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Army's Project Convergence [Updated June 2, 2022]
From the Document: "Project Convergence is what the Army calls a 'campaign of learning,' designed to further integrate the Army into the Joint Force. It is how the Army intends to play a role in Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2), the Department of Defense's (DOD's) plan to connect sensors and weapon systems from all the military services--Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force--as well as Special Operations Forces (SOF), into a single network which, theoretically, could prove faster and more effective in responding to threats from peer competitors. Designed around five core elements--soldiers, weapons systems, command and control, information, and terrain-- Army Futures Command (AFC) plans to run Project Convergence on an annual basis. The Army intends to conduct experiments with technology, equipment, and solicit soldier feedback throughout the year, culminating in an annual exercise or demonstration. In basic terms, the Army reportedly wants to 'take the service's big ideas for future warfare and test them in the real world. The Army wants to figure out what works and what needs fixing--and figure that out as early as possible, when it's much cheaper to make changes.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2022-06-02
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DHS Budget Request Analysis: FY2023 [June 2, 2022]
From the Introduction: "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the third largest agency in the federal government in terms of staffing, with roughly 252,000 civilian and military personnel. The annual appropriations bill that funds it--providing more than $81 billion in FY2022--is the seventh largest of the 12 annual funding measures developed by the appropriations committees, and is the only appropriations bill that funds a single agency in its entirety and nothing else. This report provides an overview of the Biden Administration's FY2023 annual budget request for the Department of Homeland Security. It provides a component-level overview of the appropriations sought in the FY2023 budget request, and puts the requested appropriations in context with the FY2022 requested and enacted level of appropriations, while noting some of the factors behind the larger changes from those baselines."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Painter, William L.
2022-06-02
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Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections [Updated June 2, 2022]
From the Document: "This report provides the results of recent presidential elections in Latin America and the Caribbean. Below are three tables, organized by region, that include the date of each country's independence, the name of the most recently elected president or prime minister, and the projected date of the next presidential election. Information in this report was compiled from numerous sources, including the U.S. State Department, Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA's) World Fact Book, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Election Guide, Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), and other news sources."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Davis-Castro, Carla Y.
2022-06-02
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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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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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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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U.S. Electricity Sector: Summer 2022 Outlook [May 31, 2022]
From the Document: "Ahead of summer 2022, federal officials have released several warnings about anticipated reliability risks and higher electricity prices compared to 2021. This analysis summarizes these warnings and provides additional information, should Congress consider oversight or other actions in response to these warnings. Demand for electricity peaks in much of the country during the summer, as air conditioning use increases. Losing access to electricity--either from power outages or affordability challenges--may be especially impactful (and potentially life threatening) during the hotter times of the year. In part, officials' warnings stem from ongoing trends, such as energy commodity price increases, retirement of coal-fired power plants, increased use of natural gas and renewable energy sources, and drought conditions in the West. Other contributing factors are relatively new, including Russia's war in Ukraine."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lawson, Ashley J.
2022-05-31
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Venezuela: Overview of U.S. Sanctions [Updated May 31, 2022]
From the Document: "For over 15 years, the United States has imposed sanctions in response to activities of the Venezuelan government and Venezuelan individuals. The earliest sanctions imposed related to Venezuela's lack of cooperation on antidrug and counterterrorism efforts. The Obama Administration imposed targeted sanctions against individuals for human rights abuses, corruption, and antidemocratic actions. The Trump Administration expanded economic sanctions in response to the increasing authoritarianism of President Nicolás Maduro (in power since 2013)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2022-05-31
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Army's Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) [Updated May 31, 2022]
From the Document: "Congress has expressed concern about the threat to U.S. national security posed by Russia and China. The Army contends in order to address the threat, it must be able to operate in a multi-domain (air, land, water, space, cyber, information) environment, requiring new operational concepts, technologies, weapons, and units. The Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) is the Army's self-described 'organizational centerpiece' of this effort."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2022-05-31
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2022 Hurricane Outlooks and 2021 Hurricane Season Review [May 31, 2022]
From the Document: "Many in Congress have expressed interest in increasing scientific understanding of tropical cyclones and improving forecasts to help their constituents prepare for the yearly hurricane season and potentially decrease a storm's impact on an individual or community. The Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is responsible for issuing tropical cyclone forecasts, including track, intensity, storm surge, and rainfall. [...] In May 2022, NOAA issued its initial 2022 Atlantic hurricane outlook [hyperlink], indicating a 65% likelihood of an above-normal season rather than a near- (25%) or below-normal season (10%). The predicted number of named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes was similar to the number predicted in August 2021 for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA indicated that the higher level of activity is attributed to climate factors [hyperlink], such as the ongoing periodic cooling of sea surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific (La Niña phenomenon), warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds, and an enhanced West African monsoon system."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lipiec, Eva
2022-05-31
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Department of Defense Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems [Updated May 31, 2022]
From the Document: "Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly called drones, have proliferated rapidly and are available to nation states and to nonstate actors and individuals. These systems could provide U.S. adversaries with a low-cost means of conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions against--or attacking--U.S. forces. Furthermore, many smaller UASs cannot be detected by traditional air defense systems due to their size, construction material, and flight altitude. As a result, in FY2023, the Department of Defense (DOD) plans to spend at least $668 million on counter-UAS (C-UAS) research and development and at least $78 million on C-UAS procurement. As DOD continues to develop, procure, and deploy these systems, congressional oversight of their use may increase, and Congress may have to make decisions about future authorizations, appropriations, and other legislative actions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoehn, John R.; Sayler, Kelley M.
2022-05-31
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COVID-19 Relief Assistance to Small Businesses: Issues and Policy Options [Updated May 31, 2022]
From the Summary: "The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) administers several types of programs to support small businesses, including direct disaster loan programs for businesses, homeowners, and renters; loan guaranty and venture capital programs; management and technical assistance training programs; and contracting programs. Congressional interest in these programs has become especially acute in the wake of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic's widespread adverse economic impact on the national economy. This report provides a brief description of the SBA's programs and examines congressional action to assist small businesses during and immediately following the Great Recession (2007- 2009) and during the COVID-19 pandemic[.]"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dilger, Robert Jay, 1954-; Lindsay, Bruce R.
2022-05-31
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U.S. Economic Recovery in the Wake of COVID-19: Successes and Challenges [May 31, 2022]
From the Introduction: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic caused an unprecedented disruption to the basic functioning of the economy in spring 2020. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), an independent, nonprofit research group, the U.S. economy experienced a two-month recession in March and April of 2020. The recession was the deepest since the Great Depression, with gross domestic product (GDP) falling by the largest percentage in one quarter in the history of the data series and unemployment rising to its highest monthly rate in the history of that series. Just as economic activity had declined at a historically fast pace, it also started to recover at a historically fast pace. In May 2020, a new economic expansion began, spurred in large part by the historic nature of both fiscal and monetary stimulus throughout the initial months of the pandemic. The recovery continued throughout 2020 and 2021, bolstered by additional stimulus, the gradual loosening of travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders, and the eventual rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. [...] This report details the initial economic impact of the pandemic and the ways in which the economy has recovered and continues to recover. This report further explores the ways in which this shock and recovery have been unusual and what this all might mean for the economy in the coming months and years."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Labonte, Marc; Weinstock, Lida R.
2022-05-31
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Export-Import Bank: New Domestic Financing Initiative [May 31, 2022]
From the Document: "The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank or the Bank) [hyperlink] has launched a 'Make More in America Initiative' [hyperlink] to support 'export-oriented domestic manufacturing projects.' The initiative extends some of the Bank's existing demand-driven, export-contingent financing programs to a more domestic focus (see 'Table 1'). The Biden Administration [hyperlink] states that the initiative will help in 'revitalizing American manufacturing, improving the resiliency of our supply chains, and leveling the playing field for American companies competing in overseas markets.' The initiative raises issues for Congress regarding the Bank's authorities, operations, and effectiveness."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias
2022-05-31
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World Trade Organization [Updated May 27, 2022]
From the Document: "The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established on January 1, 1995, following the ratification of the Uruguay Round Agreements, and today includes 164 members. It succeeded the 1947 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), created as part of the post-WWII effort to build a stable, open international trading system. The WTO has three basic functions: (1) administering its agreements; (2) serving as a negotiating forum for new trade liberalization and rules; and (3) providing a mechanism to settle disputes. [...] The GATT/WTO system over time has led to a significant reduction of trade barriers, supported trade expansion and economic growth, and helped manage trade frictions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; Fefer, Rachel F.
2022-05-27
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U.S.-Kenya FTA Negotiations [Updated May 27, 2022]
From the Document: "The United States and Kenya began free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in 2020 under then-President Trump and President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya. The Biden Administration has not resumed the FTA talks, but has stated its interest in deepening bilateral trade relations and sent a high-level U.S. delegation to Kenya in May 2022 to discuss trade issues. Some Members of Congress, including the chair of the Ways and Means committee, and U.S. business groups have pressed the Administration to resume and conclude the FTA. The 2015 grant of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), under which President Trump initiated the FTA talks, expired in July 2021, potentially complicating congressional consideration of the proposed FTA. A U.S.-Kenya FTA would be the first U.S. FTA with a country in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Congressional interest may include (1) Congress's constitutional authority to regulate foreign commerce; (2) the FTA's potential effects on the U.S. economy, and trade and foreign policy implications; and (3) statutory mandates in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA, P.L. [Public Law] 106-200, as amended) directing the President to seek FTAs in Africa."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Williams, Brock R.; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch
2022-05-27
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2022 Invocation of the Defense Production Act for Large-Capacity Batteries: In Brief [May 27, 2022]
From the Introduction: "On March 31, 2022, President Joseph R. Biden issued Presidential Determination No. 2022-11, invoking authorities in Section 303 of the Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950 (P.L. 81-774, 50 U.S.C. §4501 et seq.) and directing the Department of Defense (DOD) to strengthen the U.S. domestic industrial base for large-capacity batteries (i.e., those used in electric vehicles and for grid-connected electricity storage). As justification, the President cited the need to ensure 'a robust, resilient, sustainable, and environmentally responsible domestic industrial base to meet the requirements of the clean energy economy.' The President noted that 'the United States depends on unreliable foreign sources for many of the strategic and critical materials necessary for the clean energy transition.... Demand for such materials is projected to increase exponentially as the world transitions to a clean energy economy' and to reduce reliance on foreign sources of critical materials, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and manganese. This In Brief provides an overview of the DPA and presidential delegations of its authorities; discusses actions authorized by the March 2022 Presidential Determination (hereinafter the Presidential Determination); examines potential limitations associated with these authorizations; and provides an overview of recent executive and congressional actions relevant to the invocation of the DPA for critical minerals necessary for large-capacity battery production. It also explores considerations for Congress regarding the implementation, limitation, or expansion of the Presidential Determination."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Peters, Heidi M.; Lee, Erica A.; Hart, Nina M. . . .
2022-05-27
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Automation, Worker Training, and Federal Tax Policy [May 27, 2022]
From the Document: "Technologies that partly or fully automate a variety of tasks are being used with increasing frequency in a range of industries and occupations. These technologies include robotics, machine learning, and other forms of artificial intelligence (AI). This increasing use of automation has fueled the concern that the substitution of machines for humans in a growing number of workplaces will result in massive job losses, especially for unskilled or low-skilled workers. Some predict that if such a scenario were to arise, many displaced workers would face a bleak future marked by fewer job opportunities at lower wages, long-term earnings losses, and poor health. The worker-displacing potential of automation has given rise to a debate over what steps firms, governments, postsecondary schools, and other entities should take, if any, to help displaced workers find well-paying jobs that may or may not be linked to automation. This In Focus looks at how federal tax policy might be used for that purpose. Specifically, it addresses the pros and cons of possible new business tax incentives to encourage employers to invest more in training their employees and to dissuade them from increasing automation investment. This overview does not address possible new tax incentives for individuals to acquire on their own the skills and knowledge they would need to find well-paying jobs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Guenther, Gary L.
2022-05-27
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Costa Rica: An Overview [Updated May 27, 2022]
From the Document: "Costa Rica historically has been a bastion of political and economic stability in an often-turbulent region. The United States has worked closely with Costa Rica to address challenges in Central America and to advance shared values, such as democracy and human rights, worldwide. [...] The Biden Administration has sought to bolster ties with Costa Rica. In April 2022, the State Department congratulated Chaves on his election and expressed interest in working with the new government to advance common interests, including humane migration management and environmental protection. The Biden Administration also has expressed support for the Alliance for Development in Democracy--an informal arrangement among Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic intended to accelerate post-pandemic economic recovery, foster sustainable development, and defend democracy and human rights throughout the region. The United States has donated 1.5 million COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] vaccine doses and more than $4 million in other pandemic-related aid to Costa Rica."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Meyer, Peter J.; Klein, Joshua
2022-05-27
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Permitting for Pesticide Discharges into Navigable Waters: Issues and Legislation in the 117th Congress [Updated May 27, 2022]
From the Document: "Permitting requirements for using registered pesticides in or around the nation's waters has been a long-standing issue. Under the Clean Water Act (CWA; 33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq.), discharges of pollutants into navigable waters are unlawful unless specifically authorized by a permit. For decades following the enactment of the CWA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not consider registered pesticides used in compliance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA; 7 U.S.C. §136 et seq.) as pollutants that required permitting for their discharge into waters. However, in 2009, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that (1) the statutory definition of 'pollutant' in the CWA encompasses biological pesticides and chemical pesticides that leave a residue in navigable waters, and (2) discharges of such pollutants require permitting. In response to the ruling, EPA issued a general discharge permit to cover the majority of pesticide applications resulting in point source discharges. States with delegated authority to issue their own discharge permits issued similar general discharge permits."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gatz, Laura; Yen, Jerry H.
2022-05-27