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2020 National Preparedness Report
From the Foreword: "I am pleased to announce the release of the National Preparedness Report (NPR). Every year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) releases this report to provide a picture of how prepared the Nation is to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the impacts of any disaster, as well as ensure the continuity of lifelines, essential functions, and services. Through the NPR, FEMA hopes to inspire action by the whole community--including individuals; communities; state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments; the private and non-profit sectors; and the Federal Government--to increase capabilities and make us more resilient, prepared, and ready to address any challenges that we as a Nation may face. National preparedness is the responsibility of all levels of our society, including individuals, local governments, the private sector, and the Federal Government. The world this report has been released into is forever changed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, the largest pandemic in human history since the 1918 influenza pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the first ever Stafford Act major disaster declaration of all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia for a naturally occurring infectious disease, and has altered the way of life for people across the world."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States. Department of Homeland Security
2020-12-22
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Election Administration: Federal Grant Funding for States and Localities [December 21, 2020]
From the Summary: "States, territories, and localities have primary responsibility for administering elections in the United States, but Congress has tools it can use to support or shape their efforts if it chooses to do so. One of those tools is funding. Congress can use its power to provide--and set conditions on--funding to encourage or help states and localities to adopt, reject, implement, or maintain election administration policies and practices. Congress has used or proposed using funding to engage with election administration issues in various ways, including by directing federal agencies to use some of their funding to support state and local election administration work and by considering conditioning eligibility for certain federal funds on adopting or rejecting election administration policies. Perhaps the most direct way in which Congress has used funding is by establishing and funding state and local grant programs specifically for election administration-related purposes. Congress first authorized major election administration-related grant programs for states and localities in response to issues with the conduct of the 2000 elections. The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA; 52 U.S.C. §§20901-21145) set new requirements for the administration of federal elections and created the election administration-focused U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). It also authorized election administration-related grant programs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Shanton, Karen L.
2020-12-21
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USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program: Round Two (CFAP-2) [December 21, 2020]
From the Introduction: "On April 17, 2020, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would initiate what would be the first round of direct payments under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP-1), valued at $16 billion, to provide immediate financial relief to farmers, ranchers, and consumers affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. On September 18, 2020, USDA announced a second round of CFAP direct payments (CFAP-2), valued at up to an additional $14 billion. [...] This report describes the details of CFAP-2 direct payments to the U.S. agricultural sector in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It describes the program's funding source and authority; how the program is administered, including specific details on the calculation and implementation of payments; and the status of program outlays by commodity and by state."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schnepf, Randall Dean, 1954-
2020-12-21
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PREP Act and COVID-19: Limiting Liability for Medical Countermeasures [Updated December 21, 2020]
From the Document: "To encourage the expeditious development and deployment of medical countermeasures during a public health emergency, the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to limit legal liability for losses relating to the administration of medical countermeasures such as diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. In a declaration effective February 4, 2020 (the HHS Declaration), the Secretary of HHS invoked the PREP Act and declared Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) to be a public health emergency warranting liability protections for covered countermeasures. Under the HHS Declaration, covered persons are generally immune from legal liability (i.e., they cannot be sued for money damages in court) for losses relating to the administration or use of covered countermeasures against COVID-19. [...] This Sidebar reviews the structure of the PREP Act and the HHS Declaration to explain the scope of this liability immunity as it applies to COVID-19 countermeasures."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hickey, Kevin J.
2020-12-21
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From Clickwrap to Rap Sheet: Criminal Liability Under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act for Terms of Service Violations [Updated December 21, 2020]
From the Document: "'Update: On November 30, 2020, the Supreme Court held oral arguments in Van Buren v. United States--a case that could resolve the judicial disagreement over whether the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) authorizes criminal liability for the violation of a terms of service agreement. Specifically, the issue before the court is whether an individual may be held criminally liable under the CFAA if he is 'authorized to access information on a computer for certain purposes,' but accesses that information for unauthorized purposes. At oral argument, questioning by the Justices focused on the policy implications of interpreting the CFAA broadly or narrowly. Justices asked whether a broad interpretation would criminalize routine conduct like lying on a dating website in violation of its terms of service. Other questions focused on whether a narrow interpretation, on the other hand, could jeopardize personal privacy if, for instance, an employee might not be criminally liable under the CFAA for using highly sensitive customer information in ways that are outside the scope of his employment duties. At oral argument, the attorney for the government argued that the CFAA unambiguously prohibits accessing information for unauthorized purposes--a view adopted by some federal appellate courts, but rejected by others[.] [...] A decision in Van Buren v. United States is expected before the Court's summer recess.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Berris, Peter G.
2020-12-21
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Defense Primer: Defense Appropriations Process [Updated December 21, 2020]
From the Document: "The Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse in Article I, Section 9, which provides that 'No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.' To fulfill this duty, Congress annually considers appropriations measures, which provide funding for numerous activities--such as national defense, education, and homeland security-- consistent with policies and priorities established through legislation such as the National Defense Authorization Act. The congressional appropriations process includes various rules and practices that Congress has adopted to distinguish appropriations measures and facilitate their consideration. These measures generally provide funding authority in response to the President's budget request for a fiscal year (October 1 throughSeptember 30)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McGarry, Brendan W.; Saturno, James
2020-12-21
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Health Care Funding: Federal Obligations to and Funds Received by Certain Organizations Involved in Health-Related Services, 2016 through 2018
From the Document: "In order to achieve their programmatic goals, federal agencies provide funding to various organizations that, in turn, use those funds to implement programs and activities aligned with those goals. For example, federal agencies may award funding through grants or cooperative agreements. In addition, federal insurance programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), may pay for certain services provided by organizations to beneficiaries of those programs.' Since 1995, we have reported periodically on federal funding provided to various organizations, including those that offer health-related services, such as voluntary family planning, and activities related to the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDs. The organizations have included various domestic organizations--such as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)--as well as international organizations, including International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Marie Stopes International (MSI). You asked us to provide updated information on federal funding for certain organizations that provide health-related services. This report describes the extent of federal funding for FQHCs, PPFA, four domestic regional organizations, IPPF, and MSI from 2016 through 2018."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-12-21
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CBP's Configuration Management Practices Did Not Effectively Prevent System Outage
From the Highlights: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) officers rely on information technology systems to screen arriving international passengers and prevent terrorists and known criminals from entering the country. On August 16, 2019, a CBP system outage disrupted processing of incoming international travelers at airports nationwide for as long as 2.5 hours, similar to a January 2, 2017 outage on which we previously reported. We conducted this review to determine why CBP's actions to implement previous OIG [Office of Inspector General] recommendations did not prevent the onset and length of the August 16, 2019 nationwide outage."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2020-12-21
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H. Rept. 116-683, Part 1: National Commission on Online Platforms and Homeland Security Act, Report Together with Minority Views, to Accompany H.R. 4782, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, December 21, 2020
From the Purpose and Summary: "H.R. 4782, the 'National Commission on Online Platforms and Homeland Security Act,' would create a bipartisan, 12-member Commission comprised of non-government experts to study the ways, if any, that online platforms, including platforms used for social media and social networking, have been utilized in furtherance of acts of targeted violence, including domestic and international terrorism, as well as covert foreign influence campaigns. The Commission would examine the implications of such use, if any, on free speech, privacy, civil rights and civil liberties, as well as actions taken by platform owners and operators in response to such utilization. The Commission would be tasked with developing recommendations for how online platforms could address such utilization in ways that promote transparency, free speech and innovation on the internet, preserve individual privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties, and uphold the principles of the U.S. Constitution in accordance with relevant statutes, and take into account current or anticipated trends and technological developments, such as advancements in artificial intelligence."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-12-21
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Tracing the Source of Chemical Weapons
From the Document: "According to the Global Public Policy Institute, there have been more than 330 chemical weapons attacks since 2012. Such attacks are prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention. A set of methods called forensic chemical attribution has the potential to trace the chemical agent used in such attacks to a source. For example, investigators could use these methods to identify the geographic sources of raw materials used to make the agent, or to identify the manufacturing process. Such information can aid leaders in deciding on whether or how to respond to a chemical weapons attack. Forensic chemical attribution is a three-step process, though the third step is being developed. First, a sample is taken from a victim or the site of an attack. Second, the sample's chemical components are analyzed and identified either at a mobile lab or at one of 18 authorized biomedical labs worldwide. [...] In the third step--still under development--investigators use the data from the forensic chemical identification and analysis methods from step two to develop a 'chemical fingerprint.' The fingerprint can be matched to a database of information on existing methods or known source to identify chemical agents. However, a comprehensive database containing complete, reliable data for known agents does not exist."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-12-21
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Ineffective Implementation of Corrective Actions Diminishes DHS' Oversight of Its Pandemic Planning
From the Highlights: "The Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a series of three reports between August 2014 and October 2016 examining DHS' pandemic activities and recommending actions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of DHS' planning and response activities. OIG conducted this verification review to determine the adequacy and effectiveness of DHS' corrective actions."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2020-12-21
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Audit of Infectious Disease Medical Treatment Capabilities at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
From the Objective: "The objective of this audit was to determine whether Al Udeid Air Base (AUAB), Qatar, had the capabilities to treat coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients and isolate or quarantine suspected infected service members, civilians, and contractors."
United States. Department of Defense. Office of the Inspector General
2020-12-21
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LSU NCBRT Preparedness Podcast 26 - Pandemic Response: Catching Up with Responders on Workforce Challenges (Part 2) [audio]
From the Webpage: "[In this podcast] we finish our follow-up conversation with Seguin, TX police chief Terry Nichols and Hennepin County, MN Sheriff's Office chief of staff Rob Allen about the changes that the pandemic has brought to their agencies. They discuss responder resilience within their departments, the pandemic's effect on crime rates in their areas, how the social justice events of the summer have allowed them to connect with their own communities, and the overall lessons that COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] has taught them." The duration of this podcast is 24 minutes and 10 seconds.
Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.). National Center for Biomedical Research and Training
2020-12-21
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, December 20, 2020: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' Interim Recommendation for Use of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine - United States, December 2020
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: "The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' Interim Recommendation for Use of Moderna COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Vaccine - United States, December 2020." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2020.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-12-20
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COVIDView: A Weekly Surveillance Summary of U.S COVID-19 Activity, Week 51 [December 19, 2020]
From the Key Updates: "Nationally, surveillance indicators tracking levels of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] circulation and associated illnesses declined or remained stable during the week ending December 19, 2020. The percentage of deaths due to pneumonia, influenza and COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] (PIC) has been increasing since early October. Both COVID-19- associated hospitalizations and PIC mortality for the most recent weeks are expected to increase as more data are received."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-12-19
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H. Rept. 116-676, Part 1: Disaster Recovery Workforce Act, Report to Accompany H.R. 4479, December 18, 2020
From the Document: "The purpose of H.R. 4479 is to temporarily provide Commonwealth-only transitional worker permits for workers in construction occupations involved in disaster recovery. [...] H.R. 4479 is intended to address the problem of the lack of construction workers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), which has impeded the islands' efforts to recover from a series of recent typhoons, including Super Typhoon Yutu in September 2018--the strongest storm on U.S. soil that year and the second strongest in U.S. history. Specifically, the bill allows for 3,000 additional CNMI Transitional Worker permits to be issued during the recovery period for foreign construction workers."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-12-18
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H. Rept. 116-675: Restoring Access to Medication Act of 2019, Report to Accompany H.R. 1922, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, December 18, 2020
From the Document: "Health flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health reimbursement accounts (HRAs), medical savings accounts (MSAs), and health savings accounts (HSAs) are different tax preferred ways of saving for limited out-of-pocket health care expenses. While all have tax preferred savings, the plans differ with regard to a number of features including eligibility requirements, who can contribute to them and how the funds can be used. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) included a provision to use of these types of accounts for very limited over-the-counter items without a prescription. The statute is also silent on how to treat menstrual care products regarding the inclusion or exclusion of these products from tax preferred accounts. Every dollar spent on over-the-counter medication in the United States saves the health care system seven dollars, highlighting a need to allow consumers to utilize these medications through tax preferred accounts. Menstrual care items, such as pads, tampons, cups, and liners, are necessary purchases for the vast majority of women. In the United States, menstrual care products are a $2 billion industry. [...] Regardless of income, women spend a significant amount of money purchasing menstrual hygiene products each year. The tax treatment of menstrual care products is an issue with 35 states taxing menstrual products as non-essential rather than medically necessary products. H.R. 1922 address both the need for increased flexibility in utilizing tax-free dollars for preventative over-the-counter medications and menstrual care products to help Americans live healthier lives while decreasing direct costs."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-12-18
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Department of Defense Board on Diversity and Inclusion Report: Recommendations to Improve Racial and Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion in the U.S. Military
From the Executive Summary: "For more than 200 years, the U.S. military has fought to defend this nation and its interests, earning the reputation as the greatest military force in history. The U.S. military attracts highly qualified men and women who represent a wide variety of creeds, religions, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and other attributes that make the people of this country stronger together. Moreover, the Department of Defense (DoD) recognizes diversity and inclusion (D&I) as strategic imperatives--to ensure that the military across all grades reflects and is inclusive of the American people it has sworn to protect and defend. [...] Section I of this report includes a brief overview of the historical context of D&I in the U.S. military, which is followed in Section II with a discussion of current DoD D&I efforts, including statistics on demographic representation and trends in promotion and retention of minority Service members. Section III outlines the Board's composition and methodology for choosing and refining the most relevant and feasible recommendations for improving D&I in the U.S. military. Section IV presents the background, findings, and outcome metric for each of the 15 recommendations. The report closes with a conclusion and way forward highlighting the importance of the Board's recommendations to the future of D&I in the U.S. military."
United States. Department of Defense
2020-12-18?
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JHU Return to Campus Guidance for Phase 2
From the Executive Summary: "Our COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] plans have relied on a phased approach beginning with the resumption of low-density activities (labeled broadly as 'Phase 1') followed by medium-density activities ('Phase 2'). This document is intended to serve as guidance for activities while the university remains within Phase 2 and replaces the Phase 1 guide published in 2020. During this phase, only faculty and staff who are teaching, performing research, providing clinical services, or are required for campus operations should work on campus until further notice. All other faculty and staff will continue to work from home throughout the spring semester."
Johns Hopkins University
2020-12-18
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Covid Economics Vetted and Real-Time Papers: Issue 62, 18 December 2020
This December 18, 2020 edition of 'Covid Economics Vetted and Real-Time Papers' contains the following articles: "Real-time real economic activity entering the pandemic recession" by Francis X. Diebold; "Buying the vote? The economics of electoral politics and small business loans" by Ran Duchin and John Hackney;"Growth forecasts and the Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] recession they convey: End-2020 update" by Javier G. Gómez-Pineda; "The economics of stop-and-go epidemic control" by Claudius Gros and Daniel Gros; "Consumption responses to COVID-19 payments: Evidence from a natural experiment and bank account data" by So Kubota, Koichiro Onishi, and Yuta Toyama; "The effect of mandatory child care center closures on women's labor market outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic" by Lauren Russell and Chuxuan Sun;Rightly blamed the 'bad guy'? Grandparental child care and Covid-19" by Christina Boll and Till Nikolka.
Centre for Economic Policy Research
2020-12-18
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Defense Acquisitions: DOD's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Framework [December 18, 2020]
From the Introduction: "In recent years, cybersecurity threats and attacks have become a key issue for the Department of Defense (DOD). At present an estimated 300,000 companies supply products and services to the nation's defense industrial base (DIB). Concerns have been raised that some of these U.S. military contractors may pose a substantial cybersecurity risk because they currently operate with limited oversight of their internal cybersecurity controls. One effort to address cybersecurity attacks and the associated economic and national security costs to the DOD supply chain is the department's ongoing work to implement its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework. This initiative is designed to provide a scalable cybersecurity standard for the full spectrum of defense acquisitions. Once fully implemented, with a current target date of fiscal year (FY) 2026, the framework would require all DOD prime contractors and subcontractors to receive verification through accredited third-party certification organizations that an individual organization's internal cybersecurity practices and processes meet certain standards. This report offers an overview and analysis of issues for Congress associated with the CMMC framework. This report also discusses congressional considerations related to the Defense Department's efforts to mitigate cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities within the DIB in the performance of DOD's government contract work."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Peters, Heidi M.
2020-12-18
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Justice Department's Role in Cyber Incident Response [Updated December 18, 2020]
From the Document: "Criminals and other malicious actors rely on the internet and evolving technology to further their operations. They exploit cyberspace, where they can mask their identities and motivations. In this domain, criminals can compromise financial assets, hacktivists can flood websites with traffic--effectively shutting them down, and spies can steal intellectual property and government secrets. When such cyber incidents occur, a number of questions arise, including how the federal government will react and which agencies will respond. These questions have been raised following a number of high-profile breaches such as those against the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the Democratic National Committee, as well as intrusions into a number of federal agencies and other organizations via network management software produced by SolarWinds. Federal law enforcement has taken the lead in investigating cyber incidents, attributing certain malicious activities to specific perpetrators, and prosecuting cyber threat actors. This report outlines the federal framework for cyber incident response, highlighting the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) role in this response. It also discusses challenges for federal law enforcement and potential policy issues for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Finklea, Kristin M.
2020-12-18
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U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement Negotiations [Updated December 18, 2020]
From the Overview: "On October 7, 2019, after six months of formal negotiations, the United States and Japan signed two agreements to liberalize bilateral trade. The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA) provides for limited tariff reductions and quota expansions to improve market access. The U.S.-Japan Digital Trade Agreement covers rules on digital aspects of international commerce. The agreements, which took effect on January 1, 2020, without formal action by Congress, constitute what the Trump and Abe Administrations described as 'stage one' of a broader U.S.- Japan trade agreement, but further talks have yet to materialize. The Trump Administration used delegated tariff authorities in Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to proclaim the USJTA provisions, while the digital trade agreement, which did not require changes to U.S. law, was treated as an Executive Agreement. The status of the pending second stage bilateral talks remains of interest to Congress but is uncertain under both Japan's new Suga Administration and the incoming Biden Administration. As the fourth-largest U.S. trade partner, Japan has been a high priority for U.S. trade negotiations, especially as recent Japanese free trade agreements (FTAs), including with the European Union (EU) and the TPP-11 (successor to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) following U.S. withdrawal), lower Japan's tariffs on imports from several countries, placing U.S. exporters at a disadvantage."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; Williams, Brock R.
2020-12-18
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U.S. Dollar as the World's Dominant Reserve Currency [December 18, 2020]
From the Document: "The U.S. dollar is the world's dominant reserve currency, among other such currencies including the euro, the yen, the pound, the renminbi (RMB), the Canadian dollar, the Swiss franc, and the Australian dollar. A reserve currency is a currency held by central banks in significant quantities. It is widely used to conduct international trade and financial transactions, eliminating the costs of settling transactions involving different currencies. The dollar has functioned as the world's dominant reserve currency since World War II. Today, central banks hold about 60% of their foreign exchange reserves in dollars. About half of international trade is invoiced in dollars, and about half of all international loans and global debt securities are denominated in dollars. In foreign exchange markets, where currencies are traded, dollars are involved in nearly 90% of all transactions. The dollar is the preferred currency for investors during major economic crises, as a 'safe haven' currency. During the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, for example, and amidst the economic turmoil associated with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic in 2020, investors sought U.S. dollars, expecting the dollar to retain its value. In both crises, the U.S. Federal Reserve adopted extraordinary monetary authorities and currency swap lines with other central banks to provide liquidity and dollars."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nelson, Rebecca M.; Jackson, James K., 1949-; Weiss, Martin A.
2020-12-18
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Office of National Laboratories: Harnessing a Network of Laboratories to Meet Tomorrow's Homeland Security Challenges
From the Introduction: "Whether operating in times of calm, preparedness, crisis or response, our new reality is that American scientific and technological know-how must exist on the cutting edge of innovation and produce capabilities that match current and future needs. ONL [Office of National Laboratories] embraces its centralized role with all laboratories that provide developmental assistance for products and solutions to support the homeland security community and keep our country safe. ONL is arranged into two branches that work collaboratively with the laboratories and key stakeholders to deliver vital science and technology capabilities. Our Utilization Branch facilitates the effective use of our five in-house RDT&E [Research, Development, Test & Evaluation] laboratories and their capabilities located across seven sites, the Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories and other auxiliary RDT&E capabilities and technology transition activities. [...] Our Operations Branch provides oversight for the five S&T [Science & Technology] laboratories and sites to make sure they remain primed and equipped to fulfill mission needs."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate. Office of National Laboratories
2020-12-18?
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ICE Needs to Address Prolonged Administrative Segregation and Other Violations at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility
From the Highlights: "Treatment and care of detainees at facilities can be challenging and vary greatly. In accordance with the 'Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019', we conduct annual unannounced inspections of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities to ensure compliance with detention standards. In February 2020, we inspected the Imperial Regional Detention Facility (IRDF) to evaluate compliance with ICE detention standards. We made six recommendations to improve ICE's oversight of detention facility management and operations at IRDF."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
Shiffer, John D.; Burns, Amy; Christian, Stephanie . . .
2020-12-18
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Declassified: Summary of the Reengagement of Detainees Formerly Held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba [As of August 31, 2020]
From the Document: "The Director of National Intelligence submits this summary consistent with direction in Section 506I of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. [United States Code] § 3105), which provides: (a) In General.--The Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, shall make publicly available an unclassified summary of-- (1) intelligence relating to recidivism of detainees currently or formerly held at the Naval Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by the Department of Defense; and (2) an assessment of the likelihood that such detainees will engage in terrorism or communicate with persons in terrorist organizations. (b) Updates.--Not less frequently than annually, the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Secretary of Defense, shall update and make publicly available an unclassified summary consisting of the information required by subsection (a) and the number of individuals formerly detained at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who are confirmed or suspected of returning to terrorist activities after release or transfer from such Naval Station."
United States. Office of the Director of National Intelligence
2020-12-18
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H. Rept. 116-674, Part 1: Western Water Security Act of 2020, Report Together with Dissenting Views, to Accompany H.R. 4891, December 18, 2020
From the Purpose: "The purpose of H.R. 4891 is to provide for the conduct of certain water security measures in the western United States."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-12-18
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H. Rept. 116-667: Water Recycling Investment and Improvement Act, Report Together with Dissenting Views, To Accompany H.R. 1162, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, December 18, 2020
From the Document: "The purpose of H.R. 1162 is to establish a grant program for the funding of water recycling and reuse projects. [...] Water recycling and reuse projects recover and treat wastewater and impaired ground and surface water to repurpose it for a new intended use. In regions frequently affected by drought, water recycling and reuse projects can provide new, virtually drought-proof local water supplies for a variety of uses. The arid western states, and California in particular, have significantly increased recycled water use in recent years."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-12-18
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H. Rept. 116-673: Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2020, Report Together with Additional Views, To Accompany H.R. 644, December 18, 2020
From the Document: "The purpose of H.R. 644 is to ratify and modify the Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Agreement negotiated between the State of Utah, the Navajo Nation, and the United States. [...] The Navajo Nation Reservation consists of approximately 26,600 square miles in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. According to the Department of the Interior, approximately 1.6 percent of the total Navajo Nation membership reside within the Utah portion of the Navajo Reservation, or 5,029 of the Navajo Nation's current total membership of 300,048.1 H.R. 644 would ratify an Indian water rights settlement agreement for the Utah portion of the Navajo Reservation, recognizing a reserved water right for the Navajo Nation totaling 81,500 acre-feet of depletion per year. H.R. 644 would also authorize $198 million for a water development fund to be transferred to the Navajo Nation approximately four to five fiscal years following bill enactment for water-related expenses."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-12-18
