The population of Yemen has quadrupled over the last 30 years, the Congressional Research Service noted in a newly updated report, exacerbating that nation’s widespread poverty and contributing to the upheaval that is now unfolding. See Yemen: Background and U.S. Relations, January 21, 2015.
The United States currently provides refuge to over 300,000 foreign nationals from 11 countries facing civil rest or natural disasters, according to another CRS report. See Temporary Protected Status: Current Immigration Policy and Issues, January 12, 2015.
The major policy provisions of the last two intelligence authorization bills were itemized and described by CRS in Intelligence Authorization Legislation for FY2014 and FY2015: Provisions, Status, Intelligence Community Framework, January 14, 2015.
The losses to the U.S. treasury due to tax evasion may reach as high as $100 billion per year. CRS looked at how it happens and how it might be fixed in Tax Havens: International Tax Avoidance and Evasion, January 15, 2015.
Other noteworthy new or newly updated CRS reports that Congress has withheld from public distribution include the following.
Changes in the Purposes and Frequency of Authorizations of Appropriations, January 16, 2015
Qualifications of Members of Congress, January 15, 2015
The Federal Minimum Wage: In Brief, January 13, 2015
Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Programs, January 20, 2015
Abortion: Judicial History and Legislative Response, January 15, 2015
Military Pay: Key Questions and Answers, January 20, 2015
The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape, January 9, 2015
Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress, January 13, 2015
North Korea: Back on the State Sponsors of Terrorism Lists?, January 21, 2015
China’s Mineral Industry and U.S. Access to Strategic and Critical Minerals: Issues for Congress, January 9, 2015
The emphasis on interagency consensus, while well-intentioned, has become a structural impediment to bold or innovative policy options. When every agency effectively holds veto power over proposals, the path of least resistance becomes maintaining existing approaches with minor modifications.
The Federation of American Scientists supports H.R. 471, the re-introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act.
As people become less able to distinguish between what is real and what is fake, it has become easier than ever to be misled by synthetic content, whether by accident or with malicious intent. This makes advancing alternative countermeasures, such as technical solutions, more vital than ever before.
Throughout this phase of work, there are many actions hiring managers and staffing specialists can take to streamline the process and improve the quality of eligible candidates. Most importantly, hiring managers and staffing specialists can collaborate within and across agencies to expedite and simplify the process.