The Western Governor's Association is meeting through Tuesday and discussing a variety of issues. The group is made up of 19 states and 3 Pacific Islands and works on issues of importance to the western states of the United States. The group has already released a plan on preserving wildlife corridors in the West (see the press release). This plan is built to address the growth of both drilling and communities across the west. They have also written a 142 page report discussing this issue.
The group is also discussing issues such as the presidential elections, energy and other issues that are important to the west. To see their press releases and reports check out the meeting web site.
Want to know more about the Western Governor's Association? Check out their mission page.
Want press reaction to the plan? Check out the Denver Post's "Governors launch wildlife plan" or a discussion of this and many other western issues from "Meet the Press."
Still want more? Check out the library guides on Environment and Energy.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 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 as border security, individual retirement accounts, terrorism, and the Coast Guard. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.Reports
- American Samoa: Issues Associated with Potential Changes to the Current System for Adjudicating Matters of Federal Law. GAO-08-655, June 27.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-655
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08655high.pdf - Border Security: State Department Should Plan for Potentially Significant Staffing and Facilities Shortfalls Caused by Changes in the Visa Waiver Program. GAO-08-623, May 22.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-623
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08623high.pdf - Bureau of Indian Education Schools: Improving Interior's Assistance Would Help Some Tribal Groups Implement Academic Accountability Systems. GAO-08-679, June 27.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-679
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08679high.pdf
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Human Capital Planning Has Improved, but Strategic View of Contractor Workforce Is Needed. GAO-08-582, May 28.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-582
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08582high.pdf - Coast Guard: Change in Course Improves Deepwater Management and Oversight, but Outcome Still Uncertain. GAO-08-745, June 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-745
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08745high.pdf - Coast Guard: Strategies for Mitigating the Loss of Patrol Boats Are Achieving Results in the Near Term, but They Come at a Cost and Longer Term Sustainability Is Unknown. GAO-08-660, June 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-660
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08660high.pdf - Combating Terrorism: Increased Oversight and Accountability Needed over Pakistan Reimbursement Claims for Coalition Support Funds. GAO-08-806, June 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-806
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08806high.pdf - Critical Infrastructure Protection: Further Efforts Needed to Integrate Planning for and Response to Disruptions on Converged Voice and Data Networks. GAO-08-607, June 26.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-607
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08607high.pdf - Defense Production Act: Agencies Lack Policies and Guidance for Use of Key Authorities. GAO-08-854, June 26.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-854
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08854high.pdf - Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Sharing Promising Practices and Fully Implementing Strategic Human Capital Planning Can Improve Management of Growing Workload. GAO-08-589, June 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-589 - Homeland Security: DHS Risk-Based Grant Methodology Is Reasonable, But Current Version's Measure of Vulnerability is Limited. GAO-08-852, June 27.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-852
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08852high.pdf - Homeland Security: First Responders' Ability to Detect and Model Hazardous Releases in Urban Areas Is Significantly Limited. GAO-08-180, June 27.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-180
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08180high.pdf - Peacekeeping: Thousands Trained but United States Is Unlikely to Complete All Activities by 2010 and Some Improvements Are Needed. GAO-08-754, June 26.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-754
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08754high.pdf - Securing, Stabilizing, and Rebuilding Iraq: Progress Report: Some Gains Made, Updated Strategy Needed. GAO-08-837, June 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-837
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08837high.pdf - Young Adults with Serious Mental Illness: Some States and Federal Agencies Are Taking Steps to Address Their Transition Challenges. GAO-08-678, June 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-678
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08678high.pdf
- Medicare Advantage Organizations: Actual Expenses and Profits Compared to Projections for 2005. GAO-08-827R, June 24.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-827R - Military Operations: Actions Needed to Better Guide Project Selection for Commander's Emergency Response Program and Improve Oversight in Iraq. GAO-08-736R, June 23.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-736R - Secure Border Initiative Fiscal Year 2008 Expenditure Plan Shows Improvement, but Deficiencies Limit Congressional Oversight and DHS Accountability. GAO-08-739R, June 26.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-739R
- Border Security: State Department Expects to Meet Projected Surge in Demand for Visas and Passports in Mexico, by Jess T. Ford, director, international affairs and trade, before the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization and Procurement, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-931T, June 25.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-931T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08931thigh.pdf - Combating Terrorism: U.S. Oversight of Pakistan Reimbursement Claims for Coalition Support Funds, by Charles Michael Johnson, Jr., director, international affairs and trade, before the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-932T, June 24. (2 p.m.)
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-932T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08932thigh.pdf - Fiscal Year 2007 U.S. Government Financial Statements: Sustained Improvement in Financial Management Is Crucial to Improving Accountability and Addressing the Long-Term Fiscal Challenge, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general of the United States, before the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-08-926T, June 26.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-926T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08926thigh.pdf - Individual Retirement Accounts: Government Actions Could Encourage More Employers to Offer IRAs to Employees, by Barbara D. Bovbjerg, director, education, workforce, and income security, before the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, House Committee on Ways and Means. GAO-08-890T, June 26.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-890T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08890thigh.pdf - Military Construction: Kaiserslautern Military Community Center Project Continues to Experience Problems, by Gregory D. Kutz, managing director, forensic audits and special investigations, and Terrell G. Dorn, director, physical infrastructure, before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-923T, June 25.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-923T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08923thigh.pdf - Risk Management: Strengthening the Use of Risk Management Principles in Homeland Security, by Norman J. Rabkin, managing director, homeland security and justice, before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-08-904T, June 25.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-904T
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08904thigh.pdf
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Supreme Court Rules on DC handgun ban
The Supreme Court ruled today that the District of Columbia's ban on handgun ownership is unconstitutional. This ruling in District of Columbia, et al. v. Heller has far reaching impacts outside the District of Columbia, possibly affecting gun regulations nationally.
Want more information on this decision? Why not check out the Washington Post's article "Supreme Court Strikes Down D.C. Ban on Handguns" or the Wall Street Journal's "Court Strikes Down D.C. Gun Ban, Affirms Second Amendment Rights."
Want more information on the Supreme Court? Check out the library's guide.
Want more information on this decision? Why not check out the Washington Post's article "Supreme Court Strikes Down D.C. Ban on Handguns" or the Wall Street Journal's "Court Strikes Down D.C. Gun Ban, Affirms Second Amendment Rights."
Want more information on the Supreme Court? Check out the library's guide.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Predicting the future: Effects of Climate Change and Energy
It is Wednesday and we are half way through this week and I thought I would highlight a few new releases from the federal government on Climate Change and Energy. These are both attempts by the government to predict the future of these issues.
First, let's look at energy. The Department of Energy released today the International Energy Outlook. This report predicts that (baring any radical changes) "world marketed energy consumption is projected to grow by 50 percent over the 2005 to 2030 period" and in that period world carbon dioxide emissions will increase "from 28.1 billion metric tons in 2005 to 34.3 billion metric tons in 2015 and 42.3 billion metric tons in 2030—an increase of 51 percent over the projection period."
That second quote may make you want to go check out the report from the National Intelligence Council on the effect of climate change on national security. The report hasn't been released on their web site, but NPR did manage to get a copy of their statement before Congress today. In it they state in summary that they "judge global climate change will have wide-ranging implications for US national security interests over the next 20 years." This may come in the form of problems in the US, such as increased hurricanes or drought, but also can come from destabilization in countries outside the US due to the effects of climate change.
Want more information? Why not check out the guides to climate change and energy.
First, let's look at energy. The Department of Energy released today the International Energy Outlook. This report predicts that (baring any radical changes) "world marketed energy consumption is projected to grow by 50 percent over the 2005 to 2030 period" and in that period world carbon dioxide emissions will increase "from 28.1 billion metric tons in 2005 to 34.3 billion metric tons in 2015 and 42.3 billion metric tons in 2030—an increase of 51 percent over the projection period."
That second quote may make you want to go check out the report from the National Intelligence Council on the effect of climate change on national security. The report hasn't been released on their web site, but NPR did manage to get a copy of their statement before Congress today. In it they state in summary that they "judge global climate change will have wide-ranging implications for US national security interests over the next 20 years." This may come in the form of problems in the US, such as increased hurricanes or drought, but also can come from destabilization in countries outside the US due to the effects of climate change.
Want more information? Why not check out the guides to climate change and energy.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Congressional Research Service Reports
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 medicaid, Iraq, food safety, 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.
- Medicaid and Graduate Medical Education
- Medicaid Financing
- Medicaid and Outpatient Hospital Services
- International Convention Against Doping in Sport: Issues for Congress
- An Emergency Communications Safety Net: Integrating 911 and Other Services
- High Agricultural Commodity Prices: What Are the Issues?
- Iraq: Summary of U.S. Casualties
- Nominations to Article III Lower Courts by President George W. Bush During the 110th Congress
- Russia's Economic Performance and Policies and Their Implications for the United States
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF): Budget and Operations
- Climate Change: Comparison of S. 2191 as Reported (now S. 3036) with Proposed Boxer Amendment
- The Army's M-4 Carbine: Background and Issues for Congress
- Debt Limit: The Need for Increases
- The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan and Enhanced Base Security Since 9/11
- Pakistan-U.S. Relations
- Proposed Termination of Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) F136 Alternate Engine
- Wildfire Damages to Homes and Resources: Understanding Causes and Reducing Losses
- Climate Change: Current Issues and Policy Tools
- United Nations System Efforts to Address Violence Against Women
- Navy DD(X) and LCS Ship Acquisition Programs: Oversight Issues and Options for Congress
- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Legislation in the 110th Congress
- Foreign Medical Graduates: A Brief Overview of the J-1 Visa Waiver Program
- Financial Services and General Government (FSGG): FY2009 Appropriations
- Israel: Background and Relations with the United States
- Defense Acquisition: Use of Lead System Integrators (LSIs) -- Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress
- Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) Vehicles: Background and Issues for Congress
- U.S.-Russian Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: Issues for Congress
- Potential Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress
- Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76: Implications for the Future
- Telework Legislation Pending in the 110th Congress: A Side-by-Side Comparison of Provisions
- Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA): What Is It, and How Might One Be Utilized In Iraq?
- Boumediene v. Bush: Guantanamo Detainees' Right to Habeas Corpus
- Natural Gas Markets: Overview and Policy Issues
- Food Safety Provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill
- National Security Strategy: Legislative Mandates, Execution to Date, and Considerations for Congress
- Tsunami Detection and Warnings for the United States
- The Fair Labor Standards Act: Continuing Issues in the Debate
- The Link Between Medicaid and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Recent History and Current Issues
Not on campus, but still want access to additional reports? The library has a guide linking to various additional sources of CRS reports.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)