National Strategy for Victory in Iraq

From the Washington Post: "President Bush, facing increasing opposition to the war in Iraq, went on the offensive today, releasing a detailed plan for fighting the war and then delivering a major speech in an attempt to show the country that the administration has a clear vision for victory in Iraq."

The White House website has the transcript of the President's remarks this morning. It also links to the new document, "National Strategy for Victory in Iraq." A fact sheet on training Iraqi forces is also available.

Source: "Bush Releases Detailed Strategy Plan." Washington Post November 30, 2005.

Monday Resource Round-Up

Due to the holiday last week, I'm posting a belated round-up of recently issued government publications today.

Abortion Surveillance - United States, 2002
An article from the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) Indicator
This indicator has recently been updated by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Changes in Patterns of Prices and Financial Aid
A new report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Compliance and Enforcement Annual Results - FY2005
An EPA report on compliance and enforcement activities.

Contraceptive Use - United States and Territories, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2002
An article from the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Dealing With the Effects of Trauma: A Self-Help Guide
A guide from the National Mental Health Information Center (a division of the Department of Health and Human Services).

Depression among Adults
A report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Developing Cultural Competence in Disaster Mental Health Programs: Guiding Principles and Recommendations
A guide from the National Mental Health Information Center.

Environmental Protection Agency FY 2005 Performance and Accountability Report
An annual report from the EPA's Chief Financial Officer.

Federal Trade Commission Performance and Accountability Report
An annual report from the FTC.

Hate Crime Statistics 2004
New data from the FBI.

Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2005
A report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

International Comparisons of Hourly Compensation Costs for Production Workers in Manufacturing
A Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report.

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report v. 54, no. 46
The latest MMWR features articles on diabetes, poliomyelitis, and HIV.

No Child Left Behind Act: Improved Accessibility to Education's Information Could Help States Further Implement Teacher Qualification Requirements
A General Accountability Office (GAO) report.

Prospects for the Global Economy
A World Bank assessment.

The Role of Immigrants in the U.S. Labor Market
A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report issued at the request of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee.

Science.gov
Science.gov has been upgraded (version 3.0) to incorporate improved search capability.

Subsidy Estimates for Guaranteed and Direct Student Loans
A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report.

Superfund National Accomplishments Summary Fiscal Year 2005
An EPA update.

To the Geneva Summit: Perestroika and the Transformation of U.S.-Soviet Relations
Documents on the 1985 summit have been posted on the National Security Archive website.

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports:

Bosnia: Overview of Issues Ten Years After Dayton

The Budget Reconciliation Process: The Senate's "Byrd Rule"

Child Welfare: Foster Care and Adoption Assistance Provisions in the Budget Reconciliation Bills

Committee Controls of Agency Decisions

The Homeless Management Information System

The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on the State Budgets of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi

Internet Privacy: Overview and Pending Legislation

Iran's Influence in Iraq

Legislative Maps of ANWR

Methamphetamine: Legislation and Issues in the 109th Congress

Pandemic Flu Liability Limitation Legislation

Rumsfeld v. FAIR: The Solomon Amendment and Free Speech

U.S. Military Overseas Basing: New Developments and Oversight Issues for Congress

United Nations Documents:

Afghanistan Opium Survey: 2005

AIDS Epidemic Update

Changing a Harmful Social Convention: Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

Eighteen-Nation Committee on Disarmament transcripts

Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine

Portfolio of Mine Action Projects 2006

Report of the Committee against Torture

Report of the Economic and Social Council for 2003

Report of the Security Council mission to Central Africa, 4 to 11 November 2005

The State of Food Insecurity in the World: 2005

WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women

Hydroelectric Power and Salmon

From the Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC) press release: "Increased water spills over Columbia and Snake river dams and changes in river flows to aid juvenile salmon and steelhead migration in 2006, sought by plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit, would raise the cost of electricity in the Northwest this winter and also could increase the risk of power failures, according to an analysis by the staff of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council."

The Council analysis is available on the NPCC website.

The analysis references lawsuits brought by the National Wildlife Federation. For more information on the National Wildlife Federation viewpoint, read their recent report: "Salmon Recovery Under Attack." The July 26, 2005, opinion issued by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is available online.

The lawsuit is in response to a series of Biological Opinions issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Fisheries Service; the most recent was issued on November 30, 2004. The SalmonRecovery.gov site includes some of the related court documents.

Source: "Power council says dam, fish plan would raise bills." Missoulian November 26, 2005. A1.

Missouri River Draft Annual Operating Plan

From the Missoulian: "In 2005, low reservoir levels decreased the navigation season by a record 48 days. For 2006, the corps projects a reduction of 14-58 days."

The cover letter and draft 2005-2006 Annual Operating Plan for the Missouri River Mainstem System are now available on the Army Corps of Engineers, Missouri River Basin website.

Source: "Missouri River reservoirs up over last year's levels." Missoulian November 20, 2005. B8.

Friday Resource Round-Up

Biometrics for Airport Access Control
A new report from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Thanks to beSpacific for the link.

Child Care and Early Education Arrangements of Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers: 2001
A report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Judge Samuel Alito Published Opinions
AskSam is providing free searching of Alito's opinions.

Older patients with caregivers and assistance for activities of daily living: 1998 and 2000
A report from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Preliminary Births for 2004: Infant and Maternal Health
A new report from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Review of Alleged Actions Violating The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, as Amended
The report from the Inspector General of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Summary of OPI Activities for November 2005
Activities of the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

Top Ten Art Crimes
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced the top 10 art crimes and artworks to look out for.

U.S. Jobs Gained and Lost through Trade: A Net Measure
A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

World Bank Privatization Database
"This site provides information on more than 9,000 privatization transactions in developing countries from 1988 to 2003."

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports:

Federal Voluntary Voting System Guidelines: Summary and Analysis of Issues

Hurricane Katrina Recovery: Contracts Awarded by the Federal Government

Immunities Accorded to Foreign Diplomats, Consular Officers, and Employees of International Organizations Under U.S. Law

Invoking Cloture in the Senate

The Largest Spending Programs in the Federal Budget: FY2002 Outlays Over $10 Billion

Omnibus Appropriations Acts: Overview of Recent Practices

Pandemic Influenza: Domestic Preparedness Efforts

Supplemental Appropriations for the 2004 Hurricanes and Other Disasters

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

U.S. Military Overseas Basing: New Developments and Oversight Issues for Congress

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and the Welfare-to-Work (WtW) Tax Credit

Department of Justice Reports:
Thanks to DocuTicker for these links.

Assessing and Managing the Terrorism Threat

Capital Punishment, 2004

Crime Analysis for Problem Solvers in 60 Small Steps

Engaging the Private Sector To Promote Homeland Security: Law Enforcement-Private Security Partnerships

Hate Crimes Reported by Victims and Police

Intelligence-Led Policing: The New Intelligence Architecture

Knowledge Management in Policing

Law Enforcement Tech Guide for Small and Rural Police Agencies

National Summit on Campus Public Safety: Strategies for Colleges and Universities in a Homeland Security Environment

Racially Biased Policing: A Principled Response

General Accountability Office (GAO) Reports:

Aviation Security: Federal Action Needed to Strengthen Domestic Air Cargo Security

Food and Drug Administration: Decision Process to Deny Initial Application for Over-the-Counter Marketing of the Emergency Contraceptive Drug Plan B Was Unusual

Mortgage Financing: Additional Action Needed to Manage Risks of FHA-Insured Loans with Down Payment Assistance

National Airspace System: Transformation will Require Cultural Change, Balanced Funding Priorities, and Use of All Available Management Tools

United Nations Documents:

Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and the Code of Conduct for International Election Observers

Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005

Report of the Group of Experts concerning Cote d'Ivoire

Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Country of Origin Labeling Bill

From Senator Burns' press release: "U.S. Senators Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Max Baucus (D-MT), incensed by recent legislation that would delay implementing a comprehensive Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law, held a press conference today to introduce further legislation that will restore the deadline of September 30, 2006. Both Senators will make their comments from the press conference available today by satellite feed."

The Senators introduced S. 2038, "A bill to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to restore the original deadline for mandatory country of origin," yesterday. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

The press release references an earlier law that includes country of origin labeling provisions, Public Law 107-171 (full text: PDF, text).

Source: "Meat labeling battle sizzles." Billings Gazette November 17, 2005.

Montana School Funding Legislation

The draft bills for the school funding formula and health insurance proposal are now available.

School funding bill

Health Insurance Act

More information is available via the Quality Schools Interim Committee website.

Montana School Funding Proposals

From the Missoulian: "Missoula education officials may throw their support to an alternative school funding proposal, although a local member of Montana's Quality Schools Interim Committee believes that may scuttle any chance of legislating changes this year."

Details of the "Montana's Promise" proposal are available on the Montana Quality Education Coalition website.

The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) released "two spreadsheets providing the latest analysis of what the proposed new school funding formula means for individual school districts" yesterday. More information on the Quality Schools Interim Committee is available on their website.

Source: "Missoula educators face two choices for school funding." Missoulian November 16, 2005. A1.

Schaffer v. Weast

From the New York Times: "The Supreme Court ruled in a closely watched education case on Monday that parents who disagree with a school system's special-education plan for their child have the legal burden of proving that the plan will not provide the 'appropriate' education to which federal law entitles all children with disabilities."

Here are some of the key documents in the Schaffer v. Weast case.

Supreme Court opinion

Docket 04-698

Question presented

Petitioners' brief

Petitioners' reply brief

Transcript of oral arguments

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion

The Montgomery County Public Schools have posted briefs related to the case.

Source: "Parents Carry Burden of Proof in School Cases, Court Rules" New York Times November 15, 2005.

Appellate Court Opinion in Cobell v. Norton

From the Washington Post: "A federal appeals court decided yesterday that it was unreasonable to require a historical accounting of money the government has been managing for American Indians, saying the bookkeeping chore would 'take 200 years'."

The latest opinion in the Cobell v. Norton case is available on the D.C. Appellate Court website.

The Department of the Interior issued a press release in response to the ruling, and a September progress report on the historical accounting has been posted recently. The plaintiffs in the case also issued a press release on the Indian Trust website.

Other references to Cobell v. Norton appear on this blog on December 11, 2004, February 24, 2005, June 21, 2005, July 13, 2005, and July 22, 2005.

Sources: "Court: Indian money accounting impossible." Missoulian November 16, 2005. A9.
"Detailed Tally of Indians' Money Is Blocked." Washington Post November 16, 2005.

Senate Legislates Reports on Iraq

From the New York Times: "The Senate signaled its growing unease with the war in Iraq today, voting overwhelmingly to demand regular reports from the White House on the course of the conflict and on the progress that Iraqi forces are making in securing their own country."

The Senate approved Senate Amendment 2518 yesterday in roll call vote 323 (79-19). This is an amendment to Senate Bill 1042, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, which was also approved yesterday in roll call vote 326.

Sources: "Senate seeks clarity on exit: Confidence in White House policies appears dwindling." Missoulian November 16, 2005. A1.
"Senate Votes to Demand Regular Iraq Updates From White House." New York Times November 15, 2005.

Mining Amendments in the Deficit Reduction Act

From the Missoulian: "A revision of the 1872 mining law tucked away in a massive federal budget-cutting package is coming under fire from hunters and environmentalists who say the legislation could result in millions of acres of public land in the West being sold for development.

"Representatives of the mining industry say those claims are an 'overreaction'."

The article refers to House Bill 4241, The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The text of the bill can provide more information; the sections on mining appear under Subtitle B, "Miscellaneous Amendments Relating to Mining" and include Sections 6201-6207. House Report 109-276 (1,446 pages: text, PDF) provides information on the Congressional intent behind the proposed mining changes. The House Budget Committee, which produced the report, also has more information on the Deficit Reduction Act.

"An act to promote the Development of the mining Resources of the United States" (or the Mining Law of 1872, as it is commonly known) was passed on May 10, 1872, during the 2nd session of the 42nd Congress. The Library of Congress has scanned the Statutes at Large for the 42nd Congress, and the text of the law begins on page 91.

Source: "Mining law proposal draws fire." Missoulian November 15, 2005. A1.

Delisting Yellowstone Grizzlies

From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS): "On November 15, 2005, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the Yellowstone Distinct Population Segment (DPS) is a recovered population no longer meeting the ESA's definition of threatened or endangered. This DPS has increased from estimates as low as 136 individuals when listed in 1975 to more than 580 animals as of 2004. This population has been increasing since the mid 1990s and is increasing at 4 to 7 percent per year. The range of this population also has increased dramatically as evidenced by the 48 percent increase in occupied habitat since the 1970s. Yellowstone grizzly bears continue to increase their range and distribution annually and grizzly bears in the Yellowstone area now occupy habitats they have been absent from for decades. Currently, roughly 90 percent of females with cubs occupy the Primary Conservation Area (PCA) and about 10 percent of females with cubs have expanded out beyond PCA within the DPS. Grizzly bears now occupy 68 percent of suitable habitat within the proposed DPS and may soon occupy the remainder of the suitable habitat within the proposed DPS." The Federal Register notice is scheduled to be published on November 17.

The Department of Interior homepage links to today's press release on delisting grizzly bears in Yellowstone. More information on the Yellowstone DPS is available on the Mountain-Prairie Region FWS website. The Yellowstone DPS site also includes links to fact sheets, management and recovery plans, and other recovery areas. The species profile page for Grizzly bears may also prove helpful.

Source: "Feds to propose delisting grizzly." Billings Gazette November 11, 2005.

Friday Resource Round-Up

Cigarette Smoking Among Adults - United States, 2004

State-Specific Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Quitting Among Adults - United States, 2004
Two new articles from the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Guidelines to Improve Airport Preparedness Against Chemical and Biological Terrorism
A report prepared by Sandia National Laboratories. Thanks to DocuTicker for the link.

Individuals and the Compliance Costs of Taxation: A Joint Economic Committee Study
A study of the various costs (economic and non-economic) to individuals in filing taxes.

International Religious Freedom: 2005
An annual State Department publication.

New Electronic Titles
Electronic government publications cataloged in August and September are now available from the Government Printing Office (GPO).

No Child Left Behind: A Road Map to State Implementation
A new report from the Department of Education.

Participation in Adult Education for Work-Related Reasons: 2002-03
A new report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

State of the Inner City Economies: Small Businesses in the Inner City
A research report from the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy.

STD Surveillance 2004
New data on sexually transmitted diseases from the CDC.

Transportation Investment and GDP, Some Concepts, Data, and Analysis: 2005
A report from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

Census Bureau Publications:

Maternity Leave and Employment Patterns of First-Time Mothers: 1961–2000

Participation of Mothers in Government Assistance Programs: 2001

The Population Profile of the United States: Dynamic Version

Who’s Minding the Kids? Child Care Arrangements: Winter 2002

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports:

Budget Reconciliation FY2006: Medicaid, Medicare, and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Provisions

Budget Reconciliation Legislation in 2005

Congressional Gifts and Travel, Legislative Proposals for the 109th Congress

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Percentage of Total Tax Returns and Credit Amount By State

Energy and Mineral Issues in the FY2006 Budget Reconciliation Bill

Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2006

Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act Contracts and Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma v. Leavitt: Agency Discretion to Fund Contract Support Costs

Is the U.S. Trade Deficit Caused by a Global Saving Glut?

The Global Fund and PEPFAR in U.S. International AIDS Policy

Supplemental Appropriations: Trends and Budgetary Impacts Since 1981

Topics in Aging: Income and Poverty Among Older Americans in 2004

Wagnon v. Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation: State Tax on Motor Fuels Distributed to Indian Tribal Retailers

General Accountability Office (GAO) Reports:

Army Corps of Engineers: History of the Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Project

Border Security: More Emphasis on State's Consular Safeguards Could Mitigate Visa Malfeasance Risks

Childhood Obesity: Most Experts Identified Physical Activity and the Use of Best Practices as Key to Successful Programs

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Preliminary Observations on Contracting for Response and Recovery Efforts

Mad Cow Disease: An Evaluation of a Small Feed Testing Program FDA Implemented in 2003 With Recommendations for Making the Program a Better Oversight Tool

Nuclear Nonproliferation: IAEA Has Strengthened Its Safeguards and Nuclear Security Programs, but Weaknesses Need to Be Addressed

Prescription Drugs: Strategic Framework Would Promote Accountability and Enhance Efforts to Enforce the Prohibitions on Personal Importation

Private Health Insurance: Number and Market Share of Carriers in the Small Group Health Insurance Market in 2004

Telecommunications: Preliminary Information on the Federal Communications Commission's Spectrum Allocation and Assignment Process

United Nations Publications:

Education for All Global Monitoring Report

The Information Economy Report

Investing in the Children of the Islamic World

Relief and Information Systems for Earthquakes - Pakistan

Towards knowledge societies: UNESCO world report

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder

From NPR's Morning Edition: "Just days before enrollment begins for Medicare's new prescription drug benefit, Medicare officials finally got a crucial program up and running on their Web site. The new 'Prescription Drug Plan Finder' is supposed to help people pick their drug coverage. Medicare beneficiaries in most parts of the country have more than 40 different plans to choose from."

The new Prescription Drug Plan Finder is now available on the Medicare website. The site also includes fact sheets and tools for choosing plans, a Formulary Finder, the Medicare & You guide, and links to a My.Medicare.gov portal.

Source: "Medicare Web 'Drug Finder' Hits Snags." NPR Morning Edition November 11, 2005.

Energy Pricing & Profits Hearing

From the New York Times: "Five of the country's top oil executives walked into a large Congressional hearing room on Wednesday - one filled with nearly a third of all senators and with hundreds of other people, a dozen of them wearing T-shirts reading 'Expose Exxon.'

"Senators from both parties demanded that the executives defend their record profits, amid soaring retail prices for oil and natural gas and suspicions of gasoline price manipulation. The confrontation was a bit theatrical."

Information on the "Energy Pricing & Profits" hearing is available on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation website. The site includes links to witness testimony and archived video of the hearing.

A few related reports may be helpful for background information:

Hurricane Impacts on the U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Markets (EIA)

Oil and Gas: Supply Issues After Katrina (CRS)

Price Increases in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: Authority to Limit Price Gouging (CRS)

Oil and Gas Disruption From Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (CRS)

Sources: "Senators Grill Oil Executives on Prices and Profits." New York Times November 10, 2005.
"Senate grills oil executives: Sparks fly when lawmakers question companies' profits." Missoulian November 10, 2005. A1.

Yellowstone Winter Use Personal Exposure Monitoring

From the Billings Gazette: "The levels of air and noise pollution that Yellowstone National Park workers were exposed to declined after new limits on the number and type of snowmobiles allowed in the park went into effect, a study shows."

You can read the report on air and noise pollution in Yellowstone on the Yellowstone National Park website: "Yellowstone Winter Use Personal Exposure Monitoring."

Source: "Park winter noise, air pollution down." Billings Gazette November 8, 2005.

Montana Schools Data and Funding Formula

From the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI): "Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda McCulloch today released 2004-05 test scores for 4th, 8th and 11th grade students for all Montana schools and school districts. Montana students in all grades scored above the national average in all five subject areas of reading, math, science, language arts and social studies."

The new statewide student assessment data is available on the OPI website.

In related news, information on the developing school funding formula is available on the Quality Schools Interim Committee website.

Sources: "On 7-1 vote, school panelists decide to decide." Billings Gazette November 3, 2005.

Registered Traveler Pilot Program

From the Missoulian: "The government plans to offer airline passengers nationwide the chance to avoid extra security checks by paying a fee and agreeing to a background check."

The program was announced at a hearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security, "The Future of Registered Traveler." Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Chief Kip Hawley's testimony is available on the committee website.

Read more about the Registered Traveler Pilot Program on the TSA website. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has expressed concern about this program.

Source: "Program would allow passengers to avoid security checks." Missoulian November 4, 2005. A4.

Budget Reconciliation Bill

From the New York Times: "The Senate on Thursday narrowly approved a sweeping five-year plan to trim a variety of federal benefit programs and to allow drilling for oil and natural gas in a wilderness area of Alaska, increasing the chances that the energy industry and Alaska officials will achieve a long-sought goal."

The Senate passed Senate Bill 1932, the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005 (also called the Budget Reconciliation bill), 52 - 47 on November 3, 2005. You can read the text of the bill through THOMAS.

Sources: "Senate OKs cuts to Medicare, Medicaid: Federal budget bill also allows oil drilling in Arctic wildlife refuge." Missoulian November 4, 2005. A4.
"Senate Passes Budget With Benefit Cuts and Oil Drilling." New York Times November 4, 2005.