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Clearing the Air on the Debt Limit [Updated November 10, 2021]
From the Summary: "As Congress considers how to reconcile rising federal debt levels and the debt limit, discussions about the role of the debt limit among Members of Congress, researchers, and the media promise to become more frequent. During debt limit episodes in the last decade, misleading or inaccurate claims have, at times, surfaced. This report clarifies five issues commonly raised in debt limit debates and explores some open questions. Some of those points in need of clarification relate to the congressional power of the purse, which stems from three closely related constitutional provisions that charge Congress with deciding how the federal government spends, taxes, and borrows. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 (BBA 2019; P.L. 116-37), enacted in August 2019, had suspended the debt limit through July 31, 2021. The limit was then raised to just over $28.4 trillion to accommodate debt accumulated during the suspension, as specified in BBA 2019. The statutory debt limit represents one way that Congress has exerted control over federal borrowing and debt, as it has since the beginning of the U.S. government--despite claims that limits on debt began in 1917. Before 1917, Congress typically specified the interest rates, maturities, call options, and other aspects of debt issuances. The Second Liberty Bond Act of 1917 (P.L. 65-43, 40 Stat. 288) marked a turning point in federal debt policy. The modern debt limit--meaning an overall limit on federal debt without sublimits--was established in 1939."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Austin, D. Andrew; Stiff, Sean M.
2021-11-10
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Public Law 117-53: Ensuring Compliance Against Drug Diversion Act of 2021
From the Document: "An Act [t]o amend the Controlled Substances Act to provide for the modification, transfer, and termination of a registration to manufacture, distribute, or dispense controlled substances or list I chemicals, and for other purposes."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-11-10
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FY2022 NDAA: Budgetary Context [November 10, 2021]
From the Document: "Congressional consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (NDAA; H.R. 4350 and S. 2792) occurs as federal spending is projected to continue to exceed revenues. This trend raises questions about whether pressure to reduce the federal deficit may affect defense budget plans. In July 2021, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected [hyperlink] a federal deficit of $3.0 trillion for FY2021, or 13.4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). That percentage would be the second-highest since 1945. CBO attributed the size of the projected deficit in part to 'the economic disruption caused by the 2020-2021 coronavirus pandemic and the legislation enacted in response.' CBO projects spending will continue to exceed revenues over the next decade ('Figure 1'). From FY2022 to FY2031, CBO projects discretionary defense outlays will increase 23% and nondefense discretionary outlays 6%, while mandatory outlays will increase 40% and net interest payments on the national debt 198%."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McGarry, Brendan W.; Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2021-11-10
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COVID-19 State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Report 18 (October 12 - 25, 2021)
From the Summary: "The first major theme we identified was that consumers continue to express frustration with vaccine requirements and international travel guidance. The second major theme was that news reports and misinformation about current and former high-profile government officials increased online conversations about consumer misgivings about COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccines. An emerging theme during this reporting period was that consumers are interested in learning which booster dose and primary series combinations are most effective and safest. A continuing and evolving theme was that COVID-19 vaccination in children ages 5-11 years old continues to be a topic of conversation amongst parents and public health professionals. Finally, claims of infection-induced immunity, also referred to as natural immunity, as equal to or greater than approved COVID-19 vaccines persist and have informed legal and legislative action."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-11-10
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EU Climate Action and U.S.-EU Relations [Updated November 9, 2021]
From the Document: "The European Union (EU) has played a leading role on international climate action for decades. It worked closely with the United States to negotiate the 2015 Paris Agreement (PA) to combat greenhouse gas (GHG)-induced climate change. Since 2019, the EU has raised its domestic climate ambitions further and, in doing so, has sought to be a global standard-setter. The EU welcomed President Biden's decision to rejoin the PA (reversing the U.S. withdrawal carried out by the former Trump Administration). Both EU and Biden Administration officials repeatedly assert the importance of U.S.-EU cooperation in tackling climate challenges. The 117th Congress may compare EU climate action policies with Biden Administration plans and may assess prospects for and challenges to U.S.-EU cooperation on climate change mitigation efforts in the years ahead."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin; Leggett, Jane A.; Procita, Kezee
2021-11-09
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Fact Sheet: The Biden-Harris Action Plan for America's Ports and Waterways
From the Webpage: "Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing a set of concrete steps to accelerate investment in our ports, waterways, and freight networks. These goals and timelines will mobilize federal agencies and lay the foundation for successful implementation of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. This action plan will increase federal flexibilities for port grants; accelerate port infrastructure grant awards; announce new construction projects for coastal navigation, inland waterways, and land ports of entry; and launch the first round of expanded port infrastructure grants funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal."
United States. White House Office
2021-11-09
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United States 2021 Aviation Climate Action Plan
From the Introduction: "The United States believes that addressing the climate crisis through enhanced ambition is a defining priority of our time. This Aviation Climate Action Plan provides a whole-of-government approach and policy framework for the aviation sector to contribute to broader, economy-wide objectives. To achieve ambitious climate goals, the United States will implement a suite of policy measures to foster innovation and drive change across the entire U.S. aviation ecosystem, namely the airlines, manufacturers/suppliers, airports, energy companies, airline customers, and various levels of government. This plan builds on individual and sector-wide commitments announced by the U.S. aviation industry."
United States. Federal Aviation Administration
2021-11-09
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Money Laundering in the U.S. Real Estate Sector [November 9, 2021]
From the Document: "Money laundering and other financial crimes in the real estate sector take many forms and continue to challenge real estate professionals, financial institutions, policymakers, law enforcement authorities, and regulatory stakeholders. Domestic and international scrutiny of the real estate market's vulnerability to money laundering has grown in recent years. An issue Congress may consider is how to balance the money laundering risks posed by the real estate sector against differing views on how to implement appropriate oversight. According to various sources, real estate money laundering (REML) schemes can involve a wide range of conventional domestic criminals, as well as transnational criminals, including drug cartels and human traffickers, international terrorists, and foreign kleptocrats (corrupt high-level officials). The purchase of real estate, often combined with methods to conceal a purchaser's identity and source of funds, can allow criminals to integrate ill-gotten proceeds into the legal economy or park illicit wealth abroad. Real estate transactions may intersect with banks and other financial institutions that are subject to anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) requirements. Some critics posit that current AML/CFT practices may not effectively deter REML. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's 2018 'National Money Laundering Risk Assessment' identified five key risks and vulnerabilities within the U.S. real estate sector: [1] transactions involving luxury residential real estate; [2] real estate transactions involving opaque entities; [3] all-cash transactions that do not involve mortgage lenders; [4] real estate transactions based on falsified loan application information; and [5] complicit professionals in the real estate industry."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rosen, Liana W.; Miller, Rena S.
2021-11-09
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Investigation of Political Activities by Senior Trump Administration Officials During the 2020 Presidential Election
From the Executive Summary: "This report presents the United States Office of Special Counsel's (OSC) investigative findings and conclusions regarding complaints OSC received--largely in response to the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC)--alleging that senior Trump administration officials used their official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the 2020 presidential election in violation of the Hatch Act. As described herein, OSC investigated those complaints and determined that hosting the RNC at the White House did not itself violate the Hatch Act, but that at least 13 senior Trump administration officials did violate the Hatch Act prior to the election. Each of these high-profile violations was committed by an official OSC believes, based on current law, could only have been disciplined by then-President Donald J. Trump. Thus, the cases described herein demonstrate both a willingness by some in the Trump administration to leverage the power of the executive branch to promote President Trump's reelection and the limits of OSC's enforcement power under the existing statutory scheme to prevent them from doing so. OSC is issuing this report to educate employees about Hatch Act-prohibited activities, highlight the enforcement challenges that OSC confronted during its investigations, and deter similar violations in the future."
United States. Office of Special Counsel
2021-11-09
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Veterans Day Speech Resources: Fact Sheet [Updated November 9, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Veterans Day is a federal holiday honoring people who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is recognized annually on November 11. This fact sheet is designed to assist congressional offices with work related to celebrating Veterans Day. It contains a brief history, selected CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports, sample speeches and recognitions, presidential proclamations, and statistical data. It also contains links to additional web resources from authoritative sources."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sidor, Gary
2021-11-09
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Multilevel Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among South Asian Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong: Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey
From the Abstract: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic continues to have a disproportionate effect on ethnic minorities. Across countries, greater vaccine hesitancy has been observed among ethnic minorities. After excluding foreign domestic helpers, South Asians make up the largest proportion of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. It is necessary to plan for COVID-19 vaccination promotional strategies that cater to the unique needs of South Asians in Hong Kong. [...] This study investigated the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among a sample of South Asians in Hong Kong. We examined the effects of sociodemographic data and factors at individual level (perceptions), interpersonal level (information exposure on social media), and sociostructural level (cultural) based on the socioecological model."
JMIR Publications
Singh, Akansha; Lai, Angel Hor Yan; Wang, Jingxuan . . .
2021-11-09
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Association of Substance Use with Behavioral Adherence to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines for COVID-19 Mitigation: Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey
From the Abstract: "Substance use is a risk factor for COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] infection and adverse outcomes. However, reasons for elevated risk for COVID-19 in substance users are not well understood. [...] The aim of this study was to evaluate whether alcohol or other drug use is associated with adherence to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for COVID-19 mitigation. Preregistered analyses tested the hypothesis that greater use of alcohol and other drugs would be associated with lower CDC guideline adherence. A secondary objective was to determine whether substance use was associated with the likelihood of COVID-19 testing or outcome."
JMIR Publications
Monnig, Mollie A.; Padovano, Hayley Treloar; Sokolovsky, Alexander W. . . .
2021-11-09
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Impact of Public Health Events on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy on Chinese Social Media: National Infoveillance Study
From the Abstract: "The ongoing COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to every country worldwide. A call for global vaccination for COVID-19 plays a pivotal role in the fight against this virus. With the development of COVID-19 vaccines, public willingness to get vaccinated has become an important public health concern, considering the vaccine hesitancy observed worldwide. Social media is powerful in monitoring public attitudes and assess the dissemination, which would provide valuable information for policy makers. [...] This study aimed to investigate the responses of vaccine positivity on social media when major public events (major outbreaks) or major adverse events related to vaccination (COVID-19 or other similar vaccines) were reported."
JMIR Publications
Zhang, Zizheng; Feng, Guanrui; Xu, Jiahong . . .
2021-11-09
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Defense Primer: Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps [Updated November 9, 2021]
From the Document: "The Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps (SROTC)--more commonly referred to as the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)--is an officer training and scholarship program for postsecondary students authorized under Chapter 103 of Title 10 of the United States Code. By enrolling in ROTC, students can pursue an undergraduate degree while also training to become U.S. military officers. The military departments -- Army, Air Force, and Navy -- manage their own ROTC programs, which are hosted at civilian universities and colleges. The Navy ROTC program includes a Marine Corps option and the Air Force program allows for commissions to the Space Force. The Coast Guard, part of the Department of Homeland Security, does not have an ROTC program, but does offer a College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative (CSPI) that awards scholarships to students at minority-serving institutions and placement in the Coast Guard Officer Candidate School. The military departments provide scholarships and other forms of financial assistance to participating students. In return, students commit to accept an appointment as an officer in the U.S. military upon graduation. The ROTC program is the largest single source of commissioned officers, producing more than 6,000 officers annually (see 'Figure 1'). Other major commissioning sources include service academies (the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy); Officer Candidate/Training Schools; and direct appointment."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kamarck, Kristy N.
2021-11-09
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Cocaine: Crack and Powder Sentencing Disparities [November 9, 2021]
From the Document: "Cocaine is a stimulant drug, usually distributed in a powder form that can be snorted or injected after being dissolved in water. It can also appear in a more solid, chunk form, known as cocaine base or crack, which can be smoked. Whether consumed in powder or crack form, cocaine produces the same type of physiological and psychotropic effects; however, the route of administration affects the onset, duration, and intensity of these effects. The maximum psychotropic effects take longer to reach when snorting powder cocaine versus either injecting powder cocaine or smoking crack cocaine, but the effects last longer. [...] The Controlled Substances Act (CSA; enacted in 1970) is the legal framework through which the federal government regulates certain drugs that are deemed to pose a risk of abuse and dependence, including powder and crack cocaine. Some violations of the CSA are criminal offenses that may result in large fines and long prison sentences. The CSA as enacted did not distinguish between powder and crack cocaine; however, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 amended the CSA to impose mandatory minimum sentences for certain trafficking-related offenses involving cocaine. While these minimum sentences applied to both powder and crack cocaine, the amount of each substance required to trigger the mandatory minimum varied by a ratio of 100:1."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sacco, Lisa N.; Finklea, Kristin
2021-11-09
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Line 5 Pipeline: Replacement/Tunnel Project [November 9, 2021]
From the Document: "The Line 5 Pipeline is a 30-inch, 645-mile pipeline owned by Enbridge [hyperlink] carrying up to 540,000 barrels per day of crude oil and natural gas liquids from Superior, WI, to Sarnia, Ontario ('Figure 1'). A key segment of Line 5 is an underwater crossing at the Straits of Mackinac--between Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas--where the pipeline runs for approximately four miles across the lakebed. This crossing has been an environmental concern due to the risk it poses of a 'worst case' oil spill [hyperlink] into the Great Lakes. Under the terms of various state agreements, Enbridge plans to replace this pipeline segment with a new one constructed through a tunnel beneath the lakebed--which requires federal approval. Enbridge continues operating the existing pipeline in the meantime. However, the state of Michigan has ordered Line 5 to shut down. Whether the pipeline should continue operating in its current configuration, and whether the federal government should grant a tunnel permit for a replacement crossing, have been the subject of litigation, federal oversight, and a U.S.-Canada treaty dispute."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Parfomak, Paul W.
2021-11-09
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Defense Primer: Department of Defense Unfunded Priorities [November 9, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Department of Defense (DOD) unfunded priorities generally refer to reports submitted to Congress pursuant to 'United States Code' provisions (10 U.S.C. §222a and 10 U.S.C. §222b) listing military programs, activities, or mission requirements that were not included in the President's annual budget request but that the department would fund with additional appropriations. The highest-ranking officers of the U.S. military services, combatant commands (COCOMs), and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) submit the reports, which are sometimes called unfunded priorities lists or unfunded requirements. Some observers have described DOD unfunded priorities as 'wish lists' that reduce budget discipline and increase unnecessary spending. Others have described them as 'risk lists' that identify items intended to support strategic objectives. For FY2022, DOD identified $23.85 billion in unfunded priorities, according to CRS [Congressional Research Service] analysis of the documents. Congress is debating whether to increase funding in FY2022 defense authorization and appropriation legislation, in part to fund DOD unfunded priorities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Trujillo, Maureen; McGarry, Brendan W.
2021-11-09
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Defense Primer: The Department of Defense [Updated November 8, 2021]
From the Document: "The Department of Defense (DOD) was established after World War II through the 1947 National Security Act. At the time, some, including President Truman, took the view that the different components of the U.S. military had been insufficiently integrated to wage World War II effectively. The intention of the 1947 Act was therefore to create, for the first time, an integrated institution that combined the Departments of War and Navy, and to establish a policy architecture for overseeing the newly reorganized military apparatus. Over time, DOD has grown into one of the largest bureaucracies in the world, comprising over 3 million employees stationed across the United States and around the globe."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McInnis, Kathleen J.
2021-11-08
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Defense Primer: Commanding U.S. Military Operations [Updated November 8, 2021]
From the Document: "Military operations, both in peacetime and in war, are an inherently complex undertaking. One key to success, therefore, is a clear, unified chain of command. This enables senior leaders in the U.S. government--in particular, the President and the Secretary of Defense--to command and control military forces around the world."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McInnis, Kathleen J.
2021-11-08
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COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by Vaccination Status
From the Background: "Vaccination is a critical tool to help stop the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. All authorized COVID-19 vaccines in the US are highly effective at protecting people from getting sick or severely ill with COVID-19, including those infected with Delta and other known variants. COVID-19 vaccination can also reduce the spread of disease overall, helping to keep communities safe. Because no vaccines are 100 percent effective, it is expected that some fully vaccinated people will get sick with COVID-19, and that number will increase as more people get vaccinated. Vaccine effectiveness can also be affected by an individual's own immune system, like how well they respond to the vaccine when it is given and how much their immunity wanes over time. Real world, state-specific data showing the impact of vaccination on outcomes, including infection and death, can help illustrate these benefits, improve confidence in vaccines, and raise vaccination rates in Texas. This analysis will be updated periodically to include the most recent four-week span with complete data."
Texas. Department of State Health Services; Texas Health and Human Services Commission
2021-11-08
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Impact of COVID-19 on the DPRK's Health System and Future Inter-Korean Biomedical Cluster Cooperation in the Post-Pandemic Era
From the Introduction: "In this essay, Sang Min Park discusses the impact of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and the international sanctions regime on the DPRK [The Democratic People's Republic of Korea] healthcare system, trends in global health aid for the DPRK and the role of the ROK [Republic of Korea], and a future inter-Korean Biomedical Cluster Cooperation model in a post-pandemic era, with implications for cooperative threat reduction (CTR+). [...] The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is yet to confirm any official cases of COVID-19. Since the start of the pandemic in January 2020, the DPRK has taken extensive measures to control COVID-19, including imposing strict border controls, a 30-day quarantine for those with COVID-like symptoms, lockdowns of entire counties and cities, and a ban on travel between provinces. Several researchers have summarized the status of COVID-19 in the DPRK, its response to the pandemic, and the pandemic's impact on the economy and regional security of the DPRK. This paper will attempt to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the DPRK health system as well as its future implications in three major ways: 1) a brief update of the DPRK's response to COVID-19 epidemic in 2021 and its impacts on the DPRK health system; 2) trends in global health aid to the DPRK during the international sanctions regime and the role of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the COVID-19 pandemic era; and 3) how to build a sustainable and synergistic horizontal inter-Korean cooperation model in the post-pandemic era."
Nautilus Institute
Park, Sang Min
2021-11-08
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SBA Disaster Loan Interest Rates: Overview and Policy Options [November 8, 2021]
From the Summary: "This report opens with an overview of the SBA [Small Business Administration] Disaster Loan Program's financing, followed by the history of SBA disaster loan interest rate policy and the statutory formulas that determine these rates. It also provides a more general overview of the SBA Disaster Loan Program and summarizes congressional debates over the extent to which the cost of these loans should be borne by borrowers or taxpayers. This report concludes with an assessment of various legislative options currently under consideration and the extent to which the SBA can administratively adjust disaster loan interest rates."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lindsay, Bruce R.; Getter, Darryl E.; Nagel, Jared C. . . .
2021-11-08
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Military's COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate [Updated November 8, 2021]
From the Document: "SECDEF [Secretary of Defense] issued a memorandum on August 24, 2021, directing the Secretaries of the Military Departments (MILDEPs) to 'immediately begin full vaccination of all members of the Armed Forces under DoD authority on active duty or in the Ready Reserve, including the National Guard, who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19.' This Insight summarizes the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for servicemembers and offers considerations for Congress as the MILDEPs implement the mandate."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mendez, Bryce H. P.
2021-11-08
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Lebanon [Updated November 8, 2021]
From the Document: "Lebanon, a country of 5.5 million people, faces the worst economic crisis in its history amid ongoing political unrest, the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and in the aftermath of an August 2020 explosion that severely damaged the port of Beirut and surrounding areas. Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees in the world per capita (over 1 million, mostly Syrians), which has raised social tensions and strained public services. U.S. policy has focused on countering the influence of Iran and Hezbollah and on bolstering the Lebanese state while calling for reforms to counter corruption and mismanagement. Lebanon's leaders have warned that the country's economic crisis could lead to a collapse of state institutions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humud, Carla E.
2021-11-08
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Confucius Institutes in the United States: Selected Issues [Updated November 8, 2021]
From the Document: "The People's Republic of China (PRC)'s Confucius Institutes, which offer Chinese language instruction in universities around the world, have been the subject of controversy since appearing on U.S. campuses in 2005, particularly for their perceived effects on academic freedom and lack of transparency. They have attracted further attention in recent years as the broader U.S.-China relationship has deteriorated. Some Members of Congress and others have alleged that they may play a role in China's efforts to influence public opinion abroad, recruit 'influence agents' on U.S. campuses, and engage in cyber espionage and intellectual property theft. PRC officials and scholars deny such charges, and suggest that the Institutes have become victims of a U.S. 'Cold War mentality.' Supporters of the Institutes emphasize that they provide Chinese language and cultural programs that benefit students, universities, and surrounding communities and which may not otherwise be available."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-; Fischer, Hannah
2021-11-08
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Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 in Diverse Populations
From the Document: "New American Economy (NAE), wanted to better understand why COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] caused the most unequal recession in modern history, why the pandemic had such disproportionately severe economic and health impacts on BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color] and immigrant communities, and how municipalities and their partners are adapting to meet the needs of their most vulnerable residents. [...] LCF [Latino Community Fund] Georgia and the Atlanta Mayor's Office of Immigrants Affairs expanded the scope of the data collection from a city to a state-wide effort. [...] Over 900 surveys were collected across Georgia from January to May 2021 from individuals 18 years old and older. Data was structured for analysis and zip codes were used to determine Metro or outside Metro locations for the answers."
Latino Community Fund Georgia
Rodriguez-Vila, Omar; Smith, Bernita; Aleman, Lupe . . .
2021-11-08?
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2021 Elections in Honduras [November 8, 2021]
From the Document: "Honduras is scheduled to hold presidential, congressional, and municipal elections on November 28, 2021. The elections come at a difficult moment for Honduras, as many Hondurans have lost confidence [hyperlink] in their democratic institutions [hyperlink] and the country faces a protracted recovery from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, two hurricanes, and a deep recession. Depending on their perceived legitimacy, the elections could help foster stability in Honduras or could exacerbate the country's challenges. The elections also will determine whether the U.S. government will have credible Honduran partners, with whom it can work to address migration, drug trafficking, and other policy concerns, and may influence congressional foreign assistance decisions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Meyer, Peter J.
2021-11-08
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FY2022 NDAA: Selective Service and Draft Registration [Updated November 8, 2021]
From the Background: "Several provisions introduced as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY2022 NDAA) would make changes to the Military Selective Service Act [hyperlink] (MSSA). The MSSA provides statutory authority for the federal government to maintain a Selective Service Agency as an independent agency responsible for managing the Selective Service System [hyperlink](SSS) and for delivering qualified civilian men for induction into the Armed Forces of the United States when authorized by the President and Congress. Under the MSSA, all male U.S. citizens and most male noncitizen residents of the United States between the ages of 18 and 26 are required to register with the Selective Service System (SSS). Women have never been required to register. Knowingly or willfully failing to register may result in certain federal and state penalties [hyperlink] including fines, imprisonment [hyperlink], and ineligibility for federal employment [hyperlink] or workforce programs [hyperlink]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kamarck, Kristy N.
2021-11-08
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Oil and Gas Leasing BLM Should Update Its Guidance and Review Its Fees, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "BLM [Bureau of Land Management] leases federal lands for oil and gas development through a process largely established with the Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act of 1987. Through this process, the public can suggest which federal lands should be made available for leasing by nominating them. BLM state offices review nominations, including to assess potential environmental impacts. BLM then offers leases at competitive auctions. While no fee is required to submit nominations, BLM charges an application fee for any leases that parties acquire. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review oil and gas leasing on federal lands. This report examines: (1) changes to BLM's policies for oil and gas leasing since 1987, (2) outcomes for lands nominated for oil and gas leasing, and (3) the extent to which BLM reviews its oil and gas leasing fees in response to changing conditions. GAO analyzed BLM policies and guidance as well as data on nominations, leasing, costs, and fees collected. GAO also interviewed BLM headquarters and state office officials as well as representatives of two stakeholder groups."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-11-06
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, November 5, 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: "Progress Toward Global Eradication of Dracunculiasis, January 2020-June 2021"; "National Surveillance for Acute Flaccid Myelitis -- United States, 2018-2020"; "Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Among Adults Hospitalized with COVID-19-Like Illness with Infection-Induced or mRNA [messenger ribonucleic acid] Vaccine-Induced SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] Immunity -- Nine States, January-September 2021"; "The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' Interim Recommendations for Additional Primary and Booster Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines -- United States, 2021"; "Effectiveness of 2-Dose Vaccination with mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Against COVID-19-Associated Hospitalizations Among Immunocompromised Adults -- Nine States, January-September 2021"; and "'QuickStats': Infant Mortality Rates for Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Counties, by Single Race and Hispanic Origin -- 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.)
2021-11-05
