Green Procurement: Overview and Issues for Congress (open access)

Green Procurement: Overview and Issues for Congress

This report discusses about Green Procurement, Federal Green Purchasing Initiatives and Issues for congress. It also discusses about Market-Focused Programs and Agency-Focused Initiatives.
Date: April 20, 2010
Creator: Fischer, Eric A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Health-Related Revenue Provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) (open access)

Health-Related Revenue Provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148)

This report details the changes in tax law that will be made as a result of the health-related revenue provisions in PPACA.
Date: April 8, 2010
Creator: Mulvey, Janemarie
System: The UNT Digital Library
Mountaintop Mining: Background on Current Controversies (open access)

Mountaintop Mining: Background on Current Controversies

This report provides background on regulatory requirements, controversies and legal challenges to mountaintop mining, and recent Administration actions. Congressional interest in these issues also is discussed, including legislation in the 111th Congress seeking to restrict the practice of mountaintop mining and other legislation intended to block the Obama Administration’s regulatory actions.
Date: April 12, 2010
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
System: The UNT Digital Library
Food Safety on the Farm: Federal Programs and Selected Proposals (open access)

Food Safety on the Farm: Federal Programs and Selected Proposals

This report discusses comprehensive food safety bills that are progressing in the 111th Congress and could affect farmers and ranchers. Interest in on-farm practices was renewed after more than 1,300 persons in 43 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada were found to be infected with the same unusual strain of bacteria (Salmonella Saintpaul) in April-July 2008.
Date: April 21, 2010
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Conspiracy Law: A Brief Overview (open access)

Federal Conspiracy Law: A Brief Overview

This report discusses Federal conspiracy law. It also discusses about sanctions, Relation of Conspiracy to Other Crimes and Procedural Attributes.
Date: April 30, 2010
Creator: Doyle, Charles
System: The UNT Digital Library
Grandfathered Health Plans Under PPACA (P.L. 111-148) (open access)

Grandfathered Health Plans Under PPACA (P.L. 111-148)

This report addresses key questions concerning grandfathered plans and insurance reforms affecting such plans, including reporting and consumer information requirements, benefits package, and access to coverage.
Date: April 7, 2010
Creator: Fernandez, Bernadette
System: The UNT Digital Library
China-U.S. Poultry Dispute (open access)

China-U.S. Poultry Dispute

This report is categorized into five categories: (I) Background, (II) US.-China Agricultural Trade, (III) U.S. Regulation of Poultry Safety, (IV) China Poultry Rule and (V) Trade Implication and Outlook.
Date: April 5, 2010
Creator: Johnson, Renée
System: The UNT Digital Library
Forestry in the Next Farm Bill (open access)

Forestry in the Next Farm Bill

This report discusses about Possible Forestry Issues for a future Farm bill, Markets for Carbon Sequestration, Markets for Other Ecosystem Services, Control of Invasive Species etc.
Date: April 29, 2010
Creator: Gorte, Ross W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Grandfathered Health Plans Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (open access)

Grandfathered Health Plans Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

This report addresses key questions concerning grandfathered plans and insurance reforms affecting such plans, including reporting and consumer information requirements, benefits package, and access to coverage.
Date: April 27, 2010
Creator: Fernandez, Bernadette
System: The UNT Digital Library
Health Insurance Premium Credits Under PPACA (P.L. 111-148) (open access)

Health Insurance Premium Credits Under PPACA (P.L. 111-148)

This report describes the premium credits as reflected in current law through this legislation.
Date: April 6, 2010
Creator: Peterson, Chris L. & Gabe, Thomas
System: The UNT Digital Library
Child Support Enforcement: Tribal Programs (open access)

Child Support Enforcement: Tribal Programs

This report describes the components of tribal CSE programs and discusses issues related to jurisdictional matters, paternity establishment, child support enforcement methods, nonpayment problems, and consistency of tribal programs with each other and with state CSE programs.
Date: April 22, 2010
Creator: Solomon-Feras, Carmen
System: The UNT Digital Library
Health Insurance Premium Credits in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (open access)

Health Insurance Premium Credits in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

This report describes the premium credits as reflected in current law through this legislation.
Date: April 28, 2010
Creator: Peterson, Chris L. & Gabe, Thomas
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Conspiracy Law: A Sketch (open access)

Federal Conspiracy Law: A Sketch

This report discusses about Conspiracies to Defraud the United States, Relation of Conspiracy to Other Crimes, Procedural Attributes etc.
Date: April 30, 2010
Creator: Doyle, Charles
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Funding for Wildfire Control and Management (open access)

Federal Funding for Wildfire Control and Management

None
Date: April 22, 2010
Creator: Gorte, Ross W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Estate Tax Options (open access)

Estate Tax Options

After a brief description of the estate and gift tax and of options, this report compares the alternatives, focusing largely on a $1 million exemption and 55% rate, a $3.5 million exemption and a 45% rate, and a $5 million exemption and a 35% rate. Several policy effects and issues are analyzed: the share of decedents subject to tax, revenue effects, distributional effects, and effects on savings, charitable contributions, and compliance and administration. The report also considers other aspects of the proposals, such as whether the exemptions are indexed for inflation, a proposed inheritance of the exemption for spouses, and proposals to address perceived abuses.
Date: April 23, 2010
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Judicial Activity Concerning Enemy Combatant Detainees: Major Court Rulings (open access)

Judicial Activity Concerning Enemy Combatant Detainees: Major Court Rulings

This report discusses major judicial opinions concerning suspected enemy belligerents detained in the conflict with Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Date: April 1, 2010
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K. & Garcia, Michael J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
What's the Difference?--Comparing U.S. and Chinese Trade Data (open access)

What's the Difference?--Comparing U.S. and Chinese Trade Data

This report provides a comparison of U.S. and Chinese trade data. The U.S. trade deficit with the People's Republic of China (China) remains a major source of bilateral tension. Members of Congress and other U.S. government officials often point to the bilateral trade imbalance as evidence that China is not competing fairly in the global market.
Date: April 21, 2010
Creator: Martin, Michael F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Outsourcing and Insourcing Jobs in the U.S. Economy: An Overview of Evidence Based on Foreign Investment Data (open access)

Outsourcing and Insourcing Jobs in the U.S. Economy: An Overview of Evidence Based on Foreign Investment Data

This report provides an overview of evidence based on roreign investment data that analyzes the extent of direct investment into and out of the economy, as well as the relationship between direct investment and the broader economic changes that are occurring in the U.S. economy.
Date: April 15, 2010
Creator: Jackson, James K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Health Care: Constitutional Rights and Legislative Powers (open access)

Health Care: Constitutional Rights and Legislative Powers

This report analyzes constitutional and legal issues pertaining to a right to health care, as well as the power of Congress to enact and fund health care programs. It also discusses legal issues that have been raised regarding the power of Congress to mandate that individuals purchase health insurance, and the ability of states to "nullify" or "opt out" of such a requirement.
Date: April 5, 2010
Creator: Swendiman, Kathleen S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA): Issues and Options for Congress (open access)

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA): Issues and Options for Congress

This report provides background information about the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) system, describes the major issues WMATA currently faces, and discusses possible approaches for addressing these issues.
Date: April 14, 2010
Creator: Fischer, John W. & Mallett, William J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Dispute Settlement in the World Trade Organization (WTO): An Overview (open access)

Dispute Settlement in the World Trade Organization (WTO): An Overview

This report describes the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), which is the World Trade Organization's (WTO) means of resolving disputes arising under WTO agreements. The report includes criticisms of certain flaws in the DSU, as well as WTO Members' suggestions for improvement. The report also describes the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which represents the United States in WTO disputes. Also discussed are pieces of legislation that dictate procedures for specifically the United States in instances of WTO disputes.
Date: April 8, 2010
Creator: Grimmett, Jeanne J.
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 covers the contentious travel restrictions between the U.S. and Cuba from the 1960s to the present time. It includes background on the restrictions, enforcement of restrictions, and arguments for or against maintaining travel restrictions. It also provides background on relevant legislative initiatives during the 106th through the 111th Congresses.
Date: April 16, 2010
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Procurement and Strike Fighter Shortfall: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Procurement and Strike Fighter Shortfall: Background and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the Navy's proposed FY2011 budget requests (about $1.8 billion) for the procurement of 22 F/A- 18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters and about $1.0 billion for the procurement of 12 EA-18G Growler electric attack aircraft.
Date: April 5, 2010
Creator: Gertler, Jeremiah
System: The UNT Digital Library
Monitoring and Verification in Arms Control (open access)

Monitoring and Verification in Arms Control

This report reviews some of the monitoring and verification provisions in the new START (Strategic Offensive Reduction Treaty) Treaty and compares these with some of the provisions in the original START Treaty. It focuses, specifically, on differences between the treaties in the provisions governing the exchange of data -- known as telemetry -- generated during missle flight tests; provisions governing the monitoring of mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs); and differences in the numbers and types of on-site inspections.
Date: April 21, 2010
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
System: The UNT Digital Library