Anniversary of the 13th Amendment Abolishing Slavery

On January 31, 1865, the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery was passed by Congress. It was ratified by the states on December 6, 1865. Read the Thirteenth Amendment--Slavery and Involuntary Servitude from The Constitution of the United States of America.

Check out these sites for more information:

• 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Web Guide from The Library of Congress
• Records that pertain to American Slavery and the International Slave Trade from The National Archives
• Lincoln Bicentennial 1809-2009
• 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Abolition of Slavery (View a digitized copy of the original document)
  

The library has a number of books and government reports on the 13th amendment. Search for them in the library catalog, Chinook.

Want more information? Check out the library's guides on black history and civil rights.

Fed Lowers Interest Rates -- Again

For the second time this month, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates. The Federal Open Market Committee lowered its target for the federal funds rate 50 basis points to 3 percent. The federal funds rate is an overnight bank lending interest rate that affects consumer interest rates on credit cards, home equity, and car loans. Read the press release from the Federal Reserve.

Check out our previous blogs on the Federal Reserve rate cuts:

• Hoping to Prevent Recession - Fed Cuts Interest Rate Again (January 22, 2008)
• Fed Lowers Interest Rates Again (December 11, 2007)
• More from the Federal Reserve (November 8, 2007)
• More economics news as the stock market falls (November 1, 2007)
• Fed Lowers Interest Rates (September 18, 2007)

Check out "Fed delivers another rate cut" from CNNMoney.com, "Fed Makes Second Rate Cut in Nine Days" from the Washington Post, and "Fed's FOMC Cuts Again, Slashing Key Rate by 0.5%" from FOX Business.

You might also want to check out CNNMoney.com's special report, Fed Focus, for all news related to the Federal Reserve.

Craving more information? Check out the library's guides on Banking and Business and Economics.

From the Congressional Research Service

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 Latin America, security, environment, 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:

• Environmental Laws: Summaries of Statutes Administered by the Environmental Protection Agency
• Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990
• Latin America: Terrorism Issues
• Iraq: U.S. Regime Change Efforts and Post-War Governance
• Afro-Latinos in Latin America and Considerations for U.S. Policy
• Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)
• Nuclear Power Plant Security and Vulnerabilities

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.

State of the Union 2008

Didn't catch the State of the Union tonight? You can read it online from the White House web site.
Want more? The State of the Union 2008 site also has links to previous photo essays and 2008 policy initiatives.

Interested in the Democratic response? Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius delivered the response, which is available from the Washington Post.

Want to view the State of the Union's in history? The American Presidency project has them back to 1790.

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

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 September 11th health screening, the United Nations, the military, water quality, and and bilingual voting. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Bankruptcy and Child Support Enforcement: Improved Information Sharing Possible without Routine Data Matching. GAO-08-100, January 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-100
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08100high.pdf
• Bilingual Voting Assistance: Selected Jurisdictions' Strategies for Identifying Needs and Providing Assistance. GAO-08-182, January 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-182
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08182high.pdf
  
• Defense Contracting: Contract Risk a Key Factor in Assessing Excessive Pass-Through Charges. GAO-08-269, January 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-269
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08269high.pdf
• Federal Acquisition: Oversight Plan Needed to Help Implement Acquisition Advisory Panel Recommendations. GAO-08-160, December 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-160
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08160high.pdf
  
• Influenza Pandemic: Efforts Under Way to Address Constraints on Using Antivirals and Vaccines to Forestall a Pandemic. GAO-08-92, December 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-92
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0892high.pdf
  
• State and Local Governments: Growing Fiscal Challenges Will Emerge during the Next 10 Years. GAO-08-317, January 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-317
  
• Supply Chain Security: Examinations of High-Risk Cargo at Foreign Seaports Have Increased, but Improved Data Collection and Performance Measures Are Needed. GAO-08-187, January 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-187
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08187high.pdf
• Tax Compliance: Qualified Intermediary Program Provides Some Assurance That Taxes on Foreign Investors Are Withheld and Reported, but Can Be Improved. GAO-08-99, December 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-99

Special Publication

• GAO Performance and Accountability Highlights: Fiscal Year 2007. GAO-08-2SP, January 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-2SP
  

Correspondence

• Defense Logistics: The Army Needs to Implement an Effective Management and Oversight Plan for the Equipment Maintenance Contract in Kuwait. GAO-08-316R, January 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-316R
• Force Structure -- Need for Greater Transparency for the Army's Grow the Force Initiative Funding Plan. GAO-08-354R, January 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-354R
  
• Improper Payments: Federal Executive Branch Agencies' Fiscal Year 2007 Improper Payment Estimate Reporting. GAO-08-377R, January 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-377R
• Observations on Implementing the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. GAO-08-274R, December 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-274R
  
• VA and DOD Health Care: Administration of DOD's Post-Deployment Health Reassessment to National Guard and Reserve Servicemembers and VA's Interaction with DOD. GAO-08-181R, January 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-181R

Testimony

• Great Lakes Initiative: EPA and States Have Made Progress, but Much Remains to Be Done If Water Quality Goals Are to Be Achieved, by David C. Maurer, acting director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-08-312T, January 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-312T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08312thigh.pdf
  
• Military Operations: Implementation of Existing Guidance and Other Actions Needed to Improve DOD's Oversight and Management of Contractors in Future Operations, by William M. Solis, director, defense capabilities and management, before the Subcommittees of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-08-436T, January 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-436T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08436thigh.pdf
• Nuclear Nonproliferation: DOE Needs to Reassess Its Program to Assist Weapons Scientists in Russia and Other Countries, by Robert A. Robinson, managing director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-434T, January 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-434T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08434thigh.pdf
• September 11: Improvements Still Needed in Availability of Health Screening and Monitoring Services for Responders outside the New York City Area, by Cynthia A. Bascetta, director, health care, before the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-429T, January 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-429T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08429thigh.pdf
  
• United Nations: Management Reforms and Operational Issues, by Thomas Melito, director, international affairs and trade, before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-08-246T, January 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-246T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08246thigh.pdf

Presentation By The Comptroller General

• "U.S. Financial Condition and Fiscal Future Briefing," by David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, before the National Press Foundation, in Washington, D.C. GAO-08-446CG, January 17, 2008 http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d08446cg.pdf