Kyrgyzstan: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests (open access)

Kyrgyzstan: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests

This report examines Kyrgyzstan's uneven political and economic reform efforts. It discusses U.S. policy and assistance for democratization and other programs. Basic facts and biographical information are provided.
Date: August 30, 2013
Creator: Nichol, Jim
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Farm Income (open access)

U.S. Farm Income

This report provides the highlights of 2013 farm income forecast. The report discusses farm asset values and debt, and average farm household income. It also provides annual figures regarding U.S. farms.
Date: August 30, 2013
Creator: Schnepf, Randy
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
GAO Bid Protests: Trends and Analysis (open access)

GAO Bid Protests: Trends and Analysis

This report provides an overview of the time frames and procedures in a Government Accountability Office (GAO) bid protest, including (1) what issues can be protested with GAO; (2) who can file or be a party to a GAO protest; (3) the procedures for bringing and resolving GAO protests; (4) the time frames involved in GAO protests; (5) the automatic stay of contract award or performance triggered by a GAO protest, as well as the basis for agency overrides of automatic stays and judicial review of agency override determinations; (6) the basis and effects of GAO decisions; and (7) reconsideration and "appeal" of GAO decisions.
Date: August 9, 2013
Creator: Manuel, Kate M.; Schwartz, Moshe & Martinez, Lucy P.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carrier (CVN) Homeporting at Mayport: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carrier (CVN) Homeporting at Mayport: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Navy's proposal to homeport a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN) at Mayport, FL. Transferring a CVN from Norfolk, VA, to Mayport would shift from Norfolk to Mayport the local economic activity associated with homeporting a CVN, which some sources estimate as being worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year.
Date: August 8, 2013
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Member Organizations: Their Purpose and Activities, History, and Formation (open access)

Congressional Member Organizations: Their Purpose and Activities, History, and Formation

This report examines the purpose and activities of Committee on House Administration as congressional Member organizations (CMO) and the reasons Members form them. It also identifies and describes seven CMO types, and it provides an overview of the historical development of informal Member organizations since the first Congress, focusing on their regulation in the House by the Committee on House Oversight/Committee on House Administration, the rise and fall of legislative service organizations (LSOs), and the House's decision in 1995 to issue regulations for establishing CMOs and governing their behavior. It concludes with a step-by-step guide for House Members and staff who might be interested in forming a CMO.
Date: August 28, 2013
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay & Gerrity, Jessica C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell": A Legal Analysis (open access)

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell": A Legal Analysis

This report provides a legal analysis of the various constitutional challenges that have been brought against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT)".
Date: August 6, 2013
Creator: Feder, Jody
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act: History, Impact, and Issues (open access)

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act: History, Impact, and Issues

This report examines debates regarding what constitutes an "unfunded federal mandate" and the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995's (UMRA) implementation. It focuses on UMRA's requirement that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issue written cost estimate statements for federal mandates in legislation, its procedures for raising points of order in the House and Senate concerning unfunded federal mandates in legislation, and its requirement that federal agencies prepare written cost estimate statements for federal mandates in rules. It also assesses UMRA's impact on federal mandates and arguments concerning UMRA's future, focusing on UMRA's definitions, exclusions, and exceptions which currently exempt many federal actions with potentially significant financial impacts on nonfederal entities.
Date: August 29, 2013
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay & Beth, Richard S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies (open access)

Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies

This report provides a list of roughly 200 congressional liaison offices, and is intended to help congressional offices in placing telephone calls and addressing correspondence to government agencies.
Date: August 13, 2013
Creator: Crane-Hirsch, Audrey C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
War Powers Resolution: Presidential Compliance (open access)

War Powers Resolution: Presidential Compliance

Report that gives a summary of the usage of the War Powers Resolution (WPR) and various issues related to proposals to modify or repeal the resolution. The report summarizes most recent developments and background, and gives an overview of United Nations actions, and WPR activities in former Yugoslavia/Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq (post-1991), Haiti, and Somalia.
Date: August 30, 2012
Creator: Grimmett, Richard F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program: Background, Funding, and Activities (open access)

The Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program: Background, Funding, and Activities

Report discussing the federal government's role in the country's information technology (IT) research and development (R&D) activities.
Date: August 30, 2012
Creator: Moloney Figliola, Patricia
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

Report that provides background information and potential issues for Congress on the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and concerns Congress has for complications within the LCS program.
Date: August 10, 2012
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and potential issues for Congress on the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), a relatively inexpensive Navy surface combatant equipped with modular "plug-and-fight" mission packages for countering mines, small boats, and diesel-electric submarines, particularly in littoral (i.e., near-shore) waters.
Date: August 6, 2013
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) program, which is carried out by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Navy, and gives Navy Aegis cruisers and destroyers a capability for conducting BMD operations. Congress's decisions on the Aegis BMD program could significantly affect U.S. BMD capabilities and funding requirements, and the BMD-related industrial base.
Date: August 6, 2013
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
China's Holdings of U.S. Securities: Implications for the U.S. Economy (open access)

China's Holdings of U.S. Securities: Implications for the U.S. Economy

This report examines the importance to the U.S. economy of China's investment in U.S. securities, as well as the policy implications of its holdings for both the United States and China.
Date: August 19, 2013
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M. & Labonte, Marc
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The National Nanotechnology Initiative: Overview, Reauthorization, and Appropriations Issues (open access)

The National Nanotechnology Initiative: Overview, Reauthorization, and Appropriations Issues

This report provides an overview of nanotechnology, the National Nanotechnology Initiative, possible reauthorization of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-153), and appropriations issues.
Date: August 9, 2013
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The National Nanotechnology Initiative: Overview, Reauthorization, and Appropriations Issues (open access)

The National Nanotechnology Initiative: Overview, Reauthorization, and Appropriations Issues

This report provides an overview of nanotechnology, the National Nanotechnology Initiative, possible reauthorization of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-153), and appropriations issues.
Date: August 29, 2013
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
International Drug Control Policy: Background and U.S. Responses (open access)

International Drug Control Policy: Background and U.S. Responses

The report provides background information on drug cultivation, drug trafficking and the consequences of drug trade. This report discusses challenges created by the global illegal drug trade, including: undermining political and regional stability, bolstering the role and capabilities of transnational criminal organizations in the drug trade, and the burden caused by drug use an addition on local communities and economic development. In addition, this report discusses U.S. policy efforts to thwart illegal drug trade.
Date: August 13, 2013
Creator: Wyler, Liana Sun
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects (open access)

Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects

This report discusses the causes, processes, and effects of federal government shutdowns, including potential issues for Congress.
Date: August 6, 2013
Creator: Brass, Clinton T.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Potential Trade Effects of Adding Vietnam to the Generalized System of Preferences Program (open access)

Potential Trade Effects of Adding Vietnam to the Generalized System of Preferences Program

Report that looks at the effects of adding Vietnam to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) as a "developing country."
Date: August 14, 2012
Creator: Jones, Vivian C. & Martin, Michael F.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Defense Surplus Equipment Disposal: Background Information (open access)

Defense Surplus Equipment Disposal: Background Information

This report discusses the Department of Defense (DOD) policy via the Defense Utilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for disposing of government equipment and supplies considered surplus or deemed unnecessary to the agency's currently designated mission. The report focuses on DRMS background, as well as the most recent DRMS policy modifications.
Date: August 22, 2013
Creator: Bailey Grasso, Valerie
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) class aircraft carrier program. Congress's decisions on the CVN-78 program could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: August 6, 2013
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Agricultural Disaster Assistance (open access)

Agricultural Disaster Assistance

This report has four sections. The first describes recent developments in weather and policy. The second provides an overview of the current USDA disaster assistance programs: federal crop insurance, NAP payments, and emergency disaster loans. The third section discusses the now expired disaster programs under the 2008 farm bill, specifically Supplemental Revenue, Assistance Payments Program (SURE), and four other smaller disaster programs. The fourth section briefly reviews the potential reauthorization of disaster programs proposed in both House and Senate versions of the 2013 farm bill. An appendix reviews the recent history of emergency supplemental farm disaster assistance and USDA administrative actions.
Date: August 29, 2013
Creator: Shields, Dennis A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Uzbekistan: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests (open access)

Uzbekistan: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests

This report discusses the U.S. policy toward the Central Asia. It provides background information and most recent developments in Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. U.S. objectives have included promoting free markets, democratization, human rights, energy development, and the forging of East-West and Central Asia-South Asia trade links.
Date: August 21, 2013
Creator: Nichol, Jim
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oman: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Oman: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy

Report that describes the relationship between the United States and the Sultanate of Oman, especially with respect to Oman's support of U.S. efforts toward peace in the Middle East, the U.S. free trade agreement with Oman, and Oman's relatively close relations with Iran, the last of which seems incongruous with the other positive aspects of Oman's relationship with the U.S.
Date: August 30, 2012
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library