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The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region's future. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial interests in the region. The seven other Arctic states are Russia, Canada, Iceland, Denmark (by virtue of Greenland), Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The Arctic Research and Policy Act (ARPA) of 1984 (Title I of P.L. 98-373 of July 31, 1984) "provide[s] for a comprehensive national policy dealing with national research needs and objectives in the Arctic." The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the lead federal agency for implementing Arctic research policy. The Arctic Council, created in 1996, is the leading international forum for addressing issues relating to the Arctic. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) sets forth a comprehensive regime of law and order in the world's oceans, including the Arctic Ocean. The United States is not a party to UNCLOS. An array of climate changes in the Arctic is now documented by observing systems, with more expected with future greenhouse gas-driven climate change. Observed physical changes in the Arctic include warming ocean, soil, and air temperatures; melting permafrost; shifting vegetation and animal abundances; and altered characteristics of Arctic cyclones. A monitoring report of the Arctic Council concluded in 2019 that "the Arctic biophysical system is now clearly trending away from its previous state [in the 20th century] and into a period of unprecedented change, with implications not only within but also beyond the Arctic." Following the end of the Cold War, the Arctic states sought to maintain the Arctic as a region of cooperation, low tension, peaceful resolution of disputes, and respect for international law. Over the past 10 to 15 years, the emergence of great power competition between the United States, Russia, and China has introduced elements of competition and tension into the Arctic's geopolitical environment. Russia's war in Ukraine beginning on February 24, 2022, has further affected the region's geopolitical environment by prompting the seven Arctic states other than Russia to suspend most forms of Arctic cooperation with Russia, by prompting Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership (they are now NATO members), and in other ways. The Department of Defense (DOD) and the Coast Guard are devoting increased attention to the Arctic in their planning, budgeting, and operations. Whether DOD and the Coast Guard are taking sufficient actions for defending U.S. interests in the region is a topic of congressional oversight. The Coast Guard has two operational polar icebreakers and through FY2023 has received funding for procuring the first two of four or five planned new heavy polar icebreakers. The diminishment of Arctic ice could lead in coming years to increased commercial shipping on two trans-Arctic sea routes-the Northern Sea Route close to Russia, and the Northwest Passage close to Alaska and through the Canadian archipelago-though the rate of increase in the use of these routes might not be as great as sometimes anticipated in press accounts. International guidelines for ships operating in Arctic waters have been updated. Changes to the Arctic brought about by warming temperatures will likely allow more onshore and offshore exploration for oil, gas, and minerals. Warming that causes permafrost to melt could pose challenges to onshore exploration activities. Increased vessel traffic (e.g., oil and gas exploration, cruise ships, expanded fishing activities) in the Arctic increase the risk of pollution in Arctic waters. Cleaning up oil spills in ice-covered waters will be more difficult than in other areas, primarily because effective strategies for cleaning up oil spills in ice-covered waters have yet to be developed. Changes in the Arctic could result in migration of fish stocks to new waters, and could affect protected species. The United States is working with other countries regarding the management of Arctic fish stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An appendix is presented of the U.S. Arctic Research and Policy Act (ARPA) of 1984.

An appendix is presented of a presidential directive which established a new U.S. policy for the Artic region issued as the National Security Presidential Directive 66/Homeland Security Presidential Directive 25 (NSPD 66/HSPD 25) on January 9, 2009.

An appendix is presented that focuses on U.S. President George W. Bush's January 2009 directive that established a new U.S. policy for the Arctic region.

The article discusses Arctic region-related issues for the U.S. Congress as of April 28, 2014. Topics discussed include climate change, territorial claims and sovereignty, commercial sea transportation, oil pollution, fisheries, geopolitical government, U.S. military forces and operations, and reports from the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

The article focuses on the report "Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress" released by the U.S. Congressional Research Service as of March 28, 2014. Topics discussed include the U.S. research in Arctic, the U.S. Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984, and the United Nations' Convention on Law of the Sea. It further discusses issues that are needed to be addressed by the U.S. congress including commercial sea transportation, climate change, and gas and mineral exploration.

An appendix is presented of the text of the U.S. Arctic Research and Policy Act (ARPA) of 1984.

An appendix on the January 2009 U.S. Arctic Policy Directive (NSPD 66/HSPD 25) released by President George W. Bush is presented.

An appendix on the document "National Strategy for Arctic Region" released by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama on May 10, 2013 is presented.

The article presents the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS) report for Congress, "Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress." It discusses definitions of the Arctic and U.S. Arctic research. It also explores issues for Congress, including climate change and loss of Arctic sea ice, territorial claims and sovereignty issues, commercial sea transportation, oil, gas and mineral exploration and fisheries.

The article offers a background to the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS) report for Congress, "Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress." It defines the Arctic base on the Arctic Circle and the Arctic Research and Policy Act (ARPA) of 1984. It also explores the January 2009 Arctic Policy Directive and the May 2013 National Strategy for Arctic Region. In addition, it examines the Arctic and the United Nations Convention of Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

An appendix is presented about Arctic Research and Policy Act (ARPA) of 1984 in the U.S.

The article provides an overview of Arctic-related issues of interest to the U.S. Congress. It discusses the multiple definitions of the Arctic, including the Arctic Circle definition and resulting Arctic countries and its definition under the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 in the U.S. It details the U.S. National Science Foundation fiscal year 2011 budget request for Arctic research, and the Arctic policy directive released on January 12, 2009.

A summary is presented of the bill Title I of P. L. 98-373, the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984, whose declarations include the Arctic's importance to U.S. national defense, the role of its renewable resources as one of the country's greatest commercial assets, and the necessity of its marine technology in cost-effective recovery and transportation of energy resources.

An appendix is presented of the text of P. L. 101-609 of 1990, the U.S. Amending Arctic Research and Policy Act (ARPA) of 1984.

An appendix is presented about Amending Arctic Research and Policy Act (ARPA) of 1984 in the U.S.

A summary is presented of the bill P. L. 101-609 of November 16, 1990, which amended the U.S. Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984.