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The Net Neutrality Debate: Access to Broadband Networks

Description: This report discusses the net neutrality debate and the recent ruling by the FCC to repeal a rule which classified internet providers as telecommunication providers and thus required them to provide equal service to all. It also discusses Congressional activity in the 115th Congress regarding the issue.
Date: December 20, 2017
Creator: Gilroy, Angele A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Vessel Incidental Discharge Legislation in the 115th Congress: Background and Issues

Description: This report outlines regulations for vessels discharging ballast water into U.S waters, to prevent the spread of invasive species and pollution of bodies of water. It discusses various federal, state, and Coast Guard requirements along with exempted vessel types, and recent legislative action regarding the issue.
Date: January 8, 2018
Creator: Gatz, Laura
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA): A Legal Overview

Description: This report examines the nature and scope of the current regulatory scheme, including the scope of FARA's application to agents of foreign principals; what the statute requires of those covered under the Act; exemptions available under the statute; and methods of enforcement. The report concludes by discussing various legislative proposals to amend FARA in the 115th Congress.
Date: December 4, 2017
Creator: Brown, Cynthia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Army Corps Supplemental Appropriations: History, Trends, and Policy Issues

Description: This report discusses the Army Corps of Engineers and its role in disaster recovery and flood management and how supplemental appropriations from Congress assist in funding these efforts. The 115th Congress is considering possible responses to various natural disasters in 2017. H.R. 4667--Further Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements, 2017 (as passed by the House)--proposes $12.09 billion for the agency's activities associated with response, repair, and recover… more
Date: January 3, 2018
Creator: Carter, Nicole T. & Stern, Charles V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Legislative Actions to Modify the Affordable Care Act in the 111th-115th Congresses

Description: This report summarizes legislative actions taken during the 111th-115th Congresses to modify the health care-related provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (HCERA). Since enactment of the ACA and HCERA, lawmakers have repeatedly debated the laws' implementation and considered bills to repeal, defund, or otherwise amend them.
Date: June 27, 2018
Creator: Mach, Annie L. & Kinzer, Janet
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Permitting for Pesticide Discharges into Navigable Waters: Issues and Legislation in the 115th Congress

Description: This report discusses the pesticide general permit (PGP), which is required for discharges of biological pesticides and chemical pesticides that leave a residue in navigable waters. Possible actions from the 115th Congress are also discussed.
Date: June 28, 2018
Creator: Gatz, Laura & Yen, Jerry H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Withdrawal from International Agreements: Legal Framework, the Paris Agreement, and the Iran Nuclear Agreement

Description: This report outlines the legal framework for withdrawal from international agreements under domestic and international law, and it examines legal issues related to the potential termination of two agreements that may be of significance to the 115th Congress: the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) related to Iran's nuclear program.
Date: May 4, 2018
Creator: Mulligan, Stephen P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Opioid Epidemic and the Food and Drug Administration: Legal Authorities and Recent Agency Action

Description: This report focuses on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a key player in federal efforts to curb the opioid epidemic. It provides an overview of FDA's role in approving new prescription drugs, including challenges of approval and regulation of opioid products; addresses FDA's multifaceted approach in responding, including recent agency action; and concludes with a discussion of selected opioid-related legislation in the 115th Congress.
Date: June 5, 2018
Creator: Staman, Jennifer A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The War in Yemen: A Compilation of Legislation in the 115th Congress

Description: This report provides a summary of all legislative proposals that the 115th Congress has considered to date regarding the conflict in Yemen. Proposed stand-alone legislation, resolutions, and amendments to wider bills [National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2810; P.L. 115-91) and Defense appropriations (H.R. 3219/Division I, H.R. 3354)] reflect a range of congressional perspectives and priorities.
Date: August 13, 2018
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M. & Blanchard, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cuba: U.S. Policy in the 115th Congress

Description: This report examines U.S. policy toward Cuba in the 115th Congress in three sections: Cuba's political and economic environment; U.S. policy toward Cuba; and selected issues in U.S.-Cuban relations, including restrictions on travel and trade, funding for democracy and human rights projects in Cuba and for U.S. government-sponsored radio and television broadcasting, migration, anti-drug cooperation, U.S. property claims, and U.S. fugitives from justice in Cuba.
Date: September 1, 2018
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues in the 115th Congress

Description: This report examines the political and economic environment in Latin America and the Caribbean and U.S. policy toward the region in the 115th Congress, highlighting congressional interest and legislative action.
Date: October 4, 2018
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.; Beittel, June S.; DeBruyne, Nese F.; Meyer, Peter J.; Seelke, Clare Ribando; Taft-Morales, Maureen et al.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Temporary Protected Status: Overview and Current Issues

Description: This report describes Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the context of humanitarian responses to migration and also briefly describes one alternative -- Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) -- including the historical use of these mechanisms. It also provides data on the countries currently designated for TPS, outlines past legislation to provide lawful permanent resident status to certain TPS-designated foreign nationals, and provides examples of activity in the 115th Congress related to TPS.
Date: October 10, 2018
Creator: Wilson, Jill H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Membership of the 115th Congress: A Profile

Description: This report presents a profile of the membership of the 115th Congress (2017-2018) as of October 1, 2018. Statistical information is included on selected characteristics of Members, including data on party affiliation, average age, occupation, education, length of congressional service, religious affiliation, gender, ethnicity, foreign births, and military service.
Date: October 1, 2018
Creator: Manning, Jennifer E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Afghanistan: Legislation in the 115th Congress

Description: This report summarizes legislative proposals in the 115th Congress that relate to U.S. policy in Afghanistan. Proposals address a number of issues including: 1) aspects of the U.S. troop presence in the country, 2) information that the executive branch provides to Congress, 3) the role of women in Afghan society, government, and the military, 4) purposes for U.S. aid, and conditions under which it can be obligated, 5) overall U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, including prospects for a negotiated se… more
Date: October 3, 2018
Creator: Thomas, Clayton
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cuba: U.S. Policy in the 115th Congress

Description: This report examines U.S. policy toward Cuba in the 115th Congress in three sections: Cuba's political and economic environment; U.S. policy toward Cuba; and selected issues in U.S.-Cuban relations, including restrictions on travel and trade, funding for democracy and human rights projects in Cuba and for U.S. government-sponsored radio and television broadcasting, migration, anti-drug cooperation, U.S. property claims, and U.S. fugitives from justice in Cuba.
Date: October 31, 2018
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Reserve: Legislation in the 115th Congress

Description: The Federal Reserve (Fed) is the subject of legislation being considered in the 115th Congress. This report analyzes Fed bills that have seen committee or floor action and the policy debate surrounding them. The bills contain wide-ranging changes that can be grouped into five broad categories: Fed governance, oversight and disclosure, monetary policy rules (the Taylor Rule), the Fed's emergency lending powers, and the Fed's balance sheet.
Date: September 25, 2018
Creator: Labonte, Marc
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The European Union: Questions and Answers

Description: This report serves as a primer on the EU. Despite the UK's vote to leave the EU, the UK remains a full member of the bloc until it completes withdrawal negotiations and officially exits the EU (expected to occur in March 2019). As such, this report largely addresses the EU and its institutions as they currently exist. It also briefly describes U.S.-EU political and economic relations that may be of interest in the 115th Congress.
Date: September 7, 2018
Creator: Archick, Kristin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Islamic State and U.S. Policy

Description: This report provides background on the Islamic State organization, discusses its goals, operations, and affiliates, reviews U.S. legislative and policy debates, and reviews relevant legislation from the 114th and 115th Congresses.
Date: September 25, 2018
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M. & Humud, Carla E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Human Rights in China and U.S. Policy: Issues for the 115th Congress

Description: This report discusses U.S. policy toward China in regards to the many human rights abuses found there. A selection of the top areas human rights violations in China are discussed such as internet control. religious freedom, the criminal justice system, family planning policies, and the persecution of ethnic minorities. This is followed by a discussion of U.S. efforts and policies aimed at ending or decreasing human rights abuses in China.
Date: July 17, 2017
Creator: Lum, Thomas
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Selected Homeland Security Issues in the 115th Congress

Description: This report outlines an array of homeland security issues that may come before the 115th Congress. After a brief discussion of the definitions of homeland security, the homeland security budget, and the role of homeland security actors in the intelligence community, the report divides the specific issues into five broad categories: Counterterrorism and Security Management; Border Security and Trade; Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery; Cybersecurity; and DHS Management Issues. Each of… more
Date: May 11, 2017
Creator: Painter, William L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Membership of the 115th Congress: A Profile

Description: This report presents a profile of the membership of the 115th Congress (2017-2018) as of January 3, 2018. Statistical information is included on selected characteristics of Members, including data on party affiliation, average age, occupation, education, length of congressional service, religious affiliation, gender, ethnicity, foreign births, and military service.
Date: March 19, 2018
Creator: Manning, Jennifer E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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