Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): History and Overview (open access)

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): History and Overview

None
Date: March 11, 2015
Creator: Shea, Dana A. & Sargent, John F., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Prevalence of Mental Illness in the United States: Data Sources and Estimates (open access)

Prevalence of Mental Illness in the United States: Data Sources and Estimates

This report briefly describes the methodology and selected findings of three large federally funded surveys that provide national prevalence estimates of diagnosable mental illness: the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), the National Comorbidity Survey Replication Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A), and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). This report presents prevalence estimates of any mental illness and serious mental illness based on each survey and ends with a brief discussion of how these prevalence estimates might inform policy discussions.
Date: March 9, 2015
Creator: Bagalman, Erin & Napili, Angela
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies (open access)

Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies

This report is a list of about 200 congressional liaison offices is intended to help congressional offices in placing telephone calls and addressing correspondence to government agencies. In each case, the information was supplied by the agency itself and is current as of the date of publication. Entries are arranged alphabetically in four sections: legislative branch; judicial branch; executive branch; and agencies, boards, and commissions.
Date: March 18, 2015
Creator: Crane-Hirsch, Audrey C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Casework in a Congressional Office: Background, Rules, Laws, and Resources (open access)

Casework in a Congressional Office: Background, Rules, Laws, and Resources

This report discusses House and Senate rules and guidelines, laws, and regulations affecting congressional casework, as well as the role of caseworkers.
Date: March 11, 2015
Creator: Petersen, R. Eric
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Membership and Appointment Authority to Advisory Commissions, Boards, and Groups (open access)

Congressional Membership and Appointment Authority to Advisory Commissions, Boards, and Groups

This report contains a compilation of commissions and boards that demonstrates the range of alternative membership-appointment structures. It includes any statutorily created advisory entity (boards, advisory panels, etc.) whose membership scheme mandates the participation of Members of Congress either as potential members or as participants in the process of appointing the membership.
Date: March 25, 2015
Creator: Glassman, Matthew Eric
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Grants to State and Local Governments: A Historical Perspective on Contemporary Issues (open access)

Federal Grants to State and Local Governments: A Historical Perspective on Contemporary Issues

This report provides a historical synopsis of the evolving nature of the federal grants-in-aid system, focusing on the role Congress has played in defining the system's scope and nature.
Date: March 5, 2015
Creator: Dilger, Robert J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Membership of the 114th Congress: A Profile (open access)

Membership of the 114th Congress: A Profile

None
Date: March 31, 2015
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
The National Science Foundation: Background and Selected Policy Issues (open access)

The National Science Foundation: Background and Selected Policy Issues

None
Date: March 16, 2015
Creator: Gonzalez, Heather B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape (open access)

The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape

This report discusses current issues regarding the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is an independent federal agency charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. The mission of the FCC is to ensure that the American people have available--at reasonable cost and without discrimination--rapid, efficient, nation- and world-wide communication services, whether by radio, television, wire, satellite, or cable.
Date: March 16, 2015
Creator: Figliola, Patricia Moloney
System: The UNT Digital Library
Offices and Officials in the Senate: Roles and Duties (open access)

Offices and Officials in the Senate: Roles and Duties

This report outlines the officers of the Senate, including brief information about the history of each office, examples of their roles and duties, and election or appointment information about the current incumbent.
Date: March 16, 2015
Creator: Brudnick, Ida A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape (open access)

The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape

This report provides information about The Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape on the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC is an independent agency with its five members appointed by the president.
Date: March 19, 2015
Creator: Figliola, Patricia Moloney
System: The UNT Digital Library
Genetic Testing: Background and Policy Issues (open access)

Genetic Testing: Background and Policy Issues

This report provides the background and policy issues of genetic testing. Congress has considered, at various points in time, numerous pieces of legislation that relate to genetic and genomic technology and testing. These include bills addressing genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment; precision medicine; the patenting of genetic material; and the oversight of clinical laboratory tests (in vitro diagnostics), including genetic tests. The focus on these issues signals the growing importance of public policy issues surrounding the clinical and public health implications of new genetic technology.
Date: March 2, 2015
Creator: Sarata, Amanda K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Northern Ireland: The Peace Process (open access)

Northern Ireland: The Peace Process

This report provides background information regarding political violence and the peace process in Northern Ireland. It includes further information about the devolved government and recurrent crises (1999-2002, 2003-2007 and 2008-2010), implementation of police reforms, recent events and ongoing challenges, relevant U.S. policy, and recent legislation.
Date: March 11, 2015
Creator: Archick, Kristin
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iran Sanctions (open access)

Iran Sanctions

This report analyzes U.S. and international sanctions against Iran. U.S. sanctions have been a major feature of U.S. Iran policy since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, but U.N. and worldwide bilateral sanctions on Iran are a relatively recent (post-2006) development.
Date: March 9, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources, by Topic (open access)

Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources, by Topic

This report provides references to analytical reports on cybersecurity from CRS, other government agencies, trade associations, and interest groups. The reports and related websites are grouped under the following cybersecurity topics: policy overview; National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC); cloud computing and FedRAMP; critical infrastructure; cybercrime, data breaches and data security; national security, cyber espionage, and cyberwar (including Stuxnet); international efforts; education/training/workforce; and research and development (R&D).
Date: March 13, 2015
Creator: Tehan, Rita
System: The UNT Digital Library
China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities--Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities--Background and Issues for Congress

This report focuses on the potential implications of China's naval modernization for future required U.S. Navy capabilities. Other CRS reports address separate issues relating to China. This report is based on unclassified open-source information.
Date: March 26, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress and refers readers to more in-depth CRS reports on specific relevant topics.
Date: March 17, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library