Declarations of War and Authorizations for the Use of Military Force: Historical Background and Legal Implications (open access)

Declarations of War and Authorizations for the Use of Military Force: Historical Background and Legal Implications

This report provides historical background on the enactment of declarations of war and authorizations for the use of force and analyzes their legal effects under international and domestic law. It also sets forth their texts in two appendices. Because the statutes that confer standby authority on the President and the executive branch potentially play such a large role in an armed conflict to which the United States is a party, the report includes an extensive listing and summary of the statutes that are triggered by a declaration of war, a declaration of national emergency, and/or the existence of a state of war. The report concludes with a summary of the Congressional procedures applicable to the enactment of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of force and to measures under the War Powers Resolution.
Date: January 14, 2003
Creator: Ackerman, David M. & Grimmett, Richard F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Overview and Selected Issues (open access)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Overview and Selected Issues

This report provides a brief overview of the act with particular attention paid to issues of recent congressional concern, such as funding and private school enrollment.
Date: January 14, 2008
Creator: Apling, Richard N. & Jones, Nancy L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Energy Policy: Setting the Stage for the Current Debate (open access)

Energy Policy: Setting the Stage for the Current Debate

This report discusses the energy policy. Comprehensive energy legislation was introduced in the Senate by both parties by late March (S. 388, S. 389, S. 596, S. 597).
Date: January 14, 2003
Creator: Bamberger, Robert L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
H.R. 2: The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (open access)

H.R. 2: The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009

This report summarizes changes to current law across the major provisions of H.R. 2 that would occur if The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) were enacted.
Date: January 14, 2009
Creator: Baumrucker, Evelyne P.; Herz, Elicia J.; Peterson, Chris L.; Tilson, Sibyl & Gravelle, Jane G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Natural Resources and Environment Function in the FY2000 Federal Budget: A Description of Programs and Funding (open access)

The Natural Resources and Environment Function in the FY2000 Federal Budget: A Description of Programs and Funding

None
Date: January 14, 2000
Creator: Bearden, David M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Biotechnology in Animal Agriculture: Status and Current Issues (open access)

Biotechnology in Animal Agriculture: Status and Current Issues

This report provides information about the Status and Current Issues in Biotechnology in Animal Agriculture which has rapid advances.
Date: January 14, 2008
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S. & Cowan, Tadlock
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Gulf Security Dialogue and Related Arms Sale Proposals (open access)

The Gulf Security Dialogue and Related Arms Sale Proposals

This report describes the structure and objectives of the Gulf Security Dialogue; briefly assesses its regional implications; summarizes related proposed arms sales; provides an overview of congressional notification and review procedures; and analyzes recent related activity in the Administration and Congress.
Date: January 14, 2008
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M. & Grimmett, Richard R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
F-22 Raptor Aircraft Program (open access)

F-22 Raptor Aircraft Program

This report discusses the background information, analysis and the recent developments in the F-22 Raptor Aircraft Program. The F-22 program raises questions about its cost and the need for this aircraft, the capabilities it would have, and the number of these planes needed to meet military requirements. The F-22 has had strong congressional support, although some have criticized the program on grounds of cost, requirements, and coordination with other tactical aircraft programs. Deletion of procurement funds in the FY2000 defense appropriation bill passed by the House made the future of the program a major issue for House and Senate conferees in 1999.
Date: January 14, 2002
Creator: Bolkcom, Christopher
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress (open access)

Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress

None
Date: January 14, 2002
Creator: Bolkcom, Christopher
System: The UNT Digital Library
V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft (open access)

V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft

The V-22 Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft that takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter and flies like a plane by tilting its wing-mounted rotorsto function as propellers. Combining a helicopter’s operational flexibility with the greaterspeed,range, and efficiency of fixed-wing aircraft, the V-22 can perform such missions astroop/cargo transport, amphibious assault, special operations, and search and rescue operations.
Date: January 14, 2002
Creator: Bolkcom, Christopher
System: The UNT Digital Library
School Facilities Infrastructure: Background and Legislative Proposals (open access)

School Facilities Infrastructure: Background and Legislative Proposals

Congressional Research Service (CRS) report entailing information about . Topics include, legislative action, estimates of construction needs, enrollment projections and construction, etc..
Date: January 14, 2003
Creator: Boren, Susan
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act: Background and Summary (open access)

The Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act: Background and Summary

This report discusses the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act, which represents an attempt to clear up the conflicting land claims of three distinct parties in Alaska – the State, Alaska Native Corporations, and Native allottees – in time for the fiftieth anniversary of Alaska’s statehood in 2009.
Date: January 14, 2005
Creator: Brooks, Nathan
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and Federal Water Rights (open access)

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and Federal Water Rights

This report discusses federal authority over water, and federal “reserved” and non-reserved water rights. It discusses water rights under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and water rights provisions within specific designations.
Date: January 14, 2008
Creator: Brougher, Cynthia
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Liability for Hurricane Katrina-Related Flood Damage (open access)

Federal Liability for Hurricane Katrina-Related Flood Damage

This report examines selected issues of the federal government's liability depending on the theory of the levee failures in New Orleans, and analyzes legal defense available to the federal government.
Date: January 14, 2008
Creator: Brougher, Cynthia & Alexander, Kristina
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (open access)

The Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program

This report discusses the Special Inspector General provisions in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, H.R. 1424, which was enacted as P.L. 110-343 on October 3, 2008. This Act created a Special Inspector General (SIG) for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). This report will compare the duties and authorities of the SIG TARP to those of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), as well as statutory IGs under the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended (IG Act).
Date: January 14, 2009
Creator: Burrows, Vanessa K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Crop Insurance: Issues in the 106th Congress (open access)

Federal Crop Insurance: Issues in the 106th Congress

None
Date: January 14, 2000
Creator: Chite, Ralph M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Conservation Reserve Program: Status and Current Issues (open access)

Conservation Reserve Program: Status and Current Issues

The report discusses the Conservative Reserve Program enacted in 1985, that provides payments to farmers to take highly erodible or environmentally sensitive cropland out of production for ten years or more. It also discusses CRP'S several other subprograms.
Date: January 14, 2009
Creator: Cowan, Tadlock
System: The UNT Digital Library
Court Security Improvement Act of 2007: A Legal Analysis of Public Law 110-177 (H.R. 660 and S. 378) (open access)

Court Security Improvement Act of 2007: A Legal Analysis of Public Law 110-177 (H.R. 660 and S. 378)

This report discusses the proposals of the Court Security Improvement Act of 2007. It consists of amendments to existing federal criminal law.
Date: January 14, 2008
Creator: Doyle, Charles
System: The UNT Digital Library
Court Security Improvement Act of 2007: Public Law 110-177 (H.R. 660 and S. 378) in Brief (open access)

Court Security Improvement Act of 2007: Public Law 110-177 (H.R. 660 and S. 378) in Brief

None
Date: January 14, 2008
Creator: Doyle, Charles
System: The UNT Digital Library
William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007 (H.R. 3887 as Passed by the House): Criminal Law Provisions (open access)
U.S. Treatment of Prisoners in Iraq: Selected Legal Issues (open access)

U.S. Treatment of Prisoners in Iraq: Selected Legal Issues

None
Date: January 14, 2005
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Disadvantaged Businesses: A Review of Federal Assistance (open access)

Disadvantaged Businesses: A Review of Federal Assistance

It is the policy of the federal government to encourage the development of small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) owned by minorities and women. SDBs are statutorily defined as small businesses that are owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias and who have limited capital and credit opportunities. This report presents an overview of the major federal programs now in existence and indicates where interested persons can obtain further information about specific programs.
Date: January 14, 2002
Creator: Fauntroy, Michael K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The History and Effect of Abortion Conscience Clause Laws (open access)

The History and Effect of Abortion Conscience Clause Laws

This report describes the history of conscience clauses that allows medical providers to refuse to provide services to which they have moral objection. The report also reviews recent proposed regulations to implement some of the conscience clause laws.
Date: January 14, 2005
Creator: Feder, Jody
System: The UNT Digital Library
Campaign Finance: Legislative Developments and Policy Issues in the 110th Congress (open access)

Campaign Finance: Legislative Developments and Policy Issues in the 110th Congress

This report provides an overview of major legislative and policy developments related to campaign finance during the 110th Congress. The report discusses legislative and oversight hearings and floor action during the period. It also explores major policy issues that are relevant for Congress, but have largely occurred away from Capitol Hill. As of this writing, approximately 50 bills devoted primarily to campaign finance have been introduced in the 110th Congress, but none have become law. A new lobbying and ethics law, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA) contains campaign finance provisions related to "bundled" campaign contributions and campaign travel. That measure is the only campaign finance related bill to become law during the 110th Congress.
Date: January 14, 2008
Creator: Garrett, R. Sam
System: The UNT Digital Library