Federal Support for Academic Research, and More from CRS
Recent reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf).
“Federal Support for Academic Research,” June 17, 2011
“Financial Aid for Students: Print and Web Guides,” June 24, 2011
“Patent Reform in the 112th Congress: Innovation Issues,” June 30, 2011
“Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management,” July 5, 2011
“Real Earnings, Health Insurance and Pension Coverage, and the Distribution of Earnings, 1979-2009,” July 6, 2011
“Challenge to the Boeing-Airbus Duopoly in Civil Aircraft: Issues for Competitiveness,” July 25, 2011
“Statutory Limits on Total Spending as a Method of Budget Control,” July 26, 2011
Datasets and variables that do not align with Administration priorities, or might reflect poorly on Administration policy impacts, seem to be especially in the cross-hairs.
One month of a government shutdown is in the books, but how many more months will (or can) it go? Congress is paralyzed, but there are a few spasms of activity around healthcare and the prospects of a continuing resolution to punt this fight out until January or later.
At a period where the federal government is undergoing significant changes in how it hires, buys, collects and organizes data, and delivers, deeper exploration of trust in these facets as worthwhile.
Moving postsecondary education data collection to the states is the best way to ensure that the U.S. Department of Education can meet its legislative mandates in an era of constrained federal resources.