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• Presidential Directives: Background and Overview [Updated April 23, 2007]

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  "From the earliest days of the federal government, Presidents, exercising magisterial or executive power not unlike that of a monarch, from time to time have issued directives establishing new policy, decreeing the commencement or cessation of some action, or ordaining that notice be given to some declaration. The instruments used by Presidents in these regards have come to be known by various names, and some have prescribed forms and purposes. Executive orders and proclamations are probably two of the best-known types, largely because of their long-standing use and publication in the 'Federal Register' and the 'Code of Federal Regulations'. Others are less familiar, some because they are cloaked in official secrecy. There is, as well, the oral presidential directive, the sense of which is captured in an announcement that records what the President has prescribed or instructed. This report provides an overview of the different kinds of directives that have primarily been utilized by 20th century Presidents. Presenting background on the historical development, accounting, use, and effect of such directives, it will be updated as events suggest."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Relyea, Harold

  2007-04-23
• Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Outgoing and Incoming Administrations [March 13, 2017]

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  "The crux of a presidential transition is the transfer of executive power from the incumbent to the President-elect. Yet the transition process encompasses a host of activities, beginning with pre-election planning and continuing through inauguration day. The process ensures that the federal government provides resources to presidential candidates' transition teams, and, eventually, the President-elect's team; and includes close coordination between the outgoing and incoming Administrations. The Presidential Transition Act (PTA) of 1963, as amended, established formal mechanisms to facilitate presidential transitions and authorizes the Administrator of General Services to provide facilities and services to eligible presidential candidates and the President-elect. A presidential transition facilitates the establishment of a new Administration and prepares it to govern. Additionally, as noted by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in a report on S. 1172 (114th Congress, Presidential Transitions Improvements Act of 2015), planning for a presidential transition helps to ensure the nation's security."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Halchin, L. Elaine

  2017-03-13
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: Energy and Commerce Health Care Legislation

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on September 9, 2020. From the Summary: "On September 9, 2020, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce ordered 25 bills [H.R. 945, H.R. 2564, H.R. 8158, H.R. 1379, H.R. 2281, H.R. 3797, H.R. 4078, H.R. 4764, H.R. 5855, H.R. 3131, H.R. 7948, H.R. 2466, H.R. 2519, H.R. 4861, H.R. 1109, H.R. 5469, H.R. 5572, H.R. 2075, H.R. 3539, H.R. 7293, H.R. 4439, H.R. 8134, H.R. 8128, H.R. 8121 and H.R. 4499] related to federal health care programs and services to be reported. This document provides estimates for each piece of legislation. Generally, the legislation would: [1] Appropriate funds for seven new grant programs in various federal agencies and appropriate funds for new educational campaigns and research related to breast health in young women; [2] Reauthorize four federal grant or health programs; [3] Establish requirements for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, group and nongroup health insurance plans, education institutions, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); [4] Clarify the authority of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities; and [5] Impose private-sector mandates on group and nongroup health insurance plans and on importers based in the United States."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2020-12-23
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 3884, the MORE Act of 2020

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House of Representatives on December 4, 2020. From the Document: "H.R. 3884 would federally decriminalize cannabis (marijuana), expunge the records of people convicted of federal cannabis offenses, and require resentencing of some federal prisoners. As a result, CBO estimates, thousands of current inmates would be released earlier than under current law. In the future, decriminalization also would reduce the number of people in federal prisons and the amount of time federal inmates serve. In total, over the 2021-2030 period, CBO estimates that H.R. 3884 would reduce time served by 73,000 person-years, among existing and future inmates. CBO's analysis accounts for time served by offenders convicted of cannabis-only crimes and by those convicted of another crime in addition to a cannabis offense. Federal prisoners generally are not eligible for federal benefit programs. By reducing the prison population, CBO estimates, H.R. 3884 would increase the number of federal beneficiaries, compared with current law, and thus increase direct spending for federal benefit programs by $636 million over the 2021-2030 period. CBO and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation estimate that H.R. 3884 would increase revenues, on net, by about $13.7 billion over the 2021-2030 period by creating business income, compliance, and occupational taxes; those increases would be partially offset by allowing certain deductions for business expenses associated with trafficking controlled substances."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Effects of S. 1811, Water Resources Development Act of 2020

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as Posted on the Website of the Clerk of the House on December 4, 2020. From the Document: "S. 1811 would authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to construct projects and conduct feasibility studies to improve navigation and flood management, mitigate storm and hurricane damage, and restore ecosystems. Enacting the bill would increase direct spending by $75 million over the 2021-2030 period and would not affect revenues. CBO has not completed an estimate of the bill's effects on spending that is subject to appropriation. Section 351 would authorize the Corps, at the request of the nonfederal sponsor of an eligible project, to either renegotiate deferred payment agreements or to repay the outstanding principal in full by 2023 in exchange for a waiver of all interest payments. CBO expects there would be a 50 percent chance that nonfederal sponsors would choose the prepayment option, thus we estimate offsetting collections would increase in fiscal years 2021 through 2023. Using information from the Corps, CBO estimates that enacting this provision would decrease net offsetting receipts (an increase in direct spending) by $56 million over the 2021-2030 period. After 2030, there would be additional decreases in offsetting receipts but CBO has no basis to estimate those effects."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2020-12-08
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 4884, COVID-19 Home Safety Act of 2020

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on December 15, 2020. From the Document: "S. 4884 would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to study and report to the Congress on how the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has affected the severity or frequency of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products used by families in the home. During the pandemic, injuries such as poisonings due to chemicals in cleaning supplies could increase as people use more of those supplies and spend more time at home. The reports would be required every three months, through the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) period. The bill also would direct CPSC to assess its operations and enforcement actions during the PHE, coordinate with public media outlets to distribute information to improve home safety, and recommend improvements to the Commission's PHE response capacity."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2020-12-23
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 4556, a Bill to Authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Acting Through the Director of the Indian Health Service, to Acquire Private Land to Facilitate Access to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center in Hemet, California, and for Other Purposes

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on November 18, 2020. From the Document: "S. 4556 would authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to purchase, pave, and maintain a road to facilitate access to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center (DSYWC) in Hemet, California. The DSYWC is one of 12 residential treatment centers for adolescents with substance abuse disorders that is funded by the Indian Health Service (IHS). The access road to the facility is a half-mile long, privately owned road that is currently unpaved. Based on information from IHS, CBO estimates that purchasing and paving the road would cost about $1 million over the 2021-2025 period, assuming the appropriation of the necessary amounts. In addition, the bill would authorize the Secretary to either maintain the road on an ongoing basis or come to an agreement with the local county to maintain the road. Based on information about the cost of road maintenance, a newly paved road of this length would require less than $500,000 for maintenance costs over the 2021-2025 period."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2020-12-04
• Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Outgoing and Incoming Administrations [May 17, 2017]

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  "The President's authority to exercise power begins immediately upon being sworn into office and continues until he is no longer the officeholder. By the same token, while congressional oversight of the executive branch is continuous, some activities may take on special significance at the end or beginning of an Administration. The disposition of government records (including presidential records and vice presidential records), protections against 'burrowing in' (which involves the conversion of political appointees to career status in the civil service), the granting of pardons, and the issuance of 'midnight rules' are four activities associated largely with the outgoing President's Administration. The incumbent President may also submit a budget to Congress, or he may defer to his successor on this matter. Continuing this transition process, the first actions of a new President generally focus on establishing the priorities and leadership of the Administration. These can include executive orders, appointments to positions that require Senate confirmation as well as those that do not, and efforts to influence the pace and substance of agency rulemaking. Depending upon the particular activity or function, the extent and type of Congress's involvement in presidential transitions may vary. As an example of direct involvement, the Senate confirms the President's appointees to certain positions. On the other hand, Congress is not involved in the issuance of executive orders, but it may exercise oversight, or take some other action regarding the Administration's activities."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Halchin, L. Elaine

  2017-05-17
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as cleared by Congress on December 21, 2020. From the Document: "Division M of H.R. 133 would provide supplemental appropriations for federal agencies to respond to the novel coronavirus pandemic and provide assistance to nonfederal entities. Those amounts would be designated as emergency spending, in keeping with section 251 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. The limits on discretionary budget authority established by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-25), as amended, would be adjusted to accommodate such spending."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2020-12-22
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 7539, Strengthening Behavioral Health Parity Act

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on July 15, 2020. From the Document: "H.R. 7539 would require the Secretaries of the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Treasury to request a minimum of 20 comparative analyses per year from health insurance plans. The analyses would include potential violations of parity requirements between medical and mental health and substance abuse services and would involve potential noncompliance with nonquantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs). NQTLs are practices such as prior authorization, medical management standards, step therapy, and prescription drug formulary design. H.R. 7539 also would require the Secretaries to include a summary of the comparative analyses in a report to the Congress each year and to include examples of noncompliance found through those investigations in program guidance that is issued every two years."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2020-12-08
• Ethics Grand Rounds: Vaccine Trials for COVID-19: Is There an Obligation to Offer the First Vaccine Shown to Be Effective to All Participants [video]

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  This video is from the "Clinical Center Grand Rounds," a weekly series of educational lectures for physicians and healthcare professionals, by the Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health. This video focuses on ethical situations in regards to COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) vaccines. The duration of this video is 57 minutes and 47 seconds.

  National Institutes of Health (U.S.)

  2020-10-07
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 3935, Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as passed by the House of Representatives on September 21, 2020. From the Document: "H.R. 3935 would amend current Medicaid regulations to include nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT) in the list of mandatory Medicaid benefits. The act also would require states to have in place a process for managing NEMT services under Medicaid and require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue updated guidance and establish a working group of stakeholders to obtain input for improving program integrity for NEMT services. Regulations currently require states to ensure that eligible, qualified Medicaid beneficiaries have access to NEMT to take them to and from providers. Finally, the act would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Secretary of HHS to produce reports regarding NEMT services."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2020-12-22
• How Will States and Localities Divide the Fiscal Relief in the Coronavirus Relief Fund?

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  From the Document: "The new bipartisan economic stimulus legislation -- known as the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act -- contains significant new resources to help states address massive, immediate budget problems due to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], though states will almost certainly need more aid in coming months. The centerpiece of this aid is the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund, which state, tribal, and local governments can use this year to meet costs connected to the virus. Each state will receive at least $1.25 billion, while the most populous states (California and Texas) will receive over $10 billion each, we estimate. A portion of each state's allocation will go to local governments. Only local governments with populations over 500,000 are eligible for funding. In states with no city or county over 500,000 people, the state government will receive the entire allocation."

  Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (Washington, D.C.)

  2020-03-27?
• Defense Primer: The National Technology and Industrial Base [Updated February 3, 2021]

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  From the Document: "The National Technology and Industrial Base (NTIB) consists of the people and organizations engaged in national security and dual-use research and development (R&D), production, maintenance, and related activities within the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The NTIB, as established by 10 U.S.C. §2500, is intended to support national security objectives of the United States, including supplying military operations; conducting advanced R&D and systems development to ensure technological superiority of the U.S. Armed Forces; securing reliable sources of critical materials; and developing industrial preparedness to support operations in wartime or during a national emergency. [...] Officials from the United States and other NTIB member countries have stated that, while coordination is moving in the right direction, the industrial bases are not meaningfully integrated. Furthermore, some contend that the NTIB currently falls short of the aspiration of a seamless integration of the 'transfer of knowledge, goods, and services' called for in the FY2017 NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act]. Potential related considerations for Congress include the following options. [1] Establish a governing body of NTIB members; [...] [2] Amend laws affecting integration of the NTIB; [...] [and 3] Increase international cooperation[.]"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Peters, Heidi M.

  2021-02-03
• Defense Primer: Department of Defense Contractors [Updated February 3, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Throughout its history, the Department of Defense (DOD) has relied on contractors to support a wide range of military operations. A 'defense contractor', as defined by the Code of Federal Regulations, is 'any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, or other legal non-Federal entity that enters into a contract directly with the DOD to furnish services, supplies, or construction' (see 32 C.F.R. 158.3, 'Definitions'). Within the defense policy community, the term 'contractor' is commonly used in two different contexts. The word can describe the private companies with which DOD contracts to provide goods and services. It can also describe individuals hired by DOD--usually through private companies, which are also considered contractors in the previous context--to perform specific tasks. The term 'contractor' does not refer to military servicemembers, civilian DOD career employees, or civilian political appointees. Operations over the past 30 years have highlighted the central role that contractors play in supporting U.S. troops, both in terms of the number of contractors and the type of work being performed. During recent U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, contractors frequently accounted for 50% or more of the total DOD presence in-country."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Peters, Heidi M.

  2021-02-03
• Defense Primer: Acquiring Specialty Metals and Sensitive Materials [Updated February 3, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Some metals (such as titanium and tungsten) and metal alloys, as well as strong permanent magnets known as rare earth magnets, are critical to U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) operations. These materials are frequently integrated into components (e.g., integrated circuits, electrical wiring, or optoelectronic devices) or structures (e.g., aircraft fuselages or ship hulls) of the military platforms and weapon systems that enable warfighting capabilities. There are few, and, in some cases, no known alternatives for many of these materials, which often have unique physical properties, such as high material strength coupled with low density, or resistance to various forms of corrosion. Many of these materials are subject to 'sourcing restrictions or prohibitions' in DOD acquisitions. Congress established these restrictions or prohibitions to protect the domestic materials industry and ensure the United States maintains critical production capabilities and capacity within the defense industrial base. Statutory restrictions establish that some items that incorporate certain metals and metal alloys known as specialty metals generally must be produced or manufactured in the United States. Other statutory prohibitions establish that some items that incorporate certain sensitive materials may not be acquired from specified sources."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Peters, Heidi M.

  2021-02-03
• Federal Economic Development and COVID-19 Recovery: Issues and Policy Options [February 2, 2021]

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  From the Document: "States and local governments traditionally lead U.S. economic development efforts, with the federal government selectively intervening to address significant need. However, the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused pervasive social and economic dislocation and extreme subnational fiscal stress, straining existing federal economic development structures. This Insight examines current federal economic development policy and outlines various options for addressing a potentially lengthy pandemic recovery, or future such long-term challenges."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cecire, Michael H.

  2021-02-02
• COVID-19: Financial Relief and Assistance Resources for Renters [Updated February 3, 2021]

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  From the Document: "On September 4, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an order (2020-19654) in the 'Federal Register', temporarily halting residential evictions nationwide through December 31, 2020, for covered renters. The CDC published an FAQs [frequently asked questions] document related to this order. On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) was enacted. Division N of the act extends the CDC eviction moratorium order through January 31, 2021 (§502) and provides $25 billion for emergency rental assistance to be administered by state and local governments (§501). On January 29, 2021, the CDC issued an order extending the eviction moratorium through March 31, 2021. This order also extends application to American Samoa, which was not covered by the previous order. These actions follow the expiration of a previous federal eviction moratorium. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136) provided a temporary federal moratorium on eviction filings for nonpayment of rent against renters residing in federally assisted properties or properties with federally backed mortgages. This moratorium went into effect upon enactment of the CARES Act on March 27, 2020, and lasted for 120 days (through July 24, 2020). Landlords were required to provide at least 30 days' notice before renters must vacate the property (not before August 23, 2020)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Minter, Alyse N.

  2021-02-03
• Maximizing Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to Respond to COVID-19: Memorandum for the Secretary of Homeland Security [and] the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, February 2, 2021

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  From the Document: "Consistent with the nationwide emergency declaration concerning the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on March 13, 2020, it is the policy of my Administration to combat and respond to COVID-19 with the full capacity and capability of the Federal Government to protect and support our families, schools, and businesses, and to assist State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments to do the same, including through emergency and disaster assistance available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)."

  United States. Office of the Federal Register

  Biden, Joseph R., Jr.

  2021-02-02
• Puerto Rico and Health Care Finance: Frequently Asked Questions [June 20, 2016]

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  "Puerto Rico's financial circumstances, including uncertainty about its ability to service its large public debt, have drawn attention in recent months. As Congress examines Puerto Rico's finances, questions have arisen about how federal health care programs (Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program [CHIP]) and private health insurance requirements apply to Puerto Rico. Is Puerto Rico treated like a state, or is it treated differently? This report provides answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Puerto Rico's health care system. […] The FAQ provides examples, which illustrate that in many circumstances, health programs in Puerto Rico differ from programs in the 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC), whereas in other circumstances, Puerto Rico is treated the same as the states. As such, these FAQs should be viewed as a discussion of the complexity of health care financing as it relates to Puerto Rico under current law. This report does not provide a comprehensive overview of how federal health care programs and requirements apply in Puerto Rico. Instead, the report answers questions about health care financing that have arisen in light of Puerto Rico's financial circumstances. This report will be updated as additional relevant questions and answers arise."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Mach, Annie L.

  2016-06-20
• Presidential Appointments to Full-time Positions in Executive Departments During the 109th Congress, 2005-2006 [June 10, 2008]

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  "During the 109th Congress, the President submitted to the Senate 283 nominations to executive department full-time positions. Of these 283 nominations, 233 were confirmed; nine were withdrawn; and 41 were returned to him in accordance with Senate rules. For those nominations that were confirmed, an average of 75 days elapsed between nomination and confirmation. The median number of days elapsed was 57. These statistics do not include the days during which the Senate was adjourned for its summer recesses and between sessions of Congress. President George W. Bush made a total of 13 recess appointments to the departments during this period. All 13 were made during recesses within the first or second session of the 109th Congress ('intrasession' recess appointments). None were made during the recess between the first and second sessions of the Congress ('intersession' recess appointments)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hogue, Henry B.; Bearden, Maureen; Ely, Dana

  2008-06-10
• Navy Lasers, Railgun, and Hypervelocity Projectile: Background and Issues for Congress [August 14, 2017]

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  "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on three potential new weapons that could improve the ability of Navy surface ships to defend themselves against enemy missiles--solid state lasers (SSLs), the electromagnetic railgun (EMRG), and the hypervelocity projectile (HVP). Any one of these new weapon technologies, if successfully developed and deployed, might be regarded as a 'game changer' for defending Navy surface ships against enemy missiles. If two or three of them are successfully developed and deployed, the result might be considered not just a game changer, but a revolution. Rarely has the Navy had so many potential new types of surface-ship missile-defense weapons simultaneously available for development and potential deployment. Although the Navy in recent years has made considerable progress in developing SSLs, EMRG, and HVP, a number of significant development challenges remain. The HPV in particular has emerged as a program of particular interest to the Department of Defense (DOD), which is exploring the potential for using the weapon across multiple U.S. military services."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  O'Rourke, Ronald

  2017-08-14
• Presidential Appointee Positions Requiring Senate Confirmation and Committees Handling Nominations [May 3, 2017]

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  "As part of the process of making an appointment to an advice and consent position, the President submits a nomination to the Senate. Most nominations are referred to the appropriate Senate committee or committees on the day they are received. Such referrals are guided by Senate Rule XXV, which establishes the subject matter under the purview of each committee and directs that 'all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating primarily to [those] subjects' be referred to that committee. Precedents set by prior referrals, standing orders, and unanimous consent (UC) agreements adopted by the Senate pertaining to the referral of nominations may also influence the referral process. [...] This report identifies, by Senate committee, presidentially appointed positions requiring Senate confirmation as of June 30, 2016. For each committee list, positions are categorized as full- or part-time and then grouped by department or agency. Where nominations have been referred to more than one committee, they are noted under each of the committees to which the nominations were referred. The lists also include the lengths of fixed terms, where applicable."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Davis, Christopher M., 1966-; Greene, Michael

  2017-05-03
• Private Flood Insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) [ June 2, 2017]

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  "The NFIP [The National Flood Insurance Program] was first authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. §§4001 et seq), and was reauthorized until the end of FY2017 by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (BW-12, Title II of P.L. 112-141). In statute, Congress has found that [1] many factors have made it uneconomic for the private insurance industry alone to make flood insurance available to those in need of such protection on reasonable terms and conditions; but [2] a program of flood insurance with large-scale participation of the Federal Government and carried out to the maximum extent practicable by the private insurance industry is feasible and can be initiated. (42 U.S.C. §4001(b))"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Horn, Diane P.; Webel, Baird

  2017-06-02
• Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2021 Budget and Appropriations [Updated February 2, 2021]

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  From the Summary: "Each year, Congress considers 12 distinct appropriations measures to fund federal programs and activities. One of these is the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) bill, which includes funding for U.S. diplomatic activities, cultural exchanges, development and security assistance, and participation in multilateral organizations, among other international activities. On February 10, 2020, the Trump Administration submitted to Congress its SFOPS budget proposal for FY2021, totaling $44.12 billion (including $158.90 million in mandatory State Department retirement funds). None of the requested SFOPS funds were designated as Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funds. The Administration's FY2021 request was about 3% higher than its FY2020 request for SFOPS accounts but nearly 24% below the FY2020 SFOPS funding level enacted by Congress (including COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] supplemental funds, which were enacted after the FY2021 request was submitted)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Gill, Cory R.; Lawson, Marian Leonardo; Morgenstern, Emily M.

  2021-02-02
• Fiscal Policy and Recovery from the COVID-19 Recession [Updated February 1, 2021]

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  From the Summary: "The economic contraction that began in February 2020 differs from previous contractions, including the Great Depression of the 1930s and the Great Recession of 2007-2009. It was caused in large part by concerns about the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and government policies aimed at limiting person-to-person contact. The health concerns of the public and the stay-at-home and shutdown orders designed to limit contact reduced cash flow to businesses and increased the number of unemployed workers."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Gravelle, Jane; Marples, Donald

  2021-02-01
• Dispute Settlement in the WTO and U.S. Trade Agreements [Updated February 1, 2021]

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  From the Document: "The United States traditionally has championed the use of effective and reciprocal dispute settlement (DS) mechanisms to enforce commitments in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs). While effective and enforceable DS has been a long-standing U.S. trade negotiating objective, its use has become controversial following some adverse decisions, particularly with regard to U.S. trade remedy law. The WTO was established in 1995 after eight years of trade negotiations in the Uruguay Round among members of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)--the predecessor to the WTO during 1947-1994. The WTO administers a system of agreements promoting trade liberalization, including rules for trade in goods, services and intellectual property rights. Through its Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU), the WTO provides an enforceable means to settle disputes regarding obligations under these agreements. [...] Congress may seek to address the new DS mechanisms under USMCA [United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement] and the demise or potential reform of the AB [Appellate Body] in its oversight of U.S. trade policy or in a possible future debate on Trade Promotion Authority."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Fergusson, Ian F.

  2021-02-01
• Environmental Provisions in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) [Updated February 3, 2021]

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  From the Overview: "Linkages between trade and environmental protection have long been a concern to some U.S. policymakers and stakeholders. The central question is whether trade liberalization (i.e., the removal of barriers on the free exchange of goods and services between nations) advances shared economic and environmental goals. Some observers argue that economic expansion brought on by trade liberalization adversely affects the environment. Among other concerns, they contend that for developing countries, international competition may lead them to adopt less stringent environmental standards or to engage in more polluting activities. Thus, they claim that environmental provisions are necessary in trade agreements to help raise or maintain international standards and protect U.S. businesses and workers from perceived unfair competition. Other policymakers and stakeholders believe that trade liberalization and environmental protection can be mutually supportive. They argue that while economic growth may adversely affect the environment during the initial stages of industrialization, it can also provide resources to mitigate such effects as countries develop. They also argue that trade liberalization can support U.S. environmental goals through the elimination of tariffs on environmental goods, and the reduction of trade-distorting subsidies."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lattanzio, Richard K.; Fergusson, Ian F.

  2021-02-03
• Fiscal Policy in the COVID-19 Economic Recovery [February 3, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Congress is currently considering a new stimulus package to address the economic recovery. As of December 2020, the unemployment rate for private nonagricultural workers was 6.7%, down from 13.3% in May and 14.7% in April, but significantly above the 4.4% rate in March before the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began to affect the economy. COVID-19 infections and deaths, while slowing in the late spring of 2020, began to rise steeply in the fall and winter."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Gravelle, Jane

  2021-02-03
• E.O. 14005: Bolstering Federal Government Purchase of American Products and Services [February 2, 2021]

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  From the Document: "On January 25, 2021, President Joe Biden issued Executive Order (E.O.) 14005 to advance the policy that the U.S. government should 'use terms and conditions of Federal financial assistance awards and Federal procurements to maximize the use of goods, products, and materials produced, and services offered in, the United States.' Although the E.O. has broad applicability, this Insight focuses exclusively on the Buy American Act (BAA) as applied to federal procurement and discusses selected provisions of the E.O. As may occur during a presidential transition, E.O. 14005 revoked two executive orders and superseded a third that also promoted Buy American policies and were issued by President Biden's immediate predecessor."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Halchin, L. Elaine

  2021-02-02