Immigration Reform Issues in the 111th Congress (open access)

Immigration Reform Issues in the 111th Congress

This report synthesizes the multi-tiered debate over immigration reform into key elements: legal immigration; legalization; immigration control; refugees, asylees, and humanitarian migrants; and alien rights, benefits, and responsibilities. It delineates the issues for the 111th Congress on permanent residence, temporary admissions, border security, worksite enforcement, employment eligibility verification, document fraud, criminal aliens, and the grounds for inadmissibility.
Date: October 29, 2010
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
System: The UNT Digital Library
Allocations and Subdivisions in the Congressional Budget Process (open access)

Allocations and Subdivisions in the Congressional Budget Process

This report very briefly discusses the allocations and subdivisions portions of the congressional budget process.
Date: November 29, 2010
Creator: Heniff, Bill, Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Overview of the Authorization-Appropriations Process (open access)

Overview of the Authorization-Appropriations Process

A primary avenue for exercising Congress's power of the purse is the authorization and appropriation of federal spending to carry out government activities. This report discusses the formal authorization-appropriation process.
Date: November 29, 2010
Creator: Heniff, Bill, Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Americans with Disabilities Act and Emergency Preparedness and Response (open access)

The Americans with Disabilities Act and Emergency Preparedness and Response

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 54.4 million individuals with disabilities in the United States. The challenges faced by these individuals, and their civil rights to inclusion in disaster preparedness and response, have received increased attention after September 11, Hurricane Katrina, and other disasters. This report briefly discusses this issue, including the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006.
Date: December 29, 2010
Creator: Jones, Nancy Lee
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA): Overview of Workers' Compensation for Certain Private- Sector Maritime Workers (open access)

The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA): Overview of Workers' Compensation for Certain Private- Sector Maritime Workers

This report discusses the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA), a federal workers' compensation program that covers certain private-sector maritime workers. More than $980 million in LHWCA benefits are paid each year. The LHWCA is administered by the Department of Labor (DOL) and all benefit costs are paid by employers and their insurance carriers.
Date: November 29, 2010
Creator: Szymendera, Scott
System: The UNT Digital Library
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program (open access)

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program

This report provides background on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program and discusses spending during FY2014 and the proposed budget for FY 2015.
Date: April 29, 2014
Creator: Gertler, Jeremiah
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Gold Medals, 1776-2014 (open access)

Congressional Gold Medals, 1776-2014

This report discusses recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal, often considered the most distinguished award. It includes some information about the history of the medal, recipients during the 19th-21st centuries, foreign recipients, design of the medals, and related legislative procedures.
Date: April 29, 2014
Creator: Glassman, Matthew Eric
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations: Senate Rejections and Committee Votes Other Than to Report Favorably, 1939-2013 (open access)

U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations: Senate Rejections and Committee Votes Other Than to Report Favorably, 1939-2013

This report discusses the 19 U.S. circuit and district court nominations that led to committee consideration of actions other than a favorable report (or other than approval by the full Senate). For each nominee, it lists the votes cast by the Judiciary Committee and the full Senate and identifies circumstances that kept members from approving the nominations, such as senatorial courtesy, ideological disagreement, and concern over nominees' qualifications.
Date: May 29, 2014
Creator: McMillion, Barry J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Marine Protected Areas: An Overview (open access)

Marine Protected Areas: An Overview

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are generally defined as areas reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment. This report identifies a number of issues related to establishing MPAs in the United States. It begins by defining the concept and administrative actions taken to provide spatial protection in marine areas. It then considers some of the key issues and potential benefits and costs of designating additional MPAs. It concludes by considering potential areas of congressional interest for the 111th Congress. Existing federal laws related to the use of MPAs are summarized in the Appendix.
Date: September 29, 2010
Creator: Upton, Harold E. & Buck, Eugene H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress (open access)

Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress

The Navy is procuring a new type of surface combatant called the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). The Navy wants to procure a total of 55 LCSs. This report details the 2007 restructuring of the LCS program, as well as various financial information relating to the program. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's plans for the LCS program. The LCS program raises potential oversight issues for Congress relating to various aspects of the program, all of which are explored within this report.
Date: November 29, 2010
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Basic Federal Budgeting Terminology (open access)

Basic Federal Budgeting Terminology

In its most elemental form, the federal budget is a comprehensive accounting of the government's spending, revenues, and borrowing. This report provides a brief overview of the basic terminology and concepts used in the federal budget process.
Date: November 29, 2010
Creator: Heniff, Bill, Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies (open access)

Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies

This list of about 150 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: November 29, 2010
Creator: Crane-Hirsch, Audrey Celeste
System: The UNT Digital Library
Budget Reconciliation Legislation: Development and Consideration (open access)

Budget Reconciliation Legislation: Development and Consideration

This report briefly discusses the budget reconciliation process, which is an optional two-step process Congress may use to assure compliance with the direct spending, revenue, and debt-limit levels set forth in budget resolutions.
Date: November 29, 2010
Creator: Heniff, Bill, Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carrier (CVN) Homeporting at Mayport: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carrier (CVN) Homeporting at Mayport: Background and Issues for Congress

On January 14, 2009, the Navy announced that it wants to transfer one of its nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (CVNs) to the Navy home port at Mayport, FL, known formally as Naval Station (NAVSTA) Mayport. The Navy's proposed FY2010 budget requests $46.3 million in Military Construction (MilCon) funding for channel dredging at Mayport. The Navy states that a key reason it wants to transfer a CVN to Mayport is to hedge against the risk of a catastrophic event that could damage the Navy's CVN homeporting facilities at Norfolk, VA, and nearby Newport News, VA. This report discusses potential questions for Congress to consider related to budget appropriations for such a transfer, the potential negative economic effects that a CVN transfer would have on the local homeport, and the other general questions regarding the Navy.
Date: September 29, 2010
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response: The SAFER Grant Program (open access)

Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response: The SAFER Grant Program

This report discusses the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Act, which was enacted by the 108th Congress as Section 1057 of the FY2004 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 108-136). It includes background of the SAFER Act, appropriations from FY2011-FY2013, reauthorization of the program in the House and Senate, and information about program implementation.
Date: May 29, 2014
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
United States Fire Administration: An Overview (open access)

United States Fire Administration: An Overview

This report describes and analyzes the United States Fire Administration's (USFA's) FY2013 budget proposal, as well as related information and legislation.
Date: May 29, 2014
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Army Corps of Engineers Water Resource Projects: Authorization and Appropriations (open access)

Army Corps of Engineers Water Resource Projects: Authorization and Appropriations

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers attracts congressional attention because its projects can have significant local and regional economic benefits and environmental effects, in addition to their water resource development purposes. This report provides an overview of the Corps civil works program. It covers the congressional authorization and appropriation process, the standard project development process, and other Corps activities and authorities. It also includes an Appendix on the evolution of Corps civil works missions and authorities and a description of the limits on the Corps' role in levee accreditation and improvements for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Date: September 29, 2010
Creator: Carter, Nicole T. & Stern, Charles V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Filibusters and Cloture in the Senate (open access)

Filibusters and Cloture in the Senate

Report that discusses major aspects of Senate procedure related to filibusters and cloture.
Date: November 29, 2012
Creator: Beth, Richard S. & Heitshusen, Valerie
System: The UNT Digital Library
Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990 (open access)

Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990

Report that discusses U.S. security assistance to Taiwan, or Republic of China (ROC), including policy issues for Congress and legislation.
Date: November 29, 2012
Creator: Kan, Shirley A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Reducing the Budget Deficit: The President's Fiscal Commission and Other Initiatives (open access)

Reducing the Budget Deficit: The President's Fiscal Commission and Other Initiatives

This report discusses why the federal government's fiscal path is unsustainable and provides an overview of proposals of selected groups that have published detailed recommendations on how to return the federal budget to a sustainable course.
Date: April 29, 2011
Creator: Levit, Mindy R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Rwanda: Background and Current Developments (open access)

Rwanda: Background and Current Developments

This report discusses the current political conditions of Rwanda, including a brief historical overview. The report also includes information about the poor human rights conditions in Rwanda and U.S. Rwanda relations.
Date: April 29, 2011
Creator: Dagne, Ted
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress (open access)

Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress

This report provides background information and potential issues for Congress on the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), a relatively inexpensive Navy surface combatant equipped with modular "plug-and-fight" mission packages. The Navy's proposed FY2012 budget requests funding for the procurement of four LCSs. Current issues for Congress concerning the LCS program include changes or potential changes to the composition of LCS mission modules announced by the Navy in January 2011, the combat survivability of the LCS, and hull cracking on LCS-1. Congress's decisions on the LCS program could affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: April 29, 2011
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Supreme Court Reiterates Congress's Exclusive Role in Regulating Lower Federal Court Jurisdiction (open access)

Supreme Court Reiterates Congress's Exclusive Role in Regulating Lower Federal Court Jurisdiction

This report discusses the Supreme Court's decision in "Hamer v. Neighborhood Housing Service of Chicago" which affirmed that only the legislative branch may make rules governing the inferior federal courts' subject-matter jurisdiction.
Date: November 29, 2017
Creator: Peck, Sarah Herman
System: The UNT Digital Library
Killing Endangered Species: What's Reasonable Self-Defense? (open access)

Killing Endangered Species: What's Reasonable Self-Defense?

This report discusses the case of "United States v. Wallen" in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; it concerns a man who killed a grizzly bear cub in violation of the Endangered Species Act and claimed self-defense. It outlines the court ruling that the man enjoys a complete defense if he "actually, even if unreasonably, believe[s] his actions were necessary to protect himself or others" and discusses the implications of the decision.
Date: November 29, 2017
Creator: Doyle, Charles
System: The UNT Digital Library