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Economic and Fiscal Conditions in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Description: This report discusses the fiscal and economic challenges facing the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) and related issues for Congress, such as: oversight of federal policies that could affect the USVI's long-term fiscal stability; further legislation that would extend or restructure long-range disaster assistance programs to mitigate those challenges and promote greater resiliency of infrastructure and public programs; and how responses to the USVI's fiscal distress could affect municipal debt markets… more
Date: June 20, 2018
Creator: Austin, D. Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Recent Violent Crime Trends in the United States

Description: This report provides an analysis of changes in violent crime since 1960, with a focus on changes from 2014 to 2016 in violent crime and homicide rates in the 48 largest cities in the United States for which violent crime and homicide data were submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Date: June 20, 2018
Creator: James, Nathan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Disaster Assistance Response and Recovery Programs: Brief Summaries

Description: This report is designed to assist Members of Congress and their staff as they address the needs of their states, communities, and constituents after a disaster. It includes a summary of federal programs that provide federal disaster assistance to individual survivors, states, territories, local governments, and nongovernmental entities following a natural or man-made disaster.
Date: June 20, 2018
Creator: Kreiser, Maria; Mullins, Maura & Nagel, Jared C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses Special Operations Forces (SOF), which play a significant role in U.S. military operations and, in recent years, have been given greater responsibility for planning and conducting worldwide counterterrorism operations.
Date: April 20, 2018
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Supreme Court Invalidates Public-Sector Union Agency Fees: Considerations for Congress in the Wake of Janus

Description: This report discusses the Supreme Court case Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31 (AFSCME). In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that "agency fee" arrangements between a union and a government employer necessarily violate the First Amendment, overruling its 1977 decision in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education.
Date: July 20, 2018
Creator: Killion, Victoria L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Calling Balls and Strikes: Ethics and Supreme Court Justices

Description: This report examines questions related to the integrity and independence of the Supreme Court, and Congress's potential role in regulating the ethics of the Supreme Court Justices. For example: What mechanisms ensure the integrity of Justices as federal officials? Are Justices subject to any rules of ethical conduct? How might such ethics rules be enforced?
Date: August 20, 2018
Creator: Brown, Cynthia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

MS-13 in the United States and Federal Law Enforcement Efforts

Description: This report provides a brief background on the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a violent criminal gang operating in the United States and abroad--namely Central America. It focuses on MS-13's structure and criminal activities in the U.S. and highlights law enforcement initiatives to counter the gang's illicit activities. The report also provides an overview of selected domestic policy issues Congress may examine as part of its efforts to counter MS-13.
Date: August 20, 2018
Creator: Finklea, Kristin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief

Description: This report discusses the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program which is made up of four agencies (FEMA, The National Science Foundation, USGS, and National Institute of Standards and Technology) which are responsible for monitoring, reporting, and studying earthquakes and increasing resiliency to earthquakes through means such as stronger infrastructure, early warning systems, and recovery plans.
Date: September 20, 2018
Creator: Folger, Peter
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Grants and Loans for State and Local Emergency Communications Projects: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report provides congressional staff with information on current federal grants and loans that fund emergency communications, including information on the application process, eligible communications activities, and other resources they can provide to constituents seeking federal grant and loan funding to support emergency communications projects.
Date: September 20, 2018
Creator: Gallagher, Jill C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Ground Forces Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Considerations for Congress

Description: This report discusses issues for Congress to consider regarding robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) and artificial intelligence (AI), which have the potential to change the nature of warfare. Other nations, notably peer competitors Russia and China, are aggressively pursuing RAS and AI for a variety of military uses, raising considerations about the U.S. military's response--to include lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS)--that could be used against U.S. forces.
Date: November 20, 2018
Creator: Feickert, Andrew; Kapp, Lawrence; Elsea, Jennifer K. & Harris, Laurie A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Paid Family Leave in the United States

Description: This report discusses paid family leave's availability in the United States and recent legislation and proposals related to it.
Date: March 20, 2018
Creator: Donovan, Sarah A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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2017 Disaster Supplemental Appropriations: Overview

Description: This report provides a detailed breakdown of the requested and enacted supplemental funding in each of the disaster relief supplemental appropriation measures for 2017 natural disasters, and provides a contact listing for CRS experts on the funded relief and recovery programs.
Date: March 20, 2018
Creator: Painter, William L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Eight Mechanisms to Enact Procedural Change in the U.S. Senate

Description: This report highlights eight parliamentary mechanisms that might be used to implement procedural change in the Senate and links to additional reading material on the subject.
Date: March 20, 2018
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Where Can Corporations Be Sued for Patent Infringement? Part 1

Description: This report is part one of two and discusses patent venue jurisprudence, including the "TC Heartland" opinion, and the impact of the decision on the patent litigation system generally.
Date: February 20, 2018
Creator: Yeh, Brian T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran's Foreign and Defense Policies

Description: This report discusses Iran's foreign and defense policy and various factors influencing its development and goals.
Date: March 20, 2018
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Registered Apprenticeship: Federal Role and Recent Federal Efforts

Description: This report discusses apprenticeship programs and the federal certification process for official apprenticeships as well as recent government activity related to apprenticeship guidelines and funding.
Date: April 20, 2018
Creator: Collins, Benjamin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Germaneness of Debate in the Senate: The Pastore Rule

Description: This report discusses the Pastore rule in the Senate which governs germaneness in debate.
Date: March 20, 2018
Creator: Davis, Christopher M. & Greene, Michael
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Where Can Corporations Be Sued for Patent Infringement? Part 2

Description: This report is part two of two and discusses other implications of the "TC Heartland" decision, including two notable recent decisions in the Federal Circuit interpreting the decision, "In re Cray" and "In re Micron Technology, Inc.," as well as other potential issues raised by TC Heartland and options for Congress.
Date: February 20, 2018
Creator: Yeh, Brian T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Coast Guard's programs for procuring 8 National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and 58 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs).
Date: April 20, 2018
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC): A Primer

Description: This report discusses The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's (PBGC) structure, funding, and functions.
Date: March 20, 2018
Creator: Topoleski, John J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Veterans Choice Program (VCP): Program Implementation

Description: This report discusses the Veterans Choice Program (VCP) which allows veterans to use community health care providers and still be covered under VA insurance benefits. The report provides details on how the VCP is being implemented and is meant to provide insight into the execution of the current VCP program.
Date: April 20, 2018
Creator: Panangala, Sidath Viranga
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Economic Effects of Trade: Overview and Policy Challenges

Description: This report focuses on a number of major issues concerning the role of trade and trade agreements in the economy and issues that are particular to Free Trade Agreements (FTA), including the role of trade in the economy and the macroeconomic forces that drive the trade deficit; the impact of trade on employment and the adjustment costs experienced by firms and workers; estimates of the number of jobs in the economy that are supported by trade and economic models used to estimate the impact of FT… more
Date: April 20, 2018
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): A Brief Legislative History

Description: This report provides a general overview of the current earned income tax credit (EITC). The report summarizes the key legislative changes to the credit and provides analysis of some of the congressional intentions behind these changes. An overview of the current structure of the EITC can be found in Appendix A at the end of this report.
Date: March 20, 2018
Creator: Crandall-Hollick, Margot L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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