Israel: Background and U.S. Relations, Jim Zanotti, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs. June 1, 2015. “Since Israel’s founding in 1948, successive U.S. Presidents and many Members of Congress have demonstrated a commitment to Israel’s security and to maintaining close U.S.-Israel cooperation. Common perceptions of shared democratic values and religious affinities have contributed to the strong… Continue Reading
Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002
Category Archives: Legislation
USA FREEDOM Act Reinstates Expired USA PATRIOT Act Provisions
CRS Legal Sidebar USA FREEDOM Act Reinstates Expired USA PATRIOT Act Provisions but Limits Bulk Collection 6/4/2015: “Following a contentious debate and passagein the Senate, the USA FREEDOM Act (H.R. 2048) was signed into law onJune 2, 2015. The new law contains eight titles, spanning a range of national security topics from reauthorizing expired investigative… Continue Reading
The Media’s Role in Lawmaking: A Case Study Analysis
The International Journal of Press/Politics 1–20 DOI: 10.1177/1940161215581924 – The Media’s Role in Lawmaking: A Case Study Analysis. Lotte Melenhorst, June 1, 2015. “Despite the ongoing debate about the role the media play in democracies, there is little empirical research on its role in lawmaking. Yet studies conducted at the micro- level can provide insight… Continue Reading
US Legal System on Data Protection in the Field of Law Enforcement
The US Legal System on Data Protection in the Field of Law Enforcement. Safeguards, Rights and Remedies for EU Citizens 15-05-2015: “Upon request by the LIBE Committee, this study surveys the US legal system of data protection in the field of federal law enforcement. It reviews two principal sources of US data protection law, the… Continue Reading
NSA surveillance: how librarians have been on the front line to protect privacy
Dan Roberts – The Guardian UK – “In the hours before US senators voted to take on the might of the National Security Agency this week, their inboxes were deluged with more than 2,200 supportive emails from a most unlikely group of revolutionaries: America’s librarians. Their contribution to the passage of the USA Freedom Act… Continue Reading
Data Collection From Consumers Continues Without Transparency
National Journal – “Don’t be fooled: Congress may have finally passed the bill reining in the National Security Agency’s bulk-surveillance programs [USA Freedom Act of 2015], but your data is still being collected on the Internet. Lost in the debate over the NSA is the fact that companies like Google and Facebook continue to vacuum… Continue Reading
Congress.gov adds new features
Please see the full posting by Andrew Weber: “So far, 2015 has been a great year for Congress.gov. First, we launched email alerts in February. Then, we added treaty documents and more in March. With today’s update, improvements have been made to search (results, command line and advanced), alerts, browse, and accessibility. The Federalist Papers have… Continue Reading
Agencies Release Statement on Dodd-Frank Act Company-run Stress Tests at Medium-sized Financial Companies
“Federal banking agencies today reiterated the disclosure requirements for the annual stress tests conducted by financial institutions with total consolidated assets between $10 billion and $50 billion. These medium-sized companies are required to conduct annual, company-run stress tests–implementing a provision of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act–with the results disclosed to the… Continue Reading
CRS – The Violence Against Women Act
The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding, Lisa N. Sacco, Analyst in Illicit Drugs and Crime Policy. May 26, 2015. “In February 2013, Congress passed legislation (Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013; P.L. 113-4) that reauthorized most of the programs under VAWA, among other things. The VAWA reauthorization also amended and… Continue Reading
Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies
CRS – Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies. Francis X. McCarthy, Analyst in Emergency Management Policy; Jared T. Brown, Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy. May 19, 2015. “The principles of disaster management assume a leadership role by the local, tribal, and state governments with the federal government providing coordinated… Continue Reading
Newly-Insured Californians Report Easier Access to Care Than Uninsured
“Low-income California adults who gained insurance coverage in 2014 had an easier time accessing health care than those who were uninsured and increased financial protection from medical bills, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) report. The report, funded by the Blue Shield of California Foundation and based on findings from the California sample… Continue Reading
Clean Water Rule Protects Streams and Wetlands Critical to Public Health, Communities, and Economy
“In an historic step for the protection of clean water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army finalized the Clean Water Rule today to clearly protect from pollution and degradation the streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation’s water resources. The rule ensures that waters protected under the Clean Water… Continue Reading
