2010 Tax Forms at Norlin Library

Tax Season has arrived again, but this year we have made a few changes to help patrons find their Tax Forms and Tax Form Instructions online and at Norlin Library.

The Tax Forms and Information page -- our regular home for all things tax-related in Government Information -- has been updated in two significant ways: Now, instead of a blog post that will explicitly list which tax forms are available in Norlin, patrons can visit the Tax Forms and Information Page and download an excel spreadsheet that details that same information. This process decreases the time it takes for the Gov Info staff to update the Web site with the most recent information.


A second change is the addition of a new printable guide: Finding and Printing 2010 Tax Forms. This guide explains how to locate specific tax forms online, and how those forms can be printed here in Norlin Library. Pre-printed copies of the guides are available in the Government Information Library, and at the main Research Desk on the 2nd floor of Norlin.

We hope these chances will be useful to our University and Public patrons who have come to rely on the Government Information Library for tax forms. As always, any questions or comments can be directed to us at govpubs@colorado.edu or on the phone at (303) 492-8834.

State of the Union

I am sure all of you listened to/watched the State of the Union last night, but just in case you missed it, here are some resources to check out:

• State of the Union This is the official White House page on the State of the Union address. You can watch the video and read the transcript here. In addition, there are additional ways to continue the discussion through social media, online web meetings and much more.
• Republican Address to the Nation As is tradition, the party the President does not belong to gives an address after the State of the Union. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin gave this address and you can view it and/or read his address on his web site.
• Washington Post State of the Union Want to read what the hometown DC paper is saying about the address? Here you will get articles analyzing the addresses in depth.

Still want more? Then check out the library's guide to the presidency.

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 congress, national security, and much more. 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 Secrecy News:

• Congressional Oversight Manual
• National Security Letters in Foreign Intelligence Investigations: A Glimpse of the Legal Background and Recent Amendments
  
• Ricin: Technical Background and Potential Role in Terrorism
• Economics and National Security: Issues 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.

President Hu of China visits US

There are often visits from representatives to the US and representatives from the US visit countries all over the world. For example, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has visited 79 countries, traveling 450,137 miles (Travels with the Secretary). This week brings a state visit from President Hu of China to the United States. Interested in learning more? Check out these pages:

• Statements from President Obama and Hu These are the statements made by both presidents this morning, their first official public statements. They met for a private dinner last night, although tonight brings a State Dinner.
• Live Stream of visit This page brings (when an event is happening) live video of the event. You can also watch archives of the events after they have occurred.
• Washington Post China State Visit This site provides links to all the breaking news coverage from the Washington Post on the visit.
  

Want to learn more about China? Check out the library's country guide.

GAO Reports and Releases

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) which is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This set of publications from GAO investigates the military, education, data collection, and many other issues. If you would like to know more about GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Defense Acquisitions: Opportunities Exist to Improve DOD's Oversight of Power Source Investments. GAO-11-113, December 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-113
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11113high.pdf
• K-12 Education: Many Challenges Arise in Educating Students Who Change Schools Frequently. GAO-11-40, November 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-40
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1140high.pdf
• Telecommunications: FCC's Performance Management Weaknesses Could Jeopardize Proposed Reforms of the Rural Health Care Program. GAO-11-27, November 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-27
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1127high.pdf
• Public Health Information Technology: Additional Strategic Planning Needed to Guide HHS's Efforts to Establish Electronic Situational Awareness Capabilities. GAO-11-99, December 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-99
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1199high.pdf
• Neighborhood Stabilization Program: HUD and Grantees Are Taking Actions to Ensure Program Compliance but Data on Program Outputs Could Be Improved. GAO-11-48, December 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-48
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1148high.pdf
• Federal Lands: Adopting a Formal, Risk-Based Approach Could Help Land Management Agencies Better Manage Their Law Enforcement Resources. GAO-11-144, December 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-144
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11144high.pdf
• K-12 Education: Selected Cases of Public and Private Schools That Hired or Retained Individuals with Histories of Sexual Misconduct. GAO-11-200, December 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-200
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11200high.pdf
• Federal Work/Life Programs: Agencies Generally Satisfied with OPM Assistance, but More Tracking and Information Sharing Needed. GAO-11-137, December 16.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-137
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11137high.pdf
• Information Sharing: DHS Could Better Define How It Plans to Meet Its State and Local Mission and Improve Performance Accountability. GAO-11-223, December 16.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-223
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11223high.pdf
• Recovery Act: Head Start Grantees Expand Services, but More Consistent Communication Could Improve Accountability and Decisions about Spending. GAO-11-166, December 15.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-166
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11166high.pdf
  Podcast available - http://www.gao.gov/podcast/watchdog_episode_42.html
• Statewide Transportation Planning: Opportunities Exist to Transition to Performance-Based Planning and Federal Oversight. GAO-11-77, December 15.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-77
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1177high.pdf
• Nuclear Nonproliferation: Comprehensive U.S. Planning and Better Foreign Cooperation Needed to Secure Vulnerable Nuclear Materials Worldwide. GAO-11-227, December 15.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-227
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11227high.pdf
• National Security: An Overview of Professional Development Activities Intended to Improve Interagency Collaboration. GAO-11-108, November 15.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-108
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11108high.pdf
• 2010 Census: Data Collection Operations Were Generally Completed as Planned, but Long-standing Challenges Suggest Need for Fundamental Reforms. GAO-11-193, December 14.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-193
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11193high.pdf
  podcast - http://www.gao.gov/podcast/watchdog_episode_41.html
• 2010 Census: Key Efforts to Include Hard-to-Count Populations Went Generally as Planned; Improvements Could Make the Efforts More Effective for Next Census. GAO-11-45, December 14.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-45
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1145high.pdf
• 2010 Census: Follow-up Should Reduce Coverage Errors, but Effects on Demographic Groups Need to Be Determined. GAO-11-154, December 14.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-154
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11154high.pdf
• Information Security: National Nuclear Security Administration Needs to Improve Contingency Planning for Its Classified Supercomputing Operations. GAO-11-67, December 9.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-67
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1167high.pdf
• Border Security: Additional Actions Needed to Better Ensure a Coordinated Federal Response to Illegal Activity on Federal Lands. GAO-11-177, November 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-177
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11177high.pdf
• Defense Management: DOD Has a Rigorous Process to Select Corrosion Prevention Projects, but Would Benefit from Clearer Guidance and Validation of Returns on Investment. GAO-11-84, December 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-84
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1184high.pdf
• Charter Schools: Education Could Do More to Assist Charter Schools with Applying for Discretionary Grants. GAO-11-89, December 7.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-89
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1189high.pdf
• Agricultural Chemicals: USDA Could Enhance Pesticide and Fertilizer Usage Data, Improve Outreach, and Better Leverage Resources. GAO-11-37, November 4.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-37
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1137high.pdf
• Military and Veterans Disability System: Pilot Has Achieved Some Goals, but Further Planning and Monitoring Needed. GAO-11-69, December 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-69
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1169high.pdf
• Maritime Security: Ferry Security Measures Have Been Implemented, but Evaluating Existing Studies Could Further Enhance Security. GAO-11-207, December 3.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-207
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11207high.pdf
  

Testimony

• Defense Acquisitions: Realizing Savings under Different Littoral Combat Ship Acquisition Strategies Depends on Successful Management of Risks, by Paul Francis, managing director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Senate Committee on Armed Services. GAO-11-277T, December 14.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-277T
  

Correspondence

• DOD's 2010 Comprehensive Inventory Management Improvement Plan Addressed Statutory Requirements, But Faces Implementation Challenges. GAO-11-240R, January 7.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-240R
• Long-Term Care Hospitals: Differences in Their Oversight Compared to Other Types of Hospitals and Nursing Homes. GAO-11-130R, November 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-130R
• Medicare: CMS Needs to Collect Consistent Information from Quality Improvement Organizations to Strengthen Its Establishment of Budgets for Quality of Care Reviews. GAO-11-116R, December 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-116R
• Missile Defense: European Phased Adaptive Approach Acquisitions Face Synchronization, Transparency, and Accountability Challenges. GAO-11-179R, December 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-179R
• Medicaid Outpatient Prescription Drugs: Estimated Changes to Federal Upper Limits Using the Formula under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. GAO-11-141R, December 15.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-141R
• Defense Management: DOD Needs to Monitor and Assess Corrective Actions Resulting from Its Corrosion Study of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. GAO-11-171R, December 16.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-171R
• B-2 Bomber: Review of the Air Force's Decision to Change Extremely High Frequency Satellite Communications Antennas. GAO-11-180R, December 16.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-180R
• Export Controls: Agency Actions and Proposed Reform Initiatives May Address Previously Identified Weaknesses, but Challenges Remain. GAO-11-135R, November 16.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-135R
• Quadrennial Homeland Security Review: 2010 Reports Addressed Many Required Elements, but Budget Planning Not Yet Completed. GAO-11-153R, December 16.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-153R
• U.S. Department of Justice Declinations of Indian Country Criminal Matters. GAO-11-167R, December 13.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-167R
• Navy's Proposed Dual Award Acquisition Strategy for the Littoral Combat Ship Program. GAO-11-249R, December 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-249R
• Defense Transportation: Additional Information Is Needed for DOD's Mobility Capabilities and Requirements Study 2016 to Fully Address All of Its Study Objectives. GAO-11-82R, December 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-82R
• The Housing Assistance Council's Use of Appropriated Funds. GAO-11-189R, December 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-189R
  

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 the military, environment, energy, and much more. 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:

• Accountable Care Organizations and the Medicare Shared Savings Program
• Criminal Prohibitions on the Publication of Classified Defense Information
• The Independent Payment Advisory Board
• Changes in Airport Passenger Screening Technologies and Procedures: Frequently Asked Questions
• North Korea’s 2009 Nuclear Test: Containment, Monitoring, Implications
• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty: Background and Current Developments
• North Korea: U.S. Relations, Nuclear Diplomacy, and Internal Situation
• Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)
• Securing America’s Borders: The Role of the Intelligence Community
• Hamas: Background and Issues for Congress
• U.S.-Australia Civilian Nuclear Cooperation: Issues for Congress
• Intelligence Estimates: How Useful to Congress?
• Classified Information Policy and Executive Order 13526
• Screening and Securing Air Cargo: Background and Issues for Congress
• Chemical Facility Security: Reauthorization, Policy Issues, and Options for Congress
• Reorganization of the Minerals Management Service in the Aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
• The EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement and Its Implications for the United States
• Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: The Fate of the Oil
• Keeping America’s Pipelines Safe and Secure: Key Issues for Congress
• American Jihadist Terrorism: Combating a Complex Threat

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.