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• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 4002, Criminal Code Improvement Act of 2015

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary on November 18, 2015. From the Document: "CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4002 would cost about $1 million in fiscal year 2017 and less than $500,000 annually thereafter; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Enacting the bill also could affect direct spending and revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. However, CBO estimates that any such effects would be insignificant in each year. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4002 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027. H.R. 4002 would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop and maintain an inventory of all federal criminal offenses and to make that information available to the public. Based on information from DOJ and the costs of similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4002 would cost about $1 million in fiscal year 2017 and less than $500,000 annually thereafter. H.R. 4002 also would establish a default requirement regarding state of mind, for federal criminal offenses that do not already include such a requirement; prosecutors would need to demonstrate that those offenses were committed knowingly. Currently, successful prosecution of some federal crimes requires proof of the defendant's criminal intent when the crime occurred."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2016-06-22
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 4979, Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act of 2016

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on May 18, 2016. From the Document: "The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licenses and regulates the use of radioactive materials at civilian facilities, including nuclear reactors. Funding for that agency is provided in annual appropriation acts, and the agency is required to recover most of its funding through fees charged to licensees and applicants. H.R. 4979 would direct the NRC to report to the Congress on existing federal activities related to testing and demonstrating advanced reactors with significant design improvements over existing commercial reactors. The bill also would require to the NRC to submit to the Congress, within one year enactment, a plan for establishing a framework for licensing such reactors. Finally, the bill would specify that any funding provided to the NRC prior to fiscal year 2021 to develop a regulatory framework for advanced reactors would be excluded from the portion of its budget that is offset by fees."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2016-06-10
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S.461, Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act of 2016

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on May 25, 2016. From the Document: "S. 461 would extend the current authority for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to accept donations of real and personal property, including monetary donations, from federal or nonfederal entities to establish or improve CBP facilities at ports of entry. The bill also would extend the current authority for CBP to enter into agreements to provide customs, agricultural processing, border security, or inspection-related immigration services for a fee that would cover the agency's costs. The authority to accept donations and enter into fee agreements expires in 2019 under current law; S. 461 would extend those authorities for 10 years after the date of enactment. Enacting S. 461 could affect direct spending by increasing offsetting receipts from donations and fee agreements as well as the associated direct spending of those funds; therefore, pay you-go procedures apply. However, CBO estimates that the net effect on direct spending would be insignificant. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues. CBO estimates that enacting the legislation would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2016-07-12
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 2964, GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2016

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on May 25, 2016. From the Document: "The Congress often requires that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) perform an annual examination of a program, agency, or other federal activity. S. 2964 would modify or repeal 10 of those activities. Based on information from GAO, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would reduce discretionary costs by about $1 million over the 2017-2021 period; any such reductions would be subject to future appropriations actions consistent with the provisions of this bill. GAO has an annual budget of more than $500 million and prepares hundreds of products for the Congress each year. CBO expects that implementing S. 2964 would not have a significant effect on the agency's overall workload. Enacting S. 2964 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting S. 2964 would not increase direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027. S. 2964 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2016-06-22
• 2016 Annual Report: Additional Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve Other Financial Benefits, Report to Congressional Addressees

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  From the Document: "The federal government continues to face an unsustainable long- term fiscal path based on the imbalance between federal revenue and spending, primarily driven by changing demographics and rising health care costs. Addressing this imbalance will require long- term changes to both spending and revenue and difficult fiscal policy decisions. Significant action to mitigate this imbalance must be taken soon to minimize the disruption to individuals and the economy. In the near term, however, Congress and executive branch agencies can act to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government programs and activities. Opportunities to take action exist in areas where federal programs or activities are fragmented, overlapping, or duplicative. To call attention to these opportunities, Congress included a provision in statute for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to identify and report to Congress on federal programs, agencies, offices, and initiatives--either within departments or government-wide--that have duplicative goals or activities. As part of this work, we also identify additional opportunities to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness that result in cost savings or enhanced revenue collection. [...] This report is our sixth in the series, and it identifies an additional 37 areas where a broad range of federal agencies may be able to achieve greater efficiency or effectiveness. For each area, we suggest actions that Congress or executive branch agencies could take to reduce, eliminate, or better manage fragmentation, overlap, or duplication, or achieve other financial benefits. In addition to identifying new areas, we have continued to monitor the progress Congress and executive branch agencies have made in addressing the areas we previously identified."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2016-04
• Children and the Internet: Legal Considerations in Restricting Access to Content [March 14, 2022]

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  From the Summary: "Throughout the internet's history, the medium's effect on children has been a recurring topic of interest to legislators and the public. In the internet's early days, much attention focused on children's access to online pornography. Today, commentators have expressed concern with a range of issues including targeted advertising, eating disorders, and self-harm. One possible legislative approach to issues arising from children's use of the internet is to regulate particular types of content that might pose harms to children. When undertaking such efforts, legislators might consider that laws that restrict the provision of expressive material may infringe on free speech rights guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, and laws that target specific categories of speech based on its content are subject to the demanding 'strict scrutiny' standard of judicial review. Congress has attempted to criminalize the provision of internet content that is 'harmful to minors,' but courts applying the strict scrutiny standard have struck down these statutes as unconstitutional under the First Amendment."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Holmes, Eric N.

  2022-03-14
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S.2848, Water Resources Development Act of 2016

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on April 28, 2016. From the Summary: "S. 2848 would authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to construct projects to mitigate storm and hurricane damage, to improve navigation and flood management, and to assist state and local governments with safety programs for dams and levees. The bill also would authorize the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants and loans to state and local governments, public water systems, and nonprofit organizations to support a wide range of water quality projects and programs. CBO estimates, that implementing this legislation would cost about $4.8 billion over the next five years and $10.6 billion over the 2017-2026 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized and necessary amounts. In addition, CBO estimates that enacting the bill would reduce direct spending by $59 million over the 2017-2026 period and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimates that enacting the bill would reduce revenues by $53 million over that same period. Because enacting S. 2848 would affect direct spending and revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. CBO estimates that enacting the bill would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027. S. 2848 would impose intergovernmental and private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2016-06-17
• Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience: Countering Russian and Other Nation-State Cyber Threats [March 16, 2022]

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  From the Document: "This In Focus provides an overview of the U.S. critical infrastructure community, describing the current development of cyber risk management programs and activities in the Energy, Healthcare and Public Health (HPH), and Communications sectors. In recent decades, the federal government has supported voluntary programs and activities intended to develop common perspective, risk awareness, and risk management culture within a diverse and evolving community of critical infrastructure stakeholders. During this time, development of CISR [critical infrastructure security and resilience]-oriented communities of interest defined by robust sector and cross-sector professional networks, multilateral flows of critical infrastructure information, collaboration with relevant government agencies, and investments in resilience has been uneven."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Humphreys, Brian E.

  2022-03-16
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 5445, Health Care Security Act of 2016

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Ways and Means on June 15, 2016. From the Document: "H.R. 5445 would amend the Internal Revenue code to modify the rules regarding contributions to and treatment of distributions from Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), which are tax-favored accounts that individuals with high-deductible health plans can use to fund certain health expenses. The bill would raise the maximum basic contribution limit to an HSA to equal the sum of the annual deductible and out-of-pocket expenses permitted under a high deductible health plan--almost doubling the limit allowed under current law. Also, under current law, spouses must allocate the entire amount of their catch-up contributions to their own HSA, but the bill would allow spouses to divide up their combined catch-up contributions between both of their HSAs. Lastly, under current law, distributions from HSAs for qualified medical expenses are only excluded from gross income if the expense was incurred after the establishment of the HSA. The bill would allow distributions to be excluded from gross income if the associated medical expenses were incurred within a 60-day period between the individual gaining coverage under a high deductible plan and establishing the HSA. The staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimates that enacting H.R. 5445 would reduce revenues by about $20.5 billion over the 2017-2026 period. Of that reduction, about $4.8 billion would result from changes in off-budget revenues (from Social Security payroll taxes). "

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2016-06-17
• Fighting a Global Pandemic Requires a Global Response

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  From the Document: "'The U.S. International Response is an essential part of America's COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] response toolkit.' The emergency COVID-19 relief bill passed at the end of 2020 included $4 billion to support global vaccine distribution through GAVI [formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation] and President Biden has proposed an $11 billion investment in global health investments."

  U.S. Global Leadership Coalition

  2021-02?
• Energy and Water Development Appropriations: Nuclear Weapons Activities [Updated March 14, 2022]

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  From the Document: "The annual Energy and Water Development appropriations bill funds, among other activities, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semiautonomous agency within the Department of Energy (DOE). NNSA operates three programs: Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, Naval Reactors, and Weapons Activities. The last is the subject of this report. The Weapons Activities account supports U.S. nuclear warheads, provides the materials and components for those weapons, and sustains the infrastructure that supports that mission. They provide for 'the maintenance and refurbishment of nuclear weapons to continue sustained confidence in their safety, reliability, and performance; continued investment in scientific, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities to enable production and certification of the enduring nuclear weapons stockpile; and manufacture of nuclear weapon components.'"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Woolf, Amy F.

  2022-03-14
• Methane Emissions: A Primer [Updated March 16, 2022]

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  From the Document: "Methane is the world's simplest hydrocarbon, with a chemical formula of CH4 (one atom of carbon and four atoms of hydrogen). It is gaseous under normal atmospheric conditions and is commonly produced through the decomposition of organic materials in the absence of oxygen. It is released into the atmosphere by natural sources such as wetlands, oceans, sediments, termites, volcanoes, and wildfires as well as human activities such as oil and natural gas systems, coal mines, landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, and the raising of livestock. [...] Methane, however, when vented or leaked into the atmosphere (commonly referred to as 'fugitive' emissions), can affect human health and safety and the environment. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration lists methane as both an asphyxiant and an explosive; increased concentrations in local settings can jeopardize worker safety. Further, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies methane as both a precursor to ground-level ozone formation (commonly referred to as 'smog') and a potent GHG [greenhouse gas], albeit with a shorter atmospheric life than CO2 [carbon dioxide]. Methane's effect on climate change is up to 34 times greater than that of CO2 when averaged over a 100-year time period, and even greater when considered over the first 20 years after it is emitted."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lattanzio, Richard K.

  2022-03-16
• Guyana: An Overview [Updated March 14, 2022]

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  From the Document: "Located on the northern coast of South America between Suriname and Venezuela, English-speaking Guyana has characteristics similar to other Caribbean nations because of their common British colonial heritage (Guyana became independent in 1966). The country participates in Caribbean regional organizations, and its capital, Georgetown, serves as headquarters for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a regional integration organization. Once one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere, Guyana's development prospects have shifted significantly since the discovery of large offshore oil deposits in 2015."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sullivan, Mark P.; Klein, Joshua

  2022-03-14
• Guyana: An Overview [Updated October 27, 2020]

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  From the Document: "Located on the north coast of South America, English-speaking Guyana has characteristics of a Caribbean nation because of its British colonial heritage (the country became independent in 1966). Guyana participates in Caribbean regional organizations, and its capital Georgetown serves as headquarters for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a regional integration organization. In 2020, Guyana has faced two major challenges--a political crisis concerning the conduct of the March 2, 2020, elections, and a public health threat due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sullivan, Mark P.

  2020-10-27
• Fundamentals of Unemployment Compensation [Updated March 17, 2022]

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  From the Document: "The joint federal-state Unemployment Compensation (UC) program provides income support through UC benefit payments. Although there are broad requirements under federal law regarding UC benefits and financing, the specifics are set out under each state's laws. States administer UC benefits with U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) oversight, resulting in 53 different UC programs operated in the states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Total UC expenditures include benefits and administrative costs. During economic expansions, states fund approximately 85%-90% of all UC expenditures--as almost all of the benefits are state-financed by state unemployment taxes. In comparison, federal expenditures are relatively small during these expansions (approximately 10%-15%) in which federal expenditures are primarily administrative grants to the states financed by federal unemployment taxes. During FY2021, federal expenditures were 27% of total permanent-law, regular UC program outlays. Almost 88% of all FY2021 Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit expenditures were federally financed once the temporary COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] UI benefits outlays are included in the calculation."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Whittaker, Julie M.; Isaacs, Katelin P., 1980-

  2022-03-17
• Letter from CBO Director Keith Hall to the Honorable John McCain Regarding [Budgetary Effects of S. 2943, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017] [June 9, 2016]

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  From the Letter: "The Congressional Budget Office [CBO] has completed an estimate of the budgetary effects of S. 2943, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, as reported by the Senate Committee on Armed Services on May 18, 2016. […] For 2017, the bill would authorize an estimated $603.2 billion, nearly all of which ($602.6 billion) would be specifically authorized by the bill. The remaining $0.6 billion largely reflects CBO's estimate of the amount not specifically authorized by the bill that would be necessary to fund certain accrual payments required under current law. Under S. 2943, specified authorizations for defense programs would total $602.4 billion, an increase of $3.3 billion (1 percent) compared to amounts appropriated for 2016. Operation and maintenance would receive the largest increase ($7.4 billion, or 3 percent), followed by research and development ($2.6 billion, or 4 percent). Procurement would decline by $6.4 billion (5 percent), while authorized funding for all other categories combined would decrease by $0.3 billion (less than 1 percent). Of the amount specifically authorized, $543.5 billion--plus the estimated $0.6 billion mentioned above--would cover 'base' budget costs that, if appropriated, would count against the 2017 cap on defense appropriations. Another $58.9 billion would be for overseas contingency operations and if appropriated, would not be subject to that cap. The remaining $0.2 billion specified for nondefense appropriations would count against the nondefense cap. […] CBO estimates that enacting S. 2943 would increase net direct spending and on-budget deficits by more than $5 billion in each of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2016-06-09
• FY2022 NDAA: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Authorizations [March 18, 2022]

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  From the Document: "The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) typically authorizes appropriations for Department of Defense (DOD) research, development, test and evaluation [hyperlink] (RDT&E) programs in Title II of Division A. RDT&E accounts fund a range of activities [hyperlink] carried out by DOD, as well as laboratories in other federal agencies, universities, private-sector companies, and other entities. The NDAA authorizes appropriations for RDT&E accounts of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force. The Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide, account funds activities of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and other agencies reporting to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The Operational Test and Evaluation, Defense account funds the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation and related activities."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  McGarry, Brendan W.

  2022-03-18
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 2970, A Bill to Amend Title 5, United States Code, to Expand Law Enforcement Availability Pay to Employees of the Air and Marine Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and and Governmental Affairs on May 25, 2016. From the Document: "S. 2970 would change the system for determining overtime compensation for certain employees of Air and Marine Operations in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Based on information from CBP, CBO estimates that implementing S. 2970 would reduce costs by about $2 million annually or $10 million over the 2017-2021 period, assuming future appropriations are reduced consistent with the bill's provisions. Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting S. 2970 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027. Under current law, about 500 law enforcement officers in Air and Marine Operations are eligible for overtime compensation under three different schedules: the Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the Federal Employee Pay Act (FEPA). Total overtime costs for those officers, including pay and benefits, totaled $18 million in 2015. Their total base pay was $46 million in that year. Under S. 2970, law enforcement officers in Air and Marine Operations would no longer be eligible for overtime compensation under AUO or the FLSA. The bill would make them eligible for Law Enforcement Availability Pay, and they would remain eligible for FEPA overtime pay. Costs would decline under S. 2970 mostly because the affected officers would no longer receive compensation required under the FLSA."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2016-06-14
• Questioning Judicial Nominees: Legal Limitations and Practice [Updated March 17, 2022]

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  From the Summary: "The U.S. Constitution vests the Senate with the role of providing 'advice' and granting or withholding 'consent' when a President nominates a candidate to be an Article III judge--a federal judge potentially entitled to life tenure, such as a Supreme Court Justice. To carry out this 'advice and consent' role, the Senate typically holds a hearing at which Senators question the nominee. After conducting the hearing, the Senate generally either 'consents' to the nomination by voting to confirm the nominee or rejects the nominee. Many prior judicial nominees have refrained from answering certain questions during their confirmation hearings on the ground that responding to those questions would contravene norms of judicial ethics or the Constitution. [...] Beyond judicial ethics rules, broader constitutional values, such as due process and the separation of powers, have informed the Senate's questioning of judicial nominees. As a result, historical practice can help illuminate which questions a judicial nominee may or should refuse to answer during confirmation. For example, recent Supreme Court nominees have invoked the so-called 'Ginsburg Rule' to decline to discuss any cases that are currently pending before the Court or any issues that are likely to come before the Court. Senators and nominees have disagreed about whether any given response would improperly prejudge an issue that is likely to be contested at the Supreme Court. Although nominees have reached varied conclusions regarding which responses are permissible or impermissible, nominees have commonly answered general questions regarding their judicial philosophy, their prior statements, and judicial procedure."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Brannon, Valerie C.; Lewis, Kevin M.; Lampe, Joanna R.

  2022-03-17
• International Trade and E-Commerce [Updated March 14, 2022]

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  From the Document: "Online transactions through e-commerce allow customers to research and purchase goods without leaving their home or office, increasing access and convenience. Using online sales, businesses are able to scale efficiently and reach customers in new markets, both domestically and abroad, especially small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs). Although some online purchases replace what may have been in-store transactions, other purchases are new sales."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Fefer, Rachel F.

  2022-03-14
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 4768, Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2016

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary on June 8, 2016. From the Document: "H.R. 4768 would authorize courts that review agency actions to decide all relevant questions of law, including the interpretation of constitutional and statutory provisions and rules, without deferring to previous legal determinations by the agency (de novo review). Under the legislation, the courts could overturn some agency decisions that they would have upheld under current law. Some of those decisions could affect the budget by overturning regulations that affect discretionary spending, direct spending, and revenues. However, CBO has no basis for estimating either the likelihood that such actions would be overturned or what the effects on the budget might be. Because enacting the legislation could affect direct spending and revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. For example the legislation could affect the timing or content of rules that concern federal entitlement programs or rules related to the collection of fees. CBO also cannot determine whether enacting H.R. 4768 would increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027. H.R. 4768 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2016-06-14
• Nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court [March 14, 2022]

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  From the Summary: "On February 25, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. If confirmed, Judge Jackson would fill the vacancy expected with the retirement of Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer in summer 2022, at the end of the Supreme Court's term. Judge Jackson would be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Judge Jackson has been a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 2021, having also been nominated to that court by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate. Before that, she was a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2013. The nominee earned her law degree from Harvard Law School, and clerked for three federal judges, including Justice Breyer. In addition to her judicial experience, Judge Jackson has spent time in private practice at several law firms, served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, and worked as a federal public defender--an experience that no current or former Justice has had."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Gunter, David

  2022-03-14
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 180, National Blue Alert Act of 2013

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary on May 7, 2013. From the Document: "H.R. 180 would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish and promote a national communications network to issue alerts (that would be known as 'blue alerts') when a law enforcement officer is killed or seriously injured. Under the bill's provisions, the department would develop guidelines and protocols for state and local governments that participate in the program and provide assistance as necessary to those participants. Based on the costs of similar activities, CBO estimates that it would cost about $1 million annually from appropriated funds for DOJ to establish and administer the new program. Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2013-05-09
• Challenges that Maintaining Legacy Assets Poses to United States Coast Guard Mission Performance, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, September 20, 2012

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  From the opening statement of Frank LoBiondo: "The subcommittee is meeting this afternoon to review the challenges the Coast Guard faces maintaining its legacy assets and examine how those challenges impact the Service's mission and performance. Findings by GAO [Government Accountability Office] and others over the years have accurately shown the rapid decline of legacy assets that is causing the Coast Guard to fall short of its operational targets, forcing the Service to spend too much of its tight budget on maintenance and undermining the success of its critical safety and security missions. This is a very serious problem that has me and, I believe, many others very deeply concerned." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Ronald J. Rábago, Stephen L. Caldwell, Rick Larsen, Howard Coble, and Frank LoBiondo.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Review of Vessels Used to Carry Strategic Petroleum Reserve Drawdowns: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, June 27, 2012

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  From the opening statement of John D. Porcari: "Relying solely upon the small amount of excess capacity in the Jones Act fleet to carry 30 million barrels of oil in 30 days on an emergency basis would have made the United States unable to meet its international obligations and effectively address the Libyan oil supply disruptions. Thus, waivers of the Jones Act were considered. [...] The Obama administration firmly believes that Jones Act implementation is consistent with the drawdown of the SPR [Strategic Petroleum Reserve]. That is why we did it. MarAd's [Maritime Administration] goal is to maximize the use of available Jones Act vessels during an SPR drawdown, and MarAd believes this can be accomplished without impacting a drawdown's effectiveness." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Frank LoBiondo, John D. Porcari, and Thomas Allegretti.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• One Year Later: Still Sitting on Our Assets, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, February 9, 2012

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  From the opening statement of Jeff Denham: "One year ago we met in this building to highlight the waste of taxpayer money on vacant and underutilized Federal buildings. We chose the Old Post Office because it is a symbol of a larger national problem, and how the system for solving it is broken. If the taxpayer can lose $6 million a year on prime Pennsylvania Avenue real estate halfway between the White House and the Capitol, then similar properties must be sitting all across the country. In this case, Congress held multiple hearings and passed two laws requiring the redevelopment. Yet years and years passed before we could get to the point of announcing a redevelopment team. The bottom line is the system is broken, and we need a new process to sell or redevelop these properties. It was in our hearing last year that I first proposed using an independent commission to identify properties for sale and redevelopment, and forcing Congress to give them an up or down vote." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jeff Denham, Robert A. Peck, and John L. Mica.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Enbridge Pipeline Oil Spill in Marshall, Michigan: Hearing Before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session, September 15, 2010

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  From the opening statement of James Oberstar: "We know that Enbridge personnel at the control center experienced an abrupt pressure drop on the line and they had multiple volume balance alarms over the course of several hours before sending a technician to the pump station three-quarters of a mile from the rupture. We know that Enbridge reported that the technician did not see any problems or smell any odors at the pump station. We also know that numerous residents in the immediate vicinity of the pump station and others who were living some 9 miles away reported that they smelled strong odors the day before. We also know that Enbridge knew about hundreds of defects in the line. We know that PHMSA [Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration] was made aware of them, and we know that PHMSA failed to do anything to address Enbridge's inaction. That is not a culture of safety. That is not a culture of safety in the head office of PHMSA, nor at Enbridge." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: James Oberstar, Michelle BarlondSmith, Andy Buchsbaum, Susan Connolly, Patrick D. Daniel D. Deborah Hersman, Lisa P. Jackson, James Alan Lee, Scott Masten, Debra Miller, John D. Porcari, Kelli D. Scott, Darla Thrope, Denise Green, Corrine Brown, Steve Cohen, Elijah E. Cummings, John Garamendi, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Harry E. Mitchell, Nancy Pelosi, Laura Richardson, Mark H. Shauer, Mark H. Shauer, Glen Thompson, Judy Biggert, Susan Baldwin, Rita Chapman, and Elizabeth Irvin.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2010
• L.A. Courthouse: GSA's Plan to Spend $400 Million to Create Vacant Space, Field Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, August 17, 2012 (Los Angeles, California)

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  From the opening statement of Jeff Denham: "The purpose of today's hearing is to continue our investigation into billions of dollars wasted on vacant and mismanaged properties, and to highlight the waste we can avoid here today by halting the construction of an unneeded courthouse in L.A. While we have received a statement for the record from the courts, I am extremely disappointed that there is no representation from the courts here today. The invitation letter was sent to the chief judge, and we followed up directly with the courts to identify a witness. We were told that there were no judges available to testify today. It seems outrageous that we are here in L.A., physically inside the Roybal Courthouse, inside a courtroom, yet there are no judges available to come to the hearing and testify. It is even more troubling that many of them found time to attend a conference in Maui this week but are not available to testify today to justify spending $340 million of taxpayer funds. After all the waste this committee has exposed on lavish conferences and training sessions, it is mind-boggling that the courts would host yet another conference in Maui, a conference that reportedly is costing the taxpayer more than $1.1 million, significantly more than the lavish Las Vegas vacation that was hosted by GSA [General Services Administration], with a total of 2,760 room nights in ocean-view suites, including several suites and the large Palace Presidential Suite." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark L. Goldstein, Kevin Richards, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Barbara Boxer, Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Gary Toebben, Carol E. Schatz, Richard J. Burdge, Jr., Evan A. Jenness, Robbie Hunter, Michael P. Huerta, Margaret M. Morrow, and Jeff Denham.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Implementation of Federal Minimum Wage and Immigration Laws, Report to Congressional Addressees

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  From the Highlights: "A 2007 law required the minimum wage in the CNMI [Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands] to rise incrementally to the federal level in a series of scheduled increases. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has been periodically required to report on the economic impact of the minimum wage increases in the territory. A 2008 law established federal control of CNMI immigration. It required the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a transitional work permit program for foreign workers in the CNMI and to decrease the number of permits issued annually, and presently requires that DHS reduce them to zero by December 31, 2019. To implement this aspect of the law, in 2011, DHS created a CW-1 [CNMI-Only Transitional Worker] permit program for foreign workers. In addition to the above statutory provisions, GAO was asked to review the implementation of federal immigration laws in the CNMI. Accordingly, this report examines (1) changes in the CNMI's labor market since the start of the federally mandated minimum wage increases, (2) the potential economic impact of reducing the number of foreign workers to zero, and (3) federal and CNMI efforts to address labor force challenges. GAO reviewed U.S. laws and regulations; analyzed government data; and conducted fieldwork in Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, CNMI. During fieldwork, GAO conducted semi-structured interviews and discussion groups with businesses, CW-1 workers, U.S. workers, and current and former job training participants."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2017-05-18
• North American Energy Infrastructure Act, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, October 29, 2013

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  This is the October 29, 2013 hearing on "The North American Energy Infrastructure Act" held before the Committee on Energy and Commerce. From the opening statement of Ed Whitfield: "I would like to call this hearing to order this morning. And today we are having a hearing on H.R. 3301, the North American Energy Infrastructure Act, which was introduced by the chairman of the full committee, Fred Upton, and Mr. Green of Texas. Anyone that has read any newspaper recently or any international articles is certainly very much aware of the fact that there has been an energy transformation taking place in America. I read an article recently about the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and it was talking about how business leaders throughout Europe, Asia, and South America were all very much concerned about this energy transformation taking place in America and what it means for global competitiveness. And many of you may have read recently where one of the Energy Information Agencies, not only the one in the U.S., but the international agency also indicated that the United States would be the world's top producer of petroleum and natural gas in 2013, surpassing both Russia and Saudi Arabia. And of course we continue to be one of the world's leading producers and exporters of coal. As a matter of fact, the coal export market last year out of the United States, 45 percent of that market went to Europe." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jeff C. Wright, Mark P. Mills, David K. Mears, Paul C. Blackburn, Jim Burpee, Mary J. Hutzler, John H. Kyles, Michael Knotek, and Kevin J. Wolf.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014