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Federal Research and Development: Budgeting and Priority-Setting Issues, 108th Congress

Description: This report discusses federal funding for research and development. National R&D funding continues to grow, but the federal R&D share has declined to less than 30% of the total. Debates focus on which fields of federal R&D should be increased and how to set priorities and to "balance" health and nonhealth fields.
Date: December 1, 2004
Creator: Knezo, Genevieve J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Frequently Asked Questions Concerning the Federal Income Tax

Description: This report addresses some of the frequently asked historical, constitutional, procedural, and legal questions concerning the federal income tax.
Date: May 7, 2001
Creator: Luckey, John R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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School Choice: Current Legislation

Description: This report provides an overview of current local, state, and federal policies and programs that support school choice and identifies and summarizes recent federal school choice legislation.
Date: November 24, 2004
Creator: Smole, David P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Davis-Bacon Act: Issues and Legislation During the 108th Congress

Description: This report discusses the debate surrounding the Davis-Bacon Act (1931, as amended), which requires, among other things, that not less than the locally-prevailing wage be paid to workers employed in federal contract construction. Through recent decades, the Act has become a continuing source of contention, particularly regarding its impacts, whether it should be modified, strengthened, or repealed, and if it is being administered effectively.
Date: March 19, 2004
Creator: Whittaker, William G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security Reform: Economic Issues

Description: This report tackles the issue of Social Security reform from an economic perspective that focuses not merely on reform that achieves programmatic sustainability (sustainability within the trust fund), but reform that achieves sustainability for the government and economy as a whole. The President has indicated that Social Security reform will be a major issue in the 109th Congress. For some time comprehensive reform has been an issue of debate in Congress, but no major action has occurred.
Date: December 3, 2004
Creator: Gravelle, Jane & Labonte, Marc
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Automobile and Light Truck Fuel Economy: The CAFE Standards

Description: This report discusses energy legislation pertaining to fuel standards. The current corporate average fuel economy standard (CAFE) is 27.5 miles per gallon (mpg) for passenger automobiles and 20.7 mpg for light trucks (scheduled to increase to 22.2 mpg in model year [MY] 2007), a classification that also includes sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Congress had included language in the FY1996-FY2001 Transportation Appropriations prohibiting the use of appropriated funds for any rulemaking on CAFE, ef… more
Date: November 4, 2004
Creator: Bamberger, Robert
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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21st Century Community Learning Centers in P.L. 107-110: Background and Funding

Description: This report summarizes the major provisions of the reauthorized 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program. It includes sections on fundings, national reservations, formula grants to states, competitive local grants, history, program effectiveness, and relevant legislation in the 107th Congress.
Date: March 16, 2004
Creator: McCallion, Gail
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Major Tax Issues in the 108th Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of major tax issues. It begins by describing three aspects of the economic context in which the tax policy debate during 2004 is likely to occur: the general state of the U.S. economy; the position of the federal budget; and the level of taxes in the United States.
Date: December 2, 2004
Creator: Brumbaugh, David L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Campaign Financing

Description: This report discusses various issues regarding campaign finance law and potential options for policy responses.
Date: December 17, 2004
Creator: Cantor, Joseph E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Background and Legal Issues Related to Stem Cell Research

Description: This report discusses issues regarding stem cell research. With certain restrictions, the President has announced that federal funds may be used to conduct research on human embryonic stem cells. Federal research is limited to "the more than 60" existing stem cell lines that were derived (1) with the informed consent of the donors; (2) from excess embryos created solely for reproductive purposes; and (3) without any financial inducements to the donors. No federal funds will be used for the deri… more
Date: October 26, 2004
Creator: Shimabukuro, Jon O.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Appropriations for FY2005: Interior and Related Agencies

Description: This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year, regarding the Department of the Interior and related agencies. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Interior and Related Agencies. It summarizes the status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity, and is updated as events warrant.
Date: December 6, 2004
Creator: Vincent, Carol H. & Boren, Susan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Appropriations for FY2004: Energy and Water Development

Description: This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year, related to energy and water development. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development. It summarizes the status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity, and is updated as events warrant.
Date: January 30, 2004
Creator: Behrens, Carl & Humphries, Marc
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Forest Fire/Wildfire Protection

Description: This report provides historical background on wildfires, and describes concerns about the wildland-urban interface and about forest and rangeland health. It discusses fuel management, fire control, and fire effects and also examines federal, state, and landowner roles and responsibilities in protecting lands and resources from wildfires. The report concludes by discussing current issues for federal wildfire management.
Date: August 14, 2003
Creator: Gorte, Ross W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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How to Find Information in a Library and on the Internet

Description: This guide to finding information in libraries and on the Internet has been prepared for constituents who want to learn more about topics that interest them. It includes background directories, current information, reference books, and websites for government, politics, legislation, and other sources. It lists a number of Internet search engines, which can be used at many public libraries. It also suggests guides on how to search, including one for kids.
Date: December 15, 2004
Creator: Platt, Suzy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Appropriations for FY2005: Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs

Description: This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year, related to foreign operations, export financing and other programs. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Foreign Operations. It summarizes the status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity, and is updated as events warrant.
Date: November 30, 2004
Creator: Nowels, Larry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security Notch Issue: A Summary

Description: This report discusses recent attempts at legislative action regarding changes to the computation of benefits under Social Security Amendments of 1977 (P.L. 95-216), which directly affected retirees born in the 5- to 15-year period after 1916. These persons fall in the "notch" between previous Social Security legislation and those affected by the amendments.
Date: August 5, 2003
Creator: Kollmann, Geoffrey
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Stem Cell Research

Description: This report provides background on the research and potential applications of research that uses embryonic and adult stem cells. It also provides information about the current federal and state regulatory landscape, related Congressional and international actions, and relevant ethical concerns.
Date: December 13, 2004
Creator: Johnson, Judith A. & Williams, Erin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Child Welfare: Reauthorization of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program in the 107th Congress

Description: This report discusses the reauthorization of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2001. The new law maintains the FY2001 mandatory funding level, authorizes additional discretionary funding, and grants new program authority to provide mentoring services for children of prisoners. In addition, the enacted legislation allows states to use Promoting Safe and Stable Families funds for infant "safe haven" programs, provides for reallocation of unused program funds, clarifies language… more
Date: January 24, 2002
Creator: Stoltzfus, Emilie & Spar, Karen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): Controversies for the 108th Congress

Description: This report discusses one major element of the energy debate in the 108th Congress, which has been whether to approve energy development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in northeastern Alaska, and if so, under what conditions, or whether to continue to prohibit development to protect the area's biological resources. The Refuge is an area rich in fauna, flora, and commercial oil potential. Current law forbids energy leasing in the Refuge.
Date: November 1, 2004
Creator: Corn, M. L.; Gelb, Bernard A. & Baldwin, Pamela
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 108th Congress

Description: This report discusses policy and legislation regarding fish and marine mammals. These animals are important resources in open ocean and nearshore coastal areas. Commercial and sport fishing are jointly managed by the federal government and individual states. Many laws and regulations guide the management of these resources by federal agencies.
Date: December 16, 2004
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Soil and Water Conservation Issues

Description: This report discusses soil and water conservation, which were prominent farm policy topics in the 108th Congress as the Administration implemented provisions in the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171). This farm bill increased spending and expanded the scope of the conservation effort by reauthorizing and amending most existing conservation programs and enacting new ones through FY2007.
Date: November 24, 2004
Creator: Zinn, Jeffrey A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Clean Air Act: A Summary of the Act and Its Major Requirements

Description: This report summarizes the Clean Air Act and its major regulatory requirements. It describes the Act's major provisions and provides tables listing all major amendments, with the year of enactment and Public Law number, and crossreferencing sections of the Act with the major U.S. Code sections of the codified statute.
Date: January 3, 2003
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Tax-Advantaged Accounts for Health Care Expenses: Side-by-Side Comparison

Description: This report provides brief summaries and background information about four accounts related to medical expenses: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs). It also compares them with respect to characteristics such as eligibility, contribution limits, and use of funds.
Date: August 10, 2004
Creator: Lyke, Bob & Peterson, Chris L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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