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Report on the Department of Defense's (DoD) establishment of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) advancements in fighting terrorism, as well as the issues of NORTHCOM's relationship with other agencies within the DoD.

This issue brief views reorganization and management as involving the alteration of the program administrative structure and operations of the executive branch for reasons of efficiency, economy, and direction. The underlying issue is who reorganizes or sets management policy—Congress or the President— and by what authority and, also, for what purpose?

Legislation establishing a Department of Homeland Security includes provisions for an information analysis element within the new department. This report examines the information analysis function and the sharing of information among federal agencies but does not address provisions in the proposed legislation governing the sharing of intelligence with state and local officials.

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Financial distress is most common among lower-income families, but its incidence has grown in all income brackets. This trend suggests that explanations for the rise in consumer bankruptcy filings are more likely to be found in micro-analysis of individuals and groups of debtors than in macroeconomic indicators. This report presents statistics on bankruptcy filings, household debt, and households in financial distress.

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At the second Summit of the Americas in Santiago, Chile (April 1998), 34 Western Hemisphere nations agreed to initiate formal negotiations to create a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) by 2005. The process so far has led to two draft texts, the second completed for the November 1, 2002 trade ministerial in Quito, Ecuador. A year later, the third draft is expected at the eighth trade ministerial scheduled for November 17-21, 2003 in Miami. Although implementing legislation is not anticipated until the next Congress, for an FTAA to be signed in January 2005, the 108th Congress will play a crucial role during this last phase of the negotiations given its expanded consultative and oversight authority as defined in the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) provisions of the Trade Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-210). This report will be updated periodically.

This report addresses the Department of Defense's role of Homeland Security.

This report describes security classification policy and procedure, largely prescribed in a series of successive presidential executive orders issued over the past 50 years. This policy provides the rationale and arrangements for designating information officially secret for reasons of national security, and for its declassification as well.

Weekly newspaper from Rusk, Texas that includes local, state and national news along with extensive advertising.

Bill introduced by the Texas House of Representatives relating to the funding of and the making of grants by the Texas Council on Environmental Technology.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the determination of incompetency in criminal and juvenile justice cases.

Concurrent resolution introduced by the Texas Senate and House of Representatives relating to memorializing Congress to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that the volume cap for private activity bonds not apply to bonds for water and wastewater facilities.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the euthanasia of an animal by an animal shelter; providing criminal penalties.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to information that must be included in the adjutant general's annual report.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to discounts or other forms of pricing flexibility for telecommunications services.