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Title: Summary of congressional and executive branch action affecting military retirement cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) since 1983
Date: 1986

Title: Air pollutant-induced stress to forest ecosystems: An overview of forest damage
Date: 1986
Summary: In recent years the term "acid rain" has captured the attention of the American public as a possible cause of forest damage and decline. As research progresses, it appears that the adverse impacts of "acid rain" on forest ecosystems are more complex and not as well understood as they generally are for aquatic ecosystems. Different types of air pollution -- including but not limited to precursors of acid deposition -- alone or in combination with stress factors, may pose a wide range of threats to forest ecosystems. This report examines the extent of forest damage and decline in the United States, the dynamics of the forest ecosystem and the major hypotheses put forth by the scientific community to explain the role of air pollutants in forest declines. The report concluded that the forest decline debate must take into account a wider range of pollutants than are usually included in legislative proposals which emphasize sulphur dioxide emissions.

Title: AIDS: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome: Selected references
Date: 1986
Summary: This bibliography contains citations to books and articles on AIDS from 1983 to the present. The major topics covered are the epidemiology of AIDS and social, political, and ethical issues for dealing with a disease for which yet there is no cure. Special sections deal with children with AIDS, and homosexuals and homophobia.

Title: Bilingual education: Recent evaluations of local school district programs and related research on second-language learning
Date: 1986
Summary: This paper analyzes recent evaluations of local school district programs serving limited-English-proficient (LEP) students in the U.S. It discusses the purpose and background of the Bilingual Education Act, describes the Basic Demonstration Projects under this Act, chronicles how the scope of the Federal program has expanded, defines the various instructional approaches for teaching LEP students, and presents the major findings of recent evaluations regarding the effectiveness of various types of local programs serving LEP students. The related research on second-language learning and bilingualism is also synthesized.

Title: Spouse abuse: Background and federal programs to address the problem
Date: 1986
Summary: In recent years, spouse abuse has received increased public and congressional attention. Although there are varying estimates on the number of abused spouses, many observers suggest that the problem is widespread. Many States and the Federal Government have responded to the problem by providing some form of assistance to victims. This paper presents a brief discussion of the issues relating to spouse abuse, its incidence, and Federal programs that may provide services to victims.

Title: Campaign finance proposals to limit PACs and to grant free broadcast time: A legal analysis of s. 1806 (Sen. Boren, 99th Congress)
Date: 1986
Summary: This report analyzes the major campaign finance provisions of S. 1806 which was introduced by Senator David L. Boren in the 99th Congress. A constitutional analysis of the proposals to limit political action committees and to grant free broadcast time is made. The constitutionality of other provisions is made regarding such proposals as the prohibition of "bundling" by PACs of contributions to federal candidates.

Title: Government in the sunshine: Public access to meetings held under the Government in the Sunshine Act, 1979-1984
Date: 1986

Title: Labor issues in the 99th Congress: The second session
Date: 1986
Summary: During the 99th Congress, a number of labor issues have received considerable attention. This paper gives a brief description and analysis of these issues as well as other labor and labor-related issues that are likely to receive some attention in the second session of the 99th Congress. This paper is an update of Labor Issues in the 99th Congress: An Update, Report 85-941 E, September 12, 1985.

Title: Federal housing administration: An examination of proposed program changes
Date: 1986
Summary: In its Fiscal Year 1987 Budget the Administration has proposed several changes to FHA's basic unsubsidized single-family housing program -- the program authorized under Section 203 (b) of the National Housing Act of 1934. This report examines the impact on potential moderate-income homebuyers and on the solvency of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund of the proposal to (1) increase the one-time mortgage insurance premium to 5 percent of the mortgage, (2) require that the premium be paid in cash, and (3) limit eligibility in the FHA program to applicants earning $40,000 or less.

Title: Provisions of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 affecting pay and benefits for federal workers and retirees
Date: 1986
Summary: This paper describes the provisions of P.L. 99-177 ("Gramm-Rudman-Hollings") that pertain to Federal civil service employees and retirees.

Title: Selected women's issues in the first session of the 99th Congress
Date: 1986
Summary: This report analyzes major legislation of the 99th Congress affecting the rights and interests of women.

Title: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): Selected references
Date: 1986
Summary: This bibliography presents annotated references on the incidence, effects, and management of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the environment. Health effects of PCBs, ocean dumping, incineration on land and at sea, and various technologies for PCB destruction and disposal are among the topics covered.

Title: Liability insurance issues: Editorial commentary
Date: 1986
Summary: The rising cost and reduced availability of liability insurance in recent years has been a concern for business, government, and consumers. This Editorial Commentary looks at such liability insurance areas as products liability, malpractice, local government liability, and other forms of liability insurance. The Editorial Commentary is divided into two sections. The first contains an introductory news article on liability insurance and a chart showing what States have been doing about this problem. The second includes editorials selected from newspapers from all regions of the United States. This section is arranged in reverse chronological order.