Fidel Castro has announced he is stepping down as President of Cuba. You can read his statement in English, Spanish and Arabic. Castro had temporarily handed power to his younger brother, Raul Castro in July of 2006, but still held the title of President.
Want to read more about US reactions and what this means for Cuba? Check out the Washington Post's "Fidel Castro Stepping Down as Cuba's President."
Interested in additional resources on Cuba? Check out the library's guide, which contains links to government web sites, both in Cuba and the US.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Congressional Research Service Reports
The 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 Iraq, passports, florescent light bulbs, 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:
Not on campus, but still want access to additional reports? The library has a guide linking to various additional sources of CRS reports.
- Congressional Oversight and Related Issues Concerning the Prospective Security Agreement Between the United States and Iraq
- How Large is China’s Economy? Does it Matter?
- FY2009 Appropriations for State and Local Homeland Security
- The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and All-Hazard Warnings
- General Overview of U.S. Copyright Law
- Passports: Current Regulations
- Medicare: FY2009 Budget Issues
- P.L. 110-173: Provisions in the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007
- Automated Political Telephone Calls ("Robo Calls") in Federal Campaigns: Overview and Policy Options
- Election Reform and Local Election Officials: Results of Two National Surveys
- Ship Navigation in Harbors: Safety Issues
- Congressional Influences on Rulemaking Through Appropriations Provisions
- Bond Insurers: Issues for the 110th Congress
- Veterans Affairs: Health Care and Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange
- The Regulatory Flexibility Act: Implementation Issues and Proposed Reforms
- Side-by-Side Comparison of Flood Insurance Reform Legislation in the 110th Congress
- Earmarks Executive Order: Legal Issues
- The Bali Agreements and Forests
- Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs): Issues with Use and Disposal
- Ghana: Background and U.S. Relations
Not on campus, but still want access to additional reports? The library has a guide linking to various additional sources of CRS reports.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Recall of Meats from Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company
Yesterday, the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. is voluntarily recalling approximately 143,383,823 pounds of raw and frozen beef products. The US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service determined these products to be unfit for human food because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection (from press release). The press release contains information on identifying these recalled meats.
The USDA actions page contains not only the press releases, but other actions in regards to the investigation of the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co.
The Washington Post's "USDA Orders Largest Meat Recall in U.S. History" provides an overview of this investigation and recall.
Want more agricultural information? Check out the library's guide.
The USDA actions page contains not only the press releases, but other actions in regards to the investigation of the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co.
The Washington Post's "USDA Orders Largest Meat Recall in U.S. History" provides an overview of this investigation and recall.
Want more agricultural information? Check out the library's guide.
Sunday, February 17, 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 nuclear security, homeland security, veteran's benefits, and Head Start. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.Reports
- DOD Personnel Clearances: Improved Annual Reporting Would Enable More Informed Congressional Oversight. GAO-08-350, February 13, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-350
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08350high.pdf - Emergency Transit Assistance: Federal Funding for Recent Disasters, and Options for the Future. GAO-08-243, February 15, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-243
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08243high.pdf - Financial Audit: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Funds' 2007 and 2006 Financial Statements. GAO-08-416, February 11, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-416
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08416high.pdf - Head Start: A More Comprehensive Risk Management Strategy and Data Improvements Could Further Strengthen Program Oversight. GAO-08-221, February 12, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-221
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08221high.pdf - Hydrogen Fuel Initiative: DOE Has Made Important Progress and Involved Stakeholders but Needs to Update What It Expects to Achieve by Its 2015 Target. GAO-08-305, January 11, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-305
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08305high.pdf - Medicare Physician Payment: Care Coordination Programs Used in Demonstration Show Promise, but Wider Use of Payment Approach May Be Limited. GAO-08-65, February 15, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-65
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0865high.pdf - Nuclear Security: Action May Be Needed to Reassess the Security of NRC-Licensed Research Reactors. GAO-08-403, January 31, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-403
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08403high.pdf - Veterans' Benefits: Improved Management Would Enhance VA's Pension Program. GAO-08-112, February 14, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-112
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08112high.pdf
Testimony
- Department of Homeland Security: Progress Made in Implementation of Management and Mission Functions, but More Work Remains. GAO-08-457T, February 13, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-457T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08457thigh.pdf - DOD Personnel Clearances: DOD Faces Multiple Challenges in Its Efforts to Improve Clearance Processes for Industry Personnel. GAO-08-470T, February 13, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-470T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08470thigh.pdf - Health Information Technology: HHS Is Pursuing Efforts to Advance Nationwide Implementation, but Has Not Yet Completed a National Strategy. GAO-08-499T, February 14, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-499T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08499thigh.pdf - Information Security: Although Progress Reported, Federal Agencies Need to Resolve Significant Deficiencies. GAO-08-496T, February 14, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-496T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08496thigh.pdf - Information Technology: VA Has Taken Important Steps to Centralize Control of Its Resources, but Effectiveness Depends on Additional Planned Actions. GAO-08-449T, February 13, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-449T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08449thigh.pdf - Military Readiness: Impact of Current Operations and Actions Needed to Rebuild Readiness of U.S. Ground Forces. GAO-08-497T, February 14, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-497T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08497thigh.pdf - Primary Care Professionals: Recent Supply Trends, Projections, and Valuation of Services.
GAO-08-472T, February 12, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-472T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08472thigh.pdf - Runway Safety: Progress on Reducing Runway Incursions Impeded by Leadership, Technology, and Other Challenges. GAO-08-481T, February 13, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-481T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08481thigh.pdf - Veterans' Disability Benefits: Claims Processing Challenges Persist, while VA Continues to Take Steps to Address Them. GAO-08-473T, February 14, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-473T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08473thigh.pdf - Wildland Fire Management: Federal Agencies Lack Key Long- and Short-Term Management Strategies for Using Program Funds Effectively. GAO-08-433T, February 12, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-433T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08433thigh.pdf
Correspondence
- Los Alamos National Laboratory: Information on Security of Classified Data, Nuclear Material Controls, Nuclear and Worker Safety, and Project Management Weaknesses. GAO-08-173R, January 10, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-173R
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Senate Bans the Use of Waterboarding in the CIA
The Senate voted to ban coercive interrogation techniques, including waterboarding, by the CIA today. The provision is part of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.R.2082). The measure passed on a 51 to 45 vote. View the Senate Roll Call Vote. The House approved the bill in December. View the House Roll Call Vote. President Bush is expected to veto the bill.
Check out "Senate Votes to Prohibit CIA From Using Waterboarding" by the Washington Post, "Congress votes to outlaw CIA waterboarding" by Reuters, and "Senate Votes to Ban Waterboarding" by Fox News.
Want more information? Check out the library's guides on intelligence and congress.
Check out "Senate Votes to Prohibit CIA From Using Waterboarding" by the Washington Post, "Congress votes to outlaw CIA waterboarding" by Reuters, and "Senate Votes to Ban Waterboarding" by Fox News.
Want more information? Check out the library's guides on intelligence and congress.
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