The Coast Guard is the lead federal agency for maritime homeland security. The Coast Guard’s homeland security operations pose several potential issues for Congress, including adequacy of Coast Guard resources for performing both homeland security and non-homeland security missions, and Coast Guard coordination with other agencies involved in maritime homeland security. This report will be updated as events warrant.

This report provides information on the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Circular A-76, “Performance of Commercial Activities,” and the impact of a related reform initiative, the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act (FAIR) of 1998, within the Department of Defense. The Circular defines federal policy for determining whether recurring commercial activities should be outsourced to commercial sources, Governmental facilities, or through inter-service support agreements. The FAIR Act creates statutory reporting requirements for federal executive agencies, by requiring Federal executive agencies to identify activities “not inherently governmental” and consider outsourcing through managed competitions. However, FAIR does not require that agencies contract out these activities.

This report provides a brief overview of the recruiting and retention rates for Active and Reserve Component enlisted personnel during FY2004 and the first eight months of FY2005. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the United States has launched several major military operations which have dramatically increased the operations tempo of the military services, required the large scale mobilization of reservists, and resulted in significant battle casualties. These factors have been particularly applicable to the Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard which have shouldered the bulk of the manpower burden associated with the occupation of Iraq. The Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve has also been heavily involved in Iraq. Many observers have expressed concern that these factors might lead to lower recruiting and retention rates, thereby jeopardizing the vitality of today’s all-volunteer military. Recruiting and retention results for FY2004 and FY2005 to date are summarized below. This report will be updated as necessary.

The 2005 round of military base realignments and closures (BRAC) is now underway. The Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (Base Closure Act), as amended, establishes mandatory procedures to be followed throughout the BRAC process and identifies criteria to be used in formulating BRAC recommendations. However, judicial review is unlikely to be available to remedy alleged failures to comply with the Base Closure Act’s provisions. This report includes a synopsis of the relevant law regarding the availability of judicial review in this context.

This report traces the evolution of the NFIP and provides background information on the program and also discusses the problem of repetitively flooded properties and the mitigation program administered by FEMA.

American voters elect the President and Vice President of the United States under a complex arrangement of constitutional provisions, federal and state laws, and political party practices known as the electoral college system. Despite occasional close elections, this system has delivered uncontested results in 46 of 50 elections since adoption of the 12th Amendment, effective in 1804. Throughout this period, nevertheless, it has been the subject of persistent criticism and many reform proposals. Related measures fall into two basic categories: those that would eliminate the electoral college and substitute direct popular election of the President and Vice President, and those that would retain the existing system in some form and correct perceived defects.

American voters elect the President and Vice President of the United States under a complex arrangement of constitutional provisions, federal and state laws, and political party practices known as the electoral college system. Despite occasional close elections, this system has delivered uncontested results in 46 of 50 elections since adoption of the 12th Amendment, effective in 1804. Throughout this period, nevertheless, it has been the subject of persistent criticism and many reform proposals. Related measures fall into two basic categories: those that would eliminate the electoral college and substitute direct popular election of the President and Vice President, and those that would retain the existing system in some form and correct perceived defects.

This report discusses the Coast Guard, which is the lead federal agency for maritime homeland security. The Coast Guard’s homeland security operations pose several potential issues for Congress, including adequacy of Coast Guard resources for performing both homeland security and non-homeland security missions, and Coast Guard coordination with other agencies involved in maritime homeland security.

This report discusses the Coast Guard, which is the lead federal agency for maritime homeland security. The Coast Guard’s homeland security operations pose several potential issues for Congress, including adequacy of Coast Guard resources for performing both homeland security and non-homeland security missions, and Coast Guard coordination with other agencies involved in maritime homeland security.

This report discusses the Coast Guard, which is the lead federal agency for maritime homeland security. The Coast Guard’s homeland security operations pose several potential issues for Congress, including adequacy of Coast Guard resources for performing both homeland security and non-homeland security missions, and Coast Guard coordination with other agencies involved in maritime homeland security.

American voters elect the President and Vice President of the United States under a complex arrangement of constitutional provisions, federal and state laws, and political party practices known as the electoral college system. Despite occasional close elections, this system has delivered uncontested results in 46 of 50 elections since adoption of the 12th Amendment, effective in 1804. Throughout this period, nevertheless, it has been the subject of persistent criticism and many reform proposals. Related measures fall into two basic categories: those that would eliminate the electoral college and substitute direct popular election of the President and Vice President, and those that would retain the existing system in some form and correct perceived defects.

The Coast Guard is the lead federal agency for maritime homeland security. The Coast Guard's homeland security operations pose several potential issues for Congress, including adequacy of Coast Guard resources for performing both homeland security and non-homeland security missions, and Coast Guard coordination with other agencies involved in maritime homeland security.

Base Visit Book from BRAC Commission Visit to Fort Monmouth, NJ dtd 3 Jun 2005. Document includes commissioner agenda, base summary sheet, economic impact, recommendations, media input, demographics, and environmental scenarios.

Letter from concerned citizen and business owner Gayla Brumfield regarding the closure of Cannon AFB

Letter from concerned citizen Greg Stimack regarding the closure of Cannon AFB

NAS JRB Willowgrove Community Petition dtd 1 June 2005. Signed petition from the Horsham, PA community regarding the closure of NAS Willowgrove.

Letter from concerned citizen JoAnn Johnson cocerning the closure of Cannon AFB, New Mexico

Letter from concerned citizen James P. Cassidy regarding the closing of Cannon Air Force Base.

Community Correspondence - Letter from Jo Burns in support of Cannon Air Force Base

Letter form concerned citizen Christy mendoza regarding the closure of Cannon AFB

Letter from concerned citizen Rex R. Regnier regarding the closure of Cannon AFB

Portland, Oregon Regional Hearing, Fairchild AFB Information dtd 17 June 2005. Document includes hearing testimony regarding Fairchild AFB, a large Base Summary report and a contact list of Washington state officials.

Letter from concerned citizen and community college teacher Michelle Schmidt regarding the closure of Cannon AFB

Community Correspondence - Letter from Ellen Rutter in support of Cannon AFB