Direct Overt U.S. Appropriations for and Military Reimbursements to Pakistan, Fiscal Year 2002-Fiscal Year 2018 (open access)

Direct Overt U.S. Appropriations for and Military Reimbursements to Pakistan, Fiscal Year 2002-Fiscal Year 2018

This report provides a table of data outlining direct overt U.S. aid appropriations and military reimbursements to Pakistan including number for fiscal years 2002-2011 (combined), fiscal years 2012-2016 (individually), an estimate for 2017, and the requested amount for 2018.
Date: November 28, 2017
Creator: Kronstadt, K. Alan & Epstein, Susan
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Supplemental Poverty Measure: Its Core Concepts, Development, and Use (open access)

The Supplemental Poverty Measure: Its Core Concepts, Development, and Use

This report describes the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), how it was developed, how it differs from the official poverty measure, and the insights it can offer.
Date: November 28, 2017
Creator: Dalaker, Joseph
System: The UNT Digital Library
Who's the Boss at the CFPB? (open access)

Who's the Boss at the CFPB?

This report discusses an ongoing dispute over who the new acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is following the resignation of the past director on Nov. 24., 2017. President Trump appointed Mick Mulvaney as the acting director, but the past director had already appointed Leandra English who has filed a lawsuit and asked for a temporary restraining order preventing Mulvaney from performing the duties of director. This report outlines the merits of the case and the President's power to fill vacancies under the Vacancies Act.
Date: November 28, 2017
Creator: Brannon, Valerie C. & Cole, Jared P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
CRS Products on North Korea (open access)

CRS Products on North Korea

This report provides a listing of CRS reports related to North Korea, organized by broad topical categories. It also includes contact information for CRS experts on various aspects of North Korea.
Date: December 28, 2017
Creator: Manyin, Mark E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Presidential Appointments to Full-Time Positions in Independent and Other Agencies During the 114th Congress (open access)

Presidential Appointments to Full-Time Positions in Independent and Other Agencies During the 114th Congress

This report identifies all nominations during the 114th Congress that were submitted to the Senate for full-time positions in 40 organizations in the executive branch (27 independent agencies, 6 agencies in the Executive Office of the President [EOP], and 7 multilateral organizations) and 4 agencies in the legislative branch. The tables include full-time positions confirmed by the Senate, pay levels for these positions, and appointment action within each agency, with additional summary information across all agencies in an appendix.
Date: November 28, 2017
Creator: Nagel, Jared C. & Greene, Michael
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) program. The Navy's proposed FY2018 budget requests $5,225.9 million in procurement and advance procurement (AP) funding for the program.
Date: November 28, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) class aircraft carrier program. The Navy's proposed FY2018 budget requested a total of $4,461.8 million in procurement funding for the program.
Date: November 28, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federally Supported Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Programs (open access)

Federally Supported Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Programs

This report provides background information on the types of water supply and wastewater treatment projects traditionally funded by the federal government and the existing programs to assist communities with water supply and wastewater treatment.
Date: November 28, 2017
Creator: Ramseur, Jonathan L.; Boyd, Eugene; Carter, Nicole T.; Cowan, Tadlock; Stern, Charles V.; Stubbs, Megan et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Presidential Appointments to Full-Time Positions on regulatory and Other Collegial Boards and Commissions, 114th Congress (open access)

Presidential Appointments to Full-Time Positions on regulatory and Other Collegial Boards and Commissions, 114th Congress

This report identifies all nominations submitted to the Senate for full-time positions on 34 boards and commissions during the 114th Congress. Information for each board and commission is presented in profiles and tables, listing full-time positions confirmed by the Senate, pay levels for these positions, incumbents as of the end of the 114th Congress, incumbents' parties (where balance is required), and appointment action within each board or commission. Additional summary information across all 34 boards and commissions appears in an appendix.
Date: November 28, 2017
Creator: Greene, Michael & Nagel, Jared C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Disaster Assistance: The National Flood Insurance Program and Other Federal Disaster Assistance Programs Available to Individuals and Households After a Flood (open access)

Federal Disaster Assistance: The National Flood Insurance Program and Other Federal Disaster Assistance Programs Available to Individuals and Households After a Flood

This report provides an overview of the assistance available to individuals and households following a flood and provides links to more comprehensive guidance on both flood insurance and disaster assistance.
Date: November 28, 2017
Creator: Horn, Diane P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Types of Committee Hearings (open access)

Types of Committee Hearings

This report describes the four types of congressional committee hearings; legislative, oversight, investigative, and confirmation and the rules governing them.
Date: June 28, 2017
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Role in Voter Registration: The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and Subsequent Developments (open access)

Federal Role in Voter Registration: The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and Subsequent Developments

This report first provides a brief background on the federal role in voter registration and the passage of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), followed by a discussion of the key components of NVRA. The implementation of NVRA, subsequent modifications to its provisions, and ongoing considerations related to federal voter registration are also discussed. The final sections of this report provide descriptions of types of common legislative proposals addressing voter registration, with a full list of related bills introduced in the 115th Congress to date provided in the Appendix.
Date: November 28, 2017
Creator: Eckman, Sarah J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Reauthorization of the Perkins Act in the 115th Congress: Comparison of Current Law and H.R. 2353 (open access)

Reauthorization of the Perkins Act in the 115th Congress: Comparison of Current Law and H.R. 2353

This report highlights the key provisions in the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2353) and explains the major differences between it and current law. H.R. 2353 was passed by the House under suspension of the rules on June 22, 2017.
Date: June 28, 2017
Creator: Granovskiy, Boris
System: The UNT Digital Library
Funding Gaps and Government Shutdowns: CRS Experts (open access)

Funding Gaps and Government Shutdowns: CRS Experts

This report provides the names of CRS staff who specialize in each departmental area that is funded by annual appropriations and thus most affected by government shutdowns.
Date: November 28, 2017
Creator: Brass, Clinton T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Advanced Gene Editing: CRISPR-Cas9 (open access)

Advanced Gene Editing: CRISPR-Cas9

This report describes a new gene editing technology, known as CRISPR-Cas9, with the potential to revolutionize genetic engineering and the biotechnology industry. The report then provides information on the potential economic benefits of the technology and identifies some issues for congressional consideration, including the regulation of current and future products, national security concerns, and ethical and societal issues surrounding the use of the technology.
Date: April 28, 2017
Creator: Gallo, Marcy E.; Sargent, John F., Jr.; Sarata, Amanda K. & Cowan, Tadlock
System: The UNT Digital Library
Hurricanes Irma and Maria: Impact on Caribbean Countries and Foreign Territories (open access)

Hurricanes Irma and Maria: Impact on Caribbean Countries and Foreign Territories

This report discuses the effects of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on Caribbean countries and foreign territories and provides brief descriptions of the extent of damage to Antigua and Barbuda, St. Martin/St. Maarten, Cuba, and Dominica. Current U.S. aid efforts and funds are discussed along with the international humanitarian response.
Date: September 28, 2017
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Amtrak: Overview (open access)

Amtrak: Overview

This report provides an overview of the Amtrak rail service, Topics discussed are funding sources and shortfalls, current and proposed infrastructure, current ridership, on-time arrival improvements needed, service areas, and private passenger rail initiatives in Texas, Florida, and California.
Date: September 28, 2017
Creator: Peterman, David Randall
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Frigate (FFG[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Frigate (FFG[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and discusses potential issues for Congress regarding the Navy's FFG(X) program, a program to procure a new class of guided-missile frigates. The FFG(X) program was initiated as part of the Navy's FY2018 budget submission. The Navy wants to procure the first FFG(X) in FY2020. The Navy's proposed FY2018 budget requests $143.5 million in research and development funding for the program. The FFG(X) program presents several potential oversight issues for Congress. Congress's decisions on the program could affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: September 28, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Business Tax Provisions That Expired in 2016 ("Tax Extenders") (open access)

Business Tax Provisions That Expired in 2016 ("Tax Extenders")

This report briefly summarizes and discusses the economic impact of selected business-related tax provisions that expired at the end of 2016. Types of business provisions covered are special business investment (cost recovery), economic development, and other miscellaneous business-related matters.
Date: August 28, 2017
Creator: Sherlock, Molly F.; Marples, Donald J.; Lowry, Sean & Gravelle, Jane G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant: Background and Funding (open access)

Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant: Background and Funding

This report provides background and funding information on the Maternal and Child Health (MCH)Services Block Grant. It also includes select program and health expenditure data to provide context on issues that Congress and HRSA have sought to address through this block grant program.
Date: August 28, 2017
Creator: Elliott, Victoria L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ongoing Section 232 Steel and Aluminium Investigations (open access)

Ongoing Section 232 Steel and Aluminium Investigations

This report discuses two investigations by the Department of Commerce related to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 which allows the President to impose tariffs or quotas on imported goods if it is in the interest of national security. These investigations are being conducted on the steel and aluminium industries to determine whether the President can and whether he should impose import restrictions. Mixed reactions to the investigations and proposals are also discussed.
Date: July 28, 2017
Creator: Fefer, Rachel F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Small Business Size Standards: A Historical Analysis of Contemporary Issues (open access)

Small Business Size Standards: A Historical Analysis of Contemporary Issues

This report provides a historical examination of the SBA's size standards and assesses competing views concerning how to define a small business. It also discusses P.L. 112-239, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which requires the SBA to make available a justification when establishing or approving a size standard that the size standard is appropriate for each individual industry classification. It addresses the SBA's recent practice of combining size standards within industrial groups as a means to reduce the complexity of its size standards and to provide greater consistency for industrial classifications that have similar economic characteristics; P.L. 114-328, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, which authorizes the SBA to establish different size standards for agricultural enterprises using existing methods and appeal processes.
Date: September 28, 2017
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay
System: The UNT Digital Library
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA): Resources for Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA): Resources for Frequently Asked Questions

This report provides resources to help congressional staff respond to constituents' frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the law. The report lists selected resources regarding consumers, employers, and other stakeholders, with a focus on federal sources. It also lists Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports that summarize the ACA's provisions.
Date: September 28, 2017
Creator: Napili, Angela
System: The UNT Digital Library
Softwood Lumber Dispute Lumbers On: Preliminary Countervailing Duties on Canadian Softwood Lumber Announced, Parts 1 & 2 (open access)

Softwood Lumber Dispute Lumbers On: Preliminary Countervailing Duties on Canadian Softwood Lumber Announced, Parts 1 & 2

This report discusses countervaling duties which are charged on items entering the U.S. whose makers are supported by government subsidies in their country. Part 1 provides a general background on countervailing duties and the procedures that result in the imposition of these types of duties. Part II explores the Canadian softwood lumber dispute in more detail, providing a history of this thirty-year dispute and details about the status of the current countervailing duty investigation.
Date: April 28, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library