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EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 20 Issue 13, March 26, 2020
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: "COVID-19 cost recovery for fire and EMS [emergency medical services] departments"; "Mutual Aid Resource Planner"; "Improving your risk and crisis communication"; "Webinars: Coping with COVID-19: Best Practices for Police, Fire/EMS"; "South Carolina fire district electronic systems hacked"; "Hackers use HHS.gov 'open redirect' to push malware"; "What should you do instead of paying the ransom?"; and "Remote work must be both reliable and safe".
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2020-03-26
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COVID-19 and Regulation of Public Drinking Water [March 26, 2020]
From the Document: "During infectious disease outbreaks, questions regarding public water supplies may emerge, as a safe and adequate water supply is a key component to protecting public health. As the United States and other countries respond to the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), questions may arise regarding the potential for the COVID-19 virus to be present in public water supplies. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that 'Americans can continue to use and drink water from their tap as usual.' To support water providers and others in addressing COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 19, 2020, issued interim guidance on water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management for the COVID-19 virus. The guidance states that the COVID-19 virus has not been detected in water supplies and that the risk to water supplies is low based on current evidence."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphreys, Elena H.; Tiemann, Mary
2020-03-26
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COVID-19 and Direct Payments to Individuals: Estimated Impact of Recovery Rebates in H.R. 748 on Family Incomes [Updated March 26, 2020]
From the Document: "H.R. 748 (CARES Act), as passed by the Senate on March 25, 2020, includes many provisions designed to provide emergency relief to the economy in response to the effects of the COVID [coronavirus disease]-19 pandemic. One such provision of H.R. 748 is the '2020 recovery rebate,' a direct payment made to individuals. Similar 'recovery rebates' were sent to individuals in response to the 2001 and 2008 recessions. Several Members of Congress have recently proposed varying forms of direct payment, and two earlier versions of the CARES Act (S. 3548 and a draft circulated on March 22, 2020) also included a direct payment proposal. The direct payment in H.R. 748 is structured similarly to the 2008 recovery rebates. The rebate takes the form of an advance refundable tax credit, and would rely on the tax system to pay the credit to eligible individuals. As such, this Insight refers to eligible individuals as 'taxpayers.' In general, taxpayers would be eligible for a rebate of $1,200 ($2,400 if the taxpayer is a married couple filing jointly). Taxpayers could increase the amount they receive by $500 for each child that they could claim for the child tax credit. The rebate amount would gradually phase out for higher-income taxpayers. H.R. 748 includes other provisions related to the timing of rebate payments, the information used to determine the rebate amount, and administrative challenges related to paying the rebate."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Boyle, Conor F.; Carter, Jameson A.
2020-03-26
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Crisis Standards of Care and COVID-19: What EMS Needs to Know [video]
From the video description: "COVID-19 challenges healthcare systems across the country, with many communities already seeing an increased demand for EMS [emergency medical services], emergency department and critical care services. A systems approach to developing crisis standards of care, defined as a 'substantial change in usual healthcare operations and the level of care it is possible to deliver,' is critical for EMS systems preparing for any public health emergency. In this webinar, hosted by NHTSA's [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration] Office of EMS, you'll learn: [1] Why crisis standards of care planning is so critical in the prehospital setting [2] How one state prepares for a surge in demand for EMS services [and 3] Implications for local EMS leaders who may have to implement crisis standards of care in their communities." The duration of this video is 54 minutes and 45 seconds.
United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Emergency Medical Services
Hodge, James G., Jr.; Hick, John L.; Burnett, Aaron
2020-03-26
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ASPR TRACIE Technical Assistance Request: Infectious Diseases Fatality Management Resources
From the Request: "The requestor asked for precautions or guidance related to handling and viewing the remains of a deceased COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] patient as well as planning resources for mass fatality management."
United States. Technical Resources, Assistance Center and Information Exchange
2020-03-26
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Fatality Management Tabletop Exercise [presentation]
This presentation contains details on COVID-19 fatality management for government, private sector, and nonprofit groups. This document is organized as follows: "[1] Exercise Objectives and Outcomes; [2] Scenario Overview: [A] Confirmed COVID-19 Cases [B] Hospitalizations and Deaths; [3] Facilitated Discussion[.]"
United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
2020-03-26?
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Coronavirus Spreads Through Africa [map]
From the Website: "'The coronavirus pandemic has spread rapidly since it arrived in Africa. This time series analysis tracks the logarithmic dissemination of COVID-19 across the continent.'"
National Defense University. Africa Center for Strategic Studies
2020-03-25
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Whole-Of-Government Response [March 25, 2020]
From the Document: "Under the direction of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, FEMA, HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] and our federal partners are working with state, local, tribal and territorial governments to execute a whole of government response to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the public."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2020-03-25
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COVID-19 Update: Optimization Strategies for Healthcare Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) [presentation]
These presentation slides from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contain web resources related to COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) as well as an overview of the products and services offered by Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA). The full video presentation can be view here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJblRPy3aW0&feature=youtu.be].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-03-25
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COVID-19 Update: Optimization Strategies for Healthcare Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) [video]
From the Webpage: "During this COCA [Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity] Call, presenters will provide a COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 19] update and discuss strategies for healthcare facilities to optimize personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies such as eye protection, isolation gowns, facemasks, and N95 respirators." This length of this video is 59:10.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-03-25
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Concurrent Receipt of Military Retired Pay and Veteran Disability: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated March 25, 2020]
From the Summary: "'Concurrent' receipt in the military context typically means simultaneously receiving two types of federal monetary benefits: military retired pay from the Department of Defense (DOD) and disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Prior to 2004, existing laws and regulations dictated that a military retiree could not receive two payments from federal agencies for the same purpose; military retired pay and VA disability compensation were considered to fall under that restriction. As a result, military retirees with physical disabilities recognized by the VA had their (taxable) military retired pay 'offset', or reduced dollar-for-dollar, by the amount of their (nontaxable) VA compensation. Legislative activity on the issue of concurrent receipt began in the late 1980s and culminated in the provision for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) in the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (P.L. 107-314). Since then, Congress has added Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) for those retirees with a disability rated at 50% or greater, extended concurrent receipt to additional eligible populations, and further refined and clarified the program. Concurrent receipt is applicable only to persons who are both (1) military retirees and (2) eligible for VA disability compensation. An eligible retiree cannot receive both CRDP and CRSC. The retiree may choose whichever is most financially advantageous to him or her and may make benefit changes during an annual open season."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kamarck, Kristy N.; Schwartz, Mainon A.
2020-03-25
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Congressional Use of Advisory Commissions Following Crises [March 25, 2020]
From the Document: "Throughout U.S. history, Congress has used advisory commissions to assist in the development of public policy. Among other contexts, commissions have been used following crisis situations, including the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Advisory commissions can provide Congress with a potential high-visibility forum to assemble expertise that might not exist within the legislative environment and allow for the in-depth examination of complex, cross-cutting policy issues. As Congress considers its range of responses to the coronavirus pandemic, the creation of one or more congressional advisory commissions is an option that could provide a platform for, over time, evaluating a myriad of pandemic-related policy issues. Past congressional advisory commissions have retrospectively evaluated policy responses, brought together diverse groups of experts, and supplemented existing congressional oversight mechanisms."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Straus, Jacob R.; Egar, William T.
2020-03-25
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2628, Veterans Early Treatment for Chronic Ailment Resurgence Through Examinations Act of 2019
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on March 12, 2020. From the Document:"H.R. 2628 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a four-year pilot program at five of its medical facilities to provide dental care to at least 1,500 veterans who have diabetes."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2020-03-25
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Master Question List for COVID-19 (Caused by SARS-CoV-2): Weekly Report 25 March 2020
From the Foreword: "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is paying close attention to the evolving Coronavirus Infectious Disease (COVID-19) situation in order to protect our nation. DHS is working very closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), other federal agencies, and public health officials to implement public health control measures related to travelers and materials crossing our borders from the affected regions. [...] The Master Question List (MQL) is intended to quickly present the current state of available information to government decision makers in the operational response to COVID-19 and allow structured and scientifically guided discussions across the federal government without burdening them with the need to review scientific reports, and to prevent duplication of efforts by highlighting and coordinating research. The information contained in the following table has been assembled and evaluated by experts from publicly available sources to include reports and articles found in scientific and technical journals, selected sources on the internet, and various media reports. It is intended to serve as a 'quick reference' tool and should not be regarded as a comprehensive source of information, nor as necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the DHS or the U.S. Government."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2020-03-25
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Update for Rural Partners and Communities on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Response [video]
From the video description: "Dr. Jay Butler shared guidance with partners, public health practitioners, healthcare providers, and others working to protect the health of rural communities. He described what CDC knows at this point and responded to questions." The duration of this video is 59 minutes and 39 seconds.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-03-25
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Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008: Security Assistance Restrictions [Updated March 25, 2020]
From the Document: "The recruitment and use of children in armed conflict is broadly viewed as a human rights problem, a form of trafficking in persons, among the worst forms of child labor, and a war crime. The United Nations (U.N.) has identified the recruitment and use of child soldiers as among six 'grave violations' affecting children in war and has established numerous monitoring and reporting mechanisms and initiatives to combat this practice. The U.N. Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict affirmatively verified over 7,000 children as having been recruited and used as soldiers in 2018 alone; the total number of children serving as soldiers around the world is believed to be significantly higher. U.S. efforts to eradicate this phenomenon internationally are guided largely by the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008 (CSPA, Title IV of P.L. 110-457), which defines the term 'child soldier' under U.S. law and restricts certain security assistance to countries that recruit or use child soldiers, among other provisions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weber, Michael A.
2020-03-25
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COVID-19 and U.S. Iran Policy [March 25, 2020]
From the Overview: "The spread in Iran of COVID-19 (the disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2]) has raised questions about the possible effects of U.S. policy on the capacity of Iran to cope with the outbreak. Since May 2018, when the Trump Administration withdrew the United States from the 2015 multilateral Iran nuclear agreement (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA), the Administration has reimposed all U.S. sanctions that were in place prior to that agreement and added further sanctions. The U.S. sanctions target virtually every economic sector in Iran, but at least technically exempt transactions involving humanitarian items. Iranian officials argue that the U.S. sanctions--which constitute the core of a U.S. 'maximum pressure' campaign intended to alter Iran's objectionable behavior--are impeding Iran's ability to respond to the coronavirus outbreak."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2020-03-25
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Cloud Computing: Background, Status of Adoption by Federal Agencies, and Congressional Action [Updated March 25, 2020]
From the Summary: "Cloud computing is a new name for an old concept: the delivery of computing services from a remote location, analogous to the way electricity, water, and other utilities are provided to most customers. Cloud computing services are delivered through a network, usually the internet. Utilities are also delivered through networks, whether the electric grid, water delivery systems, or other distribution infrastructure. In some ways, cloud computing is reminiscent of computing before the advent of the personal computer, where users shared the power of a central mainframe computer through video terminals or other devices. Cloud computing, however, is much more powerful and flexible, and information technology advances may permit the approach to become ubiquitous."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Figliola, Patricia Moloney
2020-03-25
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Domestic Public Health Response to COVID-19: Current Status and Resources Guide [Updated March 25, 2020]
From the Document: "The global outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019, COVID-19, is affecting communities throughout the United States, with case counts growing daily. Containment and mitigation efforts by federal, state, and local governments have been undertaken to 'flatten the curve'--that is, to curb widespread transmission that could overwhelm the nation's health care system. This CRS [Congressional Research Service] Insight presents selected information and resources relevant to the 'domestic public health response' to COVID-19 in containing and mitigating the spread and impact of the disease. [...] This Insight does not provide information on the international response to COVID-19, or on economic or other nonhealth policy issues related to COVID-19. This Insight also does not address issues related to health insurance and financing, or human services."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sekar, Kavya; Cornell, Ada S.
2020-03-25
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Comparison of the FY2020 and FY2021 Precision-Guided Munitions Procurement Requests [March 25, 2020]
From the Document: "Precision-guided munitions (PGMs) have become an important capability for the Department of Defense (DOD). Recent operations, including counter-insurgency and counterterrorism missions, have demonstrated a high demand for all types of PGMs, which DOD defines as a 'guided weapon intended to destroy a point target and minimize collateral damage.' Some analysts argue a high-intensity conflict would require large stockpiles of such weapons, in addition to the demand from operations in the Middle East. Then-Secretary of Defense James Mattis stated that PGMs are required to help rebuild readiness."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoehn, John R.; Ryder, Samuel D.
2020-03-25
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Federal Workforce Statistics Sources: OPM and OMB [Updated March 25, 2020]
From the Summary: "This report describes online tools, reports, and data compilations created by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that contain statistics about federal employees and the federal workforce. The report also describes key characteristics of each resource and briefly discusses selected methodological differences, with the intention of facilitating the selection of appropriate data for specific purposes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jennings, Julie; Nagel, Jared Conrad
2020-03-25
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Section 1135 Waivers and COVID-19: An Overview [March 25, 2020]
From the Document: "In response to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States, both Congress and the Trump Administration have acted to confront the challenges of providing health care to sick patients. These efforts have included the provision of certain regulatory flexibilities for health care entities under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1320b-5). To address the difficulties of providing health care in exigent circumstances, Section 1135 generally authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary) to waive or modify specified statutory and regulatory requirements related to the provision of health care services under the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance (CHIP) programs (so-called 'Section 1135 waivers'). In recent years, the HHS Secretary has issued Section 1135 waivers several times, most commonly for natural disasters. This Legal Sidebar summarizes Section 1135 and recent legislative and administrative developments relating to this authority."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Staman, Jennifer A.
2020-03-25
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Resolving Subpoena Disputes Between the Branches: Potential Impacts of Restricting the Judicial Role [March 25, 2020]
From the Document: "An 'en banc' panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) is set to consider what could turn out to be one of the circuit's more consequential decisions on congressional power. In 'Committee on the Judiciary v. McGahn', the question before the court is whether the House can invoke the authority of the courts to compel former White House counsel Don McGahn to comply with a House Judiciary Committee subpoena for his testimony. In February, a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit determined that the House could not, holding that because the House lacked standing, the court lacked authority to hear the dispute (the reasoning behind that decision is explored in a companion Sidebar). The Judiciary Committee quickly filed its petition for rehearing before an 'en banc' panel of the D.C. Circuit, which was granted last week. The order granting rehearing also vacated the February three-judge panel decision and set oral arguments in the case for April 28, 2020."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Garvey, Todd
2020-03-25
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Full D.C. Circuit to Consider Whether Committees Can Enforce Congressional Subpoenas in Court [March 25, 2020]
"Although legal disputes between the executive and legislative branches of the federal government periodically lead to litigation, federal courts sometimes hesitate to adjudicate such disputes because deciding whether a coordinate branch of government has broken the law can implicate separation-ofpowers principles. For example, a panel of three judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) held in February that the House Committee on the Judiciary (Committee) lacked standing to bring a federal lawsuit to enforce a congressional subpoena against former White House Counsel Donald F. McGahn, II. Shortly thereafter, however, the Committee successfully persuaded the D.C. Circuit to vacate the panel's judgment and rehear the case en banc, which means all of the active judges of the court who are not recused will rehear the case. The en banc court's decision could affect whether--and under what circumstances--congressional entities may file lawsuits seeking information or testimony from executive branch defendants. This Sidebar therefore analyzes the standing doctrine before discussing 'McGahn' and its implications for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lewis, Kevin M.
2020-03-25
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Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-123): First Coronavirus Supplemental [March 25, 2020]
From the Introduction: "By late February and early March 2020, the global outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a viral respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus, had entered a new phase, with community spread occurring in many countries and several U.S. states. Concerns grew over the potential for the disease to spread widely, leading to increased hospitalizations and deaths. On March 6, 2020, Congress and the President enacted the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-123), to provide emergency supplemental appropriations to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus outbreak. This report provides an overview of appropriations in Division A and relevant policies and requirements pursuant to the supplemental. Funding in Division A is designated as being provided as an emergency requirement. For the purposes of the supplemental, the term 'coronavirus' refers to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-2019, or another coronavirus with pandemic potential."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sekar, Kavya; Dabrowska, Agata; Lindsay, Bruce R. . . .
2020-03-25
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Banking Regulators' Response to COVID-19 [March 25, 2020]
From the Document: "Economic conditions have deteriorated rapidly in the past few weeks, as the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has caused many businesses and public institutions to limit or close their operations. Policymakers are considering a range of programs and policy options to assist Americans facing increased financial hardship and those incurring time off work because of illness. Once it became clear that the COVID-19 outbreak would have serious financial ramifications for households and businesses, the federal agencies that regulate banks and credit unions--the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (collectively referred to as the bank regulators), and the National Credit Union Administration--responded in two general ways as discussed in this Insight: [1] measures to encourage banks to work with customers affected by COVID-19; and [2] adjustments to bank regulation related to capital, liquidity, and supervision."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Scott, Andrew P.; Perkins, David W.
2020-03-25
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COVID-19 and Corporate Debt Market Stress [March 25, 2020]
From the Document: "U.S. companies are carrying record levels of debt to finance their operations and growth (Figure 1). Corporate debt largely consists of bonds and, to a lesser extent, leveraged loans, bank loans, and other liabilities. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the primary regulator overseeing the debt capital markets. In recent years, financial authorities have become increasingly vocal about the buildup of the higher-risk portions of the corporate debt market. This Insight explains the market's composition and risks in the context of the current coronavirus (COVID-19)-induced capital markets stress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Su, Eva
2020-03-25
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COVID-19: Industrial Mobilization and Defense Production Act (DPA) Implementation [March 25, 2020]
From the Document: "On March 18, President Trump issued Executive Order 13909, 'Prioritizing and Allocating Health and Medical Resources to Respond to the Spread of COVID-19', which announced the President's invocation of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The administration has yet to publicly provide direction to the private sector under this authority. This Insight considers possible future DPA implementation processes, industrial mobilization, and congressional considerations concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, and is a companion to CRS Insight IN11231."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cecire, Michael H.; Peters, Heidi M.
2020-03-25
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 Fatality Management Tabletop Exercise Situation Manual
From the SitMan Purpose: "The purpose of this SitMan [situation manual] is to guide participants representing government, private sector, and nonprofit organizations through a tabletop discussion focused on fatality management operations in the context of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. The SitMan provides a hypothetical scenario that depicts numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths at the state, regional, and national levels over a period of 40 days and prompts participants to discuss how fatality management operations may evolve as the pandemic progresses."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services; United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
2020-03-25?
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[Letter from Bennie G. Thompson and Max Rose to Elizabeth Neumann Regarding DHS Efforts to Counter Extremism During COVID-19 Pandemic, March 24, 2020]
From the Document: "As the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease] pandemic continues to upend American life in new and unpredictable ways, we seek an understanding of how DHS is preparing for and mitigating potential homeland security threats from bad actors, such as violent extremists in the United States and abroad, who may seek to exploit vulnerabilities stemming from this metastasizing crisis. To that end, we would like to know how the Office of Threat Prevention and Security Policy is coordinating DHS prevention efforts to account for the evolving threat landscape under the specter of COVID-19. Recent media reports have highlighted how white supremacist extremists across the world are discussing ways to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to advance violent ends, including, in some cases, accelerating society toward mass violence by sowing chaos. ISIS [Islamic State in Iraq and Syria], too, appears to be interested in exploiting the crisis: in the March 19, 2020, issue of the ISIS magazine 'Al-Naba'', an editorial urged adherents to leverage the pandemic to free prisoners from the 'prisons of the polytheists and the camps of humiliation,' arguing that Western countries' security forces are preoccupied with the crisis and their financial resources are being drained."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
Thompson, Bennie, 1948-; Rose, Max
2020-03-24
