Ex-Im Bank: No Quorum, No Problem? (open access)

Ex-Im Bank: No Quorum, No Problem?

This report discusses the operation on a limited basis of the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) despite a renewal of its general statutory charter through FY2019 (P.L. 114-94,
Date: September 15, 2016
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
System: The UNT Digital Library
Proposed U.S.-EU Trade Negotiations: Hitting Pause on a Trade War? (open access)

Proposed U.S.-EU Trade Negotiations: Hitting Pause on a Trade War?

This report discusses the announcement by the United States and European Union (EU) that they are at a "new phase" in their relationship for "freer, fairer, and more reciprocal trade." The announcement came on July 25, 2018 at a challenging time for transatlantic trade relations.
Date: August 9, 2018
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-Nordic Relations (open access)

U.S.-Nordic Relations

This report briefly discusses U.S. relations with the Nordic countries--Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
Date: May 10, 2016
Creator: Archick, Kristin
System: The UNT Digital Library
European Security and Islamist Terrorism (open access)

European Security and Islamist Terrorism

This report discusses the current security climate in Europe following recent incidences of terrorism. The report also addresses potential policy responses and challenges.
Date: April 18, 2016
Creator: Archick, Kristin & Belkin, Paul
System: The UNT Digital Library
Attack on U.S. Soldiers in Niger: Context and Issues for Congress (open access)

Attack on U.S. Soldiers in Niger: Context and Issues for Congress

This report discusses an attack on U.S. Special Operation Forces assisting local military forces in Niger in counterterrorism efforts which killed four U.S. military personnel and wounded two as well as killing several Niger military personnel. The U.S. response to the attack, the growing threat of Islamic extremism and terrorism in the Sahel of Africa, and terrorism and political and social instability in Niger are also discussed.
Date: October 5, 2017
Creator: Arieff, Alexis
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Proposed U.S. Foreign Assistance Initiative "Peace Colombia" (open access)

The Proposed U.S. Foreign Assistance Initiative "Peace Colombia"

This report briefly discusses Plan Colombia, a bilateral cooperation program aimed at improving Colombia's security and strengthening its democratic development.
Date: March 3, 2016
Creator: Beittel, June S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
German Chancellor Angela Merkel Visits President Trump (open access)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Visits President Trump

This report discusses the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel with President Donald Trump at the White House on March 17, 2017.
Date: March 13, 2017
Creator: Belkin, Paul
System: The UNT Digital Library
NATO Funding and Burdensharing (open access)

NATO Funding and Burdensharing

This report discusses the the relative imbalance in defense spending and military capabilities within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which has long fueled concerns about burdensharing and European allies' reliance on U.S. defense guarantees.
Date: May 19, 2017
Creator: Belkin, Paul
System: The UNT Digital Library
NATO's 2018 Brussels Summit (open access)

NATO's 2018 Brussels Summit

This report discusses the meeting of leaders from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO's) 29 member states, scheduled to take place on hold a summit at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on July 11-12, 2018. Despite the heightened U.S.-European tensions, NATO officials say they expect the allies to announce new NATO initiatives in six main areas at the summit: enhancing collective defense and deterrence, defense spending and burdensharing, countering terrorism, enhancing NATO cooperation with the European Union, and NATO enlargement.
Date: July 5, 2018
Creator: Belkin, Paul
System: The UNT Digital Library
Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Hate Crime ad Homegrown Violent Extremism (open access)

Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Hate Crime ad Homegrown Violent Extremism

This report defines the terms domestic terrorism, hate crimes, and homegrown violent extremism as used by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security and how they can intersect.
Date: August 14, 2017
Creator: Bjelopera, Jerome P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Hate Crime and Homegrown Violent Extremism (open access)

Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Hate Crime and Homegrown Violent Extremism

This report examines the differences between domestic terrorism, hate crime, and homegrown violent extremism. Federal law enforcement agencies use these three distinct concepts to categorize key types of criminals whose illegal activities are at least partly ideologically motivated.
Date: June 13, 2016
Creator: Bjelopera, Jerome P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congress Considers Possible Responses to the Killing of a Saudi Journalist (open access)

Congress Considers Possible Responses to the Killing of a Saudi Journalist

This report discusses the potential responses by Congress regarding the killing of prominent Saudi Arabian journalist and former diplomatic advisor Jamal Khashoggi.
Date: October 22, 2018
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Joint-Resolution Seeks to End U.S. Support for Saudi-led Coalition Military Operations in Yemen (open access)

Joint-Resolution Seeks to End U.S. Support for Saudi-led Coalition Military Operations in Yemen

This report discusses Senate Joint Resolution 54 which directs the President to remove U.S. forces from "hostilities in or affecting" Yemen (except for those U.S. forces engaged in counterterrorism operations directed at al Qaeda or associated forces). It provides a brief overview of U.S. involvement in Yemen both militarily and diplomatically through advisement of Saudi Arabia on reducing civilian casulaties and refueling of Saudi planes used in airstrikes.
Date: March 5, 2018
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.; Sharp, Jeremy M. & Weed, Matthew C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Fight Against Al Shabaab in Somalia in 2016 (open access)

The Fight Against Al Shabaab in Somalia in 2016

This report discusses current efforts to counter Al Shabaab, a Somalia-based Al Qaeda affiliate.
Date: January 19, 2016
Creator: Blanchard, Lauren P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (open access)

U.S. Withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

This report discusses the announcement by President Trump that the U.S. was withdrawing from UNESCO due to payment arrears, organization issues, and anti-Israel bias. A brief background of U.S. involvement is provided along with previous withdrawals, ongoing tensions regarding UNESCO's actions in regard to Israel and the admittance of Palestine as a member, and possible effects of the U.S. being a nonmember observer state in UNESCO.
Date: October 17, 2017
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
System: The UNT Digital Library
Reid Vapor Pressure Requirements for Ethanol (open access)

Reid Vapor Pressure Requirements for Ethanol

This report discusses legislation (H.R. 1311, S. 517) regarding providing a waiver for ethanol-fuel blends containing greater than 10% ethanol (E15) from the Clean Air Act's (CAA) strict requirements on volatility of gasoline. This requirement currently prevents E15 gas from being sold during the summer. Major points of the legislation, various types of waivers and current rules under the CAA for gasoline and possible options for Congress are discussed.
Date: May 18, 2017
Creator: Bracmort, Kelsi
System: The UNT Digital Library
Private Flood Insurance in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) (open access)

Private Flood Insurance in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

This report briefly discusses federal law regarding flood insurance. By law or regulation, federal agencies, federally-regulated lending institutions, and government-sponsored enterprises must require certain property owners to purchase flood insurance as a condition of any mortgage that these entities make, guarantee, or purchase.
Date: April 25, 2016
Creator: Brown, Jared T. & Webel, Baird
System: The UNT Digital Library
Natural Disasters of 2017: Congressional Considerations Related to FEMA Assistance (open access)

Natural Disasters of 2017: Congressional Considerations Related to FEMA Assistance

This report provides a short overview of issues Congress may consider in its oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) federal assistance during the 2017 hurricane season (e.g., Harvey, Irma, and Maria) and other disasters (e.g., fires in California).
Date: December 6, 2017
Creator: Brown, Jared T.; Horn, Diane P.; Painter, William L. & Reese, Shawn
System: The UNT Digital Library
Natural Disasters of 2017: Congressional Considerations Related to FEMA Assistance (open access)

Natural Disasters of 2017: Congressional Considerations Related to FEMA Assistance

This report provides a short overview of issues Congress may consider in its oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) federal assistance during the 2017 hurricane season (e.g., Harvey, Irma, and Maria) and other disasters (e.g., fires in California).
Date: November 2, 2017
Creator: Brown, Jared T.; Horn, Diane P.; Painter, William L. & Reese, Shawn
System: The UNT Digital Library
OPEC and Non-OPEC Crude Oil Production Agreement: Compliance Status (open access)

OPEC and Non-OPEC Crude Oil Production Agreement: Compliance Status

This report discusses OPEC countries and 11 non-OPEC countries agreement starting in late 2016 to reduce oil production and the purposes and impact of the agreement.
Date: April 26, 2018
Creator: Brown, Phillip
System: The UNT Digital Library
OPEC and Non-OPEC Crude Oil Production Agreement: Compliance Status (open access)

OPEC and Non-OPEC Crude Oil Production Agreement: Compliance Status

This report discusses the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC's) influence on global oil prices through coordinated production decisions that can impact the global oil market supply and demand balance.
Date: May 17, 2017
Creator: Brown, Phillip
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Crude Oil Exports to International Destinations (open access)

U.S. Crude Oil Exports to International Destinations

This report discusses the export of crude oil produced in the United States and policy considerations in the wake of a provision contained in P.L. 114-113 which repealed a 40-year prohibition on the export.
Date: April 6, 2016
Creator: Brown, Phillip
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Crude Oil Exports to International Destinations (open access)

U.S. Crude Oil Exports to International Destinations

This report discusses the export of crude oil produced in the United States and policy considerations in the wake of a provision contained in P.L. 114-113 which repealed a 40-year prohibition on the export.
Date: January 30, 2017
Creator: Brown, Phillip
System: The UNT Digital Library
Unauthorized Childhood Arrivals: Legislative Options (open access)

Unauthorized Childhood Arrivals: Legislative Options

This report discusses bills proposed in Congress that either would provide temporary protection from removal or paths to citizenship for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients in the wake of the announcement of the phasing out of the DACA program.
Date: September 14, 2017
Creator: Bruno, Andorra
System: The UNT Digital Library