New from the U.S. Government

U.S. Congressional Research Service.
Available online.
"Legislation that would repeal or otherwise provide for a summer-long moratorium of federal transportation fuel taxes has been introduced in the 110th Congress... Those seeking to alter federal fuel tax collection are doing so in the belief that a reduction in fuel taxes would give Americans a modest level of economic relief from high pump prices. Current market conditions and the marginal amount of tax relief incorporated in most proposals, however, raise uncertainty as to whether prices to individuals and businesses would fall and whether any price decline would be meaningful to consumers in economic terms. Also of concern is the possible impact of any repeal or moratorium on the overall federal budget deficit."
A link will be maintained on this library Web page.

Posted by Dick Grefe at 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

U.S. Climate Change Science Program.
Available online.
"One of the most extensive examinations of climate impacts on U.S. ecosystems... The report finds that climate change is already affecting U.S. water resources, agriculture, land resources, and biodiversity, and will continue to do so."
A link to this document will be added to Annie.

Posted by Dick Grefe at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

U.S. National Center for Education Statistics.
Available online.
Annual report "summarizes important developments and trends in education using the latest available data. The report presents 43 indicators on the status and condition of education. The indicators represent a consensus of professional judgment on the most significant national measures of the condition and progress of education for which accurate data are available. The 2008 print edition includes 43 indicators in five main areas: (1) participation in education; (2) learner outcomes; (3) student effort and educational progress; (4) the contexts of elementary and secondary education; and (5) the contexts of postsecondary education."
Links will be maintained in several locations in our Web site, including here.

Posted by Dick Grefe at 8:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

U.S. Centers for Disease Conrol.
Available online.
"The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults, including behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence; tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; unhealthy dietary behaviors; and physical inactivity. In addition, YRBSS monitors the prevalence of obesity and asthma. YRBSS includes a national school-based survey conducted by CDC and state and local school-based surveys conducted by state and local education and health agencies. This report summarizes results from the national survey, 39 state surveys, and 22 local surveys conducted among students in grades 9--12 during 2007."

Posted by Dick Grefe at 7:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

U.S. State Department.
Available online.
Annual U.S. State Department report on "severe forms of trafficking in persons" in countries of the world.
A link will be maintained on this page in our Web site.

Posted by Dick Grefe at 7:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Available online.
"The EPA 2008 ROE is an update of the draft ROE that was released in 2003 and it builds on the foundation of that draft report." In addition to national scale indicators, the ROE also provides data broken out by EPA Regions. Indicators presented include air pollutant emissions and concentrations, acid deposition, drinking water quality, land use patterns, population, fertilizer use, cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, forestland, fish populations, carbon storage, temperature and precipitation, and more.
A link will be maintained on this library Web page.

Posted by Dick Grefe at 8:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)