New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has withheld from online public distribution include the following.

Climate Change and Existing Law: A Survey of Legal Issues Past, Present, and Future, updated August 20, 2014

The “Militarization” of Law Enforcement and the Department of Defense’s “1033 Program”, CRS Insights, August 20, 2014

China’s Economic Rise: History, Trends, Challenges, and Implications for the United States, updated August 21, 2014

Clean Coal Loan Guarantees and Tax Incentives: Issues in Brief, August 19, 2014

 

The threat of domestic terrorism is receiving greater attention at the Department of Justice with the reestablishment in June of the Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee, the Congressional Research Service noted last week.

“The reestablishment suggests that officials are raising the profile of domestic terrorism as an issue within DOJ after more than a decade of heightened focus on both foreign terrorist organizations and homegrown individuals inspired by violent jihadist groups based abroad,” CRS wrote. See Domestic Terrorism Appears to Be Reemerging as a Priority at the Department of Justice, CRS Insights, August 15, 2014.

Other new or updated CRS products include the following.

Latin America: Terrorism Issues, updated August 15, 2014:

Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances, updated August 19, 2014:

Preparing for Disasters: FEMA’s New National Preparedness Report Released, CRS Insights, August 12, 2014

Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Debate, CRS Insights, August 18, 2014:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Appropriations for FY2014 in P.L. 113-76, August 15, 2014:

Senate Unanimous Consent Agreements: Potential Effects on the Amendment Process, updated August 15, 2014

Synthetic Drugs: Overview and Issues for Congress, updated August 15, 2014

 

A critical assessment of the feasibility of reaching the Department of Defense’s goal of producing 80 plutonium pits (or triggers) for nuclear weapons was prepared by the Congressional Research Service. It provides new analysis of the space and material requirements needed to achieve the declared goal. See Manufacturing Nuclear Weapon “Pits”: A Decisionmaking Approach for Congress, August 15, 2014.

Other new or updated CRS reports obtained by Secrecy News include the following.

The U.S. Military Presence in Okinawa and the Futenma Base Controversy, August 14, 2014

India’s New Government and Implications for U.S. Interests, August 7, 2014

Guatemala: Political, Security, and Socio-Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations, updated August 7, 2014

Small Refineries and Oil Field Processors: Opportunities and Challenges, August 11, 2014

Telemarketing Regulation: National and State Do Not Call Registries, August 14, 2014

Immigration Policies and Issues on Health-Related Grounds for Exclusion, updated August 13, 2014

New products from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has withheld from online public distribution include the following.

Safe at Home? Letting Ebola-Stricken Americans Return, CRS Insights, August 5, 2014:

2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review: Evolution of Strategic Review, CRS Insights, August 6, 2014

Reducing the Budget Deficit: Overview of Policy Issues, August 7, 2014

Juvenile Victims of Domestic Sex Trafficking: Juvenile Justice Issues, August 5, 2014

U.S.-EU Cooperation on Ukraine and Russia, CRS Insights, August 7, 2014

New products from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has withheld from online public distribution include the following.

Asylum Policies for Unaccompanied Children Compared with Expedited Removal Policies for Unauthorized Adults: In Brief, July 30, 2014

EPA’s Proposed CO2 Rule for Existing Power Plants: How Would It Affect Nuclear Energy?, CRS Insights, August 4, 2014

Shale Gas Gathering Pipelines: Safety Issues, CRS Insights, August 1, 2014

Nonmarital Births: An Overview, July 30, 2014

Export-Import Bank Reauthorization: Frequently Asked Questions, August 1, 2014

Indonesia’s 2014 Presidential Election, CRS Insights, August 4, 2014

U.S.-Russia Economic Relations (updated), CRS Insights, August 1, 2014

U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit: Frequently Asked Questions and Background (updated), July 31, 2014

“Womenomics” in Japan: In Brief, August 1, 2014

New and updated products of the Congressional Research Service obtained by Secrecy News include the following.

U.S.-Russia Economic Relations, CRS Insights, July 29, 2014

Russia Sanctions: Options, CRS Insights, July 28, 2014

Protecting Civilian Flights from Missiles, CRS Insights, July 28, 2014

Possible Missile Attack on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, CRS Insights, July 28, 2014

Responding to Libya’s Political and Security Crises: Policy Choices for the United States, CRS Insights, July 28, 2014

The 2014 European Parliament Elections: Outcomes and Implications, CRS Insights, July 24, 2014

Conflict in Syria and Iraq: Implications for Religious Minorities, CRS Insights, July 24, 2014

Implementing the Affordable Care Act: Delays, Extensions, and Other Actions Taken by the Administration, July 28, 2014

The Receipt of Gifts by Federal Employees in the Executive Branch, July 25, 2014

U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit: Frequently Asked Questions and Background, July 25, 2014

Stealing Trade Secrets and Economic Espionage: An Overview of U.S.C. 1831 and 1832, July 25, 2014

Stealing Trade Secrets and Economic Espionage: An Abridged Overview of 18 U.S.C. 1831 and 1832, July 25, 2014

 

New or newly updated publications from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has withheld from online public distribution include the following.

Free Exercise of Religion by Closely Held Corporations: Implications of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., July 23, 2014

What Is the Farm Bill?, July 23, 2014

Deploying 5G (Fifth Generation) Wireless Technology: Is the United States on Track?, CRS Insights, July 23, 2014

Federal Student Loan Forgiveness and Loan Repayment Programs, July 22, 2014

State CO2 Emission Rate Goals in EPA’s Proposed Rule for Existing Power Plants, July 21, 2014

Measuring the Loss of Manufacturing Jobs, CRS Insights, July 21, 2014

Shipping U.S. Crude Oil by Water: Vessel Flag Requirements and Safety Issues, July 21, 2014

Mountaintop Mining: Background on Current Controversies, July 21, 2014

Defense Surplus Equipment Disposal: Background Information, July 22, 2014

 

New publications from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has withheld from online public distribution include the following.

U.S. Sanctions on Russia in Response to Events in Ukraine, July 18, 2014

Use of Force Considerations in Iraq, July 15, 2014

The Kurds and Possible Iraqi Kurdish Independence, July 15, 2014

Unaccompanied Alien Children: A Processing Flow Chart, July 16, 2014

District of Columbia: Marijuana Decriminalization and Enforcement; Issues of Home Rule and Congressional Oversight, July 17, 2014

Improving Health Care Access for Veterans: H.R. 3230, July 16, 2014

FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Issues, July 16, 2014

“Black Boxes” in Passenger Vehicles: Policy Issues, July 21, 2014

The Obama Administration has requested $5 billion to create a new Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund (CTPF). The program would “build on existing tools and authorities” to establish a “more sustainable and effective” counterterrorism approach, focusing on building the counterterrorism capacity of partners worldwide through “train-and-equip” and other activities, according to the Congressional Research Service.

“The CTPF proposal raises many questions regarding counterterrorism strategy, roles, responsibilities, authorities, and Congressional oversight,” said CRS in a brief overview of the initiative. See The Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund (CTPF) Proposal: Questions for Congress, July 14.

In another new publication, CRS summarized current news reporting on Israel and Hamas: Another Round of Conflict, July 15.

The latest Administration funding request, largely for immigration and border security, was discussed by CRS in FY2014 Supplemental Appropriations Request.

Some other newly updated CRS reports include these:

Block Grants: Perspectives and Controversies, July 15, 2014

Membership of the 113th Congress: A Profile, July 14, 2014

Privacy Protection for Customer Financial Information, July 14, 2014

Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress, July 11, 2014

 

A Request for Proposals from industry to develop a new Air Force Long Range Strike Bomber is said to be imminent. But in fact, the aircraft may already be under development, the Congressional Research Service said last week.

The projected funding stream for the proposed new aircraft “resembles a production program more than a typical development profile,” CRS said. “This may indicate that significant LRS-B [Long Range Strike Bomber] development has already been completed, presumably in classified budgets.”

“Such prior development would also help explain how the Air Force intends to get the system from a Request for Proposals to initial operational capability in about 10 years, when equally or less-complicated systems like the F-22 and F-35 have taken more than 20.”

Any pre-proposal development that may have occurred could also complicate the bidding process, CRS said.

“If there has in fact been considerable prior development, the Air Force will be challenged to construct a truly competitive RFP [because] whichever competitor may have done the bulk of any such preliminary LRS-B development is likely to have an advantage in the production contract.”

See CRS Insights: Budget Highlight: Air Force Long Range Strike Bomber, July 2, 2014.

Other noteworthy new CRS products that Congress has withheld from online public distribution include the following.

Physical Security of the U.S. Power Grid: High-Voltage Transformer Substations, June 17, 2014

Aliens’ Right to Counsel in Removal Proceedings: In Brief, June 20, 2014

Unaccompanied Alien Children: Potential Factors Contributing to Recent Immigration, July 3, 2014

Unaccompanied Alien Children–Legal Issues: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions, June 27, 2014

The Peace Corps: Current Issues, July 2, 2014

U.S. Energy: Overview and Key Statistics, June 27, 2014

Export-Import Bank: Overview and Reauthorization Issues, June 30, 2014

U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations During the Obama Presidency: Midyear Analysis and Comparison with Recent Presidents, June 30, 2014

The Voting Rights Act of 1965: Background and Overview, July 1, 2014

U.S.-Mexico Economic Relations: Trends, Issues, and Implications, July 1, 2014

U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians, July 3, 2014

The C-130 Hercules aircraft, which was introduced over half a century ago, is often flown by crew members who are younger than the plane they are flying. And that peculiar arrangement is likely to continue into the foreseeable future, says a new report from the Congressional Research Service.

“The C-130 has been the cornerstone of the U.S. tactical airlift fleet since the late 1950s. Military planners believe that C-130 aircraft provide the United States an edge in achieving national goals. They provide a capability to rapidly deliver forces making conventional deterrence more effective and expanding the ability to provide humanitarian assistance. However, the fleet has aged with some current models being flown by aircrew younger than the aircraft they are flying. As the fleet ages, management issues arise with reduced reliability, obsolescence and reduced parts availability, and changing aviation rules that impact availability of airspace due to obsolete avionics capabilities,” the CRS report said.

See C-130 Hercules: Background, Sustainment, Modernization, Issues for Congress, June 24, 2014.

Other newly updated CRS reports on Navy force structure and related issues include the following.

Navy Shipboard Lasers for Surface, Air, and Missile Defense: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014

Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014

Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014

Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014

Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014

Navy LX(R) Amphibious Ship Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014

Navy TAO(X) Oiler Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014

Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014

The implications of the conflict in Iraq for U.S. policy were examined in a new report from the Congressional Research Service. See Iraq Crisis and U.S. Policy, June 20, 2014.

The CRS report notably includes open source reporting and translations from the DNI Open Source Center. This sort of material had been routinely available to the public for decades until the CIA cut off public access to it last December 31.

The CRS report on the Iraq crisis was reported in the Washington Times on June 24.

A related CRS report (which also includes citations to the Open Source Center), newly updated, is Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response, June 24, 2014.

CIA’s own open source intelligence effort leaves something to be desired. The CIA World Factbook continues to report that Syria’s population is around 17.9 million, while every other authoritative source puts it at between 22-23 million. (Secrecy News, 06/06/14).

Other new and updated CRS reports that Congress has withheld from online public distribution include the following.

Wartime Detention Provisions in Recent Defense Authorization Legislation, June 23, 2014

Prayer and Religious Expression in Public Institutions: A Constitutional Analysis, June 23, 2014

High-Frequency Trading: Background, Concerns, and Regulatory Developments, June 19, 2014

The National Science Foundation: Background and Selected Policy Issues, June 5, 2014

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS): Is It a Health Emergency?, June 4, 2014

Progress in Combating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs): U.S. and Global Efforts from FY2006 to FY2015, May 28, 2014

Legislation to Approve the U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement, June 19, 2014

Membership in the United Nations and Its Specialized Agencies, June 19, 2014

El Salvador: Background and U.S. Relations, June 23, 2014

The Project BioShield Act: Issues for the 113th Congress, June 18, 2014

The U.S. Secret Service: History and Missions, June 18, 2014