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Electricity Grid Resilience: Climate Change is Expected to Have Far-Reaching Effects and DOE and FERC Should Take Actions, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "According to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, changes in the earth's climate are under way and expected to increase, posing risks to the electricity grid that may affect the nation's economic and national security. Annual costs of weather-related power outages total billions of dollars and may increase with climate change, although resilience investments could help address potential effects, according to the research program. Private companies own most of the electricity grid, but the federal government plays a significant role in promoting grid resilience--the ability to adapt to changing conditions; withstand potentially disruptive events; and, if disrupted, to rapidly recover. DOE [Department of Energy], the lead agency for grid resilience efforts, conducts research and provides information and technical assistance to industry. FERC [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission] reviews mandatory grid reliability standards. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine U.S. energy infrastructure resilience. This report describes: (1) potential climate change effects on the electricity grid; and (2) actions DOE and FERC have taken since 2014 to enhance electricity grid resilience to climate change effects, and additional actions these agencies could take. GAO reviewed reports and interviewed agency officials and 55 relevant stakeholders."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency: Actions Needed to Ensure Organizational Changes Result in More Effective Cybersecurity for Our Nation, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Threats to the nation's critical infrastructures and the information technology systems that support them require a concerted effort among federal agencies; state, local, tribal, and territorial governments; and the private sector to ensure their security. The seriousness of the threat was reinforced by the December 2020 discovery of a cyberattack that has had widespread impact on government agencies, critical infrastructures, and private-sector companies. Federal legislation enacted in November 2018 established CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] to advance the mission of protecting federal civilian agencies' networks from cyber threats and to enhance the security of the nation's critical infrastructures in the face of both physical and cyber threats. To implement this legislation, CISA undertook a three-phase organizational transformation initiative aimed at unifying the agency, improving mission effectiveness, and enhancing the workplace experience for CISA employees. GAO was asked to review CISA's organizational transformative initiative and its ability to coordinate effectively with stakeholders. The objectives of GAO's review were to (1) describe CISA's organizational transformation initiative, (2) assess the current progress of the initiative, (3) determine the extent to which CISA's transformation efforts align with key practices for effective agency reform, and (4) identify any challenges in CISA's coordination with stakeholders, and assess strategies the agency has developed to address such challenges."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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S. Rept. 117-1: Activities of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs During the 116th Congress, Report, March 1, 2021
From the Document: "This report reviews the legislative and oversight activities of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and its Subcommittees during the 116th Congress. These activities were conducted pursuant to the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, as amended; by Rule XXV(k) of the Standing Rules of the Senate; and by additional authorizing resolutions of the Senate. 16th Congress; Senator Gary C. Peters was the Ranking Member. Major activities of the Committee during the 116th Congress included oversight and legislation involving border and immigration security; cybersecurity; protecting critical infrastructure; combatting terrorism; efficient functioning of the Department of Homeland Security, including oversight of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic preparedness and response; the Committee's oversight of Federal programs; regulatory reform; and reducing waste, fraud and abuse in Federal spending."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-03-01
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Coronavirus Relief Fund: Review of Federal Fiscal Assistance and of Innovative County Response Strategies
From the Foreword: "The United States began to experience impact from the global COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] outbreak in late January 2020. States, counties, and localities were almost immediately affected, and faced unprecedented challenges in providing services to meet the urgent needs of their communities. Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020 in late March, providing over $2 trillion to help cover the needs of affected individuals, families, and businesses. The Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) - part of the CARES Act - provided direct assistance to state, local, and tribal governments, and designated $150 billion for counties with populations of more than 500,000. The National Association of Counties (NACo) asked the National Academy of Public Administration (the Academy) to evaluate how well the CRF funding supported counties in addressing the pandemic and to review the effectiveness of the CRF federal aid package and its implementation. Additionally, they asked the Academy to identify and document innovative strategies employed by six specific counties using CRF funds and to highlight their approaches to address social equity. With the guidance of an Expert Advisory Group (EAG) of Academy Fellows, the Academy's report presents findings and recommendations that can improve both current and future federal-to-local programs such as the CRF. It also highlights how these innovative counties responded to the challenges their residents faced as a result of COVID-19--examples that could be used by other counties in similar circumstances."
National Academy of Public Administration; National Association of Counties
Callahan, Richard F., 1959-; Gordon, Lisa; Morrill, Christopher
2021-03
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Operation Warp Speed Contracts for COVID-19 Vaccines and Ancillary Vaccination Materials [Updated March 1, 2021]
From the Document: "Operation Warp Speed (OWS) is an interagency partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) that coordinates federal efforts to accelerate the development, acquisition, and distribution of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] medical countermeasures. Collaborating HHS components include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). OWS is a Trump Administration initiative, and while the Biden Administration has indicated that the interagency response to COVID-19 will continue, it plans to restructure and rename the effort. Although the stated goals of OWS include therapeutics and diagnostics, most of the money awarded to date has focused on vaccines. This Insight summarizes OWS's vaccine-related contracts, including those for ancillary vaccination materials (e.g., needles and vials)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Siddalingaiah, Simi V.
2021-03-01
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New COVID-19 Defense Production Act (DPA) Actions: Implementation Considerations [March 1, 2021]
From the Document: "The Biden Administration has taken several executive branch actions under the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA) to address the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Those actions suggest a revised DPA approach and raise potential implementation issues. This Insight considers those issues and policy considerations for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cecire, Michael H.; Peters, Heidi M.; Hart, Nina M.
2021-03-01
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National Priorities to Combat Misinformation and Disinformation for COVID-19 and Future Public Health Threats: A Call for a National Strategy
From the Executive Summary: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has shown that health-related misinformation and disinformation can dangerously undermine the response to a public health crisis. Contradictory messaging and active subversion have reduced trust in public health responders, increased belief in false medical cures, and politicized public health measures aimed at curbing transmission of the disease. Setbacks in the COVID-19 response have highlighted that health-related misinformation or disinformation can lead to more infections, deaths, disruption, and disorganization of the effort. The public health response and communication environment in the United States have been disrupted by significant distrust in government, exacerbated by confusing and conflicting messages from leaders. As a result, information voids have developed, easily filled by false or misleading information and directly targeted by perpetrators of disinformation. Taken together, the spread and consequence of public health misinformation and disinformation can lead to a range of outcomes that have national security implications and require effective response. [...] The development of a national strategy to prevent and respond to COVID-19 and future public health misinformation and disinformation is an important first step in the establishment of a solution set to this threat."
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Center for Health Security
Sell, Tara Kirk; Hosangadi, Divya; Smith, Elizabeth . . .
2021-03
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California Teachers and COVID-19: How the Pandemic is Impacting the Teacher Workforce
From the Executive Summary: "California will need a stable, high-quality teacher workforce to weather the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 19] crisis and support student learning in the coming years. However, persistent and worsening teacher shortages threaten the state's ability to meet that need. Teacher shortages, which are often most acute in high-need fields and high-need schools, more severely impact students from low-income families and students of color, with significant implications for school stability and student achievement. Early evidence suggests that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could further worsen California's already-critical teacher shortages."
Learning Policy Institute
Carver-Thomas, Desiree; Leung, Melanie; Burns, Dion
2021-03
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Earthquakes: Progress Made to Implement Early Warning System, but Actions Needed to Improve Program Management, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Earthquakes and related hazards are a significant threat to people and infrastructure in the U.S. For instance, magnitude 6.4 and 7.1 earthquakes centered west of Searles Valley in California, struck in July 2019, causing over $5 billion in damage. USGS [United States Geological Survey] is the lead federal agency for providing earthquake monitoring and notification. USGS began implementing ShakeAlert, its earthquake early warning system, in California, Oregon, and Washington State in 2012. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to assess, among other things, USGS efforts to identify earthquake hazards. This report addresses, among other things, (1) USGS actions to identify earthquake hazards, (2) the extent USGS actions to achieve its earthquake hazard mission meet leading practices; and (3) what progress USGS and its partners have made implementing ShakeAlert. GAO evaluated agency guidance and other planning documents, such as USGS's ShakeAlert implementation plans; assessed its ShakeAlert cost estimate; conducted site visits to selected cities; and interviewed federal and state officials, among others."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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High-Risk Series: Federal Government Needs to Urgently Pursue Critical Actions to Address Major Cybersecurity Challenges, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "Federal agencies and the nation's critical infrastructures--such as energy, transportation systems, communications, and financial services--are dependent on information technology systems to carry out operations. The security of these systems and the data they use is vital to public confidence and national security, prosperity, and wellbeing. GAO [Government Accountability Office] first designated information security as a government-wide high-risk area in 1997. This was expanded to include protecting (1) cyber critical infrastructure in 2003 and (2) the privacy of personally identifiable information in 2015. In 2018, GAO reported that the federal government needed to address four major cybersecurity challenges: (1) establishing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy and performing effective oversight, (2) securing federal systems and information, (3) protecting cyber critical infrastructure, and (4) protecting privacy and sensitive data. Within these four challenges are 10 actions critical to successfully dealing with the serious cybersecurity threats facing the nation (see the figure at right identifying the four challenges and 10 actions). This report provides an update on the progress that the federal government has made in addressing GAO's recommendations for the four major cybersecurity challenges, as of December 2020."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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Drug Misuse: Most States Have Good Samaritan Laws and Research Indicates They May Have Positive Effects, Report to Congressional Committees
From the GAO (Government Accountability) Highlights: "Since 1999, more than 800,000 people have died from a drug overdose in the United States, with over 86,000 occurring during the 12-month period ending in July 2020, according to the most recent provisional data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. In recent years, some states have enacted Good Samaritan and Naloxone Access laws to help reduce overdose deaths and respond to opioid overdoses. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 included a provision for GAO to review these laws. This report addresses the following: (1) the efforts ONDCP [Office of National Drug Control Policy] has taken to collect and disseminate information on Good Samaritan and Naloxone Access laws, (2) the extent to which states, territories, and D.C. have these laws and the characteristics of them, and (3) what research indicates concerning the effects of Good Samaritan laws."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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COVID-19: Sustained Federal Action is Crucial as Pandemic Enters Its Second Year, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "As of March 15, 2021, the U.S. had over 29 million reported cases of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and more than 523,000 reported deaths, according to CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. The country also continues to experience serious economic repercussions. Five relief laws, including the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act, were enacted as of January 31, 2021, to provide appropriations to address the public health and economic threats posed by COVID-19. As of January 31, 2021, of the $3.1 trillion appropriated by these five laws for COVID-19 relief, the federal government had obligated a total of $2.2 trillion and expended $1.9 trillion, as reported by federal agencies. Most recently, in March 2021, a sixth relief law, the American Rescue Plan of 2021, was enacted and provides additional federal assistance for the ongoing response and recovery. The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on its ongoing monitoring and oversight efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report examines the federal government's continued efforts to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. GAO reviewed data, documents, and guidance from federal agencies about their activities and interviewed federal and state officials, experts, and other stakeholders, including health care professionals."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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Nation's Fiscal Health: After Pandemic Recovery, Focus Needed on Achieving Long-term Fiscal Sustainability, An Annual Report to Congress
From the Highlights: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has resulted in catastrophic loss of life and substantial damage to the global economy, stability, and security. This continuing crisis prompted a major federal response. Death tolls remain high and many people remain unemployed, including both those temporarily laid off and those who have permanently lost their jobs."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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COVID-19, Governance, and Conflict: Emerging Impacts and Future Evidence Needs
From the Executive Summary: "This paper reviews emerging evidence of the impact of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] on governance and conflict, using a 'governance and conflict first' approach in contrast to other research and synthesis on COVID-19 in the social sciences that tends to be structured through a public health lens. It largely focuses on evidence on low- and middle-income countries but also includes a number of examples from high-income countries, reflecting the global nature of the crisis. It is organised around four cross-cutting themes that have enabled the identification of emerging bodies of evidence and/or analysis: [1] Power and legitimacy; [2] Effectiveness, capacity, and corruption; [3] Violence, unrest, and conflict; and [4] Resilience, vulnerability, and risk."
Institute of Development Studies (Brighton, England). Knowledge, Evidence and Learning for Development Helpdesk
Herbert, Siân; Marquette, Heather, 1972-
2021-03
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Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes [March 2021, Version 20]
From the Objective: "This toolkit catalogs the many innovative solutions designed at the state level to protect our nation's vulnerable nursing home residents during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Beginning in October 2020, the toolkit includes up-to-date information, guidance, and innovative programs designed to increase vaccine use against influenza virus, pneumococcus (bacterium), and SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2], the virus that causes COVID-19."
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (U.S.)
2021-03
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'Access and Functional Needs Toolkit': Integrating a Community Partner Network to Inform Risk Communication Strategies
From the Introduction: "Communicating public health information is an essential element of emergency preparedness and response. Timely and effective messages can help minimize people's risk or vulnerability. For example, public health messages can inform people how to stay safe, take shelter, or evacuate. Emergency management officials, public health professionals, and other stakeholders achieve effective risk communication by using preparedness planning and by developing messages for the whole community. This includes individuals who may be at greater risk or who need additional assistance because of access and functional needs."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Silverman, Brenda; Vázquez, Germaine M.; Noe, Rebecca S.
2021-03
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United States-India Strategic Dialogue on Biosecurity: Report from the Seventh Dialogue Session, Focused on COVID-19 Responses in India and the United States: Lessons Learned and Path Forward
From the Executive Summary: "On January 26 and 27, 2021, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security hosted a virtual dialogue discussion, focused on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) responses in India and the United States. The session explored lessons learned thus far and the path forward for both nations in responding to the pandemic. The meeting was held in collaboration with the Regional Centre for Biotechnology of the Department of Biotechnology in the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology. The dialogue focused on a range of emerging issues related to COVID-19, including national response efforts, security implications of COVID-19 with respect to bioterrorism/biodefense preparedness, biosafety and biosecurity, vaccine and therapeutics development and use, diagnostic and surveillance approaches, use of nonpharmaceutical interventions, health misinformation in the context of the pandemic, and political influence in response operations and policies. Through the discussion, participants gained an increased understanding of shared challenges in the responses of both the United States and India to COVID-19, which may be addressed to increase future preparedness. The meeting convened senior thought leaders, scientists, public health practitioners, and medical experts from the United States and India. In accordance with the dialogue format, participants offered insights based on personal expertise and did not represent the government of either country in an official capacity."
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Center for Health Security
Gronvall, Gigi Kwik; Trotochaud, Marc; Hosangadi, Divya . . .
2021-03
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Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Services and Mitigation Measures in Uganda
From the Abstract: "On 21st March 2020, Uganda reported its first COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] case. The government responded by instituting a lockdown and other measures. We assess the effects of the COVID-19 containment measures on health services to better inform the next preventive measures. We use a case study approach that involved document reviews and secondary analysis of data on attendance of key health services and mortality for the years 2019 and 2020. The services included outpatient department (OPD), antenatal care (ANC), malaria, immunization, TB [tuberculosis], and hypertension. Interrupted time series analysis was applied to test the significance of difference between pre-and postintervention. We find that from March to April 2020, attendance to health services reduced and then rose in June or July. Notable reduction was in general OPD (17%), malaria-OPD (7%), ANC (8%), immunization (10%), hypertension (17%), and diabetes (10%). Institutional mortality reduced in same period. The intervention significantly affected the level and trends of malaria-OPD and immunization. We conclude that the lockdown reduced access to health services while institutional mortality fell due to reduced number of patients. There is need to emphasize other mitigation measures rather than lockdowns."
Center for Global Development
Tumwesigye, Nazarius Mbona; Okethwangu, Denis; Kaakyo, Mary . . .
2021-03
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Coronavirus Response and Recovery: Interim Report
From the Executive Summary: "The full global impact from the Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Pandemic is yet to be written, but the cost in terms of both lives and livelihoods has already proven devastating. For Houston, this comes on top of continued recovery from Hurricane Harvey, the economic impact of the energy sector downturn, and of course, the crushing winter freeze in February 2021. It is a daunting combination of catastrophic events but no match for Houston's strength and resilience and our growing community. This interim report on the COVID-19 recovery is intended to capture the essence of the work done by the team I assigned under Marvin Odum and his Chief of Staff Ben Melson (on loan from the Greater Houston Partnership) to lead the City's multi-faceted recovery."
Houston (Tex.)
Odum, Marvin; Melson, Ben
2021-03
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Europe, COVID-19, and U.S. Relations [Updated March 1, 2021]
From the Document: "Like most of the rest of the world, European governments and the European Union (EU) have struggled to manage the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. European leaders have characterized the pandemic as Europe's biggest challenge since the Second World War, with potentially far-reaching political, social, and economic consequences beyond the public health impact. Members of Congress may be interested in COVID-19's implications for U.S. relations with Europe, including in NATO and with the EU, and in how the pandemic might alter certain U.S.- European dynamics, especially vis-à-vis China."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin; Belkin, Paul; Garding, Sarah E. . . .
2021-03-01
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, February 26, 2021
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: "Changes in Suicide Rates -- United States, 2018-2019"; "Estimated Medicaid Costs Associated with Hepatitis A During an Outbreak -- West Virginia, 2018-2019"; "Suspected Recurrent SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] Infections Among Residents of a Skilled Nursing Facility During a Second COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Outbreak -- Kentucky, July-November 2020"; "First Identified Cases of SARS-CoV-2 Variant B.1.1.7 in Minnesota -- December 2020-January 2021"; "First Month of COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Monitoring -- United States, December 14, 2020-January 13, 2021"; "Clusters of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Elementary School Educators and Students in One School District -- Georgia, December 2020-January 2021"; "'Erratum'"; and "'Quick Stats': Motor-Vehicle-Traffic Death Rates Among Persons Aged 15-24 Years and ≥25 Years -- United States, 2000-2019." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-02-26
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New Necessary: How We Future-Proof for the Next Pandemic
From the Introduction: "Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] has raged for over a year, its path littered with destruction. Lives lost, livelihoods destroyed, economies shaken. It has changed us in ways we may not even be able to comprehend. All of this, and still the challenge of the pandemic endures. With emerging strains of the virus and the race to vaccinate the world more like a marathon than a sprint, no immediate end appears in sight. [...] Two competing objectives have been at the forefront of government responses to date: How do we protect lives and simultaneously keep economies afloat? [...] In this paper, we draw on these successes and identify gaps in response to focus on an emerging third objective. 'How do we prepare for future pandemics?' This objective has taken on a more imminent importance. The next pandemic is likely not a new virus or plague, but a mutant strain of Covid-19 that is more deadly, more transmissible or resistant to antibodies. It could be all three. Therefore, the most important lesson of the last year has been the need to prepare."
Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Dace, Hermione; Miller, Brianna; Ramli, Rania . . .
2021-02-26
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EMR-ISAC: Infogram, Volume 21 Issue 8, February 25, 2021
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: "Ready Responder resources ensure peace of mind when disaster strikes"; "'Smart grid' interoperability standards from NIST [National Institute of Standards and Technology] may benefit future emergency services"; "DHS announces funding opportunity for $1.87 billion in preparedness grants"; "Training Opportunity: Mitigating Chemical/Explosive and Biological Threats Through Triggers and Tripwires for the Emergency Response Sector"; "Telephony Denial of Service Attacks can disrupt emergency call center operations"; "US cities disclose data breaches after vendor's ransomware attack"; "NIST offers tools to help defend against state-sponsored hackers"; and "CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] , FBI share recommendations after water treatment hack."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2021-02-25
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COVID-19 Testing Supply Chain [February 25, 2021]
From the Introduction: "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] testing--including for diagnosis, screening, and surveillance--is a critical component of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and its implementation has posed numerous challenges. Issues have included those related to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation of tests, reimbursement and coverage for testing, equitable access to testing, and infrastructure and supply chain stressors, among others. In particular, the diagnostic testing supply chain has shown evidence of significant and ongoing stress since early in the pandemic, and problems persist with ascertainment, production, and distribution of almost all testing supply chain components."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sarata, Amanda K.; Siddalingaiah, Simi V.
2021-02-25
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Climate Change Adaptation: Department of the Interior [February 25, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report does not analyze climate change science, the causes of multidecadal climate change, or the experienced or projected effects of climate change. Rather, this report describes activities related to climate change adaptation within the Department of the Interior (DOI). The information in this report reflects the state of climate change adaptation activities within DOI and its agencies as of the end of 2020 and does not address activities undertaken under the Biden Administration. Climate change adaptation activities described herein have been implemented both through administrative actions (e.g., executive and secretarial orders and actions taken within agencies' discretion under existing statutory authorities) and pursuant to statutory requirements. This report provides an overview of selected DOI departmental and agency policies, programs, and actions (herein collectively referred to as 'activities') aimed at adapting to experienced and projected effects of climate change. This report focuses on activities related to 'adaptation' to climate change rather than activities related to the 'mitigation' of climate change. For the purposes of this report, 'adaptation' includes activities undertaken to adjust to and prepare for, including through research, the experienced or projected effects of climate change; 'mitigation' includes activities directed at reducing the magnitude of climate change."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Crafton, R. Eliot; Comay, Laura B.; DeSantis, Mark K. . . .
2021-02-25
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Expiring State COVID-19 Emergency Declarations: Effects on Federal Aid [February 25, 2021]
From the Document: "Some states, tribes, and territories (hereinafter 'states') may consider rescinding or sun-setting their state-level emergency and disaster declarations, as states make progress in containing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Regardless of state decisions, the federal declarations of a public health emergency (under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. §247d)), two national emergencies (under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. §1601 et seq.) and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. §§5121 et seq., henceforth referred to as the Stafford Act)) and major disasters for each state (also under the Stafford Act) remain in place. This Insight examines the potential impact of lapsing state emergency declarations on the availability of federal aid, either generally or with respect to certain expenses, provided through the Stafford Act as well as five COVID-19 related supplements, including [1] the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-123); [2] the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA, P.L. 116-127); [3] the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, P.L. 116-136); [4] the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (P.L. 116-139); and [5] the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act (P.L. 116-159)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Stienstra, Lauren; Aussenberg, Randy Alison; Lee, Erica A. . . .
2021-02-25
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Executive Order 14017: America's Supply Chains
From the Document: "The United States needs resilient, diverse, and secure supply chains to ensure our economic prosperity and national security. Pandemics and other biological threats, cyber-attacks, climate shocks and extreme weather events, terrorist attacks, geopolitical and economic competition, and other conditions can reduce critical manufacturing capacity and the availability and integrity of critical goods, products, and services. Resilient American supply chains will revitalize and rebuild domestic manufacturing capacity, maintain America's competitive edge in research and development, and create well-paying jobs. They will also support small businesses, promote prosperity, advance the fight against climate change, and encourage economic growth in communities of color and economically distressed areas. More resilient supply chains are secure and diverse--facilitating greater domestic production, a range of supply, built-in redundancies, adequate stockpiles, safe and secure digital networks, and a world-class American manufacturing base and workforce. Moreover, close cooperation on resilient supply chains with allies and partners who share our values will foster collective economic and national security and strengthen the capacity to respond to international disasters and emergencies. Therefore, it is the policy of my Administration to strengthen the resilience of America's supply chains."
United States. Office of the Federal Register
Biden, Joseph R., Jr.
2021-02-24
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H. Rep. 117-7: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Report Together with Minority Views to Accompany H.R. 1319, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, February 24, 2021
From the Document: "It has been roughly one year since the first COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] case was diagnosed in the United States. Our nation is struggling to endure the unrelenting devastation spawned by the pandemic and corresponding economic fallout. The need for bold, compassionate, and aggressive action remains unparalleled and undeniable. [...] The 2021 budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 5) laid the groundwork for bold action by providing the option of using the budget reconciliation process to deliver crucial relief to the American people and achieve the goals of President Biden's American Rescue Plan. This reconciliation bill is the next step toward implementing the plan."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-02-24
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'Confronting the Coronavirus: Perspectives on the COVID-19 Pandemic One Year Later', Testimony of Crystal R. Watson Before the United States House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, One Hundred and Seventeenth Congress, First Session, February 24th, 2021
This is from the February 24, 2021 testimony of Crystal R. Watson on "Confronting the Coronavirus: Perspectives on the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Pandemic One Year Later," before the United States House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security. From the testimony: "I am a Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and an Assistant Professor in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The opinions expressed herein are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Johns Hopkins University. Today, I will provide comments on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and the US government's response efforts to date, as well as the major successes and failures of the last year, and what we should look forward to, and prepare for in the coming weeks and months."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
Watson, Crystal R.
2021-02-24
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COVID-19: The CIDRAP Viewpoint: Report 7: Reassessing COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment in Anticipation of a US B.1.1.7 Surge: Stay the Course or Pivot?
This is the seventh report from the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) related to the coronavirus pandemic. From the Pressing Issues: "1. The more transmissible SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] B.1.1.7 variant could lead to a significant surge in US cases in the next 4 to 12 weeks. If the B.1.1.7 surge overlaps with low vaccine coverage, it will cause immense strain on an already burdened healthcare system, threatening the level and quality of care available to all patients. 2. The immediate goal of public health agencies should be to reduce hospitalizations and deaths as well as maintain the ability of the healthcare system to provide adequate healthcare services and minimize preventable suffering and deaths. 3. Age is the strongest risk factors for severe disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. In the event of a case surge, the vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths would occur in adults 65 years and older. 4. Compared to when the mRNA [messenger ribonucleic acid] vaccines were authorized, we now have more complete data regarding the B.1.1.7 variants, including how they led to surges in other countries and their currently rapidly increasing incidence in the US. 5. We have a short period to relieve the strain on healthcare systems and save lives by strategically targeting vaccination to those at highest risk of hospitalization and death."
Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy
Osterholm, Michael T.; Moore, Kristine A.; Ostrowsky, Julie . . .
2021-02-23
