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Oman: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Oman: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy

This report describes the relationship between the United States and the Sultanate of Oman, especially with respect to Oman's support of U.S. efforts toward peace in the Middle East, the U.S. free trade agreement with Oman, and Oman's relatively close relations with Iran, the last of which seems incongruous with the other positive aspects of Oman's relationship with the U.S.
Date: March 1, 2011
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation: Background and Analysis (open access)

Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation: Background and Analysis

This report discusses commercial ties between the United States and the 27-member European Union. These ties are substantial, growing, and mutually beneficial, but differences in regulatory approaches limit an even more integrated marketplace from developing. This report is intended to serve as an introduction and primer on this complicated, broad, and often highly technical set of issues.
Date: March 7, 2011
Creator: Ahearn, Raymond J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The U.S. Trade Deficit, the Dollar, and the Price of Oil (open access)

The U.S. Trade Deficit, the Dollar, and the Price of Oil

This report analyzes the relationship between the dollar and the price of oil and how the two might interact. This report provides an assessment of the impact a range of prices of imported oil could have on the U.S. trade deficit.
Date: March 2, 2011
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Administering Green Programs in Congress: Issues and Options (open access)

Administering Green Programs in Congress: Issues and Options

This report discusses "green" programs and the higher profile they have gained since the 110th Congress. "Green" programs are those designed to create an environmentally friendly work environment and conserve energy. This report discusses initiatives and policy options that would improve the "greening" process on Capitol Hill.
Date: March 11, 2011
Creator: Straus, Jacob R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Dispute Settlement in the World Trade Organization (WTO): An Overview (open access)

Dispute Settlement in the World Trade Organization (WTO): An Overview

This report describes the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), which is the World Trade Organization's (WTO) means of resolving disputes arising under WTO agreements. The report includes criticisms of certain flaws in the DSU, as well as WTO Members' suggestions for improvement. The report also describes the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which represents the United States in WTO disputes. Also discussed are pieces of legislation that dictate procedures for specifically the United States in instances of WTO disputes.
Date: March 10, 2011
Creator: Grimmett, Jeanne J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Congressional Budget Process: A Brief Overview (open access)

The Congressional Budget Process: A Brief Overview

The term "budget process," when applied to the federal government, actually refers to a number of processes that have evolved separately and that occur with varying degrees of coordination. This overview, and the accompanying flow chart, are intended to describe in brief each of the parts of the budget process that involve Congress, clarify the role played by each, and explain how they operate together. They include the President's budget submission, the budget resolution, reconciliation, sequestration, authorizations, and appropriations.
Date: March 3, 2011
Creator: Saturno, James V.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations (open access)

Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations

This report discusses the current state of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its current relationship with the United States, and future initiatives to further develop U.S.-Saudi relations.
Date: March 10, 2011
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
Object Type: Report
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 15, 2011
Creator: Dagne, Ted
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues (open access)

U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues

This report reviews the ongoing programs that will affect the expected size and shape of the U.S. strategic nuclear force structure. It begins with an overview of this force structure during the Cold War, and summarizes the reductions and changes that have occurred since 1991. It then offers details about each category of delivery vehicle, focusing on their current deployments and ongoing and planned modernization programs. The report concludes with a discussion of issues related to decisions about the future size and shape of the U.S. strategic nuclear force.
Date: March 10, 2011
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
War in Afghanistan: Strategy, Operations, and Issues for Congress (open access)

War in Afghanistan: Strategy, Operations, and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the ongoing U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, begun in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The report, which will be updated as events warrant, describe and analyzes several issues, including the key players in the war in Afghanistan; the strategic outlooks of the Afghan government, the U.S. government, and NATO; and the threats to the security and stability of the Afghan state and its people.
Date: March 9, 2011
Creator: Dale, Catherine
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Access to Broadband Networks: The Net Neutrality Debate (open access)

Access to Broadband Networks: The Net Neutrality Debate

This report discusses the continued debate amongst congressional policymakers regarding telecommunications reform. A major point of the ongoing discussion is whether action is needed to ensure unfettered access to the Internet.
Date: March 15, 2011
Creator: Gilroy, Angele A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
National Flood Insurance Program: Background, Challenges, and Financial Status (open access)

National Flood Insurance Program: Background, Challenges, and Financial Status

In 1968, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to address the increasing costs of taxpayer-funded disaster relif for flood victims and the increasing amount of damage caused by floods. This report provides an analysis of the NFIP and its financial status; summarizes the major challenges facing the program, including issues affecting its long-term financial solvency; presents some alternative approaches for managing and financing the flood losses; and describes pending legislation on this issue.
Date: March 4, 2011
Creator: King, Rawle O.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
How Legislation Is Brought to the House Floor: A Snapshot of Recent Parliamentary Practice (open access)

How Legislation Is Brought to the House Floor: A Snapshot of Recent Parliamentary Practice

The House of Representatives has several different parliamentary procedures through which it can bring legislation to the chamber floor. Which will be used in a given situation depends on many factors, including the type of measure being considered, its cost, the amount of political or policy controversy surrounding it, and the degree to which Members want to debate it and propose amendments. This report provides a statistical snapshot of the forms, origins, and party sponsorship of these measures, and of the parliamentary procedures used to bring them to the chamber floor during their initial consideration.
Date: March 9, 2011
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians (open access)

Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians

This report collects statistics from a variety of sources on casualties sustained during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), which began on October 7, 2001, and is ongoing. OEF actions take place primarily in Afghanistan, but OEF casualties also include American casualties in other countries, listed within this report.
Date: March 10, 2011
Creator: Chesser, Susan G.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2011 (open access)

Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2011

This report summarizes the FY2011 budget request for research & development (R&D) funding, including comparisons to R&D funding requests in the FY2010 budget. Congress will play a central role in defining the nation's R&D priorities, especially with respect to two overarching issues: the extent to which the Federal R&D investment can grow in the context of increased pressure on discretionary spending and how available funding will be prioritized and allocated. This report breaks down in detail the various aspects of the President's FY2011 R&D funding request.
Date: March 10, 2011
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy SSBN(X) Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy SSBN(X) Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the Navy's plan to develop and design a class of 12 next-generation ballistic missile submarines, or SSBN(X)s, as replacements for the 14 Ohio class SSBNs currently in operation. The report explores certain related issues for Congress, including the affordability of the project and its potential impact on other Navy shipbuilding programs, alternatives to the program, and which shipyard or shipyards will build the proposed ships.
Date: March 10, 2011
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2011 Appropriations (open access)

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2011 Appropriations

This report provides an overview of actions taken by Congress to provide FY2011 appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS). It also provides an overview of FY2010 appropriations for agencies and bureaus funded under the CJS bill.
Date: March 21, 2011
Creator: James, Nathan; Gonzales, Oscar R. & Williams, Jennifer D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Multilateral Development Banks: Overview and Issues for Congress (open access)

Multilateral Development Banks: Overview and Issues for Congress

Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are international institutions that provide financial assistance, typically in the form of loans and grants, to developing countries in order to promote economic and social development. This report provides an overview of the MDBs and highlights major current issues for Congress. The first section discusses the history of the MDBs, their operations, major donor contributions, and their organization. The second section discusses issues of particular interest to Congress, including the effectiveness of the MDBs; congressional legislation authorizing and appropriating U.S. contributions to the MDBs; congressional oversight of the MDBs; and U.S. commercial interests in the MDBs.
Date: March 7, 2011
Creator: Nelson, Rebecca M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2011 Budget and Appropriations (open access)

State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2011 Budget and Appropriations

This report analyzes the FY2011 request, recent-year funding trends, and congressional action related to FY2011 State-Foreign Operations legislation.
Date: March 23, 2011
Creator: Lawson, Marian Leonardo; Epstein, Susan B. & Resler, Tamara J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP): Implementation and Status (open access)

Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP): Implementation and Status

The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) was created by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act1 (EESA) enacted on October 3, 2008, to address the ongoing financial crisis. This report provides a brief outline of the programs created under TARP, recent changes made by Congress, and a summary of the current status and estimated costs of the program. It also provides an Appendix that contains detailed discussions of the individual TARP programs. This report will be updated as warranted by market and legislative events.
Date: March 4, 2011
Creator: Webel, Baird
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress (open access)

Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has statutory authority to regulate chemical facilities for security purposes. The 112th Congress extended this authority through March 18, 2011. Debate continues in Congress over whether to let this extension expire or continue funding the authority. This report provides a brief overview of the existing statutory authority and the regulation implementing this authority. It describes several policy issues raised in previous debates regarding chemical facility security and identifies policy options for congressional consideration. Finally, legislation in the 112th Congress is discussed.
Date: March 8, 2011
Creator: Shea, Dana A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Tsunami Programs: A Brief Overview (open access)

U.S. Tsunami Programs: A Brief Overview

This report discusses U.S. warning systems and related disaster management programs in place to prepare for and react to tsunamis. This issue is discussed in relation to the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan.
Date: March 18, 2011
Creator: Folger, Peter
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Refined Product Reserves: Authorization and Drawdown Policy (open access)

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Refined Product Reserves: Authorization and Drawdown Policy

This report discusses the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in the Energy Policy and Consevation Act, which was authorized to help prevent a repetition of the economic dislocation caused by the 1973-1974 Arab oil embargo. The Government Accountability Office recently observed that the proportion of crude oil grades in the SPR has been growing less compatible with the heavier grades of crude oil that U.S. refineries have been upgrading to handle. This finding has raised questions about the SPR's effectiveness during a long-term oil disruption involving heavy oil.
Date: March 11, 2011
Creator: Andrews, Anthony & Pirog, Robert
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Veterans Affairs: A Preliminary Analysis of the FY2012 Appropriations Request (open access)

Veterans Affairs: A Preliminary Analysis of the FY2012 Appropriations Request

This report provides a preliminary analysis of the President's budget request for FY2012 for the programs administered by the VA. This report is not an exhaustive discussion of VA's budget request for FY2012. A full CRS report on FY2012 VA budget and appropriations issues is planned after initial congressional consideration of appropriations legislation.
Date: March 15, 2011
Creator: Scott, Christine & Panangala, Sidath Viranga
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library