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Navy Columbia (SSBN-826) Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Columbia-class program, a program to design and build a new class of 12 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to replace the Navy's current force of 14 Ohio-class SSBNs. The Navy has identified the Columbia-class program as the Navy's top priority program, and wants to procure the first Columbia-class boat in FY2021.
Date: December 21, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Supreme Court Declines to Review Ninth Circuit Court Decision Applying Federal Reserved Water Rights Doctrine to Groundwater

Description: This report discusses the case of "Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians v. Coachella Valley Water District" relating to groundwater water rights on federal lands. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case in July 2017.
Date: December 21, 2017
Creator: Wyatt, Alexandra M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Reform of U.S. International Taxation: Alternatives

Description: This report describes and assesses the principal prescriptions that have been offered for broad reform of the international system. It begins with an overview of current law and possible revisions. It then sets the framework for considering economic efficiency as well as tax shelter activities. Finally, it reviews alternative approaches to revision in light of those issues.
Date: July 21, 2017
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Russia: Background and U.S. Policy

Description: This report provides descriptions and background information on Russian government organization and power, the Russian military's role, and U.S. policy toward Russia. Specific topics covered include Russian governmental structures and background, Vladimir Putin's rise to power, human rights concerns, opposition groups, the economy of Russia and the impact of sanctions, the foreign relations of Russia with other countries in Europe, NATO, the EU, China, Syria, and the U.S., the Ukraine conflict … more
Date: August 21, 2017
Creator: Welt, Cory
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Select Acquisition Reform Provisions in the House and Senate Versions of the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act

Description: This report discusses the Department of Defense's acquisition reform provisions in the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2018. The main areas of acquisition addressed by these provisions are commercial items, service contracts, Other Transaction (OT) authority, intellectual property, and acquisition system management.
Date: August 21, 2017
Creator: Rumbaugh, Russell
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Campus-Based Financial Aid Programs: Background and Issues

Description: This report begins with a brief discussion of the history of each of the campus-based federal student aid programs (the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program, the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program, and the Federal Perkins Loan program) and the formula used to allocate funds among IHEs participating in them. This is followed by a discussion of institutional and student participation in the programs relative to participation in other federal aid programs. The report co… more
Date: November 21, 2017
Creator: Fountain, Joselynn H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Keystone XL Pipeline: Recent Developments

Description: This report discusses the Keystone XL Pipeline and the recent route modification and its effects on permits and permissions needed. A brief overview of the controversy regarding the pipeline and areas of land that require various permits to cross are included.
Date: November 21, 2017
Creator: Parfomak, Paul W. & Carter, Nicole T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: Subsidized Employment Demonstration Proposal: In Brief

Description: This report discusses the proposed Accelerating Individuals into the Workforce Act (H.R. 2842) which would provide $100 million in FY2018 funding under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant for demonstrations to test two approaches--subsidized employment and "career pathways" programs--to help disadvantaged individuals. These funds would be provided in addition to the TANF basic block grant to the states. The $100 million cost of the proposal would be financed by reserv… more
Date: June 21, 2017
Creator: Falk, Gene
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Volcano and Landslide Provisions in Title X of S. 1460, the Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017

Description: This report discusses a proposed volcano early warning system and a landslide hazards reduction program that would both be administered by the USGS. Provisions of the law that would create the system and volcanoes on the high priority watch-list are described.
Date: November 21, 2017
Creator: Folger, Peter
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Itemized Tax Deductions for Individuals: Data Analysis

Description: This report analyzes the most recently available public data from the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Statistics of Income (SOI) to provide an overview of who claims itemized deductions, what they claim them for, and the amount in deductions claimed. In addition, the revenue loss associated with several of the larger deductions is presented using data from the Joint Committee on Taxation's (JCT's) tax expenditure estimates. This report concludes with a brief discussion of the implications of v… more
Date: September 21, 2017
Creator: Lowry, Sean
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Senate's "Executive Calendar"

Description: This report explains what the Senate's "executive calendar" is and how it is laid out. The "executive calendar" includes all treaties and confirmations that the Senate is planning to consider.
Date: April 21, 2017
Creator: Rybicki, Elizabeth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Congressional Arts Caucus and the Congressional Art Competition: History and Current Practice

Description: This report provides a brief history of the Congressional Arts Caucus and the Congressional Art Competition which is an art competition for high school students. It also provides a history of sponsorship and support for the caucus and the annual competition. The report includes copies of the original correspondence establishing the competition, a sample competition announcement, sample guidelines and required forms for the competition, and a chronological list of congressional co-chairs.
Date: April 21, 2017
Creator: Mansfield, Jerry W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Puerto Rico and Electric Power Restoration from Hurricane Maria

Description: This report discusses efforts to restore power in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria decimated the island's electricity infrastructure. Challenges in power restoration due to the extent of the damage, supply deliveries, timing of the storm after Hurricane Harvey and Irma, and the electric company's financial crisis along with recommendations for strengthening the electric system are discussed.
Date: September 21, 2017
Creator: Campbell, Richard J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Domestic Terrorism: An Overview

Description: This report provides background regarding domestic terrorists--detailing what constitutes the domestic terrorism threat as suggested by publicly available U.S. government sources. It also illustrates some of the key factors involved in assessing this threat.
Date: August 21, 2017
Creator: Bjelopera, Jerome P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Patent Law: A Primer and Overview of Emerging Issues

Description: This report begins with an overview of patent law. It then discusses the Supreme Court's role in the development of patent law generally before examining the Court's recent decisions in detail. Finally, the report closes with a preview of developments in patent law that are on the horizon, such as the continued viability of certain administrative proceedings related to the validity of patents, which is the subject of two cases scheduled to be heard during the Court's upcoming term, as well as p… more
Date: September 21, 2017
Creator: Lewis, Caitlin Devereaux & Armstrong, Kathryn B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Budget Control Act and the Defense Budget: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report addresses several frequently asked questions related to the Budget Control Act (BCA) and the defense budget. The BCA limits discretionary spending on defense through the process of sequestration and was enacted in 2011. Recent proposals to remove the restrictions of the BCA on defense or raise the spending limits are also discussed.
Date: April 21, 2017
Creator: Williams, Lynn M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Airline Passenger Denied Boarding: Rules and Regulations

Description: This report discusses regulations regarding an airline's responsibilities when a passenger with a confirmed ticket is denied boarding on a flight due to lack of seats (known as overselling). The various updates to the original regulation from 1967 are discussed with the latest modifications occurring in 2015.
Date: April 21, 2017
Creator: Tang, Rachel Y.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

FDA Human Medical Product User Fee Programs: In Brief

Description: This report discusses FDA human medical product user fees for prescription drugs, medical devices, generic drugs, and biosimilars which are charged to companies producing the products and make up a large portion of the FDA's revenues. User fees are authorized in legislation on a five-year cycle, with authority for their actual collection and expenditure provided each year through the annual appropriations process. Appendix A outlines various features of the user fee programs.
Date: November 21, 2017
Creator: Dabrowska, Agata; Johnson, Judith A.; Sarata, Amanda K. & Thaul, Susan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Post-Heller Second Amendment Jurisprudence

Description: This report examines the scope of the Second Amendment, as interpreted by the federal circuit courts of appeals, after the watershed Supreme Court decisions in "District of Columbia v. Heller" and "McDonald v. City of Chicago". After "Heller" and "McDonald", numerous challenges were brought on Second Amendment grounds to various federal, state, and local firearm laws and regulations. Because Heller neither purported to define the full scope of the Second Amendment, nor suggested a standard of r… more
Date: November 21, 2017
Creator: Herman, Sarah S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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