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Army Corps Fiscal Challenges: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report looks at issues in funding all of the Army Corps requests for the fiscal year. The Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for much of the federal water resources infrastructure in the United States. The Corps is faced with more demands for building and maintaining its projects than available federal funding allows. At issue for Congress is deciding how to tackle Corps fiscal challenges during a tight fiscal climate and under earmark moratoriums.
Date: August 18, 2011
Creator: Carter, Nicole T. & Stern, Charles V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Rio+20: The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, June 2012

Description: This report discusses the purpose of the June 2012 United Nations (U.N.) Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or “Rio+20”) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It looks at issues that could be addressed during the conference as well as how this conference may differ from the last U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio in 1992.
Date: June 18, 2012
Creator: Leggett, Jane A. & Carter, Nicole T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Free Trade Agreements: Impact on U.S. Trade and Implications for U.S. Trade Policy

Description: This report looks at how free trade areas (FTAs) affect U.S. trade in regards to trade policy, specifically tariffs. It looks closely at the Bush Administration's Trade Promotion Policy, and pending FTAs leftover from this administration. Additionally, it looks at the Obama Administration's work in the prospective Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP).
Date: June 18, 2012
Creator: Cooper, William H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Program and Funding

Description: This report describes appropriations of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP) funds for FY2008 and FY2007. It also discusses current issues and legislation related to LIHEAP. The report also discusses LIHEAP rules, including household eligibility and how funds may be used, and presents the most recent data available from HHS regarding household characteristics and benefit levels. Finally, the last section discusses how each category of LIHEAP funds is distributed to states, as well… more
Date: September 18, 2008
Creator: Perl, Libby
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Madagascar's Political Crisis

Description: This report looks at political instability that has plagued the country since 2009. It address other concerns that Congress has about the country as well, specifically threats to Madagascar's unique ecosystem.
Date: June 18, 2012
Creator: Ploch, Lauren & Cook, Nicolas
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Greece's Debt Crisis: Overview, Policy Responses, and Implications

Description: This report covers the sovereign debt crisis currently faced by the Eurozone which has culminated with Greece, which is at the center of the crisis, Ireland, and Portugal borrowing money from other European countries and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to avoid default. Topics covered include: the build-up of Greece's debt crisis, policy responses with limited success, and broader implications. Specific issues for Congress include how the U.S. economy and banking industry will be… more
Date: August 18, 2011
Creator: Nelson, Rebecca M.; Belkin, Paul & Mix, Derek E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Biofuels Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs

Description: This report outlines federal programs that provide direct or indirect incentives for biofuels. For each program described, the report provides details including administering agency, authorizing statute(s), annual funding, and expiration date.
Date: March 18, 2008
Creator: Yacobucci, Brent D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The United Nations Human Rights Council: Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides historical background of the Council, including the role of the previous Commission. It discusses the Council's current mandate and structures, as well as U.S. policy and congressional actions. Finally, it highlights possible policy issues for the 112th Congress, including the overall effectiveness of the Council in addressing human rights, implications for U.S. membership, and U.S. financial contributions to the Council.
Date: July 18, 2011
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the 110th Congress: Conflicting Values and Difficult Choices

Description: This report identifies and discusses oversight issues and legislation introduced in the 110th Congress to address specific concerns related to how Endangered Species Act (ESA) is implemented and how endangered species are managed.
Date: September 18, 2008
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Water Quality Issues in the 110th Congress: Oversight and Implementation

Description: This report discusses issues surrounding the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 and programs set up to meet the water quality standards that it outlined. The report focuses specifically on the legislative issues for the 110th Congress in relation to the CWA including the authorization of water infrastructure funding, regulatory protection of wetlands, and other CWA issues that may require separate oversight or legislation. It also includes a brief comparison of the expected appropriations for FY20… more
Date: September 18, 2008
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): New Directions in the 110th Congress

Description: This report provides background and analysis regarding the legislative history of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in northeastern Alaska. It also discusses actions in the 109th Congress, the energy resources, oil and natural gas and the impact they have on wildlife.
Date: June 18, 2008
Creator: Corn, M. L.; Gelb, Bernard A. & Alexander, Kristina
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): Implementation and New Challenges

Description: This report provides an overview of basic Toxic Supstances Control Act (TSCA) provisions, briefly examines the history of TSCA implementation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and describes the legal, scientific, and technological developments that are being used to provide support to calls for TSCA reform.
Date: September 18, 2008
Creator: Schierow, Linda-Jo
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Rural Development Provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill

Description: This report discusses the provisions under Title VI of the 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-246, Food, Conservation, and Energy Act), which addresses development and issues in rural areas. The report includes background on the policies, issues, and programs involved in rural development as well as a breakdown of the provisions in the 2008 farm bill, such as broadband and telecommunications, rural utilities infrastructure, business and community development, regional development, and other provisions. … more
Date: September 18, 2008
Creator: Cowan, Tadlock
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran Sanctions

Description: This report looks at the purposes and results of U.S. sanctions on Iran, which were initiated as a result of Iran's nuclear program and human rights issues. It ends by discussing future issues that Congress can consider regarding the sanctions.
Date: June 18, 2012
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Political Transition in Tunisia

Description: This report discusses Tunisia's "Jasmine Revolution," the common term for President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's flight from the country following weeks of mounting anti-government protests. This report discusses how the Jasmine Revolution appears to have added momentum to anti-government sentiment in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and other countries. This report discusses Tunisia's pro-democracy movement; concerns over potential instability in a previously secure, pro-Western area; and U.S.-Tunisian relat… more
Date: June 18, 2012
Creator: Arieff, Alexis
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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EPA's Proposed Vessel General Permits: Background and Issues

Description: This report covers two proposed permit drafts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding Vessel General Permits (VGPs): one for large vessels to replace the 2008 VGP (draft VGP), and one for smaller vessels that currently are covered by a congressionally-enacted temporary moratorium (draft sVGP).
Date: June 18, 2012
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Veterans' Medical Care: FY2013 Appropriations

Description: This report focuses on the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The VHA is primarily a direct service provider of primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services to veterans through the nation's largest integrated health care system.
Date: June 18, 2012
Creator: Panangala, Sidath Viranga
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Canadian Oil Sands: Life-Cycle Assessments of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Description: This report discusses basic methodology of life-cycle assessments and compares several publicly-available assessments of life-cycle emissions data for Canadian oil sands crudes against each other and against those of other global reference crudes. It also includes a survey of the scientific literature and the findings of the State Department's Keystone XL Project Envoronmental Impact Statement, and concludes with a discussion of tools for policymakers who are interested in using the assessment… more
Date: June 18, 2012
Creator: Lattanzio, Richard K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances

Description: The first half of this report looks at the background of U.S. travel restrictions to Cuba over the last 40 years. The second half of this report looks at several initiatives from the 111th Congress that would have eased U.S. travel restrictions to Cuba, but were not completed.
Date: January 18, 2011
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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