The Budget Control Act of 2011 as Amended: Budgetary Effects (open access)

The Budget Control Act of 2011 as Amended: Budgetary Effects

This report discusses the effects of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA; P.L. 112-25) on spending and the deficit, assuming that the automatic spending reductions proceed as scheduled from FY2016 to FY2021 and the discretionary spending caps remain in place.
Date: December 29, 2015
Creator: Driessen, Grant A. & Labonte, Marc
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Former U.S. Hostages of Iran to be Eligible for Compensation (open access)

Former U.S. Hostages of Iran to be Eligible for Compensation

This legal sidebar briefly discusses the U.S. victims of the 1979-1981 Iran Hostage Crisis, who will become eligible to receive up to $4.4 million each in compensation, thanks to the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act.
Date: December 29, 2015
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cargo Preferences for U.S.-Flag Shipping (open access)

Cargo Preferences for U.S.-Flag Shipping

This report explains the motivation behind cargo preference law, discusses issues concerning the cost-effectiveness of the program, and reviews attempts to apply cargo preference to the nation's oil trade. The report also identifies several disparate bills reflecting wide disagreement on the future direction of cargo preference policy.
Date: October 29, 2015
Creator: Frittelli, John
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Efforts to Reduce Restrictions on Growing Industrial Hemp (open access)

Congressional Efforts to Reduce Restrictions on Growing Industrial Hemp

This report briefly discusses U.S. agricultural policies regarding the industrial use of hemp.
Date: October 29, 2015
Creator: Johnson, Renée
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cybersecurity: Legislation, Hearings, and Executive Branch Documents (open access)

Cybersecurity: Legislation, Hearings, and Executive Branch Documents

This report provides links to cybersecurity legislation in the 112th, 113th, and 114th Congresses and a list of executive orders and presidential directives pertaining to information and computer security.
Date: October 29, 2015
Creator: Tehan, Rita
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Designation of Global 'Too Big To Fail' Firms (open access)

Designation of Global 'Too Big To Fail' Firms

This report provides background on the the Financial Stability Board's (FSB) designation process for systemically significant financial institutions, but takes no position on any potential benefits or shortcomings of that process.
Date: October 29, 2015
Creator: Miller, Rena S. & Jackson, James K.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The EU-U.S. Safe Harbor Agreement on Personal Data Privacy: In Brief (open access)

The EU-U.S. Safe Harbor Agreement on Personal Data Privacy: In Brief

This report discusses a recent judgement by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) that invalidates the Safe Harbor Agreement between the United States and the 28-member European Union (EU). Safe Harbor is a 15-year-old accord, under which personal data could legally be transferred between EU member countries and the United States.
Date: October 29, 2015
Creator: Weiss, Martin A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
House Transportation Bill Would Hold Spending Below Senate Bill (open access)

House Transportation Bill Would Hold Spending Below Senate Bill

This report discusses the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (STRRA), which provides only those spending increases the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has determined are needed to cover projected inflation in the cost of the existing surface transportation program.
Date: October 29, 2015
Creator: Kirk, Robert S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Impeachment and Removal (open access)

Impeachment and Removal

This report discusses the impeachment process, which provides a mechanism for removal of the President, Vice President, and other "civil Officers of the United States" found to have engaged in "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."
Date: October 29, 2015
Creator: Cole, Jared P. & Garvey, Todd
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Is Violent Crime in the United States Increasing? (open access)

Is Violent Crime in the United States Increasing?

Overall, homicide and violent crime rates have been trending downward for more than two decades, and both rates are at historic lows. An analysis comparing 2014 and 2015 homicide data from the nation's 60 most populous cities suggests that violent crime is not increasing. This report discusses several short-term factors that might help explain some of the reported upticks in violent crime across the country.
Date: October 29, 2015
Creator: James, Nathan
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Emerging Markets: Is Slower Growth Temporary? (open access)

Emerging Markets: Is Slower Growth Temporary?

This report discusses the growing vulnerabilities Emerging market (EM) countries are facing due to declining global trade, depreciating currencies, sharply lower commodity prices, volatile equity markets, and deeper economic reforms.
Date: September 29, 2015
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): FY2016 Appropriations (open access)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): FY2016 Appropriations

This report presents a discussion of the FY2015 enacted appropriations and requested funding for FY2016 for selected EPA programs and activities highlighted in the congressional debate.
Date: September 29, 2015
Creator: Esworthy, Robert & Bearden, David M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
EPA's New Ozone Standards: A Few Thoughts (open access)

EPA's New Ozone Standards: A Few Thoughts

This report discusses the EPA's review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). After several years of analysis, EPA proposed more stringent standards last November. This began a public comment period, leading toward the final decision.
Date: September 29, 2015
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Past Government Shutdowns: Key Resources (open access)

Past Government Shutdowns: Key Resources

This report provides an annotated list of historical documents and other resources related to several past government shutdowns. Sources for these documents and resources include the Congressional Research Service (CRS), Government Accountability Office (GAO), House and Senate Committees, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and Executive Office of the President.
Date: September 29, 2015
Creator: Nagel, Jared C. & Murray, Justin
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Area & Regional Offices (open access)

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Area & Regional Offices

Sheet from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) listing contact information for each of the 16 Texas regional offices as well as the watermasters. The back includes a map showing the counties included in each of the corresponding regions.
Date: September 29, 2015
Creator: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Object Type: Pamphlet
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Area & Regional Offices (open access)

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Area & Regional Offices

Sheet from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) listing contact information for each of the 16 Texas regional offices as well as the watermasters. The back includes a map showing the counties included in each of the corresponding regions.
Date: September 29, 2015
Creator: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Object Type: Pamphlet
System: The Portal to Texas History
The 2015 National Military Strategy: Background and Questions for Congress (open access)

The 2015 National Military Strategy: Background and Questions for Congress

This report discusses the National Military Strategy (NMS) that describes a global environment marked by increasing interdependence, complexity, and the diffusion of information and technologies across state boundaries.
Date: July 29, 2015
Creator: McInnis, Kathleen J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Armed Career Criminal Act (18 U.S.C. 924(e)): An Overview (open access)

Armed Career Criminal Act (18 U.S.C. 924(e)): An Overview

This report discusses the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), 18 U.S.C. 924(e). The law requires a minimum 15-year term of imprisonment for recidivists convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm under 18 U.S.C. 922(g), who have three prior state or federal convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses.
Date: July 29, 2015
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress (open access)

Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress

This report discusses the process of naming Navy ships, which have traditionally been chosen and announced by the Secretary of the Navy.
Date: July 29, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
EPA and the Army Corps’ Rule to Define “Waters of the United States” (open access)

EPA and the Army Corps’ Rule to Define “Waters of the United States”

This report describes the final revised rule--which the agencies refer to as the Clean Water Rule-- and includes a table comparing the existing regulatory language that defines "waters of the United States" with the revisions.
Date: June 29, 2015
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
EPA and the Army Corps' Rule to Define "Waters of the United States" (open access)

EPA and the Army Corps' Rule to Define "Waters of the United States"

This report describes the final revised rule defining the scope of waters protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA)--which the agencies refer to as the Clean Water Rule--and includes a table comparing the existing regulatory language that defines "waters of the United States" with the revisions.
Date: June 29, 2015
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
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 several options that congress could consider and that are reflected in bills in the 114th Congress.
Date: June 29, 2015
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Greenhouse Gas Pledges by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (open access)

Greenhouse Gas Pledges by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

This report briefly summarizes the existing commitments and pledges of selected national and regional governments to limit their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as contributions to the global effort.
Date: June 29, 2015
Creator: Leggett, Jane A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): In Brief (open access)

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): In Brief

This report provides a basic description of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which mandates that U.S. transportation fuel must contain a minimum volume of biofuel, and is a federal statutory requirement. The mandated minimum volume increases annually and can be met using both conventional biofuel (e.g., cornstarch ethanol) and advanced biofuels. This report also includes some of the widely-discussed issues.
Date: June 29, 2015
Creator: Bracmort, Kelsi
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library