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Emerging Military Technologies: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated October 21, 2021]

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From the Summary: "Members of Congress and Pentagon officials are increasingly focused on developing emerging military technologies to enhance U.S. national security and keep pace with U.S. competitors. The U.S. military has long relied upon technological superiority to ensure its dominance in conflict and to underwrite U.S. national security. In recent years, however, technology has both rapidly evolved and rapidly proliferated--largely as a result of advances in the commercial sector. [...] This report provides an overview of selected emerging military technologies in the United States, China, and Russia: [1] artificial intelligence, [2] lethal autonomous weapons, [3] hypersonic weapons, [4] directed energy weapons, [5] biotechnology, and [6] quantum technology. It also discusses relevant initiatives within international institutions to monitor or regulate these technologies, considers the potential implications of emerging military technologies for warfighting, and outlines associated issues for Congress. These issues include the level and stability of funding for emerging technologies, the management structure for emerging technologies, the challenges associated with recruiting and retaining technology workers, the acquisitions process for rapidly evolving and dual-use technologies, the protection of emerging technologies from theft and expropriation, and the governance and regulation of emerging technologies. Such issues could hold implications for congressional authorization, appropriation, oversight, and treaty-making."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Sayler, Kelley M.

2021-10-21
Navy Columbia (SSBN-826) Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated October 19, 2021]

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From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Navy's Columbia (SSBN-826) class program, a program to design and build a class of 12 new ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to replace the Navy's current force of 14 aging Ohio-class SSBNs. Since 2013, the Navy has consistently identified the Columbia-class program as the Navy's top priority program. The Navy procured the first Columbia-class boat in FY2021 and wants to procure the second boat in the class in FY2024. The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requests $4,647.0 million (i.e., about $4.6 billion) in procurement and advance procurement (AP) funding for the program. The program poses a number of funding and oversight issues for Congress. Decisions that Congress makes on the Columbia-class program could substantially affect U.S. military capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

O'Rourke, Ronald

2021-10-19
Coast Guard Waterways Commerce Cutter (Wcc) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated October 19, 2021]

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From the Introduction: "The Coast Guard's Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) program envisages procuring 30 replacements for the Coast Guard's 35 aging river buoy tenders (WLRs), inland construction tenders (WLICs), and inland buoy tenders (WLIs). The Coast Guard wants to award the first contract for constructing the new WCCs in FY2022, and to have the first new WCC be in service by 2025. The Coast Guard's proposed FY2022 budget requests $67.0 million in procurement funding for the WCC program. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Coast Guard's proposed acquisition strategy and funding requests for the WCC program."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

O'Rourke, Ronald

2021-10-19
Latin America and the Caribbean: Impact of COVID-19 [Updated October 15, 2021]

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From the Document: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having widespread economic, social, and political effects on Latin America and the Caribbean. As of October 14, 2021, the region had 45.4 million confirmed cases (almost 19% of cases worldwide) and more than 1.5 million deaths (almost 31% of deaths worldwide). Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and Argentina had the region's highest numbers of deaths. Looking at mortality (death) rates per 100,000 population, Peru had the highest recorded COVID-19 mortality rate in the region, followed by Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay[.] In its weekly press briefing on the pandemic on October 13, 2021, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported that COVID-19 infections were declining in Central America, although cases remained high in Belize. In South America, PAHO reported that new infections were dropping across the continent but noted some spikes within countries, including the greater Caracas area of Venezuela and Chile's southernmost regions. In the Caribbean, PAHO reported that Barbados was experiencing the highest number of cases since the pandemic began, as well as increased cases in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and some smaller islands, including Antigua and Barbuda. [...] The rollout of vaccines has varied considerably, and there is concern that widespread vaccine access in some countries could be delayed until late 2022 or 2023, making populations vulnerable to new waves and more transmittable variants of the virus."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Meyer, Peter J.; Sullivan, Mark P.

2021-10-15
Social Security Financial Status: How the 2021 Annual Report Addressed the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic [October 15, 2021]

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From the Document: "Social Security is a self-financing program that in 2021 covers approximately 176 million workers and provides monthly cash benefits to over 65 million beneficiaries. It is the federal government's largest program in terms of both the number of people affected (i.e., covered workers and beneficiaries) and its finances. Social Security is composed of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and Disability Insurance (DI), referred to collectively as OASDI. The financial status of Social Security helps to determine the program's ability to pay fully scheduled benefits on time--that is, the ability to provide monthly payments to current and future beneficiaries. At a basic level, the financial status of Social Security is simply the relationship among revenues, cost, and the holdings in trust funds. [...] News articles during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and the ensuing recession highlighted potential ways that Social Security and its beneficiaries could be adversely affected."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Huston, Barry F.

2021-10-15
Social Security: What Would Happen If the Trust Funds Ran Out? [Updated October 15, 2021]

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From the Introduction: "This report explains what the Social Security trust funds are and how they work. It describes the historical operations of the trust funds and the Social Security trustees' projections of future operations. It explains what could happen if Congress allowed the trust funds to run out. It also analyzes two scenarios that assume Congress waits until the moment of insolvency to act, showing the magnitude of benefit cuts or tax increases needed and how such changes would affect beneficiaries."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Huston, Barry F.

2021-10-15
Department of Homeland Security's 'Metering' Policy: Legal Issues [Updated October 15, 2021]

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From the Document: "Before the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) U.S. Customs and Border Protection [hyperlink] (CBP) had been limiting [hyperlink] the number of asylum seekers who were processed each day at designated ports of entry along the U.S. southern border. Aliens affected by this policy generally had not yet reached the U.S. border and were required to remain in Mexico until CBP decided it could process them. This policy-- known as 'metering'--sought to address an 'unprecedented rise in asylum requests,' [hyperlink] as well as safety and health concerns [hyperlink] resulting from overcrowding at ports of entry. The policy has led to [hyperlink] long wait times and overcrowded conditions on the Mexican side of the border, and has arguably incentivized [hyperlink] attempts to illegally cross the border between ports of entry. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CBP in March 2020 implemented a policy [hyperlink] that largely shut down asylum processing for many aliens arriving at the U.S. border (sometimes referred to as the 'Title 42' policy [hyperlink]). The policy remains in effect [hyperlink], but does not apply [hyperlink] to certain categories of aliens (e.g., unaccompanied minors and other individuals who CBP officials determine should be exempted for humanitarian reasons). As a result, since March 2020, CBP has largely suspended [hyperlink] metering, and most asylum processing 'waitlists' have been closed to aliens seeking to enter the United States after that date. To date, there has only been one challenge to metering that has resulted in a decision by a federal district court, though litigation in that case remains ongoing."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Smith, Hillel R.

2021-10-15
Reclamation Water Storage Projects: Section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act [Updated October 15, 2021]

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From the Document: "Congress created a new authority for the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation, part of the Department of the Interior) to build new water storage projects in Section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act; P.L. 114-322). The authority provides federal support for the construction of new and augmented surface water storage projects in the 17 arid 'reclamation states.' As of October 2021, Congress had appropriated $603 million for these projects, and Reclamation had allocated (and Congress had approved) $511 million to 13 projects in 3 states. Allocation of remaining appropriations is subject to further congressional action."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Stern, Charles V.

2021-10-15
National Flood Insurance Program Risk Rating 2.0: Frequently Asked Questions [October 15, 2021]

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From the Document: "This Insight answers some frequently asked questions about Risk Rating 2.0, which began on October 1, 2021, changing the way the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) calculates flood insurance premiums. For additional information, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report R45999, 'National Flood Insurance Program: The Current Rating Structure and Risk Rating 2.0' [hyperlink], by Diane P. Horn."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Horn, Diane P.

2021-10-15
Mexican Drug Trafficking and Cartel Operations Amid COVID-19 [Updated October 14, 2021]

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From the Document: "Mexico is a primary producer and transit country for illicit drugs destined [hyperlink] for the United States. Policymakers, including many in Congress, have closely watched how the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting illicit drug flow patterns out of Mexico, including the flow of potent opioids. Any changes could affect the extent to which Mexico-based transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), popularly described as cartels, pose a law enforcement and national security threat to the United States. Despite early supply chain disruptions, U.S.-bound illicit drug supplies appear to have returned to pre-pandemic levels; illicit fentanyl flows in particular appear to be thriving."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Beittel, June S.; Rosen, Liana W.

2021-10-14
Tribal Lands: An Overview [October 14, 2021]

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From the Document: "Tribal lands can have a complicated and intermingled mix of land ownership and designation statuses. For instance, some federally recognized Indian tribes (hereinafter referred to as 'tribes') have reservations, whereas other tribes do not. Tribes may have land held in trust by the federal government or tribes may own restricted fee lands. Still other tribes may be landless. Because tribal lands may have different ownership statuses, tribes and tribal members may have different rights to manage and develop their lands and resources. Further, the federal government has varying levels of responsibility to tribes and their members depending on the types of land holdings. The following are common tribal land holdings: trust land, restricted fee land, and fee land. Other types of land designations, while not considered property holdings, can influence tribal land policy and may include trust, restricted fee, and fee lands within their scope. Such designations include allotted land, federal Indian reservations, and the term 'Indian Country'[.] [...] This In Focus also considers selected issues for Congress, including the fractionation of allotted lands and the land-into-trust process. For more information on tribal lands, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report R46647, 'Tribal Land and Ownership Statuses: Overview and Selected Issues for Congress', by Tana Fitzpatrick."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Fitzpatrick, Tana

2021-10-14
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Supplemental Appropriations [October 14, 2021]

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From the Document: "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is a Department of Defense agency with civil works responsibilities, consisting largely of water resource projects to maintain navigable channels, reduce flood and storm damage, and restore aquatic ecosystems. These projects can have national and local economic and environmental benefits. USACE also has a role in responding to natural disasters, especially floods, in U.S. states and territories. This In Focus covers the appropriations that Congress has provided USACE that are in addition to annual appropriations―'supplemental appropriations.' Congress may consider both the amount of USACE supplemental appropriations and how effectively and efficiently the agency is using these funds."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Carter, Nicole T.; Normand, Anna E.

2021-10-14
Russian Arms Sales and Defense Industry [October 14, 2021]

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From the Introduction: "Russia uses arms sales to advance its foreign policy interests, including developing defense relationships and enhancing Russia's regional and global influence. Since 2000, Russia has been one of the top five arms exporters in the world in dollar-value terms (often behind only the United States), averaging $13-$15 billion in reported annual sales, according to official Russian statistics and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a nongovernmental organization. [...] This report focuses on Russia's defense industry, arms sales, selected weapon systems, and arms exports to Russia's top five clients. It also presents an analysis of related congressional and U.S. policy issues. Data in this report are based on official and unofficial open sources. To assess the value of arms transfers, this report uses data from SIPRI. SIPRI records data using a common unit, the 'trend indicator value' (TIV). According to SIPRI, 'the TIV is based on the known unit production costs of a core set of weapons and is intended to represent the transfer of military resources rather than the financial value of the transfer."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Bowen, Andrew S.

2021-10-14
USMCA: Motor Vehicle Provisions and Issues [Updated October 14, 2021]

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From the Document: "The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), ratified by Congress on January 16, 2020, and signed into law on January 29, 2020 (P.L. 116-113), replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on July 1, 2020. NAFTA reduced and eliminated trade and investment barriers between the United States and two of its largest trading partners, Canada and Mexico. It was the most comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) negotiated at the time and contained groundbreaking provisions in areas such as market access, rules of origin (ROO), intellectual property rights, services, investment, dispute settlement, and worker rights. NAFTA was instrumental in reshaping the North American motor vehicle industry, which has become highly integrated and a major source of trade and investment among the three trading partners."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Villarreal, M. Angeles; Canis, Bill; Wong, Liana

2021-10-14
Underemployment, Recessions, and Poverty [October 14, 2021]

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From the Introduction: "This report will first briefly describe the scope of the underemployed population, and then it will illustrate how the percentages of underemployed persons, unemployed persons, and persons below poverty have risen and fallen over the course of previous business cycles. Next, the report will describe the wage rates by family size for which part-time jobs (such as those held by underemployed workers) are sufficient for staying out of poverty, and when they fall short. The last portion of the report will examine the connection between underemployment and poverty using three types of comparisons: [1] examining workers and nonworkers aged 18 to 64 by 'depth of poverty'--how far above or below the poverty threshold one's income is--focusing on the poverty status of the individual workers or nonworkers themselves; [2] examining poverty status by types of workers in a given family, to capture the potential for family members' work statuses to affect the poverty status of all family members; and [3] comparing poverty rates by both the number and type of workers present in the family."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Dalaker, Joseph

2021-10-14
COVID-19-Related Impact on the Banking Industry: Conditions in the Second Quarter 2021 [October 13, 2021]

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From the Document: "Bank regulation is designed to allow banks to withstand some amount of unexpected losses. Some observers have worried that the economic ramifications of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could result in enough borrowers missing loan payments to cause distress for banks [hyperlink]. This Insight presents bank industry statistics through the second quarter 2021 and examines how the pandemic might be affecting the industry."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Gnanarajah, Raj; Scott, Andrew P.

2021-10-13
Cost-Of-Living Adjustments for Federal Civil Service Annuities [Updated October 13, 2021]

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From the Summary: "Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) are based on the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). COLAs for both CSRS and FERS are determined by the average monthly CPI-W during the third quarter (July to September) of the current calendar year and the third quarter of the base year, which is the last previous year in which a COLA was applied. The 'effective date' for COLAs is December, but they first appear in the benefits issued during the following January. All CSRS retirees and survivors receive COLAs. Under FERS, however, nondisabled retirees under the age of 62 do not receive COLAs. Survivors and disabled retirees are eligible for COLAs under FERS regardless of age. CSRS pays a COLA that is equal to the percentage change in the CPI-W during the measurement period, but COLAs under FERS are limited if the rate of inflation is greater than 2.0%. [...] Congress passed the first law requiring automatic COLAs for federal civil service retirement benefits in 1962, and it has adjusted either the formula by which they are calculated or the date on which they take effect more than 10 times since then."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Isaacs, Katelin P., 1980-

2021-10-13
2021 Hurricane Outlook and Review of 2020 Hurricane Season [October 13, 2021]

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From the Document: "The potential for widespread storm destruction to the United States underscores the value of timely tropical cyclone forecasts. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is responsible for issuing tropical cyclone forecasts, including track, intensity, storm surge, and rainfall. [...] NOAA releases seasonal hurricane outlooks relevant to the United States, including the north Atlantic, eastern Pacific, and central Pacific oceans, before each hurricane season begins. Although outlook titles refer to hurricanes, outlooks include information on potential named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes. The Atlantic and central Pacific seasons run from June 1 through November 30; the eastern Pacific season begins May 15. Tropical cyclones, however, may form outside of these timeframes. In August, NOAA typically updates the Atlantic outlook but not the Pacific outlooks. Multiple nonfederal entities also publish outlooks. These forecasts rely, in part, on NOAA's collected and shared information."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Lipiec, Eva

2021-10-13
International Trade Agreements and Job Estimates [Updated October 13, 2021]

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From the Overview: "The Obama Administration engaged in negotiations on two mega-regional free trade agreements (FTAs): the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) among the United States and eleven other Asia-Pacific countries and the U.S.-European Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP). Upon taking office, the Trump Administration withdraw from the TPP and the T-TIP. Discussions on TPP, T-TIP and other FTAs, including during recent elections, have focused attention on quantifying the impact of trade agreements on jobs in the U.S. economy. Economists and others often use sophisticated economic models to estimate the economic impact of trade agreements on the economy, particularly the impact on jobs and wages. The International Trade Commission (ITC), for instance, provides estimates of the impact of FTAs on the U.S. economy. Limitations of data and important theoretical and practical issues make it difficult to derive precise estimates of the impact of a particular trade agreement on the U.S. economy. Such models use a number of assumptions that are necessary to derive the results, but such assumptions reduce the reliability of the estimates. In addition, the economy as a whole is subject to a broad range of events, often unforeseen, that cannot be modeled ahead of time in generating trade estimates, but may affect economic performance, including job creation and job losses, in ways that may outweigh the impact of free trade agreements."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Jackson, James K., 1949-

2021-10-13
U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy: Considering 'No First Use' [Updated October 13, 2021]

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From the Document: "The Biden Administration began [hyperlink] its Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) in July 2021 and expects to complete the study in early 2021. The NPR is likely to include a review of U.S. declaratory policy--the statements the United States makes about when, how, and why it might use nuclear weapons to deter adversaries and reassure U.S. allies of its commitment to their defense--with a focus on whether the United States should pledge never to be the first to use nuclear weapons in a conflict. President Biden has spoken [hyperlink], in the past, about his support for a 'sole purpose' [hyperlink] policy for nuclear weapons, which some see as similar to a 'no first use' pledge. Some in Congress support [hyperlink] such a pledge, but others have insisted [hyperlink] that it would undermine the U.S. commitment to extend deterrence to allies."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Woolf, Amy F.

2021-10-13
Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (Oct. 4-Oct. 10, 2021)

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From the Document: "The federal courts issue hundreds of decisions every week in cases involving diverse legal disputes. This Sidebar series selects decisions from the past week that may be of particular interest to federal lawmakers, focusing on precedential decisions of the Supreme Court [hyperlink] and the courts of appeals for the thirteen federal circuits [hyperlink]. Selected cases typically involve the interpretation or validity of federal statutes and regulations, or constitutional issues relevant to Congress's lawmaking and oversight functions."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Garcia, Michael John

2021-10-12
Visa Waiver Program [Updated October 12, 2021]

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From the Introduction: "The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows nationals from certain countries to enter the United States as temporary visitors for business or pleasure without first obtaining a visa from a U.S. consulate abroad. Temporary visitors for business or pleasure from non-VWP countries must obtain a visa from Department of State (DOS) officers at a consular post abroad before coming to the United States. Two main goals of the VWP are increasing tourism and strengthening national security. While there tends to be agreement that the VWP benefits the U.S. economy by facilitating legitimate travel, there is disagreement on the VWP's impact on national security. Proponents of the program say the VWP strengthens U.S. national security because it sets standards for travel documents, requires information sharing between member countries and the United States on criminal and security concerns, and mandates reporting of lost and stolen travel documents. Critics of the program argue the VWP creates a security loophole because VWP travelers do not undergo the in-person screening generally required to receive a visa."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Kolker, Abigail F.; Siskin, Alison

2021-10-12
'Tunisia: Examining the State of Democracy and Next Steps for U.S. Policy', Testimony of Alexis Arieff, Before Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa and Global Counterterrorism, U.S. House of Representatives, October 12, 2021

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This is the October 12, 2021 testimony of Alexis Arieff on "'Tunisia: Examining the State of Democracy and Next Steps for U.S. Policy,'" before the House Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa and Global Counterterrorism of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the Statement of Alexis Arieff: "My statement provides an overview of political, economic, and security issues in Tunisia, and summarizes U.S. relations and aid. I also identify several potential policy issues and challenges facing Congress as you look ahead."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Arieff, Alexis

2021-10-12
Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated October 12, 2021]

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From the Introduction: "The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region's future. Issues such as geopolitical competition in the region between the United States, Russia, and China; increased military operations in the region by the United States, Russia, and other Arctic countries; growth in commercial shipping through the Arctic; and oil, gas, and mineral exploration in the Arctic could cause the region in coming years to become an arena of international cooperation, tension, and/or competition. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial political, economic, energy, environmental, and other interests in the region. Decisions that Congress makes on Arctic-related issues could significantly affect these interests. This report provides an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress, and refers readers to more in-depth CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports on specific Arctic-related issues."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

O'Rourke, Ronald; Comay, Laura B.; Frittelli, John . . .

2021-10-12
What Happens If the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Lapses? [Updated October 8, 2021]

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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 December 3, 2021, and allowed to lapse"

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Horn, Diane P.

2021-10-08
Brief Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program [Updated October 8, 2021]

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From the Document: "The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the primary source of flood insurance coverage for residential properties in the United States. The NFIP has two main policy goals: (1) to provide access to primary flood insurance, thereby allowing for the transfer of some of the financial risk of property owners to the federal government; and (2) to mitigate and reduce the nation's comprehensive flood risk through the development and implementation of floodplain management standards. A longer-term objective of the NFIP is to reduce federal expenditure on disaster assistance after floods. As a public insurance program, the goals of the NFIP are different from the goals of private sector insurance companies. It encompasses social goals to provide flood insurance in flood-prone areas to property owners who otherwise would not be able to obtain it and to reduce the government's cost after floods. The NFIP also engages in many 'noninsurance' activities in the public interest: it identifies and maps flood hazards, disseminates flood-risk information through flood maps, requires community land-use and building-code standards, contributes to community resilience by providing a mechanism to fund rebuilding after a flood, and offers grants and incentive programs for household- and community-level investments in flood-risk reduction."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Horn, Diane P.

2021-10-08
Military's COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate [Updated October 8, 2021]

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From the Document: "Since the onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Members of Congress have expressed interest in Force Health Protection [hyperlink] (FHP) measures the Department of Defense (DOD) might implement to protect servicemembers and mitigate pandemic-related threats to military operations. DOD has implemented a variety of conditions-based FHP [hyperlink]measures that mirror the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommended protective measures [hyperlink], to limit the spread of COVID-19 among military personnel. On August 9, 2021, the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) issued a Message to the Force [hyperlink] indicating his intent to require COVID-19 vaccination for servicemembers 'no later than mid-September, or immediately upon the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensure [of a COVID-19 vaccine], whichever comes first.' [...] This Insight summarizes the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for servicemembers and offers considerations for Congress as the MILDEPs [Secretaries of the Military Departments] implement the mandate. For an overview of DOD's vaccination policy and program, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] InFocus 11816 [hyperlink]."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Mendez, Bryce H. P.

2021-10-08
Renewed Great Power Competition: Implications for Defense--Issues for Congress [Updated October 7, 2021]

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From the Introduction: "This report provides a brief overview of implications for U.S. defense of great power competition with China and Russia. The issue for Congress is how U.S. defense planning should respond to renewed great power competition, and whether to approve, reject, or modify the Biden Administration's proposed defense funding levels, strategy, plans, and programs for addressing renewed great power competition. Congress's decisions on these issues could have significant implications for U.S. defense capabilities and funding requirements. This report focuses on defense-related issues and does not discuss potential implications of renewed great power competition for other policy areas, such as foreign policy and diplomacy, trade and finance, energy, and foreign assistance"

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

O'Rourke, Ronald

2021-10-07
China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities--Background and Issues for Congress [Updated October 7, 2021]

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From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on China's naval modernization effort and its implications for U.S. Navy capabilities. In an era of renewed great power competition, China's military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, has become the top focus of U.S. defense planning and budgeting. The issue for Congress for this CRS [Congressional Research Service] report is whether the U.S. Navy is responding appropriately to China's naval modernization effort. Decisions that Congress reaches on this issue could affect U.S. and allied security, Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the defense industrial base."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

O'Rourke, Ronald

2021-10-07
Panama: An Overview [Updated October 7, 2021]

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From the Document: "Panama's central location in the Americas (linking North and South America), large financial sector, use of the U.S. dollar as currency, and transportation infrastructure-- especially the Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans--make the country a global trade hub and a strategic partner for the United States."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Sullivan, Mark P.

2021-10-07

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