Implementing EPA's 2015 Ozone Air Quality Standards (open access)

Implementing EPA's 2015 Ozone Air Quality Standards

This report provides background on NAAQS (federal standards that apply to outdoor air), the process used to establish them, the 2008 and 2015 ozone standards, and issues that have been raised as EPA implements the final rule.
Date: August 16, 2018
Creator: McCarthy, James E. & Shouse, Kate C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Toward the Creation of a U.S. "Space Force" (open access)

Toward the Creation of a U.S. "Space Force"

This report discusses the possibility of a new military service branch -- the Space Force -- with the goal of asserting "American dominance in space."
Date: August 16, 2018
Creator: Hildreth, Steven A.; Elsea, Jennifer K.; Kapp, Lawrence & McInnis, Kathleen J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Civil Aviation Programs: In Brief (open access)

Federal Civil Aviation Programs: In Brief

This report discusses the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs including organizational structures, updates on activities and reforms, funding sources, and other relevant information.
Date: October 16, 2018
Creator: Elias, Bart & Tang, Rachel Y.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Issues (open access)

Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Issues

This report highlights selected personnel-related issues that may generate high levels of congressional and constituent interest.
Date: October 16, 2018
Creator: Mendez, Bryce H. P.; Kamarck, Kristy N.; Kapp, Lawrence & Torreon, Barbara Salazar
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances (open access)

Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances

This report examines developments in U.S. policy restricting travel and remittances to Cuba, current permissible travel and remittances, enforcement of the travel restrictions, and debate on lifting the travel restrictions.
Date: November 16, 2018
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Defense Primer: Defense Appropriations Process (open access)

Defense Primer: Defense Appropriations Process

This report provides an overview of the defense appropriations process. The congressional appropriations process includes various rules and practices that Congress has adopted to distinguish appropriations measures and facilitate their consideration.
Date: November 16, 2018
Creator: Saturno, James V. & McGarry, Brendan W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Defense Primer: Organization of U.S. Ground Forces (open access)

Defense Primer: Organization of U.S. Ground Forces

This report outlines the organization of the Army, the U.S. military's primary ground force, and the Marine Corps, the Navy's land-based fighting force.
Date: November 16, 2018
Creator: Torreon, Barbara Salazar & Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
What Role Might the Federal Government Play in Law Enforcement Reform? (open access)

What Role Might the Federal Government Play in Law Enforcement Reform?

This report discuses policy options for Congress to consider in regard to law enforcement reform. Over the past few years, several high-profile police-involved shootings and alleged instances of excessive force have generated congressional interest in state and local policing.
Date: November 16, 2018
Creator: James, Nathan & Harrington, Ben
System: The UNT Digital Library
Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces (open access)

Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces

This report provides an overview of U.S. military Special Operations Forces (SOF), including personnel selection, command structure, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), and Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs).
Date: November 16, 2018
Creator: Torreon, Barbara Salazar & Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
Defense Primer: Department of the Army and Army Command Structure (open access)

Defense Primer: Department of the Army and Army Command Structure

This report discusses the senior leadership and operational and institutional missions of the Department of the Army (DA).
Date: November 16, 2018
Creator: Torreon, Barbara Salazar & Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
When Does Double Prosecution Count as Double Jeopardy? (open access)

When Does Double Prosecution Count as Double Jeopardy?

This report discusses the Fifth Amendment's Double Jeopardy Clause; although the Clause provides that no person shall "be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb," the Supreme Court has made clear that that protection has its limits.
Date: August 16, 2018
Creator: Hsin, JD S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
NASA Appropriations and Authorizations: A Fact Sheet (open access)

NASA Appropriations and Authorizations: A Fact Sheet

This report provides data on past, current, and proposed appropriations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. No bills have yet been introduced in the 115th Congress proposing future-year authorizations of NASA appropriations.
Date: April 16, 2018
Creator: Morgan, Daniel
System: The UNT Digital Library
House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up H.R. 4170, the Disclosing Foreign Influence Act (open access)

House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up H.R. 4170, the Disclosing Foreign Influence Act

This report discusses the House Judiciary Committee's announcement that they would hold a full committee markup hearing on Wednesday, January 17 for H.R. 4170, the Disclosing Foreign Influence Act (DFIA).
Date: January 16, 2018
Creator: Brown, Cynthia
System: The UNT Digital Library
Capital Gains Tax: An Overview (open access)

Capital Gains Tax: An Overview

This report gives a brief overview of taxes and tax law regarding capital gains.
Date: March 16, 2018
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response (open access)

Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response

This report discusses the ongoing conflict in Syria and past and current U.S. policies regarding the conflict and U.S. involvement in it. Topics covered include U.S. military aid and humanitarian assistance to groups in Syria, proposed legislation related to Syria n Congress, current U.S. policy aims, and recent events in Syria both diplomatically and militarily.
Date: February 16, 2018
Creator: Humud, Carla E.; Blanchard, Christopher M. & Nikitin, Mary Beth D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Legal Authorities Under the Controlled Substances Act to Combat the Opioid Crisis (open access)

Legal Authorities Under the Controlled Substances Act to Combat the Opioid Crisis

This report discusses legal authorities available to the federal government under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) that could be used to combat the opioid epidemic. The report then examines DEA initiatives and actions taken, pursuant to its legal authorities under the CSA, which specifically target the abuse of opioids. It concludes by discussing selected opioid-related legislative proposals in the 115th Congress that would amend the CSA.
Date: April 16, 2018
Creator: Yeh, Brian T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Respirable Crystalline Silica in the Workplace: New Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards (open access)

Respirable Crystalline Silica in the Workplace: New Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards

This report discusses OSHA's new standards for respirable crystalline silica in the workplace. Groups representing employers, manufacturers, and labor filed court challenges to the new standards. On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld the new standards.
Date: January 16, 2018
Creator: Szymendara, Scott D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The TRIO Programs: A Primer (open access)

The TRIO Programs: A Primer

This report provides an overview of the TRIO programs which provide support services to disadvantaged student to promote achievement in post-secondary education.
Date: March 16, 2018
Creator: Dortch, Cassandria
System: The UNT Digital Library
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Constitutional Challenge to SEC Administrative Law Judges (open access)

Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Constitutional Challenge to SEC Administrative Law Judges

This report discusses the case of "Lucia v. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)" which is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court. The case addresses whether administrative law judges(ALJs) within the SEC are "Officers of the United States" (officers) who must be appointed in accordance with the Appointments Clause of Article II of the Constitution.
Date: January 16, 2018
Creator: Killion, Victoria L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Medicare and Budget Sequestration (open access)

Medicare and Budget Sequestration

This report discusses how budget sequestration effects the Medicare program.
Date: February 16, 2018
Creator: Rosso, Ryan J. & Davis, Patricia A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Expired Tax Provisions and "Tax Extenders" (open access)

Expired Tax Provisions and "Tax Extenders"

This report discusses tax provisions which expired at the end of 2016 and were not addressed in the 2017 tax reform bill and various options for Congress to either extend them or end them.
Date: January 16, 2018
Creator: Sherlock, Molly F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Private Flood Insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) (open access)

Private Flood Insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

This report discusses the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the requirements that private insurers must meet to satisfy the federal flood insurance requirements. It also discusses legislation in the 115th Congress related to flood insurance.
Date: April 16, 2018
Creator: Webel, Baird & Horn, Diane P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Update of "All Eyes on Allergan: Drug Company's Unprecedented Move Raises Questions for Patent and Drug Law (Part 1)" (open access)

Update of "All Eyes on Allergan: Drug Company's Unprecedented Move Raises Questions for Patent and Drug Law (Part 1)"

This report is an update of a previous report discussing the case of "Allergan Inc. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc." which deals with patent law and the rights of brand-name pharmaceutical companies and generic pharmaceutical companies as well as Native American tribes sovereign rights because the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe is a co-plaintiff in the case. The case is currently in the appeals process.
Date: March 16, 2018
Creator: Lewis, Caitlin Devereaux
System: The UNT Digital Library
Small Business Administration: A Primer on Programs and Funding (open access)

Small Business Administration: A Primer on Programs and Funding

This report describes the Small Business Administration's programs and funding sources.
Date: February 16, 2018
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay & Lowry, Sean
System: The UNT Digital Library