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The Budget Reconciliation Process: Stages of Consideration

Description: This report discusses the budget reconciliation process which allows Congress to use an expedited procedure when considering legislation that would bring existing spending, revenue, and debt limit laws into compliance with current fiscal priorities established in the annual budget resolution.
Date: January 4, 2017
Creator: Lynch, Megan S. & Saturno, James V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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China-U.S. Trade Issues

Description: This report discusses the U.S.-China economic relationship and China's rapid expansion as a global economic market, both with respect to the current global economic crisis. It also examines major U.S.-China trade issues and related legislation.
Date: January 4, 2017
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Roll Call Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

Description: This report provides roll call vote data on Keystone XL Pipeline legislation identified by CRS using CQ.com's Roll Call Vote Report database as well as the Congress.gov legislative database. Roll call votes listed in the tables are broken down by chamber, Congress, and type of legislation--substantive votes (i.e., votes on amendments or passage of bills) versus procedural votes (e.g., votes to recommit the bill to a committee or to provide for the consideration of a bill). Votes are also listed… more
Date: April 4, 2017
Creator: Cunningham, Lynn J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances

Description: This report examines developments in U.S. policy restricting travel and remittances to Cuba, current permissible travel and remittances, enforcement of the travel restrictions, and debate on lifting the travel restrictions. Appendix A provides a chronology of major actions taken on travel restrictions; Appendix B provides a history of related legislative.
Date: December 4, 2017
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Defense Primer: A Guide for New Members

Description: This report discusses series of short primers developed by CRS to give Members of Congress an overview of key aspects of the Department of Defense and how Congress exercises authority over it. A consolidated list of these primers is contained in this report, along with links to each document.
Date: October 4, 2017
Creator: Kapp, Lawrence
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3356

Description: This report discusses Department of Interior Secretarial Order 3356 which was issued on September 15, 2017 and directs bureaus and offices that manage public lands to enhance opportunities for hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting while also promoting conservation activities on all public lands including National Monuments. Past orders and related legislation and reactions to the order are also discussed.
Date: October 4, 2017
Creator: Crafton, R. Eliot
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Opportunity in the Armed Services: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report starts by giving an overview of recent research on diversity and organizational management to demonstrate why organizations value diversity and what the findings on diversity mean in a military context. The next sections outline DOD's military personnel policies, processes and organizational structure for managing diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity. Following that, the report examines how the concept of diversity and inclusion has evolved over the history of the Armed Force… more
Date: October 4, 2017
Creator: Kamarck, Kristy N.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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FirstNet's Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network Moves Forward

Description: This report discusses FirstNet's announcement of a partnership with AT&T to build a dedicated wireless broadband network for use by public safety agencies which will allow first responders during an emergency to share information with other public safety departments and have a dedicated internet connection for emergency communication.
Date: April 4, 2017
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA): A Legal Overview

Description: This report examines the nature and scope of the current regulatory scheme, including the scope of FARA's application to agents of foreign principals; what the statute requires of those covered under the Act; exemptions available under the statute; and methods of enforcement. The report concludes by discussing various legislative proposals to amend FARA in the 115th Congress.
Date: December 4, 2017
Creator: Brown, Cynthia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

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: August 4, 2017
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Latin America and the Caribbean: Key Issues and Actions in the 114th Congress

Description: This report provides information about U.S. policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean during the 114th Congress in 2015 and 2016. It begins with an overview of the political and economic environment affecting U.S. relations and then examines the Obama Administration's policy toward the region. The report then examines congressional interests in the region and legislative action, looking at selected regional and country issues.
Date: January 4, 2017
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Nuclear Negotiations with North Korea: In Brief

Description: This report summarizes past nuclear and missile negotiations between the United States and North Korea, also known by its formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and highlights some of the lessons and implications that can be drawn from these efforts.
Date: December 4, 2017
Creator: Nikitin, Mary Beth D.; Chanlett-Avery, Emma & Manyin, Mark E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Possible U.S. Policy Approaches to North Korea

Description: This report describes President Trump's current policy toward North Korea and possible options for future U.S. policy. Options include diplomatic engagement, international and U.S. sanction increases, military strikes, destabilization of the North Korean government through intelligence activities and popular resentment, enhanced military cooperation with allies, and additional funding for preventing arms trading and related trade with North Korea.
Date: September 4, 2017
Creator: Chanlett-Avery, Emma & Manyin, Mark E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Public Sector Union Dues: Grappling with Fixed Stars and Stare Decisis (Part 1)

Description: First part of a report discussing the upcoming Supreme Court case of "Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council," concerning whether requiring non-union member employees is constitutional. It provides general background on an earlier case regarding the issue "Abood v. Detroit Board of Education" and the case law leading up to "Janus."
Date: December 4, 2017
Creator: Killion, Victoria L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Public Sector Union Dues: Grappling with Fixed Stars and Stare Decisis (Part 2)

Description: Second part of a report discussing the upcoming Supreme Court case of "Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council," concerning whether requiring non-union member employees is constitutional. It begins with a brief summary of the parties' arguments, highlights some key statements from the prior decisions of Justice Gorsuch (who is likely to be a critical voice), and finally explores the potential implications of the decision.
Date: December 4, 2017
Creator: Killion, Victoria L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Senate Committee Hearings: Preparation

Description: This report identifies many of the tasks that need to be performed by a full committee or subcommittees in advance of a hearing; these are based on Senate or committee rules, or common committee practice. It also outlines responsibilities which are divided among the committee's majority staff, shared by majority and minority staff, or performed by a Senator's personal office staff, depending on the tasks.
Date: December 4, 2017
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Speakers of the House: Elections, 1913-2017

Description: This report provides data on elections of the Speaker in each Congress since 1913, when the House first reached its present size of 435 Members. During that period (63rd through 115th Congresses), a Speaker was elected five times with the votes of less than a majority of the full membership.
Date: January 4, 2017
Creator: Beth, Richard S. & Heitshusen, Valerie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Tolling U.S. Highways and Bridges

Description: This report explains current federal policies governing tolling and discusses issues related to increasing the use of tolls as a source of revenue for surface transportation projects.
Date: August 4, 2017
Creator: Kirk, Robert S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Transportation Spending Under an Earmark Ban

Description: This report explains what earmarks are and discusses their use in surface transportation finance. It then discusses how federal transportation funding is distributed with a ban in place and how Members of Congress might influence the distribution.
Date: January 4, 2017
Creator: Kirk, Robert S.; Mallett, William J. & Peterman, David R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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