Congressman Frank J. Guarini Library Blog

 Privacy and Data Security Update for 2023 (FTC); Managing Artificial Intelligence-Specific Cybersecurity Risks in the Financial Services Sector (U.S. Department of the Treasury); Advancing Governance, Innovation, and Risk Management for Agency Use of Artificial Intelligence (OMB, The White House); Cybersecurity Resources for High-Risk Communities (CISA); Senate Select Intelligence Committee (videos/transcripts); FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Protect U.S. Steel and Shipbuilding Industry from China’s Unfair Practices (The White House); Forget About Chips—China Is Coming for Ships (Foreign Policy); and Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume IV, National Security Policy (US Department of State).

Critical Mineral Resources: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Role in Research and Analysis; Critical Mineral Resources: National Policy and Critical Minerals List; TikTok and China’s Digital Platforms: Issues for Congress; Defense Primer: National and Defense Intelligence; FISA Section 702 Sunset, Authorization, and Potential Extension; and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program (all CRS).

Drug Shortage and National Security

Drug Shortage Statistics (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, ongoing); Building Resilience Into US Prescription Drug Supply Chains (Health Affairs, 2023); Regulating Medicines in a Globalized World: The Need for Increased Reliance Among Regulators and Building Resilience into the Nation’s Medical Product Supply Chains and The Security of America’s Medical Product Supply Chain: Considerations for Critical Drugs and Devices: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief (NAPress, 2020, 2021,2022); The Health and National Security Risks of Drug Shortages and Short Supply: The Health and National Security Risks of Drug Shortages (both Senate Committee on Homeland Security, 2023); Federal policies to address persistent generic drug shortages (Brookings, 2023); The National Security Rationale for Stockpiling Key Pharmaceutical Ingredients (Council on Strategic Risks, 2024); Drug Shortages Prior to and During the COVID-19 Pandemic (JAMA, 2024. heavily referenced); FDA Drug Shortages (ongoing); and A Proven Model to Combat U.S. Drug Shortages (Harvard Business Review, 2024).

[2024] Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community (DNI); A.I. Joe: The Dangers of Artificial Intelligence and the Military (Public Citizen); How TikTok Became a Hotbed of Brand Misinformation; Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024; Global Terrorism Threat Assessment 2024 (CSIS); What We Know About You: Welcome to the Surveillance State (LLRX); and Satellite Cybersecurity Act.

U.S. Interest in Seabed Mining in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: Brief Background and Recent Developments; The Global Oil Tanker Market: An Overview as It Relates to Sanctions; and Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress (updated March 19, 2024).

Reports on TikTok

How TikTok Became a Hotbed of Brand Misinformation; H.R.231 – Terminate TikTok on Campus Act of 2023 ; Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024; TikTok (C-SPAN); Security implications of China-owned critical infrastructure in the European Union (European Parliament); TikTok and National Security (CSIS); Majority of Americans see TikTok as a national security threat (Pew);

TikTok: Proposed Legislation and Implications; Restricting TikTok (Part I): Legal History and Background; Restricting TikTok (Part II): Legislative Proposals and Considerations for Congress; H.R. 7521 Regulation of TikTok: Analysis of Selected Legal Issues (all CRS)

Bridge Security

Ship Collisions with Bridges: The Nature of the Accidents, Their Prevention and Mitigation (National Research Council. Marine Board, 1983. Highly cited still.)

Recommendations for Bridge and Tunnel Security (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Blue Ribbon Panel on Bridge and Tunnel Security, 2003. An oft-cited report);

Homeland Security Vulnerabilities of the US National Capital Region’s Bridges (U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, 2016);

and other reports/sites:

A highly technical article from 2020 – Design of bridges against ship collisions – is also available.

Statistical analysis of ship collisions with bridges in China waterway;

Design of steel bridge girders against ship forecastle collisions;

An impact dynamics analysis on a new crashworthy device against ship–bridge collision;

 Fuzzy logic based approach for ship-bridge collision alert system;

Monitoring-based assessment of bridges subject to ship collision; and

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Active and Passive Safety Measures in Preventing Ship–Bridge Collision.

While all these articles feature dense engineering apparati, there is enough information that can be understood by a layperson.

Additionally, the following sites merit attention:

Basics of Vessel Collision (FDOT Transportation Symposium, 2019);

Federal Highway Administration: Bridges & Structures;

Emergency Relief Program for Disaster-Damaged Highways and Bridges (CRS);

National Academies Press: Proposed Guideline for Reliability-Based Bridge Inspection Practices ; Guidelines for Shielding Bridge Piers; Post-Extreme Event Damage Assessment and Response for Highway Bridges; and Design Guide for Bridges for Service Life. 

Here is an FAQ from CRS – Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).