New from the U.S. Government

World at Risk

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:03:43 -0500

Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.
Available online.
The Commission centered its findings on several areas where it determined the risks to the United States are increasing: the crossroads of terrorism and proliferation in the poorly governed parts of Pakistan, the prevention of biological and nuclear terrorism, and the potential erosion of international nuclear security, treaties and norms as we enter a nuclear energy renaissance.
Links will be maintained in several locations in the library Web site, including here.

Household Food Security in the United States, 2007

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:59:08 -0500

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service
Available online.
"Since 1995, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has collected information annually on food spending, food access and adequacy, and sources of food assistance for the U.S. population. The information is collected in an annual food security survey, conducted as a supplement to the nationally representative Current Population Survey (CPS). A major impetus for this data collection is to provide information about the prevalence and severity of food insecurity in U.S. households."
Links will be maintained in several locations in the library Web site, including here.

Global Trends 2025: The National Intelligence Council’s 2025 Project

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:34:38 -0500

U.S. National Intelligence Council.
Available online.
The fourth unclassified report prepared by the National Intelligence Council (NIC) in recent years that takes a long-term view of the future. "It offers a fresh look at how key global trends might develop over the next 15 years to influence world events. Our report is not meant to be an exercise in prediction or crystal ball-gazing. Mindful that there are many possible “futures,” we offer a range of possibilities and potential discontinuities, as a way of opening our minds to developments we might otherwise miss."
Links will be maintained in several locations in the library Web site, including here.

2008 Small Business Profiles for the States and Territories

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:02:41 -0500

U.S. Small Business Administration.
Available online.
A portrait of the economic condition and activities of how small businesses performed in their respective states and how they are important their local economies and that of the United States. This annual profile contains sections on the following topics: the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, business ownership, and employment.
A link will be maintained on this library Web page.

Airbrushing History, American Style

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:20:09 -0500

Cline Center for Democracy, University of Illinois.
Available online.
Study finds the ephemeral nature of documents presented online in the White House Web site. The authors "are the first to show a pattern of changes in documents over time, but note that others have, on previous occasions, pointed to suspicious changes to archived documents on the White House Web site."

The Healthy Woman; A Complete Guide for All Ages

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:10:38 -0500

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Available online.
Informative, easy-to-use self-help guide on risk factors, conditions and treatments, proactive health, etc.
A link will be maintained on this library Web page.

Transition Resources

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:39:12 -0500

Here are three "official" collections of Federal Government infomation designed to assist with the transition to a new Presidential administration.

The best-known of these is the quadrennially-published Plum Book (officially United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions), which is a guide "used to identify presidentially appointed positions within the Federal Government" i.e., the jobs that are up for grabs.

The U.S. General Services Administration publishes an authorized transition directory, described by the creating legislation as a "compilation of Federal publications and materials with supplementary materials developed by the Administrator that provides information on the officers, organization, and statutory and administrative authorities, functions, duties, responsibilities, and mission of each department and agency." For example, it includes a reference to the Plum Book.

The U.S. General Accountancy Office, one of the Federal Government's nonpartisan "watchdog" agencies, prepared this guide to policy issues facing the new administration. Includes links to recent GAO reports.

Enduring Challenge of Concentrated Poverty in America

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:17:49 -0500

U.S. Federal Reserve System and Brookings Institution.
Available online.
Subtitled Case Studies from Communities Across the U.S, this report "profiles 16 high-poverty communities from across the country, including immigrant gateway, Native American, urban, and rural communities."
A link will be maintained on this library Web page.

2007 Census of Governments

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:55:36 -0500

U.S. Census Bureau.
The first two collections of data from the 2007 Census of Governments have been released -- Organization and Employment and Payroll.
A link will be maintained on this library Web page.

Small Area Health Insurance Estimates

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:15:34 -0500

U.S. Census Bureau.
Available online.
The most extensive estimates ever published on county-level demographic characteristics of people with and without health insurance coverage.
A link will be maintained on this library Web page.

Injuries Resulting from Car Surfing --- United States, 1990--2008

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:08:54 -0500

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Available online.
"Teens are getting injured or killed by riding on the outside of a moving vehicle – an activity known as car surfing, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) review of newspaper articles released today in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
A link will be maintained on this library Web page.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Fireside Chats

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:00:12 -0500

Internet Archive / U.S. Library of Conrgess.
Available online.
"Beginning March 4th, 1933, and running through March 1st, 1945 FDR's fireside chats were a staple in American Homes. The news of the day, brought to you directly from the commander in chief himself. These are those broadcasts."
A link will be mantained on this library Web page.

Black Americans in Congress, 1870-2007

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:21:38 -0500

U.S. House of Representatives.
Available online
Contains profiles of African American senators, congressmen, and delegates, as well as historical essays, collections of historical data, and more.
Links will be maintained in several locations in our site, including here.

Two Reports on Federal Spending

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:53:43 -0500

U.S. Census Bureau.
The latest editions of two annually-published statistical collections help to explain where Federal Government spending went in 2007:
The Consolidated Federal Funds Report "provides a broad overview of how and where the federal government distributes funds. Statistics are broken out by federal department and agency, as well as by state, county and subcounty area."
Federal Aid to States "contains data on federal grants to state and local governments."
A link will be maintained on this library Web page.

Cost Estimate on Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:35:41 -0500

U.S. Congressional Budget Office.
Available online.
"CBO has just issued its analysis of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, as released tonight by the House Committee on Financial Services. Among other provisions, the legislation would create a Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP)."
A link will be maintained on this library Web page.