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Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (Polar Icebreaker) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated April 1, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program--the Coast Guard's program for acquiring new PSCs (i.e., heavy polar icebreakers). The Coast Guard's proposed FY2022 budget requested $170.0 million in procurement funding for the PSC program. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Administration's FY2022 procurement funding request for the PSC program, and, more generally, whether to approve, reject, or modify the Coast Guard's overall plan for procuring new polar icebreakers. Congress's decisions on this issue could affect Coast Guard funding requirements, the Coast Guard's ability to perform its polar missions, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2022-04-01
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Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated April 1, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Coast Guard's programs for procuring 8 National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and 58 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs). The Coast Guard's proposed FY2022 budget requested a total of $695 million in procurement funding for the NSC, OPC, and FRC programs. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Coast Guard's funding requested and acquisition strategies for the NSC, OPC, and FRC programs. Congress's decisions on these three programs could substantially affect Coast Guard capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2022-04-01
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Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated April 1, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) program, a program carried out by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Navy that gives Navy Aegis cruisers and destroyers a capability for conducting BMD operations. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition strategies and proposed funding levels for the Aegis BMD program. Congress's decisions on the Aegis BMD program could significantly affect U.S. BMD capabilities and funding requirements, and the BMD-related industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2022-04-01
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Venezuela: Political Crisis and U.S. Policy [Updated April 1, 2022]
From the Document: "Venezuela, under the authoritarian rule of Nicolás Maduro, remains in a deep economic and humanitarian crisis worsened by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Maduro has consolidated power over all of Venezuela's institutions since his 2013 election after the death of President Hugo Chávez (1999-2013). Maduro's United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) took control of the National Assembly, the last independent branch of government, in January 2021. The PSUV and allies won 19 of 23 gubernatorial elections in flawed November elections. Maduro has quashed dissent and resisted international pressure to step down since his reelection in a 2018 presidential vote that was widely condemned as fraudulent. Support for opposition leader Juan Guaidó, the former National Assembly president once regarded as interim president by nearly 60 other countries, has dissipated, although the Biden Administration continues to recognize Guaidó's government, partially to prevent Venezuelan assets abroad from coming under Maduro's control. Administration officials nevertheless met with Maduro in early March 2022, reportedly to discuss U.S. citizens illegally detained in Venezuela, restarting stalled negotiations with the opposition, and energy issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2022-04-01
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 01, 2022: Cardiac Complications After SARS-CoV-2 Infection and mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination -- PCORnet, United States, January 2021-January 2022
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This Early Release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Cardiac Complications After SARS-CoV-2 Infection and mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination -- PCORnet, United States, January 2021-January 2022." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from MMWR can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2022.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2022-04-01
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 1, 2022
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This issue of MMWR contains the following: "Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey -
United States, January-June 2021"; "Overview and Methodology of the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey - United States, January-June 2021"; "Use of Tobacco Products, Alcohol, and Other Substances Among High School Students During the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Pandemic - Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, United States, January-June 2021 "; "Mental Health, Suicidality, and Connectedness Among High School Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, United States, January-June 2021 "; "Perceived Racism and Demographic, Mental Health, and Behavioral Characteristics Among High School Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, United States, January-June 2021"; and "Disruptions to School and Home Life Among High School Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, United States, January-June 2021." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2022.html]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2022-04-01
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 1, 2022
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This issue of MMWR contains the following: "Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination in Adults Aged 19-59 Years: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices -- United States, 2022"; "Assessment of Epidemiology Capacity in State Health Departments -- United States, 2021"; "Use of At-Home COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Tests -- United States, August 23, 2021-March 12, 2022"; "Effectiveness of Homologous and Heterologous COVID-19 Booster Doses Following 1 Ad.26.COV2.S (Janssen [Johnson & Johnson]) Vaccine Dose Against COVID-19-Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters and Hospitalizations Among Adults -- VISION Network, 10 States, December 2021-March 2022"; "'Notes From the Field': Xylazine-Related Deaths -- Cook County, Illinois, 2017-2021"; and "'QuickStats': Percentage of Office-Based Physicians Who Had Telephone or Internet/Email Consults with Patients -- National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, United States, 2018 and 2020." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2022.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2022-04-01
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2021 Lobbying Disclosure: Observations on Lobbyists' Compliance with Disclosure Requirements, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "The LDA [Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995], as amended, requires lobbyists to file quarterly disclosure reports and semiannual reports on certain political contributions. The law also includes a provision for GAO to annually audit lobbyists' compliance with the LDA. This report, among other things, (1) determines the extent to which lobbyists can demonstrate compliance with disclosure requirements, (2) identifies challenges or potential improvements to compliance that lobbyists report, and (3) describes the efforts of USAO [U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia] in enforcing LDA compliance. This is GAO's 15th annual report under the provision. GAO reviewed a stratified random sample of 98 quarterly disclosure LD[lobbying disclosure]-2 reports filed for the third and fourth quarters of calendar year 2020 and the first and second quarters of calendar year 2021. GAO also reviewed two random samples totaling 160 LD-203 reports from year-end 2020 and midyear 2021. This methodology allowed GAO to generalize to the population of 55,084 disclosure reports with $5,000 or more in lobbying activity and 28,851 reports of federal political campaign contributions. GAO also interviewed USAO officials. GAO provided a draft of this report to the Department of Justice for review. The Department of Justice did not have comments."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Radiological Security Snapshot: Security of Radioactive Materials
From the Document: "'Numerous incidents indicate weaknesses in controls over radioactive materials that could be used in a dirty bomb.' Recent security threats have raised concerns that radioactive materials could be stolen and used in a domestic attack. For example, in April 2019, a technician was arrested after stealing three radioactive devices from his workplace in Arizona. According to a court filing, the technician intended to release the radioactive materials at a shopping mall, but local police and the FBI arrested him before he could do so. From 2010 through 2019, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reported over 2,000 nuclear materials events, which included instances of lost or stolen radioactive materials, radiation overexposures, leaks of radioactive materials, and other events. Furthermore, officials from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which provides enhanced security to facilities with high-risk radioactive materials, told GAO [Government Accountability Office] that there is increasing interest among adversaries in using radioactive materials for making a dirty bomb. Vulnerabilities arise because NRC's security requirements do not take into account the most devastating potential effects, including billions of dollars in cleanup costs, and deaths and injuries from chaotic evacuations. In addition, weaknesses in licensing make it relatively easy for bad actors to obtain small quantities of high-risk radioactive materials, which could be dangerous in the wrong hands. Given the risks associated with these materials, which are in widespread use, it may be time to consider greater reliance on alternatives, when feasible. Previously, GAO has recommended that Congress consider this matter."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress [April 1, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report presents background information and issues for Congress concerning the Navy's force structure and shipbuilding plans. The current and planned size and composition of the Navy, the annual rate of Navy ship procurement, the prospective affordability of the Navy's shipbuilding plans, and the capacity of the U.S. shipbuilding industry to execute the Navy's shipbuilding plans have been oversight matters for the congressional defense committees for many years. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's force-level goal, its proposed FY2022 shipbuilding program, and its longer-term shipbuilding plans. Decisions that Congress makes on this issue can substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2022-04-01
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Navy Lasers, Railgun, and Gun-Launched Guided Projectile: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated April 1, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on three potential new ship-based self-defense weapons for the Navy--solid state lasers (SSLs), the electromagnetic railgun (EMRG), and the gun-launched guided projectile (GLGP), also known as the hypervelocity projectile (HVP). The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requested research and development funding for continued work on SSLs, but proposed suspending further work on the EMRG and GLGP programs and requested no research and development funding for them. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's acquisition strategies and funding requests for these three potential new weapons. Congress's decisions on this issue could affect future Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the defense industrial base. This report supersedes an earlier CRS [Congressional Research Service] report that provided an introduction to potential Navy shipboard lasers."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2022-04-01
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U.S. International Investment Agreements (IIAs) [Updated April 1, 2022]
From the Document: "The United States, a major source and recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI), historically has sought to promote U.S. FDI and protect U.S. investors through the negotiation and enforcement of international investment agreements (IIAs). Taking the form of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and investment chapters in free trade agreements (FTAs), IIAs aim to reduce FDI restrictions, ensure nondiscriminatory treatment of investors and investment, and balance investment protections and other policy interests through binding, reciprocal obligations. While some World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements address investment issues in a limited manner, IIAs have been key tools to govern bilateral and regional investment ties."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weiss, Martin A.; Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
2022-04-01
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Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 [Updated April 1, 2022]
From the Document: "Section 232 allows the President to impose import restrictions based on an investigation and affirmative determination by the Department of Commerce (Commerce) that certain imports threaten to impair U.S. national security. President Trump initiated eight Section 232 investigations, and ultimately imposed tariffs under two investigations on steel and aluminum. Through new bilateral agreements, President Biden is addressing the Section 232 tariff measures taken by President Trump and has initiated a new investigation. Actions under Section 232 have generated debate in Congress and at the multilateral level in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Some in Congress support legislative options to amend the congressional delegation of authority."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fefer, Rachel F.
2022-04-01
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U.S. Health Care Coverage and Spending [Updated April 1, 2022]
From the Document: "In 2020, the United States had an estimated population of 326 million individuals. Most of those individuals had private health insurance or received health care services under a federal program (such as Medicare or Medicaid). About 8.6% of the U.S. population was uninsured. Individuals (including those who were uninsured), health insurers, and federal and state governments spent approximately $3.9 trillion on various types of health consumption expenditures (HCE) in 2020, which accounted for 18.8% of the nation's gross domestic product."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rosso, Ryan J.
2022-04-01
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Cost-Effective Proactive Testing Strategies During COVID-19 Mass Vaccination: A Modelling Study
From the Webpage: "As SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] vaccines are administered worldwide, the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic continues to exact significant human and economic costs. Mass testing of unvaccinated individuals followed by isolation of positive cases can substantially mitigate risks and be tailored to local epidemiological conditions to ensure cost effectiveness. [...] Using a multi-scale model that incorporates population-level SARS-CoV-2 transmission and individual-level viral load kinetics, we identify the optimal frequency of proactive SARS-CoV-2 testing, depending on the local transmission rate and proportion immunized. [...] Assuming a willingness-to-pay of US$100,000 per averted year of life lost (YLL) and a price of $10 per test, the optimal strategy under a rapid transmission scenario (Re ∼ 2.5) is daily testing until one third of the population is immunized and then weekly testing until half the population is immunized, combined with a 10-day isolation period of positive cases and their households. Under a low transmission scenario (Re ∼ 1.2), the optimal sequence is weekly testing until the population reaches 10% partial immunity, followed by monthly testing until 20% partial immunity, and no testing thereafter. [...] Mass proactive testing and case isolation is a cost effective strategy for mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic in the initial stages of the global SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign and in response to resurgences of vaccine-evasive variants."
ScienceDirect (Online service)
Du, Zhanwei; Wang, Lin; Bai, Yuan . . .
2022-04
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Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs (Volume 5, Number 2)
This March-April 2022 edition of the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs contains the following articles: "Emerging Technologies: New Threats and Growing Opportunities for South Korean Indo-Pacific Strategy" by Hyun Ji Rim; "For Your Situational Awareness: Autonomous Systems and Constabulary Tasking" by Richard Adams, John Nash, and Sean Andrews; "Let Taiwan and the Quad Fight Side by Side: How Can the Quad Incorporate Taiwan into Its Military Deterrence against China?" by Liang-chih Evans Chen; "Waging Information Warfare for Asymmetric Advantage: Increasing Multi-Domain Speed, Survivability, and Lethality in the Indo-Pacific" by Maj Brandon Spader; "Should the Quad Become a Formal Alliance?" by John Hemmings; "Reorienting Indian Military Grand Strategy: Defensive Territoriality to Offensive Oceanic in the Indo-Pacific" by Raja Menon; "Artificial Intelligence Technology and China's Defense System" by Jieruo Li; "Positioning the Bay of Bengal in the Great Game of the Indo-Pacific Fulcrum" by Anu Anwar; and "The Growing Importance of Vietnam to India's South China Sea Policy" by Huýnh Tâm Sáng.
Air University (U.S.). Press
2022-04
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Keeping U.S. Agriculture Healthy for America and the World: 2021 Impact Report
From the Document: "The core of our Nation's $134 billion agricultural industry--one that feeds, clothes, and fuels America and the world--is how healthy it is. That's our mission at APHIS [Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service]: We protect the health and value of U.S. animals and plants. Healthy agriculture is central to our country's ability to thrive. It means abundant and affordable food, open trade markets, more than 19 million U.S. jobs, and a growing economy--with new opportunities and a better future for all. As our Nation continues moving through unprecedented challenges, the APHIS mission is ever more urgent. Keeping U.S. agriculture healthy intersects with some of the most pressing issues of our time: zoonotic diseases, public health, climate change, global population growth, and food security. For decades, APHIS has taken a One Health approach, knowing that the health of animals, people, and the environment are linked. The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic brought stark attention to the importance of One Health. In 2021, through the American Rescue Plan Act, Congress allocated $300 million to APHIS to strengthen our One Health capacity and develop an early warning system for SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] (the virus that causes COVID-19). This initiative establishes APHIS as a critical part of preventing future pandemics and builds upon our long history of One Health work."
United States. Department of Agriculture; United States. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
2022-04
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Spotlight: FY 2023 Defense Budget
This is a webpage from the Department of Defense (DOD) website dedicated to spotlighting some specific articles regarding the FY 2023 Defense Budget. The highlighted articles include, "Austin Lays Out Reasoning Behind DOD Budget Request"; "FY2023 Budget Request Includes $246 Million for SOCOM's [U.S. Special Operations Command's] 'Armed Overwatch' Program "; "Milley Proposes Rotational Forces in Permanent Bases Across Eastern Europe,"; "Potential for Great Power Conflict 'Increasing,' Milley Says"; and "Austin: Budget Funds Military to Accomplish Today's, Tomorrow's Missions."
United States. Department of Defense
2022-04
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Availability and Use of F-35 Fighter Aircraft
From the Document: "Complementing earlier research by the Congressional Budget Office, this report examines the availability and use of the Department of Defense's (DoD's) F-35 fighter aircraft. The F-35 has three variants: the F-35A, operated by the Air Force; the F-35B, operated by the Marine Corps; and the F-35C, operated by both the Navy and the Marine Corps. CBO's key findings are as follows: [1] 'Growing Fleets.' DoD currently operates about 450 F-35 aircraft and plans to operate about 2,500 of them by the mid-2040s. [...] [2] 'Aircraft Availability.' The availability of F-35As and F-35Cs declined from 2015 to 2018 but increased in 2019 and 2020. (Availability is measured as the percentage of time an aircraft can be flown in training or on missions.) The availability of F-35Bs has been generally increasing since the aircraft began operating in 2012. [...] [3] 'Depot-Level Maintenance.' Many of the oldest F-35s have spent long periods--totaling a year or more--undergoing depot-level maintenance[.] [...] [4] 'Annual Flying Hours.' Total annual flying hours for each fleet of F-35s have generally increased along with fleet sizes. [...] [5] 'Lifetime Flying Hours.' All three fleets of F-35s are a mix of new aircraft with few flying hours and aircraft with more than 1,000 lifetime flying hours. [6] 'The Effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic.' Although other types of DoD's aircraft experienced increased availability and decreased flying hours during the initial months of the pandemic, there has been no consistent change in either measure for the F-35 fleets since the pandemic began."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
Keating, Edward G. (Edward Geoffrey), 1965-; Trunkey, R. Derek, 1966-; McGinnis, Kathryn
2022-04
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Responding to Nationwide Increase in Fentanyl-Related Mass-Overdose Events
From the Letter: "The DEA [U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration] is seeing a nationwide spike in fentanyl-related mass-overdose events involving three or more overdoses occurring close in time at the same location. In just the past two months, there have been at least 7 confirmed mass overdose events across the United States resulting in 58 overdoses and 29 overdose deaths. Many victims of these mass overdose events thought they were ingesting cocaine and had no idea that they ere in fact ingesting fentanyl. [...] Fentanyl is driving the nationwide overdose epidemic: the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] estimates that in the 12-month period ending in October 2021, over 105,000 Americans died of drug overdoses and over 66% of those deaths were related to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Last year, the United Stats suffered more fentanyl-related deaths than gun-related and auto-related deaths combined. At DEA, we are working to trace mass-overdose events back to the local drug trafficking organizations and to the international cartels that are responsible for the surging domestic supply of fentanyl."
United States. Drug Enforcement Administration
2022-04?
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Consular Affairs: State May Be Unable to Cover Projected Costs If Revenues Do Not Quickly Rebound to Pre-Pandemic Levels, Report to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "From fiscal years 2013 through 2019, consular fees fully funded consular operations, according to State documentation. However, the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic caused State's revenues from passport and visa fees to drop. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review consular fees. This report examines, among other things, how State managed the decline in consular fee revenues, projections regarding State's ability to meet the targeted threshold in the future, and the extent to which State's processes for estimating key data meet the key elements of economic analysis. [...] GAO recommends that State (1) assess what actions would allow it to cover future consular costs; (2) measure the statistical variability of unit costs; and (3) document its cost, demand, and revenue estimates."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Pandemic Patterns: California is Seeing Fewer Entrances and More Exits
From the Executive Summary: "Since the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic began, fewer people have been moving into California from other states and more have been leaving. At the end of September 2021, entrances to California were 8% lower than at the end of March 2020. Exits, following a dip in the first half of 2020, stood 12% higher at the end of September 2021 than at the end of March 2020 -- representing a return to a steady pre-pandemic rate of increase of approximately 4% per year since 2016. Net domestic migration, defined as the difference between entrances and exits, went from 40,000 net exits per quarter prior to the pandemic to 80,000 afterward. This brief uses data through the end of September 2021. These trends are present throughout the state. Since the end of March 2020, new entrances to the state have dropped in 40 of 58 California counties, and when Californians move, they are slightly more likely to leave the state than they were before the pandemic began (true for nearly every county). But the Bay Area stands out, for several reasons. Since the end of March 2020, new entrances to Bay Area counties have dropped more quickly than in other parts of the state. Before the pandemic, San Francisco County was the only net receiver of population from other US states. Today, all California counties lose population to domestic migration. In addition, whereas in every other economic region the move rate fell since the pandemic began, Bay Area residents moved (to any destination) at higher levels (up 0.3 percentage points, to 4.2%), driving a 21% increase in Bay Area exits."
California Policy Lab
Holmes, Natalie; White, Evan
2022-04
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Wastewater Surveillance
From the Document: "Wastewater surveillance can be an efficient way to detect community-level disease outbreaks and other health threats. It has the potential to identify a COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] outbreak 1 to 2 weeks sooner than clinical testing and allow for a more rapid public health response. However, the lack of national coordination and standardized methods pose challenges to wider adoption. [...] Wastewater surveillance, also known as wastewater-based epidemiology, is the monitoring of pathogens (e.g., viruses), as well as pharmaceuticals and toxic or other chemicals by testing sewage (see fig. 1). Public health officials can use this approach to monitor for outbreaks, identify threats (e.g., antibiotic-resistant bacteria), and, in response, support the mobilization of resources. Pathogens and chemicals can enter sewer systems through human waste. Wastewater surveillance programs collect sewage samples from these systems and treatment plants and send them to laboratories for testing. Officials can use test data, for example, to assess whether there is a viral outbreak or increasing drug use and then decide what actions to take to protect public health. These actions might include increased clinical testing in an area, or alerting local clinics and hospitals to prepare for an increase in patients."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction: DHS Could Improve Its Acquisition of Key Technology and Coordination with Partners, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons have the potential to kill thousands of people. To enhance efforts to manage threats in these four areas, CWMD [Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office] was established in statute in December 2018, reorganizing functions of predecessor offices in DHS. About a year later, CWMD ranked last in a review of best places to work in government. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to assess CWMD's ability to carry out its mission and serve federal, state, and local partners. This report (1) evaluates the extent to which CWMD continues to perform the functions of predecessor offices, (2) evaluates the extent to which CWMD has coordinated with state and local partners, and (3) describes CWMD's efforts to improve morale."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Federal-Aid Highways: Information on State Use and Oversight of Engineering Consultants, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The federal-aid highway program is the primary source of federal funding for projects that build and preserve the nation's roads and bridges. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act authorized an average of about $54.6 billion annually for this program. FHWA [Federal Highway Administration] apportions this program's funding to state DOTs [departments of transportation] and provides oversight and technical assistance to them. State DOTs are generally responsible for implementing these federal-aid highway construction projects and are authorized by statute to contract with private engineering firms (engineering consultants) to help them do so. The Explanatory Statement accompanying the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review state DOTs' use of engineering consultants for federally funded projects. This report describes (1) state DOTs' use of engineering consultants on federal-aid highway construction projects and the factors that affect their decisions to do so, and (2) how FHWA oversees state DOTs' use of engineering consultants on federal-aid highway construction projects, among other things."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Native American Veterans: Improvements to VA Management Could Help Increase Mortgage Loan Program Participation, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "In 1992, Congress required VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] to establish a direct loan program to help Native American veterans finance homes on certain types of land that can be difficult to use as collateral for conventional mortgage loans. This could include, for example, land held in trust for Native Americans by the federal government. Members of Congress, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders have raised questions about the effectiveness of VA's administration of NADL [Native American Direct Loan] and outreach efforts. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the NADL program. This report examines the extent of lending to eligible veterans and program management and operations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Surface Transportation: TSA Implementation of Security Training Requirement, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Surface transportation operations such as freight and passenger rail can be difficult to secure. Their open architectures are designed to move people and goods quickly and passengers are generally not subject to vetting. To address this risk, the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (9/11 Commission Act) required that TSA develop regulations requiring security training for certain surface transportation employees. The 9/11 Commission Act also includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review implementation of these regulations after issuance of TSA's final rule. This report describes (1) the key regulatory requirements for the security training programs; (2) TSA's process for and results from reviewing the training programs; (3) industry associations' and selected owner/operators' perspectives on the training programs; and (4) the status of training program implementation and TSA's monitoring plans. To conduct this review, GAO analyzed TSA program guidance and other documents, and interviewed TSA officials. GAO also interviewed representatives from three surface transportation industry associations and a nongeneralizable sample of six owner/operators selected to capture variation in transportation mode, operation size, and training program status. This sample allowed GAO to learn about important aspects of the implementation of TSA's final rule, but it was not designed to provide findings representative of all the owner/operators that are required to implement this training program."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Southwest Border: CBP Should Improve Data Collection, Reporting, and Evaluation for the Missing Migrant Program, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Border Patrol, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), responds to reports of migrants attempting to enter the U.S. between ports of entry who may be missing or in distress. A committee report accompanying the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) fiscal year 2020 appropriation directed CBP to report data on migrant deaths, describe plans to help reduce the number of migrant deaths, and share its coordination efforts with external entities. The Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the fiscal year 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review CBP's report and its efforts to mitigate migrant deaths. This report addresses (1) how Border Patrol has implemented the Missing Migrant Program to help reduce the frequency of migrant deaths; (2) the extent to which Border Patrol collects and reports complete and accurate data on migrant deaths; and (3) how Border Patrol evaluates the Missing Migrant Program. GAO analyzed Border Patrol policies and documentation, interviewed officials at Border Patrol headquarters and four field locations, and from five external entities, such as medical examiners."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04
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Advances in Satellite Methane Measurement: Implications for Fossil Fuel Industry Emissions Detection and Climate Policy [April 1, 2022]
From the Document: "On November 15, 2021, under the authority of Section 111 of the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a rulemaking that 'proposes comprehensive standards of performance for GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions (in the form of methane limitations) ... for new, modified, and reconstructed sources in the Crude Oil and Natural Gas source category, including the production, processing, transmission and storage segments' (86 'Federal Register' 63110, November 15, 2021). Lessening unintended emissions known as 'fugitive emissions' is one set of actions in this proposal to constrain large emissions sources known as 'super-emitters.' The rulemaking requests both information and comments on alternative measurement technologies for methane emissions, especially those attributed to super-emitters. The EPA is seeking input on technologies that could distinguish large emission events and a definitional emissions level for designating an event as 'large.' It is specified in the rulemaking that 'any emissions visible by satellites should qualify as large emission events' (86 'Federal Register' 63110, November 15, 2021). The role of evolving satellite technologies that have the ability to monitor methane and contribute to the identification of 'large emission events' is discussed here."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Haskett, Jonathan D.
2022-04-01
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No Surprises Act's Independent Dispute Resolution Process and Related Litigation [April 1, 2022]
From the Document: "On December 27, 2020, the No Surprises Act (NSA), part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260), was enacted to address 'surprise billing' [hyperlink] (i.e., circumstances where individuals receive large, unexpected medical bills when they are unknowingly, and potentially unavoidably, treated by out-of-network providers). Surprise billing is rooted in most private insurers' use of provider networks, which generally results in consumers paying more for out-of-network care [hyperlink] (relative to the same in-network care). The NSA established federal surprise billing requirements [hyperlink] with respect to out-of-network emergency services, out-of-network nonemergency services provided during a visit at an in-network facility, and out-of-network air ambulance services. In these situations and for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, the NSA generally limits the amount consumers pay for care and specifies a methodology used to determine how much insurers must pay providers for care, including the use of an independent dispute resolution (IDR) process. Taken together, these requirements effectively result in the provider and insurer recognizing the same total price for care. This Insight provides an overview of the NSA's IDR process; the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury's (tri-agencies') implementation of these requirements; and related litigation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rosso, Ryan J.; Shen, Wen W.
2022-04-01
