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USA WEB ALERT

 

U.S. Reference Service

Public Affairs Section

U.S. Embassy in Australia

 

October 2009

 

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Web Alert is produced by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Mission to Australia as a free service to our subscribers.  The views expressed in these documents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. federal government.

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TOPICS IN THIS WEB ALERT:

 

Featured item

 

East Asia and the Pacific

Afghanistan

Middle East

Africa

Human rights

 

Defense and international security

Terrorism and homeland security  

 

Economics and finance

Business, industry and corporate governance

International economic issues

 

Innovation and research

Space  

Energy

Climate change  

 

Health

Education

Labor

Immigration and minority issues  

 

Politics and government

Justice and legal issues

Journalism and media

Telecommunications, information technology and the internet

 

 

 

FEATURED ITEM 

 

The U.S. Supreme Court: Equal Justice under Law 

eJournal USA, October 2009 

http://www.america.gov/publications/ejournalusa/1009.html 

This issue of eJournal USA describes many aspects of the U.S. Supreme Court. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Solicitor General Elena Kagan present their introductions, and contributions by legal scholars and journalists focus on the elements of judicial decision making and independence of the justices. Four court officials and a former Supreme Court law clerk also describe their jobs. eJournal USA is an electronic journal of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs. 

 

Top

 

 

EAST ASIA and the PACIFIC 

 

U.S. Policy toward Burma 

Hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, October 21, 2009 

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1126 

For transcripts, please go to

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/schedule.asp and scroll down. 

 

U.S. Policy toward Burma: Its Impact and Effectiveness 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, September 30, 2009 

http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2009/hrg090930p.html 

 

U.S. Policy toward Burma 

Remarks by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell, September 28, 2009 

http://www.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2009/09/129698.htm 

 

Administration’s View of the U.S.-China Relationship 

Address by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg, September 24, 2009 

http://www.state.gov/s/d/2009/129686.htm 

 

U.S.-China: Thirty Years of Science and Technology Cooperation 

Fact sheet, U.S. Dept of State, October 15, 2009 

http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/fs/2009/130625.htm 

 

China’s Arrival: A Strategic Framework for a Global Relationship 

Edited by Abraham Denmark and Nirav Patel, Center for a New American Security, September 2009 

http://www.cnas.org/files/documents/publications/CNAS%20China's%20Arrival_Final%20Report.pdf 

 

Japan’s Historic 2009 Elections: Implications for U.S. Interests 

Congressional Research Service, September 8, 2009 

http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/R40758_20090908.pdf 

 

North Korea 

A partly annotated bibliography with hyperlinks, Muir S. Fairchild Research Information Center, September 2009 

http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/bibs/northkorea.htm

 

Top

 

 

AFGHANISTAN 

 

Afghanistan Policy at the Crossroads 

Hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, October 15, 2009 

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1121 

For transcripts, please go to

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/schedule.asp and scroll down. 

 

Afghanistan: Getting the Strategy Right 

Opening statement by committee chairman Ike Skelton at hearing on Afghanistan: Getting the Strategy Right, before the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, October 14, 2009 

http://armedservices.house.gov/apps/list/speech/armedsvc_dem/SkeltonOS101409.shtml 

For witness transcripts, please go to

http://armedservices.house.gov/hearing_information.shtml and scroll down. 

 

The Afghan Elections: Who Lost What? 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, October 1, 2009 

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1115 

For transcripts, please go to

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/schedule.asp and scroll down. 

 

Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy 

Congressional Research Service, October 6, 2009 

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/130796.pdf 

 

Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance 

Congressional Research Service, October 1, 2009 

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/130797.pdf 

 

Afghanistan’s Impact on Pakistan 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, October 1, 2009 

http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2009/hrg091001a.html 

 

Top

 

 

MIDDLE EAST 

 

Withdrawal of U.S. Forces from Iraq: Possible Timelines and Estimated Costs 

Congressional Budget Office, October 7, 2009 

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/105xx/doc10523/10-07-TierneyTroopWithdrawal.pdf 

 

The Status of Ongoing U.S. Efforts in Iraq 

Statement by General Ray Odierno to a hearing on The Status of Ongoing U.S. Efforts in Iraq, before the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, September 30, 2009 

http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/FC093009/Odierno_Testimony093009F.pdf 

The Committee chairman’s opening statement is at

http://armedservices.house.gov/apps/list/speech/armedsvc_dem/SkeltonOS093009.shtml 

 

Minimizing Potential Threats from Iran: Administration Perceptions on Economic Sanctions and Other U.S. Policy Options 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, October 6, 2009 

http://banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=23f97300-5b76-483b-9225-aa14a2a82e79 

 

Iran Sanctions 

Congressional Research Service, updated October 8, 2009 

http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RS20871_20091008.pdf 

 

Iran’s Nuclear Program: Status 

Congressional Research Service, September 18, 2009 

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/130270.pdf 

 

Iran’s Nuclear Program: Tehran’s Compliance with International Obligations 

Congressional Research Service, September 17, 2009 

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/130800.pdf 

 

Inside Iran 

A project of The Twentieth Century Foundation 

http://www.insideiran.org/ 

There is a press release about this initiative, September 24, 2009, at

http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=PR&pubid=166 

 

Barriers to the Broad Dissemination of Creative Works in the Arab World 

RAND, September 2009  

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2009/RAND_MG879.pdf 

There is a summary at

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG879/ 

 

Top

 

 

AFRICA 

 

A Comprehensive Strategy for Sudan

White House, October 19, 2009 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/A-Comprehensive-Strategy-for-Sudan/ 

President Obama’s statement is at

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Statement-of-President-Barack-Obama-on-Sudan-Strategy/,

remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Clinton are at

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/10/130686.htm

and the public strategy document is at

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/oct/130672.htm

There is a background briefing by senior U.S. officials at

http://www.state.gov/p/af/rls/spbr/2009/130696.htm 

 

Remarks at the Corporate Council on Africa’s Seventh Biennial U.S.-Africa Business Summit 

Remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, October 1, 2009 

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/10/130182.htm 

Remarks by U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Neal S. Wolin on September 30, 2009, are at

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/tg300.htm 

 

Exploring U.S. Policy Options toward Zimbabwe’s Transition 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, September 30, 2009 

http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2009/hrg090930a.html 

 

Rwanda: Background and Current Developments 

Congressional Research Service, September 3, 2009 

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/130264.pdf 

 

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HUMAN RIGHTS 

 

International Violence against Women: Stories and Solutions 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, October 21, 2009 

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1124 

For transcripts, please go to

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/schedule.asp and scroll down. 

 

Violence against Women: Global Costs and Consequences 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, October 1, 2009 

http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2009/hrg091001p.html 

 

No Safe Haven: Accountability for Human Rights Violators, Part II 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, October 6, 2009 

http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=4094 

 

New CPJ Database Tracks Journalist Killings 

Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, October 21, 2009 

http://knightcenter.utexas.edu/blog/?q=en/node/5562 

The database, with worldwide scope, is at http://cpj.org/killed/ 

 

Top

 

 

DEFENSE and INTERNATIONAL SECURITY 

 

Strengthening the Pillars of Global Nonproliferation 

Remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the U.S. Institute of Peace, October 21, 2009 

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/10/130806.htm 

 

Administration Policies and Goals on Nonproliferation and Disarmament 

Briefing by Ellen Tauscher, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, and Alejandro Wolff, U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, September 24, 2009 

http://fpc.state.gov/129700.htm 

 

The Clock is Ticking: A Progress Report on America’s Preparedness to Prevent Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism 

Interim report, Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, October 21, 2009 

http://www.preventwmd.gov/static/docs/report/WMDRpt10-20Final.pdf 

There is a news release about this report by a bipartisan U.S. commission at

http://www.preventwmd.gov/10_21_2009/ 

 

NATO: A Strategic Concept for Transatlantic Security 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, October 22, 2009 

http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2009/hrg091022a.html 

 

Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction 

U.S. Institute of Peace Press and U.S. Army Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute, October 2009 

http://www.usip.org/files/resources/guiding_principles_full.pdf 

There is further information at

http://www.usip.org/resources/guiding-principles-stabilization-and-reconstruction,

which notes that this 244-page manual “presents the first strategic ‘doctrine’ ever produced for civilians engaged in peacebuilding missions. It is a practical roadmap for helping countries transition from violent conflict to peace.” 

 

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TERRORISM and HOMELAND SECURITY 

 

Terrorist Financing 

Speech by U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury David S. Cohen, October 12, 2009 

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/tg317.htm 

 

Confronting Al-Qaeda: Understanding the Threat in Afghanistan and Beyond 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, October 7, 2009 

http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2009/hrg091007p.html 

 

Closing the Guantanamo Detention Center: Legal Issues 

Congressional Research Service, September 14, 2009 

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/130805.pdf 

 

Eight Years after 9/11: Confronting the Terrorist Threat to the Homeland 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, September 30, 2009 

http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=5b17b0b6-afce-4488-80a0-0c3db92fe8f8 

 

Reauthorizing the USA PATRIOT Act: Ensuring Liberty and Security 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, September 23, 2009 

http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=4062 

 

The USA PATRIOT Act 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, September 22, 2009 

http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/hear_090922.html 

 

Top

 

 

ECONOMICS and FINANCE

 

Financial Regulation and Supervision after the Crisis: The Role of the Federal Reserve 

Speech by Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman, U.S. Federal Reserve, October 23, 2009 

http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/bernanke20091023a.htm 

 

The Economic Outlook 

Hearing before the Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress, October 22, 2009 

http://jec.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.HearingsCalendar&ContentRecord_id=6dd4483c-5056-8059-7664-1856ea0ee4e6&Region_id=&Issue_id 

The witness is Christina Romer, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers. 

 

The Economic Outlook 

Speech by Donald L. Kohn, Vice Chairman, U.S. Federal Reserve, October 13, 2009 

http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/kohn20091013a.htm 

 

Authoritative Resources on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) 

Congressional Research Service, September 10, 2009 

http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/R40244_20090910.pdf 

 

Too Big to Fail: The Role of Bankruptcy and Antitrust Law in Financial Regulation Reform 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, October 22, 2009 

http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/hear_091022.html 

 

Regulatory Reform and the Economy: We Can Do Better 

Speech by Thomas M. Hoenig, president, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas, October 6, 2009 

http://www.kansascityfed.org/speechbio/hoenigpdf/Denver.Forums.10.06.09.pdf 

 

A Bit Better, but Very Far from Best 

Speech by William C. Dudley, president and chief executive officer, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, October 5, 2009 

http://www.newyorkfed.org/newsevents/speeches/2009/dud091005.html 

 

A Joint Report of the SEC and the CFTC on Harmonization of Regulation 

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), October 16, 2009 

http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2009/cftcjointreport101609.pdf 

There is a news release on this 96-page report at

http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2009/2009-218.htm 

 

Examining the State of the Banking Industry 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, October 14, 2009 

http://banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=8e6b5806-3d70-447b-a823-bc4f3335a13f 

 

Stronger Capital and Liquidity Standards for Banking Firms 

U.S. Dept of the Treasury, September 3, 2009 

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/tg274.htm 

 

Resolution Process for Financial Companies that Pose Systemic Risk to the Financial System and Overall Economy 

Prepared by Thomas M. Hoenig, Charles S. Morris and Kenneth Spong, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, September 2009 

http://www.kansascityfed.org/speechbio/resolutionprocess.09.03.09.pdf 

 

Reform of the Over-the-Counter Derivative Market 

Hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services, October 7, 2009 

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/financialsvcs_dem/hrfcder_100709.shtml 

 

Top

 

 

BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 

 

Restoring Credit to Manufacturers 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, October 9, 2009 

http://banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=41c877dc-00bf-4973-9bc9-1a3c2490c203 

 

The Turning Tide: Prospects for a Manufacturing Recovery 

Labor Day 2009: The Manufacturing Report. National Association of Manufacturers, September 2009 

http://www.nam.org/~/media/News/2009LaborDayReportFINALsmall.ashx 

There is a news release at

http://www.nam.org/NewsFromtheNAM.aspx?DID={3F6BDD89-AA71-497D-9B33-21CA7BA944E2} 

 

The Special Master for TARP Executive Compensation Issues First Rulings 

U.S. Dept of the Treasury, October 22, 2009 

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/tg329.htm 

A statement by U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner is at

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/2009102214125716010.htm 

 

The Conference Board Task Force on Executive Compensation: Recommendations 

The Conference Board, September 2009 

http://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/ExecCompensation2009.pdf 

There is a press release at

http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?press_ID=3741 

 

Top

 

 

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ISSUES 

 

International Cooperation to Modernize Financial Regulation 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, September 30, 2009 

http://banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=ad3d07e9-7b4c-4049-b008-39b74c014baa 

 

Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy Submits Report on Review of U.S. Model Bilateral Investment Treaty 

U.S. Dept of State, September 30, 2009 

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/sept/130097.htm 

 

The Financial Development Report 2009 

World Economic Forum, Geneva, October 2009 

http://www.weforum.org/pdf/FinancialDevelopmentReport/Report2009.pdf 

There is a press release about this 380-page report at

http://www.weforum.org/en/media/Latest%20Press%20Releases/PR_FDR09 

 

Asia and the Global Financial Crisis 

Speech by Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman, U.S. Federal Reserve, October 19, 2009 

http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/bernanke20091019a.htm 

 

The Future of APEC 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, October 14, 2009 

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1118 

For transcripts, please go to

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/schedule.asp and scroll down. 

 

U.S.-China Trade Issues 

Congressional Research Service, September 17, 2009 

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/130801.pdf 

 

Top

 

 

INNOVATION and RESEARCH 

 

President Obama Lays out Strategy for American Innovation 

White House, September 21, 2009 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Lays-Out-Strategy-for-American-Innovation/ 

Includes links to fact sheets. There is a white paper at

http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/sept_20__innovation_whitepaper_final.pdf 

 

Investing in High-Risk, High-Reward Research 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology, October 8, 2009 

http://science.house.gov/publications/hearings_markups_details.aspx?NewsID=2621 

 

Innovation and Sustainable Growth 

Address by President Barack Obama, September 21, 2009 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-on-Innovation-and-Sustainable-Growth-at-Hudson-Valley-Community-College/ 

See also the blog post by Lawrence H. Summers, Director of the National Economic Council, at

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/A-Vision-for-Innovation-Growth-and-Quality-Jobs/ 

 

Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2006-08 

National Science Foundation, October 2009 

http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf10303/pdf/nsf10303.pdf 

 

Geovision Report: Unveiling Earth’s Complexities through the Geosciences 

Advisory Committee for Geosciences, National Science Foundation, October 2009 

http://www.nsf.gov/geo/acgeo/geovision/nsf_ac-geo_vision_10_2009.pdf 

There is a press release at

http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=115717&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51 

 

Top

 

 

SPACE 

 

Seeking a Human Spaceflight Program Worthy of a Great Nation 

Final report, Review of Human Spaceflight Plans Committee, October 2009 

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/396093main_HSF_Cmte_FinalReport.pdf 

This report was released on October 22, 2009. 

 

NASA: Briefing on National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Programs and Associated Activities 

Government Accountability Office (GAO), October 15, 2009 

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d1087r.pdf 

 

The Case for Space: Examining the Value 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, October 21, 2009 

http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=242abe1f-23dc-4d67-9ff0-a9f13d00fd3b 

This hearing looks at health and other technology spinoffs from the U.S. space program. 

 

Strengthening NASA’s Technology Development Programs 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology, October 22, 2009 

http://science.house.gov/publications/hearings_markups_details.aspx?NewsID=2640 

 

Top

 

 

ENERGY 

 

International Energy Affairs 

Briefing by David L. Goldwyn, Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, U.S. Dept of State, October 9, 2009 

http://www.state.gov/s/ciea/rmk/130461.htm 

 

Strengthening U.S. International Energy Assistance to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improve Energy Security 

RAND, September 2009 

http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/2009/RAND_OP251.pdf 

There is a summary at

http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP251/ 

 

Energy Explained: Your Guide to Understanding Energy 

Energy Information Administration, U.S. Dept of Energy 

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/ 

This new information portal for energy education was launched in October 2009. 

 

Energy Trends: Highlights on Consumer Energy Usage 

Nielsen, October 2009 

http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Energy_Paper-Oct-2009.pdf

 

The National Energy Modeling System: An Overview 

Energy Information Administration, U.S. Dept of Energy, October 2009 

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/overview/index.html 

 

Salazar Reforms U.S. Oil Shale Program 

Press release, U.S. Dept of the Interior, October 20, 2009 

http://www.doi.gov/news/09_News_Releases/102009.html 

There is a fact sheet at

http://www.doi.gov/documents/oil_shale_rdd_fact_sheet_000.pdf.

Ken Salazar is U.S. Secretary of the Interior. 

 

Terminology, Reporting, and Summary of U.S. Fossil Fuel Resources 

Congressional Research Service memorandum, October 20, 2009 

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=01feb68b-ef57-4748-8f5c-d88c0e7d6bd5 

 

Arctic Oil and Natural Gas Potential 

Energy Information Administration, U.S. Dept of Energy, October 19, 2009 

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/analysispaper/arctic/index.html 

 

Biomass for Thermal Energy and Electricity through a Research and Development Portfolio for the Future 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology, October 21, 2009 

http://science.house.gov/publications/hearings_markups_details.aspx?NewsID=2638 

 

Hidden Costs of Energy: Unpriced Consequences of Energy Production and Use 

By a committee of the National Research Council. National Academies Press, October 2009 

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12794 

There is a news release at

http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12794 

 

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CLIMATE CHANGE 

 

Climate Change Adaptation: Strategic Federal Planning Could Help Government Officials Make More Informed Decisions 

Government Accountability Office (GAO), October 2009 

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10113.pdf 

 

Climate Change Adaptation: Information on Selected Federal Efforts to Adapt to a Changing Climate 

Government Accountability Office (GAO), October 2009 

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10114sp.pdf 

 

Understanding the Decline in CO2 Emissions in 2009 

Energy Information Administration, U.S. Dept of Energy, October 2009 

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/special/2009_sp_06.html 

 

Costs and Benefits for Energy Consumers and Energy Prices Associated with the Allocation of Greenhouse Gas Emission Allowances 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, October 21, 2009 

http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=3abdbd7b-0682-273e-80a3-dfa9550c8384 

 

Climate Change: Costs and Benefits of the Cap-and-Trade Provisions of H.R. 2454 

Congressional Research Service, September 14, 2009 

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/130806.pdf 

 

The U.S. Government’s Methane to Markets Partnership Accomplishments 

Fourth annual report, October 2009 

http://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets/pdf/2009-accomplish-report/m2m_usg_fullreport.pdf 

There is a news release from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d985312f6895893b852574ac005f1e40/97561bb6d5a5df32852576560064e391 

 

Methane Capture: Options for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction 

Congressional Research Service, September 17, 2009 

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/130799.pdf 

 

Meeting the Climate Challenge: Core Elements of an Effective Response to Climate Change 

Report by the Center for American Progress and the United Nations Foundation, October 2009 

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/10/pdf/UNclimateissues.pdf 

 

Fewer Americans See Solid Evidence of Global Warming 

Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, October 22, 2009 

http://people-press.org/report/556/global-warming 

 

Increased Flooding Risk: Global Warming’s Wake-up Call for Riverfront Communities 

National Wildlife Federation, September 2009 

http://www.nwf.org/nwfwebadmin/binaryVault/NWF_FloodReport_optimized1.pdf 

 

National Parks in Peril: The Threats of Climate Disruption 

A report by the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization and the Natural Resources Defense Council, October 2009 

http://www.rockymountainclimate.org/website%20pictures/National-Parks-In-Peril-final.pdf 

There is a short summary at

http://www.rockymountainclimate.org/programs_6.htm

and related material and state profiles at

http://www.rockymountainclimate.org/programs_7.htm 

 

Drought, Flooding, and Refugees: Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change in the World’s Most Vulnerable Nations 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, October 15, 2009 

http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2009/hrg091015a.html 

 

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HEALTH 

 

Improving the Impact and Effectiveness of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee 

RAND, October 2009 

http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2009/RAND_TR752.pdf 

There is a summary at

http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR752/ 

 

H1N1 Flu: Monitoring the Nation’s Response 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, October 21, 2009 

http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=cbe5331e-19ab-41d5-bffe-7610f97708f0 

 

Taking the Pulse of Rural Health Care 

Economic Research Service, U.S. Dept of Agriculture, Amber Waves, September 2009 

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Amberwaves/September09/Features/RuralHealth.htm 

 

Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity 

By a committee of the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council. National Academies Press, September 2009 

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12674 

The report in brief (8 pages) is at

http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2009/ChildhoodObesityPreventionLocalGovernments/local%20govts%20obesity%20report%20brief%20FINAL%20for%20web.ashx

and there is a brief summary at

http://www.iom.edu/en/Reports/2009/ChildhoodObesityPreventionLocalGovernments.aspx 

 

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EDUCATION 

 

The ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology, 2009 

Educause Center for Applied Research, October 2009 

http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ers0906/rs/ERS0906w.pdf 

There is a summary at

http://www.educause.edu/Resources/TheECARStudyofUndergraduateStu/187215

and key findings at

http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EKF/EKF0906.pdf 

 

Strengthening Community Colleges’ Influence on Economic Mobility 

Economic Mobility Project, Pew Charitable Trusts, October 2009 

http://www.economicmobility.org/assets/pdfs/PEW_EMP_COMMUNITY_COLLEGES.pdf 

There is a summary with charts at

http://www.economicmobility.org/reports_and_research/other/other?id=0010

and a press release at

http://www.economicmobility.org/assets/pdfs/EMP_PressRelease_CommColleges.pdf 

 

The Nation’s Report Card: Mathematics 2009 

National Assessment of Educational Progress, October 2009 

http://nationsreportcard.gov/math_2009/ 

There is a news release at

http://nationsreportcard.gov/math_2009/media/pdf/math_board_news_release.pdf 

 

Teaching for a Living: How Teachers See the Profession Today 

Public Agenda, October 2009 

http://www.publicagenda.org/pages/teaching-for-a-living 

There is a press release at

http://www.publicagenda.org/press-releases/teaching-for-a-living 

 

Teacher Equity: Effective Teachers for all Children 

Hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor, September 30, 2009 

http://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/2009/09/teacher-equity-effective-teach.shtml 

 

Early Childhood Education, Economic Development, and the Business Community 

Speech by Dennis P. Lockhart, president and chief executive officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, October 22, 2009 

http://www.frbatlanta.org/invoke.cfm?objectid=7A0F7906-5056-9F12-120A2240438D390E&method=display 

 

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LABOR 

 

Changes in the Distribution of Workers’ Annual Earnings between 1979 and 2007 

Congressional Budget Office, October 2009 

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/105xx/doc10527/10-02-Workers.pdf 

 

Alternative Measures of the Unemployment Rate 

Murat Tasci and Beth Mowry, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Economic Trends, October 7, 2009 

http://www.clevelandfed.org/research/trends/2009/1109/01ecoact.cfm 

 

Sustaining Workers’ Bargaining Power in an Age of Globalization 

Briefing paper by Mark Barenberg, Economic Policy Institute, October 9, 2009 

http://epi.3cdn.net/efe4f3ff11b94518b9_2nm6b8ben.pdf 

 

Rising Senior Unemployment and the Need to Work at Older Ages 

Richard W. Johnson. The Urban Institute, September 2009 

http://www.urban.org/uploadedpdf/411964_senior_unemployment.pdf 

There is a summary at

http://www.urban.org/publications/411964.html 

 

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IMMIGRATION and MINORITY ISSUES 

 

Immigration Detention Overview and Recommendations 

Dr Dora Schriro, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Dept of Homeland Security, October 6, 2009 

http://www.ice.gov/doclib/091005_ice_detention_report-final.pdf 

 

Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Faith-Based Perspectives 
Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, October 8, 2009 

http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=4108 

 

Breaking the Immigration Stalemate 

A report from the Brookings-Duke Immigration Policy Roundtable, October 2009 

http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/reports/2009/1006_immigration_roundtable/1006_immigration_roundtable.pdf 

There is a summary at

http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2009/1006_immigration_roundtable.aspx?rssid=LatestFromBrookings 

 

The Silent Depression: How Are Minorities Faring in the Economic Downturn? 

Hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, September 23, 2009 

http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=2604 

 

Measuring Immigrant Assimilation in the United States 

Jacob L. Vigdor, Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Second edition, October 2009 

http://www.manhattan-institute.org/pdf/cr_59.pdf 

 

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POLITICS and GOVERNMENT 

 

What Does the Public Know? 

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, October 14, 2009 

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1378/political-news-iq-quiz 

This publication surveys the extent of the American public’s knowledge about contemporary political issues. 

 

Ideology in the American Public 

Alan Abramowitz, October 1, 2009  

http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/article.php?id=AIA2009100101 

 

Forecasting the Midterm Elections: An Early Look at What to Expect in 2010 

Alan Abramowitz, September 3, 2009 

http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/article.php?id=AIA2009090301 

 

Congressional Favorability at 24-Year Low: Midterm Voting Intentions Evenly Divided 

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, September 2, 2009 

http://people-press.org/reports/pdf/539.pdf 

There is a summary at

http://people-press.org/report/539/congressional-favorability-at-24-year-low 

 

Presidential Advice and Senate Consent: The Past, Present, and Future of Policy Czars 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, October 22, 2009 

http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=5b22e173-5b74-46a0-b2ab-d300b6381de4 

 

Examining the History and Legality of Executive Branch “Czars” 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, October 6, 2009 

http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=4098 

 

Presidential Terms and Tenure: Perspectives and Proposals for Change 

Congressional Research Service, October 19, 2009 

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40864.pdf 

 

Advancing Freedom of Information in the New Era of Responsibility 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, September 30, 2009 

http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=4077 

 

The Federal Government’s Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: Fall 2009 Update 

Government Accountability Office (GAO), October 15, 2009 

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10137sp.pdf 

 

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JUSTICE and LEGAL ISSUES    

 

Civil Rights under Fire: Recent Supreme Court Decisions 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, October 8, 2009 

http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/hear_091008.html 

 

Mandatory Binding Arbitration: Is It Fair and Voluntary? 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, September 15, 2009 

http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/hear_090915.html 

 

Forced Arbitration: Unfair and Everywhere 

Public Citizen, September 14, 2009 

http://www.citizen.org/publications/release.cfm?ID=7705 

The full report (24 pages) is at

http://www.citizen.org/documents/UnfairAndEverywhere.pdf

and there is a press release at

http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=2961 

 

Supreme Court Justices: Demographic Characteristics, Professional Experience, and Legal Education, 1789-2009 

Congressional Research Service, September 9, 2009 

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40802.pdf 

 

Criminal Victimization, 2008 

Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept of Justice, September 2009 

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cv08.htm 

The full text (8 pages) is at

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/cv08.pdf

and there is a news release at

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2009/BJS09131.htm 

 

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JOURNALISM and MEDIA 

 

The Reconstruction of American Journalism 

A report by Leonard Downie, Jr., and Michael Schudson, October 20, 2009 

http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/cs/BlobServer?blobheadervalue0=inline%3B+filename%3DReconstruction+of+Journalism.pdf&blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobheadername0=Content-Disposition&blobkey=id&blobwhere=1212767504932&blobheader=application%2Fpdf 

A news release, “Report Proposes New Steps to Support Quality Public Affairs Reporting”, is at

http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/cs/ContentServer/jrn/1212611716674/page/1212611716651/JRNSimplePage2.htm 

 

Digital Influence in News and Politics 

Sparxoo, September 28, 2009 

http://sparxoo.com/wp-content/sparxoo_digital_influence_news_politics.pdf 

 

Video Competition in a Digital Age 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, October 22, 2009 

http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1787:video-competition-in-a-digital-age&catid=134:subcommittee-on-communications-technology-and-the-internet&Itemid=74 

 

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY and the INTERNET 

 

Trade in the Cyberstates 2009 

Tech America, October 2009 

http://www.techamerica.org/trade 

This report looks at trends in U.S. exports of high technology over the past year. There is a news release at

http://www.techamerica.org/trade2009-national

and data on specific states is available at

http://www.techamerica.org/trade2009-press 

 

Broadband Task Force Delivers Status Report on February 17 National Broadband Plan 

Federal Communications Commission news release, September 29, 2009 

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-293719A1.pdf 

 

Cyberbullying and Other Online Safety Issues for Children 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, September 30, 2009 

http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/hear_090930.html 

 

Twitter and Status Updating, Fall 2009 

Pew Internet & American Life Project, October 21, 2009 

http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/17-Twitter-and-Status-Updating-Fall-2009.aspx 

The PDF version (16 pages) is at

http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2009/PIP_Twitter_Fall_2009_web.pdf

 

Cybersecurity: Current Legislation, Executive Branch Initiatives, and Options for Congress 

Congressional Research Service, September 30, 2009 

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/130802.pdf 

 

Cyberdeterrence and Cyberwar 

Martin C. Libicki. RAND, October 2009 

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2009/RAND_MG877.pdf 

There is a summary at

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG877/ 

 

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____________________________________________________________________________________

 

U.S. Reference Service

 

Canberra: Alexis Yeadon

[ACT, NT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA]

 

Sydney: Peter Gilbert

[NSW, QLD]