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Public Engagement 101: What Strategic Communication Is, Isn't, and Should Be
"'We need to get back to basics.' With these words, Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called for a hard look at U.S. strategic communication in Joint Force Quarterly 55 (4th Quarter 2009). Admiral Mullen rightly noted that actions speak louder than words, that credibility and trust are key, and that the United States undermines its own power when our government fails to live up to its promises and our nation's values. He called on Americans to be better listeners and to engage foreign audiences, not to arrogantly fire off messages like so many verbal missiles. On all these points, Admiral Mullen is correct. His serious consideration of strategic communication is a welcome contribution to an often stale debate. This article builds on the Chairman's recent articles and speeches, arguing that public engagement is a powerful instrument of statecraft that can advance our country's broader national security strategy in concert with diplomatic, economic, and military instruments. It can be used to amplify and reinforce the messages sent by our actions. It can also build critical long-term relationships, increasing the odds that the messages we intend our actions to send are actually the messages received."
National Defense University Press
Lord, Kristin M.
2101-01
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Nuclear Weapons Sustainment: Budget Estimates Report Contains More Information than in Prior Fiscal Years, but Transparency Can Be Improved, Report to Congressional Committees
"DOD [Department of Defense] and DOE [Department of Energy] are undertaking an extensive effort to sustain and modernize aging U.S. nuclear weapons capabilities. This effort is expected to take decades and cost hundreds of billions of dollars. Section 1043 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, as amended, requires submission of an annual report to congressional committees on DOD's and DOE's plans for related matters and includes a provision that GAO review aspects of that joint report. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has previously recommended that future joint reports provide more thorough documentation of methodologies and context for significant changes from year to year. GAO assessed the extent to which the fiscal year 2017 joint report provides (1) budget estimates that are consistent with the departments' internal funding and modernization plans and (2) complete and transparent information on the methodology used to develop the estimates. GAO analyzed the departments' internal plans and budget estimates for sustaining and modernizing the nuclear deterrent and interviewed DOD and DOE officials. GAO recommends that DOD (1) improve the completeness and transparency of future joint reports, for example by explaining how it selects nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) program elements, and (2) provide additional context in the report to identify any significant changes to the Air Force's estimates from the prior year and the reasons for such changes. DOD agreed with GAO's recommendations. GAO did not make any new recommendations to DOE."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2017-07-20
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Aviation Security: TSA Does Not Have Valid Evidence Supporting Most of the Revised Behavioral Indicators Used in Its Behavior Detection Activities
"Over the past 10 years, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has employed thousands of trained behavior detection officers (BDO) to identify passengers exhibiting behaviors indicative of stress, fear, or deception at airport screening checkpoints. According to TSA, certain verbal and nonverbal cues and behaviors-TSA's behavioral indicators-may indicate mal-intent, such as the intent to carry out a terrorist attack. These behavioral indicators include, for example, assessing the way an individual swallows or the degree to which an individual's eyes are open. According to TSA, such indicators provide a means for identifying passengers who may pose a risk to aviation security and referring them for additional screening. TSA officials have reported that behavior detection methods are based on techniques that have been used by defense organizations and law enforcement agencies for years. […] In light of the steps TSA has taken following our recommendation, you asked us to evaluate the sources TSA cited as providing support for its revised list of behavioral indicators. This report assesses the extent to which TSA has valid evidence demonstrating that the specific indicators in its revised list can be used to identify passengers who pose a threat to aviation security. We reviewed and categorized all 178 sources that, as of April 2017, TSA cited as providing support for specific indicators in its revised list of behavioral indicators to identify the extent to which they present valid evidence. We defined valid evidence as original research that meets generally accepted research standards and presents evidence that is applicable in supporting TSA's specific behavioral indicators."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2017-07-20
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Supply Chain Security: CBP Needs to Enforce Compliance and Assess the Effectiveness of the Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements, Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
"Cargo shipments can present security concerns as terrorists could use cargo containers to transport a weapon of mass destruction or other contraband into the United States. In January 2009, CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection], within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), implemented the ISF [Importer Security Filing] rule. The rule requires importers and vessel carriers to submit information, such as country of origin, to CBP before cargo is loaded onto U.S.-bound vessels. The information is intended to improve CBP's ability to identify high-risk shipments. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the ISF program. This report addresses: (1) importers' and carriers' submission rates for ISF rule requirements, (2) CBP's actions to enforce the ISF rule and assess whether enforcement actions have increased compliance, and (3) the extent to which the ISF rule has improved CBP's ability to identify high-risk shipments. GAO, among other things, analyzed CBP's compliance and enforcement data for 2012 through 2015-the most recent data available at the time of GAO's review-and interviewed CBP officials and trade industry members. GAO recommends that CBP (1) enforce the container status messages (CSM) requirement when targeters identify carriers' noncompliance; (2) evaluate the effect of enforcement strategies on compliance at the port level; and (3) collect additional performance information to better evaluate the effectiveness of the ISF program. DHS concurred with the recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2017-07-20
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FirstNet: Efforts to Establish the Public-Safety Broadband Network, Statement of Mark L. Goldstein, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate
"Thank you for the opportunity to discuss our June 2017 report on the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), which we are publicly releasing today. We have previously reported and testified on FirstNet. Whether conducting daily operations, overseeing planned events, or responding to emergencies, public safety officials-especially first responders such as police officers and firefighters-rely on communications systems to gather and share information and coordinate their efforts. However, first responders often have difficulty communicating with their counterparts in other agencies and jurisdictions because existing systems lack interoperability. […] For our report, we reviewed the 2012 Act, FirstNet documentation, and documentation from other federal entities involved in FirstNet's efforts, such as FirstNet's key research partner, the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) program. We compared FirstNet's efforts to respond to tribal stakeholders' concerns with the applicable key principle of effective tribal communication on federal infrastructure decisions developed by several federal agencies. We assessed the PSCR's and FirstNet's research activities against our previously identified criteria on key phases of sound research programs. We assessed FirstNet's contract oversight plans against key acquisition and contract oversight practices and actions established in federal acquisition regulations, the Department of Commerce's (Commerce) acquisition manual, prior GAO [Government Accountability Office] reports, and other academic and industry sources. We also interviewed FirstNet and Commerce officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2017-07-20
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 1628: Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act of 2017
"The Congressional Budget Office and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) have completed an estimate of the direct spending and revenue effects of the Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act of 2017, an amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 1628, which would repeal many provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). According to the agencies' analysis, enacting the legislation would decrease deficits by $473 billion over the 2017-2026 period (see Figure 1). CBO and JCT estimate that enacting the legislation would affect insurance coverage and premiums primarily in these ways: [1] The number of people who are uninsured would increase by 17 million in 2018, compared with the number under current law. That number would increase to 27 million in 2020, after the elimination of the ACA's expansion of eligibility for Medicaid and the elimination of subsidies for insurance purchased through the marketplaces established by the ACA, and then to 32 million in 2026. [2] Average premiums in the nongroup market (for individual policies purchased through the marketplaces or directly from insurers) would increase by roughly 25 percent-relative to projections under current law-in 2018. The increase would reach about 50 percent in 2020, and premiums would about double by 2026. In CBO and JCT's estimation, under this legislation, about half of the nation's population would live in areas having no insurer participating in the nongroup market in 2020 because of downward pressure on enrollment and upward pressure on premiums. That share would continue to increase, extending to about three-quarters of the population by 2026."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-19
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2875: National Flood Insurance Program Administrative Reform Act of 2017
"Under current law, property owners can buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Property owners who buy insurance through the NFIP pay annual premiums which are deposited into the National Flood Insurance Fund (NFIF) and are used to pay flood damage claims submitted by policyholders. Those premiums and payments are not subject to annual appropriation. H.R. 2875 would give NFIP policyholders the option to buy a higher level of coverage under the Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) program, which provides payments to property owners to undertake flood mitigation activities following a flood claim. The bill also would direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make several administrative changes to the NFIP related to claims payment determinations, program staffing, and related matters. Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing H.R. 2875 would cost $11 million over the 2018-2022 period, mostly for an advisory committee on flood insurance. Enacting the legislation would affect direct spending and revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. However, because any increase in NFIP collections and revenues would be offset by increased direct spending, CBO estimates that the net effect on the deficit would be negligible. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2875 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028. H.R. 2875 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-18
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Federal Emergency Management Agency: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Handling of Employee Misconduct Allegations, Report to Congressional Requesters
"FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] is responsible for coordinating government-wide efforts in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural or man-made disasters, including acts of terror. The agency relies on permanent and disaster-related temporary employees and has a total workforce of over 22,000. Employee misconduct incidents can detract from FEMA's mission, damage the agency's reputation, and hamper its ability to respond to disasters and maintain public trust. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review employee misconduct at FEMA. This report examines: (1) the extent to which FEMA developed policies and procedures for addressing misconduct; (2) available data on FEMA misconduct cases and the extent to which FEMA uses the data to identify and address trends; and (3) the extent that misconduct cases are shared within FEMA and with DHS OIG [Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General]. GAO reviewed FEMA procedures, analyzed misconduct data, and interviewed officials from FEMA HQ and three regions (selected based on geographic dispersion and number of misconduct allegations). GAO also analyzed a random, non-generalizable sample of 20 complaints referred from DHS OIG to FEMA to determine whether they were addressed. GAO is making six recommendations with which DHS concurred, including that FEMA document policies and procedures for addressing Surge Capacity Force and Reservist misconduct, improve the quality and usefulness of its misconduct data, and develop reconciliation procedures to consistently track referred cases."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2017-07-18
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Countering ISIS and Its Effects: Key Issues for Oversight, Report to Congressional Addressees
"To generate a list of possible key issues to include in this special publication on countering ISIS [Islamic State in Iraq and Syria] and its effects, we reviewed past products about U.S. efforts to counter ISIS by GAO [Government Accountability Office], cognizant agency inspectors general (including the Lead Inspector General for Overseas Contingency Operations), the Congressional Research Service, and research institutions. Working with GAO subject matter experts, we narrowed the list of issues and identified potential oversight questions. We interviewed cognizant agency officials from State, including the office of the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant]; DOD; DHS; the Department of the Treasury (Treasury); DOJ [Department of Justice], including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and USAID [United States Agency for International Development]. We also interviewed staff from the Congressional Research Service and several members of the Comptroller General's Advisory Board with extensive national security experience. We used these interviews to refine our key issues, gain updated information, and follow up on actions taken regarding our past recommendations. We then synthesized this information to provide a balanced and comprehensive overview for each issue and pose oversight questions. Further information on our scope and methodologies, as well as data reliability assessments, can be found in the reports referenced in appendix II. We prepared this report under the authority of the Comptroller General to conduct work on his initiative because of broad congressional interest in the oversight and accountability of U.S. funds provided to counter ISIS to assist Congress with its oversight responsibilities."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2017-07-18
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 3180: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018
"H.R. 3180 would authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for intelligence activities of the U.S. government, the Intelligence Community Management Account (ICMA), and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System (CIARDS). The bill also would modify other programs across the intelligence community. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] does not provide estimates for classified programs; therefore, this estimate addresses only the unclassified aspects of the bill. On that limited basis, CBO estimates that implementing the unclassified provisions of the bill would cost $520 million over the 2018-2022 period, subject to appropriation of the specified amounts. In addition, enacting the bill also would affect direct spending by making changes to CIARDS that would enhance the benefits offered to certain annuitants; therefore, pay-as-you procedures apply. However, CBO estimates that those effects would be less than $500,000 over the 2018-2027 period. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 3180 would not significantly increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028. H.R. 3180 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-18
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Embassy Evacuations: State Department Should Take Steps to Improve Emergency Preparedness, Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives
"From October 2012 to September 2016, State evacuated overseas post staff and family members from 23 overseas posts in response to various threats, such as terrorism, civil unrest, and natural disasters. Overseas posts undergoing evacuations generally experience authorized departure or ordered departure of specific post staff or family members, potentially leading to suspended operations. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review State policies and procedures for evacuating overseas posts. This report examines (1) the processes State has established to prepare posts for crises and to conduct evacuations and (2) State's implementation of preparedness processes for crises and evacuations. GAO reviewed State guidance and documents related to crisis and evacuation preparedness, including a sample of EAPs [Emergency Action Plans] and State databases on EAP updates and post drills. GAO also interviewed U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., and in six countries selected because of posts' experiences with evacuations. This is the public version of a sensitive report that GAO issued in June 2017. Information that State deemed sensitive has been omitted. In GAO's sensitive report, GAO made five recommendations to State focused on strengthening accountability for completion and review of posts' annual EAP updates and required emergency drills, enhancing the usability of EAPs, and ensuring that lessons learned reports are completed. State concurred with all five recommendations and described actions planned or under way to address them."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2017-07-17
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Biological Defense: Additional Information That Congress May Find Useful as It Considers DOD's Advanced Development and Manufacturing Capability, Report to Congressional Committees
"DOD [Department of Defense] has long expressed concerns about its ability to acquire and maintain the capability to research, develop, and manufacture medical countermeasures (e.g., vaccines) against biological warfare threat agents, toxins, and endemic diseases. In 2013, DOD partnered with a private-sector bio-pharmaceutical company to develop an advanced development and manufacturing (ADM) facility with the capability to use disposable equipment enabling timely changes in a production line for medical countermeasures. The facility was fully operational in March 2017, and DOD can now renew its contract for 2-year periods through 2024. Congress included a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 that DOD, among other things, submit a report to Congress addressing six required elements regarding DOD's ADM facility. DOD submitted its report in October 2016. The act also contained a provision that GAO [Government Accountability Office] review the report. GAO describes (1) the information that DOD included in its report to address the six required elements and (2) presents additional information related to the elements that may be useful to Congress in its oversight role. GAO compared DOD's report and cost-benefit analysis with the legislatively required elements and analyzed documents from DOD, HHS [Health and Human Services], and their private-sector partners. This is a public version of a sensitive report issued in May 2017. Information DOD and HHS deemed sensitive has been omitted. GAO is not making recommendations in this report. GAO incorporated agency technical comments, as appropriate."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2017-07-17
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 3050: Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2017
"H.R. 3050 would authorize the appropriation of $90 million in each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022 for the Department of Energy (DOE) to provide financial and technical assistance to states for purposes of developing and implementing plans related to energy conservation. The bill would require that states' plans specify strategies for safeguarding energy-related infrastructure from physical and cybersecurity threats, mitigating the risk of disruptions to the supply of energy, and ensuring energy reliability. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing H.R. 3050 would cost $302 million over the 2018-2022 period; the remainder would spend in years after 2022. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 3050 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-17
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 782: PROTECT Our Children Act of 2017
"S. 782 would authorize the appropriation of $250 million over the 2018-2022 period for existing programs at the Department of Justice (DOJ) that combat the exploitation of children. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing S. 782 would cost about $131 million over the 2018-2022 period; the remaining $119 million would be spent in years after 2022. Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting S. 782 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028. S. 782 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-17
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2939 Water Rights Protection Act of 2017
"H.R. 2939 would prevent federal agencies from requiring certain entities to relinquish their water rights to the United States in order to use public lands. The bill also would require the affected agencies to consult with states when developing policy related to land use agreements."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-14
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2565 A Bill to Require the Use of Replacement Cost Value in Determining the Premium Rates for Flood Insurance Coverage Under the National Flood Insurance Act, and for Other Purposes
"H.R. 2565 would direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to analyze different methods and develop a plan for incorporating the actual replacement cost of each structure insured by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) into the premium charged to each property owner. The bill also would require FEMA to submit the plan and an analysis of any alternative plans it considered to the Congress. FEMA would then be required to phase in its plan over a three-year period."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-14
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.J. Res. 76 Joint Resolution Granting the Consent and Approval of Congress for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia to Enter into a Compact Relating to the Establishment of the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission
"H.J. Res. 76 would grant Congressional consent to a compact establishing a safety commission for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). A Congressional act is required for WMATA to establish a safety commission. Based on information from WMATA and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), CBO [Congressional Budget Office] anticipates that under H.J. Res. 76 WMATA would certify a safety oversight agency during fiscal year 2018. Establishing this commission would bring WMATA into compliance with federal law that requires an independent agency to oversee safety at the transit authority. The FTA currently serves as the entity responsible for safety oversight of the agency and will continue to do so until the compact is approved and the FTA certifies that WMATA is able to provide safety oversight that complies with FTA guidelines. In fiscal year 2016, the FTA spent about $6 million on safety activities for WMATA and will continue to incur similar costs until the WMATA oversight program is certified, CBO estimates. Thus, implementing the bill would decrease discretionary costs for the FTA by about $6 million a year. In addition, the FTA is prohibiting the states of Virginia and Maryland and the District of Columbia from obligating about $15 million that was provided in 2017 until WMATA establishes a safety commission."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-14
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 1351: Strengthening Oversight of TSA Employee Misconduct Act
"H.R. 1351 would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to complete, by September 30, 2023, unannounced inspections at all airports of actions taken by TSA managers to address employee misconduct. The bill would specify procedures for TSA to follow in reporting the results of such inspections to both the Congress and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and would authorize TSA to implement any personnel-related recommendations that DHS makes after reviewing such results. Based on an analysis of information from TSA, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that inspecting all airports where TSA currently operates within the timeframe specified by the bill would require about five additional staff. Including increased administrative costs and travel expenses, CBO estimates that meeting the bill's inspection requirements would increase TSA's costs by $1 million annually and $5 million over the 2018-2022 period; that spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-14
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 806 Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017
"H.R. 806 would delay the implementation of a final rule promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2015 related to ambient-air-quality standards for ozone emissions. That rule, published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2015, requires states to determine whether different geographical areas in the states are in compliance with federal limits on ozone pollution and to submit plans to reduce ozone emissions to the EPA starting in 2020. The bill would delay the requirement for states to submit those plans until 2026."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-14
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2480: Empowering Law Enforcement to Fight Sex Trafficking Demand Act
"Under the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program, the Department of Justice makes grants to state and local governments to support a wide range of activities relating to law enforcement, crime prevention, and victim services. (For 2017, the Congress appropriated $396 million for this program.) H.R. 2480 would specifically permit grant recipients to use these funds for programs to combat human trafficking. Because the legislation would not change the funding level for the JAG program, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing H.R. 2480 would have no significant cost to the federal government. Enacting H.R. 2480 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2480 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028. H.R. 2480 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-14
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Proposal for Special Immigrant Visas-CBO's Estimate of the President's Fiscal Year 2018 Budget
"The proposal would increase by 4,000 the number of SIVs [Special Immigrant Visas] available to certain Afghans who were employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government or the International Security Assistance Force (or any successor name for such Force) at some point since 2001. (Additional SIVs, not subject to limitation, are available to certain relatives of those employees who themselves received SIVs.) Like refugees (but unlike most other categories of aliens), Afghan special immigrants are eligible for federal benefits if they meet the other eligibility standards for those programs. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] uses a variety of administrative and survey data to estimate Afghan special immigrants' usage rates and per-capita costs for federal-benefit programs."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-13
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Investigational New Drugs: FDA Has Taken Steps to Improve the Expanded Access Program But Should Further Clarify How Adverse Events Data Are Used, Report to Congressional Addressees
"FDA's goal for the expanded access program is to allow patients with immediately life-threatening and serious ailments access to investigational drugs when appropriate. Stakeholders have raised concerns that FDA's process is confusing or burdensome, particularly for the entities that have roles in the process--such as physicians, manufacturers, and institutional review boards. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine the expanded access program. Among other objectives, GAO examined 1) what is known about the number, type, and time frames of expanded access requests received by FDA; 2) what actions FDA and other stakeholders have taken to improve expanded access; and 3) how FDA uses data from expanded access in the drug approval process. GAO reviewed regulations and FDA documents and analyzed FDA data on the numbers and types of expanded access requests it received from FY2012 through 2015, the most recent at the time of the review. GAO also interviewed FDA officials and other stakeholders including nine manufacturers-- selected to represent large and small companies--and patient and physician representatives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2017-07-11
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Executive Order 13804: Allowing Additional Time for Recognizing Positive Actions by the Government of Sudan and Amending Executive Order 13761
This purpose of this EO [Executive Order] amends previous EOs with regards to the crises in Sudan allowing for more time in analyzing the actions of the Sudanese government.
United States. Office of the Federal Register
Trump, Donald, 1946-
2017-07-11
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2997: 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act
"H.R. 2997 would establish a federally chartered, not-for-profit corporation (known as the American Air Navigation Services (AANS) Corporation) to assume responsibility for operating the U.S. air traffic control system, a function currently performed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The proposed corporation would be governed by a 13-member board of directors composed of individuals representing certain aviation stakeholder groups. To finance the costs of providing air traffic services, the bill would authorize the corporation to charge fees to users of such services and to issue debt. The Secretary of Transportation would manage and oversee the transition of operational control over air traffic services to the proposed corporation, which would occur on October 1, 2020. Until that time, the bill would authorize appropriations for the FAA to continue to operate, maintain, and modernize the air traffic control system and carry out the agency's other traditional responsibilities related to civil aviation. After the proposed transition of all air traffic control-related personnel and programs to the AANS Corporation, the bill would authorize additional appropriations for FAA and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to continue to meet traditional aviation-related responsibilities, such as performing certain regulatory and safety-related activities, making grants to airports to support capital projects, and subsidizing air service to certain rural communities."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-11
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2430: FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017
"Table providing the estimated direct spending and revenue effects for H.R. 2430"
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-11
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2810: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018
"H.R. 2810 would authorize appropriations totaling an estimated $689 billion for the military functions of the Department of Defense (DoD), for certain activities of the Department of Energy (DOE), and for other purposes. In addition, the bill would prescribe personnel strengths for each active-duty and selected-reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces. CBO estimates that appropriation of the authorized amounts would result in outlays of $669 billion over the 2018-2022 period. If the total amount authorized for 2018 was appropriated, $613.8 billion would count against that year's defense cap set in the Budget Control Act (BCA), as amended; $0.6 billion would count against the nondefense cap for 2018; and $74.6 billion designated for overseas contingency operations would not be constrained by caps. The bill also contains provisions that would affect the costs of defense programs funded through discretionary appropriations in 2019 and future years. Those provisions mainly would affect force structure, compensation and benefits, the military health system, and various procurement programs. CBO has analyzed the costs of a select number of those provisions and estimates that they would, on a net basis, increase the cost of those programs relative to current law by about $80 billion over the 2019-2022 period. The net costs of those provisions in 2019 and beyond are not included in the total amount of outlays mentioned above because funding for those activities would be covered by specific authorizations in future years."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-10
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2868: National Flood Insurance Program Policyholder Protection Act of 2017
"H.R. 2868 would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to cap annual premiums charged for certain National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies at $10,000 for five years. The cap would be adjusted for inflation every five years. The bill also would require FEMA to update guidelines on methods to mitigate flood prone properties and to conduct a study on the feasibility of providing NFIP coverage to individual dwelling units in cooperative housing projects. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that enacting H.R. 2868 would increase direct spending by $68 million over the 2018-2027 period. Because enacting H.R. 2868 would affect direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Enacting the legislation would not affect revenues. CBO estimates that implementing the bill would have no significant effect on spending subject to appropriation in any year. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2868 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits by more than $5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028. H.R. 2868 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-07
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Chemical and Biological Defense: DOD Has Identified an Infrastructure Manager and Is Developing the Position's Roles and Responsibilities
"Over the past 4 years, the United States has faced significant chemical and biological threats to its national security. [...] The Department of Defense's (DOD) Chemical and Biological Defense Program (CBDP) leads the department's efforts to develop solutions, such as countermeasures, 'to enable the warfighter to deter, prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats and effects as part of a layered, integrated defense.' The CBDP Enterprise--comprising DOD's chemical and biological defense research and development and test and evaluation infrastructure found among 26 DOD organizations--is responsible for implementing this mission. [...] In House Conference Report 114-270, the House and Senate conferees required DOD to report to the congressional defense committees on the designation of an individual responsible for managing the infrastructure for the CBDP in order to minimize duplication of effort both within DOD and other agencies of the federal government. The House and Senate conferees noted that this was consistent with the findings and recommendations in our June 2015 report and included a provision that we review the roles and responsibilities of the official designated to be responsible for infrastructure management. This report describes the status of DOD's efforts to develop the roles and responsibilities of DOD's CBDP Infrastructure Manager."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2017-07-07
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State Secrets: How an Avalanche of Media Leaks is Harming National Security, A Majority Staff Report of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, July 6, 2017
"Federal law prohibits the unauthorized release of certain information that could damage our national security. The protection of our nation's secrets is essential to protecting intelligence activities, sources and methods, preserving the ability of the President to effectively achieve foreign policy objectives, and ultimately to safeguard our country. In short, the unauthorized disclosure of certain information can cost American lives, and our laws protecting this information provide for harsh punishments when violated. Since President Trump assumed office, our nation has faced an unprecedented wave of potentially damaging leaks of information protected by these important laws. Under President Trump's predecessors, leaks of national security information were relatively rare, even with America's vibrant free press. Under President Trump, leaks are flowing at the rate of one a day, an examination of open-source material by the majority staff of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs shows. Articles published by a range of national news organizations between January 20 and May 25, 2017 included at least 125 stories with leaked information potentially damaging to national security. Even a narrow search revealed leaks of comparable information during the Trump administration that were about seven times higher than the same period during the two previous administrations. From the morning of President Trump's inauguration, when major newspapers published information about highly sensitive intelligence intercepts, news organizations have reported on an avalanche of leaks from officials across the U.S. government. Many disclosures have concerned the investigations of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, with the world learning details of whose communications U.S. intelligence agencies are monitoring, what channels are being monitored, and the results of those intercepts. All such revelations are potential violations of federal law, punishable by jail time."
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
2017-07-06
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 534: Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act of 2017
"S. 534 would broaden the coverage of current laws that require reporting of child abuse. As a result, the government might be able to pursue cases that it otherwise would not be able to prosecute. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] expects that the bill would apply to a relatively small number of offenders, however, so any increase in costs for law enforcement, court proceedings, or prison operations would not be significant. Any such costs would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Enacting the bill could affect direct spending and revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Because those prosecuted and convicted under S. 534 could be subject to criminal fines, the federal government might collect additional fines if the legislation is enacted. Criminal fines are recorded as revenues, deposited in the Crime Victims Fund, and later spent without further appropriation action. CBO expects that any additional revenues and associated direct spending would not be significant because the legislation would probably affect only a small number of cases. CBO estimates that enacting S. 534 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2017-07-05
