Advanced search Help
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
Federal Cybersecurity: Background and Issues for Congress [September 29, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Federal agencies are responsible for collecting, processing, storing, and disposing of digital information. Managing that data and the systems using the data in a secure way requires undertaking planning, implementing processes, and conducting programming on behalf of the agency--commonly referred to as 'cybersecurity'. [...] This report begins with a discussion of cybersecurity principles and provides case examples of challenges to those principles. The report then provides an overview of policies related to federal cybersecurity by exploring and analyzing laws, agency guidance, and standards for cybersecurity, along with agency responsibilities for cybersecurity. This report concludes by examining options for Congress to address federal cybersecurity issues through updating statutes, requiring cyber incident reports, establishing cybersecurity funding levels, mandating the use of shared services, and/or requiring the adoption of modern cybersecurity tools."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jaikaran, Chris
2021-09-29
-
Navy Next-Generation Attack Submarine (SSN[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated September 29, 2021]
From the Introduction: "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
2021-09-29
-
Navy Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated September 29, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Navy's new Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) program, which envisions procuring a class of 24 to 35 new amphibious ships to support the Marine Corps, particularly in implementing a new Marine Corps operational concept called Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO). The Navy envisions the first LAW being procured in FY2023. The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requests $13.2 million in research and development funding for the program. The LAW program poses a number of potential oversight matters for Congress. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's annual funding requests and envisioned acquisition strategy for the program. Congress's decisions regarding the program could affect Navy and Marine Corps capabilities and funding requirements and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-09-29
-
High-Performance Computing: Advances Made Towards Implementing the National Strategy, but Better Reporting and a More Detailed Plan Are Needed, Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "In 2015, Executive Order 13702 established the NSCI [National Strategic Computing Initiative] to maximize the benefits of high-performance computing for economic competitiveness and scientific discovery. The order directed 10 agencies to implement the NSCI and pursue five strategic objectives, including accelerating delivery of a capable exascale computing system, which is anticipated to be at least three times more powerful than the current top-ranked system. The NSCI Executive Council, established by the executive order and co-chaired by OSTP [Office of Science and Technology Policy] and the Office of Management and Budget, issued a strategic plan in 2016, which was updated in 2020. GAO was asked to review the status of the NSCI. This report examines (1) agencies' efforts and OSTP's and agencies' reporting on progress towards meeting the objectives of the 2016 strategic plan and (2) the extent to which the 2020 strategic plan includes desirable characteristics of a national strategy. GAO analyzed key NSCI documents, administered a questionnaire to 10 NSCI agencies, and interviewed OSTP and other agency officials and nonfederal stakeholders."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-09-29
-
EPA Needs an Agencywide Strategic Action Plan to Address Harmful Algal Blooms
From the Document: "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General conducted this evaluation to determine how the EPA is exercising its authority under the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts to address harmful algal blooms and protect human health and the environment. Harmful algal blooms impact our nation's recreational and drinking waters. They occur when, among other conditions, high levels of nutrients--nitrogen and phosphorus--pollute rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. These nutrients reach bodies of water from sources such as livestock operations; fertilizer runoff from farm fields, lawns, and gardens; urban stormwater; and industrial and municipal discharges."
United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of the Inspector General
Brunton, Charles; Butler, Kathlene; Hamann, Julie . . .
2021-09-29
-
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 2551, Artificial Intelligence Training for the Acquisition Workforce Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on August 4, 2021. From the Document: "Artificial Intelligence (AI) allows computer systems to perform tasks that require human intelligence. S. 2551 would require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish a training program to provide federal procurement officials with an introductory understanding of the operational benefits and privacy risks of AI. Using information from OMB and other agencies about current efforts to use AI across the federal government, CBO anticipates that OMB would need five full-time employees to create and manage the training program. CBO estimates that staff salaries and technology costs to deliver the training would total $2 million annually. Accounting for the time needed to hire new employees and develop the training, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $9 million over the 2021-2026 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriations. For this estimate, CBO assumes that the bill will be enacted in fiscal year 2022."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-09-28
-
Highway Bridges: Federal Highway Administration Could Better Assist States with Information on Corrosion Practices, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In 2021, U.S. bridges, including those on the NHS [National Highway System], were estimated to need billions of dollars in repairs, including efforts to mitigate the effects of corrosion. House Report 116-106 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the status of states' bridge corrosion-control planning. This report examines: (1) trends in the condition of bridges on the NHS and what is known about how corrosion affects bridge condition, (2) practices states use to address corrosion on NHS bridges and how selected states prioritize efforts to address corrosion, and (3) how FHWA [Federal Highway Administration] assists states in addressing bridge corrosion. GAO reviewed applicable statutes, regulations, guidance, and studies related to corrosion prevention and management, and analyzed data on NHS bridges. GAO selected five states--Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Rhode Island, and Wyoming--based on factors, such as the percentage of bridge deck area in good and poor condition and geographic diversity. Finally, GAO interviewed FHWA, state transportation, and various association officials and assessed FHWA's actions against internal controls for using quality information."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-09-28
-
Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated September 28, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC), which are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense (DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs. Compared to the standard or default approach of annual contracting, MYP and BBC have the potential for reducing weapon procurement costs by a few or several percent. Potential issues for Congress concerning MYP and BBC include whether to use MYP and BBC in the future more frequently, less frequently, or about as frequently as they are currently used; whether to create a permanent statute to govern the use of BBC, analogous to the permanent statute that governs the use of MYP; and whether the Coast Guard should begin making use of MYP and BBC. Congress's decisions on these issues could affect defense acquisition practices, defense funding requirements, and the defense industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-09-28
-
Military's COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate [September 28, 2021]
From the Document: "Since the onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Members of Congress have expressed interest in Force Health Protection [hyperlink] (FHP) measures the Department of Defense (DOD) might implement to protect servicemembers and mitigate pandemic-related threats to military operations. DOD has implemented a variety of conditions-based FHP measures [hyperlink] that mirror the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommended protective measures [hyperlink], to limit the spread of COVID-19 among military personnel. On August 9, 2021, the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) issued a Message to the Force [hyperlink] indicating his intent to require COVID-19 vaccination for servicemembers 'no later than mid-September, or immediately upon the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensure [of a COVID-19 vaccine], whichever comes first.[...] This Insight summarizes the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for servicemembers and offers considerations for Congress as the MILDEPs [Military Departments] implement the mandate."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mendez, Bryce H. P.
2021-09-28
-
Pandemic Privacy: A Preliminary Analysis of Collection Technologies, Data Collection Laws, and Legislative Reform During COVID-19
From the Executive Summary: "In, 'Pandemic Privacy: A preliminary analysis of collection technologies, data collection laws, and legislative reform during COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019],' we undertake a preliminary comparative analysis of how different information technologies were mobilized in response to COVID-19 to collect data, the extent to which Canadian health or privacy or emergencies laws impeded the response to COVID-19, and ultimately, the potential consequences of reforming data protection or privacy laws to enable more expansive data collection, use, or disclosure of personal information in future health emergencies. [...] After a short introduction in Section one, we present the methodologies we used in Section two. Section three turns to how contemporary digital technologies were used to collect data in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Our principal finding is that collection efforts were constrained by the ways in which private companies chose to enable data collection, particularly in the case of contact tracing and exposure notifications, and by how these companies choose to share data that was under their control and how data was repurposed for assisting in containing COVID-19. The breadth and extent of data collection was unprecedented when compared to past health crises."
University of Toronto. Citizen Lab; Munk School of Global Affairs
Parsons, Christopher; Ballard, Benjamin; Cutinha, Amanda
2021-09-28
-
Navy LPD-17 Flight II and LHA Amphibious Ship Programs: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated September 28, 2021]
From the Summary: "This report discusses two types of amphibious ships being procured for the Navy: LPD [Landing Platform Docks]-17 Flight II class amphibious ships and LHA [landing helicopter assault]-type amphibious assault ships. Both types are built by Huntington Ingalls Industries/Ingalls Shipbuilding (HII/Ingalls) of Pascagoula, MS. Section 124 of the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (H.R. 6395/P.L. 116-283 of January 1, 2021) provides authority for the Navy to use a block buy contract for the procurement of three LPD-17 class ships and one LHA-type amphibious assault ship. One issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's FY2022 procurement funding requests for the LPD-17 Flight II and LHA programs. The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requests $60.6 million in procurement funding to complete the procurement cost of the second LPD-17 Flight II class ship, LPD-31, and $68.6 million in procurement funding to help fund the procurement cost of the amphibious assault ship LHA-9. Another issue for Congress concerns the Navy's force-level goals for amphibious ships and the effect these goals could have on future procurement of LPD-17 Flight II and LHA-type ships[.] Another issue for Congress is whether the Navy intends to use the block buy contracting authority provided by Section 124 of the FY2021 NDAA, and if not, then what, if anything, Congress should do in response."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2021-09-28
-
Supervised Release (Parole): An Overview of Federal Law [Updated September 28, 2021]
From the Summary: "Federal courts sentence almost 75% of the defendants convicted of federal offenses to a term of supervised release. A term of supervised release is a period following a defendant's release from prison when a probation officer monitors the defendant to ensure compliance with the conditions for the defendant's release. Under some circumstances, the court may terminate the term of supervised release, extend it, or revoke it. Supervised release replaces parole for federal crimes committed after November 1, 1987. Like parole, supervised release is a period of restricted freedom following a defendant's release from prison. The nature of supervision and the conditions imposed during supervised release are similar to those that applied in the earlier system of federal parole. However, while parole operates in lieu of the remainder of an unexpired prison term, supervised release begins only after a defendant has completed his full prison sentence. Where revocation of parole could result in a defendant's return to prison to finish out his original sentence, revocation of supervised release can lead to a return to prison for a term in addition to that imposed for the defendant's original sentence. A sentencing court determines the duration and conditions for a defendant's supervised release at the time of initial sentencing. As a general rule, federal law limits the maximum duration of supervised release to five years, although in the case of serious drug, sex, and terrorism-related offenses it sometimes permits, and sometimes mandates, supervision for a term of any duration or for life."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2021-09-28
-
Department of Defense Directed Energy Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress [September 28, 2021]
From the Document: "Directed energy (DE) weapons use concentrated electromagnetic energy, rather than kinetic energy, to combat enemy forces. Although the United States has been researching directed energy since the 1960s, some experts have observed that the Department of Defense (DOD) has invested billions of dollars in DE programs that failed to reach maturity and were ultimately cancelled. In recent years, however, DOD has made progress on DE weapons development, deploying the first operational U.S. DE weapon in 2014 aboard the USS 'Ponce.' [...] This report provides background information and issues for Congress on DE weapons, including high-energy lasers (HELs) and high-powered microwave (HPM) weapons, and outlines selected unclassified DOD, Air Force, Army, and Navy DE programs. If successfully fielded, HELs could be used by ground forces in a range of missions, including short-range air defense (SHORAD); counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS); and counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) missions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.; Feickert, Andrew; Hoehn, John R. . . .
2021-09-28
-
Appointment Methods for Legislative Branch Inspectors General [September 28, 2021]
From the Document: "The inspector general (IG) for the Library of Congress (LOC), Kurt Hyde, retired from his position on August 31, 2021 [hyperlink]. When an IG position becomes vacant, a new appointment is made pursuant to the requirements and procedures laid out in that IG's enabling statute. For most IGs, this will be the Inspector General Act of 1978 (IG Act; 5 U.S.C. Appx.). For some IGs, including the IG for the LOC and the four other statutory IGs in the legislative branch, this authority is found in other statutes. [...] This Insight provides a brief introduction to IG appointments and explains the appointment procedure for the five particular legislative branch IGs. It provides background information on the appointment rule requirements for these IGs as well as the relevant statutory provisions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wilhelm, Ben
2021-09-28
-
Supervised Release (Parole): An Abbreviated Outline of Federal Law [Updated September 28, 2021]
From the Introduction: "Federal courts sentence close to three quarters (72.9%) of the defendants convicted of federal offenses to a term of supervised release. Supervised release is the successor to parole in the federal criminal justice system. In the 1984 Sentencing Reform Act, Congress eliminated parole in future cases to create a more determinate federal sentencing structure. In its place, Congress instituted a system that includes supervised release, which applies to all federal crimes committed after November 1, 1987. Both parole and supervised release call for a period of supervision following release from prison and for a return to prison upon a failure to observe designated conditions. Parole ordinarily stands in lieu of a portion of the original term of imprisonment, while supervised release begins only after full service of the original term (less any 'good time' credits). Parole restrictions last no longer than the remainder of a defendant's original sentence. Supervised release restrictions can last for the remainder of a defendant's life, although the court may modify the conditions at any time and may terminate supervised release after a year. Because of their differences, some commentators and judges have highlighted the way that supervised release works differently from parole. Differences and critics notwithstanding, supervised release is now a regular feature of sentencing in the federal system. Parole is not."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2021-09-28
-
MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 28, 2021: Safety Monitoring of an Additional Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine -- United States, August 12-September 19, 2021
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This Early Release issue of MMWR contains the following article: "Safety Monitoring of an Additional Dose of COVID-19 [Coronavirus Disease 2019] Vaccine -- United States, August 12-September 19, 2021." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from WWMR can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2021.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2021-09-28
-
Pandemic-Resilient Community Planning: 'Practical Ways to Help Communities Prepare for, Respond to, and Recover from Pandemics and Other Economic, Social and Environmental Shocks' [September 28, 2021]
From the Abstract: "'Resilience' refers to a system's ability to respond to changes, including sudden shocks. This report investigates ways that communities can become more resilient to pandemics and other disasters. It compares COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] with other health risks, examines various problems caused by the pandemic, and recommends ways that communities can better prepare for, respond to, and recover from the pandemics. Pandemic-resilient planning requires policies that minimize contagion risks, provide basic access and delivery services during periods of restricted mobility, support physical and mental health during lockdowns, and provide affordable mobility for households with reduced incomes. To minimize contagion risk, planners should help operators and travelers ensure appropriate distancing, sanitizing and hygiene practices. Walking and bicycling are generally the safest and most affordable modes, improve physical and mental health, and help reduce social isolation, so improving walking and bicycling conditions tends to increase resilience."
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
Litman, Todd
2021-09-28
-
COVID-19: Additional Risk Assessment Actions Could Improve HUD Oversight of CARES Act Funds, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic and resulting economic downturn created housing instability for many families and individuals. Congress appropriated about $12.4 billion to HUD [Department of Housing and Urban Development] in CARES Act [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act] funds to prevent, prepare for, and respond to housing needs related to COVID-19. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has previously reported on HUD's persistent management challenges and noted the potential for these challenges to affect the implementation and oversight of HUD's COVID-19 response. The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO to monitor the federal government's efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report examines HUD's actions to oversee its CARES Act funding and manage risks, and HUD's implementation and monitoring of the CARES Act funds of selected community development, homelessness, and rental assistance programs. GAO reviewed HUD documentation and analyzed HUD spending data, focusing on the four programs that received the most CARES Act funding. GAO also interviewed HUD officials and associations representing HUD funding recipients."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-09-28
-
COVID-19: Selected Agencies Overcame Technology Challenges to Support Telework but Need to Fully Assess Security Controls, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Highlights: "In response to the onset of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, in March 2020 the Office of Management and Budget directed federal agencies to maximize their use of telework to enable the workforce to remain safe while ensuring that government operations continue. Telework is essential to continuity of operations but also brings added cybersecurity risks. The 'CARES Act' [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act] contains a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to monitor the federal response to the pandemic. GAO was also asked to examine federal agencies' preparedness to support expanded telework. GAO's objectives were to determine (1) selected agencies' initial experiences in providing the IT [information technology] needed to support remote access for maximum telework and (2) the extent to which selected agencies followed federal information security guidance for their IT systems that provide remote access. GAO selected 12 agencies for review that varied in their percentages of reported employee telework use and sent a questionnaire to solicit these agencies' perspectives on the use of IT in transitioning to maximum telework. GAO also reviewed the selected agencies' information security documentation and interviewed relevant officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-09-28
-
DOD Software Acquisition: Status of and Challenges Related to Reform Efforts, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "GAO [Government Accountability Office] reported in June 2021 that DOD planned to invest over $1.8 trillion to acquire its costliest new weapon systems. DOD is also investing billions more in IT [information technology] systems and capabilities. The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 included a provision for GAO to brief congressional defense committees on DOD's implementation of software acquisition reforms for certain systems and activities. This report summarizes past GAO findings about the extent to which DOD implemented required or recommended software acquisition reforms for weapon and business systems. Other elements of the provision will be addressed in future work. For this report, GAO reviewed its June 2021 assessments of DOD weapon and major business IT systems, as well as other relevant prior work. GAO also identified software acquisition reforms initiated in response to recent statutory mandates. No new audit work was conducted for this report."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-09-28
-
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 1505, Bonding Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on May 5, 2021. From the Document: "H.R. 1505 would establish fees for well inspections on onshore federal and tribal land, along with civil penalties for failure to pay those fees. The bill also would levy new fees for oil and gas produced on onshore federal land. Under H.R. 1505, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) would be permitted to retain and spend, without further appropriation, bonds forfeited from mineral activities on National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) land. Finally, the bill would increase the minimum bond amounts required under the Mineral Leasing Act."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2021-09-27
-
Army's Project Convergence [Updated September 27, 2021]
From the Document: "Project Convergence is what the Army calls a 'campaign of learning,' designed to further integrate the Army into the Joint Force. It is how the Army intends to play a role in Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2), the Department of Defense's (DOD's) plan to connect sensors and weapon systems from all the military services--Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force--as well as Special Operations Forces (SOF), into a single network which, theoretically, could prove faster and more effective in responding to threats from peer competitors. Designed around five core elements--soldiers, weapons systems, command and control, information, and terrain-- Army Futures Command (AFC) plans to run Project Convergence on an annual basis. The Army intends to conduct experiments with technology, equipment, and solicit soldier feedback throughout the year, culminating in an annual exercise or demonstration. In basic terms, the Army reportedly wants to 'take the service's big ideas for future warfare and test them in the real world. The Army wants to figure out what works and what needs fixing--and figure that out as early as possible, when it's much cheaper to make changes.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2021-09-27
-
Twenty Years of Military Operations in Afghanistan: Key Questions [September 27, 2021]
From the Document: "After 20 years of operations, training, investment and capacity building, the swift collapse of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), followed by the Taliban's takeover of the country, is prompting debate on how such a significant strategic setback could take place. Many observers attribute such failures to the decisions made by the United States and its European and other partners at the time the Taliban was ousted from power in late 2001, including how to structure post-Taliban governance and Afghan security forces. The outcome of the campaign also provides an opportunity to reflect on how the U.S. military conducted its operations alongside its coalition partners, as well as the overall efficacy of the military as an instrument for achieving strategic goals. Section 1080 of H.R. 4350 (H.Rept. 117-118), the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, would establish a Commission on Afghanistan that would assess the war in Afghanistan and make recommendations to inform future operations. Senate action is pending."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McInnis, Kathleen J.; Feickert, Andrew
2021-09-27
-
Defense Primer: Military Use of the Electromagnetic Spectrum [Updated September 27, 2021]
From the Document: "Since the introduction of the two-way radio in the early 1900s, militaries have been interested in the electromagnetic spectrum ('the spectrum'). The proliferation of spectrum-dependent systems in all military domains--air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace--along with Department of Defense (DOD) concepts, such as net-centric warfare and multidomain battle, increases the military's dependence on the spectrum."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoehn, John R.
2021-09-27
-
Global Research and Development Expenditures: Fact Sheet [Updated September 27, 2021]
From the Document: "Research and development (R&D) plays a central role in advanced economies in areas such as economic growth and job creation, industrial competitiveness, national security, energy, agriculture, transportation, public health and well-being, environmental protection, and expanding the frontiers of human knowledge understanding. Accordingly, companies, governments, universities, nonprofit organizations, and others around the world have made substantial investments in R&D. Since 2000, total global R&D expenditures have more than tripled in current dollars, from $677 billion to $2.2 trillion in 2019."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sargent, John F.
2021-09-27
-
Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) [Updated September 27, 2021]
From the Document: "The Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) is the U.S. Air Force's latest effort to create a next-generation command and control (C2) system. ABMS proposes using cloud environments and new communications methods to allow Air Force and Space Force systems to share data seamlessly using artificial intelligence to enable faster decision making. The Air Force describes ABMS as its effort to create an internet of things, which would allow for sensors and C2 systems to be disaggregated from one another(counter to how the Air Force has traditionally performed C2). This program is the Air Force's contribution to the DOD's Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) effort focused on modernizing DOD decision making processes for combat operations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoehn, John R.
2021-09-27
-
Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (Sept. 20-26, 2021)
From the Document: "The federal courts issue hundreds of decisions every week in cases involving diverse legal disputes. This Sidebar series selects decisions from the past week that may be of particular interest to federal lawmakers, focusing on precedential decisions of the Supreme Court [hyperlink] and the courts of appeals for the thirteen federal circuits [hyperlink]. Selected cases typically involve the interpretation or validity of federal statutes and regulations, or constitutional issues relevant to Congress's lawmaking and oversight functions. Some of the cases identified in this Sidebar, or the legal questions they address, are examined in other CRS [Congressional Research Service] general distribution products. Members of Congress and congressional staff may email the author to receive regular notifications of new products published by CRS attorneys."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Garcia, Michael John
2021-09-27
-
H. Rept. 117-130: Build Back Better Act, Report of the Committee on the Budget, House of Representatives, to Accompany H.R. 5376, Together with Minority Views, September 27, 2021 (Book 2 of 3)
Froom Book 1 of the Report: "The Build Back Better Act makes the transformative investments at the scale necessary to meet the needs of the American people, address dangerous deficits in our society, improve our economic outlook, and set America up to compete and win in the decades ahead. With the Build Back Better Act, we will: 'Cut taxes for the middle class'. [...] 'Create jobs'. [...] 'Lower costs for working families'. [...] 'Tackle the climate crisis and strengthen resilience'. [...] 'Ensure Fiscal Responsibility'." Book 1 of this report can be accessed here: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=859475]. Book 3 can be accessed here: []https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=859478.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021-09-27
-
B-52 Re-Engining Program Begins [Updated September 27, 2021]
From the Document: "On September 24, 2021, the U.S. Air Force awarded a contract [hyperlink] to Rolls-Royce, Indianapolis, IN, for 608 new engines to replace the TF33 engines powering the B-52H Stratofortress bomber fleet, in a contract running up to 17 years. The initial contract is for $500.9 million, but with spare engines, technical data, support equipment, and sustainment, the contract could ultimately be worth $2.6 billion, and may include 650 engines. Rolls-Royce has 18 months to deliver initial engines. The Air Force currently operates 76 B-52Hs [hyperlink], the most recent of which was built in the 1960s. The Air Force now expects to operate them until 2050. The last TF33 engine was built in 1985 [hyperlink]. (For more on the B-52 fleet, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report R43049, 'U.S. Air Force Bomber Sustainment and Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress'.)"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gertler, Jeremiah
2021-09-27
-
PFAS and Drinking Water: Selected EPA and Congressional Actions [Updated September 27, 2021]
From the Introduction: "The detection of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in some public water supplies has generated public concern and increased congressional attention to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) efforts to address these substances. Over the past decade, EPA has been evaluating several PFAS under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to determine whether national drinking water regulations may be warranted. Using SDWA authorities, EPA issued nonenforceable health advisories for two PFAS--perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)--in drinking water in 2016. In March 2021, EPA made a determination to issue drinking water regulations for PFOA and PFOS. [...] This report provides an overview of EPA's actions to address PFAS under SDWA authorities, with particular focus on the statutory process for evaluating and regulating two PFAS--PFOA and PFOS--in drinking water. This report does not address the status of scientific research on health effects that may be associated with exposure to one or more PFAS, nor does it discuss federal actions regarding other environmental statutes[.]"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Humphreys, Elena H.
2021-09-27
