Day archives: March 28th, 2012

NOAAs coastal mapping program offers huge taxpayer benefits, report says

News release: “For every dollar American taxpayers spend on NOAAs National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Coastal Mapping Program, they receive more than $35 in benefits, according to a recent independent socio-economic scoping study. The program provides critical baseline data for accurately mapping Americas official shorelineimportant for national security, maritime shipping and navigation, and provides geographical reference …

Subjects: Government Documents

New GAO Reports – Background Investigations, Foster Care Program

Background Investigations – Office of Personnel Management Needs to Improve Transparency of Its Pricing and Seek Cost Savings, GAO-12-197, Feb 28, 2012 Foster Care Program – Improved Processes Needed to Estimate Improper Payments and Evaluate Related Corrective Actions, GAO-12-312, Mar 7, 2012 Improper Payments – Remaining Challenges and Strategies for Governmentwide Reduction Efforts, GAO-12-573T, Mar …

Subjects: Government Documents

FCC Releases 2010 International Telecommunications Data

“The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today released an annual report entitled 2010 International Telecommunications Data regarding international message telephone, private line and miscellaneous services between the United States and other countries. “Statistical Findings: The per-minute charge to U.S. consumers for this traffic fell 19% from $0.08 per minute in 2009 to $0.06 per minute in …

Subjects: Government Documents

The path to personalised cancer treatment – Researchers identify genetic markers of drug sensitivity in cancer cells

“In the largest study of its kind, researchers have profiled genetic changes in cancer with drug sensitivity in order to develop a personalised approach to cancer treatments. The study is published in Nature on Thursday 29 March 2012. The team uncovered hundreds of associations between mutations in cancer genes and sensitivity to anticancer drugs. One …

Subjects: Government Documents

Cybersecurity: Selected Legal Issues

CRS – Cybersecurity: Selected Legal Issues, March 14, 2012 “The federal governments role in protecting U.S. citizens and critical infrastructure from cyber attacks has been the subject of recent congressional interest. Critical infrastructure commonly refers to those entities that are so vital that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating impact on national security, …

Subjects: Cybercrime

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

CRS – Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses – Kenneth Katzman, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs, March 23, 2012 “The issue of Iran and its nuclear program has emerged as a top priority for the Obama Administration. The sense of impending crisis is generated by growing suspicions in the international community that Irans nuclear program …

Subjects: Government Documents

National Digital Forecast Database – Wind Map

“An invisible, ancient source of energy surrounds usenergy 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.”

Subjects: E-Government

EPA Proposes First Carbon Pollution Standard for Future Power Plants

News release: “Following a 2007 Supreme Court ruling, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [March 27, 2012] proposed the first Clean Air Act standard for carbon pollution from new power plants. EPAs proposed standard reflects the ongoing trend in the power sector to build cleaner plants that take advantage of American-made technologies, including new, clean-burning, …

Subjects: Government Documents

Report: Insurance Discrimination Against Women Today and the Affordable Care Act

Turning to Fairness: Insurance Discrimination Against Women Today and the Affordable Care Act, The National Womens Law Center, March 2012. “Women continue to face unfair and discriminatory practices when obtaining health insurance in the individual marketas well as in the group health insurance market. Women are charged more for health coverage simply because they are …

Subjects: Legal Research, Legislation

U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Cyber Command in Review of Defense Authorization Request for FY2013

Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing, March 27, 2012: testimony of General Keith B. Alexander, USA Commander, U.S. Cyber Command and Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service “The Fiscal Year 2013 Presidents Budget for Cyber Command provides $182 million dollars and 937 personnel to perform our global mission. As demand to develop and integrate …

Subjects: Congress, Cybercrime, Internet

Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2010; Financial Statistics, Fiscal Year 2010

Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2010; Financial Statistics, Fiscal Year 2010; and Graduation Rates, Selected Cohorts, 2002-2007 “This First Look report presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) spring 2011 data collection. This collection included five components: Student Financial Aid for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students for the 2009-10 academic year; Enrollment …

Subjects: Government Documents

Thank you!