April 1, 2017–It’s no joke…new hearings from Capitol Hill

Posted on April 30th, 2017

April 1, 2017–It’s no joke…New Hearings from Capitol Hill

includes a sneak peak from each title!

These hearings are brand new in Booth Library available in paper format only. Links to electronic versions are added as the become available.

UNDERSTANDING AND DETERRING RUSSIA: U.S. POLICIES AND STRATEGIES
Doc Y 4.W 36:113-FC 09

From the Committee on Armed Services/House of Representatives (“In many respects, Putin and the people around him want us to go back to that mentality of 30 years ago, of believing that the only way to engage with Russia directly is in these military contexts. They want to be taken seriously and to be seen as a credible threat…”— Dr. Fiona Hill, Center on the United States and Europe, The Brookings Institution)

TAX REFORM: TAX HAVENS, BASE EROSION AND PROFIT-SHIFTING
Doc Y 4.AR 5/2 A:2015-2016/87

From the Committee on Ways and Means/House of Representatives (“The use of tax havens as part of corporate tax avoidance strategies narrows the U.S. tax base and requires other taxpayers to pay higher rates on both domestic and overseas income.” —  Chairman Dave Camp)

THE MULTIEMPLOYER PENSION PLAN SYSTEM: RECENT REFORMS AND CURRENT CHALLENGES
Doc Y 4.F 49:S.HRG.114-541

From the Committee on Finance/Senate (“they are facing cuts of 40, 50, 60, and even 70 percent…the fund’s director, Tom Nyhan got a $32,000 raise and is making a totoal compensation of over $694,000 a year. That is why we are respectfully requesting a forensic audit.” — Rita Lewis, Beneficiary, Central States Pension Plan, West Chester, OH)

EXAMINING JOB-BASED HEALTH INSURANCE AND DEFINING FULL-TIME WORK
Doc Y 4.L 11/4:S.HRG.114-513

From the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions/Senate (“Point No.1 is that 30 hours is just simply at odds with the data on the labor market in the United States. 72% percent of workers work over 40 hours, and 50.2% work exactly 40 hours.” — Doug Holtz-Eakin, President, American Action Forum, Washington DC)

EPA’S 2015 OZONE STANDARD: CONCERNS OVER SCIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
Doc Y 4.SCI 2:114-44 

From the Committee on Science, Space and Technology/House of Representatives (“Figure 1. The state of Texas has some of the largest reductions in ambient ozone concentrations in the country. [-30% from 2000 through 2014] — EPA’s 2015 Ozone Standard: Concerns Over Science and Implementation)

EXAMINING EPA’S REGIONAL HAZE PROGRAM: REGULATIONS WITHOUT VISIBLE BENEFITS
Doc Y 4.SCI 2:114-71

From the Subcommittee on Environment Committee on Science, Space and Technology/House of Representatives (“EPA’s FIP will have profound benefits by reducing 230,000 tons of sulfur dioxide annually from eight Texas coal plants. Sulfur dioxide increases asthma symptoms…heart diseases…chronic bronchitis, heart attacks and premature death.” — Eddie Bernice Johnson, Committee on Science, Space and Technology)

EXAMINING EPA’S REGIONAL HAZE PROGRAM: REGULATIONS WITHOUT VISIBLE BENEFITS
Doc Y 4.SCI 2:114-71

From the Subcommittee on Environment Committee on Science, Space and Technology/House of Representatives (“EPA’s FIP will have profound benefits by reducing 230,000 tons of sulfur dioxide annually from eight Texas coal plants. Sulfur dioxide increases asthma symptoms…heart diseases…chronic bronchitis, heart attacks and premature death.” — Eddie Bernice Johnson, Committee on Science, Space and Technology)

THE TERROR FINANCING RISKS OF AMERICA’S $400 MILLION CASH PAYMENT TO IRAN
Doc Y 4.B 22/3:S.HRG.114-533

From the Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs/Senate  (“…there were at least two wire transfers to Iran…to settle claims about architectural drawings, fossils, maybe some other artifacts. One was over our purchase of heavy water earlier this year.” — Senator Tom Cotton, Arkansas)

EXAMINING THE IMPACTS OF THE FEDERAL AFRICAN ELEPHANT IVORY BAN AND RELATED STATE LAWS
Doc Y 4.P 96/10:S.HRG.114-444

Subcommittee on the Fisheries, Water and Wildlife of the Committee on Environment and Public Works/Senate (Field Hearing) (Rural Alaska villages are economically depressed…Walrus ivory, including mammoth and mastodon ivory, are also used as a creative, high art expression that is widely coveted in the art world…walrus is a major food source among northern and western coastal communities.” — Rosita Kaa Hani Worl, Ph.D., Sealaska Heritage Institute)

OVERSIGHT HEARING: THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION’S PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THE NUCLEAR SAFETY REVIEW IN THE UNITED STATES FOLLOWING THE EMERGENCY AT THE FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI POWER PLANT IN JAPAN
Doc Y 4.P 96/10:S.HRG.112-950
From the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety/Senate (Joint Hearing) (“…34,000 children in Japan have been issued personal radiation monitors…they live 40 from the plant itself…” — Senator Barbara Boxer, California)

THE MAGNUSON-STEVENS ACT AT 40: SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES, AND THE PATH FORWARD
Doc Y 4.C 73/7:S.HRG.114-523

From the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and the Coast Guard of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation/Senate (“The commercial fishing industry nationally employs more than one million people. Recreational fishing adds an additional 327,000 jobs.” — Senator Cory Booker, New Jersey)

BARRIERS TO ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT DELISTING, PART I
Doc Y 4.G 74/7:114-94

From the Subcommittee on the Interior of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform/House of Representatives (“Serial litigants flood the agency with petitions, and when the Fish and Wildlife Service predictable fails to meet rigid statutory timelines, they sue…What is needed is boots on the ground instead of briefcases in the courtroom.” — Representative Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming)

BARRIERS TO ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT DELISTING, PART II
Doc Y 4.G 74/7:114-95

From the Subcommittee on the Interior and the Subcommittee on Health Care, Benefits and Administrative Rules of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform/House of Representatives (Joint Hearing) (“The outdoor economy is a huge economy. It provides more to the U.S. economy than pharmaceuticals and automotive jobs combined…so protecting these naturals systems…it’s not just about species.” — Mr. Dan Ashe, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

ACCESS TO JUSTICE: ENSURING EQUAL PAY WITH THE PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT
Doc Y 4.L 11/4:S.HRG.113-830

From the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions/Senate (…sunshine is the best disinfectant…Rest assured that the women of America do not want to sue their employers. They simply want to be paid fairly. — Professor Deborah Eisenbert, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Baltimore, MD)

HEALTH CARE CO-OPS: A REVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL AND OVERSIGHT CONTROLS
Doc Y 4.F 49:S.HRG.114-542

From the Committee on Finance/Senate (“Fortunately, there is still a marketplace where 15,000 Oregonians can shop for high-quality insurance, and there are several more CO-Ops up and running across the country…CO-Ops are not government-run…” — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, Oregon)

UNDERSTANDING THE MILLENNIAL PERSPECTIVE IN DECIDING TO PURSUE AND REMAIN IN FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT
Doc Y 4.G 74/9:S.HRG.114-548

Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs/Senate (“Stop trying to boil the ocean.” —  Senator Thomas R. Carper, Delaware)

RURAL HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES CREATED BY MEDICARE REGULATIONS
Doc Y 4.W 36:114-HL 04

Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Ways and Means/House of Representatives (“You have heard about some of the arcane rules that make it very difficult for rural hospitals and Critical access Hospitals to maintain and keep their doors open and provide the services that are so important…” — Daniel Derksen, Director, Arizona Center for Rural Health)

THE IMPACTS OF THE OBAMA CEQ’S FINAL GUIDANCE FOR THE GHG EMISSIONS AND THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Doc Y 4.R 31/3:114-52

From the Committee on Natural Resources/House of Representatives (“Over the last 60 years, we have lost 98 percent of our land due to coastal erosion, land subsidence, and powerful storms enhanced by sea-level rise”— Deme Naquin, from the Isle de Jean Charles Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Natives in southeast Louisiana.)

MEDICARE PROGRAMS FOR LOW-INCOME BENEFICIARIES
Doc Y 4.W 36:110-36/2

From the Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Ways and Means/House of Representatives (“Did you bring a note from your mother?” — Subcommittee Chairman, Fortney Pete Stark, California)

THE STATUS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IMPLEMENTATION
Doc Y 4.W 36:113-FC 12

From the Committee on Ways and Means/House of Representatives (Taxpayers who qualify for advance payments of the credit will reconcile these payments on their 2014 tax returns filed in 2015 — Daniel Werfel, Principal Deputy Director, IRS)

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE: AN OVERVIEW OF THE CHALLENGES AND STRENGTHS OF TODAY’S SYSTEM
Doc Y 4.W 36:114-HR11
From the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee on Ways and Means/House of Representatives (“In the past two and a half years, we have stopped more than 110,000 illegal claims from being filed in Florida. This represents $460 million that would have been stolen…” — Cissy Proctor, Executive Director, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity)

The Flint Drinking Water Crisis

Posted on January 22nd, 2016

Deborah Fennema, Booth Library’s Government Documents LOA has selected some government documents, news reports and websites related to the Flint Michigan drinking water crisis.

“How Tap Water Became Toxic in Flint, Michigan” from the WWLP newsroom http://wwlp.com/2016/01/11/how-tap-water-became-toxic-in-flint-michigan/

1. EPA’s “Flint Drinking Water Documents“
(October, November and December 2015)

2. “High Lead at Three Residences in Flint, Michigan“
Transmission of Final Report (Nov. 4, 2015) [28 pages] by Miguel Del Toral

3. Compiled highlights of FOIA requests by Virginia Tech’s Marc Edwards, investigating the Flint water crisis. (pdf)

4. Flint Water Study updates , A website established by an independent research team from Virginia Tech University.

5. “HHS to Lead Federal Response in Flint“ January 19 post from On the Ground This Week: a blog from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Library of Medicine.

6. Some historical perspective: “Report on Water Pollution in the Lake Huron Basin – Flint River“ – a 1966 EPA study – [91 pages]

7. “Flint’s Mayor Drinks Water From Tap To Prove It Is Safe“
(July 2015 local news report from Saginaw Michigan CBS affiliate WNEM)

January 21, 2016

A List of Resources compiled by The National Library of Medicine, Specialized Information Services Division https://sis.nlm.nih.gov/index.html
National Network of Libraries of Medicine Greater Midwest Region http://nnlm.gov/gmr

The information below about health effects of lead and safe drinking water is from the National Library of Medicine resources including the Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB); ChemIDPlus, Tox Town, and MedlinePlus as well as from other federal agencies, local agencies, and other authoritative sources.

Michigan Government Agencies
Taking Action on Flint Water: Flint Water Response Team http://www.michigan.gov/flintwater

Michigan Emergency Management Association

• http://memaonline.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/memaonline/

City of Flint https://www.cityofflint.com/

“Water bottle recycling program”; “Governor approves $28 million in immediate aid”; “Non-City of Flint residents receiving Flint River water”; “Efforts continue to provide safe water resources”; “Mayor & Governor announce updates on water situation,” and much more…

Genesee County
•City of Flint Emergency Declaration/Public Health Emergency Declaration http://www.gc4me.com/alert_detail.php
•Water Resource Sites http://www.gc4me.com/departments/emg_mgt_homeland_sec/city_of_flint_water_emergency.php

•Genesee County Health Department and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Facts About Lead in Flint Water (PDF, 600 KB) http://www.childrensdmc.org/upload/docs/ClinicalServices/pccleadinflintwater.pdf

Twitter feeds
•Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division https://twitter.com/michemhs
•Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) https://twitter.com/MichiganDEQ

U.S. Federal Organizations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
•Sources of Lead – Water  http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/water.htm
•CDC’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/about/program.htm
•Blood Lead Levels in Children (PDF, 300 KB) http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/acclpp/lead_levels_in_children_fact_sheet.pdf
•What Do Parents Need to Know to Protect Their Children?  Update on Blood Lead Levels in Children http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/ACCLPP/blood_lead_levels.htm
•Information for Parents: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/parents.htm
•Water in Hemodialysis http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/other/medical/hemodialysis.html

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
•Toxic Substances Portal – ToxFAQs for Lead http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=93&tid=22
•Medical Management Guidelines for Lead (Pb) http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MMG/MMG.asp?id=1203&tid=22

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
•Advice to Flint Residents http://www.epa.gov/mi/advice-flint-residents
•Flint Safe Drinking Water Task Force http://www.epa.gov/mi/flint-safe-drinking-water-task-force
•Lead http://www.epa.gov/lead
•Lead in Drinking Water http://www.epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family#water

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Department of Homeland Security
•Michigan Contaminated Water (EM-3375) http://www.fema.gov/disaster/3375

Health Resources for the Public from the National Library of Medicine
Tox Town – Interactive guide to toxic substances and environmental health issues in everyday places
•Lead http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemicals.php?id=16
•Drinking Water http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/locations.php?id=18

Tox Town en español
•Plomo http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/espanol/chemicals.php?id=59
•Agua potable http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/espanol/locations.php?id=81

MedlinePlus – Health information for patients, families and health care providers
•Lead Poisoning https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/leadpoisoning.html
•Chemical Emergencies https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/chemicalemergencies.html
•Coping with Disasters https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/copingwithdisasters.html
•Drinking Water: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drinkingwater.html

MedlinePlus en español
•Envenenamiento con plomo  https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/leadpoisoning.html
•Emergencias químicas https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/chemicalemergencies.html
•Enfrentarse con desastres https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/copingwithdisasters.html
•Agua Potable: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/drinkingwater.html

Health Information on Chemical Components of Lead
Lead Compounds (This record contains general information for lead ions and compounds.)
•Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/r?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+6923
•ChemIDplus http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/name/lead%20compounds

Lead, Elemental (RN: 7439-92-1) (This record contains information for lead in its zero valence state only)
•HSDB http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/r?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+231
•ChemIDplus http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/name/lead

Other Information from the National Library of Medicine
•Lead and Human Health – Web guide with background information, laws and regulations, and pre-formulated searches of relevant National Library of Medicine databases.
https://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/lead.html
•HealthReach – Health Information in Many Languages
Lead Poisoning https://healthreach.nlm.nih.gov/Search.aspx?source=homepage&SearchAllText=lead+poisoning
•Disaster Lit^SM: The Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health
Water Security http://disasterlit.nlm.nih.gov/search/?searchTerms=%22water+emergency%22+OR+%22water+security%22+&search.x=0&search.y=0&search=Search

Lead Exposure and Pregnant Women
•Guidelines for the Identification and Management of Lead Exposure in Pregnant and Lactating Women (PDF, 4,24 MB)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/publications/leadandpregnancy2010.pdf
•:Lead – Tips – At risk Populations – Pregnant Women
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/pregnant.htm
•Lead and Pregnancy
MotherToBaby.org, Organization of Teratology Information Specialists
http://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/lead-pregnancy/pdf/
•Lead Screening During Pregnancy and Lactation
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org/Resources-And-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Obstetric-Practice/Lead-Screening-During-Pregnancy-and-Lactation
•Blood Lead Screening Guidelines For Pregnant & Breastfeeding Women in Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Health
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/lead/reports/pregnancy/pregnancyguidelines.pdf

Lead Exposure and Children
•Elevated Blood Lead Levels in Children Associated with the Flint Drinking Water Crisis: A Spatial Analysis of Risk and Public Health Response
Am J Public Health. 2015 Dec 21:e1-e8. [Epub ahead of print]
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.2015.303003
•Leadfreekids.org http://www.leadfreekids.org/
Why children are at risk
http://www.leadfreekids.org/my_kids/index.php#!/why_children_are_at_risk
•Educational Interventions for Children Affected by Lead (PDF)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/publications/Educational_Interventions_Children_Affected_by_Lead.pdf
•Childhood Lead Poisoning Publications
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/publications/default.htm
•State and Local Healthy Homes and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs (CLPPPs)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/programs/default.htm
•CDC’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/about/program.htm
•Blood Lead Levels in Children (PDF, 300 KB) http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/acclpp/lead_levels_in_children_fact_sheet.pdf
•What Do Parents Need to Know to Protect Their Children?  Update on Blood Lead Levels in Childrenhttp://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/ACCLPP/blood_lead_levels.htm

Lead in Soil
•Lead Toxicity: What are the U.S. Standards for Lead Levels?
Agency for Toxic Substance & Disease Registry
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=7&po=8
•Children, gardens, and lead by Linda M. Ameroso and Charles P. Mazza
Cornell University
http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/factsheets/misc/cgandlead.html
•Lead in the home garden and urban soil environment
University of Minnesota Extension
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/soils/lead-in-home-garden/
•Lead in Residential Soils: Sources, Testing, and Reducing Exposure
Penn State Extension
http://extension.psu.edu/plants/crops/esi/lead-in-soil
•Soil Lead: Testing, Interpretation, & Recommendations
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
https://soiltest.umass.edu/fact-sheets/soil-lead-testing-interpretation-recommendations

Social Media
News, announcements, personal opinions and commentary

Twitter hashtags:
#Flint
#FlintWaterCrisis
#FlintWater

Twitter feeds
•Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division https://twitter.com/michemhs
•Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) https://twitter.com/MichiganDEQ

Facebook
•Michigan Emergency Management Association https://www.facebook.com/memaonline/

Submitted by Siobhan Champ-Blackwell, MSLIS | Health Sciences Librarian
Specialized Information Services Division | Disaster Information Management Research Center
6707 Democracy Blvd.  Suite 510 | Bethesda, MD 20892-5467
301-496-2742, phone | 301-480-3537, fax
https://twitter.com/NLM_DIMRC

Featured Government and Government related land use websites

Posted on November 2nd, 2015

Just out! Current government and government related sites recommended by GOVDOC-L, the Government Documents Listserv.

Since we are in the heart of farming country here are a couple of sites of agricultural and rural studies interest…
OpenLandContracts.org , Sponsored in part by the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, provides information on Corporate investments in world-wide farming.
from the site: “OpenLandContracts.org is an online repository of publicly available contracts for large-scale land, agriculture, and forestry projects. The repository includes the full text of contracts; plain language summaries of each contract’s key social, environmental, human rights, fiscal, and operational terms; and tools for searching and comparing contracts. Launched in October 2015, OpenLandContracts.org promotes greater transparency of land-based investments, facilitates a better understanding of the contracts that govern them, and provides useful tools for governments, communities, companies, and other stakeholders.”

Also, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, (ars.usda.gov/) a great site providing information on topics like: new biopestides, new breeds of high yield strawberries, and TONS of nutrition information. 

What can you find in Congressional Committee Hearings: Senate, House, Joint or Special?

Posted on March 8th, 2015

A plethora of timely hearings and studies are available in Booth’s Government Documents Federal Depository (GovDocs) stacks –from “Fraud on the Elderly,” “Offshore Tax Evasion,” and “Children Migrating from Central America,” to “Rebuilding American Manufacturing,” “U.S. Policy Toward Sudan and South Sudan,” and “The Charleston, West Virginia Chemical Spill.”

Over 30 recent documents are listed below, investigating drug shortages, forced labor, wasteful spending, pension savings, cyber-crime, the Affordable Care Act and more; Most hearings can be read online as e-documents but some are only available in paper and are located in our GovDocs room on the second floor, north. They are but a fraction of what is here waiting for you to explore. Please ask us for assistance if you need it. We are here to help!

The Government Printing Office in 1887

Congressional Hearings: A meeting or session of the Senate, House of Representatives, Joint or Special Committees of Congress organized to obtain information, testimony, and opinions on proposed legislation, conduct an investigation, or evaluate/oversee the activities of a government department or the implementation of a Federal law–they are usually open to the public.

Hearings may also be purely exploratory in nature, providing testimony and data about topics of current interest. Witnesses often include government officials, spokespersons for interested groups, experts, officials of the General Accounting Office and members of Congress. Subpoenas may be issued to summon reluctant witnesses. Most congressional hearings are published two months to two years after they are held.

Other types of hearings:

Field Hearing: a committee or subcommittee hearing which is held outside Washington D.C.–often in the state of a committee member.

Markup: a meeting or series of meetings by a committee or subcommittee in which members perform a section-by-section analysis or “mark up” on a bill or measure by offering, debating, and voting on amendments to it.

Oversight Hearing (or Legislative Review): a congressional review of the way in which federal agencies implement laws to ensure they are carrying out the intent of Congress; to inquire into the efficiency of implementation; and to evaluate the effectiveness of the law. Oversight hearings also determine whether laws should be changed or if additional laws are necessary.

“…IS SUPPORTING CANDIDATES AND CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING AN APPROPRIATE USE OF A GOVERNMENT OFFICE?”
Hearing before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform | House of Representatives | Call # Document Y 4 .G74/7:113-125  & online

TWO WEEKS UNTIL ENROLLMENT: QUESTIONS FOR THE CENTER FOR CONSUMER INFORMATION AND INSURANCE OVERSIGHT / CCIIO
Hearing before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce | House of Representatives
Call # Document Y 4  .C73/8:113-84

OVERSIGHT OF DOE’S STRATEGY FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL OF USED NUCLEAR FUEL AND HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Hearing before the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy of the Committee on Energy and Commerce
Call # Document Y 4 .C73/8:113-77

FRAUD ON THE ELDERLY: A GROWING CONCERN FOR A GROWING POPULATION
Hearing before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade of the Committee on Energy and Commerce
Call # Document Y 4  .C73/8:113-41

CAN TECHNOLOGY PROTECT AMERICANS FROM INTERNATIONAL CYBER-CRIMINALS?
Hearing before the Subcommittee on Oversight & Subcommittee Research and Technology Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Call # Document Y 4 .SCI2:113-67

PENSION SAVINGS: ARE WORKERS SAVING ENOUGH FOR RETIREMENT?
Hearing before the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Call # Document Y 4  .L11/4:S.HRG.113-337

THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBINGS, ONE YEAR ON: A LOOK BACK TO LOOK FORWARD
Hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
Call # Document Y 4 .H75:113-64

THE CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA CHEMICAL SPILL
Field Hearing | Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Document Y 4  .T68/2:113-53

CONTRACTING AWAY ACCOUNTABILITY–REVERSE AUCTIONS IN FEDERAL AGENCY ACQUISITIONS
Joint Hearing | Small Business Committee on Contracting and Workforce | Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations | Committee on Veteran’s Affairs Document Y 4 .M 1:113-48

BARRIERS TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP: EXAMINING THE ANTI-TRUST IMPLICATIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING * Hearing * Committee on Small Business * Document Y 4  .SM1:113-076 & e-doc

U.S. POLICY TOWARD SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN * Hearing * Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations * Document Y 4 . F 76/1:113-178 & e-doc

A ROADMAP FOR HACKERS? – DOCUMENTS DETAILING HEALTHCARE.GOV SECURITY VULNERABILITIES * Hearing * Committee on Oversight and Government Reform * Document Y 4  .G 74/7:113-141

THE ISIS THREAT: WEIGHING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION’S RESPONSE * Hearing * Committee on Foreign Affairs * Document Y 4 .F 76/1:113-219
and online: http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo53603

OFFSHORE TAX EVASION: THE EFFORT TO COLLECT UNPAID TAXES ON BILLIONS IN HIDDEN OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS * Hearing * Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs * Document Y 4  .G 74/9:S.HRG.113-397

CATERPILLAR’S OFFSHORE TAX STRATEGY * Hearing * Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs * Document Y 4 .G 74/9:S.HRG.113-408

ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE (EMP): THREAT TO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE * Hearing * Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies of the Committee on Homeland Security * Document Y 4  .H 75:113-68

REBUILDING AMERICAN MANUFACTURING * Hearing * Subcommittee on Economic Policy of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs * Document Y 4 .B 22/3:S.HRG.113-262

EXAMINING SOLUTIONS TO CLOSE THE $106 BILLION IMPROPER PAYMENTS GAP * Hearing * Subcommittee on Government Operations of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform * Document Y 4  .G 74/7:113-123

COMBATING FORCED LABOR AND MODERN-DAY SLAVERY IN EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC * Hearing * Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Committee on Foreign Relations * Document Y 4 .F 76/2:S.HRG.113-461

EXAMINING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S FAILURE TO CURB WASTEFUL STATE MEDICAID FINANCING SCHEMES * Hearing * Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Health Care and Entitlements of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform * Document Y 4  .G 74/7:113-123

EXAMINING DRUG SHORTAGES AND RECENT EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THEM * Hearing * Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Energy and Commerce * Document Y 4 .C 73/8:113-117

CHILDREN MIGRATING FROM CENTRAL AMERICA: SOLVING A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS * Hearing * Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the Committee on Foreign Affairs * Document Y 4 .F 76/1:113-182

DENOUNCING THE USE OF CIVILIANS AS HUMAN SHIELDS BY HAMAS AND OTHER TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS IN VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW; AND CONDEMNING THE MURDER OF ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN CHILDREN IN ISRAEL AND THE ONGOING AND ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN THAT COUNTRY * Markup * Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa of the Committee on Foreign Affairs  * Document Y 4  .F 76/1:113-208

EFFECTIVE ACCOUNTABILITY: TIER RANKINGS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING * Hearing * Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations * Document Y 4 .F 76/1:113-193

AN UPDATE ON THE IRS RESPONSE TO IT’S TARGETING SCANDAL * Hearing * Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Job Creation and Regulatory Affairs of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform * Document Y 4  .G 74/7:113-133

THE KEY TO AMERICA’S GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS: A QUALITY EDUCATION * Hearing * Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions * Document Y 4 .L 11/4:S.HRG.112-902

OVERSIGHT HEARING ON SCHOOL TRUST LANDS OWNERSHIP WITHIN FEDERAL CONSERVATION AREAS * Oversight Hearing * Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation of the Committee on Natural Resources * Document Y 4  .R 31/3:113-40

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AT 10 YEARS * Hearing * Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs *  Document Y 4 . G 74/9:S.HRG.113-296

THE IMPACT OF THE VOLCKER RULE ON JOB CREATORS, PART II * Hearing * Committee on Financial Services * Document Y 4  .F 49/20:113-62

BUILDING SAFER COMMUNITIES: THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE FEDERAL-LOCAL COLLABORATION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT * Hearing * Committee on the Judiciary * Document Y 4 .J 89/2:S.HRG.112-897

IS EPA LEADERSHIP OBSTRUCTING ITS OWN INSPECTOR GENERAL? * Hearing * Committee on Oversight and Government Reform * Document Y 4  .G 74/7:113-124

ASSESSING THE P5+1 INTERIM NUCLEAR AGREEMENT WITH IRAN: ADMINISTRATION PERSPECTIVES * Hearing * Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs) * Document Y 4 . B 22/3S.HRG.113-266

HOUSING FINANCE REFORM: FUNDAMENTALS OF A FUNCTIONING PRIVATE LABEL MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES MARKET * Hearing * Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs * Document Y 4  .B 22/3:S.HRG.113-145

THE STATE OF AL QAEDA, ITS AFFILIATES, AND ASSOCIATED GROUPS: VIEW FROM OUTSIDE EXPERTS * Hearing * Committee on Armed Services * Document Y 4 . AR 5/2 A:2013-2014/77

HOW PROSPECTIVE AND CURRENT HOMEOWNERS WILL BE HARMED BY THE CFPB’S QUALIFIED MORTGAGE RULE * Hearing * Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit of the Committee on Financial Services * Document Y 4  .F 49/20:113-58

LESSONS LEARNED FROM SUPER BOWL PREPARATIONS: PREVENTING INTERNATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS * Hearing * Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations * Document Y 4 .L 11/4:S.HRG.112-902

NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY AND THE NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION * Hearing * Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation) * Document Y 4  .C 73/7:S.HRG.113-410

Government Documents on the Ebola virus

Posted on November 17th, 2014

Included in this post are government publications that document the United States government response to the concern about the spread of the Ebola epidemic currently affecting West Africa.

• Title: Checklist for healthcare coalitions for Ebola preparedness
• Checklist for patients being evaluated for Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the United States
• Detailed hospital checklist for Ebola preparedness
• Ebola (National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (U.S.). Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology)
• Ebola virus disease (EVD), algorithm for evaluation of the returned traveler
• Facts about Ebola in the U.S.
• Health care facility preparedness checklist for Ebola virus disease (EVD)
• Health care provider preparedness checklist for Ebola virus disease
• Interim guidance for specimen collection, transport, testing and submission for patients with suspected infection with Ebola virus disease
• What you need to know about Ebola
• CDC Mission: Responding to outbreaks [Electronic Resource / 7 minute video]
• Filoviruses a link to a Springerlink online book focusing on the clinical history of Ebola-like viruses
• Centers for Disease Control CDC
• PBS’ Frontline interactive map: How the Ebola Outbreak Spread Through Africa

“Under President Obama’s lead, the United States has contributed more than $156 million to fighting Ebola and deployed more than 100 experts from our CDC-Centers for Disease Control. We’re committed to sending 4,000 U.S. forces to the region.” –Ambassador Samantha Power, Cabinet Member and United Nations Representative, October 10, 2014–

Renters rights in the case of a foreclosure.

Posted on October 30th, 2014

The federal “Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009” expires December 31, 2014. Be prepared and get the scoop on where you stand as a renter in the event of your landlord or building management going into foreclosure. Find out  what a “Lis Pendens” is; be aware of what the term “cash for keys” means; do you have a “bona fide” lease? A pamphlet entitled “Tenants in Foreclosure Intervention Project” distributed by the Lawyer’s Committee for Better Housing may be of assistance.

During foreclosure, you have the right to…

1. Be notified in writing if your landlord or the building management changes;
2. Live in a safe apartment with utilities
3. Receive written notice if asked to move
4. Get eviction court records sealed (or made confidential)
5. Recover your security deposit.

You may also have the right…To stay until the end of your lease

You also have responsibilities…You must continue to pay your rent

For more information, the Illinois Legal Aid Online page details more Rights After Foreclosure.

The OCC/Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, goes into a bit more detail on their page entitled Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009; for more information on  rental rights results, click here.