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Climate Information: A National System Could Help Federal, State, Local, and Private Sector Decision Makers Use Climate Information, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Over the last decade, the federal government incurred over $300 billion in costs due to extreme weather and fire, according to the President's 2016 budget request. Costs are expected to grow as rare events become more common and intense due to climate change, according to the National Academies. State, local, and private sector decision makers also drive fiscal exposures, as they are responsible for infrastructure paid for with federal funds or eligible for disaster aid. GAO's [Government Accountability Office] 2015 High-Risk update prioritized improving federal efforts to provide the best available climate information and technical assistance to help decision makers use the information to build resilience in up front. This report examines (1) the extent to which federal efforts meet the climate information needs of decision makers; (2) examples of how other countries organized climate information systems; (3) whether and how federal efforts could be improved; and (4) the strengths and limitations of different options to provide climate information. GAO analyzed reports; reviewed systems in three other countries; and interviewed stakeholders with knowledge of climate information. […] GAO recommends that the Executive Office of the President (EOP) direct a federal entity to develop a set of authoritative climate change projections and observations and create a national climate information system with defined roles for federal agencies and nonfederal entities. Relevant EOP entities provided only technical comments, which GAO incorporated as appropriate."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-11
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Biden Administration's Immigration Enforcement Priorities: Background and Legal Considerations [Updated June 8, 2022]
From the Document: "Almost immediately after taking office, President Biden issued a series of directives [hyperlink] on immigration matters. Some of these directives focused on altering the immigration enforcement priorities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency primarily charged with the enforcement of federal immigration laws [hyperlink]. Federal statute confers immigration authorities with 'broad discretion' [hyperlink] to determine when it is appropriate to pursue the removal of a non-U.S. national ('alien' under federal law [hyperlink]) who lacks a legal basis to remain in the country. Resource or humanitarian concerns have typically led authorities to prioritize enforcement actions against subsets of the removable population (e.g., those who have committed certain crimes or pose national security risks). The Trump Administration made enforcement a touchstone of its immigration policy, and generally sought to enforce [hyperlink] federal immigration laws against a broader range of aliens who had committed immigration violations than the Obama Administration. President Biden rescinded [hyperlink] some of the Trump Administration's immigration initiatives and directed DHS to review its immigration enforcement policies and priorities. In January 2021, DHS issued temporary immigration enforcement guidance [hyperlink] that generally focused enforcement activities toward aliens who pose a threat to national security, border security, or public safety."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.
2022-06-08
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Bahamas: An Overview [Updated June 7, 2022]
From the Document: "The Bahamas, a Caribbean nation of some 700 islands off the southeast coast of the United States, has been a stable parliamentary democracy since its independence from the United Kingdom (UK) in 1973. The country's bicameral legislature has a 39-seat House of Assembly directly elected for five-year terms and a 16-member appointed Senate. Since independence, two political parties have dominated elections, the center-left Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and the center-right Free National Movement (FNM). The PLP was formed in 1953 as an opposition party to the United Bahamian Party (UBP), which governed the Bahamas when the country was under British rule. In 1967, the PLP won control of the government and oversaw the country's independence from the UK. It ruled continuously from 1967 until 1992 under the leadership of Lynden Pindling, commonly referred to as the 'father of the nation.' The FNM was formed in 1971 by former members of the UBP and dissidents from the PLP. Under the leadership of Hubert Ingraham, the FNM won the 1992 general elections, governing over the next decade until 2002. Since then, the two parties have alternated winning national elections."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2022-06-07
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 5078, Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014
This is a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cost estimate for H.R. 5078. "H.R. 5078 would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) from implementing or enforcing certain proposed regulations regarding the use of the nation's waters and wetlands. The legislation would affect direct spending because it would reduce fees collected by the Corps for issuing permits under the Clean Water Act (CWA). However, CBO estimates that the change in those fees would be negligible. Because the legislation would affect direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Enacting H.R. 5078 would not affect revenues. In addition, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 5078 would have no significant effect on discretionary spending by EPA or the Corps."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2014-08-01
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 4252, Inland Empire Perchlorate Ground Water Plume Assessment Act of 2010
"H.R. 4252 would direct the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct a study of water resources in the Rialto-Colton Basin located east of Los Angeles, California. The study would identify the location of aquifers in the basin, evaluate the impact of perchlorate contamination in the basin, and include analysis of other related water issues in the basin. Based on information from the U.S. Geological Survey and assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing H.R. 4252 would cost $4 million over the next two years. Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. H.R. 4252 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. On March 3, 2010, CBO provided a cost estimate for H.R. 4252 as ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on February 24, 2010. The two versions of the legislation and CBO's cost estimates are similar."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2010-08-06
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Water Infrastructure: EPA and USDA Are Helping Small Water Utilities with Asset Management; Opportunities Exist to Better Track Results, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Recent catastrophic breaks in water mains and sewer discharges during storms are indicators of the nation's old and deteriorating water and wastewater infrastructure. EPA estimates that small water utilities-those serving fewer than 10,000 people--may need about $143 billion for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure repairs and replacement over 20 years. EPA and USDA provide the three largest sources of federal funding for water infrastructure. In a March 2004 report, GAO [Government Accountability Office] found that water utilities may benefit from implementing asset management-a tool used across a variety of sectors to manage physical assets, such as roads and buildings. GAO was asked to review water utilities' use of asset management. This report examines (1) what is known about the use of asset management among the nation's water utilities-particularly small water utilities-including benefits and challenges and (2) steps EPA and USDA are taking to help small water utilities implement asset management. GAO selected a nongeneralizable sample of 25 water utilities in 10 states based on largest infrastructure needs and interviewed EPA, USDA, state, and water utility officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-01-27
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Open App Markets Act [June 8, 2022]
From the Document: "Efforts to reform competition law proceed at different levels of generality. Some bills [hyperlink] would tackle [hyperlink] antitrust writ large. Others are more focused [hyperlink], applying special rules [hyperlink] to a handful of Big Tech companies [hyperlink]. The Open App Markets Act (OAMA) is narrower still, targeting one segment of the digital economy-- mobile software application (app) stores--with sectoral regulation. While limited in scope, the legislation would reshape key technology markets. Last year, the two largest app stores--Apple's App Store and Google Play--generated combined sales of $133 billion, which reportedly contributed a fifth of the operating profits [hyperlink] at Apple and at Google parent Alphabet. The OAMA (S. 2710 [hyperlink], H.R. 5017 [hyperlink], and H.R. 7030 [hyperlink]) would require these firms to make major changes to their business practices in the name of protecting app developers and consumers from alleged abuses of monopoly power. This Sidebar provides an overview of S. 2710 [hyperlink], a version of the OAMA which the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced with amendments in February 2022."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sykes, Jay B.
2022-06-08
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CBO Study: Past and Future of U.S. Passenger Rail Service
From the Summary: "This study reviews Amtrak's history and the economics of passenger rail. It also examines four options for the future of intercity passenger rail: [1] Eliminating federal subsidies and shutting down service; [2] Ending national service and focusing instead on passenger rail's strongest areas (relatively short, densely populated corridors, such as the Northeast and parts of California); [3] Keeping national long-distance service as it is today but upgrading the corridors; and [4] Substantially improving Amtrak's entire network through a major increase in funding, with a view to giving rail a much bigger role in transportation between U.S. cities. Those four options are by no means the only ones available, but they represent the broad range of policy choices that lawmakers face."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2003-09
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Turkey: Background and U.S. Relations in Brief [Updated June 7, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and analysis on key issues affecting U.S.-Turkey relations, including domestic Turkish developments and various foreign policy and defense matters. Under President Joe Biden, some existing U.S.-Turkey tensions have continued alongside cooperation on other matters and opportunities to improve bilateral ties. He has limited his meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the sidelines of multilateral conferences. This approach may reflect a U.S. and European inclination to keep Turkey at arms' length until after the 2023 elections. Nevertheless, Turkey's geostrategic significance, cautious support for Ukraine's defense against Russia's 2022 invasion, and openness to rapprochement with Israel, some Arab states, and Armenia have somewhat improved U.S.-Turkey relations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Zanotti, Jim; Thomas, Clayton (Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs)
2022-06-07
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 294, Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007
From the Summary: "CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing S. 294 would cost $10.1 billion over the 2008-2017 period. S. 294 authorizes the appropriation of about $8.9 billion over the 2008-2012 period for grants to Amtrak to cover operating expenses, capital projects, debt repayment, and security improvements. The legislation also would authorize the appropriation of about $1.8 billion over the 2008-2012 period to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for new grant programs for certain projects completed by state railroad entities, to enable Amtrak and participating states to share railroad equipment, for grants to improve rail security, and for assessments and research of rail operations. The bill would require Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to expand its operations at its leased rail facility in Vancouver, Canada. In addition to those amounts specifically authorized to be appropriated, S. 294 would impose additional costs on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and certain agencies within DOT by requiring them to oversee Amtrak operations, to assess rail operations and rail security, and to submit reports to the Congress."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2007-05-17
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 2459, GreenLane Maritime Cargo Security Act
From the Summary: "CBO estimates that S. 2459 would authorize the appropriation of $5.2 billion over the 2007-2012 period for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programs to improve the security of U.S. ports. The bill would specifically authorize the appropriation of $835 million a year over the 2007-2012 period for port security programs. In addition, S. 2459 would require DHS, not later than December 31, 2007, to examine all containers entered through the busiest 22 U.S. seaports for radiation emissions."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2006-05-09
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 386, Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2011
"CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing H.R. 386 would have no significant cost to the federal government. The legislation could affect direct spending and revenues, so pay-as-you-go procedures apply, but we estimate that any such effects would not be significant. H.R. 386 would establish a new federal crime for aiming the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft or at the aircraft's flight path. Thus, the government might be able to pursue cases against violators that it otherwise would not be able to prosecute. However, CBO expects that H.R. 386 would apply to a relatively small number of offenders, so any increase in costs for law enforcement, court proceedings, or prison operations would not be significant. Any such costs would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Because those prosecuted and convicted under H.R. 386 could be subject to criminal fines, the federal government might collect additional amounts if the legislation is enacted. Criminal fines are recorded as revenues, deposited in the Crime Victims Fund, and later spent. CBO estimates that any additional revenues and direct spending would not be significant because of the small number of cases likely to be affected."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2011-02-02
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 4561, Security Assessment Feasibility for Equipment Testing and Evaluation of Capabilities for Our Homeland Act
"Under current law, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is responsible for testing facilities, equipment, and systems related to transportation security. As an alternative, H.R. 4561 would direct TSA to establish a program to allow technology developers to obtain testing from a third party, subject to requirements specified in the bill. H.R. 4561 also would require the Government Accountability Office to study the effects of the proposed program and would direct TSA to develop, in consultation with the European Civil Aviation Conference, processes to promote reciprocal recognition of security-related standards among international organizations."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2018-01-08
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 5830, Wright Amendment Reform Act
"H.R. 5830 would amend provisions of federal law that set certain restrictions on commercial air transportation to and from Love Field, an airport located near the cities of Dallas and Forth Worth, Texas. Based on information from the Department of Transportation, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that enacting H.R. 5830 would have no significant impact on the federal budget. The bill would not affect direct spending or revenues. H.R. 5830 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. The bill would make the necessary changes in federal law to implement an agreement among the cities of Dallas and Forth Worth and American and Southwest Airlines. Any costs to those cities or the state of Texas would be incurred voluntarily. On July 21, 2006, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for S. 3661, a bill to amend section 29 of the International Air Transportation Competition Act of 1979 relating to air transportation to and from Love Field, Texas, as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on July 19, 2006. The two bills are similar, and our cost estimates are the same."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2006-07-24
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Loan Limits for Government-Backed Mortgages [Updated June 9, 2022]
From the Summary: "The federal government supports homeownership in different ways. One of the main ways is through programs or support from quasi-government entities that promise lenders or investors that if a homeowner defaults on a covered mortgage, the lender or investor will still receive some--or all--of the amount it was owed. These types of guarantees can support homeownership by making private lenders more willing to offer certain types of mortgages. Additionally, they can increase the number of private investors who are willing to invest in mortgages, thereby increasing the amount of capital available for mortgage lending. The details of the programs differ, but most have limits on the size of mortgages that are eligible. This report contains brief program descriptions and discusses the maximum mortgage amounts for each."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sacks-Jones, Katharine; Perl, Libby; Scott, Andrew P.
2022-06-09
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NATO: Finland and Sweden Seek Membership [June 10, 2022]
From the Document: "On May 18, 2022, Finland and Sweden applied [hyperlink] to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO[...]). Prompted by growing security concerns about Russia and its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Finland's [hyperlink] and Sweden's decisions [hyperlink] mark a historic shift [hyperlink] for these traditionally militarily nonaligned countries. The Biden Administration [hyperlink] and many Members of Congress [hyperlink] have responded positively to the prospect of Finland and Sweden joining NATO, arguing that the addition of these two mature democracies [hyperlink] with advanced militaries [hyperlink] will enhance security [hyperlink] in the Baltic Sea region and the broader EuroAtlantic area. NATO enlargement must be approved by all 30 current NATO members; U.S. approval requires Senate advice and consent."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin; Belkin, Paul; Bowen, Andrew S.
2022-06-10
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School Safety and Target Hardening [June 10, 2022]
From the Document: "The May 2022 deaths of 19 students and 2 teachers in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX, has led some Members of Congress to discuss a range of policy options to address gun violence in schools, several of which have been considered after previous mass shootings in schools. One option that has again gained the attention of policymakers is 'target hardening' of schools, which generally involves attempts to fortify schools against gun violence through their physical design and additional security measures."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
James, Nathan
2022-06-10
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: Public Transportation Safety Act of 2010
From the Summary: "The Public Transportation Safety Act of 2010 would authorize the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to establish uniform safety standards for public transportation systems and would authorize appropriations for grants to certain states to implement those standards. Assuming appropriation of the specified amounts, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing the bill would cost $61 million over the 2011-2015 period. Pay-as-you-go procedures apply to this legislation because enacting it could affect revenues. The bill would allow the Department of Transportation (DOT) to impose civil penalties in certain situations where safety standards are violated; such collections are classified as revenues in the budget. Based on information from the FTA, however, CBO estimates that the new penalties would have no significant impact on the federal budget in any year. The bill would impose an intergovernmental mandate as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) by preempting state laws related to public transportation safety if those laws do not meet the minimum requirements of a uniform national standard. While that preemption would limit the application of state law, CBO estimates that it would impose no duty on state, local, or tribal governments that would result in additional spending. The legislation contains no new private-sector mandates."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2010-07-23
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 3566, Maritime Administration Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011
From the Summary: "S. 3566 would authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for programs carried out by the Maritime Administration (MARAD). Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing S. 3566 would cost $169 million over the 2011-2015 period. Enacting S. 3566 would not affect revenues or direct spending; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2010-09-17
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Congressional Budget Cost Estimate: S. 554, Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2009
From the Summary: "S. 554 would require two agencies within the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish new safety standards and regulations for most interstate buses, complete research on bus safety, and create a new training curriculum for operators of interstate buses. Based on information from DOT, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing the bill would cost $34 million over the 2010-2015 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2010-05-11
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Interstate Natural Gas Pipeline Siting: FERC Policy and Issues for Congress [Updated June 9, 2022]
From the Summary: "Growth in U.S. natural gas production has driven the development of new pipelines from producing regions to consuming markets. Over 300,000 miles of transmission pipeline already transport natural gas across the country. However, if domestic natural gas trends continue, the need for new pipelines could still be substantial. As a result of military conflict in Europe, demand for U.S. liquefied natural gas exports is growing as well, which is driving associated natural gas infrastructure development. This new infrastructure could amount to several thousand miles of new interstate pipeline and on the order of $40 billion in capital investment. Under the Natural Gas Act (NGA), companies seeking to build interstate natural gas pipelines need certificates of public convenience and necessity from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The commission's regulatory process for certificate applications consists of pre-filing, certificate application, application review (including environmental review), authorization, and post-certificate proceedings. Several aspects of FERC's review practices have been the subject of FERC dissent, debate in Congress, or litigation. Key challenges to FERC certification involve environmental review, evaluating project need, review timing, relations with other agencies, changes in industry structure, export issues, environmental justice, and public participation. The Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden Administrations issued executive orders intended to change federal permitting of infrastructure, specifically including energy infrastructure. Exactly how these orders may have affected natural gas pipeline siting is not clear."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Parfomak, Paul W.
2022-06-09
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FY2022 Defense Appropriations Act: Context and Selected Issues [June 9, 2022]
From the Summary: "The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2022, enacted as Division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471; P.L. 117-103), provided $719.6 billion in discretionary budget authority for the Department of Defense (DOD)--excluding supplemental funding-- $22.5 billion (3.2%) more than the Administration's budget request. The annual defense appropriations bill typically funds all military-related activities of DOD except for the construction of facilities (covered by a separate appropriations bill) and accrual payments to the TRICARE medical insurance program for military retirees. On July 15, 2021, the House Committee on Appropriations reported H.R. 4432, a FY2022 defense appropriations bill that would have provided 0.04% less than the budget request. The House took no action on that bill. On October 20, 2021, the majority (Democratic) caucus of the Senate Committee on Appropriations introduced S. 3023, a consolidated FY2022 appropriations bill that incorporated the defense appropriations bill as Division A, which would have provided 2.7% more than the request. Neither the Senate committee nor the Senate took any action on the bill."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Towell, Pat
2022-06-09
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Nordic Countries and U.S. Relations [Updated June 10, 2022]
From the Document: "The five Nordic countries--Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden--share deep historical, linguistic, and cultural ties and many political and economic similarities. They are all stable democracies with parliamentary systems of government and prosperous market economies with relatively high standards of living. With a total population of roughly 27 million people, the Nordics collectively form the world's 12th -largest economy. They have extensive social welfare systems and relatively high tax rates but are considered to be innovative, business-friendly countries. The Nordics generally rank high on global competitiveness indexes. Foreign trade plays a key role in their economies. They also enjoy substantial natural resources. Norway in particular benefits from vast North Sea oil and natural gas deposits."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin
2022-06-10
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 275, Pipeline Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2011
From the Summary: "The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) oversees the safety of pipelines that transport gas or hazardous liquids and provides grants to states for programs to ensure pipeline safety. For those activities, S. 275 would authorize the gross appropriation of $420 million over the 2012-2016 period. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] expects that about $365 million of those appropriations would be offset by fees paid by pipeline operators over the three-year period. In addition, subject to provisions in appropriation acts, CBO estimates that the bill would authorize PHMSA to collect and spend about $10 million over the 2012-2016 period to recover its costs of conducting safety reviews at a pipeline project in the state of Alaska. Altogether, CBO estimates that implementing S. 275 would have a net cost of $46 million over the 2012-2016 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. Pay-as-you-go procedures apply because enacting the legislation could affect revenues. S. 275 would increase certain civil penalties for violating pipeline safety regulations. Civil penalties are recorded in the budget as revenues and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. However, CBO estimates that any increase in civil penalties would be small and would have no significant effect on the federal budget. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2011-06-09
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What Happens If the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Lapses? [Updated June 9, 2022]
From the Document: "This Insight provides a short overview of what would happen if the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) were not to be reauthorized by September 30, 2022, and allowed to lapse."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2022-06-09
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 456, Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2007
From the Summary: "S. 456 would authorize the appropriation of $849 million over the 2008-2012 period, nearly $170 million annually, for Department of Justice (DOJ) programs to investigate and prosecute criminal street gangs and to prevent gang activity. In addition, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that the bill would authorize the appropriation of about $550 million over the 2008-2012 period for programs to protect witnesses of crimes and for other crime-prevention activities. The bill also would establish new federal offenses and increase penalties for criminal activities committed by street gangs. Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing S. 456 would cost $1.1 billion over the 2008-2012 period. The bill could affect direct spending and revenues, but CBO estimates that any such effects would not be significant."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2007-07-02
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 650, Railroad Safety and Positive Train Control Extension Act
"Under current law, Class I railroads (there are currently 7 such large railroads in the United States), most passenger rail lines, and any rail lines that transport hazardous materials are required to install and operate by December 31, 2015, certain automated safety equipment to avoid collisions in the event of a mistake by a train operator. This combined use of equipment and wireless communications is known as positive train control. Under provisions of the bill, the 2015 deadline to implement positive train control would be delayed by five years until December 31, 2020. The bill also would require the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to delay by five years the regulatory timeframes for implementing positive train control for smaller (Class II and III) railroads. […] S. 650 would impose an intergovernmental and private sector mandate, as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), by requiring some railroads, including intercity and commuter passenger railroads, to annually submit reports on the progress of implementing positive train control technology."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2015-04-17
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Congressional Budget Office: H.R. 233, Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009
"H.R. 233 would expand the authority of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prosecute, under the Sherman and Clayton Acts, certain antitrust violations relating to railroads. Currently, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has the primary authority to regulate mergers, acquisitions, rate-setting, and pooling arrangements under the Interstate Commerce Act. The roles of DOJ and FTC are generally limited to investigating potential violations and providing advice to the STB. Based on information provided by DOJ, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing H.R. 233 would have no significant effect on the federal budget. We expect that DOJ would continue to perform investigations of railroads (investigations under current law are similar to those that would be performed under the bill) and that few of those investigations would result in enforcement actions. Accordingly, CBO expects that DOJ's workload would not increase substantially under the bill. CBO also expects that DOJ, rather than FTC, would handle antitrust enforcement matters specified under the bill; thus, we do not anticipate that FTC would incur significant additional enforcement costs."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2009-10-06
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Mexico: Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking Organizations [Updated June 7, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report analyzes Mexico's criminal landscape, including pervasive violence and corruption. It also discusses categories of illicit drugs in Mexico and profiles nine major criminal organizations in Mexico, as well as the phenomena of fragmentation and competition among these major drug trafficking organizations (DTOs)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Beittel, June S.
2022-06-07
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Electronic Health Records: Outcome-Oriented Metrics and Goals Needed to Gauge DOD's and VA's Progress in Achieving Interoperability, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "DOD and VA [Veterans Affairs] operate two of the nation's largest health care systems, serving approximately 16 million veterans and active duty service members and their beneficiaries, at a cost of more than $100 billion a year. For almost two decades, the departments have been engaged in various efforts to advance DOD and VA electronic health record interoperability. Among their most recent efforts, the DOD and VA Secretaries have committed the departments to achieving interoperability between their separate electronic health record systems. The 'Consolidated Appropriations Act', 2014, and accompanying Joint Explanatory Statement, included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the departments' efforts. GAO evaluated the actions taken by DOD, VA, and the IPO [Interagency Program Office] to plan for and measure the progress toward achieving interoperability between the departments' electronic health record systems. GAO reviewed relevant program documents and interviewed agency officials. […] GAO recommends that DOD and VA, working with the IPO, establish a time frame for identifying outcome-oriented metrics; define related goals to provide a basis for assessing and reporting on the status of interoperability; and update IPO guidance to reflect the metrics and goals identified. DOD and VA concurred with GAO's recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-08
