9/11 Commission Recommendations: The Senate Confirmation Process for Presidential Nominees (open access)

9/11 Commission Recommendations: The Senate Confirmation Process for Presidential Nominees

On July 22, 2004, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, known as the 9/11 Commission, issued its final report, detailing the events up to and including the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks upon the United States. The 9/11 Commission recommended that the Senate adopt rules requiring hearings and votes to confirm or reject national security nominees within 30 days of their submission at the start of each new presidential administration. Implementing the commission's proposal would involve imposing new restrictions on both the power of committee chairs to control the agenda of their committees and the rights of Senators to delay or block nominations through holds and extended debate. This report discusses in detail this proposal, how it could be implemented, and the potential effects of its implementation.
Date: March 23, 2005
Creator: Palmer, Betsy
System: The UNT Digital Library
S. 147/H.R. 309: Process for Federal Recognition of a Native Hawaiian Governmental Entity (open access)

S. 147/H.R. 309: Process for Federal Recognition of a Native Hawaiian Governmental Entity

From Summary: "This report describes the provisions of the reported version of S. 147; outlines some federal statutes and recent cases which might be relevant to the issue of federal recognition of a Hawaiian entity; and recounts some legal arguments that have been presented in the debate on this legislation."
Date: October 11, 2005
Creator: Murphy, M. Maureen
System: The UNT Digital Library
S. 147/H.R. 309: Process for Federal Recognition of a Native Hawaiian Governmental Entity (open access)

S. 147/H.R. 309: Process for Federal Recognition of a Native Hawaiian Governmental Entity

S. 147/H.R. 309, companion bills introduced in the 109th Congress, represent an effort to accord to Native Hawaiians a means of forming a governmental entity that could enter into government-to-government relations with the United States. This report describes the provisions of the reported version of S. 147; outlines some federal statutes and recent cases which might be relevant to the issue of federal recognition of a Native Hawaiian entity; and recounts some legal arguments that have been presented in the debate on this legislation. It includes a brief outline of the provisions of a substitute amendment expected to be offered in lieu of the reported version of S. 147, when Senate debate, which was interrupted by the filing of a cloture motion on July 29, resumes.
Date: September 27, 2005
Creator: Murphy, M. Maureen
System: The UNT Digital Library
S. 219: The National Employee Savings and Trust Equity Guarantee Act (open access)

S. 219: The National Employee Savings and Trust Equity Guarantee Act

On July 26, 2005, the Senate Finance Committee approved S. 219, the “National Employee Savings and Trust Equity Guarantee (NESTEG) Act of 2005,” a bill to reform federal pension laws. This report summarizes the major provisions of the bill, as approved by the Committee.
Date: August 12, 2005
Creator: Purcell, Patrick J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
527 Political Organizations: Legislation in the 109th Congress (open access)

527 Political Organizations: Legislation in the 109th Congress

The 109th Congress is examining the role of groups organized under section of the Internal Revenue Code(IRC) that are involved in federal elections, but are not operating under the requirements and restrictions of federal election law.
Date: June 20, 2005
Creator: Cantor, Joseph E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
S. 852: The Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005 (open access)

S. 852: The Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005

From Summary: "This report provides an overview of S. 852, the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act of 2005. The bill would largely remove asbestos claims from the courts in favor of the administrative process set out in the bill. The bill would establish the Office of Asbestos Disease Compensation to award damages to asbestos claimants on a no-fault basis from the Asbestos Injury Claims Resolution Fund."
Date: April 26, 2005
Creator: Brooks, Nathan
System: The UNT Digital Library
S. 1783: The Pension Security and Transparency Act of 2005 (open access)

S. 1783: The Pension Security and Transparency Act of 2005

From Summary: "This report summarizes the major provisions of S. 1783, the Pension Security and Transparency Act 2005. The bill combines provisions of S. 219, the National Employee Savings and Trust Equity Guarantee Act, reported by the Finance Committee, and the Defined Benefit Security Act, reported by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions."
Date: October 18, 2005
Creator: Purcell, Patrick
System: The UNT Digital Library
S. 1783: The Pension Security and Transparency Act of 2005 (open access)

S. 1783: The Pension Security and Transparency Act of 2005

On September 28, the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions announced that they had reached a compromise on a pension reform bill for consideration by the full Senate. The compromise bill has been introduced as S. 1783, “The Pension Security and Transparency Act of 2005.” S. 1783 combines provisions of S. 219, “The National Employee Savings and Trust Equity Guarantee Act,” reported by the Finance Committee, and “The Defined Benefit Security Act,” reported by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. This report summarizes the major provisions of the compromise bill, as announced by the chairmen and ranking members of the two committees.
Date: October 3, 2005
Creator: Purcell, Patrick J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Abandoned Mine Land Fund Reauthorization: Selected Issues (open access)

Abandoned Mine Land Fund Reauthorization: Selected Issues

This report provides a summary of the structure of the Abandon Mine Land (AML) program, distribution of funds, and discusses major proposals considered in the 108th Congress.
Date: March 8, 2005
Creator: Bamberger, Robert L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fee on Coal (open access)

Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fee on Coal

This report provides a summary about reclamation fee on coal to finance the Abandoned Mine Fund.
Date: July 13, 2005
Creator: Noto, Nonna A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Abortion: Justice O'Connor's Opinions (open access)

Abortion: Justice O'Connor's Opinions

This report examines Justice O'Connor's notable opinions on abortion, and explores her role in the development of the undue burden standard, adopted in 1992. Under the new standard, a reviewing court would consider whether an abortion restriction has the effect of imposing an "undue burden" on a woman's right to obtain an abortion.
Date: July 15, 2005
Creator: Shimabukuro, Jon O.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Abortion: Legislative Response (open access)

Abortion: Legislative Response

The primary focus of this issue brief is legislative action with respect to abortion. However, discussion of those legislative proposals necessarily involves a brief discussion of the leading U.S. Supreme Court decisions concerning a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate her pregnancy. For a more detailed discussion of the relevant case law, see CRS Report 95-724, Abortion Law Development: A Brief Overview.
Date: June 17, 2005
Creator: Lewis, Karen J. & Jon, Shimbukuro O.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Abortion: Legislative Response (open access)

Abortion: Legislative Response

The primary focus of this issue brief is legislative action with respect to abortion. However, discussion of those legislative proposals necessarily involves a brief discussion of the leading U.S. Supreme Court decisions concerning a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate her pregnancy. For a more detailed discussion of the relevant case law, see CRS Report 95-724, Abortion Law Development: A Brief Overview.
Date: April 5, 2005
Creator: Lewis, Karen J.; Shimabukuro, Jon O. & Ely, Dana
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Abridged View of the Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act (H.R. 1279) (open access)

An Abridged View of the Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act (H.R. 1279)

This report summarizes the Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act (H.R. 1279) and its effects. This includes information such as an increase in criminal penalties assigned to violent crimes and expanding the instances where juveniles could be tried as adults. For more information see CRS Report RL32946 "Gang Deterrence A Legal Analysis of H.R. 1279 With References to S. 155.
Date: June 13, 2005
Creator: Doyle, Charles
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Acceptance of Gifts of Free Meals by Members of Congress (open access)

The Acceptance of Gifts of Free Meals by Members of Congress

This report outlines the rules by which Congress may accept free meals from outside private third parties. The report highlights that the most common exceptions to this rule are of de minimis value (under 50 dollars). Moreover, the report specifies that gifts from foreign agents, lobbyists, and those who have direct interest in congressional legislation are of the most concern.
Date: August 26, 2005
Creator: Maskell, Jack
System: The UNT Digital Library
Access to Government Information In the United States (open access)

Access to Government Information In the United States

The Constitution of the United States makes no specific allowance for any one of the co-equal branches to have access to information held by the others and contains no provision expressly establishing a procedure for, or a right of, public access to government information. Nonetheless, Congress has legislated various public access laws. These include two records access statutes — the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act — and two meetings access statutes — the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Government in the Sunshine Act. This report provides background on the issue of government transparency.
Date: January 7, 2005
Creator: Relyea, Harold C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Access to Government Information in the United States (open access)

Access to Government Information in the United States

The Constitution of the United States makes no specific allowance for any one of the co-equal branches to have access to information held by the others and contains no provision expressly establishing a procedure for, or a right of, public access to government information. Nonetheless, Congress has legislated various public access laws. These include two records access statutes — the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) — and two meetings access statutes — the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b). Moreover, due to the American separation of powers model of government, interbranch conflicts over the accessibility of information are neither unexpected nor necessarily destructive. The federal courts, historically, have been reluctant to review and resolve “political questions” involving information disputes between Congress and the executive branch. Although there is considerable interbranch cooperation, such conflicts probably will continue to occur on occasion.
Date: January 7, 2005
Creator: Relyea, Harold C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Accounting and Management Problems at Freddie Mac (open access)

Accounting and Management Problems at Freddie Mac

This report summarizes the extent of accounting and management problems at Freddie Mac. The report highlights the issues of selecting policies to report constant earnings, and undertaking certain transactions for the sake of creating a facade of reported earnings. Finally, the report discusses the consequences of these problems by stating that many of the Freddie Mac's executives have been replaced, fines were issued, and a lawsuit occurred.
Date: November 15, 2005
Creator: Jickling, Mark
System: The UNT Digital Library
Accounting Problems at Fannie Mae (open access)

Accounting Problems at Fannie Mae

On September 22, 2004, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Supervision (OFHEO) made public a report that was highly critical of accounting methods at Fannie Mae, the government-sponsored enterprise that plays a leading role in the secondary mortgage market. OFHEO charged Fannie Mae with not following generally accepted accounting practices in two critical areas: (1) amortization of discounts, premiums, and fees involved in the purchase of home mortgages and (2) accounting for financial derivatives contracts. According to OFHEO, these deviations from standard accounting rules allowed Fannie Mae to reduce volatility in reported earnings, present investors with an artificial picture of steadily growing profits, and, in at least one case, to meet financial performance targets that triggered the payment of bonuses to company executives. On November 15, 2004, Fannie Mae reported that it was unable to file a third-quarter earnings statement because its auditor, KPMG, refused to sign off on the accounting results. On December 15, 2004, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), after finding inadequacies in Fannie’s accounting policies and methodologies, directed Fannie Mae to restate its accounting results since 2001. Shortly thereafter, the company’s CEO and CFO resigned. It is estimated that earnings since 2001 will be revised downwards …
Date: November 15, 2005
Creator: Jickling, Mark
System: The UNT Digital Library
Accreditation and the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (open access)

Accreditation and the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act

This report summarizes the issues with reauthorizing the Higher Education Act (HEA) and highlights accreditation in particular. One consideration the report contains is the possibility of Congress changing the role accreditation plays in reference to financial aid for students. Moreover, the report considers the place of accreditation in reference to the overall quality of an academic institution.
Date: July 13, 2005
Creator: Skinner, Rebecca R. & Feder, Jody
System: The UNT Digital Library
Active Military Sonar and Marine Mammals: Events and References (open access)

Active Military Sonar and Marine Mammals: Events and References

The deployment of active sonar by the U.S. Navy and its potential impacts on marine mammals has been an ongoing issue of intense debate; regulatory, legislative, and judicial activity; and international concern. This report summarizes legal and political events related to active sonar and marine mammals since 1994. This report summarizes some of the more significant recent events pertaining to active military sonar, in particular.
Date: November 3, 2005
Creator: Buck, Eugene H. & Calvert, Kori
System: The UNT Digital Library
Active Military Sonar and Marine Mammals: Events and References (open access)

Active Military Sonar and Marine Mammals: Events and References

The deployment of active sonar by the U.S. Navy and its potential impacts on marine mammals has been an ongoing issue of intense debate; regulatory, legislative, and judicial activity; and international concern. This report summarizes legal and political events related to active sonar and marine mammals since 1994. This report summarizes some of the more significant recent events pertaining to active military sonar, in particular.
Date: November 22, 2005
Creator: Buck, Eugene H. & Calvert, Kori
System: The UNT Digital Library
Active Sonar and Marine Mammals: Chronology with References (open access)

Active Sonar and Marine Mammals: Chronology with References

The deployment of active sonar by the U.S. Navy and its potential impacts on marine mammals has been an ongoing issue of intense debate; regulatory, legislative, and judicial activity; and international concern. This report provides a chronology of significant events and documents since 1994.
Date: June 1, 2005
Creator: Calvert, Kori & Buck, Eugene H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Active Sonar and Marine Mammals: Chronology with References (open access)

Active Sonar and Marine Mammals: Chronology with References

The deployment of active sonar by the U.S. Navy and its potential impacts on marine mammals has been an ongoing issue of intense debate; regulatory, legislative, and judicial activity; and international concern. This report provides a chronology of significant events and documents since 1994.
Date: June 22, 2005
Creator: Calvert, Kori & Buck, Eugene H.
System: The UNT Digital Library