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Deprivation of Honest Services as a Basis for Federal Mail and Wire Fraud Convictions [September 16, 2011]
"The United States Supreme Court in 'Skilling v. United States' construed the honest services branch of the federal mail and wire fraud statutes to reach no more than cases involving bribery or kickbacks. The mail and wire fraud statutes, 18 U.S.C. Sections 1341 and 1343, impose criminal penalties for the use of mail or interstate wire communications to deprive another of money or property through a 'scheme or artifice to defraud.' In its 1987 'McNally' decision, the Court had held that while the fraud statutes reached schemes to deprive another of property rights, they did not cover 'the intangible right of the citizenry to good government.' Congress responded almost immediately by enacting the 'honest services' statute, 18 U.S.C. Section 1346, which declares that the phrase 'scheme or artifice to defraud' in the mail and wire statutes also encompasses depriving 'another of the intangible right of honest services.' In its 2009 term, the Court was presented with three honest services cases--'Skilling', 'Black', and 'Weyhrauch'. Each offered the Court a slightly different prerequisite for an honest services conviction--for 'Weyhrauch', a public official, it was an underlying state law violation; for Black, in the private sector, it was foreseeable harm; for 'Skilling', an Enron executive, it was private gain. […] The Court sent each of the three cases back to the lower courts--'Black' and 'Skilling', for a determination of whether erroneous jury instructions on honest services fraud had so tainted their convictions as to require a new trial or whether the instructions simply constituted harmless error; 'Weyhrauch', for the reconsideration in light of the Court's 'Skilling' decision."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2011-09-16
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Intelligence Issues for Congress [Updated July 11, 2008]
"International terrorism, a major threat facing the United States in the 21st century, presents a difficult analytical challenge. Techniques for acquiring and analyzing information on small groups of plotters differ significantly from those used to evaluate the military capabilities of other countries. U.S. intelligence efforts are complicated by unfilled requirements for foreign language expertise. Whether all terrorist surveillance efforts have been consistent with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) has been a matter of controversy. Changes to FISA were enacted in legislation (H.R. 6304) signed by the President on July 10, 2008. Intelligence on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction was inaccurate and Members have criticized the performance of the Intelligence Community in regard to current conditions in Iraq and other situations. Improved analysis, while difficult to mandate, remains a key goal. Better human intelligence, it is argued, is also essential. Intelligence support to military operations continues to be a major responsibility of intelligence agencies. The use of precision guided munitions depends on accurate, real-time targeting data; integrating intelligence data into military operations will require changes in organizational relationships as well as acquiring necessary technologies. Counterterrorism requires the close coordination of intelligence and law enforcement agencies, but there remain many institutional and procedural issues that complicate cooperation between the two sets of agencies. This report will be updated as new information becomes available."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Best, Richard A.
2008-07-11
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Foreign Science and Engineering Presence in U.S. Institutions and the Labor Force [Updated July 23, 2008]
"The debate on the presence of foreign students in graduate science and engineering programs and the workforce has intensified as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001." "Concerns have been expressed about certain foreign students receiving education and training in sensitive areas. There has been increased discussion about the access of foreign scientists and engineers to research and development (R&D) related to chemical and biological weapons. Also, there is discussion of the added scrutiny of foreign students from countries that sponsor terrorism." "The increased presence of foreign students in graduate science and engineering programs and in the scientific workforce has been and continues to be of concern to some in the scientific community. Enrollment of U.S. citizens in graduate science and engineering programs has not kept pace with that of foreign students in those programs. In addition to the number of foreign students in graduate science and engineering programs, a significant number of university faculty in the scientific disciplines are foreign, and foreign doctorates are employed in large numbers by industry. […]. Many in the scientific community maintain that in order to compete with countries that are rapidly expanding their scientific and technological capabilities, the country needs to bring to the United States those whose skills will benefit society and will enable us to compete in the new-technology based global economy. The academic community is concerned that the more stringent visa requirements for foreign students may have a continued impact on enrollments in colleges and universities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Matthews, Christine M.
2008-07-23
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Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress [September 16, 2011]
"The Navy has been procuring Virginia (SSN-774) class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) since FY1998. Fourteen have been procured through FY2011, and another two are requested for FY2012. The eight boats to be procured in the five-year period FY2009-FY2013 (boats 11 through 18, in annual quantities of 1-1-2-2-2) are being procured under a multiyear procurement (MYP) arrangement. The Navy's proposed FY2012 budget requests $3,232.2 million in procurement funding to complete the procurement cost of the 15th and 16th Virginia-class boats. The FY2012 budget estimates the combined procurement cost of these two boats at $5,142.8 million, and under Navy budget plans the boats are to receive a total of $1,910.5 million in prior-year advance procurement (AP) and Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) funding. The Navy's proposed FY2012 budget also requests $1,524.8 million in AP funding for Virginia-class boats to be procured in future years. The Navy's 30-year SSN procurement plan, if implemented, would not be sufficient to maintain a force of 48 SSNs consistently over the long run. The Navy projects that the SSN force will fall below 48 boats starting in 2024, reach a minimum of 39 boats in 2030, and remain below 48 boats through 2041. On September 1, 2011, it was reported that the Navy, in response to anticipated reductions in planned levels of defense spending, is considering a variety of budget-cutting options, but has identified attack submarines as a high priority and wants to preserve the two-per-year procurement rate for the Virginia-class program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2011-09-16
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Building Resilient Supply Chains, Revitalizing American Manufacturing, and Fostering Broad-Based Growth: 100-Day Reviews Under Executive Order 14017
From the Introductory Note: "The enclosed reports assess supply chain vulnerabilities across four key products that [the President] directed [his] Administration to review within 100 days: semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging; large capacity batteries, like those for electric vehicles; critical minerals and materials; and pharmaceuticals and advanced pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The enclosed reports are the work of a task force that we convened across more than a dozen departments and agencies, consultations with hundreds of stakeholders, public comments submitted by industry and experts, and deep analytic research by experts from across the government."
United States. White House Office
2021-06
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FCC's Broadcast Media Ownership and Attribution Rules: The Current Debate [August 19, 2012]
"The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) broadcast media ownership rules, which place restrictions on the number of media outlets that a single entity can own or control in a local market or nationally, are intended to foster the three long-standing goals of U.S. media policy-- competition, localism, and diversity of voices. […] The FCC proposes eliminating its Radio/Television Cross-Ownership rule because it is no longer needed to foster the goals of diversity of voices and localism. It also proposes modifying its Newspaper/Broadcast Cross-Ownership rule to allow certain types of combinations in the 20 largest markets. […] In recent years, many television stations have entered into sharing arrangements with other stations in their local market to jointly sell advertising and/or produce local news programming, typically with one station managing that shared operation and perhaps providing most or all of the staffing and other resources. The FCC seeks public comment on how, for the purposes of the media ownership rules, to attribute control of a broadcast television station that has entered into such a sharing arrangement. […] The FCC also seeks public comment on how to define the criteria for an entity to be eligible for programs intended to promote the diversity of media ownership, and, in particular, to promote ownership by women and minorities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Goldfarb, Charles B.
2012-08-19
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Recent Protests in Muslim Countries: Background and Issues for Congress [September 20, 2012]
"Muslims in a number of countries have responded in recent days with anger at the United States that many observers describe as a response to a privately produced film circulating on the Internet that denigrates Islam and the prophet Mohammed. In some cases, this outrage has taken the form of public expressions by relatively small groups of demonstrators, and in other countries the demonstrations have been larger. In the most extreme cases, such demonstrations have been accompanied by violent attacks against U.S. diplomatic personnel and diplomatic facilities. Preexisting anti-U.S. sentiment and domestic political frustrations also appear to be contributing to the unrest. […] This report provides background information and analysis about the recent wave of protests and includes a summary appendix of select incidents and international responses organized geographically by country. The report discusses several issues of potential interest to Congress, including emerging debates on foreign assistance funding for countries affected by unrest, intelligence and diplomatic security policies, war powers considerations, and the potential effects of the current controversy on long-running international debates on religion and freedom of expression."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Christopher M.
2012-09-20
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Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's Financial Status: Frequently Asked Questions [September 27, 2012]
"Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are stockholder-owned, government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), which purchase existing mortgages, guarantee investors that the mortgages will be paid on time, pool the mortgages into mortgage-backed securities (MBSs), and either keep the MBSs as an investment or sell the MBSs to investors. Congressional charters give the GSEs a special relationship with the federal government, and it is widely believed that the federal government implicitly guarantees their $1.2 trillion in bonds and $3.7 trillion in MBSs. The charters give these GSEs special public policy goals aimed at providing liquidity in the mortgage market and promoting homeownership for underserved groups and locations. In 2008, the GSEs' financial condition had weakened and there were concerns over their ability to meet obligations. On September 7, 2008, the federal government took control of these GSEs from their stockholders and management in a process known as conservatorship. The goal of conservatorship is to restore the GSEs' financial strength and to return control to their stockholders and management. Congressional interest in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has increased in recent years, primarily because the federal government's continuing conservatorship of these GSEs has raised doubts about their future and concerns about the potential cost of supporting them. Congressional interest has been reflected by the introduction of bills to reform or replace the GSEs and by oversight hearings. This report presents, in analytical question and answer form, the major issues surrounding Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's financial conditions, and various public policy options under discussion. A glossary of terms is included at the end of this report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weiss, N. Eric
2012-09-27
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Fruits, Vegetables, and Other Specialty Crops: Selected Federal Programs [October 3, 2012]
"U.S. farmers grow more than 350 types of fruit, vegetable, tree nut, flower, nursery, and other horticultural crops in addition to the major bulk commodity crops. Specialty crop producers are ineligible for the federal commodity price and income support programs that benefit commodity crop producers (e.g., grains and cotton); however, they are eligible for other types of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) support. Unlike federal support for commodity crops, support for specialty crops spans a wide range of existing USDA programs, many of which also provide support to other agricultural commodities. These include marketing and promotion programs, crop insurance and disaster assistance, plant pest and disease protections, trade assistance, and research and extension services, among other types of miscellaneous support. The industry also benefits from fruit and vegetable purchases under various domestic nutrition assistance programs. Despite this wide range of program support, overall program spending on all specialty crops remains a small fraction of that spent on all commodity crops, even when considering both mandatory and discretionary funding."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Johnson, Renée
2012-10-03
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Outside Employment, 'Moonlighting,' by Federal Executive Branch Employees [December 12, 2012]
"Most federal employees in the executive branch of government are not subject to a broad, overall prohibition on so-called 'moonlighting.' Rank-and-file employees of the government are generally free to take an additional, compensated job outside of their federal work, subject to certain specific 'conflict of interest' limitations. High-ranking officials of the government, on the other hand, may be prohibited from taking any outside compensated private job if they are presidential appointees, and may otherwise be limited in the type of outside employment and the amount of private compensation they may receive if they are 'non-career' officials receiving compensation from the federal government over a particular amount. For most employees of the federal government, other than high-level appointees and non-career officials, outside employment opportunities and activities are prohibited when they create a 'conflict of interest' for the employee with respect to his or her official duties and responsibilities for the government. The Office of Government Ethics expressly provides in regulation that such a 'conflict of interest' will arise in two circumstances: (1) when the activity is expressly prohibited either by statute or by a specific agency regulation concerning such conduct; and (2) when general 'conflict of interest' principles and rules would require that an employee recuse or disqualify himself or herself from participating in governmental matters to such an extent as to 'materially impair' the employee's ability to do his or her duty. This report examines general statutory restrictions on certain types and categories of outside, compensated employment activities by federal employees, and surveys specific agency and departmental regulations prohibiting particular types and areas of outside, compensated employment activities for employees of that agency or department."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Maskell, Jack
2012-12-12
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HIV/AIDS International Programs: Appropriations, FY2002-FY2005 [Updated July 15, 2004]
"The Administration's FY2005 request for international HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria programs totals about $2.8 billion, as compared with $2.4 billion appropriated for FY2004. The FY2005 request includes a large increase for the Global AIDS Initiative, headquartered at the Department of State, while the request for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (Global Fund) is $200 million, as compared with $546.7 million appropriated in FY2004. The Foreign Operations Appropriations bill reported in the House (H.R. 4818/H.Rept. 108-599) would provide slightly more than the Administration's request overall, as well as $400 million as the Foreign Operations component of the Global Fund contribution. An additional portion of the contribution is provided through the Labor/Health and Human Services Appropriation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Copson, Raymond W.
2004-07-15
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Alleged Deficiencies in the Management of Staff Exposure to a Patient with COVID-19 at the VA Portland Health Care System in Oregon
From the Executive Summary: "The VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a healthcare inspection in response to a request from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel to determine the validity of allegations related to staff's failure to use proper safety measures in the management of a patient with a confirmed case of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and leaders' failure to take action following staff exposure to a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 in early March 2020 at the VA Portland Health Care System (facility) in Oregon. The allegations focused on staff's possible exposure during this patient's care and facility leaders' actions[.]"
United States. Department of Veterans Affairs. Office of Inspector General
Etherage, Joseph; Broach, Jennifer; De La Cerda, Kimberly . . .
2020-08-27
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Guide to Major Congressional and Presidential Awards [Updated March 31, 2004]
"This report is designed to help congressional offices obtain information about major awards given by Congress and the President. It lists details about the establishment, criteria, selection process, and presentation of each of the major presidential and congressional awards: Congressional Award, Congressional Gold Medal, Medal of Honor, Presidential Citizens Medal, and Presidential Medal of Freedom. Brief entries are provided for additional awards made by the President including two new military medals for service in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT): the GWOT Expeditionary Medal and the GWOT Service Medal. Contact information is provided for the organization responsible for making the award and for more data about an award. References to CRS [Congressional Research Service] products on awards are also given. This report will be updated as necessary."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Torreon, Barbara Salazar
2004-03-31
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HIV/AIDS International Programs: Appropriations, FY2003-FY2005 [Updated August 13, 2004]
"The Administration's FY2005 request for international HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria programs totals about $2.8 billion, as compared with $2.4 billion appropriated for FY2004. The FY2005 request includes a large increase for the Global AIDS Initiative, headquartered at the Department of State, while the request for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (Global Fund) is $200 million, as compared with $546.7 million appropriated in FY2004. The Foreign Operations Appropriations bill that passed the House on July 15, 2004, would provide slightly more than the Administration's request overall and includes $400 million as the Foreign Operations component of the Global Fund contribution. An additional portion of the contribution is provided through the Labor/Health and Human Services Appropriation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Copson, Raymond W.
2004-08-13
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Package Delivery in Rural and Dense Urban Areas
From the Executive Summary: "In 2019, carriers delivered nearly 6 billion packages to every corner of America-- more than 19 million every day. This represents an 87 percent increase in the U.S. Postal Service's package volume since 2013, driven by booming ecommerce sales. Whether they live in an urban high-rise apartment or a rural farm, Americans eagerly await the delivery of their items, which may include household goods, clothing, and prescription drugs. However, delivery to dense urban cores and sparsely populated rural areas are different from delivery to the rest of the country, with distinct operational, market, and financial challenges for the Postal Service. To explore these issues, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) organized the country into High Density, Medium Density, and Low Density areas based on specific characteristics, such as delivery point density. We examined operational challenges and package volume trends primarily in High and Low Density locales, where the Postal Service's profit margins are lowest."
United States Postal Service. Office of Inspector General
2020-09-16
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MDBs to the Rescue? The Evidence on COVID-19 Response
From the Document: "The world is now more than a year into the second global crisis of the century. Both the current [COVID-19 (coronavirus 2019)] pandemic and the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) more than 10 years ago tested the capacity of international financial institutions to respond with speed and scale. This time, the IMF [International Monetary Fund] has stepped up, first with emergency finance facilities, and later this year with a massive injection of global liquidity through a Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation of $650 billion. But what about the multilateral development banks (MDBs)? One of their central roles is to expand the fiscal space of middle- and low-income countries (MICs and LICs) for development spending, exactly what is needed now, and to catalyze finance from the private sector, especially when private finance pulls back. Have they done so? As the 2020 data on MDB finance become available, what can we conclude about how MDBs are performing when the developing world needs them most?"
Center for Global Development
Lee, Nancy; Aboneaaj, Rakan
2021-05
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Israeli-Arab Negotiations: Background, Conflicts, and U.S. Policy [June 9, 2009]
"After the first Gulf war, in 1991, a new peace process consisting of bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon achieved mixed results. Milestones included the Israeli-Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Declaration of Principles (DOP) of September 13, 1993, providing for Palestinian empowerment and some territorial control, the Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty of October 26, 1994, and the Interim Self-Rule in the West Bank or Oslo II accord of September 28, 1995, which led to the formation of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to govern the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, Israeli-Syrian negotiations were intermittent and difficult, and postponed indefinitely in 2000. Negotiations with Lebanon also were unsuccessful, leading Israel to withdraw unilaterally from south Lebanon on May 24, 2000. President Clinton held a summit with Israeli and Palestinian leaders at Camp David on final status issues that July, but they did not produce an accord. A Palestinian uprising or intifadah began in September. On February 6, 2001, Ariel Sharon was elected Prime Minister of Israel, and rejected steps taken at Camp David and afterwards [...] Congress is interested in issues related to Middle East peace because of its oversight role in the conduct of U.S. foreign policy, its support for Israel, and keen constituent interest. It is especially concerned about U.S. financial and other commitments to the parties, and the 111th Congress is engaged in these matters. Congress also has endorsed Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel, although U.S. Administrations have consistently maintained that the fate of the city is the subject of final status negotiations. This CRS report will be updated as developments warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Migdalovitz, Carol
2009-06-09
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Congressional Oversight and Related Issues Concerning International Security Agreements Concluded by the United States [June 2, 2009]
"The United States is a party to numerous security agreements with other nations. The topics covered, along with the significance of the obligations imposed upon agreement parties, may vary. 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). […]. 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
2009-06-02
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Brazil-U.S. Relations [Updated June 3, 2009]
"This report, which will be updated periodically, analyzes Brazil's political, economic, and social conditions, and how those conditions affect its role in the region and its relationship with the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Meyer, Peter J.; Seelke, Clare Ribando
2009-06-03
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Global Financial Crisis: Increasing IMF Resources and the Role of Congress [June 5, 2009]
"The current global financial crisis is testing the ability of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other international financial institutions (IFIs) to provide sufficient assistance to affected countries. It has also enhanced the IMF's role in crisis management and given it a key place in current efforts to reform the world financial system. During the past half-year, many countries have come to the IMF for assistance and more are likely to apply. Several steps have been taken to expand the IMF's financial resources and to otherwise augment the funds available to help vulnerable countries weather the present crisis. At their meeting in London on April 2, 2009, the leaders of the 20 systemically important industrialized and developing countries (G-20) agreed on several initiatives affecting the IMF and other international organizations. […]. Some elements of the above require congressional approval and some do not. U.S. participation in the new IMF quota increase and a U.S. subscription of $100 billion for the NAB would require congressional approval. Likewise, amendments to the IMF Articles--including the prospective Fourth Amendment for a new SDR allocation--would require congressional approval. On the other hand, the proposed $250 billion allocation of SDRs (which is being made under a different provision of the IMF Articles) is too small to trigger the legal requirement that Congress give its assent. Any contributions to the IMF, to fund increases in the U.S. quota or to subscribe new resources to the NAB, must be authorized by Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sanford, Jonathan E.; Weiss, Martin A.
2009-06-05
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Geospatial Information and Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Current Issues and Future Challenges [June 8, 2009]
"The federal government has recognized the need to organize and coordinate the collection and management of geospatial data since at least 1990, when the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revised Circular A-16 to establish the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and to promote the coordinated use, sharing, and dissemination of geospatial data nationwide. OMB Circular A-16 also called for development of a national digital spatial information resource to enable the sharing and transfer of spatial data between users and producers, linked by criteria and standards. Executive Order 12906, issued in 1994, strengthened and enhanced Circular A-16, and specified that FGDC shall coordinate development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2009-06-08
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Chile: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations [June 3, 2009]
This CRS Report "which will be updated as events warrant--provides a brief historical background of Chile, summarizes recent political and economic developments, and addresses issues in U.S.- Chilean relations. [...] Chile has enjoyed close relations with the United States since its transition back to democracy. Both countries have emphasized similar priorities in the region, designed to strengthen democracy, improve human rights, and advance free trade. Chile and the United States have maintained strong commercial ties, which have become more extensive since the bilateral free trade agreement between them entered into force in 2004. U.S. officials have also expressed appreciation for Chile's leadership and moderating influence in a region increasingly characterized by political unrest and anti-American populism."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Meyer, Peter J.
2009-06-03
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Iran's Activities and Influence in Iraq [June 4, 2009]
"This updated CRS Report provides insight into the extent of Iran's activities in Iraq. "With a conventional military and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threat from Saddam Hussein's regime removed, Iran seeks to ensure that Iraq can never again become a threat to Iran, either with or without U.S. forces present in Iraq. Some believe that Iran's intentions go well beyond achieving Iraq's 'neutrality'--that Iran wants to try to harness Iraq to Iran's broader regional policy goals and to help Iran defend against international criticism of Iran's nuclear program. Iran has sought to achieve its goals in Iraq through several strategies: supporting pro-Iranian factions and militias; attempting to influence Iraqi political leaders and faction leaders; and building economic ties throughout Iraq that might build goodwill for Iran. It is Iran's support for armed Shiite factions that most concern U.S. officials. That Iranian activity has hindered--and continues to pose a threat to--U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq, and has heightened the U.S. threat perception of Iran generally. However, Iran has suffered some set backs over the past year because its protege Shiite factions, formerly united, are increasingly competing and often fighting each other. This competition contributed to the relatively poor showing of the most pro-Iranian factions in the January 31, 2009 provincial elections."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2009-06-04
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Coast Guard Deepwater Acquisition Programs: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress [September 23, 2009]
From the Summary: "The term Deepwater refers to a collection of more than a dozen Coast Guard acquisition programs for replacing and modernizing the service's aging fleet of deepwater-capable ships and aircraft. Until April 2007, the Coast Guard pursued these programs as a single, integrated acquisition program that was known as the Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) program or Deepwater program for short. The now-separated Deepwater acquisition programs include plans for, among other things, 91 new cutters, 124 new small boats, and 247 new or modernized airplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). [...] The Government Accountability Office (GAO) provided new assessments of Deepwater acquisition programs in a July 2009 report and April 2009 testimony. The Coast Guard, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), requested $1,051.5 million in FY2010 acquisition funding for Deepwater programs, including $305.5 million for aircraft, $591.4 million for surface ships and boats, and $154.6 million for other items. The House Appropriations Committee, in its report (H.Rept. 111-157 of June 16, 2009) on the FY2010 DHS appropriations bill (H.R. 2892), recommends $1,015.0 million in FY2010 acquisition funding for Deepwater programs, including $269.0 million for aircraft, $591.4 million for surface ships and boats, and $154.6 million for other items. [...]. The Coast Guard Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 (H.R. 1665), the FY2010 Coast Guard authorization bill (H.R. 3619), and the FY2010 and FY2011 Coast Guard authorization bill (S. 1194) contain provisions that would reform Coast Guard acquisition, including Deepwater acquisition programs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
2009-09-23
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International Drug Control Policy [August 24, 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. [...]. 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. Major U.S. programs to combat drug production and trafficking exist in the Andean region of South America, Afghanistan, and Mexico. Through its appropriations and federal oversight responsibilities, the 111th Congress may chose to continue tackling 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
2009-08-24
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U.S. Security Assistance to the Palestinian Authority [June 24, 2009]
"Since shortly after the establishment of limited Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the mid-1990s, the United States has periodically provided assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) for civil security and counterterrorism purposes. Following the death of Yasser Arafat in late 2004 and the election of Mahmoud Abbas as his successor as PA President in early 2005, then-U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice created the office of U.S. Security Coordinator (USSC) for Israel and the Palestinian Authority to help reform, train, and equip PA security forces which had been personally beholden to Arafat and his political allies. Previous Israeli-Palestinian efforts at security cooperation collapsed during the second Palestinian intifada that took place earlier this decade. Since Hamas gained control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007, Lieutenant General Keith Dayton, head of the USSC since November 2005, has helped with the 'gendarmerie-style' training of West Bank-based PA security personnel. As of June 2009, 400 Presidential Guardsmen and 1,700 National Security Forces troops have been trained at the Jordan International Police Training Center (JIPTC) near Amman. All troops, new or already serving, are vetted for terrorist links, human rights violations, and/or criminal records by the State Department, Israel, Jordan, and the PA before they are admitted to U.S.-sponsored training courses at JIPTC."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Zanotti, Jim
2009-06-24
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Indonesia: Domestic Politics, Strategic Dynamics, and American Interests [June 17, 2009]
"This report surveys key aspects of Indonesia's domestic politics and strategic dynamics in addition to provide general background information on Indonesia. It also provides an overview of the bilateral relationship between the United States and Indonesia. The report examines issues of ongoing congressional interest, including Indonesia's role in the struggle against violent Islamist extremists, security assistance, human rights, religious freedom, promotion of democracy and good governance, trade, foreign assistance, and regional geopolitical and strategic interests. The report seeks to provide a broader context for understanding the complex interrelated nature of many of these issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-
2009-06-17
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Emergency Communications: The Future of 911 [June 16, 2009]
This updated CRS Report provides information about modernizing the current 911 emergency system. More specifically, "the balance of this report describes the development of Congressional policy in support of 911, technology and infrastructure, federal programs, the transition to IP-enabled emergency communications, costs, and other elements of change before returning to a discussion of goals for the future. [...] Consumer expectations for accurate and timely response to 911 calls are based on the advanced features available on most communications devices, not on the reality of a faltering legacy system. The analog system cannot carry text messages, for example. Calls are delayed or dropped when analog and digital systems do not mesh. Information on the location of the call is lost because the digital details cannot be transmitted by the underlying telecommunications infrastructure or understood by the computers at Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). PSAPs are the call centers that receive and relay 911 calls. As summarized in a National Emergency Number Association (NENA) report, 'Simply put, the 9-1-1 system has not kept up with technology and is badly in need of modernization.' Modernizing the system to provide the quality of service that approaches the expectations of its users will require investments in new technologies. The general consensus is that present and future digital communications would be best supported by Next Generation 911 technology (NG9-1-1). The term NG9-1-1 is widely used to refer to the modernization of all parts of the 911 system, including hardware, software, data, and operational policies and procedures, all supported by multi-purpose emergency service networks."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Moore, L. K. S. (Linda K. S.)
2009-06-16
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Global Peace Operations Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress [June 11, 2009]
This Congressional Research Service (CRS) report discusses the Global Peace Operations Initiative. "The 111th Congress may consider extending funding for the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), the centerpiece of the Bush Administrations efforts to prepare foreign security forces to participate in international peacekeeping operations. GPOI was established in mid-2004 as a five-year program with intended annual funding to total $660 million from FY2005 through FY2009. The primary purpose of the five-year program was to train and equip 75,000 military troops, a majority of them African, for peacekeeping operations by 2010. In October 2008, the National Security Council's Deputies Committee approved a five-year renewal of GPOI's mandate, which the Obama Administration affirmed once it took office, according to the State Department. [...]. Congress has tended to view the concept of the GPOI program favorably, albeit sometimes with reservations. Over the years, the State Department has addressed various congressional concerns. A June 2008 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report (GAO-08-754) responded to a congressional request to investigate several points. Among them were (1) the extent to which contributing and participating countries maintain records and databases; (2) the quality and sustainability of the training of individuals and units; (3) the extent to which those trained are equipped and remain equipped to deploy in peace operations; (4) participating countries capacity to mobilize those trained; (5) the extent to which trained individuals are deployed; and (6) the extent to which contractors are used and the quality of their results. The committee also requested an assessment of whether GPOI was achieving its goals."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Serafino, Nina M.
2009-06-11
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Haiti: Current Conditions and Congressional Concerns [June 17, 2009]
"Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Since the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship in 1986, Haiti has struggled to overcome its centuries-long legacy of authoritarianism, extreme poverty, and underdevelopment. While some progress has been made in developing democratic institutions, they remain weak. Economic and social stability have improved considerably. But poverty remains massive and deep, and economic disparity is wide. [...]. Haiti remains the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Over half the population of 8.2 million people live in extreme poverty. Since Haiti's developmental needs and priorities are many, and deeply intertwined, the Haitian government and the international donor community are implementing an assistance strategy to address these many needs simultaneously. [...]. The main priorities for U.S. policy regarding Haiti are to strengthen fragile democratic processes, continue to improve security, and promote economic development. Other concerns include the cost and effectiveness of U.S. aid; protecting human rights; combating narcotics, arms, and human trafficking; addressing Haitian migration; and alleviating poverty. The FY2009 aid request for Haiti was $246 million. The Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-8) provided for an additional $41 million in bilateral economic and international security assistance for Haiti. The FY2010 aid request for Haiti is $293 million. The 111th Congress may consider the balance and scope of assistance to Haiti. Members have already requested that the Obama Administration grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitians living in the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Taft-Morales, Maureen
2009-06-17
