Global Food Crisis is a compilation of material from 2008 about rising food prices, food security, and contributing factors to the world food situation. It includes updates, maps, key documents, FAQs, data, and resources for further information.
Source: ReliefWeb, administered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Green Book
Chairman Rangel Announces Rollout of the 2008 Green Book:
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) today announced the release of the 2008 edition of “Background Material and Data on the Programs within the Jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means,” informally known as the Green Book.
The Green Book provides updated data and information on programs within the Committee’s jurisdiction, such as Medicare, Social Security, Unemployment Compensation, Foster Care and welfare. Additionally, it includes a discussion of related issues, such as the well-being of the elderly and of children and families. Since its first publication in 1981, the Green Book has become a valued reference guide for legislators, administrators, researchers and interested citizens.
Upon completion, individual chapters of this volume will be accessible on the Committee’s website (http://waysandmeans.house.gov/). The first of these completed sections, Child Support Enforcement Program, was posted today. Once all sections have been completed, a printed edition of the entire book will be made available for purchase from the Government Printing Office.
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) today announced the release of the 2008 edition of “Background Material and Data on the Programs within the Jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means,” informally known as the Green Book.
The Green Book provides updated data and information on programs within the Committee’s jurisdiction, such as Medicare, Social Security, Unemployment Compensation, Foster Care and welfare. Additionally, it includes a discussion of related issues, such as the well-being of the elderly and of children and families. Since its first publication in 1981, the Green Book has become a valued reference guide for legislators, administrators, researchers and interested citizens.
Upon completion, individual chapters of this volume will be accessible on the Committee’s website (http://waysandmeans.house.gov/). The first of these completed sections, Child Support Enforcement Program, was posted today. Once all sections have been completed, a printed edition of the entire book will be made available for purchase from the Government Printing Office.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Homeland Security: Small Vessels
Fact Sheet: DHS Small Vessel Security Strategy
Traditional maritime security efforts have primarily focused on large commercial vessels, their cargoes, and crew. Efforts to address the small vessel environment have largely been limited to traditional safety and law enforcement concerns. Small vessels, however, are readily vulnerable to potential exploitation by terrorists; smugglers of weapons of mass destruction, narcotics, aliens, and other contraband; and other criminals. Small vessels have also been successfully employed overseas by terrorists to deliver Waterborne Improvised Explosive Devices.
As the U.S.S. Cole attack vividly demonstrated, there is a clear need to close security gaps and enhance the small vessel security environment. The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Small Vessel Security Strategy (SVSS) addresses these concerns, providing a coherent framework to improve maritime security and safety. It envisions a coordinated effort of federal, state, local and tribal authorities, together with international partners, private industry, and the recreational users of the waterways.
Traditional maritime security efforts have primarily focused on large commercial vessels, their cargoes, and crew. Efforts to address the small vessel environment have largely been limited to traditional safety and law enforcement concerns. Small vessels, however, are readily vulnerable to potential exploitation by terrorists; smugglers of weapons of mass destruction, narcotics, aliens, and other contraband; and other criminals. Small vessels have also been successfully employed overseas by terrorists to deliver Waterborne Improvised Explosive Devices.
As the U.S.S. Cole attack vividly demonstrated, there is a clear need to close security gaps and enhance the small vessel security environment. The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Small Vessel Security Strategy (SVSS) addresses these concerns, providing a coherent framework to improve maritime security and safety. It envisions a coordinated effort of federal, state, local and tribal authorities, together with international partners, private industry, and the recreational users of the waterways.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Carbon Offsets
Voluntary Carbon Offset Information Portal provides information about buying carbon offsets to neutralize carbon dioxide emissions created by individual air travel. It features a consumer handout on "flying green,"a report on voluntary offsets for air travel carbon emissions, a paper with an overview of international climate change policies and the current carbon market, description of offset project types, a list of carbon offset companies, a glossary, and more. The portal is a joint project of the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Tufts Climate Initiative (TCI).
Thursday, April 17, 2008
ALEC Report Card on American Education
2007 Report Card on American Education from the American Legislative Exchange Council (the 14th edition) gathers and presents in a quick-glance format helpful data for reviewing the condition of education among the states. The “snapshot” pages reveal states’ “inputs” and “outputs,” as well as demographic information. Policymakers and parents will be able to easily reference per-pupil spending, for example, as well as class size and achievement scores. By compiling this data from its sources, the Report Card aims to contribute to a well-informed community of parents and leaders.
The Report Card also reviews the data across states to identify any promising relationships among “inputs” and “outputs” in an effort to help answer the question: What works?
The results show that we are not doing enough to prepare America’s children for global competitiveness. International data and trends cannot be ignored. The latest results of comparison among participating nations of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development peg American students’ achievement levels in science below dozens of other countries including Croatia, Latvia, and mainland China. In fact, the United States scores below the combined average of all countries observed. These results come on the heels of a Wall Street Journal editorial warning that America’s output of American-born Ph.D. students is losing ground to foreign-born students with temporary visas.
The Report Card also reviews the data across states to identify any promising relationships among “inputs” and “outputs” in an effort to help answer the question: What works?
The results show that we are not doing enough to prepare America’s children for global competitiveness. International data and trends cannot be ignored. The latest results of comparison among participating nations of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development peg American students’ achievement levels in science below dozens of other countries including Croatia, Latvia, and mainland China. In fact, the United States scores below the combined average of all countries observed. These results come on the heels of a Wall Street Journal editorial warning that America’s output of American-born Ph.D. students is losing ground to foreign-born students with temporary visas.
Individual state reports also are available.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Subprime Mortgages
Subprime Outcomes: Risky Mortgages, Homeownership Experiences, and Foreclosures provides the first rigorous assessment of the homeownership experiences of subprime borrowers. It considers homeowners who used subprime mortgages to buy their homes, and estimates how often these borrowers end up in foreclosure. In order to evaluate these issues, homeownership experiences in Massachusetts over the 1989–2007 period are analyzed, using a competing risks/ proportional hazard framework. Two findings are presented: first, homeownerships that begin with a subprime purchase mortgage end up in foreclosure almost 20 percent of the time, or more than 6 times as often as experiences that begin with prime purchase mortgages; second, house price appreciation plays a dominant role in generating foreclosures. In fact, most of the dramatic rise in Massachusetts foreclosures during 2006 and 2007 were due to the decline in house prices that began in the summer of 2005.
Source: Federal Reserve of Boston
Source: Federal Reserve of Boston
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Transportation and Climate Change
Climate change will have a significant impact on transportation infrastructure and operations : While every mode of transportation in the U.S. will be affected as the climate changes, potentially the greatest impact on transportation systems will be flooding of roads, railways, transit systems, and airport runways in coastal areas because of rising sea levels and surges brought on by more intense storms, says a new report from the National Research Council. Though the impacts of climate change will vary by region, it is certain they will be widespread and costly in human and economic terms, and will require significant changes in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of transportation systems.
Source: National Research Council/National Academies Press
Source: National Research Council/National Academies Press
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Ozone Layer
Each year, the depleted region in Earth's protective ozone layer over the Antarctic, or "ozone hole," reaches its largest size during a period in September. Data from a NASA satellite are now in, and images created from the data reveal the extent of the hole in 2007 was about average when compared to measurements from the last few decades.
NASA studies ozone to better understand its relation to air quality and climate." Learn about the "depleted region in Earth's protective ozone layer over the Antarctic," how plants are "used to study air quality from the ground by seeing how ozone ... damages the leaves," and more.
From the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
URL: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/ozone_resource_page.html
NASA studies ozone to better understand its relation to air quality and climate." Learn about the "depleted region in Earth's protective ozone layer over the Antarctic," how plants are "used to study air quality from the ground by seeing how ozone ... damages the leaves," and more.
From the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
URL: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/ozone_resource_page.html
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Water Infrastructure
Policymakers are giving increased attention to issues associated with financing and investing in the nation’s drinking water and wastewater treatment systems, which take in water, treat it, and distribute it to households and other customers, and later collect, treat, and discharge water after use. The renewed attention is due to a combination of factors. These include financial impacts on communities of meeting existing and anticipated regulatory requirements, the need to repair and replace existing infrastructure, and concerns about paying for security-related projects.
The federal government has a long history of involvement with wastewater and drinking water systems, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) having the most significant role, both in terms of regulation and funding. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also plays an important role in rural communities through its water and wastewater loan and grant programs. These programs have been popular; however, states, local communities, and others have asserted that various program gaps and limitations may be diminishing their potential effectiveness. They also point to the emergence of new infrastructure needs and issues.
Congressional interest in these issues has grown for some time and is continuing in the 110th Congress. In each of the past three Congresses, House and Senate committees acted on legislation to reauthorize and modify infrastructure financing programs in the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, but no bills were enacted. The Bush Administration has addressed water infrastructure in a number of general ways, but has not offered legislative proposals of its own. EPA’s principal initiative has been to support strategies intended to ensure that infrastructure investment needs are met in an efficient, timely, and equitable manner.
A Congressional Research Service report (Water Infrastructure Needs and Investment: Review and Analysis of Key Issues ), released on February 29, 2008, identifies a number of issues that have received attention in connection with water infrastructure investment. It begins with a review of federal involvement, describes the debate about needs, and then examines key issues, including what is the nature of the problems to be solved; who will pay, and what is the federal role; and questions about mechanisms for delivering federal support, including state-by-state allotment of federal funds. Congressional and Administration activity on these issues from the 107th to the 109th Congresses also is reviewed.
Source: Congressional Research Service (via Federation of American Scientists)
The federal government has a long history of involvement with wastewater and drinking water systems, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) having the most significant role, both in terms of regulation and funding. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also plays an important role in rural communities through its water and wastewater loan and grant programs. These programs have been popular; however, states, local communities, and others have asserted that various program gaps and limitations may be diminishing their potential effectiveness. They also point to the emergence of new infrastructure needs and issues.
Congressional interest in these issues has grown for some time and is continuing in the 110th Congress. In each of the past three Congresses, House and Senate committees acted on legislation to reauthorize and modify infrastructure financing programs in the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, but no bills were enacted. The Bush Administration has addressed water infrastructure in a number of general ways, but has not offered legislative proposals of its own. EPA’s principal initiative has been to support strategies intended to ensure that infrastructure investment needs are met in an efficient, timely, and equitable manner.
A Congressional Research Service report (Water Infrastructure Needs and Investment: Review and Analysis of Key Issues ), released on February 29, 2008, identifies a number of issues that have received attention in connection with water infrastructure investment. It begins with a review of federal involvement, describes the debate about needs, and then examines key issues, including what is the nature of the problems to be solved; who will pay, and what is the federal role; and questions about mechanisms for delivering federal support, including state-by-state allotment of federal funds. Congressional and Administration activity on these issues from the 107th to the 109th Congresses also is reviewed.
Source: Congressional Research Service (via Federation of American Scientists)
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Medicare Part D
AARP Report Finds Brand Name Drug Prices Continue to Soar: According to a report released today by AARP, pharmaceutical companies have substantially raised prices on 220 brand name prescription drugs most commonly used by people in Medicare Part D since the implementation of the drug benefit in 2006. AARP has studied drug prices since 2002 and reported the findings in a series of Watchdog reports. Today’s report expands on the series by focusing its analysis on those brand prescription drugs most widely used by people enrolled in Medicare Part D.
The Watchdog report, which was produced by AARP’s Public Policy Institute (PPI), found that prices of brand name drugs most commonly used by people in Medicare Part D rose by an average of 7.4 percent in 2007 – nearly two and a half times the rate of general inflation. The report concludes that rising prices threaten consumers by increasing the likelihood of higher insurance premiums and the chance that people will fall into the Medicare coverage gap, and increasing the out-of-pocket expenses of those who find themselves in this “donut hole.”
The Watchdog report, which was produced by AARP’s Public Policy Institute (PPI), found that prices of brand name drugs most commonly used by people in Medicare Part D rose by an average of 7.4 percent in 2007 – nearly two and a half times the rate of general inflation. The report concludes that rising prices threaten consumers by increasing the likelihood of higher insurance premiums and the chance that people will fall into the Medicare coverage gap, and increasing the out-of-pocket expenses of those who find themselves in this “donut hole.”
Thursday, February 28, 2008
City and County Data Book, 2007
The County and City Data Book: 2007 has been released. Compiled and issued annually since the 1940s, it incorporates demographic and economic information about the United States from Census Bureau surveys, as well as information from other government and private organizations.
The data cover topics such as population, housing, vital statistics, health care, social programs, education, labor force, wholesale and retail trade, and weather. Geographic areas covered in the County and City Data Book include states, counties, cities with populations of 25,000 or more, and places with 100,000 or more residents.
The data cover topics such as population, housing, vital statistics, health care, social programs, education, labor force, wholesale and retail trade, and weather. Geographic areas covered in the County and City Data Book include states, counties, cities with populations of 25,000 or more, and places with 100,000 or more residents.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
War On Terrorism
Analysis of the Growth in Funding for Operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Elsewhere in the War on Terrorism:
If the Administration’s request for 2008 is funded in full, appropriations for military operations and other war-related activities in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the war on terrorism will rise to $188 billion this year and to a cumulative total of $752 billion since 2001. Most of the spending is concentrated in two categories—operation and maintenance, which has roughly doubled from 2004 to 2008, and procurement, which has increased tenfold over that period. The reasons for some of the increases are difficult to determine precisely because available data on the pace of operations and other factors that might affect costs are limited and because some of the funding and reporting categories are very broad. The Congressional Budget Office's analysis is based on supplemental budget requests submitted by the Administration, budget justification materials provided by the Department of Defense, reports on obligations incurred during the war, and committee reports accompanying appropriation acts.
If the Administration’s request for 2008 is funded in full, appropriations for military operations and other war-related activities in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the war on terrorism will rise to $188 billion this year and to a cumulative total of $752 billion since 2001. Most of the spending is concentrated in two categories—operation and maintenance, which has roughly doubled from 2004 to 2008, and procurement, which has increased tenfold over that period. The reasons for some of the increases are difficult to determine precisely because available data on the pace of operations and other factors that might affect costs are limited and because some of the funding and reporting categories are very broad. The Congressional Budget Office's analysis is based on supplemental budget requests submitted by the Administration, budget justification materials provided by the Department of Defense, reports on obligations incurred during the war, and committee reports accompanying appropriation acts.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Federal FY 2009 Budget Proposals
Major Savings and Reforms in the President’s FY 2009 Budget describes and provides funding levels for major discretionary and mandatory savings and reform proposals in the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget. These proposals will result in savings to taxpayers and improved Government services by eliminating or restructuring low-priority programs and programs that are not producing results. The proposals were guided by criteria that considered whether the programs met the Nation’s priorities, constituted an appropriate and effective use of taxpayer resources by the Federal Government, and produced the intended results.
In total, the Budget proposes to terminate or reduce 151 discretionary programs, reducing 2009 spending by $18 billion. These include 103 terminations saving $7 billion and 48 reductions saving $11 billion. The Budget also proposes mandatory spending reforms that will achieve an additional $16 billion in net savings in 2009, and result in $208 billion in savings through 2013. Mandatory savings proposals highlighted in this volume total $19 billion in 2009 and $233 billion through 2013, and exclude reforms that are cost-neutral or result in cost increases.
Source: Office of Management and Budget
In total, the Budget proposes to terminate or reduce 151 discretionary programs, reducing 2009 spending by $18 billion. These include 103 terminations saving $7 billion and 48 reductions saving $11 billion. The Budget also proposes mandatory spending reforms that will achieve an additional $16 billion in net savings in 2009, and result in $208 billion in savings through 2013. Mandatory savings proposals highlighted in this volume total $19 billion in 2009 and $233 billion through 2013, and exclude reforms that are cost-neutral or result in cost increases.
In total, the Budget proposes to terminate or reduce 151 discretionary programs, reducing 2009 spending by $18 billion. These include 103 terminations saving $7 billion and 48 reductions saving $11 billion. The Budget also proposes mandatory spending reforms that will achieve an additional $16 billion in net savings in 2009, and result in $208 billion in savings through 2013. Mandatory savings proposals highlighted in this volume total $19 billion in 2009 and $233 billion through 2013, and exclude reforms that are cost-neutral or result in cost increases.
Source: Office of Management and Budget
In total, the Budget proposes to terminate or reduce 151 discretionary programs, reducing 2009 spending by $18 billion. These include 103 terminations saving $7 billion and 48 reductions saving $11 billion. The Budget also proposes mandatory spending reforms that will achieve an additional $16 billion in net savings in 2009, and result in $208 billion in savings through 2013. Mandatory savings proposals highlighted in this volume total $19 billion in 2009 and $233 billion through 2013, and exclude reforms that are cost-neutral or result in cost increases.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Energy Security and Climate Change
Managing the Transition to a Secure, Low-Carbon Energy Future seeks to establish a framework for considering the complex and evolving links between energy security and climate change, and identifies three challenges: the evolving and interconnected nature of energy security and climate change definitions and goals, the variables that contribute to an uncertain future, and the trade-offs and unintended consequences involved in addressing both issues.
A workable strategy must be concerned not just with how to design a future in which climate change and energy security concerns are met, but also with the pathway to get there. To guide this transition, this brief offers several guiding principles for devising energy and climate policies that are both effective and politically viable.
Source: Center for Strategic and International Studies
A workable strategy must be concerned not just with how to design a future in which climate change and energy security concerns are met, but also with the pathway to get there. To guide this transition, this brief offers several guiding principles for devising energy and climate policies that are both effective and politically viable.
Source: Center for Strategic and International Studies
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Alternative Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy's Wind & Hydropower Technologies Program exists to "improve wind energy technology so that it can generate competitive electricity in areas with lower wind resources, and to develop new, cost-effective, advanced hydropower technologies." The website for the program provides overviews of how wind power and hydropower work and exploration of the history and advantages and disadvantages of each. Publications, photographs, and related links are featured.
Most wind energy research is carried out at world-class facilities located at DOE's National Wind Technology Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, in cooperation with Sandia National Laboratories. Hydropower research is conducted at Idaho National Energy and Environmental Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Most wind energy research is carried out at world-class facilities located at DOE's National Wind Technology Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, in cooperation with Sandia National Laboratories. Hydropower research is conducted at Idaho National Energy and Environmental Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Fiscal Policy
Options for Responding to Short-Term Economic Weakness: The economy has recently been buffeted by several interlinked shocks, and the risk of recession is significantly elevated compared with what it is during normal economic conditions.
In response to a request from the Chairmen of the House and Senate Budget Committees, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has examined the potential role of fiscal policy efforts to expand aggregate demand in the current economic situation and the efficacy of various policy options to do so. This paper also examines options for dealing with the crisis in the home mortgage market, which has contributed to the overall economic weakness. It updates and expands upon a January 2002 CBO analysis of various tax options for stimulating the economy (see Economic Stimulus: Evaluating Proposed Changes in Tax Policy).
In response to a request from the Chairmen of the House and Senate Budget Committees, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has examined the potential role of fiscal policy efforts to expand aggregate demand in the current economic situation and the efficacy of various policy options to do so. This paper also examines options for dealing with the crisis in the home mortgage market, which has contributed to the overall economic weakness. It updates and expands upon a January 2002 CBO analysis of various tax options for stimulating the economy (see Economic Stimulus: Evaluating Proposed Changes in Tax Policy).
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Federal Trade Commission Resources
These Federal Trade Commission: Energy and Environment Web pages compile FTC information regarding energy and environment topics such as labeling and advertising of fuel and automotive products, marketing claims concerning carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates, and EnergyGuide labels for home appliances, plumbing, and lighting products. In addition to consumer and business education materials, they also contain rulings and statutes, press releases and announcements, and other government documents.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Crime Data
How Crime in the United States Is Measured :
Crime data collected through the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) are used by Congress to inform policy decisions and allocate federal criminal justice funding to states. As such, it is important to understand how each program collects and reports crime data, and the limitations associated with the data.
This report reviews (1) the history of the UCR, the NIBRS, and the NCVS; (2) the methods each program uses to collect crime data; and (3) the limitations of the data collected by each program. The report then compares the similarities and differences of UCR and NCVS data. It concludes by reviewing issues related to the NIBRS and the NCVS.
Source: Congressional Research Service
Crime data collected through the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) are used by Congress to inform policy decisions and allocate federal criminal justice funding to states. As such, it is important to understand how each program collects and reports crime data, and the limitations associated with the data.
This report reviews (1) the history of the UCR, the NIBRS, and the NCVS; (2) the methods each program uses to collect crime data; and (3) the limitations of the data collected by each program. The report then compares the similarities and differences of UCR and NCVS data. It concludes by reviewing issues related to the NIBRS and the NCVS.
Source: Congressional Research Service
Friday, January 4, 2008
Healthcare 2008
Healthcare faces a pivotal year in 2008, says PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute in its annual review of the top health industry issues: anticipation of the outcome of the 2008 presidential election and adjustment to a new Medicare payment system, additional reporting requirements, pressure on Big Pharma to cut costs and innovate, the rise of retail health services and the ongoing evolution of consumer-directed healthcare. The implications of these issues are addressed in the Top Eight Health Industry Issues in 2008, an annual review of the pressing issues in healthcare, released today by PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute.
Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers
Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers
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