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Senate Committee Rules in the 115th Congress: Key Provisions

Description: This report first provides a brief overview of Senate rules as they pertain to committee actions. The report then provides tables that summarize selected, key features of each committee's rules in regard to meeting day, hearing and meeting notice requirements, scheduling of witnesses, hearing quorum, business quorum, amendment filing requirements, proxy voting, polling, nominations, investigations, and subpoenas. In addition, the report looks at selected unique provisions some committees have i… more
Date: December 6, 2017
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The War in Yemen: A Compilation of Legislation in the 115th Congress

Description: This report provides a summary of all legislative proposals that the 115th Congress has considered to date regarding the conflict in Yemen. Proposed stand-alone legislation, resolutions, and amendments to wider bills [National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2810; P.L. 115-91) and Defense appropriations (H.R. 3219/Division I, H.R. 3354)] reflect a range of congressional perspectives and priorities. This product will be updated during the second session of the 115th Congress to reflect new legis… more
Date: December 20, 2017
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M. & Blanchard, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Researching Current Federal Legislation and Regulations: A Guide to Resources for Congressional Staff

Description: This report is designed to introduce congressional staff to selected governmental and nongovernmental sources that are useful in tracking and obtaining information on federal legislation and regulations. It includes governmental sources, such as Congress.gov, the Government Publishing Office's Federal Digital System (FDsys), and U.S. Senate and House websites. Nongovernmental or commercial sources include resources such as HeinOnline and the Congressional Quarterly (CQ) websites. The report als… more
Date: December 8, 2017
Creator: Mansfield, Jerry W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: A Primer on TANF Financing and Federal Requirements

Description: This report the Temporary Assistance for Needy Children (TANF) block grant. It provides an overview of TANF financing and rules for state programs, describing federal TANF grants and state funds under a "maintenance-of-effort" (MOE) requirement; how federal TANF and state MOE funds may be used to help achieve the purpose and goals of the TANF block grant; rules that apply when TANF or MOE funds are used to provide "assistance" to needy families with children; rules that apply when TANF or MOE f… more
Date: December 14, 2017
Creator: Falk, Gene
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Understanding the Speech or Debate Clause

Description: This report discusses the Speech or Debate Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Various views have been expressed by different court rulings and the disagreement between courts is also discussed.
Date: December 1, 2017
Creator: Garvey, Todd
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Basic Concepts and Technical Considerations in Educational Assessment: A Primer

Description: This report discusses assessments mandated by federal education policy and discusses the purpose of assessments, types of tests, technical considerations in assessment, and using assessment results appropriately. A glossary containing definitions of commonly used assessment and measurement terms is provided at the end of this report. The glossary provides additional technical information that may not be addressed within the text of the report.
Date: December 19, 2017
Creator: Skinner, Rebecca R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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EPA's Clean Power Plan for Existing Power Plants: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report answers some frequently asked questions regarding the EPA Clean Power Plan and its repeal in progress. It also provides background information, discusses the statutory authority under which EPA promulgated the rule, and describes the rule's current status as of November 2017. The report also summarizes the provisions of the Clean Power Plan rule as it was finalized on August 3, 2015 and options that Congress has to influence EPA's action.
Date: December 19, 2017
Creator: McCarthy, James E.; Ramseur, Jonathan L.; Leggett, Jane A.; Tsang, Linda & Shouse, Kate C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Qatar: Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses Qatar's governmental structure and politics, economy, foreign policy and regional disputes with other Gulf countries, U.S.-Qatar relations and security collaboration, and human rights issues.
Date: December 27, 2017
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cluster Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses cluster munitions and their use and dangers. U.S. policy regarding them is discussed including the November 2017 rule issued by the DOD which relaxed standards for cluster munitions to allow the use of munitions that did not gave a 1% or less unexploded submunitions rate in extreme war situations reversing a 2008 rule.
Date: December 13, 2017
Creator: Feickert, Andrew & Kerr, Paul K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Division A of H.R. 3922: The CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act

Description: This report summarizes provisions in Division A of the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act that would extend funding for certain public health programs and provide offsets for these funding extensions. CRS Report R44989, Comparison of the Bills to Extend State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Funding, summarizes provisions in Division B.
Date: December 19, 2017
Creator: Heisler, Elayne J.; Fernandes-Alcantara, Adrienne L.; Fernandez, Bernadette & Lister, Sarah A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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China-U.S. Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities-Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background information and issues for Congress on China's naval modernization effort and its implications for U.S. Navy capabilities. For an overview of the strategic and budgetary context in which China's naval modernization effort and its implications for U.S. Navy capabilities may be considered, see Appendix A.
Date: December 13, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Israel: Background and U.S. Relations in Brief

Description: This report discusses relations between the U.S. and Israel and addresses recent developments such President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and various regional reactions to the announcement, local security concerns, Israeli-Palestinian relations, and Israeli domestic political disputes an ongoing criminal investigation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Date: December 22, 2017
Creator: Zanotti, Jim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The National Science Foundation: Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations and Funding History

Description: This report describes selected items from the Trump Administration's FY2018 budget request for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and tracks legislative action on FY2018 appropriations to the agency. It also details selected measures proposed in the 115th Congress to authorize increases in NSF appropriations limits and presents information on historical funding for the agency.
Date: December 18, 2017
Creator: Harris, Laurie A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Winter Fuels Outlook 2017-2018

Description: This report discuses the 2017-2018 Short-Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook (STEWFO) report issued by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Date: December 5, 2017
Creator: Pirog, Robert
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy John Lewis (TAO-205) Class Oiler Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the John Lewis (TAO205) class oiler shipbuilding program, previously known as the TAO(X) program, a program to build a new class of 20 fleet oilers for the Navy. The report also discusses budget requests for FY2018 and FY2019.
Date: November 30, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Columbia (SSBN-826) Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Columbia-class program, a program to design and build a new class of 12 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to replace the Navy's current force of 14 Ohio-class SSBNs. The Navy has identified the Columbia-class program as the Navy's top priority program, and wants to procure the first Columbia-class boat in FY2021.
Date: December 21, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Venezuela: Background and U.S, Policy

Description: This report describes the government and political structure, economy, and the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela as well as U.S. policy towards Venezuela and recent humanitarian assistance offers made by Congress.
Date: December 11, 2017
Creator: Seelke, Clare Ribando
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Russian Compliance with the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty between the U.S. and Russia which bans all land-based missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. This report outlines the original treaty provisions and then discusses compliance concerns for both Russia and the U.S., as well as possible responses to the situation by the U.S.
Date: December 6, 2017
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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