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Tsunamis: Monitoring, Detection, and Early Warning Systems [Updated May 16, 2005]
"Some in Congress are concerned about the possible vulnerability of U.S. coastal areas to tsunamis, and about the adequacy of early warning for coastal areas of the western Atlantic Ocean. This stems from the December 26, 2004, tsunami that devastated many coastal areas around the northern Indian Ocean, where few tsunami early warning systems currently operate. The tsunami was caused by a strong underwater earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The earthquake and tsunami together are estimated to have claimed as many as 300,000 lives. Affected nations, assisted by others, are pursuing multilateral efforts through the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to develop a regional tsunami detection and warning network that would guard coastal populations around the Indian Ocean. Those efforts would coincide with the United States goal of upgrading and expanding its tsunami detection and early warning network."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morrissey, Wayne A.
2005-05-16
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Terrorism and Security Issues Facing the Water Infrastructure Sector [Updated May 24, 2006]
"Damage to or destruction of the nation's water supply and water quality infrastructure by terrorist attack could disrupt the delivery of vital human services in this country, threatening public health and the environment, or possibly causing loss of life. Interest in such problems has increased greatly since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City and at the Pentagon. Across the country, water infrastructure systems extend over vast areas, and ownership and operation responsibility are both public and private but are overwhelmingly non-federal. Since the attacks, federal dam operators and water and wastewater utilities have been under heightened security conditions and are evaluating security plans and measures. There are no federal standards or agreed-upon industry best practices within the water infrastructure sector to govern readiness, response to security incidents, and recovery. Efforts to develop protocols and tools are ongoing since the 2001 terrorist attacks. This report presents an overview of this large and diverse sector, describes security-related actions by the government and private sector since September 11, and discusses additional policy issues and responses, including congressional interest."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Copeland, Claudia; Cody, Betsy A.
2006-05-24
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Terrorism and Security Issues Facing the Water Infrastructure Sector [Updated January 24, 2006]
"Damage to or destruction of the nation's water supply and water quality infrastructure by terrorist attack could disrupt the delivery of vital human services in this country, threatening public health and the environment, or possibly causing loss of life. Interest in such problems has increased greatly since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City and at the Pentagon. Across the country, water infrastructure systems extend over vast areas, and ownership and operation responsibility are both public and private but are overwhelmingly non-federal. Since the attacks, federal dam operators and water and wastewater utilities have been under heightened security conditions and are evaluating security plans and measures. There are no federal standards or agreed-upon industry best practices within the water infrastructure sector to govern readiness, response to security incidents, and recovery. Efforts to develop protocols and tools are ongoing since the 2001 terrorist attacks. This report presents an overview of this large and diverse sector, describes security-related actions by the government and private sector since September 11, and discusses additional policy issues and responses, including congressional interest."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Copeland, Claudia; Cody, Betsy A.
2006-01-24
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Terrorism Risk Insurance Legislation: Issue Summary and Side-by-Side [Updated January 12, 2006]
"Prior to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, insurance covering terrorism losses was normally included in general insurance policies without cost to policyholders. Following the attacks, both primary insurers and reinsurers pulled back from offering terrorism coverage, citing particularly an inability to calculate the probability and loss data critical for insurance pricing. Some argued that terrorism risk would never be insurable by the private market due to the uncertainty and potentially massive losses involved. Because insurance is required for a variety of economic transactions, it was feared that a lack of insurance against terrorism loss would have wider economic impact. Congress responded to the disruption in the insurance market by passing the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (TRIA). TRIA created a temporary program, expiring at the end of 2005, to calm the insurance markets through a government backstop for terrorism losses and to give the private industry time to gather the data and create the structures and capacity necessary for private insurance to cover terrorism risk. From 2002 to 2005, terrorism insurance became widely available and largely affordable, and the insurance industry greatly expanded its financial capacity. There was, however, little apparent success on a longer term private solution and fears persisted about wider economic consequences if insurance were not available. To a large degree, the same concerns and arguments that accompanied the initial passage of TRIA were before Congress as it considered TRIA extension legislation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Webel, Baird
2006-01-12
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Terrorism Risk Insurance Legislation: Issue Summary and Side-by-Side [Updated December 7, 2005]
"Prior to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, insurance covering terrorism losses was normally included in general insurance policies without cost to policyholders. Following the attacks, both primary insurers and reinsurers pulled back from offering terrorism coverage, citing particularly an inability to calculate the probability and loss data critical for insurance pricing. Some argued that terrorism risk would never be insurable by the private market due to the uncertainty and potentially massive losses involved. Because insurance is required for a variety of economic transactions, it was feared that a lack of insurance against terrorism loss would have wider economic impact, particularly on large-scale developments in urban areas that would be tempting targets for terrorism. Congress responded to the disruption in the insurance market by passing the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (TRIA). TRIA created a temporary program, expiring at the end of 2005, to calm the insurance markets through a government backstop for terrorism losses and give the private industry time to gather the data and create the structures and capacity necessary for private insurance to cover terrorism risk. In the past three years, terrorism insurance has become widely available and largely affordable, and the insurance industry has greatly expanded its financial capacity. There has been, however, little apparent success on a longer term private solution and fears persist about wider economic consequences if insurance is not available. To a large degree, the same concerns and arguments that accompanied the initial passage of TRIA are still before Congress today."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Webel, Baird
2005-12-07
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Trafficking in Persons: U.S. Policy and Issues for Congress [October 29, 2010]
"Trafficking in persons (TIP) for the purposes of exploitation is believed to be one of the most prolific areas of international criminal activity and is of significant concern to the United States and the international community. According to Department of State estimates, roughly 800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year. If trafficking within countries is included in the total world figures, official U.S. estimates indicate that some 2 to 4 million people are trafficked annually. As many as 17,500 people are believed to be trafficked to the United States each year. Since enactment of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA, P.L. 106-386), the Administration and Congress have aimed to address TIP by authorizing new programs and reauthorizing existing ones, appropriating funds, and conducting oversight on the effectiveness and implications of U.S. anti-TIP policy. Most recently, the TVPA was reauthorized through FY2011 in the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-457). Obligations for global and domestic anti-TIP programs, not including operations and law enforcement investigations, totaled approximately $103.5 million in FY2009."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wyler, Liana Sun; Siskin, Alison
2010-10-29
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Trade Remedies: A Primer [Updated June 14, 2006]
"The United States and many of its trading partners use laws known as trade remedies to mitigate the adverse impact of various trade practices on domestic industries and workers. U.S. antidumping laws (19 U.S.C. 1673 et seq.) authorize the imposition of duties if (1) the International Trade Administration (ITA) of the Department of Commerce determines that foreign merchandise is being, or likely to be sold in the United States at less than fair value, and (2) the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) determines that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or that the establishment of an industry is materially retarded, due to imports of that merchandise. A similar statute (19 U.S.C. 1671 et seq.) authorizes the imposition of countervailing duties if the ITA finds that the government of a country or any public entity has provided a subsidy on the manufacture, production, or export of the merchandise, and the ITC determines injury. U.S. safeguard laws (19 U.S.C. 2251 et seq.) authorize the President to provide import relief from injurious surges of imports resulting from fairly competitive trade from all countries. Other safeguard laws authorize relief for import surges from communist countries (19 U.S.C. 2436) and from China (19 U.S.C. 2451). In each case, the ITC conducts an investigation, forwards recommendations to the President, and the President may act on the recommendation, modify it, or do nothing. […] This report explains, first, U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty statutes and investigations. Second, it describes safeguard statutes and investigative procedures. Third, it briefly presents trade-remedy related legislation in the 109th Congress. The appendix provides a chart outlining U.S. trade remedy statutes, major actors, and the effects of these laws."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jones, Vivian Catherine
2006-06-14
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Trade and the Americas [Updated July 29, 2003]
"At the Summit of the Americas held in December 1994, 34 hemispheric democracies agreed to create a 'Free Trade Area of the Americas' (FTAA) no later than 2005. If created, the FTAA would be a $13 trillion market of 34 countries (Cuba is not included) and nearly 800 million people. The population alone would make it the largest free trade area in the world with more than twice the 375 million of the now 15-nationEuropean Union. In the 8 years following the 1994 summit, Western Hemisphere trade ministers have met seven times to advance the negotiating process. At the sixth meeting in Buenos Aires in April 2001, ministers made public a draft FTAA agreement that included preliminary chapters on all nine negotiating groups: market access, agriculture, intellectual property rights, services, investment, government procurement, competition policy, dispute settlement, and subsidies. Since the seventh Ministerial held in Quito, Ecuador in November 2002, the United States and Brazil have assumed co-chairmanship of the negotiations. How these two countries resolve their outstanding differences will have a huge bearing on the outcome of the FTAA process."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ahearn, Raymond J.
2003-07-29
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Trade and the Americas [Updated November 19, 2002]
"At the Summit of the Americas held in December 1994, 34 hemispheric democracies agreed to create a 'Free Trade Area of the Americas' (FTAA) no later than the year 2005. If created, the FTAA would have 34 members (Cuba is not included) with over 800 million people. The population alone would make it the largest free trade area in the world with more than twice the 375 million of the now 15-nation European Union. In the near eight years following the 1994 summit, Western Hemisphere trade ministers have met seven times to advance the negotiating process. At the sixth meeting in Buenos Aires in April 2001, ministers made public a draft FTAA agreement that included preliminary chapters on all nine negotiating groups: market access, agriculture, intellectual property rights, services, investment, government procurement, competition policy, dispute settlement, and subsidies. At the seventh Ministerial that was held in Quito, Ecuador in early November 2002, trade ministers agreed to specific mileposts for the markets access portion of the negotiations. Assessments differ on whether the movement toward hemispheric free trade is 'on-track' or 'off-track.' The former perspective holds that a solid foundation and structure for the negotiations has been agreed to, draft chapters have been submitted, and that a timetable for market access offers has been established The latter perspective holds that political and economic turbulence in Latin America combined with differences over agricultural trade are impeding efforts to achieve freer trade."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ahearn, Raymond J.
2002-11-19
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Trade and the Americas [Updated May 24, 2002]
"The Summit of the Americas, held in December 1994, led to ongoing congressional interest in three inter-related trade policy issues. The first involves an invitation extended to Chile to join NAFTA [North American Free Trade Agreement]. The second focuses on preferential tariff treatment for Caribbean and Central American countries. The third concerns movement towards a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), the concept of making the entire hemisphere a free-trade zone. Two other issues that subsequently have emerged involve a request by the Andean countries to extend and expand the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA), and consideration of a free trade agreement with five Central American countries. Following the Miami Summit, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico invited Chile to enter into negotiations to accede to NAFTA. Envisioned as a first step towards creation of an FTAA, preliminary negotiations started in July 1995. Chile, however, shortly thereafter suspended the negotiations pending renewal of U.S. 'fast-track' negotiating authority. In August 1999, Chile proposed to re-start discussions on a bilateral free trade agreement and negotiations eventually commenced December 6-7, 2000 in Washington. The Bush Administration has continued the negotiations with the hope of reaching an agreement sometime in 2002. A second issue concerns the treatment of the Caribbean and Central American countries that may have been hurt in trade and investment terms as a result of the implementation of NAFTA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ahearn, Raymond J.
2002-05-24
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Trade and the Americas [Updated June 18, 2003]
"At the Summit of the Americas held in December 1994, 34 hemispheric democracies agreed to create a 'Free Trade Area of the Americas' (FTAA) no later than 2005. If created, the FTAA would be a $13 trillion market of 34 countries (Cuba is not included) and nearly 800 million people. The population alone would make it the largest free trade area in the world with more than twice the 375 million of the now 15-nation European Union. In the 8 years following the 1994 summit, Western Hemisphere trade ministers have met seven times to advance the negotiating process. At the sixth meeting in Buenos Aires in April 2001, ministers made public a draft FTAA agreement that included preliminary chapters on all nine negotiating groups: market access, agriculture, intellectual property rights, services, investment, government procurement, competition policy, dispute settlement, and subsidies. Since the seventh Ministerial held in Quito, Ecuador in November 2002, the United States and Brazil have assumed co-chairmanship of the negotiations. How these two countries resolve their outstanding differences will have a huge bearing on the outcome of the FTAA process."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ahearn, Raymond J.
2003-06-18
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Trade and the Americas [Updated September 20, 2002]
"At the Summit of the Americas held in December 1994, 34 hemispheric democracies agreed to create a 'Free Trade Area of the Americas' (FTAA) no later than the year 2005. If created, the FTAA would have 34 members (Cuba is not included) with over 800 million people. The population alone would make it the largest free trade area in the world with more than twice the 375 million of the now 15-nation European Union. In the seven plus years following the 1994 summit, Western Hemisphere trade ministers have met six times to advance the negotiating process. At the sixth meeting in Buenos Aires in April 2001, ministers made public a draft FTAA agreement that included preliminary chapters on all nine negotiating groups: market access, agriculture, intellectual property rights, services, investment, government procurement, competition policy, dispute settlement, and subsidies. The seventh Ministerial will be held in Quito, Ecuador starting November 2, 2002. The United States and Brazil will assume co-chairmanship of the negotiations following the Quito meeting. Assessments differ on whether the movement toward hemispheric free trade is 'on-track' or 'off-track.' The former perspective holds that a solid foundation and structure for the negotiations has been agreed to, draft chapters have been submitted, and that a schedule for tariff negotiations starting December 15, 2002 is in place. The latter perspective holds that political and economic turbulence in Latin America are impeding efforts to achieve freer trade."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ahearn, Raymond J.
2002-09-20
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Trade and the Americas [Updated May 12, 2003]
"At the Summit of the Americas held in December 1994, 34 hemispheric democracies agreed to create a 'Free Trade Area of the Americas' (FTAA) no later than the year 2005. If created, the FTAA would be a $13 trillion market of 34 countries (Cuba is not included) and nearly 800 million people. The population alone would make it the largest free trade area in the world with more than twice the 375 million of the now 15-nation European Union. In the eight years following the 1994 summit, Western Hemisphere trade ministers have met seven times to advance the negotiating process. At the sixth meeting in Buenos Aires in April 2001, ministers made public a draft FTAA agreement that included preliminary chapters on all nine negotiating groups: market access, agriculture, intellectual property rights, services, investment, government procurement, competition policy, dispute settlement, and subsidies. At the seventh Ministerial held in Quito, Ecuador in November 2002, trade ministers agreed to specific mileposts for the markets access portion of the negotiations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ahearn, Raymond J.
2003-05-12
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Trade and the Americas [Updated January 3, 2003]
"At the Summit of the Americas held in December 1994, 34 hemispheric democracies agreed to create a 'Free Trade Area of the Americas' (FTAA) no later than the year 2005. If created, the FTAA would have 34 members (Cuba is not included) with over 800 million people. The population alone would make it the largest free trade area in the world with more than twice the 375 million of the now 15-nation European Union. In the eight years following the 1994 summit, Western Hemisphere trade ministers have met seven times to advance the negotiating process. At the sixth meeting in Buenos Aires in April 2001, ministers made public a draft FTAA agreement that included preliminary chapters on all nine negotiating groups: market access, agriculture, intellectual property rights, services, investment, government procurement, competition policy, dispute settlement, and subsidies. At the seventh Ministerial held in Quito, Ecuador in early November 2002, trade ministers agreed to specific mileposts for the markets access portion of the negotiations. Assessments differ on whether the movement toward hemispheric free trade is 'on-track' or 'off-track.' The former perspective holds that a solid foundation and structure for the negotiations has been agreed to, draft chapters have been submitted, and that a timetable for market access offers has been established The latter perspective holds that political and economic turbulence in Latin America, particularly in Argentina and Venezuela, combined with differences over agricultural trade are impeding efforts to achieve hemispheric free trade."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ahearn, Raymond J.
2003-01-03
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Department of Homeland Security: Budget-in-Brief, Fiscal Year 2016
From the Budget Priorities: "The FY 2016 Budget for DHS is $64.9 billion in total budget authority, $51.9 billion in gross discretionary funding, $41.2 billion in net discretionary funding, and $4.0 billion in discretionary fees. As part of total DHS funding, $6.7 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is provided separately from discretionary amounts, pursuant to the 'Budget Control Act of 2011.' The Budget focuses resources on key capabilities in each of the Department's mission areas: prevent terrorism and enhance security, secure and manage our borders, enforce and administer our immigration laws, safeguard and secure cyberspace, and strengthen national preparedness and resilience."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2015-01-29?
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Department of Homeland Security: FY 2018 Budget in Brief
From the Document: "The President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Budget of $44.1 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reflects our continued commitment to the security of our homeland and the American Public. Homeland security is the most important mission that any government can provide to its people. This FY 2018 Budget provides funding to sustain and strengthen our most critical programs and capabilities in each of our mission areas - securing and managing our borders, enforcing and administering our immigration laws, preventing terrorism and enhancing security, safeguarding and securing cyberspace, and strengthening national preparedness and resilience."
United States. Office of Homeland Security
2018
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Department of Homeland Security: FY 2017 Budget in Brief
From the Document: "Consistent with the Secretary's strategic vision, the FY 2017 Budget continues to fund DHS operations while making critical investments in a centralized cybersecurity program within the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) and frontline border security technology and infrastructure, as well as implementing the President's commitment to accelerate construction of a new polar icebreaker. The Budget also supports initiatives such as establishing the DHS Office of Community Partnerships to counter messages of violent extremism, and combining the Department's chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE) headquarters functions into a unified office. Furthermore, the FY 2017 President's Budget is submitted in a new Common Appropriations Structure that will improve DHS's planning, programming, budgeting, and execution processes through a common framework consolidating the Department's budget request into four standard appropriations: Operations and Support; Procurement, Construction and Improvement; Research and Development; and Federal Assistance. This model will better align programs to DHS strategic missions and goals."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2016-02-11?
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Hearing on National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs Before the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, March 11, 2020
This is the March 11, 2020 hearing on "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs," held before the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services. From the Opening Statement of James R. Langevin: "At a time when our national defense planning has shifted focus to great power competition, addressing the challenge from rising science powers requires an ambitious plan of national investment and aggressive talent development in science and technology. Funding for basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development in our universities, laboratories, small businesses, and the tech sector seeds the necessary science to grow the advanced technological capabilities required for our next-generation military engagements. Yet, with bipartisan support for a drastic increase in investment in our national security innovation base in this era of strategic competition, somehow growth in the science and technology budget is almost always sacrificed to field the mature technologies of today." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: James F. Geurts, Michael D. Griffin, Bruce D. Jette, and William B. Roper, Jr.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
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Department of Homeland Security: FY 2020 Budget in Brief
From the Funding Priorities: "The FY 2020 President's Budget for DHS provides $51.7 billion in net discretionary funding. An additional $19.4 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is requested for response and recovery to major disasters. The FY 2020 President's Budget strengthens the security of our Nation through border security, immigration enforcement, cybersecurity, and ensures resilience to disasters."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2019-03-18?
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H. Rept. 117-21: Access to Counsel Act of 2021, Report Together with Minority Views, to Accompany H.R. 1573, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, April 16, 2021
From the Purpose and Summary: "H.R. 1573, the 'Access to Counsel Act of 2021,' amends section 235 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that certain individuals who are subjected to prolonged inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at ports of entry have a meaningful opportunity to communicate with counsel and other interested parties. H.R. 1573 does not create a 'right' to counsel during the inspection process, nor does it impose any obligation on the federal government to pay for or otherwise provide counsel to individuals during CBP inspection proceedings. Instead, it will simply ensure that such individuals are not prohibited from communicating with outside parties--which may include counsel--or receiving the support and assistance of such parties during the inspection process."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-04-16
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' Management Letter for FY 2012 DHS Consolidated Financial Statements Audit
From the Document: "We have audited the balance sheet of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) as of September 30, 2012 and the related statements of net cost, changes in net position and custodial activity, and combined statement of budgetary resources for the year then ended (referred to herein as the 'fiscal year (FY) 2012 financial statements'). The objective of our audit was to express an opinion on the fair presentation of these financial statements. [...] The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a component of DHS. We noted certain matters, related to USCIS, that are summarized in the Table of Financial Management Comments on the following pages, involving internal control and other operational matters that are less severe than a material weakness or a significant deficiency, and consequently are reported separately to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and USCIS management in this letter. These comments and recommendations, all of which have been discussed with the appropriate members of management, are intended to improve internal control or result in other operating efficiencies."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2013-04
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Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Management Letter for FY 2012 DHS Consolidated Financial Statements Audit
From the Document: "We have audited the balance sheet of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) as of September 30, 2012 and the related statements of net cost, changes in net position and custodial activity, and combined statement of budgetary resources for the year then ended (referred to herein as the 'fiscal year (FY) 2012 financial statements'). The objective of our audit was to express an opinion on the fair presentation of these financial statements. [...] The Federal Law Enforcement Center (FLETC) is a component of DHS. We noted certain matters, related to FLETC, that are summarized in the Table of Financial Management Comments on the following pages, involving internal control and other operational matters that are less severe than a material weakness or a significant deficiency, and consequently are reported separately to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and FLETC management in this letter. These comments and recommendations, all of which have been discussed with the appropriate members of management, are intended to improve internal control or result in other operating efficiencies."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2013-04
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Aircraft Carriers: Homeport Changes Are Primarily Determined by Maintenance Requirements, Report to the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The Navy relies on 11 aircraft carriers homeported on the East and West Coasts and in Japan to support U.S. defense strategic objectives and operations. These nuclear-powered ships require complex infrastructure, technology, and maintenance, some of which may not be available near their homeport. Changing an aircraft carrier's homeport means moving the ship's approximately 3,200 sailors, a fluctuation of 5,000 or more people depending on the number of family members involved. In House Report 116-120, accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, the House Armed Services Committee noted that the Navy reversed previous plans to homeport an aircraft carrier at Naval Station Everett, Washington. The House Report also included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the Navy's process to assign aircraft carriers' homeports. This report examines, for Navy aircraft carriers, (1) the extent to which the Navy has a process for making homeport changes, and considers local installation and other factors in the homeporting process, and (2) homeport changes from fiscal years 2011 through 2020 and the reasons for them."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-04
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F-35 Sustainment: Enhanced Attention to and Oversight of F-35 Affordability Are Needed, Statement of Diana Maurer, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management, Testimony Before the Subcommittees on Readiness and Tactical Air and Land Forces, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The F-35 aircraft with its advanced capabilities represents a growing portion of DOD's tactical aviation fleet--with the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy currently flying about 400 of the aircraft. It is also DOD's most ambitious and costly weapon system in history, with estimated life-of-program costs exceeding $1.7 trillion. DOD plans to procure nearly 2,500 F-35s at an estimated total acquisition cost of just under $400 billion. The remaining $1.3 trillion in life cycle costs is associated with operating and sustaining the aircraft. This statement, among other things, assesses the extent to which (1) the F-35 has met warfighter-required mission capable rates; and (2) DOD has reduced the F-35's estimated life cycle sustainment costs and made progress in meeting its affordability constraints."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Maurer, Diana
2021-04-22
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EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 16, April 22, 2021
The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "GAO [U.S. Government Accountability Office] report to Congress on Move Over laws"; "Resources and webinar on arson during civil unrest for Arson Awareness Week, May 2-8"; "FEMA updates Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool, expands capabilities for coronavirus planning and response"; "FEMA opens application period for emergency management programs"; "National Supply Chain Integrity Month"; "NSA [National Security Agency]-CISA [Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency]-FBI Joint Advisory on Russian SVR [Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation] targeting U.S. and allied Networks"; "China-linked hackers used VPN [Virtual Private Network] flaw to target U.S. defense industry researchers"; and "CISA issues deadline for federal agencies to address Pulse Secure vulnerabilities."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2021-04-22
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 693, No CORRUPTION Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on March 17, 2021. From the Document: "S. 693 would eliminate the payment of current and future retirement annuities to Members of Congress who are convicted of certain criminal offenses already specified in law. Under
current law, Members forgo receipt of such payments only after a final conviction (that is, after the exhaustion of all appeals under the judicial process). The bill would eliminate retirement annuities for Members for any conviction following enactment."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-04-22
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Trafficking in Persons: U.S. Policy and Issues for Congress [Updated August 14, 2008]
"Trafficking in people for prostitution and forced labor is one of the most prolific areas of international criminal activity and is of significant concern to the United States and the international community. […] If trafficking within countries is included in the total world figures, official U.S. estimates are that some 2 to 4 million people are trafficked annually. […] As many as 17,500 people are believed to be trafficked to the United States each year. Human trafficking is now a leading source of profits for organized crime syndicates, together with drugs and weapons, generating billions of dollars. […] Since enactment of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386), the Administration and Congress have aimed to address the human trafficking problem. The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (TVPRA), which President Bush signed into law on January 10, 2006 (P.L. 109-164), authorized appropriations for FY2006 and FY2007. […] The Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007 (P.L. 110- 53) directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide specified funding and administrative support to strengthen the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center. H.R. 3887 (Lantos) approved by the House on December 4, 2007 by a vote of 405-2, would, among other provisions, reauthorize anti-trafficking programs through FY2011, and amend the criminal code and immigration law related to trafficking. A Senate version of that reauthorization bill, S. 3061 (Biden/Brownback), was reported from the Judiciary Committee on July 31, 2008. Another bill, H.R. 2522 (Lewis), would establish a commission to evaluate the effectiveness of current U.S. anti-slavery efforts, including anti-TIP programs, and make recommendations. S. 1703 (Durbin), approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 20, 2007, would create additional jurisdiction in U.S. courts for trafficking offenses occurring in other countries."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
2008-08-14
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Tsunamis: Monitoring, Detection, and Early Warning Systems [Updated December 12, 2006]
"Congress is concerned about the possible vulnerability of U.S. coastal areas to tsunamis and the adequacy of early warning for coastal areas. This stems from a December 26, 2004 tsunami that devastated many coastal areas around the northern Indian Ocean, where few tsunami early warning systems currently operate. Caused by a strong underwater earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, the tsunami claimed an estimated 220,000 lives. In December 2005, President Bush's plan for expanding U.S. tsunami detection and early warning coverage was released. Nations affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami, assisted by other counties, are pursuing multilateral efforts to develop a regional tsunami detection and warning network for coastal populations around the Indian Ocean (IOTWS). The U.N. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO is leading that international effort. To leverage costs of the IOTWS, IOC members suggested "piggy backing" on existing distributive ocean observation and monitoring networks, data collection systems, marine buoys and tide gage networks, and global telecommunications systems, which may pose technical challenges in standardizing communications protocols and ensuring interoperability of systems. The Bush Administration and congressional supporters consider a fully deployed U.S. network an important component of a future global tsunami warning capability. Some developed countries bordering on the Indian Ocean currently operate tsunami warnings systems, but guarding their Pacific shores. Disaster management experts contend that a global tsunami early warning system capability is most useful in countries that have expansive regionally/locally based emergency management capabilities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morrissey, Wayne A.
2006-12-12
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U.N. Convention Against Torture (CAT): Overview and Application to Interrogation Techniques [Updated January 12, 2007]
"The United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) requires signatory parties to take measures to end torture within their territorial jurisdiction and to criminalize all acts of torture. Unlike many other international agreements and declarations prohibiting torture, CAT provides a general definition of the term. CAT generally defines torture as the infliction of severe physical and/or mental suffering committed under the color of law. CAT allows for no circumstances or emergencies where torture could be permitted. The United States ratified CAT, subject to certain declarations, reservations, and understandings, including that the Convention was not self-executing and therefore required domestic implementing legislation to be enforced by U.S. courts. In order to ensure U.S. compliance with CAT obligations to criminalize all acts of torture, the United States enacted §§ 2340 and 2340A of the United States Criminal Code, which prohibit torture occurring outside the United States (torture occurring inside the United States was already prohibited under several federal and state statutes of general application prohibiting acts such as assault, battery, and murder). The applicability and scope of these statutes were the subject of widely-reported memorandums by the Department of Defense and Department of Justice in 2002. In late 2004, the Department of Justice released a memorandum superseding its earlier memo and modifying some of its conclusions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Garcia, Michael John
2007-01-12
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Trafficking in Persons: The U.S. and International Response [Updated July 7, 2006]
"Trafficking in people for prostitution and forced labor is one of the most prolific areas of international criminal activity and is of significant concern to the United States and the international community. The overwhelming majority of those trafficked are women and children. According to the most recent Department of State estimates, between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year. If trafficking within countries is included in the total world figures, official U.S. estimates are that 2 to 4 million people are trafficked annually. However, there are even higher estimates, ranging from 4 to 27 million for total numbers of forced or bonded laborers. As many as 17,500 people are believed to be trafficked to the United States each year. Human trafficking is now considered a leading source of profits for organized crime, together with drugs and weapons, generating billions of dollars. Trafficking in persons affects virtually every country in the world. Traffickers exploit poverty, war, natural or man-made disasters, and ignorance."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Miko, Francis T.
2006-07-07
