Public Mass Shootings in the United States: Selected Implications for Federal Public Health and Safety Policy (open access)

Public Mass Shootings in the United States: Selected Implications for Federal Public Health and Safety Policy

This report focuses on mass shootings and selected implications they have for federal policy in the areas of public health and safety. While such crimes most directly impact particular citizens in very specific communities, addressing these violent episodes involves officials at all levels of government and professionals from numerous disciplines.
Date: March 18, 2013
Creator: Bjelopera, Jerome P.; Bagalman, Erin; Caldwell, Sarah W.; Finklea, Kristin M. & McCallion, Gail
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (open access)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

This report provides background information regarding the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), its structure, funding, budget, effectiveness, and reform.
Date: March 18, 2013
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa & Browne, Marjorie Ann
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Asian Carp and the Great Lakes Region (open access)

Asian Carp and the Great Lakes Region

This report describes four species of non-indigenous Asian carp migrating to the United States, their potential impact, federal responses, and litigation.
Date: March 18, 2013
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.; Upton, Harold F.; Stern, Charles V. & Brougher, Cynthia
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Army Corps of Engineers: Water Resource Authorizations, Appropriations, and Activities (open access)

Army Corps of Engineers: Water Resource Authorizations, Appropriations, and Activities

This report summarizes congressional authorization and appropriations processes for the Corps. It also discusses agency activities under general authorities. Congress directs the Corps through authorizations, appropriations, and oversight of its studies, construction projects, and other activities.
Date: October 18, 2013
Creator: Carter, Nicole T. & Stern, Charles V.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Potential Federal Tax Implications of United States v. Windsor (Striking Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)): Selected Issues (open access)

The Potential Federal Tax Implications of United States v. Windsor (Striking Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)): Selected Issues

This report will provide an overview of the potential federal tax implications for same-sex married couples of the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling in United States v. Windsor, with a focus on the federal income tax. Estate tax issues are also discussed. Importantly, this report focuses on changes in the interpretation and administration of federal tax law that may result from the SCOTUS decision.
Date: July 18, 2013
Creator: Crandall-Hollick, Margot L.; Sherlock, Molly F. & Pettit, Carol A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The National Voter Registration Act of 1993: History, Implementation, and Effects (open access)

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993: History, Implementation, and Effects

This report discusses the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. §1973–1973aa-6), which required states to establish voter registration procedures for federal elections so that eligible citizens might apply to register to vote (1) simultaneously while applying for a driver's license, (2) by mail, and (3) at selected state and local offices that serve the public. The law took effect on January 1, 1995, for most states.
Date: September 18, 2013
Creator: Crocker, Royce
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs (open access)

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs

This report describes federal programs that provide grants, loans, loan guarantees, and other direct or indirect incentives for energy efficiency, energy conservation, and renewable energy. For each program, the report provides the administering agency, authorizing statute(s), annual funding, and the program expiration date. The appendixes provide summary information in a tabular format and also list recently expired programs.
Date: October 18, 2013
Creator: Cunningham, Lynn J. & Roberts, Beth A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Economic Recovery: Sustaining U.S. Economic Growth in a Post-Crisis Economy (open access)

Economic Recovery: Sustaining U.S. Economic Growth in a Post-Crisis Economy

The 2007-2009 recession was long and deep, and according to several indicators was the most severe economic contraction since the 1930s (but still much less severe than the Great Depression). This report examines the state of the economy in light of the recession.
Date: April 18, 2013
Creator: Elwell, Craig K.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The FY2014 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request (open access)

The FY2014 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request

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Date: April 18, 2013
Creator: Epstein, Susan B.; Lawson, Marian Leonardo & Tiersky, Alex
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Intelligence Spending and Appropriations: Issues for Congress (open access)

Intelligence Spending and Appropriations: Issues for Congress

This report discusses the historic trend in intelligence spending, as well as broader issues concerning the intelligence budgeting process, and may help Members of Congress contextualize information concerning the FY2013 budget.
Date: September 18, 2013
Creator: Erwin, Marshall C. & Belasco, Amy
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress

This report covers Special Operations Forces (SOF) budgets for FY2014 and expected uses of the bugeted money. SOF actions play a significant role in U.S. military operations, and the Administration has given U.S. SOF greater responsibility for planning and conducting worldwide counterterrorism operations.
Date: September 18, 2013
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape (open access)

The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape

The report discusses the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-Related Congressional Actions in the 112th Congress.
Date: November 18, 2013
Creator: Figliola, Patricia Moloney
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape (open access)

The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape

The report discusses the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-Related Congressional Actions in the 112th Congress.
Date: November 18, 2013
Creator: Figliola, Patricia Moloney
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape (open access)

The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape

The report discusses the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-Related Congressional Actions in the 112th Congress.
Date: July 18, 2013
Creator: Figliola, Patricia Moloney
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research (open access)

Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research

Report that discusses: earthquake hazards and risk in the United States, federal programs that support earthquake monitoring, the U.S. capability to detect earthquakes and issue notifications and warnings, and federally supported research to improve the fundamental scientific understanding of earthquakes with a goal of reducing U.S. vulnerability.
Date: July 18, 2013
Creator: Folger, Peter
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Financial Condition of Depository Banks (open access)

Financial Condition of Depository Banks

This report discusses the congressional interest in the financial conditions of depository banks or the commercial banking industry that has increased in the wake of the financial crisis that unfolded in 2007-2009, which resulted in a large increase in the number of distressed institutions.
Date: March 18, 2013
Creator: Getter, Darryl E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Publishing Scientific Papers with Potential Security Risks: Issues for Congress (open access)

Publishing Scientific Papers with Potential Security Risks: Issues for Congress

This report describes the underlying controversy, the potential benefits and harms of publishing manuscripts with potential security risks, the actions taken by domestic and international stakeholders, and options that may improve the way research is handled to minimize security concerns.
Date: March 18, 2013
Creator: Gottron, Frank & Shea, Dana A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Onion Creek, Barton Creek, and Pedernales River Watersheds Interim Feasibility Study Final Report (open access)

Onion Creek, Barton Creek, and Pedernales River Watersheds Interim Feasibility Study Final Report

Report on the results of a flood reduction study for the Onion Creek, Barton Creek, and Pedernales River Watersheds in Hays County, Texas.
Date: October 18, 2013
Creator: Halff Associates
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
Agricultural Export Programs: Background and Issues (open access)

Agricultural Export Programs: Background and Issues

Report that discusses the agricultural export programs that aim to develop overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products.
Date: June 18, 2013
Creator: Hanrahan, Charles E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Improper Payments and Recovery Audits: Legislation, Implementation, and Analysis (open access)

Improper Payments and Recovery Audits: Legislation, Implementation, and Analysis

This report discusses the reports on improper payments and recovery audits that were first issued for FY2004 and the efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate billions of dollars in improper payments made by federal agencies each fiscal year, Congress passed the Improper Payments Information Act (IPIA; P.L. 107-300; 116 Stat. 2350) in 2002.
Date: October 18, 2013
Creator: Hatch, Garrett
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Mental Health Workforce: A Primer (open access)

The Mental Health Workforce: A Primer

This report begins with a working definition of the mental health workforce and a brief discussion of alternative definitions. It then describes three dimensions of the mental health workforce that may influence quality of care, access to care, and costs of care: (1) licensure requirements and scope of practice for each provider type in the mental health workforce, (2) estimated numbers of each provider type in the mental health workforce, and (3) average annual wages for each provider type in the mental health workforce. The report then briefly discusses how these dimensions of the mental health workforce might inform certain policy discussions.
Date: October 18, 2013
Creator: Heisler, Elayne J. & Bagalman, Erin
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
"First Day" Proceedings and Procedural Change in the Senate (open access)

"First Day" Proceedings and Procedural Change in the Senate

In the early weeks of the 112th Congress, the Senate considered proposals to change its Standing Rules, as well as proposals to alter other practices and procedures. Three resolutions that proposed to amend the Senate rules (S.Res. 8, S.Res. 10, as amended, and S.Res. 21, as amended) received votes, but none were agreed to. These three resolutions proposed a variety of changes, chiefly focused on the operation of the Senate's cloture rule (Rule XXII). The proceedings on these measures occurred in the context of a debate over whether or not the start of a new Congress presents a unique opportunity for the Senate to change its Standing Rules without certain constraints presented by its existing rules. This report is intended to provide context for understanding the issues raised by these proceedings, as well as an accounting of actions taken by the Senate at the start of the 112th Congress.
Date: January 18, 2013
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance (open access)

Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance

This report discusses the current political state of Afghanistan, as well as the Afghan government. This report also discusses Afghanistan's relationship with the United States, particularly U.S. efforts to urge President Hamid Karzai to address corruption within the Afghan government.
Date: April 18, 2013
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Analysis of Where American Companies Report Profits: Indications of Profit Shifting (open access)

An Analysis of Where American Companies Report Profits: Indications of Profit Shifting

This report uses data on the operations of U.S. multinational companies (MNCs) to examine the extent to which, if any, MNCs are moving profits out of high-tax countries (or out of the U.S.) and into low-tax countries with little corresponding change in business operations, a practice known as "profit shifting."
Date: January 18, 2013
Creator: Keightley, Mark P.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library