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Crime Victims' Rights Act: A Summary and Legal Analysis of 18 U.S.C. § 3771 [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Summary: "Section 3771 of Title 18 of the 'United States Code' is a statutory bill of rights for the victims of crimes committed in violation of federal law or the laws of the District of Columbia. It defines a victim as anyone directly and proximately harmed by such an offense, individuals and legal entities alike. It does not appear to otherwise include family members of a deceased, child, or incapacitated victim except in a representative capacity. Numbered among the rights it conveys are: (1) the right to be reasonably protected from the accused; (2) the right to notification of public court and parole proceedings and of any release of the accused; (3) the right not to be excluded from public court proceedings under most circumstances; (4) the right to be heard in public court proceedings relating to bail, the acceptance of a plea bargain, sentencing, or parole; (5) the right to confer with the prosecutor; (6) the right to restitution under the law; (7) the right to proceedings free from unwarranted delays; (8) the right to be treated fairly and with respect to one's dignity and privacy; (9) the right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement; and (10) the right to be informed of the statutory rights and services to which one is entitled. The section directs the federal courts and law enforcement officials to see to it that the rights it creates are honored. Both victims and prosecutors may assert the rights and seek review from the appellate courts should the rights be initially denied."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2021-06-08
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Crime Victims' Rights Act: A Sketch of 18 U.S.C. § 3771 [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Summary: "Section 3771 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code is a statutory bill of rights for the victims of crimes committed in violation of federal law or the laws of the District of Columbia. It defines a victim as anyone directly and proximately harmed by such an offense, individuals and legal entities alike. It does not appear to otherwise include family members of a deceased, child, or incapacitated victim except in a representative capacity. Numbered among the rights it conveys are: (1) the right to be reasonably protected from the accused; (2) the right to notification of public court and parole proceedings and of any release of the accused; (3) the right not to be excluded from public court proceedings under most circumstances; (4) the right to be heard in public court proceedings relating to bail, the acceptance of a plea bargain, sentencing, or parole; (5) the right to confer with the prosecutor; (6) the right to restitution under the law; (7) the right to proceedings free from unwarranted delays; (8) the right to be treated fairly and with respect to one's dignity and privacy; (9) the right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement; and (10) the right to be informed of the statutory rights and services to which one is entitled. The section directs the federal courts and law enforcement officials to see to it that the rights it creates are honored."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2021-06-08
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Defense Primer: Emerging Technologies [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Document: "Both U.S. national strategy documents and Congress's own bipartisan 'Future of Defense Task Force Report' have identified a number of emerging technologies that could have a disruptive impact on U.S. national security in the years to come. These technologies include [1] artificial intelligence, [2] lethal autonomous weapons, [3] hypersonic weapons, [4] directed-energy weapons, [5] biotechnology, and [6] quantum technology. As these technologies continue to mature, they could hold significant implications for congressional oversight, U.S. defense authorizations and appropriations, military concepts of operations, and the future of war." Some potential issues for Congress to consider are: "[1] What is the appropriate balance of funding across these and other emerging technologies, given the potential military utility and technological maturity of each? [2] Some analysts have argued that DOD should develop a technology strategy to establish long-term priorities across these and other emerging technologies. What impact would such a strategy have on Congress's ability to conduct oversight or evaluate budget requests? [3] Some reports indicate that both DOD and defense industry have difficulty recruiting and retaining personnel with expertise in emerging technologies. In addition, analysts have noted that the development of many emerging technologies requires experts from a number of disparate fields (e.g., development of quantum technology could require experts in quantum information science, machine learning, materials science, and other fields). What measures, if any, should the United States take to ensure that the emerging technology workforce is sufficient to support U.S. competitiveness and military superiority?"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.
2021-06-08
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Deep Fakes and National Security [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Document: "'Deep fakes'--a term that first emerged in 2017 to describe realistic photo, audio, video, and other forgeries generated with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies--could present a variety of national security challenges in the years to come. As these technologies continue to mature, they could hold significant implications for congressional oversight, U.S. defense authorizations and appropriations, and the regulation of social media platforms. [...] Some analysts have noted that algorithm-based detection tools could lead to a cat-and-mouse game, in which the deep fake generators are rapidly updated to address flaws identified by detection tools. For this reason, they argue that social media platforms--in addition to deploying deep fake detection tools--may need to expand the means of labeling and/or authenticating content. This could include a requirement that users identify the time and location at which the content originated or that they label edited content as such. Other analysts have expressed concern that regulation of deep fake technology could impose undue burden on social media platforms or lead to unconstitutional restrictions on free speech and artistic expression. These analysts have suggested that existing law is sufficient for managing the malicious use of deep fakes. Some experts have asserted that responding with technical tools alone will be insufficient and that instead the focus should be on the need to educate the public about deep fakes and minimize incentives for creators of malicious deep fakes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.; Harris, Laurie A.
2021-06-08
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Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Introduction: "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). The Coast Guard's proposed FY2022 budget requests a total of $695 million in procurement funding for the NSC, OPC, and FRC 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 many years, and were previously covered in other CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports dating back to 1998 that are now archived. CRS testified on the Coast Guard's cutter acquisition programs most recently in October and November of 2018. 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
2021-06-08
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Emergency Rental Assistance Through the Coronavirus Relief Fund [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Introduction: "The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) included an appropriation of $25 billion to help low-income households make rent and utility payments through an Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. The ERA is funded through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), a program created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136), and administered by the Department of the Treasury, to assist state, local, territorial, and tribal governments. [...] This report briefly describes the need for rental assistance during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, provides information about the allocation of ERA funds, describes the parameters of the ERA program, and discusses outstanding questions about the program and renter needs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Driessen, Grant A.; Perl, Libby; McCarty, Maggie
2021-06-08
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Defense Primer: Hypersonic Boost-Glide Weapons [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Document: "The U.S. Department of Defense is pursuing two types of hypersonic weapons technologies: boost-glide systems that place a maneuverable glide vehicle atop a ballistic missile or rocket booster, and cruise missiles that would use high-speed, air-breathing engines known as scramjets to travel to hypersonic speeds. This In Focus addresses only the first of these technologies. The Pentagon's FY2022 budget request for hypersonic-related research is $3.8 billion--up from $3.2 billion in the FY2021 request. This increased funding and statements from Pentagon officials demonstrate growing support for weapons that could attack priority targets promptly and with improved accuracy without facing defeat by an adversary's air or missile defense systems. Pentagon officials have also expressed concerns about advances in hypersonic weapons technologies in Russia and China, and on the potential threats to U.S. forces, allies, and territory."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.; Woolf, Amy F.
2021-06-08
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Army's Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Document: "The Army's Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) is the Army's third attempt to replace the M-2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) which has been in service since the early 1980s. Despite numerous upgrades since its introduction, the Army contends the M-2 is near the end of its useful life and can no longer accommodate the types of upgrades needed for it to be effective on the modern battlefield. Because the OMFV would be an important weapon system in the Army's Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs), Congress may be concerned with how the OMFV would impact the effectiveness of ground forces over the full spectrum of military operations. Moreover, Congress might also be concerned with how much more capable the OMFV is projected to be over the M-2 Bradley to ensure that it is not just a costly marginal improvement over the current system. A number of past unsuccessful Army acquisition programs have served to heighten congressional oversight of Army programs, and the OMFV may be subject to a high degree of congressional interest."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2021-06-08
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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and On-the-Street Police Encounters [June 8, 2021]
From the Introduction: "The Americans with Disabilities Act [hyperlink] (ADA) mandates, as its core imperative, that both public and private sector entities offer 'reasonable accommodations' in their policies and practices for those with disabilities. Courts have applied the ADA's Title II reasonable accommodation provision, which prohibits discrimination by 'public entities,' to a broad array of public programs and services, ranging from use of city streets [hyperlink] to municipal contracting [hyperlink] to access to public benefits [hyperlink]. Although the courts have consistently held that police departments are 'public entities' and that Title II applies to at least some state and local law enforcement functions, the courts are split on whether the ADA's reasonable accommodation requirement applies to on-the-street encounters with law enforcement officers, such as use-of-force situations or arrests. [...] [T]he lower courts are still in conflict about how police must handle encounters with individuals with disabilities. This issue has drawn attention again as some Members of Congress have pushed for alternative policing techniques, such as training in de-escalation tactics. This Legal Sidebar provides background on Title II of the ADA, reviews the case law applying the ADA to law enforcement activities, discusses the circuit split on the ADA's application to on-the-street police encounters, and surveys relevant legislation introduced in the 117th Congress. This Legal Sidebar provides background on Title II of the ADA, reviews the case law applying the ADA to law enforcement activities, discusses the circuit split on the ADA's application to on-the-street police encounters, and surveys relevant legislation introduced in the 117th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Thompson, Richard M., II
2021-06-08
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H. Rept. 117-56: To Repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002, Report Together with Dissenting Views, to Accompany H.R. 256, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, June 8, 2021
From the Purpose and Summary: "The legislation H.R. 256--To repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002--would terminate the nearly two-decade old Congressional authorization for using military force in Iraq."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-06-08
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 8, 2021: Decreases in COVID-19 Cases, Emergency Department Visits, Hospital Admissions, and Deaths Among Older Adults Following the Introduction of COVID-19 Vaccine -- United States, September 6, 2020-May 1, 2021
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This early release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Decreases in COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Cases, Emergency Department Visits, Hospital Admissions, and Deaths Among Older Adults Following the Introduction of COVID-19 Vaccine -- United States, September 6, 2020-May 1, 2021." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-06-08
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Navy Columbia (SSBN-826) Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Navy's Columbia (SSBN-826) class program, a program to design and build a class of 12 new ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to replace the Navy's current force of 14 aging Ohio-class SSBNs. Since 2013, the Navy has consistently identified the Columbia-class program as the Navy's top priority program. The Navy procured the first Columbia-class boat in FY2021 and wants to procure the second boat in the class in FY2024. The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requests $4,647.0 million (i.e., about $4.6 billion) in procurement and advance procurement (AP) funding for the program. The program poses a number of funding and oversight issues for Congress. Decisions that Congress makes on the Columbia-class program could substantially affect U.S. military capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base. This report focuses on the Columbia-class program as a Navy shipbuilding program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-06-08
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Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress [June 8, 2021]
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 34 have been procured through FY2021. Since FY2011, Virginia-class boats have been procured at a rate of two per year. The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requests the procurement of the 35th and 36th Virginia-class boats. A key issue for Congress concerns the SSN force-level goal and procurement rate. Decisions that Congress makes on this 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
2021-06-08
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Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated June 8, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC), which are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense (DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs. Compared to the standard or default approach of annual contracting, MYP and BBC have the potential for reducing weapon procurement costs by a few or several percent. Potential issues for Congress concerning MYP and BBC include whether to use MYP and BBC in the future more frequently, less frequently, or about as frequently as they are currently used; whether to create a permanent statute to govern the use of BBC, analogous to the permanent statute that governs the use of MYP; and whether the Coast Guard should begin making use of MYP and BBC. Congress's decisions on these issues could affect defense acquisition practices, defense funding requirements, and the defense industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-06-08
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EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory Has Taken Steps to Mitigate Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic on Mobile Source Emission Compliance
From the Document: "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General initiated an evaluation to determine: [1] How the coronavirus pandemic--that is, the SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] virus and resultant COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] disease--has impacted laboratory operations and testing at the EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, or NVFEL, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. [2] Any resulting impacts on the OTAQ's [Office of Transportation and Air Quality] compliance programs, which are designed to minimize the potential for emissions in excess of standards or for noncompliance with regulations in heavy-duty, light-duty, and nonroad vehicles, engines, and equipment. This report addresses these objectives based on our work within the OTAQ and contains no recommendations. This report examines the EPA's activities to oversee mobile source compliance with clean air laws and regulations during the coronavirus pandemic. It highlights NVFEL's efforts to minimize the potential for noncompliance during the pandemic and the importance of returning to full testing capacity to provide the most effective oversight."
United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of the Inspector General
2021-06-07
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Open Letter to G7 Leaders: A G7 Action Plan to Ensure the World is Vaccinated Quickly and Equitably
From the Document: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has cost millions of lives and trillions of dollars in lost economic activity. We are in the midst of a rapidly accelerating global crisis, triggering a cascade of humanitarian and economic disasters in many countries, as well as the proliferation of dangerous new variants that threaten to intensify the pandemic's impact in the United States and throughout the world. The continuing crisis has one principal cause: an increasingly stark gap in affordable and timely access by most of the world to safe and effective vaccines and the capacity to deliver them. [...] G7 [Group of Seven] members must use their unparalleled political and financial might, their combined vaccine expertise and manufacturing capacities, and their proven ability to shape the world's response to global public health emergencies, to accelerate global equitable access to highly effective vaccines."
Center for Strategic and International Studies (Washington, D.C.)
2021-06-07
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FY2021 Defense Appropriations Act: Context and Selected Issues for Congress [June 7, 2021]
From the Summary: "The Department of Defense Appropriations Act is one of 12 annual appropriations measures typically reported by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations and the largest in terms of discretionary funding. The act funds activities of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) except for military construction and family housing programs. The legislation also funds certain activities of the intelligence community. On February 10, 2020, President Donald J. Trump submitted a budget request for FY2021 that included $753.5 billion for national defense-related activities, including discretionary and mandatory programs. The request aligned with the statutory spending limit, or cap, for national defense-related activities in the Budget Control Act (BCA; P.L. [Public Law] 112-25), as amended by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 (BBA; P.L. 116-37). The request included $69 billion in defense funding designated for Overseas Contingency Operations, or OCO, which is effectively exempt from the cap. [...] This report compares funding levels for certain defense accounts and programs in the enacted FY2020 appropriations, the Trump Administration's FY2021 request, and FY2021 legislation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McGarry, Brendan W.
2021-06-07
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Department of Veterans Affairs: Burial Benefits and the National Cemetery Administration [June 7, 2021]
From the Summary: "The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) within Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides eligible veterans and their next of kin monetary and non-monetary burial benefits upon the veterans' deaths. Servicemembers and veterans have received non-monetary burial benefits since the Civil War and monetary burial benefits since World War I. Eligible veterans and active-duty servicemembers eligible for burial benefits can be interred in VA national cemeteries and can receive government-furnished headstones or markers, and in their honor, next of kin can receive presidential memorial certificates and burial flags. Spouses, minor children, and, under certain conditions, unmarried adult children may also be buried in national cemeteries. A deceased veteran interred in a private cemetery may be eligible for a medallion that can be affixed to a privately purchased headstone. Monetary burial benefits are partial reimbursements that an eligible veteran's next of kin can receive for burial and funeral costs. The amount of the reimbursement depends on the manner of the veteran's death: whether it was service-connected or was non-service-connected or occurred in a VA facility. The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is responsible for maintaining VA national cemeteries and for providing grants to states or federally recognized tribal governments for establishing, expanding, or improving state, tribal, or territorial veterans cemeteries. [...] This report provides a description of both VA's monetary and non-monetary burial benefits and NCA's national cemeteries."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Salazar, Heather M.; Breslauer, Tamar B.
2021-06-07
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Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (Polar Icebreaker) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated June 7, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program--the Coast Guard's program for acquiring new PSCs (i.e., heavy polar icebreakers). The Coast Guard's proposed FY2022 budget requests $170.0 million in procurement funding for the PSC program. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Administration's FY2022 procurement funding request for the PSC program, and, more generally, whether to approve, reject, or modify the Coast Guard's overall plan for procuring new polar icebreakers. Congress's decisions on this issue could affect Coast Guard funding requirements, the Coast Guard's ability to perform its polar missions, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-06-07
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China Primer: Uyghurs [Updated June 7, 2021]
From the Document: "Uyghurs (also spelled 'Uighurs') are a Muslim ethnic group living primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in the far northwest of the People's Republic of China (PRC). They have garnered the attention of U.S. policymakers, particularly since 2018 following reports of the mass internment of Uyghurs in 'reeducation' centers. The detentions are part of a PRC government effort to systematically transform the thought and behavior of Uyghurs and forcefully assimilate them into Chinese society, which some observers believe may result in the destruction of Uyghur culture and identity. The U.S. government has responded by implementing targeted restrictions on trade with Xinjiang and imposing visa and economic sanctions on some PRC officials."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lum, Thomas G. (Thomas Gong), 1961-; Weber, Michael A.
2021-06-07
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Defense Primer: Quantum Technology [Updated June 7, 2021]
From the Document: "Quantum technology translates the principles of quantum physics into technological applications. In general, quantum technology has not yet reached maturity; however, it could hold significant implications for the future of military sensing, encryption, and communications, as well as for congressional oversight, authorizations, and appropriations. [...] The Defense Science Board (DSB), an independent Department of Defense (DOD) board of scientific advisors, has concluded that three applications of quantum technology hold the most promise for DOD: quantum sensing, quantum computers, and quantum communications."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.
2021-06-07
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Department of Defense Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems [Updated June 7, 2021]
From the Document: "Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly called drones, have proliferated rapidly and are available to nation states and to nonstate actors and individuals. These systems could provide U.S. adversaries with a low-cost means of conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions against--or attacking--U.S. forces. Furthermore, many smaller UASs cannot be detected by traditional air defense systems due to their size, construction material, and flight altitude. As a result, in FY2022, the Department of Defense (DOD) plans to spend at least $636 million on counter-UAS (C-UAS) research and development and at least $75 million on C-UAS procurement; this represents a $134 million overall increase from FY2021. As DOD continues to develop, procure, and deploy these systems, congressional oversight of their use may increase, and Congress may have to make decisions about future authorizations, appropriations, and other legislative actions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoehn, John R.; Sayler, Kelley M.
2021-06-07
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Director of National Intelligence (DNI) [Updated June 7, 2021]
This Congressional Research Service (CRS) report describes the history and duties of the Director of National Intelligence, as well as of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. It also describes how Congress has played an influential role. From the Document: "The United States Intelligence Community (IC) is a collection of 18 statutory elements within 6 cabinet departments and an independent agency that all carry out intelligence-related functions. As provided in statute, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) oversees the integration of these intelligence functions, spearheads the support the IC provides to the military and senior policymakers across the government, and serves as principal intelligence advisor to the President."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
DeVine, Michael E.
2021-06-07
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Belarus: An Overview [Updated June 7, 2021]
From the Document: "In 2020, protests against allegedly widespread electoral fraud and a brutal crackdown on protesters led to the rise of a mass opposition movement in Belarus, on a scale unseen since the country became independent in 1991 (Belarus previously was part of the Soviet Union). The protests emerged in the wake of Belarus's August 2020 presidential election, during which opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya mounted an unexpectedly strong campaign against Aleksandr Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for more than 26 years. Since August 2020, about 35,000 Belarusians reportedly have been detained or imprisoned. More than 450, including 65 women, are considered political prisoners. At least 10 individuals have been killed or have died under suspicious circumstances. The United States, the European Union (EU), and others have called for an end to the crackdown and for the government to hold free and fair presidential elections. [...] In recent years, U.S. assistance to Belarus has focused on independent media and civil society, private sector development, and vulnerable populations. From FY2015 to FY2019, the United States provided a total of about $49 million in obligated foreign assistance to Belarus. For FY2020, the State Department allocated $9.67 million in aid to Belarus. The President's FY2022 State and Foreign Operations budget request includes $15 million 'to support the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Welt, Cory
2021-06-07
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Armed Forces Retirement Home [Updated June 7, 2021]
From the Document: "Since the late 1700s, Congress has established numerous federal programs to provide housing, housing assistance, and health care support to certain wounded, ill, or injured servicemembers, military retirees, and other veterans. Some of those programs included the establishment of military asylums for temporarily or permanently disabled servicemembers. Most military asylums have since closed or been transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or state agencies that separately or jointly administer a variety of residential social support programs. Congress also later established the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) as the only federal military retirement community. In so doing, AFRH absorbed two previously existing military asylums, later converted to Department of Defense (DOD)-affiliated retirement homes. AFRH now provides residential care to military retirees and certain other veterans."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mendez, Bryce H. P.
2021-06-07
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EU Agricultural Domestic Support: Overview and Comparison with the United States [June 7, 2021]
From the Summary: "The European Union (EU) is one of the United States' chief agricultural trading partners and a major competitor in world markets. Historically, the United States and the EU have provided significant government support for their agricultural sectors. Significant structural differences in their respective farm sectors have helped to shape differences in their farm policy. The United States has double the farmland base than that of the EU (over 1 billion acres versus 418 million acres, respectively). The EU has five times as many farms, at 10.6 million with an average size of 39 acres, compared with 2 million U.S. farms averaging 485 acres. As a result, EU outlays per acre appear much larger than in the United States, whereas U.S. outlays per farm appear much larger. The EU's small size of farm holdings, substantially larger number of farms relative to the United States, and larger share of rural population (27% versus 18%) have all played a role in forming EU farm policy as compared with the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schnepf, Randall Dean, 1954-
2021-06-07
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Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated June 7, 2021]
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 FY2021 budget requests $2,659.5 million (i.e., about $2.7 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
2021-06-07
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U.S. Sanctions on Russia: An Overview [Updated June 7, 2021]
From the Document: "The United States maintains sanctions on Russia related to Russia's 2014 invasion of Ukraine, malicious cyber activities and influence operations (including election interference), human rights abuses, use of a chemical weapon, weapons proliferation, illicit trade with North Korea, support to the governments of Syria and Venezuela, and use of energy exports as a coercive or political tool. Sanctions against Russian individuals, entities, vessels, and aircraft (hereinafter, 'persons') may include the blocking of assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction; limits on access to the U.S. financial system, including transactions involving U.S. individuals and businesses; and denial of entry into the United States. The United States also tightly controls exports to Russia's defense and energy sectors."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rennack, Dianne E.; Welt, Cory
2021-06-07
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Marine Corps' Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) [Updated June 7, 2021]
From the Background: "According to the Marine Corps: The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) is the Corps' next-generation vehicle designed to move Marines from ship to shore. Designed to replace the Corps' aging Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV - in service since 1972), the ACV will be the primary means of tactical mobility for the Marine infantry battalion at sea and ashore. The ACV will possess ground mobility and speed similar to the M1A1 tank during sustained operations ashore and have the capability to provide organic, direct fire support to dismounted infantry in the attack. The ACV will support expeditionary mobility capability and capacity with balanced levels of performance, protection and payload. There are currently four ACV variants planned: (1) a Personnel Variant, which can carry three crew members with 13 Marines and two days of combat equipment and supplies; (2) a Command and Control Variant; (3) a Recovery Variant; and (4) a 30-mm Gun Variant. The Marines intend for the ACV to provide effective land and tactical water mobility (ship-to-shore and shore-to-shore), precise supporting fires, and high levels of force protection intended to protect against blasts, fragmentation, and kinetic energy threats."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2021-06-07
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Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases: Issues for Congress [June 7, 2021]
From the Document: "On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order (E.O.) 13990, 'Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis.' It contains directives to update the social cost of greenhouse gases (SC-GHG), a tool that agencies have typically used to estimate the benefits of GHG reductions. SC-GHG estimates have informed decisionmaking on federal actions, including GHG-related rules, since 2008. Members of Congress have taken divergent views on the adequacy and use of the SC-GHG. Some Members of Congress have questioned whether the SC-GHG methodology was consistent with federal guidance. Others have raised concerns that the SC-GHG estimates are outdated and that they underestimated climate benefits. The SC-GHG remains a topic of interest in the 117th Congress as the Biden Administration updates the estimates and implements its climate change directives."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Shouse, Kate C.
2021-06-07
