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Afghanistan: Background and U.S. Policy: In Brief [Updated June 11, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and analysis on U.S. policy in Afghanistan, with a focus on the ongoing U.S. military withdrawal and its implications for a number of factors, including: [1] security dynamics and the ongoing conflict between the Afghan government and the Taliban; [2] the social and political gains made in Afghanistan since 2001; and [3] intra-Afghan negotiations, which began in Doha, Qatar, in September 2020, but appear to have since stalled. The report also provides information on questions about the future of U.S. development and security aid to Afghanistan (which has totaled approximately $144 billion since 2001)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Thomas, Clayton (Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs)
2021-06-11
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Hypersonic Missile Defense: Issues for Congress [Updated June 11, 2021]
From the Document: "The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Space Development Agency (SDA) are currently developing elements of a hypersonic missile defense system to defend against hypersonic weapons and other emerging missile threats. These elements include the tracking and transport layers of the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA) and various interceptor programs. As MDA and SDA continue to develop these systems, Congress may consider implications for oversight and defense authorizations and appropriations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.; McCall, Stephen M.
2021-06-11
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Invest in America Act (H.R. 3684) Would Set Highway Spending 34% Above Baseline and Bring Back Earmarks [Updated June 11, 2021]
From the Document: "On June 10, 2021, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ordered reported the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act (INVEST in America Act; H.R. 3684). The five-year bill, as reported, would authorize roughly $334 billion for federal highway construction and research programs for FY2022-FY2026. This is a roughly 48% increase, unadjusted for inflation, over the $223 billion provided for highways in the previous five-year authorization (FY2016- FY2020), the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act; P.L. 114-94). The total represents a roughly 34% increase above current spending adjusted for expected inflation. H.R. 3684 also would bring back the designation of projects by Members of Congress [hyperlink] for the first time since a moratorium on earmarking was imposed in 2011. [hyperlink]"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kirk, Robert S.
2021-06-11
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Precision-Guided Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated June 11, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report focuses on selected precision-guided munitions (PGMs) fielded by the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Over the years, the U.S. military has relied on PGMs to execute ground, air, and naval military operations. PGMs have become ubiquitous in U.S. military operations; funding for these weapons has increased dramatically from FY1998 to the present as depicted in. In FY2021, the Department of Defense (DOD) requested approximately $4.1 billion for more than 41,337 weapons in 15 munitions programs. DOD projects requesting approximately $3.3 billion for 20,456 weapons in FY2022, $3.9 billion for 23,306 weapons in FY2023, $3.9 billion for 18,376 weapons in FY2024, and $3.6 billion for 16,325 weapons in FY2025. Congress, through the defense authorization and appropriations bills, has historically exercised its role in the decision to approve, reject, or modify DOD's proposals for PGMs. In addition, these programs pose a number of potential oversight issues for Congress. Congress's decisions on these issues could affect future U.S. military capabilities and funding requirements."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoehn, John R.
2021-06-11
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Origins of the COVID-19 Pandemic [Updated June 11, 2021]
From the Document: "In late 2019, a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2], was identified in Wuhan, China. The virus, which causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), has contributed to significant morbidity (illness) and mortality (death), as well as severe public health and economic effects, among other impacts. Several Members of Congress have made public statements and introduced legislation calling for an investigation into the origin of SARS-CoV-2. Determining the origin and pathway by which a zoonotic disease (i.e., one that originated in animals) emerges and is transmitted to humans can help scientists prevent further outbreaks, inform the public health response, and aid in the development of therapeutics and vaccines. Further, such knowledge may guide the development of policies and practices that reduce the potential for the emergence of other zoonotic diseases. Determining the origin of zoonotic diseases can take years, and in some cases, an origin may never be conclusively identified."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji; Sheikh, Pervaze A.; Sheikh, Hassan Z. . . .
2021-06-11
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Supreme Court: Unlawful Entrants with Temporary Protected Status Cannot Adjust to Lawful Permanent Resident Status [June 11, 2021]
From the Document: "Certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens, as the term is used in the Immigration and Nationality Act [hyperlink] [INA]) who are physically present in the United States may adjust to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status [hyperlink] if they meet certain requirements. Among other things, an applicant for adjustment of status generally must have been 'inspected and admitted or paroled' [hyperlink] into the United States by immigration authorities. For some time, courts disagreed [hyperlink] over whether aliens who unlawfully entered the United States without inspection, but later received Temporary Protected Status [hyperlink] (TPS), have been 'inspected and admitted' to qualify for adjustment. In 'Sanchez v. Mayorkas', the Supreme Court, in a unanimous opinion [hyperlink], held that the grant of TPS does not enable an unlawful entrant to pursue adjustment of status. This Legal Sidebar examines the Supreme Court's decision and its implications for unlawful entrants who seek to pursue LPR status."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.
2021-06-11
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Shipping, Ports, and the Federal Maritime Commission [June 11, 2021]
From the Document: "Since summer 2020, U.S. overseas containerized trade has risen to record levels as the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led households to spend less on services such as vacation trips and restaurant meals and more on imported goods. The demand surge has resulted in transport delays, higher freight rates, and increased tension between shippers and ocean carriers over ancillary fees and the availability of containers. These controversies have drawn attention to the role of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), a federal agency with jurisdiction over ports and ocean shipping. [...] Two FMC commissioners recently reminded liner carriers about their 'common carrier obligation,' under which they may not 'unreasonably refuse to deal or negotiate' (46 U.S.C. [United States Code] §41104(a)(10)). This reminder followed complaints by exporters of low-value agricultural goods that ocean carriers are not supplying them with enough empty containers to ship their goods. The exporters are seeking FMC's assistance in obtaining firmer commitments from carriers regarding container supply. Because the United States imports more containerized goods than it exports, the ocean rates for exports are much lower than for imports. In the number of days it takes for a U.S. exporter to load a container and for the purchaser of the goods in Asia to unload the container, a carrier could return the container empty to Asia and have the container start earning the much higher Asia-to-United States freight revenue. This may be a consideration when container supply becomes tight."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Frittelli, John
2021-06-11
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Supreme Court Rules on Authority of Tribal Police to Stop Non-Indians [June 11, 2021]
From the Document: "On June 1, 2021, the Supreme Court unanimously held in 'United States v. Cooley' [hyperlink] ('Cooley') that Indian tribal law enforcement officers may stop, search, and temporarily detain a non-Indian motorist traveling on a public highway within an Indian reservation if the officer has a reasonable suspicion that the motorist has violated or will violate federal or state law. The Court held that the source of this power is an Indian tribe's retained inherent authority to protect public safety. In reaching this conclusion, the opinion draws upon earlier decisions of the Court, particularly 'Montana v. United States' [hyperlink] ('Montana'). In 'Montana,' the Court noted that, although tribes generally retain no authority over the conduct of non-Indians on fee land within a reservation, they do retain some authority over 'conduct [that] threatens or has some direct effect on . . . the health or welfare of the tribe.' The Supreme Court's decision in 'Cooley' reverses a decision [hyperlink] of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit discussed in an earlier Legal Sidebar [hyperlink]. After a brief summary of background on tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians, this Sidebar discusses the Court's decision in 'Cooley' and identifies possible considerations for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Murphy, M. Maureen
2021-06-11
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Defense Health Primer: U.S. Coast Guard Health Services [Updated June 10, 2021]
From the Document: "Established in 1790, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is a military service in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a branch of the armed forces of the United States. The role of USCG is to provide security, maritime safety, and environmental stewardship on the high seas and in the ports, inland waterways, and maritime economic zones of the United States. To support these tasks, 14 U.S.C. §504 authorizes USCG to administer a Health Services program to sustain the medical readiness of approximately 47,000 active duty and reserve servicemembers of the Coast Guard. The USCG program also collaborates with the Military Health System (MHS) of the Department of Defense (DOD) to offer health care services to 9.6 million beneficiaries eligible for TRICARE. [...] There are a number of perceived challenges facing the USCG Health Services program, many of which have attracted congressional attention and ongoing oversight. [1] Electronic Health Record Modernization; [...] [2] USPHS [U.S. Public Health Service] Support to USCG; [...] [and 3] Disability Evaluation System."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mendez, Bryce H. P.
2021-06-10
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Energy and Water Development Appropriations for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation: In Brief [Updated June 10, 2021]
From the Summary: "The Department of Energy's (DOE's) nonproliferation and national security programs provide technical capabilities to support U.S. efforts to 'prevent, counter, respond' to the proliferation of nuclear weapons worldwide, including by both states and non-state actors. These programs are administered by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semiautonomous agency established within DOE in 2000. NNSA is responsible for maintaining the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, providing nuclear fuel to the Navy, nuclear and radiological emergency response, and nuclear nonproliferation activities. NNSA's Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation is funded under the Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN) account. This report addresses the programs in the DNN account, appropriated by the Energy and Water appropriations bill. The FY2022 request for DNN appropriations was $2.26 billion. The proposal included unobligated prior year balances. The reduction continues an earlier trend to reduce prior-year carryover balances. According to the budget justification, the increase of $4 million, or 0.2%, from the FY2021-enacted level includes increases in Nonproliferation and Arms Control and DNN R&D [research and development] programs, offset by the completion of Material Management and Minimization and Global Material Security."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham
2021-06-10
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Georgia: Background and U.S. Policy [Updated June 10, 2021]
From the Summary: "Georgia is one of the United States' closest partners among the post-Soviet states that gained their independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. With a history of strong economic aid and security cooperation, the United States has deepened its strategic partnership with Georgia since Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia and 2014 invasion of Ukraine. U.S. policy expressly supports Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and Georgia is a leading recipient of U.S. aid in Europe and Eurasia. [...] Since FY2017, State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) bilateral aid allocations to Georgia have totaled $123 million a year on average ($131 million in FY2020, including $40 million in Foreign Military Financing, or FMF). For FY2021, Congress appropriated $132 million in bilateral aid to Georgia, including $35 million in FMF. For FY2022, the State Department/USAID budget request includes $120.6 million in bilateral aid to Georgia."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Welt, Cory
2021-06-10
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Navy LPD-17 Flight II and LHA Amphibious Ship Programs: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated June 10, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on two types of amphibious ships being procured for the Navy: LPD [landing platform/dock]-17 Flight II class amphibious ships and LHA [landing helicopter assault]-type amphibious assault ships. Both types are built by Huntington Ingalls Industries/Ingalls Shipbuilding (HII/Ingalls) of Pascagoula, MS. The Navy's LPD-17 Flight II and LHA shipbuilding programs pose multiple oversight issues for Congress. Congress's decisions on the LPD-17 Flight II and LHA programs could affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the shipbuilding industrial base. They could also have implications for the preservation and use of Congress's power of the purse under Article 1 of the Constitution, and for maintaining Congress as a coequal branch of government relative to the executive branch."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-06-10
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Marine Corps Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) [Updated June 10, 2021]
From the Document: "According to the Marine Corps, the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) aims to be a new armored vehicle family to replace the Light Armored Vehicle (LAV): Since the 1980s, the Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) has supported Marine Air-Ground Task Force missions on the battlefield. While the LAV remains operationally effective, the life cycle of this system is set to expire in the mid-2030s…. The Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) [the LAV's replacement] will be highly mobile, networked, transportable, protected, and lethal. The capability will provide, sensors, communication systems and lethality options to overmatch threats that have historically been addressed with more heavily armored systems. The ARV will be an advanced combat vehicle system, capable of fighting for information that balances competing capability demands to sense, shoot, move, communicate and remain transportable as part of the naval expeditionary force."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2021-06-10
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U.S. Global Health Funding: FY2017-FY2022 Request [Updated June 10, 2021]
From the Background: "Congress has prioritized global health, increasing related funding, particularly for the creation of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) during the George W. Bush Administration. During the Obama Administration, appropriations continued to rise, though at a slower pace and with some funding dips. Global health appropriations also increased during the Trump Administration, despite requests from that Administration to cut global health spending. Following the emergence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, appropriations for global health security rose and several bills for bolstering global health security were introduced."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
2021-06-10
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Defense Primer: Naval Forces [Updated June 9, 2021]
From the Document: "Although the term 'naval forces' is often used to refer specifically to Navy forces, it more properly refers to both Navy and Marine Corps forces, because both the Navy and Marine Corps are naval services. [...] The Navy and DOD since 2019 have been working to develop a new Navy force-level goal that is expected to introduce at least some elements of a new fleet architecture featuring a smaller proportion of larger ships (such as large-deck aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, large amphibious ships, and large resupply ships); a larger proportion of smaller ships (such as frigates, corvettes, smaller amphibious ships, smaller resupply ships, and perhaps smaller aircraft carriers); and a new third tier of large unmanned surface and underwater vessels. On December 9, 2020, the Trump Administration released a document that presents an envisioned Navy force-level goal for achieving by 2045 a Navy with a more distributed fleet architecture, including 382 to 446 manned ships and 143 to 242 large unmanned vessels. The Biden Administration can choose to adopt, revise, or set aside this document."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-06-09
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Defense Primer: Department of the Navy [Updated June 9, 2021]
From the Document: "The Department of the Navy (DON) is a single military department that includes two military services--the Navy and the Marine Corps. As such, DON has a single civilian leader, the Secretary of the Navy, and two four-star military service chiefs--an admiral whose title is the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), and a general whose title is the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Although the title 'Secretary of the Navy' includes only the term 'Navy,' the secretary serves as the civilian leader for both the Navy and Marine Corps. The CNO and the Commandant of the Marine Corps are members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). [...] Although the term 'naval' is often used to refer specifically to the Navy, it more properly refers to both the Navy and Marine Corps, because both the Navy and Marine Corps are naval services. [...] DON's proposed FY2022 budget requests $211.7 billion, of which, DON states, $163.9 billion (77.4%) is for the Navy and $47.9 billion (22.6%) is for the Marine Corps. In terms of appropriation groups, about 26.7% is for military personnel, about 33.6% is for operations and maintenance, about 27.5% is for procurement, about 10.7% is for research and development, about 1.4% is for infrastructure, and about 0.1% is for revolving and management funds."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-06-09
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Defense Primer: Geography, Strategy, and U.S. Force Design [Updated June 9, 2021]
From the Document: "Most of the world's people, resources, and economic activity are located not in the Western Hemisphere, but in [...] Eurasia. In response to this basic feature of world geography, U.S. policymakers for the last several decades have chosen to pursue, as a key element of U.S. national strategy, a goal of preventing the emergence of regional hegemons in Eurasia. This objective reflects a U.S. perspective on geopolitics and grand strategy developed by U.S. strategists and policymakers during and in the years immediately after World War II that incorporates two key judgments: [1] that given the amount of people, resources, and economic activity in Eurasia, a regional hegemon in Eurasia would represent a concentration of power large enough to be able to threaten vital U.S. interests; and [2] that Eurasia is not dependably self-regulating in terms of preventing the emergence of regional hegemons, meaning that the countries of Eurasia cannot be counted on to be fully able to prevent, though their own choices and actions, the emergence of regional hegemons, and may need assistance from one or more countries outside Eurasia to be able to do this dependably. [...] The fact that U.S. policymakers for the last several decades have chosen to pursue, as a key element of U.S. national strategy, a goal of preventing the emergence of regional hegemons in Eurasia, does not necessarily mean that this goal was a correct one for the United States to pursue, or that it would be a correct one for the United States to pursue in the future."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-06-09
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Army Corps of Engineers: FY2022 Budget Request [June 9, 2021]
From the Document: "Congress generally funds the civil works activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in annual Energy and Water Development appropriations acts. These activities include the planning and construction of authorized water resource projects and the operation and maintenance of infrastructure and navigation improvements managed by USACE. For USACE civil works, President Biden requested$6.79 billion for FY2022."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Normand, Anna E.; Carter, Nicole T.
2021-06-09
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Food Insecurity Among College Students: Background and Policy Options [June 9, 2021]
From the Summary: "Food insecurity--the condition of having inadequate food due to a lack of resources--affected roughly 1 in 10 Americans in 2019, and this number increased during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. Among college students nationwide, the prevalence of food insecurity is unknown; however, studies have shown that food insecurity is a problem for some college students, particularly those attending two-year schools and those from lower-income households. [...] This report summarizes research on the extent and effects of food insecurity among college students and recent efforts by students, institutions, and governments to reduce food insecurity among this population. It also presents a selection of possible federal policy options to help inform proposals that seek to address food insecurity among college students should Congress continue to consider this topic. These options include ways to target food-insecure college students within existing federal student aid programs, SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program], and programs that support food donations to campus pantries, as well as the creation of new programs to provide food aid to students."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Billings, Kara Clifford; Fountain, Joselynn H.; Aussenberg, Randy Alison . . .
2021-06-09
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Formal Removal Proceedings: An Introduction [Updated June 9, 2021]
From the Document: "The Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause confers substantive and procedural protections to all persons within the United States, including non-U.S. nationals (aliens, as described in statute) whom the federal government seeks to remove. Once an alien has 'passed through our gates, even illegally,' the Supreme Court has declared, the alien 'may be expelled only after proceedings conforming to traditional standards of fairness encompassed in due process of law.' 'Shaughnessy v. Mezei', 345 U.S. 206 (1953). Against this backdrop, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and implementing regulations provide a framework for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to seek the removal of aliens from the United States. Aliens targeted for removal in the interior of the United States are typically placed in proceedings under INA § 240. These 'formal' removal proceedings afford more robust procedural protections than the expedited removal process under INA § 235, which applies to aliens apprehended at or near the border who lack entry documents or have attempted to enter the country surreptitiously."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.
2021-06-09
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U.S. Efforts to Combat Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Other Illicit Financial Threats: An Overview [Updated June 9, 2021]
From the Document: "The United States maintains a multifaceted policy regime for tackling anti-money laundering (AML), combating the financing of terrorism (CFT), and countering other forms of illicit financial threats. Key issues for the 117thCongress may include oversight of the U.S. government's robust legal, regulatory, enforcement, and diplomatic AML/CFT effort--with special focus on the Biden Administration's implementation of significant changes to the AML/CFT regime that were enacted as part of the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA; P.L. 116-283)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Miller, Rena S.; Rosen, Liana W.
2021-06-09
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Crime Victims' Rights Act: A Summary and Legal Analysis of 18 U.S.C. § 3771 [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Summary: "Section 3771 of Title 18 of the 'United States Code' is a statutory bill of rights for the victims of crimes committed in violation of federal law or the laws of the District of Columbia. It defines a victim as anyone directly and proximately harmed by such an offense, individuals and legal entities alike. It does not appear to otherwise include family members of a deceased, child, or incapacitated victim except in a representative capacity. Numbered among the rights it conveys are: (1) the right to be reasonably protected from the accused; (2) the right to notification of public court and parole proceedings and of any release of the accused; (3) the right not to be excluded from public court proceedings under most circumstances; (4) the right to be heard in public court proceedings relating to bail, the acceptance of a plea bargain, sentencing, or parole; (5) the right to confer with the prosecutor; (6) the right to restitution under the law; (7) the right to proceedings free from unwarranted delays; (8) the right to be treated fairly and with respect to one's dignity and privacy; (9) the right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement; and (10) the right to be informed of the statutory rights and services to which one is entitled. The section directs the federal courts and law enforcement officials to see to it that the rights it creates are honored. Both victims and prosecutors may assert the rights and seek review from the appellate courts should the rights be initially denied."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2021-06-08
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Crime Victims' Rights Act: A Sketch of 18 U.S.C. § 3771 [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Summary: "Section 3771 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code is a statutory bill of rights for the victims of crimes committed in violation of federal law or the laws of the District of Columbia. It defines a victim as anyone directly and proximately harmed by such an offense, individuals and legal entities alike. It does not appear to otherwise include family members of a deceased, child, or incapacitated victim except in a representative capacity. Numbered among the rights it conveys are: (1) the right to be reasonably protected from the accused; (2) the right to notification of public court and parole proceedings and of any release of the accused; (3) the right not to be excluded from public court proceedings under most circumstances; (4) the right to be heard in public court proceedings relating to bail, the acceptance of a plea bargain, sentencing, or parole; (5) the right to confer with the prosecutor; (6) the right to restitution under the law; (7) the right to proceedings free from unwarranted delays; (8) the right to be treated fairly and with respect to one's dignity and privacy; (9) the right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement; and (10) the right to be informed of the statutory rights and services to which one is entitled. The section directs the federal courts and law enforcement officials to see to it that the rights it creates are honored."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2021-06-08
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Defense Primer: Emerging Technologies [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Document: "Both U.S. national strategy documents and Congress's own bipartisan 'Future of Defense Task Force Report' have identified a number of emerging technologies that could have a disruptive impact on U.S. national security in the years to come. These technologies include [1] artificial intelligence, [2] lethal autonomous weapons, [3] hypersonic weapons, [4] directed-energy weapons, [5] biotechnology, and [6] quantum technology. As these technologies continue to mature, they could hold significant implications for congressional oversight, U.S. defense authorizations and appropriations, military concepts of operations, and the future of war." Some potential issues for Congress to consider are: "[1] What is the appropriate balance of funding across these and other emerging technologies, given the potential military utility and technological maturity of each? [2] Some analysts have argued that DOD should develop a technology strategy to establish long-term priorities across these and other emerging technologies. What impact would such a strategy have on Congress's ability to conduct oversight or evaluate budget requests? [3] Some reports indicate that both DOD and defense industry have difficulty recruiting and retaining personnel with expertise in emerging technologies. In addition, analysts have noted that the development of many emerging technologies requires experts from a number of disparate fields (e.g., development of quantum technology could require experts in quantum information science, machine learning, materials science, and other fields). What measures, if any, should the United States take to ensure that the emerging technology workforce is sufficient to support U.S. competitiveness and military superiority?"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.
2021-06-08
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Deep Fakes and National Security [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Document: "'Deep fakes'--a term that first emerged in 2017 to describe realistic photo, audio, video, and other forgeries generated with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies--could present a variety of national security challenges in the years to come. As these technologies continue to mature, they could hold significant implications for congressional oversight, U.S. defense authorizations and appropriations, and the regulation of social media platforms. [...] Some analysts have noted that algorithm-based detection tools could lead to a cat-and-mouse game, in which the deep fake generators are rapidly updated to address flaws identified by detection tools. For this reason, they argue that social media platforms--in addition to deploying deep fake detection tools--may need to expand the means of labeling and/or authenticating content. This could include a requirement that users identify the time and location at which the content originated or that they label edited content as such. Other analysts have expressed concern that regulation of deep fake technology could impose undue burden on social media platforms or lead to unconstitutional restrictions on free speech and artistic expression. These analysts have suggested that existing law is sufficient for managing the malicious use of deep fakes. Some experts have asserted that responding with technical tools alone will be insufficient and that instead the focus should be on the need to educate the public about deep fakes and minimize incentives for creators of malicious deep fakes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.; Harris, Laurie A.
2021-06-08
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Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Coast Guard's programs for procuring 8 National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and 58 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs). The Coast Guard's proposed FY2022 budget requests a total of $695 million in procurement funding for the NSC, OPC, and FRC programs. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Coast Guard's funding requests and acquisition strategies for the NSC, OPC, and FRC programs. Congress's decisions on these three programs could substantially affect Coast Guard capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base. The NSC, OPC, and FRC programs have been subjects of congressional oversight for many years, and were previously covered in other CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports dating back to 1998 that are now archived. CRS testified on the Coast Guard's cutter acquisition programs most recently in October and November of 2018. The Coast Guard's plans for modernizing its fleet of polar icebreakers are covered in a separate CRS report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-06-08
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Emergency Rental Assistance Through the Coronavirus Relief Fund [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Introduction: "The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) included an appropriation of $25 billion to help low-income households make rent and utility payments through an Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. The ERA is funded through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), a program created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136), and administered by the Department of the Treasury, to assist state, local, territorial, and tribal governments. [...] This report briefly describes the need for rental assistance during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, provides information about the allocation of ERA funds, describes the parameters of the ERA program, and discusses outstanding questions about the program and renter needs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Driessen, Grant A.; Perl, Libby; McCarty, Maggie
2021-06-08
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Defense Primer: Hypersonic Boost-Glide Weapons [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Document: "The U.S. Department of Defense is pursuing two types of hypersonic weapons technologies: boost-glide systems that place a maneuverable glide vehicle atop a ballistic missile or rocket booster, and cruise missiles that would use high-speed, air-breathing engines known as scramjets to travel to hypersonic speeds. This In Focus addresses only the first of these technologies. The Pentagon's FY2022 budget request for hypersonic-related research is $3.8 billion--up from $3.2 billion in the FY2021 request. This increased funding and statements from Pentagon officials demonstrate growing support for weapons that could attack priority targets promptly and with improved accuracy without facing defeat by an adversary's air or missile defense systems. Pentagon officials have also expressed concerns about advances in hypersonic weapons technologies in Russia and China, and on the potential threats to U.S. forces, allies, and territory."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.; Woolf, Amy F.
2021-06-08
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Army's Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Document: "The Army's Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) is the Army's third attempt to replace the M-2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) which has been in service since the early 1980s. Despite numerous upgrades since its introduction, the Army contends the M-2 is near the end of its useful life and can no longer accommodate the types of upgrades needed for it to be effective on the modern battlefield. Because the OMFV would be an important weapon system in the Army's Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs), Congress may be concerned with how the OMFV would impact the effectiveness of ground forces over the full spectrum of military operations. Moreover, Congress might also be concerned with how much more capable the OMFV is projected to be over the M-2 Bradley to ensure that it is not just a costly marginal improvement over the current system. A number of past unsuccessful Army acquisition programs have served to heighten congressional oversight of Army programs, and the OMFV may be subject to a high degree of congressional interest."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2021-06-08
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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and On-the-Street Police Encounters [June 8, 2021]
From the Introduction: "The Americans with Disabilities Act [hyperlink] (ADA) mandates, as its core imperative, that both public and private sector entities offer 'reasonable accommodations' in their policies and practices for those with disabilities. Courts have applied the ADA's Title II reasonable accommodation provision, which prohibits discrimination by 'public entities,' to a broad array of public programs and services, ranging from use of city streets [hyperlink] to municipal contracting [hyperlink] to access to public benefits [hyperlink]. Although the courts have consistently held that police departments are 'public entities' and that Title II applies to at least some state and local law enforcement functions, the courts are split on whether the ADA's reasonable accommodation requirement applies to on-the-street encounters with law enforcement officers, such as use-of-force situations or arrests. [...] [T]he lower courts are still in conflict about how police must handle encounters with individuals with disabilities. This issue has drawn attention again as some Members of Congress have pushed for alternative policing techniques, such as training in de-escalation tactics. This Legal Sidebar provides background on Title II of the ADA, reviews the case law applying the ADA to law enforcement activities, discusses the circuit split on the ADA's application to on-the-street police encounters, and surveys relevant legislation introduced in the 117th Congress. This Legal Sidebar provides background on Title II of the ADA, reviews the case law applying the ADA to law enforcement activities, discusses the circuit split on the ADA's application to on-the-street police encounters, and surveys relevant legislation introduced in the 117th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Thompson, Richard M., II
2021-06-08
