.

RADM Christopher E. Weaver, USN, Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNI)/Director,A shore Readiness Division (OPNAV N46) met with Congressman Frank Lucas (R-3-OK) and members of the Enid, OK Vance Development Authority, including Michael G. Cooper, and Enid civic leaders in Room 4D447 at 1030 on 12 April 2005. In addition, CAPT James D. Heffernan, USN, OASN (I&E) ; CDR Marc Hochberg, USN, OLA; and, Capt James A. Noel, USMC, ODASN (Ism) were also present.

Disregard Restriction of Header and Footer: Data certification letter #5 for data used in COBRA.

Disregard restriction header and footer - Mr. Wayne Arny, Acting ASN (I&E) met with 6 members of the subject group in Room 4D583 at 0900 on 14 Sep 2004. The list of attendees is contained in enclosure (1). CDR David Seinicki CEC, USN, and Commander Margaret Carlson, JAGC, USN, of DASN (IS&A) office were also present.

Change to plant replacement value - mathematical equations.