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Libya and U.S. Policy [Updated May 28, 2021]
From the Document: "Ten years after the start of a 2011 uprising that toppled longtime authoritarian leader Muammar al Qadhafi, Libya has yet to make a transition to stable governing arrangements. Elections and diplomacy have produced a series of interim governments, but militias, local leaders, and coalitions of national figures backed by competing foreign patrons have remained the most powerful arbiters of public affairs. [...] For years, U.S. diplomats and officials have emphasized political solutions to Libya's conflicts, but have not convinced or compelled Libyans and their various patrons to disengage from confrontation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Christopher M.
2021-05-28
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Infertility in the Military [Updated May 26, 2021]
From the Document: "In recent years, Congress has become increasingly interested in the provision of infertility services and expanded reproductive care for servicemembers. Federal regulation (32 C.F.R. §199.4(g)) generally prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from paying for certain infertility services for most servicemembers and other beneficiaries eligible for the TRICARE program. Some Members of Congress argue that TRICARE coverage of infertility services is an essential benefit to recruit and retain an all-volunteer force, while others express concern that expanded coverage would make the benefit too costly. This In Focus describes the prevalence of infertility among servicemembers, available treatment options, and considerations when addressing expanded TRICARE coverage of infertility services for servicemembers."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mendez, Bryce H. P.
2021-05-26
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H.R. 3233, the National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex Act [Updated May 26, 2021]
From the Document: "On May 14, 2021, House Homeland Security Committee [hyperlink] Chair Bennie Thompson and Ranking Member John Katko introduced H.R. 3233, the National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex Act (hereinafter, January 6 Commission). The January 6 Commission would study [hyperlink] 'the facts and circumstances surrounding the January 6th attack on the Capitol as well as the influencing factors that may have provoked the attack on our democracy.' The House considered and passed [hyperlink] H.R. 3233 on May 19, 2021. This Insight provides an overview of congressional advisory commission structures and outlines key features of the proposed January 6 Commission in H.R. 3233."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Straus, Jacob R.
2021-05-26
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Immigration Court Proceedings: Process and Data [infographic] [May 25, 2021]
From the Document: "Non-U.S. nationals ('aliens' under law) may be removed from the United States for immigration violations. While an expedited removal process is often applied to aliens encountered at the border, those apprehended in the interior are usually placed in formal proceedings before and immigration judge (IJ) in the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). Aliens in these proceedings have the right to counsel at their own expense; to seek asylum or other relief from removal; to present testimony and evidence; to appeal an adverse decision to EOIR's Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA); and, in many cases, to seek judicial review of a final order of removal."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.; Straut-Eppsteiner, Holly
2021-05-25
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Joint All-Domain Command and Control: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated May 24, 2021]
From the Summary: "The Department of Defense (DOD) is in the process of a once-in-a-generation modernization of its approach to commanding military forces. Senior DOD leaders have stated that the department's existing command and control architecture is insufficient to meet the demands of the 2018 National Defense Strategy (NDS). Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) is DOD's concept to connect sensors from all of the military services--Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force--into a single network. DOD points to ride-sharing service Uber as an analogy to describe its desired end state for JADC2. Uber combines two different apps--one for riders and a second for drivers. Using the respective users' positions, the Uber algorithm determines the optimal match based on distance, travel time, and passengers (among other variables). In the case of JADC2, that logic would find the optimal platform to attack a given target, or the unit best able to address an emerging threat. For JADC2 to work effectively, DOD is pursuing two emerging technologies: automation and artificial intelligence, and new communications methods."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoehn, John R.
2021-05-24
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South Korea: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated May 26, 2021]
From the Overview: "South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, or ROK) is one of the United States' most important strategic and economic partners in Asia. The U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, signed in 1953 at the end of the Korean War, commits the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK). The alliance also helps the United States promote its interests in East Asia and around the globe, including by deploying ROK troops to U.S.-led military conflicts in the Middle East. Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are based in the ROK. The economic relationship is bolstered by the U.S.- South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). In 2020, South Korea was the United States' seventh-largest trading partner, and the United States was South Korea's second-largest trading partner, behind China."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manyin, Mark E.; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Williams, Brock R.
2021-05-26
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Panama: An Overview [Updated May 27, 2021]
From the Document: "Panama's central location in the Americas (linking North and South America), large financial sector, use of the U.S. dollar as currency, and transportation infrastructure-- especially the Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans--make the country a global trade hub and a strategic partner for the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2021-05-27
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Palestinians: Overview, 2021 Aid, and U.S. Policy Issues [Updated May 26, 2021]
From the Document: "The Palestinians and their ongoing disputes and interactions with Israel raise significant issues for U.S. policy (see 'U.S. Policy Issues and 2021 Aid Announcements' below). After a serious rupture in U.S.-Palestinian relations during the Trump Administration, the Biden Administration has started reengaging with the Palestinian people and their leaders, and resuming some economic development and humanitarian aid--with hopes of preserving the viability of a negotiated two-state solution. In the aftermath of the May 2021 conflict involving Israel and Gaza, U.S. officials have announced additional aid (also see below) and other efforts to help with recovery and engage with the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA), but near-term prospects for diplomatic progress toward Israeli-Palestinian peace reportedly remain dim. Palestinian leaders have lamented some Arab states' recent normalization of relations with Israel because it could undermine past Arab efforts to link such improvements with addressing Palestinian negotiating demands."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Zanotti, Jim
2021-05-26
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Sexual Assault, the Military Justice System and Commanders' Authority: Recent Developments [May 25, 2021]
From the Document: "Over the past two decades, Congress has taken legislative action to address sexual misconduct in the military and to improve prevention, response, and accountability through the military justice system. Despite legislative changes and Department of Defense (DOD) initiatives, sexual assault reporting and prevalence data [hyperlink] indicate continued risk factors and room for improvement across several metrics [hyperlink]. A recent independent review [hyperlink] at Fort Hood which found 'ineffective implementation' of the Army's sexual harassment and assault prevention program, has raised additional congressional concerns. [...] In a February 26, 2021, memorandum [hyperlink], Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III ordered the creation of a 90-day Independent Review Commission (IRC) to address sexual assault in the military. According to DOD reporting [hyperlink], the IRC has four lines of effort: (1) accountability, (2) prevention, (3) climate and culture, and (4) victim care and support. The commission began work on March 24, 2021, and has provided some initial recommendations [hyperlink] to Secretary Austin, including those related to the commander's authority. While some officials have argued against transferring authority from commanders to career prosecutors, a few senior military leaders recently expressed openness [hyperlink] to changing military justice processes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kamarck, Kristy N.
2021-05-25
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Paperwork Reduction Act and Federal Collections of Information: A Brief Overview [May 26, 2021]
From the Document: "Congress enacted the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) in 1980 and reauthorized the law in 1995 (codified at 44 U.S.C. §§3501-3521) primarily to address a concern that the federal government was requiring businesses, individuals, and other entities to spend too much time filling out paperwork at the behest of federal agencies. The PRA contemplated a centralized system for controlling and minimizing the amount of information that federal agencies collect while considering the public benefit and utility of the information. To this end, the PRA requires agencies to justify collecting information from the public by establishing the need and intended use of the information, estimating the paperwork burden to result from the information collection, and providing public input on each proposed collection. The PRA also created the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) primarily to implement government-wide efforts to manage the federal paperwork burden. This In Focus provides an overview of the information collection aspects of the PRA, including OMB and agency responsibilities for managing paperwork burden. Other elements of the PRA, including information resources management and statistical policy, are not covered here."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Carey, Maeve P.
2021-05-26
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Navy Next-Generation Attack Submarine (SSN[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated June 1, 2021]
From the Introduction and Issue for Congress: "The Navy wants to begin procuring a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), called the Next-Generation Attack Submarine or SSN(X), in FY2031. The SSN(X) would be the successor to the Virginia-class SSN design, which the Navy has been procuring since FY1998. The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requests $98.0 million in research and development funding for the SSN(X) program. An issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's funding requests and acquisition strategy for the SSN(X) program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-06-01
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Artemis: NASA's Program to Return Humans to the Moon [Updated May 26, 2021]
From the Document: "Between 1969 and 1972, the Apollo program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) landed 12 American men on the Moon and returned them safely to Earth (see Figure 1). Since then, no human has been farther from Earth than low-Earth orbit, a few hundred miles up; the distance to the Moon is about 240,000 miles. Artemis, named for Apollo's twin sister in ancient Greek mythology, is NASA's program for a return to the Moon by American astronauts--one of them a woman--in 2024."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morgan, Daniel (Daniel L.)
2021-05-26
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Navy TAGOS(X) Ocean Surveillance Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated June 1, 2021]
From the Document: "The Navy wants to procure in FY2022 the first of a planned new class of seven TAGOS(X) ocean surveillance ships. The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requests $434.4 million for the procurement of the first TAGOS(X). The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's funding requests and acquisition strategy for the program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-06-01
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Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress [Updated May 24, 2021]
From the Summary: "Names for Navy ships traditionally have been chosen and announced by the Secretary of the Navy, under the direction of the President and in accordance with rules prescribed by Congress. Rules for giving certain types of names to certain types of Navy ships have evolved over time. There have been exceptions to the Navy's ship-naming rules, particularly for the purpose of naming a ship for a person when the rule for that type of ship would have called for it to be named for something else. Some observers have perceived a breakdown in, or corruption of, the rules for naming Navy ships. Section 370 of the FY2021 NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act] (H.R. 6395/P.L. 116-283 of January 1, 2021) establishes a commission regarding the removal and renaming of certain assets of the Department of Defense (including ships) that commemorate the Confederate States of America or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-05-24
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Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity [Updated May 28, 2021]
From the Document: "Congress's power to establish rules for the admission of non-U.S. nationals (aliens) has long been viewed as plenary. In the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended, Congress has specified various grounds for the exclusion or removal of aliens, including grounds related to the commission of criminal conduct. Some criminal offenses committed by an alien who is present in the United States may render that alien subject to removal from the country. And certain offenses may preclude an alien outside the United States from either being admitted into the country or being permitted to reenter following an initial departure. Further, committing certain crimes may disqualify an alien from many forms of relief from removal, prevent an alien from adjusting to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, or bar an LPR from naturalizing as a U.S. citizen. This report provides an overview of the major immigration consequences of criminal activity."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.
2021-05-28
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Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Compilation of Selected Indices [Updated May 24, 2021]
From the Summary: "This report provides a regional snapshot of the political climate in Latin America and the Caribbean, based on the U.S. Department of State's description of each country's political system and selected nongovernmental indices that measure democracy trends worldwide."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Davis-Castro, Carla Y.
2021-05-24
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Discretionary Waivers of Criminal Grounds of Inadmissibility Under INA § 212(h) [May 27, 2021]
From the Document: "Federal immigration laws provide for the exclusion and removal of non-U.S. nationals ('aliens,' as the term is used in the Immigration and Nationality Act [hyperlink] [INA]) who lack authorization to enter or remain in the United States. The grounds for removal differ depending on whether an alien has already been lawfully admitted into the country. Those who have not yet been admitted--whether applying for a visa from abroad to come to the United States, initially presenting themselves at a U.S. port of entry, or found in the country after entering surreptitiously--may be removed if they fall within any of the grounds of inadmissibility listed under INA § 212(a) [hyperlink], including on account of committing enumerated criminal offenses. These inadmissibility grounds--particularly those relating to criminal activity--are cross-referenced by a host of other INA provisions relevant to unadmitted 'and' admitted aliens alike, including provisions establishing aliens' eligibility for relief from removal (e.g., asylum) and their ability to adjust to lawful permanent resident [hyperlink] (LPR) status. INA § 212(h) [hyperlink] enables immigration authorities to waive many criminal grounds of inadmissibility in some circumstances, but a waiver applicant must meet various eligibility requirements, must not be subject to certain bars to relief, and, ultimately, must show that relief is warranted as a matter of discretion. This Legal Sidebar discusses the scope of waiver authority under INA § 212(h)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Hillel R.
2021-05-27
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Army Corps of Engineers: Section 7001 Annual Report on Future Studies and Projects [Updated May 25, 2021]
From the Document: "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), through its civil works mission, undertakes water resource development studies and projects and other assistance activities that are specifically authorized by Congress. In Section 7001 of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA; P.L. 113-121, 33 U.S.C. §2282d), Congress established an annual process for identifying proposals for sitespecific studies and projects within USACE's water resource mission and authorities. The process includes a call for nonfederal proposals and concludes with a report by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASACW) to USACE's congressional authorizing committees. Congress established the Section 7001 process while congressional earmark moratorium policies were in place for both authorization and appropriations. Although the 117th Congress is pursuing incorporating community project funding (see House [hyperlink] and Senate [hyperlink] websites) into the development of legislation, the Section 7001 process remains active. USACE opened [hyperlink] the nonfederal proposal submission period for the 2022 report on April 30, 2021, with an August 30, 2021, submission deadline. USACE anticipates hosting public information sessions about the process in July and August 2021."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Normand, Anna E.
2021-05-25
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Budget Reconciliation Process and the Statutory Limit on the Debt [May 25, 2021]
From the Document: "The budget reconciliation process [hyperlink] is an optional, expedited legislative process provided under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended (P.L. 93-344; the Budget Act). It consists of several different stages, beginning with the adoption of the budget resolution. The purpose of the reconciliation process is to allow Congress to use special procedures when considering legislation that would bring existing budgetary laws into compliance with the fiscal policies that Congress establishes in the annual budget resolution. If Congress intends to use this process, reconciliation directives (also referred to as reconciliation instructions) must be included in the annual budget resolution. These directives trigger the second stage of the process by instructing individual committees to develop and report legislation that would change laws within their respective jurisdictions related to direct spending, revenue, or the debt limit. Once a specified committee develops legislation in response to a reconciliation directive, that legislation is eligible to be considered under expedited procedures in both the House and the Senate. These procedures are especially important in the Senate, as they include a 20-hour limit on debate time and therefore mean that reconciliation legislation does not require the support of three-fifths of all Senators to bring debate to a close."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne; Saturno, James
2021-05-25
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Great COVID-19 Divergence: Managing a Sustainable and Equitable Recovery in the European Union
From the Executive Summary: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has led to the biggest global recession since the Second World War. Forecasts show the European Union underperforming economically relative to the United States and China during 2019-2023. Southern European countries have been particularly strongly affected. While the ICT [information and communications technologies] sector has benefitted from the COVID-19 crisis, tourism, travel and services have suffered. Business insolvencies have, paradoxically, fallen. While total employment has almost recovered, the young and those with low-level qualifications have suffered employment losses. Inequality could rise. The pandemic may lead to medium to long-term changes in the economy, with more teleworking, possibly higher productivity growth and changed consumer behaviour. Policymakers must act to prevent lasting divergence within the EU and to prevent scarring from the fallout from the pandemic. The first priority is tackling the global health emergency. Second, we warn against premature fiscal tightening and recommend instead additional short-term support from national budgets. Over the medium term, fiscal policymakers will need to gradually move away from supporting companies through subsidies, towards tax incentives for corporate investment. A review of the European fiscal framework is needed to achieve the EU's green goals more rapidly."
Bruegel (Organisation)
Claeys, Gregory; Darvas, Zsolt M.; Demertzis, Maria . . .
2021-05
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Turkey: How Not to Handle a Pandemic
From the Executive Summary: "Turkey's official COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] numbers reveal the government's efforts to combat the pandemic as worthy of a 'commedia all'Italiana'. As of mid-April, Turkey was the second-worst performer in the world, with 710.46 cases per million people. This is despite the country's possession of a strong health infrastructure."
Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA Center)
Bekdil, Burak
2021-05-28
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Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure [Updated May 28, 2021]
From the Document: "When civil unrest, violence, or natural disasters erupt in countries around the world, concerns arise over the ability of foreign nationals present in the United States who are from those countries to safely return. Provisions in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provide for temporary protected status (TPS) and other forms of relief from removal under specified circumstances. The Secretary of Homeland Security has the discretion to designate a country for TPS for periods of 6 to 18 months and can extend these periods if the country continues to meet the conditions for designation. Congress has also provided TPS legislatively. A foreign national from a designated country who is granted TPS receives a registration document and employment authorization for the duration of the TPS designation. As of March 11, 2021, approximately 320,000 foreign nationals living in the United States were protected by TPS from 10 countries: El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The Trump Administration terminated TPS designations for six countries--El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan-- but these terminations have not taken effect due to litigation. In March 2021, the Biden Administration designated two more countries for TPS: Venezuela and Burma; and in May 2021 the Administration announced a new TPS designation for Haiti. Certain Liberians and Venezuelans currently maintain relief under a similar administrative mechanism known as Deferred Enforced Departure (DED)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wilson, Jill, 1974-
2021-05-28
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COVID-19 Resources for India: Be a Part of the Solution, A Communication Toolkit
From the Document: "India is amid its worst health crisis in recent history, with the unprecedented second wave of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] leaving millions of citizens infected and many still who have lost their lives. A decrease in the daily number of cases earlier this year led to a sense of complacency among citizens, with a decreased compliance to healthy behaviors such as wearing masks, hand washing and physical distancing among others, which have been shown to be effective at preventing COVID-19 transmission. This, in addition to sociopolitical factors, contributed to an increase in the number of daily infections in March 2021 and pushed the health system to the brink of collapse, causing a dearth of medical supplies and hospital beds and a constant state of uncertainty and panic. [...] [This toolkit aims] to provide partners, affiliates, and citizens with shareable easy-to-understand facts, mythbusters, and guidelines on COVID-19 prevention and mitigation and on maintaining physical and emotional wellbeing. Our hope is that this toolkit serves as a useful resource for all and allows users to access and disseminate 'evidence-based' accurate information."
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Viswanathan, Kristin
2021-05-26
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Protecting Unaccompanied Children: The Ongoing Impacts of the Trump Administration's Cruel Policies, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, September 19, 2019
This is the September 19, 2019 hearing on "Protecting Unaccompanied Children: The Ongoing Impacts of the Trump Administration's Cruel Policies," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. From the opening statement of Diana DeGette: "The purpose of today's hearing is to examine the Trump administration's care for unaccompanied children in Government custody and the impact of administration policies on the health and wellbeing of children." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Ann Maxwell, Jonathan H. Hayes, Jonathan White, and John R. Modlin.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020
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S. Rept. 116-289: Identifying Outputs of Generative Adversarial Networks Act, Report to Accompany S. 2904, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, November 9, 2020
From the Purpose of the Bill: "This bill would direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support research on the outputs by generative adversarial networks, commonly referred to as 'deepfakes.' NSF would be required to support research on manipulated or synthesized content and information authenticity. NIST would be required to support research for the development of measurements and standards necessary to accelerate the development of the technological tools to examine the functions and outputs of generative adversarial networks or other technologies that synthesize or manipulate content."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-11-09
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S. Rept. 116-288: America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2020, Report to Accompany S. 3591, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, November 9, 2020
From the General Statement and Background: "America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 (AWIA 2020) primarily addresses the Civil Works program of the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The bill supports the nation's global economic competitiveness by authorizing the Corps to undertake projects, programs and initiatives in their Civil Works program relating to navigation, environment, flood risk management, hydropower, recreation, regulatory, emergency management, and water supply. AWIA 2020 also facilitates our nation's water infrastructure by creating and reauthorizing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) water and wastewater programs under the Clean Water Act (CWA)."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020-11-09
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Closing the Guantanamo Detention Center: Legal Issues [April 14, 2009]
From the Summary: "The closure of the Guantanamo detention facility may raise a number of legal issues with respect to the individuals formerly interned there, particularly if those detainees are transferred to the United States. The nature and scope of constitutional protections owed to detainees within the United States may be different than the protections owed to persons held at Guantanamo or elsewhere. This may have implications for the continued detention or prosecution of persons who are transferred to the United States. The transfer of detainees to the United States may also have immigration consequences. Notably, some detainees might qualify for asylum or other protections under immigration law. This report provides an overview of major legal issues likely to arise as a result of executive and legislative action to close the Guantanamo detention facility. It discusses legal issues related to the transfer or release of Guantanamo detainees (either to a foreign country or into the United States), the continued detention of such persons in the United States, and the possible removal of persons brought to the United States. The report also discusses selected constitutional issues that may arise in the criminal prosecution of detainees, emphasizing the procedural and substantive protections that are utilized in different adjudicatory forums (i.e., federal civilian courts, courtmartial proceedings, and military commissions). Issues discussed include detainees' right to a speedy trial, the prohibition against prosecution under ex post facto laws, and limitations upon the admissibility of hearsay and secret evidence in criminal cases."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bazan, Elizabeth B.; Garcia, Michael John; Liu, Edward C.
2009-04-14
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Border Security: Barriers Along the U.S. International Border [March 16, 2009]
From the Summary: "Congress has repeatedly shown interest in examining and expanding the barriers being deployed along the U.S. international land border. The United States Border Patrol (USBP) deploys fencing, which aims to impede the illegal entry of individuals, and vehicle barriers, which aim to impede the illegal entry of vehicles (but not individuals) along the border. The USBP first began erecting physical barriers in 1990 to deter illegal entries and drug smuggling in its San Diego sector. The ensuing 14-mile-long San Diego 'primary fence' formed part of the USBP's 'Prevention Through Deterrence' strategy, which called for reducing unauthorized migration by placing agents and resources directly on the border along population centers in order to deter would-be migrants from entering the country. [...] In addition to border fencing, the USBP deploys both permanent and temporary vehicle barriers to the border. Temporary vehicle barriers are typically chained together and can be moved to different locations at the USBP's discretion. Permanent vehicle barriers are embedded in the ground and are meant to remain in one location. A number of policy issues concerning border barriers generally and fencing specifically may be of interest to Congress, including, but not limited, to their effectiveness, costs versus benefits, location, design, environmental impact, potential diplomatic ramifications, and the costs of acquiring the land needed for construction. This report will be updated as circumstances warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Garcia, Michael John; Haddal, Chad C.; Kim, Yule
2009-03-16
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Disconnected Youth: A Look at 16- to 24-Year Olds Who Are Not Working or in School [April 22, 2009]
From the Summary: "This Congressional Research Service (CRS) analysis expands the existing research on disconnected youth. The analysis uses Current Population Survey (CPS) data to construct a definition of 'disconnected.' This definition includes noninstitutionalized youth ages 16 through 24 who did not work or attend school anytime during a previous year and are presently not working or in school (usually sometime in the first quarter of the current year). The definition is narrower than those used by other studies because it captures youth who are unemployed and not in school for a longer period of time. […] Like the existing research, the CRS analysis finds that a greater share of female and minority youth are disconnected. However, the analysis evaluates some other characteristics that have not been widely studied in the existing research. […] The analysis further finds that the parents of disconnected youth are more likely than their counterparts to be unemployed and to have lower educational attainment. Given the state of the current economy and its projected course over the next year or two, rates of disconnection may climb. Policymakers may consider interventions to reconnect youth to work and/or school. Interventions can target children and youth at a particular stage of their early lives. Interventions can also focus on particular institutions or systems, such as the family, community, and schools."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gabe, Thomas; Fernandes, Adrienne L.
2009-04-22
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Iraq: Reconstruction Assistance [March 12, 2009]
This Congressional Research Service (CRS) report discusses Iraqi reconstruction assistance. "Reconstruction priorities and funding mechanisms have changed over time. The Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund (IRRF), the main U.S. assistance account in the first few years, is no longer available, and most large-scale infrastructure programs are no longer funded. However, many small-scale, targeted community-level infrastructure efforts are funded under the Commander's Emergency Response Program (CERP) and the Economic Support Fund (ESF). The key emphases of the aid program are the training of Iraqi forces and programs assisting the development of Iraqi governing capacities and supporting the work of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tarnoff, Curt
2009-03-12
