Obama's Proposed Budget

President Obama's proposed fiscal year 2010 budget entitled A New Era of Responsibility: Renewing America’s Promise is now available. The document provides an overview of the full fiscal year 2010 budget that will be released later in the spring. It describes the Obama Administration’s fiscal policies and major budgetary initiatives.

Track Spending from the Economic Stimulus Package

To enable Americans to track spending from the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law on Tuesday, Feb. 17, the Obama Administration has created Recovery.gov. The site includes a video introduction by President Obama, graphs that chart spending by major categories, timelines of major milestones, a place to share how the Recovery Act is affecting you, and a link to the complete bill.

Reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan

Quarterly Inspector General reports about reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan are now available.

SIGAR's (Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction) second quarterly report to Congress (Jan. 2009) about Afghanistan summarizes oversight reports on reconstruction since 2002, discusses observations about challenges to reconstruction, and outlines SIGAR's methodology for oversight.

SIGIR's (Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction) Jan. 2009 quarterly report about Iraq "examines the obligation and expenditure of the four major U.S. reconstruction accounts, updates progress on significant projects in the provinces, and reviews key political, economic, and security developments that will affect the U.S. program in Iraq during 2009." It also makes the following recommendations:

• Expeditiously appoint new leadership and clearly articulate policy and budget direction.
  
• Re-evaluate and re-shape the reconstruction management structure to fit the new era in Iraq.
  
• More efficiently integrate civil and military management structures.
  
• Effectively manage the security situation in accord with the terms of the new Security Agreement.
  
• Urge the Government of Iraq to embrace and sustain its primary role in reconstruction.

Response to Nuclear Detonation

Unfortunately in today's world United States public and private institutions must think about what to do in the event of a nuclear detonation. To address this topic the Homeland Security Council has just released its Planning Guide for Response to a Nuclear Detonation: First Edition targeted to emergency response planners and their leadership. The guide "addresses the unique effects and impacts of a nuclear detonation such as scale of destruction, shelter and evacuation strategies, unparalleled medical demands, management of nuclear casualties, and radiation dose management concepts." It focuses on what to do the first few days before Federal resources could be put in place.

Indian (Native American) Affairs Lawyer

The University of Nebraska has a new Web site detailing the life and works of Charles J. Kappler, known primarily for writing Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties. Mr. Kappler's long list of accomplishments include serving on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, acting as co-counsel in the first case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, and participating in major Indian law cases before the United States Supreme Court.The Web site even includes how the authors searched major legal databases to gain access to Kappler's court cases.

Economic Downturn Income Tax Issues

Given the current economic situation, the IRS is beginning the 2009 tax season with information to help financially challenged taxpayers. The IRS is doing such things as postponing collection actions, being more flexible with missed payments, conducting second reviews when local real-estate valuations are in question, arranging options to help taxpayers avoid default, and expediting levy releases for hardship reasons. For more details about this assistance, see IRS Begins Tax Season 2009 with Steps to help financially Distressed Taxpayers.

The IRS has also created a page of "what-if" scenarios listing possible consequences for topics ranging from losing a job or losing a home through foreclosure to filing for bankruptcy protection, withdrawing money from an IRA, or facing drops in value for a 401k.

Stability and Security in Iraq

The Department of Defense has released its Dec. 2008 quarterly report, Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq. The report indicates progress toward political, security, and economic stability in Iraq. Also of interest are charts and graphs scattered throughout the publication on such topics as oil production and export, civilian deaths, U.S. deaths, weapons caches, neighborhood stability, and MoD and Mol operational readiness. Another helpful tool is a list of acronyms and abbreviations.

Previous quarterly reports are also available.

Iraq Reconstruction

What is the status of reconstruction in Iraq? Reports about reconstruction progress are available from SIGIR, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction which replaced the Coalition Provisional Authority Inspector General (CPA-IG), created by Congress to provide oversight of the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund (IRRF). Quarterly reports from SIGIR are available from March 2004 to the present. The SIGIR reports site also includes "lessons learned" reports, audit reports, project assessment reports, testimony before Congress, and links to other related resources.

Credit Crisis Timeline

The Federal Reserve has posted a timeline of events and actions for the credit crisis. The Timeline of the Financial Crisis lists market events and actions by the Fed and other government agencies. Included are links to official source documents, relevant economic data, and government agency websites. Additional content will be added to the site in the coming months.

New Military Reports

New reports are available from the Defense Science Board. Challenges to Military Operations in Support of U.S. Interests [2007 Summer Study] is available as an executive summary (Vol. I) or as the main report (Vol. II). The introduction paints a grim picture: "The United States could well confront the possibility of going to war abroad in the face of significant devastation in the homeland--dividing forces between homeland catastrophe relief operations and combat abroad--even facing the possibility that deploy and supply of U.S. military forces could be delayed and disrupted." The study investigated and made recommendations for seven areas for which the United States might need more preparation:

• Future of war
  
• Unconventional weapons and technology proliferation
  
• Nuclear proliferation-a special case
  
• Unconventional operational concepts and the homeland
  
• What we know and don't know about adversary capabilities: intelligence
  
• Fighting through asymmetric counterforce
  
• Strategic communication--another instrument of U.S. power

A December 2008 report also addressed nuclear weapons:Permanent Task Force on Nuclear Weapons Surety Report: Nuclear Weapons Inspections for the Strategic Nuclear Forces. An April 2008 related report dealt with unauthorized movement of nuclear weapons.

President Bush's Accomplishments

Now that his term is ending, the White House has posted documents highlighting the accomplishments of President George W. Bush. You can access a separate appendix entitled "100 Things American May Not Know About the Bush Administration Record" or the full report (including the appendix): Highlights of Accomplishments and Results: The Administration of President George W. Bush, 2001-2009.

Please Note: With the Obama Presidency, Bush Administration documents such as the ones mentioned above that were located on http://www.whitehouse.gov, now reside at http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/.

Service Academy Gender Relations Survey

Every two years the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy anonymously survey all female students and a statistically representative random sample of male students to assess if programs to prevent sexual harassment and sexual assault are working. According to a Dec. 17 news release, the 2007-2008 Service Academy Gender Relations Survey is now available.

Although 90 percent of students surveyed indicated the "training had at least some effect in reducing or eliminating sexual assaults at the MSAs," the Department of Defense (DOD) estimates 90 percent of sexual assaults at the academies still go unreported because students are uncomfortable making reports, or are embarrassed about the situation, or want to deal with the situation themselves.

The full report is available from the United States Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Web page.

Genocide Prevention

The Genocide Prevention Task Force led by co-chairs former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen recently released Preventing Genocide: A Blueprint for U.S. Policymakers. A joint project of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, The American Academy of Diplomacy, and the Endowment of the United States Institute of Peace, the goal of the report is to "identify practical steps to enhance the capacity of the U.S. government to prevent and respond to genocide and mass atrocities. " The year 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the 20th anniversary of its ratification by the United States. The report discusses five domains for the U.S. government to consider in developing and deploying effective prevention strategies:

• Early warning: assessing risks and triggering action.
  
• Early prevention: engaging before the crisis.
  
• Preventive diplomacy: halting and reversing escalation.
  
• Employing military options.
  
• International action: strengthening norms and institutions.

Remembering Pearl Harbor

On December 7, 1941 many Americans had never heard of Peal Harbor. However, the Japanese attack quickly made Pearl Harbor a household name. At the site where the USS Arizona sunk now stands a national park memorial. How much do you know about this important national park? Here are a few questions to test your knowledge. Answers are at the end.

1. What popular singer raised funds in 1961 to erect the memorial?

2. True - False - Sets of brothers were assigned to serve on the USS Arizona during that time period.

3. True - False - The USS Arizona is still treated as a member of our current fleet.

4. True - False - The USS Arizona rests in 120 feet of water.

5. True - False - Surviving crew members can choose to be buried on the Arizona when they die.

To find out more information about Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona, access the National Parks Service USS Arizona site.

Answers
1. Elvis Presley; 2. Thirty-seven confirmed sets of brothers were assigned to the USS Arizona on Dec. 7, 1941. 3. True - The flag flying on the ship's mast flies at half-mast when other ships fly theirs at half-staff. 4.False - The Arizona rests in approximately 40 feet of water. 5. True - Crew members who so desire have a choice of having their ashes scattered over the place where the ship was located during the attack or have a diver drop an urn containing their ashes into a slot of the ship.

U.S. Health Insurance Coverage

The lack of adequate health insurance has been a topic of concern in the recent elections. A National Health Statistics report provides information about health insurance coverage, concentrating on the 41 states that had at least 1,000 respondents. Entitled, State, Regional, and National Estimates of Health Insurance Coverage for People Under 65 Years of Age: National Health Interview Survey, 2004-2006, the report reveals New England states had the lowest percentage of uninsured people under age 65 while the Southwestern states had the highest percentage.

Transition Web Site - New Administration & Congress

As Barack Obama and newly elected Congress members work to effect a smooth transition, help is available from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). On its Serving the Congress and the Nation page, the GAO "provides insight into, and recommendations for addressing the nation’s major issues, risks and challenges." The site also includes video messages from experts and reports for further research.

The following are listed as "urgent issues" for the newly elected leaders to address:

• oversight of financial institutions and markets,
  
• U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan,
  
• protecting the homeland,
  
• undisciplined defense spending,
  
• improving the U.S. image abroad,
  
• finalizing plans for the 2010 Census,
  
• caring for service members,
  
• preparing for public health emergencies,
  
• revamping oversight of food safety,
  
• restructuring the approach to surface transportation,
  
• retirement of the Space Shuttle,
  
• ensuring an effective transition to digital TV, and
  
• rebuilding military readiness.

U.S. Bank Card and Mortgage Delinquencies

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has created an interactive map of bank card and mortgage delinquencies in the United States. Clicking on a state brings up a chart listing counties and corresponding rates for either mortgages or bank cards, whichever is selected from a bar on the top. Once a state is selected it is also possible to click on a county and just get data from that county.

Honor Our Veterans

People in the United States have many opportunities to honor our veterans on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2008. Each year the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs spotlights regional celebrations chosen as especially fitting tribute to veterans.

Houston's program, Houston Salutes American Heroes, begins at 10:00 a.m. with a ceremony on the steps of City Hall. At 11 a.m. the 11th Hour Ceremony begins with a moment of silence to honor fallen service members. At 11:45 a parade with a flyover begins at Smith and Texas Streets.

On the campus of Rice University a ceremony honoring and recognizing Rice veterans will begin at 11 a.m. in Rice Memorial Center's Ray Courtyard.

Electoral College

After Tuesday's election the Electoral College takes over. Do you know who is responsible for administering the Electoral College? Is it:

• a. Congress
• b. the states
• c. Office of the Federal Register?

Actually, 1985 legislation designated the Archivist of the United States (from the National Archives and Records Administration [NARA]) as administrator of the Electoral College on behalf of Congress and the states. The Archivist in turn gave the responsibility to its Office of the Federal Register. After the election of 2000 Michael White, then chief counsel of the Federal Register, was dubbed the "Dean of the Electoral College." White has posted an enlightening discussion explaining the role of NARA's Office of the Federal Register in the Electoral College process. For additional information about the Electoral College, visit NARA's U.S. Electoral College pages:

• Frequently Asked Questions about the Electoral College
  
• How Electors Vote
  
• Instructions for State Officials
  
• 2008 Presidential Election with links for an interactive electoral map
  
• Electoral College Calculator
  
• Historical Election Results

Vitamin D Deficiency

The Associated Press revealed Oct. 12 that the American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending double the dose of vitamin D for children since there is evidence it might reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease in addition to preventing bone disorders like rickets. Vitamin D is added to milk and formula, but most children and teenagers do not drink enough milk to get the newly recommended dosage of 400 IU a day (up from 200 IU a day). Also breastfed babies are likely to need a supplement.

In addition to milk, other sources of Vitamin D are the sun, fortified cereals, and oily fish such as tuna, sardines, and mackerel. To get adequate Vitamin D from the UV rays of the sun requires 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure without sunscreen a few times weekly. That poses a problem for those living in a northern climate with less sun and for those with darker skin making absorption more difficult.

For more detailed information about Vitamin D, see the National Institutes of Health Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D (not yet revised with the new recommendation). Also look for changes in the recommended dosage for adults which now stands at 200 IU through age 50, 400 IU for ages 51-70, and 600 IU for ages 71+.