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| Date June 24, 2008 |
Report No. RL34367 |
Title
Order Code RL34367 Side-by-Side Comparison of Flood Insurance Reform Legislation in the 110th Congress Updated June 24, 2008 Rawle O. King Analyst in Financial Economics and Risk Assessment Government and Finance Division Side-by-Side Comparison of Flood Insurance Reform Legislation in the 110th Congress Summary In 1968, Congress established the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in response ...
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| Date June 24, 2008 |
Report No. RS20617 |
Title
Order Code RS20617 Updated June 24, 2008 How Bills Amend Statutes Richard S. Beth Specialist in the Legislative Process Government and Finance Division Many bills proposed in Congress address subjects on which law already exists, and their enactment would result in changes in the body of existing law. This report describes how new legislation may commonly express its intention either explicitly to ...
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| Date June 24, 2008 |
Report No. RL30346 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-508) added Title V to the Congressional Budget Act. Title V, also called the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (the FCRA), changed how the unified budget reports the cost of federal credit activities (i.e., federal direct loans and loan guarantees). Before fiscal year 1992 (FY1992), for a given ...
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| Date June 23, 2008 |
Report No. RL32297 |
Title
Order Code RL32297 State Corporate Income Taxes: A Description and Analysis Updated June 23, 2008 Steven Maguire Specialist in Public Finance Government and Finance Division State Corporate Income Taxes: A Description and Analysis Summary State corporate income taxes have become a subject of interest to both state and federal policymakers. The cause of this elevated interest may be the expansion ...
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| Date June 23, 2008 |
Report No. 97-398GOV |
Title
Order Code 97-398 GOV Asian Pacific Americans in the United States Congress Updated June 23, 2008 Lorraine H. Tong Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division Asian Pacific Americans in the United States Congress Summary Nine Asian Pacific Americans served in the first session of the 110th Congress: two Senators, six Representatives, and one Delegate. With the ...
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| Date June 23, 2008 |
Report No. RL34547 |
Title
Order Code RL34547 Possible Federal Revenue from Oil Development of ANWR and Nearby Areas June 23, 2008 Salvatore Lazzari Specialist in Energy and Environmental Economics Resources, Science, and Industry Possible Federal Revenue from the Development of ANWR and Nearby Areas Summary Recent high petroleum prices, and the related economic burden on consumers and energy-intensive industries, has ...
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| Date June 23, 2008 |
Report No. R34547 |
Title
Order Code RL34547 Possible Federal Revenue from Oil Development of ANWR and Nearby Areas June 23, 2008 Salvatore Lazzari Specialist in Energy and Environmental Economics Resources, Science, and Industry Possible Federal Revenue from the Development of ANWR and Nearby Areas Summary Recent high petroleum prices, and the related economic burden on consumers and energy-intensive industries, has ...
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| Date June 20, 2008 |
Report No. RL31053 |
Title
Order Code RL31053 Kosovo and U.S. Policy: Background to Independence Updated June 20, 2008 Julie Kim Specialist in International Relations Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Steven Woehrel Specialist in European Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Kosovo and U.S. Policy: Background to Independence Summary Close to nine years after NATO intervened militarily in the ...
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| Date June 20, 2008 |
Report No. RL34249 |
Title
Order Code RL34249 The Tax Reduction and Reform Act of 2007: An Overview Updated June 20, 2008 Jane G. Gravelle Senior Specialist in Economic Policy Government and Finance Division The Tax Reduction and Reform Act of 2007: An Overview Summary On October 25, 2007, Chairman Charles B. Rangel of the House Ways and Means Committee announced his tax revision proposal, H.R. 3970, the Tax Reduction and ...
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| Date June 20, 2008 |
Report No. RL33129 |
Title
Order Code RL33129 Flood Risk Management and Levees: A Federal Primer Updated June 20, 2008 Betsy A. Cody and Nicole T. Carter Specialists in Natural Resources Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Flood Risk Management and Levees: A Federal Primer Summary Midwestern flooding and Hurricane Katrina have raised concerns about reducing human and economic losses from flooding. In the United ...
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| Date June 20, 2008 |
Report No. RS21740 |
Title
Order Code RS21740 Updated June 20, 2008 Conservation Security Program: Implementation and Termination Tadlock Cowan Analyst in Natural Resources and Rural Development Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary The 2008 farm bill terminates authority for the Conservation Security Program (except for existing contract holders) and authorizes a new Conservation Stewardship Program. The ...
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| Date June 19, 2008 |
Report No. RL33934 |
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Order Code RL33934 Farm Bill Legislative Action in the 110th Congress Updated June 19, 2008 Ren e Johnson, Coordinator, Geoffrey S. Becker, Tom Capehart, Ralph M. Chite, Tadlock Cowan, Ross W. Gorte, Charles E. Hanrahan, Remy Jurenas, Jim Monke, Jean M. Rawson, Randy Schnepf Resources, Science, and Industry Division Joe Richardson Domestic Social Policy Division Donald J. Marples and Mark Jickling ...
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| Date June 19, 2008 |
Report No. RL31657 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress In the 110th Congress, the Senate and House have passed different versions of expanded mental health parity legislation (S. 558 and H.R. 1424). These bills have always been strongly supported by advocates for the mentally ill and have had broad, bipartisan support in Congress. Although employers and health insurance groups opposed the legislation in ...
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| Date June 18, 2008 |
Report No. RL34372 |
Title
Order Code RL34372 The HOPE NOW Alliance/American Securitization Forum (ASF) Plan to Freeze Certain Mortgage Interest Rates Updated June 18, 2008 David H. Carpenter Legislative Attorney American Law Division Edward Vincent Murphy Analyst in Financial Economics Government and Finance Division The HOPE NOW Alliance/American Securitization Forum (ASF) Plan to Freeze Certain Mortgage Interest Rates ...
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| Date June 17, 2008 |
Report No. RL34388 |
Title
Order Code RL34388 Child Welfare Issues in the 110th Congress Updated June 17, 2008 Emilie Stoltzfus Specialist in Social Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Child Welfare Issues in the 110th Congress Summary As the U.S. Constitution has been interpreted, states have the primary obligation to ensure child welfare. However, Congress provides significant federal funds to help states exercise this ...
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| Date June 17, 2008 |
Report No. RL32685 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress In November 2000, the nation faced the unusual circumstance of not knowing the winner of the election for President for several weeks. The public scrutiny resulting from that experience exposed a wide range of weaknesses with the American system of elections. Many of the weaknesses had been known for years by election administrators, but they had ...
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| Date June 17, 2008 |
Report No. RL34538 |
Title
Order Code RL34538 Rising Household Debt: Context and Implications June 17, 2008 Brian W. Cashell Specialist in Macroeconomic Policy Government and Finance Division Rising Household Debt: Context and Implications Summary The financial condition of households has important implications for a number of economic issues relevant to public policy. In the short term, unsustainable growth in debt carried ...
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| Date June 17, 2008 |
Report No. RL33890 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress In early 2007, congressional action on business taxes began with a focus on small business, to counter the purported adverse impact of an increase in the federal minimum wage on small business. In May, Congress enacted the Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007 as part of a larger appropriations bill (P.L. 110-28). Among the act s tax measures were ...
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| Date June 17, 2008 |
Report No. RS22899 |
Title
Order Code RS22899 June 17, 2008 Global Climate Change: Status of Negotiations Susan R. Fletcher Specialist in International Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary In December 2007, the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held their 13th annual meeting in Bali, Indonesia, and began the process of working toward an agreement/ ...
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| Date June 17, 2008 |
Report No. RS20167 |
Title
Order Code RS20167 Updated June 17, 2008 The Role of the Office of Management and Budget in Budget Development Bill Heniff Jr. Analyst on the Congress and Legislative Process Government and Finance Division The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) assists the President in carrying out his budgetary duties. Originally created by the 1921 Budget and Accounting Act as the Bureau of the Budget, it ...
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| Date June 17, 2008 |
Report No. RS20175 |
Title
Development of the President s Budget .................................................................................... 1 Interaction with Congress ......................................................................................................... 1 Execution of the Budget............................................................................................................ 2 Author ...
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| Date June 17, 2008 |
Report No. RS20198 |
Title
Order Code RS20198 Updated June 17, 2008 The Role of Departments and Agencies in Budget Development Bill Heniff Jr. Analyst on the Congress and Legislative Process Government and Finance Division Federal departments and agencies play an integral role in the development of the President s budget. The President is required to prepare and submit a comprehensive federal budget to Congress each year. ...
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| Date June 17, 2008 |
Report No. 98-405 |
Title
Order Code 98-405 GOV Updated June 17, 2008 The Spending Pipeline: Stages of Federal Spending Bill Heniff Jr. Analyst on the Congress and Legislative Process Government and Finance Division Federal government spending involves a multi-step process in which budget authority is enacted and obligated, and outlays are generated. Budget authority is enacted in law; it provides federal agencies the ...
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| Date June 17, 2008 |
Report No. 98-325 |
Title
Order Code 98-325 GOV Updated June 17, 2008 The Federal Fiscal Year Bill Heniff Jr. Analyst on the Congress and Legislative Process Government and Finance Division The fiscal year is the accounting period of the federal government. It begins on October 1 and ends on September 30 of the next calendar year. Each fiscal year is identified by the calendar year in which it ends and commonly is referred ...
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| Date June 17, 2008 |
Report No. RS20179 |
Title
T he President is required to annually prepare and submit a comprehensive federal budget to Congress for the fiscal year that begins on October 1 (31 U.S.C. 1105). The President sets out his national priorities and proposes policy initiatives in the federal budget submitted to Congress soon after Congress convenes in January. The President s budget submission provides him the opportunity to ...
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| Date June 16, 2008 |
Report No. RS22898 |
Title
Order Code RS22898 June 16, 2008 Government Spending on Health Care Benefits and Programs: A Data Brief Jennifer Jenson Specialist in Health Economics Domestic Social Policy Division Summary In a country where health spending accounts for more than 16%1 of gross domestic product (GDP), health care costs and spending are often described as a problem for consumers and their families; for employers ...
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| Date June 16, 2008 |
Report No. RS22324 |
Title
Order Code RS22324 Updated June 16, 2008 Bosnia: Overview of Current Issues Julie Kim Specialist in International Relations Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary Over 12 years since the Dayton accords ended the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, Bosnia s future is still somewhat in question. Despite the country s numerous postwar achievements, political and ethnic divisions remain strong, with ...
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| Date June 16, 2008 |
Report No. RS22661 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Regulatory modernization legislation for credit unions, the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act (CURIA), has been introduced in both the House and Senate. H.R. 1537 (CURIA 2007) was introduced on March 15, 2007, and S. 2957 (CURIA 2008) was introduced on May 1, 2008. The two bills are virtually identical except for technical corrections. The ...
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| Date June 13, 2008 |
Report No. RL32046 |
Title
Order Code RL32046 Federal Health Centers Program Updated June 13, 2008 Barbara English Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group Federal Health Centers Program Summary Health centers were first funded by the federal government as part of the War on Poverty in the mid-1960s. When the Economic Opportunity Act (P.L. 88-452) was phased out in the 1970s, about 100 neighborhood health ...
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| Date June 13, 2008 |
Report No. RL34268 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Under current law, the hardrock mineral industry pays no royalty to the federal government for the privilege of extracting resources from federal lands. This differs from the federal policy toward the coal and oil/gas industries, the policy of State governments, and the leasing arrangements in the private sector, which often require bonus bids and ...
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| Date June 12, 2008 |
Report No. RL34533 |
Title
Order Code RL34533 The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: Comparison of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3773 and the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3773 June 12, 2008 Elizabeth B. Bazan Legislative Attorney American Law Division The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: Comparison of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3773 and the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3773 ...
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| Date June 12, 2008 |
Report No. 95-896 |
Title
Order Code 95-896 The Voting Rights Act of 1965, As Amended: Its History and Current Issues Updated June 12, 2008 Garrine P. Laney Analyst in American National Government Domestic Social Policy Division The Voting Rights Act of 1965, As Amended: Its History and Current Issues Summary Several bills have been introduced in the 110th Congress concerning the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) that would ...
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| Date June 12, 2008 |
Report No. RL33509 |
Title
Order Code RL33509 Lebanon Updated June 12, 2008 Christopher M. Blanchard Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Jeremy M. Sharp Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Lebanon Summary Recent violence in Lebanon and subsequent negotiations have broken the political deadlock that had paralyzed the Lebanese government ...
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| Date June 12, 2008 |
Report No. RS20268 |
Title
Order Code RS20268 Updated June 12, 2008 Agency Justification of the President s Budget Bill Heniff Jr. Analyst on the Congress and Legislative Process Government and Finance Division While the President is required to submit annually a comprehensive federal budget to Congress, each federal agency bears the primary responsibility for justifying its budget request to gain approval from Congress. ...
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| Date June 11, 2008 |
Report No. 97-59 |
Title
Order Code 97-59 A Federal Income Tax: Legal Analysis of Common Tax Protester Arguments Updated June 11, 2008 John R. Luckey Legislative Attorney American Law Division Federal Income Tax: Legal Analysis of Common Tax Protester Arguments Summary This report addresses some of the commonly raised historical, constitutional, procedural, and legal questions concerning the federal income tax. The ...
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| Date June 11, 2008 |
Report No. RL34379 |
Title
Order Code RL34379 Constitutional Issues Relating to Proposals for Legislation to Impose an Interest Rate Freeze/Reduction on Existing Mortgages Updated June 11, 2008 David H. Carpenter Legislative Attorney American Law Division Constitutional Issues Relating to Proposals for Legislation to Impose an Interest Rate Freeze/Reduction on Existing Mortgages Summary The U.S. housing market began to slow ...
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| Date June 11, 2008 |
Report No. 97-522F |
Title
Order Code 97-522 F Updated June 11, 2008 Azerbaijan: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests Jim Nichol Specialist in Russian and Eurasian Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary This report discusses political, economic, and security challenges facing Azerbaijan, including the unsettled conflict in the breakaway Nagorno Karabakh region. A table provides basic facts and ...
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| Date June 11, 2008 |
Report No. RL32499 |
Title
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress According to the U.S. State Department 2007 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, Saudi donors and unregulated charities have been a major source of financing to extremist and terrorist groups over the past 25 years. The September 11, 2001 attacks fueled criticisms within the United States of alleged Saudi involvement in terrorism or of ...
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| Date June 10, 2008 |
Report No. RL34527 |
Title
Order Code RL34527 Presidential Appointments to Full-time Positions in Executive Departments During the 109th Congress, 2005-2006 June 10, 2008 Henry B. Hogue Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division Maureen Bearden Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group Dana Ely Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group Presidential Appointments to ...
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| Date June 10, 2008 |
Report No. RL34526 |
Title
Order Code RL34526 The Davis-Bacon Act: Issues and Legislation During the 110th Congress June 10, 2008 William G. Whittaker Specialist in Labor Economics Domestic Social Policy Division The Davis-Bacon Act: Issues and Legislation During the 110th Congress Summary In 1931, following several years of intermittent hearings and, ultimately, encouragement from the Hoover Administration, Congress ...
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| Date June 10, 2008 |
Report No. RL34369 |
Title
Order Code RL34369 Constitutional Issues Relating to Proposals for Foreclosure Moratorium Legislation That Affects Existing Mortgages Updated June 10, 2008 David H. Carpenter Legislative Attorney American Law Division Constitutional Issues Relating to Proposals for Foreclosure Moratorium Legislation That Affects Existing Mortgages Summary The U.S. housing market began to slow in early 2006. This ...
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| Date June 9, 2008 |
Report No. RL33932 |
Title
Order Code RL33932 Illegal Logging: Background and Issues Updated June 9, 2008 Pervaze A. Sheikh Specialist in Natural Resources Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Illegal Logging: Background and Issues Summary Illegal logging is a pervasive problem throughout the world, affecting countries that produce, export, and import wood and wood products. Illegal logging is generally defined ...
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| Date June 9, 2008 |
Report No. RS22028 |
Title
Order Code RS22028 Updated June 9, 2008 CFTC Reauthorization Mark Jickling Specialist in Financial Economics Government and Finance Division Summary Authorization for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a sunset agency established in 1974, expired on September 30, 2005. In the past, Congress has used the reauthorization process to consider amendments to the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA ...
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| Date June 6, 2008 |
Report No. RL34264 |
Title
Order Code RL34264 Strategic Airlift Modernization: Analysis of C-5 Modernization and C-17 Acquisition Issues Updated June 6, 2008 William Knight and Christopher Bolkcom Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Strategic Airlift Modernization: Analysis of C-5 Modernization and C-17 Acquisition Issues Summary Strategic airlift has played a pivotal role in U.S. national security strategy since ...
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| Date June 6, 2008 |
Report No. RL33273 |
Title
Order Code RL33273 Data Security: Federal Legislative Approaches Updated June 6, 2008 Gina Marie Stevens Legislative Attorney American Law Division Data Security: Federal Legislative Approaches Summary During the First Session of the 110th Congress, three data security bills were reported favorably out of Senate committees S. 239 (Feinstein), a bill to require federal agencies, and persons engaged ...
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| Date June 5, 2008 |
Report No. RL33060 |
Title
Order Code RL33060 Tax Deductions for Catastrophic Risk Insurance Reserves: Explanation and Economic Analysis Updated June 5, 2008 Rawle O. King Analyst in Industry Economics Government and Finance Division Tax Deductions for Catastrophic Risk Insurance Reserves: Explanation and Economic Analysis Summary In the wake of the three destructive hurricanes that struck the Gulf Coast during the 2005 ...
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| Date June 4, 2008 |
Report No. RL34520 |
Title
Order Code RL34520 Climate Change: Comparison and Analysis of S. 1766 and S. 2191 (S. 3036) June 4, 2008 Larry Parker and Brent Yacobucci Specialists in Energy and Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Climate Change: Comparison and Analysis of S. 1766 and S. 2191 (S. 3036) Summary Several proposals designed to address greenhouse gases have been introduced in the 110th ...
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| Date June 4, 2008 |
Report No. RS21709 |
Title
Order Code RS21709 Updated June 4, 2008 Mad Cow Disease and U.S. Beef Trade Charles E. Hanrahan and Geoffrey S. Becker Senior Specialist and Specialist in Agricultural Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary The 110th Congress has been monitoring U.S. efforts to regain foreign markets that banned U.S. beef when a Canadian-born cow in Washington state tested positive for bovine ...
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| Date June 3, 2008 |
Report No. RL32800 |
Title
Order Code RL32800 Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Law: Recent Legislation and Issues Updated June 3, 2008 Garrine P. Laney Analyst in Social Legislation Domestic Social Policy Division Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Law: Recent Legislation and Issues Summary Congress has enacted laws to imprison sex offenders and, once they are released from prison, to ...
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| Date June 3, 2008 |
Report No. RL32248 |
Title
Order Code RL32248 Petroleum Refining: Economic Performance and Challenges for the Future Updated June 3, 2008 Robert Pirog Specialist in Energy Economics Resources, Science, and Industry Division Petroleum Refining: Economic Performance and Challenges for the Future Summary The petroleum refining industry provides products that are critical to the functioning of the economy. Virtually all ...
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