Advanced search Help
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
Global Tuberculosis: Background and Issues for Congress [April 19, 2022]
From the Document: "Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most widespread infectious diseases in the world, infecting 10 million people in 2020. Congress has recognized TB as an important global health issue and a potential threat to global health security. Although TB is curable, approximately 1.5 million TB-related deaths occur each year. Globally, new TB infection rates declined between 2015 and 2020. Global health observers anticipate new data to assess the extent to which interruptions in TB services during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic affected TB control; for example between 2019 and 2020, global TB deaths increased by 5.6%. Members may debate appropriate funding levels and optimum strategies for addressing the continued challenge of global TB control during the remainder of the 117th Congress. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) work closely with a range of multilateral partners to respond to the threat of TB, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (the Global Fund), the largest multilateral actor in the TB space, and the World Health Organization (WHO), among others. National governments also play a key role in controlling TB within their own borders. Domestic government expenditures in middle-income countries with high TB burdens, such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRICS), fund 97% of their domestic spending on TB control and account for a large portion of TB spending worldwide."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tharakan, Sara M.
2022-04-19
-
Safer Schools: Efforts to Improve School Climate in Virginia
From the Webpage: "Violence in school is relatively rare, though community perceptions of violence in school may not reflect this fact. That being said, nearly 71% of all schools did report at least one case of violent crime during the 2017-2018 school year. Administrators and communities are working hard to address the root causes of school violence to create safer schools. Time after time, studies have demonstrated that school climate is critical to school safety and violence prevention. These findings have resulted in the desire for many states to measure the characteristics of school climate with empirical data in order to better understand trends and improve the environment for their students and staff. [...] Researchers from the University of Virginia have been working with the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to develop rigorous survey scales to measure and assess school climate consistently over time. The surveys, which were administered over four alternating years to middle and high school stakeholders (students, parents, teachers, staff, and administrators), helped researchers better understand the relationship between the climate of a school and its overall safety. The researchers used the data to better inform stakeholders and to help formulate future surveys aimed at improving the Virginia educational system."
National Institute of Justice (U.S.); United States. Department of Justice
2022-04-18
-
American Battlefield Protection Program [Updated April 18, 2022]
From the Document: "The American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) promotes the preservation of significant sites where 'historic battles were fought on American soil' [...]. Initiated by the Secretary of the Interior in 1991, the program was authorized by Congress in 1996 in the American Battlefield Protection Act (P.L. 104-333) and is currently administered by the National Park Service (NPS). For most of its existence, the ABPP comprised two distinct competitive grant programs: the Battlefield Planning Grant Program and the Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant Program. Congress authorized two new grant programs in 2019, bringing the total number of ABPP grant programs to four (see 'New ABPP Grant Programs')[hyperlink]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
DeSantis, Mark K.
2022-04-18
-
USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs: Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic [Updated April 18, 2022]
From the Summary: "U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) programs are often part of emergency response efforts, providing foods for distribution, additional benefits for redemption, and program flexibilities. During the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, access to food-- particularly in light of increased unemployment and closures of institutions that households rely on for food, such as schools--has been a concern for many people. Some observers also view the programs, particularly the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as a means of economic stimulus. This report discusses related provisions of five laws that supplement FNS's prior response to the COVID-19 pandemic with new funds and authorities[.]"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Aussenberg, Randy Alison; Billings, Kara Clifford
2022-04-18
-
Use of DNA by the Criminal Justice System and the Federal Role: Background, Current Law, and Grants [Updated April 18, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report provides an overview of how DNA is used to investigate crimes and exonerate innocent people of crimes they did not commit. It also reviews current law related to collecting DNA samples, sharing DNA profiles generated from those samples, and providing access to postconviction DNA testing. The report also includes a summary of grant programs authorized by Congress to assist state and local governments with reducing DNA backlogs, providing postconviction DNA testing, and promoting new technology in the field."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hanson, Emily J.
2022-04-18
-
U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement Negotiations [Updated April 18, 2022]
From the Document: "In October 2019, the United States and Japan signed two agreements to liberalize bilateral trade. The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA) provides for limited tariff reductions and quota expansions to improve market access. The U.S.-Japan Digital Trade Agreement covers rules on the digital aspects of international commerce. The trade deals, which took effect in January 2020, without formal action by Congress, constituted what the Trump and Abe Administrations described as 'stage one' of a broader U.S.- Japan trade agreement, but further talks did not materialize. The Trump Administration used delegated tariff authorities in the 2015 grant of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA, P.L. 114-26 now expired) to proclaim the USJTA provisions, while the digital trade agreement, which did not require changes to U.S. law, was treated as an Executive Agreement. The Biden Administration has not pursued further bilateral trade talks with Japan, despite urging from some stakeholders to resume negotiation on issues left out of the initial agreements (e.g., auto trade and services)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; Williams, Brock R.
2022-04-18
-
Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2023 Budget and Appropriations [April 18, 2022]
From the Document: "Each year, Congress considers 12 distinct appropriations measures to fund federal programs and activities. One of these is the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations bill, which includes funding for U.S. diplomatic activities, cultural exchanges, development, security, humanitarian assistance, and participation in multilateral organizations, among other international activities. On March 28, 2022, the Biden Administration released its proposed FY2023 budget request, which called for $66.00 billion in new budget authority for SFOPS accounts ($65.94 billion after rescissions of prior year funding). The FY2023 request, including rescissions, represents a 17.3% increase from FY2022 enacted base appropriations (excluding emergency funding to address crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine) and a 0.9% decrease from total FY2022 enacted appropriations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morgenstern, Emily M.; Gill, Cory R.
2022-04-18
-
Digital Wallets and Selected Policy Issues [April 18, 2022]
From the Document: "Digital wallets are generally used for (1) payments to merchants through the use of near-field communication or QR codes for in-person purchases; (2) peer-to-peer transfers of funds through an app, via text message, or QR codes; (3) storing value from a linked bank account or debit card on an app-based account; or (4) storing, providing access to, and transacting in cryptocurrency. (For more on cryptocurrency, see CRS Report R45427, 'Cryptocurrency: The Economics of Money and Selected Policy Issues' [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=836620].) Digital wallets generally require the use of internet-connected hardware, such as a smartphone. Some, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, may work only with certain devices and associated operating systems. Others, such as the PayPal or Cash apps, can be downloaded and accessed from a range of devices, irrespective of operating system. For conceptual simplicity, it can be helpful to think of digital wallets as belonging to one of three groups: retailer-specific, general purpose, or cryptocurrency."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tierno, Paul; Scott, Andrew P.
2022-04-18
-
Public Transportation Faces Post-Pandemic Challenges [April 18, 2022]
From the Document: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented effect on public transportation agency budgets [hyperlink]. Public transportation agencies have kept many buses and trains running, especially to support the travel of 'essential workers,' but ridership and fare revenues have plummeted. Public transportation agency budgets have been supported by federal supplemental appropriations [hyperlink] totaling $69.5 billion, about five times the pre-pandemic $12 billion in annual federal public transportation support [hyperlink] and more than three times the $19 billion coming from fares and other operating revenue annually. While the pandemic is challenging the public transportation industry nationwide, its financial effects are pronounced most on agencies that operate the 15 subway and 32 commuter rail systems [hyperlink] in the United States, the largest of which are located in the New York metropolitan area. This is because subways and commuter rail have lost a greater share of ridership than bus systems due to the pandemic and are typically more reliant on fares to cover operating costs. These trends, if they hold, have implications for federal public transportation policy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mallett, William
2022-04-18
-
April 2022 Update to TIGER: Policymakers Face Grim Quandaries as Storm Clouds Gather
From the Webpage: "This was to be the year of post-COVID [coronavirus disease] normalization, labor market healing, and a growth revival. Instead, it is turning into a fraught period of geopolitical realignments, persistent supply disruptions, and financial market volatility, all against the background of surging inflationary pressures and limited room for policy maneuver. The latest update of the Brookings-Financial Times Tracking Indexes for the Global Economic Recovery (TIGER) shows an overall loss of growth momentum, with considerable unevenness across countries in their vulnerability to adverse domestic and international developments. The war in Ukraine, the resurgence of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] in China, and the limited macroeconomic policy space that now confronts most governments will make 2022 a tough year for global growth. The disruptive impact of COVID-19 seems contained in most other parts of the world, although it remains a wildcard as new variants emerge."
Brookings Institution. Global Economy and Development
Khanna, Aryan; Prasad, Eswar
2022-04-17
-
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 6361, District of Columbia National Guard Commanding General Residency Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on February 2, 2022. From the Document: "H.R. 6361 would amend the District of Columbia Official Code to require the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard to reside within the District of Columbia. That officer, the Guard's top official in the District, is appointed by the President as a federal official. The federal government has broad authority over the National Guard, and it funds training and readiness. CBO estimates that the bill would have no effect on the federal budget because it affects only the criteria for selecting the commanding general."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-04-15
-
MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 15, 2022
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: "Translocation of an Anteater ('Tamandua tetradactyla') Infected with Rabies from Virginia to Tennessee Resulting in Multiple Human Exposures, 2021"; "Surveillance to Track Progress Toward Polio Eradication -- Worldwide, 2020-2021"; "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Mortality and Vaccine Coverage -- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, January 6, 2022-March 21, 2022"; "Effectiveness of COVID-19 mRNA [messenger ribonucleic acid] Vaccination in Preventing COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Among Adults with Previous SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] Infection -- United States, June 2021-February 2022"; "Notes from the Field: Wound Botulism Outbreak Among a Group of Persons Who Inject Drugs -- Dallas, Texas, 2020"; and "QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Death Rates of Heart Disease and Cancer, by Sex -- United States, 2010-2020." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2022.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2022-04-15
-
Libya and U.S. Policy [Updated April 15, 2022]
From the Document: "Eleven years after a 2011 uprising that toppled long-time authoritarian leader Muammar al Qadhafi, Libya has yet to make a transition to stable governing arrangements. Elections and diplomacy have produced a series of interim governments, but militias, local leaders, and subnational coalitions backed by competing foreign patrons have remained the most powerful arbiters of public affairs. The postponement of planned elections in 2021, Libyans' continuing lack of consensus over constitutional and legal arrangements, the potential fragility of a United Nations (U.N.)-backed ceasefire, and the reemergence of institutional rivalry threaten Libya's stability and pose challenges for U.S. decisionmakers. Successive U.S. Administrations have sought to prevent Libya from serving as a permissive environment for transnational terrorist groups and have taken different approaches to conflict and competition among Libyans. The Biden Administration supports the holding of new elections in Libya and has used U.S. influence to bolster U.N.-led mediation efforts to that end. Congress has appropriated funds to enable U.S. diplomacy and aid programs, and some Members have called for more assertive U.S. engagement."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Christopher M.
2022-04-15
-
Israel: Background and U.S. Relations in Brief [Updated April 15, 2022]
From the Overview: "Israel (see 'Appendix A' for a map and basic facts) has forged close bilateral cooperation with the United States in many areas. For more background on aid, arms sales, and missile defense cooperation, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RL33222, 'U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel,' by Jeremy M. Sharp. U.S.-Israel security cooperation--a critical part of the bilateral relationship--is multifaceted. U.S. law requires the executive branch to take certain actions to preserve Israel's 'qualitative military edge,' or QME, and expedites aid and arms sales to Israel in various ways. A 10-year bilateral military aid memorandum of understanding (MOU)--signed in 2016--commits the United States to provide Israel $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and to spend $500 million annually on joint missile defense programs from FY2019 to FY2028, subject to congressional appropriations. The MOU anticipates possible supplemental aid in emergency situations such as conflict. In March 2022, Congress appropriated $1 billion in supplemental funding through FY2024 for the Iron Dome anti-rocket system as a response to the system's heavy use during a May 2021 conflict between Israel and Gaza Strip-based groups such as Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) (both of which are U.S.-designated terrorist organizations)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Zanotti, Jim
2022-04-15
-
Equity Action Plan Summary: U.S. Department of Defense
From the Document: "The military community and military families are proudly diverse. One of the most important ways DoD is advancing equity for underserved communities is by enhancing support for military families and addressing the barriers underserved military families face in achieving economic security and health equity. At the same time, while the Department of Defense has historically focused on increasing equity for those within the DoD community, the collective actions described in this plan represent a shift in the Department's approach and focus to better ensure that we leverage our capabilities to create opportunities for all Americans, including for small, disadvantaged businesses, and to ensure that all qualified Americans can serve their country in uniform."
United States. Department of Defense
2022-04-15?
-
Homeland Security FY 2021-2023 Annual Performance Report
From the Document: "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Annual Performance Report (APR) for FY 2021-2023 presents the Department's mission programs, progress summaries, performance measure results and FY 2022 and FY 2023 targets. The report summarizes information on other key initiatives in the DHS Performance Management Framework related to the Strategic Review and our Agency Priority Goals (APG). Also included are other key management initiatives, and a summary of our performance challenges and high-risk areas identified by the DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report is consolidated to incorporate our annual performance plan and annual performance report."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2022-04-15?
-
Evaluation of the Department of Defense's Efforts to Address the Climate Resilience of U.S. Military Installations in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic (DODIG-2022-083)
"The objective of this evaluation was to determine the extent to which the DoD has addressed the climate resilience of U.S. military installations in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. [...] In the past 5 years, extreme weather and changing climate have caused hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of damage in the United States. In 2019, a DoD report to Congress on the effects of climate change on military installations called the effects of a changing climate a national security issue, with potential impacts to DoD missions, operational plans, and installations. Public law, DoD directives, and recently released DoD Facilities Criteria require DoD installations to address climate and energy risks and threats to installation infrastructure, assets, and missions. The extent of climate change is more significant in the Arctic than in most other parts of the world. The DoD's Arctic Strategy recognizes that the Arctic has direct implications for U.S. national security interests. The DoD is investing in resilient installation infrastructure and assets in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions to support increased Arctic operations and enhanced Arctic awareness."
United States. Department of Defense. Office of the Inspector General
2022-04-15
-
Equity Action Plan: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
From the Executive Summary: "The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. Meeting the aspiration of this goal requires that HUD prioritizes people in communities otherwise underserved by federal programs. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform to improve quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. [...] HUD's action plan responds to the request in Executive Order 13985 as implemented by the Office of Management and Budget to specifically address (1) procurement and (2) resources to the agency's civil rights unit, the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO). Access to federal contracting opportunities can support economic growth and wealth building for members of underserved communities. HUD's fair housing and civil rights work has a broad scope and touches every person in this country. Furthermore, the underlying mission of FHEO is squarely focused on underserved communities by eliminating housing and lending discrimination against persons of color and other vulnerable populations."
United States. Department of Housing and Urban Development
2022-04-15?
-
Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V): A Primer [April 15, 2022]
From the Introduction: "The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins Act), as amended most recently by the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V; P.L. 115-224), is the primary federal law supporting career and technical education (CTE) services offered within the states at the secondary and postsecondary education levels. CTE, once known as vocational education, consists of educational activities that provide individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare for specific careers in current or emerging professions. CTE also prepares students for the labor market more broadly by integrating CTE with academic standards. [...] This report provides an overview of Perkins V, including its design, implementation, and funding as described in statute. After a brief introduction to CTE, the report is divided into sections that focus on a detailed description of the Basic State Grants (BSG), discuss National Activities and other programs under Title I, and summarize additional provisions under Title II. A final section summarizes Perkins V authorizations and appropriations. The appendices provide a brief history of federal involvement in CTE as well as formulas and allocations for the BSG."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Edgerton, Adam K.
2022-04-15
-
Joint Cybersecurity Advisory: APT Cyber Tools Targeting ICS/SCADA Devices
From the Summary: "The Department of Energy (DOE), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are releasing this joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) to warn that certain advanced persistent threat (APT) actors have exhibited the capability to gain full system access to multiple industrial control system (ICS)/supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) devices, including: [1] Schneider Electric programmable logic controllers (PLCs), [2] OMRON Sysmac NEX PLCs, and [3] Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) servers. The APT actors have developed custom-made tools for targeting ICS/SCADA devices. The tools enable them to scan for, compromise, and control affected devices once they have established initial access to the operational technology (OT) network. [...] DOE, CISA, NSA, and the FBI urge critical infrastructure organizations, especially Energy Sector organizations, to implement the detection and mitigation recommendations provided in this CSA to detect potential malicious APT activity and harden their ICS/SCADA devices."
United States. Department of Energy; United States. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency; United States. National Security Agency . . .
2022-04-14
-
EMR-ISAC: Infogram, Volume 22 Issue 15, April 14, 2022
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: "NAEMSP [National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians] joint statement recommends reducing use of EMS [emergency medical services] lights and sirens"; "Virginia Beach public safety drone program serves as a model for interagency coordination"; "April is National Supply Chain Integrity Month"; "Webinar: Preparedness Lessons Learned from the 2021 Texas Power Failure"; "APT [advanced persistent threat] Actors target ICS [industrial control system]/SCADA [supervisory control and data acquisition] Devices"; "Lapsus$, Okta and the Health Sector"; "Microsoft blocks Russian cyberattacks linked to Ukraine war"; "Russian hackers thwarted in attempt to take out electrical grid, Ukrainians say"; and "MS-ISAC [Multi-State Information and Analysis Center]: Cyber clean for Spring."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2022-04-14
-
Jordan: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated April 14, 2022]
From the Summary: "The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a key U.S. partner in the Middle East, and the two countries have cooperated on a number of regional and international issues. Jordan remains at peace with Israel and is a primary interlocutor with the Palestinians. Ongoing instability in neighboring Syria and Iraq magnifies Jordan's strategic importance to the United States. Jordan also is a longtime U.S. partner in global counterterrorism operations. U.S.-Jordanian military, intelligence, and diplomatic cooperation seeks to empower political moderates, reduce sectarian conflict, and eliminate terrorist threats. U.S. officials frequently express their support for Jordan. U.S. assistance has helped Jordan address serious vulnerabilities, both internal and external. Jordan's small size, refugee burden, and lack of major economic resources have made it dependent on aid from Western and various Arab sources. The Biden Administration has acknowledged Jordan's role as a key U.S. partner in promoting Israeli-Palestinian peace, as many U.S. policymakers advocate for continued robust U.S. assistance to the kingdom. Jordan also hosts over 3,000 U.S. troops."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sharp, Jeremy Maxwell
2022-04-14
-
Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections [Updated April 14, 2022]
From the Document: "This report provides the results of recent presidential elections in Latin America and the Caribbean. [In this document] are three tables, organized by region, that include the date of each country's independence, the name of the most recently elected president or prime minister, and the projected date of the next presidential election. Information in this report was compiled from numerous sources, including the U.S. State Department, Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA's) 'World Fact Book', International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Election Guide, Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), and other news sources."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Davis-Castro, Carla Y.
2022-04-14
-
Global Human Rights: The Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices [Updated April 14, 2022]
From the Document: "The State Department's 'Country Reports on Human Rights Practices' are an annual U.S. government account of human rights conditions in countries around the globe. The reports characterize countries on the basis of their adherence to 'internationally recognized human rights,' which generally refer to civil, political, and worker rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights agreements. [...] In the early reports, there was concern within the State Department about publicly characterizing the human rights conditions in other countries, particularly that of U.S. allies. The first reports were criticized for being biased and thin on substance. Over time, with improvements in the breadth, quality, and accuracy of the reports, many observers have come to recognize them as authoritative. At the same time, countries whose human rights conditions are criticized in the reports often publicly defend their record and/or dismiss the reports as biased. [...] Topics that now receive increased coverage include, for example, press and internet freedoms, corruption and government transparency, and human rights abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition, the reports now reference separate congressionally mandated reports on international religious freedom (IRF) and trafficking in persons (TIP)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weber, Michael A.
2022-04-14
-
Department of Veterans Affairs Equity Action Plan
From the Executive Summary of Action Plan: "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is not excluded from the systemic injustices and inequities that pervade American society. The GI Bill and loan guaranty programs were instrumental in economic prosperity and access to homeownership for Veterans in the postwar years, but Black Veterans lacked the same level of access. Additionally, exclusionary policies (e.g., Don't Ask Don't Tell) affecting LGBTQ+ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and more] Service members led to the involuntary separation and denial of benefits for many LGBTQ+ Veterans. Other instances of inequities faced by underserved Veterans include disparities in claim rejection rates, unequal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compensation rates and access disparities for Veterans discharged under other-than-honorable (OTH) conditions. VA is reducing internal and external barriers that have impeded access to benefits, services, and healthcare. VA recognizes that internal barriers will require changes to policies, processes, and procedures to enable access to underserved Veterans. Conversely, external barriers such as legislation, infrastructure or technology differences can contribute to inequities. VA seeks to advance an inclusive environment that values and supports the diverse communities we serve--Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors--and cultivate 'equitable access to care, benefits and services for all.'"
United States. Department of Veterans Affairs
2022-04-14?
-
Case Study: China's Economic Coercion Against Intel, Sam's Club, and Walmart
From the Document: "This report is part of the Commission's effort to monitor China's repression of human rights in the United States and globally. In December 2021, Chinese internet users publicly criticized U.S. companies Intel, Sam's Club, and Sam's Club's parent company Walmart after Intel asked suppliers to stop sourcing from Xinjiang and after Sam's Club products sourced from Xinjiang disappeared from shelves and online shopping sites in China. Some consumers in China also boycotted Sam's Club. Chinese Communist Party and government sources, including the Global Times, Communist Youth League, and the Party and government's highest-level disciplinary bodies, said publicly that Chinese consumers were justified in boycotting Sam's Club and warned that there would be economic consequences for the three companies. Such statements were consistent with prior cases of China's economic coercion, in which Chinese authorities punished foreign companies and other organizations whose speech or actions did not align with Party and government political priorities. In one December 2021 article, the Global Times discussed the possibility of creating a counter-sanctions mechanism using the PRC [People's Republic of China] Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, raising concerns about its potential application against companies that do not comply with Party and government political priorities."
United States. Congressional-Executive Commission on China
2022-04-14
-
Challenging China's Trade Practices: Promoting Interests of U.S. Workers, Farmers, Producers, and Innovators [video]
This is the Thursday, April 14, 2022 hearing on "Challenging China's Trade Practices: Promoting Interests of U.S. Workers, Farmers, Producers, and Innovators," held in Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 419 and Webex. From the Opening Statement of Robin Cleveland: "Our hearing today will focus on a key aspect of the U.S-China relationship and this Commission's mandate: trade. U.S. policymakers have long been dedicated to expanding market access and commercial opportunities. The United States has prioritized alignment with global trading rules and the formation of new rules to protect innovation and promote competition. As this Commission has observed in the last two decades, China's policies and practices run contrary to the U.S. approach. China has repeatedly flouted its commitments to reciprocal access, protection of intellectual property, and equal treatment. The Chinese Communist Party has strengthened the hand of the state rather than the market, creating a cascade of negative effects around the globe. Chinese state and nonstate producers have drowned global markets with over capacity to eliminate competition and hollow out entire industries. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and Beijing's failure to live up to its obligations under the Phase One Deal, it is clear that the United States and many of its allies must craft a more resilient approach to trade policy." The duration of the video is 7 hours, 40 minutes, 45 seconds.
U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission
2022-04-14
-
2022 Agency Equity Plan Related to Executive Order 13985
From the Executive Summary: "The U.S. Department of Education (Department) has an opportunity and a responsibility to support states, districts, schools, institutions of higher education, educators, families and, ultimately, students in delivering on America's promise of education. Its stated mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. To fulfill this mission, the agency must embed equity throughout its operations and mission to meet the needs of every learner. [...] Consistent with the priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration, the Department has and is focused on strengthening the agency's processes, policies, strategies, and culture to ensure equity is the foundation upon which all decisions and protocols rest, and to strengthen the agency's work and build on its impact. We further recognize that in order to maximize opportunities to promote and implement equity throughout the work of the agency and do the work at the level in which we are most swiftly and efficiently garnering change, we require resources--including increased workforce capacity. In this way, we can guarantee that the transformative changes last long beyond the life of Executive Order 13985 and uphold our mission of ensuring equal access in educational opportunities and excellence for all students."
United States. Department of Education
2022-04-14?
-
U.S. Department of the Interior Equity Action Plan
From the Executive Summary: "Executive Order 13985, 'Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government', calls on the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI, the Department) to advance equity so that it is not just an ideal, but a principle that is reflected in how the Department serves the American people and fulfills its mission. By embedding equity in its operations, policies, and decision-making process, the Department is committed to equitable treatment of all individuals, regardless of race, color, national origin, age, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religion, or disability. The Department is proud to put forward this Equity Action Plan, which lays out the foundation to achieve outcomes that remove barriers to equal opportunity and deliver resources and benefits equitably to all."
United States. Department of the Interior
2022-04-14
-
Department of Justice: Equity Action Plan 2022
From the Executive Summary: "The Department of Justice's mission is to 'enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.' As the Attorney General has explained: 'Advancing equal justice under law is a core principle of the Department of Justice. Established during Reconstruction, in the aftermath of the Civil War, the Department's first mission was to secure the civil rights promised by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.' Since then, the Department has continued its foundational work of ensuring that no individuals are denied the freedoms and protections guaranteed by the Constitution. Since January 20, 2021, the Department has taken many steps to advance equity for marginalized and underserved communities. The Department has prioritized five action items to further advance that work[.] [...] The Department believes each of these action items will substantially advance equity and civil rights and, further, will promote public safety by increasing trust and communication between the Department and the communities it serves."
United States. Department of Justice
2022-04-14?
