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• President's Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE)

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  From the Document: "In response to a severe and urgent crisis, the President of the United States of America is announcing the President's Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE) to support developing countries and communities in vulnerable situations around the world in their efforts to adapt to and manage the impacts of climate change. These impacts are already being felt, making investments in developing countries' climate resilience more urgent than ever. The President will work with Congress to provide $3 billion in adaptation finance annually for PREPARE by FY2024. It is the largest U.S. commitment ever made to reduce climate impacts on those most vulnerable to climate change worldwide. PREPARE will serve as the cornerstone of the U.S. government response to operationalizing the President's pledge and addressing the increasing impacts of the global climate crisis. PREPARE activates a coordinated, whole-of-government approach and will serve as the framework that brings together the diplomatic, development, and technical expertise of the United States to help more than half a billion people in developing countries adapt to and manage the impacts of climate change by 2030, to track with the timeline for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. Through PREPARE, the United States will respond to partner countries' priorities, strengthen cooperation with other donors, integrate climate risk considerations into multilateral efforts, and strive to mobilize significant private sector capital for adaptation. As a result, PREPARE will help save lives and livelihoods, support sustainable and healthy communities and ecosystems, and reduce the impacts of climate change."

  United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary

  2021-11-01?
• Research Brief: Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Related Restrictions on Homicide and Property Crime

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  From the Introduction: "Over the course of just a few weeks during the first few months of 2020, the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic radically changed the nature of social interaction and economic activity in all regions across the world. By the first week of April 2020, 3.9 billion people - more than half the global population - were under some form of lockdown. In the months that followed, countries enforced a broad spectrum of restrictions, adjusting and readjusting their response in accordance with the course of the pandemic. These ongoing changes are affecting all aspects of life, with crime being no exception. This research brief is aimed at providing initial observations about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on four types of crime: homicide, robbery, theft and burglary. Based on ongoing data collection launched by UNODC [United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime] in March 2020, trends before and after lockdown measures were introduced are compared in order to assess whether the measures have had a significant impact on those crimes. The possible longer-term impact of the emerging global economic crisis on the same forms of crime is also discussed."

  United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

  2020-12-10?
• Safe Drinking Water, Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Public Health and Environment of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Ninety-Second Congress, First Session, May 24, 25 and 26, 1971

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  These are the May 24, 25, and 26, 1971 hearings on "Safe Drinking Water," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Public Health and Environment of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. The hearings contained in this document discuss the following H.R. Bills: "H.R. 1093 and H.R. 5454: Bills to Amend the Public Health Service Act to Provide the Public with an Adequate Quantity of Safe Water for Drinking, Recreation, and Other Human Uses, and for Other Purposes"; and "H.R. 437: A Bill to Improve and Implement Programs to Assure that United States Residents Have Adequate Quantities of Safe Drinking Water by Protecting Them From Chemical, Biological, and Physical Contaminates in Public Water Systems Which May Adversely Affect Their Health."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1971
• New York City Blackout of July 13, 1977, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Ninety-Fifth Congress, First Session, October 13, 1977

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  This is the October 13, 1977 hearing on "New York City Blackout of July 13, 1977," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. From the opening statement of John D. Dingell: "This is the first of the hearings to be held by the Energy and Power Subcommittee into the blackout of the electric system of the Consolidated Edison Co. of New York that occurred on July 13 and 14 of this year. This is the second of major blackouts in recent times involving that company and that geographic area of the United States which has taken place in recent times. The blackout raised a number of issues of grave importance to this subcommittee and to the Congress as a whole. Because of the importance of New York City as a hub of national and international banking, commerce, communications and transportation, the events that occurred on the evening of July 13 in Westchester County, N.Y. and New York City had a serious national and perhaps even international impact. The subcommittee has had its staff inquire into this matter and the subcommittee is now preparing a detailed study of that impact. The blackout also raised very important questions about the adequacy of voluntary and State and Federal regulatory mechanisms for resolving problems vital to assuring reliability in the Nation's electric power systems." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Leon A. Allen, William J. Balet, Carolyn K. Brancato, Norman M. Clapp, Charles B. Curtis, Evan Davis, Ed Fowlkes, Daniel Goldstein, William W. Lindsay, Rolland A. Merrill Jr., Ira M. Millstein, and John R. Vogel.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1978
• NRC and ERDA Nuclear 'MUF' Data, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Ninety-Fifth Congress, First Session, August 8, 1977

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  This is the August 8, 1977 hearing on "NRC [Nuclear Regulatory Commission] and ERDA [Energy Research and Development Administration] Nuclear 'MUF' Data," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce House. From the opening statement of John D. Dingell: "Last Thursday the Energy Research and Development Administration and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission publicly released figures on how much special nuclear material is presently unaccounted for at facilities under their jurisdiction. This data is normally referred to as 'MUF.' We meet today to evaluate the usefulness of this information in detecting and preventing a possible theft or diversion of this material, which can so easily be made into a bomb." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Robert W. Fri, Edward Giller, Lee V. Gossick, Harvey E. Lyon, and Alfred D. Starbird.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1978
• EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 45, November 11, 2021

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  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: "Forest Service releases Reset: Firefighter and Family Members' Reintegration Guide"; "FEMA requests feedback on 24 fire management and suppression resource typing documents"; "Planning for soft target security: Week 2 of Infrastructure Security Month"; "Webinar: Next Generation Healthcare Coalitions - Learning and Evolving from COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]"; and "Cyber Threats."

  Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)

  2021-11-11
• Dangerous Link Between Social Media, Misinformation, and Vaccination Rates [infographic]

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  From the image: "A new study provides irrefutable evidence that people who rely on social media for information about COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] are much more likely to believe misinformation about the virus, and much less likely to be vaccinated. [...] Poll among a sample of 3,000 adults, conducted September 20-22, 2021 by Morning Consult on behalf of the de Beaumont Foundation and Dr. Frank Luntz. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on gender, educational attainment, age, race, and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points." For more information, visit changingthecovidconversation.org

  de Beaumont Foundation

  2021-09?
• How Conspiracists Exploited COVID-19 Science

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  From the Document: "Instead of envisioning an untidy world filled with randomness, unintended consequences, innocent action gone awry and new evidence, conspiracists envision one that is inhabited by powerful individuals who conceal malign activities and intent. The fluid nature of emergent science provides fuel for conspiracy theorists who offer certainty in place of the provisional, sometimes-updated statements of health experts. At the same time, conspiracy proponents question the trustworthiness and motives of those in the federal agencies, philanthropic institutions and pharmaceutical companies who fund basic research and develop, deliver and, in the case of some of the federal agencies, regulate public access to medical treatments, including vaccines. Filtering the world through these lenses, during the pandemic conspiracists have drawn on and manipulated statements and actions by public health experts, such as Dr Anthony Fauci (director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases), on topics that range from mask wearing and COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] treatments to vaccine safety and the funding of coronavirus research. Understanding the susceptibilities that conspiracists exploit should help us to identify ways to better safeguard both the trustworthiness of health science and public trust in it."

  Springer Nature (Firm)

  Jamieson, Kathleen Hall

  2021-11-01
• Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Indian Affairs of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, United States Senate, Ninety-Third Congress, Second Session, April 3 and 5, 1974

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  These are the April 3 and 5, 1974 hearings on "Indian Health Care Improvement Act," held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Indian Affairs of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. From the opening statement of Henry M. Jackson: "We open hearings today on one of the most sadly neglected problems in our country--the health of Native Americans. The concern that this committee feels about Indian health is reflected by the wide spectrum of support for S. 2938 received from both the majority and minority members and the admittedly unusual step of convening the full committee to hear testimony. Another unusual step is hearing first from public witnesses. I am frankly growing tired of the administration witnesses presenting long opening statements on pressing problems of our society urging inaction and presenting no positive alternatives. We will hear first from those best qualified to outline the problem of Indian health; the Indians themselves. We will then hear from knowledgeable professionals in the field of Indian health. After receiving testimony from these witnesses, we shall then ask the administration to respond on April 11. As yet, they have not announced their position on S. 2938. Perhaps, if they learn of the compelling needs that will be outlined in the next several days, they might come forth with more than the usual song of 'we don't need any legislation because we are already working on the problem.' I remain hopeful that we may start to see some positive initiatives from this administration."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1974
• Water Resources Development Act of 1979, Part 2, Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Water Resources of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, Ninety-Sixth Congress, First Session, June 19, 26, and July 24, 1979

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  These are the June 19, 26, and July 24, 1979 hearings on "Water Resources Development Act of 1979 (Part 2)," held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Water Resources of the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The hearings contained in this document discuss the following Senate Bills: "S. 703: A Bill Authorizing the Construction, Repair, and Preservation of Certain Public Works on Rivers and Harbors for Navigation, Flood Control, and For Other Purposes,"; and "S. 1241: A Bill to Authorize the National Water Resources Policy and Development Act of 1979, to Direct the Water Resources Council to Act as the Coordinating Body for a Program of Water Resources Assistance to the States." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Charles I. McGinnis, Cecil D. Andrus, Lee Rogers, Frederick J. Clarke, Martin Gold, Ben Warner, Richard D. Lamm, Gerald H. Meral, Steve E. Reynolds, and James Stanley.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1979
• Health Services for Migratory and Seasonal Agricultural Workers, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Public Health and Welfare of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Ninety-First Congress, First Session, September 29, 1969

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  This is the September 29, 1969 hearing on "Health Services for Migratory and Seasonal Agricultural Workers," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Public Health and Welfare of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. From the opening statement of John Jarman: "Approximately 1 million Americans and their families move from place to place throughout the United States during the crop season in response to needs for agricultural labor. Because of low income, lack of education, and lack of eligibility for health care, the health needs of this group of Americans are among the most acute in the Nation." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John W. Cashman, James H. Cavanaugh, Roger O. Egeberg, Hele L. Johnston, Carl L. Brumback, and William J. Dougherty.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1969
• Accountability for Sexual Assault Aboard Airplanes: An Analysis of the Need for Reporting Requirements at 35,000 Feet

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  From the Abstract: "Currently, airlines have no legal duty to report an in-flight sexual assault to law enforcement. This lack of a duty to report hinders investigations, prevents victims from receiving closure, and imposes additional liability on air carriers. This Comment suggests imposing a mandatory and uniform reporting requirement on commercial airlines. This requirement would better assist travelers and help limit airlines' liability for in-flight sexual assault. By examining the purposes and policies of other mandated reporting laws, it is apparent that the airline industry is an apt place to instill a duty to report. Requiring airlines to report inflight sexual assault would follow the current trend of making reporting requirements commonplace in the professional and corporate spheres. Pending legislation on this topic has significant shortcomings, but this Comment argues that it is nonetheless important and should be expanded in the near future."

  Southern Methodist University

  George, Madison L.

  2020
• Preventing Violence in American Cities with Safer Alcohol Sales: Tools Cities Can Use to Address Increasing Alcohol Use and Violence Since the Onset of COVID-19

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  From the Issue: "Alcohol consumption has been rising in the U.S. since the turn of the century, along with alcohol-related harms. On average, alcohol use contributes to 104,000 deaths per year in the U.S., including 47% of homicides, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates. Alcohol problems cost the U.S. $249 billion in 2010, the last year for which an estimate is available. Alcohol is the number one drug used by young people, and every year approximately 3,500 people under 21 die because of alcohol use. Prior to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, negative consequences of alcohol use were rising: Alcohol-specific death rates increased 55% from 2000 to 2016, emergency department visits involving alcohol consumption grew by 62% from 2006 to 2014, and the age-adjusted death rate for alcoholic liver disease, an indicator of excessive use, rose by 37.2% from 2000 to 2017. Newer data show that the rates of alcohol sales and binge drinking have increased sharply since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic."

  CityHealth

  2021-03-01?
• Operation Warp Speed: The Interagency and Public-Private Collaborations that Drove It [video]

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  From the video description: "In this webinar from the Council on Strategic Risks, Christine Parthemore and Andy Weber host Dr. Matt Hepburn and Dr. Monique K. Mansoura to discuss Operation Warp Speed and how [to] build on its success in the future." Operation Warp Speed is a program funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and originally launched by the U.S. government (as a public-private partnership) to oversee and speed up the development and distribution of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines and treatments. The duration of this video is 58 minutes and 47 seconds. Closed captioning and an auto-generated transcript are available for use.

  Council on Strategic Risks

  Parthemore, Christine; Weber, Andy; Hepburn, Matthew J. . . .

  2021-10-27
• Water Resources Development Act of 1979 Part 1, Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Water Resources of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, Ninety-Sixth Congress, First Session, June 12, 13 and 18, 1979

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  These are the June 12,13 and 18, 1979 hearings on "Water Resources Development Act of 1979 Part 1," held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Water Resources of the Committee on Environment and Public Works. From the Opening Statement of Mike Gravel: "This morning the Subcommittee on Water Resources will begin a series of hearings leading to a water resources development bill of 1979. The basis of these hearings today and tomorrow is S. 703, which I introduced along with several of my colleagues, and other water resources legislation introduced in the Senate this session. [...] [A] large number of water resources projects have become backlogged themselves in several events. [...] We have had disastrous flooding that has occurred in several locations around the country. Urban and agricultural water supply remains a critical problem. National energy needs dictate the development of hydroelectric potential. Today and tomorrow we will hear from our colleagues in the Senate and House as well as the general public." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Brent Blackwelder, Bill D. Burlison, James Fish, John Heinz, Thom Inglehart, Richard L. Ottinger, Donald Stewart, Paul E. Trimble, Baltasar Corrada, David Bonior, Rudy Boschwitz, Arthur J. Brosius, Lawton Chiles, Dave Durenberger, Thomas F. Eagleton, Joseph J. Ellam, M. T. Epling, J. James Exon, Robert L. Gray, Mark O. Hatfield, William Hull, James Jontz, Russel B. Long, Walter A. Lyon, Warren Magnuson, Francis X. McArdle, Timothy R. Murphy, Alfred Oberman, Arthur Parker, Nick Joe Rahall, Al Rice, Nichlas RoomyRichard L. Schultz, Paul Sheffield, Earl Sibley, Henry E. Soike, Fred Stutsman, Wilbur E. Ternyik, Mason Vansant, Edward Zorinsky, Henry Bellmon, Tim Lee Carter, Steve Cawood, Truman Chafin, John B. DuPuy, Larry W. George, Jackson O. Hall, Walter D. Huddleston, Carl D. Perkins, and Nicholas Zvegintzov.

  United States. Government Publishing Office
• Interpersonal Violence in the Department of the Air Force: Findings of the Interpersonal Violence Task Force

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  From the Document: "In July 2020, the Secretary of the Air Force (SecAF) directed the formation of an Interpersonal Violence Task Force to examine whether the Department of the Air Force (DAF) was keeping Airmen and Guardians safe from interpersonal violence (IPV). This was, in part, triggered by tragedies involving U.S. service members [...]. In both cases, the victims had reportedly experienced IPV immediately prior to their deaths. [...] In the aftermath of these tragedies, the DAF community wanted to better understand the dynamics that led to these deaths and determine whether additional measures were needed to keep Airmen and Guardians safe when faced with the potential for ongoing IPV situations. [...] The task force designed and administered an anonymous, online survey to the entire DAF-- Active Duty, Guard, Reserves, and civilians--over a six-week period during fall 2020 [...] Overall, 54% of individuals who took the survey indicated experiencing at least one behavior the task force categorized as falling within a type of IPV[.]"

  United States. Department of the Air Force

  2021-09-30?
• MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, November 12, 2021

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  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 articles: "Progress Toward Regional Measles Elimination -- Worldwide, 2000-2020"; "HIV Prevention Program Eligibility Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women -- Namibia, 2019"; "Influenza Vaccinations During the COVID-19 [coronavirus 2019] Pandemic -- 11 U.S. Jurisdictions, September-December 2020"; "The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' Interim Recommendation for Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in Children Aged 5-11 Years -- United States, November 2021"; and "Notes from the Field: Childhood Lead Poisoning Associated with Turmeric Spices -- Las Vegas, 2019." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from MMWR can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].

  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)

  2021-11-12
• Assessment of COVID-19-Related Immigration Concerns Among Latinx Immigrants in the US

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  From the Key Points: "'Question'[:] What proportions of Latinx immigrants endorse statements about the immigration ramifications of engaging in COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]-related testing, treatment, and contact tracing? 'Findings'[:] In this survey study of 336 adult Latinx immigrants in the US, 89 participants (27%) believed that hospital emergency departments provided the only source for COVID-19-related testing or treatment for uninsured immigrants. A total of 106 participants (32%) agreed that using public COVID-19-related testing and treatment services could jeopardize an individual's immigration prospects; 96 participants (29%) and 114 participants (34%), respectively, would not identify an undocumented household member or coworker during contact tracing. 'Meaning'[:] These results suggest that substantial proportions of Latinx immigrants have immigration concerns about engaging in COVID-19-related testing, treatment, and contact tracing."

  JAMA Network

  Galletly, Carol L.; Lechuga, Julia; Dickson-Gomez, Julia, 1969- . . .

  2021-07-19
• National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin [November 10, 2021]

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  This is the November 10, 2021 National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin released by the Department of Homeland Security. From the Document: "The Secretary of Homeland Security has issued an updated National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin regarding the current heightened threat environment across the United States. The Homeland continues to face a diverse and challenging threat environment as it approaches several religious holidays and associated mass gatherings that in the past have served as potential targets for acts of violence. These threats include those posed by individuals and small groups engaged in violence, including domestic violent extremists (DVEs) and those inspired or motivated by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences. These actors continue to exploit online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity. The ongoing global pandemic continues to exacerbate these threats, in part due to perceived government overreach in implementation of public health safety measures. Further, foreign terrorist organizations and DVEs continue to attempt to inspire potential followers to conduct attacks in the United States, including by exploiting recent events in Afghanistan. As of November 10, 2021, DHS is not aware of an imminent and credible threat to a specific location in the United States. [...] [1] Be prepared for emergency situations and remain aware of circumstances that may place you at risk. [2] Maintain digital media literacy [hyperlink] to recognize and build resilience to false and harmful narratives. [3] Make note of your surroundings and the nearest security personnel. [4] Government agencies will provide details about emerging threats as information is identified. Listen to local authorities and public safety officials."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2021-11-10
• Lessons Learnt from the COVID-19 Pandemic from a Financial Stability Perspective: Final Report

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  From the Introduction: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic is the first major test of the global financial system after the financial crisis of 2008. While the core of the financial system - including major banks and financial market infrastructures (FMIs) - proved resilient, the macroeconomic shock led initially to severe liquidity stress in some other parts of the system. In particular, the stress in key funding markets highlighted financial vulnerabilities in parts of the NBFI [non-bank financial intermediation] sector and prompted unprecedented central bank intervention. While significantly different in nature from the 2008 crisis, this real-life test holds important lessons for financial policy, especially on the functioning of the G20 [Group of 20] financial regulatory reforms. Against this background, the Italian G20 Presidency asked the FSB [Financial Stability Board] to identify preliminary lessons for financial stability from the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this request, the FSB, in collaboration with SSBs, prepared an interim report on lessons learnt. [...] This final report updates the assessment provided in the July interim report and outlines actions by the FSB and SSBs [standard-setting bodies] in response to lessons learnt. The update reflects feedback from external stakeholders and the FSB RCGs [Regional Consultative Groups], obtained through outreach events. It also takes into account recent studies in this area and progress made in relevant international initiatives."

  Financial Stability Board

  2021-10-28
• Reopening California: Seeking Robust, Nondominated COVID-19 Exit Strategies

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  From the Abstract: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic required significant public health interventions from local governments. Although nonpharmaceutical interventions often were implemented as decision rules, few studies evaluated the robustness of those reopening plans under a wide range of uncertainties. This paper uses the Robust Decision Making approach to stress-test 78 alternative reopening strategies, using California as an example. This study uniquely considers a wide range of uncertainties and demonstrates that seemingly sensible reopening plans can lead to both unnecessary COVID-19 deaths and days of interventions. We find that plans using fixed COVID-19 case thresholds might be less effective than strategies with time-varying reopening thresholds. While we use California as an example, our results are particularly relevant for jurisdictions where vaccination roll-out has been slower. The approach used in this paper could also prove useful for other public health policy problems in which policymakers need to make robust decisions in the face of deep uncertainty."

  PLoS ONE

  Nascimento de Lima, Pedro; Lempert, Robert J.; Vardavas, Raffaele . . .

  2021-10-26
• Additional Aid for Hurricane Disaster Victims: Hearing Before the Committee on Banking and Currency, House of Representatives, Eighty-Ninth Congress, First Session, October 21, 1965

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  This is the October 21, 1965 hearing on "Additional Aid for Hurricane Disaster Victims," held before the House Committee on Banking and Currency. From the Opening Statement of Wright Patman: "The legislation would increase the SBA [Small Business Administration] revolving fund by $120 million--from $1,721 to $1,841 million. This increase would correspond with the change made earlier this year by Public Law 89-78, which increased by $120 million the limitation on loans from the SBA revolving fund to carry on funding activities of its Investment Division program. When this committee considered the legislation which ultimately became Public Law 89-78, it did not increase the overall revolving fund authorization of SBA because at that time there was an adequate gap between SBA funds and the revolving fund ceiling. However, an unprecedented demand for business loans in the past several months and heavy disaster loan requests, including loans made to Hurricane Betsy victims, has rapidly depleted SBA's treasury. Unless H.R. 11306, which has already passed the Senate, is acted upon immediately, the Small Business Administration will shortly be without funds to conduct even disaster assistance programs." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Leonor K. Sullivan, Henry S. Reuss, Thomas L. Ashley, William S. Moorhead, Robert G. Stephens Jr., Fernand J. St Germain, Henry B. Gonzalez, Joseph G. Minish, Richard T. Hanna, Bernard F. Grabowski, Compton L. White, Tom S. Gettys, Paul H. Todd, Richard L. Ottinger, Earle Cabell, Thomas C. McGrath, John R. Hansen, Frank Annunzio, William B. Widnall, Paul A. Fino, Florence P. Dwyer, Seymour Halpern, W.E. (Bill) Brock, Dell Clawson, Albert W. Johnson, and Chester L. Mize.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  1965
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 3485, Global Respect Act

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on September 30, 2021. From the Document: "H.R. 3485 would require the Administration to prepare, periodically update, and transmit to the Congress a list of foreign persons who have violated human rights on the basis of the victims' sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics. The bill would require the Department of State to designate at least one employee to track such violations. Individuals on that list would be ineligible for visas to, or entry into, the United States. Finally, H.R. 3485 would require the department to report annually to the Congress on its implementation of the bill and related matters. [...] Using information about the costs of similar requirements, CBO estimates that preparing the list of sanctionable persons and providing the reports required under H.R. 3485 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2022-2026 period; such spending would be subject to availability of appropriated funds."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2021-11-04
• COVID-19 Policy Playbook: Legal Recommendations for a Safer, More Equitable Future

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  From the Document: "This report, including 39 chapters by more than 50 experts, updates and expands the initial rapid COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] legal assessment published in August 2020. The failures we noted in the first Report have only worsened, culminating in the sad moment in February when the country reached 500,000 deaths. For Volume II of the Report, our team has revisited the legal issues we first surveyed early in the pandemic, and have added new topics, including education, data systems, and the lessons of the 2020 pandemic election. Even for the subjects covered previously, this Report consists of largely new material, including new, post-election recommendations, which we highlight in this summary. Volume I confronted a historic failure of law and policy. Volume II points to a historic opportunity to remake our institutions, public and clinical health law and policy, and the social contract. Once again, we have asked our authors to focus on how law has served the nation's response to COVID-19, and to offer concrete suggestions for immediate and long-term changes to better serve the health of the nation."

  Public Health Law Watch

  Gable, Lance A.; Levin, Donna E.; Parmet, Wendy E. . . .

  2021-03
• Women Peace and Security Index 2021/22

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  From the Overview: "Women's inclusion, justice, and security are more critical than ever in the midst of a pandemic that has wreaked havoc around the world. This year's global report, the third since the inaugural edition in 2017, finds a slowdown in the pace of improvement in the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index and widening disparities across countries. The range of scores on the 2021 WPS Index is vast, with Norway at the top scoring more than three times better than Afghanistan at the bottom. The range of scores is much wider than in 2017, when the score of the top performer was about twice that of the worst performer. This widening gap reflects rising inequality in the status of women across countries: countries at the top continue to improve while those at the bottom get worse, mirroring global trends in wealth and income inequality."

  Georgetown University. Institute for Women, Peace and Security; International Peace Research Institute

  2021
• National Nanotechnology Initiative Strategic Plan 2021

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  From the Document: "This document is the strategic plan for the NNI [National Nanotechnology Initiative], as called for in the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 USC §7501). It describes the NNI vision and goals and the strategies by which these goals are to be achieved, and it also identifies specific objectives toward collectively achieving the NNI vision. This plan updates and replaces the NNI Strategic Plan of October 2016."

  National Nanotechnology Initiative (U.S.); National Science and Technology Council (U.S.). Subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology; United States. Executive Office of the President

  2021-10
• COVID-19, Disinformation and Hateful Extremism

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  From the Executive Summary: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has provided a breeding ground for conspiracy theories, disinformation and hateful extremism. Pandemics are inherently fast-moving and information is constantly evolving, creating opportunities for hateful extremist groups to spread doubt, fear and suspicion among the public. Forums such as 4Chan and Reddit are hubs for real-time debate, conspiracy theories and disinformation. Similarly, social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube play a role in generating and amplifying false information. During lockdown and with rising unemployment, more people have been spending time at home and online, with greater exposure to false information and hateful extremist narratives. Particularly in the COVID-19 context, it is important to ensure that today's digital generations are equipped to identify hateful extremism and false narratives in order to build societal resilience. As COVID-19 presents an unprecedented challenge and a catalyst for false information, this rapidly developing area requires research input. There is a need to consolidate existing research, better understand the evidence base and address gaps to inform primary research, policy planning and decision making."

  Great Britain. Commission for Countering Extremism

  Cox, Kate; Ogden, Theodora; Jordan, Victoria . . .

  2021-03
• Vaccinations and the Economic Recovery, Virtual Hearing Before the Joint Economic Committee of the Congress of the United States, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, April 14, 2021

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  This is the April 14, 2021 hearing on "Vaccinations and the Economic Recovery," held before the Joint Economic Committee of the Congress of the United States. From the opening statement of Donald S. Beyer Jr.: "The pandemic and its tragic health and economic consequences have dominated our lives for the last year. After more than a year of physical distancing and mask wearing, of fearing for our health and the health of our loved ones, of widespread unequal economic hardship, the potential returning to a sense of normalcy is finally within sight. [...] Thankfully, the economy is beginning to recover. Much of that recovery is due to the remarkable vaccination efforts unfolding in our country and throughout the world right now. Millions of shots are going into arms every single day." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Celine Gounder, Paul Romer, Belinda Archibong, and Alexander Tabarrok.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• DHS's Efforts to Disrupt Transnational Criminal Organizations in Central America, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, July 28, 2021

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  This is the July 28, 2021 hearing on "DHS's Efforts to Disrupt Transnational Criminal Organizations in Central America," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Lou Correa: "Over the last few months, this subcommittee has had the opportunity to look closely at some of the factors that push people from Central America and Mexico to leave their homes and travel to the United States border. We have heard about crippling effects of the recent natural disasters, wide-spread poverty, COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], as well as the pervasive presence of corruption which stifles progress, economic progress, and maintains inequality. Today, I look forward to diving more deeply into some of these issues the Department of Homeland Security is working on to combat both abroad and at home, primarily violence and instability caused by transnational criminal organizations." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Francis J. Russo and John A. Condon.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Examining the Benefits of Investing in USACE Water Infrastructure Projects, Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, July 28, 2021

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  This is the July 28, 2021 hearing on "Examining the Benefits of Investing in USACE [U.S. Army Corps of Engineers] Water Infrastructure Projects," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. From the opening statement of Thomas R. Carper: "I am grateful for the opportunity that WRDA [Water Resources Development Act] affords us to review the Army Corps' operations every 2 years. This is an agency facing an extraordinarily important and difficult task with a list of worthy projects far outstripping the resources that are available to it. Indeed, due to a rampant underfunding for a number of years, the backlog of authorized but not completed projects has grown to over $100 billion. I think the number is $109 billion, and that is more than 15 times the agency's annual operating budget, which should be of concern to all of us. [...] My hope is that today's hearing will provide us with important insights into all of these challenges as we begin to work on the next WRDA Bill." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mario Cordero, Collin O'Mara, Amy Larson, and Robert McCoy.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021