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Navy Aegis Cruiser and Destroyer Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: The Navy has begun a multi-billion dollar program to modernize its 84 existing Aegis cruisers and destroyers over a period of more than 20 years. This report explores this program in detail, including the reasons for the program and the oversight issues it poses for Congress.
Date: September 18, 2009
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Senate Committee Hearings: Preparation

Description: Committee hearings allow Senators an opportunity to gather information on, and draw attention to, legislation and issues within a committee’s purview, conduct oversight of programs or agencies, and investigate allegations of wrongdoing. This report contains a checklist that identifies many of the tasks that need to be performed by a full committee and, in most cases, subcommittees in advance of a hearing. Some of the tasks are required by Senate or committee rules; others are common committee p… more
Date: September 17, 2009
Creator: Palmer, Betsy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies

Description: This list of about 150 congressional liaison offices is intended to help congressional offices in placing telephone calls and addressing correspondence to government agencies. In each case, the information was supplied by the agency itself and is current as of the date of publication. Entries are arranged alphabetically in four sections: legislative branch; judicial branch; executive branch; and agencies, boards, and commissions.
Date: August 14, 2009
Creator: Crane-Hirsch, Audrey Celeste
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Military Commissions Act of 2006: Background and Proposed Amendments

Description: This report provides a background and analysis of military commissions rules under the Military Commissions Act of 2006. After reviewing the history of the implementation of military commissions in the "global war on terrorism," the report provides an overview of the procedural safeguards provided in the MCA. The report identifies pending legislation, including Senate-passed S. 1390, and describes proposals suggested by the Obama Administration. Finally, the report provides two charts comparing… more
Date: August 11, 2009
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Aviation and Climate Change

Description: This report provides background on aviation emissions and the factors affecting them; it discusses the tools available to control emissions, including existing authority under the Clean Air Act and proposed economy-wide cap-and-trade legislation; and it examines international regulatory developments that may affect U.S. commercial airlines.
Date: August 4, 2009
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies: FY2010 Appropriations

Description: This report discusses the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 budget request for the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, which provides funding for the planning, design, construction, alteration, and improvement of facilities used by active and reserve military components worldwide.
Date: July 29, 2009
Creator: Else, Daniel H.; Scott, Christine & Panangala, Sidath V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Foreign Aid Reform: Studies and Recommendations

Description: This report gives a brief history of modern U.S. foreign aid and modern legislative efforts to reform foreign aid practices. The report also examines various recommendations from recent studies relating to foreign aid reform.
Date: July 28, 2009
Creator: Epstein, Susan B. & Weed, Matthew C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Agency Travel Card Programs

Description: This report begins by discussing the structure of agency travel card programs, and then discusses weaknesses in agency controls that have contributed to waste, fraud, and abuse. It then examines travel card legislation introduced or enacted in the 111th Congress, and concludes with observations on the information available to Congress for oversight of agency travel card programs.
Date: July 20, 2009
Creator: Hatch, Garrett
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Oversight and Related Issues Concerning International Security Agreements Concluded by the United States

Description: This report begins by providing a general background on the types of international agreements that are binding upon the United States, as well as considerations affecting whether they take the form of a treaty or an executive agreement. Next, the report discusses historical precedents as to the role that security agreements have taken. The report discusses the oversight role that Congress exercises with respect to entering and implementing international agreements involving the United States.
Date: June 2, 2009
Creator: Garcia, Michael J. & Mason, R. C.
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.
Date: May 19, 2009
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Agency Travel Card Programs

Description: This report begins by discussing the structure of agency travel card programs, and then discusses weaknesses in agency controls that have contributed to waste, fraud, and abuse. It concludes with observations on the information available to Congress for oversight of agency travel card programs.
Date: May 13, 2009
Creator: Hatch, Garrett
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Membership and Appointment Authority to Advisory Commissions, Boards, and Groups

Description: This report contains a compilation of commissions and boards that demonstrates the range of alternative membership-appointment structures. It includes any statutorily created advisory entity (boards, advisory panels, etc.) whose membership scheme mandates the participation of Members of Congress either as potential members or as participants in the process of appointing the membership.
Date: May 11, 2009
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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NATO Enlargement: Albania, Croatia, and Possible Future Candidates

Description: This report discusses the current status of NATO membership following the April 2-4, 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania. A principal issue was consideration of the candidacies for membership of Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia. The allies agreed to extend invitations to Albania and Croatia. Although the alliance determined that Macedonia met the qualifications for NATO membership, Greece blocked the invitation due to an enduring dispute over Macedonia's name.
Date: April 14, 2009
Creator: Morelli, Vincent; Ek, Carl; Belkin, Paul; Woehrel, Steven & Nichol, Jim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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A Parliamentary-Style Question Period: Proposals and Issues for Congress

Description: This report surveys how question periods are conducted in Britain and other parliamentary democracies, examines previous proposals for question periods in the United States, considers potential advantages and disadvantages of a question period, and outlines some legislative considerations for policymakers considering a question period for Congress.
Date: March 5, 2009
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Israel and Hamas: Conflict in Gaza

Description: This report closely examines the conflict in Gaza (2008-2009), assessing the impact of the conflict on civilians, possible consequences and unresolved issues, the regional and international implications and possible modes of action for the 111th Congress to consider in response.
Date: February 19, 2009
Creator: Zanotti, Jim; Migdalovitz, Carol; Sharp, Jeremy M.; Addis, Casey L.; Blanchard, Christopher M. & Margesson, Rhoda
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security Administration: Workloads, Resources, and Service Delivery

Description: This report provides an overview of SSA's workloads, resources, and service delivery since FY1996, the first full fiscal year in which SSA became an independent agency. It also covers issues for Congress, focusing on recommendations made by the independent SSAB, Government Accountability Office, SSA's Office of the Inspector General, and the National Research Council.
Date: February 6, 2009
Creator: Romig, Kathleen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Campaign Finance: Potential Legislative and Policy Issues for the 111th Congress

Description: This report discusses selected campaign finance policy issues that may receive attention during the 111th Congress such as the electronic filing of senate campaign finance reports, bundling, hybrid advertising, joint fundraising committees, 527 Organizations and more.
Date: January 29, 2009
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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