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Federalism Issues in Surface Transportation Policy: Past and Present

Description: This report provides a historical perspective on contemporary federalism issues in surface transportation policy that are likely to be addressed by Congress during the 111th Congress, including possible devolution of programmatic responsibility to states and proposals to change state maintenance-of-effort requirements and state cost matching requirements.
Date: January 5, 2010
Creator: Dilger, Robert J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Federalism Issues in Surface Transportation Policy: Past and Present

Description: This report provides an historical perspective on contemporary federalism issues in surface transportation policy that are likely to be addressed by Congress during the 111th Congress, including possible devolution of programmatic responsibility to states and proposals to change state maintenance-of-effort requirements and state cost matching requirements.
Date: March 13, 2009
Creator: Dilger, Robert J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Federalism Issues in Surface Transportation Policy: Past and Present

Description: This report provides a historical perspective on contemporary federalism issues in surface transportation policy that are likely to be addressed by Congress during the 111th Congress, including possible devolution of programmatic responsibility to states and proposals to change state maintenance-of-effort requirements and state cost matching requirements.
Date: March 22, 2010
Creator: Dilger, Robert J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Federalism, State Sovereignty, and the Constitution: Basis and Limits of Congressional Power

Description: The report discusses state and federal legislative power generally, and focuses on a number of these "federalism" cases. Issues addressed include congressional power under the Commerce Clause and the Fourteenth Amendment; limits on congressional powers, such as the Tenth Amendment; and state sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment.
Date: February 1, 2008
Creator: Thomas, Kenneth R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Block Grants: Perspectives and Controversies

Description: This report provides an overview of the six grant types with criteria for defining a block grant and a list of current block grants. It also examines competing perspectives concerning the use of block grants versus other grant mechanisms to achieve national goals, provides an historical overview of the role of block grants in American federalism, and discusses recent changes to existing block grants and proposals to create new ones.
Date: January 16, 2014
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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State Legalization of Recreational Marijuana: Selected Legal Issues

Description: This report summarizes the Washington and Colorado marijuana legalization laws and evaluates whether, or the extent to which, they may be preempted by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) or by international agreements. It also describes and analyzes the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ's) response to these legalization initiatives. The report then identifies certain noncriminal consequences that marijuana users may face under federal law. Finally, the report closes with a description of select… more
Date: January 13, 2014
Creator: Garvey, Todd & Yeh, Brian T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies

Description: This report provides information that can aid policymakers as they navigate through the many levels of responsibility, and numerous policy pressure points, by having an understanding of the laws and administrative policies governing the disaster response and recovery process. The report also reviews the legislative framework that exists for providing federal assistance, as well as the implementing polices the executive branch employs to provide supplemental help to state, tribal, and local gove… more
Date: May 24, 2013
Creator: McCarthy, Francis X. & Brown, Jared T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Supporting Criminal Justice System Reform in Mexico: The U.S. Role

Description: This report provides an overview of Mexico's historic 2008 judicial reforms and an assessment of how those reforms have been implemented thus far. It then analyzes U.S. support for judicial reform efforts in Mexico and raises issues for Congress to consider as it oversees current U.S. justice sector programs and considers future support to Mexico.
Date: March 18, 2013
Creator: Seelke, Claire Ribando
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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State Government Fiscal Stress and Federal Assistance

Description: This report examines the current status of state fiscal conditions and the role of federal assistance in state budgets. It begins with an overview of state budgeting procedures and then provides budgetary data comparing state fiscal conditions in FY2008 to FY2013.
Date: February 4, 2014
Creator: Dilger, Robert J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Role in Voter Registration: The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and Subsequent Developments

Description: This report first provides a brief background on the federal role in voter registration and the passage of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), followed by a discussion of the key components of NVRA. The implementation of NVRA, subsequent modifications to its provisions, and ongoing considerations related to federal voter registration are also discussed. The final sections of this report provide descriptions of types of common legislative proposals addressing voter registration, … more
Date: November 28, 2017
Creator: Eckman, Sarah J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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OSHA State Plans: In Brief, with Examples from California and Arizona

Description: This report discusses the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requirements for state created plans that are used instead of the general federal requirements. A state plan from California that exceeds the federal requirements and a proposed state plan from Arizona that does not meet federal requirements are discussed as examples of different types of state plans.
Date: April 18, 2017
Creator: Szymendara, Scott D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Unfunded Mandates Reform Act: History, Impact, and Issues

Description: This report examines debates over what constitutes an unfunded federal mandate and the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act's (UMRA's) implementation. It focuses on UMRA's requirement that CBO issue written cost estimate statements for federal mandates in legislation, its procedures for raising points of order in the House and Senate concerning unfunded federal mandates in legislation, and its requirement that federal agencies prepare written cost estimate statements for federal mandates in rules. It a… more
Date: October 13, 2017
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Grants to State and Local Governments: A Historical Perspective on Contemporary Issues

Description: This report provides a historical synopsis of the evolving nature of the federal grants-in-aid system, focusing on the role Congress has played in defining the system's scope and nature. It begins with an overview of the contemporary federal grants-in-aid system and then examines its evolution over time, focusing on the internal and external factors that have influenced congressional decisions concerning the system's development. It concludes with an assessment of the scope and nature of the co… more
Date: June 22, 2017
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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State Innovation Waivers: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report answers frequently asked questions about the state innovation waiver program of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which allows states to waive certain requirements of the ACA and instead create their own health insurance coverage plans that will still provide the same level of coverage and affordability as the ACA would have. The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Secretary of the Treasury share responsibility for reviewing state innovation waiver app… more
Date: October 10, 2017
Creator: Mach, Annie L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Article V Convention to Propose Constitutional Amendments: Current Developments

Description: This report provides information for Members of Congress and congressional staff on current developments in Congress, the states, and the relevant advocacy and policy communities concerning the Article V Convention alternative for proposing constitutional amendments.
Date: November 15, 2017
Creator: Neale, Thomas H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Surface Transportation Devolution

Description: This report discusses proposals regarding the devolution of surface transportation building and maintenance to states and the economic and safety related impacts such an act might have. Arguments for and against the idea and recent revisions to surface transportation legislation which already reduce federal regulation are also discussed.
Date: April 12, 2017
Creator: Kirk, Robert S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Medicaid Financing

Description: This report provides background information on Medicaid financing and a discussion of current issues. Last year, Congress placed temporary moratoriums on the implementation of four controversial regulations that anticipate large reductions in federal spending for Medicaid.
Date: March 28, 2008
Creator: Grady, April
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers: Protective Statutes

Description: This report is a summary and a survey, spelling out the considerations that Congress found were necessary to face. It begins in the 1960s with the advent of FLCRA, and proceeds through the enactment of MSPA and to the end of the century. But, it is also a summary of developments in the history of the two statutes, written from the perspective of a labor economist. It may, from time to time, be revised as new developments occur.
Date: May 24, 2006
Creator: Whittaker, William G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Mandatory Vaccinations: Precedent and Current Laws

Description: This report provides an overview of the legal precedent for mandatory vaccination laws, and of state laws that require certain individuals or populations to be vaccinated against various communicable diseases. The role of both the federal and state governments with respect to public health emergency powers, including requiring the use of mandatory vaccines, is discussed.
Date: January 7, 2008
Creator: Swendiman, Kathleen S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Estimated Allocations

Description: This report contains two tables that show estimated Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) allocations to the states. Table 1 shows amounts proposed by the President, House of Representatives, and Senate for FY2007, while Table 2 shows estimated state allocations at other hypothetical increments.
Date: October 10, 2006
Creator: Perl, Libby
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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National Guard and Reserve Funding, FY1990-2001

Description: This report provides data on trends in funding for National Guard & Reserve components and end-strength levels for Fiscal Years (FY) 1990-2000 and the budget request for FY2001. The reserve components include the Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and Air Force Reserve.
Date: July 27, 2000
Creator: Tyszkiewicz, Mary T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Insurance Regulation After the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act

Description: This report describes the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (the GLB Act), which Congress passed in 1999 to enhance competition among financial services providers and to modernize their regulation. Since then, markets have not really integrated, and regulatory silos - with few exceptions - remain intact. Congress is now exploring federal standards for some aspects of state regulation of insurance.
Date: April 26, 2004
Creator: Cobb, Carolyn
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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