Texas Register, Volume 41, Number 5, Pages 711-864, January 29, 2016 (open access)

Texas Register, Volume 41, Number 5, Pages 711-864, January 29, 2016

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.
Date: January 29, 2016
Creator: Texas. Secretary of State.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
The Good Cause Exception to Notice and Comment Rulemaking: Judicial Review of Agency Action (open access)

The Good Cause Exception to Notice and Comment Rulemaking: Judicial Review of Agency Action

This report will examine judicial analysis of the good cause standard and map several factors that lead courts to uphold or reject agencies' invocation of the exception. Federal agencies issue numerous rules pursuant to congressionally delegated authority. The Administrative Procedure Act's (APA's) "good cause" exception, however, permits agencies to forgo Section 553's notice and comment requirement if "the agency for good cause finds" that compliance would be "impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest" and to bypass its requirement that rules be published 30 days before implementation if good cause exists.
Date: January 29, 2016
Creator: Cole, Jared P.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
International Trade and Finance: Key Policy Issues for the 114th Congress, 2nd Session (open access)

International Trade and Finance: Key Policy Issues for the 114th Congress, 2nd Session

This report provides a brief overview of some of the trade and finance issues that may come before the second session of the 114th Congress.
Date: February 29, 2016
Creator: Irace, Mary A. & Akhtar, Shayerah I.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
GI Bills Enacted Prior to 2008 and Related Veterans' Educational Assistance Programs: A Primer (open access)

GI Bills Enacted Prior to 2008 and Related Veterans' Educational Assistance Programs: A Primer

This report describes the GI Bills enacted prior to 2008. Although participation in the programs has ended or is declining, the programs' evolution and provisions inform current policy. Included is a description of the eligibility requirements, eligible programs of education, benefit availability, and benefits. The report also provides some summary statistics, comparisons between the programs, and brief discussions of related programs.
Date: January 29, 2016
Creator: Dortch, Cassandria
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): Size and Characteristics of the Cash Assistance Caseload (open access)

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): Size and Characteristics of the Cash Assistance Caseload

This report examines the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance caseload, focusing on how the composition and characteristics of families receiving assistance have changed over time.
Date: January 29, 2016
Creator: Falk, Gene
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Obama Administration's Feed the Future Initiative (open access)

The Obama Administration's Feed the Future Initiative

This report discusses the features of "Feed the Future" (FTF), a major foreign assistance initiative designed to alleviate global poverty and improve health and food security. Key issues addressed include the origin, intent, and government-wide inter-agency development approach of FTF; FTF program implementation, including monitoring and evaluation issues; and funding. This report also raises possible oversight issues for Congress.
Date: January 29, 2016
Creator: Lawson, Marian L.; Schnepf, Randy & Cook, Nicolas
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congress and the Budget: 2016 Actions and Events (open access)

Congress and the Budget: 2016 Actions and Events

The Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse, but does not dictate how Congress must fulfill this constitutional duty. Congress has, therefore, developed certain types of budgetary legislation, along with rules and practices that govern its content and consideration. This set of budgetary legislation, rules, and practices is often referred to as the congressional budget process. This report seeks to assist in anticipating what budget-related actions might occur within the upcoming year, and staying abreast of budget actions that occur this year. It provides a general description of the recurrent types of budgetary actions, and reflects on current events that unfold in each category during 2016.
Date: January 29, 2016
Creator: Driessen, Grant A. & Lynch, Megan S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Apprenticeship in the United States: Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

Apprenticeship in the United States: Frequently Asked Questions

This report answers frequently asked questions about apprenticeship and the federal activities that support this training approach. Apprenticeship is a job training strategy that combines on-the-job training with related instruction, typically provided in a classroom setting.
Date: January 29, 2016
Creator: Collins, Benjamin
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Article V Convention to Propose Constitutional Amendments: Contemporary Issues for Congress (open access)

The Article V Convention to Propose Constitutional Amendments: Contemporary Issues for Congress

Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides two ways to amend the nation's fundamental charter. Congress, by a two-thirds vote of both houses, may propose amendments to the states for ratification, a procedure that has been used for all 27 current amendments. This report identifies a range of policy questions Congress might face if an Article V Convention seemed imminent.
Date: March 29, 2016
Creator: Neale, Thomas H.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nigeria's Boko Haram: Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

Nigeria's Boko Haram: Frequently Asked Questions

This report explores several questions that have been often asked in relation to the Boko Haram, a violent Islamist insurgent group originally based in northeast Nigeria, the impact of its attacks, and the response of the Nigerian government and other international actors, including the United States.
Date: March 29, 2016
Creator: Blanchard, Lauren P.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Texas Register, Volume 41, Number 18, Pages 3015-3204, April 29, 2016 (open access)

Texas Register, Volume 41, Number 18, Pages 3015-3204, April 29, 2016

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.
Date: April 29, 2016
Creator: Texas. Secretary of State.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Register, Volume 41, Number 31, Pages 5477-5630, July 29, 2016 (open access)

Texas Register, Volume 41, Number 31, Pages 5477-5630, July 29, 2016

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.
Date: July 29, 2016
Creator: Texas. Secretary of State.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Issues (open access)

FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Issues

This report provides a brief synopsis of sections in each bill (H.R. 4909 as passed by the House on May 26, 2016, and S. 2943 as passed by the Senate on July 21, 2016) that pertain to selected personnel policies. These include issues such as military end-strengths, pay and benefits, military healthcare (TRICARE), military retirement, and other major policy issues.
Date: July 29, 2016
Creator: Kamarck, Kristy N.; Jansen, Don J.; Kapp, Lawrence; Mason, R. C. & Torreon, Barbara Salazar
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce: Background, Analysis, and Questions for Congress (open access)

The Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce: Background, Analysis, and Questions for Congress

This report provides background on the Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition workforce. Specifically, the report addresses the following questions: 1. What is the acquisition workforce? 2. What is the current size of the acquisition workforce? 3. How has Congress sought to improve the acquisition workforce in the past? 4. What are some potential questions for Congress to explore in the area of acquisition workforce management to improve acquisitions?
Date: July 29, 2016
Creator: Schwartz, Moshe; Francis, Kathryn A. & O'Connor, Charles V.
Object Type: Report
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: September 29, 2016
Creator: Salazar Torreon, Barbara
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Benefits and Services for People with Low Income: Overview of Spending Trends, FY2008-FY2015 (open access)

Federal Benefits and Services for People with Low Income: Overview of Spending Trends, FY2008-FY2015

This report is the most recent in a series that attempts to identify and discuss programs that provide federal benefits and services targeted toward low-income populations, focusing on aggregate spending trends. The report looks at federal low-income spending from FY2008 (at the onset of the 2007-2009 recession) through FY2015 (after implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or ACA).
Date: July 29, 2016
Creator: Spar, Karen & Falk, Gene
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Digital Searches and Seizures: Overview of Proposed Amendments to Rule 41 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure (open access)

Digital Searches and Seizures: Overview of Proposed Amendments to Rule 41 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure

This report provides a brief overview of the proposed amendment to Rule 41. First, it provides a background on the origin of, and rationale underlying, the proposed amendment and a description of the rule as currently written. Second, it reviews the potential changes made by the proposed amendment and will survey various concerns commenters have raised with the proposal. Lastly, this report addresses efforts being made in Congress to alter, delay, or stop this rule change.
Date: June 29, 2016
Creator: Thompson, Richard M., II
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Economic Development Administration: FY2016 Appropriations (open access)

Economic Development Administration: FY2016 Appropriations

This report discusses budget issues for the Economic Development Administration (EDA), which was created pursuant to the enactment of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, with the objective of fostering growth in economically distressed areas characterized by high levels of unemployment and low per-capita income levels.
Date: July 29, 2016
Creator: Boyd, Eugene
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Human Trafficking and Forced Labor: Trends in Import Restrictions (open access)

Human Trafficking and Forced Labor: Trends in Import Restrictions

This report discusses issues regarding a provision against forced labor in the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307), which prohibited from import into the United States "all goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in any foreign country by convict labor or/and forced labor or/and indentured labor under penal sanctions" (Section 307 of the Act).
Date: July 29, 2016
Creator: Rosen, Liana W.; Villarreal, M. A. & Feng, Ashley
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Outgoing and Incoming Administrations (open access)

Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Outgoing and Incoming Administrations

This report discusses issues surrounding the transition of Presidential power, including the variety of events, decisions, and activities contribute to it.
Date: September 29, 2016
Creator: Halchin, L. E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The "Waters of the United States" Rule: Legislative Options and 114th Congress Responses (open access)

The "Waters of the United States" Rule: Legislative Options and 114th Congress Responses

This report discusses legislative activity in the 114th Congress regarding a major regulatory initiative related to the "waters of the United States" rule. Despite the court's stay of the rule, some in Congress favor halting the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) and the Corps' current approach to defining "waters of the United States."
Date: December 29, 2016
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Interim Report to the 85th Texas Legislature: House Select Committee on Mental Health (open access)

Interim Report to the 85th Texas Legislature: House Select Committee on Mental Health

Report from the Texas House Committee on Mental Health describing the group's goals, activities, accomplishments, and other information, for review by the 85th Texas Legislature.
Date: December 29, 2016
Creator: Texas. Legislature. House of Representatives. Select Committee on Mental Health.
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas State Law Library Requests for Legislative Appropriations: 2018 and 2019 (open access)

Texas State Law Library Requests for Legislative Appropriations: 2018 and 2019

Report submitted by the Texas State Law Library to the Texas 85th regular legislature requesting appropriations to fund programming and activities. It includes an overview of the institution's goals, summaries of appropriations requests for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, and supporting documentation.
Date: July 29, 2016
Creator: Texas. State Law Library.
Object Type: Book
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Tenth Court of Appeals Annual Financial Report: 2016 (open access)

Texas Tenth Court of Appeals Annual Financial Report: 2016

Annual financial report of the Texas Tenth Court of Appeals documenting income, expenditures, and other relevant financial information for fiscal year 2016.
Date: September 29, 2016
Creator: Texas. Court of Appeals (10th)
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History