“Section 515 of Public Law 106-554, known as the Information Quality Act, required the Office of Management and Budget to promulgate guidance to agencies ensuring the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information (including statistical information) disseminated by Federal agencies. OMB’s government-wide guidelines, published as interim final on September 28, 2001 (66 F.R. 49718) and… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: February 2014
FISC Approves Government’s Request to Modify Telephony Metadata Program
“During his speech on Jan. 17, 2014, President Obama ordered a transition that will end the Section 215 bulk telephony metadata program as it currently exists, and establish a mechanism that preserves the capabilities we need without the government holding this bulk data. As a first step in that transition, the President directed the Attorney… Continue Reading
FCC expanding access to high-capacity Internet in schools and libraries
“The FCC’s E-rate program is the government’s program for connecting the nation’s schools and libraries to broadband. It is the government’s largest educational technology program. When E-rate was established in 1996, only 14 percent of the nation’s K-12 classrooms had access to the Internet. Today, virtually all schools and libraries have Internet access. But learning is changing. Innovative… Continue Reading
WSJ – Where Workforce Dropouts Are Highest
Dante Chinni: “This week, the issue of labor-force participation became a hot topic in Washington. On Tuesday, a report from the Congressional Budget Office forecast that the Affordable Care Act would drive a reduction in labor-force participation. And Friday’s release of the latest unemployment figures was accompanied by analyses emphasizing improvements in the unemployment picture have been strongly… Continue Reading
LC – Finding Our Place in the Cosmos: From Galileo to Sagan and Beyond
“Like our ancestors, we look up at the heavens and wonder. What is the structure of the universe? How significant are we? Are we alone? In Carl Sagan’s words, “we are a way for the cosmos to know itself.” To commemorate the acquisition of The Seth MacFarlane Collection of the Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan Archive,… Continue Reading
Iran: U.S. Economic Sanctions and the Authority to Lift Restrictions
CRS – Iran: U.S. Economic Sanctions and the Authority to Lift Restrictions. Dianne E. Rennack, Specialist in Foreign Policy Legislation. February 4, 2014. “The regime of economic sanctions against Iran is arguably the most complex the United States and the international community have ever imposed on a rogue state. Iran’s economy was once integrated into world trade, markets, and banking.… Continue Reading
LC – Orphan Works and Mass Digitization
“The U.S. Copyright Office will host public roundtable discussion sand seeks further comments on potential legislative solutions for orphan works and mass digitization under U.S.copyright law. The meetings and comments will provide an opportunity for interested parties to address new legal developments as well as issues raised by comments provided in response to the Office’s previous Notice… Continue Reading
EPIC – New Limits on NSA Telephone Record Program Established, Authority Expires March 28
“The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has granted the government’s motion to limit access by the NSA to the bulk telephone records provided by US telephone companies. Under the new rules, the government cannot “query” the telephone metadata until after the court finds that there is a “reasonable, articulable suspicion that the selection term is associated with” a… Continue Reading
K-12 Education, Nanomanufacturing
K-12 EDUCATION: Characteristics of the Investing in Innovation Fund, GAO-14-211R: Published: Feb 7, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 7, 2014.”From fiscal years 2010 to 2012, Education awarded over half ($493 million of $937 million) of Investing in Innovation (i3) grants funds as validation grants, and most awards went to partnerships involving nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit organizations partnering with school… Continue Reading
The National Defense Authorization Act for FY2012 and Beyond: Detainee Matters
The National Defense Authorization Act for FY2012 and Beyond: Detainee Matters. Jennifer K. Elsea, Legislative Attorney; Michael John Garcia Legislative Attorney. January 27, 2014. “In recent years, Congress has included provisions in annual defense authorization bills addressing issues related to detainees at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and, more broadly, the disposition of persons captured in… Continue Reading
The Freedom of Information Act: Background, Legislation, and Policy Issues
CRS – The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): Background, Legislation, and Policy Issues, Wendy Ginsberg, Analyst in American National Government. January 23, 2014. “The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA; 5 U.S.C. §552), often referred to as the embodiment of “the people’s right to know” about the activities and operations of government, statutorily established a presumption of public access to… Continue Reading
Center for Financial Stability – Global Country Reports
“Financial regulators and central banks in over 60 countries publish Financial Stability Reports about the health of their banking, financial and payments systems. These are a rich source of information on the structure of financial systems, recent trends in banking and finance, and the impact of the global economy on local markets. For scholars and… Continue Reading
