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Daily Archives: March 18, 2010

DOE IG: Progress in Implementing the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program Under the Recovery Act

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Department of Energy Office of Inspector General Office of Audit Services Special Report – Progress in Implementing the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

  • “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was enacted to stimulate the U.S. economy, create jobs and make infrastructure investments in energy and other areas. The Department of Energy’s (Department) Weatherization Assistance Program received about $5 billion under the Recovery Act to improve the energy efficiency of nearly 590,000 residences of low income citizens — a dramatic increase over the $450 million appropriated for this Program
    in Fiscal Year 2009. The Department awarded $4.73 billion of the Recovery Act funding in the form of grants to all 50 states, 5 territories, the District of Columbia and 2 Native American Tribes (the remaining $270 million was retained by the Department to administer the grants)…As of February 2010, the one-year anniversary of the Recovery Act, only a small percentage of Recovery Act weatherization funds had been spent and few homes had actually been weatherized: Only $368.2 million (less than 8 percent) of the total award of $4.73 billion had been drawn by grantees for weatherization work…”

    • EPIC Recommends That Congress Suspend Body Scanning Program

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    Follow up to previous postings on government implementation of whole body scanning technology at airports, via EPIC: “In testimony before the House Committee on Homeland Security, EPIC President Marc Rotenberg urged Congress to halt the plan to deploy body scanners in the nation’s airports. “Based on the documents we’ve obtained, the views of experts, the… Continue Reading

    MAPLight.org – New Web Site Reveals Money and Politics Links in New Ways

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    “MAPLight.org, the award-winning nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization dedicated to illuminating the connection between money and politics, has launched a new web site which shines the light of transparency and accountability in powerful ways as never before. The new site is being launched during Sunshine Week, a nonpartisan, national initiative to open a dialogue about the… Continue Reading

    New GAO Reports: Climate Change, FOIA, Secure Border Initiative, USPS, Food Irradiation

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    Climate Change: Preliminary Observations on Geoengineering Science, Federal Efforts, and Governance Issues, GAO-10-546T, March 18, 2010 Freedom of Information Act: Requirements and Implementation Continue to Evolve, GAO-10-537T, March 18, 2010 Secure Border Initiative: Testing and Problem Resolution Challenges Put Delivery of Technology Program at Risk, GAO-10-511T, March 18, 2010 U.S. Postal Service: Financial Crisis Demands… Continue Reading

    Pew: The Return of the Multi-Generational Family Household

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    Return of the Multi-Generational Family Household, March 18, 2010 – Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project. “The multi-generational American family household is staging a comeback — driven in part by the job losses and home foreclosures of recent years, but more so by demographic changes that have been gathering steam for decades. As… Continue Reading

    2010 Atlas of Heart Disease Hospitalizations Among Medicare Beneficiaries

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    2010 Atlas of Heart Disease Hospitalizations Among Medicare Beneficiaries – Heart disease hospitalization rates among Americans aged 65 years and older vary substantially depending on where they live, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The “Atlas of Heart Disease Hospitalizations Among Medicare Beneficiaries” shows that the highest… Continue Reading

    Kraft Foods Plans to Reduce Sodium in North American Products an Average of 10 Percent by 2012

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    News release: “Kraft Foods Inc. announced today plans to reduce sodium by an average of 10 percent across its North American portfolio over the next two years. This amounts to the elimination of more than 10 million pounds — or more than 750 million teaspoons — of salt from some of North America’s most popular… Continue Reading

    Arctic Species Trend Index 2010 – Traking Trends in Arctic Wildlife

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    “The Arctic Species Trend Index 2010 (ASTI) was commissioned and coordinated by the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP). The CBMP is working with over 60 organiations to expand, integrate and enhance existing arctic biodiversity research and monitoring efforts to facilitate more rapid detection, communication and response to significant trends and pressures.” “The contribution of Arctic… Continue Reading

    Federal Banking Agencies Issue Policy Statement on Funding and Liquidity Risk Management

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    News release: “The federal banking agencies, in conjunction with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), released a policy statement today on their expectations for sound funding and liquidity risk management practices. This policy statement, adopted by each of the agencies, summarizes the principles of sound liquidity risk management issued previously and, when appropriate, supplements… Continue Reading

    DOE Report: Small Businesses Helping Drive Economy: Clean Energy, Clean Sites

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    News release: “Department of Energy released a new report highlighting the benefits of the Recovery Act to small businesses throughout the clean, renewable energy industry and environmental management sector. The report found that as of early March 2010, small businesses have been selected to receive nearly $5.4 billion in funding across a number of Recovery… Continue Reading