“The beta site is the first step in a phased process that will incorporate all of the information available on THOMAS.gov and more. Below is a timeline of releases that incorporated new content and improved features to the site. February 2014 – This release focuses on two new features – Advanced Search and Browse, while making improvements to facets and the Actions… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Legislation
TRAC – Tax Lawsuits Edge Downward
“January 2014 data from the federal courts show that the number of tax lawsuits filed have declined nearly 10 percent in the past year, and are down over 30 percent from what they were five years ago. According to the case-by-case information analyzed by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a total of 68 new tax… Continue Reading
“Leahy Law” Human Rights Provisions and Security Assistance: Issue Overview
CRS – “Leahy Law” Human Rights Provisions and Security Assistance: Issue Overview. Nina M. Serafino, Coordinator, Specialist in International Security Affairs; June S. Beittel, Analyst in Latin American Affairs; Lauren Ploch Blanchard, Specialist in African Affairs; Liana Rosen, Analyst in International Crime and Narcotics. January 29, 2014. “Congressional interest in the laws and processes involved in conditioning U.S. assistance to foreign… Continue Reading
Laws Affecting the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
CFR – Laws Affecting the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Annie L. Mach, Analyst in Health Care Financing. Ada S. Cornell, Information Research Specialist, February 18, 2014 “The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) has been in existence for over 50 years. Since its creation, it has provided private health insurance coverage to federal employees, annuitants, and their dependents. It is… Continue Reading
The Corporate Income Tax System: Overview and Options for Reform
The Corporate Income Tax System: Overview and Options for Reform, Mark P. Keightley, Specialist in Economics; Molly F. Sherlock, Specialist in Public Finance. February 14, 2014 “Many economists and policymakers believe that the U.S. corporate tax system is in need of reform. There is, however, disagreement over why the corporate tax system needs to be reformed, and what specific policy… Continue Reading
Annual Report on Assistance Related to International Terrorism: Fiscal Year 2013
U.S. Dept. of State, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Bureau of Counterterrorism, February 11, 2014. Annual Report on Assistance Related to International Terrorism, Fiscal Year 2013 “This report is submitted pursuant to the requirements for a congressionally mandated annual report codified at 22 U.S.C. § 2349aa-7(b). During Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, the U.S. government provided assistance related to… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Computer Matching Act, DHS, Extreme Weather Events, HUD’s Info Tech, Maritime Administration
COMPUTER MATCHING ACT: OMB and Selected Agencies Need to Ensure Consistent Implementation, GAO-14-44: Published: Jan 13, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 12, 2014. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: Ammunition Purchases Have Declined since 2009, GAO-14-119: Published: Jan 13, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 12, 2014. EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS: Limiting Federal Fiscal Exposure and Increasing the Nation’s Resilience, GAO-14-364T: Published: Feb 12, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 12,… Continue Reading
HR 3696 the National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2013
H.R. 3696, (Mr. McCaul) To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make certain improvements regarding cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, and for other purposes. The “National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2013”. Full text of H.R. 3696, as introduced [PDF] Subcommittee Markup, January 15, 2014 | Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security… Continue Reading
Agency Information Quality Guidelines
“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
Human Rights Meets Securities Regulation
Sarfaty, Galit A., Human Rights Meets Securities Regulation (September 23, 2013). Virginia Journal of International Law, Vol. 54, p. 97, 2013. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2390192 “Recent domestic legislation is blurring the line between securities regulation and human rights law. Securities law has traditionally regulated corporate disclosure on financial information, such as income statements and investment… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Early Learning and Child Care, FAA Reauthorization, Federal Real Property
EARLY LEARNING AND CHILD CARE – Federal Funds Support Multiple Programs with Similar Goals, GAO-14-325T, Feb 5, 2014: “The federal investment in early learning and child care is administered through 45 programs that provide or may support related services to children from birth through age 5, as well as five tax provisions that subsidize private expenditures in… Continue Reading
Financial Assets and Conflict of Interest Regulation in the Executive Branch
Financial Assets and Conflict of Interest Regulation in the Executive Branch, Jack Maskell – Legislative Attorney, January 17, 2014 “The underlying principle of the financial conflict of interest laws adopted by Congress, and of the regulations promulgated in the executive branch, embodies the axiom “that a public servant owes undivided loyalty to the Government,” and that decisions, advice, and recommendations… Continue Reading
