___________________________________________________________________

 

USA WEB ALERT

 

U.S. Reference Service

Public Affairs Section

U.S. Embassy in Australia

 

November 2008

 

________________________________________________________________________________

 

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.

__________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

TOPICS IN THIS WEB ALERT:

 

Featured item

 

International relations

East Asia and Pacific

Middle East

 

Economics and finance

Housing

International economic issues, trade and investment

Development and international assistance

 

Human rights and international criminal justice

Defense and international security

Terrorism and homeland security

 

Science, technology and innovation

Energy

Environment and resources

Marine environment and law of the sea

Agriculture and food  

 

Transportation and infrastructure

Health

Higher education

K-12 education

Labor

Social issues

Philanthropy and volunteering

Immigration and minorities

 

Justice and law enforcement

Politics and elections

Transition

Public administration

Budget and taxation  

 

Communications and information technology

Intellectual property

 

 

 

FEATURED ITEM

 

Office of the President-Elect of the United States 

http://www.change.gov/ 

This is the official website of the Obama-Biden transition team. For further material on the 2008-2009 Presidential transition in the United States, please see also the Transition section in this alert and the regularly updated Transition page on our website at

http://canberra.usembassy.gov/irc/transition.html 

 

Top

 

 

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 

 

Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World 

Director of National Intelligence/National Intelligence Council, November 2008 

http://www.dni.gov/nic/PDF_2025/2025_Global_Trends_Final_Report.pdf 

There is a summary at http://www.dni.gov/nic/NIC_2025_project.html 

and a briefing by Dr Mathew Burrows, National Intelligence Council Counselor and principal organizer of Global Trends 2025 at http://fpc.state.gov/112235.htm   

 

The Foreign Policy of the Bush Administration 

Remarks by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte at Trinity College, Dublin, November 17, 2008 

http://www.state.gov/s/d/2008/111961.htm 

In this speech, the Deputy Secretary discusses “the Bush Administration’s foreign policy – the broad agenda we’ve sought to advance in the past eight years, and where it stands today, just two months from the beginning of the Obama presidency.” 

 

Presidential Transitions and Foreign Policy 

Backgrounder by Toni Johnson, Council on Foreign Relations, November 4, 2008 

http://www.cfr.org/publication/17676/ 

 

A Foreign Affairs Budget for the Future: Fixing the Crisis in Diplomatic Readiness 

American Academy of Diplomacy and the Stimson Center, October 2008

 http://www.academyofdiplomacy.org/publications/FAB_report_2008.pdf 

 

Abrahamic Alternatives to War 

U.S. Institute of Peace, October 2008 

http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr214.pdf 

This report, drawn from a conference of eight Muslim, six Jewish and eight Christian scholar-leaders at Stony Point, New York, in June 2007, “examines passages that support violence in each tradition’s scripture, presents definitions of ‘just peacemaking’ in each tradition, summarizes places of convergence that might create the foundation for a program offering an Abrahamic alternative to war and presents a joint statement and series of commitments reached at the end of the conference.” 

 

Top

 

 

EAST ASIA and PACIFIC 

 

2008 Report to Congress of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission 

The Commission, November 2008 

http://www.uscc.gov/annual_report/2008/annual_report_full_08.pdf 

There is a press release about this 405-page report at

http://www.uscc.gov/pressreleases/2008/08_11_20pr.php 

 

Human Rights in China: Trends and Policy Implications

 Congressional Research Service report, October 31, 2008 

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/112018.pdf 

 

Global Alliance: An Agenda for U.S.-Japan Cooperation 

Address by U.S. Under Secretary of State Paula J. Dobriansky, October 23, 2008 

http://www.state.gov/g/rls/rm/111380.htm 

 

Top

 

 

MIDDLE EAST 

 

Renewing the United Nations Mandate for Iraq: Plans and Prospects 

Hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, November 19, 2008 

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1037 

For transcripts, please go to http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/testimony.asp and scroll down. 

 

What Iraq Needs from the Obama Administration: Recommendations for Iraqis Resident in the U.S. 

Report by Elizabeth Detwiler, U.S. Institute of Peace, November 2008 

http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/1106_iraq_recommend.html 

This publication discusses the Iraq policy recommendations of six prominent Iraqis resident in the United States to the incoming administration of Barack Obama. 

 

United States-United Arab Emirates Joint Statement 

November 17, 2008 

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/nov/111954.htm 

 

Remarks at the Palestinian Business and Investment Forum 

Remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, October 14, 2008 

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2008/10/110954.htm 

Remarks by U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Robert M. Kimmitt

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp1210.htm 

 

U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians 

Congressional Research Service report, October 8, 2008 

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RS22967.pdf 

 

Top

 

 

ECONOMICS and FINANCE

 

Remarks at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library 

Remarks by U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson, Jr., November 20, 2008 

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp1285.htm 

In this address, the Treasury Secretary discusses the world financial crisis, the U.S. response, and global reform issues. 

 

Financial Rescue Package and Economic Update 

Address by U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson, Jr., November 12, 2008 

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp1265.htm 

 

Implementation of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act 

Remarks by U.S. Interim Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Neel Kashkari, November 19, 2008 

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp1281.htm 

 

Oversight of Implementation of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and of Government Lending and Insurance Facilities; Impact on Economy and Credit Availability 

Hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services, November 18, 2008 

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/financialsvcs_dem/hr111808.shtml 

 

Financial Conditions and the Economic Outlook 

Address by Jeffrey Lacker, president, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, November 21, 2008 

http://www.richmondfed.org/press_room/speeches/president_jeff_lacker/2008/lacker_speech_20081121.cfm 

 

The Promise and Peril of the New Financial Architecture 

Speech by Kevin Warsh, a governor of the U.S. Federal Reserve, November 6, 2008 

http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/warsh20081106a.htm 

 

Productivity and Innovation in Financial Services 

Speech by Donald L. Kohn, vice chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, in Luxembourg, November 12, 2008 

http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/kohn20081112a.htm 

 

Economic Recovery, Job Creation, and Investment in America 

Hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means, October 29, 2008 

http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=detail&hearing=650 

 

Strategic Risk Management in an Interconnected World 

Speech by Randall S. Kroszner, a governor of the U.S. Federal Reserve, October 20, 2008 

http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/kroszner20081020a.htm 

 

Treasury, Regulators Issue Additional Guidance on Capital Purchase Program

U.S. Dept of the Treasury, October 20, 2008 

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp1222.htm 

This announcement, including a link to FAQs about the Capital Purchase Program, is at

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/reports/faqcpp.pdf 

 

Financial Turmoil: Comparing the Troubled Asset Relief Program to the Federal Reserve’s Response  

Congressional Research Service report, October 8, 2008 

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS22966.pdf 

 

The Role of Federal Regulators in the Financial Crisis 

Hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, October 23, 2008 

http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=2256 

 

Turmoil in the U.S. Credit Markets: Examining Recent Regulatory Responses 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, October 23, 2008 

http://banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=3df09367-cf45-438a-9c0f-7ebfec169719 

 

Turmoil in the U.S. Credit Markets: The Genesis of the Current Economic Crisis 

Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, October 16, 2008 

http://banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=6de8e10c-e115-4686-9e40-ebceea2f1cb6 

 

Top

 

 

HOUSING 

 

The Future of Mortgage Finance in the United States 

Speech by Ben S. Bernanke, chairman, U.S. Federal Reserve, October 31, 2008 

http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/bernanke20081031a.htm 

 

The Outlook for Housing Starts, 2009 to 2012 

Congressional Budget Office, November 2008 

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/98xx/doc9885/11-17-HousingStarts.pdf 

 

Top

 

 

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ISSUES, TRADE and INVESTMENT 

 

Declaration of the Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy 

Washington DC, November 15, 2008 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/11/20081115-1.html 

White House fact sheet on the G-20 summit to address the international financial crisis

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/11/20081115-4.html

Further information about the summit is at

http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/financialmarkets/ 

 

Policy Coordination among Central Banks 

Speech by Ben S. Bernanke, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, in Frankfurt, Germany, November 14, 2008

http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/bernanke20081214a.htm 

 

The Stabilizing Force of Open Investment in the Global Economy 

Speech by U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Robert M. Kimmitt, in Dubai, October 28, 2008 

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp1241.htm 

 

Financial Turmoil and the Global Economy 

Address by David H. McCormick, U.S. Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs, in Hong Kong, October 22, 2008 

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp1230.htm 

 

The Global Financial Crisis: The Role of the International Monetary Fund 

Congressional Research Service report, updated October 30, 2008 

http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RS22976_20081030.pdf 

 

Preview of U.S. Priorities for APEC 

Briefing by Patricia Haslach, U.S. Senior Official for APEC, U.S. Dept of State, at the Foreign Press Center, November 10, 2008 

http://fpc.state.gov/111655.htm 

 

The Future of U.S.-China Economic Relations 

Remarks by Alan Holmer, U.S. Special Envoy for China and the Strategic Economic Dialogue, in Nanjing, November 5, 2008

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp1253.htm 

 

Release of Final Regulations Governing CFIUS 

Statement by U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson Jr, November 14, 2008 

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp1274.htm 

Final regulations, with related material

http://www.treas.gov/offices/international-affairs/cfius/ 

 

When Money Talks: Arab Sovereign Wealth Funds in the Global Public Policy Discourse 

Sven Behrendt, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, October 2008 

http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/arab_sovereign_wealth_funds.pdf 

Press release on “International Framework Needed to Govern Sovereign Wealth Funds” http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=22277&prog=zgp&proj=zme 

 

Top

 

 

DEVELOPMENT and INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE 

 

White House Summit on International Development 

The White House, October 21, 2008 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/internationaldevelopment/index.html 

White House fact sheet

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/10/20081020-1.html 

 

Millennium Challenge Account 

Congressional Research Service report, updated October 8, 2008 

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32427.pdf 

 

Faces of Change: Highlights of U.S. Department of Labor Efforts to Combat International Child Labor 

U.S. Dept of Labor, 2nd edition, October 2008 

http://www.dol.gov/ilab/20081028.pdf 

 

Child Labor: U.S. Policy and Action 

Fact sheet, U.S. Dept of State, October 31, 2008 

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/111488.htm 

 

Child Soldiers: U.S. Policy and Action 

Fact sheet, U.S. Dept of State, October 31, 2008 

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/111480.htm 

 

Top

 

 

HUMAN RIGHTS and INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE 

 

U.S. Perspectives on International Criminal Justice 

Remarks by John B. Bellinger III, Legal Adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State, November 14, 2008 

http://www.state.gov/s/l/rls/111859.htm 

 

Success against Slavery and Strategies for the Future 

Remarks by Mark P. Lagon, Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Dept of State, October 28, 2008 

http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/rm/2008/111456.htm 

 

Top

 

 

DEFENSE and INTERNATIONAL SECURITY 

 

Transitioning Defense Organizational Initiatives: Assessment of Key 2001-2008 Defense Reforms 

Pre-publication draft, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), November 12, 2008 

http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/081112_transitioning_defense_organizational_initiatives.pdf 

There is a summary at http://www.csis.org/component/option,com_csis_pubs/task,view/id,5124/type,1/ 

 

Defense Spending during Economic Crisis 

Backgrounder by Greg Bruno, Council on Foreign Relations, November 18, 2008 

http://www.cfr.org/publication/17793/ 

 

Meeting America’s Security Challenges beyond Iraq: a Conference Report 

Sarah Harting, RAND, 2008.  Report on a conference jointly co-hosted on December 4, 2007, by RAND and by the Center for Naval Analyses. 

http://www.rand.org/pubs/conf_proceedings/2008/RAND_CF246.pdf

 

Known Unknowns: Unconventional “Strategic Shocks” in Defense Strategy Development 

Nathan Freier, Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, November 2008 

http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/PUB890.pdf 

 

Nuclear Power: Benefits and Responsibilities 

Address by Jackie Wolcott, U.S. Special Envoy for Nuclear Nonproliferation, at the MENA Nuclear Energy Forum in Doha, Qatar, November 10, 2008 

http://www.state.gov/t/isn/rls/rm/111757.htm 

 

Are New Nuclear Bargains Attainable? 

Deepti Choubey, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, October 2008 

http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/new_nuclear_bargains.pdf 

There is a press release at

http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=22244&prog=zgp&proj=znpp 

 

Building Language Skills and Cultural Competencies in the Military: DOD’s Challenge in Today’s Educational Environment 

Report of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, November 2008 

http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/Reports/LanguageCultureReportNov08.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://armedservices.house.gov/apps/list/press/armedsvc_dem/snyderakinpr112008.shtml 

 

Top

 

 

TERRORISM and HOMELAND SECURITY 

 

Strategic Counterterrorism 

Daniel Benjamin, Brookings Institution, October 2008 

http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2008/10_terrorism_benjamin/10_terrorism_benjamin.pdf 

There is a summary at

http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2008/10_terrorism_benjamin.aspx?emc=lm&m=219384&l=51&v=28714 

 

The Money Trail: Finding, Following, and Freezing Terrorist Finance 

Matthew Levitt and Michael Jacobson, Washington Institute for Near East Policy, November 2008 

http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC04.php?CID=302 

There is a link to the text of this 84-page publication.  

 

DHS Announces Security Standards for Freight and Passenger Rail Systems 

Fact sheet, U.S. Dept of Homeland Security (DHS), November 13, 2008

http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1226590692881.shtm 

The final rule referred to in this fact sheet is at

http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/20081110_rail_rule.pdf 

 

Top

 

 

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY and INNOVATION 

 

The President’s Office of Science and Technology Policy: Issues for Congress 

Congressional Research Service report, November 10, 2008 

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/112016.pdf 

 

Presidential Leadership to Ensure Science and Technology in the Service of National Needs: A Report to the 2008 Candidates 

Center for the Study of the Presidency, 2008 

http://www.thepresidency.org/pubs/science_tech_2008.pdf 

 

An Analysis of NASA’s Plans for Continuing Human Spaceflight after Retiring the Space Shuttle 

Congressional Budget Office, November 2008 

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/98xx/doc9886/11-03-NASA_Letter.pdf 

 

The Science & Entertainment Exchange 

http://www.scienceandentertainmentexchange.org/ 

This is a program of the National Academy of Sciences created in November 2008 which “provides entertainment industry professionals with access to top scientists and engineers to help bring the reality of cutting-edge science to creative and engaging storylines.” 

There is a news release at

http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=11192008 

 

An Analysis of Small Business Patents by Industry and Firm Size 

Anthony Breitzman and Diana Hicks, Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy, November 2008 

http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs335tot.pdf 

There is a news release, “Small Businesses are America’s Innovators”, at

http://www.sba.gov/advo/press/08-33.html 

 

Top

 

 

ENERGY  

 

Energy: A Matter of National, Economic, and Environmental Security 

Minority staff report of the Subcommittee on Domestic Policy, U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, October 23, 2008 

http://issa.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=a67b6ceb-2036-4f5c-8110-e85b7539faea&CFID=1346473&CFTOKEN=87269940 

There is a news release at

http://issa.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=News.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=4414ceb7-19b9-b4b1-1268-85bbd93e03ee&Region_id=&Issue_id=&CFID=1346473&CFTOKEN=87269940 

 

Biomass Energy 

A bibliography with hyperlinks. Science Reference Services, Library of Congress, October 23, 2008 

http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/tracer-bullets/biomasstb.html 

 

2008 Report on Ethanol Market Concentration 

Federal Trade Commission, November 2008 

http://www.ftc.gov/os/2008/11/081117ethanolreport.pdf

There is a news release at

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/11/ethanol.shtm 

 

Federal Research and Development Agenda for Net-Zero Energy, High-Performance Green Buildings 

Report of the Subcommittee on Buildings Technology Research and Development, U.S. National Science and Technology Council, October 2008 

http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/buildingtechnology/documents/FederalRDAgendaforNetZeroEnergyHighPerformanceGreenBuildings.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/netzero102208.html 

 

Top

 

 

ENVIRONMENT and RESOURCES 

 

Crisis Guide: Climate Change 

Council on Foreign Relations, October 2008 

http://www.cfr.org/publication/17088/ 

 

Are Carbon Dioxide Emissions Rising More Rapidly Than Expected? 

Congressional Research Service report, October 17, 2008 

http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RS22970_20081017.pdf 

 

Measuring and Monitoring Carbon in the Agricultural and Forestry Sectors 

Congressional Research Service report, October 6, 2008 

http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RS22964_20081006.pdf 

 

Annual Arctic Report Card Shows Stronger Effects of Warming 

News release, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, October 16, 2008 

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2008/20081016_arcticreport.html 

The “report card” is at

http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/reportcard/index.html 

 

How Green is the Deal? The Growing Role of Sustainability in M&A 

Deloitte, October 2008 

http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content/US_M%26A_How_Green_Is_the_Deal.pdf 

There is a brief summary at http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/article/0%2C1002%2Ccid%25253D230924%2C00.html 

 

Environmental Laws Applicable to Construction and Operation of Biodiesel Production Facilities 

Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), Region 7, November 2008 

http://www.epa.gov/region07/priorities/agriculture/biodiesel_manual.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6427a6b7538955c585257359003f0230/d50c39232ad3d2b38525750000715ba8!OpenDocument 

 

Hidden Reservoir: Why Water Efficiency is the Best Solution for the Southeast 

American Rivers, October 2008 

http://amr.convio.net/site/DocServer/SE_Water_Efficiency_Oct_2008_opt.pdf?docID=8421&JServSessionIdr001=2x46tjn8y2.app8b 

There is a news release at

http://amr.convio.net/site/News2?JServSessionIdr001=d9p9ti1o42.app8b&page=NewsArticle&id=11963&news_iv_ctrl=-1 

 

More Variable and Uncertain Water Supply: Global Warming’s Wakeup Call for the Southeastern United States 

National Wildlife Federation, November 2008 

http://www.nwf.org/nwfwebadmin/binaryVault/NWF_SEWaterSupply_FINAL2.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://www.nwf.org/news/story.cfm?pageId=BA59B89A-5056-A868-A0853748FEC9AE43 

 

Top

 

 

MARINE ENVIRONMENT and LAW OF THE SEA 

 

The United States and the Law of the Sea Convention 

Address by John B. Bellinger III, Legal Adviser, U.S. Dept of State, at the Law of the Sea Institute, Berkeley, California, November 3, 2008 

http://www.state.gov/s/l/rls/111587.htm 

 

Framework for the National System of Marine Protected Areas of the United States of America 

National Marine Protected Areas Center, November 2008 

http://mpa.gov/pdf/national-system/finalframework_full.pdf 

 

Top

 

 

AGRICULTURE and FOOD 

 

Seeds of a Perfect Storm: Genetically Modified Crops and the Global Food Security Crisis 

Nina Fedoroff, Science and Technology Adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State and to the Administrator of USAID, Inaugural Lecture in the Jefferson Fellows Distinguished Lecture Series, October 17, 2008 

http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/rm/111147.htm 

 

Commodity Market Speculation: The Risk to Food Security and Agriculture 

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, November 2008 

http://www.iatp.org/iatp/publications.cfm?accountID=451&refID=104414 

There is a news release at

http://www.iatp.org/iatp/press.cfm?refID=104415 

 

The Massive Food and Land Costs of U.S. Corn Ethanol: An Update 

Dennis T. Avery, Competitive Enterprise Institute, October 29, 2008 

http://cei.org/cei_files/fm/active/0/Dennis%20Avery%20-%20Massive%20Food%20and%20Land%20Costs%20of%20US%20Corn%20Ethanol.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://cei.org/node/21266 

 

Understanding Land Use Change and U.S. Ethanol Expansion 

Renewable Fuels Association, November 2008 

http://www.ethanolrfa.org/objects/documents/2041/final_land_use_1110_w_execsumm.pdf 

There is a press release at

http://www.ethanolrfa.org/objects/documents//release20081112.html 

 

Top

 

 

TRANSPORTATION and INFRASTRUCTURE 

 

Approaches to Mitigate Freight Congestion 

Government Accountability Office (GAO), November 20, 2008 

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09163r.pdf 

 

Mainstreet Stimulus: “Ready to Go” Jobs and Infrastructure Projects 

U.S. Conference of Mayors, November 13, 2008 

http://www.usmayors.org/mainstreetstimulus/mss-report-200811.pdf 

There is a news release about this 222-page publication at

http://www.usmayors.org/pressreleases/uploads/mainstreet_111408.pdf 

 

Breaking Down Walls: Overcoming Institutional Barriers to Infrastructure Investment 

Anthony E. Shorris, the Century Foundation, November 2008 

http://www.tcf.org/publications/economicsinequality/shorris.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=PR&pubid=155 

 

Investing in Infrastructure: The Road to Recovery 

Hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, October 29, 2008 

http://transportation.house.gov/hearings/hearingDetail.aspx?NewsID=776 

 

Present Law and Issues Related to Infrastructure Finance 

Report by the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, U.S. Congress, October 24, 2008 

http://www.jct.gov/x-83-08.pdf 

 

Top

 

 

HEALTH 

 

Call to Action: Health Reform 2009 

U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, November 12, 2008 

http://www.finance.senate.gov/healthreform2009/finalwhitepaper.pdf 

 

Treatments for an Ailing Economy: Protecting Health Care Coverage and Investing in Biomedical Research 

Hearing before the Subcommittee on Health, U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, November 13, 2008 

http://energycommerce.house.gov/cmte_mtgs/110-he-hrg.111308.AilingEconomy.shtml 

 

Report on the Economic Crisis: Initial Impact on Hospitals 

American Hospital Association, November 2008 

http://www.aha.org/aha/content/2008/pdf/081119econcrisisreport.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://www.aha.org/aha/press-release/2008/081119-pr-econcrisis.html 

 

U.S. International Avian and Pandemic Influenza Assistance Reaches $950 Million 

Media note, U.S. Dept of State, October 25, 2008 

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/oct/111241.htm 

 

Top

 

 

HIGHER EDUCATION 

 

Promise Lost: College-Qualified Students Who Don’t Enroll in College 

Institute for Higher Education Policy, November 2008 

http://www.ihep.org/assets/files/publications/m-r/PromiseLostCollegeQualrpt.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://www.ihep.org/press-room/news_release-detail.cfm?id=158 

 

Generational Gains in Postsecondary Education Appear to Have Stalled, New ACE Report Finds 

News release, American Council on Education, October 9, 2008 

http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Releases2&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=29423 

Information about the report is at

http://store.acenet.edu/showItem.aspx?product=311884&session=C891BB5B33C34184AAA1AA91F2DF6CDC 

 

Federal Access Policies and Higher Education for Working Adults 

Center for American Progress, October 2008 

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/10/pdf/access_policies.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://www.americanprogress.org/pressroom/releases/2008/10/ed_reports_disconnected_youth.html 

 

Community Colleges: Not So Junior Any More 

Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis, The Regional Economist, October 2008 

http://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/re/2008/d/pages/colleges.html 

 

Student Debt and the Class of 2007 

The Project on Student Debt, October 2008 

http://projectonstudentdebt.org/files/pub/classof2007.pdf 

General information is at

http://projectonstudentdebt.org/state_by_state-data.php

There is a press release by Pew Charitable Trusts at

http://www.pewtrusts.org/news_room_detail.aspx?id=45424 

 

By Degrees: A Big Year for History 

American Historical Association, Perspectives on History, November 2008 

http://www.historians.org/Perspectives/issues/2008/0811/0811new1.cfm 

This item notes that in 2005-2006 there was a 5.6% increase over the previous year in the number of baccalaureate degrees in history awarded by universities in the United States. 

 

Record High Numbers of American Students Studying Abroad, International Students at U.S. Colleges and Universities 

Media note, U.S. Dept of State, November 17, 2008 

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/nov/111891.htm 

Data from the Open Doors 2008 report to which this refers is accessible at http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/ 

 

Top

 

 

K-12 EDUCATION 

 

A Commitment to Quality: National Charter School Policy Forum Report 

U.S. Dept of Education, October 2008 

http://www.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/csforum/report.html 

The full report is at

http://www.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/csforum/report.pdf

There is a news release at

http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/10/10212008.html 

 

Counting on Graduation: An Agenda for State Leadership 

Anna Habash, the Education Trust, October 2008 

http://www2.edtrust.org/NR/rdonlyres/6CA84103-BB12-4754-8675-17B18A8582AC/0/CountingonGraduation1008.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://www2.edtrust.org/EdTrust/Press+Room/countingongrad.htm 

 

The Impact of the Economic Downturn on Schools: Report on Findings 

American Association of School Administrators, November 2008 

http://www.aasa.org/files/PDFs/Publications/AASAEconomicImpactSurvey2008.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://www.aasa.org/newsroom/pressdetail.cfm?ItemNumber=10846 

 

Top

 

 

LABOR 

 

Creating Postsecondary Pathways to Good Jobs for Young High School Dropouts: The Possibilities and the Challenges 

Center for American Progress, October 2008 

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/10/pdf/postsecondary_pathways.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://www.americanprogress.org/pressroom/releases/2008/10/ed_reports_disconnected_youth.html 

 

Job Outlook by Education, 2006-2016 

Occupational Outlook Quarterly, Fall 2008 

http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2008/fall/art01.pdf 

 

Professional Employer Organizations: What Are They, Who Uses Them, and Why Should We Care? 

Britton Lombardi and Yukako Ono, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Economic Perspectives,

4th Quarter 2008 

http://www.chicagofed.org/publications/economicperspectives/ep_4qtr2008_part1_lombardi_ono.pdf 

 

Top

 

 

SOCIAL ISSUES 

 

The Enduring Challenge of Concentrated Poverty in America 

Report by the Community Affairs Offices of the Federal Reserve System in partnership with the Brookings Institution, October 2008 

http://www.frbsf.org/cpreport/ 

The full report (233 pages) is at

http://www.frbsf.org/cpreport/docs/cp_fullreport.pdf

A synthesis of themes from the case studies is at

http://www.frbsf.org/cpreport/docs/cp_learning_synthesis.pdf 

 

Poverty and Economic Insecurity: Views from City Hall 

Research Report on the State of America’s Cities. National League of Cities, October 2008 

http://66.218.181.91/ASSETS/DE101892B179403B883249907EAB96B1/CityViewsOnPoverty.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://66.218.181.91/PRESSROOM/PRESSRELEASEITEMS/PovertySurvey10-08.aspx 

 

U.S. Income Inequality: It’s Not So Bad 

Thomas A. Garrett, Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis, The Regional Economist, October 2008 

http://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/re/2008/d/pages/income.html 

 

Rural America at a Glance: 2008 Edition 

Economic Research Service, U.S. Dept of Agriculture, October 2008 

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB40/#2008-10-31 

The text in PDF format (6 pages) is at

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB40/EIB40.pdf 

 

Top

 

 

PHILANTHROPY and VOLUNTEERING 

 

Past Economic Downturns and the Outlook for Foundation Giving 

Research advisory, The Foundation Center, October 2008 

http://foundationcenter.org/gainknowledge/research/pdf/researchadvisory_economy_200810.pdf 

 

Community Service and Service-Learning in America’s Schools 

Corporation for National and Community Service, November 2008 

http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/08_1112_lsa_prevalence.pdf 

There is a news release, “Student Service on the Rise, but Less Connected to Learning,” at http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/newsroom/releases_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1157 

 

Top

 

 

IMMIGRATION and MINORITIES 

 

Finding and Using the Best Immigration Data Resources 

http://www.prb.org/Journalists/Webcasts/2008/migrationseminar.aspx 

This describes and links to the 25-page publication Immigration: Data Matters, by the Population Reference Bureau and the Migration Policy Institute, 2008. The text of the publication is at http://www.prb.org/pdf08/immigrationdataguide.pdf 

 

Latino Settlement in the New Century 

Richard Fry, Pew Hispanic Center, October 23, 2008 

http://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/96.pdf 

There is a summary, “Latinos Account for Half of U.S. Population Growth since 2000,” at http://pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=96 

 

Trends in Unauthorized Immigration: Undocumented Inflow Now Trails Legal Inflow 

Pew Hispanic Center, October 2, 2008 

http://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/94.pdf 

There is a summary at

http://pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=94 

 

Uneven Progress: The Employment Pathways of Skilled Immigrants in the United States 
Migration Policy Institute, October 2008 

http://www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/BrainWasteOct08.pdf 

There is a press release on this “brain waste” issue at

http://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/2008_10_22.php 

 

Do Ethnic Enclaves and Networks Promote Immigrant Self-Employment? 

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Economic Perspectives, 4th Quarter 2008 

http://www.chicagofed.org/publications/economicperspectives/ep_4qtr2008_part3_toussaint.pdf 

 

Estimating the Contribution of Immigration Business Owners to the U.S. Economy 

Robert W. Fairlie, Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy, November 2008

http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs334tot.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://www.sba.gov/advo/press/08-32.html 

 

Top

 

 

JUSTICE and LAW ENFORCEMENT 

 

The U.S. Litigation Environment and Direct Foreign Investment: Supporting U.S. Competitiveness by Reducing Legal Costs and Uncertainty 

U.S. Dept of Commerce, October 2008 

http://www.commerce.gov/s/groups/public/@doc/@os/@opa/documents/content/prod01_007457.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_007459 

 

Statutory Structure and Legislative Drafting Conventions: A Primer for Judges 

M. Douglass Bellis, Federal Judicial Center, 2008 

http://www.fjc.gov/public/pdf.nsf/lookup/draftcon.pdf/$file/draftcon.pdf 

 

Hate Crime Statistics, 2007 

Federal Bureau of Investigation, October 2008 

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2007/index.html 

There is a news release at

http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel08/hatecrimestats_102708.htm 

 

Top

 

 

POLITICS and ELECTIONS 

 

High Marks for Campaign, High Bar for Obama

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, November 13, 2008  

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1032/high-marks-for-campaign-high-bar-for-obama 

This publication analyses the results of a survey conducted in the week after the November 2008 presidential election in the United States. 

 

Inside Obama’s Sweeping Victory 

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, November 5, 2008 

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1023/exit-poll-analysis-2008 

This analyzes the sources of Barack Obama’s victory at the general election of November 4, 2008, by demographic. 

 

Young Voters in the 2008 Election 

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, November 12, 2008 

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1031/young-voters-in-the-2008-election 

 

Obama’s October Surprise: A 60-40 Democratic Financial Advantage? 

Campaign Finance Institute, October 21, 2008 

http://www.cfinst.org/pr/prRelease.aspx?ReleaseID=209 

 

U.S. Election Will Cost $5.3 Billion, Center for Responsive Politics Predicts 

OpenSecrets.org, October 22, 2008 

http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/10/us-election-will-cost-53-billi.html 

 

Being Online is Not Enough: State Elections Web Sites 

Pew Center on the States, October 2008 

http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Election_reform/VIP_FINAL_101408_WEB.pdf 

There is a news release at

http://www.pewtrusts.org/news_room_detail.aspx?id=45164 

 

Poll Power 

Scott Keeter, Wilson Quarterly, Autumn 2008 

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=wq.essay&essay_id=478923 

This article looks at the accuracy and impact of modern public opinion polling in the political arena. 

 

Top

 

 

TRANSITION 

 

Ensuring a Smooth and Effective Presidential Transition 

White House fact sheet, October 28, 2008 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/10/20081028-1.html 

 

Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Incoming and Outgoing Administrations 

Congressional Research Service report, October 23, 2008 

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/111866.pdf 

 

Presidential Transition Process is in Need of a Major Upgrade 

Norman J. Ornstein, American Enterprise Institute, October 16, 2008 

http://www.aei.org/publications/filter.all,pubID.28777/pub_detail.asp 

 

The Council for Excellence in Government’s 2008-2009 Presidential Transition Initiative 

Council for Excellence in Government, October 2008 

http://ceg.files.cms-plus.com/usermedia/images/uploads/PDFs/Updated%20Transition%202008-2009%20Document%20_electronic%20letterhead_%20_6a_.pdf 

 

Top

 

 

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 

 

Getting It Done: A Guide for Government Executives 

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, web-posted October 11, 2008 

http://www.businessofgovernment.org/pdfs/GettingItDone.pdf 

 

The Operator’s Manual for the New Administration 

IBM Center for the Business of Government, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2008 

http://www.businessofgovernment.org/pdfs/Operators_Manual.pdf 

 

Roadmap to Reform: A Management Framework for the Next Administration 

Partnership for Public Service, October 2008 

http://www.ourpublicservice.org/OPS/programs/documents/PMI_RoadmaptoReform.pdf 

 

Recommendations for Transition Teams 

Project on Government Oversight, web-posted October 20, 2008 

http://pogoarchives.org/m/go/transition-paper-20081016.pdf 

 

Government in 3D: How Public Leaders Can Draw on Virtual Worlds 

David C. Wyld, IBM Center for the Business of Government, 2008 

http://www.businessofgovernment.org/pdfs/Wyld3dReport.pdf 

There is a brief summary at

http://www.businessofgovernment.org/publications/grant_reports/details/index.asp?gid=322 

 

Top

 

 

BUDGET and TAXATION 

 

The Ebbs and Flows of Federal Debt 

Congressional Research Service report, October 20, 2008 

http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34712_20081020.pdf 

 

Top One Percent of Tax Filers Pay Highest Share in Decades 

News release, Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress, October 29, 2008 

http://www.house.gov/jec/news/2008/Oct/pr110-50.pdf 

 

Top

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS and INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 

 

Voice, Video, and Broadband: The Changing Competitive Landscape and its Impact on Consumers 

U.S. Dept of Justice, November 2008 

http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/public/reports/239284.pdf 

There is a summary at

http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/public/press_releases/2008/239479a.pdf

There is a news release at

http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/public/press_releases/2008/239479.htm 

 

Digital Quality of Life: Understanding the Personal and Social Benefits of the Information Technology Revolution 

Report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, October 2008 

http://www.itif.org/index.php?id=179 

Available in PDF format at

http://www.itif.org/files/DQOL.pdf 

 

Networked Families 

Pew Internet & American Life Project,

http://ww.pewinternet.org/report_display.asp?r=266 

This publication looks at the central life of the internet and cell phones in many American families today. There is a summary at

http://ww.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/309/press_release.asp 

 

Securing the Future of a Safe and Free Internet 

Remarks by David A. Gross, U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, in Geneva, November 12, 2008 

http://www.state.gov/e/eeb/rls/rm/2008/111814.htm 

 

Options for and Effectiveness of Internet Self- and Co-Regulation 

RAND, 2008 

http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2008/RAND_TR566.pdf 

There is a brief summary at

http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR566/ 

 

Top

 

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 

 

The Evolving IP Marketplace 

Federal Trade Commission hearings, from December 5, 2008 

http://www.ftc.gov/bc/workshops/ipmarketplace/ 

 

Patenting Trends and Innovation in Industrial Biotechnology 

Staff research study, U.S. International Trade Commission, October 2008 

http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/pubs/research_working_papers/pub4039.pdf 

There is a news release, “Patents Play Central Role in Industrial Biotechnology Innovation”, at http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/news_release/2008/er1107ff2.htm 

 

Top

 

 

____________________________________________________________________________________

 

U.S. Reference Service

 

Canberra: Alexis Yeadon

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

 

Sydney: Peter Gilbert

[NSW, QLD]