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• Border Security--2015, Volume 2 of 2, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session; Securing the Border: Understanding Threats and Strategies for the Northern Border, April 22, 2015; Securing the Border: Fencing, Infrastructure, and Technology Force Multipliers, May 13, 2015; The 2014 Humanitarian Crisis at Our Border: A Review of the Government's Response to Unaccompanied Minors One Year Later, July 7, 2015; Securing the Border: Understanding Threats and Strategies for the Maritime Border, July 15, 2015; All Hands on Deck: Working Together to End the Trafficking and Abuse of Prescription Opioids, Heroin, and Fentanyl, September 14, 2015; Ongoing Migration from Central America: An Examination of FY 2015 Apprehensions, October 21, 2015; America's Heroin Epidemic at the Border: Local, State and Federal Law Enforcement Efforts to Combat Illicit Narcotic Trafficking, November 23, 2015

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  This hearing is spread over multiple days on "Border Security," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the opening statement of Thomas R. Carper: "Over the past couple months, we have spent a fair amount of time on this Committee, as some of you know because you have been here, focusing on trying to better understand the security challenges that we face along our Southern Border with Mexico. But as large and challenging as our Southern Border is, our shared border with Canada is even larger and comes with its own unique opportunities and risks. Our shared border with Canada is-listen to this-the largest in the world. It spans some 4,000 miles. And when you add in Alaska, Alaska's borders with Canada, that goes up to about 5,500 miles. It is huge. It is also an economic powerhouse for both of our countries. According to at least one estimate, some 300,000 people and $1.5 billion in trade cross the U.S.-Canada border every day. That is something to celebrate, even as we pay close attention to addressing potential border threats." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Stephen C. Goss, Eileen J. O'Connor, Luke Peter Bellocchi, Shawn Moran, Bo Cooper, Michael Chertoff, Marc E. Frey, Brian Michael Jenkins, Mark Koumans, Maureen Dugan, Edward J. Ramotowski, Chris Cabrera, Mark J. Dannels, Howard G. Buffett, Othal E. Brand, Monica Weisberg-Stewart, Barry R. McCaffrey, John P. Torres, Elizabeth Kempshall, Benny Martinez, Bryan E. Costigan, William A. Kandel, Roger F. Noriega, Adolfo A. Franco, Eric L. Olson, Woodrow Wilson, Alan D. Bersin, Francisco Palmieri, Kenneth E. Tovo, Jeffrey S. Passel, Daniel Garza, Madeline Zavodny, Randel K. Johnson, Marc R. Rosenblum, Michael J. Fisher, James C. Spero, John Wagner, David Rodriguez Richard S. Hartunian, Randolph D. Alles, Mark Borkowski, Ronald Vitiello, Anh Duong, Rebecca Gambler, Michael John Garcia, Juan P. Osuna, Mark H. Greenberg, Philip T. Miller, Joseph E. Langlois, Peter J. Brown, Randolph D. Alles, Peter T. Edge, Enoch ''Nick'' Willard, Doug Griffin, Heidi Moran, Michael P. Botticelli, R. Gil Kerlikowske, John ''Jack'' Riley, Kimberly M. Gianopoulos, Chris Cabrera Kevin Casas-Zamora, D.Phil., Peter D. Bell, Duncan Wood, Mark J. Seitz, Douglas A. Ducey, Frank Milstead, Bill Montgomery, Mark J. Dannels, Dawn Mertz, Brandon Judd, and Jeff Taylor.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2016
• Treaty Powers Resolution, Hearings Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, Ninety-Fourth Congress, Second Session on S. Res. 486 Relating to the Treaty Powers of the Senate, July 21 and 28, 1976

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  This document contains the July 21 and 28, 1976 hearings on the "Treaty Powers Resolution," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. From the opening statement of Dick Clark: "The Foreign Relations Committee today begins hearings on Senate Resolution 486, a resolution to reaffirm the constitutional treaty power of the Senate by restricting the scope of executive agreements. The resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that international agreements involving significant political, military, or economic commitments to foreign countries properly constitute treaties which should be submitted to the Senate for its advice and consent. The resolution further expresses the sense of the Senate that, in determining whether an international agreement properly constitutes a treaty, the President should consult with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Arthur Bestor, Rcihard A. Falk, William D. Hathway, Monroe Leigh, and Arthur S. Miller.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1977
• Child Tax Credit: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Child Credit for 2021 as Expanded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA; P.L. 117-2) [Updated September 15, 2021]

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  From the Document: "In March of 2021, Congress passed legislation significantly expanding the child tax credit for one year as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA; P.L. 117-2). ARPA expanded the eligibility for and the amount of the credit for 2021, especially for low- and middle-income taxpayers. The law also directed the Treasury Secretary to establish a program to advance up to half of the total credit amount 'before' 2021 income taxes are filed. This is a departure from most other tax benefits, which are typically delivered annually in a lump sum after federal income tax returns are filed. The 117th Congress is considering proposals to extend and/or modify the temporary child credit expansion included in APRA. In April 2021, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal released a discussion draft of the Building an Economy for Families Act that includes a provision to permanently extend the ARPA changes to the child credit. The Biden Administration has proposed making the full refundability provision included in ARPA permanent, while extending other ARPA provisions through the end of 2025. This report provides answers to selected frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the ARPA-expanded child credit for 2021."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Crandall-Hollick, Margot L.

  2021-09-15
• Inflation in the Wake of COVID-19 [September 1, 2021]

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  From the Introduction: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has led to many unexpected and unprecedented economic developments. One of those developments is higher price inflation than the United States has experienced in recent decades. According to several measures, including the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, prices have risen more rapidly than usual on both a monthly and an annual basis for several months, most notably since March 2021. [...] Inflation is a policy concern for Congress in multiple ways. First, higher prices affect spending on government programs and the capacity of government programs at a given spending level. Second, high inflation is unpopular with the general public because it erodes purchasing power. Third, rising inflation might be a leading signal of an overheating economy. [...] This report begins by explaining what inflation is and how it is measured. It then discusses the costs of inflation, as well as the costs of inflation being too low. Next, it discusses the potential causes of inflation. Then it discusses the history of inflation in the United States since World War II. Finally, it analyzes the causes and implications of the current situation and prospects for future inflation."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Labonte, Marc; Weinstock, Lida R.

  2021-09-01
• Pandemic Relief: The Emergency Rental Assistance Program [Updated September 8, 2021]

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  From the Introduction: "The Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program was created to help cover the unmet rent and utility expenses of low-income households affected by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. [Public Law] 116-260) initially funded the ERA program with an appropriation of $25 billion. The ERA was funded through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), a program created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136), and administered by the Department of the Treasury, to assist state, local, territorial, and tribal governments. While the CARES Act CRF appropriation could be used for multiple purposes, the ERA appropriation in P.L. 116-260 was directed only to rent and utility assistance and related housing stability services. A second appropriation--of $21.550 billion--for ERA was included in Section 3201 of the American Rescue Plan Act (P.L. 117-2). This report briefly describes the need for rental assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, provides information about the allocation of ERA funds, describes the parameters of the ERA program, and discusses outstanding questions about the program and renter needs."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Driessen, Grant A.; McCarty, Maggie; Perl, Libby

  2021-09-08
• EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 37, September 16, 2021

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  The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "Upcoming COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccination and testing requirements for EMS [emergency medical services] agencies"; "Lessons learned from 9/11 and responders' evolving roles in today's threat environment"; "FEMA updates National Risk Index"; "Webinar: CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] Cybersecurity Advisor discusses the cyber threat landscape and resources from CISA"; "Ransomware Risk Management: Draft NISTIR [National Institute of Standards and Technology Interagency (or Internal) Report] 8374 available for comment"; "MS-ISAC [Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center]: End-of-Support Software Report - September 2021"; "Hackers could increase medication doses through infusion pump flaws"; "Microsoft rolls out passwordless login for all Microsoft accounts."

  Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)

  2021-09-16
• Latin America and the Caribbean: Impact of COVID-19 [Updated September 3, 2021]

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  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 September 1, 2021, the region had 43.3 million confirmed cases (almost 21% of cases worldwide) and more than 1.4 million deaths (almost 32% of deaths worldwide). Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and Argentina had the region's highest numbers of deaths. Looking at mortality (death) rates per 100,000 population, Peru had the highest recorded COVID-19 mortality rate in the region, followed by Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay. [...] The rollout of vaccines has varied considerably, and there is concern that widespread vaccine access in some countries could be delayed until 2022 or 2023, making populations vulnerable to new waves and more transmittable variants of the virus. According to PAHO's [Pan American Health Organization's] director, as of September 1, 2021, 25% of the population of Latin America and the Caribbean had been fully vaccinated. [...] As of June 2021, the U.S. Agency for International Development had obligated nearly $218 million to support the region's pandemic response. Congress is now considering the Biden Administration's FY2022 budget request, which would provide nearly $2.1 billion of aid to help the region recover from the pandemic and address other challenges."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sullivan, Mark P.; Meyer, Peter J.

  2021-09-03
• Potential FEMA Emergency Sheltering Options During the COVID-19 Pandemic [Updated September 1, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Some hazards (e.g., hurricanes, wildfires) may result in evacuations and the displacement of disaster survivors. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state, local, tribal, and territorial governments (SLTTs) are responsible [hyperlink] for conducting emergency sheltering operations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [hyperlink] and FEMA [hyperlink] have provided SLTTs with guidance and assistance to safely shelter disaster survivors during the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This Insight discusses emergency sheltering models used by FEMA, FEMA's pandemic-modified emergency sheltering policies [hyperlink], pandemic-related emergency sheltering challenges faced by SLTTs, and policy considerations for Congress."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Webster, Elizabeth M.; Lee, Erica A.

  2021-09-01
• CDC's Federal Eviction Moratorium [Updated August 31, 2021]

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  From the Document: "On August 26, 2021, the Supreme Court blocked enforcement [hyperlink] of the new order temporarily imposing an eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Court determined [hyperlink] that the plaintiffs were 'virtually certain to succeed on the merits of their argument that the CDC has exceeded its authority.' The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the moratorium, and lower courts may still issue decisions on its legality even as evictions are allowed to proceed. (See this Legal Sidebar [hyperlink] for discussion of the Supreme Court ruling.) The CDC originally imposed a nationwide, temporary federal moratorium on residential evictions for nonpayment of rent on September 4, 2020 ('initial order') [hyperlink]. The CDC extended the initial order several times, until it expired on July 31, 2021. On August 3, 2021, the CDC issued a new order [hyperlink] implementing another eviction moratorium through October 3, 2021 [hyperlink] ('new order'). The new order was applicable only in counties with heightened rates of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] [hyperlink] community transmission. Both CDC orders were intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by preventing homelessness and overcrowded housing conditions resulting from eviction. The CDC's actions, which followed an Executive Order [hyperlink] directing it to consider such measures, are unprecedented, both in terms of the breadth of the agency's use of this public health authority [hyperlink] and its reach into what is traditionally [hyperlink] state and local governance of landlord-tenant law."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarty, Maggie; Perl, Libby; Carpenter, David Hatcher

  2021-08-31
• COVID-19-Related Fiscal Response: Recent Actions and Future Options [August 31, 2021]

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  From the Document: "The federal response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has included programs providing economic relief to individuals, businesses, and state and local governments. Expiration or exhaustion of several of these programs has generated congressional discussions on the effect extending some of these programs could have on the U.S. economy's short- and long-term performance. This Insight briefly summarizes the fiscal policy response to COVID-19, highlights some programs that are near expiration or exhaustion of funding, and discusses underlying economic issues."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Driessen, Grant A.; Weinstock, Lida R.

  2021-08-31
• COVID-19-Related Impact on the Banking Industry: Conditions in the First Quarter 2021 [September 9, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Although bank regulation is designed to allow banks to withstand some amount of unexpected losses, some worry that the economic ramifications of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic could result in enough borrowers missing loan payments to cause distress for banks [hyperlink]. This Insight presents certain bank industry statistics for the first quarter 2021 and examines how the pandemic might be affecting the industry."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Gnanarajah, Raj; Perkins, David W.

  2021-09-09
• Status of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Related Energy Security Issues, Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, October 17, 2019

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  This is the October 17, 2019 hearing on "The Status of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Related Energy Security Issues," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. From the opening statement of Lisa Murkowski: "[W]e have had many, many conversations about the significance, the importance of the SPRO [Strategic Petroleum Reserve or SPR]. We use a lot of terminology about not using this as an ATM [automated teller machine] or the piggy bank or the cash mechanism for so many other initiatives. But it seems that we are in a never-ending place trying to educate people about the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. We are going to continue that education process this morning as we speak about its importance to our national energy security. The SPRO is a vital national asset. In a pair of staff reports that we released back in 2015--I argued that it must be maintained in case of supply disruptions and the economic shockwaves that can follow. We entitled one, ''A Turbulent World: In Defense of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.'' [...] I think we recognize that you don't give up your health insurance policy when you are healthy. We should not give up on the SPRO just because we are producing more oil right now. In fact, I believe the SPRO, the most important strategic energy stockpile in the world, is critical to our American energy dominance." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Linda Capuano, Steven E. Winberg, Jason E. Bordoff, Phillip Brown, and Keisuke Sadamori.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Provider Relief Fund: Frequently Asked Questions [Updated September 15, 2021]

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  From the Summary: "The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) was established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, P.L. [Public Law] 116-136) to reimburse, through grants or other mechanisms, eligible health care providers for increased expenses or lost revenue attributable to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The CARES Act provided $100 billion to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus, domestically and internationally. The amounts were subsequently increased by $78 billion, with $75 billion added in the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (PPPHCEA, P.L. 116-139) and $3 billion in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260). The latter was the first time the Provider Relief Fund was referred to in statute and required changes to the fund's reporting requirements and requirements for future fund allocations. The answers to the frequently asked questions (FAQs) in this report provide overview information on the PRF, how funds have been allocated, and the fund's requirements for provider reporting. In addition, this report describes the use of the PRF to pay providers for providing coronavirus testing, treatment, and vaccines to uninsured individuals and the use of the fund to pay providers for costs associated with vaccinating individuals who are underinsured (e.g., who do not have insurance that covers vaccine administration)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Heisler, Elayne J., 1976-

  2021-09-15
• Supreme Court Blocks Enforcement of the CDC's Eviction Moratorium [August 30, 2021]

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  From the Document: "On August 26, 2021, the Supreme Court blocked enforcement [hyperlink] of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) nationwide temporary eviction moratorium issued on August 3, 2021. In granting [hyperlink] the plaintiffs' emergency motion to vacate a lower court's ruling allowing the moratorium to remain in place pending appeal, the Court determined [hyperlink] that the plaintiffs were 'virtually certain to succeed on the merits of their argument that the CDC has exceeded its authority.' The Court did not reach a decision on the merits of the underlying case regarding whether the CDC has the legal authority to impose an eviction moratorium, as that case is on appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ('D.C. Circuit'). The CDC originally imposed a nationwide, temporary federal moratorium on residential evictions for nonpayment of rent on September 4, 2020 [hyperlink], shortly after a narrower set of eviction protections established by the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act (§ 4024) expired [hyperlink]. [...] Citing [hyperlink] a surge of cases spurred by the Delta variant, the CDC issued a new order [hyperlink] on August 3, 2021 implementing another eviction moratorium through October 3, 2021 [hyperlink]."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Carpenter, David Hatcher

  2021-08-30
• Bolivia: An Overview [Updated September 1, 2021]

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  From the Document: "After a year of political instability and more than a decade of tense relations with the United States, Bolivia has a new president who has vowed to work with the Biden Administration. Luis Arce took office in November 2020 after winning 55% of the vote in October 2020 elections in which his Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party maintained a legislative majority. President Arce is seeking to help Bolivia recover from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and pursuing justice for human rights violations committed in 2019. [...] The COVID-19 pandemic, which had caused more than 18,400 deaths through August 2021, weakened demand for Bolivia's gas exports and pushed the country into a deep recession. The economy shrank by 7.7% in 2020, but the IMF [International Monetary Fund] predicts growth of 5.5% in 2021. Poverty increased, but the government lacked funding for social programs, aside from cash transfers to the poor paid for with a World Bank loan. A wealth tax enacted in December 2020 has raised some revenue, but the Arce government is seeking multilateral debt relief and foreign investment. International financial institutions likely would condition debt relief on fiscal adjustments, which have generated protests and impeded governability elsewhere in the region. As of September 1, 2021, the Bolivian government had fully vaccinated 23% of the population, according to Johns Hopkins University."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Seelke, Clare Ribando

  2021-09-01
• Canadian Railroads Competing to Acquire Major U.S. Freight Line [Updated September 2, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS), two of the seven Class I companies that handle long-distance U.S. rail traffic, announced a merger agreement in March. In April, another Class I carrier, Canadian National (CN), submitted what it termed a 'superior proposal' to acquire KCS, which was accepted in May. Either deal, if approved by shareholders and federal regulators, would be the largest consolidation of major railroads in several decades, and would create the first railroad network to serve Canada, the United States, and Mexico under a single corporate owner. While this could lead to better service for some shippers, it could also have adverse consequences for competition in freight transportation. Any transaction is likely to undergo lengthy review by the Surface Transportation Board (STB). On August 31, all five STB commissioners voted to deny [hyperlink] CN's request to create a 'voting trust' to hold shares of KCS, an arrangement that would have allowed CN to acquire shares while the merger is still pending before the Board. The decision follows President Biden's July executive order [hyperlink] encouraging federal agencies to take steps to preserve competition throughout the economy. While STB's decision may or may not reflect the merger's prospects, it signals that regulators are considering the potential implications closely."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Goldman, Ben

  2021-09-02
• Challenges at the Border, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, July 9 and 16, 2014

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  This is the July 9 and 16, 2014 hearing on "Challenges at the Border," held before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the opening statement of Thomas R. Carper: "In 2006, just 8 years ago, the Border Patrol apprehended more than a million people at the border. Last year, we stopped just over 420,000. Some got through, but most did not. And while the most recent recession played a role in that drop, I think it is clear that the investments we have made in recent years have paid off. Although overall migration is still at historic lows, we are now facing a large surge, as we know, in undocumented immigration from the Central American countries, including unprecedented numbers of unaccompanied children and families showing up at our borders. Some are saying that the current situation shows that our borders are not secure. I do not believe this is true. And, let me be clear. These children and their families are not slipping past our borders undetected. They are being apprehended in large numbers by the Border Patrol almost as soon as they touch the United States, often turning themselves in voluntarily." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Craig W. Fugate, Mark H. Greenberg, Gil R. Kerlikowske, Juan P. Osuna, Franciso, and Thomas S. Winkiwski.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2016
• Oversight of the Consumer Product Safety Commission: Product Safety in the Holiday Season, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session, December 2, 2010

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  From the opening statement of Mark Pryor: "Each year, billions of toys are purchased by consumers and end up in the hands of children. Unfortunately, not all these toys are safe. Last year, 12 children died as a result of injuries related to toys, and thousands ended up in emergency rooms. While it's difficult to prevent all such injuries, it is the mission of the Consumer Product Safety Commission to protect the general public against unreasonable risk of injury and death associated with toys and other consumer products, and to assist consumers in evaluating the comparative safety of those products. Each year, on average, over 28,000 deaths related to consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction occur. Researchers estimate the cost of deaths, injuries, and property damage associated with consumer products totals more than $800 billion annually in the United States. Consequently, the importance of this agency and the efforts to reduce these statistics while building safer communities and a safer marketplace cannot be overstated." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark Pryor, Roger F. Wicker, Tom Udall, Amy Klobuchar, Inez M. Tenenbaum, Anne M. Northup, Rachel Weintraub, Stephen Lamar, H. Garry Gardner, Jill Chuckas, Maria Cantwell, Frank R. Lautenberg, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Johnny Isakson.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2011
• Patterns of Abuse: Assessing Bank Secrecy Act Compliance and Enforcement, Hearing Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session on Examining Bank Secrecy Act Compliance and Enforcement, March 7, 2013

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  This is the March 7, 2013 hearing on "Patterns of Abuse: Assessing Bank Secrecy Act Compliance and Enforcement" held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. From the opening statement of Chairman Tim Johnson: "Today we will assess large money center banks' compliance with U.S. anti-money laundering rules. Our financial system is a major target for those who want to conceal and move illicit funds since the dollar is the world's reserve currency. That is why strong AML [anti-money laundering] compliance coupled with tough enforcement is critical. In recent years we have seen major enforcement actions against a large number of global banks that allowed billions of dollars to flow through the U.S. financial system in a concealed way. They include ABN AMRO [Algemene Bank Nederland-Amsterdam Roterdam Bank], Lloyd's, Credit Suisse, Wachovia, Barclay's, ING [International Netherlands Group bank], Standard Chartered, and HSBC [Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation]. These banks violated the Bank Secrecy Act [BSA] and our sanctions rules against Iran, Cuba, and other countries in various ways, which cost the banks over $5 billion in fines and forfeitures. In addition, Citibank and JPMorgan Chase have been required to overhaul their BSA compliance systems in the face of major violations. […] We must do more to ensure that global banks, including their affiliates and branches who seek access to the U.S. system, have effective anti-money laundering systems in place. If the recent record of AML-related violations by U.S. banks is any indication, we clearly have a long way to go before that is accomplished. I hope today's hearing can advance the discussion of how to reach this goal." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Davis S. Cohen, Thomas J. Curry and Jerome H. Powell.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2013
• Oversight Hearing on the Brownfield's Program--Cleaning Up and Rebuilding Communities, Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, October 19, 2011

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  This is the October 19, 2011 oversight hearing on "the Brownfield's Program--Cleaning Up and Rebuilding Communities" held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health of the Committee on Environment and Public Works. From the opening statement of Frank Lautenberg: "Brownfields are blighted properties that have been a drag on local economies because of contamination or the mere perception of contamination. Often, these are abandoned industrial sites where parents don't want their kids to play, and few businesses will take the chance to locate in one of these sites. Now, the EPA started its Brownfields program more than a decade ago to transform these community eyesores into community assets. Since then, EPA has cleared up more than 600 Brownfields in communities across our Country, putting more than 20,000 acres back to productive use." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: David R. Lloyd, Mick Cornett, Elizabeth Spinelli, Aaron Scheff, E. Evans Paull, and Marjorie Buckholtz

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Climate Change Impacts and Responses in Island Communities, Field Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, March 19, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Daniel K. Inouye: "Over the past year, climate change has become a topic of discussion, not only at the highest government levels, but throughout the world, and it's become a political issue. New important research and assessments continue to be produced, which allow the public and policymakers to make more informed decisions, and engage in more meaningful discussions. Speaking of discussions, I believe one of the most important ones was held last year at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali. I considered this important enough to send some of my staff there. This meeting, as you may be aware, established a road map to develop a new approach that will serve as the logical extension of the Kyoto Protocol. Regardless of the causes of climate change, its effects are felt by everyone. That fact is never more apparent than for those who call this island community a home." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Daniel K. Inouye, Karl Kim, Jo-Ann C. Leong, Fred T. Mackenzie, Richard E. Rocheleau, Bill Thomas, and Goro Uehara.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Weathering Change: Need for Continued Innovation in Forecasting and Prediction, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, November 16, 2011

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  From the opening statement of Mark Begich: "We're here to talk about the weather and the climate, which really is just the same as weather, on a longer time scale. Today's hearing is meant to provide oversight of these two important functions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, otherwise known as NOAA. NOAA's weather programs touch the lives of every American every day. Forecasts help people make informed decisions, whether a family planning their annual trip from their village to Anchorage, or a fisherman trying to stay safe in the Gulf of Maine. And while the phrase 'climate change' is always controversial, we in Alaska are already living the effects. Having solid information about climate trends is critical for good governance and business planning. […] Today's hearing is meant to push deeper and promote cost-effective and earlier decisions regarding program management in the deployment of weather and climate services. The last administration ran up a multi-billion price tag due to program delays in the management of the weather satellites, and I want to make sure this administration is a better steward of the taxpayer funding." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark Begich, Olympia J. Snowe, John Boozman, Mary M. Glackin, Todd J. Zinser, David C. Trimble, Cari B. Thomas, Tom Iseman, Peter P. Neilley, Robert S. Marshall, John D. Rockefeller, IV, Daniel A. Sobien, Maria Cantwell, and Amy Klobuchar.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Reviewing the Department of Transportation's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that Clarifies the Rules Regarding Foreign Investment in U.S. Air Carriers, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Aviation of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, Second Session, May 9, 2006

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  From the opening statement of Conrad Burns: "Today, we review the recently issued Department of Transportation supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking that seems to clarify the rules regarding foreign investment in U.S. air carriers. Since 1926, Federal law has required U.S. air carriers, including cargo carriers, to be owned or controlled by citizens of the United States. The Department of Transportation is tasked with enforcing those statutes. One criteria of that enforcement is a citizenship review of who is in actual control of the airline. The interpretation and impacts of actual control of an airline will be examined today. Currently, both the House and Senate versions of the supplemental appropriations bill contain, in one form or another, provisions blocking this rulemaking. Conference meetings will soon commence on that bill, and I am hopeful that this hearing will assist us in making a principled decision on how to ultimately address this issue." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Conrad Burns, Byron L. Dorgan, Frank R. Lautenberg, Trent Lott, John McCain, Mark Pryor, John Mica, James L. Oberstar, Jeffrey N. Shane, Frederick W. Smith, Jeffery Smisek, Michael G. Whitaker, Duane Woerth, Earl B. Boyanton, Jr., John Ensign, Daniel K. Inouye, and Ted Stevens.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2011
• Hearing to Examine S. 383, the Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies Act, and the State of Current Technologies That Reduce, Capture, and Use Carbon Dioxide, Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, February 27, 2019

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  This is the February 27, 2019 hearing titled "Hearing to Examine S. 383, the Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies Act, and the State of Current Technologies That Reduce, Capture, and Use Carbon Dioxide," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. From the opening statement of John Barrasso: "Today we are here to discuss Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies Act, or simply, the USEIT Act. The USEIT Act would encourage the commercial use of man-made carbon dioxide emissions. The bill supports the use of carbon capture technology, including direct air capture. The legislation also expedites permitting for carbon dioxide pipelines in order to move the carbon dioxide from where it is captured to where it is stored or used." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Paul Sukut, Steve Oldham, and Kurt Waltzer.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2019
• Environmental and Economic Impacts of Ocean Acidification, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session, April 22, 2010

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  From the opening statement of Maria Cantwell: "We live on a blue planet. And on this day, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, it's no coincident that we are focusing our attention on our oceans. They are 70 percent of the Earth's surface and provide a foundation for all of life. And yet, there is a grave threat that lies hidden beneath the surface, called 'ocean acidification.' And since the start of the Industrial Revolution, humans have increased the global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration by 35 percent. But, carbon dioxide is not only accumulating in our atmosphere, it is being absorbed by our oceans. Approximately one-quarter of our global carbon dioxide emissions end up in oceans, and we know now that this is changing the very chemistry of our oceans. And while the full implications of these changes are unclear, the initial signs are frightening. As sea water becomes more acidic, it begins to withhold the basic chemical building blocks needed by marine organisms. Scientists predict that a more acidic ocean could dissolve the shells of tiny organisms that make up the base of the ocean's food chain. And when it comes to ocean acidification, we are not just damaging the ocean's ecosystem, we are threatening its very foundation. And even though these changes are occurring out of sight and below the surface of the ocean, we are starting to see some of the very worrying signs. And that's what this hearing today is to discuss." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Maria Cantwell, Olympia J. Snowe, Barbara Boxer, Frank R. Lautenberg, Mark Begich, Sigourney Weaver, Thomas Ingram, Donald A. Waters, James P. Barry, and John T. Everett.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2011
• Colorado Wildfires, Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session to Discuss the Recent Colorado Wildfires, Focusing on Lessons Learned That Can be Applied to Future Suppression, Recovery and Mitigation Efforts, Colorado Springs, CO, August 15, 2012

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  From the opening statement of Mark Udall: "Today, we will have an informative discussion on the wildfire challenges the West faces, as well as finding lessons that we can apply to future suppression, recovery, and mitigation efforts. Our forests are the backdrop and backbone to many rural and urban communities. They provide a wide range of benefits, including clean drinking water for millions of people across the U.S., vital wildlife habitat, jobs in the forest products industry, and a variety of recreation opportunities. But it's also well understood that our forests, regardless of their stewards, face significant threats to their overall health. More people in fire prone landscapes, larger and more frequent wild land fires, long-term drought, the bark beetle outbreak, and unhealthy landscapes have created a perfect storm: wild land fires that continue to burn larger and require more resources to fight every year. Fire suppression now consumes nearly half of the U.S. Forest Service's annual budget. That's an astounding figure that should be an eye-opener to all of us. For a different outcome, we need a different approach, and we all do have a role to play. In this case, the best offense, in my opinion, is a good defense. The same principle applies to wildfires." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jimbo Buickerood, Nancy Fishering, James Hubbard, Merrill R. Kaufmann, Mike King, and Mark Udall.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Halliburton and U.S. Business Ties to Iran: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, First Session, April 30, 2007

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  From the opening statement of Hon. Byron L. Dorgan, U.S. Senator from North Dakota: "Today's hearing is intended to examine the question of whether U.S. corporations should be able to do business in countries that are prohibited, countries with whom we have economic sanctions. Particularly in this case we will talk about Iran, but other countries are involved as well. Should U.S. corporations be able to do business in these countries through their foreign subsidiaries? We have a number of countries that are subject at this point to sanctions, the countries of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, for example. This country has passed legislation dealing with a number of these countries. With the country of Iran, we have passed the Iran Sanctions Act. In a number of cases, we know from information that we have received and we know from public published reports that American-chartered corporations have done business through the exceptions that exist with a number of these countries. Let me speak especially about the country of Iran for the moment, but it applies, as I understand it, to other countries as well. When our country with a foreign policy objective establishes sanctions against another country, a prohibited country, suggesting that for foreign policy reasons we want to prohibit certain economic activity and certain connections between our country and theirs, in order to, through economic sanctions, apply some pressure and some injury to a country for behaving in a manner that is not consistent with the manner that we determine appropriate."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2007
• America's Water Infrastructure Needs and Challenges, Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, Second Session, January 10, 2018

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  This is the January 10, 2018 hearing on "America's Water Infrastructure Needs and Challenges," held before the Committee on Environment and Public Works. From the opening statement of John Barrasso: "Unlike other contentious issues, historically Republicans and Democrat members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee have been able to work together and pass WRDA [Water Resource Development Act] legislation. To put it another way, this is legislation that moves. Regardless of party affiliation, we understand that these kinds of investments are far too important to our economy and security to fall victim to partisan politics. The members of this Committee represent a diverse group of communities with different needs. Our Committee has members that represent Baltimore, Maryland, and Anchorage, Alaska; Des Moines, Iowa, and Mobile, Alabama; Greybull, Wyoming; Wilmington, Delaware. The citizenry and millions of other Americans expect Congress to do its job by passing WRDA legislation to grow their economies and to keep them safe." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Scott Robinson, Bill Cassidy, Julia Ufner, William Friedman, Nicole T. Carter, and Steve Cochran.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2018
• Impacts of COVID-19 on Women's Social and Economic Outcomes: An Updated Review of the Evidence

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  From the Abstract: "In an updated review on the gendered social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] crisis, we examine 49 studies identified by our search criteria between January and March 2021. This review included peer-reviewed papers, pre-prints and working papers that met specific search terms, contained empirical analyses and complete information on the study methodology, and included findings on the gendered social and economic impacts of the pandemic in low- and middle-income contexts. This collection of evidence largely confirms previous findings that in many arenas, women are bearing the greatest burdens of the crisis. Evidence continues to mount that woman [sic] have faced greater employment and income losses, have shouldered the majority of increases in unpaid care work, and have endured increased levels of violence. Gaps remain regarding the impacts on women agricultural workers and women entrepreneurs and, importantly, intrahousehold poverty and food insecurity. New evidence largely confirms however, that women are disproportionately and negatively impacted by the pandemic and policy responses must be sensitive to this reality."

  Center for Global Development; University of California, San Diego. Center on Gender Equity and Health

  O'Donnell, Megan; Bourgault, Shelby; McDougal, Lotus . . .

  2021-08
• 20 Years: Commemoration, Reflection, Healing

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  From the Document: "The 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001 comes at a troubled time. The entire WTC [World Trade Center] Health Program community has experienced hardships stemming from the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic including health problems, the stress of disrupted daily activities, and the loss of valued social connections. During these challenging times, it is more important than ever that the members of this community, formed through their shared experience of another catastrophe, are there for each other, to share wisdom, support, and connection. Know that you are not alone and that the WTC Health Program is here to help in times of crisis." This 2021 Member Newsletter provides data updates, program news, and other resources for individuals with health issues related to exposure during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program . . .

  2021