American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics (open access)

American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics

This report is written in response to numerous requests for war casualty statistics and lists of war dead. It provides tables, compiled by sources at the Department of Defense (DOD), indicating the number of casualties among American military personnel serving in principal wars and combat actions.
Date: February 26, 2010
Creator: Leland, Anne & Oboroceanu, Mari-Jana
System: The UNT Digital Library
Distribution of Small Business Ownership and Income by Individual Tax Rates and Selected Policy Issues (open access)

Distribution of Small Business Ownership and Income by Individual Tax Rates and Selected Policy Issues

This report examines how small business owners may be affected by tax increases by exploring what is known about the share of small business owners and of small business income that is subject to the top two marginal income tax rates.
Date: February 26, 2010
Creator: Guenther, Gary
System: The UNT Digital Library
Intelligence Issues for Congress (open access)

Intelligence Issues for Congress

This report discusses the efforts currently underway to improve coordination and encourage better analysis amongst the various agencies within the U.S. Intelligence Community, especially with regard to the ongoing and prominent issue of international terrorism. In particular, this report addresses the false intelligence regarding Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and the current efforts in Iraq and Iran in general.
Date: February 26, 2010
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy CG(X) Cruiser Program: Background for Congress (open access)

Navy CG(X) Cruiser Program: Background for Congress

The Navy's FY2011 budget proposes canceling the CG(X) program as unaffordable and instead building an improved version of the Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) class Aegis destroyer called the Flight III version. This report provides background information on the CG(X) program as it existed prior to its proposed cancellation.
Date: February 26, 2010
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress

This report discusses issues Congress faces regarding the Navy's proposed FY2011 budget, particularly as relating to destroyer procurement plans and programs.
Date: February 26, 2010
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress

The Navy has been procuring Virginia (SSN-774) class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) at a rate of one per year for the past several years, and a total of 12 boats have been procured through FY2010. The Navy's proposed FY2011 budget increases the procurement rate to two boats per year. This report discusses the Navy's proposed FY2011 budget, which requests $3,441.5 million in procurement funding to complete the procurement cost of the 13th and 14th Virginia-class boats.
Date: February 26, 2010
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Veterans' Benefits: Pension Benefit Programs (open access)

Veterans' Benefits: Pension Benefit Programs

This report describes several pension benefit programs for veterans and their families, including the eligibility criteria and current benefit levels.
Date: February 26, 2010
Creator: Scott, Christine & Davis, Carol D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Veterans' Benefits: The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (open access)

Veterans' Benefits: The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program

This report describes Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service (VR&E) program services available to veterans with service-connected disabilities and to their families. It provides information about eligibility and entitlement, the application process, and resources available through other agencies. A brief history of the program is also provided.
Date: February 26, 2010
Creator: Scott, Christine
System: The UNT Digital Library
Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding (open access)

Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding

This report provides a brief legislative history of Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and an overview of the crimes addressed through VAWA. The report concludes with a brief description of the most recent reauthorization of VAWA.
Date: February 26, 2010
Creator: Laney, Garrine P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Department of Defense Food Procurement: Background and Status (open access)

Department of Defense Food Procurement: Background and Status

This report describes the origin, authority, and policy in the procurement of food for the military. Military food items, also known as subsistence items, are generally procured under the auspices of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), an agency of the Department of Defense (DOD) which provides worldwide logistics support for the U.S. military services. Under DLA, DLA Troop Services (formerly the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia) is the inventory control point for food, clothing, textiles, medicines, medical equipment, general and industrial supplies, and services for the military, their eligible dependents, and other non-DOD customers worldwide. DLA Troop Services buys and manages about $13.4 billion worth of food, clothing, textiles, and other products.
Date: February 25, 2010
Creator: Grasso, Valerie Bailey
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the 111th Congress: Conflicting Values and Difficult Choices (open access)

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the 111th Congress: Conflicting Values and Difficult Choices

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Date: February 25, 2010
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.; Corn, M. Lynne; Sheikh, Pervaze A.; Meltz, Robert & Alexander, Kristina
System: The UNT Digital Library
The European Union: Questions and Answers (open access)

The European Union: Questions and Answers

This report provides a summary overview of issues regarding the relationship between the United States and the EU, many of which may be of interest to the second session of the 111th Congress. The global financial crisis and recession has challenged both sides to forge a common response. The United States and EU have a number of lingering trade disputes, but have led the push to liberalize world trade, and have sought to reduce non-tariff and regulatory barriers in the transatlantic marketplace.
Date: February 25, 2010
Creator: Archick, Kristin & Mix, Derek E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Health Reform and the 111th Congress (open access)

Health Reform and the 111th Congress

This report presents basic background information on health insurance that may be useful to legislators considering health insurance reforms. It describes health insurance reform approaches and provides brief descriptions of health insurance reform bills introduced in the 111th Congress.
Date: February 25, 2010
Creator: Chaikind, Hinda
System: The UNT Digital Library
House Committee Markups: Manual of Procedures and Procedural Strategies (open access)

House Committee Markups: Manual of Procedures and Procedural Strategies

This manual examines procedures and strategy related to committee markups and provides sample procedural scripts.
Date: February 25, 2010
Creator: Koempel, Michael L. & Schneider, Judy
System: The UNT Digital Library
Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) Status for Russia and U.S.-Russian Economic Ties (open access)

Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) Status for Russia and U.S.-Russian Economic Ties

This report discusses the issues surrounding whether or not the U.S. should grant Russia permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) following its accession into the World Trade Organization (WTO). The change in Russia's trade status will require legislation to lift the restrictions of Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 as they apply to Russia, which includes the "freedom-of-emigration" requirements of the Jackson-Vanik amendment.
Date: February 24, 2010
Creator: Cooper, William H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Broadband Infrastructure Programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (open access)

Broadband Infrastructure Programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

This report discusses the Implementation and issues related to Broadband Infrastructure Programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Date: February 23, 2010
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cluster Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Cluster Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the background of cluster munitions in the U.S. military, and the current Department of Defense (DOD) and Obama Administration stances on the topic. It also discusses the two major international initiatives to address cluster munitions: the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and negotiations under the U.N. Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW).
Date: February 23, 2010
Creator: Feickert, Andrew & Kerr, Paul K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Free Trade Agreements: Impact on U.S. Trade and Implications for U.S. Trade Policy (open access)

Free Trade Agreements: Impact on U.S. Trade and Implications for U.S. Trade Policy

This report provides background on free trade areas (FTAs) -- arrangements among two or more countries under which they agree to eliminate tariffs and nontariff barriers on trade in goods among themselves -- why countries form them, and how they relate to U.S. trade policy. It also discusses recent developments, the economic impact of FTAs, the relation of FTAs to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and debate points, as well as general conclusions and implications for Congress.
Date: February 23, 2010
Creator: Cooper, William H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Industrial Competitiveness and Technological Advancement: Debate Over Government Policy (open access)

Industrial Competitiveness and Technological Advancement: Debate Over Government Policy

This report discusses congressional interest in the pace of U.S. technological advancement due to its influence on U.S. economic growth, productivity, and international competitiveness. The proper role of the federal government in technology development and the competitiveness of U.S. industry continues to be a topic of congressional debate.
Date: February 23, 2010
Creator: Schacht, Wendy H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Oversight: An Overview (open access)

Congressional Oversight: An Overview

This report highlights several reasons for the expansion of the federal government; discuss a few definitions of oversight; spotlight three essential purposes of oversight; comment upon a few oversight laws and rules; review several important oversight techniques; and identify several incentives and disincentives to the conduct of congressional oversight. The report concludes with summary observations.
Date: February 22, 2010
Creator: Oleszek, Walter J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Jobs for Main Street Act: Education, Training and Direct Assistance Provisions. (open access)

Jobs for Main Street Act: Education, Training and Direct Assistance Provisions.

This report focuses specifically on provisions in the House-passed bill that would support education and training or that would provide direct support to unemployed workers or low-income individuals.
Date: February 22, 2010
Creator: Spar, Karen
System: The UNT Digital Library
The National Commission on Children and Disasters: Overview and Issues (open access)

The National Commission on Children and Disasters: Overview and Issues

This report discusses The National Commission on Children and Disasters whose purpose is to assess the needs of children in the preparation for, response to, and recovery from natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
Date: February 22, 2010
Creator: Keegan, Natalie
System: The UNT Digital Library
Repairing and Reconstructing Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges: The Role of Federal-Aid Highway Assistance (open access)

Repairing and Reconstructing Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges: The Role of Federal-Aid Highway Assistance

This report describes Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) assistance for the repair and reconstruction of disaster-damaged highways and bridges or catastrophic failures (such as a bridge collapse).
Date: February 22, 2010
Creator: Kirk, Robert S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Salaries of Members of Congress: Congressional Votes, 1990-2010 (open access)

Salaries of Members of Congress: Congressional Votes, 1990-2010

The U.S. Constitution, in Article I, Section 6, authorizes compensation for Members of Congress "ascertained by law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States." Throughout American history, Congress has relied on three different methods in adjusting salaries for Members. Standalone legislation was last used to provide increases in 1990 and 1991. It was the only method used by Congress for many years. The second method, under which annual adjustments took effect automatically unless disapproved by Congress, was established in 1975. A third method for adjusting Member pay is congressional action pursuant to recommendations from the President, based on the recommendations of the Citizens' Commission on Public Service and Compensation established in the 1989 Ethics Reform Act.
Date: February 22, 2010
Creator: Brudnick, Ida A.
System: The UNT Digital Library