Friday, August 29, 2008

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 sexual assault prevention in the military, FAA airspace redesign, and Medicare. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports
Correspondence

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

UN Finds Airstrikes Killed Afghan Civilians

An article in the Washington Post today reports that United Nations officials found "convincing evidence" that at least 90 civilians--two-thirds of them children--were killed in last week's U.S.-led airstrike that prompted the Afghan government to call for a review of U.S. and NATO military operations in the country.

Kai Eide, Afghanistan's Special Representative for the UN Secretary-General, said witnesses in the western province of Herat corroborated claims that 60 children and 30 adults had been killed in an August 21 military operation. You can read Eide's official statement on the website of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The UN also provides an account of its investigative findings at the UN News Centre.

For links to Afghanistan's government web pages, see our own country page on Afghanistan. If you'd like more online resources from the UN, see our web page devoted to this organization. We also encourage you to check out our numerous subject guides, which include resources on such topics as human rights and foreign relations.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Congressional Research Service Reports

Congressional Research Service (CRS) is a research agency of Congress and writes reports at Congress' request. These short reports (usually 10-40 pages long) cover recent topics of concern. This week brings us reports on presidential claims of executive privilege; Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's financial problems; AIDs funding; nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons and missiles; and other topics. Although these reports are in the public domain, there is no central database available to distribute CRS reports 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 reports discovered by Open CRS.
Interested in historical CRS reports? If you are here at the Boulder campus, check out the LexisNexis Congressional database, which has reports dating 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.




Monday, August 25, 2008

Democratic National Convention Descends on Denver

Many eyes are on Colorado this week as the Democratic National Convention takes place in Denver. According to the City of Denver's website on DNC information, 35,000 are expected to visit the Mile High City for this event, and featured speakers include a host of political luminaries such as Hillary Clinton, Joseph Biden, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and, of course, presumed presidential nominee Barack Obama. The Denver Post's Politics West website also provides a variety of information on the DNC, including the podium schedule, a map of Denver, breaking news, and links to articles about party insiders as well as demonstrators.

The 35,000 figure mentioned on the City's website probably doesn't include the array of demonstrators who have planned various protests during the DNC. Fourteen entities sued the City and County of Denver, the U.S. Secret Service, Denver Police Department Deputy Chief of Operations Michael Battista, and Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, claiming that convention security restrictions violated their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and assembly.

The City of Denver website provides a summary detailing how U.S. District Court Judge Marcia Krieger upheld Denver security plans in her August 6 ruling. The Rocky Mountain News provides a link to Judge Krieger's court opinion, in which you can read about specific details of parade routes as well as the concrete-barrier-enclosed, chain-link-fence-topped Public Demonstration Zone specially designated by the City for demonstrators to "freely exercise their First Amendment rights."

Need more information related to the DNC? Check out our long list of subject guides for resources on such topics as politics and homeland security.

Friday, August 22, 2008

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 the FDA and Mifeprex, supply chain security, and hardrock mining. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports
Correspondence

FDA Allows Irradiation of Lettuce and Spinach

Today the Food and Drug Administration is amending its food additives regulations to allow food producers to irradiate fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce. The New York Times reports that this is the first time the FDA has allowed for the irradiation of produce at levels that will protect against illness.

You can read the FDA's Main Consumer Health Information Page for the agency's summary of its ruling. The ruling appears today in the Federal Register, which states that ionizing radiation will not only control food-borne pathogens but will also extend the shelf life of fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce. Anyone can send objections or requests for hearings on the ruling (Docket No. FDA–1999–F–2405) by September 22, 2008. To do this online, go to Regulations.gov.

If you would like to find more government and non-government resources dealing with the subject of food irradiation or food safety, see our Food Supply subject guide, which provides both national and international sources of information.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

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 reports on Russia, Georgia, energy 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:
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.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Congress Reauthorizes Higher Education Act

Both houses of the U.S. congress approved a reauthorization of the Higher Education Act on July 31. The Higher Education Opportunities Act requires colleges and universities to report more details about costs, prices, and tuition increases to the Department of Education. The bill also simplifies Free Application for Federal Student Aid forms and increases the availability of Pell grants. You can read about the legislation in the New York Times.

The Bill Summary & Status page for this legislation, available through the Library of Congress' website THOMAS, indicates that the approved bill became Public Law 110-315 on August 14. This bill summary and status page also contains links to related bills, amendments, congressional actions, and other useful information that can help you trace the bill from its inception to its current status as a law.

To read the Department of Education's response to the new legislation, see the press release statement by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. For additional government resources on education, see the Government Publications Library's Educational Resources web page.

President Pervez Musharraf Resigns in Pakistan

Pakistani President Pervez Musharrafv resigned this morning under the threat of impeachment. You can find information from the resignation at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. There is both the resignation and reaction on the site. Interestingly, the Presidential web site has already been updated.

Want some media reaction? Check out the Washington Post's "Musharraf Resigns as President of Pakistan."

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

Friday, August 15, 2008

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 private pensions and military base realignments and closures. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports
Correspondence
Related Products

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Endangered Species Act Regulatory Changes Proposed

On Monday Dick Kempthorne, Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, announced that the department would be proposing changes to the way the Endangered Species Act is regulated. An article in the New York Times stated that "the draft rules would bar federal agencies from assessing the emissions from projects that contribute to global warming and its effect on species and habitats."

The Interior Department's August 11 press release about the proposal calls the changes "narrow," but an August 13 blog entry by the New York Times editorial board raises concerns that it would be a "major gutting of the act." Decide for yourself when the proposed changes appear in the Federal Register on Friday, August 15.

You can read the full text of the ESA at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's website. Need more resources on or related to the ESA? For U.S. and international government as well as nongovernmental resources, check out our subject guide devoted to this particular topic.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

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 Taiwan, terrorism, finance, 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 OpenCRS:
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.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Violence Escalates in Georgia

Heavy fighting broke out in the Republic of Georgia on Friday, August 8, as Georgia and Russia clashed over the region of South Ossetia. This BBC News article describes some of the issues of conflict between the two former Soviet republics.

The United Nations Security Council held its fourth meeting in three days to discuss the conflict. You can learn more about the meeting via the UN News Centre or read the UN Secretary-General's statement calling for an end to the violence.

The BBC News article mentions Georgia's aims for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Go directly to NATO's website to learn more about NATO's relations with Georgia.

The Government Publications Library provides many helpful links to web pages for the UN, NATO, and other international organizations via its International Organizations web page. For links to the government web pages of foreign countries, such as Russia and Georgia, check out our country guides.

Friday, August 08, 2008

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 stabilizing and rebuilding Iraq, Medicare and Medicaid, and the role of the U.S. Government Accountability Office. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports
Presentation by the Acting Comptroller General
  • "The Role of the U.S. Government Accountability Office," a presentation by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general of the United States, before the House Democracy Assistance Commission, in Washington, D.C. GAO-08-1089CG, July 31, 2008.
    http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d081089cg.pdf
Reposted Products
  • "The Role of the U.S. Government Accountability Office," a presentation by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general of the United States, before the House Democracy Assistance Commission, in Washington, D.C. GAO-08-1089CG, July 31, 2008. [Reposted to correct several slides with corrupted or missing text.]
    http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d081089cg.pdf

Bin Laden's Driver Sentenced by Military Panel

Salim Ahmed Hamdan, who was Osama bin Laden's driver, was sentenced to 66 months in prison by a military panel under the Military Commissions Act of 2006. Want to read more about this decision? Check out these sources:
Still not enough resources? Why not check out the library's guides to Crime and Justice.

Thursday, August 07, 2008

CRS 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 reports on defense, FISA, appropriations 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:
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.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

International AIDS conference

The International AIDS conference is occurring in Mexico City this week. This conference is sponsored by the International AIDS society, but is also co-sponsored a variety of international organizations. In honor of the conference I thought people might like to also have some links to resources for this area:
  • UNAIDS is the joint organization bringing together all the various UN groups associated with HIV/AIDS. This is the biggest source of information on an international level.
  • Global Health Atlas This is a database with sheet of information on HIV/AIDS on the country level.
  • Health and Medical Information This is the library guide to Health and Medical Information.
  • A Virus Without Borders This is a collection of articles from the Washington Post on HIV/AIDS.

Monday, August 04, 2008

FCC Rules that Comcast Violates Federal Policy

The Federal Communications Commission has ruled that telecommunications provider Comcast violated federal policy by selectively blocking customers' peer-to-peer connections on the Internet. The FCC has ordered Comcast to submit a compliance plan by the end of 2008 that describes how it intends to eliminate these practices.

The media is reporting that the FCC's ruling sets a precedent for Internet neutrality in the United States. You can read an article about this ruling in the Washington Post. You can also access the FCC's news release by going to the agency's home page, which features links to statements by the three commissioners who voted in favor of the ruling and the two who voted against it.

The Government Publications Library provides access to web pages for the FCC and numerous other federal government agencies. From the Government Publications Library's home page click on the U.S., State, and Local Governments heading and then click on the U.S. Government Agencies subheading below it. You can also check out our Telecommunications subject guide for additional links to U.S. and international resources about telecommunications laws, policies, and standards.

Friday, August 01, 2008

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 African American children in foster care, the food stamp program, Veterans Affairs, bankruptcy reform, and tax compliance by businesses. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports
Testimonies
Correspondence
Comptroller General Forum
Reposted Products
Guidances