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The Pacific Alliance: A Trade Integration Initiative in Latin America

Description: This report provides an overview of the structure of the Pacific Alliance, events leading up to its creation, and the economic significance of the Member countries.
Date: March 29, 2016
Creator: Villarreal, M. Angeles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Article V Convention to Propose Constitutional Amendments: Contemporary Issues for Congress

Description: Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides two ways to amend the nation's fundamental charter. Congress, by a two-thirds vote of both houses, may propose amendments to the states for ratification, a procedure that has been used for all 27 current amendments. This report identifies a range of policy questions Congress might face if an Article V Convention seemed imminent.
Date: March 29, 2016
Creator: Neale, Thomas H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Additional U.S. Ground Troops to Counter the Islamic State? Five Questions

Description: This report addresses common questions regarding Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR)--the military campaign to counter the Islamic State (IS)--which has three primary components: coordinated air strikes, training and equipping local security forces, and targeted special operations based out of northern Iraq.
Date: March 29, 2016
Creator: McInnis, Kathleen J. & Feickert, Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy

Description: This report provides an overview of the situation in Ukraine. Following the February 2014 collapse of the Kremlin-supported government of President Viktor Yanukovych, there was an emergence of a pro-Western, pro-reform government and an energized public generally anxious to lessen Moscow's influence, committed to addressing the need for serious reform and determined to draw closer to Europe and the United States.
Date: March 29, 2016
Creator: Morelli, Vincent L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Nigeria's Boko Haram: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report explores several questions that have been often asked in relation to the Boko Haram, a violent Islamist insurgent group originally based in northeast Nigeria, the impact of its attacks, and the response of the Nigerian government and other international actors, including the United States.
Date: March 29, 2016
Creator: Blanchard, Lauren P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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European Security and Islamist Terrorism

Description: This report discusses challenges the European Union faces in light of the continuing threat of Terrorism at the hands of the Islamic State and the implications for U.S. policy.
Date: March 29, 2016
Creator: Archick, Kristin & Belkin, Paul
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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After Brexit: A Diminished or Enhanced EU?

Description: This report briefly discusses the United Kingdom's (UK's) "Brexit" vote and what it means for the future of the European Union.
Date: June 29, 2016
Creator: Archick, Kristin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Zika Virus in Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy Considerations

Description: This report provides background information on the Zika virus, discusses challenges faced by governments and implementing partners in the Latin America and Caribbean region that are attempting to control the ongoing outbreak, and analyzes these issues in the context of the U.S. Zika response.
Date: June 29, 2016
Creator: Ribando Seelke, Clare; Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji & Beittel, June S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Issues

Description: This report provides a brief synopsis of sections in each bill (H.R. 4909 as passed by the House on May 26, 2016, and S. 2943 as passed by the Senate on July 21, 2016) that pertain to selected personnel policies. These include issues such as military end-strengths, pay and benefits, military healthcare (TRICARE), military retirement, and other major policy issues.
Date: July 29, 2016
Creator: Kamarck, Kristy N.; Jansen, Don J.; Kapp, Lawrence; Mason, R. C. & Torreon, Barbara Salazar
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce: Background, Analysis, and Questions for Congress

Description: This report provides background on the Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition workforce. Specifically, the report addresses the following questions: 1. What is the acquisition workforce? 2. What is the current size of the acquisition workforce? 3. How has Congress sought to improve the acquisition workforce in the past? 4. What are some potential questions for Congress to explore in the area of acquisition workforce management to improve acquisitions?
Date: July 29, 2016
Creator: Schwartz, Moshe; Francis, Kathryn A. & O'Connor, Charles V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Periods of War and Dates of Recent Conflicts

Description: This report lists the beginning and ending dates for "periods of war" found in Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It also lists and differentiates other beginning dates given in declarations of war, as well as termination of hostilities dates and armistice and ending dates given in proclamations, laws, or treaties.
Date: September 29, 2016
Creator: Salazar Torreon, Barbara
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Benefits and Services for People with Low Income: Overview of Spending Trends, FY2008-FY2015

Description: This report is the most recent in a series that attempts to identify and discuss programs that provide federal benefits and services targeted toward low-income populations, focusing on aggregate spending trends. The report looks at federal low-income spending from FY2008 (at the onset of the 2007-2009 recession) through FY2015 (after implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or ACA).
Date: July 29, 2016
Creator: Spar, Karen & Falk, Gene
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Kuwait: Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy

Description: This report examines Kuwait's relationships with its neighbors in the Persian Gulf, and its own political system which has been in turmoil since 2006. Kuwait remains pivotal to U.S. efforts to secure the Persian Gulf region because of its willingness to cooperate with U.S. strategy and military operations in the region and its proximity to both Iran and Iraq.
Date: September 29, 2016
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Digital Searches and Seizures: Overview of Proposed Amendments to Rule 41 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure

Description: This report provides a brief overview of the proposed amendment to Rule 41. First, it provides a background on the origin of, and rationale underlying, the proposed amendment and a description of the rule as currently written. Second, it reviews the potential changes made by the proposed amendment and will survey various concerns commenters have raised with the proposal. Lastly, this report addresses efforts being made in Congress to alter, delay, or stop this rule change.
Date: June 29, 2016
Creator: Thompson, Richard M., II
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Economic Development Administration: FY2016 Appropriations

Description: This report discusses budget issues for the Economic Development Administration (EDA), which was created pursuant to the enactment of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, with the objective of fostering growth in economically distressed areas characterized by high levels of unemployment and low per-capita income levels.
Date: July 29, 2016
Creator: Boyd, Eugene
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Human Trafficking and Forced Labor: Trends in Import Restrictions

Description: This report discusses issues regarding a provision against forced labor in the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307), which prohibited from import into the United States "all goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in any foreign country by convict labor or/and forced labor or/and indentured labor under penal sanctions" (Section 307 of the Act).
Date: July 29, 2016
Creator: Rosen, Liana W.; Villarreal, M. A. & Feng, Ashley
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Good Cause Exception to Notice and Comment Rulemaking: Judicial Review of Agency Action

Description: This report will examine judicial analysis of the good cause standard and map several factors that lead courts to uphold or reject agencies' invocation of the exception. Federal agencies issue numerous rules pursuant to congressionally delegated authority. The Administrative Procedure Act's (APA's) "good cause" exception, however, permits agencies to forgo Section 553's notice and comment requirement if "the agency for good cause finds" that compliance would be "impracticable, unnecessary, or c… more
Date: January 29, 2016
Creator: Cole, Jared P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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GI Bills Enacted Prior to 2008 and Related Veterans' Educational Assistance Programs: A Primer

Description: This report describes the GI Bills enacted prior to 2008. Although participation in the programs has ended or is declining, the programs' evolution and provisions inform current policy. Included is a description of the eligibility requirements, eligible programs of education, benefit availability, and benefits. The report also provides some summary statistics, comparisons between the programs, and brief discussions of related programs.
Date: January 29, 2016
Creator: Dortch, Cassandria
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Obama Administration's Feed the Future Initiative

Description: This report discusses the features of "Feed the Future" (FTF), a major foreign assistance initiative designed to alleviate global poverty and improve health and food security. Key issues addressed include the origin, intent, and government-wide inter-agency development approach of FTF; FTF program implementation, including monitoring and evaluation issues; and funding. This report also raises possible oversight issues for Congress.
Date: January 29, 2016
Creator: Lawson, Marian L.; Schnepf, Randy & Cook, Nicolas
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congress and the Budget: 2016 Actions and Events

Description: The Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse, but does not dictate how Congress must fulfill this constitutional duty. Congress has, therefore, developed certain types of budgetary legislation, along with rules and practices that govern its content and consideration. This set of budgetary legislation, rules, and practices is often referred to as the congressional budget process. This report seeks to assist in anticipating what budget-related actions might occur within the upcoming ye… more
Date: January 29, 2016
Creator: Driessen, Grant A. & Lynch, Megan S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Apprenticeship in the United States: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report answers frequently asked questions about apprenticeship and the federal activities that support this training approach. Apprenticeship is a job training strategy that combines on-the-job training with related instruction, typically provided in a classroom setting.
Date: January 29, 2016
Creator: Collins, Benjamin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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