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• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and U.S. Agriculture [June 22, 2017]

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  "The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) entered into force on January 1, 1994, establishing a free trade area as part of a comprehensive economic and trade agreement among the United States, Canada, and Mexico. President Trump has repeatedly stated that he intends to either renegotiate or withdraw from NAFTA. In May 2017, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) formally notified Congress of the Administration's intent to renegotiate NAFTA. Reactions to the announcement have been mixed, with some industries supporting NAFTA "modernization" as a way to address a range of trade concerns, while others are urging the need to proceed more cautiously so as to not destabilize current U.S. export markets."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Johnson, Renée

  2017-06-22
• Nuclear Negotiations with North Korea: In Brief [December 4, 2017]

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  "U.S. Presidents have faced the question of whether to negotiate with the North Korean government to halt Pyongyang's nuclear program and ambitions. [...] Among the questions related to negotiations with Pyongyang are their utility, timing, scope, and goals. This report summarizes past formal nuclear and missile negotiations between the United States and North Korea, also known by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and highlights some of the lessons and implications that can be drawn from these efforts."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.

  2017-12-04
• Possible U.S. Policy Approaches to North Korea [September 4, 2017]

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  "Since assuming office, the Trump Administration has raised the North Korea threat to a top-level foreign policy priority in response to the regime's demonstrations of rapid military advances. Officially called the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), North Korea has rebuffed U.S. and South Korean offers to negotiate on denuclearization since 2009 and has continued to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.' [...] The United States faces a range of North Korea policy options, many of which may not be mutually exclusive."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  2017-09-04
• Iran's Expanding Economic Relations with Asia [November 29, 2017]

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  "Since multilateral sanctions on Iran were lifted in January 2016 under the Iran nuclear agreement (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA), foreign firms have begun to resume business with Iran. Iranian leaders seem to be counting on expanded economic ties with the major East Asian economies to help Iran emerge from the years of international sanctions, diversify its economy away from reliance on hydrocarbon products, and become a regional trading hub. Expanding ties with Asia is politically easy for Iran because the major Asian countries remained engaged in Iran's economy even during the 2010-2016 multilateral sanctions regime (see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RS20871, Iran Sanctions)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Katzman, Kenneth; Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.

  2017-11-29
• Supreme Court Declines to Review Ninth Circuit Decision Applying Federal Reserved Water Rights Doctrine to Groundwater [December 21, 2017]

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  "The 2012-2016 drought in California and parts of other western states may have ended, but availability of water will continue to present issues for Congress to consider. While state, rather than federal, law typically governs allocations of water resources within a state, there are exceptions where federal law does affect water allocation. The federal reserved water rights doctrine, for example, holds that when the federal government reserves federal lands for a particular purpose (such as for a tribal reservation or national monument), it impliedly reserves a right to water necessary to accomplish the purposes for which the reservation was created."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Wyatt, Alexandra M.

  2017-12-21
• Audit of Maintaining Cybersecurity in the Coronavirus Disease--2019 Telework Environment (Redacted)

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  From the Objective: "The objective of this audit was to determine whether DoD Components maintained network protections during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic while the DoD workforce maximized the use of telework capabilities to ensure the continuity of DoD operations."

  United States. Department of Defense. Office of the Inspector General

  2021-03-29
• Impact of Pandemic on Postal Service Finances

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  From the Highlights: "On March 13, 2020, the President of the U.S. issued the national emergency declaration concerning the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic (pandemic). During the ongoing pandemic, the U.S. Postal Service provided essential services as part of the nation's critical infrastructure by continuing to process and deliver mail and packages. The pandemic continues to have an unpredictable impact on Postal Service operations and finances. [...] Our objective was to assess the impact of the pandemic on Postal Service finances."

  United States Postal Service. Office of Inspector General

  2021-03-29
• Evaluation of SBA's Award Procedures for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Entrepreneurial Development Cooperative Agreements

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  From the Executive Summary: "We evaluated the Small Business Administration's (SBA) handling of economic relief funding to educate, train, and advise small business owners and entrepreneurs on practices necessary to reduce the economic effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The SBA Office of Entrepreneurial Development (OED) oversees a network of centers promoting small business growth through entrepreneurial development, training, and counseling. Within OED, the Office of Small Business Development Centers and the Office of Women's Business Ownership administer two programs that include a nationwide network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women's Business Centers (WBCs). OED also collaborates with America's SBDC and Association of WBCs for many of its entrepreneurial development initiative. [...] Our objective was to determine whether SBA awarded the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act entrepreneurial development cooperative agreements and grants in accordance with applicable federal laws, regulations, and other guidance."

  United States. Small Business Administration. Office of the Inspector General

  2021-03-30
• Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations for 2021, Part 5, Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, February 26, 2020, February 27, 2020, March 3, 2020, March 4, 2020, March 10, 2020, March 11, 2020, May 6, 2020, June 4, 2020, December 8, 2020

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  These are the February 26, 2020, February 27, 2020, March 3, 2020, March 4, 2020, March 10, 2020, March 11, 2020, May 6, 2020, June 4, 2020, and December 8, 2020 hearings on "Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations for 2021, Part 5," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations. From the opening statement of Rosa L. Delauro: "Welcome to the Labor, HHS, and Education Subcommittee, I suppose I should say and related agencies as well. This is our first hearing on the President's fiscal year 2021 budget request." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Alex M. Azar, Betsy DeVos, Kathryn Edin, Dolores Acevedo-Garcia, Douglas Besharov, Autumn Burke, Matt Weidinger, Irwin Garfinkel, Cheryl Brunson, Francis Collins, Diana Bianchi, Anthony Fauci, Gary Gibbons, Ned Sharpless, Nora Volkow, Robert Redfield, Ileana Arias, Sherri A. Berger, Debra Houry, John Ring, Peter Robb, Tom Frieden, Caitlin Rivers, Robert Redfield, Herminia Palacio, Jamila Perritt, Amanda Beatriz Williams, and Christina Bennett.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• H.R. 3080 and S. 601: Comparison of Select Provisions and Conference Developments [May 19, 2014]

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  "Conference report H.Rept. 113-449 would resolve differences between H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA 2013), and S. 601, the Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (WRDA 2013). Both bills represented omnibus authorization legislation for water resource activities, principally associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Carter, Nicole T.; Stern, Charles V.; Frittelli, John . . .

  2014-05-19
• Conservation Provisions in the 2014 Farm Bill (P.L. 113-79) [April 24, 2014]

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  "The Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 farm bill, P.L. 113-79) was enacted on February 7, 2014. After years of debate and deliberation, the enacted 2014 farm bill included a number of changes to the Conservation title (Title II), including program consolidation and reauthorization, amendments to conservation compliance, and a reduction in overall funding. Debate on the 2014 farm bill focused on a number of controversial issues. While many did not consider conservation to be controversial, nonetheless, a number of policy issues shaped the final version of the title and ultimately its role in the enacted farm bill. […] One of the most controversial issues in the 2014 farm bill debate was whether federal crop insurance subsidies should be included on the list of program benefits that could be lost if a producer were found to be out of compliance with conservation requirements on highly erodible land and wetlands. Ultimately the 2014 farm bill did add federal crop insurance subsidies to the list of benefits that could be lost and extended limited protection for native sod in select states. The 2014 farm bill also reduced funding for the Conservation title by $3.97 billion over 10 years. Most farm bill conservation programs are authorized to receive mandatory funding, and the Conservation title makes up 6% of the total farm bill 10-year baseline, or $58 billion of the total $956 billion in mandatory funding authorized in the 2014 farm bill."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Stubbs, Megan

  2014-04-24
• Wilderness: Legislation and Issues in the 113th Congress [April 17, 2014]

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  From the introduction: "The 1964 Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. §§1131-1136) established the National Wilderness Preservation System and directed that only Congress can designate federal lands as part of the system. Many believe that special areas should be designated to protect and preserve their unique values and characteristics, and bills are usually introduced in each Congress to designate wilderness areas. Others oppose such legislation because commercial activities, motorized access, and roads, structures, and facilities generally are prohibited in wilderness areas. Debate over wilderness bills that may be introduced in the 113th Congress is likely to follow this pattern, especially as to how those prohibited activities affect law enforcement in wilderness areas along U.S. national borders. In addition, a December 2010 change to the Interior Department policy dictating management for wilderness-suitable areas stimulated legislation in the 112th Congress over the timing and nature of wilderness reviews. Despite the policy's retraction in 2011, this continues to spur congressional interest. This report presents background information on wilderness protection and a discussion of issues in the wilderness debate--the pros and cons of wilderness designation generally; possible considerations for specific legislation; and a discussion of possible wilderness study area designation and protection. This report also tracks the status of legislation introduced in the 113th Congress to designate new wilderness or release wilderness study areas. A table of legislation from the 112th Congress is in Appendix A to this report."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hoover, Katie; Alexander, Kristina; Johnson, Sandra

  2014-04-17
• Congressional Commissions: Overview, Structure, and Legislative Considerations [May 14, 2014]

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  "Congressional advisory commissions are formal groups established to provide independent advice; make recommendations for changes in public policy; study or investigate a particular problem, issue, or event; or perform a duty. While no legal definition exists for what constitutes a 'congressional commission,' in this report a congressional commission is defined as a multimember independent entity that (1) is established by Congress, (2) exists temporarily, (3) serves in an advisory capacity, (4) is appointed in part or whole by Members of Congress, and (5) reports to Congress. These five characteristics differentiate a congressional commission from a presidential commission, an executive branch commission, or other bodies with 'commission' in their names. Over 90 congressional commissions have been established since 1989. […] This report provides an overview and analysis of congressional advisory commissions, information on the general statutory structure of a congressional commission, and a catalog of congressional commissions created since the 101st Congress."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Glassman, Matthew; Straus, Jacob R.

  2014-05-14
• Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress [June 25, 2014]

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  "The Navy has been procuring Virginia (SSN-774) class nuclear-powered attack submarines since FY1998. The two Virginia-class boats requested for procurement in FY2015 are to be the 21st and 22nd boats in the class. The 10 Virginia-class boats programmed for procurement in FY2014- FY2018 (two per year for five years) are being procured under a multiyear-procurement (MYP) contract. The Navy estimates the combined procurement cost of the two Virginia-class boats requested for procurement in FY2015 at $5,288.7 million or an average of $2,644.3 million each. The boats have received a total of $1,577.0 million in prior-year advance procurement (AP) funding and $158.4 million in prior-year Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) funding. The Navy's proposed FY2015 budget requests the remaining $3,553.3 million needed to complete the boats' estimated combined procurement cost. The Navy's proposed FY2015 budget also requests $1,649.5 in AP funding and $680.8 million in EOQ funding for Virginia-class boats to be procured in future fiscal years, bringing the total FY2015 funding request for the program (excluding outfitting and post-delivery costs) to $5,883.6 million. EOQ funding is a common feature in the initial years of an MYP contract."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  O'Rourke, Ronald

  2014-06-25
• Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress [June 4, 2014]

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  From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) program. The Navy's proposed FY2015 budget requests $5,883.6 million in procurement, advance procurement (AP), and Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) funding for the program. Decisions that Congress makes on procurement of Virginia-class boats could substantially affect U.S. Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base. The Navy's Ohio Replacement (SSBN[X]) ballistic missile submarine program is discussed in another CRS [Congressional Research Service] report."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  O'Rourke, Ronald

  2014-06-04
• Social Security: The Lump-Sum Death Benefit [July 15, 2014]

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  "When a worker who is insured by Social Security and living with a spouse dies, the spouse is entitled to a lump-sum death benefit of $255. If there is no such spouse, the payment can be made to a surviving child who is receiving or is eligible to receive benefits based on the deceased person's work. In the majority of deaths, however, no payment is made. The death benefit used to be a more important part of Social Security, but the payment has been fixed at $255 for the past four decades, during which inflation has eroded its value. At the same time, the real value of other Social Security benefits has increased. Total federal spending on lump-sum death benefits is now about $200 million, only 0.03% of the total Social Security benefits. Although the benefit was once linked to burial expenses and is sometimes still referred to as a 'funeral benefit,' it no longer has any legal connection with funeral expenses. Some proposals would have targeted the death benefit to those with the greatest need, increased the benefit, or eliminated it."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Meyerson, Noah

  2014-07-15
• Publications of the U.S. House of Representatives [May 21, 2014]

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  "The U.S. House of Representatives produces several publications relating to the legislative functions of the House. They include, but are not limited to, publications dealing with rules and procedures, bills, anticipated and past legislative activities, committee matters, and chamber proceedings. This report provides a brief description of these publications."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Glassman, Matthew

  2014-05-21
• Department of Homeland Security: FY2015 Appropriations [November 20, 2014]

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  "This report analyzes the FY2015 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While this report makes note of many budgetary resources provided to DHS, its primary focus is on funding approved by Congress through the appropriations process."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Painter, William L.

  2014-11-20
• Remote Inspection of Federal Correctional Institution Terminal Island

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  From the Introduction: "The CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] has noted that the confined nature of correctional facilities, combined with their congregate environments, 'heighten[s] the potential for COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] to spread once introduced' into a facility. According to BOP [Federal Bureau of Prisons] data, as of January 4, 2021, 40,086 inmates and 4,666 BOP staff in BOP-managed institutions and community-based facilities had tested positive for COVID-19. In those institutions where widespread inmate testing has been conducted, including at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Terminal Island, the percentage of inmates testing positive has been substantial. As of January 4, 2021, 557 Terminal Island inmates and 35 staff members had tested positive for COVID-19; 10 Terminal Island inmates had died. Between May 6 and June 25, 2020, the DOJ OIG [Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General] conducted a remote inspection of the BOP's FCI Terminal Island to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the institution and to assess the steps that Terminal Island officials took to prepare for, prevent, and manage COVID-19 transmission within the facility."

  United States. Department of Justice. Office of the Inspector General

  2021-01
• Remote Inspection of Federal Correctional Complex Coleman

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  From the Introduction: "The CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] has noted that the confined nature of correctional facilities, combined with their congregate environments, 'heighten[s] the potential for COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] to spread once introduced' into a facility. According to BOP [Federal Bureau of Prisons] data, as of January 3, 2021, 39,591 inmates and 4,596 BOP staff in BOP-managed institutions and community-based facilities had tested positive for COVID-19. In those institutions where widespread inmate testing has been conducted, including Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) Coleman, the percentage of inmates testing positive has been substantial. The BOP's FCC Coleman had very few COVID-19 cases until experiencing a surge beginning at the end of June 2020. As of January 3, 2021, FCC Coleman had a total of 175 staff test positive for COVID-19 and 1 staff member had died as a result of COVID-19. As of that same date, a total of 833 inmates at FCC Coleman had tested positive for COVID-19 and 5 inmates had died. Between May 5 and 30, 2020, the DOJ OIG conducted a remote inspection of FCC Coleman to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the complex and to assess the steps Coleman officials took to prepare for, prevent, and manage COVID-19 transmission within its facilities."

  United States. Department of Justice. Office of the Inspector General

  2021-01
• Remote Inspection of Federal Correctional Institution Milan

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  From the Introduction: "The CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] has noted that the confined nature of correctional facilities, combined with their congregate environments, 'heighten[s] the potential for COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] to spread once introduced' into a facility. According to BOP [Federal Bureau of Prisons] data, as of January 21, 2021, 44,806 inmates and 5,904 BOP staff in BOP-managed institutions and community-based facilities had tested positive for COVID-19. In those institutions where widespread inmate testing has been conducted, the percentage of inmates testing positive has been substantial. Between May 11 and June 30, 2020, the DOJ OIG [Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General] conducted a remote inspection of the BOP's Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Milan (pronounced MY-lan) to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the institution and to assess the steps Milan officials took to prepare for, prevent, and manage COVID-19 transmission within the facility."

  United States. Department of Justice. Office of the Inspector General

  2021-01
• Onsite Surveys of Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: March 23-May 30, 2020

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  From the Document: "We did this review to determine the number and results of onsite surveys of nursing homes during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases such as COVID-19, and infection control has been a persistent problem for most nursing homes. As of November 8, 2020, more than 67,000 nursing home residents have died of COVID-19, which represented almost 30 percent of all COVID-19 deaths in the United States at that time. Onsite State surveys, conducted on behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), assess the quality of services in nursing homes, a critical function for protecting residents. CMS changed survey practices in response to the pandemic. These changes-- together with nursing home residents' high-risk status and the importance of the State surveys-- warrant close examination to assess the sufficiency of this oversight."

  United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Inspector General

  2020-12
• Review of Veterans Health Administration's Emergency Department and Urgent Care Center Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  From the Executive Summary: "The VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a review of the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) response to anticipated demand and use of emergency department and urgent care center services when faced with an influx of patients needing evaluation during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. A survey questionnaire was deployed to selected emergency department and urgent care center directors to learn what steps VHA emergency medicine leaders took from March to July 2020, as well as plans they intend to take should a future need arise. COVID-19 is a multifaceted infectious disease that can cause a wide spectrum of presentations ranging from asymptomatic (without symptoms) to displaying severe multisystem illness. Beyond the flu-like symptoms that may characterize early presentation with COVID-19, patients can develop serious systemic problems. Making a diagnosis of COVID-19 in the emergency department or urgent care center setting may provide critical information to practitioners on the management of patient symptoms. OIG staff conducted virtual interviews with 63 directors from 49 emergency departments and 14 urgent care centers from July 13 through July 28, 2020, to collect the directors' survey responses on various COVID-19-related topics."

  United States. Department of Veterans Affairs. Office of Inspector General

  2020-12-18
• Added Measures Could Reduce Veterans' Risk of COVID-19 Exposure in Transitional Housing

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  From the Executive Summary: "Individuals experiencing or at risk for homelessness are particularly vulnerable to the transmission of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] because of limited access to health care and to facilities that help them maintain hygiene and basic sanitation. People living in settings such as homeless shelters and other communal living spaces can experience rapid spread of the virus. Therefore, it is critical that VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] and its transitional housing service providers implement measures to reduce veterans' risk of exposure to COVID-19. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to assess the measures taken by the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) Homeless Program Office, medical facilities, and service providers to mitigate veterans' risks of COVID-19 exposure while in transitional housing. This review focused on two transitional housing service programs administered by the Homeless Program Office--the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) and Grant and Per Diem (GPD) programs."

  United States. Department of Veterans Affairs. Office of Inspector General

  2020-12-18
• Audit of Infectious Disease Medical Treatment Capabilities at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar

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  From the Objective: "The objective of this audit was to determine whether Al Udeid Air Base (AUAB), Qatar, had the capabilities to treat coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients and isolate or quarantine suspected infected service members, civilians, and contractors."

  United States. Department of Defense. Office of the Inspector General

  2020-12-21
• Data Brief: Downward Trends in FEHBP Members' Use of Preventive Care Services Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  From the Executive Summary Purpose: "In this Data Brief, we present concerns with downward trends related to preventive care services utilized by a selected section of FEHBP [Federal Employees Health Benefit Program] participants during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Specifically, this brief focuses on claims incurred and paid during the period of January through August of 2020 and compares this data to the same time period in 2019. The Data Brief offers the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the FEHBP participating health insurance carriers insight into how COVID-19 is impacting a large portion of the FEHBP population and will, hopefully, encourage discussions regarding actions that may need to be considered to offset the potential impact to the program and its members. Our objective was to analyze trends in the health insurance claims data for the FEHBP over time throughout the COVID-19 pandemic."

  United States. Office of Personnel Management. Office of Inspector General

  2021-01-06
• Paycheck Protection Program Loan Recipients on the Department of Treasury's Do Not Pay List

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  From the Document: "The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is issuing this Management Alert to bring to your attention serious concerns about improper payments to lenders for potentially ineligible recipients of loans under SBA's [Small Business Administration] Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This issue requires immediate attention and action. Due to complaints of fraud received by the OIG, we collaborated with the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) Do Not Pay (DNP) Business Center, which identified high-risk transactions related to financial assistance to small businesses for the COVID-19 pandemic. Our review of Treasury's analysis showed approximately $3.6 billion in PPP loans to potentially ineligible recipients. Expedited management action could reduce or prevent the potential for loss in terms of the risk of improper payments to lenders for amounts ineligible for forgiveness as well as any fees. OIG communicated summary results to SBA management, who requested Treasury's results and have systemically put a 'hold' flag on loans identified by the DNP team to ensure the loan applications are properly reviewed before processing for forgiveness or any further disbursements. Additionally, SBA management contacted the DNP Business Center and discussed the matching parameters to ensure that DNP's results were consistent with PPP eligibility provisions. Consequently, DNP's results were revised and are represented in this memorandum."

  United States. Small Business Administration. Office of the Inspector General

  2021-01-11
• State of Iowa's Noncompliance with Uses of Coronavirus Relief Fund Requirements

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  From the Document: "We would like to thank you for responding to our inquiries regarding the State of Iowa's use of Coronavirus Relief Fund proceeds to make payments related to a portion of the $20.1 million contract with Workday, Inc. (Workday). As explained to us by State of Iowa representatives, Workday is a computer system used for accounting and human resources that is to replace the State's legacy mainframe systems. We were also informed that Coronavirus Relief Fund proceeds were used to pay for some contract expenses that were incurred after March 1, 2020, and additional funds are expected to be used for expenses that will be incurred before December 30, 2020."

  United States. Department of the Treasury. Office of Inspector General

  2020-12-14
• Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange: Legislative History, Litigation, and Current Issues [November 18, 2014]

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  "The U.S. Armed Forces used a variety of chemical defoliants to clear dense jungle land in Vietnam during the war. Agent Orange (named for the orange-colored identifying stripes on the barrels) was by far the most widely used herbicide during the Vietnam War. Many Vietnam-era veterans believe that their exposure to Agent Orange caused them to contract several diseases and caused certain disabilities, including birth defects in their children, and now their grandchildren. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) received the first claims asserting conditions related to Agent Orange in 1977. Since then, Vietnam-era veterans have made efforts to obtain disability compensation and health care from Congress and through the judicial system. In response to issues raised by Vietnam-era veterans, Congress has passed legislation to research the long-term health effects of Agent Orange on Vietnam veterans and to provide benefits and services to those who may have been exposed to it. In addition, the courts have addressed some concerns of Vietnam-era veterans.2 This report provides an overview of how Congress and the judiciary have addressed the concerns of Vietnam-era veterans and briefly describes some of the current issues raised by Vietnam-era veterans."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Panangala, Sidath Viranga; Shedd, Daniel T.

  2014-11-18
• Congressional Action on FY2015 Appropriations Measures [March 9, 2015]

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  From the report summary: "The congressional appropriations process, which provides discretionary spending for federal government agencies, assumes the annual enactment of 12 regular appropriations bills prior to the beginning of the fiscal year (October 1). One or more continuing resolutions (CRs) may be enacted if all regular appropriations bills are not completed by that time. This report provides information on the budget enforcement framework for the consideration of FY2015 appropriations measures, the status of the FY2015 regular appropriations bills as of the beginning of the fiscal year, and the enactment of FY2015 continuing appropriations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tollestrup, Jessica

  2015-03-09