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The Defense Base Act (DBA): The Federally Mandated Workers' Compensation System for Overseas Government Contractors

Description: This report provides an overview of the Defense Base Act (DBA) and the systems used to provide DBA insurance at the Department of State (DOS), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Also included are criticisms of the current DOD DBA policy raised by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Army auditors as well as responses to those criticisms by DOD and USACE. The report concludes with a discu… more
Date: September 15, 2008
Creator: Grasso, Valerie Bailey; Szymendera, Scott & Webel, Baird
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Discretionary Budget Authority by Subfunction: An Overview

Description: This report presents figures showing trends in discretionary budget authority as a percentage of GDP by subfunction within each of 17 budget function categories, using data from President Obama's FY2014 budget submission. The report also provides a graphical overview of historical trends in discretionary budget authority from FY1976 through FY2012, preliminary estimates for FY2013 spending, and the levels consistent with the President's proposals for FY2014 through FY2018.
Date: April 25, 2013
Creator: Austin, D. Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Financing Issues and Economic Effects of American Wars

Description: This report examines financing and economic issues in World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Conflict, the Reagan Military Buildup, and the 1991 and 2003 wars in Iraq. It examines tax policy, non-military outlays, the budget balance, economic growth, inflation, and interest rates during these periods.
Date: July 29, 2008
Creator: Labonte, Marc & Levit, Mindy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iraq: Reconstruction Assistance

Description: This report describes recent developments in the large-scale assistance program, the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund (IRRF), undertaken by the United States and the international community in an effort to rehabilitate economic infrastructure and introduce representative government to post-war Iraq, and examines key issues of potential interest to Congress.
Date: May 22, 2008
Creator: Tarnoff, Curt
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Economic Stimulus: Issues and Policy

Description: This report discusses the passing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which included tax cut and spending provisions totaling at a cost of $787 billion in an attempt to mitigate the economic fallout of the housing and financial crises on the general economy. The report examines issues surrounding fiscal stimulus such as timeliness, the magnitude of stimulus, long-term effects and previously adopted policies.
Date: February 27, 2009
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.; Hungerford, Thomas L. & Labonte, Marc
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Legislative Branch: FY2013 Appropriations

Description: This report discusses the legislative branch appropriations bill that provides funding for the Senate; House of Representatives; Joint Items; Capitol Police; Office of Compliance; Congressional Budget Office (CBO); Architect of the Capitol (AOC); Library of Congress, including the Congressional Research Service (CRS); Government Printing Office (GPO); Government Accountability Office (GAO); and Open World Leadership Center.
Date: May 2, 2013
Creator: Brudnick, Ida A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security Administration (SSA): Budget Issues

Description: This report provides an overview of the SSA's mandatory spending but largely focuses on discretionary appropriations for the agency's administrative expenses. The size of the annual appropriations for administrative expenses affects the agency's ability to effectively administer the SSA's benefit programs as well as conduct program integrity activities designed to ensure that only eligible persons receive federal benefits.
Date: January 25, 2012
Creator: Szymendera, Scott
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases

Description: This report discusses how the total debt of the federal government can increase, an historical overview of debt limits, and how the current economic slowdown has led to higher deficits and thereby a series of debt limit increases, as well as legislation related to these increases.
Date: May 22, 2013
Creator: Austin, D. Andrew & Levit, Mindy R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria: Progress Report and Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses the Global Fund to Fight AIDS and its progress to date, describes the funding procedure, details U.S. contributions to the organization, and presents some issues regarding the level of U.S. contributions that Congress might consider.
Date: April 14, 2008
Creator: Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Budget Control Act: Potential Impact of Sequestration on Health Reform Spending

Description: This report discusses the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA; P.L. 112-25), which established new budget enforcement mechanisms for reducing the federal deficit by at least $2.1 trillion over the 10-year period FY2012-FY2021. The BCA places statutory limits, or caps, on discretionary spending for each of those 10 fiscal years, which will save an estimated $0.9 trillion during that period. In addition, it creates a Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Joint Committee), which is instructed t… more
Date: February 21, 2013
Creator: Redhead, C. Stephen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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United Nations System Funding: Congressional Issues

Description: This report tracks the process by which Congress provides the funding for U.S. assessed contributions to the regular budgets of the United Nations, its agencies, and U.N. peacekeeping operation accounts, as well as for U.S. voluntary contributions to U.N. system programs and funds. It includes information on the President's request and the congressional response, as well as congressional initiatives during this legislative process. Basic information is provided to help the reader understand thi… more
Date: August 1, 2008
Creator: Browne, Marjorie Ann & Nakamura, Kennon H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Economic Slowdown: Issues and Policies

Description: This report first discusses the current state of the economy, including measures that have already been taken by the monetary authorities, and assesses the need for and potential consequences of fiscal stimulus. The second part of the report reviews the proposals discussed during debate on the recently enacted fiscal stimulus, both those adopted and those considered but not adopted. The various stimulus packages differed somewhat, and the report briefly describes those differences. This section… more
Date: May 2, 2008
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.; Hungerford, Thomas L.; Labonte, Marc; Weiss, N. Eric & Whittaker, Julie M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Budget Control Act of 2011: The Effects on Spending and the Budget Deficit

Description: This report discusses the effects of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA) on spending and the deficit, assuming that the automatic spending reductions proceed as scheduled from FY2013 to FY2021 and the discretionary spending caps remain in place.
Date: April 1, 2013
Creator: Levit, Mindy R. & Labonte, Marc
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Budget Process Reform in the 110th Congress: A Brief Overview

Description: This report briefly discusses the context in which federal budget process changes are made and identifies selected reform proposals by major category. The identification of reform proposals in this report is not intended to be comprehensive; other CRS reports discuss different aspects of budget process reform in more detail.
Date: May 28, 2008
Creator: Keith, Robert
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carrier (CVN) Homeporting at Mayport: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Navy's proposal to homeport a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN) at Mayport, FL. Transferring a CVN from Norfolk, VA, to Mayport would shift from Norfolk to Mayport the local economic activity associated with homeporting a CVN, which some sources estimate as being worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year.
Date: March 15, 2013
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Possible Federal Revenue from Oil Development of ANWR and Nearby Areas

Description: "This report estimates the potential revenues to the United States Treasury from Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) oil development should Congress approve such development. [The report] has been prepared according to key oil price assumptions. More specifically, estimates of potential federal revenues are based on market oil prices -- the price at which the ANWR output would be sold -- of $60, $80, $90, $100, and $125 per barrel" (p. CRS-1-2).
Date: June 23, 2008
Creator: Lazzari, Salvatore
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Assistance to Firefighters Program: Distribution of Fire Grant Funding

Description: This report discusses the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Firefighters (SAFER) programs, which provide federal grants directly to local fire departments and unaffiliated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations to help address a variety of equipment, training, and other firefighter-related and EMS needs. Congress is considering FY 2015 appropriations for both programs.
Date: January 23, 2014
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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States and Proposed Economic Recovery Plans

Description: This report examines arguments presented by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the National Governors Association (NGA) to include state fiscal assistance in an economic recovery plan, several arguments to exclude state assistance from such a plan, and the implications the proposals presented by NCSL and NGA might have for the economy. It also examines issues related to the targeting of state fiscal assistance and arguments for and against including infrastructure construc… more
Date: January 16, 2009
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Peacekeeping/Stabilization and Conflict Transitions: Background and Congressional Action on the Civilian Response/Reserve Corps and other Civilian Stabilization and Reconstruction Capabilities

Description: This report provides background information relating to the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) in the Office of the Secretary of State. This office was created in mid-2004 as part of the Bush Administration's efforts to develop adequate civilian organizational structures, procedures, and personnel to respond effectively to post-conflict, "stabilization and reconstruction" situations, most especially in Afghanistan and Iran. This report also discusses proposal… more
Date: September 18, 2008
Creator: Serafino, Nina M. & Weiss, Martin A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases

Description: This report presents the means through which the total debt of the federal government can increase, gives a historical overview of debt limits, and discusses how the current economic slowdown has led to higher deficits and thereby a series of debt limit increases, as well as legislation related to these increases.
Date: May 3, 2013
Creator: Austin, D. Andrew & Levit, Mindy R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carrier (CVN) Homeporting at Mayport: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Navy's desire to homeport a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN) at Mayport, FL. Prior to the submission of the FY2013 budget, Navy plans called for having Mayport ready to homeport a CVN in 2019.
Date: April 26, 2013
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Shipboard Lasers for Surface, Air, and Missile Defense: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report focuses on potential Navy shipboard lasers for countering surface, air, and ballistic missile threats. It does not discuss the use of lasers on Navy aircraft or submarines, or the use of lasers by other military services.
Date: July 31, 2014
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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