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Cybersecurity Strategy Report
"In today's connected world, where nearly all devices--from the phones in our pockets, to the refrigerators in our kitchens, to the multi-million-dollar equipment that runs our electric grid--are linked together through the Internet, cybersecurity has at once become a household term and one of the most complicated, difficult issues facing society. Once a topic seen mostly as a nuisance, requiring the occasional password reset or new credit card, cybersecurity now regularly makes headlines as the Internet and connected technologies have become not only economic, diplomatic, and military tools, but integral parts of our daily lives. However, even as the Internet has rapidly developed to become a vital part of modern society, it appears that the integration of effective cybersecurity has not kept pace. Recognizing this reality, the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee has spent the past several years analyzing certain cybersecurity issues with impacts across the Energy and Commerce Committee's broad jurisdiction. Several patterns have emerged from the Subcommittee's work. Regardless of industry, size, or sophistication, the cybersecurity challenges organizations face are largely the same. Further, traditional information technology (IT) strategies seem largely ineffective at stemming the growing tide of cybersecurity incidents--which now range from ransomware attacks that can hold an entire company hostage to hackers' exploitation of a security vulnerability in the latest cellphone model."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce
2018-12-08
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Cybersecurity: Federal Agencies Met Legislative Requirements for Protecting Privacy When Sharing Threat Information
"Federal agencies and our nation's critical infrastructures, such as communications and financial services, are dependent on information technology systems and electronic data to carry out operations and to process, maintain, and report essential information. The security of these systems and data is vital to public confidence and national security, prosperity, and well-being. Yet, cyber-based intrusions and attacks on federal and nonfederal systems have become not only more numerous and diverse, but also more damaging and disruptive. For example, a data breach reported in July 2015 at the Office of Personnel Management affected at least 21.5 million individuals and compromised federal employees' personal information, including Social Security numbers, residency and education history, employment history, financial history, and the fingerprints of approximately 5.6 million individuals. Due to cyber-based threats to federal systems and critical infrastructure, the persistent nature of information security vulnerabilities, and associated risks, we have continued to designate information security as a government-wide high-risk area in our most recent biennial report to Congress--a designation we have made in each high-risk report since 1997. We expanded this area beyond federal information systems to include the protection of cyber critical infrastructure in 2003 and protecting the privacy of personally identifiable information in 2015."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2018-12-06
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Bahrain: Unrest, Security, and U.S. Policy [December 3, 2018]
"An uprising against Bahrain's Al Khalifa ruling family that began on February 14, 2011, has diminished in intensity, but punishments of oppositionists and periodic demonstrations continue. The mostly Shiite opposition to the Sunni-minority-led regime has not achieved its goal of establishing a constitutional monarchy, but the unrest has compelled the ruling family to undertake some modest reforms. The mainstream opposition uses peaceful forms of dissent, but small factions, reportedly backed by Iran, have claimed responsibility for bombings and other attacks on security officials. Elections for a legislative body, held most recently during November 24-December 1, 2018, have been marred by the banning of opposition political societies and allegations of gerrymandering to prevent opposition victories."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2018-12-03
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European Union: Ongoing Challenges and Future Prospects [December 3, 2018]
"The European Union (EU) is a unique partnership in which member states have pooled sovereignty in certain policy areas and harmonized laws on a wide range of economic and political issues. The EU is the latest stage in a process of European integration begun after World War II, initially by six Western European countries, to promote peace, security, and economic development. The EU currently consists of 28 member states, including most of the formerly communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The EU is largely viewed as a cornerstone of European stability and prosperity. For much of the last decade, however, many EU countries have faced considerable economic difficulties. Despite an improved economic situation in the EU since 2017, economic pressures and societal changes have contributed to the rise of populist and antiestablishment political parties, at least some of which harbor anti-EU or 'euroskeptic' sentiments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin
2018-12-03
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CBP's Searches of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry - Redacted
"The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (TFTEA) requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) t o establish standard operating procedures (SOP) for searching, reviewing, retaining, and sharing information in communication, electronic, or digital devices at U.S. ports of entry. The TFTEA also requires the DHS Office of Inspector General to conduct three annual audits to determine to what extent CBP conducted searches of electronic devices in accordance with the SOPs."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2018-12-03
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Fraud Risk Management: OMB Should Improve Guidelines and Working-Group Efforts to Support Agencies' Implementation of the Fraud Reduction and Data Analytics Act, Report to Congressional Requesters
"Fraud poses a significant risk to the integrity of federal programs and erodes public trust in government. Implementing effective fraud risk management processes can help ensure that federal programs fulfill their intended purpose, spend their funding effectively, and safeguard assets. FRDAA [Fraud Reduction and Data Analytics Act of 2015] requires agencies to establish internal controls to manage their fraud risks and to report implementation progress for the first 3 years after enactment. It also directs OMB [Office of Management and Budget] to (1) develop guidelines for agencies to establish fraud risk management controls and (2) establish a working group to share best practices in fraud risk management and data analytics. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review agencies' and OMB's efforts to implement FRDAA. This report examines steps (1) agencies and (2) OMB have taken to implement FRDAA. GAO conducted a survey of the 72 agencies subject to the act, held a roundtable discussion with 14 selected agencies, reviewed 24 selected annual financial reports, examined OMB guidelines, and interviewed OMB staff"
United States. Government Accountability Office
2018-12
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Human Trafficking: State and USAID Should Improve Their Monitoring of International Counter-Trafficking Projects, Report to Congressional Committees
"Human trafficking is a pervasive problem throughout the world. Victims are often held against their will in slave-like conditions. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on the programs conducted by specific agencies, including State, DOL [Department of Labor], and USAID [United States Agency for International Development], that address trafficking in persons. Among other objectives, this report (1) identifies the recent projects in international counter-trafficking in persons that key U.S. agencies have awarded to implementing partners; and, for selected projects, assesses the extent to which key agencies have (2) documented their monitoring activities and (3) ensured the reliability of project performance information. GAO reviewed State, DOL, and USAID project documents and interviewed agency officials. GAO reviewed monitoring documents for 54 of the 57 projects that were active from the beginning of fiscal year 2016 through the end of fiscal year 2017. Of these 54 projects, GAO selected a nongeneralizable sample of 5 projects, based primarily on largest total award amounts, for review of the reliability of project performance information."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2018-12
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Islamic State Khorasan's Network and Organizational Capacity in Afghanistan and Pakistan
"When the Islamic State officially declared the formation of its province in Afghanistan and Pakistan (AfPak)--Wilayat Khorasan, or Islamic State Khorasan (ISK)--in January 2015, many global and regional policymakers dismissed the threat of an Islamic State affiliate in the AfPak theater. In the years following its formation, ISK unleashed some of the most devastating attacks in the AfPak region, persisting in the face of U.S. airstrikes, Pakistani military operations, and clashes with the Afghan Taliban. Although the potential threat of ISK is acknowledged today, questions about the nature of the nascent group and its efficacy, resilience, and trajectory remain unanswered. What are the broader contours of ISK's lethality, targets, and tactics in Afghanistan and Pakistan? How do ISK's operational trends compare and contrast across the two countries? How have ISK's alliances contributed to its overall capacity and resilience? More broadly, what explains ISK's demonstrated ability to survive and thrive in the AfPak region, and what do its operational trends and alliances collectively tell us about its future trajectory?"
Combating Terrorism Center (U.S.)
Jadoon, Amira
2018-12
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2017 Disaster Contracting: Action Needed to Better Ensure More Effective Use and Management of Advance Contracts, Report to Congressional Requesters
"Following Hurricane Katrina, Congress required FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] to establish advance contracts for goods and services to enable the government to quickly and effectively mobilize resources in the aftermath of a disaster, like those that affected the United States in 2017. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the federal government's response to the three 2017 hurricanes and California wildfires. This report assesses, among other things, (1) FEMA and USACE's [United States Army Corps of Engineers] use of advance contracts, (2) FEMA's planning and reporting of selected advance contracts, and (3) challenges, if any, with FEMA's use of these contracts. GAO analyzed data from the Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation through May 31, 2018; selected a non-generalizable sample of 14 FEMA and USACE advance contracts that were competed and obligated over $50 million, or non-competed and obligated over $10 million, in response to the 2017 disasters; and interviewed FEMA and USACE officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2018-12
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Surviving a Catastrophic Power Outage: How to Strengthen the Capabilities of the Nation, Draft
From the Executive Summary: "The President's National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) was tasked to examine the nation's ability to respond to and recover from a catastrophic power outage of a magnitude beyond modern experience, exceeding prior events in severity, scale, duration, and consequence. Simply put, how can the nation best prepare for and recover from a catastrophic power outage, regardless of the cause? After interviews with dozens of senior leaders and experts and an extensive review of studies and statutes, we found that existing national plans, response resources, and coordination strategies would be outmatched by a catastrophic power outage. This profound risk requires a new national focus. Significant public and private action is needed to prepare for and recover from a catastrophic outage that could leave the large parts of the nation without power for weeks or months, and cause service failures in other sectors-- including water and wastewater, communications, transportation, healthcare, and financial services--that are critical to public health and safety and our national and economic security."
National Infrastructure Advisory Council (U.S.)
2018-12
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2020 Census: Additional Steps Needed to Finalize Readiness for Peak Field Operations, Report to Congressional Requesters
"The cost of the decennial census has steadily increased over the past several decades, with self-response rates declining over the same period. The largest and costliest operation that the Bureau undertakes, NRFU [Non-Response Follow-Up] is the Bureau's attempt to enumerate households not initially self-responding to the census. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review NRFU implementation during the 2018 Census Test as well as the Bureau's overall readiness for peak field operations, which cover the actual enumeration of residents. This report examines (1) how peak field operations, including NRFU, were implemented during the test; and (2) the extent to which prior test implementation issues have been addressed. GAO reviewed test planning and training documentation, as well as production and payroll data. At the test site, GAO observed and interviewed enumerators, field supervisors, and managers conducting peak operations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2018-12
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National Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism
From the Executive Summary: "The National Strategy for Countering WMD [weapons of mass destruction] Terrorism describes the United States Government's approach to countering non-state WMD threats, emphasizing the need for continuous pressure against WMD-capable terrorist groups, enhanced security for dangerous materials throughout the world, and increased burden sharing among our foreign partners. The United States will draw on the full range of our nation's and partner nations' capabilities to place WMD and associated materials and expertise beyond the reach of terrorists. We will also strengthen our defenses at home to ensure the peace and security to which every American is entitled. [...] The National Strategy for Countering WMD Terrorism is designed to achieve a set of strategic objectives whose common purpose is to greatly reduce the probability that extremist groups and individuals will conduct attacks using WMD."
United States. White House Office
2018-12
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Terror Threat Snapshot [December 2018]
The "Terror Threat Snapshot" is a monthly assessment of the House Homeland Security Committee that highlights the growing threat to America, the West, and the world from ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria] and other Islamist terrorists.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2018-12
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, November 30, 2018
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: "World AIDS Day -- December 1, 2018"; "Implementation of the Treat All Policy Among Persons with HIV Infection Enrolled in Care but Not on Antiretroviral Therapy -- India, May 2017-June 2018"; "Multistate Infestation with the Exotic Disease-Vector Tick Haemaphysalis longicornis -- United States, August 2017-September 2018"; "Health Disparities Among American Indians/Alaska Natives -- Arizona, 2017"; "Outbreak of Dengue Virus Type 2 -- American Samoa, November 2016-October 2018"; "Progress Toward Regional Measles Elimination -- Worldwide, 2000-2017"; and "QuickStats: Percentage of U.S. Adults Aged ≥18 Years Who Have Had a Flu Vaccination in the Past 12 Months, by Sex and Age Group -- National Health Interview Survey, 2017."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2018-11-30
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: Health and Research Legislation (November 30, 2018)
"On November 29, 2018, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions ordered reported S. 3530, Museum and Library Services Act of 2018, which would amend and reauthorize programs under the Museum and Library Services Act; the Committee reported four other bills, including: [1] S. 2076, BOLD [Building Our Largest Dementia] Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, which would authorize grants to support public health awareness and evidence-based practices related to Alzheimer's disease and related dementia; [2] S. 3657, Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2018, which would reauthorize the Traumatic Brain Injury program, including grants to states through the Administration for Community Living and data collection and analysis through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; [3] H.R. 315, Improving Access to Maternity Care Act, which would direct the Health Resources and Services Administration to identify geographic areas experiencing a shortage of health professionals practicing in maternity care; and [4] S. 3482, Emergency Medical Services for Children Program Reauthorization Act of 2018, which would reauthorize a grant program that aims to improve outcomes for children in emergency departments."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2018-11-30
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: Health and Research Legislation
"On November 29, 2018, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions ordered reported S. 3530, Museum and Library Services Act of 2018, which would amend and reauthorize programs under the Museum and Library Services Act; the Committee reported four other bills, including: [1] S. 2076, BOLD [Building Our Largest Dementia] Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, which would authorize grants to support public health awareness and evidence-based practices related to Alzheimer's disease and related dementia; [2] S. 3657, Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2018, which would reauthorize the Traumatic Brain Injury program, including grants to states through the Administration for Community Living and data collection and analysis through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; [3] H.R. 315, Improving Access to Maternity Care Act, which would direct the Health Resources and Services Administration to identify geographic areas experiencing a shortage of health professionals practicing in maternity care; and [4] S. 3482, Emergency Medical Services for Children Program Reauthorization Act of 2018, which would reauthorize a grant program"
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2018-11-30
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Maritime Security: DOT is Still Finalizing Strategy to Address Challenges to Sustaining U.S. - Flag Fleet, Statement of Andrew Von Ah, Director, Physical Infrastructure, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives
"This statement summarizes GAO's [Government Accountability Office] August 2018 report on challenges in sustaining the U.S. flag fleet for defense purposes and DOT's [Department of Transportation] efforts to draft a national maritime strategy that addresses these challenges. Specifically, it discusses: (1) the status of the mandated national strategies and (2) challenges that stakeholders identified related to sustaining the U.S. - flag fleet and options DOT has considered for addressing them. For the August 2018 report, GAO reviewed relevant laws, regulations, reports, and studies. GAO also analyzed data on international government cargo and interviewed officials from DOT and DOD [Department of Defense], vessel operators, and other stakeholders. For this statement, GAO spoke to DOT officials for an update on the status of the strategy."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2018-11-29
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Coast Guard Acquisitions: Addressing Key Risks is Important to Success of Polar Icebreaker Program, Statement of Marie A. Mak, Director, Contracting and National Security Acquisitions, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives
"To maintain heavy polar icebreaking capability, the Coast Guard, in collaboration with the Navy, plans to acquire up to three new heavy polar icebreakers. The Navy plans to award a contract in 2019 for the polar icebreaker program. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has found that before committing resources, successful acquisition programs begin with sound business cases, which include plans for a stable design, mature technologies, a reliable cost estimate, and a realistic schedule. This statement addresses, among other things, the key acquisition risks facing the polar icebreaker program. This statement is primarily based on GAO's April 2018 and September 2018 reports examining the Coast Guard's polar icebreaker acquisition, and also draws from GAO's extensive body of published work examining the Coast Guard's and the Navy's shipbuilding efforts. In its prior work, GAO analyzed Coast Guard and Navy guidance, data, and documentation, and interviewed Coast Guard and Navy officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2018-11-29
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 465 Independent Outside Audit of the Indian Health Service Act of 2018
"S. 465 would require the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enter into one or more contracts with private entities to conduct an independent assessment of the health care delivery systems and financial management processes of the Indian Health Service (IHS). The independent audit would investigate a wide variety of activities within IHS, including the operations of IHS leadership, procurement and contracting policies, medical service provision at each IHS medical facility, and the productivity of each health care provider at IHS, among others. For those purposes, the bill would authorize HHS to spend funds from available appropriations that are not otherwise obligated. Because such spending would occur without further appropriation, it would be considered direct spending and CBO estimates that spending would total $56 million over the 2019-2023 period."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2018-11-29
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 3050 21st Century IDEA
"S. 3050 would require agencies to update their websites, increase the use of electronic forms, implement the use of e-signatures, standardize information technology (IT) throughout the federal government, and improve the overall government IT experience for users."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2018-11-29
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Ensuring Language Access and Effective Communication During Response and Recovery: A Checklist for Emergency Responders
"As an emergency responder, it is critical for you to be prepared to effectively reach all members of the community during emergency response and recovery efforts. Survivors may include individuals with access and functional needs, such as persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) and persons with disabilities. Access to federally funded emergency response and recovery services must be provided to persons with LEP and persons with disabilities in accordance with federal civil rights laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These services may include providing language access services to provide meaningful access and auxiliary aids and services to ensure effective communication."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2018-11-29
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World Trade Organization: Overview and Future Direction [November 29, 2018]
"The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization that administers the trade rules and agreements negotiated by its 164 members to eliminate trade barriers and create nondiscriminatory rules to govern trade. It also serves as an important forum for resolving trade disputes. The United States was a major force behind the establishment of the WTO in 1995 and the rules and agreements that resulted from the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations (1986-1994). The WTO encompassed and expanded on the commitments and institutional functions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which was established in 1947 by the United States and 22 other nations. Through the GATT and WTO, the United States and other countries sought to establish a more open, rules-based trading system in the postwar era, with the goal of fostering international economic cooperation, stability,and prosperity worldwide. Today, the vast majority of world trade, approximately 98%, takes place among WTO members."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; Fefer, Rachel F.; Fergusson, Ian F.
2018-11-29
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Brexit at a Pivotal Moment [November 28, 2018]
"Four months away from the United Kingdom's (UK's) expected withdrawal from the European Union (EU), discord and uncertainty remain central themes in the analysis of 'Brexit.' The efforts of UK and EU negotiators to reconcile a complex set of competing interests and preferences have produced a 585-page draft withdrawal agreement and a 26- page political declaration on the future UK-EU relationship. EU leaders signed off on the deal in late November 2018, leaving a vote by the European Parliament as the final step for approval by the EU before the March 29, 2019, withdrawal date. In the UK, however, pronounced divisions remain about how Brexit should look. The withdrawal agreement faces a crucial test when the UK Parliament votes on whether to approve it, a vote expected to occur on December 11, 2018."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mix, Derek E.
2018-11-28
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 6140: Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act
"H.R. 6140 would direct the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct various studies and activities related to the supply of new types of fuels for commercial nuclear reactors. In particular, the bill would authorize DOE to acquire certain materials on behalf of other entities and to develop a schedule for recovering those costs. Other provisions in the bill would authorize the appropriation of $1.5 million for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2021 to assist in the development of new methods for transporting new nuclear materials. Finally, DOE's authority to implement the programs would expire at the end of 2033."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2018-11-28
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 3085: Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act of 2018
"S. 3085 would create the Federal Acquisition Security Council, which would work to mitigate security risks that may arise from information technology (IT), telecommunications services, and other goods and services procured by the federal government. The council would consist of representatives from at least 11 departments and agencies and a representative from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would serve as chair of the council. Under the bill, the council would look at the security of the entire supply chain for goods and services procured by the government including threats from terrorism, piracy, and theft in both the real world and cyber space."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2018-11-28
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 664: Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2018
"S. 664 would secure up to 81,500 acre-feet of water annually for the Navajo Nation by ratifying a settlement being negotiated between the United States, the state of Utah, and the Navajo Nation. The bill would authorize the appropriation of $209 million to capitalize the Navajo Utah Settlement Trust Fund, an interest-bearing fund established under the bill. After the parties meet certain conditions, the federal government would transfer ownership of the fund (including any earned interest that is appropriated to the fund) to the nation for constructing projects to deliver water to the reservation of the Navajo Nation in Utah. The bill also would direct the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to survey water use on the reservation. Using information from BOR, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that enacting those provisions would cost $242 million over the 2019-2023 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized and necessary amounts."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2018-11-28
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 5759: 21st Century IDEA
"H.R. 5759 would require agencies to update their websites, increase the use of electronic forms, implement the use of e-signatures, standardize information technology (IT) throughout the federal government, and improve the overall government IT experience for users. Reports on 'www.digital.gov' indicate that the U.S. government has about 6,000 websites and over 400 domains. The Administration estimates that the federal government has over 23,000 forms--some on paper and some in various stages of digital form. The federal government spends about $95 billion annually on IT services, and according to the 'Budget of the U.S. Government, Fiscal Year 2019: Analytical Perspectives': 'federal agencies have a poor track record of appropriately planning and budgeting for continuous modernization of their legacy IT systems. Further, transition to other services such as cloud and shared services remains slow.' Recent Administrations have made improvements to IT a management priority, and those efforts continue."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2018-11-28
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 1942: Savanna's Act
"S. 1942 would direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide training on recording tribal affiliation in federal databases and to create guidelines for law enforcement and criminal investigations in Indian Country, or all Indian reservations under the jurisdiction of the United States government. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing the bill would cost $15 million over the 2019-2023 period. Such spending would be subject to appropriation. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting S. 1942 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029. S. 1942 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2018-11-28
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U.S. Sanctions on Russia [November 28, 2018]
"Sanctions are considered by many to be a central element of U.S. policy to counter Russian malign behavior, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2014, election interference and cyberattacks, human rights abuses, illicit trade with North Korea, support to the government of Syria, and use of a chemical weapon. The United States also employs sanctions in an effort to deter further objectionable activities by Russia (e.g., expanding the war in Ukraine or launching new attacks in neighboring countries). Most Members of Congress support a robust use of sanctions amid concerns about Russia's international behavior and geostrategic intentions. Most Russia-related sanctions implemented by the United States have been levied in response to Russia's 2014 invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions are based on national emergency authorities granted the office of the President in the National Emergencies Act (NEA; P.L. 94-412; 50 U.S.C. 1621) and International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA; P.L. 95-223; 50 U.S.C. 1701) and were exercised by President Barack Obama in 2014 in a series of executive orders (EOs 13660, 13661, 13662, and 13685). The Obama and Trump Administrations have used these EOs to impose sanctions on approximately 650 Russian individuals and entities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Welt, Cory; Archick, Kristin; Nelson, Rebecca M.; Rennack, Dianne E.
2018-11-28
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U.S. Tariff Policy: Overview [November 28, 2018]
"A tariff is a customs duty levied on imported and exported goods and services. Historically, countries used tariffs as a primary means of collecting revenue. Today, other taxes account for most government revenue in developed countries. Tariffs are now typically used to protect domestic industries or as leverage in trade negotiations and disputes. The U.S. Constitution empowers Congress to set tariffs, a power that it has partially delegated to the President. The United States is also a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and a party to 14 free trade agreements (FTAs), which include specific tariff-related commitments. Congress and the President thus create U.S. tariff policy within the context of a rules-based global trading system."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.
2018-11-28
