Secretary Napolitano Unveils New Veterans Website Designed to Highlight Veteran Employment and Contracting Opportunities
"Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today unveiled a new website designed to provide a one-stop location for veterans and veterans organizations to learn about DHS' many veteran outreach initiatives and hiring and contracting opportunities.
"This new website reflects the shared commitment across the Department to hiring American veterans," said Secretary Napolitano. "Veterans play a vital role in the Department of Homeland Security's mission to protect the nation, and this website will help us build our veteran workforce to more than 50,000 Department-wide by 2012."
Today's announcement comes one day after Secretary Napolitano joined President Obama as he signed an Executive Order on the Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government, which emphasizes recruiting and training veterans for employment at federal agencies, increasing the veteran workforce within the executive branch and assisting recently hired veterans in making the adjustment to service in a civilian capacity.
The new website, available at www.dhs.gov/veterans, features information for veterans about how to find employment opportunities at DHS, ways to get involved in community-based efforts like Citizen Corps, and special veteran programs such as Operation Warfighter and Wounded Warrior, which provide employment opportunities for severely wounded or recovering service members to assist their transition back to the military or civilian workforce."
Friday, November 20, 2009
Workplace Injuries and Illness-- 2008
"Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in 2008 occurred at a rate of 3.9 percent per 100 equivalent full-time workers - a decline from 4.2 cases in 2007, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Similarly, the number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses reported in 2008 declined to 3.7 million cases, compared to 4 million cases in 2007. The total recordable case (TRC) injury and illness incident rate among private industry employers has declined significantly each year since 2003, when estimates from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) were first published using the 2002 North American Industry Classification system (NAICS)"
"Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in 2008 occurred at a rate of 3.9 percent per 100 equivalent full-time workers - a decline from 4.2 cases in 2007, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Similarly, the number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses reported in 2008 declined to 3.7 million cases, compared to 4 million cases in 2007. The total recordable case (TRC) injury and illness incident rate among private industry employers has declined significantly each year since 2003, when estimates from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) were first published using the 2002 North American Industry Classification system (NAICS)"
Awareness of COPD – The Nation’s Fourth Leading Cause Of Death – Is Rising, But Understanding Is Still Low
"Awareness of COPD—chronic obstructive pulmonary disease—continues to grow in the United States, according to national survey results released today by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health.
Sixty-eight percent of adults are now aware of COPD, a disease that affects 1 in 5 people over age 45, compared with 64 percent last year, and 49 percent in a 2004 survey. Among a high risk group, those who are currently smoking, awareness rose to 74 percent compared to 69 percent a year ago.
Less than half of all adults, 44 percent, understand that the disease can be treated. November is National COPD Awareness Month..."
"Awareness of COPD—chronic obstructive pulmonary disease—continues to grow in the United States, according to national survey results released today by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health.
Sixty-eight percent of adults are now aware of COPD, a disease that affects 1 in 5 people over age 45, compared with 64 percent last year, and 49 percent in a 2004 survey. Among a high risk group, those who are currently smoking, awareness rose to 74 percent compared to 69 percent a year ago.
Less than half of all adults, 44 percent, understand that the disease can be treated. November is National COPD Awareness Month..."
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Behind International Rankings of Infant Mortality: How the United States Compares with Europe
"Infant mortality is an important indicator of the health of a nation, and the recent stagnation (since 2000) in the U.S. infant mortality rate has generated concern among researchers and policy makers. The percentage of preterm births in the United States has risen 36% since 1984 (1). In this report we compare infant mortality rates between the United States and Europe. We also compare two factors that determine the infant mortality rate—gestational age-specific infant mortality rates and the percentage of preterm births. U.S. data are from the Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set (2,3), and European data for 2004 are from the recently published European Perinatal Health Report (4). We also examine requirements for reporting a live birth among countries to assess the possible effect of reporting differences on infant mortality data."
"Infant mortality is an important indicator of the health of a nation, and the recent stagnation (since 2000) in the U.S. infant mortality rate has generated concern among researchers and policy makers. The percentage of preterm births in the United States has risen 36% since 1984 (1). In this report we compare infant mortality rates between the United States and Europe. We also compare two factors that determine the infant mortality rate—gestational age-specific infant mortality rates and the percentage of preterm births. U.S. data are from the Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set (2,3), and European data for 2004 are from the recently published European Perinatal Health Report (4). We also examine requirements for reporting a live birth among countries to assess the possible effect of reporting differences on infant mortality data."
Cigarette Smoking Among Adults and Trends in Smoking Cessation --- United States, 2008
"Cigarette smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States (1). Full implementation of population-based strategies (2) and clinical interventions can educate adult smokers about the dangers of tobacco use and assist them in quitting (3,4). To assess progress toward the Healthy People 2010 objective of reducing the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults to <12% (objective 27-1a) (5), CDC analyzed data from the 2008 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that during 1998--2008, the proportion of U.S. adults who were current cigarette smokers declined 3.5% (from 24.1% to 20.6%). However, the proportion did not change significantly from 2007 (19.8%) to 2008 (20.6%). In 2008, adults aged ≥25 years with low educational attainment had the highest prevalence of smoking (41.3% among persons with a General Educational Development certificate [GED] and 27.5% among persons with less than a high school diploma, compared with 5.7% among those with a graduate degree). Adults with education levels at or below the equivalent of a high school diploma, who comprise approximately half of current smokers, had the lowest quit ratios (2008 range: 39.9% to 48.8%). Evidence-based programs known to be effective at reducing smoking should be intensified among groups with lower education, and health-care providers should take education level into account when communicating about smoking hazards and cessation to these patients..."
"Cigarette smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States (1). Full implementation of population-based strategies (2) and clinical interventions can educate adult smokers about the dangers of tobacco use and assist them in quitting (3,4). To assess progress toward the Healthy People 2010 objective of reducing the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults to <12% (objective 27-1a) (5), CDC analyzed data from the 2008 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that during 1998--2008, the proportion of U.S. adults who were current cigarette smokers declined 3.5% (from 24.1% to 20.6%). However, the proportion did not change significantly from 2007 (19.8%) to 2008 (20.6%). In 2008, adults aged ≥25 years with low educational attainment had the highest prevalence of smoking (41.3% among persons with a General Educational Development certificate [GED] and 27.5% among persons with less than a high school diploma, compared with 5.7% among those with a graduate degree). Adults with education levels at or below the equivalent of a high school diploma, who comprise approximately half of current smokers, had the lowest quit ratios (2008 range: 39.9% to 48.8%). Evidence-based programs known to be effective at reducing smoking should be intensified among groups with lower education, and health-care providers should take education level into account when communicating about smoking hazards and cessation to these patients..."
Secretary Sebelius Statement on New Breast Cancer Recommendations
"HS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued the following statement today on new breast cancer screening recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force:
“There is no question that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations have caused a great deal of confusion and worry among women and their families across this country. I want to address that confusion head on. The U.S. Preventive Task Force is an outside independent panel of doctors and scientists who make recommendations. They do not set federal policy and they don’t determine what services are covered by the federal government.
“There has been debate in this country for years about the age at which routine screening mammograms should begin, and how often they should be given. The Task Force has presented some new evidence for consideration but our policies remain unchanged. Indeed, I would be very surprised if any private insurance company changed its mammography coverage decisions as a result of this action.
“What is clear is that there is a great need for more evidence, more research and more scientific innovation to help women prevent, detect, and fight breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women.
“My message to women is simple. Mammograms have always been an important life-saving tool in the fight against breast cancer and they still are today. Keep doing what you have been doing for years -- talk to your doctor about your individual history, ask questions, and make the decision that is right for you.”
"HS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued the following statement today on new breast cancer screening recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force:
“There is no question that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations have caused a great deal of confusion and worry among women and their families across this country. I want to address that confusion head on. The U.S. Preventive Task Force is an outside independent panel of doctors and scientists who make recommendations. They do not set federal policy and they don’t determine what services are covered by the federal government.
“There has been debate in this country for years about the age at which routine screening mammograms should begin, and how often they should be given. The Task Force has presented some new evidence for consideration but our policies remain unchanged. Indeed, I would be very surprised if any private insurance company changed its mammography coverage decisions as a result of this action.
“What is clear is that there is a great need for more evidence, more research and more scientific innovation to help women prevent, detect, and fight breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women.
“My message to women is simple. Mammograms have always been an important life-saving tool in the fight against breast cancer and they still are today. Keep doing what you have been doing for years -- talk to your doctor about your individual history, ask questions, and make the decision that is right for you.”
Critical Infrastructure Protection
"The nation's critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR) include systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating impact on national security, national economic vitality, or public health and safety. Ensuring CIKR resiliency and protection is essential to our security and way of life.
The Department's Office of Infrastructure Protection leads the coordinated national effort to build resiliency and reduce and mitigate risk across the 18 CIKR Sectors, which include such key areas as food and water, energy, communications and transportation systems, and emergency services. Since the vast majority of the nation's critical infrastructure is privately owned and operated, strong partnerships between government and private industry are essential to achieve these shared goals..."
"The nation's critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR) include systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating impact on national security, national economic vitality, or public health and safety. Ensuring CIKR resiliency and protection is essential to our security and way of life.
The Department's Office of Infrastructure Protection leads the coordinated national effort to build resiliency and reduce and mitigate risk across the 18 CIKR Sectors, which include such key areas as food and water, energy, communications and transportation systems, and emergency services. Since the vast majority of the nation's critical infrastructure is privately owned and operated, strong partnerships between government and private industry are essential to achieve these shared goals..."
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
President Obama establishes Interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force
"Attorney General Eric Holder, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan, and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairwoman Mary Schapiro today announced that President Barack Obama has established by Executive Order an interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to strengthen efforts to combat financial crime. The Department of Justice will lead the task force and the Department of Treasury, HUD and the SEC will serve on the steering committee. The task force's leadership, along with representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities and inspectors general, will work with state and local partners to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, address discrimination in the lending and financial markets and recover proceeds for victims..."
"Attorney General Eric Holder, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan, and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairwoman Mary Schapiro today announced that President Barack Obama has established by Executive Order an interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to strengthen efforts to combat financial crime. The Department of Justice will lead the task force and the Department of Treasury, HUD and the SEC will serve on the steering committee. The task force's leadership, along with representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities and inspectors general, will work with state and local partners to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, address discrimination in the lending and financial markets and recover proceeds for victims..."
Census Bureau Releases 2008 Income and Poverty Estimates for All School Districts and Counties
"The U.S. Census Bureau today released 2008 income and poverty estimates
for every school district and county in the nation. These data,
part of the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) program,
currently represent the only source of Census Bureau income and
poverty data for each of the nation's 3,142 counties and almost 14,000
Title I-eligible school districts.
SAIPE is the only source of single-year income and poverty data for
approximately 1,300 counties and 76 percent of school districts.
Data for areas with population size of less than 20,000 are not expected to
be available from the American Community Survey (ACS)
until late 2010...."
"The U.S. Census Bureau today released 2008 income and poverty estimates
for every school district and county in the nation. These data,
part of the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) program,
currently represent the only source of Census Bureau income and
poverty data for each of the nation's 3,142 counties and almost 14,000
Title I-eligible school districts.
SAIPE is the only source of single-year income and poverty data for
approximately 1,300 counties and 76 percent of school districts.
Data for areas with population size of less than 20,000 are not expected to
be available from the American Community Survey (ACS)
until late 2010...."
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
From: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
Tap the Power: Foreclosure Crisis. compiled by Eileen Snyder< November/December 2009.
"With the collapse of the subprime mortgage market early in 2007, foreclosures reached crisis level, and the crisis continues today. In answer, federal, state, and local governments have implemented programs to help alleviate the problem and stabilize neighborhoods. This bibliography presents a selection of print and online resources about foreclosure and the programs implemented by states and the federal government to help homeowners.."
Tap the Power: Foreclosure Crisis. compiled by Eileen Snyder< November/December 2009.
"With the collapse of the subprime mortgage market early in 2007, foreclosures reached crisis level, and the crisis continues today. In answer, federal, state, and local governments have implemented programs to help alleviate the problem and stabilize neighborhoods. This bibliography presents a selection of print and online resources about foreclosure and the programs implemented by states and the federal government to help homeowners.."
Text and Multimedia Messaging: Emerging Issues for Congress
"...For Congressional policymakers, two major categories of issues have arisen: (1) “same problem,
different platform” and (2) issues stemming from the difficulty in applying existing technical
definitions to a new service, such as whether a text message is sent “phone-to-phone” or using the
phone’s associated email address. There are numerous examples of each. An example of the first
category would be consumer fraud and children’s accessing inappropriate content, which have
existed previously in the “wired world,” but have now found their way to the “wireless world.”
An example of the second category would be that spam sent between two phones or from one
phone to many phones does not fall under the definition of spam in the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003
(Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act, P.L. 108-187);
however, if that same message were to be sent from a phone or computer using the phone’s
associated e-mail address, it would.
The increasing use of text and multimedia messaging has raised several policy issues:
applicability of CAN-SPAM Act to unwanted wireless messages; refusal of some carriers to allow
users to disable text messaging; carrier blocking of Common Short Code messages; deceptive and
misleading Common Short Code programs; protecting children from inappropriate content on
wireless devices; “sexting”; mobile cyberbullying; and balancing user privacy with “Sunshine,”
Open Government, and Freedom of Information Laws."
"...For Congressional policymakers, two major categories of issues have arisen: (1) “same problem,
different platform” and (2) issues stemming from the difficulty in applying existing technical
definitions to a new service, such as whether a text message is sent “phone-to-phone” or using the
phone’s associated email address. There are numerous examples of each. An example of the first
category would be consumer fraud and children’s accessing inappropriate content, which have
existed previously in the “wired world,” but have now found their way to the “wireless world.”
An example of the second category would be that spam sent between two phones or from one
phone to many phones does not fall under the definition of spam in the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003
(Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act, P.L. 108-187);
however, if that same message were to be sent from a phone or computer using the phone’s
associated e-mail address, it would.
The increasing use of text and multimedia messaging has raised several policy issues:
applicability of CAN-SPAM Act to unwanted wireless messages; refusal of some carriers to allow
users to disable text messaging; carrier blocking of Common Short Code messages; deceptive and
misleading Common Short Code programs; protecting children from inappropriate content on
wireless devices; “sexting”; mobile cyberbullying; and balancing user privacy with “Sunshine,”
Open Government, and Freedom of Information Laws."
Census Bureau's Question & Answer Center
Find answers to over 3300 census related questions.
Find answers to over 3300 census related questions.
Household Food Security in the United States, 2008
"More American households had difficulty putting enough food on the table in 2008
In 2008, 85 percent of U.S. households were food secure throughout the entire year, but 14.6 percent of households were food insecure at least some time during that year, up from 11.1 percent in 2007.
This is the highest recorded prevalence rate of food insecurity since 1995 when the first national food security survey was conducted."
"More American households had difficulty putting enough food on the table in 2008
In 2008, 85 percent of U.S. households were food secure throughout the entire year, but 14.6 percent of households were food insecure at least some time during that year, up from 11.1 percent in 2007.
This is the highest recorded prevalence rate of food insecurity since 1995 when the first national food security survey was conducted."
Screening for Breast Cancer(U.S. Preventive Services Task Force)
"Summary of Recommendations
The USPSTF recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years. The decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography before the age of 50 years should be an individual one and take patient context into account, including the patient's values regarding specific benefits and harms.
Grade: C recommendation.
The USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years.
Grade: B recommendation.
The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of screening mammography in women 75 years or older.
Grade: I Statement.
The USPSTF recommends against teaching breast self-examination (BSE).
Grade: D recommendation.
The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of clinical breast examination (CBE) beyond screening mammography in women 40 years or older.
Grade: I Statement.
The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of either digital mammography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instead of film mammography as screening modalities for breast cancer."
"Summary of Recommendations
The USPSTF recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years. The decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography before the age of 50 years should be an individual one and take patient context into account, including the patient's values regarding specific benefits and harms.
Grade: C recommendation.
The USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years.
Grade: B recommendation.
The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of screening mammography in women 75 years or older.
Grade: I Statement.
The USPSTF recommends against teaching breast self-examination (BSE).
Grade: D recommendation.
The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of clinical breast examination (CBE) beyond screening mammography in women 40 years or older.
Grade: I Statement.
The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of either digital mammography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instead of film mammography as screening modalities for breast cancer."
Monday, November 16, 2009
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE RELEASES ANNUAL LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released its Candidate Notice of Review, a yearly appraisal of the current status of plants and animals that are considered candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Four species have been removed from candidate status, five have been added, and eight have a change in priority from the last review in December 2008. There are now 249 species recognized by the Service as candidates for ESA protection.
Candidate species are plants and animals for which the Service has enough information on their status and threats to propose them as threatened or endangered, but developing a proposed listing rule is precluded by higher priority listing actions..."
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released its Candidate Notice of Review, a yearly appraisal of the current status of plants and animals that are considered candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Four species have been removed from candidate status, five have been added, and eight have a change in priority from the last review in December 2008. There are now 249 species recognized by the Service as candidates for ESA protection.
Candidate species are plants and animals for which the Service has enough information on their status and threats to propose them as threatened or endangered, but developing a proposed listing rule is precluded by higher priority listing actions..."
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