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Congressional Commissions: Overview, Structure, and Legislative Considerations

Description: Congressional advisory commissions are formal groups established to provide independent advice; make recommendations for changes in public policy; study or investigate a particular problem, issue, or event; or perform a duty. This report provides an overview and analysis of congressional advisory commissions, information on the general statutory structure of a congressional commission, and a catalog of congressional commissions created since the 101st Congress.
Date: December 19, 2008
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Budget Actions in 2007

Description: During the first session of the 110th Congress, the House and Senate considered many different budgetary measures. This report describes House and Senate action on major budgetary legislation within the framework of the congressional budget process and other procedural requirements.
Date: May 23, 2007
Creator: Heniff, Bill, Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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H.R. 1417: The Copyright Royalty and Distribution Reform Act of 2004

Description: H.R. 1417, 108th Congress, first session, was introduced on March 25, 2003 and passed by the House on March 3, 2004. If enacted, this bill would make extensive changed to the procedural framework for adjudicating royalty rates for compulsory licenses under the Copyright Act. This report details the background and legislative action on the Copyright Royalty and Distribution Reform Act of 2004.
Date: September 27, 2004
Creator: Jeweler, Robin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Fair Housing Act: Legal Overview

Description: This report is categorized into five categories: (I) Introduction, (II) Housing Practices in Which Discrimination is Prohibited, (III) Familial Discrimination and Housing for Older Persons, (IV) Discrimination Based on Handicap, (V) Enforcement of the Fair Housing Act.
Date: June 11, 2008
Creator: Carpenter, David H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congress’s Contempt Power: A Sketch

Description: This report outlines the source of the contempt power, reviews major developments on the case law, and analyzes the procedures associated with each of the three different types of contempt proceedings. The report also discusses the recent investigation by the House Judiciary committee that has resulted in votes for criminal contempt of Congress and the filing of a civil lawsuit to enforce congressional subpoenas.
Date: April 15, 2008
Creator: Tatelman, Todd B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Americans with Disabilities Act and Emergency Preparedness and Response

Description: The Americans with Disabilities Act provides broad nondiscrimination protection for individuals with disabilities in employment, public services, and public accommodation and services operated by private entities. Although the ADA does not include provisions specifically discussing its application to disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, its nondiscrimination provisions are applicable to emergency preparedness and responses to disasters. For example, this would mean that emergency planning shoul… more
Date: July 21, 2006
Creator: Jones, Nancy Lee
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP): Growth Models Under the No Child Left Behind Act

Description: This report highlights the adequate yearly progress (AYP) concept of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The AYP is the standard of eligibility for grants, of which states must implement AYP policies in all public schools and local education agencies (LEAs). The standard primarily utilizes state test scores to measure the school's eligibility for funding, schools that do not meet AYP standard for two or more consecutive years face consequences. Finally, the report tackles the idea of growth m… more
Date: September 7, 2006
Creator: Riddle, Wayne C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Flow of Business: Typical Day on the Senate Floor

Description: Several authorities govern the daily chamber work of the Senate: the standing rules, the "standing orders," unanimous consent agreements, precedent, and tradition. Because these authorities have different influence at certain times, no Senate session day is truly typical. This report discusses procedures and business that usually occur every session day, and refers to certain business items that may occur less frequently.
Date: July 16, 2003
Creator: Rundquist, Paul S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 110th Congress

Description: Aquaculture — the farming of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic animals and plants in a controlled environment — is expanding rapidly abroad, with more modest advances in the United States. This report discusses the federal laws and regulations that guide the management of resources in open ocean and near-shore coastal areas.
Date: June 13, 2008
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Congressional Appropriations Process: An Introduction

Description: Congress annually considers 11 or more appropriation measures, which provide funding for a variety of activities such as national defense, education, disaster assistance, crime programs, and general government operations, such as the administration of most federal agencies. This report details the rules and practices for the consideration of appropriations measures, referred to as the congressional appropriations process.
Date: December 8, 2006
Creator: Streeter, Sandy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Brownfield Issues in the 110th Congress

Description: The Brownfields Act authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to award grants for the assessment and cleanup of sites that pose a less serious threat to human health and the environment than sites addressed by the Superfund program. The authorization expired on September 30, 2006. In the 109th Congress, a reauthorization bill, H.B. 5810, was reported from the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on July 28, 2006, but went no further. This report contains information on the … more
Date: November 30, 2007
Creator: Reisch, Mark
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 109th Congress

Description: Fish and marine mammals are important resources in open ocean and nearshore coastal areas. Many laws and regulations guide the management of these resources by federal agencies. This report contains information on commercial and sport fisheries, aquaculture, and marine mammals and issues related to the 109th Congress.
Date: March 16, 2006
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Critical Infrastructures: Background, Policy, and Implementation

Description: The Nation's health, wealth, and security rely on the production and distribution of certain goods and services. The array of physical assets, functions, and systems across which these goods and services move are called critical infrastructures. This report discusses in more detail the evolution of a national critical infrastructure policy and the institutional structures established to implement it. The report highlights five issues of Congressional concern: identifying critical assets; assess… more
Date: March 13, 2007
Creator: Moteff, John D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): An Overview

Description: The Earned Income Tax Credit began in 1975 as a temporary program to return a portion of the Social Security taxes paid by lower-income taxpayers, and was made permanent in 1978. In the 1990s, the program because a major component of federal efforts to reduce poverty, and is now the largest anti-poverty entitlement program. This report contains information on eligibility for the program, credit amount, participation, interaction with other tax provisions, issues, compliance, and more as related… more
Date: January 3, 2008
Creator: Scott, Christine
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Exemptions from Environmental Law fora the Department of Defense: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides Background and Issues for Congress on Exemptions from Environmental Law for the Department of Defense. several environmental statutes contain national security exemptions which is a department of defense can obtain on a case by case basis.
Date: December 12, 2006
Creator: Bearden, David M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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