Category «Congress»

Recently Released CRS Reports on Iraq, Iran and China

Iraq: Elections, Constitution, and Government, Updated February 27, 2007 Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security, Updated February 22, 2007 Iran’s Nuclear Program: Recent Developments, Updated February 22, 2007 Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, Updated February 20, 2007 China-U.S. Relations: Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy, February 14, 2007

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Legal Research

DHS OIG Review of Customs and Border Protection's Agriculture Inspection Activities

Review of Customs and Border Protection’s Agriculture Inspection Activities, OIG-07-32 (PDF, 58 pages) February 2007. February 28, 2007 – Secretary Michael Chertoff, testified [text of his testimony] before the Senate Judiciary Committee. “With Congress’s help, DHS has made measurable progress in achieving effective control of the border and improving the enforcement of our immigration laws …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, E-Government, Government Documents

New Report Reveals Homeland Security Boondoggles Coast To Coast

Press release: “Today, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), a member of the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, and Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) released a report detailing some of the most outrageous homeland security spending boondoggles from coast to coast. The Congressmen also announced the Homeland Security Transparency Act, which would require public disclosure …

Subjects: Congress, Government Documents, Legislation

Amtrak's FY 2008 Budget Needs

Amtrak’s FY 2008 Budget Needs, February 28, 2007, Testimony by David Tornquist, Assistant Inspector General, Competition and Economic Analysis Before the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations – United States Senate. See also, from AP: Amtrak Struggles With Late Trains – Dependent on Freight Railroads, Amtrak Can’t Run …

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Government Documents

Reps. Boucher and Doolittle Introduce the FAIR USE Act of 2007

Press release: “U.S. Representatives Rick Boucher (D-VA) and John Doolittle (R-CA), today introduced the Freedom And Innovation Revitalizing U.S. Entrepreneurship Act of 2007 (FAIR USE Act) to protect the fair use rights of users of copyrighted material and thereby enable consumers of digital media to use it in ways that enhance their personal convenience. The …

Subjects: Congress, Copyright, Digital Rights, Legal Research, Legislation

Hearing on Reforming the Presidential Library Donation Disclosure Process

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing: Reforming the Presidential Library Donation Disclosure Process, February 27, 2007. “This hearing will examine the need for public disclosure of donations made to private foundations established to fund presidential libraries and related facilities. The committee will consider possible legislative proposals to require such disclosure.”

Subjects: Congress, Legal Research, Libraries

Comprehensive Study Examines Quality of 615 House and Senate Web Sites, Finds Quality Disappointing

“The 2006 Gold Mouse Report: Recognizing the Best Web Sites on Capitol Hill marks the third time that the Congressional Management Foundation has evaluated all Member, committee, and leadership Web sites and recognized the best Congressional Web sites with Mouse Awards.” Press release: “A new report card on congressional Web sites from the Congressional Management …

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

Free, Open Source Site Covering Congressional Bills, News, Gossip and Elected Officials

“OpenCongress brings together official government information with news and blog coverage to give you the real story behind what’s happening in Congress. Small groups of political insiders and lobbyists know what’s really going on in Congress. Now, everyone can be an insider. OpenCongress is a free, open-source, non-profit, and non-partisan web resource with a mission …

Subjects: Blogs, Congress, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

Oversight Committee Requests Information on TSA Traveler Identity Verification Website

Follow up to February 21, 2007 posting, DHS Announces Traveler Redress Inquiry Program, today Rep. Henry Waxman, Chair of Oversight and Government Reform Committee, sent a letter to TSA requesting “explain why a TSA website that collected Social Security numbers and personal information from the public operated for several days without basic security measures.”

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, E-Government, Government Documents, Privacy

New Version of FedSpending.org Released

Press release: “On February 22, 2007, OMB Watch released a new version of FedSpending.org, free, searchable database of federal government spending, that includes updated data for FY 2006, improved navigation, upgraded features, and an application programming interface (API) for advanced users. Learn more about the new features in About This Site.”

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Government Documents, Legal Research

New Report Shows No Precedent for Mass U.S. Attorney Firings

Press release: “Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and Subcommittee Chairwoman Linda Sanchez (D-CA) released a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report [U.S. Attorneys Who Have Served Less than Full Four-year Terms, 1981-2006, February 22, 2007] showing the recent firing of seven U.S. Attorneys is unprecedented. Conyers and Sanchez requested the study, which found …

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