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COVID-19 Resources for India: Be a Part of the Solution, A Communication Toolkit
From the Document: "India is amid its worst health crisis in recent history, with the unprecedented second wave of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] leaving millions of citizens infected and many still who have lost their lives. A decrease in the daily number of cases earlier this year led to a sense of complacency among citizens, with a decreased compliance to healthy behaviors such as wearing masks, hand washing and physical distancing among others, which have been shown to be effective at preventing COVID-19 transmission. This, in addition to sociopolitical factors, contributed to an increase in the number of daily infections in March 2021 and pushed the health system to the brink of collapse, causing a dearth of medical supplies and hospital beds and a constant state of uncertainty and panic. [...] [This toolkit aims] to provide partners, affiliates, and citizens with shareable easy-to-understand facts, mythbusters, and guidelines on COVID-19 prevention and mitigation and on maintaining physical and emotional wellbeing. Our hope is that this toolkit serves as a useful resource for all and allows users to access and disseminate 'evidence-based' accurate information."
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Viswanathan, Kristin
2021-05-26
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Protecting Unaccompanied Children: The Ongoing Impacts of the Trump Administration's Cruel Policies, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, September 19, 2019
This is the September 19, 2019 hearing on "Protecting Unaccompanied Children: The Ongoing Impacts of the Trump Administration's Cruel Policies," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. From the opening statement of Diana DeGette: "The purpose of today's hearing is to examine the Trump administration's care for unaccompanied children in Government custody and the impact of administration policies on the health and wellbeing of children." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Ann Maxwell, Jonathan H. Hayes, Jonathan White, and John R. Modlin.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020
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S. Rept. 116-289: Identifying Outputs of Generative Adversarial Networks Act, Report to Accompany S. 2904, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, November 9, 2020
From the Purpose of the Bill: "This bill would direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support research on the outputs by generative adversarial networks, commonly referred to as 'deepfakes.' NSF would be required to support research on manipulated or synthesized content and information authenticity. NIST would be required to support research for the development of measurements and standards necessary to accelerate the development of the technological tools to examine the functions and outputs of generative adversarial networks or other technologies that synthesize or manipulate content."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-11-09
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S. Rept. 116-288: America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2020, Report to Accompany S. 3591, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, November 9, 2020
From the General Statement and Background: "America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 (AWIA 2020) primarily addresses the Civil Works program of the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The bill supports the nation's global economic competitiveness by authorizing the Corps to undertake projects, programs and initiatives in their Civil Works program relating to navigation, environment, flood risk management, hydropower, recreation, regulatory, emergency management, and water supply. AWIA 2020 also facilitates our nation's water infrastructure by creating and reauthorizing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) water and wastewater programs under the Clean Water Act (CWA)."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-11-09
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Closing the Guantanamo Detention Center: Legal Issues [April 14, 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. The nature and scope of constitutional protections owed to detainees within the United States may be different than the protections owed to persons held at Guantanamo or elsewhere. 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. Notably, some detainees might qualify for asylum or other protections under immigration law. 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 or release 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 to the United States. The report 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, courtmartial proceedings, and military commissions). Issues discussed include detainees' right to a speedy trial, the prohibition against prosecution under ex post facto laws, and limitations upon the admissibility of hearsay and secret evidence in criminal cases."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bazan, Elizabeth B.; Garcia, Michael John; Liu, Edward C.
2009-04-14
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Border Security: Barriers Along the U.S. International Border [March 16, 2009]
From the Summary: "Congress has repeatedly shown interest in examining and expanding the barriers being deployed along the U.S. international land border. The United States Border Patrol (USBP) deploys fencing, which aims to impede the illegal entry of individuals, and vehicle barriers, which aim to impede the illegal entry of vehicles (but not individuals) along the border. The USBP first began erecting physical barriers in 1990 to deter illegal entries and drug smuggling in its San Diego sector. The ensuing 14-mile-long San Diego 'primary fence' formed part of the USBP's 'Prevention Through Deterrence' strategy, which called for reducing unauthorized migration by placing agents and resources directly on the border along population centers in order to deter would-be migrants from entering the country. [...] In addition to border fencing, the USBP deploys both permanent and temporary vehicle barriers to the border. Temporary vehicle barriers are typically chained together and can be moved to different locations at the USBP's discretion. Permanent vehicle barriers are embedded in the ground and are meant to remain in one location. A number of policy issues concerning border barriers generally and fencing specifically may be of interest to Congress, including, but not limited, to their effectiveness, costs versus benefits, location, design, environmental impact, potential diplomatic ramifications, and the costs of acquiring the land needed for construction. This report will be updated as circumstances warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Garcia, Michael John; Haddal, Chad C.; Kim, Yule
2009-03-16
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Disconnected Youth: A Look at 16- to 24-Year Olds Who Are Not Working or in School [April 22, 2009]
From the Summary: "This Congressional Research Service (CRS) analysis expands the existing research on disconnected youth. The analysis uses Current Population Survey (CPS) data to construct a definition of 'disconnected.' This definition includes noninstitutionalized youth ages 16 through 24 who did not work or attend school anytime during a previous year and are presently not working or in school (usually sometime in the first quarter of the current year). The definition is narrower than those used by other studies because it captures youth who are unemployed and not in school for a longer period of time. […] Like the existing research, the CRS analysis finds that a greater share of female and minority youth are disconnected. However, the analysis evaluates some other characteristics that have not been widely studied in the existing research. […] The analysis further finds that the parents of disconnected youth are more likely than their counterparts to be unemployed and to have lower educational attainment. Given the state of the current economy and its projected course over the next year or two, rates of disconnection may climb. Policymakers may consider interventions to reconnect youth to work and/or school. Interventions can target children and youth at a particular stage of their early lives. Interventions can also focus on particular institutions or systems, such as the family, community, and schools."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gabe, Thomas; Fernandes, Adrienne L.
2009-04-22
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Iraq: Reconstruction Assistance [March 12, 2009]
This Congressional Research Service (CRS) report discusses Iraqi reconstruction assistance. "Reconstruction priorities and funding mechanisms have changed over time. The Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund (IRRF), the main U.S. assistance account in the first few years, is no longer available, and most large-scale infrastructure programs are no longer funded. However, many small-scale, targeted community-level infrastructure efforts are funded under the Commander's Emergency Response Program (CERP) and the Economic Support Fund (ESF). The key emphases of the aid program are the training of Iraqi forces and programs assisting the development of Iraqi governing capacities and supporting the work of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tarnoff, Curt
2009-03-12
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Expedited Citizenship Through Military Service: Current Law, Policy, and Issues [February 25, 2009]
"As of the date of this report, there appeared to be no legislation in the 111th Congress concerning immigration benefits related to military service. Although some bills providing such benefits were enacted during the 110th Congress, several issues and proposals remain unresolved and may be addressed during the 111th Congress." The report primary includes information on "legislative activity since the beginning of the War on Terrorism on September 11, 2001, may provide guidance for future legislation based on the types of legislation that have been considered but have not yet been enacted, as well as those that have already been enacted. There continues to be congressional interest in further streamlining and expediting the naturalization process for military personnel and in providing immigration benefits specifically for immediate relatives of such personnel."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wasem, Ruth Ellen; Lee, Margaret Mikyung
2009-02-25
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China's Economic Conditions [March 5, 2009]
This report provides an overview of China's economic development, challenges China faces to maintain growth, and the implications of China's rise as a major economic power for the United States. From the Summary: "China's economy and its economic policies are of major concern to many U.S. policymakers. On the one hand, U.S. consumers, exporters, and investors have greatly benefited from China's rapid economic and trade growth. China's large holdings of U.S. securities have helped keep U.S. interest rates relatively low. Many analysts hope that China will make positive contributions to a global economic recovery. On the other hand, the surge in U.S. imports of Chinese products has put competitive pressures on various U.S. industries. Many U.S. policymakers have argued that China maintains a number of economic policies that violate its commitments in the World Trade Organization and/or are harmful to U.S. economic interests, such as its currency policy. Concerns have also been raised over China's rising demand for energy and raw materials (and the impact of that demand has on world prices), increased pollution levels, China's growing FDI [foreign direct investment] (such as in energy and raw materials) around the world, including countries where the United States has political and human rights concerns, and the potential implications of China's large holdings of U.S. debt. The global economic crisis has also raised concerns over the future pace of Chinese economic reforms."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morrison, Wayne M.
2009-03-05
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NATO's 60th Anniversary Summit [March 20, 2009]
From the Summary: "On April 3 and 4, 2009, the heads of state and government of the 26 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will meet in Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany for a summit marking the 60th anniversary of the alliance. The summit will be one of three stops on President Obama's first official visit to Europe as President. Alliance leaders are expected to use the anniversary summit to pay tribute to NATO's past achievements and to reaffirm their commitment to the alliance as the preeminent transatlantic security framework. They will also complete a new round of NATO enlargement, seek common positions on the range of challenges currently facing the alliance, and begin to set the parameters for NATO's future direction. […] This report provides an overview and analysis of the key issues to be discussed at NATO's April summit. It will be updated after the summit to reflect summit outcomes and implications for U.S. policy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ek, Carl; Mages, Lisa; Belkin, Paul . . .
2009-03-20
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Global Peace Operations Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress [March 19, 2009]
This Congressional Research Service (CRS) report discusses the Global Peace Operations Initiative. "The 111th Congress may consider extending the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), the centerpiece of the Bush Administrations efforts to prepare foreign security forces to participate in international peacekeeping operations. Established in mid-2004, GPOI is a multilateral, five-year program with planned U.S. contributions of some $660 million from FY2005 through FY2009. GPOI's primary purpose is to train and equip 75,000 military troops, a majority of them African, for peacekeeping operations by 2010. GPOI also provides support for the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU), an Italian training center for gendarme (constabulary police) forces in Vicenza, Italy. In addition, GPOI is promoting the development of an international transportation and logistics support system for peacekeepers, and is encouraging an information exchange to improve international coordination of peace operations training and exercises in Africa. In June 2004, G8 leaders pledged to support the goals of the initiative."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Serafino, Nina M.
2009-03-19
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FDA Regulation of Follow-On Biologics [February 24, 2009]
From the Summary: "Congress has been considering legislation that would expand regulatory activities of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by opening a pathway for the approval of follow-on biologics. A biologic is a preparation, such as a drug or a vaccine, that is made from living organisms. A follow-on biologic is similar to the brand-name (innovator) product made by the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry. In contrast to a biologic [drug], most commonly used drugs are synthesized via a chemical process. The new regulatory pathway would be analogous to the FDA's authority for approving generic chemical drugs under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984. […] This report provides a brief introduction to the relevant law, the regulatory framework at the FDA, the scientific challenges for the FDA in considering the approval of follow-on biologics, and a description of the proposed legislation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Johnson, Judith A. (Judith Ann), 1957-
2009-02-24
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Supreme Court Appellate Jurisdiction Over Military Court Cases [March 5, 2009]
This report describes the jurisdiction of military courts over cases involving military service members, including, in some cases, retired service members. Military courts "have the power to convict for crimes defined in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), including both uniquely military offenses and crimes with equivalent definitions in civilian laws. For example, in a 2008 case, United States v. Stevenson, military courts prosecuted a retired serviceman for rape, a crime often tried in civilian courts. The military court system includes military courts-martial; a Criminal Court of Appeals for each branch of the armed services; and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF), which has discretionary appellate jurisdiction over all military cases. With the exception of potential final review by the U.S. Supreme Court, these Article I courts handle review of military cases in an appellate system that rarely interacts with Article III courts.[…] Companion bills introduced in the 111th Congress, the Equal Justice for Our Military Act of 2009 (H.R. 569) and the Equal Justice for Our Military Personnel Act of 2009 (S. 357), would authorize appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court for all military cases, including cases that the CAAF declined to review. The House passed a similar measure, H.R. 3174, during the 110th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Henning, Anna C.
2009-03-05
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Patterns of Media Use, Strength of Belief in COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories, and the Prevention of COVID-19 from March to July 2020 in the United States: Survey Study
From the Abstract: "Holding conspiracy beliefs regarding the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic in the United States has been associated with reductions in both actions to prevent the spread of the infection (eg, mask wearing) and intentions to accept a vaccine when one becomes available. Patterns of media use have also been associated with acceptance of COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs. Here we ask whether the type of media on which a person relies increased, decreased, or had no additional effect on that person's COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs over a 4-month period. [...] We used panel data to explore whether use of conservative and social media in the United States, which were previously found to be positively related to holding conspiracy beliefs about the origins and prevention of COVID-19, were associated with a net increase in the strength of those beliefs from March to July of 2020. We also asked whether mainstream news sources, which were previously found to be negatively related to belief in pandemic-related conspiracies, were associated with a net decrease in the strength of such beliefs over the study period. Additionally, we asked whether subsequent changes in pandemic conspiracy beliefs related to the use of media were also related to subsequent mask wearing and vaccination intentions."
JMIR Publications
Romer, Daniel, 1946-; Jamieson, Kathleen Hall
2021-04-27
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Locked Out: Unemployment and Homelessness in the COVID Economy
From the Document: "COVID [Coronavirus disease 2019]-driven loss of jobs and employment income will cause the number of homeless workers to increase each year through 2023. Without large-scale, government employment programs the Pandemic Recession is projected to cause twice as much homelessness as the 2008 Great Recession. The Economic Roundtable used data from the 2008 Great Recession to estimate the linkage between job loss and homelessness and forecast the amount and type of pandemic-driven homelessness in Los Angeles, California and the United States."
Economic Roundtable (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Flaming, Daniel J.; Orlando, Anthony W.; Burns, Patrick . . .
2021-01-11
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Analysis of the National Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic Through the Lens of Medical Military Support Requirements
From the Introduction: "The aim of this Open Publication for Allied Command Transformation is to examine national responses, both civil and military, to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic and especially the coordination function between them. It will look at the strategic directions that nations have taken, including the NATO partner nations. It will also include the experiences and comparisons of the non-NATO nations of Russia, China, and Brazil as they present a differing strategic approach to NATO and western nations. The paper will support further analysis of current and future capabilities required of military medical services, especially how this pandemic compares to large scale warfighting operations. It will identify areas of similarity and differences within and between nations that could inform future conceptual and novel capability development. This will support future conceptual and capability development of military medical support for NATO."
NATO Allied Command Transformation
Bricknell, Martin; Homan, Zenobia; Gheorghe, Adrian . . .
2020
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Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogues: Federal Trends and Trafficking Patterns
From the Introduction and Findings: "This report examines the relatively new and emerging problem of fentanyl and fentanyl analogue trafficking. The United States Sentencing Commission (the 'Commission') issues this report pursuant to its authority to collect, analyze, and report on trends in federal sentencing."
United States Sentencing Commission
Tennyson, Kristin M.; Ray, Charles S.; Maass, Kevin T.
2021-01
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Homosexuals and U.S. Military: Current Issues [July 22, 2009]
From the Summary: "In 1993, new laws and regulations pertaining to homosexuals and U.S. military service came into effect reflecting a compromise in policy. This compromise, colloquially referred to as 'don't ask, don't tell,' holds that the presence in the armed forces of persons who demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion which are the essence of military capability. Service members are not to be asked about nor allowed to discuss their homosexuality. This compromise notwithstanding, the issue has remained politically contentious. [...]. In recent years, several members of Congress have expressed interest in amending 'don't ask, don't tell.' At least one bill that would repeal the law and replace it with a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation--H.R. 1283--has been introduced in the 111th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feder, Jody; Burrelli, David F., 1958-
2009-07-22
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Who Regulates Whom? An Overview of U.S. Financial Supervision [February 24, 2009]
From the Summary: "Federal financial regulation in the United States has evolved through a series of piecemeal responses to developments and crises in the markets. This report provides an overview of current U.S. financial regulation: which agencies are responsible for which institutions and markets, and what kinds of authority they have. U.S. banking regulation is largely based on a quid pro quo that was adopted in the 1930s in response to widespread bank failures. [...]. A number of financial markets are unregulated, including some of the largest. No federal agency has jurisdiction over trading in foreign exchange or U.S. Treasury securities; nonbank lenders fall outside the regulatory umbrella; and hedge funds, private equity firms, and venture capital investors are largely unregulated (although their transactions in securities and derivatives markets may be). The United States has never attempted a wholesale reformation of the entire regulatory system comparable to the 1986 'Big Bang' in the UK, which reorganized regulatory agencies across industry lines and sought to implement a consistent philosophy of regulation. In the wake of the current financial turmoil, however, such a reevaluation is possible, and a number of broad restructuring proposals have already come forward. This report does not attempt to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. regulatory system. Rather, it provides a description of the current system, to aid in the evaluation of reform proposals. It will be updated as warranted by market events."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Murphy, Edward Vincent; Jickling, Mark
2009-02-24
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U.S. Financial Crisis: The Response by Switzerland [February 5, 2009]
From the Summary: "The current financial crisis has demonstrated that financial markets in Switzerland and elsewhere have become highly interdependent and that a crisis in one market can quickly spread to other markets across national borders. For the United States, Switzerland is important as a member of international fora where the two countries share common interests while Swiss banks also act as competitors in the international financial marketplace. One issue the two countries share concerns the organization of financial markets domestically and abroad to improve supervision and regulation of individual institutions and of international markets. This issue also focuses on developing the organizational structures within national economies that can provide oversight of the different segments of the highly complex financial system. Such oversight is viewed by many as critical, because financial markets are generally considered to play an indispensible [sic] role in allocating capital and facilitating economic activity. In the months ahead, Members of Congress and the Obama administration likely will consider a number of proposals to restructure the supervisory and oversight responsibilities over the broad-based financial sector within the United States and in the broader international financial markets. The Swiss system provides an example of a system that has separated the regulatory and supervisory responsibilities from the monetary policy responsibilities of the Swiss National Bank and consolidated them into a national regulatory body that is subject to the Federal Council, or the executive of the Swiss government."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jackson, James K., 1949-
2009-02-05
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Command Accountability for AI Weapon Systems in the Law of Armed Conflict
From the Introduction: "Compressed tactical decision cycles will be the fulcrum of future, fast-paced hyper-war. AI [artificial intelligence] weapon systems promise to extend and maximize human capabilities, becoming essential to the survivability and lethality of armed forces in this lethal operating environment. AI is not the weapon; it is the component or element of a weapon system--most likely a military network or 'Military Internet of Things' that will accelerate the speed and decision making in the application of fires or effects. The networked force will inform enterprise-wide situational awareness and battle management. Forces are unlikely to field 'killer robots'--solitary entities carrying weapons and making life and death decisions free of human command. Instead, creation and employment of autonomous weapon systems (AWS) will require a well-defined operational environment and access to rich, accurate, extremely large data sets, such as GPS, fed by distributed sensors, plus improved machine learning algorithms and high-performance processors that will fuse AI into the kill chain. The kill chain process combines multispectral sensors to understand the warfighting environment, positively identify, track, and select targets, and engage them with the most appropriate effects. (The Soviet Union referred to this process as the 'reconnaissance strike complex,' while in the 1990s, John Boyd in the United States popularized the term, 'OODA loop,' in which armed forces race to observe, orient, decide and act before their adversary). AI is designed to facilitate this adaptive, multi-domain, high velocity decision making model, and in doing so it is expected to provide a decisive military advantage."
Naval War College (U.S.). International Law Studies
Kraska, James
2021
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One for All: An Updated Action Plan for Global Covid-19 Vaccination
From the Foreword: "Right now, the world is only a little closer to ending the Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic than it was at this time last year. Despite the tireless work of health care workers, the miracles of vaccine researchers and producers, and the trillions of dollars spent by governments, there are still too many people falling ill around the world and too many who have yet to receive the benefits of vaccination. And, with each new infection, we risk a mutation that could produce a variant - like the B1.1.7, B1.351 and B.1.617 variants we are seeing now - that could break out, cross borders and challenge vaccine efficacy. Nearly everyone agrees that we must vaccinate the world as soon as possible, or risk wasting all this work, sacrifice and investment. Unfortunately, until this report, 'One for All: An Updated Action Plan for Global Covid-19 Vaccination', there have been few workable, comprehensive plans to meet that objective nor the support to achieve it. The result has been inertia - a global vaccination initiative that lacks resources and ambition - and a growing gulf between the vaccinated world and the unvaccinated world."
Rockefeller Foundation
2021-06
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Supreme Court Declines Request to Revisit Precedent Barring Military Cadet's Sexual Assault Claim Against United States [May 24, 2021]
From the Document: "With various exceptions, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) [hyperlink] enables plaintiffs to sue the United States when a federal employee commits a wrongful or negligent act that causes personal injury or death. However, in 'Feres v. United States' [hyperlink], the Supreme Court held [hyperlink] that the FTCA generally does not authorize [hyperlink] military personnel to sue the United States for injuries arising out of military service. Although some Members of Congress, judges [hyperlink], and scholars have criticized 'Feres', the Court has consistently declined [hyperlink] to reconsider the decision. Most recently, the Court denied certiorari in 'Doe v. United States' [hyperlink], in which a West Point cadet asked the Court to narrow or overrule 'Feres' [hyperlink] to let her sue the United States for allegedly failing to implement adequate policies to prevent, investigate, and punish sexual assault at West Point. This Sidebar analyzes 'Feres', 'Doe', and their potential significance to Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lewis, Kevin M.
2021-05-24
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Afghanistan: Post-War Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy [February 9, 2009]
From the Summary: "As U.S. and outside assessments of the effort to stabilize Afghanistan became increasingly negative throughout 2008, the Bush Administration conducted several reviews of U.S. strategy, and made actionable recommendations to the Obama Administration. The new Administration is reportedly aggregating the recommendations into a new policy framework to be developed in advance of an April 3, 2009 NATO summit. Obama Administration policy in Afghanistan is facing an expanding militant presence in some areas previously considered secure, increased numbers of civilian and military deaths, growing disillusionment with corruption in the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and an inability of Pakistan to prevent Taliban and other militant infiltration into Afghanistan. There appears to be little clear consensus on a new strategy, although most U.S. officials and commanders agree that U.S. strategy must go beyond adding U.S. troops to include enhancing non-military steps such as economic development and improved coordination among international donors, building local governing structures, and reform of the Afghan central government. The question of how to curb militant activity in Pakistan is said to comprise a major part of the Obama reviews, as is the question of whether to try to engage Iran on the issue. Reflecting the growing connection between militant activity in Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as the Obama Administration's priority on Afghanistan, the new Administration has named Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as a special representative on Pakistan and Afghanistan."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2009-02-09
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China-U.S. Relations in the 110th Congress: Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy [February 10, 2009]
From the Summary: "This report deals with U.S.-China relations during the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and with a number of key events involving China during the two-year period. These events included: China's anti-satellite weapon test (January 2007); the 17th Party Congress (October 2007); a crackdown against demonstrations in Tibet (March 2008); the election of a new, pro-engagement government in Taiwan (March 2008); the massive Sichuan earthquake (May 2008); and Beijing's hosting of the 2008 Olympics (August 2008). U.S.-China relations were remarkably smooth for much of the 110th, although there were signs that U.S. China policy had become subject to competing reassessments as the Bush Administration drew to a close in 2008. The White House continued to follow the policy of engagement it had unveiled in 2005 as a new framework for the relationship, one in which the United States was willing to work cooperatively with China while encouraging Beijing to become a 'responsible stakeholder' in the global system. [...] But other U.S. policymakers began to raise concerns on issues involving China and U.S.-China relations. They cited concerns about the impact of the PRC's strong economic growth and a more assertive PRC diplomacy in the international arena; failures in procedures to assure the quality of Chinese pharmaceuticals, food, and other products being imported into the United States; repeated PRC inabilities to protect U.S. intellectual property rights; and trade practices and policies in China that contributed to a growing U.S. trade deficit with China ($256 billion in 2007 and projected to hit $267 billion in 2008)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dumbaugh, Kerry
2009-02-10
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National Health Service Corps: Program Directs Funding to Areas with Greatest Provider Shortages, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "HRSA [Health Resources and Services Administration]--an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services--estimated that, as of December 2020, about 25 percent of the U.S. population lives in an area with a shortage of providers. HRSA's NHSC [National Health Service Corps] programs offer scholarships and loan repayment to providers in exchange for providing primary, dental, or mental health care at certain clinical sites located in HPSAs [health professional shortage area], which are areas, populations, or facilities that have a shortage of physicians and other health professionals. HRSA ranks HPSAs by level of severity using several measures, including how many providers need to be added to serve the population. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the NHSC programs. This report describes (1) how many providers served in NHSC and where they served, and (2) how many applicants did not receive funding, among other objectives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-04
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Feeding Iowans Task Force: 'Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic'
From the Background: "The Feeding Iowans Task Force (Task Force) was created by Governor Kim Reynolds in March 2020 to assist Iowans impacted by food insecurity during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. The objective of the Task Force was to obtain a complete picture of the feeding operation across all applicable populations and identify any current or potential future shortfalls or gaps in Iowa's capacity to continue feeding operations as needed. The Task Force met this objective through raising awareness of hunger, identifying potential gaps in Iowa's food system, supporting the food supply chain, and connecting Iowans with food resources during the pandemic."
Feeding Iowans Task Force
2021-05
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International Drug Control Policy [February 9, 2009]
From the Summary: "This report provides an overview of U.S. international drug control policy. It describes major international counternarcotics initiatives and evaluates the broad array of U.S. drug control policy tools currently in use. The report also considers alternative counterdrug policy approaches to current initiatives and raises several counterdrug policy issues and considerations for policy makers. [...] Pursuit of international drug control policies can sometimes negatively affect national interests by exacerbating political instability and economic dislocation in countries where narcotics production is entrenched economically and socially. Drug supply interdiction programs and U.S. systems to facilitate the international movement of legitimate goods, people, and wealth also are often at odds. The high priority of terrorism in U.S. foreign policy has resulted in increased attention to links between drug and terror groups; a challenge facing policy makers, however, is how to avoid diverting counterdrug resources for anti-terror ends in areas of potentially low payoff. Congress is involved in all aspects of U.S. international drug control policy, regularly appropriating funds for counterdrug initiatives, conducting oversight activities on federal counterdrug programs, and legislating changes to agency authorities and other counterdrug policies. [...] Through its appropriations and federal oversight responsibilities, the 111th Congress may chose to tackle several emerging policy issues concerning U.S. international drug control policy, including whether to appropriate more funding for the Mérida Initiative, how to address the growing use of West Africa as a drug transit point to Europe and other destinations, and the role of the Department of Defense in counterdrug foreign assistance."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wyler, Liana Sun
2009-02-09
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PEPFAR Reauthorization: Key Policy Debates and Changes to U.S. International HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Programs and Funding [January 29, 2009]
From the Summary: "This report provides background on PEPFAR [President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief] implementation and results. It details actual and requested funding for U.S. bilateral and multilateral efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria globally through FY2009. It discusses key policy debates surrounding international HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis programs and funding as the 110th Congress considered legislation to reauthorize PEPFAR programs. It describes key proposals included in H.R. 5501 at two points during its consideration by the 110th Congress and the possible policy implementation implications of these proposals. Finally, this report details key changes to programs and funding for U.S. international efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria programs as directed by the 110th Congress in the Lantos-Hyde Act as enacted. The policy debates surrounding and program and funding authorizations resulting from the Lantos-Hyde Act may be a prelude to the work of the 111th Congress, as it considers whether and at what level to fund these activities in FY2009 through FY2011. This report will not be updated."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Moss, Kellie
2009-01-29
