GAO Launches New Page on U.S. Disaster Relief Efforts

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has just made it easier to find GAO reports that investigate and evaluate U.S. domestic and international disaster relief. The web page is called Haiti Earthquake: GAO Reports on Past Disasters, although so far no listed reports focus exclusively on the recent earthquake in Haiti (perhaps we can expect Haiti-specific reports in the future). The home page does include a photo gallery of disaster areas in Haiti. Reports that discuss GAO's efforts to examine disaster assistance relief are separated into the following categories:

• Disaster Preparedness
• Disaster Response
• Disaster Recovery
• Disaster Mitigation
• Peacekeeping and Security
• Foreign Assistance
• Trade Facilitation

To learn more about the GAO, take a look at our guide.

GAO Reports and Releases

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week GAO investigated defense spending, climate change, energy star products, the census, and other topics. If you would like to know more about GAO, check out the library's guide.


Reports

• Energy Star Program: Covert Testing Shows the Energy Star Program Certification Process Is Vulnerable to Fraud and Abuse. GAO-10-470, March 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-470
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10470high.pdf
• Climate Change: Observations on Options for Selling Emissions Allowances in a Cap-and-Trade Program. GAO-10-377, February 24.
  
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-377
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10377high.pdf
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Comprehensive Planning and a Results-Oriented Training Strategy Are Needed to Support Growing Inventories. GAO-10-331, March 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-331
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10331high.pdf\
• Recovery Act: Officials' Views Vary on Impacts of Davis-Bacon Act Prevailing Wage Provision. GAO-10-421, February 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-421
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10421high.pdf
• Food and Drug Administration: Opportunities Exist to Better Address Management Challenges. GAO-10-279, February 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-279
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10279high.pdf
• Energy Employees Compensation: Additional Independent Oversight and Transparency Would Improve Program's Credibility. GAO-10-302, March 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-302
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10302high.pdf

Correspondence

• Bureau of the Public Debt: Areas for Improvement in Information Security Controls. GAO-10-517R, March 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-517R
• Briefing on the Results of GAO's Audit of the Fiscal Years 2009 and 2008 U.S. Government's Consolidated Statements. GAO-10-501R, March 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-501R
• Briefing on the Results of GAO's Audit of the Fiscal Years 2009 and 2008 U.S. Government's Consolidated Financial Statements. GAO-10-502R, March 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-502R
• Status of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Efforts to Implement GAO's 2007 Recommendations Regarding Its Section 214 Authority. GAO-10-385R, February 19.
  
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-385R

Testimonies

• Troubled Asset Relief Program: Home Affordable Modification Program Continues to Face Implementation Challenges, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general, before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-10-556T, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-556T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10556thigh.pdf
• Information Security: Concerted Response Needed to Resolve Persistent Weaknesses, by Gregory C. Wilshusen, director, information security issues, before the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-10-536T, March 24.
  
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-536T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10536thigh.pdf
• Joint Strike Fighter: Significant Challenges and Decisions Ahead, by Michael Sullivan, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces and the Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces, House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-10-478T, March 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-478T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10478thigh.pdf
• Veterans' Disability Benefits: VA Has Improved Its Programs for Measuring Accuracy and Consistency, but Challenges Remain, by Daniel Bertoni, director, education, workforce, and income security, before the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. GAO-10-530T, March 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-530T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10530thigh.pdf
• 2010 Census: Data Collection Is Under Way, but Reliability of Key Information Technology Systems Remains a Risk, by Robert Goldenkoff, director, strategic issues, before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-10-567T, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-567T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10567thigh.pdf
• Iraq and Afghanistan: Agencies Face Challenges in Tracking Contracts, Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Associated Personnel, by John P. Hutton, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-10-509T, March 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-509T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10509thigh.pdf
• Defense Acquisitions: DOD Could Achieve Greater Commonality and Efficiencies among Its Unmanned Aircraft Systems, by Michael J. Sullivan, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-10-508T, March 23.
  
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-508T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10508thigh.pdf
• Federal User Fees: Fee Design Characteristics and Trade-Offs Illustrated by USCIS's Immigration and Naturalization Fees, by Susan J. Irving, director, strategic issues, before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, House Committee on the Judiciary. GAO-10-560T, March 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-560T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10560thigh.pdf

Related Releases

• Food and Drug Administration: 2009 FDA Managers Survey on Performance and Management Issues (GAO-10-280SP, February 2010), an E-supplement to GAO-10-279 GAO-10-280SP, February 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-280SP
• 
  

ISPs Challenge FCC's Internet Authority

Verizon's top lobbyist, Tom Tauke, is encouraging Congress to strip the U.S. Federal Communications Commission of its role in regulating the Internet. Speaking at a tech. policy forum on Wednesday, Tauke contended that the FCC had too many broadband oversight powers (see "Telecom giant challenges FCC role in broadband" in the Washington Post). His comments were seconded by a statement from AT&T's senior vice president and echoed the sentiments behind the lawsuit Comcast has filed against the FCC. The FCC could reclassify broadband as a common carrier service, which would mean that broadband providers would be regulated like telephone companies.

So what role does the FCC currently have in regulating the Internet? Here are a few interesting links:

• FCC Major Initiatives Here you can find information about FCC industry regulation.
• The National Broadband Plan Created by the FCC.
• Wireless Broadband Access Task Force Links to reports, news releases, and public notices.
• "Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission: The National Broadband Plan" This hearing, by the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, was held today and features testimony by the chairman and all commissioners on the FCC.
• The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (PL 104-104) Describes the jurisdiction of the FCC. Try searching in the PDF for the term "internet".

For further resources, take a look at our guide to telecommunications.

Snowstorm Hits Colorado

Heavy, wet snow fell quickly on Tuesday night in Colorado, blanketing the Front Range with more than two feet of snow in some areas and closing highways, downing power lines, and causing closures or delayed starts at numerous schools, government buildings, and businesses today. (See "Spring Still on the March in Denver Area" in the Denver Post.) The National Weather Service (part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) provides some interesting data about past, present, and future climatological events in Colorado. Here are a few that provide information about snowfall:

• Experimental Observed Precipitation Totals for the Boulder/Denver area as of 11 a.m. today. Click on the interactive map to see total snowfall in various locations.
• Denver's Winter/Cold Season Statistics Includes statistics on spring snows in Colorado.
• Graphical Forecasts Mouse over a category on the left to see a graphical comparison of weather forecast data for different regions.
  
• Short-Term Forecast for Denver

To find information about the latest road conditions in Colorado, you can refer to the Colorado Department of Transportation's COTRIP, which features web cams of major streets and intersections, information on road closures and traffic delays, and maps of the major highways with road conditions.

To find additional web resources about Colorado weather, refer to our guide.

Congressional Research Service (CRS) 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 war bonds, foreign policy, the budget, and other topics. Although 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. These reports were discovered by Open CRS and Secrecy News:

• Afghanistan: U.S. Foreign Assistance
• American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics
• Central Asia's Security: Issues and Implications for U.S. Interests
• Chile: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations
• Cluster Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress
• Department of Defense Food Procurement: Background and Status
• Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2011
• FEMA Disaster Cost-Shares: Evolution and Analysis
• Free Trade Agreements: Impact on U.S. Trade and Implications for U.S. Trade Policy
• Government Collection of Private Information: Background and Issues Related to the USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization
• Immigration Visa Issuances and Grounds for Exclusion: Policy and Trends
• Industrial Competitiveness and Technological Advancement: Debate Over Government Policy
• Iraq Casualties: U.S. Military Forces and Iraqi Civilians, Police, and Security Forces
• Iraq: Politics, Elections, and Benchmarks
• Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress
• Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) Status for Russia and U.S.-Russian Economic Ties
• Repairing and Reconstructing Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges: The Role of Federal-Aid Highway Assistance
• Strategic Arms Control After START: Issues and Options
• The European Parliament
• The European Union: Leadership Changes Resulting from the Lisbon Treaty
• The European Union: Questions and Answers
• The FY2011 Federal Budget
• The National Commission on Children and Disasters: Overview and Issues
• The OECD Initiative on Tax Havens
• The Proposed U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement
• The U.S. Postal Service's Financial Condition: Overview and Issues for Congress
• Trends in Discretionary Spending
• U.S. Nuclear Cooperation with India: Issues for Congress
• Veterans' Benefits: Pension Benefit Programs
• Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding
• Visa Security Policy: Roles of the Departments of State and Homeland Security
• War Bonds in the Second World War: A Model for a New Iraq/Afghanistan War Bond?
• War in Afghanistan: Strategy, Military Operations, and Issues for Congress
• Zimbabwe: The Power Sharing Agreement and Implications for U.S. Policy

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.

Health Reform Bill Passes the House

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the health insurance reform bill on Sunday by a vote of 220 to 212. All Republicans voted "No" on the bill (see the final roll call on the House's web site). Among its many provisions, the bill provides for government subsidies for health insurance to individuals and families at lower income levels, and it also penalizes individuals and business that fail to purchase health insurance for themselves or their employees. Take a look at the bill, HR 4872, to read all of the details.

See the White House blog to read a transcript or view the video clip of President Obama's speech in response to the passage of the legislation. For media coverage, read "House Passes Health-Care Reform Bill Without Republican Votes" and "Obama to Sign Health-Care Bill into Law Tuesday," both from the Washington Post. The Senate still must work on a package of revisions that was added to the bill on Sunday, but the President still plans to sign the bill into law on Tuesday.

To find information and statistics on health as well as the reactions to the bill by U.S. government health agencies, take a look at our guide.

GAO Reports

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week GAO investigated IRS information security weaknesses, media programming, environmental health threats to children, and other topics. If you would like to know more about GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

Information Security: IRS Needs to Continue to Address Significant Weaknesses. GAO-10-355, March 19.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-355
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10355high.pdf

Joint Strike Fighter: Additional Costs and Delays Risk Not Meeting Warfighter Requirements on Time. GAO-10-382, March 19.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-382
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10382high.pdf

Media Programming: Factors Influencing the Availability of Independent Programming in Television and Programming Decisions in Radio. GAO-10-369, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-369
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10369high.pdf

U.S. Insular Areas: Opportunities Exist to Improve Interior's Grant Oversight and Reduce the Potential for Mismanagement. GAO-10-347, March 16.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-347
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10347high.pdf

Defense Acquisitions: Opportunities Exist to Position Army's Ground Force Modernization Efforts for Success. GAO-10-406, March 15.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-406
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10406high.pdf

Secure Border Initiative: DHS Needs to Address Testing and Performance Limitations That Place Key Technology Program at Risk. GAO-10-158, January 29.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-158
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10158high.pdf

Environmental Health: High-level Strategy and Leadership Needed to Continue Progress toward Protecting Children from Environmental Threats. GAO-10-205, January 28.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-205
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10205high.pdf


Correspondence

Food Irradiation: FDA Could Improve Its Documentation and Communication of Key Decisions on Food Irradiation Petitions. GAO-10-309R, February 16.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-309R


Testimonies

Climate Change: Preliminary Observations on Geoengineering Science, Federal Efforts, and Governance Issues, by Franklin Rusco, director, natural resources and environment, before the House Committee on Science and Technology. GAO-10-546T, March 18.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-546T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10546thigh.pdf

Freedom of Information Act: Requirements and Implementation Continue to Evolve, by Valerie C. Melvin, director, information management and human capital issues, before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-10-537T, March 18.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-537T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10537thigh.pdf

Secure Border Initiative: Testing and Problem Resolution Challenges Put Delivery of Technology Program at Risk, by Randolph C. Hite, director, information technology architecture and system issues, before a joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism, and the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-10-511T, March 18.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-511T

U.S. Postal Service: Financial Crisis Demands Aggressive Action, by Phillip Herr, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Senate Committee on Appropriations. GAO-10-538T, March 18.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-538T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10538thigh.pdf

Aviation Security: TSA Is Increasing Procurement and Deployment of Advanced Imaging Technology, but Challenges to This Effort and Other Areas of Aviation Security Remain, by Stephen Lord, before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-10-484T, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-484T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10484thigh.pdf

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance: Overarching Guidance Is Needed to Advance Information Sharing, by Davi M. D'Agostino, director, defense capabilities and management, before a joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces and the Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces, House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-10-500T, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-500T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10500thigh.pdf

Medicare Part D: Spending, Beneficiary Out-of-Pocket Costs, and Efforts to Obtain Price Concessions for Certain High-Cost Drugs, by John E. Dicken, director, health care, before the Senate Special Committee on Aging. GAO-10-529T, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-529T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10529thigh.pdf

Warfighter Support: Continued Actions Needed by DOD to Improve and Institutionalize Contractor Support in Contingency Operations, by William M. Solis, director, defense capabilities and management, before the Subcommittee on Defense, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-10-551T, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-551T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10551thigh.pdf

Environmental Health: Opportunities for Greater Focus, Direction, and Top-Level Commitment to Children's Health at EPA, by John B. Stephenson, director, natural resources and environment, before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. GAO-10-545T, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-545T

Environmental Contamination: Information on the Funding and Cleanup Status of Defense Sites, by Anu Mittal, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans' Affairs, and Related Agencies, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-10-547T, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-547T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10547thigh.pdf

Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Request: U.S. Government Accountability Office, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general, before the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-10-451T, March 17.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-451T

Homeland Security: Ongoing Challenges Impact the Federal Protective Service's Ability to Protect Federal Facilities, by Mark L. Goldstein, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-10-506T, March 16.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-506T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10506thigh.pdf


Reissued Product

Federal Law Enforcement Retirement: Information on Enhanced Retirement Benefits for Law Enforcement Personnel. GAO-09-727, July 30, 2009.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-727
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09727high.pdf

UN Member States on the Record Is Improved

Do you ever wish there was a quicker way to find documents containing, say, speeches from Brazilian representatives to the United Nations General Assembly or draft UN resolutions sponsored by France? UN Member States on the Record has improved its web site, adding a lot of new content and making it much easier to search for official UN documents reflecting the perspectives of each member state in the United Nations.

Search for a UN member state using the A-Z grid at the top, right-hand corner of the page. Each member state's page is divided into document categories that link to the most updated results because they're running pre-set searches on multiple databases. All you need to do to search the database is click on the category you need.

If you can't find your required information in On the Record, try browsing the main Member States of the United Nations web site. We also encourage you to take a look at our guide to United Nations resources.

Toxic Cleanup Efforts in Colorado

Newly proposed legislation in Colorado would force companies in the state to clean up current toxic waste before they could begin new or expanded operations. According the Denver Post, the new legislation would require companies to alert residents within a mile of a mill if groundwater was contaminated. It would also allow communities to have a say in cleanup plans (see today's article, "Tougher Rules Sought on Cleaning Toxic Sites in Colorado") .

At issue is the Cotter uranium mill south of Canon City, a now closed facility where a state-supported Superfund cleanup effort has been going on for 25 years. At this site, efforts to prevent groundwater contamination have led to toxic tailings leaching into groundwater. Cotter has plans to reopen its facility.

If you're seeking online information about toxic cleanup efforts in Colorado and current regulations in the state, here are a few helpful resources:

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund: Colorad0 Site Locator Contains links to project summaries for Colorado sites on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).
• Superfund Program: Lincoln Park Gives details, status, and updates--including a 5-year report--about the site of the Cotter uranium mill.
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division Federal Superfund Sites in Colorado Colorado's primary in-state agency for Superfund remediation.
• CDPHE: Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division Guidance Documents and Policies
• CDPHE: Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission Regulations

To find additional resources, take a look at our guide to environment.

Congressional Research Service (CRS) 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 debt, trade, military issues, and other topics. Although 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. These reports were discovered by Open CRS and Secrecy News:

• Visa Security Policy: Roles of the Departments of State and Homeland Security
• Legislative Options After Citizens United v. FEC: Constitutional and Legal Issues
• FY2011 Budget Documents: Internet and GPO Availability
• House Committee Markups: Manual of Procedures and Procedural Strategies
• Congressional Oversight: An Overview
• Agriculture in Pending U.S. Free Trade Agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea
• Alien Legalization and Adjustment of Status: A Primer
• Arms Control and Nonproliferation: A Catalog of Treaties and Agreements
• Chemical Regulation in the European Union: Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals
• Defense Authorization and Appropriations Bills: FY1970-FY2010
• Department of Defense "Section 1207" Security and Stabilization Assistance: Background and Congressional Concerns
• Distribution of Small Business Ownership and Income by Individual Tax Rates and Selected Policy Issues
• Enemy Combatant Detainees: Habeas Corpus Challenges in Federal Court
• Financial Market Supervision: European Perspectives
• Financial Services and General Government (FSGG): FY2010 Appropriations Garrett Hatch, Coordinator Analyst in American National Government
• Foreign Investment, CFIUS, and Homeland Security: An Overview
• Immigration Reform Issues in the 111th Congress
• Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for Disaster Response, Recovery, and Mitigation Projects
• Iran Sanctions
• Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies: FY2010 Appropriations
• Morocco: Current Issues
• Nonproliferation and Threat Reduction Assistance: U.S. Programs in the Former Soviet Union
• Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation and Security Issues
• Peacekeeping/Stabilization and Conflict Transitions: Background and Congressional Action on the Civilian Response/Reserve Corps and other Civilian Stabilization and Reconstruction Capabilities
• Security Assistance Reform: "Section 1206" Background and Issues for Congress
• State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2010 Budget and Appropriations
• Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990
• The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)
• The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases
• The Economics of the Federal Budget Deficit
• The Federal Government Debt: Its Size and Economic Significance
• The Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program: Funding Issues and Activities
• Trade Agreements: Impact on the U.S. Economy
• U.S. Trade and Investment Relationship with Sub-Saharan Africa: The African Growth and Opportunity Act

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.

Revising "No Child Left Behind"

The government is taking steps to change the Bush-era No Child Left Behind Act. On Friday, March 12, HR 4837 was introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. Then on Saturday, March 13, the Obama administration introduced its 45-page blueprint for revising the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Both the Bush-era and Obama-era bills update the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (found in sections of U.S. Code Title 20). Key education priorities listed in the Blueprint are preparing college- and career-ready students, maintaining great teachers and leaders in every school, creating equity and opportunity for all students, rewarding excellence, and promoting innovation and continuous improvement.

HR 4837 was introduced in the House by a Republican, so its goals and objectives may differ from those of the Obama administration. The bill mentions yearly progress measurements, state flexibility, public school choice, private schools, and school sanctions. For a news media perspective on education reform, see "Changes to No Child Left Behind Would Affect Schools Differently" in today's Washington Post.

For more resources about education laws and policies, take a look at our guide.

GAO Reports

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week GAO investigated food security, temporary aid for needy families, defense and space acquisitions, and other topics. If you would like to know more about GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

Electronic Government: Implementation of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. GAO-10-365, March 12.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-365
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10365high.pdf

Global Food Security: U.S. Agencies Progressing on Governmentwide Strategy, but Approach Faces Several Vulnerabilities. GAO-10-352, March 11.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-352
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10352high.pdf

Afghanistan Drug Control: Strategy Evolving and Progress Reported, but Interim Performance Targets and Evaluation of Justice Reform Efforts Needed. GAO-10-291, March 9.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-291
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10291high.pdf

Iraq: Iraqi Refugees and Special Immigrant Visa Holders Face Challenges Resettling in the United States and Obtaining U.S. Government Employment. GAO-10-274, March 9.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-274
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10274high.pdf

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Fewer Eligible Families Have Received Cash Assistance Since the 1990s, and the Recession's Impact on Caseloads Varies by State. GAO-10-164, February 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-164
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10164high.pdf


Correspondence

Revitalization Programs: Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities, and Renewal Communities. GAO-10-464R, March 12.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-464R

VA Faces Challenges in Providing Substance Use Disorder Services and Is Taking Steps to Improve These Services for Veterans. GAO-10-294R, March 10.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-294R

Use of the Railroad Retirement Board Occupational Disability Program across the Rail Industry. GAO-10-351R, February 4.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-351R


Reissued Product

Higher Education: Information on Incentive Compensation Violations Substantiated by the U.S. Department of Education. GAO-10-370R, February 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-370R


Testimonies

Global Food Security: Progress toward a U.S. Governmentwide Strategy Is Under Way, but Approach Has Several Vulnerabilities, by Thomas Melito, director, international affairs and trade, before the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-10-494T, March 11.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-494T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10494thigh.pdf

Joint Strike Fighter: Significant Challenges Remain as DOD Restructures Program, by Michael Sullivan, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Senate Committee on Armed Services. GAO-10-520T, March 11.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-520T

Defense Acquisitions: Opportunities for the Army to Position Its Ground Force Modernization Efforts for Success, by Michael J. Sullivan, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-10-493T, March 10.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-493T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10493thigh.pdf

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Implications of Changes in Participation Rates, by Kay E. Brown, director, education, workforce, and income security issues, before the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, House Committee on Ways and Means. GAO-10-495T, March 11.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-495T

Space Acquisitions: DOD Poised to Enhance Space Capabilities, but Persistent Challenges Remain in Developing Space Systems, by Cristina Chaplain, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senate Committee on Armed Services. GAO-10-447T, March 10.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-447T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10447thigh.pdf

Recovery Act: California's Use of Funds and Efforts to Ensure Accountability, by Linda Calbom, western regional director, before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, in Los Angeles, California. GAO-10-467T, March 5.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-467T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10467thigh.pdf

House Votes No to Ending Afghanistan War

On Wednesday a debate was forced on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives concerning a resolution to end the war in Afghanistan, the Los Angeles Times reports. H. Con. Res. 248 failed by a vote of 356 to 65. The resolution refers to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution of the U.S. Code (50 USC 1544).

The debate featured strong opinions from both opponents and proponents of the Afghanistan War (read the LA Times article). These included the resolution's sponsor, Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), and House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Howard L. Berman (D-Calif.).

To find more resources about legislation about war, take a look at our guide to Congress and Legislation.

UN: Food Aid Diverted to Wrong Hands in Somalia

A new United Nations Security Council report claims that as much as half the food aid sent to Somalia is ending up in the hands of corrupt contractors, militants, and local UN staff members. The report is not yet public but was shown to the New York Times (read the article). The report recommends that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon launch an independent investigation of the World Food Programme operations in Somalia and rebuild the food distribution system there.

Although the Security Council report isn't yet available for viewing, we can point you in the direction of other online publications about humanitarian aid in Somalia:

• UK Department for International Development, UK Announces Additional Aid for Somalia (March 10, 2010)
• Council on Foreign Relations Center for Preventive Action, Somalia: A New Approach (March 2010)
• UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Somalia: Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin, no. 9 (February 26-March 5, 2010)
• World Food Programme, WFP Facing Growing Humanitarian Challenge in Somalia (Jan. 5, 2010)

To find other resources on Somalia, see our country guide.

Congressional Research Service (CRS) 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 Afghanistan, Honduras, Southwest border violence, and other topics. Although 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. These reports were discovered by Open CRS and Secrecy News:

• Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians
  
• African American Members of the United States Congress: 1870-2009
• China-North Korea Relations
• Honduran Political Crisis, June 2009-January 2010
  
• Instances of Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2009
• Satellite Surveillance: Domestic Issues
• Southwest Border Violence: Issues in Identifying and Measuring Spillover Violence
  

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.

U.S. Internet Exports Relaxed for Iran, Sudan, Cuba

Today the U.S. Treasury Department issued a general license for the exportation of personal Internet-based services and software to Iran, Sudan, and Cuba. The New York Times reports that "there have been growing calls in Congress and elsewhere to lift the [export] restrictions, particularly after the postelection protests in Iran illustrated the power of Internet-based services like Facebook and Twitter. "

Read the Treasury Department's press release for a description of the amendments to the Iranian Transactions Regulations, Sudanese Sanctions Regulations, and Cuban Assets Control Regulations. An official at the Treasury Department explains that the changes are intended to facilitate free communication between these countries and the outside world. The full rule is here.

If you're seeking more sources about exports and imports, take a look at our guide to Trade Information.

GAO Reports

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week GAO investigated Iran sanctions, food safety, the Recovery Act, and other topics. GAO also launched a podcast series called "Watchdog Report". If you would like to know more about GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

Cybersecurity: Progress Made but Challenges Remain in Defining and Coordinating the Comprehensive National Initiative. GAO-10-338, March 5.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-338
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10338high.pdf

Forest Service: Information on Appeals, Objections, and Litigation Involving Fuel Reduction Activities, Fiscal Years 2006 through 2008. GAO-10-337, March 4.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-337
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10337high.pdf

Iran Sanctions: Complete and Timely Licensing Data Needed to Strengthen Enforcement of Export Restrictions. GAO-10-375, March 4.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-375
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10375high.pdf

Recovery Act: One Year Later, States' and Localities' Uses of Funds and Opportunities to Strengthen Accountability. GAO-10-437, March 3.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-437
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10437high.pdf

The Federal Government's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: January 2010 Update. GAO-10-468SP, March 2.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-468SP

State and Local Governments' Fiscal Outlook: March 2010 Update. GAO-10-358, March 2.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-358
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10358high.pdf

Financial Audit: American Battle Monuments Commission's Financial Statements for Fiscal Years 2009 and 2008. GAO-10-399, March 1.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-399
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10399high.pdf

Humane Methods of Slaughter Act: Actions Are Needed to Strengthen Enforcement. GAO-10-203, February 19.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-203
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10203high.pdf

Food Safety: FDA Should Strengthen Its Oversight of Food Ingredients Determined to Be Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). GAO-10-246, February 3.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-246
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10246high.pdf

Food and Drug Administration: Improved Monitoring and Development of Performance Measures Needed to Strengthen Oversight of Criminal and Misconduct Investigations. GAO-10-221, January 29.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-221
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10221high.pdf

Medicare Part D: Spending, Beneficiary Cost Sharing, and Cost-Containment Efforts for High-Cost Drugs Eligible for a Specialty Tier. GAO-10-242, January 29.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-242
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10242high.pdf

Telecommunications: Information Collection and Management at the Federal Communications Commission. GAO-10-249, January 29.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-249
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10249high.pdf


Related Product

Humane Methods of Slaughter Act: USDA Inspectors' Views on Enforcement (GAO-10-244SP), February 2010 (E-supplement to GAO-10-203). GAO-10-244SP, February 19.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-244SP


Correspondences

Warfighter Support: A Cost Comparison of Using State Department Employees versus Contractors for Security Services in Iraq. GAO-10-266R, March 4.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-266R

Update on the Status of the Merchantable Timber Contracting Pilot Program. GAO-10-379R, March 4.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-379R

Emergency Communications: Establishment of the Emergency Communications Preparedness Center and Related Interagency Coordination Challenges. GAO-10-463R, March 3.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-463R

Conversions of Selected Employees from Political to Career Positions at Departments and Selected Agencies. GAO-10-356R, January 29.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-356R

Group Purchasing Organizations: Research on Their Pricing Impact on Health Care Providers. GAO-10-323R, January 29.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-323R


Testimonies

Humane Methods of Slaughter Act: Weaknesses in USDA Enforcement, by Lisa Shames, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Domestic Policy, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-10-487T, March 4.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-487T

Recovery Act: Factors Affecting the Department of Energy's Program Implementation, by Patricia Dalton, managing director, natural resources and environment, before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. GAO-10-497T, March 4.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-497T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10497thigh.pdf

Medicare Part D: CMS Oversight of Part D Sponsors' Fraud and Abuse Programs Has Been Limited, but CMS Plans Oversight Expansion, by Kathleen M. King, director, health care, before the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-10-481T, March 3.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-481T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10481thigh.pdf

Nuclear Security: DOE Needs to Fully Address Issues Affecting Protective Forces' Personnel Systems, by Gene Aloise, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senate Committee on Armed Services. GAO-10-485T, March 3.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-10-485T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d10485thigh.pdf

Senate Reconciliation on Health Care

President Obama is insisting that Congress swiftly pass a health care reform bill, as he urged them to do on Wednesday (find the video clip and transcript on whitehouse.gov). The New York Times reports that Obama is asking Congress to have a simple "up or down" vote on the bill known as "reconciliation," although the President doesn't use this specific term.

So what is congressional reconciliation, exactly? This term is explained in the House of Representatives document How Our Laws Are Made (enter "reconciliation" in the search box of the PDF): "In the Senate, reconciliation bills reported from committee are entitled to expedited consideration, permitting a majority of Senators, rather than sixty, to ensure consideration of the bill with limited time for amendments." The reconciliation process is described with even further detail in the Congressional Research Service report, The Budget Reconciliation Process: House and Senate Procedures.

"But wait," you might ask, "This isn't about a budget." Therein lies some controversy. See this National Public Radio report, posted on Senator Bernie Sanders' (I-VT) web site, which states that U.S. health legislation has a history of being included in budgets and thus being allowed to follow the expedited reconciliation process.

Want to learn more about the legislative process? Take a look at our guide to Congress and Legislation.

International Groups React to Earthquake in Chile

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that at least 723 people were killed and 2 million affected by the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that took place off the coast of Chile on Saturday, February 27. See the latest report on the crisis, and UN response to it, in this UN News Centre article. Today we searched for updates on the earthquake's impacts, and relief efforts for Chile, as reported by various international organizations:

• Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), "UN Agencies Coordinate Earthquake Relief with Government of Chile" (March 1, 2010)
• Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), Emergency Operations Center Situation Reports, Chile Earthquake (February 27 to March 2, 2010)
• International Organization for Migration (IOM), IOM Stands Ready to Work with the Government of Chile and Local Partners to Assist Vulnerable Migrants
• ReliefWeb, links to various articles on the earthquake in Chile

Other international organizations' web sites have commented on the disaster in Chile, but many of them are just brief statements of condolence. However, they may provide more substantive information and statistics in the coming days and weeks. See this web page for a list of international organizations and links to their web sites. If you read Spanish, you can go straight to the Chilean government's web pages (most are Spanish-only), listed on our guide to Chile.

Congressional Research Service (CRS) 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 energy, water, development and much more. Although these reports are in the public domain, there is no freely-available central database available to the public. To get a copy of a CRS report, you can request it from your senator or representative. These reports were discovered by OpenCRS:

• "Gang of Four" Congressional Intelligence Notifications
• Airport Improvement Program (AIP): Reauthorization Issues for Congress
• Aviation and Climate Change
• Ballast Water Management to Combat Invasive Species
• Border Security: Key Agencies and Their Missions
• Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery
• Comparison of Rights in Military Commission Trials and Trials in Federal Criminal Court
• Congress as a Consumer of Intelligence Information
• Currency Manipulation: The IMF and WTO
• Disaster Relief Funding and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
• Federal Information Security and Data Breach Notification Laws
• Federal Stafford Act Disaster Assistance: Presidential Declarations, Eligible Activities, and Funding
• Immigration Policies and Issues on Health-Related Grounds for Exclusion
• Intelligence Authorization Legislation: Status and Challenges
• Intermediate-Level Blends of Ethanol in Gasoline, and the Ethanol "Blend Wall"
• International Law and Agreements: Their Effect Upon U.S. Law
• Israeli-Arab Negotiations: Background, Conflicts, and U.S. Policy
• Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections
• Mandatory Flood Insurance Purchase in Remapped Residual Risk Areas Behind Levees
• Multilateral Development Banks: U.S. Contributions FY1998-FY2009
• Public Safety Communications and Spectrum Resources: Policy Issues for Congress
• Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues and U.S. Interests
• Sensitive Covert Action Notifications: Oversight Options for Congress
• Spectrum Policy in the Age of Broadband: Issues for Congress
• The European Parliament
• The Proposed Comcast-NBC Universal Combination: How It Might Affect the Video Market
• U.S. Nuclear Cooperation with India: Issues for Congress
• U.S. Trade Policy and the Caribbean: From Trade Preferences to Free Trade Agreements
• Veterans Health Administration: Community-Based Outpatient Clinics

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.

Obama Mulls Over U.S. Nuclear Strategy

President Obama is considering a new nuclear strategy for the United States that might permanently decrease America’s arsenal by thousands of weapons, the New York Times reports. In a divergence from the nuclear policy of the George W. Bush administration, Obama will reconsider the circumstances under which the United States would declare that it might use nuclear weapons.

Although Obama has not yet written his Nuclear Posture Review, we'd like to share some related resources that can be found on the web:

• "The President's Nuclear Vision" Vice President Joe Biden's op-ed in the Wall Street Journal (January 29, 2010).
• In Vice President Biden's op-ed, he mentions The Report from the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States (May 7, 2009).
• Find all manner of resources about U.S. nuclear strategy on the web site of the National Nuclear Security Administration.

For additional resources, take a look at our guides to energy and the military.