This report discusses global climate change and the market-based strategies to reduce greenhouse gases.

The resolution of inquiry is a House procedure that seeks factual information from the executive branch. The resolution is privileged and may be considered at any time after it is properly reported or discharged from committee. It applies only to requests for facts––not opinions––within the Administration’s control. This report explains the history, procedure, specific uses of resolutions of inquiry, and identifies the use thus far in the 108th Congress (H.Res. 68).

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On March 19, 2003, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 975, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2003. H.R. 975, as introduced, was substantially similar to the legislation (H.R. 333) approved by both the House and the Senate during the 107th Congress, but omitted the Schumer Amendment which would have prevented the discharge of liability for willful violation of protective orders and violent protests against providers of “lawful services,” including reproductive health services. As passed by the House, H.R. 975 was amended to add sections to, among other things, increase the cap on wage and employee benefit claims. The Senate did not consider H.R. 975 during the first session of the 108th Congress. This report provides an overview of selected major provisions of the legislation.

This report discusses the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) responsibility for inspecting most meat, poultry, and processed egg products for safety, wholesomeness, and proper labeling while detailing the results of congressional action in reducing the presence of pathogens and food-borne illness in facilities and food products.

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Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to prohibiting a motor vehicle from being equipped with certain video equipment and devices.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to bond requirements for privatized maintenance contracts.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to additional interest for default on certain secondary mortgage loans

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the recognition of foreign adoptions and the issuance of a supplementary birth certificate

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the composition of the 274th Judicial District and the jurisdiction of the 207th and 274th district courts.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the composition of the 83rd Judicial District and to the election of the district attorney for that district.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the requirement that certain contracts awarded by the Veterans' Land Board be subject to competitive bidding.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the jurisdiction of certain district courts and criminal district courts of Tarrant County.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the location where the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Court of Appeals District transacts business.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to an assessment of school-based mental health and substance abuse programs.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether a municipality that has been granted a charter for an open-enrollment charter school may issue certificates of obligation to construct facilities for the school (RQ-0029-GA)

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether, under chapter 271 of the Texas Local Government Code, Galveston County may use design-build contracts and lease-purchase agreements to construct thermal energy plants for building complexes (RQ-0630-JC)

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether article III, section 55 of the Texas Constitution prohibits the rebate of municipal sales taxes (RQ-0011-GA)

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "People are at the heart of an organization's ability to perform its mission. Yet, a key challenge for the Department of Defense (DOD), as for many federal agencies, is to strategically manage its human capital. With about 700,000 civilian employees on its payroll, DOD is the second largest federal employer of civilians in the nation. Although downsized 38 percent between fiscal years 1989 and 2002, this workforce has taken on greater roles as a result of DOD's restructuring and transformation. DOD's proposed National Security Personnel System (NSPS) would provide for wide-ranging changes in DOD's civilian personnel pay and performance management, collective bargaining, rightsizing, and other human capital areas. The NSPS would enable DOD to develop and implement a consistent DOD-wide civilian personnel system. Given the massive size of DOD, the proposal has important precedent-setting implications for federal human capital management and OPM. This testimony provides GAO's preliminary observations on aspects of DOD's proposal to make changes to its civilian personnel system and discusses the implications of such changes for government-wide human capital reform. Past reports have contained GAO's views on what remains to be done to bring about …