Daylight Saving Time (open access)

Daylight Saving Time

This report discusses Daylight Saving Time (DST), which is a period of the year between spring and fall when clocks in the United States are set one hour ahead of standard time. DST is currently observed in the United States from 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March until 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday in November.
Date: March 9, 2016
Creator: Cook, Beth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau's State Visit, March 2016 (open access)

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau's State Visit, March 2016

This report briefly discusses Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's scheduled visit to the United States on March,10 2016. It will be the first state visit by a Canadian leader since 1997, when then-President Clinton hosted then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.
Date: March 7, 2016
Creator: Meyer, Peter J. & Fergusson, Ian F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Heroin Production in Mexico and U.S. Policy (open access)

Heroin Production in Mexico and U.S. Policy

This report discusses Mexico's role as an illicit drug suppler to the U.S, specifically focusing on Heroin production and trafficking.
Date: March 3, 2016
Creator: Ribando Seelke, Clare & Rosen, Liana W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons (open access)

Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons

This report provides basic information about U.S. and Russian nonstrategic nuclear weapons. The report reviews the issues that have been raised with regard to U.S. and Russian nonstrategic nuclear weapons, and summarizes a number of policy options that might be explored by Congress, the United States, Russia, and other nations to address these issues.
Date: March 23, 2016
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Foreign Holdings of Federal Debt (open access)

Foreign Holdings of Federal Debt

This report presents current data on estimated ownership of U.S. Treasury securities and major holders of federal debt by country. Federal debt represents the accumulated balance of borrowing by the federal government.
Date: March 28, 2016
Creator: Labonte, Marc & Nagel, Jared C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Encryption: Selected Legal Issues (open access)

Encryption: Selected Legal Issues

This report first provides background to the ongoing encryption debate, including a primer on encryption basics and an overview of Apple, Google, and Facebook's new encryption policies. Next, it provides an overview of the Fifth Amendment right to be free from self-incrimination.
Date: March 3, 2016
Creator: Thompson, Richard M., II & Jaikaran, Chris
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Chinese Military: Overview and Issues for Congress (open access)

The Chinese Military: Overview and Issues for Congress

This report provides a brief overview of the Chinese military. In order to cover a wide range of issues in a concise format, the report does not go into great depth on many topics and omits other topics that might be considered germane.
Date: March 24, 2016
Creator: Rinehart, Ian E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Leak: State and Federal Response and Oversight (open access)

The Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Leak: State and Federal Response and Oversight

This report briefly discusses the large, uncontrollable natural gas leak in the Aliso Canyon Underground Storage Facility near the Porter Ranch community in Los Angeles County, California, which occurred between October 23, 2015, and February 11, 2016.
Date: March 9, 2016
Creator: Lattanzio, Richard K. & Parfomak, Paul W.
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
Turkey: Background and U.S. Relations In Brief (open access)

Turkey: Background and U.S. Relations In Brief

This report provides information and analysis relevant for Congress on the following: Assessments of U.S.-Turkey relations, Turkish foreign policy, and Turkey's strategic orientation, Turkish efforts to cooperate with the United States against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, and key issues regarding Turkey's domestic politics.
Date: March 18, 2016
Creator: Zanotti, Jim
System: The UNT Digital Library
The March 2016 Nuclear Security Summit (open access)

The March 2016 Nuclear Security Summit

This report discusses the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), a biennial summit which aims to focus global attention at the highest level of government on the threat of nuclear terrorism.
Date: March 14, 2016
Creator: Nikitin, Mary Beth D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) (open access)

Overview of FY2017 Appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS)

This report tracks and describes actions taken by the Administration and Congress to provide FY2017 appropriations for the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) accounts. It also provides an overview of FY2016 appropriations for agencies and bureaus funded as part of annual CJS appropriations.
Date: March 7, 2016
Creator: James, Nathan
System: The UNT Digital Library
Internet Governance and the Domain Name System: Issues for Congress (open access)

Internet Governance and the Domain Name System: Issues for Congress

This report provides a definition regarding Internet governance and how the Internet is currently governed, and discusses the role of United States government and future model of Internet governance.
Date: March 23, 2016
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G.
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 28, 2016
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 (CVN-78) class aircraft carrier program. Congress's decisions on the CVN-78 program could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: March 21, 2016
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Access to Government Information in the United States: A Primer (open access)

Access to Government Information in the United States: A Primer

This report offers an introduction to the four access laws and provides citations to additional resources related to these statutes. It includes statistics on the use of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and on litigation related to FOIA. In addition, this report provides some examples of the methods Congress, the President, and the courts have employed to provide or require the provision of information to one another, as well as a list of resources related to transparency, secrecy, access, and nondisclosure.
Date: March 18, 2016
Creator: Ginsberg, Wendy & Greene, Michael
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nominations to the Supreme Court During Years of Divided and Unified Party Government (open access)

Nominations to the Supreme Court During Years of Divided and Unified Party Government

This report provides data and analysis related to nominations made to the Supreme Court during years of unified and divided party government.
Date: March 16, 2016
Creator: McMillion, Barry J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA): Resources for Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA): Resources for Frequently Asked Questions

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; P.L. 111-148, as amended) has numerous provisions affecting private health insurance and public health coverage programs. This report provides resources to help congressional staff respond to constituents' frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the law. The report lists selected resources regarding consumers, employers, and other stakeholders, with a focus on federal sources. It also lists CRS reports that summarize the ACA's provisions.
Date: March 3, 2016
Creator: Napili, Angela
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Shift in the International Security Environment: Potential Implications for Defense--Issues for Congress (open access)

A Shift in the International Security Environment: Potential Implications for Defense--Issues for Congress

This report briefly describes the shift in the international security environment that some observers believe has occurred, and identifies some defense related issues for Congress that could arise from it. Congress's decisions on these issues could have significant implications for U.S. defense capabilities and funding requirements.
Date: March 30, 2016
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Medicare Primer (open access)

Medicare Primer

This report provides a general overview of the Medicare program including descriptions of the program's history, eligibility criteria, covered services, provider payment systems, and program administration and financing.
Date: March 31, 2016
Creator: Davis, Patricia A.; Talaga, Scott R.; Binder, Cliff; Hahn, Jim; Kirchhoff, Suzanne M. & Morgan, Paulette C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nigeria's Boko Haram: Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

Nigeria's Boko Haram: Frequently Asked Questions

This report explores several questions that have been often asked in relation to the Boko Haram, a violent Islamist insurgent group originally based in northeast Nigeria, the impact of its attacks, and the response of the Nigerian government and other international actors, including the United States.
Date: March 29, 2016
Creator: Blanchard, Lauren P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Future of Internet Governance: Should the United States Relinquish Its Authority over ICANN? (open access)

The Future of Internet Governance: Should the United States Relinquish Its Authority over ICANN?

This report discusses legislation relevant to the future of Internet governance that has been introduced in the 113th and 114th Congresses which would prevent, delay, or impose conditions or additional scrutiny on the transition of NTIA's stewardship role and procedural authority over key Internet domain name functions to the global Internet multi-stakeholder community.
Date: March 22, 2016
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
House Committee Chairs: Considerations, Decisions, and Actions as One Congress Ends and a New Congress Begins (open access)

House Committee Chairs: Considerations, Decisions, and Actions as One Congress Ends and a New Congress Begins

This report covers the period from the House's early organization meetings in November to approximately March or April following the convening of a new Congress.
Date: March 3, 2016
Creator: Schneider, Judy & Koempel, Michael L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)/Frigate Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)/Frigate Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)/Frigate program, a program to procure a large number of LCSs and modified LCSs. Congress's decisions on the LCS/Frigate program will affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: March 14, 2016
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library