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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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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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The Death of Justice Scalia: Procedural Issues Arising on an Eight-Member Supreme Court

Description: This report provides an overview of the Supreme Court's procedural rules and requirements when the Court is staffed with fewer than nine members. It includes an overview of the Court's quorum requirements, rehearing procedures, and vote count practices, with a focus on how the Court has traditionally responded to a change of composition during a term. The report concludes by highlighting over a dozen cases from the current term that could result in an evenly divided Supreme Court.
Date: February 25, 2016
Creator: Nolan, Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Department of Homeland Security Appropriations: FY2016

Description: This report discusses the FY2016 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and provides an overview of the Administration's FY2016 request. The report makes note of many budgetary resources provided to DHS, but its primary focus is on funding approved by Congress through the appropriations process.
Date: January 14, 2016
Creator: Painter, William L. & Schwemle, Barbara L.
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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U.S.-Mexican Security Cooperation: The Mérida Initiative and Beyond

Description: This report begins with a brief discussion of security challenges in Mexico and Mexico's security strategy. It then provides information on congressional funding and oversight of the Mérida Initiative, with details about each of the program's four pillars. The report concludes by raising policy issues that Congress may wish to consider.
Date: January 15, 2016
Creator: Ribando Seelke, Clare & Finklea, Kristin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Securities Law: Insider Trading

Description: This report discusses various regulations regarding insider trading violations. Insider trading in securities may occur when a person in possession of material nonpublic information about a company trades in the company's securities and makes a profit or avoids a loss.
Date: March 1, 2016
Creator: Seitzinger, Michael V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)/Frigate Program: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)/Frigate program, a program to procure a large number of LCSs and modified LCSs (frigates). The Navy's execution of the program has been a matter of congressional oversight attention for several years.
Date: January 5, 2016
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Ocean Energy Agency Appropriations, FY2016

Description: This report discusses FY2016 appropriations for the Department of the Interior's (DOI's) Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), and Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR)--the three agencies that collectively administer federal ocean energy resources covering more than 1.7 billion acres on the U.S. outer continental shelf (OCS).
Date: February 5, 2016
Creator: Comay, Laura B. & Humphries, Marc
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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Navy LX(R) Amphibious Ship Program: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background information and issues for Congress regarding the LX(R) ships meant to replase the Whidbey Island/Harpers Ferry (LSD-41/49) class amphibious ships. In particular, issues focus on funding for the research and development of the ships and their procurement.
Date: January 8, 2016
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
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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Senate Committee Rules in the 114th Congress: Key Provisions

Description: This report first provides a brief overview of Senate rules as they pertain to committee actions. It then provides tables that summarize selected, key features of each committee's rules in regard to meeting day, hearing and meeting notice requirements, scheduling of witnesses, hearing quorum, business quorum, amendment filing requirements, proxy voting, polling, nominations, investigations, and subpoenas. In addition, the report looks at selected unique provisions some committees have included … more
Date: February 8, 2016
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Unmanned Aircraft Operations in Domestic Airspace: U.S. Policy Perspectives and the Regulatory Landscape

Description: This report discusses the uses and potential risks of Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), which are often referred to as "drones." In the future, it is anticipated that some UAS will share airspace, and potentially share facilities like airports and helipads, with manned aircraft. Technological innovations, as well as standardized procedures operators must follow, will be needed for full integration.
Date: January 27, 2016
Creator: Elias, Bart
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Conspiracy Law: A Sketch

Description: This is a brief discussion of the common features of federal conspiracy law that evolved over the years, with passing references to some of the distinctive features of some of the statutory provisions.
Date: January 20, 2016
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Presidential Nominating Process and the National Party Conventions, 2016: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report provides answers to frequently asked questions about the presidential nominating process, including how the delegates to the national conventions are chosen, the differences between a caucus and a primary, national party rules changes for 2016, and the national conventions themselves. It is not a comprehensive report on all aspects of the presidential nominating process.
Date: December 30, 2015
Creator: Coleman, Kevin J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Unaccompanied Alien Children--Legal Issues: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report addresses the questions regarding the number of children arriving at the United States southern border, their reasons for coming to the United States, and current and potential responses of the federal government and other entities to their arrival.
Date: January 27, 2016
Creator: Manuel, Kate M. & Garcia, Michael J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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FY2016 Changes to DOD's 1033 Program

Description: This report briefly discusses the current status of the Department of Defense's (DOD's) 1033 Program, under which excess DOD property -- such as personal computers, vehicles, and firearms -- are made available to qualified federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
Date: February 16, 2016
Creator: Else, Daniel H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues

Description: This report provides an overview of the rationale for the prompt global strike (PGS) mission and the possible deployment of conventional warheads on long-range ballistic missiles or boost-glide systems in support of this mission. It then reviews the Air Force and Navy efforts to develop these systems. It summarizes congressional reaction to these proposals, then provides a more detailed account of the issues raised by these concepts and programs.
Date: February 24, 2016
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Free-Riders or Compelled Riders? Key Takeaways as Court Considers Major Union Dues Case

Description: This report briefly outlines the ongoing debate regarding Union dues. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2015, 7.2 million employees in the public sector belong to a union, with more than 700,000 additional government employees being represented by a union without belonging to the union.
Date: January 1, 2016
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2016

Description: This report begins with a discussion of the overall level of the President's FY2016 R&D request, followed by analyses of the R&D funding request from a variety of perspectives and for selected multiagency R&D initiatives. The report concludes with discussion and analysis of the R&D budget requests of selected federal departments and agencies that, collectively, account for more than 98% of total federal R&D funding.
Date: February 11, 2016
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr.; Esworthy, Robert; Johnson, Judith A.; Monke, Jim; Morgan, Daniel; Moteff, John D. et al.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Legislative Actions to Repeal, Defund, or Delay the Affordable Care Act

Description: This report provides background information and three tables summarizing legislative actions taken to repeal, defund, delay, or otherwise amend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) since it was enacted. Table 1 summarizes the ACA changes that have been signed into law. Table 2 lists all the House-passed ACA bills. Table 3 summarizes the ACA provisions in the vetoed reconciliation bill.
Date: January 14, 2016
Creator: Redhead, C. S. & Kinzer, Janet
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Perspectives on Enhanced Interrogation Techniques

Description: This report briefly summarizes what constituted Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (EITs), provides background on their adoption and use, and discusses differing views on three questions that underpin discussion and debate of this topic.
Date: January 8, 2016
Creator: Miles, Anne D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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