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• Federal Support for School Safety and Security [August 10, 2021]

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  From the Summary: "In the United States, more than 70 million students are enrolled in public elementary and secondary (K-12) schools or degree-granting postsecondary institutions. School and campus safety and security for these students encompasses many issues, including violence prevention and response, school climate, and the physical and mental health of the school community. Students' safety and security while in school is a paramount concern of the federal government and state and local governments, as well as school districts, institutions of higher education, students' families, and Members of Congress."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dragoo, Kyrie E.; Reese, Shawn; James, Nathan . . .

  2021-08-10
• Navy Constellation (FFG-62) Class Frigate Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated August 10, 2021]

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  From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and discusses potential issues for Congress regarding the Navy's Constellation (FFG-62) class frigate program, a program to procure a new class of 20 guided-missile frigates (FFGs). The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requests $1,087.9 million (i.e., about $1.1 billion) for the procurement of the third FFG-62, and $69.1 million in advance procurement (AP) funding for the fourth and fifth FFG-62s, which are programmed for procurement in one or more future fiscal years. The FFG-62 program presents several potential oversight issues for Congress. Congress's decisions on the program could affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  O'Rourke, Ronald

  2021-08-10
• Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP): Replanting, Delayed Planting, and Prevented Planting [August 12, 2021]

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  From the Summary: "The federal crop insurance program (FCIP) offers farmers the opportunity to purchase insurance coverage against financial losses caused by certain adverse growing and market conditions. FCIP policies provide indemnities for losses on planted acres and payments for replanting acres after losses. In addition, some FCIP policies provide payments for certain situations where planting is not possible. These payments can help farmers manage cash flow and financial risk for their operations. The FCIP imposes certain production and reporting deadlines that producers must meet in order to maintain eligibility for indemnity payments on their FCIP coverage. These deadlines vary by crop and location. The FCIP has specific rules around replanting, delayed planting, and prevented planting to limit opportunities for waste, fraud, and abuse in the program. [...] This report reviews the connections between crop planting cycles and FCIP policy deadlines, and provides an overview of FCIP rules for replanting, delayed planting, and prevented planting. As part of its ongoing oversight of the FCIP, Congress may wish to consider whether the rules governing delayed planning, replanting, and prevented planting provide consistent risk protection across crops and years; strike the right balance between the cost of replanting and prevented planting payments while providing adequate coverage for producers; provide incentives for farmers to engage in agricultural conservation practices; and whether there are opportunities to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Rosch, Stephanie

  2021-08-12
• Health Insurance Continuation Coverage Under COBRA [Updated August 13, 2021]

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  From the Summary: "Under Title X of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA; P.L. 99-272), a private-sector employer with 20 or more employees that provides health insurance benefits must provide qualified employees and their families the option of continuing their coverage under the employer's group health insurance plan in the case of certain events. Employers that fail to provide the continued health insurance option are subject to penalties. (COBRA also created similar requirements on state and local government employers; however, this report focuses on the requirements applicable to private-sector employers.) [...] This report provides a simplified explanation of who qualifies for COBRA continuation coverage, the nature of COBRA continuation coverage, and corresponding employer and employee responsibilities.It also incorporates descriptions of the temporary relief that was provided on May 4, 2020, by the Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration and Internal Revenue Service in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (as it pertains to COBRA continuation coverage). This relief extends various COBRA time frames and was intended to help minimize the possibility that individuals would lose health insurance because they failed to comply with certain COBRA time frames during the COVID-19 pandemic. This report also includes a high-level description of the temporary COBRA premium assistance included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA; P.L. [Public Law] 117-2)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Rosso, Ryan J.

  2021-08-13
• Defense Primer: Geography, Strategy, and U.S. Force Design [Updated August 11, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Most of the world's people, resources, and economic activity are located not in the Western Hemisphere, but in the other hemisphere, particularly Eurasia. In response to this basic feature of world geography, U.S. policymakers for the last several decades have chosen to pursue, as a key element of U.S. national strategy, a goal of preventing the emergence of regional hegemons in Eurasia. This objective reflects a U.S. perspective on geopolitics and grand strategy developed by U.S. strategists and policymakers during and in the years immediately after World War II that incorporates two key judgments: [1] that given the amount of people, resources, and economic activity in Eurasia, a regional hegemon in Eurasia would represent a concentration of power large enough to be able to threaten vital U.S. interests; and [2] that Eurasia is not dependably self-regulating in terms of preventing the emergence of regional hegemons, meaning that the countries of Eurasia cannot be counted on to be fully able to prevent, through their own choices and actions, the emergence of regional hegemons, and may need assistance from one or more countries outside Eurasia to be able to do this dependably."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  O'Rourke, Ronald

  2021-08-11
• Defense Primer: Department of the Navy [Updated August 11, 2021]

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  From the Document: "The Department of the Navy (DON) is a single military department that includes two military services--the Navy and the Marine Corps. As such, DON has a single civilian leader, the Secretary of the Navy, and two four-star military service chiefs--an admiral whose title is the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), and a general whose title is the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Although the title 'Secretary of the Navy' includes only the term 'Navy,' the secretary serves as the civilian leader for both the Navy and Marine Corps. The CNO and the Commandant of the Marine Corps are members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The Secretary of the Navy is Carlos Del Toro, the CNO is Admiral Michael Gilday, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps is General David Berger."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  O'Rourke, Ronald

  2021-08-11
• Foreign Affairs Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) Funding: Background and Current Status [Updated August 13, 2021]

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  From the Document: "For the past decade, Members of Congress have debated Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding levels in the context of annual foreign affairs and defense budgets. First used by the foreign affairs agencies in FY2012, a key feature of OCO funds was their effective exemption, like emergency funds, from the discretionary spending limits established by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA, P.L. 112-25). Some Members viewed OCO funding as a tool for preventing contingency needs from encroaching on funding for core agency activities. Others criticized the OCO designation, labeling it as a 'slush fund' that provided funds for programs unrelated to contingency operations. The BCA's spending caps ended in FY2021. Under the Trump Administration, the foreign affairs agencies ceased requesting OCO funds after FY2018. However, Congress appropriated $8.0 billion designated as OCO every year between FY2019 and FY2021 in State-Foreign Operations (SFOPS) appropriations bills. FY2022 may be a turning point, as the House recently approved an FY2022 SFOPS appropriations measure (H.R. 4373) that did not include OCO funding."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Morgenstern, Emily M.

  2021-08-13
• Budget Submission After a Presidential Transition: Contextualizing the Biden Administration's FY2022 Request [Updated August 11, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Like other newly inaugurated Presidents' Administrations, the Biden Administration was expected to submit its first formal budget request to Congress later than the usual January/February statutory deadline. Unclear in such situations is the timing and format of the formal submission and any preliminary communications that are sent in advance of the full submission. This CRS [Congressional Research Service] Insight discusses the Biden Administration's first-year submission of preliminary budget materials in the context of statutory requirements and past practices."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Riccard, Taylor N.

  2021-08-11
• Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure [Updated August 9, 2021]

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  From the Background: "The executive branch has discretion to grant temporary reprieves from removal to aliens present in the United States in violation of the INA. Temporary Protected Status (TPS), codified in INA Section 244, provides temporary relief from removal and work authorization to foreign nationals--regardless of their immigration status--in the United States from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary circumstances that prevent their safe return. This report begins by situating TPS in the context of humanitarian responses to migration. Another form of blanket relief from removal--Deferred Enforced Departure (DED)-- is also described, as is the historical use of these relief mechanisms. This report then provides data on each of the countries currently designated for TPS, including the conditions that have contributed to their designation. Past legislation to provide lawful permanent resident (LPR) status to certain TPS-designated foreign nationals is also described. The report concludes with a discussion of legislative activity in the 116th and 117th Congresses related to TPS."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Wilson, Jill, 1974-

  2021-08-09
• Terrorist Groups in Afghanistan [Updated August 17, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Afghanistan's geography, complex ethnic composition, and history of conflict and instability have created space for numerous armed Islamist groups, some of which have engaged in transnational terrorist activity. This product outlines major terrorist groups active in Afghanistan that are affiliated and allied with Al Qaeda (AQ) and the Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIS, ISIL, or by the Arabic acronym 'Da'esh'), and relations between these groups and other state and non-state actors, most notably the Taliban. The Taliban are not a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). These dynamics may inform assessments of U.S. policy in Afghanistan in light of the Taliban's August 2021 takeover of the country. In the February 2020 U.S.-Taliban agreement, the Taliban had committed to undertake unspecified counterterrorism efforts in return for the full withdrawal of U.S. and international military forces, to be completed in August 2021. The Taliban interact with the groups below in varying ways that may affect U.S. interests. President Joseph Biden and other U.S. officials have stated that the United States will maintain 'over-the-horizon' capabilities to address terrorist threats in Afghanistan after the U.S. military withdrawal. Observers differ on how Taliban rule might empower or undermine terrorist groups below or Taliban behavior toward them."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Thomas, Clayton (Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs)

  2021-08-17
• U.S. Steel Manufacturing: National Security and Tariffs [August 12, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Steel plays a significant role in national security and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) operations. While the defense industry often integrates steel into components or structures of military platforms and weapon systems, it also has other applications associated with homeland security and critical infrastructure. In recent years, some in Congress have come to view global overcapacity and excess production of steel, which has tended to result in a reliance on often cheaper imported steel instead of domestically produced steel, as a potential threat to U.S. national security. These Members have advocated boosting U.S. steel production as a means of ensuring a stable domestic supply for national security purposes."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Platzer, Michaela D.; Fefer, Rachel F.; Peters, Heidi M.

  2021-08-12
• Space as a Warfighting Domain: Issues for Congress [August 10, 2021]

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  From the Introduction: "The United States is in the midst of making significant changes to policy on protecting national security pertaining to outer space. Military strategists increasingly consider space to be a warfighting domain--a location where offensive and defensive military operations take place--similar to air, land, and sea. During the Cold War, both the U.S. and the Soviet Union approached space as a sanctuary and a non-warfighting domain. However, many states and international entities, including the Department of Defense and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), now declare space a warfighting domain. Many countries rely on the capabilities that civilian and military space systems provide. Many governments have agreed in principle that space should remain a domain used for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of all humankind. Various treaties and agreements are the mechanisms in place to promote the principle of space as a peaceful domain, but these do not prevent nations from having or conducting counterspace operations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCall, Stephen M.

  2021-08-10
• Federal Employees and COVID-19 Vaccination Attestations: Immediate Takeaways [Updated August 13, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Executive Order 13991 [hyperlink] established the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force [hyperlink] (Task Force) to provide ongoing guidance to heads of executive agencies on government operation and employee safety during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. On July 29, 2021, the Task Force issued revised 'model safety principles' to executive agencies and departments. Among other safety principles, this guidance [hyperlink] instructs federal agencies to determine the vaccination status of federal employees and onsite contractors, and requires employees and onsite contractors to 'sign an attestation confirming their vaccination status.' Those who decline to provide an attestation must [hyperlink] wear a mask and be subject to testing and other safety measures. This effort to promote COVID-19 vaccination, similar [hyperlink] to some state and municipal employers' requirements, follows newly reported increases in COVID-19 cases and related [hyperlink] hospitalizations attributable to the spread of the contagious Delta variant of COVID-19. [...] This Sidebar begins by providing background on the Task Force and the vaccination attestation policy. It then describes the primary authorities federal agencies may employ to implement the policy and relevant constitutional considerations. Next, the Sidebar discusses key requirements under federal antidiscrimination laws that may inform the implementation of the guidance. Finally, the Sidebar briefly considers whether COVID-19 vaccines' current emergency use authorization (EUA) status affects the federal government's ability to impose requirements related to vaccination."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Anderson, April J.; Shimabukuro, Jon O.; Shen, Wen W.

  2021-08-13
• Afghan Women and Girls: Status and Congressional Action [Updated August 18, 2021]

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  From the Document: "The status of Afghan women and girls is increasingly precarious in light of the Taliban's takeover of the country in mid-August 2021. Given the Taliban's views on women's rights, and entrenched cultural attitudes (particularly in rural areas), the status of Afghan women and girls has long been a topic of congressional concern and action. Concern among some Members of Congress has increased in the wake of the drawdown of U.S. military and civilian personnel and the Taliban takeover. Reports indicate that the Taliban have re-imposed restrictions on women in some areas taken in 2021. In addition to fears for the rights, health, and economic wellbeing of Afghan women broadly, some Members' immediate concerns focus on evacuation and visa questions, with a longer-term focus on how, if at all, U.S. policies might induce a Taliban-led government to respect women's rights. Since 2001, Members of Congress have attempted to promote and safeguard the rights of Afghan women through oversight and funding-related legislative measures."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Thomas, Clayton (Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs); Collins, Sarah R.

  2021-08-18
• 287(g) Program: State and Local Immigration Enforcement [August 12, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), codified in 8 U.S.C. [United States Code] §1357(g), permits the delegation of certain immigration enforcement functions to state and local law enforcement agencies. Agreements entered pursuant to INA §287(g) (commonly referred to as §287(g) 'agreements') enable specially trained state or local officers to perform specific functions relating to the investigation, apprehension, or detention of noncitizens during a predetermined time frame and under federal oversight by the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's)Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Although §287(g) agreements were authorized as part of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (P.L. [Public Law] 104-208, Division C, IIRIRA), the first §287(g) agreement was implemented in 2002 after the law was given new urgency following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The number of state and local law enforcement agencies (LEAs) with §287(g) agreements increased to 72 in 2011 before declining to 35 by the end of the Obama Administration. In 2017, President Trump issued Executive Orders 13767 and 13768 directing executive agencies to encourage maximum participation of LEAs in the 287(g) program. During the Trump Administration, from January 2017 until September 2020, the number of LEAs with §287(g) agreements increased by more than 300%, from 35 to 150."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Kolker, Abigail F.

  2021-08-12
• CDC's Federal Eviction Moratorium [Updated August 10, 2021]

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  From the Document: "On September 4, 2020, [hyperlink] the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) imposed a nationwide temporary federal moratorium on residential evictions for nonpayment of rent. The moratorium was extended several times, until it expired on July 31, 2021. On August 3, 2021, the CDC issued a new order [hyperlink] implementing another eviction moratorium through October 3, 2021 [hyperlink]. Rather than applying nationwide, the new order is only applicable in counties with heightened rates of COVID-19 [hyperlink] community transmission. Both orders are intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by preventing homelessness and overcrowded housing conditions resulting from eviction. The CDC's actions, which followed an Executive Order [hyperlink] directing it to consider such measures, are unprecedented, both in terms of the agency's reach into what is traditionally state and local governance of landlord-tenant law and its use of a public health authority [hyperlink]. Courts have issued conflicting decisions on the initial order's legality, leaving a cloud of uncertainty [hyperlink] regarding the order's enforceability [hyperlink]."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Perl, Libby; Carpenter, David Hatcher

  2021-08-10
• COVID-19: Government Resources for Real-Time Economic Indicators [Updated August 10, 2021]

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  From the Document: "This CRS [Congressional Research Service] Insight presents select real-time economic indicators that attempt to measure the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the U.S. economy. Created by select federal government agencies, these new or unique indicators attempt to measure the demographic, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19 in real-time, or on a weekly or monthly basis, rather than quarterly or annually."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Jennings, Julie; Weinstock, Lida R.

  2021-08-10
• Sea Level Rise, Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session to Receive Testimony on the Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Domestic Energy and Water Infrastructure, April 19, 2012

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  From the opening statement of Jeff Bingaman: "Over the past century a tremendous amount of high value infrastructure has been built along the coastlines of the United States. This infrastructure serves the needs of coastal communities and is the foundation for developing much of our abundant coastal energy resource. Much of that infrastructure has been built in low lying areas that were already prone to flooding from extreme weather. That's become even more at risk as sea levels have risen. About 5 million Americans now live in coastal areas that are less than 4 feet above sea level. There are nearly 300 high value energy facilities standing on land below that level. These energy facilities include power plants, oil and gas refineries, and natural gas infrastructure. Recent history has shown that not only is this infrastructure already vulnerable to extreme weather but also that when coastal energy assets are compromised the energy disruption affects the entire economy. Sea level rise takes the current level of vulnerability and multiplies it. When sea levels rise the storm surge associated with extreme storms gets even worse and even an average storm can have above average consequences. Water systems that were designed based on a lower sea level may not function properly. Salt water intrudes on fresh water resources that communities have depended on for years. These impacts from sea level rise are not theoretical and they are not disputed and they are not in the distant future. They are being confronted today in places such as Louisiana and Florida. The affected communities there are already paying substantial cost to try to address them. As the planet has warmed from human emissions of greenhouse gases, the rate of sea level rise has accelerated. It's expected to continue doing so." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Waleed Abdalati, Leonard Berry, Jeff Bingaman, Adam Freed, Anthony C. Janetos, Lisa Murkowski, and Benjamin H. Strauss.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cybersecurity

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  From the Executive Summary: "As the global impact of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] manifested itself in the US in the middle of March, ESG [Enterprise Strategy Group] and ISSA [Information Systems Security Association] decided to conduct an in-depth survey in April 2020 of 364 cybersecurity and IT [information technology] professionals from the global ISSA [hyperlink] member list. The study was a point in time assessment of challenges posed by the pandemic. It is likely that challenges and solutions will continue to evolve over the next few years. Based upon the data gathered as part of this project, the report highlights the following: [1] 'Organizations were fairly prepared for the global pandemic.' [...] [2] 'COVID-19/WFH [working from home] have had an impact on cybersecurity professionals.' [...] [3] 'WFH presents many cybersecurity challenges.' [...] [4] 'COVID-19 has led to an increase in cyber-attacks.' [...] [5] 'COVID-19/WFH are driving improved collaboration.' [...] [6] 'Many organizations don't believe the pandemic will impact 2020 cybersecurity spending.' [...] [7] 'COVID-19 may impact cybersecurity priorities.'"

  Enterprise Strategy Group; Information Systems Security Association

  Oltsik, Jon

  2020-07
• Simulation of Water-Table Response to Sea-Level Rise and Change in Recharge, Sandy Hook Unit, Gateway National Recreation Area, New Jersey

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  From the Introduction: "Global climate change is expected to contribute to a sea-level rise (SLR) of 0.2-2 meters (m) by 2100 and to changes in precipitation that could result in reduced or increased groundwater recharge. The National Park Service (NPS), among other agencies, has a mandate to evaluate the effects of global climate change on NPS parks and promote resiliency and sustainability of park resources to the extent possible. This study of the Sandy Hook Unit, Gateway National Recreation Area (hereafter Sandy Hook), is one of three studies done by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Park Service, on the response of groundwater resources to expected SLR and changes in groundwater recharge associated with global climate change."

  Geological Survey (U.S.); United States. Department of the Interior

  Carleton, Glen B.; Charles, Emmanuel G.; Fiore, Alex R. . . .

  2021
• Simulation of Water-Table and Freshwater/ Saltwater Interface Response to Climate-Change-Driven Sea-Level Rise and Changes in Recharge at Fire Island National Seashore, New York

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  From the Document: "This study evaluates the effects of sea-level rise and recharge change on the groundwater resources of Fire Island and how these changes may threaten sensitive ecological habitats. Six simulations are discussed: baseline present conditions, three sea-level rise scenarios, and two recharge scenarios. [...] The study had the following general objectives: [1] Compile, collect, and analyze geologic, geomorphologic, and hydrologic data. [2] Develop conceptual models of groundwater flow that represent the freshwater and saltwater flow systems. [3] Develop numerical models of groundwater flow and conduct sensitivity and uncertainty analyses. [4] Simulate expected climate-change scenarios including sea-level rise and precipitation change. [5] Develop a long-term groundwater-monitoring plan."

  Geological Survey (U.S.); United States. Department of the Interior

  Misut, Paul E.; Dressler, Sarken

  2021
• EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 33, August 19, 2021

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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: "Chemical Safety Board releases new video on fatal hydrogen sulfide release"; "CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] releases Public Safety Communications and Cyber Resiliency Toolkit"; "FEMA focuses on hazard mitigation in August with historic new funding, grant announcements and training opportunities" ; "Intermediate Incident Command System (ICS 300) training available in blended, virtual format"; "BadAlloc vulnerability affecting devices incorporating older BlackBerry QNX products"; "Half of US hospitals shut down networks due to ransomware"; "DOD looks for answers on GPS [Global Positioning System] data spoofing"; and "CISA provides recommendations for protecting information from ransomware-caused data breaches."

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

  2021-08-19
• Biofuels, Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session to Review the U.S. Department of Energy's Biofuel Programs and Biofuel Infrastructure Issues, and to Consider S. 187, the Biofuels Market Expansion Act of 2011, April 7, 2011

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  From the opening statement of Jeff Bingaman: "Today's hearing will discuss biofuels and the biofuel infrastructure issues. It's important that we consider those issues for two main reasons. First, the unrest in the Middle East and associated high oil prices are a reminder of the cost of our reliance on foreign oil. Libya's oil production is shut in for the indefinite future. Oil prices might well remain high for some period here. These high oil prices and the resulting high gasoline prices endanger our national and global economic recovery. So it makes sense to be sure we're doing all we can to make our economy less vulnerable to dramatic changes in oil. In my view the key to making our economy less vulnerable to oil price increases is to use less oil. Renewable biofuels are the best near term option for replacing oil in the transportation sector. Increased use of biofuels combined with fuel efficiency gains and increased domestic oil production have together reversed years of increasing dependence on imported oil and have actually lowered our petroleum imports. We can go into those statistics. But that's a very good trend which I think we all need to acknowledge. Second, the second reason why this is an appropriate time for this hearing is that even as we have a renewed sense of urgency to shift away from reliance on oil, renewable fuels are facing financing and infrastructure constraints that could prevent them from reaching their full production potential. The financing constraints are shared by many clean energy technologies and are not limited to renewable fuels." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bill Brady, Jeff Bingaman, Bob Dinneen, John Eichberger, Tom Harkin, Shane Karr, Henry Kelly, and Lisa Murkowski.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2011
• HayWired Earthquake Scenario -- Engineering Implications

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  From the Introduction: "The HayWired Earthquake Scenario--Engineering Implications is the second volume of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Scientific Investigations Report (SIR) 2017-5013, which is planned to be published as three volumes. The previous volume of this work (SIR 2017-5013-A-H; Detweiler and Wein, 2017) described a Mw 7.0 mainshock on the Hayward Fault, along with an aftershock sequence and other geologic hazards. This volume (SIR 2017-5013-I-Q) presents engineering impacts that could result from the effects of the HayWired scenario. Together with environmental, social, and economic impacts (including impacts to telecommunications and the internet) that are planned to be described in a third volume, these works describe the HayWired scenario, which was developed by USGS and its partners."

  United States. Department of the Interior; Geological Survey (U.S.)

  Detweiler, Shane T.; Wein, Anne M.

  2018
• Bus Safety, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, September 18, 2008

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  This is the September 18, 2008 hearing on "Bus Safety," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security. From the opening statement of Frank R. Lautenberg: "The hearing will come to order, and I welcome everyone here to today's discussion on the safety of our nation's buses and the passengers who ride in them. This is a hearing of the Surface Transportation, Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security Subcommittee. Our goal is to examine the current laws and safety practices that govern motorcoaches, known as the 'over-the-road' buses, and how we can improve them. Buses play a critical role in our nation's transportation network. They connect cities and communities that are often without access to trains or commercial airlines. They take school sports teams to games, tourist groups sightseeing all over our Nation and help evacuate populations being threatened by hurricanes or other natural disasters. And we saw just this last week during Hurricane Ike when buses were shuttling evacuees to safety." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Frank R. Lautenberg, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, John Betts, Sherrod Brown, Stephen Forman, Jacqueline S. Gillan, John Hill, David Kelly, Peter J. Pantuso, Mark V. Rosenker, Peter T. Dishart, Yen-Chi Le, Barry A. Mesley, and Lynn Mesley.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2013
• Overview of the Arkstorm Scenario

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  Prepared for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Multihazards Demonstration Project [MHDP]. From the Abstract: "This document summarizes the next major public project for MHDP, a winter storm scenario called ARkStorm (for Atmospheric River 1,000). Experts have designed a large, scientifically realistic meteorological event followed by an examination of the secondary hazards (for example, landslides and flooding), physical damages to the built environment, and social and economic consequences. The hypothetical storm depicted here would strike the U.S. West Coast and be similar to the intense California winter storms of 1861 and 1862 that left the central valley of California impassible. The storm is estimated to produce precipitation that in many places exceeds levels only experienced on average once every 500 to 1,000 years."

  Geological Survey (U.S.); United States. Department of the Interior

  Topping, Ken; Thomas, Pete; Tang, Alex . . .

  2011
• State of Maritime Security, Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Second Session, March 24, 2004

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  This is the March 24, 2004 hearing on "The State of Maritime Security," held before the Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation and the United States Senate. From the opening statement of John McCain: "The Committee meets today to consider the state of maritime security in the United States and around the world, specifically efforts related to vessel, port, and cargo security and personnel with access to vessels and cargo at maritime facilities. The Committee hopes to learn what's been done to improve maritime security over the two and a half years since the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. I commend Secretary Ridge and all the employees of the Department of Homeland Security who have taken on the monumental task of securing our homeland while managing the largest government reorganization in history. It's clear the Department has made significant strides and established the foundation for a layered approach to transportation security in the year and a half since the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the Maritime Transportation Security Act were signed into law." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Robert C. Bonner, Dr. James Jay Carafano, Thomas H. Collins, Christopher Koch, Gary P. LaGrange, Mike Mitre, and David M. Stone.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2016
• HayWired Earthquake Scenario--Earthquake Hazards

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  From the Foreword: "The 1906 Great San Francisco earthquake (magnitude 7.8) and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake (magnitude 6.9) each motivated residents of the San Francisco Bay region to build countermeasures to earthquakes into the fabric of the region. Since Loma Prieta, bay-region communities, governments, and utilities have invested tens of billions of dollars in seismic upgrades and retrofits and replacements of older buildings and infrastructure. Innovation and state-of-the-art engineering, informed by science, including novel seismic-hazard assessments, have been applied to the challenge of increasing seismic resilience throughout the bay region. However, as long as people live and work in seismically vulnerable buildings or rely on seismically vulnerable transportation and utilities, more work remains to be done. With that in mind, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and its partners developed the HayWired scenario as a tool to enable further actions that can change the outcome when the next major earthquake strikes. By illuminating the likely impacts to the present-day built environment, well-constructed scenarios can and have spurred officials and citizens to take steps that change the outcomes the scenario describes, whether used to guide more realistic response and recovery exercises or to launch mitigation measures that will reduce future risk."

  California Geological Survey; Geological Survey (U.S.)

  Detweiler, Shane T.; Wein, Anne M.

  2018-12
• Global Competitiveness of the U.S. Aviation Industry: Addressing Competition Issues to Maintain U.S. Leadership in the Aerospace Market, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, July 18, 2012

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  This is the July 18, 2012 hearing on "The Global Competitiveness of the U.S. Aviation Industry" held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. From the opening statement of Maria Cantwell: "Today's witnesses are a broad cross-section of America's aviation sector, and we must take this opportunity to promote innovative strategies that will secure our future in the world and the marketplace. The U.S. aviation sector is vital to our nation's economy. According to the FAA, in 2009, the U.S. aviation industry supported more than 10 million direct and indirect jobs and contributed more than $1.3 trillion to our economy, which is about 5.2 percent of our overall gross domestic product. […] The manufacturing of civil aircraft and components provided for more than 1 million jobs and provided $185 billion in economic activity. And international sales of these aviation parts added up to about $75 billion, making aerospace our largest export industry, a key contributor to reducing our overall trade imbalance. With the projections for future growth, the aerospace industry represents a great opportunity for job growth in America, but only if we take the right actions necessary to make sure that we stay competitive. Today's hearing is about seizing on those opportunities." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Tracy, Dan Elwell, Stanley Sorscher, Pete Bunce, and Nicholas E. Calio.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Masks and Respirators for the 21st Century: Policy Changes Needed to Save Lives and Prevent Societal Disruption

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  From the Executive Summary: "Masks and respirators have played an essential role in the response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic for both healthcare workers and the public. However, the masks and respirators that both healthcare workers and the public have needed to rely upon leave much to be desired. [...] In this report, we provide an overview of the history and types of masks and respirators that exist and consider the development, manufacture, approval, and stockpiling of better respiratory protection for healthcare workers, the nonhealthcare workforce, and the public in the United States. We address issues related to acceptance and willingness to wear face coverings, masks, or respirators. We discuss ways to foster ingenuity in designs of new devices, promote advanced development, obtain regulatory approval, and stockpile a reasonable number of devices."

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

  Toner, Eric (Eric S.); Veenema, Tener Goodwin; Adalja, Amesh A. . . .

  2021-10