The Defense Production Act of 1950: History, Authorities, and Reauthorization (open access)

The Defense Production Act of 1950: History, Authorities, and Reauthorization

This report examines some of the history of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA), focusing primarily on its creation and most recent legislative reauthorization. It also discusses the foremost active authorities of the DPA.
Date: June 14, 2013
Creator: Brown, Jared T. & Else, Daniel H.
Object Type: Report
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. It focuses particularly on Bahrain's relationship with Iran and with the United States.
Date: April 1, 2013
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Visa Waiver Program (open access)

Visa Waiver Program

This report discusses the visa waiver program (VWP), which allows for a bypass of the first step by which foreign visitors are screened for admissibility to enter the United States. Some policymakers are concerned that this waiver allows terrorists to more easily enter the country. The report provides waiver-related statistics and related legislation.
Date: February 12, 2014
Creator: Siskin, Alison
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Canada-U.S. Relations (open access)

Canada-U.S. Relations

This report begins with an overview of Canada's political scene, economic conditions, security and foreign policy, and environmental initiatives, focusing particularly on issues that may be relevant to U.S. policymakers. This country survey is followed by several summaries of current bilateral issues in the political, international security, trade, and environmental arenas. The questions following each summary are designed as potential inquiries to Canadian officials to promote thought and discussion among policymakers.
Date: January 2, 2014
Creator: Ek, Carl & Fergusson, Ian F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): A Summary of the Act and Its Major Requirements (open access)

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): A Summary of the Act and Its Major Requirements

This report summarizes the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and its major programs and regulatory requirements. This report includes the drinking water security provisions added to the SDWA by the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-188), and lead reduction provisions as amended by P.L. 111-380. It also outlines amendments made in December 2013 by P.L. 113-64 (H.R. 3588) to explicitly exempt fire hydrants from coverage under the act's lead plumbing restrictions.
Date: February 5, 2014
Creator: Tiemann, Mary
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Health Benefits for Members of Congress and Certain Congressional Staff (open access)

Health Benefits for Members of Congress and Certain Congressional Staff

This report summarizes the provisions of the final rule and describes how it affects current and retired Members and congressional staff. OPM has indicated that Members and congressional staff are still eligible for other health benefits related to federal employment, and these additional health benefits are outlined in this report. This report also discusses Members' and staff's eligibility for Medicare, which does not appear to be affected by the final rule.
Date: February 18, 2014
Creator: Mach, Annie L. & Cornell, Ada S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Unemployment Insurance: Programs and Benefits (open access)

Unemployment Insurance: Programs and Benefits

This report describes three kinds of unemployment benefit programs: regular Unemployment Compensation (UC), Extended Benefits (EB), and Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08). The report explains their basic eligibility requirements, benefits, and financing structure.
Date: February 12, 2014
Creator: Whittaker, Julie M. & Isaacs, Katelin P.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Laws Affecting the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) (open access)

Laws Affecting the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)

This report provides historical and background information that helps explain how Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) has evolved. It focuses solely on changes made to FEHBP through legislative action.
Date: February 18, 2014
Creator: Mach, Annie L. & Cornell, Ada S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Countering Violent Extremism in the United States (open access)

Countering Violent Extremism in the United States

This report provides examples of Administration "combating violent extremism" (CVE) activity and examines some of the risks and challenges evident in the "Strategic Implementation Plan for Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States" (SIP's) three objectives. The report also diagrams and briefly discusses the "future activities and efforts" outlined in the SIP for each of these three objectives.
Date: February 19, 2014
Creator: Bjelopera, Jerome P.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Essential Air Service (EAS): Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

Essential Air Service (EAS): Frequently Asked Questions

This report provides an overview of the Essential Air Service (EAS) program and discusses the changes introduced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014.
Date: February 3, 2014
Creator: Tang, Rachel Y.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy (open access)

The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy

This report discusses the open economy and society of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), provides a general description of the UAE's government and political structure, and outlines the effects of the recent global economic downturn on the UAE in general and on the city of Dubai in particular. It also describes U.S. concern over the proliferation of advanced technology in relation to a recently-signed U.S.-UAE civilian nuclear agreement, due to the UAE economy and the UAE's lax export controls.
Date: February 24, 2014
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Object Type: Report
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: February 27, 2014
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Direct Overt U.S. Aid Appropriations for and Military Reimbursements to Pakistan, FY2002-FY2015 (open access)

Direct Overt U.S. Aid Appropriations for and Military Reimbursements to Pakistan, FY2002-FY2015

This report provides data regarding the direct overt U.S. aid appropriations and military reimbursements to Pakistan.
Date: March 6, 2014
Creator: Kronstadt, K. A. & Epstein, Susan
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Government Assistance for GMAC/Ally Financial: Unwinding the Government Stake (open access)

Government Assistance for GMAC/Ally Financial: Unwinding the Government Stake

This report discusses the auto financing industry, particularly Ally Financial, formerly known as General Motors Acceptance Corporation or GMAC.
Date: February 10, 2014
Creator: Webel, Baird & Canis, Bill
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Affordable Care Act and Small Business: Economic Issues (open access)

The Affordable Care Act and Small Business: Economic Issues

This report explains how employer-sponsored insurance can be used to address concerns about health insurance coverage and cost. Then, it summarizes the three ACA provisions most relevant to small businesses. Also, it analyzes these provisions for their potential effects on small businesses. Last, this report presents several approaches that could address some concerns associated with these provisions (particularly the employer penalty).
Date: February 25, 2014
Creator: Lowry, Sean & Gravelle, Jane G.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Free Trade Agreements: Impact on U.S. Trade and Implications for U.S. Trade Policy (open access)

Free Trade Agreements: Impact on U.S. Trade and Implications for U.S. Trade Policy

This report looks at how free trade areas (FTAs) affect U.S. trade policy, specifically tariffs. It looks closely at the Bush Administration's Trade Promotion Policy, and pending FTAs leftover from this administration. Additionally, it looks at the Obama Administration's work in the prospective Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP).
Date: February 26, 2014
Creator: Cooper, William H.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Early Release for Federal Inmates: Fact Sheet (open access)

Early Release for Federal Inmates: Fact Sheet

This report discusses ways to reduce the size of the federal prison population by reducing the amount of time inmates serve, though such measures as allowing inmates to earn credit toward their sentences for participating in rehabilitative programs.
Date: February 3, 2014
Creator: James, Nathan
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Offender Reentry: Correctional Statistics, Reintegration into the Community, and Recidivism (open access)

Offender Reentry: Correctional Statistics, Reintegration into the Community, and Recidivism

This report provides background information regarding the prison population in the United States that has been growing steadily for more than 30 years. The report presents correctional system statistics and discusses the federal government's involvement in offender reentry programs and the Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) that was enacted on April 9, 2008.
Date: February 25, 2014
Creator: James, Nathan
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism Operations: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism Operations: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and potential issues for Congress on the Navy's irregular warfare (IW) and counterterrorism (CT) operations. The Navy's IW and CT activities pose a number of potential oversight issues for Congress, including the definition of Navy IW activities and how much emphasis to place on IW and CT activities in future Navy budgets.
Date: February 7, 2014
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The President's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): Issues for Congress (open access)

The President's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): Issues for Congress

This report provides an overview of the history of science and technology (S&T) advice to the President and discusses selected issues and options for Congress regarding the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Director, OSTP management and operations, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).
Date: January 13, 2014
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr. & Shea, Dana A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Analysis of STEM Education Funding at the NSF: Trends and Policy Discussion (open access)

An Analysis of STEM Education Funding at the NSF: Trends and Policy Discussion

This report analyzes National Science Foundation funding trends and selected closely-related STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education policy issues to provide fiscal and policy context. It concludes with an analysis of potential policy options.
Date: January 31, 2014
Creator: Gonzalez, Heather B.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy (open access)

Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy

This report offers background information on Ukraine's current political and economic situation, foreign policy towards NATO, the European Union, and Russia. It also discusses U.S. policy, U.S. aid to Ukraine, the congressional response, and other legislation.
Date: February 26, 2014
Creator: Woehrel, Steven
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Salaries of Members of Congress: Congressional Votes, 1990-2013 (open access)

Salaries of Members of Congress: Congressional Votes, 1990-2013

The report contains information on the pay procedure for members of Congress and recent adjustments. It provides information on previous actions and votes by year, from 1990-2010.
Date: February 3, 2014
Creator: Brudnick, Ida A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Independence of Federal Financial Regulators (open access)

Independence of Federal Financial Regulators

This report discusses institutional features that make federal financial regulators (as well as other independent agencies) relatively independent from the President and Congress.
Date: February 24, 2014
Creator: Hogue, Henry B.; Labonte, Marc & Webel, Baird
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library