Some of you may be wondering how I find the various ideas for posting every day. Some of it, as you have probably figured out, is just from a love of reading newspapers. But sometimes it comes straight from the government source. There are international organizations blogging on their work, groups blogging on issues in government information, federal agencies blogging their news releases, and libraries looking at government. This past week a new group entered the fray, the Library of Congress.
The Library of Congress Blog has the theme of "Light and liberty go together" and covers all sorts of information and thoughts from a librarian there. The first entry "What Hath God Wrought?" gives a nice introduction to the blog. This is not just a "see what we have" blog, but also asks some interesting questions for all you librarians out there, such as should blogs be given or want ISSN number?
Want a list of some other international blogs out there? Check out the UN Pulse entry on RSS feeds.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Releases from GAO this week
It is time again for the list of weekly releases from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week they investigated a variety of issues, such as defense, customs, elderly drivers, and nuclear smuggling. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.
Reports
Reports
- Commercial Aviation: Potential Safety and Capacity Issues Associated with the Introduction of the New A380 Aircraft. GAO-07-483, April 20.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-483
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07483high.pdf - Intellectual Property: Better Data Analysis and Integration Could Help U.S. Customs and Border Protection Improve Border Enforcement Efforts. GAO-07-735, April 26. http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-735
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07735high.pdf - Information Technology: DHS Needs to Fully Define and Implement Policies and Procedures for Effectively Managing Investments. GAO-07-424, April 27.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-424
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07424high.pdf - Veterans Benefits Administration: Progress Made in Long-Term Effort to Replace Benefits Payment System, but Challenges Persist. GAO-07-614, April 27.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-614
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07614high.pdf - Defense Inventory: Opportunities Exist to Save Billions by Reducing Air Force's Unneeded Spare Parts Inventory. GAO-07-232, April 27.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-232
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07232high.pdf - 2010 Census: Census Bureau Should Refine Recruiting and Hiring Efforts and Enhance Training of Temporary Field Staff. GAO-07-361, April 27.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-361
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07361high.pdf - Medicaid Long-Term Care: Few Transferred Assets before Applying for Nursing Home Coverage; Impact of Deficit Reduction Act on Eligibility Is Uncertain. GAO-07-280, March 26.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-280
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07280high.pdf - Bankruptcy Reform: Value of Credit Counseling Requirement Is Not Clear. GAO-07-203, April 6.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-203
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07203high.pdf - Nursing Homes: Efforts to Strengthen Federal Enforcement Have Not Deterred Some Homes from Repeatedly Harming Residents. GAO-07-241, March 26.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-241
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07241high.pdf - Inspectors General: Activities of the Department of State Office of Inspector General. GAO-07-138, March 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-138Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07138high.pdf
- Defense Logistics: Army and Marine Corps's Individual Body Armor System Issues. GAO-07-662R, April 26.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-662R - Aviation Security: TSA's Change to Its Prohibited Items List Has Not Resulted in Any Reported Security Incidents, but the Impact of the Change on Screening Operations Is Inconclusive. GAO-07-623R, April 25.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-623R - Public Health and Hospital Emergency Preparedness Programs: Evolution of Performance Measurement Systems to Measure Progress. GAO-07-485R, March 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-485R - VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment: Service Contract Management Is Improving, but Challenges Remain. GAO-07-568R, April 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-568R
- Maritime Security: Observations on Selected Aspects of the SAFE Port Act, by Stephen Caldwell, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, before the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-07-754T, April 26.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-754T - Department of Homeland Security: Observations on GAO Access to Information on Programs and Activities, by Norman J. Rabkin, managing director, homeland security and justice issues, before the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-07-700T, April 25.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-700T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07700thigh.pdf - Commercial Aviation: Programs and Options for Providing Air Service to Small Communities, by Gerald L. Dillingham, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Aviation, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-07-793T, April 25.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-793T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07793thigh.pdf - Perchlorate: EPA Does Not Systematically Track Incidents of Contamination, by John B. Stephenson, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-07-797T, April 25.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-797T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07797thigh.pdf - Federal Oversight of Food Safety: High-Risk Designation Can Bring Attention to Limitations in the Government's Food Recall Programs, by Lisa R. Shames, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-07-785T, April 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-785T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07785thigh.pdf - Federal Transit Benefits Program: Ineffective Controls Result in Fraud and Abuse by Federal Workers, by Gregory D. Kutz, managing director, forensic audits and special investigations, before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-07-724T, April 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-724T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07724thigh.pdf - Capitol Visitor Center: Update on Status of Project's Schedule and Cost as of April 17, 2007, by Terrell G. Dorn, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-07-755T, April 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-755T - Department of Energy: Observations on Actions to Implement the New Loan Guarantee Program for Innovative Technologies, by James C. Cosgrove, acting director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-07-798T, April 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-798T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07798thigh.pdf - 2010 Census: Design Shows Progress, but Managing Technology Acquisitions, Temporary Field Staff, and Gulf Region Enumeration Require Attention, by Mathew J. Scire, director, strategic issues, before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-07-779T, April 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-779T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07779thigh.pdf - Stabilizing and Rebuilding Iraq: Conditions in Iraq Are Conducive to Fraud, Waste, and Abuse, unclassified version of testimony delivered by David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States before a closed hearing by the Subcommittee on Defense, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-07-525T, April 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-525T - Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Request: U.S. Government Accountability Office, by David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, before the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-07-543T, April 19.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-543T
- "Transforming Government to Meet the Challenges and Capitalize on the Opportunities of the 21st Century," by David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, at the New School, in New York, New York. GAO-07-813CG, April 25.
http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d07813cg.pdf
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Discover a few CRS reports this week
The Congressional Research Service (CRS), writes reports on topics of interest to Congress. This weeks reports cover topics from child abduction to CO2 emissions to Iraq. While CRS reports are available on request from your congressional representatives, there is no free source of all these reports from the U.S. government, but there are groups that work to collect these reports. These are the reports that OpenCRS and Secrecy News released this week:
Not on campus, but still want access to additional reports? The library has created a guide linking to various additional sources of CRS reports.
- Presidential Advisers' Testimony Before Congressional Committees: An Overview
- Information Operations, Electronic Warfare, and Cyberwar: Capabilities and Related Policy Issues
- Network Centric Operations: Background and Oversight Issues for Congress
- Statutes of Limitation in Federal Criminal Cases: An Overview
- Speechwriting in Perspective: A Brief Guide to Effective and Persuasive Communication
- Iraq: Post-Saddam National Elections
- Legal Issues Raised by Provision in House Energy Bill (H.R. 6) Creating Incentives for Certain OCS Leaseholders to Accept Price Thresholds
- Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act: A Sketch
- Head Start Reauthorization: A Side-by-Side Comparison of H.R. 1429, S. 556, and Current Law
- The World Bank's International Development Association (IDA)
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Pipelines for Carbon Sequestration: Emerging Policy Issues
- Senate Committee Rules in the 110th Congress: A Comparison of Key Provisions
- Unauthorized Employment in the United States: Issues and Options
- United States' Trade Remedy Laws and Non-market Economies: A Legal Overview
- Screening for Youth Suicide Prevention
- Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2007 Appropriations
- Greenhouse Gas Emission Drivers: Population, Economic Development and Growth, and Energy Use
- Immigration of Foreign Workers: Labor Market Tests and Protections
- Required Healthcare Contributions, Fair Share Legislation, and RILA v. Fielder
- Senate Committee Hearings: The "Minority Witness Rule"
- The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and the Federal Budget
Not on campus, but still want access to additional reports? The library has created a guide linking to various additional sources of CRS reports.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Rising troop levels in Iraq
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) at the request of the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Chairman of the House Committee on the Budget prepared a report examining the effect of rising troop levels in Iraq on force readiness. The report, "Some Implications of Increasing U.S. Forces in Iraq," looks at the number of troops that will be ready to deploy under various troop surge scenarios.
Want to know more about the CBO? Check out this previous blog posting for a more in-depth analysis of who they are and what they do.
Interested in more resources on the military? Check out this library guide.
Want to know more about the CBO? Check out this previous blog posting for a more in-depth analysis of who they are and what they do.
Interested in more resources on the military? Check out this library guide.
US Supreme Court hears arguments on Campaign Finance Law Limits
Today the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments regarding the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2003 (BCRA) in the cases of McCain v Wisconsin Right to Life and FEC v Wisconsin Right to Life (court briefs). At issue is the the restrictions placed on groups that limit their right to lobby Congress on specific issues during an election campaign. The law forbids most corporate entities from targeting specific candidates in ads right before an election.
This is the third challenge to this law in four years, and the outcome will affect the upcoming 2008 election. The BCRA is only one of the laws enforced by the Federal Elections Commission. For more information on elections, check out the library's Elections and Voting page.
This is the third challenge to this law in four years, and the outcome will affect the upcoming 2008 election. The BCRA is only one of the laws enforced by the Federal Elections Commission. For more information on elections, check out the library's Elections and Voting page.
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