usdemocrats.com news, current events, political news ticker, daily weblog

usdemocrats.com political news ticker/weblog
Thursday February 26, 2009 for yesterday's ticker entries click here

back to weblog index

Thursday, February 26, 2009

make sure to refresh the page to view the most current updates

ticker timeline 23:59 Eastern Thursday, February
26, 2009

Congressional
Leaders Ask Capitol Power to Switch to Natural Gas ...

By Alex Felsinger

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid sent a letter to the Capitol Architect asking the
Capitol Power Plant to switch from coal to natural gas by the
end of 2009. The proposal has been made in the past ...

Paterson
Shakes Up Staff, From Top Down

New York Times - United States

Several other Clinton veterans will also play roles on Mr. Paterson’s
campaign. For polling, Mr. Paterson has hired Stanley B. Greenberg
and Al Quinlan of ...

Clinton’s
US Bond Push Could Fill China’s Jails: Amity Shlaes

Bloomberg - USA

That’s the deal Hillary Clinton struck with the Chinese
leadership. The new secretary of state materialized in Beijing
to ask the Chinese to shore up the ...

Clinton
to Review Strategies with Pakistan, Afghan FMs

Voice of America - USA

By VOA News US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets Thursday
with the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan to discuss
new US strategies in the ...

Clinton
dispatching new North Korea envoy

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
plans to send the new US envoy on North Korean policy to meet
with negotiators in Asia trying to ...

"What's New in HuGENetTM" newsletter
from the Office of Public Health Genomics at the CDC. We are moving this content to our HuGENetTM home
page at http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/hugenet/default.htm

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

E-mail: opa@nrc.gov

Site: http://www.nrc.gov

No. 09-037

February 26, 2009

NRC EXTENDS COMMENT PERIOD TO APRIL
6 ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES FOR SUMMER NEW REACTOR APPLICATION

Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is
now accepting comment until April 6 regarding environmental issues
the agency should consider in reviewing a Combined License application
for two new reactors proposed for the Summer site near Columbia,
S.C.

South Carolina Electric & Gas and Santee
Cooper submitted the application March 27, 2008, seeking permission
to build and operate two AP1000 reactors at the Summer site.
The application’s environmental report is available on the
agency’s Web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/col/summer.html.
Copies of the report are also available at the Fairfield County
Library, 300 Washington St. in Winnsboro.

NRC staff held meetings near the site to
gather public comment in late January, with a public comment
period set to expire March 6. Local officials requested an extension
to the scoping process earlier this month. The NRC will now consider
comments on the scope of the environmental review submitted no
later than April 6. Comments may be mailed to the Chief, Rules
and Directives Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office
of Administration, Mailstop TWB-05-B01M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or sent by e- mail at
Summer.COLEIS@nrc.gov.

A notice of the extension will be published
shortly in the Federal Register.

###

Departments
of Homeland Security and State Certify WHTI Criteria

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 06:00:00 -0600

The U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and State announced
on February 26, 2009 that their efforts have enabled the departments
to jointly certify to Congress that all statutory criteria have
been met prior to implementing the Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative (WHTI) at land and sea borders on June 1, 2009.

Senate
to probe Bush-era interrogation program

The Associated Press

The investigation is an attempt to inject fact into an argument
that is often shaped by anecdotes, news reports and the television
show "24. ...

FDIC Quarterly Banking Profile - Fourth
Quarter 2008

The fourth quarter 2008 FDIC Quarterly
Banking Profile (QBP) is now available online. FDIC-insured
institutions reported a net loss of $26.2 billion in the fourth
quarter of 2008, a decline of $27.8 billion from the $575 million
that the industry earned in the fourth quarter of 2007 and the
first quarterly loss since 1990. Rising loan-loss provisions,
losses from trading activities and goodwill write-downs all contributed
to the quarterly net loss as banks continue to repair their balance
sheets in order to return to profitability in future periods.
More than two-thirds of all insured institutions were profitable
in the fourth quarter, but their earnings were outweighed by
large losses at a number of big banks.

The QBP provides the earliest comprehensive summary of financial
results for all FDIC-insured institutions. This report card on
industry status and performance includes written analyses, graphs
and statistical tables. In addition to the QBP, you may be interested
in these other related products that have been updated to reflect
this quarter’s data:

Call and Thrift
Financial Reports

Complete bank Call Reports and savings institution Thrift Financial
Reports, including detailed balance sheets and income statements.

Institution Directory

Comprehensive financial and demographic data for individual FDIC-insured
institutions.

Statistics
on Depository Institutions

Financial analysis tool that provides custom peer group analysis
and data download capability.

HUD-VASH Q&A

HUD and the Department of Veterans Affairs
are jointly administering 10,000 permanent housing vouchers funded
in FY08 under the HUD VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
HUD and the VA developed a Questions and Answers to assist stakeholders
in understanding the HUD-VASH program and the role that Continuums
of Care and homeless service providers and Field Offices have
already taken or may take to help address and alleviate homelessness
within the veteran community. To view the Q&A document, go
to the What’s New section on HUD’s Homelessness Resource
Exchange (HRE) at www.hudhre.info.

Emergency Management Higher Education
Program Notes

EMI Higher Education Activity Reports for
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

(1) Comparative Emergency Management – College Course Development
Project:

Received for review and approval, from course development team
leader George Haddow, George Washington University, Session 5
“Disasters and Development.” The course session is
23 pages and is supported by a power point slide set. The objectives
and scope of this session are:

5.1 Provide an overview of the correlation between disasters
and poverty

5.2 Explain how disasters influence, and
are influenced by, development

5.3 Illustrate an example of a disaster
impacting development through the use of a disaster case study

Scope:

In this session, the instructor will provide students with a
deeper understanding of the complex ways in which disasters impact
and influence poverty and development. The instructor will explain
to students the differences in the characteristics and magnitude
of disaster impacts in the poor and rich countries of the world,
with regards to a country’s capacity to prepare for or mitigate
disaster risk, and to respond and recovery once a disaster has
occurred. The instructor will also explain how disasters impact
the development process, and how development practice can both
positively and negatively affect vulnerability and risk. An in-depth
illustration of how disaster consequences as a factor of national
GDP can determine the lasting effect on a nation’s economy
and their ability to recover will also be provided. Finally,
the instructor will illustrate how disasters affect development
through the use of a case study.

This Session will be forwarded to the EMI web staff for upload
to the EM Hi-Ed Program website – Free College Courses Session
– Courses Under Development subsection – Comparative
Emergency Management Course -- http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/edu/coursesunderdev.asp

This material should be accessible within two weeks. Comments,
suggestions, etc. can be provided directly to George Haddow at:
ghaddow@gwu.edu

(2) Political and Policy Basis of Emergency Management –
HiEd Course Revision Project:

Received for review from Dr. Richard Sylves, Department of Political
Science, University of Delaware two documents: (1) outline of
his proposed revised “Political and Policy Basis of EM”
Hi-Ed course; (2) proposed new syllabus for this course revision
project.

From the Syllabus:

Public policy, public management, and politics are central to
understanding how we will take up the subject. This course is
about NATURAL AND HUMAN-CAUSED DISASTERS THE U.S. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
HAS COME TO ADDRESS IN LAW AND POLICY. The course also considers
that the concept of disaster is in many ways politically and
socially constructed. This will be explained over the semester.

America has a long history of disaster. This course examines
modern laws, programs, agencies, and institutions involved in
U.S. disaster policy and emergency management. The president
is a key player and Congress has major responsibilities in this
realm as well. State and local governments are also important,
as are a variety of private and non-profit organizations that
are stakeholders in this realm. The vast majority of American
disasters stem from “natural sources,” and so the course
has to address hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, major fires,
tornadoes and a variety of other natural disaster agents. However,
this course includes “human-caused” disasters, including
terror disasters. America experienced terrorism before 9/11.
Acts of terrorism hold the potential to be disasters and so are
included in this course. However, TERRORISM IS NOT THE EXCLUSIVE
SUBJECT OF THIS COURSE.

This is a completely revised Instructor Guide built on the model
of the Political and Policy Basis of EM Hi-Ed Course Prof. Sylves
produced with Dr. Blanchard’s help in the mid-1990s. From
1996-2000, Sylves did worked on two higher education projects
under grants from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency.
He tailored his work as both as an educational and training instrument.

The proposed outline is as follows:

Session 1: Course Orientation, Introduction, Objectives, Requirements

Session 2. U.S. Political and Policy System in Brief

Session 3: U.S. Hazards and Disaster in the Era of Homeland Security

Session 4: Fundamentals of EM and Emergency Managers as a Political
Force

Session 5: Executive Policy and Political Issues

Session 6: Legislative and Political Issues

Session 7: Disaster and Homeland Security Laws

Session 8: Disasters and Public Budgeting

Session: Quiz 1

Session 9: Federal Organization and Policy

Session 10: State and Local Organization & Policy

Session 11: Intergovernmental Relations

Session 12: Civil Security and Its Importance in Emer. Mgmt.
Policy and Politics

Session 13: The Public and Disaster’s Interest Groups

Session 14: Non-Profit Organizations and Disaster Policy

Session 15: The Media and Disasters

Session: Quiz 2

For further information or to offer comments or suggestions,
Dr. Sylves can be reached at: sylves@UDel.Edu

(3) Homeland Security Advisory Council Charter Update Release:

Received today from the DHS on behalf of the HSAC, an email on
updates to the HSAC homepage http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/HSAC_Charter.pdf
. Edited version:

United States Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security
Advisory Council

1. Official Designation: Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC).

2. Authority: This charter establishes the HSAC under the authority
of section 871 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Title 6
United States Code, Section 451. This committee shall operate
in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (FACA), Title 5 United States Code, Appendix.

3. Purpose: The HSAC shall provide organizationally independent,
strategic, timely, specific and actionable advice to the Secretary
and senior leadership on matters related to homeland security.
The HSAC shall periodically report, as requested, to the Secretary
on those matters. The HSAC serves as an advisory body with the
goal of providing advice upon the request of the Secretary. The
HSAC shall provide advice to the Secretary when requested for:

A. Strategy and Policy: Recommendations for the development of
strategies and policies that will further the Department’s
ability to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from
terrorist attacks, major disasters, or other emergencies.

B. Leadership and Coordination: Recommendations on improving
the Department’s leadership and coordination, internally
across the Department, externally across the Federal government,
and among state, local, tribal governments, first responders,
the private and non&SHY;profit sectors, academia and research
communities.

C. Management and Implementation: Recommendations on the development
and implementation of specific programs or initiatives to prevent,
protect against, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks,
major disasters, or other emergencies.

D. Evaluation and Feedback: Recommendations on the efficiency
and effectiveness of DHS programs to prevent, protect again

4. Description of Duties: The duties of the HSAC are solely advisory
in nature.

5. Official to Whom the Committee Reports: The HSAC reports to
the Secretary of the [DHS]

….

7. Estimated Cost, Compensation, and Staff Support: The HSAC
estimated annual operating costs are $1.5 million, which includes
travel and per diem, operating and other administrative expenses
and support for eight (8) FTE positions.

8. Designated Federal Officer: A full or permanent part-time
employee of…[DHS] shall be appointed by the Secretary as
the HSAC Designated Federal Officer. The Executive Director of
the Homeland Security Advisory Committees shall serve as the
HSAC Designated Federal Officer. The DFO or Alternate DFO shall
approve or call HSAC meetings, approve meeting agendas, attend
all committee, subcommittee, and task force meetings, adjourn
any meeting when the DFO determines adjournment to be in the
public interest, and chair meetings in the absence of the Chair
or Vice Chair or as directed by the Secretary.

9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings:

The HSAC will schedule meetings quarterly, or as frequently as
the Secretary desires. The HSAC and its components may meet in
the form of standing committees, in ad hoc task force entities,
or working groups as HSAC functions require or as tasked by the
Secretary.

10. Duration: This charter shall terminate two years from the
date it is filed with Congress unless sooner terminated. The
charter may be renewed at the end of this two-year period in
accordance with section 14 of FACA….

In order for the Secretary to fully leverage broad-ranging experience
and education, the HSAC must be professionally, technically,
and culturally diverse. These members shall all be national leaders
found within diverse and appropriate professions and communities
from around the Nation. The membership shall be drawn from the
following fields:

Police, fire, emergency medical services and public works;

Public health and hospital managers;

State, local, and tribal officials;

National policy makers;

Experts in academia and the research community;

Leaders from the private sector;

Owners and operators of critical industries, resources, and infrastructure…..

The HSAC currently has five active subcommittees:

• Academe and Policy Research Senior Advisory Committee.

• Emergency Response Senior Advisory Committee.

• Private Sector Senior Advisory Committee.

• State and Local Officials Senior Advisory Committee

• Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Advisory Committee….

Such subcommittees may not work independently of the HSAC and
must report their recommendations and advice to the HSAC for
full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees have no authority
to make decisions on behalf of the HSAC and may not report directly
to the Federal government or any other entity.

Upon the request of the Chair of the subcommittee, and to the
extent permitted by law, the Department shall provide the subcommittee
with such information relating to homeland security matters as
the subcommittee may need for the purpose of carrying out its
functions. All sub-committee members shall be appointed by and
serve at the pleasure of the Secretary. In the event the subcommittee
or the HSAC terminates, all appointments to the subcommittee
shall terminate.

February 20, 2009 Agency Approval Date

February 12, 2009 GSA Consultation Date

February 20, 2009 Date Filed with Congress

(4) National Infrastructure Protection Plan 2009:

Department of Homeland Security. National Infrastructure Protection
Plan: Partnering to Enhance Protection and Resiliency. Washington,
DC: DHS, February 19, 2009, 188 pages. Accessed at: http://www.dhs.gov/xprevprot/programs/editorial_0827.shtm#0

(5) Savannah State University: EM & HLS Faculty Position
Vacancy Notice:

Received today from Savannah State a request to post and announce
the following:

Asst/Assoc/Full Professor Homeland Security & Emergency Management
/ Political Science

This is a joint full-time faculty position in the Homeland Security
& Emergency Management and Political Science undergraduate
programs. The successful candidate will have research interests
and professional qualifications in both emergency management/homeland
security and law. Potential also exists for teaching graduate
courses in public administration or urban studies. Interest and
qualifications to conduct research in and teach disaster planning
and policy, research methods, technology applications, hazardous
materials response policy and management, public health and disasters,
intelligence process, and/or homeland security are preferred.
Additional duties will include conducting research in and teaching
constitutional law, administrative law, American judicial process,
civil rights and liberties, and international law. Doctorate
preferred; master’s plus appropriate experience acceptable;
understanding of HBCU mission and values important. Review of
applications begins immediately and will continue until filled.
Submit three copies of cover letter, application (available at
www.savannahstate.edu
), vita and three references with contact information to Chair,
HSEM/Political Science Faculty Search Committee. Mail to: Dean
of CLASS Savannah State University P.O. Box 20059 Kennedy Fine
Arts Bldg Room 213 Savannah, GA 31404

EOE/AA February 2009

(6) Survey of Institutions of Higher Education with Emergency
Management Programs:

Communicated with Carol Cwiak at North Dakota State University
concerning the development of a report from an annual survey
conducted of schools with EM Hi-Ed programs in-place – currently
about 160. Carol agreed to develop a presentation on the results
in a plenary session.

(7) Email Inbox Backlog: 1,492

(8) EM Hi-Ed Program Notes Subscription: 18,716 subscribers.

The Beginning.

B. Wayne Blanchard, Ph.D., CEM

Higher Education Program Manager

Emergency Management Institute

National Preparedness Directorate

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Department of Homeland Security

16825 S. Seton, K-011

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

wayne.blanchard@dhs.gov

http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/edu

Special
Background Press Briefing on Secretary of State Travel

Bureau of Public Affairs

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

February 26, 2009

adsense

Departments
of State and Homeland Security Certify Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative Criteria

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:06:53 -0600

Secretary's
Remarks: Strategic Partnership With Afghanistan

U.S. Department of State

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:03:59 -0600

President Recommends $12 Billion for
Interior in Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Proposal

Date: Feb. 26, 2009

Contact: Frank Quimby

(202) 208-6416

Pam Haze or Adrianne Moss

(202) 208-5308

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The President’s
2010 Budget includes $12 billion for the

Department of the Interior to undertake initiatives to promote
energy

security with a focus on clean renewable sources and strategies
to address

climate change, protect and preserve America’s national
parks and public

lands, strengthen Native American communities, enhance outdoor

opportunities for young people, and conserve wetlands and wildlife
habitat.

“President Obama has laid out a fiscally
responsible blueprint for 2010,”

Secretary Salazar said. “He has made tough choices, underscored
his

priorities and stressed the need for federal agencies to carry
out their

missions with transparency and accountability to the American
taxpayer.”

Highlights of the proposed funding for
Interior include the following:

· Invests more than $50 million
to promote renewable energy projects on

Federal lands and waters.

· Assists state and federal land
management agencies with more than

$130 million in additional funding to monitor, adaptively manage
and

assess the impacts of climate change on the Nation’s lands,
fish and

wildlife.

· Protects national parks with $100
million in additional funds to

operate and maintain park facilities and resources and $25 million
to

leverage private donations for park projects.

· Conserves new federal and state
lands and protects endangered species

with appropriations of about $420 million from the Land and Water

Conservation Fund for Interior and the U.S. Forest Service, with

annual increases to reach full funding of $900 million by 2014.

· Creates educational and job opportunities
for young people through

expanded environmental education activities and new programs
to

encourage them to hunt and fish responsibly.

· Strengthens Native American communities
through an increase of more

than $100 million for enhanced law enforcement and education.

· Anticipates future costs for catastrophic
wildfires with a new

contingent funding reserve of $75 million for the Department
of the

Interior.

· Encourages responsible development
of oil and gas resources and

closes loopholes that have given oil companies excessive royalty

relief for offshore leases.

More information on the President’s
FY2010 Budget for the Department of the

Interior is online at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/

###

Tiananmen
mothers call for investigation of 1989

The Associated Press

The Tiananmen Mothers — a group of mothers and relatives
who lost family in the June 4 pro-democracy crackdown —
called for an official investigation, ...

Omaha
Most Wanted for Federal Bureau of Investigation

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

FDA MedWatch - Metoclopramide-containing
drugs: chronic use linked to tardive dyskinesia

FDA notified healthcare professionals that
manufacturers of metoclopramide, a drug used to treat gastrointestinal
disorders, must add a boxed warning to their drug labels about
the risk of its long-term or high-dose use. Chronic use of metoclopramide
has been linked to tardive dyskinesia, which may include involuntary
and repetitive movements of the body, even after the drugs are
no longer taken. These symptoms are rarely reversible and there
is no known treatment. Metoclopramide is available in a variety
of formulations including tablets, syrups and injections. Names
of metoclopramide-containing products include Reglan Tablets,
Reglan Oral Disintegrating Tablets, Metoclopramide Oral Solution,
and Reglan Injection. Manufacturers will be required to implement
a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy [REMS] to ensure patients
are provided with a medication guide that discusses this risk.
Current product labeling warns of the risk of tardive dyskinesia
with chronic metoclopramide treatment.

Read the MedWatch 2009 safety summary, including a link to the
FDA News Release, at:

http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#Metoclopramide

Group
urges Obama to unilaterally ease Cuba policy

Reuters - USA

By Pascal Fletcher MIAMI (Reuters) - President Barack Obama should
roll back US curbs on Cuba to encourage democratic change without
waiting for Havana to ...

Obama
makes sweeping plans for higher education

USA Today - USA

By Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images By Greg Toppo and Mary Beth
Marklein, USA TODAY Here's what's perhaps most unusual about
President Obama's big budget ...

Some
Democrats Say Obama’s Plan Would Leave Too Many Troops in
Iraq

New York Times - United States

By PETER BAKER WASHINGTON — Several leading Congressional
Democrats complained Thursday that President Obama’s troop
withdrawal plan would still leave ...

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

E-mail: opa@nrc.gov

Site: http://www.nrc.gov

No. 09-038

February 26, 2009

NRC 21ST ANNUAL REGULATORY INFORMATION
CONFERENCE MARCH 10-12 TO FOCUS ON SAFETY AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING

The theme of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s
21st Annual Regulatory Information Conference (RIC) will be Safe
Today -- Safer Tomorrow: The Power of Sharing Knowledge. The
RIC will be held March 10-12 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel
and Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road, Bethesda, Md. More
than 2,300 people are expected to attend, including representatives
from more than 25 foreign countries, the nuclear industry and
congressional staff.

Agency speakers at the conference will
include NRC Chairman Dale E. Klein and

Commissioners Gregory B. Jaczko, Peter
B. Lyons, Kristine L. Svinicki, and Executive Director for Operations
William Borchardt. This year’s special guest speaker is
Jason Grumet, the founder and president of the Bipartisan Policy
Center, which has been active in leading unique coalitions that
could lead to significant policy achievements at both the state
and federal level.

The conference brings together NRC staff,
plant owners, nuclear materials users and other interested stakeholders
to discuss nuclear safety and security topics and current regulatory
activities. Topics at this year’s RIC include: construction
and licensing of new nuclear power plants; advanced reactor designs;
security; safety research; domestic and international nuclear
power plant operating experience; technical issues such as digital
instrumentation and control in nuclear plants and fire protection;
operator training; and safe disposal of nuclear waste. The conference
will also feature posters, exhibits and models on various nuclear
topics of interest.

The RIC also offers tours of the NRC’s
Operations Center, which serves as the focal point for coordinating
and communicating with plant personnel, state entities, and other
federal agencies during an emergency involving a nuclear facility
or nuclear materials.

The full conference program is available
on the NRC’s Web site at this address: http://www.nrcric.org/ricProgram.asp.

The conference is free and open to the
public. The RIC is a joint presentation of the NRC's Offices
of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and Nuclear Regulatory Research.
Onsite registration will be available during the conference.
For more information, visit the RIC Web site at http://www.nrcric.org.

###

Obama's
first budget: Money for high-speed rail

CNN Political Ticker - USA

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Money for high-speed rail links and an
upgraded air-traffic control system is included in President
Barack Obama's first annual budget, ...

CDC's ACIP: Upcoming Meetings

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

U.S. Department of Justice Environment
and Natural Resources Division Press Releases

N.J.
Electrical Company Employee Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the Environmental
Protection Agency at Superfund Site (09-170)

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

United States Government Launches Program
to Strengthen Labor Rights in Colombia

February 26, 2009

Press Office: 202-712-4320

Public Information: 202-712-4810

www.usaid.gov

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA - William R. Brownfield, U.S. Ambassador to
Colombia; Ana Noguera, Vice-Minister of Labor Affairs; Marcelo
Castro Fox, Director of the International Labor Organization
and Teresa Casertano, Solidarity Center's Regional Program Director
for Latin America, launched Trade Union Strengthening in Colombia,
a new U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funded
labor rights and union strengthening program.

Implemented by the American Center for International Labor Solidarity
(Solidarity Center) of the American Federation of Labor - Congress
of Industrial Organizations, this new program will work with
Colombian unions, the Colombian government, and other stakeholders
to develop and promote legal reforms, to allow the inclusion
of workers in unions under a wide variety of contract arrangements,
and to permit unions to organize by economic sector at regional
and national levels.

The program will assist Colombian labor unions in developing
and implementing organizing strategies to attract sub-contracted
workers and members of cooperatives into unions. It will also
provide training to Colombian union leaders in financial management,
transparency, member services, negotiation, and collective bargaining.

The U.S. Government, through USAID, supports the government of
Colombia's efforts to achieve peace, promote economic prosperity,
improve the living conditions of Colombia's most vulnerable groups,
develop economic and social alternatives to illicit crop production,
and strengthen the presence and effectiveness of the state in
conflict and post conflict areas of Colombia.

USAID is the principal U.S. Government Agency charged with providing
economic, social, and humanitarian assistance worldwide.

For more information about USAID, please visit: www.usaid.gov.

The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic
and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.

Official:
U.S. budget sees $1.75 trillion deficit - Salon.com

Feb 26th, 2009 | WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is sending
Congress a "hard choices" budget that would boost taxes
on the wealthy and curtail Medicare payments to insurance companies
and hospitals to make way for a $634 billion ...

Democrats
Assail Withdrawal Plan

Washington Post - United States

complained that the level of troops -- 50000 -- who would remain
in Iraq is too high, other senior Democrats voiced similar concerns.
...

Senate
to investigate CIA's actions under Bush

Los Angeles Times - CA,USA

By Greg Miller Reporting from Washington -- The Senate Intelligence
Committee is preparing to launch an investigation of the CIA's
detention and ...

GOP
policies to blame for country’s massive deficit

Houston Chronicle - United States

He told Congress that he asked for it, “not because I believe
in bigger government — I don’t.” It was because
“a failure to act would have worsened our ...

U.S.
Department of State: Ambassador Bosworth To Lead Efforts on U.S.
Engagement With North Korea

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:39:25 -0600

Inspector General Management Reports
for U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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

OIG-09-22
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Management of 2005
Gulf Coast Hurricanes Mission Assignment Funding (PDF, 31
pages - 1.82 MB) New 02/26/2009

OIG-09-21 - Independent Review of the U.S. Customs
and Border Protection's Reporting of FY 2008 Drug Control Performance
Summary Report (PDF, 11 pages -
384 KB) New 02/26/2009

Atlanta
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation

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

Obama
Announces More Key Defense Appointments

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:39:00 -0600

President
Obama’s FY 2010 Budget Request Doubles Funding for CDFI
Fund

February 26, 2009

[CDFI-2009-9]

C-SPAN Programming for 2/26 - 2/27

Programming Information for Thurs. 2/26 - Fri. 2/27, 2009

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

C-SPAN Highlights

Tonight:

* Pres. Obama Remarks on Fiscal Year 2010 Budget (8pm)

* OMB Dir. Orszag Briefing on Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Overview
(8:10pm)

* Republican Response to Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Proposals (8:55pm)

Tomorrow:

* U.S. House: Not In Session

* Pres. Obama Address at Camp Lejeune Marine Base (11:45am) -
LIVE

* Conservative Political Action Conference (12:45pm) - LIVE

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

C-SPAN2 Highlights

Tonight:

* Defense Department Press Briefing (8pm)

* Senate Hearing on Homeowner Affordability with HUD Sec. Donovan
(8:35pm)

* Republican Press Briefing on Fiscal Responsibility Working
Group (11:20pm)

Tomorrow:

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

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

C-SPAN3 Highlights

Tonight:

* Programming TBA. Check Schedule for Updates - http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=schedule&tID=&date=2009-02-25

Tomorrow:

* Conservative Political Action Conference (8am) - LIVE Tentative

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

C-SPAN Radio Highlights

Tonight:

* Supreme Court Oral Argument (10pm)

Tomorrow:

* Washington Journal (7am) - LIVE

* Conservative Political Action Conference (10am) - LIVE

* Pres. Obama Address at Camp Lejeune Marine Base (11:45am) -
LIVE

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

Politics Highlights

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

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

Washington Journal Highlights

* Newspaper Articles

* Viewer Calls

* Discussion on Iraq & the Obama Administration

* Discussion on Retirement Security

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

C-SPAN Capitol Spotlight

* President Obama's proposed budget would
increase taxes on the wealthy and cut payments to some Medicare
sectors to raise $634 billion over the next 10 years for a large
expansion of health insurance...- Full Story at www.c-span.org/capitolspotlight/

* Where did Democrats lose the past five
gubernatorial races — but the GOP won just two in a row?
- Answer at www.c-span.org/capitolspotlight/

Reid:
Senate prepared to seat Franken

United Press International - USA

26 (UPI) -- US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says Democrat
Al Franken will be seated in the Senate despite whether Republican
Norm Coleman files legal ...

News from the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 26, 2009

Release # 09-135

Firm's Recall Hotline: (877) 774-6208

CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772

CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Salsa Bicycles Recalls Bicycles; Handlebar
Stems Can Break Causing Rider to Fall

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below,
today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer
product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately
unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Handlebar Stems Used on
Salsa Bicycles

Units: About 8,600

Importer: Salsa Bicycles, a subsidiary
of Quality Bicycle Products, of Bloomington, Minn.

Hazard: The handlebar stems can crack or
break, posing a fall hazard to the consumer.

Incidents/Injuries: Salsa Bicycles has
received three reports of handlebar stems breaking. One incident
resulted in a rider suffering a broken wrist.

Description: This recall involves all CroMoto
S.U.L. stems sold as individual aftermarket units and on these
models of complete Salsa bicycles: Ala Carte, El Mariachi, Casseroll
Triple, Casseroll Single and La Cruz. The aftermarket stems are
black and have the word "Salsa" painted on the extension.
The complete bike stems are painted to match the bike model color
and have the word "Salsa" painted on the extension.
The recalled stems range from 75 through 105-degree rise and
extension length from 90 to 120mm. Please visit the firm's web
site at www.salsacromotostem.com
for a complete list of model numbers and names included in this
recall.

Sold by: Specialty bicycle retailers nationwide
from November 2007 through December 2008 for between $880 and
$1870 for complete bikes. The aftermarket stems were sold at
specialty bicycle retailers nationwide and via web sites from
March 2008 through December 2008 for between $60 and $65.

Manufactured in: Taiwan

Remedy: Consumers should stop riding these
bicycles immediately and contact an authorized Salsa Bicycles
dealer for a free inspection and replacement stem.

Consumer Contact: For additional information,
contact Salsa Bicycles toll-free at (877) 774-6208 between 8
a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's
Web site at www.salsacromotostem.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site,
including pictures of the recall product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09135.html

DoD
Media Ban Lifted

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:39:05 -0600

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced Thursday the Defense
Department is lifting its ban of media coverage at Dover AFB,
Delaware.

Pentagon
Briefing

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:43:54 -0600

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff ADM Michael Mullen speak with reporters at the Pentagon.

Secretary's
Remarks: U.S.-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Meetings To Be
Held on a Regular Basis

U.S. Department of State

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:59:52 -0600

CDFI Fund's Recovery Efforts

To comply with requirements related to
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the Recovery Act),
the CDFI Fund has created a new section to its public website
that will be the source of all information related to the CDFI
Fund’s implementation of the Recovery Act.

The new webpage is located at: http://www.cdfifund.gov/recovery/.

The CDFI Fund will be releasing its detailed implantation plan,
via this new webpage, in the very near future.

UN
envoy: Successful Iraqi elections cause for optimism

Xinhua - China

The January provincial, or governorate, elections had a 7.5 million
person, or 51 percent, turnout, "amidst speculations that
political pressure could cast ...

War
crimes charges grow, J'lem silent

Jerusalem Post - Israel

... alleged war crimes in the 2002 bombing in Gaza that killed
top Hamas terrorist Salah Shehadeh and 14 other people. The investigation
has been ordered ...

DoD
Contracts for February 26, 2009

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:00:00 -0600

HOME Expiring Funds reports as of 02/24/09 are now posted on our Website at http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordablehousing/reports/expiringfunds.cfm

Export Control Forum will be held in
Newport Beach, CA on March 16, 2009

The Export Control Forum in Newport Beach,
CA is less than three weeks away! You still have time to register
for this important event. Don't miss out on this opportunity
to learn about the most recent developments in export control
regulations and policies and to interact with your government
and industry counterparts. Acting Under Secretary Dan Hill will
provide the keynote address. Experts from BIS, Census, and Treasury's
Office of Foreign Assets Control will also participate.

The fourth annual Export Control Forum will be held in Newport
Beach, CA on March 16, 2009. Half-day sessions on Technology
Licensing and Encryption Controls will be held the following
day for those who would like in-depth coverage on issues of interest.
These sessions are independent and are scheduled to run concurrently.

The Export Control Forum's one-day format provides a cost-effective
way for the export control professional to hear about the latest
in the export control field and to interact with key BIS management,
licensing, and policy people. The Export Control Forum will conclude
with a gala reception, offering you the opportunity to mingle
and discuss issues of concern with the presenters and other participants.

For those of you who have requested an Update-like offering on
the west coast, this is it! The streamlined, day or day-and-a-half
format is intended to provide great value in a package that fits
into your busy schedule. Please act quickly as space is limited.
Visit our website at www.bis.doc.gov/seminarsandtraining/newport_beach_mar_16_09.htm
for additional details and registration information.

Office of Exporter Services

Western Regional Office

949-660-0144

The American People Called For Change Obama’s Budget Blueprint Ends Era of Irresponsibility,

Makes Tough Choices and Responsible Investments in Our Future

Today, President Obama delivered to Congress
a budget outline that lays the groundwork for our country’s
future economic growth and stability. While bold decisions were
made to help restore fiscal responsibility and get our deficit
under control, this budget blueprint also calls for investments
in critical areas that will ensure our economy is strong for
years to come.

Read
more about how the President’s budget invests in domestic
priorities to restore our economy and addresses the fiscal challenges
facing our country.

###

Stanford Financial Group Executive Charged

Laura Pendergest-Holt, the chief investment
officer of Houston-based Stanford Financial Group (SFG), was
arrested today by agents of the FBI’s Houston Field Office
on a criminal complaint charging her with obstruction of a proceeding
before an agency of the United States.

To view the press release: http://houston.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/ho02262009.htm

DNI
NAMES NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COUNCIL

Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair has selected
Charles W. Freeman, Jr. to be Chairman of the National Intelligence
Council (NIC). As Chairman, Ambassador Freeman will be responsible
for overseeing the production of National Intelligence Estimates
(NIEs) and other Intelligence Community (IC) analytic products.

DoD
Today's Top News

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:46:28 -0600

Top stories from around the Pentagon.

What's New at HCUP User Support for
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

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

CBP
Announces Port of San Ysidro RFID Technology Upgrades Complete

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:23:46 -0600

San Ysidro, Calif. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced
today that technology upgrades are complete at the San Ysidro,
Otay Mesa, Calexico and Tecate border crossings with Mexico,
and that the port of entry in Andrade will be completed by May.
(more)

Border
Security Agency Brings Federal Job Opportunities to Orlando

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:23:46 -0600

Washington - U.S. Customs and Border Protection recruiters will
look to Orlando, Fla. to meet its goal to hire a diverse cadre
of approximately 11,000 new employees this year.The one-day recruiting
event seeks to identify qualified applicants for a variety of
law enforcement positions as well as mission and operations support
roles. (more)

Budget
Proposal Would Shift Student Loans Away From Private Firms

Washington Post - United States

The profitability of the student loan industry has faltered in
recent years, first as Congress cut subsidies and then because
of turmoil in the credit ...

Map
Follows Progress of Southwest Border Fence Project

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:23:46 -0600

Today
in the Department of Defense, 2/27/2009

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:03:00 -0600

Contact: Stephanie Lundberg

202-225-3130For Immediate Release

February 26, 2009

Hoyer Praises Senate Passage of DC House
Voting Rights Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Majority Leader Steny
H. Hoyer (Md.) issued the following statement after the Senate
approved the DC House Voting Rights Act by a vote of 61-37. Companion
legislation (H.R. 157) sponsored by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes
Norton (D-DC) was reported out of committee yesterday, and Leader
Hoyer announced that the House will consider it on the Floor
next week.

“With Senate passage of the DC House Voting Rights Act,
a primary obstacle standing in the way of DC residents and their
vote in the House has been removed. I am confident that we have
the votes in the House to pass Congresswoman Norton’s legislation
and look forward to holding a vote next week.”

###

Dr.
Joel F. Brenner, National Counterintelligence Executive, Addresses
the 2009 Multi-INT Conference

Transcript:
One on one with Nancy Pelosi

MSNBC - USA

And you have stated your support for John Conyers convening an
investigation into potential lawbreaking in the Bush administration.
...

Nancy
Pelosi FULL Interview With Rachel Maddow at CSPANJunkie

By Junkie

Nancy Pelosi FULL Interview With Rachel Maddow. Published. by.
Junkie. on February 26, 2009. in House Representatives and Voters
Think Video . Tags: abc news, Barack Obama, bbc news, c-span,
cbs news, cnn news, cspan, cspanjunkie, ...

CQ
Transcript: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Obama Administration
...

CQPolitics.com - Washington,DC,USA

PELOSI: So our work is well cut out for us. And, again, this
-- this budget is a wonderful blueprint. We will work closely
with the administration to put ...

NASA's
Kepler Telescope to Launch Aboard Delta II Rocket

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:00:00 -0600

Launch of NASA's Kepler telescope is targeted for no earlier
than Friday, March 6, from Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station in Florida. There are two launch windows, from 10:49
- 10:52 p.m. and 11:13 - 11:16 p.m. EST.

Defense
Secretary Confident With Proposed Budget Share

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:51:00 -0600

Pelosi
Disagrees With Immunity Proposal for 'Truth ...

Though Leahy has argued that a “truth commission” is
the best way to expose the dark underbelly of Bush’s policies,
other civil liberties experts say accountability requires bringing
to justice perpetrators of serious crimes, ... For instance,
on torture, 38 percent favored a criminal investigation while
24 percent favored an inquiry by an independent panel. Thirty-four
percent of those polled said they did not support additional
investigation of Bush’s policies. ...

Cutting
government waste and fraud is a tall order

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Barack Obama pledged Thursday
to curb waste and fraud in federal spending, a top government
watchdog gave members of Congress ...

Senate
votes to give DC citizens vote in Congress

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The people of District of Columbia would
get the vote in Congress the Founding Fathers denied them under
legislation the Senate has ...

Bill
Clinton: Why Obama Will Succeed At Health Care Reform

By Greg Sargent

Clinton’s basic take: The recognition that the health care
system is a disaster is now overwhelming; there’s been a
major cultural shift towards government activism; the Congress
is more willing to tackle reform; and the opposition is ...

Obama
Will Unveil $205.5 Billion War Spending Through 2010

Bloomberg - USA

It will be submitted later today along with the fiscal 2010 budget
Obama sends to Congress. The proposal will also request $130
billion for the wars in ...

Senate
Democrats see Franken taking seat

Washington Times - Washington,DC,USA

Senate Democratic leaders said Thursday that Democrat Al Franken
could be seated as the new senator from Minnesota in a little
more than a month, ...

Senate
to announce investigation of torture under Bush, senators say

By admin

The Senate is quietly preparing plans to investigate allegations
of torture under President George W. Bush, according to comments
published Wednesday by Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy (D-VT)
and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

Senate
Panel to Examine CIA Handling of Detainees

Washington Post - United States

A second official said the investigation is expected to last
about six months and will encompass the history of the CIA's
secret detention program, ...

Pelosi,
Reid Want More Greening of Capitol - Roll Call

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid (D-Nev.) are directing the Architect of the Capitol to switch
the Capitol Power Plant, a major air polluter, to 100 percent
natural gas.

Senate
Dems Question Leaving 50000 Troops In Iraq

By The Huffington Post News Team

Democratic Sens. Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer said Thursday that
-- like Pelosi -- they were surprised to hear that Obama apparently
plans to leave more than 50000 U.S. troops in the country. Read
the whole story: Politico ...

Looks
Like The Investigation Of Bush Will Proceed in Real Time ...

Looks Like The Investigation Of Bush Will Proceed: Senate to
announce investigation of torture under Bush, senators sayJohn
Byrne Published: Wednesday February 25, 2009 'This is going to...

Obama
budget has more money for space exploration

Reuters - USA

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US President Barack Obama's budget plan
for fiscal year 2010 gives more money to NASA and spends more
on space overall, ...

Swiss
stealing money from America through tax shelters - Commentary

In effect, Switzerland is stealing from America's government,
stealing money that could go to our health care, our police and
public works, and, cough, our higher education. Switzerland never
had a right to profit from abetting ...

Obama
wants to raise money via pollution caps: reports

AFP

Fifteen billion dollars of the money generated would be directed
to clean-energy projects, the Post said, citing sources familiar
with the document. ...

Where's
that stimulus money going?

Los Angeles Times - CA,USA

With the economic stimulus package now signed into law by President
Obama, a picture of how some of the money may be spent locally
is beginning to emerge on ...

Biden:
Stimulus Money Can Be Taken Back

By The Huffington Post News Team

Biden: Stimulus Money Can Be Taken Back - The Huffington Post.

Stimulus
Money Begins Rolling In

By The Huffington Post News Editors

Stimulus Money Begins Rolling In - The Huffington Post.

Carol
K.O. Lee Named Special Agent in Charge of FBI Albuquerque Division

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:39:52 -0600

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III has appointed Carol K.O.
Lee as the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Albuquerque Division.

FBI In the News

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

Today's top Air Force stories

Defense officials to allow photographs
of caskets with family's

permission

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123137406

General lists Air Force safety priorities

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123137397

Air Force's top enlisted Airman to retire

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123137390

Missile defense capable, but needs more
testing

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123137388

Aeromedical missions bring total force
partners together

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123137077

Senate
Passes DC Voting Rights Bill, 61-37

New York Times - United States

But proponents, led by Democrats, have
countered by saying that another clause concerning the district
governs such issues as taxation, due process of ...

Democrats
urge green overhaul of Capitol Power Plant

New York Times - United States

... community and national environmental
and public health groups," the Democrats said in a letter
(pdf) to acting Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers. ...

Both
sides must address their war crimes in Gaza

Daily Star - Lebanon - Beirut,Lebanon

Such an investigation must include a commitment to hold accountable
all those found to have committed grave breaches of the laws
of war - these are in fact ...

China
hits back with report on US human rights record

Xinhua - China

According to a report published in September 2008 by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the country reported 1.4 million
violent crimes, ...

Obama
Budget Plan Boosts Resources to Combat Mortgage Fraud

Wall Street Journal - USA

By JESSICA HOLZER WASHINGTON -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation
would get funds to boost the ranks of agents investigating mortgage
fraud, ...

Nancy
Pelosi on Bush: No One is Above the Law | Air America Media

By Rachel Maddow

She says that if that report indicates that crimes were committed,
she wants a criminal investigation. And if she -- and if there
is a criminal investigation and the circumstances of that investigation
warrant, she says she does favor .... What is important about
this is that we are on a path to ending the war. Some might want
a few months shorter or something a bit longer, but nonetheless,
the time will go by and the war will be over. Right now, all
we‘ve had is the ...

Obama
budget good for Anaheim train, O.C. water needs

By Dena Bunis, Washington Bureau Chief

Hopefully Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi will be voted out of office
before they can fund more earmarks (Pelosi (D) San Franciso,
Reid (D) Las Vegas). Note that the rest of Nevada is an armpit
due to lack of donations to Harry Reid (not ...

Reid:
Coleman should concede - Alex Isenstadt - POLITICO.com

By Alex Isenstadt

"We're feeling pretty confident," Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said when asked in a news conference if he
was prepared to make Franken a senator. Senate Democratic Conference
Vice Chairman Charles Schumer of New York added ...

Budget
Provides Minimal Funding For Yucca

KXNT - Las Vegas,NV,USA

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hailed the decision as a critical
step to end the project, northwest of Las Vegas. However, the
Energy Department, ...

'Special
Report' Panel on House Passage of $410 Billion Spending Plan

FOXNews - USA

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID, D-NEV.: I'm here to tell everyone
that we have an obligation as members of Congress to help direct
spending to our states ...

DoD
Identifies Army Casualties

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:52:00 -0600

Afghanistan
Operations Not Vulnerable to Supply Line Dangers, General Says

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:42:00 -0600

MEPS Periodic Digest for Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

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

Air and Space Power Journal Spring 2009
issue now available

Senior Leader Perspectives

Toward
a New Deterrent: Analysis and Recommendations

for the Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States

By the New Deterrent Working Group

Introduction by VADM Robert R. Monroe, USN, Retired

The Use of Airpower in Combating Terrorism in Iraq

Staff Maj Gen Qaa’id K. M. Al-Khuzaa’i, Iraqi Air Force

Focus Area

Flying,
Fighting, and Space

Lt Col Paul D. Berg, USAF, Chief, Professional Journals

Features

Guarding
the High Ocean: Towards a New National-Security

Space Strategy through an Analysis of US Maritime Strategy

Col John E. Shaw, USAF

Soft Power and Space Weaponization

Trevor Brown

Examining Space Warfare: Scenarios, Risks, and
US Policy Implications

Maj Scott A. Weston, USAF

Emphasizing Effect over Domain: Merging Three Organizations

to Enhance the Efficacy of Our Nation’s Intelligence Production

Dr. Edward B. “Mel” Tomme,

Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Retired

Departments

Prelaunch Notes

Considering
Air and Space Power Journal a Foreign

Language Asset and Presenting the latest Chronicles Online Journal
Articles

Ricochets
and Replies

DoD
News Briefing with Secretary Gates and Adm. Mullen

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:41:00 -0600

ticker timeline 17:46 Eastern Time Thursday
February 26, 2009

Napolitano
Names Wiggins as Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 06:00:00 -0600

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano
announced on February 26, 2009 her appointment of Chani W. Wiggins
as Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs. Napolitano also
announced Nelson Peacock and Sue Ramanathan as deputy assistant
secretaries for DHS Legislative Affairs.

Briefing
by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 2/25/2009

Remarks
of President Barack Obama -- Address to Joint Session of Congress

VIDEO:
Iran tests nuke plant

from CNN.com - Video

Iran does a test run of its first nuclear power plant. CNN's
Reza Sayah reports.

Michigan
Agri-Energy Conference

from Wind Powering America: Wind Events

Date: 3/30/2009 to 3/31/2009

Location: Kalamazoo , MI

Join other farmers, service providers,
rural and agricultural leaders, researchers, and state policy
makers to learn more about the latest trends in renewable energy
solutions. National and local experts will reveal ways you can
improve your bottom line by capitalizing on the potential of
renewable sources like wind and solar, biomass, biofuels and
bioproducts.

Michigan
Wind Energy Conference

from Wind Powering America

Date: 3/3/2009 to 3/4/2009

Location: Detroit , MI

The Michigan Wind Energy Conference will
provide presentations on U.S. View of Wind Energy, Danish Wind
Development, Michigan Manufacturing Capacity, Green Jobs Market,
Carbon Caps, Commercial Wind, Transmission, Community Wind Development,
Off-Shore Wind Development and Small Wind Opportunities.

Woodrow
Wilson Center Seeks Nominations for the Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture
Award for 2009

from Woodrow Wilson Center News by wwics@wilsoncenter.org
(wilsoncenter.org)

WASHINGTON – The Woodrow Wilson International Center for
Scholars is welcoming nominations for the 2009 Ion Ratiu Democracy
Lecture Award.

Commentary:
Investigate Wall Street

from CNN.com

In Tuesday night's speech, President Obama attempted to calm
the nation, explaining how his programs will stimulate the economy
and create a foundation for long-term economic growth.

Iran
tests its first nuclear power plant

from CNN.com - World

Iran tested its first nuclear power plant Wednesday, a stride
that prompted one Iranian technician to declare it was "independence
day" for the Islamic republic.

Report
Highights Need for Rapid Action to Minimize Climate Change

from EERE Network News

The world currently has the potential to hold global warming
below 2°C, but only if world governments act quickly and
decisively, according to a new report from McKinsey & Company.
The report says a delay of even 10 years could make the goal
nearly impossible to achieve.

Federal
Regulators Allow Transmission Lines Funded by Wind Developers

from EERE Network News

To help independent companies build power lines to carry renewable
energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is letting the
companies sign agreements with renewable energy developers in
the early project stages. The decision may lead to two massive
projects to deliver wind power to the Southwest.

President
Obama Calls for Carbon Cap, More Clean Energy Investment

from EERE Network News

In his address to Congress on February 24, President Barack Obama
called for an annual U.S. investment of $15 billion in clean
energy technologies to regain a leadership position in the world.
The president also called for a market-based cap on carbon emissions
to drive renewable energy production.

CANADA
The Daily - February 25, 2009

from Canada News Centre - Statistics Canada

The Daily is Statistics Canada's official release bulletin, the
Agency's first line of communication with the media and the public.

Pay
down your debt

from CNN.com - Video

CNN Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis has tips on how to pay
down your debt.

VIDEO:
Vice President Biden Recovery Plan Implementation Meeting

from C-SPAN Recent Video

Vice President Biden held the first Recovery Plan Implementation
with members of President Obama's Cabinet at the White House.

Length: 17 min.

OPPORTUNITY
SOLICITATION: Clean Cities Funding Opportunity Issued

from AFDC

The Clean Cities FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects
for the Transportation Sector, Funding Opportunity Number DE-PS26-09NT01236-00,
Mod. 003 has been issued. The intent of the FOA is to further
domestic manufacture and use of energy efficient advanced transportation
vehicles, alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), and alternative fuels.
Areas of Interest include funds for projects in refueling infrastructure
for alternative fuels; funds for incremental costs of dedicated
AFVs purchased from original equipment manufacturers; education,
outreach, and workshops for petroleum reduction fuels and technologies
to raise awareness and foster a greater understanding of alternative
fuels and advanced vehicle technologies; and projects that expand
the use of these vehicle technologies including the installation
or acquisition of infrastructure.

VIDEO:
Rep. John Spratt (D-SC), House Budget Committee Chairman

from C-SPAN Recent Video

Rep. John Spratt (D-SC), House Budget Committee Chairman spoke
about his reaction to President Obama's speech before a Joint
Session of Congress and his expected budget proposals.

Length: 19 min.

VIDEO:
State Department Press Briefing

from C-SPAN Recent Video

Acting Spokesman Robert Wood conducts a daily briefing at the
State Department.

Length: 18 min.

Agricultural
Land Values and Cash Rents Final Estimates 2004-2008

from USDA - National Agricultural Statistics Service Reports

Agricultural Land Values and Cash Rents Final Estimates 2004-2008....

Farms
and Land in Farms Final Estimates 2003-2007

from USDA - National Agricultural Statistics
Service Reports

Farms and Land in Farms Final Estimates 2003-2007...

Broiler
Hatchery

from USDA - National Agricultural Statistics
Service Reports

Broiler-Type Eggs Set In 19 Selected States Down 6 Percent. Broiler
Chicks Placed Down 8 Percent....

Peace
Corps Week Promotes Cultural Exchange (news)

from Peace Corps: News, Photographs and
Stories

Locke at Commerce

White House.gov

White House photo 2/25/09 by Pete Souza

"Gary knows the American Dream. He's
lived it. And that's why he shares my commitment to do whatever
it takes to keep it alive in our time," President Obama
said this morning in announcing former Washington governor Gary
Locke as his choice to lead the Commerce Department.

"It is the task of the Department
of Commerce to help create conditions in which our workers can
prosper, our businesses can thrive, and our economy can grow,"
he said. "That's what Gary did in Washington state, convincing
businesses to set up shop and create the jobs of the 21st century
-- jobs in science and technology; agriculture and energy --
jobs that pay well and can't be shipped overseas. That's what
he did by establishing favorable markets abroad where Washington
state's businesses could sell their products. That's what he
did by unleashing powerful partnerships between state and local
governments, between labor and business -- all with an eye toward
prosperity and progress for all those in his state who had dreams
of their own."

"The Department of Commerce plays
a critical role in nurturing innovation, expanding global markets,
protecting and managing our ocean fisheries, and fostering economic
growth," Secretary-designate Locke said. "The Department
of Commerce can and will help create the jobs and the economic
vitality our nation needs."

He told the story of his family's journey
to the United States and their struggle for success, and offered
it is an example of American ingenuity and determination.

"My family's story is America's story,"
Locke said. "Our story is just one of hundreds of millions
since the birth of our nation, of people coming from every part
of the world in pursuit of the American Dream of freedom, hope
and opportunity. In hard times, Americans have rallied together,
sacrificed and even given their lives for our country, because
they believe in the essential goodness and promise of America."

UN
SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON UNITED NATIONS CHARTER CONCLUDES SESSION,
SUBMITS WIDE-RANGING RECOMMENDATIONS ON PEACE, SECURITY TO GENERAL
ASSEMBLY

from United Nations Press Releases and
Meetings Coverage

Defense
Department Press Briefing

from C-SPAN Recent Video

Pentagon Spokesman Geoff Morrell conducts a daily briefing at
the Defense Department.

Length: 40 min.

Published: Wednesday at 12pm (ET)

VIDEO:
White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

from C-SPAN Recent Video

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs conducts a daily briefing at the
White House.

Length: 47 min.

Published: Wednesday at 1pm (ET)

U.S.
Policy on North Korea's Human Rights Record

from MERLN - Military Education Research
Library Network

The North Korea MiPAL has been updated with reports from the
Congressional Research Service on North Korea's removal from
the U.S. list of state sponsors of terror and on U.S. policy
on North Korea's human rights record, a French Institute of International
Relations report on the evolution of North Korea's nuclear program,
and a Netherlands Institute of International Relations report
on efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis. Please
see the Recently Added Documents section for the latest on this
country - the newest updates are in bold.

Strengthening
the U.S.-Russia Relationship

from MERLN - Military Education Research
Library Network

The Russia MiPAL has been updated with a Congressional hearing
on U.S.-Russia relations, a Center for Strategic and International
Studies report on Russia's economy and commercial relations with
the U.S., a Centre for European Reform report on the domestic
and foreign policy implications of the financial situation in
Russia, Strategic Insights articles on Russia's agenda in the
Ajara region of Georgia and on Russia's nuclear proliferation
policy, a report from the Program in Arms Control, Disarmament,
and International Security at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
on Russia's strategic relations with the U.S. and the European
Union, and a European Council on Foreign Affairs report on Europe's
dependence on Russian gas. Please see the Recently Added Documents
section for the latest on this country - the newest updates are
in bold.

The
Evolving Global Terrorist Threat, and Challenges in Combating
Terrorism Financing

from MERLN - Military Education Research
Library Network

The Terrorism MiPAL has been updated with remarks by the Director
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the evolving global
terrorist threat, a Department of Defense report on Defense Department
compliance with the President's executive order on detainee conditions
in the Global War on Terror, a Real Instituto Elcano report on
challenges facing international efforts to combat the financing
of terrorism, a Congressional Research Service report on the
interrogation of terrorism suspects and the Detainee Treatment
Act, and a Government Accountability Office report on terrorism
insurance coverage in the event of a terror attack using Weapons
of Mass Destruction. Please see the Recently Added Documents
section for the latest on this topic - the newest updates are
in bold.

Nuclear
Deterrence Strategies, the Proliferation Security Initiative,
and the Global Abolition of Nuclear Weapons

from MERLN - Military Education Research
Library Network

The Weapons of Mass Destruction MiPAL has been updated with a
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace report on the global
abolition of nuclear weapons, an Institute for Foreign Policy
Analysis report on U.S. nuclear deterrence strategies, a RAND
Corporation report on the Proliferation Security Initiative,
an Arms Control Today article on the need for a comprehensive
analysis of U.S. nuclear weapons and nonproliferation policy,
a Center for American Progress report on the upcoming 2009 Nuclear
Posture Review, and a Nonproliferation Review article on the
utility of nuclear deterrence strategies. Please see the Recently
Added Documents section for the latest on this topic - the newest
updates are in bold.

Challenges
to Mexico's Stability

from MERLN - Military Education Research
Library Network

The Western Hemisphere Regional Policy Overview has been updated
with the President's remarks with the Prime Minister of Canada,
Foreign Policy in Focus articles outlining challenges to Mexico's
stability and on the need to improve U.S. relations in Latin
America, a Heritage Foundation report analyzing the security
challenges posed by Venezuela, and Congressional Research Service
reports on U.S. relations with Brazil and on U.S. restrictions
on travel to Cuba. Please see the Recently Added Documents section
for the latest on this region - the newest updates are in bold.

Peace
Corps and National Service Agency Team Up on Recruitment (news)

from Peace Corps: News, Photographs and
Stories

Estimated
State Allocations for State Grants under the State Fiscal Stabilization
Fund

from U.S. Department of Education

Vegetables
and Melons Outlook - Wednesday, February 25, 2009

from USDA Economic Research Service - Vegetables
and Melons Outlook

Provides current intelligence and forecasts the effects of changing
conditions in the U.S. vegetables and melons sector (including
potatoes, pulses, and mushrooms). Topics include production,
consumption, shipments, prices received, trade, and more.

UN
SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON SOMALIA

from United Nations Press Releases and
Meetings Coverage

VIDEO:
Pres. Obama Statement on Financial System

from C-SPAN Recent Video

After an Oval Office meeting with Treasury Secretary Timothy
Geithner and members of the Senate Banking and House Financial
Services Committees, President Obama made remarks on the financial
system.

Length: 7 min.

Published: Wednesday at 3:45pm (ET)

Estimated
Impact on the Deficit of Three Alternative Policy Scenarios Specified
by Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Spratt

from Recent CBO Publications

Letter to the Honorable Nancy Pelosi and the Honorable John M.
Spratt Jr.

Options
for Expanding Health Insurance Coverage and Controlling Costs

from Recent CBO Publications

Testimony before the Committee on Finance, United States Senate

The
Department of Veterans Affairs' Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor Program

from Recent CBO Publications

FDA
says India plant falsified generic drug data

from CNN.com - World

The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that it has stopped
reviewing drug applications from an India-based pharmaceutical
plant, alleging that officials there falsified data and test
results in applications, some of which the agency has already
approved.

Cost
estimate: H.R. 1106, Helping Families Save Their Homes Act

from CBO's Latest 10 Documents

Cost estimate for the bill as introduced on February 23, 2008.

VIDEO:
House Hearing on Worker Retirement Security

from C-SPAN Recent Video

The House Education and Labor Cmte. begin a series of hearings
to explore the shortcomings of our nation’s retirement system
and explore efforts to strengthen worker retirement security.
The first hearing examines weaknesses in the 401(k) retirement
savings system.

Length: 2 hr. 1 min.

PRESIDENT'S
ECONOMIC RECOVERY PACKAGE TO MAKE MORE FAMILIES ELIGIBLE FOR
FHA-INSURED MORTGAGES

from HUD Press Releases

WASHINGTON - More American families will be eligible this year
to purchase or refinance their homes using affordable, FHA-insured
mortgages, thanks to the economic stimulus package signed into
law by President Obama last week. The American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009 will allow HUD's Federal Housing Administration to
temporarily increase its maximum loan limit, allowing FHA to
insure larger mortgages at a more affordable price in high-cost
areas of the country.

Changing
Cuba Policy — in the US' National Interest

TIME - USA

24, 2009 After spending nearly half a century trying to bring
democracy to steadfastly communist Cuba through crippling economic
sanctions and travel ...

Marsh
and Buffett join forces with energy fund

Lloyd's List - London,UK

US INVESTOR Warren Buffett has hooked up with insurance broker
Marsh to launch a $500m insurance pool for energy companies operating
in the hurricane-prone ...

Clooney
Meets With Obama to Talk Darfur

Popeater - New York,NY,USA

... from members of the media following his meeting with President
Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the White House
in Washington, Monday, Feb. ...

Obama
Administration Signals Thaw in Relations with Russia

Voice of America - USA

By Andre de Nesnera Vice President Joe Biden gave a hint to the
Obama administration's attitude toward relations with Russia
in a Feb. ...

Visit USA.gov's newest page -- Government
2.0 -- where you can find blogs, RSS feeds, videos, gadgets,
and more! With these and other tools, USA.gov hopes to improve
your access to government information and resources:

Blog -- Visit our blog,
Gov Gab, and find a
listing
of active federal blogs.

Videos
-- Find government videos on health topics, space travel, food
preparation, and more.

News
-- Get the latest RSS feeds from across the federal government.

Gadgets
-- Find government gadgets or widgets developed and maintained
by one agency and shared across the web.

Word
Cloud -- See a visual representation of the 75 most popular
words on USA.gov.

IRS.GOV Issue Number: TT-2009-38

Inside This Issue

What Every Parent Should Know about
Child’s Investment Income

Children with investment income may have
part or all of this income taxed at their parent’s tax rate
rather than at the child’s rate. Investment income includes
interest, dividends, capital gains and other unearned income

This rule applies to children who have investment income of more
than $1800 and meet one of three age requirements for 2008:

The child is younger than 18.

The child is 18 and has earned income that does not exceed one-half
of their own support for the year.

The child is older than 18 and younger than 24 and a full-time
student with earned income that does not exceed one-half of the
child’s support for the year.

To figure the child's tax using this method, fill out Form 8615,
Tax for Certain Children Who Have Investment Income of More Than
$1,800, and attach it to the child's federal income tax return.

When certain conditions are met, a parent may be able to avoid
having to file a tax return for the child by including the child’s
income on the parent’s tax return. In this situation, the
parent would file Form 8814, Parents' Election To Report Child's
Interest and Dividends.

More information can be found in IRS Publication 929, Tax Rules
for Children and Dependents. This publication and Forms 8615
and 8814 are available on the IRS Web site at IRS.gov in the
Forms and Publications section. You may also order them by calling
the IRS at 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Links:

Form 8615, Tax for Children Under Age 18 With Investment Income
of More Than $1,800 (PDF
49K)

Form 8615, Instructions (PDF
24K)

Form 8814, Parent's Election to Report Child's Interest and Dividends
(PDF 43K)

Publication 929, Tax Rules for Children and Dependents (PDF
220K)

Obama
taps former governor Locke as commerce chief

Reuters - USA

By Doug Palmer WASHINGTON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - President Barack
Obama on Wednesday nominated former Washington state Governor
Gary Locke to be US commerce ...

Obama
to deliver address on Iraq Friday

Reuters - USA

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will deliver an
address on Friday on "the way forward" in Iraq, officials
said, in which he is widely expected ...

FEMA EMI Independent Study Program

The EMI Independent Study Program is pleased
to announce that downloadable materials for group training are
now available for IS-700.a National Incident Management System,
An Introduction. To download a copy of these training materials,
please visit our website at http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is700a.asp
and choose “Downloads for Classroom” from the Additional
Resources box on the right hand side of the screen..

Group training is now available for the following NIMS courses:

IS-100.a – Introduction to the Incident Command System

IS-100.SCa – Introduction to the Incident Command System
for Schools

IS-200.a – ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents

IS-700.a - National Incident Management System, An Introduction

IS-800.b – National Response Framework, An Introduction

To obtain a copy of the final exam for group training for IS-700.a,
IS-100.a, IS-100.SCa, IS-200.a or IS-800.b, you must call the
Independent Study Office at 301-447-1200 during normal business
hours. A copy of the exam will be mailed to you via US Postal
Service. Please allow adequate time for delivery of the exam
prior to your training class.

Students will need to place their answers on OpScan Answer Sheet
forms (http://training.fema.gov/IS/ansreq.asp).
The instructor must complete the Independent Study Delivery Processing
Form (available at: http://training.fema.gov/IS/ansreq.asp)
and mail the forms to the IS Office for scoring. You may also
request OpScan Answer Sheets and download a copy of the IS Delivery
Processing Form by visiting http://training.fema.gov,
clicking on FEMA Independent Study and then clicking on ‘OpScan
Request Form’ in the Important Notices box on the right
hand side of the page.

Clinton
puts climate change high on the agenda with China

New York Times - United States

By LISA FRIEDMAN, ClimateWire Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton wrapped up her first diplomatic mission to Asia yesterday
with climate change ...

Clinton
raps Israel for delaying Gaza aid: paper

AFP

JERUSALEM (AFP) — US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
is pressing Israel to stop blocking aid to the besieged Gaza
Strip and will raise the issue during a ...

I just wanted to send an e-mail to invite
you and your staffs to the

Department of the Interior Library on Wednesday, March 4th from
2:00 to

4:00 pm for a free DOI Library Training Session, "The
Congressional

Hearings and Research Digital Collections: Introduction and New

Features"

Attendees will learn how to access and
use the LexisNexis Congressional

collections, available through the DOI Library website

(http://library.doi.gov)
to Interior Department personnel at their

desktops and to visitors of the Library. These collections include

digitized copies of congressional hearings, reports, Serial Set
maps,

and the Congressional Record (and its predecessors) dating back
to early

19th century. It also covers the Congressional Research Digital

Collection, offering digitized copies of Congressional Research
Service

(and earlier Legislative Reference Service) reports back to 1916,
as

well as congressional prints back to 1830. Both of these collections
are

fully searchable through one online search screen. Attendees
will learn

search techniques that can be used to locate online copies of
these

materials essential in conducting thorough legislative history
research.

This program will be conducted by a LexisNexis trainer.

All that are interested are invited. The
DOI Library is located in the

Main Interior Building, located at 1849 C Street, NW, Room 1151
in

Washington. Space is limited so please contact the Library by
phone at

(202) 208-5815 or by e-mail at library@nbc.gov
to let us know you will

be coming. For more information about future DOI Library Training

Sessions, we encourage you to visit our Training Sessions website
at

http://library.doi.gov/programs/training/index.html
.

We hope to see you here on March 4th!

George Franchois

Coordinator of Library Services

U.S. Dept. of the Interior Library

1849 C Street, NW, MS 1151

Washington, DC 20240

george_d_franchois@nbc.gov

Phone: (202) 208-3796

Fax: (202) 208-6773

URL: http://library.doi.gov

February 25, 2009: Statement
for the Record by Dennis C. Blair, Director of National Intelligence
- Annual Threat Assessment Hearing for the House Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence

FDA
Enforcement Report for February 25, 2009

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:13:00 -0600

Weekly report by the Food and Drug Administration, Department
of Health and Human Services. It contains information on actions
taken in connection with agency Regulatory activities.

CDC's Immunizations' Hepatitis
B Coordinators List.

This email is to inform you that the contact
information for the state of New York City has been updated and
is now available.

Fire Prevention and Safety Grants

There is still time to submit an application for the Department
of Homeland Security, FY 08 Fire Prevention and Safety Grants!
Applications for these grants must be received by March 6, 2009
at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Fire Prevention and Safety Grants are competitive.
Projects can include arson prevention, sprinkler awareness, smoke
alarm installation, burn prevention and fire prevention public
education.

Grant writing technical assistance is available,
including an online tutorial at www.firegrantsupport.com.
The tutorial will provide you with valuable grant information
and will walk you through the preparation and submittal of competitive
applications. In addition, the applicant tutorial will provide
an overview of the funding priorities and evaluation criteria.
Applicants who have questions regarding the Fire Prevention and
Safety Grants opportunity should call the help desk at 1-866-274-0960
or send an email to firegrants@dhs.gov.
During the application period, the help desk will operate Monday
to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, but is prepared
to revise hours of operation based on volume, demand and holidays.

Dallas Press Releases for Federal Bureau
of Investigation

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

Birmingham Press Releases for Federal
Bureau of Investigation

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

New
and Generic Drug Approvals

Gemcitabine
Injection, Hospira, Inc., Tentative Approval

MembraneBlue
(trypan blue) Ophthalmic Solution, Dutch Ophthalmic USA, Approval

Ranitidine
Syrup, Wockhardt Ltd., Approval

Ranitidine
Syrup, Wockhardt Ltd., Tentative Approval

Roxicodone
(oxycodone hydrochloride) Tablets, Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., Labeling Revision

The latest Mass Layoffs news release

(http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/mmls.pdf)

was issued today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

ETA - Advisories - Unemployment Insurance
Program Letters (UIPL)

for United States Department of Labor.

This information has recently been updated.

UIPL 12-09 -- Extended Benefits Program – Temporary
Changes made by the Assistance for Unemployed Workers and Struggling
Families Act has been added to the database and is now available.

FDA Warning Letters by the U.S. Food
& Drug Administration (FDA)

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

US-CERT Current Activity

Adobe Releases Security Bulletin for Flash
Player

Original release date: February 25, 2009
at 9:54 am

Last revised: February 25, 2009 at 9:54 am

Adobe has released Security Bulletin APSB09-01
to address multiple

vulnerabilities in Flash Player. These vulnerabilities may allow
an

attacker to execute arbitrary code, cause a denial of service

condition, conduct Clickjacking attacks, or operate with escalated

privileges.

US-CERT encourages users to review Adobe
Security Bulletin APSB09-01

and upgrade to Flash Player 10.0.22.87 to help mitigate the risks.

Relevant Url(s):

<http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-01.html>

====

This entry is available at

http://www.us-cert.gov/current/index.html#adobe_releases_security_bulletin_for2

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Shaun Donovan, Secretary

Office of Public Affairs, Washington, DC 20410

HUD No. 09-014

Brian Sullivan Wednesday

(202) 708-0685 February 25, 2009

http://www.hud.gov/news/index.cfm

HUD ALLOCATES MORE THAN $10
BILLION OF RECOVERY ACT FUNDING ONE WEEK AFTER BILL SIGNING

Nearly 75 percent of HUD Recovery funds allocated today

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) today allocated nearly 75 percent
of its funding, or $10.1 billion, made available through the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Recovery
Act includes $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered
by HUD, 75 percent of which was allocated to recipients today
- only one week after President Obama signed the Act into law.

The funding announced today is primarily
formula-based, meaning that it is allocated using set program
criteria that do not require grantees to apply for the funds,
allowing them to be allocated very quickly. The remaining 25
percent of the funds, which will be competitively awarded later,
will be used to build on the President's priorities to promote
green jobs and mitigate the destabilizing effects of foreclosures
on communities

"I am pleased to announce that we
are moving swiftly to get these much-needed funds out to states
and cities to create jobs and help stimulate our economy,"
said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Recovery Act investments
in HUD programs will be not just swift, but also effective: they
will generate tens of thousands of jobs, help the families and
communities hardest hit by the economic crisis, and modernize
homes to make them energy efficient."

For a detailed local summary of each of
the following allocations, visit HUD's
recovery website:

Promoting Energy Efficiency and Creating
Green Jobs

These investments are powerful vehicles
for economic recovery because they work quickly, are labor-intensive,
create jobs where they are needed most, and lead to lasting neighborhood
benefits. Many will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
save Americans money by retrofitting housing to make it more
energy efficient.

Public Housing Capital Fund Program - $3
billion

HUD is allocating nearly $3 billion to
3,134 public housing agencies to develop, finance, and modernize
public housing in their communities. Local PHAs will use this
funding for energy-efficient modernization and to make large-scale
improvements to public housing developments, including critical
safety repairs. In addition to the funding allocated through
this capital fund, HUD is working to competitively award another
$1 billion to local housing agencies to support catalytic investments,
particularly investments that leverage private sector financing
to retrofit public housing and enhance energy conservation.

Native American Housing Block Grant (IHBG) - $255 million

Tribal entities will use this funding for
energy efficient modernization of and renovation of housing maintained
by Native American housing programs. In addition to the funding
allocated through formula funding, HUD will competitively award
another $242 million for Native American grants later this year.
Also, pursuant to today's recovery formula funding, HUD is allocating
$10.2 million for Native Hawaiian Housing.

Lead Hazard Reduction/Healthy Homes - $100
million

Nearly $100 million will be invested in
HUD's lead based paint and hazard reduction and remediation activities,
including promoting local efforts to eliminate dangerous lead
from lower income homes and stimulating private sector investment
in lead hazard control.

Supporting Shovel-Ready Projects and Assisted
Housing Improvements

These investments will support a broad
range of housing and community development projects that are
ready to go. Many of these projects have been held up for lack
of private investment due to fallout from the broader economic
crisis and credit crunch.

Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP) - $2.25 billion

Funded under HUD's HOME Program, TCAP grants
will help State Housing Finance Agencies to kick-start the production
of stalled affordable rental housing projects that rely on Low-Income
Housing Tax Credits. These agencies will distribute the funds
competitively and give priority to housing projects that can
begin construction immediately.

Project-Based Rental Assistance - $2 billion

HUD is allocating $2 billion to invest
in full 12-month funding for Section 8 project-based housing
contracts. This funding will enable owners to undertake much-needed
project improvements to maintain the quality of this critical
affordable housing.

Promoting Stable Communities and Helping
Families Hardest Hit by the Economic Crisis

These investments will help communities
and families that have experienced the brunt of the economic
downturn. Resources will be used to stabilize and revive local
neighborhoods and housing markets with heavy concentrations of
foreclosed properties. Funds will also assist the vulnerable
families and individuals who are on the brink of homelessness
or have recently become homeless.

Community Development Block Grant Program
(CDBG) - $1 billion

HUD is allocating nearly $1 billion to
approximately 1,200 state and local governments through the Department's
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to target their
own community development priorities. Most local governments
use this investment to rehabilitate affordable housing and improve
key public facilities - helping to stabilize communities and
create jobs locally.

Emergency Shelter Grant Program/Homelessness Prevention - $1.5
billion

HUD is allocating nearly $1.5 billion to
state and local governments to help rapidly re-house homeless
persons and families who enter shelters. In addition, HUD's Emergency
Shelter Grant Program (ESG) will significantly expand efforts
to prevent homelessness among those facing a sudden economic
crisis.

FHA Loan Limits

HUD will temporarily increase the loan
limits of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration
(FHA) up to $729,750. This will keep credit flowing to millions
of families whose options are limited by the current crisis.
Previously, FHA's loan limits in very high-cost areas were capped
at $625,500. FHA's reverse mortgage product known as the Home
Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) will have a new national mortgage
limit of $625,500, up from the previous limit of high of $417,000.
These increased loan limits are applicable to all FHA-insured
mortgage loans endorsed until December 31, 2009.

###

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed
to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities
for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly,
people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department
also promotes economic and community development and enforces
the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and
its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov
and espanol.hud.gov.

EBSA Newsroom Main Page for United States
Department of Labor

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

IRS.GOV Issue Number: IR-2009-014

Inside This Issue

Expanded Tax Break Available for 2009
First-Time Homebuyers

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue
Service announced today that taxpayers who qualify for the first-time
homebuyer credit and purchase a home this year before Dec. 1
have a special option available for claiming the tax credit either
on their 2008 tax returns due April 15 or on their 2009 tax returns
next year.

Qualifying taxpayers who buy a home this year before Dec. 1 can
get up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married filing separately.

“For first-time homebuyers this year, this special feature
can put money in their pockets right now rather than waiting
another year to claim the tax credit," said IRS Commissioner
Doug Shulman. “This important change gives qualifying homebuyers
cash they do not have to pay back.”

The IRS has posted a revised version of Form 5405, First-Time
Homebuyer Credit, on IRS.gov. The revised form incorporates provisions
from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The
instructions to the revised Form 5405 provide additional information
on who can and cannot claim the credit, income limitations and
repayment of the credit.

This year, qualifying taxpayers who buy a home before Dec. 1,
2009, can claim the credit on either their 2008 or 2009 tax returns.
They do not have to repay the credit, provided the home remains
their main home for 36 months after the purchase date. They can
claim 10 percent of the purchase price up to $8,000, or $4,000
for married individuals filing separately.

The amount of the credit begins to phase out for taxpayers whose
adjusted gross income is more than $75,000, or $150,000 for joint
filers.

For purposes of the credit, you are considered to be a first-time
homebuyer if you, and your spouse if you are married, did not
own any other main home during the three-year period ending on
the date of purchase.

The IRS also alerted taxpayers that the new law does not affect
people who purchased a home after April 8, 2008, and on or before
Dec. 31, 2008. For these taxpayers who are claiming the credit
on their 2008 tax returns, the maximum credit remains 10 percent
of the purchase price, up to $7,500, or $3,750 for married individuals
filing separately. In addition, the credit for these 2008 purchases
must be repaid in 15 equal installments over 15 years, beginning
with the 2010 tax year.

U.S.
Officials: Troops to Leave Iraq in 18 Months

Posted: 24 Feb 2009 04:00 PM PST

By ANNE GEARAN and PAMELA HESS

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is expected to order all
U.S. combat troops to leave Iraq by August of next year, administration
officials said, closing the door on a war that has led to the
death of 4,250 American soldiers.

Lawmakers
Try New Approach to Immigration Changes

Posted: 24 Feb 2009 04:00 PM PST

By SUZANNE GAMBOA

WASHINGTON - Latino lawmakers and advocates are taking a new
approach to the push for changes in U.S. immigration policy,
making a humanitarian appeal to Americans to support fellow citizens
who have relatives living in fear of detention and deportation.

UAE
Investment Fund Buys Georgian TV Channel - Station

CNNMoney.com - USA

TBILISI, Georgia (AFP)--A United Arab Emirates investment fund
has purchased a Georgian television channel at the center of
opposition claims the government ...

Armed
Forces Tax Prep Help

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:15:18 -0600

The Defense Department is offering military members and their
families help to ease the tax preparation burden.

First
Corps Deploys

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:15:23 -0600

U.S. Army First Corps held a traditional deployment and colors
casing ceremony February 24 at Fort Lewis, Washington.

What's New at MEPS
for Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). This information
has recently been updated and is now
available.

DOE Project Leads to New Alliance to
Promote Low-Impact Drilling

DOE Fossil Energy NEWSALERT

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

A project supported by the Office of Fossil

Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory

has given rise to a major new research consortium

to promote advanced technology for low-impact

oil and gas drilling. For more details, link to

the Energy Department's Fossil Energy Web site at:

http://www.fossil.energy.gov

CDFI Fund Update: Instructions and Online
Application now Available for 2009 NMTC Program

Instructions and Online Application now Available
for 2009 NMTC Program

[CDFI-2009-8]

HUD announces funding allocations and eligible
grantees for the new Recovery Act homelessness prevention program.

This information is available at: www.hud.gov/recovery.

Contact: Bryan Hubbard

(202) 874-5770

Comptroller of the Currency Hosts Community Bank Directors
Workshop

in Orlando, Florida

WASHINGTON — The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
will host a workshop for national community bank directors in
Orlando, Florida, at the Royal Plaza, March 23-25, 2009.

The workshop provides practical information that expands bank
directors' skills and understanding of issues facing their banks.
Entitled, “A New Director’s Challenge: Mastering the
Basics,” the workshop is geared primarily to directors of
national community banks with assets of less than $1 billion
who have fewer than three years of experience or longer tenured
directors who would like to review the fundamental requirements
of their position.

The workshop costs $100. Attendees receive pre-course reading
and course materials, an OCC telephone seminar CD, a community
bank supervision handbook, other supervisory material, a continental
breakfast, and lunch. The workshop is limited to the first 50
registrants.

For information or to register online, visit http://www.occ.gov/conference.htm
or call 336-451-0557.

###

VACANCY:
Planning Section Chief, GS-0301-13/14 FEMA

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:22:03 -0600

DE-R6-09-233-JLP2 (Closing Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT)

VACANCY
Program Specialist (Web Design), GS-301-11 FEMA

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:24:32 -0600

WN-09-2C-0082-SLC1 (Closing Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT)

CVM What's New,
for newly posted information on the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's
(FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine's (CVM) Website. This information
has recently been updated, and is now
available.

OVW
Home Page for U.S. Department of Justice

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

ETA - Advisories - Unemployment Insurance
Program Letters (UIPL) for United States Department of Labor. This information has recently been updated.

UIPL 13-09 -- Funding of Administrative Costs for Implementation
of the New Temporary Federal Additional Compensation Program
has been added to the database and is now available at http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2714.

Current
Press Releases for the U.S. Department of Justice

DoD
Flag Officer Announcements

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:39:00 -0600

Lead
Investigator named for NASA Carbon Observatory

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:00:00 -0600

NASA's Rick Obenschain, deputy director at NASA's Goddard Space
Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., will lead the investigation
board for the unsuccessful launch of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory
on Feb. 24.

Schwarzenegger
is getting his second wind as a reformer

Los Angeles Times - CA,USA

... offices -- like treasurer, controller, superintendent of
public instruction and, especially, lieutenant governor, all
currently held by Democrats. ...

Sources:
Obama cuts funds for Nev. nuclear dump

The Associated Press

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who has fought the
Yucca dump for years, said Obama's decision to cut funding "represents
our most significant ...

Airport
News and New Resources pages on the FAA website updated

Modifications of Standards for A380s, B747-8s,
& New Large Aircraft

Space
Shuttle Program Completes New Plan for Next Launch

NASA's Space Shuttle Program has established a plan that could
support shuttle Discovery's launch to the International Space
Station, tentatively targeted for March 12. An exact target launch
date will be determined as work progresses with the shuttle's
three gaseous hydrogen flow control valves.

visit www.usdemocrats.com

For yesterday's (02/25/2009)
ticker entries click here

Safety
Management Systems (SMS) for Airports

Updated list of Airports eligible to receive Airport Improvement
Program grants for the Second Airport SMS Pilot Study

FLOOR SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY
26, 2009

House Meets At… Last Vote Predicted…

10:00 a.m.: Legislative Business

Five “One Minutes” Per Side 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

H.R. 1106 –
Helping Families Save their Homes Act of 2009 (Reps. Conyers/Frank
– Judiciary/Financial Services) (Subject to a Rule)

Postponed Suspension Vote (1 Bill)

1) H.Res.
183 - Expressing condolences to the families, friends, and
loved ones of the victims of the crash of Continental Connection
Flight 3407 (Rep. Lee (NY) – Transportation and Infrastructure)

new ticker page started 00:01 Eastern
Time

Thursday February 26, 2009

today's ticker page 1

for yesterday's page (02/25/2009) click
here

view
previous page:::::page one

weblog index
video and web media
resource Library
public officials gallery
twitter.com/usdemocrats
live chat
home page

rss

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

January

Jan 2009

Jan 2008

Jan 2007

Jan 2006

Jan 2005

February

Feb 2009

Feb 2008

Feb 2007

Feb 2006

Feb 2005

March

Mar 2008

Mar 2007

Mar 2006

Mar 2005

2004 and prior

April

Apr 2008

Apr 2007

Apr 2006

Apr 2005

Apr 2004

May

May 2008

May 2007

May 2006

May 2005

May 2004

June

Jun 2008

Jun 2007

Jun 2006

Jun 2005

Jun 2004

July

Jul 2008

Jul 2007

Jul 2006

Jul 2005

Jul 2004

August

Aug 2008

Aug 2007

Aug 2006

Aug 2005

Aug 2004

September

Sept 2008

Sept 2007

Sept 2006

Sept 2005

Sept 2004

October

Oct 2008

Oct 2007

Oct 2006

Oct 2005

Oct 2004

November

Nov 2008

Nov 2007

Nov 2006

Nov 2005

Nov 2004

December

Dec 2008

Dec 2007

Dec 2006

Dec 2005

Dec 2004

home page

live
chat

discuss/comment

politics
search
twitter



follow me on Twitter

















copyright (c) 2009 usdemocrats.com

	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
January	Jan 2009	Jan 2008	Jan 2007	Jan 2006	Jan 2005
February	Feb 2009	Feb 2008	Feb 2007	Feb 2006	Feb 2005
March		Mar 2008	Mar 2007	Mar 2006	Mar 2005	2004 and prior
April		Apr 2008	Apr 2007	Apr 2006	Apr 2005	Apr 2004
May		May 2008	May 2007	May 2006	May 2005	May 2004
June		Jun 2008	Jun 2007	Jun 2006	Jun 2005	Jun 2004
July		Jul 2008	Jul 2007	Jul 2006	Jul 2005	Jul 2004
August		Aug 2008	Aug 2007	Aug 2006	Aug 2005	Aug 2004
September		Sept 2008	Sept 2007	Sept 2006	Sept 2005	Sept 2004
October		Oct 2008	Oct 2007	Oct 2006	Oct 2005	Oct 2004
November		Nov 2008	Nov 2007	Nov 2006	Nov 2005	Nov 2004
December		Dec 2008	Dec 2007	Dec 2006	Dec 2005	Dec 2004

home page	live chat	discuss/comment	politics search	twitter

Twitter Updates