Getting Enough Sleep?

"35% of U.S. adults do not get enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep continues to be a problem in the U.S. 

Are you one of those adults? Learn more about your risk and how many adults don't get enough sleep in the U.S.

How much sleep do we need and what can happen when we're not getting enough?

Sleep is an important part of good health.¹ Sleeping less than 7 hours per night is linked to increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and poor mental health, as well as early death.^2-4 Not getting the recommended amount of sleep can affect your ability to make good decisions and increases the chances of motor vehicle crashes.^.."
Sleep

Traveling Overseas? Consider Getting Insurance

"If you are planning an international trip, there are 3 types of insurance you should consider: trip cancellation insurance, travel health insurance, and medical evacuation insurance. These will cover different situations and may give you financial peace of mind, as well as allowing for safe and healthy travel.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Trip cancellation insurance covers your financial investment in your trip, such as flights, cruises, or train tickets. Carefully examine the policy to make sure that it covers what you need it to cover, including cancellation if you or a close family member gets sick. Depending on the policy, trip cancellation insurance might not cover any medical care you need overseas, so you may need a separate travel health insurance policy..."
Travel insurance

A Sports Curator at the Smithsonian Unpacks the Myths and Reality in the Film "Race

"James “J.C.” Cleveland Owens, one of the fastest men on earth, was born into an impoverished family of sharecroppers in Oakville, Alabama, in 1913. The family moved to Ohio when Owens was 9, in search of a better life. He acquired his nickname Jesse after feeling too shy to correct a teacher who pronounced his name “Jey-See.”

Money was incredibly tight in the Owens household. As a child, his mother had to remove a large lump on his chest with a kitchen knife because they couldn’t afford to take him for surgery. Owens survived the makeshift procedure, despite losing a lot of blood, and went on to become a legend.

The recently released film Race focuses on Owens’ college years leading up to the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin under Nazi Germany, where he won four gold medals..."
Jesse Owens

Women are Leading the Rise of Black-Owned Businesses

"The number of black or African American-owned firms grew 34.5 percent between 2007 and 2012 — from 1.9 million to 2.6 million in 2012. In contrast, the total number of firms in the United States increased  2.0 percent during the same period, from 27.1 million in 2007 to 27.6 million in 2012. However, the proportion of black or African American-owned businesses account for 9.4 percent of all firms, which is still below the 13.1 percent black or African American share of the U.S. adult population (according to the Census Bureau’s July 1, 2012, population estimates).

These business figures are from the Survey of Business Owners, which provides a broad socio-economic picture of business owners across the nation and is part of the Census Bureau’s economic census conducted every five years.  Drawing upon a sample of 1.75 million employer and nonemployer businesses, the Survey of Business Owners collects data on firms’ receipts, payroll and employment as well as the gender, ethnicity, race and veteran status of the firm owners. It is the most authoritative source of data on businesses by the demographic characteristics of the owner..."
Black-Owned Businesses

The Rosa Parks Collection is Now Online

"The Rosa Parks Collection at the Library of Congress has been digitized and is now online.

The collection, which contains approximately 7,500 manuscripts and 2,500 photographs, is on loan to the Library for 10 years from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The Library received the materials in late 2014, formally opened them to researchers in the Library’s reading rooms in February 2015 and now has digitized them for optimal access by the public.

"It’s a great privilege to open the Rosa Parks Collection and help people worldwide discover more about her active life and her deep commitment to civil rights and to children," said David Mao, Acting Librarian of Congress. "From the thoughtful reflections she left us in her own handwriting to her "Featherlite Pancakes" recipe and smiling portraits, you’ll find much to explore in this collection about Mrs. Parks’ life beyond the bus."

Parks became an iconic figure in history on Dec. 1, 1955, when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a seminal event in the Civil Rights Movement. Parks died at age 92 in 2005..."
Rosa Parks

What the All Writs Act of 1789 Has to Do With the iPhone

"The ongoing battle between the United States government and Silicon Valley tech companies over encryption exploded last week when a federal judge ordered Apple to unlock an iPhone. In doing so, the government invoked a 227-year-old law signed by President George Washington, himself. But what does one of the United States’ earliest laws have to do with the latest in communications technology?

To make a long story short, Apple has so far refused to comply with government agents, who have demanded that the company helps break the encryption on the iPhone that belonged to one of the San Bernardino shooters responsible for killing 14 people in California, last year. Since the attacks, the F.B.I. has received a warrant for the information on the iPhone, but they have been stymied by its encryption, which is why they’re looking for Apple’s help. In an attempt to make Apple create a backdoor into the phone’s operating system, the U.S. government has invoked the All Writs Act of 1789.

The legal issues around the All Writs Act are complex, but at its core, it gives federal judges the power to issue orders to compel people to do things within the limits of the law, Eric Limer writes for Popular Mechanics. In its original form, the All Writs Act was part of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the federal justice system from the Supreme Court down to the lower federal courts. The All Writs Act allows federal judges the power to issue court orders, which makes sense considering that "writs" is an old-fashioned term for "formal order." At one point in history, writs were fairly common, but over the centuries, courts have tended to use them only in extraordinary circumstances where there are no other laws that apply to the situation at hand, such as this case, where the government wants access to information in a password-protected cell phone. The vagueness built into the All Writs Act has leant itself to new readings throughout American history, Laura Sydell reports for NPR..."
iPhone & All Writs Act

Getting Enough Sleep?

"35% of U.S. adults do not get enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep continues to be a problem in the U.S. 

Are you one of those adults? Learn more about your risk and how many adults don't get enough sleep in the U.S.

How much sleep do we need and what can happen when we're not getting enough?

Sleep is an important part of good health.¹ Sleeping less than 7 hours per night is linked to increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and poor mental health, as well as early death.^2-4 Not getting the recommended amount of sleep can affect your ability to make good decisions and increases the chances of motor vehicle crashes.."
Sleep

Mosquito Deterrents: The Good, the Bad and the Potentially Effective

"There’s not much that's good about mosquitoes. The itch-inducing little suckers kill about 725,000 people a year worldwide through the diseases they transmit: malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, encephalitis, chikungunya, and West Nile virus, just to name a few. Now, with news that the mosquito-borne Zika virus may be causing an epidemic of severe birth defectsacross South America, Central America and the Caribbean, there’s been an increased focus on mosquito control. Here, we’re highlighting some of the most interesting anti-mosquito innovations of the past few years, some more effective than others..." 
Mosquitoes

Marines Flag Raising on Iwo Jima, 02/23/1945

"On February 23, 1945, during the battle for Iwo Jima, U.S. Marines raised a flag atop Mount Suribachi. It was taken down, and a second flag was raised. Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal captured this second flag-raising. Now part of U.S. Navy records, it is one of the most famous war photographs in U.S. history..." 
Iwo Jima

Drinking Water Mapping Application to Protect Source Waters

"What is the Drinking Water Mapping Application to Protect Source Waters (DWMAPS)?

The Drinking Water Mapping Application to Protect Source Waters or DWMAPS is EPA’s online mapping tool to help you find information about drinking water in your community. This user-friendly tool provides answers to questions like:

• Who supplies my drinking water?
• Is the source of my drinking water polluted?
• Are there possible sources of pollution near my drinking water that might be affecting my community's water supply?
• How can I get involved in protecting sources of drinking water in my community?..."
  Drinking water

2016 Economic Report of the President

View the latest edition of the Economic Report of the President  together with the 
Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers as submitted to Congress, February 2016.
President's Economic Report

Laminate Flooring Test Results - Health Issues and Solutions

"CDC/ATSDR was notified February 13 of an error in its report released February 10, 2016, about the possible health effects from exposure to formaldehyde emitted from select laminate flooring samples. Health risks of people who have the laminate flooring are being revised to reflect greater exposure to formaldehyde, which could cause eye, nose, and throat irritation for anyone. The estimated risk of cancer associated with exposure to the flooring increased.

The CDC/ATSDR indoor air model used an incorrect value for ceiling height.  As a result, the health risks were calculated using airborne concentration estimates about 3 times lower than they should have been.  The original report found:

• Exposure to the low end of the modeled levels of formaldehyde in indoor air could cause increased frequency of asthma symptoms and other respiratory issues for people with asthma and COPD;
• Exposure to the higher-end levels could result in eye, nose, and throat irritation for anyone; and
• Low risk of cancer (2-9 cases per 100,000 people).

After correcting the measurement in the model, CDC/ATSDR is revising the possible health effects. The final results are not yet available, but are estimated to be closer to these:

• Exposure to the range of modeled levels of formaldehyde in indoor air could cause increased symptoms and other respiratory issues for people with asthma and COPD;
• Exposure to the lowest modeled levels of formaldehyde could result in eye, nose, and throat irritation for anyone; and
• The estimated risk of cancer is 6-30 cases per 100,000 people. Because of the very conservative (health protective) nature of the models used in this analysis, ‎the calculated risk is likely lower than our modeled estimate..."
  Laminated floors

EPA Announces National Enforcement Initiatives for Coming Years

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced its seven National Enforcement Initiatives for fiscal years 2017-2019, which focus on national pollution challenges where EPA’s enforcement efforts will protect public health. For the next cycle starting on October 1, 2016, EPA will retain four of its current National Enforcement Initiatives, add two new initiatives, and expand one to include a new area of focus. The fiscal year 2017-2019 National Enforcement Initiatives are:

1. Keeping Industrial Pollutants Out of the Nation’s Waters (new initiative)
2. Reducing Risks of Accidental Releases at Industrial and Chemical Facilities (new initiative)
3. Cutting Hazardous Air Pollutants (expanded initiative)
4. Reducing Air Pollution from the Largest Sources
5. Ensuring Energy Extraction Activities Comply with Environmental Laws
6. Keeping Raw Sewage and Contaminated Stormwater Out of the Nation’s Waters 
7. Preventing Animal Waste from Contaminating Surface and Ground Water.."

EPA

Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications

"Anyone with a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) can prepare a tax return for a client. However, tax return preparers have differing levels of skills, education and expertise. This searchable directory is intended to help you with your choice by providing a listing of preparers in your area who currently hold professional credentials recognized by the IRS or who hold an Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion.

Understanding Tax Return Preparer Credentials and Qualifications can help you learn more about the different types of tax professionals.

Choosing a Tax Professional provides more guidance for making this important choice..."

Taxes

The Lincoln Memorial Is Getting a Makeover

"Since its dedication in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial has been one of Washington, D.C.’s most beloved tributes. The monument is noteworthy for its sheer size—the statue of Lincoln alone clocks in at 175 tons. But over the years, it’s gained associations with the Civil Rights movement, too. In 1939, Marian Anderson, a soprano who was denied access to Constitution Hall because of her race, gave a historic concert on the memorial’s steps. And the memorial was the backdrop for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s electric “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. But in recent years, Honest Abe’s temple has gotten dirty and somewhat damaged. That’s about to change: Yesterday, the National Park Service announced that the memorial will get a multimillion-dollar renovation.

In a release, the National Park Foundation announced that philanthropist David Rubenstein has donated $18.5 million to repair and restore the memorial. The long to-do list includes plans to repair damaged brick and marble, build 15,000-square feet of additional display space, add an elevator and, of course, give the memorial a good scrub. The renovation will also open the memorial’s foundational pillars to the public, giving visitors glimpses of graffiti left by the workers who built the monument..."
Lincoln Memorial

CDC's Zika Virus site

Find up-to-date information on the Zika Virus by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention new web site.
Zika Virus

CIA Releases Declassified Documents to National Archives

"Today, CIA released about 750,000 pages of declassified intelligence papers, records, research files and other content which are now accessible through CIA’s Records Search Tool (CREST) at the National Archives in College Park, MD. This release will include nearly 100,000 pages of analytic intelligence publication files, and about 20,000 pages of research and development files from CIA’s Directorate of Science and Technology, among others.

The newly available documents are being released in partnership with the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) and are available by accessing CREST at the National Archives. This release continues CIA’s efforts to systematically review and release documents under Executive Order 13526. With this release, the CIA collection of records on the CREST system increases to nearly 13 million declassified pages..."

CIA declassified documents

Supreme Court Appointment Process: Roles of the President, Judiciary Committee, and Senate

"The appointment of a Supreme Court Justice is an event of major significance in American politics. Each appointment is of consequence because of the enormous judicial power the Supreme Court exercises as the highest appellate court in the federal judiciary. Appointments are usually infrequent, as a vacancy on the nine-member Court may occur only once or twice, or never at all, during a particular President’s years in office. Under the Constitution, Justices on the Supreme Court receive lifetime appointments. Such job security in the government has been conferred solely on judges and, by constitutional design, helps insure the Court’s independence from the President and Congress.

The procedure for appointing a Justice is provided for by the Constitution in only a few words. The “Appointments Clause” (Article II, Section 2, clause 2) states that the President “shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint ... Judges of the supreme Court.” The process of appointing Justices has undergone changes over two centuries, but its most basic feature—the sharing of power between the President and Senate—has remained unchanged: To receive lifetime appointment to the Court, a candidate must first be nominated by the President and then confirmed by the Senate. Although not mentioned in the Constitution, an important role is played midway in the process (after the President selects, but before the Senate considers) by the Senate Judiciary Committee..."
Supreme Court

Social Security Primer

"The Social Security program was established in the 1930s and has been modified by Congress many times over the years. Today, Social Security provides monthly cash benefits to retired or disabled workers and their family members, and to the family members of deceased workers. Among the beneficiary population, approximately 82% are retired or disabled workers, and 18% are the family members of retired, disabled, or deceased workers. In November 2015, nearly 60 million beneficiaries received a total of $74 billion in benefit payments for the month, with an average monthly benefit of $1,227.

Workers become eligible for Social Security benefits for themselves and their family members by working in Social Security-covered employment. An estimated 94% of workers in paid employment or self-employment are covered, and their earnings are subject to the Social Security payroll tax. In 2016, employers and employees each pay 6.2% of covered earnings, up to the annual limit on taxable earnings ($118,500 in 2016)..."
Social Security

EPA Regulations: Too Much, Too Little, or On Track?

"Since Barack Obama was sworn in as President in 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed and promulgated numerous regulations to implement the pollution control statutes enacted by Congress. Critics have reacted strongly. Many, both within Congress and outside of it, have accused the agency of reaching beyond the authority given it by Congress and ignoring or underestimating the costs and economic impacts of proposed and promulgated rules. The House conducted vigorous oversight of the agency in the 112th and 113th Congresses, and approved several bills that would overturn specific regulations or limit the agency’s authority. Particular attention has been paid to the Clean Air Act, but there has also been congressional scrutiny on other environmental statutes and regulations implemented by EPA. With Republican majorities in both the House and Senate, the 114th Congress has accelerated oversight of the Administration’s initiatives and renewed efforts to rein in EPA..."
EPA

Supreme Court Opinions written by Justice Scalia

Here is a convenient listing of the Supreme Court opinions of Justice Antonin Scalia.[via Cornell University's Legal Information Institute]
Justice Antonin Scalia

Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community

"Chairman McCain, Vice Chairman Reed, Members of the Committee, thank you for the invitation to offer the United States Intelligence Community’s 2016 assessment of threats to US national security. My statement reflects the collective insights of the Intelligence Community’s extraordinary men and women, whom I am privileged and honored to lead. We in the Intelligence Community are committed every day to provide the nuanced, multidisciplinary intelligence that policymakers, warfighters, and domestic law enforcement personnel need to protect American lives and America’s interests anywhere in the world..."
Threat assessment

Laminate Flooring Test Results - Health Issues and Solutions

"The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) tested formaldehyde levels released from specific types of laminate flooring made in China between 2012 and 2014 and sold at Lumber Liquidators® stores in the United States. CPSC tested the same type of flooring that had some of the highest formaldehyde levels in tests conducted during a recent consumer investigation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) evaluated possible health effects from formaldehyde released into indoor air from this laminate flooring.

Irritation and breathing problems can happen in anyone, but children, older adults, and people with asthma or other breathing problems are more likely to have these symptoms.

If your home already has elevated levels of formaldehyde from other products (like cabinets, furniture, or curtains) and you have this type of flooring in your home, the formaldehyde levels could affect everyone in the home.

Breathing in very high levels of formaldehyde over many years has been linked to rare nose and throat cancers in workers. Formaldehyde exposure from the tested laminate flooring would be much lower and would last for less time than the exposures linked to cancer. We estimated the risk of cancer from exposure to this flooring and it’s low..."
Laminated flooring

Iran’s Nuclear Program: Tehran’s Compliance with International Obligations

"Several U.N. Security Council resolutions required Iran to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) investigation of its nuclear activities, suspend its uranium enrichment program, suspend its construction of a heavy-water reactor and related projects, and ratify the Additional Protocol to its IAEA safeguards agreement. However, Tehran has implemented various restrictions on, and provided the IAEA with additional information about, its uranium enrichment program and heavy-water reactor program pursuant to the July 2015 Joint Cooperative Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Tehran concluded with China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. On the JCPOA’s Implementation Day, which took place on January 16, 2016, all of the previous resolutions’ requirements were terminated. The nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which the Council adopted on July 20, 2015, comprise the current legal framework governing Iran’s nuclear program. Iran has complied with the JCPOA and resolution..."
Iran's nuclear program

America's Newest National Monuments

"President Obama has taken unprecedented action to invest and conserve America's natural treasures. The natural and cultural richness of our national parks, monuments, forest, and public lands are an important reflections of our environmental responsibility and the legacy we leave to future generations. That is why this President has protected more than 265 million acres of land and water – more than any other president in history.

Today, he's adding a few million acres more.

Today, he will designated three new national monuments in the California desert: Mojave Trails National Monument, Sand to Snow National Monument, and Castle Mountains National Monument. 

These designations encompass nearly 1.8 million acres and nearly double the number of acres of public lands that he's previously protected. Take a look and find out a bit more about our nation's newest national monuments..."
National monuments

Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity

"By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to enhance cybersecurity awareness and protections at all levels of Government, business, and society, to protect privacy, to ensure public safety and economic and national security, and to empower Americans to take better control of their digital security, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment. There is established within the Department of Commerce the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity (Commission).."
Cybersecurity

Strengthening Our Nation's Cybersecurity

"Today, President Obama is releasing his final budget proposal of his Administration. It's a strong reflection of what investments he believes will move our country forward and keep our country and the American people safe.

A key part of that involves the strength of our nation's cybersecurity. From buying products, to running businesses, to chatting with the people we love, our online world has fundamentally reshaped the way we live our lives. But living in a digital age also makes us more vulnerable to malicious cyber activity.

We have to adapt to this national threat. That's why President Obama has worked for more than seven years to aggressively and comprehensively confront this challenge. So today, he is directing the Administration to implement a Cybersecurity National Action Plan (CNAP) -- the capstone of our national cybersecurity efforts.."
Cybersecurity

What Does the Gig Economy Mean for Workers?

"The gig economy is the collection of markets that match providers to consumers on a gig (or job) basis in support of on-demand commerce. In the basic model, gig workers enter into formal agreements with on-demand companies (e.g., Uber, TaskRabbit) to provide services to the company’s clients. Prospective clients request services through an Internet-based technological platform or smartphone application that allows them to search for providers or to specify jobs. Providers (i.e., gig workers) engaged by the on-demand company provide the requested service and are compensated for the jobs.

Recent trends in on-demand commerce suggest that gig workers may represent a growing segment of the U.S. labor market. In response, some Members of Congress have raised questions, for example, about the size of the gig workforce, how workers are using gig work, and the implications of the gig economy for labor standards and livelihoods more generally..."
Economics

Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: An Overview

"The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program provides health insurance to federal employees, retirees, and their dependents. This report provides a general overview of FEHB. It describes the structure of FEHB, including eligibility for the program and coverage options available to enrollees, as well as premiums, benefits and cost sharing, and general financing of FEHB. The report also describes the role of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in administering the program..."
Federal employees

Countering Violent Extremism

"Today, as part of its leading role in helping to prevent terrorist attacks and in sharing its expertise on public safety issues, the FBI is taking the next step in educating communities on violent extremism by launching a new, free program for teens nationwide.

It’s called Don’t Be a Puppet: Pull Back the Curtain on Violent Extremism, and the centerpiece is an interactive website at https://cve.fbi.gov that uses activities, quizzes, videos, and other materials to teach teens how to recognize violent extremist messaging and become more resistant to self-radicalization and possible recruitment..."
Violent extremism

State Challenges to Federal Enforcement of Immigration Law: Historical Precedents and Pending Litigation in Texas v. United States

"States and localities can have significant interest in the manner and extent to which federal officials enforce provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) regarding the exclusion and removal of unauthorized aliens. Depending upon the jurisdiction’s specific concerns, this interest can be expressed in various ways, from the adoption of “sanctuary” policies limiting the jurisdiction’s cooperation in federal enforcement efforts to the enactment of measures to deter unauthorized aliens from entering or remaining within the jurisdiction. In some cases, states or localities have also sued to compel federal officials to enforce the INA and other relevant laws.

In the mid-1990s, six states which were then home to over half the unauthorized aliens in the United States—Arizona, California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Texas—each filed suit alleging that federal officials’ failure to check unauthorized migration violated the Guarantee and Invasion Clauses of the Constitution, the Tenth Amendment, and provisions of the INA. Concerns regarding standing—or who is a proper party to seek relief from a federal court—were sometimes noted. However, even when standing was assumed, the constitutional claims were seen to involve nonjusticiable “political questions,” or failed on their merits. The states’ statutory claims were similarly seen to involve matters committed to agency discretion by law and, thus, not reviewable by the courts. In three cases, the courts also noted that federal officials’ alleged failure to control unauthorized migration did not constitute a reviewable “abdication” of their statutory duties..."
Immigration law

The Library of Congress by the Numbers in 2015

"The Library of Congress today released statistics for fiscal year 2015. Its collection now comprises more than 162 million physical items in a wide variety of formats.

The daily business of being the world’s largest library, the home of the U.S. Copyright Office and a supportive agency to the U.S. Congress resulted in the Library adding 1.7 million physical items to its permanent collections, registering more than 443,000 copyright claims and responding to more than 1 million reference requests from Congress, the public and other federal agencies in fiscal year 2015.

Some notable items newly cataloged into the Library’s collection include the papers of former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and composer Marvin Hamlisch; rare Civil War stereograph images; recordings from the pioneering folk music label Stinson Records, featuring Woody Guthrie, Peter Seeger and Lead Belly; the Archive of the Association of American Geographers; and the backfile of issues on microfilm of the French satirical magazine "Charlie Hebdo," which began publishing in 1970...
Library of Congress

govinfo.gov

"This is GPO's beta website that will eventually replace the Federal Digital System (FDsys) public website. Being in beta means this site is a work in progress that we are sharing with you to get your feedback.

Release Notes - February 3, 2016 - govinfo Beta Launch: Learn about the key new features and enhancements
Meet govinfo: Learn about the new site and what's available

About This Site

This site provides free online access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government and allows you to:

• Search for documents and publications using advanced search capabilities and the ability to refine and narrow your search for quick access to the information you need.
• Browse for documents and publications alphabetically, by category, by Congressional committee, and by date (Government author coming soon!).
• Access metadata about documents and publications in standard XML formats.
• Download documents and publications in multiple file formats as a single file or content and metadata packaged together in a compressed file..."
  govinfo

Federal agencies announce proposal creating U.S. seafood traceability program

 "Today, the National Ocean Council Committee to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and Seafood Fraud announced its proposal for creating a U.S. seafood traceability program — the next step the U.S. government is taking to ensure that global seafood resources are sustainably managed and not fraudulently marketed.  

The proposal, a major step forward in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, aims to trace the origins of imported seafood by establishing reporting and filing procedures for imported fish and fish products entering U.S. commerce.

“Traceability is a key tool for combating illicit activities that threaten valuable natural resources, increase global food security risk and disadvantage law-abiding fishermen and seafood producers,” said Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D., under secretary of  commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “We are asking the seafood industry, trade and consumer sectors, our international partners and the conservation community to help guide us in creating an effective, efficient program..."
Seafood tracking