Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) – Poppy Cultivation in Afghanistan: After a Decade of Reconstruction and Over $7 Billion in Counternarctics Efforts, Poppy Cultivation Levels Are At An All Time-High, October 2014. “As of June 30, 2014, the United States has spent approximately $7.6 billion on counternarcotics efforts in Afghanistan. Multiple sources of… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: October 2014
Payday Lending in America
“Pew’s Payday Lending in America series sheds light on the experience of borrowers. The research also details fundamental problems with payday loans, and suggests how policymakers can help solve these problems.” Includes the following resources: Payday Lending in America: Fraud and Abuse Online Payday Lending in America: Overview of Policy Recommendations Payday Lending in America:… Continue Reading
New GAO Report – Combatting Terrorism
Strategy to Counter Iran in the Western Hemisphere Has Gaps That State Department Should Address, GAO-14-834: Published: Sep 29, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 21, 2014. “The activities of Iranian government elements, such as a 2011 attempt to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador in the United States, could pose a threat to U.S. national security. Congress enacted the… Continue Reading
Free Public Access to Federal Materials on Guide to Law Online
[Via Emily Carr, Senior Legal Research Specialist, Library of Congress] – this posting by Ann Hemmens, legal reference librarian at the Law Library of Congress: “Through an agreement with the Library of Congress, the publisher William S. Hein & Co., Inc. has generously allowed the Law Library of Congress to offer free online access to historical U.S. legal materials… Continue Reading
Conflict Minerals and Resource Extraction: Dodd-Frank, SEC Regulations, and Legal Challenges
Conflict Minerals and Resource Extraction: Dodd-Frank, SEC Regulations, and Legal Challenges. Michael V. Seitzinger, Legislative Attorney; Kathleen Ann Ruane, Legislative Attorney. October 15, 2014. “Two sections of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) require that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or Commission) issue regulations to make public the involvement of U.S. companies in conflict minerals and in… Continue Reading
Cybercrime: An Overview of the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Statute and Related Federal Criminal Laws
CRS – Cybercrime: An Overview of the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Statute and Related Federal Criminal Laws. Charles Doyle, Senior Specialist in American Public Law. October 15, 2014. “The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), 18 U.S.C. 1030, outlaws conduct that victimizes computer systems. It is a cyber security law. It protects federal computers, bank computers, and computers… Continue Reading
Security – a perpetual war: lessons from nature
Via Cornell University Library – Security – a perpetual war: lessons from nature, Wojciech Mazurczyk, Elżbieta Rzeszutko (Submitted on 17 Oct 2014) “For ages people have sought inspiration in nature. Biomimicry has been the propelling power of such inventions, like Velcro tape or “cat’s eyes” – retroreflective road marking. At the same time, scientists have been developing biologically… Continue Reading
EFF Launches Updated Know Your Rights Guide
“If the police come knocking at your door, the constitution offers you some protection. But the constitution is just a piece of paper—if you don’t know how to assert your rights. And even if you do assert your rights…what happens next? That answer may seem complicated, but protecting yourself is simple if you know your… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Changing Crude Oil Markets, Federal Paid Admin Leave, Food Safety
CHANGING CRUDE OIL MARKETS: Allowing Exports Could Reduce Consumer Fuel Prices, and the Size of the Strategic Reserves Should Be Reexamined, GAO-14-807: Published: Sep 30, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 20, 2014. FEDERAL PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE: Additional Guidance Needed to Improve OPM Data, GAO-15-79: Published: Oct 17, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 20, 2014. FOOD SAFETY: USDA Needs to Strengthen Its Approach to… Continue Reading
How Initiatives to Reduce Fraud in Federal Health Care Programs Affect the Budget
“Observers often cite fraud as an important contributor to high health care spending, particularly in federal programs. This report describes how CBO estimates the budgetary effects of legislative proposals to reduce fraud in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and how those estimates are used in the Congressional budget process. What Is Fraud? For… Continue Reading
Lawsuits by Retired NFL Players Cause Jump in Trademark Filings
Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse: “The latest available data from the federal courts show that during September 2014 the government reported 705 new trademark lawsuits. This number is up 145 percent over the previous month and up 32.2 percent from a year ago. Most of the increase appears to be due to cases filed by retired… Continue Reading
Global Economic Prospects: Commodity Markets Outlook, October 2014
Baffes, John. 2014. Global Economic Prospects: Commodity Markets Outlook, October 2014. World Bank Group, Washington, DC. © World Bank. “Commodity prices are expected to remain weak for the remainder of 2014 and, perhaps through much of 2015. Crude oil has seen one of the sharpest declines, down more than 20 percent to $83/barrel (bbl) on… Continue Reading
