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Environmental Liabilities: Improvements Needed to Measure Progress of Cleanup of Formerly Used Defense Sites, Report to the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The estimated cost to the federal government of cleaning up environmental contamination, referred to as environmental liabilities, was $613 billion in fiscal year 2021. This is an increase from $465 billion in fiscal year 2017. DOD's fiscal year 2021 share of environmental liabilities was the second highest among federal agencies, at about $82 billion. Federal law authorizes DOD to identify, investigate, and clean up contamination from hazardous substances and military munitions that it caused on properties used for military purposes and that were conveyed out of DOD's jurisdiction prior to 1986. These types of contamination can harm both humans and the environment. House Report 116-120 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the various elements of FUDS [Formerly Used Defense Sites]. Among other objectives, this report (1) describes the scope and costs of cleaning up FUDS and the reliability of the estimates and (2) examines how DOD selects FUDS for cleanup."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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Public Health Preparedness: Medical Countermeasure Development for Certain Serious or Life-Threatening Conditions, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Past bioterrorist attacks, such as the anthrax attacks of 2001, highlight the threat of widespread illness and death posed by CBRN [chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear] agents and the importance of medical countermeasures. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has previously reported on the challenges of developing medical countermeasures. Medical countermeasures may need to be developed and approved under FDA's Animal Rule. The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019 included a provision for GAO to review medical countermeasure development under the Animal Rule. In this report GAO describes (1) FDA efforts to support medical countermeasure developers under the Animal Rule, and (2) the extent of animal model qualification under FDA's Animal Model Qualification Program, and the effect of qualified models on medical countermeasure development."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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Science & Tech Spotlight: Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
From the Document: "A non-fungible token (NFT) is a digital identifier, similar to a certificate of ownership, that represents a digital or physical asset. In general, a non-fungible asset is unique and not interchangeable with others. An NFT, like an original painting, has its own unique value. By contrast, fungible assets are interchangeable, like dollar bills or units of a cryptocurrency. The most widespread use of the technology is currently for digital collectibles, like the NFT for a digital collage that sold for $69.3 million in March 2021. [...] NFTs could enable a decentralized marketplace for music or other creative work, allowing creators to collect revenue for digital assets directly and automatically, rather than through a third party. [...] Typically, buyers purchase NFTs with digital currency, but legal tender, other assets, or credit could also be used. Most NFTs are not the asset itself. In the case of a physical asset, they represent ownership of the asset. For digital assets, they represent ownership of the unique code linked to or associated with the asset's metadata--information about the asset, such as the creation date, size, or where it is stored on the internet. In the case of a digital image, others may be able to see the asset or even download a copy, but the NFT proves which digital image is the original and can, in conjunction with other information, show who owns the NFT. NFTs rely on smart contracts--computer code that automatically executes a transaction when stipulated conditions are met. For example, a smart contract could stipulate that the original creator will receive a percentage of all subsequent sales of the NFT."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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Critical Minerals: Building on Federal Efforts to Advance Recovery and Substitution Could Help Address Supply Risks, Report to the Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Senate Committee on Appropriations
From the Highlights: "The U.S. is heavily reliant on imports of many minerals, such as cobalt and lithium, which are essential for manufacturing advanced technologies (see figure). Supply chains for many of these minerals are also vulnerable to various risks, such as foreign government actions. In 2018, Interior designated 35 minerals and mineral groups whose supply chains are vulnerable to disruption as essential to our nation's economic and national security. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review federal efforts to advance critical minerals recovery and substitution. This report (1) identifies key challenges affecting efforts to advance critical minerals recovery and substitution in the U.S., and (2) examines the extent to which federal agencies have taken actions to advance recovery and substitution."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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White House Action Plan on Global Water Security
From the Introduction: "'Recognizing that global water security is essential to U.S. national security, this Action Plan lays out an innovative, whole-of-government approach to this challenge.' It identifies key pillars of this approach that address the full scope of global water issues and will mobilize departments and agencies around concrete actions to achieve our vision of a water-secure world. The Action Plan will be operationalized through the U.S. Global Water Strategy (GWS), mandated by the Congress in the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014; the next revision of the GWS will be submitted to the Congress in early fall 2022 as directed. The approach emphasizes the need to explicitly link water security to national security to improve global resilience; elevate data-driven methods; use resources more efficiently; and work in partnership with states, Tribes, local governments, and Indigenous peoples, as well as non-governmental entities including the private sector."
United States. White House Office
2022-06-01?
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International Development Association: Additional Information Sharing Could Enhance U.S. Treasury Oversight of Key Risks, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "The U.S. is one of the largest contributors to IDA [International Development Association]. IDA has traditionally financed its operations primarily by raising funds every 3 years from donors like the U.S. and using funding from loan repayments. In 2015, UN members adopted the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals to address global challenges such as poverty. To help low-income countries meet these goals, IDA in 2018 began issuing bonds on the capital markets to raise additional funds to provide more loans. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review IDA's financial model. This report examines: (1) IDA's funding sources and allocations; (2) how market borrowing has affected IDA's process for assessing countries' financing needs, and IDA's financial and risk management framework; (3) how IDA assesses key risks to its financial sustainability; and (4) the extent to which Treasury oversees IDA's financial and risk management. GAO reviewed and analyzed IDA financial documents, data on IDA's funding from fiscal years 2012 through 2025, and Treasury documents. GAO also interviewed IDA and Treasury officials, and development finance experts. [...] GAO recommends that Treasury direct the U.S. Executive Director of IDA to request that IDA provide to its Board of Directors 1) more information on the model IDA uses to estimate the total risk it faces from borrower country defaults and 2) information on the steps IDA is taking to account for incomplete debt data as it measures risks of borrower defaults. Treasury concurred with both recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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U.S. Government Procurement and International Trade [Updated June 1, 2022]
From the Document: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has demonstrated that U.S. companies and the federal government rely heavily on global supply chains. This has prompted congressional interest in better understanding the role of international trade in U.S. government procurement. As such, Members have sought ways to incentivize U.S.-based production by prioritizing the procurement of domestic goods and services, while upholding U.S. commitments under various international trade agreements. Separately, the Trump and Biden Administrations have issued executive orders that aim to maximize the procurement of domestic goods and services and increase oversight of waivers that would allow government purchases of foreign goods. Within this context, Members have raised questions regarding how federal agency acquisitions comply with two domestic sourcing laws: namely, the Buy American Act of 1933 (BAA, 41 U.S.C. [United States Code] §§8301-8305) and Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (TAA, 19 U.S.C. §§2501-2581). Although both BAA and TAA have provisions that affect trade, there is a critical difference between their respective requirements. Whereas BAA operates as a 'price preference' for U.S. products, TAA establishes a 'prohibition' on procuring products and services from nondesignated foreign countries, unless one of TAA's exceptions applies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwarzenberg, Andres B.
2022-06-01
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WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) [Updated June 1, 2022]
From the Document: "During the past 50 years, the United States has played a prominent role in developing international trade rules on government procurement. Most U.S. free trade agreements include government procurement obligations. The most notable international procurement agreement to which the United States is a party is the World Trade Organization (WTO)'s Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). The GPA has opened procurement opportunities around the world to foreign competition, worth trillions of U.S. dollars annually. It also requires parties to establish transparent and nondiscriminatory rules for covered procurement. In particular, the agreement enables U.S. businesses to bid for certain government contracts in the markets of other GPA parties. Likewise, it allows foreign businesses to bid for contracts tendered by U.S. procuring entities in areas where federal and state governments have agreed to open up their procurement markets. The WTO estimates the size of the procurement market covered by the GPA at $1.7 trillion; data limitations make it difficult to quantify accurately the extent to which governments acquire goods and services from suppliers of other GPA parties."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwarzenberg, Andres B.
2022-06-01
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Wildfire Statistics [Updated June 1, 2022]
From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Forest Service (FS)--within the U.S. Department of Agriculture--carries out wildfire management and response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System (NFS). The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations. Wildfire statistics help to illustrate past U.S. wildfire activity."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hanson, Laura A.; Hoover, Katie
2022-06-01
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Border Patrol: Actions Needed to Improve Checkpoint Oversight and Data, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Border Patrol has primary responsibility for securing the border between U.S. ports of entry. As part of its border enforcement strategy, Border Patrol operates immigration checkpoints where Border Patrol agents screen vehicles to identify people of foreign nationality who are potentially removable and they may enforce U.S. criminal law, such as seizing illegal drugs and interdicting human smugglers. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review Border Patrol's use of immigration checkpoints. This report examines: (1) available data about Border Patrol checkpoint activity, (2) the extent Border Patrol collects reliable data about checkpoint activity, and (3) how Border Patrol oversees checkpoint operations, among other objectives. [...] GAO is making seven recommendations, including that Border Patrol take several actions to strengthen checkpoint oversight and data. DHS concurred with each of the recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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Drought Resilience Interagency Working Group 1-Year Summary Report
From the Document: "In April 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration launched the Drought Resilience Interagency Working Group (IWG) to address worsening drought conditions in the United States and to support farmers, ranchers, Tribes, and communities impacted by ongoing water shortages. The Drought Resilience IWG reports to the National Climate Task Force and is one of five White House Resilience IWGs tackling climate impacts. [...] The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) provides historic investments of over $13 billion to help communities meet water supply demands through a wide variety of infrastructure improvements; this funding follows-through on the President's promise to build climate resilience, and focus on water efficiency, storage, conveyance, recycling, and watershed protection. In particular, the Drought Resilience IWG members are working to effectively deploy the $8.3 billion in BIL funds for the Department of Interior's Bureau of Reclamation's to increase water resilience and the $918 million BIL investment in USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service for watershed infrastructure projects. The IWG also has coordinated drought relief activities in hard-hit watersheds including the Klamath, Rio Grande, California's Central Valley and the Colorado River Basin, and has launched a Federal-State task force with the Western Governors' Association to advance drought and soil monitoring systems. This report provides a summary of the work that is proceeding under the auspices of the Drought Resilience IWG."
United States. White House Office
2022-06
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FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin: June 2022
This June 2022 edition of the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin contains the following content: "Compassion Fatigue Among Officers"; "Focus on Training: Addressing the Opioid Epidemic"; "Officer Wellness Spotlight: Prevention and Early Detection of Heart Disease"; "Bulletin Honors: Round Rock Police K-9 Memorial"; and "Bulletin Notes."
United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation
2022-06
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Police in Conflict: Lessons from the U.S. Experience in Afghanistan
From the Document: "Developing police capabilities in the midst of conflict is a problem the United States is certain to face in the future--yet it has long been the weakest link in the U.S. security sector assistance portfolio. The U.S. government lacks coordination among agencies that deal with foreign police assistance, a coherent theory of change for police reform, and a clear doctrine on the role of police in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations. Nowhere has this failure been more apparent in recent years than in Afghanistan. 'Police in Conflict: Lessons from U.S. and International Police Assistance Efforts in Afghanistan' is the 12th lessons learned report to be issued by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. In this report, we explore the reasons behind the United States' inability to create an effective police force in that country--a failure that has much to teach us for future efforts elsewhere."
United States. Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction
2022-06
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State's Third Party Monitoring and Oversight of Its Conventional Weapons Destruction Program in Afghanistan: Audit of Costs Incurred by Norwegian People's Aid
From the Document: "On September 27, 2017, the U.S. Department of State (State) awarded a $1,000,000 cooperative agreement to Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) to support the third party monitoring and oversight of State's Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) program in Afghanistan. The program's objectives were to provide personnel, resources, supplies, and grant management and advisory services to 15 or more of State's CWD projects. State modified the contract nine times; the total award amount increased to $11,505,605, and the period of performance extended from August 31, 2018, to July 15, 2022. SIGAR's [Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction's] financial audit, performed by Davis Farr LLP [limited liability partnership] (Davis Farr), reviewed $8,827,764 in costs charged to the agreement from September 27, 2017, through July 15, 2021. [...] Davis Farr did not find any material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in NPA's internal controls, or any instances of noncompliance with the terms and conditions of the agreement. Accordingly, the auditors did not find any questioned costs."
United States. Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction
2022-06
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Free Speech Challenges to Florida and Texas Social Media Laws [Updated June 1, 2022]
From the Document: "Two U.S. Courts of Appeals recently took different positions on the validity of state laws that restrict internet services' ability to moderate user content, although the Supreme Court has vacated the ruling of one of those courts. Almost a year after Florida enacted Senate Bill 7072 [hyperlink], the Eleventh Circuit largely upheld [hyperlink] a preliminary injunction ruling the law likely unconstitutional, preventing Florida's law from taking effect. This ruling contrasts with a Fifth Circuit order [hyperlink] staying a preliminary injunction against a somewhat similar Texas law, H.B. 20 [hyperlink], and allowing that Texas law to take effect. As explained in more detail in this Legal Sidebar, these two courts' actions appeared to be based on different views of whether these laws likely violate the constitutional free speech rights of online platforms. The Supreme Court vacated the Fifth Circuit's stay, but the Fifth Circuit could still reach the same outcome in a future ruling on the merits. This Legal Sidebar begins by reviewing the relevant constitutional background, then explains both states' laws and the First Amendment aspects of the legal challenges to those laws."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Brannon, Valerie C.
2022-06-01
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Insurrection Bar to Holding Office: Appeals Court Issues Decision on Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment [June 1, 2022]
From the Document: "On May 24, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a decision in 'Cawthorn v. Amalfi,' [hyperlink] a case involving Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment [hyperlink] (Section 3). That constitutional provision bars certain people who have 'engaged in insurrection or rebellion against' the United States from holding specified state and federal government offices. The specific question in the case was whether a Reconstruction-era statute granting amnesty to former Confederates barred application of Section 3 to persons who engage in any future rebellion or insurrection. The Fourth Circuit held that the 1872 statute did not have that effect and instead lifted the constitutional disqualification only for acts that had already occurred. The decision is relevant to Congress, both because Section 3 has been invoked against several legislators who allegedly participated in or supported the January 6, 2021, unrest at the Capitol and because the case raises broader constitutional considerations about what role state officials, federal courts, and Congress can play in determining the eligibility of congressional candidates."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lampe, Joanna R.
2022-06-01
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Army Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs) [Updated June 1, 2022]
From the Document: "Security Force Assistance (SFA) is defined as 'unified action to generate, employ, and sustain local, host nation or regional security forces in support of a legitimate authority.' By definition 'security forces include not only military forces, but also police, border forces, and other paramilitary organizations, as well as other local and regional forces.' SFA involves organizing, training, equipping, rebuilding, and advising foreign security forces (FSF). Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 16, governs the Department of Defense's (DOD's) SFA activities. Each year, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) modifies, eliminates, or creates new SFA authorities and authorizes funding for Geographic Combatant Commands (GCCs) to conduct SFA activities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2022-06-01
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Areas of Economic Distress for EDA Activities and Programs [Updated June 1, 2022]
From the Document: "Congress has used program criteria to direct federal assistance to areas that are economically distressed or comparatively disadvantaged. Place-based measures frequently associated with economic distress include indicators such as poverty, unemployment rates, and income levels. The term 'economically distressed area' lacks a standardized definition and may vary by agency, program, or executive branch initiative. This In Focus summarizes the criteria as well as the data sources and mapping tools used for determining economic distress for activities and programs administered by the Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA). It also includes considerations for Congress regarding the EDA's criteria."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lawhorn, Julie M.
2022-06-01
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Discretionary Waivers of Criminal Grounds of Inadmissibility Under INA § 212(h) [Updated June 1, 2022]
From the Document: "Federal immigration laws provide for the exclusion and removal of non-U.S. nationals ('aliens,' as the term is used in the Immigration and Nationality Act [hyperlink] [INA]) who lack authorization to enter or remain in the United States. The grounds for removal differ depending on whether an alien has already been lawfully admitted into the country. Those who have not yet been admitted--whether applying for a visa from abroad to come to the United States, initially presenting themselves at a U.S. port of entry, or found in the country after entering surreptitiously--may be removed if they fall within any of the grounds of inadmissibility listed under INA § 212(a) [hyperlink], including on account of committing enumerated criminal offenses. These inadmissibility grounds--particularly those relating to criminal activity--are cross-referenced by a host of other INA provisions relevant to unadmitted 'and' admitted aliens alike, including provisions establishing aliens' eligibility for relief from removal (e.g., asylum) and their ability to adjust to lawful permanent resident [hyperlink] (LPR) status. INA § 212(h) [hyperlink] enables immigration authorities to waive many criminal grounds of inadmissibility in some circumstances, but a waiver applicant must meet various eligibility requirements, must not be subject to certain bars to relief, and, ultimately, must show that relief is warranted as a matter of discretion. This Legal Sidebar discusses the scope of waiver authority under INA § 212(h)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.
2022-06-01
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Economic Development Administration: An Overview of Programs and Appropriations (FY2011-FY2022) [Updated June 1, 2022]
From the Summary: "Today, EDA [Economic Development Administration] administers nine core programs that fund a range of construction and non-construction activities in both urban and rural areas--primarily through competitive processes that solicit community-directed proposals aligned with the agency's investment priorities. EDA administers both flexible and targeted programs focused on innovation, technical assistance, and support for long-term, regional economic development planning. [...] Congress approves annual appropriations for EDA programs as well as administration expenses, and occasionally approves supplemental appropriations for economic recovery purposes. Since FY2011, annual appropriations average approximately $288 million. Annual appropriations decreased each year between FY2011 and FY2013, and have increased slightly each year since FY2014. In FY2022, Congress approved $373.5 million in annual appropriations for the agency's programs and administration. In FY2020 and FY2021, Congress also provided a total of $4.5 billion in supplemental appropriations for EDA programs in response to the economic impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. For FY2023, the Biden Administration requested funding increases for several EDA programs and for salaries and expenses."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lawhorn, Julie M.
2022-06-01
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U.S. Space Command: Air Force Should Develop Guidance for Strengthening Future Basing Decisions, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "The then President directed the establishment of U.S. Space Command in December 2018. The Department of Defense (DOD) views the advent of U.S. Space Command as a critical step to accelerate the nation's ability to defend its vital interests and deter adversaries in space. U.S. Space Command is responsible for planning and executing offensive and defensive space operations with the military services, other combatant commands, DOD agencies, and other partners. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the Air Force's process and methodology to select the permanent location for U.S. Space Command headquarters. This report (1) examines how the U.S. Space Command basing process compared with the established Air Force basing process and describes the steps the Air Force took to identify a headquarters location, and (2) evaluates the extent to which the Air Force's revised selection process for determining the U.S. Space Command headquarters conformed to GAO best practices for analyzing alternatives. GAO reviewed documentation, interviewed knowledgeable officials, and assessed related information using GAO's best practices for a high-quality AOA [Analysis of Alternatives] process. This is a public version of a sensitive report issued in May 2022. Information that DOD has deemed sensitive has been omitted. [...] GAO recommends that the Air Force develop guidance for future strategic basing decisions that is consistent with GAO's AOA best practices, and determine the basing actions to which it should apply. The Air Force neither agreed nor disagreed."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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Oman: Politics, Security, and U.S. Policy [Updated June 1, 2022]
From the Summary: "In January 2020, the Sultanate of Oman's long-time leader, Sultan Qaboos bin Sa'id Al Said, passed away and was succeeded by Haythim bin Tariq Al Said, a cousin selected by Oman's royal family immediately upon Qaboos's death. Sultan Haythim espouses policies similar to those of Qaboos and has not altered U.S.-Oman ties or Oman's regional policies. Oman, a longtime U.S. strategic partner, was the first Persian Gulf state to sign a formal accord permitting the U.S. military to use its facilities. Oman has hosted U.S. forces during every U.S. military operation in the region since then, and it assists U.S. efforts to counter terrorist groups and other regional threats. Oman has generally avoided joining other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman) in regional military interventions, instead seeking to mediate their resolution. Oman's leaders have consistently asserted that engaging Iran is preferable to confrontation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2022-06-01
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ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System and the Federal Role [June 1, 2022]
From the Summary: "Portions of all 50 states, as well as U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, are vulnerable to earthquake hazards and associated risks to varying degrees. Among the costliest U.S. earthquake disasters was the 1994 magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake in California, which caused 60 fatalities and more than 7,000 injuries; left about 20,000 homeless; damaged more than 40,000 buildings; and caused an estimated $13-$20 billion in economic losses. 'Earthquake early warning' (EEW) is one way to reduce earthquake risks (i.e., fatalities and injuries, as well as damage to structures and operations). EEW refers to sending a warning to areas that may experience the highest intensity shaking; the EEW is sent after an earthquake is detected, but before damaging ground-shaking reaches the areas. An EEW received in tens of seconds to minutes before shaking allows institutions and individuals to take protective actions (e.g., an institution can automatically stop a train to prevent derailment or an individual can avoid getting into an elevator to avoid harm)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rowan, Linda R.
2022-06-01
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Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Domestic Violent Extremism and Hate Crime Updated [June 1, 2022]
From the Document: "Domestic terrorism (DT) differs from other criminal activity in key ways. Importantly, unlike most offenders--who may be driven by self-centered motives--domestic terrorists are driven by a cause or ideology. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the agency with lead responsibility for terrorism investigations at the federal level, generally relies on two definitions of DT. First, the Code of Federal Regulations [hyperlink] characterizes 'terrorism' as including 'the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.' Second, 18 U.S.C. [United States Code] §2331(5) [hyperlink] more narrowly defines 'domestic terrorism' as occurring primarily within U.S. territorial jurisdiction, and involving acts (A) ... dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State; (B) [that] appear to be intended-- (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping…[.] Domestic terrorists draw from many philosophies and worldviews [hyperlink] to justify their illegal acts. They can be motivated to commit crimes in the name of ideas such as animal rights, environmental rights, racially or ethnically based ideological objectives, anti-government or anti-authority beliefs, abortion-related beliefs, and anarchism [hyperlink], for example. Expression of these ideas--absent the commission of crimes--may involve constitutionally protected activity."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sacco, Lisa N.
2022-06-01
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Authorities and Procedures [Updated June 1, 2022]
From the Document: "Congress has specified the conditions [hyperlink] under which non-U.S. nationals ('aliens' [hyperlink], as the term is used in the Immigration and Nationality Act [INA]) may lawfully enter or remain in the United States. Under this framework, aliens who satisfy applicable requirements may qualify for certain types of immigration benefits, such as adjustment to lawful permanent resident [hyperlink] (LPR) status. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [hyperlink] (USCIS), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is tasked with adjudicating immigration benefit applications. This Legal Sidebar provides a brief overview of USCIS's authorities and procedures."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.
2022-06-01
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NASA: Assessments of Major Projects, Report to Congressional Committees [June 2022]
From the Highlights: "NASA plans to invest at least $80 billion in its major projects to continue exploring Earth, the moon, and the solar system. Major projects are those with costs of over $250 million. An explanatory statement included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to prepare status reports on NASA's major projects. This is GAO's 14th annual assessment. This report describes the cost and schedule performance of NASA's major projects and GAO's assessment of these projects' technology development and design stability. The report also includes individual assessments of the major projects."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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Fair Lending: Opportunities Exist to Enhance OCC's Oversight of Banks' Lending Practices, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "The Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibit discrimination in access to most forms of credit transactions based on race, national origin, and other characteristics. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review OCC's [Office of the Comptroller of the Currency] oversight of fair lending laws. This report examines (1) how OCC identifies and addresses any deficient fair lending practices at supervised banks and refers potential violations to DOJ, (2) the extent to which OCC examiners followed policies and procedures in selected fair lending examinations, and (3) how changes to examination selection processes have affected oversight."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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Audit of the United States Marshals Service's Management of Seized Cryptocurrency
From the Executive Summary: : "Our audit objective was to evaluate the United States Marshals Service's (USMS) management of seized cryptocurrency. This audit covers seized cryptocurrency in USMS custody from fiscal year (FY) 2017 through FY 2021. [...] We found that the USMS has implemented adequate safeguards over the storage of and access to seized cryptocurrency in its custody. However, the USMS faces challenges in managing and tracking cryptocurrency in the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) official seized asset tracking system. As a result, the USMS is using supplemental spreadsheets that lack documented operating procedures and other important inventory management controls. These deficiencies risk an inaccurate accounting of cryptocurrency in USMS custody and the potential for a loss of assets. Additionally, current USMS seized cryptocurrency management policies related to asset storage, quantification, valuation, and disposal are inadequate or absent, and in some instances provide conflicting guidance. The USMS is actively seeking to outsource the management of seized cryptocurrency. However, without properly documented policies and procedures, the USMS lacks an adequate foundation for building performance requirements for a cryptocurrency services contract."
United States. Department of Justice. Office of the Inspector General
2022-06
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Cloud Security Technical Reference Architecture, Version 2.0
From the Executive Summary: "Executive Order 14028, 'Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity' marks a renewed commitment to and prioritization of federal cybersecurity modernization and strategy. To keep pace with modern technology advancements and evolving threats, the Federal Government continues to migrate to the cloud. In support of these efforts, the Secretary of Homeland Security acting through the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Administrator of General Services acting through the Federal Risk Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), have developed the 'Cloud Security Technical Reference Architecture' to illustrate recommended approaches to cloud migration and data protection for agency data collection and reporting that leverages Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM). This technical reference architecture also informs agencies of the advantages and inherent risks of adopting cloud-based services as agencies implement to zero trust architectures."
United States. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency; Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program; United States Digital Service
2022-06
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Federal Personal Property: Better Internal Guidance and More Action from GSA Are Needed to Help Agencies Maximize Use of Excess, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Every year, executive agencies purchase billions of dollars of personal property while also disposing of property that is excess, or no longer needed. This excess personal property represents a significant government investment and its reuse maximizes government assets and minimizes new purchase costs. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review federal use of excess personal property. This report: (1) describes what is known about the extent that agencies obtained excess personal property and (2) assesses the extent to which selected agencies' internal guidance addressed elements from the FMR [Federal Management Regulation] for considering excess property and opportunities for GSA [General Services Administration] to promote the use of excess."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
