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Latin America and the Caribbean: Impact of COVID-19 [Updated August 14, 2020]
From the Document: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having widespread economic, social, and political effects on Latin America and the Caribbean, a region with strong congressional interest because of deep U.S. linkages."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Taft-Morales, Maureen; Seelke, Clare Ribando; Meyer, Peter J. . . .
2020-08-14
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COVID-19: The Federal Reserve's Municipal Liquidity Facility [August 14, 2020]
From the Document: "State and local (municipal) governments issue debt (often called bonds) for a variety of purposes, including infrastructure construction. In April 2020, the Federal Reserve (Fed) announced the creation of the Municipal Liquidity Facility (MLF) to ease pressures in municipal debt markets caused by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Pressures eased around the time the MLF was announced.One municipality has used the MLF to date."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Driessen, Grant A.; Labonte, Marc
2020-08-14
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Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated August 14, 2020]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN) aircraft carrier program. The Navy's proposed FY2021 budget requests $2,714.2 million (i.e., about $2.7 billion) in procurement funding for the program. Congress's decisions on the CVN-78 program could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2020-08-14
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Tajikistan [Updated August 14, 2020]
From the Overview: "Tajikistan is a landlocked country that borders four other states, including China and Afghanistan, and maintains close ties with Russia. Formerly a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan became independent in 1991. The country's long border with Afghanistan and the specter of spreading regional instability draw interest in Tajikistan from China, Russia, and the United States. Because Tajikistan depends heavily on remittances, primarily from Russia, the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) pandemic is causing significant economic strain. Tajikistan is also becoming increasingly dependent on China, which is Tajikistan's largest foreign creditor and is building up a security presence in the country. Tajikistan has faced incidents of violence attributed to the Islamic State (IS), but the government also uses the prospect of insurgent activity as a pretext for stifling opposition. President Emomali Rahmon and his family control the government and significant sectors of the economy, and corruption is pervasive."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blackwood, Maria A.
2020-08-14
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U.S. Agency for International Development: An Overview [Updated August 14, 2020]
From the Background: "The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is the lead international humanitarian and development arm of the U.S. government. Its programs support U.S. political and strategic aims by providing assistance to strategically important countries and countries in conflict; leading global efforts to alleviate poverty, disease, and humanitarian need; and assisting U.S. commercial interests by furthering developing countries' economic growth and building these countries' capacity to participate in world trade."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morgenstern, Emily M.
2020-08-14
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Counter-Drug Operations (Fiscal Year 2020 Report to Congress)
From the Legislative Language: "This document responds to direction in House Report 116-180 accompanying the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act (P.L. 116-93). House Report 116-180 states: Counter-Drug Operations.--The Committee directs the Department to provide a report, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, on its counter-drug operations and efforts to address operational needs in the transit zone and throughout the Caribbean basin, specifically in and around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2020-08-14
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COVID-19 International Responses: Resources for Comparison with U.S. Policies [August 14, 2020]
From the Document: "This Insight presents selected resources and CRS [Congressional Research Service] products that may be useful for Congress as it compares U.S. responses to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with other countries' responses. COVID-19 emerged in China in late 2019 and has since spread around the globe, infecting millions and leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths. Since it emerged, the pandemic epicenter has shifted from China to several countries in Europe and then across the western hemisphere, including Brazil and the United States. In addition to the high counts of illness and death, COVID-19 has prompted a global economic recession with varying impacts on countries worldwide, according to the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The U.S. economy, as measured by gross domestic product, contracted at an annual rate of 32.9% in the second quarter of 2020. In the United States, unemployment also became widespread, with close to 18 million jobless (11.1% of workers) and more than 30 million Americans receiving unemployment benefits as of July 30, 2020."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fischer, Hannah; Tharakan, Sara M.
2020-08-14
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COVID-19: OSHA Needs to Improve Its Handling of Whistleblower Complaints During the Pandemic
From the Document: "As part of Phase 1 of the OIG's [Office of the Inspector General] Pandemic Oversight Response Plan, we conducted this audit to answer the following question: What impact have COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] whistleblower complaints had on OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration], and how has OSHA addressed COVID-19 whistleblower complaints? To answer this question, we conducted interviews, reviewed internal notifications, and analyzed whistleblower complaint data."
United States. Department of Labor. Office of the Inspector General
2020-08-14
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COVID-19 Minority Health Strike Force Blueprint
From the Document: "The purpose of this blueprint is to provide actionable recommendations to both eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and other health outcomes and improve overall well-being for communities of color in Ohio. Prompted by the deep-seated health inequities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this blueprint goes beyond the current crisis to establish a vision of Ohio as a model of justice, equity, opportunity, and resilience to withstand future challenges. Developed by the COVID-19 Minority Health Strike Force with input from many community members around the state, the 35 actionable recommendations in this blueprint serve as a roadmap for the administration of Governor Mike DeWine to advance health equity in partnership with state, local and community officials in Ohio."
Ohio. Department of Health
2020-08-13?
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CARES Act Payroll Support to Air Carriers and Contractors [August 13, 2020]
From the Document: "The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136), signed into law on March 27, 2020, provided assistance to consumers and businesses, including aid to air carriers and eligible contractors. Emergency funds also were provided to eligible airports. Assistance to air carriers in Division A, Title IV of the CARES Act included loans and loan guarantees, funds to support the pay and benefits of air carrier workers, and a suspension of aviation excise taxes on air transport of people, cargo, and aviation fuel through calendar year 2020. This Insight focuses on the payroll support program (PSP)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tang, Rachel Y.
2020-08-13
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EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 20 Issue 33, August 13, 2020
The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "Newly released 2020 Emergency Response Guidebook now available"; "NTAC [National Threat Assessment Center] publishes report Mass Attacks in Public Spaces - 2019"; "TRACIE [Technical Resources, Assistance Center, Information Exchange] adds resources to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Workforce Virtual Toolkit"; "TRANSCAER [Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response] Seconds Count video series tackles rail hazmat incidents"; and "Cyber Threats."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2020-08-13
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DRAFT Landscape of COVID-19 Candidate Vaccines
This document details 29 candidate vaccines in clinical evaluation during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
World Health Organization
2020-08-13
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HSI Effectively Contributes to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, but Partnering Agreements Could Be Improved (REDACTED)
From the Document: "A top priority of DHS is to protect America from terrorism. However, the FBI is the lead law enforcement agency in combatting terrorism and maintaining operational oversight of the JTTF [Joint Terrorism Task Force]. As such, ICE's [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] HSI [Homeland Security Investigations] has allied with the FBI's JTTF to carry out the counterterrorism mission. We conducted this audit to determine if ICE HSI is effectively contributing to the FBI's JTTF."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2020-08-13
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DHS Has Made Progress in Meeting DATA Act Requirements, But Challenges Remain
From the Document: "The DATA [Digital Accountability and Transparency] Act required the Office of Inspector General to review a statistically valid sample of DHS' fiscal year 2019 first quarter (FY 2019/Q1) spending data posted on USAspending.gov, and submit to Congress a report assessing the data's completeness, accuracy, timeliness, and quality, as well as DHS' implementation and use of government-wide financial data standards."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2020-08-13
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Social Security Disability: Information on Wait Times, Bankruptcies, and Deaths Among Applicants Who Appealed Benefit Denials
From the Document: "The Social Security Administration (SSA) manages two large disability benefit programs, Disability Insurance (DI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). In fiscal year 2019, these programs received more than 2.34 million applications and provided about $185 billion in benefits; as of December 2019, approximately 12.3 million adults with disabilities and their eligible dependents received benefits. SSA uses a five-step process to determine if an applicant qualifies for disability benefits. An applicant who is dissatisfied with the initial determination on their disability benefits application can appeal the decision to multiple escalating levels of review. From fiscal years 2008 through 2019, SSA received approximately 9 million appeals of initial DI or SSI decisions. We have previously reported that applicants who appeal a benefits denial can potentially wait years to receive a final decision, during which time an applicant's health or financial situation could deteriorate."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-08-13
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Epidemiological Alert: COVID-19 During Pregnancy
From the Document: "Recently published results and studies based on COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] surveillance data have indicated an increased risk among pregnant women of presenting with severe forms of COVID-19 and, therefore, of being hospitalized and admitted to intensive care units (ICU). The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) requests that Member States intensify efforts to ensure access to prenatal care services, as well as to implement preventive measures to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 across all levels of the health system, in order to maintain the commitment to reducing maternal and perinatal mortality and the progress achieved to date."
Pan American Health Organization
2020-08-13
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S. Rept. 116-259: A Bill to Improve Provisions of Law Relating to Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for Other Purposes, Report to Accompany S. 2782, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, August 13, 2020
From the Purpose of the Bill: "The purpose of S. 2782, as reported, is to improve provisions of law relating to sexual harassment and assault prevention at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-08-13
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Vaccines and Anti-Vaxxers, the Challenge of Transparent Communication: Science Versus Skepticism, Fear and Financial Speculation
From the Introduction: "In the history of public health, drinking water and vaccines are recognized as two great contributions toward for disease prevention for humanity. Without a doubt, vaccination considerably reduces morbidity, disability, mortality and inequality around the world, reducing poverty and closing gaps in social inequality. However, some skeptics, with no scientific basis, have become part of an anti-vaccine movement. [...] The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified anti-vaccine movements as a threat to the progress attained to date in fighting preventable diseases. Despite the scientific evidence that proves the efficacy and need for vaccines, the anti-vaccine movement has attracted great attention by promoting unfounded theories that some people find credible. For these followers and others, fear of mortal diseases has been replaced by fear of vaccines' secondary effects and the mistrust inspired by vaccination conspiracy theories. In fact, in a recent communication, the WHO and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned of an alarming decline in vaccine use and the corresponding negative impact on public health."
IDEAS LLYC
Romero, Alejandro; Marín, Javier
2020-08-13
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Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Situation Report - 206
From the Document: "[1] There have been notable achievements made by Azerbaijan in their response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. To further boost its response to the ongoing pandemic, a team of WHO [World Health Organization] experts has recommended that the country strengthen contact tracing and testing. [2] Access to basic handwashing facilities is a key condition for schools to be able to operate safely in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet the latest data from the WHO/UNICEF [United Nations Children's Fund] Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) found that 43% of schools worldwide lacked access to basic handwashing with soap and water in 2019. [3] More than 2800 community health workers have been trained in Haiti as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and meetings have been conducted with community leaders to provide them with accurate information about COVID-19. All of these efforts provide muchneeded support to the Ministry of Health and the country's Multisectoral Pandemic Management Commission of COVID-19."
World Health Organization
2020-08-13
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Modeling the Onset of Symptoms of COVID-19
From the Document: "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] is a pandemic viral disease with catastrophic global impact. This disease is more contagious than influenza such that cluster outbreaks occur frequently. If patients with symptoms quickly underwent testing and contact tracing, these outbreaks could be contained. Unfortunately, COVID-19 patients have symptoms similar to other common illnesses. Here, we hypothesize the order of symptom occurrence could help patients and medical professionals more quickly distinguish COVID-19 from other respiratory diseases, yet such essential information is largely unavailable. [...] Our model predicts that influenza initiates with cough, whereas COVID-19 like other coronavirus-related diseases initiates with fever. However, COVID-19 differs from SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] and MERS [Middle East respiratory syndrome] in the order of gastrointestinal symptoms. Our results support the notion that fever should be used to screen for entry into facilities as regions begin to reopen after the outbreak of Spring 2020. Additionally, our findings suggest that good clinical practice should involve recording the order of symptom occurrence in COVID-19 and other diseases."
Frontiers in Public Health
Larsen, Joseph R.; Martin, Margaret R.; Martin, John D. . . .
2020-08-13
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Considerations for Systematic Screening PK-12: Universal Screening for Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors in the COVID-19 Era [presentation]
This presentation provides an overview of the following: "[1] Introducing Ci3T [Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-Tiered Model of Prevention]; [...] [2] The Role of Screening: Using Screening Data to Shape Instruction; [...] [3] Considerations for Screening PK-12 [pre-kindergarten to 12th grade] in the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Era; [and 4] Planning for Next Steps[.]"
Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network
Lane, Kathleen Lynne
2020-08-13
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AAF Exchange -- Ep. 43: The Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis (Pt.20) [audio]
From the Webpage: "From the status of unemployment benefits to the likely impact of a payroll tax deferral, AAF [American Action Forum] President Douglas Holtz-Eakin walks us through the latest economic news--including Russia's claim to have a COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccine." The duration of the audio is 21 minutes and 47 seconds.
American Action Forum
2020-08-13
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Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress [August 13, 2020]
From the Introduction: "This report presents background information and issues for Congress concerning the Navy's force structure and shipbuilding plans. The current and planned size and composition of the Navy, the annual rate of Navy ship procurement, the capacity of the naval shipbuilding industry, and the prospective affordability of the Navy's shipbuilding plans have been oversight matters for the congressional defense committees for many years. [...] The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's proposed FY2021 shipbuilding program and the Navy's longer-term shipbuilding plans. Decisions that Congress makes on this issue can substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2020-08-13
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Members' Representational Allowance: History and Usage [Updated August 13, 2020]
From the Summary: "Members of the House of Representatives have one consolidated allowance, the Members' Representational Allowance (MRA), with which to operate their offices. The MRA was first authorized in 1996 and was made subject to regulations and adjustments of the Committee on House Administration. Representatives have a high degree of flexibility to use the MRA to operate their offices in a way that supports their congressional duties and responsibilities, and individual office spending may be as varied as the districts Members represent. [...] This report provides a history and overview of the MRA and examines spending patterns in recent years."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Brudnick, Ida A.
2020-08-13
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EPA's Affordable Clean Energy Rule and Related Issues: Frequently Asked Questions [August 13, 2020]
From the Document: "In 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed its reconsideration of a Clean Air Act (CAA) rule-making for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from existing fossil-fuel-fired power plants. Specifically, the agency repealed the Clean Power Plan (CPP) and promulgated new guidelines for coal-fired power plants in the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule. EPA based these actions on its conclusion that the CPP exceeded CAA authority by using measures that applied to the power sector as a whole rather than measures implemented at an individual facility. EPA also promulgated new general regulations to implement the ACE rule and any future emission guidelines issued under CAA Section 111(d)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Shouse, Kate C.; Tsang, Linda; Ramseur, Jonathan L.
2020-08-13
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Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) [Updated August 13, 2020]
From the Summary: "A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged account that individuals can use to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses (e.g., deductibles, co-payments, coinsurance, and services not covered by insurance). Although eligibility to contribute to an HSA is associated with enrollment in high-deductible health insurance plans (HDHPs), HSAs are a trust/custodial account and are not health insurance. HSAs have several tax advantages: individual contributions are tax deductible unless made through a cafeteria plan; employer contributions and individual contributions made through a cafeteria plan are excluded from taxable income and from Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment insurance taxes; account earnings are tax exempt; and withdrawals are not taxed if used for qualified medical expenses."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rosso, Ryan J.
2020-08-13
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Immigration: Public Charge [Updated August 13, 2020]
From the Document: "Immigration law in the United States has long contained exclusion and removal provisions designed to limit government spending on indigent non-U.S. nationals. (Non-U.S. nationals are referred to as aliens in immigration law.) Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), an alien may be denied admission into the United States or lawful permanent resident (LPR) status if he or she is 'likely at any time to become a public charge' (8 U.S.C. §1182(a)(4)). An admitted alien may also be subject to removal from the United States based on a separate public charge ground of deportability, but this is rarely employed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kolker, Abigail F.
2020-08-13
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Prospects for Enhanced U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Energy Cooperation Overview [Updated August 13, 2020]
From the Overview: "U.S. companies have provided proposals to Saudi authorities in relation to a planned tender for nuclear reactor construction in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom's nuclear energy program remains nascent, and, in recent years, the Saudi government has entered into agreements concerning possible civil nuclear cooperation with several countries (Table 1). In July 2017 the Saudi cabinet approved a National Project for Atomic Energy, including plans to build large and small nuclear reactors for electricity production and desalination amid a larger effort to diversify the Saudi economy and expand the use of renewable energy. Saudi authorities expressed hopes of signing contracts for reactor construction in 2018, but did not do so. Depending on its nature and extent, future U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation may require executive branch authorizations and/or congressional approval of bilateral agreements. Saudi plans also are fueling debate in Congress over regional nuclear proliferation and security dynamics."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kerr, Paul K.; Blanchard, Christopher M.
2020-08-13
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OSHA Jurisdiction Over Public Schools and Other State and Local Government Entities [August 13, 2020]
From the Document: "As states and their public school systems consider how to provide education to students during the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, they must consider the safety and health of their students and the potential occupational exposure of their teachers and other employees, including support staff and transportation providers, to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the virus that causes COVID-19. In 24 states and the District of Columbia, local educational agencies (LEAs), such as public school districts, and other state and local government entities are not subject to federal regulation, inspection, or enforcement by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or state regulation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act). LEAs in these states may be covered by OSHA-approved state occupational safety and health plans (state plans) or other state laws."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Szymendera, Scott
2020-08-13
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Office of Federal Financial Management: An Overview [August 13, 2020]
From the Introduction: "In an effort to improve federal financial management, Congress established the Office of Federal Financial Management (OFFM). A component of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), OFFM centralizes the development and implementation of financial management policies, reviews agency audit reports, and leads the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Council, among other statutory responsibilities. Given its central role in managing financial management improvements across the executive branch, OFFM's structure and policy focus, as well as the effectiveness of its activities, may raise issues for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fiorentino, Dominick A.
2020-08-13
