Search Results

open access

9/11 Commission Recommendations: Joint Committee on Atomic Energy - A Model for Congressional Oversight?

Description: This report focuses on that portion of the 9/11 Commission recommendation that urges Congress to consider the model of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy (JCAE). It provides an outline of the history, structure, and powers of the JCAE and analyzes a number of issues that might be considered by policymakers as they weigh the suitability of the JCAE as a possible model when crafting congressional oversight mechanisms for intelligence.
Date: August 20, 2004
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes: The Public Health and Medical Response

Description: In response to a series of disasters (namely, the 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita) and terrorist attacks (namely, the 2001 terror attacks) over the past decade, Congress, the Administration, state and local governments, and the private sector have made investments to improve disaster preparedness and response. New federal authorities and programs to strengthen the nation's public health system were introduced in comprehensive legislation in 2002. Congress also created the Department of Homelan… more
Date: January 20, 2006
Creator: Lister, Sarah A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes: The Public Health and Medical Response

Description: This report discusses the National Response Plan (NRP) and its components for public health and medical response, provides information on key response activities carried out by agencies in the Department of Health and Human Serivces (HHS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and discusses certain issues in public health and medical preparedness that have been raised by the response to the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes.
Date: January 20, 2006
Creator: Lister, Sarah A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The 2009 U.N. Durban Review Conference: Follow-Up to the 2001 U.N. World Conference Against Racism

Description: This report provides information on the 2001 World Conference Against Racism and the circumstances of U.S. withdrawal. It discusses preparations for the Durban Review Conference, including U.S. policy and reaction from other governments. It highlights possible issues for the 111th Congress, including the Review Conference preparatory process, U.S. funding of the Conference, and the political and diplomatic impact of U.S. engagement.
Date: November 20, 2008
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Abortion: Legislative Response

Description: 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
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Abortion: Legislative Response

Description: The primary focus of this issue brief is legislative action in the 108th Congress with respect to abortion. However, discussion of those legislative proposals necessarily involves a brief discussion of the leading U.S. Supreme Court decisions concerning a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate her pregnancy. For a more detailed discussion of the relevant case law, see CRS Report 95-724, Abortion Law Development: A Brief Overview.
Date: March 20, 2003
Creator: Lewis, Karen J.; Shimabukuro, Jon O. & Ely, Dana
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Administrative Issues Related to a Change in Majority in the House of Representatives

Description: This report briefly describes how a change in majority leadership in the House of Representatives -- such as the incoming new majority that will assume control of House operations at the beginning of the 110th Congress in January 2007 -- could affect House rules, committees, and administrative and legislative operations.
Date: November 20, 2006
Creator: Petersen, R. Eric; Brudnick, Ida A. & Manning, Jennifer E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E): Background, Status, and Selected Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) design. The report discusses the legislative origins and policy debates prior to ARPA-E authorization and Bush administration response to ARPA-E authorization.
Date: June 20, 2008
Creator: Stine, Deborah D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E): Background, Status, and Selected Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses the establishment of the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) within the Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69), which was authorized by Congress in August 2007. Modeled on the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), ARPA-E would support transformational energy technology research projects with the goal of enhancing the nation's economic and energy security.
Date: May 20, 2008
Creator: Stine, Deborah D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Affirmative Action in Employment: A Legal Overview

Description: This report covers the legal history of affirmative action legislation in regard to employment. Moreover, the report tracks this type of legislation to the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's. Specifically, much of this legislation stems from desegregation of public schools and even more specifically in regards to employment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Date: April 20, 2006
Creator: Dale, Charles V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Afghanistan: Current Issues and U.S. Policy Concerns

Description: The United States and its allies are helping Afghanistan emerging from more than 22 years of warfare, although substantial risk to Afghan stability remains. Before the U.S. military campaign against the orthodox Islamist Taliban movement began on October 7, 2001, Afghanistan had been mired in conflict since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. The defeat of the Taliban has enabled the United States and its coalition partners to send forces throughout Afghanistan to search for Taliban and… more
Date: May 20, 2002
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses the current political state of Afghanistan, focusing particularly on the influence of the Taliban and other militant groups and on the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. This report also discusses the U.S.-Afghanistan relationship and U.S. efforts under the Obama Administration to provide military, reconstructive, and stabilization aid.
Date: July 20, 2009
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Afghanistan's Path to Reconstruction: Obstacles, Challenges, and Issues for Congress

Description: Although hostilities in Afghanistan have not yet ended and the war on terrorism in Afghanistan continues, relief and reconstruction efforts to assist the people of Afghanistan are well underway. International attention has mostly focused on Afghanistan’s short- and medium-term future. While questions continue between the United States and its allies about division of labor, burdensharing, and exit strategies, Congress continues to examine the assistance progress, aid priorities, long-term recon… more
Date: September 20, 2002
Creator: Margesson, Rhoda
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Africa, the G8, and the Blair Initiative

Description: Britain's Prime Minister Blair assumed the rotating presidency of the G8 group of nations (see text box) in January 2005, and he intends to use the July 2005 G8 summit, which he will chair, to push his Africa development initiative. Climate change will be the second focus of the G8 meeting, being called the "Gleneagles summit." The purpose of this report is to provide background on Africa, the G8, and the Gleneagles meeting. It outlines the British proposals and the U.S. reaction to them to dat… more
Date: July 20, 2005
Creator: Copson, Raymond W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Africa: U.S. Foreign Assistance Issues

Description: 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.
Date: May 20, 2003
Creator: Copson, Raymond W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act and Disparate Impact Claims: An Analysis of the Supreme Court’s Ruling in Smith v. City of Jackson

Description: This report discusses Smith v. City of Jackson, a recent case in which the Supreme Court held that workers may sue employers under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) for workplace policies that have an adverse impact on older employees, even if the discriminatory effects are not intentional.
Date: June 20, 2005
Creator: Dale, Charles V. & Feder, Jody
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Agricultural Issues in the 109th Congress

Description: This report discusses a number of issues affecting U.S. agriculture have been or are being addressed by the 109th Congress. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-171), enacted in February 2006, included a net reduction in spending on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mandatory programs of $2.7 billion over five years, and the reauthorization of a dairy income support program. Other issues of importance to agriculture during the second session of the 109th Congress include the consider… more
Date: July 20, 2006
Creator: Chite, Ralph M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Air Force Transformation

Description: This report considers how the Air Force is changing itself to meet new defensive needs. The issues for Congress on this are mostly budgetary and how effective it will be.
Date: July 20, 2007
Creator: Bolkcom, Christopher
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Back to Top of Screen