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World Bank [November 14, 2019]
From the Document: "The World Bank, the oldest and largest multilateral development bank, provides financial assistance to developing countries to promote economic development. Established in 1945, the Bank initially focused on providing financing for large infrastructure projects. During the past 75 years, its role has broadened to include poverty reduction efforts through social projects (such as education and health) and policy-based loans. The United States is a founding member of the World Bank and the largest financial contributor. Congress shapes U.S. policy at the World Bank through oversight, legislation, and authorization and appropriation of U.S. financial commitments to the World Bank."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nelson, Rebecca M.; Roscoe, Jennifer M.
2019-11-14
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Poland Designated into Visa Waiver Program [November 13, 2019]
From the Document: "On November 6, 2019, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan announced the designation of Poland into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The VWP allows citizens of designated countries to visit the United States without obtaining visas. Poland--one of five EU countries that until now had not been designated into the VWP--had been working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for over a decade to meet the program's criteria (see list of criteria below). In FY2019, Poland met the requirement of having a nonimmigrant visa refusal rate below 3%. On October 4, 2019, President Trump announced that the Department of State formally nominated Poland for the VWP, and one month later DHS announced its designation into the program. Polish nationals will be able to apply online for travel authorization starting November 11, 2019."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kolker, Abigail F.
2019-11-13
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Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections [Updated January 6, 2020]
From the Document: "This report provides the results of recent presidential elections in Latin America and the Caribbean. Below are three tables organized by region, that include the date of each country's independence, the name of the most recently elected president or prime minister, and the projected date of the next presidential election. Information in this report was gathered from numerous sources, including the U.S. State Department, Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA's) World Fact Book, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Election Guide, Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), and other news sources."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Davis-Castro, Carla Y.; DeBruyne, Nese F.
2020-01-06
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H.R. 1865 and the Look-Through Treatment of Payments Between Related Controlled Foreign Corporations [December 19, 2019]
From the Document: "The House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1865, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, extended certain expiring provisions, including a number that were last extended through 2019 by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-113). Among these provisions are the look-through rules, which allow certain payments between related corporations to be excluded. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that extending the look-through rules for a year will cost $0.7 billion. The look-through rules were originally enacted in the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-222), for 2006 through 2008, and subsequently extended."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gravelle, Jane
2019-12-19
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Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated December 17, 2019]
From the Summary: "Multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC) are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense (DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs. Compared to the standard or default approach of annual contracting, MYP and BBC have the potential for reducing weapon procurement costs by a few or several percent. [...] Potential issues for Congress concerning MYP and BBC include whether to use MYP and BBC in the future more frequently, less frequently, or about as frequently as they are currently used; whether to create a permanent statute to govern the use of BBC, analogous to the permanent statute that governs the use of MYP; and whether the Coast Guard should begin making use of MYP and BBC."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2019-12-17
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FEMA Individual Assistance Programs: An Overview [Updated December 5, 2019]
From the Summary: "Following a presidential declaration of emergency or major disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may provide three primary forms of assistance: Individual Assistance (IA), Public Assistance (PA), and Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA). IA, which is the focus of this report, provides aid to affected individuals and households. PA provides grants to local, state, territorial, and Indian tribal governments, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, debris removal operations, and repair or replacement of damaged public infrastructure. HMA funds pay for mitigation and resiliency projects and programs to reduce the threat or impacts of future disasters. [...] This report also briefly describes the updated factors considered when evaluating a governor's request for IA pursuant to a presidential declaration of emergency or major disaster, which became effective June 1, 2019."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Webster, Elizabeth M.
2019-12-05
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Net Metering: In Brief [November 14, 2019]
From the Summary: "Net metering is a policy that allows electricity customers with their own generation capacity to be financially compensated for the energy they produce. Net metering is widely regarded as having an important role in deployment of distributed generation (DG), especially solar energy. State and local governments have authority to establish net metering policies, and some have done so for many years. Congress took action to encourage net metering in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT05), and the policy now exists, in some form, in 45 states. Recent state net metering policy modifications, and potential effects on solar energy deployment, may be relevant to congressional discussions regarding the role of renewable energy sources in the nation's electricity system. [...] Some Members of Congress have expressed interest in various aspects of net metering policy since passage of EPACT05. Legislation has sought to limit revisions that states can make to net metering policies; expand access to net metering for different types of electricity generation; and estimate costs and benefits associated with net metering, among other topics."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lawson, Ashley J.
2019-11-14
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Congressional Subpoenas of Presidential Advisers: The Impact of 'Committee on the Judiciary v. McGahn' [December 3, 2019]
From the Document: "The House of Representatives obtained another judicial victory last week in the continued confrontation with the Trump Administration over the scope of Congress's investigative powers. In 'Committee on the Judiciary v. McGahn', the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (D.C. District Court) held that former White House Counsel Donald McGahn is legally required to appear before the House Judiciary Committee. Though the D.C. District Court's order has been temporarily stayed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (D.C. Circuit), the lower court ruling is significant in that it squarely rejects the Department of Justice's (DOJ) argument that presidential advisors like McGahn enjoy absolute immunity from compelled congressional testimony. Instead, if the district court's ruling goes into effect, McGahn must appear before the committee and invoke specifically applicable privileges where appropriate."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Garvey, Todd
2019-12-03
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Laos [Updated December 13, 2019]
From the Document: "The Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR or Laos) has a population of 7.2 million in a land-locked area around the size of Utah. Laos has been ruled by a single party, the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, for more than four decades. The National Assembly, 73% of which consists of new members elected in 2016, reportedly has become more outspoken in recent years, particularly on the issue of official corruption. Laos is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the primary multilateral grouping in Southeast Asia. The LPDR depends heavily on foreign investment, much of it from the People's Republic of China (PRC), for its infrastructure development. Since a 1986 economic opening, Laos has gradually implemented market-based economic reforms, and in 2013 became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The economy has been growing steadily during the past decade, but Laos remains one of Asia's poorest nations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dolven, Ben; Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-
2019-12-13
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Designating Mexican Drug Cartels as Foreign Terrorists: Policy Implications [December 6, 2019]
From the Document: "Whether DTO [drug trafficking organization] violence meets the criteria for terrorist activity or terrorism, terms defined in U.S. law, was debated during the Obama Administration and continues to be raised by some Members of Congress. President Trump's comments have reinvigorated this debate and drawn consternation from Mexico. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who took office last December, is under pressure to adopt a security strategy that can successfully deal with the DTOs and reduce drug trafficking-related violence. He has rejected the call for a 'war' on DTOs, which he asserts would increase the number of civilian casualties. He and Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard oppose any U.S. intervention that could be construed as a violation of Mexican sovereignty. López Obrador and Ebrard did discuss bilateral efforts against arms trafficking that has fueled DTO-related violence when they met Attorney General William Barr on December 5."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rosen, Liana W.; Rollins, John W.; Beittel, June S. . . .
2019-12-06
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Public Law 117-12: Extending Temporary Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act
From the Document: "An Act To amend the Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act to extend until October 2021, a temporary order for fentanyl-related substances. [...] Effective as if included in the enactment of the Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act (Public Law 116-114), section 2 of such Act (Public Law 116-114) is amended by striking 'May 6, 2021' and inserting 'October 22, 2021.'"
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-05-04
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Department of Defense Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military: Fiscal Year 2020
From the Introduction: "This year's Annual Report provides an update on the Department's efforts to counter sexual assault and harassment in the military force, and includes sexual assault reporting information and updates on efforts to prevent and respond to sexual assault in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 (FY20; October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020). The Department of Defense (DoD) is determined to further develop and maintain a military culture free from sexual assault and sexual harassment. All Service members deserve to work and live in a respectful, inclusive environment while serving our Nation. Each year, the Department uses this report to document its progress toward these goals."
United States. Department of Defense. Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office
2021-03-15
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Memorandum on Methods to Enable and Encourage Vaccination Against COVID-19
From the Memorandum: "As the Secretary of Defense has repeatedly stated, the greatest proximate challenge to our Nation's security is coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The secretary directed the Department to act "boldly and quickly" to defend the force against the disease, and we thank you for taking action to do so. But the threat of COVID-19 to our Nation and our allies and partners has not yet abated. As of early May 2021, the Department as a whole has suffered more than 285,000 cases, and we have lost nearly 350 of our teammates. We must continue to do all we can to operate safely and effectively in a COVID-19 environment for the foreseeable future. [...] This memorandum reaffirms our support for initiatives to increase vaccination acceptance among all Service members."
United States. Department of Defense. Office of the Secretary of Defense; United States. Joint Chiefs of Staff
Hyten, John E.; Hicks, Kathleen H.
2021-05-20
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Memorandum on Updated Mask Guidelines for Vaccinated Persons
From the Memorandum: "In support of updates Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines released this afternoon, subject to any applicable labor relations obligations, fully vaccinated DoD personnel (who are at least two weeks beyond their final dose) are no longer required to wear a mask indoors or outdoors at DoD facilities. All DoD personnel should continue to comply with CDC guidance regarding areas where masks should be worn, including within airports. Personnel who are not fully vaccinated should continue to follow applicable DoD mask guidance, including continuing to wear masks indoors. The Department will review and revise all applicable Force Health Protection guidance to address the new CDC guidelines."
United States. Department of Defense. Office of the Secretary of Defense
Hicks, Kathleen H.
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Confronting the Coronavirus: Perspectives on the COVID-19 Pandemic One Year Later, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, February 24, 2021
This is the February 24, 2021 hearing on "Confronting the Coronavirus: Perspectives on the COVID-19 Pandemic One Year Later," held before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Bennie G. Thompson: "The committee is meeting today to examine perspectives on the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic 1 year later. We are fortunate to be joined today by witnesses representing 2 of the same organizations that came before the committee at our March 2020 hearing, and I look forward to resuming our discussion. Examining the failures in the Federal responses so far and applying lessons learned are essential to ending the pandemic and keeping Americans safe." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: A. Nicole Clowers, Crystal R. Watson, Ngozi O. Ezike, J. Ryan McMahon, and Matthew J. Rowan.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
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2021 Annual Report: Additional Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve Billions in Financial Benefits, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "The federal government has made an unprecedented financial response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 19] pandemic. Once the pandemic recedes and the economy substantially recovers, Congress and the administration will need to develop and swiftly implement an approach to place the government on a sustainable long-term fiscal path. In the short term, opportunities exist for achieving billions of dollars in financial savings and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of a wide range of federal programs in other areas. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has responded with annual reports to a statutory provision for it to identify and report on federal programs, agencies, offices, and initiatives--either within departments or government-wide--that have duplicative goals or activities. GAO also identifies areas that are fragmented or overlapping, as well as additional opportunities to achieve cost savings or enhance revenue collection. This report discusses the new areas identified in GAO's 2021 annual report--the 11th in this series--and examples of open actions recommended to Congress or executive branch agencies with potential financial benefits of $1 billion or more. To identify what actions exist to address these issues, GAO reviewed and updated select prior work, including matters for congressional consideration and recommendations for executive action."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-05
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NSTAC Report to the President on Communications Resiliency
From the Executive Summary: "Nearly a decade has passed since the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) last reviewed the Nation's communications resiliency posture. In its 2011 NSTAC Report to the President on Communications Resiliency (Communications Resiliency Report), the committee examined the then-current communications resiliency landscape and provided recommendations to the U.S. Government on how to enhance the survivability and availability of networks. Recent wide-scale emergencies, like the coronavirus [disease 2019] (COVID-19) pandemic, extreme natural disasters, and broadly impactful security events, demonstrate the need to reexamine the resiliency and national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) of the Nation's communications networks."
United States. President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee
2021-05-06
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Residential Building Fires (2017-2019)
From the Document: "These topical reports are designed to explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as depicted through data collected in the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA's) National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). Each topical report briefly addresses the nature of the specific fire or fire-related topic, highlights important findings from the data, and may suggest other resources to consider for further information. Also included are recent examples of fire incidents that demonstrate some of the issues addressed in the report or that put the report topic in context. [...] As part of a series of topical reports that address fires in types of residential buildings, this report addresses the characteristics of all residential building fires as reported to NFIRS. The focus is on fires reported from 2017 to 2019, the most recent data available at the time of the analysis. NFIRS data is used for the analyses throughout this report."
United States Fire Administration; National Fire Data Center (U.S.); United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Iran Sanctions [Updated November 15, 2019]
From the Overview and Objectives: "This report analyzes U.S. and international sanctions against Iran. CRS [Congressional Research Service] has no way to independently corroborate whether any individual or other entity might be in violation of U.S. or international sanctions against Iran. The report tracks implementation of the various U.S. laws and executive orders. Some sanctions require the blocking of U.S.-based property of sanctioned entities, but no information has been released from the executive branch indicating the extent, if any, to which any such property has been blocked."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2019-11-15
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Telecommunications: FCC Assisted in Hurricane Maria Network Restoration, but a Clarified Disaster Response Role and Enhanced Communication Are Needed, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Hurricane Maria battered Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2017, causing great physical harm to residents and severely damaging the islands' critical infrastructure, including telecommunications networks (see photo). Federal agencies faced unprecedented challenges in the hurricane's aftermath that complicated efforts to address telecommunications outages. While DHS is the lead agency in federal disaster response, FCC [Federal Communications Commission] has a supporting role related to telecommunications issues. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review FCC's response to telecommunications outages after Hurricane Maria. This report examines (1) FCC's actions to support telecommunications restoration after Hurricane Maria and the extent to which FCC's disaster response role is clearly defined, and (2) FCC's efforts to identify lessons learned with public input and the extent to which FCC publicly communicated those efforts."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-04
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Modernization of the Conventional Ammunition Production Industrial Base, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, September 22, 2020
This is the September 22, 2020 hearing on "Modernization of the Conventional Ammunition Production Industrial Base," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces of the Committee on Armed Services. From the opening statement of Donald Norcross: "The topic of today's hearing is intended to be a start, an assessment, where we are, what I hope will be a productive conversation between the committee and the Army on improving the state of conventional ammunition production facilities across the country. The ammunition that our Army trains and takes into combat comes from production lines scattered across the great heartland of this Nation. In fact, most of it is manufactured in the same facilities that produced the ammunition used to bring victories to the allies in World War II--shocking to me and certainly anybody listening. Those facilities look, operate much like they did in the 1940s." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Edward M. Daly and Bruce D. Jette.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
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Imported Agriculture: Updated Planning and Communication Could Enhance Agency Coordination of Inspections, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "USDA estimates that over 50,000 invasive species are already in the U.S., costing almost $120 billion annually in environmental damages and losses. Federal inspectors at U.S. ports of entry help prevent threats from invasive species by inspecting agricultural products (e.g., plants, seeds, and animals) entering the U.S. CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] conducts the majority of inspections, APHIS [Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service] sets inspection standards, and FWS [Fish and Wildlife Service] inspects imported wildlife. The Protecting America's Food and Agriculture Act of 2019 authorized $221.6 million in appropriations to increase CBP staffing levels for inspectors for fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022. The act includes a provision that GAO [Government Accountability Office] review federal efforts to address risks to the agricultural supply. This report examines, among other things, how federal agencies coordinate responsibilities for inspection of imported agriculture."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Small Business Administration: Use of Supplemental Funds for Administering COVID-19-Related Programs, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic disrupted small businesses and generated an immediate need for emergency funding to keep businesses operating. In response, Congress dramatically increased the amount of loans, grants, and other financial assistance available from SBA [Small Business Administration]. To help SBA manage the large volume of assistance, Congress provided the agency additional funds for administrative expenses. Congress included a provision in statute for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on SBA's use of supplemental appropriations provided in fiscal year 2020 for administrative expenses. This report discusses (1) the amount of supplemental appropriations SBA received in fiscal year 2020 for administrative expenses and SBA's planned uses for these funds, and (2) the extent to which SBA had obligated and expended these funds as of January 31, 2021, and for what purposes."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-06
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Civil Monetary Penalties: Federal Agencies' Compliance with the 2020 Annual Inflation Adjustment Requirements
From the Document: "Civil monetary penalties provide federal agencies with the ability to punish willful and egregious violators, deter future violations, and enforce regulatory policies government-wide. However, if agencies do not periodically adjust these penalties for the effects of inflation, the penalties may lose their effectiveness and agencies may lose opportunities to collect significant federal receipts. Thus, Congress passed the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 to allow for agencies to adjust their covered civil monetary penalties for inflation, to promote compliance, and to improve the collection of penalties. The act, as amended, hereinafter referred to as the Inflation Adjustment Act (IAA), includes a provision added in 2015 for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to annually submit to Congress a report assessing the compliance of agencies with the required civil monetary penalty adjustments. This fifth annual review responds to the statutory provision for us to assess agencies' compliance with the civil monetary penalty adjustments for inflation as required by the IAA. Specifically, our objective was to determine if each agency subject to the IAA published 2020 civil monetary penalty inflation adjustments in the 'Federal Register' as of December 31, 2020, and reported information about civil monetary penalties within the agency's jurisdiction in its 2020 agency financial report (AFR) submitted under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-136. This circular provides guidance to agencies that produce either AFRs or performance and accountability reports and government corporations that produce annual management reports."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-05-27
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Closing the Guantanamo Detention Center: Legal Issues [November 17, 2009]
From the Summary: "The closure of the Guantanamo detention facility may raise a number of legal issues with respect to the individuals formerly interned there, particularly if those detainees are transferred to the United States for continued detention, prosecution, or release. The nature and scope of constitutional protections owed to detainees within the United States may be different from the protections owed to persons held outside the United States. This may have implications for the continued detention or prosecution of persons who are transferred to the United States. The transfer of detainees to the United States may also have immigration consequences. This report provides an overview of major legal issues likely to arise as a result of executive and legislative action to close the Guantanamo detention facility. It discusses legal issues related to the transfer of Guantanamo detainees (either to a foreign country or into the United States), the continued detention of such persons in the United States, and the possible removal of persons brought into the country. It also discusses selected constitutional issues that may arise in the criminal prosecution of detainees, emphasizing the procedural and substantive protections that are utilized in different adjudicatory forums (i.e., federal civilian courts, court-martial proceedings, and military commissions)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bazan, Elizabeth B.; Garcia, Michael John; Mason, R. Chuck
2009-11-17
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2009 Influenza Pandemic: Selected Legal Issues [October 29, 2009]
From the Summary: "On June 11, in response to the global spread of a new strain of influenza, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the level of influenza pandemic alert to phase 6, the highest level, which indicates the start of an actual pandemic. This change in alert level reflected the spread of the new virus, not its severity. In late April 2009, human cases of infection with a novel influenza A(H1N1) virus were identified. Since then, the virus has become widespread. Although currently the pandemic is of moderate severity with the majority of patients experiencing mild symptoms and making a rapid and full recovery, the virus and its effects may change over time. This report provides a brief overview of selected legal issues including emergency measures, civil rights, liability issues, and employment issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jones, Nancy Lee; Swendiman, Kathleen S.
2009-10-29
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Guinea's 2008 Military Coup and Relations with the United States [November 5, 2009]
From the Summary: "Guinea is a Francophone West African country on the Atlantic coast, with a population of about 10 million. It is rich in natural resources but characterized by widespread poverty and limited socioeconomic growth and development. While Guinea has experienced regular episodes of internal political turmoil, it was considered a locus of relative stability over the past two decades, a period during which each of its six neighbors suffered one or more armed internal conflicts. Guinea entered a new period of political uncertainty on December 23, 2008, when a group of junior and mid-level military officers seized power, hours after the death of longtime president and former military leader Lansana Conté. The junta, calling itself the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD, after its French acronym), named as the interim national president a previously relatively unknown figure, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara. [...] This report analyzes developments since the military's seizure of power in December 2008, Guinea's relations with the United States, and U.S. policy in the wake of the coup. It also provides background on Guinean history and politics."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cook, Nicolas; Arieff, Alexis
2009-11-05
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U.S. Nuclear Cooperation with India: Issues for Congress [November 5, 2009]
From the Summary: "India and the United States announced July 27, 2007, that they had reached agreement on the text of a nuclear cooperation agreement. P.L. 109-401, the Henry J. Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006, which President Bush signed into law December 18, 2006, allows the President to waive such an agreement with India from several requirements of the Atomic Energy Act (AEA) of 1954, as amended. President Bush submitted the text of the proposed agreement to Congress September 10, 2008. Additionally, the President submitted a written determination (also required by the AEA) 'that the performance of the proposed agreement will promote and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defense and security.' In addition, President Bush submitted several documents, including classified and unclassified versions of a Nuclear Proliferation Assessment Statement (NPAS), which is required by section 123 of the AEA. The Department of State also submitted a report, which is required by section 104 of P.L. 109-401, on various aspects of the agreement."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kerr, Paul K.
2009-11-05
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Congressional Oversight and Related Issues Concerning International Security Agreements Concluded by the United States [October 1, 2009]
From the Summary: "The United States is a party to numerous security agreements with other nations. [...]. Some international security agreements entered by the United States, such as those obliging parties to come to the defense of another in the event of an attack, involve substantial commitments and have traditionally been entered as treaties, ratified with the advice and consent of the Senate. Other agreements dealing with more technical matters, such as military basing rights or the application of a host country's laws to U.S. forces stationed within, are entered more routinely and usually take a form other than treaty (i.e., as an executive agreement or a nonlegal political commitment). Occasionally, the substance and form of a proposed security agreement may become a source of dispute between Congress and the executive branch. [...] Regardless of the form a security arrangement may take, Congress has several tools to exercise oversight regarding the negotiation, form, conclusion, and implementation of the agreement by the United States. This report begins by providing a general background on the types of international agreements that are binding upon the United States, as well as considerations affecting whether they take the form of a treaty or an executive agreement. Next, the report discusses historical precedents as to the role that security agreements have taken, with specific attention paid to past agreements entered with Afghanistan, Germany, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Iraq. The report discusses the oversight role that Congress exercises with respect to entering and implementing international agreements involving the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Garcia, Michael John; Mason, R. Chuck
2009-10-01
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United States Relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) [November 16, 2009]
From the Summary: "The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is Southeast Asia's primary multilateral organization. Established in 1967, it has grown into one of the world's largest regional fora, representing a strategically important group of 10 nations that spans critical sea lanes and accounts for 5% of U.S. trade. This report discusses U.S. diplomatic, security, trade, and aid ties with ASEAN, analyzes major issues affecting Southeast Asian countries and U.S.-ASEAN relations, and examines ASEAN's relations with other regional powers. Much U.S. engagement with the region occurs at the bilateral level, but this report focuses on multilateral diplomacy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-; Manyin, Mark E.; Dolven, Ben
2009-11-16
