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April 1, 2009

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House
    OKs sweeping national service expansion

    
from CNN.com - Politics 

    The House of Representatives easily passed legislation Tuesday
    to strengthen national community service efforts by boosting
    funding for thousands of volunteers in fields ranging from clean
    energy to health care and education.
 

    
EPA
    to monitor air around 62 schools

    
from CNN.com - Politics 

    The Environmental Protection Agency will monitor 62 schools across
    the nation to determine whether the air around them contains
    toxic pollutants, the agency said Tuesday.

    
Obama
    faces high-stakes China, Russia meetings

    
from AP Top Headlines At 4:24 a.m. EST
    by By JENNIFER LOVEN

    LONDON (AP) -- Stepping onto the world stage for the first time
    in his two-month presidency, Barack Obama is holding face-to-face
    talks with the leaders of the two nations - Russia and China
    - most aggressively challenging the U.S. position atop the global
    order....

    
Sarkozy
    pushes for summit with concrete results

    Posted: 04:12 AM ET

    From Jim Bittermann

    CNN

    
PARIS, France (CNN) — French President
    Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday he is not satisfied with parts
    of the draft conclusions for the G-20 summit and may even leave
    if the results are “less than concrete.”

    


    

    
Afghan-Pakistani
    Presidents meet in Turkey

    Posted: 05:11 AM ET

    By Ivan Watson

    CNN

    
ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) — Leaders from
    Afghanistan and Pakistan met in Turkey Wednesday, looking for
    answers to a fierce cross-border insurgency threatening the two
    nations.

    

    
Spain
    to probe Israel

    
from Portugal News latest RSS headlines
    - Big News Network.com 

    While Spanish courts are to redouble efforts to investigate top
    Israeli military and government officials, there has been no
    equivalent probe into Hamas or Fatah. Is this the return of the
    hoary head ...
 

    Messages
    from RPCVs to the Obama Administration (article)
 

    
Energy
    Secretary Announces $1.2B in Science Funding (HPC Wire 3/23)

    
from Neutron Sciences News 

    Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced $1.2 billion in new science
    funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for
    major construction, laboratory infrastructure, and research efforts
    sponsored across the nation by the DOE Office of Science. Secretary
    Chu made the announcement during a visit to the Brookhaven National
    Laboratory. Included among the approved projects are, among others:
    $330 million for operations and equipment at Office of Science
    major scientific user facilities, used annually by over 20,000
    researchers. Facilities supported by Recovery Act funding include,
    among others, the Spallation Neutron Source at ORNL, the world's
    most intense pulsed accelerator-based neutron source, used in
    advanced materials science, chemistry, and biology research.

    
Governor
    Granholm Says Recovery Act will Help Millions of Citizens Throughout
    Michigan

    
from Michigan.Gov | SOM | Michigan Spotlight
    | Michigan Spotlight 

    Governor Granholm said that the American Recovery and Reinvestment
    Act will help protect millions of citizens impacted by the national
    recession and allow the state to move forward with its plans
    to grow the economy and create jobs by providing education and
    training for workers and invest in the new energy economy.
 

    
Governor
    Granholm Announces Over 2,600 New Jobs

    
from Michigan.Gov | SOM | Michigan Spotlight
    | Michigan Spotlight 

    Governor Granholm announced that the Michigan Economic Development
    Corporation is helping nine companies grow in Michigan and is
    backing two brownfield redevelopment projects, which combined
    are expected to create and retain 2,755 jobs and generate over
    $177.8 million in new investment in the state.

    
Governor
    Granholm Says Recovery Act will Help Millions of Citizens Throughout
    Michigan

    
from Michigan.Gov | SOM | Michigan Spotlight
    | Michigan Spotlight 

    Governor Granholm said that the American Recovery and Reinvestment
    Act will help protect millions of citizens impacted by the national
    recession and allow the state to move forward with its plans
    to grow the economy and create jobs by providing education and
    training for workers and invest in the new energy economy.

    DNR
    Announces Series of Statewide Town Hall Meetings to Engage Public
    in Determining Conservation Priorities
 

    
A
    New U.S. Strategy for Afghanistan

    
from MERLN - Military Education Research
    Library Network 

    The Afghanistan MiPAL has been updated with President Obama's
    remarks on a new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, the White
    Paper of the Interagency Policy Group's Report on U.S. Policy
    toward Afghanistan and Pakistan, briefings on the new strategy
    by the special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan and the Under
    Secretary of Defense for Policy and by the National Security
    Advisor, and a White House Press Release outlining what's new
    in the strategy. Please see the Recently Added Documents section
    for the latest on this country - the newest updates are in bold.

    
"Boat
    People" Are Subject of May 2 Symposium

    
from Library of Congress: Upcoming Events


    In the years following the Vietnam War, more than 1 million refugees
    fled the war-ravaged countries of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
    Those who took to the ocean in small, overcrowded ships were
    dubbed the "boat people."The plight of these refugees
    is the subject of a symposium titled "Journey to Freedom:
    The Boat People Retrospective," to be held at the Library
    of Congress from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturday, May 2, in
    Room 119 of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street S.E.,
    Washington, D.C.

    
CONVERSATION-ISRAEL-OLMERT

    
from Kremlin.Ru: Unified Wire Service 

    Dmitry Medvedev had a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime
    Minister Ehud Olmert.
 

    
Building
    Russian-U.S. Bonds

    
from Kremlin.Ru: Unified Wire Service 

    “Long ago, Alexis de Tocqueville predicted a great future
    for our two nations. So far, each country has tried to prove
    the truth of those words to itself and the world by acting on
    its own. I firmly believe that at this turn of history, we should
    work together. The world expects Russia and the United States
    to take energetic steps to establish a climate of trust and goodwill
    in global politics, not to languish in inaction and disengagement.
    We cannot fail to meet those expectations.”

    



    
RUSSIA:
    ARTICLE-PUBLISHED-WASHINGTON POST

    
from Kremlin.Ru: Unified Wire Service 

    An article by Dmitry Medvedev has been published in the newspaper
    The Washington Post.
 

    
RUSSIA:
    MEETING-GERMANY-BUSINESS

    
from Kremlin.Ru: Unified Wire Service 

    Dmitry Medvedev and Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel
    met with representatives of German business circles.

    
TALKS-RUSSIA-GERMANY

    
from Kremlin.Ru: Unified Wire Service 

    The President of Russia and the Federal Chancellor of Germany
    held talks in Berlin.

    
Annan
    Urges Kenyans To Unite For Good Of Nation

    
from Kenya News latest RSS headlines -
    Big News Network.com 

    Former U.N. Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, urges Kenyans to focus
    on what unites them rather than what divides them for the sake
    of their country's future prosperity and stability. About 250
    people, i...
 

    
United
    States Extends Friendly Hand to East Africa

    
from Kenya News latest RSS headlines -
    Big News Network.com 

    Washington — The U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard and the
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which have extended
    a helping hand to a number of West African countries in the past
    few yea...
 

    
RUSSIA:
    Building Russian-U.S. Bonds

    
from Kremlin.Ru: Presidential Speeches
    and Addresses 

    “Long ago, Alexis de Tocqueville predicted a great future
    for our two nations. So far, each country has tried to prove
    the truth of those words to itself and the world by acting on
    its own. I firmly believe that at this turn of history, we should
    work together. The world expects Russia and the United States
    to take energetic steps to establish a climate of trust and goodwill
    in global politics, not to languish in inaction and disengagement.
    We cannot fail to meet those expectations.”

    
RUSSIA:
    Speech at Meeting with the Finance Ministers of the Commonwealth
    of Independent States

    
from Kremlin.Ru: Presidential Speeches
    and Addresses 

    “I invited you, our closest partners, to discuss certain
    additional ideas that Russia could put forward. And if you give
    us such instructions, then the collective position of the states
    represented here today will be brought to the attention of other
    states, and could perhaps be the basis for discussing the very
    complex problem that has brought us here today.”
 

    RUSSIA:
    Opening Remarks at Meeting with German Business Community Representatives

    from Kremlin.Ru: Presidential Speeches and Addresses 

    “In bilateral cooperation, we have achieved a great deal,
    as I have just said. It would be highly undesirable if the momentum
    and the scope such cooperation has gained, are just lost.”

    IFDP968:
    Markup Variation and Endogenous Fluctuations in the Price of
    Investment Goods

    from International Finance Discussion Papers 

    The two sector model presented in this note suggests a simple
    structural decomposition of movements in the price of investment
    goods into exogenous and endogenous sources. The endogenous fluctuations
    arise in the presence of countercyclical markups which vary differently
    across the consumption and investment sectors. In turn, the movements
    in the markups are due to endogenous procyclical net business
    formation. The model, while being consistent with the countercyclicality
    of the price of investment goods, suggests that about a quarter
    of the movement in the price series can be attributed to this
    endogenous mechanism.

    IC3
    2008 Annual Report on Internet Crime Released
 

    
North
    Korea launch will violate UN resolutions: officials

    
by Reuters Canada - Toronto,Ontario,Canada

    By Jon Herskovitz SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea and Japan warned
    North Korea on Wednesday it would still violate UN resolutions
    if it tried to put a ...

    
Pelosi
    Hails House Passage of Federal Media Shield Law

    
by FOXBusiness - USA

    WASHINGTON, March 31, 2009 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/
    ----Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement tonight
    on House passage of HR 985, ...

    
Obama
    To Headline Fund Raiser For Reid

    
by The Huffington Post News Team

    President Obama is evidently eager to keep Senator Harry Reid
    as his top Senate ally. In what appears to be a first, party
    operatives said the president has agreed to attend a May fund-raiser
    in Las ... President Obama is evidently ...
 

    
Iran's
    offer of help to rebuild Afghanistan heralds new age of cooperation

    
by guardian.co.uk - UK

    For the first time since Barack Obama came to office, US and
    Iranian officials met at an international conference in The Hague,
    with diplomats saying a ...

    

    
Democrats
    Unveil Ambitious Global Warming Reduction Bill

    
by info@ecologicalinternet.org (New York
    Times:...

    The debate on global warming and energy policy accelerated on
    Tuesday as two senior House Democrats unveiled a far-reaching
    bill to cap heat-trapping gases and move the country quickly
    from dependence on coal and oil.

    
Clinton
    Calls US-Iranian Meeting 'Promising'

    
by Voice of America - USA

    Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described the meeting that
    took place between US special representative Richard Holbrooke
    and Iran's deputy foreign ...
 

    
US
    to Join UN Human Rights Council, Reversing Bush Policy

    
by Washington Post - United States

    "Human rights are an essential element of American global
    foreign policy," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
    said in a statement. ...

    GAO-09-539T,
    Troubled Asset Relief Program: Status of Efforts to Address Transparency
    and Accountability Issues,
    March 31, 2009

    GAO-09-504,
    Troubled Asset Relief Program: March 2009 Status of Efforts to
    Address Transparency and Accountability Issues, March 31, 2009
 

    GAO-09-367R,
    Review of Special Counsel Expenses for 6 Months Ended September
    30, 2008, March 31, 2009
 

    
GAO-09-275,
    Nuclear Nonproliferation: Strengthened Oversight Needed to Address
    Proliferation and Management Challenges in IAEA's Technical Cooperation
    Program, March 5, 2009

    
from GAO Reports 

    A key mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
    is promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy through its
    Technical Cooperation (TC) program, which provides equipment,
    training, fellowships, and other services to its member states.
    The United States provides approximately 25 percent of the TC
    program's annual budget. This report addresses the (1) extent
    to which the United States and IAEA have policies limiting member
    ...

    B-400047.2,
    Core Tech International Corporation--Costs, March 11, 2009
 

    GAO-09-502R,
    Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information
    Administration: Amendments to the Digital-to-Analog Converter
    Box Program to Implement the DTV Delay Act, March 27, 2009

    
Duke,
    A Framework for Analyzing Bank Lending

    
from FRB: Speeches 

    Speech at the 13th Annual University of North Carolina Banking
    Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina

    
Federal
    Reserve Board requests public comment on proposed changes to
    the methodology for calculating the private sector adjustment
    factor

    
from FRB: Press Release - All Releases


    


    Prompt
    corrective action directive against Heritage Bank

    
IFDP967:
    Biofuels Impact on Crop and Food Prices: Using an Interactive
    Spreadsheet

    
from FRB Working Papers 

    This paper examines the effect that biofuels production has had
    on commodity and global food prices. The innovative contribution
    of this paper is the interactive spreadsheet that allows the
    reader to choose the assumptions behind the estimates. By allowing
    the reader to choose the country, time period, supply and demand
    elasticities, and the size of indirect effects we explicitly
    illustrate the sensitivity of the estimated effect of biofuels
    production on prices. Our best estimates suggest that the increase
    in biofuels production over the past two years has had a sizeable
    impact on corn, sugar, barley and soybean prices, but a much
    smaller impact on global food prices. Over the past two years
    (ending June 2008), we estimate that the increase in worldwide
    biofuels production pushed up corn, soybean and sugar prices
    by 27, 21 and 12 percentage points respectively. The countries
    that account for most of the upward pressure on these prices
    are the United States and Brazil. Our best estimates suggest
    that the increase in U.S. biofuels production (ethanol and biodiesel)
    pushed up corn prices by more than 22 percentage points and soybean
    prices (soybeans and soybean oil) by more than 15 percentage
    points, while the increase in EU biofuels production pushed corn
    and soybean prices up around 3 percentage points. Brazils increase
    in sugar-based ethanol production accounts for the entire rise
    in the price of sugar. Although biofuels had a noticeable impact
    on individual crop prices, they had a much smaller impact on
    global food prices. Our best estimate suggests that the increase
    in worldwide biofuels production over the past two years accounts
    for just over 12 percent of the rise in the IMFs food price index.
    The increase in U.S. biofuels production accounts for roughly
    60 percent of this effect, while Brazil accounts for 14 percent
    and the EU accounts for 15 percent. The key take-away point is
    that nearly 90 percent of the rise in global food prices comes
    from factors other than biofuels.

    
IFDP968:
    Markup Variation and Endogenous Fluctuations in the Price of
    Investment Goods

    
from FRB Working Papers 

    The two sector model presented in this note suggests a simple
    structural decomposition of movements in the price of investment
    goods into exogenous and endogenous sources. The endogenous fluctuations
    arise in the presence of countercyclical markups which vary differently
    across the consumption and investment sectors. In turn, the movements
    in the markups are due to endogenous procyclical net business
    formation. The model, while being consistent with the countercyclicality
    of the price of investment goods, suggests that about a quarter
    of the movement in the price series can be attributed to this
    endogenous mechanism.
 

    
March
    31, 2009 TREASURY TAX AND LOAN

    
from FMS Publications 

    Updated 3/31/2009: March 31, 2009 TREASURY TAX AND LOAN INVESTMENT
    PROGRAM NOTICE OF TRANSFERS No transfers were issued today for
    C Banks.

    
DTS:
    March 30 2009

    
from FMS Publications 

    Updated 3/31/2009: TABLE I — Operating Cash Balance Opening
    balance Type of account Closing balance today Today This month
    This fiscal year Federal Reserve Account Financial Institution
    Account Supplementary Financing Program Account Tax and Loan
    Note Accounts (Table V) $ 39,902 0 199,934 1,206$ 43,263 0 199,934
    1,976
 

    
Index
    of FMS Programs and Services: Financial Management Service

    
from FMS Programs and Services 

    Updated 3/31/2009: Links to FMS programs and systems
 

    
Training
    & Events: Governmentwide Accounting: Programs and Systems:
    Financial Management Service

    
from FMS Programs and Services 

    Updated 3/31/2009: Training & Events. Within the next year
    or two, GWA will be transitioning the GOALS II 1219/1220 Statement
    of Transaction and Accountability application to the GWA on-line
    application. Our goal will be to streamline the current business
    process but with minimal changes to the current way you do business.
    If you curren

    
Rates
    & Sureties: Financial Management Service

    
from FMS Programs and Services 

    Updated 3/31/2009: Links to Rates & Sureties.

    
Useful
    Links for Government Agencies and Financial Institutions: Financial
    Management Service

    
from FMS Programs and Services 

    Updated 3/31/2009: Links to FMS programs and systems
 

    
Commonly
    Requested Forms Available on the FMS Web Site: Financial Management
    Service

    
from FMS Programs and Services 

    Updated 3/31/2009: Links to FMS forms

    Regulations
    from FMS Programs and Services 

    Updated 3/31/2009: Links to Regulations and Guidance.

    
Index
    of Regulations & Guidance

    
from FMS Programs and Services 

    Updated 3/31/2009: Links to Regulations and Guidance.
 

    
Financial
    Management Service FACTS II User’s Guide

    
from FMS Programs and Services 

    Updated 3/31/2009: Financial Management Service FACTS II User’s
    Guide. U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service
    Government-wide Accounting (GWA) Jeff Hoge Accounting Systems
    Division, Director Andrei Pantchenko FACTS II Project Manager
    Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows, and the Windows logo are registered
    t

    
Index
    of Questions and Answers by Program: Financial Management Service

    
from FMS Programs and Services 

    Updated 3/31/2009: Answers to questions about the Judgment Fund,
    and Gifts of the U.S. Government

    
Training
    & Events: Governmentwide Accounting: Programs and Systems:
    Financial Management Service

    
from FMS Programs and Services 

    Updated 3/31/2009: Registration Form for GWA 1219/1220 System
    Upgrade Forum. First name:. Last name:. Email address:. Organization/Agency:.
    Department/Office:. Phone number:. Extension:. Fax number:. Special
    needs:. Y. Yes. N. No. Please specify
 

    
FACTS
    II Client Program

    
from FMS Programs and Services 

    Updated 3/31/2009: FACTS II What’s New is a newsletter released
    quarterly at the beginning of each FACTS II Reporting window.
    This document outlines the changes that will affect the current
    reporting window for both the FACTS II Client and the FACTS II
    Client Bulk applications. In addition, this information can be
    accessed via the appr

    03/30/09
    from DOI Radio News Releases - Podcasts 

    Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined President Obama
    as he signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009
    at the White House on Monday. Among its many provisions, it makes
    official the National Landscape Conservation System.

    A
    Review of CBO's Activities in 2008 Under the Unfunded Mandates
    Reform Act
 

    
VIDEO:
    Joseph Schatz, CQPolitics.com, Economics Reporter

    
from C-SPAN Recent Video 

    Joseph Schatz goes over the role of the International Monetary
    Fund (IMF) in the global economy, as well as the upcoming discussion
    at the G20 & calls by other member countries for more power
    within the IMF. 

    Length: 25 min.

    
Published: Tuesday at 8am (ET)

    
VIDEO:
    General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson Press Conference

    
from C-SPAN Recent Video 

    General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson spoke at a press conference
    in Detroit about the way forward for GM. This is Mr. Henderson's
    first press conference after President Obama requested the resignation
    of former GM CEO Rick Wagoner.

    Length: 55 min.

    
Published: Tuesday at 10am (ET)

    
VIDEO:
    State Department Press Briefing

    
from C-SPAN Recent Video 

    Acting Spokesman Gordon Duguid conducts a daily briefing at the
    State Department.

    Length: 32 min.

    
Published: Tuesday at 11:30am (ET)
 

    
VIDEO:
    Senate Finance Cmte. Hearing on TARP Oversight

    
from C-SPAN Recent Video 

    Neil Barofsky, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled
    Asset Relief Program (TARP), appeared before the Senate Finance
    Committee. He discussed ongoing audits of companies receiving
    TARP funds. The program still retains about $135 billion of the
    $700 billion allocated, Treasury Sec. Geithner said recently.

    Length: 1 hr. 38 min.

    
Published: Tuesday at 10am (ET)

    
VIDEO:
    Senate Confirmation Hearing for HHS Sec. Nominee Gov. Kathleen
    Sebelius

    
from C-SPAN Recent Video 

    Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS) appeared before the Senate HELP
    Cmte. for the first of two hearings. In her prepared testimony,
    Gov. Sebelius vowed to make healthcare reform her "mission."
    If Gov. Sebelius is approved by the Finance Cmte., the nomination
    then moves to the full Senate for a vote.

    Length: 2 hr. 30 min.

    
Published: Tuesday at 10am (ET)

    
VIDEO:
    Press Conference on the Canadian Auto Industry

    
from C-SPAN Recent Video 

    Canadian Minister of Industry Tony Clement, Canadian Finance
    Minister Jim Flaherty, and Ontario Minister of Economic Development
    Michael Bryant hold a news conference on the auto industry. Courtesy
    of CPAC. 

    Length: 34 min.

    
Published: Monday at 2:15pm (ET)
 

    
VIDEO:
    Arab League Summit - Opening Session

    
from C-SPAN Recent Video 

    Arab leaders met at a summit in Qatar to talk about the global
    financial crisis and regional security issues. Speakers include
    Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir,
    Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and Palestinian President
    Mahmoud Abbas. Courtesy of Qater TV.

    Length: 1 hr. 18 min.

    
Published: Monday at 8pm (ET)

    
VIDEO:
    Senate Armed Services Cmte. Hearing on Afghanistan-Pakistan Policy

    
from C-SPAN Recent Video 

    Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Cmte., Gen. David
    Petraeus, Commander of U.S. Central Command, lays out the details
    of the new Afghanistan-Pakistan policy. The plan calls for greater
    regional cooperation to contain the spread of extremism from
    the two countries. Chair. Carl Levin (D-MI) has said that he
    would not support more aid to Pakistan until it confronts extremism
    within its borders. 

    Length:

    
Published: Today at 9:30am (ET)

    
House
    Hearings: Green Jobs Offer Opportunity to Rebuild Middle Class

    
from AFL-CIO NOW BLOG by James Parks



    President Obama’s economic recovery plan sets aside $50
    billion in grants and tax incentives to promote efficient and
    renewable energy. But the nation also must focus on training
    workers and rebuilding our manufacturing industries to take advantage
    of the growth in green jobs, experts told a congressional panel
    today. 

    


    
Last-Ditch
    Bush Rule Would Threaten Retirement Security

    
from AFL-CIO NOW BLOG by James Parks

    In a last-gasp effort to reward its corporate friends, the Bush
    administration—on the very day of Barack Obama’s inauguration—proposed
    a new regulation that could reduce Americans’ retirement
    security by allowing firms to give financial advice to workers
    who participate in their 401(k) plans on products where they
    have a financial interest.

    

    
Obama
    Honors César Chávez’s Birthday

    
from AFL-CIO NOW BLOG by James Parks



    What a difference a year makes. While the Bush White House tried
    to thwart workers’ rights and all that the late César
    Chávez fought for, Barack Obama adopted Chávez’s
    rallying cry as his campaign theme.

    

    
Business
    Owners, Elected Leaders Support Employee Free Choice

    
from AFL-CIO NOW BLOG by Seth Michaels



    U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey (left), an Employee Free Choice Act co-sponsor,
    meets with Denver-area union leaders Mike Cerbo, Tina DeSautels
    and John Fleck. 





    Over the past week, union members have made more than 4,000 calls
    and sent more than 8,000 letters to members of Congress urging
    them to support the Employee Free Choice Act to protect workers’
    freedom to form unions and bargain.

    


    Gaggle
    by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Aboard AF1 en route
    London, 3-31-09

    Press
    Briefing by Deputy National Security Advisor Mike Froman On The
    G20

    Statement
    by the President on the Approval of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve
    America Act
 

    Statement
    by the President to Commemorate Cesar Chavez’s Birthday

    
The
    Vice President in Latin America

    
On Friday, as Vice President Biden was
    preparing for to leave for Chile and Costa Rica, he published
    an op-ed that appeared in eleven papers throughout Latin America
    entitled, "A New Day for Partnership in the Americas":

    
FinancialStability.gov

    
The Treasury Department has just launched
    FinancialStability.gov, a website dedicated to bringing transparency
    and clarity to the immensely complex problems in the financial
    system and the President’s plans to address them.
 

    Few
    Blame Obama for Economy

    A new Washington Post/ABC News poll finds that the number of
    Americans who believe that the nation is headed in the right
    direction has roughly tripled since President Obama's election,
    and the public overwhelmingly blames the excesses of the financial
    industry, rather than the new president, for turmoil in the economy.

    

    Americans
    Think World Leaders Respect Obama

    As President Obama embarks on an eight day foreign trip, a new
    CNN/Opinion Research poll finds that 72% of Americans believe
    foreign leaders respect him.

    

    Polls
    Closed in NY-20

    Polls are now closed in New York's 20th congressional district
    special election. 

    


    Big
    Tobacco loses another high court appeal in smoker lawsuit

    Posted: 11:00 AM ET



    Tobacco giant Philip Morris lost another round Tuesday.

    WASHINGTON (CNN) — Tobacco giant Philip Morris lost another
    round Tuesday in a nearly $80 million punitive damages case that
    morphed into a increasingly complex, decade-long dispute between
    U.S. Supreme Court justices and their state counterparts in Oregon.


    

    
Last-minute
    Obama turnout plea in NY-20

    Posted: 11:10 AM ET

    
From CNN Senior Producer Kevin Bohn

    This is not the first time the president has weighed in on the
    campaign.

    WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Obama sent supporters a last-minute
    pitch Monday night to boost turnout in today's special congressional
    election in New York's 20th congressional district. 

    

    Sebelius
    pledges swift action on health care

    Posted: 11:30 AM ET



    Sebelius is Obama's nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary.

    WASHINGTON (CNN) — Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius opened
    her Senate confirmation hearing for health and human services
    secretary Tuesday by pledging swift action on the burgeoning
    U.S. health-care crisis.

    


    
Polls:
    Americans more optimistic on Economy

    Posted: 11:39 AM ET

    
From CNN Deputy Political Director Paul
    Steinhauser

    The survey suggests that President Obama is more popular than
    his policies on the economy.

    WASHINGTON (CNN) — Two new national polls suggest that Americans
    are becoming more confident about the economy.

    

    
Treasury
    Department unveils FinancialStability.gov

    Posted: 03:20 PM ET

    
From CNN's Sarah Parker

    The Treasury Department launched an interactive new Web site
    Tuesday in an effort to bring about accountability and transparency
    to the Obama administration's Financial Stability Plan.

    (CNN) - The Treasury Department launched an interactive new Web
    site Tuesday in an effort to bring about accountability and transparency
    to the Obama administration's Financial Stability Plan.

    

    
Kaine
    blocks funding for embryonic stem cell research

    Posted: 04:23 PM ET

    
From CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby

    Virginia governor Tim Kaine was Obama's choice to lead the DNC.

    WASHINGTON (CNN) – Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, the chairman
    of the Democratic National Committee, has signed a bill into
    law banning the use of state funds for embryonic stem cell research.

    


    
Minnesota
    court gives Franken good news

    Posted: 05:45 PM ET

    
From CNN's Chris Welch and Alexander Mooney

    Franken holds a 225 vote lead over Coleman.

    (CNN) – A Minnesota court Tuesday ordered the review of
    400 absentee ballots in that state's still-disputed Senate race,
    a number that falls far short of the 1,300 absentee ballots Republican
    Norm Coleman says need to be counted.

    

    
Americans
    looking on the bright side

    Posted: 07:11 PM ET

    
From CNN's Sarah Parker

    CNN=Politics Daily is The Best Political Podcast from The Best
    Political Team.

    (CNN) - In the latest installment of CNN=Politics Daily: President
    Obama makes his European debut as chief executive. How is his
    performance being perceived abroad and at home? CNN Senior Political
    Analyst Bill Schneider looks at the numbers.

    

    Madoff
    associates knew about the scam, investigator says

    Posted: 11:37 PM ET

    (CNN) — Associates of convicted Wall Street swindler Bernard
    Madoff knew he was scamming his clients but joined in anyway
    because of the big money they could make, a securities investigator
    testified in a sworn affidavit for a Connecticut court.

    


    Oz
    Minerals, China’s Minmetals eye $1.2B deal

    Posted: 01:13 AM ET

    (CNN) — Australian mining company Oz Minerals said it has
    reached US $1.2 billion deal with China-based Minmetals that
    could overcome the Australian government’s rejection last
    week.

    

    Obama
    meets British PM ahead of G-20

    Posted: 03:19 AM ET

    LONDON, England (CNN) — U.S. President Barack Obama and
    first lady Michelle Obama arrived Wednesday at the British prime
    minister’s residence for a morning meeting ahead of the
    G-20 summit.

    

    Australian
    scientists says it has found sunken WWII vessel

    Posted: 03:22 AM ET

    (CNN) — An Australian university said Wednesday that it
    has found remnants of a steamship that was the first American
    vessel sunk during World War II. 

    


    
FAA
    Aviation Safety Draft Documents Open for Comment for U.S. Federal
    Aviation Administration

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    VACANCY:
    DTIC-15-09 (Federal-wide) Technical Information Specialist, GS-1412-12

    Opens: 30 Mar 2009

    Closes: 13 Apr 2009

    Location: Ft. Belvoir, VA

    
USCIS
    Form Updates for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

    Vacancy Announcement Number: CF09-188

    Opening Date: March 27, 2009 Closing Date: April 10, 2009

    
Position: Supervisory Librarian, NF-1410-04

    Salary: $55,000.00 - $70,000.00 Annual

    Place of Work: Keith Campbell Library, Fort Sam Houston, TX

    Position Status: This is a Permanent position. -- Full Time

    Number of Vacancy: 1

    
Duties: Directs overall library operation.
    May also be responsible for

    one or two branch libraries. Responsible for the full scope of
    library

    functions to include library management/administration; personnel

    management; public/patron services, e.g. reference/research services,

    selective dissemination of information, circulation services,

    programming, interlibrary loans, up-to-date web presence; technical

    services, e.g. acquisitions, cataloging/classification, accountability

    of materials, procurement strategies; automation systems and
    other

    library technology implementation and support, e.g. ILS, workstations,

    Internet access, and network applications. Evaluates effectiveness
    of

    the library's automated services, determines requirements and
    conducts

    studies to improve systems operations. Responsible for the library

    facility; i.e. justification and planning for new facility, maintenance

    and improvements, purchase of furniture and equipment, and allocation
    of

    space.

    
About the Position: Develops budgets, justifies
    requirements, and

    establishes short and long-range plans/goals. Monitors funding

    allocations and meets expenditure targets. Reviews library operations

    for effectiveness. Determines internal library policies. Advises
    on

    external library policies. Establishes standard operating procedures
    and

    sets internal controls. Prepares a variety of

    correspondence/reports/briefs. Conducts oral presentations and
    presides

    over group meetings. Promotes library services and programs.
    Develops

    marketing strategies to increase library awareness. Liaisons
    with

    community/user groups and establishes partnerships/networks for

    efficiencies with local, state, regional and/or national organizations.

    Attends professional meetings, conferences, workshops, and seminars
    as

    required.

    
Performs reference and research services
    using text and online searching

    principles. Selects a variety of print, non-print, and online
    resources

    to meet the organizational, educational and personal needs of
    customers.

    Catalogs and classifies library materials as required.

    
Supervises assigned staff, conducts employee
    appraisals, advocates

    training, and provides appropriate recognition and feedback for

    performance.

    
Who May Apply: (Click on Who May Apply)

    * Area of Consideration: 1. World-Wide. 2. All Sources. Apply
    via MWR

    Career Referral Program Resume Builder. Enter CF09-188 in the
    Vacancy

    Announcements section. Complete the resume builder at

    https://employment2.wftech.com/cfsc/ResumeBuilder.

    
Qualifications:

    * A master's degree in library science, information services,
    or

    information management from an accredited college or university.

    Additionally, one (1) year of progressively responsible work
    experience

    equivalent to the next lower grade level is required which showcases
    the

    ability to perform in library management, personnel management,

    public/patron services, technical services, and library automation

    service functions. Must have a working knowledge of office software

    products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. Must
    have the

    ability to communicate orally and in writing.

    
* Only degrees from an accredited college
    or university recognized by

    the Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education

    requirements or to substitute education for experience. For additional

    information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management
    (OPM) and

    U.S. Department of Education websites at -

    http://www.opm.gov/qualifications
    and

    http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html

    * The experience described in your resume will be evaluated as
    related

    to the qualifications, knowledge, skills and abilities required
    for this

    job.

    
Other Information:(Click on Other Information)

    
* Payment of Permanent Change of Station
    (PCS) costs is authorized,

    subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations.

    
Other Advantages: Priority consideration
    will be given to current and

    former NAF employees serving in a continuous position without
    time

    limits for at least one year.

    
MWRJobs website:

    https://www.mwrportal.army.mil/sandbox/mwrjobs/mwrcrp.html

    
Other Requirements:(Click on Other Requirements)

    
* Subject to satisfactory completion of
    all pre-employment checks in

    accordance with Army Regulation (AR) 215-3.

    * Satisfactory completion of a National Agency Check (NAC) that
    will be

    initiated upon appointment to a NAF position.

    * The Department of the Army provides reasonable accommodations
    to

    applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation
    for

    any part of the application and hiring process, please notify
    the

    servicing civilian personnel unit. Requests for reasonable accommodation

    are made on a case-by-case basis.

    * If selected, official college or university transcript must
    be

    submitted.

    * Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete
    a

    Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service

    Registration.

    * Direct Deposit of Pay is Required.

    * You must include the announcement number on your application.

    * Applicants claiming veteran's preference must clearly show
    an

    entitlement to such preference on the resume/supplemental data

    submitted.

    * Failure to provide all of the required information as stated
    in the

    vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may
    affect

    the overall rating.

    
How to Apply: (Click on How to Apply)

    * Resumes must be received by the closing date of this announcement.

    * Announcements close at 12:00am (midnight) Eastern Time.

    Click here to use the MWR Resume Builder to create and send your
    resume.

    
Point of Contact: FMWRC, Career Referral
    Program, Email us at,

    nafcrpjobs@conus.army.mil

    THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

    
Barbara Christine

    Chief, Library Program, FMWRC

    (703) 681-7208 DSN 761

    Please update your address book to use my AKO email address,

    barbara.christine@us.army.mil.

    Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

    Caveats: NONE

    
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

    Caveats: NONE

    
Daily
    Open Source Infrastructure Report for U.S. Department of Homeland
    Security

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    March 31, 2009 - DHS
    Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report, (PDF, 16 pages -
    141 KB) 

    
COLA
    Weekly Statistics for TTB.gov

    
The COLA Weekly Statistics for the week
    ending March 27, 2009, are now available. 


    
Forms for TTB.gov

    
New information about the 2009 Floor Stocks
    Tax Return – Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes
    form is now
    available. 

    
Recent
    publications from the National Institute of Justice for Office
    of Justice Programs

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    
San
    Antonio Most Wanted for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    NMTC
    Program Named Top 50 in Innovations Award 

    March 31, 2009 

    [CDFI-2009-19] 

    


    
Issue: Special Edition, March 2009 

    Inside This Issue 

    Thank you for subscribing to the Employee Plans News. 

    This Special Edition states that defined benefit plans may use
    a reasonable interpretation in selecting a yield curve for determining
    a plan’s liabilities for funding purposes. 

    To read the March 2009 Special Edition, please access the newsletter
    file directly or visit the Current
    Edition of the Employee Plans News page in the Retirement
    Plans Community section of the IRS.gov Web site. 

    
Salt
    Lake City Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    


    
The following documents are available on
    the OCC's Web site: 

    Alerts:

    Alert 2009-5, "Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: First National
    Bank of Hutchinson," dated March 19, 2009.

    Summary: First National Bank of Hutchinson of Hutchinson, KS,
    reports that counterfeit cashier's checks issued in the bank's
    name are being presented for payment nationwide.

    Alert 2009-4, "Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: The Peoples
    National Bank, N.A.," dated March 18, 2009.

    Summary: The Peoples National Bank, N.A. of Mount Vernon, IL,
    reports that counterfeit cashier's checks issued in the bank's
    name are being presented for payment nationwide.

    Alert 2009-3, "Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Clinton National
    Bank," dated February 4, 2009.

    Summary: Clinton National Bank of Clinton, IA, reports that counterfeit
    cashier's checks issued in the bank's name are being presented
    for payment nationwide.

    Alert 2009-2, "Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Harbor National
    Bank," dated February 4, 2009.

    Summary: Harbor National Bank of Charleston, SC, reports that
    counterfeit cashier's checks issued in the bank's name are being
    presented for payment nationwide.

    Alert 2009-1, "Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Waterford Bank,
    N.A.," dated January 29, 2009.

    Summary: Waterford Bank, N.A., of Toledo, OH, reports that counterfeit
    cashier's checks issued in the bank's name are being presented
    for payment nationwide.

    
OCC alerts are posted online at the following
    URL: http://www.occ.gov/altlst09.htm.

    
New
    Haven Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    
Philadelphia
    Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    Department of Energy Announces Completion
    of World’s Largest Laser 



    Certification of National Ignition Facility Marks Major Milestone
    in Scientific Advancement



    WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Energy today announced
    that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has
    certified the completion of the historic effort to build the
    world’s largest laser. Housed at the Department of Energy’s
    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the National Ignition
    Facility (NIF) is expected to allow scientists to achieve fusion
    ignition in the laboratory, obtaining more energy from the target
    than is provided by the laser. The completion of NIF opens the
    door to scientific advancement and discovery that promises to
    enhance our national security, could help break America’s
    dependence on foreign oil, and will lead to new breakthroughs
    in the worlds of astrophysics, materials science and many other
    scientific disciplines. 



    “Completion of the National Ignition Facility is a true
    milestone that will make America safer and more energy independent
    by opening new avenues of scientific advancement and discovery,”
    said NNSA Administrator Thomas D’Agostino. “NIF will
    be a cornerstone of a critical national security mission, ensuring
    the continuing reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile without
    underground nuclear testing, while also providing a path to explore
    the frontiers of basic science, and potential technologies for
    energy independence.”



    NIF is a critical part of NNSA’s mission of maintaining
    the safety and reliability of our nuclear deterrent without conducting
    nuclear testing. The United States has not deployed a new nuclear
    weapon in over 20 years, nor conducted an underground nuclear
    test since 1992. Instead, scientists at the NNSA maintain the
    warheads in the stockpile well beyond their original life by
    using sophisticated supercomputers and facilities that test the
    safety, security and reliability of U.S. weapons in NNSA laboratories.



    With NIF, scientists will be able to evaluate key scientific
    assumptions in current computer models, obtain previously unavailable
    data on how materials behave at temperatures and pressures like
    those in the center of a star, and help validate NNSA’s
    supercomputer simulations by comparing code predictions against
    observations from laboratory experiments.



    Because of its groundbreaking advance in technology, NIF also
    has the potential to produce breakthroughs in fields beyond national
    security. It may help advance fusion energy technology, which
    could be an element of making the United States energy independent.
    It could also help scientists better understand the makeup of
    stars It could also help scientists better understand the makeup
    of stars and giant planets both within and outside our solar
    system.



    The stadium-sized NIF is capable of focusing all of its 192 individual
    beams, each about 40 centimeters square, into a spot about one-half
    millimeter in diameter at the center of its 10 meter diameter
    target chamber. NIF has the ability to deliver large amounts
    of energy with extreme precision in billionths of a second.



    NIF has already produced historic scientific advances. Earlier
    this month, NIF became the first fusion laser in the world to
    break the megajoule barrier (a megajoule is the energy consumed
    by 10,000 100-watt light bulbs in one second) by delivering 1.1
    million joules of ultraviolet energy to the center of its target
    chamber – more than 25 times more energy than the previous
    record-holder.



    More information about the National Ignition Facility is available
    online at: https://lasers.llnl.gov/



    Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a separately organized
    agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing
    national security through the military application of nuclear
    science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability
    and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without
    nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of
    mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective
    nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological
    emergencies in the United States and abroad. Visit www.nnsa.energy.gov
    for more information.



    -DOE-

    3/30/2009
    - Thank You and Best Wishes 

    Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:00:00 -0500 

    Posted by: Chief Master Sergeant Manuel Sarmina 

    
Military
    Medical Digest for Military Health System

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    


    
Bulletins:

    OCC 2009-9, "Suspicious Activity Reports: Notices of Proposed
    Rulemaking," dated March 19, 2009.

    Summary: Revisions to OCC regulations (parts 21 and 4) regarding
    the confidentiality of suspicious activity reports (SARs).

    OCC 2009-8, "Country Risk: Changes to the Interagency Country
    Exposure Review Committee Process," dated March 4, 2009.

    Summary: Changes to guide reflect agencies' recognition of improvements
    in banks' cross-border exposure analyses and country risk management
    programs."

    OCC 2009-7, "Truth in Lending Act: Final Rule for Home Ownership
    and Equity Protection Act Amendments," dated February 19,
    2009.

    Summary: Amendments protect consumers from unfair, deceptive,
    or abusive acts and practices in mortgage lending. They also
    restrict certain mortgage practices."

    OCC 2009-5, "Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering: Final
    Rule on Currency Transaction Reporting Exemptions," dated
    January 15, 2009.

    Summary: Final rule simplifies requirements for depository institutions
    to exempt their eligible customers from currency transaction
    reporting. Rule became effective January 5."

    OCC 2009-4, "Remote Deposit Capture: Interagency Guidance,"
    dated January 14, 2009.

    Summary: Guidance helps examiners, financial institutions, and
    technology service providers to identify risks, evaluate controls,
    and assess risk management practices related to remote deposit
    capture systems."

    OCC 2009-3, "Home Mortgage Disclosure Act: Exemption Threshold
    for Depository Institutions under Regulation C," dated January
    9, 2009. 

    Summary: "Amendment to interpretation of Regulation C of
    Home Mortgage Disclosure Act raises asset-size threshold of exemption
    for depository institutions required to report data; effective
    January 1."

    OCC 2009-2, "Home Mortgage Disclosure Act: Rate Spread Reporting
    Threshold under Regulation C," dated January 5, 2009.

    Summary: "Final amendments to Regulation C revise rules
    for reporting price information on higher priced loans to make
    data reporting more consistent and, therefore, more predictable;
    effective October 1."

    OCC bulletins are posted online at the following URL: http://www.occ.gov/occ_current.htm.

    
New
    VACANCIES at the Federal Election Commission

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. Recently posted is Vacancy Announcement
    No. 09-018, Financial Analyst; Special Assistant to the CFO,
    GS-0501-11, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Closing Date:
    04-10-2009. 

    
The US Department of Health and Human
    Services would like to invite you to participate in an interactive
    Webcast on Friday, April 3, 2009 from 2pm to 3pm.

    
The Webcast will be an opportunity for
    you to share your experiences and ideas about how we can help
    millions of uninsured children get the health coverage they need
    without delay.

    
Special guests will include Rima Cohen,
    Counselor to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for Health
    Policy; Mary Wakefield, Administrator, Health Resources and Services
    Administration (HRSA); and Jackie Garner, Acting Director, Centers
    for Medicaid and State Operations, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
    Services (CMS).

    
Connect to the Webcast at http://www.hhs.gov/childrenshealthinsurance.

    
Questions and comments for the panel will
    be accepted in advance of and during the Webcast at http://www.hhs.gov/childrenshealthinsurance/questions.
 

    Gene
    Scan Shows Body's Clock Influences Numerous Physical Functions
    

    Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0500 

    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical
    Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and
    is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
    It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting
    basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates
    the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases.
    For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
    

    
DOE Fossil Energy NEWSALERT

    ----------------------------

    
A technology as simple as an advanced heater

    cable may hold the secret for tapping into

    the nation's largest source of oil, which is

    contained in vast amounts of shale in the

    American West. For more details, link to the

    Energy Department's Fossil Energy Web site at:

    
http://www.fossil.energy.gov

    
WB
    - Women's Bureau - Publications for United States Department
    of Labor

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    VACANCY:
    Financial Management Specialist, GS-0501-12/13 FEMA

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:16:31 -0500

    KAT-09-GCRO-7068-JAZ (Closing Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00
    EDT)

    VACANCY:
    Contract Specialist, GS-1102-11/12 FEMA

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:48:40 -0500

    KAT-09-GCRO-7067-JAZ (Closing Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 00:00:00
    EDT)

    


    
Top Ten Tips for Last Minute Filers
    

    With the tax filing deadline close at hand, here are the top
    10 tips for taxpayers still working on their tax return. 

    E-file your return. Consider filing electronically instead of
    using paper tax forms. Choosing to e-file is the best way to
    ensure your return is accurate and complete. 

    Review tax ID numbers. Remember to carefully check all identification
    numbers on your return. Incorrect or illegible Social Security
    Numbers can delay or reduce a tax refund. 

    Double-check your figures. Whether you are filing electronically
    or by paper, review all the amounts you transferred over from
    your W-2 or 1099. 

    Review your math. Taxpayers filing paper returns should also
    double-check that they have correctly figured the refund or balance
    due and have used the right figure from the tax table. 

    Sign and date your return. Both spouses must sign a joint return,
    even if only one had income. Anyone paid to prepare a return
    must also sign it. 

    Choose Direct Deposit. To get your refund quicker, select Direct
    Deposit and the IRS will deposit your refund directly into your
    bank account. 

    How to make a payment. People sending a payment should make the
    check out to "United States Treasury" and should enclose
    it with, but not attach it to the tax return or the Form 1040-V,
    Payment Voucher, if used. Write your name, address, SSN, telephone
    number, tax year and form number on the check or money order.


    File an extension. Taxpayers who will not be able to file a return
    by the April deadline should request an extension of time to
    file. Remember, the extension of time to file is not an extension
    of time to pay. 

    Visit the IRS Web site. IRS.gov has forms, publications and helpful
    information on a variety of tax subjects, which is available
    around the clock on the IRS.gov. 

    Review your return….one more time. Before you seal the envelope
    or hit send, go over all the information on return again. Errors
    may delay the processing of your return, so it’s best for
    you to make sure everything on your return is correct. 

    Links: 

    Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request (PDF
    100K) 

    Form 1040-V, Payment Voucher (PDF
    47K) 

    Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File
    U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (PDF
    50K) 

    Official
    Payments Corporation 

    Link2Gov

    
Top Ten Tips about IRA Contributions
    

    There is still time to make contributions to your traditional
    Individual Retirement Arrangement, better known as an IRA. Below
    are the top ten things you should know about money you put aside
    for retirement in an IRA. 

    You may be able to deduct some or all of your contributions to
    your IRA and you also may be eligible for a tax credit equal
    to a percentage of your contribution. 

    Contributions can be made to your traditional IRA at any time
    during the year or by the due date for filing your return for
    that year, not including extensions. For most people, this means
    contributions for 2008 must be made by April 15, 2009. 

    The amount of funds in your IRA are generally not taxed until
    you receive distributions from that IRA. 

    To figure your deduction for IRA contributions, use the worksheets
    in the instructions for the form you are filing. 

    For 2008, the most that can be contributed to your traditional
    IRA generally is the smaller of the following amounts: $5,000
    or the amount of your taxable compensation for the year. Taxpayers
    who are 50 or older can contribute up to $6,000. 

    Use Form 8880, Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions,
    to determine whether you are also eligible for a tax credit.


    You cannot deduct an IRA contribution or claim the Credit for
    Qualified Retirement Saving Contributions on Form 1040EZ; you
    must use either Form 1040A or Form 1040. 

    To contribute to a traditional IRA, you must be under age 70
    1/2 at the end of the tax year. 

    You must have taxable compensation, such as wages, salaries,
    commissions and tips. If you file a joint return, only one of
    you needs to have compensation. 

    Refer to IRS Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements,
    for information on the amounts you will be eligible to contribute
    to your IRA account. 

    Both Form 8880 and Publication 590 can be downloaded at IRS.gov
    or ordered by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

    
Links: 

    Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements (PDF
    449K) 

    Form 8880,
    Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions

    
Special Tax Break Available for New
    Car Purchases This Year 

    Issue Number: IR-2009-030 

    Inside This Issue

    
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue
    Service announced today that taxpayers who buy a new passenger
    vehicle this year may be entitled to deduct state and local sales
    and excise taxes paid on the purchase on their 2009 tax returns
    next year. 

    “For those thinking about buying a new car this year, this
    deduction may give them a little more drive to make their purchase
    this year,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “This
    deduction enables taxpayers to buy now and get cash back later
    on their tax returns.” 

    The deduction is limited to the state and local sales and excise
    taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of a qualified
    new car, light truck, motor home or motorcycle. 

    The amount of the deduction is phased out for taxpayers whose
    modified adjusted gross income is between $125,000 and $135,000
    for individual filers and between $250,000 and $260,000 for joint
    filers. 

    IRS also alerted taxpayers that the vehicle must be purchased
    after Feb. 16, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2010, to qualify for
    the deduction. 

    The special deduction is available regardless of whether a taxpayer
    itemizes deductions on their return. The IRS reminded taxpayers
    the deduction may not be taken on 2008 tax returns. 


    DoD
    Releases Quarterly Report on Iraq 

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:37:00 -0500 

    
Coffee
    Break Training for U.S. Fire Administration

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    Napolitano
    to Visit Southwest Border, Mexico

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:00:00 -0500

    U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano
    plans to travel to the Southwest border and Mexico to meet with
    Mexican leaders to work together on ways to combat drug violence
    and tour U.S. ports of entry to observe border protection operations
    at the ground level.
 

    
Using DMIS and GIS to Share Information
    – The WPSARDC Experience 

    According to Albert Einstein, "Learning is experience. Everything
    else is just information."

    
It is a real pleasure to share first-hand
    experience from an active DMIS COG for this week’s DMIS
    Special Interest Group (SIG) Meeting. Cynthia A. Garfold, Executive
    Director of the Western Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Development
    Center (WPSARDC) will share the Center’s current use of
    DMIS and GIS as well as the vision for expanding the sharing
    of information with other agencies in Pennsylvania to accomplish
    their goals. 

    Please join us tomorrow, Wednesday April 1, 2009, 12:00 Noon
    Eastern, for this DMIS SIG Special Event. We will use Live Meeting
    and a conference bridge to conduct this interactive dialogue.
    Your questions and comments are welcome as we hear from the WPSARDC
    COG.

    
IMPORTANT: If you have not logged into
    Live Meeting before, check out the following connection instructions
    and participant guidelines prior to this week’s meeting:
    http://www.disasterhelp.gov/disastermanagement/library/documents/LiveMtgInstruct.pdf


    (1) Login to MS Live Meeting for visuals: The following login
    link can only be used 30 minutes prior to the scheduled meeting
    time: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/eiip/join?id=DMprogram&role=attend


    (2) A few minutes before the scheduled time, dial into the conference
    bridge: 

    1 (800) 366-7242; PIN 3647 6736#. Please announce yourself and
    mute your phone during the presentation part of the program.


    If you are unable to attend due to other commitments, a recording
    will be accessible from the DMIS SIG Presentations Archive at
    http://www.disasterhelp.gov/disastermanagement/
    

    
Energy Secretary Chu Announces $6 Billion
    in Recovery Act Funding for Environmental Cleanup



    New Funding Will Create Jobs and Accelerate Cleanup Efforts



    WASHINGTON, DC -- Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced
    $6 billion in new funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment
    Act to accelerate environmental cleanup work and create thousands
    of jobs across 12 states. Projects identified for funding will
    focus on accelerating cleanup of soil and groundwater, transportation
    and disposal of waste, and cleaning and demolishing former weapons
    complex facilities. 



    “These investments will put Americans to work while cleaning
    up contamination from the cold war era,” said Secretary
    Chu. “It reflects our commitment to future generations as
    well as to help local economies get moving again.” 



    These projects and the new funding are managed by the Department’s
    Office of Environmental Management, which is responsible for
    the risk reduction and cleanup of the environmental legacy from
    the nation’s nuclear weapons program, one of the largest,
    most diverse and technically complex environmental programs in
    the world. 



    The states and DOE sites that will receive this funding include:



    · Washington (Total funding $1.961 billion)



    Richland Operations Office ($1.635 billion) - Demolish nuclear
    facilities and support facilities, remediate waste sites, remediate
    contaminated groundwater, and retrieve solid waste from burial
    grounds. Accelerate cleanup of facilities, waste sites, and groundwater
    along the Columbia River to support shrinking the active area
    of cleanup at the 586-square-mile Hanford Site to 75 square miles
    or less by 2015.



    Office of River Protection ($326 million) - Accelerate design
    and construction of infrastructure and systems to transfer radioactive
    liquid waste from aging underground tanks to a waste treatment
    facility for immobilization and disposal. Accelerate design for
    the high level waste storage facility. Upgrade the effluent treatment
    facility to continue waste volume reduction operations and the
    222-S Analytical Laboratory to allow continued retrieval of waste
    from aging single-shell tanks. Develop single-shell tank integrity
    programs for safe storage of waste.

    
 

    
· South Carolina (Total funding
    $1.615 billion)



    Savannah River Site ($1.615 billion) - Accelerate decommissioning
    of nuclear facilities and contaminated areas throughout the Site,
    including in-place decommissioning of two nuclear materials production
    reactors. Recovery Act work includes shipping more than 4,500
    cubic meters of waste out of South Carolina and will reduce the
    site’s industrial area by 40 percent, or 79,000 acres, by
    September 2011.

    
 

    
· Tennessee (Total funding $755
    million)



    Oak Ridge ($755 million) - At the East Tennessee Technology Park,
    Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 sites, accelerate demolition
    and disposal of remaining uranium enrichment plant buildings,
    surplus Manhattan Project era buildings, and highly contaminated
    uranium processing buildings, and perform soil remediation to
    protect area groundwater. Accelerate cleanup of the most significant
    sources of off-site mercury release to East Fork Poplar Creek
    to prevent further contamination of the area. 



    · Idaho (Total funding $468 million)

    
Idaho National Laboratory ($468 million)
    - Accelerate demolition of excess nuclear and radiological facilities
    resulting in a footprint reduction of more than 800,000 square
    feet. Retrieve targeted waste per the Agreement with the state
    of Idaho and accelerate the shipment of waste offsite for disposal.



    · New Mexico (Total funding $384 million)



    Carlsbad (WIPP-$172 million) - Accelerate completion of legacy
    transuranic waste shipment preparation and shipments to the Waste
    Isolation Pilot Plant repository from one large quantity site
    and seven small quantity sites. Accelerate shipments from four
    other large quantity sites. 



    Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL-$212M) - Demolish 35 buildings
    and structures across the complex, reducing the footprint by
    more than 260,000 square feet. 



    New York (Total funding $148 million)

    Brookhaven ($42 million) - Demolish surplus ancillary structures
    associated with a nuclear research reactor. Remove contaminated
    soil and buried pipelines and dispose of off-site, protecting
    the surrounding soil and groundwater.



    Separations Process Research Unit (SPRU) ($32 million) –
    Cleanup the North Field Land Area removing contaminated soil
    for off-site disposal, performing sampling to confirm cleanup
    results and re-grading and re-seeding the area. 



    West Valley ($74 million) - Design and construct a storage system
    for high-level waste canisters and move high-level waste canisters
    from the former waste treatment facility to the new system, allowing
    the former treatment facility to be decontaminated and demolished
    earlier than planned. Begin demolition of former process buildings
    and install a system to prevent migration of groundwater contamination.
    Accelerate radioactive waste treatment and disposal activities
    to shrink the area of site contamination.

    
 

    
Ohio (Total funding $138 million)

    Miamisburg ($20 million) - Complete remediation of Operable Unit
    1 (historic landfill).



    Portsmouth ($118 million) - Demolish surplus facilities, including
    electrical switchyard structures, cooling towers, and one pump
    house, and clean up 65 acres of contaminated soils. Remove the
    source of the highest contaminant concentration groundwater plume
    on site, preventing further potential groundwater contamination.



    · Utah (Total funding $108 million)



    Moab ($108 million) - Accelerate removal of uranium mill tailings
    away from the Colorado River and dispose of an additional two
    million tons of mill tailings by 2011, accelerating site cleanup
    by several years. The Recovery Act work will be accomplished
    by increasing the number of railcars and shipments. 



    · Illinois (Total funding $99 million)



    Argonne National Laboratory ($99 million) - Accelerate demolition
    of excess contaminated facilities and waste cleanout activities
    several years early.



    · Kentucky (Total funding $79 million)



    Paducah ($79 million) - Remove and dispose of large process equipment
    and demolish surplus chemical processing facilities, shrinking
    the area of contamination prior.

    
· California (Total funding $62
    million)



    ETEC ($54 million) -Provide funding for the U.S. Environmental
    Protection Agency to conduct radiological assessments necessary
    to complete an environmental impact statement and enable completion
    of site cleanup. 



    Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) ($8 million) - Accelerate
    excavation and disposal of contaminated soil and accelerate installation
    of groundwater treatment systems.



    · Nevada (Total funding $44 million)



    Nevada Test Site ($44 million) - Identify waste characteristics
    within the soil at three corrective action sites and install
    groundwater monitoring wells to provide additional data on groundwater
    contamination to support future cleanup work. Demolish three
    major facilities and two smaller structures, removing contaminated
    materials. 



    · Multiple States (Total funding $69 million)



    Uranium Thorium Payments, Statutory Reimbursement ($69 million)
    - Reimburse cleanup costs to companies that formerly processed
    uranium and thorium for sale to the federal government. These
    payments may allow companies to accelerate completion of site
    cleanup work. 



    · Management & Oversight/Reserve at Headquarters and
    Sites (Total funding $70 million) 



    For more information on the Department’s Environmental Management
    activities, visit http://www.em.doe.gov/pages/emhome.aspx.
    For regular updates on Department of Energy’s efforts to
    implement the President’s American Recovery and Reinvestment
    Act, visit energy.gov/recovery.





    -DOE-

    
New
    Open Solicitations for Office of Justice Programs

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    2009 Budget Executive Summary 

    The FDIC Board of Directors approves an annual Corporate Operating
    Budget to fund the operations of the Corporation. The FDIC also
    has a separate Investment Budget that is composed of individual
    project budgets approved by the Board of Directors for major
    investment projects. 

    Please visit http://www.fdic.gov/about/strategic/budget/index.html
    for more information on the 2009 Corporate Operating Budget as
    well as projected 2009 spending from the Investment Budget. 

    U.S.
    Department of State Background Notes : South Africa (03/09) 

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:38:58 -0500 

    
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 

    Contact: Dave Smallen, Tel.: (202) 366-5568 

    MEDIA ADVISORY

    
BTS Releases North American Surface
    Trade Numbers for January: 

    January Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Fell 27.2 Percent
    from 

    January 2008 (State Rankings in Tables 5 and 7) 

    Surface transportation trade between the United States and its
    North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and
    Mexico was 27.2 percent lower in January 2009 than in January
    2008, dropping to $47.5 billion, the biggest year-to-year percentage
    decline on record, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS),
    a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research
    and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), reported today.


    A news release and summary tables can be found at www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm.
    More information on transborder freight data and data from previous
    months are posted on the BTS website at http://www.bts.gov/transborder/.

    
-END- 


    
New
    Orleans Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    Federal
    Register Notices for CFTC.gov updated

    
Dallas
    Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    Federal
    Courts Advised: Check Attorney's Credentials 

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:55:00 -0500 

    Federal courts nationwide are being advised to do more to make
    sure the people who seek permission to represent clients in them
    are truly licensed lawyers. 

    PACER
    to List Sealed Cases 

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:55:00 -0500 

    The Judicial Conference has voted to make federal court sealed
    cases more readily apparent. 

    
U.S.
    Department of State Remarks With Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime
    Verhagen 

    Hillary Rodham Clinton

    
Secretary of State

    
The Hague, Netherlands, DC

    
March 31, 2009
 

    Conferences
    and Meetings Group Hotel Bookings for Meetings and Destination
    Planners

    Registration is Now Open! 



    Third Annual National Conference on Health Communication,
    Marketing and Media 

    August 11-13, 2009 

    Omni Hotel 

    Atlanta, GA 

    Sponsored by: 

    National Center for Health Marketing, the Office of Enterprise
    Communication, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the
    Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the
    National Cancer Institute and the National Public Health Information
    Coalition 

    To register or learn about the conference, please visit

    http://www.cdc.gov/healthmarketing/NCHCMM2009/




    This conference brings together individuals representing academia,
    public health researchers and practitioners from federal and
    state government and the private sector, and provides a forum
    for collegial dialogue within and across these disciplines. The
    conference is an excellent opportunity to meet with colleagues
    and shape the future of health communication, marketing, and
    media practice. 

    VACANCY:
    DTIC-18-09 Supervisory Document Management Specialist, YC-0301-02
    (DTIC-OM)
 

    
Draft
    Airports Advisory Circulars web updated

    
Draft Item P-621 for AC 150/5370-10D, Specification
    for Construction of Airports 

    Comments are requested by May 22, 2009.

    
Please visit the page to access the draft
    AC and read procedures for submitting comments. 

    
Monthly Interest Rate Update for Pension
    Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is available on PBGC's
    Monthly Interest Rate Update Web page. 

    
Minneapolis
    Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    NASA
    Honors Gemini and Apollo Astronaut James Lovell

    Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:00:00 -0500

    NASA will honor astronaut James "Jim" Lovell, Jr.,
    with the presentation of an Ambassador of Exploration Award for
    his contributions to the U.S. space program.

    
Phoenix
    Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    
U.S.
    Department of State Remarks at The International Conference on
    Afghanistan 

    Hillary Rodham Clinton

    
Secretary of State

    
The Hague, Netherlands

    
March 31, 2009
 

    


    
Issue Number: A-2009-28 

    Inside This Issue

    
Announcement 2009-28
    is issued pursuant to § 521(b) of Pub. L. 106-170, the Ticket
    to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, which requires
    the Secretary of the Treasury to report annually to the public
    concerning Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) and the APA Program.
    The first report covered calendar years 1991 through 1999. Subsequent
    reports covered separately each calendar year 2000 through 2007.
    This tenth report describes the experience, structure and activities
    of the APA Program during calendar year 2008. It does not provide
    guidance regarding the application of the arm’s length standard.




    Announcement 2009-28 will be in IRB 2009-15, dated April 13,
    2009. 

    
Seattle
    Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    
Contract Solicitations and Awards for
    TRICARE Communications

    
This information has been recently updated.




    H94002-08-R-0003 

    TRICARE Claims Review Services (TCRS) 

    Amended on March 30, 2009 

    http://www.tricare.mil/contracting/Healthcare/solicitations/index.cfm
    


    
Congressional Information for TRICARE
    Communications

    
This information has recently been updated.


    March 25, 2009 

    S. Ward Casscells, MD, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health
    Affairs testified on Health Care Transition Needs of Service
    Members. 

    To view the full testimony visit: http://www.tricare.mil/planning/congress/index.cfm
    

    
Fact
    Sheets for U.S. Federal Aviation Administration

    
A new fact sheet, FAA
    Forecast Fact Sheet, is now available. 

    


    
Democratic Budget Shows Commitment To
    Education Reform

    
The United States is now the only industrialized
    country where young people are less likely than their parents
    to earn a high school diploma. In order to remain competitive
    in the global economy, we must act now to ensure all children
    have the opportunity to receive a world-class education. The
    House Democratic budget accommodates the President’s proposals
    to renew and restore our education system to expand access for
    America’s youth, including additional funding for new initiatives
    in early childhood education, support for programs that make
    sure all children learn and achieve in school, and a new tax
    credit and increasing the Pell Grant award to help cover college
    costs.



    Click
    here to read more about how the House Democratic budget addresses
    education reform.

    
###
 

    U.S.
    Department of State Background Notes : United Kingdom (03/09)
    

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:38:02 -0500 

    EPA Launches Guidance on Environmental
    Models 

    Contact: Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-4355 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov


    EPA has released a guidance document on the development, evaluation
    and application of environmental models used to inform environmental
    decision making. This new resource also provides greater transparency
    of EPA’s use of models and guidance on the use of proprietary
    tools and software. 

    EPA develops and uses a wide range of computer models to simulate
    the fate of various pollutants, estimate pollution’s impact
    on public health and the environment, and evaluate the cost and
    benefits of alternative policies. EPA has been a global leader
    in the development and use of environmental computer models for
    environmental protection and continues to improve model development
    and use. 

    More information: http://www.epa.gov/crem


    R070 

    


    
Democratic Budget Shows Commitment to
    Energy Independence and Security

    
With our nation facing tremendous job losses,
    security threats, skyrocketing consumer prices, and an increased
    risk of global warming, it is critical that we look to transition
    away from our dependence on foreign oil and invest in the development
    of clean and efficient sources of energy that can be produced
    here at home and will create American jobs. That is why one of
    the primary principles in the President’s budget is to increase
    America’s energy independence and security. The House Democratic
    budget embraces that goal, including short- and long-term plans
    for achieving energy independence to ensure the security of our
    nation, create jobs, and build a clean energy future.



    Click
    here to read more about how the House Democratic budget promotes
    energy independence. 

    

    
###
 

    VACANCY:
    Environmental Protection Specialist, GS-0028-12/13 FEMA

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:59:00 -0500

    AN250552 (Closing Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT)

    
AT
    Notice FAAO JO 7210.3 for U.S. Federal Aviation Administration

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    United
    States Department of Defense Image Gallery
 

    
Secretary
    Clinton and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison at Women's Museum's
    "Stories From the Top" Program 

    Dallas, Texas

    
March 27, 2009 

    Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative
    

    Grant Applications Due April 23





    Madison, WI…….Cooperative Conservation Partnership
    Initiative (CCPI) Grants offer a unique opportunity for non-profit
    groups, conservation organizations and others to leverage federal
    funding for their local or regional conservation projects. The
    funding for these grants comes from the U. S. Department of Agriculture
    Natural Resources Conservation Service through two of its programs,
    the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Wildlife
    Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP). The purpose of the grant must
    fit within the purposes of those programs, and it must meet some
    natural resource priority for the state.



    The CCPI funds work best to supplement or expand an existing
    project, since these funds are intended for eligible landowners
    for EQIP or WHIP conservation work. The funds are for costsharing
    only and cannot be used for staffing or other organization expenses.



    Proposals for state projects must be submitted to the Wisconsin
    State Conservationist by April 23. Multi-state and national projects
    must be submitted to the NRCS National Office in Washington,
    D.C. by the same date. In addition, USDA is seeking comment on
    how CCPI can contribute toward new methods of renewable energy
    production and conservation, reduce the effects of climate change,
    and reduce net carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. Comments
    must be submitted by April 8. 



    Under this program, NRCS enters into multi-year agreements with
    eligible partners for conservation on agricultural and non-industrial
    private forest lands. Partners may include state and local units
    of governments, producer associations, farmer cooperatives, federally
    recognized American Indian tribes, colleges and universities
    and non-governmental organizations with a history of working
    closely with producers.



    For Wisconsin projects, $1.1 million in EQIP funding, and $52,910
    in WHIP funding is available this year. Multi-state projects
    are funded at the national level. More information for both Wisconsin
    and multi-state project applications, including grant application
    forms can be seen at www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov
    or contact Tom Krapf, at tom.krapf@wi.usda.gov 



    #

    
Los
    Angeles Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    Conflict
    Management Education and Training Courses

    The United States Institute of Peace is proud to unveil its new
    conflict management education and training program. The courses
    offered through USIP’s education and training center include
    a mix of theory and practice, with a heavy dose of applied exercises,
    including case studies, simulations, and practical and small
    group exercises. Courses are currently enrolling interested participants
    in the upcoming classes.

    
Worden
    Testifies on Capitol Hill

    
On Thursday, March 26, USIP program officer
    Scott Worden testified on human rights in Afghanistan before
    the United States Mission to the Organization for Security and
    Cooperation in Europe, better known as the Helsinki Commission.
    In his briefing, Worden discussed four areas of Afghan governance
    that must improve as a foundation for strong and stable human
    rights: fighting corruption, ensuring free and fair elections,
    pursuing transitional justice and reconciliation, and reforming
    the justice system. 

    Discussing
    The Way Forward in Afghanistan

    On Friday, March 27, the Obama Administration released its new
    strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, which continues this week
    to be a central topic in Washington. General Petraeus will testify
    on Capitol Hill on Thursday, as does USIP report author Seth
    Jones. On Friday, April 3, USIP launches its Congressional Newsmaker
    Series on War and Peace with Senator Kit Bond of Missouri, whose
    talk is titled "Afghanistan: A Senatorial View."
 

    What's
    New with ACE?

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:27:05 -0500

    


    
Issue Number: RP-2009-22 

    Inside This Issue

    
Revenue Procedure 2009-22
    is provided to individuals who fail to meet the eligibility requirements
    of section 911(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code because adverse
    conditions in a foreign country preclude the individuals from
    meeting those requirements. A current list of the countries for
    tax year 2008 and the dates those countries are subject to the
    section 911(d)(4) waiver is provided. 

    Revenue Procedure 2009-22 will be in IRB 2009-16, dated April
    20, 2009. 

    


    
Contact: Katie Grant

    202-225-3130For Immediate Release

    March 31, 2009

    
Hoyer Statement on House Floor Schedule

    
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader
    Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on
    the schedule for the U.S. House of Representatives:



    “..House will take up H.R. 1256, the Family Smoking Prevention
    and Tobacco Control Act. This is important legislation that will
    give the FDA authority to regulate tobacco products, as well
    as prevent both the marketing and the sale of tobacco products
    to minors. The threat of tobacco addiction to public health is
    serious, and this bill takes concrete steps to protect our nation’s
    youth.”

    
###
 

    NRC
    to Discuss 2008 Performance Assessment for Quad Cities Nuclear
    Power Plant Unit 1 and 2

    
Springfield
    Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    
Boston
    Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    
Seattle
    Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    
Mobile
    Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    TSA's
    Secure Flight Begins Vetting Passengers

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500
 

    
Indianapolis
    Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    NASA
    Announces $11.5 Million In K-12 Competitive Grant Awards

    Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:00:00 -0500

    U.S.
    Department of State Background Notes : Saint Vincent and the
    Grenadines (03/09) 

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:53:17 -0500 


    NEW
    VACANCIES AT CFTC.gov

    The following job opening has been published. 

    09-190,
    Supervisory Attorney-Advisor (General), CT-0905-14/15 

    Office of the Executive Director, Office of Proceedings, Washington,
    DC 

    Closes April 28, 2009 

    Janet
    Woodka Appointed Gulf Coast Rebuilding Coordinator

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:00:00 -0500

    U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano
    announced the appointment of disaster recovery veteran Janet
    L. Woodka, following the selection of Woodka by President Obama
    to be the Federal Coordinator of Rebuilding in the Gulf Coast
    Region.

    
Director's
    Page - Policy & Budget for National Institutes of Health
    (NIH)

    
A new section for testimonies has been
    added to the page, and is now available. 


    
Recall Case Archive for USDA Food Safety
    and Inspection Service

    
This information has recently been updated.
    Case 016-2008, Illinois Firm Recalls Beef Products Due To Possible
    E. coli O157:H7 Contamination, has been moved to the archive

    
(Select "2008", http://www.fsis.usda.gov/fsis_recalls/Recall_Case_Archive_2008/index.asp)
    

    U.S.
    Department of State Background Notes : Malta (03/09) 

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:02:13 -0500 

    U.S.
    Department of State Background Notes : Saint Kitts and Nevis
    (03/09) 

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:15:37 -0500 


    
Vulnerability Summary for the Week of
    March 23, 2009

    
This bulletin provides a summary of new
    vulnerabilities that have been

    recorded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology
    (NIST)

    National Vulnerability Database (NVD) the week of March 23, 2009.
    It is

    available here:

    
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/bulletins/SB09-090.html

    CSMS#
    09-000148 - Pending Transaction Sets for ABI and AMS Importer
    Security Filings (ISF)

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:07:03 -0500

    
News
    & Updates from the FAA Homepage

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    
Office
    of Disability Employment Policy - In Focus for United States
    Department of Labor

    
The April edition of Business Sense is
    now available. 

    CSMS#
    09-000149 - Information regarding ISF Status Advisory Messages

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:15:43 -0500

    
Houston
    Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    VACANCY:
    Supervisory Program Specialist (Applicant Services), GS-0301-13
    FEMA

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:55:59 -0500

    DE-09-264-SLC2 (Closing Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT)

    
U.S.
    to Run for Election to the UN Human Rights Council 

    Gordon Duguid

    
Acting Deputy Department Spokesman, Office
    of the Spokesman

    
Bureau of Public Affairs

    
Washington, DC

    
March 31, 2009

    
C-SPAN Daily Alert

    Programming Information for Tues. 3/31 - Weds. 4/1, 2009

    **********************************************************************

    
C-SPAN Highlights

    
Tonight:

    * BBC Newsnight on G20 Summit and President Obama Visit (11pm)

    * General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson Press Conference (11:45pm)

    * Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Senate Floor Remarks on the Auto
    Industry (12:40am)

    
Tomorrow:

    * U.S. House: In Session (10am) - LIVE

    **********************************************************************

    C-SPAN2 Highlights

    
Tonight:

    * General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson Press Conference (8pm)

    * WJ: Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) (8:55pm)

    * BBC Newsnight on G20 Summit and President Obama Visit (9:20pm)

    
Tomorrow:

    * British House of Commons Prime Minister's Questions (7am) -
    LIVE

    * U.S. Senate: In Session (Time TBA) - LIVE

    **********************************************************************

    C-SPAN3 Highlights

    
Tonight:

    * Heritage Foundation Panel on G-20 Summit Preview (10pm)

    
Tomorrow:

    * Senate Hearing on U.S. Policy on Afghanistan & Pakistan
    (9:30am) - LIVE

    * House Rules Cmte. Meeting on FY 2010 Budget Amendments (3pm)
    - LIVE

    **********************************************************************

    C-SPAN Radio Highlights

    
Tonight:

    * BBC Newsnight on G20 Summit & Pres. Obama Visit (5:30pm)-
    LIVE

    
Tomorrow:

    * Washington Journal (7am) - LIVE

    * Senate Hearing on U.S. Policy on Afghanistan & Pakistan
    (9:30am) - LIVE

    **********************************************************************

    Politics Highlights

    
* C-SPAN Political Programming - Sunday
    on C-SPAN at 6:30pm ET

    **********************************************************************

    Washington Journal Highlights

    
* Discussion on the G20 Summit

    * Discussion on Global Economic Forecasts

    * Interview with C-SPAN's StudentCam Winners

    * Discussion on Politics

    **********************************************************************

    C-SPAN Capitol Spotlight

    
* Key House Democrats released details
    of their proposed climate-change legislation Tuesday but left
    unresolved what could be the most controversial issue: how to
    distribute emission allowances...- Full Story at http://www.c-span.org/capitolspotlight

    
* Where is the smallest House district
    (in area) represented by a Republican? - Answer at http://www.c-span.org/capitolspotlight
 

    


    
Contact: Katie Grant

    202-225-3130For Immediate Release

    March 31, 2009

    
Hoyer Statement on the Serve America
    Act

    
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader
    Steny H. Hoyer released the following statement today upon House
    passage of the Senator Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act:



    “Today, the House passed the Senator Edward M. Kennedy Serve
    America Act, which will create outlets for service so people
    of all ages can contribute to our nation’s recovery. A top
    priority of President Obama, this legislation will increase the
    size of the AmeriCorps program, create new service opportunities
    to volunteer in fields such as clean energy and education, and
    provide the greatest expansion in national service since the
    days of John F. Kennedy.



    “As we continue to address the challenges facing our nation,
    it is a testament to our national spirit that we make available
    the resources to allow Americans the opportunity to give back
    to their communities. I commend the House for passing this important
    legislation, applaud Americans for their self-sacrifice in contributing
    to their country during these difficult times, and look forward
    to sending this important legislation to the President for his
    signature.”

    
###

    
BSA Forms for FinCEN Updates

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    Important Notice for E-Filers: BSA E-Filing Will Transition to
    Adobe Forms.

    
Notice can be found under What's New at
    www.fincen.gov. 

    
U.S.
    Department of State : Daily Press Briefing - March 31

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:30:56 -0500

    Gordon Duguid

    
Acting Deputy Department Spokesman

    Daily Press Briefing

    
March 31, 2009
 

    NASA
    Mission Update: SWIFT

    Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0500

    Swift is a first-of-its-kind multi-wavelength observatory dedicated
    to the study of gamma-ray burst (GRB) science. Its three instruments
    will work together to observe GRBs and afterglows in the gamma
    ray, X-ray, ultraviolet, and optical wavebands.

    


    
Issue Number: N-2009-27 

    Inside This Issue

    
Notice 2009-27 is
    guidance provided under section 3001 of the American Recovery
    and Reinvestment Act of 2009 relating to the premium reduction
    for individuals who were involuntarily terminated and are electing
    COBRA continuation coverage under the group health plan of their
    former employer. 



    Notice 2009-27 will appear in IRB 2009-16 dated April 20, 2009.
    

    
U.S.
    Department of State Press Availability Following International
    Conference on Afghanistan 

    Hillary Rodham Clinton

    
Secretary of State

    
The Hague, , Netherlands
 

    Homes
    and Housing page and/or the Mortgages for Home Buyers and Homeowners
    page on USA.gov 

    These pages have been updated with a new link to MakingHomeAffordable.gov,
    a new website to help consumers find out if they are eligible
    to reduce their monthly mortgage payment as part of the "Making
    Home Affordable" program. 

    Today
    in the Department of Defense, 4/1/2009 

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:02:00 -0500 

    DoD
    Contracts for March 31, 2009 

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:01:00 -0500 


    
Selected
    New Postings on U.S. Department of Justice Web sites

    
This page has recently been updated

    
U.S.
    Department of State: Last Senior U.S. Official Meeting with Burmese
    Foreign Minister 

    Gordon Duguid

    
Acting Deputy Department Spokesman, Office
    of the Spokesman

    
Bureau of Public Affairs

    
Washington, DC

    
National
    Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    
Scheduled
    Events for U.S. Department of Homeland Security

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    


    
Contact: Stephanie Lundberg

    202-225-3130For Immediate Release

    March 31, 2009

    
Hoyer Statement on Waxman-Markey Clean
    Energy Discussion Draft

    
WASHINGTON, DC – Majority Leader Steny
    H. Hoyer (Md.) released the following statement on the discussion
    draft of energy legislation released today by Energy and Commerce
    Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and Energy and Environment Subcommittee
    Chairman Edward Markey.

    
“This morning, Chairmen Waxman and
    Markey unveiled a discussion draft that is a starting point for
    the House’s work on comprehensive energy legislation. This
    step follows the commitment made in the President’s budget
    – as well as the budget we will consider this week in the
    House - to transition away from our dependence on foreign oil
    and invest in the development of cleaner and more efficient sources
    of energy.



    “Energy legislation is critical in our efforts to rebuild
    the economy. Through this initiative we will help build a reliable
    market for private sector investment in energy technologies and
    development, create new ‘green collar’ jobs for American
    workers, and help households, communities and businesses use
    energy more efficiently and participate in the transition to
    a clean energy future.



    “I am particularly pleased that the draft includes provisions
    to address forest carbon as part of the section designed to limit
    and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. I
    was joined by a group of colleagues in urging that both offsets
    and direct investments in forest carbon be used as a responsible,
    low-cost and realistic option to reduce global emissions
    from the forest sector. Such provisions, which are supported
    by a broad coalition of companies and environmental organizations,
    will encourage and support developing country participation in
    reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and will be important as businesses
    and other entities work to reduce emissions in a cost-effective
    way.



    “Over the next two months, Chairmen Waxman and Markey will
    be working with Congressman Dingell, Congressman Boucher, and
    all the members of the committee, to build broad consensus around
    final energy legislation with a goal of reporting a bill out
    of committee by Memorial Day.”

    
###

    
Economic
    Recovery Act of 2009 for U.S. Department of Homeland Security

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    
Assistant
    Secretary Boucher's Interview With the BBC Regarding Afghanistan
    

    Assistant Secretary

    
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs

    
Washington, DC

    
March 27, 2009

    
Internet
    Crime Complaint Center for Federal Bureau of Investigation

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 

    Full
    U.S. Immigration Laws Delayed in Commonwealth of the Northern
    Mariana Islands

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:00:00 -0500

    U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano
    announced the delayed transition to full application of the U.S.
    immigration provisions of Title VII of the Consolidated Natural
    Resources Act of 2008 (CNRA) until November 28, 2009. Title VII
    extends U.S. immigration laws to the Commonwealth of the Northern
    Mariana Islands (CNMI) which currently administers its own immigration
    system.
 

    HUD Webcasts—April 2009

    Fair Housing Month Program

    Wednesday, April 1, 2009

    2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (11:00 AM Pacific)

    --View the webcast here: http://www.hud.gov/webcasts/index.cfm
    

    Be
    Aware of the Potential Threat Posed by the Conficker Worm

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:13:07 -0500

    FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director Shawn Henry issued a statement
    on the potential threat posed by the Conficker worm, as well
    as how to guard against it and other cyber threats.

    
FBI
    In the News

    
This information has recently been updated,
    and is now available. 


    Northwest Mountain Region Quarterly Newsletter
    for U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. 

    Presentations given at our recent annual
    Airports Conference are now available. 

    


    
Contact: Katie Grant

    202-225-3130For Immediate Release

    March 31, 2009

    
Hoyer Statement on Making Work Pay Tax
    Credit

    
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader
    Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on
    the Making Work Pay tax credit, which takes effect tomorrow,
    April 1:



    “We have already seen real results from the American Recovery
    and Reinvestment Act, including jobs saved and created across
    the country. Tomorrow, we will see another result: tax relief
    for middle-class Americans.



    “Much of the focus of the economic recovery bill was assistance
    to middle-income families. The ‘Making Work Pay’ tax
    credit will start showing up in paychecks tomorrow, with credits
    each month adding up to $400 for adults and $800 for families
    over the course of a year. This additional money in their paycheck
    as a result of this tax credit is vital to working families who
    are struggling to pay their bills and make ends meet during this
    recession.



    “This Democratic Congress has consistently fought for the
    needs of the middle-class in America, and the ‘Making Work
    Pay’ tax credit is just one more piece of our efforts to
    help them face the current economic crisis.”

    
###

    VACANCY:
    Insurance Examiner, GS-1163-09 FEMA

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:12:56 -0500

    AN240233-SW09 (Closing Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT)
 

    VACANCY:
    Financial Management Specialist, GS-0501-12/13 FEMA

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:16:31 -0500

    KAT-09-GCRO-7068-JAZ (Closing Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00
    EDT)

    VACANCY:
    Contract Specialist, GS-1102-11/12 FEMA

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:48:40 -0500

    KAT-09-GCRO-7067-JAZ (Closing Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 00:00:00
    EDT)

    Travel pages at USA.gov ( http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Travel.shtml
    ). 

    Many of these pages have been updated with a new link to the
    Western
    Hemisphere Travel Initiative. 


    Small
    Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:17:03 -0500

    Information on the Small Business Act, Customs Regulatory Fairness
    Program, small business rights and designation of an agency liaison
    for small business issues.

    NASA
    Updates Media Credentials Deadlines For Next Shuttle Flight

    Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:00:00 -0500

    NASA is updating its media accreditation deadlines for space
    shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space
    Telescope.

    NASA's
    Space Shuttle Atlantis at Launch Pad for Hubble Mission

    Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:00:00 -0500

    After safely reaching its launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space
    Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis now awaits liftoff
    for its target May 12 STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.
 

    NASA's
    Shuttle Atlantis Starts Move to Launch Pad at 4 a.m. Tuesday

    Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:00:00 -0500

    Space shuttle Atlantis' rollout to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy
    Space Center in Florida has been rescheduled to begin at 4 a.m.
    EDT on Tuesday, March 31, as preparations for the STS-125 mission
    move forward.

    NASA's
    Shuttle Discovery Glides Home After Successful Mission

    Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:00:00 -0500

    Space shuttle Discovery and its crew landed at 3:14 p.m. EDT
    Saturday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, completing
    a 13-day journey of more than 5.3 million miles.

    STS-119
    MCC Status Report #26

    Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:00:00 -0500

    Discoverys crew of seven is preparing for a 12:39 p.m. CDT landing
    today at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
 

    STS-119
    MCC Status Report #27

    Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:00:00 -0500

    After boosting the International Space Station to full power,
    the seven member crew of Discovery returned to Earth today, threading
    the weather needle for a landing at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

    NASA
    Continues to Advance International Polar Year Science

    Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:00:00 -0500

    Although the International Polar Year officially came to a close
    in February, NASA is continuing to push the frontiers of polar
    science from space, the air and the surface of ice.

    
U.S.
    Department of State Daily Appointments Schedule for April 1,
    2009 

    Washington, DC

    
April 1, 2009
 

    


    
FLOOR SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL
    1, 2009

    


    House Meets At… Last Vote Predicted…

    
10:00 a.m.: Legislative Business 



    Fifteen “One Minutes” Per Side 8:00 – 9:00 p.m.

    H.R.
    1664 – To amend the executive compensation provisions
    of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to prohibit
    unreasonable and excessive compensation and compensation not
    based on performance standards (Reps. Grayson/Himes – Financial
    Services) (Subject to a Rule)



    H.R.
    1256 - Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
    (Rep. Waxman – Energy and Commerce) (Subject to a Rule)



    Begin Consideration of H.Con.Res.
    85 – Setting forth the congressional budget for the
    United States Government for fiscal year 2010 and including the
    appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2009 and 2011 through
    2014. (Rep. Spratt – Budget) (Subject to a Rule)



    Dispose of H.Res. __ - Raising a question of privileges of the
    House (Rep. Flake – Privileged Resolution)



    Suspensions (3 Bills)

    1) H.R.
    1804 - The Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 (Rep. Towns
    – Oversight and Government Reform)

    2) H.R.
    1575 - End Government Reimbursement of Excessive Executive
    Disbursements (End GREED) Act, as Amended (Rep. Conyers –
    Judiciary)

    3) H.Res.
    298 - Congratulating the on-premise sign industry for its
    contributions to the success of small businesses (Rep. King (IA)
    – Small Business)



    Postponed Suspension Vote (1 Bill)

    1) H.Res.
    290 - Honoring the lives and mourning the loss of Sergeant
    Mark Dunakin, Sergeant Ervin Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and
    Officer John Hege, Members of the Oakland Police Department in
    California who were brutally slain in the line of duty (Rep.
    Lee (CA) – Judiciary)

    
ticker timeline 00:08 Eastern Time Wednesday
    April 1, 2009

    



    
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