Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses (open access)

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

This report provides an overview of the concerns and policy responses of the United States on Iran.
Date: October 26, 2011
Creator: Katzaman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2012 Budget and Appropriations (open access)

State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2012 Budget and Appropriations

This report focuses on the $59.65 billion requested for programs and activities funded through the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill, which excludes some portions of the International Affairs request such as certain commissions and foreign food aid requested as part of other budget functions.
Date: October 6, 2011
Creator: Epstein, Susan B. & Lawson, Marian Leonardo
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Analysis of the “Buffett Rule” (open access)

An Analysis of the “Buffett Rule”

This report examines the Buffett rule, but uses a measure of income that captures the ability to pay taxes and incorporates the effect of the corporate income tax in addition to the individual income tax and the payroll tax. The Buffet rule states that "no household making over $1 million annually should pay a smaller share of its income in taxes than middle-class families pay" and is named after Warren Buffett, the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. The report includes figures, tables, and appendices to illustrate calculations and issues involved with the topic.
Date: October 7, 2011
Creator: Hungerford, Thomas L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances (open access)

Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances

This report discusses details of policy changes regarding travel to Cuba, which have been a key and often contentious component in U.S. efforts to isolate Cuba's communist government since the early 1960s. In January 2011, the Obama Administration announced policy changes further easing restrictions on travel and remittances. In the first session of the 112th Congress, there were several attempts aimed at rolling back the Obama Administration's actions easing restrictions on travel and remittances. Several initiatives were also introduced that would further ease or lift such restrictions altogether.
Date: October 12, 2011
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agriculture in Pending U.S. Free Trade Agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama (open access)

Agriculture in Pending U.S. Free Trade Agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama

This report discusses pending U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs) with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama. The bills to implement these agreements will now be debated under trade promotion authority, or fast-track rules, designed to expedite congressional consideration. The report includes an overview of agricultural issues regarding FTAs and pending FTA partners, as well as a closer breakdown of the specific issues for each of the countries.
Date: October 6, 2011
Creator: Jurenas, Remy
System: The UNT Digital Library
Funding Emergency Communications: Technology and Policy Considerations (open access)

Funding Emergency Communications: Technology and Policy Considerations

This report identifies areas where changes in existing policies and practices may facilitate achievement of the important goals for emergency communications that Congress and others have identified. Why these goals have become important, and recent planning efforts to achieve these goals, is discussed first. Next, possible barriers to achieving these goals are identified and described. The conclusion revisits key options presently under consideration by Congress.
Date: October 4, 2011
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Central Asia: Regional Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests (open access)

Central Asia: Regional Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests

This report discusses the current status of Central Asian states and U.S. policy, which has been aimed at facilitating their cooperation with U.S. and NATO stabilization efforts in Afghanistan and their efforts to combat terrorism, proliferation, and trafficking in arms, drugs, and persons. Congress will be considering an increase in support for the programs in Central Asia.
Date: October 12, 2011
Creator: Nichol, Jim
System: The UNT Digital Library
Presidential Nominating Process: Current Issues (open access)

Presidential Nominating Process: Current Issues

This report discusses issues regarding the Presidential Nomination Process including information about the 2008 election, calendar changes from 1988 to 2008, changes to national party rules for 2012, an evaluation of the primary system, reform proposals, and legislative considerations.
Date: October 13, 2011
Creator: Coleman, Kevin J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Internet Domain Names: Background and Policy Issues (open access)

Internet Domain Names: Background and Policy Issues

None
Date: October 7, 2011
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Programs Available to Unemployed Workers (open access)

Federal Programs Available to Unemployed Workers

None
Date: October 26, 2011
Creator: Isaacs, Katelin P.; Bradley, David H.; Mulvey, Janemarie & Collins, Benjamin
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

None
Date: October 19, 2011
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy (open access)

The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy

None
Date: October 3, 2011
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2012 Appropriations (open access)

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2012 Appropriations

This report provides an overview of actions taken by Congress to provide FY2012 appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies(CJS) accounts.
Date: October 6, 2011
Creator: James, Nathan; Williams, Jennifer D. & Sargent, John F., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Upcoming Unemployment Insurance Benefit Expirations (open access)

Upcoming Unemployment Insurance Benefit Expirations

None
Date: October 11, 2011
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Dependent Care: Current Tax Benefits and Legislative Issues (open access)

Dependent Care: Current Tax Benefits and Legislative Issues

This report discusses current tax treatment of dependent care expenses under the DCTC and the dependent care assistance programs (DCAP), and issues for Congress in expanding tax benefits for working caregivers (including President Obama's Budget proposal).
Date: October 6, 2011
Creator: Scott, Christine & Mulvey, Janemarie
System: The UNT Digital Library
Social Security: Temporary Payroll Tax Reduction in 2011 (open access)

Social Security: Temporary Payroll Tax Reduction in 2011

None
Date: October 6, 2011
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Political Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests (open access)

Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Political Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests

This report discusses the overview of U.S. Policy Concerns, The south caucasus's external security context, Obstacles to peace and independence, U.S. security assistance and U.S. trade investment.
Date: October 27, 2011
Creator: Nichol, Jim
System: The UNT Digital Library
Numerical Limits on Employment-Based Immigration: Analysis of the Per-Country Ceilings (open access)

Numerical Limits on Employment-Based Immigration: Analysis of the Per-Country Ceilings

The report opens with brief explanations of the employment-based preference categories and the per-country ceilings governing annual admissions of LPRs. The focus is on the major employment-based preference categories. The report continues with a statistical analysis of the pending caseload of approved employment-based LPR petitions.
Date: October 11, 2011
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-South Korea Relations (open access)

U.S.-South Korea Relations

None
Date: October 11, 2011
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Deregulating Genetically Engineered Alfalfa and Sugar Beets: Legal and Administrative Responses (open access)

Deregulating Genetically Engineered Alfalfa and Sugar Beets: Legal and Administrative Responses

This report provides information about the Legal and Administrative Responses on Deregulating Genetically Engineered Alfalfa and Sugar Beets.
Date: October 18, 2011
Creator: Cowan, Tadlock & Alexander, Kristina
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Program (open access)

Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Program

None
Date: October 19, 2011
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections (open access)

Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections

None
Date: October 12, 2011
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Proposed U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement: Background and Issues (open access)

Proposed U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement: Background and Issues

None
Date: October 4, 2011
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2012 Appropriations (open access)

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2012 Appropriations

None
Date: October 17, 2011
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library