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Fact Sheet: The Collaborative Migration Management Strategy
From the Webpage: "Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is releasing the Migration Strategy. It is the first U.S. government strategy focused on strengthening cooperative efforts to manage safe, orderly, and humane migration in North and Central America. In line with our Nation's highest values, the Migration Strategy contributes to a humane and secure approach by improving regional cooperation to manage migration, expanding protection, and enhancing access to lawful pathways for migration. It is driven by the U.S. government's belief that all individuals should be able to find safety and achieve a stable and dignified life within their own countries. When that is not the case, asylum and other legal migration pathways should be available to those who need them. The United States has strong national security, economic, and humanitarian interests in promoting safe, orderly, and humane migration. By enhancing humanitarian support, regional protections, and investing in migration management, the United States will help build a more stable region, strengthen legal pathways for those who must migrate, and reduce irregular migration." The full Collaborative Migration Management Strategy can be found here: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=856842].
United States. White House Office
2021-07-29
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Military Installations: DOD Should Consider Various Support Services When Designating Sites as Remote or Isolated, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "DOD operates hundreds of installations in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, which support the daily operations of military units. The support services provided to servicemembers and their dependents at these installations include morale, welfare, and recreation services; medical care; housing; and education. Senate Report 116-48, accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review support services at remote or isolated installations. This report assesses the extent to which DOD (1) designated installations in the United States since 2011 as remote or isolated for the provision of support services, and (2) established objectives for support services at installations and assessed whether current support services are meeting the needs of servicemembers and their dependents. GAO reviewed relevant policies and guidance, conducted interviews with four selected installations and conducted a non-generalizable web-based survey of 756 active-duty servicemembers. GAO is making two recommendations to DOD to develop policy for designating installations in the United States as remote or isolated that includes a process for considering support services in addition to MWR [morale, welfare, and recreation], and to assess the risks of not providing support services and subsequently develop strategies to meet identified needs. As discussed in the report, DOD concurred with the recommendations and described some related actions."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-29
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Paycheck Protection Program: SBA Added Program Safeguards, but Additional Actions Are Needed, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "Since March 2020, Congress has provided commitment authority of about $814 billion for PPP [Paycheck Protection Program], which provides small businesses with low-interest loans that SBA [Small Business Administration] fully guarantees. The CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to monitor funds provided for the COVID-19 [coronavirus 2019] pandemic. This report examines (1) safeguards that SBA put in place during the PPP loan approval process, (2) the PPP loan forgiveness process, including processes for unforgiven loans, and (3) SBA's oversight of PPP loans and lenders. GAO reviewed SBA documentation; surveyed a generalizable sample of PPP lenders; analyzed data on loan forgiveness applications; compared SBA processes against federal guidance on credit programs; and interviewed staff from SBA, the Department of the Treasury, and four trade associations representing lenders. GAO recommends that SBA (1) finalize a process for claiming the PPP loan guarantee, (2) implement the statutory requirement to purchase PPP loans in advance of loan forgiveness or seek statutory exceptions to the requirement, (3) finalize procedures for the steps of its loan review process that are not yet documented, and (4) develop and implement a process to ensure timely communication with lenders. SBA generally agreed with the four recommendations, including seeking statutory flexibility or repeal of the requirement to purchase PPP loans in advance of loan forgiveness."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-29
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EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 30, July 29, 2021
The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "Fire and EMS [emergency medical services] health and wellness resources from the National Volunteer Fire Council"; "Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association discusses response to Champlain Tower collapse"; "FBI releases annual report, Active Shooter Incidents in the United States in 2020"; "Webinar: Crisis stabilization & scene management: A roadmap to de-escalation, field dynamics and decision making using the R.O.A.R [Respond-Observe-Assess-React] model"; "CISA [U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] Alert (AA21-209A): Top Routinely Exploited Vulnerabilities"; "MDBR [Malicious Domain Blocking and Reporting] stops ransomware, phishing, malware, and more"; "DHS announces new cybersecurity requirements for critical pipeline owners and operators"; "Google is using machine learning to stop DDoS [distributed denial-of-service] attacks"; and "Kaseya obtains universal decryptor key for recent REvil ransomware attacks."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2021-07-29
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Private Security Contractors: DOD Needs to Better Identify and Monitor Personnel and Contracts, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "During Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001-2014 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003-2011, DOD significantly increased its use of PSCs [private security contractors]. In 2008, the Swiss Government and the Red Cross issued the Montreux Document, which generally reaffirmed the obligation nations have to ensure that their PSCs respect international humanitarian law. PSCs supporting DOD have faced international attention resulting from incidents allegedly involving their personnel. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 included a provision for GAO [government Accountability Office] to review DOD's use of PSCs. GAO assessed the extent to which DOD has (1) identified PSC contracts and personnel used to support contingency operations and (2) established a framework to oversee the department's use of PSC contracts. GAO analyzed DOD contract and personnel data for PSCs from 2009 through 2019, reviewed DOD guidance on PSC use, and conducted interviews with DOD officials and representatives from standards organizations. GAO is making three recommendations to improve PSC oversight, including identifying and communicating the activities that fall under DOD's definition of PSC functions, and assigning a senior-level position responsible for monitoring the implementation of DOD's PSC oversight framework. DOD partially concurred with the recommendations, agreeing in substance and planning several actions as a result. DOD's planned actions should address the intent of GAO's recommendations if implemented."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-29
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COVID-19 Pandemic: Actions Needed to Improve Federal Oversight of Assistance to Individuals, Communities, and the Transportation Industry, Statement of Heather Krause, Director, Physical Infrastructure and Chris P. Currie, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony Before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "In response to the public health and economic crises created by the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, Congress provided billions of dollars across a range of agencies to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. This included billions to: [1] FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund to provide assistance to individuals as well as state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and [2] DOT [Department of Transportation] and Treasury to provide financial assistance to the transportation sector. This statement describes: (1) the federal response and selected relief programs administered by FEMA, DOT, and Treasury and (2) lessons learned based on GAO's [Government Accountability Office's] reviews of selected COVID-19 relief programs, including related recommendations and their implementation status. This statement is based on GAO's body of work on the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act issued from June 2020 through July 2021. To update this information, GAO reviewed agency documentation; and interviewed agency officials, industry associations, and selected businesses that applied to these programs on the latest implementation efforts."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Krause, Heather; Currie, Chris
2021-07-29
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COVID-19 Contracting: Opportunities to Improve Practices to Assess Prospective Vendors and Capture Lessons Learned, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "In response to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], agencies awarded contracts for goods and services to vendors from a range of industries and with varying levels of federal contracting experience, but some vendors have been unable to deliver under those contracts. The CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act] Act included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review COVID-19-related federal contracting under the act. This report addresses (1) COVID-19 contract obligations and characteristics of vendors, (2) contracting challenges, including with agency assessments of vendors, and (3) whether lessons learned efforts reflect those challenges. GAO analyzed federal procurement data on agencies' reported COVID-19 contract obligations through May 31, 2021. GAO examined a nongeneralizable sample of 28 contracts with high dollar values or other characteristics from four agencies--DOD, HHS [Department of Health and Human Services], USDA, and DHS. GAO interviewed officials, including Office of Management and Budget (OMB) officials about their emergency acquisition guidance. GAO is making 10 recommendations, including that agencies establish processes to better collect and communicate contracting lessons learned during emergencies such as COVID-19. Agencies agreed with nine recommendations. OMB did not agree to establish time frames for updating its guidance. GAO continues to believe OMB should do so, as discussed in this report."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-29
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Bureau of Prisons: BOP Could Further Enhance Its COVID-19 Response by Capturing and Incorporating Lessons Learned, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "BOP [Federal Bureau of Prisons] was responsible for the custody and care of about 129,000 federal inmates in BOP-managed facilities, and employed more than 37,000 staff as of May 2021. Because of confined spaces, the prison population is particularly vulnerable during infectious disease outbreaks, such as COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. About $620 million has been appropriated to or designated by BOP for COVID-19- related efforts. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review BOP's approach to responding to COVID-19. This report addresses, among other objectives: (1) BOP's development and updates of COVID-19 guidance; (2) BOP's provision of PPE [personal protective equipment], COVID-19 tests and vaccines, and infection and fatality rates for inmates and staff; and (3) the impact of COVID-19 on inmates and staff, and the extent to which BOP has incorporated lessons learned into its response. GAO reviewed BOP policies, data, and other documentation related to the impact of COVID-19 and how BOP addressed it. GAO also conducted non-generalizable interviews of officials from five BOP facilities and one private facility operating under contract with BOP, selected based on inmate infection rates and other factors. GAO is making three recommendations that BOP evaluate communication of COVID-19 guidance, develop an approach to capture and share best practices and lessons learned; and develop an approach to ensure facilities apply these practices as appropriate. BOP concurred with all three recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-29
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Congressional Budget Office Estimate: CBO's Estimate for Senate Amendment 2123, an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3237, the Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office Estimate for Senate Amendment 2123 related to emergency-designated discretionary spending. From the Document: "Senate Amendment 2123 would provide supplemental appropriations for federal agencies and the legislative branch to respond to events at the United States Capitol that occurred on January 6, 2021. The legislation also would provide supplemental appropriations to legislative branch agencies to prevent, prepare for, and respond to impacts of coronavirus. Those amounts would be designated as emergency spending, in keeping with section 251 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. The limits on discretionary budget authority established by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-25), as amended, would be adjusted to accommodate such spending."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-07-29
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Cybersecurity and Information Technology: Federal Agencies Need to Strengthen Efforts to Address High-Risk Areas, Statement of Carol C. Harris, Director, Information Technology and Cybersecurity, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Government Operations, Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "The nation's critical infrastructures and federal agencies are dependent on IT [information technology] systems and electronic data to carry out operations and to process, maintain, and report essential information. Each year, the federal government spends more than $100 billion on cybersecurity and IT investments. GAO has long stressed the continuing and urgent need for effective cybersecurity, as underscored by recent events that have illustrated persistent and evermore sophisticated cyber threats and incidents. Moreover, many IT investments have failed, performed poorly, or suffered from ineffective management. Accordingly, GAO has included information security on its high-risk list since 1997 and added improving the management of IT acquisitions and operations in 2015. In its March 2021 high-risk series update, GAO reported that significant attention was needed in both of these important areas. GAO was asked to testify on federal agencies' efforts to address cybersecurity and the management of IT. For this testimony, GAO relied on selected products it previously issued."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Harris, Carol C.
2021-07-28
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Fact Sheet: The Biden Administration Blueprint for a Fair, Orderly and Humane Immigration System
From the Webpage: "The United States can have an orderly, secure, and well-managed border while treating people fairly and humanely. In January, the Biden-Harris Administration 'launched' [hyperlink] a broad, whole of government effort to reform our immigration system, including sending to Congress legislation that creates a new system to responsibly manage and secure our border, provide a pathway to citizenship, and better manage migration across the Hemisphere. [...] Today the Administration is releasing a blueprint that outlines the next steps Federal agencies will be taking to continue implementing the President's transformative vision for a 21st century immigration system that secures the border, fairly and efficiently considers asylum claims, strengthens regional migration management efforts in North and Central America, and addresses the root causes of migration from Central America."
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
2021-07-27
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, July 27, 2021: Guidance for Implementing COVID-19 Prevention Strategies in the Context of Varying Community Transmission Levels and Vaccination Coverage
he 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 early release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Guidance for Implementing COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Prevention Strategies in the Context of Varying Community Transmission Levels and Vaccination Coverage." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from MMWR can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-07-27
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 1734, Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Amendments of 2021
From the Bill Summary: "H.R. 1734 would extend the collection of coal reclamation fees through 2036. The bill would reauthorize annual payments to states and Indian tribes under the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program, which would be made without further appropriation. Under the bill, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) would be required to disburse previously sequestered amounts to states and tribes. The bill also would exempt future payments from sequestration. Finally, H.R. 1734 would increase the minimum annual payment that some states receive from $3 million to $5 million."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-07-27
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 1471, Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on May 26, 2021. From the Document: "S. 1471 would make it a federal crime to export Native American cultural items, archaeological resources, and objects of antiquity without proper authorization and would require exporters to obtain an export certification. Federal agencies would need to convene working groups to reduce trafficking and encourage repatriation of cultural heritage items. The bill also would direct the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Department of State to designate liaisons to facilitate voluntary returns of unlawfully acquired items. Those agencies would provide training to tribal organizations, collectors, and dealers concerning the new prohibitions."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-07-27
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Federal Contracting: Senior Leaders Should Use Leading Companies' Key Practices to Improve Performance, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Federal agencies face significant, longstanding procurement challenges that increase the risk of waste and mismanagement. GAO [U.S. Government Accountability Office] was asked to review key procurement practices in the private sector and assess whether federal agencies could adopt them. This report examines key practices that leading companies use to improve the performance of their procurement organizations, and the extent to which procurement leaders at selected federal agencies use those practices. GAO interviewed senior procurement leaders at seven leading companies, and experts from four professional associations and five academic institutions. GAO selected these individuals based on literature reviews and conversations with knowledgeable officials. GAO compared key practices they identified to those used at six federal agencies selected based on the dollar value and number of their procurement actions, among other factors. GAO analyzed documentation on each agency's procurement management practices, and interviewed the agencies' senior procurement leaders. The federal government does not have generally accepted definitions for outcome-oriented and process-oriented metrics. For the purposes of this report, GAO defined outcome-oriented metrics as those metrics that measure the results of organizations' procurement activities. GAO defined process-oriented metrics as those metrics that measure the type or level of procurement activities conducted."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-27
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Critical Infrastructure Protection: TSA is Taking Steps to Address Some Pipeline Security Program Weaknesses, Statement of Leslie V. Gordon, Acting Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Statement Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "The nation's pipelines are vulnerable to cyber-based attacks due to increased reliance on computerized systems. In May 2021 malicious cyber actors deployed ransomware against Colonial Pipeline's business systems. The company subsequently disconnected certain systems that monitor and control physical pipeline functions so that they would not be compromised. This statement discusses TSA's [Transportation Security Administration] actions to address previous GAO findings related to weaknesses in its pipeline security program and TSA's guidance to pipeline owner/operators. It is based on prior GAO products issued in December 2018, June 2019, and March 2021, along with updates on actions TSA has taken to address GAO's recommendations as of June 2021. To conduct the prior work, GAO analyzed TSA documents; interviewed TSA officials, industry association representatives, and a sample of pipeline operators selected based on type of commodity transported and other factors; and observed TSA security reviews. GAO also reviewed TSA's May and July 2021 Pipeline Security Directives, TSA's Pipeline Security Guidelines, and three federal security alerts issued in July 2020, May 2021, and June 2021."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-27
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 1037, Manufacturing.gov Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on May 12, 2021. From the Document: "S. 1037 would require the Department of Commerce to establish a section on its manufacturing.gov website that contains information about federal manufacturing programs. That new section would include contact information for relevant federal programs, an avenue for public feedback, and issue-area webpages. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] expects that the department would carry out most of the activities required under S. 1037 as part of its normal duties to update and maintain the manufacturing.gov website. Any additional costs would be insignificant and subject to the availability of appropriated funds."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-07-27
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FY 2018 Audit of Science and Technology Bankcard Program Indicates Risks
From the Highlights: "'The Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012' requires the Office of Inspector General to conduct an annual risk assessment and periodic audits of agency charge card programs. We conducted this audit to determine to what extent S&T [Science and Technology Directorate] implemented internal controls to ensure that its Bankcard Program is managed and maintained to prevent illegal, improper, and erroneous purchases and payments, as required. [...] Although the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) had internal controls in place to ensure it managed and maintained its Bankcard Program as required, S&T did not always adhere to Department of Homeland Security and internal purchase card policies and procedures. Of 421 purchase card transactions selected for review, we identified 394 transactions that did not have required supporting documentation, separation of key transaction duties, approvals and other required signatures, or did not comply with other risk-based procedures. According to S&T officials, these issues occurred due to shortfalls in program oversight and training, as well as outdated policy. As a result, we identified $63,213 in questionable costs associated with purchase card transactions for which S&T personnel could not provide supporting documentation."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
Johnson, William; Hughes, Kathy; McCowin, LaTrina . . .
2021-07-27
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Inadequate FEMA Oversight Delayed Completion and Closeout of Louisiana's Public Assistance Projects
From the Highlights: "From 2013 to 2018, Louisiana received nearly $957 million to help recover from nine federally-declared disasters. Our objective was to determine to what extent the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ensures Louisiana manages and provides oversight of Public Assistance (PA) grants to ensure compliance with Federal regulations. [...] FEMA did not ensure Louisiana adequately managed and provided oversight of PA grants to make certain the State complied with Federal regulations. Specifically, Louisiana had a backlog of 600 incomplete projects beyond their approved completion dates. We attribute this to the State not conducting regular site visits to assess subrecipients' ongoing projects and identify and resolve issues as they arose that would have helped ensure prompt project completion. In addition, FEMA had a backlog of 2,150 completed grant projects it had not closed out due to inadequate oversight of its Region 6 staff to ensure they promptly carried out this responsibility."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
Arnold, Larry; Skrmetti, John; James, Mary . . .
2021-07-27
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 65, Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as passed by the Senate on July 14, 2021. From the Document: "Under S. 65, goods from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China would be presumed to be made using forced labor, and their importation would be banned. The bill also would impose sanctions on people or entities that contribute to forced-labor practices in that region. Those actions would have insignificant effects on direct spending and revenues. The bill also would require the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and the Department of Treasury to report to the Congress on their efforts to address forced labor in the Xinjiang region. Satisfying those requirements would each cost less than $500,000 and total $1 million over the 2021-2026 period. Such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-07-26
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 576, Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on April 28, 2021. From the Document: "S. 576 would authorize the appropriation of $350 million in 2022 for the Coast Guard (USCG) to acquire an icebreaker vessel for use in the Great Lakes. The bill also would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO), within one year of enactment, to review proposed standards for the Coast Guard's icebreaking operations in the Great Lakes and provide recommendations to improve that program. Under the bill, the USCG would report to the Congress on its plans to implement GAO's recommendations and would need to maintain a database on icebreaking activities in the Great Lakes. [...] Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates that the costs to the USCG and GAO to implement the administrative and reporting requirements under the bill would total $1 million over the 2021-2026 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-07-26
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 516, Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on May 12, 2021. From the Document: "S. 516 would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish an interagency working group on advanced air mobility (AAM) consisting of representatives from at least 10 federal agencies. [...] Using information from DOT and based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing S. 516 would cost $1 million over the 2021-2026 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-07-26
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 15, Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on April 28, 2021. From the Document: "S. 15 would require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report to the Congress on scams targeting senior citizens. The bill also would require the FTC to update its website to include the latest information on scams targeting seniors and work with media and law enforcement to distribute the latest information on such scams. Using information from the FTC, CBO estimates that implementing S. 15 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2021-2031 period[.]"
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-07-26
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 3119, Energy Emergency Leadership Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as passed by the House of Representatives on July 19, 2021. From the Document: "H.R. 3119 would amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to add energy emergency and energy security functions to the duties assigned by the Secretary to assistant secretaries in the Department of Energy (DOE). Those assistant secretaries also would provide energy security-related technical support and response assistance to state, local, and tribal governments."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-07-26
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COVID-19 Contracting: Actions Needed to Enhance Transparency and Oversight of Selected Awards, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In March 2020, Congress passed the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act as part of the federal response to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. The act had certain provisions for federal contracting, including providing additional flexibilities. Contracting plays a critical role in the pandemic response as agencies obligate billions of dollars for goods and services. The act also included a provision for GAO [U.S. Government Accountability Office] to review federal contracting in response to COVID-19. This report examines, among other objectives, the extent to which the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security--the only agencies that reported using other transaction agreements in response to COVID-19 in the federal procurement database--used such agreements, including awards to consortia, and oversight of such use. GAO analyzed federal procurement data as of March 2021; reviewed a nongeneralizable sample of 15 agreements selected based on high dollar amounts, agency, a mix of products and services, among other criteria; reviewed agency policies; and interviewed agency officials. GAO is making 14 recommendations to selected agencies, to improve the transparency of agreement awards in the federal procurement database and update policies to improve the oversight of agreements awarded through consortium management firms. The agencies agreed with 11 of the recommendations and did not agree with three of them. GAO continues to believe the recommendations are valid, as discussed in the report."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07-26
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2641, Pacific Northwest Pumped Storage Hydropower Development Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on May 26, 2021. From the Document: "Under current law, nonfederal entities that propose to develop hydropower at reservoirs administered by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) must enter into a lease with BOR or obtain a license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The regulatory jurisdiction of each BOR reservoir was previously negotiated by the agencies to clarify which permitting process would be in effect for each reservoir. At least one project, a proposal to develop pumped storage hydropower within BOR's Colombia Basin Project (CBP) in the state of Washington, would need permits from both agencies because it would be constructed on two reservoirs; Banks Lake would require a BOR lease and Lake Roosevelt reservoir would require a FERC license. (Pumped storage hydropower is a type of storage for hydroelectric energy used by electric power systems for load balancing.) H.R. 2641 would make BOR the sole regulatory authority for developers seeking a lease for a pumped storage hydropower facility at federal reservoirs. The bill also would require the nonfederal developer to negotiate an agreement with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation as a condition for a BOR lease on CBP facilities."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-07-26
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 1041, Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on June 24, 2021. From the Document: "S. 1041 would require the Department of State to assess and report to the Congress on efforts to use targeted sanctions and diplomacy to promote free, fair, and transparent elections in Nicaragua, and to coordinate the department's efforts with U.S. allies. The bill also would require the department to report to the Congress on several related issues, including cooperation between Nicaragua and Russia on military, intelligence, and other matters. Finally, S. 1041 would require the Department of the Treasury to increase its scrutiny of assistance provided to Nicaragua by international financial institutions and to report to the Congress on its actions. On the basis of information about the costs to prepare similar reports, CBO estimates that satisfying those various reporting requirements would cost less than $500,000 each year and total $1 million over the 2021-2026 period."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-07-23
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 2000, U.S.-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on June 24, 2021. From the Document: "S. 2000 would authorize appropriations of $134 million over the 2022-2026 period for defense-related assistance to Greece. Using historical spending rates for those programs, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost a total of $62 million over that period, subject to appropriation of the specified amounts. The remainder would be spent after 2026. [...] On the basis of information about the costs to prepare similar reports, CBO estimates that satisfying those requirements would cost less than $500,000 over the 2021-2026 period."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-07-23
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2617, Performance Enhancement Reform Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on May 25, 2021. From the Document: "Under current law, federal agencies must publicly release plans that detail performance goals and measurements for all program activities. H.R. 2617 would require agencies to include information about the human capital, technology, and other resources necessary to achieve those goals. The bill also would require collaboration among the chief performance officer and other executives within the agency as they prepare those plans. Because most of the bill's requirements would codify existing guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 2617 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2021-2026 period. Those costs would be for OMB to amend that guidance and for federal agencies to expand their current reporting. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-07-23
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 1061, Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on June 24, 2021. From the Document: "S. 1061 would require the Department of State to assess and report to the Congress on Israel's relations with other countries and on international efforts to promote and normalize such relations. Those requirements would end five years after enactment. On the basis of information about the costs to prepare similar reports, CBO estimates that satisfying that requirement would cost less than $500,000 over the 2021-2026 period. Such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-07-23
