Honey Bee Population Drops Sharply, and More From CRS
A “sharp decline” in the U.S. population of honey bees is examined in a new report (pdf) from the Congressional Research Service.
“This phenomenon first became apparent among commercial migratory beekeepers along the East Coast during the last few months of 2006, and has since been reported nationwide,” the CRS report said.
Various potential causes have been postulated, including parasites, pathogens, chemical contaminants, poor nutrition, and “stress.”
The declining bee population is the subject of a hearing today before the House Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture.
See “Recent Honey Bee Colony Declines,” Congressional Research Service, March 26, 2007.
Despite the best efforts of CRS management to impede public access to CRS products, the following CRS reports were obtained by Secrecy News (all pdf).
“Federal Advisory Committees: A Primer,” updated March 20, 2007.
“Critical Infrastructures: Background, Policy and Implementation,” updated March 13, 2007.
“Defense Acquisition: Use of Lead System Integrators (LSIs) — Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress,” March 26, 2007.
FAS today released permitting policy recommendations to improve talent and technology in the federal permitting process. These recommendations will address the sometimes years-long bottlenecks that prevent implementation of crucial projects, from energy to transportation.
The United States faces urgent challenges related to aging infrastructure, vulnerable energy systems, and economic competitiveness. But the permitting workforce is unprepared to implement changes. Here’s how they can improve.
S.325 would establish a clear, sustained federal governance structure for extreme heat by bringing all responsible agencies together to coordinate planning, preparedness, and response, a key recommendation of FAS’ 2025 Heat Policy Agenda.
In an industry with such high fixed costs, the Chinese state’s subsidization gives such firms a great advantage and imperils U.S. competitiveness and national security. To curtail Chinese legacy chip dominance, the United States should weaponize its monopoly on electronic design automation software.