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Women in Iraq: Background and Issues for U.S. Policy [Updated June 23, 2005]
"The U.S. commitment to Iraqi women's issues has evolved into greater
programming for women in Iraq. As part of the approximately $21 billion in U.S.
funding for Iraqi reconstruction in FY2004, the United States allocated substantial amounts that specifically help Iraqi women with democratic organization, education, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. Still, U.S.-sponsored Iraqi reconstruction projects that address women's issues face challenges. Although women may benefit from a range of reconstruction and humanitarian programs, elements of Iraqi civil society and culture continue to undervalue the role of women in areas such as political participation and private industry. Furthermore, issues of personal status, like polygamy, continue to hamper gender equality in Iraq."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Pina, Aaron D.
2005-06-23
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Nuclear Weapons: The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program [Updated June 23, 2005]
"In the FY2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress initiated the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program by providing $9 million for it. The program will study developing replacement components for existing weapons, trading off features important in the Cold War, such as high yield and low weight, to gain features more valuable now, such as lower cost, elimination of some hazardous materials, greater ease of manufacture, greater ease of certification without nuclear testing, and increased long-term confidence in the stockpile. It would modify components to make these improvements; in contrast, LEP makes changes mainly to maintain existing weapons. Representative David Hobson, RRW's prime sponsor, views it as part of a comprehensive plan for the U.S. nuclear weapons enterprise that would also modernize the nuclear weapons complex, avoid new weapons and nuclear testing, and permit a reduction in non-deployed weapons. The FY2006 request is $9.4 million."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Medalia, Jonathan E.
2005-06-23
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Public Safety Communications: Policy, Proposals, Legislation and Progress [Updated June 23, 2005]
"This report provides an analysis of major policy questions regarding public safety communications. The 9/11 Commission recommendations for action to improve communications and the testimony and comments of experts is used as the framework to review issues such as spectrum availability, technology for interoperability, funding, and longer term goals and concerns. The 108th Congress required a number of studies and pilots, the results of which could shape policy decisions in the 109th. In particular, both Congress and the Administration have required the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategy for spectrum use and to evaluate its role in public safety communications."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Moore, L. K. S. (Linda K. S.)
2005-06-23
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Potential Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated June 23, 2005]
"In February 2005, the Navy testified that the Navy in future years may require a total of 260 to 325 ships, or possibly 243 to 302 ships, depending on how much the Navy uses new technologies and a new ship crewing and deployment method called Sea Swap. In March 2005, the Navy provided a report to Congress showing the notional compositions of 260- and 325-ship fleets in FY2035. Navy ambiguity regarding required numbers of ships, together with proposed reductions and delays in Navy ship-procurement programs in the FY2006-FY2011 Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP), have caused concern among Members of Congress and others about future Navy capabilities and the shipbuilding industrial base. Ambiguity regarding required numbers of Navy ships may cause business-planning uncertainty for companies that own shipyards, and may make it difficult, if not impossible, for Congress to conduct effective oversight of the Navy budget and ship-procurement programs. Historical figures for the total number of ships in the Navy are not necessarily a reliable yardstick for assessing the adequacy of today's Navy or a future planned Navy that includes a certain number of ships. Similarly, trends over time in the total number of ships in the Navy are not necessarily a reliable indicator of the direction of change over time in the fleets ability to perform its stated missions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2005-06-23
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'Bunker Busters': Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator Issues, FY2005 and FY2006 [Updated June 23, 2005]
"Earth penetrator weapons, often called 'bunker busters,' burrow into the ground some tens of feet before detonating, greatly increasing their ability to destroy buried targets. The United States has several types of conventional earth penetrators. The current U.S. nuclear earth penetrator, the B61-11 bomb, cannot penetrate certain types of terrain in which hardened underground facilities may be located, so the Air Force and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) are studying a more effective penetrator, the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP). While Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld said in 2003 that RNEP was a study, NNSA's FY2005 budget document showed a five-year total of $484.7 million if RNEP were to proceed beyond the study phase. NNSA stated that no decision had been made to proceed with RNEP and that out-year figures were shown to meet congressionally-mandated budgeting requirements and were not a request. RNEP requests are, of course, subject to congressional approval, rejection, or modification. The five-year figure sparked congressional debate. The FY2005 National Defense Authorization Act contained the full RNEP request, $27.6 million. The House rejected an amendment by Representative Tauscher to transfer funds from RNEP and the Advanced Concepts Initiative (ACI), another nuclear program, to Air Force conventional munitions, and the Senate rejected an amendment by Senators Kennedy and Feinstein to delete funds for RNEP and ACI. P.L. 108-447, the FY2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act, transferred the $9.0 million requested for ACI to a different program and contained no funds for RNEP. As a result, NNSA cannot work on RNEP in FY2005."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Medalia, Jonathan E.
2005-06-23
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Defense Authroization and Appropriations Bills: A Chronology, FY1970-FY2006 [Updated June 23, 2005]
"This report is a research aid, which lists the DOD authorization bills (Table 1) and appropriations bills (Table 2). This includes all the pertinent information on the passage of these bills through the legislative process: bill numbers, report numbers, dates reported and passed, recorded vote numbers and vote tallies, dates of passage of the conference reports with their numbers and votes, vetoes, substitutions, dates of final passage, and public law numbers. Table 3 shows real growth or decline in national defense funding for FY1940-FY2009. Table 4 gives a more detailed picture of both regular and supplemental defense appropriations from the 103rd Congress to the present (FY1993-FY2005). Table 5 shows the Presidents DOD appropriations budget requests for FY1950-FY2005 vs. final amount enacted. Finally, key definitions are included. This report will be updated as legislative activity warrants."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Coipuram, Tom; Carter, Linwood B.
2005-06-23
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Pakistan: Chronology of Recent Events [Updated June 22, 2005]
"This report provides a reverse chronology of recent events involving Pakistan and Pakistan-U.S. relations. Sources include, but are not limited to, the U.S. Department of State, 'New York Times', 'Washington Post', 'Dawn' (Karachi), 'Daily Times' (Lahore), 'News International' (Karachi), and major newswires. For a substantive review, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Issue Brief IB94041, 'Pakistan-U.S. Relations'. This report will be updated regularly."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kronstadt, K. Alan
2005-06-22
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Social Security Reform [Updated June 22, 2005]
"President Bush has highlighted Social Security reform as a top priority during his second term. The President has not presented a detailed plan for reform. Rather, he has put forth guidelines for Congress to consider in the development of legislation to create personal accounts within a program in need of 'wise and effective reform.' The President has acknowledged that other changes would be needed to address the system's projected long-range funding shortfall. In recent years, reform ideas have ranged from relatively minor changes to the current pay-as-you-go social insurance system to a redesigned program based on personal savings and investments modeled after IRAs [Individual Retirement Account] and 401(k)s. Currently, the Social Security system is generating surplus revenues. However, its board of trustees reports that, under its intermediate (or mid-range) projections, the trust funds would be depleted in 2041. At that point, an estimated 74% of benefits would be payable with incoming receipts. On average, over the next 75 years, the trustees project that the system's costs would be 14% higher than its income. By 2080, projected costs would be 43% higher than income. The primary reason is demographic: the post-World War II baby boomers will begin retiring in 2008 and life expectancy is projected to increase. Between 2005 and 2025, the number of people age 65 and older is projected to grow by 69%. In contrast, the number of workers supporting the system is projected to grow by 13%."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nuschler, Dawn
2005-06-22
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Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Federal Funding Facts and Status [Updated June 22, 2005]
"The Corporation for Public Broadcasting [CPB], created in 1967, receives approximately 15% of its annual funding from federal appropriations. In turn, the CPB, acting as an umbrella agency, is required to spend 89 percent of the appropriations in grants to members of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), National Public Radio (NPR), Public Radio International (PRI), and other affiliated public television and radio broadcasters. The CPB has historically received two-year advanced appropriations. On June 9, 2005, the subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies of the House Appropriations Committee considered the Labor ,Health and Human Service and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY2006 (H.R. 3010). The subcommittee voted to reduce CPB's FY2006 appropriations (which had been passed as part of the FY2004 appropriations) from $400 million to $300 million. In addition, the subcommittee voted to eliminate advanced federal appropriations for CPB by FY2008. On June 16, 2005, the full House Appropriations Committee voted to restore $400 million in federal funding for CPB in FY2008; it also approved funding of $300 million for FY2006. (H.Rept. 109-143). This legislation will likely go to the floor of the House of Representatives either June 23 or June 24. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McLoughlin, Glenn J.
2005-06-22
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Plan Colombia: A Progress Report [Updated June 22, 2005]
"Because Plan Colombia is a six-year plan, due to expire at the end of 2005, Congress will likely assess its progress in light of the Administration's request to continue funding the ACI account, the latter having no statutory end-date. Congress has expressed the expectation that funding would begin to decrease in FY2006. Some Members have also expressed the opinion that the ratio between interdiction and alternative development should become more balanced, and that the U.S. role should diminish as Colombia develops more operational capabilities." This report on Plan Colombia assesses the progress the Plan has made on decreasing the entry of illegal narcotics into the United States and increasing security and peace in the Andean region.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Veillette, Connie
2005-06-22
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Bolivia: Political and Economic Developments and Implications for U.S. Policy [Updated June 22, 2005]
"U.S. interest in Bolivia centers on its role as a coca producer, and its relationship to Colombia and Peru, the two other major coca- and cocaine-producing countries. Some observers have criticized this focus for neglecting economic and social development issues, but the State Department defends it as necessary to promote licit economic development and democracy. Bolivia has the second-largest natural gas reserves in Latin America after Venezuela. The Bolivian government has plans, which have generated considerable controversy, to export gas to the United States and Mexico, necessitating the construction of a pipeline to a coastal port of a neighboring country."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Veillette, Connie
2005-06-22
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Recruiting and Retention: An Overview of FY2004 and FY2005 Results for Active and Reserve Component Enlisted Personnel [June 22, 2005]
"This report provides a brief overview of the recruiting and retention rates for Active and Reserve Component enlisted personnel during FY2004 and the first eight months of FY2005. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the United States has launched several major military operations which have dramatically increased the operations tempo of the military services, required the large scale mobilization of reservists, and resulted in significant battle casualties. These factors have been particularly applicable to the Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard which have shouldered the bulk of the manpower burden associated with the occupation of Iraq. The Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve have also been heavily involved in Iraq. Many observers have expressed concern that these factors might lead to lower recruiting and retention rates, thereby jeopardizing the vitality of today's all-volunteer military. Recruiting and retention results for FY2004 and FY2005 to date are summarized below. This report will be updated as necessary."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kapp, Lawrence
2005-06-22
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Women in the United States Congress: 1917-2005 [Updated June 21, 2005]
"A record 83 women serve in the 109th Congress: 69 in the House (46 Democrats and 23 Republicans) and 14 in the Senate (9 Democrats and 5 Republicans). Representative Jeanette Rankin (R-MT, 1917-1919, 1941-1943) was the first woman elected to Congress. Rebecca Latimer Felton (D-GA) was the first woman to serve in the Senate. She was appointed in 1922 and served for only one day. A total of 228 women have served in Congress, 144 Democrats and 84 Republicans. [...] Ten women Representatives and four women Senators have chaired congressional committees. This report identifies the names, committee assignments, dates of service, and (for Representatives) districts of the 228 women Members of Congress. It will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Amer, Mildred L. (Mildred Lehmann)
2005-06-21
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Foreign Outsourcing: Economic Implications and Policy Responses [Updated June 21, 2005]
"Foreign outsourcing--the importing of some intermediate product […] that was once produced domestically--is not a new phenomenon, nor is it one that is economically distinct from other types of imports in terms of its basic economic consequences. A steadily rising level of trade in intermediate products is one of the salient characteristics of U.S. trade and world trade for the last 30 years. It has been estimated that as much as a third of the growth of world trade since 1970 has been the result of such outsourcing worldwide. While foreign outsourcing may seem different from traditional notions of trade in that it involves exchange of a productive resource (capital or labor) rather than an exchange of a final good and service, the ultimate economic outcome is exactly the same: a net increase in economic efficiency through the elimination of economic inefficiencies that occur when countries use only the productive resources found within their borders. […] The destructive aspects of foreign outsourcing are costly and distressing to those whose jobs are lost to increased imports. Therefore, matters of efficiency and equity are intertwined and one of the principal challenges for policymakers in the face of foreign outsourcing (and trade in general) is to find ways to ameliorate the associated harm, without sacrificing the economy-wide gains that such trade generates. Compensation for loss and adjustment assistance is thought by economists to offer the best chance for securing higher economic efficiency along with distributional equity. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Elwell, Craig Kent, 1947-
2005-06-21
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Al Qaeda: Statements and Evolving Ideology [Updated June 20, 2005]
"This report reviews Al Qaeda's use of public statements from the mid-1990s to the present and analyzes the evolving ideological and political content of those statements. The report focuses primarily on statements made by Osama Bin Laden, but also considers: statements made by his deputy Ayman Al Zawahiri, who some experts consider to be Al Qaeda's chief ideologue; remarks by Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, who has been recognized by Osama Bin Laden as an Al Qaeda ally and the leader of mujahideen operations in Iraq; and a May 2005 statement from Al Qaeda military leader Sayf Al Adl. The report will be updated periodically. For background on the Al Qaeda terrorist network, see CRS Report RS22049: 'Al Qaeda: Profile and Threat Assessment."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Christopher M.
2005-06-20
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Active Sonar and Marine Mammals: Chronology with References [Updated June 22, 2005]
"The deployment of active sonar by the U.S. Navy and its potential impacts on marine mammals has been an ongoing issue of intense debate; regulatory, legislative, and judicial activity; and international concern. This report provides a chronology of significant events and documents since 1994. It will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Buck, Eugene H.; Calvert, Kori
2005-06-20
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Central Asia: Regional Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests [June 20, 2005]
"After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States recognized the independence of all the former Central Asian republics, supported their admission into Western organizations, and elicited Turkish support in countering Iranian influence in the region. Congress was at the forefront in urging the formation of coherent U.S. policies for aiding these and other Eurasian states of the former Soviet Union. Soon after the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001, all the Central Asian states offered overflight and other support to coalition anti-terrorist efforts in Afghanistan. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have hosted coalition troops and provided access to airbases. In 2003, Uzbekistan endorsed coalition military action in Iraq and Kazakhstan provided about two dozen troops for rebuilding. After September 11, 2001, U.S. policy emphasized bolstering the security of the Central Asian states to help them combat terrorism, proliferation, and arms trafficking. Other strategic interests include internal reforms (democratization, free markets, and human rights) and energy development."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nichol, James P.
2005-06-20
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U.S. Assistance to Vietnam [Updated June 17, 2005]
"U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic and economic relations were non-existent for more than fifteen years following communist North Vietnam's victory in 1975 over U.S. ally South Vietnam. Normalization of relations, particularly in the economic sphere, between the United States and unified Vietnam began in earnest in the 1990s. As the normalization process has proceeded, the U.S. has eliminated most of the Cold War-era restrictions on U.S. aid to Vietnam, and U.S. assistance has increased markedly from around $1 million when assistance was resumed in 1991 to nearly $50 million in FY2004. [...] This report quantifies and briefly describes U.S. assistance programs to Vietnam. It includes an appendix detailing funding levels for U.S. aid programs. The report will be updated periodically."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manyin, Mark E.
2005-06-17
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Mexico-United States Dialogue on Migration and Border Issues, 2001-2005 [Updated June 2, 2005]
"This report, which will be updated periodically, focuses on the interactions between Mexico and the United States on migration and border issues during the administrations of President George W. Bush and President Vicente Fox of Mexico.
The discussions and agreements fall into four areas: (1) the bilateral migration talks,(2) the Partnership for Prosperity, (3) the Border Partnership Agreement, and (4) the trilateral 'Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) of North America."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Storrs, K. Larry (Keith Larry), 1937-
2005-06-17
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Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations [Updated June 17, 2005]
"Saudi Arabia, a monarchy ruled by the Saud dynasty, enjoys special importance in much of the international community because of its unique association with the Islamic religion and its oil wealth. Since the establishment of the modern Saudi kingdom in 1932, it has benefitted from a stable political system based on a smooth process of succession to the throne and a prosperous economy dominated by the oil sector. Some commentators have suggested that growing internal pressures and regional tensions may have weakened the Saudi regime in recent years; others point to an apparent consensus behind Saudi institutions over much of the last century as evidence of long-term stability. The United States and Saudi Arabia have long-standing economic and defense ties. A series of informal agreements, statements by successive U.S. administrations, and military deployments have demonstrated a strong U.S. security commitment to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia was a key member of the allied coalition that expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991. […] Bombing attacks against several U.S. and foreign operated installations in Saudi Arabia have raised some concerns about security of U.S. personnel and what appears to be growing anti-Americanism in some segments of the Saudi population. Since the attacks on the United States September 11, 2001, some commentators have maintained that Saudi domestic and foreign policies have created a climate that may have contributed to terrorist acts by Islamic radicals. U.S. officials have generally cited Saudi support in the aftermath of the attacks, including increased intelligence sharing, law enforcement activities, and tracking of terrorist financing."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Prados, Alfred B.
2005-06-17
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Macedonia (FYROM): Post-Conflict Situation and U.S. Policy [Updated June 17, 2005]
From the Document: "In the aftermath of recent key events, Macedonia seeks to consolidate progress toward its Euroatlantic integration goals in 2005-2006 and hopes to receive invitations to join NATO and the EU in that time frame. Macedonia continues to face internal and external challenges to these efforts. In 2004, Macedonia's political landscape faced upheaval. In early 2004, President Boris Trajkovski, a key proponent of the power-sharing deal that ended the inter-ethnic conflict in 2001, was killed in a plane accident. Former Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski won direct presidential elections to succeed him in April. His successor as Prime Minister resigned later in the year but was replaced by Prime Minister Buckovski of the Social Democratic Party."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kim, Julie
2005-06-17
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Federalism, State Sovereignty and the Constitution: Basis and Limits of Congressional Power [Updated June 17, 2005]
"The ratification of the Constitution, to a significant extent, defined the lines of authority between the state and federal governments. Over recent years, the Supreme Court has decided a number of cases which address this historical relationship. This report discusses state and federal legislative power generally and focuses on a number of these 'federalism' cases. Issues addressed include congressional power under the Commerce Clause and the Fourteenth Amendment; constitutional limits on congressional powers, such as the Tenth Amendment; and state sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment. The report does not, however, address the much larger policy issue of when it is appropriate--as opposed to constitutionally permissible-- for federal powers to be exercised."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Thomas, Kenneth R.
2005-06-17
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Agriculture in the WTO: Member Spending on Domestic Support [Updated June 17, 2005]
"Under the World Trade Organization's (WTO's) Agreement on Agriculture (AA), member countries agreed to general rules regarding disciplines on domestic subsidies (as well as on export subsidies and market access). The AA's goal was to provide a framework for the leading members of the WTO to make changes in their domestic farm policies to facilitate more open trade. Under the AA, domestic spending is disaggregated according to those outlays that have the greatest potential to distort agricultural markets (i.e., amber box) and therefore are subject to spending limits, and more benign outlays (i.e., which cause less market distortion) that are exempted from spending limits under green box, blue box, 'de minimis,' or special and differential treatment exemptions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schnepf, Randall Dean, 1954-
2005-06-17
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Renewable Energy: Tax Credit, Budget, and Electricity Production Issues [Updated June 17, 2005]
"Energy security, a major driver of federal renewable energy programs in the past, came back into play as oil and gas prices rose late in the year 2000. The terrorist attack in 2001 and the Iraq war have led to heightened concern about energy security, energy infrastructure vulnerability, and the need for alternative fuels. Further, the 2001 electricity shortages in California, the northeast-midwest blackout of 2003, and continuing high natural gas prices have brought a new emphasis to the role that renewable energy may play in producing electricity, displacing fossil fuel use, and curbing demand for power transmission equipment. Also, worldwide emphasis on environmental problems of air and water pollution and global climate change, the related development of clean energy technologies in western Europe and Japan, and technology competitiveness may remain important influences on renewable energy policymaking. The Bush Administration's FY2006 budget request for the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Renewable Energy Program seeks $353.6 million, which is $32.4 million less than the FY2005 appropriation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sissine, Fred J.
2005-06-17
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Defense: FY2006 Authorization and Appropriations [Updated June 17, 2005]
From the Summary: "Congressional action on annual defense authorization and appropriations bills is now in full swing. On June 7, the House Appropriations Committee marked up its version (H.R. 2863) of the FY2006 defense appropriations bill. Floor action is expected on June 20. Earlier, on May 25, the full House passed its version of the FY2006 defense authorization (H.R. 1815), and on May 12, the Senate Armed Services Committee marked up its version of the bill (S. 1042), though floor action has not yet been scheduled. The House has also passed both the Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs appropriations bill (H.R. 2528) and the energy and water appropriations bill (H.R. 2419)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Daggett, Stephen
2005-06-17
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North Korea: Economic Sanctions [Updated June 16, 2005]
"U.S. economic sanctions are imposed against North Korea for four primary reasons: (1) North Korea is seen as posing a threat to U.S. national security; (2) North Korea is designated by the Secretary of State as a state sponsor or supporter of international terrorism; (3) North Korea is a Marxist-Leninist state, with a Communist government; and (4) North Korea has been found by the State Department to have engaged in proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In accordance with U.S. law, the United States limits some trade, denies trade in dualuse goods and services, limits foreign aid, and opposes entry into or support from international financial institutions. At the President's discretion, North Korea would also be subject to the economic sanctions pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, under which the administration has identified North Korea as a 'country of particular concern' since 2001, and pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, under which the administration has classified North Korea in the category of most severe offender (Tier 3) since 2003."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rennack, Dianne E.
2005-06-16
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New Zealand: Background and Bilateral Relations with the United States [Updated June 16, 2005]
"New Zealand and the United States continue to have strong ties despite some
differences. These close ties are based on shared cultural traditions and values.
Differences between the United States and New Zealand emerged in the mid 1980s
over New Zealand's policy to ban nuclear armed and nuclear powered ships from its
ports. This led to a defacto split between the United States and New Zealand within the context of the Australia-New Zealand-United States (ANZUS) alliance. Despite this issue, New Zealand is a regular contributor to international peace operations and has contributed troops to the war against terror in Afghanistan and to assist reconstruction efforts in Iraq."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-
2005-06-16
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Korea: U.S.-Korean Relations - Issues for Congress [Updated June 16, 2005]
"North Korea's decision in December 2002 to restart nuclear installations at Yongbyon that were shut down under the U.S.-North Korean Agreed Framework of 1994 and its announced withdrawal from the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty create an acute foreign policy problem for the United States. Restarting the Yongbyon facilities opens up a possible North Korean intent to stage a 'nuclear breakout' of its nuclear program and openly produce nuclear weapons. North Korea claims that it has nuclear weapons and that it has completed reprocessing nuclear weapons-grade plutonium that could produce four to six atomic bombs. North Korea's actions follow the reported disclosure in October 2002 that North Korea is operating a secret nuclear program based on uranium enrichment and the decision by the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) in November 2002 to suspend shipments of heavy oil to North Korea -- a key U.S. obligation under the Agreed Framework. […] Differences have emerged between the Bush Administration and South Korea over policies toward North Korea. South Korea emphasizes bilateral reconciliation with North Korea and a policy more equidistant between the United States and China. The South Korean public has become critical of Bush Administration policies and the U.S. military presence. Anti-U.S. demonstrations erupted - in 2002, and Roh Moo-hyun was elected President after criticizing the United States. In 2003-2004, the Pentagon announced plans to relocate U.S. troops in South Korea away from the demilitarized zone and Seoul. The United States will withdraw 12,500 troops between the end of 2004 and September 2008."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Niksch, Larry A.
2005-06-16
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Freshmen in the House of Representatives and Senate by Political Party: 1913-2005 [Updated June 16, 2005]
"Fifty freshmen were elected in November 2004 to the 109th Congress: 40 to the House and 9 to the Senate. The 103rd Congress freshmen class (elected in November 1992), which was composed of 110 new Representatives and 12 new Senators, represented the largest freshman class in more than five decades. Two years later, in 1994, the Republicans gained control of both the House and the Senate for the first time in some 40 years when 97 new Members (86 in the House, 11 in the Senate) were elected to the 104th Congress. This report will be updated after the November 2006 elections."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Amer, Mildred L. (Mildred Lehmann)
2005-06-16
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Transportation Security: Issues for the 109th Congress [Updated June 15, 2005]
"The nation's air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transportation sector from terrorist attack is difficult, reasonable measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The focus of this issue brief is how best to construct and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of another terrorist attack without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties. Aviation security has been a major focus of transportation security policy following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In the aftermath of these attacks, the 107th Congress moved quickly to pass the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA; P.L. 107-71) creating the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and mandating a federalized workforce of security screeners to inspect airline passengers and their baggage. The Act gave the TSA broad authority to assess vulnerabilities in aviation security and take steps to mitigate these risks. The TSA's progress on aviation security has been the subject of considerable congressional oversight over the past three years. It is expected that aviation security policy and programs will continue to be of considerable interest in the 109th Congress. The volume of ridership and number of access points make it impractical to subject all rail passengers to the type of screening airline passengers undergo. Nevertheless, there are prudent steps that can be taken to reduce the risks, and consequences, of an attack. These include vulnerability assessments; emergency planning; and emergency response training and drilling of transit personnel, ideally in coordination with police, fire, and emergency medical personnel, as well as purchase of communication and safety equipment. Additional options include increasing the number of transit security personnel, installing video surveillance equipment in vehicles and stations, and conducting random inspections of platforms and trains using bomb-sniffing dogs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Frittelli, John
2005-06-15
