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Regional Nuclear Dynamics, Hearing Before the Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, February 25, 2015
This is a compilation of the February 25, 2015 hearing on "Regional Nuclear Dynamics" held before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. From the statement of Andrew F. Krepinevich Jr.: "The United States arguably has three overriding security objectives in the Middle East. First, we have to eliminate sanctuaries for fanatical cults like ISIS from which they could mount catastrophic attacks against the U.S. homeland in the future. Second, we want to maintain access to the global economy's principal energy source. Third, we want to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons in the region, particularly to Iran, whose hostility to the United States and its partners in the region has persisted over thirty-five years since the Khomeini revolution in 1979. These objectives cannot be viewed in isolation. For example, should ISIS solidify its gains in the region, it could not only generate an ability to mount larger-scale terrorist attacks beyond the region, but also destabilize local oil and gas producing states. Armed with nuclear weapons, Iran could prove an even more aggressive supporter of terrorism than it has been to date. Moreover, it could also be emboldened to increase its efforts to subvert the governments of regional U.S. partners. Over time a nuclear-armed Iran could threaten vast devastation to the region's oil and gas economic infrastructure, as well as to U.S. and allied military forces operating in the Middle East. Should Iran develop an intercontinental ballistic missile and reduce the size of its nuclear warhead, it could also pose a direct threat to the U.S. homeland." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Andrew F. Krepinevich Jr., Matthew Kroenig, George Perkovich, and Dr. Ashley Tellis.
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services
2015-02-25
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Hurricane Sandy Relief: Improved Guidance on Designing Internal Control Plans Could Enhance Oversight of Disaster Funding, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy devastated portions of the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States, leaving victims of the storm and their communities in need of financial assistance for disaster relief aid. On January 29, 2013, the President signed the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013, which provided approximately $50 billion in supplemental appropriations, before sequestration, to 61 programs at 19 federal agencies for expenses related to the consequences of Hurricane Sandy. The act required agencies to submit internal control plans for the funds in accordance with OMB [Office of Management and Budget] criteria by March 31, 2013. The act mandated GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the design of agencies' internal control plans. This report addresses the extent to which (1) the internal control plans prepared by federal agencies complied with OMB guidance and (2) OMB's guidance was effective for providing comprehensive oversight of the internal control risks for the programs receiving funds for Sandy disaster relief. To address these objectives, GAO reviewed agencies' Sandy disaster relief internal control plans; M- 13-07; and relevant GAO, inspector general, and financial statement audit reports. GAO also reviewed the internal control plans and M-13-07 against internal control standards. […] GAO recommends that OMB develop more robust guidance for agencies to design internal control plans for future disaster relief funding. OMB staff generally agreed with GAO's recommendation."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2013-11
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Addressing the Evolving Threat of Illegal Drug Trafficking to Our Communities, Field Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, Second Session, March 14, 2022
This is the March 14, 2022 hearing on "Addressing the Evolving Threat of Illegal Drug Trafficking to Our Communities," held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the opening statement of Maggie Hassan: "Our hearing will address the ongoing threat of heroin, fentanyl, and opioid trafficking, and will also address the rising threat that methamphetamine poses to our communities. Methamphetamine has contributed to increasing incidents of violent crime and dangerous encounters with community members and law enforcement, in addition to overdose deaths." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Matthew Millhollin, Michael P. Manning, Jon DeLena, Ellen M. Arcieri, and Joseph M. Ebert.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022
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Attorney General's Annual Report to Congress and Assessment of U.S. Government Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons: Fiscal Year 2015
From the introduction:"Trafficking in persons, or human trafficking, is a pervasive problem in the United States and in nearly every other country in the world. Human trafficking has many manifestations, including forced labor, bonded labor, and sex trafficking. Those who engage in human trafficking are relentless in their attempts to find potential victims and exploit them for money and other personal gain. Human traffickers prey upon individuals who are vulnerable or who live on the margins of society--whether men, women, or children, and regardless of citizenship--and use a variety of means, including physical force, fraud, and coercion, to obtain and maintain control over their victims."
United States. Department of Justice
2015
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Global Economic Effects of COVID-19 [Updated June 17, 2021]
From the Overview: "The World Health Organization (WHO) first declared COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] a world health emergency in January 2020; on March 11 it announced the viral outbreak was officially a pandemic, the highest level of health emergency. Since then, the emergency evolved into a global public health and economic crisis that affected the $90 trillion global economy beyond anything experienced in nearly a century. [...] By early March 2020, the focal point of infections shifted from China to Europe, especially Italy, but by April, the focus had shifted to the United States, where the number of infections had been accelerating. By April 2021, India and Brazil emerged as viral hot spots with the number of infections and deaths reaching daily record levels in those countries. [...] The infection has sickened over 174 million people globally with over 3.7 million fatalities. The United States reported that by mid-June 2021, over 33 million Americans had been diagnosed and nearly 600,000 had died from the virus. [...] During the G-7 (Group of Seven) summit in England on June 11, 2021, the United States and the other G-7 leaders announced they would provide a combined total of 1 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in addition to lifesaving medical supplies, oxygen, diagnostics, therapeutics, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to low and middle income developing countries."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jackson, James K., 1949-; Weiss, Martin A.; Schwarzenberg, Andres B. . . .
2021-06-17
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Middle East in 2015: The Impact of Regional Trends on U.S. Strategic Planning
"INSS [Institute for National Strategic Studies] asked specialists in the government and academic communities to assess the current situation in the Middle East and speculate on the future for the region and the United States. The first goal was to identify medium- and long-term strengths and vulnerabilities of regional regimes. Factors to consider included political succession, demographic changes, Islamic activism, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. The second goal was to assess the implications of those changes, trends, and issues for U.S. strategic interests and defense policy." Specific countries examined include: Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Iran, and Iraq.
National Defense University Press
Yaphe, Judith Share, 1944-
2002-07
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Dragon on Terrorism: Assessing China's Tactical Gains and Strategic Losses Post-September 11
Every major event in history has unintended consequences. A major unintended (and unsettling, from Beijing's standpoint) consequence of the U.S.-led War on Terrorism has not only been to checkmate and roll-back China's recent moves at strategic expansion in Central, South, and Southeast Asia but also to tilt the regional balance of power decisively in Washington's favor within a short period of time, thereby highlighting how tenuous Chinese power is when compared to that of the United States. In this sense, September 11, 2001, should be seen as a major discontinuity or nonlinearity in post-Cold War international politics. New strategic and political realities emerging in Asia put a question mark over Beijing's earlier certainties, assumptions and beliefs. This monograph offers an overview of China's foreign policy goals and achievements prior to September 11, examines Beijing's response to terrorist attacks on the U.S. mainland, provides an assessment of China's tactical gains and strategic losses following the September 11 attacks, and concludes with an evaluation of Beijing's future policy options. It argues that if China was on a roll prior to 9/11, in a complete reversal of roles post-9/11, it is now the United States that is on the move. The U.S.-led War against Terrorism has radically altered the strategic landscape, severely constricted the strategic latitude that China has enjoyed post-Cold War, undermined China's carefully projected image as the next superpower, and ushered in new geopolitical alignments whose ramifications will be felt for a long time to come.
Army War College (U.S.). Strategic Studies Institute
Malik, Mohan
2002-10
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U.S.-Taiwan Relationship: Overview of Policy Issues [May 8, 2013]
"The purpose and scope of this CRS [Congressional Research Service] report is to provide a succinct overview with analysis of the issues in the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. This report will be updated as warranted. Taiwan formally calls itself the sovereign Republic of China (ROC), tracing its political lineage to the ROC set up after the revolution in 1911 in China. The ROC government retreated to Taipei in 1949. The United States recognized the ROC until the end of 1978 and has maintained a non-diplomatic relationship with Taiwan after recognition of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing in 1979. The State Department claims an 'unofficial' U.S. relationship with Taiwan, despite official contacts that include arms sales. The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) of 1979, P.L. [Public Law] 96-8, has governed policy in the absence of a diplomatic relationship or a defense treaty. Other key statements that guide policy are the three U.S.-PRC Joint Communiqués of 1972, 1979, and 1982; as well as the 'Six Assurances' of 1982."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kan, Shirley; Morrison, Wayne M.
2013-05-08
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'Islamic State' Crisis and U.S. Policy [January 8, 2015]
"The Islamic State is a transnational Sunni Islamist insurgent and terrorist group that has expanded its control over areas of parts of Iraq and Syria since 2013. It threatens the governments of both countries and potentially several other countries in the region. The emerging international response to the threat is multifaceted and includes coalition military strikes and assistance plans. There is debate over the degree to which the Islamic State organization might represent a direct terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland or to U.S. facilities and personnel in the region. […] The U.S. desire to show progress against the Islamic State and in the recruitment of regional partners raises questions of whether the U.S. mission and commitment might expand. The Administration has ruled out deploying combat forces to either Iraq or Syria, but it has not ruled out providing forward aircraft controllers, additional military advisors, or other related ground-based military assets. Some experts assert that coalition partners inside Iraq and Syria--Iraqi government forces and select Syrian groups--are too weak to defeat the Islamic State and will eventually require help from U.S. combat troops. Several regional coalition members apparently seek an expansion of the U.S.-led mission to include an effort to oust President Asad of Syria."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth; Blanchard, Christopher M.; Humud, Carla E. . . .
2015-01-08
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Leveraging Naval Riverine Forces to Achieve Information Superiority in Stability Operations
"The conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan have provided an undeniable storyline: U.S. forces can conduct a conventional mission better than any in the world, but that mission, accomplished in short order, leaves behind a situation for which conventional forces and equipment are ill-prepared. This situation requires a new mission: Stability Operations. The blue-water is not where these 21st century conflicts will likely take place, and forces such as the U.S. Navy Riverines are among the many forces that provide a capability to integrate and communicate with local populations that cannot be matched by blue-water forces. While the riverine force's mission set is one that could become heavily utilized in stability operations, the ability to conduct those missions is currently hindered by a lack of implementation of information technology. The current disadvantages that greatly increase operational risk include a reduced capability to engage the population, reduced situational awareness, and limited communication reach-back capability. A riverine force properly equipped with and trained with biometric, unmanned, and information sharing systems would provide the NECC [Naval Expeditionary Combat Command], and U.S. Navy as a whole, a more comprehensive ability to conduct stability operations in brown-water areas, something no other conventional Navy unit can currently accomplish."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Gray, Stephen C.
2010-12
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Food Safety: Improvements Needed in FDA Oversight of Fresh Produce, Report to Congressional Requesters
"In recent years, both domestic and imported produce have been linked to reported outbreaks of foodborne illness. Contamination in produce is of particular concern because produce is often consumed raw. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of both domestic and imported fresh produce. GAO was asked to examine (1) the resources FDA has spent on fresh produce safety and how it has allocated those resources, (2) the effectiveness of FDA's actions to oversee fresh produce safety, and (3) the extent to which FDA's planned actions to enhance fresh produce oversight address identified challenges. For this review, GAO analyzed FDA spending data and estimates and FDA activities data, reviewed FDA plans, and interviewed FDA officials and others. GAO recommends, among other things, that the Commissioner of FDA update its guidance on good agricultural practices and its regulations on current good manufacturing practice for food, and seek explicit authority from the Congress to adopt preventive controls for high-risk foods and authority for enhanced access to records. FDA agreed with most of GAO's recommendations but believed that it had sought authority from the Congress. FDA should continue to take steps to obtain these authorities so that it can conduct its oversight responsibilities."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2008-09-26
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S. Hrg. 112-99; Serial No. J-112-9: Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, March 9, 2011
From the opening statement of Patrick J. Leahy: "First off, Madam Secretary, I want to acknowledge your decision to delay the implementation of the REAL ID Act. I think that is very good. I think that gives States more time to make progress. It also allows those of us in Congress who are looking at an alternative to REAL ID to do so. We go from the concerns of the security of the country, to the concerns over requiring Americans to have a national ID card, which worries a lot of us, to a mandate on the States that many of the States are not prepared to meet. We will work with you and your Department, but I think the delay in implementation is a good thing. We know that you are charged with protecting our security and responding to emerging threats, and I think all of us here are cognizant of that task. But we also hear from our constituents about security screening at airports. I think Americans expect to be treated with dignity when they go through an airport, just as we hope that our visitors to the United States are treated with dignity when they come here. For many Americans, the use of X-ray scanning machines that produce a detailed body image is a bridge too far. And for many Americans, the alternative of a pat-down is even more difficult to tolerate. I understand there is an effort among the TSA and the manufacturers of these scanners to develop new software that would render images without anatomical detail and in a truly anonymous manner. When you come from a small State like mine, where everybody knows everybody, no matter what kind of security technology you use, there is justifiable concern that an airport may use screening that produces images in graphic detail. Also some are concerned about the health effects of these scanners. We should not dismiss any citizen's health concerns, and we should all support independent assessment of any associated health effects of x-ray screening." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Chuck Grassley, Patrick J. Leahy, Janet Napolitano, John Cornyn, Dianne Feinstein, Orrin Hatch, Amy Klobuchar, and Jon Kyl.
United States. Government Printing Office
2011
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Medical Devices: FDA Should Expand Its Consideration of Information Security for Certain Types of Devices, Report to Congressional Requesters
"Certain medical devices have become increasingly complex, and the growing use of wireless technology in these devices has raised concerns about how protected they are against information security risks that could affect their safety and effectiveness. FDA [Food and Drug Administration], an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medical devices in the United States. FDA reviews manufacturers' applications to market medical devices during its premarket review process and monitors devices, once it has approved them, through its postmarket efforts. In this report, GAO [Government Accountability Office] (1) identifies the threats, vulnerabilities, and resulting information security risks associated with active implantable medical devices, (2) determines the extent to which FDA considered information security during its premarket review of certain devices with known vulnerabilities, and (3) determines what postmarket efforts FDA has in place to identify information security problems. To address these objectives, GAO reviewed relevant documents and interviewed officials from agencies, such as FDA, HHS, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Department of Homeland Security. GAO also interviewed subject-matter experts in information security. GAO recommends that FDA develop and implement a plan expanding its focus on information security risks. In comments on a draft of this report, HHS concurred with GAO's recommendation and described relevant efforts FDA has initiated."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2012-08
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H.A.S.C. No. 112-21: Long-Term Readiness Challenges in the Pacific, Hearing before the Subcommittee on Readiness of the Committee on Armed Services House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress
On March 15, 2011, the subcommittee on readiness of the committee on armed services discussed the 'Long-term Readiness Challenges in the Pacific.' Statements, letter, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Hon. Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Hon. J. Randy Forbes, Maj. Gen. Randolph Alles, Hon. Jackalyne Pfannenstiel, and R. Michael Schiffer.
United States. Government Printing Office
2011
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Hurricane Irma Event Recap Report
"Hurricane Irma became one of the most significant storms ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean basin and brought major financial and humanitarian impact to the Caribbean and the United States. [...]In the United States, Irma affected millions of people living in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. The combined effect of storm surge, hurricane-force winds and inland flooding resulted in at least USD25 billion in damage costs. Notably, the worst damage was not limited to the landfall locations. Some of the highest recorded storm surge during the event was cited in Jacksonville, Florida - well away from landfall. This helped highlight the large physical size of Irma's windfield. Notable damage was incurred on utility services and infrastructure. At the height of the storm, a remarkable 67 percent of all customers in Florida lost power, while major providers reported extensive damage on the grid. Irma became the first major hurricane (Category 3+) to strike Florida since Hurricane Wilma in October 2005, and was the first Category 4 hurricane to hit the state since Hurricane Charley in August 2004. 2017 became the first year on record that the United States had incurred two separate Category 4 hurricane landfalls on the mainland in the same year."
Aon Corporation; Impact Forecasting LLC
2018-03
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Southwest Border Security: Data Are Limited and Concerns Vary About Spillover Crime Along the Southwest Border, Report to Congressional Requesters
"Drug-related homicides have dramatically increased in recent years in Mexico along the nearly 2,000-mile border it shares with the United States. U.S. federal, state, and local officials have stated that the prospect of crime, including violence, spilling over from Mexico into the southwestern United States is a concern. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review crime rates and assess information on spillover crime along the border. Specifically, this report addresses: (1) What information do reported crime rates in southwest border communities provide on spillover crime and what do they show? (2) What efforts, if any, have federal, state, and select local law enforcement agencies made to track spillover crime along the southwest border? (3) What concerns, if any, do these agencies have about spillover crime? (4) What steps, if any, have these agencies taken to address spillover crime? GAO analyzed crime data from all of the 24 southwest border counties from 2004 through 2011 and federal documentation, such as threat assessments and DHS's plans for addressing violence along the southwest border. GAO interviewed officials from DHS [Department of Homeland Security] and DOJ [Department of Justice] and their components. GAO also interviewed officials from 37 state and local law enforcement agencies responsible for investigating and tracking crime in the border counties in the four southwest border states (Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas). While the results of the interviews are not generalizable, they provided insights. GAO is not making any recommendations. DHS provided comments, which highlighted border-related crime initiatives recognized by GAO."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2013-02
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Protecting Critical Infrastructure: How the Financial Sector Addresses Cyber Threats: Hearing Before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, May 19, 2015
From the opening statement of Gregory T. Garcia: "Today I will discuss how we are organized under regulatory and partnership frameworks to manage the cyber risks and threats that are faced by the financial sector. The financial sector operates over a network of information and communications technology platforms, making cybersecurity of paramount importance to the sector. A successful cybersecurity or physical attack on these systems could have significant impacts on the global economy and the Nation. For example, malicious cyber actors vary considerably in terms of motivation and capability, from nation-states conducting corporate espionage to sophisticated cyber criminal groups stealing money, to ''hacktivists'' intent on making political statements. Many cybersecurity incidents, regardless of their original motive, have the potential to disrupt critical systems, even inadvertently. Thus, the FSSCC's [Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council] mission is to strengthen the financial sector's resilience against attacks and other threats. We work with the Treasury Department, law enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, the intelligence community, and regulators toward four main objectives." Statements, letters, and other materials submitted for the record include the following: Kenneth E. Bentsen Jr., Russell Fitzgibbons, Gregory T. Garcia, Jason Healey, and Robert S. Nichols.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2015-05-19
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Protecting Critical Infrastructure: How the Financial Sector Addresses Cyber Threats, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit of the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, May 19, 2015
This is the May 19, 2015 hearing on "Protecting Critical Infrastructure: How the Financial Sector Addresses Cyber Threats" held before the Subcommittee on the Counterterrorism and Intelligence. From the opening statement of Chairman Randy Neugebauer: "The financial services sector is one of the most complex and critical sectors of the U.S. economy. Financial sector participants hold deposits for consumers; ensure the consistent flow of capital through our capital markets; provide loans for small businesses; support large, internationally active corporations; and operate some of the most sophisticated payment systems on the globe. Literally trillions of dollars flow through the financial sector each and every single day. Given its position of critical importance, the financial services sector has become a top target for cyber attacks. Today and every day this year, there will be 117,334 cyber incidents against the U.S. economy, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers study. A recent Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation study highlighted cybersecurity as the number one issue of concern for financial institutions. This top position is held over risks such as overregulation and geopolitical risks."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2015-05-19
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, October 16, 2020
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: "Prostate Cancer Incidence and Survival, by Stage and Race/Ethnicity -- United States, 2001-2017"; "Breast Cancer Survival Among Males by Race, Ethnicity, Age, Geographic Region, and Stage -- United States, 2007-2016"; "Demographic Characteristics, Experiences, and Beliefs Associated with Hand Hygiene Among Adults During the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Pandemic -- United States, June 24-30, 2020"; "An Outbreak of COVID-19 Associated with a Recreational Hockey Game -- Florida, June 2020"; "Transmission Dynamics by Age Group in COVID-19 Hotspot Counties -- United States, April-September 2020"; "Factors Influencing Risk for COVID-19 Exposure Among Young Adults Aged 18-23 Years -- Winnebago County, Wisconsin, March-July 2020"; and "'QuickStats': Rate of Unintentional Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)-Related Deaths Among Persons Aged ≤24 Years, by Age Group -- National Vital Statistics System, United States, 1999-2018." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2020.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-10-16
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U.S. Policy Toward Cuba, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, Second Session, September 6, 2018
This is the September 6, 2018 hearing on "U.S. Policy Toward Cuba," held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Paul Cook: "Today we meet to consider the U.S. policy toward Cuba, a Communist country with a repressive regime that continues to actively restrict freedom of expression, association, and assembly, and to harass and jail Cuban citizens who seek freedom. As expected, even with the recent rise of the new President who is not named Castro, nothing has changed. Just this week, Martha Sanchez from Ladies in White was sentenced to 4 years in prison for peacefully protesting against the regime. Miguel DiazCanel took office without a vote from the Cuban people. Raul Castro continues to hold considerable sway over the government decisions, and the national assembly endorsed a new constitution in July that retains the same authoritarian political system and reinforces the Communist Party's control. Cuba maintains close relations with Russia and China, providing these actors with influenced platforms to form an anti-American agenda. Additionally, Cuba meddling in Venezuela and Nicaragua has contributed to increased repression and the mass exodus of refugees throughout the region." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Kenneth H. Merten, Peter Bodde, Brian M. Mazanec, and Paul Cook.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2018
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Global Economic Effects of COVID-19 [Updated December 23, 2020]
From the Summary: "In the months since the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] outbreak was first diagnosed, it has spread to over 200 countries and all U.S. states. The pandemic has negatively affected global economic growth beyond anything experienced in nearly a century. Estimates so far indicate the virus could reduce global economic growth to an annualized rate of -4.5% to -6.0% in 2020, with a partial recovery of a rate of 2.5% to 5.2% in 2021. Compared with the synchronized nature of the global economic slowdown in the first half of the year, the global economy showed signs of a two-track recovery in the third quarter with developed economies experiencing a nascent recovery, while growth rates in developing economies lagged behind. However, a resurgence in infectious cases in Europe, the United States, and various developing economies since September renewed calls for lockdowns and curfews and threatened to weaken or delay a sustained economic recovery. The economic fallout from the pandemic could risk continued labor dislocations as a result of lingering high levels of unemployment not experienced since the Great Depression of the 1930s and high levels of debt among developing economies. Job losses have been concentrated more intensively in the services sector where workers have been unable to work offsite. The human costs in terms of lives lost will permanently affect global economic growth in addition to the cost of rising levels of poverty, lives upended, careers derailed, and increased social unrest."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jackson, James K., 1949-; Weiss, Martin A.; Schwarzenberg, Andres B. . . .
2020-12-23
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Global Economic Effects of COVID-19 [Updated November 19, 2020]
From the Summary: "In the months since the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] outbreak was first diagnosed, it has spread to over 200 countries and all U.S. states. The pandemic has negatively affected global economic growth beyond anything experienced in nearly a century. Estimates so far indicate the virus could reduce global economic growth to an annualized rate of -4.5% to -6.0% in 2020. [...] The economic fallout from the pandemic could also risk continued labor dislocations as a result of lingering high levels of unemployment not experienced since the Great Depression of the 1930s and high levels of debt among developing economies. The human costs in terms of lives lost will permanently affect global economic growth in addition to the cost of rising levels of poverty, lives upended, careers derailed, and increased social unrest. Some estimates indicate that 100 million to 110 million people globally could enter extreme poverty as a result of the contraction in the global economy. Global trade could fall by an annual amount of 9.2%, depending on the depth and extent of the global economic downturn, exacting an especially heavy economic toll on trade-dependent developing and emerging economies. The full impact will not be known until the effects of the pandemic peak. This report provides an overview of the global economic costs to date and the response by governments and international institutions to address these effects."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jackson, James K., 1949-; Weiss, Martin A.; Schwarzenberg, Andres B. . . .
2020-11-19
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Hearing on Nomination of Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Hearing Before the Committee on Environment & Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, January 18, 2017
This is from the January 18, 2017 hearing, "Nomination Hearing of Scott Pruitt, of Oklahoma, to be Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency" held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. From the opening statement of Scott Pruitt: "[It] is a great privilege to be here today and be considered for the position of Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]. I want to start with what is most important to you and to the public: if I have the honor to serve as EPA Administrator, my overarching goal will be to lead in a way that our future generations inherit a better and healthier environment." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Scott Pruitt.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2017
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Terror Operations: Case Studies in Terrorism
"Terror Operations: Case Studies in Terrorism is a supplemental handbook that presents several terrorist incidents in a case study methodology. This handbook supports a U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence capstone reference guide on terrorism, DCSINT handbook No. 1, A Military Guide to Terrorism in the Twenty- First Century. Both the capstone guide and supplemental handbook are prepared under the direction of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence-Threats. Understanding terrorism spans foreign and domestic threats of nation-states, rogue states with international or transnational agent demonstrations, and actors with specific strategies, tactics, and targets. A central aspect of this handbook comprises foreign and domestic threats against the United States of America in a contemporary operational environment (COE). This informational handbook supports operational missions, institutional training, and professional military education for U.S. military forces in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). This document promotes an improved understanding of terrorist incident objectives, motivation, planning, and conduct of operations."
United States. Army Training and Doctrine Command
2005-08-15
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H.A.S.C. No. 113-90: Hearing on National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs Before the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, March 14, 2014
This is the March 14, 2014 hearing on "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs," held before the U.S. Senate/House Committee on Armed Services. From the opening statement of General Mark Welsh: "Every major decision reflected in our fiscal year 2015 budget proposal hurts. Each of them reduces capability that our combatant commanders would love to have and believe they need. There are no more easy cuts. That is just where we are. And we cannot ignore the fact that the law says we will return to sequestered funding levels in fiscal year 2016. To prepare for that, the Air Force must cut people in force structure now to create a force that is balanced enough that we can afford to train and operate it in 2016 and beyond. We started our budget planning by making two significant assumptions." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Deborah James and Mark Welsh.
United States. Government Printing Office
2014-03-14
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CTC Sentinel [December 2021]
This December 2021 issue of the U.S. Military Academy's Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) Sentinel features an article about the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol titled "The Oath Keepers and Their Role in the January 6 Insurrection," by Matthew Kriner and Jon Lewis. Other reports include: "A View from the CT [counterterrorism] Foxhole: Brigadier Rob Stephenson, Deputy Commander, NATO Special Operations Headquarters," by Seth Loertscher, Connor Ingleson and James Garrison; "The Iron March Forum and the Evolution of the 'Skull Mask' Neo-Fascist Network," by H.E. Upchurch; and "Holding Women Accountable: Prosecuting Female Returnees in Germany," by Sofia Koller and Alexander Schiele.
Combating Terrorism Center (U.S.)
2021-12
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Serial No. 115-16: Overcoming PTSD: Assessing VA's Efforts to Promote Wellness and Healing, Hearing Before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, June 7, 2017
This is the June 7, 2017 hearing titled "Overcoming PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder]: Assessing VA's [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs] Efforts to Promote Wellness and Healing" before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. From the opening statement of David P. Roe: "At today's hearing we are going to discuss whether the current system of VA health care services and benefits effectively promotes wellness and supports veterans with PTSD in seeking treatment. VA exists to provide veterans with PTSD or any other condition that may be connected to a veteran's time in uniform with the care they need to live healthy, whole lives. Accordingly, the array of benefits and services that VA provides to veterans who have been diagnosed with PTSD is most impressive and expanding." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Brendan O'Byrne, Sebastian Junger, Zach Iscol, Paul Downs, and Harold Kudler.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2018
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Special Warfare, July-September 2012
"'Special Warfare' is an authorized, official quarterly publication of the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, N.C. Its mission is to promote the professional development of special operations forces by providing a forum for the examination of established doctrine and new ideas. [...] Over the next 20 years, China's gross domestic product and defense budget could exceed those of the United States. If it chose, China could therefore become a more capable opponent than either the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany at their peak. Yet China is seeking neither territorial aggrandizement nor ideological sway over its neighbors. It shows no interest in matching U.S. military expenditures, achieving a comparable global reach or assuming defense commitments beyond its immediate periphery. Such intentions might change, but if so, the United States would probably receive considerable warning, given the lead times needed to develop such capabilities. Despite cautious and pragmatic Chinese policies, the risk of conflict with the United States remains, and this risk will grow in consequence and perhaps in probability as China's strength increases. Below we review the sources of conflict we believe most likely to occasion a China-U.S. military clash over the next 30 years, arrayed in descending order of probability. All are on China's immediate periphery, where we believe Chinese security interests and capabilities will remain focused. We do not believe a China-U.S. military conflict to be probable in any of the cases, but that judgment is based on the view that the United States will retain the capacity to deter behavior that could lead to such a clash throughout this period. After reviewing the plausible sources of conflict, we turn to the operational implications these scenarios might present the United States and the resultant requirements for defense and deterrence. We examine the capabilities the United States will need to maintain to ensure that a conflict with China does not occur, and conclude with thoughts on America's long-term strategy for dealing with the challenges posed by a rising China."
John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (U.S.)
2012-07
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Motivations for Nuclear Terrorism in the United States
The demise of bipolarity created new security concerns for the United States. Terrorism now thrives in the new world environment. While much has been written on terrorism, the specter of nuclear terrorism in the United States has received little attention. Nuclear terrorism cannot be looked at through the traditional nuclear weapons paradigm nor can it be viewed within the confines
of traditional terrorism paradigm. There are currently two perspectives of nuclear terrorism: the optimists, who do not see it as a threat, and the pessimists, who see it as inevitable. Each view has its merits but neither alone can explain this security concern. Merging of the two views is required
to understand the motivational considerations behind this potentially horrific problem. A brief history of U.S. policies on nuclear weapons and terrorism is offered to explain why there has not been a U.S. policy on nuclear terrorism. A better understanding of the nuclear terrorist mindset is required if effective policies are to be developed.
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
DiPaolo, Peter Joseph
1995-06
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Pipeline Safety: An On-the-Ground Look at Safeguarding the Public, Field Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, January 28, 2013
This is the January 28, 2013 hearing on "Pipeline Safety: An On-the-ground Look at Safeguarding the Public," held before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The hearing takes a look at pipeline safety, with reference to the Pipeline Safety Regulatory Certainty and Job Creation Act of 2011. The hearing also takes a look at the safety improvements and future requirements that need to be implemented in the future to maintain the highest standard of public safety. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John D. Rockefeller IV, Joseph Manchin, Sue Bonham, Deborah A.P. Hersman, Cynthia L. Quarterman, Susan A. Fleming, Jimmy D. Staton, Rick Kessler, Barbara Boxer, and Tim Gooch.
United States. Government Printing Office
2013
