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Social Security: Substantial Gainful Activity for the Blind

Description: This report examines the Social Security disability program, the level of earnings that constitute "substantial gainful activity" (SGA), and therefore disqualifies a person from receiving benefits, is set by regulation at $940 a month for 2008. However, for the blind, the law provides a different SGA level, $1570 a month for 2008, which is adjusted annually to reflect growth in average wages. This report discusses the reasons for these differing amounts and proposals to change them.
Date: January 8, 2008
Creator: Szymendera, Scott
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management

Description: This report describes statutory requirements for allocating congressional nominations to service academies and identifies the qualifications that must be met by potential nominees, as established by statute and each academy. Sample documents that could be used by congressional offices at various stages of the nomination selection process are included.
Date: January 15, 2008
Creator: Petersen, R. E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The United States as a Net Debtor Nation: Overview of the International Investment Position

Description: This report outlines concerns about the US net international investment position because of the role foreign investors are playing in US capital markets and the potential for large outflows of income and services payments. Some observers also argue that the US reliance on foreign capital inflows leaves the economy vulnerable to financial crises.
Date: January 31, 2008
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federalism, State Sovereignty, and the Constitution: Basis and Limits of Congressional Power

Description: The report discusses state and federal legislative power generally, and focuses on a number of these "federalism" cases. Issues addressed include congressional power under the Commerce Clause and the Fourteenth Amendment; limits on congressional powers, such as the Tenth Amendment; and state sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment.
Date: February 1, 2008
Creator: Thomas, Kenneth R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Peace Corps: Current Issues

Description: This report outlines Congressional preparation of the authorization and State/Foreign Operations appropriations legislation in 2008. This report also covers Congressional considerations regarding the FY2009 level of funding for the Peace Corps and related issues.
Date: February 4, 2008
Creator: Tarnoff, Curt
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Budget Resolutions: Selected Statistics and Information Guide

Description: This report provides current and historical information on the budget resolution. It provides a list of the budget resolutions adopted and rejected by Congress since implementation of the Budget Act, including the U.S. Statutes-at-Large citations and committee report numbers, and describes their formulation and content. The report provides a table of selected optional components, a list of reconciliation measures, and information on the number of years covered by budget resolutions.
Date: February 26, 2008
Creator: Heniff, Bill, Jr. & Murray, Justin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The House Amendment Tree

Description: This report discusses the House amendment “tree”, which is a chart that depicts the maximum number and types of amendments that may be offered to a measure before any amendment is voted upon.
Date: March 14, 2008
Creator: Oleszek, Walter J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Presidential Appointee Positions Requiring Senate Confirmation and Committees Handling Nominations

Description: This report identifies, by Senate committee, presidentially appointed positions requiring Senate confirmation based on referrals as of October 31, 2007. For each committee list, positions are categorized as full- or part-time and then grouped by department or agency. Where nominations have been referred to more than one committee, the organizations and titles are noted under each of the committees to which the nominations were referred. The lists also include the lengths of fixed terms, where a… more
Date: March 18, 2008
Creator: Hogue, Henry B.; Bearden, Maureen & Lisbeth, Terrence L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Expiration and Extension of the Individual Income Tax Cuts Enacted in 2001 Through 2007

Description: This report traces the legislative history of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA;P.L. 107-16) and its extensions, shows their time line, and provides general overview of their implications and revenue effects. The report focuses on the measures that extend or curtail the key tax relief provisions of EGTRRA and the follow-up legislation, rather than modify the respective parts of the tax code in some new way.
Date: March 26, 2008
Creator: Shvedov, Maxim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Federal Minimum Wage and American Samoa

Description: This report discusses the federal minimum wage in American Samoa. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the minimum wage for the islands is fixed by a commission established by the Secretary of Labor. The minimum wage for fish processing is currently $3.26 an hour. Were Congress to extend the general (federal) minimum wage to American Samoa (and raise it to $7.25 an hour, as is currently proposed), the fish processing industry might absorb the increase, change the way it processes tuna, or… more
Date: April 8, 2008
Creator: Whittaker, William G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congress’s Contempt Power: A Sketch

Description: This report outlines the source of the contempt power, reviews major developments on the case law, and analyzes the procedures associated with each of the three different types of contempt proceedings. The report also discusses the recent investigation by the House Judiciary committee that has resulted in votes for criminal contempt of Congress and the filing of a civil lawsuit to enforce congressional subpoenas.
Date: April 15, 2008
Creator: Tatelman, Todd B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Amendments in the Senate: Types and Forms

Description: The amending process is central to the consideration of legislation by the Senate. This report briefly describes the various types of amendments that take place in the Senate.
Date: April 16, 2008
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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House and Senate Rules of Procedure: A Comparison

Description: This report compares selected House and Senate rules of procedure for various stages of the legislative process: referral of legislation to committees; scheduling and calling up measures; and floor consideration. No attempt is made to present a comprehensive discussion of how both chambers operate.
Date: April 16, 2008
Creator: Schneider, Judy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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How Measures Are Brought to the House Floor: A Brief Introduction

Description: This report presents a brief description of the five methods used to bring proposed legislation to the House floor for consideration. These methods allow for consideration as a privileged matter, under the limited privilege of a special calendar or day, under suspensions of the rules, under the terms of a special rule, or by unanimous consent.
Date: April 16, 2008
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Asian Pacific Americans in the United States Congress

Description: Asian Pacific Americans have served in both houses of Congress representing California, Hawaii, Louisiana, Oregon, Virginia, American Samoa, and Guam. They have served in leadership positions, including committee and subcommittee chairmanships. This report presents information on Senators, Representatives, and Delegates, including party affiliations, length and dates of service, and committee assignments.
Date: May 6, 2008
Creator: Tong, Lorraine H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Department of Defense “Section 1207” Security and Stabilization Assistance: A Fact Sheet

Description: This report discusses Section 1207 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (P.L. 109-163), which provides authority for DOD to transfer to the State Department up to $100 million per fiscal year in defense articles, services, training or other support for reconstruction, stabilization, and security activities in foreign countries.
Date: May 7, 2008
Creator: Serafino, Nina M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Enrollment of Legislation: Relevant Congressional Procedures

Description: This report describes the congressional procedure in the enrollment of legislation, which occurs in the chamber where the measure originated and is carried out by enrolling clerks under the supervision of the Clerk of the House of Representatives and Secretary of the Senate.
Date: May 7, 2008
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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