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Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Political Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests

Description: The United States recognizes the independence of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and has fostered these states to end their dependence on Russia for trade. Gives an insight to the three countries and the relation to the United States and how they obtained their peace and independence and the aid from the United States.
Date: January 19, 2005
Creator: Nichol, Jim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Foreign Aid: An Introductory Overview of U.S. Programs and Policy

Description: Foreign assistance is a fundamental component of the international affairs budget and is viewed by many as an essential instrument of U.S foreign policy. This report provides an overview of the U.S. foreign aid program, by addressing a number of the more frequently asked questions regarding the subject.
Date: January 19, 2005
Creator: Tarnoff, Curt & Nowels, Larry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration: S Visas for Criminal and Terrorist Informants

Description: In response to the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, Congress passed legislation making permanent a provision that allows aliens with critical information on criminal or terrorist organizations to come into the United States in order to provide information to law enforcement officials. This legislation (S. 1424) became P.L. 107-45 on October 1, 2001. The law amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide permanent authority for the administration of the “S” visa, which was scheduled … more
Date: January 19, 2005
Creator: Ester, Karma
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Energy Policy: Legislative Proposals in the 109th Congress

Description: While introduction of energy legislation in the 109th Congress is pending, it remains unclear what its course may be. Some believe that the results of the fall 2004 election have heightened prospects for opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas development, and the Republican leadership has indicated that ANWR is to be included in the budget resolution that will come before Congress. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Pete Domenici has indicated t… more
Date: January 21, 2005
Creator: Bamberger, Robert L. & Behrens, Carl E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Clean Water Act Issues in the 109th Congress

Description: This report discusses various issues in the 109th Congress pertaining to water infrastructure and water quality standards. Legislative initiatives to comprehensively amend the Clean Water Act (CWA) have stalled for some time as interested parties have debated whether and exactly how to change the law. Congress has recently focused legislative attention on narrow bills to extend or modify selected CWA programs, rather than taking up comprehensive proposals.
Date: January 24, 2005
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996: Overview and Guidance on Frequently Asked Questions

Description: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 guarantees the availability and renewability of health insurance coverage for certain individuals. It permits a limited number of small businesses and self-employment individuals to establish tax-favored medical savings accounts, increases the tax deduction for health insurance for the self-employed, and amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat private long-term care policies the way health insurance policies and health care expen… more
Date: January 24, 2005
Creator: Chaikind, Hinda; Hearne, Jean; Lyke, Bob & Redhead, Stephen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Western Water Resource Issues

Description: For more than a century, the federal government has constructed water resource projects for a variety of purposes, including flood control, navigation, power generation, and irrigation. While most municipal and industrial water supplies have been built by non-federal entities, most of the large, federal water supply projects in the West, including Hoover and Grand Coulee dams, were constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation (Department of the Interior) to provide water for irrigation.
Date: January 24, 2005
Creator: Cody, Betsy A. & Sheikh, Pervaze A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Recess Judges

Description: This report discusses the recess clause and takes a look at the history of recess appointments. Under Article II of the Constitution, the President is empowered "to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session." Presidents have used the recess appointment power on more than 300 occasions to place judges on the district, appellate, and U.S. Supreme Court level. This practice slowed after the 195… more
Date: February 2, 2005
Creator: Fisher, Louis
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Consumer Bankruptcy Reform in the 109th Congress: Background and Issues

Description: This report reviews the historical context which forms the background for renewed consideration of consumer reform legislation, including a review of the current law and a survey of selected issues that have been the focus of legislative debate in the part, such as the scope of the homeland exemption, nondischargeability for liability current by violent activity, and the protection of child support payments.
Date: February 3, 2005
Creator: Jeweler, Robin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Family Entertainment and Copyright Act of 2005

Description: Intellectual property legislation that came close to enactment during the 108th Congress passed the Senate by unanimous consent early in the 109th Congress. Among the issues addressed are unauthorized distribution of pre-release commercial works, the marketing of devices for home use to edit objectionable content from DVDs, the preservation of the nation's film heritage, and use by libraries and archives of "orphan works." This report discusses the provision of S. 167, 109th Congress, first se… more
Date: February 4, 2005
Creator: Jeweler, Robin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Anti-Tax-Shelter and Other Revenue-Raising Tax Proposals Considered in the 108th Congress

Description: Several bills introduced in the 108th Congress included revenue-raising provisions, particularly those aimed at tax shelters that are generally used by corporations. In 2003, anti-sheltering provisions were included in several bills. This report is an overview of the revenue-raising provisions in the original reported versions of H.R. 2896 and S. 1637 and the final anti-sheltering bill as enacted.
Date: February 7, 2005
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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