09/22/11 Introducing Town Residents To Ideas Not Yet Imagined, Issues Not Yet Confronted, Viewpoints Not Yet Expressed And To Articles Not Yet Written

Greenwich Roundup's daily aggregation of press releases, reports, and other news items from the web pages of 2,300 federal agencies, Capitol Hill offices, and interest groups (including thinktanks and watchdog organizations) of every imaginable purpose and persuasion.

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.

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

Editor's Selections:

When you talk through a storm. The Federal Communications Commissionand the Federal Emergency Management Agency co-wrote a how-to guide for finding and communicating with family members during and after a natural disaster. Among other things, the agencies say it is much better to use Facebook and Twitter than to clog up the 911 emergency system. The list includes tips that are often overlooked when preparing for a disaster.

Palestine backgrounders. The Congressional Research Service released a pair of reports at the end of last month that provides Congress with background information about U.S. relations with Palestine, and the foreign aid that the U.S. has provided to Palestine. Note: CRS reports are not distributed to the public or the news media.

White House President Remarks with President Sarkozy of France Remarks with U.K. Prime Minister Cameron Remarks with U.N. Secy. General Ban Ki-moon Remarks with President Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative Remarks with Prime Minister Noda of Japan Remarks with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Remarks to the U.N. General Assembly Statement on the release of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal from Iran Presidential Memorandum Message to Congress regarding the continuation of the national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism Presidential Proclamation National Hispanic-serving Institutions Week Press Secretary Fact sheet: The U.S. commitment to breaking down barriers to women's economic and political participation U.S. Trade Representative Fifth meeting of the U.S. - Pakistan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Council Federal Courts 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals US v. al Kassar (Upholds conviction of three who were arrested in sting operation trying to sell anti-aircraft missiles to a terrorist organization) 4th Circuit Court of Appeals al Shirami v. CACI International (Orders dismissal of case brought by four Iraqi citizens who claim they were tortured by civilian contractors at Abu Ghraib prison) Taylor v. Kellogg Brown & Root Services Inc.(Revives lawsuit brought by Marine who was electrocuted when a civilian contractor threw open a switch) al-Quraishi v. L-3 Services Inc. (Orders dismissal of complaint brought by 72 Iraqis who claim they were tortured by civilian contractors at Abu Ghraib and 20 other prisons) 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Father M v. Various Tort Claimants (Confidential bankruptcy documents revealing priest's sexual abuse of children were properly disclosed) 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. v. The Unidentified Shipwrecked Vessel (Vessel sunk in 1804 in international waters is a Spanish war vessel that must be returned to Spain under federal laws and foreign treaties) Executive Departments Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis Spending on travel and tourism increased at an annual rate of 2.5% in the second quarter Defense Contract announcements for September 21 Air Force Air Forces Africa commander shares challenges and concerns Defense Casualties Army Spc. Ryan J. Cook,29, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Army Staff Sgt. Estevan Altamirano, 30, of Edcouch, Texas Defense Security Cooperation Agency Notified Congress of a possible sale of a pilot training program to Taipei Notified Congress of a possible sale of retrofitting for F-16A/B aircraft to Taipei Notified Congress of a possible sales order II (FMSO II) to Taipei Notified Congress of a possible sale of howitzers, radars and ammunition to Saudi Arabia Education Federal partners pledge to continue work at second annual bullying prevention summit Energy Announces $17 million to bolster university-led nuclear energy research and development Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Announces a new energy efficiency milestone Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Preparing for America's next flu challenge National Cancer Institute Stanford discovery of gene fusion in ovarian cancer could lead to earlier diagnoses Study finds blood pressure drugs may lengthen lives of melanoma patients Beth Israel study shows candid discussion regarding sexuality can improve the quality of life for prostate cancer survivors National Center for Health Statistics Early release of estimates on health insurance coverage from the National Health Interview Survey, January - March 2011 Early release of selected estimates based on data from the National Health Interview Survey, January - March 2011 National Institute on Aging Landmark studies reveal genetic mutation is linked to inherited forms of ALS and dementia Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency Reconciling the Endangered Species Act and the National Flood Insurance Program in Puget Sound Unveils with the FCC a new tip sheet for consumers on how to communicate during disasters Housing and Urban Development Awards $8.8 million to improve housing and services for AIDs families Interior Announces release of Klamath Dam removal studies Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement Awards $500,000 for technical study on Arctic Sea ice Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes to repeal exemption of generic tigers from registration under the captive-bred wildlife program Justice Atty. General Holder speaks to the Institute of International and European Affairs Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism Texas correctional officer pleads guilty to using excessive force Civil Division Alabama defense contractor to pay $200,000 to resolve False Claims Act allegations NASA contractor to pay $800,000 to resolve False Claims Act liability in service-disabled veteran-owned small business fraud Civil Rights Division Sends to Congress legislative proposals to strengthen existing laws protecting service members Criminal Division Ten Miami residents plead guilty in $25 million home health Medicare fraud scheme Rhode Island Mafia member is sentenced in murder-for-hire case U.S. Attorney - Maryland Police officer pleads guilty to extortion scheme involving the distribution of untaxed cigarettes U.S. Attorney - New York Southern Man is sentenced to prison for insider trading Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration Sues Massachusetts dentist for firing employee who raised concerns about contaminated needle disposal Issues updated whistleblower investigations manual State Secy. Clinton statement on the release of Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal from Iran

Interest Groups Agriculture Public Interest Research Group Farm subsidies pay for 19 Twinkies per taxpayer but only a quarter of an apple apiece Climate Earth Justice Bills exempt cement plants, industrial boilers, and waste-burning plants from pollution safeguards Union of Concerned Scientists TRAIN Act is a colossal waste of money and an attempt to delay regulations Crime RAND Corporation Crime rises when medical marijuana dispensaries close Economy National Association of Realtors Existing-home sales increased in August World Economic Forum Confidence is severely lacking in the state of the global economy Education Council for Exceptional Children Ignoring top-performing students impacts America’s prosperity Fordham Institute Report: Do high flyers maintain their altitude? Performance trends of top students Energy Natural Resources Defense Council Modest improvements can extend life of Alaska pipeline by decades Lives are at stake in House GOP’s campaign to strip basic environmental protections Ethics Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Seeks dismissal of Sen. John Edwards' indictment; being loathsome isn't illegal First Amendment Public Citizen Law school has not justified unmasking identity of critic Radio Television Digital News Association Milwaukee police needs to drop charges against photojournalist Rutherford Institute Challenges biometric photo requirement for Oklahoma drivers’ licenses Freedom of Information Act Brennan Center for Justice New York City Police Department needs to hand over records on the department’s domestic intelligence gathering operations Health & medicine Generic Pharmaceutical Association Savings from generic prescriptions reached $158 billion in 2010 Homeland security American Civil Liberties Union Federal appeals court allows ACLU challenge to warrantless wiretapping law to proceed Housing National Low Income Housing Coalition Senate should act on voucher reform legislation Middle East Statements regarding President Obama's call for resumption of direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks during address to the United Nations General Assembly: American Jewish Committee Americans for Peace Now Anti-Defamation League B'nai B'rith International Human Rights First National Security Network Military Pew Charitable Trusts Department of Defense is accelerating clean energy innovation to save lives and money Report: From barracks to the battlefield: Clean energy innovation and America’s armed forces Public lands Center for American Progress Report: The jobs case for conservation: Creating opportunity through stewardship of America’s public lands Regulations Business Roundtable Reforming the federal regulatory process will expand business and create jobs Report: Achieving smarter regulation National Federation of Independent Business New Dept. of Labor rule threatens small business access to legal counsel Sexuality U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Attacks on Defense of Marriage Act threaten marriage and church-state relations Independent Agencies Broadcasting Board of Governors Alhurra TV nearly doubles its audience in Egypt Federal Communications Commission Tip sheet: Tips for communicating before, during and after disasters Federal Reserve Board Announces plan to purchase $400 billion of Treasury securities to contain inflationary pressures and put downward pressure on long-term interest rates National Science Foundation Awards $21 million in grants for studies of coupled natural and human systems Securities and Exchange Commission Charges Goldman Sachs employee and father with insider trading Tennessee Valley Authority Seeks public comment on environmental review of Kansas wind site U.S. International Trade Commission Institutes patent infringement investigation on certain digital photo frame and image display devices and components Congressional Agencies Congressional Research Service The Palestinians: Background and U.S. relations (August 30) U.S. foreign aid to the Palestinians (August 29) Oman: Reform, security, and U.S. policy (August 26) Government Accountability Office Inspectors General: Reporting on independence, effectiveness and expertise Federal departments (continued) Transportation Federal Highway Administration New freight traffic data point to more congestion on key highways Federal Railroad Administration Announces $31 million to improve rail service in Washington State Treasury Announces public offerings of warrants to purchase common stock of SunTrust Banks, Inc. Announces sale of four SBA 7(a) securities Testimony before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade Internal Revenue Service Issues guidance to further implement tax return preparer oversight Announces new worker classification settlement program for employers