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Abortion: Judicial and Legislative Control

Description: In 1973 the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Constitution protects a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy, Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, and that a State may not unduly burden the exercise of that fundamental right by regulations that prohibit or substantially limit access to the means of effectuating that decision, Doe v. Bolton, 410 U.S. 179. But rather than settling the issue, the Court's rulings have kindled heated debate and precipitated a variety of governmental actions… more
Date: October 13, 1981
Creator: Lewis, Karen J.; Rosenberg, Morton & Porter, Allison I.
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Article Packet: Background Information on Seatbelts in School Buses

Description: This notice from the Department of Transportation, denies a petition for rule-making filed by Physicians for Automotive Safety (PAS), asking this agency to mandate the installation of seat belts on all school buses. NHTSA believes that the currently mandated occupant protections in school buses provide an adequate level of safety protection, and that seat belts would not raise the level of protection for the occupants unless States and local jurisdictions were willing to take steps to ensure th… more
Date: October 17, 1983
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
open access

The Child Support Enforcement Program

Description: This report provides summary information on the child support enforcement program, established under title IV-D of the Social Security Act. It includes basic program statistics and a description of the administrative structure and major characteristics of the program.
Date: October 5, 1982
Creator: Solomon-Fears, Carmen
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Cost Overruns in Major Weapon Systems: Current Dimensions of a Longstanding Problem

Description: This paper reviews the initiatives of the Reagan Administration to control cost overruns during the last 2 and a half years and the actions taken by the Congress to strengthen its oversight role. Particular attention is directed at the critical need to enhance management incentive and accountability at all level of the acquisition process. If recently instituted reform in the Department of Defense fail to control cost overruns, pressure may grow for a more sweeping and radical approach. Serious… more
Date: October 15, 1983
Creator: Lockwood, David E.
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Crime Control: Administration and Congressional Initiatives

Description: The Reagan Administration announced its major crime Control proposals in 1981, shortly after the final report from the Attorney General's Task Force on Violent Crimes, and reiterated support for significant changes in Crime control legislation in 1983. Congressional initiatives and modifications of those proposals continue interest and controversy in crime control matters in the 98th Congress.
Date: October 21, 1983
Creator: Kaiser, Frederick M.
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Dioxin: Environmental Impacts and Potential Human Health Effects

Description: This issue brief presents a short background on the physical/chemical properties of dioxin, describes several existing sources of possible human exposure, and highlights what is currently known about its environmental impacts and human health effects. Congressional interest is intense at this time because of large numbers of Vietnam veterans' claims for benefits associated with use of herbicides in that war as well as because of certain incidents of potential significance to health involving di… more
Date: October 21, 1983
Creator: Simpson, Michael M.
open access

Equal Rights for Women

Description: Amendments to the Constitution to provide equality of rights for women have been reintroduced in every Congress from the 67th i n 1923 to the 100th in 1987. Also proposed in recent years, although not to date in the 100th Congress, has been legislation to improve women's rights without amending the Constitution: a statue to forbid enforcement of a classification based on sex -- except where necessary to achieve a “compelling state interest, " and a measure providing for selective revision of ex… more
Date: October 14, 1987
Creator: Gladstone, Leslie W.
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Foreign Investment in U.S. Industry

Description: Although the total amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the U.S. is small relative to U.S. direct investment abroad, it is growing rapidly and may have a large effect on some industries and geographic areas of the U.S. The two main issues raised by FDI in the U.S. are first, shall Congress require more extensive data collection efforts than are already underway, and second, should laws be enacted to limit foreign direct investment in the U.S. These two issues turn in substantial measure… more
Date: October 18, 1982
Creator: Wilson, Arlene
open access

The FTC's Used Car Rule

Description: This report discusses the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) used car rule, which aims to prevent and discourage oral misrepresentations and deceptive omissions of material facts by those selling used cars concerning warranty coverage and mechanical condition.
Date: October 14, 1983
Creator: Mulock, Bruce K.
open access

The Iran-Iraq War: Implications for U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses the Iran-Iraq conflict at its present state, which has become a war of attrition with neither side capable of achieving a decisive military victory over the other in the short term. U.S. policy concerns currently are threefold: first, that Iraq, despite moves to sustain its economic and military capacities, ultimately might suffer a destabilizing defeat to the detriment of U.S. interests in the Persian Gulf region; second, that future instability in Iran could open opportu… more
Date: October 14, 1987
Creator: Preece, Richard M.
open access

The Japanese Health Care System

Description: This report provides (1) a description of the coverage, benefits, financing and administration of the Japanese health insurance plans; (2) a discussion of the way in which reimbursement levels for health care providers are determined; and (3) an analysis of the way in which the provision of health care system is organized in Japan.
Date: October 13, 1989
Creator: Sokolovsky, Joan
open access

Parental Leave: Legislation in the 100th Congress

Description: The report discusses the argument for why America should set a standard long-term maternity leave and temporary medical disability leave. Then the opposition to this position discusses why maternity leave and medical disability leave should be decided by the employer, not the Federal government.
Date: October 1, 1987
Creator: Gladstone, Leslie W.
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