Noteworthy new reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf).
“U.S.-Russian Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: Issues for Congress,” updated June 26, 2008.
“Department of Justice (DOJ) Appropriations for FY2008 and FY2009,” June 10, 2008.
“A Brief History of Veterans’ Education Benefits and Their Value,” June 25, 2008.
“Veterans Affairs: Historical Budget Authority, Fiscal Years 1940 through 2007,” June 13, 2008.
“Cluster Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress,” June 27, 2008.
The new alignment signals a clear shift in priorities: offices dedicated to clean energy and energy efficiency have been renamed, consolidated, or eliminated, while new divisions elevate hydrocarbons, fusion, and a combined Office of AI & Quantum.
We came out of the longest shutdown in history and we are all worse for it. Who won the shutdown fight? It doesn’t matter – Americans lost. And there is a chance we run it all back again in a few short months.
Promising examples of progress are emerging from the Boston metropolitan area that show the power of partnership between researchers, government officials, practitioners, and community-based organizations.
Americans trade stocks instantly, but spend 13 hours on tax forms. They send cash by text, but wait weeks for IRS responses. The nation’s revenue collector ranks dead last in citizen satisfaction. The problem isn’t just paperwork — it’s how the government builds.