Algeria: Current Issues (open access)

Algeria: Current Issues

This report focuses on current political issues, as well as Algeria's economy, its foreign policy, and U.S.-Algeria relations. Key issues include reform efforts initiated after anti-government demonstrations in early 2011 and amid the regional tumult of the "Arab Spring"; terrorism and related security issues; human rights; national reconciliation following the "dark decade" of the 1990s Islamist insurgency; and activism in ethnic Berber areas.
Date: January 18, 2013
Creator: Arieff, Alexis
System: The UNT Digital Library
Algeria: Current Issues (open access)

Algeria: Current Issues

The focus of this report is Algeria, a country in North Africa that is increasingly important for U.S. efforts to counter international terrorism as a key partner in the fight against Al Qaeda linked groups. As an energy producer, it also is a significant source of natural gas for the United States and not a major recipient of U.S. aid. This report discusses Algeria's current political conditions and Algeria-related U.S. policy.
Date: November 18, 2013
Creator: Arieff, Alexis
System: The UNT Digital Library
Public Mass Shootings in the United States: Selected Implications for Federal Public Health and Safety Policy (open access)

Public Mass Shootings in the United States: Selected Implications for Federal Public Health and Safety Policy

This report focuses on mass shootings and selected implications they have for federal policy in the areas of public health and safety. While such crimes most directly impact particular citizens in very specific communities, addressing these violent episodes involves officials at all levels of government and professionals from numerous disciplines.
Date: March 18, 2013
Creator: Bjelopera, Jerome P.; Bagalman, Erin; Caldwell, Sarah W.; Finklea, Kristin M. & McCallion, Gail
System: The UNT Digital Library
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (open access)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

This report provides background information regarding the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), its structure, funding, budget, effectiveness, and reform.
Date: March 18, 2013
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa & Browne, Marjorie Ann
System: The UNT Digital Library
Asian Carp and the Great Lakes Region (open access)

Asian Carp and the Great Lakes Region

This report describes four species of non-indigenous Asian carp migrating to the United States, their potential impact, federal responses, and litigation.
Date: March 18, 2013
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.; Upton, Harold F.; Stern, Charles V. & Brougher, Cynthia
System: The UNT Digital Library
Army Corps of Engineers: Water Resource Authorizations, Appropriations, and Activities (open access)

Army Corps of Engineers: Water Resource Authorizations, Appropriations, and Activities

This report summarizes congressional authorization and appropriations processes for the Corps. It also discusses agency activities under general authorities. Congress directs the Corps through authorizations, appropriations, and oversight of its studies, construction projects, and other activities.
Date: October 18, 2013
Creator: Carter, Nicole T. & Stern, Charles V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The 2013 Farm Bill: A Comparison of the Senate-Passed (S. 954) and House-Passed (H.R. 2642, H.R. 3102) Bills with Current Law (open access)

The 2013 Farm Bill: A Comparison of the Senate-Passed (S. 954) and House-Passed (H.R. 2642, H.R. 3102) Bills with Current Law

From Introduction: "This report begins with a brief overview of the estimated budgetary impact of the House and Senate farm bills, followed by a summary comparison of the major provisions of each title. A side-by-side section comprehensively compares all of the provisions in S. 954 as passed by the Senate (now also referred to as the Senate amendment of H.R. 2642) and the latest House-passed version of H.R. 2642 (which includes the provisions of H.R. 3102 as a new Title IV to H.R. 2642) with each other, and with current law or policy."
Date: October 18, 2013
Creator: Chite, Ralph M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Potential Federal Tax Implications of United States v. Windsor (Striking Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)): Selected Issues (open access)

The Potential Federal Tax Implications of United States v. Windsor (Striking Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)): Selected Issues

This report will provide an overview of the potential federal tax implications for same-sex married couples of the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling in United States v. Windsor, with a focus on the federal income tax. Estate tax issues are also discussed. Importantly, this report focuses on changes in the interpretation and administration of federal tax law that may result from the SCOTUS decision.
Date: July 18, 2013
Creator: Crandall-Hollick, Margot L.; Sherlock, Molly F. & Pettit, Carol A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The National Voter Registration Act of 1993: History, Implementation, and Effects (open access)

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993: History, Implementation, and Effects

This report discusses the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. §1973–1973aa-6), which required states to establish voter registration procedures for federal elections so that eligible citizens might apply to register to vote (1) simultaneously while applying for a driver's license, (2) by mail, and (3) at selected state and local offices that serve the public. The law took effect on January 1, 1995, for most states.
Date: September 18, 2013
Creator: Crocker, Royce
System: The UNT Digital Library
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs (open access)

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs

This report describes federal programs that provide grants, loans, loan guarantees, and other direct or indirect incentives for energy efficiency, energy conservation, and renewable energy. For each program, the report provides the administering agency, authorizing statute(s), annual funding, and the program expiration date. The appendixes provide summary information in a tabular format and also list recently expired programs.
Date: October 18, 2013
Creator: Cunningham, Lynn J. & Roberts, Beth A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Economic Recovery: Sustaining U.S. Economic Growth in a Post-Crisis Economy (open access)

Economic Recovery: Sustaining U.S. Economic Growth in a Post-Crisis Economy

The 2007-2009 recession was long and deep, and according to several indicators was the most severe economic contraction since the 1930s (but still much less severe than the Great Depression). This report examines the state of the economy in light of the recession.
Date: April 18, 2013
Creator: Elwell, Craig K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The FY2014 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request (open access)

The FY2014 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request

None
Date: April 18, 2013
Creator: Epstein, Susan B.; Lawson, Marian Leonardo & Tiersky, Alex
System: The UNT Digital Library
Intelligence Spending and Appropriations: Issues for Congress (open access)

Intelligence Spending and Appropriations: Issues for Congress

This report discusses the historic trend in intelligence spending, as well as broader issues concerning the intelligence budgeting process, and may help Members of Congress contextualize information concerning the FY2013 budget.
Date: September 18, 2013
Creator: Erwin, Marshall C. & Belasco, Amy
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress

This report covers Special Operations Forces (SOF) budgets for FY2014 and expected uses of the bugeted money. SOF actions play a significant role in U.S. military operations, and the Administration has given U.S. SOF greater responsibility for planning and conducting worldwide counterterrorism operations.
Date: September 18, 2013
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape (open access)

The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape

The report discusses the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-Related Congressional Actions in the 112th Congress.
Date: November 18, 2013
Creator: Figliola, Patricia Moloney
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape (open access)

The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape

The report discusses the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-Related Congressional Actions in the 112th Congress.
Date: November 18, 2013
Creator: Figliola, Patricia Moloney
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape (open access)

The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape

The report discusses the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-Related Congressional Actions in the 112th Congress.
Date: July 18, 2013
Creator: Figliola, Patricia Moloney
System: The UNT Digital Library
Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research (open access)

Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research

Report that discusses: earthquake hazards and risk in the United States, federal programs that support earthquake monitoring, the U.S. capability to detect earthquakes and issue notifications and warnings, and federally supported research to improve the fundamental scientific understanding of earthquakes with a goal of reducing U.S. vulnerability.
Date: July 18, 2013
Creator: Folger, Peter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Financial Condition of Depository Banks (open access)

Financial Condition of Depository Banks

This report discusses the congressional interest in the financial conditions of depository banks or the commercial banking industry that has increased in the wake of the financial crisis that unfolded in 2007-2009, which resulted in a large increase in the number of distressed institutions.
Date: March 18, 2013
Creator: Getter, Darryl E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Publishing Scientific Papers with Potential Security Risks: Issues for Congress (open access)

Publishing Scientific Papers with Potential Security Risks: Issues for Congress

This report describes the underlying controversy, the potential benefits and harms of publishing manuscripts with potential security risks, the actions taken by domestic and international stakeholders, and options that may improve the way research is handled to minimize security concerns.
Date: March 18, 2013
Creator: Gottron, Frank & Shea, Dana A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Using Business Tax Cuts to Stimulate the Economy (open access)

Using Business Tax Cuts to Stimulate the Economy

This report provides an overview of using business tax cuts to stimulate the economy.
Date: January 18, 2013
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agricultural Export Programs: Background and Issues (open access)

Agricultural Export Programs: Background and Issues

Report that discusses the agricultural export programs that aim to develop overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products.
Date: June 18, 2013
Creator: Hanrahan, Charles E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Improper Payments and Recovery Audits: Legislation, Implementation, and Analysis (open access)

Improper Payments and Recovery Audits: Legislation, Implementation, and Analysis

This report discusses the reports on improper payments and recovery audits that were first issued for FY2004 and the efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate billions of dollars in improper payments made by federal agencies each fiscal year, Congress passed the Improper Payments Information Act (IPIA; P.L. 107-300; 116 Stat. 2350) in 2002.
Date: October 18, 2013
Creator: Hatch, Garrett
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Mental Health Workforce: A Primer (open access)

The Mental Health Workforce: A Primer

This report begins with a working definition of the mental health workforce and a brief discussion of alternative definitions. It then describes three dimensions of the mental health workforce that may influence quality of care, access to care, and costs of care: (1) licensure requirements and scope of practice for each provider type in the mental health workforce, (2) estimated numbers of each provider type in the mental health workforce, and (3) average annual wages for each provider type in the mental health workforce. The report then briefly discusses how these dimensions of the mental health workforce might inform certain policy discussions.
Date: October 18, 2013
Creator: Heisler, Elayne J. & Bagalman, Erin
System: The UNT Digital Library