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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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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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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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The Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act and Circular A-76

Description: This report begins with a brief history of Circular A-76, a review of the its key components, and an assessment of the implementation of the circular. The section on FAIR (Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act) describes how it emerged from a series of compromises, explains the statute's key provisions, and reviews the implementation process, including guidance issued by OMB. The final section addresses recent initiatives, notably the President's competitive sourcing initiative and the Commer… more
Date: April 6, 2007
Creator: Halchin, L. E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Animal Agriculture: 2007 Farm Bill Issues

Description: With a few exceptions (such as milk), the products of animal agriculture are not eligible for the price and income supports that Congress historically has written into farm bills for major row crops such as grains, cottons, and oilseeds. However, the meat and poultry industries do look to the federal government for leadership and support in prompting their exports, resolving trade disputes, and reassuring markets that their products are safe, of high quality, and disease free. Farm bills can co… more
Date: April 11, 2007
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Role in Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) — Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report describes the Navy's role in carrying out a variety of activities related to what the Administration refers to as the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). The Navy's role in the GWOT raises several potential oversight issues for Congress.
Date: April 16, 2007
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Senate Committee Hearings: The “Minority Witness Rule”

Description: This report discusses the "minority witness rule." When a Senate committee, other than the Appropriations Committee, holds a hearing, the minority party members of the panel have the right to call witnesses of their choosing to testify during at least one day of that hearing.
Date: April 24, 2007
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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AIDS in Africa

Description: This report discusses the AIDS issue in Africa and the Bush administration's call to increase U.S. international funding for AIDS.
Date: April 26, 2007
Creator: Cook, Nicolas
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Dairy Policy Issues

Description: This report provides information about the Dairy Policy Issues. Several dairy issues are considered by Congress, some of which effects the three major federal dairy policy tools. Federal milk marketing orders regulate the farm price of milk for roughly two-thirds of U.S Milk production.
Date: May 2, 2007
Creator: Chite, Ralph M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Subcommittees in the House of Representatives

Description: Subcommittees are entities created by full committees to assist them in managing their work. Service on subcommittees enables members to develop expertise in specialized fields. Subcommittees diffuse the legislative process. For the most part, they are independent, autonomous units with written jurisdictions, and, pursuant to longstanding practice, most bills are referred by a full committee to them. This report provides a brief history of subcommittees, as well as their modern role and functio… more
Date: May 3, 2007
Creator: Schneider, Judy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Data Security Breaches: Context and Incident Summaries

Description: This report discusses the Context and Incident Summaries on Data Security Breaches. Personal data security breaches are being reported with increasing regularity. A law implemented in July 2003 had increased awareness of these data security breaches.
Date: May 7, 2007
Creator: Tehan, Rita
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Crime and Forfeiture

Description: This report provides information about Crime and Forfeiture. Forfeiture has been an effective law enforcement tool. Modern Forfeiture follows one of the two procedural routes.
Date: May 9, 2007
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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House Subcommittees: Assignment Process

Description: House rules, Republican Conference and Democratic Caucus rules, and individual committee rules all address the subcommittee assignment process, although to varying degrees. This report describes the assignment process for House Subcommittees.
Date: May 11, 2007
Creator: Schneider, Judy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Elections Reform: Overview and Issues

Description: This report provides information about the Elections Reform. HAVA created a new federal agency.set requirements for voting, voter- registration system and other aspects of election administration.
Date: May 14, 2007
Creator: Coleman, Kevin J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Maritime Security: Potential Terrorist Attacks and Protection Priorities

Description: This report outlines key dimensions of maritime terrorism and illustrates credible maritime attack scenarios based on actual past attacks. It also discusses the challenge to maritime security planners and how certain federal programs address this challenge.
Date: May 14, 2007
Creator: Parfomak, Paul W. & Frittelli, John
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Homeland Security Department: FY2008 Request for Appropriations

Description: This report describes the FY2008 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security. The Administration requested a net appropriation of $35.5 billion in net budget authority for FY2008. This report is a guide to one of the regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Homeland Security.
Date: May 17, 2007
Creator: Lake, Jennifer E.; Nuez-Neto, Blas; Lister, Sarah A.; Masse, Todd; Siskin, Alison; Haddal, Chad C. et al.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S.-Funded Assistance Programs in China

Description: This report discusses United States foreign operations appropriations for the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which primarily support democracy-related programs, particularly rule of law training, and support Tibetan communities. The U.S. Congress has played a leading role in providing funding for such programs, which has grown from $10 million in FY2002 to $23 million in FY2006. Major funding areas include legal training, legal aid, criminal defense, labor rights, and non-governmental organi… more
Date: May 18, 2007
Creator: Lum, Thomas
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Federal Minimum Wage and American Samoa

Description: This report discusses the federal minimum wage in American Samoa. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the minimum wage for the islands is fixed by a commission established by the Secretary of Labor. The minimum wage for fish processing is currently $3.26 an hour. Were Congress to extend the general (federal) minimum wage to American Samoa (and raise it to $7.25 an hour, as is currently proposed), the fish processing industry might absorb the increase, change the way it processes tuna, or… more
Date: May 22, 2007
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Budget Actions in 2007

Description: During the first session of the 110th Congress, the House and Senate considered many different budgetary measures. This report describes House and Senate action on major budgetary legislation within the framework of the congressional budget process and other procedural requirements.
Date: May 23, 2007
Creator: Heniff, Bill, Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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