Weekly Roundup Archive: WR 4/17/21

4/19 - One Year into COVID-19 Pandemic, New FTC Staff Report Highlights Agency’s Ongoing Efforts to Protect Consumers (FTC; direct to report)

4/19 - Upcoming US Law Webinars – May 2021 (LOC)

4/19 - National Archives Hosts Genealogy Series in May & June (NARA)

4/19 - Historical Climate Data for the Globe (NCEI)

4/19 - Travel Advisory Updates (State)

4/19 - DHS Seeks Public Input to Identify Barriers that Limit or Prevent Access to Immigration Benefits and Services (USCIS)

4/20 - Biden Administration Takes Bold Action to Protect Electricity Operations from Increasing Cyber Threats (DOE)

4/21 - Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at Announcement of Pattern or Practice Investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department (DOJ)

4/21 - USDOT Appoints Chief Science Officer for the First Time in Over 40 Years; Take Steps to Restore Scientific Integrity (DOT)

4/21 - FDA Continues Important Steps to Ensure Quality, Safety and Effectiveness of Authorized COVID-19 Vaccines (FDA)

4/21 - Smithsonian Launches “Vaccines & US” Initiative (Smithsonian; direct to website)

4/22 - Census Bureau Statement on Settlement in National Urban League v. Raimondo (Census; see also, Twitter thread by @hansilowang with link to source document)

4/22 - 2019 County Business Patterns Now Available (Census)

4/22 - World Factbook Unveils New Category: Environment (CIA)

4/22 - DOD Announces Installation Climate Exposure Assessments Plan Through the Defense Climate Assessment Tool (DOD; direct to report)

4/22 - FCC Enhances Transparency of Foreign Government-Sponsored Programming (FCC)

4/22 - HUD Withdraws Proposed Rule, Reaffirms Its Commitment to Equal Access to Housing, Shelters, and Other Services Regardless of Gender Identity (HUD)

4/22 - Ground Sloths, Cheetahs and Mountain Goats---Oh My! Thousands of Grand Canyon fossils revealed in paleontological inventory (NPS; direct to report)

4/22 - Release of Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XI, START I (State; direct to report)

4/23 - Semiannual Report: Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan ('1225 Report') (DOD; direct to report)

4/23 - The Justice Department’s Hate Crimes Enforcement and Prevention Initiative Announces Newly Translated Online Hate Crimes Resources (DOJ)

Information below is from congress.gov. Date listed is date signed into law, and the description is an abbreviated version of bill summary available on that website.

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None this week

4/19 - Investigative Summary: Findings of Misconduct by a then Senior Department of Justice Official for Failing to Appear for a Compelled Office of the Inspector General Interview (DOJ)

4/20 - Concerns About the Process Used for the SAFE Vehicles Rule Demonstrate the Need for a Policy on EPA’s Role in Joint Rulemakings (EPA; see also, Senate Environment chair’s statement)

4/20 - Review of HUD’s Disbursement of Grant Funds Appropriated for Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Activities in Puerto Rico (HUD; see also, House Homeland Security chair’s statement)

4/21 - DHS Had Authority to Deploy Federal Law Enforcement Officers to Protect Federal Facilities in Portland, Oregon, but Should Ensure Better Planning and Execution in Future Cross-Component Activities (DHS)

4/21 - Improved Review Processes Could Advance EPA Regions 3 and 5 Oversight of State-Issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits (EPA)

4/21 - Testimony of Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D. Before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security “Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General” (DHS; see also, House Oversight hearing and GAO report)

4/19 - Handguns, Stabilizing Braces, and Related Components (CRS)

4/19 - Agency Use of Guidance Documents (CRS)

4/19 - Offshore Oil and Gas: Updated Regulations Needed to Improve Pipeline Oversight and Decommissioning (GAO; see also, House Natural Resources chair’s statement)

4/22 - Federal Research: NIH Should Take Further Action to Address Foreign Influence (GAO)

4/20 - Pulling Punches: Trump-Appointed Watchdog [DHS OIG] Suppressed White House-Related Probes (via POGO, with source documents)

4/21 - The Postal Service is running a 'covert operations program' that monitors Americans' social media posts (via YahooNews, with source document)

4/22 - CBP We Build the Wall Records (DHS FOIA)

4/22 - Chair Grijalva Encourages Sec. Haaland to Return Bureau of Land Management Headquarters to Washington, Reverse Trump-Era Effort to Undermine Morale (Congress)

4/22 - Brett Kavanaugh’s Opinion Restoring Juvenile Life Without Parole Is Dishonest and Barbaric (via Slate, with link to source document)

See full weekly list of hearings on congress.gov.

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4/20 - Rural Broadband - Examining Internet Connectivity Needs and Opportunities in Rural America (House Agriculture)

4/20 - Restoring Independence: Rebuilding the Federal Offices of Inspectors General (House Oversight)

4/20 -  The American Jobs Plan: Infrastructure, Climate Change, and Investing in Our Nation’s Future (Senate Appropriations)

4/20 - Jim Crow 2021: The Latest Assault on the Right to Vote (Senate Judiciary)

4/22 - U.S.-China Relations: Improving U.S. Competitiveness Through Trade (Senate Finance)