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Escalating Tariffs: Timeline and Potential Impact [July 31, 2018]
"Concerns over the U.S. trade deficit and trading partner trade practices have been a focus of the Trump Administration. Citing these concerns, the President has imposed tariffs under three U.S. laws that allow the Administration to impose trade restrictions based on certain criteria unilaterally: (1) Section 201 on U.S. imports of washing machines and solar products; (2) Section 232 on U.S. imports of steel and aluminum, and potentially autos and uranium, and (3) Section 301 on U.S. imports from China. In 2017, U.S. imports of goods subject to the additional tariffs, which range from 10%-50%, totaled $80 billion, a figure that would increase should additional proposed tariffs go into effect. While the tariffs may benefit some import-competing U.S. producers, they are also likely to increase costs for downstream users of imported products and some consumer prices. The Administration is likely using the tariffs in part to pressure affected countries into broader trade negotiations, such as the recently announced U.S.-EU trade liberalization talks, but it is unclear what specific outcomes the Administration is seeking."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Williams, Brock R.
2018-07-31
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Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [July 31, 2018]
"This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. A total of 32 LCSs have been procured through FY2018. For FY2019, the Navy is requesting the procurement of the 33rd LCS. The LCS program presents several oversight issues for Congress. Congress's decisions on the program will affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2018-07-31
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Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) [July 31, 2018]
"Health savings accounts (HSAs) were first authorized in the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-173). HSAs are one type of healthrelated tax-advantaged account that individuals can use to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses (e.g., deductibles, co-payments, coinsurance, and services not covered by insurance). Generally, individuals are eligible to establish and contribute to an HSA if they have coverage solely under an HSA-qualified high-deductible health plan (HDHP). The HSA is tied to the individual, and account holders retain access to their HSAs if they change employers, insurers, or subsequently obtain coverage under a non-HSA qualified plan. Eligible individuals may make direct contributions to their HSAs, and employers, family members, and other individuals may make contributions to an individual's HSA on the individual's behalf. Unused balances may accumulate without limit, be invested, and carry over from year to year. Individuals do not need to be enrolled in an HSA-eligible HDHP to make withdrawals from the account; however, any withdrawals that are not spent on qualified medical expenses for the account holder, the account holder's spouse, or the account holder's dependents are subject to a penalty tax, with some exceptions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rosso, Ryan J.
2018-07-31
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World Trade Organization (WTO): U.S. Participation at Risk? [July 31, 2018]
"In a break from past administrations, the Trump Administration has expressed doubt over the value of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to the U.S. economy. The United States was a key architect of the WTO--the 164-member international organization established in 1995 that oversees global trade rules and trade liberalization negotiations, and resolves trade disputes. In late June, media reports suggested that President Trump was considering withdrawing the United States from the WTO; U.S. officials have since said talks of withdrawal are 'premature' and an 'exaggeration.' Congress has recognized the WTO as the 'foundation of the global trading system,' and plays a direct legislative and oversight role over WTO agreements. [...] Some U.S. frustrations with the WTO are not new and many are shared by other trading partners. But the Administration's overall approach has spurred new questions regarding the future of U.S. leadership (and participation) in the WTO, as well as the role of Congress in U.S. trade policy. In particular, recent U.S. actions to raise tariffs against major trading partners unilaterally and to potentially obstruct the functioning of the dispute settlement system, have prompted concerns that the United States may undermine the effectiveness and credibility of the institution that it helped to create."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.
2018-07-31
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What Happens If the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Lapses? [July 31, 2018]
"This Insight provides a short overview of what would happen if the NFIP [National Flood Insurance Program] were not to be reauthorized by November 30, 2018, and allowed to lapse. See CRS Report R45099, National Flood Insurance Program: Selected Issues and Legislation in the 115th Congress for the current status of NFIP reauthorization legislation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2018-07-31
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Family Separation at the Border and the Ms. L. Litigation [July 31, 2018]
"The separation of families of non-U.S. nationals (aliens) apprehended by immigration authorities near the border has prompted contentious debate among policymakers as well as legal challenge to immigration detention policies. Trump Administration officials have called for legislation addressing family separation, while some lawmakers have urged the executive branch to modify current separation policies to ensure that families detained by immigration authorities are held or released from custody together. On June 20, 2018, President Trump issued an executive order announcing that it is 'the policy of this Administration to maintain family unity, including by detaining families together where appropriate and consistent with law and available resources.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Peck, Sarah Herman
2018-07-31
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Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress [July 31, 2018]
"This report provides background information and issues for Congress on multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC),1 which are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense (DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs. Compared to the standard or default approach of annual contracting, MYP and BBC have the potential for reducing weapon procurement costs by several percent. Potential issues for Congress concerning MYP and BBC include whether to use MYP and BBC in the future more frequently, less frequently, or about as frequently as they are currently used; whether to create a permanent statute to govern the use of BBC, analogous to the permanent statute that governs the use of MYP; and whether the Coast Guard should begin making use of MYP and BBC. Congress's decisions on these issues could affect defense acquisition practices, defense funding requirements, and the defense industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; Schwartz, Moshe
2018-07-31
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Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress [July 31, 2018]
"This report presents background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Navy's Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) and Zumwalt (DDG-1000) class destroyer programs. The Navy's proposed FY2019 budget requests funding for the procurement of three DDG-51s. Decisions that Congress makes concerning destroyer procurement could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2018-07-31
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Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress [July 31, 2018]
"The current and planned size and composition of the Navy, the rate of Navy ship procurement, and the prospective affordability of the Navy's shipbuilding plans have been oversight matters for the congressional defense committees for many years. The Navy's FY2019 budget submission includes proposed increases in shipbuilding rates that are intended as initial steps for increasing the size of the Navy toward a goal of a fleet with 355 ships of certain types and numbers."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2018-07-31
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Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress [July 31, 2018]
"This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) class aircraft carrier program. The Navy's proposed FY2019 budget requests a total of $1,598.2 million in procurement funding for the program. Congress's decisions on the CVN-78 program could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2018-07-31
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Navy Frigate (FFG[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [July 31, 2018]
"The Navy in 2017 initiated a new program, called the FFG(X) program, to build a class of 20 guided-missile frigates (FFGs). The Navy wants to procure the first FFG(X) in FY2020, the second in FY2021, and the remaining 18 at a rate of two per year in FY2022-FY2030. The Navy's proposed FY2019 budget requests $134.8 million in research and development funding for the program. Although the Navy has not yet determined the design of the FFG(X), given the capabilities that the Navy's wants the FFG(X) to have, the ship will likely be larger in terms of displacement, more heavily armed, and more expensive to procure than the Navy's Littoral Combat Ships (LCSs). The Navy envisages developing no new technologies or systems for the FFG(X)--the ship is to use systems and technologies that already exist or are already being developed for use in other programs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2018-07-31
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Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) [July 31, 2018]
"The NFIP was established by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (NFIA, 42 U.S.C. §4001 et seq.), and was most recently reauthorized to November 30, 2018, through a series of short-term reauthorizations. The general purpose of the NFIP is both to offer primary flood insurance to properties with significant flood risk, and to reduce flood risk through the adoption of floodplain management standards. Communities volunteer to participate in the NFIP in order to have access to federal flood insurance, and in return are required to adopt minimum standards. FEMA manages a process, called Risk MAP, to produce Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Depicted on FIRMs are Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), which is the area exposed to a 1% or greater risk of annual flooding. FIRMs vary in age across the country, and are updated on a prioritized basis. The Risk MAP process provides extensive outreach and appeal opportunities for communities. Updating a community's FIRMs can take three to five years or more. Participating communities must adopt a flood map and enact minimum floodplain standards to regulate development in the SFHA. FEMA encourages communities to enhance their floodplain standards by offering reduced premium rates through the Community Rating System (CRS). FEMA also manages a Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program using NFIP revenues to further reduce comprehensive flood risk."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.; Brown, Jared T.
2018-07-31
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Navy Columbia (SSBN-826) Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress [July 31, 2018]
"The Columbia (SSBN-826) class program, previously known as the Ohio replacement program (ORP) or SSBN(X) program, is a program to design and build a new class of 12 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to replace the Navy's current force of 14 Ohio-class SSBNs. The Navy has identified the Columbia-class program as the Navy's top priority program. The Navy wants to procure the first Columbia-class boat in FY2021. The Navy's proposed FY2019 budget requests $3,005.3 million in advance procurement (AP) funding and $704.9 million in research and development funding for the program. [...] Issues for Congress for the Columbia-class program for FY2019 include the following: [1] whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's FY2019 funding requests for the program; [2] cost, schedule, and technical risk in the Columbia-class program; and [3] the prospective affordability of the Columbia-class program and its potential impact on funding available for other Navy programs. This report focuses on the Columbia-class program as a Navy shipbuilding program. CRS Report RL33640, U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues, by Amy F. Woolf, discusses the Columbia class as an element of future U.S. strategic nuclear forces in the context of strategic nuclear arms control agreements."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2018-07-31
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Private Flood Insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program [July 31, 2018]
"Congress is currently considering reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) during the 2018 hurricane season, while still dealing with the financial impact of the 2017 hurricane season. Total losses (insured and uninsured) for the 2017 hurricane season are estimated at a record $270.3 billion, with losses for Hurricane Harvey estimated at $127.5 billion, Hurricane Maria at $91.8 billion, and Hurricane Irma at $51.0 billion. FEMA projects total NFIP claims for the three hurricanes at more than $9.7 billion. The NFIP is designed to borrow money from the Treasury to cover claims for extreme events; however, the 2017 losses would have pushed the program over its authorized borrowing limit. Rather than increase the borrowing limit, Congress canceled $16 billion of NFIP debt to allow the program to pay claims."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.; Webel, Baird
2018-07-31
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Private Flood Insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) [July 31, 2018]
"The NFIP was first authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. §§4001 et seq.), and was reauthorized until the end of FY2017 by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (BW-12, Title II of P.L. 112-141). After a series of short-term reauthorizations, P.L. 115-225 reauthorized the NFIP until November 30, 2018. In statute, Congress has found that (1) many factors have made it uneconomic for the private insurance industry alone to make flood insurance available to those in need of such protection on reasonable terms and conditions; but (2) a program of flood insurance with large-scale participation of the Federal Government and carried out to the maximum extent practicable by the private insurance industry is feasible and can be initiated. (42 U.S.C. §4001(b)) By law or regulation, federal agencies, federally regulated lending institutions, and government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) must require certain property owners to purchase flood insurance as a condition of any mortgage that these entities make, guarantee, or purchase. Property owners are required to purchase flood insurance if their property is identified as being in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA, which is equivalent to having a 1% or greater risk of flooding every year) and is in a community that participates in the NFIP. Historically, this has generally meant that such property owners were required to purchase a Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP) from the NFIP. In BW-12, Congress explicitly allowed federal agencies to accept private flood insurance to fulfill this mortgage requirement instead of the SFIP, if the private flood insurance met the conditions defined further in statute at 42 U.S.C. 4012a(b)(7)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Webel, Baird; Horn, Diane P.
2018-07-31
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Special Report: FEMA Paid Employees Over the Annual Premium Pay Cap
"The FEMA Administrator requested that the OIG [Office of Inspector General] review issues related to FEMA paying employees in excess of the annual pay limitations. We conducted this special review to assess why these exceedances occurred, as well as what actions FEMA has taken to address the overpayments and enforce the statutory premium pay limitations going forward. We found that FEMA overpaid its employees because it mistakenly believed the Department's payroll provider had an automated control to prevent payments over the annual cap, and because it did not follow its own premium pay policy. We also found that FEMA has no effective policy or practice to determine the Fair Labor Standards Act status of FEMA employees during disaster deployments, which also contributed to this issue. Since discovering the overpayments, FEMA has been working to calculate how many people were overpaid, but it cannot finish that analysis until it addresses a number of outstanding questions. Nor has FEMA yet determined how it will prevent future overpayments or account for the Fair Labor Standards Act classification issue. Although Congress passed legislation in March 2018 raising the annual premium pay cap for 2017, FEMA must still resolve these issues to determine whether it made any payments over the revised 2017 pay cap and whether it owes employees additional overtime as a result of the raised cap. Additionally, it must still complete its analysis of possible overpayments in prior years, and determine how to prevent overpayments and ensure compliance with Federal regulations going forward."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2018-07-31
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Oversight of Immigration Enforcement and Family Reunification Efforts, Hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, Second Session, July 31, 2018
This testimony compilation is from the July 31, 2018 hearing on "Oversight of Immigration Enforcement and Family Reunification Efforts," before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. This hearing sought to address oversight of the reunification effort of families that were detained after the implementation of a "zero tolerance" policy regarding migration across the U.S.-Mexico border. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Chuck Grassley, Carla L. Provost, Matthew Albence, Jonathan D. White, James, R. McHenry III, and Jennifer Higgins.
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services
2018-07-31
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S. Rept. 115-310: To Require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to Submit to Congress a Report on Certain Hydropower Projects, Report to Accompany S. 1030, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, July 31, 2018
From the Purpose: "The purpose of S. 1030 is to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) to submit to Congress a report on certain hydropower projects."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2018-07-31
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National Flood Insurance Program: Selected Issues and Legislation in the 115th Congress [July 31, 2018]
"The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was established by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (NFIA, 42 U.S.C. §4001 et seq.), and was most recently reauthorized until November 30, 2018 (P.L. 115-225). The general purpose of the NFIP is both to offer primary flood insurance to properties with significant flood risk, and to reduce flood risk through the adoption of floodplain management standards. A longer-term objective of the NFIP is to reduce federal expenditure on disaster assistance after floods. The NFIP also engages in many 'non-insurance' activities in the public interest: it disseminates flood risk information through flood maps, requires community land use and building code standards, and offers grants and incentive programs for household- and community-level investments in flood risk reduction. Unless reauthorized or amended by Congress, the following will occur on November 30, 2018: (1) the authority to provide new flood insurance contracts will expire and (2) the authority for NFIP to borrow funds from the Treasury will be reduced from $30.425 billion to $1 billion."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2018-07-31
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National Flood Insurance Program Borrowing Authority [July 31, 2018]
"Funding for the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) is primarily maintained in an authorized account called the National Flood Insurance Fund (NFIF). Generally, the NFIP has been funded from receipts from the premiums of flood insurance policies, including fees and surcharges; direct annual appropriations for specific costs of the NFIP (currently only flood mapping); and borrowing from the Treasury when the balance of the NFIF has been insufficient to pay the NFIP's obligations (e.g., insurance claims). Key provisions of the NFIP were extended from September 30 until December 8, 2017 (Section 130 of P.L. 115-56), extended again until December 22, 2017 (P.L. 115-90), and again until January 19, 2018 (P.L. 115-96). The NFIP lapsed between January 20 and January 22, 2018, and received a fourth short-term reauthorization until February 8, 2018 (P.L. 115-120). The NFIP lapsed again for approximately eight hours during a brief government shutdown in the early morning of February 9 and was then reauthorized until March 23, 2018 (P.L. 115-123). The NFIP received a sixth reauthorization until July 31, 2018 (P.L. 115-141), and a seventh reauthorization until November 30, 2018 (P.L. 115-225). However, these extensions did not increase the NFIP's borrowing limit or provide additional funds to the NFIP."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2018-07-31
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Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): An Overview [July 31, 2018]
"Established by Congress as an amendment to the Clean Air Act, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandates that U.S. transportation fuel contain a minimum volume of biofuel. The mandated minimum volume increases annually and must be met using both conventional biofuel (e.g., cornstarch ethanol) and advanced biofuel (e.g., cellulosic ethanol). For a renewable fuel to be applied toward the mandate, it must be used for certain purposes (transportation fuel, jet fuel, or heating oil) and meet certain environmental and biomass feedstock criteria."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bracmort, Kelsi
2018-07-31
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China-U.S. Trade Issues [July 30, 2018]
"Economic and trade reforms begun in 1979 have helped transform China into one of the world's biggest and fastest-growing economies. China's economic growth and trade liberalization, including comprehensive trade commitments made upon its entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, have led to a sharp expansion in U.S.-China commercial ties. Yet, bilateral trade relations have become increasingly strained in recent years over a number of issues, including China's mixed record on implementing its WTO obligations; infringement of U.S. intellectual property (such as through cyber-theft of U.S. trade secrets and forced technology requirements placed on foreign firms); increased use of industrial policies to promote and protect domestic Chinese firms; extensive trade and foreign investment restrictions; lack of transparency in trade rules and regulations; distortionary economic policies that have led to overcapacity in several industries; and its large merchandise trade surplus with the United States. China's economic and trade conditions, policies, and acts have a significant impact on the U.S. economy as whole as well as specific U.S. sectors and thus are of concern to Congress. This report provides an overview of U.S.-China commercial ties, identifies major issues of contention, describes the Trump Administration's trade policies toward China, and reviews possible outcomes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morrison, Wayne M.
2018-07-30
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Hostage-Taking Statute Covers Kidnapping for Ransom Abroad [July 30, 2018]
"In the midst of a rash of kidnappings, a U.S. citizen living in Haiti was seized and held for ransom. In United States v. Noel, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (Eleventh Circuit) recently upheld the conviction of one of the kidnappers under the federal hostage-taking statute. The statute condemns 'whoever, whether inside or outside the United States . . . detains . . . another person in order to compel a third person or a governmental organization to do or abstain from doing any act as an explicit or implicit condition for the release of the person detained . . .' It applies outside the U.S. if either the offender or the victim is a U.S. citizen; the offender later travels, or is brought, to the U.S.; or the targeted 'governmental organization' is the U.S. Government."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2018-07-30
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S. Rept. 115-308: DHS Overseas Personnel Enforcement Act of 2017, Report of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, to Accompany H.R. 4567, July 30, 2018
From the Purpose and Summary: "H.R. 4567, the DHS Overseas Personnel Enhancement Act of 2017, requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS or the Department) to provide Congress with a briefing within 90 days of submitting its comprehensive multi-year strategy on DHS's overseas personnel deployments, and every 180 days thereafter. Among other things, DHS is required to brief Congress on any barriers impeding information sharing and collaboration across DHS components and stakeholder entities to advance its counterterrorism mission. Within 90 days of the first overseas personnel briefing, the Act requires the Department to submit to Congress a plan to improve the effectiveness of personnel located at foreign locations."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2018-07-30
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Department of Homeland Security: Monthly Budget Execution and Staffing Report: Fiscal Year 2018-Through June 30, 2018 (Fiscal Years 2018 Report to Congress)
This report to Congress was created to prepare allocations for DHS staffing and executive duties. This report pertains to monthly budgetary appropriations.
United States. Department of Homeland Security; United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of the Chief Financial Officer
2018-07-30
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Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction: Quarterly Report to the United States Congress [July 30, 2018]
"This report summarizes SIGAR's [Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction] oversight work and updates developments in the four major sectors of reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan from April 1 to June 30, 2018. It also includes an essay on the lessons learned from stabilization programs in Afghanistan. During this reporting period, SIGAR published 16 audits, inspections, and other products assessing U.S. efforts to build the Afghan security forces, improve governance, facilitate economic and social development, and combat the production and sale of narcotics. During the reporting period, SIGAR criminal investigations resulted in one indictment, two criminal informations, three guilty pleas, one sentencing, and $81,000 in cost savings to the U.S. government. SIGAR initiated six new cases and closed 25, bringing the total number of ongoing investigations to 180. Additionally, SIGAR's suspension and debarment program referred three individuals and two entities for suspension or debarment based on evidence developed as part of investigations conducted by SIGAR in Afghanistan and in the United States."
United States. Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction
2018-07-30
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Disaster Relief Fund: Monthly Report Through June 30, 2018
"This document has been compiled pursuant to language set forth in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act (P.L. 115-141), the Further Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2018 (P.L. 115- 123), and the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-72)."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2018-07-30
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FEMA Daily Operations Briefings, July 29 - August 4, 2018
This document is a compilation of all the FEMA Daily Operations Briefings from July 29 - August 4, 2018. The FEMA Daily Operations Briefing provides an overview of the current emergency management situation nationwide and includes a summary of current significant events, weather activity, recent emergency declarations and projections for the coming week.
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2018-07-29?
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Pipeline Safety: Overdue Statutory Mandates [July 27, 2018]
"The safety of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines in the United States is regulated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) within the Department of Transportation (DOT). For decades, Congress has reauthorized DOT's pipeline safety program in stand-alone legislation. In addition, Congress has used reauthorizations to impose on PHMSA various mandates regarding standards, studies, and other elements of pipeline safety regulation-- usually in response to major pipeline accidents. The Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-90) and the PIPES Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-183) together included 61 such mandates. As of June 21, 2018, the agency had fulfilled 47 of these. Some in Congress are concerned that key mandates remain unfulfilled, in some cases years beyond the deadlines specified in statute."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Parfomak, Paul W.
2018-07-27
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Defense Primer: Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering [July 27, 2018]
From the Document: "Advances in science and technology have long played a critical role in ensuring the technological preeminence of the United States military. For this reason, the Department of Defense (DOD) is the largest funder of federal research and development. The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD (R&E)) is a civilian official reporting directly to the Secretary of Defense. The USD (R&E) serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense for DOD research, engineering, and technology development activities and programs. Over the last several years, policymakers and others have expressed concern that the long-held technological edge of the U.S. military is eroding due, in part, to the proliferation of technologies outside the defense sector, organizational and cultural barriers to DOD effectively incorporating and exploiting commercial innovations, and insufficient engagement with leading-edge companies that have not historically been a part of the DOD innovation system. The establishment of the USD (R&E) as the fourth highest ranking DOD official--behind the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Chief Management Officer--was intended to promote faster innovation and to reduce risk-intolerance in the pursuit of new technologies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gallo, Marcy E.; Schwartz, Moshe
2018-07-27
