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2020 Lobbying Disclosure: Observations on Lobbyists' Compliance with Disclosure Requirements, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The LDA [Lobbying Disclosure Act], as amended, requires lobbyists to file quarterly disclosure reports and semiannual reports on certain political contributions. The law also includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to annually audit lobbyists' compliance with the LDA. This report (1) determines the extent to which lobbyists can demonstrate compliance with disclosure requirements, (2) identifies challenges or potential improvements to compliance that lobbyists report, and (3) describes the efforts of USAO [U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia] in enforcing LDA compliance. This is GAO's 14th annual report under the provision."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-04
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 522, Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on March 17, 2021. From the Document: "S. 522 would require agencies to post an Internet address link for any proposed rule published in the 'Federal Register' that would take the reader to a concise summary of not more than 100 words posted on regulations.gov [hyperlink]. The Presidential Memorandum on Plain Language issued on June 1, 1998, and Executive Order 13563 already require agencies to use plain language in all proposed and final rules. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] expects that preparing the short summary of proposed rules under S. 522 would not significantly increase agencies' administrative costs. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing S. 522 would have no significant cost over the 2021-2026 period. Enacting the bill could affect direct spending by some agencies that are allowed to use fees, receipts from the sale of goods, and other collections to cover operating costs. CBO estimates that any net changes in direct spending by those agencies would be negligible because most of them can adjust amounts collected to reflect changes in operating costs."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-03-29
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Financial Audit: FY 2020 and FY 2019 Consolidated Financial Statements of the U.S. Government
From the Document: "This report transmits the results of GAO's [U.S. Government Accountability Office's] audit of the U.S. government's fiscal years 2020 and 2019 consolidated financial statements. GAO's audit report is incorporated on page 226 in the enclosed 'Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Report of the United States Government (2020 Financial Report)' prepared by the Secretary of the Treasury in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). To operate as effectively and efficiently as possible, Congress, the administration, and federal managers must have ready access to reliable and complete financial and performance information--both for individual federal entities and for the federal government as a whole. Our report on the U.S. government's consolidated financial statements for fiscal years 2020 and 2019 discusses progress that has been made but also underscores that much work remains to improve federal financial management and that the federal government continues to face an unsustainable long-term fiscal path. The federal government took unprecedented actions in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to protect public health and reduce economic impacts on individuals and businesses in fiscal year 2020. These efforts are reflected in the assets, liabilities, net cost, and the budget deficit reported in the U.S. government's consolidated financial statements for fiscal year 2020."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03-25
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Recent White House Actions on Immigration [Updated March 23, 2021]
From the Document: "In the past several weeks, the Biden Administration has engaged [hyperlink] in a series of executive actions on a range of issues. Some concern the administration and enforcement of federal immigration laws. These immigration-related initiatives purport to revise substantially Trump Administration policies that generally prioritized immigration enforcement activities and restricted the ability of some non-U.S. nationals (aliens) to enter the United States or pursue immigration benefits. [...] This Legal Sidebar provides a brief overview of President Biden's executive orders and other directives relating to immigration through March 23, 2021."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.; Santamaria, Kelsey Y.
2021-03-23
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National Counterterrorism Center: Implementation Procedures for the ODNI Intelligence Activities Procedures Approved by the Attorney General, Pursuant to Executive Order 12333
From the Purpose and Scope: "These procedures implement the requirement in Subsection 3.3 of the 'Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Intelligence Activities Procedures Approved by the Attorney General Pursuant to Executive Order 12333' (the ODNI Procedures) pertaining to the additional collection authority of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). These procedures, which are referred to hereinafter as the NCTC Implementation Procedures (NCTC IPs), apply to NCTC employees, and also provide internal guidance regarding the application of certain aspects of the ODNI Procedures to NCTC intelligence activities. NCTC shall carry out all activities in accordance with the Constitution and applicable provisions of U.S. statutes, executive orders, and other presidential directives, as well as the ODNI Procedures. Nothing in these NCTC IPs shall supersede any requirement of U.S. law or the ODNI Procedures."
National Counterterrorism Center (U.S.)
2021-03-22
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Asylum Processing at the Border: Legal Basics [March 19, 2021]
From the Document: "Recent statistics and reports [hyperlink] from the southern border show a sharp increase in the arrival of non-U.S. nationals (called 'aliens [hyperlink]' under governing law) who lack visas or other valid entry documents. (This Sidebar generally refers to such aliens encountered at the cusp of entry into the United States as 'undocumented migrants' to distinguish them from those encountered within the interior of the country.) The trend includes a notable uptick [hyperlink] in the arrival of unaccompanied alien children [hyperlink] (UACs). Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have opined [hyperlink] that the current surge in undocumented migration could exceed the spike [hyperlink] that occurred in 2019. As a result, questions have emerged about how the Biden Administration intends to address the surge and, in particular, how it plans to process the migrants' claims for humanitarian protection from persecution or torture."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Harrington, Ben
2021-03-19
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PREP Act and COVID-19: Limiting Liability for Medical Countermeasures [Updated March 19, 2021]
From the Document: "To encourage the expeditious development and deployment of medical countermeasures during a public health emergency, the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act [hyperlink]) authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to limit legal liability for losses relating to the administration of medical countermeasures such as diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines. In a declaration effective February 4, 2020 (the HHS Declaration [hyperlink]), the Secretary of HHS (the Secretary) invoked the PREP Act and declared Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) to be a public health emergency warranting liability protections for covered countermeasures. [...] Federal laws such as the PREP Act may preempt [hyperlink] state tort laws--as well as other state and federal laws-- in certain contexts. Preemptive federal legislation displaces [hyperlink] state law to alter the usual liability rules or immunize certain individuals from liability. In the PREP Act, Congress made the judgment that, in the context of a public health emergency, immunizing certain persons and entities from liability was necessary [hyperlink] to ensure that potentially life-saving countermeasures will be efficiently developed, deployed, and administered. This Sidebar reviews the structure of the PREP Act and the HHS Declaration to explain the scope of this liability immunity as it applies to COVID-19 countermeasures."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hickey, Kevin J.
2021-03-19
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Electricity Grid Cybersecurity: DOE Needs to Ensure Its Plans Fully Address Risks to Distribution Systems, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Protecting the reliability of the U.S. electricity grid, which delivers electricity essential for modern life, is a long-standing national interest. The grid comprises three functions: generation, transmission, and distribution. In August 2019, GAO [U. S. Government Accountability Office] reported that the generation and transmission systems--which are federally regulated for reliability--are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. GAO was asked to review grid distribution systems' cybersecurity. This report (1) describes the extent to which grid distribution systems are at risk from cyberattacks and the scale of potential impacts from such attacks, (2) describes selected state and industry actions to improve distribution systems' cybersecurity and federal efforts to support those actions, and (3) examines the extent to which DOE [U.S. Department of Energy] has addressed risks to distribution systems in its plans for implementing the national cybersecurity strategy. To do so, GAO reviewed relevant federal and industry reports on grid cybersecurity risks and analyzed relevant DOE documents. GAO also interviewed a nongeneralizable sample of federal, state, and industry officials with a role in grid distribution systems' cybersecurity. GAO recommends that DOE more fully address risks to the grid's distribution systems from cyberattacks--including their potential impact--in its plans to implement the national cybersecurity strategy. DOE agreed with GAO's recommendation."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03-18
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Coup in Burma (Myanmar): Issues for U.S. Policy [Updated March 18, 2021]
From the Document: "On February 1, 2021, Burma's military, known as the Tatmadaw, seized control of Burma's Union Government and detained State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi (the country's de facto civilian leader) and members of her political party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). The NLD had won parliamentary elections held in November 2020, and the coup came as the country's Union Parliament was preparing for its initial session. The military's action was widely condemned internationally as a blow to Burma's partial transition from military rule to democracy. An informal civil disobedience movement has grown that has staged large protests across the country as well as general strikes. The military declared martial law [hyperlink] in parts of Yangon on March 15, and has used lethal force against protestors on several occasions. The United Nations Human Rights Office reported that as of March 17, over 2,000 have been arrested and 149 killed [hyperlink]. [...] On February 1, President Biden called [hyperlink] for nations around the world to unite in support of defending Burma's democracy. On February 2, the State Department announced that the recent events constituted a 'coup d'état' [...], triggering certain restrictions on U.S. aid to the government. [...] On March 8, the Commerce Department added four Burmese entities [hyperlink] to its Entity List, strengthening export restrictions. On March 12, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas designated Burma [hyperlink] for Temporary Protected Status so that 'Burmese nationals and habitual residents may remain temporarily in the United States.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dolven, Ben; Smith, Kirt
2021-03-18
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Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress [March 18, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report presents background information and issues for Congress concerning the Navy's force structure and shipbuilding plans. The current and planned size and composition of the Navy, the annual rate of Navy ship procurement, the prospective affordability of the Navy's shipbuilding plans, and the capacity of the U.S. shipbuilding industry to execute the Navy's shipbuilding plans have been oversight matters for the congressional defense committees for many years. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's proposed FY2022 shipbuilding program and the Navy's longer-term shipbuilding plans. Decisions that Congress makes on this issue can substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-03-18
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Overview of Department of Defense Use of the Electromagnetic Spectrum [Updated March 18, 2021]
From the Summary: "Communication using the electromagnetic spectrum ('the spectrum') enables a number of modern military capabilities. The Department of Defense (DOD) uses electromagnetic radiation to enable military communications, navigation, radar, nonintrusive inspection of aircraft, and other equipment. [...] The U.S. government manages access to and use of spectrum. As the nation continues to experience significant growth in commercial wireless services (e.g., mobile phones, mobile applications, video streaming, Wi-Fi), demand for spectrum has increased. Congress has enacted policies to make additional spectrum available for commercial use, in some cases reallocating spectrum from federal agency use to commercial use. As Congress considers policies that reallocate spectrum from DOD to commercial use, it may consider the following issues: [1] 'Interoperability' (i.e., the ability of one radio or computer system to talk to another). [...] [2] 'DOD's ability to keep pace with technological advances by potential adversaries.' [...] [3] 'The private sector's increasing interest in using frequencies traditionally reserved for the military.' [...] [4] Spectrum sharing. [...] [5] The interagency process for spectrum allocation. [...] [6] Anticipating future spectrum needs for both commercial and military users."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoehn, John R.; Sayler, Kelley M.; Gallagher, Jill C.
2021-03-18
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DHS' Fragmented Approach to Immigration Enforcement and Poor Planning Resulted in Extended Migrant Detention During the 2019 Surge
From the Highlights: "A key issue preventing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from transferring detainees out of its facilities within 72 hours was insufficient Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations' (ICE ERO) bed space. ICE ERO also could not increase capacity quickly enough to keep pace with CBP's apprehensions, and available bed space was not always appropriate for the aliens in need of placement. As a result, CBP's Border Patrol faced rapidly increasing numbers of detainees -- especially single adults -- who remained in CBP's holding facilities intended for short-term custody. Despite worsening conditions, Border Patrol generally did not exercise its authority to release single adults from its custody. Border Patrol sectors created ad-hoc solutions to manage the growing detainee populations in its facilities, because their local response plans did not adequately account for ICE ERO's detention limitations. Furthermore, longstanding fragmentation in immigration enforcement operations between CBP and ICE ERO further exacerbated these challenges. DHS was aware of a potential land migration surge and the challenges it would pose. DHS had both a multicomponent task force in place at the border and a plan for land migration surges, but used neither during the 2019 surge. In May 2019, DHS created a headquarters coordination group to advise leadership and help manage future emergencies, like a migrant surge. However, if the Department does not develop a DHS-wide framework for surges and address day-to-day fragmentation, CBP and ICE ERO will face the same challenges in future surges."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
Martell, Tatyana; Lang, Erika; Bacon, Brendan . . .
2021-03-18
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Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated March 15, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Coast Guard's programs for procuring 8 National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and 58 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs). The Coast Guard's proposed FY2021 budget requested a total of $597 million in procurement funding for the NSC, OPC, and FRC programs. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Coast Guard's funding requests and acquisition strategies for the NSC, OPC, and FRC programs. Congress's decisions on these three programs could substantially affect Coast Guard capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base. The NSC, OPC, and FRC programs have been subjects of congressional oversight for many years, and were previously covered in other CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports dating back to 1998 that are now archived. CRS testified on the Coast Guard's cutter acquisition programs most recently in October and November of 2018. The Coast Guard's plans for modernizing its fleet of polar icebreakers are covered in a separate CRS report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-03-15
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FEMA Assistance for Vaccine Administration and Distribution: In Brief [March 12, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Beginning in March 2020, former President Donald J. Trump declared a national emergency, and subsequently declared major disasters for all 50 states, five territories, the District of Columbia, and one tribe for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act, as amended; P.L. [public law] 93- 288). Among the forms of assistance authorized under the Stafford Act declarations was Public Assistance (PA) for Emergency Protective Measures, including PA for vaccination-related costs (e.g., PPE [personal protective equipment] for vaccinators, vaccinator overtime or surge support). Upon assuming office, President Joseph R. Biden expanded the use of PA for vaccination-related costs by increasing the PA federal cost share and initiating an effort to use PA to open and expand vaccination sites. The first federally-run vaccination sites opened on February 16, 2021 (see Chronology [hyperlink]). This report provides a brief synopsis of FEMA PA for vaccination-related costs using available data to date."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lee, Erica A.; Sekar, Kavya
2021-03-12
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National Guard and the COVID-19 Pandemic Response [Updated March 12, 2021]
From the Document: "The National Guard is a multi-role force at the disposal of governors and, when activated under federal law, at the disposal of the President. It has primary responsibility to support state and local government responses to disasters and emergencies (DODI 3025.21). Such responses are part of the National Guard Civil Support(NGCS) mission, which is analogous to the Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA)mission for active duty units(DODD 3025.18)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ott, Alan
2021-03-12
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FEMA Needs Revised Policies and Procedures to Better Manage Recovery of Disallowed Grant Funds
From the Highlights: "FEMA grants billions of dollars each year to help recipients (states, territories, and tribal and local governments) and subrecipients (counties, cities, and nonprofit organizations) respond to and recover from disasters. We performed this audit to determine whether FEMA allowed grant costs consistent with Office of Management and Budget circulars and other cost guidance and to determine the effectiveness of FEMA's process for recovering disallowed grant costs."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2021-03-11
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Arms Control and Nonproliferation: A Catalog of Treaties and Agreements [Updated March 11, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report provides an overview of many of the key arms control and nonproliferation agreements and endeavors of the past 40 years. It is divided into three sections. The first describes arms control efforts between the United States and the states of the former Soviet Union, covering both formal, bilateral treaties, and the cooperative threat reduction process. The second section describes multilateral nuclear nonproliferation efforts, covering both formal treaties and less formal accommodations that have been initiated in recent years. The final section reviews treaties and agreements that address chemical, biological, and conventional weapons. The report concludes with several appendices. These provide a list of treaties and agreements that the United States is a party to, a description of the treaty ratification process, and a list of the bilateral and international organizations tasked with implementation of arms control efforts."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Woolf, Amy F.; Kerr, Paul K.; Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham
2021-03-11
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Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (Polar Icebreaker) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated March 11, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program--the Coast Guard's program for acquiring new PSCs (i.e., heavy polar icebreakers). The PSC program has received a total of $1,169.6 million (i.e., about $1.2 billion) in procurement funding through FY2020, including $135 million in FY2020, which was $100 million more than the $35 million that the Coast Guard had requested for FY2020. With the funding it has received through FY2020, the first PSC is now fully funded and the second PSC has received initial funding. The Coast Guard's proposed FY2021 budget requests $555 million in procurement funding for the PSC program. It also proposes a rescission of $70 million in FY2020 funding that Congress had provided for the procurement of long lead time materials (LLTM) for a 12th National Security Cutter (NSC), with the intent of reprogramming that funding to the PSC program. The Coast Guard states that its proposed FY2021 budget, if approved by Congress, would fully fund the second PSC. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Administration's FY2021 procurement funding request for the PSC program and the proposed rescission of FY2020 NSC funding, and, more generally, whether to approve, reject, or modify the Coast Guard's overall plan for procuring new polar icebreakers."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-03-11
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Antarctica: Overview of Geopolitical and Environmental Issues [March 10, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Geopolitical and environmental developments are increasing international focus on Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. The interdisciplinary nature of various stakeholders concerned with Antarctica--including scientists, diplomats, defense personnel, members of the media, academics, and others in both domestic and international contexts--makes for a complex dynamic. Some of these stakeholders contend that current developments could have environmental, political, economic, and security implications for the United States and the rest of the world. [...] Geopolitical, climate, and natural resource concerns in Antarctica might stimulate Congress to explore a number of questions related to the region, including what role Antarctica may play in the changing global order and its potential to contribute to sea-level rise."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sheikh, Pervaze A.; Procita, Kezee; Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-
2021-03-10
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Biden Administration's Immigration Enforcement Priorities: Background and Legal Considerations [March 9, 2021]
From the Document: "Almost immediately after taking office, President Biden issued a series of directives [hyperlink] on immigration matters. Some of these directives focused on altering the immigration enforcement priorities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency primarily charged with the enforcement of federal immigration laws [hyperlink]. Federal statute confers immigration authorities with 'broad discretion' [hyperlink] to determine when it is appropriate to pursue the removal of a non-U.S. citizen or national (alien) who lacks a legal basis to remain in the country. [...] The Trump Administration made enforcement a touchstone of its immigration policy, and generally sought to enforce [hyperlink] federal immigration laws against a broader range of aliens who had committed immigration violations than the Obama Administration. The Trump Administration also sought to rescind [hyperlink] the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals [hyperlink] (DACA) program, which allows certain unlawfully present aliens who came to the United States as children to remain and work in this country for a certain period of time. President Biden has rescinded [hyperlink] some of the Trump Administration's immigration measures, and also has directed DHS to reexamine its immigration enforcement policies and priorities. DHS has sought, during the pendency of that review, to temporarily restrict [hyperlink] immigration enforcement actions to cover only certain aliens, and to suspend [hyperlink] the execution of most removal orders for a period of 100 days. [...] This Sidebar addresses the Biden Administration's immigration enforcement priorities and legal considerations that they raise."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.
2021-03-09
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FEMA Needs to Reduce the $579 Million Backlog of Projects in Its New York Public Assistance Grant Program
From the Document: "The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II (Region II) and New York State's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) generally complied with PA policies, procedures, and regulations, but have not adequately monitored or promptly closed hundreds of completed projects. This has created a backlog of 605 completed projects totaling $578.8 million. This large backlog is a result of DHSES not adequately training grant subrecipients, FEMA changing its guidance to DHSES and subrecipients, and FEMA and DHSES not effectively using quarterly progress reports to monitor project status and manage project closeouts. Five hundred additional projects with an awarded amount of nearly $5 billion are expected to be completed and ready for closeout in the coming years. If Region II and DHSES do not address the procedural deficiencies in the closeout process, they will not be adequately prepared for the next wave of projects ready for closeout. In addition, the large project closeout backlog has led to delays in reimbursing subrecipients, which could negatively affect some entities' local operating budgets."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2021-03-05
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Electricity Grid: Opportunities Exist for DOE to Better Support Utilities in Improving Resilience to Hurricanes, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "Hurricanes pose significant threats to the electricity grid in some U.S. coastal areas and territories and are a leading cause of major power outages. In recent years, hurricanes have impacted millions of customers in these areas. Adoption of technologies and other measures could improve the resilience of the grid so that it is better able to withstand and rapidly recover from severe weather; this could help mitigate the effects of hurricanes. This report examines (1) measures utilities in selected states have adopted to enhance grid resilience following major hurricanes since 2012 and any challenges utilities face funding such measures; and (2) federal efforts to support the adoption of measures to enhance grid resilience to hurricanes and any opportunities that exist to improve these efforts. For this report, GAO [Government Accountability Office] assessed agency and industry actions; reviewed relevant reports, policies, and documents; and interviewed federal, industry, and local officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03-05
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Texas Power Outage: Implications for Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Policy [March 4, 2021]
From the Document: "The statewide power outages in Texas following a severe cold weather event in February 2021 illustrated the vulnerability of electricity supply as a critical economic and safety function. The widespread failure of electric generation facilities in severe weather conditions led to blackouts that affected millions of residents and caused extensive property damage and loss of life. Much of the post-event commentary has focused on the unique regulatory environment in Texas, which some observers fault for the lack of adequate weatherization at critical generation facilities. Texas operates an electric grid that is largely isolated from the national grid, and therefore exempt from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations applicable to interstate commerce. The federal policy framework for critical infrastructure security and resilience (CISR) has generally received less public attention. This nonregulatory framework provides authority and guidance for a broad range of voluntary public-private partnerships to promote national CISR goals--including grid resilience. This CRS [Congressional Research Service] Insight provides an overview of the federal CISR policy framework--focusing on its application to the risk management practices of the electricity generation and distribution industry in Texas and elsewhere."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphreys, Brian E.
2021-03-04
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Renewed Great Power Competition: Implications for Defense--Issues for Congress [Updated March 4, 2021]
From the Summary: "The renewal of great power competition was acknowledged alongside other considerations in the Obama Administration's June 2015 National Military Strategy, and was placed at the center of the Trump Administration's December 2017 National Security Strategy (NSS) and January 2018 National Defense Strategy (NDS). The December 2017 NSS and January 2018 NDS formally reoriented U.S. national security strategy and U.S. defense strategy toward an explicit primary focus on great power competition with China and Russia. Department of Defense (DOD) officials subsequently identified countering China's military capabilities as DOD's top priority. [...] The issue for Congress is how U.S. defense planning should respond to renewed great power competition, and whether to approve, reject, or modify the Biden Administration's proposed defense funding levels, strategy, plans, and programs for addressing renewed great power competition. Congress's decisions on these issues could have significant implications for U.S. defense capabilities and funding requirements."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-03-04
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FEMA Needs to Improve Guidance and Oversight for the Presidential Residence Protection Assistance Grant
From the Highlights: "In each of 2017 and 2018, Congress appropriated $41 million to FEMA for the PRPA [Presidential Residence Protection Assistance] grant. We conducted this audit to determine whether FEMA ensured state and local law enforcement agencies accounted for and expended PRPA grant funds in accordance with Federal laws, regulations, and FEMA and United States Secret Service guidelines."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2021-03-03
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Success of Future Disaster Response and Recovery Efforts Depends on FEMA Addressing Current Vulnerabilities
From the Highlights: "Multiple hurricanes in 2017 exposed weaknesses in Federal, state, and local governments' capabilities to respond to concurrent disasters. We previously published more than two dozen reports resulting in 115 recommendations to improve Federal disaster response. This report provides a summary of our previous findings and recommendations, which may inform future disaster response efforts. FEMA should share this report with its PA [public assistance] grant recipients and subrecipients to promote their awareness and improvement in the systemic areas identified."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2021-03-03
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Manufacturing USA: Advanced Manufacturing Institutes and Network [March 3, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Congress maintains a strong interest in the health of U.S. manufacturing due to its central role in the economy and national defense. Manufacturing accounts for about 11% of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP). In 2019, manufacturing enterprises directly employed approximately 12.5 million full-time employees in the United States and indirectly supported millions of additional jobs in other industries. Manufacturers also funded more than 62% of the nation's industrial research and development (R&D), providing a foundation for technological innovation and continued U.S. technological leadership. Wages and salaries per full-time equivalent employee in manufacturing were $72,735 in 2019, compared to $66,778 for employees in all industries. With respect to national defense, the United States depends heavily on its manufacturing base to produce military weapons, aircraft, ground vehicles, ships, and other equipment."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
2021-03-03
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High-Risk Series: Dedicated Leadership Needed to Address Limited Progress in Most High-Risk Areas, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The federal government is one of the world's largest and most complex entities; about $6.6 trillion in outlays in fiscal year 2020 funded a broad array of programs and operations. GAO's [Government Accountability Office] High-Risk Series identifies government operations with vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, or in need of transformation to address economy, efficiency, or effectiveness challenges. This biennial update describes the status of high-risk areas, outlines actions that are still needed to assure further progress, and identifies any new high-risk areas needing attention by the executive branch and Congress. Solutions to high-risk problems save billions of dollars, improve service to the public, and strengthen government performance and accountability."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, Volume I: Drug and Chemical Control [March 2021]
From the Introduction: "The Department of State's 2021 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) is one of several annual reports on foreign policy and foreign assistance that the United States Congress has mandated. Published in March 2021, the report covers the period January 1 to December 31, 2020 and includes two volumes: Volume I, Drug and Chemical Control, and Volume II, Money Laundering."
United States. Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
2021-03
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International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, Volume II: Money Laundering [March 2021]
From the Overview: "The 2021 edition of the Congressionally mandated 'International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, Volume II: Money Laundering' focuses on the exposure to this threat in the specific context of narcotics-related money laundering. The report reviews the anti-money laundering (AML) legal and institutional infrastructure of jurisdictions and highlights the most significant steps each has taken to improve its AML regime. It also describes key vulnerabilities and deficiencies of these regimes, identifies each jurisdiction's capacity to cooperate in international investigations, and highlights the United States' provision of AML-related technical assistance."
United States. Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
2021-03
