Iran Sanctions (open access)

Iran Sanctions

This report focuses on the United States' relationship with Iran and how the Obama Administration is handling prior administrations' economic sanctions against Iran. The Obama Administration's policy approach toward Iran has contrasted with the Bush Administration's by attempting to couple the imposition of sanctions to an active and direct U.S. effort to negotiate with Iran on the nuclear issue.
Date: February 27, 2010
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
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. OEF actions took place primarily in Afghanistan; however, OEF casualties also includes American casualties in Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Yemen.
Date: February 26, 2010
Creator: Chesser, Susan G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
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
Asian Carp and the Great Lakes Region (open access)

Asian Carp and the Great Lakes Region

This report is on Asian Carp and the Great Lakes Region.
Date: February 26, 2010
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.; Upton, Harold F. & Stern, Charles V.
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
Illegal Drug Trade in Africa: Trends and U.S. Policy (open access)

Illegal Drug Trade in Africa: Trends and U.S. Policy

This report provides an introduction to the rising drug trafficking threat and discusses the drug trafficking trends in Africa and the U.S. policy.
Date: February 26, 2010
Creator: Wyler, Liana Sun & Cook, Nicolas
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
Potential Implications of a Carbon Offset Program to Farmers and Landowners (open access)

Potential Implications of a Carbon Offset Program to Farmers and Landowners

None
Date: February 26, 2010
Creator: unknown
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

None
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 Parliament (open access)

The European Parliament

This report discusses the construction and history of the European Parliament (EP), its role in functions of the EU as well as internationally, various international supports and criticisms of the EP, and the EP's ties with the U.S. Congress.
Date: February 25, 2010
Creator: Archick, Kristin & Mix, Derek E.
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
Iraq Casualties: U.S. Military Forces and Iraqi Civilians, Police, and Security Forces (open access)

Iraq Casualties: U.S. Military Forces and Iraqi Civilians, Police, and Security Forces

This report presents U.S. military casualties as well as governmental and nongovernmental estimates of Iraqi civilian, police, and security forces casualties.
Date: February 25, 2010
Creator: Fischer, Hannah
System: The UNT Digital Library
War in Afghanistan: Strategy, Military Operations, and Issues for Congress (open access)

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

The character of the war in Afghanistan evolved from a violent struggle against al Qaeda and its Taliban supporters to a multi-faceted counterinsurgency (COIN) effort. This report provides an examination of the war's background, context, and early execution; an analytical discussion of the COIN war to date, including strategy, organization, participation, and key facets of the effort including population security, advising the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), counter-narcotics, reconciliation, community outreach, and civil-military coordination; and an analysis of major strategic and operational issues and options that the 111th Congress may opt to consider.
Date: February 25, 2010
Creator: Bowman, Steve & Dale, Catherine
System: The UNT Digital Library
Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress (open access)

Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress

This report discusses the relationship between the United States and Japan, including Japanese efforts to support the U.S. in the wake of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks and the two countries' economic ties, especially with regards to the recent economic downturn. This report also discusses the general political atmosphere of Japan, including the recent and ongoing political turmoil in Tokyo.
Date: February 24, 2010
Creator: Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Cooper, William H. & Manyin, Mark E.
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