Daylight Saving Time (open access)

Daylight Saving Time

This report discusses Daylight Saving Time (DST), which is a period of the year between spring and fall when clocks in the United States are set one hour ahead of standard time. DST is currently observed in the United States from 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March until 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday in November.
Date: March 9, 2016
Creator: Cook, Beth
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Leak: State and Federal Response and Oversight (open access)

The Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Leak: State and Federal Response and Oversight

This report briefly discusses the large, uncontrollable natural gas leak in the Aliso Canyon Underground Storage Facility near the Porter Ranch community in Los Angeles County, California, which occurred between October 23, 2015, and February 11, 2016.
Date: March 9, 2016
Creator: Lattanzio, Richard K. & Parfomak, Paul W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Transportation Security: Issues for the 114th Congress (open access)

Transportation Security: Issues for the 114th Congress

This report examines aviation, transit and passenger rail security, as well as port and maritime security. The difficulty and cost of protecting the transportation sector from attack raises a core question for policymakers, i.e., how much effort and resources to put toward protecting potential targets versus pursuing and fighting terrorists.
Date: May 9, 2016
Creator: Elias, Bart; Peterman, David R. & Frittelli, John
System: The UNT Digital Library
Remittances: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Remittances: Background and Issues for Congress

This report focuses on remittances, transfers of money and capital, sent by migrants and foreign immigrant communities from the United States to their home country. At over $432 billion in 2015, remittances sent home by international migrants to developing countries is larger than official development assistance (ODA) and more stable than private capital flows to these countries.
Date: May 9, 2016
Creator: Weiss, Martin A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agricultural Exports and 2014 Farm Bill Programs: Background and Current Issues (open access)

Agricultural Exports and 2014 Farm Bill Programs: Background and Current Issues

This report provides background on the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) agricultural export programs and relevant issues for Congress. U.S. agricultural exports have long been a bright spot in the U.S. balance of trade, with exports exceeding imports in every year since 1960.
Date: May 9, 2016
Creator: McMinimy, Mark A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
FY2017 Appropriations for the Department of Justice Grant Programs (open access)

FY2017 Appropriations for the Department of Justice Grant Programs

This report provides an overview of congressional actions to fund the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) grant programs through these accounts for FY2017. The report also provides information on FY2016 appropriations for DOJ's grant programs.
Date: June 9, 2016
Creator: James, Nathan
System: The UNT Digital Library
FY2017 Appropriations for the Department of Justice (open access)

FY2017 Appropriations for the Department of Justice

This report discusses appropriations for the Department of Justice (DOJ) for fiscal year 2017. It includes an overview of the DOJ's accounts, broken down by department and program; an comparison of appropriations for fiscal years 2016 and 2017; and select legislative proposals.
Date: June 9, 2016
Creator: James, Nathan
System: The UNT Digital Library
EPA's Clean Power Plan for Existing Power Plants: Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

EPA's Clean Power Plan for Existing Power Plants: Frequently Asked Questions

This report summarizes the Clean Power Plan rule as it was finalized on August 3, 2015, before discussing how the ongoing litigation may potentially impact the rule and its deadlines. EPA faced a number of issues and questions while developing the regulations. This report describes how EPA answered these and other questions.
Date: March 9, 2016
Creator: McCarthy, James E.; Ramseur, Jonathan L.; Leggett, Jane A.; Wyatt, Alexandra M. & Dolan, Alissa M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iraq: Politics and Governance (open access)

Iraq: Politics and Governance

This report provides background and analysis on the politics of Iraq, including its communities, its governing personalities and factions, security forces and militias, and the government's human rights record.
Date: March 9, 2016
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth & Humud, Carla E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) and Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC): Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) and Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC): Background and Issues for Congress

This report discusses issues surrounding the funding for development of Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs) and Marine Personnel Carriers (MPCs). The Marines are required by law to have the necessary equipment to conduct amphibious operations and land operations.
Date: September 9, 2016
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 114th Congress (open access)

Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 114th Congress

This report discusses border security, interior enforcement, visa security, asylum, and other immigration-related issues that have received legislative action or are of significant congressional interest in the 114th Congress.
Date: September 9, 2016
Creator: Bruno, Andorra; Argueta, Carla N.; Bjelopera, Jerome P.; Garcia, Michael John; Kandel, William A. & Siskin, Alison
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), which is an Army-led, multi-service initiative to develop a family of light tactical vehicles as a successor to the High Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs). It includes background information; a description of the JLTV program, program history, and program activities; information about the JLTV contract, Lockheed Martin's protest to the program, budgetary issues, and potential issues for Congress.
Date: September 9, 2016
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Federal Anti-Nepotism Statute: Limits on Appointing, Hiring, and Promoting Relatives (open access)

The Federal Anti-Nepotism Statute: Limits on Appointing, Hiring, and Promoting Relatives

This report discusses laws governing the hiring of family members in the executive branch and ant-nepotism efforts.
Date: August 9, 2016
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
"Nosal" Parts 1 & 2: Password Sharing May Be a Federal Crime & Circuit Split on Restitution for Attorney's Fees (open access)

"Nosal" Parts 1 & 2: Password Sharing May Be a Federal Crime & Circuit Split on Restitution for Attorney's Fees

This report discusses the case of "Nosal v. United States" and charges against Nosal for fraud, stealing trade secrets, and access without authorization charges under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). The charges under the CFAA are discussed in-depth along with implications for consensual password sharing being covered under the act. Restitution of attorneys fees in the case by Nosal are also discussed.
Date: December 9, 2016
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
DC Circuit Holds An Agency Official's Private Email Account Not Beyond the Reach of FOIA (open access)

DC Circuit Holds An Agency Official's Private Email Account Not Beyond the Reach of FOIA

This report discusses the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in "Competitive Enterprise Institute v. Office of Science and Technology Policy" stating that emails pertaining to work in personal email accounts are accessible under Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
Date: August 9, 2016
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
DOE's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE): A Primer, with Appropriations for FY2016 (open access)

DOE's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE): A Primer, with Appropriations for FY2016

This report discusses the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE), which is tasked with the lead role to address electric infrastructure needs and issues, such as: increased use of distributed (mostly renewable energy) resources, Internet-enabled demand response technologies, growing loads from electric vehicle use, continued expansion of natural gas use, and integration of energy storage devices.
Date: February 9, 2016
Creator: Sissine, Fred
System: The UNT Digital Library
Renewed Crypto Wars? (open access)

Renewed Crypto Wars?

This report briefly examines renewed tensions between tech companies and the government regarding encryption "back doors" and how quickly-advancing technologies could impact law enforcement investigations.
Date: February 9, 2016
Creator: Finklea, Kristin
System: The UNT Digital Library
Zika Virus: Global Health Considerations (open access)

Zika Virus: Global Health Considerations

This report gives a brief overview of the Zika Vvrus, which typically causes mild symptoms, including fever, rash, and conjunctivitis. Health experts are uncertain whether Zika causes microcephaly, a potentially-severe birth defect involving brain damage.
Date: February 9, 2016
Creator: Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
System: The UNT Digital Library
China's Recent Stock Market Volatility: What Are the Implications? (open access)

China's Recent Stock Market Volatility: What Are the Implications?

This report briefly discusses the background and implications of the rapid price increases experienced in China's two main stock markets, the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE), from about mid-2014 to mid-2015.
Date: January 9, 2016
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M. & Nelson, Gabriel M.
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 provides an overview of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works program, including congressional authorization and appropriations. Its civil works responsibilities are principally to support navigation, reduce flood and storm damage, and protect and restore aquatic ecosystems. The report also covers the standard project development process for Corps projects and other Corps activities and authorities.
Date: February 9, 2016
Creator: Carter, Nicole T. & Stern, Charles V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Islamic State and U.S. Policy (open access)

The Islamic State and U.S. Policy

This report provides background on the Islamic State organization, discussing its goals, operations, and affiliates, as well as analyzing related U.S. legislative and policy debates.
Date: February 9, 2016
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M. & Humud, Carla E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Aung San Suu Kyi's Party Takes Control of Parliament in Burma (open access)

Aung San Suu Kyi's Party Takes Control of Parliament in Burma

This report discusses politics and government in Burma following elections in November 2015. Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) has now assumed control of Burma's Union Parliament. The lower chamber (People's Assembly) and the upper chamber (National Assembly) took office on February 1 and 3, 2016, respectively.
Date: February 9, 2016
Creator: Martin, Michael F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
EPA Regulations: Too Much, Too Little, or On Track? (open access)

EPA Regulations: Too Much, Too Little, or On Track?

This report provides background information on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory activity during the Obama Administration. It examines major or controversial regulatory actions since January 2009, providing details on the regulatory action itself, presenting an estimated timeline for completion of rules not yet promulgated (including related court or statutory deadlines), and, in general, providing EPA's estimates of costs and benefits, where available. The report includes tables for rules under development, and an appendix that describes major or controversial rules that are now final.
Date: February 9, 2016
Creator: McCarthy, James E. & Copeland, Claudia
System: The UNT Digital Library
The U.S.-Japan Alliance (open access)

The U.S.-Japan Alliance

This report focuses on the political and military partnership between the United States and Japan. The U.S.-Japan alliance, forged in the U.S. occupation of Japan after its defeat in World War II, provides a platform for U.S. military readiness in Asia. Under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, about 53,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Japan, providing the major U.S. forward logistics base in the Asia-Pacific.
Date: February 9, 2016
Creator: Chanlett-Avery, Emma & Rinehart, Ian E.
System: The UNT Digital Library