Pew Environmental Initiatives: “The Pacific coast of North America supports one of the most vibrant and diverse marine ecosystems on Earth, largely because of the presence of thick schools of small prey fish such as Pacific sardines. Unfortunately, this crucial forage fish appears to be in the midst of a severe population decline. Its absence will be felt… Continue Reading
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Author Archives: Sabrina I. Pacifici
U.S. Military Accelerates Deployment of Clean Energy Technologies
Pew new release: “Deployment of clean energy technologies is accelerating across military installations operated by the U.S. Department of Defense, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts. Pew’s new report, “Power Surge,” examines how the military is using private-sector capabilities and harnessing innovative financing to obtain advanced energy systems. These projects are helping the Pentagon enhance… Continue Reading
The Effect of Fundamental Housing Policy Reforms on Program Participation
The Effect of Fundamental Housing Policy Reforms on Program Participation, Edgar O. Olsen, University of Virginia – Department of Economics. January 14, 2014 “This paper estimates the effects of alternative reforms of the current system of low-income housing assistance on the number of people of various types who would receive assistance. The reforms are designed to eliminate the… Continue Reading
Report to Government on Massive Theft of Credit Card Data From Retail Customers
KAPTOXA POS Report Overview – “iSIGHT Partners, working with the U.S. Secret Service, has determined that a new piece of malicious software, KAPTOXA (Kar-Toe-Sha), has potentially infected a large number of retail information systems. This software can find, store, and then transmit sensitive information such as credit card and PIN numbers. These findings are part of a… Continue Reading
Guardian – NSA collects millions of text messages daily in ‘untargeted’ global sweep
James Ball – UK Guardian: “The National Security Agency has collected almost 200 million text messages a day from across the globe, using them to extract data including location, contact networks and credit card details, according to top-secret documents. The untargeted collection and storage of SMS messages – including their contacts – is revealed in a… Continue Reading
Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues and U.S. Interests
CRS – Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues and U.S. Interests. Jim Nichol, Coordinator, Specialist in Russian and Eurasian Affairs, January 9, 2014. “After the Soviet Union’s collapse, the United States sought a cooperative relationship with Moscow and supplied almost $19 billion in aid for Russia from FY1992 through FY2010 to encourage democracy and market reforms and in particular to prevent… Continue Reading
CRS – Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations
Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations. Jeremy M. Sharp, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs, January 10, 2014. “This report provides an overview of the key issues for Congress related to Egypt and information on U.S. foreign aid to Egypt. The United States has provided significant military and economic assistance to Egypt since the late 1970s. U.S. policy makers have routinely justified aid… Continue Reading
Oil and Chemical Spills: Federal Emergency Response Framework
CRS – Oil and Chemical Spills: Federal Emergency Response Framework. David M. Bearden, Specialist in Environmental Policy. Jonathan L. Ramseur, Specialist in Environmental Policy, January 13, 2014. “Thousands of oil and chemical spills of varying size and magnitude occur in the United States each year. A recent spill of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol into the Elk River in early January 2014 in and near… Continue Reading
Presidential Policy Directive – United States Conventional Arms Transfer Policy
PRESIDENTIAL POLICY DIRECTIVE/PPD-27. SUBJECT: United States Conventional Arms Transfer Policy: “Conventional weapons have continued to play a decisive role in armed conflict in the early 21st century and will remain legitimate instruments for the defense and security policy of responsible nations for the foreseeable future. In the hands of hostile or irresponsible state and non-state actors,… Continue Reading
Privacy Protection for Customer Financial Information
CRS – Privacy Protection for Customer Financial Information, M. Maureen Murphy, Legislative Attorney, January 9, 2014 “One of the functions transferred to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) under P.L. 111-203, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank), is authority to issue regulations and take enforcement actions under the two major federal statutes that specify conditions under… Continue Reading
Consolidated Appropriations Act 2014
H.R. 3547 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014. The measure is the vehicle for FY2014 consolidated appropriations. The House Committee on Rules has posted explanatory material and texts. Continue Reading
New GAO Reports: Federal-Highway Aids, Medicare, Property and Casualty Insurance, Public Transit
FEDERAL-HIGHWAY AIDS – Federal Highway Administration Could Further Mitigate Locally Administered Project Risks, GAO-14-113, Jan 16, 2014 MEDICARE – Continuous Insurance before Enrollment Associated with Better Health and Lower Program Spending, GAO-14-53, Dec 17, 2013 PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE – Effects of the Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act of 2010, GAO-14-136, Jan 16, 2014 PUBLIC TRANSIT – Challenges Funding, Investing in… Continue Reading
