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| Date Aug. 27, 2008 |
Report No. RL31798 |
Title
Order Code RL31798 Data Mining and Homeland Security: An Overview Updated August 27, 2008 Jeffrey W. Seifert Specialist in Information Policy and Technology Resources, Science, and Industry Division Data Mining and Homeland Security: An Overview Summary Data mining has become one of the key features of many homeland security initiatives. Often used as a means for detecting fraud, assessing risk, ...
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| Date Aug. 27, 2008 |
Report No. RS20740 |
Title
Order Code RS20740 Updated August 27, 2008 Proposals for Reparations for African Americans: A Brief Overview Garrine P. Laney Analyst in Social Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Summary Legislative proposals that relate to reparations for and racial segregation directed at African Americans include H.R. 40 (Conyers) and H.Res. 194 (Cohen). H.R. 40 would create a commission to study the ...
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| Date Aug. 26, 2008 |
Report No. RS21409 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress In the 1980s expansion, the trade deficit and budget deficit moved together. This pattern reemerged in the recession and subsequent expansion beginning in 2001. This is the opposite of what happened in the last half of the 1990s, when the budget deficit fell as a fraction of gross domestic product (GDP) and the trade deficit rose sharply as a ...
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| Date Aug. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL33885 |
Title
Order Code RL33885 North Korean Crime-for-Profit Activities Updated August 25, 2008 Liana Sun Wyler Analyst in International Crime and Narcotics Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Dick K. Nanto Specialist in Industry and Trade Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division North Korean Crime-for-Profit Activities Summary Strong indications exist that the North Korean (Democratic People s ...
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| Date Aug. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL34610 |
Title
Order Code RL34610 Midwest Flooding Disaster: Rethinking Federal Flood Insurance? Updated August 25, 2008 Rawle O. King Analyst in Financial Economics and Risk Assessment Government and Finance Division Midwest Flooding Disaster: Rethinking Federal Flood Insurance? Summary Historically, floods have caused more economic loss to the nation than any other form of natural disaster. In 1968, Congress ...
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| Date Aug. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL34644 |
Title
Order Code RL34644 Low-Income Country Debt Cancellation: H.R. 2634 and S. 2166 August 25, 2008 Jonathan Sanford and Martin A. Weiss Specialists in International Trade and Finance Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Low-Income Country Debt Cancellation: H.R. 2534 and S. 2166 Summary In recent decades, the rapid growth in poor country debt has emerged as a foreign policy concern. There have ...
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| Date Aug. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL32939 |
Title
Order Code RL32939 An Emergency Communications Safety Net: Integrating 911 and Other Services Updated August 25, 2008 Linda K. Moore Analyst in Telecommunications and Technology Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division An Emergency Communications Safety Net: Integrating 911 and Other Services Summary Future 911 systems will use Internet protocols (IP) to facilitate interoperability and ...
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| Date Aug. 22, 2008 |
Report No. RL33829 |
Title
Order Code RL33829 Domestic Food Assistance: The Farm Bill and Other Legislation in the 110th Congress Updated August 22, 2008 Joe Richardson Domestic Social Policy Division Domestic Food Assistance: The Farm Bill and Other Legislation in the 110th Congress Summary The nutrition title of the omnibus 2008 farm bill is the focus of legislation affecting domestic food assistance programs in the 110th ...
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| Date Aug. 22, 2008 |
Report No. RL34634 |
Title
Order Code RL34634 Climate Change and International Deforestation: Legislative Analysis August 22, 2008 Pervaze A. Sheikh and Ross W. Gorte Specialists in Natural Resources Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Jessica Sidener Intern Knowledge Services Group Climate Change and International Deforestation: Legislative Analysis Summary Deforestation accounts for nearly 20% of ...
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| Date Aug. 21, 2008 |
Report No. RL30319 |
Title
Order Code RL30319 Presidential Claims of Executive Privilege: History, Law, Practice and Recent Developments Updated August 21, 2008 Morton Rosenberg Specialist in American Public Law American Law Division Presidential Claims of Executive Privilege: History, Law, Practice and Recent Developments Summary Presidential claims of a right to preserve the confidentiality of information and documents in ...
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| Date Aug. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RL34197 |
Title
Order Code RL34197 Congressional Investigations of the Department of Justice, 1920-2007: History, Law, and Practice Updated August 20, 2008 Morton Rosenberg Specialist in American Public Law American Law Division Congressional Investigations of the Department of Justice, 1920-2007: History, Law, and Practice Summary Legislative oversight is most commonly conducted through congressional budget, ...
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| Date Aug. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RL34140 |
Title
Order Code RL34140 Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76: Implications for the Future Updated August 20, 2008 Valerie Bailey Grasso Specialist in Defense Acquisition Policy Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76: Implications for the Future ...
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| Date Aug. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RL34280 |
Title
Order Code RL34280 Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit: A Primer Updated August 20, 2008 Jennifer O Sullivan Specialist in Health Care Financing Domestic Social Policy Division Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit: A Primer Summary The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA, P.L. 108-173) established a new voluntary prescription drug benefit under a ...
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| Date Aug. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RL34629 |
Title
Order Code RL34629 Tax Credit Bonds: A Brief Explanation August 20, 2008 Steven Maguire Specialist in Public Finance Government and Finance Division Tax Credit Bonds: A Brief Explanation Summary Tax Credit Bonds (TCBs) are a type of bond that offers the holder a federal tax credit instead of interest. This report explains the tax credit mechanism and describes the market for the bonds. Currently, ...
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| Date Aug. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RS22287 |
Title
Order Code RS22287 Updated August 20, 2008 General Services Administration Prospectus Thresholds for Owned and Leased Federal Facilities Clay H. Wellborn Specialist in American National Government Government and Finance Division Summary The General Services Administration (GSA) oversees GSA owned and leased federal buildings and courthouses.1 As part of the authorization process for new ...
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| Date Aug. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RS22941 |
Title
Order Code RS22941 August 20, 2008 Disaster Tax Relief for the Midwest Erika Lunder Legislative Attorney American Law Division Summary The Midwestern Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008 (S. 3322 and H.R. 6587) is intended to assist with the recovery from the severe weather that affected the Midwest during the summer of 2008. The Jobs, Energy, Families, and Disaster Relief Act of 2008 (S. 3335) ...
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| Date Aug. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RS20723 |
Title
Order Code RS20723 Updated August 20, 2008 Freshmen in the House of Representatives and Senate by Political Party: 1913-2008 Mildred Amer Specialist in American National Government Government and Finance Division Summary Sixty-five freshmen were elected in November 2006 to the 110th Congress: 55 to the House and 10 to the Senate. Most of the freshmen were Democrats, thus enabling the party to ...
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| Date Aug. 19, 2008 |
Report No. RL34624 |
Title
Order Code RL34624 Governmental Drug Testing Programs: Legal and Constitutional Developments August 19, 2008 David H. Carpenter Legislative Attorney American Law Division Governmental Drug Testing Programs: Legal and Constitutional Developments Summary Constitutional law on the subject of governmentally mandated drug testing is primarily an outgrowth of the Fourth Amendment prohibition on ...
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| Date Aug. 19, 2008 |
Report No. 98-962 |
Title
Order Code 98-962 GOV Updated August 19, 2008 Selected Privileges and Courtesies Extended to Departing and Former Members of the House of Representatives Mildred Amer Specialist in American National Government Government and Finance Division Summary This report provides information on selected privileges and courtesies (with the exception of federal health insurance, life insurance, and retirement ...
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| Date Aug. 19, 2008 |
Report No. 98-471 |
Title
Order Code 98-471 GOV Updated August 19, 2008 Revenue Legislation in the Congressional Budget Process Bill Heniff Jr. Analyst on the Congress and Legislative Process Government and Finance Division Most of the laws establishing the federal government s revenue sources are permanent and continue year after year without any additional legislative action. Congress, however, typically enacts revenue ...
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| Date Aug. 19, 2008 |
Report No. 98-876 |
Title
Order Code 98-876 Updated August 19, 2008 Congressional Budget Act Points of Order Bill Heniff Jr. Analyst on the Congress and Legislative Process Government and Finance Division Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Titles I-IX of P.L. 93-344, 2 U.S.C. 601-688), as amended, contains several points of order that are used to enforce congressional budget procedures and substantive ...
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| Date Aug. 19, 2008 |
Report No. 98-280 |
Title
Order Code 98-280 GOV Updated August 19, 2008 Functional Categories of the Federal Budget Bill Heniff Jr. Analyst on the Congress and Legislative Process Government and Finance Division The President s budget and the congressional budget resolution classify federal budgetary activities into functional and subfunctional categories that represent the major purposes of the federal government. Each ...
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| Date Aug. 18, 2008 |
Report No. RL34583 |
Title
Order Code RL34583 Midwest Floods of 2008: Potential Impact on Agriculture Updated August 18, 2008 Randy Schnepf Specialist in Agricultural Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Midwest Floods of 2008: Potential Impact on Agriculture Summary Unusually cool, wet spring weather followed by widespread June flooding across much of the Corn Belt cast considerable uncertainty over 2008 U.S. ...
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| Date Aug. 18, 2008 |
Report No. RS22820 |
Title
Order Code RS22820 Updated August 18, 2008 Indian Tribal Civil Jurisdiction s Reach Over Non-Indians: Plains Commerce Bank v. Long Family Land and Cattle Co., Inc. Yule Kim Legislative Attorney American Law Division Summary Many Indian tribes have tribal court systems where tribal laws and regulations may be enforced against tribal members. However, absent express congressional authorization, a ...
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| Date Aug. 15, 2008 |
Report No. RL34620 |
Title
Order Code RL34620 Comparing Global Influence: China s and U.S. Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Trade, and Investment in the Developing World August 15, 2008 Thomas Lum, Coordinator Christopher M. Blanchard, Nicolas Cook, Kerry Dumbaugh, Susan B. Epstein, Shirley A. Kan, Michael F. Martin, Wayne M. Morrison, Dick K. Nanto, Jim Nichol, Jeremy M. Sharp, Mark P. Sullivan, and Bruce Vaughn Foreign Affairs, ...
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| Date Aug. 15, 2008 |
Report No. RL33484 |
Title
Order Code RL33484 National Park Management Updated August 15, 2008 Carol Hardy Vincent, Coordinator, and Ross W. Gorte Specialists in Natural Resources Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Sandra L. Johnson Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group National Park Management Summary The 110th Congress is considering legislation and conducting oversight on National Park ...
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| Date Aug. 15, 2008 |
Report No. RL32217 |
Title
Order Code RL32217 Al Qaeda in Iraq: Assessment and Outside Links Updated August 15, 2008 Kenneth Katzman Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Al Qaeda in Iraq: Assessment and Outside Links Summary In explaining the decision to invade Iraq and oust Saddam Hussein from power, the Administration asserted, among other justifications, that the regime of ...
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| Date Aug. 14, 2008 |
Report No. RS22939 |
Title
Order Code RS22939 August 14, 2008 FDA Authority to Regulate On-Farm Activity Vanessa K. Burrows Legislative Attorney American Law Division Summary Recent concerns regarding fresh produce contaminated with E. coli or Salmonella have brought attention to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) s regulatory authority. Some advocates have requested new FDA food safety regulations, including rules that ...
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| Date Aug. 14, 2008 |
Report No. RS22938 |
Title
Order Code RS22938 August 14, 2008 Rowe v. New Hampshire Motor Transport Association: Federal Preemption of State Tobacco Shipment Laws Vanessa K. Burrows Legislative Attorney American Law Division Summary Maine adopted two laws regarding shipping and delivery sales of tobacco products that were aimed at preventing minors from acquiring tobacco products. In Rowe v. New Hampshire Motor Transport ...
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| Date Aug. 13, 2008 |
Report No. RL34615 |
Title
Order Code RL34615 Nomination and Confirmation of Lower Federal Court Judges in Presidential Election Years August 13, 2008 Denis Steven Rutkus Specialist on the Federal Judiciary Government and Finance Division Kevin M. Scott Analyst on the Federal Judiciary Government and Finance Division Nomination and Confirmation of Lower Federal Court Judges in Presidential Election Years Summary This report ...
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| Date Aug. 13, 2008 |
Report No. RL34617 |
Title
Order Code RL34617 Recycling Programs in Congress: Legislative Development and Architect of the Capitol Administration August 13, 2008 Jacob R. Straus Analyst on the Congress Government and Finance Division Recycling Programs in Congress: Legislative Development and Architect of the Capitol Administration Summary The House of Representatives and the Senate created separate voluntary recycling ...
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| Date Aug. 12, 2008 |
Report No. RL34611 |
Title
Order Code RL34611 Whither the Role of Conference Committees: An Analysis August 12, 2008 Walter Oleszek Senior Specialist Government and Finance Whither the Role of Conference Committees: An Analysis Summary Conference committees have long been known as the third house of Congress. They are often the principal forum for resolving bicameral differences on major measures when the House and Senate ...
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| Date Aug. 12, 2008 |
Report No. 98-815 |
Title
Order Code 98-815 GOV Updated August 12, 2008 Budget Resolution Enforcement Bill Heniff Jr. Analyst on the Congress and Legislative Process Government and Finance Division The annual budget resolution sets forth Congress s budget plan for a period of at least five fiscal years. It includes total levels of new budget authority, outlays, revenues, the deficit, and the public debt for each of the ...
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| Date Aug. 11, 2008 |
Report No. RS22887 |
Title
Order Code RS22887 Updated August 11, 2008 International Convention Against Doping in Sport: Issues for Congress Liana Sun Wyler Analyst in International Crime and Narcotics Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary The International Convention Against Doping in Sport seeks to harmonize antidoping commitments for non-professional sports at the international level. This Convention, ...
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| Date Aug. 8, 2008 |
Report No. RL31258 |
Title
Order Code RL31258 Suits Against Terrorist States by Victims of Terrorism Updated August 8, 2008 Jennifer K. Elsea Legislative Attorney American Law Division Suits Against Terrorist States by Victims of Terrorism Summary In 1996 Congress amended the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) to allow U.S. victims of terrorism to sue designated State sponsors of terrorism for their terrorist acts. The ...
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| Date Aug. 8, 2008 |
Report No. RL34087 |
Title
Order Code RL34087 FEMA Disaster Housing and Hurricane Katrina: Overview, Analysis, and Congressional Issues Updated August 8, 2008 Francis X. McCarthy Analyst, Emergency Management Policy Government and Finance Division FEMA Disaster Housing and Hurricane Katrina: Overview, Analysis, and Congressional Issues Summary Some have criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency s (FEMA s) emergency ...
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| Date Aug. 8, 2008 |
Report No. RL34578 |
Title
Order Code RL34578 Economics of Guaranteed Student Loans Updated August 8, 2008 D. Andrew Austin Analyst in Economic Policy Government and Finance Division Economics of Guaranteed Student Loans Summary Since 1966, the federal government has provided guarantees and subsidies to approved private lenders or certain state government entities that make student loans. College graduates enhanced human ...
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| Date Aug. 8, 2008 |
Report No. RL31849 |
Title
Order Code RL31849 Energy: Selected Facts and Numbers Updated August 8, 2008 Carol Glover Information Resources Specialist Knowledge Services Group Carl E. Behrens Specialist in Energy Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Energy: Selected Facts and Numbers Summary Energy supplies and prices are major economic factors in the United States, and energy markets are volatile and ...
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| Date Aug. 8, 2008 |
Report No. RS21867 |
Title
Order Code RS21867 Updated August 8, 2008 U.S. Embassy in Iraq Susan B. Epstein Specialist in Foreign Policy and Trade Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary Construction of the New Embassy Compound (NEC) in Baghdad is completed and, as of early August 2008, about 50% of post staff have moved in. Construction problems and additional requirements, including adding space at the embassy ...
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| Date Aug. 8, 2008 |
Report No. RL34416 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress The Federal Communications Commission s (FCC or Commission) broadcast media ownership rules are intended to foster the three long-standing goals of U.S. media policy competition, localism, and diversity of voices. The FCC has the statutory obligation to review these rules every four years to determine if they continue to serve the public interest or ...
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| Date Aug. 7, 2008 |
Report No. RL34321 |
Title
Order Code RL34321 The Cherokee Freedmen Dispute: Legal Background, Analysis, and Proposed Legislation Updated August 7, 2008 Yule Kim Legislative Attorney American Law Division The Cherokee Freedmen Dispute: Legal Background, Analysis, and Proposed Legislation Summary Several bills pending in the 110th Congress have the potential to affect a dispute between two groups within the Cherokee Nation ( ...
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| Date Aug. 7, 2008 |
Report No. RS22094 |
Title
Order Code RS22094 Updated August 7, 2008 Lawsuits Against State Supporters of Terrorism: An Overview Jennifer K. Elsea Legislative Attorney American Law Division Summary A 1996 amendment to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) enables American victims of international terrorist acts supported by certain States designated by the State Department as sponsors of terrorism Cuba, Iran, North ...
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| Date Aug. 6, 2008 |
Report No. RL34555 |
Title
Order Code RL34555 Speculation and Energy Prices: Legislative Responses Updated August 6, 2008 Mark Jickling Specialist in Financial Economics Government and Finance Division Lynn J. Cunningham Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group Speculation and Energy Prices: Legislative Responses Summary While most observers recognize that the fundamentals of supply and demand have ...
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| Date Aug. 6, 2008 |
Report No. RS22936 |
Title
Order Code RS22936 August 6, 2008 China s Economy and the Beijing Olympics Michael F. Martin Analyst in Asian Trade and Finance Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary China will host the 2008 Olympic Summer Games from August 8 to 24, 2008. Most of the events will be held in the vicinity of Beijing, with selected competitions held in Hong Kong, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenyang ...
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| Date Aug. 5, 2008 |
Report No. RL34354 |
Title
Order Code RL34354 Congressional Influence on Rulemaking and Regulation Through Appropriations Restrictions Updated August 5, 2008 Curtis W. Copeland Specialist in American National Government Government and Finance Division Congressional Influence on Rulemaking and Regulation Through Appropriations Restrictions Summary The statutory provision known as the Congressional Review Act (CRA) (5 U.S.C. ...
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| Date Aug. 4, 2008 |
Report No. RL33940 |
Title
Order Code RL33940 Reforming the Regulation of Government-Sponsored Enterprises in the 110th Congress Updated August 4, 2008 Mark Jickling, Edward Vincent Murphy, and N. Eric Weiss Government and Finance Division Reforming the Regulation of Government-Sponsored Enterprises in the 110th Congress Summary As government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are hybrids: created and ...
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| Date Aug. 4, 2008 |
Report No. RL34459 |
Title
Order Code RL34459 Animal Drug User Fee Programs Updated August 4, 2008 Sarah A. Lister Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology Domestic Social Policy Division Animal Drug User Fee Programs Summary The Animal Drug User Fee Act of 2003 (ADUFA I, P.L. 108-130) gave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initial authority to collect user fees from sponsors for the review of animal drug ...
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| Date Aug. 4, 2008 |
Report No. RS22916 |
Title
Order Code RS22916 Updated August 4, 2008 Fannie Mae s and Freddie Mac s Financial Problems: Frequently Asked Questions N. Eric Weiss Specialist in Financial Economics Government & Finance Division Summary Recent turmoil in the housing and financial markets has raised doubts about the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are chartered by Congress as governmentsponsored enterprises (GSEs) ...
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| Date Aug. 1, 2008 |
Report No. RL33712 |
Title
Order Code RL33712 Medicare: A Primer Updated August 1, 2008 Jennifer O Sullivan Specialist in Health Care Financing Domestic Social Policy Division Medicare: A Primer Summary Medicare is the nation s health insurance program for persons aged 65 and over and certain disabled persons. In FY2008, the program will cover an estimated 44.6 million persons (37.4 million aged and 7.3 million disabled) at ...
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| Date Aug. 1, 2008 |
Report No. RL34530 |
Title
Order Code RL34530 Department of Justice (DOJ) Appropriations for FY2008 and FY2009 Updated August 1, 2008 William J. Krouse Specialist in Domestic Security and Crime Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Celinda Franco Specialist in Domestic Security Domestic Social Policy Division Nathan James Analyst in Crime Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Department of Justice (DOJ) Appropriations for ...
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