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Offshore Oil and Gas Development: Legal Framework (open access)

Offshore Oil and Gas Development: Legal Framework

The development of offshore oil, gas, and other mineral resources in the United States is impacted by a number of interrelated legal regimes, including international, federal, and state laws. International law provides a framework for establishing national ownership or control of offshore areas, and domestic federal law mirrors and supplements these standards. This report discusses these issues.
Date: May 2, 2011
Creator: Vann, Adam
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Military Pay and Benefits: Key Questions and Answers (open access)

Military Pay and Benefits: Key Questions and Answers

This report addresses the role of military pay in manning the Armed Forces, the types of pay increases used in the past, recent reforms in managing pay, and the role of the Employment Cost Index in determining basic pay increases. The report also reviews the compensation benefits specifically available to military personnel participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)/Operation New Dawn (OND) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
Date: May 13, 2011
Creator: Henning, Charles A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy (open access)

Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy

This report discusses the current political and economic situation in Ukraine. It also discusses Ukraine's foreign policy, especially in respect to NATO, European Union, and Russia. The Ukraine's energy issues are also briefly deliberated in this report.
Date: May 12, 2011
Creator: Woehrel, Steven
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
China-U.S. Trade Issues (open access)

China-U.S. Trade Issues

This report discusses the U.S.-China economic relationship and China's rapid expansion as a global economic market, both with respect to the current global economic crisis. It also examines major U.S.-China trade issues and related legislation.
Date: May 6, 2011
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Intelligence Issues for Congress (open access)

Intelligence Issues for Congress

To address the challenges facing the U.S. intelligence community in the 21st century, congressional and executive branch initiatives have sought to improve coordination among the different agencies and to encourage better analysis. In December 2004, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (P.L. 108-458) was signed, providing for a Director of National Intelligence (DNI) with substantial authorities to manage the national intelligence effort. The legislation also established a separate Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Date: May 5, 2011
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Intelligence Issues for Congress (open access)

Intelligence Issues for Congress

To address the challenges facing the U.S. intelligence community in the 21st century, congressional and executive branch initiatives have sought to improve coordination among the different agencies and to encourage better analysis. In December 2004, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (P.L. 108-458) was signed, providing for a Director of National Intelligence (DNI) with substantial authorities to manage the national intelligence effort. The legislation also established a separate Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Date: May 17, 2011
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nuclear Energy Policy (open access)

Nuclear Energy Policy

This report discusses nuclear energy issues currently facing Congress, such as federal incentives for new commercial reactors, radioactive waste management policy, research and development priorities, power plant safety and regulation, nuclear weapons proliferation, and security against terrorist attacks.
Date: May 10, 2011
Creator: Holt, Mark
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. International Trade: Trends and Forecasts (open access)

U.S. International Trade: Trends and Forecasts

This report discusses the U.S. trade deficit in light of the 2008 global financial crisis, with emphasis on international trade and U.S. trade policy, most recent developments in trade of goods and service, trade forecasts for the future, and how issues such as the U.S. trade deficit and international trade, particularly with China, are commonly perceived.
Date: May 13, 2011
Creator: Nanto, Dick K. & Donnelly, J. Michael
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues (open access)

U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues

This report reviews the ongoing programs that will affect the expected size and shape of the U.S. strategic nuclear force structure. It begins with an overview of this force structure during the Cold War, and summarizes the reductions and changes that have occurred since 1991. It then offers details about each category of delivery vehicle, focusing on their current deployments and ongoing and planned modernization programs. The report concludes with a discussion of issues related to decisions about the future size and shape of the U.S. strategic nuclear force.
Date: May 4, 2011
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Proposed U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA): Provisions and Implications (open access)

The Proposed U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA): Provisions and Implications

This report is designed to assist Members of Congress as they consider the costs and benefits of the U.S.-South Korean Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA.) It examines the provisions of the KORUS FTA in the context of the overall U.S.-South Korean economic relationship, U.S. objectives, and South Korean objectives.
Date: May 2, 2011
Creator: Cooper, William H.; Manyin, Mark E.; Jurenas, Remy & Platzer, Michaela D.
Object Type: Report
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

The United States is Colombia's leading trade partner. Colombia accounts for a very small percentage of U.S. trade (0.9% in 2010), ranking 20th among U.S. export markets and 25th as a source of U.S. imports. Economic studies on the impact of a U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement (FTA) have found that, upon full implementation of an agreement, the impact on the United States would be positive but very small due to the small size of the Colombian economy when compared to that of the United States (about 1.9%).
Date: May 3, 2011
Creator: Villarreal, M. Angeles
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Text and Multimedia Messaging: Emerging Issues for Congress (open access)

Text and Multimedia Messaging: Emerging Issues for Congress

The increasing use of text and multimedia messaging has raised several policy issues: distracted driving, SMS spam, the inability of consumers to disable text messaging, text messaging price fixing, carrier blocking of common short code messages, deceptive and misleading common short code programs, protecting children from inappropriate content on wireless devices, "sexting," mobile cyberbullying, privacy of text messages, and using SMS to support law enforcement and emergency response.
Date: May 18, 2011
Creator: Stevens, Gina
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Dispute Settlement in the World Trade Organization (WTO): An Overview (open access)

Dispute Settlement in the World Trade Organization (WTO): An Overview

This report describes the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), which is the World Trade Organization's (WTO) means of resolving disputes arising under WTO agreements. The report includes criticisms of certain flaws in the DSU, as well as WTO Members' suggestions for improvement. The report also describes the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which represents the United States in WTO disputes. Also discussed are pieces of legislation that dictate procedures for specifically the United States in instances of WTO disputes.
Date: May 12, 2011
Creator: Grimmett, Jeanne J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Dispute Settlement Under the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement: An Overview (open access)

Dispute Settlement Under the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement: An Overview

This report discusses the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) and the two types of formal dispute settlement it contains: 1) State-State and 2) investor-State. The report also discusses how the PTPA differs from earlier U.S. Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
Date: May 18, 2011
Creator: Grimmett, Jeanne J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Reducing the Budget Deficit: The President's Fiscal Commission and Other Initiatives (open access)

Reducing the Budget Deficit: The President's Fiscal Commission and Other Initiatives

This report discusses why the federal government's fiscal path is unsustainable and provides an overview of proposals of selected groups that have published detailed recommendations on how to return the federal budget to a sustainable course.
Date: May 13, 2011
Creator: Levit, Mindy R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Clean Energy Standard: Potential Qualifying Energy Sources (open access)

Clean Energy Standard: Potential Qualifying Energy Sources

This report begins with a brief examination of clean energy, renewable energy, and alternative energy. It then presents possible selection criteria Congress could use to determine which sources could be eligible for a CES depending on the goal(s) of the CES. The report provides an overview of the energy sources most commonly discussed as potential CES qualifying sources: biomass, fossil fuels (natural gas combined-cycle and coal-fired power plants with carbon capture and sequestration), geothermal resources, nuclear, solar, water, and wind. The report describes where each source can be found in the United States, the estimated quantity available for electricity generation, technologies used to create electricity from the source, advantages and disadvantages of using the source for electricity generation, and policy implications should the source be included in a CES.5 The report also contains a section on energy efficiency and its potential inclusion in a CES.
Date: May 3, 2011
Creator: Bracmort, Kelsi; Folger, Peter; Holt, Mark; Ratner, Michael & Sissine, Fred
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Exemptions for Firearms in Bankruptcy (open access)

Exemptions for Firearms in Bankruptcy

The U.S. Supreme Court's decisions regarding the nature of the people's right to "keep and bear arms," as guaranteed in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, has focused some interest on the extent to which firearms are protected from the reach of creditors under either federal or state laws. State laws protecting certain property from creditors' claims may be used both in and outside of the bankruptcy context. Federal law may also protect certain property from creditors' claims in bankruptcy.
Date: May 2, 2011
Creator: Pettit, Carol A. & Platte, Vastine D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
DNA Testing in Criminal Justice: Background, Current Law, Grants, and Issues (open access)

DNA Testing in Criminal Justice: Background, Current Law, Grants, and Issues

This report provides an overview of how DNA is used to investigate crimes and help protect the innocent. It also reviews current statutory law on collecting DNA samples, sharing DNA profiles generated from those samples, and providing access to post-conviction DNA testing. The report also includes a summary of grant programs authorized by Congress to assist state and local governments with reducing DNA backlogs, provide post-conviction DNA testing, and promote new technology in the field. It also reviews select issues Congress might consider should it legislate or conduct oversight in this area.
Date: May 2, 2011
Creator: James, Nathan
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Global Challenge of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (open access)

The Global Challenge of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria

This report examines formal interagency collaborative arrangements and activities, which are intended to enhance joint efforts and cooperation among independent federal agencies with shared responsibilities and overlapping jurisdictions. This report highlights some of the current challenges posed by HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria, as well as several crosscutting policy issues that the 112th Congress may consider as it determines U.S. global health funding for these three diseases, including: Health Systems Strengthening, Country Ownership, Research and Development, Monitoring and Evaluation; and Bilateral vs. Multilateral Support.
Date: May 3, 2011
Creator: Kendall, Alexandra E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Interagency Collaborative Arrangements and Activities: Types, Rationales, Considerations (open access)

Interagency Collaborative Arrangements and Activities: Types, Rationales, Considerations

This report examines formal interagency collaborative arrangements and activities, which are intended to enhance joint efforts and cooperation among independent federal agencies with shared responsibilities and overlapping jurisdictions.
Date: May 9, 2011
Creator: Kaiser, Frederick M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Interagency Collaborative Arrangements and Activities: Types, Rationales, Considerations (open access)

Interagency Collaborative Arrangements and Activities: Types, Rationales, Considerations

This report examines formal interagency collaborative arrangements and activities, which are intended to enhance joint efforts and cooperation among independent federal agencies with shared responsibilities and overlapping jurisdictions.
Date: May 17, 2011
Creator: Kaiser, Frederick M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Interagency Collaborative Arrangements and Activities: Types, Rationales, Considerations (open access)

Interagency Collaborative Arrangements and Activities: Types, Rationales, Considerations

This report examines formal interagency collaborative arrangements and activities, which are intended to enhance joint efforts and cooperation among independent federal agencies with shared responsibilities and overlapping jurisdictions.
Date: May 31, 2011
Creator: Kaiser, Frederick M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nuclear Power Plant Design and Seismic Safety Considerations (open access)

Nuclear Power Plant Design and Seismic Safety Considerations

This report presents some of the general design concepts of operating nuclear power plants in order to discuss design considerations for seismic events. This report does not attempt to conclude whether one design is inherently safer or less safe than another plant. Nor does it attempt to conclude whether operating nuclear power plants are at any greater or lesser risk from earthquakes given recent updates to seismic data and seismic hazard maps.
Date: May 2, 2011
Creator: Andrews, Anthony
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Construction Sector in the U.S. Economy (open access)

The Construction Sector in the U.S. Economy

The construction sector is a major component of the U.S. economy. During the past decade, construction was a prime beneficiary of low interest rates and the housing-led economic boom, but was also one of the largest casualties of the subsequent financial crisis. Construction spending comprised about 7%-8% of U.S. annual economic output from 1995 to mid-2000, reaching nearly 9% of gross domestic product at the peak of the housing run-up in 2006, before declining to about 5% in 2010. Likewise, construction employment ranged from a low of about 4.6 million during the early 1990s to a high of 7.7 million during the 2006 housing boom, and was about 5.5 million in early 2011.
Date: May 3, 2011
Creator: Kirchhoff, Suzanne M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library