Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Issue Briefs articles from February 2006

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Issue Briefs archives from February 2006

U.S. aid to the Palestinians.(CRS Report for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Summary With the recent success of Hamas at the polls, many observers have cautioned that continued foreign assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) may be at risk due to Hamas' commitment to the destruction of the state of Israel...

Brazilian trade policy and the United States.(CRS Report for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... February 3, 2006 Summary As the largest and one of the most influential countries in Latin America, Brazil has emerged as a leading voice for developing countries in setting regional and multilateral trade agendas. The United States...

Navy role in Global War on Terrorism (GWOT)--background and issues for Congress.(CRS Report for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Summary The Navy is taking several actions to expand its capabilities for participating in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). The Navy's role in the GWOT raises several potential oversight issues for Congress, including the need for an...

Conducting foreign relations without authority: the Logan Act.(CRS Report for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... February 1, 2006 Summary The Logan Act, codified at 18 U.S.C. [sections] 953, states: Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or...

Palestinian elections.(CRS Report for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... February 9, 2006 Summary Fair and transparent elections are seen by experts and policymakers as a necessary step in Palestinian democratization and for the peace process. In 2002, the Palestinian Authority (PA), under increasing...

Drug control: international policy and approaches.(CRS Issue Brief for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Updated February 2, 2006 CONTENTS SUMMARY MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS Problem Current International Narcotics Control Policy Eradication of Narcotic Crops Interdiction and Law...

Terrorism and national security: issues and trends.(CRS Issue Brief for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Updated February 2, 2006 CONTENTS SUMMARY MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS The War on Terrorism Background Definitions U.S. Policy Response Framework Dilemmas Continuing...

Pakistan: chronology of recent events.(CRS Report for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Summary This report provides a chronology of recent events involving Pakistan and Pakistan-U.S. relations. Sources include, but are not limited to, major newswires, the U.S. Department of State, and Pakistani news outlets. For a...

India: chronology of recent events.(CRS Report for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)(Chronology)
February 1, 2006... Summary This report provides a reverse chronology of recent events involving India and India-U.S. relations. Sources include, but are not limited to, major newswires, the U.S. Department of State, Hindu (Madras), Hindustan Times (Delhi),...

Pakistan-U.S. relations.(CRS Issue Brief for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Updated February 10, 2006 CONTENTS SUMMARY MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS Historical Background Pakistan-India Rivalry The China Factor Pakistan's Political Setting Pakistan-U.S....

India-U.S. relations.(CRS Issue Brief for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Updated February 9, 2006 CONTENTS SUMMARY MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS Context of the U.S.-India Relationship Regional Rivalries Pakistan China Political Setting National...

South Korea-U.S. economic relations: cooperation, friction, and prospects for a free trade agreement (FTA).(CRS Report for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Updated February 9, 2006 Summary South Korea is a major economic partner for the United States. In 2004, trade between the two countries was over $70 billion, making South Korea the United States's seventh-largest trading...

Energy efficiency and renewable energy legislation in the 109th Congress.(CRS Report for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Updated February 9, 2006 Summary This report reviews the status of energy efficiency and renewable energy legislation introduced during the 109th Congress. Action in the first session focused on omnibus energy policy bill H.R. 6,...

Arts and humanities: background on funding.(CRS Report for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Summary Funding for the arts and humanities is a perennial issue in Congress. Although arts funding represents less than 1% of the Bush Administration's FY2007 total estimated budget authority, Congress continues to address the concern...

Russia's cutoff of natural gas to Ukraine: context and implications.(CRS Report for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Summary This report examines issues surrounding Russia's request for higher prices for natural gas that it exports to Ukraine, which culminated in Russia's temporary cutoff of supplies to Ukraine in January 2006. Implications for the two...

Renewable energy: tax credit, budget, and electricity production issues.(CRS Issue Brief for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Updated February 17, 2006 CONTENTS SUMMARY MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS Renewable Energy Concept Contribution to National Energy Supply Role in Long-Term Energy Supply History Tax...

Campaign finance.(CRS Issue Brief for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Updated February 8, 2006 CONTENTS SUMMARY MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS Evolution of the Current System Campaign Finance Practices and Related Issues Enduring Issues: Overall Costs, Funding...

Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: political developments and implications for U.S. interests.(CRS Report for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Updated February 23, 2006 CONTENTS SUMMARY MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS Overview of U.S. Policy Concerns Post-September 11 Operations in Iraq Obstacles to Peace and Independence ...

Climate change legislation in the 109th Congress.(CRS Report for Congress: Received through the CRS Web)
February 1, 2006... Updated February 22, 2006 Summary Climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are an issue in the 109th Congress, as they have been in past Congresses. Bills directly addressing climate change issues range from those focused...

Federal research and development funding: FY2006.
February 1, 2006... Updated February 1, 2006 Summary The Bush Administration requested $132.4 billion in federal research and development (R&D) funding for FY2006. This sum represents a $400 million increase over the FY2005 estimated funding level of...

The Global Peace Operations Initiative: background and issues for Congress.
February 1, 2006... Updated February 8, 2006 Summary The Administration has requested $102.6 million in FY2007 funds for the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), a multilateral, five-year program with planned U.S. contributions of some $660...

Iraq: summary of U.S. casualties.(Department of Defense )(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Summary The following casualty data was compiled by the Department of Defense (DOD), as tallied from the agency's press releases. Table 1 provides statistics on fatalities during Operation Iraqi Freedom, which began on March 19, 2003,...

Iraq: U.S. regime change efforts and post-Saddam governance.
February 1, 2006... Updated February 9, 2006 Summary Operation Iraqi Freedom succeeded in overthrowing Saddam Hussein, but Iraq remains violent and unstable because of Sunni Arab resentment and a related insurgency, as well as increasing sectarian...

Israel: background and relations with the United States.
February 1, 2006... Updated February 13, 2006 CONTENTS SUMMARY MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS Historical Overview of Israel Government and Politics Overview Current Political Situation Economy ...

Millennium challenge account: implementation of a new U.S. foreign aid initiative.
February 1, 2006... Updated February 7, 2006 Summary In a speech on March 14, 2002, President Bush outlined a proposal for a major new U.S. foreign aid initiative. The program, referred to as the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), is managed by the...

Nigeria in political transition.
February 1, 2006... Updated February 23, 2006 CONTENTS SUMMARY MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS Historical and Political Background Transition to Civilian Rule Elections in 1998, 1999 The 2003 Elections ...

Saudi Arabia: current issues and U.S. relations.
February 1, 2006... Updated February 24, 2006 CONTENTS SUMMARY MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS Current Issues Royal Succession September 11 Terrorist Attacks and Aftermath Allegations Saudi Responses ...

Sudan: humanitarian crisis, peace talks, terrorism, and U.S. policy.
February 1, 2006... CONTENTS SUMMARY MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS The Crisis in Darfur: Background Recent Developments in Darfur Darfur Developments: Accountability for Atrocities Prospects for a Negotiated...

U.S. and international responses to the global spread of avian flu: issues for Congress.
February 1, 2006... Updated February 23, 2006 Summary One strain of avian influenza currently identified in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa is known as Influenza A/H5N1. Although it is a bird flu, it has infected a relatively small number of...

U.S. assistance to North Korea: fact sheet.
February 1, 2006... Summary Since 1995, the United States has provided over $1 billion in foreign assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea (DPRK, also known as North Korea). About 60% has taken the form of food aid and about 40% was...

War powers resolution: presidential compliance.
February 1, 2006... Updated February 14, 2006 CONTENTS SUMMARY MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS United Nations Actions Former Yugoslavia/Bosnia Kosovo Iraq--Post 1991 Haiti Somalia Instances...

Iran's nuclear program: recent developments.(Report)
February 1, 2006... Summary International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections since 2003 have revealed almost two decades' worth of undeclared nuclear activities in Iran, including uranium enrichment and plutonium separation efforts. Iran's actions to...

Internet development and information control in the People's Republic of China.
February 1, 2006... Updates February 10, 2006 Summary Since its founding in 1949, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has exerted great effort in manipulating the flow of information and prohibiting the dissemination of viewpoints that criticize the...

Taiwan's political status: historical background and ongoing implications.
February 1, 2006... Summary In 1979, official U.S. relations with Taiwan (the Republic of China) became a casualty of the American decision to recognize the communist government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) as China's sole legitimate government....

FEMA's flood hazard map modernization initiative.(Federal Emergency Management Agency)
February 1, 2006... Summary In 1968, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This program called for the federal government to help cover costs of flood damages, creating a structure that assigned the financial responsibility to...