Federal Debt and the Statutory Limit, February 2019 – “The debt limit—commonly called the debt ceiling—is the maximum amount of debt that the Department of the Treasury can issue to the public or to other federal agencies. The amount is set by law and has been increased over the years to finance the government’s operations.… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Congress
Mail and Wire Fraud: A Brief Overview of Federal Criminal Law Updated
Via FAS – Mail and Wire Fraud: A Brief Overview of Federal Criminal Law Updated, February 11, 2019. “The mail and wire fraud statutes are exceptionally broad. Their scope has occasionally given the courts pause. Nevertheless, prosecutions in their name have brought to an end schemes that have bilked victims out of millions, and sometimes… Continue Reading
CRS – U.S. Role in the World: Background and Issues for Congress
Via FAS – U.S. Role in the World: Background and Issues for Congress, Updated February 14, 2019. – “…The overall issue for Congress is how to respond to recent developments regarding the U.S. role in the world. Potential key issues for Congress include but are not necessarily limited to the following: Is the U.S. role changing,… Continue Reading
FBI’s War Crimes Unit on the Chopping Block
Just Security: “A special unit within the Federal Bureau of Investigation that handles war crimes may be shut down imminently, according to officials familiar with the administration’s decision-making process. The FBI’s International Human Rights Unit takes the lead on investigating individuals within the United States who have been accused of committing international crimes, including war… Continue Reading
Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018
AP: “All the bill needed to become law was President Donald Trump’s signature. It would create a national archive of documents from civil rights cold cases. Students had been working on the project for years, families waiting on it for decades. But time was running out. Legislation dies in the transition from one session of… Continue Reading
Convergence of scientific reports and public opinion begins on climate warming
Axios: “Dire scientific reports and extreme weather events are combining to force a make-or-break season for confronting global warming. The rare convergence includes extreme weather events nationwide, and shifting public views fueling support for stronger policies. Why it matters: The actions we take in the next 10 to 20 years could be crucial to determining… Continue Reading
Whistleblowers Raise Grave Concerns with Trump Administration’s Efforts to Transfer Sensitive Nuclear Technology to Saudi Arabia
Whistleblowers Raise Grave Concerns with Trump Administration’s Efforts to Transfer Sensitive Nuclear Technology to Saudi Arabia. Prepared for Chairman Elijah E. Cummings Interim Staff Report Committee on Oversight and Reform U.S. House of Representatives. February 2019. “This interim staff report was prepared for Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and… Continue Reading
Internet Privacy – Additional Federal Authority Could Enhance Consumer Protection and Provide Flexibility
Internet Privacy: Additional Federal Authority Could Enhance Consumer Protection and Provide Flexibility GAO-19-52: Published: Jan 15, 2019. Publicly Released: Feb 13, 2019. “In April 2018, Facebook said that up to 87 million users’ personal data may have been improperly disclosed. This was one of many recent Internet privacy incidents. We found that there is no… Continue Reading
AALL Calls on Congress to Improve Access to Electronic Records of Federal Court System
“The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) is advocating for the passage of the Electronic Court Records Reform Act, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives today by House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Congressman Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), chair of the Congressional Transparency Caucus. This legislation would, for the first time, allow… Continue Reading
Weather Service prepares to launch prediction model many forecasters don’t trust
The Washington Post: “In a month, the National Weather Service plans to launch its “next generation” weather prediction model with the aim of “better, more timely forecasts.” But many meteorologists familiar with the model fear it is unreliable. The introduction of a model that forecasters lack confidence in matters, considering the enormous impact that weather… Continue Reading
Congress.gov New, Tip, and Top for February 2019
In Custodia Legis – “In January, Robert announced the first version of the new Committee Schedule that we have been working on. It is a great way to see quickly which meetings and hearings the House and Senate committees have scheduled for the week…” Continue Reading
Senate passed biggest public lands package in a decade – it is not all positive
The Washington Post – “The Senate on Tuesday passed the most sweeping conservation legislation in a decade, protecting millions of acres of land and hundreds of miles of wild rivers across the country and establishing four new national monuments honoring heroes including Civil War soldiers and a civil rights icon. The 662-page measure [S.47, Natural… Continue Reading
