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Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV): World Health Organization Responses [July 2, 2015]
"In September 2012, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERSCoV) was first identified in Saudi Arabia and has spread to more than one dozen countries (Figure 1). MERSCoV is an infectious respiratory disease that can be fatal. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for the disease, but the treatment of symptoms, which can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, may improve patient outcomes. Over 1,300 cases have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2012. Roughly 36% of reported cases have resulted in deaths. On May 20, 2015, a MERSCoV outbreak began in the Republic of South Korea (ROK). As of June 30, 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) has associated 182 cases (including one in China and one in Thailand) with this outbreak, including 33 deaths."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
2015-07-02
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FY2009 Spring Supplemental Appropriations for Overseas Contingency Operations [June 15, 2009]
"On June 11, 2009, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees announced a conference agreement on H.R. 2346, a bill providing supplemental appropriations for the remainder of FY2009. Floor votes are expected the week of June 15. On key issues, the agreement includes $5 billion, as in the Senate bill, to support U.S. loans to the International Monetary Fund, does not include a Senate provision allowing the Secretary of Defense to exempt photos of military detainees from release under the Freedom of Information Act; does not include $80 million requested for the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice to facilitate closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison; prohibits the release of Guantanamo detainees in the United States and prohibits transfers of prisoners except to be prosecuted; provides $1.9 billion for pandemic flu preparedness (declared to be a pandemic by the World Health Organization on June 11), and $5.8 billion more, contingent on the President determining it is needed; and adds $1 billion for the 'Cash for Clunkers' program to provide payments to consumers who trade in inefficient vehicles. […] H.R. 2346 provides funds, with some adjustments, that the Administration requested in four supplemental appropriations proposals, including an April 9 request for $83.4 billion in supplemental funding for defense, international affairs, domestic fire fighting, and other purposes; an April 30 request for $1.5 billion for influenza preparedness and response; and a May 12 request for $5 billion to support International Monetary Fund (IMF) borrowing authority."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Daggett, Stephen; Epstein, Susan B.; Tarnoff, Curt . . .
2009-06-15
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2009 H1N1 'Swine Flu' Outbreak: An Overview [April 30, 2009]
"On April 29, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its influenza ('flu') pandemic alert level to Phase 5, one level below declaring that a global influenza pandemic was underway. According to WHO, 'the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.' The WHO has increased the pandemic flu alert level in response to the spread of a new strain of influenza A subtype H1N1 virus. First identified in Mexico in March 2009, the novel flu strain has quickly spread to the United States, where, as of April 29, there are 91 confirmed cases of illness, including one death. Additional cases have been confirmed in several other countries. The new flu strain was initially dubbed 'swine flu' because it contained genetic material from flu strains that normally circulate in swine. However, there has been no evidence to date that pigs are involved in the transmission of this virus. There have been concerns that the term 'swine flu' has had unwarranted trade implications for swine and pork products, among other concerns. On April 30, 2009, WHO began referring to the new strain as influenza A(H1N1)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lister, Sarah A.; Redhead, C. Stephen
2009-04-30
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Supporting Charitable Giving During the COVID-19 Crisis, Virtual Hearing Before the Joint Economic Committee, Congress of the United States, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, June 9, 2020
This is the June 9, 2020 hearing on "Supporting Charitable Giving During the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Crisis," held before the U.S. Senate Joint Economic Committee. From the Opening Statement of Mike Lee: "Nonprofits, churches, and other voluntary institutions of civil society have for centuries played a uniquely important role in American life, helping to provide for others' basic needs, and ensuring the stability of community institutions, and supplying goods such as education and the arts. [...] Without financial donations, these organizations simply cannot undertake the good works that they do in providing the indirect benefits, including the provision of these indirect benefits, personal connectedness, reciprocity, and trust, that are invaluable, and that have become indispensable to community thriving, and the thriving of the human condition. Unfortunately, there have been worrisome trends in charitable giving over recent years, and over the last few decades. [...] I called this hearing to talk about how, especially in this time of immense, unusual hardship, when charitable giving is so essential, Congress could better address this disparity." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: James Lankford, Jeanne Shaheen, Bill Crim, and Una Osili.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020
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Time Change: The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on University Research, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Research and Technology of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, September 9, 2020
This is the September 9, 2020 hearing on "Time Change: The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on University Research," held before the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Research and Technology. From the opening statement of Chairwoman Haley Stevens: "We're here today to discuss the impact of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] on innovation as it relates to our academic system. [...] [F]ederally funded research conducted on university campuses across the Nation is certainly a critical driver of our country's innovation, economic development, pairing with the private sector and government partners to jump start new technology and scientific breakthroughs. The COVID-19 crisis sent shockwaves through this ecosystem very early on[.] [...] University administrators, research facility managers, faculty, post-docs, and students are still reeling from some of the profound disruptions to their work, and still making their way to adapt amid persistent uncertainty, and the duration of how long this pandemic will go on. [...] [T]wo bipartisan bills [...] propose a great approach [...] to meeting the urgent needs to help universities and academic researchers recover from this crisis. The 'RISE [Research Investment to Spark the Economy] Act', which authorizes $26 billion in emergency relief funding for science agencies to support full cost extension of research grants so that we don't literally lose years of research. [...] And then the 'Supporting Early Career Researchers Act' creates a $250 million fellowship program at the National Science Foundation (NSF)." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Joseph Walsh, David Stone, Theresa Mayer, and Ryan Muzzio.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
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Small Business Administration: Steps Needed to Address COVID-19 Loans' Susceptibility to Fraud, Statement of William B. Shear, Director, Financial Markets and Community Investment, Testimony Before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "SBA [Small Business Administration] has made or guaranteed more than 17 million loans and grants through PPP [Paycheck Protection Program] and the EIDL [Economic Injury Disaster Loans] program, providing about $910 billion to help small businesses adversely affected by COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. PPP provides potentially forgivable loans to small businesses, and EIDL provides low-interest loans of up to $2 million for operating and other expenses as well as advances (grants). However, the speed with which SBA implemented the programs left them susceptible to fraud. Given these concerns, GAO [Government Accountability Office] added these emergency loan programs to its High-Risk List in March 2021. This testimony discusses fraud risks associated with PPP and the EIDL program. It is based largely on GAO's June 2020 - January 2021 reports on the federal response, including by SBA, to the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 (GAO-20-625 [hyperlink], GAO-20-701 [hyperlink], GAO-21-191 [hyperlink], GAO-21- 265 [hyperlink]). For those reports, GAO reviewed SBA documentation and OIG [Office of the Inspector General] reports; analyzed SBA data; and interviewed officials from SBA and the Department of the Treasury."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Shear, William B.
2021-03-25
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Modernizing Telework: Review of Private Sector Telework Policies During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, July 28, 2020
This is the July 28, 2020 hearing on "Modernizing Telework: Review of Private Sector Telework Policies During the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Pandemic," held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management. From the Opening Statement of James Lankford: "In 1990, Congress passed its first piece of legislation directly related to an employee's ability to be able to work outside of their assigned duty station. The most recent and significant legislation affecting the Federal workforce and teleworking was the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010, which set the current standards for Federal workforce requirements for telework. With so many changes in the world over the last 10 years, or in the case of just 2020, so many changes, period, this year, it makes sense to be able to take a look at the current telework practices to see what is working, what is not working for the Federal workforce, and to be able to learn the lessons of what is happening in the private sector. We have a responsibility to ensure Federal workforce strategies are relevant, cost-effective, and well thought out." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Sean Morris, Lane Wilson, Michael Ly, and John Zanni.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 31, 2021: Death Certificate-based ICD-10 Diagnosis Codes for COVID-19 Mortality Surveillance -- United States, January-December 2020
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This early release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 31, 2021: Death Certificate-based ICD [International Classification of Diseases]-10 Diagnosis Codes for COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Mortality Surveillance -- United States, January-December 2020" Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from MMWR can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-03-31
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 31, 2021: Provisional Mortality Data -- United States, 2020
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This early release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Provisional Mortality Data -- United States, 2020." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from MMWR can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-03-31
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Striving Toward Equity: Utah's COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Roadmap
From the Document: "Our goal is to make sure every Utahn who wants a vaccine can get one, and to remove any barriers that may keep someone from getting vaccinated. This document was created as guidance vaccination providers should follow when developing processes and policies for vaccination clinics."
Utah. Department of Health; Utah Association of Local Health Departments
2021-03
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Oversight Provisions in H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act [March 12, 2020]
From the Document: "President Donald Trump signed H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, on March 6, 2020. It provides a total of $8.3 billion in supplemental funding to support the response of the United States to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Prior to the passage of H.R. 6074, Congress had already begun to oversee the federal government's response to COVID-19 with committee hearings in both the House and the Senate. Other committees are planning additional hearings in the coming weeks, and the Trump Administration has also been providing regular briefings. This voluntary flow of information among Congress, senior Administration leaders, and frontline experts will facilitate Congress's response to COVID-19. If lines of communication remain open, voluntary information sharing may prove to be sufficient to meet Congress's needs and expectations for oversight. However, H.R. 6074 makes explicit a number of requirements regarding both the type and frequency of information Congress will receive."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wilhelm, Ben
2020-03-12
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Defense Production Act (DPA): Recent Developments in Response to COVID-19 [Updated July 28, 2020]
From the Document: "The Administration has employed the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA) as part of federal countermeasures to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The DPA confers presidential authorities to mobilize domestic industry in service of the national defense, broadly defined, including emergency preparedness. The DPA includes provisions under Title I to prioritize the acceptance of contracts, and to allocate scarce goods, materials, and services; and under Title III, to provide for the expansion of productive capacity. Title VII provides definitions and other supporting provisions. This Insight considers recent DPA actions in response to COVID-19 and is intended as a companion to CRS [Congressional Research Service] Insight IN11387. See CRS Report R43767 for an in-depth discussion of DPA history and authorities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cecire, Michael H.; Peters, Heidi M.
2020-07-28
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Federal Executive Agencies: Hiring Flexibilities for Emergency Situations [March 19, 2020]
From the Document: "On January 31, 2020, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar declared a public health emergency for the United States in response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). To assist the federal government in responding to the emergency, Congress passed legislation that provides Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has also reiterated long-standing guidance on flexibilities for hiring in executive agencies that are codified in Title 5 of the 'United States Code' and Title 5 of the 'Code of Federal Regulations.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwemle, Barbara L.
2020-03-19
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Central America's Northern Triangle: Challenges for U.S. Policymakers in 2021 [Updated March 12, 2021]
From the Document: "Instability in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (the Northern Triangle of Central America) is among the most pressing challenges for U.S. policymakers in the Western Hemisphere. The United States historically has played a prominent role in the political and economic development of the region, which has long struggled with widespread insecurity, fragile democratic institutions, and high levels of poverty and inequality. Already difficult living conditions have deteriorated over the past year due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and two hurricanes. [...] Approximately 2.9 million [hyperlink] Hondurans, 1 million [hyperlink] Salvadorans, and 3.7 million [hyperlink] Guatemalans are contending with crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity. Although the pandemic and government lockdowns initially disrupted criminal activities, reports suggest [hyperlink] domestic violence increased and gangs and illicit trafficking groups quickly adapted to the changed circumstances. Some government officials have sought to take advantage of the disorder, allegedly engaging in corruption [hyperlink], repressing dissent [hyperlink], and undermining the rule of law [hyperlink] to advance their personal and political interests. These interrelated socioeconomic, security, and political challenges could have far-reaching implications for the United States. Although the Biden Administration has urged potential irregular migrants not to make the 'dangerous journey [hyperlink],' U.S. authorities have encountered growing numbers [hyperlink] of Guatemalans, Hondurans, and Salvadorans at the Southwest border. Many analysts expect these mixed migration flows of asylum-seekers and economic migrants to swell over the course of 2021, especially once governments ease COVID-19-related border restrictions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Meyer, Peter J.
2021-03-12
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Pandemics, Payments, and (Digital) Property [March 10, 2021]
From the Document: "Many people have heard the phrase 'cash is king,' but is that still true [hyperlink]? Even in today's digital world, cash is still an important tool for retail transactions among many consumers, and some still rely on it. But today, electronic payments are the primary mechanism for consumers to use money. Electronic payments are an old concept. For 60 years, Americans have been using cards that, when swiped, send a signal electronically to financial institutions to make a transfer of funds from the purchaser to the seller. Congress first passed the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (P.L. [Public Law] 95-630) in 1978 to regulate debit card transactions. Today, debit cards are the most common tool for consumer retail payments. But new forms of electronic payment have emerged for consumers ranging from prepaid cards to digital wallets to cryptocurrencies [hyperlink] and other forms of digital assets [hyperlink]. One of the byproducts of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic is an economic environment that encourages electronic payments. Perhaps not coincidentally, the universe of electronic payment options has increased substantially, with a few new types of tools gaining prominence in the past year. This Insight looks at how the pandemic has impacted consumer payments and how some of these trends are altering the way consumers pay for goods and services. Additionally, it considers how a prolonged pandemic economy may contribute to a new level of comfort among consumers seeking to use innovative payment options and how this may impact the future payments landscape."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Scott, Andrew P.
2021-03-10
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FEMA's Role in COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
From the Document: "In alignment with President Biden's plan to respond to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] [hyperlink], FEMA will work with other federal agencies to coordinate with state, tribal and territorial authorities and private sector partners and others to 'assist, augment and expedite' vaccinations in the United States."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2021-02-10
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Lifting the COVID-19 Restrictions in Texas
From the Introduction: "In order to study Winter Storm Uri's impact on Texas, the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston conducted an online survey of residents 18 and older who live in the 213 counties (91.5% of the state population) served by the Texas Electrical Grid, which is managed by the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). The survey documents Texans' experiences during the storm and explores preferences among potential changes in policies regarding electricity. The survey also examines opinions about the lifting of statewide COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] restrictions. The survey was fielded by YouGov between March 9-19, 2021 with 1,500 YouGov respondents, resulting in a confidence interval of +/-2.5. The respondents were matched to a sampling frame on gender, age, ethnicity/race, and education and are representative of the adult population in these 213 counties. The results of this survey will be presented in two individual reports: The Lifting the COVID-19 Restrictions and the Winter Storm of 2021 [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=851759]."
Hobby School of Public Affairs
Watson, Kirk P.; Cross, Renée; Jones, Mark P.
2021-03-25?
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Early Development and Regulation of Diagnostic Testing for COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions [Updated March 17, 2021]
From the Document: "On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was informed of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. Illnesses have since been linked to a disease caused by a previously unidentified strain of coronavirus, designated Coronavirus Disease 2019, or COVID-19. Despite containment efforts in China, the United States, and elsewhere, by late February there were indications that the COVID-19 outbreak may have entered a new phase, with community spread occurring or suspected in several countries other than China, including in the United States. Since this time, the virus has spread widely, resulting in millions of cases and more than 500,000 deaths in the United States. Diagnostic testing is a critical part of the public health response to and clinical management of COVID-19. The earliest efforts in the United States to develop and disseminate a test for COVID-19 faced challenges. Manufacturing and quality issues with the nation's test--developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)--resulted in essentially all testing going through CDC's laboratory facility in Atlanta through early March 2020, despite distribution of test kits to state and local public health laboratories beginning in early February 2020. [...] In June 2020, HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] Office of the General Counsel released findings of an internal investigation into CDC's production of its test kit, finding generally that the test was likely contaminated, and that time pressure may have 'compromised sufficient QC/QA [quality control/quality assurance] to identify certain anomalies in data and realize the possibility of contamination before shipment.' In addition, the matter is currently under investigation by HHS Office of the Inspector General, with an audit underway to 'review CDC's process of producing and distributing the COVID-19 test kits.' This report is reportedly expected sometime in FY2021."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sarata, Amanda K.
2021-03-17
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Managing Stress Associated with the COVID-19 Virus Outbreak
From the Document: "The COVID-19 (coronavirus [disease 2019]) outbreak has the potential to increase stress and anxiety, both because of the fear of catching the virus and also because of uncertainty about how the outbreak will affect us socially and economically. There are practical steps you can take to improve your wellbeing. Dealing with stress reactions caused by the COVID-19 virus outbreak can improve your health, quality of life, and wellbeing. The following evidence-informed principles have been shown to be related to better outcomes in many adverse situations. There are key actions within each element that might be especially helpful for those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. It's not necessary to have all elements in place but implementing some of the following suggestions may help you deal with the stress caused by the COVID-19 virus."
National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (U.S.)
2020-03
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 2, 2021
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: "Use of Selected Recommended Clinical Preventive Services -- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2018"; "Community-Associated Outbreak of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] in a Correctional Facility -- Utah, September 2020-January 2021"; "Willingness to Receive a COVID-19 Vaccination Among Incarcerated or Detained Persons in Correctional and Detention Facilities -- Four States, September-December 2020"; "Rapid Spread of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] in a State Prison After Introduction by Newly Transferred Incarcerated Persons -- Wisconsin, August 14-October 22, 2020"; "Counties with High COVID-19 Incidence and Relatively Large Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations -- United States, April 1-December 22, 2020"; "Symptoms of Anxiety or Depressive Disorder and Use of Mental Health Care Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic -- United States, August 2020-February 2021"; "Interim Estimates of Vaccine Effectiveness of BNT162b2 [Pfizer-BioNTech] and mRNA-1273 [Moderna] COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Health Care Personnel, First Responders, and Other Essential and Frontline Workers -- Eight U.S. Locations, December 2020-March 2021"; and "'QuickStats': Percentage of Adults with Fair or Poor Health, by Home Ownership Status and Age Group -- National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2019." Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-04-02
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DOT's Fiscal Year 2021 Top Management Challenges
From the Document: "As required by law, we report annually on the Department of Transportation's (DOT) most significant challenges to meeting its mission. We considered several criteria in identifying DOT's top management challenges for fiscal year 2021, including their impact on safety, documented vulnerabilities, large dollar implications, and the ability of the Department to effect change. In addition, we recognize that the Department faces the extraordinary task of meeting these challenges while also responding to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, including implementing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Accordingly, we included CARES Act and COVID-19 considerations in all eight of our top management challenges."
United States. Department of Transportation. Office of Inspector General
2020-10-21
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COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update [As of March 8, 2021]
This is the U.S. Department of Defense Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)-related military travel restriction guide as of March 8, 2021, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As reported in the document, "Travel Restrictions [were] 'lifted' at 125 of 231 Installations (54%)."
United States. Department of Defense
2021-03-08
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Essential Workers COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit
From the Document: "In some states, essential workers [hyperlink] already have access to vaccines to help protect them against COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. These vaccines will be available to essential workers across the nation soon. CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] has designed this toolkit to help employers educate their essential workers about this important prevention tool." This toolkit provides links to a variety of resources for COVID-19 workplace precautions and vaccine information, including Factsheets and Infographics that are available in English and Spanish.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-03-22
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Executive Actions to Reduce Poverty: A Menu of Options and Estimated Impact on Poverty
From the Introduction: "The ongoing COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 19] crisis has led to unprecedented increases in joblessness, business failure, and threatened the financial security of millions of American families. The crisis increased the average number of people with monthly 'market incomes' (pre-tax and transfer income) below the poverty line by over 16 million between the first two, pre-pandemic months of 2020 and the second quarter of 2020. The total had fallen only slightly by the fourth quarter. At the same time, the Congressional response to the pandemic in the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act showed the power of safety-net policies to prevent people from falling into poverty. Based on our analyses with Zach Parolin and Jane Waldfogel, shown in Figure 1 below, direct $1,200 payments to families, dramatic increases in unemployment insurance benefits, and other policies actually 'reduced' poverty in the early stages of the pandemic even as jobless claims soared. In total, CARES Act policies lifted an average of 17.8 million individuals from poverty in April and May 2020, and prevented nearly 80 million 'person-months' of poverty from the onset of the crisis in March through December 2020."
Brookings Institution
Curran, Megan A.; Wimer, Christopher
2021-02
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COVID-19 Economic Recovery Investments Must Benefit American Workers
From the Document: "Nearly one year into the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, the U.S. economy continues to reel from the Trump administration's negligent and insufficient response. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest jobs report, 2020 ended with 9.8 million fewer jobs than existed prior to the pandemic, and the current unemployment rate is nearly double that of February 2020. With a new Congress and administration in office, federal policymakers must make critical investments across the U.S. economy that will help kickstart recovery, get hundreds of thousands of Americans back to work, reduce poverty rates, and prevent cuts to essential services that sustain local communities. Fortunately, President Joe Biden has indicated his commitment to enacting economic relief that rebuilds America's crumbling infrastructure; invests in critical green industries; provides support for essential care work; and extends needed aid to state and local governments. In order to ensure that this stimulus delivers on its promise, policymakers must require that the spending creates good jobs for Americans from all walks of life--particularly when taxpayer dollars are going to private corporations." This material, 'COVID-19 Economic Recovery Investments Must Benefit American Workers,' was published by the Center for American Progress.
Center for American Progress
Walter, Karla
2021-02-04
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America's Crisis of Despair: A Federal Task Force for Economic Recovery and Societal Well-Being
From the Summary "Despair in our society is a barrier to reviving our labor markets and productivity, jeopardizes our well-being, health, and longevity, and affects our politics. Despair was increasing among Americans well before COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]; the virus was an exponential shock. Before the virus, the U.S. boasted robust stock-markets and record low levels of unemployment, yet 20% of prime-aged males were out of the labor force. From 2005 to 2019, an average of 70,000 Americans died annually from deaths of despair (suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol poisoning). These deaths are concentrated among less than college educated middle-aged whites, with the those out of the labor force disproportionately represented. Low-income minorities are significantly more optimistic than whites and much less likely to die of these deaths. [...] This brief argues that the Biden administration ought to form a new federal interagency task force to address addiction 'and' despair as a critical first step. This task force would monitor trends and coordinate federal efforts. Otherwise the large cohort of workers that have simply dropped out of the labor force and have lost hope of having a purposeful existence will continue to suffer 'and' remain a barrier to a full economic recovery."
Brookings Institution
Graham, Carol, 1962-
2021-02-10
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Biomedical Research: Information on Federal Contributions to Remdesivir, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "Remdesivir is an antiviral drug patented and manufactured by Gilead. Along with its parent compound, remdesivir was originally developed to treat viral hepatitis and a viral respiratory infection. Remdesivir was later studied for antiviral activity against multiple viruses. It was the first drug approved by the FDA to treat COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. Public interest organizations have raised questions about the extent of federal support for the development of remdesivir. Federal support can benefit the public by creating new inventions and may result in certain intellectual property rights, including patents, for the federal government. Multiple federal agencies support biomedical research and development, which can directly or indirectly contribute to the development of new drugs like remdesivir. These federal agencies include NIH [National Institutes of Health]--the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world--as well as CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and DOD. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review federal contributions to the development of remdesivir. This report examines: (1) scientific and funding contributions provided by CDC, DOD, and NIH for the development of remdesivir, and (2) agencies' patent rights related to those contributions. GAO reviewed relevant laws and regulations; reviewed documentation from CDC, DOD, and NIH; and interviewed officials and scientists from the agencies and two universities. We also obtained information from and interviewed representatives of Gilead."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
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Repurposing Therapeutic Drugs for COVID-19: Research Challenges and Opportunities, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, June 19, 2020
This is the June 19, 2020 hearing on "Repurposing Therapeutic Drugs for COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]: Research Challenges and Opportunities," held before the House Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. From the Purpose: "The purpose of the hearing is to explore the scientific foundations behind repurposing existing drugs for the treatment of COVID-19. The Subcommittee will discuss how researchers identify and test approved drugs--developed for other uses--that could lessen the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and the regulatory approval process for the use of these drugs among infected patients. The Subcommittee will also explore how the Federal government conducts oversight and supports research in this area and how these processes have been affected by the current pandemic." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Peter Lurie, James Finigan, Rick Stevens, and Benjamin Rome.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
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COVID Vaccine Certificate: Building on Lessons from Digital ID for the Digital Yellow Card
From the Introduction: "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccination efforts are well and truly underway across the world [hyperlink]. In addition to those in Europe and North America, vaccination campaigns are gathering pace across China, India, Russia, and the Middle East, though lagging in many other, mostly poor, countries. As more start scaling up their own programs and the number of vaccinated people increases over the coming year, a COVID Vaccine Certificate (CVC) is likely to become an important tool to help monitor and manage the rollout of vaccinations and get national economies back on track. Such a credential will also be needed to facilitate the safe movement of people across countries [hyperlink], including to rejuvenate the tourism industry, which is important for many developing countries. Since a vaccination certificate is a form of functional ID [identification], with one component consisting of data related to the vaccination--such as date, vaccine, place of vaccination, and other relevant information--and the other the identity of the holder, it may be useful to consider some lessons learned from the rollout of identification (ID) systems across the world. One thing is clear: the CVC will be a formidable challenge, not only to international cooperation, but because it will need to be implemented in the course of mass vaccination campaigns across countries with very different health management systems and ID systems and with a constantly evolving situation."
Center for Global Development
Gelb, Alan; Mukherjee, Anit, 1972-
2021-02
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COVID-19: Sustained Federal Action is Crucial as Pandemic Enters Its Second Year, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "As of March 15, 2021, the U.S. had over 29 million reported cases of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and more than 523,000 reported deaths, according to CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. The country also continues to experience serious economic repercussions. Five relief laws, including the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act, were enacted as of January 31, 2021, to provide appropriations to address the public health and economic threats posed by COVID-19. As of January 31, 2021, of the $3.1 trillion appropriated by these five laws for COVID-19 relief, the federal government had obligated a total of $2.2 trillion and expended $1.9 trillion, as reported by federal agencies. Most recently, in March 2021, a sixth relief law, the American Rescue Plan of 2021, was enacted and provides additional federal assistance for the ongoing response and recovery. The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on its ongoing monitoring and oversight efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report examines the federal government's continued efforts to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. GAO reviewed data, documents, and guidance from federal agencies about their activities and interviewed federal and state officials, experts, and other stakeholders, including health care professionals."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-03
