Advanced search Help
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
Final Recommendations of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems of the Committee on Armed Services, Meeting Jointly with the Subcommittee on National Security of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, March 12, 2021
This is the March 12, 2021 hearing on "Final Recommendations of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems of the Committee on Armed Services, meeting jointly with the Subcommittee on National Security of the Committee on Oversight and Reform. From the opening statement of James Langevin: "The battlespace of the future will be a complex web of software, networks, and data-and data integrated across domains and among our allies. Artificial intelligence and other next-generation innovations will be crucial in order to harness the power of data to give our men and women in uniform an edge in any future conflict. Our potential adversaries, of course, are already investing heavily in this future as well. So this Commission has undertaken the difficult task to articulate the potential of artificial intelligence and the risks and benefits that lie ahead. [...] Above all, the Commission has crucial recommendations related to building and deploying AI [artificial intelligence] in an ethical manner that is respectful of human rights. Indeed, that last category is what sets our Nation apart." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mignon Clyburn, Gilman Louie, Eric Schmidt, and Robert Work.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
Vaccines for Vets: Our Best Shot at Ending the COVID-19 Pandemic, Hearing Before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, February 24, 2021
This is the February 24, 2021 hearing on "Vaccines for Vets: Our Best Shot at Ending the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Pandemic," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. From the opening statement of Jon Tester: "Today, with two vaccines authorized for emergency use and being distributed across the country, we will take stock of how VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] is doing in terms of reaching its work force and the millions of veterans that the VA serves." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Richard A. Stone.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) Postimplementation of the LUMA Transmission and Distribution Contract, Oversight Hearing Before the Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, October 6, 2021
This is the October 6, 2021 hearing on "Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) Postimplementation of the LUMA Transmission and Distribution Contract," held before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. From the opening statement of Raul M. Grijalva: "This oversight hearing is on the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority post-implementation of the LUMA transmission and distribution contract, and the Committee is meeting today to receive testimony on the status of Puerto Rico's electrical infrastructure, including the privatization of the transmission and distribution system from PREPA to LUMA Energy, and the transition toward renewable energy." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Edison Avile´s-Deliz, Fermın Fontanes, Fernando Gil, Augustin Irizarry, Manuel Laboy, Ruth Santiago, and Wayne Stensby.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
Legacy of George Floyd: An Examination of Financial Services Industry Commitments to Economic and Racial Justice, Hybrid Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion of the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, June 29, 2021
This is the June 29, 2021 hearing on "Legacy of George Floyd: An Examination of Financial Services Industry Commitments to Economic and Racial Justice," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion of the Committee on Financial Services. From the opening statement of Joyce Beatty: "Following the death of George Floyd, Americans of all races, young and old, from the mailroom to the C-suites, were united and took to the streets to demand justice, and an end to the systemic racism that permeates many of our institutions and corporations. [...] George Floyd's murder was an indisputable example of systemic racism that shocked the consciousness of the American public, thus, today's hearing entitled, 'The Legacy of George Floyd: An Examination of Financial Services Industry Commitments to Economic and Racial Justice.'" Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Fabrice Coles, Donald Cravins, Jr., Darrick Hamilton, Jonay Foster Holkins, and Hassan Miah.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
Artificial Intelligence Initiatives Within the Department of Defense, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities of the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, March 12, 2019
This is the March 12, 2019 hearing on "Artificial Intelligence Initiatives Within the Department of Defense," held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities of the Committee on Armed Services. From the opening statement of Joni Ernst: "The recently released Department of Defense Artificial Intelligence Strategy makes clear AI [artificial intelligence] is poised to transform every industry and is expected to impact every corner of the Department, spanning operations, training, sustainment, force protection, recruiting, healthcare, and many others. AI has the ability to provide powerful new capabilities to our warfighters that we are only beginning to imagine. When applied to back-office functions and operations within the Department, AI will be critical in boosting efficiency and increasing the effectiveness of limited resources. With such broad potential impacts, it is important that the Department move quickly to adopt these capabilities so that we don't lose the technological edge." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Peter T. Highnam, Michael A. Brown, and John N.T. Shanahan.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
Repurposing the C-Band to Benefit All Americans, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, October 29, 2019
This is the October 29, 2019 hearing on "Repurposing the C-Band to Benefit All Americans," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. From the opening statement of Mike Doyle: "[L]ast week, I introduced H.R. 4855, the Clearing Broad Airways for New Deployment Act, or the C-BAND Act [...]. This legislation would require the FCC [Federal Communications Commission] to hold a public auction to sell between 200 and 300 megahertz of C-band spectrum. It would require the Commission to protect incumbent C-band-dependent users who rely on this service to provide millions of Americans with video and radio services, and it requires the Commission to clear this spectrum and sell it within 3 years. [...] The C-band legislation we have introduced is a win-win for everyone. It will ensure that the band is auctioned in a transparent and accountable fashion that results in the maximum return for the American people." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Ross J. Lieberman, Jeff Campbell, Deborah S. Collier, James B. Frownfelter, and Phillip Berenbroick.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation and Disinformation Costs an Estimated $50 to $300 Million Each Day
From the Document: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has shown that false or misleading health-related information can dangerously undermine the response to a public health crisis. These messages include the inadvertent spread of erroneous information (misinformation) or deliberately created and propagated false or misleading information (disinformation). Misinformation and disinformation have contributed to reduced trust in medical professionals and public health responders, increased belief in false medical cures, politicized public health countermeasures aimed at curbing transmission of the disease, and increased loss of life. As a country, we do not yet have a trusted set of approaches for managing misinformation and disinformation or exact methods for monetizing the costs resulting from their spread. The challenge to assigning an exact, high-confidence monetary cost to them is the lack of detailed data available on this issue. To begin to fill this gap, we have developed an initial conservative estimate of the total monetized costs of one facet of this issue--the misinformation or disinformation-informed decision to not get a COVID-19 vaccine."
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Center for Health Security
Bruns, Richard; Hosangadi, Divya; Trotochaud, Marc . . .
2021
-
Threat to Public Safety: Policing, Racism and the Covid-19 Pandemic
From the Introduction: "The Coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact, illustrated most acutely by a death toll which, at the time of writing, stands at over 4 million globally, including the death of over 131,000 people across the UK. The UK government was initially slow to recognise the profound dangers of the pandemic, but after Prime Minister Boris Johnson's 16 March 2020 plea to the public to stay at home, emergency legislation was rushed through parliament giving police extraordinary powers to enforce unprecedented restrictions on social gatherings and fine those who break the rules. On 25 March, the 350-page Coronavirus Act 2020 received royal assent, bringing the biggest restrictions on civil liberties in a generation into law on 26 March 2020. This report, while not questioning the vital need to prioritise the protection of life during the pandemic, questions why policing was made so central to the emergency response and why the police's leading role in enforcing unprecedented emergency measures has been left unscrutinised."
Institute of Race Relations
Harris, Scarlet; Joseph-Salisbury, Remi; Williams, Patrick . . .
2021
-
Identifying Strategies to Boost COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in the United States
From the Webpage Description: "This report presents the results of an evaluation of the root causes of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccine hesitancy to inform strategies to boost vaccine acceptance among vaccine-hesitant populations in the United States. The authors conducted a literature review of the causes of vaccine hesitancy and vaccine acceptance; focus groups with patients, pre-hospital first responders, and hospital-based health care providers; a social media platform sentiment analysis to review attitudes regarding the COVID-19 vaccine; and a roundtable discussion with experts on vaccine hesitancy. Drawing on this mixed-methods analysis, the authors recommend strategies to help boost COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in the United States, grouping them according to three overall goals: boosting confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines, combating complacency about the pandemic, and increasing the 'convenience' of getting vaccinated. The authors emphasize that combating misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine is key to achieving these goals. These recommendations can inform the development of a toolkit of strategies to reach herd immunity and end the pandemic."
RAND Corporation
Schmitzberger, Florian F.; Scott, Kirstin W.; Nham, Wilson . . .
2021
-
U.S. Defense Posture Changes in the European Theater, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, September 30, 2020
This is the September 30, 2020 hearing on "U.S. Defense Posture Changes in the European Theater," held before the House Committee on Armed Services. From the Opening Statement of Adam Smith: "As we have heard a little while back, an announcement was made of a change in our defense posture within Europe. And I want to make clear at the outset that I think it is always appropriate to reexamine our posture around the world. This is a rapidly changing world, the threat environment is dynamic, and our assets and allies are also reasonably dynamic. There are opportunities to be found in looking at ways that we can better distribute our assets and our forces to meet those challenges. But I was concerned about the way this particular change in our posture was announced and is proposed to be implemented within Europe. There was an announcement, basically, of a need to reduce the troops in Germany by 12,000. That number did not seem to be tied to any particular requirement. And then, in addition to that there was the requirement that we get rid of all of our headquarters in Germany. The reasons for that were far from clear. So, the number seemed to be artificial. Certainly, as we look at our needs in Europe, and as we build and strengthen alliances with the relatively new Eastern European partners within NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization], there are clearly opportunities to build on those partnerships and, potentially, station U.S. troops in those Eastern European countries to improve our posture and better meet our defense needs, particularly with regards to deterring Russian aggression in that part of the world." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: David W. Allvin and James H. Anderson.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
On the Front Line: How Governors Are Battling the COVID-19 Pandemic, Virtual Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, Second Session. June 2, 2020
This is the June 2, 2020 hearing on "On the Front Line: How Governors Are Battling the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Pandemic," held before the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. From the Opening Statement of Diana DeGette: "The purpose of today's hearing is to examine States' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, including efforts to increase testing capacity." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jared Polis, Gretchen Whitmer, and Asa Hutchinson.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
Americans at Risk: Manipulation and Deception in the Digital Age, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, January 8, 2020
This is the January 8, 2020 hearing on "Americans at Risk: Manipulation and Deception in the Digital Age," held before the House Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. From the Opening Statement of Jan Schakowsky: "In the two-plus decades since the creation of the internet, we have seen life for Americans and their families transformed in many positive ways. The internet provides new opportunities for commerce, education, information, and connecting people. However, along with these many new opportunities, we have seen new challenges as well. Bad actors are stocking the online marketplace, using deceptive techniques to influence consumers, deceptive designs to fool them into giving away personal information, stealing their money, and engaging in other unfair practices. The Federal Trade Commission works to protect Americans from many unfair and deceptive practices, but a lack of resources, authority, and even a lack of will has left many American consumers feeling helpless in this digital world. [...] We are finding out that consumers can be harmed as easily online as in the physical world, and in some cases that online dangers are greater. It is incumbent on us in this subcommittee to make clear that the protections that apply to in-person commerce also apply to virtual space." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Monika Bickert, Joan Donovan, Justin (Gus) Hurwitz, and Tristan Harris.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
Water Resources Development Act of 2020: Status of Essential Provisions, Remote Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, March 23, 2021
This is the March 23, 2021 hearing on "Water Resources Development Act of 2020: Status of Essential Provisions," held before the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. From the opening statement of Grace F. Napolitano: "Today, we will begin this subcommittee's oversight of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by discussing steps to implement the Water Resources Development Act [WRDA] of 2020. The Corps is, simply put, the Nation's premier water resources agency. Congress has vested the Corps with significant responsibility to carry out vital projects for navigation, flood damage reduction, ecosystem restoration, water supply, and a host of other very critical project purposes. It is critical that the Corps prioritize immediate implementation of the critical policies enacted in WRDA to address the protection and well-being of our communities and environment, as well as to meet the maintenance needs of our water resources infrastructure, both of which are so critical to our national, regional, and local economies. This committee, on a bipartisan basis, has successfully enacted four consecutive Water Resources Development Acts since 2014. Regular enactment of WRDAs is critical because of the predictability it provides to local sponsors, who partner with the Corps for the development of feasibility studies for future water resources development projects." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Matthew J. Strickler, Eugene D. Seroka, Mary Ann Bucci, Michael F. Piehler, and Chad Berginnis.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
Holding Megabanks Accountable: An Update on Banking Practices, Programs, and Policies, Virtual Hearing Before the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, May 27, 2021
This is the May 27, 2021 hearing on "Holding Megabanks Accountable: An Update on Banking Practices, Programs, and Policies," held before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services. From the opening statement of Maxine Waters: "As chairwoman of this committee, I have made it a priority to ensure that we are conducting rigorous oversight over megabanks and their activities. We last had all of the megabank CEOs testify before the committee in 2019. Since then, there have been many developments involving megabanks that this committee will be examining today. I am eager to hear about the megabanks' responses to the pandemic crisis, including their provisions for mortgage forbearance, affordable loan modifications, support for extending the foreclosure moratorium, and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. I am concerned that the institutions led by our witnesses raked in billions of dollars in overdraft fees during the pandemic at a time when so many individuals and families across the country were struggling through no fault of their own." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jamie Dimon, Jane Fraser, James P. Gorman, Brian T. Moynihan, Charles W. Scharf, and David M. Solomon.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
Title II Conservation Programs: Exploring Climate-Smart Practices, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry of the Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, May 12, 2021
This is the May 12, 2021 hearing on "Title II Conservation Programs: Exploring Climate-Smart Practices," held before the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture. From the opening statement of Abigail Davis Spanberger: "In addition to increasing farm productivity and profitability, conservation agriculture holds enormous potential in our efforts to combat the climate crisis, both through increased soil carbon sequestration and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. As we look to scale the adoption of conservation practices, there is perhaps no greater tool available than the farm bill's conservation programs. Title II programs provide much needed technical and financial assistance to encourage the adoption of cover crops, reduced- to notill management systems, and prescribed grazing systems, among many other climate-smart practices. As we have seen firsthand, these programs are working well in central Virginia. Studies show that these programs are effective. Not only do they facilitate greater adoption of conservation practices, but they also make it more likely that farmers will keep implementing these practices in the long-term to the benefit of our climate, clean water, and the health of our rural communities." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Charles ''CJ'' Edwin Isbell, Jr., Kimberly Ratcliff, Keith H. Paustian, and Jamie Johansson.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
Status of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Related Energy Security Issues, Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, October 17, 2019
This is the October 17, 2019 hearing on "The Status of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Related Energy Security Issues," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. From the opening statement of Lisa Murkowski: "[W]e have had many, many conversations about the significance, the importance of the SPRO [Strategic Petroleum Reserve or SPR]. We use a lot of terminology about not using this as an ATM [automated teller machine] or the piggy bank or the cash mechanism for so many other initiatives. But it seems that we are in a never-ending place trying to educate people about the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. We are going to continue that education process this morning as we speak about its importance to our national energy security. The SPRO is a vital national asset. In a pair of staff reports that we released back in 2015--I argued that it must be maintained in case of supply disruptions and the economic shockwaves that can follow. We entitled one, ''A Turbulent World: In Defense of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.'' [...] I think we recognize that you don't give up your health insurance policy when you are healthy. We should not give up on the SPRO just because we are producing more oil right now. In fact, I believe the SPRO, the most important strategic energy stockpile in the world, is critical to our American energy dominance." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Linda Capuano, Steven E. Winberg, Jason E. Bordoff, Phillip Brown, and Keisuke Sadamori.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
20 Years: Commemoration, Reflection, Healing
From the Document: "The 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001 comes at a troubled time. The entire WTC [World Trade Center] Health Program community has experienced hardships stemming from the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic including health problems, the stress of disrupted daily activities, and the loss of valued social connections. During these challenging times, it is more important than ever that the members of this community, formed through their shared experience of another catastrophe, are there for each other, to share wisdom, support, and connection. Know that you are not alone and that the WTC Health Program is here to help in times of crisis." This 2021 Member Newsletter provides data updates, program news, and other resources for individuals with health issues related to exposure during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program . . .
2021
-
Emerging Threats to Election Administration, Hearing Before the Committee on Rules and Administration, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, October 26, 2021
This is the July October 26, 2021 hearing on "Emerging Threats to Election Administration," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. From the opening statement of Amy Klobuchar: "The freedom to vote is fundamental to all of our freedoms, and safeguarding that freedom not only requires protecting the right to cast a ballot, but also the right to have that vote counted. That right depends on election workers across the country, including volunteers who work to ensure that our elections are free and fair. In the last year, election officials and election workers in red, blue, and purple states have faced a barrage of threats and abusive conduct from those seeking to interfere with the certification of the 2020 election or overturn the result. I have heard about threats from officials in my own state, including threats targeting our own Secretary of State Steve Simon, and from others across the country. These threats have persisted despite the last Administration's Department of Homeland Security calling the 2020 election 'the most secure in American history'. [...] According to a survey of local election officials earlier this year, nearly one in three felt unsafe because of their job, and nearly one in six had received threats of violence. We should stop and remember that number again." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Katie Hobbs, Al Schmidt, Wade Henderson, and Matt Masterson.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
Protecting Renters During the Pandemic: Reviewing Reforms to Expedite Emergency Rental Assistance, Virtual Hearing Before the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, September 10, 2021
This is the September 10, 2021 virtual hearing on "Protecting Renters During the Pandemic: Reviewing Reforms to Expedite Emergency Rental Assistance," held before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services. From the opening statement of Maxine Waters: "[...] I understand the devastating impacts that evictions have on families, and I also understand how much landlords, particularly small, mom-and-pop landlords, are struggling because of unpaid rent. I also recognize that evictions increase the spread of COVID [coronavirus disease 2019], and have the potential to seriously set back our national economic recovery. [...] [T]he Expediting Assistance to Renters and Landlords Act of 2021, [...] is designed to make sure that individuals and families are not put out of their homes while this virus continues to harm communities across the country. This bill would allow landlords to apply directly for back rent they are owed, even if a renter is unresponsive, as long as the landlord provides notice and meets other conditions, including a requirement that tenants may not be evicted for at least 120 days, and that the landlords would be paid for those 120 days following the first request for assistance. The legislation would also require grantees receiving emergency rental assistance funds to accept attestations from tenants, and to provide funds directly to tenants when the landlord is unresponsive or refuses to participate." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Kadeem Morris, Margaret Salazar, David Schwartz, Gilbert Winn, and Diane Yentel.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
Key Consideration for Adoption of Technical Codes and Standards for Battery Energy Storage Systems in Thailand
From the Executive Summary: "The deployment of battery energy storage systems (BESS) is rapidly increasing throughout the world. This technology presents many opportunities for increasing contributions of variable renewable energy technologies, providing ancillary services, enabling energy access to remote areas, and increasing resilience during grid power outages. At the same time, BESS has not been widely deployed and operated in many contexts. The use of BESS requires codes and standards similar to those for other inverter-based technologies but may also necessitate special safety considerations in specific contexts. As countries in Asia consider the inclusion of BESS in their power systems to meet policy objectives, renewable energy goals, increase resilience, and expand energy access, there is an opportunity to learn from the experiences of other regions and jurisdictions that have developed more advanced storage markets and practices. This report presents global best practices of codes, standards, and interconnection procedures developed to support the safe and reliable deployment of BESS."
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (U.S.); United States. Agency for International Development
Gokhale-Welch, Carishma; Stout, Sherry
2021-01
-
Lending in a Crisis: Reviewing the Federal Reserve's Emergency Lending Powers During the Pandemic and Examining Proposals to Address Future Economic Crises, Hybrid Hearing Before the Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy of the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, September 23, 2021
This is the September 23, 2021 hearing on "Lending in a Crisis: Reviewing the Federal Reserve's Emergency Lending Powers During the Pandemic and Examining Proposals to Address Future Economic Crises," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy of the Committee on Financial Services. From the opening statement of Jim A. Himes: "Last March, as COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] tore through the economy, Congress and the Federal Reserve stepped up to prevent further chaos and to stabilize markets. With businesses shuttering, infection rates rising, and the stock market in a freefall, the Federal Reserve (Fed) took unprecedented action to keep credit flowing and instill confidence in our financial system. From the onset of the pandemic, Chair Powell made it clear that the Federal Reserve would use its emergency lending tools to help families, cities, and businesses weather the storm. Now, more than 18 months removed from their establishment, Congress should take this opportunity to measure their success, identify their shortcomings and limitations, and perhaps, most importantly, discuss ideas about how we should address the next economic crisis." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mike Konczal, June Rhee, Christopher M. Russo, Claudia Sahm, and Shawn T. Wooden.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
Sustainable Forestry's Role in Climate Solutions, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Underserved, Agricultural, and Rural Business Development of the Committee on Small Business, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, September 29, 2021
This is the September 29, 2021 hearing on 'Sustainable Forestry's Role in Climate Solutions,' held before the Subcommittee on Underserved, Agricultural, and Rural Business Development of the Committee on Small Business. From the opening statement of Jared Golden: "Keeping our forests healthy helps to promote sustainability, address climate change, and ensure that small businesses and workers in rural areas share in the economic benefits. As Congress looks to address and mitigate the negative sides of climate change and bolster American small businesses with the bipartisan infrastructure bill and other legislation, we should support industries that help on both fronts. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses about how policies can be put together here in Congress that will help them to be successful businesses, as business-owners, that will help them to continue to make a living the way that they choose and enjoy while also taking part in good sustainable forestry that makes for a healthy forest." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Dana Doran, Adam Daigneault, Mark Thibodeau, and Scott Dane.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
Protecting Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory
From the Introduction from the Surgeon General: "Every child's path to adulthood--reaching developmental and emotional milestones, learning healthy social skills, and dealing with problems--is different and difficult. Many face added challenges along the way, often beyond their control. There's no map, and the road is never straight. But the challenges today's generation of young people face are unprecedented and uniquely hard to navigate. And the effect these challenges have had on their mental health is devastating. Recent national surveys of young people have shown alarming increases in the prevalence of certain mental health challenges-- in 2019, one in three high school students and half of female students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, an overall increase of 40% from 2009. [...] It would be a tragedy if we beat back one public health crisis only to allow another to grow in its place. That's why I am issuing this Surgeon General's Advisory. Mental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real, and they are widespread. But most importantly, they are treatable, and often preventable. This Advisory shows us how."
United States. Public Health Service
2021
-
2021 Children's Mental Health Report: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children's Mental Health: What We Know So Far
From the Introduction: "In this report, we examine the growing body of research on the effects of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic on children's mental health, including the results of a survey of thousands of parents conducted by the Child Mind Institute. Though our understanding of these impacts is still evolving, it's clear thus far that despite the challenges of the pandemic, children and young adults are remarkably resilient and able to cope with the ongoing stress and uncertainty in healthy ways. At the same time, certain identifiable groups of people and children are more at risk for negative mental health outcomes, and certain pandemic-related stress factors are likely to be more impactful than others. Responding to the mental health impacts of the pandemic effectively requires both tailoring supports to these vulnerable groups and, simultaneously, recognizing and building on the strengths and resilience that young people already possess. In 'Chapter One,' we review the available data on the pandemic's impact on children in general and on certain subgroups within the general population. We also put the coronavirus pandemic into historical context by looking back at the mental health effects of previous disasters. In 'Chapter Two,' we look at the major conclusions of the Child Mind Institute's own research into the experiences of caregivers and their children. And in 'Chapter Three,' we examine the results of two recent surveys in which educators and teenagers were asked about their perceptions of specific challenges related to weathering the pandemic and starting a new school year. We also look at what sort of resources they felt would help them navigate these issues."
Child Mind Institute
Osgood, Kelsey; Sheldon-Dean, Hannah; Kimball, Harry
2021
-
Impact of COVID-19 on Children's Mental Health: Oklahoma Trends for Children's Behavioral Health Since the Onset of the Pandemic (Fall 2021 Update)
From the Document: "As the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has evolved, Healthy Minds Policy Initiative has evaluated the mental health impacts resulting from this unique time. For Oklahoma as a whole, data suggest that an increase in anxiety and depression, suicide and substance use deaths has resulted from widespread stress, fear about the virus, the loss of friends and family members, unemployment and social isolation. Children and youth have experienced a unique set of stressors during this time, including school disruptions and separation from peers, teachers, extended families and communities. These stressors have resulted in the loss of protective factors that promote resiliency and improve chances for success in school and life. The resulting traumas, including adverse childhood experiences, have the potential to linger into adulthood and could have far-reaching, generational impacts across the state. In this report, we examine available data in an attempt to quantify the emerging impacts on children and youth, and we offer recommendations for a large-scale approach to mitigating this crisis."
Healthy Minds Policy Initiative
2021
-
Policy Brief: Public Messaging for Generation Z: Lessons for Government Communications with Young People from the Covid-19 Pandemic
From the Methodology: "We launched an online survey during Spring 2021 which was advertised on social media and sent directly to schools, colleges and universities in all four UK nations. The survey asked about young people's existing awareness of the campaigns and their views on campaign materials. 324 young people aged 16-23 participated. We also investigated the language and images of the campaign using corpus linguistics, a computational method to statistically analyse text. This illuminated patterns of how the government was communicating with young people and the features they had chosen to use to convey meanings. We also conducted five in-depth interviews with youth workers to explore their awareness of the campaigns and their perspectives on the materials. The findings reported in this Policy Brief focus primarily on the survey responses, with the linguistic analysis and interview data used to contextualise and supplement those findings. This approach ensures that the views and evaluations of young people themselves are prioritised, enabling their voices to directly inform our recommendations."
University of Nottingham
Mullany, Louise; Jones, Lucy, 1982-; Howard, Victoria
2021?
-
Marijuana Laws in America: Racial Justice and the Need for Reform, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security of the House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, July 10, 2019
This is the July 10, 2019 hearing on "Marijuana Laws in America: Racial Justice and the Need for Reform," held before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security of the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Karen Bass: "In 2017, there were over 600,000 marijuana-related arrests reported in the United States. Of these almost 600,000 were arrests for marijuana possession in 1 year. Indeed, hundreds of thousands of people, the majority of whom are black and Latino, have had their lives impacted by arrests and convictions for marijuana offenses. Since the time President Nixon declared a war on drugs in the early 1970s, the effect of this war on black and Latino communities has been severely disproportionate. The war on drugs was racially biased from its inception, and it has been carried out in a discriminatory fashion with disastrous consequences for hundreds of thousands of people of color and their communities. [...] There is a growing consensus in this country that current marijuana laws are not appropriate, and we must consider reform. Today's hearing is a first step in that process." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Marilyn Mosby, David L. Nathan, Neal Levine, and G. Malik Burnett.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
One Year of the National Security Law's Repression of Fundamental Freedoms in Hong Kong, Roundtable Before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, June 29, 2021
This is the June 29, 2021 roundtable on "One Year of the National Security Law's Repression of Fundamental Freedoms in Hong Kong," held before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. From the opening statement of Matt Squeri: "Today's roundtable recognizes two anniversaries--the passage of the Hong Kong National Security Law and the 709 Crackdown on rights defenders and lawyers across China in July 2015. In particular, today's roundtable will examine procedural rights violations by the Chinese government, as illustrated by the 709 Crackdown, and their implications for the extraterritorial reach of the National Security Law and the potential for defendants to be extradited from Hong Kong to mainland China."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
COVID-19 One Year Later: Addressing Health Care Needs for At-Risk Americans, Hearing Before the Special Committee on Aging, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, March 18, 2021
This is the March 18, 2021 hearing on "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] One Year Later: Addressing Health Care Needs for At-Risk Americans," held before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. From the opening statement of Robert P. Casey, Jr.: "Today's hearing will focus on the continuing and grave threat to those Americans, and our Nation as a whole, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effects it has had on the health of people most at risk due to the virus. [...] We all know that older adults have suffered the brunt of this pandemic, accounting for 81 percent of all deaths. A tragedy within the broader tragedy of this pandemic has taken place in our Nation's long-term care setting, where more than 178,000--more than 178,000--residents and workers combined have died from COVID-19. Our witnesses today will help us better understand where we are one year into the pandemic. This is an important conversation, and it comes just one week after President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law. This historical legislation advances a bold vision to defeat the virus and begin to rebuild our economy." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Anand Iyer, Amy Houtrow, Anthony Jackson and Sandra Harris.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
-
State Department's Foreign Policy Strategy and Fiscal Year Budget Request, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, June 7, 2021
This is the June 7, 2021 hearing on "State Department's Foreign Policy Strategy and Fiscal Year Budget Request," held before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Gregory Meeks: "So I'm pleased to see that Fiscal Year 1922 [sic] budget requests strive to direct funding directly to address what I believe are America's most promising opportunities and pressing challenges. [...] A paid internship program will help broaden the pool of candidates interested in pursuing a career in public service at the State Department. I also applaud the Administration for proposing to increase the U.S. contribution to the Green Climate Fund and more than tripling climate funding across the board. Climate change is, indeed, an existential threat with a shrinking window for action. [...] We must also forge new bonds [inaudible] including our Latin American and Caribbean neighbors in the Western Hemisphere and the continent of Africa, and we need to modernize not only working with governments and regional organizations but also directly with local civil society and historically marginalized communities. And the committee is pleased to see the Department's continued support for close allies such as the State of Israel and related efforts to improve the lives of the Palestinian people and leave the door open to a two-State solution. So I look forward to the discussion today on this budget request and a range of other foreign policy matters that I know will come up, and to also listen to the Administration's plan to provide COVID [coronavirus disease] vaccines globally, to strengthen our posture in the Indo-Pacific region, to seeking a lasting peace between our ally, Israel, and the Palestinian people." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Antony J. Blinken.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
