M-08-21, FY 2008 Reporting Instructions for the Federal Information Security Management Act and Agency Privacy Management (July 14, 2008) (43 pages) “Agencies should also submit their most current documentation related to OMB Memorandum M-07-16, of May 22, 2007, Safeguarding Against and Responding to the Breach of Personally Identifiable Information, This information should be provided in… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: July 2008
Congress Receives First Report Required by 2005 Bankruptcy Law
US Courts: “The first annual report to Congress containing new bankruptcy statistics mandated by the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 was filed by the Administrative Office in advance of the July 1, 2008 deadline. The 2005 law requires bankruptcy courts to collect statistics on debtors who meet certain criteria. The Judiciary… Continue Reading
CRS Report: Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's Financial Problems: Frequently Asked Questions
RS22916 Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s Financial Problems: Frequently Asked Questions, July 15, 2008 “What risks do Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac face in todays economic environment? Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have traditionally kept some of their mortgages in their investment portfolios and packaged others for sale as mortgage-backed securities (MBS). The GSEs guarantee… Continue Reading
EPA OIG: Agency Needs to Better Report Chesapeake Bay Challenges
08-P-0199 EPA Needs to Better Report Chesapeake Bay Challenges, [Report PDF – 40 pages] [At a Glance PDF] “Despite many noteworthy accomplishments by the Chesapeake Bay partners, the Bay remains degraded. This has resulted in continuing threats to aquatic life and human health, and citizens being deprived of the Bays full economic and recreational benefits.… Continue Reading
The Changing Newsroom: What is Being Gained and What is Being Lost in America's Daily Newspapers?
Project for Excellence in Journalism: “Meet the American daily newspaper of 2008. It has fewer pages than three years ago, the paper stock is thinner, and the stories are shorter. There is less foreign and national news, less space devoted to science, the arts, features and a range of specialized subjects. Business coverage is either… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports: Commercial Drivers, Indian Health Service, Air Traffic Control
Commercial Drivers: Certification Process for Drivers with Serious Medical Conditions, GAO-08-826, June 30, 2008 Indian Health Service: IHS Mismanagement Led to Millions of Dollars in Lost or Stolen Property, GAO-08-727, June 18, 2008 Influenza Pandemic: Federal Agencies Should Continue to Assist States to Address Gaps in Pandemic Planning, GAO-08-539, June 19, 2008 Air Traffic Control:… Continue Reading
Third Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling in the Matter of CBS Corporation v. Federal Communications Commission
Ruling Invalidates an FCC Decision and Fine in Connection With an Incident During the Halftime Show of the 2004 Super Bowl, Filed 07/21/08, No. 06-3575 CBS Corporation v. FCC Agency (102 pages, PDF) Bloomberg: CBS Wins Court Ruling Throwing Out $550,000 FCC Fine Continue Reading
Report: Overseas Intellectual Property Rights Attache Program Is Generally Working Well, but a Comprehensive Operating Plan Is Needed
Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General – United States Patent and Trademark Office, The Overseas Intellectual Property Rights Attaché Program Is Generally Working Well, but a Comprehensive Operating Plan Is Needed, Final Report IPE-19044/July 2008. “According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, IPR theft costs at least $200 billion per year and the loss… Continue Reading
TRAC Immigration Judge Reports Asylum
Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse: “New reports on the nation’s 200-plus immigration judges are now available. The reports, covering how the judges decided asylum matters in the FY 2002 to FY 2007 period, are based on tens of thousands of very detailed records obtained and analyzed by TRAC under the Freedom of Information Act. The source… Continue Reading
Broadband Penetration: How Does Your Community Stand Up
Internet for Everyone: “Survey after survey shows American broadband quality and access falling perilously behind countries in Europe and Asia. Getting everyone connected to an open Internet should be a national priority. Click on your state…to learn more about Internet access in your area.” [Example – As of 2007, in Maryland 56.1% of homes had… Continue Reading
Social Security Administration Retirement Estimator
“The Retirement Estimator produces estimates that are based on your actual Social Security earnings record. Retirement estimates are just that, estimates. They will vary slightly from the actual benefit you may receive in the future because: Your Social Security earnings record is constantly being updated; Our calculators use different parameters and assumptions (e.g., different stop… Continue Reading
DOD GWOT Audit: Challenges Impacting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom Reported
DOD Support to the Global War On Terror (GWOT) – D-2008-086 Challenges Impacting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom Reported by Major Oversight Organizations Beginning FY 2003 through FY 2007, July 18, 2008 (Project No. D2007-D000XA-0249.000) “Over the course of conducting Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, DoD experienced, at times, significant and recurring challenges in… Continue Reading
