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Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Roles, Missions, and Future Concepts [July 18, 2022]
From the Summary: "Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have gained increased prominence in U.S. military operations. The Department of Defense (DOD) is currently developing advanced UAS, along with optionally crewed aircraft, as part of its modernization strategy. The roles and missions of UAS are relevant to Congress in authorizing, appropriating, and providing oversight to DOD and the military services for these systems. Over the past decades, military forces have used UAS to perform various tasks, including [1] intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; [2] close air support; [3] cargo and resupply; and [4] communications relay."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoehn, John R.; DeVine, Michael E.; Sayler, Kelley M.
2022-07-18
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Overseas Crime in the United States [July 29, 2022]
From the Document: "How do you commit a crime in the United States when you have never been here? According to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Fourth Circuit) in 'United States v. Elbaz' [hyperlink], you can commit a crime in the United States without being physically present by phoning it in, even though the crime in question, wire fraud [hyperlink], only applies domestically. Specifically, the Fourth Circuit recently held that the wire fraud statute could be applied to a defendant's domestic conduct in using wires located in the United States to defraud victims in the United States without having to be physically present in the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2022-07-29
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Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated July 25, 2022]
From the Summary: "Multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC) are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense (DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs. Compared to the standard or default approach of annual contracting, MYP and BBC have the potential for reducing weapon procurement costs by a few or several percent. Under annual contracting, DOD uses one or more contracts for each year's worth of procurement of a given kind of item. Under MYP, DOD instead uses a single contract for two to five years' worth of procurement of a given kind of item without having to exercise a contract option for each year after the first year. DOD needs congressional approval for each use of MYP. There is a permanent statute governing MYP contracting--10 U.S.C. 3501 (the text of which was previously codified at 10 U.S.C. 2306b). Under this statute, a program must meet several criteria to qualify for MYP."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2022-07-25
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Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) [July 20, 2022]
From the Summary: "Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have become popular as unique and non-interchangeable units of data that signify ownership of associated digital items, such as images, music, or videos. Token 'ownership' is recorded and tracked on a blockchain (a digital database that records data on a decentralized network of computers without the use of a central authority). In the future, supporters believe NFTs will be used as digital representations of physical items, such as a deed to a house or title to a car. NFTs are commonly used to record and represent ownership of an item, verify authenticity, and enable exchange. However, they do not necessarily reflect the legal ownership of an asset or grant copyright to a digital or physical item. NFT owners purchase only the right to the NFT's blockchain metadata or 'token,' not the underlying asset, unless otherwise specified in external contracts or terms and conditions. NFTs share many similarities with cryptocurrencies, and they are commonly bought and traded using cryptocurrency. Both NFTs and cryptocurrencies are built and tracked on blockchains, and they share much of the same customer and community base. However, cryptocurrencies are fungible, meaning interchangeable, whereas NFTs are unique and therefore nonfungible. Most users create and buy NFTs on dedicated NFT marketplaces. For a typical NFT, it is created or 'minted' on a blockchain, auctioned off or sold at a fixed price on an NFT marketplace, and 'stored' in the buyer's digital wallet. Smart contracts (self-executing contracts or lines of computer code on a blockchain) can mint NFTs or transfer them from one owner to another. In combination, blockchains and smart contracts are the backbone of the NFT ecosystem."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Busch, Kristen E.
2022-07-20
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Military Retirement: Background and Recent Developments [Updated July 28, 2022]
From the Summary: "The military retirement system is a government-funded, noncontributory, defined benefit system that has historically been viewed as a significant incentive in retaining a career military force. The system currently includes monthly compensation for qualified active and reserve retirees, disability benefits for those deemed medically unfit to serve, and a survivor annuity program for the eligible survivors of deceased retirees. The amount of compensation is dependent on time served, basic pay at retirement, and annual Cost-of-Living-Adjustments (COLAs). Military retirees are also entitled to nonmonetary benefits including health care benefits, exchange and commissary privileges, and access to Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities and programs. Currently, there are three general categories of military retiree-active component, reserve component, and disability retiree. Active component personnel are eligible for retirement (i.e., vested) after completing 20 years of service (YOS). Reserve personnel are eligible after 20 years of creditable service based on a points system, but do not typically begin to draw retirement pay until age 60. Finally, those with a disability retirement do not need to have served 20 years to be eligible for retired pay; however, they must have been found unqualified for further service due to a permanent, stable disability."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kamarck, Kristy N.
2022-07-28
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Taiwan: Political and Security Issues [Updated July 25, 2022]
From the Document: "Taiwan, which officially calls itself the Republic of China (ROC), is a democracy of 23 million people located across the Taiwan Strait from mainland China. Its government claims 'effective jurisdiction' over the island of Taiwan, the archipelagos of Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, and other outlying islands. Taiwan also claims disputed geographic features in the East and South China Seas. The People's Republic of China's (PRC's or China's) stated determination to unify with Taiwan at an unspecified future date, combined with U.S. security commitments related to Taiwan, make Taiwan the hotspot that could most plausibly draw the United States and China into armed conflict. U.S.-Taiwan relations have been unofficial since January 1, 1979, when the United States established diplomatic relations with the PRC and broke them with self-ruled Taiwan, over which the PRC claims sovereignty."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lawrence, Susan V.; Campbell, Caitlin
2022-07-25
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Mexico: Addressing Missing and Disappeared Persons [Updated July 25, 2022]
From the Document: "Mexico faces significant human rights concerns amidst record violence related to drug trafficking and organized crime. As of July 2022, the Mexican government has registered more than 101,300 cases of missing or disappeared persons. Some 32.2% of cases were reported since President Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office in December 2018. Some cases, referred to as 'enforced disappearances,' have involved the complicity of state security forces. Congress has sought to address the general human rights situation in Mexico, as well as the specific issue of enforced disappearances, through foreign assistance and conditions on that assistance, hearings, and letters to Mexican and U.S. Administrations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando; Martin, Rachel L.
2022-07-25
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Mental Health Funding in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act [July 20, 2022]
From the Document: "On June 25, 2022, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA; P.L. 117-159) was signed into law. In addition to provisions addressing firearms, education, and Medicaid, the act included appropriations for several existing mental health-related grant programs. Division B, Title II of the act appropriated $800 million to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)--the federal agency primarily responsible for supporting community or school-based mental health treatment and prevention services. SAMHSA provides funding to states, local communities, and service providers through block grants and other formula and competitive grants. For more information on SAMHSA, see CRS Report R46426, 'Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Overview of the Agency and Major Programs' [hyperlink]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Duff, Johnathan H.
2022-07-20
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DHS and CBP Should Improve Intellectual Property Rights Management and Enforcement (REDACTED)
From the Highlights: "In 2016, Congress designated seven high-risk priority trade issues, one of which is IPR [intellectual property rights]. Priority trade issues represent high-risk areas that may cause significant revenue loss, harm the U.S. economy, or threaten the health and safety of the American people. Our audit focused on the extent to which DHS and CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] manage and enforce the priority trade issue related to IPR."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-07-18
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 1808, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022
From the Document: "H.R. 1808 would ban the sale, import, manufacture, or transfer of certain semiautomatic weapons, bump stock-type devices, and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices after the date of enactment. The prohibition would not apply to the possession, sale, or transfer of weapons lawfully possessed on the date of enactment. Because people who violate the bill's provisions would be subject to criminal fines, the federal government could collect additional fines under the legislation. Criminal fines are recorded as revenues, deposited in the Crime Victims Fund, and later spent without further appropriation action. Using data from the Department of Justice (DOJ) on criminal penalties charged for firearms convictions in recent years, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that the bill would increase revenues by $3 million over the 2022-2032 period and would increase direct spending by $2 million over that period. Other provisions of the bill would impose administrative costs on DOJ. Any spending on those activities would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. CBO has not completed an estimate of those costs."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-07-27
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PFAS and Drinking Water: Selected EPA and Congressional Actions [Updated July 18, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report provides an overview of EPA's [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] actions to address PFAS [per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances] under SDWA [Safe Drinking Water Act] authorities, with particular focus on the statutory process for evaluating and regulating two PFAS--PFOA [perfluorooctanoic acid] and PFOS [perfluorooctane sulfonate]--in drinking water. This report does not address the status of scientific research on health effects that may be associated with exposure to one or more PFAS, nor does it discuss federal actions regarding other environmental statutes, such as the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphreys, Elena H.
2022-07-18
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Panama: An Overview [Updated July 18, 2022]
From the Document: "Panama's central location in the Americas (linking North and South America), large financial sector, use of the U.S. dollar as currency, and transportation infrastructure-- especially the Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans--make the country a global trade hub and a strategic partner for the United States. [...] Panama holds regular free and fair democratic elections and generally respects civil liberties and political rights, although corruption remains a challenge. Current President Laurentino 'Nito' Cortizo of the center-left Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) won a narrow victory in Panama's May 2019 elections, receiving 33% of the vote in a seven-candidate contest. Cortizo's PRD also won 35 seats in Panama's 71-seat National Assembly; it is working in coalition with the National Republican Liberal Movement (Molirena), which has five seats in the assembly, providing the government with a majority. The next national elections, both legislative and presidential, are scheduled for May 2024; the constitution prohibits immediate presidential reelection for two terms."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2022-07-18
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'Quad': Security Cooperation Among the United States, Japan, India, and Australia [Updated July 25, 2022]
From the Document: "The Biden Administration has boosted the profile of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, aka 'the Quad,' as a centerpiece of its Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at strengthening the United States' position in and commitment to the region. The four-country coalition, comprised of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia, claims a common platform of protecting freedom of navigation and promoting democratic values in the region. The first leader-level summit, held virtually in March 2021, produced the first-ever joint leaders' statement. A September 2021 Quad Leaders' Summit produced an expanded statement outlining four broad areas of cooperation: vaccine production and distribution; climate change mitigation efforts and clean energy development; the promotion of transparency and high-standard governance in the field of critical and emerging technologies; and the development of a regional infrastructure partnership. Working groups in these areas are pushing forward with efforts to flesh out these priorities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Kronstadt, K. Alan; Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-
2022-07-25
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Replacing the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) [Updated July 26, 2022]
From the Document: "The U.S. Air Force recently expressed its interest to replace the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet. Over the summer and fall of 2021, several senior Air Force officials, including Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Commander of Pacific Air Forces General Kenneth Wilsbach, discussed plans to replace the E-3 AWACS. The officials stated that the Air Force needs to replace its fleet of E-3 AWACS aircraft due to their age, low mission capable rates, and the inability to procure parts to maintain 40-year-old aircraft. The Air Force released a request for information on February 8, 2022, seeking to replace the AWACS beginning in FY2023. The FY2023 budget request seeks $227 million in research development, test, and evaluation to begin E-3 AWACS recapitalization while retiring 15 of 31 E-3 AWACS."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoehn, John R.; Gertler, Jeremiah
2022-07-26
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Resolutions of Inquiry in the House [Updated July 21, 2022]
From the Document: "On July 19, 2022, the House agreed to H.Res. 1232, a special rule reported by the House Committee on Rules. The adoption of the resolution means that temporary procedures previously in place during the 117th Congress (2021-2022) that 'paused' certain deadlines for committee action on resolutions of inquiry are no longer in force. Any resolution of inquiry submitted after the adoption of H.Res. 1232 is to be governed by the standing rules of the House, a development that could result in more such resolutions being introduced and referred to committee for consideration. A resolution of inquiry is a simple House resolution (H.Res.) making a direct request or demand of the President or the head of an executive department to provide specific factual information in the Administration's possession."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Davis, Christopher M., 1966-
2022-07-21
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Political Status of Puerto Rico: Brief Background and Recent Developments for Congress [Updated July 27, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report provides policy and historical background about Puerto Rico's 'political status'-- referring to the relationship between the federal government and a territorial one. Congress has not altered the island's status since 1952, when it approved a territorial constitution. Status is the lifeblood of Puerto Rican politics, spanning policy and partisan lines in ways that are unfamiliar on the mainland. Because the U.S. Constitution grants Congress broad discretion over territories, the House and Senate may choose to reexamine Puerto Rico's political status, or to decline to do so. If Congress chose to alter Puerto Rico's political status, it could do so through statute regardless of whether a plebiscite were held or what sentiment such a vote revealed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Garrett, R. Sam, 1977-
2022-07-27
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Palestinians: Overview, Aid, and U.S. Policy Issues [Updated July 18, 2022]
From the Document: "The Palestinians are an Arab people whose origins are in present-day Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Their ongoing disputes and interactions with Israel raise significant issues for U.S. policy (see 'U.S. Policy Issues and Aid' below). After a serious rupture in U.S.-Palestinian relations during the Trump Administration, the Biden Administration has reengaged with the Palestinian people and their leaders in the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA), and resumed some aid--with hopes of preserving the viability of a negotiated two-state solution. The Palestinians aspire to an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Zanotti, Jim
2022-07-18
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Presidential Declaration of Climate Emergency: NEA and Stafford Act [July 26, 2022]
From the Document: "This Insight provides selected considerations related to the President's ability to declare a climate emergency under the National Emergencies Act [...] and/or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act[.]"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
2022-07-26
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South Sudan [Updated July 28, 2022]
From the Document: "Peace has been elusive in South Sudan, which became the world's newest country in 2011. The civil war that erupted there in late 2013 featured widespread sexual violence, mass killings, and other atrocities. It displaced over a third of the population, creating what is still Africa's largest refugee crisis. More than 2 million people who fled to neighboring countries remain refugees. Another 2 million are displaced internally. By one study, nearly 400,000 died as a result of the war before the latest peace deal was signed in 2018. The ongoing crisis has prompted congressional action, including, most recently, S.Res. 473 and S.Res. 380. Whether the peace deal ended the war is debated. A ceasefire between the main signatories has largely held, but gains under the agreement are tenuous, and an insurgency in the southern Equatoria region continues. Communal violence, often tied to national political rivalries, has surged. The protracted humanitarian crisis is worsening: over two-thirds of the population--almost 9 million people, half of them children--are estimated to need aid. Facing multiple shocks and recurrent violence, much of the population have exhausted local coping mechanisms. Facing competing donor funding priorities and rising costs, aid agencies have had to reduce food aid, despite unprecedented need."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Lauren Ploch
2022-07-28
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Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Procurement Program [Updated July 29, 2022]
From the Summary: "The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Procurement Program is intended to provide SDVOSBs greater access to federal contracting opportunities. The program is designed to help federal agencies achieve the government's statutory goal of awarding SDVOSBs at least 3% of the total value of all prime and subcontract dollars awarded each fiscal year. The program is federal government-wide with two sets of similar, but not identical, regulations; one issued by the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and another issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA's) Administrator for all other federal agencies. Under this program, federal contracting officers may set aside (reserve) federal contracts (or orders) for bidding by SDVOSBs exclusively."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dilger, Robert Jay, 1954-; Blackford, R. Corinne
2022-07-29
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Shinzo Abe's Assassination and the Impact on U.S.-Japan Relations [July 20, 2022]
From the Document: "On July 8, 2022, a gunman assassinated former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, arguably Japan's most powerful politician, jolting Japan just days before parliamentary elections. Abe, the longest serving prime minister in postwar Japan, was campaigning in the central Japanese city of Nara when he was shot with a home-made gun; he died shortly thereafter. The assassin, a 41-year old man, reportedly targeted Abe because of the former leader's support of a religious group that he claimed bankrupted his mother. The shooting stunned Japan, where gun violence is rare and restrictions on gun ownership are among the strictest in the world. From 2017 to 2021, Japan recorded 60 shootings and 14 total shooting deaths. Abe, 67, was poised to play a lasting role in Japanese politics as an elder statesman. As premier from 2012 through 2020 (in addition to a year-long term in 2006- 2007), he accelerated Japan's trend toward developing a more capable and flexible military force, passing major security legislation advancing these goals and centralizing Japan's national security bureaucracy. Abe also prioritized several domestic economic reforms and pursued generally expansionary economic policies as well as closer trade and economic ties with the United States. After resigning in 2020, he remained politically active, pushing for Japan to increase its defense spending, acquire more advanced military capabilities, and take a more assertive stance toward China, especially its threats to Taiwan--all moves widely supported by the U.S. government."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.
2022-07-20
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Section 307 and Imports Produced by Forced Labor [Updated July 26, 2022]
From the Document: "Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1307) prohibits importing any product that was mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labor, including forced or indentured child labor. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforces the prohibition. [...] U.S. customs law has prohibited importing goods produced by certain categories of labor since the end of the nineteenth century. Beginning in 1890, the United States prohibited imports of goods manufactured with convict labor. In 1930, Congress expanded this prohibition in Section 307 of the Tariff Act to include any (not just manufactured) products of forced labor. Although a few Members brought up humanitarian concerns during debate, the central legislative concern was protecting domestic producers from competing with products made with forced labor. As such, Section 307 allowed the admission of products of forced labor if it could be shown that no comparable product was made in the United States or the level of domestic production did not meet domestic demand ('consumptive demand' clause)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.
2022-07-26
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Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program: Frequently Asked Questions [Updated July 19, 2022]
From the Document: "On March 12, 2020, the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (P.L. 116-124 [hyperlink]) (Secure Networks Act) became law. The act addresses congressional concerns [hyperlink] with telecommunications equipment that may pose a national security threat to the United States. Section 2 requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create a list of 'covered' telecommunications equipment posing such a threat. Section 4 requires the FCC to create the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program [hyperlink] (Reimbursement Program) for providers to replace covered equipment."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gallagher, Jill C.
2022-07-19
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U.S. Employment-Based Immigration Policy [Updated July 21, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report begins by explaining the permanent employment-based immigration system, its numerical limits, and its processes. It next describes key employment-based immigration trends, including a brief review of relevant economic and demographic trends. The report then discusses several categories of nonimmigrant (temporary) workers that are intertwined with the permanent immigration system. It continues with a review of policy proposals for revising employment-based immigration, including the key findings of a 1997 congressional commission on immigration reform. The report then discusses key elements of prominent immigration reform bills introduced since 2000 that pertain to employment-based immigration. It ends with concluding observations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kandel, William; Wilson, Jill, 1974-; Donovan, Sarah A.
2022-07-21
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U.S.-Singapore Relations [Updated July 25, 2022]
From the Overview: "Though geographically only about three times the size of Washington, DC, and with a population of about 5.9 million, the city-state of Singapore exerts economic and diplomatic influence on par with much larger countries. Its stable government, strong economic performance, educated citizenry, and strategic position along key shipping lanes afford it a large role in regional and global affairs. For the United States, Singapore has been a partner in both trade and security initiatives and an advocate of a strong U.S. role in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Singapore's leaders have aimed to maintain close relations with China, and to maintain positive ties with all regional powers. The United States and Singapore have extensive trade and investment ties. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which went into effect in January 2004, was the first U.S. bilateral FTA with an Asian country. In 2019, U.S.- Singapore trade totaled about $91.6 billion, and Singapore was the 14th largest goods export market for the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dolven, Ben; Chanlett-Avery, Emma
2022-07-25
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Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Current and Potential Programs [Updated July 28, 2022]
From the Document: "In the U.S. military, remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) are most often called unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs), which are described as either a single air vehicle (with associated surveillance sensors) or a UAV system (UAS), which typically consists of an air vehicle paired with a ground control station (where the pilot actually sits) and support equipment. Although UAS are commonly operated as one aircraft paired with one ground system, the Department of Defense (DOD) often procures multiple aircraft with one ground control station. When combined with ground control stations and communication data links, UAVs form unmanned aircraft systems or UAS. [...] UAS roles and missions have evolved over time, from collecting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to performing air-to-ground attack missions. Further, some analysts predict future roles for UAS, such as air-to-air combat and combat search and rescue. However, a detailed discussion of future concepts and missions for UAS are outside the scope of this report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoehn, John R.; Kerr, Paul K.; Gertler, Jeremiah
2022-07-28
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Supreme Court Rules That Migrant Protection Protocols Rescission Was Not Unlawful [July 28, 2022]
From the Document: "On June 30, 2022, the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision held in 'Biden v. Texas' [hyperlink] that the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) rescission of the Migrant Protection Protocols [hyperlink] (MPP) did not violate federal immigration laws concerning the inspection and treatment of non-U.S. nationals ('aliens,' as the term is used in the Immigration and Nationality Act [hyperlink] [INA]) arriving in the United States. The MPP--also known as the 'Remain in Mexico' policy--began during the Trump Administration and authorized the return of some asylum seekers [hyperlink] arriving at the U.S. southern border to Mexico during the pendency of their formal removal proceedings."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.
2022-07-28
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State Laws Restricting or Prohibiting Abortion [Updated July 25, 2022]
From the Document: "The Supreme Court's decision in 'Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization' [hyperlink] overruled 'Roe v. Wade' [hyperlink], providing states with greater discretion [hyperlink] to restrict abortion access, including by limiting abortion prior to fetal viability. This Sidebar provides an overview of existing or recently passed state laws prohibiting or limiting abortion prior to 24 weeks' gestational age, which for many years was widely considered [hyperlink] the point of viability, though medical advancements may have moved that point earlier. The Sidebar also identifies 'trigger laws' that generally prohibit abortion that were set to go into effect, either automatically or following action by a state official, if the Supreme Court ever overturned 'Roe v. Wade.' This Sidebar does not address any exceptions to these restrictions, such as in the case of a medical emergency, or restrictions to specific methods of abortion, such as medication abortion. Links to the full text of statutes listed in this Legal Sidebar are available through the Law Librarians' Society of Washington, DC Legislative Sourcebook [hyperlink]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Deal, Laura
2022-07-25
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Statehood Process and Political Status of U.S. Territories: Brief Policy Background [Updated July 29, 2022]
From the Document: "Proposals to admit new states to the union are as old as the republic. An expanded United States was contemplated at least as early as 1787, with enactment of the Northwest Ordinance, which addressed territorial expansion, even before the first states ratified the U.S. Constitution later the same year. Vermont joined the union in 1791, the first new state beyond the 13 original colonies. Arizona and New Mexico completed the contiguous United States in 1912. Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th states respectively in 1959. Would-be states have relied on different methods to join the union, and there is no single process for doing so. This In Focus provides brief background about the statehood process generally, and about how it might affect congressional consideration of proposed statehood for U.S. territories."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Garrett, R. Sam, 1977-
2022-07-29
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CHDS School Shooting Safety Compendium [website]
From the Website: "Shootings and other violent acts continue to take place in schools across the nation. These horrific events have continued to increase in number and impact. In response, the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) is developing a School Shooting Safety Compendium to aid officials and researchers on the topic."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
