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CBP Has Taken Steps to Limit Processing of Undocumented Aliens at Ports of Entry
From the Highlights: "We conducted this review to determine whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was turning away asylum seekers at the Southwest Border ports of entry. We made three recommendations aimed at bringing CBP operations in line with long-established practices and promoting the efficient processing of undocumented aliens."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
Martell, Tatyana; Kingma, Elizabeth; Brown, Adam . . .
2020-10-27
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DHS Privacy Office Needs to Improve Oversight of Department-Wide Activities, Programs, and Initiatives
From the Highlights: "Congress enacted the 'Privacy Act of 1974' (Privacy Act) and 'E-Government Act of 2002'. These Acts specifically require agencies collecting, using, or disseminating personally identifiable information to prevent unwarranted invasions of privacy. OIG [Office of Inspector General] is legislatively mandated to periodically assess the agency's implementation of the Privacy Act. Our audit objective was to determine whether the DHS Privacy Office has effective oversight of department-wide privacy activities, programs, and initiatives. We made three recommendations to the DHS Privacy Office to improve oversight of privacy compliance, information sharing access agreements, and privacy training."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
Harsche, Richard; Kim, Jason; Christopher, Peter . . .
2020-11-04
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ICE Needs to Address Prolonged Administrative Segregation and Other Violations at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility
From the Highlights: "Treatment and care of detainees at facilities can be challenging and vary greatly. In accordance with the 'Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019', we conduct annual unannounced inspections of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities to ensure compliance with detention standards. In February 2020, we inspected the Imperial Regional Detention Facility (IRDF) to evaluate compliance with ICE detention standards. We made six recommendations to improve ICE's oversight of detention facility management and operations at IRDF."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
Shiffer, John D.; Burns, Amy; Christian, Stephanie . . .
2020-12-18
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ICE Needs to Address Concerns About Detainee Care and Treatment at the Howard County Detention Center
From the Highlights: "As directed by Congress, we conduct annual unannounced inspections of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities to ensure compliance with detention standards. In December 2019, we inspected Howard County Detention Center (HCDC) in Jessup, Maryland, to evaluate compliance with ICE detention standards. We made two recommendations to improve ICE's oversight of detention facility management and operations at HCDC."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
Shiffer, John D.; Burns, Amy; Christian, Stephanie . . .
2020-10-28
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Transit Agenda for the COVID-19 Emergency
From the Introduction: "When COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 19] first struck in the U.S., the essential nature of transit to American life was bracingly clear: Cities literally could not survive without transit. Transit kept cities functioning during the initial outbreak, enabling millions of workers to reach jobs at hospitals, warehouses, grocery stores, public utilities, and other basic services. At the same time, the effects of COVID-19 pose serious challenges for the continued provision of abundant, reliable, safe transit service. People are justifiably wary of gathering in shared spaces, and even small shifts to car travel will further mire surface transit in congestion that makes service slower and less reliable. The pandemic's disproportionate impact on Black and brown Americans has also called attention to longstanding racial disparities in public health, which transportation systems have contributed to. In responding to COVID-19, transit agencies and city governments must address these disparities to prevent further harm from the virus, and to produce more equitable transportation systems in the long run."
TransitCenter
Fried, Ben
2020-10
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Intellectual Property Rights and International Trade [February 5, 2009]
"This report provides background on intellectual property rights (IPR) and discusses the role of U.S. international trade policy in enhancing IPR protection and enforcement abroad. IPR are legal rights granted by governments to encourage innovation and creative output by ensuring that creators reap the benefits of their inventions or works and they may take the form of patents, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, or geographical indications. U.S. industries that rely on IPR contribute significantly to U.S. economic growth, employment, and trade with other countries. Counterfeiting and piracy in other countries may result in the loss of billions of dollars of revenue for U.S. firms as well as the loss of jobs. Responsibility for developing IPR policy, engaging in IPR-related international negotiations, and enforcing IPR laws cuts across several different U.S. Government agencies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias; Fergusson, Ian F.
2009-02-05
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Intellectual Property Rights and International Trade [October 20, 2008]
"This report provides background on intellectual property rights (IPR) and discusses the role of U.S. international trade policy in enhancing IPR protection and enforcement abroad. IPR are legal rights granted by governments to encourage innovation and creative output by ensuring that creators reap the benefits of their inventions or works and they may take the form of patents, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, or geographical indications. U.S. industries that rely on IPR contribute significantly to U.S. economic growth, employment, and trade with other countries. Counterfeiting and piracy in other countries may result in the loss of billions of dollars of revenue for U.S. firms as well as the loss of jobs. Responsibility for developing IPR policy, engaging in IPR-related international negotiations, and enforcing IPR laws cuts across several different U.S. Government agencies. The main structures for coordinating interagency efforts are the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordinating Council (NIPLECC) and the Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias; Fergusson, Ian F.
2008-10-20
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Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) [November 6, 2009]
"The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is comprised of 9 members, two ex officio members, and other members as appointed by the President representing major departments and agencies within the federal Executive Branch. While the group generally has operated in relative obscurity, the proposed acquisition of commercial operations at six U.S. ports by Dubai Ports World in 2006 placed the group's operations under intense scrutiny by Members of Congress and the public. Prompted by this case, some Members of the 109th and 110th Congresses questioned the ability of Congress to exercise its oversight responsibilities given the general view that CFIUS's operations lack transparency. Other Members revisited concerns about the linkage between national security and the role of foreign investment in the U.S. economy. Some Members of Congress and others argued that the nation's security and economic concerns have changed since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and that these concerns were not being reflected sufficiently in the Committee's deliberations. In addition, anecdotal evidence seemed to indicate that the CFIUS process was not market neutral. Instead, a CFIUS investigation of an investment transaction may have been perceived by some firms and by some in the financial markets as a negative factor that added to uncertainty and may have spurred firms to engage in behavior that may not have been optimal for the economy as a whole."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jackson, James K., 1949-
2009-11-06
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Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms: Economic, Program, and Policy Issues [January 27, 2012]
"Trade liberalization can enhance the economic welfare of all trade partners, but in adjusting to greater competition, many import-competing firms and workers face difficult problems. Since 1962, Congress has responded to these adjustment costs by authorizing trade adjustment assistance (TAA) programs for workers, firms, and farmers. This report discusses the firms program, which provides technical assistance to trade-affected firms to help them develop strategies to remain competitive in a dynamic international economy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hornbeck, J. F. (John F.)
2012-01-27
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Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) [June 12, 2013]
"The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is comprised of nine members, two ex officio members, and other members as appointed by the President representing major departments and agencies within the federal executive branch. While the group generally has operated in relative obscurity, the proposed acquisition of commercial operations at six U.S. ports by Dubai Ports World in 2006 placed the group's operations under intense scrutiny by Members of Congress and the public. Prompted by this case, some Members of the 109th and 110th Congresses questioned the ability of Congress to exercise its oversight responsibilities given the general view that CFIUS's operations lack transparency. Other Members revisited concerns about the linkage between national security and the role of foreign investment in the U.S. economy. Some Members of Congress and others argued that the nation's security and economic concerns have changed since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and that these concerns were not being reflected sufficiently in the Committee's deliberations. In addition, anecdotal evidence seemed to indicate that the CFIUS process was not market neutral. Instead, a CFIUS investigation of an investment transaction may have been perceived by some firms and by some in the financial markets as a negative factor that added to uncertainty and may have spurred firms to engage in behavior that may not have been optimal for the economy as a whole. In the 112th Congress, some Members expressed their concerns to the Obama Administration over the national security implications of a proposed acquisition of a U.S. technology company by the Chinese-owned Huawei Technologies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jackson, James K., 1949-
2013-06-12
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Proposed U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement [Updated November 1, 2005]
"On November 16, 2003, President George W. Bush formally notified Congress of his intention to negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with Panama. Negotiations commenced in April 2004 and eight rounds have been held, the latest concluded in February 2005. Since then, talks have stalled, but could resume by year-end 2005. Much of the text has been agreed to, following the framework of earlier FTAs such as the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). As with all free trade agreements, the U.S.-Panama FTA cannot enter into force until Congress passes implementing legislation and the President signs it into law. Panama's economy is based largely on maritime and related services industries that developed around its transisthmian canal, once managed by the United States, but formally returned to Panama in 1999. Canal operations account for 6% of Panama's GDP, with the largest and fastest growing traffic volume generated along the U.S. East Coast-to-Asia trade route (especially U.S.-China). The canal's total economic impact, however, is far greater, supporting income and jobs in various services industries including warehousing, ship registry and repair, salvage operations, insurance, banking, and tourism. Panama is a small U.S. trading partner, but benefits from significant U.S. investment and unilateral trade preferences offered through the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), which Panama seeks to make permanent in an FTA. The FTA may also be seen as a way to reinforce Panama's varied trade liberalization goals."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hornbeck, J. F. (John F.)
2005-11-01
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U.S. - Vietnam Economic and Trade Relations: Issues for the 112th Congress [April 5, 2011]
"Since the resumption of trade relations in the 1990s, Vietnam has rapidly risen to become a significant trading partner for the United States. Along with the growth of bilateral trade, a number of issues of common concerns, and sometimes disagreement, have emerged between the two nations. Congress may play a direct role in the U.S. policy on some of these issues. [...] An examination of recent trends in bilateral trade reveals that other product categories--such as footwear, furniture, and electrical machinery--could generate future tension between the United States and Vietnam. Observers of Vietnam's economic development have also been critical of Vietnam's protection of workers' rights, its enforcement of intellectual property rights laws and regulations, and the country's exchange rate policies. The 112th Congress may play an important role in one or more of these issues, as have past Congresses. The 112th Congress would have to consider implementing legislation if a TPP [Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement] agreement is concluded. If the 112th Congress should take up GSP [Generalized System of Preferences] renewal, it may also consider Vietnam's pending application. The 112th Congress may also weigh in on its designation as a market or non-market economy. Finally, if current growth trends continue, Congress may be asked to act on the rising amount of footwear, furniture, and/or electrical machinery being imported from Vietnam. This report will be updated as circumstances require."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Martin, Michael F.
2011-04-05
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Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) Status for Russia and U.S.-Russian Economic Ties [Updated July 18, 2006]
"At several meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President George W. Bush stated that his administration will work with the Congress to grant Russia permanent 'normal trade relations' (PNTR) status. The change in Russia's trade status will require legislation to lift the restrictions currently applied to Russia under Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974, which includes the 'freedom-of-emigration' requirements of the Jackson-Vanik amendment. The Bush Administration requested the 108th Congress to act. Two bills were introduced in the Senate and one in the House but none of them received further congressional action. The second session of the 109th Congress may take up the issue. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cooper, William H., 1949-
2006-07-18
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Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) Status for Russia and U.S.-Russian Economic Ties [January 28, 2002]
"During his November 13-15, 2001 meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President George W. Bush stated that his administration will work with the Congress to grant Russia permanent 'normal trade relations' (PNTR) status. The change in Russia's trade status will require legislation to lift the restrictions currently applied to Russia under Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974, which includes the 'freedom-of-emigration' requirements of the Jackson-Vanik amendment. Two bills have been introduced in the 107th Congress, H.R. [House Resolution] 3553 (Thomas) and S. 1861 (Lugar) to grant PNTR status to Russia. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cooper, William H., 1949-
2002-01-28
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Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) Status for Russia and U.S.-Russian Economic Ties [February 24, 2010]
"The change in Russia's trade status will require legislation to lift the restrictions currently applied to Russia under Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974, which includes the 'freedom-of-emigration' requirements of the Jackson-Vanik amendment. On November 19, 2006, U.S. and Russian officials signed the bilateral agreement on Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This step allowed Russia to move closer to acceding to the WTO. Members may confront the issue of whether to grant Russia PNTR [Permanent Normal Trade Relations] during the 111th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cooper, William H., 1949-
2010-02-24
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Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) [March 29, 2013]
"The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is comprised of nine members, two ex officio members, and other members as appointed by the President representing major departments and agencies within the federal executive branch. While the group generally has operated in relative obscurity, the proposed acquisition of commercial operations at six U.S. ports by Dubai Ports World in 2006 placed the group's operations under intense scrutiny by Members of Congress and the public. Prompted by this case, some Members of the 109th and 110th Congresses questioned the ability of Congress to exercise its oversight responsibilities given the general view that CFIUS's operations lack transparency. Other Members revisited concerns about the linkage between national security and the role of foreign investment in the U.S. economy. Some Members of Congress and others argued that the nation's security and economic concerns have changed since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and that these concerns were not being reflected sufficiently in the Committee's deliberations. In addition, anecdotal evidence seemed to indicate that the CFIUS process was not market neutral. Instead, a CFIUS investigation of an investment transaction may have been perceived by some firms and by some in the financial markets as a negative factor that added to uncertainty and may have spurred firms to engage in behavior that may not have been optimal for the economy as a whole. In the 112th Congress, some Members expressed their concerns to the Obama Administration over the national security implications of a proposed acquisition of a U.S. technology company by the Chinese-owned Huawei Technologies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jackson, James K., 1949-
2013-03-29
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Proposed U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement [July 3, 2007]
"On June 28, 2007, the United States and Panama signed a free trade agreement (FTA) after two and half years and ten rounds of negotiations. Negotiations were formally concluded on December 16, 2006, with an understanding that further changes to labor, environment, and intellectual property rights (IPR) chapters would be made pursuant to detailed congressional input. These changes were agreed to in late June 2007, clearing the way for the proposed FTA's signing in time to be considered under Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which expired on July 1, 2007. TPA allows Congress to consider trade implementing bills under expedited procedures. The most visible changes include the adoption of enforceable labor standards, compulsory adherence to select multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), and an easing of restrictions on developing country access to generic drugs. In each case, the proposed U.S.-Panama FTA goes beyond provisions in existing multilateral trade rules and even those contemplated in the Doha Development Round negotiations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hornbeck, J. F. (John F.)
2007-07-03
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Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) Status for Russia and U.S.-Russian Economic Ties [March 28, 2013]
"U.S.-Russian trade is governed by Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974, which sets conditions on Russia's normal trade relations (NTR), or nondiscriminatory, status, including the 'freedom-ofemigration' requirements of the Jackson-Vanik amendment (Section 402). Changing Russia's trade status to unconditional NTR or 'permanent normal trade relations status (PNTR)' requires legislation to lift the restrictions of Title IV as they apply to Russia and authorize the President to grant Russia PNTR by proclamation. On November 16, 2012, the House passed (365-43), and on December 6, 2012, the Senate passed (92-4) H.R. 6156, which does just that, among other things. The legislation also included provisions--the Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012--that impose sanctions on individuals linked to the incarceration and death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. H.R. 6156 also authorized PNTR status for Moldova. President Obama signed the legislation into law on December 14, 2012. PNTR for Russia became an issue for the 112th Congress because, on August 22, 2012, Russia joined the WTO after having completed a 19-year accession process. The WTO requires each member to accord newly acceding members 'immediate and unconditional' most-favored-nation (MFN) status, or PNTR. In order to comply with WTO rules, the United States had to extend PNTR to Russia."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cooper, William H., 1949-
2013-03-28
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Proposed U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement [May 3, 2011]
"On June 28, 2007, the United States and Panama signed a reciprocal free trade agreement (FTA). Negotiations were formally concluded on December 16, 2006, with an understanding that further changes to labor, environment, investment, and intellectual property rights (IPR) chapters would be made pursuant to future detailed congressional input. These changes were agreed to in late June 2007, in time for the FTA to be considered under Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation before it expired on July 1, 2007. TPA allows Congress to consider trade implementing bills under expedited procedures. Panama's legislature approved the FTA 58 to 4 on July 11, 2007. Neither the 110th nor the 111th Congress took up the agreement. The proposed U.S.-Panama FTA is a comprehensive agreement. Some 88% of U.S. commercial and industrial exports would become duty-free upon implementation, with remaining tariffs phased out over a 10-year period. Over 50% of U.S. farm exports to Panama also would achieve immediate duty-free status, with tariffs and tariff rate quotas (TRQs) on select farm products to be phased out by year 17 of the agreement (year 20 for rice). Panama and the United States signed a separate bilateral agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues that would recognize U.S. food safety inspection as equivalent to Panamanian standards, which will expedite entry of U.S. meat and poultry exports. The FTA also consummates understandings on telecommunications, services trade, government procurement, investment, and intellectual property rights."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hornbeck, J. F. (John F.)
2011-05-03
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Proposed U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement [January 6, 2011]
"On June 28, 2007, after two and a half years of negotiation, the United States and Panama signed a reciprocal free trade agreement (FTA). Negotiations were formally concluded on December 16, 2006, with an understanding that further changes to labor, environment, and intellectual property rights (IPR) chapters would be made pursuant to future detailed congressional input. These changes were agreed to in late June 2007, in time for the FTA to be considered under Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation before it expired on July 1, 2007. TPA allows Congress to consider trade implementing bills under expedited procedures. Panama's legislature approved the FTA 58 to 4 on July 11, 2007. Neither the 110th nor the 111th Congress took up the agreement. The proposed U.S.-Panama FTA is a comprehensive agreement. Some 88% of U.S. commercial and industrial exports would become duty-free upon implementation, with remaining tariffs phased out over a ten-year period. Over 60% of U.S. farms exports to Panama also would achieve immediate duty-free status, with tariffs and tariff rate quotas (TRQs) on select farm products to be phased out by year 17 of the agreement (year 20 for rice). Panama and the United States signed a separate bilateral agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues that would recognize U.S. food safety inspection as equivalent to Panamanian standards, which will expedite entry of U.S. meat and poultry exports. The FTA also consummates understandings on telecommunications, services trade, government procurement, investment, and intellectual property rights."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hornbeck, J. F. (John F.)
2011-01-06
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Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms: Economic, Program, and Policy Issues [January 28, 2013]
"Although trade liberalization can enhance the economic welfare of all trade partners, it also causes difficult adjustment problems for some import-competing firms and workers. Congress has responded to these problems with trade adjustment assistance (TAA) programs for workers, firms, and farmers. This report discusses the TAA for Firms (TAAF) program and related policy issues. Congress first authorized TAA in the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (P.L. 87-794), including a new firm and industry assistance program, now administered by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It provides technical assistance to help trade-affected firms make strategic adjustments to improve their competitiveness in a dynamic global economy. The 111th Congress reauthorized a more extensive TAA program for firms that expanded eligibility to services firms, increased authorized funding levels, provided greater flexibility for a firm to demonstrate eligibility for assistance, established new oversight and evaluation criteria, created a new position of Director of Adjustment Assistance for Firms, and required submission to Congress of a detailed annual report on the TAAF program. Congress allowed those expanded provisions to expire on February 13, 2011, but the 112th Congress, in passing the Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-4), extended the firms program through December 31, 2013,with many, of the enhanced program provisions reinstated retroactively, including extending benefits to services firms. It is funded annually at $16 million."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hornbeck, J. F. (John F.)
2013-01-28
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Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) Status for Russia and U.S.-Russian Economic Ties [November 20, 2012]
"U.S.-Russian trade is governed by Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974, which sets conditions on Russia's normal trade relations (NTR), or nondiscriminatory, status, including the 'freedom-of-emigration' requirements of the Jackson-Vanik amendment (section 402). Changing Russia's trade status to unconditional NTR or 'permanent normal trade relations status (PNTR)' requires legislation to lift the restrictions of Title IV as they apply to Russia and authorize the President to grant Russia PNTR by proclamation. On November 16, 2012, the House passed (365-43) H.R. 6156, which would do just that, among other things. A similar bill, S. 3406, awaits action in the Senate. Both bills include contain provisions of proposed legislation--the Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012--that would impose sanctions on individuals linked to the incarceration and death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. Both bills would also authorize PNTR status for Moldova. PNTR for Russia has become an issue for the 112th Congress because, on August 22, 2012, Russia joined the WTO after having completed a 19-year accession process. The WTO requires each member to accord newly acceding members 'immediate and unconditional' most-favored-nation (MFN) status, or PNTR. In order to comply with WTO rules, the United States would have to extend PNTR to Russia, or invoke the non-application provision of the WTO."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cooper, William H., 1949-
2012-11-20
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Intellectual Property Rights and International Trade [December 20, 2007]
"This report provides background on intellectual property rights (IPR) and discusses the role of U.S. international trade policy in enhancing IPR protection and enforcement abroad. IPR are legal rights granted by governments to encourage innovation and creative output by ensuring that creators reap the benefits of their inventions or works and they may take the form of patents, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, or geographical indications. U.S. industries that rely on IPR contribute significantly to U.S. economic growth, employment, and trade with other countries. Counterfeiting and piracy in other countries may result in the loss of billions of dollars of revenue for U.S. firms as well as the loss of jobs. Responsibility for developing IPR policy, engaging in IPR-related international negotiations, and enforcing IPR laws cuts across several different U.S. Government agencies. The main structures for coordinating interagency efforts are the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordinating Council (NIPLECC) and the Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias; Fergusson, Ian F.
2007-12-20
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U.S.-Vietnam Economic and Trade Relations: Issues for the 112th Congress [June 11, 2012]
"Since the resumption of trade relations in the 1990s, Vietnam has rapidly risen to become a significant trading partner for the United States. Along with the growth of bilateral trade, a number of issues of common concern, and sometimes disagreement, have emerged between the two nations. Congress may play a direct role in the U.S. policy on some of these issues. Bilateral trade has grown from about $220 million in 1994 to $21.86 billion in 2011, transforming Vietnam into the 30th largest trading partner for the United States. Vietnam is the second-largest source of U.S. clothing imports, and a major source for footwear, furniture, and electrical machinery. Much of this rapid growth in bilateral trade can be attributed to U.S. extension of normal trade relations (NTR) status to Vietnam. Another major contributing factor is over 20 years of rapid economic growth in Vietnam, ushered in by a 1986 shift to a more market-oriented economic system. Bilateral trade may increase if both nations become members of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP). The United States and Vietnam are among the nine countries negotiating the terms of expansion of the trade association. Vietnam's incentive to join the TPP is largely contingent on greater market access in the United States, particularly for agricultural goods, aquacultural goods, clothing, and footwear. Vietnam is also a party to negotiations to form a larger pan-Asian regional trade association based on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that could exclude the United States and prove to be an alternative to the TPP."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Martin, Michael F.
2012-06-11
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FEMA and CBP Oversight of Operation Stonegarden Program Needs Improvement
From the Highlights: "Operation Stonegarden Grant Program (Stonegarden) funds overtime and related expenses for the coordination of law enforcement border security. Overtime payments to law enforcement have long been a concern to the public and to Federal officials because those payments may be overused, misused, and not well controlled. Our audit objective was to determine whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) met their oversight responsibilities for Stonegarden to monitor grantees, issue guidance and approve costs, and demonstrate program performance."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-11-09
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Audit of Department of Homeland Security's Fiscal Year 2017 Conference Spending
From the Highlights: "Although KPMG LLP (KPMG) found that DHS management has policies and procedures over conference spending and reporting, improvements are needed. Specifically DHS and its components did not: [1] maintain all required supporting documentation of actual conference costs, and certain costs in some instances, did not meet all reasonable and allocable criteria; [2] submit a fully compliant annual report to the Office of Inspector General [OIG] and to the public as the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 requires; [3] fully align with statutory requirements in its written policy governing the classification, approval, and reporting of conferences with scheduled training; [4] maintain the required documentation to support the use of training exemptions at certain components; and, [5] ensure that in all cases conferences with costs exceeding $20,000 are accurately and promptly reported to OIG. These deficiencies occurred because of insufficient resources, competing priorities, inconsistent review of expenses, and the lack of required policies and procedures."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2019-05-22
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Protecting Children from Violence in the Time of COVID-19: Disruptions in Prevention and Response Services
From the Document: "Violence is an all-too-real part of life for children around the globe - regardless of their economic circumstances and sociocultural background - with both immediate and long-term consequences. Available data indicate that children's experience of violence is widespread, taking different forms: About half the world's children are subjected to corporal punishment at home; roughly 3 in 4 children between the ages of 2 and 4 years receive violent discipline by parents and other primary caregivers; half of students aged 13 to 15 experience peer violence in and around school; and 1 in 3 adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 have been victims of intimate partner violence. As daily lives and communities are upended by COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 19], concern is mounting that violence against children may increase. Children with a history of abuse may find themselves even more vulnerable, both at home and online, and may experience more frequent and severe acts of violence. Others may be victimized for the first time."
UNICEF
2020-08
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City of Cedar Falls, Iowa Has Policies, Procedures, and Business Practices to Manage Its FEMA Grant
From the Highlights: "At the time of our audit, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimated that the City of Cedar Falls, Iowa (City), had sustained approximately $893,000 in damage caused by severe storms and flooding from September 21 through October 3, 2016. We audited early in the grant process to identify areas in which the City may need additional technical assistance or monitoring to ensure compliance with Federal procurement requirements."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2018-02-07
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Federal Disaster Recovery Programs: Brief Summaries [August 10, 2012]
"This report summarizes federal disaster assistance programs for use by Members of Congress and their staff as they address the needs of their states, communities, and constituents. A number of federal agencies provide assistance to individual victims, such as state, territorial, and local governments and non-governmental entities following a disaster. The federal forms of assistance include grants, loans, loan guarantees, temporary housing, and counseling. The programs summarized in this report fall into two broad categories. First are programs for disaster situations; most of these programs are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA). Second are general assistance programs that may be used in either disaster situations, or to meet regular service needs. Many federal agencies, including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Justice, administer programs that may be included in the second category. The programs in this report are primarily organized by recipient: individuals, state and local governments, or businesses. These programs address short-term needs such as food and shelter, and long-term needs such as repair of public utilities. This report includes a list of CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports on disaster assistance as well as relevant federal agency websites that provide information on disaster responses, updates on recovery efforts, and resources on federal assistance programs. This report will be updated as significant legislative or administrative changes occur."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Torsell, Carolyn V.
2012-08-10
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Elections in States Affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita [May 26, 2006]
"The aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita created staggering problems and challenging conditions for the people of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, as well as for the state and local governments there. Many problems were immediately apparent, whereas others that involved ongoing government functions, such as elections, were less obvious at first. As 2006 approached, the challenge of running elections in the many affected communities became clearer. The Governor of Louisiana rescheduled a February city council and mayoral election in New Orleans for April 22; a runoff election for mayor was held on May 20, at which incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin was reelected. Questions about voter eligibility for displaced hurricane victims, particularly those from New Orleans, were raised, along with concerns about damaged and destroyed voting equipment, the availability of election workers and polling places, and numerous other logistical considerations. More broadly, a diminished electorate has altered the political landscape. Several bills have been introduced with respect to the impact of Katrina and Rita on the 2006 elections. S. 2166, passed by the Senate in February, would provide $50 million in disaster relief for elections."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Coleman, Kevin J.; Fischer, Eric A.
2006-05-26
