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Military Service Records, Awards, and Unit Histories: A Guide to Locating Sources [Updated May 20, 2019]
From the Summary: "This guide provides information on locating military unit histories and individual service records of discharged, retired, and deceased military personnel. It also provides information on locating and replacing military awards and medals. Included is contact information for military history centers, websites for additional sources of research, and a bibliography of other publications, including related CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Plagakis, Sofia; Torreon, Barbara Salazar
2019-05-20
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Moldova: An Overview [Updated July 11, 2019]
From the Document: "On June 14, 2019, a political crisis in Moldova ended when the formerly ruling Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) agreed to dissolve the outgoing government in favor of a new, democratically elected coalition. The coalition consists of a reform-oriented, Western-leaning alliance, ACUM (or 'Now') and the socially conservative, Russian-leaning Party of Socialists, which placed first in Moldova's February 2019 elections. The coalition came together to unseat the PDM; given the parties' differing policy orientations, it is uncertain how long it will last. Moldova is one of three post-Soviet states, together with Ukraine and Georgia, that have sought greater integration with the West while coping with separatist territories occupied by Russian forces. Many Members of Congress have long supported Moldova's democratic trajectory and territorial integrity and have called on Russia to respect Moldova's sovereignty and to withdraw its military forces."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Welt, Cory
2019-07-11
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COVIDView: A Weekly Surveillance Summary of U.S COVID-19 Activity, Week 1 [January 9, 2021]
From the Key Updates: "Nationally, surveillance indicators tracking levels of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] circulation, associated illnesses, and hospitalizations decreased or remained stable but elevated during the week ending January 9, 2021. The percentage of deaths due to pneumonia, influenza and COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] (PIC) increased during the most recent week after declining for three weeks. Recent declines in hospitalization rates and PIC mortality should be interpreted with caution as reporting delays increased during the holidays and the downward trends may change as more data are received."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-01-09
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Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers: Tempus Labs, Inc., iC SARS-CoV2 Test
From the Document: "This Fact Sheet informs you of the significant known and potential risks and benefits of the emergency use of the iC SARS-CoV2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] Test. The iC SARS-CoV2 Test is authorized for use with upper respiratory tract specimens collected from individuals suspected of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] by their healthcare provider."
United States. Food and Drug Administration
2020-10-01
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Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers: Access IL-6 - Beckman Coulter, Inc.
From the Document: "This Fact Sheet informs you of the significant known and potential risks and benefits of the emergency use of the Access IL-6. The Access IL-6 is authorized for use in human serum and plasma specimens collected from patients with confirmed Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) to assist in identifying severe inflammatory response to aid in determining the risk of intubation with mechanical ventilation, in conjunction with clinical findings and the results of other laboratory testing."
United States. Food and Drug Administration
2020-10-01
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Millennium Challenge Account: Congressional Consideration of a New Foreign Aid Initiative [August 26, 2003]
"In a speech on March 14, 2002, at the Inter-American Development Bank, President Bush outlined a proposal for the United States to increase foreign economic assistance beginning in FY2004 so that by FY2006 American aid would be $5 billion higher than three years earlier. The new funds, which would supplement the current estimated $13.1 billion economic aid budget, would be placed in a Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) and be available on a competitive basis to a few countries that have demonstrated a commitment to sound development policies and where U.S. support is believed to have the best opportunities for achieving the intended results. These 'best-performers' would be selected based on their records in three areas - ruling justly, investing in people, and pursuing sound economic policies. Development of a new foreign aid initiative by the Bush Administration has been influenced by a number of factors, including the widely perceived poor track record of past aid programs, recent evidence that the existence of certain policies by aid recipients may be more important for success than the amount of resources invested, the war on terrorism, and the March 2002 U.N.-sponsored International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey, Mexico."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nowels, Larry Q.
2003-08-26
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Military Medical Care: Questions and Answers [July 2, 2013]
"The primary objective of the military health system, which includes the Defense Department's hospitals, clinics, and medical personnel, is to maintain the health of military personnel so they can carry out their military missions and to be prepared to deliver health care during wartime. The military health system also covers dependents of active duty personnel, military retirees, and their dependents, including some members of the reserve components. The military health system provides health care services through either Department of Defense (DOD) medical facilities, known as 'military treatment facilities' or 'MTFs' as space is available, or through private health care providers. The military health system currently includes some 56 hospitals and 365 clinics serving 9.7 million beneficiaries. It operates worldwide and employs some 58,369 civilians and 86,007 military personnel."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jansen, Don J.; Blakeley, Katherine
2013-07-02
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Monetary Policy: Current Policy and Conditions [Updated November 22, 2006]
"Monetary policy can be defined broadly as any policy relating to the supply of money. Since the main agency concerned with the supply of money is the nation's central bank, the Federal Reserve, monetary policy can also be defined in terms of the directives, policies, statements, and actions of the Federal Reserve, particularly those from its Board of Governors that have an effect on aggregate demand or national spending. The nation's financial press and markets pay particular attention to the pronouncements of the chairman of the Board of Governors, the nation's central banker. The reason for this attention is that monetary policy can have important effects on aggregate demand and through it on real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment, real foreign exchange rates, real interest rates, the composition of output, etc. It is paradoxical, however, that these important effects, to the extent that they occur, are essentially only short run in nature. Over the longer run, the major effect of monetary policy is on the rate of inflation. Thus, while a more rapid rate of money growth may for a time stimulate the economy, leading to a more rapid rate of real GDP growth and a lower unemployment rate, over the longer run, these changes are undone and the economy is left with a higher rate of inflation. In some societies where high rates of inflation are endemic, more rapid rates of money growth fail to exercise any stimulating effect and are almost immediately translated into higher rates of inflation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Makinen, Gail E.; Labonte, Marc
2006-11-22
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Monetary Policy: Current Policy and Conditions [Updated October 25, 2006]
"Monetary policy can be defined broadly as any policy relating to the supply of money. Since the main agency concerned with the supply of money is the nation's central bank, the Federal Reserve, monetary policy can also be defined in terms of the directives, policies, statements, and actions of the Federal Reserve, particularly those from its Board of Governors that have an effect on aggregate demand or national spending. The nation's financial press and markets pay particular attention to the pronouncements of the chairman of the Board of Governors, the nation's central banker. The reason for this attention is that monetary policy can have important effects on aggregate demand and through it on real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment, real foreign exchange rates, real interest rates, the composition of output, etc. It is paradoxical, however, that these important effects, to the extent that they occur, are essentially only short run in nature. Over the longer run, the major effect of monetary policy is on the rate of inflation. Thus, while a more rapid rate of money growth may for a time stimulate the economy, leading to a more rapid rate of real GDP growth and a lower unemployment rate, over the longer run, these changes are undone and the economy is left with a higher rate of inflation. In some societies where high rates of inflation are endemic, more rapid rates of money growth fail to exercise any stimulating effect and are almost immediately translated into higher rates of inflation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Labonte, Marc; Makinen, Gail E.
2006-10-25
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Monetary Policy: Current Policy and Conditions [Updated August 21, 2006]
"Monetary policy can be defined broadly as any policy relating to the supply of money. Since the main agency concerned with the supply of money is the nation's central bank, the Federal Reserve, monetary policy can also be defined in terms of the directives, policies, statements, and actions of the Federal Reserve, particularly those from its Board of Governors that have an effect on aggregate demand or national spending. The nation's financial press and markets pay particular attention to the pronouncements of the chairman of the Board of Governors, the nation's central banker. The reason for this attention is that monetary policy can have important effects on aggregate demand and through it on real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment, real foreign exchange rates, real interest rates, the composition of output, etc. It is paradoxical, however, that these important effects, to the extent that they occur, are essentially only short run in nature. Over the longer run, the major effect of monetary policy is on the rate of inflation. Thus, while a more rapid rate of money growth may for a time stimulate the economy, leading to a more rapid rate of real GDP growth and a lower unemployment rate, over the longer run, these changes are undone and the economy is left with a higher rate of inflation. In some societies where high rates of inflation are endemic, more rapid rates of money growth fail to exercise any stimulating effect and are almost immediately translated into higher rates of inflation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Makinen, Gail E.; Labonte, Marc
2006-08-21
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Monetary Policy: Current Policy and Conditions [Updated July 28, 2006]
"Monetary policy can be defined broadly as any policy relating to the supply of money. Since the main agency concerned with the supply of money is the nation's central bank, the Federal Reserve, monetary policy can also be defined in terms of the directives, policies, statements, and actions of the Federal Reserve, particularly those from its Board of Governors that have an effect on aggregate demand or national spending. The nation's financial press and markets pay particular attention to the pronouncements of the chairman of the Board of Governors, the nation's central banker. The reason for this attention is that monetary policy can have important effects on aggregate demand and through it on real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment, real foreign exchange rates, real interest rates, the composition of output, etc. It is paradoxical, however, that these important effects, to the extent that they occur, are essentially only short run in nature. Over the longer run, the major effect of monetary policy is on the rate of inflation. Thus, while a more rapid rate of money growth may for a time stimulate the economy, leading to a more rapid rate of real GDP growth and a lower unemployment rate, over the longer run, these changes are undone and the economy is left with a higher rate of inflation. In some societies where high rates of inflation are endemic, more rapid rates of money growth fail to exercise any stimulating effect and are almost immediately translated into higher rates of inflation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Labonte, Marc; Makinen, Gail E.
2006-07-28
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Monetary Policy: Current Policy and Conditions [Updated April 16, 2006]
"Monetary policy can be defined broadly as any policy relating to the supply of money. Since the main agency concerned with the supply of money is the nation's central bank, the Federal Reserve, monetary policy can also be defined in terms of the directives, policies, statements, and actions of the Federal Reserve, particularly those from its Board of Governors that have an effect on aggregate demand or national spending. The nation's financial press and markets pay particular attention to the pronouncements of the chairman of the Board of Governors, the nation's central banker. The reason for this attention is that monetary policy can have important effects on aggregate demand and through it on real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment, real foreign exchange rates, real interest rates, the composition of output, etc. It is paradoxical, however, that these important effects, to the extent that they occur, are essentially only short run in nature. Over the longer run, the major effect of monetary policy is on the rate of inflation. Thus, while a more rapid rate of money growth may for a time stimulate the economy, leading to a more rapid rate of real GDP growth and a lower unemployment rate, over the longer run, these changes are undone and the economy is left with a higher rate of inflation. In some societies where high rates of inflation are endemic, more rapid rates of money growth fail to exercise any stimulating effect and are almost immediately translated into higher rates of inflation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Makinen, Gail E.; Labonte, Marc
2006-04-16
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Monetary Policy: Current Policy and Conditions [Updated January 27, 2006]
"Monetary policy can be defined broadly as any policy relating to the supply of money. Since the main agency concerned with the supply of money is the nation's central bank, the Federal Reserve, monetary policy can also be defined in terms of the directives, policies, statements, and actions of the Federal Reserve, particularly those from its Board of Governors that have an effect on aggregate demand or national spending. The nation's financial press and markets pay particular attention to the pronouncements of the chairman of the Board of Governors, the nation's central banker. The reason for this attention is that monetary policy can have important effects on aggregate demand and through it on real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment, real foreign exchange rates, real interest rates, the composition of output, etc. It is paradoxical, however, that these important effects, to the extent that they occur, are essentially only short run in nature. Over the longer run, the major effect of monetary policy is on the rate of inflation. Thus, while a more rapid rate of money growth may for a time stimulate the economy, leading to a more rapid rate of real GDP growth and a lower unemployment rate, over the longer run, these changes are undone and the economy is left with a higher rate of inflation. In some societies where high rates of inflation are endemic, more rapid rates of money growth fail to exercise any stimulating effect and are almost immediately translated into higher rates of inflation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Labonte, Marc; Makinen, Gail E.
2006-01-27
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National Security Letters in Foreign Intelligence Investigations: Legal Background [January 3, 2014]
"Five federal statutes authorize intelligence officials to request certain business record information in connection with national security investigations. The authority to issue these national security letters (NSLs) is comparable to the authority to issue administrative subpoenas. The USA PATRIOT Act […] expanded the authority under four of the NSL statutes and created the fifth. Thereafter, the authority has been reported to have been widely used. Prospects of its continued use dimmed, however, after two lower federal courts held that the lack of judicial review and the absolute confidentiality requirements in one of the statutes rendered it constitutionally suspect. A report by the Department of Justice's Inspector General (IG) found that in its pre-amendment use of expanded USA PATRIOT Act authority the FBI had 'used NSLs in violation of applicable NSL statutes, Attorney General Guidelines, and internal FBI policies,' but that no criminal laws had been broken. A year later, a second IG report confirmed the findings of the first, and noted the corrective measures taken in response. A third IG report, critical of the FBI's use of exigent letters and informal NSL alternatives, noted that the practice had been stopped and related problems addressed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2014-01-03
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National Security Letters in Foreign Intelligence Investigations: Legal Background [November 22, 2013]
"Five statutory provisions vest government agencies responsible for certain foreign intelligence investigations (principally the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)) with authority to issue written commands comparable to administrative subpoenas. A National Security Letter (NSL) seeks customer and consumer transaction information in national security investigations from communications providers, financial institutions and credit agencies. Section 505 of the USA PATRIOT Act expanded the circumstances under which an NSL could be used. Subsequent press accounts suggested that their use had become widespread. Two lower federal courts, however, found the uncertainties, practices, and policies associated with the use of NSL authority contrary to the First Amendment right of freedom of speech, and thus brought into question the extent to which NSL authority could be used in the future. The USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act and P.L. 109-178 (S. 2271) amended the NSL statutes and related law to address some of the concerns raised by critics and the courts. As a consequence, the Second Circuit dismissed one of the lower court cases as moot and remanded the other for reconsideration in light of the amendments. On reconsideration, the district court opinion continued to be troubled by the First Amendment implications of the nondisclosure features of 18 U.S.C. 2709, even as amended. The appellate court was comparably concerned, but concluded that the government might invoke the authority of 18 U.S.C. 2709 and 18 U.S.C. 3511 in a limited but constitutionally acceptable manner. On remand under the procedure envisioned by the Second Circuit panel, the district court found a continuing need to maintain the original secrecy order, but ordered the government to provide the plaintiffs with an unclassified, redacted summary of the declaration upon which the court's decision was based. The result was somewhat different in the Ninth Circuit. There, too, a district court found that Section 2709(c)'s nondisclosure requirements violated the First Amendment and that Section 3511(b)(2)'s and (3)'s judicial review provisions violated the First Amendment and separation of powers principles. It could not agree to the narrow construction favored by the Second Circuit, however, given the clear statutory language and equally clear congressional intent to afford the government broad, review-proof authority to issue NSL secrecy orders. Nevertheless, pending appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the district court stayed its order barring issuance of further NSLs and enforcement of any related nondisclosure requirements."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2013-11-22
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Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies: FY2013 Appropriations [January 13, 2014]
"The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill provides funding for the planning, design, construction, alteration, and improvement of facilities used by active and reserve military components worldwide. It capitalizes military family housing and the U.S. share of the NATO Security Investment Program and finances the implementation of installation closures and realignments. It underwrites veterans benefit and health care programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), provides for the creation and maintenance of U.S. cemeteries and battlefield monuments within the United States and abroad, and supports the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Armed Forces Retirement Homes, and Arlington National Cemetery. The bill also funds advance appropriations for veterans' medical services. President Barack Obama submitted his request to Congress for FY2013 appropriations on February 13, 2012. For the appropriations accounts included in this bill, his request totaled $145.2 billion in new budget authority, divided into three major categories: Title I (military construction and family housing) at $11.2 billion; Title II (veterans affairs) at $135.6 billion; and Title III (related agencies) at $219.5 million. Of the total, $74.4 billion (49.9%) would be discretionary appropriations, with the remainder considered mandatory. On May 15, the House Committee on Appropriations reported a bill recommending appropriating $10.9 billion for Title I (less $235 million in funds rescinded from prior years), $135.4 billion for Title II, and $347 million for Title III."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Else, Daniel H.; Scott, Christine A.; Panangala, Sidath Viranga
2014-01-13
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National Security Letters in Foreign Intelligence Investigations: A Glimpse at the Legal Background [January 3, 2014]
"Five federal statutes authorize intelligence officials to request certain business record information in connection with national security investigations. The authority to issue these national security letters (NSLs) is comparable to the authority to issue administrative subpoenas. The USA PATRIOT Act (107-56) expanded the authority under four of the NSL statutes and created the fifth. Thereafter, the authority has been reported to have been widely used. Prospects of its continued use dimmed, however, after two lower federal courts held that the lack of judicial review and the absolute confidentiality requirements in one of the statutes rendered it constitutionally suspect. A report by the Department of Justice's Inspector General (IG) found that in its pre-amendment use of expanded USA PATRIOT Act authority the FBI had 'used NSLs in violation of applicable NSL statutes, Attorney General Guidelines, and internal FBI policies,' but that no criminal laws had been broken. A year later, a second IG report confirmed the findings of the first, and noted the corrective measures taken in response. A third IG report, critical of the FBI's use of exigent letters and informal NSL alternatives, noted that the practice had been stopped and related problems addressed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2014-01-03
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National Flood Insurance Program: Selected Issues and Legislation in the 115th Congress [February 13, 2018]
"Congress is currently considering reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The House passed a reauthorization bill (H.R. 2874) in November 2017, and three bills have been introduced in the Senate, but so far the NFIP has received a series of short-term reauthorizations. The debate over a longer reauthorization of the NFIP is taking place in the wake of the 2017 hurricane season, which produced widespread flooding and renewed concern about the structure of the NFIP and its solvency in the face of catastrophic flood losses. The NFIP is authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, and was reauthorized until September 30, 2017, by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (BW-12). Congress amended elements of BW-12, but did not extend the NFIP's authorization further in the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (HFIAA). The NFIP received a short-term reauthorization through December 8, 2017, a second short-reauthorization through December 22, 2017, and a third short-term reauthorization through January 19, 2018. The NFIP lapsed between January 20 and January 22, 2018, received a fourth short-term reauthorization until February 8, 2018.7 The NFIP lapsed for approximately eight hours during a brief government shut-down in the early morning of February 9, 2018, and was then reauthorized until March 23, 2018."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2018-02-13
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Military Benefits for Former Spouses: Legislation and Policy Issues [November 30, 2017]
"In 1981, the Supreme Court ruled that the former spouse of a military member or retiree could not be awarded any share of that member's/retiree's retired pay as a part of a divorce property settlement in a community property state. In response, Congress enacted the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act (USFSPA) in 1982. Under the USFSPA, state courts can treat disposable military retired pay as divisible property in divorce cases. However, state laws may vary on these concepts. The USFSPA makes no assumption of such a division nor does it presume how much of a division should be made. In addition to possible receipt of retired pay, certain former spouses would remain eligible to receive certain military benefits or privileges. The USFSPA has since been modified on a number of occasions. Confusion exists over the distinction of disposable versus total retired pay. The usage of the term 'disposable retired pay' may have implications in terms of taxes withheld and taxes paid. In addition, recent changes in other laws that affect the concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veteran disability pay may affect the amount of retired pay a former spouse receives."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kamarck, Kristy N.
2017-11-30
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National Flood Insurance Program Borrowing Authority [February 13, 2018]
"This Insight evaluates the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) borrowing authority to receive loans from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, particularly in the context of major floods, and discusses the current financial situation of the NFIP as it pays claims from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2018-02-13
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National Flood Insurance Program Borrowing Authority [January 3, 2018]
"This Insight evaluates the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) borrowing authority to receive loans from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, particularly in the context of major floods, and discusses the current financial situation of the NFIP as it pays claims from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2018-01-03
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Military Pay: Key Questions and Answers [May 8, 2018]
"From the earliest days of the republic, the federal government has compensated members of the Armed Forces for their services. While the original pay structure was fairly simple, over time a more complex system of compensation has evolved. The current military compensation system includes cash payments such as basic pay, special and incentive pays, and various allowances. Servicemembers also receive noncash benefits such as health care and access to commissaries and recreational facilities, and may eventually qualify for deferred compensation in the form of retired pay and other retirement benefits. This report provides an overview of military compensation generally, but focuses on cash compensation for current servicemembers. Since the advent of the all-volunteer force in 1973, Congress has used military compensation to improve recruiting, retention, and the overall quality of the force. Congressional interest in sustaining the all-volunteer force during a time of sustained combat operations led to substantial increases in compensation in the decade following the September 11 attacks. More recently, concerns over government spending have generated congressional and executive branch interest in slowing the rate of growth in military compensation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kapp, Lawrence; Torreon, Barbara Salazar
2018-05-08
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Multilateral Development Banks: U.S. Contributions FY2000-FY2019 [April 13, 2018]
"This report shows in tabular form how much the Administration requested and how much Congress appropriated for U.S. payments to the multilateral development banks (MDBs) since 2000. Multilateral development banks provide financial assistance to developing countries in order to promote economic and social development. The United States belongs to several multilateral development banks, including the World Bank and four regional development banks (the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development). It also belongs to the North American Development Bank, which is a binational (U.S.-Mexico) development bank; the International Fund for Agricultural Development, which focuses on poverty and hunger in developing countries; and several trust funds administered by the World Bank, which focus on specific global issues, such as food security and the environment."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nelson, Rebecca M.
2018-04-13
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Military Suicide Prevention and Response [April 30, 2018]
"When a service member dies by suicide, those close to the member often experience shock, anger, guilt, and sorrow. As such, a service member suicide may adversely impact the well-being of family and friends, as well as the morale and readiness of that member's unit. Response to suicidal thoughts (ideation), attempts, and deaths often involve coordinated efforts among command and unit leadership, medical professionals, counselors, and others across the military community. Under the authority given to Congress in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution to raise and support armies, provide and maintain a navy, and provide for organizing disciplining and regulating them, it may be important for Congress to understand the scope of this issue, the efforts previously taken to address it, and considerations for confronting the issue in the future."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kamarck, Kristy N.; McKinsey, Eva G.
2018-04-30
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National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Reinsurance, and Catastrophe Bonds [April 17, 2018]
"The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-89) revised the authority of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to secure reinsurance from 'private reinsurance and capital markets.' Risk transfer from the private market could reduce the likelihood of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) needing to borrow from the Treasury to pay claims. In addition, this could allow the NFIP to recognize some of its flood risk up front through the premiums it pays for risk transfers rather than after the fact borrowing from Treasury. Using reinsurance to cover losses that occur in the more extreme years could help the NFIP to reduce the volatility of its losses over time. However, because reinsurers understandably charge the NFIP premiums to compensate for the assumed risk as well as the reinsurers' costs and profit margins, the primary benefit of reinsurance is to manage risk, not to reduce the NFIP's long-term fiscal exposure."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Webel, Baird; Horn, Diane P.
2018-04-17
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National Flood Insurance Program Borrowing Authority [April 16, 2018]
"This Insight evaluates the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) borrowing authority to receive loans from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, particularly in the context of major floods, and discusses the current financial situation of the NFIP."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2018-04-16
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Military Commissions Act of 2009 (MCA 2009): Overview and Legal Issues [March 7, 2014]
"This report provides a background and analysis comparing military commissions as envisioned under the revised MCA [Military Commissions Act of 2006] to those established by the MCA 2006. After reviewing the history of the implementation of military commissions in the armed conflict against Al Qaeda and associated forces, the report provides an overview of the procedural safeguards provided in the MCA. Finally, the report provides two charts comparing the MCA as amended by the MCA 2009 to the original MCA enacted in 2006 and to general courts-martial. The first chart describes the composition and powers of the military tribunals, as well as their jurisdiction. The second chart, which compares procedural safeguards in courts-martial to the MCA as enacted and as amended, follows the same order and format used in CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RL31262, Selected Procedural Safeguards in Federal, Military, and International Courts, as well as CRS Report R40932, Comparison of Rights in Military Commission Trials and Trials in Federal Criminal Court, both by Jennifer K. Elsea, to facilitate comparison with safeguards provided in federal court and international criminal tribunals."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Elsea, Jennifer
2014-03-07
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National Defense Authorization Act for FY2012 and Beyond: Detainee Matters [January 27, 2014]
"The 2012 NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act] authorizes the detention of certain categories of persons and requires the military detention of a subset of them (subject to waiver by the President); regulates status determinations for persons held pursuant to the AUMF; regulates periodic review proceedings concerning the continued detention of Guantanamo detainees; and continued funding restrictions that relate to Guantanamo detainee transfers to foreign countries. During floor debate, significant attention centered on the extent to which the bill and existing law permit the military detention of U.S. citizens believed to be enemy belligerents, especially if arrested within the United States. The enacted version of the bill included a provision to clarify that the bill's affirmation of detention authority under the AUMF is not intended to affect any existing authorities relating to the detention of U.S. citizens or lawful resident aliens, or any other persons captured or arrested in the United States. […] The 2014 NDAA extends the blanket prohibition on transferring Guantanamo detainees to the United States, but allows the Executive greater flexibility in determining whether to transfer detainees to foreign custody. This report offers a brief background of the salient issues raised by the detainee provisions of the FY2012 NDAA, provides a section-by-section analysis, and discusses executive interpretation and implementation of the act's mandatory military detention provision. It also addresses detainee provisions in the 2013 NDAA and 2014 NDAA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Garcia, Michael John; Elsea, Jennifer
2014-01-27
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Military Retirement: Background and Recent Developments [January 27, 2014]
"The military retirement system is a noncontributory, defined benefit system that has historically been viewed as a significant incentive in retaining a career military force. The system currently includes monthly compensation and benefits after an active or reserve military career, disability retirement for those physically unfit to continue to serve, and survivor benefits for the eligible survivors of deceased retirees. […] Approximately $54.09 billion was paid to military retirees and survivor benefit recipients in FY2013. With military retired pay protected from inflation by annual adjustments due to the Cost of Living Adjustment, retirement costs will continue to increase. In 2008, the 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC) recommended a revision of both the active and reserve retirement systems, along with other recommended changes to the military compensation system. […] The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (P.L. [Public Law] 113-67) revised the computational formula for military retirees. Under this formula, military retirees under age 62, who would be eligible to have their retired pay annually adjusted with a cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 1% or more, would have that cost of living adjustment reduced by 1% until age 62. However, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, signed into law (P.L. 113-76) on January 17, 2014, repealed the COLA minus 1% formula for Chapter 61 retirees, Survivor Benefit Plan annuitants, those receiving Combat-Related Compensation, and those affected by concurrent receipt."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Burrelli, David F., 1958-; Torreon, Barbara Salazar
2014-01-27
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Military Retirement: Background and Recent Developments [April 6, 2016]
"The military retirement system is a government-funded, noncontributory, defined benefit system that has historically been viewed as a significant incentive in retaining a career military force. The system currently includes monthly compensation for qualified active and reserve retirees, disability benefits for those deemed medically unfit to serve, and a survivor annuity program for the eligible survivors of deceased retirees. The amount of compensation is dependent on time served, basic pay at retirement, and annual Cost-of-Living-Adjustments (COLAs). Military retirees are also entitled to nonmonetary benefits including exchange and commissary privileges, medical care through TRICARE, and access to Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities and programs. Currently, active component personnel are eligible for retirement or 'vested' after completing 20 years of service (YOS) and have a choice between two options (High-Three or Career Status Bonus/Redux) based on career expectations and the individual's financial situation. Reserve personnel are eligible for retirement after 20 years of creditable service based on a points system, but do not typically begin to draw retirement pay until age 60. A third category of retirement is disability retirement. In FY2014, $55 billion was paid to approximately 2.3 million military retirees and survivors. Given the size of the program, some have viewed military retirement as a place where substantial budgetary savings could be made. However, others have argued that past modifications intended to save money have had a deleterious effect on military recruiting and retention. Military retirees, families, and veterans' service organizations closely monitor potential future changes to the retirement system. When considering alternatives to the current system, Congress may choose to consider the balance between budget constraints and the needs and concerns of this constituent group."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kamarck, Kristy N.
2016-04-06
