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• State Plans for Accelerating Student Learning: A Preliminary Analysis

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  From the Document: "One year after the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic forced state and school leaders across the nation and around the world to immediately close school buildings, the lasting impact on students is increasingly evident: Months of online learning and limited in-person interaction with educators, coaches and mentors have led to gaps in learning, and unknown emotional impacts on millions of K12 students and educators. [...] Council of Chief State School Officers [hyperlink] (CCSSO) and National Governors Association [hyperlink] (NGA) analyzed emerging state efforts to accelerate student learning this summer and during the 2021-22 school year. We reviewed available state plans, websites, media reports and gubernatorial State of the State addresses for most states. Because each state is at different stages in their planning, in many cases, the documents reviewed were initial drafts, plan outlines (with specifics still being developed) or the first in a series of resources being developed. 'This memo provides an overview of notable strategies and trends that were identified through this analysis, and is organized around four major steps, which serve as the framing for this memo.' Along with describing the activities states are taking as part of each step, this memo includes a range of state examples and links to related resources."

  National Governors' Association; Council of Chief State School Officers

  2021-04-21
• Department of Veterans Affairs Participation in the Federal Energy Management Program, Hearing Before the Subcommittee Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifth Congress, Second Session, March 18, 1998

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  This is the March 18, 1998 hearing on "Department of Veterans Affairs Participation in the Federal Energy Management Program," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. From the Opening Statement of Terry Everett: "This hearing today by the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is intended to provide an in-depth look at the Department of Veterans Affairs' commitment and participation in the Federal Energy Management Program." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Archibald, Kenneth Clark, Milton Hunter, Erbin Keith, and Robert A. Palazzi.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1998
• Public Health 2000: Hepatitis C-The Silent Epidemic, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifth Congress, Second Session, March 5, 1998

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  This is the March 5, 1998 hearing on "Public Health 2000: Hepatitis C-The Silent Epidemic," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight. From the Opening Statement of Christopher Shays: "Hepatitis C virus, HCV, poses a daunting challenge to public health. Chronic infection can linger without symptoms for more than 20 years, then produce profound health consequences, including liver failure and cancer. [...] As an oversight subcommittee committed to proactive public health policy, we convene today's hearing seeking an open constructive discussion as to how Health and Human Services will take these steps to confront the threat of HCV more aggressively." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Guthrie S. Birkhead, Thomas Holohan, Ann Jesse, C. Everett Koop, Carroll Leevy, John Mazzuchi, David Satcher, and Teresa Wright.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1998
• China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities-Background and Issues for Congress [June 8, 2011]

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  From the Summary: "The question of how the United States should respond to China's military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, has emerged as a key issue in U.S. defense planning. Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, stated in June 2010 that 'I have moved from being curious to being genuinely concerned' about China's military programs. The question of how the United States should respond to China's military modernization effort is of particular importance to the U.S. Navy, because many U.S. military programs for countering improved Chinese military forces would fall within the Navy's budget. […] Placing an increased emphasis on U.S. Navy programs for countering improved Chinese maritime military capabilities in coming years could lead to one or more of the following: developing and procuring highly capable ships, aircraft, and weapons for defeating Chinese anti-access systems; assigning a larger percentage of the Navy to the Pacific Fleet; homeporting more of the Pacific Fleet's ships at forward locations such as Hawaii, Guam, and Japan; increasing training and exercises in operations relating to countering Chinese maritime anti-access forces; and increasing activities for monitoring and understanding developments in China's navy, as well as activities for measuring and better understanding operating conditions in the Western Pacific."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  O'Rourke, Ronald

  2011-06-08
• Federal Stafford Act Disaster Assistance: Presidential Declarations, Eligible Activities, and Funding [June 7, 2011]

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  From the Summary: "The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act) authorizes the President to issue major disaster or emergency declarations in response to catastrophes in the United States that overwhelm state and local governments. Such declarations result in the distribution of a wide range of federal aid to individuals and families, certain nonprofit organizations, and public agencies. Congress appropriates money to the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), through both annual appropriations and emergency supplemental appropriations, for disaster assistance authorized by the Stafford Act. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) administers most, but not all, of the authority the statute vests in the President. […] Previously introduced legislation during the 111th Congress would have amended the statute. Among the proposals, H.R. 3377, the Disaster Response, Recovery, and Mitigation Enhancement Act of 2009, would have authorized the Disaster Relief Fund, provided health benefits to temporary or intermittent federal employees who provide disaster assistance, authorized the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System, and requested FEMA to update standards for individual assistance disaster requests. Other bills sought to reauthorize a mortgage and rental assistance program terminated in 2000 (H.R. 888/S. 763), establish new eligibility criteria (H.R. 941, H.R. 1059, H.R. 1494, H.R. 2484, H.R. 4141, and S. 1069), and mandate establishment of a tracking and storage plan for housing units used by disaster survivors (H.R. 3437/S. 713)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McCarthy, Francis X.

  2011-06-07
• Future of the Eurozone and U.S. Interests [January 10, 2011]

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  From the Summary: "Seventeen of the European Union's 27 member states share an economic and monetary union (EMU) with the euro as a single currency. Based on a gross domestic product (GDP) and global trade and investment shares comparable to the United States, these countries (collectively referred to as the Eurozone) are a major player in the world economy and can affect U.S. economic and political interests in significant ways. Given its economic and political heft, the evolution and future direction of the Eurozone is of major interest to Congress, particularly committees with oversight responsibilities for U.S. international economic and foreign policies. Uncertainty about the future of the Eurozone grew in early 2010 as a result of the onset of a sovereign debt crisis in Greece that spread to Ireland later in the year. These concerns, in turn, took on added significance because the euro is considered a cornerstone of the European integration process. One important cause of the crisis stemmed from flaws in the architecture of the currency union, including the fact that the EMU provides for a common central bank (the European Central Bank or ECB), and thus a common monetary policy, but leaves fiscal policy up to the member countries. Weak enforcement of fiscal discipline, over time, led to rising public debts, contributing to the 2010 Eurozone debt crisis. The problems were compounded by rapid expansion private sector debt in a number of countries, most notably Ireland."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Ahearn, Raymond J.; Jackson, James K., 1949-; Nelson, Rebecca M.

  2011-01-10
• U.S. Sanctions on Burma [January 11, 2011]

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  From the Summary: "Existing U.S. sanctions on Burma are based on various U.S. laws and Presidential Executive Orders. This report provides a brief history of U.S. policy towards Burma and the development of U.S. sanctions, a topical summary of those sanctions, and an examination of additional sanctions that have been considered, but not enacted, by Congress, or that could be imposed under existing law or executive orders. The report concludes with a discussion of options for Congress. The current U.S. sanctions on Burma are the result of a general, but uneven decline in U.S. relations with Burma and its military, the Tatmadaw, since World War II. For the most part, the decline is due to what the U.S. government sees as a general disregard by the Burmese military for the human rights and civil liberties of the people of Burma. In general, Congress has passed Burma-specific sanctions following instances of serious violation of human rights in Burma. These began following the Tatmadaw's violent suppression of popular protests in 1988, and have continued through several subsequent periods in which Congress perceived major human rights violations in Burma. The result is a web of overlapping sanctions subject to differing restrictions, waiver provisions, expiration conditions, and reporting requirements. The United States currently imposes sanctions specifically on Burma via five laws and four presidential Executive Orders (E.O.s). These sanctions can be generally divided into several broad categories, such as visa bans, restrictions on financial services, prohibitions of Burmese imported goods, a ban on new investments in Burma, and constraints on U.S. assistance to Burma."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Martin, Michael F.

  2011-01-11
• War Powers Resolution: Presidential Compliance [February 3, 2011]

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  From the Summary: "Two separate but closely related issues confront Congress each time the President introduces armed forces into a situation abroad that conceivably could lead to their involvement in hostilities. One issue concerns the division of war powers between the President and Congress, whether the use of armed forces falls within the purview of the congressional power to declare war and the War Powers Resolution (WPR). The other issue is whether or not Congress concurs in the wisdom of the action. This report does not deal with the substantive merits of using armed forces in specific cases, but rather with congressional authorization for military action, and the application and effectiveness of the WPR. The purpose of the WPR (P.L. 93-148, passed over President Nixon's veto on November 7, 1973) is to ensure that Congress and the President share in making decisions that may get the United States involved in hostilities. Compliance becomes an issue whenever the President introduces U.S. forces abroad in situations that might be construed as hostilities or imminent hostilities. Criteria for compliance include prior consultation with Congress, fulfillment of the reporting requirements, and congressional authorization. If the President has not complied fully, the issue becomes what action Congress should take to bring about compliance or to influence U.S. policy. A related issue has been congressional authorization of U.N. peacekeeping or other U.N.-sponsored actions."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Grimmett, Richard F.

  2011-02-03
• Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy [February 18, 2011]

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  From the Summary: "After experiencing serious unrest during the late 1990s, Bahrain undertook several steps to enhance the inclusion of the Shiite majority in governance. However, protests erupting following the uprising that overthrew Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on February 11, 2011, demonstrate that Shiite grievances over the distribution of power and economic opportunities remain unsatisfied. The new unrest comes four months after smaller protests against the efforts by the Sunni-led government's efforts to maintain its tight grip on power in the October 23, 2010, parliamentary election. That election, no matter the outcome, would not have unseated the ruling Al Khalifa family from power, but the Shiite population was hoping that winning a majority in the elected lower house could give it greater authority with which to challenge the ruling family. In advance of the elections, the government launched a wave of arrests intended to try to discredit some of the hard-line Shiite leadership as tools of Iran. The main Shiite faction, an Islamist group called 'Wifaq' (Accord), won one more seat than it did in the 2006 election but still ended up short of a majority (18 out of the 40 seats) in the elected lower house. Underlying the unrest are Bahraini leadership concerns that Iran is supporting Shiite opposition movements, possibly in an effort to install a Shiite led, pro-Iranian government on the island. These fears are occasionally reinforced by comments from Iranian editorialists and political leaders that Bahrain should never have become formally independent of Iran. On the other hand, Bahrain's Shiite oppositionists accuse the government of inflating the Iran threat, and the contacts between Iran and the opposition, to discredit the opposition politically. Bahrain's rulers have tried to avoid inviting Iranian aggression, in part by signing energy agreements with Iran and by allowing Iranian banks and businesses to operate there."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Katzman, Kenneth

  2011-02-18
• Uganda: Current Conditions and the Crisis in North Uganda [June 8 ,2011]

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  From the Summary: "In February 2006, Ugandans voted in the first multi-party elections in almost 26 years. President Yoweri Museveni and his ruling National Revolutionary Movement (NRM) parliamentary candidates won a decisive victory over opposition candidate Kizza Besigye and the Forum for Democracy Coalition. Nevertheless, poll results showed a notable decline in support for President Museveni from previous elections. International election observers did not condemn the election results, nor did they fully endorse the electoral process. Critics charged the government with intimidating the opposition during the pre-election period, and Besigye spent much of the campaign period in jail. The election followed a controversial move by the Ugandan parliament in July 2005 to remove the constitutional two-term limit on the presidency. […] Uganda deployed an estimated 2,700 peacekeeping troops to Somalia, shortly after Ethiopian forces invaded Mogadishu and installed the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). As of June, there are an estimated 5,000 Ugandan peacekeeping troops in Somalia. As of June 2011, more than 50 Ugandan and Burundian peacekeeping forces have been killed. In early June 2011, six peacekeepers were killed, including a senior Ugandan officer. On July 11, 2010, the Somali terrorist group Al-Shabaab carried out multiple suicide bombings in Kampala, Uganda. An estimated 76 people, including one American, were killed and more than 80 injured. The United Nations, the African Union, and the United States condemned the terrorist attacks. More than 20 suspects are currently in prison."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dagne, Theodore S.

  2011-06-08
• U.S.-Australia Civilian Nuclear Cooperation: Issues for Congress [January 18, 2011]

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  From the Summary: "Australia and the United States have cooperated in the peaceful use of nuclear energy since the mid-1950s. The framework for this cooperation is a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement as required by section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act. President Obama transmitted the text of the latest renewal agreement to Congress on May 5, 2010, along with the required Nuclear Proliferation Assessment Statement (NPAS) and his determination that the agreement promotes U.S. national security. Congress had 30 days of continuous session for consultations with the Administration, followed by an additional 60 days of continuous session to review the agreement. If not opposed by a joint resolution of disapproval or other legislation, then the agreement is considered approved at the end of this time period. Congress also has the option of adopting either a joint resolution of approval with (or without) conditions or standalone legislation that could approve or disapprove the agreement. On November 30, 2010, the House passed H.R. 6411 by voice vote. The bill would have approved the agreement even if the required congressional review period is not reached. The Senate has not yet acted on its version of the bill (S. 3844). The required congressional review period was reached on December 3, 2010. The United States and Australia first concluded a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement in 1957. That agreement was updated in 1979. Australia sells around 36% of its $1 billion in uranium exports to the United States. The United States is also a major processor of Australian uranium sold to other countries. Australia does not currently possess any nuclear power plants, but it operates one research reactor."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham; Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-

  2011-01-18
• Cuba: Issues for the 111th Congress [January 4, 2011]

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  From the Summary: "Cuba remains a one-party communist state with a poor record on human rights. The country's political succession in 2006 from the long-ruling Fidel Castro to his brother Raúl was characterized by a remarkable degree of stability. The government of Raúl Castro implemented limited economic policy changes in 2008 and 2009, and in September 2010 began a significant series of reforms to reduce the public sector and increase private enterprise. Few observers expect the government to ease its tight control over the political system, although it has reduced the number of political prisoners significantly. Since the early 1960s, U.S. policy has consisted largely of isolating Cuba through economic sanctions. A second policy component has consisted of support measures for the Cuban people, including U.S.-sponsored broadcasting and support for human rights activists. In light of Fidel Castro's departure as head of government, many observers called for a re-examination of U.S. policy. The Obama Administration lifted restrictions on family travel and remittances and restarted talks with the Cuban government. It criticized Cuba's repression of dissidents, but also welcomed the release of political prisoners. The Administration also repeatedly called for the release of a U.S. government subcontractor imprisoned since December 2009."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sullivan, Mark P.

  2011-01-04
• Core Competencies for Human Trafficking Response in Health Care and Behavioral Health Systems

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  From the Executive Summary: "The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) and the SOAR [Stop Observe Ask Respond] Coordinating Group, HEAL [Health Education Advocacy Linkage] Trafficking (HEAL), the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), and the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) collaborated to develop core competencies for health care and behavioral health practitioners (HCPs) in human trafficking identification, response, and service provision that is grounded in a public health approach. OTIP funded the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center (NHTTAC) to facilitate and contribute to the collaborative development process of these core competencies designed to improve outcomes for individuals who have experienced trafficking and individuals who are at risk of trafficking. Through empowering health and behavioral health systems, the competencies support a transformation of these systems, using an effective, evidence-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach to trafficking."

  United States. Department of Health and Human Services. National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center

  Garrett, Ashley L.; Chon, Katherine Y.; Batley, Chaka . . .

  2021-02
• Prisons and Penny-Pinching: Finding Budget Savings in the Time of COVID-19

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  From the Key Points: "[1] Largely unprecedented responses to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] taken by individuals and governments have caused deep and broadly felt shocks to national and state economies. [2] The need for 'prudent fiscal management' in light of projected tax revenue shortfalls moved state leaders to request 5% budget reductions by some state agencies for the 2020-2021 biennium. [3] The Department of Criminal Justice has identified about $306 million in cost savings in its FY 2022-23 Legislative Appropriations Request. [4] Proposed reforms to technical violations, expansion of diligent participation credits, and enacting presumptive supervision for some drug offenses can help save money while improving public safety. [5] A lack of available state data regarding many aspects of the justice system hinders the ability to faithfully judge the fiscal merits of various criminal justice legislation."

  Texas Public Policy Foundation

  Haugen, Michael

  2021-01
• Claims and Dispute Resolution: Agreement Between the United States of America and Sudan with Annex and Schedules

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  From the Document: "The Department of State of the United States of America refers the Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan in Washington to the consultations between representatives of the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Sudan relating to the conditions for the release of funds to be placed in escrow in anticipation of the Government of the Republic of the Sudan providing compensation to address claims related to the bombings of the United States Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and the attack on the U.S.S. Cole."

  United States. Department of State

  2020-10-21
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 496, Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on April 21, 2021. From the Document: "H.R. [House of Representatives Bill] 496 would declare it U.S. policy to deny visas and entry into the United States to officials of the Russian government, if those officials were responsible for violations of religious freedom in parts of Ukraine controlled by Russia. In addition, the bill would require the Department of State to consider those violations in determining whether to designate Russia as a country of concern in its annual reports on international religious freedom. Designated countries can face a range of consequences such as diplomatic condemnation of their actions and sanctions on trade and financial transactions. CBO estimates that enacting the bill would increase the number of people who would be denied visas by the Department of State and denied entry into the United States. Most visa fees are retained by the department and spent without further appropriation, but some fees are deposited in the Treasury as revenues. Denying foreign nationals entry into the United States would reduce direct spending for certain federal benefits for which they are eligible, such as emergency Medicaid or federal subsidies for health insurance. Using data from similar restrictions on travel to the United States, CBO estimates that few people would be affected by the policy; thus, enacting the bill would have insignificant effects on revenues and direct spending."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2021-05-04
• Public Health 2000: Immune Globulin Shortages--Causes and Cures, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Human Resources, of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifth Congress, Second Session, May 7, 1998

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  This is the May 7, 1998 hearing on "Public Health 2000: Immune Globulin Shortages--Causes and Cures," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Human Resources. From the opening statement of Christopher Shays: "Persistent shortages of a critical medicine are endangering the lives of patients and threatening the public health. Inadequate supplies of immune globulins, IG, disease-fighting antibodies extracted from blood plasma, pose a profound challenge to the entire health care delivery system[.] [...] What is causing the shortages? Plasma fractionation companies and the FDA point to three factors: one, increased demand; two, decreased production, and, three, decreased availability of finished products after withdrawals and recalls to address the risk of transmitting Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease [CJD]. Exports also reduce the amount of IG available to patients here. Blood and plasma donors provide a precious community resource with the expectation it will benefit their neighbors and countrymen, particularly in times of shortages. Yet exports of IG from U.S. plasma held constant in 1997 at more than 20 percent of total production, even as domestic supplies fell by 10 percent and even as Europe was suffering no shortages." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: David Satcher, Michael Friedman, Stephen Ostroff, Bernice Steinhardt, Donna Hobson, Robert Kobayashi, Douglas Scheckelhoff, Jan Bult, Jan Turek, Gail Gaumer Schulze, John Bacich, Jr., H. Edward Matveld, Brian McDonough, Ruedi E. Wager, Wayne Yetter, and Deborah Dunsire.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  1998
• FY2010 Supplemental for Wars, Disaster Assistance, Haiti Relief, and Other Programs [July 23, 2010]

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  From the Summary: "Much of the debate about this year's supplemental focused on the effect on the deficit of additional spending. Under budget rules, Congress does not offset spending that is designated as emergency. So much of the debate has focused on what types of spending are appropriately emergency spending, and offsetting non-emergency spending. Offsets can come from either rescissions, which cancel prior year budget authority (BA), and then apply that BA to new spending, reducing the amount of new budget authority required, or mandatory program savings. On March 23, 2010, the House passed H.R. 4899, the Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act with $5.1 billion to replenish FEMA's Disaster Assistance Fund, $600 million for a Labor Department summer jobs program, offset by $600 million in rescissions so that the bill required $5.1 billion in new budget authority (BA). On May 26, 2010, the House Appropriations Committee (HAC) scheduled a markup of a draft bill with $84.8 billion in new BA, but that markup was cancelled. [...] On July 1, 2010, the House passed its amended version of the bill with $81.8 billion including funds for disaster assistance, wars, Haiti relief, preventing teacher layoffs, agricultural and energy loans, and Pell Grants in discretionary spending as well as mandatory funding for new VA benefits and the two court cases. With $12.2 billion in rescissions and ten-year savings of $4.5 billion in mandatory savings over ten years from lower government drug prices, that bill would require $65.1 billion in new BA."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Belasco, Amy; Else, Daniel H.; Lindsay, Bruce R.

  2010-07-23
• Coast Guard Deepwater Acquisition Programs: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress [September 29, 2010]

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  From the Summary: "The term Deepwater refers to a collection of more than a dozen Coast Guard acquisition programs for replacing and modernizing the service's aging fleet of deepwater-capable ships and aircraft. Until April 2007, the Coast Guard pursued these programs as a single, integrated acquisition program that was known as the Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) program or Deepwater program for short. The now-separated Deepwater acquisition programs include plans for, among other things, 91 new cutters, 124 new small boats, and 247 new or modernized airplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The year 2007 was a watershed year for Deepwater acquisition. The management and execution of what was then the single, integrated Deepwater program was strongly criticized by various observers. House and Senate committees held several oversight hearings on the program. Bills were introduced to restructure or reform the program in various ways. Coast Guard and industry officials acknowledged certain problems in the program's management and execution and defended the program's management and execution in other respects. The Coast Guard announced a number of reform actions that significantly altered the service's approach to Deepwater acquisition (and to Coast Guard acquisition in general). Among these was the change from a single, integrated Deepwater acquisition program to a collection of separate Deepwater acquisition programs."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  O'Rourke, Ronald

  2010-09-29
• Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS): Current Legislative Issues [September 15, 2010]

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  From the Summary: "The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program was created by Title I of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-322). The mission of the COPS program is to advance community policing in all jurisdictions across the United States. The Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-162) reauthorized the COPS program through FY2009 and changed the COPS program from a multi-grant program to a single-grant program. Legislation has been introduced in the 111th Congress that would reauthorize the program through FY2014 along with reestablishing COPS as a multi-grant program. This report provides an overview of issues Congress may consider when taking up legislation to reauthorize the COPS program."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  James, Nathan

  2010-09-15
• Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 111th Congress [September 24, 2010]

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  From the Summary: "Commercial and sport fishing are jointly managed by the federal government and individual states. States generally have jurisdiction within 3 miles of the coast. Beyond state jurisdiction and out to 200 miles, the federal government manages fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA) through eight regional fishery management councils. Beyond 200 miles, the United States participates in international agreements relating to specific areas or species. The 111th Congress may oversee implementation of the MSFCMA as well as address individual habitat and management concerns for U.S. commercial and sport fisheries to achieve a sustainable balance between resource use and protection. Current concerns include whether additional effort should be taken to eliminate overfishing, how fishery disaster assistance should be funded, and whether to more aggressively encourage fishing vessel capacity reduction and limited access privilege programs. The 111th Congress has enacted P.L. 111-5, including language to broaden the basis for determining import increases for trade adjustment assistance for fishing and aquaculture to include wild-caught fish and seafood in addition to farm-raised fish and seafood. In addition, P.L. 111-11 authorized implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement providing for the reintroduction of Chinook salmon; extended the authorizations for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basin endangered fish recovery programs through FY2023; directed the Secretary of Commerce to establish an ocean acidification program within NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration], and to establish an interagency committee to develop an ocean acidification research and monitoring plan; and reauthorized (through FY2015) and amend the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2000."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Buck, Eugene H.; Upton, Harold F. (Harold Frank)

  2010-09-24
• Pathway for Peace in Afghanistan: Examining the Findings and Recommendations of the Afghanistan Study Group, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on National Security of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, February 19, 2021

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  This is the February 19, 2021 hearing on "Pathway for Peace in Afghanistan: Examining the Findings and Recommendations of the Afghanistan Study Group," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on National Security of the Committee on Oversight and Reform. From the Opening Statement of Stephen F. Lynch: "Since the war in Afghanistan began nearly 20 years ago, more than 775,000 of our brave men and women in uniform have deployed to Afghanistan. More than 2,400 have made the ultimate sacrifice, and another 20,000 have been wounded. The war is now the longest in our Nation's history and has cost American taxpayers more than $860 billion. On February 29, 2020, after more than a year of diplomatic negotiations led by U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, the Trump administration, and the Taliban, signed a landmark agreement for bringing peace to Afghanistan. [...] This agreement established a timeline for the complete withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan by May 1, 2021, so long as the Taliban agreed to begin peace talks with the Afghan Government and to sever its ties with al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Kelly A. Ayotte, Joseph F. Dunford Jr., and Nancy Lindborg.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Helium-3 Shortage: Supply, Demand, and Options for Congress [September 21, 2010]

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  From the Summary: "The world is experiencing a shortage of helium-3, a rare isotope of helium with applications in homeland security, national security, medicine, industry, and science. For many years the supply of helium-3 from the nuclear weapons program outstripped the demand for helium-3. The demand was small enough that a substantial stockpile of helium-3 accumulated. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the federal government began deploying neutron detectors at the U.S. border to help secure the nation against smuggled nuclear and radiological material. The deployment of this equipment created new demand for helium-3. Use of the polarized helium-3 medical imaging technique also increased. As a result, the size of the stockpile shrank. After several years of demand exceeding supply, a call for large quantities of helium-3 spurred federal officials to realize that insufficient helium-3 was available to meet the likely future demand. Policymakers now face a number of challenging decisions. In the short term, these decisions are mainly about how to allocate a scarce resource in the face of competing priorities: science versus security, the private sector versus the public sector, and national needs versus international obligations. Applications with unique needs may pose particular challenges. For example, some types of cryogenic research can only be accomplished using helium-3, whereas in medical imaging and neutron detection, helium 3 has advantages but also alternatives. In the longer term, policymakers also face choices about how or whether to increase helium-3 supply or reduce helium-3 demand and about possible alternative mechanisms for allocating supply. It seems likely that a combination of policy approaches will be necessary."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Shea, Dana A.; Morgan, Daniel (Daniel L.)

  2010-09-21
• Mexican Economy after the Global Financial Crisis [September 16, 2010]

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  From the Summary: "The state of Mexico's economy is important for U.S. policymakers for many reasons, most significantly because a prosperous and democratic neighboring country is in the best interest of the United States. The two countries have strong economic, political, and social ties, which have direct policy implications related to bilateral trade, economic competitiveness, migration, and border security. In May 2010, President Barack Obama hosted Mexican President Felipe Calderón at a meeting in the White House in which the two leaders discussed key issues affecting the two countries. They agreed to continue and reinforce cooperation on creating jobs, promoting economic recovery and expansion, and encouraging inclusive prosperity across all levels of society in both countries. The 111th Congress is likely to maintain an active interest in Mexico on issues related to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and other trade issues, economic conditions in Mexico, migration, border security issues, and counter-narcotics."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Villarreal, M. Angeles

  2010-09-16
• Biofuels Incentives: A Summary of Federal Programs [September 15, 2010]

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  From the Summary: "With recent high energy prices, the passage of major energy legislation in 2005 (P.L. 109-58) and 2007 (P.L. 110-140), and the passage of a new farm bill in 2008 (P.L. 110-246), there is ongoing congressional interest in promoting alternatives to petroleum fuels. Biofuels--transportation fuels produced from plants and other organic materials--are of particular interest. Ethanol and biodiesel, the two most widely used biofuels, receive significant government support under federal law in the form of mandated fuel use, tax incentives, loan and grant programs, and certain regulatory requirements. The 22 programs and provisions listed in this report have been established over the past three decades, and are administered by five separate agencies and departments: Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Internal Revenue Service, and Customs and Border Protection. These programs target a variety of beneficiaries, including farmers and rural small businesses, biofuel producers, petroleum suppliers, and fuel marketers. Arguably, in prior years the most significant federal programs for biofuels have been tax credits for the production or sale of ethanol and biodiesel. However, with the establishment of the renewable fuel standard (RFS) under P.L. 109-58, Congress has mandated biofuels use; P.L. 110-140 significantly expanded that mandate. In the long term, the mandate may prove even more significant than tax incentives in promoting the use of these fuels."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Yacobucci, Brent D.

  2010-09-15
• Guantanamo Detention Center: Legislative Activity in the 111th Congress [January 13, 2011]

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  From the Summary: "The detention of alleged enemy belligerents at the U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, together with proposals to transfer some such individuals to the United States for prosecution or continued detention, has been a subject of considerable interest for Congress. Several authorization and appropriations measures enacted during the 111th Congress addressed the disposition and treatment of Guantanamo detainees. This report analyzes legislation enacted in the 111th Congress concerning persons held at the Guantanamo detention facility. […] Several appropriations measures enacted in the 111th Congress restricted appropriated funds from being used to transfer or release Guantanamo detainees into the United States; they permitted transfers for purposes of criminal prosecution or detention during legal proceedings, contingent upon certain reporting requirements being fulfilled. However, the 2011 NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act] (P.L. 111-383), which was signed into law on January 7, 2011, prohibits any funds it authorizes to be appropriated to the Department of Defense (DOD) from being used to transfer Guantanamo detainees into the United States for any purpose, and also bars such funds from being used to assist in the transfer of such persons. Because Guantanamo detainees are presently in military custody, the act could be interpreted as effectively barring the transfer of any Guantanamo detainee into the United States, despite language in authorizing appropriations measures for other federal agencies that permits the use of funds to transfer detainees into the country for criminal prosecution. In addition to these restrictions, the 2011 NDAA bars authorized funds from being used to construct facilities in the United States to house transferred Guantanamo detainees, and also imposes restrictions on the transfer of detainees to certain foreign countries in order to deter the return of transferred detainees to hostilities."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Garcia, Michael John

  2011-01-13
• Guantanamo Detention Center: Legislative Activity in the 111th Congress [November 4, 2010]

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  From the Summary: "The detention of alleged enemy belligerents at the U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, together with proposals to transfer some such individuals to the United States for prosecution or continued detention, has been a subject of considerable interest for Congress. Several authorization and appropriations measures enacted during the 111th Congress, along with various pending bills, address the disposition and treatment of Guantanamo detainees. To date in the 111th Congress, provisions directly relating to Guantanamo detainees have been enacted as part of eight laws: the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-32); the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-83); the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 111-84); the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-88); the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-117); the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-118); the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-212) and the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY2010 (P.L. 111-259). Most of these measures impose general restrictions on the use or availability of funds to transfer or release Guantanamo detainees into the United States, though they also provide an exception permitting transfers for purposes of criminal prosecution or detention during legal proceedings if certain reporting requirements are fulfilled. [...] This report analyzes relevant provisions in enacted legislation and selected pending bills."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Garcia, Michael John

  2010-11-04
• Dominican Republic: Background and U.S. Relations [January 3, 2011]

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  From the Summary: "The Dominican Republic, a country of roughly 9.7 million people that shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti, is a key U.S. trade partner and political ally in the region. The United States is the Dominican Republic's main trading partner, with two-way trade totaling more than $10.6 billion in 2008 before falling to $8.6 billion in 2009. In addition to trade, U.S. interest in the Dominican Republic has focused on anti-drug cooperation and governance/human rights issues, as well as the country's role in helping resolve regional conflicts. After a July 12, 2010, official meeting, President Barack Obama praised Dominican President Leonel Fernández's regional leadership, particularly the role he and his government have played in the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti and in helping to resolve the political crisis in Honduras. President Fernández of the center-left Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) took office for his third term in August 2008. Fernández previously served as President from 1996-2000 and 2004-2008. In 2009, President Fernández achieved one of his primary political goals: securing congressional approval of a new constitution. The new constitution, which took effect in January 2010, allows presidents to complete one term and then serve again after sitting out of office for four years, making President Fernández eligible to run again in 2016. Few have criticized Fernández for changing the constitution to allow himself to run for another term, but some have spoken out against calls from the PLD for further changes that would enable him to run in 2012. Despite some lingering economic and security challenges that have yet to be resolved and concerns about corruption in his Administration, President Fernández has remained popular. His party dominated legislative elections held on May 16, 2010."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Seelke, Clare Ribando

  2011-01-03
• Murder or Attempted Murder of a Member of Congress and Other Federal Officials and Employees: Implications in Federal Criminal Law and Procedure of Events in Tucson [January 25, 2011]

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  From the Summary: "Jared Lee Loughner was arrested for the attempted murder of Representative Gabrielle Giffords, the murder of United States District Court Judge John Roll, and the murder or attempted murder of several federal employees. The arrest brings several features of federal law to the fore. Federal crimes of violence are usually violations of the law of the state where they occur; an offender may be tried in either federal or state court or both. Ordinarily, federal crimes must be tried where they occur, but in extraordinary cases a defendant's motion for a change of venue may be granted. In capital cases, the decision to seek the death penalty rests with the Attorney General. Should a defendant elect to assert an insanity defense, he must provide pretrial notification. In the face of that notice, the court may order an examination to determine the defendant's competence to stand trial. Federal law affords victims, including families of the deceased or incapacitated, the right to confer with prosecutors, and to attend the trial and other public judicial proceedings."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Doyle, Charles

  2011-01-25
• Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS): Background and Funding [June 2, 2011]

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  From the Background: "The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program was created by Title I of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (the '94 Crime Act). The mission of the COPS program is to advance community policing in all jurisdictions across the United States. The COPS program awards grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies throughout the United States so they can hire and train law enforcement officers to participate in community policing, purchase and deploy new crime-fighting technologies, and develop and test new and innovative policing strategies. COPS grants are managed by the COPS Office, which was created in 1994 by Department of Justice (DOJ) to oversee the COPS program. […] Legislation to reauthorize the COPS program was introduced in both the 110th and 111th Congresses and has been reintroduced in the current Congress (see below). There are several issues Congress might consider as it debates legislation to reauthorize the program. These issues are the subject of another CRS report. Another issue Congress might consider is the appropriate funding level for COPS, especially in light of concerns about federal spending and possible reductions to appropriations for DOJ."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  James, Nathan

  2011-06-02