Language

Defense: FY2010 Authorization and Appropriations (open access)

Defense: FY2010 Authorization and Appropriations

This report provides an overview of the administration's fiscal year 2010 budget request. The report discusses base budget, war costs and issues regarding the defense appropriations for FY2010.
Date: December 14, 2009
Creator: Towell, Pat
System: The UNT Digital Library
Department of Defense Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Background and Analysis (open access)

Department of Defense Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Background and Analysis

The Department of Defense (DOD) increasingly relies upon contractors to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, which has resulted in a DOD workforce in those countries comprising approximately a comparable number of contractors (218,000) as uniformed personnel (195,000). This report discusses the issues raised by this fact including (1) what role contractors should play in contingency operations, (2) whether DOD is gathering and analyzing the right data on the use of contractors, (3) what steps DOD is taking to improve contract management and oversight, and (4) the extent to which contractors are being effectively included into military doctrine and strategy. The report examines current contractor trends in Iraq and Afghanistan, the steps DOD has taken to improve contractor oversight and management, and the extent to which DOD has incorporated the role of contractors into its doctrine and strategy. The report also reviews steps Congress has taken to exercise oversight over DOD contracting, including contracting issues that have been the focus of hearings and legislation.
Date: December 14, 2009
Creator: Schwartz, Moshe
System: The UNT Digital Library
Homeland Security Department: FY2010 Appropriations (open access)

Homeland Security Department: FY2010 Appropriations

This report describes the FY2010 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Administration requested a net appropriation of $44.1 billion in budget authority for FY2010. This amounts to a $2.8 billion, or a 6.7% increase over the $41.2 billion enacted for FY2009 (not including supplemental funding). Total budget authority requested by the Administration for DHS for FY2010 amounts to $55.1 billion.
Date: December 14, 2009
Creator: Lake, Jennifer E. & Haddal, Chad C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Import Terminals: Siting, Safety, and Regulation (open access)

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Import Terminals: Siting, Safety, and Regulation

This report provides an overview of recent industry development of new LNG import terminals. The report summarizes LNG hazards and the industry's safety record. It discusses federal laws and regulations related to LNG terminal siting with a focus on the authorities of key federal agencies and safety provisions in the permitting of onshore facilities.
Date: December 14, 2009
Creator: Parfomak, Paul W. & Vann, Adam
System: The UNT Digital Library
The National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility: Issues for Congress (open access)

The National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility: Issues for Congress

This report outlines current progress towards establishment of the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), presents current and projected funding levels and timelines, and describes policy issues of potential interest to Congress, such as agency coordination, possession of viruses, construction timelines, disposition of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), and community safety concerns.
Date: December 14, 2009
Creator: Shea, Dana A.; Monke, Jim & Gottron, Frank
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act: Overview and Issues for Congress (open access)

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act: Overview and Issues for Congress

This report describes Congress's pursuit of postal reform, and summarizes the major provisions of the new postal reform law. The report also suggests PAEA-related oversight issues for Congress. President George W. Bush signed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA; P.L. 109-435; 120 Stat. 3198) on December 20, 2006. The PAEA was the first broad revision of the 1970 statute that replaced the U.S. Post Office with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), a self-supporting, independent agency of the executive branch.
Date: December 14, 2009
Creator: Kosar, Kevin R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Proposals for a Commission to Address the Federal Government’s Long-Term Fiscal Situation (open access)

Proposals for a Commission to Address the Federal Government’s Long-Term Fiscal Situation

None
Date: December 14, 2009
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. International Trade: Trends and Forecasts (open access)

U.S. International Trade: Trends and Forecasts

None
Date: December 14, 2009
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan: Background and Policy Issues (open access)

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan: Background and Policy Issues

This report examines the role of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in Afghanistan and discusses the obstacles the organization faces in coordinating international efforts and explores related policy issues and considerations for the 112th Congress.
Date: December 14, 2009
Creator: Margesson, Rhoda
System: The UNT Digital Library
The United Nations Human Rights Council: Issues for Congress (open access)

The United Nations Human Rights Council: Issues for Congress

This report provides historical background of the Council, including the role of the previous Commission. It discusses the Council's current mandate and structure, as well as U.S. policy and congressional actions.
Date: December 14, 2009
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
System: The UNT Digital Library
Who Regulates Whom? An Overview of U.S. Financial Supervision (open access)

Who Regulates Whom? An Overview of U.S. Financial Supervision

Federal financial regulation in the United States has evolved through a series of piecemeal responses to developments and crises in financial markets. This report provides an overview of current U.S. financial regulation: which agencies are responsible for which institutions and markets, and what kinds of authority they have.
Date: December 14, 2009
Creator: Jickling, Mark & Murphy, Edward V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Consumer Financial Protection by Federal Agencies (open access)

Consumer Financial Protection by Federal Agencies

This report discusses the Obama's administration that proposed creating a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) to focus exclusively on consumer protection. The agency would focus primarily on banking services; institutions and firms regulated by the SEC and CFTC.
Date: October 14, 2009
Creator: Jickling, Mark
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: October 14, 2009
Creator: Chaikind, Hinda
System: The UNT Digital Library
Public Safety Communications and Spectrum Resources: Policy Issues for Congress (open access)

Public Safety Communications and Spectrum Resources: Policy Issues for Congress

This report discusses pieces of legislation passed by Congress that are intended to help surmount failures in public safety radio communications such as insufficient interoperability among radio systems, a problem that hampered rescue efforts on and after September 11; and insufficiently robust networks, a shortcoming revealed after Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005.
Date: October 14, 2009
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Air Force C-17 Aircraft Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Air Force C-17 Aircraft Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information on the C-17 Aircraft program, including previous appropriations, related programs, and issues for Congress.
Date: September 14, 2009
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Climate Change: Costs and Benefits of the Cap-and-Trade Provisions of H.R. 2454 (open access)

Climate Change: Costs and Benefits of the Cap-and-Trade Provisions of H.R. 2454

This report examines seven studies that project the costs of H.R. 2454 to 2030 or beyond. H.R. 2454's climate-related environmental benefit should be considered in a global context and the desire to engage the developing world in the reduction effort.
Date: September 14, 2009
Creator: Parker, Larry & Yacobucci, Brent D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Closing the Guantanamo Detention Center: Legal Issues (open access)

Closing the Guantanamo Detention Center: Legal Issues

This report discusses selected constitutional issues that may arise in the criminal prosecution of detainees, emphasizing the procedural and substantive protections that are utilized in different adjudicatory forums.
Date: September 14, 2009
Creator: Garcia, Michael J.; Bazan, Elizabeth B.; Mason, R. Chuck; Liu, Edward C. & Henning, Anna C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Homeland Security Department: FY2010 Appropriations (open access)

Homeland Security Department: FY2010 Appropriations

This report describes the FY2010 appropriation for the department of homeland security (DHS). This report also contains the a detailed discussion of the president's budget request for DHS.
Date: September 14, 2009
Creator: Lake, Jennifer E. & Haddal, Chad C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Inherently Governmental Functions and Department of Defense Operations: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress (open access)

Inherently Governmental Functions and Department of Defense Operations: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress

None
Date: September 14, 2009
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Syria: Background and U.S. Relations (open access)

Syria: Background and U.S. Relations

None
Date: September 14, 2009
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

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

This report discusses the current political state of Afghanistan, focusing particularly on the influence of the Taliban and other militant groups and on the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. This report also discusses the U.S.-Afghanistan relationship and U.S. efforts under the Obama Administration to provide military, reconstructive, and stabilization aid.
Date: August 14, 2009
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Berry Amendment: Requiring Defense Procurement to Come from Domestic Sources (open access)

The Berry Amendment: Requiring Defense Procurement to Come from Domestic Sources

This report examines the original intent and purpose of the Berry Amendment and legislative proposals to amend the application of domestic source restrictions, as well as options for Congress.
Date: August 14, 2009
Creator: Grasso, Valerie Bailey
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies (open access)

Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies

This list of about 150 congressional liaison offices is intended to help congressional offices in placing telephone calls and addressing correspondence to government agencies. In each case, the information was supplied by the agency itself and is current as of the date of publication. Entries are arranged alphabetically in four sections: legislative branch; judicial branch; executive branch; and agencies, boards, and commissions.
Date: August 14, 2009
Creator: Crane-Hirsch, Audrey Celeste
System: The UNT Digital Library
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell": The Law and Military Policy on Same-Sex Behavior (open access)

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell": The Law and Military Policy on Same-Sex Behavior

This report describes the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" military policy, which holds that the presence in the armed forces of persons who demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in same-sex acts would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion which are the essence of military capability. This report also describes recent efforts by certain Members of Congress to amending this policy.
Date: August 14, 2009
Creator: Burrelli, David F.
System: The UNT Digital Library