FY2016 Extension of the Higher Education Act: An Overview (open access)

FY2016 Extension of the Higher Education Act: An Overview

None
Date: October 14, 2015
Creator: Smole, David P. & Hegji, Alexandra
System: The UNT Digital Library
FY2016 Appropriations: District of Columbia (open access)

FY2016 Appropriations: District of Columbia

This report is categorized into two categories: (I) FY2016 Budget Request and (II) General Provisions: Key Policy Issues.
Date: May 14, 2015
Creator: Boyd, Eugene
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Voting Rights Act of 1965: Background and Overview (open access)

The Voting Rights Act of 1965: Background and Overview

This report provides background information on the historical circumstances that led to the adoption of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), a summary of its major provisions, and a brief discussion of the U.S. Supreme Court decision and related legislation in the 113th and 114th Congresses.
Date: April 14, 2015
Creator: Coleman, Kevin J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
EPA's Clean Power Plan: Highlights of the Final Rule (open access)

EPA's Clean Power Plan: Highlights of the Final Rule

This report provides an initial analysis of EPA's final rule -- a prepublication version, known as the Clean Power Plan (CPP), pursuant to Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act -- summarizing highlights and identifying differences between the final and proposed rules. The topics discussed do not represent an exhaustive list of the differences from the proposed rule or the support or opposition that may be raised by various stakeholders.
Date: August 14, 2015
Creator: Ramseur, Jonathan L. & McCarthy, James E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iran, Gulf Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Iran, Gulf Security, and U.S. Policy

This report discusses issues regarding Iran's political history and structure. It also takes a look at economic and defense policy responses for Congress, specifically focusing on Iran's nuclear capabilities.
Date: August 14, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library
2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force: Issues Concerning Its Continued Application (open access)

2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force: Issues Concerning Its Continued Application

This report discusses the Congress-enacted legislation (2001 AUMF; P.L. 107-40; 50 U.S.C. §1541) to authorize the use of military force against those who perpetrated or provided support for the attacks on September 11, 2001.
Date: April 14, 2015
Creator: Weed, Matthew C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Intelligence Authorization Legislation for FY2014 and FY2015: Provisions, Status, Intelligence Community Framework (open access)

Intelligence Authorization Legislation for FY2014 and FY2015: Provisions, Status, Intelligence Community Framework

This report provides background information and discusses Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) for Fiscal Years (FY) 2014 and 2015 (H.R. 4681).
Date: January 14, 2015
Creator: Daugherty Miles, Anne
System: The UNT Digital Library
The U.S.-EU Beef Hormone Dispute (open access)

The U.S.-EU Beef Hormone Dispute

This report discusses the long-standing and acrimonious trade dispute between the United States and the European Union (EU) over the EU's decision to ban hormone-treated meat.
Date: January 14, 2015
Creator: Johnson, Renée
System: The UNT Digital Library
Filling the Amendment Tree in the Senate (open access)

Filling the Amendment Tree in the Senate

None
Date: August 14, 2015
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Social Services Block Grant: Background and Funding (open access)

Social Services Block Grant: Background and Funding

The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is a flexible source of funds that states may use to support a wide variety of social services activities. States have broad discretion over the use of these funds. This short report provides background information on the SSBG and tracks relevant legislation and appropriations measures.
Date: January 14, 2015
Creator: Lynch, Karen E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Excise Tax on High-Cost Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage: In Brief (open access)

Excise Tax on High-Cost Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage: In Brief

This report discusses about the Excise Tax on High-Cost Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage, Cost Estimate and Relationship to the Tax Exclusion for Employer-Sponsored Insurance.
Date: August 14, 2015
Creator: Mach, Annie L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Regulations Implementing Section 1417 of the SDWA: Prohibition on Use of Lead Pipes, Soldner and Flux Public Webinar (open access)

Regulations Implementing Section 1417 of the SDWA: Prohibition on Use of Lead Pipes, Soldner and Flux Public Webinar

A few presentations that provide the water utility perspective on the lead free requirements including lessons learned by Philadelphia Water Department in complying with the RLDWA.
Date: May 14, 2015
Creator: United States. Environmental Protection Agency.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Indian Water Rights Settlements (open access)

Indian Water Rights Settlements

This report provides an overview of Indian water rights settlements and analyzes issues surrounding water rights settlements and the negotiation process, as well as implementation challenges and related issues for Congress.
Date: August 14, 2015
Creator: Stern, Charles V. & Kim, Samuel
System: The UNT Digital Library
Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Coast Guard's programs for procuring 8 National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and 58 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs).
Date: September 14, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Sentence Reform Acts: S.2123 and H.R. 3713 (open access)

Sentence Reform Acts: S.2123 and H.R. 3713

This report discusses the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015, S. 2123, and the Sentencing Reform Act of 2015, H.R. 3713, use virtually identical language to reduce the impact of the mandatory minimum sentences which federal courts must now impose for certain drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
Date: October 14, 2015
Creator: Doyle, Charles
System: The UNT Digital Library
Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA): Background and Funding (open access)

Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA): Background and Funding

This report provides an overview of the federal response to domestic violence--defined broadly to include acts of physical and nonphysical violence against spouses and other intimate partners--through the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA).
Date: October 14, 2015
Creator: Fernandes-Alcantara, Adrienne L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Enrollment of Legislation: Relevant Congressional Procedures (open access)

Enrollment of Legislation: Relevant Congressional Procedures

This report discusses the enrollment process of bills and resolutions in Congress.
Date: October 14, 2015
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie
System: The UNT Digital Library
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV): Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV): Background and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) being developed by the Army and the Marine Corps as a successor to the High Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). A potential issue for Congress is the possible impact of a year-long continuing resolution on Army and Marine Corps JLTV procurement.
Date: October 14, 2015
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
China-U.S. Trade Issues (open access)

China-U.S. Trade Issues

This report provides an overview of U.S.-China commercial relations, including major trade disputes.
Date: October 14, 2015
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Points of Order Limiting the Contents of Reconciliation Legislation: In Brief (open access)

Points of Order Limiting the Contents of Reconciliation Legislation: In Brief

This report discusses various provisions in the Budget Act (as well as other provisions adopted by the House and Senate) that impose constraints on the policy content or budgetary impact of reconciliation measures or amendments.
Date: October 14, 2015
Creator: Saturno, James V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
California Drought: Hydrological and Regulatory Water Supply Issues (open access)

California Drought: Hydrological and Regulatory Water Supply Issues

This report provides a summary of California's 2012-2015 drought including: comparisons, where applicable, to previous droughts; a summary of the key regulatory requirements that at certain times limit water deliveries (or exports) from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers' Delta; and a brief discussion of California water rights with their relation to different types of federal contracts and their associated water allocations.
Date: August 14, 2015
Creator: Cody, Betsy A.; Folger, Peter & Brown, Cynthia
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agricultural Disaster Assistance (open access)

Agricultural Disaster Assistance

This report discusses several programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help farmers recover financially from natural disasters, including drought and floods. All the programs have permanent authorization, and only one requires a federal disaster designation (the emergency loan program). Most programs receive funding amounts that are "such sums as necessary" and are not subject to annual discretionary appropriations.
Date: August 14, 2015
Creator: Shields, Dennis A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Biopower: Background and Federal Support (open access)

Biopower: Background and Federal Support

The report begins with general summaries about bioenergy and biopower, including potential benefits and challenges, feedstocks, and biopower technologies. It also describes federal support available for biopower and relevant legislative concerns.
Date: August 14, 2015
Creator: Bracmort, Kelsi
System: The UNT Digital Library
Bitcoin: Questions, Answers, and Analysis of Legal Issues (open access)

Bitcoin: Questions, Answers, and Analysis of Legal Issues

This report has three major sections. The first section answers some basic questions about Bitcoin and the operation of the Bitcoin network and its interaction with the current dollar-based monetary system. The second section summarizes likely reasons for and against widespread Bitcoin adoption. The third section discusses legal and regulatory matters that have been raised by Bitcoin and other digital currencies.
Date: August 14, 2015
Creator: Murphy, Edward V.; Murphy, M. M. & Seitzinger, Michael V.
System: The UNT Digital Library