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Climate Change Paris Agreement Opens for Signature

Description: This report briefly provides background on the new international Paris Agreement to address greenhouse-gas-induced climate change. No international agreement has attracted as many signatures on a single day.
Date: April 25, 2016
Creator: Leggett, Jane A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Navy Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism Operations: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background information and potential issues for Congress on the Navy's irregular warfare (IW) and counterterrorism (CT) operations. Congress's decisions regarding Navy IW and CT operations can affect Navy operations and funding requirements, and the implementation of the nation's overall IW and CT strategies.
Date: March 25, 2016
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Trade Concepts, Performance, and Policy: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report provides information and context for trade topics. It is intended to assist Members and staff who may be new to trade issues. The report is divided into four sections in a question-and-answer format: trade concepts; U.S. trade performance; formulation of U.S. trade policy; and trade and investment issues.
Date: March 25, 2016
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.; Jackson, James K.; Jones, Vivian C.; Villarreal, M. A.; Fefer, Rachel F. & Feng, Ashley
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Commemorative Days, Weeks, and Months: Background and Current Practice

Description: This report summarizes the different types of commemorative time periods--federal holidays; patriotic and national observances; and commemorative days, weeks, and months. Second, it discusses the current rules in the House and Senate that govern this type of legislation. Finally, the report discusses options for Congress, including introducing legislation in the House and Senate, and asking the president to issue a proclamation.
Date: March 25, 2016
Creator: Straus, Jacob R. & Nagel, Jared C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Private Flood Insurance in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

Description: This report briefly discusses federal law regarding flood insurance. By law or regulation, federal agencies, federally-regulated lending institutions, and government-sponsored enterprises must require certain property owners to purchase flood insurance as a condition of any mortgage that these entities make, guarantee, or purchase.
Date: April 25, 2016
Creator: Brown, Jared T. & Webel, Baird
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Climate Change Paris Agreement Opens for Signature

Description: This report discusses the new international Paris Agreement, signed by 175 out of 196 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on April 22, 2016 to address greenhouse-gas-induced climate change.
Date: April 25, 2016
Creator: Leggett, Jane A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Cuba: Issues for the 114th Congress

Description: This report is divided into three major sections analyzing Cuba's political and economic environment, U.S. policy, and selected issues in U.S.-Cuban relations.
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS)

Description: This report briefly discusses the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS), which is the principal mechanism for accomplishing the flood risk management policies established by President Obama in Executive Order (E.O.) 13690. The FFRMS is a flood resilience standard that is required for "federally funded projects."
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: Carter, Nicole T.; Brown, Jared T. & McCarthy, Francis X.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Social Security: The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

Description: This report discusses the windfall elimination provision (WEP), which reduces the Social Security benefits of workers who also have pension benefits from employment not covered by Social Security. Its purpose is to remove an advantage or "windfall" these workers would otherwise receive as a result of the interaction between the Social Security benefit formula and the workers' relatively small portion of their careers in Social Security-covered employment. The report provides information about h… more
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: Morton, William R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Military Funeral Honors for Veterans

Description: This report discusses legislative issues regarding certain military honors received by eligible veterans at their funerals. In general, these honors are provided by the Department of Defense (DOD) to eligible veterans who are interred or inurned at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, and private cemeteries.
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: Szymendera, Scott D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Fact Sheet: FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) DOD Reform Proposals

Description: This report discusses information on extant Department of Defense (DOD) reform proposals being considered during the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act debates. As such, it includes key provisions incorporated in H.R. 4909, the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) reported by the House Armed Services Committee on May 4, 2016 (H.Rept. 114-537), and S. 2943, the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act reported by the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 18, 2016 (S.Rept. 11… more
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: McInnis, Kathleen J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Who Is a "Veteran"?--Basic Eligibility for Veterans' Benefits

Description: This report examines the basic eligibility criteria for VA administered veterans' benefits, including the issue of eligibility of members of the National Guard and reserve components. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a broad range of benefits to U.S. Armed Forces veterans and certain members of their families. Among these benefits are various types of financial assistance, including monthly cash payments to disabled veterans, health care, education, and housing.
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: Szymendera, Scott D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Status of the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa: Overview and Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses ongoing efforts to control Ebola in West Africa, analyzes persistent challenges in fighting the spread of the disease, and tracks Ebola emergency funds. The 2014-2015 outbreak and spread of Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa became an international public health emergency that, in no small part due to international intervention, abated significantly by the end of 2015 and early 2016. The issue remains of interest toward the end of the 114th Congress for a number of reason… more
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji; Epstein, Susan B. & Skorupski, Bolko J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress, and refers readers to more in-depth CRS reports on specific Arctic-related issues. The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region's future.
Date: March 25, 2016
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

President Obama's Historic Visit to Cuba

Description: This report briefly discusses the details of President Obama's visit to Cuba. Before the trip, the White House set forth the goals of the visit, stating that the President would build on progress toward normalizing relations, including advancing commercial and people-to-people ties and expressing support for human rights.
Date: March 25, 2016
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

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

Description: 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: October 25, 2016
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Ozone Air Quality Standards: EPA's 2015 Revision

Description: This report discusses the standard-setting process, the specifics of the most recent reviews, and issues raised by the final rulemaking for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone. The rule sets more stringent standards, lowering both the primary (health-based) and secondary (welfare-based) standards from 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 70 ppb.
Date: January 25, 2016
Creator: McCarthy, James E. & Lattanzio, Richard K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account (SOPOEA): History and Usage

Description: This report provides a history of the Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account (SOPOEA) and an overview of recent developments, including funding levels. It also analyzes actual SOPOEA spending patterns in selected years. The allowance is provided on a fiscal year basis (i.e., October 1-September 30) in the annual legislative branch appropriations bills.
Date: February 25, 2016
Creator: Brudnick, Ida A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Use of Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) in Federal Health Programs

Description: This report explores how modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is defined differently across health programs such as Medicare, the health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and Medicaid. It also discusses why MAGI is used, and how it is applied, specific to each program. The report covers that MAGI is used to determine (1) penalty amounts owed if a person does not comply with the individual mandate or whether an individual is exempt from the individual mandate; (2) eligibi… more
Date: February 25, 2016
Creator: Baumrucker, Evelyne P.; Davis, Patricia A.; Fernandez, Bernadette; Mach, Annie L. & Pettit, Carol A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

U.S. Trade Deficit and the Impact of Changing Oil Prices

Description: This report provides an estimate of the initial impact of the changing oil prices on the nation's merchandise trade balance.
Date: February 25, 2016
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations

Description: This report provides an overview of the key issues for Congress related to Egypt and U.S. foreign aid to Egypt. The United States has provided significant military and economic assistance to Egypt since the late 1970s. U.S. policymakers are now debating complex questions about the future of U.S.-Egypt relations, and these debates and events in Egypt are shaping consideration of appropriations and authorization legislation in the 114th Congress.
Date: February 25, 2016
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Death of Justice Scalia: Procedural Issues Arising on an Eight-Member Supreme Court

Description: This report provides an overview of the Supreme Court's procedural rules and requirements when the Court is staffed with fewer than nine members. It includes an overview of the Court's quorum requirements, rehearing procedures, and vote count practices, with a focus on how the Court has traditionally responded to a change of composition during a term. The report concludes by highlighting over a dozen cases from the current term that could result in an evenly divided Supreme Court.
Date: February 25, 2016
Creator: Nolan, Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive

Description: This report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, a review of the negotiations since 2008, and a description of some of the issues involved in the talks.
Date: August 25, 2016
Creator: Morelli, Vincent L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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