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The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): An Overview

Description: The Earned Income Tax Credit began in 1975 as a temporary program to return a portion of the Social Security taxes paid by lower-income taxpayers, and was made permanent in 1978. In the 1990s, the program because a major component of federal efforts to reduce poverty, and is now the largest anti-poverty entitlement program. This report contains information on eligibility for the program, credit amount, participation, interaction with other tax provisions, issues, compliance, and more as related… more
Date: March 15, 2007
Creator: Scott, Christine
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape

Description: The report discusses the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-Related Congressional Actions in the 112th Congress. The policymakers, including some in Congress, have long called for varying degrees and types of reform to the FCC. Most proposals fall into two categories: (1) procedural changes made within the FCC or through congressional action that would affect the agency's operations or (2) substantive policy changes requiring congressional action that would affect how the agency regulates … more
Date: March 15, 2007
Creator: Moloney Figliola, Patricia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Water Quality Issues in the 110th Congress: Oversight and Implementation

Description: This report discusses issues surrounding the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 and programs set up to meet the water quality standards that it outlined. The report focuses specifically on the legislative issues for the 110th Congress in relation to the CWA. It also includes a brief comparison of the expected appropriations for FY2007 and FY2008.
Date: March 15, 2007
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Gasoline Price Increases: Federal and State Authority to Limit “Price Gouging”

Description: During the 2005 hurricane season, gasoline prices rose sharply rose sharply, both in directly affected areas and elsewhere in the country, and attention turned to the causes underlying these sharp increases. Although gasoline prices have fluctuated since then, Congres continues to consider legislation on fuel pricing, including provisions addressing price gouging. In the 110th Congress, bills have been introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives that would adopt federal provi… more
Date: March 19, 2007
Creator: Vann, Adam S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Farm Bill Proposals and Legislative Action in the 110th Congress

Description: Many provisions of the current omnibus farm bill, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, expire in 2007. Without new legislation, notably in the area of farm commodity and income support programs, permanent statutes will take effect. Most of these statutes were enacted decades ago and are no longer compatible with current national economic objectives, global trading rules, and federal budgetary of regulatory policies. This report follows major legislation relating to existing farm … more
Date: March 22, 2007
Creator: Johnson, Renée
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Chemical Facility Security: Regulation and Issues for Congress

Description: The Department of Homeland Security has proposed security regulations for chemical facilities, implementing the statutory authority granted in Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007. The proposed regulations require chemical facilities possessing amounts and yes of substances considered by the DHS Secretary to be hazardous to notify DHS and undergo a consequence-based screening process. This report details the proposed regulations issued by the Department of Homeland Security, key issues, a… more
Date: March 26, 2007
Creator: Shea, Dana A. & Tatelman, Todd B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Defense Acquisition: Use of Lead System Integrators (LSIs) — Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress

Description: Some in Congress have expressed concern about the government's use of private-sector lead system integrators (LSIs) for executing large, complex defense-related acquisition programs. LSIs are large, prime contractors hired to manage such programs.The 110th Congress has also introduced legislation to require the federal government to study the use of LSIs, and legislation wich would prohibit the use of LSIs for remaining contracts under the Deepwater Program. This report contains information on … more
Date: March 26, 2007
Creator: Grasso, Valerie Bailey
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Avian Influenza in Poultry and Wild Birds

Description: This report is categorized into six categories: (I) What is Avian Influenza?, (II) Status of Avian Influenza Outbreaks, (III) Transmission, (IV) Control, (V) Economic Impacts, and (VI) Legislative Actions.
Date: March 29, 2007
Creator: Monke, Jim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act: A Legal Analysis

Description: This report summarizes and describes the history of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. Moreover, this report divides the act into four categories: a revised sex offender registration system, child and sex related amendments to federal criminal procedure, child protective grant programs, and punitive initiatives against sex offenders. The report examines each of these provisions of the bill to effectively summarize it, and gives the reader the information to find an available abridg… more
Date: April 6, 2007
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Clean Water Act and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) of Pollutants

Description: This report discusses the section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, which requires states to identify waters that are impaired by pollution, even after application of pollution controls. For those waters, states must establish a total maximum daily load (TMDL) of pollutants to ensure that water quality standards can be attained. Implementation was dormant until states and EPA were prodded by lawsuits. The TMDL program has become controversial, in part because of requirements and costs now facing s… more
Date: April 6, 2007
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Common Questions About Postage and Stamps

Description: Constituents and interest groups often approach congressional offices with questions about postage and stamps. This report provides brief answers to commonly asked questions and provides sources where congressional staff may learn more about these topics.
Date: April 6, 2007
Creator: Kosar, Kevin R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Ocean Dumping Act: A Summary of the Law

Description: The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act has two basic aims: to regulate intentional ocean disposal of materials, and to authorize related research. Permit and enforcement provisions of the law are often referred to as the Ocean Dumping Act. The basic provisions of the act have remained virtually unchanged since 1972, when it was enacted to establish a comprehensive waste management system to regulate disposal or dumping of all materials into marine waters that are within U.S. juris… more
Date: April 10, 2007
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Water Infrastructure Projects Designated in EPA Appropriations: Trends and Policy Implications

Description: This report discusses appropriations for EPA water infrastructure programs, focusing on congressional special project designations in the account that funds these programs. While some Members of Congress, interest groups, and Administration officials are critical of these types of congressional actions actions, there is little indication that the practice will cease. Information on the programmatic history of EPA involvement in assisting wastewater treatment and drinking water projects also is … more
Date: April 10, 2007
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Animal Waste and Water Quality: EPA Regulation of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)

Description: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the release of waste from animal feedlots to surface water, groundwater, soil, and air is associated with a range of human health and ecological impacts and contributes to the degradation of the nation's surface waters. This report provides background on the revised environmental rules, the previous Clean Water Act rules and the Clinton Administration proposal, and perspectives of key interest groups on the proposal and final regulations. It als… more
Date: April 11, 2007
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Animal Waste and Water Quality: EPA’s Response to the Waterkeeper Alliance Court Decision on Regulation of CAFOs

Description: On June 30th, 2006, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed regulations that would revise a 2003 Clean Water Act rule governing waste discharges from large confined animal feeding operations. This proposal was necessitated by a 2005 federal court decision, resulting from challenges brought by agriculture industry groups and environmental advocacy groups, that vacated parts of the 2003 rule and remanded other parts of analysis and clarification.
Date: April 11, 2007
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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