Category «Congress»

New GAO Reports – Computer Matching Act, DHS, Extreme Weather Events, HUD’s Info Tech, Maritime Administration

COMPUTER MATCHING ACT: OMB and Selected Agencies Need to Ensure Consistent Implementation, GAO-14-44: Published: Jan 13, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 12, 2014. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: Ammunition Purchases Have Declined since 2009, GAO-14-119: Published: Jan 13, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 12, 2014. EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS: Limiting Federal Fiscal Exposure and Increasing the Nation’s Resilience, GAO-14-364T: Published: Feb 12, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 12, …

Subjects: Climate Change, Congress, Government Documents, Legislation

DC Navy Yard Shooting: Fixing the Security Clearance Process

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Staff Report: Slipping Through the Cracks: How the D.C. Navy Yard Shooting Exposes Flaws in the Federal Security Clearance Process, February 11, 2014. “The Committee on Oversight & Government Reform plans to consider legislation to improve problems identified in the security clearance process during this investigation. Section IV of the report …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Government Documents, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research

HR 3696 the National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2013

H.R. 3696, (Mr. McCaul) To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make certain improvements regarding cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, and for other purposes. The “National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2013”. Full text of H.R. 3696, as introduced [PDF] Subcommittee Markup, January 15, 2014 | Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security …

Subjects: Congress, Cybercrime, Internet, Legislation

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Releases Report on DOD Response to Benghazi

“The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations released a comprehensive report today, Majority Interim Report: Benghazi Investigation Update, evaluating the response of the Department of Defense (DOD) to the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012. To undertake the committee’s review, Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon directed the Subcommittee on Oversight and …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Government Documents

U.S. Rail Transportation of Crude Oil: Background and Issues for Congress

CRS – February 6, 2014 – “North America is experiencing a boom in crude oil supply, primarily due to the growth of heavy crude production in the Canadian oil sands and the recent expansion of shale oil production in North Dakota, Montana, and Texas. North American production now supplies 66% of U.S. crude oil demand, displacing crude from Latin …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Energy, Government Documents, Transportation

A Case Study in Managerial and Regulatory Failures

Wilmarth, Arthur E., Citigroup: A Case Study in Managerial and Regulatory Failures (2013). Indiana Law Review, Vol. 47, 2013, Forthcoming; GWU Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2013-139; GWU Law School Public Law Research Paper No. 2013-139. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2370131 “Citigroup has served as the poster child for the elusive promises and manifold pitfalls of …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Financial System

Agency Information Quality Guidelines

“Section 515 of Public Law 106-554, known as the Information Quality Act, required the Office of Management and Budget to promulgate guidance to agencies ensuring the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information (including statistical information) disseminated by Federal agencies. OMB’s government-wide guidelines, published as interim final on September 28, 2001 (66 F.R. 49718) and …

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Knowledge Management, Legislation

Iran: U.S. Economic Sanctions and the Authority to Lift Restrictions

CRS – Iran: U.S. Economic Sanctions and the Authority to Lift Restrictions. Dianne E. Rennack, Specialist in Foreign Policy Legislation. February 4, 2014. “The regime of economic sanctions against Iran is arguably the most complex the United States and the international community have ever imposed on a rogue state. Iran’s economy was once integrated into world trade, markets, and banking. …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Government Documents, Legal Research

The Freedom of Information Act: Background, Legislation, and Policy Issues

CRS – The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): Background, Legislation, and Policy Issues, Wendy Ginsberg, Analyst in American National Government. January 23, 2014. “The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA; 5 U.S.C. §552), often referred to as the embodiment of “the people’s right to know” about the activities and operations of government, statutorily established a presumption of public access to …

Subjects: Congress, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

Post-Employment, “Revolving Door,” Laws for Federal Personnel

Post-Employment, “Revolving Door,” Laws for Federal Personnel, Jack Maskell, Legislative Attorney. January 7, 2014 “Federal personnel may be subject to certain conflict of interest restrictions on private employment activities even after they leave service for the United States government. These restrictions— applicable when one enters private employment after having left federal government service—are often referred to as “revolving door” laws. …

Subjects: Congress, Government Documents

Constitutional Analysis of Suspicionless Drug Testing Requirements for the Receipt of Governmental Benefits

CRS – Constitutional Analysis of Suspicionless Drug Testing Requirements for the Receipt of Governmental Benefits. David H. Carpenter, Legislative Attorney. January 29, 201 “For decades, federal policymakers and state administrators of governmental assistance programs, such as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grants (formerly Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly …

Subjects: Congress, Economy

The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2014 to 2024

“The federal budget deficit has fallen sharply during the past few years, and it is on a path to decline further this year and next year. CBO estimates that under current law, the deficit will total $514 billion in fiscal year 2014, compared with $1.4 trillion in 2009. At that level, this year’s deficit would …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Financial System, Government Documents

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