Softwood Lumber Imports From Canada: Current Issues (open access)

Softwood Lumber Imports From Canada: Current Issues

This report examines the status and current issues surrounding Canadian softwood lumber imports since 2006. After providing background information on what constitutes softwood lumber, the stakeholders in the dispute, and the history of the dispute, the report introduces the 2006 SLA and analyzes its impacts on the U.S. lumber industry as well as on the trade relationship between the United States and Canada. Finally, the report discusses the potential issues Congress may consider when the agreement expires in 2015.
Date: August 27, 2015
Creator: Hoover, Katie & Fergusson, Ian F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Former Speakers of the House: Office Allowances, Franking Privileges, and Staff Assistance (open access)

Former Speakers of the House: Office Allowances, Franking Privileges, and Staff Assistance

This report is categorized into Four Categories: (I) Introduction, (II) Background, (III) Allowance Currently Available to Former Speakers and (IV) Funding and Restrictions on Use.
Date: May 27, 2015
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's Essential Health Benefits (EHB) (open access)

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's Essential Health Benefits (EHB)

This report provides an overview of the first component of the essential health benefits (EHB) package--a core package of health care services required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; P.L. 111-148, as amended) for non-group and small-group private health insurance markets. The report examines how the EHB are defined, regulations related to the EHB, state variation in the EHB, applicability of the EHB to health plans, and how the EHB interact with other ACA provisions.
Date: August 27, 2015
Creator: Uberoi, Namrata K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Implementation of Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS): Issues for Congress (open access)

Implementation of Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS): Issues for Congress

This report analyzes data from a variety of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) presentations, testimony, and other sources to present a historical overview of program performance to date. It identifies an ongoing gap between the number of facilities that have received final risk tier assignments and the total number of regulated facilities.
Date: January 27, 2015
Creator: Shea, Dana A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing: Industry Trends, Global Competition, Federal Support (open access)

U.S. Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing: Industry Trends, Global Competition, Federal Support

This report looks at the solar photovoltaic manufacturing industry and its supply chain; employment trends; international trade flows; and federal policy efforts aimed at supporting the industry. It does not cover other methods of solar-power generation, such as concentrating solar power plants.
Date: January 27, 2015
Creator: Platzer, Michaela D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Foreign Heads of State Addressing Congress (open access)

Foreign Heads of State Addressing Congress

This report discusses the historical precedent for an addresses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made before a joint meeting of Congress on March 3, 2015.
Date: February 27, 2015
Creator: Straus, Jacob R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources, by Topic (open access)

Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources, by Topic

This report provides references to analytical reports on cybersecurity from CRS, other government agencies, trade associations, and interest groups. The reports and related websites are grouped under a variety of cybersecurity topics.
Date: February 27, 2015
Creator: Tehan, Rita
System: The UNT Digital Library
The First Responder Network (FirstNet) and Next-Generation Communications for Public Safety: Issues for Congress (open access)

The First Responder Network (FirstNet) and Next-Generation Communications for Public Safety: Issues for Congress

This report provides and introduction to key provisions in the Spectrum Act to improve public safety communications and discusses planning authority, state and local participation, federal governance and other issues regarding the evolving network technologies.
Date: February 27, 2015
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Military Service Records and Unit Histories: A Guide to Locating Sources (open access)

Military Service Records and Unit Histories: A Guide to Locating Sources

This guide provides information on locating military unit histories and individual service records of discharged, retired, and deceased military personnel. It includes contact information for military history centers, websites for additional sources of research, and a bibliography of other publications.
Date: February 27, 2015
Creator: DeBruyne, Nese F.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Commissions: Overview, Structure, and Legislative Considerations (open access)

Congressional Commissions: Overview, Structure, and Legislative Considerations

This report provides an overview and analysis of congressional advisory commissions, information on the general statutory structure of a congressional commission, and a catalog of congressional commissions created since the 101st Congress.
Date: January 27, 2015
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E. & Straus, Jacob R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Periods of War and Dates of Recent Conflicts (open access)

U.S. Periods of War and Dates of Recent Conflicts

This report lists the beginning and ending dates for "periods of war" found in Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It also lists and differentiates other beginning dates given in declarations of war, as well as termination of hostilities dates and armistice and ending dates given in proclamations, laws, or treaties.
Date: February 27, 2015
Creator: Salazar Torreon, Barbara
System: The UNT Digital Library
Locate an Agency or Program Within Appropriations Bills (open access)

Locate an Agency or Program Within Appropriations Bills

This report, generated from House and Senate Appropriations Committee published materials, is intended as a resource to guide individuals seeking to verify sources of appropriations for selected federal agencies and programs. It is not a definitive or comprehensive listing of all federal agencies, programs, projects, or activities that appear in annual appropriations measures from year to year.
Date: February 27, 2015
Creator: Murray, Justin
System: The UNT Digital Library
State Sponsors of Acts of International Terrorism--Legislative Parameters: In Brief (open access)

State Sponsors of Acts of International Terrorism--Legislative Parameters: In Brief

This brief report provides information on legislation that authorizes the designation of any foreign government as a state sponsor of acts of international terrorism.
Date: February 27, 2015
Creator: Rennack, Dianne E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Locate an Agency or Program Within Appropriations Bills (open access)

Locate an Agency or Program Within Appropriations Bills

This report, generated from House and Senate Appropriations Committee published materials, is intended as a resource to guide individuals seeking to verify sources of appropriations for selected federal agencies and programs. It is not a definitive or comprehensive listing of all federal agencies, programs, projects, or activities that appear in annual appropriations measures from year to year.
Date: February 27, 2015
Creator: Murray, Justin
System: The UNT Digital Library
H.R. 399, the Secure Our Borders First Act of 2015: Report in Brief (open access)

H.R. 399, the Secure Our Borders First Act of 2015: Report in Brief

This report provides a summary of select provisions in the Secure Our Borders First Act of 2015 (H.R. 399), which was introduced on January 16, 2015. On January 21, 2015, an amendment in the nature of a substitute to the bill was offered and marked up. The bill was also reported out of the House Homeland Security Committee on January 21, 2015.
Date: January 27, 2015
Creator: Seghetti, Lisa & Bjelopera, Jerome P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
State Sponsors of Acts of International Terrorism--Legislative Parameters: In Brief (open access)

State Sponsors of Acts of International Terrorism--Legislative Parameters: In Brief

This brief report provides information on legislation that authorizes the designation of any foreign government as a state sponsor of acts of international terrorism.
Date: February 27, 2015
Creator: Rennack, Dianne E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Firearms at Army Corps Water Resource Projects: Proposed Legislation and Issues for Congress (open access)

Firearms at Army Corps Water Resource Projects: Proposed Legislation and Issues for Congress

This report discusses issues for Congress regarding public safety and infrastructure security at water resource projects managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Proposed legislation would bar the Secretary of the Army from promulgating or enforcing regulations that prohibit individuals from possessing firearms (including assembled or functional firearms) at Corps projects and instead require that firearms possession comply with state law.
Date: January 27, 2015
Creator: Carter, Nicole T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The America COMPETES Acts: An Overview (open access)

The America COMPETES Acts: An Overview

This report provides an overview of the COMPETES Acts for readers seeking background and legislative context. It includes a description and legislative history of the acts, a summary of the broad policy debate, and an examination of the implementation status of selected COMPETES-related programs and policies. This report also highlights major bills to reauthorize the COMPETES Acts from the 113th Congress.
Date: January 27, 2015
Creator: Gonzalez, Heather B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Commemorative Commissions: Overview, Structure, and Funding (open access)

Commemorative Commissions: Overview, Structure, and Funding

This report discusses the Commemorative Commissions that typically coordinate celebrations, Scholarly events, public gathering, and other activities , often to coincide with a milestone anniversary.
Date: May 27, 2015
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E. & Straus, Jacob R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
DOE’s Office of Science and the FY2016 Budget Request (open access)

DOE’s Office of Science and the FY2016 Budget Request

None
Date: March 27, 2015
Creator: Gonzalez, Heather B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cyberwarfare and Cyberterrorism: In Brief (open access)

Cyberwarfare and Cyberterrorism: In Brief

This report discusses current domestic legal framework surrounding cyber warfare and cyber terrorism. It also points out cyber warfare ecosystem and Use of the Military: Offensive Cyberspace Operations.
Date: March 27, 2015
Creator: Theohary, Catherine A. & Rollins, John W.
System: The UNT Digital Library
EPA and the Army Corps’ Proposed Rule to Define “Waters of the United States" (open access)

EPA and the Army Corps’ Proposed Rule to Define “Waters of the United States"

This report describes the proposed rule and includes a table comparing the existing regulatory language that defines "waters of the United States" with the proposed revisions.
Date: February 27, 2015
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
System: The UNT Digital Library
Technical Support Document for the Clean Water Rule: Definition of Waters of the United States (open access)

Technical Support Document for the Clean Water Rule: Definition of Waters of the United States

A document addressing the legal basis and the existing scientific literature in support of the significant nexus determinations underpinning the Clean Water Rule.
Date: May 27, 2015
Creator: United States. Environmental Protection Agency.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Crime Victims Fund: Federal Support for Victims of Crime (open access)

The Crime Victims Fund: Federal Support for Victims of Crime

This report provides background and funding information for Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) programs and the Crime Victims Fund (CVF). It describes the process through which CVF funds are allocated and explains how the CVF impacts the annual budget for DOJ. It then provides an analysis of selected issues that Congress may consider regarding the CVF and the federal budget.
Date: October 27, 2015
Creator: Sacco, Lisa N.
System: The UNT Digital Library