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• Improved Meteorological Input for Atmospheric Release Decision Support Systems and an Integrated LES Modeling System for Atmospheric Dispersion of Toxic Agents: Homeland Security Applications

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  "When hazardous material is intentionally released into the atmosphere, emergency response organizations look to decision support systems (DSSs) to translate containment information provided by atmospheric models into effective decisions to protect the public and emergency responders and to mitigate subsequent consequences."

  Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  Arnold, Edwin J., Jr.; Simpson, Michael; Aluzzi, F.

  2010-04-28
• Changes in Health Insurance Coverage Due to the COVID-19 Recession: Preliminary Estimates Using Microsimulation

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  From the Introduction: "The novel coronavirus outbreak resulted in extensive business shutdowns and stay at home orders that upended the U.S. economy in just a few weeks. Job losses soared in March and April 2020: The number of people unemployed in the United States soared to a record-breaking 23.1 million. By April, the official unemployment rate reached 14.7 percent--and would have approached 20 percent had it been adjusted to include people out of work for unspecified reasons. Despite some employment gains in May and June, most economists forecast a long and slow economic recovery. Certain industries, such as restaurants, travel, and hospitality, will likely be affected by the ongoing health risks posed by the coronavirus for months or years to come, until an effective vaccine is widely available."

  Urban Institute; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

  Banthin, Jessica S.; Simpson, Michael; Buettgens, Matthew . . .

  2020-07
• COVID-19, Unemployment Compensation, and State Medicaid Expansion Decisions: Some Workers Losing Jobs and Health Insurance Remain Ineligible for Subsidized Coverage

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  From the Introduction: "A recent analysis found that over 70 percent of 7.4 million workers with prepandemic employer-based insurance through industries now vulnerable to high rates of unemployment would be eligible for some assistance with health insurance (Medicaid or marketplace subsidies) if they lost their jobs. However, eligibility differs significantly between workers in states that have and have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (hereinafter, expansion and nonexpansion states). [...] In this analysis, we expand upon our earlier work to show how the additional levels of unemployment insurance provided through the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program affects eligibility for subsidized coverage in expansion and nonexpansion states. We then simulate the effects on eligibility of extending the additional federal unemployment compensation, currently limited to 16 weeks, through the remainder of 2020, as proposed in the 'Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.' We also simulate the ramifications if all unemployment compensation was disregarded for eligibility determination in both programs."

  Urban Institute; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

  Blumberg, Linda J.; Simpson, Michael; Buettgens, Matthew . . .

  2020-05
• Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Report 2021 Supply Chains of Critical Goods Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic Disruptions, Recovery, and Resilience

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  From the Foreword: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic dramatically reduced international trade last year and significantly disrupted global value chains, complicating progress in Asia and the Pacific toward sustainable development. While trade in goods has since recovered strongly, supply chains need to be made more resilient, particularly to ensure the supply of critical goods. The Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Report 2021 shows that despite COVID-19, economies in the region have managed to cut red tape to keep trade flowing, as evidenced by the results of the 2021 Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation. Also evident is that digitalization of trade procedures has accelerated, although much more remains to be done. Cross-border trade digitalization has great potential to help countries in Asia and the Pacific access critical goods, especially those most vulnerable to trade uncertainty and crisis. The report indicates that further acceleration of digital trade facilitation implementation could cut average trade costs in the region by more than 13 per cent. It suggests that the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific--a United Nations treaty that entered into force in early 2021--provides a dedicated, inclusive, and capacity-building-focused intergovernmental platform to pursue this agenda. The report also highlights the need for more holistic and inclusive trade facilitation strategies in the region to ensure that groups and sectors with special needs benefit from the trade recovery. Measures are specifically needed to support small and medium-sized enterprises, women, and the agricultural sector to make the recovery more sustainable."

  Asian Development Bank; United Nations. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

  Chorthip Utoktham; Fu, Jiangyuan; Kim, Soo Hyun

  2021-10
• Financing Resilience in Post-COVID-19 Manufacturing and Supply Systems

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  From the Introduction: "Supply chains have been disrupted and altered over the past years in an unprecedented way as a result of megatrends such as emerging technologies, trade tensions, sustainability imperatives and the reconfiguration of globalization. The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has further exposed the fragility of global value chains. According to a recent World Economic Forum report in collaboration with Kearney, 76% of senior executives across different industries indicated that COVID-19 was a significant disruptor of their operations, affecting activity from both the supply and demand side. The future economic outlook is still uncertain, and disruptions from these megatrends will likely accelerate, continuing to threaten manufacturing and supply systems. Companies are now shifting towards increased collaboration and finding new solutions for more resilient and sustainable value chains, building the capabilities required to future-proof them. [...] This report aims to help inform decision-making on financing resilience across manufacturing and supply systems in the post-COVID world and to highlight new opportunities for collaboration. The following sections describe the findings of our consultations with senior executives in operations with respect to: [1] The emerging financial constraints raised by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the response mechanism and financial support that were activated within manufacturing[;] [2] The investments needed for a reorganization strategy towards a more resilient global manufacturing ecosystem[;] [and] [3] The opportunity for a global response and coordination mechanism to be established, for the manufacturing community to help finance resilience in value chains[.]"

  World Economic Forum; International Finance Corporation

  Fendri, Memia; Peta, Joana; Betti, Francisco . . .

  2021-10
• Growing Prospects for Maritime Security Cooperation in Southeast Asia

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  "The sea dominates Southeast Asia, covering roughly 80 percent of its area. The region's islands and peninsulas, wedged between the Pacific and Indian oceans, border major arteries of communication and commerce. Thus the economic and political affairs of Southeast Asia have been dominated by the sea. In the premodern period, ports such as Svirijaya and Malacca established empires based upon sea power in area waters. In succeeding centuries European warships and their heavy guns were the keys to colonization. Today more than half of the world's annual merchant tonnage traverses Southeast Asian waters; its oceans and seas yield vast revenues in such industries as fishing, hydrocarbon extraction, and tourism. In fact, more than 60 percent of Southeast Asians today live in or rely economically on the maritime zones. However, the sea is also the source of a variety of dangers that not only menace the prosperity of local populations but directly threaten the security of states. Those dangers include territorial disputes, nonstate political violence, transnational crime, and environmental degradation. Maritime security, accordingly, is at the forefront of Southeast Asian political concerns. Successful response to maritime security threats requires international cooperation, because those threats are primarily transnational. As Singapore's deputy prime minister has eloquently explained, 'individual state action is not enough. The oceans are indivisible and maritime security threats do not respect boundaries.'"

  Naval War College (U.S.)

  Bradford, John F.

  2005
• Climate Change: Federal Expenditures for Science and Technology [December 14, 2005]

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  "For over 25 years there have been federal programs directly or indirectly related to climate change. This report identifies and discusses direct climate-focused scientific and research programs of the federal government, as well as an array of energy programs that relate indirectly to climate change. The U.S. Global Change Research Program in the George H. W. Bush Administration, and subsequently in the Clinton Administration, funded studies to improve scientific understanding of the processes that influence Earth's climate, including trends on global and regional scales. The Climate Change Technology Initiative (CCTI) was the Clinton Administration's package of research and development (R&D) to develop renewable energy sources and more efficient technologies, targeted tax credits (to encourage purchase and deployment of more efficient technologies), and voluntary information programs (so businesses and schools might be better informed when making purchasing and operating decisions involving energy use and emissions). […] Funding for CCSP [Climate Change Science Program] amounted to $1.766 billion in FY2003, $1.975 billion in FY2004, and $1.913 billion in FY2005. For FY2006, $1.886 billion has been requested, a reduction of 1.4% relative to FY2005. Funding for climate change technologies amounted to $2.6 billion in FY2003, $2.87 billion in FY2004, and $2.99 billion in FY2005. For FY2006, $2.87 billion has been requested, a reduction of 4.0% relative to FY2005. Total funding for climate change scientific research and technologies amounted to $4.366 billion in FY2003, $4.845 billion in FY2004, and $4.903 billion in FY2005. For FY2006, $4.756 billion has been requested, a reduction of 3.0% relative to FY2005. This report will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Justus, John R.; Simpson, Michael M., 1954-

  2005-12-14
• Burnout in Hospital-Based Healthcare Workers During COVID-19

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  From the Summary: "Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished professional achievement. Prior to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, severe burnout was typically found in 20%-40% of healthcare workers. Contributors include workplace factors (e.g., workload, interpersonal conflict, moral distress, administrative burdens and documentation) and provider factors (e.g., low self-efficacy, emotional exhaustion, reduced sense of personal accomplishment,). Burnout is harmful for the healthcare system, workers, and patients. Risk factors have been exacerbated during the pandemic, resulting in an urgent need for intervention. This brief focuses on healthcare workers in hospitals. Similar challenges exist in other healthcare settings (e.g., long-term care, primary health care, public health), which are not reviewed here."

  Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table

  Maunder, Robert G.; Heeney, Natalie D.; Strudwick, Gillian . . .

  2021-10-07
• Preventing the Next Pandemic: The Case for Investing in Circulatory Health

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  From the Introduction: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a continuous and robust impact on world health. The resulting COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating physical, mental and fiscal impact on the millions of people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), as they have a higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. COVID-19 has been associated with an excess in all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality beyond that related to the infection itself and its immediate consequences. [...] COVID-19 impacts health beyond complications of infectious diseases and the current and future impact upon circulatory health must be faced directly. It is of extreme importance to identify and adequately manage those at greater risk to mitigate the already elevated burden of circulatory disease, with the greatest impact felt in low- and middle-income world regions. As the chief representatives of the global circulatory health community and patients, the Global Coalition for Circulatory Health has a unique responsibility to draw policymakers' attention to the tsunami of post-pandemic consequences lying in wait."

  Global Coalition for Circulatory Health (Global Coalition, GCCH)

  Stewart, David; Ferat, Leslie Rae; Forrest, Ryan . . .

  2021-10?
• Back on the Field: A Study of the COVID-19 Pandemic's Effects on Youth Sports

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  From the Executive Summary: "In 2021, TeamSnap, which provides industry-leading sports management and communication software for amateur sports, designed a study in collaboration with The Aspen Institute's Sports & Society Program, Families in Sport Lab at Utah State University, and Louisiana Tech University's Minds in Motion Lab, to explore the effects of the pandemic on young people and youth sports. [...] The study results demonstrate significant findings about the connection between youth sports and mental health, with 9 in 10 parents (89%) citing mental health as a top reason their children participate in youth sports, and the majority of parents (52%) reporting that their children's mental health and physical fitness decreased during the pandemic."

  Aspen Institute; TeamSnap; Aspen Institute. Project Play

  2021?
• Information Quality Act: OMB's Guidance and Initial Implementation [August 19, 2004]

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  "The Information Quality Act (IQA), sometimes referred to as the Data Quality Act, was enacted in December 2000 as Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106-554). The act required the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidance to federal agencies designed to ensure the 'quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity' of information disseminated to the public. It also required agencies to issue their own information quality guidelines, and to establish administrative mechanisms that allow affected persons to seek correction of information maintained and disseminated by the agencies that does not comply with the OMB guidance. Although some observers said the IQA would improve the quality of agency science and regulation, others viewed the act as a tool by which regulated parties could slow or even stop new health, safety, and environmental standards."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Simpson, Michael M., 1954-

  2004-08-19
• Anthrax-Contaminated Facilities: Preparations and a Standard for Remediation [December 16, 2005]

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  "Bacillus anthracis, the cause of the anthrax disease, was released into the United States postal system in autumn 2001, resulting in five deaths and contaminating several public and private facilities. Remediation costs were significant. Subsequently, extant federal procedures and policies were clarified and augmented, and new procedures and policies were created to fill identified gaps...The criterion (not the standard) for determining a successful remediation has been and remains zero growth of anthrax surrogates from all postremediation samples. In conjunction with the recommendations above, and given remediation experience since 2001, it may not be necessary to develop a remediation standard because consistently achieving the zero-growth remediation criterion appears possible and would likely be demanded by stakeholders. This report will be updated as warranted."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Simpson, Michael M., 1954-

  2005-12-16
• Global Climate Change: Federal Research on Possible Human Health Effects [Updated February 10, 2006]

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  From the Summary: "The average global temperature has risen approximately 0.6oC (0.9oF) over the past century. Global mean temperatures are projected by recent computer models to increase by 1.8oC to as much as 7.1oC (2.7oF to 10.7oF) over the next 100 years. It appears likely that global mean temperature increases will continue, and projections into the future predict a variety of possible related impacts in general, such as more volatile weather patterns, increased incidence of hot spells, and changing precipitation patterns that may include more intense rainfall patterns, as well as changing and intensified drought patterns. Extensive research is underway concerning the links between climate and human health; however, much of this research is being done for reasons unrelated to climate change per se. Health effects research topics are very wide-ranging, including studying skin and eye damage from increased ultraviolet radiation, effects of damaged water infrastructure, dynamics of recovering from disasters, and ways to strengthen the capacity in developing countries to deal with infectious diseases. Three conclusions are common to several studies on possible health effects of climate change: the infirm, the elderly, and the poor may be disproportionately impacted if climate change results in more severe and/or more frequent episodes of heat waves and air pollution; the risks of vector- and water-borne diseases may increase with global warming, but countries and regions with adequate sanitation, surveillance, and public health systems may not see significant increases in disease incidence or distribution; and further research is needed to better understand the complex linkages between climate and health. Human health problems that may be linked to climate change are not created by changes in climate per se; rather, they are problems independent of climate change that may be exacerbated or intensified by changing weather patterns (climate, a longer-term phenomenon, can be considered to be the average of shorter-term weather patterns). Most health research is being conducted for reasons unrelated to climate change, but researchers are alert to ways in which environmental factors affecting health may be altered by climate change. In its oversight responsibilities, Congress may wish to consider the priorities and coordination of federally funded climate change health research."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Simpson, Michael M., 1954-

  2006-02-10
• Real-World Assessments of COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy

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  From the Document: "Over the past year, the global vaccination campaign to end the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has progressed from tests of vaccine efficacy to over six billion (and counting) administered doses. Highly structured clinical trials facilitated strong statistical examinations of the vaccines because randomization accounts for unobserved confounders that could bias the analysis. Post-approval assessments have limitations because they rely on data from less structured, real-world settings. Several post-approval studies show the existing mRNA [messenger ribonucleic acid] vaccines launched initially in the US effectively prevent, as predicted, the worst outcomes of COVID-19, while the vaccines many other countries use are less effective but still invaluable in fighting the pandemic. An observed erosion in vaccine efficacy this year, relative to the clinical trials of 2020, may be a function of the new variants of the virus, waning acquired immunity against infection over time, or other factors, such as the higher incidence of prior infections in the unvaccinated population and the tendency for random error (such as false-positive COVID-19 tests) to attenuate measured efficacy rates. Taken together, the studies make it plain that vaccinating the unvaccinated with any of the globally approved vaccines remains the most important step for lessening the pandemic's severity."

  American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

  Capretta, James C.; Ganz, Scott C.; Allsop, Kieran

  2021-10
• President's Budget for Foreign Affairs and Business Meeting to Vote Out the Nomination of Robert B. Zoellick to be Deputy Secretary of State: Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, February 16, 2005

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  From the prepared statement of Richard G. Lugar: "Today the Committee welcomes our Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. Although she appeared before us four weeks ago, this is the first time that she has testified before the Congress as Secretary of State, a very special occasion. We welcome her in this new capacity. We look forward to many such appearances in the future. The Foreign Relations Committee, Congress, and the American people have followed your recent travels, Ms. Secretary, to Europe and to the Middle East, with very great interest. We are excited to learn more about the progress you have made in advancing relations with important friends and allies. Under President Bush and Secretary Powell, funding for the Foreign Affairs account has increased substantially. The President has requested increases in each of the last four budgets. In this year's budget, the President has requested a 13-percent increase for the Foreign Affairs account, the largest percent increase of any account in the budget. This is a tangible demonstration of the President's commitment to diplomatic strength, and Congress must now do its part by providing the resources the President needs to carry out an effective foreign policy. Secretary Rice, we are eager to hear your views on the health of our alliances, the Bush administration's plans for making further progress in Iraq and Afghanistan, the status of negotiations pertaining to Iran, North Korea, and the Arab-Israeli peace process, and your assessment of the State Department's budget. We thank you for joining us today. We look forward to your discussion." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Joseph R. Biden, Richard G. Lugar, Condoleezza Rice, Lamar Alexander, and Paul S. Sarbanes.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2005
• Financial Flood Insurance Repetitive Losses, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Economic Policy of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Second Session on Certain Measures to Address Repetitive Loss Properties, March 25, 2004

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  From the opening statement of Senator Jim Bunning: "For the last few years, we have continually passed one year reauthorizations of the National Flood Insurance Program. One year we were not able to pass the reauthorization until after it had expired. This situation has created an uneasiness in our housing markets. Our House colleagues have gone a long way toward eliminating that uneasiness. We hope to finish the job very soon. We hope to hear from all of our witnesses on what they think about the House Bill 253. Specifically, do you think any improvements can be made and what those improvements would be? I think our House colleagues did a very good job and created a very good product. But we can make it a little better. I think we can tweak it here and there. I have been working with Chairman Shelby, Senator Sarbanes, Senator Hagel, Senator Dole, and other Senators to try to put a bill together, working off the House draft. I know they have been in touch with the staff of the House Financial Services Committee. I am hopeful that we will be introducing a bipartisan bill in the very near future. Hopefully, your testimony today will help us see what we are missing with our bill so we can continue to move this process forward. It is very important that we both renew and reform this program. Renewal will bring stability but we should not waste the opportunity to reform. We have the opportunity to help a great deal of homeowners by giving them mitigation assistance, which will help save the taxpayers money by getting those homeowners off the repetitive loss list. This bill can be a great win-win for our country." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Barbara A. Mikulski, Doug Bereuter, Earl Blumenauer, Anthony S. Lowe, William O. Jenkins, Jr., Chad Berginnis, William Stiglitz, III, Greg Kosse, Steven M. Feldmann, Fredric H. Alley, James D. Whitaker, Jeffrey K. Aiken, Beth Midgett, F. Douglas Salvia, Christopher G. Swenson.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2005
• Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on International Trade and Finance of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, First Session on Ensuring that EX-IM Bank has the Resources to Enable it to Fulfill its Statutory mandate for U.S. Exporters both Small and Large to Provide Financing Terms and Conditions Competitive with Those Offered by Foreign Export Credit Agencies, May 17, 2001

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  From the opening statement of Senator Chuck Hagel: "The Subcommittee on International Trade and Finance meets today for an important hearing on the reauthorization of the Export- Import Bank, commonly referred to as the Ex-Im Bank. The Ex-Im Bank was last authorized in 1997, for a 4-year term that expires September 30 of this year. The Ex-Im Bank is an important component of U.S. economic and international policy. It helps U.S. companies get their products and services to customers overseas. It helps new exporters get started in the global marketplace. The Ex-Im Bank also sustains relations between the United States and struggling countries that rely on U.S. products and services. Such relations encourage the sharing of democratic ideas and the rule of law. Exports facilitated by the Ex-Im Bank support jobs in America. Some of our witnesses today will tell what these exports mean to their employees. The Ex-Im Bank's role as a stabilizing influence during periods of economic instability is also important to recognize. Ex-Im emerged relatively unscathed from the Asian-Russian financial crisis of 1997-1998. For the 2-year period ending September 1999, Ex-Im paid guarantee and insurance claims totalling $1.5 billion. Ex-Im helped keep trade going between Asia and the United States during the crisis when no commercial banks would take the risk." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Peter A. Bowe, E. Robert Meaney, Dean R. Dort, II, D.P. (Darin) Narayana, Terrence D. Straub, Tom McKenna, C. Fred Bergsten.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2002
• Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on International Trade and Finance of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, First Session on Ensuring that Ex-Im Bank Has the Resources to Enable It To Fulfill Its Statutory Mandate for U.S. Exporters Both Small and Large to Provide Financing Terms and Conditions Competitive With Those Offered By Foreign Export Credit Agencies, June 19, 2001

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  From the opening statement of Senator Evan Bayh: "This is the second of two hearings on the potential reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, the authority for which expires this September 30. So this is a timely matter of great significance to all of us present today as well as to the country. It has tremendous macroeconomic significance given our substantial balance-of-trade deficit, and that will impact our currency and the rest of our economic health in the years to come if we are not diligent about addressing that issue. It has significant microeconomic considerations for companies that wish to compete on a level playing field. It is important that we try and level that playing field so that American industries and businesses can export their goods and services without having undone the natural competitive advantage they would otherwise enjoy being negated by unfair practices on the part of other countries that are not addressed by the United States and our Government. The first hearing on this subject matter involved hearing from State governments and the private sector. We heard many positive comments about the role of the Export-Import Bank and the contributions it has made to the welfare and well being of America's economy. Of course no organization is perfect. We heard some areas of criticism, particularly with regard to the adverse impact rules and the question of whether the Bank has at all times lived up to its own standards of analysis in regard to enforcing those rules. It is an issue of which I have some significant interest to address in the course of these hearings. This second set of hearings will focus upon the administration and the witnesses representing the administration, starting with John Robson." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John E. Robson, John B. Taylor.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2002
• Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2011, Hearings before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session, on S. 3607, an Act Making Appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2011, and for Other Purposes

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  From the opening statement of Robert C. Byrd: "As I review the details of the President's budget, I find significant gaps between the mission assignments stated in the Strategic Framework and the resources requested in the President's budget. The budget includes a modest increase of 2.6 percent for the Department with most of the increase provided to the Transportation Security Administration in response to the December 25 attempted attack on Northwest Airlines Flight 253. While the proposed increases for checkpoint explosives technology and additional Federal Air Marshals may be appropriate, it is an example of responding to the latest threat rather than anticipating future threats." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Robert C. Byrd, Senator (WV) ; Patty Murray, Senator (WA); Mary L. Landrieu, Senator (LA); George V. Voinovich, Senator (OH); Thad Cochran, Senator (MS); Sam Brownback, Senator (KS); Frank Lautenberg, Senator (NJ); Judd Gregg, Senator (NH); Janet Napolitano, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security; Thad W. Allen, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard; the Marine Conservation Biology Institute; the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems; National Emergency Management Association; National Environmental Services Center; and the National Treasury Employees Union.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2011
• Nonimmigrant Business Visas and Adjustment of Status: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, Ninety-Seventh Congress, First Session on Nonimmigrant Business Visas and Adjustment of Status, December 11, 1981

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  From the opening statement of the Hon. Alan K. Simpson, a U.S. Senator from the State of Wyoming, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy: "We will now continue the hearings on the various aspects of the Immigration Act. We are focusing today on an increasingly important area of concern, and that is the non immigrant visas generally used by executives and technical personnel to obtain entrance into the United States. These visas are more popularly known by the letters of their subsections in the INA. B-l, visitor for business; E-l and E-2, treaty traders and treaty investors; H-l, persons of distinguished merit and ability; and the L visas, geared to the multinational corporations. Not to mention the ones I left out, which sound like alphabet soup, A through what, J? Yes, the rest. We have heard of the importance of these visas in connection with American business and growth and our economy and those issues. Conversely, we have heard of the abuse of these visas. The use of them where American skilled personnel is already available and for the purpose of entering the United States for other than temporary purposes, and this raises then the adjustment of status question: Should one be able to adjust status within these non immigrant categories, or adjust to an immigrant category? This can be done under the present law. These adjustments take up a good portion of INS time and encourage the rather prevalent idea that once you get to the United States, there is a way to stay there, and we have found throughout 16 hearings that that is a rather prevalent note in America's immigration and refugee policies: Just get there." Materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Harold J. Ammond, Diego C. Asencio, Sam Bernsen, William F. Cagney, Irwin Feerst, Charles C. Foster, Austin T. Fragomen, Richard Goldstein, Esther M. Kaufman, and Doris Meissner.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1982
• Proposed Regulation Changes for Refugee Assistance: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, Ninety-Seventh Congress, Second Session on Proposed Regulation Changes for Refugee Assistance, February 9, 1982

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  From the opening statement of the Hon. Alan K. Simpson, a U.S. Senator from the State of Wyoming, Chairman, Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy: "We focus today on proposed changes to current regulations on Federal reimbursement to the States for cash and medical assistance related to refugee resettlement. I very much welcome the participation of my good colleague from Oregon, Senator Mark Hatfield, who is chairman of the Committee on Appropriations. This issue is a matter of grave concern and interest to him as well as many other Senators. This active and regular consultation process between the executive and legislative branches is important to us in determining not only the level of refugee admissions to the United States but also in promulgating the principles related to refugee resettlement which are expressed in the Refugee Act. It is in this oversight capacity, then, that we take the opportunity to hear the testimony of the Department of Health and Human Services as it relates to the regulatory changes proposed by the administration, as well as to listen to the commentary of representatives of the State and local government agencies which will be most critically affected by those changes. Refugee resettlement is a challenging and difficult task and, as stated in the Refugee Act, requires cooperation among the Congress and various executive agencies. Each has its own unique role to play. It is clear that the proposed changes in regulation represent, hopefully, a step toward greater equity between refugees and citizens in terms of eligibility for assistance programs. This is an important factor which I stressed during the fiscal year 1982 refugee consultation as a most necessary step in alleviating community tensions which arise from this discrepancy." Materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jerry Burns, Alan J. Gibbs, Phillip N. Hawkes, John F. Herrity, Le Xuan Khoa, Wells C. Klein, Susan G. Levy, Librado Perez, and David Pingree.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1983
• G-IV Visa Relief Proposals: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, Ninety-Seventh Congress, Second Session on G-IV Visa Relief Proposals, February 1, 1982

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  From the opening statement of the Hon. Alan K. Simpson, a U.S. Senator from the State of Wyoming, Chairman, Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy: "Under existing law we have this particular situation. I think all of you here are aware of it where employees of certain international organizations and their families come to the United States on a type of non immigrant visa known as G-iv. Such organizations include the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States, and Inter-American Development Bank. At the present time if such an employee dies or retires, the family is required to leave the United States and return to their native land, often on very short notice. In addition, adult sons and daughters must leave the United States when they have completed their education and have ceased being dependents of their parents. Frequently these family members have been out of touch with their home country for many years. For children the law can be particularly harsh. If they have grown up and gone to school here, they tend to become Americanized and often cannot even speak the native language of their parents." Materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Diego Asencio, Lloyd N. Cutler, Eugene R. Black, George David Woods, A. W. Clausen, Santiago Astrain, William P. Rogers, Henry A. Kissinger, Edmund S. Muskie, Cyrus Vance, G. William Miller, W. M. Blumenthal, George P. Shultz, William E. Simon, Elliot L. Richardson, Stanley R. Resor, David Rockefeller, Kaija Juusela, Sam Lin, Charles Mathias, Robert S. McNamara, Alan Nelson, Ingrid Schmedtje, Davidson Sommers, and John L. Stevenson.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1982
• INS Oversight: The Criminal Record Verification Process for Citizenship Applicants: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Immigration of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifth Congress, First Session on Reviewing Certain Activities of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Focusing on the Criminal Record Verification Process for Citizenship Applicants, May 1, 1997

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  From the opening statement of Hon. Spencer Abraham: "We should note that the vast majority of citizenship applicants are law abiding, legal immigrants with every right and desire to become full-fledged American citizens. At the same time, we must recognize that all of us, those who are citizens, whether they are native-born Americans or naturalized citizens, have, I think, the right to know that the process by which others gain their citizenship is a process that is conducted in a credible way, in an accurate way, and in a way that only permits those who are eligible and who play by the rules to become citizens. So, certainly, our goal here today and in further hearings is going to be to try to take actions that make sure that that is the way the process is functioning. Unfortunately, there have been problems in the naturalization process which have been observed, causing those who are not eligible, those with criminal backgrounds, to be naturalized. I want to stress and make this point, that these are not new problems. They are not ones that just came to light in the last few weeks or few months. In 1988, a Department of Justice audit found no record of fingerprint checks requested or mailed to the FBI in something in the vicinity of 47 percent of the files reviewed, and I think we will be hearing more about that." Additional materials submitted to the record includes those of the following: Gary M. Ahrens, Charles W. Archer, Michael R. Bromwich, Stephen R. Colgate, Richard M. Stana, and Doris Meissner.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1997
• Identity Theft: Recent Developments Involving the Security of Sensitive Consumer Information, Hearings before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session on Recent Developments Involving the Security of Sensitive Consumer Information Relating to Identity Theft, Focusing on Laws Currently Applicable to Resellers of Consumer Information, March 10 and 15, 2005

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  From the opening statement of Chairman Richard C. Shelby: "This afternoon we are going to hold the first of two hearings to examine the level of security that has been provided to sensitive financial information. While two incidents have received significant media attention and brought this issue to the forefront, I want to make clear that these events are only a small part of larger developments and note that I feel this overall subject requires broad, not simply anecdotal, consideration. The fact is, technology has profoundly changed our economy. Automation, depersonalized transactions, and the electronic storage, manipulation, and transfer of massive amounts of sensitive information are entirely routine. While there are significant benefits associated with these developments, we must also recognize that there are some significant risks associated with them as well. Most notably our rapid-fire, credit-in-a-moment economy provides tremendous opportunities for fraud and identity theft. If a crook gets hold of someone's personal information such as their name, date of birth, and Social Security number they can steal millions of dollars and wreak havoc on that person's life and credit history in only a matter of moments. For this reason, I believe it is paramount that this kind of sensitive information be properly protected. In the past, much of the focus regarding identity theft prevention has been directed on what an individual can do to protect themselves. This was and remains very important, but identity theft criminals have grown more sophisticated and are more aggressively pursuing information from centralized data sources. At a minimum, recent events indicate that we must remain constantly vigilant regarding the financial information, security practices and entities that hold millions, if not billions, of financial records. Thus, the purpose of today's hearing is to gain insight into the state of the industry compliance with the laws designed to protect personal financial information and to learn whether the current legal framework provides adequate protections and has kept pace with the change in the marketplace." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Senators Shelby, Corzine, Sarbanes, Johnson, Reed, Dole, Schumer, Patrick Leahy, Deborah Platt Majoras, Larry Johnson, Amy S. Friend, Bunning, Allard, Don McGuffey, Evan Hendricks, Barbara Desoer.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2006
• State of the Securities Industry, Hearing Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session on the Examination of the State of the Securities Industry, Focusing on Recent Initiatives Regarding Market Structure, Credit Rating Agencies, Mutual Funds, and the Implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Requirements, March 9, 2005

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  From the opening statement of Chairman Richard C. Shelby: "For the past 18 months, the SEC has pursued an aggressive agenda of reform in the mutual fund industry. While continuing to bring enforcement actions against wrongdoers, the SEC has enacted a comprehensive set of new rules aimed at improving fund governance, eliminating market timing and late trading, and enhancing disclosures to investors. To date, the SEC has adopted 10 rules, and additional rules are pending regarding soft dollars, 12b-1 fees and point of sale disclosures. In addition to completing its rulemaking, the SEC continues to examine other fund industry products and practices, such as the role of pension consultants, 529 education plans, and the sale of periodic mutual fund products to military servicemen and women. Clearly, there is more work to be done in this area, Mr. Chairman, and I look forward to hearing about recent developments and perhaps some future actions that you are contemplating. I commend the SEC for its response to the problems in the mutual fund industry. Through your leadership and the hard work of the SEC staff, I believe that investors have begun to regain their confidence, Mr. Chairman, in the mutual fund industry." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Senators Shelby, Sarbanes, Allard, Stabenow, Hagel, Bennett, Schumer, Sununu, Enzi, Bunning, Carper.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2006
• Examining the Financial Services Industry's Responsibilities and Role in Preventing Identity Theft and Protecting Sensitive Financial Information, Hearing Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session on Examining the Financial Services Industry's Responsibilities and Role in Preventing Identity Theft and Protecting Sensitive Financial Information, September 22, 2005

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  From the opening statement of Chairman Richard C. Shelby: "The broad focus of the hearing this morning, identity theft, is not a subject that is new to this Committee. Indeed, it is far from it. During the Committee's consideration of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, we heard from numerous witnesses who represented various perspectives regarding this issue. Furthermore, we also held additional hearings on this subject independent of the FCRA reauthorization process. It is important to highlight the Committee's longstanding engagement with respect to this matter. We will spend considerable time and effort attempting to ascertain the nature and the scope of the identity theft threat. As a result, we have directed legal and regulatory changes to provide greater protections for consumers and the overall financial system. Therefore, as we might consider any changes in this area, it is very important that we assess what we are doing in the context of the things we have already done. That said, I do want to indicate that I am also aware of the fact that the criminal element is constantly searching for new ways to take advantage of consumers and the financial system. In as much, I recognize that this means that we must be constantly vigilant to ensure that we have the means in place to provide the appropriate safeguards necessary relative to the existing threats. The purpose of today's hearing is to continue this consideration, and we look forward at the proper time to hearing from all of our witnesses." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Senators Shelby, Sarbanes, Allard, Reed, Dole, Bunning, Dodd, Carper, Pryor, Stuart K. Pratt, Edmund Mierzwinski, Ira D. Hammerman, Gilbert T. Schwartz, Oliver I. Ireland.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2006
• Report to the Congress on International Economic and Exchange Rate Policies, Hearing Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session on Examination of the Report to Congress on International Economic and Exchange Rate Policies, Focusing on Imbalances in the Global Economy, and China's Currency Regime, May 26, 2005

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  From the opening statement of Chairman Richard C. Shelby: "The U.S. current-account deficit hit a record $666 billion last year, or 5.6 percent of GDP. Coinciding with this deficit has been the purchase of large volumes of Treasury securities by the Chinese and Japanese central banks. As of March of this year, Japan's reserve holdings of Treasuries stood at $679.5 billion while the value of China's reserves were at $223.5 billion. While some may argue that these numbers are a natural outgrowth of globalized financial markets, the numbers also raise questions about whether the current world trade situation present a level playing field. The continuing weakness in the manufacturing sector made the trade and exchange rate policies in China and Japan a tangible issue to U.S. businesses and taxpayers. Treasury's May report indicates that no major trading partner of the United States met the technical requirements for currency manipulation under the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 during the second half of 2004. However, Mr. Secretary, the report went on to indicate that ''Current Chinese policies are highly distortionary and pose a risk to China's economy, its trading partners, and global economic growth.'' As you will hear this morning, Members of Congress were disappointed to hear that once again Treasury had failed to make a currency manipulation determination. Secretary Snow, this Committee would like to engage you in a serious discussion this morning about the specific measures the Administration will take in the next 6 months to move China forward on a flexible rate path. Over the long-term, both the United States and the global economy will benefit most from the continued pursuit of free trade and flexible exchange rate policies. The most desirable way to reduce our current account deficit would be through stronger growth abroad and more open trading markets and policies." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Senators Shelby, Allard, Dole, Schumer, Crapo, Sarbanes, Bennett, Bayh, Hagel, Stabenow, Carper, John W. Snow.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2006
• H.R. 2868, the 'Chemical Facility Anti-terrorism Act of 2009', Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, June 16, 2009

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  From the opening statement of Bennie G. Thompson: "H.R. 2868, the 'Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009,' is the product of over 6 months of stakeholder meetings and bipartisan discussions between the Committees on Homeland Security and Energy and Commerce. In the end, we have produced a bill that is both comprehensive and commonsense. I have made no secret of my disappointment that past efforts to enact chemical security legislation been bogged down because of jurisdictional conflict. This Congress, I have a partner that shares my commitment to enacting comprehensive chemical security legislation this year--Henry Waxman--the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. At our direction, over the past 6 months, committee staff worked in an open and bipartisan manner and sought input from a wide range of experts and stakeholders including: 1) the Department of Homeland Security; 3) large and small chemical manufacturers; 4) fertilizer manufacturers; 5) petroleum and propane manufacturers and distributors; 6) the explosives industry; 7) key associations in the chemical sector; 8) the State of New Jersey; 9) representatives from labor unions that represent chemical facility workers; 10) drinking water and wastewater organizations, and 11) academic and other experts. Today's hearing will continue in that open, collaborative spirit." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bennie G. Thompson, Peter T. King, Loretta Sanchez, Philip R. Reitinger, Sue Armstrong, Paul Baldauf, Marty Durbin, Neal Langerman, Martin Jeppeson, Charles W. Dent, Rick Hind, Elizabeth Hitchcock, and Christopher P. Carney.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2011
• Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Immigration of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifth Congress, First Session on Examining Legislation That Will Provide Relief for Haitian Refugees, December 17, 1997

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  From the opening statement of Orrin G. Hatch: "First of all, in 1996 we passed legislation, the illegal immigration bill, which was designed to address a variety of specific problems with respect to illegal immigration. I believe many aspects of the legislation were very appropriate, and I think we're beginning to gain some positive benefits from that. Unfortunately, various sections of that legislation, woven together, whether it was the design or not of people who voted for the legislation in total, have had some perverse impacts on a variety of different fronts that have been, as a consequence, issues to be addressed by those of us in the 105th Congress. The combination of the changes to the suspension of deportation procedures and the cap of 4,000 per year on those who could be suspended and adjusted, was together a very devastating set of procedures with regard to people who had been in various processes seeking to have their status adjusted here in the United States." Materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Spencer Abraham, John Conyers, Jr., Peggy Demon, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Bob Graham, Cheryl Little, Louiciana Miclisse, Alex Panelas, Grover Joseph Rees, Nestillia Robergeau, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Miraan Sa, and Thomas G. Wenski. Also included are letters to Senator Abraham and the prepared statement of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1998
• Revisiting the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, February 26, 2009

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  From the opening statement of Bobby L. Rush: "In this regard, our first hearing of the 111th Congress is an ambitious one and represents a new addition to the subcommittee's vast jurisdiction. Today's hearing will explore the major issues surrounding the Toxic Substances Control Act, also known as TSCA. TSCA was enacted in 1976 and originally consisted of one title, which today remains at the heart of the statute. While Congress over the years has added additional titles to TSCA addressing individual chemicals and substances, Congress has done very little with regard to Title I. TSCA and Title I have never been reauthorized nor has it been reformed, and very little oversight has been conducted on the statute's effectiveness. Today I hope to start a deliberative process that reverses this Congressional inaction of the past. By most accounts, TSCA is badly in need of reform. While opinions may vary on the degree and nature of the reforms needed, there is a broad consensus among a diversity of stakeholders that TSCA needs to be reexamined. The scope of TSCA is very broad and its intent is indeed very ambitious. TSCA is meant to provide adequate data on potential health and environmental risk of all chemical substances and mixtures in the United States. Furthermore, the statute is supposed to provide EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] with adequate regulatory tools to protect the public from unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. It is unfortunate that the statute has seemingly been a failure on both of these basic policy goals and objectives. Critics contend that TSCA has failed to generate data on the health risks of approximately 80,000 chemicals currently in use and the approximately 700 new chemicals that are introduced into commerce each and every year." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bobby L. Rush, George Radanovich, Janice D. Schakowsky, Lee Terry, John Sarbanes, Tim Murphy, Phil Gingrey, Zachary T. Space, Henry A. Waxman, Bruce L. Braley, Cliff Stearns, John D. Dingell, John Stephenson, J. Clarence (Terry) Davies, Maureen Swanson, Cecil Corbin-Mark, Michael Wright, Richard Denison, Kathy Gerwig, Cal Dooley, V.M. (Jim) Delisi, Charles T. Drevna, David Littell, John E. Baldacci, and Stuart Eizenstat.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2011