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Democratic Republic of Congo: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated March 25, 2022]
From the Introduction: "President Félix Tshisekedi's inauguration in 2019 represented DRC's [Democratic Republic of Congo] first-ever electoral transfer of power and reset DRC's relations with the United States and other Western donors. These had grown acrimonious under Tshisekedi's predecessor, Joseph Kabila, once hailed as a peacemaker, who in his later years in office oversaw election delays, violent suppression of opposition protests, allegedly extensive corruption, and burgeoning conflicts throughout the country. U.S. officials heralded Tshisekedi's presidency despite stated concerns about the electoral process that brought him to office, and Tshisekedi has since pursued close ties with the United States. President Tshisekedi has sought donor support to reform state institutions and improve social services, launched a review of state mining contracts, pursued a diplomatic rapprochement with neighboring countries, and sought to position DRC (with its extensive tropical forests) as a global player on climate change issues. Whether his stated goals are likely to advance or stall ahead of elections slated for 2023 is uncertain; progress to date has been slow. Observers debate whether the president and key supporters are motivated primarily by a commitment to reforms, or by a desire to capture the state and its resources, as previous heads of state arguably did. DRC's challenges are stark. The country is rich in minerals, forest resources, and agricultural and hydroelectric potential, but most Congolese live in poverty."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis
2022-03-25
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Overview of U.S. International Food Assistance [March 25, 2022]
From the Document: "The U.S. government administers international food assistance programs that aim to alleviate hunger and improve food security around the world. Some of these programs provide emergency assistance to people affected by conflict or natural disaster. Other programs provide nonemergency assistance to help communities improve agricultural productivity and strengthen local food systems. This In Focus provides an overview of U.S. international food assistance programs, including legislative authority, funding trends, statutory requirements, and selected issues for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nair, Amber D.
2022-03-25
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Nigeria: Key Issues and U.S. Policy [March 25, 2022]
From the Overview: "Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, largest economy, and leading oil producer. Successive U.S. Administrations have described the U.S. partnership with Nigeria as among the most important bilateral relationships on the continent: Nigeria is the United States' second-largest trade partner and third-largest destination for U.S. foreign direct investment in Africa, and it routinely ranks among the top annual recipients of U.S. foreign assistance globally. Poor governance, conflict, and human rights abuses in Nigeria have attracted attention from Members of Congress and pose challenges for U.S. engagement."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.
2022-03-25
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COVID-19 Support
This document released by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment titled "COVID-19 Support" outlines the ways in which the department has enhanced its precautions against the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic., as well as the budgetary adjustments made in response.
United States. Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
2022-03-25
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Russia's Trade and Investment Role in the Global Economy [March 24, 2022]
From the Document: "The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation (Russia) in February 2022--and the expansion of U.S. and international sanctions that followed--has heightened congressional interest in understanding Russia's economy, including the composition and resilience of its trade and investment ties globally. Members of Congress may have an interest in scrutinizing these ties to better understand any potential leverage that the United States and allies may have over Russia's international trade flows, and to help inform potential additional U.S. policy responses. [...] As Congress oversees and contemplates additional legislative responses to Russia's actions, key issues that Members may consider include the following: [1] Given Russia's relatively small economic footprint outside commodity markets, what are points of U.S. leverage in bilateral trade ties or multilaterally? [2] To what extent can the first and second-order impacts on the global trading system be contained and a global economic crisis averted? What steps should policymakers take to support the most-affected countries? [3] How will sanctions and countermeasures alter the economic trends discussed above? What will be the impact of sanctions on regional and global trade flows?"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwarzenberg, Andres B.
2022-03-24
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Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated March 24, 2022]
From the Introduction: "The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region's future. Issues such as geopolitical competition in the region between the United States, Russia, and China; increased military operations in the region by Russia, the United States, and other Arctic countries; growth in commercial shipping through the Arctic; and oil, gas, and mineral exploration in the Arctic could cause the region in coming years to become an arena of international cooperation, tension, and/or competition. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial political, economic, energy, environmental, and other interests in the region. Decisions that Congress makes on Arctic-related issues could significantly affect these interests."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; Comay, Laura B.; Frittelli, John . . .
2022-03-24
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Fourth Amendment and the Internet: Legal Limits on Digital Searches for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) [March 24, 2022]
From the Document: "Various federal statutes criminalize [hyperlink] the production, distribution, solicitation, and possession of 'child pornography,' defined [hyperlink] in part as 'any visual depiction' of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. Over time, Congress has sought to augment the enforcement of these provisions and limit the dissemination of such material online in several ways. Among other things, federal law requires [hyperlink] covered interactive computer service (ICS) providers, such as companies like Google and Meta, to report 'apparent violation[s]' of the statutes that involve child pornography to the CyberTipline operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a private, nonprofit organization that receives [hyperlink] government funding. NCMEC refers [hyperlink] to the material subject to reporting under the statute as Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), a term it views as 'most accurately reflect[ing] what is depicted-- the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.' NCMEC is required [hyperlink] by federal law to make these provider reports available to law enforcement agencies, and NCMEC receives legal protection [hyperlink] from any claims arising from the performance of its CyberTipline responsibilities and other actions, with certain exceptions. Currently, nothing in federal law requires providers to monitor their services or content for CSAM in the first instance. [...] Although CSAM is both [hyperlink] illegal by statute and unprotected under the First Amendment's Free Speech Clause, identifying and reporting CSAM nonetheless poses policy and legal hurdles. At least one major player in the effort to remove online CSAM, Apple, has faced [hyperlink] backlash from privacy advocates over a reportedly delayed plan to scan iCloud-stored photos on a user's device for CSAM. [...] This Sidebar provides an overview of the Fourth Amendment's application to the existing CSAM reporting regime, including points of divergence in recent federal caselaw that could impact congressional efforts to further encourage private ICS providers to search for and report CSAM or other evidence of criminality."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Foster, Michael A. (Legislative attorney)
2022-03-24
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Members' Representational Allowance: History and Usage [Updated March 24, 2022]
From the Introduction: "Congressional office spending has been a regular topic of interest to academics, interest groups, newspapers, and constituents for many years. It is a topic frequently mentioned in newspaper articles that address individual Member spending or generally discuss financial accountability among elected officials, and it has been examined by watchdog organizations and interest groups covering congressional spending on internal operations generally. A few scholars have also examined how Members typically spend their office allowances, analyzing spending within broader theories of representation. Individual office spending may be as varied as the districts Members represent. Factors affecting spending include the tenure or interests of the Member, levels of casework, geography, unexpected events, and even the congressional calendar. While Representatives have a high degree of flexibility to operate their offices in a way that supports their congressional duties and responsibilities, they must operate within a number of restrictions and regulations. The Members' Representational Allowance (MRA), the allowance provided to Members of the House of Representatives to operate their DC and district offices, may only support Members in their official and representational duties. It may not be used for personal or campaign purposes. [...] This report provides a history of the MRA and overview of recent developments. It also demonstrates actual MRA spending patterns in recent years for all voting Members who served for a defined period. Spending and practices across offices and across time vary, and an examination of additional Congresses would be required for a more complete picture of congressional office spending patterns."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Brudnick, Ida A.
2022-03-24
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Members of the House of Representatives Lying in State in the U.S. Capitol [Updated March 24, 2022]
From the Document: "On March 29, 2022, Representative Donald E. Young [hyperlink], who died on March 18, 2022, will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol. In a press release [hyperlink], House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that Representative Young 'will lie in state in National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol on Tuesday, March 29.' There have been 37 individuals (not including Representative Young) who have lain in state or honor [hyperlink] in the Capitol Rotunda or National Statuary Hall. The most recent individual to lie in state was Senator Harry M. Reid [hyperlink] on January 12, 2022. The most recent individual to lie in honor[.] was United States Capitol Police Officer William 'Billy' F. Evans on April 13, 2021. Prior to Representative Young lying in state, a total of 18 individuals who had been a Member of the House of Representatives had received that honor[.]"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Straus, Jacob R.
2022-03-24
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H. Rept. 117-275: Safeguarding Tomorrow Through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Technical Corrections Act, Report to Accompany H.R. 5673, March 24, 2022
From the Purpose of Legislation: "The purpose of H.R. 5673 is to amend the 'Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act' to make technical corrections to the hazard mitigation revolving loan fund program."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-03-24
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H. Rept. 117-277: Resilient Assistance for Mitigation for Environmentally Resilient Infrastructure and Construction by Americans Act, Report to Accompany H.R. 5689, March 24, 2022
From the Purpose of Legislation: "The purpose of H.R. 5689, as amended, is to help build capacity and fund risk-reducing, cost-effective mitigation projects for eligible state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-03-24
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H. Rept. 117-278, Part 1: Stop Sexual Assault and Harassment in Transportation Act, Report to Accompany H.R. 5706, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, March 24, 2022
From the Purpose of Legislation: "The purpose of H.R. 5706 is to protect personnel and passengers during passenger transportation by air, motor carrier, commuter and intercity rail, transit, vessel, and rideshare from sexual assault and harassment and to improve the response to, and facilitate the reporting of, such incidents."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-03-24
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H. Rept. 117-274: Small Project Efficient and Effective Disaster Recovery Act, Report to Accompany H.R. 5641, March 24, 2022
From the Purpose and Summary: "The purpose of H.R. 5641 is to amend the 'Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act' to increase the threshold for eligibility for assistance under sections 403, 406, 407, and 502."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-03-24
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H. Rept. 117-276, Part 1: Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, Report Together with Minority Views to Accompany H.R. 3617, March 24, 2022
From the Purpose and Summary: "H.R. 3617, the 'Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act,' or the 'MORE Act' would (1) remove marijuana, or cannabis, from the list of substances controlled under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA); (2) create an Opportunity Trust Fund to be funded through an excise tax on the sale of cannabis products; (3) establish a Cannabis Justice Office within the Department of Justice to administer a Community Reinvestment Grant Program to fund nonprofits that provide services to individuals most adversely impacted by the War on Drugs; (4) create a Cannabis Opportunity Program within the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide eligible states and localities with funds for loans to business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and an Equitable Licensing Program, also within SBA, to provide funds to eligible states and localities for developing cannabis licensing programs that minimize barriers to cannabis licensing and employment for individuals most adversely impacted by the War on Drugs; (5) ensure that SBA programs and services are made available to cannabis-related legitimate businesses and service providers; (6) provide for the expungement of Federal cannabis arrests and offenses, the vacating and sealing of cannabis offenses and for resentencing hearings, where appropriate; (7) protect individuals from discrimination in the provision of public benefits on the basis of use, possession, or convictions, or juvenile adjudications for cannabis offenses; and (8) prohibit consideration of cannabis as a controlled substance for purposes of federal immigration laws."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022-03-24
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Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) on Health Care Employment and Vaccinations and Testing for Large Employers [Updated March 24, 2022]
From the Summary: "On June 21, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) promulgated an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for the prevention of the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2], the virus that causes COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] in health care employment settings. On December 27, 2021, OSHA announced that it was withdrawing all provisions of this ETS, with the exception of certain COVID-19 reporting requirements. On November 5, 2021, OSHA promulgated a separate ETS that requires employers with 100 or more employees to require that all employees either be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 4, 2022, or test negative for COVID-19 weekly in order to work onsite. After earlier actions by the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits, on January 13, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay of the OSHA COVID-19 vaccination and testing ETS pending additional judicial review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. On January 25, 2022, OSHA announced that it was withdrawing all provisions of this ETS. The ETS will continue to serve as a proposed permanent standard subject to normal rulemaking. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) gives OSHA the ability to promulgate an ETS that would remain in effect for up to six months without going through the normal review and comment process of rulemaking. OSHA, however, has rarely used this authority prior to the COVID-19 pandemic--not since the courts struck down its ETS on asbestos in 1983."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Szymendera, Scott
2022-03-24
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U.S. Export Controls and China [Updated March 24, 2022]
From the Document: "Since 2018, Congress and the executive branch have revised--through legislation, regulation, and licensing practices--the U.S. export control system that regulates dual-use exports (goods and technology that may have both civilian and military uses). Much of the legislative reform has focused on controlling emerging and foundational technologies, strengthening other technology controls and licensing practices, engaging multilaterally to ensure U.S. controls are effective, and considering the impact of controls on the U.S. economy, including the foreign availability of U.S. products subject to control. Many of these changes were efforts to address concerns about the People's Republic of China's (PRC or China) pursuit of civilian and military leadership in advanced technologies through U.S. commercial ties. Congress plays a key role in overseeing the reforms it enacted and shaping the U.S. export control regime to address U.S. national security and foreign policy concerns, including those posed by China."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sutter, Karen M.; Casey, Christopher A.
2022-03-24
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Nepal [Updated March 24, 2022]
From the Overview: "The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal faces many challenges as it seeks to develop its economy while consolidating its relatively new democracy. Nepal's status as a poor, relatively small, landlocked state situated between China and India largely defines the context of its foreign policy. U.S. assistance to Nepal includes a recently ratified Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact. The United States partners with Nepal to help build a democratic and resilient nation in South Asia."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-
2022-03-24
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Hurricane Ida Preparation and Response
From the Introduction: "Pursuant to a legislative request, we evaluated the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness' (GOHSEP) preparation for and response to Hurricane Ida. Due to the extraordinary threat posed by Hurricane Ida, which made landfall on Sunday, August 29, 2021, the President of the United States designated 25 parishes ('see text box at right') in his emergency declaration. Exhibit 1 shows the track and wind speed of Hurricane Ida. This audit focused on parish emergency operations plans (EOPs), pre-awarded emergency contracts, resource requests through GOHSEP's web-based Emergency Operations Center (WebEOC) system, communication issues, and the state's program for providing temporary housing for dislocated residents."
Louisiana. Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
2022-03-24
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EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 22 Issue 12, March 24, 2022
The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "First intranasal treatment for cyanide poisoning begins Phase 1 clinical study"; "America's evolving homeland security threats: ODNI's Annual Threat Assessment and CHDS webinar series"; "COPS Office releases guidance on community engagement strategies for law enforcement drone programs"; "Webinar: How to implement effective employee vigilance strategies and de-escalation techniques"; "Readout of CISA call with critical infrastructure partners on potential Russian cyberattacks against the United States"; "Strengthening cybersecurity of SATCOM network providers and customers"; "FBI releases the Internet Crime Complaint Center 2021 Internet Crime Report"; "State and local governments could gain access to federal network monitoring service."
Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)
2022-03-24
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 3099, Federal Secure Cloud Improvement and Jobs Act of 2021
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on December 15, 2021. From the Document: "S. 3099 would codify and expand the responsibilities of the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) within the General Services Administration (GSA). The bill would establish a standardized approach to acquiring and using security assessment and cloud-computing products and services. The bill also would establish the Federal Secure Cloud Advisory Committee to examine how the assessment and selection processes could be improved. FedRAMP is currently part of GSA's Federal Citizens Services Fund which provides funds to federal agencies to build capacity for conducting activities electronically. The fund received $55 million in 2021. Using information from GSA regarding the FedRAMP program as well as the cost of other advisory committees, CBO estimates that implementing S. 3099 would cost about $50 million over the 2022-2026 period, assuming appropriation of the estimated amounts."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-03-24
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Joint Cybersecurity Advisory: Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures of Indicted State-Sponsored Russian Cyber Actors Targeting the Energy Sector
From the Executive Summary: "This joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA)--coauthored by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Energy (DOE)--provides information on multiple intrusion campaigns conducted by statesponsored Russian cyber actors from 2011 to 2018 and targeted U.S. and international Energy Sector organizations. CISA, the FBI, and DOE responded to these campaigns with appropriate action in and around the time that they occurred. CISA, the FBI, and DOE are sharing this information in order to highlight historical tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by adversaries to target U.S. and international Energy Sector organizations."
United States. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency; United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation; United States. Department of Energy
2022-03-24
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Oversight of Multifamily Borrowers' Compliance with Cares Act and Freddie Mac Tenant Protections and Freddie Mac's Response to the Potential Financial Impact of COVID-19
From the Executive Summary: "In March 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic prompted Congress, FHFA [Federal Housing Finance Agency], and Freddie Mac to act to protect the interests of tenants in multifamily properties financed by federally backed multifamily mortgage loans. Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act or the Act), which imposed a 120-day moratorium that prohibited all borrowers with federally backed multifamily loans (referred to in this report as 'borrowers,' 'lessors,' or 'landlords') from filing legal actions to recover possession of a covered dwelling unit from a tenant solely due to the nonpayment of rent or other fees or charges. The Act also prohibited multifamily borrowers whose loans were in forbearance from evicting tenants, or initiating eviction actions against tenants, during the forbearance period solely for the nonpayment of rent. Freddie Mac's forbearance program provides the same tenant protections and also requires borrowers in forbearance to notify eligible tenants in writing and inform them of the available protections. In June 2020, at FHFA's direction, Freddie Mac expanded its tenant protections requirement for borrowers entering into a forbearance to allow tenants to pay back missed rent payments over a 'reasonable time,' rather than in one lump-sum payment at the end of the forbearance period. [...] We undertook this special project, in part, to determine how Freddie Mac monitored multifamily servicers' and borrowers' compliance with the CARES Act's and Freddie Mac's forbearance program tenant protections."
United States. Federal Housing Finance Agency. Office of Inspector General
2022-03-24
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SBA Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program [Updated March 24, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report focuses on the SBA [Small Business Administration]'s WOSB [Women-Owned Small Business] Federal Contracting Program, authorized by H.R. 5654, the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000, and incorporated by reference in P.L. 106-554, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001. The WOSB program is designed to help federal agencies achieve their statutory goal of awarding at least 5% of their federal contracting dollars to WOSBs (established by P.L. 103-355, the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (FASA)) by allowing federal contracting officers to [1] set aside acquisitions exceeding the micro-purchase threshold (currently $10,000) for bidding by WOSBs (including economically disadvantaged WOSBs (EDWOSBs)) exclusively in industries in which WOSBs are substantially underrepresented, and [2] set aside contracts for bidding by EDWOSBs exclusively in industries in which WOSBs are underrepresented."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dilger, Robert Jay, 1954-; Blackford, R. Corinne
2022-03-24
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Role of Russian Natural Gas [March 23, 2022]
From the Document: "Russian natural gas exports have been and continue to be of interest to Congress, whether regarding the Nord Stream 2 [hyperlink] and TurkStream [hyperlink]natural gas pipelines, European energy security [hyperlink], or geopolitical influences. Particularly for Europe, Russia's natural gas industry holds greater geopolitical significance than Russian oil. Most of Russia's natural gas exports to Europe, its largest market, are by pipeline, which limits Europe's supply flexibility. Some European countries are wholly reliant on Russian natural gas imports, and Russia has appeared [hyperlink] to adjust its natural gas prices and, occasionally, supplies on the basis of its relationship with consuming countries and as leverage in contract negotiations. In recent years, Russia has widened the market for its natural gas exports, primarily by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Russia has looked to Asia, particularly China, for future natural gas exports. In 2020, 17% of Russia's natural gas exports were LNG transported by ships and 83% were non-LNG transported by pipelines. In 2020, 78% of Russian natural gas exports went to Europe, including Turkey, 11% went to Asia, and 11% went elsewhere. Energy is the most important sector in Russia's economy, and natural gas is a key resource. Russia is the second largest consumer and producer of natural gas in the world, and the top reserve holder and exporter. Natural gas accounts for more than half of Russia's primary energy consumption and exports are a major source of foreign currency and revenues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ratner, Michael
2022-03-23
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National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Reinsurance, and Catastrophe Bonds [Updated March 23, 2022]
From the Document: "Insurance transfers risk from one entity who does not want to bear that risk to another entity that does. An initial insurance purchase, such as homeowners buying a policy to cover damage to their home, is often only the first transfer of that risk. The initial (or 'primary') insurer may then transfer (or 'cede') some or all of this risk to another company or investor, such as a 'reinsurer.' Reinsurers may also further transfer (or 'retrocede') risks to other reinsurers. Such transfers are, on the whole, a net cost for primary insurers, just as purchasing insurance is a net cost for homeowners. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (P.L. [Public Law] 113-89 [hyperlink]) revised the authority of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to secure reinsurance from 'private reinsurance and capital markets.' Risk transfer to the private market could reduce the likelihood of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) borrowing from the Treasury [hyperlink] to pay claims. In addition, it could allow the NFIP to recognize some of its flood risk up front through premiums it pays for risk transfers rather than after-the-fact borrowing, and could help the NFIP to reduce the volatility of its losses over time. However, because reinsurers charge premiums to compensate for the assumed risk as well as the reinsurers' costs and profit margins, the primary benefit of reinsurance is to manage risk, not to reduce the NFIP's long-term fiscal exposure [hyperlink]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.; Webel, Baird
2022-03-23
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Crude Oil Windfall Profits Taxes: Background and Policy Considerations [March 23, 2022]
From the Document: "Recent increases in gasoline prices and reports of high profits from large oil companies have contributed to congressional interest in a crude oil windfall profits tax. [...] Windfall (or excess) profits taxes are, in theory, designed to tax the portion of profits a firm derives from an external event. Windfall profits are generally believed to be those that represent an excessive, unearned, or unfair gain. Oftentimes, windfall profits taxes are discussed in the context of oil markets, where fluctuations in the price of oil are associated with volatile profits in the industry. It is possible windfall or excess profits may be realized in other industries. It has been suggested that some companies (certain technology companies, for example) may have realized excess or windfall profits as a result of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Rising oil prices can be associated with rising industry profits, and falling oil prices may be associated with losses in the industry. [...] Oil industry profits have fluctuated with oil prices over time. Profits have tended to be stronger in periods when prices are relatively high, with losses occurring during periods when prices are comparatively low. Numerous economic factors affect industry profitability. Oil prices are highlighted here, as high oil prices are a motivation behind current windfall profit tax proposals."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sherlock, Molly F.; Gravelle, Jane
2022-03-23
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FEMA Hazard Mitigation: A First Step Toward Climate Adaptation [Updated March 23, 2022]
From the Summary: "With the increasing severity and frequency of natural disasters, attributed at least in part to climate change, policymakers often view mitigation funding as a way to control disaster-related spending. The importance of federal mitigation funding is illustrated by a recent study that looked at the impacts of 23 years of federal mitigation grants and found that for every $1 invested by federal grant programs, society as a whole saved $6 due to reduced future losses. FEMA has a lead role in guiding nationwide mitigation of extreme weather events, including those resulting from the impacts of climate change. In particular, FEMA administers the federal government's most significant grant programs for pre-and post-disaster mitigation. FEMA has identified hazard mitigation as one of the main ways in which the agency will enhance resilience to the effects of climate change and lead federal climate change adaptation efforts. [...] This report gives an overview of FEMA funding for mitigation, including issues related to equity, and suggests considerations for Congress that may enhance FEMA's support for hazard mitigation and climate adaptation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2022-03-23
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Projected Coverage and Subsidy Impacts If the American Rescue Plan's Marketplace Provisions Sunset in 2023
From the Background: "The American Rescue Plan (ARP) reduces the amount of income individuals and families are expected to contribute toward premiums for individual market coverage through the Marketplace exchanges and extends premium tax credits to households with income above 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). Previous ASPE analyses have shown the impacts of the ARP in lowering Marketplace premiums and improving plan affordability through increased access to zero- and low-premium plans on the HealthCare.gov platform. [...] If the ARP premium tax credit provisions are extended, millions of people will continue to benefit from the enhanced and expanded premium subsidies. If the ARP premium tax credit provisions are allowed to sunset, these consumer benefits will be eliminated, likely leading to increases in the number of uninsured and higher out-of-pocket costs for individuals and families purchasing insurance through the Marketplace. This report projects the potential impacts if the ARP premium tax credits expire in 2023, with both national and state level estimates developed using the Comprehensive Assessment of Reform Efforts (COMPARE) microsimulation model."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Office of Health Policy
Branham, Keith; Eibner, Christine; Girosi, Federico . . .
2022-03-23
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Revisit of the Domain Name System After Russia's Invasion of Ukraine [March 23, 2022]
From the Document: "Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov asked [hyperlink] the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to sanction Russia's internet access. Federov requested changes to the domain name system (DNS) [hyperlink]--revoking the top-level domains '.ru,' '.pф,' and '.su' and shutting down four DNS root servers located in Russia--to 'help users seek for reliable information in alternative domain zones.' ICANN responded [hyperlink] that (1) ICANN does not 'take unilateral action to disconnect' domains, and (2) independent operators maintain the geographically distributed DNS root server system. Further, ICANN stated it has neither the authority nor ability to impose sanctions as it 'does not control internet access or content.' Days after ICANN turned down Ukraine's request, two top-tier U.S.-based internet service providers terminated [hyperlink] their services in Russia. In an open letter [hyperlink] to the Biden Administration, 41 civil society organizations that advocate for digital rights cautioned against sanctions that would disrupt internet access for Russian users and inhibit their ability to access factual information and organize opposition to the war."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Zhu, Ling
2022-03-23
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Recent Funding Increases for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance [Updated March 23, 2022]
From the Introduction: "The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that $3.46 billion in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding [hyperlink] (HMGP) will be made available to states, territories, and tribes (STTs) with major disaster declarations for the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic [hyperlink]. FEMA also announced increased funding for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program for FY2021 [hyperlink]. In addition, significant new mitigation funding will be available from FY2022 through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [hyperlink] (IIJA)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Horn, Diane P.
2022-03-23
