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Aviation Safety: Preliminary Information on Aircraft Icing and Winter Operations, Statement of Gerald L. Dillingham, Ph.D., Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, Testimony before the Subcommittee on Aviation, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Ice formation on aircraft can disrupt the smooth flow of air over the wings and prevent the aircraft from taking off or decrease the pilot's ability to maintain control of the aircraft. Taxi and landing operations can also be risky in winter weather. Despite a variety of technologies designed to prevent ice from forming on planes, as well as persistent efforts by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other stakeholders to mitigate icing risks, icing remains a serious concern. As part of an ongoing review, this statement provides preliminary information on (1) the extent to which large commercial airplanes have experienced accidents and incidents related to icing and contaminated runways, (2) the efforts of FAA and aviation stakeholders to improve safety in icing and winter weather operating conditions, and (3) the challenges that continue to affect aviation safety in icing and winter weather operating conditions."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Dillingham, Gerald L.
2010-02-10
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Energy Security: Challenges to National Security [powerpoint]
This presentation outlines energy-related trends impact on global security; the implications these trends hold for policy-makers, intelligence, and homeland security; and how the U.S. should respond to these emerging threats to our national security. In 2015, the global drivers of change: demographics, natural resources, science and technology, globalization, national/international governance, future conflict, and role of U.S. Global trends are: fossil fuel, renewable energy, nuclear energy and GNEP, and new energy sources. There is a global increase in energy consumption. It is at the crossroads of: proliferation, nuclear terrorism, resource competition in a unipolar world, environment, and science and technology. The wild cards: large scale/WMD terrorist attack, large scale disruption of energy supplies, global renaissance of nuclear specialties, and free exchange of ideas on the Internet. Practical solutions: Develop a comprehensive National Energy Security Strategy with a long term focus; fully integrate policy, intelligence and homeland security; develop a comprehensive collection strategy that unifies foreign and domestic intelligence; change culture; and promote the creativity and innovation required to find unique solutions to unique problems.
United States. Department of Energy
Mowatt-Larssen, Rolf
2006-10-06
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Transit Rail: Potential Rail Car Cost-Saving Strategies Exist, Report to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Rail transit offers society a number of benefits, including reduced congestion and pollution and increased mobility. However, rail systems and cars are costly: Transit agencies can pay more than $3 million per car, often using federal funds. As requested, this report describes (1) characteristics of the U.S. market for transit rail cars, (2) the federal government's role in funding and setting standards for transit rail cars, and (3) challenges transit agencies face when procuring rail cars. GAO [Government Accountability Office] analyzed U.S. and worldwide rail car market data for commuter, heavy, and light rail systems and interviewed Department of Transportation (DOT) officials and domestic and international industry stakeholders, including the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2010-06
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Aviation Safety: Information on the Safety Effects of Modifying the Age Standard for Commercial Pilots
From the Document: "The Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act1 (the act) extended the federal age standard for pilots of large commercial aircraft from 60 to 65 years of age. The act also requires us to report--no later than 24 months after its enactment-on the effect, if any, of this change on aviation safety. This report responds to that requirement. To perform our work, we reviewed relevant literature, interviewed senior officials from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and obtained and reviewed FAA and NTSB aviation accident and incident data for commercial passenger airline flights from December 2007 through September 2009. We conducted this performance audit from September 2009 to October 2009 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. Because we are familiar with and have previously determined that FAA's and NTSB's data were sufficiently reliable for the nationwide descriptive information used in this report, we did not further assess the data's reliability; however, we did interview agency officials knowledgeable about the databases to determine that the accident and incident data used in this report continue to be sufficiently reliable for the analysis that we performed."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2009-10-30
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Commercial Vehicle Security: Risk-Based Approach Needed to Secure the Commercial Vehicle Sector, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that "[n]umerous incidents around the world have highlighted the vulnerability of commercial vehicles to terrorist acts. Commercial vehicles include over 1 million highly diverse truck and intercity bus firms. Within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has primary federal responsibility for ensuring the security of the commercial vehicle sector, while vehicle operators are responsible for implementing security measures for their firms. GAO was asked to examine: (1) the extent to which TSA has assessed security risks for commercial vehicles; (2) actions taken by key stakeholders to mitigate identified risks; and (3) TSA efforts to coordinate its security strategy with other federal, state, and private sector stakeholders. GAO reviewed TSA plans, assessments, and other documents; visited a nonrandom sample of 26 commercial truck and bus companies of varying sizes, locations, and types of operations; and interviewed TSA and other federal and state officials and industry representatives. GAO is recommending that TSA develop a plan and time frame for completing risk assessments, develop performance measures that assess the effectiveness of federal commercial vehicle security programs, fully define stakeholder roles and responsibilities, and assess its coordination efforts. DHS concurred with our recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2009-02
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National Airspace System: Regional Airport Planning Could Help Address Congestion If Plans Were Integrated with FAA and Airport Decision Making, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) predicts that the national airspace system will become increasingly congested over time, imposing costs of delay on passengers and regions. While transforming the current air-traffic control system to the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) may provide additional en route capacity, many airports will still face constraints at their runways and terminals. In light of these forecasts, GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to evaluate regional airport planning in metropolitan regions with congested airports. GAO (1) identified which airports are currently or will be significantly congested and the potential benefits of regional airport planning, (2) assessed how regions with congested airports use regional airport planning in decision making, and (3) identified factors that hinder or aid in the development and implementation of regional airport plans. GAO reviewed studies; interviewed FAA, airport, and other aviation and transportation officials; and conducted case studies in selected regions. GAO is recommending that the Secretary of Transportation direct FAA to create a review process for RASPs [regional airport system plans] and use its existing authority to give priority to funding airport projects that are consistent with RASPs. The Department of Transportation generally agreed to consider the revised recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2009-12
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Growing Strategic Threat of ISIS, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, February 12, 2015
This is the February 12, 2015 hearing, "Growing Strategic Threat of ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria]," held before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Edward R. Royce: "This morning the committee continues our focus on the growing threat of ISIS. Of course, this hearing takes on added significance as yesterday the President requested that the Congress formally back military action against this jihadist organization, an organization which has beheaded Americans and which has sold and raped thousands of women in Syria. And this is not a new threat for the members of this committee. One year ago, this committee took testimony from one of the few administration officials then sounding the ISIS alarm. [...] This group occupies a vast territory. It holds an estimated $2 billion in assets. Now, I don't think there has ever been in history a terrorist organization as well funded as this terror group. ISIS has used the 'virtual caliphate' on the Internet to recruit foreign fighters at an 'unprecedented rate.' Twenty thousand foreign fighters from 90 countries now make up the ranks of ISIS and, according to intelligence estimates, this includes 3,400 from the West and more than 150 Americans on the ground fighting for ISIS today." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: James F. Jeffrey, Dafna H. Rand, and Rick Brennan Jr.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2015
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What is the State of Islamic Extremism: Key Trends, Challenges, and Implications for U.S. Policy, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, Hearing Held February 13, 2015
This is the February 13, 2015 hearing, "What Is the State of Islamic Extremism: Key Trends, Challenges, and Implications for U.S. Policy," held before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services. From the opening statement of William M. ''Mac'' Thornberry: "On Wednesday, the President submitted to Congress his proposal for an authorization to use military force against ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria]. Although the President has ordered combat operations against ISIS take place in Iraq since last August and in Syria since last September, only now has he sought the congressional authorization required by the Constitution. Despite the airstrikes, press accounts indicate that ISIS has expanded its territory that it controls in Syria. The world has been horrified at its barbarism, which seems to have no limit. [...] Congress will consider the President's AUMF [authorization for use of military force] proposal in the context of this wider fight against Islamist terrorists. The purpose of today's hearing is to evaluate how that broader struggle is going. Among the questions I have are: What are the trends we see with Islamist terrorists? Is their appeal growing or diminishing around the world? Is the threat to the United States becoming more or less serious?" Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: William Braniff, Michael Flynn, and Marc Lynch."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs, Hearing Before the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session; Full Committee Hearing on Budget Requests from the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command, March 3, 2011
From the opening statement of Howard P. McKeon: "This afternoon, the House Armed Services Committee meets to receive testimony from commanders of the United States Central Command [CENTCOM] and the United States Special Operations Command [SOCOM] on the posture of their respective commands. It is an understatement, perhaps, to say recent events give this hearing an even greater urgency. Developments in the past 6 months and especially in the past 6 weeks present new opportunities and new uncertainties for our Nation's security and the environment in which CENTCOM and SOCOM operate. Extremist Islamist groups and their use of terrorism directly threatens the physical security of American citizens at home and abroad. Consequently, in Afghanistan, 100,000 U.S. service men and women are fighting to disrupt, dismantle, and eventually defeat Al Qaeda in the country from which it planned and conducted the 9/11 attacks." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Howard P. McKeon, Adam Smith, James N. Mattis, Eric T. Olson, Mike Coffman, Scott Rigell, Bill Shuster, Betty Sutton, Michael Turner, and Joe Wilson.
United States. Government Printing Office
2011
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City on the Hill or Prison on the Bay? Part III: Guantanamo - the Role of the FBI, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, June 4, 2008
From the opening statement of Bill Delahunt: "Today, we continue our examination of the operation of the detention facility at Guantanamo and how its operation has influenced the perception of the United States by the international community and the resulting consequences for American national security and our foreign policy objectives. Years after Secretary Rumsfeld described the Guantanamo detainees as the worst of the worst, I think we can now conclude after our prior hearings, and as one of our prior witnesses stated more accurately, many of those detainees can be described as the unluckiest of the unlucky. I think it is important to understand that a majority of the detainees were seized by Afghanis and Pakistanis as a result of the bounty system. Only 5 percent of the inmates at Guantanamo during its operation were captured by American forces." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bill Delahunt and Glenn A. Fine.
United States. Government Printing Office
2008
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 1160, FENTANYL Results Act
This Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate is for the "Fighting Emerging Narcotics Through Additional Nations to Yield Lasting Results Act" or the "FENTANYL Results Act." From the Document: "S. 1160 would authorize appropriations over the 2022-2026 period for Department of State programs to reduce international trafficking in drugs. It would authorize appropriations of $4 million each year to build the capacity of foreign law enforcement agencies to detect and track synthetic drugs such as fentanyl. It also would authorize appropriations of $1 million each year for an international exchange program for professionals working to reduce the illicit use of drugs. CBO estimates that implementing S. 1160 would cost a total of $15 million over the 2022-2027 period. The remainder of the $25 million in authorized appropriations would be spent after 2027. Such spending would be subject to the appropriation of the specified amounts. The bill also would require the department to report to the Congress on its progress in reducing drug trafficking. On the basis of information about similar requirements, CBO estimates that providing the required reports would cost less than $500,000 over the 2022-2027 period."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-06-24
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 3988, Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings Act
From the Document: "H.R. 3988 would require the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State to integrate mental health and support services into its development and assistance programs. Specifically, the bill would codify the position of USAID's Coordinator for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support. It also would codify the related working group that coordinates mental health and psychosocial support policy among federal agencies that manage U.S. foreign assistance programs. In October 2020, USAID established the coordinator's role and the working group to advance efforts to improve mental health globally. The coordinator and working group develop policy, provide technical support on programs and research, coordinate work with other organizations, and support access to effective mental health care. Based on information about those activities, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] expects that USAID would satisfy the bill's requirements under current law."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-06-24
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Hearing 4 Before the Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, Held in Washington, DC, October 22, 2015
This is the October 22, 2015 "Hearing 4," held before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi. From the opening statement of Trey Gowdy: "This committee is the first committee to review more than 50,000 pages of documents because we insisted that they be produced. This committee is the first committee to demand access to more eyewitnesses because serious investigations talk to as many eyewitnesses as possible. This committee is the first committee to thoroughly and individually interview scores of other witnesses, many of them for the first time. This committee is the first committee to review thousands of pages of documents from top State Department personnel. This committee is the first committee to demand access to relevant documents from the CIA, the FBI, the Department of Defense, even the White House. This committee is the first committee to demand access to the emails to and from Ambassador Chris Stevens. How could an investigation possibly be considered serious without reviewing the emails of the person most knowledgeable about Libya? This committee is the first committee, the only committee, to uncover the fact that Secretary Clinton exclusively used personal email on her own personal server for official business and kept the public record, including emails about Benghazi and Libya, in her own custody and control for almost two years after she left office."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Water As A Geopolitical Threat, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, January 16, 2014
This is the January 16, 2014 hearing on "Water As A Geopolitical Threat," held before the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats of the Committee on Foreign Affairs House of Representatives. From the statement of Jeremy M. Sharp: "The Red-Dead Canal is a decades-old plan to provide fresh water to water-scarce countries in the surrounding area while simultaneously restoring the Dead Sea, which has been shrinking at an alarming rate. The original Red-Dead concept was to pump water from the Red Sea and desalinate it for use by the participating countries. The leftover brine would then be gradually channelled to the Dead Sea, helping restore the sea's receding water levels. […] The Kingdom of Jordan has vigorously pursued the Red-Dead Canal concept. Jordan is one of the most water-deprived countries in the world and is constantly searching for new water resources. The civil war in neighboring Syria is exacerbating Jordan's water crisis as over 1⁄2 million Syrian refugees have fled to Jordan increasing the population by 9 percent within just 2 years." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jeremy M. Sharp, Maura Moynihan, Gordon G. Chang, and David Goodtree.
United States. Government Printing Office
2014
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H. Rept. 117-379: Active Shooter Alert Act of 2022, Report Together with Minority Views to Accompany H.R. 6538, June 21, 2022
From the Document: "The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 6538) to create an Active Shooter Alert Communications Network, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass. [...] H.R. 6538, the ''Active Shooter Alert Act of 2022,'' would adapt an existing alert system to establish an Active Shooter Alert Network, enabling law enforcement to send active shooter alerts within their communities. This legislation tasks the Department of Justice with the creation of a network for state and local law enforcement to send geo-targeted active shooter alerts through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)--the infrastructure currently used for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alerts and severe storm warnings--to better warn the public of ongoing, active shooter incidents. It provides for the establishment of best practices for law enforcement agencies who choose to use this existing infrastructure for active shooter incidents. It also requires the Attorney General to appoint an Active Shooter Alert Coordinator within the Department of Justice to coordinate and develop the best practices, along with an advisory panel, and provide support for the implementation of active shooter alert systems."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-06-21
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 6089, Stop Iranian Drones Act [June 27, 2022]
From the Document: "Under current law the President is required to impose sanctions on persons who knowingly support several of Iran's weapons programs. H.R. 6089 would amend that law to add unmanned combat aerial vehicles to the list of covered programs. It also would require the Administration to impose sanctions on Iranians who use such aerial vehicles to attack U.S. citizens. [...] On the basis of data for similar sanctions, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that any additional sanctions would affect a small number of people; thus, enacting H.R. 6089 would have insignificant effects on revenues and direct spending, and would, on net, reduce deficits by insignificant amounts over the 2022-2032 period. The bill also would require the Administration to report to the Congress on Iranian persons who use unmanned aerial vehicles to attack U.S. citizens. On the basis of information about the costs to prepare similar reports, CBO estimates that satisfying the reporting requirement would cost less than $500,000 over the 2022-2027 period. Such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds." An earlier estimate for this Act can be found here: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=863476].
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-06-27
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 5781, National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program Act
From the Document: "H.R. 5781 would direct the President to establish a national wildland fire risk reduction program and would authorize the appropriation of specific amounts over the 2022-2026 period for various agencies that would total $2.2 billion. Those amounts would be for federal agencies to conduct research and development on the effects of wildfires and detecting, preparing for, mitigating, and preventing wildfires. The bill also would direct the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to establish and manage interagency and advisory committees on wildfire risk reduction and would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to the Congress on the program. [...] Based on the costs of similar tasks, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that OSTP would need between one and two employees, at an average annual cost of $165,000 each, to manage the committees. We also estimate that any costs incurred by GAO to prepare the required report would be insignificant. In total, CBO estimates that implementing those requirements would cost $2 million over the 2022-2027 period."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-06-24
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 3662, Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act
This is a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate for S. 3662, Preventing PFAS [polyfluoroalkyl substances] Runoff at Airports Act. From the Document: "S. 3662 would have the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pay 100 percent of the cost for airports to acquire stand-alone, input-based equipment to test certain fire suppression systems. Under current law, the FAA's Airport Improvement Program and Airport Infrastructure Grants program provide grants for capital improvements at airports and, depending on the type of airport, generally cover 75 percent to 90 percent of the costs for eligible projects. Under current agency guidance, airports' acquisitions of those systems can be reimbursed through November 1, 2023. S. 3662 would not provide additional budget authority for airport grants or increase existing obligation limitations. However, the bill could affect direct spending from the expenditure of previously appropriated amounts that CBO does not expect to be spent over the 2022-2032 period under current law. Using information from the FAA about previous grants for similar equipment, CBO expects that the FAA would spend a small amount of those balances. Thus, we estimate that enacting the bill would increase direct spending by less than $500,000 over the 2022-2032 period."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-06-24
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 3895, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2022
From the Document: "S. 3895 would extend the term of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom through 2024 and authorize appropriations of $3.5 million in 2023 and 2024 for its operations. The commission is an independent, bipartisan federal agency that monitors and promotes freedom of religion and belief in foreign countries. It also makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and the Congress. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing H.R. 2538 would cost $7 million over the 2022-2027 period. Such spending would be subject to the appropriation of the specified amounts."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-06-27
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COVID-19's Effects on U.S. Immigration and Immigrant Communities, Two Years on
From the Executive Summary: "The first U.S. policy response to the novel coronavirus was to impose restrictions on travel from the initial affected countries. As COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] spread around the world, the U.S. government layered on new immigration-related restrictions on inbound travel, entry at the border, and visa issuance. As new variants of the virus emerged, this trend continued: The U.S. response to the detection of the Omicron variant in late 2021 was to impose new restrictions on immigration and travel from certain southern African nations. In addition to influencing immigration and border policies, the pandemic has had important and disparate impacts on immigrant communities in the United States. The first large community outbreak of the virus occurred in the heavily immigrant neighborhoods of Queens, New York. Immigrant 'essential workers' were hailed as early heroes of the pandemic; as many Americans retreated to their homes, large numbers of workers, immigrants included, had to report to work to keep health care, the food industry, and other vital parts of the economy going. Outbreaks of COVID-19 among immigrant workers in meat processing plants in Spring and Summer 2020 drove home the disproportionate risks of continuing such work during a pandemic."
Migration Policy Institute
Gelatt, Julia; Chishti, Muzaffar
2022-06
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Challenge of Coordinating Border Management Assistance Between Europe and the Maghreb
From the Executive Summary: "Europe's border security no longer stops at its frontiers. Dealing with irregular migration and other transnational challenges to border security requires close partnerships with Europe's neighborhood, including the states of the Maghreb: Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The Maghreb has been a key point of origin and transit for irregular migration to Europe for decades, but rising numbers of departures by Maghrebi nationals to Europe during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, coupled with instability in Libya and the Sahel, have driven home the importance of cooperation to European policymakers. As a result, Europe has committed new resources to build Maghrebi states' capacity to manage their borders and both reduce irregular migration and address the region's cross-border security challenges, such as transnational terrorism and human, arms, and drug smuggling. Managing migration in the Maghreb remains a formidable task due to geographic, structural, and economic factors."
Transatlantic Council on Migration; Migration Policy Institute
Herbert, Matt
2022-03
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ISIS Threat: Weighing the Obama Administration's Response, Hearing Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, September 18, 2014
This is the September 18, 2014 hearing, "ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as the Islamic State, IS, or Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, ISIL] Threat: Weighing the Obama Administration's Response," before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Chairman Royce: "Never has a terrorist organization occupied such a sanctuary. Never has such a terrorist organization had the access to the abundant natural resources that ISIL has at its disposal. Never has a terrorist organization possessed the heavy weaponry or the cash or the personnel that ISIL has today. And its brutality, of course, is unmatched. This committee, on a bipartisan basis, has been pushing the administration to confront this threat. For months I pressed the administration for drone strikes, as the terrorists columns advanced on Iraqi cities. That is what the Iraqis wanted, and it is what many in our Embassy in Baghdad wanted. Ranking Member Engel has been pushing to arm the Free Syrian Army. That is what the President's entire national security team wanted, including General David Petraeus, who headed the CIA at the time and frankly, the White House hesitancy on this has put us in a situation where ISIL has gained a lot of ground." Statements, letters and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Kerry.
United States. Government Printing Office
2014
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 4171, International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022
From the Document: "S. 4171 would authorize the appropriation of $502 million over the 2023-2026 period for programs to prevent trafficking in persons. Those amounts would be authorized for accounts managed by the Department of State, Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the U.S. Agency for International Development. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing S. 4171 would cost $271 million over the 2022-2027 period, subject to the appropriation of the specified amounts."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-06-27
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 3861, Somaliland Partnership Act
From the Document: "S. 3861 would require the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development to report annually to the Congress about their staffing and programs in Somaliland, U.S. foreign assistance to that region of Somalia, and related matters. It also would require the department to assess and report to the Congress about potential cooperation with Somaliland on security, counterterrorism, maritime interests, and other matters. On the basis of information about the costs to prepare similar reports, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that satisfying that requirement would cost less than $500,000 over the 2022-2027 period."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-06-24
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Weapons of Mass Destruction: Bolstering DHS to Combat Persistent Threats to America, Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies and the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, July 14, 2015
This is the July 14, 2015 hearing on "Weapons of Mass Destruction: Bolstering DHS to Combat Persistent Threats to America," held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies and the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Michael T. McCaul: "During the Cold War years, the threat of nuclear annihilation was universally recognized. Today, there is an equally terrifying but persistent WMD threat. But the forms that such weapons could take and the bad actors seeking to obtain them have vastly expanded. Today's threat comes from Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon, as well as the rise of ISIS and other terrorist organizations that are seeking to acquire chemicals, biological agents, radiological or nuclear material to use it to set off a bomb in one of our major cities. While such an attack may not result in total annihilation, it would be a major public health and safety catastrophe, as well as an economic and psychological blow to the entire country. Today's threat is illustrated by several evolving situations unfolding across the globe. The current nuclear deal just announced today with Iran, if approved, could increase the amount of nuclear material throughout the volatile Middle East if Iran is in fact allowed to retain a certain amount of enriched uranium." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Reginald Brothers, Kathryn H. Brinsfield, Huban A. Gowadia, Alan D. Cohn, Rick ''Ozzie'' Nelson, and Warren Stern.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Hearing Before the Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attacks in Benghazi, Libya, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, Held in Washington, Dc, September 17, 2014
This is the September 17, 2014 first hearing. Held before the House of Representatives Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attacks in Benghazi, Libya. From the opening statement Trey Gowdy: "Our fellow citizens have certain legitimate expectations. They expect us to protect and defend those that we send to represent us. They expect us to move heaven and earth when those who are representing us come under attack. They expect government to tell us the truth in the aftermath of a tragedy always. And they expect that we will not continue to make the same mistakes over and over and over again. Which brings us to this hearing. Benghazi was not the first time one of our facilities or our people have been attacked. Beirut, Kenya, Tanzania are three that come to mind, among others. And, after these attacks, groups come together and they make recommendations on how to prevent future attacks. That seems to be the process that is followed. A tragedy or an attack comes; we commission a panel, a board, a blue-ribbon commission to study the attack and make sure that we make recommendations to ensure that it never happens again. But yet it does happen again. And so, to those who believe it is time to move on, to those who believe that there is nothing left to discover, that all the questions have been asked and answered and that we have learned all the lessons that there are to be learned, we have heard all of that before, and it was wrong then. It is stunning to see the similarities between the recommendations made decades ago and the recommendations made by the Benghazi ARB. And if you doubt that, I want you to compare the recommendations of those made a quarter of a century ago, 25 years ago, with the recommendations made by the Benghazi ARB. We do not suffer from a lack of recommendations. We do suffer from a lack of implementing and enacting those recommendations. And that has to end. So it is appropriate to review the recommendations of the most recent ARB, and I commend our colleague from California, Mr. Schiff, for suggesting that we do so."
United States. Government Printing Office
2014
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 905, Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act of 2017
"S. 905 would require the Department of State to report to the Congress on several aspects of the war in Syria, including war crimes, genocide, or crimes against humanity and on assistance programs to ensure that the perpetrators of such crimes are held accountable. The department also would be required to complete a study and report on the feasibility and desireability of options for transitional justice (measures to promote peace and justice in countries transitioning out of armed conflict or repression). Finally, S. 905 would authorize the department to provide assistance to entities investigating war-related crimes in Syria, to offer rewards for information leading to arrests or convictions for such crimes, and to support transitional justice in Syria."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-06-20
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 256, A Bill to Amend Public Law 93-435 with Respect to the Northern Mariana Islands, Providing Parity with Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa
"CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that enacting S. 256 would have no significant effect on the federal budget. The bill would convey ownership of submerged lands to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) from the mean high tide seaward to the point that is three geographical miles from its coast line. The legislation also would include CNMI among the islands where the United States may establish a naval defensive perimeter. Finally, S. 256 would amend the process for changing the minimum wage in American Samoa and CNMI. Based on information from the Department of the Interior, CBO estimates that implementing S. 256 would have no significant cost to the federal government. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. S. 256 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2013-05-24
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 148, A Bill to Provide for the Secretary of Homeland Security to be Included in the Line of Presidential Succession
"S.148 would amend the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 to include the Secretary of Homeland Security. The bill would place the Secretary of Homeland Security eighth in line to succeed the President directly following the Attorney General. CBO estimates that implementing S. 148 would have no cost and would not affect direct spending or revenues. This legislation contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2003-06-25
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Electronic Health Information: HHS Needs to Improve Communications for Breach Reporting, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "The use of IT [information technology] allows health care providers and others to share health care information electronically, which enhances care delivery, public health and research; and empowers providers to make informed decisions regarding patient health. HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] sets and enforces standards for protecting electronic health information. To implement the provisions of HIPAA [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act], HHS issued regulations that govern PHI [protected health information] transmitted or maintained by covered entities, such as health plans and health care providers, and their business associates. GAO was asked to review covered entities' required reporting to HHS on data breaches. This report examines (1) the number of breaches and affected individuals reported to HHS since 2015; (2) the extent to which HHS established a review process to assess whether covered entities had implemented recognized security practices; and (3) the extent to which improvements can be made related to HHS's breach reporting requirements. To do so, GAO reviewed privacy and information security laws; analyzed HHS documentation, policies, and procedures; and interviewed cognizant OCR [Office for Civil Rights] officials. GAO also surveyed HIPAA covered entities and business associates. [...] GAO is making one recommendation to HHS to establish a feedback mechanism to improve the effectiveness of its breach reporting process. HHS concurred with GAO's recommendation and described actions it would take to address it."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-05-27
