Congressional Research Service Reports - 57 Matching Results

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Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)

Description: This report looks at the background and current status of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which was formed to increase international cooperation in interdicting shipments of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
Date: January 16, 2008
Creator: Nikitin, Mary Beth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Nuclear Arms Control: The Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty

Description: This report provides background information regarding the Nuclear Arms Control negotiations between U.S. and Russia. In addition it discusses treaties, the content and form of the agreements.
Date: January 18, 2008
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Proliferation Control Regimes: Background and Status

Description: This report provides background and current status information on multilateral regimes established to restrict trade in nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and missile technologies, and to monitor their civil applications. Congress may consider the efficacy of these regimes in considering the potential renewal of the Export Administration Act, as well as other proliferation-specific legislation in the 110th Congress.
Date: January 31, 2008
Creator: Nikitin, Mary Beth; Kerr, Paul; Bowman, Steve & Hildreth, Steven A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy-Marine Corps Amphibious and Maritime Prepositioning Ship Programs: Background and Oversight Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses the Navy-Marine corps amphibious and maritime prepositioning ship programs. The Navy is proposing to maintain in coming years a Navy with 31 amphibious ships and an additional squadron of 14 Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future), or MPF(F), ships.
Date: February 1, 2008
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Air Force Air Refueling: The KC-X Aircraft Acquisition Program

Description: This report considers the refueling fleet for the Air Force. The report examines two different refueling methods.
Date: April 4, 2008
Creator: Knight, Wiliam & Bolkcom, Christopher
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress

Description: This report details the 2007 restructuring of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, as well as various financial information relating to the program. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's plans for the LCS program. The LCS program raises potential oversight issues for Congress relating to various aspects of the program, all of which are explored within this report.
Date: May 2, 2008
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Army's Future Combat System (FCS): Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report describes the Future Combat System (FCS) program, which was to be the Army's major research, development, and acquisition program consisting of 14 manned and unmanned systems linked by an extensive communications and information network.
Date: May 12, 2008
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Homeland Security: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Border Surveillance

Description: Congress has expressed a great deal of interest in using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to surveil the United States' international land border. This report examines the strengths and limitations of deploying UAVs along the borders and related issues for Congress.
Date: May 13, 2008
Creator: Bolkcom, Christopher & Nuñez-Neto, Blas
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Conventional Warheads for Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of the Administration's rationale for the possible deployment of conventional warheads on long-range ballistic missiles. It then reviews the Air Force and Navy efforts to develop these systems. It summarizes congressional reaction to these proposals, then provides a more detailed account of the issues raised by these concepts and programs.
Date: May 16, 2008
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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China's Space Program: Options for U.S.-China Cooperation

Description: 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 sp… more
Date: May 21, 2008
Creator: Logan, Jeffrey
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Nuclear-Powered Surface Ships: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress

Description: This report discusses the possibility of increasing the number of Navy surface ships powered by nuclear energy, including the Navy's planned CG(X) cruiser. The overall report has a specific emphasis on the planned CG(X) cruiser, and how the implementation of this cruiser may be delayed by current budget proposals.
Date: May 22, 2008
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Trident Submarine Conversion (SSGN) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: The FY2006 budget completed the funding required in the Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy (SCN) account for the Navy's program to refuel and convert four Trident ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) into cruise-missile-carrying and special operations forces (SOF) support submarines (SSGNs). Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the program was declared on November 1, 2007. The total estimated cost of the program is about $4.0 billion.
Date: May 22, 2008
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy CG(X) Cruiser Program: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress

Description: This report discusses the reasoning behind the development of the Navy CG(X) cruiser program, the budgetary actions taking place to enable their development, selected technical specifics of their design, and various other information relating to defense procurement costs.
Date: May 23, 2008
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Sea-Based Ballistic Missile Defense-- Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses the changing role and finance of sea-based systems in U.S. ballistic missile defense (BMD). Decisions that Congress reaches on this issue could affect U.S. BMD capabilities and funding requirements; the size, capabilities, and operational patterns of the Navy and the other services; and the shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: May 23, 2008
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy-Marine Corps Strike-Fighter Shortfall: Background and Options for Congress

Description: Members of Congress this year have expressed concern about a projected inventory shortfall in Navy and Marine Corps strike-fighters. Some industry sources believe the shortfall is likely to be much larger than the Navy currently projects. Options for addressing the shortfall include extending strike-fighter service lives and increasing planned procurement of strike-fighters.
Date: May 27, 2008
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Army's M-4 Carbine: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: The M-4 carbine is the Army's primary individual combat weapon for infantry units. Due to the nature of the M-4's design, firing it can lead to weapons malfunctions. This report discusses possible replacements for the M-4, most notably the Special Operations Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR). This report also details results of studies and tests of the M-4 and feedback response from potential competitors.
Date: May 30, 2008
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Ship Deployments: New Approaches -- Background and Issues for Congress

Description: The Navy is implementing or experimenting with new kinds of naval formations, more flexible forward-deployment schedules, forward-homeporting additional Navy ships, and long-duration deployments with crew rotation (which the Navy calls Sea Swap). These changes, which form a key part of Navy transformation, raise several potential issues for Congress.
Date: June 2, 2008
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress

Description: Names for Navy ships traditionally have been chosen and announced by the Secretary of the Navy. Congress in recent years has proposed, and sometimes passed, legislation regarding the naming of specific ships.
Date: June 5, 2008
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) Vehicles: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: In late 2007, the Department of Defense (DOD) launched a major procurement initiative to replace most uparmored High Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWVs) in Iraq with Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles by FY2009. MRAPs have been described as providing significantly more protection against Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) than uparmored HMMWVs. the DOD's accelerated MRAP program, decisions on the number of MRAPs procured, and MRAP's performance in urban and counterinsurgency… more
Date: June 6, 2008
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S.-Russian Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: Issues for Congress

Description: The United States and Russia signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement on May 6, 2008. President Bush submitted the agreement to Congress on May 13. This report discusses key policy issues related to that agreement, including future nuclear energy cooperation with Russia, U.S.-Russian bilateral relations, nonproliferation cooperation and Russia's policies toward Iran. This report will be updated.
Date: June 9, 2008
Creator: Nikitin, Mary Beth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cluster Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: Cluster munitions are air-dropped or ground-launched munitions that release a number of smaller submunitions intended to kill enemy personnel or destroy vehicles. Cluster munitions were developed in World War II and are part of many nations' weapons stockpiles. Cluster munitions have been used frequently in combat, including the early phases of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Cluster munitions have been highly criticized internationally for causing a significant number of civilia… more
Date: June 27, 2008
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy CG(X) Cruiser Program: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress

Description: This report discusses the reasoning behind the development of the Navy CG(X) cruiser program, the budgetary actions taking place to enable their development, selected technical specifics of their design, and various other information relating to defense procurement costs.
Date: July 1, 2008
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress

Description: This report discusses the 2007 restructuring of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, as well as various financial information relating to the program. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's plans for the LCS program. The report raises potential oversight issues for Congress relating to various aspects of the program.
Date: July 1, 2008
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress

Description: Names for Navy ships traditionally have been chosen and announced by the Secretary of the Navy. Congress in recent years has proposed, and sometimes passed, legislation regarding the naming of specific ships.
Date: July 1, 2008
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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