Encryption and Evolving Technology: Implications for U.S. Law Enforcement Investigations (open access)

Encryption and Evolving Technology: Implications for U.S. Law Enforcement Investigations

This report provides an overview of the perennial issue involving technology outpacing law enforcement and discusses how policy makers and law enforcement officials have dealt with this issue in the past. It also outlines the current debate surrounding smartphone data encryption and how this may impact U.S. law enforcement operations, as well as existing law enforcement capabilities, the debate over whether law enforcement is "going dark" because of rapid technological advances, and resulting issues that policy makers may consider.
Date: February 18, 2016
Creator: Finklea, Kristin
System: The UNT Digital Library
General and Flag Officers in the U.S. Armed Forces: Background and Considerations for Congress (open access)

General and Flag Officers in the U.S. Armed Forces: Background and Considerations for Congress

This report provides an overview of active duty general and flag officers (GFOs) in the United States Armed Forces-- including authorizations, duties, and compensation--historical trends in the proportion of GFOs relative to the total force, criticisms and justifications of GFO to total force proportions, and statutory controls. National Guard and Reserve GFOs are not addressed in this report, unless they are serving on active duty in a manner that counts against the active duty caps on GFOs.
Date: February 18, 2016
Creator: Kapp, Lawrence
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC): In Brief (open access)

The Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC): In Brief

This report describes the eligibility criteria for the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) and the types of health insurance to which the tax credit may be applied. The tax credit's purpose is to make the purchase of health insurance more affordable for eligible individuals. The HCTC has a sunset date of January 1, 2020. The report also briefly describes the administration of the HCTC program and receipt of the credit by eligible taxpayers; it concludes with a summary of the HCTC's statutory history.
Date: February 18, 2016
Creator: Fernandez, Bernadette
System: The UNT Digital Library
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV): Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV): Background and Issues for Congress

This report discusses the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), which is an Army-led, multi-service initiative to develop a family of light tactical vehicles as a successor to the High Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs). It includes background information; a description of the JLTV program, program history, and program activities; information about the JLTV contract, Lockheed Martin's protest to the program, budgetary issues, and potential issues for Congress.
Date: February 18, 2016
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
System: The UNT Digital Library
Legislative Options for Financing Water Infrastructure (open access)

Legislative Options for Financing Water Infrastructure

This report addresses several options considered by Congress to address the financing needs of local communities for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects and to decrease or close the gap between available funds and projected needs. Possible options include expanding or modifying current programs, establishing long-term revenue to support programs, or encouraging private participation in financing projects.
Date: February 18, 2016
Creator: Copeland, Claudia; Maguire, Steven & Mallett, William J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Recovery Act Funding for DOE Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) Projects (open access)

Recovery Act Funding for DOE Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) Projects

This report discusses current legislation regarding the potential of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) as a mitigation strategy for lowering global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). Congress has appropriated more than $7 billion since FY2008 to CCS activities at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Date: February 18, 2016
Creator: Folger, Peter
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Role of Local and Regional Food Systems in U.S. Farm Policy (open access)

The Role of Local and Regional Food Systems in U.S. Farm Policy

This report provides background information on many of the type of operations engaged in the U.S. local and regional food system. A wide range of farm businesses are involved in local foods, such as direct-to-consumer marketing, farmers' markets, farm-to-school programs, community-supported agriculture,6 community gardens, school gardens, food hubs and market aggregators, kitchen incubators, and mobile slaughter units. This report also highlights some of the available resources within existing federal programs administered by USDA and other agencies.
Date: February 18, 2016
Creator: Johnson, Renée
System: The UNT Digital Library
Temporary Protected Status: Current Immigration Policy and Issues (open access)

Temporary Protected Status: Current Immigration Policy and Issues

This report is a brief overview of current policies regarding temporary protected status (TPS), which is relief from removal under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). It includes information about humanitarian migrants, temporary protected status, other blanket forms of relief, nationalities receiving protections, and issues with TPS, as well as recent legislation.
Date: February 18, 2016
Creator: Argueta, Carla N. & Wasem, Ruth Ellen
System: The UNT Digital Library
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2015 Appropriations (open access)

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies: FY2015 Appropriations

This report will track and describe actions taken by the administration and congress to provide FY2015 appropriations for CJS accounts.
Date: February 18, 2015
Creator: James, Nathan; Williams, Jennifer D. & Sargent, John F., Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Gold Medals, 1776-2014 (open access)

Congressional Gold Medals, 1776-2014

This report responds to congressional inquiries concerning this process, and includes a historical examination and chronological list of these awards.
Date: February 18, 2015
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
House Committee on Ethics: A Brief History of Its Evolution and Jurisdiction (open access)

House Committee on Ethics: A Brief History of Its Evolution and Jurisdiction

This report briefly outlines the background of ethics enforcement in the House of Representatives, including the creation of both the Select Committee on Ethics and the Committee on Ethics. The report also focuses on various jurisdictional and procedural changes that the committee has experienced since 1967 and discusses the committee's current jurisdiction and procedures.
Date: February 18, 2015
Creator: Straus, Jacob R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
International Law and Agreements: Their Effect upon U.S. Law (open access)

International Law and Agreements: Their Effect upon U.S. Law

This report provides an introduction to the roles that international law and agreements play in the United States. This includes the role of different branches of government play in navigating such laws.
Date: February 18, 2015
Creator: Garcia, Michael J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Refugee Admissions and Resettlement Policy (open access)

Refugee Admissions and Resettlement Policy

This report discusses the annual number of refugees that can be admitted into the United States, known as the refugee ceiling, and the allocation of these numbers by region that are set by the President after consultation with Congress at the start of each fiscal year.
Date: February 18, 2015
Creator: Bruno, Andorra
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tax Deductions for Individuals: A Summary (open access)

Tax Deductions for Individuals: A Summary

None
Date: February 18, 2015
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Farm Income Outlook for 2015 (open access)

U.S. Farm Income Outlook for 2015

This report discusses national net farm income, which is a key indicator of U.S. farm well-being. The outlook for lower net farm income, coupled with record farm wealth, suggests a mixed financial picture heading into 2015 for the agricultural sector as a whole, with substantial regional variation.
Date: February 18, 2015
Creator: Schnepf, Randy
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
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.
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.
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Overview of USDA Rural Development Programs (open access)

An Overview of USDA Rural Development Programs

None
Date: February 18, 2014
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Small Business: Access to Capital and Job Creation (open access)

Small Business: Access to Capital and Job Creation

None
Date: February 18, 2014
Creator: unknown
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.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Whether Logging Road Runoff Requires a Clean Water Act Permit: Decker v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center (open access)

Whether Logging Road Runoff Requires a Clean Water Act Permit: Decker v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center

None
Date: February 18, 2014
Creator: Meltz, Robert
System: The UNT Digital Library
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.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy (open access)

Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy

This report discusses the current political state of Afghanistan, focusing particularly on the influence of the Taliban and other militant groups and on the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. This report also discusses the U.S.-Iran relationship and U.S. efforts under the Obama Administration to provide military, reconstructive, and stabilization aid.
Date: February 18, 2011
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
System: The UNT Digital Library