Congressional Research Service Reports - 1,153 Matching Results
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- The Air Force KC-767 Tanker Lease Proposal: Key Issues for Congress
- The Air Force is proposing to replace 133 of its oldest Boeing KC-135E aerial refueling tanker aircraft by leasing 100 new Boeing KC-767 tankers instead of initially buying them outright. The proposed lease was authorized by Section 8159 of the FY2002 DOD Appropriations Act (P.L. 107-117 of January 10, 2002). The main issue for Congress is whether to approve or disapprove the lease. This report examines the lease proposal and its ramifications by providing background information on the Air Force’s tanker fleet, the Boeing 767 tanker, and the proposed lease itself. Then the report analyzes potential oversight issues for Congress relating to the merits of the proposed lease:
- Nuclear Weapons: Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
- No Description Available.
- Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Nuclear Weapons and U.S. National Security: A Need for New Weapons Programs?
- No Description Available.
- Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990
- No Description Available.
- Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 1995-2002
- This report is prepared annually to provide unclassified quantitative data on conventional arms transfers to developing nations by the United States and foreign countries for the preceding eight calendar years. Some general data are provided on worldwide conventional arms transfers, but the principal focus is the level of arms transfers by major weapons suppliers to nations in the developing world. The data in the report illustrate how global patterns of conventional arms transfers have changed in the post-Cold War and post-Persian Gulf War years.
- Project BioShield
- No Description Available.
- China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues
- Congress has long been concerned about whether U.S. policy advances the national interest in reducing the role of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missiles that could deliver them. China has taken some steps to mollify U.S. concerns about its role in weapons proliferation. Skeptics question whether China's cooperation in weapons nonproliferation has warranted President Bush's pursuit of stronger bilateral ties. This report discusses the national security problem of China's role in weapons proliferation and issues related to the U.S. policy response, including legislation, since the mid-1990s.
- Weapons of Mass Destruction Counterproliferation: Legal Issues for Ships and Aircraft
- No Description Available.
- China: Possible Missile Technology Transfers under U.S. Satellite Export Policy - Actions and Chronology
- This CRS Report discusses security concerns, significant congressional and administration action, and a comprehensive chronology pertaining to satellite exports to the PRC. The report discusses issues for U.S. foreign and security policy (including that on China and weapons nonproliferation), such as: What are the benefits and costs of satellite exports to China for U.S. economic and security interests? Should the United States continue, change, or cease the policy in place since the Reagan Administration that has allowed exports of satellites to China (for its launch and – increasingly – for its use)? Etc.
- Iraq: U.N. Inspections for Weapons of Mass Destruction
- No Description Available.
- Missile Proliferation and the Strategic Balance in South Asia
- No Description Available.
- Airborne Laser (ABL): Issues for Congress
- This report examines the airborne laser (ABL) program and budget status. It also examines a variety of related issues, including the questionable maturity of ABL technologies, the number of ABL platforms the United States should acquire, and to what degree the United STates should invest in alternative technologies in the event that the ABL may not prove successful. This report does not provide a detailed technical assessment of the ABL program (see CRS Report RL30185, The Airborne Laser Anti-Missile Program).
- Nuclear Weapon Initiatives: Low-Yield R&D, Advanced Concepts, Earth Penetrators, Test Readiness
- No Description Available.
- Iran's Nuclear Program: Recent Developments
- No Description Available.
- Chemical Weapons Convention: Issues for Congress
- The CWC bans the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons by members signatories. It also requires the destruction of all chemical weapons stockpiles and production facilities. Neither the United States nor Russia will be able to meet the original CWC’s deadlines for destruction of their CW stockpiles, and have been granted extensions to at least 2012. The Convention provides the most extensive and intrusive verification regime of any arms control treaty, extending its coverage to not only governmental but also civilian facilities. The Convention also requires export controls and reporting requirements on chemicals that can be used as warfare agents and their precursors. The CWC establishes the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to oversee the Convention’s implementation.
- Nuclear Weapon Initiatives: Low-Yield R&D, Advanced Concepts, Earth Penetrators, Test Readiness
- No Description Available.
- Border Security and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
- The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to improve border security is a technique that has garnered congressional attention. This report examines the strengths and limitations of deploying UAVs along the borders and related issues for Congress. This report is not intended to provide in-depth information regarding technical or military capabilities of UAVs, but to discuss their application at the border.
- North Korea's Nuclear Weapons: How Soon an Arsenal?
- No Description Available.
- Ricin: Technical Background and Potential Role in Terrorism
- No Description Available.
- U.S. Nuclear Weapons: Changes in Policy and Force Structure
- No Description Available.
- Iran's Nuclear Program: Recent Developments
- No Description Available.
- Missile Survey: Ballistic and Cruise Missiles of Foreign Countries
- No Description Available.
- Nuclear Weapon Initiatives: Low-Yield R&D, Advanced Concepts, Earth Penetrators, Test Readiness
- No Description Available.
- Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator Budget Request and Plan, FY2005-FY2009
- No Description Available.
- Weapons of Mass Destruction: Trade Between North Korea and Pakistan
- In October 2002, the United States confronted North Korea about its alleged clandestine uranium enrichment program. Soon after, the Agreed Framework collapsed, North Korea expelled international inspectors, and withdrew from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). U.S. intelligence officials claimed Pakistan was a key supplier of uranium enrichment technology to North Korea, and some media reports suggested that Pakistan had exchanged centrifuge enrichment technology for North Korean help in developing longer range missiles.
- Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator Budget Request and Plan, FY2005-FY2009
- No Description Available.
- Nuclear Warhead "Pit" Production: Background and Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator Budget Request and Plan, FY2005-FY2009
- No Description Available.
- China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues
- Congress has long been concerned about whether U.S. policy advances the national interest in reducing the role of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missiles that could deliver them. China has taken some steps to mollify U.S. concerns about its role in weapons proliferation. Skeptics question whether China's cooperation in weapons nonproliferation has warranted President Bush's pursuit of stronger bilateral ties. This report discusses the national security problem of China's role in weapons proliferation and issues related to the U.S. policy response, including legislation, since the mid-1990s.
- Disarming Libya: Weapons of Mass Destruction
- On December 19, 2003, Libya announced it would dismantle its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs. Since then, U.S., British, and international officials have inspected and removed or destroyed key components of those programs, and Libya has provided valuable information, particularly about foreign suppliers. Libya’s WMD disarmament is a critical step towards reintegration into the world community, and a necessary but probably not sufficient prerequisite for lifting U.S. sanctions.
- Air Force Aerial Refueling
- Aerial refueling aircraft are key to military air operations. The U.S. tanker fleet is numerous and effective, but old. Modernizing or replacing the current fleet of tankers presents the Department of Defense (DOD) with difficult choices in terms of desired capabilities, force structure, and budget. The Air Force’s proposal to lease 100 Boeing 767 aircraft to replace it’s KC-135E fleet is controversial.
- Navy Ship Acquisition in the FY2005 Budget: Oversight Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues
- Congress has long been concerned about whether U.S. policy advances the national interest in reducing the role of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missiles that could deliver them. China has taken some steps to mollify U.S. concerns about its role in weapons proliferation. Skeptics question whether China's cooperation in weapons nonproliferation has warranted President Bush's pursuit of stronger bilateral ties. This report discusses the national security problem of China's role in weapons proliferation and issues related to the U.S. policy response, including legislation, since the mid-1990s.
- Small-scale Terrorist Attacks Using Chemical and Biological Agents: An Assessment Framework and Preliminary Comparisons
- No Description Available.
- Air Force FB-22 Bomber Concept
- The Air Force has expressed interest in developing a bomber variant of the F/A-22 Raptor to “bridge the gap” between today’s bombers and a follow-on bomber in 2037. Questions exist regarding the FB-22’s feasibility, cost, and combat potential.
- Navy Attack Submarine Force-Level Goal and Procurement Rate: Background and Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Small-Scale Terrorist Attacks Using Chemical and Biological Agents: An Assessment Framework and Preliminary Comparisons
- No Description Available.
- Homeland Security: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Border Surveillance
- This report examines the strengths and limitations of deploying UAVs along the borders and related issues for Congress.
- Navy Attack Submarine Force-Level Goal and Procurement Rate: Background and Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Navy Trident Submarine Conversion (SSGN) Program: Background and Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Programs: Issues for Congress
- This report discusses congressional concerns regarding intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) programs' costs, management, and efficacy and how to best resolve the issues within ISR programs.
- Navy Ship Procurement Rate and the Planned Size of the Navy: Background and Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Navy-Marine Corps Amphibious and Maritime Prepositioning Ship Programs: Background and Oversight Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Navy CVN-21 Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Iran's Ballistic Missile Capabilities
- No Description Available.
- Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 1996-2003
- This report is prepared annually to provide unclassified quantitative data on conventional arms transfers to developing nations by the United States and foreign countries for the preceding eight calendar years. Some general data are provided on worldwide conventional arms transfers, but the principal focus is the level of arms transfers by major weapons suppliers to nations in the developing world. The data in the report illustrate how global patterns of conventional arms transfers have changed in the post-Cold War and post-Persian Gulf War years.
- Cruise Missile Defense
- Congress has expressed interest in cruise missile defense for years. Cruise missiles (CMs) are essentially unmanned attack aircraft — vehicles composed of an airframe, propulsion system, guidance system, and weapons payload. The Department of Defense is pursuing several initiatives that seek to improve capabilities against an unpredictable cruise missile threat. These initiatives compete for funding and congressional attention.
- Project BioShield: Legislative History and Side-by-Side Comparison of H.R. 2122, S. 15, and S. 1504
- Few effective countermeasures currently exist to deal with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear terror agents. In early 2003, the Bush administration proposed Project BioShield to stimulate the development of such countermeasures and to procure them for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). Congress considered three bills that incorporated much of the administration’s proposal: S. 15 (Gregg), H.R. 2122 (Tauzin), and S. 1504 (Gregg). H.R. 2122 passed the House on July 16, 2003. S. 15 passed the Senate on May 25, 2004, in an amended form similar to H.R. 2122. This version of S. 15 passed the House on July 14, 2004. President Bush signed S. 15 into law as the Project BioShield Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-276) on July 21, 2004.
- Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons
- No Description Available.