EPA and the Army Corps' "Waters of the United States" Rule: Congressional Response and Options (open access)

EPA and the Army Corps' "Waters of the United States" Rule: Congressional Response and Options

This report discusses four legislative options that Congress could consider to halt or redirect the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineer's proposed "waters of the United States" rule.
Date: November 5, 2015
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) class aircraft carrier program. Congress's decisions on the CVN-78 program could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: November 5, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) program. Decisions that Congress makes on procurement of Virginia-class boats could substantially affect U.S. Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: November 5, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Trade Concepts, Performance, and Policy: Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

U.S. Trade Concepts, Performance, and Policy: Frequently Asked Questions

This report discusses trade issues relevant to Congress. It is divided into four sections in a question-and-answer format: trade concepts; U.S. trade performance; formulation of U.S. trade policy; and trade and investment issues.
Date: November 5, 2015
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.; Bolle, Mary Jane; Jackson, James K.; Jones, Vivian C.; Villarreal, M. Angeles & Fefer, Rachel F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
You Win Some You Lose Some...New Second Amendment Rulings (open access)

You Win Some You Lose Some...New Second Amendment Rulings

This legal sidebar discusses constitutionality of firearms laws under the Second Amendment since the Supreme Court decided District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008, in light of two recent federal appellate cases in which the circuit courts struck down some parts of firearms laws.
Date: November 5, 2015
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
2015 Leaders' Summit on U.N. Peacekeeping (open access)

2015 Leaders' Summit on U.N. Peacekeeping

This report discusses the outcome of the 2015 Leaders' Summit on U.N. Peacekeeping, which might elevate ongoing congressional interest in several policy issues related to U.N. peacekeeping.
Date: October 5, 2015
Creator: Weed, Matthew C. & Blanchfield, Luisa
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Securities Law: Insider Trading (open access)

Federal Securities Law: Insider Trading

None
Date: October 5, 2015
Creator: Seitzinger, Michael V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Housing for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (open access)

Housing for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS

This report describes research that shows how housing and health status are related and the effects of stable housing on patient health. It also describes the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program, the only federal program that provides housing and services specifically for persons who are HIV positive or who have AIDS, together with their families. In addition, the report describes how a small portion of funds appropriated through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program may be used by states and local jurisdictions to provide short-term housing assistance for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Date: October 5, 2015
Creator: Perl, Libby
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Internet Tax Freedom Act: In Brief (open access)

The Internet Tax Freedom Act: In Brief

This report discusses the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA; P.L. 105-277), which enacted in 1998, implemented a three-year moratorium preventing state and local governments from taxing Internet access, or imposing multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce.
Date: October 5, 2015
Creator: Stupak, Jeffrey M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Civilian Nuclear Waste Disposal (open access)

Civilian Nuclear Waste Disposal

This report looks at the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (NWPA), Yucca Mountain, and the Obama Administration's de-funding of Yucca Mountain. Federal policy is based on the premise that nuclear waste can be disposed of safely, but proposed storage and disposal facilities have frequently been challenged on safety, health, and environmental grounds. Most of the current debate surrounding civilian radioactive waste focuses on highly radioactive spent fuel from nuclear power plants.
Date: August 5, 2015
Creator: Holt, Mark
System: The UNT Digital Library
“Fast Track” Legislative Procedures Governing Congressional Consideration of a Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) Commission Report (open access)

“Fast Track” Legislative Procedures Governing Congressional Consideration of a Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) Commission Report

This report describes these expedited parliamentary procedures abd explains how they differ from the regular legislative processes of Congress.
Date: August 5, 2015
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
How Measures Are Brought to the Senate Floor: A Brief Introduction (open access)

How Measures Are Brought to the Senate Floor: A Brief Introduction

This report discusses the two basic methods that are used by the Senate to bring legislation to the floor for consideration: The Senate, at the majority leader's request, (1) grants unanimous consent to take up a matter, or (2) agrees to his motion to proceed to consider it. Both methods are derived from the basic premise that the Senate as a body may decide what matters it considers. The Senate may also use the same two methods to bring up executive business (nominations and treaties).
Date: August 5, 2015
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nuclear Cooperation with Other Countries: A Primer (open access)

Nuclear Cooperation with Other Countries: A Primer

This report discusses section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act (AEA), the specific requirements of which must be met in order for the United States to engage in civilian nuclear cooperation with other states. The AEA also provides for exemptions to these requirements, export control licensing procedures, and criteria for terminating cooperation.
Date: August 5, 2015
Creator: Kerr, Paul K. & Nikitin, Mary Beth D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Procedures for Congressional Action in Relation to a Nuclear Agreement with Iran: In Brief (open access)

Procedures for Congressional Action in Relation to a Nuclear Agreement with Iran: In Brief

This report provides, in brief, analysis of the congressional procedural provisions laid out in the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-17). The act establishes a period for Congress to review any comprehensive agreement, during which certain presidential actions to provide relief from sanctions on Iran are barred.
Date: August 5, 2015
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie & Beth, Richard S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Abortion and Family Planning-Related Provisions in U.S. Foreign Assistance Law and Policy (open access)

Abortion and Family Planning-Related Provisions in U.S. Foreign Assistance Law and Policy

This report details legislation and policies that restrict or place requirements on U.S. funding of abortion or family planning activities abroad. The level and extent of federal funding for these activities is an ongoing and controversial issue in U.S. foreign assistance and will likely continue to be a point of contention during the second session of the 114th Congress.
Date: July 5, 2015
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Action on FY2016 Appropriations Measures (open access)

Congressional Action on FY2016 Appropriations Measures

This report provides information on the congressional consideration of the FY2016 regular appropriations bills. It also discusses the statutory and procedural budget enforcement framework for FY2016 appropriations.
Date: June 5, 2015
Creator: Tollestrup, Jessica
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cuba Sanctions: Legislative Restrictions Limiting the Normalization of Relations (open access)

Cuba Sanctions: Legislative Restrictions Limiting the Normalization of Relations

This report provides background information Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), and discusses U.S. trade negotiating objectives, procedures for congressional-executive notification and consultation, and expedited legislative procedures.
Date: June 5, 2015
Creator: Rennack, Dianne E. & Sullivan, Mark P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations for Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Stewardship (open access)

Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations for Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Stewardship

This report discusses the annual Energy and Water Development appropriations and the Stockpile Stewardship Program, which maintains the U.S. nuclear gravity bombs and missile warheads and has science and infrastructure programs that support that mission.
Date: June 5, 2015
Creator: Medalia, Jonathan E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2016 Appropriations in Brief (open access)

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2016 Appropriations in Brief

This report focuses on FY2016 appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. It presents a brief overview of the appropriations requested by the President for FY2016 for agencies in the bill. It also briefly compares the FY2016 requested appropriations with appropriations enacted for FY2015. Finally, it provides the appropriations enacted for the bill for the last nine years (FY2007-FY2015) in current dollars (not adjusted for inflation) and constant dollars (adjusted for inflation).
Date: June 5, 2015
Creator: Hardy Vincent, Carol
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Franking Privilege: Background and Recent Legislation (open access)

Congressional Franking Privilege: Background and Recent Legislation

This report discusses the congressional franking privilege, which dates from 1775 and allows Members of Congress to transmit mail matter under their signature without postage.
Date: May 5, 2015
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fact Sheet: Selected Highlights of H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2016 (open access)

Fact Sheet: Selected Highlights of H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2016

None
Date: May 5, 2015
Creator: Towell, Pat
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fact Sheet: Selected Highlights of H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2016 (open access)

Fact Sheet: Selected Highlights of H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2016

This report includes a fact sheet based on the draft bill and committee report (H.Rept. 114-102) and is designed as a time-urgent product offering Members the best available information about the bill pending publication of a CRS report on the FY2016 Defense Authorization and Appropriations legislation.
Date: May 5, 2015
Creator: Towell, Pat
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Future of Internet Governance: Should the U.S. Relinquish Its Authority Over ICANN? (open access)

The Future of Internet Governance: Should the U.S. Relinquish Its Authority Over ICANN?

The report provides background information on Domain Name System and the role of the U.S. government. This report discusses the U.S. government limited authority over the Internet's domain name system, primarily through the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions contract between the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
Date: May 5, 2015
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
International Investment Agreements (IIAs): Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

International Investment Agreements (IIAs): Frequently Asked Questions

This report answers frequently asked questions about international investment agreements (IIAs) made between the United States and other countries. Questions are categorized in three main areas: background and context; U.S. international investment agreements; and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS).
Date: May 5, 2015
Creator: Weiss, Martin A.; Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias; Murrill, Brandon J. & Shedd, Daniel T.
System: The UNT Digital Library