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Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protections: In Brief [Updated October 18, 2018]
"Whistleblowing is 'the act of reporting waste, fraud, abuse and corruption in a lawful manner to those who can correct the wrongdoing.' Intelligence Community (IC) whistleblowers are those employees or contractors working in any of the 17 elements of the IC who reasonably believe there has been a violation of law, rule, or regulation, gross mismanagement, waste of resources, abuse of authority, or a substantial danger to public health and safety. The essential distinction between whistleblowers generally and those in the IC (or those who otherwise have security clearances) is the concern for protecting classified information that may be involved in an IC-related incident or complaint. The IC has recognized that whistleblowing can save taxpayers' dollars, ensure an ethical and safe working environment, and enable timely responses for corrective action."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
DeVine, Michael E.
2018-10-18
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Deference and its Discontents: Will the Supreme Court Overrule Chevron? [October 11, 2018]
"Less than a week before announcing his retirement, Justice Anthony Kennedy called for the Supreme Court to 'reconsider' the seminal administrative law doctrine known as Chevron deference in a concurring opinion in Pereira v. Sessions. The doctrine, established by the Court's opinion in Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., instructs that when reviewing certain agency interpretations of statutes,courts should defer to the agency's construction if the statute is ambiguous and the agency's construction is reasonable. Some members of the Court--namely, Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch--have called for reconsideration of Chevron. In addition, the newest Justice, Brett Kavanaugh, was a leading critic of the doctrine during his tenure on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The selection of Justice Kavanaugh has led commentators to question whether the Court might reconsider Chevron in the near future. As the Supreme Court's new term began this month, the Court confronted the issue of agency deference in Nielsen v. Preap, although Chevron itself did not come up during oral argument. Recent cases suggest, however, that the Court might continue to reaffirm the case's vitality, and if the Court were to reassess Chevron, it might be to narrow the circumstances under which the doctrine applies in lieu of jettisoning it."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Brannon, Valerie C.; Cole, Jared P.
2018-10-11
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Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) [October 19, 2018]
"Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are available only to those individuals who have become unemployed as a direct result of a declared major disaster and are not eligible for regular Unemployment Compensation (UC). First created in 1970 through P.L. 91-606, DUA benefits are authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Relief Act (the Stafford Act), which authorizes the President to issue a major disaster declaration after state and local government resources have been overwhelmed by a natural catastrophe or, 'regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion in any part of the United States' (42 U.S.C. §5122(2)). The DUA program provides income support to individuals who become unemployed as a direct result of a major disaster and who have no remaining entitlement for regular UC benefits. DUA is funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is administered by the Department of Labor (DOL) through each state's UC agency. DUA beneficiaries (because they are not entitled to regular UC) are not eligible to receive Extended Benefits (EB)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Whittaker, Julie M.
2018-10-19
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House Passes Bill to Amend the Federal 'Crime of Violence' Definition [October 11, 2018]
"Recently the House passed the Community Safety and Security Act of 2018 (CSSA), which would amend the federal 'crime of violence' (COV) definition found at 18 U.S.C. § 16. Many federal statutes incorporate that definition for various purposes, including describing elements of certain criminal offenses, imposing enhanced prison sentences, or subjecting offenders to other penalties. The two-pronged COV definition at 18 U.S.C. § 16 covers (1) an offense that has as an element the actual, attempted, or threatened 'use of physical force' or (2) any felony offense that involves a 'substantial risk' of physical force. In 'Sessions v. Dimaya,' the Supreme Court struck down the definition's second prong on vagueness grounds, narrowing the scope of criminal offenses qualifying as COVs. In response to the Court's decision, the House passed the CSSA, which would retain the COV definition's first prong, but also amend that definition to include many enumerated criminal offenses. Because the CSSA adds to the range of conduct covered by the COV definition, the bill's enactment may broaden the scope of various laws incorporating that definition."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.
2018-10-11
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Hurricane Michael: Brief Overview of FEMA Programs and Resources [October 11, 2018]
"This Insight provides a brief overview of emergency and major disaster declarations relevant to Hurricane Michael, and selected federal resources and links to CRS [Congressional Budget Office] products related to Stafford Act declarations, disaster response, and recovery. Hurricane Michael made landfall on the panhandle of Florida as a category 4 on October 10, 2018 and affected parts of Georgia. In anticipation of the landfall, President Trump issued an emergency declaration to Florida on October 7, 2018. On October 11, 2018, the President issued an emergency declaration to Georgia, and issued a major disaster declaration to Florida. Authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, emergency declarations may authorize direct federal assistance and grant assistance to affected state and local governments to protect property, ensure public health and safety, and other activities that lessen or avert an incident becoming a catastrophic incident."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lindsay, Bruce R.; Reese, Shawn; Brown, Jared T. . . .
2018-10-11
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VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018 (VA MISSION Act; P.L.115-182) [November 1, 2018]
"Policymakers and other stakeholders may hold a variety of views regarding the appropriate role of the private sector in meeting the health care needs of eligible veterans. Some believe that the best course for veterans is to provide all needed care in facilities under the direct jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), healthcare system. On the other hand, some see the use of private sector providers as important in ensuring veterans' access to a comprehensive slate of services (in particular, to specialty services that are needed infrequently), or in addressing geographic or other access barriers, such as long wait times for an appointment. In addition, those who believe that all needed care should be provided by VA providers in VA-owned facilities express concern that private sector options for providing care to veterans may dilute the quality of care in the VA health care system, and could fail to leverage key strengths of the VA health care network."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Panangala, Sidath Viranga; Colello, Kirsten J.; Elliott, Victoria L. . . .
2018-11-01
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21st Century U.S. Energy Sources: A Primer [November 5, 2018]
"Since the start of the 21st century, the U.S. energy system has seen tremendous changes. Technological advances in energy production have driven changes in energy consumption, and the United States has moved from being a growing net importer of most forms of energy to a declining importer--and possibly a net exporter in the near future. The United States remains the second largest producer and consumer of energy in the world, behind China. The U.S. oil and natural gas industry has gone through a 'renaissance' of production. Technological improvements in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling have unlocked enormous oil and natural gas resources from unconventional formations, such as shale. Oil has surpassed levels of production not seen since the 1970s. Natural gas has set new production records almost every year since 2000. In conjunction with the rise in oil and natural gas production, U.S. production of natural gas liquids has also increased. The rise in production of these fuel sources has also corresponded with increased consumption and exports of each."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ratner, Michael; Bracmort, Kelsi; Brown, Phillip (Specialist in Energy Policy) . . .
2018-11-05
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U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians [November 2, 2018]
"In calendar year 2018, the Trump Administration has significantly cut funding for the Palestinians during a time of tension in U.S. - Palestinian relations. One of the Administration's apparent reasons for the funding cuts is to express displeasure at the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) cutoff of diplomatic contacts with the United States after President Trump's December 2017 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. PLO Chairman and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and other PLO/PA officials have insisted that aid cuts will not compel them to resume those contacts.Until this year, the U.S. government had consistently supported economic assistance to the Palestinians and humanitarian contributions to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), even if funding in some cases was reduced or delayed. Bilateral assistance to the Palestinians since 1994 has totaled more than $5 billion, and has been a key part of U.S. policy to encourage an Israeli-Palestinian peace process, improve life for West Bank and Gaza residents, and (since 2007) strengthen the West Bank-based PA vis-à-vis Hamas in Gaza. U.S. contributions to UNRWA through global humanitarian accounts since 1950 have totaled more than $6 billion."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Zanotti, Jim
2018-11-02
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U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress [October 29, 2018]
"Special operations are military operations requiring unique modes of employment, tactical techniques, equipment,and training. These operations are often conducted in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and are characterized by one or more of the following elements: time sensitive, clandestine, low visibility, conducted with and/or through indigenous forces, requiring regional expertise, and/or a high degree of risk. Special Operations Forces (SOF) are those active and reserve component forces of the services designated by the Secretary of Defense and specifically organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations. The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), headquartered at MacDill Air Force Basein Tampa, FL, is a functional combatant command responsible for training, doctrine, and equipping for all U.S. SOF units."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2018-10-29
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What Legal Obligations do Internet Companies Have to Prevent and Respond to a Data Breach? [October 25, 2018]
"Recently, large Internet companies--i.e.,companies that do most of their business on the Internet, such as social media platforms or search engines--have made headlines after failing to secure their users' personal information. For example, on September 28, 2018, Facebook announced a security breach affecting tens of millions of user accounts. According to Facebook, hackers exploited a vulnerability in its code that allowed them to steal 'access tokens,' which are the 'equivalent of digital keys' that 'keep people logged in to Facebook.' Facebook later disclosed that,of the affected accounts,hackers accessed the names and contact details of 15 million users and the biographical information of another 14 million users. Just over a week after Facebook's breach, on October 8, 2018, Google, in announcing the end of its social network Google+, disclosed that a software glitch exposed the personal data associated with up to 500,000 Google+ accounts. Google explained that it discovered and resolved the glitch in March 2018 and that there was no evidence anyone misused the exposed data. The Internet search giant reportedly made an initial decision not to disclose the incident, before reversing course and shutting down the Google+ plat form following a Wall Street Journal investigation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Linebaugh, Chris D.
2018-10-25
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U.S. - India Trade Relations [October 24, 2018]
"The United States and India view each other as important strategic partners to advance common interests regionally and globally. Bilateral trade in goods and services is about 2% of U.S. world trade, but tripled in value between 2005 and 2017, reaching $126 billion (Figure 1). The trade relationship is more consequential for India, for whom the United States was its second largest export market (16% share) after the European Union (EU, 17%), and third largest source of imports (6%) after China (17%) and the EU (10%) in 2017. U.S. - India foreign direct investment (FDI) is small but growing. Defense sales are significant in bilateral trade as well. Civilian nuclear commerce, stalled for years over differences on liability protections, has produced major potential U.S. supply contracts. Many observers believe bilateral commercial ties could be more extensive if trade and investment barriers were addressed. Bilateral trade frictions exist on numerous fronts, though the two sides are working to resolve some issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias; Kronstadt, K. Alan
2018-10-24
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U.S. - Japan Relations [October 23, 2018]
"Japan is a significant partner of the United States in a number of foreign policy areas, particularly security issues, which range from hedging against Chinese military modernization to countering threats from North Korea. The U.S. - Japan military alliance, formed in 1952, grants the U.S. military the right to base U.S. troops -- currently numbering around 50,000 -- and other military assets on Japanese territory in return for a U.S. pledge to protect Japan's security. Japan also is the United States' fourth largest trading partner and second largest source of foreign direct investment, and Japanese investors are the second largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasuries. For the first year of the Trump presidency, bilateral relations remained strong, as least on the surface, throughout several visits and leaders' meetings, cemented by a common approach to North Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Trump presented a united front on dealing with Pyongyang's nuclear weapon test and multiple missile launches and Abe wholeheartedly endorsed the Trump Administration's 'maximum pressure' approach."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.; Williams, Brock R.
2018-10-23
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Lebanon [June 19, 2018]
"Since having its boundaries drawn by France after the First World War, Lebanon has struggled to define its national identity. Unlike other countries in the region, its population included Christian, Sunni Muslim, and Shia Muslim communities of roughly comparable size, and with competing visions for the country. Seeking to avoid sectarian conflict, Lebanese leaders created a confessional system that allocated power among the country's religious sects according to their percentage of the population. The system was based on Lebanon's last official census, which was conducted in 1932. As Lebanon's demographics shifted over the years, Muslim communities pushed for the political status quo, favoring Maronite Christians, to be revisited, while the latter worked to maintain their privileges. This tension at times manifested itself in violence, such as during the country's 15year civil war, but also in political disputes such as disagreements over revisions to Lebanon's electoral law. To date, domestic political conflicts continue to be shaped in part by the influence of external actors, including Syria and Iran."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humud, Carla E.
2018-06-19
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Qatar: Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy [June 7, 2018]
"The State of Qatar has employed its ample financial resources to exert regional influence and avoid domination by Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of the alliance of six Gulf monarchies called the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman). Qatar has intervened in several regional conflicts, including in Syria and Libya, and has engaged both Sunni Islamist and Iran-backed Shiite groups in Lebanon, Sudan, the Gaza Strip, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Qatar has maintained consistent dialogue with Iran while also supporting U.S. and GCC efforts to limit Iran's regional influence."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2018-06-07
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Turkey: Background and U.S. Relations in Brief [June 6, 2018]
"Turkey, a NATO ally since 1952, is significant for U.S. interests. It is a constitutional republic with a large, diversified economy and a Muslim-majority population that straddles Europe and the Middle East. The history of the U.S.-Turkey relationship is complicated. Although the United States and Turkey support each other's interests in some vital ways (see 'Overview of U.S./NATO Cooperation with Turkey'), harmonizing priorities can be difficult. These priorities sometimes diverge irrespective of who leads each of the two countries, based on contrasting geography, threat perceptions, and regional roles."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Zanotti, Jim; Thomas, Clayton (Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs)
2018-06-06
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Purple Heart: Background and Issues for Congress [June 21, 2018]
"Requirements for military awards and decorations can change over time. New events and changes in military, political, or social conditions can generate debate over who is eligible for various military awards. These changes tend to be controversial, especially with veterans groups. Congress has considered several pieces of legislation that would change who would be eligible to receive the Purple Heart, and under what conditions. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have greatly increased the number of servicemembers receiving the Purple Heart award as well as the potential conditions under which they receive the award. Increasingly acknowledged conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as accidents and other events while deployed, bring up new questions as to when a servicemember deserves a Purple Heart. The July 17, 2015, shooting of servicemembers at a Marine recruiting office and a naval reserve center in Chattanooga, TN, again prompted questions about applying the Purple Heart to terrorist attacks versus criminal acts."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Torreon, Barbara Salazar
2018-06-21
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Intelligence Community Spending: Trends and Issues [June 18, 2018]
"Total intelligence spending is usually understood as the combination of the National Intelligence Program (NIP), which supports strategic planning and policymaking, and the Military Intelligence Program (MIP), which supports military operational and tactical levels of planning and operations. There are 4 defense NIP programs, 8 nondefense NIP programs, and 10 MIP programs. Six U.S. intelligence community (IC) components have both MIP and NIP funding sources. Funding associated with the 17 components of the IC is significant. In fiscal year FY2017 alone, the aggregate amount (base and supplemental) of appropriated funds for national and military intelligence programs totaled $73.0 billion ($54.6 billion for the NIP, and $18.4 billion for the MIP). For FY2018, the aggregate amount of appropriations requested for national and military intelligence programs totaled $78.4 billion ($57.7 billion for the NIP and $20.7 billion for the MIP). In comparison with national defense spending, intelligence-related spending has remained relatively constant over the past decade, representing approximately 11% of the total defense budget."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
DeVine, Michael E.
2018-06-18
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Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) [June 19, 2018]
"The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is an interagency body comprised of nine Cabinet members, two ex officio members, and other members as appointed by the President, that assists the President in overseeing the national security aspects of foreign direct investment in the U.S. economy. While the group often operated in relative obscurity, the perceived change in the nation's national security and economic concerns following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the proposed acquisition of commercial operations at six U.S. ports by Dubai Ports World in 2006 placed CFIUS's review procedures under intense scrutiny by Members of Congress and the public. Prompted by this case, some Members of Congress questioned the ability of Congress to exercise its oversight responsibilities given the general view that CFIUS's operations lacked transparency. The current CFIUS process reflects changes Congress initiated in the first session of the 110th Congress, when the House and Senate adopted S. 1610, the Foreign Investment and National Security Act of 2007 (FINSA). In the 115th Congress, various measures have been introduced that could have broad implications for CFIUS's operations and activities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jackson, James K., 1949-
2018-06-19
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Debates Over Exchange Rates: Overview and Issues for Congress [June 22, 2018]
"Some Members of Congress and policy experts allege that U.S. producers and U.S. jobs have been adversely affected by the exchange rate policies adopted by China, Japan, and a number of other countries. They maintain that some countries are purposefully using various policies to weaken the value of their currency to boost exports and create jobs, but that these policies come at the expense of other countries, including the United States. During the global financial crisis, some political leaders and policy experts argued that there was a 'currency war' in the global economy, as countries competed against each other to weaken the value of their currencies and boost exports. Even as the global financial crisis has faded, some policymakers continue to express concerns that other countries are using exchange rate policies to gain an unfair trade advantage against the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nelson, Rebecca M.
2018-06-22
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U.S. Global Health Assistance: FY2001-FY2019 Request [June 22, 2018]
"Congressional interest in and support for global health programs has remained strong for several years. In FY2018, Congress provided $8.7 billion for global health programs through State, Foreign Operations appropriations and $488.6 million through Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS) appropriations. These funds are managed by several U.S. agencies and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund)--a multilateral organization aimed at combating the three diseases worldwide. Concern about infectious diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria (HTAM), continues to drive budget growth. In FY2001, roughly 47% of the U.S. global health budget was aimed at these three diseases. By FY2018, almost 75% of U.S. global health funding was provided for fighting HTAM."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
2018-06-22
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Enforcing U.S. Trade Laws: Section 301 and China [June 25, 2018]
From the Document: "U.S. innovation and the intellectual property that it generates have been cited by various economists as a critical source of U.S. economic growth and global competitiveness. China has been a particular concern to U.S. IPR [intellectual property rights] stakeholders for many years. On August 14, 2017, President Trump directed the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to determine whether it should launch a Section 301 investigation into any of China's laws, policies, practices, or actions that may be unreasonable or discriminatory and that may be harming American intellectual property rights (IPR), innovation, or technology development. On August 18, 2017, the USTR announced it had decided to proceed with Section 301 case against China's IPR policies. On June 15, 2018, the White House announced its intent to impose 25% ad valorem tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese products."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morrison, Wayne M.
2018-06-25
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G-7 Summit in Charlevoix, Canada: Changing U.S. Leadership in Global Forum [June 25, 2018]
"Canada hosted the 44th annual Group of 7 (G-7) summit on June 8-9 in Charlevoix, Quebec. The G-7 is an informal group of seven of the world's largest advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. With roots back to the 1970s, the G-7 leaders meet annually to discuss and coordinate economic and foreign policies. The agenda for the 2018 summit, set by Canada as the rotating chair, intended to focus on economic growth, gender equality, jobs, and the environment. Discussions were marked by deep divisions between President Trump and other G-7 leaders on trade and Russia. The United States for decades has been a leader in the G-7, but French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that the United States faced a 'united front' at the 2018 summit and found itself 'isolated.' After departing the summit, President Trump withdrew his initial support for the eight-page communiqué that had been negotiated in the weeks leading up to the summit. Lack of consensus on a G-7 communiqué is unprecedented."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nelson, Rebecca M.
2018-06-25
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Permitting for Pesticide Discharges into Navigable Waters: Issues and Legislation in the 115th Congress [June 28, 2018]
"Permitting requirements for using registered pesticides in or around the nation's waters has been a long-standing issue. Under the Clean Water Act (CWA; 33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq.), discharges of pollutants into navigable waters are unlawful unless specifically authorized by a permit. For decades following the enactment of the CWA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not consider registered pesticides used in compliance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA; 7 U.S.C. §136 et seq.) as pollutants that required permitting for their discharge into waters. However, in 2009, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that (1) the statutory definition of pollutant in the CWA encompasses biological pesticides and chemical pesticides that leave a residue in navigable waters, and (2) discharges of such pollutants require permitting. In response to the ruling, EPA issued a general discharge permit to cover the majority of pesticide applications resulting in point source discharges. States with delegated authority to issue their own discharge permits issued similar general discharge permits."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gatz, Laura; Yen, Jerry H.
2018-06-28
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Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management: An Introduction [June 29, 2018]
"A supply chain consists of the system of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources that provide products or services to consumers. Like other types of goods, a global supply chain exists for the development, manufacture, and distribution of information technology (IT) products (i.e., hardware and software). Recent media have highlighted the risks posed to IT from the supply chain. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ordered federal agencies to remove Kaspersky security products from their networks because of risk they posed. Legislation was subsequently enacted codifying that order. In addition, stories of persistent administrative passwords on devices or otherwise vulnerable products allowing unauthorized access to sensitive networks became more frequent."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jaikaran, Chris
2018-06-29
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Efforts to Preserve Economic Benefits of the Iran Nuclear Deal [June 27, 2018]
"On May 8, 2018, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would cease implementing U.S. commitments under the 2015 multilateral Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran. He indicated that, by the end of a 'wind down period' (by November 4, 2018), all U.S. sanctions in place prior to the JCPOA--which target foreign firms that conduct transactions in all of Iran's core economic sectors, including energy, banking, shipping, insurance, manufacturing, and hard currency trading--would go back into effect. These include sanctions on 'petroleum-related transactions' and transactions by foreign banks with Iran's Central Bank. Several hundred Iranian and third country entities will again be designated by the United States as sanctioned entities, meaning that foreign firms that transact business with these entities could face exclusion from the U.S. economy and financial system."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; Katzman, Kenneth; Mix, Derek E.
2018-06-27
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Trump Administration's Reform Plan and Reorganization Recommendations [June 26, 2018]
"On June 21, 2018, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued Delivering Government Solutions in the 21st Century: Reform Plan and Reorganization Recommendations (the Reform Plan). The Reform Plan followed from Executive Order 13781, 'Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch,' issued by President Donald J. Trump on March 13, 2017, and an OMB memorandum, M-17-22, 'Comprehensive Plan for Reforming the Federal Government and Reducing the Federal Civilian Workforce,' issued on April 12, 2017. Federal agencies were required to submit initial agency reform plans to OMB in June 2017, work with OMB to refine these plans, and submit finalized versions to OMB concurrent with their FY2019 budget requests. These proposals, together with analysis presented in the President's Management Agenda, formed the basis of the Reform Plan."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
2018-06-26
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President's Selection of a Nominee for a Supreme Court Vacancy: Overview [June 27, 2018]
"On June 27, 2018, Justice Anthony Kennedy, after serving on the Supreme Court as an Associate Justice since 1988, announced his intention to retire from the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Kennedy indicated that his retirement would be effective July 31, 2018. This Insight provides an overview of several issues related to the selection of a nominee by a President for a vacancy on the Court. For additional information and analyses on these and other issues, see CRS Report R44235, Supreme Court Appointment Process: President's Selection of a Nominee."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McMillion, Barry J.
2018-06-27
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TRICARE Modernization: Eligibility for the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program [June 27, 2018]
"In an effort to improve TRICARE dental and vision coverage through 'enhanced benefits,' in 2016 Congress expanded (P.L. 114-328) eligibility for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) to certain TRICARE beneficiaries. FEDVIP is a dental and vision benefit program for federal employees and annuitants. Uniformed services retirees and their family members are to be eligible to enroll in FEDVIP in November 2018, with coverage beginning on January 1, 2019. Non-active duty TRICARE beneficiaries (i.e., family members of uniformed service members, reserve component members, and survivors) enrolled in a TRICARE health plan are to be eligible to enroll in only a FEDVIP vision plan."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mendez, Bryce H. P.
2018-06-27
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Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies [June 28, 2018]
"This list of about 200 congressional liaison offices is intended to help congressional offices in placing telephone calls and addressing correspondence to government agencies. The information was supplied by the appropriate agency and is current as of the date of publication. Entries are arranged alphabetically in four sections: legislative branch; judicial branch; executive branch; and agencies, boards, and commissions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Crane-Hirsch, Audrey Celeste
2018-06-28
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Boko Haram and the Islamic State's West Africa Province [June 28, 2018]
"Boko Haram emerged in the early 2000s as a small Sunni Islamic sect in Nigeria advocating a strict interpretation and implementation of Islamic law, and has evolved since 2009 to become one of the world's deadliest terrorist groups. The nickname Boko Haram was given by local communities to describe the group's narrative that Western education and culture are corrupting influences and haram ('forbidden'). The group called itself Jama'a Ahl as-Sunna Li-da'wa waal Jihad (roughly translated from Arabic as 'People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad'). In 2015, its leadership pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS, aka ISIS/ISIL), and renamed itself as the Islamic State's West Africa Province (aka ISWAP, ISIS-WA, hereafter IS-WA). The group, still widely referred to as Boko Haram, subsequently split into two factions. Both pose an ongoing security threat in Nigeria and the surrounding Lake Chad Basin region."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Cavigelli, Katia T.
2018-06-28
