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Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs: FY2019 Budget and Appropriations [June 8, 2018]
"On February 12, 2018, the Trump Administration submitted to Congress its FY2019 budget request, which includes $41.86 billion of base (or enduring) funds for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS). Of that amount, $13.26 billion would be for State operations, international broadcasting, and related agencies and $28.60 billion for foreign operations. Comparing the request with the FY2018-enacted SFOPS funding levels, the FY2019 request represents a 22.7% decrease in SFOPS funding. The proposed State and related agency funding would be 18.23% below FY2018 enacted, and the foreign operations funding would be reduced by 24.7%."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Epstein, Susan B.; Lawson, Marian Leonardo; Gill, Cory Richard
2018-06-08
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Capital Markets, Securities Offerings, and Related Policy Issues [June 8, 2018]
"U.S. capital markets are the largest and considered to be the most efficient in the world. Companies rely heavily on capital access to fund growth and create jobs. As the principal regulator of U.S. capital markets, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that offers and sales of securities either be registered with the SEC or be undertaken with an exemption from registration. Registered securities offerings, often called public offerings, are available to all types of investors and have more rigorous disclosure requirements. By contrast, securities offerings that are exempt from SEC registration are referred to as private offerings and are mainly available to more sophisticated investors. Some policymakers have concluded that changes in market trends require updated regulations governing capital access. Specifically, the number of publicly listed U.S. companies has declined by half over the last two decades, and small- to medium-sized companies are said to have more difficulty accessing capital relative to larger companies. Additionally, new capital access tools not previously part of the SEC regulatory regime, such as crowdfunding and initial coin offerings, have emerged. These new tools are especially helpful for small businesses and startups."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Su, Eva
2018-06-08
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Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations [June 7, 2018]
"This report provides an overview of the key issues for Congress related to Egypt and U.S. foreign aid to Egypt. Historically, Egypt has been an important country for U.S. national security interests based on its geography, demography, and diplomatic posture. The United States has provided significant military and economic assistance to Egypt since the late 1970s. Successive U.S. Administrations have justified aid to Egypt as an investment in regional stability, built primarily on long-running cooperation with the Egyptian military and on sustaining the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. Additionally, U.S. leaders have consistently expressed concerns about governance and human rights in Egypt, and differences over these issues have tested bilateral relations repeatedly in recent years. In 2011, the United States encouraged Egypt's long-serving President Hosni Mubarak to step down in the face of a popular uprising, and revised U.S. assistance programs two years later, when the Egyptian military intervened to oust Mubarak's elected successor, Muhammad Morsi, amid popular demands."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sharp, Jeremy M.
2018-06-07
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How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal [June 7, 2018]
"This report is intended for Members and staff assisting grant seekers in districts and states and covers writing proposals for both government and private foundation grants. In preparation for writing a proposal, the report first discusses preliminary information gathering and preparation, developing ideas for the proposal, gathering community support, identifying funding resources, and seeking preliminary review of the proposal and support of relevant administrative officials. The second section of the report covers the actual writing of the proposal, from outlining of project goals, stating the purpose and objectives of the proposal, explaining the program methods to solve the stated problem, and how the results of the project will be evaluated, to long-term project planning, and, finally, developing the proposal budget. The last section of the report provides a listing of free grants-writing websites, including guidelines from the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and the Foundation Center's 'Introduction to Proposal Writing.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kreiser, Maria; Jennings, Julie
2018-06-07
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Canada-U.S. Relations [June 6, 2018]
"History, proximity, commerce, and shared values underpin the relationship between the United States and Canada. Americans and Canadians fought side by side in both World Wars, Korea, and Afghanistan, and continue to collaborate on international political and security matters, such as the campaign against the Islamic State. The countries also share mutual security commitments under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), cooperate on continental defense through the binational North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), maintain a close intelligence partnership through the 'Five Eyes' group of nations, and coordinate frequently on law enforcement efforts, with a particular focus on securing their shared 5,500 mile border. Bilateral economic ties, which were already considerable, have deepened markedly over the past three decades as trade relations have been governed by the 1989 U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement and, since 1994, by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Canada is the second largest trading partner of the United States, with total two-way cross-border goods and services trade amounting to over $1.6 billion per day in 2017. The United States is also the largest investor in Canada, while Canada is an important source of foreign direct investment in the United States. The countries have a highly integrated energy market, with Canada being the largest supplier of U.S. energy imports and the largest recipient of U.S. energy exports."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fergusson, Ian F.; Meyer, Peter J.
2018-06-06
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Rise and Decline of the Alien Tort Statute [June 6, 2018]
"A narrowly divided Supreme Court held in Jesner v. Arab Bank, PLC that foreign corporations may not be defendants in suits brought under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS). In its current form, the ATS provides that 'The district courts shall have original jurisdiction of any civil action by an alien for a tort only, committed in violation of the law of nations or a treaty of the United States.' This single-sentence statute has been the subject of intense interest in recent decades, as it has evolved from a little-known jurisdictional provision to a prominent vehicle for foreign nationals to seek redress in U.S. courts for injuries caused by human rights offenses and acts of terrorism. In a series of decisions, however, the Supreme Court has placed significant limitations on the ability to pursue claims under the ATS, and the High Court has never ruled in a plaintiff's favor in an ATS case. Jesner's holding barring foreign corporate liability marks a continuation of this trend, causing some to debate whether the ATS remains a viable mechanism to provide redress for human rights abuses."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mulligan, Stephen P.
2018-06-06
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Increase in Illicit Fentanyl Overdose Deaths [June 6, 2018]
"Fentanyl, heroin, and some prescription painkillers (such as morphine and oxycodone) belong to the class of drugs known as opioids, which act on receptors in the brain important in regulating pain and emotion. Opioids have susceptibility for abuse and potential for overdose. In 2016, more than 42,000 of the nearly 64,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States involved opioids. Led by fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50-100 times more potent than morphine, synthetic opioids emerged as the leading cause of opioid-related overdose deaths in 2016. The steep increase in deaths involving fentanyl is seen as a 'new chapter' in the opioid epidemic."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Duff, Johnathan H.; Sacco, Lisa N.
2018-06-06
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Opioid Epidemic and the Food and Drug Administration: Legal Authorities and Recent Agency Action [June 5, 2018]
"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), '115 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose,' and deaths from prescription opioids have more than quadrupled since 1999. The epidemic's origins are complex, with fingers pointed at pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, addicts and dealers, health care professionals, and insurance companies. Like the causes of the opioid epidemic, any solutions to the problem will likely involve many actors, including the federal government. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)--the executive branch agency tasked with protecting the public health by ensuring the nation's drug supply is safe and effective--has a central role in addressing widespread drug abuse, including the opioid epidemic. Given the severity of the opioid epidemic and its prominence as a matter of national concern, efforts to combat the issue will likely continue to be of significant interest to Congress. This report focuses on FDA as a key player in these efforts. The report provides a brief overview of FDA's role in approving new prescription drugs, including opioids, and also addresses selected examples of the agency's existing legal authorities under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act or Act) and recent action taken with respect to the opioid crisis. The report concludes with a discussion of selected opioid-related legislative proposals in the 115th Congress that would amend the FD&C Act."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Staman, Jennifer A.
2018-06-05
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Army Corps of Engineers: Water Resource Authorization and Project Delivery Processes [June 1, 2018]
"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in the Department of Defense undertakes water resources development activities. Its projects primarily are to maintain navigable channels, reduce flood and storm damage, and restore aquatic ecosystems. Congress directs USACE through authorizations and appropriations legislation. This report summarizes authorization legislation, the standard project delivery process, authorities for alternative water resource project delivery, and other USACE authorities. Authorization Legislation. Congress generally authorizes USACE water resource activities in authorization legislation prior to funding them through appropriations legislation. USACE's ability to act on an authorization often is determined by funding. Congress typically authorizes numerous new USACE site-specific activities and provides policy direction in an omnibus USACE authorization bill, typically titled a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Most project-specific authorizations in WRDAs fall into three general categories: project studies, construction projects, and modifications to existing projects. A few provisions in WRDA bills have time-limited authorizations; therefore, some WRDA provisions may be reauthorizing expired or expiring authorities. In 2018, USACE identified a $96 billion backlog of authorized construction projects."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Carter, Nicole T.
2018-06-01
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Water Authorization Legislation in Brief: H.R. 8 and S. 2800 [June 1, 2018]
"The 115th Congress is deliberating two water authorization bills: H.R. 8, the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (WRDA 2018), and S. 2800, America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AIWA 2018). Both bills were introduced and marked up by their respective authorizing committees in May 2018. In the tradition of previous legislation with the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) title, H.R. 8 focuses on authorizing water resource projects and activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). S. 2800 includes not only provisions related to USACE provisions but also provisions related to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), particularly in Title V of the bill ('EPA-Related Provisions'). In addition, S. 2800 includes a few other provisions that relate primarily to Department of the Interior activities and programs. Issues for the 115th Congress related to these deliberations include the scope of water issues to be addressed, how the legislation would affect federal spending, and how the legislation would affect federal and nonfederal investments in water infrastructure. There is also interest in altering how the USACE is structured and modifying its operations and delivery of water resource projects. This report provides an overview of H.R. 8 and S. 2800, including context related to the bills and the topics shaping deliberations. After a brief background, the report presents a broad overview of the two bills. The next section describes the context for the USACE provisions and discusses how the two bills address selected topics. The final section describes EPA-related provisions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Carter, Nicole T.; Tiemann, Mary
2018-06-01
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Federal Grants and Loans for State and Local Emergency Communications Projects: Frequently Asked Questions [June 1, 2018]
"Improving emergency communications has been an area of congressional interest for many years. Before September 11, 2001, Congress provided funding through grants, which could be used to improve state and local emergency communications through purchases of police and fire radios, construction of communication towers, and disaster planning, training, and exercises. After September 11, 2001, Congress increased funding to improve interoperability between public safety agencies at all levels of government to enhance communication and coordination during response. Congress has also supported investments in broadband for public safety through several grant and loan programs, many focused on expanding broadband to rural areas. In 2012, Congress provided $6.5 billion to create the First Responder Network (FirstNet), a new nationwide public safety broadband network. While this provides public safety agencies with a common platform to communicate, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies may look to federal funding to equip responders with devices, and to enhance coverage."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gallagher, Jill C.
2018-06-01
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Prioritizing Waterway Lock Projects: Barge Traffic Changes [June 1, 2018]
"Congress faces decisions about prioritizing new lock construction projects on the inland waterway system. As both houses debate differing versions of water resources and development bills (S. 2800, H.R. 8) and the FY2019 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill (S. 2975, H.R. 5895), the decision about which of these projects could be undertaken first will likely be among the most controversial issues. The inland waterway system supports barge transportation of heavy raw materials such as grain, coal, petroleum, and construction aggregates. The new locks are needed, according to the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and barge shippers, where existing locks are in poor condition, requiring frequent closures for repairs, and/or because a lock's size causes delays for barge tows. The total estimated cost for the 21 planned lock projects is several billion dollars (many of the individual projects have a cost estimate of between $300 million and $800 million). However, available funding for these projects is about $200 million per year. This is because of limited appropriations and cost-sharing capabilities. Under current cost-share arrangements, the barge industry pays half the cost of construction projects. It does this by paying a $0.29 per gallon fuel tax, which annually generates around $100 million."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Frittelli, John
2018-06-01
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Role of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) [June 1, 2018]
"The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is responsible for creating, implementing, and evaluating U.S. drug control policies to reduce the use, manufacturing, and trafficking of illicit drugs as well as drug-related health consequences, crime, and violence. ONDCP is located in the Executive Office of the President. It was created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 and most recently reauthorized by the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2006. Authorization of appropriations for ONDCP expired at the end of FY2010, but it continues to receive funding. The ONDCP director must develop a National Drug Control Strategy (Strategy) to direct the nation's anti-drug efforts-- and a companion National Drug Control Budget (Budget)--and evaluate the implementation of the Strategy by agencies contributing to the Federal Drug Control Program and the outcomes (reducing illicit drug use and its consequences). In addition, ONDCP manages the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program and other programs, including Drug Free Communities (DFC)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sacco, Lisa N.; Finklea, Kristin
2018-06-01
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Recent Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths [June 1, 2018]
"Since 2006--five years after the start of major combat operations in Afghanistan and three years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq--a total of 15,851 active-duty personnel and mobilized reservists have died while serving in the U.S. armed forces. Seventy-two percent of these casualties occurred under circumstances unrelated to war, a category classified in this report as Non-Overseas Contingency Operations, or Non-OCO. Twenty-eight percent have died while serving in OCO operations--primarily within the territory of Iraq and Afghanistan--during periods of active combat operations. OCO operations related to Afghanistan primarily include Enduring Freedom and Freedom's Sentinel. For Iraq, OCO operations include Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Inherent Resolve."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mann, Christopher T.
2018-06-01
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Epic Decision from the Supreme Court: the Supreme Court Rules Employee Class Action Waivers Are Enforceable [May 31, 2018]
"Can agreements between employers and employees to arbitrate their disputes in lieu of class action lawsuits and other collective actions be enforced in court? In Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, decided on May 21, 2018, the Supreme Court answered in the affirmative, holding that the Federal Arbitration Act of 1925 (FAA) generally requires the enforcement of arbitration agreements between employers and employees, even when such agreements preclude actions brought collectively by employees against their employer. Epic Systems, although focused on employment contracts, implicates a broader debate about the efficacy of arbitration agreements, particularly in the class action context. The case is the latest in a series of 5-4 decisions from the Court applying the FAA to enforce the application of a bilateral arbitration clause waiving class or collective proceedings. Each of these cases turned on the Court's view that arbitration is fundamentally an informal, bilateral procedure, and that the FAA is generally not displaced by other federal statutes without explicit statutory language to the contrary. In this vein, Epic Systems has potentially important implications for Congress across many of the fields in which Congress legislates. As discussed in more detail below, the case's broad view of the FAA's reach, the Court's interpretation of how the 1925 statute interacts with other federal statutes, and the case's implications for how arbitration agreements can be used to limit the availability of collective legal action all underscore the significance of arbitration agreements that preclude litigation (including class litigation) in a court of law."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Freeman, Wilson C.
2018-05-31
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Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2018 [May 31, 2018]
"The farm bill provides an opportunity for Congress to address agricultural and food issues comprehensively about every five years. Over time, farm bills have tended to become more complicated and politically sensitive. As a result, the timeline for reauthorization has become less certain, and in general recent farm bills have taken longer to enact than in previous decades. Recent farm bills, beginning with the 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-246), have been subject to various developments that have delayed enactment, such as insufficient votes to pass the House floor, presidential vetoes, and short-term extensions. The 2014 farm bill took more than 21 months from introduction to enactment and spanned the 112th and 113th Congresses. The House rejected a bill in 2013 and then passed separate farm and nutrition assistance components before procedurally recombining them for conference with the Senate. Somewhat similarly, the 2008 farm bill took more than a year to enact and was complicated by revenue provisions from another committee of jurisdiction, temporary extensions, and vetoes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Monke, Jim
2018-05-31
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Resources for Key Economic Indicators [May 30, 2018]
"An understanding of economic indicators and their significance is seen as essential to the formulation of economic policies. These indicators, or statistics, provide snapshots of an economy's health as well as starting points for economic analysis. This report contains a list of selected authoritative U.S. government sources of economic indicators, such as gross domestic product (GDP), income, inflation, and labor force (including employment and unemployment) statistics."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Teefy, Jennifer; Jennings, Julie
2018-05-30
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Sidewalks, Streets, and Tweets: Is Twitter a Public Forum? [May 30, 2018]
"On May 23, 2018, a federal district court in New York in Knight First Amendment Institute v. Trump held that the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment prohibited President Trump from blocking Twitter users solely based on those users' expression of their political views. In so doing, the court weighed in on the now-familiar but rapidly evolving debate over when an online forum qualifies as a 'public forum' entitled to special consideration under the First Amendment. Significantly, the district court concluded that 'the interactive space for replies and retweets created by each tweet sent by the @realDonaldTrump account' should be considered a 'designated public forum' where the protections of the First Amendment apply. This ruling is limited to the @realDonaldTrump Twitter account but implicates a number of larger legal issues, including when a social media account is operated by the government rather than by a private citizen, and when the government has opened up that social media account as a forum for private speech. The ability of public officials to restrict private speech on Twitter may be of particular interest to Congress, given that almost all Members now have a Twitter account."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Brannon, Valerie C.
2018-05-30
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Juneteenth: Fact Sheet [May 30, 2018]
"Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It is also known as Emancipation Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, and Black Independence Day. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX, and announced the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery. Although the Emancipation Proclamation came 2½ years earlier on January 1, 1863, and many slave owners continued to hold their slaves captive after the announcement, Juneteenth became a symbolic date representing African American freedom. This fact sheet assists congressional offices with work related to Juneteenth. It contains sample speeches and remarks from the Congressional Record, presidential proclamations and remarks, and selected historical and cultural resources."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Higgins, Molly
2018-05-30
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Intelligence Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Evaluation Process (IPPBE) [May 30, 2018]
"The Intelligence Community (IC) uses IPPBE to identify requirements and allocate resources that produce IC capabilities (e.g., human intelligence, signals intelligence, and geospatial intelligence) throughout development and execution of the National Intelligence Program (NIP) and budget. The NIP addresses priorities described in national security-related strategy documents such as the National Intelligence Strategy (NIS) and Consolidated Intelligence Guidance (CIG)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
DeVine, Michael E.
2018-05-30
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(Robo) Call Me Maybe: Robocalls to Wireless Phones Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act [May 29, 2018]
"Robocalls--calls placed using an automated dialing system or artificial or prerecorded voice--are on the rise. Advances in technology have made it cheaper and easier than ever to dial millions of consumers' numbers in infinitesimal periods of time. Furthermore, with more consumers using their wireless phones as their primary, or only, contact number, the invasiveness of robocalls has increased because callers may now reach consumers wherever they go. Enacted in 1991, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), as amended, is one of the primary federal statutes addressing robocalls to wireless phones. Other statutes, such as the Telemarketing Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act of 1994, also address phone calls consumers may consider intrusive, but are outside the scope of this sidebar. The TCPA vests the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with authority to interpret and enforce the TCPA. In 2015, the FCC issued an order (2015 Order) interpreting certain aspects of the TCPA as they relate to robocalls. Recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (D.C. Circuit), in ACA International v. Federal Communications Commission, overturned certain FCC interpretations of the scope and application of the TCPA in the 2015 Order. This sidebar briefly describes the provisions of the TCPA relating to robocalls and the 2015 Order, analyzes the D.C. Circuit's decision, and addresses the FCC's reaction to the decision and potential considerations for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ruane, Kathleen Ann
2018-05-29
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FBI Director Nominations, 1973-2017 [May 29, 2018]
"The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The statutory basis for the present nomination and confirmation process was developed in 1968 and 1976, and has been used since the death of J. Edgar Hoover in 1972. From 1973 through 2017, eight nominations for FBI Director were confirmed, and two other nominations were withdrawn by the President before confirmation. The position of FBI Director has a fixed 10-year term, and the officeholder cannot be reappointed, unless Congress acts to allow a second appointment of the incumbent. There are no statutory conditions on the President's authority to remove the FBI Director. From 1973 through 2017, two Directors were removed by the President. President William J. Clinton removed William S. Sessions from office on July 19, 1993, and President Donald J. Trump removed James B. Comey from office on May 9, 2017."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hogue, Henry B.
2018-05-29
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Daylight Saving Time [May 29, 2018]
"Daylight Saving Time (DST) is a period of the year between spring and fall when clocks in most parts of the United States are set one hour ahead of standard time. The beginning and ending dates and times--the second Sunday in March at two o'clock ante meridian and the first Sunday in November at two o'clock ante meridian--are set in statute.1 Congressional interest in the potential benefits and costs of DST has resulted in changes to DST observance since it was first adopted in the United States. Congress may consider whether to make additional changes to DST observance or standard time. Congress may also consider whether additional examination of potential benefits and costs of DST observance would be informative. This report presents a selected history of DST in the United States and includes a summary of potential effects, selected state actions related to DST or standard time, and federal legislation that has been introduced related to DST in the 115th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Clark, Corrie E.; Cunningham, Lynn J.
2018-05-29
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Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Issues and Debate in the 115th Congress [May 29, 2018]
"On April 27, 2018, the House of Representatives passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 4), a six-year Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization measure that does not include a controversial proposal to privatize air traffic control laid (ATC) out in an earlier bill, H.R. 2997. On May 9, 2018, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation reported a four-year FAA reauthorization bill (S. 1405, S.Rept. 115-243) that does not address ATC privatization. The enactment of either bill would be the first long-term FAA reauthorization act since the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-95) expired at the end of FY2015."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Elias, Bartholomew; Tang, Rachel
2018-05-29
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Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): Frequently Asked Questions [May 25, 2018]
"Legislation to reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)--sometimes called 'fast track'--the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015), was signed into law by President Obama on June 29, 2015 (P.L. 114-26). If the President negotiates an international trade agreement that would reduce tariff or nontariff barriers to trade in ways that require changes in U.S. law, the United States can implement the agreement only through the enactment of legislation. If the trade agreement and the process of negotiating it meet certain requirements, TPA allows Congress to consider the required implementing bill under expedited procedures, pursuant to which the bill may come to the floor without action by the leadership, and can receive a guaranteed up-or-down vote with no amendments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fergusson, Ian F.; Davis, Christopher M., 1966-
2018-05-25
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Venezuela's 2018 Presidential Elections [May 24, 2018]
"On May 20, 2018, Venezuela held presidential elections that were boycotted by the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) coalition of opposition parties and dismissed as illegitimate by the United States, the European Union (EU), and 14 Western Hemisphere nations (the Lima Group). According to the official results, President Nicolás Maduro of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) won reelection for a second six-year term with 67.7% of the vote amidst relatively high abstention (46% of voters participated). Maduro's main opponent, Henri Falcón, former governor of Lara state, rejected the results. The election triggered new U.S. sanctions. The Maduro government rejected those sanctions and expelled the top two U.S. diplomats in Caracas; the U.S. State Department responded reciprocally."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2018-05-24
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Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies [May 24, 2018]
"This list of about 200 congressional liaison offices is intended to help congressional offices in placing telephone calls and addressing correspondence to government agencies. The information was supplied by the appropriate agency and is current as of the date of publication. Entries are arranged alphabetically in four sections: legislative branch; judicial branch; executive branch; and agencies, boards, and commissions. This report is not intended to be comprehensive. It includes contacts at major federal agencies and agencies for which CRS has received repeated requests."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Crane-Hirsch, Audrey Celeste
2018-05-24
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Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress [May 24, 2018]
"This report provides background information and issues for Congress on maritime territorial and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) disputes in the East China (ECS) and South China Sea (SCS) involving China, with a focus on how these disputes may affect U.S. strategic and policy interests. Other CRS reports focus on other aspects of these disputes. China's actions for asserting and defending its maritime territorial and EEZ claims in the ECS and SCS raise several potential policy and oversight issues for Congress. Decisions that Congress makes on these issues could substantially affect U.S. strategic, political, and economic interests in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere. This report uses the term China's near-seas region to mean the Yellow Sea, the ECS, and the SCS. This report uses the term EEZ dispute to refer to a dispute principally between China and the United States over whether coastal states have a right under international law to regulate the activities of foreign military forces operating in their EEZs. There are also other kinds of EEZ disputes, including disputes between neighboring countries regarding the extents of their adjacent EEZs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2018-05-24
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International Monetary Fund [May 24, 2018]
"This report provides background information for Congress concerning the International Monetary Fund (IMF, the Fund), the central multilateral organization for international monetary cooperation. The United States is the largest financial contributor to the IMF and congressional interest in IMF activities has increased since the onset of the international financial crisis in 2008. IMF lending has surged during the past decade, including large loans to Greece, Ireland, and Portugal. Potential policy issues for Congress include the role of the IMF as a lender of last resort, the adequacy of IMF resources, and the effectiveness of IMF surveillance of financial and monetary conditions in its member countries and of the world economy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weiss, Martin A.
2018-05-24
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Vehicle Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Standards: Frequently Asked Questions [May 24, 2018]
"The Trump Administration announced on April 2, 2018, its intent to revise through rulemaking the federal standards that regulate fuel economy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new passenger cars and light trucks. These standards include the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards promulgated by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Light-Duty Vehicle GHG emissions standards promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They are known collectively-- along with California's Advanced Clean Car program--as the National Program. NHTSA and EPA promulgated the second (current) phase of CAFE and GHG emissions standards affecting model year (MY) 2017-2025 light-duty vehicles on October 15, 2012. Like the initial phase of standards for MYs 2012-2016, the Phase 2 rulemaking was preceded by a multiparty agreement, brokered by the White House. The agreement included the State of California, 13 auto manufacturers, and the United Auto Workers union. The manufacturers agreed to reduce GHG emissions from most new passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and pickup trucks by about 50% by 2025, compared to 2010, with fleet-wide fuel economy rising to nearly 50 miles per gallon."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lattanzio, Richard K.; Tsang, Linda; Canis, Bill
2018-05-24
