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• Palestinians and Middle East Peace: Issues for the United States [Updated January 25, 2002]

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  "The United States began contacts with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in December 1988, after the PLO accepted Israel's right to exist, accepted U.N. Resolutions 242 and 338 that call for an exchange of land for peace, and renounced terrorism. The United States continues its contacts with the PLO and the Palestinian Authority elected in January 1996, and is an active broker in the continuing Middle East peace process. […] On May 4, 1994, Israel and the PLO signed an agreement providing for the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and Jericho (withdrawal completed May 11, 1994). The Interim Agreement signed on September 28, 1995 (also called Oslo II or the Taba Agreement), provided for elections for the 88-seat Palestinian Assembly, the release of Israeli-held prisoners, Israeli withdrawal from six West Bank cities, and other issues. The Israelis withdrew from the West Bank cities by the end of 1995, and the Palestinian Assembly was elected on January 20, 1996, and sworn in on March 7, 1996. Israel and the Palestinians agreed to an Israeli withdrawal from Hebron in January 1997, and on October 23, 1998 signed the Wye agreement to meet previous commitments. The peace talks stalled at Camp David in July 2000, and remain suspended since the Palestinian uprising began in September. Some 600 Palestinians and 150 Israelis have died in the continuing confrontation."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Mark, Clyde R.

  2002-01-25
• Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations [Updated January 25, 2002]

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  "Saudi Arabia, a monarchy ruled by the Saudi dynasty, enjoys special importance in 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 an increasingly prosperous economy dominated by the oil sector. Decrees by King Fahd in March 1992 establishing an appointive consultative council and provincial councils and promulgating a basic law providing for certain citizens' rights could signal a gradual trend toward a more open political system. […] The United States and Saudi Arabia have long-standing economic and defense ties. Between World War II and 1975, the United States provided a total of $328.4 million in economic and military aid to Saudi Arabia, reducing and ultimately terminating these programs as Saudi oil derived income burgeoned in the 1960s an d 1970s. 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 […] Principal issues of bilateral interest include the Saudi position on t h e Arab-Israeli conflict, security in the post-war Gulf region, arms transfers to Saudi Arabia, Saudi external aid programs, bilateral trade relationships, and Saudi policies involving human rights and democracy. Saudi Arabia has supported Arab positions on the Palestinian question and Saudi leaders feel strongly about Muslim claims in Jerusalem, which is the third holiest site in the Islamic religion. At the same time, Saudi Arabia supports Arab-Israeli peace talks and has endorsed several key Israeli-Palestinian agreements reached during the 1990s."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Prados, Alfred B.

  2002-01-25
• Middle East Peace Talks [Updated January 24, 2002]

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  "On January 3, 2002, Israel seized a Palestinian-commanded freighter in the Red Sea carrying 50 tons of Iranian-supplied arms. On January 9, after over three weeks without an Israeli fatality, HAMAS killed four Israeli Arab soldiers after infiltrating an army post in Gaza in retaliation for Israel's seizure of the ship. In response, Israeli forces destroyed 54 homes in a Gaza refugee camp, tore up the runway at Gaza airport, and fired missiles at a Palestinian naval base in Gaza. The U.S. State Department supported Israel's efforts at self-defense but not the destruction of homes.Numerous events followed, including the suspected Israeli 'targeted killing' of a Fatah Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades leader in Nablus. Israel resumed its blockade of Tulkarm and demolished nine homes in East Jerusalem; two Israeli civilians and an Israeli Arab were murdered on the West Bank. Israel reimposed a blockade on West Bank cities, and on January 17, its forces killed another senior member of the Martyrs Brigades. On January 17, a Martyrs Brigade gunman killed six Israelis and wounded 33 at a bat mitzvah celebration in Hadera, Israel. Israeli forces then struck Palestinian targets in the West Bank, causing many civilian injuries, and tightened the encirclement of Ramallah, where Arafat remains confined. On January 19, Israeli troops blew up the Voice of Palestine radio station in Ramallah. They temporarily reoccupied Tulkarm, where the Hadera gunman was said to have originated, detained 18 there for questioning, and raided what they said was a HAMAS bomb factory in Nablus, killing four. On January 23, a Martyrs Brigade gunman opened fire in downtown Jerusalem, killing 2 and wounding 14."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Migdalovitz, Carol

  2002-01-24
• Defense Budget for FY2002: Data Summary, Final Version [January 23, 2002]

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  "This report outlines the amended FY2002 defense budget request from the Bush administration, delivered to the Hill in June 2001. The report presents defense budget data in a manner designed to provide various perspectives on U.S. military spending. Part I presents basic data on the amended Bush Administration FY2002 national defense budget request, including data on budget authority and outlays for the Department of Defense and for the national defense budget function. Part II shows trends in overall defense spending, including figures on the growth and decline of defense spending, on defense outlays as a share of federal expenditures, defense outlays as a share of gross domestic product and foreign military spending. Part III defines key defense budget terms. To illustrate trends in the regular defense program, most of the data included in this report exclude costs of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, which was largely financed by allied contributions."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tyszkiewicz, Mary T.

  2002-01-23
• Africa: U.S. Foreign Assistance Issues [Updated January 22, 2002]

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  "The Bush Administration requested $789.4 million in Development Assistance (DA) for sub-Saharan Africa in FY2002, $4.2 million less than was provided in FY2001. However, the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill that became law (P.L. 107-115) on January 10, 2002, provides more than requested worldwide for the Child Survival and Health Fund portion of DA, suggesting that the Administration's Africa DA proposal will be met or exceeded. The appropriations legislation provides requested funding levels for the African Development Bank and the African Development Foundation. […] USAID [United States Agency for International Development] Administrator Andrew Natsios has testified that the Bush Administration is focusing on conflict prevention and resolution, working with NGOs and faith-based organizations, poverty reduction, agricultural development, and health, including HIV/AIDS. The Clinton Administration pushed African recipients to undertake economic and political reforms, and placed increased emphasis on population and environmental programs. It also launched special Africa-related initiatives, including HIV/AIDS, democracy, and internet initiatives, as well as programs to promote African conflict resolution."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Copson, Raymond W.

  2002-01-22
• North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Program [Updated January 22, 2002]

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  "North Korea's nuclear weapons program became an immediate foreign policy issue facing the United States because of North Korea's refusal to carry out its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and other nuclear accords it had signed. North Korea has constructed nuclear reactors and a plutonium reprocessing plant at a site called Yongbyon. U.S. and other foreign intelligence assessments have concluded that North Korea probably has acquired enough weapons-grade plutonium for the manufacture of at least one nuclear weapon. The United States and North Korea signed an agreement on October 21, 1994, that offers North Korea a package of benefits in return for a freeze of North Korea's nuclear program. Benefits to North Korea include: light water nuclear reactors totaling 2,000 electric megawatts; shipments of 'heavy oil' to North Korea (50,000 tons in 1995 and 500,000 tons annually beginning in 1996 until the first light water reactor is built). The pace of implementation of the Agreed Framework has been very slow. Instead of the original target date of 2003, it generally is estimated that completion of the light water reactors will not take place until well beyond 2010. The United States has faced several policy problems since the signing of the Agreed Framework, including securing money annually to finance heavy oil shipments to North Korea (the cost of the oil has risen from about $30 million in 1995 to over $100 million), suspicions of clandestine North Korean nuclear activities, and North Korea's development of long range missiles."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Niksch, Larry A.

  2002-01-22
• Refugee Admissions and Resettlement Policy [Updated January 22, 2002]

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  "A refugee is a person fleeing his or her country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Typically, the annual number of refugees admitted into the United States and the allocation of these numbers by region are set by the President after consultation with Congress by the start of each fiscal year. In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, however, the usual process was not followed for FY2002. President Bush did not issue the Presidential Determination setting the FY2002 refugee numbers and allocations until November 21, 2001. In the absence of that Presidential Determination, no refugees could be admitted into the country after October 1, 2001. In addition, following a post-September 11 assessment of refugee-related security procedures, enhanced security procedures are now in place. Refugee admissions into the United States resumed the week of December 10, 2001. The FY2002 refugee ceiling is 70,000, as compared to the FY2001 level of 80,000. The Administration maintains that the reduction is necessary in order improve the quality of the refugee admissions program. For FY2002, the refugee numbers are allocated, as follows: Europe (26,000), Africa (22,000), Near East/South Asia (15,000), East Asia (4,000), and Latin America/Caribbean (3,000). Overseas processing of refugees is conducted through a system of three priorities for admission. Priority one includes cases involving persons facing compelling security concerns in the countries of first asylum (i.e., foreign countries to which refugees have fled)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bruno, Andorra; Bush, Katherine

  2002-01-22
• Combating Terrorism: Are There Lessons to Be Learned from Foreign Experiences? [January 18, 2002]

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  "As the United States braces for possible repeated incidents of international terrorism in the United States, there may be lessons to be learned from the experiences of other countries which have suffered prolonged onslaughts of terrorism. Other countries have had differing results using approaches now employed or suggested for U.S. policy. While none of the four approaches discussed here appears to have worked in all cases, none can be excluded for that reason; each case is uniquely instructive. The utility of each approach, as well as of specific measures, can depend on a variety of factors, including the nature and organization of a terrorist group, public attitudes toward it, and the depth of support for it. This paper looks briefly at some cases where judgments have been made on the effectiveness of different policy measures, and raises questions relating those outcomes to the current situation."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Serafino, Nina M.

  2002-01-18
• Homeland Security: The Presidential Coordination Office [January 18, 2002]

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  "As part of his response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, DC, President George W. Bush announced in his September 20 address to a joint session of Congress that he was creating, within the White House Office, an Office of Homeland Security (OHS), headed by a director who would have Cabinet rank and would report directly to the President. OHS, as subsequently chartered with E.O. 13228 of October 8, 2001, is an agency of the Executive Office of the President. The success of this office as a coordinator of a comprehensive national strategy to safeguard the nation against terrorism may be guided by past experience with similar such entities. This report reviews past experience--principally with the Office of War Mobilization and its successor, the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion--and its possible significance for OHS, as well as the administrative development of the new agency; it will be updated as events recommend."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Relyea, Harold

  2002-01-18
• Trade Promotion Authority (Fast-Track): Labor Issues (Including H.R. 3005 and H.R. 3019) [Updated January 18, 2002]

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  "Since trade promotion authority (TPA), formerly called 'fast-track negotiating authority' expired in 1994, Congress has been unable to agree on language for its reauthorization. Under TPA, Congress agrees to consider trade agreements which the President has negotiated, on a fast-track basis -- without amendment and with limited debate. TPA facilitates the adoption of trade agreements in that it arguably reassures negotiating partners that their carefully crafted concessions will not be changed when Congress votes on the implementing legislation for the agreement. Akey issue in current efforts to reauthorize TPA is the extent to which Congress will allow labor and environment provisions in new trade agreements considered under fast-track procedures. This report traces the congressional TPA-labor debate since 1994 when the previous fast-track authority expired, and compares H.R. 3005 (Thomas), the 'Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2001', reported by the House Waysand MeansCommittee on October 16, 2001 (H.Rept. 107-249) and H.R. 3019 (Rangel/Levin), the 'Comprehensive Trade Negotiating Authority Act of 2001'. H.R. 3005 was passed by the House on December 6, along party lines, by a vote of 215-214, and by the Senate Finance Committee by a vote of 18-3 on December 12. This report will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bolle, Mary Jane

  2002-01-18
• Trade Promotion Authority (Fast-Track Authority for Trade Agreements): Background and Developments in the 107th Congress [Updated January 18, 2002]

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  "One of the major trade issues in the 107th Congress is whether or not Congress approves trade promotion authority (formerly called fast-track authority) for the President to negotiate trade agreements with expedited procedures for implementing legislation. Under this authority, Congress agrees to consider legislation to implement the trade agreements (usually nontariff trade agreements) under a procedure with mandatory deadlines, no amendment, and limited debate. The President is required to consult with congressional committees during negotiation and notify Congress before entering into an agreement. The President was granted this authority almost continuously from 1974 to 1994, but the authority lapsed and has not been renewed. A major issue has been the role of labor and the environment as objectives in trade agreements. Differences have been largely along party lines. […] On December 18, the Senate Finance Committee ordered H.R. 3005 to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Full Senate action is expected early in the second session. A week earlier (December 12), the Committee had marked up the bill and had approved it subject to further amendment on an 18-3 vote. The House approved TPA [Trade Promotion Authority] bill H.R. 3005 along party lines by a vote of 215-214, on December 6, 2001."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sek, Lenore

  2002-01-18
• Trade and the Americas [Updated January 18, 2002]

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  "The Summit of the Americas, held in Miami in December 1994, led to ongoing congressional interest in three inter-related trade policy issues. The first involves an invitation extended to Chile to join the North America Free Trade Area (NAFTA). The second focuses on preferential tariff treatment for Caribbean and Central American countries. The third concerns movement towards a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), the concept of making the entire hemisphere a free-trade zone. A fourth issue has subsequently arisen concerning a request by the Andean countries to extend the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) beyond its scheduled December 4, 2001 expiration date. Following the Miami Summit, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico invited Chile to enter into negotiations to accede to NAFTA. Envisioned as a first step towards creation of an FTAA, preliminary negotiations started in July 1995. Chile, however, shortly thereafter suspended the negotiations pending renewal of U.S. 'fast-track' negotiating authority. In August 1999, Chile proposed to re-start discussions on a bilateral free trade agreement (not NAFTA accession), and negotiations eventually commenced December 6-7, 2000 in Washington. The Bush Administration has continued the negotiations with the hope of reaching an agreement by early this year. A second issue concerns the treatment of the Caribbean and Central American countries that may have been hurt in trade and investment terms as a result of the implementation of NAFTA. After many years of consideration, Congress in May 2000 enacted the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (Title II of P.L. 106-200) that provides benefits for CBI [Caribbean Basin Initiative] beneficiary countries that are similar to the tariff benefits afforded Mexico."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Ahearn, Raymond J.

  2002-01-18
• Africa and the War on Terrorism [January 17, 2002]

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  "African countries overwhelmingly expressed their support for the U.S.-led efforts on the war against terrorism shortly after the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. Some African countries are reportedly sharing intelligence and are coordinating with Washington to fight terrorism in Africa. Some African officials are concerned that despite the strong support African governments have provided to the anti-terror campaign, they are not seen as real coalition partners in the fight against terrorism. African officials note that cooperation between the United States and Africa in the fight against terrorism should also include extraditing and apprehending members of African terrorist and extremist groups active in Europe and the United States. They argue that these groups are raising funds and organizing in the west, often unhindered by western governments."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dagne, Theodore S.

  2002-01-17
• China and the World Trade Organization [January 17, 2002]

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  "China has sought over the past several years to become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the international agency that administers multilateral trade rules. China's WTO membership (as well as that of Taiwan's) was formally approved at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar in November 2001. On December 11, 2001, China officially became a WTO member. WTO membership will require China to significantly liberalize its trade and investment regimes, which could produce significant new commercial opportunities for U.S. businesses. A main concern for Congress is to ensure that China fully complies with its WTO commitments. This report will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Morrison, Wayne M.

  2002-01-17
• Nuclear Arms Control: The U.S.-Russian Agenda [Updated January 17, 2002]

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  "Although arms control negotiations are not as important to the U.S.-Russian relationship as they were to the U.S.-Soviet relationship during the Cold War, the United States and Russia have continued to implement existing nuclear arms control agreements and to pursue negotiations on further reductions in their strategic offensive weapons and modifications to limits on ballistic missile defenses. This issue brief summarizes the contents of these agreements and tracks progress in their ratification and implementation."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Woolf, Amy F.

  2002-01-17
• Enron: Selected Securities, Accounting, and Pension Laws Possibly Implicated in its Collapse [January 16, 2002]

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  "On December 2, 2001, Enron Corporation filed the largest corporate bankruptcy in United States history. Both the Congress and the Executive branch have begun investigations into whether Enron may have defrauded investors by deliberately concealing important information about its finances and whether it may have violated federal pension laws. Several congressional committees, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Labor, and the Internal Revenue Service have begun separate investigations. In addition, a number of civil suits have been filed against current and former Enron executives and directors and against its accounting firm, Arthur Andersen LLP, by attorneys for Enron employees, investors, and retirees who lost billions of dollars in the Enron collapse. This report takes a brief look at some of the federal statutes concerning finance that the Congress and the Executive branch may focus on in their investigations. The report considers three major areas: the federal securities laws, the federal pension laws, and accounting standards."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Seitzinger, Michael V.; Morris, Marie B.; Jickling, Mark

  2002-01-16
• AIDS in Africa [Updated January 15, 2002]

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  "Sub-Saharan Africa has been far more severely affected by AIDS than any other part of the world. The United Nations reports that 28.1 million adults and children are infected with the HIV virus in the region, which has about 10% of the world's population but more than 70% of the worldwide total of infected people. The overall rate of infection among adults in sub-Saharan Africa is about 8.4%, compared with a 1.2% infection rate worldwide. Sixteen countries, mostly in eastern and southern Africa, have HIV infection rates of more than 10%, and the rate has reached 35.8% in Botswana. An estimated 19.3 million Africans have lost their lives to AIDS, including 2.3 million who died in 2001. AIDS has surpassed malaria as the leading cause of death in Africa, and it kills many times more Africans than war. In Africa, HIV is spread primarily by heterosexual contact, and sub- Saharan Africa is the only region where women are infected at a higher rate than men."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Copson, Raymond W.

  2002-01-15
• Terrorism Insurance - The 2002 Marketplace [January 15, 2002]

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  "The terrorist attacks of September 11 resulted in the largest insured catastrophic loss in history, estimated to total as much as $70 billion. Even though the insurance industry committed to pay losses resulting from the attacks, industry spokesmen asserted that in view of the impending unavailability of terrorism reinsurance on January 1, 2002, primary insurers would not be able to cover future terrorism losses on renewals of commercial risk policies without a federal backstop. In the 107th Congress, first session, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3210 on November 29, 2001, providing for a temporary federal backstop. In the Senate, four similar measures were introduced (S. 1743, S. 1744, S. 1748, and S. 1751), but after weeks of negotiations no action was taken. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle indicated that backstop legislation would be considered again in 2002. Meanwhile, there are indications that the insurance marketplace will have made strides toward resolving a major part of the terrorism coverage issue and federal legislation may be less likely to have its originally intended impact. This report looks at the terrorism insurance marketplace in 2002 in the absence of federal legislation, the economic outlook for the insurance industry, and the regulatory responses of state insurance officials. This report will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Woodall, S. Roy, Jr.

  2002-01-15
• U.S. Assistance to the Former Soviet Union 1991-2001: A History of Administration and Congressional Action [Updated January 15, 2002]

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  "The future of the 12 successor states of the former Soviet Union is a major concern of U.S. foreign policy and congressional attention, and the U.S. assistance program has been a major tool for influencing the direction of that region. This report provides a chronological history of U.S. assistance to the Soviet Union and the New Independent States (NIS) to the end of 2001, focusing on Administration and Congressional actions- proposals, policy pronouncements, debate, and legislation - rather than the details of program implementation in the field."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tarnoff, Curt

  2002-01-15
• Israel: U.S. Foreign Assistance [January 14, 2002]

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  "Israel is not economically self-sufficient, and relies on foreign assistance and borrowing to maintain its economy. Since 1985, the United States has provided $3 billion in grants annually to Israel. Since 1976, Israel has been the largest annual recipient of U.S. foreign assistance, and is the largest cumulative recipient since World War II. In addition to U.S. assistance, it is estimated that Israel receives about $1 billion annually through philanthropy, an equal amount through short- and long- term commercial loans, and around $1 billion in Israel Bonds proceeds. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu told a joint session of Congress on July 10, 1996, that Israel would reduce its need for U.S. aid over the next four years. In January 1998, Finance Minister Neeman proposed eliminating the $1.2 billion economic aid and increasing the $1.8 billion in military aid by $60 million per year during a ten year period beginning in the year 2000. The FY1999, 2000, and 2001 appropriations bills included cuts of $120 million in economic aid and an increases of $60 million in military aid for each year."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Mark, Clyde R.

  2002-01-14
• Iran: Current Developments and U.S. Policy [Updated January 14, 2002]

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  "More than two decades after the November 4, 1979 seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, and even before Iran's tacit cooperation with post-September 11 U.S. efforts to defeat Afghanistan's Taliban regime, signs of moderation in Iran had stimulated the United States to try to engage Iran in official talks. Iran, still split between conservatives and reformers loyal to President Mohammad Khatemi, who was elected in May 1997 and overwhelmingly reelected on June 8, 2001, has not accepted to date. Even though open to engagement with Iran, the Bush Administration and many in Congress want to continue vigorous efforts to counter Iran's support for terrorist groups and its efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. […] Current U.S. policy toward Iran marks an apparent shift from the almost exclusive focus on containment that characterized U.S. policy during 1980 - 1997. During the first term of the Clinton Administration, as part of a policy of 'dual containment' of Iran and Iraq, President Clinton imposed a ban on U.S. trade and investment in Iran in 1995, and a 1996 law imposed sanctions on foreign investment in Iran's energy sector (Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, ILSA). The sanctions were intended to deny Iran the material resources to threaten U.S. interests. In keeping with the 1997 policy shift toward engagement, in 1999 and 2000 the Clinton Administration and Congress eased sanctions somewhat to allow U.S. exports to Iran of food and medical supplies and importation from Iran of luxury consumer goods, such as carpets. However, the United States continues to work with its allies to prevent arms and advanced technology sales to Iran and to limit Iran's influence over regional energy flows."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Katzman, Kenneth

  2002-01-14
• Nuclear Arms Control: The U.S.-Russian Agenda [Updated April 12, 2002]

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  "Although arms control negotiations are not as important to the U.S.-Russian relationship as they were to the U.S.-Soviet relationship during the Cold War, the United States and Russia have continued to implement existing nuclear arms control agreements and to pursue negotiations on further reductions in their strategic offensive weapons and modifications to limits on ballistic missile defenses. This issue brief summarizes the contents of these agreements and tracks progress in their ratification and implementation."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Woolf, Amy F.

  2002-01-12
• China: Possible Missile Technology Transfers from U.S. Satellite Export Policy- Actions and Chronology [Updated January 11, 2002]

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  "Congress has been concerned about whether U.S. firms, in exporting satellites, provided expertise to China for use in its ballistic missile and space programs and whether the Administration's policies might facilitate transfers of military-related technology to China. This CRS Report discusses security concerns, policy changes, congressional action, and a chronology of major developments since 1988. Some critics opposed satellite exports to China, while others were concerned that the Clinton Administration relaxed export controls and monitoring of commercial satellites in moving the licensing authority from the State Department to Commerce in 1996. A range of concerns were prompted by 'New York Times' reports in April 1998 that the Justice Department began a criminal investigation into whether Loral Space and Communications Ltd. and Hughes Electronics Corp. violated export control laws. The companies are said to have provided expertise that China could use to improve the accuracy and reliability of its future ballistic missiles, including their guidance systems. At least three classified studies reportedly found that U.S. national security was harmed. Congress and the Justice Department have also investigated Hughes' review of China's launch failure on January 26, 1995. Congress may watch for any new Presidential waivers or licenses for exports of satellites and any review of U.S. policy to export satellites to China."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Kan, Shirley

  2002-01-11
• NAFTA Labor Side Agreement: Lessons for the Worker Rights and Fast-Track Debate [Updated January 11, 2002]

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  "The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), between the United States, Mexico, and Canada was the first trade agreement ever linked to worker rights provisions in a major way. Its companion 'side agreement,' the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC, which rhymes with 'talc') went into effect with NAFTA on January 1, 1994. The NAALC agreement is 'broad' in that NAFTA signatories agree to enforce their own labor laws and standards while promoting 11 worker rights principles over the long run. However, under NAALC, sanctions as an enforcement tool are applicable to only three of the 11 labor principles (pertaining to minimum wages, child labor, and occupational safety and health), and are not applicable to three basic rights: the right to organize, bargain collectively, and strike. [...] Trade liberalization ultimately results in gains to all economies; however, there are winners and losers (both industries and workers) along the way. Worker rights provisions could mitigate the effects of trade liberalization on both winners and losers by increasing labor costs in developing countries. However, NAALC as a worker rights promotion vehicle with a developing country has mitigated the effects of trade expansion from NAFTA very little so far, because most compliance is voluntary."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bolle, Mary Jane

  2002-01-11
• Current Economic Recession: How Long, How Deep, and How Different From the Past? [Updated January 10, 2002]

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  "In March 2001, the 10th recession of the post-World War II period began. Of these 10 recessions, only two have been long and deep- the recession of 1973-1975 and the recession of 1981-1982. This report examines the current recession and recessions of the previous three decades in detail. It gives a brief overview of the other post-war recessions. It outlines the fiscal and monetary policy response to each recession. It also looks at theories of why recessions occur. The report concludes by asking the question that many commentators in the news have asked recently: is this recession different from the past? It finds little evidence that this is the case."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Labonte, Marc; Makinen, Gail E.

  2002-01-10
• Drug Certification Requirements and Congressional Modifications in 2001 [January 10, 2002]

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  "Since the mid-1980s, Congress has required the President to certify that specified drug producing and drug-transit countries are cooperating fully with the United States in counter-narcotics efforts in order to avoid a series of sanctions, including suspension of U.S. foreign assistance and financing, and opposition to loans in the multilateral development banks. The sanctions would also apply if the Congress, within 30 calendar days, passes a joint resolution of disapproval to overturn the presidential certification, however, any resolution would be subject to veto. Over the years, spokesmen from many countries have complained about the unilateral and non-cooperative nature of the drug certification requirements, and have urged the United States to end the process and to rely upon various multilateral methods of evaluation that have been developed. Mexico, often the focus of congressional debate, particularly expressed dissatisfaction with the process, even though it was regularly certified as being a fully cooperative country. Following the July 2000 election of opposition candidate Vicente Fox as President of Mexico, legislative measures were introduced to modify the drug certification requirements, and these initiatives were mentioned when President Bush met with President Fox in Mexico in mid-February 2001, and in the United States in early September 2001."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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

  2002-01-10
• Intelligence Issues for Congress [Updated January 8, 2002]

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  "The U.S. Intelligence Community continues to adjust to the post-Cold War environment. Congressional and executive branch initiatives have emphasized enhancing cooperation among the different agencies that comprise the Community by giving greater managerial authority to the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI). Priority continues to be placed on intelligence support to military operations and on involvement in efforts to combat narcotics trafficking and, especially since September 11, 2001, international terrorism. Growing concerns about transnational threats are leading to increasingly close cooperation between intelligence and law enforcement agencies. This relationship is complicated, however, by differing roles and missions as well as statutory charters."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Best, Richard A.

  2002-01-08
• Assassination Ban and E.O. 12333: A Brief Summary [Updated January 4, 2002]

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  "In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the New York World Trade Center and the Pentagon, some attention has been focused upon the assassination ban contained in Executive Order (E.O.) 12333, Section 2.11, and whether it would prohibit the United States from responding to the attacks by targeting those who orchestrated these acts of terrorism. In considering the challenges involved in effectively combating terrorism and protecting the United States from future terrorist attacks, there has been wide-ranging debate as to what approaches might be beneficial. Part of that discussion has centered around whether assassination of terrorist leaders is, or should be, one of the options available. This report offers a summary discussion of the assassination ban in E.O. 12333, its context, and possible interpretations of its scope."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bazan, Elizabeth B.

  2002-01-04
• Agriculture and Fast Track or Trade Promotion Authority [updated January 4, 2002]

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  "New 'fast track,' or trade promotion authority (TPA), legislation to implement trade agreements is at issue in the 107th Congress. Such authority could enable the Administration to submit negotiated foreign trade agreements to Congress for consideration under expedited procedures. Efforts to renew this authority, which expired in 1994, have not succeeded since then. Many agricultural and food industry interests are among the export-oriented enterprises that support TPA, arguing that foreign trading partners will not seriously negotiate with an Administration that lacks it. However, some farm groups argue that fast track ultimately will lead to new agreements that could have adverse effects on U.S. producers, at least in some commodity sectors. This report will be updated if events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Becker, Geoffrey S.; Hanrahan, Charles

  2002-01-04
• Federal Research and Development for Counter Terrorism: Organization, Funding, and Options [Updated January 3, 2002]

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  "Before the September 11 terrorist attacks national expert commissions questioned whether the federal government was prepared adequately to conduct and use research and development (R&D) to counter terrorism. They cited inadequate planning, conflicting information about agency funding; the absence of coordination mechanisms to set agency priorities and eliminate duplication; and the need to use resources of government, academia, and industry efficiently and effectively to develop needed scientific and technological information. Since September 11, two levels of counter terrorism R&D coordination have started to evolve. [...] Congress may consider whether adequate mechanisms are in place to develop priorities which best serve the nation's interests."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Knezo, Genevieve Johanna

  2002-01-03