Concerns over financing federal elections have become a seemingly perennial aspect of our political system, long centered on the enduring issues of high campaign costs and reliance on interest groups for needed campaign funds. This report discusses campaign finance practices, enduring issues and today’s paramount issues. In addition it presents the Legislative Action in the 108th and 109th Congress, as well as the Congressional efforts to close perceived loopholes in Federal Election Law.

On June 24th, 2005, the House Appropriations Committee reported the FY2006 Foreign Operations spending measure. The bill includes $2.695 billion for international AIDS programs, compared with the $2.564 billion requested by the Administration in that bill. The bill provides $400 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, doubling the amount requested by the Administration under Foreign Operations.

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The Bush Administration has pursued several avenues to attempt to contain or end the potential threat posed by Iran, at times pursuing limited engagement, and at other times leaning toward pursuing efforts to change Iran’s regime. Some experts believe a potential crisis is looming over Iran’s nuclear program because the Bush The administration is skeptical that efforts by several European allies to prevent a nuclear breakout by Iran will succeed, although the Administration announced steps in March 2005 to support those talks. U.S. concerns have been heightened by the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, an admitted hardliner, in Iran’s presidential election on June 24, 2005.

This report describes the FY2006 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The report includes tables that compare the FY2005 appropriations for the programs and activities of DHS, and the President’s FY2006 request.

The upcoming 2005 round of military base closings has stimulated interest among potentially affected communities in how the bases to be selected for closure might be economically redeveloped to replace lost jobs. Environmental contamination can present a challenge to economic redevelopment if funding or technological constraints would limit the cleanup of the land to a degree that would be safe for its intended use. Most of the lands on bases closed under the previous four rounds have been cleaned up for their intended reuse, and have been transferred for redevelopment. However, some bases have yet to be cleaned up to an extent that would be adequate for the planned land use, presenting an obstacle to replacing lost jobs. Bases closed under the 2005 round could face similar delays in redevelopment, if a community’s preferred land use would necessitate a costly and time-consuming degree of cleanup. This report will be updated as events warrant.

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Industrial Loan Companies (ILCs), are state-chartered and state-regulated depository institutions whose deposits the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) may insure. This report addresses the controversy over expansion of ILCs by line of business and by branching across the nation as follows, providing: (1) a historical overview of the U.S. separation of banking and commerce; (2) information on ILCs and their regulation; and (3) identifying and analyzing relevant legislation in Congress.

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen of Cannon AFB

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen in support of Cannon AFB.

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen in support of Cannon AFB.

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen in support of Cannon AFB.

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen of Cannon AFB

Letter to Chairman Anthony Principi and the Commissioners from Ray Mendoza regarding the closure of Cannon Air Force Base.

Letter to Chairman Anthony Principi and the Commissioners from Gay Simnacher (retired 3rd grade teacher) regarding the closure of Cannon Air Force Base and the visit to Clovis, NM.

Letter to Chairman Anthony Principi and the Commissioners from Joan Gilbert regarding the closure of Cannon Air Force Base.

Letter to Chairman Anthony Principi and the Commissioners from Brain Jennings regarding the closure of Cannon Air Force Base.

Letter to Chairman Anthony Principi and the Commissioners from John Cox regarding the closure of Cannon Air Force Base.

Letter to Chairman Anthony Principi and the Commissioners from Jayley Boersma regarding the closure of Cannon Air Force Base.

Executive Correspondence - Letter from Congressman Butterfield regarding realignment of Johnson AF Base, Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, and the Cherry Point Depot

Executive Correspondence - Letter from Congressman Jim Gibbons, Nevada, asking for consideration of the facts that will be presented to the Commission regarding the realignment of the 152AW, Reno and closure of Hawthorne Army Depot

Executive Correspondence - State of Pennsylvania adopted Senate Resolution No. 130 of 2005-2006 General Assembly -

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen of Cannon AFB.

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen of Cannon AFB