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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 1161, Foreign Assistance Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2004
From the Summary: "S. 1161 would authorize bilateral economic and security assistance programs for fiscal year 2004 and multiyear contributions to the International Development Association, the African Development Fund, and the Asian Development Fund. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing the bill would cost $5.8 billion in 2004 and $16.2 billion over the 2004-2008 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary funds. The bill also contains several provisions that would affect direct spending. CBO estimates that enacting those provisions would increase direct spending by $25 million over the 2006-2008 period. S. 1161 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would not affect state, local, or tribal governments."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2003-06-09
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2417, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004
From the Summary: "H.R. 2417 would authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2004 for intelligence activities of the U.S. government, the Intelligence Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System (CIARDS). This estimate addresses only the unclassified portion of the bill. On that limited basis, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing certain provisions of the bill would cost $320 million over the 2004-2008 period, assuming appropriation of the specified and estimated amounts. CBO also estimates the bill would affect direct spending and receipts by an insignificant amount. H.R. 2417 contains intergovernmental and private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), but CBO estimates that the costs of complying with these mandates would not exceed the thresholds established by that act ($59 million for intergovernmental mandates and $117 million for private-sector mandates in 2003, adjusted annually for inflation)."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2003-06-16
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 2132, Department of Veterans Affairs Emergency Preparedness Act of 2002
From the Summary: "S. 2132 would establish four centers for medical emergency preparedness that would carry out research and development, provide education and training, and provide assistance in the case of a national emergency with regard to chemical, biological, radiological, incendiary or other explosive weapons threats. These emergency centers would be located in hospitals operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). S. 2132 would authorize appropriations of $20 million a year over the 2003-2007 period to operate the centers. S. 2132 also would allow VA to provide medical care to individuals who are affected by a major disaster or emergency. Finally, S. 2132 would allow research corporations established under current law by the Secretary of VA to use appropriated funds to conduct their research and would consider some employees of those research corporations to be employees of the federal government for purposes of certain federal tort claims laws. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing S. 2132 would cost $12 million in 2003 and $87 million over the 2003-2007 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, for establishing and operating the new emergency centers. CBO cannot estimate the potential additional discretionary spending that could occur under S. 2132 for providing VA medical care to individuals needing assistance in a national emergency. CBO also expects that enacting this bill could increase direct spending for settlement of tort claims over the 2003-2012 period but cannot provide a specific estimate. Because the bill could affect direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures would apply. S. 2132 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2003-06-13
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2115, Flight 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act
From the Summary: "H.R. 2115 would authorize appropriations for programs administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Most of the bill's authorizations would extend for four years: the 2004-2007 period. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing H.R. 2115 would cost about $48.4 billion over the next five years, assuming appropriation actions consistent with the amounts that would be authorized by the bill and the levels of new contract authority (a mandatory form of budget authority) it would provide for aviation programs. In addition, we also estimate that enacting the bill would increase direct spending by $1.4 billion over the 2004-2008 period and by $2.7 billion over the next 10 years. Finally, CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimate that H.R. 2115 would increase revenues by $3 million over the 2004-2008 period and $11 million over the next 10 years. H.R. 2115 contains an intergovernmental mandate as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) because it would require state and local governments to notify the FAA if they intend to close an airport. CBO estimates that the cost of this mandate would be minimal and would be significantly below the threshold established in that act ($59 million in 2003, adjusted annually for inflation). The bill would authorize grants for various activities that would benefit state and local governments. H.R. 2115 would impose private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA on air carriers. CBO estimates that the direct costs of those mandates would fall below the annual threshold established in UMRA.'"
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2003-06-05
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H. Rept. 117-397: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, Report to Accompany H.R. 7900, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, July 1, 2022
From the Purpose of the Legislation: "The bill would: (1) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for procurement and for research, development, test, and evaluation; (2) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for operation and maintenance and for working capital funds; (3) authorize for fiscal year 2023 the personnel strength for each Active Duty Component of the military departments, and the personnel strength for the Selected Reserve for each Reserve Component of the Armed Forces; (4) modify various elements of compensation for military personnel and impose certain requirements and limitations on personnel actions in the defense establishment; (5) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for military construction and family housing; (6) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for the Department of Energy national security programs; and (7) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for the Maritime Administration."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-07-01
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CTC Sentinel [May 2022]
This May 2022 issue of the U.S. Military Academy's Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) Sentinel features the following article: "Going Viral? Implications of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] for Bioterrorism" by Gary A. Ackerman, Zachary Kallenborn, and Philipp C. Bleek. From the Feature Article: "[T]he authors first construct a schema for bioterrorism, which identifies the main categories of threat actors and threat vectors. This provides a baseline of pre-COVID [coronavirus disease] assessments of the bioterrorism threat and how bioterror risks vary considerably between actors and vectors. Then the authors use this schema as a basis for considering the changes wrought by COVID-19 and situating the pandemic's effects on different areas of bioterrorism risk. The article concludes with several policy
recommendations." Other articles include: an interview with Shmuel Shapira, Former Director General, Israel Institute for Biological Research by Paul Cruickshank; "Biology's Tectonic Shifts and Novel Risks" by Audrey Kurth Cronin; and "Preventing Catastrophic Bioterrorism: Guarding Against Exploitation of the Life Sciences and Biotechnology" by Jaime Yassif.
Combating Terrorism Center (U.S.)
2022-05
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CTC Sentinel [April 2022]
This April 2022 issue of the U.S. Military Academy's Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) Sentinel features the following article: "A New Age of Bioterror: Anticipating Exploitation of Tunable Viral Agents" by Stephen Hummel and F. John Burpo with Jeremy Hershfield, Andrew Kick, Kevin J. O'Donovan, and Jason Barnhill. From the Feature Article: "In this article, the authors consider the theoretical potential for bioterrorists to select a viral platform and genetically modify viral transmissibility, incubation and infectious time windows, and lethality along with the manner of death, creating what are in essence tunable bioweapons. Such bioweapons could achieve targeted effects tailored to timescale, physical and psychological effect, with intended tactical, operational, and strategic levels of impact, with the most impactful viral agents producing all three effects." Other articles include: an interview with Lawrence Kerr, Former Director, Office of Pandemics and Emerging Threats, Office of Global Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by Paul Cruickshank, Don Rassler, and Kristina Hummel; an interview with Brad Ringeisen, Executive Director, Innovative Genomics Institute by Paul Cruickshank and Don Rassler; and "The Urgent Need for an Overhaul of Global Biorisk Management" by Filippa Lentzos, Gregory D. Koblentz, and Joseph Rodgers.
Combating Terrorism Center (U.S.)
2022-04
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 3290, National MEP Supply Chain Database Act of 2022
From the Document: "S. 3290 would authorize the appropriation of $31 million for fiscal year 2023 and $26 million for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027 for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop and maintain a central database that tracks information critical to securing the U.S. manufacturing supply chain. The bill would require the agency to collect basic company information; an overview of the capabilities, accreditations, and products of companies; and proprietary data; companies would submit that information on a voluntary basis. NIST would administer the central database through its Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, connecting state-level databases managed by each MEP center to the central database. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, and based on historical spending patterns for similar activities, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing S. 3290 would cost $129 million over the 2023-2027 period and $6 million after 2027[.]"
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-07-05
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U.S. Department of Defense Responsible Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Implementation Pathway
From the Executive Summary: "Advancements in AI [artificial intelligence] have demonstrated the ability to transform every sector of modem society. These impacts extend to business. finance, production, and social behaviors. As the DoD embraces Al, it remains focused on the imperative of harnessing this technology in a manner consistent with our national values, shared democratic ideals, and our military's steadfast commitment to lawful and ethical behavior. In May 2021, the Deputy Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum ('RAI [Responsible Artificial Intelligence] Memo') that established and directed the Department's holistic, integrated and disciplined approach to RAI. This RAI Memo introduced the following foundational tenets that serve as priority areas to guide the implementation of RAI across the Department: RAI Governance, Warfighter Trust, AI Product and Acquisition Lifecycle, Requirements Validation, Responsible Al Ecosystem, and Al Workforce. This resulting DoD RAI S&l [Strategy and Implementation] Pathway is organized around the six tenets and identifies lines of effort[.] [...] By leading in military ethics and Al safety. the DoD will earn the trust of our Service members, civilian personnel, and citizens. Our leadership here also encourages RAI development and use globally and strengthens our ability to solve modern defense challenges with allies and partners around the world."
United States. Department of Defense
2022-06
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CTC Sentinel [January 2022]
This January 2022 issue of the U.S. Military Academy's Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) Sentinel features the following article: "The Islamic State at Low Ebb in Iraq: The Insurgent Tide Recedes Again" by
Michael Knights and Alex Almeida. From the Feature Article: "[T]his article looks at Islamic State attacks in Anbar, Salah al-Din, Baghdad's rural 'belts,' Nineveh, Kirkuk, and Diyala. The authors also look at the Islamic State's provinces in Syria, making some rudimentary comparisons between activity levels in Iraq and the areas of Syria directly adjacent to the Iraqi theater of operations. [...] [T]he authors will review national attacks trends and high-quality attack trends. Then, the piece will proceed with quantitative and qualitative attack trends at the provincial level. Next, the article addresses the question of centralized direction and resourcing. [...] The article will conclude with an analytical section on the potential causal factors of the Islamic State decline (including conditions in Syria) and then discusses the predictive outlook for the future of the Islamic State insurgency in Iraq." Other articles include: an interview with Amy Zegart, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University by Don Rassler and Brian Fishman; "The Islamic State Threat in Taliban Afghanistan: Tracing the Resurgence of Islamic State Khorasan" by Amira Jadoon, Abdul Sayed, and Andrew Mines; and "Northwestern Nigeria: A Jihadization of Banditry, or a 'Banditization' of Jihad?" James Barnett, Murtala Ahmed Rufa'i, and Abdulaziz Abdulaziz.
Combating Terrorism Center (U.S.)
2022-01
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CTC Sentinel [June 2022]
This June 2022 issue of the U.S. Military Academy's Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) Sentinel features the following article: "CTC [Combating Terrorism Center at West Point]-ICT [International Institute for Counter-Terrorism] Focus on Israel: What Can We Learn from the Spring 2022 Terror Wave in Israel?" by Boaz Ganor. From the Feature Article: "This article first outlines the spate of attacks that took place in Israel in the spring of 2022. It then assesses the driving factors behind the recent wave of attacks and compares it to previous waves of terrorism in Israel. The final section focuses on the often sensationalist and unfiltered coverage of the attacks by Israeli media. Terrorism is designed to terrify, and the way these attacks were reported increased their psychological impact on the Israeli population." Other articles include: "A Trickle, Not a Flood: The Limited 2022 Far-Right Foreign Fighter Mobilization to Ukraine" by Kacper Rekawek; "External Impacts and the Extremism Question in the War in Ukraine: Considerations for Practitioners" by Don Rassler; "Undermining Democracy and Exploiting Clients: The Wagner Group's Nefarious Activities in Africa" by Christopher Faulkner; and "The Rising Threat to Central Africa: The 2021 Transformation of the Islamic State's Congolese Branch" by Tara Candland, Ryan O'Farrell, Laren Poole, and Caleb Weiss.
Combating Terrorism Center (U.S.)
2022-06
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Israel: Background and U.S. Relations in Brief [Updated July 1, 2022]
From the Summary: "Israel has forged close bilateral cooperation with the United States in many areas. A 10-year bilateral military aid memorandum of understanding--signed in 2016--commits the United States to provide Israel $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing and to spend $500 million annually on joint missile defense programs from FY2019 to FY2028, subject to congressional appropriations. Some Members of Congress have increased their scrutiny over Israel's use of U.S. security assistance, contributing to debate on the subject."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Zanotti, Jim
2022-07-01
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LNG Exports to Europe: What Are Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRUs)? [June 22, 2022]
From the Document: "On March 25, 2022, as part of the U.S. response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Biden announced an initiative [hyperlink] to help Europe reduce dependence on Russian natural gas supplies by increasing U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the European Union. U.S. gas exporters already were moving in this direction, as exports to Europe accounted for 74% of total U.S. LNG exports in the first quarter of 2022, compared to 34% in the first quarter of 2021. However, Europe's total LNG imports would need to increase substantially beyond current levels to replace all Russian natural gas imported to the EU by pipeline [hyperlink]. Europe's ability to import more LNG, and the United States' ability to supply it, are physically constrained [hyperlink]. The existing LNG terminals and associated infrastructure on both sides of the Atlantic already are operating at full capacity, and one U.S. LNG terminal has been temporarily shut down [hyperlink] due to an accident. To increase trans-Atlantic LNG supplies, developers in the United States have begun constructing [hyperlink] new onshore export terminals and expanding existing terminals, while plans for at least one onshore import terminal have been announced in Europe [hyperlink]. Onshore LNG terminals can take several years to design and construct, so European companies are turning toward floating storage regasification units (FSRUs) as a means of increasing imports more quickly. In recent testimony before Congress [hyperlink], a U.S. Department of State official highlighted the importance of FSRUs to expanding bilateral energy trade. However, although FSRUs are an established technology [hyperlink], their availability may largely determine how much more LNG Europe can ultimately import from the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Parfomak, Paul W.; Frittelli, John
2022-06-22
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Overview of the American Data Privacy and Protection Act, H.R. 8152 [June 30, 2022]
From the Document: "On June 21, 2022, the House Energy and Commerce Committee introduced the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA), H.R. 8152 [hyperlink], which would create a comprehensive federal consumer privacy framework. Some commentators have noted [hyperlink] the bill's novel compromises on two issues--whether to preempt state privacy laws and whether to create a private right of action--that have impeded [hyperlink] previous attempts to create a national privacy framework. The bipartisan bill is co-sponsored by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. and Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rogers and promoted in the Senate by Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Roger Wicker. In a joint statement, Representatives Pallone and McMorris Rodgers and Senator Wicker described the bill [hyperlink] as 'strik[ing] a meaningful balance' on key issues. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, however, has critiqued [hyperlink] the ADPPA as having 'major enforcement holes,' prompting other commentators to question [hyperlink] whether the Senate will pass the bill. Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee raised additional concerns [hyperlink] during a markup hearing on June 23, 2022. Still, some scholars [hyperlink] are hopeful that Congress will pass the bill. This Sidebar first provides a summary of the ADDPA. It then compares several of the bill's key provisions to other privacy bills from the 117th and 116th Congresses before examining some considerations for Congress, including potential next steps for the legislation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gaffney, Jonathan M.; Linebaugh, Chris D.; Holmes, Eric N.
2022-06-30
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Regulating PFAS Under the Clean Water Act [June 28, 2022]
From the Document: "In recent decades, improvements in monitoring technologies and analytical methods, combined with health research, have increased national attention to the presence of 'emerging contaminants' in surface water. Detections of one particular group of contaminants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have heightened public and congressional interest in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) authorities under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to address PFAS in surface water. [...] Recent Congresses have held hearings and introduced and passed legislation to address PFAS in surface water. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) provides $1 billion over five fiscal years to address emerging contaminants (including PFAS) in wastewater through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. The PFAS Action Act of 2021 (H.R. 2467), passed by the House in July 2021, would require EPA to take a number of regulatory actions to address PFAS under certain federal environmental laws, including the CWA, among other actions. Members have introduced additional bills related to PFAS in surface water that have not passed either chamber."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gatz, Laura
2022-06-28
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World Trade Organization Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations [Updated June 24, 2022]
From the Document: "On June 17, 2022, World Trade Organization (WTO) members finalized a limited agreement on long-running negotiations aimed at curbing fisheries subsidies that lead to excess capacity and may contribute to overfishing (fishing at a rate that a species cannot replenish its population.), and those that support illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Subsidies are defined as a financial contribution made by a government or any public body that confers a benefit, and are generally considered to be trade distorting. They provide cost advantages to subsidized fisheries and disadvantage those unsubsidized. Negotiations began in 2001 Ministerial Conference and the negotiation mandate was renewed at the 11th Ministerial Conference in 2017. The 2022 Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies prohibits subsidies to fisheries engaged in IUU fishing and fishing of already overfished stocks. However, it does not address other key issues in the 2017 Ministerial mandate (i.e., subsidies contributing to overcapacity and special and differential treatment (SDT) for developing country members). The agreement will enter into force after it is ratified by two-thirds of WTO members. Members will continue negotiations on outstanding issues in the run-up to the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13, date to be determined). Notably, the new agreement includes a sunset provision and will automatically terminate if members fail to agree on 'comprehensive disciplines' within four years after entry into force."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wong, Liana
2022-06-24
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Retirement Trends in United States, 2000-2022 [June 27, 2022]
From the Document: "Retirement trends are important to the national economy. Retired individuals represent a large and growing proportion [hyperlink] of the U.S. population, and, much of their income is provided through government-sponsored income transfers [hyperlink] (e.g., Social Security) or is subsidized through income tax deductions and deferrals [hyperlink] (e.g., defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans). 'Retirement' is most often defined with reference to two characteristics: withdrawal from the paid labor force and receipt of income from Social Security, pensions, and/or other retirement savings vehicles. Some people might be considered to have retired based on one part of the definition but not the other. For example, individuals who have retired from careers in law enforcement or the military often continue to work for many years at other jobs while also receiving pensions from their prior employment. In such cases, having retired from a particular occupation does not necessarily mean that one has retired from the workforce. This Insight presents self-reported monthly data from the Current Population Survey, which defines retirement [hyperlink] as a worker aged 50 and older who self-identifies as retired and proves to be out of the labor force upon follow-up questions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Li, Zhe
2022-06-27
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Previewing NATO's Madrid Summit [June 24, 2022]
From the Document: "Heads of state and government from NATO's 30 member states [...] are scheduled to hold a summit in Madrid, Spain, on June 29-30, 2022. The summit is expected to address five main agenda items [hyperlink] that relate to key congressional concerns about Russia's war in Ukraine, alliance force posture and defense spending, and NATO enlargement: [1] A bolstered defense posture in response to Russia's war in Ukraine; [2] A new Strategic Concept outlining NATO's purpose and core tasks; [3] Increased support for aspiring NATO members Ukraine, Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina; [4] Proposed NATO enlargement to Finland and Sweden; [and 5] Renewed commitment to NATO defense spending goals[.]"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Belkin, Paul
2022-06-24
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Second Amendment at the Supreme Court: 'New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass'n v. Bruen' [June 29, 2022]
From the Document: "On June 23, 2022, the Supreme Court issued its opinion [hyperlink] in 'New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen,' a case challenging the constitutionality of a portion of New York's firearms licensing scheme that restricts the carrying of certain licensed firearms outside the home under the Second and Fourteenth Amendments. In a 6-3 decision, the Court struck down New York's requirement that an applicant for an unrestricted license to carry a handgun outside the home for self-defense must establish 'proper cause,' ruling that the requirement is at odds with the Second Amendment (as made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment). In doing so, the Court recognized that the Second Amendment protects a right that extends beyond the home and also clarified that the proper test for evaluating Second Amendment challenges to firearms laws is an approach rooted in text and the 'historical tradition' of firearms regulation, rejecting a 'two-step' methodology employed by many of the lower courts. This Legal Sidebar provides an overview of Supreme Court and lower court Second Amendment precedent, describes the underlying litigation and issues in 'Bruen,' summarizes the Supreme Court's decision, and briefly discusses some possible implications of the decision."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Foster, Michael A. (Legislative attorney)
2022-06-29
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Where is the U.S. Economy Headed: Soft Landing, Hard Landing, or Stagflation? [June 28, 2022]
From the Document: "The recovery from the 2020 recession [hyperlink] was rapid through the first half of 2021, but the transition to moderate, sustainable economic growth has been choppy, with negative growth in the first quarter of 2022. Moreover, high inflation [hyperlink] has complicated the path forward. Since March 2022, the annual change in the Consumer Price Index has been above 8%. To reduce inflation, the Federal Reserve [hyperlink] (Fed) is raising the federal funds rate (a short-term interest rate) to reduce aggregate demand [hyperlink] (total spending). Since March, the Fed has raised rates [hyperlink] from a range of 0- 0.25% to a range of 1.5-1.75%. This raises the question of how much demand needs to slow to restore low inflation. This Insight discusses three scenarios for what might come next--a soft landing, a hard landing, and stagflation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Labonte, Marc; Weinstock, Lida R.
2022-06-28
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Potential Impacts of a Federal Gasoline Tax Moratorium [Updated June 27, 2022]
From the Document: "Gasoline price increases have generated interest in legislation suspending the 18.4 cents-per-gallon federal gasoline tax. On June 22, 2022, President Biden requested [hyperlink] that Congress suspend the gasoline tax for three months, from July to September 2022. No corresponding legislation has been introduced, but other bills pending in the 117th Congress, including S. 3609, H.R. 6787, H.R. 7751, and H.R. 7926, would suspend the tax on gasoline for various periods of time. None of the pending bills would suspend the 24.4 cents-per-gallon tax on diesel fuel used on highways."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cilluffo, Anthony A.; Kirk, Robert S.
2022-06-27
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State Laws Restricting or Prohibiting Abortion [June 30, 2022]
From the Document: "The Supreme Court's decision in 'Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization' [hyperlink] overruled 'Roe v. Wade' [hyperlink], providing states with greater discretion [hyperlink] to restrict abortion access, including by limiting abortion prior to fetal viability. This Sidebar provides an overview of existing or recently passed state laws prohibiting or limiting abortion prior to 24 weeks' gestational age, which for many years was widely considered [hyperlink] the point of viability, though medical advancements may have moved that point earlier. The Sidebar also identifies 'trigger laws' that generally prohibit abortion that were set to go into effect, either automatically or following action by a state official, if the Supreme Court ever overturned 'Roe v. Wade.' This Sidebar does not address any exceptions to these restrictions, such as in the case of a medical emergency, or restrictions to specific methods of abortion, such as medication abortion. Links to the full text of statutes listed in this Legal Sidebar are available through the Law Librarians' Society of Washington, DC Legislative Sourcebook [hyperlink]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Deal, Laura
2022-06-30
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Voting Rights Act: Section 3(c) 'Bail-In' Provision [June 27, 2022]
From the Document: "Congress has recently considered legislation that would amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). For example, during the 117th Congress, the House passed H.R. 4 [hyperlink], the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and H.R. 5746 [hyperlink], the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. While these pending bills would amend the better-known provisions of the VRA--Sections 2, 4, and 5--they would also amend Section 3(c), known as the 'bail-in provision.' Sometimes referred to as VRA's 'obscure provision [hyperlink],' Section 3(c) has attracted attention recently [hyperlink]. Under Section 3(c), if a court determines that a state or political subdivision's electoral processes violate the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments, the court can require the jurisdiction to obtain prior approval or 'preclearance' from the court or the U.S. Attorney General before implementing a proposed change to a voting law. This Legal Sidebar begins, for context, with a review of Sections 2, 4, and 5 of the VRA. It then addresses Section 3(c) and highlights some notable differences between Sections 3(c) and 5. Next, it discusses a recent federal district court ruling that relied on Section 3(c) to require the State of Florida to preclear proposed changes to certain voting laws for a period of 10 years and examines a subsequent stay of that decision issued by an appellate court. The Sidebar concludes with an overview of considerations for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Whitaker, L. Paige
2022-06-27
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U.S. Proposals to Amend the International Health Regulations [June 22, 2022]
From the Background: "Since 1980, outbreaks of new and long-standing infectious diseases have been occurring with greater frequency and causing higher numbers of human infections. The World Health Assembly (WHA), the governing body of the World Health Organization (WHO), has occasionally amended a long-standing set of rules called the International Health Regulations (IHR) to address this growing global threat. In January 2022, the United States introduced amendments to the Regulations that sought to broaden the ways in which WHO could respond to public health threats and increase the pace of such responses. Congressional deliberations of these amendments focused on the potential implications of implementation and whether adoption of the amendments would require congressional consent since the United States consented to be legally bound by the Regulations through an executive agreement. This In Focus addresses common questions regarding the IHR, including the role of Congress and the status of U.S.-proposed amendments to the Regulations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji; Hart, Nina M.
2022-06-22
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Student Loans: A Timeline of Actions Taken in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic [June 21, 2022]
From the Document: "Since the onset of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] national emergency, lawmakers and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) have made available a number of waivers and flexibilities for federal student loan borrowers. For most borrowers, these flexibilities include the suspension of (1) interest accrual, (2) the requirement that borrowers make monthly payments on their loans, and (3) involuntary collections activities, as well as waivers of requirements to qualify for various student loan forgiveness or discharge benefits. While Congress authorized a subset of these flexibilities for a temporary period, ED has extended those flexibilities numerous times since their initial expiration and has effectuated other flexibilities. This In Focus provides an overview of the Higher Education Act (HEA; P.L. 89-329, as amended) Title IV federal student loan programs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic-related flexibilities and a timeline of actions taken by lawmakers or ED authorizing, effectuating, or extending such flexibilities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hegji, Alexandra
2022-06-21
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Summer 2022--Weather Challenges and Risks to Electric Power [June 29, 2022]
From the Document: "The 2022 summer season has arrived, and with warmer weather, the demand for electricity to cool residences and buildings generally increases across the country. According to the U.S. Climate Extremes Index (CEI), during summer months (June-August) there has been an increasing trend in the percentage of the contiguous United States with maximum temperatures much above normal over the last 30 years (Contiguous U.S., Summer--extremes in maximum temperature: step 1). [hyperlink] Further, over the same timeframe, during summer months (June-August), the percentage of the contiguous United States with minimum temperatures much above normal has also increased (Contiguous U.S., Summer--extremes in minimum temperature: step 2). [hyperlink] This summer has been held out by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation [hyperlink] as one that may be especially challenging for electric power generation in several U.S. regions in its 2022 Summer Reliability assessment [hyperlink], due to the ongoing drought in the southwest and other factors [hyperlink]. With a spate of recent older coal power plant retirements [hyperlink], electric utilities will place a greater reliance on natural gas and renewable electric sources for power generation. Coal, nuclear, natural gas and some renewable resources can be challenged to perform efficiently in the warmer summer months."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Campbell, Richard J.
2022-06-29
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 1646, Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003
From the Summary: "The act would authorize appropriations for the Department of State and related agencies for 2003. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that the legislation would increase direct spending by $415 million and revenues by $10 million over the 2003-2012 period."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2002-09-30
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 1615, Federal-Local Information Sharing Partnership Act of 2002
"S. 1615 would authorize federal agencies to share certain information, including foreign intelligence and electronic surveillance, with state and local law enforcement personnel. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing S. 1615 would result in no significant costs to the federal government. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or receipts, so pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. S. 1615 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. The bill would benefit state and local governments by allowing them better access to foreign intelligence and other confidential information. On June 25, 2002, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for H.R. 4598, the Homeland Security Information Sharing Act, as ordered reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary on June 13, 2002. CBO estimated that implementing H.R. 4598 within the Department of Justice would cost less than $500,000 annually, but we could not determine the cost to implement that bill's provision for federal intelligence agencies to share information using computer systems because information necessary to make such an estimate is classified."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2002-09-12
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President Obama Signs Wisconsin Disaster Declaration [April 5, 2011]
From the Document: "The President today [April 5, 2011] declared a major disaster exists in the State of Wisconsin and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of January 31 to February 3, 2011. Federal funding is available to [...] the counties of Dane, Dodge, Grant, Iowa, Kenosha, Lafayette, Milwaukee, Racine, Walworth, and Washington."
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
2011-04-05
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President Obama Signs Tennessee Disaster Declaration [March 31, 2011]
From the Document: "The President today [March 31, 2011] declared a major disaster exists in the State of Tennessee and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding during the period of February 28 to March 1, 2011. Federal funding is available to [...] the counties of Franklin, Fentress, Grainger, Hamilton, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Jefferson, Moore, Morgan, Pickett, Scott, and Union."
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
2011-03-31
