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Daily Archives: September 22, 2010

New GAO Reports: Building Security, Child Care and Development Fund, Disaster Response, Public Transit Security Info Sharing, Mortgage Financing

  • Building Security: New Federal Standards Hold Promise, But Could Be Strengthened to Better Protect Leased Space, GAO-10-873, September 22, 2010
  • Child Care and Development Fund: Undercover Tests Show Five State Programs Are Vulnerable to Fraud and Abuse, GAO-10-1062, September 22, 2010
  • Disaster Response: Criteria for Developing and Validating Effective Response Plans, GAO-10-969T, September 22, 2010
  • National Flood Insurance Program: Continued Actions Needed to Address Financial and Operational Issues, GAO-10-1063T, September 22, 2010
  • Public Transit Security Information Sharing: DHS Could Improve Information Sharing through Streamlining and Increased Outreach, GAO-10-895, September 22, 2010
  • Securities and Exchange Commission: Action Needed to Improve Rating Agency Registration Program and Performance-Related Disclosures, GAO-10-782, September 22, 2010
  • Mortgage Financing: Opportunities to Enhance Management and Oversight of FHA’s Financial Condition, GAO-10-827R, September 14, 2010

Secretary Clinton Announces the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves at the Clinton Global Initiati

Global Effort to Address One of Worst Overall Health Risks in Developing World: “Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, a new public-private partnership led by the United Nations Foundation (UNF) to create a thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions that will save lives,… Continue Reading

Hearing: Nine Years After 9/11 – Confronting the Terrorist Threat to the Homeland

Statement of Secretary Janet Napolitano before the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Nine Years After 9/11: Confronting the Terrorist Threat to the Homeland, September 22, 2010 “Chairman Lieberman, Senator Collins, and members of the Committee: Thank you for this opportunity to testify on the continuing and evolving terrorist threat to… Continue Reading

National Archives and Records Administration Issues Guidelines on Cloud Computing

News Release: “The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has issued guidance for Federal Agencies on records management and cloud computing. NARA Bulletin 2010-05: Guidance on Managing Records in Cloud Computing Environments, builds on the NARA FAQ about Cloud Computing posted on the Archives.gov website in February, 2010. The new guidance defines and outlines cloud… Continue Reading

Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States

Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States, Committee on the Impact of Biotechnology on Farm-Level Economics and Sustainability; National Research Council, 2010 “Since genetically engineered (GE) crops were introduced in 1996, their use in the United States has grown rapidly, accounting for 80-90 percent of soybean, corn, and cotton acreage… Continue Reading

Federal Financial Institution Regulators Announce Availability of 2009 Data on Mortgage Lending

News release: “The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) today announced the availability of data on mortgage lending transactions at 8,124 U.S. financial institutions covered by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Covered institutions include banks, savings associations, credit unions, and mortgage companies. The HMDA data made available today cover 2009 lending activity–applications, originations, purchases… Continue Reading

Economic Commission for Europe: Financing Global Climate Change Mitigation

Financing Global Climate Change Mitigation, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe: “Climate change is widely recognized as the most fundamental and defining challenge of our generation. The average temperature of the earth’s surface has risen by 0.74°C since the late 1800s and it is projected to increase by up to 4° C by the year… Continue Reading

IRA Balances and Contributions: An Overview of the EBRI IRA Database

IRA Balances and Contributions: An Overview of the EBRI IRA Database, September 2010, EBRI Issue Brief #346, Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2010 The Employee Benefit Research Institute® created the EBRI IRA Database in order to more closely examine retirement savings behavior. The EBRI IRA Database is able to link individuals within and across the data… Continue Reading

CDC: Public Health Preparedness – Strengthening the Nation’s Emergency Response State by State

Public Health Preparedness: Strengthening the Nation’s Emergency Response State by State. A Report on CDC-funded Preparedness and Response Activities in 50 States, 4 Cities, and 8 U.S. Insular Areas. September 21, 2010 “Section 1 of this report focuses on core public health functions and provides national-level data on preparedness activities in laboratories and response readiness.… Continue Reading