501(c)(3) Hospitals and the Community Benefit Standard (open access)

501(c)(3) Hospitals and the Community Benefit Standard

This report examines the standard under which hospitals qualify for tax-exempt charitable status under federal law, recent inquiries made by Congress and the IRS into whether hospitals are conducting sufficient activities to justify their exemption, and section 6007 of S. 1796.
Date: November 10, 2009
Creator: Lunder, Erika K. & Liu, Edward C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Abortion Services and Military Medical Facilities (open access)

Abortion Services and Military Medical Facilities

In 1993, President Clinton modified the military policy on providing abortions at military medical facilities. Under the change directed by the President, military medical facilities were allowed to perform abortions if paid for entirely with non-Department of Defense (DOD) funds (i.e., privately funded). Over the last three decades, the availability of abortion services at military medical facilities has been subjected to numerous changes and interpretations.
Date: July 10, 2008
Creator: Burelli, David F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Abortion Services and Military Medical Facilities (open access)

Abortion Services and Military Medical Facilities

The purpose of this report is to describe and discuss the provisions for providing abortion services to military personnel, their dependents, and other military health care beneficiaries at military medical facilities. The report describes the history of these provisions, with particular emphasis on legislative actions. Finally, this report discusses a number of proposals to modify the law, as well as other related legislative and administrative actions.
Date: July 10, 2008
Creator: Burrelli, David F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Accelerated Vehicle Retirement for Fuel Economy: "Cash for Clunkers" (open access)

Accelerated Vehicle Retirement for Fuel Economy: "Cash for Clunkers"

This report outlines the key provisions of the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) program, discusses the initial impact of the program and some of the concerns raised by Senators. It also summarizes similar programs in other countries.
Date: August 10, 2009
Creator: Yacobucci, Brent D. & Canis, Bill
System: The UNT Digital Library
Across-the-Board Spending Cuts in Omnibus Appropriations Acts (open access)

Across-the-Board Spending Cuts in Omnibus Appropriations Acts

This report examines the use of across-the-board spending cuts in omnibus appropriations acts for FY2000-FY2004, assessing the budgetary context leading to the spending cut, recounting the legislative action on the spending cut provision, and reviewing the provision’s design and implementation.
Date: August 10, 2004
Creator: Keith, Robert
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan: Challenges and Options for Reconstructing a Stable and Moderate State (open access)

Afghanistan: Challenges and Options for Reconstructing a Stable and Moderate State

This report provides information on and analysis of the current situation in Afghanistan, taking into consideration the country’s essential characteristics and political developments since about the time of the overthrow of the last Afghan King, Zahir Shah, in 1973, and sketches out four possible scenarios for Afghanistan’s future. Finally, the report identifies and analyzes factors that will influence Afghanistan’s political future, and discusses three policy areas in particular in which actions by the United States could be crucial to the achievement of the U.S. goal of a peaceful, stable, democratic, and terrorist-free Afghanistan. An appendix contains key documents relating to the December 2001 Bonn Agreement, which is the framework for current efforts to create a stable and democratic Afghanistan.
Date: May 10, 2002
Creator: Cronin, Richard P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan: Government Formation and Performance (open access)

Afghanistan: Government Formation and Performance

This report discusses the current political state of Afghanistan, as well as the Afghan government. This report also discusses Afghanistan's relationship with the United States, particularly U.S. efforts to urge President Hamid Karzai to address corruption within the Afghan government.
Date: April 10, 2008
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan: Narcotics and U.S. Policy (open access)

Afghanistan: Narcotics and U.S. Policy

This report provides current statistical information, profiles the Afghanistan narcotics trade's participants, explores linkages between narcotics, insecurity, and corruption, and reviews U.S. and international policy responses since late 2001. The report also considers ongoing policy debates regarding the counternarcotics role of coalition military forces, poppy eradication, alternative livelihoods, and funding issues for Congress.
Date: December 10, 2006
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy

This report discusses the current political state of Iran, focusing particularly on the influence of the Taliban and other militant groups and on the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. This report also discusses the U.S.-Iran relationship and U.S. efforts under the Obama Administration to provide military, reconstructive, and stabilization aid.
Date: November 10, 2009
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan: Post-War Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Afghanistan: Post-War Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy

This report summarizes the debate on the efficacy of U.S. efforts to stabilize Afghanistan. The report considers the founding of a new constitution, the narcotics trade, the Taliban, and the funding Afghanistan is receiving from the U.S.. The report also discusses what the U.S. is currently doing to help stabilize the country.
Date: September 10, 2007
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan:  Presidential and Parliamentary Elections (open access)

Afghanistan: Presidential and Parliamentary Elections

Presidential elections in Afghanistan were held on October 9, 2004, with heavy turnout and minimal violence. Karzai was declared the winner on November 3, 2004 with about 55% of the vote, and he subsequently named a cabinet incorporating most major factions but stressing qualifications. Parliamentary, provincial, and district elections were to be held in April-May 2005, but they are now almost certain to be postponed until at least September 2005. See CRS Report RL30588, Afghanistan: Post-War Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy.
Date: March 10, 2005
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Africa Command: U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa (open access)

Africa Command: U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa

This report provides a broad overview of U.S. strategic interests in Africa and the role of U.S. military efforts on the continent as they pertain to the creation of AFRICOM. Although the command is still in the early stages of its development, a discussion of AFRICOM’s mission, its coordination with other government agencies, and its basing and manpower requirements is included.
Date: March 10, 2008
Creator: Ploch, Lauren
System: The UNT Digital Library
Africa: U.S. Foreign Assistance Issues (open access)

Africa: U.S. Foreign Assistance Issues

This report discusses the issue of U.S. economic assistance to sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the importance of continued assistance in light of U.S. national security and also various U.S.-led efforts to promote reform amongst African citizens themselves. U.S. assistance finds its way to Africa through a variety of channels, including the USAID-administered DA program, food aid programs, and indirect aid provided through international financial institutions and the United Nations.
Date: May 10, 2005
Creator: Copson, Raymond W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afro-Latinos in Latin America and Considerations for U.S. Policy (open access)

Afro-Latinos in Latin America and Considerations for U.S. Policy

This report reviews and analyzes the situation, concerns, and activities of Afro-descendants in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking nations of Latin America. It then discusses current U.S. foreign aid programs, as well as multilateral initiatives, that have directly or indirectly assisted Afro-Latinos. The report concludes with a discussion of potential policy options that have been proposed should the United States elect to provide further support for Afro-Latinos.
Date: January 10, 2007
Creator: Ribando, Clare M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agricultural Biotechnology: The U.S.-EU Dispute (open access)

Agricultural Biotechnology: The U.S.-EU Dispute

In May 2003, the United States, Canada, and Argentina initiated a formal challenge before the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the European Union’s (EU’s) de facto moratorium on approving new agricultural biotechnology products, in place since 1998. Although the EU effectively lifted the moratorium in May 2004 by approving a genetically engineered (GE) corn variety, the three countries are pursuing the case, in part because a number of EU member states continue to block approved biotech products. Because of delays, the WTO is expected to decide the case by December 2005. The moratorium reportedly cost U.S. corn growers some $300 million in exports to the EU annually. The EU moratorium, U.S. officials contend, threatened other agricultural exports not only to the EU, but also to other parts of the world where the EU approach to regulating agricultural biotechnology is taking hold.
Date: March 10, 2006
Creator: Hanrahan, Charles E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agricultural Disaster Assistance (open access)

Agricultural Disaster Assistance

This report discusses the ongoing major USDA disaster programs designed to help crop producers recover from the financial effects of natural disasters — federal crop insurance, noninsured assistance program (NAP) payments, and emergency disaster loans.
Date: April 10, 2006
Creator: Chite, Ralph M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agricultural Export and Food Aid Programs (open access)

Agricultural Export and Food Aid Programs

This report discusses projected agricultural imports and exports for FY2003, as well as legislation that deals with federal programs in support of agricultural exports and federal aid dedicated to farms and agricultural reform.
Date: March 10, 2003
Creator: Hanrahan, Charles E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agricultural Export and Food Aid Programs (open access)

Agricultural Export and Food Aid Programs

This report discusses projected agricultural imports and exports for FY2004, as well as legislation that deals with federal programs in support of agricultural exports and federal aid dedicated to farms and agricultural reform.
Date: September 10, 2003
Creator: Hanrahan, Charles E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agriculture and Fast Track or Trade Promotion Authority (open access)

Agriculture and Fast Track or Trade Promotion Authority

This report considers the issue of new "fast track" or trade promotion authority (APA) legislation in the 107th Congress. Moreover, the report summarizes the agricultural debates on the issue.
Date: May 10, 2002
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S. & Hanrahan, Charles E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agriculture and Fast Track or Trade Promotion Authority (open access)

Agriculture and Fast Track or Trade Promotion Authority

New “fast track” (or, trade promotion) authority (TPA) is at issue in the 107th Congress. Such authority could enable the Administration to submit negotiated foreign trade agreements to Congress for consideration under expedited procedures. Efforts to renew this authority, which expired in 1994, have not succeeded since then. Many agricultural and food industry interests are among the export-oriented enterprises that support TPA, arguing that foreign trading partners will not seriously negotiate with an Administration that lacks it. However, some farm groups argue that fast track ultimately will lead to new agreements that could have adverse effects on U.S. producers, at least in some commodity sectors.
Date: May 10, 2002
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S. & Hanrahan, Charles E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agriculture Conservation Programs: A Scorecard (open access)

Agriculture Conservation Programs: A Scorecard

This report provides basic information on several agriculture conservation programs, primarily drawn from agency budget presentations and websites, about each program using a consistent format. This information should help respond to basic questions and resolve many common sources of confusion about the purposes of the program, program participation and policy topics.
Date: April 10, 2006
Creator: Zinn, Jeffrey & Cowan, Tadlock
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agriculture in the WTO: Limits on Domestic Support (open access)

Agriculture in the WTO: Limits on Domestic Support

Most provisions of the current “farm bill,” the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (FSRIA) of 2002 (P.L. 107-171), do not expire until 2007. However, hearings on a 2007 farm bill could begin in late 2005. At that time, Congress will begin to examine farm income and commodity price support proposals that might succeed the programs due to expire in 2007. A key question likely to be asked of virtually every new proposal is how it will affect U.S. commitments under the WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture (AA), which commits the United States to spend no more than $19.1 billion annually on domestic farm support programs most likely to distort trade. The AA spells out the rules for countries to determine whether their policies are potentially trade distorting, and to calculate the costs. This report describes the steps for making these determinations.
Date: May 10, 2005
Creator: Schnepf, Randy
System: The UNT Digital Library
AIDS in Africa (open access)

AIDS in Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa has been far more severely affected by AIDS than any other part of the world. The United Nations reports that 29.4 million adults and children are infected with the HIV virus in the region, which has about 10% of the world's population but more than 70% of the worldwide total of infected people. This report discusses this issue in detail, including the cause of the African AIDS epidemic, the social and economic consequences, response and treatment, and U.S. policy.
Date: July 10, 2003
Creator: Copson, Raymond W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
AIDS: The Ryan White CARE Act (open access)

AIDS: The Ryan White CARE Act

This report discusses the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, which makes federal funds available to metropolitan areas and states to assist in health care costs and support services for individuals and families affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This report discusses related legislation and appropriations.
Date: May 10, 2006
Creator: Johnson, Judith A. & Morgan, Paulette C.
System: The UNT Digital Library