The Budget for Fiscal Year 2009 (open access)

The Budget for Fiscal Year 2009

This report details the information related to budget proposals for FY 2009. The contents include Budget actions, outlay, receipts, deficits, and surpluses, etc.
Date: June 30, 2008
Creator: Austin, D. Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
Defense Contracting in Iraq: Issues and Options for Congress (open access)

Defense Contracting in Iraq: Issues and Options for Congress

This report examines logistical support contracts for troop support services in Iraq, primarily administered through the U.S. Army's Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP).
Date: June 18, 2008
Creator: Bailey Grasso, Valerie
System: The UNT Digital Library
Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76: Implications for the Future (open access)

Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76: Implications for the Future

This report examines the issues surrounding the Walter Reed public-private competition conducted under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A- 76 and its potential impact on future Department of Defense (DOD) competitions.
Date: June 10, 2008
Creator: Bailey Grasso, Valerie
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve: History, Perspectives, and Issues (open access)

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve: History, Perspectives, and Issues

This report offers a brief history of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. It discusses the establishment of a regional home heating oil reserve and addresses the question when the SPR should be used.
Date: June 6, 2008
Creator: Bamberger, Robert
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve: History, Perspectives, and Issues (open access)

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve: History, Perspectives, and Issues

This report discusses the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA, P.L. 94-163), which is intended to help prevent a repetition of the economic dislocation caused by the 1973-1974 Arab oil embargo.
Date: June 6, 2008
Creator: Bamberger, Robert
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: Comparison of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3773 and the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3773 (open access)

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: Comparison of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3773 and the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3773

This report provides an overview and review of legislative activity related to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). It also includes a detailed side-by-side comparison of the proposals to address FISA concerns: Senate Amendment to H.R. 3773 and the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3773.
Date: June 12, 2008
Creator: Bazan, Elizabeth B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Livestock Feed Costs: Concerns and Options (open access)

Livestock Feed Costs: Concerns and Options

Sharply higher feed costs, fueled by competing use demands for corn and soybeans and by rising energy prices, are affecting the beef, pork, dairy, and poultry industries. In contrast, wholesales prices for most animal products have held steady. Some analysts argue that current public policies, including financial incentives that divert corn from feed uses into ethanol production, have exacerbated if not caused these higher costs. Other factors include crop production declines due to weather, and higher global demand for consumption. Proposed options aimed at easing the impacts of higher feed costs include changes in ethanol incentives, use of conservation land for forage use, and direct aid to producers.
Date: June 30, 2008
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Food and Agricultural Imports: Safeguards and Selected Issues (open access)

U.S. Food and Agricultural Imports: Safeguards and Selected Issues

The report provides background information in the increase of food and agricultural imports and federal oversight responsibilities. It discusses international trade considerations, import refusals by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), administration, and legislative proposals.
Date: June 12, 2008
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Gasoline Prices: Causes of Increases and Congressional Response (open access)

Gasoline Prices: Causes of Increases and Congressional Response

This report discusses the causes of increases in Gasoline Prices and also includes the Congressional response.
Date: June 17, 2008
Creator: Behrens, Carl E. & Glover, Carol
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11 (open access)

The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11

This report analyzes war funding for the Defense Department and tracks funding for USAID and VA Medical funding.
Date: June 23, 2008
Creator: Belasco, Amy
System: The UNT Digital Library
Satellite Surveillance: Domestic Issues (open access)

Satellite Surveillance: Domestic Issues

This report provides background on the development of intelligence satellites and identifies the roles various agencies play in their management and use. Issues surrounding the current policy and proposed changes are discussed, including the findings of an Independent Study Group (ISG) with respect to the increased sharing of satellite intelligence data. There follows a discussion of legal considerations, including whether satellite reconnaissance might constitute a "search" within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment; an overview of statutory authorities, as well as restrictions that might apply; and a brief description of executive branch authorities and Department of Defense directives that might apply. The report concludes by suggesting policy issues Congress may consider as it deliberates the potential advantages and pitfalls that may be encountered in expanding the role of satellite intelligence for homeland security purposes.
Date: June 27, 2008
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr. & Elsea, Jennifer K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
How Bills Amend Statutes (open access)

How Bills Amend Statutes

None
Date: June 24, 2008
Creator: Beth, Richard S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with Russia: Statutory Procedures for Congressional Consideration (open access)

Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with Russia: Statutory Procedures for Congressional Consideration

This report first sketches the procedures prescribed by the Atomic Energy Act (AEA) for congressional action in relation to agreements of this kind, then summarizes legislative proceedings occurring in relation to the proposed agreement with Russia, beginning with its recent submission. Thereafter, the report addresses several questions of the implementation and intent of these statutory requirements that are raised by their application to the proposed agreement with the Russian Federation. Special attention is given to the definition of "days of continuous session" and possible implications of this definition depending on whether or not the requisite period ends before the end of the 110th Congress.
Date: June 20, 2008
Creator: Beth, Richard S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Credit Reform: Implementation of the Changed Budgetary Treatment of Direct Loans and Loan Guarantees (open access)

Federal Credit Reform: Implementation of the Changed Budgetary Treatment of Direct Loans and Loan Guarantees

This report is to explain the provisions of the Federal Credit Reform Act (FCRA), examine the implementation of credit reform including credit reform provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA97), and discuss proposed modifications of credit reform. In order to achieve these objectives, it is necessary to initially discuss justifications for credit programs, federal credit concepts, and the budgetary treatment of federal credit before the FCRA.
Date: June 24, 2008
Creator: Bickley, James M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Medicaid Rehabilitation Services (open access)

Medicaid Rehabilitation Services

This report describes Medicaid rehabilitation services, discusses major provisions of the Medicaid rehabilitation regulation, and provides various perspectives on the rehabilitation proposed rule.
Date: June 27, 2008
Creator: Binder, Cliff
System: The UNT Digital Library
Lebanon (open access)

Lebanon

This report provides an overview of Lebanese politics, recent events in Lebanon, and current issues in U.S.-Lebanon relations.
Date: June 12, 2008
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The United Nations Human Rights Council: Issues for Congress (open access)

The United Nations Human Rights Council: Issues for Congress

This report provides historical background of the Council, including the role of the previous Commission. It discusses the Council's current mandate and structure, as well as U.S. policy and congressional actions.
Date: June 5, 2008
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
System: The UNT Digital Library
The United Nations Human Rights Council: Issues for Congress (open access)

The United Nations Human Rights Council: Issues for Congress

This report provides historical background of the Council, including the role of the previous Commission. It discusses the Council's current mandate and structure, as well as U.S. policy and congressional actions.
Date: June 5, 2008
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
System: The UNT Digital Library
United Nations System Efforts to Address Violence Against Women (open access)

United Nations System Efforts to Address Violence Against Women

This report provides an overview of recent U.N. efforts to address VAW and highlights key U.N. interagency efforts. It also discusses selected U.N. funds, programs, and agencies that address international violence against women. It does not assess the extent to which VAW is directly addressed or is part of a larger initiative or program.
Date: June 3, 2008
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
System: The UNT Digital Library
International Violence Against Women: U.S. Response and Policy Issues (open access)

International Violence Against Women: U.S. Response and Policy Issues

This report addresses causes, prevalence, and consequences of violence against women. It provides examples of U.S. activities that address violence against women (VAW) directly or include anti-VAW components. It also outlines possible policy considerations for the 110th Congress, including the scope and effectiveness of U.S. programs; further integrating anti-VAW programs into U.S. assistance and foreign policy mechanisms; and strengthening U.S. government coordination of anti-VAW activities.
Date: June 3, 2008
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa; Margesson, Rhoda; Seelke, Claire Ribando; Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji & Serafino, Nina M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft (open access)

V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft

This report discusses background information on the V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft, as well as procurement and related oversight issues for Congress.
Date: June 4, 2008
Creator: Bolkcom, Christopher & Knight, William
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ballast Water Management to Combat Invasive Species (open access)

Ballast Water Management to Combat Invasive Species

This report provides background on various approaches to ballast water management and reviews current ballast water management laws and programs.
Date: June 10, 2008
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ballast Water Management to Combat Invasive Species (open access)

Ballast Water Management to Combat Invasive Species

This report provides background on various approaches to ballast water management and reviews current ballast water management laws and programs.
Date: June 10, 2008
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 110th Congress (open access)

Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 110th Congress

Aquaculture — the farming of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic animals and plants in a controlled environment — is expanding rapidly abroad, with more modest advances in the United States. This report discusses the federal laws and regulations that guide the management of resources in open ocean and near-shore coastal areas.
Date: June 13, 2008
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.
System: The UNT Digital Library