Abortion: Legislative Response (open access)

Abortion: Legislative Response

The primary purpose of this issue brief is to focus on the current legislative action in the 107th Congress with respect to abortion; however, understanding that legislation requires a review of the U. S. Supreme Court’s leading decisions concerning a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate her pregnancy. For a detailed discussion of the case law, see CRS Report 95-724, Abortion Law Development: A Brief Overview.
Date: September 20, 2002
Creator: Lewis, Karen J.; Shimabukuro, Jon O. & Ely, Dana
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Animal Agriculture: Issues in the 107th Congress (open access)

Animal Agriculture: Issues in the 107th Congress

A variety of animal agriculture issues, including prices, the impact of consolidation in the meat production/packing industry, trade, and the environmental impacts of large feedlots, continue to generate interest in Congress. This issue brief discusses these issues, as well as the 2002 farm bill, which contains several provisions affecting animal agriculture, including protections for contract growers, disaster assistance, country-of-origin labeling, and increased funding for conservation purposes.
Date: September 17, 2002
Creator: Heykoop, Jerry
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agricultural Trade Issues in the 107th Congress (open access)

Agricultural Trade Issues in the 107th Congress

The 107th Congress is considering trade issues with implications for the U.S. agricultural sector. Trade in agricultural commodities and food products affects farm income and rural employment, and it also generates economic activity beyond the farm gate. With agricultural export sales the equivalent of one-quarter of farm income, some policymakers view U.S. efforts to develop market opportunities overseas as vital to the sector’s financial health. Decisions taken by the Bush Administration, and actions taken by Congress, thus will affect the outlook for agricultural trade.
Date: September 24, 2002
Creator: Hanrahan, Charles E.; Becker, Geoffrey S. & Jurenas, Remy
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Sugar Policy Issues (open access)

Sugar Policy Issues

None
Date: September 16, 2002
Creator: Jurenas, Remy
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Dairy Policy Issues (open access)

Dairy Policy Issues

Several dairy issues that were debated during the 108th Congress are expected to continue as issues of interest in the 109th Congress. Separate bills were introduced in the 108th Congress to extend authority for both the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Program and the dairy forward pricing pilot program, and to address dairy producer concerns about the importation of milk protein concentrates.
Date: September 27, 2002
Creator: Chite, Ralph M.
Object Type: Report
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: September 16, 2002
Creator: Hanrahan, Charles E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The 2002 Farm Bill: Overview and Status (open access)

The 2002 Farm Bill: Overview and Status

This report discusses the provisions of the 1996 farm bill, which was due to expire in 2002 but was extended for an additional 6 years on May 13, 2002 by President Bush (P.L. 107-171). The new law is called the "Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (FSRIA) of 2002. The new law generally supersedes the previous omnibus farm bill, the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform (FAIR) Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-127). The new farm law has attracted widespread criticism both in the U.S. and abroad. This report discusses these criticisms as well as the defenses of the law's proponents.
Date: September 3, 2002
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S. & Womach, Jasper
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Airport Improvement Program (open access)

Airport Improvement Program

This issue brief discusses the Airport Improvement Program and its complement, the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC). After a brief history of federal support for airport construction and improvement, the report describes AIP funding, its source of revenues, funding distribution, the types of projects the program funds, AIP and PFC policy issues, and the allowable use of AIP funds for airport security purposes.
Date: September 5, 2002
Creator: Kirk, Robert S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Environmental Protection Agency's FY2003 Budget (open access)

The Environmental Protection Agency's FY2003 Budget

On April 9, 2001, the President requested $7.3 billion in discretionary budget authority for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for FY2002, $512.0 million (or 7%) less than the FY2001 funding level of $7.8 billion. The request would not have continued funding of about $500 million for activities earmarked for FY2001, and contained provisions shifting more enforcement responsibilities to the states. Popular wastewater infrastructure funding, state roles, and the future of Superfund were some of the predominant topics. On July 17, the House Appropriations Committee recommended $7.545 billion,$229 million more than requested (H.R. 2620, H. Rept. 107-159).
Date: September 5, 2002
Creator: Lee, Martin R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Population Assistance and Family Planning Programs: Issues for Congress (open access)

Population Assistance and Family Planning Programs: Issues for Congress

None
Date: September 17, 2002
Creator: Nowels, Larry
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Budget FY2002: A Chronology with Internet Access (open access)

Budget FY2002: A Chronology with Internet Access

This is a select chronology of, and a finding guide for information on, congressional and presidential actions and documents related to major budget events in calendar year 2001, covering the FY2002 budget. Brief information is provided for the President’s budget, congressional budget resolutions, appropriations measures (regular, continuing, supplementals, and rescissions), budget reconciliation, House and Senate votes, line-item vetoes, publications, testimony, charts, and tables.
Date: September 17, 2002
Creator: Murray, Justin
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Appropriations for FY2003: District of Columbia (open access)

Appropriations for FY2003: District of Columbia

Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and budget reconciliation bills. This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress passes each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittees.
Date: September 26, 2002
Creator: Boyd, Eugene
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Lumber Imports from Canada: Issues and Events (open access)

Lumber Imports from Canada: Issues and Events

This report provides a concise historical account of the dispute, summarizes the subsidy and injury evidence, and discusses the current issues and events regarding lumber imports from Canada.
Date: September 30, 2002
Creator: Gorte, Ross W. & Grimmett, Jeanne J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Industrial Competitiveness and Technological Advancement: Debate Over Government Policy, September 10, 2002 (open access)

Industrial Competitiveness and Technological Advancement: Debate Over Government Policy, September 10, 2002

This report discusses congressional interest in the pace of U.S. technological advancement due to its influence on U.S. economic growth, productivity, and international competitiveness. The proper role of the federal government in technology development and the competitiveness of U.S. industry continues to be a topic of congressional debate.
Date: September 10, 2002
Creator: Schacht, Wendy H.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Steel: Key Issues for Congress (open access)

Steel: Key Issues for Congress

None
Date: September 3, 2002
Creator: Cooney, Stephen
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Child Care Issues in the 107th Congress (open access)

Child Care Issues in the 107th Congress

This report includes recent developments in federal child care programs and tax provisions. The report discusses several federal programs that support child care or related services, primarily for low-income working families. In addition, the tax code includes provisions specifically targeted to assist families with child care expenses. The report presents the legislative activity in the 107th Congress in regard to child care legislature and provisions.
Date: September 9, 2002
Creator: Gish, Melinda
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Trade Promotion Authority (Fast-Track Authority for Trade Agreements): Background and Developments in the 107th Congress (open access)

Trade Promotion Authority (Fast-Track Authority for Trade Agreements): Background and Developments in the 107th Congress

None
Date: September 17, 2002
Creator: Sek, Lenore
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
References for Congressional Offices: Print, Online, and Services (open access)

References for Congressional Offices: Print, Online, and Services

None
Date: September 5, 2002
Creator: Leary, Stephen
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Budget Enforcement Procedures: Senate Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Rule (open access)

Budget Enforcement Procedures: Senate Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Rule

The Senate “pay-as-you-go,” or PAYGO, rule generally requires that any legislation increasing direct spending or reducing revenues be offset. A motion to waive the rule requires an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the membership (i.e., 60 Senators if no seats are vacant). Beginning in 1993, six points of order under the PAYGO rule have been raised against an entire bill or an amendment. Of these six points of order, four were sustained and two fell upon the adoption of a waiver motion.
Date: September 23, 2002
Creator: Heniff, Bill, Jr.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Hatch-Waxman Act: Proposed Legislative Changes (open access)

The Hatch-Waxman Act: Proposed Legislative Changes

None
Date: September 3, 2002
Creator: Schacht, Wendy H. & Thomas, John R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Products Liability: A Legal Overview (open access)

Products Liability: A Legal Overview

None
Date: September 9, 2002
Creator: Cohen, Henry
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Crime Control: The Federal Response (open access)

Crime Control: The Federal Response

Under the federal system in the United States, the states and localities traditionally have held the major responsibility for prevention and control of crime and maintenance of order. For most of the Republic’s history, “police powers” in the broad sense were reserved to the states under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution. Many still hold that view, but others see a string of court decisions in recent decades as providing the basis for a far more active federal role. Several bills are discussed in this report that address issues related to crime, juvenile justice, and Congress’ evolving role in crime legislation.
Date: September 12, 2002
Creator: O'Bryant, JoAnne & Seghetti, Lisa M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Crime Control: The Federal Response (open access)

Crime Control: The Federal Response

Under the federal system in the United States, the states and localities traditionally have held the major responsibility for prevention and control of crime and maintenance of order. For most of the Republic’s history, “police powers” in the broad sense were reserved to the states under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution. Many still hold that view, but others see a string of court decisions in recent decades as providing the basis for a far more active federal role. Several bills are discussed in this report that address issues related to crime, juvenile justice, and Congress’ evolving role in crime legislation.
Date: September 26, 2002
Creator: O'Bryant, JoAnne & Seghetti, Lisa M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Drug Control: International Policy and Options (open access)

Drug Control: International Policy and Options

Over the past decade, worldwide production of illicit drugs has risen dramatically: opium and marijuana production has roughly doubled and coca production tripled. Street prices of cocaine and heroin have fallen significantly in the past 20 years, reflecting increased availability. Despite apparent national political resolve to deal with the drug problem, inherent contradictions regularly appear between U.S. anti-drug policy and other national policy goals and concerns. The mix of competing domestic and international pressures and priorities has produced an ongoing series of disputes within and between the legislative and executive branches concerning U.S. international drug policy. One contentious issue has been the Congressionally-mandated certification process, an instrument designed to induce specified drug-exporting countries to prioritize or pay more attention to the fight against narcotics businesses.
Date: September 3, 2002
Creator: Lee, Rensselaer & Perl, Raphael F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library