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U.S. Immigration Policy on Asylum Seekers [Updated May 5, 2005]
From the Summary: "Aliens present in the United States may apply for asylum with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau (USCIS) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after arrival into the country, or they may seek asylum before a Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) immigration judge during removal proceedings. Aliens arriving at a U.S. port who lack proper immigration documents or who engage in fraud or misrepresentation are placed in expedited removal; however, if they express a fear of persecution, they receive a 'credible fear' hearing with an USCIS asylum officer and--if found credible--are referred to an EOIR immigration judge for a hearing."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wasem, Ruth Ellen
2005-05-05
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Gun Legislation in the 109th Congress [Updated May 6, 2005]
From the Summary: "Gun control advocates argue that federal regulation of firearms curbs access by criminals, juveniles, and other 'high-risk' individuals. They contend that only federal measures can successfully reduce the availability of guns throughout the nation. Some seek broad policy changes such as near-prohibition of non-police handgun ownership or the registration of all firearms or firearm owners. They assert that there is no constitutional barrier to such measures and no significant social costs. Others advocate less comprehensive policies that they maintain would not impede ownership and legitimate firearm transfers."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Krouse, William J.
2005-05-06
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Homeland Security Grant Formulas: A Comparison of Formula Provisions in S. 21 and H.R. 1544, 109th Congress [Updated May 13, 2005]
From the Summary: "In the FY2005 DHS appropriations (P.L. 108-334), Congress directed DHS to allocate funding for SHSGP [State Homeland Security Grant Program], LETPP [Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program], EMPG [Emergency Management Performance Grants], and CCP [Citizen Corps Programs] in the same manner as the FY2004 allocations. The minimum allocations are based on the formula of 0.75% of total appropriations guaranteed to each state, 0.25% of total appropriations guaranteed to each U.S. territory, and the remainder of total appropriations are based on the states population percentage of the total national population. The actual FY2005 minimum allocation, including SHSGP and LETPP, was $11.25 million for each state and $3.75 million for each territory. In the absence of statutes or congressional guidance, DHS, in FY2004, decided to allocate the remaining appropriations in direct proportion to the ratio of each states population to the total national population."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Reese, Shawn
2005-05-13
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U.S.-China Counter-Terrorism Cooperation: Issues for U.S. Policy [Updated May 12, 2005]
From the Summary: "After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States faced a
challenge in enlisting the full support of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in counter-terrorism. This effort raised short-term policy issues about how to elicit cooperation and how to address China's concerns about military action (Operation Enduring Freedom). Longer-term questions have concerned whether counter-terrorism has strategically transformed bilateral relations and whether China's support has been valuable and not obtained at the expense of other U.S. interests. Congress has oversight over the trend toward closer ties with China as well as a range of policy options. These options cover law-enforcement cooperation; designations of terrorist organizations; release of detained Uighurs; weapons nonproliferation; waivers of sanctions for the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown; the Container Security Initiative (CSI); and military-to-military contacts. This report will be updated as warranted."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kan, Shirley
2005-05-12
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Morocco-U.S. Free Trade Agreement [Updated May 26, 2005]
From the Summary: "The United States and Morocco reached agreement on March 2, 2004, to create a free trade agreement (FTA). The FTA is intended to strengthen bilateral ties, boost trade and investment flows, and bolster Morocco's position as a moderate Arab state. More than 95% of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products will become duty-free upon entry into force of the agreement. The Senate approved implementing legislation (S. 2677) on July 2, 2004 by a vote of 85-13 and the House approved identical legislation (H.R. 4842) on July 22, 2004 by a vote of 323-99. The next day, the Senate passed House approved H.R. 4842 without amendment by unanimous consent. The legislation was signed by President Bush into law (P.L.108-302) on August 3, 2004. While the Moroccan Parliament ratified the FTA in January 2005, King Mohammed VI has not yet signed the legislation. This report will be updated later this year."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ahearn, Raymond J.
2005-06-15
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War Powers Resolution: After Thirty-Three Years [Updated May 1, 2007]
From the Summary: "This report discusses and assesses the War Powers Resolution, its application since enactment in 1973, providing detailed background on a variety of cases where it was utilized, or issues of its applicability were raised. It will be revised biannually. In the post-Cold War world, Presidents have continued to commit U.S. Armed Forces into potential hostilities, sometimes without a specific authorization from Congress. Thus the War Powers Resolution and its purposes continues to be a potential subject of controversy. On June 7, 1995 the House defeated, by a vote of 217-201, an amendment to repeal the central features of the War Powers Resolution that have been deemed unconstitutional by every President since the law's enactment in 1973. In 1999, after the President committed U.S. military forces to action in Yugoslavia without congressional authorization, Representative Tom Campbell used expedited procedures under the Resolution to force a debate and votes on U.S. military action in Yugoslavia, and later sought, unsuccessfully, through a federal court suit to enforce Presidential compliance with the terms of the War Powers Resolution. […] On one occasion, Congress exercised its authority to determine that the requirements of section 4(a)(1) became operative on August 29, 1983, through passage of the Multinational Force in Lebanon Resolution (P.L. [Public Law] 98-119). In 1991 and 2002, Congress authorized, by law, the use of military force against Iraq. In several instances neither the President, Congress, nor the courts have been willing to trigger the War Powers Resolution mechanism."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Grimmett, Richard F.
2007-05-01
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Evaluating the Potential for a Recession in 2008 [May 13, 2008]
From the Summary: "The U.S. economy has faced some bad news lately. The housing boom has come to an abrupt halt, and housing sales and house building have been falling at double digit rates. Problems in housing markets have spread to financial markets, causing a 'liquidity crunch' in August 2007, and calm has not been restored since. Financial institutions have written off large losses because of falling asset values, particularly for mortgage-backed securities. Commodity prices have been rising, and the price of crude oil has recently topped $120 per barrel. While each of these factors might not be enough to cause a recession in isolation, their cumulative effect could be great enough to push the economy into recession. In light of this news, it is perhaps unsurprising that consumer confidence is at a five-year low. […] Any decline in economic activity at this point is only nascent. Growth was slow in the last two quarters for which data are available, but remained positive. During the onset of the liquidity crunch, economic growth was an unusually high 4.9% in the third quarter of 2007. Employment declined slightly in the first four months of 2008. The same forecasters who believe there is a one in two chance of recession also predict that growth will average 1.4% in 2008. Given the lags between policy changes and their effects on the economy, the economy has not yet felt the full impact of the stimulus package and the Federal Reserve's actions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Labonte, Marc
2008-05-13
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World Trade Organization: Background and Issues [Updated May 9, 2007]
From the Summary: "The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established on January 1, 1995, under an agreement reached during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations. The Uruguay Round was the last of a series of periodic trade negotiations held under the auspices of the WTO's predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). […] Assisting the members is a WTO Secretariat that numbers about 594 and is located in Geneva, Switzerland. The top official of the Secretariat is Director- General Pascal Lamy of France, whose three-year term began on September 1, 2005. Trade agreements administered by the WTO cover a broad range of goods and services trade and apply to virtually all government practices that directly relate to trade, for example tariffs, subsidies, government procurement, and trade-related intellectual property rights. The WTO agreements are based on the principle of nondiscriminatory treatment among countries. Some exceptions however, such as preferential treatment for developing countries, are allowed. Other basic principles of the WTO are open information on rules and regulations, negotiated limits on trade barriers, and settlement of disputes under specific procedures. The 110th Congress may examine the relationship between the United States and the WTO in two ways. Congress may consider implementing legislation for a potential Doha Round agreement. An agreement will not be reached prior to the expiration of U.S. Trade Promotion Authority (TPA); however, Congress may extend or reauthorize TPA to consider such an agreement. Secondly, Congress may consider changes to U.S. laws in response to WTO dispute settlement procedures."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fergusson, Ian F.
2007-05-09
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Haiti: Legislative Responses to the Food Crisis and Related Development Challenges [Updated May 22, 2008]
From the Summary: "Haiti faces several interrelated challenges, the most immediate being a deepening food crisis that in April 2008 led to deadly protests and the ouster of Haiti's prime minister. Haiti also suffers from a legacy of poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment that is compounding security problems for its new and fragile democracy. The Bush Administration has responded by redirecting some development assistance to help the Haitian government stabilize rice prices and to support job creation programs. On May 16, 2008, the Administration announced that it would send $20 million worth of emergency food to Haiti. The 110th Congress is also considering supplemental appropriations for food aid and increasing debt relief for Haiti. Specifically, in April 2008, the House unanimously passed an amendment to the Jubilee Act (H.Amdt. 993 to H.R. 2634) that recommends immediate cancellation of Haiti's outstanding multilateral debts. In May 2008, the House and Senate also passed the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (H.R. 2419), the Farm Bill. Title XV includes the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act of 2008, which provides tariff preferences for U.S. imports of Haitian apparel. This report, which will be updated, follows the current situation in Haiti and key legislative initiatives designed to help address Haiti's many challenges."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando; Hornbeck, J. F. (John F.)
2008-05-22
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Iraq: Reconciliation and Benchmarks [Updated May 12, 2008]
From the Summary: "Iraq's current government, the result of a U.S.-supported election process designed to produce democracy, is instead a sectarian government incapable of reconciliation. The Administration says that the passage of some key laws represents progress on national reconciliation, and is a result of the U.S. 'troop surge.' Others say that combat among Shiite groups since March 2008, possibly motivated by provincial elections planned for October 2008, shows that force will not stabilize Iraq. See CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RL31339, 'Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security', by Kenneth Katzman."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2008-05-12
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Defense Procurement: Full Funding Policy - Background, Issues, and Options for Congress [Updated May 18, 2007]
From the Summary: "The full funding policy is a federal budgeting rule imposed on the Department of Defense (DOD) by Congress in the 1950s that requires the entire procurement cost of a weapon or piece of military equipment to be funded in the year in which the item is procured. Although technical in nature, the policy relates to Congress's power of the purse and its responsibility for conducting oversight of DOD programs. Support for the policy has been periodically reaffirmed over the years by Congress, the Government Accountability Office, and DOD. […] Congress has several options for responding to recent proposals for procuring DOD ships and aircraft with funding mechanisms that do not conform to the full funding policy. These options could have the effect of terminating, modifying, maintaining, or strengthening the full funding policy. In weighing these options, Congress may consider several factors, including Congress's power of the purse, its ability to conduct oversight of DOD procurement programs, the impact on future Congresses, DOD budgeting discipline, and the potential impact on weapon costs. The process of weighing options may involve balancing a need to meet DOD procurement goals within available funding against the goal of preserving Congress's control over DOD spending and its ability to conduct oversight of DOD programs. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; Daggett, Stephen
2007-05-18
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Foreign Operations (House)/State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (Senate): FY2007 Appropriations [Updated April 11, 2007]
From the Summary: "The annual Foreign Operations appropriations bill in the House, and the State, Foreign Operations measure in the Senate are the primary legislative vehicles through which Congress reviews the U.S. international affairs budgets and influences executive branch foreign policy making generally. They contain the largest shares -- the House bill, about two-thirds; the Senate bill, about 97% -- of total U.S. international affairs spending. Due to subcommittee structural differences between the House and Senate in the 109th Congress, the House Appropriations Committee considered the Foreign Operations request separate from the State Department budget, with the latter falling under the jurisdiction of the Science, State, Justice, and Commerce (SSJC) Subcommittee. The Senate Appropriations Committee, however, combined Foreign Operations and State Department funding requests. Funding for Foreign Operations and State Department/Broadcasting programs has been rising for six consecutive years, and amounts approved in FY2004 reached an unprecedented level compared with the past 40 years. Emergency supplementals enacted since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to assist the front line states in the war on terrorism, Afghanistan and Iraq reconstruction, and for State Department operations and security upgrades have pushed spending upward. […] On February 14, Congress completed work on the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill and the Science, State, Justice, and Commerce Appropriations bill as part of the FY2007 Continuing Resolution (H.J.Res. 20/ P.L. 109-289 as amended by P.L. 110-5). The bill provided $32.6 billion in international affairs spending, of which $9.56 billion was for State Department Operations, diplomacy and broadcasting, and $23.0 billion for foreign assistance programs. This is the final update of this report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Veillette, Connie; Epstein, Susan B.; Nowels, Larry Q.
2007-04-11
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Size and Role of Government: Economic Issues [Updated March 5, 2008]
From the Summary: "The size and role of the government is one of the most fundamental and enduring debates in American politics. Economics can be used to analyze the relative merits of government intervention in the economy in specific areas, but it cannot answer the question of whether there is 'too much' or 'too little' government activity overall. That is not to say that one cannot find many examples of government programs that economists would consider to be a highly inefficient, if not counterproductive, way to achieve policy goals. Reducing inefficient government spending would benefit the economy; however, reducing efficient government spending would harm it, and reducing the size of government could involve either one. Government intervention can increase economic efficiency when market failures or externalities exist. Political choices may lead to second-best economic outcomes, however, and some argue that, for that reason, market failures can be preferable to government intervention. In the absence of market failures and externalities, there is little economic justification for government intervention, which lowers efficiency and probably economic growth. […] Discussions about the overall size of government mask significant changes in the composition of government spending over time. Spending has shifted from the federal to the state and local level. Federal production of goods and services has fallen, while federal transfers have grown significantly. Today, nearly two-thirds of federal spending is devoted to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, interest payments, and national defense. Thus, there is limited scope to alter the size of government without fundamentally altering these programs. The share of federal spending devoted to the elderly has burgeoned over time, and this trend is forecast to continue."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Labonte, Marc
2008-03-05
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Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress [Updated May 2, 2008]
"The Navy is procuring a new type of surface combatant called the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). The Navy substantially restructured the LCS program in 2007 in response to significant cost growth and schedule delays in the program. The Navy's proposed FY2009 budget requests $920 million in procurement funding for the procurement of two LCSs, which would be the fourth and fifth ships in the restructured LCS program. The LCS is a small, fast, relatively inexpensive combat ship that is to be equipped with modular 'plug-and-fight' mission packages, including unmanned vehicles (UVs). […] As part of its final action on the FY2008 defense budget, Congress did the following, among other things, regarding the LCS program: accepted the Navy's cancellation of LCSs 3 through 6; funded the procurement one additional LCS in FY2008 (which the Navy now calls LCS-5); significantly reduced the Navy's FY2008 funding request for the LCS program; amended the LCS sea frame unit procurement cost cap (something the Navy had requested, though not in the exact form that Congress eventually legislated); required the Navy to use fixed-price-type contracts for the construction of LCSs procured in FY2008 and subsequent years (something the Navy had stated an intention to do as part of its plan for restructuring the LCS program); criticized the execution of the LCS program; expressed concerns for the program; and expressed support for continuing with the program in restructured form. The issue for Congress for FY2009 is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's restructured LCS program. The LCS program raises potential oversight issues for Congress relating to cost growth, total program acquisition cost, the procurement cost cap, technical risk, operational evaluation and competition for production, a proposed common combat system, and coordination of sea frames and mission packages. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2008-05-02
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Defense: FY2009 Authorization and Appropriations [Updated May 16, 2008]
From the Summary: "The President's FY2009 federal budget request, released February 4, 2008, included $611.1 billion in new budget authority for national defense. This total included $515.4 billion in discretionary new budget authority for the base budget of the Department of Defense (DOD) -- i.e., activities not associated with combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The budget included an additional $2.9 billion in mandatory spending for the DOD base budget and $22.8 billion for non-war-related defense costs of the Department of Energy and other agencies. In addition to the $541.1 billion requested for the base line (i.e., non-war cost) budget, the request also included $70 billion to cover war costs in the first part of FY2009. […] The committee bill would, instead, allocate those funds to buy three additional ships and to purchase either components to be used in another DDG-1000 or components that would be used to continue production of DDG-51 class destroyers, the type the DDG-1000 is intended to supplant. The committee bill also would cut $200 million from the $3.6 billion requested for the Army's Future Combat Systems. Besides authorizing $3 billion requested to buy 20 F-22 fighters in FY2009, the committee included in the bill authorization of $523 million to buy components that would allow the purchase of 20 additional F-22s in FY2010. It also added to the Administration's request authorization for $3.9 billion for 15 C-17 cargo planes. The committee bill would authorize $832 million for production of the KC-45A refueling tanker, a reduction from the request of $62 million which, the committee said, would not delay the program. The House may take up the defense authorization bill the week of May 19. This report will be updated as developments warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Towell, Pat; Daggett, Stephen
2008-05-16
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Polar Bears: Proposed Listing Under the Endangered Species Act [Updated April 30, 2008]
From the Summary: "The proposed listing of polar bears as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. [United States Code] §§1531 et seq.) highlights the intersection of two significant issues currently before Congress -- climate change and species protection. According to the ESA, this listing decision rests solely on an interpretation of the best available scientific understanding of the species and how it may be affected by changes in its habitat. Polar bears depend on Arctic sea ice, which most scientists acknowledge will be affected by climate warming causing, at minimum, an earlier annual or seasonal thaw and a later freeze of coastal sea ice. Globally, less than one-third of the 19 known or recognized polar bear populations are declining, more than one-third are increasing or stable. The remaining third have insufficient data available to estimate population trends and their status has not been assessed. Two polar bear populations occur within U.S. jurisdiction. […] Controversy exists over how great a threat the changing climate might be to polar bears and whether they might be able to adapt to these changing conditions. Some point out that polar bears today are not coping with changing climate alone, but also face a host of other human-induced factors -- including shipping, oil and gas exploration, contaminants, and reduced prey populations -- that compound the threat to their continued existence. There is also considerable uncertainty in estimates of polar bear population numbers and trends as well as in our understanding of polar bear habitat."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Buck, Eugene H.
2008-04-30
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Dollar Crisis: Prospect and Implications [Updated May 6, 2008]
From the Summary: "The dollar's value in international exchange has been falling since early 2002. Over this five year span, the currency, on a real trade weighted basis, is down about 25%. For most of this time the dollar's fall was moderately paced at about 2.0% to 5.0% annually. Recently, however, the slide has accelerated, falling about 9% between January and December of 2007. An acceleration of the depreciation brings the periodic concern of an impending dollar crisis to the fore. There is no precise demarcation of when a falling dollar moves from being an orderly decline to being a crisis. Most likely it would be a situation where the dollar falls, perhaps 15% to 20% annually for several years, and sends a significant negative shock to the U.S. and the global economies. A crisis may not be an inevitable outcome, but one that likely presents considerable risk to the economy. […] The transition to a new equilibrium of trade balances may not be smooth, likely involving a slowdown in economic activity or a recession. The ongoing U.S. housing price crisis raises the risk of a dollar crisis causing a recession. With fiscal policy most likely out of consideration in the near term, the task of attempting to counter the short-term contractionary effects of a dollar crisis would fall upon the Federal Reserve. A stimulative monetary policy can be implemented quickly but its eventual effectiveness is uncertain. The most useful policy response by foreign economies would be complementary expansionary policies to offset the negative impact of their appreciating currencies on their net exports. Attempts to defend a currency against this crisis driven appreciation would be costly and likely fail."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Elwell, Craig Kent, 1947-
2008-05-06
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How Long Can the Defense Department Finance FY 2008 Operations in Advance of Supplemental Appropriations? [Updated April 30, 2008]
From the Summary: "On December 18, 2007, the Senate, and on December 19, the House, approved a consolidated FY2008 appropriations bill, H.R. 2764, that includes $70 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations for the Department of Defense for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. The President signed the bill into law on December 26. Congress's agreement to provide $70 billion for overseas military operations resolved a dispute over war funding that had led the Defense Department to announce plans to shut down all but essential Army and Marine Corps operations early in 2008. In the absence of supplemental appropriations, officials warned that money for Army operations would run out by the end of February and for the Marine Corps in March, even after a transfer of $4.1 billion to the Army. […] Without supplemental appropriations, the Defense Department could have extended operations for about another month by transferring limited additional amounts to the Army and Marine Corps and by slowing down spending through measures such as those the Army began to implement in April 2007. Such measures would reduce remaining financial flexibility and might disrupt day-to-day operations. The Defense Department might have been able to sustain operations longer by invoking the Feed and Forage Act or by using novel, unprecedented measures, such as assigning the Navy and Air Force to pay costs of Army support operations abroad. Such measures might weaken congressional war powers and erode congressional controls on the use of funds. This report will not be updated."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Daggett, Stephen; Towell, Pat
2008-04-30
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China's Currency: A Summary of the Economic Issues [Updated May 8, 2008]
From the Summary: "Many Members of Congress charge that China's policy of accumulating foreign reserves (especially U.S. dollars) to influence the value of its currency constitutes a form of currency manipulation intended to make its exports cheaper and imports into China more expensive than they would be under free market conditions. They further contend that this policy has caused a surge in the U.S. trade deficit with China and has been a major factor in the loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs. Although China made modest reforms to its currency policy in 2005, resulting in a modest appreciation of its currency many, Members contend the reforms have not gone far enough and have warned of potential legislative action. This report summarizes the main findings CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RL32165, 'China's Currency: Economic Issues and Options for U.S. Trade Policy', by Wayne M. Morrison and Marc Labonte and will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morrison, Wayne M.; Labonte, Marc
2008-05-08
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Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs): An Institutional Overview [Updated April 23, 2007]
From the Summary: "Congress chartered government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) to improve the workings of credit markets. This report briefly describes the nature of GSEs, their mixed governmental-private nature, the differences between GSEs and government agencies, and concerns about and supporting arguments for GSEs. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kosar, Kevin R.
2007-04-23
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Homeland Security Department: FY2006 Appropriations [Updated October 5, 2005]
"This report describes the FY2006 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Administration is requesting a net appropriation of $30.6 billion in net budget authority for FY2006, of which $29.6 billion is discretionary budget authority, and $1 billion is mandatory budget authority. The House- and Senate-passed versions of H.R. 2360 and the Conference Report all provide a net appropriation of $31.9 billion for DHS and $30.8 billion in discretionary budget authority. The Presidents request for appropriations includes the following break out of net budget authority for the four Titles of the DHS appropriation bill: (I) Departmental Management and Operations, $748 million; (II) Security, Enforcement and Investigations, $20,566 million; (III) Preparedness and Response, $6,710 million; and (IV) Research and Development, Training, Assessments, and Services, $2,546 million. The House-passed version of H.R. 2360 would provide the following amounts for each title: (I) $561 million; (II) $21,988 million; (III) $6,688 million; and (IV) $2,522 million. The Senate-passed version of H.R. 2360 would provide the following amounts for each title: (I) $647 million; (II) $22,193 million; (III) $6,334 million; and (IV) $2,686 million. The Conference Report reflects Secretary Chertoff's proposed reorganization and would provide the following amounts for each title: (I) $907 million; (II) $22,401 million; (III) $6,666 million; and (IV) $1,899 million."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lake, Jennifer E.; Nunez-Neto, Blas
2005-10-05
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Defense: FY2006 Authorization and Appropriations [Updated October 3, 2005]
"Senate action on the annual defense authorization bill (S. 1042) has been held up in large part because of a dispute over amendments to regulate treatment of prisoners. Now the Senate has begun action on the defense appropriations bill (H.R. 2863), and it appears that the full text of the authorization will be offered as an amendment, which will require waiving the Senate rule against legislation on an appropriations bill. The Senate Appropriations Committee marked up the defense appropriations bill on September 28, and floor action began on Thursday, September 29. Earlier, on May 25, the House approved its version of the defense authorization (H.R. 1815). And on June 20, the House passed its version of the defense appropriations bill (H.R. 2863)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Daggett, Stephen
2005-10-03
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Defense: FY2006 Authorization and Appropriations [Updated September 29, 2005]
"Senate action on the annual defense authorization bill (S. 1042) has been held up in large part because of a dispute over amendments to regulate treatment of prisoners. Now the Senate has begun action on the defense appropriations bill (H.R. 2863), and it appears that the full text of the authorization will be offered as an amendment, which will require waiving the Senate rule against legislation on an appropriations bill. The Senate Appropriations Committee marked up the defense appropriations bill on September 28, and floor action could begin as early as Thursday, September 29. Earlier, on May 25, the House approved its version of the defense authorization (H.R. 1815). And on June 20, the House passed its version of the defense appropriations bill (H.R. 2863)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Daggett, Stephen
2005-09-29
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Strategic Mobility Innovation: Options and Oversight Issues [April 29, 2005]
"With the George W. Bush Administration proposing a reduction in the U.S. military overseas basing posture and also identifying transformation as a major goal for the Department of Defense (DOD), the need to rapidly transport U.S. military forces from one location to another has appeared to increase in importance. Consequently, Congress may opt to consider what the future holds in the area of strategic mobility innovation. A central issue for the 109th Congress is the determination of which investments should be pursued today to develop strategic mobility platforms to meet tomorrows National Security Strategy requirements. Congressional decisions concerning this issue could have significant implications for future U.S. military capabilities, DOD funding requirements, the defense industrial base, and future congressional oversight of DOD activities. This report will examine strategic mobility innovation in airlift and sealift used to transport cargo and personnel between theaters of operation (inter-theater)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Klaus, Jon D.
2005-04-29
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High-Threat Chemical Agents: Characteristics, Effects, and Policy Implications [Updated September 9, 2003]
"Terrorist use of chemical agents has been a noted concern, highlighted after the Tokyo Sarin gas attacks of 1995. The events of September 11, 2001, increased Congressional attention towards reducing the vulnerability of the United States to such attacks. High-threat chemical agents, which include chemical weapons and some toxic industrial chemicals, are normally organized by military planners into four groups: nerve agents, blister agents, choking agents, and blood agents. While the relative military threat posed by the various chemical types has varied over time, use of these chemicals against civilian targets is viewed as a low probability, high consequence event. High-threat chemical agents, depending on the type of agent used, cause a variety of symptoms in their victims. Some cause death by interfering with the nervous system. Some inhibit breathing and lead to asphyxiation. Others have caustic effects on contact. As a result, chemical attack treatment may be complicated by the need to identify at least the type of chemical used. Differences in treatment protocols for the various high-threat agents may also strain the resources of the public health system, especially in the case of mass casualties. Additionally, chemical agents trapped on the body or clothes of victims may place first responders and medical professionals at risk."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Shea, Dana A.
2003-09-09
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Hurricane Katrina: Medicaid Issues [September 15, 2005]
"Medicaid is jointly financed by the federal and state governments, but each state designs and administers its own version of the program under broad federal guidelines. The complexity of Medicaid can present an enormous challenge in meeting the needs of Hurricane Katrina's victims, especially when evacuees cross state lines. State variation in eligibility, covered services, and the reimbursement and delivery of services is the rule rather than the exception. Furthermore, although Medicaid is targeted at individuals with low income, not all of the poor are eligible, and not all those covered are poor. As a federal-state program that helps to finance health care services for people with limited resources, Medicaid is an obvious avenue of quick response for support of hurricane victims in Katrina's aftermath. The program's federal budgetary status as mandatory spending means that federal funding is available to support coverage for all people who meet the program's eligibility criteria, without the need for a supplemental appropriation. However, the ability of Medicaid to respond to this disaster--in terms of the numbers and types of people who can rely on it for health care support--may depend on a number of factors, including congressional action to modify statutory provisions (e.g., the level of federal Medicaid reimbursement offered to states), the Secretary of Health and Human Services' ability to waive certain program requirements administratively (e.g., regarding eligibility and benefits), and actions of the states (each of whom operates its own unique Medicaid program within federal guidelines)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Baumrucker, Evelyne P.; Grady, April; Hearne, Jean
2005-09-15
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Sudan: Economics Sanctions [Updated October 11, 2005]
"The United States maintains a range of economic sanctions on the Government of Sudan. The United States generally restricts foreign aid because Sudan has been found, by the Secretary of State, to be a supporter of acts of international terrorism, is operating under a military dictatorship, and has fallen into arrears in its debt repayment. The United States has also suspended bilateral preferential trade treatment, restricted commercial exports and imports, denied the export of defense articles and defense services, and refused to support requests from Sudan for funding or program support in the international financial institutions for reasons related to terrorism, regional stability, and human rights--including religious freedom, worker rights, and trafficking in persons. [...] This report describes U.N. actions and U.S. economic sanctions currently in place on Sudan, and the exceptions to those sanctions. It will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rennack, Dianne E.
2005-10-11
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Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan and Enhanced Base Security Since 9/11 [October 6, 2005]
"Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, CRS estimates that the Administration has allocated a total of about $357 billion for military operations, reconstruction, embassy costs, and various foreign aid programs in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for enhanced security at defense bases. This total includes $45 billion in 'bridge' funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) as provided in H.J.Res. 68 /P.L.109-77, a FY2006 Continuing Resolution, which was signed by the President on September 30, 2005. More funds will be needed by DOD to cover the rest of the year."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Belasco, Amy
2005-10-06
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Terrorism Risk Insurance: An Overview [Updated September 26, 2005]
"After September 11, 2001, many businesses were no longer able to purchase insurance protecting against property losses that might occur in future terrorist attacks. Addressing this problem, Congress enacted the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 20021 (TRIA) to create a temporary program to share future insured terrorism losses with the property-casualty insurance industry and policyholders. The act requires insurers to offer terrorism insurance to their commercial policyholders, preserves state regulation of this type of insurance, and directs the Secretary of the Treasury to administer a program for sharing terrorism losses. The three-year program that TRIA created backs up commercial property and casualty insurance, covering up to $100 billion each year after set insurer deductibles. The government pays 90% of insured losses over the deductible, with the insurer paying 10%. Concern was expressed even before the enactment of TRIA that a three-year program would be too limited to allow the private sector to develop the capacity to insure terrorism risk. [...] This report provides an overview of the issues, including a summary of TRIA and the TRIA extension legislation. It will be updated as significant events occur."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Webel, Baird
2005-09-26
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Foreign Operations (House)/State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (Senate): FY2006 Appropriations [Updated November 17, 2005]
"The annual Foreign Operations appropriations bill in the House, and the State, Foreign Operations measure in the Senate are the primary legislative vehicles through which Congress reviews the U.S. international affairs budgets and influences executive branch foreign policy making generally. They contain the largest shares - the House bill, about two-thirds; the Senate bill, about 97% - of total U.S. international affairs spending. Funding for Foreign Operations and State Department/Broadcasting programs have been rising for five consecutive years, while amounts approved in FY2004 reached an unprecedented level compared with the past 40 years. Emergency supplementals enacted since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to assist the front line states in the war on terrorism, Afghanistan and Iraq reconstruction, and for State Department operations and security upgrades have pushed spending upward. The President sought $22.8 billion for Foreign Operations and $9.8 billion for State Department and Related Agencies appropriations. These amounts were 15.7% and 12.2%, respectively, higher than FY2005 amounts enacted in 'regular,' non-supplemental appropriations. The combined State/Foreign Operations request of $32.67 billion was 14.6% larger than regular FY2005 funding. Including the $4.55 billion FY2005 supplemental (H.R. 1268; enacted on May 11), the FY2006 combined request was slightly smaller (-1.1%) than the total appropriation of $33.05 billion for FY2005."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Epstein, Susan B.; Nowels, Larry Q.
2005-11-17
