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Oil Sands and the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund: The Definition of "Oil" and Related Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background on oil sands resources, followed by a discussion of the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF), including authorized uses and revenue sources; the scope of oil subject to the per-barrel tax (that funds the OSLTF) versus the scope of oil that triggers activities under the Oil Pollution Act; and relevant legislative activities of the 113th and 114th Congresses. The final section offers concluding observations.
Date: January 22, 2015
Creator: Ramseur, Jonathan L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Bank Failures and the FDIC

Description: This In Focus introduces the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporations (FDIC's) process for resolving failing FDIC insured banks.
Date: January 23, 2015
Creator: Gnanarajah, Raj
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Employees' Retirement System: Summary of Recent Trends

Description: This report describes recent trends in the characteristics of annuitants and current employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) as well as the financial status of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF).
Date: January 23, 2015
Creator: Isaacs, Katelin P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations

Description: This report discusses the current state of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its relationship with the United States, and future initiatives to further develop U.S.-Saudi relations.
Date: January 23, 2015
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Role of Congress in Trade Policy

Description: This report presents background and analysis on the development of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which expired on July 1, 2007. The report also includes a summary of the major provisions under the recently expired authority and a discussion of the issues that have arisen in the debate over TPA renewal, as well as policy options available to Congress.
Date: January 23, 2015
Creator: Fergusson, Ian F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S.-Mexico Water Sharing: Background and Recent Developments

Description: This report is a primer on U.S. and Mexican water-sharing topics. It focuses on surface water quantity sharing and recent developments, including drought conditions. Due to Mexico's recent below-target deliveries of Rio Grande water to the United States, particular attention is given to the status, underlying causes, and responses to the Rio Grande water delivery shortfalls. This report describes: legal obligations and processes under the 1944 Water Treaty; drought conditions from 2010 to 2013;… more
Date: January 23, 2015
Creator: Carter, Nicole T.; Ribando Seelke, Clare & Shedd, Daniel T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Wartime Detention Provisions in Recent Defense Authorization Legislation

Description: This report offers a brief background of the salient issues and provides a section-by-section analysis of the detainee provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2012. It also discusses executive interpretation and implementation of the Act's mandatory military detention provision. Finally, it addresses detainee provisions in the 2013 NDAA, the 2014 NDAA, and the 2015 NDAA.
Date: January 23, 2015
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K. & Garcia, Michael J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Water Resource Issues in the 114th Congress

Description: This report discusses recent congressional activity and possible topics for the 114th Congress. It provides an overview of the federal role in water resources development, management, and protection, with a focus on projects of the two major federal water resources agencies--Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps--and related legislation.
Date: January 23, 2015
Creator: Cody, Betsy A.; Stern, Charles V. & Carter, Nicole T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Border Security: Immigration Inspections at Ports of Entry

Description: This report reviews the legislative history of immigration inspections requirements and the entry-exit system. The report then describes the implementation of these provisions, including pre-travel screening, primary and secondary inspections, trusted traveler programs, outbound enforcement, and the entry-exit system. The final section of the report identifies a number of issues for Congress related to immigration admissions and enforcement at ports of entry (POEs).
Date: January 26, 2015
Creator: Seghetti, Lisa
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Government Assistance for GMAC/Ally Financial: Unwinding the Government Stake

Description: This report discusses government support given to Ally Financial, formerly known as General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC), which provides auto financing, insurance, online banking, and mortgage and commercial financing. This report looks at how -- or even if -- GMAC will be able to pay back the government for Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP) funding.
Date: January 26, 2015
Creator: Webel, Baird & Canis, Bill
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

Description: This report discusses the reasons that Iran is considered a threat to U.S. security, including Iran's nuclear program, involvement with terrorist organizations, and involvement with neighboring countries' local governments. It also discusses ways in which the U.S. hopes to modify Iran's behavior with sanctions, and the effectiveness of these sanctions.
Date: January 26, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Multilateral Development Banks: U.S. Contributions FY2000-FY2015

Description: This report shows in tabular form how much the Administration requested and how much Congress appropriated for U.S. payments to the multilateral development banks (MDBs) since 2000. It also provides a brief description of the MDBs and the ways they fund their operations.
Date: January 26, 2015
Creator: Nelson, Rebecca M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Unemployment Insurance: Programs and Benefits

Description: This report describes three kinds of unemployment benefit programs: regular Unemployment Compensation (UC), Extended Benefits (EB), and Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08). The report explains their basic eligibility requirements, benefits, and financing structure.
Date: January 26, 2015
Creator: Whittaker, Julie M. & Isaacs, Katelin P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The America COMPETES Acts: An Overview

Description: This report provides an overview of the COMPETES Acts for readers seeking background and legislative context. It includes a description and legislative history of the acts, a summary of the broad policy debate, and an examination of the implementation status of selected COMPETES-related programs and policies. This report also highlights major bills to reauthorize the COMPETES Acts from the 113th Congress.
Date: January 27, 2015
Creator: Gonzalez, Heather B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Commissions: Overview, Structure, and Legislative Considerations

Description: 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: January 27, 2015
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E. & Straus, Jacob R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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