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Federal Prize Competitions [July 25, 2018]
"Prize competitions are a tool for incentivizing the achievement of scientific and technological innovation by offering monetary and non-monetary benefits (e.g., recognition) to competition participants. Prize competitions have a long history of use in both the public and private sectors, but have gained popularity in recent years. Experts view federal prize competitions as an alternative policy instrument for spurring innovation, not a substitute for more traditional methods of federal support for research and innovation such as competitive research grants and procurement contracts. [...] Despite an increase in the use of federal prize competitions, there is limited information on their effectiveness and impact in spurring innovation and providing other potential benefits to the federal government. Members of Congress may wish to examine the ability of prize competitions to spur innovation in comparison to more traditional policy tools (e.g., grants and contracts); the cost effectiveness of prize competitions; the metrics federal agencies are using to evaluate the success of federal prize competitions; and the capability of federal agencies to appropriately design and administer prize competitions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gallo, Marcy E.
2018-07-25
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Flying Cars and Drones Pose Policy Challenges for Managing and Regulating Low-Altitude Airspace [July 23, 2018]
"For more than half a century, 'flying car' concepts have graced the covers of Popular Science magazine, have been featured in futuristic Hollywood sci-fi movies, and, of course, have hauled that famous space-age cartoon family, the Jetsons. Until recently, though, small hovercraft and drone-like air taxis existed only as prototype concepts and amateur built curios. Recent advances in aerospace design and propulsion, as well as in computer control and autonomous systems, are raising the prospect that flying cars may soon become a reality. Development and marketing efforts are bringing to the fore new policy and regulatory challenges regarding the control of low-altitude airspace, safety, noise, privacy, and landowner rights. They also are raising new questions about the appropriate roles of federal, state, and local authorities in regulating and managing these operations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Elias, Bartholomew
2018-07-23
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Hurricane Michael: Brief Overview of FEMA Programs and Resources [November 5, 2018]
"This Insight provides a brief overview of emergency and major disaster declarations relevant to Hurricane Michael, and selected federal resources and links to CRS [Congressional Research Service] products related to Stafford Act declarations, disaster response, and recovery. Hurricane Michael made landfall on the panhandle of Florida as a category 4 on October 10, 2018 and affected parts of Georgia. In anticipation of the landfall, President Trump issued an emergency declaration to Florida on October 7, 2018. On October 11, 2018, the President issued an emergency declaration to Georgia, and issued a major disaster declaration to Florida. Authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, emergency declarations may authorize direct federal assistance and grant assistance to affected state and local governments to protect property, ensure public health and safety, and other activities that lessen or avert an incident becoming a catastrophic incident."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lindsay, Bruce R.; Reese, Shawn; Brown, Jared T. . . .
2018-11-05
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Clean Water Act Issues in the 107th Congress [Updated May 21, 2002]
Key water quality issues that may face
the 107th Congress include: actions to implement
existing provisions of the Clean Water
Act (CWA), whether additional steps are
necessary to achieve overall goals of the Act,
and the appropriate federal role in guiding and
paying for clean water activities. No major
activity occurred during the first session of the
107th Congress, but in the second session,
House and Senate committees have approved
legislation to reauthorize water infrastructure
funding programs (H.R. 3930, S. 1961).
Rather than pursuing comprehensive
reauthorization of the CWA, the 106th Congress
focused on individual programs within
the Act, and a number of narrow bills related
to clean water were enacted. One is intended
to strengthen protection of coastal waters; one
reauthorized several existing CWA programs;
and one authorized grants for wet weather
sewerage projects.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress
Monitoring data have identified wet
weather discharges to rivers and lakes (including
urban stormwater and sewer overflows)
as a serious threat to water quality.
Clean water programs are now focusing on
solving these wet weather pollution problems.
At issue is whether and how to specify wet
weather programs in the Act and how to pay
for related pollution control projects.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Copeland, Claudia
2002-05-21
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Comparing Global Influence: China's and U.S. Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Trade, and Investment in the Developing World [August 15, 2008]
"This report compares the People's Republic of China's (PRC) and U.S. projections of global influence, with an emphasis on non-coercive means or 'soft power,' and suggests ways to think about U.S. foreign policy options in light of China's emergence. Part One discusses U.S. foreign policy interests, China's rising influence, and its implications for the United States. Part Two compares the global public images of the two countries and describes PRC and U.S. uses of soft power tools, such as public diplomacy, state diplomacy, and foreign assistance. It also examines other forms of soft power such as military diplomacy, global trade and investment, and sovereign wealth funds. In Part Three, the report analyzes PRC and U.S. diplomatic and economic activities in five developing regions -- Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-; Cook, Nicolas; Blanchard, Christopher M.
2008-08-15
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 391, Global Health Security Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on March 25, 2021. From the Document: "H.R. 391 would encourage the Administration to participate in and make financial contributions to programs that help public health systems detect and respond to infectious diseases. The bill would require the Administration to support the establishment of a new public-private Fund for Global Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness, which would help other countries implement health security strategies and respond to public health emergencies around the world. Although the bill would authorize the United States to contribute to the fund, it does not specify how much, and it would limit U.S. contributions to 33 percent of the total from all sources. The bill also would codify the roles and responsibilities of a current interagency review council to advance the goals of the Global Health Security Agenda, of which the United States is a member. Because the council already exists, CBO estimates that implementing those requirements would not increase costs."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-05-10
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2093, Veterans and Family Information Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on May 4, 2021. From the Document: "H.R. 2093 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide versions of all departmental fact sheets on its website in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and the next 10 most commonly spoken languages in the United States. The bill also would require VA to report to the Congress on how VA communicates with veterans whose proficiency in English is limited and how veterans obtain the department's fact sheets, other than on its websites. [...] Based on the market rate of translation services and the number of fact sheets that VA would be required to translate under the bill, CBO estimates implementing the bill's requirements would cost less than $500,000 over the 2021-2026 period; any spending would be subject to availability of appropriated funds."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-05-10
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2911, VA Transparency and Trust Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on May 4, 2021. From the Document: "H.R. 2911 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit to the Congress biweekly reports on its expenditure of certain funds made available in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The bill would also require VA's Inspector General to report on the department's use of such funds. Further, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) would be required to review VA's use of such funds and to provide recommendations for improving VA's process of expending such funds. [...] In total, implementing H.R. 2911 would cost $2 million over the 2021-2026 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-05-11
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Nevada's Excluded Communities: Key Findings from a COVID-19 Community Impact Survey
From the Executive Summary: "Nevada's communities of color and immigrant communities are being hard hit by the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. Against the backdrop of Nevada's rising COVID-19 cases, Make the Road Nevada launched an impact survey to more fully understand the public health and economic crises facing people of color and immigrants across the state. The survey highlights key issues facing these communities and underscores the need for policy solutions that are both responsive to this urgent moment and center those most impacted. Make the Road Nevada conducted in-depth surveys with nearly 150 Nevadans in July 2020. The survey findings reveal widespread financial instability and hardship among Nevada's most vulnerable residents[.]"
Center for Popular Democracy; Make the Road Nevada
Corser, Maggie
2020-08
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Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: Additional Efforts Needed to Assess Program Data for Rural and Underserved Areas, Report to the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "Each year in the United States, hundreds of women die from pregnancy-related causes, and thousands more experience SMM [severe maternal morbidity]. Research suggests there is a greater risk of maternal mortality and SMM among rural residents and that underserved areas may lack needed health services. GAO was asked to review maternal mortality and SMM outcomes in rural and underserved areas. This report examines, among other objectives, what is known about these outcomes; selected CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and HRSA [Health Resources and Services Administration] programs that aim to reduce these outcomes, as well as actions to collect and use relevant data; and the extent to which HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] is taking actions to improve maternal health and monitoring progress on its efforts. GAO analyzed HHS data, agency documentation, literature, and interviewed officials from a non-generalizable sample of three states and stakeholders to capture various perspectives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-04
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Foreign Assistance: State Department Should Better Assess Results of Efforts to Improve Financial and Some Program Data, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "Members of Congress, the State Inspector General, and GAO have raised concerns about State's ability to adequately track and report its foreign assistance data. These concerns include State's ability to retrieve timely and accurate data necessary to provide central oversight, meet statutory and regulatory reporting requirements, manage resources strategically, and assess program performance. In response, State began an initiative in 2014 to improve the quality and availability of foreign assistance data. GAO was asked to review State's plan to improve the tracking and reporting of its foreign assistance data. This report assesses (1) the status of State's plan to improve the tracking and reporting of its foreign assistance data and (2) the extent to which State's plan adheres to sound planning practices."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-05
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Pandemic Profiteers: Under Trump Michigan Billionaire Wealth Soars, Local Communities Suffer
From the Document: "While communities across Michigan have been ravaged by the health and economic crises created by Trump's botched COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] response, the state's billionaires have actually increased their collective wealth since the start of the pandemic. Since confirming the state's first case on March 10th, over 122,000 Michiganders have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and nearly 7,000 people have died. The State's pre-pandemic unemployment rate was just 2.1%, but as of August 15th it stood at 10.7% and went as high as 24% in April. Michigan's Black communities have been hit the hardest. The results of years of divestment and systemic racism coupled with COVID-19 have been brutal. [...] Meanwhile, five of Michigan's eight billionaires saw their net worth surge by an estimated $43.6 billion, a 360% increase, since the beginning of the pandemic. Two of Michigan's billionaires with some of the largest increases in their wealth are well connected to the Trump Administration. Recent revelations about Trump's decades-long tax avoidance schemes put his economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic and his 2017 tax cuts for the wealthy into perspective: He is aligned with and caters to the interests of the ultrarich, not struggling communities."
Center for Popular Democracy; Detroit Action; Public Accountability Initiative
2020-10
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U.S.-Australia Treaty on Defense Trade Cooperation [December 12, 2007]
From the Summary: "The United States and Australia signed a Treaty on Defense Trade Cooperation in September 2007 that would facilitate defense trade and cooperation between the two nations. On the strategic level, the treaty would further develop ties between two very close allies who have fought together in most of America's conflicts, including most recently in Iraq and in Afghanistan. This treaty is proposed at a time when the United States has found few friends that have been willing to work as closely with the United States in its efforts to contain militant anti-Western Islamists as Australia has proven to be. The treaty with Australia needs to be ratified by the U. S. Senate to come into force."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-
2007-12-12
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Spectrum Policy: Public Safety and Wireless Communications Interference [August 25, 2010]
From the Summary: "In mid-2005, wireless communications managers commenced the process of moving selected public safety radio channels to new frequencies. This step was part of a rebanding plan to mitigate persistent problems with interference to public safety radio communications. The majority of documented incidents of interference was attributed to the network built by Nextel Communications, Inc (now Sprint Nextel). As part of an agreement originally made between Nextel and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), some public safety wireless users have moved or will move to new frequencies, with the wireless company paying all or part of the cost. The rebanding agreement was not affected by the merger between Nextel and Sprint Corporation. In return for the expenditures, and reflecting the value of spectrum that Sprint Nextel relinquished as part of the band reconfiguration, the FCC assigned new spectrum licenses to the wireless company. The FCC set the 'windfall' value of the new licenses, after allowing for the value of the licenses being relinquished, at $2.8 billion. The costs that Sprint Nextel incurs in the rebanding process are being applied to the $2.8 billion windfall. If the total is less than $2.8 billion, Sprint Nextel will be required to make an 'anti-windfall' payment to the U.S. Treasury for the difference. If the costs exceed $2.8 billion, Sprint Nextel is obligated to pay them without any new concessions from the FCC."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Moore, L. K. S. (Linda K. S.)
2010-08-25
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Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Selected Issues for Congress [July 15, 2010]
From the Summary: "On April 20, 2010, an explosion and fire occurred on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. This resulted in 11 worker fatalities, a massive oil release, and a national response effort in the Gulf of Mexico region by the federal and state governments as well as BP. Based on estimates from the Flow Rate Technical Group, which is led by the U.S. Geological Survey, the 2010 Gulf spill has become the largest oil spill in U.S. waters. The oil spill has damaged natural resources and has had regional economic impacts. In addition, questions have been raised as to whether offshore regulation of oil exploration has kept pace with the increasingly complex technologies needed to explore and develop deeper waters. Crude oil has been washing into marshes and estuaries and onto beaches in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Oil has killed wildlife, and efforts are underway to save oil-coated birds. The most immediate economic impact of the oil spill has been on the Gulf fishing industry: commercial and recreational fishing have faced extensive prohibitions within the federal waters of the Gulf exclusive economic zone. The fishing industry, including seafood processing and related wholesale and retail businesses, supports over 200,000 jobs with related economic activity of $5.5 billion. Other immediate economic impacts include a decline in tourism. On the other hand, jobs related to cleanup activities could mitigate some of the losses in the fishing and tourism industry."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ramseur, Jonathan L.; Hagerty, Curry L.
2010-07-15
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Future of NASA: Space Policy Issues Facing Congress [July 8, 2010]
From the Summary: "For the past several years, the priorities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have been governed by the Vision for Space Exploration. The Vision was announced by President Bush in January 2004 and endorsed by Congress in the 2005 and 2008 NASA authorization acts (P.L. 109-155 and P.L. 110-422). It directed NASA to focus its efforts on returning humans to the Moon by 2020 and some day sending them to Mars and 'worlds beyond.' The resulting efforts are now approaching major milestones, such as the end of the space shuttle program, design review decisions for the new spacecraft intended to replace the shuttle, and decisions about whether to extend the operation of the International Space Station. At the same time, concerns have grown about whether NASA can accomplish the planned program of human exploration of space without significant growth in its budget. A high-level independent review of the future of human space flight, chaired by Norman R. Augustine, issued its final report in October 2009. It presented several options as alternatives to the Vision and concluded that for human exploration to continue 'in any meaningful way,' NASA would require an additional $3 billion per year above current plans. In its FY2011 budget request, the Obama Administration proposed cancelling the Constellation spacecraft development program and eliminating the goal of returning humans to the Moon."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morgan, Daniel (Daniel L.)
2010-07-08
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U.S.-Vietnam Relations in 2010: Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy [July 12, 2010]
From the Summary: "After communist North Vietnam's victory over U.S.-backed South Vietnam in 1975, U.S.- Vietnam had minimal relations until the mid-1990s. Normal diplomatic relations were established on July 11, 1995. Since then, bilateral ties have expanded to the point where leaders on both sides describe each other as partners on a number of issues. The maturation of relations has been particularly marked since the mid-2000s, when Vietnam made a decision to upgrade the relationship; since then, overlapping strategic and economic interests have compelled the United States and Vietnam to improve ties across a wide spectrum of issues. Congress played a significant role in the normalization process and continues to influence the state of relations. In the United States, voices favoring improved relations have included those reflecting U.S. business interests in Vietnam's reforming economy and U.S. strategic interests in expanding cooperation with a populous country--Vietnam has 88 million people--that has an ambivalent relationship with China. Others argue that improvements in bilateral relations should be conditioned upon Vietnam's authoritarian government improving its record on human rights. Vietnam is asserting itself on the regional stage; for instance, in 2010 it is the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The population of more than 1 million Vietnamese-Americans, as well as legacies of the Vietnam War, also drive continued U.S. interest."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manyin, Mark E.
2010-07-12
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Honduran-U.S. Relations [June 18, 2010]
From the Summary: "On January 27, 2010, Porfirio 'Pepe' Lobo Sosa was inaugurated President of Honduras. Lobo assumed power after seven months of domestic political crisis and international isolation that had resulted from the June 28, 2009, ouster of President Manuel Zelaya. While the strength of Lobo's National Party in the legislature should help the government secure approval of its policy agenda, the political crisis left the new President with daunting challenges, including a high level of domestic political polarization, difficulty securing international recognition, a battered economy, and a poor human rights situation exacerbated by the murders of journalists and human rights defenders. Moreover, for a number of years, Honduras has had a poor security situation with high rates of violent crime. [...] Although relations were strained during the political crisis, the United States has traditionally had a close relationship with Honduras. Broad U.S. policy goals include a strengthened democracy with an effective justice system that protects human rights and promotes the rule of law, and the promotion of sustainable economic growth with a more open economy and improved living conditions. In addition to providing Honduras with substantial amounts of foreign assistance and maintaining significant military and economic ties, the United States cooperates with Honduras to deal with transnational issues such as illegal migration, crime, narcotics trafficking, trafficking in persons, and port security."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.; Meyer, Peter J.
2010-06-18
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Foreign Investment in U.S. Securities [June 22, 2010]
From the Summary: "Foreign capital inflows are playing an important role in the U.S. economy by bridging the gap between domestic supplies of and demand for capital. In 2008, as the financial crisis and global economic downturn unfolded, foreign investors looked to U.S. Treasury securities as a 'safe haven' investment, while they sharply reduced their net purchases of corporate stocks and bonds. Foreign investors now hold more than 50% of the publicly held and traded U.S. Treasury securities. The large foreign accumulation of U.S. securities has spurred some observers to argue that this large foreign presence in U.S. financial markets increases the risk of a financial crisis, whether as a result of the uncoordinated actions of market participants or by a coordinated withdrawal from U.S. financial markets by foreign investors for economic or political reasons. [...]. This report analyzes the extent of foreign portfolio investment in the U.S. economy and assesses the economic conditions that are attracting such investment and the impact such investments are having on the economy. [...]. This report relies on a comprehensive set of data on capital flows, represented by purchases and sales of U.S. government securities and U.S. and foreign corporate stocks, bonds, into and out of the United States, that is reported by the Treasury Department on a monthly basis."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jackson, James K., 1949-
2010-06-22
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China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues [August 16, 2010]
From the Summary: "Congress has long been concerned about whether U.S. policy advances the national interest in reducing the role of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missiles that could deliver them. Recipients of China's technology reportedly include Pakistan and countries that the State Department says support terrorism, such as Iran and North Korea. This CRS Report, updated as warranted, discusses the security problem of China's role in weapons proliferation and issues related to the U.S. policy response since the mid-1990s. China has taken some steps to mollify U.S. and other foreign concerns about its role in weapons proliferation. Nonetheless, supplies from China have aggravated trends that result in ambiguous technical aid, more indigenous capabilities, longer-range missiles, and secondary (retransferred) proliferation. According to unclassified intelligence reports submitted as required to Congress, China has been a 'key supplier' of technology, particularly PRC entities providing nuclear and missile-related technology to Pakistan and missile-related technology to Iran."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kan, Shirley
2010-08-16
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Yemen: Background and U.S. Relations [July 28, 2010]
From the Summary: "As President Obama and the 111th Congress reassess U.S. policy toward the Arab world, the opportunity for improved U.S.-Yemeni ties is strong, though tensions persist over counterterrorism cooperation. In recent years, the broader U.S. foreign policy community has not adequately focused on Yemen, its challenges, and their potential consequences for U.S. foreign policy interests beyond the realm of counterterrorism. The failed bomb attack against Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Christmas Day 2009 once again highlighted the potential for terrorism emanating from Yemen, a potential that periodically emerges to threaten U.S. interests both at home and abroad. Whether terrorist groups in Yemen, such as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, have a long-term ability to threaten U.S. homeland security may determine the extent of U.S. resources committed to counterterrorism and stabilization efforts there. Some believe these groups lack such capability and fear the United States might overreact; others assert that Yemen is gradually becoming a failed state and safe haven for Al Qaeda operatives and as such should be considered an active theater for U.S. counterterrorism operations. Given Yemen's contentious political climate and its myriad development challenges, most long-time Yemen watchers suggest that security problems emanating from Yemen may persist in spite of increased U.S. or international efforts to combat them."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sharp, Jeremy Maxwell
2010-07-28
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Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11 [July 16, 2010]
From the Summary: "With the December 2009 enactment of the FY2010 [Fiscal Year 2010] Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 3326/P.L. 111- 118) and the FY2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 3288/P.L. 111-117), Congress has approved a total of $1.086 trillion for military operations, base security, reconstruction, foreign aid, embassy costs, and veterans' health care for the three operations initiated since the 9/11 attacks: Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Afghanistan and other counter terror operations; Operation Noble Eagle (ONE), providing enhanced security at military bases; and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Of this $1.086 trillion total, CRS estimates that Iraq will receive about $748 billion (69%), OEF about $304 billion (28%) and enhanced base security about $29 billion (3%), with about $5 billion that CRS cannot allocate (1%). About 94% of the funds are for DOD, 5% for foreign aid programs and embassy operations, and 1% for medical care for veterans. As of April, 2010, more than halfway through FY2010, monthly spending, or obligations for contracts and military and civilian pay, averaged $10.9 billion, including $5.4 billion for Iraq and $5.5 billion for Afghanistan. While this year's average to date is 11% below last year's $12.3 billion average, average spending may grow as troop levels rise to 98,000 in Afghanistan and fall to 50,000 in Iraq because higher costs in Afghanistan may more than offset decreases in Iraq."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Belasco, Amy
2010-07-16
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U.S.-Mexican Security Cooperation: The Mérida Initiative and Beyond [August 16, 2010]
From the Summary: "In recent years, U.S.-Mexican security cooperation has increased significantly, largely as a result of the development and implementation of the Mérida Initiative, a counterdrug and anticrime assistance package for Mexico and Central America that was first proposed in October 2007. With the recent enactment of the FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 4899/P.L. 111- 212), Congress has provided almost $1.8 billion for the Mérida Initiative. Congress provided $248 million of that funding to Central America and included an additional $42 million for Caribbean countries. However, Congress has dedicated the vast majority of the funds--roughly $1.5 billion--to support programs in Mexico, with an emphasis on training and equipping Mexican military and police forces engaged in counterdrug efforts. Escalating drug trafficking-related violence in Mexico and the increasing control that Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) have over the illicit drug market in the United States have focused congressional attention on the efficacy of U.S-Mexican efforts and related domestic initiatives in both countries. With funding for the original Mérida Initiative technically ending in FY2010 and new initiatives underway for Central America and the Caribbean, the Obama Administration proposed a new four-pillar strategy for U.S.-Mexican security cooperation in its FY2011 budget request. That strategy focuses on (1) disrupting organized criminal groups; (2) institutionalizing the rule of law; (3) building a 21st century border; and (4) building strong and resilient communities. The first two pillars largely build upon existing efforts, whereas pillars three and four broaden the scope of Mérida Initiative programs to include new efforts to facilitate 'secure flows' of people and goods through the U.S.-Mexico border and to improve conditions in violence-prone border cities. The Administration's FY2011 budget request includes $310 million for Mérida programs in Mexico."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando; Finklea, Kristin M.
2010-08-16
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Exon-Florio National Security Test for Foreign Investment [July 19, 2010]
From the Summary: "The Exon-Florio provision grants the President the authority to block proposed or pending foreign acquisitions of 'persons engaged in interstate commerce in the United States' that threaten to impair the national security. This provision came under intense scrutiny with the proposed acquisitions in 2006 of major operations in six major U.S. ports by Dubai Ports World and of Unocal by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). The debate that followed reignited long-standing differences among Members of Congress and between the Congress and the administration over the role foreign acquisitions play in U.S. national security. The public debate underscored the differences between U.S. policy, which is to actively promote internationally the national treatment of foreign firms, and the concerns of some over the way this policy applies to companies that are owned by foreign governments that have unlimited access to the Nation's industrial base. Much of this debate focused on the activities of a relatively obscure committee, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and the Exon- Florio provision, which gives the President broad powers to block certain types of foreign investment."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jackson, James K., 1949-
2010-07-19
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Iran-Iraq Relations [August 13, 2010]
From the Summary: "With a conventional military and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threat from Saddam Hussein's regime removed, Iran seeks, at a minimum, to ensure that Iraq can never again become a threat to Iran, whether or not there are U.S. forces present in Iraq. Some believe that Iran's intentions go far further--to try to harness Iraq to Iran's broader policy goals, such as defense against international criticism of and sanctions against Iran's nuclear program, and to enlist Iraq's help in suppressing Iranian dissidents located inside Iraq. Some believe Iran sees Iraq primarily as providing lucrative investment opportunities and a growing market for Iranian products and contracts. Iran has sought to achieve its goals in Iraq through several strategies: supporting pro-Iranian factions and armed militias; attempting to influence Iraqi political leaders and faction leaders; and building economic ties throughout Iraq. It is Iran's support for armed Shiite factions that most concerns U.S. officials. That Iranian activity continues to a threat to stability in Iraq, according to senior U.S. commanders, and positions Iran to pursue its interests in Iraq after U.S. forces leave Iraq by the end of 2011."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2010-08-13
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Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery [September 1, 2010]
From the Summary: "In the aftermath of presidentially declared disasters, Congress has used a variety of programs to help states and local governments finance recovery efforts, among them the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Over the years, 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 supported recovery efforts in New York City following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; in Oklahoma City following the bombing of the Alfred Murrah Building in 1995; and in the city and county of Los Angeles following the riots of 1992. In response to those calamities, CDBG funds were made available for short-term relief efforts, mitigation actions, and long-term recovery, and to provide housing and business assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and public services. The Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005 (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma) resulted in the largest appropriation of CDBG funds for disaster relief and recovery in the program's history. Since December 2005, Congress has provided $19.85 billion in CDBG disaster-related assistance to the five states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005. This included $11.5 billion in CDBG assistance appropriated in the Defense Appropriations Act for FY2006, P.L. 109-148; $5.2 billion in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery Act of 2006, P.L. 109-234; and $3 billion (exclusively for Louisiana's Road Home Program) appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY2008, P.L. 110-116."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Boyd, Eugene
2010-09-01
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Debt Limit Since 2011 [Updated December 20, 2018]
"The Constitution grants Congress the power to borrow money on the credit of the United States-- one part of its power of the purse--and thus mandates that Congress exercise control over federal debt. Control of debt policy has at times provided Congress with a means of raising concerns regarding fiscal policies. Debates over federal fiscal policy have been especially animated in the past decade, in part because of the accumulation of federal debt in the wake of the 2007-2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession. Rising debt levels, along with continued differences in views of fiscal policy, led to a series of contentious debt limit episodes in recent years. The debt limit is currently suspended through March 1, 2019. The limit will then be reset at a level that accommodates federal obligations incurred during the suspension period. The U.S. Treasury will then use cash balances, incoming revenues, and extraordinary measures to meet federal obligations. One estimate suggests those resources would suffice to cover federal payments until August, if not later."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Austin, D. Andrew
2018-12-20
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International Approaches to Digital Currencies [Updated December 19, 2018]
"Since Bitcoin was introduced a decade ago, about 2,100 cryptocurrencies have been developed. Cryptocurrencies are digital representations of value that have no status as legal tender and are administered using distributed ledger technology, running on a network of independent, peer-topeer computers. Cryptocurrencies are controversial. Some think they will revolutionize the international payments system for the better; others are skeptical of the business model, calling it a scam. The interest and debate surrounding cryptocurrencies has led some central banks to examine whether the technology underpinning cryptocurrencies could be used to create digital versions of fiat currencies, which would have legal status in their jurisdiction of issue. Governments around the world are taking different approaches to cryptocurrencies and digital fiat currencies, an area of increasing focus for international organizations and forums underpinning the global economy. As Congress considers issues related to digital currencies, including whether to regulate further the cryptocurrency industry, the approaches taken by other governments and international bodies may be of interest."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nelson, Rebecca M.
2018-12-19
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Cambodia: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated December 14, 2018]
"U.S. relations with the Kingdom of Cambodia have become increasingly strained in recent years in light of Prime Minister Hun Sen's suppression of the political opposition and his growing embrace of the People's Republic of China (PRC). During the previous decade, U.S. engagement with the Kingdom slowly strengthened as western countries continued to pressure Hun Sen to abide by democratic norms and institutions and as the U.S. government attempted to prevent Cambodia from falling too heavily under China's influence. Following strong performances by the opposition in the 2013 and 2017 elections, the Cambodian government banned the largest opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), in 2017. As a result, the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) ran virtually unopposed in the 2018 National Assembly election. The Trump Administration and Congress have imposed sanctions in order to pressure Hun Sen into restoring democratic rights and dropping criminal charges against opposition leaders."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-
2018-12-14
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Anti-Vaxxers, Wealth, and Individualism: How Self-Perception May Explain the Immunization Divide
From the Abstract: "The proliferation of health misinformation on social media has amplified the voice of the vaccine refusal movement. While popular explanations recognize distrust of institutions and social media as drivers of vaccine skepticism, such refusal exemplifies a wealth gradient that these theories do not resolve: educated, high-income households are more likely to refuse vaccination. This distribution suggests that deeper underlying factors may influence one's susceptibility to misinformation. Cultural psychology offers one explanation that may reconcile these theories with the wealth gradient: individuals define themselves in part through their communities, but the extent to which they do yields insight into their risk-perception and social decision-making. This concept of the self has been understood through a spectrum with individualists on one extreme and collectivists at the other, with individualists forming an identity that is distinct from their relationships and collectivists identifying with their relationships. Wealth may influence where one falls on the individualist-collectivist spectrum, thereby shaping both how one prioritizes public health with regards to personal freedom and how one evaluates new information that goes against commonly-held beliefs. Vaccination, with its public health repercussions, lends an opportunity to examine how people make decisions with regard to their communities, and how wealth shapes those decisions. This is relevant to future public health crusades: ultimately, any attempt to combat vaccine skepticism must begin with an examination of the factors that make individuals susceptible to misinformation."
Harvard School of Public Health
Krishnan, Amrita
2021
