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Acid Rain: Does it Contribute to Forest Decline?

Description: This minibrief describes the major hypothesis explaining why acid rain may be contributing to forest decline, along with the major arguments against this hypothesis. For additional information on acid rain and current legislation for pollutant emissions controls, see IB83016 -- Acid Rain: Current Issues, and IB83005 -- Clean Air Act: An Overview.
Date: January 24, 1985
Creator: Backiel, Adela
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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African Famine: U.S. Response

Description: This report discusses the 1985 African famine situation, especially regarding U.S. emergency assistance at a time of U.S. domestic budgetary restraints, the adequacy of U.S. measures for monitoring and anticipating food emergencies, and the scale and nature of U.S. agricultural development programs intended to prevent future famines.
Date: June 27, 1985
Creator: Hanrahan, Charles E.; Copson, Raymond W.; Epstein, Susan B.; Kenworthy, Holly & Nowels, Larry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Alleged Fraud, Waste and, and Abuse: General Dynamics Corp.

Description: Numerous Federal agencies -- including the Justice Department and Congressional committees -- are investigating allegations of fraud at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation, the nation's third largest defense contractor. This issue brief provides a chronological summary, based on newspaper and magazine accounts, of each of these investigations.
Date: July 12, 1985
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Artificial Sweeteners

Description: This report discusses the artificial sweeteners have been a source of controversy in the U.S. for over 73 years. One of the factors driving these issues has been an interplay of a large consumer demand for low calorie sweeteners and controversy concerning certain safety standards set forth in the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA.
Date: July 12, 1985
Creator: Taylor, Sarah E
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Balanced Budget Proposal: Some Macroeconomic Implications

Description: This brief report outlines some possible macroeconomic implications of observing a statutory or constitutional commitment to balance the Federal budget. It does not address the legal questions about the proposal or their implementation, nor the economic and political questions related to decisions about the level of Federal revenues or expenditures. On the latter, its analysis refers to revenue and expenditure levels, in relation to total national product, typical of recent years.
Date: July 29, 1985
Creator: Henderson, John B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Budget Deficits: Causes, Effects and Some Remedial Options

Description: In 1981 Congress enacted extensive changes in taxing and spending policies that supporters of these changes expected to generate sufficient revenues, despite a series of tax rate cuts, to balance the budget by FY84. After the onset of recession in early 1982, however, the Reagan Administration's projections showed widening budget deficits, which culminated in an actual FY83 deficit of $195.4 billion. Despite enactment of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, and, more recently, … more
Date: July 15, 1985
Creator: Grinnell, David & Cox, William
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Case for and Against an Import Surcharge

Description: The United States is now running a deficit of over $100 billion in its foreign trade and the Federal budget is in the red by roughly $200 billion. To deal with these two deficits, Congress is considering a temporary import surcharge. This brief examines the case for and against such a surcharge as well as its use against Japan.
Date: July 12, 1985
Creator: Reifman, Alfred
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Conrail Sale: Labor Aspects

Description: This report presents the issues discussed by Congress in regard to Conrail’s sale. In examining the issues in Conrail's sale, Congress most likely will consider the welfare of Conrail employees as affected by the terms and conditions of the sale. Should negotiations on labor conditions with the final bidder fail, Congress might be asked to include labor conditions as part of any legislation related to the sale of Conrail.
Date: June 27, 1985
Creator: Ahmuty, Alice L
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Conrail: Sell to Norfolk Southern Corporation or Sell to a Group of Investors?

Description: This issue brief discusses that possible forthcoming sale of a large, federally-owned railroad to the holding company of one of the Nation's largest railroads, or sale to a group of investors for later sale to the public through a stock offering.
Date: July 18, 1985
Creator: Thompson, Stephen J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Constitutional Conventions: Political and Legal Questions

Description: This report discusses the applications that have been passed by 32 of the necessary 34 State legislatures to convene a convention to propose an amendment prohibiting abortion. Because this process for amending the Constitution has never been used, several unresolved legal and policy questions arise governing the convening and the authority of such a convention.
Date: July 8, 1985
Creator: Huckabee, David C. & McCoy, Meredith
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Drunk Driving and the National Driver Register

Description: At the 0.08 BAC level of alcohol, braking, steering, lane changing, and judgment are degraded and the driving performance of virtually all drivers is substantially impaired. During the debate on reauthorization of the federal surface transportation programs, an amendment that would require each state either to enact a 0.08 BAC law or face the loss of a portion of its Federal Highway Trust Fund monies passed the Senate and will likely be considered in the House. This proposal raises questions ab… more
Date: August 5, 1985
Creator: Segal, Migdon
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Education in America: Reports on Its Condition, Recommendations for Change

Description: The quality of education in our schools, particularly our high schools, and appropriate Federal actions to improve educational quality have become a major political issue. A number of reports on education with recommendations for change have been issued, among them A Nation At Risk by the National Commission on Excellence in Education. These reports are critical of how our Schools are functioning and call for improvement in areas such as teaching, curriculum, and standards for student performan… more
Date: July 17, 1985
Creator: Stedman, James B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Ethiopian Food Situation: International Response

Description: The United States has donated the largest share of the world-wide relief effort. Members of Congress nave passed legislation, the African Famine Relief and Recovery Act of 1985 (2.L. 99-8), authorizing emergency relief assistance to Ethiopia and other famine-stricken countries. Some observers favor trying to remove restrictions that prohibit long-term agricultural development assistance and other forms of economic aid to Ethiopia, but many continue to believe that aid to this Marxist-oriented n… more
Date: June 28, 1985
Creator: Barnes, Lafayette
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)

Description: Much attention has recently been focused on the chemical ethylene dibromide (EDB). This chemical has been widely used in leaded gasoline, and has also been used to treat grains, citrus and other crops. It has been found in foods and in groundwater. This paper examines the possible health effects of exposure to EDB, as well as its regulation. The possible health effects and regulation of various chemical and physical alternatives to EDB are also examined. This paper concludes with some policy co… more
Date: January 31, 1985
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Genocide Convention

Description: The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide has been a matter of pending business before the Senate since its transmittal to that body in 1949. On May 21, 1985, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee recommended that the Senate give its advice and consent to ratification of the Convention subject to eight conditions: two reservations, five understandings, and one declaration. This report examines the differing opinions on whether and under what conditions the Senat… more
Date: July 25, 1985
Creator: Bite, Vita
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Obscenity: A Legal Primer

Description: This report provides an overview of the present law of obscenity and pornography, with emphasis on the following topics: (1) the legal definition of obscenity; (2) the constitutionality of restrictive zoning laws; (3) federal authority to legislate in this area; (4) child pornography; (5) regulation of the broadcast media in this context; (6) obscenity and cable television; (7) obscene prerecorded messages; (8) seizure of obscene materials; and .(9) pornography as a form of sex discriminat… more
Date: December 11, 1985
Creator: Reimer, Rita Ann
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Pay Compatibility for Federal White-Collar Workers

Description: This report reviews the Congress's decision to freeze federal pay for one year as part of the budget resolution for the year, 1986. It discusses the standards to determine the Federal pay rate and the levels of pay that are set in place in the Federal government.
Date: August 7, 1985
Creator: Schwemle, Barbara L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The School Prayer Controversy: Pro-Con Arguments

Description: Congressional Research Service (CRS) report entailing information about pro-con arguments in regards to the school prayer controversy. Topics include, background an policy analysis, hearings, reports and congressional documents, etc..
Date: August 26, 1985
Creator: Whittier, Charles H
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The School Prayer Controversy: Pro-Con Arguments

Description: Congressional Research Service (CRS) report entailing information about pro-con arguments in regards to the school prayer controversy. Topics include, background an policy analysis, hearings, reports and congressional documents, etc..
Date: August 26, 1985
Creator: Whittier, Charles H
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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