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Daily Archives: April 14, 2015

CRS – Membership of the 114th Congress: A Profile

Membership of the 114th Congress: A Profile. Jennifer E. Manning, Information Research Specialist. March 31, 2015.
“This report presents a profile of the membership of the 114th Congress (2015-2016). Statistical information is included on selected characteristics of Members, including data on party affiliation, average age, occupation, education, length of congressional service, religious affiliation, gender, ethnicity, foreign births, and military service. As of March 31, 2015, in the House of Representatives, there are 245 Republicans (including one Delegate), 193 Democrats (including four Delegates and the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico), and three vacancies. The Senate has 54 Republicans, 44 Democrats, and two Independents, who both caucus with the Democrats. The average age of Members of the House at the beginning of the 114th Congress was 57.0 years; of Senators, 61.0 years. The overwhelming majority of Members of Congress have a college education. The dominant professions of Members are public service/politics, business, and law. Most Members identify as Christians, and Protestants collectively constitute the majority religious affiliation. Roman Catholics account for the largest single religious denomination, and numerous other affiliations are represented. The average length of service for Representatives at the beginning of the 114th Congress was 8.8 years (4.4 terms); for Senators, 9.7 years (1.6 terms). One hundred eight women (a record number) serve in the 11th Congress: 88 in the House, including four Delegates, and 20 in the Senate. There are 46 African American Members of the House and two in the Senate. This House number includes two Delegates. There are 38 Hispanic or Latino Members (a record number) serving: 34 in the House, including one Delegate and the Resident Commissioner, and four in the Senate. A record 14 Members (11 Representatives, two Delegates, and one Senator) are Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders. Two American Indians (Native Americans) serve in the House. The portions of this report covering political party affiliation, gender, ethnicity, and vacant seats will be updated as events warrant.”

New York City Library Funding is Behind the Times

Though visits, book circulation and program attendance are on the rise, New York City’s public libraries are open fewer hours than the state’s largest counties and trail behind cities throughout the nation – Center for Urban Funding, April 2015. “An assessment of posted library hours that we conducted over the past few months reveals that… Continue Reading

GAO Report – Additional Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve Other Financial Benefits

2015 Annual Report: Additional Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve Other Financial Benefits, GAO-15-404SP: Published: Apr 14, 2015. Publicly Released: Apr 14, 2015. “In its 2015 report, GAO presents 66 actions that the executive branch or Congress could take to improve efficiency and effectiveness across 24 areas that span a broad range… Continue Reading

Terrorist Databases and the No Fly List: Procedural Due Process and Hurdles to Litigation

Terrorist Databases and the No Fly List: Procedural Due Process and Hurdles to Litigation. Jared P. Cole, Legislative Attorney. April 2, 2015. “In order to protect national security, the government maintains various terrorist watchlists, including the “No Fly” list, which contains the names of individuals to be denied boarding on commercial airline flights. Travelers on… Continue Reading

Uneven Global Recovery, Complex Underlying Currents

IMF – Uneven Growth: Short- and Long-Term Factors – April 2015 “Global growth remains moderate, with uneven prospects across the main countries and regions. It is projected to be 3.5 percent in 2015, in line with forecasts in the January 2015 World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update. Relative to last year, the outlook for advanced economies… Continue Reading

New GAO Reports – Air Traffic Control, Broadcast Exclusivity Rules, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

sAir Traffic Control: FAA Needs a More Comprehensive Approach to Address Cybersecurity As Agency Transitions to NextGen, GAO-15-370: Published: Apr 14, 2015. Publicly Released: Apr 14, 2015. Broadcast Exclusivity Rules: Effects of Elimination Would Depend on Other Federal Actions and Industry Response, GAO-15-441: Published: Apr 14, 2015. Publicly Released: Apr 14, 2015. F-35 Joint Strike… Continue Reading

Report – 50 Years of Moore’s Law

SPECIAL REPORT: 50 Years of Moore’s Law The glorious history and inevitable decline of one of technology’s greatest winning streaks, IEEE Spectrum – “Fifty years ago this month, Gordon Moore forecast a bright future for electronics. His ideas were later distilled into a single organizing principle—Moore’s Law—that has driven technology forward at a staggering clip.… Continue Reading

El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala Account for 38% of Immigration Court Filings

Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse: “Three Central American countries — El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras — account for over a third (38 percent) of removal orders sought by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) so far this fiscal year, according to the latest Immigration Court data covering the period through the end of March 2015. During… Continue Reading