Demographic Estimates and Projections for Countries of the World

"How large is the population of the world’s newest country? When will India overtake China as most populous country? Is the world growing younger or older? The latest update of the U.S. Census Bureau’s International Data Base (IDB) has answers to these and many more questions...

FACT SHEET: The Affordable Care Act: Secure Health Coverage for the Middle Class

"The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act ensures hard-working, middle class families will get the security they deserve and protects every American from the worst insurance company abuses.  This law was also specifically designed to give States the resources and flexibility they need to tailor their approach to their unique needs.  With the uncertainty about the Court’s decision behind us, it’s now time to focus on implementing this law in a smart and non-bureaucratic way that works for the middle class..."

Fastest Growing Cities Since 2000 Census

"Texas had eight of the 15 most rapidly growing large cities between Census Day (April 1, 2010) and July 1, 2011, according to population estimates for all of the nation's incorporated cities and towns and minor civil divisions released today by the U.S. Census Bureau...

 Although Texas dominated the list as a whole, the fastest-growing large city was outside the state. Among cities with populations of 100,000 or more in 2010, New Orleans, still rebounding from the effects of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, ranked first, growing by 4.9 percent to 360,740. This puts the city's population at 79.2 percent of the pre-Katrina July 1, 2005, estimate of 455,188..."

Wildfires

Assorted information on things to do to protect your home from wildfires.

Beware of Foreclosure Rescue and Loan Modification Scams

Find tips from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on avoiding foreclosure scams.  English and Spanish editions available in pdf format.

How to Avoid Mistakes When Applying for Citizenship

"The naturalization ceremony is one of the most memorable moments in the life of many immigrants. In this formal ceremony, a person pledges allegiance to the United States and becomes a naturalized citizen.

But getting there is not easy. There are appointments to keep and tests to take. The process can be long and it’s easy to forget a document or signature, which can lead to delays. Some mistakes might even cost the applicant hundreds of dollars in lost costs.

The following tips will guide you through the application process so that you can become a citizen as quickly and easily as possible..."

Health Insurance Coverage: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, 2011

"• Once each year, this quarterly report presents health insurance coverage rates for selected states. In 2011, the percentage of persons who were uninsured at the time of interview among the 32 states shown ranged from 3.9% in Massachusetts to 22.6% in Nevada.

• In 2011, 46.3 million persons of all ages (15.1%) were uninsured at the time of interview, 58.7 million (19.2%) had been uninsured for at least part of the year prior to interview, and 34.2 million (11.2%) had been uninsured for more than a year at the time of interview..."

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): A Legal Analysis

"This report provides an overview of the regulatory structure of consumer finance under existing federal law before the Dodd-Frank Act went into effect and examines arguments for modifying the regime in order to more effectively regulate consumer financial markets. It then analyzes how the CFP Act changes that legal structure, with a focus on the Bureau’s organization; the entities and activities that fall (and do not fall) under the Bureau’s supervisory, enforcement, and rulemaking authorities; the Bureau’s general and specific rulemaking powers and procedures; and the Bureau’s funding..."

Draft Environmental Impact Assessment General Library System Storage Facility UW-Madison, DSF Project #11I1J

"UW System Administration, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the State of Wisconsin’s Department of Administration have retained GRAEF to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed General Library System Storage Facility.  This project will construct a new 10,248 GSF addition on the north side of the existing pre-cast concrete warehouse used by the UW-Madison Materials Distribution Services (MDS) located on Thousand Oaks Trail in the Verona Technology Park in the City of Verona. 

The Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) is available for public review at the circulation desks of the UW‑Madison Helen C White Library located at 600 North Park Street in the City of Madison, City of Madison Public Library located at 201 W. Mifflin Street in the City of Madison, Verona Public Library located at 500 Silent Street in the City of Verona and online beginning May 15, 2012.."

Draft Environmental Impact Assessment UWHCA American Family Children's Hospital Addition UW-Madison

The Final Environmental Impact Assessment (FEIA) along with Finding of Fact (FoF) has been completed in accordance with the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA).  This completes the WEPA process.  Electronic copies of the FoF and FEIA, along with associated report appendices, are available for download on the right side of the page.  They are also available for hard-copy review at the UW-Madison Helen C. White Library (600 N. Park Street, Madison, WI) and City of Madison Public Library (126 S. Hamilton St., Madison, WI).

Final Impact Assessment, UW-Madison, Memorial Union Renovation, Lake Mendota Shoreline Rehabilitation and Alumni Park DSF Projects 09K1K and 10A1J

The Final Environmental Impact Assessment (FEIA) along with Record of Decision (ROD) has been completed in accordance with the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA).  This completes the WEPA process.  Electronic copies of the ROD and FEIA, along with associated report appendices, are available for download on the right side of the page.  They are also available for hard-copy review at the UW-Madison Helen C. White Library (600 N. Park Street, Madison, WI) and City of Madison Public Library (126 S. Hamilton St., Madison, WI).

Public Education Finances: 2010

"This report contains financial statistics relating to public elementary-secondary education. It includes national and state financial aggregates and displays data for each public school system with an enrollment of 10,000 or more..."

Veterans Transportation Career Center

"The Department of Transportation (DOT) is partnering with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help military personnel and veterans transition from military training and job specialty skills acquired in the service to exciting careers in the transportation industry..."

Unauthorized Alien Students: Issues and “DREAM Act” Legislation

"The 109th and 110th Congresses considered, but did not enact, comprehensive immigration reform
legislation that included large-scale legalization programs for unauthorized aliens. In the aftermath of these unsuccessful efforts, some interested parties have urged the President and Congress to pursue more limited legislation to address the status of unauthorized alien students. Such legislation is commonly referred to as the “DREAM Act.”.."

Top Secret CIA Documents on Osama bin Laden Declassified

"The National Security Archive today is posting over 100 recently released CIA documents relating to September 11, Osama bin Laden, and U.S. counterterrorism operations.  The newly-declassified records, which the Archive obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, are referred to in footnotes to the 9/11 Commission Report and present an unprecedented public resource for information about September 11..."

Sharing a Household: Household Composition and Economic Well-Being: 2007–2010

"This report analyzes and describes “household sharing,” a process by which people join or combine households. Data from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey (CPS ASEC) were used to compare living arrangements, both prior to and following the most recent recession..."

Consumer Complaint Database

Find credit card complaint information at the newly launched credit card database from the
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Raising Excise Tax on Cigarettes: Effects on Health and the Federal Budget

"The federal government spends roughly $1 trillion on health care programs each year, so it is easy to imagine
that policies that promote a healthier population could have a significant impact on the federal budget. Such policies might include initiatives that discourage smoking or excessive alcohol consumption, that promote better eating habits and physical activity to reduce obesity, or that encourage compliance with medical and dietary regimens for chronic conditions such as diabetes. In this study, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analyzes a policy involving smoking—a hypothetical increase of 50 cents per pack in the federal excise tax on cigarettes and small cigars (adjusted each year to keep pace with inflation and, in the long term, with the growth of people’s income)— to demonstrate the complex links between policies that aim to improve health and effects on the federal budget..."

Secretary Napolitano Announces Deferred Action Process for Young People Who Are Low Enforcement Priorities

"Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced that effective immediately, certain young people who were brought to the United States as young children, do not present a risk to national security or public safety, and meet several key criteria will be considered for relief from removal from the country or from entering into removal proceedings. Those who demonstrate that they meet the criteria will be eligible to receive deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and will be eligible to apply for work authorization..."
 http://www.dhs.gov/news/2012/06/15/secretary-napolitano-announces-deferred-action-process-young-people-who-are-low 

EPA Proposes Clean Air Standards for Harmful Soot

"In response to a court order, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed updates to its national air quality standards for harmful fine particle pollution, including soot (known as PM2.5). These microscopic particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and have been linked to a wide range of serious health effects, including premature death, heart attacks, and strokes, as well as acute bronchitis and aggravated asthma among children. A federal court ruling required EPA to update the standard based on best available science. Today’s proposal, which meets that requirement, builds on smart steps already taken by the EPA to slash dangerous pollution in communities across the country. Thanks to these steps, 99 percent of U.S. counties are projected to meet the proposed standard without any additional action..."

Wealth and Asset Ownership

Find statistics on the median value of assets for households by type of asset owned and selected other characteristics. These figures are subdivided to display assets by race and Hispanic origin of householder, age of householder, and education attainment of householder.

Digest of Eduction Statistics: 2011

"The primary purpose of the Digest of Education Statistics is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education from prekindergarten through graduate school. The Digest includes a selection of data from many sources, both government and private, and draws especially on the results of surveys and activities carried out by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). To qualify for inclusion in the Digest, material must be nationwide in scope and of current interest and value. The publication contains information on a variety of subjects in the field of education statistics, including the number of schools and colleges, teachers, enrollments, and graduates, in addition to educational attainment, finances, federal funds for education, libraries, and international education..."

College Affordability and Transparency Center

A web site for examining college costs. Find the highest ( top 5% )  and lowest( bottom 10%)
college costs.

Reducing Homeless Populations’ Involvement in the Criminal Justice System

"The Department of Justice has released a new guide, “Reducing Homeless Populations’ Involvement in the Criminal Justice System.”  The guide is intended to generate greater awareness in the field among law enforcement, courts, prosecutors, defenders, state and local legislators, advocates, social service providers, and the homeless about  Department of Justice resources available to serve homeless people, and those at risk of homelessness, who are involved in the criminal justice system..."
View complete guide

Open Tree of Life

"A new initiative aims to build a comprehensive tree of life that brings together everything scientists know about how all species are related, from the tiniest bacteria to the tallest tree.

Researchers are working to provide the infrastructure and computational tools to enable automatic updating of the tree of life, as well as develop the analytical and visualization tools to study it..."

What Is Systemic Risk? Does It Apply to Recent JP Morgan Losses?

"JP Morgan recently disclosed that it suffered significant losses in a unit that traded complex
financial instruments. Congress will be examining the JP Morgan trades and oversight by JP
Morgan’s regulators. Two of the questions that policymakers might ask are could the JP Morgan
losses or similar trades trigger another financial crisis and how would the Volcker Rule in the
Dodd-Frank Act have applied to the JP Morgan trades? This report explains general systemic risk
analysis. It evaluates recent JP Morgan trades in light of our understanding of sources of systemic
risk. If the sizes of the losses remain small, it appears extremely unlikely that JP Morgan’s
reported losses in its asset liabilities management unit could trigger a financial crisis or systemic
event..."

Proliferation of Precision Strike: Issues for Congress

"The proliferation of precision strike creates potential issues for Congress. These issues include
whether the Department of Defense (DOD) is properly taking adversary precision strike weapons
into account in its own plans and programs, and whether Congress should approve, reject, or
modify proposed DOD programs for responding to those weapons..".

Trafficking in Persons: International Dimensions and Foreign Policy Issues for Congress

"Trafficking in persons, or human trafficking, refers to the involuntary subjection of men, women,
and children to exploitative conditions that can be tantamount to slavery. Reports suggest that
human trafficking is a global phenomenon, victimizing millions of people each year and
contributing to a multi-billion dollar criminal industry. It is a centuries-old problem that, despite
international and U.S. efforts to eliminate it, continues to occur in virtually every country in the
world. Human trafficking is also an international and cross-cutting policy problem that bears on a
range of major national security, human rights, criminal justice, social, economic, migration,
gender, public health, and labor issues..."

Explore America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places

"This year marks the 25th anniversary of the National Trust's annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Since our first list in 1988, we have identified more than 230 threatened one-of-a-kind historic treasures. Whether these sites are urban districts or rural landscapes, Native American landmarks or 20th-century sports arenas, entire communities or single buildings, the list spotlights historic places across America that are threatened by neglect, insufficient funds, inappropriate development, or insensitive public policy..."

Homeless Incidence and Risk Factors for Becoming Homeless in Veterans

"OEF/OIF and women veterans experienced higher homeless incidences after military separation. At 5 years after separation from the military, 3.7 percent of the veterans experienced an initial episode of homelessness (the newly homeless). OEF/OIF and women veterans experienced higher incidences of homelessness than their non-OEF/OIF and male counterparts. The 5-year homeless incidence rates ranged from 3.2 percent for non-OEF/OIF men to 4.0 percent for OEF/OIF women veterans. OEF/OIF veterans experienced higher homeless incidences than non-OEF/OIF veterans at each year of the first 5 years after discharge..."

Residential Energy Consumption Survey

"Total U.S. energy consumption in homes has remained relatively stable for many years as increased energy efficiency has offset the increase in the number and average size of housing units, according to the latest results from the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS). The average household consumed 90 million British thermal units (Btu) in 2009, based on RECS data. This continues the downward trend in average per-household energy consumption of the last 30 years. Improvements in efficiency for space heating, air conditioning, and major appliances have all led to decreased consumption per household, despite increases in the number of homes, the average size of homes, and the use of electronics..."

Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, January-December, 2011

Find preliminary crime statistics covering January - December 2011 published by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Voting and Registration

Find a graphic representation of Voting and Registration by data by states covering years 1964 to 2010.

U.S. Family Finances from 2007 to 2010

"The Federal Reserve Board's Survey of Consumer Finances for 2010 provides insights into changes in family income and net worth since the 2007 survey. The survey shows that, over the 2007–10 period, the median value of real (inflation-adjusted) family income before taxes fell 7.7 percent, while mean income fell more sharply, an 11.1 percent decline. Both median and mean net worth decreased even more dramatically than income over this period, though the relative movements in the median and the mean are reversed; the median fell 38.8 percent, and the mean fell 14.7 percent. This article reviews these and other changes in the financial condition of U.S. families, including developments in assets, liabilities, and debt payments.."

The Financial Action Task Force: An Overview

"The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, or the 9/11 Commission,
recommended that tracking terrorist financing “must remain front and center in U.S. counterterrorism efforts” (see The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office, July, 2004. p. 382). As part of these efforts, the United States plays a leading role in the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF). The independent, intergovernmental policymaking body was established by the 1989 G-7 Summit in Paris as a result of growing concerns among the summit participants about the threat posed to the international banking system by money laundering. After September 11, 2001, the body expanded its role to include identifying
sources and methods of terrorist financing and adopted nine special recommendations on terrorist financing to track terrorists’ funds. The scope of activity of FATF was broadened as a result of the global financial crisis, since financial systems in distress can be more vulnerable to abuse for illegal activities..."

Mapping at the U.S. Census Bureau

A brief overview of mapping activities at the U.S. Census Bureau.