The Gray Wolf and the Endangered Species Act (ESA): A Brief Legal History (open access)

The Gray Wolf and the Endangered Species Act (ESA): A Brief Legal History

This report provides a brief history of the laws, regulations, and lawsuits related to the wolf's protected status. Fuller analyses of the concepts discussed in this report can be found in the companion report.
Date: January 19, 2012
Creator: Alexander, Kristina
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 current state of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its current relationship with the United States, and future initiatives to further develop U.S.-Saudi relations.
Date: June 19, 2012
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Unauthorized Alien Students: Issues and “DREAM Act” Legislation (open access)

Unauthorized Alien Students: Issues and “DREAM Act” Legislation

This report looks at the background and history of recent "DREAM Act"s, which address the status of unauthorized alien students. It pays special attention to the June 15, 2012 announcement that come individuals who were brought into the U.S. as children and meet other requirements would be eligible for deferred action for two years.
Date: June 19, 2012
Creator: Bruno, Andorra
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Constitutional Analysis of Suspicionless Drug Testing Requirements for the Receipt of Governmental Benefits (open access)

Constitutional Analysis of Suspicionless Drug Testing Requirements for the Receipt of Governmental Benefits

This report gives an overview of the issues related to federal or state laws that condition the initial or ongoing receipt of governmental benefits on passing drug tests. These regulations are vulnerable to constitutional challenge, most often due to issues of personal privacy and Fourth Amendment protections against "unreasonable searches."
Date: January 19, 2012
Creator: Carpenter, David H.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nutrition Labeling of Restaurant Menus (open access)

Nutrition Labeling of Restaurant Menus

Report that provides a brief overview of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) authority to regulate nutrition labeling, modifications to these authorities under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and a discussion of selected aspects of the proposed rule. Concerns regarding the proposed rule raised by industry, Congress, and the public are also discussed.
Date: November 19, 2012
Creator: Corby-Edwards, Amalia K.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Child Protection Act of 2012: A Brief Legal Analysis (open access)

Child Protection Act of 2012: A Brief Legal Analysis

This report discusses several categories such as: (I) Legislative History, (II) Penalty for Possession of Child Pornography, (III) Harassment of Child Victim or Witnesses etc.
Date: December 19, 2012
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Double-Dip Recession: Previous Experience and Current Prospect (open access)

Double-Dip Recession: Previous Experience and Current Prospect

This report discusses factors suggesting an increased risk of a double-dip recession. A double-dip or W-shaped recession occurs when the economy emerges from a recession, has a short period of growth, but then, still well short of a full recovery, falls back into recession. It also discusses other factors that suggest economic recovery will continue. It presents the U.S. historical experience with double-dip recessions. It examines the role of deleveraging by households and businesses in the aftermath of the recent financial crisis in shaping the likely pace of economic recovery. The report concludes with a look at current economic projections.
Date: June 19, 2012
Creator: Elwell, Craig K.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fact Sheet: The FY2013 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request (open access)

Fact Sheet: The FY2013 State and Foreign Operations Budget Request

On February 13, 2012, the Obama Administration submitted its FY2013 budget request, including $54.7 billion for State Department, Foreign Operations, and Related Appropriations. Of the total request, $18.6 billion is for programs funded through the State operations and related agencies (a 4.6% increase over FY2012 estimates), and $36.1 billion is for foreign operations (a 0.1% increase over FY2012 estimates). This fact sheet provides a brief overview of the request.
Date: March 19, 2012
Creator: Epstein, Susan B.; Lawson, Marian Leonardo & Tiersky, Alex L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Generalized System of Preferences: Background and Renewal Debate (open access)

Generalized System of Preferences: Background and Renewal Debate

This report presents, first, a brief history, economic rationale, and legal background leading to the establishment of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Second, the report presents a discussion of U.S. implementation of the GSP, along with the present debate surrounding its renewal and legislative developments to date. Third, an analysis of the U.S. program's effectiveness and the positions of various stakeholders are presented. Fourth, implications of the expiration of the U.S. program and possible options for Congress are discussed.
Date: April 19, 2012
Creator: Jones, Vivian C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-China Military Contacts: Issues for Congress (open access)

U.S.-China Military Contacts: Issues for Congress

This CRS report, updated as warranted, discusses policy issues regarding military-to-military (mil-to-mil) contacts with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and provides a record of major contacts and crises since 1993.
Date: June 19, 2012
Creator: Kan, Shirley A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iraq: Politics, Governance, and Human Rights (open access)

Iraq: Politics, Governance, and Human Rights

This report discusses the situation immediately following the completion of the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq on December 18, 2011, when relations among major political factions worsened substantially, threatening Iraq's stability and the legacy of the U.S. intervention in Iraq. It includes an overview of historical and current political, military, and governance issues as well as an analysis of Iraq in relation to the other nations in the region.
Date: April 19, 2012
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nuclear Cooperation with Other Countries: A Primer (open access)

Nuclear Cooperation with Other Countries: A Primer

This report discusses section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act (AEA), the specific requirements of which must be met in order for the United States to engage in civilian nuclear cooperation with other states. The AEA also provides for exemptions to these requirements, export control licensing procedures, and criteria for terminating cooperation.
Date: June 19, 2012
Creator: Kerr, Paul K. & Nikitin, Mary Beth
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Final Work Plan: ISCR Pilot Test at Montgomery City, Missouri. (open access)

Final Work Plan: ISCR Pilot Test at Montgomery City, Missouri.

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Date: November 19, 2012
Creator: LaFreniere, L. M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The STOCK Act, Insider Trading, and Public Financial Reporting by Federal Officials (open access)

The STOCK Act, Insider Trading, and Public Financial Reporting by Federal Officials

An overview of the STOCK Act (Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012), which was signed into law on April 4, 2012, affirms and makes explicit the fact that there is no exemption from the "insider trading" laws and regulations for Members of Congress, congressional employees, or any federal officials.
Date: April 19, 2012
Creator: Maskell, Jack
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. National Science Foundation: Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) (open access)

U.S. National Science Foundation: Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)

The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) was authorized by Congress in 1978, partly in response to concerns in Congress and the concerns of some in academia and the scientific community about the geographic distribution of federal research and development (R&D) funds. Some have questioned the length of time states should receive EPSCoR support. It continues to be called an experimental program after 28 years, and observers have noted that no state has yet to graduate, or leave the program. This report discusses current policy involving EPSCoR, as well as budget requests.
Date: January 19, 2012
Creator: Matthews, Christine M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Hydraulic Fracturing: Chemical Disclosure Requirements (open access)

Hydraulic Fracturing: Chemical Disclosure Requirements

This report provides an overview of current and proposed laws at the state and federal levels that require the disclosure of the chemicals added to the fluid used in hydraulic fracturing.
Date: June 19, 2012
Creator: Murrill, Brandon J. & Vann, Adam
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Managing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Policy Implications of Expanding Global Access to Nuclear Power (open access)

Managing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Policy Implications of Expanding Global Access to Nuclear Power

This report is intended to provide background information needed to understand the debate over proposed strategies to redesign the global nuclear fuel cycle. It begins with a look at the motivating factors underlying the resurgent interest in nuclear power in some parts of the world, the nuclear power industry's current state of affairs, and the interdependence of the various stages of the nuclear fuel cycle.
Date: October 19, 2012
Creator: Nikitin, Mary Beth; Andrews, Anthony & Holt, Mark
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

The Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) program, which is carried out by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Navy, gives Navy Aegis cruisers and destroyers a capability for conducting BMD operations. Under MDA and Navy plans, the number of BMD-capable Navy Aegis ships is scheduled to grow from 24 at the end of FY2011 to 36 at the end of FY2018. Issues for Congress for FY2013 include the reduction under the proposed FY2013 budget in the ramp-up rate for numbers of BMD-capable Aegis ships over the next few years; the U.S. economic impact of shifting four Aegis ships to Rota, Spain; U.S. vs. European naval contributions to European BMD; the lack of a target for simulating the endo-atmospheric (i.e., final) phase of flight of China's DF-21 anti-ship ballistic missile; the capability of the SM-3 Block IIB Aegis BMD interceptor; and technical risk in the Aegis program.
Date: March 19, 2012
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
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

Report regarding 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: October 19, 2012
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nigeria: Elections and Issues for Congress (open access)

Nigeria: Elections and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the political climate, development challenges and reform in Nigeria. The report also considers the social issues and security concerns of Nigeria. In addition, other issues are mentioned, as Congress provides oversight for over $600 million in U.S. foreign assistance programs to Nigeria.
Date: January 19, 2012
Creator: Ploch, Lauren
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
"Gang of Four" Congressional Intelligence Notifications (open access)

"Gang of Four" Congressional Intelligence Notifications

Report that reviews the history of the Gang of Four intelligence notification process and compares this procedure with that of the "Gang of Eight" notification procedure.
Date: November 19, 2012
Creator: Rollins, John & Lange, Rebecca S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Terrorism and Transnational Crime: Foreign Policy Issues for Congress (open access)

Terrorism and Transnational Crime: Foreign Policy Issues for Congress

This report provides an overview of transnational security issues related to patterns of interaction among international terrorist and crime groups. In addition, the report discusses the U.S. government's perception of and response to the threat. It concludes with an analysis of foreign policy options.
Date: October 19, 2012
Creator: Rollins, John & Wyler, Liana Sun
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Peacekeeping and Stabilization Missions Abroad: The Development of Civilian Capabilities, 2004-2011 (open access)

Peacekeeping and Stabilization Missions Abroad: The Development of Civilian Capabilities, 2004-2011

This report provides background on the origins and development of Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) and related capabilities.
Date: December 19, 2012
Creator: Serafino, Nina M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Texas Facilities Commission Annual Financial Report: 2012 (open access)

Texas Facilities Commission Annual Financial Report: 2012

Annual financial report of the Texas Facilities Commission for fiscal year 2012 including combined statements for revenues, expenditures, assets, and funds, as well as supplementary notes and schedules.
Date: November 19, 2012
Creator: Texas Facilities Commission
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History