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Career and Technical Education (CTE): A Primer [February 10, 2014]
"Career and technical education (CTE), sometimes referred to as vocational education, provides occupational and non-occupational preparation at the secondary, postsecondary, and adult education levels. As defined in a publication by the U.S. Department of Education's (ED's) National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CTE prepares students for roles outside the paid labor market, teaches general employment skills, and teaches skills required in specific occupations or careers. The definition distinguishes CTE from liberal arts or academic education: the fine arts, English, mathematics, science, foreign languages, and the humanities. A CTE curriculum is often designed to have a post-education practical application and develop broadly applicable skills. Academic educational courses are often designed to develop subject matter knowledge and broadly applicable skills."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dortch, Cassandria
2014-02-10
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Employment for Veterans: Trends and Programs [February 20, 2014]
"Veterans' employment outcomes in the civilian labor market are an issue of ongoing congressional interest. This report offers introductory data on veterans' performance in the civilian labor market as well as a discussion of veteran-targeted federal programs that provide employment-related benefits and services. According to federal data, the unemployment rate for veterans who served after September 2001 is higher than the unemployment rate for non-veterans. Conversely, the unemployment rate for veterans from prior service periods (a much larger population than post-9/11 veterans) is lower than the non-veteran unemployment rate. The varied demographic factors of each of these populations likely contribute to these variations, though their degree of influence is unclear. There are a number of federal programs to assist veterans in developing job skills and securing civilian employment. Broadly speaking, these programs can be divided into (1) general veterans' programs, (2) programs that target veterans with service-connected disabilities, and (3) competitive grant programs that offer supplemental services but may not be available to veterans in all areas. General veterans' programs begin with transition programs that are provided to exiting members of the Armed Forces. These transition programs cover a variety of topics including information on identifying occupations that align with military skills and specializations, conducting job searches, applying for employment, and navigating veterans' benefits. One of the most common veterans' benefits is educational funding through the GI Bill. The GI Bill programs typically provide funding for tuition, fees, housing, books, and other educational costs while the veteran is enrolled."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Collins, Benjamin; Dilger, Robert Jay, 1954-; Dortch, Cassandria . . .
2014-02-20
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Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management [February 21, 2006]
"Members of Congress are authorized by law to nominate candidates for appointment to four U.S. service academies. These schools are the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment. These institutions prepare college-age Americans to be officers of the United States uniformed services. Upon graduation, service academy graduates are commissioned as officers in the active or reserve components of the military, the merchant marine, or the U.S. Coast Guard for a minimum of five years. The nomination of constituents to one of the service academies can provide Members of Congress with the opportunity to perform community outreach and other representational duties. In some states and congressional districts, nominations are highly competitive. Others are less competitive, and some offices do not receive expressions of interest from enough applicants to fill the number of nominations allocated. Consequently, some congressional offices might need to dedicate considerable staff resources to the selection process to identify qualified candidates, whereas others can incorporate service academy nominations alongside other constituent service work such as casework. […] Finally, sample documents that could be used by congressional offices at various stages of the nomination selection process are included. These documents provide basic information and can be customized to fit the specific needs of individual office policies. For further materials and resources for other constituent service issues, see the CRS [Congressional Research Service] Constituent Services Web page at [http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/constituentservices.shtml]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2006-02-21
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Islam: Sunnis and Shiites [December 11, 2006]
"The majority of the world's Muslim population follows the Sunni branch of Islam, and approximately 10-15% of all Muslims follow the Shiite (Shi'ite, Shi'a, Shia) branch. Shiite populations constitute a majority in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan. There are also significant Shiite populations in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen. Sunnis and Shiites share most basic religious tenets. However, their differences sometimes have been the basis for religious intolerance, political infighting, and sectarian violence. This report includes a historical background of the Sunni-Shiite split and discusses the differences in religious beliefs and practices between and within each Islamic sect as well as their similarities. The report also relates Sunni and Shiite religious beliefs to discussions of terrorism and Iraq that may be of interest during the first session of the 110th Congress. This report will be updated as necessary. Related papers include CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RS21432 and CRS Report RS21695."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Christopher M.
2006-12-11
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International Trade and Finance: Overview and Issues for the 116th Congress [Updated January 17, 2020]
From the Document: "The U.S. Constitution grants authority to Congress to lay and collect duties and regulate foreign commerce. Congress exercises this authority in numerous ways, including through oversight of trade policy and consideration of legislation to implement trade agreements and authorize trade programs. Policy issues cover areas such as U.S. trade negotiations, U.S. trade and economic relations with specific regions and countries, international institutions focused on trade, tariff and nontariff barriers, worker dislocation due to trade liberalization, enforcement of trade laws and trade agreement commitments, import and export policies, international investment, economic sanctions, and other trade-related functions of the federal government. Congress also has authority over U.S. financial commitments to international financial institutions and oversight responsibilities for trade- and finance-related agencies of the U.S. government."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwarzenberg, Andres B.; Nelson, Rebecca M.; Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias . . .
2020-01-17
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Trump Administration Tariff Actions: Frequently Asked Questions [Updated December 15, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to regulate foreign commerce and therefore impose tariffs, but through various trade laws, Congress has delegated authority to the President to modify tariffs and other trade restrictions under certain circumstances. [...] The Trump Administration's tariff actions raise a number of issues for Congress and have been the focus of congressional debate. Such issues include the effect of the tariffs on U.S. economic activity, such as increases in the price of imported goods, affecting both U.S. consumers and producers, as well as diminished competitiveness of U.S. exports in foreign markets as a result of tariff retaliation. The tariff actions, their frequent modifications, and the exemption application process have also created uncertainty for U.S. businesses. In addition, questions over whether the Trump Administration's tariff actions adhere to congressional intent for the use of delegated tariff authority, in part due to broadly defined statutory criteria, have led to debate in Congress over potential legislative reforms. Congress may also consider how these tariff actions affect the multilateral trading system and the U.S. role and leadership in that system, U.S. bilateral trade relations, and whether tariff increases are an appropriate tool in the negotiation of broader trade reforms."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Williams, Brock R.; Casey, Christopher A.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D. . . .
2020-12-15
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U.S. Export Control System and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 [June 7, 2021]
From the Summary: "Balancing U.S. national security and export competitiveness in U.S. export control policy has been a complex and challenging issue for Congress and the executive branch for a number of decades. Through the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the Export Controls Reform Act (ECRA), and other authorities, the United States restricts the export of certain goods, including defense articles; dual-use goods and technology; nuclear materials and technology; and items that would assist in the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons or the missile technology used to deliver them. U.S. export controls are also used to restrict exports to certain countries on which the United States imposes economic sanctions. Additionally, the United States participates in several multilateral export control regimes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fergusson, Ian F.; Kerr, Paul K.; Casey, Christopher A.
2021-06-07
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Department of Veterans Affairs' Potential Role in Addressing the COVID-19 Outbreak [March 20, 2020]
From the Summary: "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a range of benefits to eligible veterans and their dependents. [...] Based on limited information from VA, this report provides an overview of VA's response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that is affecting communities throughout the United States. It also discusses recent congressional action as it pertains to the veterans' benefits and services, as well as the supplemental appropriations for the department."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Panangala, Sidath Viranga; Sussman, Jared S.; Dortch, Cassandria . . .
2020-03-20
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Export Restrictions in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic [Updated August 25, 2020]
From the Document: "In response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, countries all over the world, including the United States, have imposed temporary restrictions on exports of certain medical goods and some foodstuffs in order to mitigate potential shortages of key supplies. According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), for G-20 [Group of Twenty] countries, export bans accounted for more than 90% of trade restrictions related to the pandemic. Many measures are not explicit bans, but vary from licensing requirements to mandates for sales to the state. These restrictions have raised debate about the consistency of such actions with WTO rules and the potential impact on the global trading system. Some markets depend heavily on countries that have implemented restrictions. Most leading exporters are also major importers of critical supplies, with integrated supply chains at risk. The proliferation of such measures has prompted some countries to commit to limit restrictions or to abide by certain principles in their temporary application. Some Members of Congress have weighed in on the issue, both in terms of the immediate disruption from COVID-19, but also on the future of supply chains."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.
2020-08-25
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Export Restrictions in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic [May 15, 2020]
From the Document: "In response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, countries all over the world, including the United States, have imposed temporary restrictions on exports of certain medical goods and some foodstuffs in order to mitigate potential shortages of key supplies. Many measures are not explicit bans, but vary from licensing requirements to mandates for sales to the state. These restrictions have raised debate about the consistency of such actions with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and the potential impact on the global trading system. Some markets depend heavily on countries that have implemented restrictions. Most leading exporters are also major importers of critical supplies, with integrated supply chains at risk. The proliferation of such measures has prompted some countries to commit to limit restrictions or to abide by certain principles in their temporary application. Members of Congress have weighed in on both sides of the issue, both in terms of the immediate disruption from COVID-19, but also on the future of supply chains."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.
2020-05-15
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Currency Manipulation and Countervailing Duties [Updated February 13, 2020]
From the Document: "For more than a decade, some policymakers and analysts have expressed concerns that U.S. exports and jobs have been harmed by unfair exchange rate policies of other countries ('currency manipulation'). They argue that other countries have purposefully weakened their currency relative to the dollar to boost exports, at the expense of U.S. firms and workers. However, there are a number of factors that drive exchange rates, and it is difficult to estimate the extent to which a currency is undervalued, and why it is undervalued. The United States currently combats currency manipulation with unilateral and multilateral tools. Under U.S. law, the Treasury Department produces a semiannual report on exchange rate policies in other countries and, in specified instances, must initiate action against countries engaged in currency manipulation. The United States also addresses currency manipulation through the G-7 and the G-20, multilateral forums where major economies discuss and coordinate economic policies. The United States is also a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an international organization through which countries have committed to refrain from currency manipulation, although there are questions about the IMF's ability to enforce currency commitments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nelson, Rebecca M.; Casey, Christopher A.
2020-02-13
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Section 307 and Imports Produced by Forced Labor [Updated March 26, 2020]
From the Document: "Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1307) prohibits the importation of any product that was mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labor, including forced or indentured child labor. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is charged with enforcing the prohibition. U.S. customs law has contained prohibitions against importing goods produced by certain categories of labor since the end of the nineteenth century. Beginning in 1890, the United States prohibited imports of goods manufactured with convict labor. In 1930, Congress expanded this prohibition in Section 307 of the Tariff Act to include any (not just manufactured) products of forced labor. Although a few Members of Congress brought up humanitarian concerns during debate, the central legislative concern was with protecting domestic producers from competing with products made with forced labor. As such, Section 307 allowed the admission of products of forced labor if it could be shown that no comparable product was made in the United States or the level of domestic production did not meet domestic demand ('consumptive demand' provision)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; O'Regan, Katarina C.
2020-03-26
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Section 307 and Imports Produced by Forced Labor [Updated July 20, 2020]
From the Document: "Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1307) prohibits the importation of any product that was mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labor, including forced or indentured child labor. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforces the prohibition. U.S. customs law has contained prohibitions against importing goods produced by certain categories of labor since the end of the nineteenth century. Beginning in 1890, the United States prohibited imports of goods manufactured with convict labor. In 1930, Congress expanded this prohibition in Section 307 of the Tariff Act to include any (not just manufactured) products of forced labor. Although a few Members of Congress brought up humanitarian concerns during debate, the central legislative concern was with protecting domestic producers from competing with products made with forced labor. As such, Section 307 allowed the admission of products of forced labor if it could be shown that no comparable product was made in the United States or the level of domestic production did not meet domestic demand ('consumptive demand' clause)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; O'Regan, Katarina C.
2020-07-20
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Temporary Deferment of Import Duty Payments [April 30, 2020]
From the Document: "On April 18, 2020, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 13916 to provide the Secretary of the Treasury temporary emergency authority under Section 318(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1318(a), as amended) to extend deadlines for certain estimated payments of taxes, duties, and fees 'for importers suffering significant financial hardship because of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019].' Section 318(a) allows the President to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to extend payment deadlines during a period of national emergency proclaimed pursuant to the National Emergencies Act. Following the executive order, the Department of the Treasury and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a temporary final rule immediately postponing the deadlines for importers to deposit certain estimated duties, taxes, and fees for 90 days. To qualify for the temporary postponement, an importer's operations must have (1) been fully or partially suspended during March or April 2020 due to orders from a competent governmental authority, and (2) generated gross receipts for March 13-31, 2020 or for April 2020 that were less than 60% of the gross receipts for the comparable period in 2019. [...] While the temporary final rule was immediately effective, Treasury and CBP have invited public comment on its provisions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Jones, Vivian Catherine
2020-04-30
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CARES Act Higher Education Provisions [Updated July 8, 2020]
From the Document: "President Donald J. Trump declared a U.S. national emergency on March 13, 2020, in response to the COVID19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136) was enacted on March 27, 2020, to address income, health, and economic security in response to the national emergency. This In Focus provides brief descriptions of several higher education provisions included in the law."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dortch, Cassandria; Fountain, Joselynn H.; Hegji, Alexandra . . .
2020-07-08
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CARES Act Higher Education Provisions [Updated June 9, 2020]
From the Document: "President Donald J. Trump declared a U.S. national emergency on March 13, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136) was enacted on March 27, 2020, to address income, health, and economic security in response to the national emergency. This In Focus provides brief descriptions of several higher education provisions included in the law."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dortch, Cassandria; Fountain, Joselynn H.; Hegji, Alexandra . . .
2020-06-09
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International Emergency Economic Powers Act: Key Facts [Updated July 10, 2020] [infographic]
From the Document: "[1] In the 1970s, Congress enacted the National Emergencies Act (NEA) and IEEPA [International Emergency Economic Powers Act] to replace previous emergency authorities and place new limits on presidential emergency power. [2] Since the enactment of the NEA and IEEPA, Presidents have declared 67 national emergencies. [3] Since 1995, 40 national emergencies citing IEEPA have been declared, 9 have ended. [4] Presidents have declared national emergencies invoking IEEPA with respect to 35 countries as part of the U.S. sanctions regime. [5] IEEPA was used to continue enforcement of the Export Administration Act (EAA) upon its expiration 6 times for a total of 27 years. IEEPA authority is still used to continue certain export controls related to WMD [weapons of mass destruction]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.
2020-07-10
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Section 307 and U.S. Imports of Products of Forced Labor: Overview and Issues for Congress [Updated February 1, 2021]
From the Summary: "The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that as of 2016, nearly 25 million adults and children worked in forced labor, also known as labor trafficking. Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1307) prohibits U.S. imports of any product that was mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labor, including forced or indentured child labor. Amid concerns in recent decades over the statute's lack of use and increasing interest in combatting human trafficking, Congress amended Section 307 in 2015 to make it easier to block the entry of products of forced labor by removing the 'consumptive demand' exception. This exception had permitted imports of goods that were not domestically produced in such quantities as to meet U.S. consumption needs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; Casey, Christopher A.; O'Regan, Katarina C.
2021-02-01
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Section 307 and U.S. Imports of Products of Forced Labor: Overview and Issues for Congress [December 7, 2020]
From the Summary: "The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that as of 2016, nearly 25 million adults and children worked in forced labor, also known as labor trafficking. Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1307) prohibits U.S. imports of any product that was mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labor, including forced or indentured child labor. Amid concerns in recent decades over the statute's lack of use and increasing interest in combatting human trafficking, Congress amended Section 307 in 2015 to make it easier to block the entry of products of forced labor by removing the 'consumptive demand' exception. This exception had permitted imports of goods that were not domestically produced in such quantities as to meet U.S. consumption needs. Since 2016, enforcement of Section 307 has increased in frequency and scope, and to date U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued 26 'withhold release orders' (WROs), which bar entry of certain goods made by forced labor. While WROs were typically limited to specific manufacturers and producers, CBP recently has issued broader industry- and countrywide orders. WROs are one of several congressionally mandated forced labor and anti-human trafficking measures. [...] This report provides background and analysis on Section 307 and CBP processes, trends regarding its use, and key issues for Congress regarding Section 307 enforcement and U.S. trade policy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; Casey, Christopher A.; O'Regan, Katarina C.
2020-12-07
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Heroes Act: Education-Related Provisions [August 26, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The House passed the Heroes Act (H.R. 6800) on May 15, 2020. The act is intended to continue supporting the nation's response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic throughout the federal government, including its response via several education-related programs. This report provides brief summaries of key provisions in the Heroes Act that would affect elementary, secondary, and higher education students and student loan borrowers. The report begins by describing supplemental funding the act would make available to educational providers and in support of broadband educational infrastructure. This is followed by sections describing amendments that would be made to CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act education-related provisions, and sections describing Heroes Act provisions that would provide relief to private and federal student loan borrowers. The report concludes with descriptions of bill provisions that would authorize new waivers and flexibilities pertaining to existing legislative requirements in the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended; the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins), as amended; and the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), as amended."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dortch, Cassandria; Skinner, Rebecca; Shohfi, Kyle D. . . .
2020-08-26
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Federal Response to COVID-19: Department of Veterans Affairs [May 1, 2020]
From the Summary: "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a range of benefits to eligible veterans and their dependents. The department carries out its programs nationwide through three administrations and the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA). [1]The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is responsible for health care services and medical and prosthetic research programs. [2] The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is responsible for, among other things, providing disability compensation, pensions, and education assistance. [3] The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is responsible for maintaining national veterans cemeteries; providing grants to states for establishing, expanding, or improving state veterans cemeteries; and providing headstones and markers for the graves of eligible persons, among other things. With a vast integrated health care delivery system spread across the United States, the VHA is statutorily required to serve as a contingency backup to the Department of Defense (DOD) medical system during a national security emergency and to provide support to the National Disaster Medical System and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as necessary, in support of national emergencies. These functions are known as VA's 'Fourth Mission.' Since the onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Congress has passed a number of relief measures affecting the VA and its Fourth Mission."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Panangala, Sidath Viranga; Sussman, Jared S.; Dortch, Cassandria . . .
2020-05-01
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International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Tariffs: Historical Background and Key Issues [Updated February 20, 2020]
From the Document: "On May 30, 2019, President Donald J. Trump announced his intention to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) (50 U.S.C. §§1701 et seq.) to impose a 5% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico effective June 10, 2019. The tariff, he said, would gradually increase until 'the illegal migration crisis is alleviated through effective actions taken by Mexico.' On June 7, 2019, the President stated that the tariffs were 'indefinitely suspended' because Mexico had 'agreed to take strong measures to ... stem the tide of migration.' Presidents may invoke IEEPA in response to an 'unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States' when a national emergency has been declared with respect to that threat. Using IEEPA, Presidents may regulate imports. Although no President has used IEEPA to impose tariffs, President Nixon imposed a 10% tariff on all imports into the United States in response to a monetary crisis using IEEPA's precursor statute, the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 (TWEA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.
2020-02-20
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Section 307 and Imports Produced by Forced Labor [November 14, 2019]
From the Document: "Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1307) prohibits the importation of any product that was mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labor, including forced or indentured child labor. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is charged with enforcing the prohibition. U.S. customs law has contained prohibitions against importing goods produced by certain categories of labor since the end of the nineteenth century. Beginning in 1890, the United States prohibited imports of goods manufactured with convict labor. In 1930, Congress expanded this prohibition in Section 307 of the Tariff Act to include any (not just manufactured) products of forced labor. Although a few Members of Congress brought up humanitarian concerns during debate, the central legislative concern was with protecting domestic producers from competing with products made with forced labor. As such, Section 307 allowed the admission of products of forced labor if it could be shown that no comparable product was made in the United States or the level of domestic production did not meet domestic demand ('consumptive demand' provision)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; O'Regan, Katarina C.
2019-11-14
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International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Tariffs: Historical Background and Key Issues [June 24, 2019]
From the Document: "On May 30, 2019, President Donald J. Trump announced his intention to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) (50 U.S.C. §§1701 et seq.) to impose a 5% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico effective June 10, 2019. The tariff, he said, would gradually increase until 'the illegal migration crisis is alleviated through effective actions taken by Mexico.' On June 7, 2019, the President stated that the tariffs were 'indefinitely suspended' because Mexico had 'agreed to take strong measures to... stem the tide of migration.' Presidents may invoke IEEPA in response to an 'unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States' when a national emergency has been declared with respect to that threat. Using IEEPA, Presidents may regulate imports. Although no President has used IEEPA to impose tariffs, President Nixon imposed a 10% tariff on all imports into the United States in response to a monetary crisis using IEEPA's precursor statute, the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 (TWEA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.
2019-06-24
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Recent Presidential Trade Actions Affecting the U.S. Power Grid [May 21, 2020]
From the Introduction: "Over the past several weeks, the Trump Administration has taken actions to limit the use of foreign manufactured products in the U.S. power grid. On May 1, 2020, the President declared a national emergency (E.O. 13920) invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to prohibit certain international transactions for bulk-power system electric equipment used to operate the national grid. On May 4, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, announced a new investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 into whether imports of certain large electrical transformers and their parts threaten national security. These actions may suggest a pattern, begun last year, of making use of executive national security authorities to restrict imports of goods that may be used for critical infrastructure (e.g., telecommunications and electrical equipment)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Humphreys, Brian E.; Fefer, Rachel F.
2020-05-21
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USMCA: Investment Provisions [Updated January 8, 2020]
From the Document: "The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) that, if approved by Congress and ratified by Canada and Mexico, would replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). USMCA would retain NAFTA's marketopening measures while adding or updating provisions in areas such as digital trade, intellectual property rights, and worker rights. The proposed agreement would make notable changes to NAFTA's investment provisions--mainly qualifying basic investor protections and limiting the degree to which foreign investors can bring complaints against their host states under the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism. ISDS claims with Canada would be phased out entirely; those with Mexico would be more restricted than under NAFTA. Given the significant changes proposed and the importance of U.S. investment ties with Canada and Mexico, USMCA's investment provisions are an active part of congressional debate over the USMCA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Villarreal, M. Angeles
2020-01-08
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CARES Act Higher Education Provisions [April 7, 2020]
From the Document: "President Donald J. Trump declared a U.S. national emergency on March 13, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136) was enacted on March 27, 2020, to address income, health, and economic security in response to the national emergency. This In Focus provides brief descriptions of several higher education provisions included in the law."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dortch, Cassandria; Fountain, Joselynn H.; Hegji, Alexandra . . .
2020-04-07
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International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Tariffs: Historical Background and Key Issues [June 5, 2019]
From the Document: "President Donald J. Trump recently announced his intention to use powers granted to the President under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701 et seq.) to impose and gradually increase a 5% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico until 'the illegal migration crisis is alleviated through effective actions taken by Mexico.' Invoked in response to an 'unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States,' no President has previously used IEEPA to impose tariffs on a specific country. Using IEEPA's precursor statute, the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 (TWEA), however, President Nixon imposed a 10% tariff on all imports into the United States in response to a monetary crisis."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.
2019-06-05
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Presidential Authority to Address Tariff Barriers in Trade Agreements Under Section 103(a) [January 8, 2020]
From the Document: "The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate trade with foreign nations and to lay and collect duties. Since the 1930s, Congress has periodically authorized the President to negotiate trade agreements and, among other actions, proclaim changes to U.S. tariff rates- known as Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). Currently, Section 103(a) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015) authorizes the President to enter into trade agreements with foreign countries to reduce 'duties or other import restrictions' that the President determines are 'unduly burdening and restricting' the United States' foreign trade and to proclaim limited changes to U.S. tariff rates without further congressional action. In September 2019, President Donald Trump announced his intention to enter into a free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan regarding tariff barriers using his limited proclamation authority under Section 103(a)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Casey, Christopher A.; Murrill, Brandon J.
2020-01-08
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Trade Remedies: Antidumping and Countervailing Duties [Updated December 4, 2019]
From the Overview: "What are they? Antidumping (AD) and Countervailing Duties (CVD) address unfair trade practices by providing relief to U.S. industries and workers that are 'materially injured,' or threatened with injury, due to imports of like products sold in the U.S. market at less than fair value (AD), or subsidized by a foreign government or public entity (CVD)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jones, Vivian Catherine; Casey, Christopher A.
2019-12-04
