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Prevalence of Violent Crime Among Households with Children, 1993-2010
"In 2010, approximately 2.8 million children, representing 3.9% of all children age 17 or younger living in U.S. households, lived in a household in which at least one member age 12 or older experienced one or more nonfatal violent victimizations during the year (figure 1). This was a decline from 1993, when an estimated 8.7 million children, or 12.6% of all children age 17 or younger, lived in a household that experienced a violent victimization. The decline in the number of children living in a household in which at least one member experienced violent crime corresponds with the decline in overall violent victimization during the same period. [...] This report measures violent crime involving members of a household as victims, and reports on the annual prevalence of that violent crime among U.S. households with children from 1993 to 2010. The prevalence rate is the percentage of unique households in which at least one member age 12 or older experienced a violent victimization in a given year, regardless of the number or frequency of victimizations or the different types of victimizations those households experienced. The prevalence rate differs from the incident-based violent victimization rates commonly reported in statistics developed from the NCVS [National Crime Victimization Survey]."
United States. Bureau of Justice Statistics
Truman, Jennifer L.; Smith, Erica L.
2012-09
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Due Process in the Time of COVID: Defenders as First Responders in a Juvenile Court System Struggling with the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Introduction: "In February and March 2020, as COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] spread throughout the United States, NJDC [National Juvenile Defender Center] recognized a crisis facing youth involved in the juvenile courts and the attorneys tasked with defending them. The contagious nature of COVID-19 and the public health protocols meant to mitigate transmission heightened risks to the health and wellbeing of youth entering the juvenile delinquency system, where placement in secure and non-secure residential institutions is an ever-present threat. [...] Recognizing the challenges attorneys have faced representing youth in the delinquency system during a pandemic, NJDC set out to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on juvenile defense attorneys and their clients. Drawing from our network of defenders across the country, we interviewed 51 juvenile defenders from 38 states during June, July, and August 2020, inquiring about the health and safety risks defenders and their clients faced, and about how the pandemic was impacting their ability to provide effective legal representation for their clients."
National Juvenile Defender Center (U.S.)
2021-03
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Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): Frequently Asked Questions [Updated February 13, 2019]
"Legislation to reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)--sometimes called 'fast track'--the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015), was signed into law by former President Obama on June 29, 2015 (P.L. 114-26). If the President negotiates an international trade agreement that would reduce tariff or nontariff barriers to trade in ways that require changes in U.S. law, the United States can implement the agreement only through the enactment of legislation. If the trade agreement and the process of negotiating it meet certain requirements, TPA allows Congress to consider the required implementing bill under expedited procedures, pursuant to which the bill may come to the floor without action by the leadership, and can receive a guaranteed up-or-down vote with no amendments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fergusson, Ian F.; Davis, Christopher M., 1966-
2019-02-13
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Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): Frequently Asked Questions [September 4, 2018]
"Legislation to reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)--sometimes called 'fast track'--the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015), was signed into law by President Obama on June 29, 2015 (P.L. 114-26). If the President negotiates an international trade agreement that would reduce tariff or nontariff barriers to trade in ways that require changes in U.S. law, the United States can implement the agreement only through the enactment of legislation. If the trade agreement and the process of negotiating it meet certain requirements, TPA allows Congress to consider the required implementing bill under expedited procedures, pursuant to which the bill may come to the floor without action by the leadership, and can receive a guaranteed up-or-down vote with no amendments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fergusson, Ian F.; Davis, Christopher M., 1966-
2018-09-04
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Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): Frequently Asked Questions [May 25, 2018]
"Legislation to reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)--sometimes called 'fast track'--the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015), was signed into law by President Obama on June 29, 2015 (P.L. 114-26). If the President negotiates an international trade agreement that would reduce tariff or nontariff barriers to trade in ways that require changes in U.S. law, the United States can implement the agreement only through the enactment of legislation. If the trade agreement and the process of negotiating it meet certain requirements, TPA allows Congress to consider the required implementing bill under expedited procedures, pursuant to which the bill may come to the floor without action by the leadership, and can receive a guaranteed up-or-down vote with no amendments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fergusson, Ian F.; Davis, Christopher M., 1966-
2018-05-25
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Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): Frequently Asked Questions [November 14, 2017]
"Legislation to reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)--sometimes called 'fast track,'-- the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015), was signed into law by President Obama on June 29, 2015 (P.L. 114-26). [...] TPA-2015 applies to trade agreements reached before July 1, 2018, with a possible extension to July 1, 2021. The United States is now engaged in renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), for which TPA could be used to consider implementing legislation. The issue of TPA reauthorization raises a number of questions regarding TPA itself and the pending legislation. This report addresses a number of those questions that are frequently asked, including the following: What is trade promotion authority? Is TPA necessary? What are trade negotiating objectives and how are they reflected in TPA statutes? What requirements does Congress impose on the President under TPA? Does TPA affect congressional authority on trade policy?"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fergusson, Ian F.; Davis, Christopher M., 1966-
2017-11-14
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Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): Frequently Asked Questions [April 10, 2018]
"Legislation to reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)--sometimes called 'fast track,'-- the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015), was signed into law by President Obama on June 29, 2015 (P.L. 114-26). If the President negotiates an international trade agreement that would reduce tariff or non-tariff barriers to trade in ways that require changes in U.S. law, the United States can implement the agreement only through the enactment of legislation. If the trade agreement and the process of negotiating it meet certain requirements, TPA allows Congress to consider the required implementing bill under expedited procedures, pursuant to which the bill may come to the floor without action by the leadership, and can receive a guaranteed up-or-down vote with no amendments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fergusson, Ian F.; Davis, Christopher M., 1966-
2018-04-10
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U.S. Agent Orange/Dioxin Assistance to Vietnam [Updated February 21, 2019]
From the Document, "U.S. assistance to Vietnam for the environmental and health damage attributed to a dioxin contained in Agent Orange and other herbicides sprayed over much of the southern portion of the country during the Vietnam War remains a major bilateral issue. Between fiscal years (FY) 2007 and 2019, Congress appropriated nearly $255 million to address these two issues. In addition, the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (P.L. 115-232) authorized the transfer of up to $15 million to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for the dioxin cleanup of the Bien Hoa Airbase."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Martin, Michael F.
2019-02-21
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U.S. Agent Orange/Dioxin Assistance to Vietnam [November 9, 2018]
"U.S. assistance to Vietnam for the environmental and health damage attributed to a dioxin contained in Agent Orange and other herbicides sprayed over much of the southern portion of the country during the Vietnam War remains a major bilateral issue. Between fiscal years (FY) 2007 and 2018, Congress appropriated over $222 million to address these two issues. In addition, the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (P.L. 115-232) authorized the transfer of up to $15 million to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for the dioxin cleanup of the Bien Hoa Airbase. Most of the appropriated funds have been used by USAID for the environmental cleanup of Danang airport, one of the major airbases used for storing and spraying the herbicides between 1961 and 1971. A lesser amount of the appropriated funds have been used by USAID for assistance to Vietnam's persons with disabilities, generally, but not always in the vicinity of Danang or other dioxin-contaminated areas."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Martin, Michael F.
2018-11-09
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Tracking Federal Awards: USAspending.gov and Other Data Sources [December 7, 2017]
"USAspending.gov, available at http://www.USAspending.gov, is a government source for data on federal awards by state, congressional district (CD), county, and zip code. The awards data in USAspending.gov are provided by federal agencies and represent contracts, grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance. Using USAspending.gov to locate and compile accurate data on federal awards can be challenging due to continued data quality problems identified by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Users of USAspending.gov need to be aware that while search results may be useful for informing consideration for certain questions, these results may be incomplete or contain inaccuracies. USAspending.gov was created under P.L. 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA), and is being enhanced by requirements of P.L. 113-101, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act). Other related sources reviewed in this report include the following: [1] Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS); [2] Census Federal Audit Clearinghouse; [3] U.S. Budget: Aid to State and Local Governments; [4] Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal Federalism Initiative; [5] National Priorities Project; [6] Census Federal Aid to States (FAS) and Consolidated Federal Funds Report (CFFR); and [7] Additional federal grant awards databases, including sources tracking medical, scientific, and technical research."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer
2017-12-07
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Tracking Federal Awards: USAspending.gov and Other Data Sources [October 24, 2017]
"USAspending.gov, available at http://www.USAspending.gov, is a government source for data on federal awards by state, congressional district (CD), county, and zip code. The awards data in USAspending.gov is provided by federal agencies and represent contracts, grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance. Using USAspending.gov to locate and compile accurate data on federal awards can be challenging due to continued data quality problems identified by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Users of USAspending.gov need to be aware that while search results may be useful for informing consideration for certain questions, these results may be incomplete or have inaccuracies. USAspending.gov was created under P.L. 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA), and is being enhanced by requirements of P.L. 113-101, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer
2017-10-24
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Tribal Crime Data Collection Activities, 2016
This report "describes Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) activities to collect and improve data on crime and justice in Indian country, as required by the Tribal Law and Order Act, 2010. The report summarizes BJS's efforts in 2016 to develop, design, and implement a new statistical data collection program to gather information from tribal law enforcement agencies in the lower 48 states, Village Public Safety Officers in Alaska, and BIA [Bureau of Indian Affairs] agencies; design and implement two data collections on the activities state and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors' offices serving tribal lands; complete the data collection for the first census of tribal courts in the United States; study the handling of American Indian and Alaska Native criminal cases in the federal criminal justice system; and enhance current funding programs to support tribal participation in state, regional, and national criminal justice databases."
United States. Bureau of Justice Statistics
Perry, Steven W.
2016-07
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Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): Frequently Asked Questions [Updated June 21, 2019]
From the Document: "Legislation to reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)--sometimes called 'fast track'--the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015), was signed into law by former President Obama on June 29, 2015 (P.L. 114-26). If the President negotiates an international trade agreement that would reduce tariff or nontariff barriers to trade in ways that require changes in U.S. law, the United States can implement the agreement only through the enactment of legislation. If the trade agreement and the process of negotiating it meet certain requirements, TPA allows Congress to consider the required implementing bill under expedited procedures, pursuant to which the bill may come to the floor without action by the leadership, and can receive a guaranteed up-or-down vote with no amendments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ferguson, Ian; Davis, Christopher M., 1966-
2019-06-21
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S. Rept. 116-178: Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act, Report to Accompany S. 1228, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, December 17, 2019
From the Purpose: "The purpose of S. 1228, the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act or PIRATE Act, is to increase the financial penalties for pirate radio broadcasting. The bill also would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) to increase its efforts to combat pirate radio broadcasting through increased, targeted enforcement, annual reporting, and to revise its rules to speed enforcement procedures against pirate radio broadcast operations."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2019-12-17
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Tracking Federal Awards: USAspending.gov and Other Data Sources [Updated November 26, 2019]
From the Summary: "USAspending.gov, available at http://www.USAspending.gov, is a government source for data on federal awards by state, congressional district (CD), county, city, and zip code. The awards data in USAspending.gov are provided by federal agencies and represent contracts, grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance. [...] Using USAspending.gov to locate and compile accurate data on federal awards can be challenging due, in part, to continuing data quality issues that have been identified by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Users of USAspending.gov need to be aware that while search results may be useful for informing consideration of certain questions, these results may be incomplete or contain inaccuracies. [...] Other federal awards data sources reviewed in this report include the following: [1] Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS); [2] Census Federal Audit Clearinghouse; [3] U.S. Budget: Aid to State and Local Governments; [4] Census Federal Aid to States (FAS) and Consolidated Federal Funds Report (CFFR); and [5] Additional federal grant awards databases, including sources tracking medical, scientific, and technical research."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer
2019-11-26
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Tracking Federal Awards: USAspending.gov and Other Data Sources [Updated April 26, 2019]
From the Summary: "USAspending.gov, available at http://www.USAspending.gov, is a government source for data on federal awards by state, congressional district (CD), county, and zip code. The awards data in USAspending.gov are provided by federal agencies and represent contracts, grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance. USAspending.gov also provides tools for examining the broader picture of federal spending obligations by categories, such as budget function, agency, and object class. Using USAspending.gov to locate and compile accurate data on federal awards can be challenging due, in part, to continuing data quality issues that have been identified by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Users of USAspending.gov need to be aware that while search results may be useful for informing consideration of certain questions, these results may be incomplete or contain inaccuracies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer
2019-04-26
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Tracking Federal Awards in States and Congressional Districts Using USAspending.gov [Updated November 26, 2019]
From the Overview: "USAspending.gov, available to the public at http://www.USAspending.gov, is a government source for data on federal awards by state, congressional district (CD), zip code, city, and county. The awards data in USAspending.gov is provided by federal agencies and represents grants, contracts, loans, and other financial assistance. Grant awards include money the federal government commits for projects in states, local jurisdictions, regions, territories, and tribal reservations, as well as payments for eligible needs to help individuals and families. Contract awards refer to bids and agreements the federal government makes for specific goods and services. USAspending.gov does not include data on actual spending by recipients. USAspending.gov also provides tools for examining the broader picture of federal spending obligations within the categories of budget function, agency, and object class. [...] Using USAspending.gov to locate and compile accurate data on federal awards presents challenges, in part, because of continued data quality issues that have been identified by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Researchers need to be aware that search results may be incomplete or contain inaccuracies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer
2019-11-26
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Tracking Federal Awards in States and Congressional Districts Using USAspending.gov [Updated April 26, 2019]
From the Overview: "USAspending.gov, available to the public at http://www.USAspending.gov, is a government source for data on federal awards by state, congressional district (CD), zip code, and county. The awards data in USAspending.gov is provided by federal agencies and represents grants, contracts, loans, and other financial assistance. Grant awards include money the federal government commits for projects in states, local jurisdictions, regions, territories, and tribal reservations, as well as payments for eligible needs to help individuals and families. Contract awards refer to bids and agreements the federal government makes for specific goods and services. USAspending.gov does not include data on actual spending by recipients."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer
2019-04-26
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Individual Hurricane Preparedness During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights for Risk Communication and Emergency Management Policies
From the Abstract: "Climate change adaptation strategies should anticipate that the 2020 situation which resembles an above average hurricane season coinciding with a pandemic may occur more frequently in the future. This study draws lessons on how individual hurricane preparedness is influenced by a pandemic, which turns out to be a combination of perceptions of flood and pandemic risks that have opposite effects on preparedness behavior. We conducted three waves of surveys during 2019-2020 to monitor hurricane preparedness activities in flood-prone coastal areas in Florida, including a survey of 600 respondents in early June 2020 to obtain insights into households' risk perceptions and preparedness for this hurricane season under COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. The results show that this hurricane season is dominated by concerns over COVID-19 which influences people's evacuation intentions. Whereas hotel costs were the main obstacle to evacuating during Hurricane Dorian in 2019, the main evacuation obstacle identified in the 2020 hurricane season is COVID-19. Our statistical analyses that investigates the factors influencing evacuation intentions consistently show that older individuals are less likely to evacuate voluntarily, because they are concerned about becoming infected by COVID-19. We discuss the implications of our findings for adaptation policies that aim to improve hurricane preparedness in situations of a pandemic, such as risk communication and emergency management policies."
Social Science Research Network
Botzen, W. J. Wouter; Mol, Jantsje M.; Robinson, Peter . . .
2020-09-26
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BJS Statistical Profile, 1992-2002: American Indians and Crime
"This report represents a compilation and new analysis of data on the incidents, prevalence, and consequences of violent crime among American Indians. The report uses data from a wide variety of sources, including statistical series maintained by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and the U.S. Census Bureau. The findings reveal a disturbing picture of the victimization of American Indians and Alaska Natives. The rate of violent crime estimated from self reported victimizations for American Indians is well above that of other U.S. racial or ethnic groups and is more than twice the national average. This disparity in the rates of exposure to violence affecting American Indians occurs across age groups, housing locations, and by gender."
United States. Bureau of Justice Statistics
Perry, Steven W.
2004-12
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Terrorism and Security Issues Facing the Water Infrastructure Sector [December 15, 2010]
"Damage to or destruction of the nation's water supply and water quality infrastructure by terrorist attack or natural disaster 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 the United States. 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 local 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 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 9/11 terrorist attacks. This report presents an overview of this large and diverse sector, describes security-related actions by the government and private sector since 9/11, and discusses additional policy issues and responses, including congressional interest. [...] Recent congressional interest has focused on two legislative issues: (1) security of wastewater utilities, and (2) whether to include water utilities in chemical plant security regulations implemented by DHS [Department of Homeland Security]. In the 109th Congress, a Senate committee approved legislation to encourage wastewater treatment works to conduct vulnerability assessments and develop site security plans. Similar legislation was introduced in the 111th Congress (H.R. 2883). Congress also turned attention to legislation to extend DHS's Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards and, as part of that debate, whether to preserve an existing exemption for water utilities from chemical facility standards or to include them in the scope of DHS security rules. The House passed H.R. 2868 in November 2009, with a provision to require water utilities to use safer chemicals and technology, but the Senate did not act on that bill or a companion Senate measure, S. 3598."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Copeland, Claudia
2010-12-15
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Terrorism Information Sharing and the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Report Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress [June 10, 2011]
"The imperative for the exchange of terrorism-related intelligence information among law enforcement and security officials at all levels of government is founded on three propositions. The first is that any terrorist attack in the homeland will necessarily occur in a community within a state or tribal area, and the initial response to it will be by state, local, and tribal emergency responders and law enforcement officials. Second, the plotting and preparation for a terrorist attack within the United States (such as surveillance of a target, acquisition and transport of weapons or explosives, and even the recruitment of participants) will also occur within local communities. Third, '[i]nformation acquired for one purpose, or under one set of authorities, might provide unique insights when combined, in accordance with applicable law, with seemingly unrelated information from other sources.' […] The Nationwide SAR Initiative (NSI) is an effort to have most federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement organizations participate in a standardized, integrated approach to gathering, documenting, processing, and analyzing terrorism-related SARs. The NSI is designed to respond to the mandate of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-458), for a 'decentralized, distributed, and coordinated [information sharing] environment ... with 'applicable legal standards relating to privacy and civil liberties.'' This report describes the NSI, the rationale for the sharing of terrorism-related SARs, and how the NSI seeks to achieve this objective. It examines the privacy and civil liberties concerns raised by the initiative and identifies other oversight issues for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2011-06-10
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Terrorism Information Sharing and the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Report Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress [November 5, 2009]
"Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) contain information about criminal activity that may also reveal terrorist pre-operational planning. Many believe that the sharing of SARs among all levels of government and the fusing of these reports with other intelligence information will help uncover terrorist plots within the United States. The Nationwide SAR Initiative (NSI) is an effort to have most federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement organizations participate in a standardized, integrated approach to gathering, documenting, processing, and analyzing terrorism-related SARs. The NSI is designed to respond
to the mandate of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-458), for a 'decentralized, distributed, and coordinated [information sharing] environment ... with 'applicable legal standards relating to privacy and civil liberties." This report describes the NSI, the rationale for the sharing of terrorism-related SARs, and how the NSI seeks to achieve this objective. It examines the privacy and civil liberties concerns raised by the initiative and identifies other oversight issues for Congress.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Randol, Mark A.
2009-11-05
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Text and Multimedia Messaging: Emerging Issues for Congress [May 18, 2011]
"For Congressional policymakers, two major categories of issues have arisen: (1) 'same problem, different platform' and (2) issues stemming from the difficulty in applying existing technical definitions to a new service, such as whether a text message is sent 'phone-to-phone' or using the phone's associated email address. There are numerous examples of each. An example of the first category would be consumer fraud and children's accessing inappropriate content, which have existed previously in the 'wired world,' but have now found their way to the 'wireless world.' An example of the second category would be that spam sent between two phones or from one phone to many phones does not fall under the definition of spam in the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act, P.L. 108-187); however, if that same message were to be sent from a phone or computer using the phone's associated e-mail address, it would. The increasing use of text and multimedia messaging has raised several policy issues: distracted driving, SMS spam, the inability of consumers to disable text messaging, text messaging price fixing, carrier blocking of common short code messages, deceptive and misleading common short code programs, protecting children from inappropriate content on wireless devices, 'sexting,' mobile cyberbullying, privacy of text messages, and using SMS to support law enforcement and emergency response."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Stevens, Gina Marie; Figliola, Patricia Moloney
2011-05-18
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U.N. Convention Against Torture (CAT): Overview and Application to Interrogation Techniques [Updated January 26, 2009]
This Congressional Research Service (CRS) report discusses the U.N. Convention Against Torture. "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 treaty was not self-executing and required 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 18 U.S.C. §§ 2340 and 2340A, which prohibit torture occurring outside the United States (torture occurring inside the United States was already generally prohibited under several federal and state statutes criminalizing 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. Assuming for the purposes of discussion that a U.S. body had to review a harsh interrogation method to determine whether it constituted torture under either CAT or applicable U.S. law, it might examine international jurisprudence as to whether certain interrogation methods constituted torture."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Garcia, Michael John
2009-01-26
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U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): Issues in the U.S. Ratification Debate [November 17, 2009]
"The Senate may consider providing its advice and consent to U.S. ratification of the United Nations (U.N.) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, or the Convention) during the 111th Congress. CEDAW is the only international human rights treaty that specifically addresses the rights of women. It calls on States Parties to take measures to eliminate discrimination against women in all areas of life, including political participation, employment, education, healthcare, and family structure. CEDAW has been ratified or acceded to by 186 States Parties. The United States is the only country to have signed but not ratified the Convention. Other governments that have not ratified the treaty include Iran, Nauru, Palau, Somalia, Sudan, and Tonga. […] This report provides an overview of CEDAW's background, objectives, and structure, including the role of the Convention's monitoring body, the CEDAW Committee. It examines U.S. policy and issues in the U.S. ratification debate, including the Convention's possible impact on U.S. sovereignty, its effectiveness in combating discrimination, and its role as an instrument of U.S. foreign policy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchfield, Luisa
2009-11-17
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Trafficking in Women and Children: The U.S. and International Response [Updated March 26, 2004]
"Trafficking in people for prostitution and forced labor is one of the fastest growing areas of international criminal activity and one that is of increasing concern to the United States and the international community. The overwhelming majority of those trafficked are women and children. According to the Department of State, between 800,000 and 900,000 people are believed to be trafficked across borders each year worldwide; some 18,000 to 20,000 to the United States...Trafficking in persons affects virtually every country in the world. The largest number of victims are believed to come from Asia. The former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe are now believed to be the largest new source of trafficking for prostitution and the sex industry in Europe and North America. Thousands more are trafficked from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa. Most of the victims are sent to Asia, the Middle East, Western Europe and North America. In 1998, the Clinton Administration and the 106th Congress launched a government-wide anti-trafficking strategy of (1) prevention, (2) protection and support for victims, and (3) prosecution of traffickers. It led to enactment of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386). The Bush administration and Congress have continued to give priority to the trafficking problem. The State Department issued its third Congressionally mandated report on worldwide trafficking in June 2003. It categorized countries according to the efforts they were making to combat trafficking. Those countries that do not cooperate in the fight against trafficking were made subject to U.S. sanctions, starting in 2003. Thus far, sanctions under this legislation have been applied only to Burma, Liberia, Cuba, North Korea, and Sudan." - from Summary
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Miko, Francis T.
2004-03-26
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Terrorism and Security Issues Facing the Water Infrastructure Sector [Updated July 28, 2008]
"Damage to or destruction of the nation's water supply and water quality infrastructure by terrorist attack or natural disaster 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 the United States. 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 local 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 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
2008-07-31
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Trafficking in Women and Children: The U.S. and International Response [Updated August 1, 2001]
The trafficking in people for prostitution and forced labor is one of the fastest
growing areas of international criminal activity and one that is of increasing concern
to the United States and the international community. The overwhelming majority of
those trafficked are women and children. An estimated 700,000 to 2 million people
are trafficked each year worldwide; between 45,000 and 50,000 to the United States.
Trafficking is now considered the third largest source of profits for organized crime,
behind only drugs and weapons, generating billions of dollars annually.
Trafficking affects virtually every country in the world. The largest number of
victims come from Asia, with over 225,000 victims each year from Southeast Asia
and over 150,000 from South Asia. The former Soviet Union is now believed to be
the largest new source of trafficking for prostitution and the sex industry, with over
100,000 trafficked each year from that region. An additional 75,000 or more are
trafficked from Central and Eastern Europe. Over 100,000 come from Latin America
and the Caribbean, and over 50,000 victims are from Africa. Most of the victims are
sent to Asia, the Middle East, Western Europe and North America.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Miko, Francis T.
2001-08-01
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Trade and the Americas [Updated October 19, 2004]
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 population 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. This CRS report discusses how the way 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.
2004-10-19
