Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused widespread damage and destruction to wetlands along the central Gulf Coast. Prior to these hurricanes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been seeking approval from the 109th Congress for a $1.1 billion multiyear program to construct five projects that would help to restore portions of the coastal Louisiana ecosystem by slowing the rate of wetland loss and restoring some wetlands. This funding would also be used to continue planning several other related projects. The state of Louisiana and several federal agencies have participated in the development of this program. This report introduces this program, discusses whether it might have muted the impacts of a hurricane of the magnitude and paths of Katrina or Rita, and whether the devastation caused by both hurricanes might cause the Corps and other restoration supporters to propose either altering aspects of this proposed program, or expanding it.

This report discusses the Voyager 2, which was launched on August 20, 1977, from Cape Canaveral. Their current mission is to extend the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) exploration of the outermost edge of the solar system and the region where the sun’s influence ends.

Companies unfamiliar with the federal procurement process may find useful information at several government websites, including those of the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA). Usually, agency solicitations for goods and services valued at amounts over $25,000 may be found on the government’s Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. While the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) posted several hurricane recovery related solicitations on FedBizOpps following Hurricane Katrina, some agencies may be posting solicitations, and offering other types of access to contracting opportunities, on their individual websites.

The Davis-Bacon Act is one of several statutes that deals with federal government procurement. Enacted in 1931, Davis-Bacon requires, inter alia, that not less than the locally prevailing wage be paid to workers engaged in federal contract construction. This report reviews the several cases during which the Davis-Bacon Act was suspended and will likely be updated as developments make necessary.

In recent years conflicting budget priorities and divided political control have accentuated the institutional tensions between the executive and legislative branches inherent in the federal budget process. President Bush, like his recent predecessors, has called for an item veto, or possibly expanded impoundment authority, to provide him with greater control over federal spending. This report provides a brief history of impoundment and discusses the debate surrounding the line item veto.

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