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Federal Spending on Benefits and Services for People with Low Income: In Brief [February 6, 2018]
"The Congressional Research Service (CRS) regularly receives requests about spending on programs that target low-income individuals and families for benefits and services. CRS has produced a series of reports that identify these programs and provides their spending amounts and recent spending trends. The most recent of this series is CRS Report R44574, Federal Benefits and Services for People with Low Income: Overview of Spending Trends, FY2008-FY2015. This In Brief report provides an interim update of the federal spending information in R44574 by extending it to include FY2016, the most recent year for which the federal spending data were available as of January 2018. In FY2016, the federal government spent $877.5 billion on benefits and services for people with low income. This was a 3.5% increase from the prior fiscal year. The increase was faster than both the rate of inflation over the year (1.2%) and the rate of economic growth (2.8%)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Falk, Gene; Lynch, Karen E.; Tollestrup, Jessica
2018-02-06
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Criminal Prohibitions on Disclosing the Identities of Covert Intelligence Assets [February 6, 2018]
"The recent arrest of a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer with knowledge of human intelligence operations targeting China that reportedly have been compromised raises questions regarding possible legal recourse the United States may take. The alleged perpetrator, Jerry Chun Shing Lee, was arrested in New York and is being transferred to Virginia on a criminal complaint alleging willful retention of national defense information in violation of the Espionage Act. Such an offense is punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine. If other reported allegations regarding the damage to the U.S. human intelligence network can be substantiated, more charges may be possible. For example, if, as alleged, the retained information was disclosed to any person not authorized to receive it, the Espionage Act, 18 U.S.C. §793(e) could also be charged."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Elsea, Jennifer
2018-02-06
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SIDA Airport Security (Fiscal Year 2017 Report to Congress)
"This report is submitted pursuant to Senate Report 114-264 accompanying the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act (P.L. 115-31). Senate Report 114-264 states: The Committee is concerned about the potential for misuse of Secure Identification Display Area (SIDA) badges in the United States stemming from reports that terrorist organizations have used airline workers to carry out attacks in Egypt and Somalia. The Department, in conjunction with airports, airlines, State and local law enforcement, and other agencies as appropriate, shall take actions to secure air travel in the United States, including information-based screening of aviation workers against available domestic and foreign intelligence. The Committee directs TSA [Transportation Security Administration] to report to the Committee on what steps TSA has already taken to secure our Nation's airports working with airports, relevant State and local law enforcement, and the aviation community. This report should include the number of known cases where SIDA badges were used to bypass secure checkpoints for non-official purposes and the number of cases where individuals who obtained SIDA badges traveled overseas to a foreign terrorist organization."
United States. Department of Homeland Security; United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of the Chief Financial Officer
2018-02-06
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New Nuclear Warheads: Legislative Provisions [February 5, 2018]
"This Insight reviews legislation addressing research and development on new or low-yield nuclear weapons and notes that under current law, an Administration must request specific authorization and appropriations from Congress before funding new or modified warheads. It does not address the policy debate on the benefits and risks of this capability."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Woolf, Amy F.
2018-02-05
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Al Qaeda and U.S. Policy: Middle East and Africa [February 5, 2018]
"Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, groups claiming allegiance to Al Qaeda have proliferated in the Middle East and Africa. Some of these groups have pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda (AQ) leader Ayman al Zawahiri, and others have not. Even among the groups that have formal alliances with Al Qaeda, there is significant variation in the extent to which they are operationally integrated with Al Qaeda's senior leadership in practice. Some of these groups, despite the formal alliances, emerged in the context of local conflicts and are self-sustaining. In other cases, Al Qaeda and its affiliates have focused on 'exploiting local and regional conflicts.' While many of the groups discussed in this report focus the majority of their attacks on local targets, U.S. officials have identified them as posing a credible threat to the United States or its allies, or to U.S. interests in the Middle East and Africa."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Thomas, Clayton (Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs)
2018-02-05
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U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean: FY2018 Appropriations [February 5, 2018]
"This report provides an overview of U.S. assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean. It examines historical and recent trends in aid to the region; the Trump Administration's FY2018 budget request for aid administered by the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Inter-American Foundation; and legislative developments on FY2018 foreign aid appropriations. It also analyzes how the Administration's proposed cuts could affect U.S. policy in Latin America and the Caribbean."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Meyer, Peter J.
2018-02-05
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Nutrition Labeling of Restaurant Menu and Vending Machine Items [February 5, 2018]
"This report discusses the role of nutrition labeling in obesity management and prevention; the research on the effectiveness of restaurant menu calorie labeling; FDA's [Food and Drug Administration] authority to regulate nutrition labeling; and the FDA's final rules on restaurant menu and vending machine labeling. The report also identifies issues for Congress and flags stakeholders' concerns regarding FDA's final menu labeling rule."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dabrowska, Agata
2018-02-05
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New START Treaty: Central Limits and Key Provisions [February 5, 2018]
"New START [Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty] provides the parties with 7 years to reduce their forces, and will remain in force for a total of 10 years. It limits each side to no more than 800 deployed and nondeployed land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launchers and deployed and nondeployed heavy bombers equipped to carry nuclear armaments. Within that total, each side can retain no more than 700 deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs, and deployed heavy bombers equipped to carry nuclear armaments. The treaty also limits each side to no more than 1,550 deployed warheads; those are the actual number of warheads on deployed ICBMs and SLBMs, and one warhead for each deployed heavy bomber."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Woolf, Amy F.
2018-02-05
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Department of Homeland Security Annual Performance Report, Fiscal Years 2017-2019: Appendix B: Relevant GAO and OIG Reports
From the About Section: "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Annual Performance Report for Fiscal Years (FY) 2017-2019 presents the Department's performance measures and applicable results, provides the planned performance targets for FY 2018 and FY 2019, and includes information on the Department's Strategic Review and our Agency Priority Goals. Additionally, this report presents information on the Department's reform agenda (in compliance with Executive Order 13781), regulatory reform, the Human Capital Operating Plan, and a summary of our performance challenges and high-risk areas identified by the DHS Office of the Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office. The report is consolidated to incorporate our annual performance plan and annual performance report."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2018-02-05
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Department of Homeland Security Annual Performance Report: Fiscal Years 2017-2019
From the About Section: "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Annual Performance Report for Fiscal Years (FY) 2017-2019 presents the Department's performance measures and applicable results, provides the planned performance targets for FY 2018 and FY 2019, and includes information on the Department's Strategic Review and our Agency Priority Goals. Additionally, this report presents information on the Department's reform agenda (in compliance with Executive Order 13781), regulatory reform, the Human Capital Operating Plan, and a summary of our performance challenges and high-risk areas identified by the DHS Office of the Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office. The report is consolidated to incorporate our annual performance plan and annual performance report."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2018-02-05
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Department of Homeland Security Annual Performance Report, Fiscal Years 2017-2019: Appendix A: Measure Descriptions, Data Collection Methodologies, and Verification and Validation Information
From the About Section: "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Annual Performance Report for Fiscal Years (FY) 2017-2019 presents the Department's performance measures and applicable results, provides the planned performance targets for FY 2018 and FY 2019, and includes information on the Department's Strategic Review and our Agency Priority Goals. Additionally, this report presents information on the Department's reform agenda (in compliance with Executive Order 13781), regulatory reform, the Human Capital Operating Plan, and a summary of our performance challenges and high-risk areas identified by the DHS Office of the Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office. The report is consolidated to incorporate our annual performance plan and annual performance report."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2018-02-05
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2018 National Defense Strategy [February 5, 2018]
"On January 19, 2018, Secretary of Defense Mattis released the unclassified summary of the Department of Defense's (DOD) first congressionally mandated National Defense Strategy (NDS). In addition to stating DOD's approach to contending with current and emerging national security challenges, the NDS is also intended to articulate the overall strategic rationale for programs and priorities contained within the FY2019-FY2023 budget requests. Overall, the document maintains that the strategic environment in which the United States must operate is one characterized by the erosion of the rules-based international order, which has produced a degree of strategic complexity and volatility not seen 'in recent memory' (p. 1). As a result, the document argues, the United States must bolster its competitive military advantage--which the NDS sees as having eroded in recent decades--relative to the threats posed by China and Russia. It further maintains that 'inter-state strategic competition, not terrorism, is now the primary concern in U.S. national security.' (p. 1)"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McInnis, Kathleen J.
2018-02-05
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FEMA Daily Operations Briefings, February 4 - 10, 2018
This document is a compilation of all the FEMA Daily Operations Briefings from February 4 - 10, 2018. The FEMA Daily Operations Briefing provides an overview of the current emergency management situation nationwide and includes a summary of current significant events, weather activity, recent emergency declarations and projections for the coming week.
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2018-02-04?
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Federal Employees' Retirement System: Summary of Recent Trends [February 2, 2018]
"This report describes recent trends in the characteristics of annuitants and current employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) as well as the financial status of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Isaacs, Katelin P., 1980-
2018-02-02
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'Extraordinary Measures' and the Debt Limit [February 2, 2018]
"The statutory debt limit was reinstated on December 9, 2017, at a level that precisely accommodated the federal borrowing undertaken to that date. On December 11 and 12, 2017, Secretary Mnuchin announced that the Treasury would implement 'extraordinary measures' that delay when the debt limit will bind. Additionally, on December 8, 2017, the Bureau of the Fiscal Service suspended sales of certain Treasury securities to extend the Treasury's ability to meet statutory spending requirements without defaulting on its debt obligations. This Insight briefly examines the debt limit and the use of extraordinary measures, and will be updated periodically to reflect changes in the status of federal borrowing."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Driessen, Grant A.; Hughes, Joseph S.
2018-02-02
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Trespassing: The Leading Cause of Rail- Related Fatalities [February 2, 2018]
"Train derailments or collisions are often well-publicized events and receive significant attention from policymakers seeking to reduce their reoccurrence. Less attention has been devoted to trespassing, although it is a much greater cause of rail-related fatalities than derailments and collisions combined. Since 2005, over three-fifths of deaths in rail incidents have been pedestrian trespassers, and vehicle-train accidents at railroad grade crossings account for nearly one-third (see Figure 1; note that the trespassing deaths in the figure do not include suicides)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Frittelli, John
2018-02-02
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What Causes a Recession? [February 2, 2018]
"At 104 months, the current economic expansion is already the third longest on record, and it will equal the second longest if it persists until April. This expansion, like all previous ones, will eventually end and be followed by a recession. Few economists are forecasting a recession in 2018, but recessions are notoriously hard to predict even a few months beforehand."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Labonte, Marc
2018-02-02
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House Committee Chairs: Considerations, Decisions, and Actions as One Congress Ends and a New Congress Begins [February 2, 2018]
"This report covers the period from the House's early organization meetings in November to approximately March or April following the convening of a new Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schneider, Judy; Koempel, Michael L.
2018-02-02
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Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency: Overview and Issues for Congress [February 2, 2018]
This report provides an overview of DARPA [Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency], including the agency's organizational structure, characteristics (i.e., the "DARPA model"), and strategic priorities. The report also describes funding trends at DARPA and the Administration's FY2018 budget request. Finally, the report discusses select issues for possible congressional consideration, including the appropriate level of funding for the agency, technology transfer, and the potential role of DARPA in maintaining the technological superiority of the U.S. military.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gallo, Marcy E.
2018-02-02
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[Letter from Devin Nunes, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Regarding Memorandum on 'Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Abuses at the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation,' February 2, 2018]
"On January 29, 2018, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (hereinafter ''the Committee') voted to disclose publicly a memorandum containing classified information provided to the Committee in connection with its oversight activities (the 'Memorandum,' which is attached to this letter). As provided by clause 1 l(g) of Rule X of the House of Representatives, the Committee has forwarded this Memorandum to the President based on its determination that the release of the Memorandum would serve the public interest. The Constitution vests the President with the authority to protect national security secrets from disclosure. As the Supreme Court has recognized, it is the President's responsibility to classify, declassify, and control access to information bearing on our intelligence sources and methods and national defense. 'See, e.g., Dep't o/Navy v. Egan', 484 U.S. 518, 527 (1988). In order to facilitate appropriate congressional oversight, the Executive Branch may entrust classified information to the appropriate committees of Congress, as it has done in connection with the Committee's oversight activities here. The Executive Branch does so on the assumption that the Committee will responsibly protect such classified information, consistent with the laws of the United States."
United States. Congress. House. Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
2018-02-02
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Surveillance Summaries, February 2, 2018
"In 2014, approximately 59,000 persons died in the United States as a result of violence-related injuries. This report summarizes data from CDC's National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) regarding violent deaths from 18 U.S. states for 2014. Results are reported by sex, age group, race/ethnicity, marital status, location of injury, method of injury, circumstances of injury, and other selected characteristics."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2018-02-02
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, February 2, 2018
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This issue of MMWR contains the following: "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day -- February 7, 2018"; "Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Sustained Viral Suppression and Transmission Risk Potential Among Persons Receiving HIV Care -- United States, 2014"; "Cigarette Brand Preference and Pro-Tobacco Advertising Among Middle and High School Students -- United States, 2012-2016"; "Acute Illnesses and Injuries Related to Total Release Foggers -- 10 States, 2007-2015"; "Outbreak of Seoul Virus Among Rats and Rat Owners -- United States and Canada, 2017"; "Notes from the Field: Public Health Response to a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Outbreak Associated with Unsafe Injection Practices - Roka Commune, Cambodia, 2016"; "Notice to Readers: Change in Continuing Education Activities for MMWR Weekly"; and "QuickStats: Percentage of Residential Care Communities That Use Electronic Health Records, by Community Bed Size -- United States, 2016."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2018-02-02
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Unfunded Mandates Reform Act: History, Impact, and Issues [February 2, 2018]
"This report examines debates over what constitutes an unfunded federal mandate and UMRA's [Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995} implementation. It focuses on UMRA's requirement that CBO [Congressional Budget Office] issue written cost estimate statements for federal mandates in legislation, its procedures for raising points of order in the House and Senate concerning unfunded federal mandates in legislation, and its requirement that federal agencies prepare written cost estimate statements for federal mandates in rules. It also assesses UMRA's impact on federal mandates and arguments concerning UMRA's future, focusing on UMRA's definitions, exclusions, and exceptions that currently exempt many federal actions with potentially significant financial impacts on nonfederal entities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dilger, Robert Jay, 1954-
2018-02-02
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Small Business Administration and Job Creation [February 2, 2018]
"The Small Business Administration (SBA) administers several programs to support small businesses, including loan guaranty programs, disaster loan programs, management and technical assistance training programs, and federal contracting programs. Congressional interest in these programs has increased in recent years, primarily because they are viewed as a means to stimulate economic activity and create jobs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dilger, Robert Jay, 1954-
2018-02-02
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2018 Broadband Deployment Report
From the Introduction: "Recognizing the importance of high-speed broadband Internet access, Congress tasked the Commission with 'encourag[ing] the deployment on a reasonable and timely basis of advanced telecommunications capability to all Americans.' To ensure the Commission took this obligation seriously, Congress required the Commission to report on our progress each year. The last time the Commission issued a broadband deployment report in 2016, it found 'that advanced telecommunications capability is not being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion'--in other words, that Commission policy was not adequately 'encourag[ing]' the deployment of advanced telecommunications capability. With this report we can confirm that was true: In the wake of the 2015 'Title II Order', the deployment of advanced telecommunications capability slowed dramatically. [...] That's why over the past year, the Commission has followed the congressional command and taken repeated 'action[s] to accelerate deployment of such capability by removing barriers to infrastructure investment and by promoting competition in the telecommunications market.'"
United States. Federal Communications Commission
2018-02-02
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Debt Limit Since 2011 [February 2, 2018]
"The Constitution grants Congress the power to borrow money on the credit of the United States-- one part of its power of the purse--and thus mandates that Congress exercise control over federal debt. Control of debt policy has at times provided Congress with a means of raising concerns regarding fiscal policies. Debates over federal fiscal policy have been especially animated in recent years. The accumulation of federal debt accelerated in the wake of the 2007-2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession. Rising debt levels, along with continued differences in views of fiscal policy, led to a series of contentious debt limit episodes in recent years."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Austin, D. Andrew
2018-02-02
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Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador: Key Takeaways and Analysis [February 2, 2018]
From the Document: "Recently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the impending termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for Sudan [hyperlink], Nicaragua [hyperlink], Haiti [hyperlink], and El Salvador [hyperlink]. Certain non-U.S. nationals from designated TPS countries, who otherwise might lack the ability to remain in the United States, are permitted to stay and work in the United States during the period of TPS designation. Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador had been designated for TPS for most of the past two decades due to unstable or dangerous conditions in those countries. After concluding that the conditions originally warranting those TPS designations no longer exist, DHS announced dates on which the designations would no longer be in effect. Consequently, aliens from these countries who had previously been protected from removal through TPS-based relief might not be able to remain in the United States unless they have a separate legal basis for their continued presence. This Legal Sidebar examines some of the key legal takeaways and implications of DHS's decision to terminate the four countries' TPS designations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.
2018-02-02
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Federal Criminal Restitution: Most Debt is Outstanding and Oversight of Collections Could Be Improved
From the Highlights: "One of the goals of federal criminal restitution is to restore victims of federal crimes to the position they occupied before the crime was committed by providing compensation. Various entities within the federal government are involved in the process of requesting, ordering, and collecting restitution for crime victims, including DOJ [Department of Justice] and the judiciary. The Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016 includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the federal criminal restitution process for fiscal years 2014 through 2016. This report addresses, among other things: (1) the extent to which information is available on restitution requested by DOJ and ordered by courts; (2) the amount of restitution debt DOJ collected and the amount that remains outstanding; and, (3) the extent to which DOJ has conducted oversight on the collection of restitution. GAO analyzed laws, policies and procedures as well as USSC [U.S. Sentencing Commission] data on restitution orders and DOJ data on restitution collected from fiscal years 2014 through 2016. GAO also selected a non-generalizable sample of six federal judicial districts based on restitution collections and spoke with USAO [U.S. Attorney's Office] officials and federal probation officers."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2018-02-02
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Postvention in the U.S. Military: Survey of Survivors of Suicide Loss from 2010-2014
From the Abstract: "Postvention refers to any activity that aims to alleviate the psychological pain of a suicide loss survivor and to reduce the harmful effects of suicide exposure, especially suicide contagion. The goal of this study was to determine whether suicide loss survivors have any unique psychological needs (compared to accident loss survivors) that are currently unmet by postvention services provided by the DoD. To address this, researchers administered a survey to survivors (next of kin [NOK] and fellow unit members) of suicide or accident loss that assessed survivors' usage of and satisfaction with DoD postvention programs and services as well as survivors' current psychological functioning. Results indicated that NOK and fellow unit members of Service members who died by suicide from 2010 to 2014 experienced significantly higher levels of shame and stigma compared to survivors of Service members who died in accidents (e.g., motor vehicle accidents) in the same time frame. [...] Among NOK, suicide loss survivors reported significantly less satisfaction with their experiences around the death investigation than accident loss survivors. Among fellow unit members, suicide loss survivors reported significantly less satisfaction with unit leadership and funeral or memorial services. Open-ended items contextualized these findings and brought forward other important survivor needs. Synthesis of the quantitative and qualitative data yielded nine main findings. Recommendations include how to provide better and more consistent postvention support to survivors of suicide loss within the DoD."
Defense Personnel Security Research Center (U.S.)
Ho, Tiffany E.; Schneider, Kristin Grace, 1977-; Baweja, Jessica A. . . .
2018-02
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Persistence and Decontamination of Radioactive Cesium-137 in a Model Drinking Water System
"The objective of this 33-page report was to evaluate the persistence of radioactive cesium-137 (Cs-137), on concrete-lined, copper, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, and possible decontamination approaches. During this study, conditions within operational drinking water pipes were simulated using annular reactors (ARs) (i.e., ring-shaped reactors). These results suggest that potassium chloride (KCl) would be a better decontamination agent compared to ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) since the decontamination performance is comparable, and KCl does not corrode the copper pipe."
United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Research and Development
Szabo, Jeffrey G.; James, Ryan (Chemist)
2018-02
