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Colombia: Issues for Congress [Updated August 7, 2009]
From the Summary: "Concerns in the 111th Congress regarding Colombia continue those of prior sessions: funding levels and U.S. policy regarding Plan Colombia, trade and human rights. The FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161) raised the level of U.S. funding provided for economic and social aid closer to that provided for security-related programs. Aid for Colombia appropriated in the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-8) reflected the same balance and a slight increase in amount over the prior year. In July 2008, both the House and Senate passed resolutions expressing gratitude to the Colombian government for successfully rescuing the three U.S. hostages being held by the FARC (H.Con.Res. 389/S.Res. 627). While acknowledging the progress that the Uribe government has made in improving security conditions in Colombia, some Members of Congress have expressed concerns about labor activist killings and the para-political scandal. These issues received increased attention when President Obama met with President Uribe in June 2009 in Washington and discussed the Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
2009-08-07
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Iraq: Reconstruction Assistance [Updated August 7, 2009]
From the Summary: "Most recently, in June 2009, Congress provided $439 million in ESF and $20 million in INCLE funds for Iraq in the FY2009 supplemental appropriations (P.L. 111-32, H.R. 2346). The $1 billion in ISFF funding appropriated previously in P.L. 110-252 was rescinded and reappropriated in this bill. The CERP appropriation of $453 million is to be shared with Afghanistan. A significant number of reconstruction activities, especially those involving construction of road, sanitation, electric power, oil production, and other infrastructure, are completed or near completion. Security concerns slowed progress and added considerable expense to these efforts. The report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tarnoff, Curt
2009-08-07
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Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): Issues for the 111th Congress [August 12, 2009]
From the Summary: "In the 111th Congress, several bills that directly address FOIA [Freedom of Information Act] have been introduced, including legislation that would exempt photographs of the treatment of detainees held by the Armed Forces from public disclosure pursuant to FOIA, and a bill that would require the archivist to issue more detailed regulations on the classification of government records. This report will offer a history of FOIA, discuss current implementation of FOIA statutes, and outline pending FOIA legislation. The report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ginsberg, Wendy R.
2009-08-12
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Assistance to Firefighters Program: Distribution of Fire Grant Funding [Updated August 28, 2009]
The Obama Administration's FY2010 budget proposal for firefighter assistance is likely to receive heightened scrutiny from the fire community, given what was viewed as inadequate past budget proposals by the Bush Administration, and given the national economic downturn and local budgetary cutbacks that many fire departments are now facing. Meanwhile, reauthorization legislation for AFG and SAFER will be introduced into the 111th Congress. Debate over the AFG reauthorization is likely to reflect a competition for funding between career/urban/suburban departments and volunteer/rural departments. The urgency of this debate will be heightened by the probable reduction of overall AFG funding in FY2010, and the economic downturn in many local communities increasingly hard pressed to allocate funding for their local fire departments.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kruger, Lennard G.
2009-08-28
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Intelligence Authorization Legislation: Status and Challenges [August 26, 2009]
From the Summary: "Since FY2005, no annual intelligence authorization bill has been enacted. Although the National Security Act requires intelligence activities to be specifically authorized, this requirement has been satisfied in recent years by one-sentence catch-all provisions in defense appropriations acts authorizing intelligence activities. This procedure meets the statutory requirement but has, according to some observers, weakened the ability of Congress to oversee intelligence activities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Best, Richard A.
2009-08-26
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Emergency Alert System (EAS) and All-Hazard Warnings [Updated August 14, 2009]
From the Summary: "The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is built on a structure conceived in the 1950's when over-the- air broadcasting was the best-available technology for widely disseminating emergency alerts. It is one of several federally managed warning systems. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) jointly administers EAS with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in cooperation with the National Weather Service (NWS), an organization within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NOAA/NWS weather radio system has been upgraded to an all-hazard warning capability. Measures to improve the NOAA network and the new Digital Emergency Alert System (DEAS) are ongoing. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), working with the Association of Public Television Stations, is implementing a program that will disseminate national alert messages over digital broadcast airwaves, using satellite and public TV broadcast towers. This program, referred to as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), is part of the Department's response to an Executive Order requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to meet specific requirements for an alert system as part of U.S. policy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Moore, L. K. S. (Linda K. S.)
2009-08-14
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Examining Equity in Transportation Safety Enforcement, Remote Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, February 24, 2021
This is the February 24, 2021 Remote Hearing "Examining Equity in Transportation Safety Enforcement," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. From the opening statement of Eleanor Holmes Norton: "Today, we will hear witnesses describe not only the impacts of traffic safety enforcement, which disproportionately affect people of color, but methods to improve trust between communities and law enforcement to bring about safe, equitable, and just outcomes in these interactions. We will also hear about the importance of using traffic safety resources to address problems that lead to injuries and deaths-such as impaired driving-rather than for traffic stops that are used as a sweeping tool to interact with communities. Targeting resources is necessary to ensure that we actually move the needle on traffic safety." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Larry Sandigo, Lorraine M. Martin, Michelle Ramsey Hawkins, Ken Barone, and Rashawn Ray.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
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COVID-19 and Pacific Islander Communities in Hawai'i: A Report of the Hawai'i Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
From the Letter of Transmittal: "The Hawai'i Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights submits this report pursuant to its responsibility to identify, study, and report on civil rights issues in the state of Hawai'i. The contents of this report are primarily based on testimony the Committee received during virtual public meetings on November 18, 2020 and December 9, 2020, as well as on written statements. This report identifies and seeks to address the disparate impact suffered by the Pacific Islander community with respect to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 19] pandemic based on the significantly higher rate of infection experienced by this community when compared with others. The Committee offers the Commission its recommendations for effectively and efficiently addressing the immediate and long-term concerns and consequences inherent in this current very concerning reality."
United States Commission on Civil Rights. Hawaii Advisory Committee; United States Commission on Civil Rights
Fujimori Kaina, Nalani; Tanna, Wayne; Agbayani, Amefil, 1943- . . .
2021-05
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Critical Infrastructure Policy: Information Sharing and Disclosure Requirements After the Colonial Pipeline Attack [May 24, 2021]
From the Document: "The ransomware [hyperlink] attack against the Colonial Pipeline Company spurred panic buying and fuel shortages along the Eastern Seaboard. Although the attack [hyperlink] did not target pipeline control systems, it forced the temporary suspension of fuel shipments via a major pipeline network, according to a company statement [hyperlink]. The Biden Administration announced Executive Order (E.O.) 14028 (the EO), 'Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity' [hyperlink] on May 12, 2021, framing it as a response to the pipeline incident and other recent cyberattacks. While the EO creates requirements that apply to federal agencies and government contractors, the Administration hopes that these actions will have a secondary effect [hyperlink] of improving cybersecurity among critical infrastructure companies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphreys, Brian E.
2021-05-24
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Lessons for Africa from India's Deadly COVID Surge
From the Webpage: "India's COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] surge is a warning for Africa. Like India, Africa mostly avoided the worst of the pandemic last year. Many Sub-Saharan African countries share similar sociodemographic features as India: a youthful population, large rural populations that spend a significant portion of the day outdoors, large extended family structures, few old age homes, densely populated urban areas, and weak tertiary care health systems. As in India, many African countries have been loosening social distancing and other preventative measures. A recent survey by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reveals that 56 percent of African states were 'actively loosening controls and removing the mandatory wearing of face-masks.' Moreover, parts of Africa have direct, longstanding ties to India, providing clear pathways for the new Indian variant to spread between the continents. So, what has been driving India's COVID-19 surge and what lessons might this hold for Africa?"
National Defense University. Africa Center for Strategic Studies
2021-05-28
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Dispelling COVID Vaccine Myths in Africa
From the Webpage: "The rollout of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccines was supposed to be a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. Yet, just as the supply of vaccines has been increasing in Africa, so too has misinformation about their safety and efficacy. Fears about the vaccines [hyperlink] range from simple lack of information to far-fetched conspiracy theories. Concerns on the continent heightened after several European countries stopped using Oxford University's AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of blood-clotting among a small sample of recipients. While these countries have resumed their use of this vaccine, doubts in the minds of many Africans linger."
National Defense University. Africa Center for Strategic Studies
2021-05-21
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'Google v. Oracle': Supreme Court Rules for Google in Landmark Software Copyright Case [May 10, 2021]
From the Document: "On April 5, 2021, the Supreme Court issued its highly anticipated decision [hyperlink] in 'Google LLC v. Oracle America Inc.' [hyperlink], the culmination of a decade-long software copyright dispute between the two tech giants. Resolving what observers have hailed [hyperlink] as the 'copyright case of the century,' the Court held [hyperlink] in Google's favor, finding that Google's copying of the 'declaring code' [hyperlink] of the Java SE [Standard Edition] application programming interface (API) was a fair use and thus did not infringe Oracle's copyright in Java. As a formal matter, the Court's holding was relatively narrow, concluding that Google's copying of certain code from the Java API--what the Court characterized [hyperlink] as 'reimplementation of a user interface'--was a fair use under the 'case-by-case' [hyperlink] balancing of the statutory fair use factors [hyperlink]. As a practical matter, however, the Court's decision is likely to have major significance [hyperlink] for the software industry [hyperlink], and may also potentially affect fair use for other copyrightable subject matter--such as art, music, and television. This Sidebar reviews the basics of copyright in software; the dispute in 'Google v. Oracle'; the Court's decision; and potential effects for computer technology and other copyright-intensive industries. It then briefly highlights some considerations for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hickey, Kevin J.
2021-05-10
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'2020 Census Alert: The Census Bureau Faces Challenges in Ensuring Employee Health Safety During 2020 Census Field Operations' Final Memorandum No. OIG-20-046-M
From the memorandum to Dr. Steven D. Dillingham, Director U.S. Census Bureau, from Mark H. Zabarsky, Principal Assistant Inspector General for Audit and Evaluation: "The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is issuing this 2020 Census Alert to bring to your attention our concerns--about the Census Bureau's (Bureau's) inconsistent implementation of safety procedures to prevent the spread of coronavirus [disease] 2019 (COVID-19) as it completes its 2020 Census operations--that require immediate attention. Based on the number and consistency of COVID-19-related OIG hotline complaints that we have received, we are concerned that the Bureau is not fully complying with key elements of its own COVID-19 safety requirements--or operating fully in line with recommended guidance provided by the Department of Commerce (the Department), the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of Labor (Labor)--and not holding its managers, employees, and contractors fully accountable for noncompliance, thereby putting their health at risk."
United States. Department of Commerce. Office of the Inspector General
Zabarsky, Mark H.
2020-09-08
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Latin America and the Caribbean: Impact of COVID-19 [Updated May 21, 2021]
From the Document: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having widespread economic, social, and political effects on Latin America and the Caribbean. As of May 20, 2021, the region had over 31million confirmed cases (19% of cases worldwide) and almost 1 million deaths (29% of deaths worldwide). Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Peru had the highest numbers of deaths in the region, and Brazil and Mexico had the second- and fourth-highest deaths globally. Looking at mortality (death) rates per 100,000 population, Brazil had the highest recorded COVID-19 mortality rate in the region, followed by Peru, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.; Beittel, June S.; Meyer, Peter J. . . .
2021-05-21
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Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans Potentially Eligible for Special Financial Assistance Under the American Rescue Plan Act [May 28, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Section 9704 in Title IX, Subtitle H, of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA; P.L. 117- 2) provides financial assistance to eligible financially troubled multiemployer defined benefit (DB) pension plans. For more information on Section 9704, see CRS In Focus IF11765, 'Special Financial Assistance to Multiemployer Plans.' This report provides a list of multiemployer DB plans that meet or might meet the eligibility requirements for the special financial assistance using the most recently available data. The report provides (1) background on multiemployer DB pension plans, (2) an overview of the special financial assistance, (3) a description of the four eligibility criteria, and (4) a listing of plans (along with each plan's participant and funding data) that satisfy the eligibility criteria using the most recently available data. An Appendix [hyperlink] also lists the plans that meet or might meet each criteria, separated by criteria and in alphabetical order."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Myers, Elizabeth A.; Topoleski, John J.
2021-05-28
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Processing Aliens at the U.S.-Mexico Border: Recent Policy Changes [November 15, 2019]
From the Document: "Since FY2017, a growing share of non-U.S. nationals (aliens) arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border request asylum, some at official U.S. ports of entry and others after entering the country 'without inspection' (i.e., illegally) between ports of entry. [...] The Trump Administration is pursuing several policies that change how these aliens are processed when they arrive without valid entry documents. First, under a practice known as 'metering,' aliens may be required to wait in Mexico until there is capacity to process them at a port of entry. Second, the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) require some aliens to return to Mexico pending formal removal proceedings. Third, under the third-country transit bar, aliens arriving at the southern border are ineligible for asylum if they traveled through another country without first seeking protection in that country. Although these policies are subject to legal challenge, reviewing courts have so far permitted their implementation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.; Harrington, Ben; Singer, Audrey
2019-11-15
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Mongolia [Updated December 19, 2019]
From the Overview: "Mongolia is a landlocked nation of 3 million people between Russia and the People's Republic of China (PRC). It has been viewed as a democratic success story both among former Soviet satellite states and in Asia. In 1989, democratic activists staged protests against communist rule and formed the Mongolian Democratic Union. The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), which had ruled the country since 1921, allowed multiparty elections in 1990 and relinquished power in 1996, when a Democratic Party (DP)-led coalition of opposition forces won nationwide elections. Mongolia's foreign relations are driven by a desire to preserve its autonomy by balancing relations between major partners, including the United States, China, and Russia, and also Japan and South Korea. Its economy is supported by extensive mineral resources, but growth remains uneven, driven by fluctuations in mineral and petroleum prices."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-; Dolven, Ben
2019-12-19
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Defense Primer: Defense Appropriations Process [Updated December 23, 2019]
From the Document: "The Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse in Article I, Section 9, which provides that 'No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.' To fulfill this duty, Congress annually considers appropriations measures, which provide funding for numerous activities--such as national defense, education, and homeland security--consistent with policies and priorities established through legislation such as the National Defense Authorization Act. The congressional appropriations process includes various rules and practices that Congress has adopted to distinguish appropriations measures and facilitate their consideration. These measures generally provide funding authority in response to the President's budget request for a fiscal year (October 1 through September 30)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Saturno, James; McGarry, Brendan W.
2019-12-23
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Lebanon: Protests and Appointment of New Prime Minister-Designate [Updated December 20, 2019]
From the Document: "On December 19, Lebanese President Michel Aoun appointed Hassan Diab--an engineering professor at the American University of Beirut--as prime minister-designate. Diab will replace former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who resigned on October 29 following nationwide mass protests. While Diab was backed by a simple majority in Lebanon's parliament, he lacks support from some key constituencies, and may struggle to form a new government. Protestors have opposed Diab's nomination, and security and economic conditions in the country continue to deteriorate. Instability in Lebanon could create opportunities for actors of concern to the United States, including Hezbollah and Iran."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humud, Carla E.
2019-12-20
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Defense Primer: Defense Working Capital Funds [Updated December 23, 2019]
From the Document: "Since 1870, the U.S. military has used working capital funds to procure and provide materiel and commercial products and services to its forces. Authorized under 10 U.S.C. §2208, a Defense Working Capital Fund (DWCF) is a type of 'revolving fund' that is intended to operate as a self-supporting entity to fund business-like activities (e.g., acquiring parts and supplies, equipment maintenance, transporting personnel, research and development) for the Department of Defense (DOD). DWCF transactions move hundreds of billions of dollars within DOD annually. According to DOD Financial Management Regulation (FMR) 7000.14-R, 'revolving fund' accounts finance a 'continuing cycle of business-type operations' by incurring 'obligations and expenditures that generate receipts.' DWCFs are designed to break even over the long term through fees charged for products and services provided. These funds are widely used across the DOD in an effort to provide continuous base-support services, utilities, and industrial capabilities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Herrera, G. James
2019-12-23
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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
