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U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine [Updated April 29, 2022]
From the Document: "The United States has been a leading provider of security assistance to Ukraine, both before and after Russia renewed its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. From 2014, when Russia first invaded Ukraine, through April 25, 2022, the United States has provided more than $6.4 billion in security assistance 'to help Ukraine preserve its territorial integrity, secure its borders, and improve interoperability with NATO.' Since the start of the 2022 war, the Biden Administration has committed a total of more than $3.7 billion in security assistance to 'provide Ukraine the equipment it needs to defend itself.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arabia, Christina; Bowen, Andrew S.; Welt, Cory
2022-04-29
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Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (Polar Icebreaker) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated April 29, 2022]
From the Summary: "The Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program is a program to acquire three new PSCs (i.e., heavy polar icebreakers), to be followed years from now by the acquisition of up to three new Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs) (i.e., medium polar icebreakers). The procurement of the first two PSCs is fully funded; the Coast Guard says the first PSC is to be delivered to the Coast Guard in the spring of 2025. The Coast Guard's proposed FY2023 budget requests $167.2 million in continued procurement funding for the PSC program, which would be used for, among other things, program management and production activities associated with the PSC program's Detail Design and Construction (DD&C) contract, long leadtime materials (LLTM) for the third PSC, and government-furnished equipment (GFE), logistics, and cyber-security planning costs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2022-04-29
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El Salvador: In Brief [April 29, 2022]
From the Document: "Congress maintains interest in El Salvador, a small Central American nation. A large percentage of El Salvador's population has lived in the United States since the Salvadoran civil conflict (1980-1992), and the country is a source of irregular migration to the United States. During the 1980s, the U.S. government spent billions of dollars to support the Salvadoran government's counterinsurgency efforts against the leftist Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN). The United States later supported a 1992 peace accord that ended the conflict and transformed the FMLN into a political party. Over the next few decades--and despite periodic tensions--the United States worked with both leftist FMLN and conservative National Republican Alliance (ARENA) administrations. However, popular disaffection with corruption and insecurity under both parties led to the election of political outsider Nayib Bukele in 2019. Relations between the United States and El Salvador have deteriorated under Bukele's increasingly authoritarian rule."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando; Klein, Joshua
2022-04-29
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Offshore Oil and Gas: Leasing 'Pause,' Federal Leasing Review, and Current Issues [Updated April 29, 2022]
From the Document: "Offshore oil and gas leasing has been affected by executive branch actions pertaining to energy leasing on all federal lands. On January 27, 2021, President Joe Biden issued Executive Order (E.O.) 14008, directing multiple actions to address climate change. Section 208 of the order directed the Secretary of the Interior to 'pause new oil and natural gas leases on public lands or in offshore waters pending completion of a comprehensive review and reconsideration of Federal oil and gas permitting and leasing practices,' to the extent that such actions were 'consistent with applicable law.' The E.O. directed that the review evaluate 'potential climate and other impacts' associated with oil and gas leasing, as well as whether to adjust royalties paid to the federal government from onshore and offshore oil and gas production to account for 'climate costs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Guenther, Gary L.
2022-04-29
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Russia's 2022 Invasion of Ukraine: Related CRS Products [Updated April 29, 2022]
From the Document: "On February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, with wide-ranging implications for U.S. national security and an array of global geopolitical and economic issues. This report compiles CRS [Congressional Research Service] products on various aspects of this conflict, and will be updated regularly as new products are developed. It also includes some products published before the invasion that offer relevant background and context."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Danon, Zoe; Blum, David A.
2022-04-29
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Long COVID: Over 200 Symptoms, and a Search for Guidance
From the Document: "Long COVID [coronavirus disease] poses a conundrum for physicians and researchers alike. Representing a wide range of new, returning or ongoing health problems that arise about a month after initial infection, it can affect 20% to 30% of patients after recovery from even mild illnesses and about half of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] patients who required hospitalization. More than 200 symptoms associate with long COVID, but no universal clinical case definition exists. Long-haulers often don't know what to do about their lingering symptoms, which can include fatigue, shortness of breath, memory impediments, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Many different organ systems are involved, said Akiko Iwasaki, PhD, professor of immunobiology at Yale University and a principal investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute."
American Medical Association
Lubell, Jennifer
2022-04-29
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Agricultural Disaster Assistance [Updated April 29, 2022]
From the Document: "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers several programs to help farmers recover financially from natural disasters, including drought and floods. Most programs have permanent authorization, and one requires a federal disaster designation (the emergency loan program). Most permanent programs receive mandatory funding amounts that are 'such sums as necessary' and are not subject to annual discretionary appropriations. The federal crop insurance program offers subsidized policies designed to protect crop producers from risks associated with adverse weather, as well as weather-related plant diseases and insect infestations and declines in commodity prices. Policies must be purchased prior to the planting season. Eligible commodities include most major crops and many specialty crops (including fruit, tree nut, vegetable, and nursery crops), as well as forage and pastureland for livestock producers. Producers who grow a crop that is currently ineligible for the federal crop insurance program may apply for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). NAP provides a basic level of coverage (when loss exceeds 50% of expected production) as well as options to purchase additional coverage. Similar to crop insurance, policies must be purchased prior to the planting season."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Stubbs, Megan
2022-04-29
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Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: Sixth Assessment Report [April 29, 2022]
From the Document: "In 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released 'Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis--Contribution of Working Group I', as part of its Sixth Assessment (AR6 WGI). The role of the IPCC as endorsed by the United Nations in plenary session in 1988 is 'to provide internationally coordinated scientific assessments of the magnitude, timing and potential environmental and socio-economic impact of climate change and realistic response strategies.' This CRS report serves as a primer for the AR6 WGI assessment. It is not comprehensive, instead presenting key findings pertinent to congressional consideration of risks related to natural and human-induced climate change and possible legislative responses. The AR6 WGI presents current evidence of changes in the climate, including, but not limited to, the following: Global average surface temperature in 2011-2020 increased by approximately 1.0 [degrees] C [Celsius] above the preindustrial period of 1850-1900; heatwaves have occurred more often and with greater intensity since the 1950s, while cold extremes have occurred less often in the same time period; scientists have high confidence that there has been a global increase in co-occurring droughts and heatwaves since 1950; terrestrial global average precipitation has increased, as has the frequency of heavy precipitation events; Arctic sea ice has decreased, while Antarctic sea ice has remained largely unchanged."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Haskett, Jonathan D.
2022-04-29
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Living with Covid Doesn't Mean Ignoring it
From the Introduction: "Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], the war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis have together created a volatile environment of widespread economic anxiety; people are rightly worried about the future. This, combined with a lack of appetite to bolster investment in our world-class testing and sequencing systems, has seen Covid move from a health to an economic problem. The government has put in place many of the right measures in its response to Covid, most notably the world-leading vaccination programme that has saved over 100,000 lives. However, over the past two years the overall response to the pandemic has been dogged by a repeated lack of clear, quick strategic planning, and is again in limbo without a comprehensive plan to manage the next phase safely. Management of Covid now relies largely on repeat vaccinations, while the main tools at our disposal - tests and treatments - are being scaled back. This is a vaccines-only rather than vaccines-'plus' approach."
Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Bradshaw, Adam; Browne, James; Dowlen, Henry . . .
2022-04-29
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Use of the Capitol Rotunda, Capitol Grounds, and Emancipation Hall: Concurrent Resolutions, 101st to 117th Congresses [Updated April 29, 2022]
From the Introduction: "Both the Capitol Rotunda and the Capitol Grounds have been used as the setting for a variety of events, ranging from memorial ceremonies and the reception of foreign dignitaries to the presentation of awards and the hosting of public competitions. This report identifies and categorizes uses of the Capitol Rotunda and Capitol Grounds authorized by concurrent resolutions since the 101st Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Straus, Jacob R.; Glassman, Matthew
2022-04-29
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Legislation Partially Addresses Fatal 'Duck Boat' Accidents [April 29, 2022]
From the Document: "Amphibious passenger vehicles (APVs), widely known as 'duck boats,' are tourist vehicles designed to drive on roads and operate as boats in water. Several fatal accidents have drawn attention to potential shortcomings in regulation of these unique vehicles (also known while afloat as 'vessels'), which are subject to oversight by multiple federal and state agencies. Legislation passed in the House and pending in the Senate would bring tighter regulation of duck boats while afloat but does not address recommendations intended to increase their safety while operating on the road. Duck boats host thousands of tours for more than one million passengers annually. About 200 such vehicles operate domestically. The original vehicles, referred to as DUKW, were built during World War II to deliver cargo from ships at sea directly to the shore and often to evacuate injured military personnel. The name DUKW, which became 'duck' over time, is from military terminology--D refers to the year designed (1942); U refers to utility; K to all-wheel drive powertrain; and W to dual-powered rear axles. Some of the vehicles in use today have been refurbished, and others were built more recently. Many duck boats are operated under a license from the private company Ride the Ducks International (RTDI), but others may be operated independently. [...] The 116th Congress considered legislation to improve Coast Guard regulation of APVs, with the Senate passing S. 1031, the Duck Boat Safety Enhancement Act of 2020, in December 2020. Similar legislation, S. 62, has been introduced in the 117th Congress. On March 29, 2022, the House passed legislation reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure--H.R. 6865, the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022--which includes new requirements for the Coast Guard's regulation of APVs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Canis, Bill
2022-04-29
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EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 22 Issue 17, April 28, 2022
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: "FDNY [Fire Department New York] provides guidance on lithium-ion battery fires in electric bikes and scooters"; "Arson Awareness Week focuses on arson in homeless communities, webinar May 2"; "FEMA's new Building Codes Strategy will foster resilient communities through modern building code adoption": "Webinar: Update on National Address Database and Florida's NG911 PSAP [next generation 911 public safety answering points] training program"; "CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency], FBI, NSA [National Security Agency], and international partners warn organizations of top routinely exploited cybersecurity vulnerabilities"; "CISA and FBI update advisory on Destructive Malware Targeting Organizations in Ukraine"; "HHS [U.S. Department of Health & Human Services]: HC3 [Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center] Analyst Note - Hive Ransomware"; "Zero-day attacks surged in 2021, Mandiant says"; and "AWS [Amazon Web Services] reissues Log4Shell hotpatch after vulnerabilities found."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2022-04-28
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F-35 Sustainment: DOD Faces Several Uncertainties and Has Not Met Key Objectives, Statement of Diana Maurer, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Readiness, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The F-35 aircraft with its advanced capabilities, represents a growing portion of DOD's tactical aviation fleet. DOD plans to procure nearly 2,500 F35s with an estimated $1.3 trillion in life-cycle costs associated with operating and sustaining the aircraft. This statement provides (1) the status of the F-35 program's ability to meet key sustainment metrics, (2) DOD's current engine sustainment strategy, and (3) uncertainties facing F-35 sustainment. This statement is based on GAO's [Government Accountability Office's] body of work issued from 2014 through 2022, draft report on F35 engine sustainment that was provided to DOD this month for review and comment, and ongoing review of F-35 maintenance. GAO analyzed key metrics for fiscal years 2019-2022, reviewed F-35 strategy and program documents, and interviewed officials. As a part of ongoing work, from December 2021 through March 2022, GAO staff visited two depot maintenance facilities and three installations that are the home stations for F-35 squadrons. [...] In its draft report, GAO is recommending, among other things, that DOD assess and update the F-35 engine sustainment strategy, including its goals and actions to achieve its goals. GAO's prior reports since 2014 have made several recommendations to enhance F-35 sustainment, some of which remain unimplemented as discussed in the testimony."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Maurer, Diana
2022-04-28
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Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated April 28, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the 'Gerald R. Ford' (CVN-78) class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN) aircraft carrier program. The Navy's proposed FY2023 budget requests $2,995.2 million (i.e., about $3.0 billion) in procurement funding for the program. Congress's decisions on the CVN-78 program could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2022-04-28
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Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress [April 28, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Virginia (SSN-774) class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) program. The Navy has been procuring Virginia-class SSNs since FY1998, and a total of 36 have been procured through FY2021. Since FY2011, Virginia-class boats have been procured at a rate of two per year. The Navy's proposed FY2023 budget requests the procurement of the 37th and 38th Virginia-class boats. The Virginia-class program poses multiple issues for Congress. Decisions that Congress makes on these issue could substantially affect U.S. Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2022-04-28
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 5962, Supply Chain Security Training Act of 2021
From the Document: "H.R. 5962 would direct the General Services Administration (GSA) to develop a program to train federal employees in managing the risks to federal agencies' supply chains. GSA would coordinate the use of the program among federal agencies, detail the program's content, and report to the Congress on implementation. Executive Order 14028, Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity, issued on May 12, 2021, and the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act of 2018 currently require agencies to assess and mitigate risks to their supply chains. In addition, the Federal Acquisition Institute and the Defense Acquisition University offer training and other resources for managing risk related to supply chains, and CBO [Congressional Budget Office] expects that most federal employees who would be affected by the bill will take such training under current law. Thus, because the training required under the bill is available to federal agencies under current law, CBO expects that the provisions related to training would have no significant cost. Based on the cost of similar reports, CBO estimates that the reporting requirements would cost less than $500,000 over the 2022-2026 period."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-04-28
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 5792, State and Local Digital Service Act
From the Document: "H.R. 5792 would direct the General Services Administration (GSA) to establish the Digital Service Agreement Program. That program would allow the agency to award grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements or memorandums of understanding with, state, local, and eligible tribal governments to plan, establish, or support improved online delivery of government services. Each agreement would have a term of not more than five years at a cost of no more than $10 million. The bill would authorize the appropriation of $100 million annually over the 2022-2028 period for the program and $1 million for eight years beginning in the year the first agreement is entered into for audits and oversight by GSA's Inspector General. Based on spending patterns for similar programs and assuming appropriation of the specified amounts, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing H.R. 5792 would cost $284 million over the 2022-2026 period, and $424 million after 2026."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-04-28
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State Secrets Privilege: National Security Information in Civil Litigation [April 28, 2022]
From the Document: "he Supreme Court of the United States has long recognized a common law government privilege against the disclosure of state and military secrets in civil litigation known as the 'state secrets privilege.' The United States has invoked this privilege in two broad categories of cases. [...] This report presents an overview of the protections afforded by the state secrets privilege, a discussion of some of the many unresolved issues associated with the privilege, and a selection of high-profile examples of how the privilege has been applied in practice. The report also describes some considerations for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Elsea, Jennifer; Liu, Edward C.
2022-04-28
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Civil Monetary Penalties: Federal Agencies' Compliance with the 2021 Annual Inflation Adjustment Requirements
From the Document: "Civil monetary penalties provide federal agencies with the ability to punish willful and egregious violators, deter future violations, and enforce regulatory policies government-wide. However, if agencies do not periodically adjust these penalties for the effects of inflation, the penalties may lose their effectiveness and agencies may lose opportunities to collect significant federal receipts. Thus, Congress passed the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 to allow for agencies to adjust their covered civil monetary penalties for inflation, to promote compliance, and to improve the collection of penalties. The act, as amended, hereinafter referred to as the Inflation Adjustment Act (IAA), includes a provision added in 2015 for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to annually submit to Congress a report assessing the compliance of agencies with the required civil monetary penalty adjustments. This sixth annual review responds to the statutory provision for GAO to assess agencies' compliance with the civil monetary penalty adjustments for inflation as required by the IAA. Specifically, our objective was to determine how many agencies subject to the IAA published 2021 civil monetary penalty inflation adjustments in the 'Federal Register' as of December 31, 2021, and reported information about civil monetary penalties within each agency's jurisdiction in the 2021 agency financial report (AFR) submitted under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-136."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-04-28
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Pakistan's Domestic Political Setting [Updated April 28, 2022]
From the Overview: "The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy in which the prime minister is head of government and the president is head of state. A bicameral parliament is comprised of a 342-seat National Assembly (NA) and a 104-seat Senate, both with directly elected representatives from each of the country's four provinces (Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or KP, Punjab, and Sindh), as well as from the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (now part of KP) and the Islamabad Capital Territory (the quasi-independent regions of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan have no representation). The NA reserves 60 seats for women and 10 seats for religious minorities on a proportional basis, meaning only 272 districts elect representatives. The prime minister is elected to an indeterminate term by the NA. The president is elected to a five-year term by an Electoral College comprised of both chambers of Parliament, as well as members of each of the country's four provincial assemblies. NA and provincial assembly members are elected to five-year terms. Senate terms are six years, with elections every three years. Senate powers are limited, and only the NA can approve budget and finance bills."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kronstadt, K. Alan
2022-04-28
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Analysis of Firearm Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US
From the Introduction: "In the US, more than 500 000 deaths were directly attributable to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] in the first year of the pandemic. The pandemic and the concomitant public health response profoundly affected nearly every aspect of people's lives. The impacts on health and well-being of work and school closures and other social distancing measures are only starting to be quantified, and emerging evidence suggests that pandemic restrictions may have had substantial detrimental effects on population mental health. Worsening economic conditions, psychological strain, and trauma associated with the pandemic, combined with an increase in firearm sales, could potentially increase the risk of firearm violence in association with the pandemic, thus exacerbating another major public health crisis in the US. [...] [W]e sought to quantify the change in firearm violence associated with the COVID-19 pandemic by examining nearly 300 000 firearm-related incidents occurring between January 1, 2016, and February 28, 2021, across all 50 US states and the District of Columbia."
JAMA Network
Sun, Shengzhi; Cao, Wangnan; Ge, Yang . . .
2022-04-28
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Evaluation of the DoD's Actions to Develop Interoperable Systems and Tools for Forecasting Logistics Demand Across the Joint Logistics Enterprise [redacted]
From the Document: "The objective of this evaluation was to determine the extent to which the DoD took actions to develop interoperable systems and tools to forecast logistics demand for campaign planning across the Joint Logistics Enterprise (JLEnt). [...] According to Joint Publication 4-0, 'Joint Logistics,' logistics involves the 'planning and executing the movement and support of forces,' and joint logistics involves the use of two or more combatant commands or Military Departments' logistics resources to support the joint force. The DoD's JLEnt consists of logistics directorates across DoD Components and is structured to achieve a unity of effort without jeopardizing individual mission and goals. JLEnt logisticians use a variety of automated systems and tools, including information systems, decision support tools, and communications capabilities to perform functions such as forecasting logistic demands required to execute specific missions. For the purposes of our report, we defined 'forecasting demand for campaign planning' as a process to identify overall sustainment support that the joint force needs to accomplish its mission in the future"
United States. Department of Defense. Office of the Inspector General
2022-04-28
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How the People's Republic of China Amplifies Russian Disinformation [video]
From the Webpage Background: "This briefing will unpack the Russia-China disinformation nexus, with a focus on the Global South, as well as the countries' increasing information warfare campaigns, within the context of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine." The duration of this video is 56 minutes and 35 seconds.
United States. Department of State
Repinkova, Maria; Schafer, Bret; McAndrew, Jen
2022-04-27
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Navy John Lewis (TAO-205) Class Oiler Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated April 27, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the John Lewis (TAO-205) class oiler shipbuilding program, a program to build a new class of 20 fleet oilers for the Navy. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's annual ship authorization and funding requests and acquisition strategy for the program. Congress's decisions on this issue could affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2022-04-27
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CBP and CWMD Need to Improve Monitoring and Maintenance of Radiation Portal Monitor Systems (Redacted)
From the Highlights: "CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] uses RPM [Radiation Portal Monitor] systems as the primary means to scan for radiological and nuclear threats and materials at U.S. ports of entry. We conducted this audit in response to a hotline complaint. Our objective is to determine the extent to which CBP monitors and maintains its RPM systems in accordance with DHS acquisition guidelines, policies, and procedures. [...] We made two recommendations to improve the monitoring and maintenance of CBP's RPM systems."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-04-27
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 1437, PRECIP Act
From the Document: "H.R. 1437 would direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to improve precipitation estimates for the United States. The bill would authorize the appropriation of specific amounts for each fiscal year through 2030, totaling $80 million, for the following activities: [1] $47 million to create unified guidance for federal agencies and private entities on best practices for producing precipitation estimates, [2] $31.5 million to produce improved estimates of precipitation frequency and volume, and [3] $1.5 million to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to produce a report on current precipitation estimate practices, their shortcomings, and ways they can be improved."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-04-27
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Key Events and Statements Summarizing China's Position on Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
From the Webpage: "[Herein] is a list of key actions and statements summarizing China's official position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022. Items highlighted include China's official government statements, press conferences, messages to the international community, media publications, and where available, leaked internal Chinese Communist Party (CCP) guidance for media and propaganda outlets."
U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission
2022-04-27
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 5796, Patents for Humanity Act of 2021
From the Document: "H.R. 5796 would require the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) to conduct a biennial competition to award certificates to applicants for patents that address humanitarian issues. A certificate could be redeemed by an awardee to accelerate a patent application, an ex parte reexamination proceeding, or an appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. PTO is currently administering Patents for Humanity as a pilot program, and H.R. 5796 would codify that program. Using information from PTO, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that issuing rules and administering the competition would cost less than $500,000 over the 2022-2026 period. PTO is authorized to collect fees in amounts sufficient to offset its annual appropriation, and CBO expects that the agency would adjust fee collections to match any increase in operating costs. On that basis and assuming appropriation action consistent with that authority, CBO estimates that any net change in discretionary spending would be negligible. If PTO increases fees to offset the costs of implementing provisions of the bill, H.R. 5796 would increase the cost of an existing mandate on private and intergovernmental entities required to pay those fees. Using information from PTO, CBO estimates that the incremental cost of the mandate would be small and would not exceed the annual thresholds established in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act for intergovernmental and private-sector mandates ($85 million and $170 million in 2021, respectively, adjusted annually for inflation)."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-04-27
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Congressional Budget Office: Cost Estimate: H.R. 6868, Cybersecurity Grants for Schools Act of 2022
From the Document: "H.R. 6868 would authorize the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to award grants to cyber education and training programs. The bill also would require the agency to report to the Congress on the effectiveness of its efforts. CISA is already providing the grants that would be authorized under H.R. 6868 through the Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program; thus, the bill would codify those responsibilities and would not impose any new grant requirements on the agency."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-04-27
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 6824, President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act
From the Document: "H.R. 6824 would authorize the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to conduct an awards competition for the federal cybersecurity workforce. Under the bill, CISA would award financial prizes to federal employees who apply technical skills to solve real-world cybersecurity scenarios. The bill also would require CISA to report to the Congress on the effectiveness of the competition."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-04-27
