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• Hawai'i Marine Debris Action Plan: Accomplishments Report

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  From the Acknowledgements: "The Hawai'i Marine Debris Action Plan is the result of the time, energy, and input of the many government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, industry, and private businesses that make up the marine debris management community in Hawai'i. Their engagement is the foundation that the Action Plan is built upon, and their continued collaboration has nurtured it over the last 10 years. Their continued stewardship will guide efforts over the next several years to address and reduce the environmental, socioeconomic, and human health and safety impacts of marine debris."

  United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  2022-01-18?
• Florida Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide: Comprehensive Guidance Document [May 2021]

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  From the Introduction: "The purpose of this document is to improve preparedness for response and recovery operations following an acute waterway debris incident on the Gulf or Atlantic coast of Florida. The term acute waterway debris incident is used to generally describe an incident--either natural or anthropogenic--that results in the release of large amounts of waterway debris. This document outlines existing response structures at the local, state, and federal levels to facilitate a coordinated, well-managed, and immediate response to waterway debris incidents impacting the state of Florida."

  United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Marine Debris Program (U.S.); United States. Department of Commerce

  2021-05
• Assessing the Gendered Employment Impacts of COVID-19 and Supporting a Gender-Responsive Recovery: A Country-Level Policy Tool

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  From the Key Points: "[1] The gendered employment policy tool offers analytical frameworks and data suggestions to enable assessment of the gender differentiated employment effects of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] crisis at the country level. It also identifies policy options to promote gender-responsive national employment strategies. [2] The tool considers interactions between the paid and the unpaid economy and is organized in several steps. [3] First, it provides a checklist of questions and indicators to help in mapping the gender structure of a particular economy with emphasis on pre-existing gender inequalities in labour markets[.] [4] Second, it shows how to trace the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on women's employment and working conditions relative to men, differentiating by types of risk. [5] Third, it discusses policy options to support gender equitable employment outcomes and distinguishes between short-term measures and medium-term measures. [6] Fourth, it develops an organizing principle for tailoring policy responses to specific gender employment structures and socio-economic contexts."

  UN Women; International Labour Organisation

  2021-03
• Bering Strait Marine Debris Event Report

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  From the Document Purpose and Description: "The purpose of this document is to capture the events, actions, observations, and opportunities that were part of the response to an acute debris event which began in the late summer of 2020 in the Bering Strait region of Alaska. An acute debris event is an incident that results in the release of large amounts of marine debris. This may include natural incidents, such as severe storms, or anthropogenic incidents, such as maritime disasters. The overall goal of this document is to share experiences and help improve responses to future acute debris events."

  United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  Ahmasuk, Austin; Berg, Catherine; Everett, Mark . . .

  2021-11
• Summary Report and Lessons Learned: The Response to the Misawa Dock on the Washington Coast

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  From the Executive Summary: "On December 14, 2012, a floating dock -- one of the four washed out from Misawa harbor by the devastating tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011 -- was spotted off the Washington coast and reported to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). Federal and state agencies and Indian Tribes responded quickly and collaboratively, and prepared for the response, at sea or on shore. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) generated trajectories to estimate the dock's movement and possible landfall. USCG launched over-flights to search for the dock, locating it on December 18 at a remote beach in Washington State, within the Olympic National Park and Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS) areas. State and federal agencies convened in Forks, Washington at an Incident Command Post, and along with aquatic invasive species (AIS) experts, conducted a site visit to assess the dock and attached a tracking buoy to it. In later visits the agencies removed all visible growth, greatly reducing further risk of AIS introduction. Once it was on shore, responsibility for removal of the dock shifted to the landowners, NOAA and National Park Service (NPS), who put together a funding package and managed the contracting efforts to remove the dock. Work on communication and outreach continued throughout the response, with the state website serving as a conduit for information on the dock removal efforts [hyperlink]."

  United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  2013-10-31
• Best Management Practices for Removal of Debris from Wetlands and Other Intertidal Areas

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  From the Introduction: "Tropical storms and other severe weather, flooding, or geophysical events often mobilize and deposit large volumes of man-made debris. Much of this debris is often deposited in intertidal wetlands and other coastal environments. This document is intended to assist a wide spectrum of agencies and entities, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, other federal and state agencies, or other organizations that may be faced with planning a post-event intertidal debris response or removal action. This document describes current Best Management Practices (BMPs) for removal of large debris such as vessels, storage tanks, and construction debris from sensitive wetland and intertidal habitats. The BMPs presented herein were compiled from those generated during recent emergency responses and similar events. A wide variety of regulatory, permitting and consultation requirements may apply, depending upon event type, funding source, project location, scope, and duration. It is not possible to address each unique potential combination of requirements, but this document presents starting points for permitting and consultation planning."

  United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  2014-09-30
• Recommendations into Action Brief COVID-19: Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces for Women and Girls

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  From the Introduction: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has caused massive disruptions to daily lives and the operation of businesses and services, especially to health, social services, transport, hospitality, economic development, education, and recreation sectors with various measures in place in countries across different waves of the pandemic including: lockdowns, quarantines, curfews, social distancing, etc. The pandemic has exacerbated violence against women and girls in public and private spaces. [...] This brief details some of the ways safe city partners from different sectors, in a short six months, have taken action in line with the recommendations set out in UN Women's Policy brief on COVID-19 and Ensuring Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces for Women and Girls [hyperlink]. Leaders within and across countries, cities and communities continue to demonstrate their resolve as they work to implement their holistic Flagship programmes and ensure that the prevention and response to sexual harassment in public spaces and other forms of violence against women is firmly embedded in development and recovery plans. This action forms part of each city's multi-year comprehensive safe city and safe public spaces initiative with women and girls."

  UN Women

  2020?
• NOAA Marine Debris Program FY 2021-2025 Strategic Plan

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  From the Introduction: "Marine debris touches every corner of the world, from remote islands to the world's largest cities, and it is easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume and complexity of the issue. Consumer plastics, microplastics, microfibers, metals, rubber, paper, textiles, derelict fishing gear, vessels, and other lost or discarded items enter the marine environment every day, making marine debris one of the most widespread pollution problems facing the world's ocean, waterways, and the Great Lakes. However, there is hope. Marine debris is a human-caused problem and, therefore, has human solutions. As public awareness of and interest in marine debris continues to grow, so does the community of people working to address the issue. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program (MDP), a division of the Office of Response and Restoration within the National Ocean Service, is proud to work with dedicated staff and partners to make a measurable change toward reaching our vision: the global ocean and its coasts free from the impacts of marine debris"

  United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  2020-11
• Seminaries in the System: The Effects of Prison Seminaries on Recidivism, Inmate Violence, and Costs

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  From the Thesis Abstract: "Rehabilitation is one of the main goals of the correctional system, with numerous and varied programs being implemented for centuries. The United States spends millions on rehabilitation programs, yet recidivism rates, prison violence, and correctional costs continue to rise. This thesis explores how prison seminaries are addressing these issues and in the process, changing inmates' attitudes and behaviors. Examining Angola, the first prison seminary that became a model for many subsequent prison seminaries, including interviews with inmates and prison staff, reveals how inmates' attitudes and behaviors changed as a result of their seminary. Similar programs that follow Angola's model were also reviewed to determine if there was a reduction in acts of violence and a change in inmates' prosocial behaviors as a result of the programs. This thesis analyzed quantitative evidence in the form of prison statistics and inmate conduct records to determine if prison seminaries lower rates of recidivism as well as inmate violence. Legal case studies were used to evaluate the constitutionality of prison seminaries. Finally, this thesis identified reasons why prison seminaries are changing the overall culture of prisons, including individual identity transformations, the activities of inmate ministers, and participation in religious activities. The findings reveal prison seminaries are reducing both recidivism rates and inmate violence, which reduces the overall costs of incarceration."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security

  Dotson, Roy D.

  2019-12
• Defense Primer: Geography, Strategy, and U.S. Force Design [Updated January 25, 2022]

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  From the Document: "Most of the world's people, resources, and economic activity are located not in the Western Hemisphere, but in the other hemisphere, particularly Eurasia. In response to this basic feature of world geography, U.S. policymakers for the last several decades have chosen to pursue, as a key element of U.S. national strategy, a goal of preventing the emergence of regional hegemons in Eurasia. This objective reflects a U.S. perspective on geopolitics and grand strategy developed by U.S. strategists and policymakers during and in the years immediately after World War II that incorporates two key judgments: [1] that given the amount of people, resources, and economic activity in Eurasia, a regional hegemon in Eurasia would represent a concentration of power large enough to be able to threaten vital U.S. interests; and [2] that Eurasia is not dependably self-regulating in terms of preventing the emergence of regional hegemons, meaning that the countries of Eurasia cannot be counted on to be fully able to prevent, through their own choices and actions, the emergence of regional hegemons, and may need assistance from one or more countries outside Eurasia to be able to do this dependably."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  O'Rourke, Ronald

  2022-01-25
• Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Late-Night Retail Establishments

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  "Workplace violence, whether it is defined narrowly to include only violent criminal acts, or broadly to include verbal threats, has long affected retail workers. OSHA [U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration] developed these recommendations to help late-night retail employers design and implement prevention programs tailored to the workplace violence hazards in their businesses. Existing data, while limited, suggests that late-night retail establishments, such as convenience stores, liquor stores, and gasoline stations, experience relatively high homicide and assault rates. This booklet is meant to provide guidance to retail employers so they may avoid such incidents whenever possible. By recognizing the hazards that lead to violent incidents and implementing appropriate prevention and control measures, employers will improve the safety of their workers. OSHA encourages employers to establish violence prevention programs and to track their progress in reducing work-related assaults. Although not every incident can be prevented, the severity of injuries sustained by workers can be reduced. Adopting practical measures, such as those outlined in this publication, can significantly reduce this serious threat to worker safety"

  United States. Occupational Safety and Health Administration

  2009
• DOE G 444.1-1, Guide on Preventing and Responding to All Forms of Violence in the Workplace

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  From the Foreword: "This guide is a broad overview of the basic tools for a site to develop its site specific procedures. It is not intended to define, address, and explain in detail all aspects of workplace violence and actions to take once it occurs. This guide is provided to assist each site with the development of their site procedures/process that will serve that specific site and the workforce. This guide and the additional references (see Section 7.2) should provide the necessary tools for a site to develop site specific procedures. Each site is encouraged to use as much detail as necessary to define and address all aspects of workplace violence when developing their procedures. As part of those procedures, it needs to be emphasized in the site-specific protocol and clear what supervisors and employees need to know to do in emergency situations, such as call 911 or the site emergency number and the steps to take for non-emergency situations."

  United States. Department of Energy

  2015-04-22
• Continuing the Dialogue: Learning from the Past and Looking to the Future of Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention

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  From the Document: "The goals of 'Continuing the Dialogue' are to: [1] Serve as a resource for prevention that is an update to Beginning the Dialogue. [2] Reflect how far the field has come in terms of both embracing primary prevention and implementing strategies across the Social Ecological Model. [3] Encourage a shift toward cross-sector and community-specific partnerships. [4] Highlight the direction in which the prevention field is moving."

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

  Jones, Kathryn; Dills, Jenny; Brown, Pamela

  2019-07
• Education Stabilization Fund Programs Funded by the Cares Act, CRRSAA, and ARPA: Background and Analysis [February 1, 2022]

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  From the Summary: "From March 2020 through March 2021, three laws provided increasing levels of federal funding for elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education primarily through the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) in response to the national emergency related to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic as declared by President Trump on March 13, 2020. On March 27, 2020, $30.750 billion was initially appropriated for the ESF by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136). On December 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA; Division M of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 [P.L. 116-260]), was enacted, providing an additional $81.880 billion in appropriations for an amended ESF. On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA; P.L. 117-2), a budget reconciliation measure, provided an additional $169.609 billion for programs originally enacted as part of the ESF."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Skinner, Rebecca; Fountain, Joselynn H.; Dortch, Cassandria

  2022-02-01
• Frequently Asked Questions: Consensus-Based Codes, Specifications and Standards for Public Assistance

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  "Purpose[:] '1. What is the purpose of using consensus-based codes, specifications and standards and to which facilities does it apply?' The purpose is to promote resiliency and reduce future risk in the repair and replacement of disaster damaged facilities funded by FEMA's PA program. The policy applies to: buildings, electric power, roads, bridges, and potable water and wastewater facilities. Applicability[:] '2. Is the Policy mandatory?' Yes, it is mandatory in all major disasters declared on or after the initial publication date of this Policy, November 6, 2019. '3. Who determines what codes, specifications and standards must be used in PA-funded projects?' Appendix A of the Policy identifies the required codes. The Applicant is responsible for identifying which of the consensus-based codes, specifications and standards are applicable for each PA project."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2020-02
• Job Aid: Implementation of Recovery Interim Policy FP-104-009-11, Consensus Based Codes, Specifications and Standards for Public Assistance

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  From the Purpose: "This document defines the roles and responsibilities to implement the 'Recovery Interim Policy FP-104-009-11, Consensus-Based Codes, Specifications and Standards for Public Assistance' (Interim Policy). The information outlined in this document is intended to provide procedural guidance for the following: [1] Applicant responsibilities[:] [a] Identify applicable consensus-based codes, specifications and standards (referred to as codes, specifications and standards in this document)[;] [b] Describe work required by applicable codes, specifications and standards[;] [c] Justify exception from consensus-based codes, specifications and standards requirement (if applicable)[;] [d] Demonstrate compliance[;] [and e] Opt-in (Only applicable for Applicants in disasters declared prior to Nov. 6, 2019)[.] [2] Recipient responsibilities[:] [a] Inform Applicants and ensure compliance with Interim Policy[;] [b] Approve Applicant opt-in notifications[;] [3] FEMA responsibilities[:] [a] Provide information to Recipients[;] [b] Inform Applicants about policy[;] [c] Ensure Applicants identify applicable codes, specifications and standards[;] [d] Review and incorporate applicable codes, specifications and standards[;] [e] Review and approve exceptions from consensus-based codes, specifications and standards requirement[;] [and f] Confirm Applicant opt-in eligibility[.]"

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2021-08-03?
• FEMA Public Assistance Program: Mission Assignments for ESF-10 (2001)

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  From the Purpose: "The attached memorandum is being numbered as part of the FEMA Public Assistance Program policy publication system. It states the policy that FEMA and EPA have agreed to in regard to funding Mission Assignments for ESF [Emergency Support Function] #10 activities in major disasters and emergencies. It clarifies policy that is currently in place in the form of a policy memorandum."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2001
• Memorandum of Understanding Among Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Contaminated Debris Management

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  From the Introduction: "A. Parties: The Parties to this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (DIS/FEMA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). B. The National Response Framework (NRF) currently addresses the contaminated debris mission through both Emergency Support Function 3 - Public Works and Engineering (ESF-3) and Emergency Support Function 10 - Oil and Hazardous Materials (ESF-10). The language in the ESF-3 Annex to the NRF states that the contaminated debris mission will be a joint effort among ESF-3, ESF-10 and DHS/FEMA. The scope of work outlined below is for contaminated debris missions as opposed to 'ordinary' debris missions. The Parties recognize that successful response and recovery from a contaminated debris event will require the collaborative and coordinated efforts of all three agencies. C. For the purposes of this MOU, 'contaminated debris' means debris that is generated from a blast or explosion associated with a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) threat agent."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2010-09-07
• North Carolina Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide: Comprehensive Guidance Document [September 2021]

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  From the Introduction: "The purpose of this document is to improve preparedness for response and recovery operations following an acute waterway debris incident in coastal North Carolina. The term acute waterway debris incident is used to generally describe an incident--either natural or anthropogenic--that results in the release of large amounts of waterway debris. This document outlines existing response structures at the local, state and federal levels to facilitate a coordinated, well-managed and immediate response to waterway debris incidents impacting the state of North Carolina."

  United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Marine Debris Program (U.S.); United States. Department of Commerce

  2021-09
• Executive Budget Process: An Overview [January 27, 2022]

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  From the Introduction: "The Constitution vests Congress with the authority to levy taxes, authorize the issuance of debt, and make appropriations to fund the federal government--collectively known as the power of the purse. Notably, those funds may be drawn from the Treasury only in consequence of appropriations made by law. The Constitution does not provide an explicit role for the President in the budget process. The executive budget process, as currently constituted, exists primarily due to statutes enacted by Congress. [...] This report outlines many of the budgetary procedures performed by the President, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and agencies, including an overview of the development, submission, and justification of the President's budget proposal. The report also describes how the President, OMB, and agencies execute the federal budget following the enactment of annual appropriations and other budgetary legislation by Congress. Finally, the report highlights a number of potential issues for congressional consideration."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Fiorentino, Dominick A.; Riccard, Taylor N.

  2022-01-27
• 2021 Marine Debris Program Accomplishments Report

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  From the Letter from the Director: "Throughout fiscal year 2021, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program continued to work toward our vision of the global ocean and its coasts free from the impacts of marine debris. Though the problem persists and continues to be difficult for communities to address, we continue to make advancements and find creative solutions to reduce the prevalence and impacts of marine debris. I am proud of what the Program and our partners accomplished as we close the first year of our new strategic plan. Despite continued obstacles during this difficult period, the NOAA Marine Debris Program and partners adapted and expanded our efforts to achieve the ambitious goals set in our strategic plan. [...] I am happy to present the NOAA Marine Debris Program's accomplishments from 2021."

  United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  2022-01
• California Microfiber Update: Textile Perspective [workshop]

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  From the Document: "California-based sustainable textiles consultancy Materevolve and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program partnered to host an engaging workshop entitled '"California Microfiber Workshop: Science, Innovation & Connection,"' on November 17, 2020. Support for this workshop and report was provided by a grant from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The workshop was curated and organized by Krystle Moody Wood (Founder & Principal Consultant at Materevolve) and Carolynn Box (Ocean Conservation Consultant, formerly with 5 Gyres). It was an invitation-only workshop, centered around the complexities of microfiber pollution and textile solutions."

  Materevolve, LLC; United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  Wood, Krystle Moody; Box, Carolynn

  2021-02-18?
• COVID-19 Economy's Effects on Food, Housing, and Employment Hardships

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  From the Document: "In April 2020, the Census Bureau began the Household Pulse Survey to collect nearly real-time data on how families were faring during this unprecedented crisis. At the end of 2021, the Census Bureau had released data from 39 Pulse surveys on household well-being. CBPP [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] and others used this data to assess hardship and the impact of relief measures. With the end of bi-weekly Pulse data releases in October 2021, this tracker will no longer be updated. The Census Bureau will continue to release Household Pulse data on a monthly basis, and CBPP will continue to analyze and write about the effects of pandemic-relief measures, including the important role of government policies in reducing hardship and poverty."

  Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (Washington, D.C.)
• US-Russia Relations: Geopolitical, Security, Economic and Human Dimensions

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  From the Summary: "After a period of détente, tensions are rising between the two former Cold War enemies again. Fundamental differences were already apparent during the Yeltsin years and have increasingly strained relations since 2000, under Vladimir Putin. There are few issues that Washington and Moscow agree on, but none is more divisive than Ukraine. Russia is determined to prevent further NATO expansion into post-Soviet eastern Europe, which it still sees as a buffer zone vital to its security and as a sphere of influence. Since late 2021, there are signs that Russia is planning renewed aggression against Kyiv; the US has promised a robust response if that happens. Both sides are likely to avoid direct conflict at all costs. Russia is not the military superpower that the Soviet Union was, but it is still a formidable adversary. Most of the bilateral arms control agreements that helped to maintain the fragile military balance have now gone, but talks launched at the first Biden-Putin summit in June 2021 aim at maintaining strategic stability."

  European Union; European Parliament. European Parliamentary Research Service

  Russell, Martin (Policy analyst)

  2022-02
• MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, February 11, 2022: Safety Monitoring of COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses Among Adults -- United States, September 22, 2021-February 6, 2022

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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 early release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Safety Monitoring of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Vaccine Booster Doses Among Adults -- United States, September 22, 2021-February 6, 2022." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2022.html].

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

  2022-02-11
• Extreme Weather and Lifeline Infrastructure Resilience: Provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) [February 4, 2022]

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  From the Document: "On December 10, 2021, deadly tornadoes struck Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, and Illinois, killing nearly 90 people and causing widespread damage to lifeline infrastructure in the transportation, energy, water and wastewater, and communications sectors. (The Department of Homeland Security designates lifeline sectors as those where reliable operations are essential to many other critical infrastructure functions.) Many public officials and policymakers voiced concerns that the tornadoes and other extreme weather events represented a 'new normal' of elevated risk to critical infrastructure. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117- 58) directly funds resilience and adaptation projects for certain lifeline infrastructure. In addition, it makes new investments in research and development (R&D), analysis, and planning, which are intended to improve the critical infrastructure risk management practices of federal agencies and partners. This In Focus summarizes IIJA risk management provisions that address resilience of lifeline critical infrastructure sectors to extreme weather. Further, it discusses how implementation of these provisions may affect the national critical infrastructure security and resilience (CISR) enterprise as a whole."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Humphreys, Brian E.

  2022-02-04
• U.S. Energy Abundance: Regulatory, Market, and Legal Barriers to Export: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, June 18, 2013

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  This is the June 18, 2013 hearing on "U.S. Energy Abundance" held before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. From the opening statement of Ed Whitfield: "We all know that having basic electricity is vital to a society functioning, and as I said, our coal is going into some areas that certainly need help. All of you are very much aware of the abundance of coal we have in America today, recoverable coal. We also are the number one natural gas producer in the world in 2010 because of recent discovery in shale fields. So we have a tremendous opportunity in the U.S. to have a significant amount of export of both coal and natural gas, and it will help decrease our trade deficit. […] And so at today's hearing, we are going to focus on what are the obstacles to this, because we all know that there are significant obstacles. There are regulatory obstacles, market obstacles, permit obstacles, and then a lot of lawsuits are being filed. Mayor Bloomberg alone gave $50 million to the Sierra Club basically to file lawsuits against the coal industry. And I am a fan of the Sierra Club, and I will be the first to say that they have done a lot of good in America, but at the same time, when you are deliberately filing lawsuits to stop jobs from being produced in America, I think that is not something that we need very much of." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Ed Whitfield, Bobby L. Rush, Fred Upton, Henry A. Waxman, Jennifer C. Moyer, Jeff C. Wright, Christopher A. Smith, Mike McGinn, Harold P. Quinn, Ross E. Eisenberg, KC Golden, Lucian Pugliaresi, and Bill Cooper.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Risks to Stability in Afghanistan: Politics, Security, and International Commitment, Hearing Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, July 30, 2014

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  This testimony compilation is from the July 30, 2014, hearing on "Risks to Stability in Afghanistan: Politics, Security, and International Commitment," held before the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services. From the opening statement of Catherine Dale: "In May, President Obama announced plans for U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan after 2014. Pending the signing of a U.S.-Afghan Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA), establishing the terms of reference for future U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan, some U.S. troops are to serve under U.S. command and others are to serve as part of NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization]'s follow-on mission, Resolute Support. By the end of 2014, U.S. troop levels are to be reduced to 9,800; by the end of 2015, they are to be drawn down further to 5,500 troops consolidated in Kabul and at Bagram Airfield; and by the end of 2016, the U.S. military presence is to be reduced to an Office of Security Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy. In addition, as of 2015, the focus of the effort is to shift to 'two narrow missions' -- 'training Afghan forces and supporting counterterrorism operations against the remnants of al Qaeda.' Despite the relative clarity of those specific decisions, and the broad commitments articulated in the 2012 U.S.-Afghan Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), the way ahead for Afghanistan itself, and for U.S. engagement there, remains uncertain. Transition of full responsibility for security to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) is underway but incomplete, and the ANSF still face significant challenges. Afghanistan's political path remains mired in a highly contested electoral process that may or may not produce a viable new political leadership accepted by the Afghan people. Afghanistan's relations with its neighbor Pakistan remain contentious and non-conducive to stability. And Afghanistan's future economic viability remains indeterminate at best. Further U.S. decision-making in these arenas -- or the lack thereof -- is likely to have a marked impact on the prospects for future stability in Afghanistan." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Anthony Cordesman, Ronald Neumann, and Michael O'Hanlon.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Armed Services

  2014-07-30
• Budget Hearing - Drug Enforcement Administration and State of Research on Drug Abuse in America, Hearing Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, April 2, 2014

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  This testimony compilation is from the April 2, 2014 hearing on "Drug Enforcement Administration and State of Research on Drug Abuse in America" held before the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations. From the opening statement of Hal Rogers: "Administrator Leonhart, Dr. Volkow, thank you both for taking time this morning to discuss your respective leadership roles in our country's fight against the terrible scourge of drug abuse. While your backgrounds are certainly very different, your jobs are equally important in employing a multi-faceted anti-drug strategy at the national level that incorporates law enforcement, treatment, education and research. Administrator Leonhart, DEA [Drug Enforcement Administration] has the critical task of implementing our country's federal response to illicit drug use. Your budget request for Fiscal Year 2015 is $2.018 billion. While the request is essentially flat from last year, I am concerned that you've proposed to absorb some $75 million in mandatory pay and retirement increases and foreign operations expenses with unspecific, amorphous 'administrative reductions.' I certainly understand that we must all make difficult decisions in this tough budgetary environment, but the reality is that you've sent your budget over with a $75 million hole that the Committee will have to fill. This is critically important as we strive to provide the men and women on the front lines with the tools, training, equipment and support necessary to carry out vital anti-drug missions domestically and abroad." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Hal Rogers, Michele M. Leonhart, and Nora D. Volkow.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appropriations

  2014-04-02
• Boston Marathon Bombings, One Year On: A Look Back to Look Forward, Hearing Before U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, April 9, 2014

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  This is a compilation of the April 9, 2014 hearing on "Boston Marathon Bombings, One Year On" held before the House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Michael McCaul: "This is a powerful and emotional day for the witnesses, for me, and this Committee. It's a time to remember the Anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombings, and it's a time to remember the victims. I, personally, remember walking down Boylston Street with Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis, who is with us here today. I remember him pointing out to me the trash cans where the bombs went off, injuring 260 innocent people and killing three including a little 8 year old boy, in cold blood. In the middle of chaos, we also witnesses exceptional bravery. If not for the heroic acts of the first responders and Boston citizens who ran towards danger instead of away, many more could have died. I remember after the attack, the marathoners tying their shoes together in the hundreds in a memorial out of respect and dedication. I remember the Watertown Police Chief, who is before us today. I remember him taking Congressman Keating and me on a tour of their once-quiet neighborhood and seeing the aftermath of the gunfight to take down two of the biggest terrorists since 9/11." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael McCaul, Edward F. Davis, III, Edward P. Deveau, Jeffrey J. Pugliese, and Herman "Dutch" B. Leonard.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security

  2014-04-09