Women in the United States Congress: Historical Overview, Tables, and Discussion (open access)

Women in the United States Congress: Historical Overview, Tables, and Discussion

This report discusses the impact of women in Congress and historical information, such as the number and percentage of women in Congress over time, means of entry to Congress, comparisons to international and state legislatures, records for tenure, firsts for women in Congress, women in leadership, and African-American and Asian-Pacific American women in Congress.
Date: February 18, 2014
Creator: Manning, Jennifer E.; Shogan, Colleen J. & Brudnick, Ida A.
Object Type: Report
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: February 18, 2014
Creator: Cooper, William H.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Debt Limit Since 2011 (open access)

The Debt Limit Since 2011

This report discusses the federal debt increase. The accumulation of federal debt accelerated in the wake of the 2007-2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession. Rising debt levels, along with continued differences in views of fiscal policy, led to a series of contentious debt limit episodes in recent years.
Date: February 18, 2014
Creator: Austin, D. Andrew
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
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
U.S.-Taiwan Relationship: Overview of Policy Issues (open access)

U.S.-Taiwan Relationship: Overview of Policy Issues

This report is a succinct overview of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship including an analysis of issues. For decades, Taiwan has been of significant security, economic, and political interest to the United States. While the United States does not diplomatically recognize Taiwan, it is a significant autonomous actor in the world.
Date: November 18, 2013
Creator: Kan, Shirley A. & Morrison, Wayne M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08): Current Status of Benefits (open access)

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08): Current Status of Benefits

This report summarizes the structure of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) benefits currently available through December 28, 2013 (December 29, 2013, for New York). It also provides the legislative history of the EUC08 program.
Date: November 18, 2013
Creator: Whittaker, Julie M. & Isaacs, Katelin P.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Medical Child Support: Background and Current Policy (open access)

Medical Child Support: Background and Current Policy

This report describes current federal policy with respect to medical child support. It also examines the potential impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program. It provides a legislative history of medical support provisions in the CSE program and state data on the medical support coverage of children in the CSE program.
Date: December 18, 2013
Creator: Solomon-Fears, Carmen
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Action on FY2014 Appropriations Measures (open access)

Congressional Action on FY2014 Appropriations Measures

This report provides background and analysis with regard to the FY2014 appropriations process. The first section discusses the status of discretionary budget enforcement for FY2014, including the statutory spending limits and allocations under the congressional budget resolution. The second section provides information on the consideration of regular appropriations measures and an overview of their funding levels.
Date: December 18, 2013
Creator: Tollestrup, Jessica
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research (open access)

Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research

Report that discusses: earthquake hazards and risk in the United States, federal programs that support earthquake monitoring, the U.S. capability to detect earthquakes and issue notifications and warnings, and federally supported research to improve the fundamental scientific understanding of earthquakes with a goal of reducing U.S. vulnerability.
Date: July 18, 2013
Creator: Folger, Peter
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress

This report covers Special Operations Forces (SOF) budgets for FY2014 and expected uses of the bugeted money. SOF actions play a significant role in U.S. military operations, and the Administration has given U.S. SOF greater responsibility for planning and conducting worldwide counterterrorism operations.
Date: September 18, 2013
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tax-Advantaged Accounts for Health Care Expenses: Side-by-Side Comparison, 2013 (open access)

Tax-Advantaged Accounts for Health Care Expenses: Side-by-Side Comparison, 2013

This report provides brief summaries of the tax-exempt accounts and compares them with respect to eligibility, contribution limits, use of funds, and other characteristics for tax year 2013. The report concludes with a brief discussion of the usage in these four accounts.
Date: October 18, 2013
Creator: Rapaport, Carol
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tunisia: Recent Developments and Policy Issues (open access)

Tunisia: Recent Developments and Policy Issues

Report that discusses Tunisia's "Jasmine Revolution," the common term for President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's flight from the country following weeks of mounting anti-government protests. This report discusses how the Jasmine Revolution appears to have added momentum to anti-government sentiment in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and other countries. This report discusses Tunisia's pro-democracy movement; concerns over potential instability in a previously secure, pro-Western area; U.S.-Tunisian relations; and Tunisia's push for for a greater focus on trade.
Date: January 18, 2011
Creator: Arieff, Alexis
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

Report that describes the open economy and society of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as U.S. concern over proliferation of advanced technology due to said open economy and the UAE's lax export controls. This report describes these issues in relation to a recently-signed U.S.-UAE civilian nuclear agreement. It also provides a general description of the UAE's government and political structure, as well as the effects of the recent global economic downturn on the UAE in general and on the city of Dubai in particular.
Date: June 18, 2013
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Obama Administration's Proposal to Establish a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (open access)

The Obama Administration's Proposal to Establish a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation

Report that discusses the proposed creation of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). This includes an overview of the topic as well as discussion on the Administration's proposal, preliminary activities, legislative status, and issues for consideration.
Date: June 18, 2013
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agricultural Export Programs: Background and Issues (open access)

Agricultural Export Programs: Background and Issues

Report that discusses the agricultural export programs that aim to develop overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products.
Date: June 18, 2013
Creator: Hanrahan, Charles E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Army's Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) and Early Infantry Brigade Combat Team (E-IBCT) Programs: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

The Army's Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) and Early Infantry Brigade Combat Team (E-IBCT) Programs: Background and Issues for Congress

Report that looks at budget requests for the Army's Future Combat System (FCS) program, Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program, and brigade combat teams (BCTs). It ends with a discussion of potential issues for Congress.
Date: January 18, 2011
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Intelligence Spending and Appropriations: Issues for Congress (open access)

Intelligence Spending and Appropriations: Issues for Congress

This report discusses the historic trend in intelligence spending, as well as broader issues concerning the intelligence budgeting process, and may help Members of Congress contextualize information concerning the FY2013 budget.
Date: September 18, 2013
Creator: Erwin, Marshall C. & Belasco, Amy
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Potential Federal Tax Implications of United States v. Windsor (Striking Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)): Selected Issues (open access)

The Potential Federal Tax Implications of United States v. Windsor (Striking Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)): Selected Issues

This report will provide an overview of the potential federal tax implications for same-sex married couples of the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling in United States v. Windsor, with a focus on the federal income tax. Estate tax issues are also discussed. Importantly, this report focuses on changes in the interpretation and administration of federal tax law that may result from the SCOTUS decision.
Date: July 18, 2013
Creator: Crandall-Hollick, Margot L.; Sherlock, Molly F. & Pettit, Carol A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The National Voter Registration Act of 1993: History, Implementation, and Effects (open access)

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993: History, Implementation, and Effects

This report discusses the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. §1973–1973aa-6), which required states to establish voter registration procedures for federal elections so that eligible citizens might apply to register to vote (1) simultaneously while applying for a driver's license, (2) by mail, and (3) at selected state and local offices that serve the public. The law took effect on January 1, 1995, for most states.
Date: September 18, 2013
Creator: Crocker, Royce
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: Available Health Insurance Options (open access)

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: Available Health Insurance Options

Report that discusses the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), which provides health insurance coverage to about 8 million government workers.
Date: November 18, 2010
Creator: Chaikind, Hinda & Newsom, Mark
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape (open access)

The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape

The report discusses the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-Related Congressional Actions in the 112th Congress.
Date: November 18, 2013
Creator: Figliola, Patricia Moloney
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Improper Payments and Recovery Audits: Legislation, Implementation, and Analysis (open access)

Improper Payments and Recovery Audits: Legislation, Implementation, and Analysis

This report discusses the reports on improper payments and recovery audits that were first issued for FY2004 and the efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate billions of dollars in improper payments made by federal agencies each fiscal year, Congress passed the Improper Payments Information Act (IPIA; P.L. 107-300; 116 Stat. 2350) in 2002.
Date: October 18, 2013
Creator: Hatch, Garrett
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Army Corps of Engineers: Water Resource Authorizations, Appropriations, and Activities (open access)

Army Corps of Engineers: Water Resource Authorizations, Appropriations, and Activities

This report summarizes congressional authorization and appropriations processes for the Corps. It also discusses agency activities under general authorities. Congress directs the Corps through authorizations, appropriations, and oversight of its studies, construction projects, and other activities.
Date: October 18, 2013
Creator: Carter, Nicole T. & Stern, Charles V.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library