Noteworthy new reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf).
“Hezbollah: Background and Issues for Congress,” October 8, 2010.
“Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation and Security Issues,” October 7, 2010.
“Burma’s 2010 Election Campaign: Issues for Congress,” October 6, 2010.
“Drug Courts: Background, Effectiveness, and Policy Issues for Congress,” October 12, 2010.
“Environmental Laws: Summaries of Major Statutes Administered by the Environmental Protection Agency,” October 8, 2010.
“Defense Surplus Equipment Disposal: Background Information,” October 6, 2010.
“The National Security Council: An Organizational Assessment,” September 23, 2010.
The current wildfire management system is inadequate in the face of increasingly severe and damaging wildfires. Change is urgently needed
While it seems that the current political climate may not incentivize the use of evidence-based data sources for decision making, those of us who are passionate about ensuring results for the American people will continue to firmly stand on the belief that learning agendas are a crucial component to successfully navigate a changing future.
In recent months, we’ve seen much of these decades’ worth of progress erased. Contracts for evaluations of government programs were canceled, FFRDCs have been forced to lay off staff, and federal advisory committees have been disbanded.
This report outlines a framework relying on “Cooperative Technical Means” for effective arms control verification based on remote sensing, avoiding on-site inspections but maintaining a level of transparency that allows for immediate detection of changes in nuclear posture or a significant build-up above agreed limits.