Congressional Research Service Reports - 823 Matching Results

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High Speed Rail (HSR) in the United States

Description: This report provides an overview of high speed rail in the United States. It discusses definitions of high speed rail, looks at high speed rail in selected other countries, and describes congressional initiatives to promote HSR, including provisions in the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-432) and ARRA. The report then surveys rationales for developing HSR, cost estimates for HSR, and some of the challenges expected in implementing HSR.
Date: December 8, 2009
Creator: Peterman, David R.; Frittelli, John & Mallett, William J.
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iraq: Politics, Elections, and Benchmarks

Description: This report provides an overview of Iraq's political transition from the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein to a plural polity that encompasses varying sects and ideological and political factions. This report also addresses ongoing governmental instabilities and their causes, as well as U.S. concerns about possible Iranian influence in Iraq as U.S. forces depart the country.
Date: December 8, 2009
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The UNESCO World Heritage Convention: Congressional Issues

Description: This report provides background information on the World Heritage Convention, outlines U.S. participation and funding, and highlights criteria for adding and removing sites from the World Heritage Lists. It also discusses possible issues for the 111th Congress.
Date: December 8, 2009
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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European Union Enlargement: A Status Report on Turkey's Accession Negotiations

Description: This report provides a brief overview of the European Union's (EU) accession process; Turkey's path to EU membership; the impact of the Cyprus problem; and a review of the United States' interest in Turkey's future in the European Union.
Date: October 8, 2009
Creator: Morelli, Vincent & Migdalovitz, Carol
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization: An Overview of Legislative Action in the 111th Congress

Description: This report tracks the status of ongoing legislative action and debate related to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization. It is organized into six major program areas: aviation system finance; airport financing; FAA management and organizational issues; system capacity and safety; environmental issues; and airline industry issues. In several cases, provisions that appear in various unrelated sections of proposed legislation have been rearranged in this report in an effort to grou… more
Date: October 8, 2009
Creator: Elias, Bart
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Improper Payments Information Act of 2002: Background, Implementation, and Assessment

Description: This report discusses the Improper Payments Information Act (IPIA), which signed into law in 2002 requires agencies to identify each year programs and activities vulnerable to significant improper payments, to estimate the amount of overpayments or underpayments, and to report to Congress on steps being taken to reduce such payments.
Date: October 8, 2009
Creator: Hatch, Garrett & McMurtry, Virginia A.
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran Sanctions

Description: This report discusses the increasing international pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear program and how that pressure discourages foreign firms from investing in Iran's energy sector, hindering Iran's efforts to expand oil production. This report discusses the history and progress of the formal U.S. effort to curb energy investment in Iran, which began with the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) in 1996.
Date: October 8, 2009
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism Operations: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: The Department of Defense (DOD) is placing an increased planning and budgeting emphasis on irregular warfare (IW) operations, such as counterinsurgency operations. In addition, counterterrorism (CT) operations have been a DOD area of emphasis since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The Navy for several years has carried out a variety of IW and CT activities, and has taken some steps in recent years to strengthen its ability to conduct such activities. This report discusses these acti… more
Date: October 8, 2009
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA): Does It Provide for a Private Cause of Action?

Description: This report discusses the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which is intended to protect servicemembers by temporarily suspending certain judicial and administrative proceedings and transactions that may adversely affect their legal rights during military service.
Date: October 8, 2009
Creator: Mason, R. Chuck
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Air Quality Issues and Animal Agriculture: A Primer

Description: This report reviews the types of air emissions from livestock and poultry operations and their human health and environmental impacts. It then discusses provisions of several federal laws concerned with environmental impacts, beginning with the Clean Water Act, because protecting water resources has been the primary regulatory focus regarding livestock and animal operations.
Date: September 8, 2009
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Dispute Settlement in the World Trade Organization (WTO): An Overview

Description: This report describes the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), which is the World Trade Organization's (WTO) means of resolving disputes arising under WTO agreements. The report includes criticisms of certain flaws in the DSU, as well as WTO Members' suggestions for improvement. The report also describes the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which represents the United States in WTO disputes.
Date: September 8, 2009
Creator: Grimmett, Jeanne J.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Electric Power Storage

Description: This report summarizes the technical, regulatory, and policy issues that surround implementation of electric power storage.
Date: September 8, 2009
Creator: Kaplan, Stan M.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Energy Projects on Federal Lands: Leasing and Authorization

Description: The report reviews laws and regulations affecting leasing of federal lands for exploration and production of oil and natural gas, which have evolved under a complex leasing system over the last century. The report also addresses existing laws and regulations that affect the use of federal lands for renewable energy projects, including geothermal, wind, and solar energy.
Date: September 8, 2009
Creator: Vann, Adam
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Japan's Historic 2009 Elections: Implications for U.S. Interests

Description: This report analyzes the Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ) policy platform and reviews the implications for U.S. strategic and economic interests now that the party and its coalition allies are set to take control of the Japanese government in the wake of the August 30 parliamentary elections.
Date: September 8, 2009
Creator: Konishi, Weston S.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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