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Clean Water Act Issues in the 108th Congress

Description: This report discusses issues regarding the Clean Water Act. Prospects for legislative initiatives to comprehensively amend the Clean Water Act (CWA) have stalled for some time over whether and exactly how to change the law, and Congress has recently focused legislative attention on narrow bills to extend or modify selected CWA programs, rather than taking up comprehensive proposals. For example, the 108th Congress enacted one bill amending the CWA, legislation to reauthorize the National Estuar… more
Date: December 6, 2004
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2007 Appropriations

Description: This report is a guide to one of the regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It summarizes the status of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity.
Date: December 1, 2006
Creator: Vincent, Carol H.; Bearden, David M.; Corn, M. L.; Gorte, Ross W.; Humphries, Marc; Sheikh, Pervaze A. et al.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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How Special Rules Regulate Calling up Measures for Consideration in the House

Description: This fact sheet describes how a special rule -- a House resolution that regulates consideration of a specific legislative measure named in the resolution -- may set terms for consideration by Representatives. It includes information about the system of privilege, forms of consideration, and how the rules are used to manage the agenda.
Date: December 5, 2005
Creator: Beth, Richard S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Bills and Resolutions: Examples of How Each Kind Is Used

Description: This report briefly describes the process by which Congress seeks to pass a law. During this process Congress uses a bill or joint resolution, which must be passed by both houses in identical form, that is then presented to the President for his approval or disapproval.
Date: December 7, 2004
Creator: Beth, Richard S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The House's Corrections Calendar

Description: This report discusses the establishment of the "Corrections Day," a concept credited to Michigan Governor John Englerwhich, which is a procedure for repealing "the dumbest things the federal government is currently doing."
Date: December 4, 2003
Creator: Oleszek, Walter J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Amendments Between the Houses

Description: This report briefly summarizes the process of amendments between the House of Representatives and the Senate, which occurs if the House and Senate approve differing versions of a measure. An exchange of amendments between the houses resolves these differences.
Date: December 9, 2004
Creator: Saturno, James V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Obtaining a Record Vote on the House Floor

Description: The House of Representatives uses two kinds of votes in which the names and positions of individual Members are recorded: (1) the recorded vote, used chiefly in Committee of the Whole, though also in order in the House, and (2) the yea and nay vote, in order only in the House proper. Both kinds together are referred to as record votes or, more informally, as “roll call votes,” and both are normally taken by electronic device. This report illustrates forms commonly used for obtaining each kind o… more
Date: December 8, 2006
Creator: Beth, Richard S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Members’ Representational Allowance: History and Usage

Description: This report provides a history and overview of the the Members’ Representational Allowance (MRA) and examines spending patterns in the 109th Congress (2005 and 2006), the two most recent years for which all billing is complete and spending amounts have been finalized, since late-arriving bills may be paid for up to two years following the end of the MRA year.
Date: December 1, 2009
Creator: Brudnick, Ida A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Congressional Appropriations Process: An Introduction

Description: Congress annually considers 13 or more appropriations measures, which provide funding for numerous activities, for example, national defense, education, homeland security, and crime. These measures also fund general government operations such as the administration of federal agencies. Congress has developed certain rules and practices for the consideration of appropriations measures, referred to as the congressional appropriations process. This report discusses the following aspects of this pro… more
Date: December 6, 2004
Creator: Streeter, Sandy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Pay-As-You-Go Procedures for Budget Enforcement

Description: “Pay-as-you-go” (PAYGO) procedures play an important role in enforcing budget policies with respect to the consideration of revenue and direct spending legislation. Generally, the purpose of PAYGO procedures is to discourage or prevent the enactment of legislation that would cause, or increase, a deficit or reduce a surplus.
Date: December 31, 2007
Creator: Keith, Robert
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Major Leadership Election Contests in the House of Representatives, 94th-111th Congresses

Description: This report contains data on votes for Speaker of the House for the 94th through 110th Congresses and elections in party conferences or caucuses for major leaders within each party for the 94th through 111th Congresses. It reflects actual balloting on the House floor for Speaker and in the Democratic Caucus and Republican Conference for other positions.
Date: December 31, 2008
Creator: Amer, Mildred
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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China-U.S. Relations in the 109th Congress

Description: This report discusses the U.S. concern about China that appeared driven by security calculation at the Pentagon and in congress. It also points out key issues, Hong Kong Governance and Major Legislation.
Date: December 31, 2006
Creator: Dumbaugh, Kerry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Campaign Finance: Potential Legislative and Policy Issues for the 111th Congress

Description: This report discusses selected campaign finance policy issues that may receive attention during the 111th Congress such as the electronic filing of senate campaign finance reports, bundling, hybrid advertising, joint fundraising committees, 527 Organizations and more.
Date: December 31, 2008
Creator: Garret, R. S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The U.S.-Australia Treaty on Defense Trade Cooperation

Description: This report describes a treaty signed by the United States and Australia on Defense Trade Cooperation in September 2007 that would facilitate defense trade and cooperation between the two nations. On the strategic level, the treaty would further develop ties between two very close allies who have fought together in most of America's conflicts, including most recently in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
Date: December 12, 2007
Creator: Vaughn, Bruce
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Role of the House Minority Leader: An Overview

Description: This report discusses the role of the House minority leader. The primary goal of the minority leader is to recapture majority control of the house. The minority leader performs important institutional and party functions.
Date: December 12, 2006
Creator: Oleszek, Walter J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies: FY2010 Appropriations

Description: This report discusses the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 budget request for the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, which provides funding for the planning, design, construction, alteration, and improvement of facilities used by active and reserve military components worldwide
Date: December 10, 2009
Creator: Else, Daniel H.; Scott, Christine & Panangala, Sidath Viranga
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress

Description: This report discusses current issues for Congress concerning the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program including the program's mission modules, the combat survivability of the LCS, hull cracking and engine problems on LCS-1, and corrosion on LCS-2. The LCS is a relatively inexpensive Navy surface combatant equipped with modular "plug-and-fight" mission packages.
Date: December 22, 2009
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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