Drought in California, Democracy in Hong Kong (CRS)
Noteworthy new Congressional Research Service reports obtained by Secrecy News include the following (all pdf).
“Military Service Records and Unit Histories: A Guide to Locating Sources,” December 16, 2009.
“California Drought: Hydrological and Regulatory Water Supply Issues,” December 7, 2009.
“Government Collection of Private Information: Background and Issues Related to the USA PATRTIOT Act Reauthorization,” December 9, 2009.
“Amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Set to Expire February 28, 2010,” December 23, 2009.
“Homeland Security Department: FY2010 Appropriations,” December 14, 2009.
“Private Security Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Legal Issues,” December 22, 2009.
“International Terrorism and Transnational Crime: Security Threats, U.S. Policy, and Considerations for Congress,” January 5, 2010.
“U.S. Public Diplomacy: Background and Current Issues,” December 18, 2009.
“Prospects for Democracy in Hong Kong: The 2012 Election Reforms,” December 10, 2009.
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.