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Bankruptcy Basics: A Primer

Description: This report serves as a primer for Members and their staffs on the basics of U.S. bankruptcy law. The report provides a brief overview of the most essential concepts necessary for an informed understanding of the U.S. bankruptcy system
Date: March 22, 2018
Creator: Lewis, Kevin M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Fannie and Freddie Investors Turn to Congress After the Supreme Court Declines to Resurrect Their Legal Claims

Description: This report discusses the Supreme Court's decision to decline to review the case of "Perry Capital LLC. v. Murchin" which denied the claims of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shareholders against the federal government. It also discusses some of the plaintiffs desire to seek legislative reform from Congress to change the law governing profit transfers from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Date: March 16, 2018
Creator: Carpenter, David H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Blockchain: Background and Policy Issues

Description: This report explains the technologies which underpin blockchain digital financial ledgers, how blockchain works, potential applications for blockchain, concerns with it, and potential considerations for Congress.
Date: February 28, 2018
Creator: Jaikaran, Chris
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC): Structure and Activities

Description: This report discusses the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) and its Office of Financial Research (OFR) which were established by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (P.L. 111203) to address several potential sources of systemic risk. It provides an overview of the FSOC's structure and analyzes FSOC policy-related issues and legislation.
Date: February 12, 2018
Creator: Stupak, Jeffrey M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS)

Description: This report discusses the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) which is an interagency body comprised of nine Cabinet members, two ex officio members, and other members as appointed by the President, that assists the President in overseeing the national security aspects of foreign direct investment in the U.S. economy. Various legislative and executive actions that would effect the operations of CFIUS are also discussed.
Date: January 16, 2018
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Small Business Administration Microloan Program

Description: This report discusses the Small Business Administration's (SBA) microloan program. It describes the Microloan program's eligibility standards and operating requirements for lenders and borrowers and examines the arguments presented by the program's critics and advocates. It also examines changes to the program authorized by P.L. 111-240, the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and several bills introduced during the 114th and 115th Congresses.
Date: January 12, 2018
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Funding and Financing Highways and Public Transportation

Description: This report discusses the current federal funding structure for surface transportation and the budget shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund (made up of funds from gas taxes). Various options for resolving the funding shortfall are discussed, including raising the gas tax, public-private partnerships, and tolls.
Date: January 11, 2018
Creator: Kirk, Robert S. & Mallett, William J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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"Extraordinary Measures" and the Debt Limit

Description: This report briefly examines the statutory debt limit and the use of extraordinary measures by the Treasury Department when Congress does not modify the debt limit by the deadline.
Date: December 8, 2017
Creator: Driessen, Grant A. & Hughes, Joseph S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects

Description: This report is intended to address questions that arise frequently related to the topic of government shutdowns. It discusses the causes of funding gaps and shutdowns of the federal government, processes that are associated with shutdowns, and how agency operations may be affected by shutdowns. The report concludes with a discussion of potential issues for Congress.
Date: November 30, 2017
Creator: Brass, Clinton T.; Brudnick, Ida A.; Keegan, Natalie; McMillion, Barry J.; Rollins, John W. & Yeh, Brian T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Two-Sided Credit Card Markets: The Supreme Court Takes Up Novel Antitrust Issue

Description: This report discusses the case of "Ohio v. American Express" which the Supreme Court has accepted for hearing which poses the question of how federal antitrust law should treat two-sided markets which are platforms in which two distinct user groups operate in an interdependent way. The case challenges anti-steering clauses in American Express contract agreements with merchants that prevent the merchants from promoting the use of other credit cards. The case has the potential to change the way v… more
Date: November 13, 2017
Creator: Smith, Austin D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Treasury Proposes Rule that Could Deliver a 'Death Sentence" to Chinese Bank

Description: This report discusses the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) proposal to invoke the "Fifth Special Measure" on the Chinese Bank of Dandong for its alleged role in funding and and processing transactions for North Korea's weapons programs.
Date: October 30, 2017
Creator: Carpenter, David H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Small Business Lending Fund

Description: This report discusses on the Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF). It begins with a discussion of the supply and demand for small business loans. The SBLF's advocates argued that the fund was an important part of a larger effort to enhance the supply of small business loans. After describing the program's structure, the report then examines other arguments that were presented both for and against the program's enactment. Advocates claimed the SBLF would increase lending to small businesses and, i… more
Date: October 27, 2017
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security: Cost-of-Living Adjustments

Description: This report discusses the cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for Social Security and the upcoming COLA set to begin in January 2018. Calculations used to determine COLA amounts and a brief history of their use is also included.
Date: October 26, 2017
Creator: Whittaker, Julie M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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