Northern Ireland: Current Issues and Ongoing Challenges in the Peace Process (open access)

Northern Ireland: Current Issues and Ongoing Challenges in the Peace Process

This report describes the Peace Agreement in Northern Ireland, which is one of four component "nations" of the United Kingdom (UK). The conflict, often referred to as "the Troubles," has its origins in the 1921 division of Ireland and has reflected a struggle between different national, cultural, and religious identities.
Date: March 14, 2017
Creator: Archick, Kristin
System: The UNT Digital Library
Northern Ireland's Snap Assembly Elections: Outcome and Implications (open access)

Northern Ireland's Snap Assembly Elections: Outcome and Implications

This report discusses the snap elections for Northern Ireland's Assembly, its regional legislature.
Date: March 7, 2017
Creator: Archick, Kristin
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Debt Limit Since 2011 (open access)

The Debt Limit Since 2011

This report discusses the federal debt increase, which can increase when the government sells debt to the public to finance budget deficits and acquire the financial resources needed to meet its obligations (increasing debt held by the public), or when the federal government issues debt to certain government accounts in exchange for their reported surpluses (increasing debt held by government accounts).
Date: March 14, 2017
Creator: Austin, D. A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Colombia's Changing Approach to Drug Policy (open access)

Colombia's Changing Approach to Drug Policy

This report describes how Colombia's drug policies have evolved in light of Colombia's peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and its changing counter-narcotics policy. The final peace agreement addresses important issues, such as illicit crop cultivation--a major source of FARC income--and rural development.
Date: March 10, 2017
Creator: Beittel, June S. & Rosen, Liana W.
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
What Is the Effect of Enacting a Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval? (open access)

What Is the Effect of Enacting a Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval?

This report discusses the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which provides Congress with a set of special parliamentary procedures to consider legislation to overturn federal regulations.
Date: March 3, 2017
Creator: Carey, Maeve P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-Mexican Water Sharing: Background and Recent Developments (open access)

U.S.-Mexican Water Sharing: Background and Recent Developments

This report describes U.S.-Mexican water sharing of the Colorado and Rio Grande rivers pursuant to binational agreements. The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) is charged with addressing issues that arise during application of binational water treaties.
Date: March 2, 2017
Creator: Carter, Nicole T.; Mulligan, Stephen P. & Ribando Seelke, Clare
System: The UNT Digital Library
Medicaid Financial Eligibility for Long-Term Services and Supports (open access)

Medicaid Financial Eligibility for Long-Term Services and Supports

This report provides an overview of the financial requirements used for determining eligibility for Medicaid long-term services and supports (LTSS). It first provides background information on the Medicaid program, including general eligibility requirements. Then it describes federal statutes as well as selected regulations and guidance regarding these financial eligibility requirements, including rules related to spousal impoverishment, asset transfers, treatment of certain assets, post-eligibility treatment of income, and estate recovery.
Date: March 7, 2017
Creator: Colello, Kirsten J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Advanced Pilot Training (T-X) Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Advanced Pilot Training (T-X) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the Advanced Pilot Training (T-X) aircraft, which may shift training from Field Training Units, where expensive fifth-generation aircraft are used, to less expensive trainer aircraft.
Date: March 31, 2017
Creator: Coral, Ceir
System: The UNT Digital Library
Resolutions of Inquiry in the House (open access)

Resolutions of Inquiry in the House

This report examines the use of resolutions of inquiry in the House of Representatives from 1947 to 2011. A resolution of inquiry is a measure that formally calls on the executive branch to provide specified factual information to Congress.
Date: March 6, 2017
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (open access)

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement

This report provides an overview of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), its provisions, and the United States' implementation and role in capacity building. It also provides options for Congress to consider in relation to the TFA.
Date: March 3, 2017
Creator: Fefer, Rachel F. & Jones, Vivian C.
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

This report discusses issues surrounding the funding for development of Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs) and Marine Personnel Carriers (MPCs). The Marines are required by law to have the necessary equipment to conduct amphibious operations and land operations.
Date: March 8, 2017
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
Dark Web (open access)

Dark Web

This report illuminates information on the various layers of the Internet, with a particular focus on the Dark Web. It discusses both legitimate and illicit uses of the Dark Web, including how the government may rely upon it. Throughout, the report raises issues that policy makers may consider as they explore means to curb malicious activity online.
Date: March 10, 2017
Creator: Finklea, Kristin
System: The UNT Digital Library
Majority, Concurring, and Dissenting Opinions by Judge Neil M. Gorsuch (open access)

Majority, Concurring, and Dissenting Opinions by Judge Neil M. Gorsuch

This report provides a tabular listing of cases in which Judge Gorsuch authored a majority, concurring, or dissenting opinion. The opinions are categorized into three tables: Table 1 identifies opinions authored by Judge Gorsuch on behalf of a unanimous panel; Table 2 contains controlling opinions authored by Judge Gorsuch in which one or more panelists wrote a separate opinion; and Table 3 lists cases where Judge Gorsuch wrote a concurring or dissenting opinion.
Date: March 1, 2017
Creator: Garcia, Michael John; Herman, Sarah S.; Mulligan, Stephen P.; Tsang, Linda & Wyatt, Alexandra M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Science and Technology Issues in the 115th Congress (open access)

Science and Technology Issues in the 115th Congress

This report briefly outlines an array of science and technology (S&T) policy issues that may come before the 115th Congress. It breaks down selected issues into nine categories: overarching issues, agriculture, biomedical research and development, defense, energy, environment and natural resources, homeland security, information technology, physical and material sciences, and space.
Date: March 14, 2017
Creator: Gottron, Frank
System: The UNT Digital Library
Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Outgoing and Incoming Administrations (open access)

Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Outgoing and Incoming Administrations

This report discusses issues surrounding the transition of Presidential power, including the variety of events, decisions, and activities contribute to it.
Date: March 13, 2017
Creator: Halchin, L. E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data (open access)

Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data

This report provides data and an overview of the land owned by federal government, which is roughly 640 million acres, about 28% of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States.
Date: March 3, 2017
Creator: Hardy Vincent, Carol
System: The UNT Digital Library
Grants Work in a Congressional Office (open access)

Grants Work in a Congressional Office

This report discusses the federal grants funding that goes to state and local governments. Members of Congress receive numerous requests from grant seekers, including state and local governments, nonprofit social service and community action organizations, private research groups, small businesses, and individuals, for information and help in obtaining funds for projects.
Date: March 10, 2017
Creator: Jennings, Julie & Kreiser, Maria A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Hemp as an Agricultural Commodity (open access)

Hemp as an Agricultural Commodity

This report discusses the various industrial uses for hemp, a variety of Cannabis sativa that is of the same plant species as marijuana. It compares hemp with marijuana and discusses global production, legal status, and recent legislative activity.
Date: March 10, 2017
Creator: Johnson, Renée
System: The UNT Digital Library
Military Benefits for Former Spouses: Legislation and Policy Issues (open access)

Military Benefits for Former Spouses: Legislation and Policy Issues

The purpose of this report is to provide a general discussion of legislative provisions and proposals relating to the military benefits for former spouses.
Date: March 6, 2017
Creator: Kamarck, Kristy N.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Defense Primer: A Guide for New Members (open access)

Defense Primer: A Guide for New Members

This report describes the power of the Congress over the armed forces, including the power to "to raise and support Armies," "to provide and maintain a Navy," "to make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces" and "to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States...", as well as references to other reports on related topics.
Date: March 3, 2017
Creator: Kapp, Lawrence
System: The UNT Digital Library
Qatar: Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Qatar: Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy

This report provides a brief history of the state of Qatar, discussing its governance and human rights. The report also includes U.S.-Qatari defense and security cooperation and economic issues.
Date: March 15, 2017
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Brief History of Attorney General Recusal (open access)

A Brief History of Attorney General Recusal

This report lists the fifteen previous instances of U.S. Attorney General's recusing themselves from an investigation since 1989 after the announcement by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions that he was recusing himself from and any investigations regarding President Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
Date: March 8, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Six Justice Court to Decide Liability of Officials for Post 9/11 Detention (open access)

Six Justice Court to Decide Liability of Officials for Post 9/11 Detention

This report discusses a Supreme Court case regarding whether men detained after 9/11 by federal authorities can sue the individual officials involved in their arrest and detainment that was due to be heard by a six justice court due to the death of Justice Scalia and the recusements of two other justices.
Date: March 7, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library