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State, Foreign Operations Appropriations: A Guide to Component Accounts

Description: This report briefly discusses the foreign operations appropriations legislation generally and then provides a short description of the various funding accounts as they appear in Division K, "Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2016," of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113). The State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations legislation provides annual funding for almost all of the international affairs programs.
Date: January 5, 2016
Creator: Tarnoff, Curt & Tiersky, Alex
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean: Recent Trends and FY2016 Appropriations

Description: This report provides an overview of U.S. assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean. It analyzes historical and recent trends in aid to the region as well as the Obama Administration's FY2016 request for State Department and U.S Agency for International Development (USAID)-administered assistance. It also examines legislative developments on foreign aid appropriations for Latin America and the Caribbean in FY2016, and raises questions Congress may examine as it considers future appropriation… more
Date: January 7, 2016
Creator: Meyer, Peter J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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American Agriculture and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement

Description: This report identifies four considerations about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement that are particularly relevant for U.S. food and agriculture. It includes a partial snapshot of some of the higher-profile improvements in market access for agricultural products in the agreement, a summary of selected provisions beyond market access that are of interest to food and agriculture, a brief overview of industry reactions to the agreement, and a review of what would need to occur for the a… more
Date: January 8, 2016
Creator: McMinimy, Mark A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): In Brief

Description: This report briefly summarizes some of the key provisions listed in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that are seen as controversial. The TPP is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) among 12 Asia-Pacific countries, which the Obama Administration casts as comprehensive, with economic and strategic significance for the United States. These controversial issues include select market access (such as on dairy and other agricultural products, autos, and textiles and apparel) as well as the level o… more
Date: January 8, 2016
Creator: Fergusson, Ian F.; McMinimy, Mark A. & Williams, Brock R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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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. While legislative initiatives are noted throughout the report, a final section of the report provides a listing of bills and resolutions introduced in the 114th Congress.
Date: January 11, 2016
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran Sanctions

Description: This report analyzes U.S. and international sanctions against Iran and provides some examples, based on open sources, of companies and countries that conduct business with Iran.
Date: January 12, 2016
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S.-Mexico Security Cooperation After "El Chapo" Guzmán's January 2016 Recapture

Description: This report discusses relations between the U.S. and Mexico following the escape and recapture of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán from a maximum security federal prison near Mexico City in July 2015. One key concern for U.S. policymakers is whether the Mexican government will be able to hold Guzmán securely in the same prison from which he escaped and then extradite him swiftly to the United States--a source of tension in U.S.-Mexican relations. Another is whether Guzmán's recapture, which was suppor… more
Date: January 13, 2016
Creator: Beittel, June S. & Ribando Seelke, Clare
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran, Gulf Security, and U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses issues regarding Iran's political history and structure. It also takes a look at economic and defense policy responses for Congress, specifically focusing on Iran's nuclear capabilities.
Date: January 14, 2016
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons

Description: This report discusses Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, which probably consists of approximately 110-130 nuclear warheads, although it could have more. Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is widely regarded as designed to dissuade India from taking military action against Pakistan, but Islamabad's expansion of its nuclear arsenal, development of new types of nuclear weapons, and adoption of a doctrine called "full spectrum deterrence" have led to concern about an increased risk of nuclear conflict between Pak… more
Date: January 14, 2016
Creator: Kerr, Paul K. & Nikitin, Mary Beth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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North Korea: A Comparison of S. 1747, S. 2144, and H.R. 757

Description: This report compares S. 1747, the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2015, as introduced in the Senate by Senator Menendez on July 9, 2015; S. 2144, the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2015, introduced in the Senate by Senator Gardner on October 6, 2015; and H.R. 757, the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2015, introduced in the House by Representative Royce on February 5, 2015, and passed, as amended by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, by the House on January … more
Date: January 15, 2016
Creator: Rennack, Dianne E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Latin America and the Caribbean: Key Issues for the 114th Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of U.S. policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean. It discusses the political and economic environment that affects U.S. relations, and then examines the Obama Administration's policy priorities in the region. The report then examines congressional interests in Latin America, looking at selected regional and country issues.
Date: January 20, 2016
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran Sanctions

Description: This report analyzes U.S. and international sanctions against Iran and provides some examples, based on open sources, of companies and countries that conduct business with Iran.
Date: January 21, 2016
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran: U.S. Economic Sanctions and the Authority to Lift Restrictions

Description: This report identifies the legislative bases for sanctions imposed on Iran, and the nature of the authority to waive or lift those restrictions. It comprises two tables that present legislation and executive orders that are specific to Iran and its objectionable activities in the areas of terrorism, human rights, and weapons proliferation.
Date: January 22, 2016
Creator: Rennack, Dianne E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Jordan: Background and U.S. Relations

Description: This report provides an overview of Jordanian politics and current issues in U.S.-Jordanian relations. It provides a brief discussion of Jordan's government and economy and of its cooperation with U.S. policy objectives in the Middle East.
Date: January 27, 2016
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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El Salvador: Background and U.S. Relations

Description: This report examines El Salvador's recent history, as well as its current political, economic, and security/human rights challenges. It then analyzes key issues in U.S.-Salvadoran relations.
Date: January 28, 2016
Creator: Ribando Seelke, Clare
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Strategic Implications

Description: This report discusses selected strategic arguments related to the proposed 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. The potential impacts of the agreement may be an active area of debate during the second session of the 114th Congress.
Date: February 3, 2016
Creator: Williams, Brock R.; Dolven, Ben; Fergusson, Ian F.; Manyin, Mark E.; Martin, Michael F. & Morrison, Wayne M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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El Salvador: Background and U.S. Relations

Description: This report examines El Salvador's recent history, as well as its current political, economic, and security/human rights challenges. It then analyzes key issues in U.S.-Salvadoran relations.
Date: February 4, 2016
Creator: Ribando Seelke, Clare
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The New START Treaty: Central Limits and Key Provisions

Description: This report provides an overview of the New Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty (START). The Obama Administration and outside analysts argue that New START strengthens strategic stability and enhances U.S. national security. Critics, however, question whether the treaty serves U.S. national security interests.
Date: February 5, 2016
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Oman: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy

Description: This report describes the relationship between the United States and the Sultanate of Oman, especially with respect to Oman's support of U.S. efforts toward peace in the Middle East, the U.S. free trade agreement with Oman, and Oman's relatively close relations with Iran.
Date: February 5, 2016
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations

Description: This report discusses the kingdom of Saudi Arabia's relations with the United States; its stability, and its future trajectory are subjects of continuing congressional interest.
Date: February 5, 2016
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Islamic State and U.S. Policy

Description: This report provides background on the Islamic State organization, discussing its goals, operations, and affiliates, as well as analyzing related U.S. legislative and policy debates.
Date: February 9, 2016
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M. & Humud, Carla E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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