A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the U.S. government has spent at least $10 billion on communication efforts designed to advance the strategic interests of the United States. However, foreign public opinion polling data shows that negative views towards the United States persist despite the collective efforts to counteract them by the State Department (State), Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Department of Defense (DOD), and other U.S. government agencies. Based on the significant role U.S. strategic communication and public diplomacy efforts can play in promoting U.S. national security objectives, such as countering ideological support for violent extremism, we highlighted these efforts as an urgent issue for the new administration and Congress."

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "From fiscal year 2005 through fiscal year 2008, the military services received about $295 million in monetary and nonmonetary gifts from individuals and organizations wishing to donate gifts to the Department of Defense (DOD). Section 2601(a) of Title 10, U.S. Code is a long-standing authority under which the secretaries overseeing DOD, the military services, and the Coast Guard may accept a gift on the condition that the gift be used for the benefit of or in connection with the establishment, operation, or maintenance of schools, hospitals, libraries, museums, cemeteries, or other institutions or organizations under the jurisdiction of the secretary concerned. In 2008, gifts to benefit such institutions or organizations included a monetary gift to construct an education center and nonmonetary gifts of a bronze statue and granite benches. In 2006, Congress enacted additional authority, under 10 U.S.C. 2601(b) to allow the acceptance of gifts and services to benefit certain members of the armed forces and civilian employees of DOD who incurred a wound, injury, or illness in the line of duty and to benefit the dependents and survivors of those who are killed or wounded. For example, …

The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) is a trilateral initiative that was launched in March 2005 for the purpose of increasing and enhancing security and prosperity in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This initiative promoted communication and cooperation across several key policy areas of mutual interest, such as improving certain sectors of the economy, developing higher health and safety standards, and addressing environmental concerns. This report describes this initiative in brief detail, including summaries of several SPP-related meetings between the three countries' leaders.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the participation in state travel service contracts by certain local governmental entities.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the powers and duties of the Sienna Plantation Municipal Utility District No. 4; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the powers and duties of the Sienna Plantation Municipal Utility District No. 5; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the powers and duties of the Sienna Plantation Municipal Utility District No. 6; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the powers and duties of the Sienna Plantation Municipal Utility District No. 7; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to a length exemption for a vehicle or combination of vehicles used to transport a combine used in farm custom harvesting operations.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the authority of the Kaufman County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 to undertake road projects.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the creation of the Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 495; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the creation of the Maverick Improvement District of Palo Pinto County; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to creation of the Harris County Improvement District No. 14; providing authority to impose an assessment, impose a tax, and issue bonds.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the creation of the Harris County Improvement District No. 13; providing authority to impose an assessment, impose a tax, and issue bonds.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the creation of the North Texas Groundwater Conservation District; providing authority to issue bonds.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the powers and duties of the Lake View Management and Development District; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting certain powers relating to navigation improvements; and granting powers of a road district.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to an intercollegiate athletics fee at Midwestern State University.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the establishment of railroad quiet zones outside the boundaries of certain municipalities.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to fees charged by a justice of the peace for certain documents in a criminal case.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the El Paso County Hospital District.

Although several dozen gun control-related proposals were introduced in recent Congresses, only a handful of those bills have received significant legislative action. This report provides an overview of firearms-related statistics and federal law. It also provides an overview on legislative action in the 109th and 110th Congresses, as well as other issues that have generated significant congressional interest in the recent past.

This report first provides a brief federal legislative history of identity theft laws. It analyzes the current trends in identity theft, including prevalent identity theft-related crimes, the federal agencies involved in combating identity theft, and the trends in identity theft complaints and prosecutions. The report also discusses the relationship between data breaches and identity theft as well as possible effects of the FTC's Identity Theft Red Flags Rule, effective November 1, 2009.

This report discusses the increasing concern, within the scientific community, that rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could detrimentally alter marine ecosystems. The report discusses how ocean acidification happens, its possible outcomes, as well as natural and human responses that could possibly limit or reduce the rate of the process.

Bill introduced by the Texas House of Representatives relating to the sale of certain property at Possum Kingdom Lake by the Brazos River Authority.