Search Results

open access

Climate Change Litigation Update: "Children's Crusade" Case Against the United States Goes Forward

Description: This report discusses the case of "Juliana v. United States" which was brought by a group of 21 individuals all under the age of 20 organized through an Oregon nonprofit called Our Children's Trust. The plaintiffs seek to compel the federal government to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through appeals to the Constitution and common law.
Date: January 1, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Mexican-U.S. Relations: Increased Tensions

Description: This report describes the increased tensions in Mexican-U.S. relations after Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto canceled an upcoming meeting with President Donald J. Trump following exchanges between the two leaders over social media concerning U.S. policies toward Mexico.
Date: February 1, 2017
Creator: Ribando Seelke, Clare & Villarreal, M. A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The New START Treaty: Central Limits and Key Provisions

Description: This report provides an overview of the New Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty (START). The Obama Administration and outside analysts argue that New START strengthens strategic stability and enhances U.S. national security. Critics, however, question whether the treaty serves U.S. national security interests.
Date: February 1, 2017
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

President Trump's Executive Order on Suspending Entry of Select Foreign Nationals: The Seven Countries

Description: This report the executive order (EO) entitled "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorists Entry Into the United States." Invoking Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) §212(f), the President barred citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the United States for 90 days, with limited exceptions for those traveling on diplomatic and certain other types of visas.
Date: February 1, 2017
Creator: Siskin, Alison
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Anti-Money Laundering: An Overview for Congress

Description: This report discusses anti-money laundering (AML), which refers to efforts to prevent criminal exploitation of financial systems to conceal the location, ownership, source, nature, or control of illicit proceeds.
Date: March 1, 2017
Creator: Miller, Rena S. & Rosen, Liana W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Majority, Concurring, and Dissenting Opinions by Judge Neil M. Gorsuch

Description: This report provides a tabular listing of cases in which Judge Gorsuch authored a majority, concurring, or dissenting opinion. The opinions are categorized into three tables: Table 1 identifies opinions authored by Judge Gorsuch on behalf of a unanimous panel; Table 2 contains controlling opinions authored by Judge Gorsuch in which one or more panelists wrote a separate opinion; and Table 3 lists cases where Judge Gorsuch wrote a concurring or dissenting opinion.
Date: March 1, 2017
Creator: Garcia, Michael John; Herman, Sarah S.; Mulligan, Stephen P.; Tsang, Linda & Wyatt, Alexandra M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Russia: Background and U.S. Interests

Description: This report provides background information on Russian politics, economics, and military issues. It also discusses a number of key issues for Congress concerning Russia's foreign relations and the U.S.-Russian relationship.
Date: March 1, 2017
Creator: Welt, Cory
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): A Summary of the Act and Its Major Requirements

Description: This report summarizes the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and its major programs and regulatory requirements. It includes the drinking water security provisions added to the SDWA by the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-188), and lead reduction provisions as amended by P.L. 111-380. It also outlines amendments made in December 2013 by P.L. 113-64 (H.R. 3588) to explicitly exempt fire hydrants from coverage under the act's lead plumbing restr… more
Date: March 1, 2017
Creator: Tiemann, Mary
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Executive Order for Review of National Monuments

Description: This report discusses President Trump's April 16, 2017 executive order requiring the Department of the Interior to review presidentially established national monuments since 1996 that exceed 100,000 acres or where action was taken "without adequate public outreach and coordination". It includes tables of the national monuments effected and numbers of acres protected as a national monument by each President since 1996.
Date: May 1, 2017
Creator: Vincent, Carol Hardy & Hanson, Laura A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant in the Consolidated Appropriations Act: In Brief

Description: This report discusses the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant which provides monthly assistance (welfare) to needy families with children and funding for family and youth poverty alleviation programs such as job training for parents, early childhood education for children, and child care subsidies. Different types of research funded through the appropriations for TANF are also discussed.
Date: May 1, 2017
Creator: Falk, Gene
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Net Neutrality Debate: Access to Broadband Networks

Description: This report discusses the current debate over "net neutrality." While there is no single accepted definition of "net neutrality," most agree that any such definition should include the general principles that owners of the networks that compose and provide access to the Internet should not control how consumers lawfully use that network, and they should not be able to discriminate against content provider access to that network.
Date: May 1, 2017
Creator: Gilroy, Angele A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Patent Boxes: A Primer

Description: This report looks at several aspects of patent boxes, including their general purpose. In addition, the report looks at the key considerations in designing a patent box, identifies the countries that currently have a patent box, describes the main elements of those boxes, and sheds light on the U.S. industries that would be likely to benefit the most from such a tax subsidy if the United States were to adopt one. The final two sections discuss what is known about the effectiveness of patent box… more
Date: May 1, 2017
Creator: Guenther, Gary
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Update: A Steely Look at Steel: Commerce Directed to Prioritize Investigation of the Effects of Steel Imports on National Security

Description: This report discusses President Trump's April 2017 memorandums ordering the Commerce Department to prioritize investigation of the effects of steel and aluminium imports on U.S. national security. The report outlines the process such an investigation would take and possible outcomes if the Commerce Department determines that imports are threatening national security.
Date: May 1, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Documents: Internet and GPO Availability

Description: This report provides brief descriptions of the budget volumes and related documents, together with Internet addresses, Government Publishing Office (GPO) stock numbers, and prices for obtaining print copies of these publications. It also explains how to find the locations of government depository libraries, which can provide both printed copies for reference use and Internet access to the online versions. This report will be updated as events warrant.
Date: June 1, 2017
Creator: Nagel, Jared C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Jordan: Background and U.S. Relations

Description: This report provides an overview of Jordanian politics and current issues in U.S.-Jordanian relations. It provides a brief discussion of Jordan's government and economy and of its cooperation with U.S. policies in the Middle East.
Date: June 1, 2017
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) and Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC): Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses the Marine Corps development and funding requests for the the 2018 fiscal year for Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV) and Marine Personnel Carriers (MPC). The Department of Defense's FY 2018 Budget Request requests $340.5 million dollars for 26 ACVs. Potential issues for Congress include an increase in Marine Corps end strength and force structure resulting in an increase in overall ACV requirements and the challenges and risks associated with the Marines' new MPC/ACV acquis… more
Date: June 1, 2017
Creator: Feickert, Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Special Counsels, Independent Counsels, and Special Prosecutors: Options for Independent Executive Investigations

Description: This report analyzes the use of special prosecutors and independent counsels that were authorized under now-expired provisions of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as well as the use of special counsels that are currently authorized by Department of Justice (DOJ) regulations. It also addresses constitutional considerations in establishing independent inquiries to address perceived conflicts of interest between investigating officials and the officials being investigated.
Date: June 1, 2017
Creator: Brown, Cynthia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The G-20 and International Economic Cooperation: Background and Implications for Congress

Description: This report analyzes why countries coordinate economic policies and the historical origins of the G-20; how the G-20 operates; major highlights from previous G-20 summits, plus an overview of the agenda for the next G-20 summit; and debates about the effectiveness of the G-20 as a forum for economic cooperation and coordination.
Date: August 1, 2017
Creator: Nelson, Rebecca M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Presidential Permits for Border Crossing Energy Facilities

Description: This report discusses Presidential Permits for oil and other energy sources crossing the U.S. border (which are a type of executive order) including the source of the executive branch authority to issue the orders, the standards set forth in the orders, and the projects approved pursuant to the orders. The report also discusses proposed changes to the Presidential Permitting framework in the Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act (H.R. 2883), which passed in the House on July 19, 2017. more
Date: August 1, 2017
Creator: Vann, Adam & Parfomak, Paul W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Reform of U.S. International Taxation: Alternatives

Description: This report describes and assesses the principal prescriptions that have been offered for broad reform of the international system.3 It begins with an overview of current law and possible revisions. It then sets the framework for considering economic efficiency as well as tax shelter activities. Finally, it reviews alternative approaches to revision in light of those issues.
Date: August 1, 2017
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Back to Top of Screen