Advanced search Help
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
ASHE Pandemic Recovery Planning Webinar Series Pre Planning and Immediate Needs [video]
From the Website: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic is impacting the health care physical environment in ways we never imagined. Facilities have been reimagined, renovated, expanded, enlarged and underutilized simultaneously. The pandemic's significant impact on the physical environment has offered challenges and learning experiences. This webinar series will address specific health care facility measures based on immediate, short- and long-term needs regarding preplanning, inspection, testing and maintenance, sustainability and the 'new normal.'" The duration of this video is 1 hour, 1 minute, and 24 seconds.
American Society for Healthcare Engineering
2020-06-08
-
Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress [June 3, 2020]
From the Summary: "In December 2016, the Navy released a force-structure goal that calls for achieving and maintaining a fleet of 355 ships of certain types and numbers. The 355-ship goal was made U.S. policy by Section 1025 of the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2810/P.L. 115- 91 of December 12, 2017). The Trump Administration has identified the achievement of a Navy of 355 or more ships within 10 years as a high priority. The Navy states that it is working as well as it can, within a Navy budget top line that is essentially flat in real (i.e., inflation-adjusted terms), toward achieving that goal while also adequately funding other Navy priorities, such as restoring eroded ship readiness and improving fleet lethality. Navy officials state that while the 355-ship goal is a priority, they want to avoid creating a so-called hollow force, meaning a Navy that has an adequate number of ships but is unable to properly crew, arm, operate, and maintain those ships."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2020-06-03
-
National Security Implications of Fifth Generation (5G) Mobile Technologies [Updated June 2, 2020]
From the Document: "The fifth generation (5G) of mobile technologies will increase the speed of data transfer and improve bandwidth over existing fourth generation (4G) technologies, in turn enabling new military and commercial applications. 5G technologies are expected to support interconnected or autonomous devices, such as smart homes, self-driving vehicles, precision agriculture systems, industrial machinery, and advanced robotics. 5G for the military could additionally improve intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems and processing; enable new methods of command and control (C2); and streamline logistics systems for increased efficiency, among other uses. As 5G technologies are developed and deployed, Congress may consider policies for spectrum management and national security, as well as implications for U.S. military operations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoehn, John R.; Sayler, Kelley M.
2020-06-02
-
Army Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs) [Updated June 1, 2020]
From the Document: "Security Force Assistance (SFA) is defined as 'unified action to generate, employ, and sustain local, host nation or regional security forces in support of a legitimate authority.' By definition 'security forces include not only military forces, but also police, border forces, and other paramilitary organizations, as well as other local and regional forces.' SFA involves organizing, training, equipping, rebuilding, and advising foreign security forces (FSF)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2020-06-01
-
Costs of Creating a Space National Guard
From the Document: "The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 established the Space Force as a new, independent military service within the Department of the Air Force. Intended to conduct operations that involve space--such as maintaining satellites that are used for communications, observing the weather, and monitoring other countries' missile launches--the Space Force is currently authorized to operate only with regular (active component) personnel. The creation of this new service has led to various proposals to establish a Space National Guard, which would supplement the Space Force's active component forces as required. Such proposals have typically focused on existing units within the Air National Guard and Army National Guard that have space-related missions, including national space functions (such as missile warning and missile defense or space tracking) and deployable missions (primarily involving satellite communications). The Department of Defense (DoD) is studying the issue of whether to create a reserve component for the Space Force, either a Space National Guard or a Space Force Reserve, that would be similar to those of the other services."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2020-06
-
China's Donation Diplomacy
From the Document: "The Chinese global 'donation drive' in the wake of the Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] crisis has sparked criticism of Beijing in the international arena. United States and international elements claim that China is using 'mask diplomacy' intentionally, to leverage its contributions for political purposes. Indeed, it appears that both Chinese corporations and the Chinese government are exploiting the opportunity created by the pandemic with shipments of donated aid, partly as a way of posing an alternative to the United States as a global leader."
Institute for National Security Studies
Segev, Hiddai; Lavi, Galia
2020-05-31
-
Legal Issues Related to the COVID-19 Outbreak: An Overview [Updated May 29, 2020]
From the Document: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] outbreak has rapidly shifted the congressional agenda in recent weeks, while altering the daily lives of millions of American residents. Alongside the many medical, economic, social, and public policy questions raised by the pandemic are a range of legal issues. These include both short-term legal questions related to the unfolding outbreak as well as longer-term legal issues that are anticipated to persist in the wake of the crisis. Among the most immediate questions are those related to the scope of state and federal authorities concerning quarantine measures, travel and entry restrictions, the movement of medical goods, health care coverage, and the like. Of more ongoing concern may be legal issues ranging from those related to the development of vaccines, testing, treatments, and other medical countermeasures, to postponing national elections, to civil liability for COVID-19 exposure, to criminal actions related to hoarding and price gouging, to providing economic assistance to individuals and businesses, to foreclosure, eviction, and debt collection moratoria. This Legal Sidebar provides a list of legal resources discussing these and other legal topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be updated intermittently as additional legal issues emerge."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lewis, Caitlain Devereaux
2020-05-29
-
Digital Contact Tracing Technology: Overview and Considerations for Implementation [May 29, 2020]
From the Background: "'Contact tracing' is a public health measure used to control disease spread. Trained public health workers assist patients with an infectious disease recall their close contacts within a given timeframe, notify them of potential exposure, and provide advice to patients and contacts. Given the scale of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, some public health authorities are automating part of the tracing process with smartphone applications (apps). Some apps take advantage of Bluetooth signals to track individuals proximity to one another, otherwise known as 'digital exposure notification (DEN)' Bluetooth allows short-range wireless communications between electronic devices. Apps may also be used by public health authorities to enable 'digital contact tracing' (DCT), which may also use location data."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Figliola, Patricia Moloney
2020-05-29
-
Cuba: U.S. Policy Overview [Updated May 29, 2020]
From the Document: "Since the early 1960s, when the United States imposed a trade embargo on Cuba, the centerpiece of U.S. policy toward Cuba has consisted of economic sanctions aimed at isolating the government. In 2014, the Obama Administration initiated a major policy shift moving away from sanctions toward engagement and the normalization of relations. The policy change included the rescission of Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of international terrorism (May 2015); the restoration of diplomatic relations (July 2015); and efforts to increase travel, commerce, and the flow of information to Cuba by easing restrictions on travel, remittances, trade, telecommunications, and banking and financial services (2015 and 2016, accomplished through amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, administered by the Treasury Department, and the Export Administration Regulations, administered by the Commerce Department). The restoration of relations led to increased government-to-government engagement, with over 20 bilateral agreements negotiated and numerous bilateral dialogues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2020-05-29
-
Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress [Updated May 29, 2020]
From the Summary: "Names for Navy ships traditionally have been chosen and announced by the Secretary of the Navy, under the direction of the President and in accordance with rules prescribed by Congress. Rules for giving certain types of names to certain types of Navy ships have evolved over time. There have been exceptions to the Navy's ship-naming rules, particularly for the purpose of naming a ship for a person when the rule for that type of ship would have called for it to be named for something else. Some observers have perceived a breakdown in, or corruption of, the rules for naming Navy ships. On July 13, 2012, the Navy submitted to Congress a 73-page report on the Navy's policies and practices for naming ships."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2020-05-29
-
Navy Lasers, Railgun, and Gun-Launched Guided Projectile: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated May 29, 2020]
From the Summary: "Three new ship-based weapons being developed by the Navy--solid state lasers (SSLs), the electromagnetic railgun (EMRG), and the gun-launched guided projectile (GLGP), also known as the hypervelocity projectile (HVP)--could substantially improve the ability of Navy surface ships to defend themselves against surface craft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and eventually anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2020-05-29
-
Status of the U.S. Maritime Supply Chain During the COVID-19 Pandemic [video]
This is a video of the U.S. House hearing on the status of the U.S. maritime supply chain during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. The length of this video is one hour, 42 minutes, and 35 seconds.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
2020-05-29
-
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) and COVID-19 [Updated May 28, 2020]
From the Summary: "The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not currently have a specific standard that protects healthcare or other workers from airborne or aerosol transmission of disease or diseases transmitted by airborne droplets. Some in Congress, and some groups representing healthcare, meat and poultry processing, and other workers, are calling on OSHA to promulgate an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect workers from exposure to SARS-Cov-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] , the virus that causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) gives OSHA the ability to promulgate an ETS that would remain in effect for up to six months without going through the normal review and comment process of rulemaking. OSHA, however, has rarely used this authority in the past--not since the courts struck down its ETS on asbestos in 1983."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Szymendera, Scott
2020-05-28
-
COVID-19: Federal Travel Restrictions and Quarantine Measures [Updated May 28, 2020]
From the Document:"In response to the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the federal government has taken several actions to deter persons with potential COVID-19 infection from entering the country. This Legal Sidebar examines the legal authorities underlying two categories of these actions: First, restrictions on the entry of many non-U.S. nationals (aliens) who recently have been physically present in mainland China, Iran, much of Europe, and Brazil; and second, quarantine requirements imposed on all persons entering the United States, regardless of citizenship status. A separate Sidebar discusses additional actions the federal government has taken to restrict the movement of foreign nationals through ports of entry on the land borders with Canada and Mexico."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Liu, Edward C.
2020-05-28
-
COVID-19: Potential Implications for International Security Environment -- Overview of Issues and Further Reading for Congress [Updated May 28, 2020]
From the Introduction: "Some observers argue the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic could be a world-changing event with potentially profound and long-lasting implications for the international security environment and the U.S. role in the world. Other observers are more skeptical that the COVID-19 pandemic will have such effects. This report provides a brief overview of some potential implications the COVID-19 pandemic might have for the international security environment and the U.S. role in the world, and a bibliography of CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports and other writings for further reading. Issues for Congress may include whether and how the COVID-19 pandemic could change the international security environment, whether the Trump Administration's actions for responding to such change are appropriate and sufficient, and what implications such change could have for the role of Congress in setting and overseeing the execution of U.S. foreign and defense policy. Congress's decisions regarding these issues could have significant and even profound implications for U.S. foreign and defense policy, and for the status of Congress as a co-equal branch relative to the executive branch in setting and overseeing the implementation of U.S. foreign and defense policy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; McInnis, Kathleen J.; Moodie, Michael, 1948-
2020-05-28
-
U.S. Blood Supply and the COVID-19 Response: In Brief [May 28, 2020]
From the Summary: "The nation's blood supply is largely managed by a network of independent blood centers and the American Red Cross, with some oversight from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These private organizations collect blood product donations (e.g., whole blood, plasma, and platelets) from individual volunteers through scheduled appointments, walk-in appointments, and blood drives. Independent blood centers and the American Red Cross each collect nearly half of blood products nationwide, with the remainder collected in hospital settings. The response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed significant challenges for maintenance of the U.S. blood supply. Mitigation strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as closures of schools and workplaces, have led to blood drive cancellations at the places where such events are often held. In addition to blood drive cancellations, individual state stay-at-home orders and general fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus might dissuade individuals from scheduling appointments to donate blood."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sussman, Jared S.; Dabrowska, Agata
2020-05-28
-
COVID-19: Selected Financial and Social Service Resources for Older Americans [May 28, 2020]
From the Document: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused economic distress to many older Americans due to job loss, business closings, and financial market conditions. This Insight provides links to selected CRS [Congressional Research Service] products and related resources that address some issues for older populations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Breslauer, Tamar B.; Overbay, Abigail R.; Napili, Angela
2020-05-28
-
COVID-19 Relief Assistance to Small Businesses: Issues and Policy Options [Updated May 28, 2020]
From the Summary: "The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) administers several types of programs to support small businesses, including direct disaster loan programs for businesses, homeowners, and renters to assist their recovery from natural disasters; loan guaranty and venture capital programs to enhance small business access to capital; small business management and technical assistance training programs to assist business formation and expansion; and contracting programs to increase small business opportunities in federal contracting. Congressional interest in these programs has always been high, primarily because small businesses are viewed as a means to stimulate economic activity and create jobs, but it has become especially acute in the wake of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic's widespread adverse economic impact on the national economy, including productivity losses, supply chain disruptions, major labor dislocation, and significant financial pressure on both businesses and households."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dilger, Robert Jay, 1954-; Lindsay, Bruce R.; Lowry, Sean
2020-05-28
-
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Situation Report - 129
From the Highlights: "[1] WHO [World Health Organization] has published an interim guidance on the clinical management of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. This guidance document is intended for clinicians caring for COVID-19 patients during all phases of their disease. [2] WHO has published an interim guidance on ethical considerations to guide the use of digital proximity tracking technologies for COVID-19 contact tracing. This document provides guidance to policy-makers and other stakeholders about the ethical and appropriate use of digital proximity tracking technologies for COVID-19. [3] WHO Regional Director for the Americas, Dr Carissa F. Etienne said the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Region of the Americas must include chronic disease care, as 1 in 4 people are at increased risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19 due to underlying noncommunicable diseases."
World Health Organization
2020-05-28
-
EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 20 Issue 22, May 28, 2020
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: "FEMA releases guide on hurricane response during pandemic"; "NENA [National Emergency Numbers Association] releases second report on 9-1-1 and COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]"; "Online training: Contact Tracing for Public Health Professionals"; "Webinar: COVID-19 and Wildfire"; "Americans Care About Security But Don't Follow Through"; "Ransomware now demands extra payment to delete stolen files"; and "HICP [Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices]: Managing Threats & Protecting Patients."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2020-05-28
-
Army Corps of Engineers: FY2021 Appropriations [Updated May 28, 2020]
From the Document: "Congress generally funds the civil works activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in annual Energy and Water Development appropriations acts. These activities include the planning and construction of authorized water resource projects and the operation and maintenance of infrastructure and navigation improvements managed by USACE (e.g., navigation channels). For USACE civil works, President Trump requested $5.97 billion for FY2021."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Normand, Anna E.; Carter, Nicole T.
2020-05-28
-
CFIUS: New Foreign Investment Review Regulations [Updated May 28, 2020]
From the Overview: "On January 13, 2020, the Department of the Treasury issued final regulations to implement key parts of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) (Title XVII, P.L. 115-232), which are intended to 'strengthen and modernize' the national security review of foreign direct investment (FDI) transactions by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) (under P.L. 110-49). CFIUS is an interagency body comprising nine Cabinet members and others as appointed. The regulations, which largely concern CFIUS's expanded review of certain real estate and noncontrolling investments, became effective on February 13, 2020. These rules were widely anticipated by various stakeholders for clarifying key aspects of FIRRMA. Subsequently, a new rule proposed in May would amend the mandatory filing requirements related to U.S. critical technology companies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; Jackson, James K., 1949-
2020-05-28
-
COVID-19 and the Emerging Global Picture
From the Summary: "The global system is still barely five months into the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic and so it is difficult to draw general conclusions about the outbreak. But what is noticeable is that certain countries have fared better than others in managing the spread of the virus. This briefing explores some of the possible reasons for this development."
Oxford Research Group
Rogers, Paul, 1943-
2020-05-28
-
U.S.-Kenya FTA Negotiations [Updated May 28, 2020]
From the Document: "On February 6, President Trump and President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya announced their intent to begin free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.If successful, it would be the first U.S. FTA with a country in sub-Saharan Africa. [...] Kenya is not a major U.S. trade partner in global terms, but it is one of Africa's most dynamic economies and the second-largest beneficiary of AGOA's [African Growth and Opportunity Act] tariff benefits, excluding crude oil. The United States views Kenya as a strategic partner in the region: the country is a major beneficiary of U.S. security and foreign assistance, and a hub for U.S. security initiatives in the region. Kenya hosts the largest U.S. diplomatic mission on the continent."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Williams, Brock R.; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch
2020-05-28
-
Spectrum Interference Issues: Ligado, the L-Band, and GPS [May 28, 2020]
From the Document: "On April 20, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously approved a controversial application by Ligado Networks, a U.S. satellite communications company, to deploy a terrestrial nationwide network using L-Band radio spectrum. Ligado's stated intent is to offer a combined satellite and terrestrial communications network that will enable other telecommunications carriers to deploy 5G services and provide wireless internet to support industrial networks."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gallagher, Jill C.; King, Alyssa K.; Cho, Clare Y.
2020-05-28
-
Russia's Nord Stream 2 Pipeline: A Push for the Finish Line [Updated May 28, 2020]
From the Document: "Recent reports suggest that the Russian government is trying to complete construction of Nord Stream 2, a controversial natural gas pipeline that will enable Russia to increase the amount of natural gas it exports directly to Germany and onward to other European Union (EU) member states (bypassing Ukraine and other transit countries). Pipeline construction was suspended in December 2019, after the United States imposed sanctions related to the project. The Trump Administration and Congress have expressed opposition to Nord Stream 2, reflecting concerns about European dependence on Russian energy and the threat Russia poses to Ukraine."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Welt, Cory; Ratner, Michael; Belkin, Paul
2020-05-28
-
House Office of Congressional Ethics: History, Authority, and Procedures [Updated May 28, 2020]
From the Summary: "The House Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) was established on March 11, 2008, with the passage of H.Res. 895. It was most recently reauthorized by the House as part of the rules package (H.Res. 6) adopted by the 116th Congress on January 3, 2019. The office's establishment followed years of efforts by groups within and outside Congress to create an independent entity to investigate allegations of misconduct by Members, officers, and employees of Congress. During the 110th Congress (2007-2008), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader John Boehner created the bipartisan Special Task Force on Ethics Enforcement, chaired by Representative Michael Capuano, to consider whether the House should create an 'outside' ethics-enforcement entity. The task force worked for nearly a year before issuing its recommendations for the creation of the OCE."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Straus, Jacob R.
2020-05-28
-
U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South and East China Seas: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated May 28, 2020]
From the Summary: "In an international security environment described as one of renewed great power competition, the South China Sea (SCS) has emerged as an arena of U.S.-China strategic competition. U.S.-China strategic competition in the SCS forms an element of the Trump Administration's more confrontational overall approach toward China, and of the Administration's efforts for promoting its construct for the Indo-Pacific region, called the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2020-05-28
-
Ethical Considerations to Guide the Use of Digital Proximity Tracking Technologies for COVID-19 Contact Tracing
From the Background: "This interim guidance is intended to inform public health programmes and governments that are considering whether to develop or implement digital proximity tracking technologies for COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] contact tracing. The document covers ethical principles, technical considerations and requirements that are consistent with these principles; and how to achieve equitable and appropriate use of such technologies."
World Health Organization
2020-05-28
-
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Daily Briefing Points Supplemental (May 27, 2020)
This document from FEMA provides updates across all regions of the United States regarding the response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2020-05-27
