Drones, Pope Francis, Encryption, and More from CRS
A new report from the Congressional Research Service looks at the commercial prospects for the emerging drone industry.
“It has been estimated that, over the next 10 years, worldwide production of UAS for all types of applications could rise from $4 billion annually to $14 billion. However, the lack of a regulatory framework, which has delayed commercial deployment, may slow development of a domestic UAS manufacturing industry,” the report said. See Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): Commercial Outlook for a New Industry, September 9, 2015.
In advance of the September 22–27 visit to the United States by Pope Francis, another new CRS report “provides Members of Congress with background information on Pope Francis and a summary of a few selected global issues of congressional interest that have figured prominently on his agenda.” See Pope Francis and Selected Global Issues: Background for Papal Address to Congress, September 8, 2015.
Another new report from CRS on encryption and law enforcement presents “an overview of the perennial issue involving technology outpacing law enforcement and discusses how policy makers and law enforcement officials have dealt with this issue in the past.” See Encryption and Evolving Technology: Implications for U.S. Law Enforcement, September 8, 2015.
Other new and newly updated publications from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
Syrian Refugee Admissions to the United States, CRS Insight, September 10, 2015
An Analysis of Efforts to Double Federal Funding for Physical Sciences and Engineering Research, updated September 8, 2015
Cybersecurity: Data, Statistics, and Glossaries, updated September 8, 2015
Cybersecurity: Legislation, Hearings, and Executive Branch Documents, updated September 8, 2015
The EMV Chip Card Transition: Background, Status, and Issues for Congress, updated September 8, 2015
Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive, udpated September 10, 2015
Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations, updated September 8, 2015
Jordan: Background and U.S. Relations, updated September 10, 2015
Iran Nuclear Agreement, updated September 9, 2015
Statutory Qualifications for Executive Branch Positions, updated September 9, 2015
Federal Reserve: Emergency Lending, September 8, 2015
To secure the U.S. bio-infrastructure, maintain global leadership in biotechnology, and safeguard American citizens from emerging threats to their privacy, the federal government must modernize its approach to human genetic and biological data.
To ensure an energy transition that brings broad based economic development, participation, and direct benefits to communities, we need federal policy that helps shape markets. Unfortunately, there is a large gap in understanding of how to leverage federal policy making to support access to capital and credit.
From use to testing to deployment, the scaffolding for responsible integration of AI into high-risk use cases is just not there.
OPM’s new HR 2.0 initiative is entering hostile terrain. Those who have followed federal HR modernization for years desperately want this effort to succeed.