Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance (open access)

Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance

This report discusses the current political state of Afghanistan, as well as the Afghan government. This report also discusses Afghanistan's relationship with the United States, particularly U.S. efforts to urge President Hamid Karzai to address corruption within the Afghan government.
Date: January 11, 2010
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Automatic Cost of Living Adjustments: Some Economic and Practical Considerations (open access)

Automatic Cost of Living Adjustments: Some Economic and Practical Considerations

This report looks at how automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) influence the budget and identifies major programs that have indexing provisions. It also explains what price indexes attempt to measure and discusses some of their weaknesses. Finally, it points out some practical things to keep in mind when establishing an indexing provision.
Date: January 11, 2010
Creator: Cashell, Brian W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Central Asia: Regional Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests (open access)

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

This report discusses the current status of Central Asian states and U.S. policy, which has been aimed at facilitating their cooperation with U.S. and NATO stabilization efforts in Afghanistan and their efforts to combat terrorism, proliferation, and trafficking in arms, drugs, and persons. Congress will be considering an increase in support for the programs in Central Asia.
Date: January 11, 2010
Creator: Nichol, Jim
System: The UNT Digital Library
CRS Issue Statement on Agriculture Appropriations (open access)

CRS Issue Statement on Agriculture Appropriations

This report discusses about the agricultural appropriations bill that is formally known as the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related agencies Appropriations Act.
Date: January 11, 2010
Creator: Monke, Jim
System: The UNT Digital Library
CRS Issue Statement on Animal Welfare (open access)

CRS Issue Statement on Animal Welfare

This report discusses the questions whether additional measures are needed to protect the health and well-being of animals.
Date: January 11, 2010
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Gangs in Central America (open access)

Gangs in Central America

This report describes the gang problem in Central America, discusses country and regional approaches to deal with the gangs, and analyzes U.S. policy with respect to gangs in Central America.
Date: January 11, 2010
Creator: Seelke, Clare Ribando
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Statutory Provisions and Recent Legal Issues (open access)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Statutory Provisions and Recent Legal Issues

This report examines the major provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and legal issues that have risen.
Date: January 11, 2010
Creator: Jones, Nancy Lee
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Supreme Court Decisions (open access)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Supreme Court Decisions

None
Date: January 11, 2010
Creator: Jones, Nancy Lee & Toland, Carol J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Medicare Physician Payment Updates and the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) System (open access)

Medicare Physician Payment Updates and the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) System

None
Date: January 11, 2010
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Water Infrastructure Funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (open access)

Water Infrastructure Funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

This report identifies funding for water infrastructure programs and projects included in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5). The legislation directs additional appropriations to a number of existing federal programs that either directly invest in water infrastructure projects or provide assistance to states and localities for such activities.
Date: January 11, 2010
Creator: Copeland, Claudia; Carter, Nicole T.; Cody, Betsy A. & Stubbs, Megan
System: The UNT Digital Library
Foreign Direct Investment: Current Issues (open access)

Foreign Direct Investment: Current Issues

This report presents an overview of current issues related to foreign direct investment in the economy and the development of U.S. policy toward inward and outward direct investment. This report also assesses the role of foreign direct investment in the economy and the costs and benefits of direct investment.
Date: February 11, 2010
Creator: Jackson, James K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Security Issues and Implications for U.S. Interests (open access)

Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Security Issues and Implications for U.S. Interests

This report discusses the internal and external security concerns of the South Caucasus states and U.S. interests and policy toward the region. The countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are generally considered as comprising the South Caucasus region, which borders Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
Date: March 11, 2010
Creator: Nichol, Jim
System: The UNT Digital Library
Central Asia's Security: Issues and Implications for U.S. Interests (open access)

Central Asia's Security: Issues and Implications for U.S. Interests

This report discusses the internal and external security concerns of the Central Asian states. Security concerns faced by the states include mixes of social disorder, crime, corruption, terrorism, ethnic and civil conflict, border tensions, water and transport disputes, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and trafficking in illegal narcotics and persons.
Date: March 11, 2010
Creator: Nichol, Jim
System: The UNT Digital Library
Chile Earthquake: U.S. and International Response (open access)

Chile Earthquake: U.S. and International Response

This report discusses the Earthquake in Chile, the current condition, the response from Chilean government, international humanitarian response, as well as the U.S. humanitarian response. The report provides background information on Chile and U.S. relations and policy issues.
Date: March 11, 2010
Creator: Beittel, June S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Everglades Restoration: The Federal Role in Funding (open access)

Everglades Restoration: The Federal Role in Funding

None
Date: March 11, 2010
Creator: Stern, Charles V.; Sheikh, Pervaze A. & Carter, Nicole T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fiscal Year 2011 Department of Homeland Security Assistance to States and Localities (open access)

Fiscal Year 2011 Department of Homeland Security Assistance to States and Localities

This report provides overview information on the proposed FY2011 budget request for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programs that provide assistance to state and local governments. These programs are primarily used by first responders -- including firefighters, emergency medical personnel, emergency managers, and law enforcement officers -- to provide assistance for training, exercises, the purchase of equipment, and other support for terrorism and disaster preparedness and response activities.
Date: March 11, 2010
Creator: Reese, Shawn
System: The UNT Digital Library
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): Issues for the 111th Congress (open access)

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): Issues for the 111th Congress

This report is categorized into six categories: (I) Introduction, (II) FOIA History, (III) The George W. Bush Administration, (IV) 110TH Congress Legislative Reform Efforts, (V) The Obama Administration, and (VI) FOIA and the 111th Congress.
Date: March 11, 2010
Creator: Ginsberg, Wendy R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iceland's Financial Crisis (open access)

Iceland's Financial Crisis

This report discusses the banking collapse in Iceland. Iceland's banking system had collapsed as a result of a culmination of a series of decisions the banks made that left them highly exposed to disruptions in financial markets. The collapse of the banks raised questions for U.S. leaders and others about supervising banks that operate across national borders, especially as it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish the limits of domestic financial markets.
Date: March 11, 2010
Creator: Jackson, James K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses (open access)

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

This report discusses the reasons that Iran is considered a threat to U.S. security, including Iran's nuclear program, involvement with terrorist organizations, and involvement with neighboring countries' local governments. The report also discusses ways which the U.S. hopes to modify Iran's behavior with sanctions, and the effectiveness of these sanctions.
Date: March 11, 2010
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Limiting Central Government Budget Deficits: International Experiences (open access)

Limiting Central Government Budget Deficits: International Experiences

This report focuses on how major developed and emerging-market country governments, particularly the G-20 and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, limit their fiscal deficits.
Date: March 11, 2010
Creator: Jackson, James K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Moldova: Background and U.S. Policy (open access)

Moldova: Background and U.S. Policy

This report provides information and analysis on Moldova, including its political and economic situation, foreign policy, and on U.S. policy toward Moldova.
Date: March 11, 2010
Creator: Woehrel, Steven
System: The UNT Digital Library
The OECD Initiative on Tax Havens (open access)

The OECD Initiative on Tax Havens

This report examines the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and its role in changes to U.S. laws related to bribery, tax havens.
Date: March 11, 2010
Creator: Jackson, James K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Trade Agreements: Impact on the U.S. Economy (open access)

Trade Agreements: Impact on the U.S. Economy

This report examines the major features of economic models being used to estimate the effects of trade agreements. It assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the models as an aid in helping Congress evaluate the economic impact of trade agreements on the U.S. economy.
Date: March 11, 2010
Creator: Jackson, James K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-Japan Economic Relations: Significance, Prospects, and Policy Options (open access)

U.S.-Japan Economic Relations: Significance, Prospects, and Policy Options

his report explores the significance and state of U.S.-Japan economic ties; how the ties have changed over time; and what the possible options for managing the relationship might be.
Date: March 11, 2010
Creator: Cooper, William H.
System: The UNT Digital Library