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Iran's Nuclear Program: Tehran's Compliance with International Obligations [September 19, 2017]
"Iran ratified the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1970. Article III of the treaty requires non-nuclear-weapon states-parties to accept comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards; Tehran concluded a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the IAEA in 1974. In 2002, the agency began investigating allegations that Iran had conducted clandestine nuclear activities; the IAEA ultimately reported that some of these activities had violated Tehran's safeguards agreement. Following more than three years of investigation, the IAEA Board of Governors referred the matter to the U.N. Security Council in February 2006. Since then, the council adopted six resolutions requiring Iran to take steps to alleviate international concerns about its nuclear program. This report provides a brief overview of Iran's nuclear program and describes the legal basis for the actions taken by the IAEA board and the Security Council."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kerr, Paul K.
2017-09-19
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Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations [September 19, 2017]
"Following the conflicts in the late 1990s in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the prospect of membership in the Euro-Atlantic community and the active presence of the United States in the Western Balkan region provided a level of stability that allowed most of the countries of the region to pursue reform and adopt Western values. During this time, Slovenia and Croatia joined the European Union (EU). These countries, along with Albania, also joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Montenegro became NATO's 29th member on June 3, 2017. Other nations of the Balkans are at various stages on the path toward EU or NATO membership."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morelli, Vincent
2017-09-19
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Supreme Court October Term 2017: A Preview of Select Cases [September 19, 2017]
"On October 2, 2017, the Supreme Court is to begin its new term. While the Court issued a number of notable decisions during its last full term, Court watchers have largely agreed that, at least compared to recent terms, the Court's October 2016 term was diminished both with regard to volume and content. With the Court already accepting over 30 cases for its next term, many of which raise deep and difficult questions in various areas of law, the October 2017 Supreme Court term could be considerably different. The next Court term has the potential to be one of the most consequential in years."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nolan, Andrew; Brannon, Valerie C.; Garcia, Michael John; Harrington, Ben; Sykes, Jay B; Whitaker, L. Paige
2017-09-19
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Navy Readiness: Actions Needed to Address Persistent Maintenance, Training, and Other Challenges Affecting the Fleet, Statement of John H. Pendleton, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management, Testimony Before the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate
"Since January 2017, the Navy has suffered four significant mishaps at sea that resulted in serious damage to its ships and the loss of 17 sailors. Three of these incidents involved ships homeported in Japan. In response to these incidents, the Chief of Naval Operations ordered an operational pause for all fleets worldwide, and the Vice Chief of Naval Operations directed a comprehensive review of surface fleet operations, stating that these tragic incidents are not limited occurrences but part of a disturbing trend in mishaps involving U.S. ships. This statement provides information on the effects of homeporting ships overseas, reducing crew size on ships, and not completing maintenance on time on the readiness of the Navy and summarizes GAO [Government Accountability Office] recommendations to address the Navy's maintenance, training, and other challenges. In preparing this statement, GAO relied on work it has published since 2015 related to the readiness of ships homeported overseas, sailor training and workload issues, maintenance challenges, and other issues. GAO updated this information, as appropriate, based on Navy data. GAO made 14 recommendations in prior work cited in this statement. The Department of Defense generally concurred with all of them but has implemented only 1. Continued attention is needed to ensure that these recommendations are addressed, such as the Navy assessing the risks associated with overseas basing and reassessing sailor workload and factors used in its manpower requirements process."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2017-09-19
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Turkey: Background and U.S. Relations In Brief [September 19, 2017]
"Turkey, a longtime NATO ally, is of significant relevance to U.S. interests, largely owing to its status as a constitutional republic with a large, diversified economy and a Muslim-majority population that straddles Europe and the Middle East. The history of the U.S.-Turkey relationship is replete with complications. Bilateral ties have experienced a period of particular stress over the past five years in connection with conflict in Syria and Iraq, increasing domestic contention in Turkey, and the continuing consolidation of power by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Nevertheless, Turkey continues to allow the United States and other members of the coalition assembled to fight the Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIS/ISIL) to use Turkish territory for airstrikes against IS targets."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Zanotti, Jim; Thomas, Clayton
2017-09-19
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Issues in Autonomous Vehicle Deployment [September 19, 2017]
"Autonomous vehicles, which would carry out many or all of their functions without the intervention of a driver, may bring sweeping social and economic changes in their wake. The elderly, disabled Americans, urban residents, and those who do not own a car may have new travel options. Travel on public roads and highways could become less congested. Highway travel could become safer as well: U.S. roadway fatalities rose in 2015 and 2016, the first annual increases in more than 50 years, and a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has shown that 94% of crashes are due to human errors that autonomous vehicles could reduce. As a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) report noted, highly automated vehicles 'hold a learning advantage over humans. While a human driver may repeat the same mistakes as millions before them, a [highly automated vehicle] can benefit from the data and experience drawn from thousands of other vehicles on the road.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Canis, Bill
2017-09-19
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Department of Veterans Affairs FY2017 Appropriations [September 19, 2017]
"The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a range of benefits and services to veterans and eligible dependents who meet certain criteria as authorized by law. These benefits include medical care, disability compensation and pensions, education, vocational rehabilitation and employment services, assistance to homeless veterans, home loan guarantees, administration of life insurance as well as traumatic injury protection insurance for servicemembers, and death benefits that cover burial expenses. The President's FY2017 budget request for the VA was submitted to Congress on February 9, 2016. The President's FY2017 request for VA is approximately $177.54 billion. This amount, which includes $102.53 billion in mandatory funding and $75.01 billion in discretionary appropriations, is a 9.14% increase over the FY2016-enacted level of $162.67 billion."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Panangala, Sidath Viranga
2017-09-19
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State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report: Scope, Aid Restrictions, and Methodology [September 19, 2017]
"The State Department's annual release of the Trafficking in Persons report (commonly referred to as the TIP Report) has been closely monitored by Congress, foreign governments, the media, advocacy groups, and other foreign policy observers. The 109th Congress first mandated the report's publication in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA; Div. A of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, P.L. 106-386). Over time, the number of countries covered by the TIP Report has grown, peaking at 188 countries, including the United States. In the 2017 TIP Report, the State Department categorized 187 countries. Countries were placed into one of several lists (or tiers) based on their respective governments' level of effort to address human trafficking between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2017. An additional category of special cases included three countries that were not assigned a tier ranking because of ongoing political instability (Libya, Somalia, and Yemen)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rosen, Liana
2017-09-19
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U.S. Role in the World: Background and Issues for Congress [September 19, 2017]
"This report presents background information and issues for Congress on the overarching U.S. foreign policy issue of the U.S. role in the world. Certain statements and actions from the Trump Administration have led to uncertainty about the Administration's intentions regarding the future U.S. role, and have intensified an ongoing debate among foreign policy specialists, strategists, policymakers, and the public about what that role should be. Decisions that Congress makes about the U.S. role could have substantial or even profound implications for U.S. foreign policy, national security, and international economic policy, for Congress as an institution, and for many federal policies and programs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; Moodie, Michael, 1948-
2017-09-19
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Chevron Deference: A Primer [September 19, 2017]
"Congress has created numerous administrative agencies to implement and enforce delegated regulatory authority. Federal statutes define the scope and reach of agencies' power, granting them discretion to, for example, promulgate regulations, conduct adjudications, issue licenses, and impose sanctions for violations of the law. The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) confers upon the judiciary an important role in policing these statutory boundaries, directing federal courts to 'set aside agency action' that is 'not in accordance with law' or 'in excess of statutory jurisdiction, authority, or limitations.' Courts will thus invalidate an action that exceeds an agency's statutory authorization or otherwise violates the law. Of course, in exercising its statutory authorities, an agency necessarily must determine what the various statutes that govern its actions mean. This includes statutes the agency specifically is charged with administering as well as laws that apply broadly to all or most agencies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Brannon, Valerie C.; Cole, Jared P.
2017-09-19
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Election in Germany [September 18, 2017]
"Chancellor Angela Merkel is seeking a fourth term in Germany's parliamentary election scheduled for September 24, 2017. Merkel has led Europe's largest and most prosperous country for 12 years and is widely viewed as the most influential political leader in Europe. Opinion polls suggest she will be reelected comfortably. Merkel's campaign has stressed the value of continuity and predictability during a time of flux in Europe and beyond. While presiding over a period of economic prosperity in Germany, Merkel has been confronted with crises such as significant migration and refugee flows, Russian aggression in Ukraine, the Greek debt crisis, the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union (EU), and a rise in terrorism."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Belkin, Paul
2017-09-18
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Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress [September 18, 2017]
"The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region's future. Issues such as Arctic territorial disputes; commercial shipping through the Arctic; Arctic oil, gas, and mineral exploration; endangered Arctic species; and increased military operations in the Arctic could cause the region in coming years to become an arena of international cooperation or competition. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial political, economic, energy, environmental, and other interests in the region. Decisions that Congress makes on Arctic-related issues could significantly affect these interests."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2017-09-18
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EPA's Role in Emergency Planning and Notification at Chemical Facilities [September 18, 2017]
"Chemicals and the facilities that manufacture, store, distribute, and use them are essential to the U.S. economy. However, incidents occasioned by natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, earthquakes, floods), unintentional events (e.g., fire, accidents), or security threats (e.g., terrorism) show that the handling and storage of chemicals are not without risk. Incidents such as the 2017 fire at the Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, Texas, the 2013 explosion at the West Fertilizer Company in West, Texas, and the 1984 release of methyl isocyanate at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, have motivated many in federal, state, and local governments to back efforts to reduce the risk of chemical accidents in the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lattanzio, Richard K.; Bearden, David M.
2017-09-18
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China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities-Background and Issues for Congress [September, 18, 2017]
"This report provides background information and issues for Congress on China's naval modernization effort and its implications for U.S. Navy capabilities. The question of how the United States should respond to China's military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, is a key issue in U.S. defense planning and budgeting. Many U.S. military programs for countering improving Chinese military forces (particularly its naval forces) fall within the U.S. Navy's budget. The issue for Congress is how the U.S. Navy should respond to China's military modernization effort, particularly its naval modernization effort. Decisions that Congress reaches on this issue could affect U.S. Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the U.S. defense industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2017-09-18
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 705: Child Protection Improvements Act of 2017
"Under current law, organizations in certain states that provide services to youth, the elderly, and the disabled have limited access to information from national criminal background checks. (Those organizations typically review the backgrounds of prospective coaches, employees, and volunteers.) S. 705 would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish a program to allow such organizations to obtain information from criminal background checks in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) fingerprint database."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-09-18
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2142: INTERDICT Act
"H.R. 2142 would authorize the appropriation of $9 million for the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency in the Department of Homeland Security to help prevent the importation of certain illegal drugs including fentanyl. Those funds would be used to purchase and use chemical screening devices at points of entry into the United States, to support additional CBP personnel who operate such devices, and for staff to interpret the data collected."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-09-18
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Kurds in Iraq Propose Controversial Referendum on Independence [September 18, 2017]
"The question of self-determination for the Kurds of Iraq and neighboring countries has remained unresolved since the delineation of national borders in the Middle East in the wake of World War I. U.S. intervention in Iraq since the 1990s has contributed to the emergence and protection of autonomous political institutions in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and the development of the region's economy and security forces. At the same time, tensions between Kurds in Iraq and Iraq's national government have complicated U.S. efforts to assist Iraqis in securing and stabilizing their country. Successive U.S. Administrations have used diplomacy and military partnership initiatives to lower the risk of conflict between Kurds and other Iraqis, with mixed results. Recent U.S. partnerships with Kurds in Iraq in efforts to combat the Islamic State have further enmeshed the United States in the question of Kurdish security and relations between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad. Kurds and other Iraqis differ among themselves over the desirability and feasibility of Kurdish independence, and Iraq's neighbors warily monitor related developments and the aspirations of their own Kurdish citizens."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Christopher M.
2017-09-18
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COMNAVSURFPAC Instruction 3040.1: Significant Event/Near-Miss Reporting
"Purpose. To promulgate guidance, procedures and requirements for significant event and near-miss critique conduct and reporting. Significant event/near-miss reporting is a key supporting element of the sound shipboard operating principles of integrity, procedural compliance, formality, questioning attitude, forceful backup, and level of knowledge. This instruction provides a structured process for conducting critiques and reporting significant events/near-misses via a critique report in order to: a. Improve shipboard readiness through the conduct of a significant event/near-miss critique. b. Improve Pacific Surface Force readiness by disseminating the reports from this process. c. Instill a culture of continuous improvement, promote better understanding of the sound shipboard operating principles, and gain proficiency in root cause analysis to improve warfighting effectiveness."
United States. Department of the Navy
2017-09-18
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FEMA Daily Operations Briefings, September 17 - 23, 2017
"This document is a compilation of all the FEMA Daily Operations Briefings from September 17 - 23, 2017. 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
2017-09-17
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 15, 2017
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 Preparedness Month --September 2017;" "Assessment of Hospital Emergency Department Response to Potentially Infectious Diseases Using Unannounced Mystery Patient Drills -- New York City, 2016;" "Rates and Trends of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia -- United States, 2001-2014;" "Occupational Animal Exposure Among Persons with Campylobacteriosis and Cryptosporidiosis -- Nebraska, 2005-2015;" "Updated Dosing Instructions for Immune Globulin (Human) GamaSTAN S/D for Hepatitis A Virus Prophylaxis;" "Notes from the Field: Vibrio cholerae Serogroup O1, Serotype Inaba -- Minnesota, August 2016;" "Announcement: Childhood Cancer Awareness Month -- September 2017;" "Announcement: National Child Passenger Safety Week -- September 17-23, 2017;" "Announcement: Community Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation for Interventions Engaging Community Health Workers for Diabetes Management;" "QuickStats: Percentage of Women Who Missed Taking Oral Contraceptive Pills Among Women Aged 15-44 Years Who Used Oral Contraceptive Pills and Had Sexual Intercourse, Overall and by Age and Number of Pills Missed -- National Survey Of Family Growth, United States, 2013-2015;" and "Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2017-09-15
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Implementation Date Nears for HHS Emergency Preparedness (EP) Rule [September 15, 2017]
"On November 16, 2017, many U.S. health care entities will be expected to fully comply with new federal emergency preparedness requirements. Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers (the 'EP Rule'), issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), became effective November 16, 2016. In the 2013 proposed rule, CMS said it had concluded that 'the current regulatory patchwork of federal, state, and local laws and guidelines, combined with the various accrediting organization emergency preparedness standards, falls far short of what is needed to require that health care providers and suppliers be adequately prepared for a disaster.' Where federal requirements apply, they may be outmoded, lack sufficient depth, or be inconsistent across facility types."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lister, Sarah A.
2017-09-15
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Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress [September 15, 2017]
"This report provides background information and issues for Congress on maritime territorial and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) disputes in the East China (ECS) and South China Sea (SCS) involving China, with a focus on how these disputes may affect U.S. strategic and policy interests."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2017-09-15
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Regulatory Exclusivity Reform in the 115th Congress [September 15, 2017]
"Regulatory exclusivities provide incentives for pharmaceutical innovation in the United States. Overseen by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regulatory exclusivities are alternatively known as marketing exclusivities, data exclusivities, or data protection. Each of the distinct regulatory exclusivities establishes a period of time during which the FDA affords an approved drug protection from competing applications for marketing approval."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Thomas, John R.
2017-09-15
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China's Economic Rise: History, Trends, Challenges, and Implications for the United States [September 15, 2017]
"Prior to the initiation of economic reforms and trade liberalization 36 years ago, China maintained policies that kept the economy very poor, stagnant, centrally-controlled, vastly inefficient, and relatively isolated from the global economy. Since opening up to foreign trade and investment and implementing free market reforms in 1979, China has been among the world's fastest-growing economies, with real annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth averaging nearly 10% through 2016. In recent years, China has emerged as a major global economic power. It is now the world's largest economy (on a purchasing power parity basis), manufacturer, merchandise trader, and holder of foreign exchange reserves."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morrison, Wayne M.
2017-09-15
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Iran Sanctions [September 15, 2017]
"U.S. sanctions--and U.S. attempts to achieve imposition of multilateral and international sanctions on Iran--have been a significant component of U.S. Iran policy for several decades. In the 1980s and 1990s, U.S. sanctions were intended to try to compel Iran to cease supporting acts of terrorism and to limit Iran's strategic power in the Middle East more generally. Since the mid2000s, U.S. sanctions have focused on ensuring that Iran's nuclear program is for purely civilian uses and, since 2010, the international community has cooperated with a U.S.-led and U.N.authorized sanctions regime in pursuit of that goal. Still, sanctions against Iran have multiple objectives and address multiple perceived threats from Iran simultaneously."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2017-09-15
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Iran Nuclear Agreement [September 15, 2017]
"Multilateral negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program date back to 2003 after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on the existence of clandestine nuclear facilities at Natanz. In October of that year, Iran concluded an agreement with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom under which Iran temporarily suspended aspects of its nuclear program, including enrichment of uranium, and signed an Additional Protocol to its IAEA safeguards agreement, but also asserted its right to develop nuclear technology. In January 2006, Tehran announced that it would resume research and development on its centrifuges at Natanz. After that time, Iran held multiple rounds of talks with China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (collectively known as the P5+1)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth; Kerr, Paul K.
2017-09-15
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2017 Hurricanes and Army Corps of Engineers: Background for Flood Response and Recovery [September 15, 2017]
In addition to damage from high winds, hurricanes can produce damaging storm surge and flooding from rainfall. This Insight summarizes flood-management activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE, or Corps) related to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. USACE has three primary roles relevant to hurricanes: emergency responder with flood-fighting and post-disaster recovery, owner and operator of flood-risk-reduction projects, and provider of assistance to repair certain nonfederal flood-control infrastructure. Congress may have interest in each of these roles as it responds to hurricane-related flooding and recovery.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Carter, Nicole; Stern, Charles V.
2017-09-15
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Supreme Court October Term 2016: A Review of Select Major Rulings [September 15, 2017]
"The Supreme Court term that began on October 3, 2016, was notably different from recent terms at the High Court. It was the first term (1) in thirty years to begin without Justice Antonin Scalia on the Court; (2) since 1987 to commence with a Court made up of fewer than nine active Justices; and (3) since 2010 in which a new member (Justice Neil Gorsuch) joined the High Court. Court observers have suggested that the lack of a fully staffed Supreme Court for the bulk of the last term likely had an impact on the Court's work both with regard to the volume of cases that the Court heard and the nature of those cases. The Court issued seventy written opinions during the October 2016 term and heard oral arguments in sixty-four cases, numbers that constitute the lightest docket for the Court since at least the Civil War era. Moreover, unlike in recent terms where the Court issued opinions on matters related to abortion and affirmative action, the Court's docket for the October 2016 term had comparatively very few high-profile issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nolan, Andrew; Brown, Cynthia; Garcia, Michael John; Lewis, Caitlain Devereaux; Peck, Sarah Herman
2017-09-15
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State Department Special Envoy, Representative, and Coordinator Positions: Background and Congressional Actions [September 15, 2017]
"President George Washington set the precedent for making special, temporary diplomatic appointments in 1789 when he named Gouverneur Morris as a private agent to establish normal diplomatic relations with British officials. From that point on, the number of these temporary special representatives expanded and contracted, depending on each Administration's governing style and the issues at the time. As the United States became more deeply involved in world affairs, and as Presidents became more directly involved in international relations, the number of special appointments grew, particularly in the 20th and 21st centuries."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gill, Cory Richard; Epstein, Susan B.
2017-09-15
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Oil Spills: Background and Governance [September 15, 2017]
"Oil is a dominant source of energy in the United States, accounting for approximately 37% of total energy consumption in 2016. Its use is widespread, providing fuel for the transportation, industrial, and residential sectors. Vast quantities of oil continuously enter the country via vessel or pipeline. Vast quantities continually move throughout the country to various destinations. With such widespread use and nonstop movement, it is inevitable that some number of spills will occur. This report provides background information regarding oil spills and identifies the legal authorities and processes for oil spill prevention, response, liability, and compensation. The first section highlights background issues, including oil spill statistics and potential environmental impacts. The second section discusses the legal and regulatory framework that governs oil spill prevention and response."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ramseur, Jonathan L.
2017-09-15
