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India: Chronology of Events [August 12, 2003]
"This report provides a reverse chronology of major events involving India and India-U.S. relations from September 2001. For a substantive review of India-U.S. relations, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Issue Brief IB93097, 'India-U.S. Relations'. This report will be updated regularly."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kronstadt, K. Alan
2003-08-12
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House Vacancies: Proposed Constitutional Amendments for Filling Them Due to National Emergencies [August 12, 2003]
From the Summary: "The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and concern about the possible use of nuclear, biological, chemical, and other weapons against the United States have led some Members to consider proposed constitutional amendments for filling House vacancies if a significant number of Members were unable to serve due to a national emergency. A privately-funded group created to focus on the continuity of government has recommended adoption of a constitutional amendment that would give Congress the authority to provide by law for temporary appointments to fill House vacancies after a catastrophic attack and to temporarily fill the seats of incapacitated House and Senate Members. During the 107th Congress, proposed constitutional amendments-H.J.Res. 67, H.J.Res. 77, and S.J.Res. 30 -would have allowed temporary appointments to the House under prescribed circumstances. The proposals were not the first of their kind. For example, from 1945 through 1962, more than 30 proposed constitutional amendments were offered to provide for filling House vacancies in the event of a national emergency. During this period, hearings were held in the House and Senate, and three measures were passed in the Senate, but none passed in the House. Supporters contend that such a constitutional amendment is necessary to ensure continuity of the legislative process and the effective representative operations of the House. Opponents argue that it would violate a basic principle of the House, whose Members have been directly elected by the people since its inception."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Richardson, Sula P.
2003-08-12
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Cuba: Issues for the 108th Congress [Updated August 11, 2003]
"Cuba under Fidel Castro remains a hard-line communist state, with a poor
record on human rights that has deteriorated significantly in 2003. With the cutoff of assistance from the former Soviet Union, Cuba experienced severe economic deterioration from 1989 to 1993. While there has been some improvement since 1994 as Cuba has implemented limited reforms, the economy remains in poor shape. Since the early 1960s, U.S. policy toward Cuba has consisted largely of isolating the island nation through comprehensive economic sanctions. The principal tool of policy remains sanctions, which were tightened with the Cuban Democracy Act (CDA) in 1992 and the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act in 1996. Another component of U.S. policy consists of support measures for the Cuban people, including private humanitarian donations and U.S.-sponsored radio and television broadcasting to Cuba. While there appears to be broad agreement on the overall objective of U.S. policy toward Cuba -- to help bring democracy and respect for human rights to the island, there are several schools of thought on how to achieve that objective. Some advocate maximum pressure on the Cuban government until reforms are enacted, others argue for lifting some U.S. sanctions that they believe are hurting the Cuban people, and still others call for a swift normalization of U.S.-Cuban relations by lifting the U.S. embargo."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2003-08-11
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Israeli-United States Relations [August 11, 2003]
"Israeli-U.S. relations are an important factor in U.S. policy in the Middle East, and Congress has placed considerable importance on the maintenance of a close and supportive relationship. The main vehicle for expressing support for Israel has been foreign aid; Israel currently receives about $3 billion per year in economic and military grants, refugee settlement assistance, and other aid. Congress has monitored the aid issue closely along with other issues in bilateral relations, and its concerns have affected Administration's policies. U.S.-Israeli relations have evolved from an initial American policy of sympathy and support for the creation of a Jewish homeland in 1948 to an unusual partnership that links a small but militarily powerful Israel, dependent on the United States for its economic and military strength, with the U.S. superpower trying to balance competing interests in the region. Some in the United States question the levels of aid and general commitment to Israel, and argue that a U.S. bias toward Israel operates at the expense of improved U.S. relations with various Arab states. Others maintain that democratic Israel is a strategic ally, and that U.S. relations with Israel strengthens the U.S. presence in the Middle East."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mark, Clyde R.
2003-08-11
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Pakistan: Chronology of Recent Events [Updated August 9, 2004]
"This report provides a reverse chronology of recent events involving Pakistan and Pakistan-U.S. relations. For a substantive review, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Issue Brief IB94041, 'Pakistan-U.S. Relations'. This report will be updated monthly."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kronstadt, K. Alan
2003-08-09
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Innovation and Intellectual Property Issues in Homeland Security [August 8, 2003]
From the Summary: "The U.S. government and private firms alike seek high technology solutions to detect and prevent future terrorist attacks, as well as to respond to any future attacks that do occur. Some concerns exist, however, that patents, trade secrets or other intellectual rights may impede the prompt, widespread and cost-effective distribution of innovations that promote homeland security. These concerns recently arose with respect to pharmaceutical CIPRO, an antibiotic that treats inhalation anthrax. Some commentators called for the U.S. government to 'override' a privately owned patent in order to distribute CIPRO to persons who were potential anthrax victims. Although the patent holder ultimately chose to increase production of CIPRO and lower costs, this scenario remains a possibility for other technologies that bear upon homeland security. […] If an invention was developed using federal government funding, the government may possess certain rights in that invention even though the government contractor obtained a patent. Many entities of the federal government enjoy the statutory authority to purchase a patent or other intellectual property right. Several other statutes and legislative proposals also concern issues at the intersection of homeland security and intellectual property. The Invention Secrecy Act controls the disclosure of inventions that raise national security concerns. Legislative proposals would also call for patent term extensions to award technological progress in anti-terrorism technologies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Thomas, John R.
2003-08-08
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Syria: U.S. Relations and Bilateral Issues [Updated August 8, 2003]
"Although U.S.-Syrian relations improved somewhat in the 1990s, further strains appeared after the breakdown in Syrian-Israeli negotiations in 2000 and Syria's opposition to a U.S. military campaign in Iraq. Members of Congress have periodically introduced legislation to tighten U.S. sanctions against Syria or to condition relaxation of existing restrictions on further changes in Syrian policy. Recent U.S. Administrations, though not inclined to lift sanctions on Syria at this time, tend to believe it is in U.S. interests to encourage Syria to play a positive role in the Arab-Israeli peace process and support other U.S. initiatives. The issue for U.S. policy makers is the degree to which the United States should work for better relations with Syria in an effort to enlist Syrian cooperation on regional issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Prados, Alfred B.
2003-08-08
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Immigration: Legislative Issues on Nonimmigrant Professional Specialty (H-1B) Workers [Updated August 8, 2003]
"The economic prosperity of the 1990s fueled a drive to increase the levels of employment-based immigration. Both the Congress and the Federal Reserve Board then expressed concern that a scarcity of labor could curtail the pace of economic growth. A primary response was to increase the supply of foreign temporary professional workers through FY2003. The 108th Congress now weighs whether to extend the increases or let the levels revert to the statutory limit. Certain labor market protections aimed at firms whose workforce is more than 15% H-1B workers also sunset at the end of FY2003. The inclusion of temporary worker provisions in free trade agreements (S. 1416/H.R 2738 and S. 1417/H.R. 2739) as well as national security concerns are also sparking debate. The 106th Congress enacted the 'American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act of 2000' (S. 2045, P.L. 106-313) with bipartisan support in October 2000. That law raised the number of H-1B visas by 297,500 over 3 years. It also made changes in the use of the H-1B fees for education and training, notably earmarking a portion of training funds for skills that are in information technology shortage areas and adding a K-12 math, science and technology education grant program. P.L. 106-311 increased the H-1B fee, authorized through FY2003, from $500 to $1,000. The 107th Congress enacted provisions that allow H-1B workers to remain beyond the statutory limits if their employers petitioned for them to become legal permanent residents."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wasem, Ruth Ellen
2003-08-08
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Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict [Updated August 8, 2003]
"The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, a clash between the principles of territorial integrity and self-determination, is the longest interethnic dispute in the former Soviet Union. Ethnic Armenians, the majority in the Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, have a different culture, religion, and language than Azeris. They seek to join Armenia or to become independent. Azerbaijan seeks to preserve its national integrity. The dispute has produced violence, mutual expulsion of rival nationals, charges and countercharges. After the December 1991 demise of the Soviet Union and subsequent dispersal of sophisticated Soviet weaponry, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict worsened, and thousands of deaths and 1.4 million refugees resulted...The United States is officially neutral in the dispute in part because it is a Minsk Group co-chair and mediator. Congress has tended to favor Armenia. Sec. 907 of P.L. 102-511, October 24, 1992, is a ban on U.S. aid to the Azerbaijan government aimed at pressuring it to lift its blockades of Armenia and Karabakh. Subsequent legislation modified the ban but retained it. P.L. 107-115, January 10, 2002, the foreign operations appropriations bill for 2002, granted the President authority to waive 907. The President did so in January 2002 and 2003.
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Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Migdalovitz, Carol
2003-08-08
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Emergency Preparedness and Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning in the Federal Judiciary [Updated August 8, 2003]
In the wake of the September 2001 terrorist attacks, subsequent anthrax incidents that briefly affected the Supreme Court, and occasional warnings of the potential for further terrorist activity, judicial branch policymakers and administrators have given renewed attention to crisis response, emergency planning, and continuity of operations (COOP) issues. In the federal judiciary, COOP planning is an extension of court emergency preparedness plans designed to safeguard lives and property during emergencies. The federal judiciary is highly decentralized, both geographically and administratively. Consequently, emergency and COOP planning is carried out locally, according to guidelines issued by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AOUSC)...Prior to September 2001, the federal judiciary had engaged in efforts to improve security in court facilities. After the attacks, AOUSC recommended the designation of a senior court executive in every court to coordinate and be responsible for developing appropriate procedures for emergency preparedness, and COOP. AOUSC also recommended that the courts coordinate their planning activities with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local federal executive agencies. This report discusses actions taken by AOUSC following the September 11 attacks, and describes expectations for emergency preparedness and COOP plans in the judiciary. Other sections address issues and policy questions Congress might consider, including matters of the status of judicial emergency and COOP preparedness, and funding for future policy and oversight questions regarding judicial contingency planning. This report is one of several CRS products related to government emergency preparedness and contingency planning". - From Summary
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2003-08-08
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Caribbean Basin Interim Trade Program: CBI/NAFTA Parity [August 8, 2003]
"The entry into force, on January 1, 1994, of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has eliminated the advantage that the beneficiaries of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) and related provisions of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) had enjoyed in trade with the United States relative to Mexico, and gave Mexico an increasingly significant competitive edge over the CBERA countries. The scheduled further implementation of the NAFTA would have resulted in a substantial advantage to Mexico over the CBERA countries and vitiate in part the purpose of the CBERA. Beginning with the 103rd Congress, Congress considered legislation to provide, temporarily, to CBI beneficiary countries tariff and quota treatment equivalent to that accorded to Mexico under the NAFTA. The legislation also would set up mechanisms for the accession of such countries to the NAFTA or an equivalent bilateral agreements with the United States. Due to its controversial nature, based on the perceived adverse consequences for the U.S. textile industry and substantial estimated negative effect on the U.S. budget, however, the legislative process reached an impasse in mid-1995. Although favorably reported in several instances since then, the parity legislation was not enacted."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Pregelj, Vladimir N.
2003-08-08
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Energy Policy: The Continuing Debate [Updated August 8, 2003]
"On July 31, 2003, the Senate, facing obstacles to passage of its comprehensive energy bill (S. 14), substituted the energy legislation the Senate had passed and sent to conference in the 107th Congress. Principals are sorting out the implications of this unanticipated development; there are identical or similar provisions in both S. 14 and the substitute measure that the Senate passed as H.R. 6, but there are also significant differences. Amendments passed on the floor to S. 14 do not figure into the legislation passed by the Senate, including the electricity amendment -- crafted over a number of months -- which was on the floor when the Senate made its startling decision. However, the Republican managers of the energy legislation noted that the bill will be rewritten in conference. Among the issues waiting to be addressed in the Senate at the time of passage of H.R. 6 were climate change, clean air, Indian energy development, and hydroelectric relicensing, among other issues. There are climate change provisions in the version of H.R. 6 adopted by the Senate. On April 11, 2003, the House passed its version of H.R. 6 (247-175). The bill includes several provisions that were part of comprehensive, but not enacted, energy legislation (H.R. 4) debated during the 107th Congress. These provisions touch upon energy efficiency and conservation, clean coal technology, and reauthorization of the Price-Anderson Act nuclear liability system. The bill passed by the House would also provide roughly $18 billion in energy tax incentives."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bamberger, Robert
2003-08-08
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Middle East Peace Talks [Updated August 8, 2003]
"The end of the Cold War, the decline of the Soviet Union, and the U.S.-led victory in the Gulf war facilitated the beginning of a new peace process in 1991. Israel and the Palestinians discussed a 5-year period of interim self-rule leading to a final settlement. Israel and Syria discussed Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights in exchange for peace. Israel and Jordan discussed relations. Israel and Lebanon focused on Israel's withdrawal from its self-declared security zone in south Lebanon and reciprocal Lebanese actions. On September 13, 1993, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) signed a Declaration of Principles (DOP), providing for Palestinian empowerment and some territorial control. Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty agenda on September 14, 1993; Prime Minister Rabin and King Hussein affirmed the end of the state of belligerency between Israel and Jordan on July 25; a Peace Treaty was signed on October 26, 1994. Israel and the Palestinians signed an Interim Self-Rule in the West Bank/Oslo II accord on September 28, 1995. Israel continued implementing it despite the November 4 assassination of Prime Minister Rabin. Israel suspended talks with Syria after terror attacks in February/March 1996. They resumed in December 1999, but were 'postponed indefinitely' after January 2000. A January 1997 protocol produced Israeli redeployment from Hebron. An October 15-23, 1998, summit resulted in the Wye River Memorandum on implementation of earlier agreements. The Israeli cabinet froze implementation on December 20. On September 4, 1999, Israeli Prime Minister Barak and Palestinian leader Arafat signed the Sharm al-Shaykh Memorandum on implementing Wye. Israel withdrew from south Lebanon on May 24, 2000. From July 11-24, President Clinton held a summit with Israeli and Palestinian leaders at Camp David to reach a framework accord, but they did not succeed. A Palestinian uprising or 'intifadah' began in September. On December 23, President Clinton presented bridging proposals."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Migdalovitz, Carol
2003-08-08
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China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues [Updated August 8, 2003]
Congress has long been concerned about whether U.S. policy advances the U.S. interest in reducing the role of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missiles that could deliver them. Recipients of China's technology include Pakistan and countries that the State Department says support terrorism, such as Iran, North Korea, and Libya. This CRS Report discusses the national security problem of China's role in weapons proliferation and issues related to the U.S. policy response, including legislation, since the mid-1990s. As the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) has reported, China remains a "key supplier" of weapons technology - particularly missile or chemical technology. On November 21, 2000, the Clinton Administration agreed to waive missile proliferation sanctions, resume processing licenses to export satellites to China, and discuss an extension of the bilateral space launch agreement, in return for another promise from China on missile nonproliferation.
On 8 occasions, the Bush Administration has imposed sanctions on PRC entities for transfers (related to ballistic missiles, chemical weapons, and cruise missiles) to Pakistan and Iran, under the Arms Export Control Act, Export Administration Act, Iran Nonproliferation Act, Iran-Iraq Arms Nonproliferation Act, and Executive Order 12938. President Bush has not waived the sanctions imposed in September 2001. Moreover, on May 23, June 26, and July 30, 2003, the Administration imposed sanctions on PRC entities for missile proliferation, signaling U.S. frustrations with China. China's cooperation is also sought towards the issue of North Korea.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kan, Shirley
2003-08-08
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Critical Infrastructures: Background, Policy, and Implementation [Updated August 7, 2003]
"The nation's health, wealth, and security rely on the production and distribution of certain goods and services. The array of physical assets, processes and organizations across which these goods and services move are called critical infrastructures (e.g. electricity, the power plants that generate it, and the electric grid upon which it is distributed). Computers and communications, themselves critical infrastructures, are increasingly tying these infrastructures together. There has been growing concern that this reliance on computers and computer networks raises the vulnerability of the nation's critical infrastructures to 'cyber' attacks. On November 22, 2002, Congress passed legislation creating a Department of Homeland Security. The Department consolidates into a single department a number of offices and agencies responsible for implementing various aspects of homeland security. One of the directorates created by the legislation is responsible for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection. Issues include whether to segregate cyber protection from physical protection organizationally, mechanisms for sharing information shared between the government and the private sector, costs, the need to set priorities, and whether or not the federal government will need to employ more direct incentives to achieve an adequate level of protection by the private sector and states, and privacy versus protection. This report will be updated as warranted."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Moteff, John D.
2003-08-07
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Peacekeeping: Issues of U.S. Military Involvement [Updated August 6, 2003]
"For about a decade, Congress has expressed reservations about many complex and intertwined peacekeeping issues. The Bush Administration's desire to reduce the commitment of U.S. troops to international peacekeeping parallels the major concerns of recent Congresses: that peacekeeping duties are detrimental to military 'readiness,' i.e., the ability of U.S. troops to defend the nations. Critics, however, are concerned that withdrawals of U.S. troops from peacekeeping commitments will undermine U.S. leadership. Thousands of U.S. military personnel currently serve in or support peacekeeping operations, performing tasks ranging from providing humanitarian relief to monitoring and enforcing cease-fires or other agreements designed to separate parties in conflict. Of these, 15 were serving in five operations under U.N. control (as of May 20, 2003). About 4,300 are serving full-time in the Balkans with some 1,800 of those in the NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and some 2,500 with the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR). About 37,000 more serve in or support peacekeeping operations in South Korea. These 'peacekeeping' operations are undertaken to promote, maintain, enforce, or enhance the possibilities for peace, and can sometimes be dangerous."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Serafino, Nina M.
2003-08-06
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China and the World Trade Organization [August 6, 2003]
"After many years of difficult negotiations, China, on December 11, 2001, become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the international agency that administers multilateral trade rules. Under the terms of its WTO membership, China agreed 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. According to U.S. government officials and many business representatives, China's WTO compliance record has been mixed. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morrison, Wayne M.
2003-08-06
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Homeland Security Advisory System: Possible Issues for Congressional Oversight [August 6, 2003]
"The Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS), established on Mar. 12, 2002, is a color coded terrorist threat warning system administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The system, which federal departments and agencies are required to implement and use, provides recommended protective measures for federal departments and agencies to prevent, prepare for, mitigate against, and respond to, terrorist attacks. DHS disseminates HSAS terrorist threat warnings to federal departments, state and local agencies, the public, and private sector entities. This dissemination of warnings is conducted through multiple communication systems and public announcements. HSAS has five threat levels: low; guarded; elevated; high; or severe. From March, 2002, to July, 2003, the HSAS threat level has been no lower than elevated, and has been raised to high four times. The first time it was raised to high was on September 10, 2002 due to the fear of terrorist attacks on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the most recent time it was raised to high was May 20, 2003 due to terrorist bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco. While the need for terrorist threat warnings seems to be widely acknowledged, there are numerous issues associated with HSAS and its effects on states, localities, the public, and the private sector."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Reese, Shawn
2003-08-06
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China's Economic Conditions [Updated August 5, 2003]
"Since the initiation of economic reforms in 1979, China has become one of the world's fastest growing economies. From 1979-2002, China's real annual GDP [Gross Domestic Product] averaged 9.3%; it rose by 8.0% in 2002. Many economists speculate that China could become the world's largest economy at some point in the near future, provided that the government is able to continue and deepen economic reforms, particularly in regards to its efficient state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and state banking system. Progress in reforming these sectors in recent years has been somewhat mixed. […] China's economy remained relatively healthy in 2002, despite economic slowdowns in other parts of the world. Foreign investment continued to pour into China, and the Chinese government effectively used public spending to boost the economy. However, painful economic reforms will be necessary to keep the economic strong in 2003 and beyond. The recent outbreak in early 2003 of a very contagious virus called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in China appears to have had a short-term negative impact on the Chinese economy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morrison, Wayne M.
2003-08-05
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Intelligence Issues for Congress [Updated August 5, 2003]
"The U.S. Intelligence Community continues to adjust to the21st Century 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 transnational threats, especially 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. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, for which no specific warning was provided, have led to increased emphasis on human intelligence, statutory changes permitting closer cooperation between law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and to consideration of organizational changes to the Intelligence Community."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Best, Richard A.
2003-08-05
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Chile: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations [August 5, 2003]
"A South American nation with a population of about 15 million, Chile returned to democratic rule in 1990 after 17 years of military government. The current administration of President Ricardo Lagos, inaugurated in March 2000 to a six-year term, is Chile's third elected government since the return to civilian rule. Chile has weathered the transition to democracy well, although civil-military relations have been tense at times. The October 1998 arrest of former military ruler General Augusto Pinochet in London on human rights violations exacerbated political schisms in Chile, but in the end, Chilean democracy appears to have emerged stronger with the civilian government more firmly in charge of the military. Chile is generally recognized as a model for the successful implementation of market-oriented economic reform measures, and there has been political consensus in the country on maintaining a liberal market economy and prudent fiscal and monetary policies. The Lagos government has continued the country's export-oriented economic strategy. The economy registered positive growth rates from the mid-1980s through 1998 but contracted in 1999 because of the Asian economic crisis. In 2000, the economy rebounded, but economic growth slowed in 2001 and in 2002 because of the global and regional economic slowdown. Economic growth is forecast to increase by 3.5% in 2003 and 4.5% in 2004, fueled by improvement in consumer and investor confidence and Chile's trade liberalization efforts. U.S. relations with Chile, which improved considerably with the nation's return to democracy in 1990, are close, characterized by strong commercial ties and extensive consultation between the two governments on bilateral and other issues of mutual concern."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2003-08-05
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Visa Issuances: Policy, Issues, and Legislation [Updated August 4, 2003]
"Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, considerable concern has been raised because the 19 terrorists were aliens who apparently entered the United States legally despite provisions in immigration laws that bar the admission of terrorists. Fears that lax enforcement of immigration laws regulating the admission of foreign nationals into the United States may continue to make the United States vulnerable to further terrorist attacks have led many to call for revisions in the policy as well as changes in who administers immigration law. Foreign nationals not already legally residing in the United States who wish to come to the United States generally must obtain a visa to be admitted, with certain exceptions noted in law. Prior to establishment of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), two departments -- the Department of State (DOS) Bureau of Consular Affairs and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) -- each played key roles in administering the law and policies on the admission of aliens. Although DOS Consular Affairs remains the agency responsible for issuing visas, DHS' Bureau of Citizenship and Immigrant Services approves immigrant petitions, and DHS's Bureau of Customs and Border Protection inspects all people who enter the United States. In FY2002, DOS issued approximately 6.2 million visas and rejected over 2.2 million aliens seeking visas. The President's proposal for DHS, H.R. 5005 as introduced, would have bifurcated visa issuances so that DHS would set the policies, giving the DHS Secretary exclusive authority through the Secretary of State to issue or refuse to issue visas and retaining responsibility for implementation in DOS."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wasem, Ruth Ellen
2003-08-04
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Pakistan: Chronology of Recent Events [Updated August 4, 2003]
"This report provides a chronology of recent events involving Pakistan and Pakistan- U.S. relations. Sources include, but are not limited to, major newswires, the U.S. Department of State, and Pakistani news outlets. For a substantive review, see CRS Issue Brief IB94041, 'Pakistan-U.S. Relations'. This report will be updated regularly."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kronstadt, K. Alan
2003-08-04
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Pakistan-U.S. Relations [Updated August 4, 2003]
"Key areas of U.S. concern regarding Pakistan include regional terrorism; weapons proliferation; the ongoing Kashmir dispute and Pakistan-India tensions; human rights protection; and economic development. A U.S.-Pakistan relationship marked by distance and discord was transformed by the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and the ensuing enlistment of Pakistan as a pivotal ally in U.S.-led anti-terrorism efforts. Top U.S. officials regularly praise Pakistan for its ongoing cooperation, although concerns exist about Islamabad's commitment to core U.S. concerns in the region. Pakistan continues to face serious problems, including a weak economy and domestic terrorism."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kronstadt, K. Alan
2003-08-04
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Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations [Updated August 4, 2003]
"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. 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. Saudi Arabia hosted U.S. aircraft enforcing the no-fly zone over southern Iraq; between the two Iraq wars of 1991 and 2003; however, Saudi Arabia did not offer the use of its territory for major air strikes against Iraq in response to Iraqi obstruction of U.N. weapons inspections. Moreover, Saudi officials expressed opposition to the U.S.-led military campaign launched against Iraq in March- April 2003, although they reportedly permitted certain support operations by U.S. and British military forces, as well in addition to making some facilities available to them. […] Other principal issues of bilateral interest include the Saudi position on the 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."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Prados, Alfred B.
2003-08-04
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China-U.S. Trade Issues [Updated August 4, 2003]
"U.S.-China economic ties have expanded substantially over the past several years. Total U.S.-China trade rose from $5 billion in 1980 to $147 billion in 2002. China is now the fourth-largest U.S. trading partner. With a huge population and a rapidly expanding economy, China is a potentially huge market for U.S. exporters. Yet, U.S.-China commercial relations have been strained by a number of issues, including a surging U.S. trade deficit with China ($102.3 billion in 2002), China's restrictive trade and investment practices, and its failure to provide adequate protection for U.S. intellectual property rights (IPR). […] The continued rise in the U.S.-China trade imbalance has led several Members to call on China to either appreciate its currency or to make it fully convertible (currently, China's currency is pegged to the U.S. dollar)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morrison, Wayne M.
2003-08-04
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Iraq: U.S. Military Operations [Updated August 4, 2003]
Iraq's chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons programs, together with Iraqi long-range missile development and support for terrorism, are the primary justifications put forward for military action. On March 17, 2003 President Bush issued an ultimatum demanding that Saddam Hussein and his sons depart from Iraq within 48 hours. On March 19, offensive operations began with air strikes against Iraqi leadership positions. By April 15, after 27 days of operations, coalition forces were in relative control of all major Iraqi cities and Iraqi political and military leadership had disintegrated. On May 1, President Bush declared an end to major combat operations. There was no use of chemical or biological (CB) weapons, and no CB weapons stockpiles have been found. The major challenges are now quelling a persistent Iraqi resistance movement, restoring civil order, and providing basic services to the urban population. U.S. troops continue to come under sporadic attacks, primarily in central Iraq. DOD officials have now acknowledged there is at least regional organization for these attacks, with apparently ample supplies of arms and funding. Resistance is believed to comprise primarily former regime supporters. There is concern that growing resentment of coalition forces and resurgent Iraq nationalism, independent of connections with the earlier regime, may be contributing to the resistance. Congress approved a $62.37 billion FY2003 supplemental budget request for Iraq operations (H. Rept. 108-76). DOD currently estimates the cost of operations to be $3.9 billion per month.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bowman, Steve
2003-08-04
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Australia: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated August 4, 2003]
The Commonwealth of Australia and the United States are close allies under the ANZUS treaty. Australia evoked the treaty to offer assistance to the United States after the attacks of September 11, 2001, in which 22 Australians were among the dead. Australia was one of the first countries to commit troops to United States military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. On October 12, 2002, a terrorist attack on Western tourists in Bali, Indonesia, killed over 200 including 89 Australians and seven Americans. Although Australia has extensive ties with its neighbors in Asia, it is seeking to strengthen its already close ties to the United States. Since November 14, 2002, the United States and Australia have been negotiating a bilateral Free Trade Agreement. Australia has led peace-keeping efforts in the Asia-Pacific region including East Timor and most recently in the Solomon Islands. This report will be updated as warranted.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-; Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-
2003-08-04
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Trade Negotiations in the 108th Congress [Updated August 3, 2003]
"On June 6, 2003, the United States signed a bilateral free-trade agreement (FTA) with Chile. A month earlier, the United States had signed a bilateral FTA with Singapore. On July 15, 2003, implementing bills for the FTAs (Chile--H.R. 2738/S. 1416; Singapore-- H.R. 2739/S. 1417) were introduced in the House and Senate; they were passed by the House on July 24 and by the Senate on July 31. On August 4, 2003, the Administration notified Congress of its intent to begin negotiations for an FTA with the Dominican Republic and Bahrain. The Bush Administration is making these and other bilateral and regional FTAs more important elements of U.S. trade policy, a strategy known as 'competitive liberalization.' This strategy is designed to push forward trade liberalization simultaneously on bilateral, regional and multilateral fronts. It is meant to spur trade negotiations by liberalizing trade with countries willing to join FTAs, and to pressure other countries to negotiate multilaterally. Some argue, however, that the accent on regional and bilateral negotiations undermines the multilateral forum and increases the risk of trade diversion away from competitive countries that are not in the trade bloc."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sek, Lenore; Fergusson, Ian F.
2003-08-03
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Drug Control: International Policy and Approaches [August 3, 2003]
"Efforts to significantly reduce the flow of illicit drugs from abroad into the United States have so far not succeeded. Moreover, over the past decade, worldwide production of illicit drugs has risen dramatically: opium and marijuana production has roughly doubled and coca production tripled. Street prices of cocaine and heroin have fallen significantly in the past 20 years, reflecting increased availability. The effectiveness of international narcotics control programs in reducing consumption is a matter of ongoing concern. […] P.L. 106-246, 'Plan Colombia,' a $1.3 billion military assistance-focused initiative to provide emergency supplemental narcotics assistance to Colombia, was signed into law July 13, 2000. Recently, U.S. policy toward Colombia has focused increasingly on containing the terrorist threat to that country's security. The Bush Administration's FY2004 budget request continues a policy, begun in FY2002, to request authority for the State and Defense Departments to supply assistance to Colombia for counter-terrorism purposes. For instance, U.S.-supplied helicopters and intelligence could be used to support military operations against guerrillas financed by drugs as well as against drug traffickers themselves. Drug control approaches addressed in this issue brief include: 1) Expansion of efforts to reduce foreign production at the source. 2) Expansion of interdiction and enforcement activities to disrupt supply lines. 3) Expansion of efforts to reduce worldwide demand. 4) Expansion of economic disincentives for international drug trafficking. Current trends in U.S. counternarcotics policy also are discussed in the brief. For analysis of the Andean drug issues, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RL31383, 'Andean Regional Initiative (ARI): FY2002 Supplemental and FY2003 Assistance for Colombia and Neighbors.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Perl, Raphael
2003-08-03
