Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy

This report discusses the current political state of Iran, focusing particularly on the influence of the Taliban and other militant groups and on the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. This report also discusses the U.S.-Iran relationship and U.S. efforts under the Obama Administration to provide military, reconstructive, and stabilization aid.
Date: March 1, 2010
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (open access)

International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

This report provides an overview of the international treaty on plant genetic resources for food and agricultural.
Date: March 1, 2010
Creator: Ho, Melissa D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Public Health, Workforce, Quality, and Related Provisions in H.R. 3590, as Passed by the Senate (open access)

Public Health, Workforce, Quality, and Related Provisions in H.R. 3590, as Passed by the Senate

This report summarizes the workforce, prevention, quality, and related provisions in H.R. 3590, as passed by the Senate. It begins with some background on health care delivery reform, followed by an overview of the report’s content and organization
Date: March 1, 2010
Creator: Redhead, C. Stephen & Williams, Erin D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
War Bonds in the Second World War: A Model for a New Iraq/Afghanistan War Bond? (open access)

War Bonds in the Second World War: A Model for a New Iraq/Afghanistan War Bond?

This report discusses the high costs of fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that have rekindled congressional interest in the concept of the sale of a Treasury security to help finance these war costs.
Date: March 1, 2010
Creator: Bickley, James M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Set to Expire February 28, 2010 (open access)

Amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Set to Expire February 28, 2010

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) provides a statutory framework by which government agencies may, when gathering foreign intelligence investigation, obtain authorization to conduct electronic surveillance or physical searches, utilize pen registers and trap and trace devices, or access specified business records and other tangible things. This report discusses three sunsetting amendments of FISA which include the "Lone Wolf" provision, "roving" wiretaps, and access to business records.
Date: March 2, 2010
Creator: Henning, Anna C. & Liu, Edward C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Chile: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations (open access)

Chile: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations

This report provides a brief historical background of Chile, examines recent political and economic developments, and addresses issues in U.S.-Chilean relations.
Date: March 2, 2010
Creator: Meyer, Peter J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Government Collection of Private Information: Background and Issues Related to the USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization (open access)

Government Collection of Private Information: Background and Issues Related to the USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization

This report discusses the history of constitutional interpretations and legislative responses relevant to the collection of private information for criminal investigation, foreign intelligence gathering, and national security purposes.
Date: March 2, 2010
Creator: Henning, Anna C.; Bazan, Elizabeth B.; Doyle, Charles & Liu, Edward C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and presents potential issues for Congress concerning the Navy's ship force-structure goals and shipbuilding plans. The planned size of the Navy, the rate of Navy ship procurement, and the prospective affordability of the Navy's shipbuilding plans have been matters of concern for the congressional defense committees for the past several years. Decisions that Congress makes on Navy shipbuilding programs can substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: March 2, 2010
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Patent Reform: Judicial Developments in Areas of Legislative Interest (open access)

Patent Reform: Judicial Developments in Areas of Legislative Interest

None
Date: March 2, 2010
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tax Options for Financing Health Care Reform (open access)

Tax Options for Financing Health Care Reform

This report reviews the revenue raisers proposed to fund health care reform. Other financing proposals are presented including those made by the Obama Administration and those introduced in earlier congressional work. The final sections discuss other proposals suggested by the round-table discussion participants.
Date: March 2, 2010
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy (open access)

Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy

This report offers background information on Ukraine's current political and economic situation. It also discusses U.S. policy, U.S. aid to Ukraine, the congressional response, and related legislation.
Date: March 2, 2010
Creator: Woehrel, Steven
System: The UNT Digital Library
Accelerated Vehicle Retirement for Fuel Economy: "Cash for Clunkers" (open access)

Accelerated Vehicle Retirement for Fuel Economy: "Cash for Clunkers"

This report outlines the key provisions of the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) program established by P.L. 111-32, which provide rebates to prospective purchasers toward the purchase of new, fuel-efficient vehicles, provided the trade-in vehicles are scrapped. It discusses the impact of the program on the economy and also summarizes similar programs in other industrial countries.
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: Yacobucci, Brent D. & Canis, Bill
System: The UNT Digital Library
Africa: U.S. Foreign Assistance Issues (open access)

Africa: U.S. Foreign Assistance Issues

The United States provides assistance to 47 African countries, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has 23 missions in Africa. In recent years, U.S. assistance to Africa saw a major increase, especially in health-related programs. This report provides an overview of U.S. aid to Africa, including the strategic objectives that shape U.S. aid to Africa, information about specific aid programs and initiatives, and the Obama Administration's FY2011 foreign aid budget request.
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: Dagne, Ted
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agricultural Disaster Assistance (open access)

Agricultural Disaster Assistance

This report discusses several programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help farmers recover financially from natural disasters, including drought and floods. All the programs have permanent authorization, and only one requires a federal disaster designation (the emergency loan program). Most programs receive funding amounts that are "such sums as necessary" and are not subject to annual discretionary appropriations.
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: Shields, Dennis A. & Chite, Ralph M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Border Security: The Role of the U.S. Border Patrol (open access)

Border Security: The Role of the U.S. Border Patrol

This report discusses the United States Border Patrol's history as our nation's first line of defense against unauthorized migration. Today, the USBP's primary mission is to detect and prevent the entry of terrorists, weapons of mass destruction, and illegal aliens into the country, and to interdict drug smugglers and other criminals along the border.
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: Haddal, Chad C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
CRS Issue Statement on Agriculture-Based Biofuels (open access)

CRS Issue Statement on Agriculture-Based Biofuels

Since the 1970's, federal incentives have played a major role in encouraging agriculture-based renewable energy production. Policy goals include the stimulation of alternative uses of domestic grain and oilseeds, the promotion of national security through greater energy independence, and the encouragement of rural economic development.
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: Schnepf, Randy
System: The UNT Digital Library
Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research (open access)

Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research

This report discusses: The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program NEHRP; earthquake hazards and risk in the United States; federal programs that support earthquake monitoring; the U.S. capability to detect earthquakes and issue notifications and warnings; and federally supported research to improve the fundamental scientific understanding of earthquakes with a goal of reducing U.S. vulnerability.
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: Folger, Peter
System: The UNT Digital Library
The European Union: Leadership Changes Resulting from the Lisbon Treaty (open access)

The European Union: Leadership Changes Resulting from the Lisbon Treaty

This report discusses EU foreign policy decisions of a political or security-related nature that require unanimous intergovernmental agreement among the 27 member states. And many other issues which may relate to external affairs, however, EU members have agreed to pool their decision-making sovereignty. A number of additional EU actors often have particular relevance in these matters.
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: Mix, Derek E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iraq: Oil and Gas Sector, Revenue Sharing, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Iraq: Oil and Gas Sector, Revenue Sharing, and U.S. Policy

This report reviews policy proposals and interim contracts, analyzes the positions of various Iraqi political actors, and discusses potential implications for U.S. foreign policy goals in Iraq.
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iraq: Politics, Elections, and Benchmarks (open access)

Iraq: Politics, Elections, and Benchmarks

This report provides an overview of Iraq's political transition from the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein to a plural polity that encompasses varying sects and ideological and political factions. This report also addresses ongoing governmental instabilities and their causes, as well as U.S. concerns about possible Iranian influence in Iraq as U.S. forces depart the country.
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Islam: Sunnis and Shiites (open access)

Islam: Sunnis and Shiites

This report includes a historical background of the Sunni-Shiite split and discusses the differences in religious beliefs and practices between and within each Islamic sect as well as their similarities. The report also relates Sunni and Shiite religious beliefs to discussions of terrorism and sectarian violence that may be of interest during the 111th Congress.
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Poverty in the United States: 2008 (open access)

Poverty in the United States: 2008

This report examines poverty in the United States. In 2008, 39.8 million people were counted as poor in the United States - an increase of 2.6 million persons from 2007, and nearly the largest number of persons counted as poor since 1960. The poverty rate, or percent of the population considered poor under the official definition, was reported at 13.2%; this is up from 12.5% in 2007, and is the highest rate since 1997. The recent increase in poverty reflects the worsening of economic conditions since the onset of the economic recession in December 2007. Many expect poverty to rise further next year, and it will likely remain comparatively high even after the economy begins to recover. The incidence of poverty varies widely across the population according to age, education, labor force attachment, family living arrangements, and area of residence, among other factors.
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: Gabe, Thomas
System: The UNT Digital Library
Syria: Background and U.S. Relations (open access)

Syria: Background and U.S. Relations

This report discusses the recent conflict in Syria including an overview of the situation, information about anti- and pro-Asad forces, background on chemical weapons and disarmament, plans for U.S. policy and assistance, and a general sense of the future outlook.
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Clean Air After the CAIR Decision: MultiPollutant Approaches to Controlling Powerplant Emissions (open access)

Clean Air After the CAIR Decision: MultiPollutant Approaches to Controlling Powerplant Emissions

This report discusses the MultiPollutant approaches to controlling Powerplant emissions regarding Clean Air after the Clean Air Interstate Rule(CAIR) decision.
Date: March 4, 2010
Creator: McCarthy, James E.; Parker, Larry & Meltz, Robert
System: The UNT Digital Library