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• Ozone and Particulate Matter Air Standards: EPA Review [Updated December 23, 2020]

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  From the Document: "The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review standards for national ambient air quality every five years. In 2018, EPA announced strategies to expedite the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) review while concurrently disbanding a pollutant-specific scientific review panel that has historically advised agency staff during their reviews. Although the CAA allows the EPA Administrator to specify the procedures for review of the NAAQS, past EPA reviews and revisions have garnered considerable congressional oversight. In December 2020, EPA completed the particulate matter (PM) NAAQS review and retained the standards. This In Focus discusses the recently completed PM NAAQS review and the ongoing ozone review."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Shouse, Kate C.

  2020-12-23
• COVID-19: China Medical Supply Chains and Broader Trade Issues [Updated December 23, 2020]

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  From the Summary: "The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), first in China, and then globally, including in the United States, has drawn attention to the ways in which the U.S. economy depends on manufacturing and supply chains based in China. This report aims to assess current developments and identify immediate and longer range China trade issues for Congress. An area of particular concern to Congress has been U.S. shortages in medical supplies-- including personal protective equipment (PPE) and pharmaceuticals--as the United States stepped up efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic with limited domestic stockpiles and insufficient U.S. industrial capacity. Because of China's role as a global supplier of PPE, medical devices, antibiotics, and active pharmaceutical ingredients, reduced exports from China led to shortages of critical medical supplies in the United States. Exacerbating the situation, in early February 2020, the Chinese government nationalized control of the production and distribution of medical supplies in China-- directing all production for domestic use--and directed the bureaucracy and Chinese industry to secure supplies from the global market. Once past the initial peak of its COVID-19 outbreak, the Chinese government appears to have prioritized certain countries and selectively released some medical supplies for overseas delivery."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sutter, Karen M.; Schwarzenberg, Andres B.; Sutherland, Michael D.

  2020-12-23
• Global Economic Effects of COVID-19 [Updated December 23, 2020]

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  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
• COVID-19 Impact on the Banking Industry: Conditions in the Third Quarter of 2020 [December 23, 2020]

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  From the Background: "The pandemic has caused businesses to close or limit operations and millions of job losses. Economic downturns threaten bank profitability because more borrowers might miss loan repayments, which can reduce bank income and impose losses. Meanwhile, bank liabilities--the deposits they hold and the debt they owe--obligate banks to make funds available to depositors and creditors. If borrower repayments decline enough, a bank's ability to meet its obligations could become impaired, potentially causing it to fail. In contrast, bank capital--largely equity stock and retained profits from earlier periods--enables a bank to absorb a certain amount of losses without failing. For this reason, bank regulators require banks hold certain amounts of capital (in addition to subjecting them to a variety of safety and soundness regulations) in order to avoid failures. However, if losses are sufficiently large, banks may nevertheless fail, reducing credit available to the economy and potentially destabilizing the financial system. Certain effects of, and bank responses to, economic downturns--such as reduced income and increased credit loss reserves--occur shortly after the onset of economic deterioration. Other effects--such as increased loan delinquency, incurred losses, and reduced capital value--occur after a longer lag (see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Insight IN11501, 'COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Impact on the Banking Industry: Lag Between Recession and Bank Distress'). Thus far the bank industry is holding up well, but as the pandemic continues to affect the economy, signs of stress may start to emerge."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Perkins, David W.; Gnanarajah, Raj

  2020-12-23
• Hong Kong: Key Issues in 2021 [December 23, 2020]

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  From the Document: "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR, or Hong Kong) is a city located off the southern coast of Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China (PRC or China). More than 90% of Hong Kong's population is ethnically Chinese. [...] Under the provisions of a 1984 international treaty known as the 'Joint Declaration,' sovereignty over Hong Kong transferred from the United Kingdom to the PRC on July 1, 1997. In the Joint Declaration, China pledged the former British colony 'will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs,' and 'will be vested with executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication.' China also promised that the '[r]ights and freedoms, including those of the person, of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of travel, of movement, of correspondence, of strike, of choice of occupation, of academic research and of religious belief will be ensured by law.' [...] Congress and the Trump Administration have expressed their opposition to HKSAR and PRC government actions that appear to have violated those commitments, and have imposed visa and economic restrictions on individuals and entities they view as responsible for the erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy and the rights of Hong Kong residents. The PRC government responded by imposing restrictions on U.S. citizens it views as interfering in the internal affairs of the HKSAR and the PRC, contributing to social unrest, and threatening national security."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Martin, Michael F.

  2020-12-23
• Defense Primer: United States Transportation Command [Updated December 23, 2020]

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  From the Document: "United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM or TRANSCOM) is a Department of Defense (DOD) 'functional combatant command' responsible for providing air, land, and sea transportation to meet national security needs. TRANSCOM's assigned mission is to 'conduct globally integrated mobility operations, lead the broader joint deployment and distribution enterprise, and provide enabling capabilities to project and sustain the Joint Force.' It is the centerpiece of the Defense Transportation System, which comprises U.S. military, U.S. commercial, and foreign transportation resources. Established in 1987, TRANSCOM is located at Scott Air Force Base (AFB), IL. Historically, the command has provided strategic mobility in support of several major contingency operations from Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm to Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. It has supported peacekeeping initiatives such as Operations Restore Hope (Somalia), Uphold Democracy (Haiti), and Support Hope (Rwanda). It has also aided humanitarian relief operations in response to natural disasters such as Hurricanes Dorian, Florence, and Michael."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Herrera, G. James; Hacker, Tyler F.

  2020-12-23
• Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (Polar Icebreaker) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated December 23, 2020]

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  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. Congress's decisions on this issue could affect Coast Guard funding requirements, the Coast Guard's ability to perform its polar missions, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  O'Rourke, Ronald

  2020-12-23
• Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress [December 23, 2020]

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  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 capacity of the naval shipbuilding industry, and the prospective affordability of 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 FY2021 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

  2020-12-23
• Resources for Grantseekers [Updated December 23, 2020]

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  From the Summary: "Federal grants are intended to meet goals authorized by Congress and often target community needs. Federal grants are not guaranteed benefits or entitlements to individuals. Most federal grant funds go to state and local governments, which in turn may award funds as sub-awards to local entities, such as nonprofit organizations. Because of this, contacting federal departments and agencies, state-level grants administering agencies (SAAs), or both to discuss grant opportunities is likely to be an important step for many grantseekers. However, due to limited purposes of grants and competition for available funding, grantseekers seeking government aid might need to search for funding options other than grants. [...] This report provides a brief introduction to the grant process, describes key sources of information on government and private funding, and outlines eligibility for federal grants. This report also includes some sources for information on writing grant proposals."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Kreiser, Maria

  2020-12-23
• U.S.-Taiwan Trade Relations [Updated December 23, 2020]

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  From the Document: "Taiwan is a top U.S. trade partner and key link in global technology supply chains, supplying both the U.S. and China markets, although this position is increasingly tenuous with U.S. government efforts to restrict China's access to advanced technologies. Taiwan's economy is highly dependent on global trade, with exports accounting for almost 70% of gross domestic product (GDP). Taiwan is seeking to overcome economic challenges (such as labor mismatches and energy shortages); generate new sources of growth in emerging technologies; and diversify away from its economic dependence on the People's Republic of China (PRC or China). Central to these ambitions is the Taiwan government's effort to start trade talks with the United States. [...] In December 2020, the U.S. Department of Treasury added Taiwan to its monitoring list of major trading partners that merit close attention to their currency practices and macroeconomic policies. Treasury cited a significant expansion in Taiwan's trade (current) account surplus and Taiwan's net foreign exchange purchases of $10.5 billion between July 2019 and June 2020."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sutter, Karen M.

  2020-12-23
• Navy Lasers, Railgun, and Gun-Launched Guided Projectile: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated December 23, 2020]

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  From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on three new ship-based weapons being developed by the Navy--solid state lasers (SSLs), the electromagnetic railgun (EMRG), and the gun-launched guided projectile (GLGP), also known as the hypervelocity projectile (HVP)--that could substantially improve the ability of Navy surface ships to defend themselves against surface craft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and eventually anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs). Any one of these three new weapons, if successfully developed and deployed, might be regarded as a 'game changer' for defending Navy surface ships against enemy missiles and UAVs. If two or three of them are successfully developed and deployed, the result might be considered not just a game changer, but a revolution. Rarely has the Navy had so many potential new types of surface-ship air-defense weapons simultaneously available for development and potential deployment. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's acquisition strategies and funding requests for these three potential new weapons. Congress's decisions on this issue could affect future Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the defense industrial base. This report supersedes an earlier CRS [Congressional Research Service] report that provided an introduction to potential Navy shipboard lasers. Another CRS report provides an overview of the strategic and budgetary context in which the programs covered in this report, and other Navy programs, may be considered."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  O'Rourke, Ronald

  2020-12-23
• Navy Large Unmanned Surface and Undersea Vehicles: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated December 23, 2020]

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  From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and potential issues for Congress for three types of large unmanned vehicles (UVs) that the Navy wants to develop and procure in FY2021 and beyond: [1] Large Unmanned Surface Vehicles (LUSVs); [2] Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicles (MUSVs); and [3] Extra-large Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (XLUUVs). The Navy wants to acquire these large UVs as part of an effort to shift the Navy to a new fleet architecture (i.e., a new combination of ships and other platforms) that is more widely distributed than the Navy's current fleet architecture. The Navy is requesting $579.9 million in FY2021 research and development funding for these large UVs and their enabling technologies. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's acquisition strategies and FY2021 funding requests for these large UVs. The Navy's proposals for developing and procuring them pose a number of oversight issues for Congress. Congress's decisions on these issues could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the shipbuilding and UV industrial bases."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  O'Rourke, Ronald

  2020-12-23
• U.S.-India Trade Relations [Updated December 23, 2020]

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  From the Background: "The United States and India view[ing] one another as important strategic partners to advance common interests regionally is considered to be a key aspect of strategic ties with potential for more growth. Bilateral trade is about 3% of U.S. world trade. It is more consequential for India; in 2019, the United States was India's largest goods export market (17% share), and third-largest goods import supplier (7%), after China (14%) and the European Union (9%). U.S.-India foreign direct investment (FDI) is limited, but growing. Defense sales also are significant in bilateral trade. Civilian nuclear commerce, stalled for years over differences on liability protections, has produced major potential U.S. supply contracts, dating to the second Obama Administration. Market access and other barriers to trade with India have been long-standing concerns among some Members of Congress and U.S. exporters, and successive U.S. Administrations. Efforts under the Trump Administration to reach a limited bilateral trade deal to address certain frictions did not conclude. President-Elect Joe Biden has expressed interest in cooperating with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on global challenges, but it is uncertain what priority the new Administration will place on bilateral trade issues. Some analysts expect that U.S.- India trade relations may be less strained, but that Congress and the new Administration will continue to seek resolution to ongoing trade frictions in the bilateral relationship."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias; Kronstadt, K. Alan

  2020-12-23
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: Energy and Commerce Health Care Legislation

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on September 9, 2020. From the Summary: "On September 9, 2020, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce ordered 25 bills [H.R. 945, H.R. 2564, H.R. 8158, H.R. 1379, H.R. 2281, H.R. 3797, H.R. 4078, H.R. 4764, H.R. 5855, H.R. 3131, H.R. 7948, H.R. 2466, H.R. 2519, H.R. 4861, H.R. 1109, H.R. 5469, H.R. 5572, H.R. 2075, H.R. 3539, H.R. 7293, H.R. 4439, H.R. 8134, H.R. 8128, H.R. 8121 and H.R. 4499] related to federal health care programs and services to be reported. This document provides estimates for each piece of legislation. Generally, the legislation would: [1] Appropriate funds for seven new grant programs in various federal agencies and appropriate funds for new educational campaigns and research related to breast health in young women; [2] Reauthorize four federal grant or health programs; [3] Establish requirements for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, group and nongroup health insurance plans, education institutions, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); [4] Clarify the authority of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities; and [5] Impose private-sector mandates on group and nongroup health insurance plans and on importers based in the United States."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2020-12-23
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 4884, COVID-19 Home Safety Act of 2020

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on December 15, 2020. From the Document: "S. 4884 would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to study and report to the Congress on how the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has affected the severity or frequency of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products used by families in the home. During the pandemic, injuries such as poisonings due to chemicals in cleaning supplies could increase as people use more of those supplies and spend more time at home. The reports would be required every three months, through the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) period. The bill also would direct CPSC to assess its operations and enforcement actions during the PHE, coordinate with public media outlets to distribute information to improve home safety, and recommend improvements to the Commission's PHE response capacity."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2020-12-23
• Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated December 23, 2020]

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  From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) program, a program carried out by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Navy that gives Navy Aegis cruisers and destroyers a capability for conducting BMD operations. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition strategies and proposed funding levels for the Aegis BMD program. Congress's decisions on the Aegis BMD program could significantly affect U.S. BMD capabilities and funding requirements, and the BMD-related industrial base."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  O'Rourke, Ronald

  2020-12-23
• COVID-19 in Children and the Role of School Settings in Transmission - First Update

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  From the Scope: "The aim of this document is to provide an update on the knowledge surrounding the role of children in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] and the role of schools in the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, based on the experience in the EU from August-December, 2020. This document also addresses transmission to and from staff in school settings, school-related mitigation measures including risk communication, testing, contact tracing and the efficacy of partial and full school closures. This document draws upon and updates evidence presented in the previous report from ECDC [European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control] on this topic, which was published on August 6, 2020. This report does not consider educational settings related to young adults or adults, such as universities or vocational schools or any school with overnight stays, such as boarding schools. This report does not consider the epidemiology of COVID-19 in relation to new variants of SARS-CoV-2, for which robust evidence on the potential impact in school settings is not yet available, such as one recently observed in the United Kingdom."

  European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

  2020-12-23
• Public Law 116-257: Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act of 2019

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  From the Document: "An Act [t]o provide anti-retaliation protections for antitrust whistleblowers."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020-12-23
• Public Law 116-258: Identifying Outputs of Generative Adversarial Networks Act (IOGAN Act)

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  From the Document: "An Act [t]o direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to support research on the outputs that may be generated by generative adversarial networks, otherwise known as deepfakes, and other comparable techniques that may be developed in the future, and for other purposes."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020-12-23
• Public Law 116-224: Save Our Seas 2.0 Act

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  From the Document: "An Act [t]o improve efforts to combat marine debris, and for other purposes."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020-12-23
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Fiscal Year 2020 Enforcement and Removal Operations Report

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  From the Executive Summary: "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) shares responsibility for administering and enforcing the nation's immigration laws with ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as well as other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) component agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). ICE ERO is responsible for protecting the homeland through the arrest, detention, and removal of aliens who undermine public safety or the integrity of United States immigration laws, and its main areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency's detained population nationwide, and repatriation of aliens who have received a final order of removal. [...] This report presents ICE ERO's FY 2020 year-end statistics in the following areas: Custody and Case Management, Administrative and Criminal Arrests, ICE Detainers, and Removals."

  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

  2020-12-23?
• Inauguration Security and Operations [December 23, 2020]

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  From the Introduction: "Since the 20th Amendment was ratified, the oath of office for President of the United States has been administered every four years at noon on January 20. In 2021, the President- and Vice President-elect are to be officially sworn in at noon on Wednesday, January 20. Planning for the 2021 inauguration is being challenged by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID- 19) pandemic; adjustments to traditional ceremonies, customs, and practices are being made. This In Focus presents information related to 2021 inauguration security and operations based on past inaugural activities and announced activities to date."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Reese, Shawn; Straus, Jacob R.; Finch, Christina Miracle

  2020-12-23
• Recent Responses to COVID-19 by the Judicial Conference of the United States and Select Courts Within the Federal Judiciary (December 2020) [December 23, 2020]

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  From the Document: "This Insight provides information related to recent responses to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the Judicial Conference of the United States, the United States Supreme Court, and other select courts within the federal judiciary. The responses discussed below have occurred since September 1, 2020."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McMillion, Barry J.

  2020-12-23
• Commerce in Explosives; 2020 Annual List of Explosive Materials, Notice of List of Explosive Materials

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  From the Summary: "This notice publishes the 2020 List of Explosive Materials, as required by law. The 2020 list is the same as the 2019 list published by ATF [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives]."

  United States. Office of the Federal Register

  2020-12-23
• U.S.-EU Trade Agreement Negotiations: Issues and Prospects [Updated December 23, 2020]

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  From the Document: "The United States and the 27-member European Union (EU) share a large, highly integrated trade and investment relationship. The EU accounts for a significant share of U.S. trade (see Figure 1). Yet, tariffs and nontariff barriers (NTBs) to U.S.-EU trade and investment exist. Successive Administrations have sought to address these barriers and expand ties. If U.S.-EU trade talks take place under a Biden Administration, Congress likely would actively monitor and shape them, and could consider implementing legislation for a potential final free trade agreement (FTA)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias; Schwarzenberg, Andres B.; Johnson, Renée

  2020-12-23
• Fifth Phase of Fiscal COVID-19 Relief is No State and Local Government Windfall

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  From the Summary: "[1] This week's federal fiscal relief should not be considered a windfall for state (or local) governments. [2] Although Congress has spent $4.5 trillion on COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] relief to date, there has not been any direct unencumbered funds allocated to state and local governments that could be used to offset budget shortfalls. [3] After assuming that $64 billion of this week's relief offsets some state and local spending we are still expecting state and local government budget shortfalls of at least $107.5 billion."

  Hilltop Securities Inc.

  Kozlik, Tom

  2020-12-23
• ICE Annual Report: Fiscal Year 2020

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  From the Document: "ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] Enforcement and Removal Operation's (ERO) mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of aliens who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws. This mission remains consistent and is carried out through the arrest and removal of aliens who undermine the safety of our communities and the integrity of our immigration laws. During FY 2020, the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has affected nearly every facet of ERO operations. However, despite the pandemic, ERO has been able to continue to fulfill its mission and operations with the utmost professionalism."

  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

  2020-12-23
• Public Law 116-249: Combat Online Predators Act

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  This public law is "an Act [t]o amend title 18, United States Code, with regard to stalking," enhancing penalties for stalkers of children, or online predators. Aside from amending existing law, the Act requires that "[n]ot later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit a report to Congress, which shall -- (1) include an evaluation of Federal, Tribal, State, and local efforts to enforce laws relating to stalking; and (2) identify and describe those elements of such efforts that constitute the best practices for the enforcement of such laws."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020-12-22
• Inaugural Tickets: Past Practices and Considerations for 2021 [Updated December 22, 2020]

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  From the Document: "Since the 20th Amendment was ratified, the oath of office for President of the United States has been administered every four years on January 20. The next presidential inauguration is scheduled to take place on January 20, 2021. The move to the West Front of the Capitol not only accommodated larger crowds who could view the ceremony from the Capitol grounds, but also allowed for use of the National Mall. Additionally, the Architect of the Capitol has been able to build a larger platform on the West Front, which in recent years has accommodated more than 1,600 people. For the 2021 swearing-in ceremony, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) has announced that as a result of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] the in-person audience will be reduced to a size that 'resembles the State of the Union,' with congressional attendance limited to Members of Congress and one guest. Given the limited in-person attendance at the ceremony, the JCCIC is 'working on enhanced opportunities to watch the ceremonies online, in addition to the traditional televised national broadcast.'"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Straus, Jacob R.

  2020-12-22
• Lawsuits Against the Federal Government: Basic Federal Court Procedure and Timelines [Updated December 22, 2020]

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  From the Document: "Many federal laws and policy initiatives are challenged in court. In recent years, for instance, plaintiffs have brought cases challenging the Department of Homeland Security's rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the Secretary of Commerce's decision to include a citizenship question on the 2020 Census, and the President's decision to expend certain funds to construct a 'border wall.' Because the defendant in these cases is the United States or an executive official, the cases generally proceed in federal court. By understanding the procedures governing federal court litigation, legislators can consider potential outcomes, estimate timelines, and appreciate the importance of a court's ruling at a particular stage. This In Focus reviews the most common procedures that govern civil suits against the federal government, tracing the path from federal district court to the Supreme Court."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lampe, Joanna R.

  2020-12-22