Congressional Research Service Reports - 30 Matching Results

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Federalism Issues in Surface Transportation Policy: Past and Present

Description: This report provides an historical perspective on contemporary federalism issues in surface transportation policy that are likely to be addressed by Congress during the 111th Congress, including possible devolution of programmatic responsibility to states and proposals to change state maintenance-of-effort requirements and state cost matching requirements.
Date: March 13, 2009
Creator: Dilger, Robert J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Intermodal Rail Freight: A Role for Federal Funding?

Description: As Congress considers reauthorization of federal highway and transit programs and funding, currently provided by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21, P.L. 105-178), one issue being discussed is the role of freight rail in the nation’s transportation system. Economic and trade growth, along with growing congestion on certain parts of the nation’s interstate highway system, has focused attention on the ability of the railroads to divert more truck traffic to rail. However, … more
Date: March 31, 2003
Creator: Frittelli, John F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Airport Improvement Program

Description: This issue brief discusses the Airport Improvement Program and its complement, the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC). After a brief history of federal support for airport construction and improvement, the report describes AIP funding, its source of revenues, funding distribution, the types of projects the program funds, AIP and PFC policy issues, and the allowable use of AIP funds for airport security purposes.
Date: March 4, 2003
Creator: Kirk, Robert S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Surface Transportation: Reauthorization of TEA-21

Description: This report briefly examines the debate regarding spending levels to reauthorize federal highway, highway safety, and transit programs.
Date: March 4, 2005
Creator: Fischer, John W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Border and Transportation Security: Possible New Directions and Policy Options

Description: There is consensus that Border and Transportation Security (BTS) is a pivotal function in protecting the American people from terrorists and their instruments of destruction. The issue for Congress is how to achieve desired levels of security, while not compromising other important values in the process. This report addresses possible new approaches and policy options that might be explored by Congress to attain these goals. It is one of three CRS reports in a series that make use of analytical… more
Date: March 29, 2005
Creator: Robinson, William H.; Lake, Jennifer E. & Seghetti, Lisa M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Border and Transportation Security: The Complexity of the Challenge

Description: This report uses a series of graphical presentations to form one possible framework that might assist policy makers in understanding the complex nature of border and transportation security. It is the first in a three-part series of CRS reports that make use of analytical frameworks to better understand complex problems in border and transportation security and cast them in terms that facilitate the consideration of alternative policies and practices.
Date: March 29, 2005
Creator: Lake, Jennifer E.; Robinson, William H. & Seghetti, Lisa M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Border and Transportation Security: Selected Programs and Policies

Description: Border and Transportation Security (BTS) is a pivotal function in protecting the American people from terrorists and their instruments of destruction. This report addresses selected programs and policies now in place that seek to attain higher levels of BTS. It is the second in a three-part series of CRS reports that make use of analytical frameworks to better understand complex phenomena and cast them in terms that facilitate consideration of alternative policies and practices.
Date: March 29, 2005
Creator: Seghetti, Lisa M.; Lake, Jennifer E. & Robinson, William H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Air Quality: EPA’s Proposed Interstate Air Quality Rule

Description: This report discusses the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed rule on the effect of interstate transport of air pollutants on non-attainment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The Interstate Air Quality (IAQ) rule suggests a region-wide emissions cap to be implemented in two phases.
Date: March 13, 2004
Creator: Parker, Larry & Blodgett, John E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Amtrak: Budget and Reauthorization

Description: This report discuses Amtrak, which was created by Congress in 1970 to provide intercity passenger railroad service. Without a yearly federal grant to cover operating losses, Amtrak would not survive as presently configured. This issue brief discusses reform proposals from both the Administration and Amtrak in the 109th Congress.
Date: March 14, 2008
Creator: Frittelli, John & Peterman, David Randall
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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VH-71 Presidential Helicopter Program

Description: This report discusses VH-71 presidential helicopter, which has experienced noteworthy cost increases and schedule delays, which have generated controversy and scrutiny. The VH-71 is intended to replace the President's current operational fleet of helicopters, consisting of 11 VH-3D Sea Kings and 8 VH-60N Night Hawks.
Date: March 5, 2009
Creator: Bolkcom, Christopher
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Homeland Security: Protecting Airliners from Terrorist Missiles

Description: This report discusses about the Homeland Security on Protecting Airliners from Terrorist Missiles where Recent events have focused attention on the threat that terrorists with shoulder fired surface-to-air missiles pose to commercial airliners. Most believe that no single solution exists to effectively mitigate this threat.
Date: March 25, 2003
Creator: Bolkcom, Christopher & Elias, Bartholomew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Aviation Security-Related Findings and Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission

Description: In response to the 9/11 Commission’s aviation security-related recommendations, two bills — H.R. 5121 and H.R. 10 — introduced in the House contain several provisions to enhance aviation security. Additionally, floor amendments to S. 2845, the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004, contain numerous aviation security provisions, many of which address 9/11 Commission recommendations related to aviation safety. S. 2845 was passed (96-2) by the Senate on October 6, 2004. The House passed H.R. 10… more
Date: March 30, 2005
Creator: Elias, Bartholomew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Railroad Safety Program and Reauthorization Issues

Description: The Federal Railroad Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation is the primary federal agency that promotes and regulates railroad safety. To implement its safety responsibilities, the Federal Railroad Administration uses numerous strategies including the Safety Assurance and Compliance Program, field inspections; and to help improve its regulations, the administration uses the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee. This report contains information on the Federal Railroad Administrati… more
Date: March 22, 2002
Creator: Rothberg, Paul F. & Williamson, John
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Advanced Vehicle Technologies: Energy, Environment, and Development Issues

Description: This report provides an introduction to the research, development, and commercialization of alternative vehicle technologies, specifically electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles. It provides a description of the technology, and discusses issues such as cost, maintenance and fueling infrastructure, and performance for each type of vehicle. The report also discusses current congressional action on issues affecting these vehicles, as well as actions by the Administrati… more
Date: March 27, 2000
Creator: Yacobucci, Brent D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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C-17 Cargo Aircraft Program

Description: The C-17 Globemaster III is a long-range cargo/transport aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force since 1993. Congress approved development of the aircraft in the late 1970s, when it was recognized that the Air Force did not have enough airlift capability. In 1981, the McDonnell Douglas C-17 emerged as winner of a competition with Boeing and Lockheed to develop a next-generation aircraft to replace C-130s and C-141s.
Date: March 20, 2000
Creator: Bolkcom, Christopher
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Railroad Safety Program and Reauthorization Issues

Description: The Federal Railroad Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation is the primary federal agency that promotes and regulates railroad safety. To implement its safety responsibilities, the Federal Railroad Administration uses numerous strategies including the Safety Assurance and Compliance Program, field inspections; and to help improve its regulations, the administration uses the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee. This report contains information on the Federal Railroad Administrati… more
Date: March 12, 2003
Creator: Rothberg, Paul F. & Williamson, John
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Securing General Aviation

Description: This report discusses safety concerns regarding General aviation (GA), which encompasses a wide range of airports, aircraft, and flight operations. Because GA plays a small but important role in the U.S. economy, improving upon GA security without unduly impeding air commerce or limiting the freedom of movement by air remains a significant challenge.
Date: March 3, 2009
Creator: Elias, Bart
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Repairing and Reconstructing Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges: The Role of Federal-Aid Highway Assistance

Description: This report describes Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) assistance for the repair and reconstruction of disaster damaged highways and bridges or catastrophic failures (such as a bridge collapse). It begins with a brief discussion of the legislative origins of federal assistance and describes the ER program in its current form. The report then discusses eligibility issues and program operation. Finally, the report briefly describes the major findings of a recent Government Accountability Off… more
Date: March 31, 2008
Creator: Kirk, Robert S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Environmental Streamlining Provisions in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century: Status of Implementation

Description: At the state and local level, many observers have expressed long-standing concerns over delays, duplication of effort, and additional costs frequently associated with the environmental review process for highway projects that must be completed under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, P.L. 91-190). To address these concerns, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA21, P.L. 105-178), enacted in 1998, requires the Federal Highway Administration(FHWA) to streamline … more
Date: March 5, 2002
Creator: Bearden, David M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Environmental Streamlining Provisions in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century: Status of Implementation

Description: This report describes the environmental documents required for highway projects, discusses the average amount of time to complete this documentation, summarizes the environmental streamlining provisions under TEA-21, and examines administrative and legislative actions taken to implement these requirements.
Date: March 13, 2003
Creator: Bearden, David M. & Luther, Linda G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Alaska Natural Gas Pipelines: Interaction of the Natural Gas and Steel Markets

Description: In 1976, Congress approved legislation to establish the regulatory framework for building a pipeline to bring natural gas from the Alaska North Slope to the lower 48 states. This report focuses on two major issues or uncertainties that may serve as economic constraints on a capital investment undertaking of this major scale.
Date: March 28, 2007
Creator: Cooney, Stephen & Pirog, Robert L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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