Defense Spending and the Budget Control Act Limits (open access)

Defense Spending and the Budget Control Act Limits

This report discusses the Budget Control Act, which sets limits on defense spending between FY2012 and FY2021. The current debate in Congress has centered on whether to adjust the BCA defense caps upward; move base budget spending to accounts designated for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) that are not subject to spending limits; reduce the defense spending in the Administration's request to comply with BCA revised caps; or use some combination of these approaches, all in order to avoid a sequester.
Date: June 3, 2015
Creator: Belasco, Amy
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
War Funding and the Budget Control Act: In Brief (open access)

War Funding and the Budget Control Act: In Brief

This report discusses the FY2016 debate over defense spending levels. Congress is considering how to stay within the spending limits, or caps, set by the Budget Control Act (BCA). Under the BCA, all defense spending for the defense base budget--excluding amounts designated for "Overseas Contingency Operations" (OCO) or emergencies--is subject to annual BCA caps.
Date: June 11, 2015
Creator: Belasco, Amy
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Other Illegal Activity (open access)

Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Other Illegal Activity

This report briefly discusses key differences between domestic terrorism and ordinary criminal activity. Unlike ordinary criminals--who are often driven by self-centered motives such as profit and tend to opportunistically seek easy prey--domestic terrorists are driven by a cause or ideology.
Date: June 24, 2015
Creator: Bjelopera, Jerome P.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Train and Equip Program for Syria: Authorities, Funding, and Issues for Congress (open access)

Train and Equip Program for Syria: Authorities, Funding, and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the current debate over various aspect of the Syria Train and Equip program. These include U.S. efforts to combat the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations in Syria and setting the conditions for a negotiated settlement to Syria's civil war.
Date: June 9, 2015
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M. & Belasco, Amy
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
Injury Determinations for Humpback Whales and Other Cetaceans Reported to NOAA Response Networks in the Hawaiian Islands during 2007-2012 (open access)

Injury Determinations for Humpback Whales and Other Cetaceans Reported to NOAA Response Networks in the Hawaiian Islands during 2007-2012

From introduction: the present paper provides a summary of injury determinations for cetaceans in and around the Hawaiian EEZ reported injured by human causes to the PIR-MMRN and HIERN during 2007-2012... This paper also summarizes reports from previous years of cetaceans other than humpback whales injured by human causes for the purpose of obtaining additional qualitative information on the sources of injuries and the species involved. (pg. 1)
Date: June 2015
Creator: Bradford, Amanda L. & Lyman, Ed
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Legislative Branch Agency Appointments: History, Processes, and Recent Actions (open access)

Legislative Branch Agency Appointments: History, Processes, and Recent Actions

This report contains information on the legislative branch agency heads' appointment processes, length of tenures (if terms are set), reappointment or removal provisions (if any), salaries and benefits, and most recent appointments.
Date: June 10, 2015
Creator: Brudnick, Ida A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Members' Representational Allowance: History and Usage (open access)

Members' Representational Allowance: History and Usage

This report provides a history and overview of the Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) and examines spending patterns over selected years--2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2012. The data exclude non-voting Members, including Delegates and the Resident Commissioner, as well as Members who were not in Congress for the entirety of the session. Information is provided on total spending and spending for various categories. The data collected demonstrate that, despite variations when considering all Members, many Members allocate their spending in a similar manner.
Date: June 22, 2015
Creator: Brudnick, Ida A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Salaries of Members of Congress: Congressional Votes, 1990-2015 (open access)

Salaries of Members of Congress: Congressional Votes, 1990-2015

This report discusses the process through which members of Congress are compensated. Members of Congress only receive salaries during the terms for which they are elected. Former Members of Congress may be eligible for retirement benefits. This report contains information on actions taken affecting each pay year since the establishment of the Ethics Reform Act adjustment procedure. It also provides information on other floor action related to pay for Members of Congress.
Date: June 8, 2015
Creator: Brudnick, Ida A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Characterization of Algal-Invertebrate Mats at Offshore Platforms and the Assessment of Methods for Artificial Substrate Studies (open access)

Characterization of Algal-Invertebrate Mats at Offshore Platforms and the Assessment of Methods for Artificial Substrate Studies

This report is about the composition of biofouling communities for three different offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Research methods included a video survey, high resolution photography, scrape samples, and settling plates.
Date: June 2015
Creator: Carney, R. S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Framework for the U.S. - India Defense Relationship (open access)

Framework for the U.S. - India Defense Relationship

This document outlines the framework between the United States and India in relation to security and defense. Shared interests are discussed in the documents which include: maintaining peach and security; defeating terrorism and violent extremism; preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; supporting a rule-based order, protecting the free flow of commerce.
Date: June 3, 2015
Creator: Carter, Ashton & Parrikar, Manohar
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Help America Vote Act and Election Administration: Overview and Issues (open access)

The Help America Vote Act and Election Administration: Overview and Issues

This report discusses the Help America Vote Act (HAVA; P.L. 107-252) enacted in 2002. It provides background information about HAVA and its provisions, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), funding for the agency and for state programs to improve elections, and a number of enduring election administration issues.
Date: June 9, 2015
Creator: Coleman, Kevin J. & Fischer, Eric A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Help America Vote Act and Election Administration: Overview and Issues (open access)

The Help America Vote Act and Election Administration: Overview and Issues

This report discusses the Help America Vote Act (HAVA; P.L. 107-252) enacted in 2002. It provides background information about HAVA and its provisions, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), funding for the agency and for state programs to improve elections, and a number of enduring election administration issues.
Date: June 23, 2015
Creator: Coleman, Kevin J. & Fischer, Eric A.
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 3, 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
Overview of EPA and the Army Corps’ Rule to Define “Waters of the United States” (open access)

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

This report describes the revised rule of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) which defines the scope of waters protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA).
Date: June 3, 2015
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Health Benefits for Members of Congress and Designated Congressional Staff (open access)

Health Benefits for Members of Congress and Designated Congressional Staff

This report summarizes the provisions of the final rule and describes how it affects current and retired Members and congressional staff.
Date: June 17, 2015
Creator: Cornell, Ada S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Legislative Research for Congressional Staff: How to Find Documents and Other Resources (open access)

Legislative Research for Congressional Staff: How to Find Documents and Other Resources

This report is one of a series of reports on legislative process and research; it is intended to serve as a finding aid to sources of information, such as documents, news articles, analysis, contacts and services, used in legislative research.
Date: June 22, 2015
Creator: Cornell, Ada S.; Greene, Michael & Hanson, Laura A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): An Economic Analysis (open access)

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): An Economic Analysis

This report discusses the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which is a refundable tax credit available to eligible workers earning relatively low wages
Date: June 2, 2015
Creator: Crandall-Hollick, Margot L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Alternative Fuel and Advanced Vehicle Technology Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs (open access)

Alternative Fuel and Advanced Vehicle Technology Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs

This report describes incentives and programs aimed at deploying alternative fuel and engines, such as tax deductions, federal grants for upgrading old cars, and mandates for biofuel use. The report lists incentives and programs by agency.
Date: June 2, 2015
Creator: Cunningham, Lynn J.; Cook, Beth; Canis, Bill & Yacobucci, Brent D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Intelligence Authorization Legislation for FY2016: Selected Provisions (open access)

Intelligence Authorization Legislation for FY2016: Selected Provisions

This report briefly highlights key provisions of H.R. 2596, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (IAA for FY2016), which provides guidance to, and authorizes appropriations for, components of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC).
Date: June 15, 2015
Creator: Daugherty Miles, Anne
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Conference Reports and Joint Explanatory Statements (open access)

Conference Reports and Joint Explanatory Statements

This report discusses the function of conference reports and joint explanatory statements in Congress. The conference report presents the formal legislative language on which the conference committee has agreed. The joint explanatory statement explains the various elements of the conferees' agreement in relation to the positions that the House and Senate had committed to the conference committee.
Date: June 11, 2015
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library