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• U.S.-Russia Meat and Poultry Trade Issues [September 11, 2008]

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  "Russia announced on August 29, 2008, that it was banning poultry imports from 19 U.S. establishments due to safety concerns, and that 29 others could lose approval if they do not improve their standards. Russian officials also signaled that they might reduce U.S. permits to import poultry and pork under that country's quota system. The economic stakes of Russian import actions are high for U.S. poultry producers--29% of their exports went to that market in 2007--and red meat producers, who also are experiencing strong growth in the Russian market. In Congress, any potential options likely would be reviewed within the context of the broader geopolitical situation."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Becker, Geoffrey S.

  2008-09-11
• China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities-Background and Issues for Congress [July 17, 2009]

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  From the report: "In the debate over future U.S. defense spending, including deliberations taking place in the current Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), a key issue is how much emphasis to place on programs for countering improved Chinese military forces in coming years. Observers disagree on the issue, with some arguing that such programs should receive significant emphasis, others arguing that they should receive relatively little, and still others taking an intermediate position. The question of how much emphasis to place in U.S. defense planning on programs for countering improved Chinese military forces is of particular importance to the U.S. Navy, because many programs associated with countering improved Chinese military forces would fall within the Navy's budget."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  O'Rourke, Ronald

  2009-07-17
• Speech or Debate Clause: Constitutional Background and Recent Developments [August 8, 2012]

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  "Members of Congress have immunity for their legislative acts under Article I, Section 6, clause 1, of the Constitution, which provides in part that 'for any speech or debate in either House, [Senators and Representatives] shall not be questioned in any other place.' Even if their actions are within the scope of the Speech or Debate Clause or some other legal immunity, Members of Congress remain accountable to the house of Congress in which they serve and to the electorate. In cases in which the Clause applies, the immunity is absolute and cannot be defeated by an allegation of an improper purpose or motivation. When applicable, the Clause provides both immunity from liability (in civil and criminal proceedings) and a complimentary evidentiary privilege. […] In 2011, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals also weighed in on how to apply the Clause to executive branch criminal investigations of Members. In that case, Representative Richard Renzi was accused of agreeing to support legislation in exchange for a private land purchase agreement benefitting one of his creditors. He was indicted on numerous criminal counts, including extortion and fraud, which he challenged on Speech or Debate Clause grounds. The appeals court determined that his challenged actions were not covered by the Clause. Additionally, the Ninth Circuit appeared to split with the D.C. Circuit analysis in Representative Jefferson's case on whether the Clause prevents the executive branch from ever viewing protected evidence. This report examines the constitutional background of the Speech or Debate Clause and these recent developments in jurisprudence. It will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dolan, Alissa M.; Garvey, Todd

  2012-08-08
• Iran's Nuclear Program: Tehran's Compliance with International Obligations [July 23, 2012]

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  "In 2002, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) began investigating allegations that Iran had conducted clandestine nuclear activities. Ultimately, the agency reported that some of these activities had violated Tehran's IAEA safeguards agreement. The IAEA has not stated definitively that Iran has pursued nuclear weapons, but has also not yet been able to conclude that the country's nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes. The IAEA Board of Governors referred the matter to the U.N. Security Council in February 2006. Since then, the council has adopted six resolutions, the most recent of which (Resolution 1929) was adopted in June 2010. […] Iran and the IAEA agreed in August 2007 on a work plan to clarify the outstanding questions regarding Tehran's nuclear program. Most of these questions have essentially been resolved, but then-IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei told the agency's board in June 2008 that the agency still has questions regarding 'possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme.' The IAEA has reported for some time that it has not been able to make progress on these matters. This report provides a brief overview of Iran's nuclear program and describes the legal basis for the actions taken by the IAEA board and the Security Council. It will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Kerr, Paul K.

  2012-07-23
• How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal [June 9, 2009]

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  "This report is intended for Members and staff assisting grant seekers in districts and states, and it includes writing proposals for both government and private foundations grants. In preparation for writing a proposal, the report first discusses preliminary information gathering and preparation, developing ideas for the proposal, gathering community support, identifying funding resources, and seeking preliminary review of the proposal and support of relevant administrative officials. The second section of the report covers the actual writing of the proposal, from outlining of project goals, stating the purpose and objectives of the proposal, explaining the program methods to solve the stated problem, and how the results of the project will be evaluated, to long-term project planning, and, finally, developing the proposal budget. The last section of the report includes a listing of free grants-writing websites, some in Spanish as well as English, including the Foundation Center's Proposal Writing Short Course."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Gerli, Merete F.

  2007-07-09
• Post Office and Retail Postal Facility Closures: Overview and Issues for Congress [July 23, 2009]

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  "In common parlance, 'post office' is used to refer to a wide variety of facilities operated by the United States Postal Service (USPS). […] Regarding one category of its facilities, the USPS announced in May 2009 that it was considering the closure of 3,105 of its 4,851 post office branches and stations. […]Since the original announcement, the USPS has indicated that the number of possible closures may be more than 3,200. This report provides (1) information on this recent announcement; (2) historical data on the number of post offices and other retail postal facilities; (3) an explanation of the legal authorities relevant to retail postal facility closures; (4) a review of the retail postal facility closure processes, including data on public appeals of closures, and H.R. 658's proposed alterations to the processes; and (5) a concluding discussion that suggests observations and possible issues for Congress."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Kosar, Kevin R.

  2009-07-23
• Issues Regarding a National Land Parcel Database [July 22, 2009]

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  "This report provides a summary of some of the issues regarding the creation of a national land parcel database, or cadastre. The report identifies some of the perceived needs for a national cadastre, legislative and administrative options that could lead to a national land parcel database, and some of the challenges and concerns. The report also summarizes and briefly discusses recommendations in a 2007 National Research Council (NRC) report that concluded "... a national approach is necessary to provide a rational and accountable system of property records." The NRC report described why a national approach is needed, identified challenges to creating a national cadastre, and offered specific recommendations for achieving its vision: a distributed system of land parcel data housed with the appropriate data stewards but accessible through a web-based interface."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)

  2009-07-22
• Greenhouse Gas Legislation: Summary and Analysis of H.R. 2454 as Passed by the House of Representatives [July 27, 2009]

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  "H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, was introduced May 15, 2009, by Representatives Waxman and Markey, and was subsequently modified (both technical and substantive changes) and ordered reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on May 21, 2009. The bill was reported (amended) June 5 (H.Rept. 111-137, Part I). It was passed in the House on June 26, 2009, by a recorded vote of 219-212. H.R. 2454 contains provisions that would amend the Clean Air Act to establish a cap-and-trade system designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from covered sources 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83% below 2005 levels by 2050. The market-based approach would establish an absolute cap on the emissions and would allow trading of emissions permits ("allowances"). The bill achieves its broad coverage through an upstream compliance mandate on petroleum and most fluorinated gas producers and importers, and a downstream mandate on electric generators and industrial sources, and a midstream mandate on natural gas local distribution companies (LDCs). The bill allocates a substantial percentage of the allowances for the benefit of energy consumers and low-income households. As the program proceeds through the mid-2020s it shifts to more government auctioning with most of the proceeds returned to households. The bill's allocation scheme includes free allowance allocations to energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries, merchant coal-fired electric generators, and petroleum refiners. An important cost control mechanism in the cap-and-trade program is the availability of domestic and international offsets."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Holt, Mark; Whitney, Gene

  2009-07-27
• Department of Homeland Security: FY2013 Appropriations [August 3, 2012]

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  "This report describes the FY2013 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Administration requested $39.510 billion in adjusted net discretionary budget authority for DHS for FY2013, as part of an overall budget of $59.501 billion (including fees, trust funds, and other funding that is not appropriated or does not score against the budget caps). The request amounts to a $90 million, or a 0.2%, decrease from the $39.600 billion enacted for FY2012 through the consolidated appropriations act (P.L. 112-174). Net requested appropriations for major agencies within DHS were as follows: Customs and Border Protection (CBP), $10,345 million; Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), $5,332 million; Transportation Security Administration (TSA), $5,130 million; Coast Guard, $8,352 million; Secret Service, $1,601 million; National Protection and Programs Directorate, $1,217 million; Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), $4,528 million; Science and Technology, $831 million; and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, $328 million. Included as part of the President's overall budget request was a 0.5% pay raise for civilian federal employees. The Administration also requested an additional $5.481 billion for FEMA in disaster relief funding as defined by the Budget Control Act, down $919 million (16.8%) from the amount provided in the FY2012 disaster relief supplemental appropriations act (P.L. 112-177). H.R. 5855, the House-passed DHS appropriations bill, would provide $39.114 billion in adjusted net discretionary budget authority, while S. 3216, its Senate-reported counterpart, would provide $39.514 billion. While the Senate-reported bill funds the proposed pay raise for civilian federal employees, the House-passed bill does not. Both bills would provide the $5.481 billion in disaster relief requested by the Administration. This report will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Painter, William L.

  2012-08-03
• Climate Change and Existing Law: A Survey of Legal Issues Past, Present, and Future [July 27, 2012]

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  "This report surveys existing law for legal issues that have arisen, or may arise in the future, on account of climate change and government responses thereto. At the threshold of many climate-change-related lawsuits are two barriers--whether the plaintiff has standing to sue and whether the claim being made presents a political question. Both barriers have forced courts to apply amorphous standards in a new and complex context. Efforts to mitigate climate change--that is, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions--have spawned a host of legal issues. The Supreme Court resolved a big one in 2007--the Clean Air Act (CAA), it said, does authorize EPA to regulate GHG emissions. Quite recently, a host of issues raised by EPA's efforts to carry out that authority were resolved in the agency's favor by the D.C. Circuit. […] Other adaptation responses to climate change raising legal issues, often property rights related, are beach armoring (seawalls, bulkheads, etc.), beach re-nourishment, and 'retreat' measures. Retreat measures seek to move existing development away from areas likely to be affected by floods and sea level rise, and to discourage new development there. Natural disasters to which climate change contributes may prompt questions as to whether response actions taken in an emergency are subject to relaxed requirements and, similarly, as to the rebuilding of structures destroyed by such disasters just as they were before. Finally, immigration and refugee law appear not to cover persons forced to relocate because of climate change impacts such as drought or sea level rise."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Meltz, Robert

  2012-07-27
• Annual Report on Civilian Casualties in Connection with United States Military Operations in 2019

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  From the Document: "This report is submitted pursuant to Section 1057 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 (Public Law 115-91), as amended. This report primarily provides information about U.S. military operations in 2019 that were assessed to have resulted in civilian casualties. This report also contains updates to information the Department of Defense (DoD) provided in the reports submitted to Congress in prior years pursuant to Section 1057 of the NDAA for FY 2018, as amended. Some of the information provided in prior reports about U.S. military operations in 2017 and 2018 has been repeated in this report because the information was relevant to U.S. military operations in 2019."

  United States. Department of Defense

  2020-04-22
• Office of Refugee Resettlement Ensured That Selected Care Providers Were Prepared to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  From the Document: "On July 1, 2019, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 (P.L. [Public Law] 116-26) appropriated $2.9 billion for the Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) Program. Title IV provided $5 million for the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), to conduct oversight of the UAC Program. On January 31, 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, the Secretary of HHS declared a public health emergency. Following this declaration, Congress appropriated $12 million to HHS-OIG to conduct oversight of HHS's response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. Previous HHS-OIG work has focused on the Office of Refugee Resettlement's (ORR's) efforts to ensure the health and safety of children in the UAC Program, including when the UAC Program experiences a sudden change in the number or needs of children. This report builds on our oversight of ORR's efforts to protect children and is one of two reports addressing emergency preparedness at ORR facilities. This report specifically addresses communicable disease preparedness. Our objective was to determine whether ORR ensured that selected care provider facilities (facilities) followed ORR requirements in preparing for and responding to communicable diseases, such as COVID-19."

  United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Inspector General

  2020-11
• COVID-19: States Cite Vulnerabilities in Detecting Fraud While Complying with the CARES Act UI Program Self-Certification Requirement

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  From the Document: "This report presents the results of our audit of the self-certification process for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act's (CARES Act) Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. The audit focused on the processes that state workforce agencies use to determine claimant eligibility and their actions to deter and detect fraud relating to self-certifications. The CARES Act's PUA program expands Unemployment Insurance (UI) eligibility to individuals who are not typically eligible to obtain benefits and creates several programs that temporarily expand unemployment benefits for workers affected by the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. The CARES Act provides for up to 39 weeks of PUA benefits and requires individuals to self-certify that they lost employment income due to a COVID-19 related reason."

  United States. Department of Labor. Office of the Inspector General

  2020-10-21
• H. Rept. 116-145: Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act, Report Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, July 11, 2019

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  From the Purpose: "The purpose of H.R. 1306, the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act, is to develop a study on streamlining and consolidating Federal information collection and preliminary damage assessments."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2019
• Wiretapping, Tape Recorders, and Legal Ethics: An Abridged Overview of Questions Posed by Attorney Involvement in Secretly Recording Conversation [August 9, 2012]

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  "In some jurisdictions, it is unethical for an attorney to secretly record a conversation even though it is not illegal to do so. A few states require the consent of all parties to a conversation before it may be recorded. Recording without mutual consent is both illegal and unethical in those jurisdictions. Elsewhere the issue is more complicated. In 1974, the American Bar Association (ABA) opined that surreptitiously recording a conversation without the knowledge or consent of all of the participants violated the ethical prohibition against engaging in conduct involving 'dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.' The ABA conceded, however, that law enforcement recording, conducted under judicial supervision, might breach no ethical standard. Reaction among the authorities responsible for regulation of the practice of law in the various states was mixed. In 2001, the ABA reversed its earlier opinion and announced that it no longer considered one-party consent recording per se unethical when it is otherwise lawful. Today, this is the view of a majority of the jurisdictions on record. A substantial number, however, disagree. An even greater number have yet to announce an opinion. An earlier version of this report once appeared as CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report 98-251. An unabridged version of this report is available with the footnotes and attachment as CRS Report R42650, 'Wiretapping, Tape Recorders, and Legal Ethics: An Overview of Questions Posed by Attorney Involvement in Secretly Recording Conversation.'"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Doyle, Charles

  2012-08-09
• Child Tax Credit: Temporary Expansion for 2021 Under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA; P.L. 117-2) [Updated May 12, 2021]

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  From the Document: "In recent years, there has been increased interest [hyperlink] in providing direct benefits to families with children to reduce child poverty in the United States, sometimes in the form of tax benefits. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) [hyperlink] included a 'child allowance' as part of a package of policies to reduce child poverty [hyperlink] over 10 years. (Senator Romney [hyperlink] has also proposed a child allowance.) Some research [hyperlink] has suggested that increasing the amount of the child tax credit that low-income families receive would substantially reduce child poverty [hyperlink], boost future earnings, and potentially improve future health and education outcomes [hyperlink]. In the 116th Congress, there were several legislative proposals [hyperlink] to expand the child tax credit, especially for lower-income families that tend to receive little or no benefit from the current credit. In the 117th Congress, a temporary one-year expansion of the child credit (for 2021) was included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA; P.L. [Public Law] 117-2). The Biden Administration has proposed [hyperlink] making the full refundability provision included in the ARPA expansion of the child credit permanent, while extending other ARPA provisions through the end of 2025. This Insight provides a summary of the child tax credit prior to ARPA and an overview of the temporary child credit expansion under ARPA for 2021."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Crandall-Hollick, Margot L.

  2021-05-12
• American Rescue Plan Act, Section 9901-- The Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund [May 11, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA; P.L. [Public Law]117-2) provides a total of $362 billion in general federal payments to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, $220 billion of which is directed to the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (CSFRF). Similar assistance was provided through the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund [hyperlink] established in the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act (P.L. 116-136). This Insight summarizes the assistance provided to the CSFRF, as established in Section 9901 of ARPA. Allocations sorted by state and territory are provided in 'Table 1'. Additional guidance on allocations, timing, and eligible uses are available at the Treasury State and Local Assistance website [hyperlink]. (ARPA also created the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund [CLFRF], discussed in a companion Insight [hyperlink].)"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Driessen, Grant A.

  2021-05-11
• DHS Office of Inspector General: Actions Needed to Address Long-Standing Management Weaknesses, Report to Congressional Requesters

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  From the Document: "Since fiscal year 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) has not adhered to a number of professional standards for federal OIGs and key practices for effective management. Frequent leadership turnover and associated shifts in leadership priorities have contributed to DHS OIG's long-standing management and operational weaknesses and impeded efforts to address them."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2021-06
• DHS Has Made Limited Progress Implementing the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation Program

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  From the Highlights: "In 2013, the Office of Management and Budget required Federal agencies to establish an Information Security Continuous Monitoring program to identify and respond to emerging cyber threats. DHS established the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program to help agencies monitor and manage cybersecurity vulnerabilities. We conducted this audit to determine whether the program has strengthened the cybersecurity posture within the Department."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General

  2021-06-01
• Social Security Administration: New Data Exchanges with Some States Provide Limited Information on Foster Care Beneficiaries

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  From the Document: "Certain children in foster care are eligible to receive funds from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Specifically, qualifying low-income children with a disability may be eligible to receive funds through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, and certain children, such as those who are eligible survivors, may receive funds through the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program. [...] The Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018 (the Act) included provisions for, among other things, stronger monitoring of representative payees and additional information sharing between SSA and state agencies. Section 103(a) of the Act requires SSA to (1) enter into agreements with states to share and match child welfare and SSA data on a monthly basis, and (2) for any represented minor beneficiary in foster care whose foster care arrangements have changed, redetermine the appropriate representative payee. Additionally, the Act included a provision for GAO to evaluate the number of represented minor beneficiaries in foster care under the responsibility of a state, and for those beneficiaries, the type of representative payee and how the Social Security funds were used.3 This report describes (1) the status of the Section 103(a) data exchanges between SSA and state child welfare agencies, and (2) the available data on the number of represented minor beneficiaries in foster care and, for those beneficiaries, the type of representative payee and the use of Social Security funds."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2021-06-03
• EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 22, June 3, 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: "Five-year study now underway to determine COVID-19's [coronavirus disease 2019] long-term impacts on first responders"; "CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] releases updates to Active Shooter Preparedness Program, encourages preparedness for gun-related violence"; "Transportation Research Board report offers insights on post-hurricane supply chain resilience from 2017 hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria"; "R2 Network, a nationwide public safety network connecting first responders and tech innovators, launches free learning hub"; and "Cyber Threats."

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

  2021-06-03
• Rapid Community Assessment Guide [website]

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  From the Website: "Why conduct a rapid community assessment? [1] To identify communities at risk for low COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccine uptake. [2] To inform future phases of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. [3] To get an early understanding of what communities are thinking about COVID-19 vaccines and plan for potential solutions to increase confidence and uptake. [4] To identify community leaders, trusted messengers, and other important channels through which you can reach communities. [5] To identify areas of intervention and prioritize potential intervention strategies to increase confidence in and uptake of COVID-19 vaccine."

  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
• Organized Crime in the Levant: Conflict, Transactional Relationships and Identity Dynamics

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  From the Executive Summary: "The Middle East, a region with a long history and culture, has made important contributions to society as the cradle of civilization. Unfortunately, in contemporary times, the region has been marred by instability, power plays and conflict, most recently against the backdrop of the global coronavirus pandemic. This volatility not only undermines the roles of the region's institutions, national economies and the day-to-day lives of its populations, but has also had a significant impact on organized crime and illicit flows. [...] Although organized crime has always been a feature in the region, illicit activities and flows have begun to rise in the context of this recent tumultuous backdrop - a growth facilitated by public disorder, deterioration in the capacity of state law-enforcement agencies and economic hardship. In the Levant, the effects of the Arab Spring a decade ago have triggered a protracted and brutal conflict in Syria, which has not only made violence and instability the norm in the country, but also affected its neighbours' political stability, social cohesion, and licit and illicit economies. Additionally, like much of the world, the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has placed further strain on the Levant's already weakened health, economic and social structures, fuelling uncertainty about citizens' welfare and the region's ability to recover. COVID-19 has also renewed opportunities for illicit activities to thrive and become a permanent and pervasive fixture in the region - even after the conflict ends and a vaccine is found."

  Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

  Adal, Laura

  2021-02
• COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence: Rapid Community Assessment Guide

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  From the Document: "This rapid community assessment guide is for staff of state and local health departments involved in various aspects of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccine planning who wish to better understand their community's needs regarding hesitancy and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines. This guide may also be relevant for coalitions, hospitals, health systems/clinics, and other organizations that have strong connections with the communities they serve and want to respond to questions and concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccines. While the guide is intended to be customized and used independently by state and local public health staff, in some instances, technical assistance may be available through CDC (e.g., strike teams) and other partners with experience in this area."

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

  2021-02
• COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence: Rapid Community Assessment Mini Guide

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  From the Introduction: "The rapid community assessment guide is for staff of state and local health departments involved in various aspects of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccine planning who wish to better understand their community's needs. This guide may also be relevant for coalitions, hospitals, health systems/clinics, and other organizations that have strong connections with the communities they serve and want to respond to questions and concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccines."

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

  2021-02
• Examples of Evidence-Based Solutions to Increase Vaccine Confidence and Uptake

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  For working with communities experiencing vaccination hesitancy or mistrust, this document "provides a list of solutions/interventions to address specific issues identified by rapid community assessment."

  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 922, Crimea Annexation Non-Recognition Act

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on May 19, 2021. From the Document: "H.R. 922 would prohibit federal departments or agencies from taking any action that implies recognition of Russia's claim of sovereignty over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters. The Administration considers Crimea to be part of Ukraine and Russia's occupation of it to be illegal; therefore, CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 922 would not affect its behavior or the federal budget."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2021-06-03
• Puerto Rico's Public Debts: Accumulation and Restructuring [Updated May 18, 2021]

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  From the Introduction: "Puerto Rico's public debts, which totaled just over $70 billion when the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (P.L. [Public Law] 114-187; PROMESA) became law on June 30, 2016, are now in the midst of one of the largest restructurings of public debt in U.S. history. Puerto Rico's fiscal troubles fell under national scrutiny during summer 2013, after the City of Detroit's bankruptcy filing reminded investors that municipal bonds are not risk free, and after the financial press noted the precarious state of Puerto Rico's public finances. Beyond the consequences for the island, likely to last decades, the restructuring of Puerto Rico's public debts could inform future federal responses to fiscal strains faced by some state and local governments. [...] This report outlines the accumulation of Puerto Rico's debt and the restructuring of the island's public debt through processes established by PROMESA. Puerto Rico's postwar economic development strategy of industrialization, as noted below, faltered after the 1973 energy crisis. Acute fiscal crises in 2006-2007 and 2013-2016 resulted in debt levels that could neither be sustained nor addressed through the Bankruptcy Code, which led to PROMESA's enactment. This report focuses on the largest portions of the island's public debt."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Austin, D. Andrew

  2021-05-18
• Honduran-U.S. Relations [July 25, 2012]

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  "Porfirio Lobo was inaugurated president of Honduras in January 2010, assuming power after seven months of domestic political crisis and international isolation that had resulted from the June 2009 ouster of President Manuel Zelaya. While the strength of Lobo's National Party in the legislature has enabled his administration to pass much of its policy agenda, Lobo has had limited success in resolving the many challenges facing Honduras. Efforts to foster political reconciliation, for example, have helped Honduras secure international recognition but have only partially diminished domestic polarization. Lobo is relatively unpopular over halfway through his four-year term with 59% of Hondurans disapproving of his performance in office in May 2012. The poor security and human rights situation in Honduras has continued to deteriorate under President Lobo. Honduras has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, and common crime remains widespread. Moreover, human rights abuses--which increased significantly in the aftermath of Zelaya's ouster--have persisted. A number of inter-related factors have likely contributed to this situation, including the increasing presence of organized crime, weak government institutions, and widespread corruption. Although the government has adopted a number of policy reforms designed to address these challenges, conditions have yet to improve. […] The appropriations committees in both houses of Congress have included similar provisions in their FY2013 appropriations bills for the State Department, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, H.R. 5857 and S. 3241. Additional legislation introduced in June 2011, H.R. 2200, would limit U.S. assistance to Honduras unless the President certifies that the Government of Honduras has settled all outstanding expropriation claims brought by U.S. companies."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Meyer, Peter J.

  2012-07-25
• Racial Health Disparities Highlight Why We Need to Address Structural Racism, Statement of Kilolo Kijakazi,before the Committee on Health, Council of the District of Columbia, November 5, 2020

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  This is the November 5, 2020 testimony of Kilolo Kijakazi on "Racial Health Disparities Highlight Why We Need to Address Structural Racism," held before the Committee on Health of the Council of the District of Columbia. From the Document: "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] is one of the greatest health crises of our time. In April of this year, data began to reveal an alarming trend: Black families and other families of color face a much higher risk of contracting and dying from the virus. Public officials have focused on the underlying health issues disproportionately affecting these communities, such as diabetes and hypertension, as contributors to the larger impact of COVID-19. But it is important to go further and examine the root cause of these racial disparities in underlying health conditions. Research has shown that differences in access to high-quality jobs and economic stability, quality education, health care services, and quality neighborhoods contribute to racial inequities in health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that the conditions where people live, learn, work, and play affect a wide range of health outcomes. These are the social determinants of health. Structural racism is a root cause of this unequal access to the health- and opportunity-promoting social determinants that drive the racial health inequities laid bare by COVID-19. Structural racism consists of the policies, programs, and institutional practices that facilitate the well-being of white families while creating barriers to the well-being of families of color."

  Urban Institute

  Kijakazi, Kilolo, 1956-

  2020-11-05