United States Lifts Remaining Restrictions on Arms Sales to Vietnam (open access)

United States Lifts Remaining Restrictions on Arms Sales to Vietnam

This report discusses the recent removal of remaining U.S. restrictions on sales of lethal weapons and related services to Vietnam. During the Vietnam War (1955-1975), the United States imposed a complete embargo on arms sales to North Vietnam, and then expanded it to cover the entire country after Communist forces defeated U.S-backed South Vietnamese government in 1975. In 2007, the Bush Administration eased the ban by allowing non-lethal defense items and defense services to be exported on a case-by-case basis.
Date: May 23, 2016
Creator: Manyin, Mark E. & Kerr, Paul K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Military Lending Act: Timeline, New Rules, and Issues (open access)

Military Lending Act: Timeline, New Rules, and Issues

This report briefly discusses new rules under the Military Lending Act (MLA) that change the definition of consumer credit for covered servicemembers and dependents; it will apply to transactions or accounts that are established on or after October 3, 2016. These rules may have an impact on the regulatory burdens for businesses that provide credit products to the military and may also affect military readiness.
Date: June 1, 2016
Creator: Kamarck, Kristy N.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The United Kingdom and the European Union: Stay or Go? (open access)

The United Kingdom and the European Union: Stay or Go?

This report briefly discusses the British referendum regarding whether or not to remain in the European Union. The outcome of the referendum remains difficult to predict. Polling results have varied from week to week and continue to suggest a close race with a significant number of undecided voters. Some polls in mid-June have shown a late shift in favor of the Leave campaign.
Date: June 20, 2016
Creator: Mix, Derek E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Open Skies Treaty: Issues in the Current Debate (open access)

The Open Skies Treaty: Issues in the Current Debate

This report discusses the current debate surrounding the Treaty on Open Skies, which the United States, Canada, and 22 European nations signed on March 24, 1992. The treaty entered into force on January 1, 2002, and now has 34 member states. Each participant must permit unarmed observation aircraft to fly over its entire territory to observe military forces and activities.
Date: June 10, 2016
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Hate Crime and Homegrown Violent Extremism (open access)

Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Hate Crime and Homegrown Violent Extremism

This report examines the differences between domestic terrorism, hate crime, and homegrown violent extremism. Federal law enforcement agencies use these three distinct concepts to categorize key types of criminals whose illegal activities are at least partly ideologically motivated.
Date: June 13, 2016
Creator: Bjelopera, Jerome P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
North American Leaders' Summit (open access)

North American Leaders' Summit

This report discusses the North American Leaders' Summits (NALS), a trilateral summit that meets in effort to increase cooperation on broader economic and security issues between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Date: June 16, 2016
Creator: Villarreal, M. Angeles
System: The UNT Digital Library
Treasury Issues White Paper on Fintech and Marketplace Lending (open access)

Treasury Issues White Paper on Fintech and Marketplace Lending

This report briefly discusses the context and contents of a white paper issued on May 10, 2016 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The paper analyzes regulatory issues for the marketplace lending industry and offers several recommendations for industry and government responses.
Date: May 20, 2016
Creator: Murphy, Edward V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
DOD's Rotation to the Philippines (open access)

DOD's Rotation to the Philippines

This report briefly discusses the Department of Defense's (DOD's) announcement of its intention to "rebalance" by focusing more of its attention and activity on Asia. One goal is to influence the development of regional norms and rules, particularly as China exerts greater influence.
Date: May 31, 2016
Creator: Else, Daniel H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles (open access)

Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles

This report briefly discusses the second phase of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles jointly proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on July 13, 2015.
Date: June 22, 2016
Creator: Lattanzio, Richard K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Athletic Footwear for the Military: The Berry Amendment Controversy (open access)

Athletic Footwear for the Military: The Berry Amendment Controversy

This report briefly examines issues regarding the Berry Amendment, which is a 1941 federal law (10 U.S.C. §2533a) requiring the Department of Defense (DOD) to purchase only wholly American-made clothing, textiles, and other essential items for the military.
Date: June 10, 2016
Creator: Platzer, Michaela D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Orlando Nightclub Mass Shooting: Gun Checks and Terrorist Watchlists (open access)

Orlando Nightclub Mass Shooting: Gun Checks and Terrorist Watchlists

This report discusses the policy climate surrounding gun control in the wake of the attack in an Orlando, Florida nightclub. On June 12, 2016, an armed assailant killed 49 people and wounded over 50 others in the club.
Date: June 16, 2016
Creator: Krouse, William J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Declining Dynamism in the U.S. Labor Market (open access)

Declining Dynamism in the U.S. Labor Market

This report discusses certain measures of the U.S. labor market "dynamism" or "fluidity"--including job reallocation, worker churn, and geographic labor mobility-- which some observers note have been declining for the past 20 years or more.
Date: June 15, 2016
Creator: Perkins, David W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Economic Growth Slower Than Previous 10 Expansions (open access)

Economic Growth Slower Than Previous 10 Expansions

This report briefly discusses the recent pace of economic growth in the United States. A recent poll found that nearly 60% of U.S. adults believe that the economy is performing poorly. Although this expansion is already the fourth longest since the 1850's (34 quarters to date), the slow pace of economic growth means the overall gains have been relatively small.
Date: June 30, 2016
Creator: Stupak, Jeffrey M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Senate Action on U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations During the Eighth Year of a Presidency (open access)

Senate Action on U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations During the Eighth Year of a Presidency

This report discusses the process by which lower federal court judges are nominated by the President and approved by the Senate during the final year of a presidency. The eighth year of a presidency is significant, in part, because it is the final opportunity for a President to appoint individuals as U.S. circuit and district court judges.
Date: June 30, 2016
Creator: McMillion, Barry J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Department of the Interior's Final Rule on Offshore Well Control (open access)

The Department of the Interior's Final Rule on Offshore Well Control

This report discusses regulations regarding blowout preventer systems and well control for oil and gas operations on the U.S. outer continental shelf (81 Fed. Reg. 25887). The regulations aim to reduce the risk of an offshore oil or gas blowout that could jeopardize human safety and harm the environment.
Date: June 16, 2016
Creator: Comay, Laura B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Midnight Rules: Congressional Oversight and Options (open access)

Midnight Rules: Congressional Oversight and Options

This report discusses "midnight rulemaking," referring to the phenomenon during the final months of recent presidential administrations when federal agencies have typically issued a larger number of rules relative to comparable time periods earlier in the administration. It likely occurs because the outgoing presidential administration wants to achieve certain policy goals before the end of its term.
Date: June 27, 2016
Creator: Carey, Maeve P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-Nordic Relations (open access)

U.S.-Nordic Relations

This report briefly discusses U.S. relations with the Nordic countries--Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
Date: May 10, 2016
Creator: Archick, Kristin
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nominations to the Supreme Court During Presidential Election Years (1900-Present) (open access)

Nominations to the Supreme Court During Presidential Election Years (1900-Present)

This report provides data and analysis related to nominations made to the Supreme Court during presidential election years from 1900 to the present.
Date: March 16, 2016
Creator: McMillion, Barry J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Brazil in Crisis (open access)

Brazil in Crisis

Brazil is in the midst of deepening economic and political crises that are closely intertwined and unlikely to be resolved quickly. This report briefly examines the political situation and discusses public opinion regarding the Rousseff Administration.
Date: April 6, 2016
Creator: Meyer, Peter J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Negative Interest Rates (open access)

Negative Interest Rates

In a few foreign economies, including the euro area, Switzerland, and Japan, central banks have purposely set some short-term interest rates used to carry out monetary policy at negative levels. This report briefly discusses the reasons behind this phenomenon.
Date: April 20, 2016
Creator: Labonte, Marc
System: The UNT Digital Library
Lead in Flint, Michigan's Drinking Water: Federal Regulatory Role (open access)

Lead in Flint, Michigan's Drinking Water: Federal Regulatory Role

This report discusses the federal regulatory role in regards to drinking water, more specifically in the context of the Flint water crisis. EPA's current Flint responses include providing technical assistance for water testing and treatment, conducting water monitoring, and identifying lead service line locations.
Date: March 2, 2016
Creator: Tiemann, Mary
System: The UNT Digital Library
Supreme Court Vacancies That Arose During One Presidency and Were Filled During a Different Presidency (open access)

Supreme Court Vacancies That Arose During One Presidency and Were Filled During a Different Presidency

This report provides data and analysis related to Supreme Court vacancies since 1797 that arose during one presidency and were filled during a different presidency.
Date: April 5, 2016
Creator: McMillion, Barry J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Contested Presidential Nominating Conventions: Brief Background and Questions (open access)

Contested Presidential Nominating Conventions: Brief Background and Questions

This report briefly addresses selected questions about possible contested Democratic and Republican conventions that might be relevant as Members of Congress prepare for the 2016 election.
Date: April 15, 2016
Creator: Garrett, R. S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Al Qaeda's Syria Affiliate Declares Independence (open access)

Al Qaeda's Syria Affiliate Declares Independence

This report briefly discusses the implications of a recent announcement from Al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, Jabhat al Nusra, stating that it was reconstituting itself as an independent group.
Date: August 5, 2016
Creator: Humud, Carla E. & Blanchard, Christopher M.
System: The UNT Digital Library