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NEPA and Hurricane Response, Recovery, and Rebuilding Efforts [September 28, 2005]
From the Summary: "As local, state, and federal agencies respond to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, agency officials must determine the extent to which certain environmental laws and regulatory requirements will apply to their response, recovery, and rebuilding efforts. The requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.) has drawn particular attention in the wake of the disaster. Signed into law by President Nixon on January 1, 1970, NEPA was the first of several major environmental laws passed in the 1970s. It declared a national policy to protect the environment and created a Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in the Executive Office of the President. To implement the national policy, NEPA required that a detailed statement of environmental impacts be prepared for all major federal actions significantly affecting the environment. The 'detailed statement' would ultimately be referred to as an environmental impact statement or EIS. For many federal actions undertaken in response to an emergency or major disaster, NEPA's environmental review requirements are exempted under provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act); the CEQ regulations also allow for 'emergency alternative arrangements' of NEPA requirements. […]. This report provides an overview of NEPA requirements relevant to the hurricanes response and recovery efforts, its application to emergency and non-emergency actions related to the disaster, NEPA's role in two past flood and hurricane control projects that have been discussed in the press, and legislative proposals that relate to the NEPA process. It will be updated as developments warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Luther, Linda G.
2005-09-28
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Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery [October 19, 2005]
From the Summary: "In the aftermath of previous, presidentially-declared disasters, Congress has used the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to help states and local governments finance recovery efforts, whether from natural or man-made disasters. Congress has appropriated supplemental CDBG funds to assist states and communities recover from such natural disasters as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. In addition, CDBG funds have supported recovery efforts of New York City following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Oklahoma City following the bombing of the Alfred Murrah Building in 1995, and the city and county of Los Angeles following the riots of 1992. In response to these calamities, CDBG funds have been made available for short-term relief efforts, mitigation actions, and long-term recovery, and have been used to provide housing and business assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and public services. This report will provide a general overview of the CDBG program and its use in disaster relief. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Boyd, Eugene
2005-10-19
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Homeland Security Extramural R&D Funding Opportunities in Federal Agencies [September 10, 2003]
From the Summary: "This inventory identifies and lists websites for major federal agency homeland security programs that provide funding opportunities for extramural researchers to conduct research and development (R&D) for the government. Two tables are given, one on R&D in the Department of Homeland Security, and the second on homeland security R&D in other federal agencies. This report is not a complete list of all federal homeland security R&D programs. It will be updated as needed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Knezo, Genevieve Johanna
2003-09-10
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Haiti: Post-Hurricane Conditions and Assistance [October 27, 2008]
From the Summary: "In August and September 2008, four major storms directly hit or passed close to Haiti, causing widespread devastation. As of early October, 2008, the U.S. government has either provided or pledged just over $30 million in humanitarian assistance to affected Haitian populations in response to the hurricanes in Haiti. Congress provided not less than $100 million for hurricane relief and reconstruction assistance for Haiti and other Caribbean countries in the FY2009 continuing appropriations resolution (P.L. 110- 329) signed into law September 30, 2008. The Haitian government says it needs $400 million over the next 18 months for hurricane recovery and reconstruction, and that so far the international community has committed $145 million."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.; Taft-Morales, Maureen
2008-10-27
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House Document 117-6: Additional Steps to the National Emergency with Respect to the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain, Message from the President of the United States, Transmitting an Executive Order Declaring Additional Steps to Be Taken Concerning the National Emergency with Respect to the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain Declared in Executive Order 13873 of May 15, 2019 (Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain) to Deal with the Threat Posed by Applications and Other Software Developed or Controlled by Chinese Companies, Pursuant to 50 U.S.c. 1703(b); Public Law 95-223, SEC. 204(b); (91 Stat. 1627) and 50 U.S.c. 1641(b); Public Law 94-412, SEC. 401(b); (90 Stat. 1257), January 6, 2021
From the Document: "The pace and pervasiveness of the spread in the United States of certain connected mobile and desktop applications and other software developed or controlled by persons in the People's Republic of China (PRC), to include Hong Kong and Macau (China), continue to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. By accessing personal electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, Chinese connected software applications can access and capture vast swaths of information from users, including sensitive personally identifiable information and private information. The continuing activity of the PRC and the Chinese Communist Party to steal or otherwise obtain United States persons' data makes clear that there is an intent to use bulk data collection to advance China's economic and national security agenda. To deal with this threat, additional steps are required against those who develop or control certain Chinese connected software applications to protect our national security. The Executive Order prohibits certain future transactions, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), involving the following Chinese connected software applications: Alipay, CamScanner, QQ [Qzone] Wallet, SHAREit, Tencent QQ, VMate, WeChat Pay, and WPS [Writer, Presentation and Spreadsheets] Office."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-01-06
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Vision and Strategy 2030 Air and Marine Operations: 'Safeguarding the Nation from the Air and Sea'
From the Executive Summary: "The mission of Air and Marine Operations (AMO) is to safeguard our nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through our aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at the border and beyond. We achieve our mission by monitoring thousands of miles of air, maritime, and land borders around the clock; defending the United States against terrorist threats; detecting and deterring illicit trafficking in persons, drugs, weapons, money, and other goods; and disrupting criminal networks. AMO Vision and Strategy 2030 ties together a diverse set of mission areas with a unified roadmap that accounts for emerging threats, current and forecasted trends at home and abroad, and a structured plan for ensuring we continue to realize our vision--to be the nation's leading aviation and maritime law enforcement organization--over the next 10 years."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
2019-10
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Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman: Deferred Action: Recommendations to Improve Transparency and Consistency in the USCIS Process
From the opening letter of January Contreras: "Transparency and consistency are the primary objectives of these recommendations. The Federal Government, including the Department of Homeland Security, has, in recent years, steadily made efforts to provide more information to the public, and to enhance the efficient administration of government services. Here, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is encouraged to carry these objectives into the administration of deferred action requests. These recommendations focus on how USCIS processes deferred action requests and the steps that can be taken to ensure that an individual in compelling circumstances, whether or not represented, knows how to submit a deferred action request, receives a decision in a timely manner, and can be assured that the request will be processed in a consistent manner."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman
2011-07-11
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Biden Administration Proposes New Civilian Climate Corps [May 3, 2021]
From the Document: "On January 27, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14008, [hyperlink] 'Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.' Among its various provisions, the order directs the Secretary of the Interior, in collaboration with the Secretary of Agriculture and the heads of other relevant agencies, to submit a strategy to create a Civilian Climate Corps Initiative 'within existing appropriations.' The order further directs that such an initiative should 'aim to conserve and restore public lands and waters, bolster community resilience, increase reforestation, increase carbon sequestration in the agricultural sector, protect biodiversity, improve access to recreation, and address the changing climate.' In March 2021, the Biden Administration included a recommendation for a $10 billion investment in the Civilian Climate Corps Initiative as part of the White House's American Jobs Plan [hyperlink] proposal. The Administration's initial topline FY2022 discretionary budget request [hyperlink] for the Department of the Interior (DOI) included $200 million for the initiative for the next fiscal year; additional funding information may be made available later."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
DeSantis, Mark K.
2021-05-03
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AI, UAVs, Hypersonics, and Autonomous Systems: Emerging Technologies and Euro-Atlantic Security, Hearing Before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, January 22, 2020
This is the January 22, 2020 hearing on "AI [artificial intelligence], UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles], Hypersonics, and Autonomous Systems: Emerging Technologies and Euro-Atlantic Security," held before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. From the opening statement of Marc Veasey: "The subject matter for today's hearing relates to the impact of emerging technologies on Euro-Atlantic security. And I'm looking forward to learning a great deal from our witnesses today on this subject. New threats that we are concerned with range from hypersonic weapons, to drones, to autonomous weapon platforms, artificial intelligence, directed energy, and others. These technologies have the potential to unlock some very important capabilities to ensure the defense of our homeland and support our allies and friends abroad. However, these same technologies are under development by some of our strategic competitors--Russia chief among them--and so I'll look forward to hearing from our experts and their views on how potential adversaries are looking to use some of these same technologies to threaten us and our allies around the world." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Kelley M. Sayler, William Inboden, and Chris Jenks.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
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Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA): Implementation Updates for Select Provisions [April 27, 2021]
From the Summary: "This report describes select significant implementation updates since DRRA's [Disaster Recovery Reform Act's] enactment, and includes policy considerations for Congress. A companion product, CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report R46774, 'The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA): Implementation Update Tables for Select Provisions', provides tables that include updates on the status of FEMA's implementation of select DRRA provisions (i.e., implemented, in progress, or unverified). Further, detailed overviews of many DRRA sections, including descriptions of how various disaster assistance programs operated prior to DRRA's implementation and analysis of how DRRA's provisions modified these programs, as well as policy considerations, were previously examined in CRS Report R45819, 'The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA): A Summary of Selected Statutory Provisions.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Webster, Elizabeth M.; Lindsay, Bruce R.; Horn, Diane P. . . .
2021-04-27
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Lead Paint in Housing: Key Considerations for Adopting Stricter Lead Evaluation Methods in HUD's Voucher Program, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Exposure to lead paint, which was used in housing built before 1978, can have serious health effects, especially for young children. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has primary responsibility for identifying lead paint hazards in housing receiving HUD assistance, including private rental units in the voucher program. Some members of Congress have raised questions about whether the voucher program should change from visual assessments to a stricter lead evaluation method. The 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Joint Explanatory Statement, includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review HUD's efforts to address lead paint hazards. This report identifies considerations for policymakers related to changing to stricter lead evaluation methods for the voucher program, specifically regarding the (1) number and characteristics of voucher housing units and their occupants, (2) costs for lead evaluations based on method used and units included, (3) availability of lead professionals, and (4) observations from selected cities that use lead evaluation methods stricter than visual assessments."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-05
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FAA Workforce: Better Assessing Employees' Skill Gaps Could Help FAA Prepare for Changes in Technology, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] relies on a skilled and specialized workforce of nearly 45,000 employees to operate and oversee the national airspace system. However, changes in the aviation industry--including emerging technologies and nontraditional users, such as unmanned aircraft systems (i.e., drones)--will require FAA to increase oversight activities and seek additional critical skills for its workforce. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to assess FAA's workforce-planning efforts, among other things. This report examines the extent to which FAA has: (1) identified the critical skills its current and future workforce will need as a result of changes in aviation technology and (2) determined whether its current workforce has those skills. GAO analyzed FAA workforce-planning documentation, including documents describing its Strategic Workforce Planning Initiative. GAO interviewed officials from five selected FAA offices whose work will likely be affected by changing technologies. To obtain a range of perspectives, GAO interviewed representatives from industry associations and FAA labor groups, such as the National Air Traffic Controllers Association."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-05
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James Webb Space Telescope: Project Nearing Completion, but Work to Resolve Challenges Continues, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "JWST [James Webb Space Telescope], a large, deployable telescope, is one of NASA's most complex projects and top priorities. It is the scientific successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and is intended to help scientists better understand how galaxies and the universe have evolved and study planets in other solar systems. Problems discovered during integration and testing caused multiple delays that led NASA to replan the project in June 2018. Now estimated to cost $9.7 billion, the project's costs have nearly doubled and its launch date has been delayed by over 7 years since its cost and schedule baseline was established in 2009. Conference Report No. 112-284 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to assess the project annually and report on its progress. This, GAO's ninth related report, assesses (1) the extent to which technical issues and other challenges affected progress against cost and schedule commitments since 2019 and (2) how the JWST project managed known risks to completing its mission."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-05
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Superfund EPA: Should Take Additional Actions to Manage Risks from Climate Change Effects, Statement of J. Alfredo Gómez, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Superfund is the principal federal program for addressing sites contaminated with hazardous substances. EPA administers the program and lists some of the most seriously contaminated sites--most of which are nonfederal--on the NPL [National Priorities List]. At those sites, EPA has recorded over 500 contaminants, including arsenic and lead. Climate change may make some natural disasters more frequent or more intense, which may damage NPL sites and potentially release contaminants, according to the Fourth National Climate Assessment. This testimony summarizes GAO [Government Accountability Office]'s October 2019 report (GAO-20-73 [hyperlink]) on the impact of climate change on nonfederal NPL sites. Specifically, it discusses (1) what available federal data suggest about the number of nonfederal NPL sites that are located in areas that may be impacted by selected climate change effects; (2) the extent to which EPA has managed risks to human health and the environment from the potential impacts of climate change effects at nonfederal NPL sites; and (3) challenges EPA faces in managing these risks."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Gómez, J. Alfredo
2021-05-13
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MMWR Surveillance Summaries: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 14, 2021: Surveillance of Vaccination Coverage Among Adult Populations -- United States, 2018
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 Surveillance Summaries issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Surveillance of Vaccination Coverage Among Adult Populations -- United States, 2018." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from MMWR can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-05-14
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Strategy 2021-2026
From the Executive Summary: "The updated 'CBP [Customs and Border Protection] Strategy 2021-2026' introduces new Mission and Vision statements that describe our commitment to a safer and more prosperous nation and a set of Enduring Mission Priorities that describe our core missions in a succinct and meaningful way. The Strategy remains committed to a set of twelve Strategic Objectives as the key areas where CBP will focus its efforts and lays out specific activities and outcomes that must be achieved. [...] The 'CBP Strategy 2021-2026' also introduces the Enduring Mission Priorities which describe the reasons CBP exists as an agency and how we prioritize our responsibilities. The events driving the creation of the Department of Homeland Security led to the inclusion of 'Countering Terrorism,' and one of CBP's primary missions will always be protecting the Homeland from future terrorist attacks. A more recent focus of CBP, which increases in prominence every year, is 'Combat Transnational Crime.' CBP will also continue to focus on its core functional missions of 'Securing the Border,' 'Facilitating Travel' and 'Facilitating Trade and Protecting Revenue.'"
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
2020-12
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Public Law 116-325: Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2020
This Public Law is "An Act [t]o ensure funding of the United States trustees, extend temporary bankruptcy judgeships, and for other purposes." From the Findings: "Congress finds the following: (1) Because of the importance of the goal that the bankruptcy system is self-funded, at no cost to the taxpayer, Congress has closely monitored the funding needs of the bankruptcy system, including by requiring periodic reporting by the Attorney General regarding the United States Trustee System Fund. (2) Congress has amended the various bankruptcy fees as necessary to ensure that the bankruptcy system remains self-supporting, while also fairly allocating the costs of the system among those who use the system. (3) Because the bankruptcy system is interconnected, the result has been a system of fees, including filing fees, quarterly fees in chapter 11 cases, and other fees, that together fund the courts, judges, United States trustees, and chapter 7 case trustees necessary for the bankruptcy system to function. (4) This Act and the amendments made by this Act-- (A) ensure adequate funding of the United States trustees, supports the preservation of existing bankruptcy judgeships that are urgently needed to handle existing and anticipated increases in business and consumer caseloads, and provides long-overdue additional compensation for chapter 7 case trustees whose caseloads include chapter 11 reorganization cases that were converted to chapter 7 liquidation cases; and (B) confirm the longstanding intention of Congress that quarterly fee requirements remain consistent across all Federal judicial districts."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-01-12
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VA Disability Exams: Actions Needed to Improve Program Management, Statement of Elizabeth Curda, Director, Education, Workforce and Income Security, Testimony Before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the opening statement of Elizabeth Curda: "Thank you for the opportunity to discuss our recent review of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) planning and oversight efforts regarding its disability medical exam workloads. [...] My statement today summarizes our findings related to (1) VBA [Veterans Benefits Administration]'s planning for allocating disability exam workloads among VBA contractors and VHA [Veterans Health Administration] medical centers, and (2) how VBA assesses the quality of exam reports for certain complex claims."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Curda, Elizabeth
2021-05-12
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Traffic Enforcement During the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Document: "While COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] cases are steadily increasing within the U.S., law enforcement agencies continue to respond to incidents and enforce traffic laws in their communities, despite the operational challenges they may face on roadways due to the pandemic. [In this document] are considerations to take when making traffic stops or conducting traffic safety initiatives."
International Association of Chiefs of Police
2020-05-08?
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North America's Shifting Supply Chains: The USMCA, COVID-19, and the U.S.-China Trade War
From the Introduction: "The United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA) entered into force on July 1, 2020, after a long and arduous journey that began in 2017 with multiple U.S. threats to terminate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Its journey effectively ended when the Trump administration and the Democratic Congress agreed in December 2019 on a series of amendments to the original text signed on November 30, 2018. [...] These provisions in themselves will require significant modifications to the supply chains utilized by the dozens of auto plants operating in North America. [...] Simultaneously, several other factors are forcing North American manufacturers, including but not limited to those in the automotive industry, to radically adjust their supply chains, creating a veritable 'perfect storm' of pressures to decouple with China (and reduce dependence on other non-North American sources) for materials and components. [...] Part II briefly describes the pressures on enterprises producing goods in North America to move materials and component sourcing to North America from China because of the U.S.-China trade war. Part III reflects on the additional pressures that national security concerns are placing on the sourcing of Chinese parts and components. [...] Part IV discusses similar pressures arising out of the USMCA. [...] Part V addresses related pressures resulting from both COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and carbon footprint concerns to reduce or eliminate long supply lines, particularly regarding medical equipment, pharmaceutical products, and personal protective equipment. Part VI provides a short conclusion and predictions for the future."
James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. Center for the United States and Mexico
Gantz, David A.
2020-11
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EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 19, May 13, 2021
The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "May is National Building Safety Month"; "New predictive model may speed toxicity screens and potentially replace animal studies in determining toxicity of chemicals"; "FEMA releases research report, 'Improving Public Messaging for Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place'"; "Webinar: Building Counter-IED [improvised explosive device] Capabilities with the Security and Resiliency Guide (SRG)"; "CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] releases advisory on DarkSide Ransomware: Best Practices for Preventing Business Disruption from Ransomware Attacks"; "Joint NCSC [United Kingdom's National Cyber Security Centre]-CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency]-FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation]-NSA [National Security Agency] cybersecurity advisory on Russian SVR [Russian Foreign Intelligence Service] activity"; "US, UK agencies warn Russian hackers are adapting based on government advisories"; "Cyberattacks on US police departments are a huge overlooked national security threat."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2021-05-13
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Argentina: An Overview [Updated July 15, 2019]
From the Document: "U.S.-Argentine relations have been characterized by robust commercial linkages and cooperation on issues such as nonproliferation, human rights, education, and science and technology. There were periodic tensions under the Kirchner governments, but Macri's election brought to power a government committed to improving bilateral relations. President Obama engaged the Macri government on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, and he visited Argentina in 2016. Strong bilateral relations are continuing under the Trump Administration. President Macri visited the White House in April 2017, and the two leaders underscored their commitment to expand trade and investment and pledged strengthened partnership to combat narcotics trafficking, money laundering, terrorist financing, and corruption, and to increase engagement on cyber issues. In September 2018, President Trump reaffirmed strong U.S. support for Argentina's engagement with the IMF [International Monetary Fund]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2019-07-15
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Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response [May 26, 2017]
"A deadly chemical weapons attack in Syria on April 4, 2017, and a U.S. military strike in response on April 6 returned the Syrian civil war-now in its seventh year-to the forefront of international attention. In response to the April 4 attack, some Members of Congress called for the United States to conduct a punitive military operation. These Members and some others since have praised President Trump's decision to launch a limited strike, although some also have called on the President to consult with Congress about Syria strategy. Other Members have questioned the President's authority to launch the strike in the absence of specific prior authorization from Congress. In the past, some in Congress have expressed concern about the international and domestic authorizations for such strikes, their potential unintended consequences, and the possibility of undesirable or unavoidable escalation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humud, Carla E.; Blanchard, Christopher M.; Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham
2017-05-26
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National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin [May 14, 2021]
From the Summary: "The Secretary of Homeland Security has issued a new National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin regarding the current heightened threat environment across the United States. The Homeland is facing threats that have evolved significantly and become increasingly complex and volatile in 2021. These threats include those posed by domestic terrorists, individuals and groups engaged in grievance-based violence, and those inspired or influenced by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences. Social media and online forums are increasingly exploited by these actors to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and activity. Such threats also are exacerbated by the impacts from the ongoing global pandemic."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2021-05-14
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Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA): Implementation Update Tables for Select Provisions [Updated April 27, 2021]
From the Introduction: "The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA, Division D of P.L. [public law] 115-254) was enacted on October 5, 2018, and is the most comprehensive reform of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) disaster assistance programs since the passage of the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 (SRIA, Division B of P.L. 113-2) and the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA, P.L. 109-295). DRRA's purpose is to improve pre-disaster planning and mitigation, response, and recovery, and increase FEMA's accountability. To accomplish these objectives, DRRA amended many sections of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act, P.L. 93-288, as amended; 42 U.S.C. [United States Code] §§5121 et seq.). The Stafford Act is the foundational legislation for federal emergency authorities and disaster relief to local, state, territorial, and Indian tribal governments, certain private nonprofit organizations, and individuals and families, as well as emergency management policy. DRRA also provided new standalone authorities, and required rulemaking, reporting to Congress, and other actions by FEMA to support disaster preparedness, and increase FEMA transparency and accountability. [...] This report provides implementation status updates for select DRRA provisions that FEMA says it has implemented or is in the process of implementing."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Webster, Elizabeth M.; Horn, Diane P.; Keegan, Natalie . . .
2021-04-27
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El Salvador: Authoritarian Actions Threaten Democracy [May 6, 2021]
From the Document: "On May 1-2, 2021, the newly seated National Assembly of El Salvador, now dominated by President Nayib Bukele's New Ideas party, dismissed [hyperlink] the five magistrates on the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court and the attorney general and replaced them with allies of the president. Since taking office in 2019, Bukele has capitalized on the traditional parties' unpopularity to concentrate power in the executive. Some observers contend the recent dismissals occurred in retaliation for the attorney general's investigations of corruption [hyperlink] in Bukele's Cabinet and court rulings that Bukele violated the constitution [hyperlink] by ruling by decree during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Biden Administration officials and some Members of Congress have expressed concerns about democracy in El Salvador, which is located in the 'Northern Triangle' [hyperlink] region of Central America that is a primary source of unauthorized migration to the United States. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called [hyperlink] President Bukele to express 'grave concern' about the dismissals. Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted [hyperlink] that the United States has 'deep concerns about El Salvador's democracy.' Some Members of Congress have called on the Administration to consider policy responses ranging from fostering dialogue [hyperlink] in El Salvador to conditioning [hyperlink] international financing for the country on the Salvadoran government's respect for democratic norms."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2021-05-06
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Economic Perspective on Wealth Taxes [May 4, 2021]
From the Document: "The idea of imposing a tax on individual wealth has appeared in policy debates with increasing frequency. Proponents of a wealth tax have primarily argued that such a tax would achieve three objectives. First, a wealth tax would mitigate rising wealth inequality. Second, the tax would raise significant revenue that could be used to address debt and deficit concerns, and fund a variety of social policies. Finally, the tax could capture some income sources that currently are not taxed (e.g., unrealized capital gains or types of imputed income). This In Focus presents an economic perspective on wealth taxes. Because no federal wealth tax currently exists, the discussion in this In Focus is primarily in terms of 'a general wealth tax.' Designing such a tax would require careful consideration about a number of specific issues. Where appropriate, the discussion highlights specific points of consideration."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Keightley, Mark P.; Marples, Donald J.
2021-05-04
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History, Evolution, and Practices of the President's State of the Union Address: Frequently Asked Questions [Updated April 27, 2021]
From the Summary: "The State of the Union address is a communication from the President to Congress in which the chief executive reports on the current condition of the United States and provides policy proposals for the upcoming legislative year. The address originates in the Constitution (Article II, Section 3, clause 1), which requires that the President 'shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.' [...] This report takes the format of answers to frequently asked questions about the State of the Union address."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kreiser, Maria; Greene, Michael
2021-04-27
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Global Refugee Resettlement: Selected Issues and Questions [Updated May 7, 2021]
From the Document: "Congress has demonstrated a continued interest in refugee 'resettlement,' although such opportunities are available to only a small percentage of the global refugee population. (For more information on the refugee 'admissions' process to the United States, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RL31269, 'Refugee Admissions and Resettlement Policy.') Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) travel bans suspended global resettlement travel for refugees from March 17 to June 18, 2020, although some travel restrictions remain in place."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Margesson, Rhoda
2021-05-07
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Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections [Updated April 27, 2021]
This report was originally written by Nese F. DeBruyne while employed as a CRS [Congressional Research Service] Librarian. It has been updated by Carla Y. Davis-Castro. From the Document: "This report provides the results of recent presidential elections in Latin America and the Caribbean. Below are three tables organized by region, that include the date of each country's independence, the name of the most recently elected president or prime minister, and the projected date of the next presidential election. Information in this report was gathered from numerous sources, including the U.S. State Department, Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA's) World Fact Book, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Election Guide, Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), and other news sources."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Davis-Castro, Carla Y.; DeBruyne, Nese F.
2021-04-27
