Gasoline Prices: Issues for the 110th Congress (open access)

Gasoline Prices: Issues for the 110th Congress

This report discusses potential issues regarding gasoline prices for the 110th Congress. As prices continued to surge, the continuing crisis renewed attention on some issues that were dropped or compromised in the debate over P.L. 109-58, as well as to a number of initiatives to reduce the impact of high prices on consumers.
Date: February 6, 2007
Creator: Behrens, Carl E. & Glover, Carol
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 109th Congress (open access)

Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 109th Congress

Fish and marine mammals are important resources in open ocean and nearshore coastal areas. Many laws and regulations guide the management of these resources by federal agencies. This report contains information on commercial and sport fisheries, aquaculture, and marine mammals and issues related to the 109th Congress.
Date: February 22, 2006
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Endangered Species Act in the 109th Congress: Conflicting Values and Difficult Choices (open access)

The Endangered Species Act in the 109th Congress: Conflicting Values and Difficult Choices

None
Date: February 9, 2005
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.; Corn, M. Lynne; Sheikh, Pervaze A.; Baldwin, Pamela & Meltz, Robert
System: The UNT Digital Library
House Rules Changes Affecting Floor Procedures in the 109th Congress (open access)

House Rules Changes Affecting Floor Procedures in the 109th Congress

On the first day of the 109th Congress, the House agreed to H.Res. 5, which made several rules changes affecting floor proceedings. These modifications include allowing committees to adopt rules giving chairs the general authority to make the motion necessary to send a measure to the conference; adding Wednesdays to the permissible days on which suspension motions may be entertained; eliminating the Corrections Calendar; amending the rules of decorum and debate regarding references to the Senate and its members; and granting the Speaker added authority to postpone votes on certain questions.
Date: February 15, 2005
Creator: Carr, Thomas P. & Rybicki, Elizabeth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Election Reform: Issues and Legislative Proposals in the 109th Congress (open access)

Election Reform: Issues and Legislative Proposals in the 109th Congress

None
Date: February 28, 2007
Creator: Fischer, Eric A. & Coleman, Kevin J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Science and Technology Policy: Issues for the 109th Congress (open access)

Science and Technology Policy: Issues for the 109th Congress

None
Date: February 3, 2006
Creator: Gottron, Frank
System: The UNT Digital Library
The “Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005,” S. 256, in the 109th Congress (open access)

The “Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005,” S. 256, in the 109th Congress

This reports surveys selected provisions that have been of interest to past congresses that have considered comparable legislation.
Date: February 9, 2005
Creator: Jeweler, Robin
System: The UNT Digital Library
Consumer Bankruptcy Reform in the 109th Congress: Background and Issues (open access)

Consumer Bankruptcy Reform in the 109th Congress: Background and Issues

This report reviews the historical context which forms the background for renewed consideration of consumer reform legislation, including a review of the current law and a survey of selected issues that have been the focus of legislative debate in the part, such as the scope of the homeland exemption, nondischargeability for liability current by violent activity, and the protection of child support payments.
Date: February 3, 2005
Creator: Jeweler, Robin
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tax Benefits for Health Insurance: Current Legislation (open access)

Tax Benefits for Health Insurance: Current Legislation

This report discusses a variety of potential proposals to change the tax benefits for health insurance and medical expenses, including measures that would expand the availability and attractiveness of health savings accounts (HSAs), or employer tax credits.
Date: February 6, 2006
Creator: Lyke, Bob
System: The UNT Digital Library
Internet Taxation: Issues and Legislation in the 109th Congress (open access)

Internet Taxation: Issues and Legislation in the 109th Congress

This report discusses issues of state and local taxation of Internet transactions because commerce conducted by parties in different states over the Internet.
Date: February 2, 2006
Creator: Maguire, Steven & Noto, Nonna A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress (open access)

Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress

This report provides background and analysis on several issues related to the Clean Air Act, including: Clear Skies / Multi-Pollutant Legislation, Mercury from Power Plants, New Source Review (NSR), MTBE and Ethanol, Ozone Nonattainment Area Deadlines, and Conformity of Transportation Plans and SIPs. It also discusses the most recent developments.
Date: February 22, 2005
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress (open access)

Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress

The courts and the executive branch face major decisions on clean air issues in 2006, with Congress more likely playing an oversight role. One focus is EPA's Jan. 17 2006 proposal to strengthen air quality standards for fine particles, which are estimated to cause tens of thousands of premature deaths annually. Whether the proposal is supported by the available science and what impact its implementation would have have likely issues of concern. Other issues of continuing interest are EPA's 2005 decisions limiting interstate transport of air pollution and establishing cap-and-trade systems for emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the agency's proposed changes to New Source Review.
Date: February 10, 2006
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Veterans’ Health Care Issues in the 109th Congress (open access)

Veterans’ Health Care Issues in the 109th Congress

None
Date: February 7, 2006
Creator: Panangala, Sidath Viranga
System: The UNT Digital Library
Rehabilitation Act of 1973: 109th Congress Legislation and FY2006 Budget Request (open access)

Rehabilitation Act of 1973: 109th Congress Legislation and FY2006 Budget Request

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is the nation’s major program to provide comprehensive vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to help persons with physical and mental disabilities achieve employment goals and full integration into society. Authorization of appropriations for the Rehabilitation Act expired in FY2003. Although the 108th Congress considered legislation to reauthorize the Act, no final action was taken.
Date: February 25, 2005
Creator: Panangala, Sidath Viranga & O'Shaughnessy, Carol
System: The UNT Digital Library
Pipeline Safety and Security: Federal Programs (open access)

Pipeline Safety and Security: Federal Programs

This report discusses the United States pipeline networks and their security. The Surface Transportation and Rail Security Act of 2007 (S. 184) would require federal plans for critical pipeline security and incident recovery, and would mandate pipeline security inspections and enforcement.
Date: February 26, 2007
Creator: Parfomak, Paul W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Amtrak: Budget and Reauthorizaton (open access)

Amtrak: Budget and Reauthorizaton

This issue brief discusses reform proposals from both the Administration and Amtrak in the 109th Congress. It addresses the appropriations requested by Amtrak, the reluctance of the Administration to provide aid, and its willingness to let Amtrak enter bankruptcy, resulting in restructuring and reform of inefficient operations.
Date: February 24, 2005
Creator: Peterman, David R. & Harrison, Glennon J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Senate Committee Funding Resolutions, 109th Congress, and Funding Authorizations 104th-109th Congresses (open access)

Senate Committee Funding Resolutions, 109th Congress, and Funding Authorizations 104th-109th Congresses

All standing and select committees of the Senate (except for the Appropriations and Ethics Committees) obtain their operating budgets pursuant to a biennial committee funding resolution.
Date: February 25, 2005
Creator: Petersen, R. Eric
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act (open access)

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act

This report provides a summary and explanation of the provisions in the HITECH Act, which is intended to promote the widespread adoption of health information technology (HIT) for the electronic sharing of clinical data among hospitals, physicians, and other health care stakeholders. It gives an overview of prior actions taken by Congress and the Administrations to promote HIT, and briefly describes efforts by the 109th and 110th Congresses to enact comprehensive HIT legislation.
Date: February 23, 2009
Creator: Redhead, C. S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Freedom of Information Act Amendments: 109th Congress (open access)

Freedom of Information Act Amendments: 109th Congress

This report discusses the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which was designed to enable any person — individual or corporate, regardless of citizenship — to request, without explanation or justification, presumptive access to existing, identifiable, unpublished, executive branch agency records on any topic.
Date: February 25, 2005
Creator: Relyea, Harold C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Detection of Explosives on Airline Passengers: Recommendation of the 9/11 Commission and Related Issues (open access)

Detection of Explosives on Airline Passengers: Recommendation of the 9/11 Commission and Related Issues

This report discusses options for airline passenger explosives trace detection, ongoing federal R&D efforts and pilot equipment deployments, and policy issues related to the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-458). The legislation directs the Department of Homeland Security to place high priority on developing and deploying equipment for passenger explosives screening; requires TSA to submit a strategic plan for deploying such equipment; and authorizes additional research funding.
Date: February 7, 2005
Creator: Shea, Dana A. & Morgan, Daniel
System: The UNT Digital Library
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Legislation in the 109th Congress (open access)

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Legislation in the 109th Congress

None
Date: February 9, 2006
Creator: Sissine, Fred
System: The UNT Digital Library
Food Safety Issues in the 109th Congress (open access)

Food Safety Issues in the 109th Congress

This report provides an overview of federal food safety activities and issues of concern to Congress
Date: February 4, 2005
Creator: Vogt, Donna U.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Class Actions and Legislative Proposals in the 109th Congress: Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 (open access)

Class Actions and Legislative Proposals in the 109th Congress: Class Action Fairness Act of 2005

None
Date: February 11, 2005
Creator: Wallace, Paul S., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Class Actions and Legislative Proposals in the 109th Congress: Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 (open access)

Class Actions and Legislative Proposals in the 109th Congress: Class Action Fairness Act of 2005

This report addresses Class Actions and Legislative proposals in the 109th Congress of Class Action Fairness Act of 2005.
Date: February 18, 2005
Creator: Wallace, Paul S., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library