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Navy Next-Generation Logistics Ship (NGLS) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated July 20, 2021]
From the Introduction: "The Navy's Next-Generation Logistics Ship (NGLS) program envisages procuring a new class of medium-sized at-sea resupply ships for the Navy. The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requests $27.8 million in research and development funding for the program. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's proposed funding requests and emerging acquisition strategy for the NGLS program. Congress's decisions on this issue could affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-07-21
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Navy Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated July 20, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Navy's new Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) program, which envisions procuring a class of 24 to 35 new amphibious ships to support the Marine Corps, particularly in implementing a new Marine Corps operational concept called Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO). The Navy envisions the first LAW being procured in FY2023. The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requests $13.2 million in research and development funding for the program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-07-20
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Haiti: Concerns After the Presidential Assassination [Updated July 19, 2021]
From the Document: "Armed assailants assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in his private home in the capital, Port-au-Prince, early on July 7, 2021. Many details of the attack remain under investigation. Haitian police have arrested more than 20 people [hyperlink], including former Colombian soldiers, two Haitian Americans, and a Haitian with long-standing ties to Florida. A Pentagon spokesperson said the U.S. military helped train a 'small number' [hyperlink] of the Colombian suspects in the past. Protesters and opposition groups had been calling for Moïse to resign since 2019. The assassination's aftermath, on top of several preexisting crises in Haiti, likely points to a period of major instability, presenting challenges for U.S. policymakers and for congressional oversight of the U.S. response and assistance. The Biden Administration requested $188 million in U.S. assistance for Haiti in FY2022. Congress has previously [hyperlink] held hearings [hyperlink], and the co-chair of the House Haiti Caucus made a statement [hyperlink] on July 7 suggesting reexaminations of U.S. policy options on Haiti."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Taft-Morales, Maureen
2021-07-19
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Sovereign Debt and the COVID-19 Pandemic [July 16, 2021]
From the Document: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the ensuing downturn in economic growth has had significant economic and financial consequence for low-income countries. The World Bank estimates that the pandemic led to 97 million more people being in poverty in 2020. Several countries have already defaulted on their sovereign debt, and many others are at high levels of debt distress, potentially impeding their ability to support recovery."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weiss, Martin A.
2021-07-16
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Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues [Updated July 16, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Members of Congress and Pentagon officials have placed a growing emphasis on U.S. programs to develop hypersonic weapons as a part of an effort to acquire the capability for the United States to launch prompt attacks against targets around the world. Hypersonic weapons, like all long-range ballistic missiles, can travel faster than Mach 5, or about 1 mile to 5 miles per second. The interest in these weapons is driven by both the perceived mission need for conventional prompt strike systems and concerns about falling behind Russia and China in the development of these technologies. The United States is pursuing two key technologies for this purpose: boost-glide systems that place a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) atop a ballistic missile booster or shorter-range rocket systems, and hypersonic cruise missiles that would use scramjet technologies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Woolf, Amy F.
2021-07-16
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Overview of Department of Defense Use of the Electromagnetic Spectrum [Updated July 16, 2021]
From the Introduction: "The Department of Defense (DOD) is the largest federal user of the electromagnetic spectrum ('the spectrum'). It holds frequencies across multiple bands to support a number of technologies and uses. DOD utilizes spectrum on a day-to-day basis, for training, and for military operations. Thus, any changes to spectrum could affect DOD operations, both domestically and with allies abroad. Further, DOD has invested significantly in spectrum-dependent technologies. A summary of some of these technologies, including wireless communications, satellites, radar technologies that support situational awareness, signal intelligence and electronic warfare technologies, is provided [herein]. Changes in spectrum may affect how DOD can use, manipulate, or develop these technologies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoehn, John R.; Sayler, Kelley M.; Gallagher, Jill C.
2021-07-16
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Worker Rights Provisions and U.S. Trade Policy [July 16, 2021]
From the Summary: "Worker rights provisions are a prominent and often contentious issue in debates over U.S. trade negotiations, agreements and programs. Congress has input into and oversight over the design and implementation of U.S. trade agreements and policies, and interest in monitoring their impact on U.S. industries and workers. Broadly, Congress also has an interest in the U.S. role in setting labor standards and promoting fair competition in the global trading system. [...] This report provides background and analysis on key U.S. trade policies addressing worker rights abroad. It contextualizes the U.S. approach with key debates and comparison with global approaches. Several issues may be of interest to Congress, including the role of U.S. trade agreements and programs as vehicles for improving labor rights; the role of multilateral institutions; compliance with labor commitments and approaches to enforcement; and debates over capacity building efforts."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.
2021-07-16
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Emergency Assistance for Agricultural Land Rehabilitation [Updated July 15, 2021]
From the Summary: "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers several permanently authorized programs to help producers recover from natural disasters. Most of these programs offer financial assistance to producers for a loss in the production of crops or livestock. In addition to the production assistance programs, USDA also has several permanent disaster assistance programs that help producers restore damaged crop and forest land following natural disasters. These programs offer financial and technical assistance to producers to repair, restore, and mitigate damage on private land. These emergency agricultural land assistance programs include the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), and the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program. In addition to these programs, USDA also has flexibility in administering other programs that assist with the repair of damaged cropland in the event of an emergency."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Stubbs, Megan
2021-07-15
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FY2022 Budget Documents: Internet and GPO Availability [Updated July 15, 2021]
From the Summary: "Every year the President submits a series of volumes to Congress containing the President's proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The President's submission is required on or after the first Monday in January, but no later than the first Monday in February (31 U.S.C. §1105(a)). At times, the President's submission has been delayed beyond the statutory deadline. This year the President released the budget submission on May 28, 2021. This report provides brief descriptions of the FY2022 budget volumes and related documents, together with internet addresses, Government Publishing Office (GPO) stock numbers, and prices for obtaining print copies of these publications. It also explains how to find the locations of government depository libraries, which can provide both printed copies for reference use and internet access to the online versions. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wilson, Carol
2021-07-15
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Climate and Security in the Middle East and North Africa [July 15, 2021]
From the Document: "The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is among the world's most water-stressed and vulnerable to climate change. Policymakers' concerns about a changing MENA climate include not only physical and economic impacts but also the potential implications for political stability and security in a volatile region. Projections of various effects of climate change on the largely arid and semi-arid MENA region are available, although regional analyses are often constrained by limited data for MENA and downscaling from global models. Given MENA's geographic span--from Morocco to Iran-- and topographic variation (e.g., mountains, deserts, and deltas), local effects may differ from regional trends."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sharp, Jeremy Maxwell; Carter, Nicole T.; Procita, Kezee
2021-07-15
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Jordan: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated July 15, 2021]
From the Overview: "In the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (hereinafter referred to as 'Jordan'), economic hardship exacerbated by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is further straining the political system. In recent months, the reign of 59-year-old monarch King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein (hereinafter King Abdullah II), has been challenged both from within the royal family and by tribal elites that have formed the bedrock of the kingdom since its establishment a century ago. While as of July 2021 there is no imminent crisis endangering King Abdullah's rule, public infighting from within the royal family, periodic protests from economically disaffected Jordanians, and a recent resumption in Israeli-Palestinian violence may be cause for concern among some U.S. policymakers. The United States considers Jordan a key partner in promoting Middle East peace, countering terrorism, and promoting interfaith cooperation in a volatile region. No other country in the world receives as much direct U.S. economic budgetary aid on an annual basis as Jordan."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sharp, Jeremy Maxwell
2021-07-15
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Navy Constellation (FFG-62) Class Frigate Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated July 15, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and discusses potential issues for Congress regarding the Navy's Constellation (FFG-62) class frigate program, a program to procure a new class of 20 guided-missile frigates (FFGs). The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requests $1,087.9 million (i.e., about $1.1 billion) for the procurement of the third FFG-62, and $69.1 million in advance procurement (AP) funding for the fourth and fifth FFG-62s, which are programmed for procurement in one or more future fiscal years. The FFG-62 program presents several potential oversight issues for Congress. Congress's decisions on the program could affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-07-15
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National Level Exercises: History, Authorities, and Congressional Considerations [July 15, 2021]
From the Document: "Every two years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducts a National Level Exercise (NLE) to evaluate the nation's progress towards preparedness for catastrophic events. These exercises have multiple components, and culminate in a large, full-scale exercise with thousands of participants from multiple federal agencies, state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments, industry partners, and nongovernmental organizations. The next NLE, scheduled for 2022, is to test the nation's ability to respond to a simulated earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone in the Pacific Northwest, as well as subsequent aftershocks, tsunamis, and a Spill of National Significance."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Stienstra, Lauren
2021-07-15
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Wildfire Statistics [Updated July 15, 2021]
From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. [...] As of July 15, 2021, over 34,000 wildfires have impacted nearly 2.3 million acres. The nationwide preparedness level is at the maximum level (5), suggesting significant commitment of shared resources."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie; Hanson, Laura A.
2021-07-15
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Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons [Updated July 15, 2021]
From the Summary: "Recent debates about U.S. nuclear weapons have questioned what role weapons with shorter ranges and lower yields can play in addressing emerging threats in Europe and Asia. These weapons, often referred to as nonstrategic nuclear weapons, have not been limited by past U.S.- Russian arms control agreements. Some analysts argue such limits would be of value, particularly in addressing Russia's greater numbers of these types of weapons. Others have argued that the United States should expand its deployments of these weapons, in both Europe and Asia, to address new risks of war conducted under a nuclear shadow. The Trump Administration addressed these questions in the Nuclear Posture Review released in February 2018, and determined that the United States should acquire two new types of nuclear weapons: a new low-yield warhead for submarine-launched ballistic missiles and a new sea-launched cruise missile. The Biden Administration may reconsider these weapons when it conducts its Nuclear Posture Review in the latter half of 2021."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Woolf, Amy F.
2021-07-15
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Navy Large Unmanned Surface and Undersea Vehicles: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated July 15, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and potential issues for Congress for three types of large unmanned vehicles (UVs) that the Navy wants to develop and procure in FY2022 and beyond: [1] Large Unmanned Surface Vehicles (LUSVs); [2] Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicles (MUSVs); and [3] Extra-large Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (XLUUVs). The Navy wants to acquire these large UVs as part of an effort to shift the Navy to a new fleet architecture (i.e., a new combination of ships and other platforms) that is more widely distributed than the Navy's current fleet architecture. The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requests $434.1 million in research and development funding for these large UVs and their enabling technologies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-07-15
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Crisis in Mali [Updated July 14, 2021]
From the Document: "Once seen as a democratic leader, Mali has become an epicenter of regional conflict and instability over the past decade. The military's ouster of the elected president in August 2020 highlighted governance failings and deepened political uncertainty. In May 2021, the same soldiers overthrew the transitional civilian leaders whom they had put in place, after chafing at Transition President Bah N'Daw's effort to replace two junta members as cabinet ministers. The leader of both coups, Colonel Assimi Goïta, has replaced N'Daw as Transition President; allied officers hold four cabinet posts and lead the transitional legislature. Under regional pressure, Goïta has promised elections in February 2022 in which he will not be a candidate, but observers question his commitment. Transitional leaders also have pledged a constitutional referendum to advance the government's 2015 peace deal with northern rebels"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2021-07-14
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Debt Limit in 2021 [July 14, 2021]
From the Document: "Debt limit episodes [hyperlink] --which can be defined as starting when the statutory limit on federal debt restricts some of the U.S. Treasury's normal debt operations and ending when new legislation to modify the limit is enacted--have been a recurrent federal fiscal feature in the past two decades. Since 2002, the debt limit has been modified 18 times [hyperlink]. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 (P.L. 116-37), enacted in August 2019, suspended the debt limit through July 31, 2021. Recent debt limit episodes share similarities, although the issue in 2021 has a few unique characteristics. First, the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic remains a source of economic uncertainty, and the fiscal responses it spurred have accelerated the pace of federal debt accumulation. Second, the U.S. Treasury sharply increased its cash balances in 2020 to accommodate those fiscal responses. Third, since 2015, Bipartisan Budget Acts that adjusted statutory caps on discretionary spending imposed by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA; P.L. 112-25) also suspended the debt limit. The expiration of those discretionary spending caps at the end of FY2021 rendered moot the need for legislation to modify them. Thus, the legislative vehicle used for the past few debt limit modifications is unavailable in 2021."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Austin, D. Andrew
2021-07-14
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Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Program [July 14, 2021]
From the Background: "The RCV [robotic combat vehicle] is a vehicle being developed as part of the Army's Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) family of vehicles, which also includes the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV), Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF), and the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV). As part of the NGCV program, the Army plans to develop three RCV variants: Light, Medium, and Heavy. The Army reportedly envisions employing RCVs as 'scouts' and 'escorts' for manned OMFVs, where they could precede OMFVs into battle to deter ambushes and to guard the flanks of OMFV formations. As originally planned, RCVs would be controlled by operators riding in NGCVs, but the Army hopes that improved ground navigation technology and artificial intelligence (AI) will eventually permit a single operator to control multiple RCVs or for RCVs to operate in a more operator-independent manner."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2021-07-14
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Taiwan: Political and Security Issues [Updated July 14, 2021]
From the Document: "Taiwan, which officially calls itself the Republic of China (ROC), is an island democracy of 23.6 million people located across the Taiwan Strait from mainland China. U.S.-Taiwan relations have been unofficial since January 1, 1979, when the Carter Administration established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and broke formal diplomatic ties with self-ruled Taiwan, over which the PRC claims sovereignty. The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA, P.L. 96-8; 22 U.S.C. §§3301 et seq.), enacted on April 10, 1979, provides a legal basis for this unofficial bilateral relationship. It also includes commitments related to Taiwan's security. For discussion of economic issues, see CRS In Focus IF10256, U.S.- 'Taiwan Trade Relations,' by Karen M. Sutter."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lawrence, Susan V.
2021-07-14
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Looking Ahead: Regulating Methane from the Oil and Natural Gas Sector [July 14, 2021]
From the Document: "Congress and the Biden Administration are considering their next steps after enacting a joint resolution [hyperlink] disapproving the 2020 regulation [hyperlink]--known as the 2020 Policy Rule--that removed some methane emission standards for oil and natural gas production activities. Congress passed the joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act [hyperlink](CRA), a law that allows Congress to overturn certain agency actions in the form of a joint resolution of disapproval. President Biden signed the resolution into law (Pub. L. No. 117-23) on June 30, 2021, effectively restoring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) 2016 methane requirements. Although most of EPA's 2016 methane rule is back in force, its fate remains unclear because of pending legislative, executive, and judicial actions. This Sidebar examines (1) the history of regulating methane emissions from the oil and gas sector under the Clean Air Act (CAA); (2) the effect of the CRA disapproval of the 2020 Policy Rule; (3) the status of related litigation; and (4) considerations for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tsang, Linda
2021-07-14
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Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) and COVID-19 [Updated July 13, 2021]
From the Summary: "On June 21, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) promulgated an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for the prevention of the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2], the virus that causes COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] in health care employment settings. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) gives OSHA the ability to promulgate an ETS that would remain in effect for up to six months without going through the normal review and comment process of rulemaking. OSHA, however, has rarely used this authority in the past--not since the courts struck down its ETS on asbestos in 1983. The OSHA COVID-19 ETS requires health care employers to develop COVID-19 plans and protect employees from COVID-19 exposure through health screenings, personal protective equipment (PPE), building ventilation, and physical distancing and barriers. The ETS requires healthcare employers to remove any employees with COVID-19 from the workplace while providing them with certain benefits. Health care employers are not required to mandate that their employees receive a COVID-19 vaccine but must provide reasonable time off for employees to receive a vaccine and recover from any vaccine-related side effects. The ETS includes new COVID-19 recordkeeping and reporting requirements for health care employers and permits health care employers to forgo the medical evaluation and fit-testing requirements of OSHA's respiratory protection standard when providing respirators to employees in certain circumstances."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Szymendera, Scott
2021-07-13
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COVID-19: Potential Implications for International Security Environment-- Overview of Issues and Further Reading for Congress [Updated July 13, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Some observers argue the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic could be a world-changing event with potentially profound and long-lasting implications for the international security environment. Other observers are more skeptical that the pandemic will have such effects. This report provides a brief overview of some potential implications the pandemic might have for the international security environment, and appendices listing CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports and other writings for further reading. Issues for Congress may include whether and how the pandemic could change the international security environment, whether the Biden Administration's actions for responding to such change are appropriate and sufficient, and what implications such change could have for the role of Congress in setting and overseeing the execution of U.S. foreign and defense policy. Congress's decisions regarding these issues could have significant implications for U.S. foreign and defense policy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; McInnis, Kathleen J.
2021-07-13
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CARES Act: Selected Data on Coronavirus-Related Distribution and Loan Usage in 2020 [July 13, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Section 2202 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116- 136) waived the 10% penalty for certain early withdrawals from retirement accounts--referred to as coronavirus-related distributions (CRDs)--and modified rules for loans from defined contribution (DC) plans in 2020 to try to assist those who may have faced financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 1 Retirement plans were permitted, but not required, to adopt CRDs and/or the loan provisions. These provisions--which were similar to those enacted following certain previous federally declared major disasters--expired in 2020 and, as of the date of this report, have not been extended by subsequent legislation. Following enactment of the CARES Act, some expressed concern about the use of the provisions and the extent to which usage might negatively affect retirement security. 2 Selected data on employers' adoption and individuals' utilization of the CARES Act's CRD and loan provisions in 2020 seems to indicate modest usage of these provisions. This data might be informative to Congress in understanding retirement account withdrawal and loan behavior during disasters."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Myers, Elizabeth A.
2021-07-13
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Army Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Program [Updated July 13, 2021]
From the Document: "The major combat rotorcraft platforms in U.S. inventory-- the Chinook, Black Hawk, Apache, and Kiowa Warrior-- are based on designs from the 1960s and 1970s. While several are still in production or remanufacture, the Army is leading DOD's effort to move to a new generation of rotorcraft technology. The Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program is a research and development effort dedicated to discovering, investigating, and refining the technologies that is to provide the next generation of vertical lift aircraft for the United States Armed Forces. According to the Army, the goal of the program is to develop technologies that improve 'maneuverability, range, speed, payload, survivability, reliability, and reduced logistical footprint' compared with current rotorcraft."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gertler, Jeremiah
2021-07-13
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Tokyo Olympic Summer Games [Updated July 13, 2021]
From the Document: "Japan and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have vowed to go ahead [hyperlink] with the 2020 Olympic Summer Games beginning on July 23, 2021; the games were postponed in 2020 due to the global Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Japan has curbed the pandemic to under 14,954 total deaths [hyperlink] out of a population of around 125 million, a per capita rate around 15 times higher than the United States has experienced. The virus has continued to spread, due in part to the emergence of more communicable variants and Japan's slow progress on vaccinating the population [hyperlink]. In July 2021, the Japanese government declared a state of emergency [hyperlink] in several cities, including Tokyo, that will extend through August 22 and confirmed that no spectators would be permitted at the Games. Two weeks before the opening ceremonies, Japan's daily infections surpassed 2,000 per day, with nearly half of those in Tokyo [hyperlink]. Japan's national vaccination campaign started in mid-February--about two months after many other developed countries. Japan trails behind the United States and other countries in vaccinating its population, presenting increased risk for any Japanese athletes and volunteers that may attend the Games. A cautious vaccine approval process and a cumbersome bureaucratic approach to vaccination led to a slow rollout, though the pace of vaccinations increased in June. As of mid-July, around 28% of Japan's population had received at least one dose of the vaccine [hyperlink]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.; Halchin, L. Elaine
2021-07-13
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Defense Authorization and Appropriations Bills: FY1961-FY2021 [Updated July 12, 2021]
From the Summary: "The passage of the Department of Defense (DOD) authorization and appropriations bills through Congress often does not follow the course laid out in textbooks on legislative procedure. Tracking DOD authorization or appropriation bills can be confusing and time-consuming. This has been particularly true in recent years, when continuing resolutions (CRs) and consolidated appropriations bills containing the DOD and other appropriations bills have been enacted in lieu of the 12 regular appropriations bills for the entire U.S. government. This report is a research aid that lists the DOD authorization bills and appropriations bills for FY1961-FY2021. This report includes pertinent information on the passage of these bills through the legislative process: bill numbers, report numbers, dates reported and passed, recorded vote numbers and vote tallies, dates of passage of the conference reports with their numbers and votes, vetoes, substitutions, dates of final passage, and public law numbers. Significant definitions are also included. This report will be updated as legislative activity warrants."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Torreon, Barbara Salazar; Plagakis, Sofia
2021-07-12
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Election Administration: An Introduction to Risk-Limiting Audits [July 12, 2021]
From the Document: "Election officials conduct checks throughout the election cycle. They set up controls to guard against unauthorized access to voter registration rolls, for example, and to help ensure that poll workers follow the correct procedures. Some election checks focus on the vote counting stage of the process. They aim to ensure that the equipment and procedures used to capture and count votes report the right election outcomes. One tool officials can use to help check the accuracy of election outcomes is a type of post-election audit known as a 'risk-limiting audit.' Risk-limiting audits have been recommended as an election security measure by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, among others, and are the subject of ongoing activity at both the state and federal levels."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Shanton, Karen L.
2021-07-12
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'Johnson V. Chavez': Aliens with Reinstated Removal Orders May Be Detained Without Bond Hearings [July 12, 2021]
From the Document: "Certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens, as the term is used in the Immigration and Nationality Act [hyperlink]) who unlawfully reenter the United States after being removed are subject to a 'reinstatement of removal' process [hyperlink], which generally requires their prompt removal without a hearing. If the alien with a reinstated removal order shows a reasonable fear of persecution or torture in the country of removal, however, he or she may pursue protection from removal in 'withholding-only' proceedings. In 'Johnson v. Chavez' [hyperlink] the Supreme Court recently construed provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) as authorizing the detention without bond of aliens with reinstated removal orders pending the outcome of their withholding-only proceedings. The Court reversed a decision [hyperlink] by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Fourth Circuit) ruling that aliens placed in withholding-only proceedings are entitled to bond hearings under the discretionary detention provisions of INA § 236(a). The Supreme Court held that aliens with reinstated orders of removal are subject to the more stringent detention provisions of INA § 241(a) because that statute, by its 'plain text,' [hyperlink] applies to aliens who have been ordered removed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.
2021-07-12
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India's Domestic Political Setting [Updated July 12, 2021]
From the Overview: "India, the world's most populous democracy, is, according to its Constitution, a 'sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic' where the bulk of executive power rests with the prime minister and his Council of Ministers (the Indian president is a ceremonial chief of state with limited executive powers). Since its 1947 independence, most of India's 14 prime ministers have come from the country's Hindi-speaking northern regions, and all but 3 have been upper-caste Hindus. The 543-seat 'Lok Sabha (House of the People)' is the locus of national power, with directly elected representatives from each of the country's 28 states and 8 union territories. The president has the power to dissolve this body. A smaller upper house of a maximum 250 seats, the 'Rajya Sabha (Council of States),' may review, but not veto, revenue legislation, and has no power over the prime minister or his/her cabinet. Lok Sabha and state legislators are elected to five-year terms. Rajya Sabha legislators are elected by state assemblies to six-year terms; 12 are appointed by the president."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kronstadt, K. Alan
2021-07-12
