Congressional Research Service Reports - 79 Matching Results
Search Results
- Global Climate Change Treaty: Negotiations and Related Issues
- This report discusses the negotiations leading the Kyoto conference of the parties. The United States and other parties to the 1992 Climate Change Convention signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro will meet December 1-12 in Kyoto, Japan, to conclude year-long negotiations on a legally binding protocol or amendment to reduce or stabilize emissions of greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. proposal to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases to 1990 levels between 2008-2012 is less ambitious than environmentalists and many other treaty Parties urge, but represents a commitment that others, including many in business, fear could damage the economy. A key aspect of the negotiations also is what should be expected of developing nations, whose current emissions of greenhouse gases are relatively small, but are expected to increase rapidly over the next decade with economic development. A sense of the Senate resolution calls for all countries to meet scheduled reductions, and would agree to U.S. participation only if harm to the domestic economy is avoided. If agreement is reached in Kyoto, Senate approval would be required for U.S. ratification, and legislation to implement commitments would also likely be necessary.
- Global Climate Change: The Role of U.S. Foreign Assistance
- This report discusses the role of U.S. foreign assistance to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases that most experts believe cause global warming
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism, the Future, and U.S. Foreign Policy
- No Description Available.
- The Middle East Peace Talks
- No Description Available.
- Palestinians and Middle East Peace: Issues for the United States
- No Description Available.
- Kosovo: International Reactions to NATO Air Strikes
- No Description Available.
- Nuclear Arms Control: The Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty
- No Description Available.
- National Security Education Program: Background and Issues
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) report entailing information about the background and issues within the national security education program. Topics include, program activities and administration, forms of aid, funding, targeting of critical languages, regions, and disciplines, etc..
- Industrial Energy Intensiveness and Energy Costs in the Context of Climate Change Policy
- No Description Available.
- Iraq: United Nations and Humanitarian Aid Organizations
- No Description Available.
- U.S.-European Union Trade Relations: Issues and Policy Challenges
- No Description Available.
- U.S.-European Union Trade Relations: Issues and Policy Challenges
- No Description Available.
- North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Program
- No Description Available.
- North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Program
- No Description Available.
- U.S.-EU Trade Tensions: Causes, Consequences, and Possible Cures
- No Description Available.
- Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act (P.L. 107-188): Provisions and Changes to Preexisting Law
- No Description Available.
- The Law of the Sea Convention and U.S. Policy
- No Description Available.
- Iraq: Oil-For-Food Program, Illicit Trade, and Investigations
- This report discusses the "oil-for-food" program (OFFP) as the centerpiece of a long-standing U.N. Security Council effort to alleviate human suffering in Iraq while maintaining key elements of the 1991 Gulf war-related sanctions regime. The program, in operation from December 1996 until March 2003, is detailed.
- The "FTO List" and Congress: Sanctioning Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations
- The purpose of this report is to provide Congress with an overview of the nature and status of the designated foreign terrorist organizations list, as a potential tool in overseeing the implementation and effects of U.S. legislation designed to sanction terrorists
- Terrorist Identification, Screening, and Tracking Under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 6
- No Description Available.
- Environment and the World Trade Organization (WTO) at Seattle: Issues and Concerns
- This meeting of the decision making body of the WTO was expected to make decisions that would lead to another round of negotiations on a wide variety of trade rules and related issues. Although the United States continues to assert the necessity of pursuing the twin goals of free trade and environmental protection and to argue that these need not be in conflict, controversy remains over how the multilateral trading system should address the specifics of environmental issues.
- Deforestation: An Overview of Global Programs and Agreements
- In recent years, global environmental concerns have figured prominently on the American political agenda. In particular, tropical deforestation and its implications for global climate change and biological diversity loss have prompted public outcry. Concerns have since grown to include other forest types as well. The Congress has considered a variety of legislation to stem the tide of increasing deforestation and the United States has supported a number of bilateral and multilateral initiatives to assist other countries in managing their forest resources.
- Cyprus: Status of U.N. Negotiations
- Cyprus has been divided since 1974. Greek Cypriots, nearly 80% of the population, live in the southern two thirds of the island. Turkish Cypriots live in the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (recognized only by Turkey), with about 30,000 Turkish troops providing security. U.N. peacekeeping forces maintain a buffer zone between the two. Members of Congress have urged the Administration to be more active, although they have not proposed an alternative to the U.N.-sponsored talks.
- Cyprus: Status of U.N. Negotiations
- Cyprus has been divided since 1974. Greek Cypriots, nearly 80% of the population, live in the southern two thirds of the island. Turkish Cypriots live in the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (recognized only by Turkey), with about 30,000 Turkish troops providing security. U.N. peacekeeping forces maintain a buffer zone between the two. Members of Congress have urged the Administration to be more active, although they have not proposed an alternative to the U.N.-sponsored talks.
- Caribbean Basin Interim Trade Program: CBI/NAFTA Parity
- The entry into force, on January 1, 1994, of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has eliminated the advantage that the beneficiaries of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) and related provisions of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) had enjoyed in trade with the United States relative to Mexico, and gave Mexico an increasingly significant competitive edge over the CBERA countries. The scheduled further implementation of the NAFTA would have resulted in a substantial advantage to Mexico over the CBERA countries and vitiate in part the purpose of the CBERA.
- Sudan: Economic Sanctions
- No Description Available.
- Foreign Language and International Studies: Federal Aid Under Title VI of the Higher Education Act
- This report is intended to provide an overview of Title VI programs, and an analysis of reauthorization issues. This report focuses specifically on Title VI of the HEA because this legislation is being considered for reauthorization by the 109th Congress, and because it is the largest source of federal support for FLAS in U.S. colleges and universities and their students.
- Intellectual Property and the Free Trade Agreements: Innovation Policy Issues
- This report discusses Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with Australia, Chile, Singapore, and other trading partners in respect to copyrights, data protection, patents, trademarks, and other forms of intellectual property.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- Report on the threats to national security posed by terrorism, including recent developments, background issues, policy responses, and more.
- North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Program
- No Description Available.
- NATO and Energy Security
- No Description Available.
- Nuclear Weapons: Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
- No Description Available.
- Border Security: Barriers Along the U.S. International Border
- Congress has been considering expanding the barriers currently deployed along the U.S. international land border. Currently, the United States Border Patrol (USBP) deploys fencing, which aims to impede the illegal entry of individuals, and vehicle barriers, which aim to impede the illegal entry of vehicles (but not individuals) along the border. A number of policy issues concerning border barriers generally and fencing specifically may be of interest to Congress, including, but not limited to: their effectiveness; their costs versus their benefits; their location; their design; and their potential diplomatic ramifications. Prominent bills include House-passed H.R. 4437 and H.R. 6061, and Senate-passed S. 2611, and H.R. 5631.
- Trends in Terrorism: 2006
- No Description Available.
- International Drug Trade and U.S. Foreign Policy
- This report details the U.S. international narcotics policies and how these policies may affect foreign policy interests. It also discusses major foreign policy initiatives with Latin American and Middle Eastern countries, as well as the Bush Administration's anti-drug strategy.
- Nuclear Weapons: Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
- No Description Available.
- Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends
- No Description Available.
- Nuclear Weapons: Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
- A comprehensive test ban treaty, or CTBT, is the oldest item on the nuclear arms control agenda. These treaties currently limit testing to underground only, with a maximum force equal to 150,000 tons of TNT. Since 1997, the United States has held 22 "subcritical experiments" at the Nevada Test Site, asserting that these experiments do not violate the CTBT because they cannot produce a self-sustaining chain reaction. The Senate rejected the CTBT on October 13, 1999, and the current Administration under President George W. Bush has indicated that it will continue to oppose the CTBT, will continue to adhere to the test moratorium, is considering modifying existing warheads for use against hard and deeply-buried targets, has not ruled out resumed testing, and has no plans to test.
- Iran's Activities and Influence in Iraq
- With a conventional military and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threat from Saddam Hussein's regime removed, Iran seeks to ensure that Iraq can never again become a threat to Iran, either with or without U.S. forces present in Iraq. By supporting armed Shiite factions, Iran's influence in Iraq has at times hindered U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq, and has heightened the U.S. threat perception of Iran generally. However, Iran faces difficult choices in Iraq now that its protege Shiite factions, formerly united, are competing and often fighting each other.
- China's Space Program: Options for U.S.-China Cooperation
- China has a determined, yet still modest, program of civilian space activities planned for the next decade. The potential for U.S.-China cooperation in space -- an issue of interest to Congress -- has become more controversial since the January 2007 Chinese anti-satellite test. Some argue that Chinese capabilities now threaten U.S. space assets in low earth orbit. Others stress the need to expand dialogue with China. This report outlines recent activities and future plans in China's civilian space sector. It also discusses benefits and trade-offs of possible U.S.-China collaboration in space, as well as several options to improve space relations, including information exchange, policy dialogue, and joint activities.
- Islamist Militancy in the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Region and U.S. Policy
- Increasing militant activity in western Pakistan poses three key national security threats: an increased potential for major attacks against the United States itself; a growing threat to Pakistani stability; and a hindrance of U.S. efforts to stabilize Afghanistan. This report addresses this issue at length. It also describes the recent upsurge of militant activity on the Pakistani side of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, as well as the general political climates of Pakistan and Afghanistan and their relationships with the United States.
- U.S. Economic Sanctions Through 1996
- Since the early 1960s, the United States has imposed a range of economic sanctions on Cuba, the most prominent of which is a comprehensive embargo prohibiting trade with Cuba. This Congressional Research Service report first provides an overview of U.S.-Cuba relations and U.S. policy toward Cuba. It then examines the history and current legislative and executive authorities of the various components of U.S. sanctions against Cuba, including aid, trade, and other restrictions.
- Overview of Immigration Issues in the 112th Congress
- This report synthesizes immigration issues as a multi-tiered debate. It breaks down the U.S. immigration law and policy into key elements: border control and visa security; legal immigration; documentation and verification; interior immigration enforcement; integration, status, and benefits; and refugees and other humanitarian populations. This report also delineates the debate in the 112th Congress for a range of issues, including border security, criminal aliens, and worksite enforcement.
- The Proposed U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement
- This report presents a summary of trade negotiations and the proposed U.S.-Panama free trade agreement (FTA). The proposed U.S.-Panama FTA is a comprehensive agreement. Some 88% of U.S. commercial and industrial exports would become duty-free upon implementation, with remaining tariffs phased out over a 10-year period.
- United Nations Reform: U.S. Policy and International Perspectives
- This report focuses on U.N. reform efforts and priorities from the perspective of several key actors, including the U.S. government, the U.N. Secretary-General, selected member states, and a cross-section of groups tasked with addressing U.N. reform. It also examines congressional actions related to U.N. reform, as well as future policy considerations.
- U.S.-Iraw Withdrawal/Status of Forces Agreement: Issues for Congressional Oversight
- This report begins by discussing the historical legal framework governing U.S. military operations in Iraq. The report then provides a general background as to the contents of agreements traditionally considered Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs). Finally, the report discusses specific aspects of the SOFA, highlighting issues that may require continued congressional oversight.
- Dispute Settlement in the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA)
- A look at the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), including its background and, most specifically, steps taken when disputes occur.
- International Drug Control Policy
- This report discusses the scope of the international drug control problem, current measures in place. It includes sections that discuss: the global scope of the problem, strategic guidance, overall U.S. drug control funding, U.S. assistance for international counternarcotics programs, policy issues, and conclusions.
- Armed Conflict in Syria: U.S. and International Response
- This report looks at the recent conflict in Syria, particularly casualty estimates and an assessment of possible future scenarios. A large part of the report looks at U.S. policy towards Syria, including how Congress will handle humanitarian dilemmas, security of Syrian Weapons of Mass Destruction, and how the country is open to opportunities for terrorism recruitment. It also looks at key developments that have occurred during the conflict, including support of the Asad government, political dynamics, and minority communities. The report ends with a look at the Syrian economy and current/possible sanctions.