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Defense Health Primer: Military Vaccinations [April 26, 2021]
From the Document: "The Department of Defense (DOD) administers a variety of force health protection (FHP) measures to 'promote, protect, improve, conserve, and restore' the health and well-being of servicemembers. These measures include health promotion and education programs, periodic health assessments, preventive therapies, medical countermeasures, and vaccinations. The U.S. military instituted its first vaccination program in 1777 when General George Washington directed the inoculation of the Continental Army to protect personnel from smallpox. Since then, DOD has implemented a variety of enduring or situational FHP measures to protect servicemembers from health threats. Certain vaccines are required for all servicemembers, while others may only be required for those deploying to particular locations. Other vaccines may be available based on public health recommendations or on a voluntary basis. Since at least the late 1990s, Congress has expressed interest in DOD vaccination policies, specifically those on compulsory vaccinations. Similar interest among certain Members of Congress has arisen as DOD administers the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to servicemembers on a voluntary-basis. This In Focus describes DOD's military vaccination policies and immunization program, and offers issues for congressional consideration."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mendez, Bryce H. P.; Tompkins, Erin
2021-04-26
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Applications for Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF): Fact Sheet [Updated May 6, 2021]
From the Document: "Over the years, Congress has passed legislation to provide access to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status to certain groups of foreign nationals living in the United States without permanent immigration status. The 116th Congress passed a measure of this type entitled Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF). LRIF provides an opportunity for Liberians who have been continuously present in the United States since November 2014 and specific family members to obtain LPR status. Enacted as part of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. [Public Law] 116-92, §7611), it gave individuals one year (until December 20, 2020) to apply for LPR status. The deadline was extended an additional year by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260, §901). This fact sheet presents data on LRIF applications received by the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) through April 2, 2021."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wilson, Jill, 1974-
2021-05-06
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 14, 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 for Bicycle-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries Among Children and Adults -- United States, 2009-2018"; "Prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Among Medicare Fee-For-Service Beneficiaries -- United States, 2001-2018"; "Diagnostic Performance of an Antigen Test with RT-PCR [reverse transcription of RNA to DNA - polymerase chain reaction] for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] in a Hospital Setting -- Los Angeles County, California, June-August 2020"; "Community-Based Testing for SARS-CoV-2 -- Chicago, Illinois, May-November 2020"; "Rapid Emergence and Epidemiologic Characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.526 Variant -- New York City, New York, January 1-April 5, 2021"; "Identification of and Surveillance for the SARS-CoV-2 Variants B.1.427 and B.1.429 -- Colorado, January-March 2021"; "Modeling of Future COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Cases, Hospitalizations, and Deaths, by Vaccination Rates and Nonpharmaceutical Intervention Scenarios -- United States, April-September 2021"; "Demographic and Social Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccination Initiation Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years -- United States, December 14, 2020-April 10, 2021"; and "'QuickStats': Percentage of Adults Aged ≥50 Years with Osteoporosis, by Race and Hispanic Origin -- United States, 2017-2018." 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.)
2021-05-14
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Public-Private Solutions to Pandemic Risk: 'Opportunities, Challenges and Trade-Offs'
From the Executive Summary: "Commercial insurers have always sought to push the boundaries of insurability by developing innovative and viable approaches to new and emerging risks of major severity such as natural disasters or changes to liability regimes. For example, Alternative Risk Transfer (ART) solutions, introduced in the 1980s, are designed to better reflect individual risk characteristics, mitigate moral hazard (i.e. the risk of people behaving less carefully once covered by insurance), offer (limited) cover for new exposures and expand capacity for large catastrophe risks (e.g. by tapping into the vast pool of institutional investment funds through Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS)). [...] These efforts notwithstanding, pandemic business continuity risk was, in general, never possible nor intended to be covered by the private sector. To some extent, this reflects demand side reasons such as an endemic underestimation of the frequency and severity of pandemics. However, the shortage of supply primarily results from the high level of embedded risk and, therefore, prohibitively high amounts of capital needed to underpin credible insurance commitments. These extraordinarily high capital requirements are attributable to the unique correlation in the frequency and severity of pandemic business interruption losses as revealed by COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. Looking ahead, this does not rule out the provision of small-scale selected private market coverage by limiting the degree of risk transfer and the number of businesses covered."
International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics
Schanz, Kai-Uwe
2021-04
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Coast Guard Deepwater Acquisition Programs: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress [June 7, 2011]
From the Summary: "The term Deepwater refers to more than a dozen separate Coast Guard acquisition programs for replacing and modernizing the service's aging fleet of deepwater-capable ships and aircraft. Until April 2007, the Coast Guard pursued these programs as a single, integrated acquisition program that was known as the Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) program or Deepwater program for short. The now-separated Deepwater acquisition programs include plans for, among other things, 91 new cutters, 124 new small boats, and 247 new or modernized airplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). […] The Coast Guard's proposed FY2012 budget submission states that it 'proposes the elimination of the Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) sub-appropriation and disaggregation of the IDS construct from the Coast Guard's Acquisition, Construction and Improvement (AC&I) appropriation…. Consistent with the dissolution of Integrated CG Systems and the disaggregation of the Deepwater Acquisition into asset-based Acquisition Program Baselines, the proposed changes align projects that were formerly grouped under Integrated Deepwater Systems (IDS) with the existing authorized structure for Vessels, Aviation, Shore, Other Equipment, and Personnel and Management.' The Coast Guard's FY2012 budget appears to request $975.5 million in acquisition funding for Deepwater programs, including $289.9 million for aircraft, $512.0 million for surface ships and boats, and $173.6 million for other items."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2011-06-07
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Intelligence Issues for Congress [June 21, 2011]
From the Summary: "To address the challenges facing the U.S. intelligence community in the 21st century, congressional and executive branch initiatives have sought to improve coordination among the different agencies and to encourage better analysis. In December 2004, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (P.L. 108-458) was signed, providing for a Director of National Intelligence (DNI) with substantial authorities to manage the national intelligence effort. The legislation also established a separate Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Making cooperation effective presents substantial leadership and managerial challenges. The needs of intelligence 'consumers'--ranging from the White House to Cabinet agencies to military commanders--must all be met, using the same systems and personnel. Intelligence collection systems are expensive and some critics suggest there have been elements of waste and unneeded duplication of effort while some intelligence 'targets' have been neglected. […] Intelligence on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction was inaccurate and Members have criticized the performance of the intelligence community in regard to current conditions in Afghanistan, Iran, and other areas. Improved analysis, while difficult to mandate, remains a key goal. Better human intelligence, it is widely agreed, is also essential, but very challenging to acquire. Intelligence support to military operations continues to be a major responsibility of intelligence agencies. The use of precision guided munitions depends on accurate, real-time targeting data; integrating intelligence data into military operations challenges traditional organizational relationships and requires innovative technological approaches."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Best, Richard A.
2011-06-21
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Presidential Authority to Impose Requirements on Federal Contractors [June 14, 2011]
From the Summary: "Executive orders requiring agencies to impose certain conditions on federal contractors as terms of their contracts have raised questions about presidential authority to issue such orders. Recently, the Obama Administration circulated, but did not issue, a draft executive order directing 'every contracting department and agency' to require contractors to 'disclose certain political contributions and expenditures.' The draft order cites the President's constitutional authority, as well as his authority pursuant to the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (FPASA), which authorizes the President to prescribe any policies or directives that he considers necessary to promote 'economy' or 'efficiency' in federal procurement. The draft executive order refers to FPASA's goals in that it directs actions 'to ensure the integrity of the federal contracting system in order to produce the most economical and efficient results for the American people.' The draft order has been characterized by some as an 'abuse of executive branch authority' because it resembles the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act that the 111th Congress considered, but did not pass. If issued, the draft order may face legal challenge. […] In the event that Congress seeks to enlarge or cabin presidential exercises of authority over federal contractors, Congress could amend FPASA to clarify congressional intent to grant the President broader authority over procurement, or limit presidential authority to more narrow 'housekeeping' aspects of procurement. Congress also could pass legislation directed at particular requirements of contracting executive orders."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Burrows, Vanessa K.; Manuel, Kate
2011-06-14
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War Powers Resolution: Presidential Compliance [June 24, 2011]
From the Summary: "Two separate but closely related issues confront Congress each time the President introduces armed forces into a situation abroad that conceivably could lead to their involvement in hostilities. One issue concerns the division of war powers between the President and Congress, whether the use of armed forces falls within the purview of the congressional power to declare war and the War Powers Resolution (WPR). The other issue is whether or not Congress concurs in the wisdom of the action. This report does not deal with the substantive merits of using armed forces in specific cases, but rather with congressional authorization for military action, and the application and effectiveness of the WPR. The purpose of the WPR (P.L. 93-148, passed over President Nixon's veto on November 7, 1973) is to ensure that Congress and the President share in making decisions that may get the United States involved in hostilities. Compliance becomes an issue whenever the President introduces U.S. forces abroad in situations that might be construed as hostilities or imminent hostilities. Criteria for compliance include prior consultation with Congress, fulfillment of the reporting requirements, and congressional authorization. […] Debate continues on whether using the War Powers Resolution is effective as a means of assuring congressional participation in decisions that might get the United States involved in a significant military conflict. Proposals have been made to modify or repeal the resolution. None have been enacted to date. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Grimmett, Richard F.
2011-06-24
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Insourcing Functions Performed by Federal Contractors: An Overview of the Legal Issues [June 8, 2011]
From the Summary: "Recent Congresses and the Obama Administration have taken numerous actions to promote 'insourcing,' or the use of government personnel to perform functions that contractors previously performed on behalf of federal agencies. Among other things, the 109th through the 111th Congresses enacted several statutes requiring the development of policies and guidelines to ensure that agencies 'consider' using government employees to perform functions previously performed by contractors, as well as any new functions. These statutes also require that 'special consideration' be given to using government personnel to perform certain functions, including those functions (1) performed by government employees in the recent past, (2) closely associated with the performance of inherently governmental functions, (3) performed pursuant to a contract awarded on a non-competitive basis, or (4) performed poorly by a contractor because of excessive costs or inferior quality. The Obama Administration has similarly promoted insourcing. Among other things, on July 29, 2009, the Office of Management and Budget directed federal agencies to conduct pilot human capital analyses of programs where the agency has concerns about its reliance on contractors, as a prelude to potentially insourcing functions performed by contractors. […] The 112th Congress is considering legislation that could constrain insourcing initiatives by requiring agencies to conduct a public-private competition and determine that provision of goods or services by federal employees provides 'best value' prior to insourcing (H.R. 1474, S. 785). A provision of the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act for FY2012 (H.R. 1540, § 939) could also limit agencies' ability to insource functions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Maskell, Jack; Manuel, Kate
2011-06-08
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United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Background and Policy Issues [June 9, 2011]
From the Summary: "U.S. ratification of the United Nations (U.N.) Convention on the Rights of the Child (hereafter referred to as CRC or the Convention) may be a key area of focus during the 112th Congress, particularly if the Barack Obama Administration seeks the advice and consent of the Senate. CRC is an international treaty that aims to protect the rights of children worldwide. It defines a child as any human being under the age of 18, and calls on States Parties to take all appropriate measures to ensure that children's rights are protected--including the right to a name and nationality; freedom of speech and thought; access to healthcare and education; and freedom from exploitation, torture, and abuse. CRC entered into force in September 1990, and has been ratified by 193 countries, making it the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world. Two countries, the United States and Somalia, have not ratified CRC. The President has not transmitted CRC to the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification. […] This report provides an overview of CRC's background and structure and examines evolving U.S. policy toward the Convention, including past and current Administration positions and congressional perspectives. It also highlights issues for the 112th Congress, including the Convention's possible impact on federal and state laws, U.S. sovereignty, parental rights, and U.S. family planning and abortion policy. In addition, the report addresses the effectiveness of CRC in protecting the rights of children internationally and its potential use as an instrument of U.S. foreign policy. It will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchfield, Luisa
2011-06-09
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Federal Support for Reproductive Health Services: Frequently Asked Questions [May 5, 2021]
From the Summary: "Federal support for reproductive health services--preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services related to reproductive systems, functions, and processes--is administered in different ways, largely because federal agencies, departments, and programs have different missions. Congress has introduced bills related to various aspects of reproductive health care. This includes bills that expand or restrict the types of reproductive health services available, how they are paid for or delivered, and the restrictions in place on paying for or providing certain types of reproductive health services. This report provides answers to frequently asked questions concerning the provision, funding, and coverage of reproductive health services in the United States. Specifically, it discusses six categories of reproductive health services with regard to whether the federal government provides these services, pays for them, or requires certain health insurance plans to cover them."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Siddalingaiah, Simi V.; Heisler, Elayne J., 1976-
2021-05-05
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Improving Public Messaging for Evacuation and Shelter‐in‐Place: Findings and Recommendations for Emergency Managers from Peer-Reviewed Research
From the Overview: "The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducted this study to provide emergency managers with: [1] peer-reviewed research findings on public understanding and decision-making for evacuation and shelter-in-place protective actions, and [2] data-driven recommendations for improving public messaging to inform the public about risk and to increase compliance with instructions to evacuate or to shelter-in-place. FEMA tasked Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) with conducting a literature review of published peer-reviewed research, summarizing the research findings, and developing related recommendations. This analysis can inform outreach strategies, communication strategies, evacuation planning, and emergency operations plans. Some recommendations are best implemented before an event and some suggest ways to improve response operations." A supplemental slideshow presentation of this report can be found in the HSDL here: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=853704]
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
Freeman, Carol; Nunnari, Nicole; Edgemon, Lesley . . .
2021-04
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Community Acceptance of Carbon Capture and Sequestration Infrastructure: Siting Challenges [July 29, 2008]
"Congressional policy makers are becoming aware that a national program of carbon capture and sequestration could require an extensive new network of carbonrelated infrastructure. Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is a three-part process involving a carbon dioxide (CO2) source facility, CO2 pipelines, and a permanent CO2 sequestration site. A key consideration in the development of such infrastructure is community acceptance, which may ultimately determine whether, where, and how anticipated CCS projects may be built. Although the general public is still largely unfamiliar with CCS, there are early indications that community acceptance may prove a significant challenge to the siting of CCS infrastructure in the United States. […] At the project level, this ambivalence may become outright opposition as community residents incorporate local considerations in their evaluation of a proposed CCS development. If carbon control and associated CCS policies were narrowly targeted, or expected to have only marginal impacts on the U.S. energy sector, Congress might choose to defer consideration of community acceptance issues until CCS technologies were more mature and states had more time to work out CCS siting problems. But understanding public acceptance of CCS takes on greater urgency in light of proposals to curb CO2 emissions quickly and the scale of CCS infrastructure required to do so. The most prominent CO2 proposals in the 110th Congress seek reductions of nationwide CO2 emissions to 1990 levels or lower by 2030. Given such goals for reducing U.S. emissions of CO2, and the potential contribution of CCS to reaching them, the issue of community acceptance of CCS infrastructure may prove challenging."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Parfomak, Paul W.
2008-07-29
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Comparing Compensation for Federal and Private-Sector Workers: An Overview [July 30, 2012]
"Recently there has been significant congressional interest in compensation of the federal civilian workforce. The increased interest has been driven at least in part by budgetary pressure and in part by the state of the economy since the recession began in 2007. Issues related to the compensation of federal employees often center on the pay differential between federal workers and their private sector counterparts. For several years, the annual President's Pay Agent (PPA) study has shown a large wage penalty for federal workers compared to private sector workers in similar occupations. A few recent studies, however, which use a different analytical approach and data sources, have partially contradicted the findings of the PPA study by concluding that at least some federal workers enjoy a wage premium over comparable private sector workers. These disparate findings make it difficult to determine how compensation of federal employees compares to workers in the private sector. […] Only two of the studies--CBO [Congressional Budget Office] and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI)--report earnings differentials by level of educational attainment, however. While the AEI report shows a clear wage premium across levels of educational attainment, the more methodologically rigorous CBO study finds a more nuanced outcome. That is, federal workers with less than a bachelor's degree have on average a wage premium compared to private sector counterparts, while federal workers with post-graduate educational attainment on average experience a wage penalty relative to private sector counterparts."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bradley, David H.
2012-07-30
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China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities-Background and Issues for Congress [January 20, 2011]
From the Summary: "The question of how the United States should respond to China's military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, has emerged as a key issue in U.S. defense planning. Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, stated in June 2010 that 'I have moved from being curious to being genuinely concerned' about China's military programs. The question of how the United States should respond to China's military modernization effort is of particular importance to the U.S. Navy, because many U.S. military programs for countering improved Chinese military forces would fall within the Navy's budget. Decisions that Congress and the executive branch make regarding U.S. Navy programs for countering improved Chinese maritime military capabilities could affect the likelihood or possible outcome of a potential U.S.-Chinese military conflict in the Pacific over Taiwan or some other issue. Some observers consider such a conflict to be very unlikely, in part because of significant U.S.-Chinese economic linkages and the tremendous damage that such a conflict could cause on both sides. In the absence of such a conflict, however, the U.S.-Chinese military balance in the Pacific could nevertheless influence day-to-day choices made by other Pacific countries, including choices on whether to align their policies more closely with China or the United States. In this sense, decisions that Congress and the executive branch make regarding U.S. Navy programs for countering improved Chinese maritime military forces could influence the political evolution of the Pacific, which in turn could affect the ability of the United States to pursue goals relating to various policy issues, both in the Pacific and elsewhere."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2011-01-20
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China/Taiwan: Evolution of the 'One China' Policy-Key Statements from Washington, Beijing, and Taipei [January 10, 2011]
From the Summary: "Despite apparently consistent statements in four decades, the U.S. 'one China' policy concerning Taiwan remains somewhat ambiguous and subject to different interpretations. Apart from questions about what the 'one China' policy entails, issues have arisen about whether U.S. Presidents have stated clear positions and have changed or should change policy, affecting U.S. interests in security and democracy. In Part I, this CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report, updated as warranted, discusses the 'one China' policy since the United States began in 1971 to reach presidential understandings with the People's Republic of China (PRC) government in Beijing. Part II documents the evolution of policy as affected by legislation and articulated in key statements by Washington, Beijing, and Taipei. Taiwan formally calls itself the Republic of China (ROC), celebrating in 2011 the 100th anniversary of its founding. The policy covers three major issue areas: sovereignty over Taiwan; PRC use of force or coercion against Taiwan; and cross-strait dialogue. The United States recognized the ROC until the end of 1978 and has maintained an official relationship with Taiwan after recognition of the PRC government in 1979."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kan, Shirley
2011-01-10
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Central Asia: Regional Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests [January 12, 2011]
From the Summary: "U.S. policy toward the Central Asian states has aimed at facilitating their cooperation with U.S. and NATO stabilization efforts in Afghanistan and their efforts to combat terrorism, proliferation, and trafficking in arms, drugs, and persons. Other U.S. objectives have included promoting free markets, democratization, human rights, energy development, and the forging of East-West and Central Asia-South Asia trade links. Such policies aim to help the states become what various U.S. administrations have considered to be responsible members of the international community rather than to degenerate into xenophobic, extremist, and anti-Western regimes that contribute to wider regional conflict and instability. Soon after the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, all the Central Asian 'front-line' states offered over-flight and other support for coalition anti-terrorism operations in Afghanistan. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan hosted coalition troops and provided access to airbases. In 2003, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan also endorsed coalition military action in Iraq. About two dozen Kazakhstani troops served in Iraq until late 2008. Uzbekistan rescinded U.S. basing rights in 2005 after the United States criticized the reported killing of civilians in the town of Andijon. In early 2009, Kyrgyzstan ordered a U.S. base in that country to close, allegedly because of Russian inducements and U.S. reluctance to meet Kyrgyz requests for greatly increased lease payments. An agreement on continued U.S. use of the Manas Transit Center was reached in June 2009. In 2009, most of the regional states also agreed to become part of a Northern Distribution Network for the transport of U.S. and NATO supplies to Afghanistan. The status of the Manas Transit Center was in doubt after an April 2010 coup in Kyrgyzstan, but the new leadership soon stated that the Manas Transit Center arrangement would remain in place."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nichol, James P.
2011-01-12
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Iraq: Politics, Elections, and Benchmarks [February 7, 2011]
From the Summary: "Iraq's political system is increasingly characterized by peaceful competition and formation of cross-sectarian alliances, although ethnic and sectarian infighting continues, sometimes involving the questionable use of key levers of power and legal institutions. This infighting--and the belief that holding political power may mean the difference between life and death for the various political communities--significantly delayed agreement on a new government that was to be selected following the March 7, 2010, national elections for the Council of Representatives (COR, parliament). With U.S. intervention, on November 10, 2010, major ethnic and sectarian factions agreed on a framework for a new government, breaking the long deadlock. Their agreement, under which Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki would serve another term, was implemented in the presentation by him of a broad-based cabinet on December 21, 2010, in advance of a December 25 constitutional deadline. The participation of all major factions in the new government, while stabilizing politically, could complicate efforts to pass key outstanding legislation crucial to attracting foreign investment, such as national hydrocarbon laws. However, there may be early indications that the new government is acting on long stalled initiatives, including year long tensions over Kurdish exports of oil."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2011-02-07
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China's Currency: An Analysis of the Economic Issues [January 12, 2011]
From the Summary: "Since 1994, the Chinese government has maintained a policy of intervening in currency markets to limit or halt the appreciation of its currency, the renminbi (RMB), against the U.S. dollar and other currencies. Critics charge that this policy has made Chinese exports to the United States significantly cheaper, and U.S. exports to China much more expensive, than would occur under free market conditions. Some policymakers argue that China's currency policy is a major factor behind the large annual U.S. trade deficits with China and has lead to the widespread loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs. Some economists have argued that China's currency policy is disruptive to global economic recovery because it induces many countries to intervene in currency markets in an effort to hold down the value of their currencies against the dollar in order to enable their firms to remain competitive vis-à-vis Chinese firms. Some economists have expressed concern that these actions may worsen economic imbalances and could undermine the world trading system. From July 2005 to July 2008, the central bank of China allowed the RMB to appreciate against the dollar by about 21%. However, once the effects of the global economic crisis began to become apparent, China halted appreciation of the RMB in an effort to limit job losses in industries dependent on trade. From July 2008 to late June 2010, China kept the exchange rate of the RMB at roughly 6.83 yuan (the base unit of the RMB) to the dollar. On June 19, 2010, the China's central bank stated that, based on current economic conditions, it had decided to 'proceed further with reform of the RMB exchange rate regime and to enhance the RMB exchange rate flexibility.' From June 18 to December 24, 2010, China allowed the RMB/dollar exchange rate to rise by about 2.9%% overall. U.S. officials have criticized the slow pace of RMB's appreciation, especially given the rapid growth in Chinese exports and trade surplus over the past year, and have urged China to quicken the pace of currency reform and flexibility."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Labonte, Marc; Morrison, Wayne M.
2011-01-12
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Executive Order 13438: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq [January 14, 2011]
From the Summary: "On July 17, 2007, President Bush issued Executive Order 13438, Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq. It is the latest in a series of executive orders based on the national emergency declared by President Bush with respect to 'the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by obstacles to the orderly reconstruction of Iraq, the restoration and maintenance of peace and security in that country, and the development of political, administrative and economic institutions in Iraq.' Regulations implementing this Executive Order were issued on September 13, 2010. The President's authority to issue the executive order stems from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA). The executive order covers financial transactions and authorizes property controls with respect to three categories of persons: (1) individuals or entities determined 'to have committed, or to pose a significant risk, of committing an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of ... threatening the peace or stability of Iraq ...'; (2) individuals or entities determined 'to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of, such an act or acts of violence or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order ...'; and (3) individuals and entities determined 'to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order....'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Murphy, M. Maureen
2011-01-14
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U.S.-Japan Alliance [January 18, 2011]
From the Summary: "Under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, about 53,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Japan and have the exclusive use of 89 facilities throughout the archipelago. In exchange for the bases, the United States guarantees Japan's security. The alliance has endured over 50 years, through periods of intense partnership and stretches of political drift. In the past decade, the relationship has seen both ends of the spectrum. During the first term of the George W. Bush Administration, converging U.S. and Japanese objectives in confronting North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and Japan's participation in U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan reinforced the notion of the U.S.-Japan alliance as one of the central partnerships of U.S. foreign policy, particularly in Asia. By 2007, political developments in Japan and diverging policy approaches to North Korea created some distance in the relationship. After the Democratic Party of Japan took power in a historical election in September 2009, a disagreement over the relocation of the Futenma Marine airbase in Okinawa erupted into a public rift that led many to question the fundamental soundness of the alliance. Regional developments in 2010, however, appeared to refocus attention in Washington and Tokyo on the value of the alliance. North Korea's continued and increasingly aggressive actions, coupled with a diplomatic crisis after a Chinese trawler rammed a Japanese Coast Guard ship in disputed waters, drove the allies back together. A new DPJ administration in Tokyo affirmed its intent to work out U.S. base realignment issues and renewed its financial support for hosting the troops. At the same time, solidarity grew in confronting North Korea provocations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma
2011-01-18
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Colorado Emergency Management and Homeland Security Statutory Authorities Summarized [March 26, 2004]
"Six Colorado statutes address terrorism and emergency management: Colorado Response to Terrorism Act; Office of Preparedness, Security and Fire Safety Act; Office of Anti-Terrorism Planning and Training Act; Division of Fire Safety Act; Office of Emergency Management Act; and Colorado Disaster Emergency Act of 1992. Seven units are assigned the main duties of emergency response. Disaster aid is provided at the governor's direction to state agencies by means of a state facility security fund and a disaster emergency fund. The governor and the disaster emergency council may declare disasters. The statutes require that continuity of government rules and plans be adopted. The Office of Emergency Management provides mutual aid in disasters. This report is one of a series that profiles the emergency management and homeland security statutory authorities of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and three territories (American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Each profile identifies the more significant elements of state statutes, generally as codified. Congressional readers may wish to conduct further searches for related provisions using the Internet link presented in the last section of this report. The National Conference of State Legislatures provided primary research assistance in the development of these profiles under contract to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Summary information on all of the profiles is presented in CRS Report RL32287. This report will be updated as developments warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bea, Keith; Runyon, L. Cheryl; Warnock, Kae M.
2004-03-26
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2025 Post-Covid Scenarios: Latin America and the Caribbean
From the Executive Summary: "With vaccine rollouts underway, the world finally has an opportunity to look beyond COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and to plan meaningfully into the future. Nevertheless, uncertainties abound, and new shocks may continue to arise, potentially bringing about social, economic, health, political and other consequences. As a region, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is vulnerable to these uncertainties and shocks, due to preexisting weaknesses such as underinvestment in public health and healthcare, inequality, high labor informality, low productivity, and weak democratic governance. Indeed, these structural weaknesses made LAC among the worst coronavirus-affected regions in human and socioeconomic terms. Going forward, the region's leaders must address the risks and opportunities that will shape the post-COVID future. Which key uncertainties will drive the region forward in the coming years, for better or worse? What are the major opportunities and risks facing governments, the private sector, and citizens, and to what extent can they effectively anticipate and navigate them? This report provides an outside-the-box framework to help unpack these questions and to challenge static assumptions about today's rapidly changing world. Building upon a robust scenario-planning exercise involving eighty-plus experts, the report identifies three main drivers of change--labeled as the dominant configuring factors (DCFs)--that will shape the region's post-COVID-19 future."
Atlantic Council of the United States
Zhang, Pepe; Engelke, Peter O.; Van Velkinburgh, Sara
2021-04
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Financial Well-Being in America
From the Executive Summary: "An essential part of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau)'s mission is empowering consumers to take control over their financial lives. In addition to a safe, transparent marketplace, consumers need the financial capability to effectively navigate that marketplace to achieve their own financial and life goals. Defining, measuring, and studying what contributes to financial well-being--the 'ultimate goal' of financial education, has been a key part of the CFPB's strategy for improving financial capability. CFPB's rigorous set of research activities has produced a consumer-driven definition of financial well-being, and a reliable and validated scale for measuring it. Using this scale, which produces a financial well-being score that falls between 0 and 100, financial well-being can be meaningfully compared between people and over time. In late 2016, the CFPB fielded for the first time the financial well-being scale in a nationwide survey of adults in the United States. In addition to measuring individuals' financial well-being, the survey collected a host of other measures, including items related to: (1) individual characteristics; (2) household and family characteristics; (3) income and employment characteristics; (4) savings and safety nets; (5) financial experiences; and (6) financial behaviors, skills, and attitudes. This report presents the survey's findings on the distribution of financial well-being scores for the U.S. adult population overall and for selected subgroups defined by these additional measures."
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Melford, Genevieve; Ortiz, Hector; Marks Knoll, Melissa A. Z. . . .
2017-09
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H. Rept. 117-24: Security Screening During COVID-19 Act, Report to Accompany H.R. 1877, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, April 30, 2021
From the Purpose and Summary: "H.R. 1877, the 'Security Screening During COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Act' directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator to issue a plan to enhance security operations during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the spread of the virus at passenger screening checkpoints and among the TSA workforce. Under the bill, the TSA Administrator will coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security Chief Medical Officer, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a plan that identifies best practices among foreign governments, airports, air carriers, and other Federal agencies regarding COVID-19 and pinpoints specific operational changes that TSA can make to reduce the spread of the coronavirus at checkpoints based on those best practices. The TSA Administrator would be required to consult with stakeholders and the TSA workforce when developing the plan and submit the finalized strategy to Congress. A Government Accountability Office report on implementation of the plan would be due one year after implementation begins."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-04-30
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Essential and Excluded: How the COVID-19 Pandemic is Impacting Immigrant Families
From the Document: "Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) affiliates in six states conducted community impact surveys between April and November 2020. Organizers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and North Carolina had in-depth conversations with over 900 primarily Latinx immigrants--including nearly 400 undocumented community members. While capturing different moments of the pandemic, important issues facing immigrant communities were surfaced across the surveys[.]"
Center for Popular Democracy
2021-02
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Quality Management at the Veterans Health Administration, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifth Congress, Second Session, March 19, 1998
This is the March 19, 1998 hearing on "Quality Management at the Veterans Health Administration," held before the House Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. From the opening statement of Cliff Stearns: "Today's hearing provides an opportunity to both learn what has been done on patient safety issues since our October hearing, and to take a broader look at VA [Veterans Health Administration] efforts to manage quality. It is obvious that quality management has been important headquarters' concern." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Molla Donaldson, Thomas Garthwaite, John Mather, and Maura Farrell Miller.
United States. Government Printing Office
1998
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VH-71/VXX Presidential Helicopter Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated December 22, 2009]
From the Summary: "The VH [VIP Helicopter]-71 program is intended to provide 23 new presidential helicopters to replace the current fleet of 19 aging presidential helicopters. As part of its proposed FY2010 Department of Defense (DOD) budget, the Administration proposed terminating the VH-71 program in response to substantial cost growth and schedule delays in the program. As a successor to the VH-71 program, the Administration proposed beginning a new presidential helicopter program in FY2010 called the VXX Presidential Helicopter Program. The Administration's proposed FY2010 budget requested $85.2 million in Navy research and development funding for the VH-71 program. Of this total, $55.2 million is for terminating the VH-71 program and $30 million is for initial studies on the proposed successor VXX program. The issue for Congress is whether to approve the Administration's proposal to terminate the VH-71 program and initiate a successor VXX program, or pursue another course, such as continuing the VH-71 program in some restructured form. Congress's decision on the issue could affect DOD funding requirements, the schedule for replacing the 19 older helicopters, and the helicopter industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gertler, Jeremiah
2009-12-22
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Air Force C-17 Aircraft Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated April 6, 2010]
From the Summary: "A total of 223 C-17s [Cargo aircraft model 17] have been procured through FY2010. The Administration's proposed FY2011 defense budget proposed to end C-17 procurement and did not request any funding for the procurement of additional C-17s. The Administration argues that enough C-17s have now been procured to meet future operational needs. Supporters of procuring additional C-17s in FY2011 believe additional C-17s will be needed to meet future operational needs. The issue of how much airlift capability will be needed in the future is currently being examined in a congressionally mandated study being done by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) and in a separate Department of Defense (DOD) study called the Mobility Capabilities and Requirements Study 2016 (MCRS-16), which was due to be completed by the end of 2009."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
2010-04-06
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Violations of ICE Detention Standards at Pulaski County Jail
From the Document: "In accordance with the 'Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020', we conduct unannounced inspections of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities to ensure compliance with detention standards. Between November 2020 and January 2021, we conducted a remote inspection of the Pulaski County Jail (Pulaski) to evaluate compliance with ICE detention standards and COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] requirements."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2021-04-29
