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Abortion and Family Planning-Related Provisions in U.S. Foreign Assistance Law and Policy

Description: This report details legislation and policies that restrict or place requirements on U.S. funding of abortion or family planning activities abroad. The level and extent of federal funding for these activities is an ongoing and controversial issue in U.S. foreign assistance and will likely continue to be a point of contention during the second session of the 114th Congress.
Date: July 5, 2015
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Army Officer Shortages: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report assesses the extent of the Army officer shortfall, examines perceived causes, reviews recent retention initiatives, identifies other possible retention incentives, and concludes with a review of possible options for Congress. This report is focused on the Army’s “line” or basic branch officers.
Date: July 5, 2006
Creator: Henning, Charles A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Biosafety Protocol for Genetically Modified Organisms: Overview

Description: The Biosafety Protocol to the 1992 Convention on biological Diversity, adopted in early 2000, addresses the safe handling, transfer, and trade of biological organisms. The Protocol sets forth procedures and rules concerning trade in biological products, including genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that have engendered controversy, especially when they are used as agricultural crops. These rules are of key importance to U.S. economic interests in agriculture as well as those dealing in other … more
Date: July 5, 2000
Creator: Segarra, Alejandro E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Block Grants: Perspectives and Controversies

Description: This report provides an overview of the six grant types with criteria for defining a block grant and a list of current block grants. It also examines competing perspectives concerning the use of block grants versus other grant mechanisms to achieve national goals, provides an historical overview of the role of block grants in American federalism, and discusses recent changes to existing block grants and proposals to create new ones.
Date: July 5, 2014
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay & Boyd, Eugene
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Burma's Political Prisoners and U.S. Sanctions

Description: This report discusses the current issues in Burma (Myanmar) in regards to political prisoners and the resulting U.S. sanctions against the nation. It includes an introduction and definitions; information about current estimates of prisoners and prisoner releases; the relation of political prisoners, parliamentary elections and national reconciliation; and U.S. sanctions and U.S. efforts regarding political prisoners, as well as relevant issues for Congress to consider.
Date: July 5, 2012
Creator: Martin, Michael F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Campaign Finance Bills in the 107th Congress: Comparison of S. 27 (McCain-Feingold), H.R. 2356 (Shays-Meehan), H.R. 2360 (Ney-Wynn), and Current Law

Description: This report summarizes and compares three major campaign finance reform bills before the 107th Congress and current law (in most cases, the Federal Election Campaign Act, or FECA, 2 U.S.C. § 431 et seq.).
Date: July 5, 2001
Creator: Cantor, Joseph E. & Whitaker, L. Paige
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Capitol Visitor Center: An Overview

Description: On June 20, 2000, congressional leaders of both parties gathered to participate in a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). The center has been designed to enhance the security, educational experience, and comfort of those visiting the U.S. Capitol when it is completed. The cost of the center is estimated to be at least $555 million. This report details the different methods of funding for the center, as well as the design and development process for the center.
Date: July 5, 2006
Creator: Stathis, Stephen W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Capitol Visitor Center: An Overview

Description: This report presents the cost of the center, the most extensive addition to the Capitol since the Civil War, and the largest in the structure’s more than 200-year history, is now estimated to be at least $555 million. The project is being financed with appropriated funds, and a total of $65 million from private donations and revenue generated by the sale of commemorative coins.
Date: July 5, 2006
Creator: Stathis, Stephen W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Capitol Visitor Center: An Overview

Description: This report presents the cost of the center, the most extensive addition to the Capitol since the Civil War, and the largest in the structure’s more than 200-year history, is now estimated to be at least $555 million. The project is being financed with appropriated funds, and a total of $65 million from private donations and revenue generated by the sale of commemorative coins.
Date: July 5, 2006
Creator: Stathis, Stephen W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Colombia: Plan Colombia Legislation and Assistance (FY2000-FY2001)

Description: This report provides an overview of U.S. assistance before the Plan Colombia proposal, describes the Clinton Administration Plan Colombia proposal, and tracks Congressional action on it. It also covers the Bush Administration’s Andean Regional Initiative (ARI), which incorporated the Bush Administration’s Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI). Table 3 provides a breakdown of the ARI by country, purpose, and account. Table 1 provides an overview of U.S. assistance from FY1999-FY2001, and Table 2 p… more
Date: July 5, 2001
Creator: Serafino, Nina M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management

Description: This report describes statutory requirements for allocating congressional nominations to service academies. It also identifies the qualifications that must be met by potential nominees, as established by statute and each academy. Finally, sample documents that could be used by congressional offices at various stages of the nomination selection process are included.
Date: July 5, 2011
Creator: Petersen, R. Eric
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Congressional Review Act: Determining Which "Rules" Must Be Submitted to Congress

Description: This report describes what types of agency actions can be overturned using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) by providing a close examination and discussion of the statutory definition of "rule." It also explains how Members can use the CRA to overturn agency rules that have not been submitted to Congress.
Date: July 5, 2018
Creator: Brannon, Valerie C. & Carey, Maeve P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Constitutionality of Regulating Political Advertisements: An Analysis of Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc.

Description: On June 25, 2007, in a 5-4 decision, the Sumpreme Court in Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. v. FEC affirmed a lower court ruling, finding that a provision of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, prohibiting corporate or labor union treasury funds from being spent on advertisements broadcast within 30 days of a primary or 60 days of a general election, was unconstitutional as applied to ads that Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. sought to run. In later decisions, it was ruled that advertisements… more
Date: July 5, 2007
Creator: Whitaker, L. Paige
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cooperative R&D: Federal Efforts to Promote Industrial Competitiveness

Description: 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 … more
Date: July 5, 2005
Creator: Schacht, Wendy H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cuba: Issues for the 110th Congress

Description: This report gives an overview of Cuba's issues for the 110th Congress. The contents include the most recent developments, political and economic conditions, U.S. policy towards Cuba, issues in the U.S.- Cuban relations, legislations in the 109th congress, and legislative initiatives in the 110th Congress.
Date: July 5, 2007
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Debt Limit: The Need to Raise It After Four Years of Surpluses

Description: Increases in total federal debt are driven by government deficits (which increase debt held by the public) and by the surpluses credited to (and federal accounting for) debt-holding federal accounts, mostly federal trust funds such as the Social Security, Medicare, Transportation, and Civil Service trust funds.
Date: July 5, 2002
Creator: Winters, Philip D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Economic Effects of Trade: Overview and Policy Challenges

Description: This report focuses on some of the major issues associated with trade and trade agreements and the impact of trade on the U.S. economy. Discussions of trade and trade agreements often focus on a number of issues, including the role that trade plays in the U.S. economy, the impact of trade agreements on employment gains and losses, and the size of the U.S. trade deficit.
Date: July 5, 2016
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Ecstasy: Actions of the 107th Congress to Control MDMA

Description: Legislation has been proposed in the 107th Congress to combat the use and abuse of Ecstasy (MDMA) and other “club drugs.” In a 2001 survey, 12% of 12th graders reported ever having taken the drug. The Ecstasy Anti-Proliferation Act of 2000, enacted by the 106th Congress, directed the U.S. Sentencing Commission to increase penalties for Ecstasy offenses. As of March 2001, MDMA penalties became more severe than for powder cocaine but less severe than for heroin.
Date: July 5, 2002
Creator: Eddy, Mark
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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