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Overview of "Travel Ban" Litigation and Recent Developments

Description: This report provides an overview of the series of executive actions (the first two taking the form of executive orders, and the third issued as a presidential proclamation) commonly referred to as the "Travel Ban," which restrict the entry of specified categories of non-U.S. nationals (aliens) into the United States, and the litigation related to those executive actions. It also addresses a fourth and more recent executive action--an executive order issued on October 24, 2017--which announced t… more
Date: January 18, 2018
Creator: Smith, Hillel R. & Harrington, Ben
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Introduction to the Legislative Process in the U.S. Congress

Description: This report introduces the main steps through which a bill (or other item of business) may travel in the legislative process--from introduction to committee and floor consideration to possible presidential consideration. This report outlines each of the common stages through which a bill may move, with references to sources of additional information regarding complications and variations that occur in practice.
Date: January 10, 2018
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables

Description: This report discusses recent fiscal year Congressional pay raise freezes and provides: historical tables on the rate of pay for Members of Congress since 1789; details on enacted legislation with language prohibiting the automatic annual pay adjustment since the most recent adjustment; the adjustments projected by the Ethics Reform Act as compared with actual adjustments in Member pay; and Member pay in constant and current dollars since 1992.
Date: January 9, 2018
Creator: Brudnick, Ida A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Vessel Incidental Discharge Legislation in the 115th Congress: Background and Issues

Description: This report outlines regulations for vessels discharging ballast water into U.S waters, to prevent the spread of invasive species and pollution of bodies of water. It discusses various federal, state, and Coast Guard requirements along with exempted vessel types, and recent legislative action regarding the issue.
Date: January 8, 2018
Creator: Gatz, Laura
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Military Service Records, Awards, and Unit Histories: A Guide to Locating Sources

Description: This report provides information on locating military unit histories and individual service records of discharged, retired, and deceased military personnel. It also provides information on locating and replacing military awards and medals as well as contact information for military history centers, websites for additional sources of research, and a bibliography of other publications, including related CRS reports.
Date: January 2, 2018
Creator: DeBruyne, Nese F. & Torreon, Barbara Salazar
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Libya: Transition and U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses Libya's political and governmental structure, struggles to transition to a stable democratic government after Muammar al Qadhafi was overthrown in 2011, and U.S. policy and assistance in Libya.
Date: January 8, 2018
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of general, Arctic-related issues for Congress, such as: Arctic territorial disputes; commercial shipping through the Arctic; Arctic oil, gas, and mineral exploration; endangered Arctic species; and increased military operations in the Arctic, which could cause the region in coming years to become an arena of international cooperation or competition.
Date: January 4, 2018
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The U.S. Export Control System and the Export Control Reform Initiative

Description: This report discusses the U.S. export control system and the initiative started by President Obama to study and make recommendations for reform of the export control system by streamlining processes and consolidating control of the program in one agency.
Date: January 8, 2018
Creator: Fergusson, Ian F. & Kerr, Paul K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Update: Who's the Boss at the CFPB

Description: This report is an update regarding the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as there were two indivuduals who claimed the right to the job. The Trump Administration appointed acting director, Mick Mulvaney, was confirmed in his position after a lawsuit filed by the previous acting director, Leandra English, was denied by the DC courts.
Date: January 11, 2018
Creator: Brannon, Valerie C. & Cole, Jared P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

National Flood Insurance Borrowing Authority

Description: This report evaluates the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP's) borrowing authority to receive loans from the U.S. Department of the Treasury -- particularly in the context of major floods -- and discusses the current financial situation of the NFIP as it pays claims from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
Date: January 3, 2018
Creator: Horn, Diane P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Acquisition Reform in the FY2016-FY2018 National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs)

Description: This report provides a brief overview of selected acquisition-related provisions found in the National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs) for FY2016 (P.L. 114-92), FY2017 (P.L. 114-328), and FY2018 (P.L. 115-91), including the following topics that were a focus of the legislation: Major Defense Acquisition Programs, the acquisition workforce, commercial items, Other Transaction Authority, and contract types. This report also discusses the breakup of the office of the Under Secretary of Defense … more
Date: January 4, 2018
Creator: Schwartz, Moshe
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Budget Enforcement Procedures: The Senate Pay-As-You-Go (PayGO) Rule

Description: This report discusses the Senate pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rule, which generally requires that any legislation projected to increase direct spending or reduce revenues must also include equivalent amounts of direct spending cuts, revenue increases, or a combination, so that the legislation does not increase the on-budget deficit in the current fiscal year, the budget year, a six-year period, or an 11-year period (the latter two periods beginning with the current fiscal year). This update includes … more
Date: January 9, 2018
Creator: Heniff, Bill, Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran: Politics, Human Rights, and U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses Iran's political and governmental structure, major elections and political unrest (including the Dec. 2017-Jan 2018 protests), and human rights violations, as well as U.S. policy and relations with Iran.
Date: January 8, 2018
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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EPA Proposes to Repeal the Clean Power Plan

Description: This report is an update of an earlier report regarding the EPA's (Environmental Protection Ageny's) proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan, which was intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On Dec. 28, 2017 the EPA issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking input on creating a new replacement regulation for the previous Clean Power Plan.
Date: January 4, 2018
Creator: Tsang, Linda
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Clean Air Act Issues in the 115th Congress: In Brief

Description: This report discusses issues regarding the EPA and its regulations of greenhouse gas emissions and air quality standards under the Clean Air Act and various court proceedings and Congressional and executive discussions related to them.
Date: January 3, 2018
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Attorney General's Memorandum on Federal Marijuana Enforcement: Possible Impacts

Description: This report discusses Attorney General Jeff Sessions' memorandum on federal marijuana enforcement policy sent to all U.S. Attorneys that immediately rescinds guidance documents specific to marijuana enforcement. It provides background on the memorandum, the relevant regulations, and implications of withdrawing previous guidance.
Date: January 10, 2018
Creator: Garvey, Todd & Yeh, Brian T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive

Description: This report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations regarding reunification of the island of Cyprus and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.
Date: January 2, 2018
Creator: Morelli, Vincent L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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