Digital Trade and U.S. Trade Policy (open access)

Digital Trade and U.S. Trade Policy

This report discusses the United States's part in global digital trade and various policies and agreements with other countries regarding trade.
Date: June 6, 2017
Creator: Fefer, Rachel F.; Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias & Morrison, Wayne M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Documents: Internet and GPO Availability (open access)

Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Documents: Internet and GPO Availability

This report provides brief descriptions of the budget volumes and related documents, together with Internet addresses, Government Publishing Office (GPO) stock numbers, and prices for obtaining print copies of these publications. It also explains how to find the locations of government depository libraries, which can provide both printed copies for reference use and Internet access to the online versions. This report will be updated as events warrant.
Date: June 1, 2017
Creator: Nagel, Jared C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Small Business Administration: A Primer on Programs and Funding (open access)

Small Business Administration: A Primer on Programs and Funding

This report discusses the Small Business Administration (SBA) and their various programs along with various programmatic changes resulting from the enactment of P.L. 111-5, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, P.L. 111-240, the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, P.L. 112-239, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, P.L. 114-38, the Veterans Entrepreneurship Act of 2015, P.L. 114-88, the Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015 (RISE After Disaster Act of 2015), P.L. 114-92, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, and P.L. 114-328, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. In addition, it provides an overview of the SBA's budget and references other CRS reports that examine these programs in greater detail.
Date: June 5, 2017
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay & Lowry, Sean
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
Global Research and Development Expenditures: Fact Sheet (open access)

Global Research and Development Expenditures: Fact Sheet

This report describes the rates of funding for research and development in the United States compared to the rest of the world through several charts.
Date: June 16, 2017
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr.
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 the Marine Corps development and funding requests for the the 2018 fiscal year for Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV) and Marine Personnel Carriers (MPC). The Department of Defense's FY 2018 Budget Request requests $340.5 million dollars for 26 ACVs. Potential issues for Congress include an increase in Marine Corps end strength and force structure resulting in an increase in overall ACV requirements and the challenges and risks associated with the Marines' new MPC/ACV acquisition strategy.
Date: June 1, 2017
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
Qatar and Its Neighbors: Disputes and Possible Implications (open access)

Qatar and Its Neighbors: Disputes and Possible Implications

This report discusses the dispute between Qatar and several of its Gulf State and Arab neighbors led by Saudia Arabia which has resulted in the isolation of Qatar by Saudia Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt. The Saudi-led coalition has accused Qatar of supporting terrorism because of their support for the Muslim Brotherhood. Potential implications of the dispute for the United States are then discussed.
Date: June 26, 2017
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth & Blanchard, Christopher M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: Subsidized Employment Demonstration Proposal: In Brief (open access)

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: Subsidized Employment Demonstration Proposal: In Brief

This report discusses the proposed Accelerating Individuals into the Workforce Act (H.R. 2842) which would provide $100 million in FY2018 funding under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant for demonstrations to test two approaches--subsidized employment and "career pathways" programs--to help disadvantaged individuals. These funds would be provided in addition to the TANF basic block grant to the states. The $100 million cost of the proposal would be financed by reserving funds from the FY2018 appropriation for the TANF contingency fund. Subsidized employment programs are those where public funds are used to pay all or part of the wages, benefits, and other costs of employing an individual. Career pathways are a workforce development approach that combines education, training, and other services to help individuals enter or advance within a specific occupation or occupation grouping. The bill was ordered reported from the House Ways and Means Committee on June 15, 2017. It is scheduled for House floor consideration the week of June 19, 2017.
Date: June 21, 2017
Creator: Falk, Gene
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
Legislative Branch: Fiscal Year 2017 Appropriations (open access)

Legislative Branch: Fiscal Year 2017 Appropriations

This report discuses the legislative branch appropriations for fiscal year 2017. It first provides an overview of the consideration of FY2017 legislative branch appropriations, with subsections covering each action followed by a section on prior year actions and funding, which contains historical tables. The report then addresses the FY2017 budget requests, requested administrative language, and selected funding issues for individual legislative branch agencies and entities. Finally, Table 5 through Table 9 list enacted funding levels for FY2016 and FY2017, while the Appendix lists House, Senate, and conference bills and reports; public law numbers; and enactment dates since FY1998.
Date: June 13, 2017
Creator: Brudnick, Ida A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Update: What Constitutes "Sexual Abuse of a Minor" For Immigration Purposes (open access)

Update: What Constitutes "Sexual Abuse of a Minor" For Immigration Purposes

This report provides an update of an earlier report from April 6, 2017, providing the final decision by the Supreme Court in the case of "Esquivel-Quintana v. Sessions". The case concerned the question of whether an immigrant alien who was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor where the minor was under 18 but at least 16 (in this case statutory rape in California between a 21 year old male and a 17 year female) was removable for an aggravated felony under immigration law. The Supreme Court ruled that the immigration law required the victim be under 16 before the removal of an alien for an aggravated felony would be allowable.
Date: June 7, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Unmanned and Unregulated? Court of Appeals Rejects FAA Regulation of Many Drones (open access)

Unmanned and Unregulated? Court of Appeals Rejects FAA Regulation of Many Drones

This report discusses a ruling by the DC Circuit Court of Appeals which said that model aircraft including many drones were exempt from the FAA's registration rule. Carious implications of the ruling are also discussed.
Date: June 6, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Direct Investment Abroad: Trends and Current Issues (open access)

U.S. Direct Investment Abroad: Trends and Current Issues

This report discusses the United States direct investment in other countries through many multinational corporations. Tables showing the rates of investment in various countries by U.S. companies and discussion of the economic effects of the practice on the U.S. job market are included.
Date: June 29, 2017
Creator: Jackson, James K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Finding Medicare Enrollment Statistics (open access)

Finding Medicare Enrollment Statistics

This report presents basic categories and definitions for terms related to Medicare enrollment data, a quick reference table that summarizes key data available in selected resources, and a more detailed overview of core resources.
Date: June 15, 2017
Creator: Malloy, Michelle L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The President's Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Request for the National Science Foundation (open access)

The President's Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Request for the National Science Foundation

This report discuses the Trump Administration's 2018 fiscal year budget request for the National Science Foundation which proposed significant funding cuts across the agency's major research, education, and construction accounts. Overall, the request includes $6.653 billion for NSF, $819 million (11%) below the FY2017 enacted amount of $7.472 billion (P.L. 115-31).
Date: June 14, 2017
Creator: Harris, Laurie A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cybersecurity: Legislation, Hearings, and Executive Branch Documents (open access)

Cybersecurity: Legislation, Hearings, and Executive Branch Documents

This report discusses cybersecurity legislation and provides links to cybersecurity legislation in the 112th, 113th, 114th, and 115th Congresses. Congress has held cybersecurity hearings every year since 2001. This report also provides links to cybersecurity-related committee hearings in the 113th, 114th, and 115th Congresses.
Date: June 23, 2017
Creator: Tehan, Rita
System: The UNT Digital Library
President Trump's Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement Raises Legal Questions: Parts 1 and 2 (open access)

President Trump's Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement Raises Legal Questions: Parts 1 and 2

This report discusses various legal questions raised by President Trump's announcement of the U.S.'s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement. Questions addressed include the withdrawal process, whether the agreement is binding or non-binding, the role of United States in other international climate meetings, and why President Trump announced the exit.
Date: June 9, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Implementation of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Amendments (P.L. 114-182) (open access)

Implementation of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Amendments (P.L. 114-182)

This report summarizes select EPA actions to implement the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) amendments over the past year since their passage on June 22, 2016 as a part of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for 21st Century Act (P.L. 114-182). Brief discussions and lists of various chemicals that are being evaluated or have been evaluated under the law are included.
Date: June 7, 2017
Creator: Yen, Jerry H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms: Causes, Challenges, and Policy Considerations (open access)

Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms: Causes, Challenges, and Policy Considerations

This report addresses the conditions and activities that contribute to the occurrence of freshwater harmful algal blooms (HABs), steps that Congress and federal agencies--particularly EPA--and their partners are taking to address and mitigate their occurrence, and the current knowledge gaps on this issue. This report is focused on freshwater HABs, not marine or coastal HABs or issues associated with HABs in drinking water supplies.
Date: June 20, 2017
Creator: Gatz, Laura
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Beef: It's What's for China (open access)

U.S. Beef: It's What's for China

This report discusses the opening of the Chinese market to U.S. beef imports under certain restrictions. The negotiation process and conditions of the agreement and China's current largest beef import partners are also discussed.
Date: June 22, 2017
Creator: Greene, Joel L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Deeming Resolutions: Budget Enforcement in the Absence of a Budget Resolution (open access)

Deeming Resolutions: Budget Enforcement in the Absence of a Budget Resolution

This report discusses deeming resolutions which are used by Congress as a substitute when budget resolution bills are not passed.
Date: June 26, 2017
Creator: Lynch, Megan S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
When is Running Guns from the Philippines to Mexico a Federal Crime? (open access)

When is Running Guns from the Philippines to Mexico a Federal Crime?

This report discusses the case "United States v. Ubaldo" which concerns whether a gun smuggler who smuggled guns from a foreign country through the United States and then into another foreign country can be charged with a federal crime. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the conviction for conspiracy and causing the importation of weapons in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and ban on importing military firearms.
Date: June 26, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B: Key Statutory and Regulatory Provisions (open access)

The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B: Key Statutory and Regulatory Provisions

This report discusses the IDEA Act which regulates special education programs and services for children with disabilities. Part B contains provisions relating to the education of school aged children (the grants-to-states program) and state grants program for preschool children with disabilities (Section 619). There are three sections in the report covering services for children with disabilities, procedural safeguards, and funding, expenditure requirements and compliance.
Date: June 14, 2017
Creator: Dragoo, Kyrie E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Availability of Legislative Measures in the House of Representatives (The "Three-Day Rule") (open access)

Availability of Legislative Measures in the House of Representatives (The "Three-Day Rule")

This report discuses rules in the House of Representatives governing the length of time legislative measures must be available to Members before being considered on the floor. Generally most measures are required to be available for three calendar days excluding weekends and holidays unless the House is in session on those days. The House has several means by which it can choose to waive these availability requirements and call up, debate, and vote on a measure in a single calendar day, even if the text of the measure was not made available prior to consideration. These include adopting a special rule that waives the three-day requirement; adopting a special rule that waives the one-day requirement for another special rule; and convening a second legislative day on the same calendar day.
Date: June 12, 2017
Creator: Rybicki, Elizabeth
System: The UNT Digital Library