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• Oversight of the United States Capitol Police Following the January 6th Attack on the Capitol, Part III, Hearing Before the Committee on Rules and Administration, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, Second Session, January 5, 2022

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  This is the January 5, 2022 hearing on "Oversight of the United States Capitol Police Following the January 6th Attack on the Capitol, Part III," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. From the opening statement of Roy Blunt:"My colleagues and I are profoundly grateful for the Capitol Police's continued dedication to the mission to protect the Congress. It is our job to honor their service by doing our part to ensure that they are never faced with the circumstances they were faced with that day [January 6th]. [...] I appreciate today's opportunity to hear from Chief Manger on the security enhancements the Department has made over the past year, the work being done to improve officer morale and retention, as well as the Chief's observations after six months in command, and his goals and visions for the Department moving forward. One year after January 6, 2021, we acknowledge that there have been--there has been considerable progress, but also acknowledge, and I am sure the Chief does from his comments today, that much work remains to be done. We will continue to work together to ensure the Department addresses its critical needs and is positioned to be better trained, better equipped, and better prepared in the future. We owe that to the front line United States Capitol Police officers who protect Members of Congress, congressional officers, employees, and visitors to the Capitol every day. We also, by the way, owe that to their families. Chief Manger, thank you for being here with us today. I look forward to hearing from you as you reflect on the changes the Department has made over the past year and what work remains to be done." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: J. Thomas Manger.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin: January 2022

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  This January 2022 edition of the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin contains the following articles: "Patch Call: Bay View, Ohio, Police Department"; "Patch Call: Corona, California, Police Department"; "Forensic Spotlight: Dowsing for Human Remains -- Considerations for Investigators" by Michael A. Easter, M.S.F.S., and Angi M. Christensen, Ph.D. ; "Leadership Spotlight: Are You the Single Point of Failure?"; "Voice Modulation and Minimization in 911 Homicide Calls" by Leonard Opanashuk, J.D.; Cari J. Robins, J.D., M.A.; Melissa A. Merola, M.A., M.S.Ed.; Sarah W. Craun, Ph.D.; Michelle L. Miller, Psy.D.; and Arthur S. Chancellor; and "Bulletin Notes: 1/11/2022."

  United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation

  2022-01
• Southeast Asia Strategic Multilateral Biosecurity Dialogue with Participation from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States [December 14 and 16, 2021]

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  From the Introduction: "On December 14 and 16, 2021, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security held a second virtual meeting of the Southeast Asia Strategic Multilateral Biosecurity Dialogue. The ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, including health risks as well as quarantine requirements and other travel restrictions, necessitated hosting the meeting virtually. Additionally, many of our dialogue participants play important roles in their country's COVID-19 response, which makes it difficult for them to take time away from work for travel. In order to maintain the relationships that are so critical to the success of this dialogue and to share lessons from national-level COVID-19 response activities, we held a second virtual meeting, which built on the topics and challenges discussed in our previous meeting in February 2021. [...] This dialogue meeting consisted of 4 1-hour dialogue sessions across 2 meeting days. The meetings included participants from each of the 6 participating countries, including subject matter experts and current and former senior government officials from across healthcare and public health, national security and foreign affairs, homeland security/ home affairs, nonproliferation and disarmament, animal and agricultural health, journalism, and other relevant fields. The dialogue topics included an overview of the national-level COVID-19 responses since our February 2021 meeting and discussions on disease surveillance and vaccination activities. Notably, the participants also looked beyond the current pandemic to future biosecurity challenges, including identifying solutions from the COVID-19 pandemic that could be applicable to other threats."

  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Center for Health Security

  Cicero, Anita; Shearer, Matthew P.; Kaushal, Natasha

  2022
• Quarterly CARES Act Report to Congress, Hearing Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session on Examining Testimony from the Secretary of the Treasury and the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, as Required Under Title IV of the CARES Act, September 24, 2020

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  This is the September 24, 2020 hearing on "Quarterly CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act Report to Congress," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. From the opening statement of Mike Crapo: "Congress has appropriated nearly $3 trillion to protect, strengthen, and support Americans, to fight the pandemic, and also to stabilize the infrastructure of our economic system. Title IV of the CARES Act provided a $454 billion infusion into the Exchange Stabilization Fund to support the Federal Reserve's 13(3) emergency lending programs and facilities that facilitate liquidity in the marketplace and support eligible businesses, States, municipalities, and tribes. So far, approximately $195 billion of funds under Title IV of the CARES Act have been leveraged to provide trillions of dollars in liquidity back into the markets, supporting credit flow and helping to stabilize the economy through the Primary Market and Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facilities, the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, the Main Street Lending Program, and the Municipal Liquidity Facility. That leaves around $250 billion in funding remaining under Title IV of the CARES Act." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Steven T. Mnuchin and Jerome H. Powell.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Global Supply Chains and Small Business Trade Challenges, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations of the Committee on Small Business, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, October 20, 2021

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  This is the October 20, 2021 hearing on "Global Supply Chains and Small Business Trade Challenges," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations of the Committee on Small Business. From the opening statement of Dean Phillips: "The ongoing COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic is, what we hope, is a once-in-a-generation crisis that has created massive economic challenges for businesses and consumers alike. An extraordinary increase in demand for goods has exacerbated the many weaknesses in our supply chain, which predated this pandemic and has inflicted chaos on supply chains worldwide delaying the delivery of critical goods and products. The complexities of the global supply chain are often unseen and unappreciated, especially in an age where consumers have come to reliably expect rapid delivery of goods and products. That a port closure in Shanghai can impact a hardware store in Chaska, Minnesota is not a reality that lends itself easily to a sound bite on cable news or to political posturing in Washington. We are here today because we have a duty to investigate the challenges facing our small businesses and using what we have learned come together to address them. As I mentioned, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed cracks that have long been present at nearly every connection point in our global supply chain, and this is adding considerable economic stress to small businesses which are already suffering from the economic fallout of the pandemic." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Kevin Loe, Chris O'Brien, Christine Lantinen, and John ''Chuck'' Fowke.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• PRC Navy Likely Testing Carrier-Based Stealth Fighters

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  From the Document: "Two probable prototype carrier-based FC-31 variants appeared at the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Carrier Aviation Test and Training Base at Huangdicun in early November 2021. Satellite imagery shows the two aircraft parked on active runways, indicating they are operable prototypes rather than static mockups. The presence of these aircraft at the facility indicates the PLAN is actively pursuing development of a fifth-generation stealth fighter for its carrier program and has likely committed to an FC-31 variant for the role. It also corroborates an unofficial handheld photo of a parked FC-31 that circulated online in December 2021 and was said to have been taken at the base, especially as the photo was accompanied by claims of a second FC-31 not pictured."

  China Aerospace Studies Institute (U.S.)

  Salisbury, Daniel

  2022-01
• In Their Own Words: China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective, The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China

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  This document is a translation of a white paper on China's space program written by the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China. From the Preamble: "'To explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry and build China into a space power is our eternal dream,' stated President Xi Jinping. The space industry is a critical element of the overall national strategy, and China upholds the principle of exploration and utilization of outer space for peaceful purposes. Since 2016, China's space industry has made rapid and innovative progress, manifested by a steady improvement in space infrastructure, the completion and operation of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, the completion of the high-resolution earth observation system, steady improvement of the service ability of satellite communications and broadcasting, the conclusion of the last step of the three-step lunar exploration program ('orbit, land, and return'), the first stages in building the space station, and a smooth interplanetary voyage and landing beyond the earth-moon system by Tianwen-1, followed by the exploration of Mars. These achievements have attracted worldwide attention. In the next five years, China will integrate space science, technology and applications while pursuing the new development philosophy, building a new development model and meeting the requirements for high-quality development. [...] We are publishing this white paper to offer a brief introduction to China's major achievements in this field since 2016 and its main tasks in the next five years, in order to help the international community better understand China's space industry."

  China Aerospace Studies Institute (U.S.)

  2022-01
• 20 Years After 9/11: Transforming DHS to Meet the Homeland Security Mission, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, September 30, 2021

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  This is the September 30, 2021 hearing on "20 Years After 9/11: Transforming DHS to Meet the Homeland Security Mission," held before the House Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of J. Luis Correa: "As we look back on the last two decades, it is impossible to ignore how much has changed. The threats to our homeland and the ones we face today have grown beyond foreign terrorists to include cyber attacks, climate change, and domestic violent extremism. To meet these new threats, the Department of Homeland Security has evolved as well. A department that was once barely more than a collection of 22 Federal agencies has matured to become more cohesive and, therefore, more effective. But ensuring the Department's many components work together, coordinated in tandem, is a daily effort that still needs much more work. [...] DHS has created new offices to better coordinate information sharing, strategic planning, and overlapping operations. Today, I look forward to hearing from two representatives from DHS's Management Directorate about how the Department has changed and evolved over the last 20 years and how it is taking on new and evolving challenges. I also look forward to hearing from the Government Accountability Office, which has provided consistent oversight over the Department since its creation, especially through its biannual 'High-Risk List,' which is a report that identifies Government operations with significant vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, and abuse and mismanagement." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Chris Currie, Randolph ''Tex'' Alles, and Angela Bailey.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Child Welfare: HHS Should Facilitate Information Sharing Between States to Help Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Residential Facilities, Congressional Requesters

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  From the Highlights: "News media have reported several incidents of youth being maltreated by staff employed at residential facilities. Some of these youth were in the child welfare system and some had special needs. States oversee these facilities, and often contract with private providers to operate them. Little information is publicly available about incidents of maltreatment in federally funded residential facilities for youth. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review this issue. This report examines (1) how selected states help prevent and address maltreatment in federally funded residential facilities, (2) the challenges selected states face in reporting and collecting maltreatment data, and (3) the additional steps suggested by stakeholders to address maltreatment and how relevant federal agencies are supporting state efforts."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2022-01
• Vaccine Allocation Priorities Using Disease Surveillance and Economic Data

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  From the Abstract: "Vaccination is a critical tool, along with suppression and treatment, for controlling epidemics such as SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2]. To maximize the impact of vaccination, doses should be allocated to the highest value targets, accounting for health and potential economic benefits. We examine what allocation strategy is optimal and how to translate that strategy into actionable procurement decisions in the context of India. We compare 3 different allocation strategies (oldest first, highest contact rate first, random order) across 4 outcomes (lives saved, life years saved, value of statistical lives saved, value of statistical life years saved). We make 3 methodological contributions. First, we estimate the incremental health benefit of vaccination using novel, local seroprevalence data from India. Second, we estimate the value of statistical life year using disaggregated, monthly data on consumption during the pandemic. Third, and most importantly, we estimate social demand curves for vaccines that can practically guide government procurement decisions. Our analysis yields 4 novel findings. First, the need to speed-up vaccination does not justify deviation from elderly-first prioritization. Second, much of the value of vaccination comes from improvements in consumption rather than longevity. Moreover, vaccination increases the value of a life year because it increases consumption. Third, social demand for vaccination falls over time as natural immunity from infections increases. Therefore, the slower a country vaccinates its population, the fewer doses it should procure. Fourth, there is enough variation in consumption and infection risk that it makes sense to vaccinate some areas before others. Our approach of connecting epidemiological models and data on health and consumption to economic valuation methods generalizes to other infection control strategies, such as suppression, and public health crises, such as influenza and HIV."

  Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics

  Malani, Anup; Soman, Satej; Ramachandran, Sabareesh . . .

  2022-01
• International Climate Challenges and Opportunities, Hearing Before the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, October 28, 2021

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  This is the October 28, 2021 hearing on "International Climate Challenges and Opportunities," held before the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. From the opening statement of Kathy Castor: "Today, we will hear about the challenges and opportunities for international climate action as we prepare for the COP, the Conference of Parties 26, about to commence in Glasgow, Scotland. [...] We are at a very exciting inflection point for our country and for the planet. We now know that we are on the cusp of the most historic investment in clean energy and climate action that has ever been part of U.S. politics. Our economy is going to move forward through creating jobs, providing opportunities, but also addressing the very costly impacts of the climate crisis. [...] In this committee, we have focused on the solutions. We have talked about the opportunity to create millions of good-paying jobs, to protect the health of our children, and safeguard our economy, and of our imperative to ensure environmental justice for communities of color and Tribes. And, today, we are going to focus on those international benefits that come with solving the climate crisis, because not only will reducing pollution make life better for families here in America, it will also strengthen our partnerships abroad as we work with other nations to do the same." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Taryn Fransen, Tjada D'Oyen McKenna, Charles Henrick, and Alden Meyer.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Fueling the Climate Crisis: Exposing Big Oil's Disinformation Campaign to Prevent Climate Action, Hearing Before the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, October 28, 2021

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  This is the October 28, 2021 hearing on "Fueling the Climate Crisis: Exposing Big Oil's Disinformation Campaign to Prevent Climate Action," held before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. From the opening statement of Carolyn Maloney: "This is a historic hearing. For the first time, top fossil fuel executives are testifying together before Congress under oath about the industry's role in causing climate change and their efforts to cover it up. For far too long, Big Oil has escaped accountability for its central role in bringing our planet to the brink of a climate catastrophe. That ends today." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Darren Woods, Michael K. Wirth, David Lawler, Gretchen Watkins, Mike Sommers, Suzanne Clark, and Neal Crabtree.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Future of Telehealth: How COVID-19 is Changing the Delivery of Virtual Care, Virtual Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, March 2, 2021

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  This is the March 2, 2021 hearing on "Future of Telehealth: How COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] is Changing the Delivery of Virtual Care," held before the House Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. From the opening statement of Anna G. Eshoo: "I think it is time to make Medicare reimbursement for telehealth service permanent. [...] We are quickly learning how telehealth can be used to address specialty shortages. [...] I know that telehealth isn't the silver bullet for the deeper problems that exist in our healthcare system, but it has demonstrated great promise for high-quality, innovative care if we intentionally create legislation that fits our Nation's needs. Now that Medicare beneficiaries and Americans are receiving this important benefit, we need to find a way to continue affordable telehealth access for seniors and other Americans. So, from today's hearing, we will learn from providers, payers, and patients about their experiences with telehealth and be better able to chart a legislative path forward to deliver on the promise of telehealth." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Megan Mahoney, Ateev Mehrotra, Elizabeth Mitchell, Jack Resneck, and Frederic Riccardi.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Good for Business: Private Sector Perspectives on Climate Action, Hearing Before the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, October 20, 2021

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  This is the October 20, 2021 hearing on "Good for Business: Private Sector Perspectives on Climate Action," held before the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. From the opening statement of Kathy Castor: "The climate crisis has had a brutal impact on our nation this year. Not only did we experience the hottest month on record this summer, we have also had more disasters 9 months into this year than in any other year in our history. We have suffered 18 climate fueled major disasters in 2021, and that has left us with a price tag of over $104 billion in damages, and it is often working families and communities of color that--who shoulder the cost. Climate change is also harming America's businesses. Extreme weather events increase uncertainty and instability for workers and entrepreneurs, many of whom are one disaster away from losing their livelihoods. [...] Moving our economy toward clean energy is an economic imperative. We know climate progress means millions of good paying jobs. It also means increased innovation, boosted cost savings, and improved investor confidence. So I look forward to today's discussion." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Corley Kenna, Gilbert Campbell, Mark Menezes, and David Edsey.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Building Vaccine Confidence: Our Shot at Curbing the Pandemic in Chicago and Beyond, Hearing Before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, November 10, 2021

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  This is the November 10, 2021 hearing on "Building Vaccine Confidence: Our Shot at Curbing the Pandemic in Chicago and Beyond," held before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis of the Committee on Oversight and Reform. From the opening statement of Raja Krishnamoorthi: "As we vaccinate young children, we must continue to address vaccine hesitancy in historically underserved communities. We must continue the hyperlocal outreach that is working in Chicago. That means sending trusted messengers into their communities, and it means overall building vaccine confidence. We are going to hear from many people today about how well this approach works. We are going to hear from Mayor Lightfoot, who spearheaded the Protect Chicago 77 program, a community engagement program working to ensure 77 percent of Chicagoans 12 and older, across all 77 Chicago communities, have started their vaccinations by year's end. Chicago is getting close; it is at 75 percent, and climbing. To help get to 77 percent, every Chicagoan can talk to friends and loved ones about the vaccine. Businesses can require vaccinations for their staff and patrons. And we don't want to just hear from government leaders. We will be hearing from people who are out in their communities, doing the hard work of on-the-ground outreach." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Lori Lightfoot, Ngozi Ezike, Helene D. Gayle, Omar Khan, Martha Martinez, Don Abram, Ben O'Donnell, and Joseph Kanter.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Department of Defense Appropriations for 2022 [Part 2], Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session

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  This is from the April 20-21, 29, and May 4-5, 2021 hearings on "Department of Defense Appropriations for 2022 [Part 2]," held before the Subcommittee on Defense of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations. From the April 20, 2021 opening statement of Betty McCollum: "The President's initial budget outlines priorities and the need to counter threats from destabilizing actions in Russia and in China. The emphasis: the need to return to work with our allies and partners, particularly those in NATO, to defend our democratic values and the rule of law. Each of these priorities, I believe, reinforces the other. This too should be our focus, and our witness will describe for us the tools which EUCOM utilizes to attain these goals." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: David G. Bellon, David H. Berger, Jody J. Daniels, Michael Gilday, Thomas W. Harker, Daniel R. Hokanson, James C. McConville, Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr., John B. Mustin, Richard W. Scobee, Stephen J. Townsend, John E. Whitley, and Tod D. Wolters.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Department of Defense Appropriations for 2022 [Part 3], Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session

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  This is from the May 7, 18-20, 25-27, and October 26, 2021 hearings on "Department of Defense Appropriations for 2022 [Part 3]," held before the Subcommittee on Defense of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations. From the May 7, 2021 opening statement of Betty McCollum: "[T]his afternoon, the committee will receive testimony on the posture of United States Air Force and Space Force. Our three witnesses are the Honorable John Roth, Acting Secretary of the Air Force; General Charles Brown, Chief of Staff of the Air Force; and General John Raymond, Chief of the Air Space Operations. All three of our witnesses have long and very distinguished careers serving our country, and we thank you for your service. However, this is the first time each of you has testified before the committee, and we welcome you." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Terry Adirim, Lloyd J. Austin III, Xavier Beale, William Bonvillian, Amy Borman, Charles Q. Brown, Herbert Carlisle, Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr., Mark Correll, R. Scott Dingle Jr., Bruce L. Gillingham, Jose-Marie Griffiths, Dorothy A. Hogg, Richard Kidd, Mark A. Milley, Karnig Ohannessian, Ronald Place, John W. Raymond, and John P. Roth.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Global Supply Chain Disruptions and Inflation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  From the Document: "We investigate the role supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic played in U.S. producer price index (PPI) inflation. We exploit pre-pandemic cross-industry variation in sourcing patterns across countries and interact it with measures of international supply chain bottlenecks during the pandemic. We show that exposure to global supply chain disruptions played a significant role in U.S. cross-industry PPI inflation between January and November 2021. If bottlenecks had followed the same path as in 2019, PPI inflation in the manufacturing sector would have been 2 percentage points lower in January 2021 and 20 percentage points lower in November 2021."

  Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

  LaBelle, Jesse; Santacreu, Ana Maria

  2022
• Green Costa Rican COVID-19 Recovery: Aligning Costa Rica's Decarbonization Investments with Economic Recovery

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  From the Document: "In this report, we seek to understand in what ways the implementation of Costa Rica's National Decarbonization Plan, which would lead to an unprecedented economic transformation, could align with emergent needs for a just and robust recovery from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The intended audience of this report includes policymakers in Costa Rica and other Latin American countries and individuals working toward decarbonization worldwide."

  RAND Corporation

  Groves, David G.; Molina-Perez, Edmundo; Syme, James . . .

  2022
• Ensuring Equity in Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, October 27, 2021

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  This is the October 27, 2021 hearing on "Ensuring Equity in Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery," held before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Bennie G. Thompson: "Today the committee is meeting to examine how the Federal Government can ensure equity in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. [...] [A] growing body of evidence shows that in the wake of a disaster, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Race always appears to play a role in outcomes. According to a 2018 study, White Americans living in counties that received disaster aid gained over $100,000 in wealth compared to White Americans living in counties that did not experience a disaster. In contrast, Black and Latino Americans in areas that received disaster assistance lost thousands compared to their peers that had not experienced a disaster. A person's zip code or skin color should not affect how he or she fares in a disaster, but this is exactly what happens. Low-income and rural communities are especially at risk. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is aware of these inequities." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Lori Peek, Chauncia Willis, Christopher P. Currie, and James K. Joseph.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Transportation Cybersecurity: Protecting Planes, Trains, and Pipelines from Cyber Threats, Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation and the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, October 26, 2021

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  This is the October 26, 2021 joint hearing on "Transportation Cybersecurity: Protecting Planes, Trains, and Pipelines from Cyber Threats," held before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation and Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security. From the opening statement of Yvette D. Clarke: "We are here to assess the administration's actions aimed at mitigating the cybersecurity challenges facing the transportation sector. Earlier this year, our subcommittees worked together to evaluate how the Federal Government partners with the private sector to respond to a ransomware attack against Colonial Pipeline which resulted in 5,500 miles of pipeline being shut down. As panic led to fuel shortages at gas stations along the East Coast and airlines scrambled to find alternative fuel supplies, we learned that, No. 1, attackers infiltrated Colonial Pipeline's business network using a legacy VPN that did not require multifactor authentication; No. 2, the flow of information between Colonial Pipeline, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Transportation Security Administration was slow, fueled in part by on-going confusion about which agency was in charge; and, No. 3, despite repeated offers from TSA, Colonial Pipeline had not yet undergone an important security assessment, a validated architecture design review, and did not have a disaster response plan that contemplated a full--the full scope of cyber threats." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Suzanne Spaulding, Patricia F.S. Cogswell, Jeffrey L. Troy, and Scott Dickerson.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Restoring Justice: Addressing Violence in Native Communities Through VAWA Title IX Special Jurisdiction, Hearing Before the Committee on Indian Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, December 8, 2021

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  This is the December 8, 2021 hearing on "Restoring Justice: Addressing Violence in Native Communities Through VAWA [Violence Against Women Act] Title IX Special Jurisdiction," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. From the opening statement of Brian Schatz: "When it comes to the Violence Against Women Act, Congress does not have the luxury of forgetting this mandate. That is because every member of this Committee knows that public safety in Native communities is a problem. We have heard from tribal leaders, we have heard from law enforcement, and we have heard from the families of Native victims. Their message is consistent: doing nothing is not an option. We have heard that message loud and clear in 2013, with the last VAWA reauthorization. Almost a decade ago, this Committee came together on a bipartisan basis and voted to restore tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians who commit domestic violence in Indian Country. [...] For nearly a decade, tribes have made at least 396 arrests for VAWA-related crimes, and at least 133 subsequent convictions using special tribal jurisdiction. Despite the concerns of some, prior to the law passing, there had been zero valid habeas corpus petitions filed and zero, zero claims of due process violation. So what we will hear today is a story of success. Each of our witnesses will underscore the importance of special jurisdiction for Indian Country." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: J. Michael Chavarria, Michelle Demmert, Stacie Fourstar, Wizipan Little Elk Garriott, Allison L. Randall, Elizabeth A. Reese, and Fawn Sharp.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Small Business in Crisis: The 2020 Paycheck Protection Program and Its Future, Hearing Before the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, December 10, 2020

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  This is the December 10, 2020 hearing on "Small Business in Crisis: The 2020 Paycheck Protection Program and Its Future," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. From the opening statement of Marco Rubio: "The hearing will come to order, and today's hearing will be focused on the Paycheck Protection Program. I would like to thank everyone that is joining us, both in person and virtually. I want to welcome our witnesses before the Committee. I believe we have two virtually and two here in person. This pandemic, of course, has affected virtually every part of our lives--our health, our education, our jobs, our communities, our families, our economy, even the way we conduct business here." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Iman McFarland, Dafina Williams, and Thomas G. Zernick.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• BLM Standards for Fire Training and Workforce Development

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  From the Document Scope: "The 'BLM [Bureau of Land Management] Standards for Fire Training and Workforce Development' states, references, or supplements policy for BLM fire and fire aviation training, qualifications, and workforce development program management. Original source policy is stated or referenced throughout this document. This document attempts to reference policy, rather than paraphrase policy to limit duplication. This document is intended to comply with and support the Review and Update of the '1995 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy' (January 2001) and the 'Guidance for Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy' (February 13, 2009); 'A National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy', 2014; and the 'Integrated Rangeland Fire Management Strategy', 2015; and the 'Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations' [hyperlink] (Red Book), and other existing federal policy."

  United States. Bureau of Land Management

  2022
• Lessons for Nuclear Security from the UK's Response to Covid-19

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  From the Executive Summary: "The Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has complicated nuclear operations around the world including the implementation of nuclear security. While the pandemic's impact and responses to it have varied from country to country, there exist common challenges faced by the nuclear sector. These include an increase in worker absenteeism due to infections and enforced isolation, restrictions on onsite numbers and the proximity of staff to minimise the risk of transmission, a large-scale transition to remote working and disruption to key supply chains. This policy brief seeks to explore the impact of these and other challenges faced by the UK nuclear sector, examining how they have affected the delivery of security and the efficacy of new measures put in place to mitigate potential risks."

  King's College London. Centre for Science & Security Studies

  Tzinieris, Sarah; Hobbs, Christopher (Christopher Leslie); Foster, George

  2022
• China's Environmental Challenges and U.S. Responses, Hearing Before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, September 21, 2021

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  This is the September 21, 2021 hearing on "Congressional-Executive Commission on China," held before the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China. From the Opening Statement of Jeff Merkley: "The United States and China face many challenges related to the environment, from protecting air and water at home, to global action to address climate change. This hearing will expand the Commission's understanding of these issues at a critical time. We are less than six weeks before the world meets in Glasgow for COP26 [Conference of the Parties 26], the pivotal United Nations climate conference. The events of this summer demonstrate the ravages of climate chaos, from the deadly flooding in Zhengzhou in central China to raging wildfires and heat waves in the American West. And as the world heads into COP26, we face a stark choice: We can take urgent, bold, transformative action to transition to clean and renewable energy, or we can resign ourselves to ever-worsening impacts to our lives, our livelihoods, and our economies." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jennifer Turner, Jessica C. Teets, Emily T. Yeh, and Nyrola Elima.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• International Response to Ortega's Destruction of Democracy in Nicaragua, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, Migration and International Economic Policy of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, September 21 2021

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  This is the September 21 2021 hearing on "International Response to Ortega's Destruction of Democracy in Nicaragua," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, Migration and International Economic Policy of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the Opening Statement of Albio Sires: "Over the last 4 months, the Ortega regime has carried out a shameless campaign to eliminate the political opposition and consolidate a one-party dictatorship in Nicaragua. Even at a time when many governments in Latin America are dismantling democratic institutions, the Ortega regime's crackdown stands out for how brazen and sweeping it has been. The regime has rounded up nearly every potential challenger to Ortega and has not even tried to hide these arrests and forced disappearances under a veneer of legality. The message from Daniel Ortega is clear. He believes he will lose November's election if they are competitive. [...] Today I reiterate the long-standing call for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Nicaragua. I applaud the Biden Administration for its recent sanction against 100 regime officials and 50 family members for their acts of corruption and violations of human rights. The Administration has been consistent in condemning the Ortega regime's action and has worked to promote a more multilateral approach to Nicaragua. [...] The House of Representatives must urgently pass the RENACER [Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform] Act which will strengthen oversight of funds provided by international financial institutions and increase targeted sanctions against regime officials. This legislation will encourage the U.S. to continue working more closely with the European Union in implementing a sanctions framework." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Emily Mendrala, Berta Valle, Laura Chinchilla, ad Ryan C. Berg.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• 'Why Don't They Just Get in Line?' Barriers to Legal Immigration, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship of the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, April 28, 2021

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  This is the April 28, 2021 hearing on "'Why Don't They Just Get in Line?' Barriers to Legal Immigration," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship of the Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening Statement of Zoe Lofgren: "I'd like to welcome our Witnesses and the Members of the Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee to today's hearing on barriers to legal immigration. Today, we'll explore the question, why don't they just get in line? For many, that question can be answered in one of two ways: For some, there simply is no line; and for others, the line is so long that they will never get to the front. The framework for our legal immigration system dates back to 1952 and 1965, and was last updated more than 30 years ago. In 1990, Congress established the worldwide numerical limits on immigrant visas that still exist today, as well as the so-called per-country cap which further limits the number of visas that can be issued to nationals of any single foreign State. This outdated framework is now failing our Nation. Over the past three decades, the worldwide limits and per-country cap have led to wait times that were unimaginable in 1990. Today, an estimated 3.8 million individuals are waiting for a family-based immigrant visa, while approximately 1 million individuals wait for employment-based visas." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John C. Yang, David J. Bier, Pareen Mhatre, and Robert Law.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Creating a Framework for Rules- Based Order in Space, Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces of the Committee on Armed Services, Meeting Jointly with the Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations and Global Corporate Social Impact of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, May 5, 2021

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  This is the May 5, 2021 hearing on "Creating a Framework for Rules- Based Order in Space," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Strategic Forces of the Committee on Armed Services and the Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations and Global Corporate Social Impact of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the Opening Statement of Jim Cooper: "Space has captured human imagination since the beginning of time. But it is still a long, long way from being understood by our political leaders, diplomats, and lawyers, at least in a way that the many nations of Earth can agree upon. Now scientists have made great progress in helping us reach, explore, and even briefly inhabit the harsh domain above us, but the rest of us are much slower to follow or even understand where the scientists are enabling us to travel. Many nations and even some corporations are exploring high above the Earth's atmosphere, testing the infinite number of ways that mastering space can help the 7.6 billion of us who live down here on the Earth. The Space Age is about 70 years old, and the foundational Outer Space Treaty [OST] is just over 50 years old. That should tell us something. Unfortunately, precious little has happened since the OST to organize human efforts in the inhuman space domain. Space is in danger of becoming the Wild Wild West, where every satellite, astronaut, cosmonaut, or taikonaut has to defend itself." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John D. Hill, Jonathan M. Moore, Bruce I. Turner, and Stephen N. Whiting.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Examining the U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, September 14, 2021

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  This is the September 14, 2021 hearing on "Examining the U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. From the Opening Statement of Robert Menendez: "Let me turn to the focus of today's hearing. Mr. Secretary, the execution of the U.S. withdrawal was clearly and fatally flawed. This committee expects to receive a full explanation of the Administration's decisions on Afghanistan since coming into office last January. There has to be accountability."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022