UNT Libraries Government Documents Department - 119 Matching Results

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2017 Hurricanes and Army Corps of Engineers: Background for Flood Response and Recovery

Description: This report outlines the role of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in hurricane disaster relief and recovery. This role encompasses emergency response to floods and general disaster recovery, maintaining or repairing flood control structures such as dams that they operate as well as assisting in the repair of non-federally owned flood control structures. Recent activities of the Corps during and after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma are discussed.
Date: September 15, 2017
Creator: Carter, Nicole T. & Stern, Charles V.
open access

Abortion: Judicial History and Legislative Response

Description: This report discusses legislative action related to abortion since the 1973 "Roe v. Wade" decision. Topics covered include Major Supreme Court cases related to abortion, restrictions on federal funding being used for abortions, and previous and current legislative actions related to abortion restriction.
Date: September 29, 2017
Creator: Shimabukuro, Jon O.
open access

Amtrak: Overview

Description: This report provides an overview of the Amtrak rail service, Topics discussed are funding sources and shortfalls, current and proposed infrastructure, current ridership, on-time arrival improvements needed, service areas, and private passenger rail initiatives in Texas, Florida, and California.
Date: September 28, 2017
Creator: Peterman, David Randall
open access

Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses Bahrain's governmental structure and political climate, the 2011 uprising against the royal family and continued dissent, its alliance with Saudi Arabia, U.S. military forces in Bahrain, and human rights concerns.
Date: September 29, 2017
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
open access

Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress, and refers readers to more in-depth CRS reports on specific Arctic-related issues. Some general issues include Arctic territorial disputes; commercial shipping through the Arctic; Arctic oil, gas, and mineral exploration; endangered Arctic species; and increased military operations in the Arctic, which could cause the region in coming years to become an arena of international cooperation or competition.
Date: September 18, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
open access

"Chevron" Deference: A Primer

Description: This report discusses the Chevron decision (which set up the current process for judicial review of regulatory agencies), explains the circumstances in which the Chevron doctrine applies, explores how courts apply the two steps of Chevron, and highlights some criticisms of the doctrine, with an eye towards the potential future of Chevron deference.
Date: September 19, 2017
Creator: Brannon, Valerie C. & Cole, Jared P.
open access

China 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. The question of how the United States should respond to China's military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, is a key issue in U.S. defense planning and budgeting. Many U.S. military programs for countering improving Chinese military forces (particularly its naval forces) fall within the U.S. Navy's budget.
Date: September 18, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
open access

Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the sustainment and modernization of the Coast Guard's polar icebreaker fleet. The Coast Guard's proposed FY2018 budget requests $19 million in acquisition funding for a new polar icebreaker that the Coast Guard wants to begin building in FY2019.
Date: September 14, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
open access

Commodity Futures Trading Commission: Proposed Reauthorization in the 115th Congress

Description: This report examines selected major H.R. 238 provisions that would authorize appropriations for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) of $250 million for each of FY2017 through FY2021, expand the current 5 cost-benefit analysis provisions in the CEA to 12 considerations and add a requirement that the CFTC conduct quantitative as well as qualitative assessments, potentially broaden the bona fide hedging definition to allow anticipated, as well as current, risks to be hedged, which migh… more
Date: September 29, 2017
Creator: Miller, Rena S.
open access

Confederate Symbols: Relation to Federal Lands and Programs

Description: This report focuses primarily on Confederate symbols administered by three federal entities-- NPS, the VA, and DOD. Each of these entities manages multiple sites or programs that involve Confederate symbols. The report begins with a discussion of recent legislative proposals, and then discusses the agencies' current policies with respect to Confederate symbols, along with issues for Congress.
Date: September 20, 2017
Creator: Comay, Laura B.; Szymendara, Scott D.; Torreon, Barbara Salazar; DeBruyne, Nese F. & Hanson, Laura A.
open access

Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies

Description: This report provides information to aid policymakers as they navigate the many levels of responsibility, and numerous policy pressure points that occur after a disaster. It describes the laws and administrative policies governing the disaster response and recovery process. The report also reviews the legislative framework that exists for providing federal financial assistance following disasters, as well as the policies the executive branch employs to provide supplemental help to state, tribal,… more
Date: September 8, 2017
Creator: Brown, Jared T.; Lindsay, Bruce R. & Petruzzelli, Jaclyn
open access

Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies

Description: This report provides information to aid policymakers as they navigate the many levels of responsibility, and numerous policy pressure points; it describes the laws and administrative policies governing the disaster response and recovery process. The report also reviews the legislative framework that exists for providing federal financial assistance following disasters, as well as the policies the executive branch employs to provide supplemental help to state, tribal, and local governments durin… more
Date: September 8, 2017
Creator: Brown, Jared T.; Lindsay, Bruce R. & Petruzzelli, Jaclyn
open access

Congress's Power Over Courts: Jurisdiction Stripping and the Rule of "Klein"

Description: This report highlights a series of Supreme Court rulings that have examined separation-of-powers-based limitations on the Exceptions Clause, congressional jurisdiction stripping, and the ability of Congress to amend laws with the purpose of directly impacting litigation. The Court's jurisprudence largely begins with the Reconstruction-era case "United States v. Klein", and leads to "Patchak v. Zinke", which is scheduled for oral argument before the Supreme Court in November 2017.
Date: September 26, 2017
Creator: Peck, Sarah Herman
open access

Corporate Tax Reform: Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of corporate tax issues and discusses potential reforms in the context of these issues, with particular attention to some of the research concerning large behavioral responses and their implications for revenue and distribution. The first section reviews the size and history of the corporate income tax, and discusses an important issue that has been given little attention by those who propose deep cuts in the corporate tax: its role in preventing the use of the … more
Date: September 22, 2017
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.
open access

CRISPR Gene Editing Research in Embryos Generates Scientific and Ethics Debate

Description: This report discusses the results of a recent experiment on the use of gene modification for decreasing the chance of children having hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which was done through the use of CRISPR to modify the genes of human embryos at a private facility. Restrictions on the use of public funds for such studies, a brief explanation of the science, and ethical concerns are discussed.
Date: September 12, 2017
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr.; Sarata, Amanda K. & Johnson, Judith A.
open access

Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: Fiscal Year 2018 Budget and Appropriations

Description: This report outlines the 2018 fiscal year budget request for the State Department, foreign operations, and related programs such as foreign aid. Funding levels requested, major projects for the year, and Congressional actions are discussed.
Date: September 27, 2017
Creator: Epstein, Susan B.; Lawson, Marian L. & Gill, Cory R.
open access

Disaster Debris Management: Requirements, Challenges, and Federal Agency Roles

Description: This report focuses on the requirements applicable to disaster debris management and the challenges that communities face when attempting to manage it both quickly and safely. This report also provides an overview of the types of support provided by FEMA, the Corps, and EPA with respect to disaster debris removal. A discussion of the programs or statutory authorities under which that support may be provided is beyond the scope of this report. There are a number of conditions under which federal… more
Date: September 6, 2017
Creator: Luther, Linda
open access

Education-Related Regulatory Flexibilities, Waivers, and Federal Assistance in Response to Disasters and National Emergencies

Description: This report is intended to inform Congress of existing statutory and regulatory provisions that may aid in responding to future disasters and national emergencies that may affect the provision of or access to education and highlight the actions of previous Congresses to provide additional recovery assistance. This report reflects the most recently available guidance, as of the date of publication, related to education-related disaster response and flexibilities. It will be updated should new or… more
Date: September 8, 2017
Creator: Granovskiy, Boris & Hegji, Alexandra
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