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Federal Assistance for Wildfire Response and Recovery [Updated August 6, 2021]

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From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires. Wildfires can have some beneficial impacts on an ecosystem, but they often threaten homes and communities, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people. Wildfires are sometimes caused by lightning strikes and may occur when a prescribed burn escapes control or through other human activities (deliberate or accidental). Annually from 2011 to 2020, there were an average of 62,805 wildfires and an average of 7.5 million acres impacted. In 2020, 58,950 wildfires burned 10.1million acres, the second-most acreage impacted in a year since 1960; nearly 40% of these acres were in California. In 2020, wildfires destroyed nearly 18,000 structures nationwide, 54% (9,630) of which were residences. Congress and other stakeholders have considered options for federal support and assistance to address wildfire suppression during a fire, post-wildfire recovery, and land management activities to reduce the risk of future catastrophic wildfires."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Hoover, Katie

2021-08-06
Defense Health Primer: Military Vaccinations [Updated August 6, 2021]

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From the Document: "The Department of Defense (DOD) administers a variety of force health protection (FHP) measures to 'promote, protect, improve, conserve, and restore' the health and well-being of servicemembers. These measures include health promotion and education programs, periodic health assessments, preventive therapies, medical countermeasures, and vaccinations. The U.S. military instituted its first vaccination program in 1777 when General George Washington directed the inoculation of the Continental Army to protect personnel from smallpox. Since then, DOD has implemented a variety of enduring or situational FHP measures to protect servicemembers from health threats. Certain vaccines are required for all servicemembers, while others may only be required for those deploying to particular locations. Other vaccines may be available based on public health recommendations or on a voluntary basis. Since at least the late 1990s, Congress has expressed interest in DOD vaccination policies, specifically those on compulsory vaccinations. Similar interest among certain Members of Congress has arisen as DOD administers the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine to servicemembers on a voluntary basis. This In Focus describes DOD's military vaccination policies and immunization program, and offers issues for congressional consideration."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Mendez, Bryce H. P.

2021-08-06
TRICARE's Next Generation Contracts: T-5 [August 6, 2021]

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From the Document: "The Department of Defense (DOD) administers a Military Health System [hyperlink] (MHS) that provides health care entitlements authorized in Title 10 of the U.S. Code (Chapters 55 [hyperlink] and 56 [hyperlink]) and organized under a program called TRICARE. The TRICARE program [hyperlink] offers health care benefits and services to approximately 9.6 million beneficiaries (servicemembers, military retirees, and family members) in DOD hospitals and clinics known as 'military treatment facilities' (MTFs) and through networks of participating civilian health care providers. The Defense Health Agency [hyperlink] (DHA) administers the TRICARE program and contracts with several managed care support organizations to deliver health care entitlements. In recent years, Congress has demonstrated sustained interest in the MHS by enacting TRICARE reforms [hyperlink] (see Section 705 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2017; P.L. 114-328) to require increased access to care, improved health outcomes and health care quality, enhanced beneficiary experience, and lower per capita costs. Many of these reforms are, or are in the process of being, integrated into the TRICARE contracts. On April 15, 2021, DHA released a request for proposals [hyperlink] (RFP) for the 'next generation' of TRICARE contracts, called 'T-5', which incorporates congressionally mandated reforms. This Insight provides an overview of T-5, DHA's acquisition strategy, and the timeline for awarding these new contracts."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Mendez, Bryce H. P.

2021-08-06
VA Begins Adjudicating Claims for New Agent Orange Presumptions Included in NDAA FY2021 [August 6, 2021]

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From the Background: "On January 1, 2021, the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA FY2021) [hyperlink] became law (P.L. [Public Law] 116-283) [hyperlink] after the House and Senate voted to override then-President Donald Trump's veto of the bill on December 28, 2020, and January 1, 2021, respectively. Section 9109 of the NDAA FY2021 amended Section 1116(a)(2) of Title 38 [hyperlink] of the 'U.S. Code' by adding bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism (a term for neurological disorders that cause movement problems similar to that of Parkinson's disease) to the list of presumptive conditions for Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange. This brought an end to a multiyear attempt to expand the list of presumptions for this specific group of veterans. As background, during the 116th Congress, H.R. 2200, H.R. 5610, and S. 3444 were introduced. These bills sought to statutorily add the aforementioned conditions as presumptions. In addition, H.Res. 729 and S.Res. 420 would have encouraged then-President Trump to act on creating these presumptions. [...] In July 2020, Senator Jon Tester proposed S. Amdt. 1972 to the annual National Defense Authorization Act to address the issue. The amendment was included, and the legislation passed. Now bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism [hyperlink] are presumptive conditions for veterans exposed to Agent Orange."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Salazar, Heather M.

2021-08-06
Wildfire Statistics [Updated August 6, 2021]

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From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. [...] Wildfire statistics help to illustrate past U.S. wildfire activity. Nationwide data compiled by the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) indicate that the number of annual wildfires is variable but has decreased slightly over the last 30 years and that the number of acres impacted annually, while also variable, generally has increased. Since 2000, an annual average of 70,600 wildfires burned an annual average of 7.0 million acres. This figure is more than double the average annual acreage burned in the 1990s (3.3 million acres), although a greater number of fires occurred annually in the 1990s (78,600 average)."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Hoover, Katie; Hanson, Laura A.

2021-08-06
MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, August 6, 2021

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The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This issue of MMWR contains the following: "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] Vaccine Safety in Adolescents Aged 12-17 Years -- United States, December 14, 2020-July 16, 2021"; "Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] Infections, Including COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Infections, Associated with Large Public Gatherings -- Barnstable County, Massachusetts, July 2021"; "'Notes from the Field': Delays in Identification and Treatment of a Case of Septicemic Plague -- Navajo County, Arizona, 2020"; and "'QuickStats': Injury Deaths as a Percentage of Total Deaths, by Age Group -- National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2019."

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

2021-08-06
Federal Employees and COVID-19 Vaccination Attestations: Immediate Takeaways [August 6, 2021]

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From the Document: "Executive Order 13991 [hyperlink] established the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force [hyperlink] (Task Force) to provide ongoing guidance to heads of executive agencies on government operation and employee safety during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. On July 29, 2021, the Task Force issued revised 'model safety principles' to executive agencies and departments. Among other safety principles, this guidance [hyperlink] instructs federal agencies to determine the vaccination status of federal employees and onsite contractors, and requires employees and onsite contractors to 'sign an attestation confirming their vaccination status.' Those who decline to provide an attestation must [hyperlink] wear a mask and be subject to testing and other safety measures. This effort to promote COVID-19 vaccination, similar [hyperlink] to some state and municipal employers' requirements, follows newly reported increases in COVID-19 cases and related [hyperlink] hospitalizations attributable to the spread of the contagious Delta variant of COVID-19. [...] This Sidebar begins by providing background on the Task Force and the vaccination attestation policy. It then describes the primary authorities federal agencies may employ to implement the policy and relevant constitutional considerations. Next, the Sidebar discusses key requirements under federal antidiscrimination laws that may inform the implementation of the guidance. Finally, the Sidebar briefly considers whether COVID-19 vaccines' current emergency use authorization (EUA) status affects the federal government's ability to impose requirements related to vaccination."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Anderson, April J.; Shimabukuro, Jon O.; Shen, Wen W.

2021-08-06
Cuba: U.S. Policy Overview [Updated August 6, 2021]

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From the Document: "Since the early 1960s, when the United States imposed a trade embargo on Cuba, the centerpiece of U.S. policy toward Cuba has consisted of economic sanctions aimed at isolating the Cuban government. [...] The White House press secretary said on March 9, 2021, that although a Cuba policy shift was not among the President's top priorities, the Administration was 'committed to making human rights a core pillar' of policy and would review policy decisions made in the prior administration, including the decision to designate Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. Sanctions imposed under the Trump Administration remain in place. In May, the State Department renewed Cuba's designation as a country not cooperating fully with U.S. anti-terrorism efforts. On July 1, it cited Cuba for labor abuses associated with its foreign medical missions[.] [...] After Cuba's July 11 protests, President Biden and other Administration officials expressed solidarity with the protesters and strongly criticized the Cuban government for its repressive response. As part of the Administration's policy of holding the Cuban government accountable for its repressive actions, on July 22 and 30, the Treasury Department imposed targeted sanctions on several Cuban officials and entities. [...] [T]he Administration established a working group to identify the most effective ways to get remittances directly to the Cuban people, held engagement sessions with members of the Cuban American community, and began reviewing plans to increase staffing at the U.S. Embassy in Havana to facilitate consular services and engagement with civil society."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Sullivan, Mark P.

2021-08-06
Drones and Violent Nonstate Actors in Africa

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From the Document: "The risk of militarization of drone technology in Africa represents a new asymmetric tool that violent nonstate groups may deploy to extend the reach of their coercion, reshaping the African battlefield. In late 2016, the Islamic State (ISIS) reached an important milestone during the battle to secure the city of Mosul in Northern Iraq. In what is thought to be the first ever recorded use by violent nonstate actors in theatre, ISIS deployed a weaponized drone [hyperlink] or Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). The device, with a range of about a mile and a half, had been built and loaded with explosives and detonated in a densely populated urban battlefield. The impact was both physical and psychological. Civilians found themselves trapped deeper in the city while Kurdish Peshmerga and Shi'ite militias joining Iraqi government troops, struggled to regain control. Since that time, the use of UAS by violent nonstate actors has been observed in other conflict settings including Syria, Yemen, and Ukraine."

National Defense University. Africa Center for Strategic Studies

Allen, Karen

2021-08-06
H. Rept. 117-113, Part 1: Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act, Report Together with Additional vi ews, to Accompany H.R. 4374, August 6, 2021

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From the Brief Explanation: "This legislation amends the Rural Electrification Act by making changes to the Title VI programs and Title VII for the purpose of expanding broadband coverage and program access, and providing resources for administrative, technical, and mapping assistance."

United States. Government Publishing Office

2021-08-06
EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 32, August 6, 2021

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The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "New fentanyl detection standards will protect first responders in the field"; "CDC [Center for Disease Control and Prevention] and FDA warn of increased availability of delta-8 THC [tetrahydrocannabinol] and adverse events"; "CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] releases Infrastructure Resilience Planning Framework"; "IAFC [International Association of Fire Chiefs] hosts virtual Wildland-Urban Interface Conference, Nov 15-16"; "CISA, FBI, and NSA release joint Cybersecurity Advisory on BlackMatter Ransomware"; "Ongoing cyber threats to US water and wastewater systems sector facilities"; "CISA seeking answers for implementation of endpoint detection and response tools"; and "Ransomware group FIN12 aggressively going after healthcare targets."

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

2021-08-06
Indigenous Peoples in Latin America: Statistical Information [Updated August 5, 2021]

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From the Introduction: "This report provides statistical information on Indigenous peoples in Latin America, including populations and languages, socioeconomic data, land and natural resources, human rights, and international legal conventions."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Davis-Castro, Carla Y.

2021-08-05
Increasing Numbers of Unaccompanied Alien Children at the Southwest Border [Updated August 5, 2021]

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From the Document: "The number of encounters (apprehensions or expulsions) of unaccompanied alien children (UAC, unaccompanied children) [hyperlink] at the U.S.-Mexico border with the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the first nine months of FY2021 (93,512) already exceeds the previous apprehensions record [hyperlink] from FY2019 (76,020). UAC encounters declined substantially from FY2019 to FY2020, largely because of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic and related public health border enforcement measures. Starting in June 2020, they increased consistently before almost doubling from January to February 2021 and again from February to March. They have since remained elevated [hyperlink]. March 2021 UAC encounters (18,723) were the highest monthly total on record. U.S. officials say figures for July may exceed the March record number [hyperlink], and the figures for the rest of FY2021 are also expected to remain elevated [hyperlink]."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Kandel, William

2021-08-05
Law Enforcement Reform Provisions in H.R. 4505 [August 5, 2021]

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From the Document: "The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 (JIPA, H.R. 1280) was passed by the House on March 3, 2021; the bill has not been taken up by the Senate. The FY2022 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill (H.R. 4505), reported by the House Committee on Appropriations, would implement parts of JIPA by funding some of the new grant programs and placing conditions on existing grant programs that would be authorized by JIPA."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

James, Nathan

2021-08-05
Infrastructure and the Economy [Updated August 5, 2021]

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From the Introduction: "Many economists believe that under the right economic conditions, public investment in infrastructure will contribute to long-term growth. However, if the investment is financed through government debt or made during an economic expansion, this could dampen or even negate the impact. This report discusses the potential benefits and drawbacks of public infrastructure investment, the state of public infrastructure investment in the economy, and potential future plans for additional public infrastructure investment. While the report focuses on public infrastructure investment, we note there is a significant amount of private infrastructure investment in this country as well."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Weinstock, Lida R.

2021-08-05
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) [August 5, 2021]

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From the Document: "The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a trade agreement, signed in late 2020 after eight years of talks, among the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)--Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, and five ASEAN free trade agreement (FTA) partners--Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. RCEP is to enter into force 60 days after ratification by six ASEAN and three non-ASEAN countries. Members aim for entry into force in early 2022; to date, China, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand have ratified the deal. RCEP follows the recent entry into force of 'megaregional' trade deals, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP or TPP-11), which includes seven RCEP members and four countries in the Americas. Although overall RCEP has less extensive commitments than other recent trade agreements (e.g., CPTPP or the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement), many analysts view RCEP as an achievement for the multilateral trading system, which faces myriad challenges. The collective economic weight of its membership gives RCEP the potential to deepen some trade patterns and supply chains in Asia through lower trade costs and streamlined rules. Congress may consider how RCEP affects U.S. commercial and strategic interests, and if it affects the relevance of the United States in shaping trade rules and economic integration in Asia and globally."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; Sutherland, Michael D.; Dolven, Ben . . .

2021-08-05
Proposals for a National Secure Data Service, in Context [August 5, 2021]

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From the Document: "On June 28, 2021, the House passed H.R. 2225, the National Science Foundation for the Future Act [hyperlink], which would authorize appropriations and certain activities. One provision would establish a 'National Secure Data Service' (NSDS) demonstration project [hyperlink]. The proposal relates to a recommendation from an earlier Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking (CEP) [hyperlink]. Among other things, CEP was charged [hyperlink] with considering [hyperlink] whether a federal government 'clearinghouse' for program and survey data should be established. CEP interpreted 'clearinghouse' [hyperlink] to mean 'a data storage facility that permanently stores records from multiple databases from multiple agencies and, therefore, grows with each new data linkage.' CEP rejected the clearinghouse model, however, citing [hyperlink] 'well-founded concerns about the potential privacy harm such a clearinghouse could raise.' Instead, it recommended [hyperlink] establishment of an NSDS, which would 'temporarily link existing data and provide secure access to those data for exclusively statistical purposes in connection with approved projects' and 'do this without creating a data clearinghouse or warehouse.' This Insight discusses NSDS proposals, related background, and potential issues for Congress."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Stuessy, Meghan M.; Brass, Clinton T.

2021-08-05
United Kingdom, France and the Indo-Pacific [Updated August 5, 2021]

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From the Document: "Successive U.S. Administrations have sought to bring European allies into a range of strategic initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region. Most recently, President Biden during his visit to Europe in June 2021 sought greater cohesion with European allies on how democratic nations respond to challenges posed by China. While Europe's focus on the region has increased in recent years, France and the United Kingdom (UK) stand out for their recent actions that demonstrate their assessment of growing defense and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Through their strategic relations, regional deployments, arms sales, and military-to-military relationships, France and the UK have the ability to strengthen the defense capabilities of regional states, help shape the regional balance of power, and support U.S. interests. In recent years, France and the UK have developed their strategic posture in the Indo-Pacific and are networking with like-minded Indo-Pacific nations to bolster regional stability and help preserve the norms of the international system."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-; Mix, Derek E.; Belkin, Paul

2021-08-05
At What Rate Do Noncitizens Appear for Their Removal Hearings? Measuring in Absentia Removal Order Rates [August 5, 2021]

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From the Document: "Noncitizens who are charged by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with immigration violations may have their cases adjudicated during immigration court removal proceedings. Immigration courts operate within the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). During proceedings, immigration judges (IJs) determine whether noncitizens (i.e., 'respondents') are removable (deportable), and if so, whether they are eligible for protection or relief from removal, such as asylum. Removal proceedings may involve multiple hearings. Respondents who fail to appear for any of their hearings may be ordered removed 'in absentia' (i.e., in the respondent's absence) by an IJ. The rate at which respondents fail to appear for their hearings has been a key measure that some have cited to support policy positions and legal decisions related to mandatory detention, border security, and asylum. Yet the method for measuring the in absentia rate has been debated, and there is wide variation in the rates cited by elected officials and reported in the media. This In Focus explains the legal requirements for in absentia removal orders, how EOIR calculates in absentia rates, how to interpret those rates, and an alternative method for calculating in absentia rates that some argue measures the rate more comprehensively by accounting for a large and growing number of pending cases. It also presents data on in absentia removal orders for asylum seekers."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Straut-Eppsteiner, Holly

2021-08-05
ADA at 31: Access to Housing and Health Care Must Meet the Rise of Disability in the U.S.

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From the Document: "It has been nearly 50 years since disability activists in San Francisco took over a federal building for 28 days to force the signing of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This legislation established the rights of people with disabilities against discrimination in programs receiving federal funds. By 1990, disability activists were literally crawling up the steps of the U.S. Capitol to demand civil rights legislation for disabled people. This resulted in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which celebrated its 31st anniversary in July 2021. Yet even with these laws' protections, the lack of access and equity for people with disabilities--particularly those who are multiply marginalized--was put in sharp focus by their treatment during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. Despite the coronavirus being indiscriminate, it has laid bare the inequities of the United States for all to witness. COVID-19 killed hundreds of thousands of Americans in part due to the vulnerability created through continued inequities in the distribution of resources and services, particularly in marginalized populations. [...] Despite the passage of several temporary measures to better support people in the United States--including increased economic support, access to health care testing and vaccines, and eviction and foreclosure protections --housing, food, and health care still have not been determined as basic rights to maintain public health and safety." This material 'ADA at 31: Access to Housing and Health Care Must Meet the Rise of Disability in the U.S.' was published by the Center for American Progress.

Center for American Progress

Novack, Valerie; Moh, Kelly

2021-08-05
Global COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution [Updated August 5, 2021]

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From the Background: "The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to severe health and economic consequences across the globe, as governments work to contain the spread of the virus and its variants. In late 2020, researchers started identifying several COVID-19 variants, now driving surges in related cases and deaths across Africa and south Asia. The United States, India, and Brazil have the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, many caused by the Delta variant. Vaccines and other countermeasures play a growing role in COVID-19 control. However, insufficient access to vaccines in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) raises questions about how inequities may hinder pandemic control worldwide."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Tharakan, Sara M.; Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji

2021-08-05
COVID-19: Potential Implications for International Security Environment-- Overview of Issues and Further Reading for Congress [Updated August 5, 2021]

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From the Introduction: "Some observers argue the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic could be a world-changing event with potentially profound and long-lasting implications for the international security environment. Other observers are more skeptical that the pandemic will have such effects. This report provides a brief overview of some potential implications the pandemic might have for the international security environment, and appendices listing CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports and other writings for further reading. Issues for Congress may include whether and how the pandemic could change the international security environment, whether the Biden Administration's actions for responding to such change are appropriate and sufficient, and what implications such change could have for the role of Congress in setting and overseeing the execution of U.S. foreign and defense policy. Congress's decisions regarding these issues could have significant implications for U.S. foreign and defense policy."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

O'Rourke, Ronald; McInnis, Kathleen J.

2021-08-05
Domestic Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Examining the Threat of Racially, Ethnically, Religiously, and Politically Motivated Attacks, Part II, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, August 5, 2021

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This is the August 5, 2021 hearing on "Domestic Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Examining the Threat of Racially, Ethnically, Religiously, and Politically Motivated Attacks, Part Two" held before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Elizabeth Neumann, Maya Berry, Jonathan Greenblatt, and Brian Levin. The duration of the video is 1 hours, 55 minutes, and 6 seconds.

United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

2021-08-05
North Korea's Vaccination Capabilities: Implications for a COVID-19 Campaign

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From the Document: "Although the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) appears to have succeeded in preventing the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 virus) from entering its borders, the drastic isolation measures have hurt its economy and taken a toll on the vulnerable population. As the pandemic shows no sign of abating, the country will need to explore a path to reopening while minimizing the risk to its people. Vaccines, while not a panacea, are indispensable to any strategy for reopening. However, questions have been raised about the country's ability to maintain the cold temperatures required for storage and transport and implement a national vaccination program. We analyze the DPRK's history with vaccines which shows that, with the proper preparations, it could carry out swift, nationwide campaigns. We also describe a theoretical vaccination road map using a combination of the AstraZeneca/Oxford and the mRNA (Moderna or the Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccines."

38 North; Henry L. Stimson Center

Shafik, Nagi M.; Ryder, C. Yoonhee; Park, Kee B.

2021-08-05
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: Senate Amendment 2137 to H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, as Proposed on August 1, 2021

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This is the Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate as proposed on August 1, 2021. From the Document: "The Congressional Budget Office estimates that over the 2021-2031 period, enacting Senate Amendment 2137 to H.R. 3684 would decrease direct spending by $110 billion, increase revenues by $50 billion, and increase discretionary spending by $415 billion. On net, the legislation would add $256 billion to projected deficits over that period. The legislation would provide $382.9 billion in contract authority (a form of mandatory budget authority) for a variety of transportation programs over the 2022-2026 period. Under the rules governing baseline projections that are specified in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, this estimate incorporates an assumption that the contract authority of about $79.9 billion that would be provided in 2026 (the final year of the authorization) would also be provided in each subsequent year. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] therefore estimates that an additional $399.6 billion in contract authority would be available over the 2027-2031 period, for a total of $782.5 billion over the 10-year period. Over the 2022-2031 period, that total would be $196.5 billion more that the amount in CBO's July 2021 baseline."

United States. Congressional Budget Office

2021-08-05
Role of AI in Addressing Misinformation on Social Media Platforms

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From the Introduction: "[1] Over the past year, misinformation has consistently undermined the global public health response to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. It has led to the use of dangerous and false health cures, increased the spread of the virus by perpetuating a myth that it is fake or presents no risk, and slowed vaccine uptake. All of this has contributed, directly or indirectly, to the deaths of many around the world, while also serving to deepen the public's distrust in democratic institutions. [2] In a bid to reduce the volume of COVID-19 misinformation, platforms have over the last year introduced a number of new measures and policies, many of which rely on the use of algorithms to help detect and address harmful content. At the same time, platforms have been forced to turn to machine-based content moderation in order to cover for shortfalls in their workforce of human moderators, many of whom were unable to work from the office for prolonged periods. [3] While initially proposed as a temporary solution to a unique crisis, some have questioned whether automated content moderation could become part of the status quo. Advocates see little choice but to rely heavily on algorithms to rein in misinformation. Critics, however, say that algorithms are not equipped to identify harmful content, and believe their adoption at scale could lead to unintended censorship. Others see this debate as a distraction from the more important question of how to reform platform business models, which may perpetuate misinformation."

Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation

2021-08-05?
EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 31, August 5, 2021

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The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "DHS S&T [Science and Technology Directorate] designs and tests practical, lightweight respirator for wildland firefighters"; "DHS releases new human trafficking guidance for law enforcement"; "FEMA releases new emergency planning guidance for chemical incidents"; "Webinar: Preventing Targeted Violence and Protecting the Safety and Security of Houses of Worship in the United States and Europe"; "NSA [National Security Agency] releases guidance on securing wireless devices while in public"; "CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's]: China cyber threat overview and advisories"; "DDoS [distributed denial-of-service] attacks largely target the US and the computers and internet sectors"; "A clever phishing campaign is targeting Office 365 users"; and "REvil [Ransomware Evil] most popular ransomware variant in 2021 (so far)."

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

2021-08-05
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 3856, A Bill to Require the Comptroller General of the United States to Conduct a Study on Disparities Associated with Race and Ethnicity with Respect to Certain Benefits Administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for Other Purposes

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This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on July 28, 2021. From the Document: "H.R. 3856 would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess whether there are racial or ethnic disparities with respect to compensation paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans who have disabilities resulting from medical conditions or injuries incurred or aggravated while on active military duty. The bill also would require GAO to develop recommendations to improve data collection on such disparities, brief the Congress on the results of the study, and submit a final report. On the basis of information about similar studies, CBO estimates completing the study would cost $1 million over the 2021-2026 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds."

United States. Congressional Budget Office

2021-08-04
Biden Administration's Immigration Enforcement Priorities: Background and Legal Considerations [Updated August 4, 2021]

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From the Document: "Almost immediately after taking office, President Biden issued a series of directives on immigration matters. Some of these directives focused on altering the immigration enforcement priorities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency primarily charged with the enforcement of federal immigration laws. Federal statute confers immigration authorities with 'broad discretion' to determine when it is appropriate to pursue the removal of a non-U.S. citizen or national (alien) who lacks a legal basis to remain in the country. Resource or humanitarian concerns have typically led authorities to prioritize enforcement actions against subsets of the removable population (e.g., those who have committed certain crimes or pose national security risks). [...] This Sidebar addresses the Biden Administration's immigration enforcement priorities and legal considerations that they raise."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Smith, Hillel R.

2021-08-04
U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South and East China Seas: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated August 4, 2021]

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From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress regarding U.S.-China strategic competition in the South China Sea (SCS) and East China Sea (ECS). In an international security environment described as one of renewed great power competition, the South China Sea (SCS) has emerged as an arena of U.S.-China strategic competition. China's actions in the SCS in recent years have heightened concerns among U.S. observers that China is gaining effective control of the SCS, an area of strategic, political, and economic importance to the United States and its allies and partners. Actions by China's maritime forces at the Japan-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea (ECS) are another concern for U.S. observers. Chinese domination of China's near-seas region2 could substantially affect U.S. strategic, political, and economic interests in the Indo-Pacific region and elsewhere. The issue for Congress is whether the Administration's strategy for competing strategically with China in the SCS and ECS is appropriate and correctly resourced, and whether Congress should approve, reject, or modify the strategy, the level of resources for implementing it, or both. Decisions that Congress makes on these issues could substantially affect U.S. strategic, political, and economic interests in the Indo-Pacific region and elsewhere."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

O'Rourke, Ronald

2021-08-04

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