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Iran's Nuclear Program: Tehran's Compliance with International Obligations [Updated May 24, 2022]

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From the Introduction: "Iran ratified the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1970. Article III of the treaty requires nonnuclear-weapon states-parties to accept comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards; Tehran concluded a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the IAEA in 1974. In 2002, the agency began investigating allegations that Iran had conducted clandestine nuclear activities; the IAEA ultimately reported that some of these activities had violated Tehran's safeguards agreement. Following more than three years of investigation, the IAEA Board of Governors reported the matter to the U.N. Security Council in February 2006. Since then, the council adopted six resolutions requiring Iran to take steps to alleviate international concerns about its nuclear program. This report provides a brief overview of Iran's nuclear program and describes the legal basis for the actions taken by the IAEA board and the Security Council."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Kerr, Paul K.

2022-05-24
Executive Budget Process: An Overview [Updated May 24, 2022]

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From the Summary: "The Constitution vests Congress with the power of the purse, with several provisions referring to congressional authority to levy taxes, authorize the issuance of debt, and make appropriations to fund the federal government. The Constitution does not provide an explicit role for the President in the budget process. The executive budget process, as currently constituted, exists primarily due to statutes enacted by Congress. [...] The federal budget sustains government functions and plays an important role in shaping policy decisions. Congress regularly reviews the appropriate balance of budgetary responsibilities between the legislative and executive branches, the transparency of budget execution decisions made by the President and OMB [Office of Management and Budget], and whether the existing budget timeline continues to meet the needs of the federal government. In light of these considerations, Congress may evaluate legislative or oversight options that amend aspects of the executive budget process."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Fiorentino, Dominick A.; Riccard, Taylor N.

2022-05-24
Use of Defense Production Act Authorities to Respond to the U.S. Infant Formula Shortage [May 24, 2022]

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From the Document: "On May 18, 2022, as part of a broader response to a domestic shortage of infant formula, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. issued Presidential Determination 2022-13 [hyperlink] (the Determination), delegating several authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA; 50 U.S.C. [United States Code] §§ 4501 'et seq.' [hyperlink]) to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure availability of infant formula. This Insight summarizes the Determination, provides background on use of the DPA to address food supply chain issues, and explores potential considerations for Congress."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Peters, Heidi M.; Hart, Nina M.; Lee, Erica A.

2022-05-24
Training Aid for the Definition of Frame or Receiver & Identification of Firearms: Overview of Final Rule 2021R-05F

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From the Document: "Final Rule 2021R-05F was signed by the Attorney General on April 11, 2022 and was published in the Federal Register on April 26, 2022. The rule will become effective August 24, 2022, 120 days from the date it was published. [...] The Final Rule 'does': [1] Provide regulatory definitions of 'frame' and 'receiver' reflecting technological advancements and judicial developments since the regulatory definitions were originally issued; [2] Identify a single part of each weapon as a 'frame' or 'receiver;' [3] Provide specific examples and pictures of those parts of popular firearms that are classified as the 'frame' or 'receiver;' [4] Address the classification of partially complete (commonly referred to as '80%') frames or receivers that are sold, distributed, or possessed with the associated templates, jigs, molds, equipment, tools, instructions, guides. [5] Address partially complete, disassembled, or nonfunctional frames or receivers that are sold, distributed, or possessed within parts kits."

United States. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

2022-05-24?
Use of Cryptocurrency in Ransomware Attacks, Available Data, and National Security Concerns

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From the Executive Summary: "Ransomware is a dangerous form of cyber-attack where threat actors prevent access to computer systems or threaten to release data unless a ransom is paid. It has the power to bankrupt businesses and cripple critical infrastructure - posing a grave threat to our national and economic security. The use of cryptocurrencies has further enabled ransomware attacks, particularly because cryptocurrency is decentralized and distributed and illicit actors can take steps to obscure transactions and make them more difficult to track. [...] To better understand this growing threat, U.S. Senator Gary Peters, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced in July 2020 an investigation into the role of cryptocurrency in incentivizing and enabling ransomware attacks, and the resulting harm of such attacks to victims. As a part of this ten-month investigation, Committee staff conducted interviews with federal law enforcement and regulatory agencies as well as private companies that assist ransomware victims with ransom demands. While not exhaustive, this report addresses key pieces of the larger landscape of the increasing national security threat from ransomware attacks and the use of cryptocurrency for ransom payments. The report details recommendations to address current gaps in information on ransomware attacks and use of cryptocurrency as ransom payments in these attacks."

United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

2022-05-23?
Korea's Response to COVID-19 According to Set Time Frames, With a Focus on the Network Between the Government and Responding Agencies: Social Network Analysis

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From the Abstract: "In December 2019, COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] was first confirmed in Wuhan, China, and as the respiratory disease spread around the globe, there was a spike in interest worldwide in combating such contagious diseases. When such disasters occur, the central government of South Korea and its affiliated local governments--together with nongovernmental organizations--play a crucial role in crisis management systems. [...] The purpose of this paper is to corroborate the characteristics government ministries and domestic and foreign institutions exhibit through their interconnection when the parties are undergoing a disease-related catastrophe such as the COVID-19 pandemic. [...] Using the social network analysis technique, the span of the COVID-19 pandemic was segmented into 3 time frames, and the relational characteristics of the COVID-19 contagious disease response department and related agencies at home and abroad were analyzed based on 3 centralities." This article was originally published on the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) Public Health and Surveillance website: [https://publichealth.jmir.org/2022/5/e35958].

JMIR Publications

Cho, Jungyun; Kang, Wook; Lee, Julak

2022-05-23
Industrial Policy and International Trade [May 23, 2022]

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From the Document: "Supply-chain vulnerabilities revealed by the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic have intensified debate in Congress about the proper role of the government in the U.S. economy. The debate also reflects growing concerns about how some foreign governments use state support and guidance to boost their industries, thereby potentially causing the United States and others to lose global market share and competitiveness. China's statist model of economic development, for example, relies on a comprehensive industrial policy that nurtures a wide range of strategic and emerging industries through government measures, including subsidies and protection against import competition. The scope and scale of these market-distorting practices can create an uneven playing field for U.S. firms."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Schwarzenberg, Andres B.

2022-05-23
Child Soldiers Prevention Act: Security Assistance Restrictions [Updated May 23, 2022]

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From the Document: "The recruitment and use of children in armed conflict is broadly viewed as a human rights problem, a form of trafficking in persons, among the worst forms of child labor, and a war crime. The United Nations (U.N.) has identified the recruitment and use of child soldiers as among six 'grave violations' affecting children in war and has established numerous monitoring and reporting mechanisms and initiatives to combat this practice. The United Nations verified that more than 8,000 children were used as soldiers in 2020, including in Somalia (1,716), Syria (813), Burma/Myanmar (790), Democratic Republic of the Congo (788), Central African Republic (584), and Mali (284), among other countries. Most children were recruited by non-state actors. U.S. efforts to eradicate this phenomenon internationally are guided largely by the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008 (CSPA, Title IV of P.L. [Public Law] 110-457), which defines the term 'child soldier' and restricts certain security assistance to countries that recruit or use child soldiers, among other provisions. The Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2018 (Title II, Subtitle B of P.L. 115-425), which became law in January 2019, strengthened some of the CSPA's provisions."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Weber, Michael A.

2022-05-23
Crisis in Mali [Updated May 23, 2022]

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From the Document: "Once seen as a regional democratic leader, Mali has become an epicenter of conflict and instability over the past decade. A military junta ousted an elected president in 2020, then overthrew civilian transitional leaders the following year. Colonel Assimi Goïta now serves as 'Transition President' and populist politician Choguel Maïga as prime minister. The junta has engaged in an increasingly bitter confrontation with former colonial power France--which has led counterterrorism operations in Mali since 2013--and with other leaders in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), who have imposed sanctions in response to Mali's failure to adhere to a previously agreed election timeline. Local insurgent groups affiliated with Al Qaeda and the Islamic State are active across central and northern Mali. Other rebel groups, communal militias, and criminal bands are also active, some with apparent state backing. A 2015 peace deal between Bamako and northern separatist rebels has not been fully implemented. Insurgents, state security forces, allied militias, and private military contractors (PMCs) have been implicated in massacres and other abuses. Conflict-affected areas are experiencing crisis-level food insecurity in 2022; overall, Mali has one of the world's highest rates of acute malnutrition, while global food and fuel price spikes pose additional burdens. The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has compounded hardships."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Arieff, Alexis

2022-05-23
Inspectors General and the Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [May 23, 2022]

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From the Document: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic brought increased attention [hyperlink] to the risk of fraud and waste in large federal spending programs. Congress created substantial oversight [hyperlink] for pandemic programs, but many Members have expressed concern with reports of fraud in some programs. As the Biden Administration implements the bipartisan infrastructure bill (the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [IIJA]; P.L. 117-58), which provides over $500 billion in new infrastructure spending, it has announced a more proactive approach to addressing potential fraud and waste. This approach includes an emphasis on risk management and increased engagement with inspectors general (IGs) to identify and address potential risks before they arise.[...] This Insight begins with a brief summary of the new guidance memorandum as it relates to IGs, followed by discussion of its broader link to enterprise risk management. Finally, the Insight identifies aspects of this issue that congressional stakeholders may wish to monitor."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Wilhelm, Ben

2022-05-23
Opioid Block Grants [May 23, 2022]

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From the Document: "Beginning in the late 1990s, the United States experienced a significant increase in opioid-related drug overdose deaths, which rose from 8,050 in 1999 to 49,860 in 2019. To address the rising rates of opioid use and overdose deaths, Congress created new opioid-specific block grant programs that provide funding to increase access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment such as medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid-use disorder."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Duff, Johnathan H.

2022-05-23
Tariffs and the Infant Formula Shortage [May 23, 2022]

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From the Document: "The United States is experiencing a shortage of infant formula. The shortage is localized to the United States. Some analyses argue [hyperlink] that high tariffs on formula impeded [hyperlink] the development of foreign sources of infant formula for the U.S. market and exacerbated [hyperlink] the U.S. shortage. As a result, tariffs are a focus of congressional attention, and legislation addressing tariffs [hyperlink] has been introduced."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Casey, Christopher A.

2022-05-23
Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions: An Overview [May 23, 2022]

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From the Document: "Congress frequently delegates rulemaking authority to federal agencies in legislation. Having an early sense of the rules agencies are planning to issue and when they are planning to issue them can help Congress track and conduct oversight over the use of this delegated legislative authority. One tool that Congress and the public can use to identify ongoing rulemaking activities is the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. The Unified Agenda is a government-wide, semiannual publication that lists proposed and final rules that agencies plan to issue in the next six to 12 months. It also lists rules that agencies plan to issue in the long term. Members of Congress, congressional committees, and staff may find the Unified Agenda to be a valuable source of information on upcoming rules, including rules issued by agencies within a committee's jurisdiction or within federal programs of interest. The Unified Agenda is published in the spring and fall each year by the Regulatory Information Service Center, a component of the General Services Administration, for the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the entity within the Office of Management and Budget that has primary oversight responsibilities over most agencies' rulemaking activities."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Carey, Maeve P.

2022-05-23
U.S. Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) [Updated May 23, 2022]

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From the Document: "The Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), with a reported range of 1,725 miles, consists of a ground-launched missile equipped with a hypersonic glide body and associated transport, support, and fire control equipment. According to the Army: This land-based, truck-launched system is armed with hypersonic missiles that can travel well over 3,800 miles per hour. They can reach the top of the Earth's atmosphere and remain just beyond the range of air and missile defense systems until they are ready to strike, and by then it's too late to react. Extremely accurate, ultrafast, maneuverable and survivable, hypersonics can strike anywhere in the world within minutes. For the battery, the task force and the U.S. Army, they provide a critical strategic weapon and a powerful deterrent against adversary capabilities."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Feickert, Andrew

2022-05-23
Public Law 117-129: Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022

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From the Document: "An [a]ct [t]o amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to establish waiver authority to address certain emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions, and for other purposes. [...] The Secretary shall require that each infant formula cost containment contract renewed or entered into on or after the date of the enactment of the Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 includes remedies in the event of an infant formula recall, including how an infant formula manufacturer would protect against disruption to program participants in the State."

United States. Government Publishing Office

2022-05-21
Public Law 117-128: Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022

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From the Document: "An Act Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes. [...] For an additional amount for 'Salaries and Expenses', $67,000,000, to remain available until expended, for expenses authorized by section 524(c) of title 28, United States Code, to respond to the situation in Ukraine and for related expenses: 'Provided', That amounts provided under this heading in this Act may not be used to increase the number of permanent positions: 'Provided further', That amounts provided under this heading in this Act may be transferred to, and merged with, other appropriation accounts of the Department of Justice, to respond to the situation in Ukraine and for related expenses: 'Provided further', That amounts provided under this heading in this Act may be used to investigate, seize, detain, forfeit, inventory, safeguard, maintain, advertise, sell, or dispose of any property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, related to Russian aggression, including Russian aggression toward Ukraine, or for any other necessary expense incident to the seizure, detention, forfeiture, or disposal of such property: 'Provided further', That the authorities included in the preceding proviso are in addition to any other authority provided by law."

United States. Government Publishing Office

2022-05-21
Defense Primer: Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) Process [Updated May 20, 2022]

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From the Introduction: "Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) is the Department of Defense (DOD) process for allocating resources among the armed services, defense agencies, and other components. The annual process serves as the framework for DOD civilian and military leaders to decide which programs and force management requirements to fund based on strategic objectives. This product describes a notional PPBE process from the perspective of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). In practice, aspects of the process may differ based on current events or leadership preferences. [...] The process is designed to produce DOD's portion of the President's annual budget request to Congress, as well as updates to the department's five-year spending plan, known as the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP). PPBE is one of DOD's three main acquisition-related decision support systems, along with the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) for developing requirements to address capability gaps and the Defense Acquisition System (DAS) for managing acquisition programs."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

McGarry, Brendan W.; Williams, Lynn M.

2022-05-20
Iran's Nuclear Program: Tehran's Compliance with International Obligations [Updated May 20, 2022]

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From the Introduction: "Iran ratified the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1970. Article III of the treaty requires nonnuclear-weapon states-parties to accept comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards; Tehran concluded a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the IAEA in 1974. In 2002, the agency began investigating allegations that Iran had conducted clandestine nuclear activities; the IAEA ultimately reported that some of these activities had violated Tehran's safeguards agreement. Following more than three years of investigation, the IAEA Board of Governors reported the matter to the U.N. Security Council in February 2006. Since then, the council adopted six resolutions requiring Iran to take steps to alleviate international concerns about its nuclear program. This report provides a brief overview of Iran's nuclear program and describes the legal basis for the actions taken by the IAEA board and the Security Council."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Kerr, Paul K.

2022-05-20
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2685, Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act

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From the Document: "H.R. 2685 would authorize the appropriation of $500,000 for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to report on the cybersecurity of mobile service networks to the Congress within one year of enactment. Under the act, the NTIA would be required to consult related agencies and include assessments of mobile service provider cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the report, among other requirements. Based on spending patterns for similar activities, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing H.R. 2685 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2022-2027 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized amount."

United States. Congressional Budget Office

2022-05-20
Response by the White House Council on Environmental Quality to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council's Final Recommendations: Justice40, Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, and Executive Order 12898 Revisions That Were Submitted on May 21, 2021

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From the Introduction: "The primary purpose of this report is to provide CEQ's [Council on Environmental Quality] response to the WHEJAC's [White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council] May 21, 2021 report, Final Recommendations: Justice40, Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, and Executive Order 12898 Revisions [hyperlink]. Under the delegated authority of President Biden, CEQ is fulfilling a Federal Advisory Committee Act requirement [hyperlink] that states: 'Within one year after a Presidential advisory committee has submitted a public report to the President, the President or his delegate shall make a report to the Congress stating either his proposals for action or his reasons for inaction, with respect to the recommendations contained in the public report.' This report has three sections that correspond to the three main sections of the WHEJAC's May 21, 2021 report. Section I addresses the WHEJAC's recommendations on the Justice40 Initiative [hyperlink], which aims to provide 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments--such as those relating to climate change and clean energy--to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. [...] The Biden-Harris Administration has committed to improving transparency in government, and this report is in keeping with that important promise. Ongoing and clear communication between CEQ, the IAC [Interagency Council], and the WHEJAC is critical to the success of our shared efforts and goals. Moreover, this report also provides an opportunity to celebrate many achievements made towards President Biden's ambitious environmental justice agenda. Although much more work remains, the Administration has already begun delivering on the President's historic environmental justice commitments, and the WHEJAC's recommendations have played a critical role in advancing policies that will ensure a cleaner, healthier future for all."

United States. White House Office; Council on Environmental Quality (U.S.)

2022-05-20
U.S. Border Patrol Encounters at the Southwest Border: Titles 8 & 42 [Updated May 20, 2022] [infographic]

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From the Document: "The U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) is part of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) Customs and Border Protection (CBP). When the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) encounters a migrant entering illegally between ports of entry, they are processed for removal under Title 8 (immigration law) and asked whether they fear persecution or intend to seek asylum. However, at the start of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in March 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order requiring USBP to use an additional procedure at the border under Title 42 (public health code). The policy prohibits the entry of certain migrants to prevent the introduction of COVID-19 into border facilities and the United States. Individuals subject to the order are not held in congregate areas for processing and not given a credible fear interview to pursue the asylum process. Instead they are swiftly expelled to Mexico or their counties of origin. The focus of this infographic is on the Southwest border; migrants arriving at the Northern border between ports of entry are subject to the same processes but make up a small share of total USBP encounters."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Singer, Audrey

2022-05-20
MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 20, 2022

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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: "Factors Associated with Use of HIV Prevention and Health Care Among Transgender Women -- Seven Urban Areas, 2019-2020"; "Modifiable Risk Factors for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias Among Adults Aged ≥45 Years -- United States, 2019"; "Rabies in a Dog Imported from Azerbaijan -- Pennsylvania, 2021"; "'Notes from the Field': 'Escherichia coli' O157:H7 Outbreak in Children with 'Clostridioides difficile' Colonization Associated with an Improperly Treated Swimming Pool -- Pennsylvania, June 2021"; and "'QuickStats': Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Who Felt That Crime Makes It Unsafe to Walk, by Sex and Age Group -- National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2020." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2022.html].

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)

2022-05-20
FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act: Context and Selected Issues for Congress [May 20, 2022]

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From the Summary: "The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is policy legislation typically introduced and reported each year by the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC). The act primarily sets policy and authorizes appropriations for activities of the Department of Defense (DOD) and national security programs of the Department of Energy (DOE). FY2022 marked the 61st consecutive year for which Congress enacted an annual defense authorization. [...] This report compares authorizations for major defense appropriations titles, programs, and policy matters in the Administration's FY2022 budget request, House-passed and SASC-reported versions of the FY2022 NDAA, and enacted legislation. This report also provides references to other CRS reports that provide in-depth analysis and contextual information on certain defense and foreign policy issues."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

McGarry, Brendan W.

2022-05-20
Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccines to Prevent Severe COVID-19 in Costa Rica: Nationwide, Ecological Study of Hospitalization Prevalence

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From the Abstract: "The Costa Rican COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccination program has used Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines. Real-world estimates of the effectiveness of these vaccines to prevent hospitalizations range from 90%-98% for two doses and from 70%-91% for a single dose. Almost all of these estimates predate the Delta variant. [...] The aim of this study is to estimate the dose-dependent effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines to prevent severe illness in real-world conditions in Costa Rica, after the Delta variant became dominant. [...] This observational study is a secondary analysis of hospitalization prevalence. The sample is all 3.67 million adult residents living in Costa Rica by mid-2021. The study is based on public aggregated data of 5978 COVID-19-related hospital records from September 14, 2021, to October 20, 2021, and 6.1 million vaccination doses administered to determine hospitalization prevalence by dose-specific vaccination status. The intervention retrospectively evaluated is vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech (78%) and Oxford-AstraZeneca (22%). The main outcome studied is being hospitalized." This article was originally published on the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) Public Health and Surveillance website: [https://publichealth.jmir.org/2022/5/e35054/].

JMIR Publications

Rosero Bixby, Luis

2022-05-20
Confucius Institutes in the United States: Selected Issues [Updated May 20, 2022]

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From the Document: "The People's Republic of China (PRC or China)'s Confucius Institutes offer instruction in Chinese language in universities around the world. The Institutes have been the subject of controversy since appearing on U.S. university campuses in 2005, particularly for their perceived effects on academic freedom and for their lack of transparency. They have attracted further attention during the past several years as the broader U.S.-China relationship has deteriorated. Some Members of Congress and others have alleged that they may play a role in China's efforts to influence public opinion abroad, recruit 'influence agents' on U.S. campuses, and engage in cyber espionage and intellectual property theft. PRC officials have denied such charges, and suggested that the Institutes have become victims of a U.S. 'Cold War mentality.' Supporters of the Institutes have emphasized that they provide Chinese language and cultural programs that benefit students, universities, and surrounding communities, and that such offerings may not otherwise be available. Many U.S. universities have terminated their contracts with Confucius Institutes in the past four years."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-; Fischer, Hannah

2022-05-20
Department's Updated Use-Of-Force Policy

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From the Document: "It is the policy of the Department of Justice to value and preserve human life. Officers may use only the force that is objectively reasonable to effectively gain control of an incident, while protecting the safety of the officer and others, in keeping with the standards set forth in 'Graham v. Connor,' 490 U.S. 386 (1989). Officers may use force only when no reasonably effective, safe, and feasible alternative appears to exist and may use only the level of force that a reasonable officer on the scene would use under the same or similar circumstances. [...] This Department-wide policy emphasizes core principles and training standards for the DOJ law enforcement component agencies, which have updated their individual use of force training programs regularly."

United States. Department of Justice. Office of the Attorney General

Garland, Merrick B. (Merrick Brian), 1952-

2022-05-20
EMR-ISAC: Infogram, Volume 22 Issue 20, May 19, 2022

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The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "May is Mental Health Awareness Month: New resources for first responders"; "NIST [National Institute of Standards and Technology] competition aims to improve unmanned aircraft in indoor search and rescue scenarios"; "Summary and interactive map of 911 legislation enacted by states in 2021 now available"; "CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency]'s 2022 Hurricane Season Preparedness webinar will be held June 1"; "CISA issues Emergency Directive and releases advisory related to VMware vulnerabilities"; "Threat actors exploiting F5 BIG IP CVE-2022-1388"; "Weak security controls and practices routinely exploited for initial access"; "CISA releases analysis of FY21 Risk and Vulnerability Assessments"; "Cyber actors scrape credit card data from US business' online checkout page and maintain persistence by injecting malicious PHP [PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor] code"; and "Guidance on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea information technology workers."

Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)

2022-05-19
Foreign Leaders Addressing Congress [Updated May 19, 2022]

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From the Document: "Foreign leaders are periodically invited to address Congress. The first address by a foreign dignitary occurred on December 10, 1824, when Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette addressed the House. The most recent address took place on May 17, 2022, when His Excellency Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, addressed a joint meeting of Congress. [...] When a foreign leader formally visits the United States he or she is sometimes invited to address Congress. The decision to invite a foreign leader to address Congress has historically been made by the congressional leadership, often in consultation and conjunction with the executive branch. No formal procedure on when or how to issue invitations is codified in law or in House or Senate rules. Not all foreign leaders who visit the United States are invited to address Congress. When a foreign leader is invited to address Congress, the invitation is formally extended by the Speaker of the House on behalf of the House and Senate leadership."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Straus, Jacob R.

2022-05-19
AUKUS and Indo-Pacific Security [May 19, 2022]

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From the AUKUS Overview: "Launched in September 2021, the Australia, United Kingdom (UK), United States (AUKUS) security pact is described by analysts as the most significant security arrangement among the three countries in a generation. Observers say the three allies launched AUKUS as a strategic response to China's growing military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region (see 'Figure 1'). President Biden stated that AUKUS will 'update and enhance our shared ability to take on the threats of the 21st century' and noted that the three nations 'stood shoulder-to-shoulder' and fought together in two world wars, Korea, and the Persian Gulf. Although international attention initially focused on the proposed transfer of nuclear propulsion technology to Australia, observers say the pact's plan to develop advanced technologies and other military capabilities over the longer term may prove to be equally significant (see CRS In Focus IF11999, 'AUKUS Nuclear Cooperation'). The agreement may also prompt closer cooperation on other security threats. In April 2022, for example, AUKUS leaders committed 'to commence new trilateral cooperation on hypersonics, counter-hypersonics, and electronic warfare capabilities' in response to China's tests of its own hypersonic missiles, which Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley described as 'very concerning.'"

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Mix, Derek E.; Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-

2022-05-19
Libya and U.S. Policy [Updated May 19, 2022]

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From the Document: "Eleven years after a 2011 uprising that toppled long-time authoritarian leader Muammar al Qadhafi, Libya has yet to make a transition to stable governing arrangements. Elections and diplomacy have produced a series of interim governments ('Figure 1'), but militias, local leaders, and subnational coalitions backed by competing foreign patrons have remained the most powerful arbiters of public affairs. The postponement of planned elections in 2021, Libyans' continuing lack of consensus over constitutional and legal arrangements, the potential fragility of a United Nations (U.N.)-backed ceasefire, and the reemergence of institutional rivalry threaten Libya's stability and pose challenges for U.S. decisionmakers. Successive U.S. Administrations have sought to prevent Libya from serving as a permissive environment for transnational terrorist groups and have taken different approaches to conflict and competition among Libyans. The Biden Administration supports the holding of new elections in Libya and has used U.S. influence to bolster U.N.-led mediation efforts to that end. Congress has appropriated funds to enable U.S. diplomacy and aid programs, and some Members have called for more assertive U.S. engagement."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Blanchard, Christopher M.

2022-05-19

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