National Security Letters, Fossil Fuel, and More from CRS
Noteworthy new reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf).
“National Security Letters: Proposed Amendments in the 111th Congress,” October 28, 2009.
“U.S. Fossil Fuel Resources: Terminology, Reporting, and Summary,” October 28, 2009.
“Unconventional Gas Shales: Development, Technology, and Policy Issues,” October 30, 2009.
“Electoral College Reform: 111th Congress Proposals and Other Current Developments,” November 4, 2009.
“Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for Congress,” November 5, 2009.
“Resolutions of Inquiry: An Analysis of Their Use in the House, 1947-2009,” October 29, 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.