Serial/Series Title

Capital Punishment Legislation in the 110th Congress: A Sketch (open access)

Capital Punishment Legislation in the 110th Congress: A Sketch

This report is a sketch on Capital Punishment Legislation in the 110th Congress.
Date: October 15, 2008
Creator: Doyle, Charles
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Americans with Disabilities Act and Emergency Preparedness and Response (open access)

The Americans with Disabilities Act and Emergency Preparedness and Response

The Americans with Disabilities Act provides broad nondiscrimination protection for individuals with disabilities in employment, public services, and public accommodations and serves operated by private entities. Although the ADA does not include provisions specifically discussing its application to disasters, its nondiscrimination provisions are applicable to emergency preparedness and responses to disasters. In order to further the ADA's goals, President Bush issued an Executive Order on July 22nd, 2004, relating to emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities and establishing the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities. The Department of Homeland Security issued its Nationwide Plan Review Phase 2 Report, which includes a discussion of people with disabilities and emergency planning and readiness. The National Council on Disability has also issued a recommendation on emergency preparation and disaster relief relating to individuals with disabilities. The post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 added the position of Disability Coordinator to FEMA.
Date: October 15, 2008
Creator: Jones, Nancy Lee
System: The UNT Digital Library
Access to Paper Currency by Visually Impaired Individuals: The American Council of the Blind v. Paulson (open access)

Access to Paper Currency by Visually Impaired Individuals: The American Council of the Blind v. Paulson

In May 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued a decision in The American Council of the Blind v. Paulson. The court held that under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Treasury Department of the U.S. government discriminates against blind and visually impaired individuals through the issuance of currency in denominations which are not readily distinguishable by touch. The Treasury Department did not file an appeal of the decision, and the case was remanded to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to address the American Council of the Blind’s request for injunctive relief. The House Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology held a hearing on this issue on July 30, 2008. This report discusses the court of appeals’ decision and factors and viewpoints by affected parties that may have implications for a proposed remedy.
Date: October 15, 2008
Creator: Toland, Carol
System: The UNT Digital Library
Missing Adults: Background, Federal Programs, and Issues for Congress (open access)

Missing Adults: Background, Federal Programs, and Issues for Congress

The first section of this report discusses demographics and record keeping of missing adults and unidentified remains, and some of the factors that may contribute to the disappearance of adults. This section also discusses federally funded databases that are used to track data on missing adults and unidentified individuals. The second section of the report describes the federal programs and initiatives to assist in locating missing adults, including funding data for FY2002 through FY2008, where applicable.
Date: October 15, 2008
Creator: Fernandes-Alcantara, Adrienne L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Death Penalty: Capital Punishment Legislation in the 110th Congress (open access)

The Death Penalty: Capital Punishment Legislation in the 110th Congress

This report provides an overview of the proposals for the capital punishment legislation on death penalty.
Date: October 15, 2008
Creator: Doyle, Charles
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Introduction to the Design of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (open access)

An Introduction to the Design of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit

This report discusses the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which is a federal provision that reduces the income tax liability of taxpayers claiming the credit. These taxpayers are typically investors in real estate development projects that have traded cash for the tax credits to support the production of affordable housing. The credit is intended to lower the financing costs of housing developments so that the rental prices of units can be lower than market rates, and thus, presumably, affordable.
Date: October 15, 2008
Creator: Keightley, Mark P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The U.S. Trade Situation for Fruit and Vegetable Products (open access)

The U.S. Trade Situation for Fruit and Vegetable Products

None
Date: October 15, 2008
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan: Post-War Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

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

This report discusses Afghanistan's political transition, which was completed with the convening of a parliament in December 2005. Since then, insurgent threats to Afghanistan's government have escalated to the point that some experts are questioning the future of U.S. stabilization efforts.
Date: October 15, 2008
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Legislative Branch Staffing, 1954-2007 (open access)

Legislative Branch Staffing, 1954-2007

This report provides data and analysis concerning legislative branch staffing levels since 1954. Legislative branch staff include congressional staff, who work in the House or Senate, and legislative agency staff, who work in a legislative branch agency. At present, there is no legislation pending before Congress to change existing staff arrangements in Congress or legislative branch agencies. As policies and issues before Congress continue to proliferate in volume and complexity, new proposals for change in staffing levels or changes in the balance between congressional staff and legislative agency staff may emerge. This report, which will be updated annually, is one of several CRS products focusing on various aspects of congressional operations and administration.
Date: October 15, 2008
Creator: Petersen, R. Eric
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: October 15, 2008
Creator: Belasco, Amy
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians (open access)

U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians

In response to ongoing financial turmoil that began in the subprime mortgage-backed securities market, the federal government has intervened with private corporations on a large scale and in an ad hoc manner three times from the beginning of 2008 through September 19, 2008. These interventions have prompted questions regarding the taxpayer costs and the sources of funding. The federal government may or may not end up seeing a positive fiscal contribution from the recent interventions. The results of previous government financial interventions are summarized in this report.
Date: October 15, 2008
Creator: Webel, Baird; Weiss, N. Eric & Labonte, Marc
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coverage of Contagious Diseases (open access)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coverage of Contagious Diseases

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), provides broad nondiscrimination protection for individuals with disabilities in employment public services, public accommodations and services operated by private entities, transportation, and telecommunication. This report briefly discusses the Americans with Disabilities Act's statutory provisions relating to contagious diseases and relevant judicial interpretations.
Date: October 15, 2008
Creator: Jones, Nancy Lee
System: The UNT Digital Library