Advanced search Help
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Department of Homeland Security: Notification and Federal Employee Anti-Discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002, Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2019
From the Executive Summary: "The purpose of the 'Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002' (No FEAR Act), Public Law 107-174, is to reduce the incidence of workplace discrimination within the Federal Government by making agencies and departments more accountable for violations of anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws. Section 203 of the No FEAR Act specifically requires that each federal agency submit to certain Congressional committees and members, not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year, an annual report containing the following information on cases brought under federal anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws; complaint activity (including Federal District Court cases), resulting disciplinary actions; associated Judgment Fund reimbursements and adjustments to agency budgets to meet reimbursement requirements; and an analysis of trends, causation, and practical knowledge gained through experience. This report covers Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 (October 1, 2018, to September 30, 2019). At the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS or the Department), senior leaders demonstrate a strong commitment to promote equal employment opportunity, abide by merit system principles, provide protection from prohibited personnel practices, and promote accountability. The Department's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) provides policy and technical advice to senior Department leadership on civil rights and civil liberties issues and directs the Department's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Diversity Management programs."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
2020-05-28
-
Department of Homeland Security: Notification and Federal Employee Anti-Discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002, Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2017
From the Executive Summary: "The purpose of the 'Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002' (No FEAR Act), Public Law 107-174, is to reduce the incidence of workplace discrimination within the Federal Government by making agencies and departments more accountable for violations of anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws. Section 203 of the No FEAR Act specifically requires that each federal agency submit to certain Congressional committees and members, not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year, an annual report containing the following information on cases brought under federal anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws; complaint activity (including Federal District Court cases), resulting disciplinary actions; associated Judgment Fund reimbursements and adjustments to agency budgets to meet reimbursement requirements; and an analysis of trends, causation, and practical knowledge gained through experience. This report covers Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 (October 1, 2016, to September 30, 2017)."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
2018-06-11
-
Department of Homeland Security: Fiscal Year 2004 Annual Performance Report on Executive Agency Actions to Assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities
From the Executive Summary: "This is the Department of Homeland Security's Annual Performance Report on Executive Agency Actions to Assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is committed to supporting the objectives of Executive Order 13256. DHS is committed to increase the number of HBCU students participating in internships and other student employment programs. These students are afforded an opportunity to acquire the specific skill sets to meet the Department's emerging operational needs. The Department also participated in employee and faculty exchange programs via the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) as a means of developing and enhancing DHS-related curricula at the HBCUs. Recruitment and outreach were also key strategies for the continued support of the HBCUs initiative during this reporting period. Although a Department-wide plan was not established for FY 2004, the Performance Report reflects the existing and long-standing relationships between DHS organizational elements with HBCUs and surrounding communities. For instance, DHS organizational elements awarded a total of $950,756 to HBCUs in FY 2004, which represents 9.3% of the total awards projected for Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs)."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2005-08-02
-
Department of Homeland Security: Fiscal Year 2005 Annual Performance Report on Executive Agency Actions to Assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities
From the Executive Summary: "This is the Department of Homeland Security's Annual Performance Report on Executive Agency Actions to Assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005. We are submitting this Performance Report to the White House Initiative pursuant to Executive Order 13256. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) key strategies for FY 2005 included participation in internships, recruitment and outreach activities. To support these key strategies, DHS FY 2005 Annual Plan projected a total of $846,961 in funds to HBCUs. The analysis of financial support to HBCUs between FY 2004 and FY 2005 shows that the total funding during the reporting period was $1,113,445.80, which represents a 17% overall increase."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2006-03-27
-
Department of Homeland Security: Annual Performance Report on Executive Agency Actions to Assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities for Fiscal Year 2009
From the Executive Summary: "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hereby submits this Annual Performance Report on Executive Agency Actions to Assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, pursuant to Executive Order 13256. Executive Order 13256 was most recently re-issued on February 12, 2009 in order to advance the development of the Nation's full potential and to advance equal opportunity in higher education, and to increase opportunities for these institutions to participate in and benefit from Federal programs."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2009?
-
Department of Homeland Security: Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002, Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2014
From the Executive Summary: "The 'Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002' (No FEAR Act), Public Law 107-174, is intended to reduce the incidence of workplace discrimination within the Federal Government by making agencies and departments more accountable for violations of antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws. Section 203 of the No FEAR Act specifically requires that, not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year, each federal agency submit to certain Congressional committees and members an annual report with the following information: federal anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws, complaint activity (including Federal District Court cases), and resulting disciplinary actions; Judgment Fund reimbursements; adjustments to agency budgets to meet reimbursement requirements; and an analysis of trends, causation, and practical knowledge gained through experience. This No FEAR Act Annual Report covers FY 2014 (October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014)."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
2015?
-
Department of Homeland Security: Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002, Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2013
From the Executive Summary: "The 'Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002' (No FEAR Act), Public Law 107-174, is intended to reduce the incidence of workplace discrimination within the Federal Government by making agencies and departments more accountable for violations of antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws. Section 203 of the No FEAR Act specifically requires that, not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year, each federal agency submit to certain Congressional committees and members an annual report with the following information: federal anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws, complaint activity (including Federal District Court cases), and resulting disciplinary actions; Judgment Fund reimbursements; adjustments to agency budgets to meet reimbursement requirements; and an analysis of trends, causation, and practical knowledge gained through experience. This No FEAR Act Annual Report covers FY 2013 (October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013)."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
2014?
-
Department of Homeland Security: Notification and Federal Employee Anti-Discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002, Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2018
From the Executive Summary: "The purpose of the 'Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002' (No FEAR Act), Public Law 107-174, is to reduce the incidence of workplace discrimination within the Federal Government by making agencies and departments more accountable for violations of anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws. Section 203 of the No FEAR Act specifically requires that each federal agency submit to certain Congressional committees and members, not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year, an annual report containing the following information on cases brought under federal anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws: complaint activity (including Federal District Court cases), resulting disciplinary actions; associated Judgment Fund reimbursements and adjustments to agency budgets to meet reimbursement requirements; and an analysis of trends, causation, and practical knowledge gained through experience. This report covers FY 2018 (October 1, 2017, to September 30, 2018)."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
2019-06-10
-
Department of Homeland Security: Notification and Federal Employee Anti-Discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002, Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2015
From the Executive Summary: "The 'Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002' (No FEAR Act), Public Law 107-174, is intended to reduce the incidence of workplace discrimination within the Federal Government by making agencies and departments more accountable for violations of antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws. Section 203 of the No FEAR Act specifically requires that each federal agency submit to certain Congressional committees and members, not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year, an annual report containing the following information: federal anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws, complaint activity (including Federal District Court cases), and resulting disciplinary actions; Judgment Fund reimbursements; adjustments to agency budgets to meet reimbursement requirements; and an analysis of trends, causation, and practical knowledge gained through experience. This No FEAR Act Annual Report covers FY 2015 (October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015)."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
2016-03-24
-
Department of Homeland Security: Notification and Federal Employee Anti-Discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002, Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2016
From the Executive Summary: "The purpose of the 'Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002' (No FEAR Act), Public Law 107-174, is to reduce the incidence of workplace discrimination within the Federal Government by making agencies and departments more accountable for violations of antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws. Section 203 of the No FEAR Act specifically requires that each federal agency submit to certain Congressional committees and members, not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year, an annual report containing the following information on cases brought under federal anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws: complaint activity (including Federal District Court cases), and resulting disciplinary actions; associated Judgment Fund reimbursements and adjustments to agency budgets to meet reimbursement requirements; and an analysis of trends, causation, and practical knowledge gained through experience. This report covers FY 2016 (October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016)."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
2017-05-09
-
Department of Homeland Security: Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002, Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2012
From the Executive Summary: "The 'Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002' (No FEAR Act), Public Law 107-174, is intended to reduce the incidence of workplace discrimination within the Federal Government by making agencies and departments more accountable. Section 203 of the No FEAR Act specifically requires that, not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year, each federal agency submit to certain Congressional committees and members an annual report with the following information: federal anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws, complaint activity (including Federal District Court cases), and resulting disciplinary actions; Judgment Fund reimbursements; adjustments to agency budgets to meet reimbursement requirements; and an analysis of trends, causation, and practical knowledge gained through experience. This No FEAR Act Annual Report covers FY 2012 (October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012)."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
2013?
-
Department of Homeland Security: Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002, Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2011
From the Executive Summary: "The No FEAR Act [Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002] is intended to reduce the incidence of workplace discrimination within the Federal Government by making agencies and departments more accountable. Section 203 of the No FEAR Act specifically requires that, not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year, each federal agency submit to certain Congressional committees and members an annual report with the following information: federal antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws, complaint activity (including Federal District Court cases), and resulting disciplinary actions; Judgment Fund reimbursements; adjustments to agency budgets to meet reimbursement requirements; and an analysis of trends, causation, and practical knowledge gained through experience. This No FEAR Act Annual Report covers FY 2011 (October 1, 2010, to September 30, 2011)."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
2012-03-23
-
Nuclear Triad: DOD and DOE Face Challenges Mitigating Risks to U.S. Deterrence Efforts, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review indicates that DOD's highest priority is the nuclear deterrent, made up of sea, land, and air legs--referred to as the nuclear triad. DOD has reported that due to prior delays and challenges with aging nuclear triad systems, there is little to no margin for delaying replacement systems without incurring risk to the nuclear deterrent. Similarly, DOE [Department of Energy] faces a demanding schedule for infrastructure projects and programs for the life extension and production of warheads and bombs. In this report, GAO [Government Accountability Office] examines (1) the challenges DOD and DOE face in meeting operational needs with existing triad systems; (2) the extent to which DOD and DOE triad acquisition programs face schedule risks, and the implications of delays; and (3) whether DOD and DOE have strategies to mitigate risks to the nuclear deterrent, including acquisition delays. To do this work, GAO analyzed DOD and DOE documentation, interviewed officials, and leveraged GAO work on acquisition best practices, triad systems, and the nuclear enterprise. This is an unclassified version of a classified report we issued in June 2020, and specific classified information has been removed. [...] GAO is not making any recommendations because DOD and DOE have ongoing analyses related to a number of potential nuclear triad risk mitigation approaches. However, GAO has made recommendations in prior reports related to triad programs."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-05
-
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2): Private Health Insurance, Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare Provisions [April 27, 2021]
From the Introduction: "The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA; P.L. 117-2), enacted on March 11, 2021, is the latest in a series of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related relief and economic stimulus legislation. [...] The ARPA includes provisions addressing a number of issues, such as tax credits, unemployment benefits, state fiscal relief, health, housing, education, and food assistance, among others. This report provides information about the ARPA provisions related to private health insurance, Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare. The report begins with a summary of the reconciliation process for the ARPA. Then, the report provides high-level summaries of the provisions in the ARPA under the following headings: private health insurance, Medicaid and CHIP, Medicare, and Medicare and Medicaid. The high-level summaries are followed by a table with abbreviated summaries of each provision. The sections following the table provide more detailed summaries of these provisions. The 'Appendix' includes a table with a list of the abbreviations used in this report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mitchell, Alison; Baumrucker, Evelyne P.; Binder, Cliff . . .
2021-04-27
-
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) and COVID-19 [Updated April 27, 2021]
Form the Document: "The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not currently have a specific standard that protects health care or other workers from airborne or aerosol transmission of disease or diseases transmitted by airborne droplets. Some in Congress, and some groups representing health care, meat and poultry processing, and other workers, are calling on OSHA to promulgate an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect workers from exposure to SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2], the virus that causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) gives OSHA the ability to promulgate an ETS that would remain in effect for up to six months without going through the normal review and comment process of rulemaking. OSHA, however, has rarely used this authority in the past--not since the courts struck down its ETS on asbestos in 1983. [...] On January 21, 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order directing OSHA to review whether a COVID-19 ETS is necessary and, if necessary, issue an ETS by March 15, 2021. As of January 14, 2021, OSHA had issued citations from 315 inspections related to COVID-19 resulting in a total of $4,034,288 in proposed civil penalties. These citations have been issued for violations of the OSH Act's General Duty Clause and other existing OSHA standards, such as those for respiratory protection that may apply to COVID-19."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Szymendera, Scott
2021-04-27
-
DHS Privacy Office: OIG Privacy Incident Report and Assessment
From the Executive Summary: "The Chief Privacy Officer issues this report regarding a serious multi-Component Privacy Incident that occurred on March 30, 2010, involving the loss of DHS Financial Records Audit data. The financial audit data lost included Sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for records for the DHS Headquarters Management (DHSHQ), the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Components for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009. [...] The DHS Privacy Office has identified potential and actual violations of federal acquisition regulations, federal privacy laws, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memoranda related to privacy, as well as DHS management directives and policies. The DHS Privacy Office has identified several privacy policy recommendations to avoid and ameliorate similar Privacy Incidents in the future. This report documents findings and provides recommendations to ensure consistent and ongoing privacy policy compliance and to prevent another occurrence of this type of incident."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Privacy Office
2011-02
-
Digital Barriers to Economic Justice in the Wake of COVID-19
From the Executive Summary: "This primer highlights major barriers to economic justice created or magnified by data-centric technologies in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, there are three major trends related to data-centric technologies that are undermining the current and future economic stability for marginalized communities: 1) Collapse of benefits automation; 2) Expanded surveillance; 3) Digital profiling of economic distress. To our knowledge, there has been little discussion of how these trends will heighten existing economic inequalities as the nation attempts to rebuild post-pandemic. We aim to fill this gap through a conception of 'data justice', in which technology serves to empower people rather than to oppress them. Further, we provide suggestions for reform so that technology works for people, rather than against them, as the nation emerges from the grip of the pandemic."
Data & Society Research Institute
Gilman, Michele, 1968-; Madden, Mary
2021-04
-
MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 7, 2021
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: "Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations for Selected Nonfatal Injuries Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years -- United States, 2018"; "Surveillance to Track Progress Toward Polio Eradication -- Worldwide, 2019-2020"; "Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines Against COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Among Hospitalized Adults Aged ≥65 Years -- United States, January-March 2021"; "Safety Monitoring of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine -- United States, March-April 2021"; "Anxiety-Related Adverse Event Clusters After Janssen COVID-19 Vaccination -- Five U.S. Mass Vaccination Sites, April 2021"; "'Notes from the Field': An Outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce Exposure -- United States, 2019"; and "'QuickStats': Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years with Diagnosed Diabetes, by Urbanization Level and Age Group -- National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2019." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-05-07
-
Budget Reconciliation Process: The Senate's 'Byrd Rule' [Updated May 4, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Reconciliation is a process established under Section 310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-344, as amended). The purpose of reconciliation is to change substantive law so that revenue and mandatory spending levels are brought into line with budget resolution policies. [...] Between 1980 and 1985, the reconciliation legislation contained many provisions that were extraneous to the purpose of reducing the deficit. The reconciliation submissions of committees included provisions that had no budgetary effect, that increased spending or reduced revenues, or that violated another committee's jurisdiction. In 1985 and 1986, the Senate adopted the Byrd rule (named after its principal sponsor, Senator Robert C. Byrd) as a means of curbing these practices. Initially, the rule consisted of two components, involving a provision in a reconciliation act and a Senate resolution. The Byrd rule has been modified several times over the years. The purpose of this report is to briefly recount the legislative history of the Byrd rule, summarize its current features, and describe its implementation from its inception through the present."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Keith, Robert; Heniff, Bill
2021-05-04
-
Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending [Updated April 28, 2021]
From the Document: "Congress has responded to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with supplemental appropriations measures providing relief and assistance to individuals and families, state and local governments, businesses, health care providers, and other entities. This report provides selected sources for tracking COVID-19 relief and assistance spending. It contains links to and information on government sources detailing spending amounts at various levels, including consolidated spending by multiple government agencies, spending by individual government agencies, and spending for specific recipients and geographies. The sources themselves are large government databases, individual agencies, oversight entities, and selected nongovernmental entities that attempt to repackage information on spending amounts obtained from available government sources."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer; Kreiser, Maria
2021-04-28
-
Deep Fakes and National Security [Updated May 7, 2021]
From the Document: "'Deep fakes'--a term that first emerged in 2017 to describe realistic photo, audio, video, and other forgeries generated with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies--could present a variety of national security challenges in the years to come. As these technologies continue to mature, they could hold significant implications for congressional oversight, U.S. defense authorizations and appropriations, and the regulation of social media platforms."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.; Harris, Laurie A.
2021-05-07
-
Budget Submission After a Presidential Transition: Contextualizing the Biden Administration's FY2022 Request [May 4, 2021]
From the Document: "Like other newly inaugurated Presidents' Administrations, the Biden Administration was expected to submit its first formal budget request to Congress later than the usual January/February statutory deadline. Unclear in such situations is the timing and format of the formal submission and any preliminary communications that are sent in advance of the full submission. This CRS [Congressional Research Service] Insight discusses the Biden Administration's first-year submission of preliminary budget materials in the context of statutory requirements and past practices."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Riccard, Taylor N.
2021-05-04
-
Global Economic Effects of COVID-19 [Updated May 7, 2021]
From the Document: "In the year since the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] outbreak was first diagnosed, it has spread to over 200 countries and all U.S. states. The pandemic has negatively affected global economic growth beyond anything experienced in nearly a century. [...] The economic fallout from the pandemic could risk continued labor dislocations as a result of lingering high levels of unemployment not experienced since the Great Depression of the 1930s and high levels of debt among developing economies. Job losses have been concentrated more intensively in the services sector where workers have been unable to work offsite. The human costs in terms of lives lost will permanently affect global economic growth in addition to the cost of rising levels of poverty, lives upended, careers derailed, and increased social unrest. Some estimates indicate that 95 million people may have entered into extreme poverty in 2020 with 80 million more undernourished compared to pre-pandemic levels. In addition, some estimates indicate that global trade could fall by an annual amount of 9.0% or slightly less in 2020 as a result of the global economic downturn, exacting an especially heavy economic toll on trade-dependent developing and emerging economies. The full economic impact of the pandemic likely will remain unclear until the negative health effects peak. This report provides an overview of the global economic costs to date and the response by governments and international institutions to address these effects."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jackson, James K., 1949-; Weiss, Martin A.; Schwarzenberg, Andres B. . . .
2021-05-07
-
Cluster Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress [October 5, 2011]
"Cluster munitions are air-dropped or ground-launched weapons that release a number of smaller submunitions intended to kill enemy personnel or destroy vehicles. Cluster munitions were developed in World War II and are part of many nations' weapons stockpiles. Cluster munitions have been used frequently in combat, including the early phases of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Cluster munitions have been highly criticized internationally for causing a significant number of civilian deaths, and efforts have been undertaken to ban and regulate their use. The Department of Defense (DOD) continues to view cluster munitions as a military necessity but has instituted a policy to reduce the failure rate of cluster munitions to 1% or less by 2018. There are two major international initiatives to address cluster munitions: the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and negotiations under the U.N. Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). The Obama Administration has reiterated U.S. opposition to the CCM, which entered into force August 1, 2010, but is participating in negotiations regarding cluster munitions under the CCW."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew; Kerr, Paul K.
2011-10-05
-
Chile: An Overview [Updated July 16, 2019]
From the Document: "Chile, a nation of 19.1 million people, is located along the Pacific coast of South America. Chile traditionally has been one of the United States' strongest partners in Latin America due to the countries' common commitments to democracy, human rights, and free trade. Chile also has worked with the United States to promote peace and stability in the Western Hemisphere, as the country's transition to a higher level of economic development has enabled it to take on additional regional responsibilities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Meyer, Peter J.
2019-07-16
