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H. Rept. 116-657: Hijacking Our Heroes: Exploiting Veterans Through Disinformation on Social Media, Report Together with Dissenting Views, December 16, 2020
From the Executive Summary: "The threat of foreign individuals and organizations influencing United States (U.S.) elections by manipulating social media has been a persistent and growing issue since before the 2016 election year. The threat was a significant concern during the 2020 elections. Recent investigations and analysis document the broad proliferation of online influence campaigns that originate overseas. This includes the use of 'spoofing,' or the act of disguising an electronic communication from an unknown source as being from a known, trusted source. A subset of these operations target the veteran and military service member communities in order to misappropriate their voices, authority and credibility. The pervasiveness of social media, as well as the nature of the specific threat to our election integrity and the sowing of political discord makes this a critical issue affecting both veterans and those who value veterans' voices. As described by Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Mark Takano (D-CA) [Democrat from California], 'the issue of protecting our elections from foreign influence is one of critical importance to all Americans and preserving the power of veterans' voices should be of equal concern to us all.'"
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-12-16
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Taking Back Control: A Resetting of America's Response to Covid-19
From the Executive Summary: "Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccines have arrived, with enough supply to vaccinate as many as 50 million people by the end of January. But these initial doses will do little in the short term to arrest an epidemic that is raging out of control. The United States is now reporting more than one million new coronavirus cases every week, hospitals are nearing capacities, and daily death tolls are at record levels. More Americans are now 'dying every day' from Covid-19 than died in the terrorist attacks of 9/11 -- a rate of nearly 100,000 people per month. Meanwhile, American families have reached the end of their endurance, the economy may be sliding into another slowdown, and many children have lost nearly a year of schooling. The country cannot afford another six months of paralysis with schools and businesses widely shuttered while vaccines are manufactured and distributed. [...] [F]ar more must be done to slow the catastrophic spread of Covid-19, including fixing and augmenting the nation's testing system -- still plagued by supply constraints and delays. Such problems are the main reasons tests continue to be used mostly in people with symptoms or those in recent contact with someone with Covid-19. That is not enough. Instead of being reactive, testing must become a proactive tool to find asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic infected individuals before they pass along their infections to others."
Rockefeller Foundation
2020-12-16
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International Trade in Services [December 16, 2020]
From the Document: "International trade in 'services' refers to a wide and growing range of economic activities. These activities include transport, tourism, financial services, use of intellectual property, telecommunications and information services, government services, maintenance, and other professional services from accounting to legal services. As services account for over 80% of U.S. employment and 79% of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), trade in services, both as exports and as inputs to other exported products, can have a broad impact across the U.S. economy. The United States is the world's leading services exporter and importer. The United States continues to negotiate trade agreements both bilaterally and multilaterally in the World Trade Organization (WTO) to lower 'behind the border' barriers that limit U.S. services exports."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fefer, Rachel F.
2020-12-16
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Turkey: U.S. Sanctions Under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) [December 16, 2020]
From the Document: "Turkey's July 2019 acquisition of an S-400 surface-to-air defense system from Russia sparked debate about possible U.S. sanctions against Turkey--a longtime NATO ally--under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA, P.L. 115-44). CAATSA requires the President to impose sanctions on those persons he determines have knowingly engaged in a 'significant transaction' with Russia's security sector. On December 14, 2020, the Administration imposed the following sanctions on Turkey's defense procurement agency, commonly referred to by the Turkish acronym SSB [Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı]: [1] a prohibition on granting specific U.S. export licenses and authorizations for any goods or technology; [2] a prohibition on loans or credits by U.S. financial institutions totaling more than $10 million in any 12-month period; [3] a ban on U.S. Export-Import Bank assistance; [4] a requirement for the United States to oppose loans benefitting SSB by international financial institutions; and [5] full blocking sanctions and visa restrictions on four SSB officials."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Zanotti, Jim; Thomas, Clayton (Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs)
2020-12-16
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Global Value Chains: Overview and Issues for Congress [December 16, 2020]
From the Summary: "Global value chains (GVCs) divide production processes into discrete stages located around the globe. Using GVCs, companies can organize different parts of their value chain strategically, such as locating in a target customer's home market or a competitor's base. When deciding where to locate particular stages of production, firms typically consider key inputs such as raw materials and labor--along with associated accessibility, costs, and quality--and domestic policies that may encourage or discourage different types of investment. Congress, in particular, has an interest in understanding the economic and broader policy implications of the ongoing evolution of global value chains on U.S. businesses and consumers. Since the 1990s, GVCs have shaped the global economy. More than two-thirds of world trade occurs via GVCs each year, representing a shift in how trade and commerce are conducted as trade in intermediate goods and services exceeds that of commodities and finished goods. Unilateral trade liberalization and lower trade barriers made possible by free trade agreements (FTAs) and the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have spurred GVC growth. Technology advancements and new internet-enabled services that lower costs and provide seamless connections around the world have also been a major factor. Consequently, companies and countries can focus on comparative advantages and specialize in different products and services within value chains, opening economic opportunities and new markets for small businesses and developing countries."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fefer, Rachel F.; Wong, Liana; Schwarzenberg, Andres B.
2020-12-16
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Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues [Updated December 16, 2020]
From the Introduction: "Members of Congress and Pentagon officials have placed a growing emphasis on U.S. programs to develop hypersonic weapons as a part of an effort to acquire the capability for the United States to launch attacks against targets around the world in under an hour. Hypersonic weapons, like all long-range ballistic missiles, can travel faster than Mach 5, or about 1 mile to 5 miles per second. This interest is driven by both the perceived mission need for conventional prompt strike systems and concerns about falling behind Russia and China in the development of these technologies. The United States is pursuing two key technologies for this purpose: boost-glide systems that place a hypersonic glider atop a ballistic missile booster or shorter-range rocket systems, and hypersonic cruise missiles that would use scramjet technologies. [...] This report provides an overview of the rationale for the PGS [prompt global strike]/prompt strike mission and the possible deployment of conventional warheads on long-range ballistic missiles or boost-glide systems in support of this mission. It then reviews the Air Force and Navy efforts to develop these systems. It summarizes congressional reaction to these proposals, and provides a more detailed account of the issues raised by these concepts and programs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Woolf, Amy F.
2020-12-16
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Defense Primer: Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) [Updated December 16, 2020]
From the Document: "Congress appropriates funds for servicemember and family benefits, including services to improve quality of life or attenuate challenges. Military families face frequent moves around the globe, often causing disruptions to spousal employment, school or child care arrangements, and other challenges associated with establishing a household in a new location. Military members who have a dependent (spouse, child, or dependent parent) with special needs may experience significant stress during these moves due to the need to find specialized health care providers, school systems with dedicated support services, and community support assistance. The military established the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) to ease these additional burdens of a move for such families."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mendez, Bryce H. P.
2020-12-16
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Tracking Federal Awards: USAspending.gov and Other Data Sources [Updated December 16, 2020]
From the Summary: "USAspending.gov, [...] is a government source for data on federal awards by state, congressional district (CD), county, city, and zip code. The awards data in USAspending.gov are provided by federal agencies and represent contracts, grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance. USAspending.gov also provides tools for examining the broader picture of federal spending obligations within the categories of budget function, agency, and object class. Using USAspending.gov to locate and compile accurate data on federal awards can be challenging due, in part, to continuing data quality issues that have been identified by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Users of USAspending.gov need to be aware that while search results may be useful for informing consideration of certain questions, these results may be incomplete or contain inaccuracies. USAspending.gov was created under P.L. 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA), and is being enhanced under requirements in P.L. 113-101, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act). Other federal awards data sources reviewed in this report include the following: [1] Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS); [2] Census Federal Audit Clearinghouse; [3] U.S. Budget: Aid to State and Local Governments; [4] Census Federal Aid to States (FAS) and Consolidated Federal Funds Report (CFFR); and [5] Additional federal grant awards databases, including sources tracking medical, scientific, and technical research."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer
2020-12-16
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Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending [Updated December 16, 2020]
From the Summary: "Congress has responded to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with supplemental appropriations measures providing relief and assistance to individuals and families, state and local governments, businesses, health care providers, and other entities. [...] This report provides selected sources for tracking COVID-19 relief and assistance spending. It includes links to and information on government sources detailing spending amounts at various levels, including consolidated spending by multiple government agencies, spending by individual government agencies, and spending to specific recipients and geographies. The sources themselves are large government databases, individual agencies, oversight entities, and selected nongovernmental entities that attempt to repackage information on spending amounts obtained from available government sources. Due to the continually evolving nature of information provided by sources that track federal COVID-19 spending, this report may be updated frequently."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer; Kreiser, Maria
2020-12-16
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Healthcare Personnel and First Responders: How to Cope with Stress and Build Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Webpage: "Providing care to others during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic can lead to stress, anxiety, fear, and other strong emotions. How you cope with these emotions can affect your well-being, the care you give to others while doing your job, and the well-being of the people you care about outside of work. During this pandemic, it is critical that you recognize what stress looks like, take steps to build your resilience and cope with stress, and know where to go if you need help."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-12-16
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Two Supreme Court Cases to Test Limits on Foreign Sovereign Immunity for Holocaust Harms [December 16, 2020]
From the Document: "In two cases this term, 'Republic of Hungary v. Simon (Hungary)' and 'Federal Republic of Germany v. Philipp (Germany)', the Supreme Court is set to address intersecting issues about foreign sovereign immunity and the Holocaust. The plaintiffs in both cases seek to make foreign governments liable for Nazi-era injuries. But the defendants, which include Hungary and Germany, argue the suits should be dismissed based on international comity--a legal doctrine that allows courts to abstain from jurisdiction out of respect for foreign sovereignty. Germany also argues that it is immune from suit because it believes the U.S. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) does not permit claims in U.S. courts against foreign governments for 'taking' property from their own citizens within its own territory. The legal questions in both cases may have longstanding implications for when foreign countries can be sued in U.S. courts. The cases also have attracted attention because of the way in which the legal defenses intersect with the tragic events of the Holocaust. Some observers, including some Members of Congress, contend that the defendants' legal arguments contradict the historical timeline of the Holocaust. The United States, on the other hand, supports the defendants' legal theories in its role as amicus curiae."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mulligan, Stephen P.
2020-12-16
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Advisory Memorandum on Ensuring Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers Ability to Work During the COVID-19 Response
From the Document: "The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) executes the Secretary of Homeland Security's authorities to secure critical infrastructure. Consistent with these authorities, CISA has developed, in collaboration with other federal agencies, State and local governments, and the private sector, an 'Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce' advisory list. This list is intended to help State, local, tribal, territorial officials and organizations endeavor to protect their workers and communities as they continue to reopen in a phased approach, coupled with the need to ensure continuity of functions critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security. Decisions informed by this list should also take into consideration worker safety, workplace settings, as well as additional public health considerations based on the specific COVID-19-related concerns of particular jurisdictions."
United States. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency
Wales, Brandon
2020-12-16
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Defense Primer: President's Constitutional Authority with Regard to the Armed Forces [Updated December 16, 2020]
From the Document: "The Constitution makes the President Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, but does not define exactly what powers he may exercise in that role. Nor does it explain the extent to which Congress, using its own constitutional powers, may influence 'how' the President commands the Armed Forces. Separation-of-powers debates arise with some frequency regarding the exercise of military powers. Early in the nation's history, Alexander Hamilton wrote in 'The Federalist', No. 69, that the Commander in Chief power is 'nothing more than the supreme command and direction of the military and naval forces, as first general and admiral of the confederacy.' Concurring in that view in 1850, the Supreme Court in 'Fleming v. Page' stated, '[The President's] duty and his power are purely military. As Commander in Chief, he is authorized to direct the movements of the naval and military forces placed by law at his command, and to employ them in the manner he may deem most effectual to harass and conquer and subdue the enemy.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Elsea, Jennifer
2020-12-16
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Defense Primer: Congress's Constitutional Authority with Regard to the Armed Forces [Updated December 16, 2020]
From the Document: "The power 'To declare War' has long been construed to mean not only that Congress can formally take the nation into war, but also that it can authorize the use of the Armed Forces for military expeditions that may not amount to war. While a restrictive interpretation of the power 'To declare War' is possible, for example, by viewing the Framers' use of the verb 'to declare' rather than 'to make' as an indication of an intent to limit Congress's ability to affect the course of a war once it is validly commenced, Congress's other powers over the use of the military would likely fill any resulting void. In practice, courts have not sought to delineate the boundaries of each clause relating to war powers or identify gaps between them to find specific powers that are denied to Congress. However, the Supreme Court has suggested that Congress might overstep its bounds into presidential territory if it were to interfere with the conduct of military operations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Elsea, Jennifer
2020-12-16
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Coast Guard: Actions Needed to Improve National Vessel Documentation Center Operations, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "In fiscal year 2019, the NVDC [National Vessel Documentation Center] documented about 230,000 vessels for commercial and recreational purposes in U.S. waters. The Coast Guard requires owners of certain-sized commercial vessels to obtain vessel documentation--a form of vessel registration--through the NVDC. Vessel documentation is optional for owners of recreational vessels of 5 or more net tons (generally longer than 26 feet), and many do so to secure a mortgage for financing. In 2017, GAO reported that the NVDC faced backlogs in processing recreational vessel documentation. The Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 includes a provision for GAO to review NVDC's operations. This report examines, among other objectives, the extent that the Coast Guard (1) met its NVDC workload demands and (2) measured NVDC's effectiveness in processing vessel documentation. GAO analyzed Coast Guard vessel documentation processing data for fiscal years 2015 through 2019 and information on its system used to process vessel documentation. GAO also interviewed cognizant Coast Guard officials. GAO is making seven recommendations to the Coast Guard, including that it develop and implement policies and procedures for conducting operational analyses for its vessel documentation system, and establish formal organizational performance targets for NVDC's vessel documentation activities. The Coast Guard concurred with GAO's recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-12-16
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Data Governance: Agencies Made Progress in Establishing Governance, but Need to Address Key Milestones, Congressional Addressees
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "Federal decision makers need data of sufficient quality to assess whether federal programs achieve intended results. Effective data governance is a key component to ensure data quality. Congress included provisions in statute for GAO to report on the quality of spending data and use of evidence. This report examines: (1) selected agencies' efforts to meet the data governance milestones in the 2020 Action Plan; (2) the extent to which agency data quality plans for spending data were consistent with OMB [Office of Management and
Budget] guidance; (3) the extent to which the CDO [Chief Data Officers] Council follows leading collaboration practices; and (4) key questions to help CDOs effectively implement data governance. To address these objectives, GAO selected four agencies to represent a range of data governance experiences: (1) USDA, (2) Commerce, (3) HUD [Housing and Urban Development], and (4) NSF [National Science Foundation]. GAO reviewed documents and interviewed officials regarding agencies' implementation of data governance. GAO also interviewed state and local CDOs and officials from academia and industry."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-12-16
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Lead Paint in Housing: HUD Has Not Identified High-Risk Project-Based Rental Assistance Properties, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "Exposure to lead paint hazards can cause serious harm to children under 6 years old. HUD [Department of Housing and Urban
Development] is required by law to reduce the risk of lead paint hazards in HUD-assisted rental housing-- including project-based rental assistance (subsidies to make privately owned multifamily properties affordable to low-income households). The 2019 Consolidated Appropriations Act Joint Explanatory Statement includes a provision for GAO to review, among other things, HUD's oversight of lead paint and related hazards in affordable rental housing. This report (1) describes how HUD programs and guidance address lead paint hazards in HUD-assisted and other low-income rental housing, and (2) examines HUD's oversight procedures for assessing risk for lead paint hazards in project-based rental assistance housing. GAO reviewed HUD and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead paint regulations and documents on lead programs and methods for addressing lead paint hazards. GAO reviewed HUD oversight policies and procedures and analyzed HUD data on building and tenant age. GAO interviewed staff at HUD, EPA, and organizations that advocate for safe affordable housing."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-12-16
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Financial Stability: Agencies Have Not Found Leveraged Lending to Significantly Threaten Stability but Remain Cautious Amid Pandemic, Report to Agency Officials
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "The market for institutional leveraged loans grew from an estimated $0.5 trillion in 2010 to $1.2 trillion in 2019, fueled largely by investor demand for CLO [collateralized loan obligation] securities. Some observers and regulators have drawn comparisons to the pre-2008 subprime mortgage market, noting that loan origination and securitization may similarly spread risks to the financial system. These fears are being tested by the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, which has significantly affected leveraged businesses. This report examines assessments by regulators, FSOC [Financial Stability Oversight Council], and others--both before and after the COVID-19 shock to the economy--of the potential risks to financial stability stemming from leveraged lending activities, and the extent to which FSOC monitors and responds to risks from broad-based activities like leveraged lending, among other objectives. GAO examined agency and private data on market size and investor exposures; reviewed agency, industry, and international reports; and interviewed federal financial regulators and industry participants."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-12-16
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Supplemental Memorandum on Investigation into Political Interference with Coronavirus Response
From the Document: "This memorandum describes evidence recently obtained by the Select Subcommittee showing that a Trump Administration appointee at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Senior Advisor Paul Alexander, privately strategized with other top Administration officials as far back as June 2020 about pursuing a so-called 'herd immunity' strategy in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Alexander explicitly endorsed allowing the disease to spread widely among '[i]nfants, kids, teens, young people, young adults, middle aged with no conditions etc.,' writing, 'we use them to develop herd…we want them infected.' The views expressed in these private communications were later echoed by President Trump and other officials, raising the serious possibility that key Administration officials have pursued a deliberate or reckless policy of allowing Americans to be infected with the coronavirus."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Oversight and Reform. Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis
2020-12-16
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S. Rept. 116-333: Unfunded Mandates Accountability and Transparency Act, Report to Accompany S. 4077, December 16, 2020
From the Purpose and Summary: "S. 4077, the Unfunded Mandates Accountability and Transparency Act, updates and expands the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) by requiring Federal agencies to assess the impact of new major rules on jobs, consider market-based, nongovernmental regulatory alternatives, and maximize benefits instead of selecting the least costly, most cost effective regulatory alternative as required by UMRA. The bill also extends UMRA to independent agencies; expands the rules that trigger UMRA's requirements to those that have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; permits cost consideration and meaningful judicial review; increases stakeholder consultation; and expands the budget point of order for intergovernmental mandates to private sector mandates."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-12-16
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H. Rept. 116-658: Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act, Report Together with Minority Views, to Accompany H.R. 3948, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, December 16, 2020
From the Purpose and Summary: "On July 24, 2019, Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY [Democrat-New York]), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions, introduced H.R. 3948, the 'Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act,' which amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to clarify that private debt collectors who pursue debts such as municipal utility bills, tolls, traffic tickets, and court debts are subject to the FDCPA."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-12-16
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TVA's Response to COVID-19
From the Executive Summary: "In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus [disease 2019] (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) began taking steps to keep employees and their families' safe, while also ensuring the agency could continue to fulfill its mission of service. Due to the ongoing pandemic and its impact on TVA's workforce related to mandatory telework and staffing, we initiated an evaluation to assess TVA's response to COVID-19."
Tennessee Valley Authority. Office of the Inspector General
Denny, Lindsay J.; Cotter, Lucas W.
2020-12-16
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H. Rept. 116-656: Small Business Fair Debt Collection Protection Act, Together with Minority Views, Report to Accompany H.R. 5013, December 16, 2020
From the Purpose and Summary: "On November 8, 2019, Congressman Al Lawson introduced H.R. 5013, the 'Small Business Fair Debt Collection Protection Act,' which expands the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act's (FDCPA) protections to cover small business loans, as determined by CFPB [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau] in consultation with the Small Business Administration."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-12-16
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Recommendations for Prioritization and Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccine in Prisons and Jails
From the Document: "Prisons and jails across the country have been epicenters of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, correctional facilities have accounted for a majority [hyperlink] of the largest single-site, cluster outbreaks across the country. Nearly 20% of the prison population has tested positive for COVID-19, with an infection rate [hyperlink] that is higher than five times and an age-adjusted mortality rate that is three times that of the general population. Yet, to date, recommendations [hyperlink] on vaccine distribution, set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, have not given incarcerated people priority in COVID-19 vaccine distribution. This is in stark contrast to the explicit and appropriate prioritization of people in long-term care facilities, another group that has experienced marked rates of COVID-19 and resultant morbidity and mortality. Prisons and jails are not places apart from the community. Outbreaks in correctional facilities spill over to the community and further burden healthcare systems that are overtaxed, especially in rural communities with local jails. That is why we conclude that prioritization for vaccination for those who live and work in correctional systems is critical to public health."
AMEND; François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights; University of California, Los Angeles. School of Law . . .
Wang, Emily A.; Brinkley-Rubinstein, Lauren; Puglisi, Lisa . . .
2020-12-16
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Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated December 15, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region's future. Issues such as geopolitical competition in the region between the United States, Russia, and China; increased military operations in the region by the United States, Russia, and other Arctic countries; growth in commercial shipping through the Arctic; and oil, gas, and mineral exploration in the Arctic could cause the region in coming years to become an arena of international cooperation, tension, and/or competition. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial political, economic, energy, environmental, and other interests in the region. Decisions that Congress makes on Arctic-related issues could significantly affect these interests. This report provides an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress, and refers readers to more in-depth CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports on specific Arctic-related issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; Comay, Laura B.; Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin) . . .
2020-12-15
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Morocco-Israel Normalization and U.S. Policy Change on Western Sahara [December 15, 2020]
From the Document: "On December 10, President Trump announced that Morocco would normalize relations with Israel, and that the United States was recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Morocco affirmed that normalization will include 'official contacts with counterparts and diplomatic relations as soon as possible,' direct flights, and economic and technical cooperation. How quickly these commitments might advance remains to be seen. Morocco's willingness to normalize relations with Israel follows similar moves by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in September 2020, and comes after Sudan in October announced tentative plans to do so. Arab government decisions formally to normalize relations with Israel have generally come after years of discreet coordination to counter common concerns such as Iran and Islamist populist movements (including the Muslim Brotherhood). These developments raise questions about the future of cooperation and rivalry among key actors in the Middle East, U.S. arms sales to the region, Saudi Arabia's willingness to follow suit, and Arab state support for Palestinian national demands."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis; Zanotti, Jim; Williams, Brock R.
2020-12-15
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Defense Primer: Information Operations [Updated December 15, 2020]
From the Document: "While there is currently no official U.S. government (USG) definition of information warfare (IW), practitioners typically conceptualize it as 'a strategy for the use and management of information to pursue a competitive advantage, including both offensive and defensive operations.' Strategy can be defined as the process of planning to achieve objectives and goals in the national interest. Operations link strategic objectives with tactics, techniques, and procedures. For IW strategy, that link is information operations (IO). Past definitions within the DOD have conceptualized IO as a purely military activity involving a set of tactics or capabilities. In DOD Joint Publication (JP) 3-13 and the IO Roadmap, IO consisted of five pillars: computer network operations (CNO), which include computer network attack, computer network defense, and computer network exploitation; psychological operations (PSYOP); electronic warfare (EW); operations security (OPSEC); and military deception (MILDEC). With the advent of U.S. Cyber Command, CNO became cyberspace operations, offensive and defensive with its own doctrine in JP 3-12. In 2010, PSYOP became military information support operations (MISO), to reflect a broader range of activities and the existing Military Information Support Teams consisting of PSYOP personnel deployed at U.S. embassies overseas. Joint Publication 3-13.2 replaced the term PSYOP with MISO to 'more accurately reflect and convey the nature of planned peacetime or combat operations activities.' The name change reportedly caused administrative confusion, and the services are beginning to revert to the PSYOP label."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Theohary, Catherine A.
2020-12-15
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Defense Primer: Naval Forces [Updated December 15, 2020]
From the Document: "Although the term 'naval forces' is often used to refer specifically to Navy forces, it more properly refers to both Navy and Marine Corps forces, because both the Navy and Marine Corps are naval services. For further discussion, see 'Defense Primer: Department of the Navy.' For a discussion of the Marine Corps that focuses on its organization as a ground-combat force, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] In Focus IF10571, Defense Primer: 'Organization of U.S. Ground Forces', by Barbara Salazar Torreon and Andrew Feickert. U.S. naval forces give the United States the ability to convert the world's oceans--a global commons that covers more than two-thirds of the planet's surface--into a medium of maneuver and operations for projecting U.S. power ashore and otherwise defending U.S. interests around the world. The ability to use the world's oceans in this manner--and to deny other countries the use of the world's oceans for taking actions against U.S. interests--constitutes an immense asymmetric advantage for the United States. As discussed elsewhere (see 'Defense Primer: Geography, Strategy, and U.S. Force Design'), the size and composition of U.S. naval forces reflect the position of the United States as a Western Hemisphere power with a goal of preventing the emergence of regional hegemons in Eurasia. As a result, the U.S. Navy includes significant numbers of aircraft carriers, nuclear-powered attack submarines, large surface combatants, large amphibious ships, and underway replenishment ships."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2020-12-15
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Federal Employee Furloughs: Types and Implications [December 15, 2020]
From the Document: "Federal employees perform complex duties in pursuit of the diverse missions of their agencies. Some outcomes of the federal budget process have significant implications for employees. Among other impacts, certain budgetary situations may result in employee furloughs (i.e., placement in temporary non-duty, non-pay status because of lack of work or funds). Furloughs affect how agencies perform their missions and may affect the well-being of employees. This 'In Focus' discusses the two types of furloughs as well as related procedures, case studies, and some potential issues for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Riccard, Taylor N.
2020-12-15
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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance [Updated December 15, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The majority of funding in the United States for both pre- and post-disaster mitigation comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which defines mitigation as 'any sustained action to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards and their effects.' Mitigation actions have a long-term impact, as opposed to actions associated with immediate preparedness, response, and recovery activities. Mitigation has been shown to save money. A recent study by the Multihazard Mitigation Council found that society saves $6 for every dollar spent on mitigation funded through major federal mitigation grants. FEMA administers three hazard mitigation grant programs, which it collectively refers to as Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA): [1] the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP); [2] the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Program; [3] the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program, replaced by Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC). Eligible applicants include state and local governments and federally-recognized tribes. Certain nonprofit organizations may apply for HMGP. Individuals may not apply for HMA funding, but they may benefit from a community application. Applicants to all three programs must have FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plans. Eligible activities differ for the three programs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2020-12-15
