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| Date March 10, 2008 |
Report No. RL32267 |
Title
Order Code RL32267 The War Powers Resolution: After Thirty-Four Years Updated March 10, 2008 Richard F. Grimmett Specialist in International Security Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division The War Powers Resolution: After Thirty-Four Years Summary This report discusses and assesses the War Powers Resolution, its application since enactment in 1973, providing detailed background on a variety ...
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| Date March 10, 2008 |
Report No. RL34408 |
Title
Order Code RL34408 Comparison of Selected Recommendations of the President s Commission on Returning Wounded Warriors (the Dole-Shalala Commission) and the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission March 10, 2008 Christine Scott Specialist in Social Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Sarah A. Lister Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology Domestic Social Policy Division Comparison of ...
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| Date March 10, 2008 |
Report No. RL34410 |
Title
Order Code RL34410 The Louisiana Road Home Program: Federal Aid for State Disaster Housing Assistance Programs March 10, 2008 Natalie P. Love Analyst in American Federalism and Emergency Management Policy Government and Finance Division The Louisiana Road Home Program: Federal Aid for State Disaster Housing Assistance Programs Summary The devastation resulting from Hurricane Katrina created an ...
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| Date March 10, 2008 |
Report No. RL34364 |
Title
Bond Insurers: Issues for the 110th Congress -name redactedSpecialist in Financial Economics -name redactedSpecialist in Financial Economics March 10, 2008 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov RL34364 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Bond Insurers: Issues for the 110th Congress Summary Beginning in 2007, higher than expected defaults and ...
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| Date March 10, 2008 |
Report No. RS22647 |
Title
Order Code RS22647 Updated March 10, 2008 Screening for Youth Suicide Prevention Ramya Sundararaman Analyst in Public Health Domestic Social Policy Division Summary Suicide remains a leading cause of death among U.S. youth. Most experts maintain that screening for high-risk youth within the context of a comprehensive suicide prevention program is a cost-effective strategy. While the federal ...
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| Date March 10, 2008 |
Report No. 98-761 |
Title
Order Code 98-761 GOV Updated March 10, 2008 Clerk of the House: Legislative and Administrative Duties Lorraine H. Tong Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division The Clerk is the chief legislative official of the House of Representatives. Elected by the House membership at the beginning of each Congress, the legislative duties of the Clerk were defined during the ...
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| Date March 5, 2008 |
Report No. RS21817 |
Title
Order Code RS21817 Updated March 5, 2008 The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT): Income Entry Points and Take Back Effects Steven Maguire Specialist in Public Finance Government and Finance Division Summary The alternative minimum tax for individuals (AMT) was originally enacted to ensure that high-income taxpayers paid a fair share of the federal income tax. However, the recent reductions in regular ...
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| Date March 5, 2008 |
Report No. RS21858 |
Title
Order Code RS21858 Updated March 5, 2008 Global Environment Facility (GEF): Overview Susan R. Fletcher Specialist in International Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary The Global Environment Facility (GEF), established in 1991, has served since then as a primary source of funding for several major international environmental concerns. It was designed to provide ...
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| Date March 4, 2008 |
Report No. RS22826 |
Title
Order Code RS22826 March 4, 2008 Impact of Rising Energy Costs on Older Americans Janemarie Mulvey Specialist on Aging Policy Domestic Social Policy Division Summary Energy-related expenditures include spending for utilities and fuel to operate, heat, and cool homes and spending for gasoline and motor oil for private transportation. Energy prices to consumers have increased 70% between 2000 and ...
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| Date March 4, 2008 |
Report No. RS22827 |
Title
Order Code RS22827 March 4, 2008 Liability of Plan Fiduciaries under ERISA: LaRue v. DeWolff, Boberg & Associates Jennifer Staman Legislative Attorney American Law Division Summary In LaRue v. DeWolff, Boberg & Associates, a participant in a 401(k) plan requested that plan administrators change an investment in his individual account. The plan administrators failed to make this change, and the ...
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| Date March 3, 2008 |
Report No. RL34096 |
Title
Order Code RL34096 Reauthorization in the 110th Congress of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 Updated March 3, 2008 Ann Lordeman Specialist in Social Legislation Domestic Social Policy Division Reauthorization in the 110th Congress of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 Summary The ...
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| Date March 3, 2008 |
Report No. RS21896 |
Title
Order Code RS21896 Updated March 3, 2008 The Department of the Treasury s Authority to Regulate GSE Debt: A Legal Analysis Michael V. Seitzinger Legislative Attorney American Law Division Summary The Department of the Treasury is developing a more formalized approach for approving Fannie Mae s and Freddie Mac s debt issuances. Although the Department of the Treasury has traditionally used its ...
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| Date Feb. 29, 2008 |
Report No. RL33791 |
Title
Order Code RL33791 Possible Indexation of the Federal Minimum Wage: Evolution of Legislative Activity February 29, 2008 William G. Whittaker Specialist in Labor Economics Domestic Social Policy Division Possible Indexation of the Federal Minimum Wage: Evolution of Legislative Activity Summary Indexation of the minimum wage (linking the minimum wage to an outside economic variable) in a variety of ...
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| Date Feb. 29, 2008 |
Report No. RL33485 |
Title
Order Code RL33485 U.S. International HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Spending: FY2004-FY2008 Updated February 29, 2008 Tiaji Salaam-Blyther Specialist in Global Health Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division U.S. International HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Spending: FY2004-FY2008 Summary On January 28, 2003, during his State of the Union Address, President George Bush proposed that ...
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| Date Feb. 29, 2008 |
Report No. RL33786 |
Title
Order Code RL33786 Individual Tax Rates and Tax Burdens: Changes Since 1960 Updated February 29, 2008 Thomas L. Hungerford Specialist in Public Finance Government and Finance Division Individual Tax Rates and Tax Burdens: Changes Since 1960 Summary Since 2000, Congress has passed a major tax bill almost every year, beginning with the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (P.L. ...
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| Date Feb. 29, 2008 |
Report No. RS22742 |
Title
Order Code RS22742 Updated February 29, 2008 Cuba s Political Succession: From Fidel to Ra l Castro Mark P. Sullivan Specialist in Latin American Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary Cuba s political succession from Fidel Castro to his brother Ra l has been characterized by a remarkable degree of stability. On February 24, 2008, Cuba s legislature selected Ra l as President ...
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| Date Feb. 29, 2008 |
Report No. RS22824 |
Title
Order Code RS22824 February 29, 2008 High Wheat Prices: What Are the Issues? Randy Schnepf Specialist in Agricultural Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects the U.S. season-average farm price (SAFP) received for all wheat in the 2007/08 marketing year (June to May) to be in the $6.45 to $6.85 per bushel range. The range midpoint ...
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| Date Feb. 29, 2008 |
Report No. RL34111 |
Title
Order Code RL34111 Energy Policy Reform and Revitalization Act of 2007, Title VII of H.R. 3221: Summary and Discussion of Oil and Gas Provisions Updated February 29, 2008 Marc Humphries Analyst in Energy Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Energy Policy Reform and Revitalization Act of 2007, Title VII of H.R. 3221: Summary and Discussion of Oil and Gas Provisions Summary The conflict ...
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| Date Feb. 28, 2008 |
Report No. RL33756 |
Title
Order Code RL33756 Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: A Legal and Policy Overview Updated February 28, 2008 N. Eric Weiss Analyst in Financial Institutions Government and Finance Division Michael V. Seitzinger Legislative Attorney American Law Division Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: A Legal and Policy Overview Summary In the wake of accounting and management scandals involving Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, ...
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| Date Feb. 27, 2008 |
Report No. RL33837 |
Title
Order Code RL33837 Congressional Authority to Limit U.S. Military Operations in Iraq Updated February 27, 2008 Jennifer K. Elsea, Michael John Garcia, and Thomas J. Nicola Legislative Attorneys American Law Division Congressional Authority to Limit U.S. Military Operations in Iraq Summary On October 16, 2002, President Bush signed the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution ...
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| Date Feb. 27, 2008 |
Report No. RL34363 |
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Order Code RL34363 Election Reform and Local Election Officials: Results of Two National Surveys Updated February 27, 2008 Eric A. Fischer Senior Specialist in Science and Technology Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Kevin J. Coleman Analyst in Elections Government and Finance Division Election Reform and Local Election Officials: Results of Two National Surveys Summary Local ...
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| Date Feb. 27, 2008 |
Report No. RL32175 |
Title
Order Code RL32175 Insurance Guaranty Funds Updated February 27, 2008 Baird Webel Analyst in Economics Government and Finance Division Insurance Guaranty Funds Summary Some constituencies are urging Congress to allow insurers to become federally regulated, like banks. Other constituencies are urging Congress to instead ratify its 1945 delegation of insurance regulation to the states. In the past ...
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| Date Feb. 27, 2008 |
Report No. RS22589 |
Title
Order Code RS22589 Updated February 27, 2008 Possible Small Business Issues in the 110th Congress N. Eric Weiss Analyst in Financial Institutions Government and Finance Division Summary The four-year authorization for most Small Business Administration (SBA) programs expired on September 30, 2006, and the 109th Congress adjourned without enacting long-term reauthorization legislation. ...
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| Date Feb. 27, 2008 |
Report No. RS22807 |
Title
Order Code RS22807 Updated February 27, 2008 Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs): Issues with Use and Disposal Linda Luther Analyst in Environmental Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), a smaller version of fluorescent tubes, are produced with technology that allows them to fit into standard lighting products such as lamps and ceiling ...
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| Date Feb. 26, 2008 |
Report No. RL33794 |
Title
Order Code RL33794 Grassroots Lobbying: Constitutionality of Disclosure Requirements Updated February 26, 2008 Jack Maskell Legislative Attorney American Law Division Grassroots Lobbying: Constitutionality of Disclosure Requirements Summary The disclosure by professional lobbyists and commercial lobbying firms of expenditures or payments for grassroots lobbying campaigns continues to be an issue ...
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| Date Feb. 26, 2008 |
Report No. RS21734 |
Title
Order Code RS21734 Updated February 26, 2008 U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations: Rejections by the Senate and Votes by the Senate Judiciary Committee Other Than To Report Favorably, 1939-2007 Kevin M. Scott Analyst on the Federal Judiciary Government and Finance Division Denis Steven Rutkus Specialist on the Federal Judiciary Government and Finance Division Summary Once a nomination to a ...
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| Date Feb. 26, 2008 |
Report No. RS21469 |
Title
Order Code RS21469 Updated February 26, 2008 The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA): Budget, Programs, and Issues Glenn J. McLoughlin Specialist in Technology and Telecommunications Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary For FY2009, the Bush Administration has proposed a budget of $19.2 million for NTIA, with this money going towards administrative ...
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| Date Feb. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL34390 |
Title
Order Code RL34390 Aviation Security: Background and Policy Options for Screening and Securing Air Cargo February 25, 2008 Bart Elias Specialist in Aviation Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Aviation Security: Background and Policy Options for Screening and Securing Air Cargo Summary The air cargo system is a complex, multi-faceted network that handles a vast amount of freight, ...
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| Date Feb. 25, 2008 |
Report No. RL34215 |
Title
Order Code RL34215 Mexico's Drug Cartels Updated February 25, 2008 Colleen W. Cook Analyst in Latin American Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Mexico's Drug Cartels Summary Mexico, a major drug producing and transit country, is the main foreign supplier of marijuana and a major supplier of methamphetamine to the United States. Although Mexico accounts for only a small share of ...
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| Date Feb. 25, 2008 |
Report No. 98-367 |
Title
Order Code 98-367 GOV Updated February 25, 2008 . CRS Repor for Congress House Committees: Assignment Process Judy Schneider Specialist on the Congress Government and Finance Division Introduction Committee assignments often determine the character of a Member's career. They are also important to the party leaders who organize the chamber and shape the composition of the committees. House rules ...
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| Date Feb. 25, 2008 |
Report No. 98-367GOV |
Title
Order Code 98-367 GOV Updated February 25, 2008 . CRS Repor for Congress House Committees: Assignment Process Judy Schneider Specialist on the Congress Government and Finance Division Introduction Committee assignments often determine the character of a Member's career. They are also important to the party leaders who organize the chamber and shape the composition of the committees. House rules ...
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| Date Feb. 22, 2008 |
Report No. RL34294 |
Title
Order Code RL34294 Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007: A Summary of Major Provisions Updated February 22, 2008 Fred Sissine, Coordinator Specialist in Energy Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007: A Summary of Major Provisions Summary The Energy Independence and Security Act (P.L. 110-140, H.R. 6) is an omnibus energy policy law ...
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| Date Feb. 21, 2008 |
Report No. RL33996 |
Title
Order Code RL33996 Patent Reform in the 110th Congress: Innovation Issues Updated February 21, 2008 John R. Thomas Visiting Scholar Resources, Science, and Industry Division Wendy H. Schacht Specialist in Science and Technology Resources, Science, and Industry Division Patent Reform in the 110th Congress: Innovation Issues Summary Congressional interest in patent policy and possible patent reform ...
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| Date Feb. 21, 2008 |
Report No. 98-286 |
Title
Order Code 98-286 A ERISA s Impact on Medical Malpractice and Negligence Claims Against Managed Care Plans Updated February 21, 2008 Jon O. Shimabukuro Legislative Attorney American Law Division ERISA s Impact on Medical Malpractice and Negligence Claims Against Managed Care Plans Summary The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) provides a comprehensive federal scheme for the ...
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| Date Feb. 21, 2008 |
Report No. RS22814 |
Title
Order Code RS22814 February 21, 2008 FDA Fast Track and Priority Review Programs Susan Thaul Specialist in Drug Safety and Effectiveness Domestic Social Policy Division Summary By statutory requirements and by regulation, guidance, and practice, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) works with several overlapping yet distinct programs to get to market quickly new drug and biological products that ...
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| Date Feb. 21, 2008 |
Report No. RL34386 |
Title
Order Code RL34386 Could Securitization Obstruct Voluntary Loan Modifications and Payment Freezes? February 21, 2008 Edward Vincent Murphy Analyst in Financial Economics Government and Finance Division Could Securitization Obstruct Voluntary Loan Modifications and Payment Freezes? Summary Securitization is the process by which a group of similar assets, such as mortgages, is transformed into ...
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| Date Feb. 20, 2008 |
Report No. RL30699 |
Title
Order Code RL30699 Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons and Missiles: Status and Trends Updated February 20, 2008 Paul K. Kerr Analyst in Nonproliferation Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons and Missiles: Status and Trends Summary The United States has long recognized the dangers inherent in the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical ( ...
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| Date Feb. 19, 2008 |
Report No. RL34382 |
Title
Order Code RL34382 The Alternative Minimum Tax For Individuals: Legislative Activity in the 110th Congress February 19, 2008 Steven Maguire Specialist in Public Finance Government and Finance Division Jennifer Teefy Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group The Alternative Minimum Tax For Individuals: Legislative Activity in the 110th Congress Summary The alternative minimum tax ( ...
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| Date Feb. 15, 2008 |
Report No. RL34004 |
Title
Order Code RL34004 Homeland Security Department: FY2008 Appropriations Updated February 15, 2008 Jennifer E. Lake and Blas Nu ez-Neto, Coordinators, Sarah A. Lister, Todd Masse, Alison Siskin, and Chad C. Haddal Domestic Social Policy Division Keith Bea, Francis X. McCarthy, Harold C. Relyea, Shawn Reese, and Barbara L. Schwemle Government and Finance Division Bartholomew Elias, John Frittelli, ...
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| Date Feb. 15, 2008 |
Report No. RS22200 |
Title
Order Code RS22200 Updated February 15, 2008 The Potential Distributional Effects of the Alternative Minimum Tax Steven Maguire Specialist in Public Finance Government and Finance Division Summary The alternative minimum tax for individuals (AMT) was originally enacted to ensure that high-income taxpayers paid a fair share of the federal income tax. However, the lack of indexation of the AMT ...
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| Date Feb. 15, 2008 |
Report No. RL34341 |
Title
Order Code RL34341 Tax Rebate Refundability: Effects and Issues Updated February 15, 2008 Jane G. Gravelle Senior Specialist in Economic Policy Government and Finance Division Tax Rebate Refundability: Effects and Issues Summary Tax rebates provided as a short-term fiscal stimulus in 2001 did not make those tax provisions refundable. That is, taxpayers with no tax liability received no rebate, and ...
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| Date Feb. 15, 2008 |
Report No. RS22811 |
Title
Order Code RS22811 February 15, 2008 Poland s New Government: Background and Issues for the United States Carl Ek Specialist in International Relations Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary After a governmental deadlock caused by intra-coalition squabbling, Poland held snap parliamentary elections on October 21, 2007; the vote was seen by many as a referendum on the governing style ...
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| Date Feb. 15, 2008 |
Report No. RS22810 |
Title
Order Code RS22810 February 15, 2008 Asylum Law and Female Genital Mutilation: Recent Developments Yule Kim Legislative Attorney American Law Division Summary Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a term encompassing a wide range of procedures that involve the removal or alteration of a woman s genitalia. The federal courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) have classified FGM as a form of ...
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| Date Feb. 15, 2008 |
Report No. RS22566 |
Title
Order Code RS22566 Updated February 15, 2008 Acceptance of Gifts by Members and Employees of the House of Representatives Under New Ethics Rules of the 110th Congress Jack Maskell Legislative Attorney American Law Division Summary On January 4, 2007, the House adopted new internal rules to prohibit the receipt of most gifts by Members and staff from lobbyists, foreign agents, and most of their ...
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| Date Feb. 14, 2008 |
Report No. RL34046 |
Title
Order Code RL34046 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD): FY2008 Appropriations Updated February 14, 2008 David Randall Peterman and John Frittelli Coordinators Resources, Science, and Industry Division Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, ...
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| Date Feb. 14, 2008 |
Report No. RL34143 |
Title
Order Code RL34143 P.L. 110-55, the Protect America Act of 2007: Modifications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Updated February 14, 2008 Elizabeth B. Bazan Legislative Attorney American Law Division P.L. 110-55, the Protect America Act of 2007: Modifications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Summary On August 5, 2007, P.L. 110-55, the Protect America Act of 2007, was signed ...
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| Date Feb. 14, 2008 |
Report No. RL34375 |
Title
Order Code RL34375 Largest Mergers and Acquisitions by Corporations in 2007 February 14, 2008 John Williamson Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group Largest Mergers and Acquisitions by Corporations in 2007 Summary Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity has continued to increase, and has grown in each of the past four years. This reports provides a listing of the largest M&A ...
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| Date Feb. 13, 2008 |
Report No. RL32913 |
Title
Order Code RL32913 The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Interactions with Selected Provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) Updated February 13, 2008 Richard N. Apling Specialist in Social Legislation Domestic Social Policy Division Nancy Lee Jones Legislative Attorney American Law Division The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Interactions with ...
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| Date Feb. 13, 2008 |
Report No. RL34371 |
Title
Order Code RL34371 Wounded Warrior and Veterans Provisions in the FY2008 National Defense Authorization Act February 13, 2008 Sarah A. Lister, Sidath Viranga Panangala, and Christine Scott Domestic Social Policy Division Wounded Warrior and Veterans Provisions in the FY2008 National Defense Authorization Act Summary This report summarizes provisions in Division A, Titles XVI and XVII, of the ...
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| Date Feb. 13, 2008 |
Report No. RS22808 |
Title
Order Code RS22808 February 13, 2008 How Large is China s Economy? Does it Matter? Wayne M. Morrison and Michael F. Martin Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary China s rapid economic growth since 1979 has transformed it into a major economic power. Over the past few years, many analysts have contended that China could soon overtake the United States to become the world s largest ...
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