EPA’s Vessel General Permits: Background and Issues (open access)

EPA’s Vessel General Permits: Background and Issues

This report is an overview of the revised VGP for large vessels and two key issues.
Date: March 2, 2015
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
System: The UNT Digital Library
Genetic Testing: Background and Policy Issues (open access)

Genetic Testing: Background and Policy Issues

This report provides the background and policy issues of genetic testing. Congress has considered, at various points in time, numerous pieces of legislation that relate to genetic and genomic technology and testing. These include bills addressing genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment; precision medicine; the patenting of genetic material; and the oversight of clinical laboratory tests (in vitro diagnostics), including genetic tests. The focus on these issues signals the growing importance of public policy issues surrounding the clinical and public health implications of new genetic technology.
Date: March 2, 2015
Creator: Sarata, Amanda K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Legislative Actions to Repeal, Defund, or Delay the Affordable Care Act (open access)

Legislative Actions to Repeal, Defund, or Delay the Affordable Care Act

This report summarizes legislative actions taken to repeal, defund, delay, or otherwise amend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) since it was signed into law. The report is divided into two sections. The first section focuses on authorizing legislation, and the second section discusses appropriations bills.
Date: March 2, 2015
Creator: Redhead, C. S. & Kinzer, Janet
System: The UNT Digital Library
Mixed-Oxide Fuel Fabrication Plant and Plutonium Disposition: Management and Policy Issues (open access)

Mixed-Oxide Fuel Fabrication Plant and Plutonium Disposition: Management and Policy Issues

None
Date: March 2, 2015
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Small Business Mentor-Protégé Programs (open access)

Small Business Mentor-Protégé Programs

None
Date: March 2, 2015
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations (open access)

Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations

This report provides an overview of the key issues for Congress related to Egypt and information on U.S. foreign aid to Egypt. It briefly provides a political history of modern Egypt, an overview of its political institutions, and a discussion of the prospects for democratization in Egypt, as well as addressing the following current topics: the Arab-Israeli peace process, Iraq, terrorism, democratization and reform, human rights, trade, and military cooperation.
Date: March 3, 2015
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Food Safety Issues: FDA Judicial Enforcement Actions (open access)

Food Safety Issues: FDA Judicial Enforcement Actions

This report is categorized into five categories: (I) FDA Enforcement Authority, (II) Injunctions, (III) Seizure, (IV) Criminal Prosecution and (V) Related Legislation in the 114th Congress.
Date: March 3, 2015
Creator: Lanza, Emily M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Foreign Affairs Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO): Background and Current Status (open access)

Foreign Affairs Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO): Background and Current Status

Some members of Congress are examining foreign affairs funding designated as Overseas Contingency Operations because of its possible use for the overseas Ebola crisis, efforts to combat the Islamic State, and other budgetary reasons. This report contains information on the background of overseas contingency operations and current funding and issues.
Date: March 3, 2015
Creator: Epstein, Susan B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Implementing the Affordable Care Act: Delays, Extensions, and Other Actions Taken by the Administration (open access)

Implementing the Affordable Care Act: Delays, Extensions, and Other Actions Taken by the Administration

This report discusses the health care reform, private health insurance provisions and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Date: March 3, 2015
Creator: Redhead, C. S. & Kinzer, Janet
System: The UNT Digital Library
Many Aspects of the Affordable Care Act Would Not Be Affected by King v. Burwell (open access)

Many Aspects of the Affordable Care Act Would Not Be Affected by King v. Burwell

This report briefly discusses the possible effects of the King v. Burwell case on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) law. The case examines whether or not the ACA allows the IRS to make premium tax credits available to residents of states that decline to establish health insurance exchanges.
Date: March 3, 2015
Creator: Barry, Matthew B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) and Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC): Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) and Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC): Background and Issues for Congress

None
Date: March 3, 2015
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and presents potential issues for Congress concerning the Navy's ship force-structure goals and shipbuilding plans. The planned size of the Navy, the rate of Navy ship procurement, and the prospective affordability of the Navy's shipbuilding plans have been matters of concern for the congressional defense committees for the past several years.
Date: March 3, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
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 class aircraft carrier program. The Navy's proposed FY2016 budget requests a total of $2,633.1 million in procurement and advance procurement (AP) funding for the first three ships in the program. Congress's decisions on the CVN-78 program could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: March 3, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy LX(R) Amphibious Ship Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy LX(R) Amphibious Ship Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the LX(R) amphibious ship program, a Navy program to build a new class of 11 amphibious ships. The Navy wants to procure the first LX(R) in FY2020.
Date: March 3, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Ohio Replacement (SSBN[X]) Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Ohio Replacement (SSBN[X]) Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Ohio replacement program (ORP), a program to design and build a new class of 12 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to replace the Navy's current force of 14 Ohio-class SSBNs. The Navy wants to procure the first Ohio replacement boat in FY2021, with advance procurement (AP) funding starting in FY2017.
Date: March 3, 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. The Navy's proposed FY2015 budget requests $5,883.6 million in procurement, advance procurement (AP), and Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) funding for the 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: March 3, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Nunn-McCurdy Act: Background, Analysis, and Issues for Congress (open access)

The Nunn-McCurdy Act: Background, Analysis, and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the debate regarding the effectiveness of the Nunn-McCurdy Act, which requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to report to Congress whenever a major defense acquisition program experiences cost overruns that exceed certain thresholds. The purpose of the act was to help control cost growth in major defense systems by holding the appropriate Pentagon officials and defense contractors publicly accountable and responsible for managing costs.
Date: March 3, 2015
Creator: Schwartz, Moshe
System: The UNT Digital Library
Proposals to Eliminate Public Financing of Presidential Campaigns (open access)

Proposals to Eliminate Public Financing of Presidential Campaigns

Congress is faced with determining whether it wants public financing of presidential campaigns to continue and, if so, how. Proposals to curtail the presidential public financing program have been a consistent theme in recent Congresses. This report provides a brief policy overview and raises potential issues for congressional consideration.
Date: March 3, 2015
Creator: Garrett, R. S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
SBA Assistance to Small Business Startups: Client Experiences and Program Impact (open access)

SBA Assistance to Small Business Startups: Client Experiences and Program Impact

None
Date: March 3, 2015
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Information Warfare: The Role of Social Media in Conflict (open access)

Information Warfare: The Role of Social Media in Conflict

This report briefly discusses the use if social media as a tool of information warfare. The ability to rapidly disseminate graphic images and ideas to shape the public narrative transforms social media into a strategic weapon in the hands of terrorists, insurgent groups, or governments engaged in conflict.
Date: March 4, 2015
Creator: Theohary, Catherine A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Instructing House Conferees (open access)

Instructing House Conferees

None
Date: March 4, 2015
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC), which are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense (DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs.
Date: March 4, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald & Schwartz, Moshe
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) program, which is carried out by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Navy, and gives Navy Aegis cruisers and destroyers a capability for conducting BMD operations.
Date: March 4, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress

This report presents background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Navy's Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) and Zumwalt (DDG-1000) class destroyer programs. The Navy's proposed FY2015 budget requests funding for the procurement of two DDG-51s. Decisions that Congress makes concerning these programs could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: March 4, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library