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Category Archives: Legislation

Will FAA take over non-military control of space traffic control

FCW.com: “The Federal Aviation Administration might be extending its commercial air traffic control responsibilities into space. The House passed a bill Sept. 22 by a vote of 425-0 to investigate what role the FAA might play in directing commercial and foreign space traffic. The bill would authorize a study of the impact such a shift… Continue Reading

The Atlantic – What Congress Is Actually Good at

Michelle Cottle is a contributing editor at The Atlantic: “Because while some of Congress’s flashier oversight crusades reek of politics, the committees are in many ways doing the Lord’s work. It’s just that no one hears much about the not-so-sexy, not-so-partisan probes that actually seek to improve government. “No doubt there have been some abuses… Continue Reading

Researching Current Federal Legislation and Regulations: A Guide to Resources for Congressional Staff

Researching Current Federal Legislation and Regulations: A Guide to Resources for Congressional Staff, Jerry W. Mansfield, Lead Information Services Coordinator. September 19, 2016. “This report is designed to introduce congressional staff to selected governmental and nongovernmental sources that are useful in tracking and obtaining information on federal legislation and regulations. It includes governmental sources, such… Continue Reading

GPO and LC begin digital release of all Congressional Records

“The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) partners with the Library of Congress (LC) to release the digital bound Congressional Records from 1991-1998 on GPO’s govinfo. This release covers debates of the 102nd thru 105th Congresses. This era of Congress covers historical topics such as: The Persian Gulf War Bill Clinton’s Presidency NAFTA Enactment of the… Continue Reading

Advocacy Groups to Congress – Strengthen Congressional Oversight of Intelligence Community

September 13, 2016 via 33 organizations: “Dear Speaker Ryan and Minority Leader Pelosi, We write to express our concerns about congressional oversight of intelligence activities. Congress is responsible for authorizing and overseeing these programs. In recent years, experts and policymakers have expressed concern that congressional oversight efforts are falling short. Experts have put forth reform… Continue Reading

GAO Reports – Bulk Fuel, Generic Drugs, DHS, Affordable Care Act, School Choice

Bulk Fuel: Actions Needed to Improve DOD’s Fuel Consumption Budget Data, GAO-16-644: Published: Sep 12, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 12, 2016. Generic Drugs Under Medicare: Part D Generic Drug Prices Declined Overall, but Some Had Extraordinary Price Increases, GAO-16-706: Published: Aug 12, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 12, 2016. Homeland Security: DHS’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear… Continue Reading

Recess Revisions: Congress.gov Clean-up and Enhancements

Andrew Weber – In Custodia Legis Blog,  September 2, 2016. “Washington, D.C. can get quite miserable during the summer heat. Rather than sweating outside, we like to channel our frustration with the weather by updating Congress.gov and sharing related news during the August recess. This continues a tradition that started with THOMAS back in 2010; and continued… Continue Reading

GAO Reports – Patriot Modernization, SEC Conflict Minerals Rule

Patriot Modernization: Oversight Mechanism Needed to Track Progress and Provide Accountability, GAO-16-488: Published: Aug 25, 2016. Publicly Released: Aug 25, 2016. SEC Conflict Minerals Rule: Companies Face Continuing Challenges in Determining Whether Their Conflict Minerals Benefit Armed Groups, GAO-16-805: Published: Aug 25, 2016. Publicly Released: Aug 25, 2016. Continue Reading

GAO Reports – Army Patriot Modernization, SEC Conflict Minerals Rule

Patriot Modernization: Oversight Mechanism Needed to Track Progress and Provide Accountability, GAO-16-488: Published: Aug 25, 2016. Publicly Released: Aug 25, 2016: “While the currently fielded version of the Army’s Patriot surface-to-air missile system is an improvement over prior versions, the Army currently plans to spend about $2.9 billion between fiscal years 2013 and 2021 on… Continue Reading

CRS – Stealing Trade Secrets and Economic Espionage

Stealing Trade Secrets and Economic Espionage: An Overview of the Economic Espionage Act, Charles Doyle, Senior Specialist in American Public Law. August 19, 2016. “Stealing a trade secret is a federal crime when the information relates to a product in interstate or foreign commerce, 18 U.S.C. 1832 (theft of trade secrets), or when the intended… Continue Reading

Report – A Wild Success: A Systematic Review of Bird Recovery Under the Endangered Species Act

“The Endangered Species Act is the world’s strongest law protecting animals and plants on the brink of extinction. In fact, 99 percent of species protected under the Act have avoided extinction. For the Center’s third in-depth report on the Act’s efficacy, A Wild Success: A Systematic Review of Bird Recovery Under the Endangered Species Act… Continue Reading