At the direction of Congress, the Congressional Research Service does not make its products directly available to the public. Recent CRS reports obtained by Secrecy News include the following (all pdf).
“Legal Analysis of Religious Exemptions for Photo Identification Requirements,” April 13, 2009.
“Federal Advisory Committees: An Overview,” April 16, 2009.
“Piracy Off the Horn of Africa,” April 21, 2009.
“FY2009 Spring Supplemental Appropriations for Overseas Contingency Operations,” April 17, 2009.
“Organized Crime in the United States: Trends and Issues for Congress,” April 16, 2009.
“Disconnected Youth: A Look at 16- to 24-Year Olds Who Are Not Working or In School,” April 22, 2009.
When a hurricane hits, it’s all hands on deck – that goes for federal data, too. Pulling back from our investments in timely, accurate, and accessible public data will only make us less prepared and put us all at greater risk.
This is bigger than a singular elimination of race and ethnicity questions. It could accelerate the second wave of widespread reductions to demographic data, leaving public health officials with even less information to deliver better health outcomes for all Americans.
Soft law was never meant to be a permanent solution. Treating it as one, and letting the sandcastle stand in for the skyscraper indefinitely, is how we end up with a decade of voluntary commitments and no enforceable accountability to show for it.
FAS has partnered with ICLEI USA to launch the CRI Local Advisory Council.