This report includes background, analysis, and legislative activity regarding mining on federal lands. The claim-patent system, fair market value, and reform proposals are among topics discussed in this report.

This report brief discusses the history, current posture, and outlook for federal energy tax policy.

This report details information such as history and analyses of renewable energy tax credit, budget, and electricity production issues.

This report includes information regarding the implementation of the Clean Water Act. Total maximum daily load requirements, funding issues, and stormwater discharges are among topics discussed in this report.

This report includes discussion over the debate over government policy regarding industrial competitiveness and technological advancement. Technology and competitiveness, legislative initiatives, and various approaches are among topics discussed in this report.

This report includes information related to energy efficiency, including history, various bills and budgets, and conservation. Climate change and energy security related to energy efficiency are also discussed in this report.

This report includes information involving major legislative issues regarding military retirement. Key elements and issues, budgeting and costs, and concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA disability compensation are among topics discussed in this report.

This report includes information regarding strategic petroleum reserve. Background, purchases of crude oil, and drawdown capability are among topics discussed in this report.

This report discuses lumber imports from Canada and provides a concise historical account of the dispute, summarizes the subsidy and injury evidence, and discusses the current issues and events.

Renewable energy is derived from resources that are generally not depleted by human use, such as the sun, wind, and water movement. This report discusses various aspects of policy regarding renewable energy including tax credits and budget legislation.

This report provides background and analysis and discusses the most recent regarding the law of the sea convention.

This report discusses issues in U.S.-Jordanian relations. These issues include the stability of the Jordanian regime, democratic reform under way in Jordan, the role of Jordan in the Arab-Israeli peace process, Jordan’s concerns over the U.S.-led campaign against Iraq in 2003, and its relations with other regional states.

This report discusses the issue of U.S. economic assistance to sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the importance of continued assistance in light of U.S. national security and also various U.S.-led efforts to promote reform amongst African citizens themselves. U.S. assistance finds its way to Africa through a variety of channels, including the USAID-administered DA program, food aid programs, and indirect aid provided through international financial institutions and the United Nations.

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Sub-Saharan Africa has been far more severely affected by AIDS than any other part of the world. The United Nations reports that 26.6 million adults and children are infected with the HIV virus in the region, which has about 10% of the world's population but more than two-thirds of the worldwide total of infected people. This report discusses this issue in detail, including the cause of the African AIDS epidemic, the social and economic consequences, response and treatment, and U.S. policy.

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On July 22, as preparations continued for Senate Finance markup of a bill to reauthorize TANF, a bipartisan bill was introduced by Democratic former governors from Delaware and Nebraska and a Maine Republican. S.1443 would boost mandatory child care funding by $5.5 billion over 5 years and provide numerous special grants. It would increase work participation standards and lengthen the TANF work week (to 32 hours) for those without a child under 6, but give prorated credit for part-time work. On June 30, the scheduled expiration date of TANF, the President signed a bill that extended TANF, supplemental TANF grants, mandatory child care, abstinence education, and transitional medical assistance (TMA), on FY2002 terms, through September 30, 2003 (P.L. 108-40). These programs have operated under temporary authority since October 1, 2002.

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This is one part in the series of reports that provide a background and analysis, and most recent developments regarding broadband or high-speed Internet access. The report starts out by answering questions; what is broadband and why is it important? This report also discusses broadband technologies, the status of broadband deployment and the related policy issues, as well as the legislation in congress.