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Madagascar's Political Crisis [June 18, 2017]
"Madagascar, an Indian Ocean island country, ranks among the world's poorest countries, is the world's fourth largest island and is extremely biologically diverse, with thousands of unique species of flora and fauna. It has experienced political instability since early 2009, initiated by tensions between the country's last elected president, Marc Ravalomanana, and an opposition movement led by Andry Rajoelina, then the mayor of the capital city, Antananarivo. Mass protests in early 2009 and eventual military support for the ouster of President Ravalomanana culminated in his forced resignation from office. Rajoelina then seized power and, with other leaders, formed an interim self-declared transitional government, the High Transitional Authority (HAT, after its French acronym). Ravalomanana now lives in exile in South Africa."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Cook, Nicolas
2017-06-18
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President Trump's Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement Raises Legal Questions: Part 1 and 2
"On June 1, President Trump announced his long-anticipated decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement--an international agreement intended to reduce the effects of climate change by maintaining global temperatures 'well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels[.]' As analyzed in this earlier report and live CRS seminar, historical practice suggests it is within the President's constitutional authority to withdraw from the Paris Agreement without first receiving congressional or senatorial approval. However, legal questions remain as to how the Trump Administration will implement the withdrawal and what role the United States will play in future international climate meetings. This two-part Sidebar series analyzes legal questions arising from the President's announcement."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
2017-06-09
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Russia: Background and U.S. Policy [August 21, 2017]
Over the last five years, Congress and the executive branch have closely monitored and responded to new developments in Russian policy. These developments include the following: [1] increasingly authoritarian governance since Vladimir Putin's return to the presidential post in 2012; [2] Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and support of separatists in eastern Ukraine; [3] violations of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty; [3] Moscow's intervention in Syria in support of Bashar al Asad's government; [increased military activity in Europe; and cyber-related influence operations that, according to the U.S. intelligence community, have targeted the 2016 U.S. presidential election and countries in Europe.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Welt, Cory
2017-08-21
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China-U.S. Trade Issues [August 26, 2017]
"Economic and trade reforms begun in 1979 have helped transform China into one of the world's biggest and fastest-growing economies. China's economic growth and trade liberalization, including comprehensive trade commitments made upon its entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, have led to a sharp expansion in U.S.-China commercial ties. Yet, bilateral trade relations have become increasingly strained in recent years over a number of issues, including China's: mixed record on implementing its WTO obligations; infringement of U.S. intellectual property (such as through cyber-theft of U.S. trade secrets and forced technology requirements placed on foreign firms); increased use of industrial policies to promote and protect domestic Chinese firms (especially state-owned firms); extensive trade and foreign investment restrictions; lack of transparency in trade rules and regulations; distortionary economic policies that have led to overcapacity in several industries; and its large merchandise trade surplus with the United States. China's economic and trade conditions, policies, and acts have a significant impact on the U.S. economy as whole as well as specific U.S. sectors and thus are of concern to Congress. This report provides an overview of U.S.-China commercial ties identifies major issues of contention, describes the Trump Administration's trade policies toward China, and reviews possible outcomes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morrison, Wayne M.
2017-08-26
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Corporate Expatriation, Inversions, and Mergers: Tax Issues [August 17, 2017]
"The U.S. corporate income tax is based on worldwide economic activity. If all of a corporation's economic activity is in the United States, then tax administration and compliance is relatively straightforward. Many corporations, however, operate in several jurisdictions, which creates complications for tax administration and compliance. Further, corporations may actively choose where and how to organize to reduce their U.S. and worldwide tax liabilities. Some of these strategies have been referred to as expatriation, inversions, and mergers. This report examines them in light of recent expansion of their use and growing congressional interest."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Marples, Donald; Gravelle, Jane
2017-08-17
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Cuba Sanctions: Legislative Restrictions Limiting the Normalization of Relations [August 17, 2017]
"Since the early 1960s, U.S. policy toward Cuba has consisted largely of isolating the island nation through comprehensive economic sanctions, including an embargo on trade and financial transactions. President John F. Kennedy proclaimed an embargo on trade between the United States and Cuba in February 1962, citing Section 620(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), which authorizes the President 'to establish and maintain a total embargo upon all trade between the United States and Cuba.' At the same time, the Department of the Treasury issued the Cuban Import Regulations to deny the importation into the United States of all goods imported from or through Cuba. The authority for the embargo was later expanded in March 1962 to include the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rennack, Dianne E.; Sullivan, Mark P.
2017-08-17
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Presidential Pardons: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) [August 28, 2017]
"Article I, § 2 of the United States Constitution provides the President the authority 'to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.' While the text makes it clear that the pardon power is limited to federal offenses ('offenses against the United States') and cannot be used to avoid impeachment, the terse, one-sentence provision offers little other guidance on the scope of the President's pardon authority. The Supreme Court has stated that the President's pardon power is near plenary, but the exercise of this authority may occasionally prompt questions regarding the power's compatibility with notions of fairness and the rule of law. Recently, some Members of Congress (see, e.g., here) and legal observers have raised or opined upon various, oftentimes difficult, legal questions pertaining to the pardon power, including whether the President can issue 'prospective' pardons; whether the President can pardon himself; and the extent to which Congress can regulate or respond to the exercise of the President's pardon authority. This Sidebar provides a general overview of the pardon power and briefly addresses a few frequently asked legal questions concerning its scope and application."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
2017-08-28
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Legislative Proposals Seek Statutory Protections Related to Removing a Special Counsel [August 22, 2017]
"Following Robert Mueller's appointment as Special Counsel to investigate (per the direction of the Deputy Attorney General) the 'Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election,' some Members of Congress have expressed various concerns about the independence of an investigation that has the possibility to implicate current or former executive branch officials. Most recently, new proposals--the Special Counsel Independence Protection Act (SCIPA, S. 1735/H.R. 3654) and the Special Counsel Integrity Act (SCIA, S. 1741)--have been introduced that would provide additional protections for a special counsel against removal by the President or the Attorney General."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
2017-08-22
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Allowances and Office Staff for Former Presidents, FY2016-FY2018 Appropriations [August 28, 2017]
"The Former Presidents Act (FPA), enacted on August 25, 1958 (3 U.S.C. §102 note), 'was designed to 'maintain the dignity' of the office of the President by providing former Presidents--and their spouses--a pension and other benefits to help them respond to post-presidency mail and speaking requests, among other informal public duties often required.' (See CRS Report RL34631, Former Presidents: Pensions, Office Allowances, and Other Federal Benefits.) The General Services Administration (GSA) administers the law. Five former Presidents receive pensions and benefits under the FPA: Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack H. Obama. According to GSA, 'In January 2017, the program began funding the pension for President Obama, and after July 21, 2017 … [began funding] payroll and benefits of his staff, office space, office furnishings, and other related expenses."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwemle, Barbara L.
2017-08-28
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Accounting and Auditing Regulatory Structure: U.S. and International [July 19, 2017]
"Accounting is commonly considered the language of finance. A common set of principles and rules help establish accounting standards. Accountants who audit financial statements (auditors) also adhere to a common set of audit principles and rules to examine financial statements. In the United States, accounting and auditing standards are promulgated and regulated by various federal, state, and self-regulatory agencies. Accounting and auditing standards are also influenced by practitioners from businesses, nonprofits, and government entities (federal, state, and local). Congress has allowed financial accounting and auditing practitioners to remain self-regulated while retaining oversight responsibility. At certain times, Congress has sought to achieve specific accounting- and auditing-based policy objectives by enacting legislation such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) and the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (FCRA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gnanarajah, Raj
2017-07-19
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China's Economic Rise: History, Trends, Challenges, and Implications for the United States [August 30, 2017]
"Prior to the initiation of economic reforms and trade liberalization 36 years ago, China maintained policies that kept the economy very poor, stagnant, centrally-controlled, vastly inefficient, and relatively isolated from the global economy. Since opening up to foreign trade and investment and implementing free market reforms in 1979, China has been among the world's fastest-growing economies, with real annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth averaging nearly 10% through 2016. In recent years, China has emerged as a major global economic power. It is now the world's largest economy (on a purchasing power parity basis), manufacturer, merchandise trader, and holder of foreign exchange reserves."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morrison, Wayne M.
2017-08-30
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Who Regulates Whom? An Overview of the U.S. Financial Regulatory Framework [August 17, 2017]
"Federal financial regulation encompasses vastly diverse markets, participants, and regulators. As a result, regulators' goals, powers, and methods differ between regulators and sometimes within each regulator's jurisdiction. This report provides background on the financial regulatory structure in order to help Congress evaluate specific policy proposals to change financial regulation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Labonte, Marc
2017-08-17
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Department of Homeland Security Appropriations: FY2018
"This report describes and analyzes annual appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY2018. It compares the enacted FY2017 appropriations for DHS, the Trump Administration's FY2018 budget request, and the appropriations measures developed in response. This report identifies additional informational resources, reports, and products on DHS appropriations that provide context for the discussion, and it provides a list of Congressional Research Service (CRS) policy experts whom clients may consult with inquiries on specific topics."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Painter, William L.
2017-08-22
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FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Issues [August 22, 2017]
"Each year, the House and Senate armed services committees take up national defense authorization bills. The House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (H.R. 2810) on July 14, 2017. The Senate Armed Services Committee reported its version of the NDAA (S. 1519) on July 10, 2017. These bills contain numerous provisions that affect military personnel, retirees, and their family members. Provisions in one version are sometimes not included in the other, are treated differently, or are identical in both versions. Following passage of each chamber's bill, a conference committee typically convenes to resolve the differences between the respective chambers' versions of the bill. This report is intended to highlight selected personnel-related issues that may generate high levels of congressional and constituent interest. CRS will update this report to reflect enacted legislation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kamarck, Kristy N.; Kapp, Lawrence; Torreon, Barbara Salazar
2017-08-22
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Select Acquisition Reform Provisions in the House and Senate Versions of the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act [August 21, 2017]
"Since the 114th Congress, the Armed Services Committees have worked to reform the Department of Defense's acquisition processes. This focus continues in each committee's reported version of the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2810 and S. 1519)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rumbaugh, Russell
2017-08-21
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Comparing DHS Component Funding, FY2018: In Brief [August 21, 2017]
"Generally, the homeland security appropriations bill includes all annual appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), providing resources to every departmental component. The following figures show two perspectives on the budget authority for DHS enacted for FY2017 and requested by the Donald Trump Administration for FY2018, as well as the funding levels provided in H.R. 3355, the House committee-reported homeland security appropriations bill."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Painter, William L.
2017-08-21
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Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy [August 22, 2017]
"The United States, partner countries, and the Afghan government are attempting to reverse recent gains made by the resilient Taliban-led insurgency since the December 2014 transition to a smaller international mission consisting primarily of training and advising the Afghanistan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). The Afghan government has come under increasing domestic criticism not only for failing to prevent insurgent gains but also for its internal divisions that have spurred the establishment of new political opposition coalitions. In September 2014, the United States brokered a compromise to address a dispute over the 2014 presidential election, but a September 2016 deadline was not met for enacting election reforms and deciding whether to elevate the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position to a prime ministership. The Afghan government has made some measurable progress in reducing corruption and implementing its budgetary and other commitments. It has adopted measures that would enable it to proceed with new parliamentary elections, but no election date has been set."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth; Clayton, Thomas
2017-08-22
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Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) [September 12, 2017]
"The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was created by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (NFIA, Title XIII of P.L. 90-448, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §4001 et seq.), and was recently reauthorized from October 1, 2017, to December 8, 2017. Prior to that, the NFIP was reauthorized by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Title II of P.L. 112-141, henceforth BW-12) from July 6, 2012, to September 30, 2017. Congress amended elements of BW-12, but did not extend the NFIP's authorization further, in the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-89, henceforth HFIAA). The NFIP is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its subcomponent the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA). As of June 2017, the NFIP had 4.94 million flood insurance policies providing approximately $1.23 trillion in coverage. The program collects about $3.5 billion in annual premium revenue. Nationally, as of August 2017, about 22,276 communities in 56 states and jurisdictions participated in the NFIP. According to FEMA, the program saves the nation an estimated $1.87 billion annually in flood losses avoided because of the NFIP's building and floodplain management regulations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Brown, Jared T.; Horn, Diane P.
2017-09-12
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Patentable Subject Matter Reform [September 08, 2017]
"Some Members of Congress have expressed interest in the rules governing patentable subject matter for many years. The term 'patentable subject matter' refers to the requirement of section 101 of the Patent Act of 1952 that an invention must consist of a 'process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter' in order to be patented. Most recently, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) of 2011 stipulated that 'no patent may issue on a claim directed to or encompassing a human organism.' The AIA also limited the availability of patents claiming tax avoidance strategies. The courts and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have historically understood the language of section 101 to allow an expansive range of patentable subject matter. However, the courts have long held that several implicit exceptions exist to the four categories of patentable subject matter set out in section 101. In particular, laws of nature, natural phenomena, and abstract ideas have been held to be unpatentable."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Thomas, John R.
2017-09-08
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FEMA Disaster Housing: The Individuals and Households Program-Implementation and Potential Issues for Congress [August 31, 2017]
"Following a major disaster declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may provide three principal forms of assistance. These include Public Assistance, which addresses repairs to a community and states' or tribe's infrastructure; Mitigation Assistance which provides funding for projects a state or tribe submits to reduce the threat of future damage; and Individual Assistance (IA) which provides help to individuals and families. IA can include several programs, depending on whether the governor of the affected state or the tribal leader has requested that specific help. These can include Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) for workers made unemployed by a disaster and not covered by the state's standard unemployment program. IA can also include Crisis Counseling that provides assistance to state and local mental health organizations to assist disaster victims traumatized by an event. IA may also include Case Management services that help a state to organize potential forms of assistance for disaster survivors."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lindsay, Bruce R.
2017-08-31
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Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies [September 08, 2017]
"The principles of disaster management assume a leadership role by the local, state, and tribal governments affected by the incident. The federal government provides coordinated supplemental resources and assistance, only if requested and approved. The immediate response to a disaster is guided by the National Response Framework (NRF), which details roles and responsibilities at various levels of government, along with cooperation from the private and nonprofit sectors, for differing incidents and support functions. A possible declaration of a major disaster or emergency under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act, P.L. 93-288, as amended) must, in almost all cases, be requested by the governor of a state or the chief executive of an affected Indian tribal government, who at that point has declared that the situation is beyond the capacity of the state or tribe to respond. The governor/chief also determines for which parts of the state/tribal territory assistance will be requested, and suggests the types of assistance programs that may be needed. The President considers the request, in consultation with officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and makes the initial decisions on the areas to be included as well as the programs that are implemented."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Brown, Jared T.; Lindsay, Bruce R.; Petruzzelli, Jaclyn
2017-09-08
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Arab League Boycott of Israel [August 25, 2017]
"The Arab League, an umbrella organization comprising 22 Middle Eastern and African countries and entities, has maintained an official boycott of Israeli companies and Israeli-made goods since the founding of Israel in 1948. The boycott is administered by the Damascus-based Central Boycott Office, a specialized bureau of the Arab League. The boycott has three tiers. The primary boycott prohibits citizens of an Arab League member from buying from, selling to, or entering into a business contract with either the Israeli government or an Israeli citizen. The secondary boycott extends the primary boycott to any entity world-wide that does business in Israel. A blacklist of global firms that engage in business with Israel is maintained by the Central Boycott Office, and disseminated to Arab League members. The tertiary boycott prohibits an Arab League member and its nationals from doing business with a company that deals with companies that have been blacklisted by the Arab League."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weiss, Martin A.
2017-08-25
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National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) [August 18, 2017]
"The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) is one of several mission centers operating within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. NCTC was established in August 2004 as the primary U.S. government organization responsible for analyzing and integrating all intelligence - except intelligence solely related to domestic terrorism - pertaining to terrorism and counterterrorism (CT)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
2017-08-18
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Unaccompanied Alien Children: A Processing Flow Chart
"Within the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, several agencies are involved in apprehending, processing, placing, and repatriating unaccompanied alien children (UAC). Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehends, processes, and detains the majority of UAC arrested along U.S. borders. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) physically transports UAC from CBP to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody. ORR is responsible for detaining and sheltering UAC who are from non-contiguous countries and those from contiguous countries (i.e., Canada and Mexico) for whom there is a concern that they may be victims of trafficking or have an asylum claim, or who do not desire to return to their country voluntarily, while they wait for their claim to be processed or for an immigration hearing. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is responsible for the initial adjudication of asylum applications and processes trafficking petitions filed by UAC. The Executive Office for Immigration Review (i.e., immigration courts) in the U.S. Department of Justice conducts the immigration proceedings that determine whether the UAC is allowed to remain in the United States or is deported to his or her home country. If a UAC is ordered removed or chooses to voluntarily depart from the United States, ICE is responsible for returning the alien to his/her home country."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seghetti, Lisa M.
2014-07-16
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Corporate Tax Reform: Issues for Congress [September 22, 2017]
"As Congress considers tax reform, an important and challenging component is the tax treatment of the corporation. Some proposals would cut the corporate rate by broadening the base, with an overall revenue-neutral treatment of the corporate sector, while others would propose raising or reducing revenues. The traditional arguments surrounding the corporate tax, which largely focus on the distortions introduced by the tax, were a focus of a Treasury study issued in January 2017. This study also discussed choice of organizational form and international issues. The debate, however, has sometimes focused on arguments that cutting the corporate tax rate would stimulate economic growth, and even raise revenue, or on claims that the tax is a burden not on capital but on labor. Recently, Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury, advanced the argument that the corporate tax is paid by workers, citing a recent study by Azémar and Hubbard as evidence. A recent news report indicated three additional articles referenced by the Treasury press office in support of the burden falling on wages (although the Treasury Office of Tax Analysis currently assigns most of the burden to capital income): studies by Randolph, Hassett and Mathur, and Lui and Altshuler."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gravelle, Jane
2017-09-22
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Navy Littoral Combat Ship/Frigate (LCS/FFGX) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [September 22, 2017]
"The Navy's Littoral Combat Ship/Frigate (LCS/FFG(X)) program is a program to procure a total of 40, and possibly as many as 52, small surface combatants (SSCs), meaning LCSs and frigates. A total of 29 LCSs have been procured through FY2017. For FY2018, the Navy is requesting the procurement of two more LCSs, which would be the 30th and 31st. The Navy's proposed FY2018 budget, which was submitted on May 23, 2017, originally showed a request for one LCS at an estimated cost of $636.1 million. On May 24, 2017, the Navy announced that it was amending its proposed FY2018 budget to request the procurement of two LCSs rather than one. As amended, the Navy's proposed FY2018 budget requests two LCSs at a total cost of $1,136.1 million, or an average of about $568.1 million each."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2017-09-22
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Congress's Power Over Courts: Jurisdiction Stripping and the Rule of 'Klein' [September 26, 2017]
"Article III of the Constitution establishes the judicial branch of the federal government. Notably, it empowers federal courts to hear 'cases' and 'controversies.' The Constitution further creates a federal judiciary with significant independence, providing federal judges with life tenure and prohibiting diminutions of judges' salaries. But the Framers also granted Congress the power to regulate the federal courts in numerous ways. For instance, Article III authorizes Congress to determine what classes of 'cases' and 'controversies' inferior courts have jurisdiction to review. Additionally, Article III's Exceptions Clause grants Congress the power to make 'exceptions' and 'regulations' to the Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction. Congress sometimes exercises this power by 'stripping' federal courts of jurisdiction to hear a class of cases. Congress has gone so far as to eliminate a court's jurisdiction to review a particular case in the midst of litigation. More generally, Congress may influence judicial resolutions by amending the substantive law underlying particular litigation of interest to the legislature."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Peck, Sarah Herman
2017-09-26
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Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) Mobility, Reconnaissance, and Firepower Programs [September 26, 2017]
"Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) constitute the Army's 'light' ground forces and are an important part of the nation's ability to project forces overseas. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as current thinking by Army leadership as to where and how future conflicts would be fought, suggest IBCTs are limited operationally by their lack of assigned transport and reconnaissance vehicles as well as firepower against hardened targets and armored vehicles. There are three types of IBCTs: Light, Airborne, and Air Assault. Light IBCTs are primarily foot-mobile forces. Light IBCTs can move by foot, by vehicle, or by air (either air landed or by helicopter). Airborne IBCTs are specially trained and equipped to conduct parachute assaults. Air Assault IBCTs are specially trained and equipped to conduct helicopter assaults."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2017-09-26
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Attack on U.S. Soldiers in Niger: Context and Issues for Congress
"On October 4, four members of U.S. Special Operations Forces were killed and two wounded in an attack in western Niger, an emerging hot spot of Islamist extremist activity. The Defense Department (DOD) stated in a briefing on October 5 that the U.S. servicemembers were 'conducting an advise and assist mission' with local counterparts, several of whom were also killed. The identity of perpetrators has not been confirmed. The incident has highlighted evolving security threats in West Africa's Sahel region, as well as the growing presence of U.S. military forces engaged in counterterrorism support in Africa. The situation in Niger poses issues for Congress pertaining to oversight of U.S. policy toward fragile states in the Sahel, U.S. security assistance and foreign aid, and U.S. counterterrorism activities abroad. If an Islamist armed group was responsible, as some reports suggest, this would be the first known incident in which such a group has killed U.S. soldiers on active duty in the Sahel. Western civilians, including several U.S. citizens, have died, however, in a recent series of mass-casualty attacks by Islamist extremists in regional capitals. The first reported prolonged hostage-taking of an American citizen by an Islamist group in the Sahel occurred in Niger in October 2016, underscoring the changing threat landscape."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2017-10-05
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Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress [August 15, 2017]
"This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Coast Guard's programs for procuring 8 National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and 58 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs). These 91 planned cutters are intended as replacements for 90 aging Coast Guard cutters and patrol craft. The Coast Guard's proposed FY2018 budget requests a total of $794 million in acquisition funding for the three programs. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Coast Guard's funding requests and acquisition strategies for the NSC, OPC, and FRC programs. Congress's decisions on these three programs could substantially affect Coast Guard capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base. The NSC, OPC, and FRC programs have been subjects of congressional oversight for several years, and were previously covered in an earlier CRS report that is now archived. CRS testified on the Coast Guard's cutter acquisition programs most recently on July 25, 2017. The Coast Guard's plans for modernizing its fleet of polar icebreakers are covered in a separate CRS report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2017-08-15
