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• Water Resources Development Act (WRDA): Corps of Engineers Project Authorization Issues [Updated October 4, 2007]

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  "Congress generally authorizes new Army Corps of Engineers water resources studies and projects in a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) before appropriating funds to them. The 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses considered but did not enact WRDA legislation; the most recent WRDA was enacted in 2000. WRDA 2007 (H.R. 1495), which would authorize hundreds of projects and studies, was cleared for the White House on September 24, 2007. […] An August 1, 2007, Administration letter stated that the President anticipated vetoing the bill, citing among other reasons the authorization level. […] H.R. 1495 would authorize more than two billion dollars in construction activities to restore wetlands in coastal Louisiana, as well as actions to improve hurricane protection in New Orleans. Authorizations for navigation improvements ($2.2 billion) and ecosystem restoration ($1.7 billion) on the Upper Mississippi River-Illinois Waterway and Florida Everglades restoration (around $2 billion), also are included. The conference bill would create a Committee on Levee Safety that would make recommendations for a national levee safety program. The conference bill's independent review provisions would require technical review of plans for Corps projects exceeding $45 million and a safety review of construction activities for flood and storm damage projects at the discretion of the agency's Chief of Engineers."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hughes, H. Steven; Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2007-10-04
• Agriculture and Related Agencies: FY2007 Appropriations [Updated July 6, 2006]

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  "The Agriculture and Related Agencies appropriations bill includes all of USDA (except the Forest Service), plus the Food and Drug Administration and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. On June 22, 2006, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported the FY2007 agriculture appropriations bill (H.R. 5384, S.Rept. 109-266). The full House passed its version on May 23, 2006. […] The House bill would allow prescription drug importation, and the Senate bill would facilitate travel to Cuba for selling licensed agricultural and medical goods. Both provisions have drawn veto threats from the White House in previous years. […] Both bills reject an Administration proposal to terminate the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. Moreover, the House bill would provide $25 million of discretionary funds to expand a fresh fruit and vegetable program to school in all states, while the Senate bill would add $9 million in discretionary funds to a $9 million mandatory pool. This report will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Jickling, Mark; Thaul, Susan; Richardson, Joe . . .

  2006-07-06
• Ocean Commissions: Ocean Policy Review and Outlook [Updated June 30, 2006]

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  "The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy convened its inaugural meeting in September 2001, and established a Science Advisory Panel plus four working groups to address issues in the areas of governance; research, education, and marine operations; stewardship; and investment and implementation. After hearing from 440 presenters in 10 cities over 11 months, the U.S. Commission published its final report in two stages. First, in April 2004, the commission released a Preliminary Report for review and comment by the nation's governors and interested stakeholders. Stage two began when the public comment period closed June 4, 2004, and the commission commenced reviewing the comments received from the governors and others. On July 22, 2004, the commission approved changes to its Preliminary Report and directed staff to prepare the final report, officially titled An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century. That report, with its recommendations on a coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy, was delivered to the President and Congress on September 20, 2004. On December 17, 2004, the President submitted to Congress the U.S. Ocean Action Plan, his formal response to the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Buck, Eugene H.; Zinn, Jeffrey A.; Justus, John R.

  2006-06-30
• Ocean Commissions: Ocean Policy Review and Outlook [April 21, 2006]

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  "The Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-454) stated U.S. marine policy objectives, created a National Council on Marine Resources and Engineering Development, and set up a presidential Commission on Marine Science, Engineering, and Resources (called the Stratton Commission after its chairman, Dr. Julius Stratton). The commission's 1969 final report, 'Our Nation and the Sea: A Plan for National Action', contained recommendations that led to reorganizing federal ocean programs by establishing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), beginning new ocean programs, and strengthening existing ones. […] The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy convened its inaugural meeting in September 2001, and established a Science Advisory Panel plus four working groups to address issues in the areas of governance; research, education, and marine operations; stewardship; and investment and implementation. After hearing from 440 presenters in 10 cities over 11 months, the U.S. Commission published its final report in two stages. First, in April 2004, the commission released a 'Preliminary Report' for review and comment by the nation's governors and interested stakeholders. Stage two began when the public comment period closed June 4, 2004, and the commission commenced reviewing the comments received from the governors and others. On July 22, 2004, the commission approved changes to its 'Preliminary Report' and directed staff to prepare the final report, officially titled 'An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century'. That report, with its recommendations on a coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy, was delivered to the President and Congress on September 20, 2004. On December 17, 2004, the President submitted to Congress the 'U.S. Ocean Action Plan', his formal response to the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Justus, John R.; Buck, Eugene H.; Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2006-04-21
• Marine Protected Areas: An Overview [Updated March 1, 2007]

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  "Some Members of Congress (among many others) are interested in considering limiting human activity in some areas of the marine environment as one response to mounting evidence of deteriorating conditions and declining populations of living resources. The purposes of proposed additional limits would be to both stem the decline and permit the rehabilitation of these environments and populations. One method of implementing this concept is to designate areas where activity would be limited, often referred to as marine protected areas (MPAs). Translating the MPA approach into a national program, however, requires resolution of many economic, ecological, and social debates. The complexity of creating a program is compounded by controversy over the uses that would be allowed, curtailed, or prohibited in MPAs; the purposes of a system of MPAs; and the location, size, and distribution of MPA units. One possible way to get past some of these complexities is to think of MPA designations as a form of zoning in the ocean. Experiences in using the MPA designation in other countries may be instructive. However, questions have been raised about the effectiveness of administration and enforcement and about changes in living resources at some of these sites."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Buck, Eugene H.; Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2007-03-01
• Marine Protected Areas: An Overview [Updated April 30, 2008]

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  "Some Members of Congress (among many others) are interested in considering limiting human activity in some areas of the marine environment as one response to mounting evidence of deteriorating conditions and declining populations of living resources. The purposes of proposed additional limits would be to both stem the decline and permit the rehabilitation of these environments and populations. One method of implementing this concept is to designate areas where activity would be limited, often referred to as marine protected areas (MPAs). Translating the MPA approach into a national program, however, requires resolution of many economic, ecological, and social debates. The complexity of creating a program is compounded by controversy over the uses that would be allowed, curtailed, or prohibited in MPAs; the purposes of a system of MPAs; and the location, size, and distribution of MPA units. One possible way to get past some of these complexities is to think of MPA designations as a form of zoning in the ocean. Experiences in using the MPA designation in other countries may be instructive. However, questions have been raised about the effectiveness of administration and enforcement and about changes in living resources at some of these sites."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Buck, Eugene H.; Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2008-04-30
• Farm Bill Legislative Action in the 110th Congress [Updated April 10, 2008]

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  "The farm bill governs federal farm and food policy and is renewed about every five years. The 110th Congress is seeking to revise the current farm bill (P.L. 107- 171), which covers a wide range of programs including commodity price and income support, agricultural conservation, farm credit, research, rural development, and foreign and domestic food programs, among others. The House completed floor action on its version of the farm bill (H.R. 2419) on July 27, 2007. The Senate Agriculture Committee approved its version (S. 2302) on October 25, 2007. On December 14, the Senate completed floor action on the farm bill, which was offered as a substitute to the House bill. Conference negotiations have been delayed because of differences between committee leadership and the Administration. Consequently, Congress temporarily extended portions of the expiring 2002 farm bill until March 15, 2008, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2008 (P.L. 110-161). […] The nutrition title (Title IV) of both bills diverge substantially on both the total level of new funding provided for nutrition programs and the allocation of the new funding among programs. However, in most cases, the bills include very similar policy changes: increased food stamp benefits and loosened eligibility standards, and increased funding for fresh fruits and vegetables in most domestic food programs. For conservation (Title II), international trade and food aid (Title III), credit (Title V), rural development (Title VI), research (Title VII), forestry (Title VIII), and energy (Title IX), both bills reauthorize, expand, and/or modify many of the existing programs, create new programs and initiatives, or allow some programs to expire. For credit, both bills expand borrowing opportunities for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hanrahan, Charles; Gorte, Ross W.; Cowan, Tadlock . . .

  2008-04-10
• Resource Conservation Title of the 2002 Farm Bill: A Comparison of New Law with Bills Passed by the House and Senate, and Prior Law [Updated June 25, 2002]

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  "President Bush signed the new farm bill, titled the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, on May 13, 2002 (P.L. 107-171). Most of the agricultural conservation programs are in Title II. This report compares the Title II provisions of P.L. 107-171 with the conservation titles in the bills that passed both Chambers, and with prior law (primarily the 1996 Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act), in two tables. The first table presents the major provisions. The second table compares funding levels for each program, by year. The tables only include the programs and provisions that were enacted in Title II; conservation provisions in other farm bill titles, or those that were in the conservation title of one of the bills but either were dropped in conference or moved elsewhere in the bill are listed in the Introduction. The conservation title reauthorizes many major conservation programs and authorizes new programs, mostly through FY2007. For existing programs, the provisions make many policy adjustments, and increase funding or raise enrollment ceilings. The new programs enacted in the Title provide additional conservation assistance for purposes or in locations that policy makers believe were not being adequately served. The largest of the new programs is the Conservation Security Program."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2002-06-25
• Previewing a 2007 Farm Bill [Updated January 3, 2007]

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  "Federal farm support, food assistance, agricultural trade, marketing, and rural development policies are governed by a variety of separate laws. However, many of these laws periodically are evaluated, revised, and renewed through an omnibus, multi-year 'farm bill.' The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. [Public Law] 107-171) was the most recent omnibus farm bill, and many of its provisions expire in 2007, so reauthorization is expected to be addressed in the first session of the 110th Congress. The heart of every omnibus farm bill is farm income and commodity price support policy -- namely, the methods and levels of support that the federal government provides to agricultural producers. However, farm bills typically include titles on agricultural trade and foreign food aid, conservation and environment, forestry, domestic food assistance (primarily food stamps), agricultural credit, rural development, agricultural research and education, and marketing-related programs. Often, such 'miscellaneous' provisions as food safety, marketing orders, animal health and welfare, and energy are added. This omnibus nature of the farm bill creates a broad coalition of support among sometimes conflicting interests for policies that, individually, might not survive the legislative process. The scope and direction of a new farm bill may be shaped by such factors as financial conditions in the agricultural economy, competition among various interests, international trade obligations, and -- possibly most important -- a tight limit on federal funds."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Womach, Jasper; Becker, Geoffrey S.; Chite, Ralph M. . . .

  2007-01-03
• Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Restoration After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita [Updated March 17, 2006]

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  "Prior to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been seeking congressional approval for a $1.1 billion multi-year program to both construct five projects that would help to restore specified sites in the coastal wetland ecosystem in Louisiana, and to continue planning several other related projects. The state of Louisiana and several federal agencies have participated in the development of this program. This report introduces this program and restoration options that are being discussed in the wake of the hurricanes. It also discusses whether this program, if completed, might have muted the impacts of these hurricanes. Congressional consideration will also be informed by slowly emerging information about the location and extent of change that resulted from these hurricanes. This report will be updated."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2006-03-17
• Mandatory Funding for Agriculture Conservation Programs [September 7, 2005]

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  From the Document: "The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 authorized large increases in mandatory funding for several agricultural conservation programs. Since FY2002, Congress has acted, through the appropriations process, to limit funding for some of these programs below authorized levels. It limited funding for all these programs, combined, to 97.6% of the authorized total in FY2003, 93.1% in FY2004, and 89.5% in FY2005. Program supporters decry these growing reductions as changes that increasingly compromise the intent of the farm bill. Others counter that, even with these reductions, funding for these programs continues to grow, from almost $3.1 billion in FY2003 to more than $3.8 billion in FY2005. This report reviews the funding history of these programs since the 2002 farm bill was enacted. It will be updated periodically."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2005-09-07
• Soil and Water Conservation: An Overview [Updated February 9, 2007]

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  From the Summary: "Soil and water conservation topics will be prominent in the 110th Congress, especially as it considers policy options for the next farm bill. Conservation proposals introduced late in the 109th Congress (H.R. 6064 and H.R. 6193) are expected to be reintroduced, and many interest groups continue to offer policy recommendations ranging from general concepts to specific legislative language. On January 31, 2007, the Administration released its farm bill recommendations. The current farm bill, enacted in 2002 and generally expiring at the end of FY2007, increased spending and expanded the scope of the conservation effort by reauthorizing and amending many U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation programs and enacting new ones. An example of increased spending is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (from $200 million annually before FY2002 to $1.3 billion in FY2007); and an example of a raised enrollment ceiling is the Wetlands Reserve Program (from 1,075,000 acres to 2,275,000 acres). Several new programs also expanded the scope of conservation. For example, the Conservation Security Program (CSP) provides payments to producers who address natural resource concerns as part of their farm operation on so-called 'working lands.' Other new programs were created to conserve grasslands, address surface and ground water conservation needs, permit approved third parties to provide conservation assistance, and encourage use of innovative conservation technologies."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2007-02-09
• Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA): Effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on Implementation [Updated June 5, 2007]

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  From the Summary: "The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA), enacted in 1990 and administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has funded wetland restoration projects for more than 10 years. By law, CWPPRA allocates 70% of appropriated funds ($76 million of $109 million in FY2007) to projects in Louisiana. Louisiana wetland protection and restoration proponents largely view the program as an established success in enhancing coastal wetlands by implementing numerous relatively inexpensive and smaller-scale projects. At the same time, many of these proponents also have worked to develop and seek administration and congressional support for a more substantial multibillion-dollar coastal Louisiana restoration program consisting of far larger projects. Their efforts have intensified in the aftermath of two highly destructive hurricanes that struck Louisiana in 2005, both because the scale of the CWPPRA program is insufficient to counter the large wetlands losses that resulted, and because wetlands restoration could play a more prominent role in reducing the impacts of future hurricanes on developed areas. Congress may consider amending CWPPRA to redirect or expand it as a response to these hurricanes."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2007-06-05
• Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Restoration After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita [Updated May 4, 2006]

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  From the Summary: "Prior to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been seeking congressional approval for a $1.1 billion program both to construct five projects that would help restore specified sites in the coastal wetland ecosystem in Louisiana, and to continue planning several other related projects. The state of Louisiana and several federal agencies participated in the development of this program. This report introduces the program and more extensive restoration options that are being discussed in the wake of the hurricanes. It also discusses whether this program, if completed, might have muted the impacts of the hurricanes. Congressional consideration will be informed by new information about the location and extent of coastal wetland change that resulted from the hurricanes. This report will be updated."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2006-05-04
• Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Restoration After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita [Updated June 5, 2007]

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  From the Summary: "Prior to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been seeking congressional approval for a $1.1 billion program both to construct five projects that would help restore specified sites in the coastal wetland ecosystem in Louisiana, and to continue planning several other related projects. The state of Louisiana and several federal agencies participated in the development of this program. This report introduces the program and more extensive restoration options that are being discussed in the wake of the hurricanes. It also discusses whether this program, if completed, might have muted the impacts of the hurricanes. Congressional consideration are being informed by new information about the extent of coastal wetland change that resulted from the hurricanes and further changes since the hurricanes struck. This report will be updated."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2007-06-05
• Wetlands: An Overview of Issues [Updated March 13, 2007]

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  From the Summary: "The 110th Congress, like earlier ones, may consider numerous policy topics that involve wetlands. The 109th Congress examined controversies such as applying federal regulations on private lands, wetland loss rates, implementation of farm bill provisions, and implications of court decisions affecting the jurisdictional boundaries of the federal wetland permit program. It considered almost 100 bills with wetlands provisions, but only enacted legislation reauthorizing the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (P.L. 109-294) and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (P.L. 109-322). In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, congressional interest focused on the role that restored wetlands could play in protecting New Orleans, and coastal Louisiana more generally, but no legislation was enacted, beyond FY2006 appropriations and the offshore oil and gas revenue sharing bill (a provision of P.L. 109-432) passed at the end of 2006. The Bush Administration exhibited its interest in wetland protection when it stated shortly after the 2004 election that restoration of 3 million wetland acres would be a priority. The 110th Congress, like past Congresses, is also likely to involve itself in wetland topics at the program level, responding to legal decisions and administrative actions."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Copeland, Claudia; Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2007-03-13
• Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Restoration After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita [Updated October 25, 2007]

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  "Prior to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been seeking congressional approval for a $1.1 billion program both to construct five projects that would help restore specified sites in the coastal wetland ecosystem in Louisiana, and to continue planning several other related projects. The state of Louisiana and several federal agencies participated in the development of this program. This report introduces the program and more extensive restoration options that are being discussed in the wake of the hurricanes. It also discusses whether this program, if completed, might have muted the impacts of the hurricanes. Congressional consideration are being informed by new information about the extent of coastal wetland change that resulted from the hurricanes and further changes since the hurricanes struck. This report will be updated."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2007-10-25
• Water Resources Development Act (WRDA): Army Corps of Engineers Authorization Issues in the 109th Congress [Updated June 9, 2006]

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  From the Summary: "Congress generally authorizes new Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) water resources studies and projects before appropriating funds to them. The 109th Congress is considering authorizing numerous Corps projects through a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)- H.R. 2864 and S. 728. The House passed H.R. 2864 in July 2005; S. 728 was placed on the Senate calendar in April 2005. Reportedly some Senators are pushing for a floor vote by the July 2006. The last WRDA was enacted in 2000; however, WRDAs had followed a loosely biennial schedule. Hurricane Katrina increased support for hurricane protection and flood control, and Louisiana and other Gulf Coast projects, while at the same time increasing interest in streamlining federal spending. The pending WRDA bills have not been acted on since before Hurricane Katrina; many observers anticipate WRDA amendments that address water resources projects that have arisen either directly as the result of the hurricane or as the result of policy issues raised by the hurricane. The Administration has expressed concerns both about the level of authorizations in WRDA bills creating false expectations for federal appropriations, and about WRDA bills not addressing the backlog of authorized Corps projects. The Administration's position has been one factor shaping the debate on the pending bills; authorization of a few controversial projects (e.g., Everglades restoration projects) and possible changes to Corps policies and practices have also been factors."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sheikh, Pervaze A.; Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2006-06-09
• Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Restoration [September 26, 2005]

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  "Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused widespread damage and destruction to wetlands along the central Gulf Coast. Prior to these hurricanes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been seeking approval from the 109th Congress for a $1.1 billion multi-year program to construct five projects that would help to restore portions of the coastal Louisiana ecosystem by slowing the rate of wetland loss and restoring some wetlands. This funding would also be used to continue planning several other related projects. The state of Louisiana and several federal agencies have participated in the development of this program. This report introduces this program, discusses whether it might have muted the impacts of a hurricane of the magnitude and paths of Katrina or Rita, and whether the devastation caused by both hurricanes might cause the Corps and other restoration supporters to propose either altering aspects of this proposed program, or expanding it. This report will be updated as more information becomes available about either the storms' effects on coastal Louisiana and its wetlands, or about any changes in the proposed program in response to these natural disasters."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Zinn, Jeffrey A.

  2005-09-26