Vision care for children

"Your child’s vision helps them take in the world around them. But it also plays an important role in their development. If your child has an uncorrected vision problem, it may affect their ability to learn and reach their highest potential. Having a routine eye exam is important to keep their eyes healthy.

In the United States, about 1 in 4 preschool-aged children have an undiagnosed or untreated vision problem. Because many vision problems begin at an early age, you should make sure your child gets regular eye exams to help keep their eyes healthy. Healthy vision is important for your child’s overall development and learning ability.

You can do a lot to protect your child’s developing vision. Keep reading to learn how to help your child see the bright future they have ahead.

Vision Screenings and Eye Exams

As your child grows, their eyes can change quickly. Your child’s pediatrician will likely screen your child’s vision as part of their regular checkups. If they find signs of a vision problem, they may recommend that your child see an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam.

Although both are important, a vision screening and an eye exam are not the same thing.

• A vision screening is a quick evaluation of your child’s eyes. It can be done by a family doctor, pediatrician, school nurse, or other health care professional. Although it can help identify possible vision problems your child may have, it cannot diagnose the exact problem.
• A comprehensive eye exam is a thorough exam done by an eye doctor—a specialist called an ophthalmologist or optometrist. The eye doctor can diagnose your child’s medical or vision problem and provide treatment.

A vision screening should not take the place of a comprehensive eye exam. Even if your child passes a vision screening, they should also see an eye doctor at least once a year to check the overall health of their eyes. If you have any concerns about your child’s vision, ask their pediatrician to help you find an eye doctor. Early detection and treatment are key to protecting your child’s vision..."
Children and vision 

Menthol & Addiction

"No Menthol Sunday

Highlighting the Problem of Menthol and Tobacco Addiction in Communities

Tiffany R. knows what it’s like being addicted to menthol cigarettes. When she was 16 years old, her mother, who smoked cigarettes, died of lung cancer. Still, Tiffany started smoking menthol cigarettes in her late teens because she wanted to be like other kids in her school. What started out as a youthful desire to fit in became an addiction to cigarettes, and soon she was smoking about a pack of menthol cigarettes a day. Tiffany’s story is all too common in African American communities, which have been disproportionately targeted by menthol cigarette marketing and advertisements, especially in cities.

Tobacco companies use advertisements, giveaways, and cheaper prices for menthol cigarettes to increase appeal. Menthol products are given more shelf space in retail outlets in neighborhoods that have more residents who are African American and are from other racial and ethnic minority groups. Targeted marketing from tobacco companies puts African American people at higher risk of smoking and becoming addicted to nicotine, as well as the risk of smoking related disease and death. Now, there is an opportunity to do something about it.

This year, on May 15th, national organizations and faith communities are marking the day as No Menthol Sunday to educate people who smoke menthol cigarettes about their harmful effects and encourage them to quit.,,"
Menthol addiction 

FY2023 Budget Documents: Internet and GPO Availability

"Every year the President submits a series of volumes to Congress containing the President’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The President’s submission is required on or after the first Monday in January, but no later than the first Monday in February (31 U.S.C. §1105(a)). At times, the President’s submission has been delayed beyond the statutory deadline. This year the President released the budget submission on March 28, 2022.

This report provides brief descriptions of the FY2023 budget volumes and related documents, together with internet addresses, Government Publishing Office (GPO) stock numbers, and prices for obtaining print copies of these publications. It also explains how to find the locations of government depository libraries, which can provide both printed copies for reference use and internet access to the online versions. This report will be updated as events warrant.

Please note that neither the Congressional Research Service (CRS) nor the Library of Congress (LOC) distributes print copies of the budget documents..."
2023 budget documents 

Federal Retirement Plans: Frequently Asked Questions

"This report answers common questions related to federal retirement plans. The vast majority of the civilian federal workforce is covered by either the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS), depending on date of entrance into federal service. Most civilian federal employees hired before 1984 are covered by CSRS; most civilian federal employees hired in 1984 or later are covered by FERS. This FAQ focuses on policy issues related to CSRS and FERS while also identifying additional retirement plans that provide benefits to specific populations of civilian federal employees. It provides the legislative history of CSRS and FERS as well as information on benefits and financing.

For additional information on CSRS and FERS benefits, see CRS Report 98-810, Federal Employees’ Retirement System: Benefits and Financing.

For additional information on CSRS and FERS funding, see CRS Report RL30023, Federal Employees’ Retirement System: Budget and Trust Fund Issues..."
Federal retirement plans 

Memory Loss Among Caregivers

"Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is defined as self-reported memory problems that have been getting worse over the past year. A new CDC study found that about 1 in 8 unpaid caregivers who are 45 or older has SCD. SCD was more common among caregivers (12.6%) than noncaregivers (10.2%).

The result is tens of thousands of people are reporting signs that their memory is getting worse. Compared to noncaregivers, SCD was more common among caregivers who were men, employed, and aged 45 to 64 and who have chronic health conditions.¹

The Important Role of Caregiving

Millions of adults could not maintain their independence without the support of unpaid caregivers. As the older adult population continues to increase, caregivers will be relied on more than ever to provide support to family members and friends.² In the United States, 79% of caregivers provide care for adults 50 or older, and 76% of care recipients are 65 or older.³

 Caregiving often requires cognitive accuracy. Almost 80% of caregiverspdf icon help manage household tasks, such as finances, cleaning, and preparing meals. More than 50% help with personal tasks, such as managing medications, feeding, dressing, or bathing.

Nearly 1 in 5 caregivers reports fair or poor health,⁴ and those with SCD are more likely to have at least one chronic health condition.¹ SCD and other health conditions may affect a caregiver’s ability to provide care for their family and friends, including their ability to manage appointments and medicines.

Lifestyle Choices for Risk Reduction

Caregivers can help reduce their risk for memory loss by making positive lifestyle choices. These choices include being physically active, eating healthy meals, getting enough sleep, drinking alcohol in moderation, and not smoking.

To avoid creating more stress for themselves, caregivers can make these changes gradually. For example, getting an additional 30 minutes of sleep at night, getting an annual physical exam, or simply taking a walk every day may make a big difference in cognitive health. Caregivers should talk to a medical professional if they feel their memory is changing or getting worse..."
Memory and caregivers 

Tracking Federal Awards: USAspending.gov and Other Data Sources

"USAspending.gov, available at http://www.USAspending.gov, is a government source for data on federal awards by state, congressional district (CD), county, city, and zip code. The awards data in USAspending.gov are provided by federal agencies and represent contracts, grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance. USAspending.gov also provides tools for examining the broader picture of federal spending obligations within the categories of budget function, agency, and object class.

Using USAspending.gov to locate and compile accurate data on federal awards can be challenging due, in part, to continuing data quality issues that have been identified by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Users of USAspending.gov need to be aware that while search results may be useful for informing consideration of certain questions, these results may be incomplete or contain inaccuracies.

USAspending.gov was created under P.L. 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA), and later enhanced under requirements in P.L. 113-101, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act).

Other federal awards data sources reviewed in this report include the following:
 Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS);
 Census Federal Audit Clearinghouse;
 U.S. Budget: Aid to State and Local Governments;
 Rockefeller Institute of Government;
 Federal Funds Information for States;
 Census Federal Aid to States (FAS) and Consolidated Federal Funds Report (CFFR); and 
Additional federal grant awards database.."
Federal Awards 

Arms Control and Nonproliferation: A Catalog of Treaties and Agreements

"Arms control and nonproliferation efforts are two of the tools that the United States has occasionally used to implement its national security strategy. Although some believe these tools do little to restrain the behavior of U.S. adversaries, while doing too much to restrain U.S. military forces and operations, many others see them as an effective means to promote transparency, ease military planning, limit forces, and protect against uncertainty and surprise. Arms control and nonproliferation efforts have produced formal treaties and agreements, informal arrangements, and cooperative threat reduction and monitoring mechanisms. After the end of the Cold War, the pace of implementation for many of these agreements slowed during the Clinton Administration. The Bush Administration usually preferred unilateral or ad hoc measures to formal treaties and agreements to address U.S. security concerns. The Obama Administration resumed bilateral negotiations with Russia and pledged its support for a number of multilateral arms control and nonproliferation efforts, but succeeded in negotiating only a few of its priority agreements. The Trump Administration withdrew the United States from the INF Treaty and the Open Skies Treaty. It did not support the full five-year extension of the New START Treaty but did seek to negotiate a short-term extension during the latter half of 2020. These talks failed to produce an agreement. It also advocated discussions on a future treaty that would limit all types of U.S., Russian, and Chinese nuclear weapons, but most arms control analysts doubt that China would participate in this process. The Biden Administration supported the full five-year extension of New START and reached an agreement with Russia that took effect on February 3, 2021.

The United States and Soviet Union began to sign agreements limiting their strategic offensive nuclear weapons in the early 1970s. Progress in negotiating and implementing these agreements was often slow, and subject to the tenor of the broader U.S.-Soviet relationship. As the Cold War drew to a close in the late 1980s, the pace of negotiations quickened, with the two sides signing treaties limiting intermediate-range and long-range weapons. But progress again slowed in the 1990s, as U.S. missile defense plans and a range of other policy conflicts intervened in the U.S.- Russian relationship. At the same time, however, the two sides began to cooperate on securing and eliminating Soviet-era nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. Through these efforts, the United States has allocated more than $1 billion each year to threat reduction programs in the former Soviet Union. These programs have recently reached their conclusion.

The United States is also a prominent actor in an international regime that attempts to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. This regime, although suffering from some setbacks in recent years in Iran and North Korea, includes formal treaties, export control coordination and enforcement, U.N. resolutions, and organizational controls. The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) serves as the cornerstone of this regime, with all but four nations participating in it. The International Atomic Energy Agency not only monitors nuclear programs to make sure they remain peaceful, but also helps nations develop and advance those programs. Other measures, such as sanctions, interdiction efforts, and informal cooperative endeavors, also seek to slow or stop the spread of nuclear materials and weapons.."
Arms control 

Digital Wallets and Selected Policy Issues

"Digital Wallet Landscape

A digital wallet is a software application that stores payment or account details to facilitate traditional payments that use bank and credit card details and/or cryptocurrency transactions. In addition, wallets facilitate peer-to-peer transfers, which have grown rapidly in recent years (Figure 1). This In Focus discusses three types of digital wallets and addresses selected policy issues.

Functionality and Scope of Use

Digital wallets are generally used for (1) payments to merchants through the use of near-field communication or QR codes for in-person purchases; (2) peer-to-peer transfers of funds through an app, via text message, or QR codes; (3) storing value from a linked bank account or debit card on an app-based account; or (4) storing, providing access to, and transacting in cryptocurrency. (For more on cryptocurrency, see CRS Report R45427, Cryptocurrency: The Economics of Money and Selected Policy Issues.)

Digital wallets generally require the use of internet connected hardware, such as a smartphone. Some, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, may work only with certain devices and associated operating systems. Others, such as the PayPal or Cash apps, can be downloaded and accessed from a range of devices, irrespective of operating system. For conceptual simplicity, it can be helpful to think of digital wallets as belonging to one of three groups: retailer specific, general purpose, or cryptocurrency.

 Retailer-specific mobile wallets are offered by a retailer for use to purchase its goods and services. They allow individuals to store payment card information, upload funds to digital or registered gift cards, or prefund a balance on an app for future transactions..."
Digital wallets 

Growing Jobs in Environmentally Focused Occupations

"If your career plan involves caring for the planet, there’s good news. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth in many occupations related to helping the environment or conserving natural resources.

In fact, two of the occupations that BLS projects to have the fastest employment growth from 2020 to 2030, wind turbine service technicians (68% increase) and solar photovoltaic installers (52% increase), involve “green” work. However, as the data show, the total number of new jobs is projected to be relatively small in these and some other green occupations.

Chart 1 data below

Each of these occupations had a median annual wage that was higher than the $45,760 median for all workers in 2021. The typical education required to enter these occupations varies.

Workers in green occupations focus on the environment in different ways. Wind turbine service technicians and solar photovoltaic installers, for example, build and maintain systems that create energy from sources that don’t become depleted. Other workers help to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution. Still others advise organizations or individuals on ways to protect and preserve natural resources.

.."
Environmentally Focused Jobs 

Opioid Overdose Prevention

"Substance use disorders, like opioid use disorder (OUD), have significantly impacted communities across America. When we act early, we can prevent the use and misuse of drugs, like opioids, that can lead to substance use disorders. Prevention activities work to educate and support individuals, families, and communities and are critical for maintaining both individual and community health.

 

Opioid use disorder and overdoses are preventable

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), sometimes referred to as “opioid abuse or dependence” or “opioid addiction,” is a problematic pattern of opioid use that causes significant impairment or distress. OUD is a medical condition that can affect anyone – regardless of race, gender, income level, or social class. Like many other medical conditions, there are evidence-based treatments that are available for OUD, but seeking treatment remains stigmatized.  Stigma can be a major barrier to how well prevention and treatment programs can work to address the opioid crisis.

Stigma or the fear of stigma may stop someone from sharing their health condition with partners or family members. It may also prevent them from accessing seeking the health or behavioral health services and support services they need. People who experience health-related stigma may also experience less access to healthcare, delayed diagnosis of a condition, and reduced adherence to treatments. Learn more about what you can do to reduce stigma and support recovery.

OUD significantly contributes to overdose deaths among people who use illicit opioids or misuse prescription opioids. Opioids—mainly synthetic opioids like illicitly manufactured fentanyl (other than methadone)—are currently the main cause of drug overdose deaths. For every drug overdose that results in death, there are many more nonfatal overdoses, each one with its own emotional and economic toll. OUD and overdose deaths continue to be a major public health concern in the United States, but they are preventable.."
Opioids 

Food Delivery Safety

"Mail-order food, subscription meal kits, home-delivered groceries, and restaurant deliveries can be convenient. Make sure food safety is part of the package, too. Home-delivered food, like all food, must be handled properly to prevent food poisoning.

Handling delivered food safely is important for everyone, but especially if you are buying food for someone who is more likely to get food poisoning:

• adults aged 65 and older,
• children younger than age 5,
• people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness (weakened immune system), and
• pregnant people.

Meal Kits and Other Shipped Food

Food shipped to your home needs to stay at a safe temperature to prevent the growth of germs that could make you sick. This includes mail-order food and subscription meal kits.

Before Ordering Food for Delivery

Ask questions first. Research companies and call customer service to ask about food safety practices.

Ask how the company responds if food is delivered at an unsafe temperature or is otherwise not safe to eat. Find out if the company provides information with each shipment or delivery on safe handling and preparation of food, including cooking temperatures.

Safe Food Delivery and Receipt

Arrange for delivery when someone is at home so perishable foods such as meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, or dairy can be quickly stored in the refrigerator or freezer instead of being left outside until someone is home. If you can’t be there in person, see if a neighbor can store the food until you return.

Find a safe space for delivery if no one can be at home when food arrives. Food should be delivered to a cool, shaded, and secure location where pests and rodents won’t be able to get it. Let the company know where you would like them to leave your box.

Examine the items and packaging to ensure they are intact.

• Make sure the company used insulated packaging and materials such as dry ice or frozen gel packs to keep perishable food cold in transit.
• Look for labels that say “Keep Refrigerated” or “Keep Frozen” if you ordered perishable food.

Use a food thermometer to check the temperature of perishable food when it arrives.

• Perishable food that has been shipped should arrive frozen, partially frozen with ice crystals still visible, or at least as cold as it would be in a refrigerator (40°F or below). Even if a perishable food product is smoked, cured, vacuum-packed, or fully cooked, it still must be kept cold.

Store perishable food at a safe temperature. After you make sure perishable food was delivered at a safe temperature (40°F or below), store it in the refrigerator or freezer as soon as possible until you are ready to prepare it.

Notify the company if food arrives above 40°F. If food arrives above 40°F, don’t eat it, or even taste it, to see if it is safe. Food can be unsafe and still taste, look, and smell OK. When in doubt, throw it out..."
Food delivery 

United States Life Tables, 2019

"Abstract

Objectives—This report presents complete period life tables for the United States by Hispanic origin, race, and sex, based on age-specific death rates in 2019. Starting with the 2019 data year, this report adds life tables for the non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN) and non-Hispanic Asian populations.

Methods—Data used to prepare the 2019 life tables are 2019 final mortality statistics; July 1, 2019, population estimates based on the 2010 decennial census; and 2019 Medicare data for people aged 66–99. The methodology used to estimate the life tables for the Hispanic population remains unchanged from that developed for the publication of life tables by Hispanic origin for data year 2006. The same methodology is used to estimate the life tables for the non-Hispanic AIAN and non-Hispanic Asian populations. The methodology used to estimate the 2019 life tables for all other groups was first implemented with data year 2008.

Results—In 2019, the overall expectation of life at birth was 78.8 years, increasing from 78.7 in 2018. Between 2018 and 2019, life expectancy at birth increased by 0.1 year for males (76.2 to 76.3) and by 0.2 year for females (81.2 to 81.4). In 2019, life expectancy at birth was 85.6 years for the non-Hispanic Asian population, 81.9 years for the Hispanic population, 78.8 years for the non-Hispanic White population, 74.8 years for the nonHispanic Black population, and 71.8 years for the non-Hispanic AIAN population. Between 2018 and 2019, life expectancy increased 0.2 year for the non-Hispanic White population and by 0.1 year for the Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black populations..."
Life tables 

Census Bureau Releases New U.S. Population Estimates by Age and Sex

"APRIL 14, 2022 — The U.S. Census Bureau today released a downloadable file containing estimates of the nation’s resident population by sex and single year of age for July 1, 2021. It is available at <www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest.html>. 

In the coming months, the Census Bureau will release additional  population estimates for cities and towns, as well as national, state and county population estimates by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin..."
Population by age and sex 

New Report on Undercount of Young Children in 2020 Census and Comparison to 2010

[The Census Project]

"A new report on the undercount of young children in the 2020 Census also provides a comparison between 2010 and 2020 Census efforts in counting young children. It “provides an overview of the research and new activities related to the net undercount of young children that occurred as planning for the 2020 Census began,” including “a review of new activity within the Census Bureau, mobilization of researchers and advocates on this issue outside the Census Bureau, and how the Census Bureau and the child advocacy community worked together on this problem.”

The report focuses “on the net undercount of young children in recent U.S. Censuses,” but notes that the “issue is bigger than the 2010 U.S. Census. Over the past 70 years, the U.S. Census has seen a consistently high net undercount of young children and there is an under-reporting of young children in major Census Bureau surveys…. Young children have high net undercounts in many other countries around the world…. In other words, this problem exists in many different cultures with different census-taking traditions. Despite changes in the U.S. Census Bureau methods over the past 70 years, as well as fundamental changes in U.S. society, the undercount of young children has remained high.”

• “Counting Young Children in the U.S. Census – Important Differences Between 2010 and 2020.” by Deborah H. Griffin and William P. O’Hare. March 29, 2022. https://civilrightsdocs.info/pdf/reports/Counting-Young-Children-in-the-Census-Report.pdf.."
  Children Census undercount 

Blockchain: Novel Provenance Applications

"Blockchain, generally, is a database technology that records and stores information in blocks of data that are linked, or “chained,” together. Data stored on a blockchain are continually shared, replicated, and synchronized across the nodes in a network—individual computer systems or specialized hardware that communicate with each other and store and process information. This system enables tamper-resistant record keeping without a centralized authority or intermediary.

There are multiple types of blockchains, and, depending on the type, recorded data may be accessible to all users or only a designated subset. All blockchains share common characteristics, including decentralization (i.e., no centralized authority), immutability (i.e., the blockchain records are unalterable), and pseudonymity (i.e., how users’ real-world identities are handled). Certain blockchain types may offer greater levels of decentralization and pseudonymity than others. New blockchain applications, such as smart contracts, non-fungible tokens, and decentralization autonomous organizations, may automate processes or replace intermediaries in a variety of fields. Recent developments in blockchain governance protocols and consensus mechanisms have raised concerns about the environmental impact, oversight, and accountability of blockchain networks.

Since its creation in 2008, blockchain has been most commonly associated with cryptocurrencies—digital currencies that users exchange through decentralized computer networks. More recently, public and private sector actors have used blockchain applications in fields such as supply chain management, identity management, and asset registration. Blockchain technologies may enable establishing the provenance of goods and tracking their progression through a supply chain; identity-management with digital credentials; recording the ownership of digital and physical objects; and the transfer of property, rights, or goods without a third-party intermediary. The United States is a hub for private-sector blockchain development, and many states and federal agencies are experimenting with novel blockchain provenance applications, including the Food and Drug Administration and Department of Treasury..."
Blockchain