Intelligence Issues for Congress (open access)

Intelligence Issues for Congress

This report explores the various issues currently facing Congress in regards to intelligence and counterterrorism activities, including the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (P.L. 108-458), signed in December 2004; the position of Director of National Intelligence (DNI), which that act created; the importance of collaborative efforts between various intelligence agencies to successfully carry out counterterrorism measures; and other pieces of legislation relevant to such matters.
Date: April 20, 2009
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oil Spills in U.S. Coastal Waters: Background, Governance, and Issues for Congress (open access)

Oil Spills in U.S. Coastal Waters: Background, Governance, and Issues for Congress

This report reviews the history and trends of oil spills in the United States; identifies the legal authorities governing oil spill prevention, response, and cleanup; and examines the threats of future oil spills in U.S. coastal waters.
Date: April 23, 2009
Creator: Ramseur, Jonathan L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Passports: Current Regulations (open access)

Passports: Current Regulations

This report details changes made to travel between the United States and other countries in the Western Hemisphere, including Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean island nations. Such changes include the expansion of time necessary to get a passport, as well as additional passport and proof-of-identity documentation requirements.
Date: April 30, 2009
Creator: Epstein, Susan B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy (open access)

The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy

This report describes the open economy and society of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as U.S. concern over proliferation of advanced technology due to said open economy and the UAE's lax export controls. This report describes these issues in relation to a recently-signed U.S.-UAE civilian nuclear agreement. It also provides a general description of the UAE's government and political structure, as well as the effects of the recent global economic downturn on the UAE in general and on the city of Dubai in particular.
Date: April 20, 2009
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Aegis Cruiser and Destroyer Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Aegis Cruiser and Destroyer Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress

The Navy has begun a multi-billion dollar program to modernize its 84 existing Aegis cruisers and destroyers over a period of more than 20 years. This report explores this program in detail, including the reasons for the program and the oversight issues it poses for Congress. This report will be updated as events warrant.
Date: April 29, 2009
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-Funded Assistance Programs in China (open access)

U.S.-Funded Assistance Programs in China

This report explores the United States' relationship with the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the context of law and civil society programs that promote democratic change in China, discussions of human rights, and public diplomacy programs. This report explores in particular the economics of said relationship, including U.S.-funded programs to promote democratic-leaning policy changes. This report also discusses the opinions of analysts and other experts who both defend and oppose such efforts.
Date: April 24, 2009
Creator: Lum, Thomas
System: The UNT Digital Library
Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) Vehicles: Background and Issues for  Congress (open access)

Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) Vehicles: Background and Issues for Congress

In late 2007, the Department of Defense (DOD) launched a major procurement initiative to replace most uparmored High Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) in Iraq with Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles by FY2009. MRAPs have been described as providing significantly more protection against Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) than uparmored HMMWVs. DOD's decision to acquire a new, smaller MRAP variant for use in Afghanistan; MRAP mechanical, logistical, and readiness concerns could be potential policy issues for congressional consideration. This report will be updated.
Date: April 27, 2009
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tax Credit Bonds: Overview and Analysis (open access)

Tax Credit Bonds: Overview and Analysis

Tax Credit Bonds (TCBs) are a type of bond that offers the holder a federal tax credit instead of interest. This report explains the tax credit mechanism and describes the market for the bonds. It also discusses related pieces of legislation and what the most common uses of the proceeds from TCBs are.
Date: April 16, 2009
Creator: Maguire, Steven
System: The UNT Digital Library
Piracy off the Horn of Africa (open access)

Piracy off the Horn of Africa

This report discusses recent (2008-2009) pirate attacks on vessels, including United States vessels, in the waters off the Horn of Africa. The Horn of Africa is sometimes called the Somali Peninsula and includes the nations of Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia. This report explores reasons behind the increased number of pirate attacks in recent years, as well as what efforts are being taken to combat said attacks, including those by the 111th Congress and President Obama and his Administration.
Date: April 24, 2009
Creator: Ploch, Lauren; Blanchard, Christopher M.; O'Rourke, Ronald; Mason, R. Chuck & King, Rawle O.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Trade Remedy Legislation: Applying Countervailing Action to Nonmarket Economy Countries (open access)

Trade Remedy Legislation: Applying Countervailing Action to Nonmarket Economy Countries

This report provides an overview on applying countervailing action to non market economy countries.
Date: April 19, 2007
Creator: Jones, Vivian C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape (open access)

The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape

The report discusses the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-Related Congressional Actions in the 112th Congress. The policymakers, including some in Congress, have long called for varying degrees and types of reform to the FCC. Most proposals fall into two categories: (1) procedural changes made within the FCC or through congressional action that would affect the agency's operations or (2) substantive policy changes requiring congressional action that would affect how the agency regulates different services and industry sectors.
Date: April 11, 2008
Creator: Moloney Figliola, Patricia
System: The UNT Digital Library
Energy Tax Policy: History and Current Issues (open access)

Energy Tax Policy: History and Current Issues

This report discusses the history, current posture, and outlook for federal energy tax policy. It also discusses current energy tax proposals and major energy tax provisions enacted in the 109th Congress.
Date: April 1, 2008
Creator: Lazzari, Salvatore
System: The UNT Digital Library
Mining on Federal Lands: Hardrock Minerals (open access)

Mining on Federal Lands: Hardrock Minerals

This report discusses the mining of hardrock minerals on fedearl lands, which is governed by the claim-patent system under the General Mining Law of 1872. It gives an overview the issues involved with the current system, such as competing land uses, and discusses proposed legislation meant to reform the claim-patent system.
Date: April 30, 2008
Creator: Humphries, Marc
System: The UNT Digital Library
Regulation of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Sequestration Pipelines: Jurisdictional Issues (open access)

Regulation of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Sequestration Pipelines: Jurisdictional Issues

This report reviews the history of pipeline regulation, including the limited history of interstate CO2 pipeline regulation, and examines the regulatory missions of FERC, the STB, and other agencies. The report discusses possible responses to perceived jurisdictional uncertainties under existing law as well as potential legislative steps intended to address any potential regulatory “gap” in interstate CO2 pipeline jurisdiction.
Date: April 15, 2008
Creator: Vann, Adam & Parfomak, Paul W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Environmental Exemptions for the Navy's Mid-Frequency Active Sonar Training Program (open access)

Environmental Exemptions for the Navy's Mid-Frequency Active Sonar Training Program

This report discusses laws related to the protection of marine mammals when using mid-frequency active sonar including the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA). The report discusses each of the laws generally, and then reviews the litigation surrounding the Navy's compliance with these laws in the context of using the sonar for training purposes off California's coast.
Date: April 15, 2008
Creator: Alexander, Kristina
System: The UNT Digital Library
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSR): Program Overview and Issues (open access)

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSR): Program Overview and Issues

This report discusses the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996, which authorized a drinking water state revolving loan fund (DWSRF) program. The program was intended to help public water systems finance infrastructure projects that were needed to comply with federal drinking water regulations and to meet the Act's health objectives. It includes an overview of funding, allotments and set-asides, drinking water infrastructure needs, program issues, and legislative activity.
Date: April 10, 2009
Creator: Tiemann, Mary
System: The UNT Digital Library
Wave, Tidal, and In-Stream Energy Projects: Which Federal Agency Has the Lead? (open access)

Wave, Tidal, and In-Stream Energy Projects: Which Federal Agency Has the Lead?

This report describes wave, tidal, and in-stream energy generation technologies — also referred to as hydrokinetic or marine energy. It discusses the recent changes in law aimed to clarify the federal role in ocean wave and renewable energy.
Date: April 29, 2008
Creator: Lane, Nic
System: The UNT Digital Library
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): President's Budget Request for FY2009 (open access)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): President's Budget Request for FY2009

The report discusses the FY2009 budget, for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Department of Commerce.
Date: April 28, 2008
Creator: Morrissey, Wayne A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Serbia and Montenegro Union: Prospects and Policy Implications (open access)

Serbia and Montenegro Union: Prospects and Policy Implications

None
Date: April 19, 2005
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Wildfire Protection Funding (open access)

Wildfire Protection Funding

None
Date: April 3, 2006
Creator: Gorte, Ross W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Disaster Evacuation and Displacement Policy: Issues for Congress (open access)

Disaster Evacuation and Displacement Policy: Issues for Congress

None
Date: April 26, 2006
Creator: Bea, Keith
System: The UNT Digital Library
Crop Insurance and Disaster Assistance: 2007 Farm Bill Issues (open access)

Crop Insurance and Disaster Assistance: 2007 Farm Bill Issues

None
Date: April 9, 2008
Creator: Chite, Ralph M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Medicare Home Health — Benefits and Payments (open access)

Medicare Home Health — Benefits and Payments

None
Date: April 12, 2004
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nicaragua: The Election of Daniel Ortega and Issues in U.S. Relations (open access)

Nicaragua: The Election of Daniel Ortega and Issues in U.S. Relations

None
Date: April 19, 2007
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library