President George W. Bush has stated that tax reform will be one of his top priorities in the 109th Congress. Some form of a valueadded tax (VAT) has been frequently discussed as a replacement to the U.S. income tax system. In addition, some Members of Congress have expressed interest in the feasibility of using a value-added tax to finance health care reform.

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This report discusses the "oil-for-food" program (OFFP) as the centerpiece of a long-standing U.N. Security Council effort to alleviate human suffering in Iraq while maintaining key elements of the 1991 Gulf war-related sanctions regime. The program, in operation from December 1996 until March 2003, is detailed.

Among the recommendations made by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission) in its final report was the creation of a board within the executive branch to oversee adherence to guidelines on, and the commitment to defend, civil liberties by the federal government. This report examines the realization of this recommendation with the creation of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, and efforts in the 109th Congress to refine the mandate and the mission of the board (H.R. 1310). This report will be updated as events warrant.

Britain's Prime Minister Blair assumed the rotating presidency of the G8 group of nations (see text box) in January 2005, and he intends to use the July 2005 G8 summit, which he will chair, to push his Africa development initiative. Climate change will be the second focus of the G8 meeting, being called the "Gleneagles summit." The purpose of this report is to provide background on Africa, the G8, and the Gleneagles meeting. It outlines the British proposals and the U.S. reaction to them to date. In addition, it briefly reviews the problems that have inhibited African development and the response to those problems at previous G8 meetings. For additional information, see CRS Report RL32489, Africa: Development Issues and Policy Options, and CRS Issue Brief IB95052, Africa: U.S. Foreign Assistance Issues.

In the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 (P.L. 104-182), Congress authorized a drinking water state revolving loan fund (DWSRF) program to help public water systems finance infrastructure projects needed to comply with federal drinking water regulations and to protect public health. Under the program, states receive capitalization grants to make loans to water systems for drinking water projects and certain other SDWA activities. Since the program was first funded in FY1997, Congress has provided $7.8 billion, including roughly $844 million for FY2005. The President has requested $850 million for FY2006. Through June 2004, the DWSRF program had provided $7.9 billion in assistance and had supported 6,500 projects.

This report provides an overview of the major issues which have been raised recently in the Senate regarding the Judicial Nominations, Filibusters, and the Constitution: When a Majority Is Denied Its Right to Consent and in the press concerning the constitutionality of a Senate filibuster (i.e., extended debate) of a judicial nomination.

Most countries banned U.S. beef after the December 2003 U.S. report of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease) in a Canadian-born cow. Several of these markets have partially reopened. However, Japan and Korea, which together had purchased 57% (by value) of all U.S. beef exports in 2003, remain closed.

Under current law, churches and other IRC § 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations are prohibited from engaging in such activity and risk losing their tax-exempt status if they do. While this outcome is rare, it is possible. This report provides an overview of the current tax and campaign finance law relevant to this legislation, a discussion of how each bill would amend current law, and a chart that compares the bills.

Memorandum regarding initiatives for the DoD in promoting better communications amongst combatant commanders of different military branches when using AF installations to protect AF interests.

Disregard Restriction Header and Footer - Memo from the Department of the Army for Chairman, Infrastructure Steering Group. Proposed BRAC Principles

Disregard Restriction Header and Footer - Documenet about the Air Force Base Closure Executive Group (BCEG) charter. It describes the BCEG's reponsibilities in accordance to DoD and AF policy in regard to any BRAC reconmmendation to Air Force instalations.

Disregard Restriction Header and Footer - Memorandum from the Department of the Army for Chairman, Infrastructure Executive Council.

Disregard Restriction Header and Footer - Memorandum from the Under Secretary of Defense for Secretaries of the Military Departments; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Under Secretaries of Defense; Combatant Commanders; Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration; Director, Operational Test and Evaluation Assistants to the Secretary of Defense; Director, Administration and Management; Director, Force Transformation; Director, Net Assessment; Director, Program Analysis and Evaluation; Directors of the Defense Agencies; President, National Defense University. List of key transformational options for stationing and supporting forces and functions that you judge will rationalize our infrastructure consistent with defense strategy and contribute to increased efficiency and effectiveness.

Disregard restriction header and footer - Memorandum from the Secretary of the Air Force to Mr. Steve Rogers and Bill Booth to state that he is appointing both to be members of the BCEG along with a list of other members.

Visit to Charleston South Carolina, dated 7 June 2005 DFAS, Charleston, SC and NAVFAC South Engineering Field Division, SC

Disregard Restriction Header and Footer - Memorandum from the Department of the Army for Chairman, Infrastructure Steering Group. A list of priniciples and corresponding considerations that must be followed during the BRAC process.

Disregard Restriction Header and Footer - Memorandum from the Department of the Army, Office of the Deputy Cheif of Staff for the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (USD(AT&L)))

Memorandum on the transformation through base realignment and closure.

Disregard Restriction Header and Footer- BRAC 2005 Guidance for the Joint Cross-Service Group Analysis of Defense Agency Functions, detailing process and requirements of each agency.

Letters from the Niagra Falls Community to the Commission concerning Niagra Falls AFB.

Disregard Restriction Header and Footer - Memorandum from the Department of Army for the Chairman, Infrastructure Steering Group. Includes Army BRAC Priniples; Army Imperatives: Project Power; Army Imperatives: Train; Army Imperatives: Sustain; Army Imperatives: Enhance Readiness; Army Imperatives: Enhance Well-Being

Letters from the Niagra Falls (NY) Community to the Commission concerning the Niagra Falls Air Force Reserve Base.