State Population Estimates

From the Census Department:

State Population Estimates: July 1, 2006 Internet tables showing July 1, 2006, population estimates and components of change for the nation, states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. These are the first state estimates to reflect the population movement resulting from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
LOUISIANA lost almost 5 percent of its pre-Hurricane Katrina population during the course of the year. Louisiana's population totaled 4.3 million on July 1, 2006, down nearly 220,000 from one year earlier. During the previous one-year period (July 1, 2004 to July 1, 2005), Louisiana?s population had grown by 12,000 to 4.5 million.
ARIZONA was the nation's fastest-growing state over the period, breaking Nevada's 19-year grip on the title, with its population rising 3.6 percent. Nevada ranked second this time, as its population climbed by 3.5 percent, followed by Idaho (2.6 percent), Georgia (2.6 percent) and Texas
(2.5 percent).
TEXAS gained more people than any other state between July 1, 2005 and July 1, 2006 (579,275). Florida and California followed, gaining 321,697 and 303,402, respectively. Rounding out the top five states were Georgia
(231,388) and Arizona (213,311).
CALIFORNIA remains the most populous state with a population of 36.5 million on July 1, 2006. Rounding out the top five states were Texas (23.5 million), New York (19.3 million), Florida (18.1 million) and Illinois
(12.8 million).
The WEST has replaced the south as the fastest-growing region with its population climbing by 1.5 percent. The South followed (1.4 percent), with the Midwest third (0.4 percent) and the Northeast fourth (0.1 percent).
For more information, visit <
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/007910.html

FirstGov name change to USA.gov

FirstGov has a name change - it is now USA.gov

New URL: http://www.usa.gov
From the site:
In January 2007, FirstGov.gov announced that it changed its name to USA.gov.
We did it because you asked us to. Feedback from the public told us that we need a name that is easier to understand and remember. We pay attention to our visitors and here's what we know:
Last year, more than 600,000 people typed "usa.gov" into their web browser when searching for government information.
In a 2006 telephone survey, 79 percent of respondents preferred the name USA.gov.
USA.gov is intuitive—it describes what our site is: the U.S. government online.
We regularly get e-mail from the public telling us that they don't like the name "FirstGov" and that we should change it. Our colleagues tell us the same message.
Spanish speakers responded positively to GobiernoUSA.gov as the new name for the Spanish-language portal. This name gives assurance that the user is on a government site.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee announced its subcommittee membership list during a Jan. 17 organizational meeting.
Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and ranking member John Mica (R-Fla.) serve as ex officio members on each of the six subcommittees.
Democratic members of the Aviation Subcommittee include:
Chairman Jerry F. Costello (Ill.), Bob Filner (Calif.), Leonard L. Boswell (Iowa), Rick Larsen (Wash.), Russ Carnahan (Miss.), John T. Salazar (Colo.), Daniel Lipinski (Ill.), Nick Lampson (Texas), Zachary T. Space (Ohio), Bruce L. Braley (Iowa), Harry E. Mitchell (Ariz.), John J. Hall (N.Y.), Steve Kagen (Wis.), Steve Cohen (Tenn.), Nick J. Rahall (W.Va.), Peter A. DeFazio (Ore.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.), Corrine Brown (Fla.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas), Juanita Millender-McDonald (Calif.), Ellen O. Tauscher (Calif.), Tim Holden (Pa.), Michael E. Capuano (Mass.), Doris O. Matsui (Calif.), Mazie K. Hirono (Hawaii).
Republican members of the Aviation Subcommittee include:
Ranking member Thomas E. Petri (Wis.), Howard Coble (N.C.), John J. Duncan (Tenn.), Vernon J. Ehlers (Mich.), Steven C. LaTourette (Ohio), Frank A. LoBiondo (N.J.), Jerry Moran (Kan.), Robin Hayes (N.C.), Sam Graves (Mo.), John Boozman (Ariz.), Jim Gerlach (Pa.), Mario Diaz-Balart (Fla.), Kenny Marchant (Texas), Charles W. Dent (Pa.), Ted Poe (Texas), David G. Reichert (Wash.), Connie Mack (Fla.), Randy Kuhl (N.Y.), Lynn A. Westmoreland (Ga.), Mary Fallin (Okla.), Vern Buchanan (Fla.).
Democratic members of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee include:
Chairman Elijah E. Cummings (Md.), Gene Taylor (Miss.), Rick Larsen (Wash.), Corrine Brown (Fla.), Juanita Millender-McDonald (Calif.), Brian Higgins (N.Y.), Brian Baird (Wash.), Timothy H. Bishop (N.Y.).
Republican members of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee include:
Ranking member Steve LaTourette (Ohio), Don Young (Alaska), Howard Coble (N.C.), Wayne T. Gilchrest (Md.), Frank A. LoBiondo (N.J.), Ted Poe (Texas).
Democratic members of the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee include:
Chairman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.), Michael H. Michaud (Maine), Jason Altmire (Pa.), Michael A. Arcuri (N.Y.), Christopher P. Carney (Pa.), Timothy J. Walz (Minn.), Steve Cohen (Tenn.).
Republican members of the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee include:
Ranking member Sam Graves (Mo.), Bill Shuster (Pa.), Kenny Marchant (Texas), Charles W. Dent (Pa.), Randy Kuhl (N.Y.).
Democratic members of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee include:
Chairman Peter A. DeFazio (Ore.), Nick J. Rahall (W.Va.), Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), Juanita Millender-McDonald (Calif.), Ellen O. Tauscher (Calif.), Tim Holden (Pa.), Michael E. Capuano (Mass.), Julia Carson (Ind.), Timothy H. Bishop (N.Y.), Michael H. Michaud (Maine), Brian Higgins (N.Y.), Grace F. Napolitano (Calif.), Mazie K. Hirono (Hawaii), Jason Altmire (Pa.), Timothy J. Walz (Minn.), Heath Shuler (N.C.), Michael A. Arcuri (N.Y.), Christopher P. Carney (Pa.), Jerry McNerney (Calif.), Bob Filner (Calif.), Elijah E. Cummings (Md.), Brian Baird (Wash.), Daniel Lipinski (Ill.), Doris O. Matsui (Calif.), Steve Cohen (Tenn.), Zachary T. Space (Ohio), Bruce L. Braley (Iowa), Harry E. Mitchell (Ariz.).
Republican members of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee include:
Ranking member John J. Duncan (Tenn.), Don Young (Alaska), Thomas E. Petri (Wis.), Howard Coble (N.C.), Richard H. Baker (La.), Gary G. Miller (Calif.), Robin Hayes (N.C.), Henry E. Brown (S.C.), Timothy V. Johnson (Ill.), Todd Russell Platts (Pa.), John Boozman (Ark.), Jim Gerlach (Pa.), Mario Diaz-Balart (Fla.), Kenny Marchant (Texas), Charles W. Dent (Pa.), Ted Poe (Texas), David G. Reichert (Wash.), Charles W. Boustany (La.), Jean Schmidt (Ohio), Candice S. Miller (Mich.), Thelma D. Drake (Va.), Mary Fallin (Okla.), Vern Buchanan (Fla.).
Democratic members of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee include:
Chairman Corrine Brown (Fla.), Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), Leonard L. Boswell (Iowa), Julia Carson (Ind.), Grace F. Napolitano (Calif.), Nick Lampson (Texas), Zachary T. Space (Ohio), Bruce L. Braley (Iowa), Timothy J. Walz (Minn.), Nick J. Rahall (W.Va.), Peter A. DeFazio (Ore.), Jerry F. Costello (Ill.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas), Elijah E. Cummings (Md.), Michael H. Michaud (Maine), Daniel Lipinski (Ill.).
Republican members of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee include:
Ranking member Bill Shuster (Pa.), Thomas E. Petri (Wis.), Wayne T. Gilchrest (Md.), Steven C. LaTourette (Ohio), Jerry Moran (Kan.), Gary G. Miller (Calif.), Henry Brown (S.C.), Timothy V. Johnson (Ill.), Todd Russell Platts (Pa.), Sam Graves (Mo.), Jim Gerlach (Pa.), Mario Diaz-Balart (Fla.), Lynn A. Westmoreland (Ga.).
Democratic members of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee include:
Chairman Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas), Gene Taylor (Miss.), Brian Baird (Wash.), Doris O. Matsui (Calif.), Jerry F. Costello (Ill.), Timothy H. Bishop (N.Y.), Brian Higgins (N.Y.), Russ Carnahan (Mo.), John T. Salazar (Colo.), Mazie K. Hirono (Hawaii), Heath Shuler (N.C.), Harry E. Mitchell (Ariz.), John J. Hall (N.Y.), Steve Kagen (Wis.), Jerry McNerney (Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.), Bob Filner (Calif.), Ellen O. Tauscher (Calif.), Michael E. Capuano (Mass.), Grace F. Napolitano (Calif.), Michael A. Arcuri (N.Y.)
Republican members of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee include:
Ranking member Richard H. Baker (La.), John J. Duncan (Tenn.), Wayne T. Gilchrest (Md.), Vernon J. Ehlers (Mich.), Frank A. LoBiondo (N.J.), Gary G. Miller (Calif.), Robin Hayes (N.C.), Henry E. Brown (S.C.), Todd Russell Platts (Pa.), Bill Shuster (Pa.), John Boozman (Ark.), Connie Mack (Fla.), Randy Kuhl (N.Y.), Charles W. Boustany (La.), Jean Schmidt (Ohio), Candice S. Miller (Mich.), Thelma D. Drake (Va.).

GAO Report - Hospital Accreditation

The Government Accountability Office released the following report: Hospital Accreditation: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations' Relationship with Its Affiliate (GAO-07-79).
GAO products are available at http://www.gao.gov

Health, United States, 2006

Health, United States, 2006 with Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans -
Now available at:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm

Track State Legislative Bills

A free Denver-based web site - http://www.lgdb.com/ - is set to be fully operational this month. It will search pending state legislation.

Legislative Information

Here is the best Web site for Congressional information - Thomas - sponsored by the Library of Congress

http://thomas.loc.gov