Congressional Oversight Manual, and More from CRS
The Congressional Research Service has just updated its Congressional Oversight Manual, which details the considerable legal authorities, legislative instruments and investigative tools for conducting oversight that members of Congress and congressional committees have at their disposal. See “Congressional Oversight Manual” (pdf), May 19, 2011.
Other new or newly updated CRS reports of interest include the following (all pdf):
“Building the Capacity of Partner States Through Security Force Assistance,” May 5, 2011.
“Department of Defense Trends in Overseas Contract Obligations,” May 16, 2011.
“Department of Defense Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Background and Analysis,” May 13, 2011.
The public rarely sees the quiet, often messy work that goes into creating, passing, and implementing a major piece of legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act.
If this proposed rule were enacted it would have deleterious effects on government workers in general and federal researchers and scientists, specifically.
When we introduce “at-will” employment to government employees, we also introduce the potential for environments where people are more concerned about self-preservation than service to others.
There is no better time to re-invigorate America’s innovation edge by investing in R&D to create and capture “industries of the future,” re-shoring capital and expertise, and working closely with allies to expand our capabilities while safeguarding those technologies that are critical to our security.