Texas Register, Volume 42, Number 40, Pages 5283-5590, October 6, 2017 (open access)

Texas Register, Volume 42, Number 40, Pages 5283-5590, October 6, 2017

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 Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents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: October 6, 2017
Creator: Texas. Secretary of State.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Register, Volume 42, Number 43, Pages 5913-6056, October 27, 2017 (open access)

Texas Register, Volume 42, Number 43, Pages 5913-6056, October 27, 2017

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 Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents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: October 27, 2017
Creator: Texas. Secretary of State.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Register, Volume 42, Number 42, Pages 5747-5912, October 20, 2017 (open access)

Texas Register, Volume 42, Number 42, Pages 5747-5912, October 20, 2017

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 Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents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: October 20, 2017
Creator: Texas. Secretary of State.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Register, Volume 42, Number 41, Pages 5591-5746, October 13, 2017 (open access)

Texas Register, Volume 42, Number 41, Pages 5591-5746, October 13, 2017

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: October 13, 2017
Creator: Texas. Secretary of State.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0167 (open access)

Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0167

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether the board of trustees of a public junior college may allow licensed concealed handguns in open meetings of the board of trustees (RQ-0158-KP).
Date: October 3, 2017
Creator: Texas. Attorney-General's Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0170 (open access)

Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0170

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether the term "direct recording electronic voting machine" as used in subsection 121.003(12) of the Election Code includes voting machines that produce paper ballots (RQ-0169-KP).
Date: October 24, 2017
Creator: Texas. Attorney-General's Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0168 (open access)

Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0168

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether section 483 .102 ofthe Health and Safety Code authorizes an eligible prescriber to directly or by standing order prescribe an opioid antagonist to law enforcement agencies (RQ-0181-KP).
Date: October 4, 2017
Creator: Texas. Attorney-General's Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0166 (open access)

Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0166

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Authority of a public school district to operate a transportation system outside of its geographical boundaries under section 34.007 of the Education Code (RQ-0156-KP).
Date: October 3, 2017
Creator: Texas. Attorney-General's Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0169 (open access)

Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0169

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether a municipal utility district may use its surplus funds to repair or replace clustertype mailbox facilities that serve residences in the district (RQ-0160-KP).
Date: October 17, 2017
Creator: Texas. Attorney-General's Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
The North Korean Nuclear Challenge: Military Options and Issues for Congress (open access)

The North Korean Nuclear Challenge: Military Options and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the North Korean nuclear threat and possible military options the U.S. could use to reduce or eliminate the threat. The report begins with a brief overview of the situation, nuclear capabilities of North Korea, and effects military action would have on the region and its stability. Seven military related options are discussed along with possible issues of interest to Congress.
Date: October 27, 2017
Creator: McInnis, Kathleen J.; Feickert, Andrew; Manyin, Mark E.; Hildreth, Steven A.; Nikitin, Mary Beth D. & Chanlett-Avery, Emma
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Workers' Compensation: Overview and Issues (open access)

Workers' Compensation: Overview and Issues

This report discusses workers' compensation programs including common elements and their history. Non-compulsory programs in Texas and Oklahoma are also discussed including the recent ruling that the system in Oklahoma violated their state constitution.
Date: October 18, 2017
Creator: Szymendara, Scott D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Wildfire Management Funding: Background, Issues, and Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations (open access)

Wildfire Management Funding: Background, Issues, and Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations

This report provides an overview of the accounts that fund wildfire management activities and historical wildfire management appropriations data, as well as information on FY2018 appropriations. The Administration requested a combined $3.72 billion in FY2018, a 12% decrease from FY2017 enacted levels. On September 14, 2017, the Housed passed H.R. 3354, an omnibus measure covering all 12 appropriations bills, including the FY2018 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill. This bill would provide $3.85 billion combined for wildfire purposes, an 8% decrease from FY2017 enacted levels and 3% above the Administration's requested levels.
Date: October 31, 2017
Creator: Hoover, Katie
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Christian Holidays: Fact Sheet (open access)

Christian Holidays: Fact Sheet

This report discusses major holidays in Christianity and their significance as well as how American Christians celebrate them. This fact sheet is designed to assist congressional offices with work related to Christian holidays. It contains sample speeches and remarks from the Congressional Record, presidential statements and remarks, and selected historical and cultural resources.
Date: October 31, 2017
Creator: Larson, Elizabeth C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the Coast Guard's plan build a new polar icebreaker to replace a nonoperational one. Costs, past and proposed appropriations, and the general icebreaker program are discussed.
Date: October 24, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Vacancies Act: A Legal Overview (open access)

The Vacancies Act: A Legal Overview

This report first describes how the Vacancies Act operates and outlines its scope, identifying when the Vacancies Act applies to a given office, how it is enforced, and which offices are exempt from its provisions. The report then explains who may serve as an acting officer and for how long, focusing on the limitations the Vacancies Act places on acting service. Finally, the report turns to issues of particular relevance to Congress, primarily highlighting the Vacancies Act's enforcement mechanisms.
Date: October 30, 2017
Creator: Brannon, Valerie C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Presidential Appointments to Full-Time Positions in Executive Departments During the 114th Congress (open access)

Presidential Appointments to Full-Time Positions in Executive Departments During the 114th Congress

This report identifies all nominations submitted to the Senate during the 114th Congress for full-time positions in 15 executive departments. Information for each department is presented in tables. The tables include full-time positions confirmed by the Senate, pay levels for these positions, and appointment action within each executive department. Additional summary information across all 15 executive departments appears in the Appendix. During the 114th Congress, the President submitted 102 nominations to the Senate for full-time positions in executive departments. Of these 102 nominations, 64 were confirmed, 8 were withdrawn, and 30 were returned to him in accordance with Senate rules. For those nominations that were confirmed, a mean (average) of 156.1 days elapsed between nomination and confirmation. The median number of days elapsed was 125.5.
Date: October 31, 2017
Creator: Greene, Michael & Nagel, Jared C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Niger: Frequently Asked Questions About the October 2017 Attack on U.S. Soldiers (open access)

Niger: Frequently Asked Questions About the October 2017 Attack on U.S. Soldiers

This report provides background information in response to the following frequently asked questions regarding the October 4, 2017 attack on U.S. soldiers in Niger: What is the security situation in Niger?, How big is the U.S. military presence in Niger?, For what purposes are U.S. military personnel in Niger, and what role has Congress played in the U.S. military presence there?, Is the U.S. military presence in Niger related to the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF)?, What is the state of U.S.-Niger relations and aid?, Where else in Africa are U.S. military personnel deployed?, Medical evacuation: What is the "golden hour" and does it apply to troop deployments in Africa?, What are the broader implications of building partner capacity in Niger for DOD?, Who were the four U.S. soldiers killed in Niger on October 4?, and What do we know about the alleged perpetrators of the October 4 attack? It also identifies potential issues for Congress as Members look ahead to ongoing and future authorization, appropriations, and oversight activities. A chronology of terrorist attacks in the Sahel and related developments is provided in an Appendix. Additional details surrounding the October 4 ambush and its aftermath may continue …
Date: October 27, 2017
Creator: Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Feickert, Andrew; McInnis, Kathleen J.; Rollins, John W. & Weed, Matthew C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Payments for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Cost-Sharing Reductions (open access)

Payments for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Cost-Sharing Reductions

This report discusses President Trump's announcement that the federal government would stop issuing cost-sharing reductions(CSRs) to insurers under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and potential implications for the insurance market and consumers.
Date: October 25, 2017
Creator: Fernandez, Bernadette
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Child and Dependent Care Tax Benefits: How They Work and Who Receives Them (open access)

Child and Dependent Care Tax Benefits: How They Work and Who Receives Them

This report provides a general overview of the child and dependent care tax benefits, focusing on eligibility requirements and benefit calculation. The report also includes some summary data on these benefits which highlight some of the characteristics of claimants.
Date: October 26, 2017
Creator: Crandall-Hollick, Margot L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress (open access)

Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress

This report discusses the Navy's ship naming practices and the process of choosing new ship names. Methods of Congress expressing support for a name and recent legislation recommending the name "Los Alamos" for the Navy's next nuclear submarine are also included.
Date: October 27, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016: Background and Key Provisions (open access)

The Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016: Background and Key Provisions

This report discuses Federal real property holdings and the disposition process for unneeded space. A new law called the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016 (FASTA) now governs the process of disposal through a newly created Public Buildings Reform Board that reviews requests and provides funding for needed repairs before sale or lease of property. Various challenges addressed by the new system and those that remain are discussed.
Date: October 31, 2017
Creator: Hatch, Garrett
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB): Frequently Asked Questions (open access)

The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB): Frequently Asked Questions

This report responds to frequently asked questions about the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), including the board's background, current status, controversial issues including legal challenges, and recent legislative efforts to repeal the IPAB.
Date: October 31, 2017
Creator: Hahn, Jim; Davis, Christopher M. & Liu, Edward C.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Jewish Holidays: Fact Sheet (open access)

Jewish Holidays: Fact Sheet

This report discusses major Jewish holidays and their significance as well as how American Jews celebrate them. This fact sheet is designed to assist congressional offices with work related to Jewish holidays. It contains sample speeches and remarks from the Congressional Record, presidential proclamations and remarks, and selected historical and cultural resources.
Date: October 31, 2017
Creator: Higgins, Molly
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Navy Lasers, Railgun, and Hypervelocity Projectile: Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Navy Lasers, Railgun, and Hypervelocity Projectile: Background and Issues for Congress

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on three potential new weapons that could improve the ability of Navy surface ships to defend themselves against enemy missiles--solid state lasers (SSLs), the electromagnetic railgun (EMRG), and the hypervelocity projectile (HVP).The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's funding requests and proposed acquisition strategies for these three potential new weapons for the 2018 fiscal year. Congress's decisions on this issue could affect future Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the defense industrial base.
Date: October 17, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library