The European Union: Questions and Answers (open access)

The European Union: Questions and Answers

This report serves as a primer on the EU and provides a brief description of U.S.-EU relations. It also discusses about how EU works, how EU is governed and Eurozone crisis.
Date: February 29, 2012
Creator: Archick, Kristin
System: The UNT Digital Library
Filibusters and Cloture in the Senate (open access)

Filibusters and Cloture in the Senate

Report that discusses major aspects of Senate procedure related to filibusters and cloture.
Date: November 29, 2012
Creator: Beth, Richard S. & Heitshusen, Valerie
System: The UNT Digital Library
Changes to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA): Overview of the New Framework of Products and Processes (open access)

Changes to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA): Overview of the New Framework of Products and Processes

This report is categorized into four categories: (I) Background: Congress and Performance, (II) GPRAMA's Products and Processes, (III) Viewing the Products and Processes Together and (IV) Potential Implications and Issues for Congress.
Date: February 29, 2012
Creator: Brass, Clinton T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
North Korea: U.S. Relations, Nuclear Diplomacy, and Internal Situation (open access)

North Korea: U.S. Relations, Nuclear Diplomacy, and Internal Situation

This report provides background information on the negotiations over North Korea's nuclear weapons program that began in the early 1990s under the Clinton Administration. As U.S. policy toward Pyongyang evolved through the George W. Bush presidency and into the Obama Administration, the negotiations moved from mostly bilateral to the multilateral Six-Party Talks (made up of China, Japan, Russia, North Korea, South Korea, and the United States).
Date: June 29, 2012
Creator: Chanlett-Avery, Emma & Rinehart, Ian E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians (open access)

Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians

This report collects statistics from a variety of sources on casualties sustained during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), which began on October 7, 2001, and is ongoing. OEF actions take place primarily in Afghanistan; however, OEF casualties also include American casualties in Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Yemen.
Date: February 29, 2012
Creator: Chesser, Susan G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-Japan Economic Relations: Significance, Prospects, and Policy Options (open access)

U.S.-Japan Economic Relations: Significance, Prospects, and Policy Options

This report discusses issues regarding U.S.-Japan economic relations, since the economic condition of each nation can affect the world economy and a U.S.-Japan bilateral economic relationship could influence economic conditions in other countries. U.S. and Japanese leaders have several options on how to manage their relationship, including stronger reliance on the World Trade Organization; special bilateral negotiating frameworks and agreements; or a free trade agreement.
Date: May 29, 2012
Creator: Cooper, William H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Mountaintop Mining: Background on Current Controversies (open access)

Mountaintop Mining: Background on Current Controversies

This report provides background on regulatory requirements, controversies and legal challenges to mountaintop mining, and recent Administration actions. Congressional interest in these issues also is discussed, including legislation in the 111th Congress seeking to restrict the practice of mountaintop mining and other legislation intended to block the Obama Administration’s regulatory actions. Attention to EPA’s veto of the West Virginia mining permit and other federal agency actions has increased in the 112th Congress.
Date: March 29, 2012
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
System: The UNT Digital Library
Overview of Health Care Changes in the FY2013 Budget Proposal Offered by House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan (open access)

Overview of Health Care Changes in the FY2013 Budget Proposal Offered by House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan

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Date: March 29, 2012
Creator: Davis, Patricia A.; Mitchell, Alison & Fernandez, Bernadette
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Movie Captioning and Video Description (open access)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Movie Captioning and Video Description

Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination by public accommodations, which are defined to include movie theaters, but the statute does not include specific language on closed captioning or video description. Although the Department of Justice (DOJ) has promulgated regulations under Title III, it has not specifically addressed issues regarding closed captioning or video description. The ANPR asks for input in several areas including the implications of a sliding compliance schedule, and the appropriate basis for calculating the number of movies that will be captioned and video described.
Date: March 29, 2012
Creator: DeBergh, James V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Economic Recovery: Sustaining U.S. Economic Growth in a Post-Crisis Economy (open access)

Economic Recovery: Sustaining U.S. Economic Growth in a Post-Crisis Economy

Report examining how Congress has been proactive in helping the economy recover after the 2008-2009 recession, as well as how it can help to keep recessions at bay in the future.
Date: November 29, 2012
Creator: Elwell, Craig K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Vulnerable Youth: Background and Policies (open access)

Vulnerable Youth: Background and Policies

This report first provides an overview of the youth population and the increasing complexity of transitioning to adulthood for all adolescents. It also provides a separate discussion of the concept of "disconnectedness," as well as the protective factors youth can develop during childhood and adolescence that can mitigate poor outcomes. Further, the report describes the evolution of federal youth policy and provides a brief overview of current federal programs targeted at vulnerable youth. The report then discusses the challenges of coordinating federal programs for youth, as well as federal legislation and initiatives that promote coordination among federal agencies and support programs with a positive youth development focus.
Date: August 29, 2012
Creator: Fernandes-Alcantara, Adrienne L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Laws Relating to Cybersecurity: Discussion of Proposed Revisions (open access)

Federal Laws Relating to Cybersecurity: Discussion of Proposed Revisions

This report discusses how the current legislative framework for cybersecurity might need to be revised.
Date: June 29, 2012
Creator: Fischer, Eric A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The FCC’s Broadcast Media Ownership and Attribution Rules: The Current Debate (open access)

The FCC’s Broadcast Media Ownership and Attribution Rules: The Current Debate

This report contains the FCC's broadcast media ownership and attribution rules.
Date: March 29, 2012
Creator: Goldfarb, Charles B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Brief Overview of Actions Taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in Its First Year (open access)

A Brief Overview of Actions Taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in Its First Year

Report that looks at actions taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) during its first year. The CFPB exists to implement and enforce federal consumer financial laws, ensure consumer access to financial products and services, and ensure that the markets for consumer financial services and products are fair, transparent, and competitive.
Date: August 29, 2012
Creator: Hoskins, Sean M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
National Mortgage Servicing Standards: Legislation in the 112th Congress (open access)

National Mortgage Servicing Standards: Legislation in the 112th Congress

This report analyzes the potential misaligned incentives in the servicer-mortgage holder relationship and the servicing standards that attempt to address each concern, the servicer-borrower relationship and the relevant servicing provisions, as well as the possible implications of reforming the servicing industry.
Date: August 29, 2012
Creator: Hoskins, Sean M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Guam: U.S. Defense Deployments (open access)

Guam: U.S. Defense Deployments

This report provides a basic overview of the island of Guam, including population and location, as well as the strategic significance of Guam for boosting U.S. deterrence and power projection in Asia.
Date: March 29, 2012
Creator: Kan, Shirley A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Guam: U.S. Defense Deployments (open access)

Guam: U.S. Defense Deployments

This report discusses the strategic significance of Guam for defense buildup and the force relocation and deployments from the U.S. mainland. It also discusses the concerns and issues for congress, such as allies and partner, China, and legislation.
Date: March 29, 2012
Creator: Kan, Shirley A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990 (open access)

Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990

Report that discusses U.S. security assistance to Taiwan, or Republic of China (ROC), including policy issues for Congress and legislation.
Date: November 29, 2012
Creator: Kan, Shirley A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy

This report discusses the current state of Bahrain, which has undergone substantial political reforms since the late 1990s, but which still suffers from tension between the Shiite majority and the Sunni-led government. This report focuses particularly on Bahrain's relationship with Iran and Bahrain's relationship with the United States.
Date: June 29, 2012
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Global Challenge of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (open access)

The Global Challenge of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria

This report reviews the U.S. response to HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria and discusses several issues Congress may consider as it debates spending levels and priority areas for related programs.
Date: May 29, 2012
Creator: Kendall, Alexandra E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The U.S. Postal Service's Use of Contractors to Deliver Mail: Background and Recent Developments (open access)

The U.S. Postal Service's Use of Contractors to Deliver Mail: Background and Recent Developments

Currently, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is collectively bargaining with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA). One issue that may or may not be settled is the Postal Service's use of non-USPS employees (i.e., contractors) to deliver mail. If the parties cannot come to a satisfactory arrangement, Congress may be approached to consider the matter.
Date: May 29, 2012
Creator: Kosar, Kevin R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S.-China Diplomacy Over Chinese Legal Advocate Chen Guangcheng (open access)

U.S.-China Diplomacy Over Chinese Legal Advocate Chen Guangcheng

The case of blind Chinese legal advocate Chen Guangcheng, who escaped from illegal house arrest in China's Shandong Province on April 20, 2012, and made his way to Beijing, the United States Embassy, and, ultimately, the United States, has generated strong congressional interest. This report begins by examining implications of the Chen case for the place of human rights in U.S.-China relations. It then discusses why Beijing may have been willing to negotiate with the United States at all over the fate of a Chinese citizen inside China. The report highlights the remaining issues in the case, details the understandings reached between the two governments, and then provides background on Chen Guangcheng and a list of his family and other associates in China who may be at risk. The report includes a map showing Chen's home district and Beijing, the city to which he escaped. It also includes a timeline of developments in the case from April 20, 2012, until May 19, 2012, based upon information available at the time of publication.
Date: May 29, 2012
Creator: Lawrence, Susan V. & Lum, Thomas
System: The UNT Digital Library
The U.S. Income Distribution and Mobility: Trends and International Comparisons (open access)

The U.S. Income Distribution and Mobility: Trends and International Comparisons

Report that looks at the growing income disparity and the decreasing financial mobility in the United States.
Date: November 29, 2012
Creator: Levine, Linda
System: The UNT Digital Library
The First Responder Network and NextGeneration Communications for Public Safety: Issues for Congress (open access)

The First Responder Network and NextGeneration Communications for Public Safety: Issues for Congress

This report provides information about The Issues for Congress on First Responder Network and Next-Generation Communications for Public Safety. new policy initiatives may be needed to identify critical gaps in communication infrastructure and the means to fund the investments needed to close the gaps.
Date: August 29, 2012
Creator: Lida, Moore K.
System: The UNT Digital Library