Continuing Resolutions: Latest Action and Brief Overview of Recent Practices (open access)

Continuing Resolutions: Latest Action and Brief Overview of Recent Practices

This report is divided into two segments. The first section provides the most recent information on the FY2011 continuing resolution. The second segment focuses on the (1) history and recent trends, including the nature, scope, and duration of CRs during the past 35 years; (2) CR types by duration; (3) major substantive legislative provisions included in some CRs; and (4) funding gaps.
Date: December 17, 2010
Creator: Streeter, Sandy
System: The UNT Digital Library
The EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement and Its Implications for the United States (open access)

The EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement and Its Implications for the United States

This report discusses the free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and the European Union (EU). It looks at various aspects of the South Korea-EU FTA (KOREU FTA) including economic ties, trade strategies, and an overview of the key provisions of the agreement focusing on manufactured goods, agriculture, services, and various other provisions of particular interest to U.S. policymakers and the U.S. business community. The report also gives an analysis of the potential economic impact of the KOREU FTA and potential implications of the agreement for the United States.
Date: December 17, 2010
Creator: Cooper, William H.; Jurenas, Remy; Platzer, Michaela D. & Manyin, Mark E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Multilateral Development Banks: How the United States Makes and Implements Policy (open access)

Multilateral Development Banks: How the United States Makes and Implements Policy

This report discusses how U.S. policy towards the multilateral development banks (MDBs) is developed and implemented in the executive branch and the agencies that are involved. It also analyzes the three main sources of congressional influence--legislative authority, the power of the purse, and oversight activities-- on U.S. policy towards the development banks. Finally, it examines the levels of funding Congress has approved for MDBs, budgetary issues and the policy directives that Congress has initiated over the years.
Date: December 17, 2010
Creator: Sanford, Jonathan E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Previewing Dairy Policy Options for the Next Farm Bill (open access)

Previewing Dairy Policy Options for the Next Farm Bill

None
Date: December 17, 2010
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Reform of U.S. International Taxation: Alternatives (open access)

Reform of U.S. International Taxation: Alternatives

This report describes and assesses the principal prescriptions that have been offered for broad reform of the current U.S. system for taxing international businesses. The report begins with an overview of current law and of possible revisions. It then sets the framework for considering economic efficiency as well as tax shelter activities. Finally, it reviews alternative approaches to revision in light of those issues.
Date: December 17, 2010
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Title IX, Sex Discrimination, and Intercollegiate Athletics: A Legal Overview (open access)

Title IX, Sex Discrimination, and Intercollegiate Athletics: A Legal Overview

None
Date: December 17, 2010
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
House Rules Committee Hearings on Special Rules (open access)

House Rules Committee Hearings on Special Rules

This report briefly discusses the procedure in the House of Representatives for rules committee hearings on special rules.
Date: November 17, 2010
Creator: Lynch, Megan Suzanne
System: The UNT Digital Library
The President's State of the Union Address: Tradition, Function, and Policy Implications (open access)

The President's State of the Union Address: Tradition, Function, and Policy Implications

This report explores the President's State of the Union Address, in which the President reports to Congress on the current conditions of the United States and provides policy proposals for the upcoming legislative year. This report also discusses the State of the Union's considerable evolution over time.
Date: November 17, 2010
Creator: Shogan, Colleen J. & Neale, Thomas H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Special Rules and Options for Regulating the Amending Process (open access)

Special Rules and Options for Regulating the Amending Process

A special rule is a House resolution intended to regulate floor consideration of a specific legislative measure named in the resolution. This report briefly describes the two key functions of special rules, as well as the most common kinds of modifications recommended by the Rules Committee in terms used by the committee.
Date: November 17, 2010
Creator: Lynch, Megan Suzanne
System: The UNT Digital Library
Special Rules and Waivers of House Rules (open access)

Special Rules and Waivers of House Rules

A special rule is a House resolution intended to regulate floor consideration of a specific legislative measure named in the resolution. This report describes the two key functions of special rules. The second of these two functions involves waivers, which are also discussed.
Date: November 17, 2010
Creator: Lynch, Megan Suzanne
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy

This report discusses the current political state of Iran, focusing particularly on the influence of the Taliban and other militant groups and on the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. This report also discusses the U.S.-Iran relationship and U.S. efforts under the Obama Administration to provide military, reconstructive, and stabilization aid.
Date: September 17, 2010
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Authority of State and Local Police to Enforce Federal Immigration Law (open access)

Authority of State and Local Police to Enforce Federal Immigration Law

This report discusses the authority of state and local law enforcement to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law through the investigation and arrest of persons believed to have violated such laws. It describes current provisions in federal law that permit state and local police to enforce immigration law directly, analyzes major cases concerning the ability of states and localities to assist in immigration enforcement, and briefly examines opinions on the issue by the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) within the Department of Justice.
Date: September 17, 2010
Creator: Garcia, Michael John & Manuel, Kate M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Authority of State and Local Police to Enforce Federal Immigration Law (open access)

Authority of State and Local Police to Enforce Federal Immigration Law

This report discusses the authority of state and local law enforcement to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law through the investigation and arrest of persons believed to have violated such laws. It describes current provisions in federal law that permit state and local police to enforce immigration law directly, analyzes major cases concerning the ability of states and localities to assist in immigration enforcement, and briefly examines opinions on the issue by the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) within the Department of Justice.
Date: September 17, 2010
Creator: Garcia, Michael John & Manuel, Kate M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Defense: FY2011 Authorization and Appropriations (open access)

Defense: FY2011 Authorization and Appropriations

The President's FY2011 budget request, released February 1, 2010, included $733.3 billion in new budget authority for national defense. This report discusses and break downs these defense appropriations.
Date: September 17, 2010
Creator: Towell, Pat
System: The UNT Digital Library
F-35 Alternate Engine Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

F-35 Alternate Engine Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the past four years of administration proposals to terminate the program to develop the General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 engine as an alternative to the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine that currently powers the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). These proposals have been continually rejected by Congress. The Obama Administration's FY2011 budget submission against proposes to terminate the program. This report explores both sides of the termination argument.
Date: September 17, 2010
Creator: Gertler, Jeremiah
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Federal Debt: An Analysis of Movements from World War II to the Present (open access)

The Federal Debt: An Analysis of Movements from World War II to the Present

This report will define the measures of debt, discuss the reasons why debt levels change, and use historical examples to illustrate the factors causing debt movements over the last seven decades. Recent policies that have affected the budgetary outlook and the debt will also be discussed. Finally, this report will examine the long-term U.S. debt outlook and implications of rising federal debt levels.
Date: September 17, 2010
Creator: Levit, Mindy R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV): Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV): Background and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) that is currently being developed by the Army and the Marine Corps as a successor to the 11 different versions of the High Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) that have been in service since 1985. There are concerns about the affordability of JLTVs and its redundancy with other tactical wheeled vehicles.
Date: September 17, 2010
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
Landsat and the Data Continuity Mission (open access)

Landsat and the Data Continuity Mission

This report discusses the U.S. Landsat Mission, which has collected remotely sensed imagery of the Earth's surface for more than 35 years. The two satellites currently in orbit are operating beyond their designed life and may fail at any time. Most Landsat data is used by federal agencies. Efforts to commercialize Landsat operations have not been successful. This report discusses issues facing Congress regarding funding for new Landsat satellites.
Date: September 17, 2010
Creator: Behrens, Carl E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Landsat and the Data Continuity Mission (open access)

Landsat and the Data Continuity Mission

This report discusses the U.S. Landsat Mission, which has collected remotely sensed imagery of the Earth's surface for more than 35 years. The two satellites currently in orbit are operating beyond their designed life and may fail at any time. Most Landsat data is used by federal agencies. Efforts to commercialize Landsat operations have not been successful. This report discusses issues facing Congress regarding funding for new Landsat satellites.
Date: September 17, 2010
Creator: Behrens, Carl E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Marines' Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV): Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

The Marines' Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV): Background and Issues for Congress

The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) is an armored amphibious vehicle program that originated two decades ago to replace the 1970s-era Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV). The EFV has experienced a variety of developmental difficulties, resulting in significant program delays and cost growth. While the Marine Corps and Department of Defense remain optimistic about the future of the EFC program, there continue to be major concerns about the EFV's reliability and escalating costs.
Date: September 17, 2010
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Overview of Recent U.S. Supreme Court Jurisprudence in Patent Law (open access)

An Overview of Recent U.S. Supreme Court Jurisprudence in Patent Law

This report provides a brief summary of the Supreme Court's patent law jurisprudence in the following nine cases that have been decided since 2005: Merck KGaA v. Integra Lifesciences I, Unitherm Food Systems v. Swift-Eckrich, Illinois Tool Works v. Independent Ink, eBay v. MercExchange, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings v. Metabolite Labs., MedImmune v. Genentech, KSR International Co. v. Teleflex Inc., Microsoft v. AT&T, Quanta Computer, Inc. v. LG Electronics, Inc., and Bilski v. Kappos.
Date: September 17, 2010
Creator: Yeh, Brian T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-Russian Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: Issues for Congress (open access)

U.S.-Russian Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: Issues for Congress

The United States and Russia signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement on May 6, 2008. President Bush submitted the agreement to Congress on May 13. This report discusses key policy issues related to that agreement, including future nuclear energy cooperation with Russia, U.S.-Russian bilateral relations, nonproliferation cooperation and Russia's policies toward Iran.
Date: September 17, 2010
Creator: Nikitin, Mary Beth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy

This report discusses the current political state of Iran, focusing particularly on the influence of the Taliban and other militant groups and on the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. This report also discusses the U.S.-Iran relationship and U.S. efforts under the Obama Administration to provide military, reconstructive, and stabilization aid.
Date: August 17, 2010
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act: Insurance Provisions (open access)

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act: Insurance Provisions

This report explains how insurance markets were affected by the financial crisis and summarizes the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act that pertain to insurance.
Date: August 17, 2010
Creator: Webel, Baird
System: The UNT Digital Library