Category: Congressional Research Service Reports

#BSG Navy Lasers, Railgun, and Gun-Launched Guided Projectile: Background and Issues for Congress

January 22, 2019

Summary The Navy is developing three new ship-based weapons that could improve the ability of Navy surface ships to defend themselves against missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and surface craft: the Surface Navy Laser Weapon System (SNLWS), the electromagnetic railgun (EMRG), and the gun-launched guided projectile (GLGP), previously known as the hypervelocity projectile (HVP). The … More #BSG Navy Lasers, Railgun, and Gun-Launched Guided Projectile: Background and Issues for Congress

#BSG Russian Compliance with the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty: Background and Issues for Congress

January 15, 2019

Summary The United States and Soviet Union signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in December 1987. Negotiations on this treaty were the result of a “dual-track” decision taken by NATO in 1979. At that time, in response to concerns about the Soviet Union’s deployment of new intermediate-range nuclear missiles, NATO agreed both to accept … More #BSG Russian Compliance with the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty: Background and Issues for Congress

#BSG Instances of Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2018

January 14, 2019

Summary This report lists hundreds of instances in which the United States has used its Armed Forces abroad in situations of military conflict or potential conflict or for other than normal peacetime purposes. It was compiled in part from various older lists and is intended primarily to provide a rough survey of past U.S. military … More #BSG Instances of Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2018

#BSG Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations Updated November 16, 2018

December 7, 2018

Summary Following the conflicts in the 1990s in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the prospect of membership in the Euro-Atlantic community and the active presence of the United States and European Union (EU) in the Western Balkans provided a level of stability that allowed most of the countries of the region to adopt economic … More #BSG Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations Updated November 16, 2018

#BSG Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations Congressional Research Service Update October, 17 2018

October 18, 2018

#BSG Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations Updated October, 17 2018   Summary Following the conflicts in the late 1990s in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the prospect of membership in the Euro-Atlantic community and the active presence of the United States in the Western Balkans provided a level of stability that allowed most of … More #BSG Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations Congressional Research Service Update October, 17 2018

#BSG Air Force B-21 Raider Long-Range Strike Bomber Updated October 12, 2018 Congressional Research Service R44463

October 18, 2018

Summary The Department of Defense is developing a new long-range bomber aircraft, the B-21 Raider (previously known as LRS-B), and proposes to acquire at least 100 of them. B-21s would initially replace the fleets of B-1 and B-2 bombers, and could possibly replace B-52s in the future. B-21 development was highly classified until the summer … More #BSG Air Force B-21 Raider Long-Range Strike Bomber Updated October 12, 2018 Congressional Research Service R44463

#BSG #CRS “CRS INSIGHT” Records, Papers, Decisions: Kavanaugh Records and the Presidential Records Act August 27, 2018 (IN10959)

October 3, 2018

CRS INSIGHT Records, Papers, Decisions: Kavanaugh Records and the Presidential Records Act August 27, 2018 (IN10959) | Related Author | Meghan M. Stuessy Meghan M. Stuessy, Analyst in Government Organization and Management (mstuessy@crs.loc.gov , 7-1281) Since Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court was received, papers detailing his activities … More #BSG #CRS “CRS INSIGHT” Records, Papers, Decisions: Kavanaugh Records and the Presidential Records Act August 27, 2018 (IN10959)

#BSG Congressional Research Service Report – Qatar, Yemen, Iran, Navy

September 16, 2018

Qatar and US Policy Congressional Research Service Yemen Civil War Congressional Research Service The War In Yemen Congressional Research Service Foreign Operations Budget Congressional Research Service Iran Sanctions Congressional Research Service Iran_s Threat Congressional Research Service Proliferation Security Initiative Congressional Research Service Arms Control And Nonproliferation Congressional Research Service Navy Ship Names Background For Congress … More #BSG Congressional Research Service Report – Qatar, Yemen, Iran, Navy

#BSG Kosovo: Background and U.S. Relations Vincent L. Morelli Section Research Manager August 13, 2018

August 29, 2018

Summary Following the conflicts in the late 1990s in the countries of the former Yugoslavia (Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia, and Slovenia), the prospect of membership in the Euro-Atlantic community, and the active presence of the United States in the region referred to as the Western Balkans, provided a level of stability that allowed … More #BSG Kosovo: Background and U.S. Relations Vincent L. Morelli Section Research Manager August 13, 2018

#BSG Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations Vincent L. Morelli Section Research Manager August 7, 2018

August 29, 2018

Summary Following the conflicts in the late 1990s in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the prospect of membership in the Euro-Atlantic community and the active presence of the United States in the Western Balkan region provided a level of stability that allowed most of the countries of the region to pursue reform and adopt … More #BSG Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations Vincent L. Morelli Section Research Manager August 7, 2018

#BSG The North Korean Nuclear Challenge: Military Options and Issues for Congress #CRS

June 11, 2018

Summary North Korea’s apparently successful July 2017 tests of its intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities, along with the possibility that North Korea (DPRK) may have successfully miniaturized a nuclear warhead, have led analysts and policymakers to conclude that the window for preventing the DPRK from acquiring a nuclear missile capable of reaching the United States is … More #BSG The North Korean Nuclear Challenge: Military Options and Issues for Congress #CRS

#BSG DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND REGIONAL AND CULTURE CAPABILITIES

April 5, 2018

Purpose: In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive (DoDD) 5143.01, this issuance: • Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides guidance for the management and use of foreign language and regional and culture capabilities of Military Service members and DoD civilian personnel performing intelligence, counterintelligence, security, sensitive activities, and all other Defense Intelligence-related matters, in … More #BSG DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND REGIONAL AND CULTURE CAPABILITIES

#BSG CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES ”CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE” – CBO Approaches for managing the cost of U.S. Nuclear Forces, 2017-2046

April 4, 2018

What Are the 30-Year Costs of Planned Nuclear Forces? CBO projects that the 2017 plan for nuclear forces would cost a total of $1.2 trillion from 2017 to 2046. Of that amount: ■ $772 billion would be allocated for the operation, sustainment, and modernization of strategic nuclear delivery systems and weapons—the long-range aircraft, missiles, and … More #BSG CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES ”CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE” – CBO Approaches for managing the cost of U.S. Nuclear Forces, 2017-2046

#BSG Unclassified MEMORANDUM FOR DIRECTOR, INFORMATION SECURITY OVERSIGHT OFFICE (ISOO)

April 3, 2018

  This is the final report from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) after conducting a comprehensive Fundamental Classification Guidance Review (FCGR) of all security classification guides (SCGs) as identified by Executive Order 13256, “Classified National Security Information” and further defined in the Information Security Oversight Office memorandum dated 17 March 2016. Formulation, review, and management … More #BSG Unclassified MEMORANDUM FOR DIRECTOR, INFORMATION SECURITY OVERSIGHT OFFICE (ISOO)

Evaluation of the Department of State’s Security Clearance Process – Unclassified 🇺🇸

April 3, 2018

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Office of Personnel Security and Suitability (DS/SI/PSS) is responsible for conducting security clearance and suitability investigations for individuals at the Department and at certain other Government agencies. DS/SI/PSS investigates newly hired employees who do not currently have a clearance (initial clearances) and processes requests to transfer a clearance from another … More Evaluation of the Department of State’s Security Clearance Process – Unclassified 🇺🇸

#BSG STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD WORLDWIDE THREAT ASSESSMENT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE UNITED STATES SENATE

March 23, 2018

The United States faces an increasingly complex array of challenges to its national security. The military environment has shifted from the existence of the United States as the single power able to dominate challengers and to deter aggression through conventional means to one in which foreign militaries are emerging with near-peer and, in some areas, … More #BSG STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD WORLDWIDE THREAT ASSESSMENT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE UNITED STATES SENATE

#BSG WORLDWIDE THREAT ASSESSMENT of the US INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY March 6, 2018

March 23, 2018

Chairman McCain, Ranking Member Reed, Members of the Committee, thank you for the invitation to offer the United States Intelligence Community’s 2018 assessment of threats to US national security. My statement reflects the collective insights of the Intelligence Community’s extraordinary women and men, whom I am privileged and honored to lead. We in the Intelligence … More #BSG WORLDWIDE THREAT ASSESSMENT of the US INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY March 6, 2018

#BSG #CRS Congressional Research Service – ANNUAL REPORT – Fiscal year 2017

March 16, 2018

In fiscal  2017, Members and congressional staff viewed the CRS website approximately 1,599,500 times, including more than 658,300 views of the Service’s reports and general-distribution products. Notably, the Service’s In Focus products were viewed more than 115,600 times and video views were over 7,500. CRS held 250 seminars, institutes and training programs that nearly 8,600 … More #BSG #CRS Congressional Research Service – ANNUAL REPORT – Fiscal year 2017

#BSG #balkanservicegroup Global and Russian Energy Outlook Until 2035

March 15, 2018

The development of the global economy stands out as an external and largely independent factor in the development of our economy ranging from all industries and regions to the households and the state budget. The country produces 9.6% of the global primary energy and spends about 4.5% of its GDP on the investment in the … More #BSG #balkanservicegroup Global and Russian Energy Outlook Until 2035

#balkanservicegroup Defense Spending Under an Interim Continuing Resolution: In Brief 🇺🇸

March 5, 2018

This report provides a basic overview of interim continuing resolutions (CRs) and highlights some specific issues pertaining to operations of the Department of Defense (DOD) under a CR. As with regular appropriations bills, Congress can draft a CR to provide funding in many different ways. Under current practice, a CR is an appropriation that provides … More #balkanservicegroup Defense Spending Under an Interim Continuing Resolution: In Brief 🇺🇸

#balkanservicegroup Congressional Research Service: Nonstrategic Nuclear Wepons

March 1, 2018

  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 analysts argue such limits would … More #balkanservicegroup Congressional Research Service: Nonstrategic Nuclear Wepons

#balkanservicegroup Congressional Research Service: Energy and Water Development Appropriations: Nuclear Weapons Activities

March 1, 2018

The annual Energy and Water Development appropriations bill funds civil works projects of the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation, the Department of Energy (DOE), and several independent agencies. The DOE budget includes funding for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a separately organized agency within DOE. NNSA operates … More #balkanservicegroup Congressional Research Service: Energy and Water Development Appropriations: Nuclear Weapons Activities

Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2018 Budget and Appropriations 🇺🇸

February 17, 2018

The 115th Congress is considering FY2018 funding levels for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS). President Donald J. Trump submitted his FY2018 budget request to Congress on May 23, 2017. The request seeks $40.25 billion (-30% compared with FY2017 enacted) for SFOPS, including Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funds. Of this total, … More Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2018 Budget and Appropriations 🇺🇸

Russia: Background and U.S. Policy “Russia, formally known as the Russian Federation, is the principal successor to the United States’ former superpower rival, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR, or Soviet Union). 🇺🇸 🇷🇺

January 11, 2018

Russia, formally known as the Russian Federation, is the principal successor to the United States’ former superpower rival, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR, or Soviet Union). More… 

Background to “Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections”: The Analytic Process and Cyber Incident Attribution

January 11, 2018

The mission of the Intelligence Community is to seek to reduce the uncertainty surrounding foreign activities, capabilities, or leaders’ intentions. This objective is difficult to achieve when seeking to understand complex issues on which foreign actors go to extraordinary lengths to hide or obfuscate their activities. More… 

Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2018 Budget and Appropriations January 3, 2018 🇺🇸

January 11, 2018

The 115th Congress is considering FY2018 funding levels for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS). President Donald J. Trump submitted his FY2018 budget request to Congress on May 23, 2017. The request seeks $40.25 billion (-30% compared with FY2017 enacted) for SFOPS, including Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funds. Of this total, … More Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2018 Budget and Appropriations January 3, 2018 🇺🇸

The U.S. Export Control System and the Export Control Reform Initiative January 8, 2018 🇺🇸

January 11, 2018

Difficulty with striking an appropriate balance between national security and export competitiveness has made the subject of export controls controversial for decades. Through the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and other authorities, the United States restricts the export of defense items or munitions; dual- use goods and technology; … More The U.S. Export Control System and the Export Control Reform Initiative January 8, 2018 🇺🇸

Kosovo: Background and U.S. Relations January 8, 2018 🇺🇸 🇽🇰

January 11, 2018

Along with Serbia, Kosovo stands at the center of the Western Balkans and occupies a key strategic juncture at the social, political, and geographic crossroads between Eastern and Western Europe. Since declaring its independence in 2008, with the assistance of a number of international organizations, and despite its tense relationship with neighboring Serbia, which does … More Kosovo: Background and U.S. Relations January 8, 2018 🇺🇸 🇽🇰

Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations January 4, 2018 🇺🇸 🇷🇸

January 11, 2018

Following the conflicts in the late 1990s in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the prospect of membership in the Euro-Atlantic community and the active presence of the United States in the Western Balkan region provided a level of stability that allowed most of the countries of the region to pursue reform and adopt Western … More Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations January 4, 2018 🇺🇸 🇷🇸

Kosovo-Zajedno sa Srbijom Kosovo je u centru Balkana na socijalnoj, politickoj i geografskoj raskrsnici izmedju Istocne i Zapadne Evrope.

December 18, 2017

Zajedno sa Srbijom Kosovo je u centru Balkana na socijalnoj, politickoj i geografskoj raskrsnici izmedju Istocne i Zapadne Evrope. Kosovo, CRS report u cijelosti /link/ Along with Serbia, Kosovo stands at the center of the Western Balkans and occupies a key strategic juncture at the social, political, and geographic crossroads between Eastern and Western Europe.