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Restricting Trademark Rights of Cubans: WTO Decision and Congressional Response [March 9, 2004]
The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has
ruled against certain restrictions on the trademark rights of Cubans imposed under § 211 ofthe Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 1998. Congress has responded with several proposals to comply with the ruling, some focused on repeal of § 211 as part of broader proposed amendments to Cuban trade sanctions, others on repeal coupled with alternative methods of ensuring Cuba's protection of trademark rights of Americans. This report will be updated as legislative activity occurs or other events warrant.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lee, Margaret Mikyung
2004-03-09
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Terrorism in South Asia [March 8, 2004]
"This report reviews the terrorist environment in South Asia. With U.S.-led counterterrorism efforts focused especially on Southwest Asia, the existence of international terrorist groups and their supporters in South Asia is identified as a threat to both regional stability and to the attainment of central U.S. policy goals. Al Qaeda forces that fled from Afghanistan with their Taliban supporters remain active on Pakistani territory, and Al Qaeda is believed to have links with indigenous Pakistani terrorist groups that have conducted anti-Western attacks and that support separatist militancy in Indian Kashmir. A significant portion of Pakistan's ethnic Pashtun population is reported to sympathize with the Taliban and even Al Qaeda. The United States maintains close counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan aimed especially at bolstering security and stability in neighboring Afghanistan. In the latter half of 2003, the Islamabad government began limited military operations in the traditionally autonomous tribal areas of western Pakistan. There are indications that such operations are intensifying in coordination with U.S. and Afghan forces just across the international frontier. The relationships between Al Qaeda, the Taliban, indigenous Pakistani terrorist groups, and some elements of Pakistan's political-military structure are complex and murky, but may represent a serious threat to the attainment of key U.S. policy goals. A pair of December 2003 attempts to assassinate Pakistan's President Musharraf reportedly were linked to both Al Qaeda and a Pakistan-based terrorist group. There also are indications that elements of Pakistan's intelligence service and Pakistani Islamist political parties may have provided assistance to U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations. It is thought that some Al Qaeda elements fled to Bangladesh." -- Abstract
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kronstadt, K. Alan
2004-03-08
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Nuclear Weapon Initiatives: Low-Yield R&D, Advanced Concepts, Earth Penetrators, Test Readiness [Updated March 8, 2004]
"The Bush Administration completed its congressionally-mandated Nuclear Posture Review in December 2001. The review led to major changes in U.S. nuclear policy. It found that the Cold War relationship with Russia was "very inappropriate" and that this nation must be able to deal with new threats. It planned to retain Cold War-era nuclear weapons, which would suffice for many contingencies, though at reduced numbers. To complement these weapons so as to improve U.S. ability to deal with new, more dispersed threats in various countries, the Administration sought to explore additional nuclear capabilities...These initiatives are controversial. Supporters claim that the first three initiatives would enhance deterrence, thereby reducing the risk of war, and that some weapons that might result from the initiatives could enable the United States to destroy key targets in nations that may pose a threat. Critics are concerned that these initiatives would lead to nuclear testing, increase the risk of nuclear proliferation, and make U.S. use of nuclear weapons more likely...This report provides the policy context for the four initiatives. For each, it then presents a description, history, FY2004 legislative actions, the FY2005 request (for all but low-yield R&D), and issues for Congress. It is designed for those who want a detailed introduction to the debate, those seeking arguments and counterarguments, and those looking for answers to specific questions. It will track congressional and executive actions on these initiatives through updates as developments warrant." -- Summary
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Medalia, Jonathan E.
2004-03-08
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Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator Budget Request and Plan, FY2005-FY2009 [March 8, 2004]
"The FY2005 budget document for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) shows funding for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP) increasing sharply after FY2005 as the weapon proceeds beyond the study phase. NNSA states that these developments are shown for budgeting purposes and do not represent an actual plan. It further states that the out-year figures are already out of date, but that no new figures are available. A feasibility and cost study of RNEP currently under way was projected to cost $45 million between FY2003 and FY2005, but is now projected to cost $71 million between FY2003 and FY2006. This report explains the budget request and plan, and will be updated as needed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Medalia, Jonathan E.
2004-03-08
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NATO's Decision-Making Procedure [Updated March 8, 2004]
"This report provides a brief analysis of NATO's decision-making procedures, with several examples of how the allies have handled sensitive issues in the past. It describes the February 2003 dispute over providing NATO defense planning and equipment to Turkey, and analyzes the debate over the decision-making process, including possible alterations of that process. This report will be periodically updated. See also CRS Report RS21354, The Nato Summit at Prague, 2002."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gallis, Paul E.
2004-03-08
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Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator Budget Request and Plan, FY2005-FY2009 March 8, 2004
"The FY2005 budget document for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) shows funding for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP) increasing sharply after FY2005 as the weapon proceeds beyond the study phase. NNSA states that these developments are shown for budgeting purposes and do not represent an actual plan. It further states that the out-year figures are already out of date, but that no new figures are available. A feasibility and cost study of RNEP currently under way was projected to cost $45 million between FY2003 and FY2005, but is now projected to cost $71 million between FY2003 and FY2006. This report explains the budget request and plan, and will be updated as needed." -- Summary
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Medalia, Jonathan E.
2004-03-08
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Missile Survey: Ballistic and Cruise Missiles of Foreign Countries [Updated March 5, 2004]
"This report provides a current inventory of ballistic and cruise missiles throughout the world and discusses implications for U.S. national security policy. Ballistic and cruise missile development and proliferation continue to pose a threat to United States national security interests both at home and abroad. While approximately 16 countries currently produce ballistic missiles, they have been widely proliferated to many countries- some of whom are viewed as potential adversaries of the United States. Nineteen countries produce cruise missiles which are also widely proliferated and many analysts consider cruise missile proliferation to be of more concern than that of ballistic missile proliferation, primarily due to their low threshold of use, availability and affordability, and accuracy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2004-03-05
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Regulation of Broadcast Indecency: Background and Legal Analysis [Updated March 5, 2004]
Two recent events have placed increased attention on the FCC and its indecency
regulations . The airing of the 2003 Golden Globe Awards and the subsequent ruling
by the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, coupled with the controversy surrounding the
2004 Super Bowl half-time show, have brought broadcast indecency to the forefront
of the congressional agenda. Bills have been introduced to increase the penalties
imposed for broadcast indecency (H.R. 3717, S. 2056, S . 2147) and to prohibit the
broadcast of certain words and phrases in any grammatical form (H.R. 3687).
Resolutions have been introduced to express disapproval of the FCC Enforcement
Bureau's decision regarding the Golden Globe Awards broadcast : H.Res. 482, H.Res.
500, and S . Res. 283, which the Senate passed on December 9, 2003 . In addition,
both the House and Senate have held or scheduled hearings on broadcast indecency.
This report provides background on the two events in question, discusses the legal
evolution of the FCC's indecency regulations, and provides an overview of how the
current regulations have been applied . The final section of the report considers
whether prohibiting the broadcast of "indecent" words regardless of context would
violate the First Amendment.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cohen, Henry, 1949-; Welborn, Angie A.
2004-03-05
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Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti: 2004 [Updated March 5, 2004]
From the Summary: "Since armed rebels seized control of Haiti's fourth largest city, Gonaives, on February 5, 2004, and protests calling for President Aristide's resignation culminated in his departure on February 29, there has been increasing concern about a looming humanitarian crisis in Haiti. With events on the ground constantly shifting and an increasing lack of security, assessments of the humanitarian situation remain fluid and subject to change. This report covers recent developments and the humanitarian response to the crisis by the United States and other international actors. It will be updated as events warrant. For further information, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Issue Brief IB96019, 'Haiti: Issues for Congress' by Maureen Taft-Morales."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Margesson, Rhoda
2004-03-05
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Visa Policy: Roles of the Departments of State and Homeland Security [March 4, 2004]
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, considerable concern has been
raised because the 19 terrorists were aliens who apparently entered the United States
on temporary visas 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 DOSs Consular Affairs remains
responsible for issuing visas, DHSs Bureau of Citizenship and Immigrant Services
approves immigrant petitions, and DHSs 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.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wasem, Ruth Ellen
2004-03-04
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Iran's Nuclear Program: Recent Developments [Updated March 4, 2004]
"Inspections in 2003 of Iran's nuclear program revealed significant undeclared activities with potential application for nuclear weapons. The most recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) details detail two uranium enrichment programs (centrifuges and lasers) and the separation of plutonium, another fissile material, in small quantities. Although the IAEA has stated previously that Iran has not met all of its NPT obligations, it has not yet declared Iran in violation of the NPT. Iran declared in November 2003 that it would halt all enrichment and reprocessing-related activities and would sign an Additional Protocol, which contains provisions for enhanced inspection. Although it signed an additional protocol on December 18, 2003, Iran continued to assemble centrifuge components. In late February 2004, it halted this activity also. The IAEA Board of Governors meets again in March to consider Iran's compliance. This report, which will be updated as needed, analyzes the significance of the IAEA's findings for a possible Iranian nuclear weapons program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Squassoni, Sharon A.
2004-03-04
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Black Members of the United States Congress: 1870-2004 [Updated March 4, 2004]
"Thirty-nine black Members serve in the 108th Congress, all in the House of Representatives. A total of 112 blacks have served as Members of Congress: 108 elected to the House and four to the Senate. The majority of the black Members (85) have been Democrats; the rest (27) have been Republicans. The first black Member of Congress was Hiram Rhodes Revels (R-MS), who served in the Senate in the 41st Congress (1870). The first black Member of the House was Joseph H. Rainey (R-SC). He also served in the 41st Congress. Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), elected to the 91st through 97th Congresses (1969-1983), was the first black woman in Congress. Since that time, 22 other black women have been elected, including Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL, 1993-1999), who was the first black woman, as well as the first black Democrat, elected to the Senate. The black Members of Congress have served on all major committees. Sixteen have served as committee chairmen, 15 in the House and one in the Senate. This report will be updated at the commencement of the 109th Congress unless there are significant changes in the 108th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Amer, Mildred L. (Mildred Lehmann)
2004-03-04
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AIDS Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC): Problems, Response, and Issues for Congress [March 1, 2004]
"Since HIV/AIDS was discovered in 1981, more than 20 million people have lost their lives to the virus. Over 40 million are currently living with HIV/AIDS, including nearly 3 million children under the age of 15. Ninety-five percent of those living with the virus reside in developing countries. In Africa, more than 7,000 young people are infected every day, 2,000 of whom are under the age of 15. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) have estimated that at the end of 2001, 13.4 million children under the age of 15 had lost one or both parents to AIDS, with the majority (82%) in sub-Saharan Africa. Two million children lost their parents due to AIDS in 2000, orphaning a child every 14 seconds that year. By 2010, it is expected that more than 25 million children will be orphaned by this deadly virus. Due to the 10-year time lag between HIV-infection and death, officials predict that orphan populations will continue to rise for a similar period, even after the HIV rate begins to decline. Experts say only massive spending to prolong the lives of parents could be expected to change this trend."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
2004-03-01
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Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs), Including 'Mad Cow Disease': Public Health and Scientific Issues [Updated March, 1, 2004]
From the Summary: "On December 23, 2003, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture announced that a cow in Washington state had tested positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or Mad Cow disease), representing the first domestic case. The Secretary announced expanded protections against BSE on December 30, 2003. On January 26, 2004, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services announced additional safety measures for products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect public health. Both have stressed that the human health impact of finding one BSE positive cow is believed to be minimal. BSE is a member of a group of diseases called Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). Although the predominant theory is that TSEs are caused by prions or proteinaceous infectious particles (a novel disease mechanism first described in the 1980s), some scientists believe a virus may eventually be identified as the infectious agent. While some TSEs, such as scrapie in sheep, have been known for over 200 years, others, including BSE, appear to have emerged quite recently. Some TSEs seem to affect only one species and others, like BSE, appear to have jumped the 'species barrier' to infect more than one species. This event has transformed prion diseases from a rare and esoteric area of research to a matter of significant public health concern. BSE is believed to have been transmitted to people who ate contaminated beef, leading to the identification in 1996 of a new human disease, variant Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (vCJD), in the United Kingdom."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Johnson, Judith A. (Judith Ann), 1957-; Lister, Sarah A.
2004-03-01
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Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE, or 'Mad Cow Disease'): Current and Proposed Safeguards [Updated March 1, 2004]
"Shortly after the first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or 'mad cow disease') in the United States was announced in December 2003, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other officials announced measures to improve existing safeguards against the introduction and spread of BSE. Previously, these safeguards, often called the 'three firewalls,' were: (1) USDA restrictions on imports of ruminants and their products from countries with BSE; (2) a ban on feeding most mammalian proteins to cattle and other ruminants, issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); and (3) a targeted domestic surveillance program by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the agency responsible for animal health monitoring and disease control. As Members of Congress conduct oversight of the BSE issue and consider possible legislative options, some have asked whether the expanded agency actions will protect further against BSE, whether they are scientifically sound, and what cost they will impose on taxpayers and industry. Also at issue is whether they will restore foreign markets' confidence in the safety of U.S. beef, and whether other types of actions should be considered, among other questions. This report will be updated if events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Becker, Geoffrey S.; Lister, Sarah A.
2004-03-01
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Indonesian Separatist Movement in Aceh [Updated February 26, 2004]
"Indonesia faces a major separatist insurgency in the province of Aceh in northern
Sumatra. The Indonesian government has proposed autonomy for Aceh, but insurgents
demand independence. Negotiations and cease-fires have been unsuccessful.
Indonesian civilian leaders have been unable to control the Indonesian military, whose
aggressive actions in Aceh produce frequent reports of human rights abuses and
alienation of the populace. The Bush Administration has urged Indonesia to seek a
political settlement; but it has been hesitant to deal with the military's actions and seeks
renewed ties with the military in order to cooperate against terrorism."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Niksch, Larry A.
2004-02-26
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India-U.S. Economic Relations [Updated February 25, 2004]
"India is a country with a long history and a large population (more than one billion people, nearly half living in poverty). Given that it is the world's most populous democracy, a U.S. ally in anti-terrorism efforts, and a potentially major export market, India's economic development and its trade relations with the United States are of concern to Congress. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kronstadt, K. Alan; Morrison, Wayne M.
2004-02-25
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India-U.S. Relations [Updated February 25, 2004]
"The end of the Cold War freed India-U.S. relations from the constraints of global bipolarity, but New Delhi-Washington relations continued for a decade to be affected by the burden of history, most notably the longstanding India-Pakistan rivalry. Recent years, however, have witnessed a sea change in bilateral relations, with more positive interactions becoming the norm. India's swift offer of full support for U.S.-led anti-terrorism operations after September 2001 is widely viewed as reflective of such change. Continuing U.S. interest in South Asia focuses especially on the historic and ongoing tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, tensions rooted in unfinished business from the 1947 Partition, and competing claims to the former princely state of Kashmir. The United States strongly encourages maintenance of a cease-fire along the Line of Control and continued, substantive dialogue between India and Pakistan."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kronstadt, K. Alan
2004-02-25
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India: Chronology of Recent Events [Updated February 24, 2004]
"This report provides a reverse chronology of recent events involving India and India-U.S. relations from September 2001. For a substantive review, 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
2004-02-24
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U.S. Nuclear Weapons: Changes in Policy and Force Structure [Updated February 23, 2004]
"The Bush Administration conducted a review of U.S. nuclear weapons force posture during its first year in office. Although the review sought to adjust U.S. nuclear posture to address changes in the international security environment at the start of the new century, it continued many of the policies and programs that had been a part of the U.S. nuclear posture during the previous decade and during the Cold War. This report, which will be updated as needed, provides an overview of the U.S. nuclear posture to highlight areas of change and areas of continuity. Analysts and observers have identified several issues raised by the Administration's Nuclear Posture Review. These include the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. national security policy, how to make the U.S. nuclear deterrent 'credible,' the relationship between the U.S. nuclear posture and the goal of discouraging nuclear proliferation, plans for strategic nuclear weapons, and the future of non-strategic nuclear weapons."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Woolf, Amy F.
2004-02-23
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Homeland Security: Intelligence Support [Updated February 23, 2004]
"Legislation establishing a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (P.L. 107-296) included provisions for an information analysis element within the new department. It did not transfer to DHS existing government intelligence and law enforcement agencies but envisioned an analytical office utilizing the products of other agencies -- both unevaluated information and finished reports -- to provide warning of terrorist attacks, assessments of vulnerability, and recommendations for remedial actions at federal, state, and local levels, and by the private sector. In January 2003, the Administration announced its intention to establish a new Terrorist Threat Integration Center (TTIC) to undertake many of the tasks envisioned for the DHS informational analysis element, known as Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection (IAIP), but some Members of Congress argue that TTIC cannot be a substitute for a DHS analytical effort. This report examines different approaches to improving the information analysis function and the sharing of information among federal agencies. It will be updated as circumstances warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Best, Richard A.
2004-02-23
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Iraq: U.S. Regime Change Efforts and Post-Saddam Governance [Updated February 23, 2004]
"Operation Iraqi Freedom accomplished a long-standing objective, the overthrow and capture of Saddam Hussein, but replacing that regime with a stable, moderate, democratic political structure has run into difficulty. Past U.S. efforts to change the regime failed because of limited U.S. commitment, disorganization of the Iraqi opposition, and the efficiency and ruthlessness of Iraq's several overlapping security services. Previous U.S. Administrations had ruled out major U.S. military action to change Iraq's regime, believing such action would be risky and not necessarily justified by the level of Iraq's lack of compliance on WMD disarmament. In his 2002 and 2003 State of the Union messages, President Bush characterized Iraq as a grave potential threat to the United States because of its refusal to verifiably abandon its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs and the potential for it to transfer WMD to terrorist groups. In September 2002, the President told the U.N. General Assembly that unless Iraq fully disarmed in cooperation with United Nations weapons inspectors, the United States would lead a coalition to achieve that disarmament militarily, making clear that this would include the ouster of Iraq's President Saddam Hussein's regime. After a November 2002 - March 2003 round of U.N. inspections in which Iraq's cooperation was mixed, on March 19, 2003 the United States launched Operation Iraqi Freedom to disarm Iraq and change its regime. The regime fell on April 9, 2003."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2004-02-23
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Energy Policy: Setting the Stage for the Current Debate [Updated February 23, 2004]
"On February 12, 2004, following agreement between the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, Senator Domenici introduced S. 2095, a revision of the omnibus energy legislation (H.R. 6) reported by a conference committee last November. The revised bill has been described as 'lean' in so far as it is estimated to cost less than $14 billion, in contrast to the $31 billion estimated for H.R. 6. Some of these savings are achieved by delaying the start of some programs and incentives. Under a process known as Rule 14, the bill is immediately on the Senate calendar and can be brought to the floor without passing first through committee. S. 2095 drops what may have been the most contentious provision of H.R. 6 -- the 'safe harbor' provision to protect MTBE [Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether] refiners from product liability suits. Prior to these developments, the House had approved the conference report (246-180) on H.R. 6 on November 18, 2003. On November 21, 2003, a cloture motion to limit debate in the Senate on H.R. 6 failed (57-40). Efforts to secure more votes for the bill carried into 2004, but were unsuccessful. Prior to the most recent developments, there were many different -- and sometimes contradictory -- reports of possible strategies to secure passage of an omnibus bill or some of its provisions. Some have argued that any major changes would not be viable because of the careful regional and political compromises that were reached to get a bill out of conference and through the House. The closest consensus has been that the cost of the bill had to be reduced in light of projected deficits and spending targets."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bamberger, Robert
2004-02-23
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Islam: Sunnis and Shiites [February 23, 2004]
"The majority of the world's Muslim population follows the Sunni branch of Islam, and approximately 10-15% of all Muslims follow the Shiite (Shi'ite, Shi'a, Shia) branch. Shiite populations live in a number of countries, but they constitute a majority in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan. There are also significant Shiite populations in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen. Sunnis and Shiites share most basic religious tenets. However, their differences sometimes have served as the basis for religious intolerance, political infighting, and violent confrontations. This report includes a historical background of the Sunni-Shiite split and the differences in religious beliefs and practices between and within each Islamic sect as well as their similarities. This report will not be updated. Related CRS [Congressional Research Service] products include CRS Report RS21432 and CRS Report RS21695."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Armanios, Febe, 1974-
2004-02-23
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'Sensitive But Unclassified' and Other Federal Security Controls on Scientific and Technical Information: History and Current Controversy [Updated February 20, 2004]
The U .S. Government has always protected scientific and technical information that might compromise national security. Since the 2001 terrorist attacks, controls have been widened on access to information and scientific components that could threaten national security. The policy challenge is to balance science and security without compromising national security, scientific progress, and constitutional and statutory protections. This report summarizes (1) provisions of the Patent Law ; Atomic Energy Act ; International Traffic in Arms Control regulations; the USA PATRIOT Act, P.L. 1.07-56; the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, P .L. 107-188; and the Homeland Security Act, P.L. 107-296, that permit governmental restrictions on either privately generated or federally owned scientific and technical information that could harm national security; (2) the evolution of federal concepts of "sensitive but unclassified" (SBU) information; (3) controversies about pending Department of Homeland Security guidance on federal SBU and "Sensitive Homeland Security Information" (SHSI); and (4) policy options .
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Knezo, Genevieve Johanna
2004-02-20
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Homeland Security: Human Resources Management [Updated February 20, 2004]
"P.L. 107-296, Homeland Security Act of 2002 (H.R. 5005), authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish, and from time to time adjust, a human resources management (HRM) system for some or all of the organizational units of the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The law states specific requirements for the HRM system. Federal workforce improvements to be applied government-wide also are authorized by P.L. 107-296. On February 20, 2004, DHS and OPM jointly issued proposed regulations for the DHS HRM system which were published in the Federal Register. The proposed regulations cover job evaluation, pay and pay administration, performance management, labor-management relations, adverse actions, and appeals. The Budget of the United States for FY2005 proposes funding of $112.5 million to develop and implement a performance-based pay system and to train personnel. This report discusses the provisions of P.L. 107-296 as they relate to human resources management. It does not discuss provisions of the law that relate to labor management relations and collective bargaining."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwemle, Barbara L.
2004-02-20
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Analysis of S. 1709, 108th Congress: The Security and Freedom Ensured Act of 2003 (SAFE Act) [February 19, 2004]
This report is a section-by-section explanation of the effects of S. 1709, the SAFE Act, on current law. The SAFE Act was introduced in the 108th Congress "to amend the USA PATRIOT ACT to place reasonable limitations on the use of surveillance and the issuance of search warrants."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Pollack, Estela I. Velez
2004-02-19
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U.S. Immigration Policy on Permanent Admissions [February 18, 2004]
When President George W. Bush announced his principles for immigration
reform in January 2004, he included an increase in permanent immigration as a key
component. Some commentators are speculating the President is promoting
increases in the employment-based categories of permanent immigration, but the
Bush Administration has not yet provided specific information on what categories of
permanent admissions it advocates should be increased and by what levels. The
Bush proposal has prompted a lively debate on immigration reform.
Four major principles underlie U.S. policy on permanent immigration: the
reunification of families, the admission of immigrants with needed skills, the
protection of refugees, and the diversity of admissions by country of origin. These
principles are embodied in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The INA
specifies a complex set of numerical limits and preference categories that give
priorities for permanent immigration reflecting these principles. As defined in the
INA, "immigrants" are synonymous with legal permanent residents (LPRs) and refer
to foreign nationals who live lawfully and permanently in the United States.
The "Mass Immigration Reduction Act" (H.R. 946), which would, if enacted,
reduce permanent immigration, was introduced early in the 108th Congress. It would
zero out family-sponsored immigrants (except children and spouses of U.S. citizens),
employment-based immigrants (except certain priority workers) and diversity lottery
immigrants through FY2008.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wasem, Ruth Ellen
2004-02-18
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U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program (US-VISIT) [Updated February 18, 2004]
From the Summary: "Congress first mandated that the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) implement an automated entry and exit data system that would track the arrival and departure of every alien. The objective was, in part, to develop a mechanism that would be able to track nonimmigrants who overstayed their visas as part of a broader emphasis on immigration control. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks there was a shift in priority for implementing the system. While the tracking of nonimmigrants who overstayed their visas remained an important goal, border security has become the paramount concern. Following the terrorist attacks, provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act and the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Reform Act of 2002 encouraged a more expeditious development of the system and directed that biometric identifiers be used in passports, visas and other travel documents. The Border Security Act requires all U.S. ports of entry to have equipment and software installed that will allow biometric comparison and the authentication of all visas and other travel and entry documents by October 26, 2004. Moreover, implementing the requirements of an automated entry and exit data system is not without controversy. The automated entry and exit data system was administratively renamed the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) Program by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It is reportedly going to be implemented in phases over the next several years and include resources and services from a number of federal, state, local, and foreign entities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seghetti, Lisa M.; Viña, Stephen R.
2004-02-18
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NAFTA at Ten: Lessons from Recent Studies [February 13,2004]
From the Summary: "On January 1, 2004, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) completed its tenth year and most of its provisions are now implemented. NAFTA is a free trade agreement (FTA) that effectively added Mexico to the U.S.-Canada FTA completed in 1989. Its anniversary has sparked numerous evaluations, which are particularly relevant as the United States pursues free trade agreements with multiple Latin American countries. Most studies found that NAFTA's effects on the U.S. and Mexican economies to be modest at most. This report provides an analytical summary of the economic lessons reached in support of Congress's role in the trade policy process. It will be updated as needed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hornbeck, J. F. (John F.)
2004-02-13
