Overview of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (open access)

Overview of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003

None
Date: April 21, 2004
Creator: O'Sullivan, Jennifer; Chaikind, Hinda Ripps; Tilson, Sibyl L.; Boulanger, Jennifer & Morgan, Paulette C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Endangered Species: Continuing Controversy (open access)

Endangered Species: Continuing Controversy

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) has been one of the most controversial of all environmental laws. Undoubtedly, the controversy stems from the strict substantive provisions of this law compared to many other environmental laws which tend to be more procedurally oriented or to permit greater administrative discretion. As a result of the ESA’s standards, the Act often plays a role in disputes in which all sides agree that a given species is not the center of the debate.
Date: November 21, 2000
Creator: Corn, M. Lynne
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): Controversies for the 108th Congress (open access)

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): Controversies for the 108th Congress

This report discusses the ongoing debate about whether or not to approve energy development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Current law forbids energy leasing in the Refuge. This report addresses several legislative options on the issue, as well as policymakers' arguments for and against development, especially in the wake of increasing terrorism since 2000-2001.
Date: March 21, 2003
Creator: Corn, M. Lynne; Gelb, Bernard A. & Baldwin, Pamela
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Water Infrastructure Financing: History of EPA Appropriations (open access)

Water Infrastructure Financing: History of EPA Appropriations

None
Date: May 21, 2003
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Budget for Fiscal Year 2003 (open access)

The Budget for Fiscal Year 2003

This report discusses the budget for fiscal year 2003. It debates issues such as budget action, receipts surpluses or deficits, and the economy.
Date: January 21, 2003
Creator: Winters, Philip D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Industrial Competitiveness and Technological Advancement: Debate Over Government Policy (open access)

Industrial Competitiveness and Technological Advancement: Debate Over Government Policy

This updated report summarizes the debate on the government policy regarding industrial competitiveness and technological advancement and its influence on the U.S. economy. It discusses the most recent developments, dives into the background and analysis of the topic, and talks about Congress' plans and approach.
Date: September 21, 2004
Creator: Schacht, Wendy H.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Merger and Antitrust Issues in Agriculture: Statutes and Agencies (open access)

Merger and Antitrust Issues in Agriculture: Statutes and Agencies

None
Date: May 21, 2002
Creator: Heykoop, Jerry
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Privacy: Total Information Awareness Programs and Related Information Access, Collection, and Protection Laws (open access)

Privacy: Total Information Awareness Programs and Related Information Access, Collection, and Protection Laws

None
Date: March 21, 2003
Creator: Stevens, Gina Marie
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Statutory Language and Recent Issues (open access)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Statutory Language and Recent Issues

This report summarizes the major provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and also discusses selected recent issues, including ten ADA Supreme Court cases.
Date: January 21, 2003
Creator: Jones, Nancy Lee
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Commemorative Observances: A Chronological List (open access)

Commemorative Observances: A Chronological List

Historically, national commemorative observances were recommended by Congress through the legislative process. This practice was discontinued by the House of Representatives in January 1995, although the Senate continues to issue sense of the Senate resolutions recommending the establishment of commemoratives. It has now become standard practice for special observances to be designated by a proclamation issued by the President. This report is a chronological list of these proclamations for 1997 and 1998, indicating the proclamation number and its Federal Register citation
Date: May 21, 2002
Creator: Richardson, Glenda
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Commemorative Observances: A Chronological List (open access)

Commemorative Observances: A Chronological List

Historically, national commemorative observances were recommended by Congress through the legislative process. This practice was discontinued by the House of Representatives in January 1995, although the Senate continues to issue sense of the Senate resolutions recommending the establishment of commemoratives. It has now become standard practice for special observances to be designated by a proclamation issued by the President. This report is a chronological list of these proclamations for 1997 and 1998, indicating the proclamation number and its Federal Register citation
Date: August 21, 2003
Creator: Richardson, Glenda
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Going to Conference in the Senate (open access)

Going to Conference in the Senate

This report discusses the steps that the Senate must take, and one more step that it may take, as it arranges to send a bill to conference committee.
Date: April 21, 2003
Creator: Rybicki, Elizabeth & Bach, Stanley
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Sponsorship and Cosponsorship of Senate Bills (open access)

Sponsorship and Cosponsorship of Senate Bills

None
Date: April 21, 2003
Creator: Sachs, Richard C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Introducing a Senate Bill or Resolution (open access)

Introducing a Senate Bill or Resolution

This report discusses the beginning steps in the Senate's legislative procedure. Ideas and recommendations for legislation may come from private sources, like ordinary citizens or interest groups; executive branch agencies and the White House; states and localities; and, of course, from individual Senators, committees and other Senate work groups, and party and chamber leaders. Any or all of these entities may also participate in drafting legislation (resolutions as well as bills).
Date: April 21, 2003
Creator: Sachs, Richard C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Casework in a Congressional Office (open access)

Casework in a Congressional Office

This report and its appendices present a general overview of congressional office procedures associated with handling casework and the assistance provided by a Member of Congress to help constituents in their dealings with federal agencies. It discusses options for assisting Members’ constituents and the role of Members and staff in providing casework services.
Date: January 21, 2003
Creator: Pontius, John S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
"Fast-Track" or Expedited Procedures: Their Purposes, Elements, and Implications (open access)

"Fast-Track" or Expedited Procedures: Their Purposes, Elements, and Implications

This report discusses certain provisions of law that commonly are known as “fast-track” or expedited procedures. They are so labeled because these statutory provisions contain special legislative procedures that apply to one or both houses of Congress and that expedite, or put on a fast track, congressional consideration of a certain measure or a narrowly defined class of measures. This report first presents the nature, purpose, and elements of fast-track procedures. Then the report discusses some of the most important ways in which these procedures differ from the normal procedures of the House and Senate and, therefore, how the use of expedited procedures can affect the legislative process in Congress.
Date: July 21, 2003
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Expedited Procedures in the House: Variations Enacted Into Law (open access)

Expedited Procedures in the House: Variations Enacted Into Law

Congress enacts expedited, or fast-track, procedures into law when it wants to increase the likelihood that one or both houses of Congress will vote in a timely way on a certain measure or kind of measure. These procedures are enacted as rulemaking provisions of law pursuant to the constitutional power of each house to adopt its own rules. The house to which a set of expedited procedures applies may act unilaterally to waive, suspend, amend, or repeal them.
Date: July 21, 2003
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Budget Actions in 2003 (open access)

Congressional Budget Actions in 2003

During the first session of the 108th Congress, the House and Senate will consider many different budgetary measures. Most measures pertain to fiscal year (FY) 2004 (which began on October 1, 2003) and beyond. Some also pertain to the budget for FY2003. As the session progresses, this report will describe House and Senate action on major budgetary legislation within the framework of the congressional budget process and other procedural requirements.
Date: May 21, 2003
Creator: Heniff, Bill, Jr.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Committee Funding for the House and Senate, 108th Congress (open access)

Committee Funding for the House and Senate, 108th Congress

The Senate adopted ad hoc procedures in approving committee operating budgets. With the Senate divided 51-48-1 at the beginning of the 108th Congress, Senate Democrats argued for a proportional allocation of committee staff between the parties. On January 15, after a week-long delay in the appointment of Senate committees, a unanimous consent agreement was reached providing for the proportional allocation of staff and office space between the parties on each committee, with a separate provision for each committee chair to control up to 10% of the committee budget to employ administrative staff serving both parties.
Date: April 21, 2003
Creator: Rundquist, Paul S. & Petersen, R. Eric
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Secret Sessions of Congress: A Brief Historical Overview (open access)

Secret Sessions of Congress: A Brief Historical Overview

None
Date: October 21, 2004
Creator: Amer, Mildred L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congress' Early Organization Meetings (open access)

Congress' Early Organization Meetings

The purposes of these meetings are both educational and organizational. Educational sessions range from legislative procedures and staff hiring to current issues. Organizational sessions elect class officers, party leaders, and chamber officers; name committee representatives and other party officials; and select committee chairmen and often committee members. Such actions are officially ratified at the start of the new Congress.
Date: October 21, 2002
Creator: Schneider, Judy
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Identity Theft and the Fair Credit Reporting Act: An Analysis of (open access)

Identity Theft and the Fair Credit Reporting Act: An Analysis of

This report provides information about An Analysis of on Identity Theft and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This report will provide a brief summary of the fair credit reporting act provisions in question, as well as an analysis of the recent supreme court decisions.
Date: March 21, 2003
Creator: Welborn, Angie A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Gun Control Legislation in the 108th Congress (open access)

Gun Control Legislation in the 108th Congress

This report discusses the information related to gun control legislation. The contents include Gun-related statistics, federal regulation of firearms, possible issues in the 108th Congress
Date: April 21, 2003
Creator: Krouse, William J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Gun Control Legislation in the 108th Congress (open access)

Gun Control Legislation in the 108th Congress

This report discusses the information related to gun control legislation. The contents include Gun-related statistics, federal regulation of firearms, legislative action in the 108th Congress
Date: May 21, 2003
Creator: Krouse, William J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library