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Department of Energy: Improved Performance Planning Could Strengthen Technology Transfer, Report to the Honorable Joseph Manchin, U.S. Senate

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From the Highlights: "Researchers at DOE [Department of Energy] and its 17 national labs regularly make contributions to new energy technologies, such as more efficient batteries for electric vehicles. Technology transfer officials at the labs help these researchers license intellectual property and partner with private-sector companies to bring these technologies to market. However, several recent reports have highlighted barriers and inconsistencies in technology transfer at DOE, including a 2015 commission report that found barriers related to the costs of collaboration and low maturity level of many DOE technologies. This report examines (1) steps DOE has taken to address barriers to technology transfer and (2) the extent to which DOE plans and tracks the performance of its technology transfer and commercialization activities."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-02
2018 Pacific Island Disasters: Federal Actions Helped Facilitate the Response, but FEMA Needs to Address Long-Term Recovery Challenges, Report to Congressional Committees

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From the Highlights: "The CNMI [Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands], Guam, and Hawaii experienced an unprecedented number of natural disasters in 2018-- including typhoons, earthquakes, mudslides, and volcanic eruptions. FEMA is the lead federal agency responsible for helping states and territories prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters. Due to the remoteness of Hawaii and the Pacific territories, disaster response and recovery can be challenging. Title IX of the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review FEMA's response and recovery efforts for 2018 natural disasters, including those in the Pacific region. This report examines (1) how FEMA and its federal partners prepared for and responded to the 2018 disasters in the CNMI, Guam, and Hawaii; and (2) the extent to which FEMA assisted the CNMI, Guam, and Hawaii in recovering from the 2018 natural disasters."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-02
Veterans Community Care Program: Immediate Actions Needed to Ensure Health Providers Associated with Poor Quality Care Are Excluded, Report to Congressional Committees

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From the Highlights: "The VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] MISSION Act of 2018 established a new community care program, the VCCP [Veterans Community Care Program], aimed at providing care to veterans when it could not reasonably be delivered by providers at VA medical facilities. The act also requires VA to exclude from participation in the VCCP providers who lost a license for violating medical license requirements in any state or who VA removed from employment for quality of care concerns or otherwise suspended from VA employment. The VA MISSION Act included provisions for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on the implementation of restrictions on certain health care providers' participation in the VCCP. This report examines, among other issues, VA and contractor processes to implement these eligibility restrictions on provider participation in the VCCP."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-02
Immigrant Families Continued Avoiding the Safety Net During the COVID-19 Crisis

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From the Document: "In its first days in office, the Biden administration has already moved to reverse many of the Trump administration's immigration policies that created a climate of fear and insecurity for many immigrant families. The prior administration's changes to the 'public charge' rule intensified immigrant families' reluctance to participate in public benefit programs and supports that address basic health, nutrition, and housing needs. According to new data from the Urban Institute's December 2020 Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey (WBNS), immigrant families continued avoiding noncash public programs and other supports in 2020 because of concerns about immigration status."

Urban Institute

Bernstein, Hamutal; Karpman, Michael; Gonzalez, Dulce . . .

2021-02
Disaster Resilience: FEMA Should Take Additional Steps to Streamline Hazard Mitigation Grants and Assess Program Effects, Report to Congressional Committees

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From the Highlights: "The rising number of natural disasters and increasing reliance on federal assistance are key sources of federal fiscal exposure. FEMA has four grant programs to increase disaster resilience through hazard mitigation projects. The Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019, included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the federal response to disasters in 2018. This report addresses 1) FEMA's use of grants to support hazard mitigation; 2) challenges reported by selected jurisdictions applying for grants; and 3) how FEMA has assessed the effects of its hazard mitigation projects and shared the results."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-02
Sexual Harassment and Assault: Guidance Needed to Ensure Consistent Tracking, Response, and Training for DOD Civilians

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From the Highlights: "With nearly 900,000 federal civilian employees around the world, DOD has responsibilities for preventing and responding to sexual harassment and assault within its workforce. In fiscal year 2018, DOD estimated that about 49,700 civilian employees experienced sexual harassment and about 2,500 civilian employees experienced work-related sexual assault in the prior year. House Report 116-120 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review DOD's prevention of and response to sexual harassment and assault involving DOD federal civilian employees. GAO's report examines, among other things, the extent to which DOD has (1) visibility over such reported incidents, and (2) developed and implemented policies and procedures to respond to and resolve these incidents. GAO reviewed policies and guidance; analyzed program data from fiscal years 2015 through 2019; interviewed officials at a nongeneralizable sample of five military installations; evaluated DOD training materials; and interviewed DOD, service, and civilian officials."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-02
Venezuela: Additional Tracking Could Aid Treasury's Efforts to Mitigate Any Adverse Impacts U.S. Sanctions Might Have on Humanitarian Assistance

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From the Highlights: "Venezuela has been experiencing an economic, political, and humanitarian crisis. The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state oil company, government, and central bank, among others, in response to activities of the Venezuelan government and certain individuals. Treasury and the Department of State lead the implementation of the sanctions program, and USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] is primarily responsible for implementing humanitarian assistance for Venezuelans. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review U.S. sanctions related to Venezuela. This report examines: (1) how the Venezuelan economy performed before and since the imposition of sanctions in 2015; (2) the steps U.S. agencies have taken to identify and mitigate potential negative humanitarian consequences of sanctions related to Venezuela; and (3) what is known about the impact of U.S. sanctions related to Venezuela on the U.S. oil industry. GAO analyzed economic indicators, reviewed documents, interviewed agency officials, and spoke with representatives from selected humanitarian organizations and the U.S oil industry."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-02
DHS Grants and Contracts Awarded Through Other Than Full and Open Competition, FYs 2018 and 2019

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From the DHS OIG (Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General) Highlights: "The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2019 required DHS to submit a report to the Office of Inspector General listing all grants and contracts awarded by any means other than full and open competition (OTFOC) during fiscal years 2018 and 2019. We reviewed the report to assess DHS' compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This report contains two recommendations aimed at improving DHS' future reporting submissions."

United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General

2021-02-01
CBO Paper: National Cruise Missile Defense: Issues and Alternatives

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From the Document: "Since the 1980s, the United States has invested considerable resources to develop and field ballistic missile defenses to protect the U.S. homeland from attack by long-range ballistic missiles. In recent years, concerns have arisen that another type of weapon--land-attack cruise missiles (LACMs)--may also pose a threat to the U.S. homeland. Unfortunately, the systems that the U.S. military has deployed to protect the United States from ballistic missile warheads that fly high above the atmosphere are ill-suited to counter LACMs, which fly close to Earth's surface. This Congressional Budget Office report examines the potential for LACM attacks against the United States and the types of systems that might be fielded to provide a cruise missile defense with nationwide coverage. Such coverage would be analogous to that provided by national ballistic missile defenses."

United States. Congressional Budget Office

Arthur, David (David Alan); Bennett, Michael J., 1958-

2021-02
Strategies for Building Confidence in the COVID-19 Vaccines

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From the Executive Summary: "Public engagement and effective communication through clear, transparent messaging will play a central role in building confidence in the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccines. This rapid expert consultation describes a variety of public engagement and communication strategies that can be implemented at the national, state, and local levels to change patterns of interaction with the public, address hesitancy about the vaccines, and build trust. In general, given the prevalence of local concerns and information needs, it is important to support local communities with the resources needed to engage people and reinforce information coming from the federal and state levels. Strong community engagement aimed at identifying and understanding local concerns will help determine what messaging, delivered by whom, will be most effective. Moreover, it will be essential to provide people who are hesitant, reluctant, distrusting, or otherwise unmotivated with respect to the COVID-19 vaccines with the resources, information, and support they need to make the vaccination decision that is right for them. This rapid expert consultation highlights overall strategies for engaging the public and building community trust, as well as strategies focused specifically on communicating effectively to ensure demand for and promote acceptance of the vaccines. [...] This rapid expert consultation also presents current data about people's motivations, which are informed by perceptions and social norms. These motivations, combined with pragmatic considerations, will determine the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines."

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Brunson, Emily; Buttenheim, Alison; Omer, Saad . . .

2021-02
Preliminary Evaluation of Nonresponse Bias Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic on National Health Interview Survey Estimates, April-June 2020

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From the Introduction: "The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is in the field continuously, collecting survey responses throughout the year by making personal visits to respondents' homes. One sample adult and one sample child (if any children are present in the household) are randomly selected to be the subjects of the interview. Interviewing is divided into calendar year quarters, and each quarter's data are representative of the overall population. To produce each annual public data file, four quarters of data are combined and weighted to represent the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States. The NHIS Early Release (ER) Program publishes preliminary estimates of key indicators on a quarterly basis in advance of the eventual annual public-use data file release. The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic significantly impacted NHIS data collection beginning in quarter 2 (Q2) of 2020. The U.S. Census Bureau collects data for the NHIS through an interagency agreement. The Census Bureau suspended all personal visits on March 19, 2020. Telephone interviews were used to conduct all NHIS interviews in Q2. The Census Bureau made extensive efforts to match telephone numbers to the addresses in the NHIS sample; however, collecting data by telephone rather than personal visit resulted in a reduction in the household response rate from 60.0% in quarter 1 (Q1) to 42.7% in Q2. The sample adult response rate declined from 57.9% in Q1 to 41.1% in Q2. The sample child response rate declined from 57.6% to 40.1%."

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); National Center for Health Statistics (U.S.)

Dahlhamer, James M.; Bramlett, Matthew D.; Maitland, Aaron . . .

2021-02
Case Study of the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities

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From the Document: "The Michigan Coronavirus Racial Disparities Task Force has paved the way to address COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] related health inequities in the state, resulting in the reduction of COVID-19 related cases and mortality among Black residents. As a result of the work, the average number of new cases for Black residents dropped from 176 per million population per day in March 2020 to 59 per million population per day in October 2020, and disparities in case rates among Hispanic or Latino Michiganders also narrowed. Governor Gretchen Whitmer created the Michigan Task Force through Executive Order 2020-55 in April 2020 to reduce health disparities within communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19. [...] The Michigan Task Force has achieved positive results by investing in key strategies, which include establishing clear objectives with specific metrics, ensuring cross-sector collaboration and diversity within the task force, and allocating dedicated staffing and resources to implement recommendations focused on identifying and addressing systemic inequities. This case study draws its key findings from the Michigan Coronavirus Racial Disparities' Interim Report and other sources to explore Michigan's approach, key features, results to date, and lessons learned."

National Governors' Association. Center for Best Practices; Duke University. Margolis Center for Health Policy

Tchuisseu, Yolande Pokam; Thoumi, Andrea; Tewarson, Hemi . . .

2021-02
Supporting a Trained Direct Care Workforce in Facility Settings During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

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From the Summary: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic exacerbated existing challenges in recruiting and retaining direct care workers. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued several waivers to address staffing challenges across the continuum of care during the public health emergency, including a waiver to temporarily reduce certain training requirements, and some states have taken complementary action creating new flexibilities to quickly train and deploy a qualified workforce. While responding to urgent direct care staffing needs is a top priority for states in the short-term, it will be critical for states and employers to consider strategies for retaining this workforce when the waiver expires."

National Governors' Association

Block, Lauren; Maxey, Hannah; Medlock, Courtney . . .

2021-02
ED COVID-19 Handbook Volume 1: Strategies for Safely Reopening Elementary and Secondary Schools

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From the Introduction: "To reopen safely in the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic and maximize the use of in-person instruction, schools need sufficient resources as well as strong State and local public health measures that everyone follows. Consistent implementation of effective strategies for mitigating the transmission of COVID-19 during all school-related activities is critical for reopening schools - and keeping them open. It is also important to recognize that communities of color and people with disabilities/chronic conditions have borne a disproportionate burden of illness and serious outcomes from COVID-19 and require additional considerations. [...] This is the first volume in the U.S. Department of Education (ED) COVID-19 Handbook, a series intended to support the education community as schools reopen. This series will provide tools to aid educators in implementing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Operational Strategy for K-12 [kindergarten to 12th grade] Schools through Phased Mitigation (K- 12 Operational Strategy) by addressing common challenges and providing practical examples. This series will be updated as additional scientific evidence becomes available, including evidence related to new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. This volume does not have the force or effect of law and is not binding in any way (except where statutory or regulatory requirements are referenced)."

United States. Department of Education

2021-02
National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS): Benefits and Issues [February 1, 2021]

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From the Summary: "Since 1930, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI's) Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program has collected and published nationwide crime statistics. State and local law enforcement agencies, as well as federal agencies, voluntarily submit data on reported crimes that occur in their jurisdictions to UCR. UCR then compiles and publishes the data, and provides datasets and some trend analyses in a standardized format that legislators, researchers, and law enforcement agencies can access to better understand and address crime in the United States. The UCR program previously collected crime data from federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement through the older Summary Reporting System (SRS) and the more recently introduced National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). On January 1, 2021, the FBI retired the SRS program and will only collect data using NIBRS. This report provides background on the development and adoption of NIBRS as well as details about both the benefits and potential issues related to this change."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Hanson, Emily J.

2021-02-01
Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending [Updated February 1, 2021]

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From the Summary: "Congress has responded to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with supplemental appropriations measures providing relief and assistance to individuals and families, state and local governments, businesses, health care providers, and other entities. [...] This report provides selected sources for tracking COVID-19 relief and assistance spending. It includes links to and information on government sources detailing spending amounts at various levels, including consolidated spending by multiple government agencies, spending by individual government agencies, and spending to specific recipients and geographies. The sources themselves are large government databases, individual agencies, oversight entities, and selected nongovernmental entities that attempt to repackage information on spending amounts obtained from available government sources."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Kreiser, Maria; Teefy, Jennifer

2021-02-01
African Elections in 2021 [Updated February 1, 2021]

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This report is a consolidated snapshot of election schedules for various countries in Africa. From the Document: "Seventeen African countries are slated to hold presidential and/or legislative polls in 2021. Scheduled election dates are listed below; some may be subject to change due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic or other factors."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Collins, Sarah R.

2021-02-01
Section 307 and U.S. Imports of Products of Forced Labor: Overview and Issues for Congress [Updated February 1, 2021]

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From the Summary: "The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that as of 2016, nearly 25 million adults and children worked in forced labor, also known as labor trafficking. Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1307) prohibits U.S. imports of any product that was mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labor, including forced or indentured child labor. Amid concerns in recent decades over the statute's lack of use and increasing interest in combatting human trafficking, Congress amended Section 307 in 2015 to make it easier to block the entry of products of forced labor by removing the 'consumptive demand' exception. This exception had permitted imports of goods that were not domestically produced in such quantities as to meet U.S. consumption needs."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; Casey, Christopher A.; O'Regan, Katarina C.

2021-02-01
Resolutions to Censure the President: Procedure and History [Updated February 1, 2021]

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From the Summary: "Censure is a reprimand adopted by one or both chambers of Congress against a Member of Congress, President, federal judge, or other government official. While Member censure is a disciplinary measure that is sanctioned by the Constitution (Article 1, Section 5), 'non'-Member censure is not. Rather, it is a formal expression or 'sense of' one or both houses of Congress. Censure resolutions targeting non-Members have utilized a range of statements to highlight conduct deemed by the resolutions' sponsors to be inappropriate or unauthorized. Before the Nixon Administration, such resolutions included variations of the words or phrases 'unconstitutional', 'usurpation', 'reproof', and 'abuse of power'. Beginning in 1972, the most clearly 'censorious' resolutions have contained the word 'censure' in the text."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Hudiburg, Jane A.; Davis, Christopher M., 1966-

2021-02-01
Lebanese Hezbollah [Updated February 1, 2021]

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From the Overview: "Hezbollah ('Party of God') is an Iran-backed Lebanese Shi'a militia and U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Formed in 1982, in the wake of the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon, the group has described itself as the leader of Islamic resistance to Israel and has conducted numerous attacks against Israeli and Western targets. Hezbollah currently operates regionally as a militia force, while also playing a powerful role as a Lebanese political party and provider of social services."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Humud, Carla E.

2021-02-01
Court Rules Dakota Access Pipeline Needs Further Environmental Review [Updated February 1, 2021]

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From the Document: "The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), a crude oil pipeline developed by Energy Transfer Partners, carries crude oil from the Bakken fields in northwest North Dakota to southern Illinois. As discussed in this Legal Sidebar, the DAPL has been the subject of extensive debate and media attention, as well as prolonged litigation. Much of the attention on the DAPL centers on the portion of the pipeline route that is near or runs under Lake Oahe in North Dakota, a lake that has particular significance to Native Americans in the region. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (D.C. District Court) recently held that this controversial portion of the route needs further environmental review."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Vann, Adam

2021-02-01
Fiscal Policy and Recovery from the COVID-19 Recession [Updated February 1, 2021]

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From the Summary: "The economic contraction that began in February 2020 differs from previous contractions, including the Great Depression of the 1930s and the Great Recession of 2007-2009. It was caused in large part by concerns about the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and government policies aimed at limiting person-to-person contact. The health concerns of the public and the stay-at-home and shutdown orders designed to limit contact reduced cash flow to businesses and increased the number of unemployed workers."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Gravelle, Jane; Marples, Donald

2021-02-01
Dispute Settlement in the WTO and U.S. Trade Agreements [Updated February 1, 2021]

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From the Document: "The United States traditionally has championed the use of effective and reciprocal dispute settlement (DS) mechanisms to enforce commitments in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs). While effective and enforceable DS has been a long-standing U.S. trade negotiating objective, its use has become controversial following some adverse decisions, particularly with regard to U.S. trade remedy law. The WTO was established in 1995 after eight years of trade negotiations in the Uruguay Round among members of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)--the predecessor to the WTO during 1947-1994. The WTO administers a system of agreements promoting trade liberalization, including rules for trade in goods, services and intellectual property rights. Through its Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU), the WTO provides an enforceable means to settle disputes regarding obligations under these agreements. [...] Congress may seek to address the new DS mechanisms under USMCA [United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement] and the demise or potential reform of the AB [Appellate Body] in its oversight of U.S. trade policy or in a possible future debate on Trade Promotion Authority."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Fergusson, Ian F.

2021-02-01
Protecting the Most Vulnerable by Vaccinating the Most Active

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From the Webpage: "In this Perspective, the authors used a network simulation model to illustrate five different vaccination strategies for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), showing that vaccinating the most-active members of the population might be the best way to save lives overall and still protect the vulnerable. Recent models of COVID-19 vaccination have tended not to take into account the person-to-person contact structure that results in the disease's spread. The authors used a model based on a realistic contact network (derived from a data set of 2.2 billion mobile device location points) to run five different vaccination models. What varied between each case was the number of contacts of the people who were vaccinated. [...] The authors found that the high-contact imperfect strategy is at least as effective (and probably more effective) at protecting the vulnerable than direct vaccination and indicates that the United States might be able to provide more protection for vulnerable people by vaccinating people with many contacts than by vaccinating vulnerable people directly."

RAND Corporation

Gulden, Timothy R.; Hartnett, Gavin S.; Vardavas, Raffaele . . .

2021-02
Technology Assessment Design Handbook: Handbook for Key Steps and Considerations in the Design of Technology Assessments

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From the Preface: "The Government Accountability Office (GAO) provides Congress, federal agencies, and the public with non-partisan, objective, reliable information to help the government save money and work more efficiently and effectively. Science and technology (S&T) issues figure prominently in problems that Congress confronts, and one component of the assistance GAO provides to Congress is the production of technology assessments (TA). GAO TAs analyze recent S&T developments, highlight potential effects of technological change, and strive to make S&T concepts readily accessible to policymakers. [...] The TA Design Handbook provides GAO staff and others with tools to consider for supporting robust and rigorous TAs, while following internal GAO guidance. This handbook is particularly important given the need for GAO to provide insight and foresight on the effects of technologies and corresponding policy implications related to a wide range of S&T issues. Other organizations may also find portions of this handbook useful as they consider or conduct TAs, although their needs, approaches, and relationships with stakeholders and government bodies may differ."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-02
Policy Priorities for the Biden-Harris Administration, Part Two: Unfinished Business: Legislative Priorities for a 2021 COVID-19 Relief Package

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From the Document: "While a COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] relief package was passed in December of 2020, it fell far short of adequately addressing the health and economic needs of people and states. Policymakers must do more for those who are hardest hit by the pandemic, giving everyone a fair shot at coming through this crisis healthy and whole. Further, they must help states protect key services and supports that are a lifeline for millions who face income, food and housing insecurity. The COVID-19 relief package is 'unfinished business,' and is insufficient in addressing what has been laid bare by the pandemic: deep structural inequities in our policies and programs that result in disparate rates in health opportunity and economic security. A COVID Relief package does not address these longstanding inequities but is an important first step in responding to the pandemic and in rebuilding trust with those who are disproportionately impacted. As the Biden-Harris Administration jumpstarts its efforts to lead the country in recovering from a dual pandemic of racism and COVID-19, we encourage them to be bold in their approach and center racial justice and health equity."

Community Catalyst (Organization)

2021-02
U.S.-Proposed Missile Technology Control Regime Changes [Updated February 1, 2021]

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From the Introduction: "Beginning in 2017, the United States has submitted a series of proposals to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) partners that would relax the regime's export guidelines for certain Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Advocates of altering the guidelines to ease such exports argue that increasing competition from foreign UAS manufacturers is undermining the competitive advantage of their U.S. counterparts. Other observers have emphasized the need to maintain the MTCR's standards, which are widely regarded as effective. [...] The MTCR, according to its website, 'seeks to limit the risks of proliferation of' nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons (NBC weapons) 'by controlling exports of goods and technologies that could make a contribution to delivery systems (other than manned aircraft) for such weapons.' [...] The MTCR guidelines apply to both armed and unarmed UAS. According to the MTCR, Category I items are the most sensitive and include complete UAS 'capable of delivering a payload of at least 500 kg to a range of at least 300 km, their major complete subsystems … and related software and technology,' as well as 'specially designed' production facilities for these UAS and subsystems. Partner governments should have 'a strong presumption to deny' such transfers, regardless of their purpose, but may transfer such items on 'rare occasions.' [...] Regime partners have greater flexibility with respect to authorizing exports of Category II items, which include less sensitive and dual-use missile related components."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Kerr, Paul K.

2021-02-01
Section 307 and Imports Produced by Forced Labor [Updated February 1, 2021]

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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 of Congress brought up humanitarian concerns during debate, the central legislative concern was with 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). Over the decades, lawmakers and civil society became increasingly concerned about forced labor in the context of human trafficking. The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386), for example, included forced labor in its definition of human trafficking. Similarly, Congress removed the 'consumptive demand' clause, as part of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (P.L. 114-125) in 2015."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Casey, Christopher A.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; O'Regan, Katarina C.

2021-02-01
Offshore Energy Agency Appropriations, FY2021 [February 1, 2021]

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From the Document: "Three entities in the Department of the Interior (DOI) share responsibility for managing the nation's ocean energy resources on almost 2.5 billion acres of the U.S. outer continental shelf (OCS). The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) administers offshore energy leasing and mineral development, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) oversees offshore operational safety and environmental protection, and the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) manages public revenues from federally regulated offshore and onshore energy and natural resource projects. BOEM, BSEE, and ONRR receive appropriations in the annual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Issues include determining the aggregate and program-level appropriations for each entity and considering related legislative proposals by the Administration. P.L. 116-260, enacted on December 27, 2020, contained FY2021 appropriations for BOEM, BSEE, and ONRR."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Comay, Laura B.

2021-02-01
Rejoining the World Health Organization (WHO): Reform and Related Issues [February 1, 2021]

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From the Document: "The Biden Administration is working to restore U.S. involvement in the World Health Organization (WHO). On January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden sent a letter to United Nation (U.N.) Secretary-General Antόnio Guterres indicating that the United States would remain a member of WHO. The letter retracted a July 6, 2020, decision by the Trump Administration to withdraw the United States from WHO effective July 6, 2021. The withdrawal determination followed assertions by the Trump Administration that WHO failed 'to independently investigate' reports conflicting with Chinese government's accounts of the pandemic and repeated 'grossly inaccurate' or 'misleading' claims made by Chinese authorities about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). On January 21, 2021, U.S. officials announced a resumption of regular engagement with WHO and an end to the drawdown of U.S. staff seconded to WHO. The White House also issued a directive, which among other things, directed the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs to make recommendations for reforming and strengthening WHO. The unprecedented attempt to withdraw the United States from WHO raised questions about congressional authority to inform the withdrawal process. It also reignited calls for reforming WHO, some of which conflated shortcomings of WHO with limitations of the International Health Regulations [IHR (2005)]--the rules governing responses by WHO and Member States to public health emergencies of international concern (PHEIC)."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji

2021-02-01

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