The President's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): Issues for Congress (open access)

The President's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): Issues for Congress

This report provides an overview of the history of science and technology (S&T) advice to the President and discusses selected issues and options for Congress regarding the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Director, OSTP management and operations, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).
Date: January 13, 2014
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr. & Shea, Dana A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Military Funeral Honors and Military Cemeteries: Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

Military Funeral Honors and Military Cemeteries: Frequently Asked Questions

This report provides answers to frequently asked questions about military funeral honors and military cemeteries, including information on the eligibility criteria, required components of the honor detail, and the funeral ceremony. It also cites legislation that mandates that the Department of Defense (DOD) make military funeral honors available to every eligible veteran upon request.
Date: January 13, 2014
Creator: Torreon, Barbara Salazar
System: The UNT Digital Library
Vulnerable Youth: Background and Policies (open access)

Vulnerable Youth: Background and Policies

This report first provides an overview of the youth population and the increasing complexity of the transition to adulthood for all adolescents with a discussion of the concept of "disconnectedness," as well as the protective factors youth can develop during childhood and adolescence that can mitigate poor outcomes. Further, the report describes the evolution of federal youth policy and provides a brief overview of current federal programs targeted at vulnerable youth, and discusses the challenges of coordinating federal programs for youth, as well as federal legislation and initiatives that promote coordination among federal agencies and support programs with a positive youth development focus.
Date: January 13, 2014
Creator: Fernandes-Alcantara, Adrienne L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Computer Matching Act: OMB and Selected Agencies Need to Ensure Consistent Implementation (open access)

Computer Matching Act: OMB and Selected Agencies Need to Ensure Consistent Implementation

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is responsible for developing guidelines and providing assistance to agencies on implementing the Computer Matching Act, while agencies have a variety of implementation responsibilities. Agency responsibilities include (1) developing computer matching agreements (CMA) containing specific elements for each proposed matching program and notifying Congress, OMB, and the public of such activities; (2) conducting cost-benefit analyses for proposed matching programs; and (3) establishing data integrity boards to oversee matching programs."
Date: January 13, 2014
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
College Debit Cards: Actions Needed to Address ATM Access, Student Choice, and Transparency (open access)

College Debit Cards: Actions Needed to Address ATM Access, Student Choice, and Transparency

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "At least 852 schools, or 11 percent of U.S. colleges and universities, had agreements to provide debit or prepaid card services to their students as of July 2013, and most offered students the ability to receive federal student aid and other payments on a card. These schools were disproportionately large; their enrollments constituted about 40 percent of all postsecondary students. However, the percentage of students enrolled in their schools' college card programs was unknown. In the majority of agreements, the schools also outsourced to their card provider the process for paying financial aid and other funds via college cards and other methods. Some schools also used college cards as student identification. The dominant provider was Higher One, a nonbank financial firm that had a 57 percent market share in 2013, as measured by number of card agreements."
Date: February 13, 2014
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
VA Surgical Implants: Purchase Requirements Were Not Always Followed at Selected Medical Centers and Oversight Needs Improvement (open access)

VA Surgical Implants: Purchase Requirements Were Not Always Followed at Selected Medical Centers and Oversight Needs Improvement

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Clinicians at the four Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) GAO visited said that patient need and their clinical expertise were the main factors influencing their decisions of which surgical implants to use. Also, clinicians in certain specialties said they typically used one of the implants available on VA-negotiated national committed-use contracts, which generally establish a fixed price for several models of nine types of surgical implants that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) commits to using nationally. VHA recognizes the need for expanding items covered under these contracts to fully leverage its purchasing power but, as of October 2013, had not identified additional implants to include on such contracts or established timelines for doing so. GAO also found that the availability of implants on VA-negotiated federal supply schedule (FSS) contracts rarely influenced clinicians' decisions on which implant to use. Clinicians were often not aware of the availability of surgical implants on FSS contracts, which are negotiated by one of VA's contracting offices, but for which VHA clinicians have little or no input. Clinicians told GAO that in some cases they may avoid implants on FSS …
Date: January 13, 2014
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Plutonium Disposition Program: DOE Needs to Analyze the Root Causes of Cost Increases and Develop Better Cost Estimates (open access)

Plutonium Disposition Program: DOE Needs to Analyze the Root Causes of Cost Increases and Develop Better Cost Estimates

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) identified various drivers for the close to $3 billion increase in the estimated cost of the Plutonium Disposition program's two construction projects—the Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility and the Waste Solidification Building (WSB). These drivers included DOE's approval of the MOX facility's cost and schedule estimates before design was complete and schedule delays in construction of the WSB. According to NNSA, the cost of critical system components for the MOX facility averaged 60 percent higher than estimated as a result of approval of estimates before design was complete."
Date: February 13, 2014
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Department of Homeland Security: Ammunition Purchases Have Declined since 2009 (open access)

Department of Homeland Security: Ammunition Purchases Have Declined since 2009

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) annual ammunition purchases have declined since fiscal year 2009 and are comparable in number to the Department of Justice's (DOJ) ammunition purchases. In fiscal year 2013, DHS purchased 84 million rounds of ammunition, which is less than DHS's ammunition purchases over the past 5 fiscal years, as shown in the figure below. DHS component officials said the decline in ammunition purchases in fiscal year 2013 was primarily a result of budget constraints, which meant reducing the number of training classes, and drawing on their ammunition inventories. From fiscal years 2008 through 2013, DHS purchased an average of 109 million rounds of ammunition for training, qualification, and operational needs, according to DHS data. DHS's ammunition purchases over the 6-year period equates to an average of 1,200 rounds purchased per firearm-carrying agent or officer per year. Over the past 3 fiscal years (2011-2013), DHS purchased an average of 1,000 rounds per firearm-carrying agent or officer and selected DOJ components purchased 1,300 rounds per firearm-carrying agent or officer."
Date: January 13, 2014
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Puerto Rico: Información Sobre Como la Estatidad Afectaría Determinados Programas y Fuentes de Ingresos Federales (open access)

Puerto Rico: Información Sobre Como la Estatidad Afectaría Determinados Programas y Fuentes de Ingresos Federales

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This is the Spanish language highlights associated with GAO-14-31."
Date: March 13, 2014
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Financial Audit: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Funds' 2013 and 2012 Financial Statements (open access)

Financial Audit: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Funds' 2013 and 2012 Financial Statements

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In GAO's opinion, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) fairly presented, in all material respects, the 2013 and 2012 financial statements for the two funds it administers—the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) and the FSLIC Resolution Fund (FRF). Also, in GAO's opinion, FDIC maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting relevant to the DIF and to the FRF as of December 31, 2013. Further, GAO did not find any reportable instances of noncompliance with provisions of applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements it tested."
Date: March 13, 2014
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Financial Action Task Force: An Overview (open access)

The Financial Action Task Force: An Overview

This report provides an overview of the Financial Action Task Force and of its progress to date in gaining broad international support for its recommendations.
Date: March 13, 2014
Creator: Jackson, James K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Unaccompanied Alien Children: An Overview (open access)

Unaccompanied Alien Children: An Overview

This report discusses the immigration problem regarding the number of unaccompanied alien children (UAC) arriving in the United States borders. The report discusses the scope of the problem, current policy challenges, and the processing and treatment of the UAC apprehended.
Date: June 13, 2014
Creator: Seghetti, Lisa; Siskin, Alison & Wasem, Ruth Ellen
System: The UNT Digital Library
Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress (open access)

Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress

This report discusses the Civil Service Retirement Act of 1920 (P.L. 66-215) that established a pension system for federal employees in the executive branch of government.
Date: April 13, 2014
Creator: Isaacs, Katelin P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund: Programs and Policy Issues (open access)

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund: Programs and Policy Issues

This report begins by describing the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund's history, current appropriations, and each of its programs. The next section analyzes four policy considerations of congressional interest regarding the Fund and the effective use of federal resources to promote economic development. Lastly, this report examines the Fund's programs and management to see if they represent an effective and efficient government effort to promote economic development in low-income and distressed communities.
Date: March 13, 2014
Creator: Lowry, Sean
System: The UNT Digital Library
Reserve Component Personnel Issues: Questions and Answers (open access)

Reserve Component Personnel Issues: Questions and Answers

This report provides insight to reserve component personnel issues through a series of questions and answers. This report is designed to provide an overview of key reserve component personnel issues.
Date: June 13, 2014
Creator: Kapp, Lawrence & Torreon, Barbara Salazar
System: The UNT Digital Library
Health Insurance Exchanges: Health Insurance “Navigators” and In-Person Assistance (open access)

Health Insurance Exchanges: Health Insurance “Navigators” and In-Person Assistance

This report describes exchange outreach programs, the role of brokers, agents, and insurers, and issues regarding consumer outreach assistance.
Date: August 13, 2014
Creator: Kirchhoff, Suzanne M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The President's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): Issues for Congress (open access)

The President's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): Issues for Congress

This report provides an overview of the history of science and technology (S&T) advice to the President. It also discusses selected issues and options for Congress regarding OSTP's Director, OSTP management and operations, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).
Date: January 13, 2014
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr. & Shea, Dana A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
United Nations Reform: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

United Nations Reform: Background and Issues for Congress

This report examines reform priorities from the perspective of several key actors, including Members of Congress, the Obama Administration, selected member states, the U.N. Secretary-General, and a cross-section of groups tasked with addressing U.N. reform. It also discusses congressional actions related to U.N. reform and mechanisms for implementing reform, as well as possible challenges facing U.S. policy makers as they consider existing and future U.N. reform efforts.
Date: January 13, 2014
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
System: The UNT Digital Library
Aereo and FilmOn X: Internet Television Streaming and Copyright Law (open access)

Aereo and FilmOn X: Internet Television Streaming and Copyright Law

This report begins with a discussion of the technology used by Aereo and FilmOn X that permit subscribers to watch live broadcast television as well as already-aired programming. It then examines the public performance right in the Copyright Act and discusses the interpretation of the transmit clause and public performance right by the courts in the Aereo and FilmOn cases. The report concludes with a brief overview of future litigation by these parties and related legislative proposals in the 113th Congress.
Date: January 13, 2014
Creator: Lanza, Emily M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies: FY2013 Appropriations (open access)

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies: FY2013 Appropriations

This report discusses federal government funding for the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, which provides funding for the planning, design, construction, alteration, and improvement of facilities used by active and reserve military components worldwide.
Date: January 13, 2014
Creator: Else, Daniel H.; Scott, Christine & Panangala, Sidath Viranga
System: The UNT Digital Library
The U.S. Export Control System and the President's Reform Initiative (open access)

The U.S. Export Control System and the President's Reform Initiative

This report discusses some of the proposed legislation and other issues related to the U.S. export control system.
Date: January 13, 2014
Creator: Fergusson, Ian F. & Kerr, Paul K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Immigration Policies and Issues on Health-Related Grounds for Exclusion (open access)

Immigration Policies and Issues on Health-Related Grounds for Exclusion

This report discusses the criteria that foreign nationals must meet before admission to the United States, specifically examining the health-related grounds for exclusion. It provides this information in the context of recent outbreaks of communicable diseases abroad such as Ebola in West Africa, avian influenza in China, polio in the middle east, and dengue fever in the Caribbean.
Date: August 13, 2014
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cars, Trucks, and Climate: EPA Regulation of Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources (open access)

Cars, Trucks, and Climate: EPA Regulation of Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources

This report discusses the full range of EPA's authority under Title II and provides information regarding other mobile sources that might be regulated under this authority, in addition to describing the car and truck regulations.
Date: March 13, 2014
Creator: McCarthy, James E. & Yacobucci, Brent D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Private Health Insurance Market Reforms in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) (open access)

Private Health Insurance Market Reforms in the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

This report provides background information about the private health insurance market, including market segments and regulation. It then describes each Affordable Care Act (ACA) market reform.
Date: March 13, 2014
Creator: Mach, Annie L. & Fernandez, Bernadette
System: The UNT Digital Library