Texas Register, Volume 39, Number 49, Pages 9431-9636, December 5, 2014 (open access)

Texas Register, Volume 39, Number 49, Pages 9431-9636, December 5, 2014

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 Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents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: December 5, 2014
Creator: Texas. Secretary of State.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Register, Volume 39, Number 51, Pages 9761-10094, December 19, 2014 (open access)

Texas Register, Volume 39, Number 51, Pages 9761-10094, December 19, 2014

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 Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents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: December 19, 2014
Creator: Texas. Secretary of State.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Register, Volume 39, Number 49, Pages 9431-9636, December 5, 2014 (open access)

Texas Register, Volume 39, Number 49, Pages 9431-9636, December 5, 2014

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 Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents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: December 5, 2014
Creator: Texas. Secretary of State.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Register, Volume 39, Number 50, Pages 9637-9760, December 12, 2014 (open access)

Texas Register, Volume 39, Number 50, Pages 9637-9760, December 12, 2014

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: December 12, 2014
Creator: Texas. Secretary of State.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Register, Volume 39, Number 52, Pages 10095-10560, December 26, 2014 (open access)

Texas Register, Volume 39, Number 52, Pages 10095-10560, December 26, 2014

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: December 26, 2014
Creator: Texas. Secretary of State.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2015 Budget and Appropriations (open access)

State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2015 Budget and Appropriations

This report tracks the FY2015 State Department, Foreign Operations and Related Programs appropriations process. It includes information about recent actions, current requests and past trends, state operations and related agencies, and foreign operations.
Date: December 8, 2014
Creator: Epstein, Susan B.; Tiersky, Alex & Lawson, Marian L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Strategy: In Brief (open access)

The Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Strategy: In Brief

This report briefly analyzes the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Strategy (HSRS), which is the key strategic document released by the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force established by executive order. This report also discusses overarching issues for Congress that may arise during oversight of the Hurricane Sandy recovery process and how lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy can be applied to future disasters.
Date: December 4, 2014
Creator: Brown, Jared T.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Attorney General Nominations Since the Reagan Administration (open access)

Attorney General Nominations Since the Reagan Administration

On November 9, 2014, President Obama announced his intention to nominate U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch to replace Eric H. Holder Jr. as Attorney General (AG). Presidents have nominated a total of 11 individuals, including Lynch, for the position of AG since the beginning of the Reagan Administration in 1981. This report provides a table with information regarding these 11 nominations.
Date: December 4, 2014
Creator: Carey, Maeve P. & Greene, Michael
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Receipt of Gifts by Federal Employees in the Executive Branch (open access)

The Receipt of Gifts by Federal Employees in the Executive Branch

This report provides information on the federal statutes, regulations, and guidelines concerning the restrictions on the acceptance of gifts and things of value by officers or employees in the executive branch of the United States government.
Date: December 5, 2014
Creator: Maskell, Jack
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Help America Vote Act and Election Administration: Overview and Issues (open access)

The Help America Vote Act and Election Administration: Overview and Issues

The deadlocked November 2000 presidential election focused national attention on previously obscure details of election administration. Even before the U.S. Supreme Court had resolved the election in December, numerous bills to address the failings of the election system were introduced in Congress and state legislatures. The response at the federal level was the Help America Vote Act (HAVA; P.L. 107-252), enacted in 2002. HAVA created the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), established a set of election administration requirements, and provided federal funding, but did not supplant state and local control over election administration. Several issues have arisen or persisted in the years since HAVA was enacted. This report provides background information about HAVA and its provisions, the EAC, funding for the agency and for state programs to improve elections, and a number of enduring election administration issues.
Date: December 5, 2014
Creator: Coleman, Kevin J. & Fischer, Eric A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Peace Corps: Current Issues (open access)

The Peace Corps: Current Issues

The report discusses the President's annual funding request for the Peace Corps, efforts to reauthorize the Peace Corps, and related issues. Current issues include the extent to which there is available funding for Peace Corps expansion, whether the Peace Corps has the institutional capacity to expand, and whether volunteers are able to function in a safe and secure environment.
Date: December 2, 2014
Creator: Tarnoff, Curt
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
EPA Delays Decision on 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard to 2015 (open access)

EPA Delays Decision on 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard to 2015

This report discusses the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that sets the annual minimum use requirements for biofuels in the nation's transportation fuel supply.
Date: December 1, 2014
Creator: McMinimy, Mark A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
"Living Wills": The Legal Regime for Constructing Resolution Plans for Certain Financial Institutions (open access)

"Living Wills": The Legal Regime for Constructing Resolution Plans for Certain Financial Institutions

One of the chief objectives of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (DFA) is to promote financial stability within the United States, without the need for emergency governmental assistance to troubled firms. To achieve this goal, the DFA establishes a heightened regulatory regime for certain, generally large "covered financial institutions." A pillar of this heightened regulatory regime is that each covered financial institution must submit "credible" plans to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) detailing how the firm could be quickly resolved in an orderly fashion under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or other applicable insolvency regime "in the event of a material financial distress or failure." These resolution plans are commonly referred to as "living wills." This report reviews the legal structure of the DFA's living will requirements, pursuant to both DFA Section 165(d) and the regulations and guidance issued jointly by the FRB and FDIC, and explains the August 2014 joint announcement of the FRB and FDIC regarding the inadequacies of the 2013 living wills filed by the 11 largest, most complex financial institutions in the country. This report also examines some of the steps …
Date: December 4, 2014
Creator: Carpenter, David H.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses (open access)

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

This report discusses the reasons that Iran is considered a threat to U.S. security, including Iran's nuclear program, involvement with terrorist organizations, and involvement with neighboring countries' local governments. It also discusses ways in which the U.S. hopes to modify Iran's behavior with sanctions, and the effectiveness of these sanctions.
Date: December 17, 2014
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The First Day of a New Congress: A Guide to Proceedings on the House Floor (open access)

The First Day of a New Congress: A Guide to Proceedings on the House Floor

This report focuses on the floor activities of the House during its first formal session in a new Congress, and serves as a guide for those participating in or watching these proceedings.
Date: December 5, 2014
Creator: Schneider, Judy & Koempel, Michael L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Hospital-Based Emergency Departments: Background and Policy Considerations (open access)

Hospital-Based Emergency Departments: Background and Policy Considerations

This report describes Emergency departments (EDs), the role they play in the health care delivery system, and current federal involvement in supporting EDs. It then discusses the causes and consequences of three commonly identified and interrelated challenges that EDs face: (1) crowding, (2) providing repeat care to a subset of patients who are frequent users, and (3) providing care to a large population who have behavioral health conditions when an ED lacks the appropriate resources to provide such treatment. The report concludes with policy options that Congress may consider to potentially improve ED functioning and reduce payer costs.
Date: December 8, 2014
Creator: Heisler, Elayne J. & Tyler, Nancy Leigh
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Jordan: Background and U.S. Relations (open access)

Jordan: Background and U.S. Relations

This report provides an overview of Jordanian politics and current issues in U.S.-Jordanian relations. It provides a brief discussion of Jordan's government and economy and of its cooperation with U.S. policy objectives in the Middle East, including the promotion of Arab- Israeli peace.
Date: December 2, 2014
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
FY2015 Budget Requests to Counter Ebola and the Islamic State (IS) (open access)

FY2015 Budget Requests to Counter Ebola and the Islamic State (IS)

This report discusses the emergency request for the U.S. Ebola response and provides data on health and human services funds for Ebola and other infectious diseases.
Date: December 4, 2014
Creator: Epstein, Susan B.; Lister, Sarah A.; Belasco, Amy & Jansen, Don J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Taxation of Internet Sales and Access: Legal Issues (open access)

Taxation of Internet Sales and Access: Legal Issues

This report first looks at the Constitution's requirement of nexus, including an examination of whether recent state laws comply with the nexus standard and federal legislation that would affect the standard. It then looks at the scope of the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) moratorium on multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce and taxes on Internet access.
Date: December 1, 2014
Creator: Lunder, Erika K.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The "Islamic State" Crisis and U.S. Policy (open access)

The "Islamic State" Crisis and U.S. Policy

This report discusses the problems facing Iraq as the Islamic State (IS, aka the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, ISIL/ISIS) gains power in the region. IS is a transnational Sunni Islamist insurgent and terrorist group that has expanded its control over areas of northwestern Iraq and northeastern Syria since 2013, threatening the security of both countries and drawing increased attention from the international community. The Islamic State has thrived in the disaffected Sunni Muslim-inhabited areas of Iraq and in the remote provinces of Syria torn by the civil war. The Islamic State's tactics have drawn the ire of the international community, increasing U.S. attention on Iraq's political problems and on the civil war in Syria.
Date: December 8, 2014
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth; Blanchard, Christopher M.; Humud, Carla E.; Margesson, Rhoda & Weed, Matthew C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Rail Transportation of Crude Oil: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

U.S. Rail Transportation of Crude Oil: Background and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the challenges in the transportation of oil, as refineries that once received crude oil principally from oceangoing tankers are now seeing increasing deliveries by domestic transport. It also outlines possible issues for Congress including rail transport of oil versus pipelines, and the possible increase of oil spills from rail transport.
Date: December 4, 2014
Creator: Frittelli, John; Andrews, Anthony; Parfomak, Paul W.; Pirog, Robert; Ramseur, Jonathan L. & Ratner, Michael
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Israel: Background and U.S. Relations (open access)

Israel: Background and U.S. Relations

This report describes issues related to U.S. aid provided to Palestine to support prevention/combating against terrorism, creating coexistence with Israel and self-governance, and meeting humanitarian needs. In includes introductory and historical background as well as in-depth analysis of the types of U.S. bilateral aid to Palestine, U.S. contributions to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the near East (UNRWA), and the issues involved in determining future aid.
Date: December 8, 2014
Creator: Zanotti, Jim
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
What Is the Current State of the Economic Recovery? (open access)

What Is the Current State of the Economic Recovery?

This report discusses the U.S. economy's recovery from the 2007-2009 recession.
Date: December 1, 2014
Creator: Elwell, Craig K.
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 with phone numbers, addresses, and other contact information.
Date: December 2, 2014
Creator: Crane-Hirsch, Audrey C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library