Internet Census 2012 - Port scanning /0 using insecure embedded devices, Carna Botnet

"On May 14, 2013, the 25th anniversary of our nation's deadliest drunk-driving crash, which killed 24 children and three adults in Carrollton, Ky., the NTSB's five-member board voted unanimously to issue bold recommendations to help the United States reach zero and eliminate alcohol-impaired driving. Bold steps are needed: On average, every hour, one person dies in a crash involving a drunk driver and 20 more people are injured, including three with debilitating injuries. That adds up quickly to yearly totals of nearly 10,000 deaths, 27,000 lives forever altered and another 146,000 injured. The safety report, Reaching Zero: Actions to Eliminate Alcohol-Impaired Driving, and recommendations culminate a year-long effort by the NTSB to thoroughly examine this problem and develop a set of targeted interventions."

CDC- Sleep and Sleeping Disorders: "Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions—such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression—which threaten our nation’s health. Notably, insufficient sleep is associated with the onset of these diseases and also poses important implications for their management and outcome. Moreover, insufficient sleep is responsible for motor vehicle and machinery-related crashes, causing substantial injury and disability each year. In short, drowsy driving can be as dangerous—and preventable—as driving while intoxicated."

"This week, in conjunction with the release of the Obama Administration Open Data Policy, the interagency U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) launched a new online tool that promises to accelerate research relating to climate change and human health—the Metadata Access Tool for Climate and Health or “MATCH.” MATCH is a publicly accessible, online tool for researchers that offers centralized access to metadata—standardized contextual information—about thousands of government-held datasets related to health, the environment, and climate-science."

"If you plan to travel outside the United States, be sure to check your passport long before your trip. Routine processing times for passport services are 4-6 weeks (expedited services take approximately 2-3 weeks).

• Renew Your Passport - Check your passport's expiration date. If your passport expires before you plan to return to the United States, then you'll need to get a new passport before you leave the U.S.
  
• Apply for a Passport - If you are eligible for a U.S. passport and plan to travel abroad, get application instructions.
  
• Change or Correct Your Passport - If you need to makes changes or corrections (due to a name change, for example) or add visa pages to your passport, see which forms you need to submit.
  
• Report Your Lost or Stolen Passport - If your passport has been lost or stolen, report it as soon as you can. Call 1-877-487-2778 (TTY 1-888-874-7793) in the U.S., or contact the nearest U.S. embassy if you're overseas.
  
• Get Additional U.S. Passport Services - Look up passport fees, get the status of your passport application, find information about photo requirements, and more."

"To promote continued job growth, Government efficiency, and the social good that can be gained from opening Government data to the public, the default state of new and modernized Government information resources shall be open and machine readable. Government information shall be managed as an asset throughout its life cycle to promote interoperability and openness, and, wherever possible and legally permissible, to ensure that data are released to the public in ways that make the data easy to find, accessible, and usable. In making this the new default state, executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall ensure that they safeguard individual privacy, confidentiality, and national security."

• Executive Order
  
• Implementation Memo
  
• Digital Government Strategy

"As part of the Obama administration’s work to make our health care system more affordable and accountable, data are being released that show significant variation across the country and within communities in what hospitals charge for common inpatient services. The data provided here include hospital-specific charges for the more than 3,000 U.S. hospitals that receive Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) payments for the top 100 most frequently billed discharges, paid under Medicare based on a rate per discharge using the Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Group (MS-DRG) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011. These DRGs represent almost 7 million discharges or 60 percent of total Medicare IPPS discharges. Hospitals determine what they will charge for items and services provided to patients and these charges are the amount the hospital bills for an item or service. The Total Payment amount includes the MS-DRG amount, bill total per diem, beneficiary primary payer claim payment amount, beneficiary Part A coinsurance amount, beneficiary deductible amount, beneficiary blood deducible amount and DRG outlier amount. For these DRGs, average charges and average Medicare payments are calculated at the individual hospital level. Users will be able to make comparisons between the amount charged by individual hospitals within local markets, and nationwide, for services that might be furnished in connection with a particular inpatient stay. Data are being made available in Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) format and comma separated values (.csv) format."

"The Federal Trade Commission testified before a U.S. Senate Commerce subcommittee on a recent FTC study examining the accuracy of consumer credit reports, as well as the agency’s efforts to improve credit report accuracy through enforcement and education. On behalf of the agency, Maneesha Mithal, Associate Director, Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, told the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance that errors in credit reports can cause consumers to be denied credit or other benefits or pay a higher price for them. It may also lead credit issuers to make inaccurate decisions that cause them to deny credit to a potentially valuable customer or issue credit to a riskier customer than intended."

Are all telephone calls recorded and accessible to the US government? A former FBI counterterrorism agent claims on CNN that this is the case, by Glenn Greenwald

Sunlight Foundation - Municipal Lobbying Data Guidebook

"The Federal Trade Commission has issued an updated set of frequently asked questions designed to help website operators, mobile application developers, plug-ins and advertising networks operating on child-directed websites and online services prepare for upcoming changes to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule. The document, titled Complying With COPPA: Frequently Asked Questions contains information directed to websites and online services whose work online may involve the collection of personal information from children under age 13. The document provides guidance from the FTC staff that supplements the rule and other COPPA–related material previously published by the FTC."

"The Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) is a joint project of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) and National Library of Medicine (NLM). The DSLD contains the full label contents from a sample of dietary supplement products marketed in the U.S. Within the DSLD you may select one or more of the following to conduct searches of the database:

• DSLD On Market = Label information from dietary supplement products that are currently on the U.S. market
  
• DSLD Off Market = Label information from dietary supplement products that have been discontinued or are no longer on the U.S. market
  
• For the DSLD, all information is obtained from the manufacturers' labels. The DSLD is being developed initially for researchers and scientists."

"Enjoying restaurant meals with friends and family doesn’t have to be off limits just because you have a food allergy. With the right planning and preparation, eating out can still be an enjoyable part of your life. Here are some tips for dining out safely, whether at a local restaurant or while traveling.

• Before You Go - Search the Web for allergy-friendly restaurants in your area or where you will be traveling. Ask your allergist and other individuals and families who manage food allergies for recommendations. To see if a particular restaurant may be a good choice, check out the website and review the menu in advance.
  
• Call ahead and ask to speak to a manager. Ask about the dishes you might want to order. Explain your needs and ask if the restaurant can accommodate you. Call before or after the busy mealtime hours so the manager and chef will have more time to work with you.
  
• Ask if the person you speak with will be at the restaurant while you’re there. If not, ask for the name of the manager or staff member who is aware of the circumstances.
  
• If you plan to attend a catered event where the food will be prepared in advance, ask if it’s possible to provide an allergy-friendly option.
  
• Bring a chef card. This wallet-sized card lists your food allergies and states that your food must be cooked in a clean and safe area to avoid cross-contamination. You can find online sources for cards in multiple languages, or make your own."

Gary Somerset: "The U.S. Government Printing Office’s (GPO) Federal Digital System (FDsys) has achieved the milestone of 500 million document retrievals. FDsys is a one-stop site for authentic, published information on the three branches of the Federal Government. Retrievals are measured by the number of times content is viewed or downloaded from FDsys. GPO launched FDsys in January 2009 and since that time it has expanded to include 800 thousand searchable titles. Examples of content found on FDsys include: the post-President Kennedy’s assassination tape recordings, President Nixon’s Watergate grand jury testimony, the Budget of the U.S. Government, the Congressional Record, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, and congressional bills, hearings, and reports. GPO is continually adding content and working with agencies on new collection opportunities."

Partnership for Public Service - Most Innovative Agencies - Snapshot 2012. May 2013: "From 2011 to 2012, the government-wide innovation score dropped by 1.7 points to 61.5 out of 100. While the vast majority of employees (91 percent) said they are always looking for ways to do their jobs better, a smaller majority (57.2 percent) said they feel encouraged to do so. However, only roughly four out of 10 employees—36.3 percent—said creativity and innovation are rewarded in their agency. The latter two questions slipped by 2.0 and 2.5 points, respectively, since last year’s survey, suggesting that while federal workers remain motivated to improve the ways they do their work, they do not feel supported by their organizations in doing so."

"We see some great things here at the White House every day, and sharing that stuff with you is one of the best parts of our jobs. That’s why we’re launching a Tumblr. We’ll post things like the best quotes from President Obama, or video of young scientists visiting the White House for the science fair, or photos of adorable moments with Bo. We’ve got some wonky charts, too. Because to us, those are actually kind of exciting. But this is also about you. President Obama is committed to making this the most open and accessible administration in history, and our Tumblr is no exception. We want to see what you have to share: Questions you have for the White House, stories of what a policy like immigration reform means to you, or ways we can improve our Tumbling. We’re new here, and we’re all ears."

"The National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, is all about saving lives and protecting people from harm—by not letting guns and explosives fall into the wrong hands. It also ensures the timely transfer of firearms to eligible gun buyers. Mandated by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 and launched by the FBI on November 30, 1998, NICS is used by Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to instantly determine whether a prospective buyer is eligible to buy firearms or explosives. Before ringing up the sale, cashiers call in a check to the FBI or to other designated agencies to ensure that each customer does not have a criminal record or isn’t otherwise ineligible to make a purchase. More than 100 million such checks have been made in the last decade, leading to more than 700,000 denials.

Steve Beleu, Oklahoma Dept. of Libraries: "I've tried to link to every federal agency website and webpage that contains significant information for and about our American Indian Nations. Of course I've missed a few, so if you know about them please send me information about them and I'll add them. Note: in the topic of "Health - Data" the "FEHBP Disparity Index" isn't working. But that is because IHS takes down websites when they work on them. The Index will reappear here after IHS finishes revising it. The link is not bad."

Privacy Impact Assessment for the Office of Operations Coordination and Planning - Publicly Available Social Media Monitoring and Situational Awareness Initiative, DHS, Update April 1, 2013

"Saturday, April 27 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The event runs from 10:00am until 2:00pm. If you have unwanted prescription drugs or over-the-counter medicines, this is a great opportunity to safely discard them. Enter your ZIP code to find a collection site near you. Properly disposing of medicines is important to human health and environmental protection.

• Don't flush medicines down the toilet or drain. Doing so could affect drinking water sources.
  
• Don't throw medicines directly in the trash. Doing so could lead to the poisoning of a child or pet, or drug abuse by a teen or adult.
  
• Do find out how to properly dispose of medicines

"Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation (BISON) is a product of the U.S. Geological Survey's Core Science Analytics and Synthesis Program. BISON is an information system that allows users to access, explore, and download U.S. species occurrence data from participating data providers... Researchers collect species occurrence data, records of an organism at a particular time in a particular place, as a primary or ancillary function of many biological field investigations. Presently, these data reside in numerous distributed systems and formats (including publications) and are consequently not being used to their full potential. As a step toward addressing this challenge, the Core Science Analytics and Synthesis (CSAS) program of the US Geological Survey (USGS) is developing Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation (BISON), an integrated and permanent resource for biological occurrence data from the United States. BISON will leverage the accumulated human and infrastructural resources of the long-term USGS investment in research and information management and delivery." [Darlene Fichter]

"In March 2012, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) initiated PortfolioStat. Agencies across the Federal government undertook a data-driven effort to examine their IT portfolios to identify common areas of spending with the goal of decreasing duplication and driving down costs. Through this process, agencies identified more than $2.5 billion in spending reductions that could be achieved from FY 2013 through FY 2015. Acting Director Jeff Zients and Steven VanRoekel is the U.S. Chief Information Officer signed a memo commencing this year’s PortfolioStat process and outlining improvements from last year. PortfolioStat will be an ongoing effort, growing each year to incorporate lessons learned and changes in technology. The upgraded process streamlines agency data collection and improves analytics, consolidates the agency’s strategic IT direction and management improvements into one central plan, and holds agencies accountable for the goals set through last year’s process. A key lesson learned is that agencies should evolve their IT portfolios to deliver IT “as a service.” Unlike traditional capital models where assets are purchased for individual projects, the service delivery model entails agencies deploying their IT like a business, optimizing it for consumption agency-wide. For example, with cloud computing solutions, agencies have a scalable and transparent way to provision IT services, giving agencies a viable enterprise alternative to often stove-piped, capital IT investments."

EPIC:

"Earth Day is April 22. Make every day Earth Day."

• Commit to protect the environment
  
• Take action
  
• Learn - teach - share

"U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN) consists of 114 stations developed, deployed, managed, and maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the continental United States for the express purpose of detecting the national signal of climate change. The vision of the USCRN program is to maintain a sustainable high-quality climate observation network that 50 years from now can with the highest degree of confidence answer the question: How has the climate of the nation changed over the past 50 years? These stations were designed with climate science in mind...A recently completed article on the USCRN network's first decade is available in early online release of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Our full list of publications includes information on how to best cite USCRN data use."

"The Designs of the Year awards, ‘The Oscars of the design world' showcase the most innovative and imaginative designs from around the world, over the past year, spanning seven categories: Architecture, Digital, Fashion, Furniture, Graphics, Transport and Product. Category winners and the overall winner will be decided by a jury and announced on 16 April 2013.

"Welcome to issue 1 of the Review of Think Tank publications on EU affairs, compiled by the Central Library of the General Secretariat of the Council. The review provides abstracts and links to papers published in the previous month by think tanks in Brussels and elsewhere. It will be issued monthly and will be available on paper at the Central Library and online on our Intranet and Internet. It can be disseminated freely - the usual disclaimers apply. Think tank publications in the first section deal with EU institutions and politics, with a focus on the crisis and its impact on European societies, and with perspectives from Brussels, Barcelona, Kiel, London, Davos, Prague and Rome. The UK relationship with the EU also attracted a lot of attention from the think tank community in January. Some see a connection between the UK-EU relationship and the role of Ireland, which recently took over the 6-month Presidency of the EU Council." [Via Helene LeBlanc and kudos to the Central Library!]

Via Tim Byrne/DOE: "The Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) has launched a new database product called SciTech Connect. SciTech Connect consolidates the contents of OSTI's Information Bridge and Energy Citations Database, and will gradually replace these products. SciTech Connect employs an innovative semantic search tool enabling users to retrieve more relevant information. Other features include faceting, in-document search, word clouds, and personalization. SciTech Connect's semantic search technique is known as keyword-to-concept mapping. It accepts keyword-based queries and returns concept-mapped queries as in a taxonomy; a search term is mapped to other associated terms, including narrower and related concepts."

News release: "Sixty-two percent of Federal managers report personal experience with tighter budgets and 51 percent have seen the impact in programs that they depend on to complete their agency missions. These budget cuts increasingly put agency missions at risk and as a result agencies are exploring more innovative approaches to funding, according to a new MeriTalk report, the government IT network, study sponsored by NIC. The new report, “Innovators Anonymous,” reveals just how deep the budget cuts go and how innovators within agencies are looking for alternative funding solutions."

Carlo Marzocchi - Head of Sector, Library & Information Service: "The Council of the European Union is the European Union institution where the Member States' ministers responsible for specific areas (e.g. finance, health, education) meet to discuss issues of common concern within their countries. The European Council consists of the Heads of State, or Government, of the Member States, together with the President of the Council and the President of the Commission. The European Council provides the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and defines its general political directions and priorities. It does not exercise legislative functions. The administrative support to both institutions is ensured by the General Secretariat of the Council or GSC. The Central Library identifies and makes available to GSC staff a variety of information resources relevant to GSC core activities, in all 23 working languages of the European Union. Besides paper-based collections available in the reading room or through loans, the Central Library, together with the GSC's Legal Library and Language Library, selects and delivers a variety of online resources that can be accessed by all GSC staff, generally from within GSC premises. The Central Library holds over 100,000 monographs and EU publications. Newspapers and periodicals from EU Member States are available in the reading room. The Official Journal of the European Communities is available on paper, on microfiche (until 1997), on CD-ROM (from 1998 on) and via internet." [via Helene LeBlanc]

"In response to the concerns expressed by workers and their representatives, DOL asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to review the SEM database and its use of a particular database, Haz-Map, as the source of its toxic substance-occupational disease links. Accordingly, this IOM consensus report reflects careful consideration of its charge by the committee, and describes the strengths and shortcomings of both. To complete its task, IOM formed an ad hoc committee of experts in occupational medicine, toxicology, epidemiology, industrial hygiene, public health, and biostatistics to conduct an 18-month study to review the scientific rigor of the SEM database. The committee held two public meetings at which it heard from DOL Division of Energy Employee Occupational Illness Compensation (DEEOIC) representatives, the DOL contractor that developed the SEM database, the developer of the Haz-Map database, DOE worker advocacy groups, and several individual workers. The committee also submitted written questions to DOL to seek clarification of specific issues and received written responses from DEEOIC. The committee's report considers both the strengths and weaknesses of the SEM and the Haz-Map databases, recognizing that the latter was developed first and for a different purpose. The committee then discusses its findings and recommends improvements that could be made in both databases with a focus on enhancing the usability of SEM for both DOL claims examiners and for former DOE workers and their representatives. Review of the Department of Labor's Site Exposure Matrix Database summarizes the committee's findings."

James R. Jacobs - Government Information Librarian - Stanford University: "...[we have created] a petition on the White House's "We the People" petition site. If you believe in free permanent public access to authentic government information, we hope you'll sign the petition. And if every one of the @2500 govdoc-l subscribers signs, posts to their Facebook accounts and sends to 10 friends who sign, we'll reach our goal of 100,000 signatures by April 11, 2013! If we get enough signatures, the White House will respond and the FDLP community will move forward by leaps and bounds." See the Petition and the Context.
WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO:
Require free online permanent public access to ALL federal government information and publications.
1. Assure that GPO has the funds to continue to maintain and develop the Federal Digital System (FDsys).
2. Raise ALL Congressional, Executive & Judicial branch information, publications & data to the level of federally funded scientific information & publish ALL government information as "Open Access."
3. Mandate the free permanent public access to other Federal information currently maintained in fee-based databases - including the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), the National Technical Reports Library (NTRL), & USA Trade Online.
4. Establish an interagency, govt-wide strategy to manage the entire lifecycle of digital government information w/ FDLP Libraries - publication, access, usability, bulk download, long-term preservation, standards & metadata.

"The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued a report that makes clear that companies can use social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter to announce key information in compliance with Regulation Fair Disclosure (Regulation FD) so long as investors have been alerted about which social media will be used to disseminate such information. The SEC’s report of investigation confirms that Regulation FD applies to social media and other emerging means of communication used by public companies the same way it applies to company websites. The SEC issued guidance in 2008 clarifying that websites can serve as an effective means for disseminating information to investors if they’ve been made aware that’s where to look for it. Today’s report clarifies that company communications made through social media channels could constitute selective disclosures and, therefore, require careful Regulation FD analysis."

"For parents, the growing universe of mobile applications targeted at kids can be overwhelming. Knowing which app is the right fit for your family poses a major challenge to parents on the go. A new informational graphic produced by the staff of the Federal Trade Commission helps with a useful visual tool for parents and other consumers making decisions about what kids’ apps to download to their mobile devices. The infographic highlights the importance of taking time to check out an app and also to change the settings on your phone to make sure kids using an app can’t inadvertently access any unwanted features. In addition, the infographic notes that one of the best ways to know an app is to use the app alongside the child to see the full scope of what it can do. The graphic points out that many times free apps may allow users to make purchases with real money, and apps may share personal information or contain advertising but not disclose this upfront."

CFPB - Consumer Complaint Database - "These are complaints we’ve received about financial products and services. Learn about the complaint process. We don’t verify all the facts alleged in these complaints but we do take steps to confirm a commercial relationship between the consumer and company. Complaints are listed here after the company responds or after they have had the complaint for 15 calendar days, whichever comes first. We remove complaints if they don’t meet all of the publication criteria. Data is refreshed nightly."

"This tool will help you find the health insurance best suited to your needs, whether it's private insurance for individuals, families, and small businesses, or public programs that may work for you. It was created to help consumers under the health insurance reform law, the Affordable Care Act." Includes pricing information.

"Every year, state governments spend tens of billions of dollars through contracts with private entities for goods and services, subsidies to encourage economic development, grants, and other forms of spending. Accountability and public scrutiny are necessary to ensure that state funds are well spent. In recent years, state governments across the country have created transparency websites that provide checkbook-level information on government spending – meaning that users can view the payments made to individual companies and details about the goods or services purchased. These websites allow residents and watchdog groups to ensure that taxpayers get their money’s worth from deals the state makes with companies. In 2013, for the first time, all 50 states provide some checkbook-level information on state spending via the Internet. In 48 states – all except California and Vermont – this information is now searchable. Just four years ago, only 32 states provided checkbook-level information on state spending online, and only 29 states provided that information in searchable form. This report, U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s fourth annual evaluation of state transparency websites, finds that states are closer than ever before to meeting the standards of “Transparency 2.0” – encompassing, one-stop, one-click checkbook transparency and accountability. Over the past year, new states have opened the books on public spending and several states have pioneered new tools to further expand citizens’ access to critical spending information. Many states, however, still have a long way to go to provide taxpayers with the information they need to ensure that government is spending their money effectively."

FCW.com - by Frank Konkel: "The United States Postal Service is at the cutting edge of supercomputing technologies and the big data revolution, operating one of the most powerful non-classified supercomputing databases on the planet to process and detect fraud on over 528 million mail pieces every day. While some agencies struggle to implement big data strategies, USPS has been experimenting with it since 2006 as a means of fraud detection, and its implemented IT architecture has expanded to address what is arguably "one of the world’s most voluminous real-time transactional data problems," according to USPS program manager Scot Atkins."

News release: "The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has written to Research Councils UK welcoming the publication of its revised open access policy but calling for three further changes to the policy to ensure that there is absolute clarity.

"In a move sure to send ripples through the federal IT community, FCW has learned that the CIA has agreed to a cloud computing contract with electronic commerce giant Amazon, worth up to $600 million over 10 years. Amazon Web Services will help the intelligence agency build a private cloud infrastructure that helps the agency keep up with emerging technologies like big data in a cost-effective manner not possible under the CIA's previous cloud efforts, sources told FCW."

GPO 2012 Annual Report: "The Government Printing Office (GPO) is transforming itself from a traditional ink- on-paper operation to a digital information platform. While producing the official printed products of the Government remains an important part of our business, we are using technology to move away from a print-centric business model and toward a content-centric focus, which today serves as the foundation for an increasing variety of digital and secure products and services...GPO’s federal Digital System (), our one-stop, no-fee Web site providing public access to the official information products of all three branches of the Government, continues to grow. Today we have more than 800,000 individual titles accessible via FDsys, and we are seeing more than 37 million documents retrieved each month. By the end of the year FDsys surpassed its 400 millionth document retrieval.

"Across the country, 47.3 million people lived in a different house a year earlier and 17.3 million of them lived in a different county within the U.S., according to information the U.S. Census Bureau released today on migration. This translates to an average of about 130,000 people moving every day. Seven of the top 10 flows of movers were among counties in the Los Angeles and Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif., metropolitan areas. An estimated 44,020 people -- or an average of about 121 per day -- moved from Los Angeles County to San Bernardino County, Calif., which is the largest number of people moving from one county to another in the nation. The rest of the top 10 flows of movers were people moving among counties in the Miami, Phoenix, Detroit and Chicago metro areas. These findings were released in a series of County-to-County Migration Flow Tables, which come from data collected by the American Community Survey between 2006 and 2010. In the survey, household members were asked where they lived a year ago and responses were combined into a weighted average for the period...To help users understand and interact with these statistics, the Census Bureau has developed an online mapping tool called Census Flows Mapper."

Office of Federal Procurement Policy, March 6, 2013

Union of Concerned Scientists - "A strong democracy depends on transparency, accountability, and trust in the government to make evidence-based decisions that protect public health and the environment. Federal scientists play an important role in fulfilling this mandate by providing critical expertise to decision makers and the American people. But sometimes, political or commercial forces interfere with this process, preventing scientific information from reaching those who need it. Strong policies governing external communications serve as the first line of defense against such abuses. Our 2013 report, Grading Government Transparency, looks at the policies governing scientists' communications through both traditional and social media at 17 federal agencies, evaluating the policies in a variety of categories and summarizing each evaluation with a letter grade."

"The rapid growth of connected devices around the world has dramatically increased demand for wireless spectrum. Google is working with industry and regulators to make more spectrum available by enabling dynamic spectrum sharing through a database. This TV white spaces database is part of Google.org’s efforts to make more spectrum available for broadband access. To become certified as a TV White Spaces Database Administrator, we are entering into a 45-day trial with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) between March 4 and April 17, 2013. Learn more about spectrum, and how Google.org is helping to open up more spectrum for wireless broadband access."

News release: "The Justice Department’s Open Government Plan version 2.0 (PDF) announced a variety of new Department initiatives concerning the administration of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). A key initiative of this plan was the development of metadata standards that would “facilitate the ability of interested persons to search and retrieve documents across websites and disparate record keeping systems.” The plan called for the Office of Information Policy (OIP) to issue guidance for developing metadata standards in the posting of FOIA documents. Today, OIP posted the first in a series of guidance pieces designed to implement these standards across all agencies of the federal government. As the volume of material posted to agency websites continues to increase and “given that information on a given topic often is separately maintained by multiple agencies, it is essential that the public can quickly retrieve records of interest that are posted across government websites.” Looking to make government information not only available, but also accessible and usable, this initial guidance piece introduces the concept of a standard metadata “FOIA” tag to be used by agencies in the posting of FOIA material on agency websites."

• Recent college graduates in the U.S. labor force: data from the Current Population Survey, Thomas Luke Spreen
• Hispanic/Latino fatal occupational injury rates, Christen G. Byler
• State labor legislation enacted in 2012, John J. Fitzpatrick, Jr. and James L. Perine
• Entire February 2013 Monthly Labor Review in one PDF file

"One hundred years ago, suffragists marched on Washington to promote women's rights. In recognition of the anniversary, the National Archives created a Pinterest board where you can view photos, letters, a cartoon, and other documents from that period. Visit WomensHistoryMonth.gov to learn about generations of women who've contributed to American society."

"RASFF notifications shown in the RASFF portal are so-called "original notifications", representing a new case reported on a health risk detected in one or more consignments of a food or feed. On these cases, control authorities transmit follow-up notifications on measures taken and outcome of investigations. These follow-up notifications do not appear in the RASFF portal database."

Sunlight Foundation Blog, by Matthew Rumsey: March 7, 2013, "Representatives Leonard Lance (R-NJ) and Mike Quigley (D-IL) reintroduced legislation that will make it easier for the public, the media, and government employees to better understand the important policy matters facing Congress. The bipartisan "Public Access to Congressional Research Service Reports Resolution of 2013" would ensure that these reports, which are often cited by courts and the media and sold by third parties for $20 per copy, are freely available to the public on a website maintained by the House Clerk. When Representatives Lance and Quigley introduced this resolution in the 112th Congress we praised the bill, noting that "reliable access to CRS Reports would ensure that everyone has timely and comprehensive access to the collective wisdom of hundreds of analysts and experts on political issues when they're at their most salient." This is perhaps even more important today with controversial issues like the sequester and gun control tying our legislature in knots. A few non-profit organizations manage to make some of these reports freely available, but only the CRS can do this in a truly comprehensive manner."

"Social media is transforming how government engages with citizens, allowing agencies to share information and deliver services more quickly and effectively than ever before. As social content, data, and platforms become more diverse, agencies have a responsibility to ensure these digital services are accessible to all citizens, including people with disabilities. To address this need, the Federal Social Media Community of Practice launched a Social Media Accessibility Working Group to collaborate with and deliver programs for accessibility communities and social media leaders across government. The Working Group, spearheaded by the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, will curate and share best practices so agencies can ensure their social media content is accessible to people with disabilities. It also will work with social media platform and tool developers, citizens and partners to encourage greater accessibility."

"About 8.1 percent of U.S. workers have commutes of 60 minutes or longer, 4.3 percent work from home, and nearly 600,000 full-time workers had "megacommutes" of at least 90 minutes and 50 miles. [See the report - Mega Commuting in the U.S.] The average one-way daily commute for workers across the country is 25.5 minutes, and one in four commuters leave their county to work. These figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's annual American Community Survey, which provides local statistics on a variety of topics for even the smallest communities. According to Out-of-State and Long Commutes: 2011, 23.0 percent of workers with long commutes (60 minutes or more) use public transit, compared with 5.3 percent for all workers. Only 61.1 percent of workers with long commutes drove to work alone, compared with 79.9 percent for all workers who worked outside the home."

• Combating Autism Act - HHS Agencies Responded with New and Continuing Activities, Including Oversight, GAO-13-232, Feb 27, 2013
• Electronic Health Records - Long History of Management Challenges Raises Concerns about VA's and DOD's New Approach to Sharing Health Information, GAO-13-413T, Feb 27, 2013
• Federal Real Property - High-Risk Designation Remains due to Persistent Management Challenges, GAO-13-422T, Feb 27, 2013
• GAO's 2013 High-Risk Update - Medicare and Medicaid, GAO-13-433T, Feb 27, 2013
• Indian Affairs - Management Challenges Continue to Hinder Efforts to Improve Indian Education, GAO-13-342T, Feb 27, 2013
• KC-46 Tanker Aircraft - Program Generally Stable but Improvements in Managing Schedule Are Needed, GAO-13-258, Feb 27, 2013
• Managing for Results - Data-Driven Performance Reviews Show Promise But Agencies Should Explore How to Involve Other Relevant Agencies, GAO-13-228, Feb 27, 2013
• Strategic Sourcing - Improved and Expanded Use Could Provide Procurement Savings for Federal Information Technology, GAO-13-408T, Feb 27, 2013

"FedFlix is a joint venture with the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) in cooperation with other government agencies including the National Archives. They send us government videotapes, we upload them to the Internet Archive, YouTube, and our own public domain stock footage video library — then we send the government back their videotapes and a disk drive with their digitized video. To The Movies!

• The 12 Tables of Codes [ law.resource.org ]
  
• State Building Codes [ law.resource.org ]
  
• Yes We Scan! [ yeswescan.org ]
  
• IRS Bulk Data! [ bulk.resource.org ]
  
• What Would Luther Burbank Do? [ wwlbd.org ]
  
• Video from Congress. [ house.resource.org ]

Deloitte University Press - Gov on the Go, Boosting Public Sector Productivity by Going Mobile

News release: "Big Data" and other analytical tools have great potential to make governments more efficient and improve citizens’ lives, particularly in health and public safety sectors. A new study [and the related Infographic] released by the TechAmerica Foundation and commissioned by SAP AG, revealed that 87 percent of federal IT officials and 75 percent of state IT officials say Big Data can have real and immediate impacts on how governments operate. The survey of nearly 200 public IT officials, conducted by renowned pollsters, Penn Schoen and Berland, found that 83 percent of federal IT officials say Big Data solutions can help government cut the federal budget by at least 10 percent, or $380 billion. Those surveyed also believe that Big Data can save lives, for example by improving medical treatments."

"This documentation describes methods to use the Social Media Registry API to access the contents of the Social Media Registry. The Social Media Registry is an official source of information about social media accounts that represent official U.S. federal government agencies, elected officials, or members of the President’s Cabinet. If you work for the federal government and have a .gov or .mil e-mail address, you can register official U.S. federal accounts at HowTo.gov."

"Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program is the Nation's primary source of Federally funded revolutionary breakthroughs in advanced information technologies such as computing, networking, and software...The NITRD Program provides a framework in which many Federal agencies come together to coordinate their networking and information technology (IT) research and development (R&D) efforts. The Program operates under the aegis of the NITRD Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council's (NSTC) Committee on Technology. The Subcommittee, made up of representatives from each of NITRD's member agencies, provides overall coordination for NITRD activities."

"The video focuses on utilizing the FDsys Advanced Search function, using metadata to return precise results, and ways to further improve search results. The video is available on the beta Web site for FDLP.gov and on gpo.gov. Please note options for closed captioning, enlarging the video, and volume control from the menu in the bottom right-hand corner of the video screen."

"Browse Topics is a resource designed to be the pathway to any publicly-accessible, Government information. Maintained by volunteer librarians, Browse Topics helps the public locate data, conduct research, and learn about various government Web sites."

"During the last 50 years, the foreign-born population of the United States has undergone dramatic changes in size, origins and geographic distribution. How do we know about America's foreign-born? This new infographic provides a statistical snapshot of our foreign-born population from the American Community Survey and the decennial censuses."

The National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) independent study of the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Rebooting the Government Printing Office: Keeping America Informed in the Digital Age, January 2013

"Recently, we marked another milestone in Data.gov’s evolution. Members of the Open Knowledge Foundation met in Washington, D.C., with the Data.gov team and Federal Agencies to discuss the next iteration of Data.gov. Within months, Data.gov will see major enhancements around its data catalog, how the data is managed and the ease with which the data can be used. The most obvious change visitors will find is a single catalog that combines Data.gov and Geo.Data.gov. For the first time, nongeospatial datasets and geospatial datasets will be in one place. You’ll also find improved search capabilities, with a broader reach across the Executive Branch. Thanks to “Data.gov 2.0” code’s incorporation into the Open Government Platform (OGPL), Data.gov will be even more open and compatible with sites around the world as well. These new features are due to the software that will support Data.gov’s data management: CKAN. CKAN is an open-source data management system used around the world, including by the United Kingdom (U.K.) and by Europe’s brand new open-data site. Its developer, the U.K.-based Open Knowledge Foundation, is a nonprofit that works with people worldwide to promote increased transparency and engagement, in part through making CKAN available for open data sites."

"A pilot project giving the public free, text-searchable, online-access to court opinions now is available to all federal appellate, district and bankruptcy courts. The Judicial Conference, the policy-making body of the Federal court system, approved national implementation of the project with the Government Printing Office, Federal Digital System (FDsys), which provides free access to publications from all three branches of federal government via the Internet. The pilot project pulls opinions nightly from courts’ Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) systems and sends them to the GPO, where they are processed and posted on the FDsys website. The functionality to transfer opinions to FDsys is included in the latest release of CM/ECF which is now available to all courts. Twenty-nine courts participated in the original pilot, and now, all courts may opt to participate in the program. Access to judicial opinions through FDsys allows the Judiciary to make its work more easily available to the public. Collections are divided into appellate, district or bankruptcy court opinions and are text-searchable across opinions and across courts. FDsys also permits embedded animation and audio. Presently, more than 600,000 opinions dating back to 2004 are available. Opinions from the pilot are already one of the most heavily used collections on FDsys, with millions of retrievals each month."

On January 2, 2013 "the European Patent Office (EPO) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) launched the Cooperative Patent Classification scheme (CPC), a global classification system for patent documents. The system is the result of partnership between the EPO and the USPTO in their joint effort to develop a common, internationally compatible classification system for technical documents, in particular patent publications, which will be used by both offices in the patent granting process. The CPC is an ambitious harmonisation product that incorporates the best classification practices of both offices."

"EPA released America’s Children and the Environment, Third Edition, a comprehensive compilation of information from a variety of sources on children’s health and the environment. The report shows trends for contaminants in air, water, food, and soil that may affect children; concentrations of contaminants in the bodies of children and women of child-bearing age; and childhood illnesses and health conditions. The report incorporates revisions to address peer review and public comments on draft materials released in 2011."

Tobacco Control State highlights 2012: "The STATE System is an interactive application that houses and displays current and historical state-level data on tobacco use prevention and control. New Interactive Maps have been added to the STATE System. View data on cigarette excise tax rates, preemption and smokefree indoor air legislation for all U.S. states across multiple years using interactive maps, trend lines, bar charts, and data tables."

"The Office of Global Affairs (OGA) is the lead HHS office in global health and international matters. OGA provides advice and direction to the HHS leadership regarding international health, family, and social affairs, including health diplomacy in support of U.S. foreign policy."

"The U.S. Census Bureau today released new features for American FactFinder, an online data tool that allows users to access a variety of Census Bureau statistics, including decennial, American Community Survey and economic census statistics. The new features include a simplified main page design, the option for a guided search and an enhanced community facts tool, providing options for both novice and advanced data users. Guided Search walks users through each step of the inquiry, from selecting a topic, such as "people" or "business and industry," to selecting a geography. It also provides step-by-step options to search for information on specific race or ethnic groups, or industry codes. New enhancements to the Community Facts feature give users easy access to popular statistics about a state, city, town or ZIP code, such as total population, median income and educational attainment.
Visit here to use these new features. An online virtual tour is also available."

Pilot Partnership, U.S. Department of Treasury

News release: "This morning, Google released their semi-annual transparency report, and once again, it revealed a troubling trend: Internet surveillance around the world continues to rise, with the United States leading the way in demands for user data. Google received over 21,000 requests for data on over 33,000 users in the last six months from governments around the world, a 70% increase since Google started releasing numbers in 2010. The United States accounted for almost 40% the total requests (8,438) and the number of users (14,791). The total numbers in the US for 2012 amounted to a 33% increase from 2011. And while Google only complied with two-thirds of the total requests globally, they complied with 88% of the requests in the United States."

EPA - "Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and is estimated to be responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year. You can't see, smell, or taste radon--it's a radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be present outdoors and in any type of building, but you're likely to get the most exposure to radon in your own home. To help protect your health, you can test your home for radon and take measures to lower radon levels if needed."

Via DataInformed, Tam Harbert: "The White House has undertaken two major cloud and data initiatives to open up its data troves, Steven L. VanRoekel, U.S. federal CIO said:

News release: "Total toxic air releases in 2011 declined 8 percent from 2010, mostly because of decreases in hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions, even while total releases of toxic chemicals increased for the second year in a row, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) report published January 16, 2013."

"The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) recently enhanced the U.S. Statutes at Large collection on FDsys by adding descriptive metadata for public laws, private laws, concurrent resolutions, and presidential proclamations. For approximately 32,000 individual documents, the enhancements allow researchers improved searchability and retrieval by searching such metadata fields as title, SuDocs classification number, date, category, etc. The U.S. Statutes at Large collection includes volumes 65-115, covering the 82nd -107th Congresses, from 1951-2002. The additional descriptive data was added by both manual and automatic processes. A team of GPO staff members from Library Services and Content Management (LSCM), including catalogers and automation librarians, added descriptive metadata for titles, public law numbers, and dates."

"This National Strategy for Information Sharing and Safeguarding (Strategy) aims to strike the proper balance between sharing information with those who need it to keep our country safe and safeguarding it from those who would do us harm. While these two priorities—sharing and safeguarding—are often seen as mutually exclusive, in reality they are mutually reinforcing. This Strategy, therefore, emphasizes how strengthening the protection of classified and sensitive information can help to build confidence and trust so that such information can be shared with authorized users."

News release: "The Commission has launched an Open Data Strategy for Europe, which is expected to deliver a €40 billion boost to the EU's economy each year. Europe’s public administrations are sitting on a goldmine of unrealised economic potential: the large volumes of information collected by numerous public authorities and services. Member States such as the United Kingdom and France are already demonstrating this value. The strategy to lift performance EU-wide is three-fold: firstly the Commission will lead by example, opening its vaults of information to the public for free through a new data portal. Secondly, a level playing field for open data across the EU will be established. Finally, these new measures are backed by the €100 million which will be granted in 2011-2013 to fund research into improved data-handling technologies. These actions position the EU as the global leader in the re-use of public sector information. They will boost the thriving industry that turns raw data into the material that hundreds of millions of ICT users depend on, for example smart phone apps, such as maps, real-time traffic and weather information, price comparison tools and more. Other leading beneficiaries will include journalists and academics."

Equine Breakdown, Death, Injury and Incident Database. Search fields include: Horse Name; Year or Date; Trainer Last Name; Track; Jockey/Driver Last Name; Racing Type; Equine Deaths Only.

"You are entitled to a FREE credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) once every 12 months. You can request all three reports at once, or space them out throughout the year. It's important to review your credit report to ensure that your personal information and financial accounts are being accurately reported and that no fraudulent accounts have been initiated in your name. If you do find an error on your credit report, you can dispute the error."

"At the direction of the House Appropriations Committee, and in support of the task force on bulk data established by House report 112-511, the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) is making House bills in XML format available through GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys) Bulk Data repository, beginning with the 113th Congress. The FDsys Bulk Data repository is available here. The new offering joins other GPO XML bulk data files made available to the public, including the Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, and related documents of the executive branch. Making Government information available in XML permits data to be reused and repurposed not only for print output but for conversion into ebooks, mobile web applications, and other forms of content delivery, including data mashups and other analytical tools by third party providers, which contributes to openness and transparency in Government. In addition to the files made available through the FDsys Bulk Data Repository, GPO ensures the authenticity of all information provided on FDsys by making available digitally signed copies in PDF format, which is the official, authentic version that matches the printed document."

"The Key Issues pages provide information about GAO's work on a range of issues facing the nation and highlight our most relevant reports. Use the tabs above to explore our Key Issues by TOPICS or by related AGENCIES. Select one or several topics or agencies and the related Key Issues will appear below."

"The Office of the Historian at the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce the release of its Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) series in a new e-book format that is readable on popular electronic devices such as the Amazon Kindle and Apple iPad. The e-book edition combines many of the benefits of print and web publications in a new form that is portable and extremely convenient. During the pilot phase of the FRUS e-book initiative, select FRUS volumes are available here. The public is invited to download the new e-books and provide feedback to help improve the FRUS e-book edition. At the conclusion of the pilot phase, the Office will work to offer e-book versions of many more FRUS volumes both through the Office website and on a wide array of e-bookstores. The Office will continue to expand and enhance its e-book offerings, as part of the ongoing FRUS digitization effort."

Jonathan Rubin, DigitalGov: "Looking back, it’s clear that 2012 was a big year for the First Fridays Usability Testing Program. Improving the user experience is our game, and that’s what we spent the bulk of the year doing. Besides celebrating our second birthday (huzzah!), we conducted 26 tests on federal websites, mobile sites, intranets and much more. A special shout-out to the superstars – USA.gov’s search engine, FedRAMP, NASA (mobile), Regulations.gov, OMB Max and SAM.gov – for making usability improvements in 30 days or less!"

The NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory - online Atomic Spectra Database "provides the most authoritative information about atomic spectra available anywhere, and it is used by researchers worldwide. But how wide, exactly, is that world? What elements and wavelengths are in highest demand by different groups? And how can the ASD better serve its user community? Those questions are now being answered in detail by a new software tracking system, installed in November 2011, which records user request parameters such as element and wavelenght, as well as IP address information. A just-completed first analysis of those requests has revealed numerous unexpected insights into user preferences and needs, including a surprisingly large interest in far-infrared (FIR) wavelengths, and unanticipated similarities between searches initiated by academia and industry."

"Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly announced that new all-time lows will be set this year for the fewest number of homicides and fewest numbers of shootings in recorded New York City history. As of this morning, Dec 28th, there have been 414 homicides in 2012 – the previous record low was 471 homicides in 2009." This news release includes a table of Homicide Data Since 1963. Detailed crime statistics for each precinct are available here.

"Visit JobCenter.USA.gov for information about professional certifications, registered apprenticeships, occupational licenses, and other opportunities that may help you get ahead. In addition to education and training resources, you can use the job center to search for a job and learn about various career paths."

Royal Canadian Mounted Police: "There are almost 1.9 million firearms licence holders in Canada. While the vast majority of firearm owners are responsible and comply with the law, over 22,000 firearms licences have been refused or revoked by the CFP for public safety reasons. Most revocations are due to court orders following a conviction.

Interim guidelines on prosecuting cases involving communications sent via social media, Issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions on December 19, 2012

"Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) enable federal agencies to buy cost-effective, innovative solutions for information technology (IT) requirements. GWACs provide access to IT solutions such as systems design, software engineering, information assurance, and enterprise architecture solutions. Small business set-aside GWACs also provide socioeconomic credit. GWAC Dashboards display task order data by federal agency, industry partner, and GWAC."

"The Federal Election Commission's Campaign Finance Disclosure Portal provides a single point of entry to campaign finance data. You'll find easy-to-navigate maps and charts that display the campaign finance data you're most interested in. You'll also find many search tools that will help you through our data sources. You can download many of these data sets to perform your own analyses."

"The Open-i project aims to provide next generation information retrieval services for biomedical articles from the full text collections such as PubMed Central. It is unique in its ability to index both the text and images in the articles. The article retrieval is powered by Essie (the search engine that supports ClinicalTrials.gov). Open-i lets users retrieve not only the MEDLINE citation information, but also the outcome statements in the article and the most relevant figure from it. Further, it is possible to use the figure as a query component to find other relevant images or other visually similar images. Future stages aim to provide image region-of-interest (ROI) based querying. The initial number of images is projected to be around 600,000 and will scale to millions. The extensive image analysis and indexing and deep text analysis and indexing require distributed computing. At the request of the Board of Scientific Counselors, we intend to make the image computation services available as a NLM service."

"The new website, www.BeTobaccoFree.gov, brings together the best information HHS has on the health effects of tobacco, quitting smoking, and more." The site includes resources in the following topic areas About Tobacco: Tobacco Facts and Figures;; Tobacco and Nicotine; Smoked Tobacco Products; Smokeless Tobacco Products; Electronic Cigarettes; News; Law/Policies; Research; Campaigns; Videos.

"ClinicalTrials.gov is a registry and results database of publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants conducted around the world. Learn more About Clinical Studies and About This Site, including relevant History, Policies, and Laws."

"This free and open archive provides access to more than 55,000 social media records from selected North Carolina state agencies. It is currently in beta. Social media activity from these agencies is continually being captured and indexed, and additional agencies will be included in the future. The content in this archive has been captured because it was made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of public business by an agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions (G.S. § 132-1). Enter a keyword to search across the entire archive of social media sites, or use the Advanced Search for more options."

"HowTo.gov is a website to help government workers deliver a better customer experience to citizens. It’s about sharing new ideas, common challenges, lessons learned, and successes across government. HowTo.gov can help you work smarter, whether you’re on the “front lines” of government customer service; you manage a customer service channel; or you support customers through new media, open government, cloud computing, communications, innovation, or in some other way. HowTo.gov provides the tools and ideas you need to effectively serve, engage, and support your customers, no matter how they choose to interact with you. We offer best practices, training, and guidance on:

• Strategic planning and coordinating customer service channels;
  
• Federal web requirements and policies;
  
• Cloud computing, apps, data and web infrastructure tools;
  
• Online citizen engagement through social media and open government;
  
• Web content management, usability, and design; and Contact center services."

"The next generation of the official Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) Web site is released in beta. The site is designed to transform our Web services into a modern, clean, and responsive resource serving the Federal depository library community and the public. Highlighted Features:

• Streamlined, intuitive navigation system
  
• Scannable articles, with easy-to-read text written for the Web
  
• Introduction of a library dashboard. Upon logging in, the dashboard provides one-stop access to library-specific information (expanded resources will be added)
  
• Enhanced search capabilities, including the ability to search the Federal Digital System (FDsys) and the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP)
  
• Bridged content with the FDLP Community site (displaying community discussion threads on the FDLP.gov homepage)
  
• Responsive design for mobile devices

USA.gov: "Whether you're getting close to retirement or planning for the future, check out Social Security's retirement estimator. The estimator gives you an idea of what your monthly Social Security benefits would be, based on your current record of Social Security earnings. Your actual benefit amount cannot be determined until you apply for benefits. As you plan for your retirement, keep in mind that you'll need about 70 percent of your pre-retirement earnings to maintain your standard of living. Social Security benefits will only make up a part of this percentage and should be supplemented by a pension, savings, and/or investments. Check out 10 Ways to Prepare for Retirement."

News release: "Despite a slight dip in the third quarter, citizen satisfaction with federal government websites remains near record highs, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) E-Government Satisfaction Index, released [October 23, 2012] in partnership with customer experience analytics firm ForeSee. After setting an all-time high in the second quarter, the ACSI e-government index slips 0.4 percent to 75.3 on a 100-point scale. Federal government websites have long lagged their private sector counterparts in customer satisfaction, but a recent slide for the e-business sector breaks the trend, and satisfaction with e-government (75.3) now exceeds satisfaction with private-sector e-business (74.2 in the ACSI annual report on the sector released in July 2012). However, satisfaction with e-government is still far behind private sector e-commerce, which scored 80.1 in the E-Commerce annual report published in February 2012."

Shane Shifflett and Jennifer Gollan: "The federal government has collected millions from the online Public Access to Court Electronic Records system, or PACER – nearly five times what it cost to run the system. Between fiscal years 2006 and 2010, the government collected an average of $77 million a year from PACER fees, according to the most recent federal figures available."

• Privacy: An Abbreviated Outline of Federal Statutes Governing Wiretapping and Electronic Eavesdropping, October 9, 2012. "This report provides an overview of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)."
• Privacy: An Overview of Federal Statutes Governing Wiretapping and Electronic Eavesdropping, October 9, 2012.
• Privacy: An Abridged Overview of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, October 9, 2012.

Privacy: An Overview of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, Charles Doyle - Senior Specialist in American Public Law - October 9, 2012

This official government site provides many links to services, support, news, and government documents related to the impact and services now available as a result of the storm. It includes links for volunteer efforts, support for parents and families, pet rescue, information on mass transit, gasoline sources and supplies.

News release: [Effective October 17, 2012], every visitor to the www.direct.gov.uk and www.businesslink.gov.uk has been directed to www.gov.uk. Under the promise to be 'simpler, clearer, faster' the site is billed as the new online home of government services and information. The Cabinet Office's Government Digital Services says GOV.uk is the first phase in the creation of a single domain for government. GOV.uk is the fourth attempt in 20 years to create a one-stop point on the web for central government. Its predecessors were creatures of their time, ranging from a simple directory of websites open.gov.uk (1995), to the dotcom era UKOnline (2000) and the mega-project Directgov (2004). GOV.uk is a creation of the "back to basics" e-government strategy promulgated by Martha Lane Fox's "Revolution, not Evolution" report for the coalition and endorsed by Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude...For an insight into the creation of GOV.uk and plans for the future, see UKauthorITy's interview with Mike Bracken, head of the Government Digital Service."

Hurricane Sandy: Health-Related Resources

• Overview
  
• U.S. Federal Agency Web Pages on Hurricane Sandy
  
• State Agency Web Pages with Hurricane Sandy Information
  
• Cleanup and Recovery
  
• Specific Populations
  
• Mental Health & Disasters
  
• Health Resources for the Public
  
• Multi-language Resources
  
• Social Media
  
• Maps
  
• Apps and Widgets
  
• Animal Handling in Disasters

Lee, Charles M.C., Ma, Paul and Wang, Charles C. Y., Identifying Peer Firms: Evidence from Edgar Search Traffic (November 5, 2012). Available at SSRN

"The United States Government Manual is the official handbook of the Federal Government. This special edition of the Federal Register is currently updated to provide comprehensive and authoritative descriptions of the programs and activities of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. The Government Manual also includes information about quasi-official agencies, international organizations with U.S. membership, and Federal boards, commissions, and committees."

"The best way to support survivors of Hurricane Sandy is to make a financial contribution to the voluntary organization of your choice. National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) is the forum where organizations share knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle — preparation, response and recovery — to help disaster survivors and their communities. To donate goods, visit the National Donations Management Network. Visit National VOAD to donate cash to one of their 50+ member organizations or donate through the State VOAD of one of the affected areas..."

FEMA - Disaster Declarations - Total number of declared disasters: searchable database - choose State or Year. Includes full text news releases with disaster relief contacts - social media, land line, mobile devices and websites. State and regional fact sheets also provided. This site is updated frequently, and provides residents impacted by disasters with immediate contact assistance.

"This section contains the fuel economy values for 2013 model year vehicles. Additional information for alternative fuel vehicles can be found on pages 19–28. Alternative fuel vehicles are highlighted with a medium orange background, and those that can use two kinds of fuel, such as flexible fuel vehicles, have an entry for each fuel type."

NOAA - Latest news on Sandy

• Latest advisories from NOAA's National Hurricane Center
  
• Satellite image
  
• Rainfall forecast graphics
  
• Tide and water level predictions – NOAA’s QuickLook report
  
• NOAA National Weather Service news

"The Law Library of Congress is pleased to announce a new homepage at http://loc.gov/law/. It is less text heavy, easier to scan, and includes a highlights carousel. Two of the most used products, Congress.gov and the Guide to Law Online, are prominently displayed. The @LawLibCongress Twitter stream is now on the homepage in the right column. The homepage updates compliments the enhancements made in June that widened the page layout and improved search by adding metadata and related facets." [via Emily Carr]

Pilot Project in Partnership with the U.S. Department of Treasury -
Treasury Reporting Rates of Exchange 1956-2005

"Welcome to alzheimers.gov, the government's free information resource about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Here you can find links to authoritative, up-to-date information from agencies and organizations with expertise in these areas."

"Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced e-NEPA, a new online system that allows federal agencies to submit environmental impact statements (EISs) electronically. Traditionally, EISs have been submitted to EPA in hard copy. e-NEPA eliminates the need to mail or deliver copies of EISs to EPA headquarters, reducing printing, shipping, and delivery costs. It also saves time through electronic filing and e-confirmation and improves transparency, allowing EPA to post EIS documents to EPA’s website."

• More information about e-NEPA
  
• More information about NEPA

"The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) and the Office of the Federal Register (OFR), National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), have released an upgraded Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) Web site. As of today, the old e-CFR site has been shutdown and will redirect users to the new site, eCFR.gov. The new site operates on an upgraded hardware and software platform, and provides an interface that emulates other Federal Register publications on FDsys. Automatic redirects from the old e-CFR website to eCFR.gov will be in place through the end of 2012. Please reset any bookmarks to the new eCFR.gov URL."

"Welcome to the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information website. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services developed this website to provide information and resources to help you and your family plan for future long-term care (LTC) needs. We want to help you understand what long-term care is, how and where you can get information and services you need - now or in the future, and how to pay for services. Long-term care (LTC) is a range of services and supports you may need to meet your health or personal needs over a long period of time."

Medicare.gov - the Official U.S. Government Site for Medicare

News release: "The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the Department of Commerce (DOC), have partnered to develop an online system aimed at expanding public access to information requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). FOIAonline, formerly known as the FOIA Module, is available as of today (October 1). It offers the public one place to submit FOIA requests, track their progress, communicate with the processing agency, search other requests, access previously released responsive documents and file appeals with participating agencies. For agencies, FOIAonline provides a secure website to receive and store requests, assign and process requests, post responses, generate metrics, manage records electronically, create management reports and electronically generate the annual report required from each agency by FOIA. EPA began looking at the feasibility of a FOIA portal in 2010 with the idea of leveraging Regulations.gov, the Federal rulemaking portal that allows people to comment on Federal regulations and other agency regulatory actions. EPA administers Regulations.gov, which launched in 2002 and now has 38 partner agencies that govern and financially support the program. By leveraging the infrastructure of Regulations.gov, FOIAonline avoided many start-up costs, resulting in a total of $1.3 million to launch and an estimated cost avoidance of $200 million over the next five years if broadly adopted."

TechAmerica Foundation's Big Data Commission report, Demystifying Big Data: A Practical Guide to Transforming the Business of Government

"Data Finder is a new search and navigation tool for BLS time series data available on the BLS website. Rather than searching individual data sets, Data Finder allows users to conveniently search multiple data sets all at once. Users can extract specific data by searching by keyword or by filtering through multiple topics, measures, and attributes. This tool is designed to eventually replace many of the existing query tools on data.bls.gov. It is being developed iteratively, and we plan to update the application on a regular basis. We therefore encourage feedback, which we will use to plan and prioritize enhancements. We want to make this product useful to you."

"FOIAonline is a tool that allows both the public and agency staff to make, monitor, and manage FOIA requests from a single website. Requesters may choose to submit requests and file appeals by registering for an account. This will also allow requesters to track progress and communicate directly with agency staff. Prior to making a request, a searchable repository of records previously released may be reviewed to eliminate the need to make a new request. Agency staff can move requests between organizations, review documents for potential withholding, generate invoices and make referrals and consultations quickly to other partner agencies. Agency management will be pleased with the time saved to prepare the Annual Report to the Department of Justice, a standard report in FOIAonline. FOIAonline was developed by a small group of government agencies looking for ways to use technology to process FOIA requests in a cost-effective way. FOIAonline operates as a module of the eRulemaking system and, like eRulemaking, is managed by a Change Control Board of partner agencies. The current partner agencies are: Departments of Commerce and Treasury, Environmental Protection Agency, National Archives and Records Administration, Merit System Protection Board and Federal Labor Relations Authority."

Public Intelligence: "The following is an instruction accompanying DHS Policy Directive 110-01 “Privacy Policy for Operational Use of Social Media” that was enacted in June 2012. The policy directive itself is only three pages and provides little information, whereas this instruction for the policy is ten pages and includes rules for compliance with the directive. The policy was enacted following congressional hearings earlier this year that criticized DHS’ monitoring of social media. However, this privacy policy specifically exempts the use of social media for “situational awareness by the National Operations Center” which was the focus of the hearings."

Federal Computer Week: "Twitter has quickly evolved from social media novelty to critical communications channel. This list shows which federal agencies have built the biggest audiences, and where the growth has been fastest over the past year. The data [in this article] was compiled by OhMyGov, a media and technology firm that specializes in providing advanced media intelligence for government agencies, congressional offices, lobbyists, and businesses working with government. Please note that for many agencies, follower totals for multiple Twitter accounts were combined to provide a better sense of total reach. All counts are as of Aug. 31, 2012."

News release: "The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration has announced a new 401(k) fee disclosure website as a resource for consumers. The new site offers information on disclosures that, for the first time, will help workers with 401(k)-type retirement plans see what they are paying to invest their savings. It also includes new tips and tools on making smart retirement investment decisions...As a result of a rule published by EBSA, workers investing in 401(k)-type plans began receiving fee disclosures from their employers this summer, marking the first time that employers have been required to provide this information. Research has shown that paying just 1 percent more in fees can lead to a 28 percent decrease in a 401(k) account balance over the course of a career...If you have questions about your 401(k) plan account and the new fee disclosures, contact a benefits advisor or 1-866-444-3272."

"Congress.gov makes federal United States legislative information freely available to the public. Launched Sept. 19, 2012, this version of the site is an initial beta release of Congress.gov, created as a successor to THOMAS.gov, the current public site for legislative information. The Congress.gov beta site contains legislation from the 107th Congress (2001) to the present, member of Congress profiles from the 93rd Congress (1973) to the present, and selected member profiles from the 80th through the 92nd Congresses (1947 to 1972). Over the next two years, Congress.gov will be adding information and features, eventually incorporating all of the information currently available on THOMAS.gov. (To compare the scope of legislative information available on THOMAS.gov and the scope of legislative information on the beta site, see Coverage Dates for Legislative Information.)"

"The Bureau of Justice Statistics, through its Federal Justice Statistics Resource Center (FJSRC), compiles comprehensive information describing suspects and defendants processed in the federal criminal justice system. The Federal Criminal Case Processing Statistics (FCCPS) tool is an interface that can be used to analyze federal case processing data. Users can generate various statistics in the areas of federal law enforcement, prosecution/courts and incarcerations, and based on title and section of the U.S. Criminal Code. Data are available for the years 1998-2010. Please select an analytical area of interest from the provided menu. defendants; and mean prison or probation sentence or fine. Users can select multiple years and multiple offenses."

• Unmanned Aircraft Systems - Measuring Progress and Addressing Potential Privacy Concerns Would Facilitate Integration into the National Airspace System [Reissued on September 18, 2012] GAO-12-981, Sep 14, 2012
• Financial Markets and Institutions - Treasury Continues to Implement Its Oversight System for Addressing TARP Conflicts of Interest, GAO-12-984R, Sep 18, 2012
• Information Sharing - DHS Has Demonstrated Leadership and Progress, but Additional Actions Could Help Sustain and Strengthen Efforts, GAO-12-809, Sep 18, 2012
• Veterans' Health Care Budget - Better Labeling of Services and More Detailed Information Could Improve the Congressional Budget Justification, GAO-12-908, Sep 18, 2012
• Information Technology - Census Bureau Needs to Implement Key Management Practices, GAO-12-915, Sep 18, 2012
• Information Security - Better Implementation of Controls for Mobile Devices Should Be Encouraged, GAO-12-757, Sep 18, 2012

News release: "The economic census is the U.S. Government's official five-year measure of American business and the economy. To encourage response to the 2012 Economic Census, the Census Bureau has launched business.census.gov. The site includes videos, fact sheets, story ideas and talking points that business associations, chambers of commerce, media and public agencies can use to get the word out about the economic census. Information on how communities and businesses owners can use the statistics in economic development, business decisions and strategic planning is also provided."

CRS - Drones in Domestic Surveillance Operations: Fourth Amendment Implications and Legislative Responses. Richard M. Thompson II, Legislative Attorney, September 6, 2012

Researching Current Federal Legislation and Regulations: A Guide to Resources for Congressional Staff. Jerry W. Mansfield, Information Research Specialist, August 31, 2012

News release: "The Federal Reserve Board on [August 27, 2012] began the practice of publishing unaudited combined Federal Reserve Bank financial reports on a quarterly basis. This enhancement to the Board's previous financial reporting procedures will provide greater transparency by communicating financial information on a more frequent basis and in greater detail. To access financial reports for the first and second quarters of 2012, visit here. Reserve Bank financial information for the third quarter will be released within 60 days of the quarter's end. The Board for many years has published annual financial statements for the Board of Governors and the Reserve Banks, audited by an independent audit firm. To access the most recent annual financial statements, visit here. And, for additional information on the auditing of the Federal Reserve, visit here."

"Where can I get the vaccine? Use the Flu Vaccine Finder to find a flu vaccine location near you this flu season. The 2012-2013 vaccine will be available starting in September and October 2012."

via USA.gov - Help for Difficult Financial Times

• Unemployment, Jobs, and Training
  
• Family Support
  
• Housing
  
• Health Care and Insurance
  
• Debt and Credit

"The 2012 Best of the Web awards, a joint endeavor of Government Technology and the Center for Digital Government, were announced Thursday, Aug. 23. First place winners are the state of Alabama, Orange County, Fla., and Louisville, Ky. A complete list of winners is here."

FRED, the St. Louis Fed's economic database, has just surpassed a new milestone, with 50,000 economic time series in its database. More than 6,000 series from Eurostat's harmonized indices of consumer prices were added this month. The Eurostat data offers users the ability to compare inflation rates for different European countries. In addition, FRED recently added gold prices, more consumer credit data, and vehicle miles traveled data. FRED data can be accessed many ways--through search, by category, by source, by tags, via a data release calendar, and more." [Katrina Stierholz, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis]

Via LLRX - State Small Business Development Centers

Yale e360 digest: "A pair of NASA satellite images comparing water flow along the Mississippi River this month with August 2011 illustrates the effects of a severe summer drought along the critical waterway. A recent photo, taken just south of Memphis, Tennessee on Aug. 8, reveals extensive sandbars that are newly exposed or far larger than they were a year ago. Numerous stretches of the river have become significantly narrowed by decreased water flow. The drought, the worst in 56 years, has left the Mississippi River at its lowest levels since 1988, with some areas more than 12 feet lower than normal conditions at this time of year. Ninety-seven vessels were stranded by low waters near Greenville, Mississippi, where an 11-mile stretch of the river was closed for dredging. Farther north, near St. Louis, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been forced to stop river traffic for up to 12 hours at a time in order to keep the shipping lane wide enough, according to Reuters."

"Showcasing the applications and opportunities for harnessing the power of open data across the nation. City officials and developers working together to help improve the information available to city residents. Data in Cities.Data.Gov is not federal data and not subject to the Data.gov data policy...This page features datasets from participating cities as well as the federal government. Datasets from participating cities are not federal government data and not subject to the Data.gov Data Policy. Each city maintains its own data policy. It is important that users understand the data policies of participating cities in order to best utilize these datasets. Federal datasets are noted with the Data.gov "world" icon and a white background. City data is noted with an icon for each city (see "Federated Domains" below) and a green background."

"Performance.gov is a window to the Administration’s efforts to deliver a more effective, smarter, and leaner government. The site gives the public, government agencies, Members of Congress, the media, and others a view of the progress underway in cutting waste, streamlining government, and improving performance. Specifically, Performance.gov provides information on the following areas of focus: Acquisition; Financial Management; Human Resources; Technology; Performance Improvement; Open Government; Sustainability; Customer Service."

"Since the term "EDR" can be used to cover many different types of devices, we believe it is important to define the term for purposes of this research site. When we use the term EDR in this site, we are referring to a device installed in a motor vehicle to record technical vehicle and occupant information for a brief period of time (seconds, not minutes) before, during and after a crash. For instance, EDRs may record (1) pre-crash vehicle dynamics and system status, (2) driver inputs, (3) vehicle crash signature, (4) restraint usage/deployment status, and (5) post-crash data such as the activation of an automatic collision notification (ACN) system. We are not using the term to include any type of device that either makes an audio or video record, or logs data such as hours of service for truck operators. EDRs are devices which record information related to an "event." In the context of this site the event is defined as a highway vehicle crash. EDRs can be simple or complex in design, scope, and reach. They can make a major impact on highway safety, assisting in real-world data collection to better define the auto safety problem, aiding in law enforcement, and understanding the specific aspects of a crash." [via EPIC, installation on vehicles effective on September 1, 2012]

"The government uses social media tools like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to connect with people and communicate official information, so it’s important to know if a social media account is really managed by the federal government. This tool lets you verify if a social media account is managed by the U.S. federal government. You can look up accounts managed by federal agencies, elected officials, heads of agencies or members of the President’s Cabinet."

"The 2012 Six-State Virtual Government Information Conference was held August 8-10, 2012. This free conference, while focusing on the states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico,Utah, and Wyoming, was open to all. An recorded archive of all presentations is linked here including Abstracts, Powerpoints, Handouts. See also the Conference Planners and Contributors." [via Peggy Jobe and Janet Fisher]

"2011 CDC map detailing adult obesity prevalence for all U.S. states based on Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. In 2011, rates of adult obesity remain high, with state estimates ranging from 20.7 percent in Colorado to 34.9 percent in Mississippi. No state had a prevalence of adult obesity less than 20 percent, and 12 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia) had a prevalence of 30 percent or more. The South had the highest prevalence of adult obesity (29.5 percent), followed by the Midwest (29 percent), the Northeast (25.3 percent) and the West (24.3 percent)."

Disaster and Drought Assistance - Drought is a weather phenomenon plaguing agriculture since civilizations began farming and ranching as organized ways to feed themselves. Drought that affects growing or grazing quality affects about a third of the nation's counties each year." This site includes topical content and links to: 2012 Drought Disaster Updates; US Drought and Your Food Costs; Resilience of American Agriculture - Innovation, Diversity and Growing Markets; USDA Drought Quick Tips; Credit, Crop Insurance, Livestock Assistance.

"The U.S. Drought Monitor map is released each Thursday morning, along with statistics reflecting the percent area in each category of drought for the entire country and Puerto Rico, for the 48 contiguous states, for each climate region, and for individual states. There are many ways to get to the statistical information:

• To see the percent area statistics for a region or a state, drill down by double-clicking on the main U.S. Drought Monitor map.
  
• For a quick statistical summary for the whole country (and for the 48 contiguous states) click on Tabular Statistics below the main map.
  
• The Archive tab in the main navigation bar takes you to the Drought Monitor Archive, where you can choose two maps for a visual comparison of differences in the expanse of drought. Percent area statistics also appear below the two maps. These statistics are for the contiguous United States. You can select a region or a state from the gray dropdown box near the top of the archive page.
  
• The Drought Monitor Archive Tables page lists all U.S. Drought Monitor statistics.

News release: "Following a public comment period, the FTC has accepted as final a settlement with Facebook resolving charges that Facebook deceived consumers by telling them they could keep their information on Facebook private, and then repeatedly allowing it to be shared and made public. The settlement requires Facebook to take several steps to make sure it lives up to its promises in the future, including by giving consumers clear and prominent notice and obtaining their express consent before sharing their information beyond their privacy settings, by maintaining a comprehensive privacy program to protect consumers' information, and by obtaining biennial privacy audits from an independent third party. The settlement requires Facebook to take several steps to make sure it lives up to its promises in the future, including by giving consumers clear and prominent notice and obtaining their express consent before sharing their information beyond their privacy settings, by maintaining a comprehensive privacy program to protect consumers' information, and by obtaining biennial privacy audits from an independent third party."

"The Office of the Director of National Intelligence debuted the redesign of DNI.gov — enhancing the U.S. Intelligence Community’s web presence, increasing transparency and providing accurate, up-to-date information to the public. Through a complete overhaul of its front-end design, the new DNI.gov site provides a look and feel that better enables the ODNI to deliver well-organized information in a timely manner to the public. With content reorganized to better reflect ODNI’s mission to lead intelligence integration and role as the leader of the Intelligence Community, the revamped DNI.gov site includes a number of new features including links to all IC members, intelligence-related news stories, video, photographs, podcasts and subscription content from throughout the IC. The website also reflects the ODNI’s increased emphasis on web 2.0 tools such as Facebook, which allow greater reach and transparency as well as broader opportunities to highlight the efforts of our federal, state, local, territorial, tribal, private sector, and international partners."

Public Accounts Committee - Tenth Report Implementing the transparency agenda: "Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 16 July 2012."

News release: "The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have partnered to create six booklets with food safety advice for populations that are most susceptible to foodborne illness. The booklets in this “at-risk series” are tailored to help older adults, transplant recipients, pregnant women, and people with cancer, diabetes or HIV/AIDS reduce their risk for foodborne illness. Each of the booklets contains 24 pages of practical guidance on how to prevent foodborne illness. The information is presented in easy-to-read charts, illustrated how-tos, and straightforward descriptions of why each group is at higher risk for foodborne illness and symptoms that may mean trouble. The booklets contain three tear-out cards with quick-reference tips for grocery shopping, cooking to the right temperature, and eating at restaurants for times when taking along the entire booklet would be impractical. While booklets on five of these topics were previously produced in 2006, the two agencies this year created a sixth booklet for pregnant women, who are at particular risk for the illness listeriosis. The six new booklets list food safety resources, such as www.foodsafety.gov, that have been made available since the earlier copies were printed. They also include revised safe cooking temperatures for meat and poultry: 145 °F for whole cuts of meat, followed by a three-minute rest time; 160 °F for ground meats; and 165 °F for all poultry and leftovers. FSIS and FDA have mailed copies of the booklets to physicians around the country who treat patients in any of these six categories, and the booklets are available to the public free of charge. Additionally, the booklets are downloadable in PDF format at www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/risk/index.html."

Katrina Stierholz - Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis: FRASER, "a digital library dedicated to preserving the nation’s economic history, recently added the Marriner S. Eccles Document Collection. The new collection provides access to nearly 10,000 documents from the archival collection housed by the University of Utah. Eccles served as Chairman (1934-48) and member (1948-51) of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The collection provides research material about the Federal Reserve System, particularly during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as Eccles’s role in the monetary and fiscal systems of the United States during those years. The documents can be browsed and searched by box, date, author, or keyword (the keyword field searches title, author, and description). Full-text searching is also available through a site-level advanced search, which can be narrowed to only items in the Eccles collection. Other archival collections that have been made digitally available on FRASER include Papers from the Committee on the History of the Federal Reserve System (held by the Brookings Institution) and the William McChesney Martin Jr. Document Collection (held by the Missouri Historical Society). FRASER has more than 640 publication titles, including many periodical titles, dated from 1789 to the present, that can be browsed by title, author, date, or topic. Full-text searching is also available."

"The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) conducts active population-based surveillance in ten areas (Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, and selected counties in California, Colorado, and New York) for laboratory-confirmed cases of infection caused by Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Listeria, Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC, including STEC O157 and STEC non-O157), Shigella, Vibrio, and Yersinia. FoodNet also conducts surveillance for postdiarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of STEC infection characterized by renal failure and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, through a network of pediatric nephrologists and infection-control practitioners. Hospital discharge data are reviewed to validate HUS diagnoses and verify the presence of diarrhea in the 21 days before HUS onset. This report, 2011 Preliminary FoodNet Data - contains preliminary postdiarrheal HUS data for 2010, rather than for 2011, because additional time is needed to review hospital records."

Via USA.gov: "Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – landmark legislation that advanced the civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the nation. However, the ADA is only one of many laws that ensure equal access for everyone. Other examples include the Assistive Technology Act, Fair Housing Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). More than 54 million people in the United States live with a disability of some kind, be it sensory, physical, intellectual, developmental, emotional or mental. Our friends at Disability.gov, the federal government website for comprehensive information on disability programs and services in communities nationwide, offer hundreds of resources on protecting your civil rights. Learn about your rights on the job, different types of discrimination, how to file a complaint and what the federal government is doing to enforce the ADA and other laws. The site also covers topics such as applying for benefits, getting health care, finding a job, and paying for housing."

"Citizens are happier than ever with government websites according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) E-Government Satisfaction Index, released July 24, 2012 in partnership with customer analytics firm ForeSee. Customer satisfaction with federal government websites climbs 0.7 percent to a new all-time high of 75.6 on ACSI’s 100-point scale. Citizen satisfaction with e-government is significantly higher than with the overall federal government, which scored 66.9 in ACSI’s 2011 report on the federal government. The record high for e-gov satisfaction set this quarter is just 0.3 points below the National ACSI score, which is the average of all private companies measured by the ACSI. Despite the high score, e-government still has room for gains. E-government satisfaction has not varied more than a half point in 11 of the last 12 quarters. Two important keys to improvement are outlined in President Obama’s recent memo Digital Government: Building a 21st Century Platform to Better Serve the American People: mobile and measurement."

"During the school year, many children receive free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs. What happens when school lets out? Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to the learning process. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle for poor performance once school begins again. Hunger also may make children more prone to illness and other health issues. The Summer Food Service Program is designed to fill that nutrition gap and make sure children can get the nutritious meals they need. Want to help end hunger this summer? Here are a few ways you can help..."

Information Week: "Law enforcement agencies across the nation are using social media to aid their investigations, according to a survey by LexisNexis Risk Solutions. The survey, of more than 1,200 law enforcement professionals with federal, state, and local agencies, found that 83% of the respondents are using social media, particularly Facebook and YouTube, to further their investigations. And of those not doing so, 74% intend to start using social media as a tool within the next year, which would raise the usage rate to about 95%. More than two-thirds (67%) of respondents believe that social media helps solve crimes more quickly. The most common uses of social media among those who do it include identifying persons of interest (85%) and their associates (75%), identifying criminal activity (76%) and its location (66%), and gathering photos or statements as corroborating evidence (61%)."

"By early July 2012, more than 60% of the contiguous United States was experiencing drought conditions, nearly double the area from early January. This animation shows monthly composites of D1 to D4 categories of drought in the contiguous U.S. over the time frame January 2012 to July 2012 using data from the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Drought Monitor summary map identifies general drought areas, labeling droughts by intensity, with D1 (lightest color) being the least intense and D4 (darkest color) being the most intense."

"This month as we celebrate our nation's Independence, we reflect on the original veterans who helped found this country. How do we know about today's heroes? This new infographic provides a statistical snapshot of our veterans from the American Community Survey (conducted annually) and the Survey of Business Owners (from the five-year economic census). This summer, the Census Bureau will provide more infographics and interactive features that will answer the question, “How Do We Know?” Visit to learn more about “How Do We Know?” and follow @uscensusbureau on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and Pinterest (#HowDoWeKnow) for updates."

Consumer complaint database [beta]: "See what’s being complained about and why. Download, search, and visualize individual-level field data, including the type of complaint, the date of submission, the consumer’s ZIP code, and the company that the complaint concerns and whether the company’s response was timely, how the company responded, and whether the consumer disputed the company’s response."

News release: "Illegal pre-recorded "robocalls" are a growing annoyance for millions of American consumers and the target of an enforcement crackdown by the Federal Trade Commission. What should you do when you get one of these calls? [July 10, 2012] the FTC issued tips for consumers, as well as two new consumer education videos explaining robocalls and describing what consumers should do when they receive one. The agency also is hosting a robocall summit later this year to develop new strategies to stop illegal robocalls...The agency's two new consumer videos, "Robocalls Gone Wrong," and "What To Do if You Get a Robocall," are located on a new FTC robocalls web page, which has more information about robocalls and what the FTC is doing to protect consumers."

"Federally-funded health centers care for you, even if you have no health insurance. You pay what you can afford, based on your income. Health centers provide. Health centers are in most cities and many rural areas. Type in your address and click the 'Find Health Centers' button to find health centers near you.

• checkups when you're well
  
• treatment when you're sick
  
• complete care when you're pregnant
  
• immunizations and checkups for your children dental care and prescription drugs for your family mental health and substance abuse care if you need it."

"NOAA recently released a new website to help protect communities, people, and property from the devastation of coastal flooding. The NOAA storm surge website provides important information to help communities prepare for storm surge. Coastal flooding is often the greatest threat to life and property during storms. Floods damage roads and bridges, destroy homes and businesses, and cause injuries and death to those in harm's way. Storm surge can flood large coastal areas, reaching cities and communities miles inland. Experts from across NOAA work to reduce the damage caused by these devastating events. NOAA meteorologists and oceanographers use coastal observations and computer models to predict when storm surge may occur and assess the damage it causes. Other experts assess vulnerability and help communicate critical information. This knowledge helps people not only prepare for, but also respond to, coastal flooding from a storm. The storm surge website is one of several that NOAA maintains to promote public safety in the face of severe weather such as coastal storms and hurricanes. Other resources include NOAA Storm QuickLook, which provides current water levels along the coast during severe storms including hurricanes, the National Hurricane Center, which forecasts hazardous tropical weather, and NOAA's all-hazards website, NOAA Watch."

Federal Register Volume 77, Number 131 (Monday, July 9, 2012), "On July 5, 2011, the Treasury Department announced that it will implement the Internet Payment Platform (IPP) no later than the end of fiscal year 2012; with all new payment requests in FY2013 processed using the IPP. The Internet Payment Platform (IPP) is a secure Web-based electronic invoicing and payment system that processes vendor payment data electronically, either through a Web-based portal or electronic submission, and automates the routing and approval workflow within an agency. The IPP is provided by the Department of the Treasury's Financial Management Service through its fiscal agent, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston at no cost to vendors or government departments and agencies adopting the platform. The IPP benefits agencies by eliminating the need to file and store paper payment documentation; reducing the time of agency personnel researching and answering payment status questions by providing vendor and department-wide visibility into contract payments."

News release: "NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey has announced a new website — www.stormsurge.noaa.gov — designed to provide vital information to help protect communities, people and property from the devastation of coastal flooding. Coastal flooding is often the greatest threat to life and property during and after storms. Floods damage roads and bridges, destroy homes and businesses, and cause injuries and death to those in harm's way. These floods are caused by storm surge — the rise in water level caused a severe storm's wind, waves, and pressure. Storm surge can flood large coastal areas, reaching cities and communities miles inland."

News release: "The National Archives’ George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum has launched its newly designed website. The website is hosted by Southern Methodist University (SMU), the site of the Library’s future facility and an important partner for the institution. While the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is still under construction on the campus of SMU, visitors will be able to visit virtually through the new interactive website, which features highlighted documents and artifacts from the Library and Museum’s vast collections. Through a variety of online media and exhibit galleries, researchers and visitors will be able to explore the lives and careers of President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush, and the American Presidency in general. Educators and students will also be able to find resources and tools to use regarding the events of the Bush Administration."

"The Affordable Care Act puts in place strong consumer protections, provides new coverage options and gives you the tools you need to make informed choices about your health. In this section, learn about how the law affects you.

• Read the Full Law: Read the full text of the Affordable Care Act or browse and download the law by section.
  
• Key Features of the Law: Read this section to learn more about your rights and protections, insurance choices, and insurance costs. Get information on important benefits and programs available to seniors and small businesses.
  
• Timeline: What’s Changing and When: The health care law puts in place reforms that will roll out through 2014 and beyond. Use the timeline or a printable list of key features in chronological order to learn what’s changing and when.
  
• Information for You: Use this section to learn how the law helps different groups of people from young adults to seniors and pregnant women to families with children. Find audience-specific resources, videos, and top things to know.
  
• Implementation Resources: Find out how the health care law is being carried out across the country. Find links to regulations, authorities, grants, letters, reports, and other information related to the Affordable Care Act."
  
• Official text of Supreme Court decision; text with annotations via Bloomberg Law - Natl. Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, Nos. 11-393, 11-398 and, 11-400, 2012 BL 160004 (U.S. June 28, 2012); and extensive analysis and links to a wide range of commentary and analysis, via SCOTUSBlog, and the persistent URL (PURL) via GPO.
  
• The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) published a chart identifying the four issues the Court addressed in its decision on the Affordable Care Act, the legal arguments for and against each issue, and a very brief statement of the Court's respective ruling on each.

"Today we publish our Open Data command paper, which sets out how we’re putting data and transparency at the heart of government and public services. We’re making it easier to access public data; easier for data publishers to release data in standardised, open formats; and engraining a ‘presumption to publish’ unless specific reasons (such as privacy or national security) can be clearly articulated. From the Prime Minister down, central Government is committed to making Open Data an effective engine of economic growth, social wellbeing, political accountability and public service improvement."

"What are cookies? - A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that is downloaded on to your computer when you visit a website. Cookies are used by many websites and can do a number of things eg remembering your preferences, recording what you have put in your shopping basket, and counting the number of people looking at a website. The rules on cookies are covered by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations. The Regulations also cover similar technologies for storing information, eg Flash cookies. The Regulations were revised in 2011, and the ICO is responsible for enforcing these new rules...Where to find information about controlling cookies:

• Internet Explorer
  
• Chrome
  
• Firefox
  
• Safari
  
• Opera

News release: "The General Services Administration (GSA) announced on May 21 that Data.Gov partnering with the Government of India National Informatics Centre has produced an open source version of Data.gov that is being made available today, the third anniversary of Data.gov. The open source product, called the Open Government Platform (OGPL), can be downloaded and evaluated by any national Government or state or local entity as a path toward making their data open and transparent. Based on Drupal, the core software includes a data management system, web site, and social networking community support. This full package, in early release, is now available for public download, comments, and open source development. The combined U.S. and India team is helping expand the global open government movement by making open data software and services available to developing nations, cities, and governments around the world. Prior to this announcement, 30 other national governments have launched their own versions of open government websites. In addition, U.S. states and local governments continue to deploy open data portals."

"Ever wanted to know the ins and outs of almost every drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration since 1939? By using the Drugs@FDA database, you can search for information about FDA-approved brand name and generic drugs and therapeutic biological products. The database includes most of the drug products approved since 1939 and has drug labels, patient information, approval letters, and other information for most drug products approved since 1998. You can use Drugs@FDA to find:

• Labels for drug products
  
• If there are generic drug products for an innovator (“brand name”) drug product
  
• Therapeutically equivalent drug products. Drug products that are therapeutically equivalent control a symptom or condition in the exact same way as another drug product.
  
• Consumer information for drugs
  
• All drugs with a specific active ingredient
  
• The approval history of a drugs, including approval letters and review documents"

New York State Office of the Attorney General - "A Public Integrity Initiative - NYOpenGovernment.com is an effort by the Attorney General’s office to promote your right to know and to monitor governmental decision-making. NYOpenGovernment.com is the only statewide resource that allows you to easily access statewide government information, which until now has been scattered or difficult to retrieve."

Via FAS - this report by the Director, Information Security Oversight Office, National Archives, John P. Fitzpatrick "Dear Mr. President: I am pleased to submit the Information Security Oversight Office’s (ISOO) Report for Fiscal Year 2011, as required by Executive Order 13526, “Classified National Security Information” (the Order). This report provides statistics and analysis concerning key components of the system of classification and declassification, as well as coverage of ISOO’s reviews of Departments’ and Agencies’ programs. It also contains information with respect to industrial security in the private sector as required by Executive Order 12829, as amended, “National Industrial Security Program."

Fact Sheet: "On May 24, 2012, the Secretary submitted the 2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (Human Rights Reports) to the United States Congress. The Human Rights Reports provide the facts underlying U.S. efforts to promote respect for human rights worldwide. They inform U.S. government policy making and serve as a reference for other governments, international institutions, non-governmental organizations, scholars, interested citizens, and journalists. The Human Rights Reports assess each country’s situation against universal human rights standards, during each calendar year, and each report stands on its own. Countries are not compared to each other or placed in any order other than alphabetically by region. This year, the Department modernized both the format of the reports and the online user interface."

Via EPIC FOIA release, Analyst’s Desktop Binder 2011 Redacted, Department of Homeland Security National Operations Center Media Monitoring Capability, Desktop Reference Binder.

A Global Reality: Governmental Access to Data in the Cloud - A comparative analysis of ten international jurisdictions Governmental access to data stored in the Cloud – including cross-border access – exists in every jurisdiction, by Winston Maxwell, Paris, France Christopher Wolf, Washington, DC; May 23, 2012. A Hogan Lovells White Paper.

OFA Report - The Cloud Computing Workshop - "The cloud will happen; the question is whether it will happen to us, with us, or by us": "This report is prepared by the rapporteur, Dr. E. Altsitsiadis, for Open Forum Academy (OFA) in support of the Cloud Computing Workshop. The summaries of the speaker presentations and panel discussions in this report are based on the rapporteur’s notes. The workshop brought together high-level experts to discuss three broad aspects of cloud computing; the economic impact, the legal aspects and the way to move forward. The economic opportunity is irrefutable - If you live in a multi-device world, you simply need the cloud. The cloud will have a significant impact on our entire economy; from the micro level and the numerous benefits it brings to supply and demand alike, to the positive macro-effects in new job creation and GDP contribution. There are serious obstacles though in claiming these benefits, from practical operational limitations to misconceptions, distrust and a legal framework that is largely fragmented and complicated. The speakers broadened our understanding of these weak points, downplaying some issues that are overly considered important, while pointing out others that are crucial, yet evade our attention. The workshop illustrated that there are a lot of misconceptions but also a lot of common ground and it is becoming apparent that the way forward passes through better communication and collaboration, whether at the level of EU-US governments, Industry-Policymakers or Providers-Users."

"The Cabinet Office and London School of Economics (LSE) have published research into the Total Cost of Ownership of Open Source Software, by Maha Shaikh and Tony Cornford, Version 8.5 Final, November 2011, Unclassified. The report has beejointly financed by the Cabinet Office and OpenForum Academy, together with some of its supporters, including Alfresco, Deloitte, IBM and Red Hat."

Disappearing Phone Booths - Privacy in the Digital Age, by Erica Newland, May 2012

"Today the Immigration Policy Center (IPC) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) release From Fingerprints to DNA: Biometric Data Collection in U.S. Immigrant Communities and Beyond. The paper outlines the current state of U.S. government collection of biometric information and the problems that could arise from these growing databases of records. It also points out how immigrant communities are immediately affected by the way this data is collected, stored, and shared."

"The Digital Government Strategy complements several initiatives aimed at building a 21st century government that works better for the American people. These include Executive Order 13571 (Streamlining Service Delivery and Improving Customer Service), Executive Order 13576 (Delivering an Efficient, Effective, and Accountable Government), the President’s Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government, OMB Memorandum M-10-06 (Open Government Directive), the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC), and the 25-Point Implementation Plan to Reform Federal Information Technology Management (IT Reform). Through IT Reform, the Federal Government has made progress in foundational execution areas such as adopting “light technologies” (e.g. cloud computing), shared services (e.g. commodity IT), modular approaches for IT development and acquisition, and improved IT program management. The strategy leverages this progress while focusing on the next key priority area that requires government-wide action: innovating with less to deliver better digital services. It specifically draws upon the overall approach to increase return on IT investments, reduce waste and duplication, and improve the effectiveness of IT solutions defined in the Federal Shared Services Strategy."

Should I Respond Online On EPA’s Behalf? - Questions to guide my decision – Use with “Representing EPA Online Using Social Media” Procedure

Working the Network: A Manager’s Guide for Using Twitter in Government, Ines Mergel - Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. May 14, 2012.

"A poll of ForeSee federal government clients shows that one-third of e-government websites currently has a functional mobile site or mobile app and more than half (53%) are planning or developing a mobile site, app, or both, providing evidence that federal government agencies are beginning to recognize the benefits and opportunity of the mobile channel for serving citizens. The new findings come as part of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) E-Government Satisfaction Index, a quarterly report on the state of customer satisfaction with e-government, which customer experience analytics firm ForeSee produces in partnership with the ACSI."

Sunlight Labs: "The U.S. State Department encourages the use of social media and actively tweets as part of a new “21st Century Statecraft” initiative, with diplomats required to undergo Twitter training. But why do 121 U.S. embassies have Twitter accounts, and 54 do not? What do they say through these accounts? And who listens?"

Via Howto.gov: "Do you have an official government social media account? Have you ever wondered if one you’re following is legit? GSA has built a federal social media registry — a government-wide solution that gives the public a way to verify whether a social media account is official. It also provides a place for agencies to register their accounts centrally so they don’t have to build a solution within each agency. This tool is now available for agencies to use on HowTo.gov, so they can start entering and editing their data."

FCW: "An interactive online portal has spawned new hope for people with disabilities exploring a career in the federal government -- and for managers looking to recruit them. Launched in September 2011 in response to a directive that requires agencies to boost their efforts to hire employees with disabilities, eFedLink.org connects more than 400 federal human resource professionals, disability program managers and selective placement program coordinators to share policies and best practices around hiring, retention and advancement of people with disabilities in federal government. Now that it's been in operation for more than six months, its creators -- Cornell University and the Labor Department --- are taking stock of its performance and planning the next phase."

Human Rights and Technology Sales: How Corporations Can Avoid Assisting Repressive Regimes, By Cindy Cohn, Trevor Timm, & Jillian C. York - April 2012

News release: "Earth Day is almost here, so if you still need an idea for a good way to take part, why not start by learning more about saving energy? It can benefit the environment and save you some money on your energy bills. Whether you're looking to buy new windows, a new appliance, or light bulbs, or to get your gas dollars to go further, the FTC has tips to help you make smart decisions about your energy use. Visit ftc.gov/earthday for more on:

• Shopping for new windows — Learn more about what to consider before you replace your home's windows, and what factors could affect your energy savings.
  
• Shopping for light bulbs — Find out how understanding lumens and the Lighting Facts label can help you choose the most energy-efficient bulb to meet your lighting needs. You also can check out the FTC's Shopping for Light Bulbs video.
  
• Appliance shopping — See how anyone shopping for an appliance can use EnergyGuide labels to compare the energy use of different models.
  
• Saving money at the pump — Read bumper-to-bumper tips to help you get more mileage out of your gas purchases."

News release: "EFF recently received records from the Miami-Dade Police Department in response to a Public Records request for information on its drone program. These records provide additional insight into domestic drone use in the United States, and they reinforce the importance of public access to information on who is authorized to fly drones inside US borders. The records the Miami-Dade PD released include the Federal Aviation Administration-issued Certificate of Authorization (COA) to fly the MDPD drones. This appears to be the first time a law enforcement agency has made its COA available to the public without redactions. The COA and the other records EFF received show that Miami-Dade’s drone program is quite limited in scope. The two small drones the MDPD is flying—Honeywell T-Hawks—are able to fly up to 10,000 feet high, can record video or still images in daylight or infrared, and can “Hover and stare; [and] follow and zoom,” (pdf) according to the manufacturer. However, the COA limits their use to flights below 300 feet. The drones also must remain within visual line of sight of both a pilot and an observer and can only be flown during the day."

Information Week Government: "NASA is building an entirely new Web architecture that leans heavily on cloud computing, open source tools, and social media. It will be used both for public-facing websites and internal Web services, the space agency announced Tuesday. The new Web architecture is part of version 2.0 of NASA's Open Government Plan. All the major federal agencies released updates on their open government efforts this week as part of the Obama administration's larger Open Government Initiative, which was jump started by a memo from President Obama in January 2009, soon after he took office. The NASA plan's focus on the Web is not only natural for any open government effort, but also for NASA in particular, as the agency has been on the Web since the early 1990s. NASA websites are quite popular as government sites go, drawing 600,000 daily visitors and 140 million annual visits. NASA also has more than 250 social media accounts across at least eight social media platforms."

The New Ambiguity of 'Open Government' - Harlan Yu, David G. Robinson, Forthcoming in UCLA Law Review Discourse - Princeton CITP / Yale ISP Working Paper

First Metro/Micro Area and County Population Estimates Since 2010 Census

Via Stephane Cottin, Membre du conseil d'administration at ADIJ Association pour le developpement de l'informatique juridique - France - news on the availability of new databases that provide multiple language access to the French official legal portal Legifrance.gouv.fr - Translations of French legal texts

• Italian
  
• Arabic
  
• German
  
• Spanish
  
• Chinese
  
• A list of French legal texts or websites translated by institutional bodies into foreign languages (30 languages today) is here

  Permanent Link

News release: "A new suite of online portal and smartphone apps is providing information on tsunami zones in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The Pacific Northwest Tsunami Evacuation Zones online portal and free apps provide an at-a-glance view of tsunami hazard zones along the coasts of Oregon and Washington. The Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing System (NANOOS), a regional IOOS member, developed the tool and launched it in partnership with the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries and Washington State Department of Natural Resources, agencies responsible for the original development of the evacuation zones."

"Consumer Federation of America (CFA), Kids In Danger (KID) and Consumers Union (CU) mark the one year anniversary of the posting of consumer reports on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) consumer database, SaferProducts.gov, that allows people to share and access safety information about the products they own and consider buying. To mark the first year anniversary, CFA and KID conducted an analysis of the reports published in the database thru January 2012. These groups championed the creation of the database and have hailed it as an important tool to educate consumers about product safety hazards and improve the CPSC’s ability to identify and act on problems in the marketplace. The database is online at www.SaferProducts.gov"

"Different people need different resources as they try to quit. The information and professional assistance available on this Web site can help to support both your immediate and long-term needs as you become, and remain, a nonsmoker. Smokefree.gov allows you to choose the help that best fits your needs. You can get immediate assistance in the form of:

• A step-by-step quit smoking guide
  
• Information about a wide range of topics related to smoking and quitting
  
• An interactive U.S. map highlighting smoking information in your state
  
• LiveHelp, National Cancer Institute's instant messaging service
  
• National Cancer Institute's telephone quitline, 1-877-44U-QUIT
  
• Local and state telephone quitlines, 1-800-QUIT-NOW
  
• Publications to download, print, or order
  
• The Web site was created by the Tobacco Control Research Branch of the National Cancer Institute.

Revolution @State: The Spread of Ediplomacy, Fergus Hanson, March 2012

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies - Implementing PortfolioStat, March 30, 2012 - Steven VanRoekel, Federal Chief Information Officer

"An invisible, ancient source of energy surrounds us—energy that powered the first explorations of the world, and that may be a key to the future. This map shows you the delicate tracery of wind flowing over the US right now. Read more about wind and about wind power."

"We [Steve Beleu and Melissa Askew, Oklahoma Dept. of Libraries] have now revised our Federal Websites - Native Americans website which links to federal agency websites by topic that are either for or about Native Americans. The main purpose of the revision was to list the websites within each topic by the name of their originating agency. This website will continue to be revised as I discover more websites from federal government agencies that have significant content for and about Native Americans (here defined as American Indians and Native Alaskans)"

"As of today, March 16, 2012, the transition from GPO Access to GPO's Federal Digital System (FDsys) is complete. FDsys now is GPO's only Web site for online official and authentic Government information from all three branches of the Federal Government. After ushering GPO into the online world 16 years ago, GPO Access has been archived and taken off line. As part of the transition process, no new content has been added to GPO Access since November 2011."

"In Following the Money 2012: How the States Rank on Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data, researchers at the United States Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) graded all 50 states on how well they provide online access to information about government spending. States were given “A” to “F” grades based on the characteristics of the online transparency systems they have created to provide information on contracts, subsidies and spending at quasi-public agencies...This report is U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s third annual ranking of states’ progress toward “Transparency 2.0” – a new standard of comprehensive, one-stop, one-click budget accountability and accessibility. The past year has seen continued progress, with new states providing online access to government spending information and several states pioneering new tools to further expand citizens’ access to spending information and engagement with government."

CareerOneStop is

• "Your source for employment information and inspiration
  
• The place to manage your career
  
• Your pathway to career success
  
• Tools to help job seekers, students, businesses and career professionals
  
• Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor"

"Ethics.Data.gov brings together datasets from across the government to help citizens easily access this information, empowering Americans to hold government accountable.

United Nations E-Government Survey 2012

Federal Computer Week: "At least 150 federal websites are now operating on the Drupal open source content management system, and more are preparing to migrate. Federal agencies, led by the White House, began adopting Drupal three years ago as a more flexible, open and engaging platform with which to interact with citizens on the Web. To date, websites sponsored by about 130 federal agencies, 20 offices in the House of Representatives and several dozen state governments have converted to Drupal, according to a Drupal wiki page that lists government adoptions around the globe."

"Use the DOE Data Explorer (DDE) to find scientific research data - such as computer simulations, numeric data files, figures and plots, interactive maps, multimedia, and scientific images - generated in the course of DOE-sponsored research in various science disciplines. The DOE Data Explorer provides access both to collections and to individual datasets that have been submitted to OSTI by their creator, by a DOE National Laboratory, or by a DOE Data Center. OSTI became a member of and a registering agency for DataCite in 2011 and now assigns Digital Object Identifiers to individual datasets. DataCite provides a good definition of a DOI and why one is important at http://datacite.org/whatisdoi. The assigning and registration of a DOI for every dataset submitted is a free service provided by OSTI to enhance DOE's management of this important resource."

United Nations E-Government Survey 2012, E-Government for the People

"Today the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues posted on its website hundreds of supporting documents related to its investigation into the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) studies conducted in Guatemala in the 1940s. The documents include a spreadsheet that Commission staff painstakingly created to document the research subjects in Guatemala. In addition, the Commission has posted a Spanish translation of its report, "Ethically Impossible" STD Research in Guatemala from 1946 to 1948. As the world is now aware, the PHS research involved intentionally exposing and infecting vulnerable populations to sexually transmitted diseases without the subjects’ consent. The revelation of the research led to an apology from President Obama to the President of Guatemala. It also resulted in a request from President Obama to the Commission for a thorough fact finding investigation into the U.S. PHS studies...The Commission completed its historical investigation and sent its final report to the White House last September. The full report posted now includes hyperlinks to the supporting historical documents cited in the endnotes."

News release: "On January 18, 2011, the President issued Executive Order 13563, in which he directed regulatory agencies to base regulations on an “open exchange of information and perspectives” and to promote public participation in Federal rulemaking. The President identified Regulations.gov as the centralized portal for timely public access to regulatory content online. In response to the President’s direction, Regulations.gov has launched a major redesign, including innovative new search tools, social media connections, and better access to regulatory data. The result is a significantly improved website that will help members of the public to engage with agencies and ultimately to improve the content of rules. The redesign of Regulations.gov also fulfills the President’s commitment in The Open Government Partnership National Action Plan to “improve public services,” including to “expand public participation in the development of regulations.” This step is just one of many, consistent with the National Action Plan, designed to make our Federal Government more transparent, participatory, and collaborative."

News release: "A NASA-led science team has created an accurate, high-resolution map of the height of Earth's forests. The map will help scientists better understand the role forests play in climate change and how their heights influence wildlife habitats within them, while also helping them quantify the carbon stored in Earth's vegetation. Scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.; the University of Maryland, College Park; and Woods Hole Research Center, Falmouth, Mass., created the map using 2.5 million carefully screened, globally distributed laser pulse measurements from space. The light detection and ranging (lidar) data were collected in 2005 by the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System instrument on NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat)...The map, available at http://lidarradar.jpl.nasa.gov, depicts the highest points in the forest canopy. Its spatial resolution is 0.6 miles (1 kilometer). The map was validated against data from a network of nearly 70 ground sites around the world."

A Comprehensive Guide for Best Practices in Cloud Computing for State and Local Governments, February 2012

NextGov: "When the Air Force Special Operations Command decided to buy 2,861 made-in-China Apple iPad tablet computers in January to provide flight crews with electronic navigation charts and technical manuals, it specified mission security software developed, maintained and updated in Russia. The command followed in the path of Alaska Airlines, which in May 2011 became the first domestic carrier to drop paper charts and manuals in exchange for electronic flight bags. Alaska chose the same software, GoodReader, developed by Moscow-based Good.iware, to display charts in a PDF format on iPads. Delta Air Lines kicked off a test in August for electronic flight bags and the carrier said it planned to use GoodReader software."

"Today President Obama announced the launch of BusinessUSA, a virtual one-stop-shop that makes it easier for America's businesses to access the services and information they need to help them grow, hire, and export. Get help starting, growing, and financing a business, or learn more about expanding your market and becoming more globally competitive through exporting."

"We now face a make-or-break moment for the middle class and those trying to reach it. After decades of eroding middle-class security as those at the very top saw their incomes rise as never before and after a historic recession that plunged our economy into a crisis from which we are still fighting to recover, it is time to construct an economy that is built to last. The President’s 2013 Budget is built around the idea that our country does best when everyone gets a fair shot, does their fair share, and plays by the same rules. We must transform our economy from one focused on speculating, spending, and borrowing to one constructed on the solid foundation of educating, innovating, and building. That begins with putting the Nation on a path to living within our means – by cutting wasteful spending, asking all Americans to shoulder their fair share, and making tough choices on some things we cannot afford, while keeping the investments we need to grow the economy and create jobs. The Budget targets scarce federal resources to the areas critical to growing the economy and restoring middle-class security: education and skills for American workers, innovation and research and development, clean energy, and infrastructure. The Budget is a blueprint for how we can rebuild an economy where hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded." See also:

News release: "The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today they are partnering to enhance the Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA®) for the Arctic region by summer 2012. ERMA® is the same interactive online mapping tool used by federal responders during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This effort will help address numerous challenges in the Arctic where increasing ship traffic and proposed energy development are increasing the risk of oil spills and chemical releases."

"The Department of Justice announces a new resource — the National Girls Institute website — to better meet the needs of at-risk and delinquent girls, their families and the agencies and organizations that serve them. The institute is supported by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) through a grant from the Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)...OJJDP established the National Girls Institute in 2010 to develop and provide a range of training, technical assistance and other resources to local, tribal and private organizations serving girls and young women in, or at risk of entering, the juvenile justice system. Through this website, professionals can submit requests for training and technical assistance, as well as find current information about best practices, gender-responsive tools, research and related events."

"CDW-'s new Federal Mobility Report examines how Federal employees use mobile devices today, the challenges they face and the benefits they enjoy. More than half of Federal employees use at least one mobile device at work, according to CDW-G's research, and many are using personal devices. The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend is likely to continue, following the November 2011 executive order that asked agencies to limit the number of Information Technology (IT) devices they issue to employees, including mobile devices such as laptops and smartphones, in order to cut costs. In this report, CDW-G examines the current BYOD status, how agency IT professionals manage mobile devices – both personal and agency-owned – and the steps they are taking to mitigate very real security concerns."

EPA launches improved website for beach advisories and closures : "The website, called BEACON, has the capability to update as frequently as every two hours based on new data provided by states, territories and tribes. Users will have access to mapped location data for beaches and water monitoring stations, monitoring results for various pollutants such as bacteria and algae, and data on public notification of beach water quality advisories and closures. For the first time, users can also access reports that combine notifications and water quality monitoring data. The enhanced system also uses enhanced map navigation and report display tools. The majority of beach advisories and closures in the United States are due to water test results indicating bacterial contamination, which can make people sick. Bacterial contamination comes from a variety of sources. Some examples are sewer overflows, untreated stormwater runoff, boating wastes, wildlife and pet waste, and malfunctioning septic systems."

European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA) - "The ESMA has set up a central repository (CEREP) for publishing the rating performance activity statistics of credit rating agencies. The CEREP allows users to search, filter, download and print statistics for individual CRAs for time periods of varying lengths and different rating types.

• About the CEREP - General principles
  
• About the CEREP - How to interpret the statistics
  
• Guidelines - Implementation of the Central Repository (CEREP)
  
• Amending Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on credit rating agencies - Publication date: 31 May 2011
  
• Related postings on financial system

Digitizing Federal Public Records, By David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States: "Thank you for signing a petition asking the Obama Administration to digitize all public records. The Obama Administration believes increasing access to our collections by digitizing our records is a great idea. Our most recent efforts to do this ourselves as part of our OpenGov initiative, include the Citizen Archivist project, a Wikipedian in Residence, Tag it Tuesdays, and Scanathons. We are also moving forward on implementing the President’s recent Memorandum on Managing Government Records, which focuses on the need to update policies and practices for the digital age. But all those things aren’t enough. Your petition, and the Yes We Scan effort broadly, calls for a national strategy, and even a Federal Scanning Commission, to figure out what it would take to digitize the holdings of many federal entities, from the Library of Congress to the Government Printing Office to the Smithsonian Institution."

News release: "For the first time, comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) data reported directly from large facilities and suppliers across the country are now easily accessible to the public through EPA’s GHG Reporting Program. The 2010 GHG data released today includes public information from facilities in nine industry groups that directly emit large quantities of GHGs, as well as suppliers of certain fossil fuels...EPA’s online data publication tool allows users to view and sort GHG data for calendar year 2010 from over 6,700 facilities in a variety of ways—including by facility, location, industrial sector, and the type of GHG emitted. This information can be used by communities to identify nearby sources of GHGs, help businesses compare and track emissions, and provide information to state and local governments."

• Access EPA’s GHG Reporting Program Data and Data Publication Tool
  
• Information on the GHG Reporting Program
  
• Information on the U.S. Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Sources and Sinks

Programmable Web Services Directory of over 100 government [local, state and federal] APIs released in 2011.

• Over 2,000 APIs Added in 2011: Social, Telephony, Open Government
  
• See also How the Internet of Things Is Turning Cities Into Living Organisms - "When city services can autonomously go online and digest information from the cloud, they can reach a level of performance never before seen." December 6, 2011

UK Government Web Archive - "The National Archives is preserving government information published on the web by archiving UK Central Government Websites..The UK Government Web Archive has received more than a billion hits since it was launched by The National Archives in 2003 and is now one of the most-visited websites in government."

The Gov Doc Kids Group and Free Government Information - Tom Adamich, Martha Childers, Katy Davis, John H. Faria and Antoinette W. Satterfield. The IFLA World Library and Information Congress

FY 2011 GSA OCSIT Annual Report: "We are leading the Obama Administration’s charge to make government more open, transparent, and effective for the citizens it serves. We led several key initiatives this year to reform federal IT, facilitate using new technologies to improve government operations and citizen engagement, and help agencies enhance customer experience across government. Citizens accessed our information and services more than 272 million times this year, visiting USA.gov and other websites, searching through USASearch, ordering and downloading publications, interacting via social media, and getting answers by phone calls and e-mails about thousands of different government services and programs...Data.gov, which now hosts over 400,000 downloadable, interactive data sets, is the anchor of the 38-nation Open Government Partnership. We also launched Data.gov-in-a-Box, an open-source version of Data.gov that other countries and other governments at any level can use."

Via DC Apps - Users may Browse Categories: Education, Public Safety, Economic Development, Infrastructure, Government Operations, Health and Human Services, About DC. Also includes links to Best applications built by individuals/companies.

News release: "...we are launching code.nasa.gov, the latest member of the open NASA web family. Through this website, we will continue, unify, and expand NASA’s open source activities. The site will serve to surface existing projects, provide a forum for discussing projects and processes, and guide internal and external groups in open development, release, and contribution. In our initial release, we are focusing on providing a home for the current state of open source at the Agency. This includes guidance on how to engage the open source process, points of contact, and a directory of existing projects. By elucidating the process, we hope to lower the barriers to building open technology in partnership with the public. Phase two will concentrate on providing a robust forum for ongoing discussion of open source concepts, policies, and projects at the Agency. In our third phase, we will turn to the tools and mechanisms development projects generally need to be successful, such as distributed version control, issue tracking, continuous integration, documentation, communication, and planning/management. During this phase, we will create and host a tool, service, and process chain to further lower the burden to going open. Ultimately, our goal is to create a highly visible community hub that will imbue open concepts into the formulation stages of new hardware and software projects, and help existing projects transition to open modes of development and operation."

EPA Blog: "Almost 40 years ago, EPA’s Documerica project captured thousands of images of environmental problems and everyday life. Now it’s your turn! On Earth Day 2011, EPA put out a global call for current photos of life and our environment, PLUS a challenge to photograph the ‘now’ of places in Documerica. Your photo could be exhibited around the U.S. in 2012! Join In! Sign up and submit photos through Flickr!"

Government As a Platform Copyright © 2010 O’Reilly Media, Inc.

"FRASER, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis' digital library of historic economic and banking publications and archival material, has received a facelift. The redesigned website includes new and enhanced site navigation, such as chronological browsing, collections by topic and author, and a more advanced search feature." [Katrina Stierholz]

Competitive Intelligence - A Selective Resource Guide - Completely Updated - December 2011: Sabrina I. Pacifici's comprehensive, current awareness guide focuses on leveraging a wide but selected range of reliable, focused, predominantly free websites and resources to effectively track, monitor, analyze, background and review current and historical data, news, reports, and profiles on companies, markets, countries, people, and issues, from a global perspective. Sabrina's guide is a "best of" web resource that encompasses search engines, databases, alerts, publisher specific services and tools, along with links to content targeted sources produced by leading media organizations, governments, academia, NGOs and independent researchers.

"Millions are turning to official state election websites to find the information they need to cast a ballot. Being Online Is Still Not Enough provides state-by-state reviews and analysis based on detailed criteria of election websites for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It also includes recommendations for improving each site to better inform voters, and provides a list of best practices adopted by many states to maximize their election office’s online presence. This report follows Pew’s initial 2008 study, Being Online Is Not Enough. Assessments were based on three categories: content, lookup tools, and usability. Roll your cursor over the map below to see each state’s overall score, and scores broken down by category."

LSCM’s Past, Present, and Future of Keeping America Informed FY2011 Year in Review: "One LSCM focus this past year has been to increase content in GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys) by improving and escalating our efforts to partner and collaborate with Federal depository libraries, Federal executive agencies, the Library of Congress, and the Federal courts. As a result, many new collections have been added to FDsys, including Federal court opinions and digitized historic volumes of the U.S. Statutes at Large. FDsys became GPO’s official system of record in December 2010, and GPO Access is now archive-only and will be officially shut down in 2012. LSCM staff have been instrumental in making the transition from GPO Access to FDsys a success. It’s important to point out that the eCFR is not affected by this change and will continue to be updated and remain publicly accessible."

A look at the Gov 2.0 themes, moments and achievements that made an impact in 2011. by Alex Howard

"Healthy People 2020 provides a comprehensive set of 10-year, national goals and objectives for improving the health of all Americans. Healthy People 2020 contains 42 topic areas with nearly 600 objectives (with others still evolving), which encompass 1,200 measures. A smaller set of Healthy People 2020 objectives, called Leading Health Indicators, has been selected to communicate high-priority health issues and actions that can be taken to address them."

"Welcome to the Beta version of MyFCC, a new tool that lets you create a customized FCC online experience, with quick access to the tools and information that you need...Personalization options built into MyFCC make it possible to easily create, save and manage a customized page, or “dashboard.” Choose from a menu of “widgets” featuring a wide variety of the FCC’s most frequently used tools and services by simply dragging and dropping your selections onto your screen. MyFCC also makes it possible for you to share your MyFCC selections with colleagues or on the Web, either as a customized dashboard or by embedding individual widgets on a website or blog."

State of the Federal Web Report, December 16, 2011. Produced by the .gov Reform Task Force

"The Blueprint for a Secure Cyber Future builds on the Department of Homeland Security Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Report’s strategic framework by providing a clear path to create a safe, secure, and resilient cyber environment for the homeland security enterprise. With this guide, stakeholders at all levels of government, the private sector, and our international partners can work together to develop the cybersecurity capabilities that are key to our economy, national security, and public health and safety. The Blueprint describes two areas of action: Protecting our Critical Information Infrastructure Today and Building a Stronger Cyber Ecosystem for Tomorrow. The Blueprint is designed to protect our most vital systems and assets and, over time, drive fundamental change in the way people and devices work together to secure cyberspace. The integration of privacy and civil liberties protections into the Department’s cybersecurity activities is fundamental to safeguarding and securing cyberspace."

"Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This cloud model promotes availability and is composed of five essential characteristics (On-demand self-service, Broad network access, Resource pooling, Rapid elasticity, Measured Service); three service models (Cloud Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud Platform as a Service (PaaS), Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)); and, four deployment models (Private cloud, Community cloud, Public cloud, Hybrid cloud). Key enabling technologies include: (1) fast wide-area networks, (2) powerful, inexpensive server computers, and (3) high-performance virtualization for commodity hardware." Draft Documents as follows:

• NIST Special Publication 500-293, US Government Cloud Computing Technology Roadmap, Release 1.0 (Draft), Volume I High-Priority Requirements to Further USG Agency Cloud Computing Adoption
  
• NIST Special Publication 500-293, US Government Cloud Computing Technology Roadmap, Release 1.0 (Draft), Volume II Useful Information for Cloud Adopters

"All of Statistics Canada’s standard online products, including the census, socioeconomic and geographic data, will be offered to the public for free starting February 2012, Embassy has learned. While Statistics Canada has been working towards opening up more of its data for several years, it still currently charges for a portion of its online data, including, for example, some data sets inside its Canadian Socioeconomic Information Management System, what the agency calls its “key socioeconomic database.” Researchers, economists and other individuals buy these products, and several firms are also licensed by the agency to act as redistributors. Some of those firms charge for reselling the data, and some roll it into other value-added products they sell. This fall, the agency began alerting "key stakeholders" to the upcoming change." [Cassandra Hartnett]

"This memorandum begins an executive branch wide effort to reform records management policies and practices. Improving records management will improve performance and promote openness and accountability by better documenting agency actions and decisions. Records transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provide the prism through which future generations will understand and learn from our actions and decisions. Modernized records management will also help executive departments and agencies (agencies) minimize costs and operate more efficiently. Improved records management thus builds on Executive Order 13589 of November 9, 2011 (Promoting Efficient Spending), which directed agencies to reduce spending and focus on mission critical functions. When records are well managed, agencies can use them to assess the impact of programs, to reduce redundant efforts, to save money, and to share knowledge within and across their organizations. In these ways, proper records management is the backbone of open Government."

News release: "...the Department of Health and Human Services updated the HealthCare.gov Insurance Finder with more information on private insurance plans. Created under the Affordable Care Act, www.HealthCare.gov was launched July 1, 2010, and is the first website of its kind to bring information about private and public health coverage options into one place to make it easy for consumers to learn about and compare their insurance choices. HealthCare.gov and its Insurance Finder are critical new tools for consumers, making the health insurance market more transparent than it has ever been. On October 1, the Insurance Finder added price estimates for private insurance policies for individuals and families, allowing consumers to easily compare health insurance plans – putting consumers, not their insurance companies, in charge and taking much of the guesswork and confusion out of buying insurance. Insurance companies are also required to include two notable metrics never before made public:

• The percentage of people who applied for insurance and were denied coverage.
  
• The percentage of applicants who were charged higher premiums because of their health status."

News release: "The FCC is launching the Small Biz Cyber Planner, an online resource to help small businesses create customized cybersecurity plans. This is the result of an unprecedented public-private partnership between government experts and private IT and security companies, including DHS, NCSA, NIST, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The Chertoff Group, Symantec, Sophos, Visa, Microsoft, HP, McAfee, The Identity Theft Council, ADP and others. The online tool is available at FCC.gov/cyberplanner. By almost any measure small businesses have an outsized impact on our economy and it is critically important that small businesses, a vibrant engine for job and idea creation, are secure using the many broadband enabled tools they need to efficiently run their businesses. According to a survey released in October, 2011 by Symantec and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), two-thirds of U.S. small businesses rely on broadband Internet for their day-to-day operations...This effort is part of an ongoing program to raise awareness about the cybersecurity risks to small businesses and to help these businesses become cyber-secure. Earlier this year, the FCC and a coalition of public and private-sector partners developed a cybersecurity tip sheet, which includes tips to educate business owners about basic steps they can take immediately to protect their companies. The tip sheet is available at FCC.gov/cyberforsmallbiz".

Evaluation Report - The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Unclassified Cyber Security Program - 2011. OAS-M-12-01 November 2011.

2012 Fuel Economy Guide - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

A Year Later, Little Progress on Digitizing Legislative Documents, Daniel Schuman: "A year ago today, Congress' Joint Committee on Printing directed that three sets of vital legislative and legal documents be published online "as quickly as possible." We've reviewed how well that order was implemented, and the results are not encouraging. Of the three documents, there's only apparent progress on one. The vital documents are the Constitution Annotated, the Congressional Record, and the Statutes at Large. The Government Printing Office is responsible for publishing them, and shares that responsibility to a certain extent with the Library of Congress and its subsidiary agencies, the Congressional Research Service and the Law Library of Congress. These agencies are custodians of America's heritage, and have an important obligation to make it available to every citizen. Here's how they've performed..."

"The European Union has adopted strict new guidelines limiting the use of body scanners at EU airports. Under the new guidelines, European Union member states may only deploy airport body scanners if they comply with new regulations that protect health, privacy, and fundamental rights. The European Commission has also prohibited any devices that store, record, or transfer images of travelers as well as devices that display an image of the naked human body. As a result, backscatter x-ray devices are now effectively prohibited in airports in the European Union. The European Commission has also made clear that passengers may not be required to go through body scanners, following the conclusion reached by the federal appellate court in the United States in the EPIC v. DHS case, which held that passengers have a legal right to opt-out of body scanners. The body scanners have not done well during trials in Europe. Most recently a test in Germany found that the devices were ineffective. For more information, see EPIC: Whole Body Imaging Technology and EPIC: EPIC v. DHS (Suspension of the Body Scanner Program)."

News release: "President Obama signed Executive Order 13556, "Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)," and designated the National Archives and Records Administration as the Executive Agent "to implement this order and oversee agency actions to ensure compliance with this order." On November 4, 2011, as required by this Executive Order, the National Archives Controlled Unclassified Information Office established a publically available registry reflecting the initial categories and subcategories of unclassified information that require dissemination or safeguarding controls consistent with and pursuant to law, regulation, and Government-wide policy. This registry is online."

Teach.gov: "Teaching is a rewarding and challenging profession where you can make a lasting impact. You can have a positive influence on students, schools, and communities now and into the future. Schools across the nation are in need of a diverse set of talented teachers, especially in our big cities and rural areas, and especially in the areas of Math, Science, Technology, Special Education, and English Language Learning. The TEACH campaign is an initiative of the United States Department of Education designed to raise awareness of the teaching profession and get a new generation of teachers to join the ones who are already making a difference in the classroom. At TEACH.gov you can learn what it’s really like to be a teacher and get the tools you need to launch your own career in education. Are you ready to make a difference? Discover your path to teaching and get started today."

"Northwest Government Information Network Handouts: Fall 2011, updated November 3, 2011. Fall 2011 featured Linda Clark, Seattle Regional Office, U.S. Census Bureau as our main speaker. She came to provide us with some training on how to use the newly revamped American Factfinder 2. Below are the handouts she used for her presentation.

• 2010 Census Products at a Glance
  
• 2010 Standard Data Products -- Descriptions
  
• American Community Survey Data Release Timetable
  
• American Community Survey Topics Table Codes
  
• American Factfinder 2: Search and Navigation Tips
  
• Are You in a Survey or Census?
  
• Census Geography Hierarchy (with 2010 Statistical Area Criteria)
  
• Comparison: Census Bureau Demographic Programs
  
• I Didn't Know the Census Bureau Did That! Mining for Data Linked to the Census Bureau's Home Page
  
• The New American Factfinder (AFF2)
  
• U.S. Census Bureau: Three Demographic Programs

"Federal agencies and their partners collect and manage large amounts of geospatial data - but these data are often not easily found when needed or accessible in useful forms. The Geospatial Platform provides ready access to federally maintained geospatial data, services and applications. The content of all datasets and services demarcated with the Data.gov globe have been verified by the Agency to be consistent with Federal privacy, national security, and information quality policies. As an additional service to our users, we also provide access to data from our partners across State, Tribal, Regional and local governments as well as non-governmental organizations."

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today launched a new website for patients and caregivers on the safe disposal of needles and other so-called “sharps” that are used at home, at work and while traveling. The website will help people understand the public health risks created by improperly disposing of used sharps and how users should safely dispose of them. Sharps is a term for medical devices with sharp points or edges that can puncture or cut the skin. Such medical devices include hypodermic needles and syringes used to administer medication; lancets or fingerstick devices to collect blood for testing; needle and tubing systems for infusing intravenous and subcutaneous medicines; and connection needles used for home hemodialysis. After being used, many sharps end up in home and public trash cans or flushed down toilets. This kind of improper disposal puts people, such as sanitation workers, sewage treatment workers, janitors, housekeepers, family members and children at risk for needle stick injuries or infection with viruses such as Hepatitis B and C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)."

News release: "Congressional websites are getting better, according to an analysis by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF). The nonprofit organization graded 618 congressional websites and found the most common grade moved from an F in the 111th Congress to a B in the 112th Congress. CMF has been grading congressional websites since 2001 and issues biannual Congressional Gold Mouse Awards for the best websites on Capitol Hill for each Congress. CMF conducted its analysis from June to September 2011...see the latest report - 112th Congress Gold Mouse Awards: Best Practices in Online Communications on Capitol Hill, [which] identified recent trends related to online communications in Congress, including:

• A significant number of House and Senate Member websites lacked basic educational and transparency features including: links to bills sponsored and cosponsored, voting records, and basic information on how a bill becomes a law.
  
• House Members taking office in January 2011 had significantly better websites than Senators taking office in January 2011, with 61% of new House Members receiving an A or B grade, compared to 31% of new Senators receiving a similar grade. Nearly half (46%) of new Senators received a grade of D or F, compared to 17% of new House Members.
  
• While there was general parity overall in quality of websites between Democrats and Republican Member websites, the best websites tended to be Democratic Members.
  
• View the full list of the 112th Congress Gold Mouse Award Winners

News release: "Customer experience analytics firm ForeSee today released its report on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Quarterly E-Government Satisfaction Index, including an analysis of the state of social media in the federal government. ForeSee’s audit of social media activity in the federal government identified clear themes and best practices, showing that the public sector is learning to communicate with citizens in ways that are not usually associated with government services. ForeSee conducted an expert usability review of the 15 executive department websites in order to gauge how many participate in social media and how they do it. All are participating in the three most popular social platforms—Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube—and many are using other new media and communications tools, from Flickr and podcasts to email newsletters and RSS feeds."

"EIA launched a new web-based report called the Electricity Monthly Update, replacing the Monthly Flash Estimates for Electric Power Data. This new product introduces a feature story, interactive graphics, a new presentation flow, and new electricity industry data sources. The report is organized into four sections:

• End Use
  
• Resource Use
  
• Regional Wholesale Markets
  
• Coal Stocks

Use of Dashboards in Government, by Sukumar Ganapati, Florida International University, IBM Center for the Business of Government

"Different people need different resources as they try to quit. The information and professional assistance available on this Web site can help to support both your immediate and long-term needs as you become, and remain, a nonsmoker. Smokefree.gov allows you to choose the help that best fits your needs. You can get immediate assistance in the form of:

• A step-by-step quit smoking guide
  
• Information about a wide range of topics related to smoking and quitting
  
• An interactive U.S. map highlighting smoking information in your state
  
• LiveHelp, National Cancer Institute's instant messaging service
  
• National Cancer Institute's telephone quitline, 1-877-44U-QUIT
  
• Local and state telephone quitlines, 1-800-QUIT-NOW
  
• Publications to download, print, or order
  
• SmokefreeTXT is a free mobile service designed for teens and young adults across the United States."

"Publications.USA.gov offers publications from across government, on topics including: Cars | Consumer | Protection | Education | Employment | Federal Programs | Food | Health | Housing | Money

News release: "On Sept. 26, 2011, we released a tip sheet notice highlighting the Census Bureau's online tool for searching economic indicators. The tool currently searches on 12 but will be updated to allow searches on a 13th indicator (housing vacancies and homeownership). Below is the language of the notice revised to reflect this update. Statistics from 12 of the Census Bureau's 13 economic indicators are now easy to access and easier to use with the new economic indicator database search. Current plans are under way to add the 13th indicator (the quarterly report on housing vacancies and homeownership) to this user-friendly Internet tool. It provides an easy way to create statistical tables in ASCII text or time series charts in spreadsheet format. Users can select an indicator and choose statistics by item, time period and other dimensions using drop-down menus."

"These two reports provide an overview of virtually all federal spending at the national, state and county levels. The Consolidated Federal Funds Report shows spending for procurement contracts, salaries and wages, direct payments and loans, grants and insurance. The Federal Aid to States report show federal grants to state and local government. The Consolidated Federal Funds Report: 2010 and Federal Aid to States for Fiscal Year 2010."

News release: "Statistics from 12 economic indicators are now easy to access and easier to use with the new economic indicator database search. With the release of the Quarterly Financial Report for retail trade, all 12 of the Census Bureau's economic indicators are accessible in this user-friendly Internet tool. It provides an easy way to create statistical tables in ASCII text or time series charts in spreadsheet format. Users can select an indicator and choose statistics by item, time period and other dimensions using drop-down menus at here."

Intelligence Issues for Congress, Richard A. Best Jr., Specialist in National Defense, September 14, 2011

Marine Corp Social Media Principles

The Open Government Partnership - National Action Plan for the United States of America, September 20, 2011

Evaluating the Use of Public Surveillance Cameras for Crime Control and Prevention - A Summary. Nancy G. La Vigne, Samantha S. Lowry, Joshua Markman, Allison Dwyer. September 19, 2011

News release: "Want to know more about Internet safety and security? Visit the new and improved OnGuardOnline.gov for practical tips and resources on how to be safe, secure and responsible online. Created through a partnership of 16 federal agencies led by the Federal Trade Commission, it’s a great source of free information for your home, school, community group, or workplace. OnGuardOnline’s new features include a cybersecurity blog and information updates via e-mail. Also, the FTC has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies in the Stop.Think.Connect Campaign™ to raise awareness of the need for stronger cybersecurity with new approaches to help increase online safety and security. The new OnGuardOnline blog offers cybersecurity news from around the government, how-to articles and videos, and insights from federal officials. Check back regularly for updates, or sign up to get an e-mail when a new post is up. You can copy information from the site, adapt it, post it, or link to it, and you can share your thoughts on the blog. Updating your website or blog? Link to OnGuardOnline. Editing a newsletter? Use our articles. Need hand-outs for a talk you’re giving? Print publications from the website, or order free materials from the FTC."

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), Federal Health Information Technology Strategic Plan, 2011 – 2015. In developing and executing the federal health IT strategy, the government strives to

• "Put individuals and their interests first. In order to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, the government must meet the needs and protect the rights of each individual.
  
• Be a worthy steward of the country’s money and trust. The government seeks to use its resources judiciously. This means relying to the extent possible on private markets to accomplish important societal objectives, and acting to correct market failures when necessary. It also means developing governmental policies through open and transparent processes.
  
• Support health IT benefits for all. All Americans should have equal access to quality health care. This includes the benefits conferred by health IT. The government will endeavor to assure that underserved and at-risk individuals enjoy these benefits to the same extent as all other citizens.
  
• Focus on outcomes. Federal health IT policy will constantly focus on improving the outcomes of care, so as to advance the health of Americans and the performance of their health care system.
  
• Build boldly on what works. The government will set ambitious goals and then work methodically to achieve them, monitoring health IT successes, and looking for ways to expand upon programs that work. It will seek to be nimble and action-oriented: evaluating existing government activities, learning from experience, and changing course if necessary.
  
• Encourage innovation. The government is working to create an environment of testing, learning, and improving, thereby fostering breakthroughs that quickly and radically transform health care. The government will support innovation in health IT."

New release: "IDC Government Insights announced the availability of a new report, Creating More Effective Government Information and Service Channels – Citizen Survey and Analysis (Document # GI229971), based on new survey data revealing that U.S. citizens expect governments to provide multiple channels for the delivery of government services information, including in person, by mail, by telephone, by email, and via a personal computer. The survey revealed the highest preference for interacting with all branches of U.S. government is currently through government Web portals via a personal computer; 36% of respondents chose this method of interacting with the federal government. However, currently, when it comes to interacting with government regarding information and services, one in five survey respondents is not satisfied with the experience with any branch of government, despite efforts at all level of government to improve citizen satisfaction. This new report was designed to help governments looking to evolve from open/transparent government to "Smart Government," which intuitively measures outcomes and monitors citizen satisfaction across all channels to more effectively provide services and information."

The New York Times - 9/11: The Reckoning, America and the World A Decade After 9/11

News release: "As the new school year starts, the Federal Trade Commission is launching its 2011 We Don’t Serve Teens consumer education campaign, which warns of the hazards of underage drinking. The FTC and a coalition of private and public groups are distributing education materials that support the legal drinking age of 21 and emphasize that what parents know about underage drinking can make a huge difference in their children’s future. “Parents need to confront the risks of teen drinking head on,” said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Alcohol remains the most widely used substance of abuse among youth in the United States, and the more parents understand the pressures their children face, the better prepared they will be to help.” For more information see: We Don’t Serve Teens."

Uncle Sam at Your Service - The 2011 Federal Customer Experience Study, August 29, 2011. MeriTalk Government IT Network.

• "31% of Americans are very satisfied with Federal service this year, up from 24% in 2010
  
• Americans report the biggest improvements in agency responsiveness and information consistency, where the percentage of very satisfied Americans grew from 27% to 39% and 24% to 35% over the past year
  
• Which Federal agency has delivered the best customer service to you? Responses: 1.Internal Revenue Service (IRS); 2.Social Security Administration; 3.United States Postal Service; 4.Department of Education; 5.State Department."

Mobile Learning: The Current Landscape in the Department of Defense (DoD), Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Co-Laboratories, 10 August 2011 Version 1.0

"Performance.gov is a central website that provides a window on the Administration’s efforts to deliver a more effective, smarter, and leaner government. The site gives the public, government agencies, Members of Congress, the media, and others a view of the progress underway in cutting waste, streamlining government, and improving performance. Performance.gov advances the commitment in the President’s FY2011 budget to communicate candidly and concisely what the Federal government is trying to accomplish, how it is trying to accomplish it, and why these efforts are important. The home page provides two main ways to view information, by agency or area of focus. Specifically, Performance.gov provides information on the government’s progress in the following areas of focus:

• Improving the return on contract spending
  
• Reducing improper payments
  
• Eliminating unneeded Federal real estate
  
• Achieving technology-driven productivity gains
  
• Accelerating performance on agency priorities
  
• Hiring the best to deliver the best

Federal Agency Use of Electronic Media in the Rulemaking Process, by Cary Coglianese - University of Pennsylvania [via Michael Ravnitzky]

Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, Improvements in Patch and Configuration Management Controls Can Better Protect TSA’s Wireless Network and Devices (Redacted) OIG-11-99 July 2011

Follow up to .gov Reform Effort: Improving Federal Websites - Instructions and Guidance for Completing the Web Inventory, August 19, 2011

"The government apps and mobile sites allow you to access official information on various topics from the palm of your hand. Learn more about apps."

News release: "The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) and the National Archives’ Office of the Federal Register (OFR) have taken another step in making Government information open and transparent for the American public. The agencies have introduced an Application Programming Interface (API) for Federal Register.gov, enabling information technology developers to create new applications for regulatory information published in the Federal Register. The API is an open data tool packaged in a light-weight, Web-friendly data transfer format that requires only a Web browser or client to begin development projects. This interface enables
developers to tailor applications for sub-sets of agencies and particular documents, and to optimize resources for the mobile Web. Many Open Government supporters have given the API positive reviews."

Follow up to posting, .gov Reform Effort: Improving Federal Websites, see NextGov: "Government officials charged with rationalizing their agencies' Web presence should consider potential cost savings from cutting or consolidating seldom visited websites and aim for a sleeker online footprint that better serves the public, according to guidance released Tuesday. Federal agencies have historically set a low bar for what warrants a new website, leading the government's online universe to balloon to nearly 2,000 domains and more than 20,000 individual sites."

"The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) endorses the secure use of Web-based collaboration and social media tools to enhance communication, stakeholder outreach collaboration, and information exchange; streamline processes; and foster productivity improvements. Use of these tools supports VA and VA’s goal of achieving an interoperable, net-centric environment by improving employee effectiveness through seamless access to information. Web-based collaboration tools enable widely dispersed facilities and VA personnel to more effectively collaborate and share information—which can result in better productivity, higher efficiency, and foster innovation. This Directive establishes policy on the proper use of these tools, consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and policies."

"The Center for Digital Government's Digital Counties Survey is conducted in partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACo) annually in the spring: March - April. All U.S. counties are invited to participate (consolidated county-city jurisdictions are invited to participate in the Digital Cities Survey in the summer). The awards are presented during NACO's annual conference each July."

Data-Enabled Government: How Well Is Our Personal Information Used and Protected? - HP Business White Paper

"What is inflation and how does the Federal Reserve measure it?
Inflation occurs when the prices of goods and services increase over time. Inflation cannot be measured by an increase in the cost of one product or service, or even several products or services. Rather, inflation is a general increase in the overall price level of the goods and services in the economy. Federal Reserve policymakers evaluate changes in inflation by monitoring several different price indexes. A price index measures changes in the price of a group of goods and services. The Fed considers several price indexes because different indexes track different products and services, and because indexes are calculated differently. Therefore, various indexes can send diverse signals about inflation."

"The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy have teamed up to recognize the cream of the crop in energy-efficient appliances. These top-rated products will stand out from other Energy Star appliances with a new, “Most Efficient” label. The designation will not only help consumers save money and reduce the amount of pollution they generate, but should also spur manufacturers to innovate to produce the most energy-efficient appliances they can." DOE and EPA have identified Most Efficient 2011 products among televisions, clothes washers, and heating and cooling equipment. Refrigerators are coming soon. More product categories will be added in 2012."

"Search for Student Aid - The fall semester starts in weeks. If school expenses are weighing on your mind, remember that Uncle Sam is the biggest single provider of student aid. That includes grants, work-study programs and low-interest loans for those who qualify, whether for college or for a technical, career or trade school. For all federal student aid, as well as for many state, regional and private aid programs, completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the way to begin. Visit Student Aid on the Web to get started."

Roll Call reported late in the evening on July 26, 2011 that Congressional websites and phone systems crashed after President Obama's speech on the debt ceiling. So via USA.gov, the following links to help you communicate with your elected officials,

• contact your U.S. Senator
  
• contact your Representative in the U.S. House
  
• contact the President
  
• contact other government officials

"While the Internet can be a safe and convenient place to do business, scammers are out there in "cyber world" targeting unsuspecting consumers. The Looks Too Good To Be True.com website was built to educate you, the consumer, and help prevent you from becoming a victim of an Internet fraud scheme. The website was developed and is maintained by a joint federal law enforcement and industry task force. Funding for the site has been provided by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Key partners include the National White Collar Crime Center, Monster.com, Target and members of the Merchants Risk Council."

News release: "The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has launched a newly designed Web site with resources to help consumers protect themselves from fraudulent or unscrupulous interstate household goods moving companies. The Web site - www.ProtectYourMove.gov - includes a user-friendly database that allows visitors to look up interstate moving companies by state or by name and to review both the consumer complaint history as well as the company's on-road safety performance records. A new feature of the Web site allows state consumer protection agencies to easily update state contact information for shippers who have questions about household goods movers. The www.ProtectYourMove.gov Web site features a new public service announcement, "Don't Be a Victim," that focuses on ways consumers can prevent moving fraud."

NYT: "The federal government plans to shut 40 percent of its computer centers over the next four years to reduce its hefty technology budget and modernize the way it uses computers to manage data and provide services to citizens. Vivek Kundra, chief information officer for the government, said cloud computing could save the country billions of dollars. Computer centers typically do not employ many people to tend the machines, but analysts estimate that tens of thousands of jobs will most likely be eliminated."

Commentary: "Britain is now enmeshed in a gigantic scandal around privacy invasions by the press and police. It began with revelations about reporters for Rupert Murdoch's British tabloid newspaper News of the World hacking into the voicemail of a murdered young girl, and has expanded as other privacy invasions have come to light."

"The .gov reform effort is part of President Obama's Campaign to Cut Waste, identifying unnecessary websites that can be consolidated into other websites to reduce costs and improve the quality of service to the American public. The President signed Executive Order 13571, "Streamlining Service Delivery and Improving Customer Service," April 27, 2011, which requires federal agencies to take specific steps to strengthen customer service, including how they deliver services and information on federal ".gov" websites."

News release: "Say “spam” and most business executives think of annoying e-mail messages, like the ones that hold out a phony offer to split $50 million that’s sitting in a foreign bank. Of course, this type of message is covered by the Federal Trade Commission’s CAN-SPAM Rule, which is designed to protect consumers from deceptive commercial e-mail. But CAN-SPAM covers e-mails from legitimate businesses, too, such as e-mail notifying customers about a new product line or a special sale. To help explain what the CAN-SPAM Rule covers, the FTC has produced a new video for businesses with a seven-point checklist for sending commercial e-mail messages. For example, e-mail marketers must use accurate headers and subject lines and provide a method for consumers to stop getting e-mails. In addition to the video, the FTC also offers a brochure, The CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business."

Department of Defense Strategy for Operating in Cyberspace, July 2011

"The Hart-Scott-Rodino Act established the federal premerger notification program, which provides the FTC and the Department of Justice with information about large mergers and acquisitions before they occur. The parties to certain proposed transactions must submit premerger notification to the FTC and DOJ. Premerger notification involves completing an HSR Form, also called a “Notification and Report Form for Certain Mergers and Acquisitions,” with information about each company’s business. The parties may not close their deal until the waiting period outlined in the HSR Act has passed, or the government has granted early termination of the waiting period. For more information about the program, read our Introductory Guides. The FTC administers the premerger notification program, and the staff of the Premerger Notification Office is available to answer questions about how and when to file."

News release: "The Federal Reserve Board released a report that contains 2010 payment and account information about more than 1,000 agreements between institutions of higher education or affiliated organizations and credit card issuers. The Board also updated an online database that provides the complete text of each agreement and the payment and accounts information submitted by issuers. Users may also search for agreements by card issuer, by educational institution or organization, or by the city or state in which the institution or organization is located."

"The Prime Minister has today committed to publishing key data on the National Health Service, schools, criminal courts and transport. This represents the most ambitious open data agenda of any government anywhere in the world. The new data [see data.go.uk] will reveal clinical achievements and prescribing data by individual GP practices, the performance of hospital teams in treating lung cancer and other key healthcare conditions, the effectiveness of schools at teaching pupils across a range of subjects, criminal sentencing by each court, and data on rail timetables, rail service performance, roadworks, current road conditions, car parks and cycle routes in an open format for use by all. The new commitments, set out in a letter from the Prime Minister to Cabinet colleagues, aim to provide the public with more information about the performance of services they use every day, and to help to drive modern, personalised and sustainable public services. The new data are also expected to drive economic growth as they promote the creation of new services and applications."

News release: "The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in partnership with the Georgia Institute of Technology today introduced a new database highlighting the energy potential available in the United States from ocean tides. This online database is an important step towards providing information that can improve the performance, lower the costs, and accelerate the deployment of innovative water power technologies...Researchers at Georgia Tech Savannah used advanced regional ocean models to simulate tidal flows along the entire U.S. coastline. DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory validated the model’s accuracy and the resulting data are now publically available at the website developed by the Georgia Institute of Technology."

"The Petroleum Marketing Monthly (PMM)- July 2011 - With Data for April 2011 - provides information and statistical data on a variety of crude oils and refined petroleum products. The publication presents statistics on crude oil costs and refined petroleum products sales for use by industry, government, private sector analysts, educational institutions, and consumers. Data on crude oil include the domestic first purchase price, the f.o.b. and landed cost of imported crude oil, and the refiners’ acquisition cost of crude oil. Refined petroleum product sales data include motor gasoline, distillates, residuals, aviation fuels, kerosene, and propane. The Office of Petroleum and Biofuels Statistics, U.S. Energy Information Administration ensures the accuracy, quality, and confidentiality of the published data in the Petroleum Marketing Monthly."

"Since 1995, the White House has been required to deliver a report to Congress listing the title and salary of every White House Office employee. Consistent with President Obama's commitment to transparency, this report is being publicly disclosed on our website as it is transmitted to Congress. In addition, this report also contains the title and salary details of administration officials who work at the Office of Policy Development, including the Domestic Policy Council and the National Economic Council -- along with White House Office employees. View the searchable table here."

News release: "The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) has expanded the range of public information offered on its website by adding a Legal Filings and Decisions section to the Resources page. This innovation, part of a recent major upgrade of the PBGC website, presents significant legal filings recently submitted by PBGC in its efforts to preserve and safeguard pensions, as well as court decisions issued in response to PBGC filings. The new section also will offer noteworthy filings and decisions from the recent past."

The Economist: "If the weather holds and there are no unforeseen complications, then early in the morning on July 8th a woman and three men will ascend the launch tower at Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre, strap themselves into Atlantis, the last operational space shuttle, and, as the engines ignite, wait for the countdown to reach zero. Burning thousands of litres of rocket fuel every second and blasting superheated gas into the water-filled trench beneath the pad, the engines will kick up the vast gouts of steam and smoke that characterise a rocket launch."

"The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) has partnered with the Department of Labor (DOL) and the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) to provide permanent public access to Davis Bacon Wage Determination information.Wage Determinations OnLine (WDOL)is the official Federal Acquisitions Regulation (FAR) mandated Web site that contains both current and archived wage determinations. Users can search for a determination or browse by state and county. Archived determinations are available from 2000 forward. Permanent public access to the Davis Bacon Wage Determinations is ensured through the partnership; therefore, GPO's Davis Bacon site will redirect users to the WDOL site."

2010 Agricultural Chemical Usage Data Correction: "In the fall of 2010, NASS (National Agricultural Statistics Service) collected data about chemical use and pest management on acres of conventional and organic corn as well as upland cotton and fall potatoes that were planted for the 2010 crop year. These data were collected as part of the Agricultural Resource Management Survey, and results were based on 4,893 individual responses from producers in 25 program states: Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North
Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. These states accounted for 93 percent of corn acres, 84 percent of the upland cotton acres, and 87 percent of the fall potato acres planted nationwide in the 2010 crop year."

News release: "The online Food Desert Locator, developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS), is a tool that can be used to assist efforts to expand the availability of nutritious food in food deserts, or low-income communities that lack ready access to healthy food. Expanding the availability of nutritious food is part of First Lady Michele Obama's Let's Move! initiative to address the epidemic of childhood obesity...A food desert is a low-income census tract where either a substantial number or share of residents has low access to a supermarket or large grocery store. "Low income" tracts are defined as those where at least 20 percent of the people have income at or below the federal poverty levels for family size, or where median family income for the tract is at or below 80 percent of the surrounding area's median family income. Tracts qualify as "low access" tracts if at least 500 persons or 33 percent of their population live more than a mile from a supermarket or large grocery store (for rural census tracts, the distance is more than 10 miles). This definition was developed by a working group comprised of members from the departments of Treasury, Health and Human Services, and USDA, which is partnering to expand the availability of nutritious food."

FCC: "You may be one of many consumers who have received emails saying you’re about to be assaulted by unwanted telemarketing calls to your wireless phone. Rest assured that placing telemarketing calls to wireless phones is -- and always has been -- illegal in most cases. Why the Confusion? The confusion seems to stem from recent discussions in the wireless phone industry about establishing a wireless 411 phone directory, much like your traditional (wired) 411 phone directory. A number of email campaigns seem to suggest that if your wireless telephone number is listed in a wireless 411 directory, it will be available to telemarketers, and you will start to receive sales calls. In addition, some of these email campaigns suggest that there is a separate do-not-call “cell phone registry,” which you must call to have your wireless phone number covered by the do-not-call rules. This information is wrong."

News release: "The National Library of Medicine, the world’s largest medical library and a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has formally launched MedlinePlus Connect. This free service allows health organizations and health information technology (HIT) providers to link patient portals and electronic health record (EHR) systems to MedlinePlus.gov, a trusted source of authoritative, up-to-date health information for patients, families and health care providers. MedlinePlus brings together information from NIH, other federal agencies, and reputable health information providers. MedlinePlus covers a wide range of health conditions and wellness issues, and includes key resources to inform patients about their health."

News release: "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today unveiled a new strategy to meet the challenges posed by rapidly rising imports of FDA-regulated products and a complex global supply chain in a report called the Pathway to Global Product Safety and Quality. The FDA report calls for the agency to transform the way it conducts business and to act globally in order to promote and protect the health of U.S. consumers. Highlights of the report include four key elements needed to make the change:

1. The FDA will partner with its counterparts worldwide to create global coalitions of regulators focused on ensuring and improving global product safety and quality.
   
2. The coalitions of regulators will develop international data information systems and networks and increase the regular and proactive sharing of data and regulatory resources across world markets.
   
3. The FDA will build in additional information gathering and analysis capabilities with an increased focus on risk analytics and information technology.
   
4. The FDA increasingly will leverage the efforts of public and private third parties and industry and allocate FDA resources based on risk."

"Sign up for our free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (formerly known as “Travel Registration” or “Registration with Embassies”) to receive the latest travel updates and information. When you sign up, you will automatically receive the most current information we compile about the country where you will be traveling or living. ou will also receive updates, including Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts (where appropriate). You only need to sign up once, and then you can add and delete trips from your account based on your current travel plans."

A Brief Guide to the European Union and Its Legislative Processes, June 2011 - "The EU, created by the Treaty of Maastricht1, is a union of 27 independent states. It was founded to enhance political, economic and social cooperation. Its origins date back to the 1950s and the establishment of three organisations:

• European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) established by the Treaty of Paris
  
• European Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) established by the Treaties of Rome
  Under the Treaty of Maastricht, these three organisations (collectively, under the Treaty of Brussels4, the ‘European Communities’) were brought together to comprise the first of three conceptual pillars, which together formed the EU.
  
• The Treaty also renamed the EEC the ‘European Community’ (EC), reflecting the determination of the Member States to expand the European Communities’ powers to non-economic domains."

"The U.S. Government Printing Office published its last official history 50 years ago, marking its centennial anniversary.
100 GPO Years 1861–1961 has proven to be a remarkably valuable resource and deserves to stand alone as an enduring
contribution to the historical record of this great agency. Instead of trying to improve on it, with the approach of our
150th anniversary we decided to recreate the telling of GPO’s story. Keeping America Informed: The U.S. Government
Printing Office: 150 Years of Service to the Nation recasts our history in a fresh light, with new contributions and emphases,
and provides the reader with a greater exposure to GPO’s rich photographic record, with many of the images in this book
published for the first time. Most important of all, Keeping America Informed describes how the agency has transformed itself through the years by continually adapting to the most efficient technologies available to get its work done. In the ink-on-paper era, this meant moving from handset to machine-set type, from slower to high-speed presses, and from hand to automated bookbinding. These changes enabled GPO to keep up with the demands of a growing Nation and helped keep costs down, and they were significant for their time. Yet they pale by comparison with the transformation that accompanied GPO’s incorporation of electronic information technologies, the single most dominant trend at the agency of the past 50 years, and the generator of unprecedented improvements in productivity and hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer savings that continue into the present. Today, GPO is fundamentally different from what it was as recently as a generation ago: smaller, leaner, and equipped with digital production capabilities that are the bedrock of the information systems relied upon daily by Congress, Federal agencies, and the public to ensure open and transparent Government in the digital era."

News release: "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making it easier to find data about chemicals. EPA is releasing two databases — the Toxicity Forecaster database (ToxCastDB) and a database of chemical exposure studies (ExpoCastDB) — that scientists and the public can use to access chemical toxicity and exposure data. ToxCastDB users can search and download data from over 500 rapid chemical tests conducted on more than 300 environmental chemicals. ToxCast uses advanced scientific tools to predict the potential toxicity of chemicals and to provide a cost-effective approach to prioritizing which chemicals of the thousands in use require further testing. ToxCast is currently screening 700 additional chemicals, and the data will be available in 2012...The new databases link together two important pieces of chemical research — exposure and toxicity data — both of which are required when considering potential risks posed by chemicals. The databases are connected through EPA’s Aggregated Computational Toxicology Resource (ACToR), an online data warehouse that collects data on over 500,000 chemicals from over 500 public sources."

A Policy Framework for the 21st Century Grid: Enabling Our Secure Energy Future, June 2011

"The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) has made available the Congressional Pictorial Directory: 112th Congress on GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys), a one-stop site to authentic, published Government information. GPO employees designed and created the Pictorial Directory, which features a color photograph of each Member of the House of Representatives and the Senate and details each Member’s length of service, political party affiliation, and congressional district. The Pictorial Directory also contains pictures of the President, Vice President, and House and Senate officers and officials."

News release: "NOAA announced an $11.5 million, three-year award to Earth Resources Technologies, Inc. for cloud-based unified messaging services. The agency-wide transition will modernize e-mail and calendar infrastructure, integrate collaborative tools and facilitate synchronization with mobile devices to better support NOAA’s mission and its nationwide workforce. As the largest federal agency to adopt cloud technology to date, NOAA will migrate 25,000 mailboxes to the cloud rather than utilizing in-house servers. NOAA’s decision to pursue the cloud solution supports the Obama administration’s direction to pursue a “cloud first” approach. “The cost to the taxpayer will be 50 percent less than an in-house solution,” said NOAA Chief Information Officer Joseph Klimavicz. “As the new standard, cloud computing has great value allowing us to ramp up quickly, avoid redundancy and provide new services and capabilities to large groups of customers.”

"EPIC and a coalition of privacy, consumer rights, and civil rights organizations filed a statement to the Department of Homeland Security in opposition to the proposed expansion of the employment verification system, "E-Verify." The agency announced plans to incorporate state driver license records that could significantly expand the use of the Homeland Security database. The groups said that the DHS proposal is unlawful and looks very similar to the REAL ID scheme that was previously defeated. EPIC has testified before Congress and published a Spotlight on Surveillance report about E-Verify. For more information, see EPIC: Employment Eligibility Verification System and EPIC: National ID."

News release: "In order to ensure the public has as much information as possible about the health and the environmental impacts of chemicals, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has made public the identities of more than 150 chemicals contained in 104 health and safety studies that had been claimed confidential by industry. Today’s announcement is another in a series of unprecedented actions that EPA is taking to provide the public with greater access to information on the chemicals that are manufactured and used in the United States. For these 104 studies, the chemical identity will no longer be redacted, or kept from view. The chemicals involved are used in dispersant formulations and consumer products such as air fresheners, non-stick and stain resistant materials, fire resistant materials, nonylphenol compounds, perfluorinated compounds, and lead."

Full Report - Beige Book, June 8, 2011 and Links to the Districts

EPIC: "The White House modified its privacy policy for WhiteHouse.gov on June 3, 2011. The new policy is more than twice as long as the old policy. The new policy states the White House web site now uses persistent Google Analytics cookies that track users for up to two years. Previously the site employed only single-session cookies, which were automatically deleted when users closed their browsers. The site does not provide a means for visitors to opt out of receiving cookies. The present policy reflects changes the administration made last year to allow for use of tracking cookies by federal websites. For more information, see EPIC: White House Adopts Weird Opt-Out Privacy Policy for Public Access to Government Web Sites."

News release: "Food safety annual report card targets hard-to-prevent infection Salmonella infections have not decreased during the past 15 years and have instead increased by 10 percent in recent years, according to a new Vital Signs report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During the same time period, illnesses from the serious Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157 have been cut nearly in half and the overall rates of six foodborne infections have been reduced by 23 percent, the report said. The Vital Signs report summarizes 2010 data from CDC's Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), which serves as America's report card for food safety by tracking whether nine of the most common infections transmitted through foods are increasing or decreasing."

Follow up to previous postings on government implementation of whole body scanning technology at airports, via EPIC: "The House has approved the 2012 budget for the Transportation Security Administration, cutting $270 million from the amount originally requested by the Agency. The cuts include $76 million that had been designated for the purchase of 275 airport body scanners. Leading lawmakers and activists have called attention to the health risks associated with the scanners, as well as their invasiveness. Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) criticized the machines as “slow” and “ineffective.”

SEC: "This page allows you to search the full text of EDGAR filings from the last four years. The full text of a filing includes all data in the filing as well as all attachments to the filing. To find the information you need and make your search easy and enjoyable, please visit our FAQ page. We are still developing this feature, and we plan to enhance it based on user feedback."

Via GSA's Apps.gov: "Social media apps make it easier to create and distribute content and discuss the things we care about and help us get the job done. Social media includes various online technology tools that enable people to communicate easily and share information. Social media includes text, audio, video, images, podcasts, and other multimedia communications." This site lists, and links to, 55 free apps in categories including: Analytics and Search Tools, Blogs and microblogs, Bookmarking/Sharing, Display of Multimedia, Data, Maps, Document Sharing on Websites, Idea Generation/General Discussion, In-depth Discussion Tools, Social Networks, Video, Photo, Audio Hosting/Sharing, and Wikis.

Geospatial Information and Geographic Information Systems (GIS): An Overview for Congress, Peter Folger - Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources Policy. May 18, 2011

News release: "The U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today are unveiling new fuel economy labels that will help consumers take advantage of the increased efficiency standards achieved under the Obama Administration that will save families money at the pump starting this year. The new labels, which are the most dramatic overhaul to fuel economy labels since the program began more than 30 years ago, will provide more comprehensive fuel efficiency information, including estimated annual fuel costs, savings, as well as information on each vehicle’s environmental impact. The new labels underscore the benefits of the historic, bipartisan passenger car and truck fuel economy rule adopted under this administration by the EPA and DOT in 2010. These improvements will give consumers better, more complete information to consider when purchasing new vehicles that are covered by the increased fuel economy standards. Starting with model year 2013, the improved fuel economy labels will be required to be affixed to all new passenger cars and trucks – both conventional gasoline powered and “next generation” cars, such as plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles."

WSJ: "The Pentagon has concluded that computer sabotage coming from another country can constitute an act of war, a finding that for the first time opens the door for the U.S. to respond using traditional military force. The Pentagon's first formal cyber strategy, unclassified portions of which are expected to become public next month, represents an early attempt to grapple with a changing world in which a hacker could pose as significant a threat to U.S. nuclear reactors, subways or pipelines as a hostile country's military. In part, the Pentagon intends its plan as a warning to potential adversaries of the consequences of attacking the U.S. in this way. "If you shut down our power grid, maybe we will put a missile down one of your smokestacks," said a military official. Recent attacks on the Pentagon's own systems—as well as the sabotaging of Iran's nuclear program via the Stuxnet computer worm—have given new urgency to U.S. efforts to develop a more formalized approach to cyber attacks. A key moment occurred in 2008, when at least one U.S. military computer system was penetrated. This weekend Lockheed Martin, a major military contractor, acknowledged that it had been the victim of an infiltration, while playing down its impact."

weather.gov: "Fire weather conditions continue across the Southwest and Southern Plains with a critical area affecting portions of southern Nevada and the Northern Mojave Desert. Meanwhile warming temperatures, continued precipitation and a high water-content snowpack continue the threat of flooding in eastern Montana and the Dakotas. A moderate risk of severe weather is forecasted for most of Lower Michigan and eastern Upper Michigan with a slight risk of severe thunderstorms from northern Illinois and Wisconsin eastward into Michigan, northern Indiana and northwestern Ohio. Much of the Mid-Atlantic has Heat Advisories and Air Quality Alerts. Details..."

"The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducts careful inspections of regulated facilities to determine a site’s compliance with regulations and the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Inspections are one of many ways FDA protects the public health. The Agency is disclosing inspection information to help improve the public’s understanding of how the FDA works to protect the public health. Disclosure of the compliance status of establishments helps to provide the public with a rationale for the Agency’s enforcement actions. Disclosure will also help to inform public and industry decision-making, allowing them to make more informed marketplace choices and help to encourage compliance. Inspections are classified (see Inspection Classifications) to reflect the compliance status of a firm. Classifications are based upon findings identified during an inspection and Agency review for compliance. During the Agency assessment, classifications may be subject to change after a review of all relevant information. To maintain current knowledge of a firm's compliance status, it may be important to recheck the Inspections Database for updates.

Fact Sheet includes Decommissioning Status for Shut Down NRC-Licensed Power Reactors (As of April 2011): "When a power company decides to close its nuclear power plant permanently, the facility must be decommissioned by safely removing it from service and reducing residual radioactivity to a level that permits release of the property and termination of the operating license. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has strict rules governing nuclear power plant decommissioning, involving cleanup of radioactively contaminated plant systems and structures and removal of the radioactive fuel. These requirements protect workers and the public during the entire decommissioning process and the public after the license is terminated."

News release: "The Europe-wide register aims to help Europeans actively engage in decisions affecting the environment. New online maps published by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency, in close cooperation with the Joint Research Centre, the Commission's in-house science service, allow citizens for the first time to pinpoint the main diffuse sources of air pollution, such as transport and aviation. The new set of 32 maps shows where certain pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter are released. It complements existing data on emissions from individual industrial plants from the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR)."

Federal Computer Week: "NASA is the first federal agency to venture into creating an aggregation network on the SlideShare Web platform, officials announced May 16. The NASA Universe network that started May 16 on SlideShare provides links to the agency’s videos, slide presentations and other documents shared from SlideShare channels sponsored by NASA headquarters and its 10 field centers. NASA Universe takes advantage of the new aggregation network technology, which SlideShare recently established and currently customizes for a handful of clients, including NASA, IBM and Dell. The SlideShare networks automatically and continuously aggregate content from many channels. NASA headquarters and the field centers each has its own channel on the site feeding documents into NASA Universe."

GovSpeak - A Guide to Government Acronyms & Abbreviations: "This guide lists acronyms and abbreviations commonly used by the United States federal government. Each acronym is defined and links to the home page (or best alternative) of the identified department, agency, office, program or publication. While Appendix A of the U.S. Government Manual provided the foundation of GovSpeak, this expanded list includes hundreds of acronyms not included in that publication; most have been discovered by manual reviews of department websites. Links are checked and updated monthly."

Consumer Finance Protection Bureau: "The people just now reaching their sixties are part of America’s largest-ever generation of retirees. The CFPB is creating an Office of Financial Protection for Older Americans to ensure we serve this large community effectively. This Office will connect seniors with what they need to guide themselves through their financial lives. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requires this Office to be active by January 21, 2012. We are building it right alongside the rest of the consumer bureau, and in the coming weeks and months you’ll hear more from us about financial issues for seniors. Here are some places you can go now for senior financial protection information:

• The Administration on Aging has Elder Rights Protection resources to make sure seniors can guard their rights.
  
• The Securities and Exchange Commission offers some tip sheets and resources.
  
• The FTC offers information on avoiding scams and fraudulent business practices, which advertise in ways that make them look like legitimate opportunities.

Via WSJ: "This year, the government will spend $80 billion on IT, at agencies as varied as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human Services, and on non-classified sections of the US Department of Defense [see Federal Cloud Computing Strategy Published]. As slices of government spending go, this is not huge, amounting to about 2 percent of the federal budget, but not trivial either. As has usually been the case, the government spends more (about $3.8 trillion in 2011) than it brings in via tax revenue (about $2.2 trillion in 2011). With Congress and the President wrestling over extending the debt ceiling, every dollar spent becomes a politically-charged particle of a wider debate over the appropriate role of government in our society...A keystone of Vivek Kundra [Chief Information Officer of the United States], is to push federal agencies to embrace, where possible and appropriate, the cost-savings and efficiency that come from cloud computing. Today he’s released exclusively to AllThingsD a list of 78 different government projects and services that have been identified for a shift to the cloud. Requests for proposals–RFPs, the documents through which government agencies seek bids from the private sector–are either already written or soon to be released." The list is embedded in this article using Scribd.

News release: "Preliminary FBI figures reveal that the levels of both violent crime and property crime in the U.S. declined in 2010 from the previous year's data. The 2010 Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, just released today, shows a 5.5 percent decrease in the number of reported violent crimes when compared with data from 2009. It also shows a 2.8 percent decline in reported property crimes. This latest report is based on information submitted to the FBI from 13,007 law enforcement agencies around the country. The crimes covered are murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson...There were some specific increases noted:

• The Northeast saw increases in some violent crime categories from 2009 figures—murder was up 8.3 percent, forcible rape up 1.4 percent, and aggravated assault up 0.7 percent.
  
• Cities with populations of 250,000 to 499,999 saw a 3.0 percent rise in murder, while cities with populations of 500,000 to 999,999 saw a 1.9 percent increase in forcible rape, and cities between 25,000 and 49,999 saw an increase of 1.3 percent in burglary.
  
• The Northeast also saw an increase in burglary—up 3.5 percent.
  
• Non-metropolitan counties reported slight increases in burglary (1.2 percent) and larceny-theft (3.2 percent)."

Know Before You Owe. Go!, by Patricia McCoy: "We’ve just posted two draft designs for a single, simpler mortgage disclosure form on our Know Before You Owe page. Now, we need to hear from you! The task is pretty simple: Consumers would receive a form similar to one of these versions within a few days of applying for a loan. Take a look, and tell us which one would do a better job of disclosing the necessary information. What information should lenders and brokers share with consumers when they apply for a mortgage?...At the heart of our work is the idea that the consumer financial product and services market should work for you. We think we should learn from you what you want to see. One of the best ways to do that is also the simplest: we’re asking."

PBS Newshour: 'As the Obama administration pushes ahead with plans to increase the use of electronic medical records, two internal reports released Tuesday by the Department of Health and Human Services revealed "significant concerns" about security gaps in the system. The Office of the Inspector General found "a lack of general [information technology] security controls during prior audits at Medicare contractors, State Medicaid agencies, and hospitals." The investigation audited computer security at seven large hospitals in different states, and found 151 major vulnerabilities, including unencrypted wireless connections, easy passwords, and even a taped-over door lock on a room used for data storage. The auditors classified 124 of the breeches were "high impact" - resulting in costly losses, injury or death. According to the report, "outsiders or employees at some hospitals could have accessed, and at one of the seven hospitals did access, systems and beneficiaries' personal data."

Roadmap for the Digital City - Achieving New York City's Digital Future - The City of New York, May 2011

News release: "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Library Network has been named Federal Library/Information Center of the Year by the Library of Congress. The award recognizes outstanding, innovative, and sustained achievements during fiscal year 2010 by a federal library or information center. EPA’s library network is an essential information partner with EPA staff and the public to support transparency, decision making, environmental awareness, and protection of people’s health and the environment...In FY2010, EPA libraries worked together to digitize 7,500 agency publications, adding to the growing inventory of more than 45,000 digital documents available to the public at no cost. Serving as a point of contact for public inquiries, EPA libraries collectively addressed nearly 9,000 public reference questions and loaned more than 8,000 documents, saving taxpayers an estimated $266,000."

Using Online Tools to Engage – and be Engaged by – The Public: While all federal agencies have developed “open government plans,” many managers find themselves unfamiliar with what tactics and tools work best, under different scenarios. Matt Leighninger, IBM Deliberative Democracy Consortium

Office of the Director of National Intelligence, 2010 Data Mining Report For the Period January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010 [via FAS, May 10, 2011]

Australia Trove: "Find and get over 238,389,330 (and counting) Australian and online resources: books, images, historic newspapers, maps, music, archives and more."

News release: "The Social Security Board of Trustees today released its annual report on the financial health of the Social Security Trust Funds. The combined assets of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds will be exhausted in 2036, one year sooner than projected last year. The DI Trust Fund, while unchanged from last year, will be exhausted in 2018 and legislative action will be needed soon. At a minimum, a reallocation of the payroll tax rate between OASI and DI would be necessary, as was done in 1994. The Trustees also project that OASDI program costs will exceed non-interest income in 2011 and will remain higher throughout the remainder of the 75-year period."

"Search.USA.gov is the U.S. government’s official search engine. It is a comprehensive, searchable index of about 50 million pages from federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal websites.

• Leverages Bing™ index of government websites.
  
• Customizes search using structured algorithms specific to government information.
  
• Optimizes search to retrieve and make sense of relevant information quickly.
  
• Improves navigation by providing customized search suggestions, such as related topics and type-ahead search.
  
• Enhances mobile access through a mobile site and native iPhone application.
  
• Provides access to all Spanish language government websites at Buscador.USA.gov"

Regulatory Actions Related to Foreclosure Activities by Large Servicers and Practical Implications for Community Banks, May 2011: "This Special Foreclosure Edition describes lessons learned from an interagency review of foreclosure practices at the 14 largest residential mortgage servicers and includes examples of effective mortgage servicing practices derived from these lessons."

CRS - Law Enforcement Use of Global Positioning (GPS) Devices to Monitor Motor Vehicles: Fourth Amendment Considerations, February 28, 2011

CDC Vital Signs, May 2011: "Asthma is a lifelong disease that causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. It can limit a person's quality of life. While we don't know why asthma rates are rising, we do know that most people with asthma can control their symptoms and prevent asthma attacks by avoiding asthma triggers and correctly using prescribed medicines, such as inhaled corticosteroids. The number of people diagnosed with asthma grew by 4.3 million from 2001 to 2009. From 2001 through 2009 asthma rates rose the most among black children, almost a 50% increase. Asthma was linked to 3,447 deaths (about 9 per day) in 2007. Asthma costs in the US grew from about $53 billion in 2002 to about $56 billion in 2007, about a 6% increase. Greater access to medical care is needed for the growing number of people with asthma."

Better Choices: Better Deals - Consumers Powering Growth. UK Department for Business, Innovations and Skills, April 2011

News release: "U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced several new measures that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is taking to help ensure that passengers traveling by bus are as safe as possible. The U.S. DOT will now require more rigorous commercial driver’s license testing standards, seek new rules to strengthen passenger carrier and driver compliance with federal safety regulations, and empower consumers to review safety records of bus companies before booking. Standing outside motorcoach buses at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, Secretary LaHood and Administrator Ferro also announced that FMCSA will be teaming up with state law enforcement to conduct unannounced motorcoach inspections at popular travel destinations throughout the spring and summer peak travel season."

"Pregnant women and new mothers deserve more than just flowers this Mother’s Day. They deserve the precious gift of good health for themselves and their babies. That’s why today I’d like to celebrate the benefits of text4baby, a free, mobile health information service that offers useful tips timed to a woman’s due date or baby’s date of birth. The beauty of text4baby is its simplicity. Text BABY (or BEBE in Spanish) to 511411, and receive three free SMS messages every week on important issues like nutrition, oral health, and immunization schedules. Text4baby also connects women to public clinics and support services for prenatal and infant care in their area. In the year since last Mother’s Day, text4baby has chalked up a number of exciting achievements that have improved the lives of the mothers it serves. The service has sent 12 million messages to more than 170,000 users with the support of over 500 outreach partners."

FDA - Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guidance - Fourth Edition, April 2011: "This guidance is intended to assist processors of fish and fishery products in the development of their Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans. Processors of fish and fishery products will find information in this guidance that will help them identify hazards that are associated with their products, and help them formulate control strategies. The guidance will help consumers and the public generally to understand commercial seafood safety in terms of hazards and their controls. The guidance does not specifically address safe handling practices by consumers or by retail establishments, although many of the concepts contained in this guidance are applicable to both. This guidance is also intended to serve as a tool to be used by federal and state regulatory officials in the evaluation of HACCP plans for fish and fishery products."

News release: "The U.S. Census Bureau [May 4, 2011] released the Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for the District of Columbia, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. The demographic profiles provide 2010 Census data on age and sex distributions, race, Hispanic or Latino origin, household relationship and type, the group quarters population, and housing occupancy and tenure (whether the housing occupant owns or rents). Throughout May, these profiles are being released on a rolling basis for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The profile includes more than 150 data items in all, plus percentage distributions...The demographic profiles can be found on the Census Bureau's American FactFinder website."

Employment Situation Summary - April 2011

Saving Money by Selling Excess Property: "We...are releasing data on thousands of excess properties across the country and an interactive map that allows you to see which excess properties are on the government’s books in your state so that you can hold Congress and the Administration accountable for our progress. You also can use this site to help us identify other properties in your communities that are not on the excess list but should be sold or otherwise disposed of. These excess properties are just the tip of the iceberg...The Federal Government is the biggest property owner in the U.S., and billions of taxpayer dollars are wasted each year on government properties that are no longer needed. The President has proposed a Civilian Property Realignment Board to help the Federal Government cut through red tape and politics to sell or get rid of property it no longer needs, saving taxpayers $15 billion over the first three years after the Board is fully up and running. There are roughly 14,000 buildings and structures currently designated as excess and thousands of others that are underutilized. These properties range from sheds to underutilized office buildings and empty warehouses."

• School Meal Programs: More Systematic Development of Specifications Could Improve the Safety of Foods Purchased through USDA's Commodity Program, GAO-11-376, May 03, 2011
• VA Health Care: Weaknesses in Policies and Oversight Governing Medical Equipment Pose Risks to Veterans' Safety, GAO-11-591T, May 03, 2011
• VA Health Care: Weaknesses in Policies and Oversight Governing Medical Supplies and Equipment Pose Risks to Veterans' Safety, GAO-11-391, May 03, 2011
• Overstay Enforcement: Additional Mechanisms for Collecting, Assessing, and Sharing Data Could Strengthen DHS's Efforts but Would Have Costs, GAO-11-411, April 15, 2011

News release: "Nuclear facilities licensed by the NRC routinely release very small amounts of radioactivity during normal operations. Even though the NRC closely monitors the plants and assures that these releases are well below regulatory limits, some community members remain concerned about potential health risks from these facilities. To address the concerns, the NRC has asked the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) – an independent group of experts chartered by Congress to carry out transparent, objective and detailed studies independent of the government — to examine how best to perform a state-of-the-art study on cancer risk for individuals living around NRC-licensed nuclear facilities. The NAS effort will study nuclear power plants that generate electricity and certain plants that create the nuclear fuel used in the power plants. The NRC is seeking the expertise of the NAS to update the 1990 report by the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute (NCI). This report, “Cancer in Populations Living Near Nuclear Facilities,” found that cancer mortality rates were not elevated in these populations. The NRC staff uses the NCI report as a primary resource during public discussions of cancer risk in communities that are near or around nuclear facilities."

"The International Research Portal is a collaboration of national and other archival institutions with records that pertain to Nazi-Era cultural property. These archival institutions, along with expert national and international organizations, are working together to extend public access to the widely-dispersed records through a single internet portal. The portal will enable families to research their losses, provenance researchers to locate important documentation, and historians to study newly accessible materials on the history of this period. This collaborative project was established to fulfill the 1998 Washington Conference Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art, the 2000 Vilnius Forum Declaration and the 2009 Terezin Declaration, in particular on the importance of making all such records publicly accessible. The portal links researchers to archival materials consisting of descriptions of records and, in many cases, digital images of the records that relate to cultural property that was stolen, looted, seized, forcibly sold, or otherwise lost during the Nazi-era. Cultural property documented in these records covers a broad range from artworks to books and libraries, religious objects, antiquities, archival documents, carvings, silver and more."

"The Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden - killed in Pakistan by U.S. special operations forces yesterday, ranked as “one of the most significant financial sponsors of Islamic terrorist activities in the world” as early as 1996, according to declassified U.S. documents posted on the web today by the National Security Archive at George Washington University. The Osama Bin Laden File includes the CIA’s 1996 biographic sketch, the infamous President’s Daily Brief from 6 August 2001 warning “Bin Ladin Determined to Strike in US,” a State Department issue paper from 2005 reporting that “some Taliban leaders operate with relative impunity in some Pakistan cities,” the 400-page Sandia National Laboratories profile of Bin Laden focusing on the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, the 2006 State Department cable on the Taliban’s regrouping in Pakistan’s tribal areas making them “a sanctuary beyond the reach of either Government,” the demands made on Pakistan right after 9/11 by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, and the only known conversation between the U.S. government and the Taliban leader Mullah Omar."

Implementing Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 IT Purchasing Requirements: M-1l-20 - Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies from Jacob Lew, director of the Office of Management and Budget, April 28, 2011

"A new economic analysis of federal government broadband stimulus projects awarded by the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) concludes that the program's funding of duplicative broadband networks has resulted in an extremely high cost to reach a small number of unserved households. The study, Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of RUS Broadband Subsidies: Three Case Studies, was commissioned by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and prepared by Jeffrey Eisenach and Kevin Caves of Navigant Economics of Washington, D.C., April 13, 2011."

"The U.S. Department of the Treasury will pay all federal benefit and non-tax payments electronically. Benefit recipients can choose to receive their payments by direct deposit to a bank or credit union account or to a Direct Express® Debit MasterCard® card account. Act now to get your money safely and quickly – on time, every time!

• If you will apply for federal benefits on or after May 1, 2011, you will need to choose your preferred electronic payment option when you enroll to receive benefits from the Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Personnel Management or Department of Labor (Black Lung). Find out what you'll need on hand.
  
• You will need to make the switch from paper benefit checks to electronic payments by March 1, 2013. Learn more or sign up now

DEA sponsors 2nd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day - Saturday, April 30, 2011- 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

FOIAs Related to Japan's Emergency: "To avoid duplication of effort and delays in response times, please take note of the following requests that have already been submitted to the NRC. Responses to these FOIA requests will be made publicly available as soon as possible."

Jason Miller, Executive Editor, Federal News Radio: "The General Services Administration is about to give the Obama administration's policy that requires agencies to use cloud computing a big boost. GSA plans on releasing a request for proposals May 10 for e-mail-as-a-service that could be worth $2.5 billion. Vivek Kundra, the federal chief information officer, said Wednesday there are $20 billion in systems across the government that could move to the cloud, and email and collaboration software are among the easiest first steps. We already are seeing 15 agencies that have identified 950,000 e-mail boxes across 100 email systems that are going to move to the cloud," he said during an update on the administration's 25-point IT reform plan at the White House. "This represents a huge opportunity for [vendors] to aggressively compete for these new opportunities in the cloud space and provide the government with the best value and most innovative technologies." Among those 15 agencies already on their way are the Agriculture Department and GSA. USDA is moving 120,000 employees to Microsoft's cloud, while GSA picked Unisys, which partnered with Google, to move as many as 30,000 employees to a new email system."

BLS Mobile Service: "In our never-ending quest to provide the American public with the latest labor economics and statistics data no matter where they are, we are introducing a mobile version of the BLS homepage. The mobile homepage is designed to give our visitors a quick view of the latest BLS statistical products such as the latest numbers data, links to our most recent economic releases and more. The BLS mobile service places today’s rapidly changing economic information in the palm of your hand. We value your feedback, so send us your comments and let us know what you would like to see in an expanded BLS Mobile site."

International Evidence on Food Consumption Patterns: An Update Using 2005 International Comparison Program Data, By Andrew Muhammad, James L. Seale, Jr., Birgit Meade, and Anita Regmi - Technical Bulletin No. (TB-1929) 59 pp, March 2011

"ForeSee Results today issued its quarterly report on the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s (ACSI) E-Government Satisfaction Index, which indicates that good federal government websites save the government money and foster democracy. The research quantifies a direct cause-and-effect relationship between highly satisfied citizens and cost savings for the government. Highly satisfied visitors to federal government websites save the federal government money by using the web channel as their primary means to interact with the government as opposed to costlier channels like call centers, mail, and brick-and-mortar customer service centers. Some estimates indicate that the federal government could save hundreds of millions of dollars on postage alone by right-channeling citizens to websites."

DOE: The GeoEVSE Forum is a government-industry collaboration committed to establishing a repository of public electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) location data for use by consumers and industry. A network of public charging stations, or EVSE, gives plug-in electric vehicle drivers alternatives to home charging and can extend driving range. Recognizing that these drivers need an easy way to locate EVSE, automakers have enabled vehicle navigation systems to locate the nearest available charging sites. A successful navigation system depends on a comprehensive database of publicly accessible EVSE locations, irrespective of equipment manufacturer or charging network. The U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) contains the locations of nearly 7,000 alternative fueling stations, including more than 600 EVSE locations. These locations are available to the public through the Alternative Fueling Station Locator and through third party websites that provide portals to the AFDC data."

Information Security Oversight Office’s (ISOO) Report to the President for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010: "This report provides information on the status of the security classification program as required by Executive Order 13526, “Classified National Security Information” (the Order). It provides statistics and analysis concerning key components of the system, primarily classification and declassification, and coverage of ISOO’s reviews. It also contains information with respect to industrial security in the private sector as required by Executive Order 12829, as amended, “National Industrial Security Program.” FY 2010 was a notable year for the security classification program. The initial implementation of Executive Order 13526 began in earnest and remains ongoing. To comply with your direction that a government-wide implementing directive be issued within 180 days, we led an interagency working group that developed 32 C.F.R. Part 2001 which became effective and binding on all appropriate Executive branch agencies on June 25, 2010. However, we are concerned about delays in the issuance of agency regulations implementing the Order. Despite the preparation of agency drafts and the completion of our review last Fall, many agencies failed to issue their regulations in final form by December 2010 and many have yet to issue them as of the date of this letter [April 15, 2011]."

Earth Day is April 22 - "Make every day Earth Day and help protect health and the environment throughout the year."

Energy Information Administration - Canada Country Analysis Brief: "Canada has been a significant component of the global energy trade due to its proximity to and trade with the largest energy consumer in the world, the United States. Canada maintains a surplus in all sellable energy commodities, exporting crude oil, natural gas, coal and electricity. The country is the most significant source for U.S. energy imports. The United States has traditionally provided the markets for Canada's energy exports. However, Asian countries are seeking greater access to Canada's natural resources to fuel Asia's own long-term economic growth. Canada produces and exports substantial volumes of primary energy and electricity. In 2008, Canada ranked fifth globally in total energy produced, generating 19.11 quadrillion British Thermal Units (Btu) of primary energy. Canada's geographical location and geological composition allow for a diversified supply of energy sources, ranging from coal to considerable hydropower generation capacity."

The Effects of Automatic Stabilizers on the Federal Budget - April 21, 2011. See also Tables to Accompany the 2011 Automatic Stabilizers Report

"Today, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released estimates of personal income at the county level for 2009. Among large counties (those with a population of more than 250,000) the change in personal income from 2008 to 2009 ranged from an 8.1 percent decline (in Oakland County, Michigan) to a 4.2 percent gain (in Loudoun County, Virginia). Growth slowed in all but one of the nation’s 255 large counties. For the nation, personal income fell 1.7 percent in 2009 after growing 4.0 percent in 2008. Per capita personal income (personal income divided by population) in large counties in 2009 ranged from $20,509 in Hidalgo County, Texas to $105,554 in New York County, New York (Manhattan). Among small counties, those with populations less than 50,000, swings in farm income accounted for much of the change in personal income from 2008 to 2009...A narrative for each county describing personal income using current estimates, growth rates, and a breakdown of the sources of personal income is available here."

News release: "U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced new airline passenger protections that will require airlines to reimburse passengers for bag fees if their bags are lost, provide consumers involuntarily bumped from flights with greater compensation, expand the current ban on lengthy tarmac delays, and disclose hidden fees. The rulemaking finalized today builds on passenger protections issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation in December 2009, which prohibited U.S. airlines operating domestic flights from permitting an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours, with exceptions for safety, security and air traffic control related-reasons. The rule also required U.S. airlines to provide basic services such as access to lavatories and water in the event of extended tarmac delays."

2008 Immigration/Emigration Supplement Data: "These data focus on five migration-related topics - citizenship, year of entry, residence one year ago, residents and emigrants abroad and monetary transfers. The monetary transfers section, in particular, is noteworthy because it represents the first time questions on both the giving and receiving of these transfers were included on a large, federally sponsored, nationally representative survey in the United States. This supplement to the Current Population Survey was fielded in August 2008. The purpose was to provide additional data to improve the statistics on the size and characteristics of the foreign-born population in the United States. These microdata can be downloaded from the Census Bureau website."

News release: "Over the last 12 months, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) all items index increased 2.7 percent before seasonal adjustment, the largest increase since December 2009. The food index has risen 2.9 percent over the past 12 months. The index for food at home has risen 3.6 percent with the index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs up 7.9 percent. The index for food away from home has risen 1.9 percent over the past 12 months. The energy index has now risen 15.5 percent over the last 12 months, with the gasoline index up 27.5 percent. The household energy index has risen 1.2 percent over the last 12 months, with the fuel oil index up 34.0 percent and the electricity index up 1.0 percent, but the index for natural gas down 5.5 percent. The index for all items less food and energy increased 1.2 percent over the last 12 months. This change is above the low of 0.6 percent in October, but is still below the 1.9 percent average over the last 10 years. The indexes for shelter, new vehicles, used cars and trucks, airline fares, and medical care are among those that have increased over the past year; the indexes for apparel, household furnishings and operations, and recreation have declined."

• Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Update on Federal Financial Risks and Claims Processing, GAO-11-397R, April 18, 2011
• Management Report: Improvements Are Needed in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, GAO-11-434R, April 18, 2011

News release: "The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday requested public comment on a proposed rule under Regulation Z that would require creditors to determine a consumer's ability to repay a mortgage before making the loan and would establish minimum mortgage underwriting standards. The revisions to the regulation, which implements the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), are being made pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The proposal would apply to all consumer mortgages (except home equity lines of credit, timeshare plans, reverse mortgages, or temporary loans)."

"The Federal Reserve Board has redesigned and expanded the Current FAQs (frequently asked questions) section of its website. New questions and answers address the Federal Reserve's roles and actions, currency and coin, consumer issues, the banking and financial system, and the economy. Many answers link to related information and resources, and videos accompany some answers. Users can navigate the FAQs by topic. Questions and answers will be updated regularly and new entries will be added as needed. Users may submit ideas for new questions using an online form."

EU: "77% of 13-16 year olds and 38% of 9-12 year olds in the EU have a profile on a social networking site, according to a pan-European survey carried out for the European Commission. Yet, a quarter of children who use social networking sites like Facebook, Hyves, Tuenti, Nasza-Klasa SchuelerVZ, Hi5, Iwiw or Myvip say their profile is set to "public" meaning that everyone can see it, and many of these display their address and/or phone number. The figures highlight the importance of the European Commission's upcoming review of the implementation of the Safer Social Networking Principles for the EU. This agreement was brokered by the Commission in 2009 (IP/09/232) when major social networking companies agreed to implement measures to ensure the online safety of their under 18s users. Children's safety online is an important part of the Digital Agenda for Europe (see IP/10/581, MEMO/10/199 and MEMO/10/200)."

• Safer Internet Programme
  
• Concrete tips for parents on how to keep your child safe online
  
• Digital Agenda website

News release: "Concluding a two-year bipartisan investigation, Senator Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Senator Tom Coburn M.D., R-Okla., Chairman and Ranking Republican on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, [April 13, 2011] released a 635-page final report on their inquiry into key causes of the financial crisis. The report catalogs conflicts of interest, heedless risk-taking and failures of federal oversight that helped push the country into the deepest recession since the Great Depression...[the] report presents new facts, new findings and recommendations, with more than 700 new documents totaling over 5,800 pages. It recounts how Washington Mutual aggressively issued and sold high-risk mortgages to Wall Street, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, even as its executives predicted a housing bubble that would burst, and offers new detail about how its regulator deferred to the bank’s management. New documents show how Goldman used net short positions to benefit from the downturn in the mortgage market, and designed, marketed, and sold CDOs in ways that created conflicts of interest with the firm’s clients and at times led to the bank’s profiting from the same products that caused substantial losses for its clients. Other new information provides additional detail about how credit rating agencies rushed to rate new mortgage-backed securities and collect lucrative rating fees before issuing mass ratings downgrades that shocked the financial markets and triggered a collapse in the value of mortgage related securities. Over 120 new documents provide insights into how Deutsche Bank contributed to the mortgage mess."

• REPORT - Wall Street & the Financial Crisis - Anatomy of a Financial Collapse
  
• FOOTNOTE EXHIBIT LOCATOR (by FN and Bates)
  
• FN 107 - 1342 (pgs 1-1037)
  
• FN 1343 - 1459 (pgs 1038-2164)
  
• FN 1462 - 1576 (pgs 2165-3003)
  
• FN 1584 - 1622 (pgs 3004-3448)
  
• FN 1623 - 2406 (pgs 3449-4484)
  
• FN 2409 - 2706 (pgs 4485-5459)
  
• FN 2724 - 2831 (pgs 5460-5901)

National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace, Enhancing Online Choice, Efficiency, Security, and Privacy - April 2011

Your 2010 Federal Taxpayer Receipt: "In his State of the Union Address, President Obama promised that this year, for the first time ever, American taxpayers would be able to go online and see exactly how their federal tax dollars are spent. Just enter a few pieces of information about your taxes, and the taxpayer receipt will give you a breakdown of how your tax dollars are spent on priorities like education, veterans benefits, or health care."

March 2011: "The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.5 percent in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.7 percent before seasonal adjustment. Gasoline and food prices continued to rise and together accounted for almost three quarters of the seasonally adjusted all items increase in March. The gasoline index posted its ninth consecutive increase and has now risen 14.4 percent over the last three months. The household energy index rose as well, with advances in the fuel oil and electricity indexes more than offsetting a decline in the index for natural gas. The food at home index continued to accelerate in March, rising 1.1 percent as all six major grocery store food groups increased."

• Davis-Bacon Act: Methodological Expertise Critical for Improving Survey Quality, GAO-11-486T, April 14, 2011
• Employment Verification: Agencies Have Improved E-Verify, but Significant Challenges Remain, GAO-11-522T, April 14, 2011
• Employment and Training Administration: More Actions Needed to Improve Transparency and Accountability of Its Research Program, GAO-11-285, March 15, 2011
  Permanent Link

• Improper Payments: Recent Efforts to Address Improper Payments and Remaining Challenges, GAO-11-575T, April 15, 2011
• Southwest Border: Border Patrol Operations on Federal Lands, GAO-11-573T, April 15, 2011
• Status of Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Improper Payments Reporting, GAO-11-443R, March 25, 2011

Majority And Minority Staff Report United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Wall Street And The Financial Crisis: Anatomy Of A Financial Collapse, April 13, 2011 - : "This 639 page report, which was part of a 2-year bi-partisan investigation by the U.S. Senate Permanent Committee on Investigations into the origins of the 2008 financial crisis. The goal of the report was to: "deepen the understanding of what happened; identify some of the root causes of the crisis; and provide a factual foundation for the ongoing effort to fortify the country against the recurrence of a similar crisis in the future." The report includes more than 150 interviews and depositions, and consultations with dozens of government, academic and private sector experts. In April 2010, the Subcommittee held four hearings examining four root causes of the financial crisis."

News release: "OnGuardOnline.gov, a partnership of fourteen federal agencies managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is informing consumers that an unexpected message from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) could be a warning sign that their Social Security number is being misused by an identity thief. OnGuardOnline.gov suggests that people contact the IRS if they receive a notice that: more than one tax return was filed in the consumer’s name, or IRS records show the consumer was paid by an employer that he or she does not know. People who think they have tax issues related to identity theft should let the IRS know as soon as possible, even if the taxpayer doesn’t have any evidence that the identity theft affected a tax return. Specialists in the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit will help identity theft victims file their tax returns, get any refund they are due, and protect their IRS accounts from identity thieves in the future. The IRS website has more information here, or consumers can call 1-800-908-4490. The unit’s hours are 8:00 am to 8:00 pm (local time)."

"The Affordable Care Act (ACA) calls for a number of web-based initiatives, including development of the website healthcare.gov which provides a variety of health information and helps individuals find coverage options. Therefore, understanding the level and quality of Internet access among those groups most likely to benefit from reform, such as the uninsured, those with lower incomes, and members of racial and ethnic minority groups, is an important consideration as health reform is implemented. A new Data Note, using data from The Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University Race and Recession Survey, conducted Jan. 27-Feb. 9, 2011, examines racial and ethnic disparities in the shares who report seeking out health information online, and explores the broader question of how disparities in Internet access might impact the abilities of different groups to access health care information available on the web as part of the ACA."

"the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (collectively “Commissions”) delivered to Congress a joint staff study on the “the feasibility of requiring the derivatives industry to adopt standardized computer-readable algorithmic descriptions which may be used to describe complex and standardized financial derivatives.” See Title VII, Sec. 719(b) of Dodd-Frank. Based on the public input, staff investigation and analysis, the joint study concludes that current technology is capable of representing derivatives using a common set of computer-readable descriptions. These descriptions are precise enough to use both for the calculation of net exposures and to serve as part or all of a binding legal contract."

Federal Reserve Governor Daniel K. Tarullo - Derivatives regulation, Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C., April 12, 2011

• Financial Literacy: The Federal Government's Role in Empowering Americans to Make Sound Financial Choices, GAO-11-504T, April 12, 2011
• Information Technology: Continued Improvements in Investment Oversight and Management Can Yield Billions in Savings, GAO-11-511T, April 12, 2011
• Tax Administration: Preliminary Information on Selected Foreign Practices That May Provide Useful Insights, GAO-11-540T, April 12, 2011

News release: "As part of their ongoing efforts to keep markets that they oversee open and fair for American consumers, the Federal Trade Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today announced that they signed an agreement to foster further cooperation between the two agencies by helping them share nonpublic information. The FTC and CFTC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will facilitate sharing of non-public information on investigations being conducted by the agencies, including investigations into the oil and gasoline markets. The agreement will help the FTC enforce its petroleum market manipulation rule, which prohibits fraudulent manipulation of U.S. petroleum markets. Information-sharing also will help the CFTC in exercising its authority to pursue manipulation in the oil markets."

"About one in three people of working age does not have a job in the OECD area. Faced with ageing populations, increasing employment rate has become crucial. And a further key challenge is to help companies and citizens to cope successfully with rapid technological change and globalisation. Our online Employment database allows to assess labour market performances of OECD countries, as regards employment and unemployment, job duration, working time and earnings. It also gives a picture of labour market policies and institutions through various indicators such as, expenditures on labour market policies, strictness of employment protection legislation, minimum wage and union membership."

"Last week, in conjunction with the release of its annual Human Rights Report, the State Department officially launched HumanRights.gov, a new central portal for international human rights-related information generated by the United States Government. HumanRights.gov was designed in the letter and spirit of President Obama’s Open Government Directive issued in January 2009, requiring Federal agencies to take specific steps to achieve key milestones in transparency, participation, and collaboration. HumanRights.gov is primarily aimed at increasing the American public’s access to human rights-related information and understanding of our global engagement on these critical issues. We hope that it proves equally valuable to citizens of other nations seeking to promote accountability and change in their own societies."

"In the run up to a major water policy review in 2012, the third and final report presents the water management measures introduced by Member States to tackle water scarcity and droughts and highlights the areas for further action. The report confirms that water scarcity and drought is not limited to Mediterranean countries. Apart from some sparsely-populated northern regions with abundant water resources, this is a growing issue across the EU. The Commission will further address this growing challenge in a review of EU water scarcity and drought policy which will form part of a “Blueprint” for safeguarding Europe's waters scheduled for 2012. Over the next months, the focus will be on filling in the knowledge and data gaps and carrying out an impact assessment. The report is accompanied by a staff working paper on the details of the activities carried out in the Member States.

• Report
  
• Accompanying staff working document
  
• Special Edition of the Report

BLS news release, April 8, 2011: "In October 2010, 68.1 percent of 2010 high school graduates were enrolled in colleges or universities, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Recent high school graduates not enrolled in college in October 2010 were more likely than enrolled graduates to be working or looking for work (76.6 percent compared with 40.0 percent). Information on school enrollment and work activity is collected monthly in the Current Population Survey (CPS), a nationwide survey of about 60,000 households that provides information on employment and unemployment."

2010 Human Rights Report, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, released April 8, 2011

Barack Obama (2009, Book 1), Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States

• Presidential Documents
  
• Photographic Portfolio
  
• XML Bulk Data

Dan Pfeiffer is White House Communications Director: "This deal cuts spending by $78.5 billion from the President’s FY 2011 Budget request -- the largest annual spending cut in our history. These are real cuts that will save taxpayers money and have a real impact. Many will be painful, and are to programs that we support, but the fiscal situation is such that we have to act. The two sides agreed to cut $13 billion from funding for programs at the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services as well as over $1 billion in a cut across non-defense agencies, forcing everyone to tighten their belt. There will be reductions to housing assistance programs and some health care programs along with $8 billion in cuts to our budget for State and Foreign Operations. These significant cuts to the State Department and foreign assistance will mean we will not meet some of the ambitious goals set for the nation in the President’s Budget..."

Presidential Policy Directive PPD-8, National Preparedness, March 30, 2011 [via FAS]

"April is Financial Literacy Month, and the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, has information to help you make the most of your money whether you’re a student, young adult, parent, older person, or military service member.

• Money Matters offers short, practical tips, videos, and links to reliable sources on a variety of topics in English and Spanish, ranging from credit repair, debt collection, job hunting, and job scams to vehicle repossession, managing mortgage payments, and avoiding foreclosure rescue scams.
  
• Free Annual Credit Reports offers details about a consumer’s right to a free copy of his or her credit report from each of the three national credit reporting agencies, upon request, once every 12 months. Reviewing one’s credit report regularly is an effective way to deter and detect identity theft.
  
• You Are Here is a virtual mall where kids experience the FTC’s mission by learning about advertising, competition, and how to protect their privacy.

Via Change.Gov, the Office of the President-Elect: "The Agency Review Teams for the Obama-Biden Transition will complete a thorough review of key departments, agencies and commissions of the United States government, as well as the White House, to provide the President-elect, Vice President-elect, and key advisors with information needed to make strategic policy, budgetary, and personnel decisions prior to the inauguration. The Teams will ensure that senior appointees have the information necessary to complete the confirmation process, lead their departments, and begin implementing signature policy initiatives immediately after they are sworn in."

"The FCC acted today to promote increased consumer access to nationwide mobile broadband service by adopting an Order that requires facilities-based providers of commercial mobile data services to offer data roaming arrangements to other such providers on commercially reasonable terms and conditions, subject to certain limitations. Consumers expect mobile data services that will allow them to remain connected wherever they go; a data roaming rule will help ensure that consumers’ services are not interrupted and that coverage is available on a competitive basis. The widespread availability of data roaming arrangements will allow consumers with mobile data plans to remain connected when they travel outside their own provider’s network coverage areas by using another provider’s network. This promotes connectivity and nationwide access to mobile data services such as email and wireless broadband Internet access. The rule the FCC adopted today promotes investment in and deployment of mobile broadband networks, consistent with the recommendations of the National Broadband Plan. This new investment in broadband will increase competition and benefit consumers; without data roaming guarantees, consumers will be limited in their choices, especially in rural areas."

Monthly Budget Review, April 2011, Based on the Monthly Treasury Statement for February and the Daily Treasury Statements for March

• 2010 Census: Preliminary Lessons Learned Highlight the Need for Fundamental Reforms, GAO-11-496T, April 06, 2011
• Aviation Security: TSA Is Taking Steps to Validate the Science Underlying Its Passenger Behavior Detection Program, but Efforts May Not Be Comprehensive, GAO-11-461T, April 06, 2011
• Federal Real Property: Progress Made on Planning and Data, but Unneeded Owned and Leased Facilities Remain, GAO-11-520T, April 06, 2011
• Financial Management: Audit of the Senate Gift Shop Revolving Fund for Fiscal Year 2010, GAO-11-326R, April 06, 2011
• Financial Management: Audit of the Senate Stationery Room Revolving Fund for Fiscal Year 2010, GAO-11-204R, April 06, 2011
• Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Potential Duplication in Federal Teacher Quality and Employment and Training Programs, GAO-11-509T, April 06, 2011
• State and Local Governments' Fiscal Outlook: April 2011 Update, GAO-11-495SP, April 06, 2011
• Davis-Bacon Act: Methodological Changes Needed to Improve Wage Survey, GAO-11-152, March 22, 2011

News release: "The 2010 Federal Reserve Payments Study released today reveals in greater detail increasing adoption of electronic alternatives for payments in the United States by consumers, businesses and governments. The study examined payments made between 2006 and 2009. In December, the Federal Reserve released a summary of the study’s findings that highlighted trends related to the use of payment cards and electronification of check processing. Debit card usage now exceeds all other forms of noncash payments and represents approximately 35 percent of total noncash payments. Much of the growth in debit card payments was due to increases in purchases for small dollar amounts; for example, the report reveals that 64 percent of all signature debit card transactions are now for amounts under $25. General purpose credit cards, with 44 percent being under $25, are also used for small dollar purchases. Study results showed that card usage varied by dollar amount. Nearly 50 percent of all card payments under $15 are made with signature debit cards, while 41 percent of all card payments over $25 are made with general purpose credit cards.

News release: "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing updated standards for light fixtures to qualify for the Energy Star label – an efficiency program that has saved consumers money on their energy bills while contributing to cleaner air and protecting people’s health since 1992. Effective October 1, 2011, to qualify for the Energy Star label light fixtures will need to increase efficiency 30 percent above currently qualified fluorescent-based fixtures. In 2013, performance requirements will increase further, providing 40 percent higher efficiency compared to currently qualified models."

• Defense Infrastructure: The Navy Needs Better Documentation to Support Its Proposed Military Treatment Facilities on Guam, GAO-11-206, Apr 5, 2011
• Human Services Programs: Opportunities to Reduce Inefficiencies, GAO-11-531T, Apr 5, 2011
• Medicaid and CHIP: Reports for Monitoring Children's Health Care Services Need Improvement, GAO-11-293R, Apr 5, 2011 - Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)--two joint federal-state health care programs for low-income families and children--play a critical role in addressing the health care needs of children. In 2008, more than 36 million children in the United States received health care coverage through Medicaid or CHIP. Like all children, children covered by Medicaid and CHIP may have health care conditions that could warrant care from primary care or specialist providers. At the same time, a significant number of children in Medicaid and CHIP may not be receiving basic preventive care, which these programs generally
• State Department Inspector General: Actions to Address Independence and Effectiveness Concerns Are Under Way GAO-11-382T, Apr 5, 2011

"The United States Government Manual is the official handbook of the Federal Government. This currently updated edition of the Government Manual provides comprehensive and authoritative information on the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. It also includes information on quasi-official agencies, international organizations with U.S. membership, and Federal boards, commissions, and committees. Agency descriptions typically include:

• A list of officials heading major operating units.
  A summary of the agency's mission and role in the Federal Government.
  
• A brief history of the agency, including its legislative or executive authority.
  
• A description of agency programs and activities.
  
• A set of websites, street addresses, and phone numbers for services, benefits, contracts and grants, employment, publications, and other public information.
  
• This website offers three ways to find information about Government agencies and organizations: Enter a term in the keyword search box at the top left of the home page; Browse by category using the pull-down menu in the middle of the home page; Use "The Government of the United States" site map at the top right of the home page for an overview of the Government."

Alex Howard, Gov 2.0: "Later this week, a new version of FCC.gov will go live. It’s a complete redesign of the Federal Communications Online presence. You could even call it a reboot, in keeping with the FCC launch of reboot.gov last January. There’s much more to report on when the new FCC.gov goes online. For now, here’s a preview of something nifty that’s already live: the new FCC custom URL shortener, FCC.us. The new custom URL shortener, is based upon bit.ly, like the 1.usa.gov URL shortener for civilian use. It automatically shortens any FCC.gov that’s shortened using bit.ly or the shorter j.mp. For instance, FCC.gov/developer becomes http://fcc.us/bkJYlG. In a new media world that is often shortened to 140 characters, that’s rather handy."

• Defense Acquisitions: CH-53K Helicopter Program Has Addressed Early Difficulties and Adopted Strategies to Address Future Risks, GAO-1-332, April 04, 2011
• Factors for Evaluating the Cost Share of Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program to Assist Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturers GAO-11-437R, April 04, 2011
• Lead In Tap Water: CDC Public Health Communications Need Improvement, GAO-11-279, March 14, 2011

Speech by Chairman Ben S. Bernanke At the 2011 Financial Markets Conference, Stone Mountain, Georgia, April 4, 2011 - Clearinghouses, Financial Stability, and Financial Reform

"With renewed attention to the nation’s long-term budget deficit and the national debt, proposed changes to Medicare and other federal entitlement programs could significantly affect health coverage and spending for millions of older and disabled Americans. These three data spotlights from the Kaiser Family Foundation provide new information on out-of-pocket health care spending among the nation’s 48 million Medicare beneficiaries, as well as income and asset projections for future beneficiaries by race, ethnicity and other demographic factors.

• Fact Sheet - Health Care on a Budget: The Financial Burden of Health Spending by Medicare Households
  
• Fact Sheet - How Much “Skin in the Game” is Enough? The Financial Burden of Health Spending for People on Medicare
  
• Fact Sheet - Projecting Income and Assets: What Might the Future Hold for the Next Generation of Medicare

Opening keynote address as delivered on April 4 by Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator as part of the First National Climate Assessment Federal Advisory Committee Meeting in Washington, DC.

• "In the U.S., climate-related changes are being documented: more frequent extreme weather events, longer growing seasons, shifting ranges of plant and animal species, and record low Arctic sea ice coverage in the summer.
  
• Future changes are projected to be larger and more rapid than those experienced over the past century and the impacts will extend across all economic sectors, including water resources, energy, transportation, agriculture, forestry, coasts, fisheries, and human health.
  
• Climate variability and climate change are profoundly affecting our society and way of life. Some impacts of climate change may benefit sectors in certain areas of the country, and others will pose major challenges to our economy, our health, and our planet’s resources. The National Climate Assessment should strive to help the nation prepare for both the opportunities and challenges of climate change."
  
• Related postings on climate change

"This report - the eighteenth annual report - presents the U.S. Energy Information Administration's latest estimates of emissions for carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and other greenhouse gases. For this report, activity data on coal and natural gas consumption and electricity sales and losses by sector were obtained from the January 2011 Monthly Energy Review (MER).
In keeping with current international practice, this report presents data on greenhouse gas emissions in million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent. The data can be converted to carbon equivalent units by multiplying by 12/44. Data on ozone-depleting gases with high global warming potentials (high-GWP gases) are obtained directly from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For this report, updated EPA values were available for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs); however, no updates were available for perfluorocarbons (PFCs) or sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and last year's values are used instead. Historical data in the chapter tables are revised from the data contained in the previous Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2008."

"The Vault is our new electronic reading room, containing more than 2,000 documents that have been scanned from paper into digital copies so you can read them in the comfort of your home or office. Included here are more than 25 new files that have been released to the public but never added to this website; dozens of records previously posted on our site but removed as requests diminished; and files from our previous electronic reading room. The Vault includes several new tools and resources for your convenience: Searching for Topics; Searching for Key Words; Viewing the Files; Requesting a Status Update." [via Michael Ravnitzky]

What are the furloughs: "The Disability Determination Services (DDS) are state agencies responsible for developing medical evidence and making disability determinations. The Federal Government fully funds the DDS budgets through the Social Security Administration (SSA). The current economic climate presents budget-balancing challenges for many states. As a result, some states are furloughing state employees. A furlough is when a state places an employee in a temporary non-duty, non-pay status. 100% of the resources states use to make disability determinations are federally funded. States may not use the funding for any other purpose or program. The states save no money by furloughing employees working in the DDS. Federal regulations require that states avoid furloughs or other hiring restrictions whenever possible. The interactive map shows each DDS:

• In furlough;
  
• Exempt from furlough;
  
• Previously in furlough;
  
• Not in furlough
  
• In states that have ever been in furlough status, the corresponding state profile lists the aggregate estimated administrative funding lost to date, the aggregate estimated number of cases delayed to date, and the aggregate estimated dollar value of disability benefits delayed to date. In a state exempt or not in furlough status, these estimated numbers are shown by furlough ‘day’."

Employment Situation, March 2011: "Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 216,000 in March, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 8.8 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job gains occurred in professional and business services, health care, leisure and hospitality, and mining. Employment in manufacturing continued to trend up. The number of unemployed persons (13.5 million) and the unemployment rate (8.8
percent) changed little in March. The labor force also was little changed over the month. Since November 2010, the jobless rate has declined by 1.0 percentage point."

Best Practices Study of Social Media Records Policies, ACT-IAC Collaboration & Transformation (C&T) Shared Interest Group (SIG), March 2011

"This is the official YouTube Channel for the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In addition to these video recordings, you may find audio recordings of our hearings on our internet site at http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov."

OMB prepares for open gov sites to go dark in May: "Government sources confirm that the Office of Management and Budget is planning to take seven websites dark in two months because of a lack of funding. One government official, who requested anonymity because they didn't get permission to discuss the topic, said funding will begin to run out on April 20 for public sites IT Dashboard, Data.gov and paymentaccuracy.gov. The source said OMB also is planning on shutting down internal government sites, including Performance.gov, FedSpace and many of the efforts related the FEDRamp cloud computing cybersecurity effort. The official said two other sites, USASpending.gov and Apps.gov/now, will run through July 30 but go dark soon after."

• 2010 Lobbying Disclosure: Observations on Lobbyists' Compliance with Disclosure Requirements, GAO-11-452, April 01, 2011
• Military Base Realignments and Closures: Review of the Iowa and Milan Army Ammunition Plants, GAO-11-488R, April 01, 2011
• Combating Child Pornography: Steps Are Needed to Ensure That Tips to Law Enforcement Are Useful and Forensic Examinations Are Cost Effective, GAO-11-334, March 31, 2011
• Key Indicator Systems: Experiences of Other National and Subnational Systems Offer Insights for the United States, GAO-11-396, March 31, 2011

Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of the Inspector General - Evaluation Report: Evaluation of Federal Housing Finance Agency's Oversight of Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's Executive Compensation Programs (EVL-2011-002, March 31, 2011)

Institute of Medicine Report - The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Building a Foundation for Better Understanding, March 31, 2011

"Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz today issued the FTC’s 2011 Annual Report at the American Bar Association’s Section of Antitrust Law Spring Meeting in Washington, DC, highlighting the agency’s continued efforts to protect financially distressed consumers and promote competition during the economic downturn.

A Review of CBO's Activities in 2010 Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, March 31, 2011

Regulating Systemic Risk - Governor Daniel K. Tarullo At the 2011 Credit Markets Symposium, Charlotte, North Carolina, March 31, 2011

News release: "The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today released proposed new rules to help doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers better coordinate care for Medicare patients through Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). ACOs create incentives for health care providers to work together to treat an individual patient across care settings – including doctor’s offices, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. The Medicare Shared Savings Program will reward ACOs that lower health care costs while meeting performance standards on quality of care and putting patients first. Patient and provider participation in an ACO is purely voluntary. The proposed new rules will help doctors, hospitals, and other providers form ACOs and are now available for public comment. HHS also announced it will hold a series of open-door forums and listening sessions during the comment period to help the public understand what the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency administering the ACO program, is proposing to do and to ensure that the public understands how to participate in the formal comment process."

• Border Security: DHS Progress and Challenges in Securing the U.S. Southwest and Northern Borders, GAO-11-508T, March 30, 2011
• Key Events Leading to the Termination of the Delphi Defined Benefit Plans, GAO-11-373R, March 30, 2011
• Rural Housing Service: Opportunities Exist to Strengthen Farm Labor Housing Program Management and Oversight, GAO-11-329, March 30, 2011
• Department of Energy: Advanced Technology Vehicle Loan Program Implementation Is Under Way, but Enhanced Technical Oversight and Performance Measures Are Needed, GAO-11-145, February 28, 2011
• Older Americans Act: More Should Be Done to Measure the Extent of Unmet Need for Services, GAO-11-237, February 28, 2011
• VA Education Benefits: Actions Taken, but Outreach and Oversight Could Be Improved, GAO-11-256, February 28, 2011

"A report by the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee published March 30, 2011 has called for a competition probe into the Big Four auditors’ oligopoly. Their 'complacency' and 'dereliction of duty' contributed to financial crisis, the report found. The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee's report follows an eight month investigation into the audit market. There are three main areas of findings. ‘The Big Four auditors’ domination of the large firm audit market limits competition and choice’ In 2010 they audited 99 of the FTSE 100 largest listed companies, which change auditors every 48 years on average. In bank audit in the UK only three of the Big Four are active. And there is the risk that one of the Big Four might leave the audit market, leading to an unacceptable degree of market concentration. The Committee calls on the Office of Fair Trading to hold a detailed investigation into the audit market with a view to a possible inquiry by the Competition Commission. It recognises that the global reach of the Big Four audit firms – Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers – goes beyond the scope of national authorities, but considers that the UK should take a lead since London is a major global financial centre where the Big Four are particularly prominent."

News release: "Federal financial regulatory agencies request comment on a joint proposed rule to ensure that regulated financial institutions design their incentive compensation arrangements to take account of risk. The proposed rule, which is being issued pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, would apply to certain financial institutions with more than $1 billion in assets. It also contains heightened standards for the largest of these institutions. In prohibiting incentive compensation arrangements that could encourage inappropriate risks, the proposal would require compensation practices at regulated financial institutions to be consistent with three key principles--that incentive compensation arrangements should appropriately balance risk and financial rewards, be compatible with effective controls and risk management, and be supported by strong corporate governance. The proposed rule complements guidance previously issued by the agencies, including guidance on sound incentive compensation policies issued by the banking agencies last year."

Review of CBO's Cost Estimate for the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Testimony before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives,March 30, 2011.

Workplace Violence, 1993-2009, Erika Harrell, Ph.D., BJS Statistician, March 29, 2011. NCJ 233231

Financial Ombudsman Service, Financial Services Authority and the Office of Fair Trading Consumer complaint (emerging risks and mass claims): Feedback on DP10/1

• From the March 2011 "In Summary Newsletter": "We – the Financial Services Authority (FSA), the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the Financial Ombudsman Service (the ombudsman service) – are publishing a Feedback Statement, setting out how we intend to strengthen our coordination on complaints handling in the financial services industry, and our response to the feedback we received to last year’s Discussion Paper (DP) on this topic. Since the paper covers how firms handle complaints, it could be of interest to all financial services firms, as well as their trade associations. It is also of interest to consumer groups. Inadequate complaints handling remains a major issue. If we are to rebuild consumer confidence in the financial services industry, complainants must be treated fairly, and risks must be identified and dealt with before they turn into widespread problems."
  
• FSA/OFT/FOS Coordination Committee
  
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Claims Management Regulator and the Financial Services Authority
  
• FSA Handbook

Report on the Troubled Asset Relief Program, March 29, 2011: "In October 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Division A of Public Law 110-343) established the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to enable the Department of the Treasury to promote stability in financial markets through the purchase and guarantee of "troubled assets." Section 202 of that legislation requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to submit semiannual reports on the costs of the Treasury's purchases and guarantees of troubled assets. The law also requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to prepare an assessment of each OMB report within 45 days of its issuance. That assessment must discuss three elements:

Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan - At what risk? Correcting over-reliance on contractors in contingency operations, Second Interim Report to Congress, Recommendations for Legislative and Policy Changes Commission, February 24, 2011

News release: "The staffs of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (together, the agencies) announced that the agencies this week are considering for approval a notice of proposed rulemaking that addresses section 941 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act...Section 941 requires the agencies to prescribe rules to require that a securitizer retain an economic interest in a material portion of the credit risk for any asset that it transfers, sells, or conveys to a third party. The chairperson of the Financial Stability Oversight Council is tasked with coordinating this rulemaking effort."

Internet Access Services: Status as of June 30, 2010, Industry Analysis and Technology Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, March 2011: "This report summarizes information about Internet access connections over 200 kilobits per second (kbps) in at least one direction in service in the United States on June 30, 2010, as collected by FCC Form 477. Form 477 gathers standardized information about subscribership to Internet access services in the fifty states, District of Columbia, and inhabited insular areas (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands). The information is reported by telephone companies, cable system operators, terrestrial wireless service providers, satellite service providers, and other facilities-based providers of advanced telecommunications capability.
Notable developments during the first half of 2010 include:

News release: "Today, the OpenNet Initiative, a partnership between the Citizen Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs (Munk School) and the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, announced the release of a new report titled West Censoring East: The Use of Western Technologies by Middle East Censors, 2010-2011 by Helmi Noman and Jillian C. York. The OpenNet Initiative has documented network filtering by national governments of the Internet in more than forty countries worldwide. National governments use network filtering as one of many methods to control the flow of online content, and utilize a variety of technical means to institute such filtering. The report analyzes the use of three American and Canadian-made tools: Websense, McAfee SmartFilter, and Netsweeper for the purpose of government-level filtering in the Middle East and North Africa. The investigation found that nine countries in the region utilize Western-made tools for the purpose of blocking social and political content, effectively blocking a total of over 20 million Internet users from accessing such websites. The authors analyze as well the increasing opacity of the usage of Western-made tools for filtering at the national level."

News release: "While most home appliances have become more efficient over the past 30 years, the average U.S. household uses many more consumer electronics — in particular, personal computers, televisions and related devices, according to data released today by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) in the latest update to its Residential Energy Consumption Survey. This new information on the ways energy is used in American homes is the first release of 2009 data from the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), which EIA has conducted periodically since 1979. Notable trends in household energy characteristics include:

• 58 percent of U.S. homes had energy-efficient, multi-pane windows, up from 36 percent in the 1993 survey
  
• 76 percent of the 114 million U.S. homes had at least one computer, eight percentage points more than just four years prior; 35 percent had multiple computers
  
• 68 million homes have energy-efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) or light-emitting diode (LED) lights
  
• 44 percent of all U.S. homes had three or more televisions. Screen size and average energy consumption per television continue to grow.
  
• The initial RECS 2009 household energy characteristics data can be found here."

Flow of Funds Guide: "This interactive documentation serves as a guide to the data compiled and published as part of the “Flow of Funds Accounts of the United States” (Z.1) data release and the Integrated Macroeconomic Accounts. This comprehensive documentation system is designed to help a user understand the links between series and underlying source data by providing the capability to search or browse the vast amount of information underlying the Z.1 and the Integrated Macroeconomic Accounts."

Enabling Distributed Security in Cyberspace - Building a Healthy and Resilient Cyber Ecosystem with Automated Collective Action, March 23, 2011

This FAQ comprises Q&A from three federal agencies concerning Iodine-131 (131I), also called radioiodine: EPA, FDA and CDC.

The Office of Special Investigations: Striving for Accountability in the Aftermarth of the Holocaust, by Judy Feigin, Edited by Mark M Richard, Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice Criminal Division, December 2008

"In 2009, the Social Security Administration administered the delivery of one-time economic recovery payments of $250 for most recipients of Social Security, Railroad Retirement, Supplemental Security Income, and Veterans' Benefits. Individuals who qualified for or received any of these benefits anytime from November 2008 through January 2009 were eligible to receive this one-time economic recovery payment. The payments were sent by the Department of Treasury during May 2009. To examine the impact of these payments, staff of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) included special questions in the Interview component of the Consumer Expenditure Survey from July through September 2009. These questions were designed to collect information on whether the payment was received, and how it was used—whether the money was used mostly for spending, mostly for saving, or mostly for paying off debt. This report contains the first analysis of these data by staff of BLS. In the text that follows, consumer units that include at least one member who received a payment are referred to as recipient consumer units, and members who received a payment are recipients."

Large and Deadly Earthquakes This Year - Earthquakes Magnitude 7 and Greater

National Income and Product Accounts Gross Domestic Product: Fourth Quarter and Annual 2010 (Third Estimate) Corporate Profits: Fourth Quarter and Annual 2010

Bahrain Country Analysis Brief, Mar 23, 2011: "Despite its relatively low volumes of oil production, Bahrain's oil sector accounts for about 70 percent of total government revenues. The country's exports are mainly in the form of refined petroleum products rather than crude oil. Bahrain's proven oil reserves stood at 125 million barrels as of January 2011, according to Oil and Gas Journal, all of which are located in the Awali field. In addition to the 46,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) produced in its territory, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia share the 300,000 bbl/d of oil production from the offshore Abu Safah field. This figure is counted in Saudi oil production figures, but half of the output is allocated to Bahrain. For an analysis of Bahrain's energy sector, please see our updated Country Analysis Brief."

Privacy Impact Assessment for the Use of Unidirectional Social Media Applications Communications and Outreach, March 8, 2011. Kathleen McShea
Director of New Media and Web Communications, Office of Public Affairs, Department of Homeland Security

• EEOC fact sheets about the law and new regulations: EEOC - The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008
• EEOC press release: EEOC Announces Final Bipartisan Regulations for the ADA Amendments Act
• Federal Register: Regulations To Implement the Equal Employment Provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act, as Amended

Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization (Annual Revision) - G.17: "The Federal Reserve has revised its index of industrial production (IP) and the related measures of capacity and capacity utilization. Although the revisions affect these data for January 1972 through February 2011, the most significant effects are for the period from 2008 through 2010. Measured from fourth quarter to fourth quarter, total IP is now reported to have declined 1.4 percentage points and 1.7 percentage points more sharply in 2008 and in 2009, respectively, and to have risen 0.5 percentage point more rapidly in 2010. That said, the broad contour of total IP in recent years is similar to previous estimates, and the dates of the recent peak (September 2007) and the recent trough (June 2009) are unchanged from the earlier estimates. However, the peak-to-trough decline in total IP, at 17.1 percent, is 2.0 percentage points larger than previously estimated. As of February 2011, total IP is now shown to have reversed about 55 percent of its peak-to-trough decline, somewhat less than previously reported."

"The Women@Nasa website includes a stunning collection of 32 videos and essays from women across the agency who contribute to NASA’s mission in many different ways. We hope to give you a glimpse of the talent we have at the agency today. Their stories illuminate the vibrant community of dedicated women workers who play a vital role at the agency. You’ll hear stories of women overcoming almost every obstacle imaginable to pursue their dreams and make a difference in the world. In the future, we hope that the website will support a collaborative and supportive community of women at NASA, and serve as the hub of all activity related to women’s issues at the agency. In addition, we hope that these stories will inspire girls everywhere to reach for the stars, and explore the myriad of opportunities available to them through pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), Federal Health Information Technology Strategic Plan 2011 – 2015

• Credit Cards: Consumer Costs for Debt Protection Products Can Be Substantial Relative to Benefits but Are Not a Focus of Regulatory Oversight, GAO-11-311, March 25, 2011
• Defense Acquisitions: Application of Lessons Learned and Best Practices in the Presidential Helicopter Program, GAO-11-380R, March 25, 2011
• Missile Defense: Actions Needed to Improve Transparency and Accountability, GAO-11-372, March 24, 2011
• Private Health Insurance Coverage: Expert Views on Approaches to Encourage Voluntary Enrollment, GAO-11-392R, February 25, 2011

News release: "The Federal Reserve Board on Friday adopted two rules that would expand the coverage of consumer protection regulations to credit transactions and leases of higher dollar amounts. The final rules amend Regulation Z (Truth in Lending) and Regulation M (Consumer Leasing) to implement a provision of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Effective July 21, 2011, the Dodd-Frank Act requires that the protections of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and the Consumer Leasing Act (CLA) apply to consumer credit transactions and consumer leases up to $50,000, compared with $25,000 currently. This amount will be adjusted annually to reflect any increase in the consumer price index."

Full release and tables: "State personal income rose an average 3.0 percent in 2010 after falling 1.7 percent in 2009, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. State personal income growth ranged from 0.3 percent in Nevada to 4.2 percent in New Mexico. Inflation, as measured by the national price index for personal consumption expenditures, increased to 1.7 percent in 2010 from 0.2 percent in 2009. All three major components of personal income (earnings, property income, and personal current transfer receipts) grew in 2010. In 2009 only transfers grew as lower employment reduced earnings and lower interest rates and profits reduced property income (dividends, interest, and rent). The 7.6 percent growth of transfer receipts in 2010 was larger than the 2.4 percent growth of earnings and the 0.6 percent growth of property income."

News release: "State government tax collections decreased $14.3 billion to $704.6 billion in fiscal year 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. There was a $65.8 billion decrease in 2009. These new data come from the 2010 Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections, which contains annual statistics on the fiscal year tax collections of all 50 state governments, including receipts from licenses and compulsory fees. Tax revenues also include related penalty and interest receipts of the governments. According to the survey, corporate net income tax revenue was $38.2 billion, down 6.6 percent, while tax revenue on individual income was $236.4 billion, down 4.4 percent. General sales tax revenue was $224.5 billion, down 1.8 percent. These taxes comprised 70.8 percent of all state government tax collections nationally.

Alternative Approaches to Funding Highways, March 23, 2011

• DOD and VA Health Care: Federal Recovery Coordination Program Continues to Expand but Faces Significant Challenges, GAO-11-250, March 23, 2011
• End-Stage Renal Disease: CMS Should Assess Adequacy of Payment When Certain Oral Drugs Are Included and Ensure Availability of Quality Monitoring Data, GAO-11-365, March 23, 2011

News release: "The Federal Reserve System on Tuesday released the 2010 combined annual comparative financial statements for the Federal Reserve Banks, as well as for the 12 individual Federal Reserve Banks, the limited liability companies (LLCs) that were created to respond to strains in financial markets, and the Board of Governors. These financial statements are audited annually by an independent auditing firm. Total Reserve Bank assets as of December 31, 2010, were $2.428 trillion, which represents an increase of $193 billion from the previous year. The composition of the balance sheet changed notably. Holdings of U.S. Treasury securities increased $261 billion and holdings of federal agency and government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) mortgage-backed securities (MBS) increased $86 billion. These increases were partly offset by a $96 billion decrease in loans to depository institutions and a $23 billion decrease in loans extended under the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, largely due to early repayments by borrowers."

• The Federal Government's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: January 2011 Update [Reissued on March 22, 2011] GAO-11-451SP, March 18, 2011
• Elder Justice: Stronger Federal Leadership Could Enhance National Response to Elder Abuse [Reissued on March 22, 2011] GAO-11-208, March 02, 2011

News release: "At a time when many consumers are having trouble paying their debts, the Federal Trade Commission issued its 33rd annual report describing the agency’s law enforcement and other efforts to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, and abusive debt collection practices. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits these and other improper practices by third-party debt collectors and requires that the Commission submit annual reports to Congress discussing the agency’s administration of the FDCPA. Data in the report, Federal Trade Commission Annual Report 2011: Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (March 2011), show that in 2010, as in other recent years, the FTC received more complaints about debt collection than any other single industry. Specifically, the agency received 140,036 debt collection complaints in 2010, up from 119,609 complaints in 2009. The top three categories of complaints about third-party collectors were:

• calling repeatedly or continuously;
  
• misrepresenting the character, amount, or status of the debt (including demanding a larger payment than is permitted by law); and
  
• failing to send consumers a statutorily required written notice about the debt and their rights.

Energy Information Administration: "Libya, the largest holder of proven oil reserves in Africa and until recently its fourth largest oil producer, exports most of the energy it produces. Europe is the major market for both oil and natural gas exports from Libya. Following the outbreak of civil unrest in mid-February, Libyan oil and natural gas production has been cut by 60 to 90 percent, affecting Libya's energy exports. Oil exports have fallen with production and Libya's natural gas exports to Italy via the Greenstream pipeline stopped in late February. Libya produced an estimated 1.8 million barrels per day (bbl/d) of oil in 2010, of which 1.5 million bbl/d were exported. Libya exports nine grades of crude oil. API gravities range from 26.0 degrees to 43.3 degrees, with a sulfur content as low as 0.2-0.3%. While the lighter, sweeter grades are generally sold to Europe, the heavier crude oils are often exported to Asian markets."

FDIC Comprehensive Seminar On Deposit Insurance Coverage For Bankers, March 23, 2011

• Financial Audit: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Funds' 2010 and 2009 Financial Statements, GAO-11-412, March 18, 2011
• The Federal Government's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: January 2011 Update, GAO-11-451SP, March 18, 2011
• Medicare Part D: CMS Conducted Fraud and Abuse Compliance Plan Audits, but All Audit Findings Are Not Yet Available, GAO-11-269R, February 18, 2011

"The BIS Quarterly Review for March 2011, discusses how expectations of higher growth in the advanced economies and surging commodity prices pushed up short-term inflation expectations. Full text 97 pages."

Japanese Nuclear Emergency: Radiation Monitoring: "As of 1:00 p.m. (EDT) on March 20, EPA's RadNet radiation air monitors across the U.S. show typical fluctuations in background radiation levels. The levels detected are far below levels of concern. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has said we do not expect to see radiation at harmful levels reaching the U.S. from damaged Japanese nuclear power plants..More Due to the events in Japan and the heightened interest in radiation monitoring data, EPA has developed new content RadNet Map View which contains monitoring data and additional contextual information from EPA's Radiation Protection Programs."

News release: "The Federal Reserve on Friday announced it has completed the Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR), its cross-institution study of the capital plans of the 19 largest U.S. bank holding companies. As a result of the CCAR, some firms are expected to increase or restart dividend payments, buy back shares, or repay government capital. The Federal Reserve on Friday will discuss the reviews and its decisions with firms that requested a capital action. All 19 firms will receive more detailed assessments of their capital planning processes next month. In February 2009, the Federal Reserve advised bank holding companies that safety and soundness considerations required that dividends be substantially reduced or eliminated. Since that time, the Federal Reserve has indicated that increased capital distributions would generally not be considered prudent in the absence of a well-developed capital plan and a capital position that would remain strong even under adverse conditions. The Federal Reserve's actions on capital distributions come after significant improvement in both economic conditions and the capital positions of financial institutions. From the end of 2008 through 2010, common equity increased by more than $300 billion at the 19 largest U.S. bank holding companies."

Preliminary Analysis of the President's Budget for 2012, March 18, 2011: "This report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) presents a preliminary analysis of the proposals contained in the President's budget for fiscal year 2012 and their estimated effects on federal revenues, outlays, and budget deficits. A report presenting CBO's full analysis of the President's budget, including an assessment of the macroeconomic effects of the President's proposals, will be published in April. As a basis for analyzing the President's budget, CBO updated its baseline budget projections, which were last issued in January 2011. Unlike its estimates of the President's budget, CBO's baseline projections largely reflect the assumption that current tax and spending laws will remain unchanged. Under that assumption, CBO estimates that the deficit will total $1.40 trillion in 2011—$81 billion less than the agency estimated in January. For the following 10 years (2012 to 2021), CBO now projects a cumulative deficit of $6.7 trillion—$234 billion less than the amount in the previous baseline. CBO has not modified its economic forecast since January, so the updated baseline projections mainly reflect new information that the agency has obtained about various aspects of the federal budget since the previous projections were completed."

News release: "The Department of Defense today released the Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military. This year’s report also incorporates results from the quadrennial 2010 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members, an anonymous and voluntary survey conducted by the Defense Manpower Data Center, which measures gender issues among members of the armed forces. Over the last two years, the department has made significant efforts to prevent and respond to sexual assault. While it appears these efforts are beginning to payoff, there is still work to do to integrate and continue our efforts across the department and the services."

Japanese Nuclear Emergency: Basic Radiation Facts From EPA: Includes tabs with information specific to: Technical Users, General Public, Reporters, Librarians, Students/Teachers.

• 401(k) Plans: Issues Involving Securities Lending in Plan Investments, GAO-11-359T, March 16, 2011
• Cybersecurity: Continued Attention Needed to Protect Our Nation's Critical Infrastructure and Federal Information Systems, GAO-11-463T, March 16, 2011
• Department of Labor: Further Management Improvements Needed to Address Information Technology and Financial Controls, GAO-11-157, March 16, 2011
• Government Performance: GPRA Modernization Act Provides Opportunities to Help Address Fiscal, Performance, and Management Challenges, GAO-11-466T, March 16, 2011
• Private Health Insurance: Data on Application and Coverage Denials, GAO-11-268, March 16, 2011
• 401(K) Plans: Certain Investment Options and Practices That May Restrict Withdrawals Not Widely Understood, GAO-11-291, March 10, 2011

News release: "The Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) to further clarify application of the orderly liquidation authority contained in Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, "Orderly Liquidation Authority" (OLA). The NPR builds on the interim rule approved by the FDIC on January 18, 2011, which clarified certain discrete issues under the OLA. The NPR approved today establishes a comprehensive framework for the priority payment of creditors and for the procedures for filing a claim with the receiver and, if dissatisfied, pursuing the claim in court. The NPR also clarifies additional issues important to the implementation of the OLA, including how compensation will be recouped from senior executives and directors who are substantially responsible for the failure of the firm. The NPR, along with the interim final rule, is intended to provide clarity and certainty about how key components of OLA will be implemented and to ensure that the liquidation process under Title II reflects the Dodd-Frank Act's mandate of transparency in the liquidation of covered financial companies."

News release: "U.S. import prices rose 1.4 percent in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, following a similar 1.3 percent advance in January. The price index for U.S. exports increased 1.2 percent in February after rising 1.3 percent the previous month. Higher agricultural and nonagricultural export prices each contributed to the overall advance in February. All Imports: Prices for imports rose 1.4 percent in February, continuing a five-month trend of monthly increases greater than 1.0 percent. Import prices advanced 6.9 percent for the year ended in February, driven by a 7.0 percent jump for the index over the past five months. The year-over-year rise in February was the largest 12-month advance since an 8.5 percent increase for the year ended in May 2010. Higher prices for both fuel and nonfuel import prices contributed to the increase in February and over the past year...All Imports Excluding Fuel: Nonfuel import prices advanced 0.3 percent in February after a 0.7 percent increase in January. Higher prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials; foods, feeds, and beverages; and each of the major finished goods categories all contributed to the rise in nonfuel prices in February. The price index for nonfuel imports increased 3.6 percent the past year, the largest 12-month advance since a 4.8 percent increase between October 2007 and October 2008. The current 12-month rise was mostly driven by a 12.9 percent advance for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials prices and a 15.8 percent increase for foods, feeds, and beverages prices."

FOMC statement, March 15, 2011: "Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in January suggests that the economic recovery is on a firmer footing, and overall conditions in the labor market appear to be improving gradually. Household spending and business investment in equipment and software continue to expand. However, investment in nonresidential structures is still weak, and the housing sector continues to be depressed. Commodity prices have risen significantly since the summer, and concerns about global supplies of crude oil have contributed to a sharp run-up in oil prices in recent weeks. Nonetheless, longer-term inflation expectations have remained stable, and measures of underlying inflation have been subdued."

• Border Security: Preliminary Observations on the Status of Key Southwest Border Technology Programs, GAO-11-448T, March 15, 2011
• Homeland Security: Improvements in Managing Research and Development Could Help Reduce Inefficiencies and Costs, GAO-11-464T, March 15, 2011
• Information Security: IRS Needs to Enhance Internal Control over Financial Reporting and Taxpayer Data, GAO-11-308, March 15, 2011
• Joint Strike Fighter: Restructuring Should Improve Outcomes, but Progress Is Still Lagging Overall, GAO-11-450T, March 15, 2011
• Maritime Security: Updating U.S. Counterpiracy Action Plan Gains Urgency as Piracy Escalates off the Horn of Africa, GAO-11-449T, March 15, 2011

Information Technology: OMB Has Made Improvements to Its Dashboard, but Further Work Is Needed by Agencies and OMB to Ensure Data Accuracy, GAO-11-262, March 15, 2011: "Billions of taxpayer dollars are spent on information technology (IT) investments each year; federal IT spending has now risen to an estimated $79 billion for fiscal year 2011. During the past several years, we have issued multiple reports and testimonies and made numerous recommendations to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to improve the transparency, oversight, and management of the federal government’s IT investments. As part of its response to our prior work, OMB deployed a public Web site in June 2009, known as the IT Dashboard, which provides detailed information on federal agencies’ major IT investments, including assessments of actual performance against cost and schedule targets (referred to as ratings) for approximately 800 major federal IT investments. The Dashboard aims to improve the transparency and oversight of these investments."

U.S. Advanced Meter Penetration by end-use sector: "Electric meters with enhanced communication capabilities — an essential component of the smart grid — are becoming more prevalent. This offers the possibility that electric systems will become more reliable and efficient. In 2009, 39% of all U.S. electrical customers had advanced meters, up from 32% in 2008. Advanced meters can use one-way communication (known as Automated Meter Reading, or AMR), which enables the utility to do remote meter reading, or two-way communication (Advanced Metering Infrastructure, or AMI). In 2009, 17% of advanced meters used two-way communication, up from 10% in 2008. These two-way meters are often referred to as "smart meters." Utilities have an incentive to install advanced meters for residential customers because automated meter reading lowers costs. Commercial and industrial customers probably have lower penetration rates for these digital meters because they are more likely to have more sophisticated analog meters already in place, to be on a time-responsive tariff, and to be interruptible customers."

Retail gasoline prices rose by 4.7 cents per gallon between March 7 and March 14, 2011 - See this Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, with accompanying charts.

Welcome to the State Legislative Tracking Database on Health Reform: Search 2011 legislation by state, topic, keyword, status, and/or primary sponsor.

"As the flagship initiative of the Department’s Open Government Plan, OIP [Office of Information Policy] is proud to announce the launch of FOIA.Gov, a comprehensive public resource for government-wide FOIA information and data. FOIA.Gov displays graphically a wealth of data on agency FOIA compliance, contains educational material about how the FOIA works, and contact information for all government agencies. OIP’s own website will always provide a link to FOIA.Gov on the right hand side of our site."

• Nuclear Waste: DOE Needs a Comprehensive Strategy and Guidance on Computer Models that Support Environmental Cleanup Decisions, GAO-11-143, February 10, 2011
• Prescription Drugs: Trends in Usual and Customary Prices for Commonly Used Drugs, GAO-11-306R, February 10, 2011

OIG-11-41 - DHS Contracts Awarded Through Other Than Full and Open Competition During Fiscal Year 2010

News release: "...the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics released the first in a series of data analysis tools that will enable the public to explore the recidivism patterns of persons involved with the criminal justice system. The new Prisoner Recidivism Analysis Tool allows users to conduct customized analyses of a large database describing the recidivism of prisoners released in 1994 and followed for a three-year period after release. In 2012, BJS plans to update the tool with new recidivism data on prisoners released in 2005. The public can use this online tool to analyze a large research database and verify statistics found in government publications, media reports or other sources that use these data. The tool allows users to move beyond the published statistics to explore in more detail the recidivism patterns of released prisoners. Users may examine the recidivism patterns of released prisoners based on one or more attributes, such as gender, age at release, race, commitment offense, sentence length, prior arrests and prior commitments."

Charts include 2000-2009 Average Price and 201 Annual Average: "Crude oil, refining, distribution & marketing, and taxes are the four major cost components for estimates of the retail price of a gallon of gasoline. The portion of the gasoline price each of these components accounts for can vary significantly over time."

Electric Power Monthly, March 2011 Edition, with data for December 2010 [this release links to PDF and xls and associated graphs]

• Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Request: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-11-453T, March 11, 2011
• Flood Insurance: Public Policy Goals Provide a Framework for Reform, GAO-11-429T, March 11, 2011
• Information Technology: Better Informed Decision Making Needed on Navy's Next Generation Enterprise Network, GAO-11-150, March 11, 2011

News release: "Regional and state unemployment rates were generally unchanged in January. Twenty-four states recorded unemployment rate decreases, 10 states registered rate increases, and 16 states and the District of Columbia had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported [March 11, 2011]. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia posted unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, 9 states reported increases, and 2 states had no change. The national jobless rate fell by 0.4 percentage point between December 2010 and January 2011 to 9.0 percent, 0.7 point lower than in January 2010. In January nonfarm payroll employment increased in 35 states and the District of Columbia, and decreased in 15 states. The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in Texas (+44,100), followed by Michigan (+39,700), Ohio (+31,900), Illinois (+24,500), and California (+22,600)."

"There were 2.8 million job openings on the last business day of
January 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The job openings rate (2.1 percent), hires rate (2.8 percent), and total separations rate (2.7 percent) were little changed over the month. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector by industry and by geographic region. This release also includes annual estimates for hires and separations. The annual totals for hires and quits increased in 2010 while the annual total for layoffs and discharges decreased."

BLS: Unemployment rate for Gulf War-era II veterans at 11.5 percent in 2010 The unemployment rate for veterans of Gulf War era II (September 2001 forward) was 11.5 percent in 2010. About 25 percent of Gulf War-era II veterans reported having a service-connected disability in July 2010, compared with about 13 percent of all veterans."

Cancer Survivors - United States, 2007 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) March 11, 2011 / 60(09);269-272

Applicant Experiences with Retirement Insurance Benefit Internet Claim Applications, A-07-10-20167

Testimony before the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, Committee on Armed Services, U.S. House of Representatives, March 10, 2011.

How Federal Agencies Can Effectively Manage Records Created Using New Social Media Tools, Patricia C. Franks, Associate Professor, School of Library & Information Science, San Jose State University

News release: "The Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (CPSS) and the Technical Committee of the International Organization of Securities Commission (IOSCO) today released for comment the consultative report on the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures. The CPSS and IOSCO expect these principles to play an important role in the future regulation of financial market infrastructures around the world. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, a member of the CPSS, and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, members of the Technical Committee of IOSCO, encourage interested persons to review and comment on the consultative report. The consultative report contains updated and new proposed international principles for systemically important payment systems, central securities depositories, securities settlement systems, central counterparties, and trade repositories. The 24 proposed principles would replace existing CPSS and CPSS-IOSCO standards for payment, clearing, and settlement systems previously published in the Core Principles for Systemically Important Payment Systems, Recommendations for Securities Settlement Systems, and Recommendations for Central Counterparties and introduce principles for trade repositories for the first time."

Reducing the Deficit: Spending and Revenue Options, March 10, 2011

"The new data.gov.au site has now been released and I invite you to explore, access and reuse the data available on the site. The release of public sector information in the form of datasets allows the commercial, research and community sectors to add value to government data in new, innovative and exciting ways. Data.gov.au plays a crucial role in realising the Australian Government’s commitment to informing, engaging and participating with the public, as expressed in its Declaration of Open Government and Freedom of Information (FoI) reforms. It is the Australian equivalent to similar overseas sites such as the United States’ data.gov, the United Kingdom’s data.gov.uk and New Zealand’s data.govt.nz. Agencies such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Geoscience Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) already release large amounts of data to the public. An important goal of data.gov.au is to provide a broader range of agencies the opportunity to similarly release more data online. More than 200 datasets are accessible through data.gov.au"

Official Google Blog: "Now there’s yet another way to find more of what you want on Google by blocking the sites you don’t want to see. You’ve probably had the experience where you’ve clicked a result and it wasn’t quite what you were looking for. Many times you’ll head right back to Google. Perhaps the result just wasn’t quite right, but sometimes you may dislike the site in general, whether it’s offensive...or of generally low quality. For times like these, you’ll start seeing a new option to block particular domains from your future search results. Now when you click a result and then return to Google, you’ll find a new link next to “Cached” that reads “Block all example.com results.” Once you click the link to “Block all example.com results” you’ll get a confirmation message, as well as the option to undo your choice. You’ll see the link whether or not you’re signed in, but the domains you block are connected with your Google Account, so you’ll need to sign in before you can confirm a block. Once you’ve blocked a domain, you won’t see it in your future search results."

"Welcome to the new home for consumer product safety reports. Use our new online form to submit a Report on an unsafe product. Register your business with the new Business Portal to review and respond to Reports. Reports and manufacturer comments during this Soft Launch will be used by CPSC, but they will not be published on SaferProducts.gov.

• Learn More about SaferProducts.gov
  
• Learn More about Soft Launch
  Permanent Link

News release: "At a hearing today in front of the Senate Commerce Committee on the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Assistant NOAA Administrator for Fisheries Eric Schwaab said that the U.S. is making good progress toward meeting the mandate to end domestic overfishing. “We know that nearly $31 billion in sales and as many as 500,000 jobs are lost because our fisheries are not performing as well as they would if all stocks were rebuilt,” Schwaab said. “While we are turning a corner toward a brighter future for fishermen and fishing communities, many fishermen are struggling in part as a result of years of decline in fishing opportunity.” Schwaab said that NOAA is committed to working with fishermen and communities during this period of transition. Our nation’s fisheries have been vital to the economics and identities of our coastal communities for hundreds of years. According to the most recent estimates, U.S. commercial and saltwater recreational fisheries support almost two million jobs and generate more than $160 billion in sales."

• Department of State: Additional Steps Are Needed to Improve Strategic Planning and Evaluation of Training for State Personnel GAO-11-438T, March 08, 2011
• Department of State: Additional Steps Are Needed to Improve Strategic Planning and Evaluation of Training for State Personnel GAO-11-241, January 25, 2011

News release: "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency updated its database that helps Americans understand the health and environmental impacts of electricity generation. EPA’s Emissions and Generation Integrated Resource Database (eGRID) and Power Profiler now include data from 2007, an update from 2005. eGRID is a comprehensive database of emissions from almost all electric power generated in the United States. The data are widely used to show the impacts of electricity generation as well as the benefits from reduced electricity demand. eGRID contains emissions information for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) which contribute to unhealthy air quality and acid rain in many parts of the country. eGRID also contains emissions information for carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), which are greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Power Profiler is a user friendly online application that uses eGRID data to show air emissions information and the type of electricity generation, such as coal or nuclear, in various regions of the country. By simply entering a zip code and selecting a utility, users can learn more about where their electricity comes from and what impact it has on air quality and the environment."

Four Observations about the Federal Budget, March 2011 - CBO Director Doug Elmendorf's presentation to the National Association for Business Economics: "The gap between spending and revenues is likely to remain very large even after
we return to normal economic conditions. Fiscal policy cannot be put on a sustainable path just by eliminating waste and inefficiency; the policy changes that are needed will significantly affect popular programs or people’s tax payments or both."

CBO Monthly Budget Review - March 2011, Based on the Monthly Treasury Statement for January and the Daily Treasury Statements for February

Via the White House, Women in America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being

"Women’s History Month honors the achievements and contributions of American women in all walks of life. Check out some interesting facts about American women. Here are just a few:

• 157.2 million women and 153.2 million men reside in the United States. At age 85 and older, there are more than twice as many women as men.
  
• 82.8 million women are mothers.
  
• 55% of college students are women.
  
• 66% of women and 62% of men reported voting in the 2008 presidential election.
  
• 14% of armed forces members are women.
  
• 88% was the ratio of women’s-to-men’s earnings in the District of Columbia in 2009, which was among the highest of any location in the nation." [via USA.gov]

News release: "A new Federal Trade Commission report recommends improvements to two areas of patent law policies affecting how well a patent gives notice to the public of what technology is protected and remedies for patent infringement. The report, The Evolving IP Marketplace: Aligning Patent Notice and Remedies with Competition, emphasizes that the patent system and competition policy share the goal of promoting innovation that benefits consumers."

An Assessment of Records Management Programs in the Federal Government National Archives and Records Administration, February 22, 2011

Unhealthy Sleep-Related Behaviors - 12 States, 2009. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) March 4, 2011 / 60(08);233-238

women at Work: "Until things slowly changed during the last century, women's participation in the labor force was limited by traditional cultural, educational, and legal practices. Women's work outside of home and marriage was restricted to a handful of occupations such as domestic service, factory work, farm work, and teaching. Over the past several decades, the women's labor force in the United States and throughout the world has experienced many changes. Women's labor force participation rates are significantly higher today than they were in the 1970s. Throughout that period, women have increasingly attained higher levels of education and experienced an increase in their earnings as a proportion of men's earnings. In addition to highlighting the past, present, and future of women in the workforce, this Spotlight presents BLS data on the types of activities that women spend their time doing during an average week, how they choose to spend their hard-earned money, and the nature of fatal injuries in the workplace."

Updated Norovirus Outbreak Management and Disease Prevention Guidelines, Recommendations and Reports, March 4, 2011 / Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 60(RR03);1-15

Apps@State: "Use the communications tools at your disposal to spread your values...by creating your own networks you can extend the power of governments to end hunger, defeat disease, combat climate change and give every child the ability to live up to his or her God-given potential." HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, Secretary of State

News release: "As part of its commitment to implement sensible protections of drinking water for communities across the country, and as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing 30 currently unregulated contaminants for monitoring in water systems, and submitting this proposal for public comment. The comment period will allow the public and other stakeholders to provide input on the selection of new contaminants for monitoring, and will help determine the best path forward as the EPA seeks to collect data that will inform future decisions about how best to protect drinking water."

"A nonpartisan map of all 435 congressional districts in the nation has never been drawn. The widespread diffusion of redistricting technology and data and the training of a group of students dedicated to that purpose has made such a map possible for the first time. DrawCongress.org represents the first attempt to create an internet depository for nonpartisan congressional maps for the entire country. DrawCongress.org is an outgrowth of the “Redistricting and Gerrymandering” course at Columbia Law School. At this website you will find a series of student-drawn nonpartisan redistricting plans, which will culminate in a complete map of all 435 congressional districts. The students used Caliper Corporation's Maptitude for Redistricting software to draw their plans."

Follow up to previous postings on government implementation of whole body scanning technology at airports, via EPIC: "The Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security released a report finding that the agency's contract files did not "contain[] sufficient evidence of justification and approval, market research, and acquisition planning" for the $1.3 billion dollars in noncompetitive contracts the agency entered into in fiscal year 2010. The noncompetitive process raises doubts that the agency secured the "best possible value" for the goods and services and that the contracts were awarded to "eligible and qualified vendors." The IG recommended that the agency’s Chief Procurement Officer pursue corrective action plans. EPIC previously criticized the agency’s contracting practices regarding whole body scanners. For related information see EPIC: EPIC v. DHS: Body Scanners (Suspend the Program) and EPIC: EPIC v. DHS (FOIA)."

More Than 90 Actions Brought By Commission and Its Law Enforcement Partners: "The Federal Trade Commission today stepped up its ongoing campaign against scammers who falsely promise guaranteed jobs and opportunities to “be your own boss” to consumers who are struggling with unemployment and diminished incomes as a consequence of the economic downturn. “Operation Empty Promises,” a multi-agency law enforcement initiative today announced more than 90 enforcement actions, including three new FTC cases and developments in seven other matters, 48 criminal actions by the Department of Justice (many of which involved the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service), seven additional civil actions by the Postal Inspection Service, and 28 actions by state law enforcement agencies in Alaska, California, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia."

• DOD Education Benefits: Further Actions Needed to Improve Oversight of Tuition Assistance Program, GAO-11-389T, March 02, 2011
• Elder Justice: Stronger Federal Leadership Could Enhance National Response to Elder Abuse, GAO-11-208, March 02, 2011
• Elder Justice: Stronger Federal Leadership Could Help Improve Response to Elder Abuse, GAO-11-384T, March 02, 2011
• Environmental Protection Agency: Major Management Challenges, GAO-11-422T, March 02, 2011
• Medicare: Program Remains at High Risk Because of Continuing Management Challenges, GAO-11-430T, March 02, 2011
• Troubled Asset Relief Program: Actions Needed by Treasury to Address Challenges in Implementing Making Home Affordable Programs, GAO-11-338T, March 02, 2011
• U.S. Postal Service: Modernization and Restructuring Needed to Address Financial Challenges, GAO-11-428T, March 02, 2011
• Medicare: Private Sector Initiatives to Bundle Hospital and Physician Payments for an Episode of Care, GAO-11-126R, January 31, 2011
• VA Real Property: Realignment Progressing, but Greater Transparency about Future Priorities Is Needed, GAO-11-197, January 31, 2011
  Permanent Link

Full Report - Beige Book, March 2, 2011 and Links to the Districts - "Reports from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts indicated that overall economic activity continued to expand at a modest to moderate pace in January and early February. Both Kansas City and San Francisco noted that their economies expanded further. Boston and Philadelphia cited conditions as improving. New York, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, and St. Louis described activity as modestly improving, while Minneapolis and Dallas experienced moderate growth. Chicago reported that although there was an increase in activity, it was at a pace not quite as strong as during the previous reporting period."

"NCUA [National Credit Union Administration] is proposing rules to implement certain statutory provisions in Title IX of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act). The proposed rules replace or remove references to credit ratings in NCUA regulations. Comments must be received on or before May 2, 2011...The proposed rule generally handles NRSRO ratings three different ways, depending on the manner in which the rating is used in the regulations. For investments, the proposal generally replaces the minimum credit rating requirement with a requirement that the credit union do an internal credit analysis of the investment pursuant to a particular narrative standard. For counterparty transactions, the proposal generally replaces the minimum credit rating requirement with a requirement that the credit union do an internal credit analysis of the counterparty pursuant to an internal standard set by the credit union’s board. For ratings usage outside of investment and counterparty suitability, the proposal generally removes the ratings reference without requiring some substitute analysis."

Monetary Policy Report to the Congress Submitted pursuant to section 2B of the Federal Reserve Act, March 1, 2011: "Economic activity in the United States expanded at a moderate pace, on average, in the second half of 2010 and early 2011. In the spring and early summer, a number of key indicators of economic activity softened relative to the readings posted in late 2009 and the first part of 2010, raising concerns about the durability of the recovery. In light of these developments--and in order to put the economic recovery on a firmer footing--the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) provided additional monetary policy stimulus during the second half of 2010 by reinvesting principal repayments from its holdings of agency debt and agency mortgage-backed securities in longer-term Treasury securities and by announcing its intention to purchase an additional $600 billion of Treasury securities by the end of the second quarter of 2011."

2011 Trade Policy Agenda and 2010 Annual Report of the President of the United States on the Trade Agreements Program, Ambassador Ronald Kirk, Office of the United States Trade Representative, March 1, 2011.

"A report released today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the benefits of reducing fine particle and ground level ozone pollution under the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments will reach approximately $2 trillion in 2020 while saving 230,000 people from early death in that year alone. The report studied the effects of the Clean Air Act updates on the economy, public health and the environment between 1990 and 2020. The EPA report received extensive review and input from the Council on Clean Air Compliance Analysis, an independent panel of distinguished economists, scientists and public health experts established by Congress in 1991."

How the Public Perceives Community Information Systems, March 1, 2011

News release: "The Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Tuesday proposed regulations regarding the credit score disclosure requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The statute requires creditors to disclose credit scores and related information to consumers in risk-based pricing and adverse action notices under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) if a credit score was used in setting the credit terms or taking adverse action." The notices for the two proposed rules are as follows:

• Attachment
  
• Attachment

• Department of the Interior: Major Management Challenges, GAO-11-424T, March 01, 2011
• DOD Education Benefits: Increased Oversight of Tuition Assistance Program Is Needed, GAO-11-300, March 01, 2011
• Education of Military Dependent Students: Better Information Needed to Assess Student Performance, GAO-11-231, March 01, 2011
• Financial Audit: American Battle Monuments Commission's Financial Statements for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2009, GAO-11-320, March 01, 2011
• Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government Programs, Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue, GAO-11-318SP, March 01, 2011
• Warfighter Support: DOD Should Have a More Comprehensive Approach for Addressing Urgent Warfighter Needs, GAO-11-417T, March 01, 2011
• Warfighter Support: DOD's Urgent Needs Processes Need a More Comprehensive Approach and Evaluation for Potential Consolidation GAO-11-273, March 01, 2011

National Statistics Online, GDP and the Labour Market - Q1 2008 - Q 3 2010: "Between quarter four 2009 to quarter four 2010, total employment rose by 0.8 per cent (383,000). The most recent quarter, however, saw total employment fall by 0.2 per cent (68,000) compared to the previous three months. This may reflect changing situations for individuals within the labour market. The number of self-employed individuals stood at 3.98 million in quarter four 2010, down 49,000 on the previous quarter. However, self-employment is still 2.4 per cent (92,000) higher than the same time last year. Also, comparing quarter four 2010 with quarter four 2009:

• Full-time employment fell by less than 0.1 per cent (5,000)
  
• Part-time employment grew by 2.9 per cent (224,000), and
  and Self-employment grew by 2.4 per cent (92,000)
  
• Employees grew by 0.4 per cent (110,000)
  
• Over the six quarters of economic contraction from quarter one 2008, total employment fell by 600,000. In the 1980s recession, the final quarter of economic contraction saw employment levels 619,000 lower than pre-recession level. At the end of the 1990s recession, employment was 910,000 lower than it was prior to the recession."

The 2011 HHS Poverty Guidelines One Version of the [U.S.] Federal Poverty Measure

• Federal Register Notice, January 20, 2011 — Full text
  
• Prior Poverty Guidelines and Federal Register References Since 1982
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  
• Further Resources on Poverty Measurement, Poverty Lines, and Their History
• Computations for the 2011 Poverty Guidelines

Personal Income and Outlays, January 2011: "Personal income increased $133.2 billion, or 1.0 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI) increased $78.3 billion, or 0.7 percent, in January, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $23.7 billion, or 0.2 percent. In December, personal income increased $56.6 billion, or 0.4 percent, DPI increased $48.5 billion, or 0.4 percent, and PCE increased $56.5 billion, or 0.5 percent, based on revised estimates. Real disposable income increased 0.4 percent in January, compared with an increase of 0.1 percent in December. Real PCE decreased 0.1 percent, in contrast to an increase of 0.3 percent."

Bureau of Economic Analysis, GDP and the Economy Advance Estimates for the Fourth Quarter of 2010

"The Economic Report of the President is an annual report written by the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. It overviews the nation's economic progress using text and extensive data appendices. The Economic Report of the President is transmitted to Congress no later than ten days after the submission of the Budget of the United States Government. Supplementary reports can be issued to the Congress which contain additional and/or revised recommendations. Documents are available in ASCII text and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), with many of the tables also available for separate viewing and downloading as spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel (XLS)."

Monthly Energy Review, February 2011: "A publication of recent energy statistics. This publication includes total energy production, consumption, and trade; energy prices; overviews of petroleum, natural gas, coal, electricity, nuclear energy, renewable energy, and international petroleum; carbon dioxide emissions; and data unit conversions values."

News release: "Annual average unemployment rates in 2010 rose in 31 states and the District of Columbia, declined in 18 states, and remained the same in 1 state, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Employment-population ratios decreased in 43 states and the District of Columbia, increased in 3 states, and were unchanged in 4 states. Jobless rates increased in three regions and decreased in one, and employment-population ratios declined in all four regions in 2010. The U.S. jobless rate rose by 0.3 percentage point from the prior year to 9.6 percent, while the national employment population ratio fell by 0.8 point to 58.5 percent."

Special Research Report: Cloud Computing - "In December 2010, the 1105 Government Information Group and Beacon Technology Partners conducted a survey of federal IT managers to determine their attitudes toward cloud computing. The survey revealed the greatest cloud opportunities among federal agencies and the preferred deployment modes for cloud initiatives. Additionally, the research showed perceived advantages of cloud computing, concerns about security, and more. Read this special research report for more information."

One Million Electric Vehicles By 2015, February 2011 Status Report

CBO Estimate of H.R. 1, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 as Passed by the House of Representatives on February 19, 2011 (In millions of dollars)

Outlook for the Economy and the Budget - February 2011, CBO Director Doug Elmendorf's presentation to the National Economists Club

"Timing of Deficit Reduction

• The longer the necessary adjustments are delayed:
  
• The greater the negative consequences of mounting debt;
  
• The more uncertainty about future government policies; and
  
• The more drastic the ultimate policy changes"

Evaluation Report - EPA Needs Better Agency-Wide Controls Over Staff Resources, Report No. 11-P-0136, February 22, 2011

Migrants' Remittances and Related Economic Flows - February 24, 2011

Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: January 2010, February 2011: "This report provides estimates of the unauthorized immigrant population residing in the United States as of January 2010 for periods of entry and leading countries of birth and states of residence...In summary, the number of unauthorized immigrants living in the United States in January 2010 was 10.8 million—the same as in January 2009—but down from 11.8 million in January 2007. Between 2000 and 2010, the unauthorized population grew by 27 percent. Of all unauthorized immigrants living in the United States in 2010, 39 percent entered in 2000 or later, and 62 per-cent were from Mexico."

News release: "In response to federal court orders requiring the issuance of final standards, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing final Clean Air Act standards for boilers and certain incinerators that achieve significant public health protections through reductions in toxic air emissions, including mercury and soot, but cut the cost of implementation by about 50 percent from an earlier proposal issued last year. Mercury, soot, lead and other harmful pollutants released by boilers and incinerators can lead to developmental disabilities in children, as well as cancer, heart disease, aggravated asthma and premature death in Americans. These standards will avoid between 2,600-6,600 premature deaths, prevent 4,100 heart attacks and avert 42,000 asthma attacks per year in 2014."

Energy and Financial Markets Overview: Crude Oil Price Formation, presentation by Richard Newell, Administrator, to the Society of Petroleum Engineers, National Capital Section, Washington, DC on February 23, 2011

• "Some researchers are finding evidence that factors including unexpectedly strong economic growth in China and stagnant supply were at least associated with, and may have contributed to, the sharp oil price run-up and subsequent decline during the 2007-2008 period
  
• The researchers are also finding some evidence suggesting that the price run-up and decline may have been exacerbated by the formation and collapse of an oil price bubble, perhaps triggered by fundamental factors in both the oil market and the broader global economy
  
• As discussed later in the presentation, both internal EIA and academic research is also addressing the major increase in oil derivatives trading, significant change in the composition of derivatives traders (such as the growth of swap dealers, hedge funds, and commodity index funds), and increased correlation of oil and other markets over the past several years."
  
• WSJ: Rising Oil Prices Raise the Specter of a Double Dip

FDIC's Quarterly Banking Profile, Fourth Quarter 2010, released February 23, 2010

• "Banks Earned $21.7 Billion in Fourth Quarter as Recovery Continues: Commercial banks and savings institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) reported an aggregate profit of $21.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010, a $23.5 billion improvement from the $1.8 billion net loss the industry reported in the fourth quarter of 2009. This is the sixth consecutive quarter that earnings registered a year-over-year increase.
  
• Full-Year Net Income of $87.5 Billion Is Highest Since 2007
• Asset Quality Improves for Third Consecutive Quarter
• Institutions Set Aside Half as Much for Loan Losses as a Year Earlier
  
• 157 Insured Institutions Failed During 2010"

CBO's Projections of Federal Receipts and Expenditures in the Framework of the National Income and Product Accounts, February 2011

"The Federal Reserve on Wednesday issued a Spanish version of the 2010 Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council's Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering Examination Manual. The Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, developed the Spanish version to make the regulatory expectations regarding Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering compliance programs accessible to a wider group of people. The manual provides current and consistent guidance on risk-based policies, procedures, and processes for banking organizations to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act and safeguard operations from money laundering and terrorist financing."

Yemen Country Analysis Brief — Feb 22, 2011

Estimated Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Employment and Economic Output from October 2010 Through December 2010, February 23, 2011

Avoiding Water Wars: Water Scarcity and Central Asia's Growing Importance for Stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Majority Staff Report prepared for the use of the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, 112th Congress, First Session, February 22, 2011

• Debt Limit: Delays Create Debt Management Challenges and Increase Uncertainty in the Treasury Market, GAO-11-203, February 22, 2011
• Ryan White CARE Act: Estimated Effect of Continued Application of the Fiscal Year 2010 Stop-Loss Provision on 2011 Funding for Urban Areas, GAO-11-405R, February 18, 2011
• Defense Management: Additional Cost Information and Stakeholder Input Needed to Assess Military Posture in Europe, GAO-11-131, February 03, 2011
• Superfund: Information on the Nature and Costs of Cleanup Activities at Three Landfills in the Gulf Coast Region, GAO-11-287R, February 18, 2011
• Commercial Motor Carriers: More Could Be Done to Determine Impact of Excessive Loading and Unloading Wait Times on Hours of Service Violations, GAO-11-198, January 26, 2011

Follow up to previous postings on the Deepwater oil spill, see Macondo - the Gulf Oil Disaster - Chief Counsel’s Report | 2011, National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill And Offshore Drilling | Report to the President

Ignition Interlocks - A Proven Means for Preventing Impaired Driving Re-Arrests, and Reducing Alcohol-Impaired Driving: Ignition Interlocks
"When someone is convicted of DWI and arrested, it's clear that they've made the decision, at least once, to drink and drive. It's important to take steps to prevent them from making such a risky decision in the future. Devices known as ignition interlocks can be installed in DWI offenders' vehicles as safeguards to help prevent future episodes of impaired driving—a serious public health problem that kills about 11,000 people annually and costs nearly $110 billion a year. When an ignition interlock is installed in a car or truck, it prevents that vehicle from being driven by anyone with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above a specified level. This level is usually 0.02 to 0.04 grams per deciliter (g/dL); the minimum illegal BAC level is 0.08 g/dL in every state. Typically, interlocks are installed in vehicles operated by drivers who have already been convicted of DWI. They may be mandated through the court system or offered as an alternative to a suspended license, and they're usually installed for 6 to 24 months."

Senate Foreign Relations Committee - Iraq: The Transition from a Military Mission to a Civilian-Led Effort (Committee Print - Majority), January 31, 2011

"A new database on contractors' past behavior has industry scrambling to prepare, according to contracting lawyers and advocates. The Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, or FAPIIS, is meant to ensure the government, before making major awards to contractors, knows of past problems such as criminal convictions, fines, suspensions and contracts terminated due to default. The database, with the exception of past performance reviews, is set to go public in mid-April. Now, attorneys and industry advocates say contractors are concerned about how the information will be used and whether their proprietary data will be protected. In the past, such records have not been easily accessible by the public. The new system will take a while to become a comprehensive source, as it depends on people entering information. Some records are to be submitted by the contractors themselves; others come directly from the government."

News release: "The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.6 percent before seasonal adjustment. Increases in indexes for energy commodities and for food accounted for over two thirds of the all items increase. The indexes for gasoline and fuel oil both increased in January, continuing their recent strong upward trend. The index for food at home posted its largest increase in over two years with all six major grocery store food group indexes rising. The index for all items less food and energy also rose in January. The indexes for apparel, shelter, airline fares, and recreation all posted increases. In contrast, the indexes for new vehicles and for used cars and trucks declined in January. Over the last 12 months, the food index has risen 1.8 percent with the food at home index up 2.1 percent; both 12-month changes are the highest since 2009. The energy index has increased 7.3 percent over the last 12 months, with the gasoline index up 13.4 percent. The index for all items less food and energy has risen 1.0 percent."

Open Government Executive Directive, Version 1 - January 24, 2011

"The National Broadband Map is a searchable and interactive website that allows users to view broadband availability across every neighborhood in the United States. The NBM was created by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), in collaboration with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and in partnership with 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia. The NBM is a project of NTIA's State Broadband Initiative. The NBM will be updated approximately every six months and was first published on February 17, 2011."

• Department of State's Report to Congress and U.S. Oversight of Civilian Assistance to Pakistan Can Be Further Enhanced, GAO-11-310R, February 17, 2011
• Electronic Prescribing: CMS Should Address Inconsistencies in Its Two Incentive Programs That Encourage the Use of Health Information Technology, GAO-11-159, February 17, 2011
• GAO's 2011 High Risk Series: An Update, GAO-11-394T, February 17, 2011

"The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Chief Information Officers (CIO) Council and the Chief Human Capital Officers Council's Workforce Development Subcommittee identified cybersecurity related occupations as high priorities for Governmentwide competency models. In November 2009, OPM initiated a Governmentwide study to identify critical competencies for cybersecurity work, working with the CIO Council and the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE). Subject matter experts provided key insights, and employees and supervisors across the Government completed surveys to paint a comprehensive picture of cybersecurity work. We are pleased to provide the attached Cybersecurity competency model to support your human resources initiatives. The competencies identified may be used in such agency efforts as workforce planning, training and development, performance management, recruitment, and selection. When used for selection, the competencies must be used in conjunction with the appropriate qualification standard."

Draft Inventory of U.S. Gas Greenhouse Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2009 (February 2011) [Note: individual report sections are posted here]

• Federal Workforce: Practices to Increase the Employment of Individuals with Disabilities, GAO-11-351T, February 16, 2011
• High-Risk Series: An Update, GAO-11-278, February 16, 2011: "The federal government is the world’s largest and most complex entity, with about $3.5 trillion in outlays in fiscal year 2010 funding a broad array of programs and operations. GAO maintains a program to focus attention on government operations that it identifies as high risk due to their greater vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement or the need for transformation to address economy, efficiency, or effectiveness challenges. Since 1990, GAO has designated over 50 areas as high risk and subsequently removed over one-third of the areas due to progress made."
• U.S. Postal Service: Foreign Posts' Strategies Could Inform U.S. Postal Service's Efforts to Modernize, GAO-11-282, February 16, 2011

"The Federal Cloud Computing Strategy was published February 13, 2011, marking a milestone in the Administration’s 25-Point Implementation Plan To Reform Federal IT Management. The strategy is designed to help the government deliver value to the public by increasing the operational efficiency of Federal IT dollars, and responding faster to taxpayer needs. In releasing the report, Federal CIO Vivek Kundra noted, “The adoption of cloud computing will play a pivotal role in helping the government close the productivity gap between the public and private sectors.” The strategy outlines how the Federal government can accelerate the safe, secure adoption of cloud computing, and provides agencies with a framework for migrating to the cloud. It also examines how agencies can address challenges related to the adoption of cloud computing, such as privacy, procurement, standards, and governance...Moving forward, agencies are required to evaluate their technology sourcing strategies so that cloud computing options are fully considered, consistent with the “Cloud First” policy outlined in the 25-Point Implementation Plan, which states: “The three-part strategy on cloud technology will revolve around using commercial cloud technologies where feasible, launching private government clouds, and utilizing regional clouds with state and local governments where appropriate.”

The Obama Administration’s Open Government Initiative: Issues for Congress, Wendy R. Ginsberg - Analyst in Government Organization and Management, January 28, 2011

News release: "Last month was the 17th warmest January for combined global land and ocean surface temperature since records began in 1880. La Niña, with its cooling effect on the central and eastern tropical Pacific, continues to be a factor in global ocean temperatures. The monthly analysis from NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides government, business and community leaders so they can make informed decisions...The average Arctic sea ice extent for January was 5.23 million square miles (13.55 million square km), which was 8.7 percent below average. This ranks as the smallest January Arctic sea ice extent since records began in 1979 and the second consecutive month with record low Arctic ice extent."

Investigation of the Failure of the SEC's Los Angeles Regional Office to Uncover Fraud in Westridge Capital Management Notwithstanding Investment Adviser Examination Conducted in 2005 and Inappropriate Conduct on the Part of Senior Los Angeles Official, Case No. OIG-533 [redacted, dated October 26, 2010 and released February 2011]

"The President's Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2012 is now available from the United States Government Printing Office (GPO). The public can search or browse the authentic, electronic version of the budget, which is accessible from GPO's Federal Digital System. GPO authenticated the document by digital signature. This signature assures the public that the document has not been changed or altered. A digital signature, viewed through the GPO Seal of Authenticity, verifies the document's integrity and authenticity. FY 2012 Budget documents are available in PDF, with many of the tables also available for separate viewing and downloading as spreadsheets in xls and comma delimited formats. The budget documents include:

• Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2012;
  
• Appendix, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2012;
  
• Analytical Perspectives; and
  
• Historical Tables. [via Cynthia Etkin]

News release: "The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, released tips to help people protect their personal information while they use public wireless networks – Wi-Fi hotspots in coffee shops, libraries, airports, hotels, universities, and other public places. While convenient, public Wi-Fi networks often are not secure. When using wireless networks, it’s best to send only personal information that is encrypted – either by an encrypted website or a secure network. Encryption scrambles information sent over the internet into a code so that it’s not accessed by others. An encrypted website protects only the information sent to and from that site. A secure wireless network encrypts all the information sent over it. To determine if a website is encrypted, look for https at the beginning of the web address (the “s” is for secure), and a lock icon at the top or bottom of the browser window. Some websites use encryption only on the sign-in page, but if any part of the session isn’t encrypted, the entire account could be vulnerable. Look for https and the lock icon throughout the site, not just at sign in."

"In today’s world, we face many natural and man-made catastrophic threats, including the very real possibility of a global influenza outbreak or other public health emergency that could infect millions of people. While it is impossible to predict the timing or severity of the next public health emergency, our government has a responsibility to anticipate and prepare for such events. An important element of this planning process is advance coordination between public health authorities and our judicial and legal systems. The major actors in any public health crisis must understand the governing laws ahead of time, and must know what their respective legal roles and responsibilities are. What is the scope of the government’s emergency and police powers? When may these be invoked, and by which officials? What are the rights of people who may be quarantined or isolated by government and public health officials? These questions must be researched and answered now—not in the midst of an emergency—so that the responsible authorities have a readymade resource to help them make quick, effective decisions that protect the public interest. This New York State Public Health Legal Manual - A Guide for Judges, Attorneys and Public Health Professionals, Michael Colodner, Editor-in Chief, is designed to serve this purpose. It will be an absolutely essential tool in guiding us through the effective management of future public health disasters."

• Nuclear Weapons: NNSA Needs More Comprehensive Infrastructure and Workforce Data to Improve Enterprise Decision-making, GAO-11-188, February 14, 2011
• Medicare Home Oxygen: Refining Payment Methodology Has Potential to Lower Program and Beneficiary Spending, GAO-11-56, January 21, 2011

Governor Daniel K. Tarullo, Assessing the regulatory, economic, and market implications of the Dodd-Frank derivatives title, Before the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., February 15, 2011

Treasury Fact Sheet: "Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released a crucial piece of that plan – the General Explanations of the Administration's FY2012 Revenue Proposals, or “Greenbook.” The Greenbook explains the Administration’s revenue proposals, which are designed to provide incentives for innovation, infrastructure, and education; provide middle-class tax relief; reduce the deficit in the medium term; and ensure our tax code is fair and conducive to strong economic growth. The President’s FY2012 Budget positions our nation to win the future and out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world by including tax cuts to encourage needed investments in innovation, infrastructure, and education, including tax cuts for small business investment, clean energy, and research and development. While preserving these incentives, the President also believes that, to be competitive, we must pursue comprehensive corporate tax reform, and, as the President has announced, we are now looking at ways to lower the corporate tax rate and to pay for this by cutting corporate tax expenditures.

Long-Term Implications of the 2011 Future Years Defense Program

Extended Mass Layoffs - Fourth Quarter 2010 - Annual Totals 2010

"The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the launch of a ‘beta’ Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) website, ConsumerFinance.gov, a critical link to the American public for soliciting ideas on the bureau’s creation and priorities and for answering questions on its work. “We have the opportunity to create a brand new consumer agency from the ground up. This agency will put a cop on the beat to enforce the laws on credit cards, mortgages, student loans, prepaid cards, and other kinds of consumer financial products and services,” said Elizabeth Warren, Assistant to the President and Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury on the CFPB, in a new video available on the website. “We want to make sure that the American people are with us all the way while we build it.” The central aim of the CFPB implementation team’s initial new media efforts will be engagement. The team will reach out to the American public for ideas, input, and feedback on the work already underway and on new initiatives commencing in the weeks and months ahead. In addition, the site will be a valuable tool in recruiting talent to join the staff of the CFPB."

FEMA's Progress in Implementing the Remedial Action Management Program, OIG-11-32, January 2011

News release: "The Obama Administration delivered a report to Congress that provides a path forward for reforming America’s housing finance market. The Administration’s plan will wind down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and shrink the government's current footprint in housing finance on a responsible timeline. The plan also lays out reforms to continue fixing the fundamental flaws in the mortgage market through stronger consumer protection, increased transparency for investors, improved underwriting standards, and other critical measures. Additionally, it will help provide targeted and transparent support to creditworthy but underserved families that want to own their own home, as well as affordable rental options."

• Department of Education: Improved Oversight and Controls Could Help Education Better Respond to Evolving Priorities, GAO-11-194, February 10, 2011
• Employment Verification: Federal Agencies Have Improved E-Verify, but Significant Challenges Remain, GAO-11-330T, February 10, 2011
• Federal Real Property: The Government Faces Challenges to Disposing of Unneeded Buildings, GAO-11-370T, February 10, 2011
• Military Personnel: DOD Addressing Challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan but Opportunities Exist to Enhance the Planning Process for Army Medical Personnel Requirements, GAO-11-163, February 10, 2011
• Recovery Act: Broadband Programs Awards and Risks to Oversight, GAO-11-371T, February 10, 2011
• Medicare Advantage: Comparison of Plan Bids to Fee-for-Service Spending by Plan and Market Characteristics, GAO-11-247R, February 04, 2011

News release: "For the first time ever, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today published the most authoritative analysis of the extent and nature of homelessness among American veterans. According to HUD and VA’s assessment, nearly 76,000 veterans were homeless on a given night in 2009 while roughly 136,000 veterans spent at least one night in a shelter during that year. This unprecedented assessment is based on an annual report HUD provides to Congress and explores in greater depth the demographics of veterans who are homeless, how veterans compare to others who are homeless, and how veterans access and use the nation’s homeless response system. Read Veteran Homelessness: A Supplement to the 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress."

News release: "President Barack Obama will today detail his plan to win the future by catalyzing the buildout of high-speed wireless services that will enable businesses to grow faster, students to learn more, and public safety officials to access state-of-the-art, secure, nationwide, and interoperable mobile communications. In his State of the Union address, President Obama called for a National Wireless Initiative to make available high-speed wireless services to at least 98 percent of Americans. The Wireless Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative laid out today will make it possible for businesses to achieve that goal, while freeing up spectrum through incentive auctions, spurring innovation, and creating a nationwide, interoperable wireless network for public safety. It will also reduce the national deficit by approximately $10 billion."

The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2011 to 2021 - Testimony before the Committee on the Budget, U.S. House of Representatives - February 10, 2011.

Enhancing Adaptability of our Military Forces, January 2011 [via greta's links] - "...offers important recommendations for how the Department of Defense can better face the rapidly changing security environment in the 21st century by increasing its adaptability. The key elements are:

• align enterprise function to support mission outcomes
• reduce uncertainty through better global awareness
  
• prepare for degraded operations
  
• enhance the adaptability of the workforce
  
• change the culture"

News release: "[February 9, 2011] Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Bobby L. Rush, Ranking Member of the Energy and Power Subcommittee, released a letter and white paper from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the economic benefits of implementing the Clean Air Act. The EPA found that implementing the Clean Air Act's public health protections "creates American jobs and bolsters the global competitiveness of American industry, even as it lowers healthcare costs and protects American families from birth defects, illnesses, and premature death."

"The Federal Reserve Board on Wednesday announced its approval of a final rule to implement the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that give banking firms a period of time to conform their activities and investments to the prohibitions and restrictions of the so-called Volcker Rule. The Volcker Rule generally prohibits banking entities from engaging in proprietary trading in securities, derivatives, or certain other financial instruments and from investing in, sponsoring, or having certain relationships with a hedge fund or private equity fund. The statute generally provides banking entities two years to bring their activities and investments into compliance and allows the Board to extend this conformance period under certain conditions. The Dodd-Frank Act requires that the Board issue rules implementing the Volcker Rule's conformance period. In developing the rule, the Board consulted with the Department of the Treasury, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The final rule is substantially similar to the proposal published in November."