Resolving Legislative Differences in Congress: Conference Committees and Amendments Between the Houses (open access)

Resolving Legislative Differences in Congress: Conference Committees and Amendments Between the Houses

This report summarizes the procedures the two houses of Congress use most frequently to resolve their legislative differences. It is based upon an interpretation of the rules and published precedents of the House and Senate, and an analysis of the application of these rules and precedents in recent practice. It bears emphasizing that this report is not exhaustive nor is it in any way an official statement of House or Senate procedures. It may serve as a useful introduction or general guide, but it should not be considered an adequate substitute for a study of House and Senate rules and precedents themselves, or for consultations with the parliamentarians of the House and Senate on the meaning and possible application of the rules and precedents.
Date: November 26, 2008
Creator: Rybicki, Elizabeth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Financing Recovery from Large-Scale Natural Disasters (open access)

Financing Recovery from Large-Scale Natural Disasters

Two important issues before Congress are (1) securing the nation's capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover/rebuild from natural catastrophe events, and (2) determining whether and how the federal government should intervene in catastrophe insurance markets. This report focuses on this issue at length, taking into consideration the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2004 and 2005; a sequence of tornadoes, wildfire, earthquakes, Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, and the 2008 Midwestern floods; and the financial market turmoil in 2008.
Date: November 18, 2008
Creator: King, Rawle O.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Senate Committee Party Ratios: 94th - 110th Congresses (open access)

Senate Committee Party Ratios: 94th - 110th Congresses

This report provides an overview of Senate standing committee sizes and ratios for the 94th and 110th Congresses. Also included are data on permanent select committees with legislative jurisdiction. A table for each Congress shows the party division in the Senate, total number of seats on each committee, number of seats assigned to the majority and minority parties, and, where present, number of seats assigned to independents. The tables also provide the number of majority-minority caucus seat margins in the chamber and for each committees.
Date: November 18, 2008
Creator: Tong, Lorraine H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Debarment and Suspension of Government Contractors: An Overview of the Law Including Recently Enacted and Proposed Amendments (open access)

Debarment and Suspension of Government Contractors: An Overview of the Law Including Recently Enacted and Proposed Amendments

The amount spent on government contracts, coupled with widely reported contractors misconduct, has generated congressional interest in debarment and suspension. The 110th Congress enacted several bills addressing debarment and suspension, including the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, and several others, all of which are detailed in this report.
Date: November 19, 2008
Creator: Manuel, Kate M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The 2009 U.N. Durban Review Conference: Follow-Up to the 2001 U.N. World Conference Against Racism (open access)

The 2009 U.N. Durban Review Conference: Follow-Up to the 2001 U.N. World Conference Against Racism

This report provides information on the 2001 World Conference Against Racism and the circumstances of U.S. withdrawal. It discusses preparations for the Durban Review Conference, including U.S. policy and reaction from other governments. It highlights possible issues for the 111th Congress, including the Review Conference preparatory process, U.S. funding of the Conference, and the political and diplomatic impact of U.S. engagement.
Date: November 20, 2008
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
System: The UNT Digital Library
Emergency Communications: The Future of 911 (open access)

Emergency Communications: The Future of 911

Today's 911 system is built on an infrastructure of analog technology that does not support many of the features that most Americans expect are part of an emergency response. Recognizing the importance of providing effective 911 service, Congress has passed three major bills supporting improvements in the handling of 911 emergency calls. This report includes a detailed overview of the 911 system, as well as related legislation and policies currently in consideration by Congress.
Date: November 21, 2008
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The National Response Framework: Overview and Possible Issues for Congress (open access)

The National Response Framework: Overview and Possible Issues for Congress

In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress and the President consolidated numerous federal emergency plans into the National Response Plan (NRP). This report discusses how national response planning documents have evolved over time and describes the authorities that shape the National Response Framework (NRF). Several issue areas that might be examined for potential lawmaking and oversight concerning the NRF are also highlighted.
Date: November 20, 2008
Creator: Lindsay, Bruce R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Proposed Colombia Free Trade Agreement: Labor Issues (open access)

Proposed Colombia Free Trade Agreement: Labor Issues

This report examines three labor issues and arguments related to the pending U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement (CFTA): violence against trade unionists; impunity (accountability for or punishment of the perpetrators); and worker rights protections for Colombians. This report addresses this issue at length, including the arguments for and against the agreement, as well as general U.S.-Colombia economic relations.
Date: November 24, 2008
Creator: Bolle, Mary Jane
System: The UNT Digital Library
Other Transaction (OT) Authority (open access)

Other Transaction (OT) Authority

An "other transaction" (OT) is a special vehicle used by federal agencies for obtaining or advancing research and development (R&D) or prototypes. Generally, the reason for creating OT authority is that the government needs to obtain leading-edge R&D (and prototypes) from commercial sources, but some companies (and other entities) are unwilling or unable to comply with the government's procurement regulations. Evaluating OTs and the use of OT authority is a challenging undertaking. This report describes the issue of OT authority as it relates to Congressional policymaking and regulatory actions.
Date: November 25, 2008
Creator: Halchin, L. Elaine
System: The UNT Digital Library
Vietnamese Victims of Agent Orange and U.S.-Vietnam Relations (open access)

Vietnamese Victims of Agent Orange and U.S.-Vietnam Relations

According to various estimates, the U.S. military sprayed approximately 11-12 million gallons of Agent Orange over nearly 10% of Vietnamese territory between 1961 and 1971. This report examines various estimates of the effects of Agent Orange on Vietnam's people and environment, the history of U.S. policy on the issue, the current clean-up efforts in Vietnam, the various forms of assistance -- including U.S. assistance -- provided to people with medical conditions associated with dioxin exposure, and the implications for bilateral relations. It concludes with a brief discussion of possible congressional responses to the issue.
Date: November 21, 2008
Creator: Martin, Michael F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Islamist Militancy in the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Region and U.S. Policy (open access)

Islamist Militancy in the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Region and U.S. Policy

Increasing militant activity in western Pakistan poses three key national security threats: an increased potential for major attacks against the United States itself; a growing threat to Pakistani stability; and a hindrance of U.S. efforts to stabilize Afghanistan. This report addresses this issue at length. It also describes the recent upsurge of militant activity on the Pakistani side of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, as well as the general political climates of Pakistan and Afghanistan and their relationships with the United States.
Date: November 21, 2008
Creator: Kronstadt, K. Alan & Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Medicaid Regulatory Issues (open access)

Medicaid Regulatory Issues

This report provides a summary of seven proposed and final rules affecting the Medicaid program that were issued by the Bush Administration during 2007 and 2008. Six of the seven rules are currently under a congressional moratorium on further administrative action until April 1, 2009. A description of possible administrative and legislative actions to modify these rules, which could be taken by the next administration or the 111th Congress, is also provided.
Date: November 26, 2008
Creator: Herz, Elicia J. & Burrows, Vanessa K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Tax Exclusion for Employer-Provided Health Insurance: Policy Issues Regarding the Repeal Debate (open access)

The Tax Exclusion for Employer-Provided Health Insurance: Policy Issues Regarding the Repeal Debate

Employer-provided health insurance is excluded from the determination of employees' federal income taxes, resulting in significant tax savings for many workers. The federal income tax exclusion -- the focus of this report -- is criticized for several reasons. These arguments about the exclusion merit careful consideration as Congress is starting to debate broad health care reform for the first time in 15 years. This report discusses this issue at length, including advantages and disadvantages to keeping the income tax inclusion as Congress undergoes the health policy reform process.
Date: November 21, 2008
Creator: Lyke, Bob
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Arms Sales: Agreements with and Deliveries to Major Clients, 2000-2007 (open access)

U.S. Arms Sales: Agreements with and Deliveries to Major Clients, 2000-2007

This report provides background data on United States arms sales agreements with and deliveries to its major purchasers during calendar years 2000-2007. In a series of data tables, it lists the total dollar values of U.S. government-to-government arms sales agreements with its top five purchasers in five specific regions of the world for three specific periods: 200-2003, 2004-2007, and 2007 alone, and the total dollar values of U.S. arms deliveries to its top five purchasers in those same regions and time periods. The report also provides data tables listing the total dollar values of U.S. government-to-government arms agreements with and deliveries to its top 10 purchasers worldwide for those same time periods.
Date: November 26, 2008
Creator: Grimmett, Richard F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iraq: Politics, Elections, and Benchmarks (open access)

Iraq: Politics, Elections, and Benchmarks

Iraq's political system, the result of a U.S.-supported election process, continues to be riven by sectarianism and ethnic and factional infighting. The Administration is optimistic that the passage of key laws in 2008, including a law to govern provincial elections to be held in early 2009, will sustain recent reductions in violence.
Date: November 21, 2008
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nonmarital Childbearing: Trends, Reasons, and Public Policy Interventions (open access)

Nonmarital Childbearing: Trends, Reasons, and Public Policy Interventions

This report analyzes the trends in nonmarital childbearing, discusses some of the characteristics of unwed mothers, addresses some issues involving the fathers of children born outside of marriage, covers many of the reasons for nonmarital childbearing, examines the impact of nonmarital births on families and on the nation, and presents the public policy interventions that have been used to prevent nonmarital births or ameliorate some of the negative financial consequences that are sometimes associated with nonmarital childbearing.
Date: November 20, 2008
Creator: Solomon-Fears, Carmen
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction (open access)

The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction

This report is an introductory and selective explanation of the rules, procedures, and practices by which the House of Representatives considers public bills and resolutions on the floor. After discussions of the nature of House rules, the differences between the House and the Committee of the Whole, and limitations on debate, the report describes five different ways in which the House may consider, perhaps debate and amend, and then vote on whether to pass legislation. The report also discusses the House's calendars and its order of business, the special rules reported by the Rules Committee, House consideration of Senate amendments and conference reports, and the rules and constitutional requirements affecting voting and quorum procedures.
Date: November 26, 2008
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Tort Reform Legislation: Constitutionality and Summaries of Selected Statutes (open access)

Federal Tort Reform Legislation: Constitutionality and Summaries of Selected Statutes

This report considers the constitutionality of federal tort reform legislation, such as the products liability and medical malpractice reform proposals that have been introduced for the last several Congresses. Tort law at present is almost exclusively state law rather than federal law, although, as noted in the appendix to this report, Congress has enacted a number of tort reform statutes.
Date: July 7, 2008
Creator: Cohen, Henry & Burrows, Vanessa K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Voting Rights Act of 1965, As Amended: Its History and Current Issues (open access)

The Voting Rights Act of 1965, As Amended: Its History and Current Issues

Several bills have been introduced in the 110th Congress concerning the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) that would rename the short title of the act, and address its bilingual provisions and issues of deceptive practices and voter intimidation during elections. This report discusses this issue at length and also addresses allegations of voting irregularities and of violations of the VRA during the presidential election of 2000.
Date: June 12, 2008
Creator: Laney, Garrine P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Canada-U.S. Relations (open access)

Canada-U.S. Relations

This report provides a short overview of Canada's political scene, its economic conditions, and its recent security and foreign policy, focusing particularly on issues that may be relevant to U.S. policymakers. This brief country survey is followed by several summaries of current bilateral issues in the political, trade, and environmental arenas.
Date: May 12, 2008
Creator: Ek, Carl; Fergusson, Ian F.; Nuñez-Neto, Blas; Clarke, Stephen F.; Abel, Amy; Sheikh, Pervaze et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Water Infrastructure Financing: History of EPA Appropriations (open access)

Water Infrastructure Financing: History of EPA Appropriations

The principal federal program to aid municipal wastewater treatment plant construction is authorized in the Clean Water Act (CWA). In appropriations legislation, funding for EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) wastewater assistance is contained in the measure providing funds for the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. This report summarizes, in chronological order, congressional activity to fund items in the State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) account since 1987.
Date: August 19, 2008
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
System: The UNT Digital Library
Lobbying Regulations on Non-Profit Organizations (open access)

Lobbying Regulations on Non-Profit Organizations

Public charities, religious groups, social welfare organizations, and other nonprofit organizations which are exempt from federal income taxation are not generally prohibited from engaging in all lobbying or public policy advocacy activities merely because of their tax-exempt status. There may, however, be some lobbying limitations on certain organizations, depending. This report discusses this issue at length, including related legislation, relevant passages in the Internal Revenue Code, and other regulatory information.
Date: May 7, 2008
Creator: Maskell, Jack H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Army Corps of Engineers' Nationwide Permits Program: Issues and Regulatory Developments (open access)

The Army Corps of Engineers' Nationwide Permits Program: Issues and Regulatory Developments

Permits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorize various types of development projects in wetlands and other waters of the United States. The Corps' regulatory process involves two types of permits: general permits for actions for private landowners that will likely have a minor effect on wetlands, and individual permits for more significant actions. Interest groups have a number of specific criticisms of the permits. For some time, there has been a stalemate in Congress over legislation related to this issue.
Date: August 21, 2008
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
System: The UNT Digital Library
Asian Pacific Americans in the United States Congress (open access)

Asian Pacific Americans in the United States Congress

Asian Pacific Americans have served in both houses of Congress representing California, Hawaii, Louisiana, Oregon, Virginia, American Samoa, and Guam. They have served in leadership positions, including committee and subcommittee chairmanships. This report presents information on Senators, Representatives, and Delegates, including party affiliations, length and dates of service, and committee assignments.
Date: June 23, 2008
Creator: Tong, Lorraine H.
System: The UNT Digital Library