Advanced search Help
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
Racial Equity in U.S. Farming: Background in Brief [November 19, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Congress has enacted numerous policies that aim to support farmers of color (see 'Terminology' text box) and other historically underserved farmers and has demonstrated an interest in monitoring race and ethnicity in U.S. farming and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. Enacted policies include establishing outreach programs, setting target participation rates in certain USDA programs, requiring USDA to report on socially disadvantaged farmer and rancher (SDFR) program participation, and establishing various advisory offices and committees. For background on these policies, see CRS Report R46727, 'Defining a Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher (SDFR): In Brief', by Renée Johnson. Congress also provides funding and oversight for the U.S. Census of Agriculture as well as other USDA surveys and reports that collect race and ethnicity data on U.S. farming. Congressional attention to racial equity in U.S. farming and USDA programs has continued in the 116th and 117th Congresses. In addition, the Biden Administration has prioritized racial equity consideration in federal policies and programs. This report reviews federal data on racial and ethnic trends in the U.S. farmer population and U.S. farmland ownership. It also summarizes research on certain factors that may have contributed to these trends since the early 20th century. This information aims to provide historical background for ongoing policy debates on racial equity in U.S. farming."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Alyssa R.
2021-11-19
-
National Emergency Powers [Updated November 19, 2021]
From the Summary: "The President of the United States has available certain powers that may be exercised in the event that the nation is threatened by crisis, exigency, or emergency circumstances (other than natural disasters, war, or near-war situations). Such powers may be stated explicitly or implied by the Constitution, assumed by the Chief Executive to be permissible constitutionally, or inferred from or specified by statute. Through legislation, Congress has made a great many delegations of authority in this regard over the past 230 years. There are, however, limits and restraints upon the President in his exercise of emergency powers. With the exception of the habeas corpus clause, the Constitution makes no allowance for the suspension of any of its provisions during a national emergency. Disputes over the constitutionality or legality of the exercise of emergency powers are judicially reviewable. Both the judiciary and Congress, as co-equal branches, can restrain the executive regarding emergency powers. So can public opinion. Since 1976, the President has been subject to certain procedural formalities in utilizing some statutorily delegated emergency authority. The National Emergencies Act [...] eliminated or modified some statutory grants of emergency authority, required the President to formally declare the existence of a national emergency and to specify what statutory authority activated by the declaration would be used, and provided Congress a means to countermand the President's declaration and the activated authority being sought. The development of this regulatory statute and subsequent declarations of national emergency are reviewed in this report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Halchin, L. Elaine; Relyea, Harold
2021-11-19
-
Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) [Updated November 19, 2021]
From the Introduction: "The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was created by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (NFIA). Since the end of FY2017, 17 short-term NFIP reauthorizations have been enacted. The NFIP is currently authorized until December 3, 2021. [...] This report provides introductory information on key components of the NFIP, ranging from floodplain mapping to the standard flood insurance forms. This report will be updated as significant revisions are made to the NFIP through legislation or administrative action. However, this report does not provide detail on current or future legislative issues for Congress, which are covered in a separate report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.; Webel, Baird; Brown, Jared T.
2021-11-19
-
MMWR Surveillance Summaries: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, November 19, 2021: Homicides of American Indians/Alaska Natives -- National Violent Death Reporting System, United States, 2003-2018
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This Surveillance Summaries issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Homicides of American Indians/Alaska Natives -- National Violent Death Reporting System, United States, 2003-2018." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-11-19
-
MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, November 19, 2021
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This issue of MMWR contains the following: "Prevalence and Characteristics of Subjective Cognitive Decline Among Unpaid Caregivers Aged ≥45 Years -- 22 States, 2015-2019"; "Health Care Access and Use Among Adults with Diabetes During the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Pandemic -- United States, February-March 2021"; "Automated Digital Notification of COVID-19 Diagnoses Through Text and Email Messaging -- North Carolina, December 2020-January 2021"; "Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] Infection, Emergency Department Visits, and Hospitalizations Because of COVID-19 Among Persons Aged ≥12 Years, by COVID-19 Vaccination Status -- Oregon and Washington, July 4-September 25, 2021"; "Impact of Hospital Strain on Excess Deaths During the COVID-19 Pandemic -- United States, July 2020-July 2021"; "'Notes from the Field': Acute Nonviral Hepatitis Linked to a Brand of Alkaline Bottled Water -- Clark County, Nevada and California, 2020"; and "'QuickStats': Age-Adjusted Death Rates from Heart Disease Among Adults Aged 45-64 Years, by Urbanization Level§ and Sex -- National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2019." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-11-19
-
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 658, National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act of 2021 [November 19, 2021]
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on October 26, 2021. From the Document: "S. 658 would authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to coordinate with a consortium of academic and nonprofit entities to help state and local governments prepare for and respond to cybersecurity risks. [...] On April 5, 2021, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for S. 658 [hyperlink], the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act of 2021, as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on March 17, 2021. The two bills are similar, and CBO's estimates of their costs are similar. Differences in CBO's estimates of the cost of implementing the bills reflect the assumption that the bill ordered reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security will be enacted in 2022."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-11-19
-
MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, November 19, 2021: Risk for Stillbirth Among Women With and Without COVID-19 at Delivery Hospitalization -- United States, March 2020-September 2021
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This Early Release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Risk for Stillbirth Among Women With and Without COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] at Delivery Hospitalization -- United States, March 2020-September 2021." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from MMWR can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-11-19
-
MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, November 19, 2021: COVID-19-Associated Deaths After SARS-CoV-2 Infection During Pregnancy -- Mississippi, March 1, 2020-October 6, 2021
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This Early Release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]-Associated Deaths After SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] Infection During Pregnancy -- Mississippi, March 1, 2020-October 6, 2021." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from MMWR can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-11-19
-
Digital Services: Considerations for a Federal Academy to Develop a Pipeline of Digital Staff
From the Document: "A talented and diverse cadre of digital-ready, tech-savvy federal employees is critical to a modern, efficient government that can help agencies carry out their missions and address challenges facing the United States. As the federal government continues its modernization efforts across agencies, it faces a severe shortage of digital expertise in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), data science, application development, cybersecurity, computational biology, and robotics process automation. Federal agencies have faced challenges in hiring, managing, and retaining staff with digital service skills because of a limited pipeline of candidates and slow bureaucratic processes. [...] You asked us to gather perspectives of federal technology leaders on establishing an academy that could provide a dedicated talent pool to help meet the federal government's needs for digital expertise. This report summarizes the perspectives that selected technology leaders shared on 1) federal workforce needs for digital services staff, 2) key characteristics of a digital service academy, and 3) considerations to help ensure agencies can absorb graduates of a digital service academy."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-11-19
-
2021 Menino Survey of Mayors: Building Back Better
From the Methodology: "The 2021 Menino Survey of Mayors uses a combination of open- and closed-ended questions to explore salient local issues including COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] recovery, equity and small business, closing the racial wealth gap, and housing and homelessness. Within these areas it assesses, among other things, mayors' beliefs and priorities. This year, the data comprises responses from 126 mayors. [...] The Menino Survey relies on a systematic sample in which all US mayors who lead cities with at least 75,000 residents are invited to participate. Each received an email invitation from the Boston University Menino Survey of Mayors team at their official email account, and follow-up phone calls. The vast majority of interviews were conducted over the phone. Mayors' responses and participation remain anonymous, in order to ensure they are able to speak freely about a wide range of issues. In 2021, this sampling and recruitment effort yielded a sample that was representative of the full set of US cities with at least 75,000 residents." This document includes charts, tables, and graphs to illustrate the text.
Boston University. Initiative on Cities
Glick, David Matthew, 1979-; Einstein, Katherine Levine; Palmer, Maxwell
2021-11-19?
-
FY2022 NDAA: President's Budget Request [November 19, 2021]
From the Document: "The annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) typically authorizes discretionary funding for nearly all Department of Defense (DOD) programs and for certain other defense-related activities. While the NDAA does not appropriate funding (i.e., provide 'budget authority'), the legislation establishes or continues defense programs, projects, or activities, and provides guidance on how appropriated funds are to be used in carrying out those efforts. (The statutory requirement for annual authorization of appropriations for defense programs is codified at 10 U.S.C. [United States Code] §114. [hyperlink]) The FY2022 President's budget requested more than $6 trillion in discretionary and mandatory funding, of which $768.3 billion [hyperlink] (12.4%) was for activities within the national defense budget function. The latter is $14.3 billion (1.9%) more than the FY2021 level, excluding funds provided by the Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. [Public Law] 117-31 [hyperlink]). National defense is one of 20 major functions used by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to organize budget data and the largest in terms of discretionary funding. Identified by the numerical notation 050, the national defense budget function [hyperlink] is the broadest measure by which the U.S. government categorizes defense funding."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McGarry, Brendan W.
2021-11-19
-
Public Law 117-59: Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act
From the Document: "An Act [t]o amend title 18, United States Code, to further protect officers and employees of the United States, and for other purposes."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-11-18
-
Child Care in the 'Build Back Better Act' [Updated November 18, 2021]
From the Document: "On November 3, 2021, the House Rules Committee released a modified version of the 'Build Back Better Act' (H.R. 5376) in Rules Committee Print 117-18 [hyperlink]. This version would establish a 'Birth Through Five Child Care and Early Learning Entitlement' (§23001 [hyperlink]). On November 17, the Congressional Budget Office estimated [hyperlink] the Birth Through Five program would cost roughly $273 billion over the 10-year budget window (not accounting for revenue interactions). [...] Section 23001 would appropriate mandatory funding to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for child care programs in states, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and territories. Funding for activities in FY2022-FY2024 would be capped. State appropriations for these years would be designated for particular activities ('Table 1'), including direct services (e.g., subsidies, payment rates), quality (e.g., supply-building, facilities), and administration. Beginning in FY2025, appropriations for states, tribes, and territories would be set at 'such sums as may be necessary' to ensure funds are sufficient for all eligible children seeking assistance. Capped funding would be available for grants to localities and Head Start expansions in states that opt not to participate in the program. [...] Eligible children would generally be those ages 0-5 (and not yet in kindergarten) with family incomes at or below [1] 100% of state median income (SMI) in FY2022, [2] 125% of SMI in FY2023, [3] 150% of SMI in FY2024, and [4] 250% of SMI in FY2025-FY2027[.]"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Karen E.; Boyle, Conor F.
2021-11-18
-
EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 46, November 18, 2021
The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "The state of research on firefighter PFAS [Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances] exposures"; "Behavioral Approach to Violence Prevention reference aid for homeland security partners"; "FEMA launches new Building Science Resource Library and advocates use of building codes to increase resilience to natural disasters"; "CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] holds 2021 Chemical Security Summit as virtual seminar series in December"; "CISA adds four known exploited vulnerabilities to catalog"; "Iranian government-sponsored APT [advanced persistent threat] cyber actors exploiting Microsoft Exchange and Fortinet vulnerabilities"; "Bad form: FBI server sending fake emails taken offline and fixed, no data impacted"; "Ohio teen linked to group accused in more than 30 nationwide bomb threats, swatting incidents"; "Your DDR4 [Double Data Rate 4] memory could be facing the return of some serious assaults"; and "Emotet makes a comeback."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2021-11-18
-
U.S. Department of Transportation: COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan
From the Document: "This document provides updated implementation guidance for the Department of Transportation's (DOT) COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Workplace Safety Plan. This implementation guidance applies DOT-wide and puts the health and safety of all Federal employees, on-site contractors, visitors, and their families at the center. This plan is built upon taking a safe, cautious, iterative, data-driven approach, and replaces previously published DOT guidance. [...] The DOT shifted to maximum telework on March 16, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 20, 2020, the Office of Management and Budget [OMB] and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) directed Federal organizations to draft plans to return to normal operations, and to submit weekly telework and facilities reports by geographic locations. In May 2020, DOT published Framework for DOT's Return to Normal Operations. On January 24, 2021, OMB issued updated guidance, Memorandum 21-15, COVID-19 Safe Federal Workplace: Agency Model Safety Principles [hyperlink], to ensure a safer Federal workforce. Pursuant to this guidance and subsequent guidance listed in the Purpose section above, DOT amends previously published guidance and implements the following DOT COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan and Implementation Guidance."
United States. Department of Transportation
2021-11-18
-
Universal Preschool in the 'Build Back Better Act' [Updated November 18, 2021]
From the Document: "On November 3, 2021, the House Committee on Rules released a modified version of the 'Build Back Better Act' (H.R. 5376) in Rules Committee Print 117-18 [hyperlink]. This version would establish a Universal Preschool (UPK) program in Section 23002 [hyperlink]. On November 15, the Congressional Budget Office estimated [hyperlink] the UPK program would cost roughly $109 billion over the 10-year budget window (not accounting for revenue interactions). [...] Appropriations would support preschool programs in states, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, territories, and entities serving families engaged in migrant or seasonal agricultural labor. Funds would be available for grants to localities and Head Start expansions in states that opt not to participate in the UPK program. The bill would provide funding for federal administration and grants to improve Head Start compensation. [...] Eligible children would be those ages three or four on the local date established for kindergarten entry. There would be no income test or parental activity requirements. Preschool providers would be eligible if they are [1] local educational agencies (acting alone or with an educational service agency) that are licensed by the state or meet comparable health and safety standards; [2] Head Start agencies (including delegate agencies); [3] licensed child care providers (including center-based providers, family child care providers, and networks of family child care providers); or [4] a consortia of the above."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Karen E.
2021-11-18
-
Central COVID-19 Coordination Centers in Germany: Description, Economic Evaluation, and Systematic Review
From the Abstract: "During the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, Central COVID-19 Coordination Centers (CCCCs) have been established at several hospitals across Germany with the intention to assist local health care professionals in efficiently referring patients with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] infection to regional hospitals and therefore to prevent the collapse of local health system structures. In addition, these centers coordinate interhospital transfers of patients with COVID-19 and provide or arrange specialized telemedical consultations. [...] This study describes the establishment and management of a CCCC at a German university hospital."
JMIR Publications
Schopow, Nikolas; Osterhoff, Georg; von Dercks, Nikolaus . . .
2021-11-18
-
Foreign Farmland Ownership in the United States [November 18, 2021]
From the Document: "Legislation introduced in the 117th Congress seeks to restrict foreign investment and ownership of U.S. agricultural land. In 2019, foreign persons and entities held an interest in 2.7% of U.S. privately owned agricultural land--covering crop, grazing, and forest land--according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Other related legislation seeks to limit the eligibility of foreign persons and entities for USDA farm program benefits. [...] Legislation before Congress seeks to increase oversight of foreign investment and ownership of U.S. agricultural land. Several bills would amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 [...] to include the Secretary of Agriculture as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). USDA is not currently a member of CFIUS. CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States and real estate transactions by foreign persons, in order to determine the effect of such transactions on U.S. national security. [...] [T]he House-passed FY2022 Agriculture appropriations bill would require USDA to take actions to 'prohibit the purchase' of agricultural land by 'companies owned, in full or in part, by China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea'[.] [...] Similar provisions were not taken up in the Senate."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Johnson, Renée
2021-11-18
-
Funding for Wildfire Management: FY2022 Appropriations for Forest Service and the Department of the Interior [November 18, 2021]
From the Document: "The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service (FS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) are responsible for wildfire response and management across the federal lands within their respective jurisdictions. Both FS and DOI generally receive annual discretionary appropriations for wildfire management activities through Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations laws. Wildfire management funding for DOI is provided to the department-level Office of Wildland Fire. Wildfire management appropriations fluctuate annually but rose markedly after FY2000 (see Figure 1). For historical funding, see CRS Report R46583, 'Federal Wildfire Management: Ten-Year Funding Trends and Issues (FY2011-FY2020).'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2021-11-18
-
Native American Heritage Month: Fact Sheet [Updated November 18, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Native American Heritage Month (also known as National American Indian Heritage Month) celebrates the contributions and achievements of Native Americans. November was first designated as National American Indian Heritage Month on August 3, 1990, by P.L. [Public Law] 101-343, [t]o authorize and request the President to proclaim the month of November 1990, and thereafter as 'Native American Indian Heritage Month.' Since then, Presidents have issued annual proclamations promoting this observance. On June 26, 2009, P.L. 111-33, Native American Heritage Day Act of 2009, designated the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day. This guide assists congressional offices with work related to Native American Heritage Month celebrations. It provides links to sample congressional speeches and recognitions, presidential proclamations, statistical data, cultural resources, and selected federal agencies and programs that focus on Native American issues. This guide also includes links to selected educational and advocacy organizations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Crane-Hirsch, Audrey Celeste
2021-11-18
-
Public Law 117-61: Protecting America's First Responders Act of 2021
From the Document: "An Act [t]o amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 with respect to payments to certain public safety officers who have become permanently and totally disabled as a result of personal injuries sustained in the line of duty, and for other purposes."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-11-18
-
VA Acquisition Management: Fundamental Challenges Could Hinder Supply Chain Modernization Efforts If Not Addressed, Statement of Shelby S. Oakley, Director, Contracting and National Security Acquisitions, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "GAO [Government Accountability Office]'s prior work shows that VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] has long faced challenges in achieving efficient acquisitions. Further, VA faced supply chain challenges during the early stages of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, as GAO testified in June 2020 [hyperlink], September 2020 [hyperlink], and March 2021 [hyperlink]. This statement discusses VA's supply chain and broader acquisition management challenges, its efforts to address them, and implications for improving VA's overall acquisition management. This statement is largely based on information from GAO reports and testimony statements issued from 2017-2021 and preliminary observations from ongoing work. The ongoing work includes reviews focused on VA's management of major acquisitions and its acquisition workforce, on which GAO plans to issue reports in summer 2022."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Oakley, Shelby S.
2021-11-18
-
Letter from CBO Director Phillip L. Swagel to Lindsey Graham, Ranking Member of the U.S. House Committee on the Budget, Regarding Estimated Revenue Effects of Increased Funding for the Internal Revenue Service in H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, November 18, 2021
From the Document: "This letter responds to your request for information about the revenue effects of an increase in funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that would be provided by the current version of H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act (Rules Committee Print 117-18 incorporating a manager's amendment by Congressman Yarmuth). The Congressional Budget Office [CBO] estimates that the funding for tax enforcement activities provided by the bill would increase outlays by $80 billion and revenues by $207 billion, thus decreasing the deficit by $127 billion, through 2031. That change in revenues is not included in CBO's estimate of the budgetary effects of the Build Back Better Act." The letter then addresses the following questions: "What Would the Legislation Do?"; "How Would Outlays and Revenues Change?"; "What Is the Basis for the Estimate?"; "What Are the Deterrent Effects of Enforcement?"; and "Why Are the Estimates Uncertain?"
United States. Congressional Budget Office
Swagel, Phillip
2021-11-18
-
H. Rept. 117-175: Providing for Further Consideration of the Bill (H.R. 5376), Report To Accompany H. Res. 803, November 18, 2021
From the Document: "The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration House Resolution 803, by a record vote of 9 to 3, report the same to the House with the recommendation that the resolution be adopted. [...] The resolution provides for further consideration of H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act. The resolution provides that the further amendment printed in this report shall be considered as adopted."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-11-18
-
Holding the World to Account: Urgent Actions Needed to Close Gaps in the Global COVID-19 Response
From the Executive Summary: "The COVID Global Accountability Platform [hyperlink] (COVID GAP) serves as an external, independent hub for tracking and catalyzing effective actions to meet and increase commitments to achieve the critical global COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] response goals. COVID GAP will curate multiple sources of data to analyze progress over time, including successes and opportunities for improvement; provide evidence-driven insights and actionable recommendations to accelerate progress globally; and drive collaborations among diverse public and private sector organizations and leaders, including national and regional leaders in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). COVID GAP is a joint initiative of Duke University [hyperlink] and COVID Collaborative [hyperlink]. This initial report describes our approach and presents our early findings[.]"
COVID Collaborative; Duke University
Boyer, Elizabeth; Taylor, Andrea; Edson, Gary R. . . .
2021-11-18
-
Guide to Expanding Mitigation: Making the Connection to People with Disabilities
From the Document: "Many community organizations focus on meeting the diverse needs of people with disabilities. Others work on reducing disaster risk. However, these issues are not always integrated. Many efforts to support the disaster-related needs of people with disabilities focus on preparedness and response, not longterm risk reduction. Bringing these issues together and focusing on risk reduction promotes community resilience. This 'Guide to Expanding Mitigation' discusses the importance of including people with disabilities in hazard mitigation. It explores disability issues and provides ways to include disability concerns in mitigation planning and implementation."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
Monitz, Gary; Heide, Jack; Spitzer, Gabriella
2021-11-18?
-
FY2022 NDAA: Mental Health Care [November 18, 2021]
From the Background: "Congress authorizes, through the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Department of Defense (DOD) mental health programs and services [hyperlink] that support servicemembers, military retirees, and their families. DOD administers many mental health programs that offer education; awareness; crisis prevention resources; clinical treatment; nonclinical support and counseling services; and research and development. DOD has estimated [hyperlink] that, from 2016 through 2020, 456,293 active duty servicemembers were diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder. Mental health disorders also accounted for the highest number of hospital bed days and were the second most common reason for outpatient visits among servicemembers. During the same time period, the majority (64%) of mental health diagnoses were attributed to adjustment disorders [hyperlink], anxiety disorders [hyperlink], and depressive disorders [hyperlink]. DOD has made numerous efforts to address the wide range of mental health issues, and potential opportunities for improvement have been highlighted by the Government Accountability Office [hyperlink] (GAO), DOD Inspector General [hyperlink] (DODIG), and other observers [hyperlink] of military health."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mendez, Bryce H. P.
2021-11-18
-
FY2022 NDAA: Parental Leave Benefits [November 18, 2021]
From the Background: "Leave authorities for uniformed servicemembers are specified under Chapter 40 [hyperlink] of Title 10, and Chapter 9 [hyperlink] of Title 37 United States Code. Annual leave accrues at a rate of 2.5 days per month of active service, and individuals may accrue up to 60 days of leave or up to 120 days under certain circumstances. [...] In addition to other leave, a uniformed servicemember designated as the primary caregiver (typically the parent giving birth) is authorized [hyperlink] up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave (including up to six weeks convalescent leave) in connection with the birth of a child, or up to six weeks for adoption. Individuals designated as secondary caregivers are authorized up to 21 days of leave in connection with a birth or adoption. [...] The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY2020 NDAA, P.L. [Public Law] 116-92, as amended by the FY2021 NDAA, P.L. 116-283) amended the Family and Medical Leave Act [hyperlink] (FMLA, P.L. 103-3) to provide a new paid parental leave benefit to most federal civil service employees. Covered federal employees may use up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for the arrival of a new child by birth, adoption, or foster care placement and for bonding with that child. The leave is available for children born to or placed with the employee on or after October 1, 2020, and must be used within 12 months of the child's arrival."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kamarck, Kristy N.; Donovan, Sarah A.
2021-11-18
-
Government's Preparedness for the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for Government on Risk Management
From the Summary: "This report sets out the facts on: [1] the government's approach to risk management and emergency planning (Part One); [2] the actions the government took to identify the risk of a pandemic like COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] (Part Two); [3] the actions the government took to prepare for a pandemic like COVID-19 (Part Three); and [4] recent developments (Part Four). [...] The report sets out central government's risk analysis, planning, and mitigation strategies prior to the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of drawing out wider learning for the government's overall risk management approach. It does not cover local-level risk planning, wider aspects of resilience planning or top-level disaster response procedures. It also does not cover the government's response to COVID-19 or how prepared it was for subsequent waves of the pandemic."
Great Britain. National Audit Office
Davies, Gareth (Comptroller and Auditor General)
2021-11-17
-
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy on Social Media: Building a Public Twitter Data Set of Antivaccine Content, Vaccine Misinformation, and Conspiracies
From the Abstract: "False claims about COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccines can undermine public trust in ongoing vaccination campaigns, posing a threat to global public health. Misinformation originating from various sources has been spreading on the web since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Antivaccine activists have also begun to use platforms such as Twitter to promote their views. To properly understand the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy through the lens of social media, it is of great importance to gather the relevant data. [...] In this paper, we describe a data set of Twitter posts and Twitter accounts that publicly exhibit a strong antivaccine stance. The data set is made available to the research community via our AvaxTweets data set GitHub repository. We characterize the collected accounts in terms of prominent hashtags, shared news sources, and most likely political leaning."
JMIR Publications
Muric, Goran; Wu, Yusong; Ferrara, Emilio
2021-11-17
