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Wetlands and Agriculture: Policy Issues in the 1995 Farm Bill
Wetlands protection efforts have been a major concern for agricultural interests since Congress enacted so-called swampbuster provisions in the 1985 Food Security Act. Under these provisions, all producers who alter wetlands risk losing certain farm program benefits. Determining which sites are wetlands and enforcement of penalties remain contentious issues. Controversy has been heightened by confusion over how this program is related to the principal Federal regulatory program to protect wetlands, section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and how wetland determinations affect land values and private property rights. Because the 103rd Congress did not reauthorize the Clean Water Act, some of the wetland issues raised in that debate might be raised in the farm bill. Another wetland protection program, the Wetland Reserve (WRP), was enacted in the 1990 farm bill. This program, which pays farmers to place wetlands under long-term or permanent easements, has been far less controversial. This paper reviews the swampbuster and WRP, as well as controversies surrounding delineation of wetlands and relationships between private property rights and wetland protection efforts.
Date:
December 19, 1994
Creator:
Zinn, Jeffrey A.
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Federal Sales of Natural Resources: Pricing and Allocation Mechanisms (1998)
Although the federal government. ended FY1997 with a budget surplus, pressures to realize federal budget savings persist. Many question whether federal resource prices should be set to increase the public returns from the sale or use of those resources or at least to avoid financial losses. This report describes the systems used by the federal government to price its resources (timber, forage for livestock grazing, recreation uses, various categories of minerals, commercial fisheries, and water from federal water projects) and to determine who gets access to those resources. 2 For some (e.g., timber and leasable minerals), markets are used to set prices, but administrative systems used for some resources may result in prices substantially lower than market values. This report will not be updated unless the current systems are substantially changed
Date:
December 11, 1998
Creator:
Gorte, Ross W.
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Federal Land and Resource Management: A Primer
Four federal agencies administer most of the U.S. government's land. The National Park Service administers the Park System for recreation use and preservation. The Fish and Wildlife Service manages wildlife refuges primarily for protecting and improving fish and wildlife habitats. The Bureau of Land Management manages the public lands for sustained yields of multiple uses - grazing, recreation, timber, and fish and wildlife. The Forest Service similarly manages the national forests. Most forests and public lands are also available for mineral exploration and development. Three special land systems are also administered by these agencies: the Wilderness System, for preserving pristine areas; the Trail System, for non-motorized recreation; and the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, for river recreation. Congress has also established many special designations for certain lands. This report summarizes the permitted and prohibited uses of lands managed by these four agencies, as well as of the many special designations. It will be updated at the beginning of the 107th Congress. For more detailed information see CRS Report 98-991, Federal Land Management Agencies: Background on Land and Resource Management.
Date:
December 22, 1998
Creator:
Gorte, Ross W.
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
China in Transition: Changing Conditions and Implications for U.S. Interests
Congressional interest in China's transformation has grown. Congressional concerns focus on economic opportunities in China and how conditions there affect U.S. security, economic and political interests.
Date:
December 20, 1993
Creator:
Sutter, Robert G.; Kan, Shirley A. & Dumbaugh, Kerry
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Hong Kong's Return to China: Implications for U.S. Interests
In the months approaching China's resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997, policy analysts are trying to assess how the territory will fare under Chinese rule. The answer is important to U.S. interests because of the enormous U.S. economic presence in Hong Kong; because any adverse developments in Hong Kong are likely to affect U.S.-China relations; and because China's promise to give Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy under the "one-China, two-systems" policy has major implications for Taiwan. But given the political situation, the American ability to affect the course of events in Hong Kong seems marginal unless the U.S. decides to confront Beijing more directly. Developments in U.S.-China relations in 1994-1995 suggest Washington might be hesitant to do so.
Date:
December 11, 1996
Creator:
Dumbaugh, Kerry
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Cooperative R&D: Federal Efforts to Promote Industrial Competitiveness
In response to the foreign challenge in the global marketplace, the United States Congress has explored ways to stimulate technological advancement in the private sector. The government has supported various efforts to promote cooperative research and development activities among industry, universities, and the federal R&D establishment designed to increase the competitiveness of American industry and to encourage the generation of new products, processes, and services. Among the issues before Congress are whether joint ventures contribute to industrial competitiveness and what role, if any, the government has in facilitating such arrangements.
Date:
December 2, 1996
Creator:
Schacht, Wendy H.
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Wilderness: Overview and Statistics
The U.S. Forest Service established the first protected "wilderness area" under its own discretion in 1924. In 1964, the Wilderness Act established the National Wilderness Preservation System, reserved to Congress the authority to designate wilderness areas, and directed the Secretaries of Agriculture and of the Interior to review certain lands for their wilderness potential. The Act also designated 54 wilderness areas with 9 million acres of Forest Service land. Congress began expanding the Wilderness System in 1968, and today, there are 631 wilderness areas, totalling nearly 104 million acres, in 44 States.
Date:
December 2, 1994
Creator:
Gorte, Ross W.
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Utah Wilderness Legislation in the 104th Congress
Legislation to designate wilderness areas on Federal lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management has been introduced in several recent Congresses. Bills in the 104th Congress include H.R. 1500, America's Red Rock Wilderness Act of 1995, and H.R. 1745 and S. 884, Utah Public Lands Management Act of 1995 (identical as introduced). H.R. 1500 would designate 5.7 million acres of wilderness, and reserve Federal water rights. H.R. 1745/S. 884 would designate 1.8 million acres of wilderness, release areas not designated as wilderness, deny Federal reserved water rights, and provide management directions, some of which are exceptions to the standards established in the Wilderness Act.
Date:
December 12, 1995
Creator:
Gorte, Ross W.
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
The National Trails System: An Overview
The National Trails System Act, P.L. 90-543, became law October 2, 1968. The Act and its subsequent amendments authorized a national system of trails and defined four categories of national trails. Since the designation of the Appalachian and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails as the first two components, the System has grown to include 20 national trails. Now, 30 years after its inception, issues ret remain regarding funding, quality and quantity of trails, new trail categories, and nationwide promotion to make Americans more aware of the System. This report will be updated as legislative actions occur.
Date:
December 11, 1998
Creator:
Johnson, Sandra L.
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
DOE Laboratory Restructuring Legislation
Interest in restructuring (including eliminating) the Department of Energy (DOE) and its laboratories has increased since the end of the Cold War, and especially since the beginning of the 104th Congress. A number of non-legislative proposals and activities to this end are reviewed, including DOE's own proposals for "alignment and downsizing" of the Department and its laboratories.
Date:
December 4, 1996
Creator:
Boesman, William C.
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Research and Development Funding: Fiscal Year 1998
President Clinton requested $75.469 billion for R&D in FY1998, a 2.2% increase over FY1997. However, this request would have increased the actual conduct of R&D less than 2.2% due to a proposed 50% increase associated with upfront funding for major research facilities, mostly in DOE.
Date:
December 17, 1997
Creator:
Davey, Michael E.
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Summary of Major Changes in the Social Security Cash Benefits Program: 1935-1996
None
Date:
December 20, 1996
Creator:
Kollmann, Geoffrey
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Superfund Reauthorization in the Senate: A Summary of S. 1285
The Superfund reauthorization vehicle in the Senate is S. 1285, introduced on September 29, 1995, by Senator Bob Smith, chairman of a subcommittee of the Environment and Public Works Committee.
Date:
December 29, 1995
Creator:
Reisch, Mark
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Waste Trade and the Basel Convention: Background and Update
The United States played a major role in developing the 1989 United Nations-sponsored Basel Convention on the Control of the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, a key purpose of which is to protect countries from receiving unwanted shipments of wastes. The Convention entered into force in 1992, and by mid-1998, 121 countries (but not the United States) had ratified it. In 1991, the Bush Administration transmitted the Convention to the Senate for advice and consent to ratification aid offered implementing legislation. The Senate consented to ratification in 1992; however, implementing legislation has not been enacted. (Although existing U.S. law regulates hazardous waste,
Date:
December 30, 1998
Creator:
Tiemann, Mary
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Solid Waste Issues in the 105th Congress
The 105th Congress adjourned without passing any legislation affecting solid waste management. Changes to the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) cleanup program and bills to exempt from hazardous waste management requirements certain wastes generated by remediation of old waste sites had been considered possible until late in the second session. The House passed changes to the LUST program (H.R. 688) on April 23, 1997. A comparable Senate bill (S. 555) was ordered reported, amended, September 23, 1998; but it never came to the floor.
Date:
December 23, 1998
Creator:
McCarthy, James E.
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Flat Panel Display (FPD) Technology: An Introduction to the Issues
Flat Panel Display (FPD) technologies likely will help revolutionize the way information is transmitted, received, and used. FPD technologies already are having a significant impact on U.S. military weapon systems, and the growth of the commercial FPD market may be enormous by the end of the decade. A key policy issue facing Federal policymakers is whether there is a Government role, particularly for the Department of Defense, to assist the U.S. FPD industry in light of overwhelming Japanese domination of the global FPD market.
Date:
December 19, 1994
Creator:
McLoughlin, Glenn J. & Nunno, Richard M.
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Year 2000 Problem: Potential Impacts on National Infrastructures
The year 2000 (Y2K) computer problem poses a potential threat to the continued proper functioning of many national infrastructures. These include telecommunications, utilities, financial services, health care, transportation, government services, and military preparedness. Other sectors -- such as water, agriculture, food processing and distribution, emergency services, and small and medium sized businesses -- have also been identified as having potentially significant Y2K problems but, due to space constraints, are not discussed here. While public and private sector entities report progress toward resolving their Y2K problems, much uncertainty remains regarding which systems are most vulnerable to failures. The overall impact resulting from the Y2K problem to some degree still depends on remediation progress made in 1999.
Date:
December 4, 1998
Creator:
Nunno, Richard M.
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
How to Obtain Copies of Videotapes of Proceedings of Congress and Network and Cable Television Broadcasts
This report has been compiled in response to numerous requests made by congressional offices for videotape copies of congressional proceedings and programs from network or cable television
Date:
December 18, 1996
Creator:
Springer, Michelle M. & Turner, Treva
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Trade Issues in the 103rd Congress
Trade and trade-related issues are prominent parts of the agenda of the 103rd Congress. The Congress has already acted on some issues, in particular the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). It will have to consider legislation to implement the trade agreements reached during the Uruguay Round of the GATT, which was completed on Dec. 15,1993.
Date:
December 17, 1993
Creator:
Cooper, William H.
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Clean Water Issues in the 104th Congress
For the 104th Congress, reauthorization of the Clean Water Act would seem likely to be a priority, since the Act was last amended in 1987 and authorizations expired on September 30, 1990. But legislative prospects in the 104th Congress are uncertain. Clean water also was a priority for the 103rd Congress, but, in 1994, Congress ran out of time and did not act on comprehensive amendments. Many of the issues proved to be too complex and controversial to be resolved easily, while Congress also was considering a large agenda of environmental and other bills. Controversies arose in connection with issues specific to the Clean Water Act and a trio of regulatory relief issues that became barriers to a number of bills in the 103rd Congress.
Date:
December 1, 1994
Creator:
Copeland, Claudia
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995: Overview of S.1316, As Passed
On November 29, 1995, the Senate passed S. 1316, the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1995, unanimously. The 1974 Act was last reauthorized in 1986. Both the House and Senate passed SDWA bills by wide margins in the past Congress, and strong interest in reauthorizing the Act continues in the 104th Congress. Many of the issues discussed in the SDWA debate, while specific to the Act, are of concern in the broader regulatory reform debate on unfunded Federal mandates and cost-benefit and risk analyses.
Date:
December 18, 1995
Creator:
Tiemann, Mary
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Safe Drinking Water Act: Implementation and Reauthorization
None
Date:
December 3, 1996
Creator:
Tiemann, Mary
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Weapons of Mass Destruction - the Terrorist Threat
The possibility of a terrorist attack using nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons is an ongoing debate in the national security policy arena. While terrorist motivations have traditionally been political onesthat would not benefitfrom such an attack, concern is now voiced over a possible trend of inflicting greater numbers of casualties. Terrorists most likely to attempt attacks with weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are extremist religious millenarian groups and small splinter terrorist cells. N
Date:
December 8, 1999
Creator:
Bowman, Steven R. & Barel, Helit
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library
Cuba: Issues for Congress
This report examines the economic and political situation in Cuba, including the human rights situation, and U.S. policy toward Cuba. The report also analyzes a number of issues facing Congress in U.S. policy toward Cuba, including: the overall direction of U.S. policy; challenges to U.S. policy in the World Trade Organization; restrictions on commercial food and medical exports; restrictions on travel; bilateral drug trafficking cooperation; Cuba and terrorism; funding for U.S.-government sponsored radio and television broadcasting to Cuba; the Russian signals intelligence facility in Cuba; migration issues; and compensation to the families of those Americans killed in 1996 when Cuba shot down two U.S. civilian planes. The report cites legislation that was passed in the 106th Congress, and also tracks legislative action on these various issues in U.S. policy toward Cuba in the 107th Congress.
Date:
December 2, 1996
Creator:
Sullivan, Mark P.
Object Type:
Report
System:
The UNT Digital Library