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Direct Overt U.S. Aid Appropriations for and Military Reimbursements to Pakistan, FY2002-FY2018 [September 06, 2017]
This fact sheet from the Congressional Research Service provides a table describing the "Direct Overt U.S. Aid Appropriations and Military Reimbursements to Pakistan" from fiscal year (FY) 2002 to FY 2018. The fact sheet classifies the aid by program or account and then totals the amounts of security-related and economic-related aid.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kronstadt, K. Alan; Epstein, Susan B.
2017-09-06
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Iran: Politics, Human Rights, and U.S. Policy [October 3, 2017]
"Since the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, the United States and Iran have been at odds politically and diplomatically over the perceived threat posed by Iran to a broad range of U.S. interests. U.S. officials also express a broad range of concerns about Iran's human rights abuses, including its repeated detentions of U.S.-Iran dual nationals. During the 1980s and 1990s, U.S. officials identified Iran's support for militant Middle East groups as the primary threat posed by Iran to U.S. interests and allies. Iran's nuclear program took precedence in U.S. policy after 2002 as the potential for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon increased. Beginning in 2010, the United States orchestrated broad international economic pressure on Iran to persuade it to agree to strict limits on the program --pressure that undoubtedly contributed to the June 2013 election of the relatively moderate Hassan Rouhani as president of Iran and the eventual negotiation of a 'Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action' (JCPOA). The JCPOA, which began formal implementation on January 16, 2016, exchanged broad sanctions relief for nuclear program limits intended to ensure that Iran would require at least a year to produce a nuclear weapon after a decision to do so."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2017-10-03
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Wildfire Suppression Spending: Background, Issues, and Legislation in the 115th Congress
"Congress has directed that the federal government is responsible for managing wildfires that begin on federal lands, such as national forests or national parks. States are responsible for managing wildfires that originate on all other lands. Although a greater number of wildfires occur annually on nonfederal lands, wildfires on federal lands tend to be much larger, particularly in the western United States. The federal government's wildfire management responsibilities--fulfilled primarily by the Forest Service (FS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI)--include preparedness, prevention, detection, response, suppression, and recovery. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also may provide disaster relief, mostly for certain nonfederal wildfires. Congress provides appropriations for wildfire management to both FS and DOI. Within these appropriations, suppression operations are largely funded through two accounts for each agency: Wildland Fire Management (WFM) accounts and Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement Act (FLAME) reserve accounts. If the suppression funding in both of these accounts is exhausted during any given fiscal year, FS and DOI are authorized to transfer funds from their other accounts to pay for suppression activities; this is often referred to as 'fire borrowing.' Congress also may provide additional funds for suppression activities through emergency or supplemental appropriations. Thus, for any given year, total suppression appropriations to FS or DOI may be a combination of several sources: the WFM accounts, the FLAME accounts, additional funding as needed through transfers, and/or supplemental appropriations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie; Lindsay, Bruce R.
2017-10-05
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Overview of Continuing Appropriations for FY2018 (P.l. 115-56)
"This report provides an analysis of the continuing appropriations provisions for FY2018 in Division D of H.R. 601. The measure also included separate divisions that establish a program to provide foreign assistance concerning basic education (Division A--Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act), supplemental appropriations for disaster relief requirements for FY2017 (Division B), and a temporary suspension of the public debt limit (Division C). On September 8, 2017, the President signed H.R. 601 into law (P.L. 115-56). Division D of H.R. 601 was termed a 'continuing resolution' (CR) because it provided temporary authority for federal agencies and programs to continue spending in FY2018 in the same manner as a separately enacted CR. It provides temporary funding for the programs and activities covered by all 12 of the regular appropriations bills, since none of them had been enacted previously. These provisions provide continuing budget authority for projects and activities funded in FY2017 by that fiscal year's regular appropriations acts, with some exceptions. It includes both budget authority that is subject to the statutory discretionary spending limits on defense and nondefense spending and also budget authority that is effectively exempt from those limits, such as that designated as for 'Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Saturno, James
2017-10-06
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Kosovo: Background and U.S. Relations [October 6, 2017]
"Following the conflicts in the late 1990s in the countries of the former Yugoslavia (Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia, and Slovenia), the prospect of membership in the Euro-Atlantic community, and the active presence of the United States in the region referred to as the Western Balkans, provided a level of stability that allowed most of the countries of the region to pursue reform and adopt Western values. During this time, Slovenia (2004) and Croatia (2013) joined the European Union (EU). These countries, along with Albania (2009), also joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Montenegro became NATO's 29th member on June 3, 2017. Other nations of the Western Balkans are at various stages on the path toward EU or NATO membership. Along with Serbia, Kosovo stands at the center of the Western Balkans and occupies a key strategic juncture at the social, political, and geographic crossroads between Eastern and Western Europe. Since declaring its independence in 2008, with the assistance of a number of international organizations, and despite its tense relationship with neighboring Serbia, which does not recognize Kosovo's independence, Kosovo has become a viable, democratic, and stable state. Although Kosovo faces major economic, rule-of-law, and corruption challenges, many observers believe Kosovo has made significant progress in strengthening its democratic institutions, its freemarket economy and its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morelli, Vincent L.
2017-10-06
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Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response: The SAFER Grant Program [October 5, 2017]
"In response to concerns over the adequacy of firefighter staffing, the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Act, known as the SAFER Act, was enacted by the 108th Congress as Section 1057 of the FY2004 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 108-136). The SAFER Act authorizes grants to career, volunteer, and combination local fire departments for the purpose of increasing the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry-minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. Also authorized are grants to volunteer fire departments for recruitment and retention of volunteers. SAFER is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). With the economic turndown adversely affecting budgets of local governments, concerns arose that modifications to the SAFER statute may be necessary to enable fire departments to more effectively and affordably participate in the program. From FY2009 through FY2015, annual appropriations bills contained provisions that waived certain provisions of the SAFER statute. The waivers served to reduce the financial obligation on SAFER grant recipients, and allowed SAFER grants to be used to rehire laid-off firefighters and to fill positions lost through attrition."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kruger, Lennard G.
2017-10-05
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Transport Agencies Withdraw Proposed Sleep Apnea Rules [October 2, 2017]
"On August 8, 2017, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) withdrew a rulemaking effort that would have required some truck drivers and rail engineers to be screened for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The agencies stated that, while OSA remains a safety concern, 'current safety programs and FRA's rulemaking addressing fatigue risk management are the appropriate avenues to address OSA.' Safety advocates question whether current efforts are adequate. OSA is a safety concern for the federal Department of Transportation (DOT) because it is associated with a significant increase in the likelihood of being involved in a crash. One study found that fatigued driving was a factor in 13% of large truck crashes. OSA is the most common medical cause of excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue. The Federal Aviation Administration requires that commercial pilots meeting certain criteria be screened for OSA by medical examiners, and the rulemaking was considering similar requirements for truckers and railroad engineers."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Peterman, David Randall
2017-10-02
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Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [October 13, 2017]
"The Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) program, which is carried out by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Navy, gives Navy Aegis cruisers and destroyers a capability for conducting BMD operations. Under the FY2018 budget submission, the number of BMD-capable Aegis ships is scheduled to be 36 at the end of FY2018 and 51 at the end of FY2022."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2017-10-13
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Instances of Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2017 [October 12, 2017]
"This report lists hundreds of instances in which the United States has used its Armed Forces abroad in situations of military conflict or potential conflict or for other than normal peacetime purposes. It was compiled in part from various older lists and is intended primarily to provide a rough survey of past U.S. military ventures abroad, without reference to the magnitude of the given instance noted. The listing often contains references, especially from 1980 forward, to continuing military deployments, especially U.S. military participation in multinational operations associated with NATO or the United Nations. Most of these post-1980 instances are summaries based on presidential reports to Congress related to the War Powers Resolution. A comprehensive commentary regarding any of the instances listed is not undertaken here. The instances differ greatly in number of forces, purpose, extent of hostilities, and legal authorization."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Torreon, Barbara Salazar
2017-10-12
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Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) [October 11, 2017]
"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. [...] The U.S. policy approach to international investment traditionally has been to establish and support an open and rules-based system that is in line with U.S. economic and national security interests. The current debate over CFIUS reflects long-standing concerns about the impact of foreign investment on the economy and the role of economics as a component of national security. [...] Changes in U.S. foreign investment policy have potentially large economy-wide implications, since the United States is the largest recipient and the largest overseas investor of foreign direct investment. To date, only four investments have been blocked by previous Presidents, although proposed transactions may have been terminated by the firms involved in lieu of having a transaction blocked. President Obama used the FINSA [Foreign Investment and National Security Act of 2007] authority in 2012 to block an American firm, Ralls Corporation, owned by Chinese nationals, from acquiring a U.S. wind farm energy firm located near a DOD facility and to block a Chinese investment firm in 2016 from acquiring Aixtron, a Germany-based firm with assets in the United States. In 2017, President Trump blocked the acquisition of Lattice Semiconductor Corp. by the Chinese investment firm Canyon Bridge Capital Partners."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jackson, James K., 1949-
2017-10-11
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Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response
"The Syrian civil war, now in its seventh year, continues to present new challenges for U.S. policymakers. Following a deadly chemical weapons attack in Syria on April 4, 2017, and subsequent U.S. defensive strikes against Syrian military infrastructure and pro-Syrian regime forces, several Members of Congress have called on the President to consult with Congress about Syria strategy. Some Members have questioned the President's authority to launch strikes against Syria in the absence of specific prior authorization from Congress. In the past, some in Congress have expressed concern about the international and domestic authorizations for such strikes in Syria, their potential unintended consequences, and the possibility of undesirable or unavoidable escalation of the Syria conflict. [...] U.S. officials and Members of Congress continue to debate how best to pursue U.S. regional security and counterterrorism goals in Syria without inadvertently strengthening U.S. adversaries or alienating U.S. partners. The Trump Administration and Members of the 115th Congress--like their predecessors--face challenges inherent to the simultaneous pursuit of U.S. nonproliferation, counterterrorism, civilian protection, and stabilization goals in Syria's evolving conflict."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humud, Carla E.; Blanchard, Christopher M.; Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham
2017-10-13
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Arms Sales in the Middle East: Trends and Analytical Perspectives for U.S. Policy [October 11, 2017]
"This report analyzes state-to-state arms sales in the Middle East with a particular focus on U.S. transfers, as authorized and reviewed by Congress. The information in this report, including sales data, is drawn from a number of official and unofficial open sources. [...] This report focuses on recent arms sales, primarily from the United States, to seven Middle Eastern states: Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq, Turkey, and Qatar. These states, some of the region's largest arms purchasers, have taken a range of approaches as they assess various means of pursuing influence and security in an unstable region. Some appear to be increasing their commitment to the United States as their primary security guarantor, while others may be interested both in building up their own domestic arms production capabilities and in seeking out alternative suppliers. When considering domestic or non-U.S. procurement, these states may focus on indications of U.S. military or political commitment to the region or U.S. willingness to share technology relative to other potential suppliers. Still others may incorporate aspects of various approaches as they consider how arms purchases from the United States or others fit into their broader foreign and defense policies. This report concludes by considering a number of arms sales-related issues of congressional interest."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Thomas, Clayton (Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs)
2017-10-11
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NAFTA Renegotiation and Modernization [October 12, 2017]
"The 115th Congress faces policy issues related to the Trump Administration's renegotiation and modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). [...] The Trump Administration has made NAFTA renegotiation and modernization a prominent initial priority of its trade policy. [...] Congress will likely continue to be a major participant in shaping and potentially considering an updated NAFTA. Key issues for Congress in regard to the renegotiation or modernization include the constitutional authority of Congress over international trade, its role in revising or withdrawing from the agreement, the U.S. negotiating objectives, the impact on U.S. industries and the U.S. economy, the negotiating objectives of Canada and Mexico, and the impact on broader relations with Canada and Mexico. The outcome of these negotiations will have implications for the future direction of U.S. trade policy under President Trump."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Villarreal, M. Angeles; Fergusson, Ian F.
2017-10-12
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Sri Lanka: Background, Reform, Reconciliation, and Geopolitical Context [January 4, 2017]
"Sri Lanka is a nation of geopolitical importance despite its relatively small size. Strategically positioned near key maritime sea lanes that transit the Indian Ocean and link Asia with Europe and Africa, Sri Lanka's external orientation, in particular its ties to China, are of great interest to nearby India. Some observers view China's involvement in the Sri Lankan port at Hanbantota to be part of Beijing's strategy to secure sea lanes through the Indian Ocean. United States-Sri Lanka relations are expanding significantly, creating new opportunities for Congress to play a role in shaping the bilateral relationship."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-
2017-01-04
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Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): Frequently Asked Questions [May 25, 2018]
"Legislation to reauthorize Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)--sometimes called 'fast track'--the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015), was signed into law by President Obama on June 29, 2015 (P.L. 114-26). If the President negotiates an international trade agreement that would reduce tariff or nontariff barriers to trade in ways that require changes in U.S. law, the United States can implement the agreement only through the enactment of legislation. If the trade agreement and the process of negotiating it meet certain requirements, TPA allows Congress to consider the required implementing bill under expedited procedures, pursuant to which the bill may come to the floor without action by the leadership, and can receive a guaranteed up-or-down vote with no amendments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fergusson, Ian F.; Davis, Christopher M., 1966-
2018-05-25
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Epic Decision from the Supreme Court: the Supreme Court Rules Employee Class Action Waivers Are Enforceable [May 31, 2018]
"Can agreements between employers and employees to arbitrate their disputes in lieu of class action lawsuits and other collective actions be enforced in court? In Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, decided on May 21, 2018, the Supreme Court answered in the affirmative, holding that the Federal Arbitration Act of 1925 (FAA) generally requires the enforcement of arbitration agreements between employers and employees, even when such agreements preclude actions brought collectively by employees against their employer. Epic Systems, although focused on employment contracts, implicates a broader debate about the efficacy of arbitration agreements, particularly in the class action context. The case is the latest in a series of 5-4 decisions from the Court applying the FAA to enforce the application of a bilateral arbitration clause waiving class or collective proceedings. Each of these cases turned on the Court's view that arbitration is fundamentally an informal, bilateral procedure, and that the FAA is generally not displaced by other federal statutes without explicit statutory language to the contrary. In this vein, Epic Systems has potentially important implications for Congress across many of the fields in which Congress legislates. As discussed in more detail below, the case's broad view of the FAA's reach, the Court's interpretation of how the 1925 statute interacts with other federal statutes, and the case's implications for how arbitration agreements can be used to limit the availability of collective legal action all underscore the significance of arbitration agreements that preclude litigation (including class litigation) in a court of law."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Freeman, Wilson C.
2018-05-31
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Sidewalks, Streets, and Tweets: Is Twitter a Public Forum? [May 30, 2018]
"On May 23, 2018, a federal district court in New York in Knight First Amendment Institute v. Trump held that the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment prohibited President Trump from blocking Twitter users solely based on those users' expression of their political views. In so doing, the court weighed in on the now-familiar but rapidly evolving debate over when an online forum qualifies as a 'public forum' entitled to special consideration under the First Amendment. Significantly, the district court concluded that 'the interactive space for replies and retweets created by each tweet sent by the @realDonaldTrump account' should be considered a 'designated public forum' where the protections of the First Amendment apply. This ruling is limited to the @realDonaldTrump Twitter account but implicates a number of larger legal issues, including when a social media account is operated by the government rather than by a private citizen, and when the government has opened up that social media account as a forum for private speech. The ability of public officials to restrict private speech on Twitter may be of particular interest to Congress, given that almost all Members now have a Twitter account."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Brannon, Valerie C.
2018-05-30
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(Robo) Call Me Maybe: Robocalls to Wireless Phones Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act [May 29, 2018]
"Robocalls--calls placed using an automated dialing system or artificial or prerecorded voice--are on the rise. Advances in technology have made it cheaper and easier than ever to dial millions of consumers' numbers in infinitesimal periods of time. Furthermore, with more consumers using their wireless phones as their primary, or only, contact number, the invasiveness of robocalls has increased because callers may now reach consumers wherever they go. Enacted in 1991, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), as amended, is one of the primary federal statutes addressing robocalls to wireless phones. Other statutes, such as the Telemarketing Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act of 1994, also address phone calls consumers may consider intrusive, but are outside the scope of this sidebar. The TCPA vests the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with authority to interpret and enforce the TCPA. In 2015, the FCC issued an order (2015 Order) interpreting certain aspects of the TCPA as they relate to robocalls. Recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (D.C. Circuit), in ACA International v. Federal Communications Commission, overturned certain FCC interpretations of the scope and application of the TCPA in the 2015 Order. This sidebar briefly describes the provisions of the TCPA relating to robocalls and the 2015 Order, analyzes the D.C. Circuit's decision, and addresses the FCC's reaction to the decision and potential considerations for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ruane, Kathleen Ann
2018-05-29
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Iran's Central Bank Asks Supreme Court to Consider Whether the Bank's Assets Abroad Are Immune from Attachment to Satisfy Terror Judgments [May 30, 2018]
"Iran's central bank, Bank Markazi, has asked the Supreme Court to reverse a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (Second Circuit) , which concluded that the bank's assets held in Luxembourg may be ordered transferred to New York for possible satisfaction of terrorism judgments obtained under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). At issue is Bank Markazi's right to payment of bond proceeds of about $1.68 billion being held by, reflected on the books of, and recorded as a debt owed by Clearstream Banking, S.A. (Clearstream), a financial institution in Luxembourg specializing in bond and equity investments. The plaintiffs are a group of judgment creditors against Iran who prevailed in actions they brought under the terrorism exception to the FSIA, including the victims of the 1983 Marine Corps barracks bombing in Beirut, Lebanon (awarded damages in Peterson v. Islamic Republic of Iran), as well as victims of other terrorist attacks supported by Iran. They are owed approximately $3.8 billion in compensatory damages. Iran defaulted in each of their cases."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Elsea, Jennifer K.
2018-05-12
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Role of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) [June 1, 2018]
"The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is responsible for creating, implementing, and evaluating U.S. drug control policies to reduce the use, manufacturing, and trafficking of illicit drugs as well as drug-related health consequences, crime, and violence. ONDCP is located in the Executive Office of the President. It was created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 and most recently reauthorized by the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2006. Authorization of appropriations for ONDCP expired at the end of FY2010, but it continues to receive funding. The ONDCP director must develop a National Drug Control Strategy (Strategy) to direct the nation's anti-drug efforts-- and a companion National Drug Control Budget (Budget)--and evaluate the implementation of the Strategy by agencies contributing to the Federal Drug Control Program and the outcomes (reducing illicit drug use and its consequences). In addition, ONDCP manages the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program and other programs, including Drug Free Communities (DFC)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sacco, Lisa N.; Finklea, Kristin
2018-06-01
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Vehicle Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Standards: Frequently Asked Questions [May 24, 2018]
"The Trump Administration announced on April 2, 2018, its intent to revise through rulemaking the federal standards that regulate fuel economy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new passenger cars and light trucks. These standards include the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards promulgated by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Light-Duty Vehicle GHG emissions standards promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They are known collectively-- along with California's Advanced Clean Car program--as the National Program. NHTSA and EPA promulgated the second (current) phase of CAFE and GHG emissions standards affecting model year (MY) 2017-2025 light-duty vehicles on October 15, 2012. Like the initial phase of standards for MYs 2012-2016, the Phase 2 rulemaking was preceded by a multiparty agreement, brokered by the White House. The agreement included the State of California, 13 auto manufacturers, and the United Auto Workers union. The manufacturers agreed to reduce GHG emissions from most new passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and pickup trucks by about 50% by 2025, compared to 2010, with fleet-wide fuel economy rising to nearly 50 miles per gallon."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lattanzio, Richard K.; Tsang, Linda; Canis, Bill
2018-05-24
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Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Issues and Debate in the 115th Congress [May 29, 2018]
From the Document: "On April 27, 2018, the House of Representatives passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 4), a six-year Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization measure that does not include a controversial proposal to privatize air traffic control laid (ATC) out in an earlier bill, H.R. 2997. On May 9, 2018, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation reported a four-year FAA reauthorization bill (S. 1405, S.Rept. 115-243) that does not address ATC privatization. The enactment of either bill would be the first long-term FAA reauthorization act since the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-95) expired at the end of FY2015."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Elias, Bartholomew; Tang, Rachel
2018-05-29
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Army Corps of Engineers: Water Resource Authorization and Project Delivery Processes [June 1, 2018]
From the Document: "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in the Department of Defense undertakes water resources development activities. Its projects primarily are to maintain navigable channels, reduce flood and storm damage, and restore aquatic ecosystems. Congress directs USACE through authorizations and appropriations legislation. This report summarizes authorization legislation, the standard project delivery process, authorities for alternative water resource project delivery, and other USACE authorities. Authorization Legislation. Congress generally authorizes USACE water resource activities in authorization legislation prior to funding them through appropriations legislation. USACE's ability to act on an authorization often is determined by funding. Congress typically authorizes numerous new USACE site-specific activities and provides policy direction in an omnibus USACE authorization bill, typically titled a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Most project-specific authorizations in WRDAs fall into three general categories: project studies, construction projects, and modifications to existing projects. A few provisions in WRDA bills have time-limited authorizations; therefore, some WRDA provisions may be reauthorizing expired or expiring authorities. In 2018, USACE identified a $96 billion backlog of authorized construction projects."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Carter, Nicole T.
2018-06-01
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Wastewater Infrastructure: Overview, Funding, and Legislative Developments [May 22, 2018]
"Waste discharges from municipal sewage treatment plants into inland and coastal waters are a significant source of water quality problems throughout the country. Pollutants associated with municipal discharges include nutrients (which can stimulate growth of algae that can deplete dissolved oxygen or produce harmful toxins), bacteria and other pathogens (which may impair drinking water supplies and recreation uses), and metals and toxic chemicals from industrial and commercial activities and households. The collection and treatment of wastewater remains among the most important public health interventions in human history and has contributed to a significant decrease in waterborne diseases during the past century. Funding these systems continues to be of interest to federal, state, and local officials and the general public."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ramseur, Jonathan L.
2018-05-22
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China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities-- Background and Issues for Congress [May 21, 2018]
"This report provides background information and issues for Congress on China's naval modernization effort and its implications for U.S. Navy capabilities. The question of how the United States should respond to China's military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, is a key issue in U.S. defense planning and budgeting. Many U.S. military programs for countering improving Chinese military forces (particularly its naval forces) fall within the U.S. Navy's budget. The issue for Congress is how the U.S. Navy should respond to China's military modernization effort, particularly its naval modernization effort. Decisions that Congress reaches on this issue could affect U.S. Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the U.S. defense industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2018-05-21
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U.S. Department of State Personnel: Background and Selected Issues for Congress [May 18, 2018]
"Shortly following his confirmation as Secretary of State in April 2018, Secretary Mike Pompeo lifted the hiring freeze that former Secretary Rex Tillerson left in place for over a year. Subsequent guidance issued after the hiring freeze indicates that the department intends to increase Foreign and Civil Service personnel levels in a manner consistent with the language and funding Congress included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141). The Trump Administration has taken additional actions affecting Department of State personnel, including designing 'keystone modernization projects' within its Leadership and Modernization Impact Initiative. These projects seek to strengthen workforce readiness and enhance performance management and employee accountability, among other goals. The State Department is also prioritizing efforts to address long-standing concerns regarding the perceived lack of diversity in the Foreign Service. The Trump Administration has moved more slowly than previous Administrations in transmitting nominations for senior Department of State positions to the Senate for advice and consent; meanwhile, the Senate has taken longer than it has in the past to provide advice and consent for many of those nominations that have been transmitted."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gill, Cory R.
2018-05-18
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U.S. Export Control System and the Export Control Reform Initiative [May 22, 2018]
"Difficulty with striking an appropriate balance between national security and export competitiveness has made the subject of export controls controversial for decades. Through the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and other authorities, the United States restricts the export of defense articles; dual-use goods and technology; certain nuclear materials and technology; and items that would assist in the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons or the missile technology used to deliver them. U.S. export controls are also used to restrict exports to certain countries on which the United States imposes economic sanctions. The Export Administration Act (EAA) legislated dual-use controls, but it has expired and such controls are presently maintained under IEEPA authorities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fergusson, Ian F.; Kerr, Paul K.
2018-05-22
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Department of Homeland Security Appropriations: FY2018 [May 22, 2018]
"This report describes and analyzes annual appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY2018. It compares the enacted FY2017 appropriations for DHS, the Donald J. Trump Administration's FY2018 budget request, and the appropriations measures developed in response. This report identifies additional informational resources, reports, and products on DHS appropriations that provide context for the discussion, and it provides a list of Congressional Research Service (CRS) policy experts with whom clients may consult on specific topics. The suite of CRS reports on homeland security appropriations tracks legislative action and congressional issues related to DHS appropriations, with particular attention paid to discretionary funding amounts. These reports do not provide in-depth analysis of specific issues related to mandatory funding--such as retirement pay--nor do they systematically follow other legislation related to the authorizing or amending of DHS programs, activities, or fee revenues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Painter, William L.
2018-05-22
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Violence Against Journalists in Mexico: In Brief [May 17, 2018]
"Over the past decade, at least 74 journalists have been killed in Mexico and many more have been threatened or attacked. Although violence against journalists is occurring within the context of a broader security crisis, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression have asserted that such crimes 'attack the roots of democratic life in Mexico.' Perhaps partially as a result of international pressure, the Mexican government recently has reported progress in resolving some cases of journalists who were killed in 2017.2 Although some observers are skeptical of this reported progress, others remain hopeful that Mexico will take more decisive action to investigate and prosecute unsolved murders and to prevent future crimes against journalists."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2018-05-17
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Financial Regulation: The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155) [May 14, 2018]
"The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155) was passed by the Senate on March 14, 2018. The bill generally aims to provide regulatory relief to banks, relax mortgage lending rules, relax capital formation regulations, and provide additional consumer protections related to credit reporting and other areas. This Insight briefly highlights major policy proposals. For a more detailed examination, see CRS Report R45073, 'Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155) and Selected Policy Issues,' coordinated by David W. Perkins."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Perkins, David W.
2018-05-14
