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Colombia: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated November 29, 2019]
From the Document: "Colombia, a key Latin American ally, endured half a century of internal armed conflict. Drug trafficking fueled the violence, funding left- and right-wing armed groups. Some analysts feared in the 1990s that Colombia would become a failed state, but the Colombian government devised a novel security strategy, known as Plan Colombia, to counter the insurgencies. Plan Colombia and follow-on programs ultimately became a 17-year U.S.-Colombian bilateral effort. [...] Congress appropriated more than $10 billion for Plan Colombia and its follow-on programs between FY2000 and FY2016, about 20% of which was funded through the U.S. Department of Defense. Since 2017, Congress has provided nearly $1.2 billion in additional assistance for Colombia. For FY2019, Congress appropriated $418.1 million in foreign aid for Colombia, which encompassed efforts to promote peace and reconciliation, assist rural communities, and continue counternarcotics support through the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Congress has signed two continuing resolutions for FY2020 appropriations, with FY2020 aid levels set to match FY2019 levels through late December 2019."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Beittel, June S.
2019-11-29
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Financial Services for Marijuana Businesses [November 27, 2019]
From the Document: "A number of states have adopted laws permitting marijuana sales and other marijuana-related activities, even though those same activities remain unlawful under federal drug and financial laws. Because of the legal risks under federal law, many financial institutions reportedly are unwilling to provide state-authorized marijuana businesses common banking products and services, such as debit or credit card payment services, electronic payroll services, and checking accounts. This, in turn, reportedly has stifled growth of state-authorized marijuana businesses and forced these businesses to operate exclusively in cash, raising concerns about, among other things, public safety and tax collection compliance. This In Focus analyzes the legal liability that financial institutions risk by serving marijuana businesses given the discordant state and federal marijuana legal regimes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Carpenter, David Hatcher
2019-11-27
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Voluntary Testimony by Executive Branch Officials: An Introduction [November 27, 2019]
From the Introduction: "In recent presidential Administrations, there have been several high-profile disputes between Congress and the White House regarding access to executive branch officials. This has included attempts by Congress to enforce subpoenas issued to Harriet Miers, White House Counsel to President George W. Bush; Eric Holder, Attorney General to President Barack Obama; and Wilbur Ross and William Barr, Secretary of Commerce and Attorney General to President Donald Trump, respectively. [...] This report focuses on one facet of inter-branch interaction: testimony before congressional committees. The report outlines the origins of voluntary testimony by the executive branch, identifies some notable incentives for voluntary participation, and covers some key dimensions of the practice of voluntary participation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wilhelm, Ben
2019-11-27
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Zimbabwe: A Continuing Crisis [Updated November 27, 2019]
From the Document: "An enduring, six-year economic crisis in Zimbabwe has intensified since national elections in July 2018, won by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). The dire economic situation has prompted public discontent, strikes, protests, and, in early 2019, days of riots. In response, state security forces have violently repressed demonstrations and arrested civil society activists. Since early 2019, the state has also pursued a dialogue with the political opposition, but only minor parties have participated. The Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC), the largest opposition party, has refused to participate unless the state ends its repression and alleged breaches of the rule of law. The MDC also insists that any dialogue be convened by an independent mediator; it contends that the Mnangagwa government is 'illegitimate' and responsible for what the MDC calls a 'political crisis.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cook, Nicolas
2019-11-27
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Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund: Status and Funding Issues [November 27, 2019]
From the Document: "Decades of uranium enrichment by the federal government resulted in the contamination of buildings and structures, generated substantial volumes of radioactive and other hazardous wastes, and resulted in environmental contamination of the soil, sediments, surface water, and groundwater at federal uranium enrichment facilities. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-486; Title XI) established the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning (UED&D) Fund to support the closure of federal uranium enrichment facilities and the remediation of related waste and contamination. With monies appropriated annually from the UED&D Fund, the Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) administers closure and remediation of federal uranium enrichment facilities and reimburses eligible uranium and thorium licensees for cleanup activities. As of FY2019, DOE estimates that remaining liabilities associated with the UED&D Fund range from $40.4 billion to $47.9 billion. The end-of-year balance of the UED&D Fund was $2.2 billion in FY2018, which presents an issue for Congress about how and whether to provide funding for the remaining liabilities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Larson, Lance N.
2019-11-27
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New START Treaty: Central Limits and Key Provisions [Updated November 27, 2019]
From the Summary: "The United States and Russia signed the New START [Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty] Treaty on April 8, 2010. After more than 20 hearings, the U.S. Senate gave its advice and consent to ratification on December 22, 2010, by a vote of 71-26. Both houses of the Russian parliament--the Duma and Federation Council-- approved the treaty in late January 2011 and it entered into force on February 5, 2011. Both parties met the treaty's requirement to complete the reductions by February 5, 2018. The treaty is due to expire in February 2021, unless both parties agree to extend it for no more than five years. New START provides the parties with 7 years to reduce their forces, and will remain in force for a total of 10 years."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Woolf, Amy F.
2019-11-27
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2019 NATO Leaders' Meeting: In Brief [November 27, 2019]
From the Overview: "Heads of state and government from NATO's 29 member states are scheduled to meet in London, United Kingdom (UK) on December 3-4, 2019; they last met in Brussels, Belgium, in July 2018. Two key goals for the meeting will be to commemorate the alliance's past achievements--2019 marks NATO's 70th anniversary--and to advance efforts to address new and emerging security challenges, including renewed Russian aggression, terrorism, and cyber and hybrid threats. The meeting also could expose heightened political tension within the alliance and divergent views on a range of issues, including U.S. policy toward NATO and Europe, relations with NATO member Turkey, and relations with Russia."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Belkin, Paul
2019-11-27
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Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated November 27, 2019]
From the Introduction: "The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region's future. Issues such as Arctic territorial disputes; commercial shipping through the Arctic; Arctic oil, gas, and mineral exploration; endangered Arctic species; and increased military operations in the Arctic could cause the region in coming years to become an arena of international cooperation, tension, or competition. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial political, economic, energy, environmental, and other interests in the region. Decisions that Congress makes on Arctic-related issues could significantly affect these interests. This report provides an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress, and refers readers to more in-depth CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports on specific Arctic-related issues. Congressional readers with questions about an issue discussed in this report should contact the author or authors of the section discussing that issue. The authors are identified by footnote at the start of each section."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; Comay, Laura B.; Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin) . . .
2019-11-27
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Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated November 27, 2019]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Coast Guard's programs for procuring 8 National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and 58 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs). The Coast Guard's proposed FY2020 budget requests a total of $657 million in procurement funding for the NSC, OPC, and FRC programs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2019-11-27
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Department of Defense First Agency-Wide Financial Audit (FY2018): Background and Issues for Congress [November 27, 2019]
From the Overview: "The Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (CFO Act) requires annual financial audits of federal agencies' financial statements to 'assure the issuance of reliable financial information ... deter fraud, waste and abuse of Government resources ... [and assist] the executive branch ... and Congress in the financing, management, and evaluation of Federal programs.' Agency inspectors general (IGs) are responsible for the audits and may contract with one or more external auditors. The Department of Defense (DOD) completed its first agency-wide financial audit in FY2018 and recently completed its FY2019 audit. Comprehensive data for the FY2019 audit are not currently available. Therefore, this report focuses on DOD's FY2018 audit. Congressional interest in DOD's audits is particularly acute because DOD accounts for about half of federal discretionary expenditures and 15% of total federal expenditures."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gnanarajah, Raj
2019-11-27
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Issues in Autonomous Vehicle Testing and Deployment [Updated November 27, 2019]
From the Document: "Autonomous vehicles have the potential to bring major improvements in highway safety. Motor vehicle crashes caused an estimated 36,560 fatalities in 2018; a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has shown that 94% of crashes are due to human errors. For this reason, federal oversight of the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles has been of considerable interest to Congress. In the 115th Congress, autonomous vehicle legislation passed the House as H.R. 3388, the SELF DRIVE [Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution] Act, and a separate bill, S. 1885, the AV START [American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies] Act, was reported from a Senate committee. Neither bill was enacted. In the 116th Congress, interest in autonomous vehicles remains strong, but similar comprehensive legislative proposals have not been introduced. The America's Transportation Infrastructure Act, S. 2302, which has been reported by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, would encourage research and development of infrastructure that could accommodate new technologies such as autonomous vehicles."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Canis, Bill
2019-11-27
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U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South and East China Seas: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated November 26, 2019]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress regarding U.S.-China strategic competition in the South China Sea (SCS) and East China Sea (ECS). In an international security environment described as one of renewed great power competition, the South China Sea (SCS) has emerged as an arena of U.S.-China strategic competition. U.S.-China strategic competition in the SCS forms an element of the Trump Administration's more confrontational overall approach toward China, and of the Administration's efforts for promoting its construct for the Indo-Pacific region, called the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2019-11-26
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Tracking Federal Awards: USAspending.gov and Other Data Sources [Updated November 26, 2019]
From the Summary: "USAspending.gov, available at http://www.USAspending.gov, is a government source for data on federal awards by state, congressional district (CD), county, city, and zip code. The awards data in USAspending.gov are provided by federal agencies and represent contracts, grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance. [...] Using USAspending.gov to locate and compile accurate data on federal awards can be challenging due, in part, to continuing data quality issues that have been identified by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Users of USAspending.gov need to be aware that while search results may be useful for informing consideration of certain questions, these results may be incomplete or contain inaccuracies. [...] Other federal awards data sources reviewed in this report include the following: [1] Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS); [2] Census Federal Audit Clearinghouse; [3] U.S. Budget: Aid to State and Local Governments; [4] Census Federal Aid to States (FAS) and Consolidated Federal Funds Report (CFFR); and [5] Additional federal grant awards databases, including sources tracking medical, scientific, and technical research."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer
2019-11-26
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What Happens If the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Lapses? [Updated November 26, 2019]
From the Document: "This Insight provides a short overview of what would happen if the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) were not to be reauthorized by December 20, 2019, and allowed to lapse."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2019-11-26
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Tracking Federal Awards in States and Congressional Districts Using USAspending.gov [Updated November 26, 2019]
From the Overview: "USAspending.gov, available to the public at http://www.USAspending.gov, is a government source for data on federal awards by state, congressional district (CD), zip code, city, and county. The awards data in USAspending.gov is provided by federal agencies and represents grants, contracts, loans, and other financial assistance. Grant awards include money the federal government commits for projects in states, local jurisdictions, regions, territories, and tribal reservations, as well as payments for eligible needs to help individuals and families. Contract awards refer to bids and agreements the federal government makes for specific goods and services. USAspending.gov does not include data on actual spending by recipients. USAspending.gov also provides tools for examining the broader picture of federal spending obligations within the categories of budget function, agency, and object class. [...] Using USAspending.gov to locate and compile accurate data on federal awards presents challenges, in part, because of continued data quality issues that have been identified by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Researchers need to be aware that search results may be incomplete or contain inaccuracies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer
2019-11-26
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Private Flood Insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) [Updated November 26, 2019]
From the Document: "The NFIP [National Flood Insurance Program] was first authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. §4001 et seq.) and was reauthorized until the end of FY2017 by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (BW-12; Title II of P.L. 112-141). [...] In statute, Congress has found that (1) many factors have made it uneconomic for the private insurance industry alone to make flood insurance available to those in need of such protection on reasonable terms and conditions; but (2) a program of flood insurance with large-scale participation of the Federal Government and carried out to the maximum extent practicable by the private insurance industry is feasible and can be initiated. (42 U.S.C. §4001(b)). By law or regulation, federal agencies, federally regulated lending institutions, and government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) must require certain property owners to purchase flood insurance as a condition of any mortgage that these entities make, guarantee, or purchase. [...] In BW-12, Congress explicitly provided for private flood insurance to fulfill this mortgage requirement instead of the SFIP [Standard Flood Insurance Policy], 'if' the private flood insurance met the conditions defined further in statute at 42 U.S.C. §4012a(b)(7)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Webel, Baird; Horn, Diane P.
2019-11-26
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Federal Research and Development (R&D) Funding: FY2020 [Updated November 26, 2019]
From the Introduction: "This report begins with a discussion of the overall level of R&D [research and development] in President Trump's FY2020 budget request, followed by analyses of R&D funding in the request from a variety of perspectives and for selected multiagency R&D initiatives. The remainder of the report discusses and analyzes the R&D budget requests of selected federal departments and agencies that, collectively, account for approximately 99% of total federal R&D funding."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sargent, John F.; Cowan, Tadlock; Esworthy, Robert . . .
2019-11-26
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Brief Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program [Updated November 26, 2019]
From the Document: "The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the primary source of flood insurance coverage for residential properties in the United States. The NFIP has two main policy goals: (1) to provide access to primary flood insurance, thereby allowing for the transfer of some of the financial risk of property owners to the federal government; and (2) to mitigate and reduce the nation's comprehensive flood risk through the development and implementation of floodplain management standards. A longer-term objective of the NFIP is to reduce federal expenditure on disaster assistance after floods."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2019-11-26
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Brief Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program: Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress [Updated November 26, 2019]
From the Document: "The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (Title XIII of P.L. 90-448, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§4001 et seq.) and is the primary source of flood insurance coverage for residential properties in the United States. The NFIP has two main policy goals: (1) to provide access to primary flood insurance, thereby allowing for the transfer of some of the financial risk from property owners to the federal government, and (2) to mitigate and reduce the nation's comprehensive flood risk through the development and implementation of floodplain management standards. A longer-term objective of the NFIP is to reduce federal expenditure on disaster assistance after floods. The NFIP engages in many 'noninsurance' activities in the public interest: it identifies and maps flood hazards, disseminates flood-risk information through flood maps, requires community land-use and building-code standards, contributes to community resilience by providing a mechanism to fund rebuilding after a flood, and offers grants and incentive programs for household- and community-level investments in flood-risk reduction."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2019-11-26
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Closing the Flood Insurance Gap [Updated November 26, 2019]
From the Document; "There is a large flood insurance gap in the United States, where many people that are exposed to flood risk are not covered by flood insurance. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the primary source of residential flood insurance. More than 22,000 communities participate in the NFIP, with more than five million policies providing more than $1.3 trillion in coverage. The NFIP identifies areas at high risk of flooding as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). Property owners are required to purchase flood insurance only if (1) their properties are in SFHAs, (2) their communities participate in the NFIP, and (3) they have federally backed mortgages. Because the SFHA boundary is central to NFIP mapping, it may create a false belief that flood risk changes abruptly at the boundary and that properties outside the SFHA are safe and do not need flood insurance. However, about 20% of NFIP claims are for properties outside SFHAs, and all 50 states and five territories have experienced floods since May 2018."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2019-11-26
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Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) [Updated November 26, 2019]
From the Introduction: "This report provides introductory information on key components of the NFIP [National Flood Insurance Program], ranging from floodplain mapping to the standard flood insurance forms. This report will be updated as significant revisions are made to the NFIP through legislation or administrative action. However, this report does not provide detail on current or future legislative issues for Congress, which are covered in a separate report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.; Webel, Baird
2019-11-26
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Selected Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress [Updated November 26, 2019]
From the Document: "In 2001, in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 'homeland security' went from being a concept discussed among a relatively small cadre of policymakers and strategic thinkers to one broadly discussed among policymakers, including a broad swath of those in Congress. Debates over how to implement coordinated homeland security policy led to the passage of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296), the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and extensive legislative activity in the ensuing years. Initially, homeland security was largely seen as counterterrorism activities. Today, homeland security is a broad and complex network of interrelated issues, in policymaking terms. For example, in its executive summary, the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review issued in 2014 delineated the missions of the homeland security enterprise as follows: prevent terrorism and enhance security; secure and manage the borders; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard and secure cyberspace; and strengthen national preparedness and resilience. This report compiles a series of Insights by CRS [Congressional Research Services] experts across an array of homeland security issues that may come before the 116th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Painter, William L.; DeVine, Michael E.; Finklea, Kristin . . .
2019-11-26
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Military Construction: Authorities, Process, and Frequently Asked Questions [Updated November 26, 2019]
From the Introduction: "The military missions of Department of Defense (DOD) and Military Department (MILDEP) units, offices, and other organizations drive requirements for facilities and supporting infrastructure at any given military installation. As missions change, or as organizations move to or away from an installation, new facilities and supporting infrastructure may need to be built or disposed of to match mission requirements. Similarly, as buildings age or become obsolete, facilities and supporting infrastructure may need to be replaced, reconfigured, or otherwise modernized to meet mission needs. [...] This report describes and explains the end-to-end MILCON [military construction] process by which DOD and the Congress act together to build military facilities, beginning with the requirement for a facility, and ending with a completed structure. Additionally, this report provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the MILCON process and other associated programs and processes. Examples of relevant MILCON documentation are contained within."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Herrera, G. James; Else, Daniel H.; Williams, Lynn M.
2019-11-26
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Overview of the Opioid Litigation and Related Settlements and Settlement Proposals [November 25, 2019]
From the Document: "According to the latest available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the opioid epidemic has claimed the lives of nearly 400,000 people in the United States between 1999 and 2017. As described in an earlier Sidebar, the severity of the epidemic has prompted state and local governments to address the issue not only through legislation and executive actions, but also through court challenges filed around the country that seek to hold certain opioid manufacturers, distributors, or other supply chain entities legally liable for the epidemic. These challenges--which generally seek to recover the costs incurred or will be incurred by the state and local governments to address the epidemic--have generally proceeded in two settings: [1] In the opioid multidistrict litigation (MDL) formed in a federal district court, where more than 2,400 cases filed by local governments (and other non-governmental plaintiffs) have been coordinated; [2] In various state courts, where state governments have filed their cases."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Shen, Wen S.
2019-11-25
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Schedule I Status of Marijuana [November 25, 2019]
From the Document: "The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) places various substances in one of five schedules based on their medical use, potential for abuse, and safety or risk for dependence. The five schedules are progressively ordered, with substances regarded as the least dangerous and addictive classified as Schedule V and those considered the most dangerous and addictive classified as Schedule I. By law, Schedule I substances have a 'high potential for abuse' with 'no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States' and cannot safely be dispensed under a prescription. The CSA prohibits the manufacture, distribution, dispensation, and possession of Schedule I substances except for bona fide, federal government-approved research studies. [...] Congress could do a number of things to address the schedule status of marijuana. It may choose to (1) maintain marijuana's status on Schedule I, (2) amend the CSA to move marijuana to a lower schedule, (3) create an entirely new schedule or other category for marijuana, or (4) remove it entirely from the CSA. If Congress chooses to remove marijuana as a controlled substance under the CSA, it could seek to regulate and tax commercial marijuana activities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sacco, Lisa N.
2019-11-25
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International Climate Change Assistance: Budget Authority, FY2009-FY2019 [Updated November 25, 2019]
From the Document: "The United States committed to providing financial assistance to developing countries for climate-changerelated activities through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The United States ratified the UNFCCC in 1992 with the advice and consent of the Senate (U.S. Treaty Number: 102-38). Among the obligations outlined in Article 4 of the UNFCCC, higher-income Parties (i.e., those listed in Annex II of the Convention, which were members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 1992) sought to provide unspecified amounts of 'financial resources, including for the transfer of technology, needed by developing countries to meet the agreed full incremental costs of implementing measures' to meet their general commitments under the UNFCCC. [...] Over the past several decades, and to varying degrees, the United States has delivered financial and technical assistance for climate-change-related activities in the developing world through a variety of bilateral and multilateral programs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lattanzio, Richard K.
2019-11-25
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Firearms-Related Appropriations Riders [November 22, 2019]
From the Document: "Congress's spending power gives it substantial control over the activities of executive branch agencies. For instance, through appropriations riders, Congress can direct agencies to engage, or to refrain from engaging, in particular activities in order to receive appropriated funds. Over the years, Congress has inserted several firearms-related riders into appropriations bills. Perhaps the most well-known riders are the Dickey and Tiahrt Amendments, in reference to the Members of Congress who first advanced them. Still in force today, these riders restrict agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) from engaging in certain activities related to federal firearms regulation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Mainon A.
2019-11-22
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Navy Columbia (SSBN-826) Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated November 22, 2019]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Columbia-class program, a program to design and build a class of 12 new ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to replace the Navy's current force of 14 aging Ohio-class SSBNs. The Navy has identified the Columbia-class program as the Navy's top priority program. The Navy wants to procure the first Columbia-class boat in FY2021. The Navy's proposed FY2020 budget requests $1,698.9 million in advance procurement (AP) funding and $533.1 million in research and development funding for the program. The program poses a number of funding and oversight issues for Congress. Decisions that Congress makes on the Columbia-class program could substantially affect U.S. military capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2019-11-22
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Federal Capital Punishment: Recent Developments [Updated November 22, 2019]
From the Document: "In July 2019, Attorney General William Barr instructed the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to take action to resume executions of inmates sentenced to death for violating federal law, ending an effective years-long moratorium. At the Attorney General's direction, BOP's then-Acting Director scheduled five federal inmates for execution in December 2019 and January 2020. A new addendum to BOP's execution protocol will govern the executions. That addendum provides for injection of a single drug, pentobarbital sodium, as the lethal agent. The BOP protocol previously called for application of a three-drug sequence, but the scarcity of the drugs involved and a review initiated by the previous Administration (as well as ongoing legal challenges) forestalled federal executions under the three-drug protocol after 2003."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Foster, Michael A.
2019-11-22
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Amazon Protest of the Department of Defense's Jedi Cloud Contract Award to Microsoft [Updated November 22, 2019]
From the Document: "In September 2017, the Deputy Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum calling for the adoption of a Department of Defense (DOD) enterprise-wide cloud services solution. As part of its ongoing technology modernization efforts, DOD sought to acquire a commercial cloud services solution known as the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) Cloud. In April 2019, DOD selected Microsoft and Amazon Web Services (henceforth Amazon) to contend for the contract award from qualified proposals submitted by IBM, Amazon, Microsoft, and Oracle. In October 2019, DOD announced it had awarded the JEDI contract to Microsoft. [...] In November 2019, Amazon filed a post-award bid protest with COFC [U.S. Court of Federal Claims], alleging potentially improper 'political influence' in DOD's award decision and 'clear deficiencies' in the contract evaluation process. Many observers trace Amazon's accusation of political influence in part to President Donald Trump's July 2019 remarks that his Administration would 'take a very strong look' at the JEDI Cloud acquisition process."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Peters, Heidi M.
2019-11-22
