Climate Change Paris Agreement Opens for Signature (open access)

Climate Change Paris Agreement Opens for Signature

This report briefly provides background on the new international Paris Agreement to address greenhouse-gas-induced climate change. No international agreement has attracted as many signatures on a single day.
Date: April 25, 2016
Creator: Leggett, Jane A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism Operations: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism Operations: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and potential issues for Congress on the Navy's irregular warfare (IW) and counterterrorism (CT) operations. Congress's decisions regarding Navy IW and CT operations can affect Navy operations and funding requirements, and the implementation of the nation's overall IW and CT strategies.
Date: March 25, 2016
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Trade Concepts, Performance, and Policy: Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

U.S. Trade Concepts, Performance, and Policy: Frequently Asked Questions

This report provides information and context for trade topics. It is intended to assist Members and staff who may be new to trade issues. The report is divided into four sections in a question-and-answer format: trade concepts; U.S. trade performance; formulation of U.S. trade policy; and trade and investment issues.
Date: March 25, 2016
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.; Jackson, James K.; Jones, Vivian C.; Villarreal, M. A.; Fefer, Rachel F. & Feng, Ashley
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Commemorative Days, Weeks, and Months: Background and Current Practice (open access)

Commemorative Days, Weeks, and Months: Background and Current Practice

This report summarizes the different types of commemorative time periods--federal holidays; patriotic and national observances; and commemorative days, weeks, and months. Second, it discusses the current rules in the House and Senate that govern this type of legislation. Finally, the report discusses options for Congress, including introducing legislation in the House and Senate, and asking the president to issue a proclamation.
Date: March 25, 2016
Creator: Straus, Jacob R. & Nagel, Jared C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Private Flood Insurance in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) (open access)

Private Flood Insurance in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

This report briefly discusses federal law regarding flood insurance. By law or regulation, federal agencies, federally-regulated lending institutions, and government-sponsored enterprises must require certain property owners to purchase flood insurance as a condition of any mortgage that these entities make, guarantee, or purchase.
Date: April 25, 2016
Creator: Brown, Jared T. & Webel, Baird
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Climate Change Paris Agreement Opens for Signature (open access)

Climate Change Paris Agreement Opens for Signature

This report discusses the new international Paris Agreement, signed by 175 out of 196 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on April 22, 2016 to address greenhouse-gas-induced climate change.
Date: April 25, 2016
Creator: Leggett, Jane A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cuba: Issues for the 114th Congress (open access)

Cuba: Issues for the 114th Congress

This report is divided into three major sections analyzing Cuba's political and economic environment, U.S. policy, and selected issues in U.S.-Cuban relations.
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) (open access)

Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS)

This report briefly discusses the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS), which is the principal mechanism for accomplishing the flood risk management policies established by President Obama in Executive Order (E.O.) 13690. The FFRMS is a flood resilience standard that is required for "federally funded projects."
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: Carter, Nicole T.; Brown, Jared T. & McCarthy, Francis X.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Social Security: The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) (open access)

Social Security: The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

This report discusses the windfall elimination provision (WEP), which reduces the Social Security benefits of workers who also have pension benefits from employment not covered by Social Security. Its purpose is to remove an advantage or "windfall" these workers would otherwise receive as a result of the interaction between the Social Security benefit formula and the workers' relatively small portion of their careers in Social Security-covered employment. The report provides information about how the provision works, who is affected, history and rationale, impacts, and relevant legislation.
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: Morton, William R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Military Funeral Honors for Veterans (open access)

Military Funeral Honors for Veterans

This report discusses legislative issues regarding certain military honors received by eligible veterans at their funerals. In general, these honors are provided by the Department of Defense (DOD) to eligible veterans who are interred or inurned at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, and private cemeteries.
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: Szymendera, Scott D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fact Sheet: FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) DOD Reform Proposals (open access)

Fact Sheet: FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) DOD Reform Proposals

This report discusses information on extant Department of Defense (DOD) reform proposals being considered during the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act debates. As such, it includes key provisions incorporated in H.R. 4909, the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) reported by the House Armed Services Committee on May 4, 2016 (H.Rept. 114-537), and S. 2943, the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act reported by the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 18, 2016 (S.Rept. 114-255). Wherever possible, it also includes the Administration's views.
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: McInnis, Kathleen J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Who Is a "Veteran"?--Basic Eligibility for Veterans' Benefits (open access)

Who Is a "Veteran"?--Basic Eligibility for Veterans' Benefits

This report examines the basic eligibility criteria for VA administered veterans' benefits, including the issue of eligibility of members of the National Guard and reserve components. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a broad range of benefits to U.S. Armed Forces veterans and certain members of their families. Among these benefits are various types of financial assistance, including monthly cash payments to disabled veterans, health care, education, and housing.
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: Szymendera, Scott D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Status of the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa: Overview and Issues for Congress (open access)

Status of the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa: Overview and Issues for Congress

This report discusses ongoing efforts to control Ebola in West Africa, analyzes persistent challenges in fighting the spread of the disease, and tracks Ebola emergency funds. The 2014-2015 outbreak and spread of Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa became an international public health emergency that, in no small part due to international intervention, abated significantly by the end of 2015 and early 2016. The issue remains of interest toward the end of the 114th Congress for a number of reasons, including ongoing concerns about the status of disease and risks of future outbreaks, and interest in the disposition of funds appropriated by Congress in response to Ebola, especially in view of the more recent health challenge posed by the Zika virus.
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji; Epstein, Susan B. & Skorupski, Bolko J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress, and refers readers to more in-depth CRS reports on specific Arctic-related issues. The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region's future.
Date: March 25, 2016
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
President Obama's Historic Visit to Cuba (open access)

President Obama's Historic Visit to Cuba

This report briefly discusses the details of President Obama's visit to Cuba. Before the trip, the White House set forth the goals of the visit, stating that the President would build on progress toward normalizing relations, including advancing commercial and people-to-people ties and expressing support for human rights.
Date: March 25, 2016
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Object Type: Report
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. 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: October 25, 2016
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
EPA Releases Scientific Report Showing U.S. Coastal Waters a Mix of Good and Fair Health (open access)

EPA Releases Scientific Report Showing U.S. Coastal Waters a Mix of Good and Fair Health

A presentation which explains National Aquatic Resource Surveys, results of the National Coastal Condition Assessment (NCCA), national results, and change in condition.
Date: February 25, 2016
Creator: Lehmann, Sarah & Sullivan, Hugh
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Continental-Scale Increase in Lake and Steam Phosphorus: Are Oligotrophic Systems Disappearing in the United States? (open access)

Continental-Scale Increase in Lake and Steam Phosphorus: Are Oligotrophic Systems Disappearing in the United States?

This article describes continental-scale increases in lake and steam total phosphorus (TP) concentrations, identified through periodic probability surveys of thousands of water bodies in the conterminous United States.
Date: February 25, 2016
Creator: Stoddard, John L.; Sickle, John Van; Herlihy, Alan T.; Paulsen, Steven; Brahney, Janice; Pollard, Amina I. et al.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Operating Budget: 2017 (open access)

University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Operating Budget: 2017

Proposed budget for University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center outlining projected income and expenditures, with supporting documentation.
Date: August 25, 2016
Creator: University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Object Type: Book
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0059 (open access)

Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0059

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Authority of a county comm1ss10ners court to establish requirements for indigent health care under the Texas Indigent Health Care and Treatment Act and relevant federal law (RQ-0041-KP).
Date: January 25, 2016
Creator: Texas. Attorney-General's Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0058 (open access)

Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0058

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Proper procedure for a state agency when a court recognizes a new constitutional right and compliance with the ruling requires additional state funds (RQ-0039-KP).
Date: January 25, 2016
Creator: Texas. Attorney-General's Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0111 (open access)

Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0111

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether a commissioners court may impose a vehicle policy that regulates the use, deployment, recording, and tracking of vehicles used by the sheriff (RQ-0100-KP).
Date: August 25, 2016
Creator: Texas. Attorney-General's Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0077 (open access)

Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0077

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Authority of the Texas Department of Transportation to enter into design-build contracts during the 2016-201 7 fiscal biennium (RQ-0063-KP).
Date: April 25, 2016
Creator: Texas. Attorney-General's Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0076 (open access)

Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0076

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether Texas law allows photographic insurance enforcement systems (RQ-0062-KP).
Date: April 25, 2016
Creator: Texas. Attorney-General's Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History