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• EPA Proposes New Permitting Test for Power Plant Modifications [September 25, 2018]

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  "In August,2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from existing coal-fired power plants, replacing the Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan. (See this companion Sidebar for discussion of the proposed ACE Rule.) As part of the ACE Rule, EPA proposed a new test for determining whether New Source Review (NSR) would apply to a modification of an existing power plant. According to EPA, by requiring preconstruction permits for modifications that would increase emissions above a regulatory threshold, NSR helps to assure that new or modified industrial facilities are 'as clean as possible' and 'advances in pollution control occur concurrently with industrial expansion.' Currently, NSR only applies to modifications that significantly increase annual emissions."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tsang, Linda

  2018-09-25
• Crime in the United States [2017]

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  "The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program staff are committed to improving their annual publications so that the data they collect can better meet the needs of law enforcement, criminologists, sociologists, legislators, municipal planners, the media, and other students of criminal justice who use the statistics for varied administrative, research, and planning purposes." Crime in the United States, 2017, presents data tables containing information on a range of law enforcement topics, including "Offenses Known to Law Enforcement, Expanded offense data, Clearances, Persons Arrested, and Police Employee Data."

  United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation

  2018-09-24?
• Burma's Political Prisoners and U.S. Policy: In Brief [September 24, 2018]

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  "Despite a campaign pledge that they 'would not arrest anyone as political prisoners,' Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD) have failed to fulfil this promise since they took control of Burma's Union Parliament and the government's executive branch in April 2016. While presidential pardons have been granted for some political prisoners, people continue to be arrested, detained, tried, and imprisoned for alleged violations of Burmese laws, some dating back to British colonial rule. According to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (Burma), or AAPP (B), a Thailand-based, nonprofit human rights organization formed in 2000 by former Burmese political prisoners, there were 275 political prisoners in Burma as of the end of July 2018. During its two years in power, the NLD government has provided pardons for Burma's political prisoners on three occasions. Soon after assuming office in April 2016, former President Htin Kyaw and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi took steps to secure the release of nearly 235 political prisoners.On May 23, 2017, former President Htin Kyawgranted pardons to 259 prisoners, including 89 political prisoners. On April 17, 2018, current President Win Myint pardoned 8,541 prisoners, including 36 political prisoners."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Martin, Michael F.

  2018-09-24
• Congressional Review Act: Determining Which 'Rules' Must Be Submitted to Congress [September 24, 2018]

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  "The Congressional Review Act (CRA) allows Congress to review certain types of federal agency actions that fall under the statutory category of'rules.' The CRA requires that agencies report their rules to Congress and provides special procedures under which Congress can consider legislation to overturn those rules. A joint resolution of disapproval will become effective once both houses of Congress pass a joint resolution and it is signed by the President, or if Congress overrides the President's veto. The CRA generally adopts a broad definition of the word 'rule' from the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), defining a rule as' the whole or a part of an agency statement of general or particular applicability and future effect designed to implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy or describing the organization, procedure, or practice requirements of an agency.'"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Brannon, Valerie C.; Carey, Maeve P.

  2018-09-24
• Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): Issues for Congress [September 24, 2018]

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  "Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are common ways for Americans to invest. An ETF is an investment vehicle that, similar to a mutual fund, offers public investors shares of a pool of assets; unlike a mutual fund, however, an ETF can be traded on exchanges like a stock. The catchall category of exchange-traded products (ETPs) includes all portfolio products that trade on exchanges. U.S. ETF domestic listings stand at more than $3.4 trillion, making ETFs among the most important investment methods and critical components of the financial system. The first U.S. ETF was introduced in 1993 to track the S&P 500 stock index. That was the first time a public investor could buy or sell a basket of stocks in a single publicly traded share. It was considered as one of the most important financial innovations in decades and one that transformed the asset management industry. In the ensuing 25 years, ETFs have grown to become a mainstream investment vehicle held by 6% of U.S. households and representing 30% of all U.S. equity trading, according to data from Investment Company Institute and iShares."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Su, Eva

  2018-09-24
• Supreme Court's Overruling of Constitutional Precedent [September 24, 2018]

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  "By exercising its power to determine whether federal and state government actions are constitutional, the Supreme Court has developed a large body of judicial decisions, or 'precedents,' interpreting the Constitution. Rules and principles established in prior cases inform the Court's future decisions. The role that precedent plays in the Court's decisions on highly controversial issues has prompted debate over whether the Court should follow or overrule rules it established in prior decisions. Such questions underscore the challenges the Court faces in maintaining stability in the law by adhering to precedent under the doctrine of stare decisis so that parties may rely upon its decisions, while at the same time correcting prior decisions that rest on faulty reasoning, unworkable standards, abandoned legal doctrines, or outdated factual assumptions."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Murrill, Brandon J.

  2018-09-24
• Systemically Important or 'Too Big to Fail' Financial Institutions [September 24, 2018]

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  "Although 'too big to fail' (TBTF) has been a perennial policy issue, it was highlighted by the near-collapse of several large financial firms in 2008. Bear Stearns (an investment bank), GMAC (a non-bank lender, later renamed Ally Financial), and AIG (an insurer) avoided failure through government assistance. Lehman Brothers (an investment bank) filed for bankruptcy after the government decided not to offer it financial assistance. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (government-sponsored enterprises) entered government conservator ship and were kept solvent with government funds. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) arranged for Wachovia (a commercial bank) and Washington Mutual (a thrift) to be acquired by other banks without government financial assistance. Citi group and Bank of America (commercial banks) were offered government guarantees on selected assets they owned."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Labonte, Marc

  2018-09-24
• CBP's International Mail Inspection Processes Need Improvement at JFK International Airport (Redacted)

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  "U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for inspecting all international mail arriving at U.S. airports, with limited exceptions. A major challenge for CBP is preventing imports of opioids and other illegal items mailed from overseas through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). We conducted this audit to determine whether CBP's air mail inspection processes at JFK airport are effective and have adequate information technology (IT) security controls. We recommend that CBP provide the resources, guidance, space, controls, oversight, and IT security needed to prevent imports of illegal drugs and goods."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General

  2018-09-24
• Escalating Tariffs: Potential Impacts [September 24, 2018]

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  "Concerns over trading partner trade practices and the U.S. trade deficit have been a focus of the Trump Administration. For a timeline of recent actions, see CRS Insight IN10943, Escalating Tariffs: Timeline. Citing these concerns and others, the President has imposed tariffs under three U.S. laws and authorities (Figure 1) that allow the Administration to unilaterally impose trade restrictions: (1) Section 201 on U.S. imports of washing machines and solar products; (2) Section 232 on U.S. imports of steel and aluminum, and potentially autos and uranium, and (3) Section 301 on U.S. imports from China. Annual U.S. imports of goods subject to the additional tariffs, which range from 10% to 50%, totaled $282 billion in 2017 (Table 1). All formally proposed tariffs are now in effect, but the President has informally raised the prospect of tariffs on an additional $267 billion of U.S. annual imports from China, and, pending a Section 232 investigation, approximately $361 billion of U.S. auto and parts imports. While the tariffs may benefit import-competing U.S. producers, they are also likely to increase costs for downstream users of imported products and consumers. The Administration could be using the tariffs in part to pressure affected countries into broader trade negotiations, such as the U.S.- EU trade liberalization talks, but it is unclear what specific outcomes the Administration is seeking."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Williams, Brock R.; Morrison, Wayne M.; Hammond, Keigh E.

  2018-09-24
• Hong Kong: Recent Developments and U.S. Relations [August 23, 2018]

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  "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR, or Hong Kong) is a city located off the southern coast of China's Guangdong Province. More than 90% of Hong Kong's population is ethnically Chinese. The first language of the vast majority is Cantonese, a dialect of Chinese, and because of its long history as a British colony (1842 to 1997), the people of Hong Kong ('Hong Kongers') have a cultural and social identity distinct from that of Mainland China ('Mainlanders'). Hong Kong has a unique legacy in Asia of laissez-faire economics and the rule of law, part of their common law legacy from the British, along with an entrepreneurial economy, and passionate support for universal human rights."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Martin, Michael F.

  2018-09-23
• FEMA Daily Operations Briefings, September 23 - 29, 2018

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  This document is a compilation of all the FEMA Daily Operations Briefings from September 23 - 29, 2018. The FEMA Daily Operations Briefing provides an overview of the current emergency management situation nationwide and includes a summary of current significant events, weather activity, recent emergency declarations and projections for the coming week.

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2018-09-23?
• Interim Guidance for Protecting Workers from Livestock and Poultry Wastewater and Sludge During and After Floods

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  The purpose of this document is to provide information and guidance that will help "[t]o protect workers from illnesses and injuries associated with livestock and poultry wastewater and sludge from animal feeding operations during and after floods. [...] Farms, animal production sites, and processing plants contain animal waste. Waste or manure can be located in places such as animal housing, open lots, pastures, manure treated fields, sediment basins, above ground storage structures, underground storage tanks, lagoons, storage ponds, and manure drying or composting sites. Workers may be at risk of exposure to animal diseases that may be passed from animals through contact with workers' broken skin, eyes, nose, mouth, or mucous membranes. Diseases may spread from contact with animals' infected body fluids or tissues and from contaminated water or materials. Manure and wastewater may also contain additional hazardous compounds such as chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, metals, and allergens. In addition workers may encounter musculoskeletal hazards (e.g., lifting heavy animals and objects), physical hazards (e.g., unsafe buildings and structures, sharp objects, heat, noise), chemical hazards (e.g., fuels, fertilizers, pesticides, cleaning agents, hydrogen sulfide) and allergens (e.g., latex and animal saliva, skin, urine)."

  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); United States. Department of Agriculture; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

  2018-09-23
• Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations [September 21, 2018]

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  "The kingdom of Saudi Arabia's relations with the United States, its stability, and its future trajectory are subjects of continuing congressional interest.In particular, Saudi leadership transitions, trends in global oil prices,Saudi budget pressures and reform plans, aggressive transnational terrorist threats, assertive Saudi foreign policies, and Saudi-Iranian tensions have fueled recent congressional discussions. U.S.-Saudi security cooperation and U.S. concern for the continuing global availability of Saudi energy supplies continue to anchor official bilateral relations as they have for decades.In this context, the Trump Administration's efforts to reinvigorate U.S.-Saudi relations have drawn increased public attention and have generated debate.Previously, the Obama Administration had differed with Saudi leaders over Iran, the Iranian nuclear program, and conflicts in Syria, Iraq,and Yemen."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Blanchard, Christopher M.

  2018-09-21
• MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 21, 2018

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  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 issue of MMWR contains the following: "National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day -- September 27, 2018"; "Age-Associated Trends in Diagnosis and Prevalence of Infection with HIV Among Men Who Have Sex with Men -- United States, 2008-2016"; "Multidrug-Resistant Campylobacter jejuni Outbreak Linked to Puppy Exposure -- United States, 2016-2018"; "CDC Grand Rounds: Promoting Well-Being and Independence in Older Adults"; "Notes from the Field: Responding to an Outbreak of Monkeypox Using the One Health Approach -- Nigeria, 2017-2018"; and "QuickStats: Percentage of Residential Care Community Residents with a Fall, by Census Region -- United States, 2016."

  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)

  2018-09-21
• Executive Order 13849: Authorizing the Implementation of Certain Sanctions Set Forth in the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act

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  "I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, in order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergencies declared in Executive Order 13660 of March 6, 2014, as expanded in scope and relied upon for additional steps taken in subsequent Executive Orders, and Executive Order 13694 of April 1, 2015, as relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13757 of December 28, 2016, hereby order: [...]" This executive order includes but is not limited to: " (i) prohibit any United States financial institution from making loans or providing credits to the sanctioned person totaling more than $10,000,000 in any 12-month period, unless the person is engaged in activities to relieve human suffering and the loans or credits are provided for such activities; (ii) prohibit any transactions in foreign exchange that are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and in which the sanctioned person has any interest; [...] (i) The Export-Import Bank shall deny approval of the issuance of any guarantee, insurance, extension of credit, or participation in an extension of credit in connection with the export of any goods or services to the sanctioned person [...]"

  United States. Office of the Federal Register

  Trump, Donald, 1946-

  2018-09-21
• Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2018 [September 21, 2018]

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  "The farm bill provides an opportunity for Congress to address agricultural and food issues comprehensively about every five years. Over time, farm bills have tended to become more complicated and politically sensitive. As a result, the timeline for reauthorization has become less certain, and in general recent farm bills have taken longer to enact than in previous decades. Recent farm bills, beginning with the 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-246), have been subject to various developments that have delayed enactment, such as insufficient votes to pass the House floor, presidential vetoes, or short-term extensions. In 2018, a farm bill reauthorization was reported from the House Agriculture Committee on April 18 (H.R. 2). An initial floor vote on passage on May 18 failed in the House 198-213, but floor procedures allowed that vote to be reconsidered (H.Res. 905). The House passed H.R. 2 in a second vote of 213-211 on June 21, 2018. In the Senate, the Agriculture Committee reported its bill (S. 3042) on June 13 by a vote of 20-1. The Senate passed its bill as an amendment to H.R. 2 by a vote of 86-11 on June 28, 2018. Conference proceedings officially began on September 5, 2018."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Monke, Jim

  2018-09-21
• Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S.Response [September 21, 2018]

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  "The Syria conflict, now in its eighth year, remains a significant policy challenge for the United States. U.S. policy toward Syria in the past several years has given highest priority to counterterrorism operations against the Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIL/ISIS), but also has included nonlethal assistance to opposition-held communities, support for diplomatic efforts to reach a political settlement to the civil war, and the provision of humanitarian assistance in Syria and surrounding countries. The counter-IS campaign works primarily 'by, with, and through' local partner strained, equipped, and advised by the U.S. military, per a broader U.S. strategy initiated by the Obama Administration and modified by the Trump Administration."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Humud, Carla E.; Blanchard, Christopher M.; Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham

  2018-09-21
• Electronic Filing of Senate Campaign Finance Reports [September 21, 2018]

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  "A FY2019 appropriations measure significantly changes campaign finance reporting requirements for Senate candidates. Report contents will not change, but the method of filing will. The provision appears in H.R. 5895, a minibus package that includes three FY2019 appropriations bills: Energy and Water Development, the Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. The Senate and House adopted the conference report accompanying the bill on September 12 and 13, respectively. The President signed the measure on September 21, 2018. In the 115th Congress, the electronic filing provision originated in Senator Tester's bill, S. 298."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Garrett, R. Sam, 1977-

  2018-09-21
• National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief

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  "Portions of all 50 states and the District of Columbia are vulnerable to earthquake hazards, although risks vary greatly across the country and within individual states. Seismic hazards are greatest in the western United States, particularly in California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska,and Hawaii. Alaska is the most earthquake-prone state, experiencing a magnitude-7 earthquake almost every year and a magnitude-8 earthquake every 13 years, on average, since 1900. Because of its low population and low infrastructure density, Alaska has a relatively low risk for large economic losses from an earthquake. In contrast, California has more earthquake risk than any other state because of its frequent seismic activity, large population, and extensive infrastructure."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)

  2018-09-20
• Planning for Disaster: Partnerships Ensure Continuity of Operations [presentation]

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  In this presentation "[s]peakers from the National Library of Medicine and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center described steps that libraries can take to develop Continuity of Operations plans to deal with the new realities in disaster preparedness. They explored the development and maintenance of a real life collaboration between two military libraries, one federal library, and one local hospital library."

  National Institutes of Health (U.S.); National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

  Champ-Blackwell, Siobhan; Taylor, Robin; Holman, Ann

  2018-09-20?
• Planning for Disaster: Partnerships Ensure Continuity of Operations [video]

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  In this forty-one minute video "[s]peakers from the National Library of Medicine and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center described steps that libraries can take to develop Continuity of Operations plans to deal with the new realities in disaster preparedness. They explored the development and maintenance of a real life collaboration between two military libraries, one federal library, and one local hospital library."

  National Institutes of Health (U.S.); National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

  Champ-Blackwell, Siobhan; Taylor, Robin; Holman, Ann

  2018-09-20?
• Federal Grants and Loans for State and Local Emergency Communications Projects: Frequently Asked Questions [September 20, 2018]

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  "Improving emergency communications has been an area of congressional interest for many years. Before September 11, 2001, Congress provided funding through grants, which could be used to improve state and local emergency communications through purchases of police and fire radios, construction of communication towers, and disaster planning, training, and exercises. After September 11, 2001, Congress increased funding to improve interoperability between public safety agencies at all levels of government to enhance communication and coordination during response. Congress has also supported investments in broadband for public safety through several grant and loan programs, many focused on expanding broadband to rural areas. In 2012, Congress provided $6.5 billion to create the First Responder Network (FirstNet), a new nationwide public safety broadband network. While this provides public safety agencies with a common platform to communicate, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies may look to federal funding to equip responders with devices, and to enhance coverage."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Gallagher, Jill C.

  2018-09-20
• EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 18 Issue 38, September 20, 2018

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  The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "First responder family preparedness"; "Campus Fire Safety Month"; "PHMSA [Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration] requests input for updated Emergency Response Guidebook"; and "Steel Drum Basics and Fusible Plugs for first responders".

  Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)

  2018-09-20
• Army's Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress [September 19, 2018]

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  "The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) is the Army's proposed replacement for the Vietnam-era M-113 personnel carriers, which are still in service in a variety of support capacities in Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs). While M-113s no longer serve as infantry fighting vehicles, five variants of the M-113 are used as command and control vehicles, general purpose vehicles, mortar carriers, and medical treatment and evacuation vehicles. The AMPV is intended to be a nondevelopmental program (candidate vehicles will be either existing vehicles or modified existing vehicles--not vehicles that are specially designed and not currently in service). Some suggest a nondevelopmental vehicle might make it easier for the Army to eventually field this system to the force, as most of the Army's past developmental programs, such as the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV), the Future Combat System (FCS), the Crusader self-propelled artillery system, and the Comanche helicopter, were cancelled before they could be fully developed and fielded."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Feickert, Andrew

  2018-09-19
• Expedited Removal of Aliens: Legal Framework [September 19, 2018]

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  "Federal immigration laws set forth procedures governing the exclusion and removal of non-U.S. nationals (aliens) who do not meet specified criteria regarding their entry or presence within the United States. Typically, aliens within the United States may not be removed without due process. Commensurate with these constitutional protections, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) generally affords an alien whose removal is sought with certain procedural guarantees, including the right to written notice of the charge of removability, to seek counsel, to appear at a hearing before an immigration judge (IJ), to present evidence, to appeal an adverse decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and to seek judicial review."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Smith, Hillel R.

  2018-09-19
• Supreme Court October Term 2017: A Review of Selected Major Rulings [September 19, 2018]

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  "On October 2, 2017, the Supreme Court began one of the most notable terms in recent memory. The latest term of the Court was the first full term for Justice Neil Gorsuch,who succeeded Justice Antonin Scalia following his death in February 2016. The October Term 2017 was also the last term for Justice Anthony Kennedy, who retired in July 2018. With nine Justices on the Court for the first time at the beginning of a term since October 2015, this past term witnessed the High Court issuing fewer unanimous opinions and more rulings that were closely divided relative to previous terms."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Nolan, Andrew; Brannon, Valerie C.; Cole, Jared P.; Freeman, Wilson C.; Harrington, Ben

  2018-09-19
• International Law and Agreements: Their Effect Upon U.S. Law [September 19, 2018]

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  "International law consists of 'rules and principles of general application dealing with the conduct of states and of international organizations and with their relations inter se, as well as with some of their relations with persons, whether natural or juridical.' While the United States has long understood international legal commitments to be binding upon it both internationally and domestically since its inception, the role of international law in the U.S. legal system often implicates complex legal principles. The United States assumes international obligations most frequently when it makes agreements with other nations or international bodies that are intended to be legally binding upon the parties involved. Such legal agreements are made through treaty or executive agreement. The U.S. Constitution allocates primary responsibility for such agreements to the executive branch, but Congress also plays an essential role. First, in order for a treaty (but not an executive agreement) to become binding upon the United States, the Senate must provide its advice and consent to treaty ratification by a two-thirds majority. Secondly, Congress may authorize executive agreements. Thirdly, the provisions of many treaties and executive agreements may require implementing legislation in order to be judicial enforceable in U.S. courts."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Mulligan, Stephen P.

  2018-09-19
• Veterans Choice Program (VCP): Program Implementation [September 19, 2018]

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  "Authorized under Section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice,and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA), the Veterans Choice Program (VCP) is a temporary program that enables eligible veterans to receive medical care in the community. Since the program was first established by VACAA, it has been amended and funded several times. More recently, P.L. 115-26 eliminated the August 7, 2017,expiration date for the VCP and allowed the program to continue until the initial $10 billion deposited in the Veterans Choice Fund (VCF) was expended. P.L. 115-46 authorized and appropriated an additional $2.1 billion to continue the VCP until funds were expended, and when these funds were also nearing their end, Division D of P.L. 115-96 appropriated an additional $2.1 billion to continue the VCP until funds were expended. Lastly, Section 510 of the VA MISSION Act (P.L. 115-182),signed into law on June 6, 2018, authorized and appropriated $5.2 billion for VCP without fiscal year limitation, and Section 143 of this same act imposed a sunset date that is one year after the date of enactment(June 6, 2018)of the VA MISSION Act (i.e.,June 6, 2019). Title 101 of the VA MISSION Act also authorized a permanent program known as the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP), which is to replace VCP when VCCP is established by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) around June 2019 (when regulations are published by the VA no later than one year after the date of enactment [June 6, 2018] of the VA MISSION Act; that is, June 6, 2019, or when the VA determines that 75% of the amounts deposited in the VCF have been exhausted)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Panangala, Sidath Viranga

  2018-09-19
• Immigration: Frequently Asked Questions About 'Public Charge' [September 19, 2018]

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  "Immigration law in the United States has long contained exclusion and removal provisions designed to limit government spending on indigent non-U.S. nationals (aliens). Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) ,an alien may be denied admission into the United States or adjustment to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status if he or she is 'likely at any time to become a public charge.'An admitted alien may also be subject to removal from the United States based on a separate public charge ground of deportability, but this ground is rarely employed. Certain categories of aliens, such as refugees and asylees, are exempted from application of the public charge grounds.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State (DOS) have primary responsibility for implementing the INA's public charge provisions. DHS's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration and Services may make a public charge determination when an alien applies to adjust to LPR status. Abroad, DOS consular officers may make a public charge determination when an alien applies for a visa."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Singer, Audrey; Harrington, Ben

  2018-09-19
• National Preparedness Month: Children in Emergencies [presentation]

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  From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: "Children have unique physical, developmental, and mental health needs in all types of emergencies and disasters that require specific attention in preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. For the 2018 National Preparedness Month, CDC's Jessica Franks, Robyn Cree, and Cindy Hinton discuss preparedness and response for children affected by natural disasters (including hurricanes), infectious disease outbreaks, and other emergencies. This includes information about children with special healthcare needs."

  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)

  Franks, Jessica; Hinton, Cindy; Cree, Robyn

  2018-09-19