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• Pivotal Moment for the Eastern Partnership: Outlook for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, Hearing Before the Subcomittee on European Affairs of the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, November 14, 2013

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  This is the November 14, 2013 hearing, "A Pivotal Moment for the Eastern Partnership: Outlook for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan" before the Subcommittee on European Affairs of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. From the opening statement of Christopher Murphy: "…2 weeks from today, European leaders are going to gather in Vilnius, Lithuania, for an important summit on the Eastern Partnership. Since its inception in 2009, the Partnership has provided an important framework for countries that seek a closer partnership with the European Union. Nearly 5 years later, the concept of 'more for more' will be tested, and several partner states who have made significant progress on the reform agendas will have the opportunity to sign or initial an Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. The sentiment I hope we will convey today is that the United States strongly supports the institution of the Eastern Partnership, and we will remain deeply involved, as appropriate, to support the vision of Europe 'whole, free, and at peace.' Now, while these agreements are exclusively between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, the United States does have an interest in furthering democracy and stability throughout Europe and Eurasia. We believe, just like the EU, that integration of these nations only can happen when key conditions are met by applicant nations, particularly around issues related to the rule of law, government transparency, and open economic policies." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Moldovan Ambassador to the US Igor Munteanu, Georgian Ambassador to the US Archil Gegeshidze, Bryan Ardouny, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the US H.E. Elin Suleymanov, and Victoria Nuland.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Management Failures: Oversight of the EPA, Hearing Before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, June 25, 2014

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  This is from the June 25, 2014 hearing on "Management Failures: Oversight of the EPA" held before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. From the opening statement of Darrell E. Issa: "Today's hearing is in fact critical to our core oversight responsibility. The Environmental Protection Agency is a massive Federal bureaucracy that employs thousands of people and regulates approximately 11 percent of the economy directly, but its impact on energy effectively regulates the prospect for competitiveness of our entire economy. It is an agency with far reaching influence impacting the largest and the smallest corporations in America. While the vast majority of EPA employees are honest and follow the rules, a troubling trend has emerged: a lack of overall supervision and accountability for those employees who cheat the taxpayers. […] I appreciate the administrator appearing here today to discuss the committee's concerns. We are already dealing with one agency, the IRS [Internal Revenue Service], that has suffered a devastating loss of confidence of and from the American people. My fear is the EPA, without major changes, and those changes include how supervisors deal with responsibility for the money and the core rights of the American people, will suffer a similar loss of confidence that hinders their ability to carry out their mission." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Sheldon Whitehouse, David Vitter, and Gina McCarthy.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Examining the Administration's Treatment of Whistleblowers, Hearing Before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and the Census of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, September 9, 2014

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  This is the September 9, 2013 hearing on "Examining the Administration's Treatment of Whistleblowers," before the US House Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and the Census of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. From the opening statement of Representative Farenthold: "One of the most important functions of the Oversight Committee is to help expose waste, fraud, and abuse within the Federal bureaucracy, and to help reform broken institutions and policies that ensure taxpayers that they have a government that works for them. As members of this committee know, whistleblowers are an invaluable asset in helping us achieve this important goal. Unfortunately, those who expose waste, fraud, and abuse from the inside sometimes only receive retaliation as their award. Today's hearing will examine how whistleblower protection laws are often ignored or manipulated. The result is that those in a position to shine light on illegal behavior stay in the shadows for fear of retribution." Statements, letters and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Carolyn Lerner, Susan Grundmann, Robert Maclean, Robert van Boven and Tom Devine.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Help Wanted at DHS: Implications of Leadership Vacancies on the Mission and Morale, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, December 12, 2013

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  This is from the December 12, 2013 hearing, "Help Wanted at DHS: Implications of Leadership Vacancies on the Mission and Morale," held before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Michael McCaul, "…over 40 percent of the Department's senior leadership positions are either vacant or have an acting placeholder. This means nearly half of the top positions at the third-largest department in the United States Government are not filled. This is an issue of accountability, or put more simply: 'Who is in charge?' Additionally, it is my judgment that this sends a signal that homeland security is not a priority for this administration. As we all know, large organizations cannot be managed if they do not have managers. While DHS has thousands of dedicated career employees, it is suffering from a void of leadership because this administration has failed to appoint qualified individuals to advance DHS's many important responsibilities. From border security to internal investigations, top positions have remained vacant not for months, but years." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael McCaul, Tom Ridge, David C. Maurer, Max Stier, and Colleen M. Kelley.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Strategic Options for the Way Ahead in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Hearing Before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, February 26, 2009

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  From the opening statement of Carl Levin: "The current policies of the United States and its allies are not succeeding in stabilizing Afghanistan. The Department of Defense (DOD) reports that insurgent-initiated attacks are up 40 percent in 2008 over the previous year. The Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Dennis Blair, testified earlier this month that the Taliban dominated insurgency has increased the geographic scope and frequency of attacks and that security in eastern areas and the south and northwest has ''deteriorated.'' The United Nations (U.N.) announced this month that Afghan civilian deaths reached a new high last year of 2,118 and that U.S., North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and Afghan operations, particularly air strikes, were responsible for nearly 40 percent of the civilians killed. A recent public opinion poll showed declining support among the Afghan people for coalition efforts and a loss of legitimacy for the Afghan Government of President Karzai. Of those surveyed, a majority viewed the United States unfavorably, with fewer than half, 42 percent, having confidence in coalition forces to provide security where they lived." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include Carl Levin, John McCain, David Barno, Evan Bayh, James Dobbins, Jeff Sessions, Marin Strmecki, Kay R. Hagan, Jack Reed, and Susan M. Collins.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2009
• Management Challenges Facing the Department of Homeland Security: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Management, Integration, and Oversight of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, April 20, 2005

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  From the opening statement of Mike Rogers: "We are holding this hearing to review the major management challenges facing the Department of Homeland Security. We also will consider what steps need to be taken to improve the overall management of the Department and its programs. The Department is just over 2 years old, and it is the third largest department in the Federal government. When it was stood up in March 2003, the Department inherited 180,000 employees and 22 separate agencies. Many of these agencies had their own separate systems for personnel, procurement, budgeting and communications. Today, we will hear from the Department's Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office on audits and reviews they recently conducted of the Department's major management challenges. We will also hear from the Department's former Undersecretary for Border and Transportation Security and the former Inspector General, as well as the Chairman of the Gilmore Commission regarding their views and recommendations on the Department's management functions. One issue of special interest is how we ensure that the Department is fully coordinating its training efforts to support our first responders and firefighters." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mike Rogers, Kendrick B. Meek, Christopher Cox, Bennie G. Thompson, Charlie Dent, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Michael McCaul, Dave G. Riechert, Clark Kent Ervin, James S. Gilmore, III, Asa Hutchison, Norman Rabkin, and Richard L. Skinner.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2005
• Examining Ongoing Conflict in Eastern Congo: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on African Affairs of the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, April 16, 2013

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  This is the April 16, 2013 Hearing on "Examining Ongoing Conflict in Eastern Congo" held before the Committee on Foreign Relations. From the opening statement of Christopher A. Coons, "Today the African Affairs Subcommittee will focus on the ongoing and deadly conflict in eastern Congo which has forced millions of innocent people from their homes and contributed to decades of human rights violations, mass atrocities, horrific and widespread sexual- and gender-based violence, and disputes over conflict minerals. [...] Since April 2012, more than 650,000 men, women, and children have been displaced mostly by recent fighting between the M23 [March 23 Movement] rebel group and the Congolese Army in the North Kivu province of eastern Congo. The M23 has reportedly benefited from the illicit support of neighboring states, including Rwanda and to a lesser extent Uganda. There has been some accountability for such actions in the form of sanctions imposed by the United States and United Nations last year. I traveled to Kinshasa in February to learn more about this conflict, see the situation for myself, and support the regional framework for moving negotiations forward." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Federico Borello, Christopher A. Coons, Mvemba Dizolele, Jeff Flake, Ferdinand Muhigirwa, Kinshasa Sociale, and John Prendergast.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2013
• Syria, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, October 31, 2013

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  This is the October 21, 2013 hearing on Syria held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. From the opening statement of Robert Menendez: "Seven million Syrians -- a third of the country's population -- have fled their homes. More than two million refugees -- half of them children -- have fled to surrounding countries. […] I'm concerned about what comes next strategically at the political, diplomatic, and humanitarian levels. […] The only positive note is the progress we are making on destroying and dismantling Syria's chemical weapons infrastructure and supply. Today the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed that is has destroyed the equipment Syria used to make chemical weapons. And so far, inspectors have visited 21 of the 23 chemical weapons sites initially identified by Syrian authorities. […] We must also call on other donor-nations to join us in this time of greatest need: Syria is now a global problem. Finally, we need an answer as to what can be done to push all sides in this conflict toward a settlement and a future for Syria that does not include Assad." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bob Corker, Robert S. Ford, Thomas M. Countryman, Nancy Lindborg, Frederic C. Hof, Leslie H. Gelb, and Robert Menendez.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• H. Rept. 113-278: Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act of 2013, Report Together with Additional Views, to Accompany H.R. 1204, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, December 2, 2013

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  "The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 1204) to amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) to establish an Aviation Security Advisory Committee, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2013-12-02
• House Document 113-138: A Letter on U.S. Armed Forces in Libya, Communication from the President of the United States, Transmitting A Report on Armed Forces Support to the Security of the U.S. Personnel in Libya, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, July 28, 2014

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  This is the July 28, 2014 communication titled, "A Letter on U.S. Armed Forces in Libya," from the President of the United States to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, John A. Boehner. From the letter: " As I most recently reported on June 12, 2014, U.S. Armed Forces have been in Libya to support the security of U.S. personnel in that country. During the period July 25-- 26, due to ongoing violence resulting from clashes between Libyan militias in the immediate vicinity of the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, embassy personnel and the U.S. forces supporting their security were temporarily relocated outside Libya. The U.S. forces departed Libya, via Tunisia, for U.S. bases in Europe. To support the safe departure of the embassy staff from Libya over land through Tunisia, U.S. military aircraft and additional military personnel entered Libya and Tunisia; those forces have also returned to bases in Europe. This action has been directed consistent with my responsibility to protect U.S. citizens both at home and abroad, and in furtherance of U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive. I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93--148). I appreciate the support of the Congress in these actions."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Iraq: U.S. Regime Change Efforts and Post-Saddam Governance [Updated October 22, 2004]

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  "In the months prior to the war, the Administration stressed that regime change through U.S.-led military action would yield benefits beyond disarmament and reduction of support for terrorism, benefits such as liberation of the Iraqi people from an oppressive regime and promotion of democracy throughout the Middle East. Escalating resistance to the U.S.-led occupation (April 2003-June 2004) complicated U.S. efforts to build democracy and to establish legitimate and effective Iraqi political and security bodies. Partly in an effort to reduce U.S. casualties and satisfy Iraqi demands for an end to coalition occupation, the United States decided to accelerate the hand over of sovereignty. An interim government was named on June 1, 2004, and the handover took place on June 28, 2004. Current plans are to for elections for a transition government by January 31, 2005, with votes on a permanent constitution by October 31, 2005, and for a permanent government by December 15, 2005, although virtually all of these deadlines are to some degree jeopardized by the persistent insurgency. This report will be updated as warranted by major developments. See also CRS Report RL31833, 'Iraq: Recent Developments in Reconstruction Assistance'."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Katzman, Kenneth

  2004-10-22
• Iraq: U.S. Regime Change Efforts and Post-Saddam Governance [Updated October 5, 2004]

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  "In the months prior to the war, the Administration stressed that regime change through U.S.-led military action would yield benefits beyond disarmament and reduction of support for terrorism, benefits such as liberation of the Iraqi people from an oppressive regime and promotion of democracy throughout the Middle East. Escalating resistance to the U.S.-led occupation (April 2003-June 2004) complicated U.S. efforts to build democracy and to establish legitimate and effective Iraqi political and security bodies. The Bush Administration asserts that U.S. policy in Iraq will ultimately succeed as U.S. trainers and the interim Iraqi government build new Iraqi security bodies. Some believe the United States should add troops to the current level of about 140,000, plus about 24,000 foreign military personnel, and should eliminate pockets of insurgent control. Others believe the United States needs to take new steps to recruit major international force contributors, and yet some others believe that the United States should pull out of Iraq. This report will be updated as warranted by major developments. See also CRS Report RL31833, 'Iraq: Recent Developments in Reconstruction Assistance'."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Katzman, Kenneth

  2004-10-05
• Homeland Security: Department Organization and Management - Implementation Phase [Updated January 3, 2005]

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  "Overseeing the implementation of the legislation mandating the new Department of Homeland Security, and possibly refining it and making some technical modifications, was within the purview of the 108th Congress. Some legislators, for example, wanted to eliminate provisions protecting manufacturers from liability lawsuits, broaden the criteria for the creation of university-based centers for homeland security, and make the department subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (H.R. 484, H.R. 1416, S. 6, S. 28, S. 41, S. 45, S. 134, S. 910). The departments charter also contained some contradictory provisions, such as those concerning the appointment of an officer for civil rights and civil liberties. Other implementation issues included Senate confirmation of presidential nominees for department leadership positions, creation of initial budgets for the new department, and assessing the various reports to Congress required of the new department. A few modifications were realized in provisions of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, which was enacted into law in December 2004."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Relyea, Harold

  2005-01-03
• Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 108th Congress [Updated October 6, 2004]

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  "The 108th Congress has considered and is considering legislation on a wide range of immigration issues. Chief among these are the immigration-related recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9/11 Commission), expedited naturalization through military service, and foreign temporary workers and business personnel. Several major bills that seek to implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission propose significant revisions to U.S. immigration law: H.R. 10, S. 2845, S. 2774/H.R. 5040, and H.R. 5024. Of these bills, H.R. 10 proposes the most extensive revisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The major immigration areas under consideration in these comprehensive 9/11 Commission bills include: asylum, biometric tracking systems, border security, document security, exclusion, and visa issuances. Since the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296) created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Congress has considered legislation to clarify the allocation of immigration authorities between the Secretary of DHS and the Attorney General. P.L. 108-7 amended the INA in an apparent effort to clarify the authority that was to remain with the Attorney General. H.R. 1416, as passed by the House and reported by the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, would further amend the INA to remove certain references to the Attorney General. Among other immigration-related legislation receiving action are adjustment of status of unauthorized alien students (S. 1545), noncitizen eligibility for Medicaid (P.L. 108-173), consular identification cards (H.R. 1950), elimination of the diversity visa lottery (H.R. 775) and employment eligibility verification pilot programs (P.L. 108-156). This report will be updated as legislative developments occur."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Wasem, Ruth Ellen; Ester, Karma; Bruno, Andorra

  2004-10-06
• Federal Responses to International Conflict and Terrorism: Property Rights Issues [October 6, 2004]

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  "In sharp contrast with the poor record of takings claims in the above areas, claimants challenging the impressing of private property into military or related government service generally have prevailed - wartime or not. Examples include military overflights, seizure and operation of coal mines during wartime, and requisitioning of private property. But military destruction of property in connection with actual battle, or to thwart an advancing enemy, is not compensable. Takings claims against the freezing and vesting of foreign assets have universally been rejected, though with an occasional judicial caution that an overly protracted freeze might be a taking. In other areas, government frustration of performance under international commercial contracts appears to have yielded no successful takings claims, while law enforcement, where physical damage results from the pursuit of criminal suspects or financial damage results from the operation of front organizations, has prompted some judicial concerns and a minority of successful takings claims at the state level. The protection extended by the Takings Clause also depends on the legal status of the property's owner. The property of U.S. citizens gets the most protection; enemy alien property, none; and friendly alien property somewhere in between, depending on whether the alien has 'substantial connections' with the United States."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Meltz, Robert

  2004-10-06
• Mexico's Counter-Narcotics Efforts under Fox, December 2000 to October 2004 [November 10, 2004]

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  "President Bush and President Fox have met many times and have made the bilateral relationship a top priority, although disagreements over Iraq created some tension. In these meetings, the presidents agreed to enhance law enforcement and counter-narcotics cooperation between the two countries, and this cooperation was facilitated by the modification of the U.S. drug certification process. Top officials say that the countries have achieved unprecedented levels of cooperation, including the sharing of sensitive intelligence and expanded training for Mexican anti-drug forces. In the post 9/11/01 period, the countries have expanded cooperation into overlapping counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism programs. This report provides information on Mexico's counter-narcotics efforts during the first four years of the presidency of Vicente Fox. Special emphasis is placed on calendar year 2003, covered by the State Department's March 2004 report on international narcotics control, and the first six months of 2004, covered in President Fox's September 2004 ' State of the Nation' report. This report will be updated when warranted by events."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Storrs, K. Larry (Keith Larry), 1937-

  2004-11-10
• Comparison of 9/11 Commission Recommended Intelligence Reforms, S. 2845, S.2774, H.R. 5024, Administration Proposal, H.R. 10, Current Law [Updated October 6, 2004]

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  "On July 22, 2004, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9/11 Commission) released its bipartisan, unanimous final report containing recommendations for far-reaching and fundamental changes to the United States Intelligence Community (IC). Almost 20 months after its creation by P.L. 107-306, the commission, as mandated by its founding legislation, attempted to present a full and complete accounting of the facts and circumstances surrounding the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as well as recommendations for corrective measures that can be taken to help prevent acts of terrorism. This report, the second of two reports, presents side-by-side comparisons of the 9/11 Commission recommendations and current law and legislation proposed by Senators Collins and Lieberman (S. 2845) and unanimously approved by the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee on September 22, 2004, as amended; House Speaker Dennis Hastert (H.R. 10), as reported out be the House Committee on Rules; Senators McCain and Lieberman (S. 2774); Representative Pelosi (H.R. 5024); and President Bush."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cumming, Alfred

  2004-10-06
• Data Mining: An Overview [Updated May 3, 2004]

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  "Data mining is emerging as one of the key features of many homeland security initiatives. Often used as a means for detecting fraud, assessing risk, and product retailing, data mining involves the use of data analysis tools to discover previously unknown, valid patterns and relationships in large data sets. In the context of homeland security, data mining is often viewed as a potential means to identify terrorist activities, such as money transfers and communications, and to identify and track individual terrorists themselves, such as through travel and immigration records. Interoperability is a critical part of the larger efforts to improve interagency collaboration and information sharing through e-government and homeland security initiatives. A third issue is privacy. Questions that may be considered include the degree to which government agencies should use and mix commercial data with government data, whether data sources are being used for purposes other than those for which they were originally designed, and possible application of the Privacy Act to these initiatives. It is anticipated that congressional oversight of data mining projects will grow as data mining efforts continue to evolve. This report will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Seifert, Jeffrey W.

  2004-05-03
• Expanding Threat Reduction and Nonproliferation Programs: Concepts and Definitions [October 5, 2004]

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  "President Bush, Members of Congress, and analysts outside government have suggested that the United States provide threat reduction and nonproliferation assistance to nations outside the former Soviet Union. Some propose expanding assistance to contain proliferation; others support programs to stop terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Some support assisting only those nations with WMD programs; others support assistance for any nation with WMD materials or knowledge. Some support assistance with the storage or elimination of weapons; others believe the United States should 'lock down' all WMD materials. Some believe the United States can fund expanded programs from the existing budget for nonproliferation and threat reduction assistance; others support large increases in the existing budget. The report of the 9/11 Commission called for continued support for threat reduction assistance. H.R. 10, the 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act, calls for a review of U.S. policy in this area. This report will be updated as needed."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Woolf, Amy F.

  2004-10-05
• Iraq: International Attitudes to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Reconstruction [Updated December 18, 2003]

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  From the Summary: "There has been an increase in international cooperation between the United States and the countries that opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq in the postwar period. On October 16, 2003, the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved UNSC Res. 1511. This resolution authorized a multinational force under unified command (article 13), welcomed countries to pledge substantially to Iraq's reconstruction needs (article 24), and signaled an overall greater role for the United Nations in postwar Iraq. The spirit of international cooperation was also evident at the Madrid International Conference on Reconstruction in Iraq on October 24, 2003. The conference garnered close to $13 billion in aid pledges from countries and donors other than the United States. Some analysts suggest, however, that foreign governments are still hesitant to contribute peacekeeping troops and financial assistance out of fear of appearing to sanction the Iraq war. Concerns over (1) the deteriorating security situation and troops' safety, (2) the accuracy of prewar intelligence on Iraq, including the unproven assertion of a large-scale program to develop chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, and (3) the timetable and design for establishing an internationally recognized, "legitimate" Iraqi government, however, have rekindled the prewar debate over the use of military action against Iraq and predictions about the ease of "regime change" in Iraq. In light of the latter concerns, the U.S. government has recently announced that it may seek an additional U.N. resolution to back its proposal for turning over authority to a sovereign Iraqi government. Presumably, such concerns might affect the extent of foreign support toward postwar Iraq reconstruction."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  2003-12-18
• China-U.S. Relations: Current Issues for the 108th Congress [Updated January 11, 2005]

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  From the Document: "On December 29, 2004, China's official news agency, 'Xinhua,' announced that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) had voted unanimously to consider an anti-secession law, aimed at Taiwan independence advocates, to the full NPC at its March 2005 legislative session. State media also reported that former Party Secretary Jiang Zemin in March 2005 will ask the NPC to accept his resignation as chair of the state Central Military Commission -- a largely symbolic position. Jiang stepped down from the power-wielding Party Central Military Commission in September 2004 On December 27, 2004, the PRC published its fifth white paper on national security: "China's National Defense in 2004." The paper said that the Taiwan independence movement was the biggest threat to China's sovereignty and regional peace, and it vowed to prevent Taiwan independence at all costs. The paper also said that strengthening China's naval warfare and air capabilities were military priorities. On December 11, 2004, in elections for Taiwan's legislature, voters returned the opposition, the Nationalist Party (KMT), to a majority despite a strong push by President Chen Shui-bian's party, the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Observers believe that the DPP's failure to gain legislative control lessens the near-term chance of confrontation with Beijing. On December 3, 2004, in its biannual report on global foreign exchange, the U.S. Treasury Department did not find that China met the technical definition of currency manipulation."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dumbaugh, Kerry

  2005-01-11
• China-U.S. Relations: Current Issues for the 108th Congress [Updated September 15, 2003]

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  From the Summary: "The purpose of this report is to provide background for and summarize current developments in U.S.-PRC relations, including current and pending congressional actions involving the PRC. This report will be updated regularly as new developments occur."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dumbaugh, Kerry

  2003-09-15
• Extradition Between the United States and Great Britain: The 2003 Treaty [Updated May 6, 2004]

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  From the Document: "Federal court denial of British extradition requests in the cases of four fugitives from Northern Ireland led to the Supplementary Extradition Treaty. The Treaty proved controversial and before the Senate would give its consent it insisted upon modifications, some quite unusual. Those modifications have been eliminated in a newly negotiated treaty which awaits Senate action and which incorporates features often more characteristic of contemporary extradition treaties with other countries. There has been criticism of the new Treaty's; exemptions to the political offense bar to extradition; elimination of judicial inquiry into politically motivated extradition request; treatment of probable cause; clause relating to extradition for crimes committed overseas; dropping the statute of limitations defense; discretionary authority for provisional arrest and detention; language relating to the seizure of assets; exceptions to the rule of specialty (permitting prosecution for crimes other than those for which extradition was granted); and retroactive application."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Doyle, Charles

  2004-05-06
• Iraq: Recent Developments in Reconstruction Assistance [Updated January 27, 2005]

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  From the Summary: "Large-scale reconstruction assistance programs are being undertaken by the United States following the war with Iraq. To fund such programs, Congress approved on April 12, 2003, a $2.48 billion Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund in the FY2003 Supplemental Appropriation. On November 6, 2003, the President signed into law P.L. 108-106, the FY2004 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, providing $18.4 billion for Iraq reconstruction. Contributions pledged at the October 24, 2003, Madrid donor conference by other donors amounted to roughly $3.6 billion in grant aid and as much as $13.3 billion in possible loans. On June 28, 2004, the entity implementing assistance programs, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), dissolved, and sovereignty was returned to Iraq. Security Council Resolution 1546 of June 8, 2004, returned control of assets held in the Development Fund for Iraq to the government of Iraq. U.S. assistance is now provided through the embassy of the United States under Ambassador John Negroponte. Many reconstruction efforts on the ground are underway, but security concerns have slowed progress considerably."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tarnoff, Curt

  2005-01-27
• U.S. Foreign Assistance to the Middle East: Historical Background, Recent Trends, and the FY2006 Request [Updated February 17, 2005]

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  From the Summary: "For policymakers, foreign assistance plays a key role in advancing U.S. foreign policy goals in the Middle East. The United States has a number of interests in the region, ranging from support for the state of Israel and Israel's peaceful relations with its Arab neighbors, to the protection of vital petroleum supplies and the fight against international terrorism. U.S. assistance helps to maintain the 1979 Camp David peace accords between Israel and Egypt and the continued stability of the Kingdom of Jordan, which signed its own peace treaty with Israel in 1994. U.S. funding also works to improve Palestinian civil society, and aid officials have worked to ensure that U.S. aid to the West Bank and Gaza Strip is not diverted to terrorist groups. Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States has established new region-wide aid programs to promote democracy and encourage socio-economic reform in order to undercut the forces of radicalism in some Arab countries. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, "'A comprehensive U.S. strategy to counter terrorism should include economic policies that encourage development, more open societies, and opportunities for people to improve the lives of their families and to enhance prospects for their children's future.'"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sharp, Jeremy Maxwell

  2005-02-17
• Middle East Trade Initiatives: S. 1121/H.R. 2267 and the Administration's Plan [Updated April 26, 2004]

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  From the Summary: "On May 9, 2003, the Bush Administration proposed the establishment of a U.S. Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) within a decade (by about 2013). This proposal came a year and a half after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The MEFTA was billed as part of a plan to fight terrorism -- in this case, by supporting the growth of Middle East prosperity and democracy -- through trade. The MEFTA would cover 20 entities in what many refer to as the Middle East/North Africa -- 16 in the Middle East: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, the Gaza Strip/West Bank, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen; and four in North Africa: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia. Since the Bush Administration first announced its trade initiative, it has made substantial progress in working with MEFTA entities to develop TIFAs, BITs, and FTAs and progress along the steps outlined above. Since the beginning of 2003: TIFAS have been completed with five countries: Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, bringing the total to 11. Other TIFA partners are Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. BITs have been completed with one country, Jordan, bringing the total to five. Other BIT partners are Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. Finally, bilateral free trade agreements have been implemented with Jordan, Israel, and Morocco. A signed FTA with Bahrain awaits consideration by Congress, which would raise the FTA total to four. In addition, on November 15, 2004, U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick announced the Administration's intent to negotiate FTAs with the United Arab Emirates and Oman, as the 5th and 6th countries to have FTAs with the United States out of the 20 in MEFTA. This report will be updated."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bolle, Mary Jane

  2004-04-26
• Army Corps of Engineers Water Resources Activities: Authorization and Appropriations [Updated February 4, 2005]

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  From the Summary: "Congress authorizes and appropriates funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to conduct water resources studies and projects for navigation, flood and storm protection, ecosystem restoration, and an array of other purposes. Congress authorizes Corps studies generally as part of the consideration of a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) or in a survey resolution by an authorizing committee. Authorization to construct projects and changes to the policies guiding the Corps civil works program, such as cost-share requirements for projects, are also included in WRDAs. WRDAs are often considered biennially. Federal funding is provided for the civil works activities of the Corps primarily through the annual Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act; although not encouraged in some instances, these acts also have authorized Corps studies and construction. Due in part to competition for limited funding; many authorized activities do not receive appropriations, resulting in a backlog of authorized construction and maintenance activities. Few new studies and new construction activities have been included in the President's budget request in recent years. This report explains how the congressional authorization and appropriations process overlays the Corps' project development process."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hughes, H. Steven

  2005-02-04
• Post-War Iraq: A Table and Chronology of Foreign Contributions [Updated November 5, 2004]

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  "Securing foreign contributions to the reconstruction and stabilization of Iraq has been a major issue for U.S. policymakers since the launch of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. This report tracks important changes in financial and personnel pledges from foreign governments since the August 19, 2003 bombing of the U.N. Headquarters in Baghdad and major events since the fall of Baghdad on April 9, 2003. According to the latest estimates, foreign donors have pledged $13 billion in grants and loans for Iraq reconstruction, but have only disbursed around $1 billion to the United Nations and World Bank trust funds for Iraq. The largest non- American pledges of grants have come from Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. The World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Japan, and Saudi Arabia have pledged the most loans and export credits. Although other coalition members have reaffirmed their commitment to providing security in Iraq since the Madrid bombings, continued violence and terrorist attacks both inside and outside Iraq may affect political will in troop-contributing countries to sustain their force presence. This report will be updated as needed to reflect the latest international developments."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sharp, Jeremy Maxwell

  2004-11-05
• Critical Infrastructure Protections: The 9/11 Commission Report and Congressional Response [Updated October 20, 2004]

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  "Many of the recommendations made in the 9/11 Commission's report deal indirectly with critical infrastructure protection, especially as the goals of critical infrastructure protection have evolved to include countering the type of attack that occurred on September 11. However, relatively few recommendations in the Commission's report address critical infrastructure protection specifically. These call for using a systematic risk management approach for setting priorities and allocating resources for critical infrastructure protection. The Commission discussed in more detail issues related to transportation security. However, none of these recommendations advocate a change in the direction of, or the organizational structures that have evolved to implement, existing infrastructure protection policies. Nevertheless, the Commission's recommendations could speed up implementation in some areas, given the attention and renewed urgency expressed by the Commission. This report will be updated as appropriate."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Moteff, John D.

  2004-10-20
• Iraq: Summary of U.S. Forces [Updated October 18, 2004]

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  "This report provides a summary estimate of military forces that have reportedly been deployed to and subsequently withdrawn from the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR), popularly called the Persian Gulf region, to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. For background information on the AOR, see [http://www.centcom.mil/aboutus/aor.htm]. Geographically, the USCENTCOM AOR stretches from the Horn of Africa to Central Asia. The information about military units that have been deployed and withdrawn is based on both official government public statements and estimates identified in selected news accounts. The statistics have been assembled from both Department of Defense (DOD) sources and open-source press reports. However, due to concerns about operational security, DOD is not routinely reporting the composition, size, nor destination of units and military forces being deployed to the Persian Gulf. Consequently, not all has been officially confirmed. For further reading, see CRS Report RL31701, 'Iraq: U.S. Military Operations'. This report will be updated as the situation continues to develop."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Carter, Linwood B.

  2004-10-18