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Role of National Oil Companies in the International Oil Market [August 21, 2007]
From the Summary: "In the United States, the term 'big oil companies' is likely to be taken to mean the major private international oil companies, largely based in Europe or America. However, while some of those companies are indeed among the largest in the world, by many important measures, a majority of the largest oil companies are state-owned, national oil companies. By conventional definitions, national oil companies hold the majority of petroleum reserves and produce the majority of the world's supply of crude oil. Since national oil companies generally hold exclusive rights to exploration and development of petroleum resources within the home country, they also can decide on the degree to which they require participation by private companies in those activities. […] However, if the price of oil moderates, the potential supply constraint related to the inefficient operations of the national oil companies may be a destabilizing factor in the world oil market. A wide variety of policy directions can be taken to mitigate the potential challenge posed by the dominance of national oil companies. Demand management policy can reduce the U.S. dependence on imports. The U.S. government can use its political influence to try to encourage nations not to use national oil companies to forward the aims of the government, but to follow commercial practices to maximize revenue flows. An expanded supply of oil could be encouraged as a condition for trade and aid agreements in some cases. Finally, promoting international trade and recognized commercial practices could be encouraged."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Pirog, Robert L.
2007-08-21
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China's Currency: A Summary of the Economic Issues [Updated August 7, 2007]
From the Summary: "Many Members of Congress charge that China's policy of accumulating foreign reserves (especially U.S. dollars) to influence the value of its currency constitutes a form of currency manipulation intended to make its exports cheaper and imports into China more expensive than they would be under free market conditions. They further contend that this policy has caused a surge in the U.S. trade deficit with China and has been a major factor in the loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs. Threats of possible congressional action led China to make changes to its currency policy in 2005, which has since resulted in a modest appreciation of the yuan. However, many Members have expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of China's currency reforms and have warned of potential legislative action. This report summarizes the main findings CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RL32165, 'China's Currency: Economic Issues and Options for U.S. Trade Policy', by Wayne M. Morrison and Marc Labonte and will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morrison, Wayne M.; Labonte, Marc
2007-08-07
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Future Role of U.S. Trade Policy: An Overview [Updated July 24, 2008]
From the Summary: "The United States has become increasingly integrated with the rest of the world economy. This integration has offered benefits and presented challenges to U.S. business, agriculture, labor, and consumers. Those who can compete in the more integrated economy have enjoyed opportunities to broaden their success, while those who are challenged by increased foreign competition have been forced to adjust and some have exited the market or relocated overseas. Some observers contend that, in order to remain globally competitive, the United States must continue to support trade liberalization policies, while assisting those hurt by trade. Others have raised doubts over whether free trade policies benefit the U.S. economy (e.g., some blame such policies for the large U.S. trade deficit, declining wages, and growing income disparity). Many contend that trade liberalization works only when everyone plays by the rules and have urged the aggressive enforcement of U.S. trade laws to address unfair trade practices. Still others maintain that such issues as labor rights, the environment, and climate change should be linked to trade policies. These competing views are often reflected in the struggle between Congress and the Executive branch in shaping U.S. trade policy. This report provides an overview and background on the debate over the future course of U.S. trade policy and will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morrison, Wayne M.; Cooper, William H., 1949-
2008-07-24
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World Bank and Iran [August 9, 2007]
From the Summary: "Several laws restrict U.S. support for World Bank lending to Iran. Despite U.S. opposition, the World Bank has provided loans to Iran on several occasions over the past five years, and disbursements on these loans appears to be increasing. Several pieces of legislation: H.R. 1400, 'Iran Counter-Proliferation Act' and S. 970, 'Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007' would cut future U.S. funding to the World Bank if the Bank makes new loans to Iran. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weiss, Martin A.; Sanford, Jonathan E.
2007-08-09
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Haiti: Developments and U.S. Policy Since 1991 and Current Congressional Concerns [Updated January 19, 2005]
From the Summary: "On September 18, 1994, when it learned that a U.S. military intervention had been launched, the military regime agreed to Aristide's return, the immediate, unopposed entry of U.S. troops, and the resignation of the military leadership. President Aristide returned to Haiti on October 15, 1994, under the protection of some 20,000 U.S. troops. Following his return, Aristide, with U.S. assistance, disbanded the army and began to train a professional, civilian Haitian National Police force. Elections held under Aristide and his successor, Rene Preval (1996-2000), including the one in which Aristide was reelected in 2000, were marred by alleged irregularities, low voter turnout, and opposition boycotts. Efforts to resolve the electoral dispute frustrated the international community for years. The OAS tried to mediate negotiations between the Aristide government and the civic opposition, and set up a mission in Haiti. Tension and violence in Haiti continued throughout Aristide's second term, culminating in his departure from office on February 29, 2004, after the opposition had repeatedly refused to negotiate a political solution and armed groups had taken control of over half the country."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Taft-Morales, Maureen
2005-01-19
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Caribbean Region: Issues in U.S. Relations [Updated January 18, 2005]
"The U.S.-Caribbean relationship is characterized by extensive economic linkages, cooperation on counter-narcotics efforts and security, and a sizeable U.S. foreign assistance program. U.S. aid supports a variety of projects to strengthen democracy, promote economic growth and development, alleviate poverty, and combat the AIDS epidemic in the region. Despite close U.S. relations with most
Caribbean nations, there has been tension at times on such issues as the lack of widespread Caribbean support for U.S. military operations in Iraq and policy differences regarding Cuba. CARICOM nations also expressed concern about the circumstances regarding the departure of President Jean Bertrand Aristide from Haiti in February 2004. In the aftermath of several devastating storms in 2004 -- Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan, and Tropical Storm Jeanne -- the United States is providing humanitarian assistance to the afflicted countries, including Haiti, Grenada, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. Congress approved $100 million in emergency supplemental funding for the region in the aftermath of the storms (P.L. 108-324)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2005-01-18
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Berry Amendment: Requiring Defense Procurement to Come from Domestic Sources [Updated February 10, 2005]
From the Summary: "In the spring of 2001, Congress revisited the Berry Amendment largely in response to a controversy involving the Army's procurement of black berets. DOD had granted the Defense Logistics Agency authority to waive the Berry Amendment in order to purchase berets from foreign sources. However, it was reported that DOD had known for 25 years that no U.S. firm produced a solely domestic beret; this suggested that other violations of the Berry Amendment may have been overlooked or under-reported. This procurement event raised important questions: (1) If the U.S. does not produce a solely domestic item, should DOD procurement be restricted from access to foreign sources? (2) Do procurement policies under the Berry Amendment adequately provide the best value to DOD and the federal government? (3) To what extent do U.S. national security interests justify waivers of the Berry Amendment?"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Grasso, Valerie Bailey
2005-02-10
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Intelligence Community Reorganization: Potential Effects on DOD Intelligence Agencies [Updated February 11, 2005]
From the Summary: "Although the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is the best known member of the Intelligence Community, the bulk of the nation's intelligence effort is undertaken by the intelligence agencies of the Department of Defense (DOD). In particular, the National Security Agency (NSA), the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) (formerly known as the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA)) are major collectors of information for DOD and non-DOD consumers and absorb a large percentage of the annual intelligence budget. (The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), albeit a large and important component of the Intelligence Community, is more directly focused on DOD requirements.) Some Members of Congress and independent commissions, most recently the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, the 9/11 Commission, have argued that a lack of coordination among intelligence agencies contributed to the failure to provide warning of the terrorist attacks of September 2001. In response, in December 2004 Congress passed intelligence reform legislation (P.L. 108-458) that modifies the existing organization of the Intelligence Community and establishes more centralized leadership under a newly created Director of National Intelligence (DNI)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Best, Richard A.
2005-02-11
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Immigration: Terrorist Grounds for Exclusion of Aliens [Updated February 16, 2005]
From the Summary: "This report opens with an overview of the grounds for inadmissibility and summarizes key legislation enacted in recent years. The section on current law explains the legal definitions of 'terrorist activity,' 'terrorist organization,' and other security-related grounds for inadmissibility and analyzes the legal implications of these provisions. The report then discusses the alien screening process to identify possible terrorists during the visa issuance process abroad and the inspections process at U.S. ports of entry. Where relevant, the report also discusses how recently enacted legislation -- the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (P.L.108-458) -- affects these matters. Provisions in the Real ID Act (H.R. 418), introduced in the 109th Congress by House Committee on the Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner and passed by the House on February 10, 2005, are also discussed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wasem, Ruth Ellen; Garcia, Michael John
2005-02-16
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Venezuela: Political Conditions and U.S. Policy [Updated January 14, 2005]
From the Summary :"The United States traditionally has had close relations with Venezuela, but there has been friction in relations with the Chávez government. The Bush Administration expressed strong support for the work of the OAS in resolving the crisis, welcomed the May 2003 political accord, and supported its implementation. After the recall referendum, the Administration congratulated the Venezuelan people for their commitment to democracy and commended the work of the OAS and Carter Center. At the same time, U.S. officials stressed the importance of reconciliation on the part of the government and the opposition in order to resolve their political differences peacefully. A dilemma for U.S. policymakers has been how to press the Chávez government to adhere to democratic principles without taking sides in Venezuela's polarized political conflict. Since Venezuela is a major supplier of foreign oil to the United States, a key U.S. interest has been ensuring the continued flow of oil exports at a reasonable and stable price. Despite friction in U.S.-Venezuelan relations and despite past threats by President Chávez to stop selling oil to the United States, Venezuela has remained a steady supplier of oil to the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2005-01-14
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U.S. Anti-Terror Strategy and the 9/11 Commission Report [Updated February 4, 2005]
From the Summary: "On July 22, 2004 the 9/11 Commission released its final report. The report calls for changes to be made by the executive branch and Congress to more effectively protect our nation in an age of modern terrorism and provides forty-one concrete recommendations. Generally, the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission as they relate to strategy content and implementation appear consistent with, and supportive of, the National Strategy. Few question the 9/11 Commission Report's overarching premise that U.S. counter-terrorism structure, strategy, and implementation can be improved."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Perl, Raphael
2005-02-04
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Texas Emergency Management and Homeland Security Statutory Authorities Summarized [May 27, 2004]
From the Summary: "The Texas Disaster Act of 1975 contains the key emergency management provisions for the state of Texas (Tex. Government 418.001 et seq.). The governor is authorized to establish an emergency management council to provide advice on emergency management issues. The coordinator of the Division of Emergency Management for the state also serves as the lead drought officer for state. Wildfire and drought are significant natural disaster concerns for the state and are addressed in specific statutes. Continuity of government provisions call upon former legislators to serve as emergency interim successors. This report is one of a series that profiles emergency management and homeland security statutory authorities of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each profile identifies the more significant elements of state statutes, generally as codified. Congressional readers may wish to conduct further searches for related provisions using the Internet link presented in the last section of this report. The National Conference of State Legislatures provided primary research assistance in the development of these profiles under contract to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Summary information on all of the profiles is presented in CRS Report RL32287. This report will be updated as developments warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bea, Keith
2004-05-27
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Critical Infrastructure Protections: The 9/11 Commission Report and Congressional Response [Updated January 11, 2005]
From the Summary: "Many of the recommendations made in the 9/11 Commission's report dealt indirectly with critical infrastructure protection, especially as the goals of critical infrastructure protection have evolved to include countering the type of attack that occurred on September 11. However, relatively few of the recommendations addressed critical infrastructure protection specifically. Those that did called for using a systematic risk management approach for setting priorities and allocating resources for critical infrastructure protection. None of these recommendations advocated a change in the direction of, or the organizational structures that have evolved to implement, existing infrastructure protection policies. Nevertheless, the Commission's recommendations could speed up implementation in some areas, given the attention and renewed urgency expressed by the Commission."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Moteff, John D.
2005-01-11
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Homeland Security Department: FY2006 Appropriations [Updated June 29, 2005]
"The annual consideration of appropriations bills (regular, continuing, and supplemental) by Congress is part of a complex set of budget processes that also encompasses the consideration of budget resolutions, revenue and debt-limit legislation, other spending measures, and reconciliation bills. In addition, the operation of programs and the spending of appropriated funds are subject to constraints established in authorizing statutes. Congressional action on the budget for a fiscal year usually begins following the submission of the President's budget at the beginning of each annual session of Congress. Congressional practices governing the consideration of appropriations and other budgetary measures are rooted in the Constitution, the standing rules of the House and Senate, and statutes, such as the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. This report is a guide to one of the regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Homeland Security. It summarizes the status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity, and is updated as events warrant. The reports lists the key CRS staff relevant to the issues covered and related CRS products."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lake, Jennifer E.; Nunez-Neto, Blas
2005-06-29
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Homosexuals and the U.S. Military: Current Issues [Updated July 18, 2008]
From the Summary: "In 1993, new laws and regulations pertaining to homosexuals and U.S. military service came into effect reflecting a compromise in policy. This compromise, colloquially referred to as 'don't ask, don't tell,' holds that the presence in the armed forces of persons who demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion which are the essence of military capability. Service members are not to be asked about nor allowed to discuss their homosexuality. This compromise notwithstanding, the issue has remained politically contentious. […] As a result, colleges, universities, and even high schools have sought to bar military recruiters from their campuses and/or to eliminate Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs on campus because of the DOD policy on homosexuals in the military. At the same time, legislation has been enacted that bars giving federal funds to campuses that block access for military recruiters. On March 6, 2006, the Supreme Court reversed a federal appeals court ruling in 'Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights (FAIR)', and upheld the constitutionality of the Solomon Amendment, which prohibits certain federal funding to higher educational institutions that deny access by military recruiters to their students equal to that provided to other employers. On November 14, 2006, the San Francisco school board voted 4-2 to phase out Junior ROTC over two years. That phase-out was later delayed by an additional year. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Burrelli, David F., 1958-; Feder, Jody
2008-07-18
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Extradition To and From the United States: Overview of the Law and Recent Treaties [Updated September 30, 2003]
"The laws of the country of refuge and the applicable extradition treaty govern
extradition back to the United States of a fugitive located overseas. Requests travel through diplomatic channels and the only issue likely to arise after extradition to this country is whether the extraditee has been tried for crimes other than those for which he or she was extradited. The fact that extradition was ignored and a fugitive forcibly returned to the United States for trial constitutes no jurisdictional impediment to trial or punishment. Federal and foreign immigration laws sometimes serve as a less controversial alternative to extradition to and from the United States.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2005-09-30
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China-U.S. Relations: Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy [Updated July 8, 2005]
"Much of current concern about China appears driven by security calculations at the Pentagon and in Congress. In remarks at a Singapore Conference in June 2005, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld questioned the motivations behind China's expanding military budget and stated that a congressionally mandated DOD report in 2005 concludes Beijing is greatly understating its military expenditures. The DOD report referred to has been delayed for some weeks, apparently the result of bureaucratic in-fighting about the report's conclusions. In the February 2005 State Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, U.S. officials again classified China's human rights record as poor. Beijing continues its crackdown on independent religious organizations, citizens accused of leaking state secrets, and other political activists. Bilateral economic and trade issues remain matters of concern, with U.S. officials and Members of Congress this year particularly criticizing China's failure to halt piracy of U.S. intellectual property rights (IPR) products and China's continued artificially low peg of its currency to the U.S. dollar."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dumbaugh, Kerry
2005-07-08
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Defense Outsourcing: The OMB Circular A-76 Policy [Updated June 30, 2005]
"This report provides information on the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Circular A-76, 'Performance of Commercial Activities,' and the impact of a related reform initiative, the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act (FAIR) of 1998, within the Department of Defense (DOD). The Circular defines federal policy for determining whether recurring commercial activities should be transferred to performance by the private sector, or performed by federal government employees. The FAIR Act creates statutory reporting requirements for federal executive agencies, by requiring federal executive agencies to identify activities both 'inherently governmental' and those not inherently governmental, and to conduct managed competitions to determine who is best to perform the service. Competitive sourcing, through managed competitions, was a major initiative identified by the first Bush Administrations Presidential Management Agenda, and one of five government-wide initiatives to improve the management and performance of the federal government. It is likely that competitive sourcing will continue to serve as a major initiative in the second Bush Administration."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Grasso, Valerie Bailey
2005-06-30
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Ukraine's Orange Revolution and U.S. Policy [Updated July 1, 2005]
"During the Ukranian presidential election campaign and during the ensuing electoral crisis, Congress approved legislation calling for free and fair elections in Ukraine and urged the Administration to warn the previous regime of possible negative consequences for Ukraine's leaders and for U.S.-Ukraine ties in the case of electoral fraud. The 109th Congress will consider aid funding for Ukraine, and may take up extending permanent Normal Trade Relations to Ukraine, terminating the application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to Ukraine, which bars permanent NTR status for countries with non-market economies that do not permit freedom of emigration. This report will be updated as needed. For background on the Orange Revolution, see CRS Report RL32691, 'Ukraine's Political Crisis and U.S. Policy Issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Woehrel, Steven J.
2005-07-01
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U.S. Foreign Trade in Services: Definition, Patterns and Policy Challenges [Updated July 7, 2008]
From the Summary: "The term 'services' refers to a broad and widening range of economic activities such as accounting and legal services, banking, transportation, tourism, and telecommunications. Services are a significant sector of the U.S. economy, accounting for almost 70% of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) and for over 80% of U.S. civilian employment. Services have become an important element of U.S. foreign trade, consistently generating surpluses. The European Union is by far the most important U.S. trade partner in services, accounting for more than 50% of U.S. trade in services. […] The Congress will have a number of trade agreements to consider, and services will be an important part of the deliberations. An overview of barriers, of the disputes in services trade and of the rapidly changing characteristics of the services sector, suggest that the negotiations and the agreements they produce will become increasingly complex. The United States presses its trading partners to liberalize their services sector as much as possible, because U.S. services providers are very competitive in world markets. However, to accomplish its objectives, the United States is pressed by its partners to make concessions that might adversely affect 'import-sensitive' industries in the United States. U.S. negotiators and, ultimately, Congress will have to judge whether the agreements strike an appropriate balance for U.S. interests. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cooper, William H., 1949-
2008-07-07
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Recruiting and Retention: An Overview of FY2004 and FY2005 Results for Active and Reserve Component Enlisted Personnel [Updated June 30, 2005]
"This report provides a brief overview of the recruiting and retention rates for Active and Reserve Component enlisted personnel during FY2004 and the first eight months of FY2005. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the United States has launched several major military operations which have dramatically increased the operations tempo of the military services, required the large scale mobilization of reservists, and resulted in significant battle casualties. These factors have been particularly applicable to the Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard which have shouldered the bulk of the manpower burden associated with the occupation of Iraq. The Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve have also been heavily involved in Iraq. Many observers have expressed concern that these factors might lead to lower recruiting and retention rates, thereby jeopardizing the vitality of today's all-volunteer military. Recruiting and retention results for FY2004 and FY2005 to date are summarized below. This report will be updated as necessary."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kapp, Lawrence
2005-06-30
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Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Amendments: 109th Congress [Updated June 28, 2005]
"Enacted in 1966 after 11 years of investigation, legislative development, and deliberation in the House and half as many years of such consideration in the Senate, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) displaced the ineffective public information section of the Administrative Procedure Act. The FOIA was designed to enable any person--individual or corporate, regardless of citizenship--to request, without explanation or justification, presumptive access to existing, identifiable, unpublished, executive branch agency records on any topic. The statute specified nine categories of information that may be permissibly exempted from the rule of disclosure. Disputes over the accessibility of requested records could be ultimately settled in court. [...] This report examines efforts to amend the FOI Act, and will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Relyea, Harold
2005-06-28
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Homeland Security Department: FY2006 Appropriations [Updated June 27, 2005]
"This report describes the FY2006 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The report includes tables that compare the FY2005 appropriations for the programs and activities of DHS, and the President's FY2006 request. The President's budget request for FY2006 was submitted to Congress on February 7, 2005. The Administration is requesting a net appropriation of $30.6 billion in net budget authority for FY2006, of which $29.6 billion is discretionary budget authority, and $1 billion is mandatory budget authority. H.R. 2360 passed the House on May 17, 2005, providing a net appropriation of $31.9 billion for DHS. This amount includes $30.8 billion in discretionary budget authority, which represents an increase of $1.3 billion or 4% compared to the FY2005 enacted level; and an increase of $1.2 billion or nearly 4% compared to the FY2006 request. H.R. 2360 was reported out of the full Senate Appropriations Committee on June 16, 2005 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Senate-reported H.R. 2360 recommends a net appropriation of $31.9 billion for DHS, including $30.8 billion in discretionary budget authority."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lake, Jennifer E.; Nunez-Neto, Blas
2005-06-27
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Foreign Operations (House)/State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (Senate): FY2006 Appropriations [Updated July 1, 2005]
"A major challenge for Congress in considering the President's Foreign Operations and State Department spending proposals is the tightening budget environment. The FY2006 Budget Resolution (H.Con.Res. 95) sets international affairs spending 7% below the President's request. The House Appropriations Committees spending allocation among all spending bills provides $20.27 billion for Foreign Operations, 11.2% less than the proposal. The Senate Committee allocation of $31.67 billion for the combined State Department/Foreign Operations measure is $1 billion, or 3% below the request. Other key issues for congressional review are foreign aid in support of the war on terror, the Millennium Challenge Account, HIV/AIDS funding, allocations among 'core' development programs, public diplomacy, educational exchange programs, rising demands for U.N. peacekeeping contributions, and democracy promotion activities. [...] This report is a guide to one of the regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House Subcommittee on Foreign Operations and the Senate Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. It summarizes the status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity, and is updated as events warrant. The report lists the key CRS staff relevant to the issues covered and related CRS products."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Epstein, Susan B.; Nowels, Larry Q.
2005-07-01
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Cuba: Issues for the 109th Congress [Updated July 7, 2005]
"Most attention in the 109th Congress has focused on Cuba's human rights situation and on Cuba sanctions. Legislative initiatives have included four human rights resolutions: House-passed H.Con.Res. 81 and H.Res. 193; Senate-passed S. 140; and H.Con.Res. 165, which also expresses support for the embargo. In addition, H.R. 2601 would authorize $5 million for U.S. government scholarship and exchange programs; a pending amendment (S.Amdt. 319) to S. 600 would authorize $15 million in democracy and human rights projects." This report covers U.S. policy toward Cuba as well as the political, economic and human rights conditions in the country. It also covers actions taken by the U.S. Legislature to change or preserve current U.S. law pertaining to Cuba.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2005-07-07
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Defense: FY2006 Authorization and Appropriations [Updated July 8, 2005]
"This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense. It summarizes the status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity, and is updated as events warrant. The report lists the key CRS staff relevant to the issues covered and related CRS products. [...] On June 20, the House passed its version of the FY2006 defense appropriations bill (H.R. 2863) by a vote of 398-19. Earlier, on May 25, the House passed its version of the annual FY2006 defense authorization bill (H.R. 1815) by a vote of 390-39. The Senate Armed Services Committee marked up its version of the bill (S. 1042) on May 12, though floor action has not yet been scheduled. On May 24, the House passed the FY2006 energy and water appropriations bill (H.R. 2419), which provides funds for nuclear weapons programs of the Department of Energy. On May 26, the House passed the Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs (MQL/VA) appropriations bill (H.R. 2528), which includes funding for military construction, defense health, and some other defense programs. On July 1, the Senate passed its version of the energy and water appropriations bill (also H.R 2419)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Daggett, Stephen
2005-07-08
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Bolivia: Political and Economic Developments and Implications for U.S. Policy [Updated June 22, 2005]
"U.S. interest in Bolivia centers on its role as a coca producer, and its relationship to Colombia and Peru, the two other major coca- and cocaine-producing countries. Some observers have criticized this focus for neglecting economic and social development issues, but the State Department defends it as necessary to promote licit economic development and democracy. Bolivia has the second-largest natural gas reserves in Latin America after Venezuela. The Bolivian government has plans, which have generated considerable controversy, to export gas to the United States and Mexico, necessitating the construction of a pipeline to a coastal port of a neighboring country."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Veillette, Connie
2005-06-22
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Cambodia: Background and U.S. Relations [July 8, 2005]
"Cambodia has made some notable progress, with foreign assistance, in
developing its economy, nurturing a civil society, and holding elections that are at least procedurally democratic. A number of significant problems remain, however. Weak legal and financial institutions, corruption, political violence, and the authoritarian tendencies of the Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen, have
discouraged foreign investment and strained U.S.-Cambodian relations. U.S. interests in Cambodia include human rights, foreign assistance, trade, and counter terrorism. Several current measures by the United States government reflect human rights concerns in Cambodia. Since 1998, foreign operations appropriations legislation has barred assistance to the Central Government of Cambodia in response to Prime Minister Hun Sen's seizure of power in 1997 and sporadic political violence against the opposition. The United States has also withheld assistance to the Khmer Rouge tribunal unless standards of judicial independence and fairness are met. Despite these restrictions, Cambodia remains the third largest recipient of United States assistance in Southeast Asia after Indonesia and the Philippines. S.Res. 65 would call upon the Government of Cambodia to release Member of Parliament Cheam Channy from prison and to restore the immunity from prosecution of opposition parliamentarians. In 2005, the State Department placed Cambodia in Tier 3 as a country that had not made adequate efforts to eliminate trafficking in persons."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-
2005-07-08
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Palestinian Factions [Updated June 8, 2005]
"Palestinian factionalism continues to dominate the political landscape in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The manner in which competing nationalist, socialist, Islamist, and democratic-minded Palestinians vie to control the direction of any future Palestinian state may influence United States objectives in the region. These include ending anti-Israeli violence, supporting Palestinian reforms, and bolstering Palestinian democratization and civil society. Some factions are designated foreign terrorist organizations by the State Department. One of these, Hamas, is building on recent electoral successes and may soon join the Palestinian parliament. This report describes the dominant Palestinian factions, and will be updated as events warrant. See also CRS Issue Brief IB91137, 'The Middle East Peace Talks."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Pina, Aaron D.
2005-06-08
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USA PATRIOT Act Sunset: A Sketch [Updated June 29, 2005]
"Several sections of Title II of the USA PATRIOT Act (the act) and one section of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, each relating to enhanced foreign intelligence and law enforcement surveillance authority, expire on December 31, 2005, unless they are extended. Thereafter, the authority remains in effect only as it relates to foreign intelligence investigations begun before sunset or to offenses or potential offenses begun or occurring before that date. The temporary provisions are: sections 201 (wiretapping in terrorism cases), 202 (wiretapping in computer fraud and abuse felony cases), 203(b) (sharing wiretap information), 203(d) (sharing foreign intelligence information), 204 (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) pen register/trap & trace exceptions), 206 (roving FISA wiretaps), 207 (duration of FISA surveillance of non-United States persons who are agents of a foreign power), 209 (seizure of voicemail messages pursuant to warrants), 212 (emergency disclosure of electronic surveillance), 214 (FISA pen register/ trap and trace authority), 215 (FISA access to tangible items), 217 (interception of computer trespasser communications), 218 (purpose for FISA orders), 220 (nationwide service of search warrants for electronic evidence), 223 (civil liability and discipline for privacy violations), and 225 (provider immunity for FISA wiretap assistance). This report is an abridged version--without footnotes or chart--of CRS Report RL32186, 'USA PATRIOT Act Sunset: Provisions That Expire on December 31, 2005."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2005-06-29
