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• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 1635, L-1 Visa (Intracompany Transferee) Reform Act of 2004

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as reported by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on October 4, 2004. From the Document: "S. 1635 would impose a new private-sector mandate as defined in UMRA [Unfunded Mandates Reform Act] on U.S. employers who are petitioners for L-1 visas since it increases the stringency of immigration requirements. The cost of complying with that mandate would be minimal. The direct cost to U.S. employers would be the administrative cost of having to assert in the petition that they will meet the new criteria and act accordingly. Under current law, multinational companies may temporarily transfer certain foreign employees into the United States by petitioning for a type of visa known as an L-1 visa for those persons. Those individuals must have worked for their employer for at least six months. S. 1635 would restrict the distribution of such visas to foreign employees who would be supervised principally by the petitioning employer and who have worked for that employer for at least one year. Enacting S. 1635 could decrease the number of persons entering the United States on L-1 visas because of the restrictions that would be added by the bill. However, CBO expects that the number of persons affected would be relatively small, and the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) charges no fee for their entry. Any effects on CIS costs would be considered direct spending because such costs are covered by other fees collected by the agency."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2004-11-12
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 1266, USA PATRIOT Reauthorization Act of 2005

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as reported by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on June 16, 2005. From the Document: "CBO estimates that implementing S. 1266 would have no significant cost to the federal government. Enacting the bill could affect direct spending and revenues, but CBO estimates that any such effects would not be significant. The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-56), as well as the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-458), expanded the powers of federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate and prosecute terrorist acts. S. 1266 would permanently authorize certain provisions of these acts, many of which will otherwise expire on December 31, 2005. In addition, the bill would make several other changes to the laws relating to investigations of potential terrorist activity."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2005-07-18
• Remittances to Fragile Countries: Treasury Should Assess Risks from Shifts to Non-Banking Channels, Report to Congressional Requesters

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  From the Highlights: "The United States is the largest source of remittances, with an estimated $67 billion sent globally in 2016, according to the World Bank. Many individuals send remittances through money transmitters, a type of business that facilitates global money transfers. Recent reports found that some money transmitters have lost access to banking services due to derisking--the practice of banks restricting services to customers to, in part, avoid perceived regulatory concerns about facilitating criminal activity. GAO (Government Accountability Office) was asked to review the possible effects of derisking on remittances to fragile countries. This report examines (1) what stakeholders believe are the challenges facing money transmitters in remitting funds from the United States to selected fragile countries, (2) actions U.S. agencies have taken to address identified challenges, and (3) U.S. efforts to assess the effects of such challenges on remittance flows to fragile countries. GAO selected four case-study countries--Haiti, Liberia, Nepal, and Somalia--based on factors including the large size of U.S. remittance flows to them. GAO interviewed U.S.-based money transmitters, banks, U.S. agencies, and individuals remitting to these countries and also surveyed banks."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2018-03-08
• CBO Study: Budget and Economic Outlook: An Update [August 2006]

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  From the Summary: "The deficit for 2006 will be notably lower than the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated in March, when it issued its previous projections of the federal budget. The broad fiscal outlook for the coming decade, however, has not changed materially since then. The underlying projections of outlays and revenues for future years are similar to those presented five months ago, with the exception that the current projections of spending from this year's appropriations are now higher--reflecting the extrapolation of recent supplemental funding primarily for the war in Iraq and hurricane relief. [...] Although the U.S. economy has been growing at a rapid rate since early 2003, its growth is likely to slow to a moderate, sustainable pace over the next year and a half. CBO forecasts that economic growth will diminish to an annual rate of 3 percent in real (inflation-adjusted) terms in the second half of this calendar year and then remain steady at that rate through 2007. Inflation in so-called core consumer prices (which exclude the more volatile prices of food and energy) will also moderate, CBO expects, dropping to 2 percent by the end of next year. CBO anticipates that the unemployment rate will average about 4¾ percent through 2007 and that the growth of productivity will be roughly 2 percent. Interest rates on Treasury securities will rise in the second half of this year, CBO forecasts, and then drop slightly during 2007." Additional information on the alternative spending path for military operation in Iraq and Afghanistan and for the war on terrorism is provided in the following document: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=467139].

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2006-08
• Disaster Assistance: Opportunities to Enhance Implementation of the Redesigned Public Assistance Grant Program, Report to Congressional Requesters

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  From the Highlights: "FEMA, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has obligated more than $36 billion in PA [Public Assistance] grants to state, local, and tribal governments to help communities recover and rebuild after major disasters since 2009. Further, costs are rising with disasters, such as Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in 2017. FEMA recently redesigned how the PA program delivers assistance to state and local grantees to improve operations and address past challenges identified by GAO [Government Accountability Office] and others. FEMA tested the new delivery model in selected disasters and announced implementation in September 2017. GAO was asked to assess the redesigned PA program. This report examines, among other things, the extent to which FEMA's new delivery model addresses (1) past workforce management challenges and assesses future workforce needs; and (2) past information sharing challenges and key IT [information technology] management controls. GAO reviewed FEMA policy, strategy, and implementation documents; interviewed FEMA and state officials, PA program applicants, and other stakeholders; and observed implementation of the new model at one test location following Hurricane Matthew in 2016."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2017-11
• Additional Information about the Alternative Spending Path for Military Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and for the War on Terrorism

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  This Congressional Budget Office (CBO) document provides information on the alternative spending path for military operation in Iraq and Afghanistan and for the war on terrorism presented in CBO's August 2006 "Budget and Economic Outlook: An Update." The referenced document is located here in HSDL: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=865467]. From the Document: "The Congressional Budget Office's (CBO's) August 2006 baseline includes spending of appropriations provided in fiscal year 2006 for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and for other efforts in the war on terrorism. As specified in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, those 10-year baseline projections are based on the assumption that the current year's discretionary budget authority would be provided in each future year through 2016, with adjustments to reflect projected inflation. Less funding would be needed if the Department of Defense (DoD) was able to reduce the number of deployed troops."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2006-09-22
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 3199, USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on July 13, 2005. From the Document: "CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 3199 would have no significant cost to the federal government. Enacting the bill could affect direct spending and revenues, but CBO estimates that any such effects would not be significant. The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-56), as well as the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-458), expanded the powers of federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate and prosecute terrorist acts. H.R. 3199 would permanently authorize certain provisions of these acts, many of which will otherwise expire on December 31, 2005. In addition, the bill would make several other changes to the laws relating to investigations of potential terrorist activity."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2005-07-18
• Performance and Accountability Report: Fiscal Year 2018

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  From the Document: "In fiscal year 2018, we documented a record $75.1 billion in financial benefits for the government--a return of about $124 for every dollar invested in us. Examples of our work that contributed to these benefits included (1) revising spending limits for Medicaid demonstration projects ($36.8 billion); (2) helping the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) achieve and measure the benefits of its fraud prevention system ($1.3 billion); and (3) identifying unexpended and unobligated balances in DOD's Military Personnel accounts ($849 million)."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2018
• Information Technology: Management Attention is Needed to Successfully Modernize Tax Processing Systems, Statement of David A. Powner, Director Information Technology Management Issues, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Oversight, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives

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  From the Highlights: "The IRS [Internal Revenue Service], a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, relies extensively on IT [information technology] to annually collect more than $3 trillion in taxes, distribute more than $400 billion in refunds, and carry out its mission of providing service to America's taxpayers in meeting their tax obligations. For fiscal year 2016, IRS expended approximately $2.7 billion for IT investments, 70 percent of which was allocated for operational systems. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has long reported that the effective and efficient management of IT acquisitions and operational investments has been a challenge in the federal government. Accordingly, in February 2015, GAO introduced a new government-wide high-risk area, Improving the Management of IT Acquisitions and Operations. GAO has also reported on challenges IRS has faced in managing its IT acquisitions and operations, and identified opportunities for IRS to improve the management of these investments. In light of these challenges, GAO was asked to testify about IT management at IRS. To do so, GAO summarized its prior work regarding IRS's IT management, including the agency's management of operational, or legacy, IT systems."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  Powner, David A.

  2017-10-04
• Prevent, Counter, and Respond--NNSA's Plan to Reduce Global Nuclear Threats (FY 2022-FY 2026)

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  From the Executive Summary: "Prevent, Counter, and Respond--NNSA's Plan to Reduce Global Nuclear Threats (FY 2022-FY 2026) is an annual report outlining the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration's (DOE/NNSA) activities to address the risk of nuclear terrorism and proliferation. Presidential guidance, including the 2021 Interim Nuclear Security Strategic Guidance, reinforces the important work of DOE/NNSA's nonproliferation programs to 'address the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons.' DOE/NNSA's nuclear threat reduction activities extend the nation's defenses far beyond America's borders. [...] This report describes DOE/NNSA's nuclear and radiological threat reduction activities within the prevent, counter, and respond strategic framework, and delineates key objectives, priorities from the fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget request, future plans for FY 2023-FY 2026, and key accomplishments from FY 2019-FY 2021."

  United States. Department of Energy; United States. National Nuclear Security Administration

  2021-12
• Agencies in Peril: Are We Doing Enough to Protect Federal IT and Secure Sensitive Information? Hearing Before the Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security Subcommittee of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, March 12, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Thomas R. Carper: "This hearing marks what I hope will be really the beginning of our proactive efforts to secure one of our most threatened and important national resources, and that is our sensitive information, not just about us as individuals, as human beings, but our businesses and our governmental units, and so forth. Every day our government's computers experience thousands of attacks, led by individuals seeking to gain access, and in some cases, to taxpayer records. In other cases, to our medical records; in some cases to our Social Security numbers, to proprietary business information, and to military secrets, just to name a few. Our public expects that agencies holding this information, particularly their personal information, will take every precaution necessary to ensure that it is secured, and well protected. However, despite the progress report in the Office of Management and Budget's most recent report, I feel like we are still very much at risk. Our inability to secure Federal information networks and protect the information they contain leaves American citizens open to threats that involve identity theft." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Thomas R. Carper, Tom Coburn, Norm Coleman, Karen S. Evans, Gregory C. Wilshusen, Tim Bennett, Robert T. Howard, Susan Swart, Darren B. Ash, and Philip Heneghan.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2008
• Addressing the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Relationship, Hearing Before the Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security Subcommittee of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, June 12, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Thomas R. Carper: "We will be joined by a number of our colleagues here in a little bit, but I just want to thank all the witnesses that are here, especially Senator Feingold who has joined us here today. He is going to talk for a little bit about his recent visit, he led a CODEL to a number of places, including to Pakistan. I understand Senator Feingold serves on three committees. Among them are the Senate Intelligence Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, and the Judiciary Committee. […] My staff, who visited Islamabad, just missed you there, but they came back with press accounts. They said a lot of the stories were above the fold, which is not bad for an American Senator in a foreign country. And I understand that you traveled there because you view Pakistan, as do I, as the central front in the fight against extremism and critical to our national security. And while there, I am told that Senator Feingold was vocal on the ousting of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, noting that this and the reinstatement of other former judges is a simple rule of law matter that could jump-start institutional reform in Pakistan. And again, I would concur with that." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Thomas R. Carper, Tom Coburn, Daniel K. Akaka, Carl Levin, Russell D. Feingold, K. Alan Kronstadt, Lisa Curtis, Michael Krepon, Stephen P. Cohen, Donald Camp, Bob Casey, and Robert M. Gates.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2009
• Supporting the Front Line in the Fight Against Crime: Restoring Federal Funding for State and Local Law Enforcement, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, February 27, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Joseph R. Biden: "At the inaugural hearing of this subcommittee, a panel of law enforcement experts testified that the Federal funding for State and local law enforcement, to state the obvious, makes our streets safer, has driven down crime rates, and secured our communities against terrorism. At that hearing, I outlined three developments that had me greatly concerned, though. First, was I was concerned the administration would continue to cut funding for essential State and local law enforcement agencies like COPS, Byrne/JAG grant programs. Second, I was concerned the FBI would not replace the agents redeployed from investigating crime to fighting terrorism. As you gentlemen know, the FBI has worked over the years, depending on the jurisdiction-sometimes up to 10 to 12 percent of the criminal cases in some jurisdictions there have been some overlap with the FBI, and quite frankly their plate has been full since 9/11, and yet we haven't really added to their total. There's a real gap, in my view, that State and local law enforcement has had to fill in the absence of having to pull necessarily a significant portion of the FBI off of working with them. Third, I was concerned that the economic downturn that we're beginning to experience would squeeze localities and force them to cut their law enforcement and prevention budgets. Unfortunately, all three of these concerns, in my view, have been borne out." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Joseph R. Biden, Tom Coburn, Russell D. Feingold, Patrick J. Leahy, Saxby Chambliss, Mark Epley, Tom Harkin, Jeffrey Horvath, Charles H. Ramsey, Anthony F. Wieners, Fern Laethem, Gerald N. Tirozzi, and Jo-Ann Wallace.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2008
• Ongoing Struggle Against Boko Haram, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, June 11, 2014

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  This is from the June 11, 2014 hearing on "The Ongoing Struggle Against Boko Haram," held before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Christopher H. Smith: "Since November 2013, the U.S. Government has declared Boko Haram and its affiliate, Ansaru, to be Foreign Terrorist Organizations [FTO]. This supposedly provides further tools with which to fight such organizations and their sponsors. However, an administration that resisted the FTO designation for so long continues to downplay its significance. This hearing is intended to provide information on that reluctance on obstacles to our effective security and our military assistance to the Nigerian Government in its antiterror fight. Boko Haram is a Nigerian terrorist group whose name in Arabic is 'People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teaching and Jihad.' The name Boko Haram is from Hausa meaning that conventional education, boko, is forbidden. According to various reports, Boko Haram began in 2003 when about 200 university students and unemployed youth created a camp in Yobe State near the Niger border to withdraw from what they considered to be corrupt, sinful and unjust Nigerian Government, and their community was supposedly founded on Islamic law. The group was then known as the Nigerian Taliban. Violent clashes with Nigerian security forces nearly destroyed the group several times, but it charismatic leader, Mohammed Yusuf, kept the group alive until his death while in police custody in July 2009. Since Yusuf's death there have been various spokesmen. Abubakar Shekau is now considered to be the leader. Furthermore, a breakaway group known as Ansaru has appeared on the scene, but still coordinates with the original Boko Haram." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: J. Peter Pham, Emmanuel Ogebe, Anslem John-Miller, and Robin Renee Sanders.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Islamist Extremism in Chechnya: A Threat to the U.S. Homeland? Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats and the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, April 26, 2013

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  This is the April 26, 2013 hearing on "Islamist Extremsism in Chechnya: A Threat to the U.S. Homeland," held before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats; Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferaiton, and Trade. From the opening statement of Dana Rohrabacher: "The origins of the terrorist attack in Boston have drawn attention to a region that has not received the study it deserves. The terrorist brothers had roots in Chechnya even though they grew up in America and had sought U.S. citizenship. Chechnya is part of the Northern Caucasus which also includes Dagestan where the father of the two bombers lives. Two major wars were fought in Chechnya in the 1990s as the province sought independence from Russia. Many Chechens fled to other parts of the region and into Central Asia. Dagestan was not directly involved in the wars, but has become a hotbed of radical Islamic activity. There are reports of Chechens fighting in Afghanistan against US and NATO troops, and Chechen networks in Europe. Al-Qaeda has made recruitment of Chechens a priority, and they are thought to have trained in Pakistan. The appearance of Chechen fighters outside the Northern Caucasus is ominous. The original Chechen uprising against Russia was secular and nationalist. Within this context, there would be no motive for Chechen exiles to attack the United States; especially after we had given them sanctuary. The worldview of some Chechens has been radicalized, as was the case of the two Boston terrorists into a jihadist mentality of global war against all infidels. Is this happening on a regional basis and why? What outside forces have sought to transform the North Caucasus and Central Asia into a region of Muslin extremism which did not exist before? In particular, what impact has Saudi Arabia played in sending money and missionaries into the region and building mosques and schools to impact the minds young people, who make up such a large part of the population?" Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Dana Rohrabacher, Paul Goble, Craig Douglas Albert, Andranik Migranyan, Paul Cook, and Sabine Freizer.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2013
• Rebuilding the Gulf Coast: Small Business Recovery in South Louisiana, Field Hearing Before the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, February 20, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Mary L. Landrieu: "The hurricanes, both Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, were two of the costliest hurricanes in the history of our country. Hurricane Katrina's eventual or to-date cost is $81.2 billion. Hurricane Rita caused $11 billion in damage. Together, almost $100 billion in a double-whammy, two-punch hit to the Gulf Coast, but particularly to the southern coast of Louisiana, both on the southwest side with Hurricane Rita hitting and then on the southeast side as well. All of us, homeowners and businesses alike, felt the brunt-our public institutions, our libraries, our schools, our colleges, and our universities. But the small business community, you could argue, maybe took the greatest hit of all because small business by its very nature has less resources than large business or public entities. Our business owners, 20,000 of them, were impacted in the State of Louisiana, were directly-their businesses either destroyed or severely damaged, their physical infrastructure. If their business was not destroyed or damaged, their markets were most certainly impacted by the loss of over 1.3 million people that fled this area for higher ground. And some of our people are just now returning after 2 1/2 years, trying to re-establish their homes, their churches, their businesses, and their schools. So this hearing is really to focus on the recovery of small business; what we have done that has helped; and what we need to continue to do." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mary L. Landrieu, Eugene Cornelius, Randy Roach, John T. Landry, George Swift, Carl Manuel, Donna Little, David Darbone, Sheri Lazare, Donald C. van de Werken, and David Vitter.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2009
• Weaknesses in the Visa Waiver Program: Are the Needed Safeguards in Place to Protect America? Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, February 28, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Dianne Feinstein: "I want to begin by welcoming our witnesses. I also want to indicate to you that I am not a fan of the Visa Waiver Program. I actually believe it is the soft underbelly of this country. And if I understand correctly, 27 countries, 16 million people in 2007, 15 million people in 2006, a total of 31 million people in 2 years come into the United States without a visa; and we today do not yet know whether they have left or not. And this presents all kinds of hazards. For the citizens of these 27 select countries, including Australia, Singapore, Slovenia, and the U.K., entering the United States is as simple as purchasing an airline ticket and then arriving at the airport with a valid passport in hand. No visa is required because they are from countries that are part of this program, the Visa Waiver Program. Thousands, I think tens of thousands, of these people overstay their authorized visit. Many just simply disappear into the shadows. It is estimated that 40 percent of the current undocumented population in this Nation are people who have overstayed their visas-not come across the border but come into the country legally, and then they do not go home when they are supposed to. So there is no doubt in my mind that hundreds of thousands of the illegal population came through the Visa Waiver Program over many years." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Dianne Feinstein, Jon Kyl, Jeff Sessions, Stephen A. Edson, Jess T. Ford, Susan Ginsburg, Paul Rosenzweig, Jessice M. Vaughan, Shelley Berkley, Bill Connors, and Roger Dow.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2008
• Threat of Islamic Extremism in Russia, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, September 30, 2015

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  This is the September 30, 2015 hearing "The Threat of Islamic Extremism in Russia" held before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of subcommittee chairman Dana Rohrabacher: "This afternoon we will hear testimony, expert testimony, on the topic not thought to be, but in reality of great concern and importance, the threat of Islamic extremism inside Russia and what that might mean to the United States and global security. The fight against violent, radical Islam is one of the major challenges of our time. Islamic terrorists have targeted numerous countries for attack, including the United States and Russia. They have declared war on the modern civilized world. Their barbaric actions in Syria remind us daily of their depravity. They must be stopped and they must be defeated. The future of America, Russia, and, yes, of Western civilization, depends on that. The lives of millions will be in jeopardy if we don't do what is right today. Given the global nature of this fight, it is in the interests of our national interests to understand the growth of extremism in other parts of the world and in other countries, such as Russia. It is alarming to read reports of Muslims living in peaceful and in free democratic countries being attracted or recruited into radical Islamic terrorism. This frightening reality is happening in Europe and elsewhere. Media reports indicate that over 2,000 Russian-born fighters may have traveled to the Middle East to join ISIL. Our collective inability to stem this tide is both shocking and unnerving." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: T.J. Kennedy, Stu Davis, and David Hoover.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2015
• Protecting Consumer Information: Can Data Breaches Be Prevented?, Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, February 5, 2014

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  This testimony compilation is from the February 5, 2014 hearing, "Protecting Consumer Information: Can Data Breaches Be Prevented?" before the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. From the opening statement of Lee Terry: "Today, we are turning our focus to an important issue that has affected nearly one-quarter of American consumers: a string of recent data breaches at nationwide retailers, which resulted in the loss of consumer payment card data and personal information for millions of consumers. [...] There are areas where Congress can take action and lead in a way in protecting consumers and combating fraud. One such area is a uniform data breach notification standard. [...] Consumers need to know quickly if their information is breached so that they protect themselves. I am working on legislation that would foster quicker notification by replacing the multiple -- and sometimes conflicting -- state notification regimes with a single, uniform federal breach notification regime. [...] I understand that the four largest credit card companies have put a deadline of October 1, 2015, for merchants to adopt point-of-sale portals that accept EMV-enabled cards -- the so-called chip-and-PIN. I am interested in hearing about how this technology could benefit consumers, as well as what Congress' role should be with regard to data security in general." Statements, letters, and other materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Lee Terry, Fred Upton, Edith Ramirez, Lisa Madigan, William Noonan, Lawrence Zelvin, Michael R. Kingston, John Mulligan, Bob Russo, and Phillip J. Smith.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce

  2014-02-05
• Uncertain Future of the Internet, Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, February 25, 2015

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  This is a testimony compilation from the February 25, 2015 hearing "The Uncertainty Future of the Internet," held before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. From the opening statement of Chairman Greg Walden: "The Internet has been a catalyst for our modern information economy and culture precisely because of these guiding principles. But the current draft Order, which will purportedly subject the Internet to monopoly-era regulation under Title II of the Communications Act, threatens to throw all of this out the window and to generate significant uncertainty that will impact the industry, its investors, and ultimately its consumers. Accordingly, the second reason that we've offered legislation is to quell that wave of uncertainty. No more trips to the D.C. Circuit for the FCC [Federal Communications Commission] -- at least on this issue. Our economy and our communities are better served by ISPs [internet service providers] that can invest in services rather than in lawyers. We are all better served by an agency with clear jurisdiction rather than one that engages in policymaking by litigation. I think that this is something that everyone would support, but I have yet to find anyone willing to engage in a real negotiation over what this bill should look like. I'm not above asking again -- let's talk about how we can work together to solve the problem and end this uncertainty. The door is open. So today, our hearing is intended to lay out some of the questions we've been asking and to explore the uncertainty surrounding these new rules. Our panel of witnesses today contains several veterans of this debate. Mr. Boucher, in particular, sat in this very chair when the FCC began its first attempt to enforce net neutrality through regulation." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Robert Atkinson, Rick Boucher, Larry Downes, and Gene Kimmelman.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce

  2015-02-25
• Rise of ISIL: Iraq and Beyond, Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade and the Subcommittee on The Middle East and North Africa of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, July 15, 2014

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  This is the July 15, 2014 hearing on "The Rise of ISIL: Iraq and Beyond," Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade and the Subcommittee on The Middle East and North Africa of the Committee on Foreign Affairs House of Representatives. From the Statement of James Jeffrey and Philip Solondz: "As we heard from the statements from members of the two subcommittees, the turn of events in Iraq over the last month leading to the establishment of the so-called Islamic State is a stunning blow to U.S. policy and goals in the Middle East. The creation of an extremist quasi-state analogous to Afghanistan under the Taliban exposes many of our key interests globally as well as in the region. Simultaneously, we are facing a militant Iran on the march, allied with Syria's Assad, Hezbollah, and some in Iraq. This is an emergency, not an everyday crisis. At this point--and this has already been suggested--the cost of doing nothing significant now is greater than the risks of most actions short of actually committing ground troops." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: James Jeffrey, Philip Solondz, Jack Keane, Doug Bandow, Michael Eisenstadt, and Gerald E. Connolly.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014-07-15
• Management Advisory Regarding Results from Research for Future Audits and Evaluations Related to the Effects of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus on DoD Operations

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  From the DoD Cares Act Funds: "The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the President declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency. Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act enacted on March 27, 2020, the DoD received $10.6 billion in funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19, domestically and internationally. [...] The rest of the report discusses the DoD's use of the CARES Act funds and areas of concern over the reporting status of DoD's CARES Act funds."

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

  2022-01-19
• Protecting Maritime Facilities in the 21st Century: Are Our Nation's Ports at Risk for a Cyber-Attack? Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, October 8, 2015

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  This is a testimony compilation from the October 8, 2015 hearing "Protecting Maritime Facilities in the 21st Century: Are Our Nation's Ports at Risk for a Cyber-Attack?" hearing held before the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Subcommittee Chairman Candice Miller: "The purpose of today's hearing is to examine the vulnerability of seaports to cyber-attacks and how well we are prepared to prevent and respond to such an attack. Our meeting today marks the first Congressional hearing convened to examine cyber security at our nation's ports, which is fitting since October is also National Cybersecurity Awareness Month The United States Coast Guard is the government agency responsible for the physical security of our nation's port infrastructure. Working through the Area Maritime Security Committees, the Coast Guard partners with port authorities and operators to update access controls, fence-off sensitive areas of the ports, and increase surveillance when appropriate. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States Congress has appropriated $2.4 billion dollars in port security grant funds to harden port facilities against the potential for a terror attack. As a nation, we have done a fairly good job updating the physical security at ports, but I am concerned that the U.S. government has fallen behind when it comes to the cyber security of the port." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Paul F. Thomas, Gregory C. Wilshusen, Randy D. Parsons, and Jonathan Sawicki.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security

  2015-10-08
• Ensuring the Security Stability, Resilience, and Freedom of the Global Internet, Hearing Before U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, April 2, 2014

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  This compilation is from the April 2, 2014 hearing on "Ensuring the Security, Stability, Resilience, and Freedom of the Global Internet" held before the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. From the opening statement of Greg Walden: "I cannot overstate the importance of freedom of the Internet from government control. Nor can I overstate the threat from foreign governments who seek to control, tax, censor, and otherwise impose their own agendas on the Internet. That's why the House has unanimously passed both a resolution and legislation that affirm our policy that the United States should promote a global Internet, free from government control. I do hope the Senate takes up our latest measure with all due haste. Obviously, the administration's proposal has sparked furious debate and brought together in opposition some interesting former combatants ranging from Karl Rove to Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich. I called today's hearing to get answers to exactly what the Obama administration is proposing and what it is not. Are the goals of security, stability, resilience and freedom of the Internet compatible with a multistakeholder managed Domain Name System?" Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Greg Walden, Fred Upton, Larry Strickling, Fadi Chehade, David A. Gross, Steve DelBianco, and Carolina Rossini.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce

  2014-04-02
• Indian Health Service Use of Critical Care Response Teams Has Helped to Meet Facility Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  From the Report in Brief: "Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious, sometimes fatal, disease that has disproportionately affected American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). The Indian Health Service (IHS) and Tribal health care facilities are the main health care providers for the AI/AN population. Prior OIG [Office of Inspector General] work found that IHS facilities often lacked sufficient staff and had limited access to clinical specialists, as well as finding other quality-of-care concerns. One recent IHS effort to address staffing and quality concerns is its development of Critical Care Response Teams (CCRTs) to support IHS and Tribal facilities in caring for critically ill COVID-19 patients. This study examines IHS's first five deployments of the CCRTs, which provided services to six IHS facilities and three Tribal facilities from June through September 2020."

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

  Murrin, Suzanne

  2021-09
• Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program Phase III Fraud Controls

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  From the Introduction: "The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) is responsible for conducting oversight of pandemic-related funds and preventing and detecting fraud. We conducted this project -- in coordination with the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) -- to examine antifraud controls used by the SBA in its Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to prevent the types of fraud that the SBA experienced with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). [...] To gain insight into the effectiveness of these controls, we initiated a limited scope evaluation on April 29, 2021, to examine whether Phase III PPP controls would have likely detected the fraud identified in PPP criminal cases. This report includes a discussion of the SBA's PPP controls and an evaluation of whether any fraud risks remain that would require additional controls to prevent or detect the earlier fraud found in PPP criminal cases." This document includes charts, tables, and graphs to illustrate the text.

  Pandemic Response Accountability Committee

  2022-01-21
• Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission, Hearing Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, May 20, 2014

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  This testimony compilation is from the May 20, 2014 hearing, "Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission [FCC]" before the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. From the opening statement of Greg Walden: "Six month ago, this subcommittee met for the first time with the current complement of FCC Commissioners and welcomed Mr. Wheeler as the new chairman. Today -- and let me welcome Chairman Wheeler back -- we meet to review the record of action and selective inaction that the commission has taken under the first six months of his leadership. Unfortunately, given some of the most recent actions out of the commission, I fear that we may be heading into rough waters. [...] The modern communications landscape bears no resemblance to the world Title II was meant to regulate and application of Title II to the Internet is, at best, a poor fit. [...] We should all pause and consider the prospect of the FCC as a rate-setting authority over Internet access and what that meant for innovation in the telephone network of yesteryear. We should also be aware that this path opens the door for states to regulate the Internet." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Greg Walden, Fred Upton, and Tom Wheeler.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce

  2014-05-20
• Flash Report: Duplicate Loans Made Under the Paycheck Protection Program

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  From the Executive Summary: "This analysis was initiated in response to a House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis request that we review duplicate loans made under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) related to a vulnerability in the Small Business Administration's (SBA) loan processing system. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law by the President on March 27, 2020 to provide economic relief to small businesses. Section 1102 of the CARES Act established the PPP with $349 billion to provide fully guaranteed loans under section 7(a) of the Small Business Act. These loans can be used to cover payroll, rent, utility payments, and other limited uses. On April 24, 2020, the President signed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act to provide an additional $310 billion to the PPP. As of August 8, 2020, when the PPP closed, lenders had approved 5.2 million PPP loans, totaling about $525 billion. [...] We recommended in part that SBA 1) review identified potential duplicate disbursements for eligibility and take action to recover any improper payments, 2) review controls related to all PPP loan reviews to ensure that duplicate loans are not forgiven and not subject to an SBA guaranty, as appropriate, 3) strengthen E-Tran [SBA electronic loan application system] controls for future PPP-type programs to ensure the controls align with program requirements and are active at all times, and 4) strengthen controls and guidance for lenders to ensure lenders meet program requirements for future PPP type programs."

  United States. Small Business Administration. Office of the Inspector General

  2021-03-15
• Evaluation of SBA's Coronavirus Reconstitution Plan

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  From the Executive Summary: "We evaluated actions the Small Business Administration (SBA) took to responsibly return employees, contractors, and visitors to SBA offices. Our objectives were to determine (1) whether the agency established a COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] reconstitution plan in accordance with applicable federal guidance and (2) if the agency adhered to that plan. [...] We recommend SBA enforce the requirements of the February 2021 COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan by consistently applying procedures for occupancy and exposure tracking and accurately record and maintain supporting documentation for all reported COVID-19 cases."

  United States. Small Business Administration. Office of the Inspector General

  2021-07-12
• Filtering Practices of Social Media Platforms, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, Second Session, April 26, 2018

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  This is the April 26, 2018 hearing titled "Filtering Practices of Social Media Platforms," held before the House Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Bob Goodlatte: "Today's hearing will examine how social media companies filter content on their platforms. According to a February 2018 fact sheet published by Pew Research Center, today around 7 in 10 Americans use social media to connect with one another, engage with news content, share information, and entertain themselves." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Marsha Blackburn, Jim Himes, Lynnette "Diamond" Hardaway and Rochelle "Silk" Richardson, Berin Szoka, Ari Waldman, and David Chavern.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2018