09/20/11 Greenwich Roundup's daily aggregation of press releases, reports, and other news items from the web pages of federal agencies & other groups

NOTE: Items that implicate a public policy issue are selected for the report without consideration of the viewpoints they express. No litmus test—partisan, ideological, theological or otherwise—is applied to the selection of news items.

This daily reports consistently introduce Greenwich residents to ideas not yet imagined, issues not yet confronted, viewpoints not yet expressed and—most importantly—to articles not yet written.

Time for José. In a move seen as extremely rare, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the 17-year prison sentence for U.S.-born al-Qaeda terrorist José Padilla with instructions to keep him locked up for a longer period. Among other things, the admissibility of evidence obtained before he was read his Miranda rights was not a factor that mitigated in favor of a shorter prison sentence, a divided three-judge panel said. Are thieves and muggers staying home these days? The Federal Bureau of Investigation released its 2010 crime statistics showing that violent crime decreased by 6% and property crime decreased 2.7% last year. It was the eighth consecutive year of violent and property crime decreases.

White House President Weekly address: Passing the American Jobs Act Proposes to tax the upper middle class to reduce the deficit Presidential Memorandum Message to the Congress on the President's deficit reduction plan Press Secretary Fact sheet on the President's deficit reduction plan Report: Living within our means and investing in the future: The President's plan for economic growth and deficit reduction Press briefing by Press Secy. Carney, Treasury Secy. Geithner, and OMB Director Lew President's call with German Chancellor Merkel Press gaggle by Press Secretary Carney aboard Air Force One en route to New York City Office of Science & Technology Policy Federal science, technology, engineering and math education inventory highlighted Federal Courts 1st Circuit Court of Appeals Haley v. City of Boston (Convict who was released after 30 years of incarceration on the basis of previously undisclosed evidence has right to sue police investigators) 4th Circuit Court of Appeals Aziz v. Alcolac Inc. (Company that sold mustard gas precursor chemicals to Iraq is not liable for murders of Kurdish people) 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Intermountain Fair Housing Council v. Boise Rescue Mission Ministries (Religion-based drug treatment and homeless shelter programs can deny service to non-religious people) 11th Circuit Court of Appeals USA v. Jayyousi (Orders new sentencing hearing for al-Qaeda terrorist Jose Padilla because 17-year prison sentence was too lenient) Executive Departments Defense Contract announcements for September 19 Air Force Senior leaders say B-2 has bright future DOD set for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal Defense Casualties Army Spc. Chazray C. Clark, 24, of Ecorse, Mich. Army Sgt. Garrick L. Eppinger, Jr., 25, of Appleton, Wis. Army Staff St. Michael W. Hosey, 27, of Birmingham, Ala. Energy Secy. Chu addresses International Atomic Energy Agency conference Energy Information Administration China and India to drive 53% increase in world energy use by 2035 Health and Human Services Announces new recommendations to support health text messaging and mobile health programs Signs agreement with the World Health Organization to help developing countries strengthen their capabilities to meet International Health Regulations Food and Drug Administration Confirms Listeria on recalled Jensen Farms' Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupes National Institute of Mental Health Short-term inpatient psychiatric stays increased for youth but declined for older adults between 1996 and 2007 National Institutes of Health Scientists find approach to enhance and prolong immune attack against tumor cells Housing and Urban Development Awards $8.3 million to Native American communities for housing Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement Holds unannounced spill drill to test undersea containment response Justice Atty. General Holder speaks at the UN Secy. General's symposium on international counter-terrorism cooperation Remarks at the M/V Cosco Busan settlement press conference Ship owners and operators to pay $44 million in damages and penalties for 2007 San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge crash and oil spill Atty. General Holder's statement on the 2010 uniform crime report Criminal Division President of fraudulent Florida physical therapy company is sentenced for Medicare fraud Miami mental health company owner is sentenced for orchestrating a $205 million Medicare fraud scheme Army Corps of Engineers employee pleads guilty to accepting bribes from Iraqi contractors Federal Bureau of Investigation Releases 2010 crime statistics showing violent crime decreased for the fourth consecutive year Crime rates in the U.S. decline Links to sections of the 2010 uniform crime report U.S. Attorney - California Northern Fourth defendant is charged in insider trading scheme involving Citigroup investment banker U.S. Attorney - Michigan Eastern Ecorse city controller is sentenced on bribery charges Detroit public school official is sentenced for accepting cash kickbacks for $3.32 million in phony invoices Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs Announces $10 million grant competition to combat child labor in Ethiopia Employee Benefits Security Administration To re-propose rule on definition of a fiduciary Wage and Hour Division IRS signs agreement to improve coordination on employee misclassification State Briefing on Secy. Clinton's meetings with Turkish and Kosovan officials Transportation Federal Transit Administration Awards $25 million for Charlotte, N.C., streetcar project Treasury Comptroller of the Currency Foreclosure and mortgage servicing is discussed at regulatory symposium USDA Agricultural Research Service Scientists develop new potato lines to wage war on wireworms Foreign Agricultural Service Announces extension of public comment period on proposed changes to the export credit guarantee program Independent Agencies Corporation for National and Community Service More than one in four older Americans are volunteers Director of National Intelligence Intelligence community reduces security clearance processing time Environmental Protection Agency Issues final air quality permits to Shell for Arctic oil and gas exploration Twelve are arrested for illegally distributing and selling pesticides in New York's Chinatown Federal Communications Commission Issues comprehensive data request in special access proceeding NASA Unveils outline of its strategy to procure private transportation services for astronauts to the Space Station Satellite raises doubt about asteroid family believed responsible for dinosaur extinction National Science Foundation On-line gamers open doors to new AIDS drug design Deep oceans may mask global warming for years at a time Awards $20 million to fund university nano-electronics research for 2020 and beyond Securities and Exchange Commission Proposes rule to prohibit conflicts of interest in certain asset-backed securities transactions Interest Groups Budgets & spending AARP Social Security should be kept off the table Alliance for Retired Americans President's plan would strengthen nation and honor the commitment to Social Security American Federation of Government Employees President's plan unfairly targets federal workers American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Millionaires’ tax is welcome news but Congress must pass jobs bill now American Petroleum Institute Administration plan would hurt jobs and investment American Public Health Association Proposed cuts to Prevention and Public Health Fund are shortsighted Bipartisan Policy Center President’s engagement increases the chances that the Joint Select Committee will reach a "grand bargain" Business Roundtable Lower corporate rate and a competitive territorial system are essential elements of successful economic growth strategy Citizens Against Government Waste President Obama perpetrates the myth that the deficit and debt are a product of too little revenue Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Super Committee should "go big" and actually stabilize the debt Common Cause President has finally put some teeth into his case for "shared sacrifice" Communications Workers of America White House plan is a positive step for tax fairness Constitutional Accountability Center President Obama pledges to uphold the Constitution above special interests Environmental Working Group Obama’s debt reduction plan would eliminate wasteful farm subsidies Families USA Supports President's approach to budget but opposes Medicaid cost shifts to states Federation of American Hospitals Arbitrary hospital cuts will inhibit job creation Leadership Conference President Obama's debt reduction plan is the right approach Liberty Counsel Obama’s jobs bill attacks charitable deductions in favor of bigger government National Air Transportation Association General aviation groups strongly oppose user fees in White House proposal National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Good news and bad news in the president's deficit plan National Corn Growers Association Deeply concerned by proposals that undermine a farmer’s ability to purchase adequate crop insurance National Federation of Independent Business New tax increases on America’s biggest job creators are the last thing this economy needs National Partnership for Women & Families Obama plan is on the right track National Treasury Employees Union Federal workers union is planning to fight pension contribution increases in White House proposal National Women's Law Center Any cuts to health programs must protect women and families Service Employees International Union Time for corporations and the rich to pay their fair share Sunlight Foundation Federal spending reporting system is still broken Study: How reliable is USASpending.gov Trust for America's Health Proposed cuts to the public health fund is harmful to America's long-term fiscal security Civil rights Catholics for Choice Social justice leaders question Obama’s commitment to upholding nondiscrimination laws Climate Economic Policy Institute Report: The combined effect of the Obama EPA rules Crime Urban Institute Surveillance cameras are cost-effective tools for cutting crime Study: Evaluating the use of public surveillance cameras for crime control and prevention Economy American Iron and Steel Institute Steel shipments were down 3% from June National Association of Home Builders Builder confidence was virtually unchanged in September National Retail Federation Import cargo volume at major retail container ports is beginning to see cautious increases Employment Tax Foundation Jobs Act is unlikely to produce many jobs Ethics Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Names the 14 most corrupt members of Congress Health insurance Physicians for a National Health Program Uninsured patients in Massachusetts are still predominantly the working poor despite reform Religion Americans United for Separation of Church and State Has the President changed his position on subsidizing religious discrimination with tax funds? Trade Council on Foreign Relations Pro-America trade policy would bring home benefits of global commerce Congressional Agencies Government Accountability Office Excess facilities: DOD needs more complete information and a strategy to guide is future disposal efforts Joint strike fighter: Implications of program restructuring and other recent developments on key aspects of DOD's prior alternate engine analyses Telecommunications: Competition, capacity and costs in the fixed satellite services industry Weapons acquisition reform: Actions needed to address systems engineering and developmental testing challenges