Abortion: Judicial History and Legislative Response (open access)

Abortion: Judicial History and Legislative Response

The focus of this report is on legislative actions with respect to abortion, but also discusses leading Supreme Court decisions concerning a woman's right to choose.
Date: January 23, 2015
Creator: Shimabukuro, Jon O.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Access to Broadband Networks: The Net Neutrality Debate (open access)

Access to Broadband Networks: The Net Neutrality Debate

This report discusses the continued debate amongst congressional policymakers regarding telecommunications reform. A major point of the ongoing discussion is whether action is needed to ensure unfettered access to the Internet.
Date: January 15, 2015
Creator: Gilroy, Angele A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program: Status and Issues (open access)

The Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program: Status and Issues

This report discusses the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program by the Department of Energy (DOE). Furthermore, the report establishes the program as giving loans to businesses in the automotive industry to make new factories or redesign old ones to produce vehicles that achieve at least 25% higher fuel economy than vehicles from 2005. The report also covers the spending on the program and the requirements to receive a loan.
Date: January 15, 2015
Creator: Canis, Bill & Yacobucci, Brent D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Aereo and FilmOn X: Internet Television Streaming and Copyright Law (open access)

Aereo and FilmOn X: Internet Television Streaming and Copyright Law

This report begins with a discussion of the technology used by Aereo and FilmOn X that permit subscribers to watch live broadcast television as well as already-aired programming. It then examines the public performance right in the Copyright Act and discusses the interpretation of the transmit clause and public performance right by the courts in the Aereo and FilmOn cases. The report concludes with a brief overview of future litigation by these parties and related legislative proposals in the 113th Congress.
Date: January 22, 2015
Creator: Lanza, Emily M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Affordable Care Act and Small Business: Economic Issues (open access)

The Affordable Care Act and Small Business: Economic Issues

This report explains how employer-sponsored insurance can be used to address concerns about health insurance coverage and cost. Then, it summarizes the three Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions most relevant to small businesses. Also, it analyzes these provisions for their potential effects on small businesses. Last, this report presents several approaches that could address some concerns associated with these provisions (particularly the employer penalty).
Date: January 15, 2015
Creator: Lowry, Sean & Gravelle, Jane G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance (open access)

Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance

This report discusses the current political state of Afghanistan and the Afghan government. It also discusses Afghanistan's relationship with the United States, particularly U.S. efforts to urge President Hamid Karzai to address corruption within the Afghan government.
Date: January 12, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
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 Afghanistan, 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.-Afghanistan relationship, in both the short and long term, and U.S. efforts under the Obama Administration to provide military, reconstructive, and stabilization aid.
Date: January 20, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Air Quality: EPA's 2013 Changes to the Particulate Matter (PM) Standard (open access)

Air Quality: EPA's 2013 Changes to the Particulate Matter (PM) Standard

This report summarizes the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) January 15, 2013, final and June 2012 proposed changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and includes comparisons with previous (1997 and 2006) promulgated and proposed standards. Key actions leading up to the agency's determination, and potential issues and concerns associated with changing the Particulate Matter annual standard, are also highlighted.
Date: January 7, 2015
Creator: Esworthy, Robert
System: The UNT Digital Library
Air Traffic Inc.: Considerations Regarding the Corporatization of Air Traffic Control (open access)

Air Traffic Inc.: Considerations Regarding the Corporatization of Air Traffic Control

This report looks at past proposals to corporatize or privatize FAA air traffic functions and examines the way air traffic management is structured in other countries, particularly focusing on those that have opted for corporatization or privatization.
Date: January 5, 2015
Creator: Elias, Bart
System: The UNT Digital Library
The America COMPETES Acts: An Overview (open access)

The America COMPETES Acts: An Overview

This report provides an overview of the COMPETES Acts for readers seeking background and legislative context. It includes a description and legislative history of the acts, a summary of the broad policy debate, and an examination of the implementation status of selected COMPETES-related programs and policies. This report also highlights major bills to reauthorize the COMPETES Acts from the 113th Congress.
Date: January 27, 2015
Creator: Gonzalez, Heather B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics (open access)

American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics

This report provides U.S. war casualty statistics. It includes data tables containing the number of casualties among American military personnel who served in principal wars and combat actions from 1775 to the present. It also includes data on those wounded in action and information such as race and ethnicity, gender, branch of service, and cause of death. The tables are compiled from various Department of Defense (DOD) sources.
Date: January 2, 2015
Creator: DeBruyne, Nese F. & Leland, Anne
System: The UNT Digital Library
Bank Failures and the FDIC (open access)

Bank Failures and the FDIC

This In Focus introduces the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporations (FDIC's) process for resolving failing FDIC insured banks.
Date: January 23, 2015
Creator: Gnanarajah, Raj
System: The UNT Digital Library
Bee Health: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Bee Health: Background and Issues for Congress

This report is about Bee Health.
Date: January 20, 2015
Creator: Johnson, Renée
System: The UNT Digital Library
Biological Opinions for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: A Case Law Summary (open access)

Biological Opinions for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: A Case Law Summary

This report provides a case law summary about Biological Opinions for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Date: January 14, 2015
Creator: Alexander, Kristina
System: The UNT Digital Library
Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation (open access)

Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation

This report discusses the use of biomass, its legislative history, and the proposed redefinition of biomass in legislation.
Date: January 6, 2015
Creator: Bracmort, Kelsi
System: The UNT Digital Library
Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP): Status and Issues (open access)

Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP): Status and Issues

This report provides a description of BCAP's main components along with a discussion of program funding and implementation results.
Date: January 12, 2015
Creator: McMinimy, Mark A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Bitcoin: Questions, Answers, and Analysis of Legal Issues (open access)

Bitcoin: Questions, Answers, and Analysis of Legal Issues

This report has three major sections. The first section answers some basic questions about Bitcoin and the operation of the Bitcoin network and its interaction with the current dollar-based monetary system. The second section summarizes likely reasons for and against widespread Bitcoin adoption. The third section discusses legal and regulatory matters that have been raised by Bitcoin and other digital currencies.
Date: January 28, 2015
Creator: Elwell, Craig K.; Murphy, M. M. & Seitzinger, Michael V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Body Armor for Law Enforcement Officers: In Brief (open access)

Body Armor for Law Enforcement Officers: In Brief

This report contains an overview of the Matching Grant Program for Law Enforcement Armor Vests (BPV program). It also provides a discussion of data on law enforcement agencies that require their officers to wear armor vests while on duty, research on why officers may choose to wear armor vests, research on the life cycle for armor vests, data on the use of body armor by law enforcement officers who were killed with a firearm, and research on the effectiveness of armor vests.
Date: January 13, 2015
Creator: James, Nathan
System: The UNT Digital Library
Border Security: Immigration Inspections at Ports of Entry (open access)

Border Security: Immigration Inspections at Ports of Entry

This report reviews the legislative history of immigration inspections requirements and the entry-exit system. The report then describes the implementation of these provisions, including pre-travel screening, primary and secondary inspections, trusted traveler programs, outbound enforcement, and the entry-exit system. The final section of the report identifies a number of issues for Congress related to immigration admissions and enforcement at ports of entry (POEs).
Date: January 26, 2015
Creator: Seghetti, Lisa
System: The UNT Digital Library
Brazil: Political and Economic Situation and U.S. Relations (open access)

Brazil: Political and Economic Situation and U.S. Relations

This report provides background and political and economic situation in Brazil. It further discusses about U.S. Foreign Assistance and Trilateral Development initiatives.
Date: January 14, 2015
Creator: Meyer, Peter J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Campus-Based Student Financial Aid Programs Under the Higher Education Act (open access)

Campus-Based Student Financial Aid Programs Under the Higher Education Act

This report mainly discusses about the Campus-Based Student Financial Aid Programs Under the Higher Education Act
Date: January 5, 2015
Creator: Hegji, Alexandra & Smole, David P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Changes in the Purposes and Frequency of Authorizations of Appropriations (open access)

Changes in the Purposes and Frequency of Authorizations of Appropriations

This report discusses general principles in how the language concerning the purposes and frequency of authorizations of appropriations has changed over the past century. These general principles are illustrated through case studies on the authorizations of appropriations that were enacted during this period for three agencies: the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Peace Corps.
Date: January 16, 2015
Creator: Tollestrup, Jessica
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Program (open access)

The Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Program

This report provides a short synopsis on the main functions of the Child Support Enforcement (C.S.E.) program.
Date: January 28, 2015
Creator: Solomon-Fears, Carmen
System: The UNT Digital Library
Child Welfare: An Overview of Federal Programs and Their Current Funding (open access)

Child Welfare: An Overview of Federal Programs and Their Current Funding

This report provides information about An Overview of Federal Programs and Their Current Funding on Child Welfare.
Date: January 23, 2015
Creator: Stoltzfus, Emilie
System: The UNT Digital Library