Clean Air Issues in the 113th Congress: An Overview (open access)

Clean Air Issues in the 113th Congress: An Overview

This report discusses the air pollution regulations and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) regulatory actions on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and also addresses some climate change issues.
Date: February 3, 2014
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Unaccompanied Alien Children: Potential Factors Contributing to Recent Immigration (open access)

Unaccompanied Alien Children: Potential Factors Contributing to Recent Immigration

This report begins by describing the recent surge in unaccompanied child apprehensions. It discusses several factors widely associated with out-migration from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The report then discusses three broad factors that may be attracting migrants to the United States: economic and educational opportunity, family reunification, and U.S. immigration policies. It concludes with caveats on the attribution of causes to this situation.
Date: July 3, 2014
Creator: Kandel, William A.; Bruno, Andorra; Meyer, Peter J.; Seelke, Clare Ribando; Taft-Morales, Maureen & Wasem, Ruth Ellen
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean: Recent Trends and FY2015 Appropriations (open access)

U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean: Recent Trends and FY2015 Appropriations

This report provides an overview of U.S. assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean. It examines historical and recent trends in aid to the region as well as the Obama Administration's FY2015 request for State Department and U.S Agency for International Development (USAID)-administered assistance. It also tracks congressional action on foreign aid appropriations for Latin America and the Caribbean in FY2015, and raises questions Congress may consider as it appropriates funding for the region.
Date: June 3, 2014
Creator: Meyer, Peter J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Help America Vote Act and Election Administration: Overview and Issues (open access)

The Help America Vote Act and Election Administration: Overview and Issues

This report discusses the Help America Vote Act (HAVA; P.L. 107-252) enacted in 2002. It provides background information about HAVA and its provisions, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), funding for the agency and for state programs to improve elections, and a number of enduring election administration issues.
Date: February 3, 2014
Creator: Coleman, Kevin J. & Fischer, Eric A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians (open access)

U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians

This report provides an overview of current issues in U.S.-Palestinian relations. It also contains an overview of Palestinian society and politics and descriptions of key Palestinian individuals and groups -- chiefly the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the Palestinian Authority (PA), Fatah, Hamas, and the Palestinian refugee population.
Date: July 3, 2014
Creator: Zanotti, Jim
System: The UNT Digital Library
Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress (open access)

Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress

This report presents policy and oversight issues for Congress arising from maritime territorial disputes involving China in the South China Sea (SCS), East China Sea (ECS), and an additional dispute over whether China has a right under international law to regulate U.S. and other foreign military activities in its maritime Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Date: July 3, 2014
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Unlawfully Present Aliens, Driver’s Licenses, and Other State-Issued ID: Select Legal Issues (open access)

Unlawfully Present Aliens, Driver’s Licenses, and Other State-Issued ID: Select Legal Issues

This report provides an overview of key legal issues raised by state laws regarding the denial or issuance of driver's licenses and other forms of ID to unlawfully present aliens. It also addresses the legal issues raised by local governments issuing ID cards to unlawfully present aliens, as well as by state and local approaches to recognizing foreign-issued ID documents.
Date: September 3, 2014
Creator: Manuel, Kate M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Introduction to Public Housing (open access)

Introduction to Public Housing

This report serves as an introduction to the federal public housing program. It provides information on the history of the program, how it is administered and funded, and the characteristics of public housing properties and the households they serve. While it introduces current policy issues, a full analysis of those issues and discussion of current legislation is not included in this report.
Date: January 3, 2014
Creator: McCarty, Maggie
System: The UNT Digital Library
Energy-Water Nexus: The Water Sector's Energy Use (open access)

Energy-Water Nexus: The Water Sector's Energy Use

This report provides background on energy for facilities that treat and deliver water to end users and also dispose of and discharge wastewater. This report first discusses water-related energy use broadly and then energy for facilities that treat and deliver water to end users and also dispose of and discharge wastewater.
Date: January 3, 2014
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
System: The UNT Digital Library
Proposed Train and Equip Authorities for Syria: In Brief (open access)

Proposed Train and Equip Authorities for Syria: In Brief

This report reviews the authority granted in H.J.Res. 124 and explores similarities and differences among the H.J.Res. 124 authority, the President's requests, and other proposals that may be considered by Congress, including during anticipated consideration of FY2015 full-year appropriations or defense authorization (H.R. 4435/S. 2410) legislation.
Date: December 3, 2014
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M. & Belasco, Amy
System: The UNT Digital Library
Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy

This report discusses the current state of Bahrain, which has undergone substantial political reforms since the late 1990s, but which still suffers from tension between the Shiite majority and the Sunni-led government. It focuses particularly on Bahrain's relationship with Iran and with the United States.
Date: October 3, 2014
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Status of Mexican Trucks in the United States: Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

Status of Mexican Trucks in the United States: Frequently Asked Questions

This report answers frequently asked questions about the pilot program permitting Mexican trucks into the United States.
Date: January 3, 2014
Creator: Frittelli, John
System: The UNT Digital Library
Pakistan Political Unrest: In Brief (open access)

Pakistan Political Unrest: In Brief

This report provides an overview of the latest developments in Islamabad. The report discusses the recent political unrest in Pakistan and implications for the U.S. interest.
Date: September 3, 2014
Creator: Kronstadt, K. Alan & Kumar, Samir
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ozone Air Quality Standards: EPA's 2015 Revision (open access)

Ozone Air Quality Standards: EPA's 2015 Revision

This report discusses the standard-setting process, the specifics of the current and most recent reviews, and issues that may be raised as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) brings the current review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone to completion.
Date: October 3, 2014
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Mongolia: Issues for Congress (open access)

Mongolia: Issues for Congress

This report examines current economic and political issues in Mongolia, including the country's democratic development, investment climate, military engagement and foreign relations.
Date: September 3, 2014
Creator: Lawrence, Susan V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Elder Justice Act: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

The Elder Justice Act: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides a brief legislative history of the Elder Justice Act, summarizes elder justice provisions enacted as part of ACA, and administrative efforts related to implementation and funding. The report then describes several issues for Congress with respect to the act's reauthorization.
Date: September 3, 2014
Creator: Colello, Kirsten J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ebola: Basics About the Disease (open access)

Ebola: Basics About the Disease

This report discusses Ebola virus disease (EVD) in general, including symptoms, modes of transmission, incubation period, and treatments; presents projections of the future course of the outbreak; and lists additional CRS products, including products focused on the situation in West Africa. Unless otherwise cited, information in this report is drawn from Ebola information pages of CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Date: October 3, 2014
Creator: Lister, Sarah A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Food Safety Issues for the 113th Congress (open access)

Food Safety Issues for the 113th Congress

Congress passed comprehensive food safety legislation in December 2010 (FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), P.L. 111-353), representing the largest expansion and overhaul of U.S. food safety authorities since the 1930s. This report discusses Congress' oversight in regards to FSMA and its interest in several other issues including food safety initiatives covering meat, poultry, and seafood products; legislation intended to curtail the non-medical use of antibiotics in animal feeds and to ban the use of certain plastic components commonly used in food containers; food labeling; stricter food safety enforcement mechanisms; and the use of plant and animal biotechnology.
Date: February 3, 2014
Creator: Johnson, Renée
System: The UNT Digital Library
Corporate Expatriation, Inversions, and Mergers: Tax Issues (open access)

Corporate Expatriation, Inversions, and Mergers: Tax Issues

This report begins with a brief discussion of relevant portions of the U.S. corporate income tax system before examining how inversions were commonly structured. The report then looks at how Congress and Department of the Treasury have reduced the benefits of inversions. The report concludes with an examination of methods that remain to invert and policy options available to prevent or limit these inversions.
Date: September 3, 2014
Creator: Marples, Donald J. & Gravelle, Jane G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Government Assistance for GMAC/Ally Financial: Unwinding the Government Stake (open access)

Government Assistance for GMAC/Ally Financial: Unwinding the Government Stake

This report explains the governments relationship with Ally Financial (formerly known as General Motors Acceptance Corporation, or GMAC). Under the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) the government purchased preferred shares in Ally Financial, acquiring a 73.8% ownership state. This report discusses the reasoning behind this assistance to Ally and the ultimate costs.
Date: September 3, 2014
Creator: Webel, Baird & Canis, Bill
System: The UNT Digital Library
Title X (Public Health Service Act) Family Planning Program (open access)

Title X (Public Health Service Act) Family Planning Program

This report looks at several bills addressing the Family Planning Program (Title X of the Public Health Service Act) which have been introduced in the 112th Congress, including: funding for abortion-providing entities, elimination of the program, and prohibitions on government spending for the program.
Date: September 3, 2014
Creator: Napili, Angela
System: The UNT Digital Library
Small Business Size Standards: A Historical Analysis of Contemporary Issues (open access)

Small Business Size Standards: A Historical Analysis of Contemporary Issues

This report provides a historical examination of the Small Business Administration's SBA size standards, and assesses competing views concerning how to define a small business. It also discusses H.R. 585, the Small Business Size Standard Flexibility Act of 2011, which would have authorized the SBA's Office of Chief Counsel for Advocacy to approve or disapprove a size standard proposed by a federal agency if it deviates from the SBA's size standards.
Date: January 3, 2014
Creator: Dilger, Robert J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Peace Talks in Colombia (open access)

Peace Talks in Colombia

This report provides background on Colombia's armed conflict and describes its key players. It briefly analyzes prior negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the lessons learned from those efforts that apply to the current talks. It examines what has transpired in the talks that have now lasted for more than a year and a half, considers some of the constraints that could limit the success of the peace talks, and looks at the prospects for the current negotiations.
Date: April 3, 2014
Creator: Beittel, June S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Medigap: A Primer (open access)

Medigap: A Primer

None
Date: January 3, 2014
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library