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crs_RL32572 | crs_RL32572_0 | Introduction
The Trump Administration's Nuclear Posture Review, released on February 2, 2018, includes plans for the United States to deploy two new types of nuclear weapons "to enhance the flexibility and responsiveness of U.S. nuclear forces." The report highlights that these weapons represent a response to Russia'... | Recent debates about U.S. nuclear weapons have questioned what role weapons with shorter ranges and lower yields can play in addressing emerging threats in Europe and Asia. These weapons, often referred to as nonstrategic nuclear weapons, have not been limited by past U.S.-Russian arms control agreements, although some... |
crs_R45577 | crs_R45577_0 | Introduction
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), administered by the Department of Energy (DOE), has been a part of U.S. oil security policy for over 40 years. Originally intended as a reserve to replace oil that might be withdrawn from the world market to forward political purposes and objectives, its rationale h... | The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), administered by the Department of Energy (DOE), has played a role in U.S. energy policy for over 40 years. Over that time, its primary focus has changed from its original intent as world oil market conditions have changed. Originally intended to offset the market power of cartels ... |
crs_RL34498 | crs_RL34498_0 | Three Commonly Used Concepts of Tax Rates and How They Differ
In analyzing the effects of U.S. individual income tax rates, it is important to be clear about which rates are being discussed. Among tax analysts, the three most widely used measures are statutory rates (STRs), marginal effective rates (MERs), and averag... | Statutory individual income tax rates are the tax rates that apply by law to various amounts of taxable income. Statutory rates form the basis of marginal effective and average effective tax rates, which most economists believe have a greater impact on the economic behavior of companies and individuals than do statutor... |
crs_R41456 | crs_R41456_0 | SBIC Program Overview
The Small Business Administration (SBA) administers several programs to support small businesses, including loan guaranty programs to enhance small business access to capital; programs to increase small business opportunities in federal contracting; direct loans for businesses, homeowners, and r... | The Small Business Administration's (SBA's) Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program is designed to enhance small business access to venture capital by stimulating and supplementing "the flow of private equity capital and long-term loan funds which small-business concerns need for the sound financing of their b... |
crs_R45708 | crs_R45708_0 | Introduction and Overview
The Energy and Water Development appropriations bill includes funding for civil works projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Department of the Interior's Central Utah Project (CUP) and Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the Department of Energy (DOE), and a number of ind... | The Energy and Water Development appropriations bill provides funding for civil works projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and Central Utah Project (CUP); the Department of Energy (DOE); the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); and se... |
crs_R45327 | crs_R45327_0 | T he Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program provides cash benefits to federal, state, and local law enforcement officers; firefighters; employees of emergency management agencies; and members of emergency medical services agencies who are killed or permanently and totally disabled as the result of personal inj... | The Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program provides cash benefits to federal, state, and local law enforcement officers; firefighters; employees of emergency management agencies; and members of emergency medical services agencies who are killed or permanently and totally disabled as the result of personal inju... |
crs_R44116 | crs_R44116_0 | Introduction
This report provides background information for Congress on the levels of Department of Defense (DOD) military servicemembers and contractor personnel deployed in support of prior and ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information on DOD's use of contractor personnel, see CRS I... | Throughout its history, the Department of Defense (DOD) has relied on contractors to support a wide range of military operations. Operations over the last thirty years have highlighted the critical role that contractors play in supporting U.S. troops—both in terms of the number of contractors and the type of work being... |
crs_RL33028 | crs_RL33028_0 | Introduction
The Social Security program pays benefits to retired or disabled workers and their family members and to the family members of deceased workers. As of March 2019, there were 63.3 million Social Security beneficiaries. Approximately 70% of those beneficiaries were retired workers and 13% were disabled wor... | The Social Security program pays monthly cash benefits to retired or disabled workers and their family members and to the family members of deceased workers. Program income and outgo are accounted for in two separate trust funds authorized under Title II of the Social Security Act: the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Ins... |
crs_RS21212 | crs_RS21212_0 | T he U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers several programs designed to help farmers and ranchers recover from the financial effects of natural disasters, including (1) federal crop insurance, (2) the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), (3) livestock and fruit tree disaster programs, and (4) emerg... | The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers several programs to help farmers recover financially from natural disasters, including drought and floods. All the programs have permanent authorization, and one requires a federal disaster designation (the emergency loan program). Most programs receive mandatory funding... |
crs_R44589 | crs_R44589_0 | Introduction
Congress created offices of inspector general (OIGs) in 1978 (via P.L. 95-452 , the Inspector General Act of 1978, or the IG Act) to assist in its oversight of the executive branch. At that time, Congress determined that there were serious deficiencies in the executive branch's auditing and investigative... | Congress created offices of inspector general (OIGs) to assist in its oversight of the executive branch. OIGs provide independent, nonpartisan analysis, conducted in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards, to identify and recommend ways to limit waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs and ... |
crs_R45425 | crs_R45425_0 | T he farm bill is an omnibus, multiyear law that governs an array of agricultural and food programs. It provides an opportunity for Congress to choose how much support to provide for agriculture and nutrition and how to allocate it among competing constituencies. The farm bill has typically undergone reauthorization ab... | The farm bill is an omnibus, multiyear law that governs an array of agricultural and food programs. The farm bill has typically undergone reauthorization about every five years. The current farm bill—the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334), often called the "2018 farm bill"—was enacted in December 2018 a... |
crs_RL33375 | crs_RL33375_0 | Background and Genesis of SAFER
Firefighting and the provision of fire protection services to the public is traditionally a local responsibility, funded primarily by state, county, and municipal governments. During the 1990s, however, shortfalls in state and local budgets—coupled with increased responsibilities (i.e.... | In response to concerns over the adequacy of firefighter staffing, the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Act, known as the SAFER Act, was enacted by the 108th Congress as Section 1057 of the FY2004 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 108-136). The SAFER Act authorizes grants to career, volunteer, a... |
crs_RL30666 | crs_RL30666_0 | Introduction
The minority leader of the modern House is the head of the "loyal opposition." As the minority party's nominee for Speaker at the start of a new Congress, the minority leader traditionally hands the gavel to the Speaker-elect, who is usually elected on a straight party-line vote. The speakership election... | The House minority leader, the head of the "loyal opposition," is elected every two years by secret ballot of his or her party caucus or conference. The minority leader occupies a number of important institutional and party roles and responsibilities, and his or her fundamental goal is to recapture majority control of ... |
crs_R43783 | crs_R43783_0 | Introduction and Background
The federal child nutrition programs provide assistance to schools and other institutions in the form of cash, commodity food, and administrative support (such as technical assistance and administrative funding) based on the provision of meals and snacks to children. In general, these prog... | The "child nutrition programs" refer to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) programs that provide food for children in school or institutional settings. The best known programs, which serve the largest number of children, are the school meals programs: the National School Lunch Pr... |
crs_R45695 | crs_R45695_0 | Introduction
Streamgages measure water level and related streamflow at streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs across the country. Streamgages provide foundational information for diverse applications that affect a variety of constituents. Congress has supported a national streamgage program for 130 years. These strea... | Streamgages are fixed structures at streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs that measure water level and related streamflow—the amount of water flowing through a water body over time. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the Department of the Interior operates streamgages in every state, the District of Columbia, and th... |
crs_R42704 | crs_R42704_0 | Introduction
Requirements for military awards and decorations can change over time. New events and changes in military, political, or social conditions can generate debate over who is eligible for various military awards. These changes tend to be controversial, especially with veterans groups. Congress has considered... | The Purple Heart is one of the oldest and most recognized American military medals, awarded to servicemembers who were killed or wounded by enemy action. The conflicts 2001 to the present have greatly increased the number of Purple Hearts awarded to servicemembers.
Events over the past few years have spurred debate on ... |
crs_R44822 | crs_R44822_0 | Recent Developments
On January 2, 2019, for the second year in a row, the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCDHRN) reported a significant decline in the annual number of short-term detentions for political reasons. In 2018, according to the CCDHRN, there were 2,873 short-term detentions,... | Cuba remains a one-party authoritarian state with a poor human rights record. Current President Miguel Díaz-Canel succeeded Raúl Castro in April 2018, although Castro is continuing as first secretary of Cuba's Communist Party. Over the past decade, Cuba has implemented gradual market-oriented economic policy changes, b... |
crs_R45558 | crs_R45558_0 | O n December 21, 2018, President Trump signed into law the First Step Act of 2018 ( P.L. 115-391 ). The act was the culmination of several years of congressional debate about what Congress might do to reduce the size of the federal prison population while also creating mechanisms to maintain public safety.
Correctiona... | On December 21, 2018, President Trump signed into law the First Step Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-391). The act was the culmination of several years of congressional debate about what Congress might do to reduce the size of the federal prison population while also creating mechanisms to maintain public safety. This report pro... |
crs_R43542 | crs_R43542_0 | Introduction
Social Security, which paid about $989 billion in benefits in 2018, is the largest program in the federal budget in term s of outlays. There are currently about 63 million Social Security beneficiaries.
Most Social Security beneficiaries are retired or disabled workers, whose monthly benefits depend on ... | Social Security, the largest program in the federal budget (in terms of outlays), provides monthly cash benefits to retired or disabled workers and their family members as well as to the family members of deceased workers. In 2018, benefit outlays were approximately $989 billion, with roughly 63 million beneficiaries a... |
crs_R44000 | crs_R44000_0 | Introduction
This report provides background information and analysis on the following topics:
Various aspects of U.S.-Turkey relations, including (1) Turkey's strategic orientation; (2) U.S./NATO cooperation and how a Turkish purchase of an S-400 air defense system from Russia could endanger its acquisition of U.S.-... | The United States and Turkey have been NATO allies since 1952 and share some vital interests, but harmonizing their priorities can be difficult. These priorities sometimes diverge irrespective of who leads the two countries, based on contrasting geography, threat perceptions, and regional roles.
Turkey's core security ... |
crs_R44296 | crs_R44296_0 | What Is the Budget Resolution and How Is It Enforced?
The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (hereinafter referred to as the Budget Act) created the budget resolution and specifies that it be adopted annually. The budget resolution reflects an agreement between the House and Senate on spending and revenue levels.
The b... | The budget resolution reflects an agreement between the House and Senate on a budgetary plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Once agreed to by both chambers in the exact same form, the budget resolution creates parameters that may be enforced by (1) points of order and (2) using the budget reconciliation process.
When th... |
crs_R45717 | crs_R45717_0 | Introduction
The growth of the national debt, which is considered unsustainable under current policies, continues to be one of the central issues of domestic federal policymaking.
This report examines alternative approaches to reducing annual budget deficits and decisions about how to bring the national debt under c... | The growth of the national debt, which is considered unsustainable under current policies, continues to be one of the central issues of domestic federal policymaking.
Addressing a federal budget deficit that is unsustainable over the long run involves choices. Fundamentally, the issues require deciding what government ... |
crs_R45532 | crs_R45532_0 | T he term digital economy has fluid meaning in different policy contexts. Broadly speaking, this term can refer to any number of everyday economic activities that are connected over computers, mobile phones, or other internet-connected devices. In the realm of international tax policy, though, certain types of activiti... | Several countries, primarily in Europe, and the European Commission have proposed or adopted taxes on revenue earned by multinational corporations (MNCs) in certain "digital economy" sectors from activities linked to the user-based activity of their residents. These proposals have generally been labeled as "digital ser... |
crs_R45629 | crs_R45629_0 | F irearms have a unique significance in American society. Millions own or use firearms for numerous lawful purposes, such as hunting and protecting themselves in the home. Still, firearms annually cause tens of thousands of injuries and deaths, including in high-profile mass shootings. The widespread lawful and unlawfu... | Firearms regulation is an area of shared authority among federal, state, and local governments. Individual states have enacted a diverse range of laws relating to the possession, registration, and carrying of firearms, among other things. Federal law establishes a regulatory framework for the lawful manufacture, sale, ... |
crs_R45178 | crs_R45178_0 | Introduction1
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field of technology that is capturing the attention of commercial investors, defense intellectuals, policymakers, and international competitors alike, as evidenced by a number of recent initiatives. On July 20, 2017, the Chinese government released a str... | Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field of technology with potentially significant implications for national security. As such, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and other nations are developing AI applications for a range of military functions. AI research is underway in the fields of intelligence c... |
crs_R44599 | crs_R44599_0 | I n the midst of ongoing concerns about illicit drug use and abuse, there has been heightened attention to the issue of opioid abuse—including both prescription opioids and nonprescription opioids such as heroin. The increased attention to opioid abuse and addiction first centered on the abuse of prescription painkille... | Over the past several years, the nation has seen an uptick in the use and abuse of opioids—both prescription opioids and non-prescription opioids such as heroin. In 2016, there were an estimated 948,000 individuals (0.4% of the 12 and older population) who reported using heroin within the past year—up from 0.2% to 0.3%... |
crs_R43159 | crs_R43159_0 | Overview
Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA; P.L. 89-329), as amended, authorizes programs that provide financial assistance to students to attend certain institutions of higher education (IHEs). In academic year (AY) 2016-2017, 6,760 institutions were classified as Title IV eligible IHEs. Of these IHEs eligib... | Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) authorizes programs that provide financial assistance to students to assist them in obtaining a postsecondary education at certain institutions of higher education (IHEs). These IHEs include public, private nonprofit, and proprietary institutions. For students attending such i... |
crs_RL32109 | crs_RL32109_0 | Introduction
This report presents background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Navy's Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) and Zumwalt (DDG-1000) class destroyer programs. The Navy's proposed FY2020 budget requests funding for the procurement of three DDG-51s. Decisions that Congress makes concerning d... | The Navy began procuring Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) class destroyers, also known as Aegis destroyers, in FY1985, and a total of 82 have been procured through FY2019. The Navy's proposed FY2020 budget requests funding for the procurement of three more DDG-51s, which would be the 83rd, 84th, and 85th ships in the class.
DDG-... |
crs_RL30478 | crs_RL30478_0 | Introduction
This report provides background information on the types of water supply and wastewater treatment projects traditionally funded by the federal government and the several existing programs to assist communities with water supply and wastewater treatment.
For more than four decades, Congress has authorize... | For more than four decades, Congress has authorized and refined several programs to help communities address water supply and wastewater problems. The agencies that administer these programs differ in multiple ways. In terms of funding mechanisms, projects developed by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the U.... |
crs_R45709 | crs_R45709_0 | Introduction
The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program provides monthly benefits to retired or disabled workers and their family members and to the family members of deceased workers. The OASDI program operates as a pay-as-you-go program in which revenues (collected from payroll taxes and taxat... | The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program provides monthly benefits to retired or disabled workers and their family members and to the family members of deceased workers. These monthly benefits constitute a substantial portion of income for a large segment of recipients.
The OASDI program is fina... |
crs_R45493 | crs_R45493_0 | Introduction
The international oil market has influenced U.S. domestic and foreign policy decisions for decades. The United States plays a significant role in the world oil market, not only as the top consumer of crude oil and petroleum products, but also as the largest producer. The U.S. Energy Information Administr... | The United States, as the largest consumer and producer of oil, plays a major role in the world market. Policy decisions can affect the price of oil and petroleum products (e.g., gasoline) for U.S. consumers and companies operating in U.S. oil production, transportation, and refining sectors. Congress considers policie... |
crs_R44670 | crs_R44670_0 | Introduction
The Social Security full retirement age (FRA) is the age at which workers can first claim full Social Security retired-worker benefits. Among other factors, the age at which an individual begins receiving Social Security benefits has an impact on the size of the monthly benefits. Claiming benefits before... | The Social Security full retirement age (FRA) is the age at which workers can first claim full Social Security retired-worker benefits. Among other factors, a worker's monthly benefit amount is affected by the age at which he or she claims benefits relative to the FRA. Benefit adjustments are made based on the number o... |
crs_RL33487 | crs_RL33487_0 | Background
In March 2011, antigovernment protests broke out in Syria, which has been ruled by the Asad family for more than four decades. The protests spread, violence escalated (primarily but not exclusively by Syrian government forces), and numerous political and armed opposition groups emerged. In August 2011, Pre... | Since 2011, the Syria conflict has presented significant policy challenges for the United States. (For a brief conflict summary, see Figure 2). U.S. policy toward Syria since 2014 has prioritized counterterrorism operations against the Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIL/ISIS), but also has included nonlethal assista... |
crs_R41136 | crs_R41136_0 | Background1
The Republic of Cyprus gained its independence from Great Britain in 1960. At the time, the population living on the island was approximately 77% Greek ethnic origin and roughly 18% Turkish ethnic origin. (This figure has changed over the years, as an influx of mainland Turks have settled in the north.) M... | Four months into 2019, unification talks intended to end the division of Cyprus after 55 years as a politically separated nation and 45 years as a physically divided country have remained suspended since July 2017. Attempts by the United Nations to find common ground between the two Cypriot communities to resume the ne... |
crs_R40213 | crs_R40213_0 | Foreign Aid: An Introduction to U.S. Programs and Policy
U.S. foreign aid is the largest component of the international affairs budget, for decades viewed by many as an essential instrument of U.S. foreign policy. Each year, the foreign aid budget is the subject of congressional debate over the size, composition, and... | Foreign assistance is the largest component of the international affairs budget and is viewed by many as an essential instrument of U.S. foreign policy. On the basis of national security, commercial, and humanitarian rationales, U.S. assistance flows through many federal agencies and supports myriad objectives. These i... |
crs_R45463 | crs_R45463_0 | T he federal government collects various fees and other charges from businesses and households. Choosing to raise public funds via user fees, as opposed to other means such as taxes, has important administrative and economic consequences. Many fees stem from "business-like activities," in which the government provides ... | The federal government collects various fees from businesses and households. Choosing to raise public funds via user fees, as opposed to other means such as taxes, has important administrative and economic consequences. Many fees stem from "business-like activities," in which the government provides a service or benefi... |
crs_R43590 | crs_R43590_0 | Introduction
According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal workforce is composed of an estimated 2.1 million civilian workers, and several federal agencies collect, compile, and publish statistics about this workforce. Source s may vary in their totals due to differences in how federal workforce ... | This report describes online tools, reports, and data compilations created by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that contain statistics about federal employees and the federal workforce.
The report also describes key characteristics of each resource and briefly discu... |
crs_RS21333 | crs_RS21333_0 | Background
Between 1969 and 1999, almost 3,500 people died as a result of political violence in Northern Ireland, which is a part of the United Kingdom (UK). The conflict, which has its origins in the 1921 division of Ireland and is often referred to as "the Troubles," has reflected a struggle between different natio... | Between 1969 and 1999, almost 3,500 people died as a result of political violence in Northern Ireland, which is one of four component "nations" of the United Kingdom (UK). The conflict, often referred to as "the Troubles," has its origins in the 1921 division of Ireland and has reflected a struggle between different na... |
crs_R45618 | crs_R45618_0 | Introduction
The issue of executive discretion has been at the center of constitutional debates in liberal democracies throughout the twentieth century. How to balance a commitment to the rule of law with the exigencies of modern political and economic crises has engaged legislators and scholars in the United States ... | The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) provides the President broad authority to regulate a variety of economic transactions following a declaration of national emergency. IEEPA, like the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA) from which it branched, sits at the center of the modern U.S. sanctions regime. C... |
crs_R42565 | crs_R42565_0 | New Markets Venture Capital Program Overview
The Small Business Administration (SBA) administers several programs to support small businesses, including loan guaranty programs to enhance small business access to capital; venture capital programs, including the now inactive New Markets Venture Capital (NMVC) program, ... | Authorized by P.L. 106-554, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001 (Appendix H: the New Markets Venture Capital Program Act of 2000), the New Markets Venture Capital (NMVC) program, which is no longer active, is designed to promote economic development and the creation of wealth and job opportunities in low-income g... |
crs_RL32760 | crs_RL32760_0 | Introduction
This report provides responses to frequently asked questions about the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant. It is intended to serve as a quick reference to provide easy access to information and data. Appendix B presents a series of tables with state-level data. This report does no... | The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant funds a wide range of benefits and services for low-income families with children. TANF was created in the 1996 welfare reform law (P.L. 104-193). This report responds to some frequently asked questions about TANF; it does not describe TANF rules (see, inst... |
crs_RS21282 | crs_RS21282_0 | Personnel Files: Military Service and Pension Records at the National Archives
The Military Personnel Records division of the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), a component of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) located in St. Louis, Missouri, holds most existing U.S. military personnel, he... | This guide provides information on locating military unit histories and individual service records of discharged, retired, and deceased military personnel. It also provides information on locating and replacing military awards and medals. Included is contact information for military history centers, websites for additi... |
crs_RL31693 | crs_RL31693_0 | Introduction
The President and Congress have historically played different roles when sending U.S. troops into hostile situations. The President has the power under Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution to use the Armed Forces to repel attacks. Congress under Article I, Section 8, has the power to declare war an... | This report summarizes selected congressional roll call votes related to instances in which U.S. Armed Forces have been sent abroad in potentially hostile situations. These votes reflect the type of congressional actions that observers maintain bear directly on issues affecting policy and the funding of troops abroad, ... |
crs_R44841 | crs_R44841_0 | Recent Developments
On January 21, 2019, Venezuela's government-aligned Supreme Court issued a ruling declaring the National Assembly illegitimate and its rulings unconstitutional. (See " Lead-Up to Maduro's January 2019 Inauguration and Aftermath ," below.)
On January 21, 2019, Venezuelan military authorities announ... | Venezuela remains in a deep political crisis under the authoritarian rule of President Nicolás Maduro of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Maduro, narrowly elected in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chávez (1999-2013), is unpopular. Nevertheless, he has used the courts, security forces, and electoral council... |
crs_RL32665 | crs_RL32665_0 | Introduction
This report presents background information and issues for Congress concerning the Navy's force structure and shipbuilding plans. The current and planned size and composition of the Navy, the rate of Navy ship procurement, and the prospective affordability of the Navy's shipbuilding plans have been overs... | The current and planned size and composition of the Navy, the rate of Navy ship procurement, and the prospective affordability of the Navy's shipbuilding plans have been oversight matters for the congressional defense committees for many years.
On December 15, 2016, the Navy released a force-structure goal that calls f... |
crs_RS22373 | crs_RS22373_0 | Introduction
This report provides background information and potential issues for Congress on the Navy's irregular warfare (IW) and counterterrorism (CT) operations. The Navy's IW and CT activities pose a number of potential oversight issues for Congress, including how much emphasis to place on IW and CT activities i... | In the years following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Navy has carried out a variety of irregular warfare (IW) and counterterrorism (CT) activities. Among the most readily visible of these were operations carried out by Navy sailors serving ashore in the Middle East and Afghanistan, as well as the May... |
crs_R45554 | crs_R45554_0 | Introduction
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( P.L. 93-288 , hereinafter the Stafford Act) authorizes the President to issue a major disaster declaration in response to natural or man-made incidents that overwhelm state, local, or tribal capacities. The declaration makes a wide ran... | Throughout the years, Congress has expressed interest and concern for businesses recovering from disasters. For nearly a century, the federal government's policy for providing disaster assistance to businesses has been limited primarily to low interest loans rather than grant assistance. More recently, Congress has con... |
crs_R45687 | crs_R45687_0 | Introduction
South Africa is a majority black, multiracial country of nearly 58 million people. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was elected by the parliament in February 2018 after his predecessor, Jacob Zuma, resigned. Zuma did so under the threat of a parliamentary no confidence vote after defying a decisio... | South Africa is a majority black, multiracial country of nearly 58 million people. It has cordial relations with the United States, notwithstanding some occasional strains, and is the largest U.S. trade partner in Africa. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is spearheading efforts to address years of weak economic ... |
crs_R44477 | crs_R44477_0 | Introduction
Federal policymakers statutorily established the U.S. Department of Education (ED) as a Cabinet-level agency in 1980. Its mission is to "promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access."
Like most federal agencies, ED r... | Like most federal agencies, the Department of Education (ED) receives funds in support of its mission through various federal budget and appropriations processes. While not unique, the mechanisms by which ED receives, obligates, and expends funds can be complex. For example, ED receives both mandatory and discretionary... |
crs_RL31572 | crs_RL31572_0 | Introduction
Article I, Section 9, of the U.S. Constitution provides, "No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law." The Constitution does not, however, prescribe any specific structure or process for making appropriations. The committee structure established by Congres... | This report details the evolution of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees' subcommittee structure from the 1920s to the present. In 1920, the House adopted a change in its rules to consolidate jurisdiction over all appropriations in the Appropriations Committee. After the enactment of the Budget and Accountin... |
crs_RL33388 | crs_RL33388_0 | Background
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is an interagency committee that serves the President in overseeing the national security implications of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the economy. Since its inception, CFIUS has operated at the nexus of shifting concepts of national se... | The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is an interagency body comprised of nine Cabinet members, two ex officio members, and other members as appointed by the President, that assists the President in reviewing the national security aspects of foreign direct investment in the U.S. economy. Whil... |
crs_R43327 | crs_R43327_0 | Introduction
The federal government supports the development of airport infrastructure in three different ways. First, the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) provides federal grants to airports for planning and development, mainly of capital projects related to aircraft operations such as runways and taxiways. Second,... | There are five major sources of airport capital development funding: the federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP); local passenger facility charges (PFCs) imposed pursuant to federal law; tax-exempt bonds; state and local grants; and airport operating revenue from tenant lease and other revenue-generating activities s... |
crs_R45268 | crs_R45268_0 | Introduction
This report describes and analyzes annual appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY2019. It compares the enacted FY2018 appropriations for DHS, the Donald J. Trump Administration's FY2019 budget request, and the appropriations measures developed and considered by Congress in res... | This report provides an overview and analysis of FY2019 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The primary focus of this report is on congressional direction and funding provided to DHS through the appropriations process. It includes an Appendix with definitions of key budget terms used throughou... |
crs_R45696 | crs_R45696_0 | Introduction1
This report summarizes and analyzes selected forest management provisions enacted in the 115 th Congress and compares them with prior law or policy. These provisions were enacted through two legislative vehicles
The Stephen Sepp Wildfire Suppression Funding and Forest Management Activities Act, enacted ... | The 115th Congress enacted several provisions affecting management of the National Forest System (NFS), administered by the Forest Service (in the Department of Agriculture), and the lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM, in the Department of the Interior). The provisions were enacted through two laws: th... |
crs_R41364 | crs_R41364_0 | Introduction
The Bush tax cuts, enacted in 2001 and 2003, were scheduled to expire at the end of 2010. Among the expiring tax provisions was a lower 15% rate for long-term capital gains and dividends, with a 0% tax rate on capital gains and dividends for taxpayers subject to ordinary rates of 15% or less. Absent legi... | Compared with most other tax provisions, the potential revenue gain scored for an increase in capital gains taxes is strongly affected by behavioral responses assumed by the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) and the Department of the Treasury. As an illustration, the Obama Administration estimated in February 2010 that... |
crs_R40482 | crs_R40482_0 | Introduction
The annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations legislation (SFOPS) funds many of the nondefense international affairs activities of the government. It is one of 12 appropriations bills that Congress considers annually to fund the discretionary activities of the go... | The annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations legislation funds many of the nondefense international affairs activities of the United States. The State Department portion makes up about one-third of the funding, and the Foreign Operations accounts comprise the remainder... |
crs_RL33243 | crs_RL33243_0 | Introduction
Established in 1953, the Small Business Administration's (SBA's) origins can be traced to the Great Depression of the 1930s and World War II, when concerns about unemployment and war production were paramount. The SBA assumed some of the functions of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC), which ha... | The Small Business Administration (SBA) administers several types of programs to support small businesses, including loan guaranty and venture capital programs to enhance small business access to capital; contracting programs to increase small business opportunities in federal contracting; direct loan programs for busi... |
crs_R44857 | crs_R44857_0 | T he Constitution gives no direct role to Congress in conducting federal law enforcement. While Congress enjoys the legislative power under Article I of the Constitution, which includes substantial authority to investigate the executive branch pursuant to its oversight function, criminal investigations and prosecutions... | The Constitution vests Congress with the legislative power, which includes authority to establish federal agencies and conduct oversight of those entities. Criminal investigations and prosecutions, however, are generally regarded as core executive functions assigned to the executive branch. Because of the potential con... |
crs_R45484 | crs_R45484_0 | Introduction
The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is one of the most-tracked single accounts funded by Congress each year. Managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), it is the primary source of funding for the federal government's domestic general disaster relief programs. These programs, authorized under t... | The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is one of the most-tracked single accounts funded by Congress each year. Managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), it is the primary source of funding for the federal government's domestic general disaster relief programs. These programs, authorized under the Robert T. St... |
crs_R45122 | crs_R45122_0 | Overview
The U.S. and Afghan governments, along with partner countries, remain engaged in combat with a robust Taliban-led insurgency. W hile U.S. military officials maintain that Afghan forces are "resilient" against the Taliban, by some measures insurgents are in control of or contesting more territory today than a... | Afghanistan has been a central U.S. foreign policy concern since 2001, when the United States, in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, led a military campaign against Al Qaeda and the Taliban government that harbored and supported it. In the intervening 17 years, the United States has suffered aroun... |
gao_GAO-18-547 | gao_GAO-18-547_0 | Background
Education administers federal student aid programs, including the Direct Loan program, through the Office of Federal Student Aid. Under the Direct Loan program, Education issues and oversees the loans while contractors service them. Education currently contracts with nine loan servicers that each handl... | Why GAO Did This Study
Starting in September 2017, the first borrowers became eligible and began applying to have their loans forgiven through the PSLF program. GAO was asked to review the PSLF program.
This report examines the (1) number of borrowers pursuing PSLF and the extent to which Education has conducted outre... |
gao_GAO-19-193 | gao_GAO-19-193_0 | Background
IRS Collection Process
IRS’s process for collecting unpaid tax debts includes:
Notice Phase: IRS sends the taxpayer an automatically-generated series of letters about unpaid debts or delinquent returns to prompt payment or response if the taxpayer disagrees with the balance due or is unable to pay th... | Why GAO Did This Study
IRS attempts to collect tax debts to promote tax compliance but does not have resources to pursue all debts. A 2015 law required IRS to contract with private collection agencies for certain tax debts. However, stakeholders such as the National Taxpayer Advocate have noted that safeguards are nee... |
gao_GAO-18-304 | gao_GAO-18-304_0 | Background
The federal government owns and leases hundreds of thousands of buildings across the country that cost billions of dollars annually to operate and maintain. In recent years, the federal government has taken steps to improve the management of federal real property and address long-standing issues by und... | Why GAO Did This Study
The federal government continues to work to reduce its real property inventory and associated costs. GSA provides space for agencies in government-owned and commercially leased buildings. In 2015, the OMB issued a memorandum requiring the 24 agencies with chief financial officers to reduce their... |
gao_GAO-18-651T | gao_GAO-18-651T_0 | Background
DNA Analysis of Crime Scene Evidence
Analysis of DNA evidence from crime scenes can help law enforcement link offenders or victims to crime scenes. After crimes occur, law enforcement submits physical evidence from crime scenes, victims, and suspects (hereafter referred to as “crime scene evidence”) ... | Why GAO Did This Study
Many state and local crime labs have backlogs of requests for DNA analysis of crime scene evidence, as reported by grantees participating in DOJ's CEBR grant program. These backlogs can include sexual assault kits. Since 2011, DOJ's Office of Justice Programs—the primary grant-making arm of DOJ—... |
gao_GAO-18-87 | gao_GAO-18-87_0 | Background
State is the lead agency responsible for implementing American foreign policy and representing the United States abroad. It operates over 275 embassies, consulates, and other posts worldwide, staffed by over 13,000 Foreign Service officers. State has the authority to grant allowances to employees servi... | Why GAO Did This Study
State spends millions of dollars annually on allowances to compensate its employees for costs and hardships related to foreign assignments. Many of these assignments are critical to U.S. foreign policy objectives. In accordance with U.S. law, State employees working abroad may be reimbursed for ... |
gao_GAO-18-92 | gao_GAO-18-92_0 | Background
FHA’s Role and Insured Portfolio
FHA’s single-family mortgage insurance programs insure private lenders against losses from borrower defaults on mortgages that meet FHA criteria for properties with one to four housing units. FHA insures a variety of mortgage types, including loans for initial home pu... | Why GAO Did This Study
FHA insures private lenders against losses from defaults on single-family mortgages. According to independent actuarial reviews, in fiscal years 2009–2014, FHA's MMI Fund (which insures $1.2 trillion in single-family traditional and reverse mortgages) did not meet its statutory 2 percent capital... |
gao_GAO-18-76 | gao_GAO-18-76_0 | Background
NAICS Codes and SBA’s Size Standards
The Economic Classification Policy Committee of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Statistics Canada, and Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia developed NAICS codes as a standard for collecting and analyzing data describing the economies ... | Why GAO Did This Study
Federal regulations require that contracting officers assign the NAICS code that best describes the principal purpose of the acquisition. SBA's OHA is responsible for reviewing appeals of NAICS code assignments. Questions have been raised about whether agencies assign the appropriate NAICS codes... |
gao_GAO-18-513 | gao_GAO-18-513_0 | DOD Has Established 10 Cross-Functional Teams That Are in Various Stages of Implementation
DOD has established 10 cross-functional teams that OCMO officials consider responsive to section 911, and these teams are in various stages of implementation. The Secretary of Defense established a cross- functional team to m... | Why GAO Did This Study
DOD continues to confront organizational challenges that hinder collaboration. To address these challenges, section 911 of the NDAA for FY 2017 directed the Secretary of Defense to issue an organizational strategy that identifies critical objectives that span multiple functional boundaries and w... |
gao_GAO-18-381 | gao_GAO-18-381_0 | Background
According to OMB’s regulation implementing the PRA, “information” is broadly defined as any statement or estimate of fact or opinion, regardless of form or format, whether in numerical, graphic, or narrative form, and whether oral or maintained on paper, electronic, or other media. Federal agencies col... | Why GAO Did This Study
Federal agencies collect a wide variety of information to ensure the public is kept safe from harm, receives benefits to which they are entitled, and fulfill their missions. Such collections can also impose significant burdens on the public. The goal of the PRA is to minimize the burden of these... |
gao_GAO-18-50 | gao_GAO-18-50_0 | Background
Border Patrol’s Organizational Structure
Border Patrol divides responsibility for southwest border security operations geographically among nine sectors, each with its own sector headquarters. Each sector is further divided into varying numbers of stations. For example, the Tucson sector has divided ... | Why GAO Did This Study
The Border Patrol has primary responsibility for securing the border between U.S. ports of entry. On the southwest border, Border Patrol deploys agents along the immediate border and in areas up to 100 miles from the border as part of a layered approach known as the defense in depth strategy. Im... |
gao_GAO-18-618 | gao_GAO-18-618_0 | Background
According to State and USAID, the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (see fig. 1) have a history of police corruption and gross violations of human rights. For example, State’s Guatemala 2016 Human Rights Report describes human rights abuses by the police, including arb... | Why GAO Did This Study
Several U.S. agencies train police in the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, where corruption and human rights abuses have traditionally plagued civilian police forces. State, the primary agency responsible for foreign police assistance, allocated about $37 mill... |
gao_GAO-18-272 | gao_GAO-18-272_0 | Background
Contact with infected animals or consumption of contaminated water and food—including produce, meat, poultry, and processed products—can cause foodborne illness. Many different pathogens can contaminate food, including harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter. CDC reported that in 2015 the... | Why GAO Did This Study
The U.S. food supply is generally considered safe, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that Salmonella and Campylobacter in food cause about 2 million human illnesses per year in the United States. In 2014, GAO identified challenges USDA faced in reducing pathogens ... |
gao_GAO-18-45 | gao_GAO-18-45_0 | Background
Solid Rocket Motors (SRM)
SRMs are the propulsion systems that propel various types of missiles and are also used in space launch activities, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Space Shuttle program. Across the military departments, DOD has approximately 40 missile ... | Why GAO Did This Study
DOD relies on a multi-tiered supply chain to provide SRMs, the propulsion systems behind the various missile systems that provide defense capabilities to meet U.S. national security objectives. The SRM industrial base includes manufacturers that turn to an extensive network of suppliers that pro... |
gao_GAO-18-453 | gao_GAO-18-453_0 | Background
The Puget Sound basin—the southern half of the transboundary Salish Sea—consists of about 19 major watersheds, according to EPA, and spans much of western Washington State and portions of British Columbia, Canada, as shown in figure 1. The basin covers more than 10,000 square miles, including about 2,8... | Why GAO Did This Study
Puget Sound is the nation's second-largest estuary and serves as an important economic engine in Washington State, supporting millions of people, major industries, and a wide variety of species. However, according to the CCMP, human use and development have degraded water quality and habitats an... |
gao_GAO-18-669 | gao_GAO-18-669_0 | Background
U.S. Humanitarian Assistance Funds Sent Overseas Often Rely on Multiple Banks to Reach Their Final Destination
International financial transactions, including the transfer of U.S. humanitarian assistance funds, rely on a system of correspondent banking relationships. State and USAID provide humanitari... | Why GAO Did This Study
Since 2012, the United States has provided approximately $36 billion in humanitarian assistance to save lives and alleviate human suffering. Much of this assistance is provided in areas plagued by conflict or other issues that increase the risk of financial crimes. The World Bank and others have... |
gao_GAO-18-659 | gao_GAO-18-659_0 | Background
Enforcing tax laws helps IRS collect revenue from noncompliant taxpayers and, perhaps more importantly, promotes voluntary compliance by giving taxpayers confidence that others are paying their fair share. However, every year, taxpayers fail to pay hundreds of billions of dollars in taxes. This tax gap... | Why GAO Did This Study
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights entitles taxpayers with the right to appeal a decision of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in an independent forum. GAO was asked to review this administrative appeal process within IRS.
Among other things, this report (1) describes the IRS appeal process and staffi... |
gao_GAO-19-200 | gao_GAO-19-200_0 | Background
Program Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication
Over the years, we have issued several reports on fragmentation, overlap, and potential for duplication among federally funded employment and training (E&T) programs and identified areas where inefficiencies might result. This report, like our prior wor... | Why GAO Did This Study
Federally funded employment and training (E&T) programs help job seekers enhance their job skills, identify job opportunities, and obtain employment. In 2011, GAO identified overlap and fragmentation among E&T programs administered by nine federal agencies. The Workforce Innovation and Opportuni... |
gao_GAO-19-178 | gao_GAO-19-178_0 | Background
Agency Support of Presidential Travel
Guidance governing executive agencies’ use of government aircraft generally does not apply to aircraft in use by or in support of the President. Memorandum opinions to the White House from the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel have provided guidance... | Why GAO Did This Study
The Secret Service is responsible for protecting the President and his family, including adult children when they travel. The Secret Service can request assistance in its mission from other agencies, such as DOD and the Coast Guard. When the President travels, he must fly on DOD aircraft.
GAO wa... |
gao_GAO-18-36 | gao_GAO-18-36_0 | Background
IPIA requires agencies to conduct a risk assessment for all programs and activities at least once every 3 years, and OMB guidance implementing IPIA also directs agencies to report on the assessment in either the agencies’ AFRs or PARs. Each agency must institute a systematic method of performing the im... | Why GAO Did This Study
Reported improper payment estimates totaled over $1.2 trillion government-wide from fiscal years 2003 through 2016. Agencies are statutorily required to perform improper payment risk assessments to identify programs and activities that may be susceptible to significant improper payments and are ... |
gao_GAO-18-177 | gao_GAO-18-177_0 | Background
FAA Next Generation Air Transportation System
In December 2003 Congress enacted the Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, laying the foundation for NextGen. The intent of NextGen is to increase air transportation-system capacity, enhance airspace safety, reduce delays experienced by airlines and p... | Why GAO Did This Study
DOD has until January 1, 2020, to equip its aircraft with ADS-B Out technology that would provide DOD, FAA, and private citizens the ability to track their flights in real-time and track flight patterns over time. This technology is a component of NextGen, a broader FAA initiative that seeks to ... |
gao_GAO-18-478 | gao_GAO-18-478_0 | Background
A series of laws and policy directives dating back to 1904 require DOD to rely in large part on U.S.-flag commercial vessels over government- owned or foreign-flag vessels for its sealift needs. Most recently, a 1989 National Security Directive reaffirmed the policy of relying on U.S.-flag commercial ve... | Why GAO Did This Study
The U.S. government relies on U.S.-flag vessels that trade internationally to transport cargo and to provide a pool of U.S. mariners who could be called upon in times of crisis for DOD's reserve fleet. Through financial support and cargo preferences, the United States has supported the viability... |
gao_GAO-19-128 | gao_GAO-19-128_0 | Background
Weapon Systems Are Unique In Many Ways, but Face Common Cyber Vulnerabilities
Cybersecurity issues can vary widely across different types of systems, so weapon systems cybersecurity challenges may be very different than those of some IT systems. Despite variation across systems, cybersecurity can be ... | Why GAO Did This Study
DOD plans to spend about $1.66 trillion to develop its current portfolio of major weapon systems. Potential adversaries have developed advanced cyber-espionage and cyber-attack capabilities that target DOD systems. Cybersecurity—the process of protecting information and information systems—can r... |
gao_GAO-18-126 | gao_GAO-18-126_0 | Background
Nuclear Fuel Production and Uranium Enrichment Technologies
Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element that is enriched to fuel nuclear power plants and that can also be used to meet certain national security purposes. Natural uranium is comprised of approximately 99.3 percent of the uraniu... | Why GAO Did This Study
NNSA has several mission needs for enriched uranium, including providing LEU to fuel a nuclear reactor that produces tritium—a key isotope used in nuclear weapons. NNSA has a pressing defense need for unobligated LEU to fuel this reactor, meaning the uranium, technology and equipment used to pro... |
gao_GAO-18-288 | gao_GAO-18-288_0 | Background
VAPIHCS provides comprehensive health care to eligible veterans who reside in Hawaii and the three U.S. territories in the Pacific— American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. According to VAPIHCS officials, the geographic distances between the Pacific Islands and the us... | Why GAO Did This Study
Veterans' access to timely health care at VA medical facilities has been a long-standing problem identified by GAO and VA's Office of Inspector General. The remote nature of the Pacific Islands creates some unique challenges for VAPIHCS, which may affect its ability to provide the approximately ... |
gao_GAO-19-38 | gao_GAO-19-38_0 | Background
HUD established DEC in 1998 to consolidate enforcement activities of PIH, CPD, the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (for non-civil rights violations), and MFH into one new organization. The HUD 2020 management reform plan envisioned that DEC would take enforcement action against: (1) public... | Why GAO Did This Study
HUD established DEC in 1998 to consolidate enforcement functions. In fiscal year 2017, DEC received about 2,800 referrals from program offices for oversight of and enforcement actions against property owners, public housing agencies, and state and local grantees that do not comply with requireme... |
gao_GAO-19-159 | gao_GAO-19-159_0 | Background
Abortion in the United States
In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded in Roe v. Wade that a woman has a fundamental right protected by the U.S. Constitution to decide whether to terminate her pregnancy. However, the Court also recognized that a state may have an interest sufficient to regulate abo... | Why GAO Did This Study
While federal law prohibits federal funding for abortions in most circumstances, state Medicaid programs are required to cover abortions in limited circumstances. CMS is responsible for monitoring state compliance with federal requirements. However, concerns have been raised about challenges wom... |
gao_GAO-19-139 | gao_GAO-19-139_0 | Background
In Federal courts, civil actions, such as lawsuits, begin with the filing of a complaint with the court. On or after filing a complaint, a plaintiff obtains a summons to the defendant from the court. The summons, among other things, names the court and the parties, states the time within which the defe... | Why GAO Did This Study
While foreign states generally cannot be sued in a U.S. court, under FSIA, parties can sue governments for certain crimes such as injury or death from an act of terrorism, if certain factors are present. State is required by statute to serve notice of such suits or default judgments when other m... |
gao_GAO-19-21 | gao_GAO-19-21_0 | Background
VHA policy requires that all medical facilities provide a safe, clean, functional environment for patients, visitors, and employees. The Joint Commission, an organization that accredits medical centers and other hospitals throughout the country, has developed standards that require medical centers to ... | Why GAO Did This Study
VHA oversees one of the largest health care systems, serving approximately 9-million veterans at numerous health care facilities, including 170 medical centers. To ensure a safe environment for veterans and employees, VHA must keep its facilities clean and well maintained.
GAO was asked to exami... |
gao_GAO-19-140 | gao_GAO-19-140_0 | Background
NRFU is a field-based operation that the Bureau administers following the self-response period so that it can (1) determine the occupancy status of individual non-responsive housing units and (2) enumerate them. In most instances, the Bureau typically allows up to six enumeration attempts for each nonr... | Why GAO Did This Study
The cost of the decennial census has steadily increased over the past several decades, with self-response rates declining over the same period. The largest and costliest operation that the Bureau undertakes, NRFU is the Bureau's attempt to enumerate households not initially self-responding to th... |
gao_GAO-18-382 | gao_GAO-18-382_0 | Background
Elementary and Secondary Education School Facilities
According to Education, 50.3 million students were enrolled in more than 98,000 public elementary and secondary schools nationwide in the 2014- 2015 school year. These individual public schools are overseen by approximately 16,000 local educational ... | Why GAO Did This Study
No federal law requires testing of drinking water for lead in schools that receive water from public water systems, although these systems are regulated by the EPA. Lead can leach into water from plumbing materials inside a school. The discovery of toxic levels of lead in water in Flint, Michiga... |
gao_GAO-18-266 | gao_GAO-18-266_0 | Background
The Settlement Act, enacted on December 22, 1974, was intended to provide for the final settlement of a land dispute between the Navajo and Hopi tribes that originated nearly a century ago. The 1882 Executive Order, signed by President Chester Arthur, set aside approximately 2.5 million acres of land f... | Why GAO Did This Study
In 1974, the Settlement Act was intended to provide for the final settlement of a land dispute between the Navajo and Hopi tribes that originated nearly a century ago. The act created ONHIR to carry out the relocation of Navajo and Hopi Indians off land partitioned to the other tribe. ONHIR's re... |
gao_GAO-18-476 | gao_GAO-18-476_0 | Background
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is a multi-phased effort that began in 2010. Across the phases, NASA has engaged several companies, using both agreements and contract vehicles to develop and demonstrate crew transportation capabilities. As the program has passed through these phases, NASA has generally ... | Why GAO Did This Study
In 2014, NASA awarded two firm-fixed-price contracts to Boeing and SpaceX, worth a combined total of up to $6.8 billion, to develop crew transportation systems and conduct initial missions to the ISS. In February 2017, GAO found that both contractors had made progress, but their schedules were u... |
gao_GAO-18-504T | gao_GAO-18-504T_0 | Background
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is responsible for promulgating SNAP program regulations, ensuring that state officials administer the program in compliance with program rules, and authorizing and monitoring retailers from which recipients may purchase food. States are responsible for determini... | Why GAO Did This Study
SNAP is the largest federally funded nutrition assistance program. In fiscal year 2017, it provided about $63 billion in benefits. USDA and the states jointly administer SNAP and partner to address issues that affect program integrity, including improper payments and fraud. GAO has previously re... |
gao_GAO-18-128 | gao_GAO-18-128_0 | Background
Global defense posture is an enabler of U.S. defense activities and military operations overseas and is a central means of defining and communicating U.S. strategic interests to allies, partners, and adversaries. It is driven by a hierarchy of national-level and DOD-specific guidance, which includes th... | Why GAO Did This Study
In response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014, the President announced the ERI, to reassure allies in Europe of U.S. commitment to their security. This initiative has been funded using OCO appropriations, which Congress provides in addition to DOD's base budget appropriations.
The J... |
gao_GAO-18-422 | gao_GAO-18-422_0 | Background
Biodefense Roles and Responsibilities
Multiple federal departments and agencies—including DOD—have responsibilities as part of their missions to assess the threat of biological agents and carry out key biodefense roles as delineated in Homeland Security Presidential Directive 10, Biodefense for the 2... | Why GAO Did This Study
In May 2015, DOD discovered that one of its laboratories (formerly called the Life Sciences Division) at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, had inadvertently made 575 shipments of live Bacillus anthracis —the bacterium that causes anthrax—to 194 laboratories and contractors worldwide from 2004 through... |
gao_GAO-18-49 | gao_GAO-18-49_0 | Background
Characteristics of Postsecondary Institutions
In fall 2015, almost 20 million students were enrolled in over 4,500 2- and 4-year postsecondary institutions, according to IPEDS data. Postsecondary institutions vary in terms of their funding, the length and type of programs offered, and instructional m... | Why GAO Did This Study
Contingent faculty play a large role in postsecondary education but may not have the same job protections as tenured or tenure-track faculty. In 2015, GAO reported that contingent workers—those in temporary, contract, or other non-standard employment arrangements—earn less, are less likely to ha... |
gao_GAO-18-46 | gao_GAO-18-46_0 | Background
As we have previously reported, transportation systems and facilities are vulnerable and difficult to secure given their size, easy accessibility, large number of potential targets, and proximity to urban areas. TSA’s mission is to protect the nation’s transportation systems by providing effective and ... | Why GAO Did This Study
TSA conducts security threat assessment screening and credentialing activities for millions of workers and travelers in the maritime, surface, and aviation transportation industries that are seeking access to transportation systems. In 2008, TSA initiated the TIM program to enhance the sophistic... |
gao_GAO-18-180 | gao_GAO-18-180_0 | Background
TSA Roles and Responsibilities
The Aviation and Transportation Security Act designated TSA as the primary federal agency responsible for securing all modes of transportation. In fiscal year 2005, Congress appropriated funds for surface transportation security, and the accompanying conference report ... | Why GAO Did This Study
The global terrorist threat to surface transportation – freight and passenger rail, mass transit, highway, maritime and pipeline systems – has increased in recent years, as demonstrated by the 2017 London vehicle attacks and a 2016 thwarted attack on mass transit in the New York area. TSA is the... |
gao_GAO-18-475 | gao_GAO-18-475_0 | Background
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
WIOA was designed, in part, to deliver a broad array of integrated services to customers of the public workforce system, including individuals seeking jobs and skills training, and employers seeking skilled workers. WIOA authorizes six core programs... | Why GAO Did This Study
Approximately 4.6 million youth ages 16 to 24 were neither in school nor employed in 2016. WIOA, enacted in July 2014, provides, in part, grants to states and local areas to assist youth—particularly out-of-school youth—in accessing employment, education, and training services. It also emphasize... |
gao_GAO-19-207 | gao_GAO-19-207_0 | Background
EM oversees a nationwide complex of 16 sites. A majority of the sites were created during World War II and the Cold War to research, produce, and test nuclear weapons (see figure 1). Much of the complex is no longer in productive use but still contains vast quantities of radioactive and hazardous mater... | Why GAO Did This Study
EM manages DOE's radioactive and hazardous waste cleanup program using compliance agreements negotiated between DOE and other federal and state agencies. Within the agreements, milestones outline cleanup work to be accomplished by specific deadlines. EM's cleanup program faces nearly $500 billio... |
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