Science, Technology, and American Diplomacy: Background and Issues for Congress
Science and engineering activities have always been international. Scientists, engineers, and health professionals frequently communicate and cooperate with one another without regard to national...
View ArticleThe U.S. Science and Technology Workforce
In the 21st century, global competition and rapid advances in science and technology will challenge the scientific and technical proficiency of the U.S. workforce. Policymakers often discuss policy...
View ArticleWind Power in the United States: Technology, Economic, and Policy Issues
Rising energy prices and concern over greenhouse gas emissions have focused congressional attention on energy alternatives, including wind power. Although wind power currently provides only about 1%...
View ArticleDrought in the United States: Causes and Issues for Congress
Drought is commonly defined as a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period of time, usually a season or more, relative to some long-term average condition. Droughts have affected the United...
View ArticleNanotechnology and Environmental, Health, and Safety: Issues for Consideration
Nanotechnology—a term encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology—is focused on understanding, controlling, and exploiting the unique properties of matter that can emerge at scales of...
View ArticleCapturing CO2 from Coal-Fired Power Plants: Challenges for a Comprehensive...
Any comprehensive approach to substantially reduce greenhouse gases must address the world’s dependency on coal for one-quarter of its energy demand, including almost half of its electricity demand....
View ArticleThe President's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): Issues for...
Congress established the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) through the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-282). The act states that...
View ArticleManipulating Molecules: Federal Support for Nanotechnology Research
The Bush Administration has requested $1.277 billion for nanotechnology research for FY2007, $24 million less than the estimated $1.301billion appropriated level for FY2006. (See Table 1.)...
View ArticleAgriculture in the WTO: Limits on Domestic Support
Most of the provisions of the current farm bill, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246), do not expire until 2012. However, hearings on the 2012 farm bill have already begun....
View ArticleBackground and Legal Issues Related to Stem Cell Research
In August 2001, President Bush announced that federal funds, with certain restrictions, may be used to conduct research on human embryonic stem cells. Federal research is limited to “the more than 60”...
View ArticleAgricultural Disaster Assistance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers several permanently authorized programs to help farmers recover financially from a natural disaster, including federal crop insurance, the Noninsured...
View ArticleGrazing Fees: An Overview and Current Issues
Charging fees for grazing private livestock on federal lands is a long-standing but contentious practice. Generally, livestock producers who use federal lands want to keep fees low, while conservation...
View ArticleNational Science Foundation: Major Research Equipment and Facility Construction
The Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) account of the National Science Foundation (NSF) supports the acquisition and construction of major research facilities and equipment...
View ArticleAgricultural Biotechnology: The U.S.-EU Dispute
In May 2003, the United States, Canada, and Argentina initiated a dispute with the European Union concerning the EU’s de facto moratorium on biotechnology product approvals, in place since 1998....
View ArticleSpace Exploration: Issues Concerning the “Vision for Space Exploration”
On January 14, 2004, President George W. Bush announced new goals for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), directing the agency to focus on returning humans to the Moon by 2020,...
View ArticleHubble Space Telescope: Should NASA Proceed with a Servicing Mission?
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) estimates that without a servicing mission to replace key components, the Hubble Space Telescope will cease scientific operations in 2008...
View ArticleLand Exchanges: Bureau of Land Management Process and Issues
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) typically completes dozens of exchanges a year to acquire and dispose of land. The land exchange process generally has five phases: development of an exchange...
View ArticleThe Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
An Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, with two accounts—a Sport Fish Restoration Account and a Boat Safety Account—was created in 1984 and subsequently amended to support a variety of programs administered...
View ArticleImpacts of Technology on U.S. Cropland and Rangeland Productivity
This Nation's impressive agricultural success is the product of many factors: abundant resources of land and water, a favorable climate, and a history of resourceful farmers and technological...
View ArticleChuck Hagel- U.S. SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA
BIOGRAPHY CHUCK HAGEL, Nebraska’s senior U.S. Senator, served two terms in the U.S. Senate. Senator HAGEL’s duties included membership on four Senate committees: Foreign Relations; Banking, Housing,...
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