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Domestic Human Trafficking Legislation in the 114th Congress (open access)

Domestic Human Trafficking Legislation in the 114th Congress

This report discusses domestic human trafficking-related issues that have received legislative action or are of significant interest in the 114th Congress.
Date: April 16, 2015
Creator: Finklea, Kristin; Fernandes-Alcantara, Adrienne L. & Siskin, Alison
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ballistic Missile Defense in the Asia-Pacific Region: Cooperation and Opposition (open access)

Ballistic Missile Defense in the Asia-Pacific Region: Cooperation and Opposition

This report presents background information and discusses potential issues for Congress relating to U.S. ballistic missile defense (BMD) efforts in the Asia-Pacific region. These efforts pose several potential policy, funding, and oversight issues for Congress. Decisions that Congress makes on these issues could affect U.S. defense funding requirements and military capabilities, and U.S. relations with countries in the Asia Pacific region, including China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, and Australia.
Date: April 3, 2015
Creator: Rinehart, Ian E.; Hildreth, Steven A. & Lawrence, Susan V.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Franking Privilege: Historical Development and Options for Change (open access)

Franking Privilege: Historical Development and Options for Change

This report provides a history of the Congressional franking privilege and discusses the franking privilege that has carried an element of controversy throughout American history.
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Health Coverage Tax Credit (open access)

Health Coverage Tax Credit

The report describes the expired eligibility criteria, as well as the types of health insurance to which the tax credit may have been applied. It discusses past federal and state roles in administering the HCTC program, and it summarizes analyses on the credit's effectiveness in reaching targeted populations and related equity and efficiency issues. In addition, the report includes a short discussion of relevant current law and summarizes statutory history of the HCTC program.
Date: April 2, 2015
Creator: Fernandez, Bernadette
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Net Neutrality: Selected Legal Issues Raised by the FCC's 2015 Open Internet Order (open access)

Net Neutrality: Selected Legal Issues Raised by the FCC's 2015 Open Internet Order

This report discusses the primary legal issues raised by the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC's) 2015 Open Internet Order: the FCC's authority to reclassify broadband Internet access services, the FCC's authority to forbear from the imposition of Title II regulations following reclassification, the FCC's authority under Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and whether the FCC properly complied with the Administrative Procedure Act.
Date: April 6, 2015
Creator: Ruane, Kathleen Ann
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Barriers Along the U.S. Borders: Key Authorities and Requirements (open access)

Barriers Along the U.S. Borders: Key Authorities and Requirements

This report discusses key statutory authorities and requirements governing the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) construction of barriers along the U.S. borders. It also includes appendixes listing federal laws that have been waived by DHS in furtherance of border construction projects.
Date: April 8, 2015
Creator: Garcia, Michael J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cybersecurity and Information Sharing: Comparison of H.R. 1560 and H.R. 1731 (open access)

Cybersecurity and Information Sharing: Comparison of H.R. 1560 and H.R. 1731

This report compares provisions in two bills in the House of Representatives that address information sharing and related activities in cybersecurity.
Date: April 20, 2015
Creator: Fischer, Eric A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iran: Efforts to Achieve a Nuclear Accord (open access)

Iran: Efforts to Achieve a Nuclear Accord

This report discusses Iran's nuclear program and diplomatic efforts to forge a comprehensive agreement to keep that program peaceful.
Date: April 9, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth; Kerr, Paul K. & Garcia, Michael J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
ARPA-E and the FY2016 Budget Request (open access)

ARPA-E and the FY2016 Budget Request

This budget and appropriations tracking report describes selected major items from the Administration's FY2016 budget request for ARPA-E and tracks legislative action on FY2016 appropriations to the agency. It also provides selected historical funding data.
Date: April 16, 2015
Creator: Gonzalez, Heather B.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. International Food Aid Programs: Background and Issues (open access)

U.S. International Food Aid Programs: Background and Issues

This report includes three principal sections: the first section is a description of U.S. international food aid programs under current law; the second section discusses several important policy issues related to U.S. international food aid; and the third section describes Administration and congressional proposals intended to change the nature of U.S. food international aid.
Date: April 1, 2015
Creator: Schnepf, Randy
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Social Media in the House of Representatives: Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

Social Media in the House of Representatives: Frequently Asked Questions

This report answers several questions about the regulation of social media accounts in the House of Representatives, as social media accounts for official representational duties have increased.
Date: April 2, 2015
Creator: Straus, Jacob R. & Glassman, Matthew E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (open access)

U.S.-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

This CRS Report discusses renewal of the peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and the People's Republic of China (PRC). The current agreement was signed in 1985 and implemented in 1998. The agreement is set to expire on December 30, 2015, and a new agreement is expected to be submitted for congressional review in spring 2015.
Date: April 20, 2015
Creator: Holt, Mark & Nikitin, Mary Beth D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Free Exercise of Religion by Closely Held Corporations: Implications of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. (open access)

Free Exercise of Religion by Closely Held Corporations: Implications of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

This report analyzes the Court's decision in Hobby Lobby, including arguments made between the majority and dissent, to clarify the scope of the decision and potential impacts for future interpretation of RFRA's applicability. It also examines potential legislative responses, should Congress consider addressing the current applicability of RFRA. Finally, the report addresses the decision's effect on requirements that employers offer contraceptive coverage in group health plans under federal or state law.
Date: April 6, 2015
Creator: Brown, Cynthia
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses (open access)

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

This report discusses the reasons that Iran is considered a threat to U.S. security, including Iran's nuclear program, involvement with terrorist organizations, and involvement with neighboring countries' local governments. It also discusses ways in which the U.S. hopes to modify Iran's behavior with sanctions, and the effectiveness of these sanctions.
Date: April 14, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-Mexico Economic Relations: Trends, Issues, and Implications (open access)

U.S.-Mexico Economic Relations: Trends, Issues, and Implications

This report provides an overview of U.S.-Mexico trade and economic trends, the Mexican economy, the effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and major trade issues between the United States and Mexico.
Date: April 20, 2015
Creator: Villarreal, M. Angeles
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (open access)

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

This report provides an overview of North American trade liberalization before NAFTA, an overview of NAFTA provisions, the economic effects of NAFTA, and policy considerations.
Date: April 16, 2015
Creator: Villarreal, M. Angeles & Fergusson, Ian F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cuba: Issues for the 114th Congress (open access)

Cuba: Issues for the 114th Congress

This report is divided into three major sections analyzing Cuba's political and economic environment, U.S. policy toward Cuba, and selected issues in U.S.-Cuban relations. While legislative initiatives are noted throughout the report where appropriate, a final section of the report provides a listing of bills and resolutions introduced in the 114th Congress.
Date: April 17, 2015
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Conflict Minerals and Resource Extraction: Dodd-Frank, SEC Regulations, and Legal Challenges (open access)

Conflict Minerals and Resource Extraction: Dodd-Frank, SEC Regulations, and Legal Challenges

This report discusses the two sections of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) that require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or Commission) to issue regulations to make public the involvement of U.S. companies in conflict minerals and in resource extraction payments.
Date: April 2, 2015
Creator: Seitzinger, Michael V. & Ruane, Kathleen Ann
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Rail Safety Efforts Miss Leading Cause of Fatalities (open access)

Rail Safety Efforts Miss Leading Cause of Fatalities

This report briefly discusses the debate over the reauthorization of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA08; P.L. 110-432). Congress is focusing on steps to prevent train derailments and collisions. Such incidents often receive extensive publicity and cause harm to bystanders, such as the residents of Mount Carbon, West Virginia, who were forced to evacuate after a train carrying crude oil derailed and burned on February 16, 2015.
Date: April 2, 2015
Creator: Frittelli, John
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA): Background and Reauthorization (open access)

African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA): Background and Reauthorization

This report discusses the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is a nonreciprocal trade preference program that provides duty-free treatment to U.S. imports of certain products from eligible sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Williams, Brock R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Israel After the 2015 Elections: What Does Netanyahu's Victory Mean for U.S. Policy? (open access)

Israel After the 2015 Elections: What Does Netanyahu's Victory Mean for U.S. Policy?

This report discusses the U.S. policy towards Israel after prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu's victory in 2015 elections.
Date: April 21, 2015
Creator: Zanotti, Jim
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force: Issues Concerning Its Continued Application (open access)

2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force: Issues Concerning Its Continued Application

This report discusses the Congress-enacted legislation (2001 AUMF; P.L. 107-40; 50 U.S.C. ยง1541) to authorize the use of military force against those who perpetrated or provided support for the attacks on September 11, 2001.
Date: April 14, 2015
Creator: Weed, Matthew C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Overview of Unconventional Oil and Natural Gas: Resources and Federal Actions (open access)

An Overview of Unconventional Oil and Natural Gas: Resources and Federal Actions

This report focuses on the growth in U.S. oil and natural gas production driven primarily by tight oil formations and shale gas formations. It also reviews selected federal environmental regulatory and research initiatives related to unconventional oil and gas extraction, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hydraulic fracturing rule (finalized in March 2015) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) actions.
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Ratner, Michael & Tiemann, Mary
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
State Sponsors of Acts of International Terrorism--Legislative Parameters: In Brief (open access)

State Sponsors of Acts of International Terrorism--Legislative Parameters: In Brief

This report provides information on legislation that authorizes the designation of any foreign government as a state sponsor of acts of international terrorism.
Date: April 15, 2015
Creator: Rennack, Dianne E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library