Nonimmigrant Overstays: Brief Synthesis of the Issue (open access)

Nonimmigrant Overstays: Brief Synthesis of the Issue

This report discusses a fundamental problem of immigration control in which foreign nationals enter legally on a temporary basis and continue to stay after their visas expire.
Date: January 22, 2014
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Deposit Insurance for Banks and Credit Unions (open access)

Federal Deposit Insurance for Banks and Credit Unions

This report provides an overview of the FDIC and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the status of the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) and National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), and the resolution procedures that are implemented when depository institutions fail.
Date: April 22, 2014
Creator: Getter, Darryl E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The State of Campaign Finance Policy: Recent Developments and Issues for Congress (open access)

The State of Campaign Finance Policy: Recent Developments and Issues for Congress

This report includes updated material that emphasizes the issues most prominently before the 113th Congress. It also discusses foundational information about major elements of campaign finance policy.
Date: April 22, 2014
Creator: Garrett, R. S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The U.S.-EU Beef Hormone Dispute (open access)

The U.S.-EU Beef Hormone Dispute

This report discusses the long-standing and acrimonious trade dispute between the United States and the European Union (EU) over the EU's decision to ban hormone-treated meat.
Date: April 22, 2014
Creator: Johnson, Renée
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Flood Insurance: Strategies for Increasing Private Sector Involvement (open access)

Flood Insurance: Strategies for Increasing Private Sector Involvement

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "According to stakeholders with whom GAO spoke, several conditions must be present to increase private sector involvement in the sale of flood insurance. First, insurers need to be able to accurately assess risk to determine premium rates. For example, stakeholders told GAO that access to National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy and claims data and upcoming improvements in private sector computer modeling could enable them to better assess risk. Second, insurers need to be able to charge premium rates that reflect the full estimated risk of potential flood losses while still allowing the companies to make a profit, as well as be able to decide which applicants they will insure. However, stakeholders said that such rates might seem unaffordable to many homeowners. Third, insurers need sufficient consumer participation to properly manage and diversify their risk, but stakeholders said that many property owners do not buy flood insurance because they may have an inaccurate perception of their risk of flooding."
Date: January 22, 2014
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Libya: Transition and U.S. Policy (open access)

Libya: Transition and U.S. Policy

This report discusses the revolution and post-conflict transition in Libya, triggered in mid-February 2011 by a chain of events resulting in the death of the Prime Minister (Qadhafi); a new government was elected in July. The report also looks at the military and economic state of the country, including human rights, Islam and politics, and Libya's oil assets.
Date: May 22, 2014
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources, by Topic (open access)

Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources, by Topic

This report provides references to analytical reports on cybersecurity from CRS, other government agencies, trade associations, and interest groups. The reports and related websites are grouped under the following cybersecurity topics: policy overview; National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC); cloud computing and FedRAMP; critical infrastructure; cybercrime, data breaches and data security; national security, cyber espionage, and cyberwar (including Stuxnet); international efforts; education/training/workforce; and research and development (R&D).
Date: May 22, 2014
Creator: Tehan, Rita
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
"Holds" in the Senate (open access)

"Holds" in the Senate

This report discusses a wide range of proposals aimed at reforming holds (an informal practice among Senators to communicate policy views and scheduling preferences) to infuse more accountability, uniformity, and transparency in their use and to make it clear that holds are not a veto on the majority leader's prerogative of calling up measures or matters.
Date: May 22, 2014
Creator: Oleszek, Mark J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Achievements of and Outlook for Sanctions on Iran (open access)

Achievements of and Outlook for Sanctions on Iran

This report analyzes the effect that sanctions have had in contributing to the achievement of U.S. objectives on Iran and analyzes several scenarios that might affect whether sanctions are eased or increased, or that might affect the effectiveness of the sanctions. It briefly reviews the imposition of sanctions, both by the United States and the international community, and discusses their stated objectives.
Date: April 22, 2014
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Administrative Law Primer: Statutory Definitions of "Agency" and Characteristics of Agency Independence (open access)

Administrative Law Primer: Statutory Definitions of "Agency" and Characteristics of Agency Independence

This report explores several important statutes that regulate agencies and these statutes' respective definitions of "agency." These statutes include the Administrative Procedure Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Federal Records Act, statutes governing federal employees, and the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Date: May 22, 2014
Creator: Cole, Jared P. & Shedd, Daniel T.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Target Data Breach: Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

The Target Data Breach: Frequently Asked Questions

This report answers some frequently asked questions about the Target (store) data breach, including what is known to have happened in the breach, and what costs may result. It also examines some of the broader issues common to data breaches, including how the payment system works, how cybersecurity costs are shared and allocated within the payment system, who bears the losses in such breaches more generally, what emerging cybersecurity technologies may help prevent them, and what role the government could play in encouraging their adoption, as well as some of the legislation that the 113th Congress has introduced to deal with these issues.
Date: April 22, 2014
Creator: Weiss, N. E. & Miller, Rena S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Spectrum Policy: Provisions in the 2012 Spectrum Act (open access)

Spectrum Policy: Provisions in the 2012 Spectrum Act

This report discusses the Spectrum Act, a provision of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. It includes an overview of the Spectrum Act, the specific policy revisions (deficit reduction, directed auctions, incentive auctions, federal spectrum use and reallocation, and unlicensed spectrum) and a conclusion discussing geographic coverage of spectrum licenses, spectrum caps, and planning for future needs.
Date: May 22, 2014
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Recently Expired Community Assistance Related Tax Provisions ("Tax Extenders"): In Brief (open access)

Recently Expired Community Assistance Related Tax Provisions ("Tax Extenders"): In Brief

This report briefly summarizes four community assistance-related tax provisions included in the EXPIRE Act, which are (1) the New Markets Tax Credit, (2) Empowerment Zone Tax Incentives, (3) allocation of bond limitations for Qualified Zone Academy Bonds, and (4) the American Samoa Economic Development Credit.
Date: May 22, 2014
Creator: Lowry, Sean
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Long-Term Services and Supports: In Brief (open access)

Long-Term Services and Supports: In Brief

This report provides an overview of long-term services and supports (LTSS) -- a component of personal health care -- including information in response to the following questions: What is LTSS? Who needs LTSS? Who provides LTSS? How much does LTSS cost?
Date: April 22, 2014
Creator: Colello, Kirsten J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-Taiwan Relationship: Overview of Policy Issues (open access)

U.S.-Taiwan Relationship: Overview of Policy Issues

This report is a succinct overview of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship including an analysis of issues. For decades, Taiwan has been of significant security, economic, and political interest to the United States. While the United States does not diplomatically recognize Taiwan, it is a significant autonomous actor in the world.
Date: April 22, 2014
Creator: Kan, Shirley A. & Morrison, Wayne M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Texas Register, Volume 39, Number 34, Pages 6295-6760, August 22, 2014 (open access)

Texas Register, Volume 39, Number 34, Pages 6295-6760, August 22, 2014

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.
Date: August 22, 2014
Creator: Texas. Secretary of State.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive (open access)

Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive

This report provides a brief overview of the history of the reunification negotiations, a review of the negotiations since 2008, a description of some of the issues involved in the talks, and where things stand today.
Date: September 22, 2014
Creator: Morelli, Vincent
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Political Transition in Tunisia (open access)

Political Transition in Tunisia

This report discusses Tunisia's pro-democracy movement; concerns over potential instability in a previously secure, pro-Western area; and U.S.-Tunisian relations.
Date: October 22, 2014
Creator: Arieff, Alexis & Humud, Carla E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Programs and Unaccompanied Alien Children (open access)

Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Programs and Unaccompanied Alien Children

This report addresses possible sources of federal support for schools and local educational agencies that have enrolled unaccompanied alien children.
Date: September 22, 2014
Creator: Skinner, Rebecca R. & Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA, P.L. 111-353) (open access)

Implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA, P.L. 111-353)

This report documents the scheduled timeline for action on selected FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) provisions, as specified in the enacted law, and FDA-reported actions taken to date, based on available FDA press releases and publicly available progress reports.
Date: September 22, 2014
Creator: Johnson, Renée
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Unauthorized Aliens' Access to Federal Benefits: Policy and Issues (open access)

Unauthorized Aliens' Access to Federal Benefits: Policy and Issues

This report focuses on the policy and legislative debate surrounding unauthorized aliens' access to federal benefits. The number of foreign-born people residing in the United States (40.7 million) is at the highest level in our history and, as a portion of the U.S. population, has reached a percentage (13%) not seen since the early 20th century.1 Of the foreign-born residents in the United States, approximately one-third are speculated to be unauthorized residents (often characterized as illegal aliens).
Date: September 22, 2014
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive (open access)

Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive

This report discusses attempts to resolve the political division of Cyprus that have occurred over the last 45 years. Current issues include the Republic of Cyprus receiving EU presidency in July 2012 and a recent discovery of natural gas deposits off the southern coast of Cyprus.
Date: September 22, 2014
Creator: Morelli, Vincent
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Appointment Process for U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations: An Overview (open access)

The Appointment Process for U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations: An Overview

The report's exclusive focus is the process of appointment of U.S. circuit and district court judges through presidential nomination and Senate confirmation.
Date: October 22, 2014
Creator: Rutkus, Denis Steven
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Shipboard Lasers for Surface, Air, and Missile Defense: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Shipboard Lasers for Surface, Air, and Missile Defense: Background and Issues for Congress

This report focuses on potential Navy shipboard lasers for countering surface, air, and ballistic missile threats. It does not discuss the use of lasers on Navy aircraft or submarines, or the use of lasers by other military services.
Date: January 22, 2014
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library