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Residential Energy Tax Credits: Overview and Analysis

Description: This report explores one policy option for promoting residential energy efficiency: tax credits. It begins by providing an overview of the current residential energy-efficiency tax credits. The report then goes on to provide an economic rationale for residential energy-efficiency tax incentives, introducing the concept of "market failures" and "market barriers" which may lead to suboptimal or "economically inefficient" investment in energy-efficiency technologies. The final sections of this re… more
Date: September 25, 2012
Creator: Crandall-Hollick, Margot L. & Sherlock, Molly F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Eurozone Crisis: Overview and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of the causes, challenges, political dynamics, and other aspects of the Eurozone's economic crisis and discusses the related issues that Congress may address, such as: how this situation will impact the U.S. economy, IMF (International Monetary Fund) involvement, and how the US and Europe will cooperate to solve these issues. The report also contains supplemental figures and charts.
Date: August 29, 2012
Creator: Nelson, Rebecca M.; Belkin, Paul; Mix, Derek E. & Weiss, Martin A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Eurozone Crisis: Overview and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of the causes, challenges, political dynamics, and other aspects of the Eurozone's economic crisis and discusses the related issues that Congress may address, such as: how this situation will impact the U.S. economy, IMF (International Monetary Fund) involvement, and how the US and Europe will cooperate to solve these issues. The report also contains supplemental figures and charts.
Date: September 26, 2012
Creator: Nelson, Rebecca M.; Belkin, Paul; Mix, Derek E. & Weiss, Martin A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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America COMPETES 2010 and the FY2013 Budget

Description: This report discusses the 112th Congress' possible changes to the implementation of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010. Signed on January 4, 2011, this law seeks to improve U.S. competitiveness and innovation by authorizing, among other things, increased federal support for research in the physical sciences and engineering; and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. The specific debate about FY2013 funding for America COMPETES 2010 provisions will occu… more
Date: October 9, 2012
Creator: Gonzalez, Heather B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Trafficking in Persons: International Dimensions and Foreign Policy Issues for Congress

Description: This report explores current foreign policy issues confronting U.S. efforts to combat human trafficking, the interrelationship among existing polices, and the historical and current role of Congress in such efforts. The 112th Congress has introduced and taken action on several bills related to human trafficking. Given recent challenges in balancing budget priorities, the 112th Congress may choose to consider certain aspects of this issue further, including the effectiveness of international ant… more
Date: September 24, 2012
Creator: Wyler, Liana Sun
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Department of Homeland Security Appropriations: A Summary of Congressional Action for FY2013

Description: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill includes funding for all components and functions of the Department of Homeland Security. This report looks at the requested FY2013 budget for these bills, and programs that the budget would fund.
Date: October 1, 2012
Creator: Painter, William L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Programs Related to Indoor Pollution by Chemicals

Description: This report describes common indoor pollutants, discusses federal statutes that have been used to address indoor pollution, and analyzes key issues surrounding some general policy options for federal policy makers. The focus is on indoor chemical contaminants, rather than on temperature, humidity, or pollution from animals, fungal or bacterial organisms, or plant pests.
Date: July 23, 2012
Creator: Schierow, Linda-Jo & Bearden, David M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Positive Train Control (PTC): Overview and Policy Issues

Description: This report gives and overview of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and discusses policy issues related to it. Congress passed the Act following several high-profile train accidents; it mandates positive train control (PTC) on many passenger and freight railroads by December 31, 2015.
Date: July 30, 2012
Creator: Peters, Jeffrey C. & Frittelli, John
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education: A Primer

Description: The term "STEM education" refers to teaching and learning in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including educational activities across all grade levels—from pre-school to post-doctorate—in both formal and informal settings. This report is intended to serve as a primer for outlining existing STEM education policy issues and programs. It includes assessments of the federal STEM education effort and the condition of STEM education in the United States, as well as an … more
Date: August 1, 2012
Creator: Gonzalez, Heather B. & Kuenzi, Jeffrey J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Department of Homeland Security: FY2013 Appropriations

Description: This report describes the FY2013 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Administration requested $39.510 billion in adjusted net discretionary budget authority for DHS for FY2013, as part of an overall budget of $59.501 billion (including fees, trust funds, and other funding that is not appropriated or does not score against the budget caps). The request amounts to a $90 million, or a 0.2%, decrease from the $39.600 billion enacted for FY2012 through the consolidated … more
Date: October 1, 2012
Creator: Painter, William L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Extending Unemployment Compensation Benefits During Recessions

Description: This report describes the history of temporary federal extensions to unemployment benefits from 1980 to the present. It has five sections which discuss: [1] background information on unemployment compensation (UC) benefits, [2] a definition of a recession and the process of declaring a recession, [3] a summary of the legislative history of federal extensions of unemployment benefits, [4] figures examining the statistics of recessions, and [5] previous methods for financing temporary recession p… more
Date: October 11, 2012
Creator: Whittaker, Julie M. & Isaacs, Katelin P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Extending Unemployment Compensation Benefits During Recessions

Description: This report describes the history of temporary federal extensions to unemployment benefits from 1980 to the present. It has five sections which discuss: [1] background information on unemployment compensation (UC) benefits, [2] a definition of a recession and the process of declaring a recession, [3] a summary of the legislative history of federal extensions of unemployment benefits, [4] figures examining the statistics of recessions, and [5] previous methods for financing temporary recession p… more
Date: September 13, 2012
Creator: Whittaker, Julie M. & Isaacs, Katelin P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board: New Independent Agency Status

Description: This report examines initial responses to the 9/11 Commission's call for a board to oversee adherence to presidential guidelines on information sharing that safeguard the privacy of individuals about whom information is shared, and the implementation of this board.
Date: August 27, 2012
Creator: Hatch, Garrett
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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International Drug Control Policy: Background and U.S. Responses

Description: This report discusses challenges created by the global illegal drug trade, including: undermining political and regional stability, bolstering the role and capabilities of transnational criminal organizations in the drug trade, and the burden caused by drug use an addition on local communities and economic development. In addition, this report discusses U.S. policy efforts to thwart illegal drug trade.
Date: October 16, 2012
Creator: Wyler, Liana Sun
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran's Nuclear Program: Status

Description: This report looks at the background of Iran's nuclear policy. It covers the current status of Iran's nuclear facilities, and current controversy surrounding them, as well as the effects of international sanctions on Iran, recent sabotages on the Iran Enrichment Program, an estimated timeline of Iran's nuclear weapon capabilities, and whether or not Iran even has a nuclear weapons program.
Date: October 17, 2012
Creator: Kerr, Paul K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Veterans' Benefits: Benefits Available for Disabled Veterans

Description: This report provides information on these benefits to assist disabled veterans, including eligibility, history, and the application process. Information regarding spending and the beneficiaries of these benefits is in the Appendix to this report.
Date: January 23, 2012
Creator: Scott, Christine; Davis, Carol D. & Perl, Libby
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Vietnamese Victims of Agent Orange and U.S.-Vietnam Relations

Description: This report examines various estimates of the effects of Agent Orange on Vietnam's people and environment, the history of U.S. policy on the issue, the current cleanup efforts in Vietnam, the various forms of assistance—including U.S. assistance—provided to people with medical conditions associated with dioxin exposure, and the implications for bilateral relations. It concludes with a brief discussion of possible congressional responses to the issue.
Date: August 29, 2012
Creator: Martin, Michael F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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