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• Examining Ongoing Conflict in Eastern Congo: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on African Affairs of the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, April 16, 2013

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  This is the April 16, 2013 Hearing on "Examining Ongoing Conflict in Eastern Congo" held before the Committee on Foreign Relations. From the opening statement of Christopher A. Coons, "Today the African Affairs Subcommittee will focus on the ongoing and deadly conflict in eastern Congo which has forced millions of innocent people from their homes and contributed to decades of human rights violations, mass atrocities, horrific and widespread sexual- and gender-based violence, and disputes over conflict minerals. [...] Since April 2012, more than 650,000 men, women, and children have been displaced mostly by recent fighting between the M23 [March 23 Movement] rebel group and the Congolese Army in the North Kivu province of eastern Congo. The M23 has reportedly benefited from the illicit support of neighboring states, including Rwanda and to a lesser extent Uganda. There has been some accountability for such actions in the form of sanctions imposed by the United States and United Nations last year. I traveled to Kinshasa in February to learn more about this conflict, see the situation for myself, and support the regional framework for moving negotiations forward." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Federico Borello, Christopher A. Coons, Mvemba Dizolele, Jeff Flake, Ferdinand Muhigirwa, Kinshasa Sociale, and John Prendergast.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2013
• Syria, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, October 31, 2013

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  This is the October 21, 2013 hearing on Syria held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. From the opening statement of Robert Menendez: "Seven million Syrians -- a third of the country's population -- have fled their homes. More than two million refugees -- half of them children -- have fled to surrounding countries. […] I'm concerned about what comes next strategically at the political, diplomatic, and humanitarian levels. […] The only positive note is the progress we are making on destroying and dismantling Syria's chemical weapons infrastructure and supply. Today the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed that is has destroyed the equipment Syria used to make chemical weapons. And so far, inspectors have visited 21 of the 23 chemical weapons sites initially identified by Syrian authorities. […] We must also call on other donor-nations to join us in this time of greatest need: Syria is now a global problem. Finally, we need an answer as to what can be done to push all sides in this conflict toward a settlement and a future for Syria that does not include Assad." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bob Corker, Robert S. Ford, Thomas M. Countryman, Nancy Lindborg, Frederic C. Hof, Leslie H. Gelb, and Robert Menendez.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• H. Rept. 113-278: Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act of 2013, Report Together with Additional Views, to Accompany H.R. 1204, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, December 2, 2013

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  "The Committee on Homeland Security, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 1204) to amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) to establish an Aviation Security Advisory Committee, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2013-12-02
• House Document 113-138: A Letter on U.S. Armed Forces in Libya, Communication from the President of the United States, Transmitting A Report on Armed Forces Support to the Security of the U.S. Personnel in Libya, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, July 28, 2014

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  This is the July 28, 2014 communication titled, "A Letter on U.S. Armed Forces in Libya," from the President of the United States to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, John A. Boehner. From the letter: " As I most recently reported on June 12, 2014, U.S. Armed Forces have been in Libya to support the security of U.S. personnel in that country. During the period July 25-- 26, due to ongoing violence resulting from clashes between Libyan militias in the immediate vicinity of the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, embassy personnel and the U.S. forces supporting their security were temporarily relocated outside Libya. The U.S. forces departed Libya, via Tunisia, for U.S. bases in Europe. To support the safe departure of the embassy staff from Libya over land through Tunisia, U.S. military aircraft and additional military personnel entered Libya and Tunisia; those forces have also returned to bases in Europe. This action has been directed consistent with my responsibility to protect U.S. citizens both at home and abroad, and in furtherance of U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive. I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93--148). I appreciate the support of the Congress in these actions."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Iraq: U.S. Regime Change Efforts and Post-Saddam Governance [Updated October 22, 2004]

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  "In the months prior to the war, the Administration stressed that regime change through U.S.-led military action would yield benefits beyond disarmament and reduction of support for terrorism, benefits such as liberation of the Iraqi people from an oppressive regime and promotion of democracy throughout the Middle East. Escalating resistance to the U.S.-led occupation (April 2003-June 2004) complicated U.S. efforts to build democracy and to establish legitimate and effective Iraqi political and security bodies. Partly in an effort to reduce U.S. casualties and satisfy Iraqi demands for an end to coalition occupation, the United States decided to accelerate the hand over of sovereignty. An interim government was named on June 1, 2004, and the handover took place on June 28, 2004. Current plans are to for elections for a transition government by January 31, 2005, with votes on a permanent constitution by October 31, 2005, and for a permanent government by December 15, 2005, although virtually all of these deadlines are to some degree jeopardized by the persistent insurgency. This report will be updated as warranted by major developments. See also CRS Report RL31833, 'Iraq: Recent Developments in Reconstruction Assistance'."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Katzman, Kenneth

  2004-10-22
• Iraq: U.S. Regime Change Efforts and Post-Saddam Governance [Updated October 5, 2004]

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  "In the months prior to the war, the Administration stressed that regime change through U.S.-led military action would yield benefits beyond disarmament and reduction of support for terrorism, benefits such as liberation of the Iraqi people from an oppressive regime and promotion of democracy throughout the Middle East. Escalating resistance to the U.S.-led occupation (April 2003-June 2004) complicated U.S. efforts to build democracy and to establish legitimate and effective Iraqi political and security bodies. The Bush Administration asserts that U.S. policy in Iraq will ultimately succeed as U.S. trainers and the interim Iraqi government build new Iraqi security bodies. Some believe the United States should add troops to the current level of about 140,000, plus about 24,000 foreign military personnel, and should eliminate pockets of insurgent control. Others believe the United States needs to take new steps to recruit major international force contributors, and yet some others believe that the United States should pull out of Iraq. This report will be updated as warranted by major developments. See also CRS Report RL31833, 'Iraq: Recent Developments in Reconstruction Assistance'."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Katzman, Kenneth

  2004-10-05
• Homeland Security: Department Organization and Management - Implementation Phase [Updated January 3, 2005]

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  "Overseeing the implementation of the legislation mandating the new Department of Homeland Security, and possibly refining it and making some technical modifications, was within the purview of the 108th Congress. Some legislators, for example, wanted to eliminate provisions protecting manufacturers from liability lawsuits, broaden the criteria for the creation of university-based centers for homeland security, and make the department subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (H.R. 484, H.R. 1416, S. 6, S. 28, S. 41, S. 45, S. 134, S. 910). The departments charter also contained some contradictory provisions, such as those concerning the appointment of an officer for civil rights and civil liberties. Other implementation issues included Senate confirmation of presidential nominees for department leadership positions, creation of initial budgets for the new department, and assessing the various reports to Congress required of the new department. A few modifications were realized in provisions of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, which was enacted into law in December 2004."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Relyea, Harold

  2005-01-03
• Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 108th Congress [Updated October 6, 2004]

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  "The 108th Congress has considered and is considering legislation on a wide range of immigration issues. Chief among these are the immigration-related recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9/11 Commission), expedited naturalization through military service, and foreign temporary workers and business personnel. Several major bills that seek to implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission propose significant revisions to U.S. immigration law: H.R. 10, S. 2845, S. 2774/H.R. 5040, and H.R. 5024. Of these bills, H.R. 10 proposes the most extensive revisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The major immigration areas under consideration in these comprehensive 9/11 Commission bills include: asylum, biometric tracking systems, border security, document security, exclusion, and visa issuances. Since the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296) created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Congress has considered legislation to clarify the allocation of immigration authorities between the Secretary of DHS and the Attorney General. P.L. 108-7 amended the INA in an apparent effort to clarify the authority that was to remain with the Attorney General. H.R. 1416, as passed by the House and reported by the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, would further amend the INA to remove certain references to the Attorney General. Among other immigration-related legislation receiving action are adjustment of status of unauthorized alien students (S. 1545), noncitizen eligibility for Medicaid (P.L. 108-173), consular identification cards (H.R. 1950), elimination of the diversity visa lottery (H.R. 775) and employment eligibility verification pilot programs (P.L. 108-156). This report will be updated as legislative developments occur."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Wasem, Ruth Ellen; Ester, Karma; Bruno, Andorra

  2004-10-06
• Federal Responses to International Conflict and Terrorism: Property Rights Issues [October 6, 2004]

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  "In sharp contrast with the poor record of takings claims in the above areas, claimants challenging the impressing of private property into military or related government service generally have prevailed - wartime or not. Examples include military overflights, seizure and operation of coal mines during wartime, and requisitioning of private property. But military destruction of property in connection with actual battle, or to thwart an advancing enemy, is not compensable. Takings claims against the freezing and vesting of foreign assets have universally been rejected, though with an occasional judicial caution that an overly protracted freeze might be a taking. In other areas, government frustration of performance under international commercial contracts appears to have yielded no successful takings claims, while law enforcement, where physical damage results from the pursuit of criminal suspects or financial damage results from the operation of front organizations, has prompted some judicial concerns and a minority of successful takings claims at the state level. The protection extended by the Takings Clause also depends on the legal status of the property's owner. The property of U.S. citizens gets the most protection; enemy alien property, none; and friendly alien property somewhere in between, depending on whether the alien has 'substantial connections' with the United States."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Meltz, Robert

  2004-10-06
• Mexico's Counter-Narcotics Efforts under Fox, December 2000 to October 2004 [November 10, 2004]

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  "President Bush and President Fox have met many times and have made the bilateral relationship a top priority, although disagreements over Iraq created some tension. In these meetings, the presidents agreed to enhance law enforcement and counter-narcotics cooperation between the two countries, and this cooperation was facilitated by the modification of the U.S. drug certification process. Top officials say that the countries have achieved unprecedented levels of cooperation, including the sharing of sensitive intelligence and expanded training for Mexican anti-drug forces. In the post 9/11/01 period, the countries have expanded cooperation into overlapping counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism programs. This report provides information on Mexico's counter-narcotics efforts during the first four years of the presidency of Vicente Fox. Special emphasis is placed on calendar year 2003, covered by the State Department's March 2004 report on international narcotics control, and the first six months of 2004, covered in President Fox's September 2004 ' State of the Nation' report. This report will be updated when warranted by events."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Storrs, K. Larry (Keith Larry), 1937-

  2004-11-10
• Comparison of 9/11 Commission Recommended Intelligence Reforms, S. 2845, S.2774, H.R. 5024, Administration Proposal, H.R. 10, Current Law [Updated October 6, 2004]

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  "On July 22, 2004, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9/11 Commission) released its bipartisan, unanimous final report containing recommendations for far-reaching and fundamental changes to the United States Intelligence Community (IC). Almost 20 months after its creation by P.L. 107-306, the commission, as mandated by its founding legislation, attempted to present a full and complete accounting of the facts and circumstances surrounding the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as well as recommendations for corrective measures that can be taken to help prevent acts of terrorism. This report, the second of two reports, presents side-by-side comparisons of the 9/11 Commission recommendations and current law and legislation proposed by Senators Collins and Lieberman (S. 2845) and unanimously approved by the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee on September 22, 2004, as amended; House Speaker Dennis Hastert (H.R. 10), as reported out be the House Committee on Rules; Senators McCain and Lieberman (S. 2774); Representative Pelosi (H.R. 5024); and President Bush."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cumming, Alfred

  2004-10-06
• Data Mining: An Overview [Updated May 3, 2004]

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  "Data mining is emerging as one of the key features of many homeland security initiatives. Often used as a means for detecting fraud, assessing risk, and product retailing, data mining involves the use of data analysis tools to discover previously unknown, valid patterns and relationships in large data sets. In the context of homeland security, data mining is often viewed as a potential means to identify terrorist activities, such as money transfers and communications, and to identify and track individual terrorists themselves, such as through travel and immigration records. Interoperability is a critical part of the larger efforts to improve interagency collaboration and information sharing through e-government and homeland security initiatives. A third issue is privacy. Questions that may be considered include the degree to which government agencies should use and mix commercial data with government data, whether data sources are being used for purposes other than those for which they were originally designed, and possible application of the Privacy Act to these initiatives. It is anticipated that congressional oversight of data mining projects will grow as data mining efforts continue to evolve. This report will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Seifert, Jeffrey W.

  2004-05-03
• Expanding Threat Reduction and Nonproliferation Programs: Concepts and Definitions [October 5, 2004]

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  "President Bush, Members of Congress, and analysts outside government have suggested that the United States provide threat reduction and nonproliferation assistance to nations outside the former Soviet Union. Some propose expanding assistance to contain proliferation; others support programs to stop terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Some support assisting only those nations with WMD programs; others support assistance for any nation with WMD materials or knowledge. Some support assistance with the storage or elimination of weapons; others believe the United States should 'lock down' all WMD materials. Some believe the United States can fund expanded programs from the existing budget for nonproliferation and threat reduction assistance; others support large increases in the existing budget. The report of the 9/11 Commission called for continued support for threat reduction assistance. H.R. 10, the 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act, calls for a review of U.S. policy in this area. This report will be updated as needed."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Woolf, Amy F.

  2004-10-05
• Iraq: International Attitudes to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Reconstruction [Updated December 18, 2003]

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  From the Summary: "There has been an increase in international cooperation between the United States and the countries that opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq in the postwar period. On October 16, 2003, the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved UNSC Res. 1511. This resolution authorized a multinational force under unified command (article 13), welcomed countries to pledge substantially to Iraq's reconstruction needs (article 24), and signaled an overall greater role for the United Nations in postwar Iraq. The spirit of international cooperation was also evident at the Madrid International Conference on Reconstruction in Iraq on October 24, 2003. The conference garnered close to $13 billion in aid pledges from countries and donors other than the United States. Some analysts suggest, however, that foreign governments are still hesitant to contribute peacekeeping troops and financial assistance out of fear of appearing to sanction the Iraq war. Concerns over (1) the deteriorating security situation and troops' safety, (2) the accuracy of prewar intelligence on Iraq, including the unproven assertion of a large-scale program to develop chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, and (3) the timetable and design for establishing an internationally recognized, "legitimate" Iraqi government, however, have rekindled the prewar debate over the use of military action against Iraq and predictions about the ease of "regime change" in Iraq. In light of the latter concerns, the U.S. government has recently announced that it may seek an additional U.N. resolution to back its proposal for turning over authority to a sovereign Iraqi government. Presumably, such concerns might affect the extent of foreign support toward postwar Iraq reconstruction."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  2003-12-18
• China-U.S. Relations: Current Issues for the 108th Congress [Updated January 11, 2005]

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  From the Document: "On December 29, 2004, China's official news agency, 'Xinhua,' announced that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) had voted unanimously to consider an anti-secession law, aimed at Taiwan independence advocates, to the full NPC at its March 2005 legislative session. State media also reported that former Party Secretary Jiang Zemin in March 2005 will ask the NPC to accept his resignation as chair of the state Central Military Commission -- a largely symbolic position. Jiang stepped down from the power-wielding Party Central Military Commission in September 2004 On December 27, 2004, the PRC published its fifth white paper on national security: "China's National Defense in 2004." The paper said that the Taiwan independence movement was the biggest threat to China's sovereignty and regional peace, and it vowed to prevent Taiwan independence at all costs. The paper also said that strengthening China's naval warfare and air capabilities were military priorities. On December 11, 2004, in elections for Taiwan's legislature, voters returned the opposition, the Nationalist Party (KMT), to a majority despite a strong push by President Chen Shui-bian's party, the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Observers believe that the DPP's failure to gain legislative control lessens the near-term chance of confrontation with Beijing. On December 3, 2004, in its biannual report on global foreign exchange, the U.S. Treasury Department did not find that China met the technical definition of currency manipulation."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dumbaugh, Kerry

  2005-01-11
• China-U.S. Relations: Current Issues for the 108th Congress [Updated September 15, 2003]

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  From the Summary: "The purpose of this report is to provide background for and summarize current developments in U.S.-PRC relations, including current and pending congressional actions involving the PRC. This report will be updated regularly as new developments occur."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dumbaugh, Kerry

  2003-09-15
• Extradition Between the United States and Great Britain: The 2003 Treaty [Updated May 6, 2004]

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  From the Document: "Federal court denial of British extradition requests in the cases of four fugitives from Northern Ireland led to the Supplementary Extradition Treaty. The Treaty proved controversial and before the Senate would give its consent it insisted upon modifications, some quite unusual. Those modifications have been eliminated in a newly negotiated treaty which awaits Senate action and which incorporates features often more characteristic of contemporary extradition treaties with other countries. There has been criticism of the new Treaty's; exemptions to the political offense bar to extradition; elimination of judicial inquiry into politically motivated extradition request; treatment of probable cause; clause relating to extradition for crimes committed overseas; dropping the statute of limitations defense; discretionary authority for provisional arrest and detention; language relating to the seizure of assets; exceptions to the rule of specialty (permitting prosecution for crimes other than those for which extradition was granted); and retroactive application."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Doyle, Charles

  2004-05-06
• Iraq: Recent Developments in Reconstruction Assistance [Updated January 27, 2005]

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  From the Summary: "Large-scale reconstruction assistance programs are being undertaken by the United States following the war with Iraq. To fund such programs, Congress approved on April 12, 2003, a $2.48 billion Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund in the FY2003 Supplemental Appropriation. On November 6, 2003, the President signed into law P.L. 108-106, the FY2004 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation, providing $18.4 billion for Iraq reconstruction. Contributions pledged at the October 24, 2003, Madrid donor conference by other donors amounted to roughly $3.6 billion in grant aid and as much as $13.3 billion in possible loans. On June 28, 2004, the entity implementing assistance programs, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), dissolved, and sovereignty was returned to Iraq. Security Council Resolution 1546 of June 8, 2004, returned control of assets held in the Development Fund for Iraq to the government of Iraq. U.S. assistance is now provided through the embassy of the United States under Ambassador John Negroponte. Many reconstruction efforts on the ground are underway, but security concerns have slowed progress considerably."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tarnoff, Curt

  2005-01-27
• U.S. Foreign Assistance to the Middle East: Historical Background, Recent Trends, and the FY2006 Request [Updated February 17, 2005]

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  From the Summary: "For policymakers, foreign assistance plays a key role in advancing U.S. foreign policy goals in the Middle East. The United States has a number of interests in the region, ranging from support for the state of Israel and Israel's peaceful relations with its Arab neighbors, to the protection of vital petroleum supplies and the fight against international terrorism. U.S. assistance helps to maintain the 1979 Camp David peace accords between Israel and Egypt and the continued stability of the Kingdom of Jordan, which signed its own peace treaty with Israel in 1994. U.S. funding also works to improve Palestinian civil society, and aid officials have worked to ensure that U.S. aid to the West Bank and Gaza Strip is not diverted to terrorist groups. Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States has established new region-wide aid programs to promote democracy and encourage socio-economic reform in order to undercut the forces of radicalism in some Arab countries. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, "'A comprehensive U.S. strategy to counter terrorism should include economic policies that encourage development, more open societies, and opportunities for people to improve the lives of their families and to enhance prospects for their children's future.'"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sharp, Jeremy Maxwell

  2005-02-17
• Middle East Trade Initiatives: S. 1121/H.R. 2267 and the Administration's Plan [Updated April 26, 2004]

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  From the Summary: "On May 9, 2003, the Bush Administration proposed the establishment of a U.S. Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) within a decade (by about 2013). This proposal came a year and a half after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The MEFTA was billed as part of a plan to fight terrorism -- in this case, by supporting the growth of Middle East prosperity and democracy -- through trade. The MEFTA would cover 20 entities in what many refer to as the Middle East/North Africa -- 16 in the Middle East: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, the Gaza Strip/West Bank, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen; and four in North Africa: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia. Since the Bush Administration first announced its trade initiative, it has made substantial progress in working with MEFTA entities to develop TIFAs, BITs, and FTAs and progress along the steps outlined above. Since the beginning of 2003: TIFAS have been completed with five countries: Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, bringing the total to 11. Other TIFA partners are Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. BITs have been completed with one country, Jordan, bringing the total to five. Other BIT partners are Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. Finally, bilateral free trade agreements have been implemented with Jordan, Israel, and Morocco. A signed FTA with Bahrain awaits consideration by Congress, which would raise the FTA total to four. In addition, on November 15, 2004, U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick announced the Administration's intent to negotiate FTAs with the United Arab Emirates and Oman, as the 5th and 6th countries to have FTAs with the United States out of the 20 in MEFTA. This report will be updated."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bolle, Mary Jane

  2004-04-26
• Army Corps of Engineers Water Resources Activities: Authorization and Appropriations [Updated February 4, 2005]

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  From the Summary: "Congress authorizes and appropriates funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to conduct water resources studies and projects for navigation, flood and storm protection, ecosystem restoration, and an array of other purposes. Congress authorizes Corps studies generally as part of the consideration of a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) or in a survey resolution by an authorizing committee. Authorization to construct projects and changes to the policies guiding the Corps civil works program, such as cost-share requirements for projects, are also included in WRDAs. WRDAs are often considered biennially. Federal funding is provided for the civil works activities of the Corps primarily through the annual Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act; although not encouraged in some instances, these acts also have authorized Corps studies and construction. Due in part to competition for limited funding; many authorized activities do not receive appropriations, resulting in a backlog of authorized construction and maintenance activities. Few new studies and new construction activities have been included in the President's budget request in recent years. This report explains how the congressional authorization and appropriations process overlays the Corps' project development process."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hughes, H. Steven

  2005-02-04
• Post-War Iraq: A Table and Chronology of Foreign Contributions [Updated November 5, 2004]

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  "Securing foreign contributions to the reconstruction and stabilization of Iraq has been a major issue for U.S. policymakers since the launch of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. This report tracks important changes in financial and personnel pledges from foreign governments since the August 19, 2003 bombing of the U.N. Headquarters in Baghdad and major events since the fall of Baghdad on April 9, 2003. According to the latest estimates, foreign donors have pledged $13 billion in grants and loans for Iraq reconstruction, but have only disbursed around $1 billion to the United Nations and World Bank trust funds for Iraq. The largest non- American pledges of grants have come from Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. The World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Japan, and Saudi Arabia have pledged the most loans and export credits. Although other coalition members have reaffirmed their commitment to providing security in Iraq since the Madrid bombings, continued violence and terrorist attacks both inside and outside Iraq may affect political will in troop-contributing countries to sustain their force presence. This report will be updated as needed to reflect the latest international developments."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sharp, Jeremy Maxwell

  2004-11-05
• Critical Infrastructure Protections: The 9/11 Commission Report and Congressional Response [Updated October 20, 2004]

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  "Many of the recommendations made in the 9/11 Commission's report deal 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 recommendations in the Commission's report address critical infrastructure protection specifically. These call for using a systematic risk management approach for setting priorities and allocating resources for critical infrastructure protection. The Commission discussed in more detail issues related to transportation security. However, none of these recommendations advocate 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. This report will be updated as appropriate."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Moteff, John D.

  2004-10-20
• Iraq: Summary of U.S. Forces [Updated October 18, 2004]

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  "This report provides a summary estimate of military forces that have reportedly been deployed to and subsequently withdrawn from the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR), popularly called the Persian Gulf region, to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. For background information on the AOR, see [http://www.centcom.mil/aboutus/aor.htm]. Geographically, the USCENTCOM AOR stretches from the Horn of Africa to Central Asia. The information about military units that have been deployed and withdrawn is based on both official government public statements and estimates identified in selected news accounts. The statistics have been assembled from both Department of Defense (DOD) sources and open-source press reports. However, due to concerns about operational security, DOD is not routinely reporting the composition, size, nor destination of units and military forces being deployed to the Persian Gulf. Consequently, not all has been officially confirmed. For further reading, see CRS Report RL31701, 'Iraq: U.S. Military Operations'. This report will be updated as the situation continues to develop."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Carter, Linwood B.

  2004-10-18
• Iraq: U.S. Policy Options [Updated December 23, 1998]

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  From the Summary: "In the aftermath of the December 16-19 U.S.-British bombing campaign against Iraq (Operation Desert Fox), the United States continues to search for a sustainable and effective means of ending the threat posed by Iraq. Many in Congress believe that U.S. policy should focus primarily on removing Saddam Husayn from power. The Administration says it is working toward that outcome but that achieving it will be difficult. According to the Administration, near term U.S. policy should focus primarily on preventing any restart of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs and on containing Iraq's ability to threaten its neighbors. This report will be updated to reflect regional, diplomatic, or legislative developments."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Katzman, Kenneth

  1998-12-23
• Homeland Security: Compendium of Recommendations Relevant to House Committee Organization and Analysis of Considerations for the House [December 29, 2004]

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  "Commissions and think tanks studying homeland security have recommended congressional committee reorganization to increase Congress's policy and oversight coordination. This report analyzes selected recommendations. In the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Congress included a sense of the Congress resolution that each chamber should review its committee structure. This report identifies the definitions of homeland security included in the act. In the 108th Congress, the House created a Select Committee on Homeland Security, and charged it with studying the rules of the House with respect to the issue of homeland security. The select committee recommended a standing Committee on Homeland Security. This report digests the select committee's recommendations. Before the select committee made its recommendations, one of its subcommittees held four hearings on Perspectives on House Reform. To analyze the content of these hearings, this report organizes the testimony into 10 categories. The House has tended not to change its committee structure after executive branch reorganizations. This report contains a brief history of House committees. One consideration in creating a homeland security committee relates to the concentration or dispersal of homeland security jurisdiction. The House at different times has made different decisions about concentrating or dispersing jurisdiction. A second consideration in creating a homeland security committee relates to implications of jurisdictional changes. Proponents of a new committee point to the fragmentation of jurisdiction over homeland security. Others point to the record of Congress as a strong indication that existing committees are capable of action. A third consideration in creating a homeland security committee is whether such a committee is sufficient for policymaking. Even if a new committee is created, other committees will still have jurisdiction over components of homeland security."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Koempel, Michael L.

  2004-12-29
• Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) [Updated January 3, 2005]

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  "On May 28, 2004, the United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua signed the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). On August 5, 2004, the Dominican Republic, having completed separate negotiations with the United States, was added to the agreement in a subsequent signing by all parties. The new agreement was titled the Dominican Republic- Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, or the DR-CAFTA. Since negotiations began in January 2003, it has been a complicated and controversial agreement, becoming more so in September 2004, when the Dominican Republic passed a revenue bill that included a 25% tax on beverages that contain high-fructose corn syrup. With this breech of the proposed DR-CAFTA, the USTR recommended that the Dominican Republic be excluded from the implementing legislation unless this tax is changed. Some Members of Congress have come out against this option."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hornbeck, J. F. (John F.)

  2005-01-03
• Interstate Travel: Constitutional Challenges to the Identification Requirement and Other Transportation Security Regulations [Updated December 21, 2004]

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  "Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, security measures in and around our nation's transportation facilities have dramatically increased. Nowhere has the increase been more noticeable than with respect to air transportation. New federal statutes and agency regulations have been implemented, each with the purpose of ensuring the safety and security of passengers, facilities, and workers of our national transportation systems. Not all of these security measures, however, have been publicly disclosed. In fact, pursuant to its statutory authority, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) has issued a series of regulations relating to transportation security in which a majority of the information, including rules, orders, and directives has been classified as 'sensitive security information' (SSI), and thus, withheld from public scrutiny. For example, the regulation requiring that all passengers produce photo identification before being allowed to enter the airport gate area or board an aircraft, bus, or train has been classified as SSI, and consequently, cannot be disclosed to the general public. In addition, the standards utilized for creating, maintaining and requiring airlines to screen passengers against government-provided 'watch lists' and 'no-fly lists' do not appear to have been made publicly available."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tatelman, Todd

  2004-12-21
• Digital Surveillance: The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act [Updated December 29, 2004]

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  "The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA, P.L. 103- 414, 47 USC 1001-1010), enacted October 25, 1994, is intended to preserve the ability of law enforcement officials to conduct electronic surveillance effectively and efficiently despite the deployment of new digital technologies and wireless services that have altered the character of electronic surveillance. CALEA requires telecommunications carriers to modify their equipment, facilities, and services, wherever reasonably achievable, to ensure that they are able to comply with authorized electronic surveillance actions. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies, the FCC, and Congress are all actively addressing CALEA-related concerns. On March 10, 2004, the FBI, the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration petitioned the FCC to identify additional telecommunications services not identified specifically within CALEA that should be subject to it. In response to the petition and after considering the comments and replies from interested parties, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and declaratory ruling on August 4, 2004. In the NPRM, the FCC drew a number of tentative conclusions regarding CALEA applicability; addressed compliance issues; and developed a proposal for implementation costs and time frame. Comments and replies to the NPRM were due November 8 and December 7, 2004, respectively. Accompanying the NPRM was a declaratory ruling in which the FCC clarifies that commercial wireless 'push-to-talk' services are subject to CALEA, regardless of the technologies that wireless providers choose to apply in offering them."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Figliola, Patricia Moloney

  2004-12-29
• Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004: National Standards for Drivers' Licenses, Social Security Cards, and Birth Certificates [January 6, 2005]

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  "In its comprehensive report to the nation, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission) recommended that the federal government set national standards for the issuance of identification documents including drivers' licenses, social security cards, and birth certificates. The Commission noted that identification fraud is no longer simply a matter of theft, but now complicates the government's ability to adequately ensure public safety at vulnerable facilities including airport terminals, train stations, bus stations, and other entry points. The final legislation that was approved by Congress on December 8, 2004, and signed by the President on December 17, 2004, contained many of the provisions found in the Senate's original proposal with several significant additions from the House's proposed language. Many of the provisions that were considered controversial were not ultimately included, however, several Members indicated during the floor debate that these issues, specifically those that relate to drivers' licenses, would be revisited during the 109th Congress. In addition, because many of these provisions only delegate regulatory authority to federal agencies, several concerns that were raised during the legislation's deliberation, including access to birth certificates by genealogists or other historical researchers, are not specifically addressed by the statutory language, and will likely be the subject of agency action. This report will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tatelman, Todd

  2005-01-06