Haiti's Political and Economic Conditions: In Brief (open access)

Haiti's Political and Economic Conditions: In Brief

This report describes Haiti's political structure and government, economy, police and army, and human rights and immigration issues. It also discusses UN missions in Haiti and U.S. relations with Haiti, including a a table outlining foreign aid amounts for Haiti from the U.S. for FY 2010-FY2018.
Date: December 1, 2017
Creator: Taft-Morales, Maureen
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 answer frequently asked questions regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It includes information and links for topics such as the individual mandate, private health insurance, exchanges and subsidies, employee-sponsored coverage, Medicaid and Medicare, specific populations, behavioral health, state innovation waivers, taxes, costs and statistics, and regulatory issues.
Date: December 1, 2017
Creator: Napili, Angela
System: The UNT Digital Library
Changes to "Too Big to Fail" Treasury Recommends Revisions to Dodd-Frank SIFI Designation Process for Non-Banks (Part 1) (open access)

Changes to "Too Big to Fail" Treasury Recommends Revisions to Dodd-Frank SIFI Designation Process for Non-Banks (Part 1)

First part of a report discussing the Treasury Department's recent report recommending revisions to the Financial Stability Oversight Council's (FSOC's) process for designating non-bank financial institutions as "systematically important financial institutions (SIFI's) also known as "Too Big to Fail" institutions. This part provides general background on the SIFI designation process
Date: December 1, 2017
Creator: Sykes, Jay B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Financial Regulation: The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155) (open access)

Financial Regulation: The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155)

This report discusses the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155) which aims to provide regulatory relief to banks, relax mortgage lending rules, and provide additional consumer protections related to credit reporting and other areas.
Date: December 1, 2017
Creator: Perkins, David W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress (open access)

Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on maritime territorial and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) disputes in the East China (ECS) and South China Sea (SCS) involving China, with a focus on how these disputes may affect U.S. strategic and policy interests.
Date: December 1, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Changes to "Too Big to Fail" Treasury Recommends Revisions to Dodd-Frank SIFI Designation Process for Non-Banks (Part 2) (open access)

Changes to "Too Big to Fail" Treasury Recommends Revisions to Dodd-Frank SIFI Designation Process for Non-Banks (Part 2)

Second part of a report discussing the Treasury Department's recent report recommending revisions to the Financial Stability Oversight Council's (FSOC's) process for designating non-bank financial institutions as "systematically important financial institutions (SIFI's) also known as "Too Big to Fail" institutions. This part discusses the legal debate over the designation process, the Treasury Department's recommended changes for the process, and how those changes may affect the Senate's consideration of the Financial CHOICE Act of 2017 (which would repeal FSOC's authority to designate non-banks as SIFIs altogether).
Date: December 1, 2017
Creator: Sykes, Jay B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Proposed Offsets Exceed Spending for Agriculture in the Administration's Disaster Assistance Request (open access)

Proposed Offsets Exceed Spending for Agriculture in the Administration's Disaster Assistance Request

This report discusses the Trump Administration's request for a third round of supplemental funding for disaster assistance which would include agricultural programs but be payed for by reducing agriculture funding overall in the future. It outlines programs that would be affected and possible impacts of the plan.
Date: December 1, 2017
Creator: Monke, Jim & Stubbs, Megan
System: The UNT Digital Library
Supplemental Appropriations and the 2017 Hurricane Season (open access)

Supplemental Appropriations and the 2017 Hurricane Season

This report provides tables listing all the bills, departments, and programs which received supplemental funding related to disaster relief after the 2017 hurricane season and wildfires in California.
Date: December 1, 2017
Creator: Painter, William L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Quatar: Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Quatar: Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy

This report outlines Qatar's governmental structure and leaders, economy, human rights issues, their relations with other countries in the region, and U.S. defense partnerships with Qatar.
Date: September 1, 2017
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) program, which is carried out by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Navy, and gives Navy Aegis cruisers and destroyers a capability for conducting BMD operations. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition strategies and proposed funding levels for the Aegis BMD program. Congress's decisions on the Aegis BMD program could significantly affect U.S. BMD capabilities and funding requirements, and the BMD-related industrial base.
Date: September 1, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Understanding the Speech or Debate Clause (open access)

Understanding the Speech or Debate Clause

This report discusses the Speech or Debate Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Various views have been expressed by different court rulings and the disagreement between courts is also discussed.
Date: December 1, 2017
Creator: Garvey, Todd
System: The UNT Digital Library
Out of Office: Vacancies, Acting Officers, and Day 301 (open access)

Out of Office: Vacancies, Acting Officers, and Day 301

This report discusses the provisions of the Vacancies Act and the upcoming expiration of the time limit for temporary staff to to perform the duties of advice and consent staff positions that are still unfilled. Legal effects of letting the Vacancies Act take effect are also discussed.
Date: November 1, 2017
Creator: Brannon, Valerie C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Update: A Steely Look at Steel: Commerce Directed to Prioritize Investigation of the Effects of Steel Imports on National Security (open access)

Update: A Steely Look at Steel: Commerce Directed to Prioritize Investigation of the Effects of Steel Imports on National Security

This report discusses President Trump's April 2017 memorandums ordering the Commerce Department to prioritize investigation of the effects of steel and aluminium imports on U.S. national security. The report outlines the process such an investigation would take and possible outcomes if the Commerce Department determines that imports are threatening national security.
Date: May 1, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
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
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
Ukraine: Background and U.S. Policy (open access)

Ukraine: Background and U.S. Policy

This report describes Ukraine's political and governmental structure, economy, relations with the U.S., EU, NATO, and Russia, and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine with pro-Russian separatists.
Date: November 1, 2017
Creator: Welt, Cory
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Circuit and District Court Judges: Profile of Select Characteristics (open access)

U.S. Circuit and District Court Judges: Profile of Select Characteristics

This report addresses ongoing congressional interest in the demographic characteristics and professional experiences of those individuals nominated and appointed to fill lower federal court judgeships. It focuses on demographic and other background characteristics of active U.S. circuit and district court judges who are currently serving on the federal bench.
Date: August 1, 2017
Creator: McMillion, Barry J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): An Overview (open access)

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): An Overview

This report provides a basic description of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and some of the most widely discussed issues involving its implementation, types of biofuels used, and viability for the future.
Date: August 1, 2017
Creator: Bracmort, Kelsi
System: The UNT Digital Library
Climate Change Litigation Update: "Children's Crusade" Case Against the United States Goes Forward (open access)

Climate Change Litigation Update: "Children's Crusade" Case Against the United States Goes Forward

This report discusses the case of "Juliana v. United States" which was brought by a group of 21 individuals all under the age of 20 organized through an Oregon nonprofit called Our Children's Trust. The plaintiffs seek to compel the federal government to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through appeals to the Constitution and common law.
Date: January 1, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations: Overview (open access)

Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations: Overview

This report outlines the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill for the 2018 fiscal year. This bill includes funding for the Department of the Treasury (Title I), the Executive Office of the President (EOP; Title II), the judiciary (Title III), the District of Columbia (Title IV), and more than two dozen independent agencies (Title V). The bill typically funds mandatory retirement accounts in Title VI, which also contains additional general provisions applying to the funding provided agencies through the FSGG bill. Title VII contains general provisions applying government-wide. The FSGG bills have often also contained provisions relating to U.S. policy toward Cuba
Date: September 1, 2017
Creator: Webel, Baird
System: The UNT Digital Library
Neil Gorsuch's Nomination to the Supreme Court: Initial Observations (open access)

Neil Gorsuch's Nomination to the Supreme Court: Initial Observations

This report discusses Judge Neil Gorsuch's nomination for the Supreme Court and provides a brief overview of his background and potential influence on the Supreme Court.
Date: February 1, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Presidential Permits for Border Crossing Energy Facilities (open access)

Presidential Permits for Border Crossing Energy Facilities

This report discusses Presidential Permits for oil and other energy sources crossing the U.S. border (which are a type of executive order) including the source of the executive branch authority to issue the orders, the standards set forth in the orders, and the projects approved pursuant to the orders. The report also discusses proposed changes to the Presidential Permitting framework in the Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act (H.R. 2883), which passed in the House on July 19, 2017.
Date: August 1, 2017
Creator: Vann, Adam & Parfomak, Paul W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iran: Politics, Human Rights, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Iran: Politics, Human Rights, and U.S. Policy

This report discusses Iran's politics and governmental structure, human rights concerns related to Iran, and relations between the U.S. and Iran including President Trump's October 13, 2017 policy statement on Iran.
Date: November 1, 2017
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on China's naval modernization effort and its implications for U.S. Navy capabilities. The question of how the United States should respond to China's military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, is a key issue in U.S. defense planning and budgeting. Many U.S. military programs for countering improving Chinese military forces (particularly its naval forces) fall within the U.S. Navy's budget. The issue for Congress is how the U.S. Navy should respond to China's military modernization effort, particularly its naval modernization effort. Decisions that Congress reaches on this issue could affect U.S. Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the U.S. defense industrial base. For an overview of the strategic and budgetary context in which China's naval modernization effort and its implications for U.S. Navy capabilities may be considered, see Appendix A.
Date: November 1, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library