Western Governor's Association Meeting 2008

The Western Governor's Association is meeting through Tuesday and discussing a variety of issues. The group is made up of 19 states and 3 Pacific Islands and works on issues of importance to the western states of the United States. The group has already released a plan on preserving wildlife corridors in the West (see the press release). This plan is built to address the growth of both drilling and communities across the west. They have also written a 142 page report discussing this issue.

The group is also discussing issues such as the presidential elections, energy and other issues that are important to the west. To see their press releases and reports check out the meeting web site.

Want to know more about the Western Governor's Association? Check out their mission page.

Want press reaction to the plan? Check out the Denver Post's "Governors launch wildlife plan" or a discussion of this and many other western issues from "Meet the Press."

Still want more? Check out the library guides on Environment and Energy.

GAO Releases this week

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week they investigated a variety of issues, such as border security, individual retirement accounts, terrorism, and the Coast Guard. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• American Samoa: Issues Associated with Potential Changes to the Current System for Adjudicating Matters of Federal Law. GAO-08-655, June 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-655
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08655high.pdf
• Border Security: State Department Should Plan for Potentially Significant Staffing and Facilities Shortfalls Caused by Changes in the Visa Waiver Program. GAO-08-623, May 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-623
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08623high.pdf
  
• Bureau of Indian Education Schools: Improving Interior's Assistance Would Help Some Tribal Groups Implement Academic Accountability Systems. GAO-08-679, June 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-679
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08679high.pdf
  
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Human Capital Planning Has Improved, but Strategic View of Contractor Workforce Is Needed. GAO-08-582, May 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-582
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08582high.pdf
• Coast Guard: Change in Course Improves Deepwater Management and Oversight, but Outcome Still Uncertain. GAO-08-745, June 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-745
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08745high.pdf
• Coast Guard: Strategies for Mitigating the Loss of Patrol Boats Are Achieving Results in the Near Term, but They Come at a Cost and Longer Term Sustainability Is Unknown. GAO-08-660, June 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-660
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08660high.pdf
• Combating Terrorism: Increased Oversight and Accountability Needed over Pakistan Reimbursement Claims for Coalition Support Funds. GAO-08-806, June 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-806
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08806high.pdf
  
• Critical Infrastructure Protection: Further Efforts Needed to Integrate Planning for and Response to Disruptions on Converged Voice and Data Networks. GAO-08-607, June 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-607
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08607high.pdf
• Defense Production Act: Agencies Lack Policies and Guidance for Use of Key Authorities. GAO-08-854, June 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-854
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08854high.pdf
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Sharing Promising Practices and Fully Implementing Strategic Human Capital Planning Can Improve Management of Growing Workload. GAO-08-589, June 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-589
• Homeland Security: DHS Risk-Based Grant Methodology Is Reasonable, But Current Version's Measure of Vulnerability is Limited. GAO-08-852, June 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-852
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08852high.pdf
• Homeland Security: First Responders' Ability to Detect and Model Hazardous Releases in Urban Areas Is Significantly Limited. GAO-08-180, June 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-180
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08180high.pdf
• Peacekeeping: Thousands Trained but United States Is Unlikely to Complete All Activities by 2010 and Some Improvements Are Needed. GAO-08-754, June 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-754
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08754high.pdf
• Securing, Stabilizing, and Rebuilding Iraq: Progress Report: Some Gains Made, Updated Strategy Needed. GAO-08-837, June 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-837
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08837high.pdf
• Young Adults with Serious Mental Illness: Some States and Federal Agencies Are Taking Steps to Address Their Transition Challenges. GAO-08-678, June 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-678
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08678high.pdf
  

Correspondence

• Medicare Advantage Organizations: Actual Expenses and Profits Compared to Projections for 2005. GAO-08-827R, June 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-827R
• Military Operations: Actions Needed to Better Guide Project Selection for Commander's Emergency Response Program and Improve Oversight in Iraq. GAO-08-736R, June 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-736R
• Secure Border Initiative Fiscal Year 2008 Expenditure Plan Shows Improvement, but Deficiencies Limit Congressional Oversight and DHS Accountability. GAO-08-739R, June 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-739R

Testimony

• Border Security: State Department Expects to Meet Projected Surge in Demand for Visas and Passports in Mexico, by Jess T. Ford, director, international affairs and trade, before the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization and Procurement, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-931T, June 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-931T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08931thigh.pdf
• Combating Terrorism: U.S. Oversight of Pakistan Reimbursement Claims for Coalition Support Funds, by Charles Michael Johnson, Jr., director, international affairs and trade, before the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-932T, June 24. (2 p.m.)
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-932T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08932thigh.pdf
• Fiscal Year 2007 U.S. Government Financial Statements: Sustained Improvement in Financial Management Is Crucial to Improving Accountability and Addressing the Long-Term Fiscal Challenge, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general of the United States, before the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-08-926T, June 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-926T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08926thigh.pdf
• Individual Retirement Accounts: Government Actions Could Encourage More Employers to Offer IRAs to Employees, by Barbara D. Bovbjerg, director, education, workforce, and income security, before the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, House Committee on Ways and Means. GAO-08-890T, June 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-890T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08890thigh.pdf
• Military Construction: Kaiserslautern Military Community Center Project Continues to Experience Problems, by Gregory D. Kutz, managing director, forensic audits and special investigations, and Terrell G. Dorn, director, physical infrastructure, before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-923T, June 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-923T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08923thigh.pdf
• Risk Management: Strengthening the Use of Risk Management Principles in Homeland Security, by Norman J. Rabkin, managing director, homeland security and justice, before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-08-904T, June 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-904T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08904thigh.pdf

Supreme Court Rules on DC handgun ban

The Supreme Court ruled today that the District of Columbia's ban on handgun ownership is unconstitutional. This ruling in District of Columbia, et al. v. Heller has far reaching impacts outside the District of Columbia, possibly affecting gun regulations nationally.

Want more information on this decision? Why not check out the Washington Post's article "Supreme Court Strikes Down D.C. Ban on Handguns" or the Wall Street Journal's "Court Strikes Down D.C. Gun Ban, Affirms Second Amendment Rights."

Want more information on the Supreme Court? Check out the library's guide.

Predicting the future: Effects of Climate Change and Energy

It is Wednesday and we are half way through this week and I thought I would highlight a few new releases from the federal government on Climate Change and Energy. These are both attempts by the government to predict the future of these issues.

First, let's look at energy. The Department of Energy released today the International Energy Outlook. This report predicts that (baring any radical changes) "world marketed energy consumption is projected to grow by 50 percent over the 2005 to 2030 period" and in that period world carbon dioxide emissions will increase "from 28.1 billion metric tons in 2005 to 34.3 billion metric tons in 2015 and 42.3 billion metric tons in 2030—an increase of 51 percent over the projection period."

That second quote may make you want to go check out the report from the National Intelligence Council on the effect of climate change on national security. The report hasn't been released on their web site, but NPR did manage to get a copy of their statement before Congress today. In it they state in summary that they "judge global climate change will have wide-ranging implications for US national security interests over the next 20 years." This may come in the form of problems in the US, such as increased hurricanes or drought, but also can come from destabilization in countries outside the US due to the effects of climate change.

Want more information? Why not check out the guides to climate change and energy.

Congressional Research Service Reports

Congressional Research Service (CRS) is a research agency of Congress and writes reports at Congress's request. These short reports (usually 10-40 pages long) cover recent topics of concern. This week brings us CRS reports on the medicaid, Iraq, food safety, and much more. While these reports are in the public domain there is no central database available to the public. To get a copy of a CRS report you can request it from your Senator or Representative. This list is compiled from CRS reports discovered by Secrecy News and OpenCRS:

• Medicaid and Graduate Medical Education
• Medicaid Financing
• Medicaid and Outpatient Hospital Services
• International Convention Against Doping in Sport: Issues for Congress
• An Emergency Communications Safety Net: Integrating 911 and Other Services
• High Agricultural Commodity Prices: What Are the Issues?
• Iraq: Summary of U.S. Casualties
• Nominations to Article III Lower Courts by President George W. Bush During the 110th Congress
• Russia's Economic Performance and Policies and Their Implications for the United States
• The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF): Budget and Operations
• Climate Change: Comparison of S. 2191 as Reported (now S. 3036) with Proposed Boxer Amendment
• The Army's M-4 Carbine: Background and Issues for Congress
• Debt Limit: The Need for Increases
• The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan and Enhanced Base Security Since 9/11
• Pakistan-U.S. Relations
• Proposed Termination of Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) F136 Alternate Engine
• Wildfire Damages to Homes and Resources: Understanding Causes and Reducing Losses
• Climate Change: Current Issues and Policy Tools
• United Nations System Efforts to Address Violence Against Women
• Navy DD(X) and LCS Ship Acquisition Programs: Oversight Issues and Options for Congress
• Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Legislation in the 110th Congress
• Foreign Medical Graduates: A Brief Overview of the J-1 Visa Waiver Program
• Financial Services and General Government (FSGG): FY2009 Appropriations
• Israel: Background and Relations with the United States
• Defense Acquisition: Use of Lead System Integrators (LSIs) -- Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress
• Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) Vehicles: Background and Issues for Congress
• U.S.-Russian Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: Issues for Congress
• Potential Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress
• Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76: Implications for the Future
• Telework Legislation Pending in the 110th Congress: A Side-by-Side Comparison of Provisions
• Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA): What Is It, and How Might One Be Utilized In Iraq?
• Boumediene v. Bush: Guantanamo Detainees' Right to Habeas Corpus
• Natural Gas Markets: Overview and Policy Issues
• Food Safety Provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill
• National Security Strategy: Legislative Mandates, Execution to Date, and Considerations for Congress
• Tsunami Detection and Warnings for the United States
• The Fair Labor Standards Act: Continuing Issues in the Debate
• The Link Between Medicaid and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Recent History and Current Issues

Interested in historical CRS reports? If you are here at the Boulder campus, check out the LexisNexis Congressional database, which has reports back to 1916.

Not on campus, but still want access to additional reports? The library has a guide linking to various additional sources of CRS reports.

It's Monday and time for more fun charts!

The OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) has released a new fun way to view the statistics from the OECD Factbook (if you are on campus check out this link for both print and electronic versions). This web site, using Gapminder graphs, lets you compare the interactions of three different statistics.

For example, why not compare the total production of energy, production of crude oil and crude oil prices (here's the chart)? You can also get the data by clicking on the little tiny symbol (kinda looks like an excel box) on the right next to size.

Want more statistical data (and who wouldn't)? Check out the library's guides.

GAO Releases this week

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week they investigated a variety of issues, such as privacy and personally identifiable information, Afghanistan security, and environmental satellites. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Afghanistan Security: Further Congressional Action May Be Needed to Ensure Completion of a Detailed Plan to Develop and Sustain Capable Afghan National Security Forces. GAO-08-661, June 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-661
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08661high.pdf
• Defense Infrastructure: High-Level Leadership Needed to Help Communities Address Challenges Caused by DOD-Related Growth. GAO-08-665, June 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-665
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08665high.pdf
  
• Department of Energy: Office of Science Has Kept Majority of Projects within Budget and on Schedule, but Funding and Other Challenges May Grow. GAO-08-641, May 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-641
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08641high.pdf
  
• Environmental Satellites: Polar-orbiting Satellite Acquisition Faces Delays; Decisions Needed on Whether and How to Ensure Climate Data Continuity. GAO-08-518, May 16.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-518
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08518high.pdf
• Financial Audit: Material Weaknesses in Internal Control over the Processes Used to Prepare the Consolidated Financial Statements of the U.S. Government. GAO-08-748, June 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-748
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08748high.pdf
• Higher Education: Veteran Students Received Similar Amounts of Title IV Aid As Nonveterans but More Total Aid with GI Benefits. GAO-08-741, June 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-741
• Homeland Security: The Federal Protective Service Faces Several Challenges That Hamper Its Ability to Protect Federal Facilities. GAO-08-683, June 11.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-683
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08683high.pdf
• Maritime Security: National Strategy and Supporting Plans Were Generally Well-Developed and Are Being Implemented. GAO-08-672, June 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-672
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08672high.pdf
• Medicare: Thousands of Medicare Providers Abuse the Federal Tax System. GAO-08-618, June 13.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-618
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08618high.pdf
• Millennium Challenge Corporation: Independent Reviews and Consistent Approaches Will Strengthen Projections of Program Impact. GAO-08-730, June 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-730
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08730high.pdf
• Privacy: Alternatives Exist for Enhancing Protection of Personally Identifiable Information. GAO-08-536, May 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-536
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08536high.pdf
• Privacy: Agencies Should Ensure That Designated Senior Officials Have Oversight of Key Functions. GAO-08-603, May 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-603
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08603high.pdf
  

Correspondence

• Department of Energy: Information on Its Management of Costs and Liabilities for Contractors' Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans. GAO-08-642R, June 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-642R
• Federal Reserve Banks: Areas for Improvement in Information Security Controls. GAO-08-836R, June 16.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-836R
  
• Improper Payments: Responses to Posthearing Questions Related to Status of Agencies' Efforts to Address Improper Payment and Recovery Auditing Requirements. GAO-08-819R, June 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-819R

Testimony

• Afghanistan Security: U.S. Efforts to Develop Capable Afghan Police Forces Face Challenges and Need a Coordinated, Detailed Plan to Help Ensure Accountability, by Charles Michael Johnson, Jr., director, international affairs and trade, before the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-883T, June 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-883T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08883thigh.pdf
• Architect of the Capitol: Progress in Improving Energy Efficiency and Options for Decreasing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, by Terrell G. Dorn, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. GAO-08-917T, June 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-917T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08917thigh.pdf
  
• Environmental Satellites: Polar-orbiting Satellite Acquisition Faces Delays; Decisions Needed on Whether and How to Ensure Climate Data Continuity, by David A. Powner, director, information technology management issues, before the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, House Committee on Science and Technology. GAO-08-899T, June 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-899T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08899thigh.pdf
• Higher Education: United States' and Other Countries' Strategies for Attracting and Funding International Students, by George A. Scott, director, education, workforce, and income security issues, before the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, House Committee on Foreign Affairs. GAO-08-878T, June 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-878T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08878thigh.pdf
• Homeland Security: The Federal Protective Service Faces Several Challenges That Raise Concerns About Protection of Federal Facilities, by Mark L. Goldstein, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-08-897T, June 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-897T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08897thigh.pdf
• Homeland Security: The Federal Protective Service Faces Several Challenges That Raise Concerns About Protection of Federal Facilities, by Mark L. Goldstein, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-08-914T, June 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-914T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08914thigh.pdf
• Intellectual Property: Leadership and Accountability Needed to Strengthen Federal Protection and Enforcement, by Loren Yager, director, international affairs and trade, before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. GAO-08-921T, June 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-921T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08921thigh.pdf
• Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: Long-Term Federal Fiscal Challenge Driven Primarily by Health Care, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general of the United States, before the Senate Committee on Finance. GAO-08-912T, June 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-912T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08912thigh.pdf
• Privacy: Congress Should Consider Alternatives for Strengthening Protection of Personally Identifiable Information, by Linda D. Koontz, director, information management issues, before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-08-795T, June 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-795T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08795thigh.pdf
• Tax Administration: Data on the Effects of the Economic Stimulus Program on the Internal Revenue Service's Telephone Service and Costs, statement for the record by James R. White, director, strategic issues, before the Subcommittee on Oversight, House Committee on Ways and Means. GAO-08-916T, June 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-916T

CRS Reports this week

Congressional Research Service (CRS) is a research agency of Congress and writes reports at Congress's request. These short reports (usually 10-40 pages long) cover recent topics of concern. This week brings us CRS reports on the tuberculosis, treaties, Russia, and much more. While these reports are in the public domain there is no central database available to the public. To get a copy of a CRS report you can request it from your Senator or Representative. This list is compiled from CRS reports discovered by Secrecy News:

• Tsunami Detection and Warnings for the United States
  
• Nanotechnology: A Policy Primer
• Nanotechnology and U.S. Competitiveness: Issues and Options
• The Army’s M-4 Carbine: Background and Issues for Congress
• Tuberculosis: International Efforts and Issues for Congress
• Russia’s Economic Performance and Policies and Their Implications for the United States
• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty: Background and Current Developments
• Coast Guard Deepwater Program: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress
• The Strategic Petroleum Reserve: History, Perspectives, and Issues

Interested in historical CRS reports? If you are here at the Boulder campus, check out the LexisNexis Congressional database, which has reports back to 1916.

Not on campus, but still want access to additional reports? The library has a guide linking to various additional sources of CRS reports.

Roan Plateau Oil and Gas Leases

For those of you here in Colorado you might have heard some of the recent discussions on the Roan Plateau and the plans to lease land out for oil and gas development. Well, the announcement came out last week allowing the leases to go forward in August. Governor Ritter released a letter and press release protesting this decision. In April Rep. Salazar and Sen. Salazar had submitted identical bills in the house and senate trying to stop this action from taking place, but so far neither has moved out of committee.

Want to learn more about the process that lead to this action? Check out the Bureau of Land Management site which contains documents, decisions, and announcements.

Want to learn more about federal lands? Check out the library guide.

President Bush winds up his European Tour

The President finished his tour of Europe today, after visiting six countries in Europe. The White House has a web site gathering together all of the press releases on the trip in one place.

There is no one page for articles on this trip, but you can view articles on the White House at the Washington Post web site.

Want more information on the presidency? Check out the library's guide.

GAO Releases This Week

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week they investigated a variety of issues, such as climate change, border security, FDA oversight of food safety, and digital television transition. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Border Security: Summary of Covert Tests and Security Assessments for the Senate Committee on Finance, 2003-2007. GAO-08-757, May 16.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-757
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08757high.pdf
• Climate Change: Expert Opinion on the Economics of Policy Options to Address Climate Change. GAO-08-605, May 9.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-605
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08605high.pdf
• Compact of Free Association: Palau's Use of and Accountability for U.S. Assistance and Prospects for Economic Self-Sufficiency. GAO-08-732, June 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-732
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08732high.pdf
• Federal Real Property: Property Conveyances between the District of Columbia and the Federal Government Await Completion, and Development Will Take Many Years. GAO-08-684, June 13.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-684
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08684high.pdf
• Military Personnel: Army Needs to Better Enforce Requirements and Improve Record Keeping for Soldiers Whose Medical Conditions May Call for Significant Duty Limitations. GAO-08-546, June 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-546
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08546high.pdf
• National Response Framework: FEMA Needs Policies and Procedures to Better Integrate Non-Federal Stakeholders in the Revision Process. GAO-08-768, June 11.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-768
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08768high.pdf

Correspondence

• Global War on Terrorism: Reported Obligations for the Department of Defense. GAO-08-853R, June 13.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-853R

Testimony

• 2010 Census: Plans for Decennial Census Operations and Technology Have Progressed, But Much Uncertainty Remains, by David A. Powner, director, information technology management issues, and Mathew J. Scire, director, strategic issues, before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives. GAO-08-886T, June 11.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-886T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08886thigh.pdf
• Compact of Free Association: Micronesia Faces Challenges to Achieving Compact Goals, by David B. Gootnick, director, international affairs and trade, before the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, House Committee on Natural Resources. GAO-08-859T, June 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-859T
• Compact of Free Association: U.S. Assistance to Palau, Accountability Over Assistance Provided, and Palau's Prospects For Economic Self-Sufficiency, by David B. Gootnick, director, international affairs and trade team, before the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, House Committee on Natural Resources. GAO-08-858T, June 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-858T
• Digital Television Transition: Broadcasters' Transition Status, Low-Power Station Issues, and Information on Consumer Awareness of the DTV Transition, by Mark L. Goldstein, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-881T, June 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-881T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08881thigh.pdf
• Emergency Management: Observations on DHS's Preparedness for Catastrophic Disasters, by William O. Jenkins, Jr., director, homeland security and justice, before the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-08-868T, June 11.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-868T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08868thigh.pdf
• Employment Verification: Challenges Exist in Implementing a Mandatory Electronic Employment Verification System, statement for the record by Richard M. Stana, director, homeland security and justice issues, before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, House Committee on the Judiciary. GAO-08-895T, June 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-895T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08895thigh.pdf
  
• Federal Aviation Administration: Efforts to Hire, Staff, and Train Air Traffic Controllers Are Generally on Track, but Challenges Remain, by Gerald L. Dillingham, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Aviation, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-08-908T, June 11.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-908T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08908thigh.pdf
• Federal Oversight of Food Safety: FDA Has Provided Few Details on the Resources and Strategies Needed to Implement its Food Protection Plan, by Lisa R. Shames, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-909T, June 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-909T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08909thigh.pdf
• International Trade: The United States Needs an Integrated Approach to Trade Preference Programs, by Loren Yager, director, international affairs and trade, before the Senate Committee on Finance. GAO-08-907T, June 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-907T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08907thigh.pdf
• Supply Chain Security: Challenges to Scanning 100 Percent of U.S.-Bound Cargo Containers, by Stephen L. Caldwell, director, homeland security and justice, before the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. GAO-08-533T, June 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-533T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08533thigh.pdf

Supreme Court Rules on Guantanamo

The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday, in Boumediene v. Bush, that the current administration rules on dealing with detainees in Guantanamo are not valid. Want some reaction? Check these out:

• Press Briefing in Italy Bush responds briefly to the court's decision.
• "Administration Strategy for Detention Now in Disarray" from the Washington Post

Want more information on the Supreme Court? Check out the library's guide.

CRS reports, two weeks worth!

Due to a little vacationing last week I didn't bring you your standard dose of CRS reports, so this week I am making up with a double dose. Congressional Research Service (CRS) is a research agency of Congress and writes reports at Congress's request. These short reports (usually 10-40 pages long) cover recent topics of concern. This week brings us CRS reports on the e-government, drugs, voting, and much more. While these reports are in the public domain there is no central database available to the public. To get a copy of a CRS report you can request it from your Senator or Representative. This list is compiled from CRS reports discovered by Secrecy News and OpenCRS:

• Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization: An Overview of Selected Provisions in Proposed Legislation
• Reauthorization of the E-Government Act: A Brief Overview
• Coal Excise Tax Refunds: United States v. Clintwood Elkhorn Mining Co.
• Unanimous Consent Agreements Establishing a 60-Vote Threshold for Passage of Legislation in the Senate
• Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act: Program Overview and Reauthorization Issues
• The Constitutionality of Requiring Photo Identification for Voting: An Analysis of Crawford v. Marion County Election Board
• The FDA FY2009 Budget Request
• Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E): Background, Status, and Selected Issues for Congress
• Delegation of the Federal Power of Eminent Domain to Nonfederal Entities
• Statutory Individual Income Tax Rates and Other Elements of the Tax System: 1988 through 2008
• Youth Transitioning From Foster Care: Background, Federal Programs, and Issues for Congress
• Unauthorized Aliens' Access to Federal Benefits: Policy and Issues
• Alien Smuggling: Recent Legislative Developments

Interested in historical CRS reports? If you are here at the Boulder campus, check out the LexisNexis Congressional database, which has reports back to 1916.

Not on campus, but still want access to additional reports? The library has a guide linking to various additional sources of CRS reports.

Pelicans in the middle of the country!!!!

This weekend I was hiking out at the Boulder Walden Ponds and Sawhill Ponds, which despite the fact that one is in the county and another in the city sit right next to each other and have paths that intersect. While out there I discovered one of those things I never knew about Colorado, there are pelicans here. Yes, those birds with the big pouches on their beaks there is a variety that lives out here in the middle of the country far away from any big oceans.

The picture in this post is from the USGS's web site on the American White Pelican, which turns out to be the variety I saw this weekend. Apparently, they not only migrate through Colorado, there are actually populations here (see this map) and going north.

Want to learn more about identifying birds? Check out the USGS's Bird Population Studies page, with links all sorts of bird identification information.

GAO Releases this week

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week they investigated a variety of issues, such as refund anticipation loans, alien detention standards, IRAs, and nuclear weapons. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Individual Retirement Accounts: Government Actions Could Encourage More Employers to Offer IRAs to Employees. GAO-08-590, June 4.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-590
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08590high.pdf
• Nuclear Weapons: NNSA Needs to Establish a Cost and Schedule Baseline for Manufacturing a Critical Nuclear Weapon Component. GAO-08-593, May 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-593
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08593high.pdf
• September 11: HHS Needs to Develop a Plan That Incorporates Lessons from the Responder Health Programs. GAO-08-610, May 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-610
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08610high.pdf
• U.S. Postal Service: Mail-Related Recycling Initiatives and Possible Opportunities for Improvement. GAO-08-599, June 3.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-599
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08599high.pdf

Correspondence

• Defense Management: Assessment of the Reorganization of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. GAO-08-830R, May 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-830R
• Department of Energy: Implementation and Use of Other Transactions Authority Provided in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. GAO-08-798R, June 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-798R
• Management Report: Improvements Needed in IRS's Internal Controls. GAO-08-368R, June 4.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-368R
• Oil and Gas Royalties: Litigation over Royalty Relief Could Cost the Federal Government Billions of Dollars. GAO-08-792R, June 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-792R
• Refund Anticipation Loans. GAO-08-800R, June 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-800R

Testimony

• Alien Detention Standards: Observations on the Adherence to ICE's Medical Standards in Detention Facilities, by Richard M. Stana, director, homeland security and justice, before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, House Committee on the Judiciary. GAO-08-869T, June 4.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-869T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08869thigh.pdf
• Combating Terrorism: Guidance for State Department's Antiterrorism Assistance Program Is Limited and State Does Not Systematically Assess Outcomes, by Charles M. Johnson, Jr., director, international affairs and trade, before the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-875T, June 4.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-875T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08875thigh.pdf
• Defense Acquisitions: Better Weapon Program Outcomes Require Discipline, Accountability, and Fundamental Changes in the Acquisition Environment, by Katherine V. Schinasi, managing director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Senate Committee on Armed Services. GAO-08-782T, June 3.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-782T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08782thigh.pdf
• Federal Disability Programs: Coordination Could Facilitate Better Data Collection to Assess the Status of People with Disabilities, by Daniel Bertoni, director, education, workforce, and income security, before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-872T, June 4.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-872T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08872thigh.pdf
  
• Fiscal Year 2007 U.S. Government Financial Statements: Sustained Improvement in Financial Management Is Crucial to Improving Accountability and Addressing the Long-Term Fiscal Challenge, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general, before the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-847T, June 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-847T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08847thigh.pdf

Misstatements in the Lead Up to the War in Iraq

The Senate Intelligence Committee released its second report on White House misstatements on prewar Iraq intelligence and inappropriate intelligence activities by a Pentagon policy office. Eventually the reports will make it into the Congressional Serial Set. Beneath the covers of this blandly titled series lurk fascinating documents that illustrate U.S. history and policy. Examples include evidence taken at an investigation into the Sand Creek Massacre (Serial Set Vol. No. 1277), Hayden's preliminary report on the exploration of Montana region, including Yellowstone (Serial Set Vol. No. 1520), and other historic treasures.

To explore the riches of the Serial Set, check out the guide to Congress where you'll find a variety of sources with digitized versions of the serial set. Some of free, others are restricted to the CU-Boulder community.

US Unemployment Rises

The U.S. Department of Labor announced that unemployment rose from 5% to 5.5% during the month of May. According to a press release, "employment continued to fall in construction, manufacturing, retail trade, and temporary help services, while health care continued to add jobs." About 7.7 million of the employed held more than one job, about the same rate as in previous months.

For additional information, check the guides pages for Labor Statistics and Labor and Employment.

Top Brass at the Air Force Resign

The Washington Post reported that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates had accepted the resignations of two of the Air Force's top leaders: Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne and the service's chief of staff, Gen. Michael Moseley. Things haven't gone well at the Air Force lately. A bomber wing flew over the US with nuclear-tipped missiles and the Air Force mistakenly shipped secret nuclear missile fuses to Taiwan and didn't notice that they were missing for at least 18 months. Last but not least the service has had problems with corruption in at least one of its recent contracts.

Want to learn more about the U.S. military? Check the Government Publications Guide to Military Information. Among other things, you'll find a link to Air Force Fact Sheets on aircraft and weapons systems.

Downwind from Rocky Flats

A federal judged ordered Dow Chemical and Rockwell International, former contractors at the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons facility, to pay 926 million dollars to current and former neighbors due east of the plant. The money was to compensate them for radioactive pollution of their land. The federal government is expected to pick up the tab on behalf of the contractors. The former Rocky Flats plant assembled plutonium "triggers"--small bombs that set off a much larger nuclear device.

Learn about the 1969 Mother's Day fire at the plant. The University of Colorado's Center for Environmental Journalism has an online exhibit with details including pictures, video, and copies of relevant documents. Although the fire was contained, it was a close call. If the roof had failed, significant amounts of radioactive material would have been blown towards Denver.

To learn more about Rocky Flats, check out Government Publications' Rocky Flats page.