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• Science & Technology Highlights in the First Year of the Trump Administration

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  "Since President Trump's inauguration, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has built a robust team of over 50 staff members, including a corps of scientists and engineers, policymakers, and academics to advise the President on science and technology (S&T), support the President's agenda, and ensure that S&T efforts across the Executive Branch are effectively coordinated. OSTP policy advisors are providing expert advice and developing policies on a wide range of topics, including advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, biotechnology, cybersecurity, digital economy, disaster preparedness, healthcare, infectious diseases, information technology, medicine, nano-technology, nuclear energy, ocean science, quantum information sciences, space and aeronautics, and telecommunications, among others. The Trump Administration is committed to advancing technological development and conducting re-search and development (R&D) to ensure national security, grow the economy, create well-paying jobs, and improve the lives of Americans across this great nation. Over the past year, OSTP has led coordinated Administration efforts to promote emerging technologies, empower Americans to innovate, and defend American technologies abroad."

  United States. Executive Office of the President; United States. Office of Science and Technology Policy

  2018-03-07?
• Cybersecurity Workforce: DHS Needs to Take Urgent Action to Identify Its Position and Critical Skill Requirements, Statement of Gregory C. Wilshusen Director, Information Security Issues, Testimony Before the Subcommittees on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection and Oversight and Management Efficiency, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives

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  "DHS is the lead agency tasked with protecting the nation's critical infrastructure from cyber threats. The Homeland Security Cybersecurity Workforce Assessment Act of 2014 required DHS to identify, categorize, and assign employment codes to all of the department's cybersecurity workforce positions. These codes define work roles and tasks for cybersecurity specialty areas such as program management and system administration. Further, the act required DHS to identify and report its cybersecurity workforce critical needs."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  Wilshusen, Gregory C.

  2018-03-07
• Personnel Security Clearances: Additional Actions Needed to Implement Key Reforms and Improve Timely Processing of Investigations, Statement of Brenda S. Farrell, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management, Testimony Before the Select Committee on Intelligence, U.S. Senate

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  "The government-wide personnel security clearance process was designated as a high-risk area in January 2018 because it represents one of the highest management risks in government. This testimony focuses on, among other things, the extent to which executive branch agencies (1) made progress reforming the security clearance process, and (2) are meeting timeliness objectives and reducing NBIB's (National Background Investigations Bureau) investigative backlog."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  Farrell, Brenda S.

  2018-03-07
• Coast Guard: Actions Needed to Improve Data Quality and Transparency for Reporting on Mission Performance and Capital Planning, Statement of Nathan Anderson, Acting Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives

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  "The Coast Guard, a component of DHS, serves as the principal federal agency responsible for maritime safety, security, and environmental stewardship in U.S. ports and waterways. To ensure that the Coast Guard is effectively fulfilling its missions, agency managers must have accurate information and base decisions on sound analyses for effective program management. This statement discusses Coast Guard actions needed to (1) improve the quality of data used for program management and (2) improve the transparency of its data for reporting on mission performance and planning."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  Anderson, Nathaniel

  2018-03-07
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 2060: Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2018

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  "S. 2060 would authorize the appropriation of $131 million for humanitarian assistance and other programs in Burma and the surrounding region. In addition, the bill would restrict imports of jadeite and jewelry containing jadeite from Burma and impose sanctions on people and entities that are responsible for human rights violations in Burma or that have acquired defense articles from North Korea. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing S. 2060 would cost $127 million over the 2018-2023 period, assuming appropriation of the specified amounts. In addition, enacting the bill would have effects on direct spending and revenues over the 2018-2028 period; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. CBO expects those effects would be insignificant."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2018-03-07
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 4925: FRA Safety Data Improvement Act

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  "H.R. 4925 would require the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to develop a plan to comply with seven recommendations of the Department of Transportation's inspector general regarding the management and collection of safety data. The bill would require FRA to report annually to the Congress on compliance with the recommendations. Under current law, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] expects that FRA will implement the recommendations of the inspector general regarding the management and collection of safety data. FRA has already complied with five of those recommendations and using information from FRA, CBO expects that the agency will comply with the remaining two during 2018. As a result, CBO estimates that enacting the provisions of the bill would have no significant effect on the federal budget over the 2018-2022 period."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2018-03-07
• Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV): Background and Issues for Congress [March 7, 2018]

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  "On January 6, 2011, after spending approximately $3 billion in developmental funding, the Marine Corps cancelled the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) program due to poor reliability demonstrated during operational testing and excessive cost growth. Because the EFV was intended to replace the 40-year-old Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV), the Pentagon pledged to move quickly to develop a 'more affordable and sustainable' vehicle to replace the EFV. The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) is intended to replace the AAV, incorporating some EFV capabilities but in a more practical and cost-efficient manner. In concert with the ACV, the Marines were developing the Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC) to serve as a survivable and mobile platform to transport Marines when ashore. The MPC was not intended to be amphibious like an AAV, EFV, or the ACV but instead would be required to have a swim capability for inland waterways such as rivers, lakes, and other water obstacles such as shore-to-shore operations in the littorals. Both vehicles were intended to play central roles in future Marine amphibious operations. On June 14, 2013, Marine leadership put the MPC program 'on ice' due to budgetary pressures but suggested the program might be resurrected some 10 years down the road when budgetary resources might be more favorable."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Feickert, Andrew

  2018-03-07
• District Court Enjoins DACA Phase-Out: Explanation and Takeaways [March 7, 2018]

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  "Following the publication of this Sidebar, additional developments have arisen that affect the Trump Administration's planned phase-out of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. On February 13, 2018, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York became the second federal district court to issue a nationwide preliminary injunction limiting the DACA phase-out to aliens who have not yet obtained DACA benefits. The district court's injunction mirrors the nationwide injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California that is discussed in this Sidebar, and the reasoning behind each injunction was largely similar. Both courts held that plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits of their claims under the Administrative Procedure Act that DHS's decision to end DACA was 'arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.'"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Smith, Hillel R.; Harrington, Ben

  2018-03-07
• U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues [March 6, 2018]

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  "During the Cold War, the U.S. nuclear arsenal contained many types of delivery vehicles for nuclear weapons, including short-range missiles and artillery for use on the battlefield, mediumrange missiles and aircraft that could strike targets beyond the theater of battle, short- and medium-range systems based on surface ships, long-range missiles based on U.S. territory and submarines, and heavy bombers that could threaten Soviet targets from their bases in the United States. The short- and medium-range systems are considered non-strategic nuclear weapons and have been referred to as battlefield, tactical, and theater nuclear weapons. The long-range missiles and heavy bombers are known as strategic nuclear delivery vehicles."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Woolf, Amy F.

  2018-03-06
• Defense Primer: U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) [March 6, 2018]

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  From the Document: "U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) is a functional combatant command responsible for providing air, land, and sea transportation to meet national security needs. The command was established in 1987 and is located at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. TRANSCOM is comprised of more than 138,000 personnel including more than 45,000 active duty military members, members of the U.S. Coast Guard, and more than 19,000 civilian employees. About 50% (73,000) of the TRANSCOM workforce is reserve component personnel."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Williams, Lynn M.; Gay, Velma C.

  2018-03-06
• Responding to the Opioid Epidemic: Legal Developments and FDA's Role [March 6, 2018]

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  "According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, '115 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose,' and deaths from prescription opioids have more than quadrupled since 1999. The epidemic's origins are complex, with fingers pointed at pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, addicts and dealers, health care professionals, and insurance companies. Like the causes of the opioid epidemic, any solutions to the problem will likely involve many actors, including the federal government. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)--the executive agency charged with protecting the public health by ensuring the nation's drug supply is safe and effective--has developed an 'opioids action plan,' discussed in more detail below. Nonetheless, questions remain as to what actions the agency should take and whether the agency's existing authorities are adequate for addressing the crisis. This Sidebar provides an overview of FDA's existing authorities, the historical context for the opioid epidemic, and the agency's current plan for combatting the opioid epidemic, concluding with an examination of the broader legal questions concerning the crisis."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Armstrong, Kathryn B.

  2018-03-06
• Fiscal Year 2016 Audit of the DHS Bankcard Program Indicates Moderate Risk Remains

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  "During fiscal year 2016, DHS reported spending approximately $1.2 billion in purchase, travel, and fleet card transactions. Although the Department has established internal controls for its charge card programs, the components we reviewed did not always follow DHS' procedures. Our testing results of purchase, travel, and fleet card transactions revealed internal control weaknesses. Specifically, we found major internal control weaknesses that persisted at the United States Coast Guard and some control weaknesses within CBP's [U.S. Customs and Border Patrol] Fleet Card Program. As a result, there is moderate risk that DHS' internal controls over its charge card programs may not prevent illegal, improper, or erroneous purchases and payments."

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

  2018-03-06
• Electronic Health Information: CMS Oversight of Medicare Beneficiary Data Security Needs Improvement, Report to Congressional Requesters

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  "Recent data breaches have highlighted the importance of ensuring the security of health information, including Medicare beneficiary data. Such data are created, stored, and used by a wide variety of entities, such as health care providers, insurance companies, financial institutions, researchers, and others. GAO (Government Accountability Office) was asked to conduct a study of CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) efforts to protect Medicare beneficiary data accessed by external entities. GAO's objectives were to (1) identify the major external entities that collect, store, and process Medicare fee-for-service beneficiary data; (2) determine whether requirements for the protection of Medicare beneficiary data align with federal guidance; and (3) assess CMS oversight of the implementation of those requirements. GAO analyzed information about how external entities access data, reviewed CMS documentation on who they share data with, compared federal standards with CMS security requirements for external entities, and analyzed results of independent security reviews. GAO also interviewed CMS officials about their oversight activities."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2018-03-06
• Intellectual Property: CBP Can Enhance Information Sharing with the Private Sector to Address Changes in the Counterfeits Market, Statement of Kimberly Gianopoulos, Director, International Affairs and Trade, Testimony Before the Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate

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  "My testimony today summarizes the findings from our January 2018 report, which was released on February 27, 2018, on CBP's and ICE's IPR enforcement at U.S. borders. This testimony addresses (1) what is known about counterfeit goods entering the United States and the challenges they present, (2) efforts CBP and ICE have undertaken to enhance IPR enforcement and the extent to which they have assessed the results of these efforts, and (3) the extent to which CBP and ICE collaborate on IPR enforcement as well as ways in which they coordinate with the private sector in enforcing IPR."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  Gianopoulos, Kimberly

  2018-03-06
• After Action Report/Improvement Plan: Waterford 3 Steam Electric Station [December 5-6, 2017]

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  From the Executive Summary: "On December 5 - 6, 2017, a Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Plume Phase and Ingestion Pathway Exercise was conducted at the Waterford 3 Steam Electric Station (Waterford 3) located near Taft, St. Charles Parish, Louisiana. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS/FEMA) Region VI Office evaluated the exercise. The purpose was to assess the level of preparedness of state and local responders to react to a radiological emergency at Waterford 3. This exercise was held in accordance with FEMA's policies and guidance concerning the implementation of state and local REP plans and procedures. The previous exercise at this site was a Hostile Action Based Exercise conducted on June 24, 2015. The first qualifying exercise to satisfy FEMA rule 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 350 requirements for Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing to operate the facility was conducted on February 8, 1984. There have been seventeen evaluated exercises plus numerous drills conducted since 1984. [...] This report includes the identification of any exercise findings and recommendations for corrective action where appropriate. All state and local organizations, except where noted in this report, demonstrated an adequate knowledge of the emergency response plans and procedures and properly implemented them. As a result of the exercise, there were no Level 1 Findings or Level 2 Findings observed. One Plan Issue (Issue Number: 70-17-1 cl-P-1) was identified during the exercise and has been resolved."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2018-03-06
• Exploring Racial Influences on Flu Vaccine Attitudes and Behavior: Results of a National Survey of African American and White Adults

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  From the Abstract: "Racial disparities in adult flu vaccination rates persist with African Americans falling below Whites in vaccine acceptance. Although the literature has examined traditional variables including barriers, access, attitudes, among others, there has been virtually no examination of the extent to which racial factors including racial consciousness, fairness, and discrimination may affect vaccine attitudes and behaviors. [...] We contracted with GfK [Growth from Knowledge] to conduct an online, nationally representative survey with 819 African American and 838 White respondents. Measures included risk perception, trust, vaccine attitudes, hesitancy and confidence, novel measures on racial factors, and vaccine behavior. [...] There were significant racial differences in vaccine attitudes, risk perception, trust, hesitancy and confidence"

  United States. Department of Health and Human Services

  Quinn, Sandra C. (Sandra Crouse); Jamison, Amelia; Freimuth, Vicki S. . . .

  2018-03-06
• Information Warfare: Issues for Congress [March 5, 2018]

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  "In terms of U.S. government bureaucracy, there are debates in the United States about where the IW [Information Warfare] center of gravity should be. During the Cold War, the epicenter in the U.S. government was the Department of State and the U.S. Information Agency. Since 9/11, much of the current doctrine and capability resides with the military, leading some to posit that the epicenter should be the Pentagon. But others worry that the military should not be involved in the production of propaganda. This report offers Congress a conceptual framework for understanding IW as a strategy, discusses past and present IW-related organizations within the U.S. government, and uses several case studies as examples of IW strategy in practice. Countries discussed include Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. The Islamic State is also discussed."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Theohary, Catherine A.

  2018-03-05
• International Trade and Finance: Overview and Issues for the 115th Congress [March 05, 2018]

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  "The U.S. Constitution grants authority to Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations. Congress exercises this authority in numerous ways, including through oversight of trade policy and consideration of legislation to implement trade agreements and authorize trade programs. Policy issues cover areas such as U.S. trade negotiations, U.S. trade and economic relations with specific regions and countries, international institutions focused on trade, tariff and nontariff barriers, worker dislocation due to trade liberalization, enforcement of trade laws and trade agreement commitments, import and export policies, international investment, economic sanctions, and other trade-related functions of the federal government. Congress also has authority over U.S. financial commitments to international financial institutions and oversight responsibilities for trade- and finance-related agencies of the U.S. government."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Irace, Mary A.

  2018-03-05
• Guns, Excise Taxes, Wildlife Restoration, and the National Firearms Act [March 5, 2018]

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  "Federal taxes on firearms and ammunition are collected through different methods and used for different purposes, depending on the nature of the firearms. Some tax receipts are used for wildlife restoration and for hunter education and safety, for example, whereas others are deposited into the General Fund of the U.S. Treasury. The assessment of these taxes and the uses of generated revenues are routinely of interest to many in Congress. In general, taxes on the manufacture of firearms (including pistols and revolvers as well as rifles and other long guns) and ammunition are collected as excise taxes based on the manufacturer's or importer's sales price, under the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. §4181). These taxes are imposed on the manufacturer's sales price at a rate of 10% on pistols and revolvers and 11% on ammunition and other firearms. (Pistols and revolvers, ammunition, and other firearms each account for about a third of these tax revenues.) The tax, which raised $761.6 million in FY2017, is administered by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) in the Department of the Treasury."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Crafton, Eliot R.

  2018-03-05
• Joint Resolution Seeks to End U.S. Support for Saudi-led Coalition Military Operations in Yemen [March 5, 2018]

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  From the Document: "In February 2018, Senators Sanders, Lee, and Murphy introduced S.J.Res. 54, a joint resolution that would direct the President to remove U.S. forces from 'hostilities in or affecting' Yemen (except for those U.S. forces engaged in counterterrorism operations directed at al Qaeda or associated forces). Since March 2015, the U.S. military has supported military operations in Yemen by a coalition of countries led by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The coalition operations, including airstrikes, have supported a broader campaign to reinstate the internationally recognized government of Yemeni President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Hadi was ousted by force in early 2015 by the Ansar Allah/Houthi movement and loyalists of the previous president of Yemen, the late Ali Abdullah Saleh. Since 2015, some lawmakers have argued that U.S. support to the Saudi-led coalition makes the United States a party to the armed conflict."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Blanchard, Christopher M.; Sharp, Jeremy Maxwell; Weed, Matthew C.

  2018-03-05
• Bar Bouncer Equivalent for Planes in Flight [March 5, 2018]

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  "Two federal appellate courts recently upheld convictions under the federal statute that outlaws intimidating flight attendants aboard a commercial airline. Both cases involved boorish in-flight misconduct, U.S. v. Lynch in U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (Tenth Circuit) and U.S. v. Petras in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (Fifth Circuit). These cases illustrate judicial practicality and the limits of a 2014 Supreme Court decision, Elonis v. U.S., that recognized a state-of-mind requirement for prosecution under a federal threat statute. Lynch was an inebriated first-class passenger who repeatedly placed his hand on a flight attendant's lower back. He shouted vulgarities when the attendant refused to serve him additional drinks, caused two of the flight's three attendants to devote their full attention to trying to calm him down to the neglect of their other duties, and prompted the pilot to check on the disturbance leaving the co-pilot alone to handle their cockpit responsibilities."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Doyle, Charles

  2018-03-05
• Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155) and Selected Policy Issues [March 5, 2018]

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  "The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155) was reported by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on December 18, 2017. S. 2155 would modify Dodd-Frank provisions, such as the Volcker Rule (a ban on proprietary trading and certain relationships with investment funds), the qualified mortgage criteria under the Ability-to-Repay Rule, and enhanced regulation for large banks; provide smaller banks with an 'off ramp' from Basel III capital requirements--standards agreed to by national bank regulators as part of an international bank regulatory framework; and make other changes to the regulatory system. Most changes proposed by S. 2155 as reported can be grouped into one of four issue areas: (1) mortgage lending, (2) regulatory relief for 'community' banks, (3) credit reporting, and (4) regulatory relief for large banks."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Perkins, David W.; Getter, Darryl E.; Labonte, Marc . . .

  2018-03-05
• Afghanistan: Background and U.S. Policy in Brief [March 5, 2018]

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  "Afghanistan has been a central U.S. foreign policy concern since 2001, when the United States, in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, led a military campaign against Al Qaeda and the Taliban government that harbored and supported Al Qaeda. In the intervening 16 years, the United States has suffered more than 2,000 casualties in Afghanistan (including 14 in 2017) and has spent more than $120 billion for reconstruction there. In that time, an elected Afghan government has replaced the Taliban, and nearly every measure of human development has improved, although future prospects of those measures remain mixed. U.S. policymakers routinely describe the war against the insurgency (which controls or contests nearly half of the country's territory, by Pentagon estimates) as a 'stalemate' and the Afghan government faces broad public criticism for its ongoing inability to combat corruption, deliver security, alleviate rising ethnic tensions, and develop the economy. The total number of U.S. troops in the country is reported as around 15,000, with the deployment of another 1,000 troops reportedly under consideration. This report provides an overview of current political and military dynamics, with a focus on the Trump Administration's new strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia, the U.S.-led coalition and Afghan military operations, and recent political developments, including prospects for peace talks and elections."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Thomas, Clayton (Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs)

  2018-03-05
• Iraq: In Brief [March 5, 2018]

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  "Iraq's government declared military victory against the terrorist insurgents of the Islamic State group (IS, aka ISIS/ISIL) in December 2017, but counterinsurgency and counter terrorism operations against the group are ongoing. Iraqis are shifting their attention toward recovery and the country's political future. Security conditions have improved (Figure 1) but remain fluid, and daunting resettlement, reconstruction, and reform needs occupy citizens and decision makers. National legislative elections are scheduled for May 12, 2018, and campaigning reflects issues stemming from the 2014-2017 conflict with the Islamic State as well a range of preexisting internal disputes and governance challenges. Ethnic, religious, regional, and tribal identities remain politically relevant, as do partisanship, personal rivalries, economic disparities, and natural resource imbalances. Iraq's neighbors and other outsiders continue to pursue their interests in the country, at times cooperatively and at times in competition."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Blanchard, Christopher M.

  2018-03-05
• Material Support for Terrorism is Not Always an 'Act of International Terrorism,' Second Circuit Holds [March 5, 2018]

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  "The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (Second Circuit) recently overturned a jury verdict deeming one of the largest financial institutions in the Middle East liable for providing financial services to Hamas and other designated foreign terrorist organizations. In 'Linde v. Arab Bank', PLC, American victims of terror attacks during the second Palestinian intifada were set to recover at least $100 million from Arab Bank under the civil liability provisions of the Antiterrorism Act (ATA). But the Second Circuit vacated the verdict, holding that the trial court incorrectly concluded that a violation of the federal law criminalizing material support to foreign terrorist organizations necessarily constitutes an 'act of international terrorism' subject to civil liability under the ATA. By holding that victims of terror attacks are not always entitled to recover civil damages even if they prove the defendant committed the crime of material support, 'Linde' highlights the legal complexities and obstacles that plaintiffs face when seeking civil damages under the ATA."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Mulligan, Stephen P.

  2018-03-05
• FEMA Daily Operations Briefings, March 4 - 10, 2018

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  This document is a compilation of all the FEMA Daily Operations Briefings from March 4 - 10, 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

  2018-03-04?
• Commerce Determines Steel and Aluminum Imports Threaten to Impair National Security [March 2, 2018]

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  "The Commerce investigations analyzed the importance of steel and aluminum products to national security, using a relatively broad definition. Commerce defined national security to include 'the general security and welfare of certain industries, beyond those necessary to satisfy national defense requirements, which are critical for minimum operations of the economy and government.' The broad scope of the investigations extended to current and future requirements for national defense and 16 specific critical infrastructure sectors, such as electric transmission, transportation systems, food and agriculture, and critical manufacturing, including domestic production of machinery and electrical equipment. The reports also examined domestic production capacity and utilization, industry requirements, current quantities and circumstances of imports, international markets, and global overcapacity. Past Section 232 investigations generally only considered national defense needs, although a 2001 Section 232 report on iron ore and semi-finished steel also looked at broader domestic industry trends."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Fefer, Rachel F.; Jones, Vivian Catherine

  2018-03-02
• Presidential Funerals and Burials: Selected Resources [March 2, 2018]

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  "This fact sheet is a brief resource guide for congressional staff on funerals and burials for Presidents of the United States. It contains an overview of past practices for presidential funerals and selected online information resources related to official and ceremonial protocols, past presidential funerals, congressional documents, and other documents and books."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Kreiser, Maria; Mast, Brent W.

  2018-03-02
• MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 2, 2018

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  The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This issue of MMWR contains the following: "Suicides Among American Indian/Alaska Natives -- National Violent Death Reporting System, 18 States, 2003-2014"; "CDC Grand Rounds: Promoting Hearing Health Across the Lifespan"; "Trichinellosis Outbreak Linked to Consumption of Privately Raised Raw Boar Meat -- California, 2017"; "Rabies Vaccine Hesitancy and Deaths Among Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women -- Vietnam, 2015-2016"; "Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication -- Nigeria, January-December 2017"; "Notes from the Field: HIV Infection Investigation in a Rural Area -- West Virginia, 2017"; "Notes from the Field: Occupational Hazards Associated with Harvesting and Processing Cannabis -- Washington, 2015-2016"; and "QuickStats: Percentage of Children Aged 1-5 Years Who Had Never Been to a Dentist, by Age and Year -- National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2006-2016."

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

  2018-03-02
• Putting the Lid on the Devil's Toy Box: How the Homeland Security Enterprise Can Decide Which Emerging Threats to Address

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  From the thesis abstract: "Evolving developments in nanotechnology, materials science, and artificial intelligence are paving the way for exponential growth in humanity's abilities to create--and destroy. Emerging Promethean technologies will deliver capabilities to average persons that, until recently, have been relegated only to governments, militaries, and large research laboratories. The responsibilities of the homeland security enterprise can be divided between two mission sets: the systemic mission (responding to known threats) and the future-shock mission (preparing for highly uncertain threats from emerging technologies). The latter mission encompasses forecasting which emerging Promethean technologies are most likely to be actualized and then used by bad actors, and which have the direst plausible consequences. Pandora's Spyglass, a decision-support tool for performing a 'devil's toy box' analysis, fuses best practices from a wide variety of predictive analytical techniques. It produces an ordinal list of most-destructive scenarios involving emerging Promethean technologies likely to come to market within a five- to ten-year window--a 'to-do' list for counter-future-shock research and development. It is a ranking tool, not meant to serve as a budget justification or formulation tool; however, the procedure's assumptions and variables can be validated so that it could legitimately serve that latter function."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security

  Fox, Andrew J.

  2018-03