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Racial and Ethnic Equity in U.S. Agriculture: Selected Current Issues [April 11, 2022]
From the Introduction: "Issues concerning racial and ethnic equity in the United States have increased in profile among the general public, policymakers, and Members of Congress. The media has reported on racial inequity across various sectors and industries, including agriculture. Similarly, Congress has drawn attention to the challenges facing Black farmers and ranchers and other producers of color through hearings, legislation, and oversight of federal agencies. [...] This report reviews actions taken by the 116th and 117th Congresses to enhance equity for producers of color in the United States in the areas of agricultural credit; USDA civil rights complaints; farmland ownership; and USDA research, education, and extension."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Benson, Lisa S.; Croft, Genevieve K.; Monke, Jim . . .
2022-04-11
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COVID-19 Vaccination: Selected U.S. Data Sources [Updated April 11, 2022]
From the Document: "The sources below can help congressional staff track the progress of the U.S. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination campaign at the national, state, and local levels. Sources were selected for having commonly cited and frequently requested data. This list is not intended to be comprehensive. Because different resources use different methodologies, readers should check websites' notes and caveats, and use caution when comparing data. For help interpreting or analyzing these data, congressional staff should contact CRS (202-707-5700, or place an online request). For an overview of considerations for Congress, see CRS Report R47024, 'Immunization Information Systems: Overview and Current Issues' and CRS Insight IN11584, 'Tracking COVID-19 Vaccines: U.S. Data Systems and Related Issues.' For international sources, see CRS Insight IN11732, 'International COVID-19 Data and Vaccine Distribution: Selected Resources.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cornell, Ada S.; Napili, Angela
2022-04-11
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Impact in Africa [Updated April 11, 2022]
From the Document: "As of April 2022, most countries in sub-Saharan Africa ('Africa') had emerged from a fourth COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] wave--primarily driven by the Omicron variant, first detected in Botswana in late 2021--and were reporting relatively low caseloads. Citing these trends and increased treatment capacity in many countries, World Health Organization (WHO) officials have expressed optimism that Africa 'can control the pandemic in 2022.' [...] COVID-19 has exacerbated health system challenges in many African countries, disrupting routine immunizations, diagnosis and treatment of other diseases, maternal and child health care, and other health services. The pandemic has intensified food insecurity (especially in areas with conflicts or natural disasters) and prompted long school closures without virtual options in some countries. The initial economic impact in Africa was severe and pushed tens of millions more people into extreme poverty, according to the World Bank. The pandemic cratered global demand and prices for Africa's oil and mineral exports, disrupted trade and tourism, stemmed remittances from African workers abroad, and prompted local lockdown measures. Most African economies began to recover in 2021, buoyed in some cases by rising commodity prices, but growth rates appear unlikely to reverse increases in poverty and debt. The regional outlook remains uncertain."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Cook, Nicolas
2022-04-11
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CPTPP: Overview and Issues for Congress [Updated April 8, 2022]
From the Document: "The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a free trade agreement (FTA) formed by the 11 remaining members of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after the Trump Administration withdrew the U.S. signature from TPP in 2017. CPTPP, which retains most of TPP's provisions, reduces and eliminates tariff and non-tariff barriers, and establishes enforceable trade rules. CPTPP is currently in effect for eight members, entering into force for Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Singapore in late 2018; Vietnam in 2019; and Peru in 2021. Brunei, Chile, and Malaysia have signed, but have not yet ratified CPTPP. The United Kingdom (UK), China, Taiwan, and Ecuador applied to join in 2021. Members of Congress may have interest in monitoring and shaping the Administration's views on CPTPP[.] [...] The Administration states it is not currently interested in joining CPTPP, but recognizes the region's economic importance, and plans to pursue an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Williams, Brock R.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.
2022-04-08
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Economic Development Administration: An Overview of Programs and Appropriations (FY2011-FY2022) [Updated April 8, 2022]
From the Summary: "The Economic Development Administration (EDA), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), is the only federal agency with economic development as its sole mission. The agency was established pursuant to the enactment of the Public Works and Economic Development Act (PWEDA) of 1965 (42 U.S.C. §3121 et seq.) to assist state and local stakeholders with developing the conditions and amenities to grow businesses, create jobs, and expand investment in economically distressed areas. Changing industry dynamics, global competition, technological developments, and other events, conditions, and priorities have shifted EDA's programs and priorities over time. During the agency's first 30 years, its programs focused on industrial growth and emphasized public works, roads, and infrastructure. Since then, Congress has supported an expanded portfolio of EDA programs to also advance existing and emerging industry clusters, develop human capital, strengthen supply chains, expand access to capital, build new types of infrastructure, and implement innovation and technology strategies. Additionally, EDA has also taken on new roles in developing state and local capacity, resiliency, disaster and economic recovery, as well as economic development integration across federal agencies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lawhorn, Julie M.
2022-04-08
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'Enhancing the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938,' Statement of Jacob R. Straus, Specialist on the Congress, Before Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, U.S. House of Representatives [April 8, 2022]
This is the April 8, 2022 testimony of Jacob R. Straus on "Enhancing the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938," held before U.S. House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties of the Committee on the Judiciary. From the statement of Jacob R. Straus: "My testimony focuses on two areas: (1) background on the Foreign Agents Registration Act [FARA], including past amendments to FARA; and (2) a discussion of recent legislative proposals to amend FARA. The discussion of recent legislation focuses on several policy proposals included in multiple introduced measures. These include proposals to provide civil investigative demand authority to the Department of Justice (DOJ); increase penalties for noncompliance; repeal or modify certain statutory exemptions to FARA; change how DOJ administers FARA; amend registration and disclosure requirements; enhance public access to FARA registration statements; change labeling requirements for informational materials; and require federal agencies to report to Congress on FARA administration and enforcement."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Straus, Jacob R.
2022-04-08
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North Korea's Nuclear Weapons and Missile Programs [Updated April 8, 2022]
From the Overview: "North Korea continues to advance its nuclear weapons and missile programs despite UN Security Council sanctions and high-level diplomatic efforts. Recent ballistic missile tests and military parades suggest that North Korea is continuing to build a nuclear warfighting capability designed to evade regional ballistic missile defenses. Such an approach likely reinforces a deterrence and coercive diplomacy strategy--lending more credibility as it demonstrates capability--but it also raises questions about crisis stability and escalation control. Congress may choose to examine U.S. policy in light of these advances. According to the U.S. intelligence community's 2022 annual threat assessment, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un views nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) as 'the ultimate guarantor of his totalitarian and autocratic rule of North Korea and believes that over time he will gain international acceptance as a nuclear power.' At the January 2021 North Korean Workers' Party Conference, Kim hailed the 'status of our state as a nuclear weapons state' and praised its 'powerful and reliable strategic deterrent.' Kim Jong-un has said that 'nuclear weapons of the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] can be used only by a final order of the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army [Kim Jong-un] to repel invasion or attack from a hostile nuclear weapons state and make retaliatory strikes.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham
2022-04-08
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Flood Buyouts: Federal Funding for Property Acquisition [April 8, 2022]
From the Document: "Flooding is the most frequent natural disaster [hyperlink] in the United States and experts expect effects to intensify in the future [hyperlink]. Buyouts offer one way to reduce flood risk. Unlike other approaches to flood mitigation, buyouts eliminate future losses by removing properties from areas at risk of flooding. A floodplain buyout [hyperlink] is a property acquisition in which a government agency purchases private property, relocates or demolishes any structures on it, and preserves the land as open space [hyperlink] in perpetuity to restore and conserve natural floodplain functions [hyperlink]. The local government is responsible for maintaining parcels of bought-out land and buyout programs generally do not include funding for future design, maintenance, or use of bought-out land. In the case of property acquisition [hyperlink] and demolition, often using federal funding, a local or state government purchases flood-prone land and structures from willing sellers and demolishes the structures. Alternatively, state or local governments purchase land from willing sellers and assist the property owners with relocation to another site. If the new location is in a flood zone, the structure must meet the community's building codes (e.g., elevation above a certain height). In both cases, the bought-out land must be maintained as open space."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2022-04-08
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Overview of Correspondent Banking and 'De-Risking' Issues [Updated April 8, 2022]
From the Document: "In broad terms, correspondent banking refers to formal agreements or relationships between banks to provide payment services for each other. It is often used to effectuate cross-border payments, and as such, plays an important role in the international financial system. The value of global cross-border payments is estimated to increase from almost $150 trillion in 2017 to over $250 trillion by 2027, according to the Bank of England. Correspondent banking represents a significant portion of this (e.g., the European Central Bank reported roughly $746 billion worth of daily transactions channeled through correspondent banking arrangements within Eurozone countries alone in 2019), as it underpins trade finance, migrant remittances, and humanitarian flows. [...] Although these transactions provide significant benefits, they also present several challenges. Two interrelated primary policy issues involved with correspondent banking are (1) what types of anti-money-laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) controls should be in place to prevent illicit payments? and (2) how to prevent excessive industry reaction to such controls, called 'de-risking.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Miller, Rena S.
2022-04-08
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Will FEMA Recommend Public Assistance Following a Disaster? Proposed Rulemaking [Updated April 8, 2022]
From the Document: "This Insight reviews the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) proposed rulemaking on assessing requests for Public Assistance (PA) for major disaster declarations under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act [hyperlink], P.L. 93-288, as amended). FEMA estimated that the rulemaking, if finalized, would significantly reduce PA obligations. The public comment period closed in April 2021. As of April 2022, FEMA reported to CRS [Congressional Research Service] that the agency's next action on the rule is undetermined, and that the 'does not expect to have a regulatory action' before December 10, 2022."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lee, Erica A.
2022-04-08
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Provider Relief Fund: Frequently Asked Questions [Updated April 7, 2022]
From the Summary: "The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) was established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, P.L. 116-136) to reimburse, through grants or other mechanisms, eligible health care providers for increased expenses or lost revenue attributable to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The CARES Act provided $100 billion to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus, domestically and internationally. The amounts were subsequently increased by $78 billion, with $75 billion added in the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (PPPHCEA, P.L. 116-139) and $3 billion in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116- 260). The latter was the first time the Provider Relief Fund was referred to in statute and required changes to the fund's reporting requirements and requirements for future fund allocations. The answers to the frequently asked questions (FAQs) in this report provide overview information on the PRF, how funds have been allocated, and the fund's requirements for provider reporting. In addition, this report describes the use of the PRF to pay providers for providing COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccines to uninsured individuals and the use of the fund to pay providers for costs associated with vaccinating individuals who are underinsured (e.g., who do not have insurance that covers vaccine administration)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Heisler, Elayne J., 1976-
2022-04-07
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Sexual Harassment and Assault at School: Divergence Among Federal Courts Regarding Liability [April 7, 2022]
From the Document: "Under Title IX [hyperlink] of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), schools that receive federal financial assistance are liable for a 'deliberately indifferent' response to the sexual harassment and assault of students by teachers, as well as by fellow students in certain circumstances. While this standard is a stringent [hyperlink] one to meet, federal courts have not applied it uniformly. In particular, federal courts of appeals have taken diverging [hyperlink] positions over whether [hyperlink] a school's insufficient response to a single incident of student-on-student harassment itself can establish liability under Title IX, or whether further incidents of harassment are required in order for liability to attach. This disagreement turns, at least in part, on language in Supreme Court decisions [hyperlink] establishing the general parameters of school liability for sexual harassment under Title IX, as well as the interpretation of legislation enacted pursuant to Congress's spending power [hyperlink] under the Constitution."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cole, Jared P.
2022-04-07
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U.S.-Singapore Relations [Updated April 7, 2022]
From the Overview: "Though geographically only about three times the size of Washington, DC, and with a population of about 5.9 million, the city-state of Singapore exerts economic and diplomatic influence on par with much larger countries. Its stable government, strong economic performance, educated citizenry, and strategic position along key shipping lanes afford it a large role in regional and global affairs. For the United States, Singapore has been a partner in both trade and security initiatives and an advocate of a strong U.S. role in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Singapore's leaders have aimed to maintain close relations with China, and to maintain positive ties with all regional powers. [...] Although not a U.S. treaty ally, Singapore is one of the strongest U.S. security partners in the region. A formal strategic partnership agreement allows the United States to access Singaporean military facilities and promotes cooperation on issues ranging from counterterrorism to counter-proliferation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dolven, Ben; Chanlett-Avery, Emma
2022-04-07
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U.S.-Mexico Security Cooperation: From the Mérida Initiative to the Bicentennial Framework [Updated April 7, 2022]
From the Document: "In recent years, escalating violence in Mexico and drug overdose deaths in the United States have led Congress to question the efficacy of U.S.-Mexican security cooperation. Homicides in Mexico reached record levels from 2016 to 2019, followed by a slight decline during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Since 2019, Mexico has replaced China as the primary U.S. supplier of synthetic opioids, which cause a majority of U.S. drug overdoses. As Congress deliberates on the future of U.S.-Mexican security cooperation, it may reevaluate the Mérida Initiative, including implementation of security and rule-of-law initiatives supported by $3.5 billion in congressional appropriations. It also may assess the Biden Administration's FY2023 budget request to support the new U.S.-Mexico Bicentennial Framework for Security, Public Heath, and Safe Communities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2022-04-07
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U.S. Border Patrol Encounters at the Southwest Border: Titles 8 & 42 [April 7, 2022] [infographic]
From the Document: "When the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) encounters a migrant entering illegally between ports of entry, they are processed for removal under Title 8 (immigration law) and asked whether they fear persecution or intend to seek asylum. However, at the start of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in March 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order requiring USBP to use an additional procedure at the border under Title 42 (public health code). The policy prohibits the entry of certain migrants to prevent the introduction of COVID-19 into border facilities and the United States. Individuals subject to the order are not held in congregate areas for processing and not given a credible fear interview to pursue the asylum process. Instead they are swiftly expelled to Mexico or their counties of origin. The focus of this infographic is on the Southwest border; migrants arriving at the Northern border between ports of entry are subject to the same processes but make up a small share of total USBP encounters."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Singer, Audrey
2022-04-07
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Hungary's 2022 Election: Issues for Congress [April 7, 2022]
From the Document: "Hungary's parliamentary election on April 3, 2022, resulted in a victory for the incumbent Fidesz party, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Fidesz defeated a six-party alliance of opposition parties, winning [hyperlink] 53.1% of the popular vote and 135 out of 199 seats in Hungary's unicameral parliament. The conservative-nationalist Fidesz has won the past four Hungarian elections, each with a two-thirds parliamentary supermajority, and has led the government of Hungary since 2010. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe concluded [hyperlink] that the 2022 election was well-managed but was conducted on an uneven playing field due to overlap between state and party and the dominance of pro-government media. Orbán's renewed leadership likely signifies continued tensions between Hungary and the rest of the European Union (EU), as well as the United States, over various issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mix, Derek E.
2022-04-07
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Indonesia [Updated April 7, 2022]
From the Overview: "With over 270 million citizens, Indonesia is the most populous country in Southeast Asia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, and the world's third-largest democracy (after India and the United States). It has the world's 16th-largest economy and the 10th-largest when ranked by purchasing power parity. It straddles important sea lanes and borders the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest trade routes, as well as the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Over the past two decades, Indonesia has become a robust democracy, holding four direct presidential elections, each considered by international observers to have been largely free and fair. In the most recent, held in April 2019, President Joko Widodo was reelected to a second five-year term. The U.S.-Indonesia relationship has broadened in recent years, with closer military and counterterrorism cooperation and a range of new educational, environmental, and energy initiatives that were initiated in the Obama Administration. However, Indonesia's foreign policy is guided by its historical role as a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement, and successive Indonesian governments have bristled at the notion of aligning too closely with the United States or with others, including China."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dolven, Ben
2022-04-07
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FEMA Individual Assistance Programs: An Overview [Updated April 7, 2022]
From the Introduction: "When a disaster occurs, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may assist individuals with their recovery when the Individual Assistance (IA) program is authorized pursuant to a presidential declaration of emergency or major disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act; P.L. [Public Law] 93-288, as amended; 42 U.S.C. [United States Code] §§5121 et seq.). This report provides brief descriptions of the IA categories authorized under the Stafford Act, including the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP); Disaster Case Management (DCM), Disaster Legal Services (DLS); Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA); and assistance for housing and/or other needs (referred to as other needs assistance or ONA) through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP). Also included is a brief overview of Mass Care and Emergency Assistance (MC/EA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Webster, Elizabeth M.
2022-04-07
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Evolution of Marijuana as a Controlled Substance and the Federal-State Policy Gap [Updated April 7, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report provides an historical background on federal marijuana policy; an overview of state trends with respect to marijuana decriminalization and legalization, for both medical and recreational uses; and an analysis of the gap between federal and state marijuana law and policy and certain implications and consequences of the gap. It reviews federalism and federal authority to preempt state marijuana laws and analyzes relevant issues for federal law enforcement and the consequences of state marijuana legalization. The report also outlines a number of related policy questions and options that Congress may consider, including federal tax treatment of marijuana, financial services for marijuana businesses, the medical nature of cannabis, oversight of federal law enforcement, evaluation of marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance, and some options for addressing the gap."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sacco, Lisa N.
2022-04-07
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Global Human Rights: International Religious Freedom Policy [Updated April 7, 2022]
From the Document: "For decades, U.S. policymakers have sought to promote religious freedom abroad, reflecting both a prioritization of human rights in U.S. foreign policy generally as well as an emphasis on religious freedom in U.S. domestic law and political culture. Protection of religious freedom is also affirmed in international law through the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and other instruments. Congress has sought to ensure continued support for religious freedom as a focus of U.S. foreign policy, most prominently through passage of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. [...] The IRF [international religious freedom] report, which is statutorily required by May 1 each year, covers developments in each foreign country during the prior calendar year and includes information on the status of religious freedom, violations of religious freedom, and relevant U.S. policies. The IRF report is the official U.S. government account of religious freedom conditions abroad, and is a primary information source for the executive branch's 'country of particular concern' designations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weber, Michael A.
2022-04-07
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Women in National Governments Around the Globe: Fact Sheet [Updated April 6, 2022]
From the Introduction: "Women and girls make up half of the world's population; however, in most countries, women are underrepresented in the political process at the national level. Possible causes include discriminatory laws and practices, gender stereotypes, low levels of education, lack of access to health care, and the disproportionate effect of poverty on women. Many experts, including some U.S. policymakers and Members of Congress, have found that women's political participation, including representation in elected governments, contributes to the overall well-being of women and their communities. [...] This report provides a global snapshot of women's political participation in national governments worldwide by compiling statistics and other information from a variety of sources, including the annual 'Global Gender Gap Report' issued by the World Economic Forum, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, the CIA 'World Factbook', news reports, and other sources."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chesser, Susan G.
2022-04-06
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Department of Homeland Security's Authority to Expand Expedited Removal [Updated April 6, 2022]
From the Document: "Non-U.S. nationals ('aliens', as the term is used in federal statute [hyperlink]) apprehended by immigration authorities when attempting to unlawfully enter the United States are generally subject to a streamlined, expedited removal process [hyperlink], in which there is no hearing or further review of an administrative determination that the alien should be removed. Since the enactment of the expedited removal statute in 1996, expedited removal has been used primarily with respect to [hyperlink] aliens who have either arrived at a designated port of entry or were apprehended near the border shortly after surreptitiously entering the United States. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), however, authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to apply expedited removal more broadly to aliens in 'any part' of the United States who have not been admitted or paroled [hyperlink] by immigration authorities, if those aliens have been physically present in the country for less than two years and either did not obtain valid entry documents or procured their admission through fraud or misrepresentation. In 2019, during the Trump Administration, DHS issued notice that it was expanding the use of expedited removal to the full extent permitted under the INA. A federal appellate court upheld [hyperlink] the expansion against a legal challenge seeking to stop its implementation. However, in March 2022, during the Biden Administration, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas rescinded [hyperlink] the expansion. As a result, expedited removal remains limited in its application to aliens apprehended at or near the border. Nonetheless, DHS retains the authority to expand the use of expedited removal, and that authority may continue to prompt significant questions concerning the relationship between the federal government's broad power over the entry and removal of aliens and the due process rights of aliens located within the United States."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office
Smith, Hillel R.
2022-04-06
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Education for Afghan Girls Under the Taliban: Status and Issues for Congress [April 6, 2022]
From the Document: "On March 23, 2022, the Taliban government reversed its previously announced intention to resume secondary education for Afghan girls. The last-minute policy change has prompted widespread U.S. and international criticism and drawn renewed attention to the status of women and girls in Afghanistan, a longstanding issue of congressional concern. The Taliban decision, together with other recently imposed restrictions, raises questions about how Taliban policies on women's rights may be evolving, as well as about the group's responsiveness to outside pressure. Many Members of Congress have expressed deep concerns about the fate of Afghan women and girls (a focus of prior [hyperlink] U.S. development efforts), and the issue has significant policy implications for Congress and for U.S. approaches to the Taliban's rule."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Thomas, Clayton (Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs)
2022-04-06
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China's Economy: Current Trends and Issues [Updated April 6, 2022]
From the Document: "The People's Republic of China (PRC or China) was the first major economy to announce a return to economic growth in June 2020 since the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; its economic performance since then has been uneven. Repeated lockdowns under zero-COVID tolerance policies have periodically disrupted manufacturing and transportation. Tightened border controls have curtailed two-way goods and services trade, tourism, and student and business travel. Weak domestic demand and debt pressures, particularly in the property sector, are also constraining growth. In 2021, China relied on government spending and exports to boost economic growth by 8.1%, from a low 2020 base of 2.2% growth. The PRC government targets 5.5% growth for 2022, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects 4.8% growth. Some economists assess China may struggle to meet these targets due to domestic constraints and global economic pressures with Russia's invasion of Ukraine."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sutter, Karen M.; Sutherland, Michael D.
2022-04-06
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Taiwan: Political and Security Issues [Updated April 6, 2022]
From the Document: "Taiwan, which officially calls itself the Republic of China (ROC), is a democracy of 23.5 million people located across the Taiwan Strait from mainland China. Its government claims 'effective jurisdiction' over the island of Taiwan, the archipelagos of Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, and some smaller islands. It also claims disputed islands in the East and South China Seas. U.S.-Taiwan relations have been unofficial since January 1, 1979, when the Carter Administration established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC, or China) and broke diplomatic ties with self-ruled Taiwan, over which the PRC claims sovereignty. The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA, P.L. [Public Law] 96-8; 22 U.S.C. [United States Code] §§3301 et seq.) provides a legal basis for this unofficial bilateral relationship."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lawrence, Susan V.; Campbell, Caitlin
2022-04-06
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Major Questions Doctrine [April 6, 2022]
From the Document: "Congress frequently delegates authority to agencies to regulate particular aspects of society, in general or broad terms. However, in a number of decisions, the Supreme Court has declared that if an agency seeks to decide an issue of major national significance, its action must be supported by 'clear' statutory authorization. Courts, commentators, and individual Supreme Court Justices have referred to this doctrine as the 'major questions doctrine' (or major rules doctrine), although the Court has never used that term in a majority opinion. This In Focus provides an overview of the major questions doctrine. It discusses the doctrine's framework, provides examples of its application, explores recent Supreme Court developments, and offers considerations for Congress in crafting legislation against the backdrop of the doctrine."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sheffner, Daniel J.
2022-04-06
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Emerging Military Technologies: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated April 6, 2022]
From the Summary: "Members of Congress and Pentagon officials are increasingly focused on developing emerging military technologies to enhance U.S. national security and keep pace with U.S. competitors. The U.S. military has long relied upon technological superiority to ensure its dominance in conflict and to underwrite U.S. national security. In recent years, however, technology has both rapidly evolved and rapidly proliferated--largely as a result of advances in the commercial sector. [...] This report provides an overview of selected emerging military technologies in the United States, China, and Russia: [1] artificial intelligence, [2] lethal autonomous weapons, [3] hypersonic weapons, [4] directed energy weapons, [5] biotechnology, and [6] quantum technology."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.
2022-04-06
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Code of Conduct for the Supreme Court? Legal Questions and Considerations [Updated April 6, 2022]
From the Document: "This Sidebar canvasses the relevant legal considerations surrounding proposals to establish a Supreme Court code of conduct. After discussing the existing Code that applies to lower federal judges, the Sidebar describes recent legislative proposals to create a similar code for the Supreme Court, as well as potential constitutional obstacles to those proposals."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lampe, Joanna R.
2022-04-06
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Defense Primer: Quantum Technology [Updated April 5, 2022]
From the Document: "Quantum technology translates the principles of quantum physics into technological applications. In general, quantum technology has not yet reached maturity; however, it could hold significant implications for the future of military sensing, encryption, and communications, as well as for congressional oversight, authorizations, and appropriations. [...] The Defense Science Board (DSB), an independent Department of Defense (DOD) board of scientific advisors, has concluded that three applications of quantum technology hold the most promise for DOD: quantum sensing, quantum computers, and quantum communications."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.
2022-04-05
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Defense Primer: Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) [Updated April 5, 2022]
From the Document: "The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD)--recently designated the LGM-35A Sentinel missile--is expected to replace the Minuteman III (MMIII) Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) in the U.S. nuclear force structure. MMIII has served as the ground-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad--land-based ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and nuclear-capable bombers-- since 1970. (For details, see CRS Report RL33640, U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues, by Amy F. Woolf.) The Air Force expects the Sentinel (GBSD) to begin replacing MMIII in 2029. Although some in Congress and outside government have debated whether to continue the program, the Biden Administration has included $3.6 billion for the GBSD program in its FY2023 budget request and is expected to endorse the program in its Nuclear Posture Review." The updated CRS Report RL33640 can be found here: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=862361].
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Woolf, Amy F.
2022-04-05
