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Armed Forces Retirement Home [Updated June 7, 2021]
From the Document: "Since the late 1700s, Congress has established numerous federal programs to provide housing, housing assistance, and health care support to certain wounded, ill, or injured servicemembers, military retirees, and other veterans. Some of those programs included the establishment of military asylums for temporarily or permanently disabled servicemembers. Most military asylums have since closed or been transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or state agencies that separately or jointly administer a variety of residential social support programs. Congress also later established the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) as the only federal military retirement community. In so doing, AFRH absorbed two previously existing military asylums, later converted to Department of Defense (DOD)-affiliated retirement homes. AFRH now provides residential care to military retirees and certain other veterans."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mendez, Bryce H. P.
2021-06-07
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Army Corps of Engineers: FY2022 Budget Request [June 9, 2021]
From the Document: "Congress generally funds the civil works activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in annual Energy and Water Development appropriations acts. These activities include the planning and construction of authorized water resource projects and the operation and maintenance of infrastructure and navigation improvements managed by USACE. For USACE civil works, President Biden requested$6.79 billion for FY2022."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Normand, Anna E.; Carter, Nicole T.
2021-06-09
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Army's Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) [Updated June 3, 2021]
From the Background: "The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) is the replacement for the M113 Family of Vehicles (FoV) within the Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), comprising approximately 30% of its tracked vehicle fleet. [...] The AMPV is currently being produced by BAE [British Aerospace] Systems in York, PA. On January 25, 2019, the AMPVentered the low-rate initial production phase. The Army planned for acquiring a total of 2,907 AMPVs, with initial vehicle delivery in 2020. The current AMPV program plans to replace 2,897 M113 vehicles at the brigade and below level within the ABCT. There are an additional 1,922 M113s supporting non-ABCT affiliated units (referred to as Echelons Above Brigade [EAB] units) that are not included in the Army's modernization plan. A full-rate production (FRP) decision is planned for the third quarter of FY2022."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2021-06-03
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EU Agricultural Domestic Support: Overview and Comparison with the United States [June 7, 2021]
From the Summary: "The European Union (EU) is one of the United States' chief agricultural trading partners and a major competitor in world markets. Historically, the United States and the EU have provided significant government support for their agricultural sectors. Significant structural differences in their respective farm sectors have helped to shape differences in their farm policy. The United States has double the farmland base than that of the EU (over 1 billion acres versus 418 million acres, respectively). The EU has five times as many farms, at 10.6 million with an average size of 39 acres, compared with 2 million U.S. farms averaging 485 acres. As a result, EU outlays per acre appear much larger than in the United States, whereas U.S. outlays per farm appear much larger. The EU's small size of farm holdings, substantially larger number of farms relative to the United States, and larger share of rural population (27% versus 18%) have all played a role in forming EU farm policy as compared with the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schnepf, Randall Dean, 1954-
2021-06-07
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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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Safe Drinking Water Act: State Revolving Fund Program [Updated January 7, 2003]
From the Summary: "In the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 (P.L. 104-182), Congress authorized a drinking water state revolving loan fund (DWSRF) program to help public water systems finance infrastructure projects needed to comply with federal drinking water regulations and to protect public health. Under this program, states receive capitalization grants to make loans for drinking water projects and to support certain other activities. The DWSRF program is authorized at $1 billion annually through FY2003. Since the program was first funded in FY1997, Congress has provided a total of $5.27 billion, including $850 million for FY2002. Through June 2002, states had made available a total of $5.075 billion in DWSRF assistance. In 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a survey of capital improvement needs for water systems which forms the basis for allotting DWSRF funds among the states. The survey indicated that communities need to invest $150.9 billion on drinking water infrastructure improvements over the next 20 years. The107th Congress examined water infrastructure financing issues, and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee reported legislation to increase funding authority for the DWSRF program and to create a grant program for small systems. In the 108th Congress, legislative interest in drinking water matters may continue to be dominated by infrastructure issues. These include the gap between estimated needs and funding, SDWA compliance and affordability issues for small systems, and the availability of DWSRF and other funds for security improvements."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tiemann, Mary
2003-01-07
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Diamonds and Conflict: Background, Policy, and Legislation [Updated July 16, 2003]
From the Summary: "In several diamond-rich countries affected by armed conflict, notably in Africa, belligerents have funded their military activities by mining and selling diamonds, and competition over the use and control of diamond wealth has contributed significantly to the depth and extended duration of these conflicts. Diamonds used in this fashion, labeled 'conflict diamonds,' were estimated to have comprised an estimated 3.7 % to 15% of the value of the global diamond trade in 2000. The present volume of such trade appears is difficult to estimate. Policy makers' attention has also increasingly focused on the possible role that diamonds may play in the financing of terrorist operations. In response to public pressure to halt trade in conflict diamonds, and due to the persistence of several diamond-related conflicts, governments and multilateral organizations have pursued efforts to end such trade. Several international policy forums, national legislatures, and diverse private parties have proposed various reforms and legislation to achieve such goals. Effective regulation of the diamond trade is difficult. Diamonds are a highly fungible, concentrated form of wealth, and the global diamond industry is historically insular and self-regulating. The United States participates in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, a global diamond trade regulation framework. The Administration began implementing the Scheme in the United States with voluntary interim compliance measures, prior to the passage of H.R. 1584 (see below). Several congressional hearings have addressed trade in conflict diamonds. Potential links between terrorism financing and trade in diamonds have garnered increasing congressional attention."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cook, Nicolas
2003-07-16
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated November 21, 2005]
From the Summary: "The war on terrorism has put a high premium on a primary mission of UAVs [Unmanned Aerial Vehicles], intelligence gathering. Furthermore, the military effectiveness of UAVs in recent conflicts such as Iraq (1990) and Kosovo (1999) opened the eyes of many to both the advantages and disadvantages provided by unmanned aircraft. Long relegated to the sidelines in military operations, UAVs are now making national headlines as they are used in ways normally reserved for manned aircraft. Conventional wisdom states that UAVs offer two main advantages over manned aircraft: they are considered more cost-effective, and they minimize the risk to a pilot's life. However, the current UAV accident rate (the rate at which the aircraft are lost or damaged) is 100 times that of manned aircraft. UAVs range from the size of an insect to that of a commercial airliner. DOD [Department of Defense] currently possesses five major UAVs: the Air Force's Predator and Global Hawk, the Navy and Marine Corps's Pioneer, and the Army's Hunter and Shadow. Other key UAV developmental efforts include the Air Force and Navy's unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV), Navy's vertical takeoff and landing UAV (VTUAV), and the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance UAV(BAMS), and the Marine Corps's Dragon Eye and Dragon Warrior. The services continue to be innovative in their use of UAVs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Geer, Harlan; Bolkcom, Christopher C.
2005-11-21
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Cuba: Issues for the 107th Congress [Updated January 6, 2003]
From the Summary: "Cuba remains a hard-line Communist state, with a poor record on human rights. Fidel Castro has ruled since he led the Cuban Revolution, ousting the corrupt government of Fulgencio Batista from power in 1959. With the cutoff of assistance from the former Soviet Union, Cuba experienced severe economic deterioration from 1989 to 1993. There has been some improvement since 1994 as Cuba has implemented limited reforms. Since the early 1960s, U.S. policy toward Cuba has consisted largely of isolating the island nation through comprehensive economic sanctions. The Bush Administration has essentially continued this policy. The principal tool of policy remains comprehensive sanctions, which were made stronger with the Cuban Democracy Act (CDA) in 1992 and the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act in 1996, often referred to as the Helms/Burton legislation. […] Many of these will likely be introduced in the 108th Congress. In the second session of the 107th Congress, the House version of the FY2003 Treasury Department appropriations bill, H.R. 5120, included three Cuba provisions that would have eased restrictions on travel, remittances, and U.S. agricultural sales to Cuba; the Senate version of the bill, S. 2740, as reported out of committee, would have eased restrictions on travel to Cuba. Final action on the measure was not completed before the end of the 107th Congress; the 108th Congress will face early action on these and other appropriations measures with Cuba provisions. This report will not be updated. It reflects legislative action through the end of the 107th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.; Taft-Morales, Maureen
2003-01-06
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Iraq: U.S. Regime Change Efforts and Post-Saddam Governance [Updated October 24, 2005]
From the Summary: "Operation Iraqi Freedom succeeded in overthrowing Saddam Hussein, but replacing his regime with a stable, moderate, democratic political structure has been complicated by Sunni Arab resentment and a related insurgency. The Bush Administration says that U.S. forces will remain in Iraq until the stated mission is complete: the establishment of a stable democracy that will not host radical Islamist forces and would serve as a model for democratic reform throughout the Middle East. However, a growing number of accounts suggest that mounting casualties and costs might cause the Administration to wind down the U.S. involvement without completely accomplishing those goals. The Bush Administration asserts that U.S. policy in Iraq is showing important successes, demonstrated by elections that chose a National Assembly (January 30, 2005), the referendum on the permanent constitution (October 15, 2005), progress in building Iraq's various security forces, and economic growth. The next major milestone will be the holding of elections for a permanent government by December 15, 2005. […] This report will be updated as warranted by major developments. See also CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RS21968, 'Iraq: Elections, Government, and Constitution', by Kenneth Katzman; CRS Report RS22079, 'The Kurds in Post-Saddam Iraq', by Kenneth Katzman and Alfred Prados; CRS Report RL32105, 'Post-War Iraq: Foreign Contributions to Training, Peacekeeping, and Reconstruction', by Jeremy Sharp and Christopher Blanchard; and CRS Report RL31833, 'Iraq: Recent Developments in Reconstruction Assistance', by Curt Tarnoff."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2005-10-24
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Youth Gangs: Background, Legislation, and Issues [Updated January 25, 2008]
From the Summary: "Gang activity and related violence threaten public order in a diverse range of communities in the United States today. Congress has long recognized that this problem affects a number of issues of federal concern, and federal legislation has been introduced in the 110th Congress to address some aspects of the issue. Youth gangs have been an endemic feature of American urban life. They are well attested as early as the 18th century and have been a recurrent subject of concern since then. Contemporary views of the problem have been formed against the background of a significant adverse secular trend in gang activity during the last four decades. In particular, the rapid growth of gang membership, geographical dispersion, and criminal involvement during the violent crime epidemic -- associated with the emergence of the crack cocaine market during the mid-1980s to the early 1990s -- have intensified current concerns. The experience of those years continues to mark both patterns of gang activity and public policy responses toward them. […] This report provides background information on the issue of youth gangs, including data on gangs and gang crime. It reviews existing anti-gang initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels, and describes some of the legislation proposed during the 110th Congress to address the gang problem, as well as some of the issues raised by those bills. This report will be updated in response to significant legislative activity in the 110th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Franco, Celinda
2008-01-25
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Navy Ship Procurement: Alternative Funding Approaches - Background and Options for Congress [Updated October 20, 2006]
From the Summary: "Some observers have proposed procuring Navy ships using incremental funding or advance appropriations rather than the traditional full funding approach that has been used to procure most Navy ships. Supporters believe these alternative funding approaches could increase stability in Navy shipbuilding plans and perhaps increase the number of Navy ships that could be built for a given total amount of ship-procurement funding. The issue for the 109th Congress is whether to maintain or change current practices for funding Navy ship procurement. Congress's decision could be significant because the full funding policy relates to Congress's power of the purse and its responsibility for conducting oversight of defense programs. For Department of Defense (DOD) procurement programs, the full funding policy requires the entire procurement cost of a usable end item (such as a Navy ship) to be funded in the year in which the item is procured. Congress imposed the full funding policy on DOD in the 1950s to strengthen discipline in DOD budgeting and improve Congress's ability to control DOD spending and carry out its oversight of DOD activities. […] Under certain other circumstances, however, it could increase costs. Options for Congress include maintaining current ship-procurement funding practices; strengthening adherence to the full funding policy; increasing the use of incremental funding; beginning to use advance appropriations; and transferring lead-ship detailed design and nonrecurring engineering costs to the research and development account. Arguments could be made in support of or against each of these options. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2006-10-20
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Women in the Armed Forces [Updated September 29, 1998]
From the Summary: "Women have become an integral part of the armed forces, but they are excluded from most combat jobs. Several issues remain. One is whether to reduce, maintain, or expand the number of women in the services as the total forces are being reduced. Difficulties in obtaining enough qualified males led to increasing recruitment of women during the 1970s and 1980s, and women now comprise more than 13% of the armed forces. The percentages vary among the services from 5.3% for the Marines to over 17% for the Air Force. The reduction of armed forces, in response to a changing world situation and budget pressures, and the availability of enough qualified males, could change the perception of need for military women. […] The two basic considerations involve national security and the role of women in American society. Would national security be jeopardized or enhanced by increasing reliance on women in the armed forces? Should women have equal opportunities and responsibilities in national defense? Or do role and physical differences between the sexes, the protection of future generations, and other social norms require limiting the assignments of women in the armed forces? Opinion in the United States is deeply divided on the fundamental issues involved."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Burrelli, David F., 1958-
1998-09-29
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Women in the Armed Forces [Updated November 20, 1991]
From the Summary: "The number of women in the armed forces steadily increased from less than 2% at the end of FY1972 to 11% in September 1990. The percentages vary among the services from less than 5% for the Marines to more than 13% for the Air Force. Parallel with the increase in the number of women in the armed forces has been a gradual removal of restrictions against women in the military services and the kind of jobs they could hold. For several years one issue has been whether to continue to expand the proportion of women in the armed forces. The perception of need for military women could change if a planned reduction in the armed forces occurred in response to world events and an adequate pool of qualified males. The major issue for several years has been whether to remove the principal remaining restriction, the ban against women in combat. Past legislation has prohibited the assignment of women to vessels and aircraft assigned combat missions in the Navy and aircraft assigned combat missions in the Air Force. […] Opinion in the United States is deeply divided on the fundamental issues involved: Would national security in the future be jeopardized or strengthened by increasing the proportion of women in the armed forces and allowing them in combat? Should women have equal opportunities and responsibilities in national defense, or do role and physical differences and the protection of future generations justify continuation of the combat ban? Current law requiring draft registration of males only and proposals for an Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution have raised these same issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Collier, Ellen C.
1991-11-20
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NATO Summit at Prague, 2002 [November 12, 2002]
From the Summary: "Some allies are calling NATO's November 2002 Prague meeting 'the Transformation' summit due to an attempt to define part of the alliance's mission as combat against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, matched by pledges to obtain the military capabilities to accomplish that mission. Not all allies agree on the implications of such policies. The allies will also likely name seven states as eligible for membership. This report will not be updated. See also 'NATO Enlargement', CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RS21055."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gallis, Paul E.
2002-11-12
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Iraq: Milestones Since the Ouster of Saddam Hussein [February 7, 2007]
From the Summary: "On May 1, 2003, President George W. Bush declared an end to major combat in Iraq. Since then, hostilities and death tolls continue to rise. Tensions between the once dominant Sunni minority and Shia majority also continue to escalate. This report lists significant recent events in Iraq. Sources include, but are not limited, to White House press releases, the U.S. Department of State, U.N. Secretary-General's statements, and major news stories. For analysis and further review of the current situation, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RL31339, 'Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security', by Kenneth Katzman. This report will be updated regularly."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hassan, Hussein D.
2007-02-07
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Defense: FY2006 Authorization and Appropriations [January 20, 2006]
"The House approved conference agreements on the FY2006 defense appropriations (H.R. 2863) and defense authorization (H.R. 1815) bills on December 19, 2005. The Senate approved both measures on December 21, though only after removing from the appropriations bill a provision to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge [ANWR]. On December 22, the House approved an enrolling resolution that removed the ANWR provision, clearing the measure for the President. The appropriations bill is also a vehicle for other measures, including reallocation of $29 billion in Hurricane Katrina recovery funds, emergency funding of $3.8 billion for avian flu preparedness, and an across-the-board spending cut of $8.5 billion. The President signed the defense appropriations bill into law on December 30, 2005, P.L. 109-148, and he signed the authorization on January 6, 2006, P.L. 109-163."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Daggett, Stephen
2006-01-20
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Cuba: Issues for the 109th Congress [Updated January 23, 2006]
From the Summary: "Cuba under Fidel Castro remains a hard-line communist state with a poor record on human rights -- a record that has worsened since 2003. Since the early 1960s, U.S. policy toward Cuba has consisted largely of isolating the island nation through comprehensive economic sanctions. 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. The Bush Administration has further tightened restrictions on travel, on sending private humanitarian assistance to Cuba, and on the payment process for U.S. agricultural exports 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. Still others call for a swift normalization of U.S.-Cuban relations. […] Other legislative initiative have provisions related to Cuba broadcasting (P.L. [Public Law] 109-108, S. 600, and H.R. 2601); anti-drug cooperation (H.R. 3057); and U.S. fugitives in Cuba (H.R. 2601, H.R. 332)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2006-01-23
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H.R. 5825 (109th Congress): 'Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act' [September 8, 2006]
From the Summary: "In discussing the need for the National Security Agency's [NSA's] 'Terrorist Surveillance Program,' a program in which international communications of persons within the United States have been the subject of electronic surveillance without a warrant or a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court order, where one party to the communication is believed to be a member of al Qaeda, affiliated with al Qaeda, a member of an organization affiliated with al Qaeda, or working in support of al Qaeda, the Bush Administration has stated that electronic surveillance under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), while still a valuable tool in combating terrorism, lacks the speed and agility to deal with such terrorists or terrorist groups. Critics have challenged the NSA program on legal and constitutional grounds. On August 17, 2006, in 'American Civil Liberties Union v. National Security Agency', Case No. 06-CV-10204 (E.D. Mich. August 17, 2006), U.S. District Court Judge Anna Diggs Taylor held the program unconstitutional on the ground that it violated the Administrative Procedures Act, the Separation of Powers doctrine, the First and Fourth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (Title III). The decision has been appealed. […] On September 1, 2006, it was referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security of the House Judiciary Committee. H.R. 5825 was one of several bills that were the focus of a hearing held before the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on Wednesday, September 6, 2006. This report will summarize the provisions of the bill and discuss the impact of its provisions, if passed, on current law."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bazan, Elizabeth B.
2006-09-08
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Federal Government Corporations: An Overview [January 31, 2008]
"This report provides an overview of federal government corporations, a category currently consisting of some 18 corporate agencies performing functions assigned to them in law. A government corporation, as defined in this report, is a government agency that is established by Congress to provide a market-oriented public service and required to produce revenues that meet or approximate its expenditures. Government corporations should not be confused with quasi governmental entities, such as government-sponsored enterprises, which are amalgams of the governmental and private sectors. The government corporation model has been utilized by the federal government for over a century. Today's government corporations cover the spectrum in size and function from large, well-known entities, such as the U.S. Postal Service and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, to small, low-visibility corporate bodies, such as the Federal Financing Bank in the Department of the Treasury and Federal Prison Industries in the Department of Justice (UNICOR). […] Many government corporations have been established to exist in perpetuity. Other government corporations, such as the U.S. Enrichment Corporation, though, have been designed to serve as transition vehicles to transform agencies into private firms. Congress has found the government corporation an attractive governance option. The government corporation typically does not require annual appropriations since it generates revenues from the provision of goods and services. Moreover, each government corporation may be endowed with the administrative flexibilities required to accomplish its goals while remaining responsive to Congress and the President. Finally, as noted above, the government corporation may be established to serve an enduring purpose or may serve as a vehicle for privatization. This report will be updated annually."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kosar, Kevin R.
2008-01-31
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Homeland Security Research and Development Funding, Organization, and Oversight [Updated August 22, 2006]
From the Summary: "P.L. [Public Law] 107-296, the Homeland Security Act, consolidated some research and development (R&D) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), whose FY2007 R&D budget (excluding management/procurement) was requested at $1.1 billion, about 10% less than FY2006, and represents the first decline in DHS's R&D funding since the agency started funding R&D in 2002. DHS is mandated to coordinate all federal agency homeland security R&D, which was requested at about $5.1 billion. Legislation to improve implementation of DHS's R&D programs includes H.R. 1817, H.R. 4941, H.R. 4942, and H.R. 5814. Policy issues relating to DHS's R&D include priority-setting, eliminating possible waste in research and technology programs, and improving program performance results. This report will be updated."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Knezo, Genevieve Johanna
2006-08-22
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Iran's Nuclear Program: Recent Developments [Updated September 6, 2006]
From the Summary: "International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections since 2003 have revealed two decades' worth of undeclared nuclear activities in Iran, including uranium enrichment and plutonium separation efforts. Iran agreed in 2003 to suspend sensitive activities in negotiations with Germany, France, and the UK (EU-3), which broke down in August 2005. On September 24, 2005, the IAEA Board of Governors found Iran to be in noncompliance with its Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) safeguards agreement and reported Iran's case to the U.N. Security Council in February 2006. The Security Council called upon Iran to re-suspend enrichment and reprocessing, reconsider construction of its heavy water reactor, ratify and implement the Additional Protocol, and implement transparency measures. Iran continued enrichment activities and failed to meet the Security Council's request, even after the permanent members plus Germany (P-5 +1) offered Iran a new proposal on June 6. The Security Council passed UNSCR [United Nations Security Council Resolution] 1696 on July 31, 2006, giving Iran a deadline of August 31 to comply. Iran still failed to suspend enrichment, which may prompt negotiations on sanctions. This report will be updated as needed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Squassoni, Sharon A.
2006-09-06
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Homeland Security: Establishment and Implementation of the United States Northern Command [August 18, 2006]
From the Introduction: "On April 30, 2002, President Bush signed a new Department of Defense Unified Command Plan (UCP), which went into effect on October 1, 2002. Among other things, the UCP established the United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM) to provide command and control of the Department of Defense's (DOD) homeland defense efforts and to coordinate military support to civil authorities. NORTHCOM's specific missions are to conduct operations to deter, prevent, and defeat threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories and interests within its assigned area of responsibility; and as directed by the President or the Secretary of Defense, provide military assistance to civil authorities, including immediate crisis and subsequent consequence management operations. The command's area of responsibility includes air, land, and sea approaches and encompasses the continental United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and the surrounding water out to approximately 500 nautical miles. It also includes the Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NORTHCOM is also responsible for security cooperation and coordination with Canada and Mexico."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bowman, Steve
2006-08-18
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Russian Natural Gas: Regional Dependence [January 5, 2007]
From the Summary: "Russia is the dominant natural gas supplier to Europe and neighboring former Soviet states, as well as a major provider of oil. Some countries are entirely or largely dependent upon Russian energy supplies, particularly other Soviet successor states. As such, Russia has some ability to dictate natural gas prices. Russia cut off the gas supply to Ukraine and Moldova in January 2006 and threatened to cut off gas supplies to Belarus and Georgia during late 2006 price negotiations. These and other actions in the interim damaged Russia's reputation as a reliable energy supplier, spurred importing countries to seek other sources, and provoked criticism that it is using energy as a political tool."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gelb, Bernard A.
2007-01-05
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NATO Summit at Istanbul, 2004 [July 2, 2004]
"The NATO allies discussed such issues as Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Balkans at their summit in June 2004. Improved capabilities were a theme touching on a range of issues. The summit occurred at a moment when there is discontent in the alliance over the Bush Administration's handling of Iraq. This report may be updated. See also CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RL32342, 'NATO and the European Union', by Kristin Archick and Paul Gallis."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gallis, Paul E.
2004-07-02
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International Military Education and Training Program [October 28, 2004]
"This report provides background on the International Military Education and Training Program (IMET). It discusses the program's main features and purposes, perspectives of the IMET's supporters and critics, and recent issues surrounding the program and its implementation. The United States in recent years has trained annually, on average, over 10,000 students from approximately 130 countries. Formal instruction under IMET involves over 2,000 courses, nearly all of which are taught in the United States at approximately 150 military schools and installations. As the size of the United States foreign assistance program has declined, the IMET program has attracted greater attention as an instrument for serving broad U.S. foreign policy and national security interests. At the same time the program, and placement of restrictions on its participants, has also been an instrument for expressing concerns about the human rights practices of certain nations that have been IMET program participants. This report will be revised should major changes occur in the IMET program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Grimmett, Richard F.
2004-10-28
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Funding for Military Contingency Operations in the Regular Defense Appropriations Bills in the 1990s [April 6, 2005]
"A recurring issue in Congress has been whether Administrations should request and Congress should provide funding for ongoing military operations in the regular defense appropriations bills rather than, as been the recent practice, in supplemental appropriations. A number of congressional offices have asked CRS [Congressional Research Service] to review the precedents, and CRS has addressed a number of related questions that are discussed at the end of this memo. This memo reviews precedents in the mid-1990s. In brief, in action on the FY1996 defense appropriations bill, Congress, on its own initiative, decided to include funding for ongoing operations in Southwest Asia in regular appropriations bills rather than in supplementals, and it directed the Administration to request funding for ongoing military operations in regular bills in the future. Subsequently, in the FY1997 defense budget and in later requests, the Clinton Administration included funding for ongoing operations, including operations in Southwest Asia and in Bosnia, in the regular defense budget. In action on the FY1997 defense appropriations bill, Congress established a transfer fund, called the Overseas Contingency Operations Transfer Fund (OCOTF), appropriated funds for operations in Bosnia into the OCOTF, and required reports on transfers from the fund."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Daggett, Stephen
2005-04-06
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Cuba: Issues and Legislation in the 106th Congress [Updated January 11, 2001]
From the Summary: "Cuba remains a hard-line Communist state, with a poor record on human rights. Fidel Castro has ruled since he led the Cuban Revolution, ousting the corrupt government of Fulgencio Batista from power in 1959. With the cutoff of assistance from the former Soviet Union, Cuba experienced severe economic deterioration from 1989-1993, although there has been some improvement since 1994 as Cuba has implemented limited reforms. […] Others argue for an approach, sometimes referred to as constructive engagement, that would lift some U.S. sanctions that they believe are hurting the Cuban people, and move toward engaging Cuba in dialogue. Still others call for a swift normalization of U.S.-Cuban relations by lifting the U.S. embargo. Numerous measures were introduced in the 106th Congress that reflected the range of views on U.S. policy toward Cuba. Legislative initiatives proposed both easing and increasing sanctions against Cuba. In the end, legislation passed reflected both approaches: it allowed the export of food and medicine to Cuba, but prohibited any U.S. financing, both public and private, of such exports. Travel to Cuba for tourism was also prohibited. Another law facilitated enforcement of anti-terrorism judgments in U.S. courts to allow for the payment of a $187.6 million 1997 judgment against Cuba to be paid from Cuba's frozen assets in the United States to the families of three U.S. citizens killed when Cuba shot down two U.S. planes in 1996. President Clinton waived the provision, however, upon signing the rest of the bill into law."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.; Taft-Morales, Maureen
2001-01-11
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Navy-Marine Corps Amphibious and Maritime Prepositioning Ship Programs: Background and Oversight Issues for Congress [Updated October 23, 2006]
From the Summary: "The Navy is proposing to maintain in coming years a Navy with 31 amphibious ships and an additional squadron of 14 Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future), or MPF(F), ships. The squadron is intended to implement a new concept called sea basing, under which forces would be staged at sea and used to conduct expeditionary operations ashore with little or no reliance on nearby land bases. For FY2007, the Navy is requesting $297 million in advance procurement funding for a ninth LPD [landing platform/dock]-17 class amphibious ship to be procured in FY2008, and $1,136 million in procurement funding for LHA [landing helicopter assault]-6, an amphibious assault ship to be procured in FY2007 using split funding in FY2007 and FY2008. Although the Navy's proposed force of 31 amphibious ships includes 10 LPD-17 class ships, the Navy is planning to end LPD-17 procurement in FY2008 with the ninth ship. Accelerating the procurement of the ninth LPD-17 class ship from FY2008 to FY2007 is an item on the Navy's FY2007 unfunded requirements list (URL) -- its 'wish list' of items desired but not funded in the FY2007 budget. Potential oversight issues for Congress include the amphibious-ship force-level goal, the potential affordability and cost-effectiveness of the sea basing concept, and Navy and Marine Corps coordination with other services in developing the concept."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2006-10-23
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Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11 [Updated June 16, 2006]
From the Summary: "With passage of the FY2006 supplemental by both houses (H.R. 4939, P.L. [Public Law] 109-234), Congress has appropriated a total of about $437 billion for military operations, base security, reconstruction, foreign aid, embassy costs, and veterans' health care for the three operations initiated since the 9/11 attacks: Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) covering Afghanistan and other Global War on Terror (GWOT) operations, Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) providing enhanced security at military bases, and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Iraq. The $437 billion total does not include the $50 billion 'placeholder' figure for FY2007 war costs that is listed in the FY2007 budget. Although the Administration has not formally submitted its request, the House and Senate authorization bills (H.R. 5122/S. 2766) provide $50 billion for war costs in specific accounts as does the House appropriations bill reported this week (no number yet). If that $50 billion is enacted, war appropriations would total about $487 billion, presumably covering part of FY2007's costs. […] Based on an alternate path that assumes a drawdown from about 258,000 troops currently engaged in these operations to 74,000 in FY2010, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that war costs could total $371 billion between FY2007 and FY2016. Adding that amount to the $437 billion with the FY2006 supplemental, total funding for Iraq and the GWOT could reach $808 billion by 2016. DOD's [Department of Defense] annual war funding rose from about $73 billion in FY2004 to $102 billion in FY2005, and may reach $118 billion in FY2006 based on funds appropriated for this year. This report will be updated as warranted."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Belasco, Amy
2006-06-16
