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The Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA): Workers' Compensation for Federal Employees

Description: This report focuses on several key policy issues facing the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) program, including the disproportionate share of claims and program costs attributed to postal workers, the payment of FECA benefits after retirement age, the overall level of FECA disability benefits as compared with those offered by the states, and the administration of the FECA program.
Date: September 16, 2015
Creator: Szymendera, Scott D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Puerto Rico and Health Care Finance: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report provides answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Puerto Rico's health care system, including how federal health care programs (Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program [CHIP]) and private health insurance requirements apply to Puerto Rico.
Date: November 18, 2015
Creator: Mach, Annie L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Zivotofsky v. Kerry: The Jerusalem Passport Case and Its Potential Implications for Congress's Foreign Affairs Powers

Description: This report briefly describes legislative efforts to modify U.S. policy with respect to Jerusalem, in particular multiple enactments of the passport provision. The report then summarizes the Supreme Court decision, including concurrences and dissents. Finally, the report concludes by suggesting possible implications of the decision with respect to Congress's authority to influence foreign affairs.
Date: September 28, 2015
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Conservation Compliance and U.S. Farm Policy

Description: This report discusses various provisions designed to reduce production and conserve soil and water resources. Many of the provisions remain in effect today, including the two compliance provisions--highly erodible land conservation (sodbuster) and wetland conservation (swampbuster).
Date: June 9, 2014
Creator: Stubbs, Megan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Past Government Shutdowns: Key Resources

Description: This report provides an annotated list of historical documents and other resources related to several past government shutdowns. Sources for these documents and resources include the Congressional Research Service (CRS), Government Accountability Office (GAO), House and Senate Committees, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and Executive Office of the President.
Date: September 29, 2015
Creator: Nagel, Jared C. & Murray, Justin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Puerto Rico's Current Fiscal Challenges

Description: This report discusses multiple challenges the government of Puerto Rico faces in the fall of 2015. Concerns regarding the sustainability of Puerto Rico's public finances have intensified over the past year, despite several measures taken by the island's government to reduce spending, increase revenues, and restructure its obligations. The Puerto Rican government outlined a medium-term strategy to address those challenges in a fiscal plan put forth in mid-September 2015.
Date: September 25, 2015
Creator: Austin, D. A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB): Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report responds to frequently asked questions about the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), including the board's background, current status, controversial issues including legal challenges, and recent legislative efforts to repeal the IPAB.
Date: October 30, 2015
Creator: Hahn, Jim; Davis, Christopher M. & Liu, Edward C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Points of Order in the Congressional Budget Process

Description: This report summarizes the points of order currently in effect under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, as well as related points of order established in various other measures that have a direct impact on budget enforcement.
Date: October 20, 2015
Creator: Saturno, James V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S.-South Korea Relations

Description: South Korea (known officially as the Republic of Korea, or ROK) is one of the United States' most important strategic and economic partners in Asia, and since 2009 relations between the two countries arguably have been at their most robust state in decades. This report discusses the development of this relationship and examines current issues.
Date: October 8, 2015
Creator: Manyin, Mark E.; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Nikitin, Mary Beth D.; Rinehart, Ian E. & Williams, Brock R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2016 Budget and Appropriations

Description: This report provides an overview of the FY2016 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) request, a discussion of key issues and historic context, and account-by-account funding comparisons with FY2014 actuals, available FY2015 estimates, and FY2016 legislation.
Date: October 13, 2015
Creator: Epstein, Susan B.; Lawson, Marian L. & Tiersky, Alex
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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International Crises and Disasters: U.S. Humanitarian Assistance Response Mechanisms

Description: This report examines U.S. humanitarian assistance in international crises and disaster situations. It considers the sources and types of U.S. government aid, the response mechanisms of key U.S. agencies and departments, and possible issues for Congress.
Date: October 16, 2015
Creator: Margesson, Rhoda
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Bitcoin: Questions, Answers, and Analysis of Legal Issues

Description: This report has three major sections. The first section answers some basic questions about Bitcoin and the operation of the Bitcoin network and its interaction with the current dollar-based monetary system. The second section summarizes likely reasons for and against widespread Bitcoin adoption. The third section discusses legal and regulatory matters that have been raised by Bitcoin and other digital currencies.
Date: October 13, 2015
Creator: Murphy, Edward V.; Murphy, M. M. & Seitzinger, Michael V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Selected Legal Mechanisms Whereby the Government Can Hold Contractors Accountable for Failure to Perform or Other Misconduct

Description: This report provides an overview of selected legal mechanisms that the federal government could rely upon in holding contractors accountable for deficiencies in their performance under the contract, or for other misconduct.
Date: September 23, 2015
Creator: Manuel, Kate M. & Perry, Rodney M.
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 52 LCSs and frigates. The first LCS was funded in FY2005, and a total of 23 have been funded through FY2015.
Date: November 6, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Membership of the 114th Congress: A Profile

Description: This report presents a profile of the membership of the 114th Congress (2015-2016). Statistical information is included on selected characteristics of Members, including data on party affiliation, average age, occupation, education, length of congressional service, religious affiliation, gender, ethnicity, foreign births, and military service.
Date: October 31, 2015
Creator: Manning, Jennifer E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Party Leaders in the United States Congress, 1789-2015

Description: This report briefly describes current responsibilities and selection mechanisms for 15 House and Senate party leadership posts and provides tables with historical data, including service dates, party affiliation, and other information for each.
Date: October 30, 2015
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) program. Decisions that Congress makes on procurement of Virginia-class boats could substantially affect U.S. Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.
Date: November 5, 2015
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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You Win Some You Lose Some...New Second Amendment Rulings

Description: This legal sidebar discusses constitutionality of firearms laws under the Second Amendment since the Supreme Court decided District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008, in light of two recent federal appellate cases in which the circuit courts struck down some parts of firearms laws.
Date: November 5, 2015
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Israel: Background and U.S. Relations In Brief

Description: This report focuses on the following: Recent dynamics in U.S.-Israel relations, U.S.-Israel next steps following the July 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, regional threats Israel perceives from Hezbollah, Syria, and elsewhere, recently intensified Israeli-Palestinian tensions and violence in connection with Jerusalem's holy sites, and domestic political developments in Israel.
Date: October 23, 2015
Creator: Zanotti, Jim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Lord's Resistance Army: The U.S. Response

Description: This report discusses the background and history of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the U.S.'s response. The LRA is a small armed group that originated in northern Uganda in 1987 and is currently operating in remote border areas between the Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Sudan. The LRA's actions--which include massacres, abductions (notoriously of children), sexual assault, and looting--have caused humanitarian suffering and instability. more
Date: September 28, 2015
Creator: Arieff, Alexis; Ploch Blanchard, Lauren & Husted, Tomas F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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