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COVID-19 and Domestic PPE Production and Distribution: Issues and Policy Options [December 7, 2020]
From the Summary: "The novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its rapid emergence as a pandemic have highlighted issues relating to the production and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE refers to worn articles or equipment that help minimize exposure to various hazards, including infectious pathogens. Given the role that PPE plays in mitigating the spread and reducing the impacts of COVID-19, PPE demand has spiked both globally and domestically while supply has been undercut by both rapid consumption as well as supply chain disruptions. According to multiple federal agencies, including the Government Accountability Office, the Food and Drug Administration, and various independent organizations, PPE continues to be in short supply, which has led to broad congressional and public interest in PPE production and distribution issues. The availability of effective PPE is critical to the ongoing pandemic response, but also has broader public health, emergency preparedness, and national security implications. This report considers aspects of domestic production and distribution of PPE in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the report considers (1) the availability of PPE supplies, including an assessment of PPE demand related to the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) federal actions and activities undertaken to increase PPE supplies in response to the pandemic, organized by executive agency and program; and (3) other policy options under consideration concerning PPE production and distribution, also organized by executive agency and program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cecire, Michael H.; Bodie, Agata; Gottron, Frank . . .
2020-12-07
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COVID-19: Consumer Debt Relief During the Pandemic [December 7, 2020]
From the Document: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a large and persistent economic impact across the United States. Fear of infection, social distancing, and stay-at-home orders prompted business closures and a severe decline in demand for restaurants and travel, among other industries. Consequently, many Americans have lost income and faced financial hardship. Survey results suggest that since March 2020, about half of all U.S. adults live in households that have lost some employment income. This Insight focuses on legislative and regulatory responses related to the financial services industry for consumers who may have trouble paying their bills. It also discusses recent developments and the future outlook in consumer credit markets."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cooper, Cheryl R.
2020-12-07
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First Day of a New Congress: A Guide to Proceedings on the House Floor [Updated December 7, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The House of Representatives follows a well-established routine on the opening day of a new Congress. The proceedings include electing and swearing in the Speaker, swearing in Members, electing and swearing in House administrative officers, and adopting rules of procedure and various administrative resolutions. Resolutions assigning some or many Members to committees may also be adopted. The House must take these actions at the beginning of each new Congress because it is not a continuing body. Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution sets a term of office for Members of the House at two years. Thus, one House ends at the conclusion of each two-year Congress, and the newly elected Representatives must constitute a new House at the beginning of a new Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Davis, Christopher M., 1966-
2020-12-07
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Unemployment Rates During the COVID-19 Pandemic: In Brief [Updated December 7, 2020]
From the Summary: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant effect on unemployment in every state, industry, and major demographic group in the United States. This report provides information on which groups have experienced the largest increases in unemployment rates since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Young workers, women, workers with low educational attainment, part-time workers, and racial and ethnic minorities had relatively high unemployment rates in April. Many, but not all, of these groups had relatively high rates in November as well. The report also compares the overall unemployment rate during the current recession with the unemployment rate experienced during the Great Recession."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Falk, Gene; Carter, Jameson A.; Nicchitta, Isaac A. . . .
2020-12-07
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State and Local Fiscal Conditions and COVID-19: Lessons from the Great Recession and Current Projections [Updated December 7, 2020]
From the Document: "Federal assistance to state and local governments has been a central part of the fiscal policy discussion surrounding the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. Economic downturns tend to depress the tax bases of federal, state, and local governments and increase demands for certain spending programs. Unlike at the federal level, however, most states and localities have statutory requirements to balance their budgets every one or two years. Absent other measures, these balanced budget requirements can necessitate tax rate increases or spending cuts that could exacerbate economic distress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Driessen, Grant A.; Gravelle, Jane
2020-12-07
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Aviation and Climate Change [December 7, 2020]
From the Document: "Some Members of Congress have expressed an interest in addressing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change effects from aviation. Proposed legislation in the 116th Congress would provide for sustainable fuel mandates, incentives for airport efficiency improvements, and GHG emission targets, among other requirements. In some instances, these provisions would be conditioned on economic stimulus and other forms of public funding."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lattanzio, Richard K.
2020-12-07
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Boeing 737 Max to Fly Again, Clouded by Certification Concerns [December 7, 2020]
From the Document: "On November 18, 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an order rescinding its March 2019 order that had grounded the Boeing 737 Max passenger jet for nearly 20 months. Congress continues to debate legislation (H.R. 8408, S. 3969, and S. 3866) seeking to reform aircraft certification in an effort to avoid future safety stand-downs of this magnitude involving the design of highly complex transport aircraft. Two high-profile fatal accidents, the crash of Lion Air flight 610 in October 2018 and the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 in March 2019, prompted the unprecedented worldwide grounding of the 737 Max as investigators and engineers sought to identify and remedy a common set of causes. Both accidents were linked to an automated flight control system feature called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). The design of the 737 Max included larger engines than earlier versions of the 737. Under certain circumstances, these engines could cause an unintended pitch up of the airplane's nose. MCAS was installed to automatically compensate for this undesirable tendency. In both accidents, MCAS activated repeatedly, resulting in extreme nose-down pitching. Analysis after the accidents revealed that MCAS relied on a single sensor that was reportedly prone to damage, and that the aircraft lacked safeguards to prevent its activation if that single sensor failed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Elias, Bartholomew
2020-12-07
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Section 307 and U.S. Imports of Products of Forced Labor: Overview and Issues for Congress [December 7, 2020]
From the Summary: "The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that as of 2016, nearly 25 million adults and children worked in forced labor, also known as labor trafficking. Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1307) prohibits U.S. imports of any product that was mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labor, including forced or indentured child labor. Amid concerns in recent decades over the statute's lack of use and increasing interest in combatting human trafficking, Congress amended Section 307 in 2015 to make it easier to block the entry of products of forced labor by removing the 'consumptive demand' exception. This exception had permitted imports of goods that were not domestically produced in such quantities as to meet U.S. consumption needs. Since 2016, enforcement of Section 307 has increased in frequency and scope, and to date U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued 26 'withhold release orders' (WROs), which bar entry of certain goods made by forced labor. While WROs were typically limited to specific manufacturers and producers, CBP recently has issued broader industry- and countrywide orders. WROs are one of several congressionally mandated forced labor and anti-human trafficking measures. [...] This report provides background and analysis on Section 307 and CBP processes, trends regarding its use, and key issues for Congress regarding Section 307 enforcement and U.S. trade policy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; Casey, Christopher A.; O'Regan, Katarina C.
2020-12-07
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Comparing DHS Component Funding, FY2021: In Brief [December 7, 2020]
From the Document: "The homeland security appropriations bill includes all annual appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), providing resources to every departmental component. This report reviews the budget authority provided to DHS for FY2020 and requested by the Donald J. Trump administration for FY2021, as well as the congressional response. It also includes component-level information on FY2020 supplemental funding for DHS provided in the P.L. 116-136, the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act. The report provides a look at the resources available to DHS components that are described in appropriations committee documentation, and examines 'net discretionary annual appropriations' for DHS--a perspective on the net impact of legislation that funds DHS on congressionally-tracked budget totals."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Painter, William L.
2020-12-07
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COVIDView: A Weekly Surveillance Summary of U.S. COVID-19 Activity, Week 49 [December 5, 2020]
From the Key Updates: "Nationally, surveillance indicators tracking levels of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] circulation and associated illnesses have been increasing since September; however, the percentage of emergency department (ED) visits for COVID [coronavirus disease 2019]-like illness (CLI) decreased slightly during week 49. The percentage of deaths due to pneumonia, influenza and COVID-19 (PIC) has been increasing since October. Both COVID-19-associated hospitalizations and PIC mortality for the most recent weeks are expected to increase as more data are received."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-12-05
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, December 4, 2020: Summary of Guidance for Public Health Strategies to Address High Levels of Community Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and Related Deaths, December 2020
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This early release issue of MMWR contains the following: "Summary of Guidance for Public Health Strategies to Address High Levels of Community Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] and Related Deaths, December 2020." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2020.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-12-04
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, December 4, 2020
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: "Sex Differences in HIV Testing -- 20 PEPFAR [U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief]-Supported Sub-Saharan African Countries, 2019"; "Multidisciplinary Community-Based Investigation of a COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Outbreak Among Marshallese and Hispanic/Latino Communities -- Benton and Washington Counties, Arkansas, March-June 2020"; "Disproportionate Incidence of COVID-19 Infection, Hospitalizations, and Deaths Among Persons Identifying as Hispanic or Latino -- Denver, Colorado March-October 2020"; "Regional Analysis of Coccidioidomycosis Incidence -- California, 2000-2018"; "Survey of Teen Noise Exposure and Efforts to Protect Hearing at School -- United States, 2020"; "Increase in Hospital-Acquired Carbapenem-Resistant 'Acinetobacter baumannii' Infection and Colonization in an Acute Care Hospital During a Surge in COVID-19 Admissions -- New Jersey, February-July 2020". Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2020.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-12-04
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MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Surveillance Summaries, December 4, 2020
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 Surveillance Summaries contains the following: "Surveillance for Violent Deaths -- National Violent Death Reporting System, 34 States, Four California Counties, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, 2017." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2020.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-12-04
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State of the Nation: A 50-State COVID-19 Survey Report #28: Public Support for Measures Aimed at Curbing COVID-19 in Massachusetts
From the Document: "Over 10 survey waves, we polled 139,230 individuals across all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. The data were collected between April and November 2020 by PureSpectrum via an online, nonprobability sample, with state-level representative quotas for race/ethnicity, age, and gender. In addition to balancing on these dimensions, we reweighted our data using demographic characteristics to match the U.S. population with respect to race/ethnicity, age, gender, education, and living in urban, suburban, or rural areas. For this report, we focused on data from Massachusetts: a total of 919 respondents polled between October 1 and November 28. The data was weighed for demographics to match the population of the state."
Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.); Harvard Medical School; Rutgers University . . .
Baum, Matthew A., 1965-; Ognyanova, Katherine; Uslu, Ata A. . . .
2020-12-04
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Higher Education (HiEd) Program: Research Status Report
From the Introduction: "FEMA's National Training and Education Division (NTED) manages the Emergency Management Higher Education (HiEd) Program. The program was established at the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in 1994 and reassigned to NTED in 2017. The HiEd Program mission is to engage emergency management academia, professional organizations, and practitioners to work together to foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation through education and research to meet the challenges that confront the Nation. The HiEd Program works collaboratively across NPD [National Preparedness Directorate], FEMA and DHS to leverage related resources and efforts. As leaders in the fields of emergency management and homeland security education, EMI and the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) are key partners. In 2018, the HiEd Program sponsored development of a proposed research agenda on hazards, disasters, and emergency management. The agenda is written to inform ongoing and future research, workforce development, education, and emergency management practice over a three to five-year horizon (to be updated in 2021 as funds permit). It is aimed at connecting research and practice to seek answers to real-world complex problems. It is intended for academic researchers and students from multiple disciplines, emergency management organizations, and Federal agencies. Each year, the HiEd Program funds a limited number of research inquiries through micro-purchase contracts (up to $10,000). Moving forward, research inquiries must align with the research agenda in order to be considered for funding."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
Norphlet, Michelle
2020-12-04
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Conduct of Clinical Trials of Medical Products During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: Guidance for Industry, Investigators, and Institutional Review Boards
From the Introduction: "FDA plays a critical role in protecting the United States from threats such as emerging infectious diseases, including the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. FDA is committed to providing timely guidance to support response efforts to this pandemic. FDA is issuing this guidance to provide general considerations to assist sponsors in assuring the safety of trial participants, maintaining compliance with good clinical practice (GCP), and minimizing risks to trial integrity for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The appendix to this guidance further explains those general considerations by providing answers to questions that the Agency has received about conducting clinical trials during the COVID-19 public health emergency."
United States. Food and Drug Administration
2020-12-04
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MMWR Early Release: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, December 3, 2020: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' Interim Recommendation for Allocating Initial Supplies of COVID-19 Vaccine -- United States, 2020
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 early release MMWR contains the following: "The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' Interim Recommendation for Allocating Initial Supplies of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Vaccine -- United States, 2020." Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2020.html].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2020-12-03
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EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 20 Issue 48, December 3, 2020
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: "Firefighters face increased risk of atrial fibrillation"; "Getting ready for vaccine distribution"; "Response considerations for handling ultra-low temperature vaccines"; "PPE [Personal Protective Equipment] Preservation Planning Toolkit"; and "Cyber Threats."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2020-12-03
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Executive Order 13960: Promoting the Use of Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence in the Federal Government
From the Purpose: "Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to drive the growth of the United States economy and improve the quality of life of all Americans. In alignment with Executive Order 13859 of February 11, 2019 (Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence), executive departments and agencies (agencies) have recognized the power of AI to improve their operations, processes, and procedures; meet strategic goals; reduce costs; enhance oversight of the use of taxpayer funds; increase efficiency and mission effectiveness; improve quality of services; improve safety; train workforces; and support decision making by the Federal workforce, among other positive developments. Given the broad applicability of AI, nearly every agency and those served by those agencies can benefit from the appropriate use of AI."
United States. Office of the Federal Register
Trump, Donald, 1946-
2020-12-03
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2020 Census: Census Bureau Needs to Ensure Transparency Over Data Quality, Statement of J. Christopher Mihm, Managing Director, Strategic Issues, Testimony Before the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives
From the Document: "Today, we are issuing the first in a series of planned reports that will assess the operations of the 2020 Census and identify lessons learned as planning begins for 2030. My statement today is based on that report entitled, '2020 Census: Census Bureau Needs to Assess Data Quality Concerns Stemming from Recent Design Changes'. The report describes the key changes that the Bureau made in response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] outbreak and how those changes affect the quality of the census. For that work, we reviewed Bureau decision memos and planning documents. We also reviewed Bureau announcements related to the COVID-19 response and any characterizations of the resulting operational changes."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Mihm, J. Christopher
2020-12-03
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Healthcare Disinformation [presentation]
From the Introduction: "[1] Disinformation; also called 'active measures' when referring to its use by a state for national security and power projection purposes; [2] The difference between disinformation and misinformation is intent; [3] Not all false stories are organized campaigns pushed by a nation-state; [4] Often indistinguishable from conspiracies, and often piggy back on them; [5] Many countries, both powerful and established as well as smaller, engage in disinformation; [6] There are estimates of over 10,000 individual disinformation operations during the Cold War: [a] It's believed to be even more prevalent in the Internet Age; [7] Disinformation is very challenging to deal with because: [a] It can be difficult to identify, [b] It can be difficult to trace to its source, [c] It can be difficult to counteract; [8] Famous (recent) case: 2016 U.S. Presidential election; [9] This presentation will lean heavily towards Russia and its long history of leveraging disinformation, going back to at least the early days of the Soviet Union. Many countries utilize disinformation in the modern era."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2020-12-03
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 4133, Real ID Modernization Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on July 22, 2020. From the Document: "S. 4133 would provide flexibility to states to meet the standards established in the Real ID Act of 2005 for identification documents that are enforced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill also would allow states to accept identity documents that are transmitted electronically if DHS issues regulations regarding such transmission and states certify with DHS that they are in compliance."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2020-12-02
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Navy and Marine Corps: Services Continue Efforts to Rebuild Readiness, but Recovery Will Take Years and Sustained Management Attention, Statement for the Record by Diana Maurer, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management, Statement for the Record to the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "The 2018 National Defense Strategy emphasizes that restoring and retaining readiness is critical to success in the emerging security environment. The Navy and Marine Corps are working to rebuild the readiness of their forces while also growing and modernizing their aging fleets of ships and aircraft. Readiness recovery will take years as the Navy and Marine Corps address their multiple challenges and continue to meet operational demands. This statement provides information on readiness challenges facing (1) the Navy ship and submarine fleet and (2) Navy and Marine Corps aviation. GAO [Government Accountability Office] also discusses its prior recommendations on Navy and Marine Corps readiness and the progress that has been made in addressing them. This statement is based on previous work published from 2016 to November 2020--on Navy and Marine Corps readiness challenges, including ship maintenance, sailor training, and aircraft sustainment. GAO also analyzed data updated as of November 2020, as appropriate, and drew from its ongoing work focused on Navy and Marine Corps readiness."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-12-02
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Department of Homeland Security Privacy Office: 2019 Data Mining Report to Congress
From the Foreword: "I am pleased to present the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) 2019 Data Mining Report to Congress. The Federal Agency Data Mining Reporting Act of 2007, 42 U.S.C. § 2000ee-3, requires DHS to report annually to Congress on DHS activities that meet the Act's definition of data mining. For each identified activity, the Act requires DHS to provide the following: (1) a thorough description of the activities, technology, and methodology used; (2) the sources of data used; (3) an analysis of the activity's efficacy; (4) the legal authorities supporting the activity; and (5) an analysis of the activities impact on privacy and the protections in place to protect privacy. This is the fourteenth comprehensive DHS Data Mining Report and the twelfth report prepared pursuant to the Act. Three annexes to this report, containing Law Enforcement Sensitive information, are provided separately to Congress as required by the Act. With the creation of DHS, Congress authorized the Department to engage in data mining and the use of other analytical tools to meet Departmental goals and objectives. Consistent with the rigorous compliance process it applies to all DHS programs and systems, the DHS Privacy Office works closely with the programs discussed in this report to ensure they employ data mining in a manner that supports the Department's mission to protect the homeland and protects privacy."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2020-12-02
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Climate Resilience: DOD Coordinates with Communities, but Needs to Assess the Performance of Related Grant Programs
From the Highlights: "DOD manages a domestic real-estate portfolio with an estimated replacement value of nearly $930 billion. DOD has acknowledged climate change and extreme weather as threats to its installations, operations, and readiness; and has noted the importance of coordinating with state and local governments to improve climate change preparedness and resilience. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review DOD's efforts to coordinate with communities surrounding its installations to limit the exposure to climate change and extreme weather. This report assesses the extent to which DOD (1) reports using the physical infrastructure and support services of communities surrounding domestic installations, and the vulnerabilities to such infrastructure and services from climate change and extreme weather, and (2) coordinates with such communities to limit installation exposure to the effects of climate change and extreme weather, and is able to determine the effectiveness of related community coordination grants."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-12
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Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations: DOD Needs to Address Governance and Oversight Issues to Help Ensure Superiority, Report to the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "According to DOD, the EMS [electromagnetic spectrum] is essential for facilitating control in operational environments and impacts operations in the air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. The pervasiveness of the EMS across warfighting domains means that maintaining or achieving EMS superiority against an adversary is critical to battlefield success. House Report 116-120 that accompanied a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 included a provision that GAO [Government Accountability Office] assess DOD's EMS strategy. This report (1) describes reported threats from peer adversaries; (2) outlines challenges to DOD's superiority in the EMS; and (3) evaluates the extent to which DOD has implemented EMS-related strategies and is positioned to achieve future goals."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-12
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Indian Health Service: Actions Needed to Improve Oversight of Provider Misconduct and Substandard Performance, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "IHS [Indian Health Service] provides care to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) through a system of federally and tribally operated facilities. Recent cases of alleged and confirmed misconduct and substandard performance by IHS employees have raised questions about protecting the AI/AN population from abuse and harm. For example, in February 2020, a former IHS pediatrician was sentenced to five consecutive lifetime terms for multiple sex offenses against children. Several studies have been initiated or completed in response, and IHS has reported efforts to enhance safe and quality care for its patients. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review IHS oversight of misconduct and substandard performance. This report (1) describes IHS policies related to provider misconduct and substandard performance and (2) assesses IHS oversight of provider misconduct and substandard performance."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-12
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Financial Assistance: Lessons Learned from CARES Act Loan Program for Aviation and Other Eligible Businesses, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has resulted in catastrophic loss of life and substantial damage to the global economy, including the aviation sector. U.S. passenger air carriers have lost almost $20 billion and over 47,000 jobs in 2020, with losses forecast to continue into 2021. In March 2020, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act, which provides over $2 trillion in emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including businesses in the aviation sector. The CARES Act contained a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the loans provided under the Act. This report examines, among other things, eligible businesses' participation in the loan program and lessons learned from the program for Congress and Treasury [Department of the Treasury]."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-12
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Environmental Protection: Action Needed to Ensure EPA's Enforcement and Compliance Activities Support Its Strategic Goals, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "In partnership with states, EPA oversees about 1.2 million regulated entities' (e.g., industrial facilities and local governments) compliance with federal environmental laws and regulations, including those governing air, water, and hazardous waste. OECA [Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance] conducts much of this oversight through EPA's 10 regional offices and a range of enforcement and compliance activities. OECA selects national initiatives to focus its resources on advancing EPA's strategic plan. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review EPA's enforcement efforts. This report examines how (1) EPA's enforcement and compliance priorities have changed since 2015 and the extent to which EPA implements them, (2) EPA's coordination with states to enforce and ensure compliance with environmental laws has changed since it shifted priorities, and (3) EPA has assessed whether its activities to enforce and ensure compliance with these laws meet its objectives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-12
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2020 Census: The Bureau Concluded Field Work but Uncertainty About Data Quality, Accuracy, and Protection Remains, a Report to Congressional Requesters
"'The Census Bureau has completed data collection operations for the 2020 Decennial Census. As the Bureau begins processing responses to deliver data for apportionment and redistricting, it will need to ensure the quality, accuracy, and protection of the data collected. In recent years, GAO [Government Accountability Office] has identified challenges to the Bureau's ability to conduct a cost-effective count of the nation, including new innovations, acquisition and development of IT systems, and other challenges. In 2017, these challenges led GAO to place the 2020 Census on its High-Risk List. Since 2007, GAO has made 113 recommendations specific to the 2020 Census. As of December 2020, 20 of the recommendations had not been fully implemented.' GAO was asked to provide regular updates on the 2020 Census. This report examines the cost and progress of key 2020 Census operations critical to a cost-effective enumeration, and early warnings that may require Census Bureau or congressional attention."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-12
