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Venezuela: Political Crisis and U.S. Policy [Updated September 15, 2020]
From the Document: "Venezuela remains in a deep crisis under the authoritarian rule of Nicolás Maduro of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Maduro, narrowly elected in 2013 after the death of President Hugo Chávez (1999-2013), began a second term on January 10, 2019, that is widely considered illegitimate. Since January 2019, Juan Guaidó, president of Venezuela's democratically elected, opposition-controlled National Assembly, has sought to form a transition government to serve until internationally observed elections can be held. The United States and 57 other countries recognize Guaidó as interim president, but he has been unable to use that support to wrest power from Maduro."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2020-09-15
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CARES Act Payroll Support to Air Carriers and Contractors [Updated September 15, 2020]
From the Document: "The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136), signed into law on March 27, 2020, provided assistance to consumers and businesses, including aid to air carriers and eligible contractors. Emergency funds also were provided to eligible airports. Assistance to air carriers in Division A, Title IV of the CARES Act included loans and loan guarantees, funds to support the pay and benefits of air carrier workers, and a suspension of aviation excise taxes on air transport of people, cargo, and aviation fuel through calendar year 2020. This Insight focuses on the payroll support program (PSP)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
2020-09-15
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Do Veterans Have Choices in How They Access Health Care? [Updated September 15, 2020]
From the Introduction: "On June 6, 2018, the President signed into law the VA MISSION Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-182, as amended). Among other things, the act established a new Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). Under VCCP, all veteran enrollees would be eligible for hospital care, medical services, and extended care services, in the community, provided they meet one of the six criteria stipulated in the law (38 U.S.C. §1703 and 38 C.F.R.§17.4000), at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) expense. Because of these policies, the VA expects enrollees to get more of their care through VHA rather than relying on other federal and private health care sources ('2021 Congressional Budget Submission,' vol. II, p. VHA268, and 'Economic Regulatory Impact Analysis for Veterans Community Care Program, 'p. 9). Therefore, it is important to understand how veterans currently receive care from the VHA and other sources of health care, such as Medicare and private insurance."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Panangala, Sidath Viranga
2020-09-15
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Tracking Federal Awards: USAspending.gov and Other Data Sources [Updated September 15, 2020]
From the Summary: "USAspending.gov, available at http://www.USAspending.gov, is a government source for data on federal awards by state, congressional district (CD), county, city, and zip code. The awards data in USAspending.gov are provided by federal agencies and represent contracts, grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance. USAspending.gov also provides tools for examining the broader picture of federal spending obligations within the categories of budget function, agency, and object class. Using USAspending.gov to locate and compile accurate data on federal awards can be challenging due, in part, to continuing data quality issues that have been identified by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Users of USAspending.gov need to be aware that while search results may be useful for informing consideration of certain questions, these results may be incomplete or contain inaccuracies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer
2020-09-15
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Tracking Federal Awards in States and Congressional Districts Using USAspending.gov [Updated September 15, 2020]
From the Overview: "USAspending.gov, available to the public at http://www.USAspending.gov, is a government source for data on federal awards by state, congressional district (CD), zip code, city, and county. The awards data in USAspending.gov is provided by federal agencies and represents grants, contracts, loans, and other financial assistance. Grant awards include money the federal government commits for projects in states, local jurisdictions, regions, territories, and tribal reservations, as well as payments for eligible needs to help individuals and families. Contract awards refer to bids and agreements the federal government makes for specific goods and services. USAspending.gov does not include data on actual spending by recipients. USAspending.gov also provides tools for examining the broader picture of federal spending obligations within the categories of budget function, agency, and object class. 'Budget function' refers to the major purpose that the spending serves, such as Social Security, Medicare, and national defense. 'Object class' refers to the type of item or service purchased by the federal government, such as grants, contracts, and personnel compensation and benefits."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer
2020-09-15
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Resources for Tracking Federal COVID-19 Spending [Updated September 15, 2020]
From the Document: "Congress has responded to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with supplemental appropriations measures providing relief and assistance to individuals and families, state and local governments, businesses, health care providers, and other entities. [...] This report provides selected sources for tracking COVID-19 relief and assistance spending. It includes links to and information on government sources detailing spending amounts at various levels, including consolidated spending by multiple government agencies, spending by individual government agencies, and spending to specific recipients and geographies. The sources themselves are large government databases, individual agencies, oversight entities, and selected nongovernmental entities that attempt to repackage information on spending amounts obtained from available government sources."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer; Kreiser, Maria
2020-09-15
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Selected Privileges and Courtesies Extended to Former Members of Congress [Updated September 15, 2020]
From the Summary: "After Members of the House or Senate leave office, they are afforded certain courtesies and privileges. Some are derived from law and chamber rules, but others are courtesies that have been extended as a matter of custom. Some of these privileges and courtesies include the following: [1] access to the floor of the chamber in which a former Member served; [2] short-term franking privileges; [3] access to parking facilities and athletic or wellness facilities; [4] access to House or Senate administrative services and dining facilities; and [5] access to materials through the Congressional Research Service (CRS) and the Library of Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2020-09-15
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Internships, Fellowships, and Other Work Experience Opportunities in the Federal Government [Updated September 14, 2020]
From the Summary: "Although there are many opportunities in the federal government for internships, fellowships, and other work experience, there is no comprehensive source to assist in locating these opportunities. This report describes internet resources for prominent and popular opportunities for internship, fellowship, and work experience programs within the federal government. The report is intended as a selective guide for students of all levels: high school, undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate. It provides information on legislative, executive, and judicial branch opportunities and links to several aggregators of jobs data. The introduction provides a number of insights to assist applicants on understanding terminology, timing applications, and expectations for types of work involved."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Finch, Christina Miracle; Manning, Jennifer E.; Marchsteiner, Kathleen E.
2020-09-14
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Expanding the Selective Service: Legal Issues Surrounding Women and the Draft [Updated September 14, 2020]
From the Document: "Should American women be required to register for the draft alongside their male counterparts? On March 25, 2020, the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service (the Commission) released a report addressing this and other questions relating to military, national, and public service. The Commission recommended that women should be required to register with the Selective Service System and be included in any future draft. While the Commission considered changes to the law, recent court decisions have taken diverging views on whether the current male-only registration requirement is constitutional. Most recently, on August 13, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (Fifth Circuit) ruled that a nearly forty-year-old Supreme Court case, which held that male-only registration is constitutional, is still controlling law. This Sidebar provides a brief legal background of the Selective Service System, including legal consequences of failing to register. It next describes judicial challenges to the male-only draft and legislative efforts to require women to register. The Sidebar then discusses the creation and conclusions of the Commission. Finally, it examines issues for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gaffney, Jonathan M.
2020-09-14
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Russian Law Enforcement and Internal Security Agencies [September 14, 2020]
From the Document: "Russia has an extensive internal security system, with multiple, overlapping, and competitive security agencies vying for bureaucratic, political, and economic influence. Since Vladimir Putin assumed Russia's leadership, these agencies have grown in both size and power, and they have become integral to the security and stability of the government. If Putin extends his rule beyond 2024, as is now legally permissible, these agencies could play a role in the leadership succession process and affect the ability of a transitional regime to quell domestic dissent. For Members of Congress, understanding the numerous internal security agencies in Russia could be helpful in assessing the prospects of regime stability and dynamics of a transition after Putin leaves office. In addition, Russian security agencies and their personnel have been targeted by U.S. sanctions for cyberattacks and human rights abuses."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bowen, Andrew S.
2020-09-14
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Afghan Women and Girls: Status and Congressional Action [September 11, 2020]
From the Document: "The status of Afghan women and girls has improved since 2001 by some metrics, but arguably remains precarious. Given the formerly ruling Taliban's views on women's rights, and entrenched cultural attitudes (particularly in rural areas), the status of Afghan women and girls has long been a topic of congressional concern and action. Concern among some Members of Congress has increased in light of the ongoing withdrawal of U.S. troops, scheduled to be completed by spring 2021. Some experts warn that a full U.S. military withdrawal could pave the way for the Taliban to return to power--either by military force or through a political settlement--and that women's rights could be compromised. Since 2001, Members of Congress have used a number of oversight and funding-related legislative measures to promote and safeguard the rights of Afghan women, and may consider the efficacy and sustainability of such approaches as the U.S. reduces its military footprint and as the Afghan conflict and political dynamic evolve."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Thomas, Clayton (Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs); Collins, Sarah R.
2020-09-11
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Israel: Background and U.S. Relations in Brief [Updated September 11, 2020]
From the Introduction: "Israel has forged close bilateral cooperation with the United States in many areas; issues with significant implications for U.S.-Israel relations include the following. [1] Israeli domestic political issues, including challenges related to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic and associated economic concerns, and protests against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. [2] Israel's security cooperation with the United States. [3] Israeli-Palestinian issues and U.S. policy. [4] Israel's agreement to normalize relations with the United Arab Emirates in return for suspending plans to annex some areas of the West Bank, and implications of the agreement for Israeli-Palestinian issues, U.S. arms sales, and Israel's Qualitative Military Edge. [5] Shared U.S.-Israel concerns about Iran's nuclear program and regional influence, including with Lebanon-based Hezbollah, Syria, and Iraq. [6] Chinese investment in Israeli companies and infrastructure, and U.S. concerns about implications for U.S. national security."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Zanotti, Jim
2020-09-11
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Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2019 [Updated September 11, 2020]
From the Summary: "Levels of pay for congressional staff are a source of recurring questions among Members of Congress, congressional staff, and the public. There may be interest in congressional pay data from multiple perspectives, including assessment of the costs of congressional operations, guidance in setting pay levels for staff in Member offices, or comparison of congressional staff pay levels with those of other federal government pay systems. This report provides pay data for 16 staff position titles that are typically used in House Members' offices. The positions include the following: Caseworker, Chief of Staff, Communications Director, Constituent Services Representative, Counsel (2010-2018), District Director, Executive Assistant, Field Representative, Legislative Assistant, Legislative Correspondent, Legislative Director, Office Manager, Press Secretary, Scheduler, Senior Legislative Assistant (2018-2019), and Staff Assistant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2020-09-11
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Schedule I Status of Marijuana [Updated September 11, 2020]
From the Document: "The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) places various substances in one of five schedules based on their medical use, potential for abuse, and safety or risk for dependence. The five schedules are progressively ordered with Schedule V substances regarded as the least dangerous and addictive and Schedule I substances considered the most dangerous and addictive. Schedule I substances are considered to have a 'high potential for abuse' with 'no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.' [...] Marijuana is listed as a Schedule I controlled substance under the CSA, and has been on Schedule I since the CSA was enacted in 1970 (P.L. 91-513). [...] The Schedule I status of marijuana means that the substance is strictly regulated by federal authorities. Yet, over the last several decades, most states and territories have deviated from across-the-board prohibition of marijuana, and now have laws and policies allowing for some cultivation, sale, distribution, and possession of marijuana."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sacco, Lisa N.
2020-09-11
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Federal Reserve's Revised Monetary Policy Strategy Statement [September 10, 2020]
From the Document: "After a two-year 'Review of Monetary Policy Strategy, Tools, and Communications', the Federal Reserve (Fed) announced on August 27, 2020, revisions to its 'Statement on Longer-Run Goals and Monetary Policy Strategy'. This statement, initially published in 2012, explains the Fed's monetary policy strategy for achieving its statutory mandate of maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates. The original statement had two key features. First, it set a long-run inflation goal of 2%, the first time the Fed formally specified a numerical goal. Second, it asserted that a similar numerical goal could not be set for maximum employment because of uncertainty surrounding full employment. The 2020 revision retains both features. Overall, the 2012 statement was concise and did not provide details on how the Fed would react to specific economic situations. The 2020 statement is more detailed, and it marks a shift on how monetary policy will respond to inflation and unemployment in light of recent macroeconomic developments. Specifically, since the 2007-2009 financial crisis, the federal funds rate has been close to zero, [...] and inflation has been mostly below 2% and relatively unresponsive to changes in the unemployment rate. Because the Fed cannot reduce rates below zero, its primary challenge since the crisis has been to provide adequate monetary stimulus to achieve its mandate. The 2020 statement articulates a strategy to provide greater stimulus."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Labonte, Marc
2020-09-10
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COVID-19 Impact on the Banking Industry: Lag Between Recession and Bank Distress [September 10, 2020]
From the Document: "Economic recessions and financial crises can cause distress in the banking industry. Typically, there is a lag between the onset of a recession and the peak of bank industry distress. The economic effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could similarly stress the banking industry, perhaps acutely, given the sudden and unprecedented nature of the economic contraction. Even though this contraction is severe, a lag is expected, and certain provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Recovery Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136) may lengthen it."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Scott, Andrew P.; Perkins, David W.
2020-09-10
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COVID-19: Selected Financial and Social Service Resources for Older Americans [Updated September 10, 2020]
From the Document: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused economic distress to many older Americans due to job loss, business closings, and financial market conditions. This Insight provides links to selected CRS [Congressional Research Service] products and related resources that address some issues for older populations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Breslauer, Tamar B.; Overbay, Abigail R.; Napili, Angela
2020-09-10
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Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated September 10, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region's future. Issues such as geopolitical competition in the region between the United States, Russia, and China; increased military operations in the region by the United States, Russia, and other Arctic countries; growth in commercial shipping through the Arctic; and oil, gas, and mineral exploration in the Arctic could cause the region in coming years to become an arena of international cooperation, tension, and/or competition. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial political, economic, energy, environmental, and other interests in the region. Decisions that Congress makes on Arctic-related issues could significantly affect these interests. This report provides an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress, and refers readers to more in-depth CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports on specific Arctic-related issues. Congressional readers with questions about an issue discussed in this report should contact the author or authors of the section discussing that issue. The authors are identified by footnote at the start of each section. This report does not track legislation on specific Arctic-related issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; Comay, Laura B.; Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin) . . .
2020-09-10
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Distribution of Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Expenditures [September 10, 2020]
From the Document: "As Congress deliberates on authorization legislation for Army Corps of Engineers water resource projects (House-passed H.R. 7575, Senate-reported S. 3591), it is considering how to direct the use of funding available for harbor maintenance. [...] The policy choices offered by these bills will have consequences for navigation efficiency and safety, recreation uses, and the levels of state and private investment in port infrastructure. They may also affect competition among U.S. ports to capture import and export cargo and the associated logistics-industry jobs. At the center of these policy decisions is the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF), created by Congress in 1986 and funded primarily by receipts from a tax on importers of waterborne cargo (assessed at a rate of $1.25 per $1,000 worth of cargo).In FY2019, harbor maintenance tax collections totaled $1.6 billion, investment earnings totaled $214 million, and expenditures from the fund through annual appropriations totaled $1.6 billion. The amount of maintenance required to keep channels open varies considerably among harbors. Some of the ports that draw large flows of imports, and therefore generate a large portion of harbor maintenance tax revenue, are naturally deep and require relatively little maintenance dredging. While channels at other major commercial ports are generally adequately maintained, some harbors with lower volumes of commercial cargo have maintenance backlogs, potentially affecting fishing and recreational boat traffic."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Frittelli, John; Carter, Nicole T.
2020-09-10
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Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA): Workers' Compensation for Federal Employees [Updated September 10, 2020]
From the Summary: "The Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) is the workers' compensation program for federal employees. Like all workers' compensation programs, FECA pays disability, survivors, and medical benefits, without regard to who was at fault, to employees who are injured or become ill in the course of their federal employment and to the survivors of employees killed on the job. The FECA program is administered by the Department of Labor (DOL) and the costs of benefits are paid by each employee's host agency. U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employees currently comprise the largest group of FECA beneficiaries and are responsible for the largest share of FECA benefits. [...] This report also focuses on several key policy issues facing the program, including the disproportionate share of claims and program costs attributed to postal workers, the payment of FECA benefits after retirement age, the overall level of FECA disability benefits as compared with those offered by the states, the administration of the FECA program, the costs associated with prescriptions for compounded medications, and efforts to limit the use of opioids by FECA beneficiaries."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Szymendera, Scott
2020-09-10
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Ebola Outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Emergencies or Enduring Threat? [Updated September 10, 2020]
From the Introduction: "On June 25, 2020, a nearly two-year Ebola virus outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was declared over, after claiming the lives of nearly 2,300 people. A new outbreak emerged the same month in the west of the country, marking the 11th documented Ebola outbreak in the country since the virus was first identified in DRC in 1976. [...] The prolonged battle to contain the Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC, coupled with what appear to be more frequent outbreaks in the country, raise questions about the allocation of U.S. global health resources and bilateral aid for DRC. Vaccines and therapeutics are potential game-changers, yet health system weaknesses, community mistrust, and barriers to humanitarian access remain obstacles. Among the issues that Congress might consider include the relative ranking of U.S. global health priorities in the context of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], the implications of frequent Ebola outbreaks for the global health security agenda, and lessons learned from DRC about pandemic response in complex conflict settings. If responding to and preventing Ebola outbreaks remain congressional priorities, Congress might also consider how such efforts may be funded."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji; Arieff, Alexis
2020-09-10
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COVID-19 Impact on the Banking Industry: Conditions in the Second Quarter of 2020 [September 10, 2020]
From the Document: "The economic ramifications of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could cause borrowers to miss loan payments, potentially to the point of individual banks or the bank industry becoming distressed. How and to what degree banks will be affected is uncertain. Comprehensive bank data are collected and released quarterly and provide indicators of industry health. On August 25, 2020, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) released the 'Quarterly Banking Profile: Second Quarter 2020,' which reports aggregate data from all 5,066 FDIC-insured institutions as of June 30, 2020. This Insight presents certain data that may indicate how the pandemic is affecting banks."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Perkins, David W.; Gnanarajah, Raj
2020-09-10
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Trade Remedies: Antidumping [Updated September 10, 2020]
From the Introduction: "In general, the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), of which the United States is a member, require each member to apply tariffs and duties equally to all other members. This principle, known as unconditional most-favored-nation (MFN) treatment, has been central to the rules-based global trading system since 1947 and part of U.S. law and foreign policy since 1922. The WTO agreements allow exceptions to this treatment in certain circumstances, including to remedy unfair trade practices and to help domestic industries adjust to sudden surges of fairly traded goods. The three most frequently applied U.S. trade remedy laws permit the imposition of antidumping duties, countervailing duties, and safeguards. These laws are enforced through administrative investigations and actions of two U.S. government agencies: the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce (ITA) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). The most commonly used of these remedies are antidumping (AD) laws. AD laws provide relief to domestic industries that have been, or are threatened with, material injury caused by imports sold in the U.S. market at prices that are shown to be less than fair value. The relief provided is an additional import duty, calculated by the ITA and placed on the dumped imports. Antidumping orders are the most frequently used and the most controversial trade remedy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.
2020-09-10
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Identifying TV Political and Issue Ad Sponsors in the Digital Age [September 9, 2020]
From the Summary: "Since the 1930s, both Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have imposed specific requirements on the transmission of political and issue advertising by broadcasters. These rules, which now apply to broadcast radio and television stations, cable and satellite television distributors, and satellite radio services, mandate that the sponsors of political and issue ads be clearly identified within each announcement and that media organizations maintain files of political advertisers' requests for advertising time and make those files available for public inspection."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Scherer, Dana A.
2020-09-09
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Low-Yield, Submarine-Launched Nuclear Warhead: Overview of the Expert Debate [Updated September 9, 2020]
From the Document: "The Trump Administration has developed a new low-yield version of the W-76 warhead for existing submarine-launched Trident II (D-5) missiles. Unclassified sources state that the current W76-1 warhead has an explosive yield of around 100 kilotons. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has said the low-yield version, the W76-2, would be configured 'for primary-only detonation.' This could mean a yield of less than 10 kilotons. Congress appropriated $65 million for the W76-2 warhead in FY2019 and $10 million to complete work in FY2020. NNSA completed the first modified warhead in February 2019 and began delivering warheads to the Navy by late 2019. The Pentagon announced that the Navy had begun to deploy the warheads on February 4, 2020. Congress authorized $19.6 million in the FY2020 NDAA (P.L. 116- 92) for the Navy to begin integrating the warhead into the submarine force. NNSA has not disclosed the total number of planned W76-2 warheads, although it is expected to be a very small portion of the W76 stockpile (estimated, in unclassified sources, to be around 1,300 total warheads)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Woolf, Amy F.
2020-09-09
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North Macedonia: In Brief [Updated September 9, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The Republic of North Macedonia is a small, landlocked country in southeastern Europe. [...] As of March 27, 2020, it is the newest member of NATO. Formerly one of Yugoslavia's six constituent republics, North Macedonia became independent in 1991 and largely avoided the violence that devastated other parts of the region. Its multiethnic population includes Slavic Macedonians (estimated to comprise about 65% of the population, although precise figures are disputed) and Albanians (an estimated 25%), as well as Turkish, Roma, Serb, Bosniak, and other minority groups. The country embraced a Euro-Atlantic foreign policy orientation early on and became the regional front-runner for membership in the European Union (EU) and NATO. By the 2000s, however, North Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration had lagged due to a seemingly intractable bilateral dispute with neighboring Greece (an EU and NATO member) over use of the name 'Macedonia.' Some analysts contend that North Macedonia's loss of a clear EU and NATO membership perspective contributed to a period of reform drift and democratic backsliding that began in the late 2000s and culminated in a protracted political crisis from 2015 to 2017."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Garding, Sarah E.
2020-09-09
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U.S. Energy Information Administration [September 9, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is the lead federal agency for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating energy information. According to one industry leader who has been critical of EIA, 'The EIA forecast is very important…. It moves markets, and it impacts our industry greatly…. Right or wrong, no other agency provides data with greater impact.' [...] EIA collects data and provides projections on most forms of commercially used energy, including oil and petroleum products, natural gas, natural gas liquids, coal, electricity, renewables, alternative fuels, nuclear, biofuels, and others. The level of detail of collected data and analysis, however, are not evenly distributed. This report provides an overview of the history and major functions of EIA, with an emphasis on how EIA information can be used by Members of Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lawson, Ashley J.; Holt, Mark; Ratner, Michael
2020-09-09
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U.S. Government Procurement and International Trade [Updated September 9, 2020]
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. In particular, Members have sought ways to incentivize U.S. domestic production by prioritizing the procurement of domestic goods and services, while upholding U.S. commitments under various international trade agreements. Separately, the Trump Administration has issued executive orders that aim to incentivize companies to relocate to the United States by limiting 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. §§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 non-designated foreign countries, unless one of TAA's exceptions applies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwarzenberg, Andres B.
2020-09-09
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Russia: Domestic Politics and Economy [September 9, 2020]
From the Introduction: "This report focuses on Russian domestic politics, the Russian economy, and related U.S. policy. It first addresses Russia's political structure, power dynamics, and recent developments. It next examines the political impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Russia. It follows with sections on corruption and human rights, including related U.S. policy. Finally, it analyzes the Russian economy, including the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's energy sector, and U.S.-Russian economic relations. Russian foreign and security relations and related U.S. policy is not within the scope of this report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Welt, Cory; Nelson, Rebecca M.
2020-09-09
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For Whom the FERC Tolls: Federal Court Rejects Agency 'Tolling Orders' [September 8, 2020]
From the Document: "In 'Allegheny Defense Project v. FERC [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission]', the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) addressed the legitimacy of 'tolling orders,' a long-standing procedural tool utilized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to administer the Natural Gas Act (NGA). FERC's use of tolling orders, which is not expressly authorized by statute, has long been a source of controversy, drawing criticism from environmental groups, state attorneys general, and FERC Commissioners, among others. Nonetheless, until this year, the practice had been widely used and generally accepted. However, in 'Allegheny Defense Project', the D.C. Circuit rejected FERC's use of a tolling order, and in so doing created uncertainty about the regulatory process for pipeline certification and construction as well as other administrative efforts to prolong deadlines through the use of tolling orders. After an overview of the NGA and FERC's use of tolling orders, this post analyzes the D.C. Circuit's 'Allegheny Defense Project' decision and examines its potential impact."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Vann, Adam
2020-09-08
