Tracking COVID-19 Vaccines: U.S. Data Systems and Related Issues

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for two Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, sponsored by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, and millions of vaccine doses are being distributed nationwide. Both vaccines require two doses, which are generally not interchangeable. Key to this effort, several existing and new data systems are in use to track, specifically,

 where the vaccines supply is: for example, whether vaccines are in a storage center or at a provider site, through the Vaccine Tracking System (VTrckS);
 who has received a vaccine: that is, recipients who have received one or both doses of which vaccine, through jurisdiction-based Immunization Information Systems (IIS); and
 if any new safety issues occur: several monitoring systems aim to identify new safety issues and inform public health recommendations or FDA actions.

The federal government has long supported data capabilities for vaccines, primarily through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As with public health data generally, vaccine data systems use both federal and nonfederal (e.g., state-based) systems. For a number of years, 64 state, territorial, and local jurisdictions have received Immunization Cooperative Agreements (commonly referred to as “Section 317 grants”) administered by CDC. Among other functions, this flexible grant program has supported implementation of VTrckS for vaccine supply tracking and IISs for vaccine recipient tracking.

IISs (commonly referred to as immunization registries) enable both (1) consolidated immunization histories for a given individual, and (2) tracking of administered vaccines across the population. IISs also aid with vaccine reminders, including second-dose reminders. Most, but not all, jurisdictions have had IISs. New Hampshire created one for the COVID-19 vaccination program..."
COVID-19 Vaccinations 

Race and Ethnicity of Violent Crime Ofenders and Arrestees, 2018

"In 2018, based on data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, black people were over represented among persons arrested for nonfatal violent crimes (33%) and for serious nonfatal violent crimes (36%) relative to their representation in the U.S. population (13%) (table 1). 1 White people were underrepresented. White people accounted for 60% of U.S. residents but 46% of all persons arrested for rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and other assault, and 39% of all arrestees for nonfatal violent crimes excluding other assault. Hispanics, regardless of their race, were over represented among arrestees for nonfatal violent crimes excluding other assault (21%) relative to their representation in the U.S. population (18%).

These UCR data on incidents of nonfatal violent crime can be compared to data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) to determine how much ofense and arrest diferences by race and ethnicity can be attributed to diferences in criminal involvement. Te NCVS collects information on victims’ perceptions of ofenders’ race, ethnicity, and other characteristics in incidents of violent crime. Tis survey is administered to persons age 12 or older from a nationally representative sample of U.S. households. Te 2018 NCVS data fle includes interviews from 151,055 households.."
Violent crime offenders 

Crime in the United States: 2019

"Since 1996, editions of Crime in the United States have been available on the FBI’s Web site, www.fbi.gov. . Although first released in Portable Document Format (PDF) files, more recent editions have been published as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) files. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program staff are committed to improving annual publications so that the data they collect can better meet the needs of law enforcement, criminologists, sociologists, legislators, municipal planners, the media, and other students of criminal justice who use the statistics for varied administrative, research, and planning purposes. For more information about how the UCR Program collects data, see About the Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

Data provided

Crime in the United States, 2019, presents data tables containing information on the topics listed below. Data users can download Microsoft Excel spreadsheets of the data tables and PDFs of most of the text.
 

Offenses Known to Law Enforcement—Includes information about violent crime offenses (murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) and property crime offenses (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson).
 

Expanded offense data—Provides additional data that the program collects on the eight offenses. Depending on the offense, these details may include the type of weapon and the type and value of items stolen. For the offense of murder, expanded homicide data include information about murder victims, offenders, and weapons that are collected as supplemental homicide data.
 

Clearances—Furnishes information about crimes “solved” either by arrest or exceptional means.
 

Persons Arrested—Provides the number of arrests made by law enforcement and the age, race, and ethnicity of arrestees for the 28 offenses (see Offense Definitions) for which the UCR Program publishes arrest data.
 

Police Employee Data—Supplies information regarding sworn officers and civilian law enforcement personnel..."
Crime Statistics 

Social Media: Misinformation and Content Moderation Issues for Congress

"Social media platforms disseminate information quickly to billions of global users. The Pew Research Center estimates that in 2019, 72% of U.S. adults used at least one social media site and that the majority of users visited the site at least once a week.

Some Members of Congress are concerned about the spread of misinformation (i.e., incorrect or inaccurate information) on social media platforms and are exploring how it can be addressed by companies that operate social media sites. Other Members are concerned that social media operators’ content moderation practices may suppress speech. Both perspectives have focused on Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. §230), enacted as part of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which broadly protects operators of “interactive computer services” from liability for publishing, removing, or restricting access to another’s content.

Social media platforms enable users to create individual profiles, form networks, produce content by posting text, images, or videos, and interact with content by commenting on and sharing it with others. Social media operators may moderate the content posted on their sites by allowing certain posts and not others. They prohibit users from posting content that violates copyright law or solicits illegal activity, and some maintain policies that prohibit objectionable content (e.g., certain sexual or violent content) or content that does not contribute to the community or service that they wish to provide. As private companies, social media operators can determine what content is allowed on their sites, and content moderation decisions could be protected under the First Amendment. However, operators’ content moderation practices have created unease that these companies play an outsized role in determining what speech is allowed on their sites, with some commentators stating that operators are infringing on users’ First Amendment rights by censoring speech..."
Social Media 

Family Farms Continue to Power U.S. Agriculture

"What do you think of when you hear the phrase family-owned business? You may not immediately think of the family farm, but they are just as important to our economy and communities. In fact, family farms account for 96% of all U.S. farms, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture Farm Typology report released last week by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). These farms – 1,789,439 small family farms, 108,304 mid-size family farms, and 52,592 large-scale family farms – collectively produced $318 billion worth of agricultural products in 2017.

Typology classifies all farms into categories based on two criteria – who owns the operation and gross cash farm income (GCFI). GCFI includes the farm producer’s sales of crops and livestock, fees for delivering commodities under production contracts, government payments, and farm-related income. USDA defines small family farms as those with a GCFI of less than $350,000; mid-size farms have a GCFI of $350,000 to $999,999; and large-scale farms are those with a GCFI of $1 million or more.."

Family farms 

Get Moving To Manage Your Diabetes

"If you have diabetes, getting regular physical activity is key to helping manage your blood sugar. Read on for tips to help you get moving and keep going.

One of the most important things that you can do for your health is to get regular physical activity. There are so many benefits, from sleeping better to feeling happier. Regular physical activity can also help you:

• Lose or maintain your weight.
• Improve your memory.
• Manage your blood pressure.
• Lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

Physical activity is a foundation of diabetes management. It helps you manage blood sugar levels and lowers your risk of other complications, including heart disease and nerve damage.

Breaking Down the Barriers

It might sound hard to make a healthy change, but don’t talk yourself out of physical activity before you start. Here are a few tips to help you get moving:

• You can start slowly. You don’t have to spend hours at the gym. The goal is to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity every week. One way to reach that goal is to be active for 30 minutes on most days. Depending on your fitness level, you could start with a 10-minute walk after dinner and build up slowly. Be sure to check with your doctor about which activities are best for you and if there are any you should avoid.
• It can lower your blood sugar. While some benefits of physical activity may take longer to see, some are immediate. Check your blood sugar before and after you take a walk, and you’ll likely see a lower number after.
• You can do it for free. You don’t need to pay for a gym membership. There are plenty of free options. Walk during lunch, dance to some tunes at home, or find a free online workout—there are so many to choose from!
• Small changes can make a difference. You don’t need a big chunk of time to be active. You can find small ways to get in more activity throughout the day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Play with your kids outside. Get up and move around during commercials when you watch TV..."
  Manage diabetes 

Donald J. Trump Presidental Library

"The Donald J. Trump Presidential Library is the 15th Presidential Library administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), a federal agency. For information about accessing the records of the Trump administration visit Frequently Asked Questions..."
Trump Presidential Library 

Capitol Unrest, Legislative Response, and the Bill of Attainder Clause

"On January 6, 2021, a crowd gathered on the U.S. Capitol grounds, breached police barriers, entered and occupied portions of the Capitol building, and clashed with law enforcement. The incident resulted in at least five deaths, dozens of injuries, and damage to federal property. Members of Congress and the Vice President, who were counting electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election, were forced to evacuate in response to the unrest. Following the incident, some Members of Congress and other commentators have called for accountability for the individuals directly involved in the incident, as well as for others, potentially including elected officials, who may have incited or supported the unrest.

Many of those calls for accountability raise complex legal issues. As a recent CRS Legal Sidebar explains, the incident may implicate numerous provisions of existing criminal law. In addition, on January 13, 2021, the House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump for incitement of insurrection based on the events of January 6. Lawmakers and commentators have also explored imposing liability under other legal authorities, including by passing new legislation or seeking to bar certain individuals from holding office under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment.

This Legal Sidebar addresses one of the more novel issues that these proposals may raise. The Bill of Attainder Clause prohibits Congress from enacting legislation that inflicts punishment on an individual basis without a judicial trial. This Sidebar provides an overview of the Bill of Attainder Clause and presents certain related legal considerations for Congress as the legislature responds to the Capitol unrest..."
Capitol unrest 

Proclamation on the Termination Of Emergency With Respect To The Southern Border Of The United States And Redirection Of Funds Diverted To Border Wall Construction 

"

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Like every nation, the United States has a right and a duty to secure its borders and protect its people against threats.  But building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution.  It is a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security.  My Administration is committed to ensuring that the United States has a comprehensive and humane immigration system that operates consistently with our Nation’s values.  In furtherance of that commitment, I have determined that the declaration of a national emergency at our southern border in Proclamation 9844 of February 15, 2019 (Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Southern Border of the United States), was unwarranted.  It shall be the policy of my Administration that no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall.  I am also directing a careful review of all resources appropriated or redirected to construct a southern border wall.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 202 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), hereby declare that the national emergency declared by Proclamation 9844, and continued on February 13, 2020 (85 Fed. Reg. 8715), and January 15, 2021, is terminated and that the authorities invoked in that proclamation will no longer be used to construct a wall at the southern border.."
Border Wall Construction 

Executive Order on the Revision of Civil Immigration Enforcement Policies and Priorities

 

"By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.  Policy.

Immigrants have helped strengthen America’s families, communities, businesses and workforce, and economy, infusing the United States with creativity, energy, and ingenuity.  The task of enforcing the immigration laws is complex and requires setting priorities to best serve the national interest.  The policy of my Administration is to protect national and border security, address the humanitarian challenges at the southern border, and ensure public health and safety.  We must also adhere to due process of law as we safeguard the dignity and well-being of all families and communities.  My Administration will reset the policies and practices for enforcing civil immigration laws to align enforcement with these values and priorities. 
 

Sec. 2.  Revocation.

Executive Order 13768 of January 25, 2017 (Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States), is hereby revoked.  The Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and the heads of any other relevant executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall review any agency actions developed pursuant to Executive Order 13768 and take action, including issuing revised guidance, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, that advances the policy set forth in section 1 of this order.."
Civil Immigration Enforcement 

Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel

"By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.  Policy.

Science-based public health measures are critical to preventing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by travelers within the United States and those who enter the country from abroad.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Surgeon General, and the National Institutes of Health have concluded that mask-wearing, physical distancing, appropriate ventilation, and timely testing can mitigate the risk of travelers spreading COVID-19.  Accordingly, to save lives and allow all Americans, including the millions of people employed in the transportation industry, to travel and work safely, it is the policy of my Administration to implement these public health measures consistent with CDC guidelines on public modes of transportation and at ports of entry to the United States.
 

Sec. 2.  Immediate Action to Require Mask-Wearing on Certain Domestic Modes of Transportation.
 

(a)  Mask Requirement.  The Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Secretary of Transportation (including through the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)), the Secretary of Homeland Security (including through the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard), and the heads of any other executive departments and agencies (agencies) that have relevant regulatory authority (heads of agencies) shall immediately take action, to the extent appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to require masks to be worn in compliance with CDC guidelines in or on:
 

(i)    airports;
(ii)   commercial aircraft;
(iii)  trains;
(iv)   public maritime vessels, including ferries;
(v)    intercity bus services; and
(vi)   all forms of public transportation as defined in section 5302 of title 49, United States Code..."
COVID-19 Safety and travel 

Executive Order on Ensuring an Equitable Pandemic Response and Recovery

"By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to address the disproportionate and severe impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on communities of color and other underserved populations, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.  Purpose.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated severe and pervasive health and social inequities in America.  For instance, people of color experience systemic and structural racism in many facets of our society and are more likely to become sick and die from COVID-19.  The lack of complete data, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, on COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates, as well as underlying health and social vulnerabilities, has further hampered efforts to ensure an equitable pandemic response.  Other communities, often obscured in the data, are also disproportionately affected by COVID-19, including sexual and gender minority groups, those living with disabilities, and those living at the margins of our economy.  Observed inequities in rural and Tribal communities, territories, and other geographically isolated communities require a place-based approach to data collection and the response.  Despite increased State and local efforts to address these inequities, COVID-19’s disparate impact on communities of color and other underserved populations remains unrelenting.
 

Addressing this devastating toll is both a moral imperative and pragmatic policy.  It is impossible to change the course of the pandemic without tackling it in the hardest-hit communities.  In order to identify and eliminate health and social inequities resulting in disproportionately higher rates of exposure, illness, and death, I am directing a Government-wide effort to address health equity.  The Federal Government must take swift action to prevent and remedy differences in COVID-19 care and outcomes within communities of color and other underserved populations..."
Equitable Pandemic Response 

Amanda Gorman inauguration poem 2021

[The Hill. January 21, 2021] 

The Hill We Climb

"When day comes we ask ourselves,
where can we find light in this never-ending shade?
The loss we carry,
a sea we must wade
We've braved the belly of the beast
We've learned that quiet isn't always peace
And the norms and notions
of what just is
Isn’t always just-ice
And yet the dawn is ours
before we knew it
Somehow we do it
Somehow we've weathered and witnessed
a nation that isn’t broken
but simply unfinished
We the successors of a country and a time
Where a skinny Black girl
descended from slaves and raised by a single mother
can dream of becoming president
only to find herself reciting for one
And yes we are far from polished
far from pristine
but that doesn’t mean we are
striving to form a union that is perfect
We are striving to forge a union with purpose
To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and
conditions of man
And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us
but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,
we must first put our differences aside
We lay down our arms
so we can reach out our arms
to one another
We seek harm to none and harmony for all
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:
That even as we grieved, we grew
That even as we hurt, we hoped
That even as we tired, we tried
That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious
Not because we will never again know defeat
but because we will never again sow division
Scripture tells us to envision
that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree
And no one shall make them afraid
If we’re to live up to our own time
Then victory won’t lie in the blade
But in all the bridges we’ve made
That is the promised glade
The hill we climb
If only we dare
It's because being American is more than a pride we inherit,
it’s the past we step into
and how we repair it
We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation
rather than share it
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy
And this effort very nearly succeeded
But while democracy can be periodically delayed
it can never be permanently defeated
In this truth
in this faith we trust
For while we have our eyes on the future
history has its eyes on us
This is the era of just redemption
We feared at its inception
We did not feel prepared to be the heirs
of such a terrifying hour
but within it we found the power
to author a new chapter
To offer hope and laughter to ourselves
So while once we asked,
how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?
Now we assert
How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?
We will not march back to what was
but move to what shall be
A country that is bruised but whole,
benevolent but bold,
fierce and free
We will not be turned around
or interrupted by intimidation
because we know our inaction and inertia
will be the inheritance of the next generation
Our blunders become their burdens
But one thing is certain:
If we merge mercy with might,
and might with right,
then love becomes our legacy
and change our children’s birthright
So let us leave behind a country
better than the one we were left with
Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest,
we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one
We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west,
we will rise from the windswept northeast
where our forefathers first realized revolution
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states,
we will rise from the sunbaked south
We will rebuild, reconcile and recover
and every known nook of our nation and
every corner called our country,
our people diverse and beautiful will emerge,
battered and beautiful
When day comes we step out of the shade,
aflame and unafraid
The new dawn blooms as we free it
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it
If only we’re brave enough to be it.."
Amanda Gorman Inauguration Poem