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Air Force B-21 Raider Long-Range Strike Bomber [October 12, 2018]
"The Department of Defense is developing a new long-range bomber aircraft, the B-21 Raider (previously known as LRS-B), and proposes to acquire at least 100 of them. B- 21s would initially replace the fleets of B-1 and B-2 bombers,and could possibly replace B-52s in the future.B-21 development was highly classified until the summer of 2015, when the Air Force revealed initial details of the aircraft and the program. Although technical specifications and other data remain out of public view, many details of the budget, acquisition strategy, procurement quantities, and other aspects of the B-21 program are now in the public arena.The Administration's FY2019 budget request included$2.31 billion for further development of the B-21. As passed, the FY2019 defense appropriations bill funded the program at $2.28 billion. As a large defense program that involves issues of strategic and nuclear policy, as well as substantial expenditures, the B-21 is likely to be subject to significant congressional interest."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gertler, Jeremiah
2018-10-12
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Bahrain: Unrest, Security, and U.S. Policy [October 11, 2018]
"An uprising against Bahrain's Al Khalifa ruling family that began on February 14, 2011, has diminished in intensity, but punishments of oppositionists and periodic demonstrations continue. The mostly Shiite opposition to the Sunni-minority-led regime has not achieved its goal of establishing a constitutional monarchy, but the unrest has compelled the ruling family to undertake some modest reforms. The mainstream opposition uses peaceful forms of dissent, but small factions, reportedly backed by Iran,have claimed responsibility for bombings and other attacks on security officials. The Bahrain government's repression has presented a policy dilemma for the United States because Bahrain is along time ally that is pivotal to maintaining Persian Gulf security. The country has hosted a U.S. naval command headquarters for the Gulf region since 1948; the United States and Bahrain have had a formal Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) since 1991; and Bahrain was designated by the United States as a 'major non-NATO ally' in 2002. There are over 7,000 U.S. forces, mostly Navy, in Bahrain. Bahrain relies on U.S.-made arms, but, because of the government's use of force against protesters, the Obama Administration held up some new weapons sales to Bahrain and curtailed U.S. assistance to Bahrain's internal security organizations. In 2014, Bahrain joined the U.S. - led coalition against the Islamic State and flew strikes against the group's fighters in Syria that year, and has expressed willingness to join a U.S.-backed concept for a broad Arab coalition to counter Iran (Middle East Strategic Alliance)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2018-10-11
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Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Federal Civil Service Annuities [October 11, 2018]
"Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) are based on the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). COLAs for both CSRS and FERS are determined by the average monthly CPI-W during the third quarter (July to September) of the current calendar year and the third quarter of the base year, which is the last previous year in which a COLA was applied. The 'effective date' for COLAs is December, but they first appear in the benefits issued during the following January.All CSRS retirees and survivors receive COLAs. Under FERS, however, nondisabled retirees under the age of 62 do not receive COLAs. Survivors and disabled retirees are eligible for COLAs under FERS regardless of age. CSRS pays a COLA that is equal to the percentage change in the CPI-W during the measurement period, but COLAs under FERS are limited if the rate of inflation is greater than 2.0%. If the rate of inflation during the measurement period is between 2.0% and 3.0%, the COLA under FERS is 2.0%. If inflation is greater than 3.0%, then the COLA for FERS benefits is equal to the CPI-W minus one percentage point."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Isaacs, Katelin P., 1980-
2018-10-11
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SBA Veterans Assistance Programs: An Analysis of Contemporary Issues [October 10, 2018]
"Several federal agencies, including the Small Business Administration (SBA), provide training and other assistance to veterans seeking civilian employment. For example, the Department of Defense(DOD), in cooperation with the SBA, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, and several other federal agencies, operates the Transition Goals Plans Success program (Transition GPS),which provides employment information and entrepreneurship training to exiting military service members to assist them in transitioning from the military to the civilian labor force.In recent years, the unemployment rate among veterans as a whole has generally been similar to or lower than the unemployment rate for nonveterans 18 years and older. However, veterans who have left the military since September 2001 have experienced higher unemployment than other veterans and, in some years, higher unemployment than nonveterans. As a result, Congress has focused much of its attention on finding ways to assist veterans who have left the military since September 2001."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dilger, Robert Jay, 1954-; Lowry, Sean
2018-10-10
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Temporary Protected Status: Overview and Current Issues [October 10, 2018]
"Federal law provides that all aliens must enter the United States pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The two major categories of aliens in the INA are (1) immigrants, who are admitted to the United States permanently, and (2) nonimmigrants, who are admitted for temporary reasons (e.g., students, tourists, temporary workers, or business travelers). Foreign nationals who lack proper immigration authorization generally fall into three categories: (1) those who are admitted legally and then overstay their nonimmigrant visas, (2) those who enter the country surreptitiously without inspection, and (3) those who are admitted on the basis of fraudulent documents. In all three instances, the aliens are in violation of the INA and subject to removal."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wilson, Jill H.
2018-10-10
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Effects of U.S. Tariff Action on U.S. Aluminum Manufacturing [October 9, 2018]
"Since March 2018, the United States has assessed duties of 10% or more on certain imports of aluminum on national security grounds. The duties are controversial, with some Members of Congress questioning whether the duties will encourage domestic aluminum production and whether they could adversely affect U.S. industries that use aluminum. Acting under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act (19 U.S.C.§1862, as amended), which allows the President to levy tariffs and quotas on imports found to threaten or impair U.S. national security, President Trump signed a proclamation that imposed a 10% tariff on foreign-made primary unwrought aluminum and certain semifinished aluminum products effective March 23, 2018. Although aluminum manufactured in certain countries was initially exempted, most exemptions expired on June 1, 2018,thereby extending the tariff to key sources of aluminum imports, including Canada, the leading import source of primary unwrought aluminum in to the United States. Argentina, which agreed to a quota,and Australia are the only two countries that have been permanently exempted. The tariff has no set expiration date; it can be removed at any time.On August 10, 2018, the President announced in a tweet he had authorized an increase of the tariff on aluminum from Turkey to 20%, but he has not yet signed a Section 232 proclamation putting the higher duty into effect.The United States has also imposed sanctions on Rusal, a Russian aluminum company and the world's largest producer outside China."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Platzer, Michaela D.
2018-10-09
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Defense's 30-Year Aircraft Plan Reveals New Details [October 9, 2018]
"Each year, the Department of Defense issues a 30-year aviation plan, intended to chart the direction of the aviation enterprise. This plan is typically relatively short on specifics, in part because 30 years is rather far to foresee in detail, particularly as that goes 25 years beyond official defense budget projections. By contrast, the most recent 30-year aviation plan released in April 2018 is full of details on specific programs, including cancellations, life extensions, and new starts. Some are explicit; others, between the lines. Some of the highlights follow."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gertler, Jeremiah
2018-10-09
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Social Media Adoption by Members of Congress: Trends and Congressional Considerations [October 9, 2018]
"This report examines Member adoption of social media broadly. Because congressional adoption of long-standing social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube is nearly ubiquitous, this report focuses on the adoption of other, newer social media platforms. These include Instagram, Flickr, and Google+, which have each been adopted by at least 2.5% of Representatives and Senators. Additionally, Members of Congress have adopted Snapchat, Medium, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Periscope, and Tumblr at lower levels. This report evaluates the adoption rates of various social media platforms and what the adoption of multiple platforms might mean for an office's social media strategy. Data on congressional adoption of social media were collected by an academic institution in collaboration with the Congressional Research Service during the 2016-2017 academic year. This report provides a snapshot of a dynamic process. As with any new technology, the number of Members using any single social media platform, and the patterns of use, may change rapidly in short periods of time. As a result, the conclusions drawn from these data cannot necessarily be generalized or used to predict future behavior."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Straus, Jacob R.
2018-10-09
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Iran's Foreign and Defense Policies [October 9, 2018]
"Successive Administrations have identified Iran as a key national security challenge, citing Iran's nuclear and missile programs as well as its long-standing attempts to counter many U.S. objectives in the region. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, in his February 13, 2018, annual worldwide threat assessment testimony before Congress, assessed that 'Iran will seek to expand its influence in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, where it sees conflicts generally trending in Tehran's favor...' and 'Iran will develop military capabilities that threaten U.S. forces and allies in the region....'Successive National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs) have required an annual report on Iran's military power, which has in recent years contained assessments of Iran similar to those presented publicly by the intelligence community."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2018-10-09
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Venezuela: Political and Economic Crisis and U.S. Policy [October 9, 2018]
"Venezuela remains in the throes of a deep economic and humanitarian crisis under the authoritarian rule of President Nicolás Maduro of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). In May 2018, Maduro defeated Henri Falcón, a former governor, in a presidential election boycotted by the Democratic Unity Round table (MUD) of opposition parties and deemed illegitimateby the United States, the European Union (EU), and most Western Hemisphere countries. Maduro, narrowly elected in 2013 after the death of President Hugo Chávez (1999-2013), is unpopular. Nevertheless, he has used the courts, security forces, and electoral council to stifle opposition, which is in disarray. Maduro has cracked down further since surviving an apparent assassination attempt in August 2018."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2018-10-09
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Agency Delay: Congressional and Judicial Means to Expedite Agency Rulemaking [October 5, 2018]
"Administrative agencies have long been criticized by some for taking too long to issue and implement regulations. Of course, there are often justifiable reasons cited for agencies to take time before they act. Agencies are charged with administering complex statutory schemes. Rulemakings generally follow the Administrative Procedure Act's (APA's) notice-and-comment procedure, which entails soliciting input and marshaling information from the public, subject-matter experts, and other stakeholders. It takes time to analyze that information, balance competing interests, and draft appropriate regulatory language. Agencies may have limited resources, and there may be other,more pressing matters requiring their time and attention. Some delay is necessary for reasoned decision making."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hickey, Kevin J.
2018-10-05
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Agricultural Provisions of the U.S. - Mexico - Canada Agreement [October 5, 2018]
"On September 30, 2018, the Trump Administration announced an agreement with Canada and Mexico tore place the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). USMCA, if finalized, will allow food and agriculture products to 'trade more fairly,' according to the U.S. Trade Representative, and will expand exports of U.S. agricultural goods. While USMCA includes provisions that address many sectors, this report summarizes the agriculture and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) provisions of the agreement. The President is expected to sign USMCA on November 30, 2018, before sending the agreement and implementing legislation to Congress for approval. It must also be approved by the governments of Canada and Mexico."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hopkinson, Jenny
2018-10-05
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Do Courts Have Inherent Authority to Release Secret Grand Jury Materials? [October 5, 2018]
"The U.S. Constitution requires that any prosecution of a serious federal crime be initiated by 'a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury.' The'[g]rand [j]ury' contemplated by the Constitution is a temporary, citizen-comprised body that obtains evidence and considers whether it is sufficient to justify criminal charges in a particular case. Though a grand jury works with federal prosecutors and functions under judicial auspices, it is considered an independent 'constitutional fixture in its own right' that 'belongs to no branch of the institutional Government, serving as a kind of buffer... between the Government and the people.' One long-established principle that has been deemed essential to the grand jury's functioning and independence is that matters occurring before it are to be kept secret. Secrecy prevents those under scrutiny from fleeing or importuning the grand jurors, encourages full disclosure by witnesses, and protects the innocent from unwarranted prosecution. For these and other reasons, prosecutors,the jurors themselves, and most others involved in grand jury proceedings are generally prohibited from revealing 'such matters as the identities or addresses of witnesses or jurors, the substance of testimony, the strategy or direction of the investigation, the deliberations or questions of jurors, and the like.'The prohibition endures even after a grand jury's work is completed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Foster, Michael A.
2018-10-05
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Lebanon [October 5, 2018]
"Since having its boundaries drawn by France after the First World War, Lebanon has struggled to define its national identity. Its population included Christian, Sunni Muslim, and Shia Muslim communities of roughly comparable size, and with competing visions for the country. Seeking to avoid sectarian conflict, Lebanese leaders created a confessional system that allocated power among the country's religious sects according to their percentage of the population. The system continues to be based on Lebanon's last official census, which was conducted in 1932. As Lebanon's demographics have shifted over the years, Muslim communities have pushed for the political status quo, favoring Maronite Christians, to be revisited, while the latter have worked to maintain their privileges. This tension has at times manifested itself in violence, such as during the country's 15-year civil war, but also in political disputes such as disagreements over revisions to Lebanon's electoral law. To date, domestic political conflicts continue to be shaped in part by the influence of external actors, including Syria and Iran."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humud, Carla E.
2018-10-05
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Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's (ACA's) Risk Adjustment Program: Frequently Asked Questions [October 5, 2018]
"The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; P.L. 111-148, as amended) created a permanent risk adjustment program that aims to reduce some of the incentives insurers may have to avoid enrolling individuals who are at risk of high health care costs in the private health insurance market-- specifically in the individual (nongroup) and small-group markets. Section 1343 of the ACA established the risk adjustment program, which is designed to assess charges to health plans that have relatively healthier enrollees compared with other health plans in a given state. The program use scollected charges from plans with comparatively healthy enrollees to make payments to plans in the same state that have relatively sicker enrollees. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administers the risk adjustment program as a budget-neutral program, so that payments made are equal to the charges collected in each state. Risk adjustment transfers are intended to account for differences in health risk among plans in each state while allowing for premium differences based on allowable rating factors."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kehres, Katherine M.
2018-10-05
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Proposed U.S. - Mexico - Canada (USMCA) Trade Agreement
"On September 30, 2018, the United States and Canada reached an agreement for Canada to join the preliminarily agreed upon pact with Mexico to update and revise the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and to rename it the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Pursuant to trade promotion authority (TPA), the preliminary agreement with Mexico was notified to Congress on August 31, 2018, in part to allow for the signing of the agreement prior to Mexico's president-elect Andreas Manuel Lopez Obrador taking office on December 1, 2018. This product provides preliminary comparative analysis between the two agreements. For information on NAFTA's current provisions, see CRS Report R44981, NAFTA Renegotiation and Modernization, by M. Angeles Villarreal and Ian F. Fergusson."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fergusson, Ian F.; Villarreal, M. Angeles
2018-10-05
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Russian Compliance with the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty: Background and Issues for Congress [October 5, 2018]
"The United States and Soviet Union signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in December 1987. Negotiations on this treaty were the result of a 'dual-track' decision taken by NATO in 1979. At that time, in response to concerns about the Soviet Union's deployment of new intermediate-range nuclear missiles, NATO agreed both to accept deployment of new U.S. intermediate-range ballistic and cruise missiles and to support U.S. efforts to negotiate with the Soviet Union to limit these missiles. In the INF Treaty, the United States and Soviet Union agreed that they would ban all land-based ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. The ban would apply to missiles with nuclear or conventional warheads, but would not apply to sea-based or air-delivered missiles."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Woolf, Amy F.
2018-10-05
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Spain and Its Relations with the United States: In Brief [October 5, 2018]
"Many U.S. officials and Members of Congress consider Spain to be an important U.S. ally and one of the closest U.S.partners in Europe. Political developments in Spain, cooperation between the United States and Spain on security issues and counterterrorism, and U.S.-Spain economic ties are possible topics of continuing interest during the 115th Congress. Members of Congress may have an interest in considering the dimensions and dynamics of current issues in U.S.-Spain or U.S. - European relations, or with regard to NATO, in the course of oversight or legislative activities, or in the context of direct interactions with Spanish legislators and officials."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mix, Derek E.
2018-10-05
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Trade Related Agencies: FY2019 Appropriations, Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) [October 5, 2018]
"This report provides an overview of the FY2019 budget request and appropriationsfor the International Trade Administration (ITA), the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), and the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). These three trade-related agencies are funded through the annual Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations act. This report also provides a review of these agencies' trade-related programs. When comparing the Administration's FY2019 request with FY2018 funding, it should be considered that the Administration formulated its FY2019 budget request before full-year appropriations for FY2018 were enacted. In this report, FY2018 funding levels reflect the amounts appropriated in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141), enacted on March 23, 2018."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hammond, Keigh E.; Villarreal, M. Angeles
2018-10-05
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Statutory Canon Aimed at International Organization Immunity [October 5, 2018]
"In the October 2018 term, the Supreme Court is slated to hear oral argument in Jam v. International Finance Corp., a case involving an international development project gone awry in India. The petitioners--a group of Indian nationals from Gujarat--seek to hold International Finance Corp. (IFC) liable for extensive environmental damage throughout their community caused by the construction of a power plant financed and overseen by IFC. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (D.C. Circuit) dismissed their lawsuit, holding, in accordance with the circuit's precedent,that the International Organizations Immunities Act (IOIA) grants absolute immunity to IFC in this case."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Elsea, Jennifer K.
2018-10-05
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Comparing DHS Component Funding, FY2019: In Brief [October 4, 2018]
"Generally, the homeland security appropriations bill includes all annual appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), providing resources to every departmental component. This report reviews the budget authority provided to DHS for FY2018, requested by the Trump Administration for FY2019, as well as the funding levels proposed in Senate and House Appropriations Committee-reported legislation for FY2019. It examines net discretionary annual appropriations for DHS -- a perspective on the net impact of legislation funding DHS on congressionally tracked budget totals--and also provides a more inclusive look at the resources available to DHS components to perform their missions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Painter, William L.
2018-10-04
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Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues in the 115th Congress [October 2, 2018]
"Geographic proximity has ensured strong linkages between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean, based on diverse U.S. interests, including economic, political, and security concerns.The United States is a major trading partner and the largest source of foreign investment for many countries in the region, with free-trade agreements enhancing economic linkages with 11 countries. The region is a large source of U.S. immigration, both legal and illegal; proximity and economic and security conditions are major factors driving migration. Curbing the flow of illicit drugs has been a key component of U.S. relations with the region for more than three decades and currently involves close security cooperation with Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. U.S. support for democracy and human rights in the region has been long-standing, with particular current focus on Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.; Beittel, June S.; DeBruyne, Nese F.; Meyer, Peter J.; Seelke, Clare Ribando; Taft-Morales, Maureen; Villarreal, M. Angeles
2018-10-04
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Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections [October 4, 2018]
"This report provides the results of recent presidential elections in Latin America and the Caribbean. Below are three tables organized by region, including the date of each country's independence, the name of the newly elected president or prime minister, and the projected date of the next presidential election. Information in this report was gathered from numerous sources, including the U.S. State Department, Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA's) World Fact Book, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Election Guide, Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), and other news sources."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
DeBruyne, Nese F.
2018-10-04
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Protecting Consumers and Businesses from Fraudulent Robocalls [October 4, 2018]
"The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA) regulates robocalls. A robocall, also known as 'voice broadcasting,' is any telephone call that delivers a prerecorded message using anautomatic (computerized) telephone dialing system, more commonly referred to as an automatic dialer or 'autodialer.' When the call is answered, the autodialer either connects the call to a live person or plays a prerecorded message. Both are considered robocalls. Some robocalls use personalized audio messages to simulate an actual personal phone call.As discussed in more detail below (in 'Classification of Telemarketing Calls'), the TCPA prohibits robocalls to consumers' traditional landline numbers, consumers' Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) landline numbers, and all mobile numbers."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Figliola, Patricia Moloney
2018-10-04
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Reserve Component Personnel Issues: Questions and Answers [October 4, 2018]
"The Constitution provides Congress with broad powers over the Armed Forces, including the power to 'to raise and support Armies,' 'to provide and maintain a Navy,' 'to make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces' and 'to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States.... 'In the exercise of this constitutional authority, Congress has historically shown great interest in various issues that bear on the vitality of the reserve components, such as funding, equipment, and personnel policy. This report is designed to provide an overview of key reserve component personnel issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kapp, Lawrence; Torreon, Barbara Salazar
2018-10-04
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Qatar: Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy [October 4, 2018]
"The State of Qatar has employed its ample financial resources to exert regional influence separate from and independent of Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of the alliance of six Gulf monarchies called the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman). Qatar has intervened in several regional conflicts, including in Syria and Libya, and has engaged both Sunni Islamist and Iran-backed Shiite groups in Lebanon, Sudan, the Gaza Strip, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Qatar has maintained consistent dialogue with Iran while also supporting U.S. and GCC efforts to limit Iran's regional influence."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Christopher M.
2018-10-04
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Iraq: Issues in the 115th Congress [October 4, 2018]
"Iraq's government declared military victory against the Islamic State organization (IS, aka ISIS/ISIL) in December 2017, but insurgent attacks by remaining IS fighters threaten Iraqis as they shift their attention toward recovery and the country's political future. Security conditions have improved since the Islamic State's control of territory was disrupted, but IS fighters are active in some areas and security conditions are fluid. Meanwhile, daunting resettlement, reconstruction, and reform needs occupy citizens and leaders. Internally displaced Iraqis are returning home in greater numbers, but stabilization and reconstruction needs in liberated areas are extensive. An estimated 1.9 million Iraqis remain as internally displaced persons (IDPs), and Iraqi authorities have identified $88 billion in reconstruction needs over the next decade.Large protests in southern Iraq during August and September 2018 highlighted some citizens' outrage with poor service delivery and corruption."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Christopher M.
2018-10-04
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Federal Research and Development (R&D) Funding: FY2019 [October 4, 2018]
"The 115th Congress continues its interest in U.S. research and development (R&D) and in evaluating support for federal R&D activities. The federal government has played an important role in supporting R&D efforts that have led to scientific breakthroughs and new technologies, from jet aircraft and the internet to communications satellites, shale gas extraction, and defenses against disease. In recent years, widespread concerns about the federal debt,recent and projected federal budget deficits, and federal budget caps have driven difficult decisions about the prioritization of R&D, both in the context of the entire federal budget and among competing needs within the federal R&D portfolio. While these factors continue to exist, increases in the budget caps for FY2018 and FY2019 may reduce some of the pressure affecting these decisions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sargent, John F., JR; Cowan, Tadlock; Esworthy, Robert; Gallo, Marcy E.; Harris, Laurie A.; Morgan, Daniel; Sekar, Kevya; Upton, Harold F. (Harold Frank)
2018-10-04
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Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) Mobility, Reconnaissance, and Firepower Programs [October 4, 2018]
"Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) constitute the Army's 'light' ground forces and are an important part of the nation's ability to project forces overseas. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,as well as current thinking by Army leadership as to where and how future conflicts would be fought,suggest IBCTs are limited operationally by their lack of assigned transport and reconnaissance vehicles as well as firepower against hardened targets and armored vehicles.There are three types of IBCTs: Light, Airborne, and Air Assault. Light IBCTs are primarily foot-mobile forces. Light IBCTs can move by foot, by vehicle, or by air (either air landed or by helicopter). Airborne IBCTs are specially trained and equipped to conduct parachute assaults. Air Assault IBCTs are specially trained and equipped to conduct helicopter assaults."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2018-10-04
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Venezuela: Overview of U.S. Sanctions [October 4, 2018]
"For more than a decade, the United States has employed sanctions as a policy tool in response to activities of the Venezuelan government or Venezuelan individuals. These have included sanctions, including targeted sanctions against almost 90 individuals, related to terrorism, drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, antidemocratic actions, human rights violations, and corruption. Since 2006, U.S. officials have expressed concerns about Venezuela's lack of cooperation on anti-terrorism efforts. Since then, the Secretary of State has made an annual determination that Venezuela is not 'cooperating fully with United States anti-terrorism efforts' pursuant to Section 40A of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2781). The most recent determination was made in May 2018. As a result, the United States has prohibited all U.S. commercial arms sales and retransfers to Venezuela since 2006."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2018-10-04
