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The 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) and Defense Strategy: Issues for Congress

Description: This report briefly reviews the statutory Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) mandate and characterizes the context for the 2014 QDR. It also raises a series of issues that Congress may choose to consider in evaluating the QDR mandate, the 2014 QDR, and the Department of Defense (DOD) strategic direction more broadly.
Date: February 24, 2014
Creator: Dale, Catherine
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Democratic Republic of Congo: Background and U.S. Policy

Description: This report reviews the status of the Democratic Republic of the Congo peace process, provides background on recent conflicts in the Congo, briefly summarizes the political history that led to these conflicts, and assesses prospects for the future. It also describes relevant U.S. policy and congressional involvement.
Date: February 24, 2014
Creator: Arieff, Alexis
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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FY2014 Continuing Resolutions: Overview of Components

Description: This report summarizes the components of the four FY2014 continuing resolutions. They include P.L. 113-39 (Pay Our Military Act), P.L. 113-44 (Department of Defense Survivor Benefits Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014), P.L. 113-46 (Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014), and P.L. 113-73 (Making Further Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2014, and for Other Purposes).
Date: February 24, 2014
Creator: Tollestrup, Jessica
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses the open economy and society of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), provides a general description of the UAE's government and political structure, and outlines the effects of the recent global economic downturn on the UAE in general and on the city of Dubai in particular. It also describes U.S. concern over the proliferation of advanced technology in relation to a recently-signed U.S.-UAE civilian nuclear agreement, due to the UAE economy and the UAE's lax export controls.
Date: February 24, 2014
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Independence of Federal Financial Regulators

Description: This report discusses institutional features that make federal financial regulators (as well as other independent agencies) relatively independent from the President and Congress.
Date: February 24, 2014
Creator: Hogue, Henry B.; Labonte, Marc & Webel, Baird
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables

Description: The report contains information on congressional pay procedure and recent adjustments. It includes historical information on pay rates since 1789; the adjustments projected by the Ethics Reform Act as compared to actual adjustments in Member pay; details on past legislation enacted with language prohibiting the annual pay adjustment; and Member pay in constant and current dollars since 1992.
Date: September 24, 2013
Creator: Brudnick, Ida A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Budget Reconciliation Process: Timing of Legislative Action

Description: This report discusses the budget reconciliation process that has been one of the chief tools used by Congress during the period covering from 1980 to the present to implement major changes in budget policy. Following a brief overview of the budget reconciliation process, this report provides information on the timing of House and Senate action on reconciliation measures.
Date: October 24, 2013
Creator: Lynch, Megan S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Trends in Discretionary Spending

Description: This report provides a graphical overview of historical trends in discretionary budget authority (BA) from FY1976 through FY2011, enacted levels for FY2012 spending, and the levels consistent with President Obama's proposals for FY2013 through FY2017. It also includes a background on functional categories and a section discussing historical spending trends.
Date: January 24, 2014
Creator: Austin, D. Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations During President Obama's First Five Years: Comparative Analysis With Recent Presidents

Description: This report concerns nominations made by President Obama and other recent Presidents to the U.S. circuit courts of appeals and the U.S. district courts. It discusses the selection and confirmation process for U.S. circuit and district court judges.
Date: January 24, 2014
Creator: McMillion, Barry J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Discretionary Budget Authority by Subfunction: An Overview

Description: This report provides a graphical overview of historical trends in discretionary budget authority (BA) from FY1976 through FY2012, preliminary estimates for FY2013 spending, and the levels consistent with the President's proposals for FY2014 through FY2018 using data from President Obama's FY2014 budget submission that was released on April 10, 2013.
Date: January 24, 2014
Creator: Austin, D. Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Military Medical Care: Questions and Answers

Description: This report answers several frequently asked questions about military health care, including: how the system is structured, a TRICARE summary, TRICARE eligibility and plan options, cost of military health care to beneficiaries, relationship of TRICARE to MEDICARE, how the Affordable Care Act affects TRICARE, long-term trends of defense health care costs, and a summary of the fund which funds TRICARE.
Date: July 24, 2013
Creator: Jansen, Don J. & Blakeley, Katherine
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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International Crises and Disasters: U.S. Humanitarian Assistance Response Mechanisms

Description: Report that examines U.S. humanitarian assistance in international crises and disaster situations. It considers the sources and types of U.S. government aid, the response mechanisms of key U.S. agencies and departments, and possible issues for Congress--including competing aid and budget priorities, burden sharing and donor-fatigue, the transparency and efficacy of U.S. humanitarian assistance, consequences of such assistance, and potential links to broader U.S. foreign policy goals.
Date: May 24, 2013
Creator: Margesson, Rhoda
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Honduras-U.S. Relations

Description: Report that examines current political and economic conditions in Honduras as well as issues in Honduran-U.S. relations.
Date: July 24, 2013
Creator: Meyer, Peter J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: Report that is written in response to the Coast Guard's budget request for a new polar ice breaker, of which the Coast Guard currently has none in operation. Polar icebreakers perform a variety of missions supporting U.S. interests in polar regions. Issues for Congress include what to do with decommissioned ice breakers, the impact of having no ice breakers, how to budget for new ice breakers, and how future ice breakers should be obtained.
Date: July 24, 2013
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Budget Control Act of 2011: Budgetary Effects of Proposals to Replace the FY2013 Sequester

Description: Report that provides information on the levels of deficit reduction if the Budget Control Act's (BCA) automatic cuts are implemented as under current law and contrasts that with the alternative proposals offered by some Members of Congress and President Obama. It also discusses specific determinations made by the Office of Management and Budget regarding the exempt/non-exempt status of certain programs, as well as a discussion of information to be disclosed regarding the FY2013 BCA sequester im… more
Date: August 24, 2012
Creator: Levit, Mindy R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Criminal Prohibitions on the Publication of Classified Defense Information

Description: This report discusses the statutory prohibitions that may be implicated, including the Espionage Act; the extraterritorial application of such statutes; and the First Amendment implications related to such prosecutions against domestic or foreign media organizations and associated individuals. The report provides a summary of previous legislative efforts to criminalize the unauthorized disclosure of classified information.
Date: June 24, 2013
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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