Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The nation's economic vitality and the quality of life of its citizens depend significantly on the availability, dependability, and security of its surface transportation network. Our nation has built a vast surface transportation system of roads, railways, ports, and transit systems that facilitate commerce and improve our quality of life. The flow of people and goods is enormous: The nation moved about 5 trillion ton miles of freight and 5 trillion passenger miles of people in 2004. In total, about 4 million miles of roads, 117,000 miles of rail, 600,000 bridges, 19,000 airports, 11,000 miles of transit lines, and 500 train stations make up the surface transportation network. For the past several decades, demand has outpaced the capacity of the surface transportation system, and population growth, technological change, and the increased globalization of the economy will further strain the system. For example, according to the Transportation Research Board, an expected population growth of 100 million people could double the demand for passenger travel. Moreover, this population growth will be concentrated in certain regions and states, intensifying the demand for transportation in these areas. Likewise, freight traffic is projected …

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "GAO previously reported that federal contractors abuse the tax system with little consequence. While performing those audits, GAO noted that much of the tax abuse involved contractors not remitting to the government payroll taxes that were withheld from salaries. As a result, GAO was asked to review the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) processes and procedures to prevent and collect unpaid payroll taxes and determine (1) the magnitude of unpaid federal payroll tax debt, (2) the factors affecting IRS's ability to enforce compliance or pursue collections, and (3) whether some businesses with unpaid payroll taxes are engaged in abusive or potentially criminal activities with regard to the federal tax system. To address these objectives, GAO analyzed IRS's tax database, performed case study analyses of payroll tax offenders, and interviewed collection officials from IRS and several states."

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In 2007, the Department of State (State) reported that some foreign diplomats may be abusing the household workers they brought to the United States on A-3 or G-5 visas. GAO was asked to (1) determine the number of A-3 or G-5 visa holders who have alleged abuse by foreign diplomats with immunity since 2000, (2) review the U.S. government's process for investigating these allegations, and (3) assess how State ensures that its policies for issuing A-3 and G-5 visas are implemented correctly and consistently. GAO analyzed documents, interviewed officials, and conducted fieldwork at four consular posts that issue large numbers of A-3 or G-5 visas."

The pyridine and quinoline nuclei are privileged scaffolds that occupy a central role in many medicinally relevant compounds. Consequently, methods for their expeditious functionalization are of immediate interest. However, despite the immense importance of transition-metal catalyzed cross-coupling for the functionalization of aromatic scaffolds, general solutions for coupling 2-pyridyl organometallics with aryl halides have only recently been presented. Direct arylation at the ortho position of pyridine would constitute an even more efficient approach because it eliminates the need for the stoichiometric preparation and isolation of 2-pyridyl organometallics. Progress towards this goal has been achieved by activation of the pyridine nucleus for arylation via conversion to the corresponding pyridine N-oxide or N-iminopyridinium ylide. However, this approach necessitates two additional steps: activation of the pyridine or quinoline starting material, and then unmasking the arylated product. The use of pyridines directly would clearly represent the ideal situation both in terms of cost and simplicity. We now wish to document our efforts in this vein, culminating in an operationally simple Rh(I)-catalyzed direct arylation of pyridines and quinolines. We recently developed an electron-rich Rh(I) system for catalytic alkylation at the ortho position of pyridines and quinolines with alkenes. Therefore, we initially focused our attention on the …

Sludge Batch 4 (SB4) is currently being processed in the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) using Frit 510. The slurry pumps in Tank 40 are experiencing in-leakage of bearing water, which is causing the sludge slurry in Tank 40 to become dilute at a rapid rate. Currently, the DWPF is removing this dilution water by performing caustic boiling during the Sludge Receipt and Adjustment Tank (SRAT) cycle. In order to alleviate prolonged SRAT cycle times, which may eventually impact canister production rates, the Liquid Waste Organization (LWO) performed a 100K gallon supernate decant of Tank 40 in April 2008. SRNL performed a supplemental glass variability study to support the April 2008 100K gallon decant incorporating the impact of coupled operations (addition of the Actinide Removal Process (ARP) stream). Recently LWO requested that SRNL assess the impact of a second decant (up to 100K gallon) to the Frit 510-SB4 system. This second decant occurred in June 2008. LWO provided nominal compositions on May 6, 2008 representing Tank 40 prior to the second decant, following the second decant, and the SB4 Heel prior to blending with Tank 51 to constitute SB5. Paper study assessments were performed for these options based on sludge-only …

Direct photons are ideal tools to investigate kinematical and thermodynamical conditions of heavy ion collisions since they are emitted from all stages of the collision and once produced they leave the interaction region without further modification by the medium. The PHENIX experiment at RHIC has measured direct photon production in p+p and Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV over a wide transverse momentum (p{sub T}) range. The p+p measurements allow a fundamental test of QCD, and serve as a baseline when we try to disentangle more complex mechanisms producing high p{sub T} direct photons in Au+Au. As for thermal photons in Au+Au we overcome the difficulties due to the large background from hadronic decays by measuring 'almost real' virtual photons which appear as low invariant mass e{sup +}e{sup -} pairs: a significant excess of direct photons is measured above the above next-to-leading order perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculations. Additional insights on the origin of direct photons can be gained with the study of the azimuthal anisotropy which benefits from the increased statistics and reaction plane resolution achieved in RHIC Year-7 data.

We present a predictive warped model of flavor, cut off at an ultraviolet scale {Omicron}(10{sup 3}) TeV, called the 'Little Randall-Sundrum (LRS)' model. This model corresponds to a volume-truncation, by a factor y {approx} 6, of the RS scenario and is holographically dual to dynamics with number of colors larger by y. With separate gauge and flavor dynamics, several unwanted contributions to precision electroweak, Zb{bar b}, and flavor observables are suppressed in the LRS framework, compared with the corresponding RS case. The LRS truncation leads to a significant enhancement of the clean (golden) di-lepton LHC signals, by {Omicron}(y{sup 3}).

It has been a very productive year for accomplishing the tasks outlined in the original proposal. Quite a few crystalline materials [tantalum (Ta), molybdenum (Mo), cerium (Ce) beryllium (Be)] and amorphous materials [zirconium tungstate (ZrW2O8), SiO2, and germanium diselenide (GeSe2) glasses] have been assessed at high pressures up to 12 GPa and acoustic velocities and densities have been obtained simultaneously using our unique technique. Major activities include sample preparation, high pressure cell assembly testing, and conducting ultrasonic and X-ray diffraction measurements at BNL as well as resonance ultrasonic spectroscopy (RUS) measurements at UCLA on appropriate samples. Sample preparations for Ce and Be were made at Los Alamos National Lab for which special grades and specialized machining of the sample are required. Pilot experiments for optimizing high pressure cell assemblies were conducted using the 1000-ton multi-anvil press (USCA-1000) in the High Pressure Lab at Stony Brook, and simultaneous ultrasonic and X-ray diffraction experiments were conducted using the DDIA apparatus installed at X17B2 of NSLS at BNL. New data analysis protocols have been developed for deriving density of amorphous materials at high pressure and therefore its equation of state. Following on previous years effort, attempts have been made to derive single crystal …

This report outlines federal programs that provide direct or indirect incentives for biofuels. For each program described, the report provides details including administering agency, authorizing statute(s), annual funding, and expiration date.

This report discusses the possible role public and community acceptance may play in the siting of CO2 infrastructure for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). The report reviews what is known about public opinion of CCS as an overall strategy to combat climate change. The report examines community acceptance of CO2 emissions controls, pipelines, and sequestration sites based on analogies, CO2 experience, and focused research. It also discusses community acceptance issues related to selected alternatives to CCS policies, such as investment in renewable energy infrastructure and nuclear power. The report introduces key CCS policy considerations as Congress continues to evaluate opportunities and requirements for carbon control.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether members of the board of directors of the Lowers Neches Valley Authority may participate in the Authority’s health care plan (RQ-0673-GA)

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether a justice of the peace who is an attorney may be appointed to represent criminal defendants in appellate proceedings (RQ-0674-GA)

This report discusses the journalists' privilege, provides and overview of the law, describes the Grand Jury Subpoena related to the Judith Miller case, and gives an overview of the congressional response in the 109th and 110th Congresses.

This report provides an overview of selected airline-related issues currently subject to congressional oversight and/or possible legislation. Many of the issues discussed in the report are also addressed in some fashion as part of the ongoing congressional debate about re-authorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

This report provides an overview of the Combatant Status Review Tribunal (CSRT) procedures, summarizes court cases related to the detentions and the use of military commissions, and summarizes the Detainee Treatment Act (DTA), as amended by the Military Commissions Act of 2006, analyzing its effects on detainee-related litigation in federal court. The report summarizes pending legislation and provides an analysis of relevant constitutional issues that may have some bearing on Congress's options with respect to the Guantanamo detainees.

This report provides a brief background on the veterans' health care system, followed by a discussion of the FY2009 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) budget request, and House and Senate Appropriation Committee action. The report concludes with a discussion of major VHA budget issues.

This report examines financing and economic issues in World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Conflict, the Reagan Military Buildup, and the 1991 and 2003 wars in Iraq. It examines tax policy, non-military outlays, the budget balance, economic growth, inflation, and interest rates during these periods.

This report discusses the possible role public and community acceptance may play in the siting of CO2 infrastructure for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). The report reviews what is known about public opinion of CCS as an overall strategy to combat climate change. The report examines community acceptance of CO2 emissions controls, pipelines, and sequestration sites based on analogies, CO2 experience, and focused research. It also discusses community acceptance issues related to selected alternatives to CCS policies, such as investment in renewable energy infrastructure and nuclear power. The report introduces key CCS policy considerations as Congress continues to evaluate opportunities and requirements for carbon control.

This report outlines federal programs that provide direct or indirect incentives for biofuels. For each program described, the report provides details including administering agency, authorizing statute(s), annual funding, and expiration date.

This report surveys how question periods are conducted in Britain and other parliamentary democracies, examines previous proposals for question periods in the United States, considers potential advantages and disadvantages of a question period, and outlines some legislative considerations for policymakers considering a question period for Congress.

This report provides basic information about U.S. and Russian nonstrategic nuclear weapons. It begins with a brief discussion of the differences between strategic and nonstrategic nuclear weapons. It then provides some historical background, describing the numbers and types of nonstrategic nuclear weapons deployed by both nations during the Cold War and in the past decade; the policies that guided the deployment and prospective use of these weapons; and the measures that the two sides have taken to reduce, eliminate, and, more recently, augment their forces. The report reviews the issues that have been raised with regards to U.S. and Russian nonstrategic nuclear weapons, essentially identifying the "problems" many associate with the continued deployment of these weapons. It concludes with a review of policy options, or "solutions" for the preceding problems, that might be explored by Congress, the United States, Russia, and other nations.

None

This report provides background information about human exposure to phthalates in plastics and possible health effects. It also discusses evaluation and regulation of pthalates in the U.S. and internationally, as well as related legislative proposals.

This reports discusses the history and establishment of Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and acquisition of crude oil for the SPR. It also talks about the debate over the years regarding when should the SPR be used.