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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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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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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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Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA): Workers' Compensation for Federal Employees [Updated June 7, 2022]
From the Summary: "The Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) is the workers' compensation program for federal employees. Like all workers' compensation programs, FECA pays disability, survivors, and medical benefits, without regard to who was at fault, to employees who are injured or become ill in the course of their federal employment and to the survivors of employees killed on the job. The FECA program is administered by the Department of Labor (DOL) and the costs of benefits are paid by each employee's host agency. [...] This report provides an overview of the FECA program and also focuses on several key policy issues facing the program, including the payment of FECA benefits after retirement age, the overall level of FECA disability benefits as compared with those offered by the states, the administration of the FECA program, efforts to limit the use of opioids by FECA beneficiaries, and the coverage of anomalous health incidents (AHIs) commonly referred to as 'Havana Syndrome.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Szymendera, Scott
2022-06-07
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H. Rept. 117-353: Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal Employment Act of 2022, Report Together with Minority Views to Accompany H.R. 3648, June 7, 2022
From the Document: "H.R. 3648 is a bipartisan bill that would (1) raise the per-country caps on family-sponsored immigrant visas from 7 percent to 15 percent; (2) eliminate the per-country caps on employment-based immigrant visas with a 9-year transition period for the employment based second and third preference categories; (3) temporarily allow the beneficiaries of certain employment-based immigration petitions to file for adjustment of status even if an immigrant visa is not immediately available to them; and (4) implement reforms for the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program. [...] The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets forth the basic structure of current immigration law, including a ''preference system'' for the distribution of immigrant visas. This structure was established in 1952, when Congress passed the McCarran-Walter Act. In 1965, the INA was updated to replace the national origin quotas of the 1952 Act with hemispheric quotas (per-country caps). Twenty-five years later, the Immigration Act of 1990 substantially changed the preference system to reflect the evolution of the nation's economic needs since the mid-20th century. This is the last time significant revisions to the legal immigration framework have been enacted."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-06-07
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 7, 2022: Ventilation Improvement Strategies Among K-12 Public Schools -- the National School COVID-19 Prevention Study, United States, February 14-March 27, 2022
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This Early Release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Ventilation Improvement Strategies Among K-12 Public Schools -- The National School COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Prevention Study, United States, February 14-March 27, 2022." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from MMWR can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2022.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2022-06-07
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National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin [June 7, 2022]
This is the June 7, 2022 National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin released by the Department of Homeland Security, set to expire on November 30, 2022. From the Summary: "The United States remains in a heightened threat environment, as noted in the previous Bulletin, and several recent attacks have highlighted the dynamic and complex nature of the threat environment. In the coming months, we expect the threat environment to become more dynamic as several high-profile events could be exploited to justify acts of violence against a range of possible targets. These targets could include public gatherings, faith-based institutions, schools, racial and religious minorities, government facilities and personnel, U.S. critical infrastructure, the media, and perceived ideological opponents. Threat actors have recently mobilized to violence due to factors such as personal grievances, reactions to current events, and adherence to violent extremist ideologies, including racially or ethnically motivated or anti-government/anti-authority violent extremism. Foreign adversaries--including terrorist organizations and nation state adversaries--also remain intent on exploiting the threat environment to promote or inspire violence, sow discord, or undermine U.S. democratic institutions. We continue to assess that the primary threat of mass casualty violence in the United States stems from lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and/or personal grievances."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2022-06-07
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H. Rept. 117-347: Water Resources Development Act of 2022, Report to Accompany H.R. 7776
From the Purpose of Legislation: "The purpose of H.R. 7776, the 'Water Resources Development Act of 2022', as amended, is to authorize the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to carry out water resources development activities for the nation, usually through cost-shared partnerships with non-Federal sponsors. Activities include projects or studies to address river and coastal navigation, the reduction of flood and hurricane storm damage risks, shoreline protection, water supply and conservation, the restoration and protection of ecosystems and the environment, and disaster response and recovery. H.R. 7776, as amended, enhances the Corps' responsibility to address the long-term resiliency of Corps' projects, addresses the accessibility and affordability of Corps' projects for economically disadvantaged, rural, and Tribal communities, enhances the dialogue between the Corps and Indian Tribes and other indigenous peoples in addressing local water resources challenges, assesses the condition of Corps' dams and levees in addressing current water resources needs and challenges, and modernizes aspects of the Corps' project development structure. H.R. 7776, as amended, also authorizes new, or modifies existing, water resources project and study authorities to address local water resources infrastructure needs."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-06-07
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H. Rept. 117-354: Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act, Report to Accompany H.R. 4330
From the Purpose and Summary: "H.R. 4330, the ''Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act'' or the ''PRESS Act,'' would create a qualified federal statutory privilege that protects covered journalists from being compelled by a federal entity (i.e., an entity or employee of the judicial or executive branch of the federal government with power to issue a subpoena or other compulsory process) to reveal confidential sources and information. It would provide a similar privilege for a covered service provider (such as a telecommunications carrier, interactive computer service, or remote computing service) from being compelled by a federal entity to disclose testimony or documents stored by the provider on behalf of a covered journalist or relating to the covered journalist's personal account or personal technology device. The measure also contains exceptions to the covered journalist's privilege where a court determines, by a preponderance of the evidence and pursuant to notice and hearing requirements, that disclosure of information is necessary to prevent or identify any perpetrator of an act of terrorism or to prevent a threat of imminent violence, significant bodily harm, or death. Similarly, the bill allows a federal entity to overcome the privilege for a covered service provider when a court determines, after the federal entity seeking the information provides the affected covered journalist with notice and an opportunity to be heard in court, that there is a reasonable threat of imminent violence, and the court issues an order authorizing the federal entity to compel the disclosure. The bill contains a number of other measures clarifying its scope and applicability."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-06-07
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Public Law 117-139: RECA Extension Act of 2022
From the Document: "An Act [t]o reauthorize the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act"
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-06-07
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H. Rept. 117-346, Part 1: Protecting Our Kids Act, Report Together with Minority Views, to Accompany H.R. 7910, June 6, 2022
From the Purpose and Summary: "H.R. 7910, the 'Protecting Our Kids Act' is a comprehensive bill that contains numerous measures focused on addressing gun violence, gun safety, responsible gun ownership, regulation of certain firearms and components, gun trafficking, and public safety. The bill was introduced on May 31, 2022, by Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), with Crime Subcommittee Chairwoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) as original cosponsors."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-06-06
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FEMA's Community Disaster Loan Program: Loan Forgiveness [June 6, 2022]
From the Document: "Local governments often need financial assistance following major disasters. Such incidents can cause businesses to close, people to lose jobs, and other events that decrease tax revenue, making it difficult for local governments to perform critical functions, sometimes for years after the event. To assist in these scenarios, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has for several decades offered Community Disaster Loans (CDLs) to help local governments with disaster-related revenue shortfalls. The loans are available to local governments that have experienced a presidentially declared major disaster and apply through their state governor's office. CDLs are one component of the federal government's suite of emergency relief programs. CDLs are typically capped by Congress at $5 million and are conditioned on five-year terms, with FEMA able to extend the term to 10 years based on the local government's financial condition. In some cases, FEMA may offer partial or full CDL forgiveness without legislative action. Congress may also choose to forgive the loans. Most recently, on September 30, 2021, Congress forgave all outstanding CDLs (totaling about $860 million) in a continuing resolution (P.L. 117-43). This action extended debate about the structure of the CDL program, which has continued disbursing funds since the forgiveness."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Levin, Adam G.
2022-06-06
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2022 Summit of the Americas [Updated June 6, 2022]
From the Background: "The Summits of the Americas were established in the early 1990s during a brief period of broad political consensus in the Western Hemisphere. After decades of civil war and military rule, 34 of the 35 countries in the region had established elected civilian democracies. Likewise, following the end of the Cold War, most of the governments in the region had moved away from state-led development in favor of economic liberalization. To build on those shared values and develop a common agenda for the hemisphere's future, President Bill Clinton invited the democratically elected heads of government in the hemisphere to attend the first Summit of the Americas in Miami in 1994. The summit attendees approved a comprehensive plan of action [hyperlink] with 23 separate initiatives, the most prominent of which was an agreement to work toward the creation of a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Although the FTAA was never realized, the negotiating process intensified regional dialogue on trade, leading to numerous bilateral and regional free trade agreements."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Meyer, Peter J.
2022-06-06
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 7667, the Food and Drug Amendments of 2022 Act
From the Document: "H.R. 7667 would reauthorize the collection and spending of user fees by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for activities related to the approval and marketing of prescription drugs and medical devices. The bill also would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in part to change processes and procedures for regulating, manufacturing, and marketing certain prescription drugs, medical devices, and other medical products."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-06-06
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Building Alliances for Climate Action: Advancing Climate Action Through Partnerships
From the Document: "We have the incredible opportunity to take action and become a climate-resilient nation. After all, we have no choice. To become climate resilient requires collective action. Our efforts must take a Whole-of-Government and Whole Community approach. The 'Resilient Nation Partnership Network' is working to address this through partnership. The result of our collective action is this 'Building Alliances for Climate Action' resource. It is the work of many organizations and individuals, including federal representatives, faith leaders, community-based organizations, mayors and many more. At a time when many are searching for direction on how to address the climate crisis, this resource represents a unifying voice, helping guide the Whole Community forward. 'Building Alliances for Climate Action' is more than a resource. It tells a story of a future that is hopeful and bright. The only way we achieve that future is together."
Resilient Nation Partnership Network; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2022-06-06?
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Report of the Attorney General Pursuant to Section 8(b)(iv) of Executive Order 14067: How to Strengthen International Law Enforcement Cooperation for Detecting, Investigating, and Prosecuting Criminal Activity Related to Digital Assets
From the Introduction and Executive Summary: "On March 9, 2022, the President issued an Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets (hereinafter 'the Executive Order'). Section 8(b)(iv) of the Executive Order directed the Attorney General to submit a report on how to strengthen international law enforcement cooperation for detecting, investigating, and prosecuting criminal activity related to digital assets. [...] The United States supports the responsible use and development of digital assets. This Report focuses on the criminal misuse of digital assets, the most common of which are cryptocurrencies. The perceived pseudonymity of cryptocurrencies makes them attractive vehicles for money laundering and other criminal exploits, and their widespread promotion as investment vehicles has led to opportunities for criminals to target consumers and retail investors--particularly those who seek to profit from investing in this emerging financial ecosystem, but are unfamiliar with the technology and the attendant risks of the market. Criminal actors leverage the innovation, claims of decentralization, and anonymizing features of cryptocurrencies to facilitate criminal conduct in all corners of the world. The cross-border nature of digital asset technologies accordingly requires collaboration with foreign law enforcement partners to locate and gather electronic records and digital evidence involving off-shore digital asset issuers, trading platforms, service providers, and other online infrastructure; to seize and prevent further distribution of digital assets linked to crime; and to identify and hold responsible criminal actors who exploit pseudonymity features of the Internet and decentralized finance (DeFi) technologies to avoid detection and prosecution."
United States. Department of Justice
Garland, Merrick B. (Merrick Brian), 1952-
2022-06-06
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Public Law 117-130: Homeland Security for Children Act
"An Act to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to ensure that the needs of children are considered in homeland security planning, and for other purposes. [...] Section 102 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 [...] is amended by adding at the end of the following new subsection: '[...] The Secretary shall ensure the head of each office and component of the Department takes into account the needs of children, including children within underserved communities, in mission planning and mission execution. In furtherance of this subsection, the Secretary shall require each such head to seek, to the extent practicable, advice and feedback from organizations representing the needs of children. The Federal Advisory Committee Act [...] shall not apply whenever such advice or feedback is sought in accordance with this subsection.'"
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-06-06
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H. Rept. 117-340, Part 1: For the Relief of Median El-Moustrah, Report to Accompany H.R. 739, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, June 3, 2022
From the Document: "H.R. 739, 'For the relief of Median El-Moustrah,' would provide the beneficiary of this private bill, Mr. El-Moustrah, with an opportunity to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the United States. Median El-Moustrah was born in Lebanon and has lived in the United States for nearly 30 years. In 1993, he was granted conditional permanent residence based on his marriage to Ms. Patricia Stack, a U.S. citizen. Shortly after obtaining such status, the couple began having marital problems, separated, and divorced. Mr. El-Moustrah's petition to remove the conditions on his permanent residence was denied and he was placed in removal proceedings. He was ordered removed in 2011, after an immigration judge determined that he failed to overcome the statutory presumption that his marriage was not bona fide. On June 4, 2007, Mr. El-Moustrah married his current spouse, Ayda Mehri, a U.S. citizen, and became stepfather to her three U.S. citizen children, who are now grown. Mr. El-Moustrah is part-owner of a gas station, which serves as the primary source of income for his household. On April 26, 2018, Mr. El-Moustrah was scheduled for removal by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), but removal was suspended at the direction of the ICE Field Medical Coordinator. In November 2019, Mr. El-Moustrah was detained by ICE, but was released in March 2020 due to his elevated risk of serious complications resulting from exposure to COVID-19 [Coronavirus Disease 2019]. Since January 2013, Mr. El-Moustrah has been granted successive stays of removal, most recently on August 11, 2020, for a period of six months. He is currently enrolled in a monthly telephonic check-in program with the ICE Field Office in Detroit."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-06-03
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H.Rept 117-341, Part 1: For the Relief of Maria Isabel Bueso Barrera, Alberto Bueso Mendoza, and Karla Maria Barrera De Bueso, Report to Accompany H.R. 785, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, June 3, 2022
From the Document: "H.R. 785, 'For the relief of Maria Isabel Bueso Barrera, Alberto Bueso Mendoza, and Karla Maria Barrera De Bueso' would provide the beneficiaries of this private bill with an opportunity to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the United States. [...] In 2004, the Bueso family arrived in the United States from Guatemala on B-2 visitor visas so that Maria Isabel could participate in a clinical trial and receive treatment for a rare medical disorder, mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI). The family maintained lawful nonimmigrant status in the United States through August 2009, at which time they were granted deferred action by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), based on Maria Isabel's medical condition. USCIS extended the family's deferred action until August 13, 2019, when it abruptly announced that it would no longer consider deferred action requests except those involving members of the U.S. military and their families. On September 2, 2019, USCIS announced that it would reopen and reconsider non-military deferred action requests that were pending on August 7, 2020.1 On September 9, 2021, the family was granted deferred action until September 6, 2023."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-06-03
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H. Rept. 117-342: Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2021, Together with Minority Views, Report to Accompany H.R. 2377, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, June 3, 2022
From the Purpose and Summary: "On average, more than 100 Americans are lost to gun violence every day, and more than 200 are injured in gun-related incidents. These shootings include individual shootings, mass shootings, and suicides. Often, there are signs that shooters are a danger to themselves or others before a life is lost. These warning signs create an opportunity for intervention that can save lives, if there is a tool in place to prevent access to firearms. H.R. 2377, the ''Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2021,'' would establish procedures for obtaining an order in federal court to temporarily prohibit access to firearms when people are shown to be a danger to themselves or others, and such an order is necessary to prevent that danger."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-06-03
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 3, 2022: Monkeypox Outbreak -- Nine States, May 2022
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This Early Release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Monkeypox Outbreak -- Nine States, May 2022." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from MMWR can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2022.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2022-06-03
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Carbon Dioxide Pipelines: Safety Issues [June 3, 2022]
From the Document: "Carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines are essential components of 'carbon capture and storage (CCS)' [hyperlink] systems which are proposed to reduce atmospheric emissions of man-made CO2, a greenhouse gas. Pipelines are needed to transport the CO2 from where it is captured (e.g., power plants) to the underground geologic formations where it can be stored. Approximately '5,000 miles of pipeline' [hyperlink] already carry CO2 in the United States, primarily linking natural CO2 sources to aging oil fields where the CO2 is used for 'enhanced oil recovery' [hyperlink]. However, a much more expansive CO2 pipeline network could be needed for CCS to meet national goals for greenhouse gas reduction. One 'recent study' [hyperlink] suggests that such a network could total some 66,000 miles of pipeline by 2050, requiring some $170 billion in new capital investment. Because CO2 in high concentrations can be hazardous to human health, building out a national CO2 pipeline network raises safety issues which may affect nearby communities and may hinder CCS deployment."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Parfomak, Paul W.
2022-06-03
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Deep Fakes and National Security [Updated June 3, 2022]
From the Document: "'Deep fakes'--a term that first emerged in 2017 to describe realistic photo, audio, video, and other forgeries generated with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies--could present a variety of national security challenges in the years to come. As these technologies continue to mature, they could hold significant implications for congressional oversight, U.S. defense authorizations and appropriations, and the regulation of social media platforms. [...] Though media manipulation is not a new phenomenon, the use of AI to generate deep fakes is causing concern because the results are increasingly realistic, rapidly created, and cheaply made with freely available software and the ability to rent processing power through cloud computing. Thus, even unskilled operators could download the requisite software tools and, using publically available data, create increasingly convincing counterfeit content."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.; Harris, Laurie A.
2022-06-03
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 3, 2022
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This issue of MMWR contains the following: "Pediatric Melatonin Ingestions -- United States, 2012-2021"; "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Cases, Hospitalizations, and Deaths Among American Indian or Alaska Native Persons -- Alaska, 2020-2021"; "Use of JYNNEOS (Smallpox and Monkeypox Vaccine, Live, Nonreplicating) for Preexposure Vaccination of Persons at Risk for Occupational Exposure to Orthopoxviruses: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices -- United States, 2022"; "Notes from the Field: Lead Poisoning in a Family of Five Resulting from Use of Traditional Glazed Ceramic Ware -- New York City, 2017-2022"; "Notes from the Field: Influenza A(H3N2) Outbreak Following a School Event -- Los Angeles, California, March 2022"; "QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Who Always Use Sunscreen When Outside for >1 Hour on a Sunny Day, by Sex and Age Group -- National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2020." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2022.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2022-06-03
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Nicaragua in Brief: Political Developments and U.S. Policy [Updated June 3, 2022]
From the Overview: "President Daniel Ortega declared he won a fifth--and fourth consecutive--term, in November 7, 2021, elections that the international community widely condemned as having no democratic legitimacy. In 2021, increasing government crackdowns in Nicaragua against the opposition, journalists, and government critics elevated international concerns, including among Members of Congress, about political developments, human rights violations, the erosion of democracy, and the turn toward greater authoritarianism in the country. The U.S. Department of State, the Organization of American States (OAS), and other international actors have declared that Nicaragua's elections were not free or fair and lacked democratic legitimacy. Ortega is a polarizing figure both at home and abroad for what many characterize as his increasingly authoritarian rule and oppressive actions. Ortega did not carry out electoral and human rights reforms recommended by the international community, leading the domestic opposition and international community to contest their legitimacy. The elections have assured Ortega and his party's continuance in power for the time being."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Taft-Morales, Maureen
2022-06-03
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U.S. Food Price Inflation and Agriculture Policy [June 3, 2022]
From the Document: "U.S. food price inflation has accelerated in 2022 ('Figure 1'). The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food rose by 9.4% [hyperlink] between April 2021 and April 2022, the largest 12-month increase between consecutive Aprils since 1981. Current food price inflation can be due to general inflationary pressure on the economy as well as food-specific factors, which may vary by the type of food. Rising food prices present challenges for many U.S. consumers, particularly low-income consumers."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rosch, Stephanie; Monke, Jim
2022-06-03
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Election Worker Safety and Privacy [Updated June 3, 2022]
From the Document: "Concerns about election workers' safety and privacy have been reported following the 2020 election, [hyperlink] in news reports and testimony before House and Senate committees. Some election workers have raised concerns about physical safety while performing official duties, as well as more general threats outside the workplace or related psychological effects. These threats, along with a perceived increase in politically motivated job scrutiny, have led some to leave, or consider leaving, their roles. This Insight provides a brief overview of recent developments, legislative proposals, and policy considerations related to election worker safety and privacy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Eckman, Sarah J.; Shanton, Karen L.
2022-06-03
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Initial Summary Analysis of Responses to the Request for Information (RFI) Evaluating and Improving Cybersecurity Resources: The Cybersecurity Framework and Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management
From the Introduction: "On February 22, 2022, NIST issued a public Request for Information (RFI), 'Evaluating and Improving NIST [National Institute of Standards and Technology] Cybersecurity Resources: The Cybersecurity Framework [CSF] and Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management.' [hyperlink] The RFI sought information on the use of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework as well as recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the Framework and its alignment with other cybersecurity resources. The RFI also sought suggestions to inform other cybersecurity efforts at NIST, especially related to supply chain cybersecurity risks. When the RFI was issued, Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves stated [hyperlink]: 'Every organization needs to manage cybersecurity risk as a part of doing business, whether it is in industry, government or academia...It is critical to their resilience and to our nation's economic security. There are many tools available to help, and the CSF is one of the leading frameworks for private sector cybersecurity maintenance. We want private and public sector organizations to help make it even more useful and widely used, including by small companies.' This document represents an initial, high-level summary of the RFI responses. NIST received more than 130 RFI responses, including many comments submitted jointly by multiple organizations or associations representing numerous organizations. The responses can be found on the NIST CSF website. [hyperlink]"
National Institute of Standards and Technology (U.S.)
2022-06-03
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Home or Hospital: What Place of Death Can Tell Us About COVID-19 and Public Health
From the Webpage: "More than two years into the pandemic the United States has passed the tragic threshold of 1 million deaths due to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] [hyperlink]. We have reached this terrible milestone still working to understand both how the virus functions from a medical and scientific perspective and how the pandemic has affected and will continue to affect our lives, communities, and economy in a broader sense. Looking back to the first year of the pandemic and the detailed data on COVID-19 deaths now available for that year can provide valuable insight as we move forward. In 2020 alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 350,831 deaths in which COVID-19 was the underlying cause of death listed on the death certificate; of those deaths, 19,413 occurred in the decedent's home. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, public health practitioners and researchers have focused heavily on the role that hospitals and hospital capacity plays in who dies or has serious complications from COVID-19 but substantially less attention has been paid to people who die at home without seeking medical care. In some cases, dying at home is a conscious choice; people have chosen to die at home for the increased comfort [hyperlink] that it affords over being hooked up to machines in the hospital. Other COVID-19 deaths in the home may be driven by external factors, including a lack of access to medical care due to distance, lack of capacity in hospitals, a lack of health insurance, or postponing seeking care until it is too late. [...] The goal of this analysis is to document and understand the association between place of death and characteristics of people who died of COVID-19. We examine differences by age, race, state, month, and whether the county of the decedent is urban/suburban or rural."
Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government
Wedenoja, Leigh; Schumacher, Patrick
2022-06-02
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EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 22 Issue 22, June 2, 2022
The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "USFA [U.S. Fire Administration] publishes EMS [emergency medical services] Safety Practices manual"; "AT&T launches first location-based routing for wireless 911 calls using device location rather than cell towers"; "E15 [15% ethanol by volume] gasoline misfuelling risks and fire hazards: Public education resources for fire departments"; "ERSI [Emergency Responder Safety Institute] offers Wildland Fires and Traffic Management training"; "Alert (AA22-152A) - Karakurt Data Extortion Group"; "Compromised US academic credentials identified across various public and dark web forums"; "Verizon 2022 DBIR [Data Breach Investigations Report]: 4 of 5 data breaches caused by 'human element,' business partners involved in 3 of 5"; "DDoS [distributed denial of service] threats growing in sophistication, size, and frequency"; "Feature Article: S&T [Science and Technology Directorate] Hackathon addresses emerging threats to critical infrastructure"; and "Lumos system can find hidden cameras and IoT [Internet of Things] devices in your Airbnb or hotel room."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2022-06-02
