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Trump Administration Tariff Actions: Frequently Asked Questions [Updated December 15, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to regulate foreign commerce and therefore impose tariffs, but through various trade laws, Congress has delegated authority to the President to modify tariffs and other trade restrictions under certain circumstances. [...] The Trump Administration's tariff actions raise a number of issues for Congress and have been the focus of congressional debate. Such issues include the effect of the tariffs on U.S. economic activity, such as increases in the price of imported goods, affecting both U.S. consumers and producers, as well as diminished competitiveness of U.S. exports in foreign markets as a result of tariff retaliation. The tariff actions, their frequent modifications, and the exemption application process have also created uncertainty for U.S. businesses. In addition, questions over whether the Trump Administration's tariff actions adhere to congressional intent for the use of delegated tariff authority, in part due to broadly defined statutory criteria, have led to debate in Congress over potential legislative reforms. Congress may also consider how these tariff actions affect the multilateral trading system and the U.S. role and leadership in that system, U.S. bilateral trade relations, and whether tariff increases are an appropriate tool in the negotiation of broader trade reforms."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Williams, Brock R.; Casey, Christopher A.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D. . . .
2020-12-15
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Countermapping Pandemic Policing: A Study of Sanctioned Violence in Madhya Pradesh
From the Foreword: "The State's most visible strategy in addressing the COVID-19 [coronavirus diease 2019] crisis has been the implementation of stringent lockdowns in a quasi-federal manner. Union government notifications under disaster and disease control legislations overnight restricted movement and large aspects of public life. States framed their own regulations under the acts and individual magistrates invoked powers under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973 to pass extensive orders on permissible movement and activities. These regulations and orders were often vague, overbroad and disproportionate, criminalising essential aspects of living through a pandemic, sharing information and expressing criticism. As a criminal justice research and litigation intervention representing members of Denotified Tribal and other Adivasi communities, we understood that both the police's and the lockdown-related surveillance's colonial histories and wide discretionary powers may affect marginalised communities more severely."
Criminal Justice & Police Accountability Project
Pradhan, Aditi; Sonavane, Nikita; Bokil, Ameya . . .
2021?
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U.S. Export Control System and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 [June 7, 2021]
From the Summary: "Balancing U.S. national security and export competitiveness in U.S. export control policy has been a complex and challenging issue for Congress and the executive branch for a number of decades. Through the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the Export Controls Reform Act (ECRA), and other authorities, the United States restricts the export of certain goods, including defense articles; dual-use goods and technology; nuclear materials and technology; and items that would assist in the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons or the missile technology used to deliver them. U.S. export controls are also used to restrict exports to certain countries on which the United States imposes economic sanctions. Additionally, the United States participates in several multilateral export control regimes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fergusson, Ian F.; Kerr, Paul K.; Casey, Christopher A.
2021-06-07
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Department of Veterans Affairs' Potential Role in Addressing the COVID-19 Outbreak [March 20, 2020]
From the Summary: "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a range of benefits to eligible veterans and their dependents. [...] Based on limited information from VA, this report provides an overview of VA's response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that is affecting communities throughout the United States. It also discusses recent congressional action as it pertains to the veterans' benefits and services, as well as the supplemental appropriations for the department."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Panangala, Sidath Viranga; Sussman, Jared S.; Dortch, Cassandria . . .
2020-03-20
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Export Restrictions in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic [Updated August 25, 2020]
From the Document: "In response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, countries all over the world, including the United States, have imposed temporary restrictions on exports of certain medical goods and some foodstuffs in order to mitigate potential shortages of key supplies. According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), for G-20 [Group of Twenty] countries, export bans accounted for more than 90% of trade restrictions related to the pandemic. Many measures are not explicit bans, but vary from licensing requirements to mandates for sales to the state. These restrictions have raised debate about the consistency of such actions with WTO rules and the potential impact on the global trading system. Some markets depend heavily on countries that have implemented restrictions. Most leading exporters are also major importers of critical supplies, with integrated supply chains at risk. The proliferation of such measures has prompted some countries to commit to limit restrictions or to abide by certain principles in their temporary application. Some Members of Congress have weighed in on the issue, both in terms of the immediate disruption from COVID-19, but also on the future of supply chains."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.
2020-08-25
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Export Restrictions in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic [May 15, 2020]
From the Document: "In response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, countries all over the world, including the United States, have imposed temporary restrictions on exports of certain medical goods and some foodstuffs in order to mitigate potential shortages of key supplies. Many measures are not explicit bans, but vary from licensing requirements to mandates for sales to the state. These restrictions have raised debate about the consistency of such actions with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and the potential impact on the global trading system. Some markets depend heavily on countries that have implemented restrictions. Most leading exporters are also major importers of critical supplies, with integrated supply chains at risk. The proliferation of such measures has prompted some countries to commit to limit restrictions or to abide by certain principles in their temporary application. Members of Congress have weighed in on both sides of the issue, both in terms of the immediate disruption from COVID-19, but also on the future of supply chains."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.
2020-05-15
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Currency Manipulation and Countervailing Duties [Updated February 13, 2020]
From the Document: "For more than a decade, some policymakers and analysts have expressed concerns that U.S. exports and jobs have been harmed by unfair exchange rate policies of other countries ('currency manipulation'). They argue that other countries have purposefully weakened their currency relative to the dollar to boost exports, at the expense of U.S. firms and workers. However, there are a number of factors that drive exchange rates, and it is difficult to estimate the extent to which a currency is undervalued, and why it is undervalued. The United States currently combats currency manipulation with unilateral and multilateral tools. Under U.S. law, the Treasury Department produces a semiannual report on exchange rate policies in other countries and, in specified instances, must initiate action against countries engaged in currency manipulation. The United States also addresses currency manipulation through the G-7 and the G-20, multilateral forums where major economies discuss and coordinate economic policies. The United States is also a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an international organization through which countries have committed to refrain from currency manipulation, although there are questions about the IMF's ability to enforce currency commitments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nelson, Rebecca M.; Casey, Christopher A.
2020-02-13
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Temporary Deferment of Import Duty Payments [April 30, 2020]
From the Document: "On April 18, 2020, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 13916 to provide the Secretary of the Treasury temporary emergency authority under Section 318(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1318(a), as amended) to extend deadlines for certain estimated payments of taxes, duties, and fees 'for importers suffering significant financial hardship because of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019].' Section 318(a) allows the President to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to extend payment deadlines during a period of national emergency proclaimed pursuant to the National Emergencies Act. Following the executive order, the Department of the Treasury and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a temporary final rule immediately postponing the deadlines for importers to deposit certain estimated duties, taxes, and fees for 90 days. To qualify for the temporary postponement, an importer's operations must have (1) been fully or partially suspended during March or April 2020 due to orders from a competent governmental authority, and (2) generated gross receipts for March 13-31, 2020 or for April 2020 that were less than 60% of the gross receipts for the comparable period in 2019. [...] While the temporary final rule was immediately effective, Treasury and CBP have invited public comment on its provisions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Jones, Vivian Catherine
2020-04-30
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CARES Act Higher Education Provisions [Updated July 8, 2020]
From the Document: "President Donald J. Trump declared a U.S. national emergency on March 13, 2020, in response to the COVID19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136) was enacted on March 27, 2020, to address income, health, and economic security in response to the national emergency. This In Focus provides brief descriptions of several higher education provisions included in the law."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dortch, Cassandria; Fountain, Joselynn H.; Hegji, Alexandra . . .
2020-07-08
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CARES Act Higher Education Provisions [Updated June 9, 2020]
From the Document: "President Donald J. Trump declared a U.S. national emergency on March 13, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136) was enacted on March 27, 2020, to address income, health, and economic security in response to the national emergency. This In Focus provides brief descriptions of several higher education provisions included in the law."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dortch, Cassandria; Fountain, Joselynn H.; Hegji, Alexandra . . .
2020-06-09
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International Emergency Economic Powers Act: Key Facts [Updated July 10, 2020] [infographic]
From the Document: "[1] In the 1970s, Congress enacted the National Emergencies Act (NEA) and IEEPA [International Emergency Economic Powers Act] to replace previous emergency authorities and place new limits on presidential emergency power. [2] Since the enactment of the NEA and IEEPA, Presidents have declared 67 national emergencies. [3] Since 1995, 40 national emergencies citing IEEPA have been declared, 9 have ended. [4] Presidents have declared national emergencies invoking IEEPA with respect to 35 countries as part of the U.S. sanctions regime. [5] IEEPA was used to continue enforcement of the Export Administration Act (EAA) upon its expiration 6 times for a total of 27 years. IEEPA authority is still used to continue certain export controls related to WMD [weapons of mass destruction]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.
2020-07-10
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Heroes Act: Education-Related Provisions [August 26, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The House passed the Heroes Act (H.R. 6800) on May 15, 2020. The act is intended to continue supporting the nation's response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic throughout the federal government, including its response via several education-related programs. This report provides brief summaries of key provisions in the Heroes Act that would affect elementary, secondary, and higher education students and student loan borrowers. The report begins by describing supplemental funding the act would make available to educational providers and in support of broadband educational infrastructure. This is followed by sections describing amendments that would be made to CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act education-related provisions, and sections describing Heroes Act provisions that would provide relief to private and federal student loan borrowers. The report concludes with descriptions of bill provisions that would authorize new waivers and flexibilities pertaining to existing legislative requirements in the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended; the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins), as amended; and the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), as amended."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dortch, Cassandria; Skinner, Rebecca; Shohfi, Kyle D. . . .
2020-08-26
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Federal Response to COVID-19: Department of Veterans Affairs [May 1, 2020]
From the Summary: "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a range of benefits to eligible veterans and their dependents. The department carries out its programs nationwide through three administrations and the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA). [1]The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is responsible for health care services and medical and prosthetic research programs. [2] The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is responsible for, among other things, providing disability compensation, pensions, and education assistance. [3] The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is responsible for maintaining national veterans cemeteries; providing grants to states for establishing, expanding, or improving state veterans cemeteries; and providing headstones and markers for the graves of eligible persons, among other things. With a vast integrated health care delivery system spread across the United States, the VHA is statutorily required to serve as a contingency backup to the Department of Defense (DOD) medical system during a national security emergency and to provide support to the National Disaster Medical System and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as necessary, in support of national emergencies. These functions are known as VA's 'Fourth Mission.' Since the onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Congress has passed a number of relief measures affecting the VA and its Fourth Mission."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Panangala, Sidath Viranga; Sussman, Jared S.; Dortch, Cassandria . . .
2020-05-01
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International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Tariffs: Historical Background and Key Issues [Updated February 20, 2020]
From the Document: "On May 30, 2019, President Donald J. Trump announced his intention to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) (50 U.S.C. §§1701 et seq.) to impose a 5% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico effective June 10, 2019. The tariff, he said, would gradually increase until 'the illegal migration crisis is alleviated through effective actions taken by Mexico.' On June 7, 2019, the President stated that the tariffs were 'indefinitely suspended' because Mexico had 'agreed to take strong measures to ... stem the tide of migration.' Presidents may invoke IEEPA in response to an 'unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States' when a national emergency has been declared with respect to that threat. Using IEEPA, Presidents may regulate imports. Although no President has used IEEPA to impose tariffs, President Nixon imposed a 10% tariff on all imports into the United States in response to a monetary crisis using IEEPA's precursor statute, the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 (TWEA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.
2020-02-20
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International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Tariffs: Historical Background and Key Issues [June 24, 2019]
From the Document: "On May 30, 2019, President Donald J. Trump announced his intention to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) (50 U.S.C. §§1701 et seq.) to impose a 5% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico effective June 10, 2019. The tariff, he said, would gradually increase until 'the illegal migration crisis is alleviated through effective actions taken by Mexico.' On June 7, 2019, the President stated that the tariffs were 'indefinitely suspended' because Mexico had 'agreed to take strong measures to... stem the tide of migration.' Presidents may invoke IEEPA in response to an 'unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States' when a national emergency has been declared with respect to that threat. Using IEEPA, Presidents may regulate imports. Although no President has used IEEPA to impose tariffs, President Nixon imposed a 10% tariff on all imports into the United States in response to a monetary crisis using IEEPA's precursor statute, the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 (TWEA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.
2019-06-24
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Recent Presidential Trade Actions Affecting the U.S. Power Grid [May 21, 2020]
From the Introduction: "Over the past several weeks, the Trump Administration has taken actions to limit the use of foreign manufactured products in the U.S. power grid. On May 1, 2020, the President declared a national emergency (E.O. 13920) invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to prohibit certain international transactions for bulk-power system electric equipment used to operate the national grid. On May 4, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, announced a new investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 into whether imports of certain large electrical transformers and their parts threaten national security. These actions may suggest a pattern, begun last year, of making use of executive national security authorities to restrict imports of goods that may be used for critical infrastructure (e.g., telecommunications and electrical equipment)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Humphreys, Brian E.; Fefer, Rachel F.
2020-05-21
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USMCA: Investment Provisions [Updated January 8, 2020]
From the Document: "The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) that, if approved by Congress and ratified by Canada and Mexico, would replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). USMCA would retain NAFTA's marketopening measures while adding or updating provisions in areas such as digital trade, intellectual property rights, and worker rights. The proposed agreement would make notable changes to NAFTA's investment provisions--mainly qualifying basic investor protections and limiting the degree to which foreign investors can bring complaints against their host states under the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism. ISDS claims with Canada would be phased out entirely; those with Mexico would be more restricted than under NAFTA. Given the significant changes proposed and the importance of U.S. investment ties with Canada and Mexico, USMCA's investment provisions are an active part of congressional debate over the USMCA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Villarreal, M. Angeles
2020-01-08
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CARES Act Higher Education Provisions [April 7, 2020]
From the Document: "President Donald J. Trump declared a U.S. national emergency on March 13, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136) was enacted on March 27, 2020, to address income, health, and economic security in response to the national emergency. This In Focus provides brief descriptions of several higher education provisions included in the law."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dortch, Cassandria; Fountain, Joselynn H.; Hegji, Alexandra . . .
2020-04-07
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International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Tariffs: Historical Background and Key Issues [June 5, 2019]
From the Document: "President Donald J. Trump recently announced his intention to use powers granted to the President under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701 et seq.) to impose and gradually increase a 5% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico until 'the illegal migration crisis is alleviated through effective actions taken by Mexico.' Invoked in response to an 'unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States,' no President has previously used IEEPA to impose tariffs on a specific country. Using IEEPA's precursor statute, the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 (TWEA), however, President Nixon imposed a 10% tariff on all imports into the United States in response to a monetary crisis."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.
2019-06-05
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Presidential Authority to Address Tariff Barriers in Trade Agreements Under Section 103(a) [January 8, 2020]
From the Document: "The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate trade with foreign nations and to lay and collect duties. Since the 1930s, Congress has periodically authorized the President to negotiate trade agreements and, among other actions, proclaim changes to U.S. tariff rates- known as Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). Currently, Section 103(a) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015) authorizes the President to enter into trade agreements with foreign countries to reduce 'duties or other import restrictions' that the President determines are 'unduly burdening and restricting' the United States' foreign trade and to proclaim limited changes to U.S. tariff rates without further congressional action. In September 2019, President Donald Trump announced his intention to enter into a free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan regarding tariff barriers using his limited proclamation authority under Section 103(a)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Murrill, Brandon J.
2020-01-08
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Trade Remedies: Antidumping and Countervailing Duties [Updated December 4, 2019]
From the Overview: "What are they? Antidumping (AD) and Countervailing Duties (CVD) address unfair trade practices by providing relief to U.S. industries and workers that are 'materially injured,' or threatened with injury, due to imports of like products sold in the U.S. market at less than fair value (AD), or subsidized by a foreign government or public entity (CVD)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jones, Vivian Catherine; Casey, Christopher A.
2019-12-04
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The International Emergency Economic Powers Act: Key Facts [October 29, 2019] [infographic]
This infographic from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) outlines the history and current enforcement of the National Emergencies Act (NEA) and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.
2019-10-29
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Export Restrictions in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic [Updated April 23, 2021]
From the Document: "In response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, countries all over the world, including the United States, imposed temporary restrictions on exports of certain medical goods and some foodstuffs in order to mitigate potential shortages of key supplies. According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), for G-20 [Group of 20] countries, export bans accounted for more than 90% of trade restrictions related to the pandemic. Many measures are not explicit bans, but vary from licensing requirements to a right of first refusal for the government of the exporting country. These restrictions have raised debate about the consistency of such actions with WTO rules and the potential impact on the global trading system. Some markets depend heavily on countries that have implemented trade restrictions. Most leading exporters are also major importers of critical supplies, which put integrated supply chains at risk. The proliferation of such measures prompted some countries to lift restrictions or to abide by certain principles in their temporary application."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.
2021-04-23
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Net-Zero Emissions Pledges: Background and Recent Developments [April 30, 2021]
From the Document: "On January 27, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14008, which expressed the intent to 'put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions, economy-wide, by no later than 2050.' A number of other countries, as well as cities, regions, and companies, have also made 'net-zero' emissions pledges. This In Focus explains the concept of net-zero emissions, identifies recent net-zero pledges, and presents a series of questions to consider when examining net-zero pledges. This In Focus does not address or evaluate the challenges involved in achieving net-zero targets or the technological advances and/or policy options that would likely be needed to reach them."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Westphal, Michael I.
2021-04-30
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CARES Act Education Stabilization Fund: Background and Analysis [Updated August 6, 2020]
From the Introduction: "On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] outbreak a national emergency, beginning March 1, 2020.1 On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136) was signed into law. Included in the act was the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF), which was created 'to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally.' [...] This report begins with an overview of the appropriations available for the ESF and the required reservations of funds. It then discusses each of the emergency education relief funds. For the emergency education relief funds for which ED [U.S. Department of Education] has published grant amounts (i.e., GEER [Governor's Emergency Education Relief] Fund, ESSER [Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief] Fund, and HEERF [Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund]), ED's allocations have been included in this report. This is followed by an overview of the other provisions included in the ESF: assistance to non-public schools, continued payments to employees, definitions, and maintenance of effort (MOE) provisions. The last section of the report discusses reporting requirements included in the CARES Act that apply to amounts awarded through the emergency education relief funds."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Skinner, Rebecca; Dortch, Cassandria; Fountain, Joselynn H. . . .
2020-08-06
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Post-9/11 GI Bill: A Primer [Updated December 10, 2020]
From the Document: "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers several educational assistance programs, most notably the GI Bills, that provide funds to or on behalf of veterans and servicemembers and their family members to facilitate their enrollment in and pursuit of approved programs of education. The Post-9/11 GI Bill has represented more than 70% of total GI Bill participation and more than 80% of spending in each year since FY2013. In FY2021, the program is estimated to benefit over 700,000 individuals and expend almost $12 billion. [...] This report provides a detailed description of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The first section describes participant eligibility criteria. The second section indicates a participant's entitlement to benefits and the period during which the benefits must be used. The third section describes the eligible programs of education. The subsequent section explains the eligible benefit payments. The final sections illustrate key links to other programs administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and current data on obligations and participation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dortch, Cassandria
2020-12-10
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CARES Act Education Stabilization Fund: Background and Analysis [June 3, 2020]
From the Summary: "On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136) was signed into law. Included in the act was the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF). The ESF is comprised of three emergency relief funds: (1) a Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund, (2) an Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, and (3) a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). The ESF, administered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), has an appropriations level of $30.750 billion for FY2020. These funds are to remain available through September 30, 2021. From the total appropriation for the ESF, the Secretary of Education is required to reserve up to 0.5% for the outlying areas, 0.5% for the Bureau of Indian Education, and 1% to provide competitive grants to the states with the 'highest coronavirus burden' to support activities under the ESF. The Secretary is required to provide the remainder of the funds to the three emergency education relief funds."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Skinner, Rebecca; Dortch, Cassandria; Fountain, Joselynn H. . . .
2020-06-03
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Prisoners' Eligibility for Pell Grants: Issues for Congress [May 20, 2019]
From the Summary: "Under Department of Education (ED) regulations, any student who is 'serving a criminal sentence in a federal or state penitentiary, prison, jail, reformatory, work farm, or other similar correctional institution' is not eligible to receive a Pell Grant. However, in 2015 ED used its authority under the Higher Education Act (HEA) to create the Second Chance Pell Experiment to determine if access to Pell Grants would increase the enrollment of incarcerated individuals in high-quality postsecondary correctional education programs. Under the experiment, participating institutions of higher education, in partnership with federal and/or state correctional institutions, award Pell Grants to students who are otherwise Pell-eligible except for being incarcerated in a federal or state institution. The experiment is expected to conclude in 2020."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dortch, Cassandria; James, Nathan
2019-05-20
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Trade Remedies: Antidumping [Updated September 10, 2020]
From the Introduction: "In general, the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), of which the United States is a member, require each member to apply tariffs and duties equally to all other members. This principle, known as unconditional most-favored-nation (MFN) treatment, has been central to the rules-based global trading system since 1947 and part of U.S. law and foreign policy since 1922. The WTO agreements allow exceptions to this treatment in certain circumstances, including to remedy unfair trade practices and to help domestic industries adjust to sudden surges of fairly traded goods. The three most frequently applied U.S. trade remedy laws permit the imposition of antidumping duties, countervailing duties, and safeguards. These laws are enforced through administrative investigations and actions of two U.S. government agencies: the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce (ITA) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). The most commonly used of these remedies are antidumping (AD) laws. AD laws provide relief to domestic industries that have been, or are threatened with, material injury caused by imports sold in the U.S. market at prices that are shown to be less than fair value. The relief provided is an additional import duty, calculated by the ITA and placed on the dumped imports. Antidumping orders are the most frequently used and the most controversial trade remedy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.
2020-09-10
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Trade Remedies: Antidumping [March 31, 2020]
From the Document: "Economists have generally seen antidumping [AD] laws and policies as economically inefficient. Some, however, have acknowledged the role that these economically inefficient policies have played in making trade liberalization more politically feasible by providing protection for industries that might otherwise oppose such measures. In recent years, U.S. exports have increasingly become a target of AD measures by several major emerging economies, including India and China. Antidumping laws and policies have also been at the center of dozens of trade disputes between the United States and its trading partners in the WTO [World Trade Organization]. Reports issued by the WTO's Appellate Body (AB) on the subject have been one of the primary targets of the U.S. Trade Representative's criticisms of the AB mechanism in the broader WTO dispute settlement system. If Congress wishes to maintain a functional dispute settlement system at the WTO it may consider either directing the President to seek amendments to underlying WTO agreements such that U.S. practices are internationally compliant or direct the ITA [International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce] to bring its AD policies into conformity with the AB's interpretation of the WTO's Antidumping Agreement."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.
2020-03-31
