The broad spectrum of policies relating to gun control is surveyed in a sadly timely, updated report from the Congressional Research Service, which also provides statistics on the prevalence and use of firearms in the United States. See Gun Control Legislation, November 14, 2012.
Other new and updated CRS reports that Congress has not made available to the public include the following.
Judicial Activity Concerning Enemy Combatant Detainees: Major Court Rulings, December 11, 2012
Women in Combat: Issues for Congress, December 13, 2012
Intelligence Identities Protection Act, December 13, 2012
Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress, December 10, 2012
Outside Employment, “Moonlighting,” by Federal Executive Branch Employees, December 12, 2012
Follow-On Biologics: The Law and Intellectual Property Issues, December 6, 2012
Nuclear Energy: Overview of Congressional Issues, December 11, 2012
Fatherhood Initiatives: Connecting Fathers to Their Children, December 7, 2012
Emergency Assistance for Agricultural Land Rehabilitation, December 11, 2012
Bee Health: The Role of Pesticides, December 11, 2012
This report serves as a landscape assessment and toolbox from which local governments can negotiate an informed position when it comes to the levers available to them and includes a first-of-its kind analysis of eight executed community benefits agreements.
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.