MPL Gov Info

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:31:00 +0000

NASA Images
A collection of images from various NASA departments.

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:16:00 +0000

Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress
"Periodically, concerns have been raised about the number and variety of products created to document congressional activity. Other concerns focus on the process for authorizing and distributing printed government documents to Members of Congress, committees, and other officials in the House and Senate. These concerns reflect broader issues related to the manner in which government and private information is created, assembled, distributed, and preserved in light of the emergence of electronic publishing and distribution.

From its establishment in 1861, the Government Printing Office (GPO) has compiled, formatted, printed, bound, and distributed documents that have recorded the activities of Congress (and the work of other governmental entities). In current practice, more than half of all government documents originate in digital form, and are distributed electronically. As a consequence of electronic production and dissemination, some congressional materials are now more readily available to wider congressional, governmental, and public audiences than when they were only
produced and distributed in paper form...

This report, which will be updated as events warrant, provides an overview and analysis of issues related to the processing and distribution of congressional information by the Government Printing Office. Subsequent sections address several issues, including funding congressional printing, printing authorizations, current printing practices, and options for Congress. Finally, the report provides congressional printing appropriations, production, and distribution data in a
number of tables."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:13:00 +0000

Selected Characteristics of Baby Boomers 42 to 60 Years Old in 2006
Most recent Census Bureau report on the baby boomer population.

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:18:00 +0000

House Report 111-330 to accompany for H.R. 3962,the Affordable Health Care for America Act
"PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (H.R. 3962) TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE,
QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS AND REDUCE THE GROWTH IN HEALTH CARE SPENDING, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (H.R. 3961) TO
AMEND TITLE XVIII OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT TO REFORM THE MEDICARE SGR PAYMENT SYSTEM FOR PHYSICIANS."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:14:00 +0000

Talking to Your Patients About Prescription Drug Abuse
"Discuss the problem of prescription medicine abuse, prevalence among teenagers, teens' attitudes about medicine abuse, why teens are abusing prescription medications, what prescription medicines teens are abusing, how teens are getting the medicines, what they can do to help stop this problem as well as resources for additional help if there is a dependence or addiction problem. The brochure will give healthcare providers tips for talking about the abuse of prescription medications with their patients."
View materials in pdf format

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:08:00 +0000

Anger Management for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Clients Participant Workbook
"This workbook was developed for use in conjunction with "Anger Management for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Clients: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Manual" (BKD444). It provides individuals participating in the 12-week anger management group treatment with a summary of core concepts, worksheets to complete homework assignments, and space to take notes for each of the sessions. (CSAT, 2002, 47 pages, 5 pieces per box)"
View workbook in pdf format.

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:05:00 +0000

Poverty in the United States: 2008
"In 2008, 39.8 million people were counted as poor in the United States—an increase of 2.6 million persons from 2007, and nearly the largest number of persons counted as poor since 1960. The poverty rate, or percent of the population considered poor under the official definition, was reported at 13.2%; up from 12.5% in 2007, and the highest rate since 1997. The recent increase in poverty reflects the worsened economic conditions since the onset of the economic recession in December 2007. Many expect poverty to rise further next year, and it will likely remain comparatively high even after the economy begins to recover. The incidence of poverty varies
widely across the population according to age, education, labor force attachment, family living arrangements, and area of residence, among other factors. Under the official poverty definition, an average family of four was considered poor in 2008 if its pre-tax cash income for the year was below $22,025. This report will be updated on an annual basis, following release of U.S. Census Bureau annual income and poverty estimates."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:54:00 +0000

Trafficking in Persons in Latin America and the Caribbean
"Trafficking in persons (TIP) for the purpose of exploitation is a lucrative criminal activity that is of major concern to the United States and the international community. According to the most recent U.S. State Department estimates, roughly 800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year. If trafficking within countries is included in the total world figures, official U.S. estimates are that some 2 to 4 million people are trafficked annually. While most trafficking
victims still appear to originate from South and Southeast Asia or the former Soviet Union, human trafficking is also a growing problem in Latin America. The international Organization for Migration (IOM) has estimated that sex trafficking in Latin America generates some $16 billion worth of business annually.

Countries in Latin America serve as source, transit, and destination countries for trafficking victims. Latin America is a primary source region for people trafficked to the United States. As many as 17,500 are trafficked into the United States each year, according to State Department estimates. In FY2007, victims from Latin America accounted for 41% of trafficking victims in the United States certified as eligible to receive U.S. assistance. In FY2008, Mexico alone accounted for 23% of the foreign TIP victims who were certified..."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:51:00 +0000

Presidential Terms and Tenure: Perspectives and Proposals for Change
"...Although the length of the presidential term was decided after spirited debate at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, and the 22nd Amendment provides term limits for the President, proposed constitutional amendments that would alter these provisions are occasionally introduced in Congress. One proposal, which would lengthen the President and Vice President’s terms to six years, was introduced frequently through the 103rd Congress. Some six-year term amendments proposed limiting the President to a single term, while others allowed for two terms, or no limit at all. Another category of amendment, which continues to be introduced in most Congresses, would repeal the 22nd Amendment. H.J.Res. 5, introduced in the 111th Congress by Representative José
E. Serrano, falls into this category. H.J.Res. 5 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, but no further action has been taken to date."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:49:00 +0000

Income of Americans Aged 65 and Older, 1968 to 2008
"This CRS report presents data collected by the Census Bureau in the Current Population Survey from 1969 through 2009 about the employment status and the sources and amounts of income received by people aged 65 and older. The report focuses on the sources and amounts of income received by individuals aged 65 and older and by households in which either the household head or the household head’s spouse (if present) was 65 or older in the year of the survey..."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:27:00 +0000

Health Reform and the 111th Congress
"..The health reform bills being considered by the House and Senate committees of principle jurisdiction focus on simultaneously expanding private and public coverage options. Some of the other bills introduced in the 111th Congress take a similar approach to health reform. Additionally, other bills have focused on other solutions, attempting to expand coverage using one of the following approaches:

• Largely replace existing coverage with a national government-provided health
insurance program (or a national health service).
• Expand existing public programs for certain individuals.
• Expand privately sponsored coverage.
• Encourage state-based reforms.
• Simultaneously expand private and public coverage options.

This report presents basic background on health insurance that may be useful to legislators considering health insurance reforms. It describes reform approaches and provides brief descriptions of health insurance reform bills introduced in the 111th Congress, as well as some of the general principles currently being considered by the Congress. The potential impact of the various approaches and bills is not analyzed in this report, however. As a result, it does not provide evaluations of how well different bills, once enacted, would meet their objectives. This report will be updated periodically to reflect recent congressional activity in health reform."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:24:00 +0000

U.S. EPA Makes Available Data on Compliance with Hazardous Waste, Air Regulations
"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new information on EPA and state enforcement of hazardous waste and air regulations. In addition, the EPA posted data that allows the public, for the first time, to compare toxic releases with compliance data from facilities. This is part of EPA’s ongoing commitment to increase transparency and promote the public’s right to know by improving access to available data.

EPA made available new summary reports and data from 2004 through 2008 on EPA and state enforcement program performance with Clean Air Act (CAA) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requirements. The reports include online graphs, trend information on enforcement and compliance in each state, and comparative reports. Data such as compliance monitoring activity, violations discovered, enforcement actions taken, and penalties assessed are available..."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:18:00 +0000

THE HISTORY OF THE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY GUIDELINES
"This report provides a history of the child pornography guidelines. The child pornography guidelines have existed since their initial promulgation in 1987, and they have been substantively amended nine times. These revisions were prompted by, among other things, statutory changes, the United States Sentencing Commission’s independent analysis, and public comment. This report is the first step in an ongoing examination of the child pornography guidelines."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:35:00 +0000

Poetry of September 11
A Library of Congress resources for print and electronic poetry about the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:21:00 +0000

A Preliminary Analysis of a Substitute Amendment to H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act
"This evening, CBO released a preliminary analysis of a substitute amendment to H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, proposed by Representative John Boehner, the Republican Leader in the House of Representatives. CBO and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimate that the amendment would reduce federal deficits by $68 billion over the 2010-2019 period; it would also slightly reduce federal budget deficits in the following decade, relative to those projected under current law, with a total effect during that decade that is in a broad range between zero and one-quarter percent of gross domestic product..."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:49:00 +0000

Fact Sheet: The Race to the Top
The White House. Office of the Press Secretary.
"Providing a high-quality education to every young American is vital to the health of our nation’s democracy and the strength of our nation’s economy. In a 21st century world, education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity and success – it is a prerequisite.

The Obama Administration is committed to reforming America’s public schools to provide every child access to a complete and competitive education. President Obama recently presented states with an unprecedented challenge and the opportunity to compete in a “Race to the Top” designed to spur systemic reform and embrace innovative approaches to teaching and learning in America’s schools. Backed by a historic $4.35 billion investment, the reforms contained in the Race to the Top will help prepare America’s students to graduate ready for college and career, and enable them to out-compete any worker, anywhere in the world.

Today, in Madison, Wisconsin, the President applauded progress across the nation as states undertake reforms that will enable them to better qualify for an award under the Race to the Top..."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:28:00 +0000

FDA Unveils Safe Use Initiative that Targets Preventable Harm from Medication Use
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the Safe Use Initiative, a program aimed at reducing the likelihood of preventable harm from medication use.

“Too many people suffer unnecessary injuries from avoidable medication misuse, errors and other problems. The FDA is launching the Safe Use Initiative to develop targeted solutions for reducing these injuries,” said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D.

Millions of people are harmed every year from inappropriate medication use. Many injuries occur as a result of incomplete access to information about a drug, a patient, or the patient’s condition.

Other preventable sources of harm include unintentional misuse of medications, medication abuse, and attempts at self harm. Unintended exposure to prescription medications such as opioid drugs can cause harm, even death, in a single dose, if taken by someone other than the patient who was prescribed the medication..."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:22:00 +0000

Weathering the High Cost of Heating Your Home
"Whether you heat your home with oil, natural gas or electricity, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, has tips to help you save money and stay warm this winter. The FTC enforces the Appliance Labeling Rule, which requires EnergyGuide labels on certain appliances, including furnaces, boilers and heat pumps. The label lets you know how energy efficient a model is compared to others like it..."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:43:00 +0000

Nationwide Gravesite Locator
"Search for burial locations of veterans and their family members in VA National Cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, various other military and Department of Interior cemeteries, and for veterans buried in private cemeteries when the grave is marked with a government grave marker.

The Nationwide Gravesite Locator includes burial records from many sources. These sources provide varied data; some searches may contain less information than others. Information on veterans buried in private cemeteries was collected for the purpose of furnishing government grave markers, and we do not have information available for burials prior to 1997..."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:38:00 +0000

National Institute on Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Easy to Read Publications
Selected easy to read publications on diabetes, digestive diseases, kidney disease and urologic disorders.

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:36:00 +0000

Spotlight on Statistics: Health Care
"Health care touches the lives of nearly everyone in the United States at some point. For example, many are born in the delivery wing of a hospital, while others enjoy their golden years in an assisted living facility. Between these two points, whether you obtain medical insurance through your employer, seek consultation with a doctor about an illness, fill a prescription at the pharmacy, take a day of sick leave from work—or just wonder how you will pay for it all—almost everyone rubs elbows with the U.S. health care system. This Spotlight uses BLS data to shed some light on what is happening in this dynamic and interesting field. Read on to explore these data and discover the "diagnosis" on health care industries and occupations as well as the "prognosis" on future employment!.."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:34:00 +0000

The National Flood Insurance Program: Factors Affecting Actuarial Soundness
"The vast majority of homes and small commercial buildings that are insured against flood
damage in the United States are covered by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP),
which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the
Department of Homeland Security. Although the flood insurance program had been largely
self-sustaining in the past, it had to borrow about $17 billion from the federal Treasury to pay
claims after the catastrophic hurricanes of 2005. That borrowing has highlighted questions
about the program’s financial health, including the actuarial soundness of the premium rates
charged on policies that are not explicitly subsidized and the cost of paying claims for properties that have suffered multiple flood losses.

This Congressional Budget Office (CBO) paper—prepared at the request of the Ranking
Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs—explains how
FEMA sets “full-risk” (actuarially based) premium rates for the flood insurance program. The
paper then discusses various reasons for concern that those rates may not be adequate to cover
the total expected costs associated with the program’s full-risk policies. The report also
addresses other aspects of the NFIP, including the impact of insured properties that have
flooded more than once and the U.S. market for flood insurance from private companies. In
keeping with CBO’s mandate to provide objective, impartial analysis, this report makes no
recommendations..."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:35:00 +0000

Report on U.S. Portfolio Holdings of Foregn Securities at End-Year 2008
"..The survey measured the value of U.S. portfolio holdings at year-end 2008 of approximately $4.3 trillion, with $2.7 trillion held in foreign equities, $1.3 trillion in foreign long-term debt securities (original term-to-maturity in excess of one year), and $0.3 trillion held in foreign short-term debt securities. The previous such survey, conducted as of year-end 2007, measured U.S. portfolio holdings of $7.2 trillion, with $5.2 trillion held in foreign equities, $1.6 trillion in foreign long-term debt securities and $0.4 trillion held in foreign short-term debt securities. The decrease in the value of U.S. portfolio holdings between the two surveys primarily reflects valuation changes in foreign equities during 2008.

U.S. portfolio holdings of foreign securities by country at the end of 2008 were the largest for the United Kingdom ($647 billion), followed by Japan ($403 billion) and Canada ($378 billion) (see Table 2). These three countries attracted one-third of the total U.S. portfolio investment..."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:32:00 +0000

FDA Publishes Guidance on Diagnostic Tests for 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today published a guidance document that should help manufacturers develop diagnostic tests for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. Although there are not any FDA-approved or cleared tests that diagnose this specific infection, during this pandemic, manufacturers can submit a request to the FDA for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). If granted, the EUA will allow the test to be used during the national public health emergency declared by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in April. This guidance document outlines what information the FDA recommends that manufacturers include in these EUA requests.

The EUA authority allows the FDA to authorize use of unapproved or uncleared medical products or unapproved or uncleared uses of approved or cleared medical products following a declaration of emergency, when certain criteria are met. The authorization ends when the declaration of emergency is terminated or the authorization is revoked by the FDA.

The EUA authority is part of Project BioShield, which became law in July 2004.

While the FDA encourages manufacturers to submit appropriate premarket applications for these tests, the agency also recognizes that it may not be possible to generate complete clinical validation data that would normally be included in an application. However, this guidance outlines information the FDA recommends be included, and the FDA gives these requests thorough and careful review to protect the public health..."

rdais@scls.lib.wi.us (RDmpl) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:26:00 +0000

Healthy Animals, October 2009
"Welcome to Healthy Animals, an online compilation of animal health-related research news put out each quarter by the Information Staff of the Agricultural Research Service. ARS is the chief scientific agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Each issue profiles one aspect of ARS research. Links take readers to detailed stories on new findings important to the health of livestock, poultry and fish. And a list of all ARS research laboratories that work to improve animal health is just a click away."