Export-Import Bank: Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

Export-Import Bank: Frequently Asked Questions

This report addresses frequently-asked questions about the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank, grouped in the following categories: congressional interest and the Ex-Im Bank reauthorization debate; market context; international context; organizational structure and management; programs; statutory requirements and policies; risk management; budget and appropriations; implications of a sunset in authority; and historical and current approaches to reauthorization.
Date: April 13, 2016
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias; Carpenter, David H.; Driessen, Grant A. & Taylor, Julia
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
European Security and Islamist Terrorism (open access)

European Security and Islamist Terrorism

This report discusses the current security climate in Europe following recent incidences of terrorism. The report also addresses potential policy responses and challenges.
Date: April 18, 2016
Creator: Archick, Kristin & Belkin, Paul
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Border Security: Immigration Enforcement Between Ports of Entry (open access)

Border Security: Immigration Enforcement Between Ports of Entry

This report reviews efforts to combat unauthorized migration across the Southwest border in the nearly three decades since the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) initiated the modern era in migration control. In reviewing such efforts, the report takes stock of the current state of border security and considers lessons that may be learned about enhanced enforcement at U.S. borders.
Date: April 19, 2016
Creator: Argueta, Carla N.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa (open access)

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa

This report includes a discussion of the EB-5 visa's requirements and an overview of the Regional Center Program, information on the EB-5 application (petition) process, admissions, and the economic impacts of the visa, a review of policy issues surrounding the visa and the Regional Center Program, and a summary of current legislation on the EB-5 visa and the Regional Center Program in the 114th Congress.
Date: April 22, 2016
Creator: Argueta, Carla N. & Siskin, Alison
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Islamic State's Acolytes and the Challenges They Pose to U.S. Law Enforcement (open access)

The Islamic State's Acolytes and the Challenges They Pose to U.S. Law Enforcement

This report discusses an analysis of publicly available information on homegrown violent jihadist activity in the United States since September 11, 2001, which suggests that the Islamic State (IS) and its acolytes may pose broad challenges to domestic law enforcement and homeland security efforts.
Date: April 19, 2016
Creator: Bjelopera, Jerome P.
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 current political climate in Libya. Libya's political transition has been disrupted by armed non-state groups and threatened by the indecision and infighting of interim leaders.
Date: April 20, 2016
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations (open access)

Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations

This report discusses the kingdom of Saudi Arabia's relations with the United States; its stability, and its future trajectory are subjects of continuing congressional interest.
Date: April 22, 2016
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
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
U.S. Crude Oil Exports to International Destinations (open access)

U.S. Crude Oil Exports to International Destinations

This report discusses the export of crude oil produced in the United States and policy considerations in the wake of a provision contained in P.L. 114-113 which repealed a 40-year prohibition on the export.
Date: April 6, 2016
Creator: Brown, Phillip
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Postal Service Rolls Back Its Prices (open access)

U.S. Postal Service Rolls Back Its Prices

This report discusses the USPS drop in the price of First-Class "Forever" (or equivalent domestic letter) postage.
Date: April 13, 2016
Creator: Christensen, Michelle D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
General Policy Statements: Legal Overview (open access)

General Policy Statements: Legal Overview

This report examines one type of guidance document of particular recent prominence: agency policy statements. It explores judicial doctrine regarding the difference between legislative rules and statements of policy; discusses when such statements are judicially reviewable; analyzes when courts will grant deference to agency interpretations contained in guidance documents; and notes the relative costs and benefits of potential judicial and statutory rules regarding their use.
Date: April 14, 2016
Creator: Cole, Jared P. & Garvey, Todd
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
EPA Policies Concerning Integrated Planning and Affordability of Water Infrastructure (open access)

EPA Policies Concerning Integrated Planning and Affordability of Water Infrastructure

This report examines recent initiatives by EPA, an integrated planning policy, and a framework policy for assessing a community's financial capability to meet objectives and requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
Date: April 1, 2016
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Legislative Options for Financing Water Infrastructure (open access)

Legislative Options for Financing Water Infrastructure

This report discusses several options considered by Congress to address the financing needs of local communities for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects and to decrease or close the gap between available funds and projected needs. It provides an overview of six options that are reflected in recent legislative proposals, including their budgetary implications.
Date: April 27, 2016
Creator: Copeland, Claudia; Maguire, Steven & Mallett, William J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Calling Up Business on the Senate Floor (open access)

Calling Up Business on the Senate Floor

This report outlines processes or customs most often used by the Senate and then discusses some procedures less often used to call up business. The Senate takes up measures and matters under procedures set in Senate rules and by long-standing customs, thereby giving it flexibility in setting its floor agenda.
Date: April 1, 2016
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Defense Authorization and Appropriations Bills: FY1970-FY2016 (open access)

Defense Authorization and Appropriations Bills: FY1970-FY2016

This report includes all the pertinent information on the passage of Department of Defense (DOD) authorization and appropriations bills (fiscal years 1970-2016) through the legislative process: bill numbers, report numbers, dates reported and passed, recorded vote numbers and vote tallies, dates of passage of the conference reports with their numbers and votes, vetoes, substitutions, dates of final passage, and public law numbers.
Date: April 20, 2016
Creator: DeBruyne, Nese F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congress and the Budget: 2016 Actions and Events (open access)

Congress and the Budget: 2016 Actions and Events

This report seeks to assist in (1) anticipating what budget-related actions might occur within the upcoming year, and (2) staying abreast of budget actions that occur this year. It provides a general description of the recurrent types of budgetary actions, and reflects on current events that unfold in each category during 2016.
Date: April 22, 2016
Creator: Driessen, Grant A. & Lynch, Megan S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Planning Your Retirement (open access)

Planning Your Retirement

A guide to planning your retirement with the Employee Retirement System of Texas.
Date: April 2016
Creator: Employees Retirement System of Texas
Object Type: Pamphlet
System: The Portal to Texas History
Zika Response Funding: In Brief (open access)

Zika Response Funding: In Brief

This report presents the Administration's request for supplemental appropriations for the Zika response. It includes sections outlining Congressional actions, the emergency supplemental appropriations request for Zika response efforts -- by both U.S. health and human services agencies and international assistance programs -- and information about unobligated Ebola response funds.
Date: April 28, 2016
Creator: Epstein, Susan B. & Lister, Sarah A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Sunset Commission Staff Report: [Texas Occupation and Physical Therapy Agencies] (open access)

Sunset Commission Staff Report: [Texas Occupation and Physical Therapy Agencies]

Report from the Sunset Commission regarding the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners, Texas Board of Occupational Therapy, and the Texas Board of Physical Therapy. It includes background information, issues and recommendations, and supplementary documentation.
Date: April 2016
Creator: Fajardo, Erick; Leonard, Alan; Wood, Janet & Walraven, Joe
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
The Army's M-1 Abrams, M-2/M-3 Bradley, and M-1126 Stryker: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

The Army's M-1 Abrams, M-2/M-3 Bradley, and M-1126 Stryker: Background and Issues for Congress

This report discusses various issues surrounding the M-1 Abrams Tank, the M-2/M-3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV), and the M-1126 Stryker Combat Vehicle, centerpieces of the Army's Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs) and Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs).
Date: April 5, 2016
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Funding for Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CSS) at DOE: In Brief (open access)

Funding for Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CSS) at DOE: In Brief

This report discusses current legislation regarding the potential of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) as a mitigation strategy for lowering global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). Congress has appropriated more than $7 billion since FY2008 to CCS activities at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Date: April 19, 2016
Creator: Folger, Peter
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief (open access)

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief

This report discusses the responsibility of four federal agencies for long-term earthquake risk reduction under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). Congress has not introduced legislation in the 114th Congress that addresses the NEHRP program directly.
Date: April 19, 2016
Creator: Folger, Peter
Object Type: Report
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.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Air Force B-21 Long Range Strike Bomber (open access)

Air Force B-21 Long Range Strike Bomber

This report discusses the development of the new long-range bomber aircraft, the B-21 (previously known as LRS-B), and proposes to acquire 100 of them.
Date: April 14, 2016
Creator: Gertler, Jeremiah
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library