Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources (open access)

Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources

Report that provides links to selected authoritative resources related to cybersecurity issues, including: legislation, hearings in the 112th Congress, data and statistics, and cybersecurity glossaries.
Date: September 11, 2012
Creator: Tehan, Rita
System: The UNT Digital Library
Automobile and Truck Fuel Economy (CAFE) and Greenhouse Gas Standards (open access)

Automobile and Truck Fuel Economy (CAFE) and Greenhouse Gas Standards

Report that looks at vehicle fuel costs, fuel consumption in the United States, and examines the estimated costs to new vehicles that may arise from the Obama Administration's new passenger vehicle fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards for vehicle model years (MY) 2017-2025.
Date: September 11, 2012
Creator: Yacobucci, Brent D.; Canis, Bill & Lattanzio, Richard K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Contract “Bundling” Under the Small Business Act: Existing Law and Proposed Amendments (open access)

Contract “Bundling” Under the Small Business Act: Existing Law and Proposed Amendments

This report discusses regulations from Congress on bundling, which refers to the consolidation of two or more requirements for goods or services previously provided or performed under separate smaller contracts into a solicitation for a single contract that is likely to be unsuitable for award to a small business because of its size or scope. It particularly looks at the Small Business Act and new legislation by the 112th Congress to expand the definition of bundling, strengthen the authority of the Administrator of Small Business, and requirements for reporting bundled procurements.
Date: June 11, 2012
Creator: Manuel, Kate M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-Vietnam Economic and Trade Relations: Issues for the 112th Congress (open access)

U.S.-Vietnam Economic and Trade Relations: Issues for the 112th Congress

This report discusses the economic relationship between Vietnam and the U.S. that resumed in the 1990s. Of particular interest to Congress is that both nations may soon be members of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TTP).
Date: June 11, 2012
Creator: Martin, Michael F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress (open access)

Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress

This report provides a brief overview of the existing statutory authority and the regulation implementing this authority. It describes several policy issues raised in previous debates regarding chemical facility security and identifies policy options for congressional consideration. Finally, legislation in the 112th Congress is discussed.
Date: June 11, 2012
Creator: Shea, Dana A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Gun Control Legislation (open access)

Gun Control Legislation

This report looks at past gun control legislation and also how recent events (such as the shooting in Tucson, AZ on January 8, 2011 which notably wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords) have influenced current legislation. This report concludes with discussion of other salient and recurring gun control issues that have generated past congressional interest.
Date: June 11, 2012
Creator: Krouse, William J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the CVN-78 program. CVN-78, CVN-79, and CVN-80 are the first three ships in the Navy's new Gerald R. Ford (CVN- 78) class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (CVNs).
Date: June 11, 2012
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Major Decisions in the House and Senate on Social Security: 1935-2011 (open access)

Major Decisions in the House and Senate on Social Security: 1935-2011

This report is intended to respond to the many inquiries that CRS gets for Social Security vote information, which range from requests for general information about legislative action over the years to requests for information about specific floor amendments. Thus, it is intended to be a reference document on the major statutory decisions made by Congress on the Social Security program. A detailed table of contents and a summary table of the legislation discussed are provided to aid the reader.
Date: January 11, 2012
Creator: Sidor, Gary
System: The UNT Digital Library
Emergency Assistance for Agricultural Land Rehabilitation (open access)

Emergency Assistance for Agricultural Land Rehabilitation

This report discusses the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) several permanently authorized programs to help producers recover from natural disasters. Most of these programs offer financial assistance to producers for a loss in the production of crops or livestock. In addition to the production assistance programs, USDA also has several permanent disaster assistance programs that help producers repair damaged crop and forest land following natural disasters.
Date: December 11, 2012
Creator: Stubbs, Megan
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act: Overview and Issues (open access)

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act: Overview and Issues

This report discusses the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), under which members of the uniformed services and U.S. citizens who live abroad are eligible to register and vote absentee in federal elections. The report discusses recent improvements to UOCAVA, necessary as the result of controversy surrounding ballots received in Florida from absentee voters in the 2000 presidential election. The report also discusses related legislation, such as the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2010, which provided for a major overhaul of UOCAVA.
Date: July 11, 2012
Creator: Coleman, Kevin J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers (open access)

Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers

This report provides background on the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers (TAA) program. After a brief introduction, it discusses TAA eligibility and benefits as set by TAAEA. It then describes how the program is funded and administered. The report concludes by presenting data on recent application activity and benefit usage.
Date: July 11, 2012
Creator: Collins, Benjamin
System: The UNT Digital Library
How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal (open access)

How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal

This report is intended for Members and staff assisting grant seekers in districts and states and covers writing proposals for both government and private foundations grants.
Date: January 11, 2012
Creator: Gerli, Merete F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Student Loans Made Under the Federal Family Education Loan Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program: Terms and Conditions for Borrowers (open access)

Federal Student Loans Made Under the Federal Family Education Loan Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program: Terms and Conditions for Borrowers

This report discusses major provisions of federal student loans made available through the DL program and previously made through the FFEL program.
Date: January 11, 2012
Creator: Smole, David P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Brazil-U.S. Relations (open access)

Brazil-U.S. Relations

This report analysis Brazil's political, economic, and social conditions, and how those conditions affect its role in the world and its relationship with the United States.
Date: October 11, 2012
Creator: Meyer, Peter J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Contracting and Subcontracting with Small Businesses: Issues in the 112th Congress (open access)

Federal Contracting and Subcontracting with Small Businesses: Issues in the 112th Congress

This report describes and analyzes measures that Members of the 112th Congress have enacted or proposed in response to particular issues pertaining to small business contracting and subcontracting.
Date: September 11, 2012
Creator: Manuel, Kate M. & Lunder, Erika K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Aviation and the European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme (open access)

Aviation and the European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme

The report discusses how the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme Works, U.S. government actions and climate change.
Date: June 11, 2012
Creator: Leggett, Jane A.; Elias, Bart & Shedd, Daniel T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
DOE Weatherization Program: A Review of Funding, Performance, and Cost-Effectiveness Studies (open access)

DOE Weatherization Program: A Review of Funding, Performance, and Cost-Effectiveness Studies

None
Date: January 11, 2012
Creator: Sissine, Fred
System: The UNT Digital Library
Detention of U.S. Persons as Enemy Belligerents (open access)

Detention of U.S. Persons as Enemy Belligerents

The detainee provisions passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2012 affirm that the Authorization for Use of Military Force in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, authorizes the detention of persons captured in connection with hostilities. This report provides a background to the legal issues presented, followed by a brief introduction to the law of war pertinent to the detention of different categories of individuals. An overview of U.S. practice during wartime to detain persons deemed dangerous to the national security is presented.
Date: April 11, 2012
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oil Spills in U.S. Coastal Waters: Background and Governance (open access)

Oil Spills in U.S. Coastal Waters: Background and Governance

This report provides background information regarding oil spills in U.S. coastal waters and identifies the legal authorities governing oil spill prevention, response, and cleanup. Based on data between 1973 and 2009, the annual number and volume of oil spills have shown declines- in some cases, dramatic declines.
Date: January 11, 2012
Creator: Ramseur, Jonathan L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Labor Relations Statutes: An Overview (open access)

Federal Labor Relations Statutes: An Overview

This report provides a brief history and overview of the aims of these statutes: the Railway Labor Act (RLA) enacted in 1926, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), and the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (FSLMRS). It also discusses key statutory provisions for each statute.
Date: May 11, 2012
Creator: Hegji, Alexandra
System: The UNT Digital Library
Immigration of Foreign Nationals with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Degrees (open access)

Immigration of Foreign Nationals with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Degrees

Congress is renewing its interest in facilitating the immigration of foreign professional workers in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields. The STEM workforce is seen by many as a catalyst of U.S. global economic competitiveness and is likewise considered a key element of the legislative options aimed at stimulating economic growth. "STEM visa" is a shorthand for an expedited immigration avenue that enables foreign nationals with graduate degrees in STEM fields to adjust their immigration status to legal permanent residence (LPR) without waiting in the queue of numerically-limited LPR visas.
Date: May 11, 2012
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Assistance Programs in China (open access)

U.S. Assistance Programs in China

This report examines U.S. foreign assistance activities in the People's Republic of China (PRC), including U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programming, foreign operations appropriations, policy history, and legislative background. International programs supported by U.S. departments and agencies other than the Department of State and USAID are not covered in this report.
Date: May 11, 2012
Creator: Lum, Thomas
System: The UNT Digital Library
Meeting the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Mandate for Cellulosic Biofuels: Questions and Answers (open access)

Meeting the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Mandate for Cellulosic Biofuels: Questions and Answers

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was expanded under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA; P.L. 110-140) in an effort to reduce dependence on foreign oil, promote biofuel use, and stabilize transportation fuel prices, among other goals. Over a 15-year period, the RFS seeks to establish a market for biofuels in the transportation sector by requiring that increasing amounts of biofuels-36 billion gallons by 2022-be blended into transportation fuel. The mandate is to be accomplished with an assortment of advanced biofuels, including cellulosic biofuels-fuels produced from cellulosic materials including grasses, trees, and agricultural and municipal wastes-which will ramp up over time to comprise some 44% of the RFS in 2022.
Date: January 11, 2012
Creator: Bracmort, Kelsi
System: The UNT Digital Library
Rare Earth Elements in National Defense: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress (open access)

Rare Earth Elements in National Defense: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress

Some Members of Congress have expressed concern over U.S. acquisition of rare earth materials composed of rare earth elements used in various components of defense weapon systems. On March 13, 2012, President Obama announced that the United States had joined with Japan and the European Union to bring a World Trade Organization joint dispute resolution case against China because of China's restrictive policies on rare earths and other minerals. Congress may encourage DOD to develop a collaborative, long-term, well-thought-out strategy designed to identify any material weaknesses and vulnerabilities associated with rare earths and to protect long-term U.S. national security interests.
Date: April 11, 2012
Creator: Grasso, Valerie Bailey
System: The UNT Digital Library