Search Results

open access

United States Fire Administration: An Overview

Description: This report describes and analyzes the Administration's FY2010 budget proposal, as well as related information and legislation. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is currently an entity within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The objective of the USFA is to significantly reduce the nation's loss of life from fire, while also achieving a reduction in property loss and non-fatal injury due to fire.
Date: May 12, 2009
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Federal Advisory Committees: An Overview

Description: This report discusses Federal advisory committees, which are created as provisional advisory bodies that can circumvent bureaucratic constraints to collect a variety of viewpoints on specific policy issues. Advisory bodies have been created to address a host of issues, ranging from policies on organ donation to the design and implementation of the Department of Homeland Security. These committees are often created to help the government manage and solve complex or divisive issues.
Date: April 16, 2009
Creator: Ginsberg, Wendy R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Competition in Federal Contracting: An Overview of the Legal Requirements

Description: This report describes the legal requirements pertaining to competition that presently apply to federal procurement contracts. Among other things, it discusses what contracts are subject to competition requirements; what constitutes full and open competition for government contracts; and what is meant by "full and open competition after exclusion of sources."
Date: April 14, 2009
Creator: Manuel, Kate M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Border Security: Key Agencies and Their Missions

Description: This report briefly describes the role of various agencies in securing the borders of the United States. These agencies are the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the United States Coast Guard, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Date: April 9, 2009
Creator: Haddal, Chad C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Defense: FY2009 Authorization and Appropriations

Description: This report discusses issues related to defense funding in the wake of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, generally referred to as the "economic stimulus" bill. The President's FY2009 budget request, released February 4, 2008, included $611.1 billion in new budget authority for national defense.
Date: February 25, 2009
Creator: Towell, Pat; Daggett, Stephen & Belasco, Amy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The National Security Council: An Organizational Assessment

Description: This study reviews the organizational history of the National Security Council (NSC) and other related components of the Executive Office regarding their changing role in the national security policy process. It is intended to provide information on the NSC's development as well as subsequent usage.
Date: February 6, 2009
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

A Federal Chief Technology Officer in the Obama Administration: Options and Issues for Consideration

Description: This report addresses issues related to the potential scope of duties and authorities of a CTO, as well as other issues Congress may choose to consider if it opts to exert oversight or to develop legislation to create the position and/or office of a CTO.
Date: January 21, 2009
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education: FY2009 Appropriations

Description: This report discusses budget appropriations that is one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, consolidated, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and budget reconciliation bills. This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations S… more
Date: January 15, 2009
Creator: Smith, Pamela W.; Skinner, Rebecca R. & Mayer, Gerald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Federal Government Corporations: An Overview

Description: This report provides an overview of federal government corporations, a category currently consisting of some 17 corporate agencies performing functions assigned to them in law. A government corporation, as defined in this report, is a government agency that is established by Congress to provide a market-oriented public service and required to produce revenues that meet or approximate its expenditures.
Date: January 7, 2009
Creator: Kosar, Kevin R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Department of Defense Role in Foreign Assistance: Background, Major Issues, and Options for Congress

Description: This report begins with a brief introduction to the three areas in which DOD plays a role in foreign assistance and to Congress's part in authorizing that role and briefly discusses the general evolution of DOD's role and the Department of State's current perception of that role based on current national security needs. The report then provides an overview of the evolution of the DOD role and current activities in the three areas cited above, with a snapshot of the varying perspectives on the D… more
Date: December 9, 2008
Creator: Serafino, Nina M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Executive Branch Reorganization and Management Initiatives: A Brief Overview

Description: This report provides a brief overview of recent executive branch reorganization actions and related management initiatives. It reviews the relevant plans and preparations of President-elect Barack Obama as the new Administration transitions to assuming management of the executive branch. Briefly examined, as well, are the organization and management efforts of the most recent regimes.
Date: November 26, 2008
Creator: Relyea, Harold C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Defense: FY2009 Authorization and Appropriations

Description: This report is a guide to one of the regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense, and summarizes the status of the bills, their scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity.
Date: November 3, 2008
Creator: Towell, Pat & Daggett, Stephen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies: FY2009 Appropriations

Description: This report is a guide to one of the regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittees. It summarizes the status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity, and is updated as events warrant
Date: October 31, 2008
Creator: Else, Daniel H.; Scott, Christine & Panangala, Sidath Viranga
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

U.S. National Science Foundation: An Overview

Description: The majority of the research supported by the NSF is conducted at U.S. colleges and universities. Approximately 82.7% ($3,094.8 million) of NSF's FY2006 $3,740.6 million research and development (R&D) budget was awarded to U.S. colleges and universities. On September 30, 2008, the President signed into law the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 110-329, H.R. 2638). The act includes, among other things, three of the 12 regular appropriations… more
Date: October 24, 2008
Creator: Matthews, Christine M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Polygraph Use by the Department of Energy: Issues for Congress

Description: This report examines how the Department of Energy's (DOE) polygraph testing program has evolved and reviews certain scientific findings with regard to the polygraph's scientific validity. Several issues include whether: DOE's new screening program is focused on an appropriate number of individuals occupying only the most sensitive positions; the program should be expanded in order to adequately safeguard certain classified information; further research into the polygraph's scientific validity i… more
Date: October 23, 2008
Creator: Cumming, Alfred
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Telework for Executive Agency Employees: A Side-by-Side Comparison of Legislation Pending in the 111th Congress

Description: S. 1000, the Telework Enhancement Act of 2007, and H.R. 4106, the Telework Improvements Act of 2008, are currently pending in the 110th Congress. Under the pending legislation and Senate amendments, the heads of executive branch agencies would be required to establish policies under which employees (with some exceptions) could be eligible to participate in telework. This report presents a side-by-side comparison of the provisions of S. 1000, as reported; H.R. 4106, as passed by the House.
Date: October 20, 2008
Creator: Schwemle, Barbara L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Federal Protective Service and Contract Security Guards: A Statutory History and Current Status

Description: The Federal Protective Service (FPS) -- within U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) -- is responsible for protecting federal government property, personnel, visitors, and customers, including property leased by the General Services Administration (GSA). FPS currently employs over 15,000 contract security guards to protect federal property. DHS intends, according to its FY2009 budget justification, to continue the use of contract security guards… more
Date: October 14, 2008
Creator: Reese, Shawn
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

United States Fire Administration: An Overview

Description: The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) - which includes the National Fire Academy (NFA) - is currently an entity within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The objective of the USFA is to significantly reduce the nation's loss of life from fire, while also achieving a reduction in property loss and non-fatal injury due to fire. This report describes and analyzes the Administration's FY2009 budget proposal, as well as related information and … more
Date: October 10, 2008
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Wave, Tidal, and In-Stream Energy Projects: Which Federal Agency Has the Lead?

Description: Developments in wave, tidal, and in-stream energy generation technologies -- also referred to as hydrokinetic or marine energy -- are beginning to gain momentum. At the same time, their regulatory status is still evolving, as shown by recent changes in law aimed at clarifying hte federal role in ocean wave and renewable energy. Two federal agencies currently appear to have a lead role in offshore renewable energy projects -- the Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) and… more
Date: October 7, 2008
Creator: Lane, Nic
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Defense: FY2009 Authorization and Appropriations

Description: This report is a guide to one of the regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense. For both defense authorization and appropriations, this report summarizes the status of the bills, their scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity.
Date: September 29, 2008
Creator: Towell, Pat; Daggett, Stephen & Belasco, Amy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Statutory Offices of Inspector General: Past and Present

Description: Statutory offices of inspector general (OIG) consolidate responsibility for audits and investigations within a federal agency. Established by public law as permanent, nonpartisan, independent offices, they now exist in more than 60 establishments and entities, including all departments and largest agencies, along with numerous boards and commissions. Various initiatives and proposals in the 110th Congress are designed to strengthen the IGs' independence, add to their reports, and create new pos… more
Date: September 25, 2008
Creator: Kaiser, Frederick M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Back to Top of Screen