Campaign Finance (open access)

Campaign Finance

Concerns over financing federal elections have become a seemingly perennial aspect of our political system, long centered on the enduring issues of high campaign costs and reliance on interest groups for needed campaign funds. This report contains a summary of campaign finance, recent developments, the evolution of the current system, campaign finance practices and related issues, perceived loopholes in current law, policy options, legislative actions of the 108th and 109th Congresses, and related materials.
Date: March 31, 2006
Creator: Cantor, Joseph E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
United Nations Peacekeeping: Issues for Congress (open access)

United Nations Peacekeeping: Issues for Congress

This report includes information regarding issues for Congress related United Nations peacekeeping and recent developments, background, funding, and various proposals
Date: March 30, 2006
Creator: Browne, Marjorie Ann
System: The UNT Digital Library
United Nations System Funding: Congressional Issues (open access)

United Nations System Funding: Congressional Issues

None
Date: March 30, 2006
Creator: Browne, Marjorie Ann & Bite, Vita
System: The UNT Digital Library
Central Asia: Regional Developments and Implication for U.S. Interests (open access)

Central Asia: Regional Developments and Implication for U.S. Interests

This report provides an overview of U.S. policy concerns regarding countries in central Asia. The report discusses issues such as Fostering Pro-Western Orientations, Obstacles to Peace and Independence, Democratization and Human Rights, Security and Arms Control, Trade and Investment, and provides an Aid Overview.
Date: March 29, 2006
Creator: Nichol, Jim
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Law of the Sea Convention and U.S. Policy (open access)

The Law of the Sea Convention and U.S. Policy

This report provides background and analysis and discusses the most recent regarding the law of the sea convention.
Date: March 28, 2006
Creator: Browne, Marjorie Ann
System: The UNT Digital Library
Renewable Energy: Tax Credit, Budget, and Electricity Production Issues (open access)

Renewable Energy: Tax Credit, Budget, and Electricity Production Issues

Renewable energy is derived from resources that are generally not depleted by human use, such as the sun, wind, and water movement. This report discusses various aspects of policy regarding renewable energy including tax credits and budget legislation.
Date: March 28, 2006
Creator: Sissine, Fred
System: The UNT Digital Library
Energy Efficiency: Budget, Oil Conservation, and Electricity Conservation Issues (open access)

Energy Efficiency: Budget, Oil Conservation, and Electricity Conservation Issues

In the 108th Congress, debate over energy efficiency programs has focused on budget, oil, natural gas, and electricity issues, and provisions in the omnibus energy policy bill, S. 2095, H.R. 6, and S. 14/S. 1149. The Bush Administration’s FY2005 budget request for the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Energy Efficiency Program sought $875.9 million, including $543.9 for R&D and $332.0 million for grants. In the first session, the omnibus energy bill (H.R. 6) had several significant tax and regulatory measures for energy efficiency. It did not pass the Senate due to concerns about cost and an MTBE “safe harbor” provision.
Date: March 27, 2006
Creator: Sissine, Fred
System: The UNT Digital Library
Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations (open access)

Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations

None
Date: March 27, 2006
Creator: Prados, Alfred B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Campaign Finance (open access)

Campaign Finance

This report discusses the concerns over financing federal elections campaigns in the aspect of our political system.
Date: March 23, 2006
Creator: Cantor, Joseph E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Military Medical Care Services: Questions and Answers (open access)

Military Medical Care Services: Questions and Answers

None
Date: March 23, 2006
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nuclear Weapons: Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (open access)

Nuclear Weapons: Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

None
Date: March 22, 2006
Creator: Medalia, Jonathan
System: The UNT Digital Library
Russia (open access)

Russia

None
Date: March 22, 2006
Creator: Goldman, Stuart D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Softwood Lumber Imports from Canada: Issues and Events (open access)

Softwood Lumber Imports from Canada: Issues and Events

This report provides a concise historical account of the dispute over softwood lumber imports from Canada, summarizes the subsidy and injury evidence, and discusses current issues and events.
Date: March 22, 2006
Creator: Gorte, Ross W. & Grimmett, Jeanne J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
China-U.S. Trade Issues (open access)

China-U.S. Trade Issues

U.S.-China economic ties have expanded substantially over the past several years. China is now the third largest U.S. trading partner, its second largest source of imports, and its fourth largest export market. However, U.S.-China commercial ties have been strained by a number of issues, including a surging U.S. trade deficit with China, China's refusal to float its currency, and failure to fully comply with its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments, especially its failure to provide protection for U.S. intellectual property rights (IPR). This report explores these issues in detail, especially concerning the lack of protection for U.S. IPR.
Date: March 21, 2006
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress (open access)

Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress

This report discusses major decisions on clean air issues facing the courts and the executive branch in 2006. One focus will be EPA's recent proposal to strengthen air quality standards for fine particles. Other issues of continuing interest are EPA's 2005 decisions limiting interstate transport of air pollution and establishing cap-and-trade systems for emissions from coal fired power plants, and the agency's proposed changes to New Source Review.
Date: March 21, 2006
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Global Climate Change (open access)

Global Climate Change

This report briefly reviews the status of climate science, international negotiations, and congressional activity focused specifically on climate change.
Date: March 21, 2006
Creator: Justus, John R. & Fletcher, Susan R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lands and National Forests (open access)

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lands and National Forests

This brief focuses on several issues affecting Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service (FS) lands that are of interest to the 109th Congress, and does not comprehensively cover issues primarily affecting other federal lands.
Date: March 20, 2006
Creator: Gorte, Ross W. & Vincent, Carol H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Safe Drinking Water Act: Implementation and Issues (open access)

Safe Drinking Water Act: Implementation and Issues

This report discusses key drinking water issues in the 109th Congress, including problems caused by specific contaminants, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and perchlorate, as well as the related issue of the appropriate federal role in providing financial assistance for water infrastructure projects.
Date: March 20, 2006
Creator: Tiemann, Mary
System: The UNT Digital Library
Space Launch Vehicles: Government Activities, Commercial Competition, and Satellite Exports (open access)

Space Launch Vehicles: Government Activities, Commercial Competition, and Satellite Exports

This report various sides of the debate related to domestic launch services, such as satellite export issues, the development of new launch vehicles by the private sector, and whether tax incentives or loan guarantees should be created for companies attempting to develop lower-cost launch vehicles.
Date: March 20, 2006
Creator: Behrens, Carl E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-European Union Trade Relations: Issues and Policy Challenges (open access)

U.S.-European Union Trade Relations: Issues and Policy Challenges

None
Date: March 17, 2006
Creator: Ahearn, Raymond J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Israel: Background and Relations with the United States (open access)

Israel: Background and Relations with the United States

None
Date: March 16, 2006
Creator: Migdalovitz, Carol
System: The UNT Digital Library
Lebanon (open access)

Lebanon

This report provides background information and analysis on Lebanon. It discusses the political situation and its relation with U.S.
Date: March 16, 2006
Creator: Prados, Alfred B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Middle East Peace Talks (open access)

The Middle East Peace Talks

This report discusses the Middle East peace talks, including the new peace process with the most recent developments,and the war against terrorism.
Date: March 16, 2006
Creator: Migdalovitz, Carol
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress (open access)

Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress

None
Date: March 16, 2006
Creator: Bolkcom, Christopher
System: The UNT Digital Library