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'California is Not Adequately Prepared to Protect Its Most Vulnerable Residents from Natural Disasters'
From the Summary: "In recent years, California has experienced an increase in the frequency and destructive nature of wildfires. Experts predict that the recent trend of increased frequency and severity of wildfires will continue, requiring the State to be prepared to protect its residents more often from more dangerous natural disasters than it has in the past. The State's emergency management system designates local governments--such as counties--as primarily responsible for emergency preparedness and response. In that role, the local governments should develop emergency response plans (emergency plans) that adequately prepare them to protect all residents, including the most vulnerable. We reviewed the extent to which three counties'--Butte County (Butte), Sonoma County (Sonoma), and Ventura County (Ventura)--emergency planning incorporated best practices and the effect that not following those best practices had on their responses to recent wildfires. We determined that the counties have not adequately followed key practices for emergency planning, including having emergency plans for alerting, evacuating, and sheltering residents and assessing the needs of their communities in advance of disaster events. As a result, the counties are less prepared for future natural disasters, which may place the residents for whom they are responsible at greater risk of harm."
California. State Auditor (2013- )
2019-12
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'Youth Suicide Prevention'': Local Educational Agencies Lack the Resources and Policies Necessary to Effectively Address Rising Rates of Youth Suicide and Self-Harm
From the Summary: "Youth suicide is a growing health crisis in California. The annual number of suicides of youth ages 12 to 19 increased by 15 percent statewide from 2009 to 2018. In addition, instances of youth committing acts of self-harm--behavior that is self-directed and deliberately results in injury--increased by 50 percent during the same period. Because students spend a significant amount of time in school, school personnel are well positioned to recognize the warning signs of suicide risk and to make the appropriate referrals for help. Schools can more effectively assist students if they have appropriate suicide prevention policies in place, if they train their faculty and staff to recognize and respond to youth who are at risk of suicide or self-harm, and if they employ an adequate number of professionals, such as school counselors, who provide mental health services. The deficiencies we found in these areas during our review suggest that many county offices of education, school districts, and charter schools--known collectively as local educational agencies (LEAs)--could do more to address youth suicide and self-harm. In 2016 the Legislature passed a law requiring LEAs that serve students in grades 7 to 12 to adopt suicide prevention policies. However, the six LEAs we reviewed--three school districts and three charter schools--have not adopted policies that fully address the statutory requirements and the best practices that the California Department of Education (Education) recommends in the model policy it created in response to the 2016 law."
California. State Auditor (2013- )
2020-09
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'Youth Experiencing Homelessness': California's Education System for K-12 Inadequately Identifies and Supports These Youth
From the Summary: "According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more people in California experience homelessness than in any other state in the nation. The population experiencing homelessness includes a significant number of youth whose performance outcomes often suffer as a result. Federal law defines 'youth experiencing homelessness' as those lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and it includes those who share housing with other persons because of economic hardship or live in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, or similar settings. To address some of the challenges that these youth may face, federal law requires states to ensure that they have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education available to other youth. The federal McKinney-Vento Education Assistance Improvement Act (McKinney-Vento Act) provides federal funds to states to identify these youth and provide services to enable them to enroll in, attend, and succeed in school. The California Department of Education (Education) is responsible for overseeing and administering education, including the education of youth experiencing homelessness in California. Local educational agencies (LEAs)-- school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools-- designate local liaisons who are responsible for ensuring that school personnel identify youth experiencing homelessness and provide them with educationally related support services."
California. State Auditor (2013- )
2019-11
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'State High Risk': The California State Auditor's Updated Assessment of High-Risk Issues Faced by the State and Select State Agencies
From the Background: "State law authorizes the California State Auditor (State Auditor) to develop a state high-risk government agency audit program (high risk program). Our office uses this program to improve the operation of state government by identifying, auditing, and recommending improvements to state agencies and statewide issues at high risk for waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement or for having major challenges associated with their economy, efficiency, or effectiveness. In accordance with this statutory authority, the State Auditor adopted regulations in 2016 that further describe the high risk program. As we outline below, these regulations provide the criteria we used in determining the list of high-risk agencies and issues we present in this report."
California. State Auditor (2013- )
2020-01
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'Employment Development Department': EDD's Poor Planning and Ineffective Management Left it Unprepared to Assist Californians Unemployed by COVID-19 Shutdowns
From the Summary: "In March 2020, government directives ordered businesses to close and residents to stay at home in response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic (pandemic). Millions of Californians were left unemployed and in critical need of assistance to replace some of the income on which they relied to pay for essentials such as housing and food. The Employment Development Department (EDD) administers the State's unemployment insurance (UI) program. The economic shutdowns in early 2020 led to historically high numbers of UI claims in a very short time (claim surge), and further shutdowns began in December 2020, raising the potential for additional spikes in unemployment. This audit reviewed EDD's response to the claim surge, its handling of the resulting backlog of unpaid claims, and the assistance it has provided to individuals through its call center."
California. State Auditor (2013- )
2021-01
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Household Hazardous Waste Removal: EPA Should Develop a Formal Lessons Learned Process for Its Disaster Response, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In 2018 and 2020, California experienced record-setting fire seasons, resulting in the damage to or destruction of over 20,000 structures. EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] plays a significant role in responding to some wildfires and coordinates federal efforts to assist with the removal of household hazardous waste. Following a fire, EPA recommends special handling and disposal for these products, particularly if their containers are compromised. The Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019, includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review a range of response and recovery issues following the 2018 disaster season. This report examines (1) the steps EPA took to remove household hazardous waste after the 2018 and 2020 wildfires in California and (2) the extent to which EPA conducted lessons learned activities following its wildfire responses. GAO reviewed relevant agency documents related to household hazardous waste removal after wildfires and applied criteria for planning lessons learned activities. GAO interviewed representatives from federal agencies, as well as state and local officials involved in the response to the 2018 and 2020 wildfires."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-03
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 2297, International Pandemic Preparedness and COVID-19 Response Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on July 28, 2021. From the Document: "S. 2297 would authorize appropriations of $5 billion over the 2022-2026 period for programs that would help other countries implement health security strategies and respond to public health emergencies. Those amounts would be used to: [1] Make contributions to the Fund for Global Health Security and Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness, a new public-private international financing mechanism that would be authorized by the bill; [2] Replenish an emergency reserve fund at the United States Agency for International Development; [3] Make contributions to the World Bank's fund for health emergencies; and [4] Strengthen bilateral assistance with partner countries by implementing the Global Health Security Agenda."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-03-17
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Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (Polar Icebreaker) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated February 28, 2022]
From the Summary: "The Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program is a program to acquire three new PSCs (i.e., heavy polar icebreakers), to be followed years from now by the acquisition of up to three new Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs) (i.e., medium polar icebreakers). The PSC program has received a total of $1,754.6 million (i.e., about $1.8 billion) in procurement funding through FY2021, including $300 million that was provided through the Navy's shipbuilding account in FY2017 and FY2018. With the funding the program has received through FY2021, the first two PSCs are now fully funded. The Coast Guard says the first PSC is to be delivered to the Coast Guard in the spring of 2025. The Coast Guard's proposed FY2022 budget requests $170.0 million in procurement funding for the PSC program, which would be used for, among other things, procuring long leadtime materials (LLTM) for the third PSC."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2022-02-28
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Russian State-Sponsored Cyber Actors Gain Network Access by Exploiting Default Multifactor Authentication Protocols and 'PrintNightmare' Vulnerability
From the Summary: "The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are releasing this joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) to warn organizations that Russian state-sponsored cyber actors have gained network access through exploitation of default MFA [Multifactor Authentication] protocols and a known vulnerability. As early as May 2021, Russian state-sponsored cyber actors took advantage of a misconfigured account set to default MFA protocols at a non-governmental organization (NGO), allowing them to enroll a new device for MFA and access the victim network. The actors then exploited a critical Windows Print Spooler vulnerability, 'PrintNightmare' (CVE [Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures]-2021-34527) to run arbitrary code with system privileges. Russian state-sponsored cyber actors successfully exploited the vulnerability while targeting an NGO using Cisco's Duo MFA, enabling access to cloud and email accounts for document exfiltration. This advisory provides observed tactics, techniques, and procedures, indicators of compromise (IOCs), and recommendations to protect against Russian state-sponsored malicious cyber activity."
United States. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency
2022-03-15
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Financial Audit: Fiscal Years 2018 and 2017 Consolidated Financial Statements of the U.S. Government
From the Document: "This report transmits the results of GAO's [Government Accountability Office] audit of the U.S. government's fiscal years 2018 and 2017 consolidated financial statements. GAO's audit report is incorporated on page 226 in the enclosed Fiscal Year 2018 Financial Report of the United States Government (2018 Financial Report) prepared by the Secretary of the Treasury in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2019-03-28
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Next Republican Culture War Attack: 'Anti- White' COVID-19 Drug Guidance
From the Document: "America's hospitals are filled with unvaccinated COVID [coronavirus disease] patients, many of whom have bought the dangerous narrative peddled by anti-vaxxers and Republican politicians who failed the nation when COVID first struck and continue to fail the nation today. To deflect from their failure, the newest Republican culture war attack, coming directly from former President Donald Trump [hyperlink] and Fox News' Tucker Carlson [hyperlink], accuses Democrats and the Administration of 'anti-white racism' when it comes to the use of the limited supply of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] treatments. Make no mistake. Republicans are desperate to try to shift blame by creating a culture war where there is none. And they are trying to divide Americans even further, for their own benefit. Let's examine the facts and address this attack head on."
Third Way
Ahmadi, Ladan
2022-02-01
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COVID-19: United States, China and Russia: Great Powers Worry Public Opinion
From the Introduction: "Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] crisis, this paper examines how citizens in seven democracies (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) view the influence and concern of the great powers of China, the United States and Russia. This proposed analysis is part of an international study entitled 'Citizens' Attitudes Under COVID-19 Pandemic', in which the Fondation pour l'innovation politique is a stakeholder. [...] This programme aims to provide an unprecedented monitoring of public opinion in the context of the Covid-19 crisis: feelings experienced, one's relationship to health safety, acceptance or weariness regarding the protective devices put in place or public health recommendations, etc. These surveys should enable, on the one hand, a better understanding of the way in which different publics adapt psychologically to the measures of social distancing and, on the other hand, a better apprehension of consent in relation to the measures put in place. All the data from the survey is available to the public in open data on data.fondapol.org [hyperlink]."
Fondation pour l'innovation politique
Delage, Victor
2020-06
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Americans' Trust in Scientists, Other Groups Declines: Republicans' Confidence in Medical Scientists Down Sharply Since Early in the Coronavirus Outbreak
From the Document: "Americans' confidence in groups and institutions has turned downward compared with just a year ago. Trust in scientists and medical scientists, once seemingly buoyed by their central role in addressing the coronavirus outbreak, is now below pre-pandemic levels. [...] Overall, 29% of U.S. adults say they have a great deal of confidence in medical scientists to act in the best interests of the public, down from 40% who said this in November 2020. Similarly, the share with a great deal of confidence in scientists to act in the public's best interests is down by 10 percentage points (from 39% to 29%), according to a new Pew Research Center survey. The new findings represent a shift in the recent trajectory of attitudes toward medical scientists and scientists. Public confidence in both groups had increased shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak, according to an April 2020 survey [hyperlink]. Current ratings of medical scientists and scientists have now fallen below where they were in January 2019, before the emergence of the coronavirus."
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press
Kennedy, Brian; Tyson, Alec; Funk, Cary
2022
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Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) [Updated March 4, 2022]
From the Overview: "The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is Southeast Asia's primary multilateral organization, a 10- member grouping of nations with a combined population of 660 million and a combined annual gross domestic product (GDP) of around $3.1 trillion in 2021. Established in 1967, it has grown into one of the world's largest regional fora, representing a strategically important region straddling some of the world's busiest sea lanes, including the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. Taken collectively, ASEAN would rank as the world's fifth-largest economy and the United States' fourth-largest export market. ASEAN's members are Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Members rotate as chair: Cambodia is ASEAN's chair for 2022 and Indonesia is to assume the chair in 2023. ASEAN engages in a wide range of diplomatic, economic and security discussions through hundreds of annual meetings and through a secretariat based in Jakarta, Indonesia. In 2008, the United States became the first non-ASEAN nation to appoint a representative to ASEAN, and in 2011 it opened a U.S. mission to ASEAN in Jakarta with a resident ambassador. Several other nations have followed suit. President Biden plans a formal meeting with ASEAN's leaders March 28-29 in Washington, DC."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dolven, Ben
2022-03-04
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AUKUS Nuclear Cooperation [Updated March 11, 2022]
From the Document: "On December 1, 2021, President Joseph Biden submitted to Congress an 'Agreement among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States for the Exchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information.' This In Focus explains the agreement's substance, as well as provisions of the Atomic Energy Act (AEA) of 1954, as amended (P.L. 83- 703; 42 U.S.C. [United States Code]
§§2153 et seq.), concerning the content and congressional review of such agreements. An accompanying message to Congress explains that the agreement would permit the three governments to 'communicate and exchange Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information and would provide authorization to share certain Restricted Data as may be needed during trilateral discussions' concerning a project to develop Australian nuclear-powered submarines. This project is part of an 'enhanced trilateral security partnership' named AUKUS [Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States], which the three governments announced on September 15, 2021. The United States has a similar nuclear naval propulsion arrangement only with the United Kingdom pursuant to the bilateral 1958 Mutual Defense Agreement. The partnership's first initiative, according to a September 15 Joint Statement, is an 18-month study 'to seek an optimal pathway to deliver' this submarine capability to Australia. This study is to include 'building on' the U.S. and UK nuclear-powered submarine programs 'to bring an Australian capability into service at the earliest achievable date.' The study is 'in the early stages,' according to a November 2021 non-paper from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which adds that '[m]any of the program specifics have yet to be determined.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kerr, Paul K.; Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham
2022-03-11
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Army Corps of Engineers: Environmental Infrastructure (EI) Assistance [Updated March 7, 2022]
From the Document: "Congress typically authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) activities in omnibus authorization laws, often titled Water Resources Development Acts (WRDAs). Since WRDA 1992 (P.L. 102-580), Congress has authorized and funded USACE assistance with design and construction of infrastructure in specified municipalities, counties, and states. This assistance supports publicly owned and operated facilities, such as water distribution works, stormwater collection, surface water protection projects, and environmental restoration, among others. This USACE assistance is broadly labeled 'environmental infrastructure' (EI)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Normand, Anna E.
2022-03-07
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Bahrain: Issues for U.S. Policy [Updated March 10, 2022]
From the Summary: "Bahrain is a small island nation, ruled by a hereditary monarchy, that is in a partnership with other Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf called the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman). Bahrain is led by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who succeeded his father, Shaykh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, upon his death in 1999. U.S.-Bahrain ties are long-standing and have deepened over the past four decades as the Gulf region has faced threats from Iran's increasing strategic capabilities. Bahrain has hosted a U.S. naval command headquarters for the Gulf region since 1948, and the United States and Bahrain have had a formal Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) since 1991. In 2004, Bahrain was designated by the United States as a 'major non-NATO ally.' There are about 7,000 U.S. forces, mostly Navy, serving at the naval facility and other bases in Bahrain, and the country is a significant buyer of U.S.-made arms."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth; Collins, Sarah
2022-03-10
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Capitalising on Crises: How VRWEs Exploit the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lessons for P/CVE
From the Document: "The main goal of this paper is to identify the main manifestations and threats connected with the exploitation of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. This paper firstly deals with a general assessment of crisis as opportunities for RWE/VRWE. Secondly, the most important manifestations of RWE/VRWE [right-wing extremism/violent right-wing extremism] in a global scope and especially in the EU during the recent corona-crisis are described and analysed as are briefly predicted possible future 'black scenarios' of VRWE in close connection to the propagandist narratives and tools of RWE. Thirdly, the issues of P/CVE [preventing and countering violent extremism] are discussed and, fourthly, basic recommendations for practitioners and policymakers are formulated[.] [...] The paper is based on data and categorisations that are included in policy papers, first scientific articles on this topic, media sources, reports of governmental institutions and international organisations, primary sources from the RWE milieu and security forces, and, in a limited scope, also on observation of several protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic by the author of this paper. A simple analysis of risks and threats and forecasting approaches (exploration of contemporary trends) are used. [...] The paper also covers only a part of the development of the issue and can serve as a source for future research and P/CVE activities. Mainly the potential economic crisis and the results of increasing societal polarisation in the wake of the recent corona-crisis will create new opportunities for RWE/VRWE."
European Commission; RAN Centre of Excellence
Mareš, Miroslav, 1974-
2021
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Cluster Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated March 9, 2022]
From the Summary: "Cluster munitions are air-dropped or ground-launched weapons that release a number of smaller submunitions intended to kill enemy personnel or destroy vehicles. Cluster munitions were developed in World War II and are part of many nations' weapons stockpiles. Cluster munitions have been used frequently in combat, including the early phases of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Cluster munitions have been criticized internationally for causing a significant number of civilian deaths, and efforts have been undertaken to ban and regulate their use. The Department of Defense (DOD) continues to view cluster munitions as a military necessity but in 2008 instituted a policy to reduce the failure rate of cluster munitions (a major contributor to civilian casualties) to 1% or less after 2018. In November 2017, DOD issued a new DOD policy that essentially reversed the 2008 policy. Under the new policy, combatant commanders can use cluster munitions that do not meet the 1% or less unexploded submunitions standard in extreme situations to meet immediate warfighting demands. In addition, the new policy does not establish a deadline to replace cluster munitions exceeding the 1% rate and states that DOD 'will retain cluster munitions currently in active inventories until the capabilities they provide are replaced with enhanced and more reliable munitions.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew; Kerr, Paul K.
2022-03-09
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Protection Considerations for Violent Extremist Threats to Public Officials
From the Document: "Violent extremists continue to encourage attacks against public officials, to incite violence, chaos, and create political instability. Violent extremists justify their actions through grievances, such as perceived government and law enforcement overreach; the anticipation of opposing legislative changes; and the proliferation of misinformation and conspiracy theories, all of which might intensify enduring grievances and encourage violent extremists to threaten violence or attack public officials. While most threats and attacks against public officials have been criminal and not associated with terrorism, the increase in threats targeting federal, state and local public officials--particularly in public gatherings-- highlights unique protection, security, and public safety challenges."
National Counterterrorism Center (U.S.); United States. Department of Homeland Security; United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation
2022-02-17
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Biological Security Engagement in Ukraine: U.S. Cooperation and Threat Reduction Programs [March 11, 2022]
From the Document: "During its invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government has accused [hyperlink] Ukraine of possessing a clandestine biological weapons program with support from the United States. To the contrary, the United States has cooperated with Ukraine on biological security programs ranging from laboratory security to disease surveillance and pandemic response, as documented by the U.S. embassy website [hyperlink], annual budget requests, and congressional oversight hearings. These programs are rooted in the U.S. Cooperative Threat Reduction Program (CTR) [hyperlink]. The United States and Ukraine are both members of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which prohibits such weapons, and the United States has stated that both are in full compliance with their obligations. The State Department assesses [hyperlink] that the Russian government 'maintains an offensive biological weapons program' in violation of the BWC. Congress has raised questions about this issue in recent hearings. U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Avril Haines testified [hyperlink] on March 10 that 'we do not assess that Ukraine is pursuing either biological weapons or nuclear weapons.' State Department Spokesman Ned Price said [hyperlink] on March 9, 'Russia is inventing false pretexts in an attempt to justify its own horrific actions in Ukraine.' The allegation has led to concern [hyperlink] that Russia may be planning a 'false flag' operation in which it plants evidence or uses a biological weapon against Ukraine but blames another party."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham
2022-03-11
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CDBG-DR Expenditure Reporting and Status Designations: Updated Methodology [March 1, 2022]
From the Document: "In January 2022, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a new version of its monthly expenditure report on Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) [hyperlink]. The 'Monthly CDBG-DR Grants Financial Report' [hyperlink] provides a snapshot of grant amounts, unexpended balances, and spending status ('on pace' or 'slow spender'). Prior to the January publication, HUD had postponed publication of monthly reporting on expenditure status [hyperlink] since April 2020 [hyperlink], citing potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on grantee administration and implementation of CDBG-DR projects. With the January report, HUD unveiled an updated methodology [hyperlink] for designating grant spending status, with the intent to 'more accurately reflect State and local government long-term disaster recovery efforts.' This Insight reviews CDBG-DR monthly financial reporting and expenditure status designations. It also describes HUD's recent methodological change for assessing expenditure status and concludes with some observations for congressional consideration. For more background information on CDBG-DR, see CRS Report R46475, 'The Community Development Block Grant's Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Component: Background and Issues', by Joseph V. Jaroscak."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jaroscak, Joseph V.
2022-03-01
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Executive Order 14069: Advancing Economy, Efficiency, and Effectiveness in Federal Contracting by Promoting Pay Equity and Transparency
From the Document: "It is the policy of my Administration to eliminate discriminatory pay practices that inhibit the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Federal workforce and the procurement of property and services by the Federal Government. The Office of Personnel Management anticipates issuing a proposed rule that will address the use of salary history in the hiring and pay-setting processes for Federal employees, consistent with Executive Order 14035 of June 25, 2021 (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce). The purpose of this order is to direct the consideration of parallel efforts with respect to Federal procurement."
United States. Office of the Federal Register
Biden, Joseph R., Jr.
2022-03-15
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Emergency Relief Funds: Significant Improvements Are Needed to Ensure Transparency and Accountability for COVID-19 and Beyond, Statement of Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, Testimony Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate
From the Highlights: "During emergencies, federal agencies must get relief funds out quickly while ensuring appropriate financial safeguards are in place. GAO [Government Accountability Office] noted early in the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic that agencies gave priority to swiftly distributing funds and implementing new programs; however, tradeoffs were made that limited progress in achieving transparency and accountability goals. As of January 31, 2022 (the most recent data available), the federal government had obligated $4.2 trillion and expended $3.6 trillion, 90 percent and 79 percent, respectively, of the $4.6 trillion in funds from six COVID-19 relief laws. This testimony focuses on GAO's assessment of (1) federal agencies' application of fundamental internal controls and financial and fraud risk management practices for COVID-19 spending, and (2) opportunities for Congress to improve these practices during emergencies and national crises. GAO reviewed its COVID-19 findings on internal controls and financial and fraud risk management practices. GAO compared those findings to fundamental practices for internal control, financial management, and fraud risk management."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Dodaro, Gene L.
2022-03-17
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Aircraft Noise: FAA Should Improve Efforts to Address Community Concerns, Statement of Heather Krause, Director Physical Infrastructure, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Aviation, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "While airports provide access to transportation for millions of people each day, aircraft noise can be disruptive to communities. It can potentially expose residents to a variety of negative effects, such as disrupted sleep and health issues, and spur community objections to airport operations and growth. FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] has a responsibility to balance the growing demand for aviation capacity against the effects of aircraft noise on the environment and communities. It works to address noise concerns by (1) ensuring that aircraft meet federal noise standards, (2) assessing potential noise effects of proposed flight path changes, and (3) conducting community outreach on the potential noise impacts of such changes, among other efforts. This statement describes FAA's efforts to engage with communities on aircraft noise concerns related to PBN implementation, among other issues. It is based largely on GAO's [Government Accountability Office's] 2020 and 2021 work on aviation noise, including GAO-21-103933 [hyperlink]. To update this work, GAO reviewed information from FAA on its efforts to implement GAO's recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Krause, Heather
2022-03-17
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China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities--background and Issues for Congress [Updated March 8, 2022]
From the Summary: "In an era of renewed great power competition, China's military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, has become the top focus of U.S. defense planning and budgeting. China's navy, which China has been steadily modernizing for more than 25 years, since the early to mid-1990s, has become a formidable military force within China's near-seas region, and it is conducting a growing number of operations in more-distant waters, including the broader waters of the Western Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and waters around Europe. China's navy is viewed as posing a major challenge to the U.S. Navy's ability to achieve and maintain wartime control of blue-water ocean areas in the Western Pacific--the first such challenge the U.S. Navy has faced since the end of the Cold War. China's navy forms a key element of a Chinese challenge to the long-standing status of the United States as the leading military power in the Western Pacific. Some U.S. observers are expressing concern or alarm regarding the pace of China's naval shipbuilding effort and resulting trend lines regarding the relative sizes and capabilities of China's navy and the U.S. Navy. China's naval modernization effort encompasses a wide array of ship, aircraft, and weapon acquisition programs, as well as improvements in maintenance and logistics, doctrine, personnel quality, education and training, and exercises. China's navy has currently has certain limitations and weaknesses, and is working to overcome them."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2022-03-08
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Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney [June 8, 2011]
In this June 08, 2011 press briefing, Press Secretary Jay Carney provides information and takes questions on the readout of President Obama's video teleconference with President Karzai of Afghanistan, Libya and the various resolutions in the Senate, the White House reaction to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting, the White House reaction to the increasing number of businesses seeking alternative insurance options to employer-based coverage, the approaching meeting with the President of Gabon, the President's reaction to the report from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats, the public opinion of the President's efforts to improve the economy and the tools that he plans to implement in order to reach this goal, the status of current communication between Obama and the President of France, current counterinsurgency policy and the drawdown of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
2011-06-08
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Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney [August 4, 2011]
In this August 4, 2011 Press Briefing, Press Secretary Carney makes several announcements and then answers questions. Secretary Carney makes announcements on the new historic fuel-efficiency standards for cars and trucks, President Obama's continuing commitment to helping Americans save money at the gas station, and Obama's upcoming visit to Interstate Moving Services in Virginia to announce fuel-efficiency standards for trucks. Carney then answers questions on the Federal Aviation (FAA) Furlough Dispute, the status of the stock market, current national and global effects on the U.S. economy, and Obama's work with congress on financial management.
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
2011-08-04
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Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney [November 1, 2011]
In this November 1, 2011 press briefing, Press Secretary Jay Carney answers questions regarding the following subjects: the European debt crisis; Syria and the Arab Spring; the American Jobs Act, U.S. transportation infrastructure; Wall Street reform; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding for the relief of Hurricane Irene and the denial of financial assistance to Louisa County, Virginia following an earthquake; Executive and Congressional efforts to reduce unemployment; U.S. infrastructure policy for bridge repair; State's individual immigration policies; reforms to homeowners wanting to refinance their mortgages (HARP); and Federal response to specific protesters.
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
2011-11-01
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Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council: Progress Report to Leaders
From the Document: "As partners in the largest bilateral trading relationship in the world, and as part of highly integrated supply chains, individual Canadian and American firms move tens of thousands of shipments of goods back and forth across our shared border on a daily basis to access each other's market. Such shipments often experience impediments both at and behind the border because of the two nations' individual regulatory requirements. It was in this context that Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper and United States President Barack Obama issued a Joint Statement on February 4, 2011, creating the Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) which subsequently issued the Joint Action Plan on December 7, 2011. In the year since this announcement, steady progress has been achieved in advancing regulatory cooperation between our two countries[.] […] This Report provides an update on the progress that has been achieved over the past year."
United States. White House Office
2012-12
