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Gun Control

Gun Rights, Laws, & Related Topics

President Obama, Governor Cuomo, Mayor Bloomberg, and others recently spoke on the topics of gun-related crimes and violence, assault weapons bans, and possible gun law reforms.

The following information is provided to help you gain some more insight into such legislative efforts as well as the larger debate involving gun owner rights, the 2nd Amendment, and related issues.



Government Information
Federal Government
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Bureau of Justice Statistics: Firearms and Crime Statistics
2nd Amendment - The Bill of Rights
The White House:
Now Is the Time to Do Something about Gun Violence
President Obama Announces New Measures to Prevent Gun Violence
Vice President Biden Meets with Groups to Discuss Violence Prevention
New York State
New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013 (NY SAFE ACT)
New York State Senate: Issues - Gun Control
New York City
Mayor Bloomberg Delivers Opening Address at Johns Hopkins University Summit On Reducing Gun Violence in America (January 14, 2013)
See also: Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Mayor Bloomberg (Co-Chair)
Orange County, New York
County Executive Diana Announces 2013 Gun Buyback Program (January 17, 2013)


Library System Resources (books, documents, videos)
Firearms - History
Firearms - Laws and Legislation
Firearms - Safety
Firearms - Social Aspects
Gun Control
2nd Amendment

News & Views
CNN: Gun Control
Google News: Gun Control (multiple news sources)
National Public Radio (NPR): Guns and Gun Control
The New York Times: Gun Control
PBS NewsHour:
President Obama Unveils Ambitious 23-Point Gun Control Plan
Challenges and Implications of President Obama's Gun Control Proposals
President Obama's Gun Violence Executive Actions
US News and World Report: Gun Control and Gun Rights


Other Resources for Further Exploration
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
C-SPAN: Videos on Gun Control, Gun Laws
Cornell University Law School: 2nd Amendment (from the CRS Annotated Constitution)
InfoPlease: Milestones in Federal Gun Control Legislation (1791-)
JustFacts.org: Gun Control Laws, Violence, and Statistics
National Rifle Association (NRA)
Pew Research Center: In Gun Control Debate, Several Options Draw Majority Support
See also:
In Social Media and Opinion Pages, NewtownSparks Calls for Gun Reform
Gun Rights vs. Gun Control
"Gun Rights vs. Gun Control The Pew Research Center has tracked shifting public opinion on gun rights and gun control over the past 20 years. Explore our polling data below to discover how demographics influence public opinion on guns and read the latest report on these findings." Study published by Pew Research Center on Aug. 13, 2015. See also this PDF link to full report.
ProPublica: Where Congress Stands on Guns
Questions?

The Fiscal Cliff

Deficit Reduction, Sequestration, the Economy, & Related Topics

If you're been following the news lately and would like to make some sense of the so called "Fiscal Cliff," here are some sites you can visit to learn a little more about the topic.


About the Fiscal Cliff & Sequestration
CNN Explains: Sequestration
Definition of "Fiscal Cliff"
From Investopedia.
The Fiscal Cliff Explained
From Forbes.
A Graphic Guide to the Sequester
From ProPublica.
How the Fiscal Cliff Would Hit the Economy
From National Public Radio (NPR).
Just How High Is the Fiscal Cliff?
From U.S. News and World Report.
Q & A: Understanding the Fiscal Cliff
From The New York Times.
What is Sequestration?
From PBS.
What is Sequestration, and What Does It Mean for Me?
From National Journal.
What's in the Fiscal Cliff?
From CNN Money.


News & Analysis
Google News: The Fiscal Cliff
Multiple news sources.
The New York Times:
Economic News
Federal Budget News
United States Economy
NPR: The Fiscal Cliff
PBS News: The Fiscal Cliff
Wall Street Journal: The Fiscal Cliff
The White House: Press Briefings


Background Information & Further Reading
Budget Control Act of 2011
Text of the law from the Library of Congress.
Bush-Era Tax Cuts
From The New York Times. See also this definition from Investopedia.
C-SPAN Video Library: The Fiscal Cliff
The topic as referenced or discussed in various C-SPAN broadcasts.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
The "Fiscal Cliff" Deal
January 4, 2013
Choices for Deficit Reduction
Economic Effects of Policies Contributing to Fiscal Tightening in 2013
From the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
What Accounts for the Slow Growth of the Economy After the Recession?
November 14, 2012.
Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
Coverage of 2011 meetings. From C-SPAN.
Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Deficit "Super Committee")
Information from 2011. From The New York Times.
Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012
Text of the law from the Library of Congress.
Pew Research Center:
Broad Concern about "Fiscal Cliff" Consequences
November 2012. Report and survey.
Deep Divisions over Debt Reduction Proposals
October 2012.
Speaker of the House: Congressman Boehner Calls for Bipartisan Action to Avert the Fiscal Cliff
November 7, 2012. See also GOP.gov: Fiscal Cliff.
U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: The Impacts of Sequestration (February 14, 2013)
Letters of projected financial impacts from U.S. federal government agencies.
The White House: Taxes, Tax Cuts & the Middle Class
See also their Economy pages.


For more information on related topics and issues:
Questions?

Hurricane Sandy

Emergency Resources, News, Advisories

The following sites offer news and other information concerning Hurricane Sandy.

Please scroll down this page to browse resources or select a subtopic:






News & Weather Coverage
ABC News: Hurricane Sandy
AccuWeather.com: Hurricane 2012
BBC: Hurricane Sandy Updates
Pictures, maps, videos.
Bing News: Hurricane Sandy
Multiple sources.
CBS News: Hurricane Sandy
CNN: Hurricane Sandy
Fox News (MyFoxHurricane.com)
Google Crisis Map: Hurricane Sandy
Google News: Hurricane Sandy
Multiple sources.
Huffington Post: Hurricane Sandy 2012
MSNBC: Interactive Storm Tracker
National Hurricane Center
From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). See also their GOES page for images/movies of the storm.
National Public Radio (NPR): Hurricane Sandy
National Weather Service: Middletown, NY
See also: Weather.gov and their Hurricane Sandy Advisory Archive for more updates/information.
The New York Times: Hurricane News
See also these pages:
New York Area Service Updates
Subway Service Updates for New York City
Where the Power Is Out and Returning across the Northeast
Assessing the Damage From Hurricane Sandy
Live Updates
Assessing the Damage From Hurricane Sandy (October 29, 2012)
State-by-State Guide to Hurricane Sandy (October 29, 2012)
New York City Hurricane Evacuation Zones (October 28, 2012)
PBS NewsHour: Hurricane Sandy
See also their Multimedia and Weather & Natural Disasters pages.
Reuters: Tracking Hurricane Sandy Recovery
The New York Times Learning Network: Teaching Hurricane Sandy - Ideas and Resources
Times Herald-Record Storm Center: Hurricane Sandy
Severe Weather Alerts, Area Flood Watch, and other local news and announcements.
USA Today: Hurricane Sandy
USGS: Preparing for Hurricane Sandy
Coastal elevation data / research, flood information, more. From U.S. Geological Survey .
The Wall Street Journal: Hurricane Sandy - Live Updates
The Weather Channel: Hurricane Central
See also their Interactive Hurricane Tracker and home page for more news/advisories by area.
Yahoo! News: Hurricane Sandy
YNN (Your News Now): Hudson Valley
Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, and Sullivan counties. See also YNN.com for other areas.

Government Resources (Local, County, State, Federal)
City of Middletown, NY
Emergency services, contact information, and more. See also the Mayor's State of Emergency declaration (October 29, 2012; PDF document).
Emergencies & Preparation
Government resources and more.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
FEMA Urges Residents to Take Steps to Prepare as Hurricane Sandy Approaches
Smartphone App
Text Messages
Preparedness Tips, Shelters search, Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC), and more.
New York City Government:
Emergency services, contact information, and more. See also these pages:
Evacuations / Shelters
Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder
List of Shelters
Severe Weather
Twitter Feed
New York State: Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Storm Information: Hurricane Sandy. Storm damage and other announcements.
New York State Department of Health: Hurricane Sandy Preparedness and Recovery
"If you are returning home."
New York State Department of Labor: Hurricane Sandy Deparment Services
Information for individuals and businesses. Topics include: Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Temporary Employment Opportunities, Unemployment Assistance Due to Effects of Hurricane Sandy, Claimant Extension Date.
New York State Department of Taxation: Hurricane Sandy Tax Relief
"Extended deadlines apply to taxpayers, tax professionals, and relief workers directly affected by Hurricane Sandy."
New York State Government:
Register with FEMA for Disaster Assistance (Deadline: March 29, 2013)
"FEMA urges everyone who sustained losses from Hurricane Sandy to register, including those who have insurance. Insurance may not cover all losses. The 13 designated counties are: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester."
How to Apply for FEMA Assistance (PDF document)
Hurricane Sandy Helplines for New York State Residents: 1-888-769-7243 or 1-518-485-1159
New York State Governor
Power Outage Information for New York State
State of Emergency Declaration for New York State (October 26, 2012)
Storm Watch
Transportation Emergency Declaration (October 31, 2012)
From NYS Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.
Twitter Feed
New York State: Homeland Security & Emergency Services
Alerts and contact information.
New York State Public Service Commission:
Electric Utilities Listing
Utility / power companies / providers and contact information.
Utility Service Interruptions: What You Should Do
Service / power outages. PDF document (1.2MB).
NY-Alert
EAS Alerts, Warnings, and more from New York State.
Orange County, New York Government
Emergency services, contact information, more. See also these pages: (more - display all resources from Orange County Government)
Other Counties / Local Governments in New York State
County / city / local town government websites in NYS.
States - Governments / Governors of Other Regions Affected by Hurricane Sandy:
Connecticut Governor / CT state government website
Delaware Governor / DE state government website
District of Columbia Mayor / DC government website
Maine Governor / ME state government website
Massachusetts Governor / MA state government website
Maryland Governor / MD state government website
New Hampshire Governor / NH state government website
New Jersey Governor / NJ state government website
North Carolina Governor / NC state government website
Pennsylvania Governor/ PA state government website
Rhode Island Governor / RI state government website
Vermont Governor / VT state government website
Virginia Governor / VA state government website
West Virginia Governor / WV state government website
Town of Wallkill, NY Government
News and announcements.


Related Storm Information & Alerts
511NY.org: Traffic & Travel Conditions
News and advisories from the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT). See also 511NJ.org for New Jersey road/highway updates.
ARRL: Hurricane Watch Net to Activate as Hurricane Sandy Approaches Eastern Seaboard
The national association for Amateur Radio. See also their Hurricane Sandy: Guidelines for Providing Assistance page.
American Red Cross: Red Cross Gearing Up for Sandy
Includes free hurricane and first aid apps. See also these pages:
Find Open Shelters
More Mobile Apps
New York Red Cross
Responding to Hurricane Sandy
Safe and Well
Register to let friends, family, and others know you are safe and well.
From CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention):
Floods - Emergency Preparedness and Response
Hurricane Readiness
Power Outages - What You Should Know
Protect Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning after a Disaster
Returning Home after a Disaster: Be Healthy and Safe
Worker Safety in Power Outages
Defense.gov: National Guard Assists Governors of States in Sandy's Path
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): Flight Delay Information - Northeastern States
Floods - Safety Issues & Advisories:
Children's Health in the Aftermath of Floods
From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Flood Safety
From the U.S. National Weather Service.
Flood Safety Tips
From NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (OEM).
Floods
Before and after the storm, water safety, and more. From the CDC.
Floods
Cleaning up, preventing mold. From New York City Government.
Flood Preparedness
From the New York State Department of Health.
Flood Cleanup and the Air In Your Home
From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). See also their Natural Disasters: Flooding and Mold Resources pages.
Floods Monitor
From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Indoor Environmental Quality: Dampness and Mold in Buildings
From the CDC.
Keeping Food Safe in an Emergency
From FoodSafety.gov.
Generators - Safety Issues & Advisories:
Electrical Safety and Generators: Preventing Electrocutions Associated with Portable Generators Plugged into Household Circuits
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). PDF document.
Portable Generator Hazards
From the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). PDF document.
Portable Generator Safety
From Orange & Rockland.
Portable Generator Safety & Carbon Monoxide
From the U.S. Fire Administration / FEMA.
Heritage Preservation: Resources for Response and Recovery
Of interest to libraries/book dealers/owners. "Dealing with disasters and managing recovery efforts, including getting professional help, assessing damage, finding funding, and salvaging collections and family treasures." See also their Heritage Emergency National Task Force page.
How Hurricanes Work
From How Stuff Works. See also their How Floods Work page.
Local Utilities
For Orange County, NY, and power/gas companies elsewhere in NYS.
Local Weather Links
For Middletown, NY, Orange County, NY, and surrounding areas.
MedlinePlus: Get Ready for Hurricane Sandy
From the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
MTA: Service Alert - Hurricane Sandy
See also the MTA Alerts page.
NASA Hurricanes
Storm images, satellite photographs, and other data.
National Geographic - Hurricane Sandy Pictures: Storm Turns Iconic Sites Ghostly
Photographs. See also their Hurricane Sandy Pictures: Floods, Fire, Snow in the Aftermath page.
National Public Radio (NPR): Six Tips for Feeding the Family During a Storm-Related Power Outage
New Jersey Transit
Closings, delays, and other information for travelers/commuters.
New York State Department of Health: Storm Preparedness & Recovery
Newsday: The Science Behind "Frankenstorm"
Orange and Rockland: Storm Information Center
Status of power, reporting power outages.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: PATH Alerts
Delays, closings, and other information on bridges, tunnels, bus terminals, airports, and ports.
Power Outages - Safety Issues & Advisories:
Blackouts
From Ready.gov.
Downed Power Lines
From Orange & Rockland.
Floods, Hurricanes & Power Outages: Keeping Food and Water Safe
From the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). See also their Power Outages: Key Tips for Consumers About Food Safety page.
Frozen Food and Power Outages: When to Save and When to Throw Out
From FoodSafety.gov.
Local Utilities
For Orange County, NY, and power/gas companies elsewhere in NYS.
Power Outage Information for New York State
From the New York State Governor.
Power Outage Safety & Preparedness Checklist
From American Red Cross.
Power Outages and Freezer Failures
From Pennsylvania State University.
Refrigerated Food and Power Outages: When to Save and When to Throw Out
From FoodSafety.gov.
Utility Service Interruptions: What You Should Do
From New York State Public Service Commission. PDF document (1.2MB).
Worker Safety in Power Outages
The Psychology of Super Storm Sandy: Psychological Damage and Recovery in the Wake of a Natural Disaster
From Psychology Today.
Ready.gov: Natural Disasters - Hurricanes
What to do before / during / after a hurricane, and other information. From FEMA. See also their Natural Disasters - Floods page.
Relief & Recovery Resources:
American Red Cross
Charities
Search/check charities, avoiding fraud, and other topics.
Charity and Home Repair Scams May Appear After a Disaster
Consumer warning. From the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Disaster Assistance Resources for Cultural Heritage Collections
From Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC).
DisasterAssistance.gov
"How you might be able to get help from the U.S. Government before, during and after a disaster."
Disaster Relief
From Benefits.gov.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
See also these pages:
The Disaster Process & Disaster Aid Programs
Disaster Recovery Centers
Disaster Survivor Assistance
Response & Recovery
Health Tips after a Storm
From the Governor of New York State.
How to Help after the Superstorm
From CNN Impact Your World.
How to Help the Survivors of Hurricane Sandy
From WhiteHouse.gov.
Hurricane Sandy Helpline for New York State Residents: 1-888-769-7243
From NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services.
Hurricane Sandy Recovery
Topics include: Health and Safety, Donate and Volunteer, Find Family and Friends, Get Help, and What Government Is Doing. From USA.gov.
Middletown, NY: Emergency Telephone Numbers
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: New Yorkers Clean Up after Hurricane Sandy
Topics include: carbon monoxide, dry ice, floods, heating, hypothermia, and other safety tips.
New York Library Association (NYLA) Disaster Relief Fund
Providing "funding to libraries in New York damaged or destroyed by natural or manmade disasters like flooding, hurricanes, fire, etc."
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC): Hurricane Sandy Storm Recovery Permits
Includes the NYS DEC's Emergency Declaration (October 30, 2012).
From the New York State Department of Health:
Avoiding Carbon Monoxide Dangers
Disaster Recovery Centers
Drinking Water Safety
See also their Reporting Drinking Water System Emergencies and Potential Public Health Hazards page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Disaster Recovery (PDF)
Health Checklist for Repairing Your Flood Damaged Home
If You Are Returning Home
Mold: Preventing and Removing
New York State Department of Taxation: Hurricane Sandy Tax Relief
"Extended deadlines apply to taxpayers, tax professionals, and relief workers directly affected by Hurricane Sandy."
NYC Service
Includes information on cash donations and the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. From NYC.gov.
Orange County, New York - Emergency Services
Other Counties in New York - County Emergency Management Offices
Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services
See also their Disaster Relief 2012 page.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: Hurricane Sandy - Temporary Relief
Includes "a guidebook that outlines available disaster assistance programs."
Tips on Hurricane Relief Donations
From the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Volunteer & Donate Responsibly
Charities and volunteering information. From Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Ways to Help in the Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy
From the Serve.gov National Service Blog.
Talking to Kids About Hurricane Sandy
"A roundup of resources, tips, and advice on what to say to your kids about the latest news."
USDA: Food Safety Is Crucial As Hurricane Sandy Approaches the East Coast
From the U.S. Department of Agriculture. See also this page: Livestock and Pet Safety Tips In Advance of Hurricane Sandy.
Weather Topics
Facts, news, data, and forecasts.
From The White House - President Barack Obama:
Weekly Address: Recovering and Rebuilding After the Storm (November 3, 2012)
President Obama Tours Storm Damage in New Jersey (November 1, 2012)
Update on Hurricane Sandy (October 30, 2012)
President Obama Urges Caution for Those in the Path of Hurricane Sandy (October 29, 2012)
President Obama Signs New York Emergency Declaration (October 28, 2012)
President Obama Discusses Hurricane Sandy (October 28, 2012)
Readout of the President's Briefing on Hurricane Sandy (October 27, 2012)
Readout of the President's Briefing on Hurricane Sandy (October 26, 2012)
Wikipedia: Hurricane Sandy
Please note their disclaimers.
Questions?

Supreme Court Opinion on Health Care Law

The United States Supreme Court has issued its ruling concerning the constitutionality of health care reform law.

Please click here for the official opinion and related resources.
Questions?

CISPA

Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the controversial Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA).

Information, news, debates, and industry positions concerning this legislative proposal can be found below:


About CISPA
CISPA Bill (112th Congress, 2011-2012, H.R.3523)
Bill status and information from the Library of Congress.
CISPA: Just the Facts
From PC World.
Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act of 2011
Includes: The Bill and Amendments, Press Materials, Letters of Support. From The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, U.S. House of Representatives.
How CISPA Would Affect You
From CNET.
Is CISPA SOPA 2.0? We Explain the Cybersecurity Bill
From ProPublica.org
Wikipedia: CISPA
Please note their disclaimers.

News
Google News: CISPA
Multiple news sources.
National Public Radio (NPR): CISPA Articles
The New York Times: Cyber Security News

Viewpoints & Debates
CISPA Supporters
AT&T
Letter of Support.
Facebook
Letter of Support.
IBM
Letter of Support.
Microsoft
Letter of Support.
Verizon
Letter of Support.
Other Letters of Support
CISPA Critics & Opposition
ACLU Opposition to H.R. 3523, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act of 2011
The Atlantic Wire: "Why CISPA Is Worse Than SOPA"
EFF Condemns CISPA, Vows to Take Fight to the Senate
From Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). See also Cybersecurity Bill FAQ: The Disturbing Privacy Dangers in CISPA and How To Stop It.
Open the Government.org Coalition: Cybersecurity Bills Threaten Public Access to Information, Accountability
Includes a letter of objection (PDF format) from coalition partners American Association of Law Libraries, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, American Library Association, American Society of News Editors, Arab American Institute, Association of American Publishers, Association of Research Libraries, as well as many other organizations (Center for Democracy and Technology, National Coalition Against Censorship, Society of American Archivists, et al).
The White House: "Statement of Administration Policy"
April 25, 2012. Adobe PDF document.
General Commentary
Forbes: "What is CISPA And Why Would The President Veto It?"
U.S. News & World Report Debate Club: "Should the Congress Pass CISPA?"
ZDNet: How SOPA protests were used to push CISPA

For further reading, see also:
Questions?

Situation in Syria

In addition to historical information on Syria, news concerning recent events within that country can be found below.


About Syria
BBC: Syria Profile
Country Study: Syria
From the Library of Congress.
Fact Sheet on Syria
From The White House. August 2011.
Infoplease: Syria Facts & Figures
Maps of Syria
Political, geographical, thematic. From Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas Libraries.
U. S. State Department: Syria Background Notes
The World Factbook: Syria
From the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

News Coverage
BBC: Syria Crisis
CNN: Syria
Google News: Syria
Multiple news sources.
National Public Radio (NPR): Syria News
The New York Times: Syria
PBS Frontline: Syria Undercover
Reuters: Syria

European Union - Statements & Updates
EU Delegations in Syria
February 2012.
EU Tightens Sanctions against Syrian Regime
February 27, 2012. Adobe PDF format document.

Red Cross
The ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) in Syria
Humanitarian aid information and related updates concerning the situation in Syria.

United Nations
The UN General Assembly Resolution on Syria
February 16, 2012. From HumanRights.gov.

United States Government - Statements & Updates
Embassy of Syria
In Washington, D.C. See also the Embassy in Damascus, Syria.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton: Remarks on Syria
From the U.S. State Department. February 24, 2012.
Statement by the President on Syria
From The White House, President Obama. February 4, 2012.
Syria Sanctions
From the U.S. Treasury Department.
Travel Information, Advisories, Warnings
From the U.S. State Department.

Questions?

Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)

& Protect IP Act (PIPA)

On Wednesday, January 18, 2012, Google and Wikipedia, among other websites, staged symbolic partial blackouts to indicate their opposition to the "Stop Online Piracy Act" (SOPA) and to raise awareness of their concerns involving proposed legislative efforts.

To learn more about the issues and debates surrounding SOPA and PIPA (the "Protect IP Act"), please explore the following links:


About Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)
How SOPA Works
From How Stuff Works.
How SOPA Would Affect You
From CNET.
SOPA and PIPA Anti-Piracy Bills Controversy Explained
From BBC.
SOPA and PIPA: Just the Facts
From PC World.
SOPA Explained - What It Is and Why It Matters
From CNN Money.
Stop Online Piracy Act (H.R.3261)
Official text of legislation and related information. From the Library of Congress.
U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary: Stop Online Piracy Act
Includes Statements of Support and Letters of Support.
Wikipedia Article: Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)
Please note their disclaimers.


About Protect IP Act (PIPA)
PIPA, SOPA and OPEN Act Quick Reference Guide
From the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).
Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011 (H.R.3261)
Official text of legislation and related information. From the Library of Congress.
Wikipedia Article: PROTECT IP Act (PIPA)
Please note their disclaimers.


Debates, Industry Positions, & Analysis
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Urge Congress to Stop SOPA
American Library Association (ALA) / Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL): Library Copyright Alliance Voices Concern about SOPA to US House
BBC: Viewpoints - Sites Go Offline in US Piracy Laws Protest
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF): Internet Blacklist Legislation
See also their An Alternative to SOPA: An Open Process Befitting an Open Internet page.
Facebook: Anti-Piracy Bills - How We See the Online Piracy Debate
See also Statement by Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg
FightTheftOnline.com: Legislative Solution
From the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP) / Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC).
Google: End Piracy, Not Liberty
Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA): Rogue Websites (Rogue Sites Legislation)
Mozilla Foundation: Stop SOPA and PIPA
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA): Chairman & CEO Comments on SOPA Legislation
See also their What Is Online Piracy? page.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Intellectual Property
See also their "Rogue Site Roulette" and "What They Are Saying: Rogue Sites Are Plain No Good" pages at FreeEnterprise.com.
U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary: List of SOPA Supporters
Adobe Reader PDF document.
The White House: Obama Administration Responds to We the People Petitions on SOPA and Online Piracy
Where Do Your Members of Congress Stand on SOPA and PIPA?
From ProPublica.
Wikipedia Foundation: SOPA and PIPA


News
BBC: SOPA - Sites Go Dark as Part of Anti-Piracy Law Protests
CBS News: SOPA, PIPA: What you need to know
Fox Business: 5 Things to Know About the SOPA, PIPA Protest
Fox News: Wikipedia Goes Dark for 24 Hours to Protest Web Piracy Bills
Google News: SOPA or PIPA articles (various news sources)
Huffington Post: SOPA - Pictures, Videos, Breaking News
National Public Radio (NPR): Stop Online Piracy Act
The New York Times: Copyrights and Internet Piracy (SOPA and PIPA Legislation)
PBS NewsHour: A World Without Wikipedia - For SOPA, Websites Threaten a Midnight Blackout
The Wall Street Journal: Web Piracy Bill Faces Fiercer Fight
Questions?

U.S. Presidential Election 2012

News & Information

As we did for the previous presidential election, Middletown Thrall Library has prepared a special coverage guide covering the upcoming primaries, conventions, candidates, and eventual election (or reelection) of the next President of the United States:


Topics include: Learn about Elections, Registering and Voting Procedures, Making an Informed Decision, Campaign Financing, Political Parties, Polls, Results, and Statistics, Presidential Candidates, and Conventions.

Our Election 2012 guide is a work in progress and will be updated as necessary.
Questions?

Hurricane Irene

News & Emergency Information

The following Web resources pertain to Hurricane Irene and the flooding and damage from the storm.


Jump to:

Local Government Agencies - News & Information
Local Government Representatives
Contact information. See also these press releases:
Middletown, New York
See also these related pages:
Orange County Government - New York
See also their Hurricane Irene information page.
Town of Wallkill, New York
Other Local Government Agency Websites (Orange County, New York)
See also: General News Coverage

[ Return to Menu ]


Local Fire & Police Departments
Middletown Police Department
Silver Lake Fire Department
Middletown Fire Department

[ Return to Menu ]


State Government Agencies - News & Information
New York State Governor: Federal Disaster Aid Approved for Additional Counties
New York State Governor: Shelter and Contact Information
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC): Hurricane Irene Safety and Cleanup Information
New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services
New York State Governor Cuomo: "Immediate Steps New Yorkers Should Take Regarding Hurricane Property Losses and Insurance Claims" (August 29, 2011)
New York State Insurance Department: What to Do After a Loss
See also their press release regarding Hurricane Irene and flood insurance (September 1, 2011) and consumer alert (August 30, 2011).
New York State Power Outage Information
New York State Travel Advisories & Closures
NY-Alert.gov - Alerts & Government Press Releases
Other New York State Government Agency Websites

[ Return to Menu ]


Federal Government Information - News & Information
DisasterAssistance.gov
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): National Center for Disaster Fraud to Coordinate Hurricane Irene Fraud Complaints
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
See also their New York State - Hurricane Irene page.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS): IRS Provides Tax Relief to Victims of Hurricane Irene
Small Business Administration (SBA): Hurricane Irene Recovery Assistance Information
See also their Disaster Preparedness page.

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News Coverage - Local & National
Times Herald Record: Irene Aftermath
See also: September Floods Coverage
Google News: Hurricane Irene
Various news sources.
The New York Times: Hurricanes
The Weather Channel: Road Closings
New York and other states.
YNN (Your News Now): Hurricane Irene
See also: Local Government - News & Information

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Other Information
Local Housing & Emergency Housing Organizations
Local Weather Forecasts
NASA: Irene Makes Landfall Over New York
Satellite image. See also their Hurricane Irene page.
National Hurricane Center
See also their Disaster Supply Kit page.
New York City Government
See also these pages:
Orange and Rockland Utilities
Gas and electric information, news, outages. See also their ice distribution page.
Ready Reference Center: Emergencies
General information and preparation guides.
Wikipedia: Hurricane Irene
Please note their disclaimers.

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Questions?

U.S. Debt Crisis


Debt Ceiling (Debt Limit),
National Deficit Debates,
S&P U.S. Credit Downgrade,
Related News & Resources

Updated: August 24, 2011
Information about the United States' debt with links to related debates, deficit discussions, documents, studies, resources, and news coverage.

Jump to:

About the U.S. Debt & the "Debt Ceiling"
Breaking Down the Debt Debate
From U.S. News (June 7, 2011).
Charting the American Debt Crisis
From The New York Times (July 29, 2011).
Comparing Deficit-Reduction Plans
From The New York Times (July 22, 2011).
The Debt Ceiling Explained
From NPR (April 11, 2011).
Debt Ceiling: What You Need to Know
From CNN.
Federal Debt: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
From the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO).
Get the Facts: Raising the Debt Limit
From the U.S. Treasury Department. See also their Debt Limit page and "Debt Limit: Myth v. Fact" document (PDF format).
How Debt Works: Public Debt and the Economy
From How Stuff Works.
How Does the U.S. Debt Ceiling Work and Why Does it Matter?
From PBS (May 16, 2011).
National Debt & Deficits
Overview of debt and deficit from Thrall's Consumer Information blog (April 2010).
National Debt for Beginners
From NPR (2009).
Q&A: Why Has the US Not Agreed to a New Debt Ceiling?
From BBC (July 25, 2011).
A Reading List for Following the Debt Ceiling Drama
From ProPublica (July 28, 2011).
A User's Guide To The Budget Battles
From NPR (July 14, 2011).
What's the Debt Ceiling, and Why Is Everyone in Washington Talking about It?
From The Washington Post (April 18, 2011).
Where Does Our National Debt Come From?
Chart graphic from The White House (July 26, 2011).
Who's Who in the US Debt Crisis
From The Christian Science Monitor (July 21, 2011).

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About the U.S. Debt Ceiling Legislation
- Budget Control Act of 2011 ("The Debt Deal")
Government Information:
Budget Control Act of 2011
House of Representatives: "Passed with amendment by recorded vote: 269 - 161." Senate: passed 74 - 26 votes. August 2, 2011.
Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Debt Deal: A Win for the Economy and Budget Discipline
From The White House.
Myths and Facts About the Debt-Ceiling Compromise
From The White House.
Text of S. 365 (PDF format)
From the Government Printing Office (GPO). PDF format.
Other Sources, News & Analysis:
Analysis: How The Parties Fared In The Debt Debate (August 4, 2011)
From NPR.
Debt-Ceiling Deal Does Little For Global Economic Ills (August 3, 2011)
From NPR.
The Debt Deal's Three Biggest Winners and Losers (August 3, 2011)
From Fox News.
Debt Plan Cheat Sheet (August 2, 2011)
From CNN.
The US Debt Deal: A Simple Guide (August 2, 2011)
From BBC News.
Many Questions Linger Over Debt And Deficit Accord (August 2, 2011)
From MSNBC.

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About the Standard & Poor's (S&P) U.S. Credit Downgrade
From Standard & Poor's:
Rating Action on U.S. and Related Material (August 2011)
Press Release (August 5, 2011)
"United States of America Long-Term Rating Lowered To 'AA+' On Political Risks And Rising Debt Burden; Outlook Negative" (August 5, 2011)
PDF format.
See also S&P's Understanding Ratings website for general information on their ratings system and criteria.
Other Sources:
"S&P Chief Explains Credit Downgrade" (August 7, 2011)
From Fox News.
"Just the Facts: S&P's $2 Trillion Mistake" (August 6, 2011)
From the U.S. Treasury Department.
"A Q&A On S&P's Downgrade Of US Debt" (August 6, 2011)
From NPR.
"US Loses AAA Credit Rating After S&P Downgrade" (August 6, 2011)
From BBC News.
"S.& P. Downgrades Debt Rating of U.S. for the First Time" (August 5, 2011)
From The New York Times.

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About the Bipartisan Budgetary "Super-Committee"
Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (continuous coverage)
Video coverage from C-SPAN.
Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Deficit "Supercommittee") (continuous coverage)
From The New York Times.
How Super Is The Deficit-Cutting Committee? (August 17, 2011)
From NPR.
Super Ccommittee: Who Are These Guys? (August 12, 2011)
From CNN.
(August 11, 2011)
From PBS NewsHour.
All About the So-Called "Super Committee" (August 4, 2011)
From The White House. See also their related infographic.

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Debt Ceiling Crisis News - Reports & Special Coverage
BBC News:
US to Avoid Default as Senate Backs Debt Ceiling Rise (August 2, 2011)
US Debt Limit: Obama Unveils Deal with Congress Leaders (August 1, 2011)
Victory for the Republicans? (July 31, 2011)
McConnell Calls for End to US Debt "Charade" (July 30, 2011)
Obama Underscores Urgency of Debt-Plan Deal (July 29, 2011)
US House Set for Key Debt Vote on Republican Bill (July 28, 2011)
IMF Calls for US to Raise Debt Ceiling and Cut Spending (July 25, 2011)
Geithner Confident US Politicians Will Agree Debt Deal (July 25, 2011)
Barack Obama in Emergency Talks to Secure US Debt Deal (July 23, 2011)
Senate Rejects Republican "Cut, Cap And Balance" Bill (July 22, 2011)
Barack Obama Hails 'Progress' as Debt Deadline Nears (July 19, 2011)
Obama: US Debt Talks Failure "Could Restart Recession" (July 11, 2011)
Obama Meets Senate Leaders over Raising Debt Ceiling (June 27, 2011)
Is the US in Denial over Its $14tn Debt? (June 27, 2011)
S&P Says It May Downgrade the US's Triple-A Debt Rating (June 14, 2011)
Fed Chief Bernanke Warns of US Debt Ceiling Threat (June 14, 2011)
Moody's Warns on US Failure to Increase Debt Limit (June 2, 2011)
Republicans Press Obama for Plan on Spending Cuts (June 1, 2011)
Ben Bernanke Warns Against US Debt Limit Brinkmanship (May 12, 2011)
Boehner Calls for Spending Cuts as Debt Limit Looms (May 9, 2011)
Bloomberg: U.S. Government Debt
CBS News: America's Debt Battle
Christian Science Monitor: National Debt News
CNBC: Debt News
CNN:
America's Debt Crisis
Spending Cuts: Here Comes The Hard Part (August 3, 2011)
Senate Passes Debt Plan, Sends Bill to Obama (August 2, 2011)
Debt Deal Vote Likely on Monday, Party Sources Say (August 1, 2011)
The Debt Ceiling Battle: Where Things Stand (August 1, 2011)
Debt Ceiling Fight: What a Downgrade Would Mean (July 26, 2011)
No Deal on Debt Ceiling (July 24, 2011)
Obama to Meet with Hill Democrats as Debt Deadline Nears (July 20, 2011)
Good News: The Gang of Six Is Back (July 20, 2011)
China to U.S.: Get Your Debt Under Control (July 20, 2011)
Hold up! Still No Deal to Raise the Debt Ceiling (July 20, 2011)
Debt Ceiling: Moody's Puts U.S. on Notice (July 13, 2011)
Taxes, Social Security Fears Cited in Debt Ceiling Talks (July 12, 2011)
Senate Republicans Propose Debt Ceiling Fallback Option (July 12, 2011)
Is the Debt Ceiling Unconstitutional? (July 7, 2011)
U.S. Hits Debt Ceiling (May 17, 2011)
Budget Debate Shifts to Raising Debt Ceiling (April 17, 2011)
Debt Ceiling: Danger Ahead (March 17, 2011)
Fox Business: Debt Ceiling
Fox News:
Debt Ceiling
Debt Limit Increase
Government Spending
Congress Approves Debt-Ceiling Plan Hours Before Deadline (August 2, 2011)
The Hitchhiker's Guide To How the Debt Deal Could Fall Apart (August 1, 2011)
Congressional Leaders to Pitch Debt-Reduction Compromise to Caucuses (August 1, 2011)
Obama Announces Debt-Reduction Deal Approved by Senate, House Leaders (July 31, 2011)
Raw Data: Democratic Fact Sheet on Reducing the Deficit, Raising the Debt Limit and Avoiding Default (July 31, 2011)
Reid Moves Forward With Debt-Reduction Plan as Boehner Sweetens Deal for GOP (July 29, 2011)
Treasury to Explain Who Gets Paid, Who Doesn't if Debt Cap Not Raised (July 28, 2011)
Some Dems Call for 'Clean' Extension of Debt Limit as Financial Doomsday Looms (July 28, 2011)
Boehner Bill Clears Key Hurdle Ahead of Showdown Vote on Debt Limit (July 28, 2011)
Debt Ceiling Drama: Boehner Bill Hits the House Floor Thursday (July 28, 2011)
Boehner Looks for More Savings to Offer in Debt Reduction Proposal (July 27, 2011)
Reid, Boehner Race to Produce Competing Deficit Plans (July 25, 2011)
One Sentence That Can Resolve the Debt Ceiling Impasse (July 25, 2011)
The Basics of Boehner's Debt Pitch to GOP Conference (July 25, 2011)
We May Not Be Broke on Aug. 2 After All (July 25, 2011)
Debt Deadline Looming (video) (July 25, 2011)
Senate Votes to Set Aside "Cut, Cap and Balance" Plan Proposed by House GOP (July 22, 2011)
Google News - recent headlines / multiple sources:
Debt Ceiling Crisis:
"Debt Ceiling"
"Debt Ceiling" Deal
Debt Crisis
"Debt Debate"
"Deficit Reduction"
"Gang of Six" Plan
United States Default
Standard & Poor's (S&P) U.S. Credit Downgrade
S&P - U.S. Downgrade
S&P - U.S. Outlook
The New York Times:
Federal Debt Limit (Debt Ceiling) & Deficit Talks (continuous coverage)
Debt Bill Is Signed, Ending a Fractious Battle (August 3, 2011)
Debt Compromise Is Just "First Step," Obama Says (August 2, 2011)
Votes Across the Spectrum in the House - How Different Groups Voted on the Debt Bill (August 1, 2011)
Obama and Leaders Reach Debt Deal (August 1, 2011)
Boehner's Debt Ceiling Agreement Presentation (July 31, 2011)
Congress Must Trim Deficit to Avoid Broader Cuts (July 31, 2011)
In World's Eyes, Much Damage Is Already Done (July 31, 2011)
House Rejects Reid Debt Ceiling Proposal (July 30, 2011)
Obama Calls for Debt Deal as House Forages for Votes (July 29, 2011)
Freshman Republicans Face Defining Debt Vote (July 28, 2011)
Boehner Sees Passage of Debt Plan; Reid Vows to Kill It (July 28, 2011)
Treasury to Weigh Which Bills to Pay (July 27, 2011)
S&P Finds Merit in Some Debt Plans (July 27, 2011)
Boehner Plan Falls Short of Advertised Cuts, Says Budget Agency (July 26, 2011)
Rival Debt Plans Being Assembled by Party Leaders (July 24, 2011)
Using the 14th Amendment to Raise the Debt Ceiling (July 24, 2011)
Budget Projections and Realities (graph) (July 24, 2011)
See also: Policy Changes Under Two Presidents (graphic) and related text: How the Deficit Got This Big
"Gang of 6" Deficit Reduction Plan (July 20, 2011)
Issues Holding Up Debt Ceiling Agreement (July 13, 2011)
Wall Street Warns Lawmakers on Debt (July 12, 2011)
What if the Debt Ceiling Isn't Raised? (July 9, 2011)
A Spectrum of Positions in the Debt Ceiling Debate (July 7, 2011)
Congressional Week Ahead: Debt Limit Deadline Approaches (July 5, 2011)
Debt Ceiling Date Does Not Budge (July 1, 2011)
NPR (National Public Radio):
Now History, Debt-Ceiling Fight Left Much Wreckage in Its Wake (August 2, 2011)
Obama Signs Bill To Raise Debt Ceiling (August 2, 2011)
After 15 Years, GOP Revives Balanced Budget Idea (August 2, 2011)
Path Ahead For Debt Legislation Remains Uncertain (August 1, 2011)
Obama Defuses Default Bomb As Tea Party Changes Re-Election Landscape (August 1, 2011)
House GOP Gets Even, Rejects Senate Bill (July 30, 2011)
Obama: There Are "Plenty Of Ways Out Of This Mess" (July 29, 2011)
Without Tea Party Votes, Boehner Speakership Hits Rough Waters (July 28, 2011)
States Warily Watch Debt-Ceiling Impasse (July 28, 2011)
Democrats, GOP Stubbornly Hold Debt Positions (July 25, 2011)
President Obama Talks Deficit, Jobs On NPR (July 22, 2011)
Senate Rejects House GOP Budget-Cutting Plan (July 22, 2011)
Obama: "Gang Of Six" Plan Is Endorsement Of "Balanced Approach" (July 22, 2011)
Debt Debate Reverberates In State Governments (July 22, 2011)
Could Gang Of Six Plan End Debt-Ceiling Stalemate? (July 20, 2011)
Senate, House Far Apart On Debt Ceiling Deal (July 20, 2011)
Obama Calls Democratic Leaders To White House (July 20, 2011)
Top Democrats Positive About Gang Of 6 Debt Plan (July 20, 2011)
Boehner Seeks Magic 217 In Debt-Ceiling Showdown (July 20, 2011)
The Tuesday Podcast: How Much Debt Is Too Much? (July 19, 2011)
House GOP Walks Uncertain Debt-Ceiling Path (July 19, 2011)
Does Government Debt Really Weaken The Economy? (July 18, 2011)
Moody's: U.S. Should Consider Getting Rid Of Debt Ceiling (July 18, 2011)
Public Divided On Debt Debate (July 17, 2011)
Average American Taxpayers React To Debt (July 17, 2011)
"Enough Is Enough," Obama Says, Calling For Deal (July 14, 2011)
Partisan Rancor Heats Up In Debt-Ceiling Talks (July 13, 2011)
Still No Deal On Debt Ceiling. Do Voters Care? (July 13, 2011)
Gallup: Majority Of Americans Still Oppose Raising Debt Ceiling (July 13, 2011)
GOP Offers Debt Ceiling Contingency Plan (July 12, 2011)
McConnell Proposes Congress Punt Debt-Ceiling Power To Obama (July 12, 2011)
What If We Don't Make The Debt Ceiling Deadline? (July 12, 2011)
Debt Ceiling Talks... Endless Game Of Give And Take? (July 11, 2011)
President Obama Discusses Debt Ceiling Talks (July 11, 2011)
Questions On Debt-Ceiling Law's Constitutionality Get More Attention (July 1, 2011)
When The U.S. Paid Off The Entire National Debt (And Why It Didn't Last) (April 15, 2011)
PBS NewsHour:
Raise the Roof: Debt Crisis Averted, But Debate Far from Over (August 2, 2011)
Senate Passes Debt Deal, Ends Crisis Hours Before Default (August 2, 2011)
With Debt Ceiling Agreement In Place, Can Leaders Find Enough Votes? (August 1, 2011)
Boehner Bill Passes House, Focus Shifts to Senate (July 29, 2011)
Boehner Bill May Be Revived in House (July 29, 2011)
Debating the Debate: When Words Substitute for Action (July 29, 2011)
Obama Preps Emergency Plan if Debt Deadline Passes With No Deal (July 28, 2011)
Boehner Calls Off Debt Talks; Obama: "We Have Run Out of Time" (July 22, 2011)
Shields and Brooks: After Debt Talks "Meltdown," What's the Path Forward? (July 22, 2011)
Democrats Unhappy Over Possible Obama-Boehner Deal Focused on Cuts (July 22, 2011)
Conrad: Any Debt Deal Would Resemble 'Gang of 6' Plan (July 21, 2011)
Can the 'Gang of Six' Bridge the Divide? (July 20, 2011)
Frustration, Deadlock Dominate Talks (July 14, 2011)
What Happens if Lawmakers Don't Reach Debt-Ceiling Deal by Deadline? (July 12, 2011)
Smacking Into the Debt Ceiling: the Day-by-Day Consequences (July 12, 2011)
Clock Is Ticking on Debt Agreement (July 12, 2011)
McConnell Presents Plan to Put Debt Limit Hike Burden on Obama (July 12, 2011)
Debt Ceiling Negotiations Enter Round 3 (July 11, 2011)
Pelosi: House Democrats Won't Support Entitlement Cuts in Debt-Limit Deal (July 7, 2011)
Obama, Congress Search for Grand Bargain on Debt Ceiling (July 7, 2011)
Amid All the Debate Over Debt, Where Does Job Growth Fit In? (July 6, 2011)
Fireworks May Not Be Over as Congress Gets Back to Work on Debt (July 5, 2011)
As Debt Deadline Looms, Leaders Remain Far From Agreement (July 1, 2011)
Obama: No Stopgap Extension on Debt Ceiling (July 11, 2011)
McConnell Rules Out Tax Increases In Debt Limit Deal (May 12, 2011)
How Would Raising Debt Ceiling Impact U.S. Bond Market? (April 13, 2011)
ProPublica.org:
As Debt Limit Deadline Draws Closer, We (Sadly) Explain What "Default" Could Mean (July 29, 2011)
Explaining the Latest on the Debt-Ceiling Drama (July 12, 2011)
The Basics Behind the Debt Limit Debate: More Partisan Than Practical? (May 17, 2011)
US News and World Report: The Deficit and National Debt (news, analysis)
Wall Street Journal: The Budget (news, articles)

See also:

[ Return to Menu ]


U.S. Government Information:
Congressional Budget Office (CBO):
CBO Analysis of August 1 Budget Control Act (August 1, 2011)
Comparison of Updated Budget Control Act Proposals (July 29, 2011)
Analysis of the Impact on the Deficit of the Budget Control Act of 2011 as Revised in the Senate (July 29, 2011)
Director's Blog: The Debt Ceiling (July 27, 2011)
Analysis of the Impact on the Deficit of the Budget Control Act of 2011 as Proposed in the Senate - Letter to the Honorable Harry Reid (July 27, 2011)
Analysis of the Impact on the Deficit of the Budget Control Act of 2011 as Revised in the House - Letter to the Honorable John Boehner (July 27, 2011)
Analysis of the Impact on the Deficit of the Budget Control Act of 2011 as Proposed in the House - Letter to the Honorable John Boehner (July 26, 2011)
Director's Blog: The Challenge of Attaining a Sustainable Federal Budget (July 18, 2011)
The Macroeconomic and Budgetary Effects of an Illustrative Policy for Reducing the Federal Budget Deficit (July 14, 2011)
See also: CBO's related blog post and PDF document
Budget and Economic Information
Director's Blog: Federal Budget Math - We Can't Repeat the Past (June 21, 2011)
Federal Reserve - Chairman Ben S. Bernanke:
What is the Federal Reserve Doing to Help Decrease the Likelihood of Another Financial Crisis? (July 21, 2011)
Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress - The Economic Outlook (July 13, 2011)
Fiscal Sustainability (speech) (June 14, 2011)
Achieving Fiscal Sustainability (speech) (April 27, 2011)
Fiscal Sustainability and Fiscal Rules (October 4, 2010)
Long-term Fiscal Challenges Facing the United States; Before the Committee on the Budget, U.S. Senate (January 2007)
House of Representatives - Budget Committee - Paul Ryan, Chairman:
Ryan Statement on Passage of Budget Control Act (August 1, 2011)
A Step Forward, But Long Journey Remains (July 26, 2011)
A Trillion-Dollar Gimmick (July 25, 2011)
The Gang of Six Budget Effort: Problems, Questions and the Potential for Promising Reforms (July 19, 2011)
Honest Leadership and Serious Solutions Needed to Lift Debt Burden & Grow Economy (July 14, 2011)
The Debt Overhang and the U.S. Jobs Malaise (July 14, 2011)
Deficits and Baselines: The President's Budget and The Republican Budget (May 24, 2011)
Senate Majority Leader - Harry Reid:
News & Press Releases
Videos (on YouTube)
Reid: Bipartisan Compromise, A Step Forward (August 1, 2011)
Reid: Our Message To The World Is That This Congress Is Moving Forward, And We Are Moving Forward Together (August 1, 2011)
Reid: Compromise Is The Only Path Forward (July 31, 2011)
Reid: Republicans Must Work With Democrats On The Only Option Left To Avert Default, Save Our Economy (July 30, 2011)
Reid: Republican Filibuster Standing in the Way of a Solution (July 29, 2011)
Reid: Senate Will Vote Down House Short-Term Bill Tonight (July 28, 2011)
Reid: Republicans' Refusal To Compromise Taking Toll On Economy (July 28, 2011)
It's Official: Senate Plan Cuts Budget Deficits by $1.3 Trillion More Than Boehner Plan (July 27, 2011)
Reid: Economy Cannot Bear This Uncertainty Any Longer, Has Demanded A Long-Term Solution (July 27, 2011)
Reid: GOP Should Say "Yes" to $2.7 Trillion Deficit Reduction Plan (July 25, 2011)
Reid Statement On Status Of Debt-Ceiling Negotiations (July 24, 2011)
Reid Statement On Deficit Negotiations (July 22, 2011)
Reid: It Is Time For Reasonable Republicans To Compromise For The Good Of The Country (July 21, 2011)
Reid: Senate Staying in Session Until We Avoid Defaulting on Our Obligations (July 19, 2011)
Reid: Default Would Be A Plague That Haunts Our Nation For Years To Come (July 18, 2011)
Reid: We Must Reach Deal to Guarantee Social Security Checks, Troop Payments (July 14, 2011)
Reid: Congress Must Heed Warnings That Default Risks Global Financial Crisis (July 14, 2011)
Senate Minority Leader - Mitch McConnell:
News & Press Releases
Videos
McConnell: Bipartisan Agreement Will Slow Down the "Big Government Freight Train" (August 2, 2011)
McConnell: Framework Now Exists to Prevent Default, Cut Washington Spending (July 31, 2011)
McConnell Calls for Vote Today on Flawed Reid Bill (July 30, 2011)
43 Senators Sign Letter Opposing The Reid Bill (July 30, 2011)
Lawmakers Should be Working On a Solution to This Crisis, Not a Blocking Strategy (July 29, 2011)
Senate Democrats Should Join Republicans to Avoid Default (July 28, 2011)
McConnell Offers Strong Support for Speaker's Deficit Reduction Plan (July 27, 2011)
Americans Are Waiting for the President to Lead, Not Lecture on Debt Negotiations (July 26, 2011)
Bipartisan Congressional Leadership Working Toward New Deficit Reduction Plan (July 23, 2011)
McConnell Statement on Debt Talks (July 22, 2011)
Cut, Cap and Balance - Not Higher Taxes (July 21, 2011)
Americans Want Us to Cut, Cap and Balance (July 19, 2011)
Balanced Budget Amendment Will Put Our Fiscal House in Order (July 14, 2011)
It's Time to Have a Real Debate (July 13, 2011)
We Will Not Pretend That a Bad Deal Is a Good One (July 12, 2011)
Republicans Will Offer Solutions on Debt and Jobs Crisis (July 7, 2011)
McConnell Challenges the President to Do "Something Big" on Debt Reduction (July 6, 2011)
Debt Talks Should Focus on Entitlement Reform, Spending Cuts - Not Tax Hikes (June 21, 2011)
Debt Limit Vote Is Opportunity to Cut Spending, Reform Entitlements (June 9, 2011)
Treasury Department:
Bureau of the Public Debt
As US Reaches Debt Limit, Geithner Implements Additional Extraordinary Measures to Allow Continued Funding of Government Obligations (May 16, 2011)
Secretary Geithner Sends Debt Limit Letter to Congress (April 4, 2011)
Secretary Geithner Sends Debt Limit Letter to Congress (January 6, 2011)
Speaker of the House - John Boehner:
News & Press Releases
Videos (on YouTube)
Congressman Boehner Statement on Senate Passage of the Budget Control Act (August 2, 2011)
CBO Confirms: Spending Cuts Exceed Debt Limit Hike in Budget Control Act (August 1, 2011)
Speaker Boehner: Time for President Obama to Tell Us His Plan for Ending this Crisis (July 30, 2011)
Congressman Boehner: Let's Pass This Bill & End This Debt Limit Crisis (July 28, 2011)
GOP Plan Achieves 2/3 of the Discretionary Spending Cuts in the House-Passed Budget (July 28, 2011)
GOP Plan "The Only Serious Proposal That Addresses the Country's Debt Crisis" (July 28, 2011)
Congressman Boehner on GOP Spending Cut Plan: "It's Reasonable, It's Responsible, It Can Pass" (July 26, 2011)
House Republican Plan "Changes the Trajectory of Spending," and More (July 26, 2011)
Address to the Nation on GOP Plan to Address America's Debt Crisis (video) (July 25, 2011)
See also this transcript.
Debt Limit Solution Must Adhere to Principles of "Cut, Cap, & Balance" (July 24, 2011)
Congressman Boehner Statement on Continuing Debt Limit Discussions (July 23, 2011)
"It's Time for the Senate to Act" on "Cut, Cap, & Balance" (July 21, 2011)
"Cut, Cap, & Balance" Will Help Stop the Spending Binge That's Hurting Job Growth (July 19, 2011)
President Mocks His Own Administration's Failure to Address Debt Crisis (July 15, 2011)
News Flash for The White House & Democrats Running Washington (July 13, 2011)
Tax Hikes Will Hurt Small Businesses, Won't Help Get America's Fiscal House In Order (July 12, 2011)
A "Balanced" Approach to the Debt Limit Involves Spending Cuts, Not Tax Hikes (July 11, 2011)
New Budget Committee Report: Skyrocketing Debt Hampering Private-Sector Job Growth (July 8, 2011)
State Department - Congressional Research Service Reports (CRS):
The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases (PDF document) (July 1, 2011)
Reaching the Debt Limit: Background and Potential Effects on Government Operations (PDF document) (June 3, 2011)
Overview of the Federal Debt (PDF document) (May 11, 2011)
Reaching the Debt Limit: Background and Potential Effects on Government Operations (PDF document) (April 27, 2011)
The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases (PDF document) (February 16, 2010)
The United States as a Net Debtor Nation: Overview of the International Investment Position (PDF document) (February 4, 2010)
The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases (PDF document) (April 7, 2009)
Foreign Holdings of Federal Debt (PDF document) (March 17, 2009)
The Federal Government Debt: Its Size and Economic Significance (PDF document) (March 4, 2009)
The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases (PDF document) (April 29, 2008)
The White House - President Obama:
The Briefing Room: News & Statements
Videos
Resources on the Ongoing Debate About our National Debt
Putting Americans Back to Work: President Obama Speaks on the Debt Compromise (August 2, 2011)
Statement by the President (August 2, 2011)
President Obama Speaks in Support of the Bipartisan Deal to Reduce the Deficit and Raise the Debt Limit (July 31, 2011)
Baseline Basics (July 26, 2011)
Deficit Crisis: State and Local Officials Call for a Balanced Approach (July 26, 2011)
Address by the President to the Nation (July 25, 2011)
Some Republicans in Congress Once Argued Against Short-Term Solutions - They Were Right (July 25, 2011)
Weekly Address: A Bipartisan Approach to Strengthening the Economy (July 23, 2011)
Nation's Mayors Urge Congress to Raise the Debt Ceiling (July 22, 2011)
Remarks by the President at University of Maryland Town Hall (July 22, 2011)
President Obama: Go "Big" on Debt Deal (July 21, 2011)
See also: related editorial in USA Today.
President Obama on Deficit Talks: "We're in the 11th Hour" (July 19, 2011)
Unbalanced Approach to Deficit Reduction (July 19, 2011)
Weekly Address: Securing Our Fiscal Future (July 16, 2011)
Weekly Wrap Up: The President Addresses the Deficit (July 15, 2011)
The President on Debt Negotiations: 80 Percent of the American People Support a Balanced Approach (July 15, 2011)
President Obama on Deficit Reduction: "If Not Now, When?" (July 11, 2011)
See also: Press Conference by the President (July 11, 2011)
Weekly Address: Working Together to Meet our Fiscal Challenges (July 9, 2011)
Remarks by the President on the Status of Efforts to Find a Balanced Approach to Deficit Reduction (July 7, 2011)
President Obama on Tackling our Debt and Deficit (July 11, 2011)
President Obama on Finding a Balanced Approach to Deficit Reduction (July 7, 2011)
Weekly Address: Cutting the Deficit and Creating Jobs (July 2, 2011)
President Obama on Our Economy and the Debt Limit: "Now is the Time to Go Ahead and Make the Tough Choices" (June 29, 2011)
Statement by Vice President Biden On the Bipartisan Debt Talks (June 23, 2011)
President Obama's Framework for $4 Trillion in Deficit Reduction (April 13, 2011)

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Library System Resources (books, documents, etc.):
Deficit Financing
Economic Stabilization - Government Policy
Global Financial Crisis
Government Spending Policy
National Debt
See also: public debts.
United States - Appropriations and Expenditures
United States Deficit

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Other Websites on the Debt Ceiling Crisis and Debate:
Bipartisan Policy Center: Debt Limit Analysis
Brookings Institution: Federal Budget and National Debt
C-SPAN: U.S. Economy (videos/articles)
CATO Institute: Debt Ceiling Resources
The Council on Foreign Relations: U.S. Debt Ceiling: Costs and Consequences
FactCheck.org: U.S. Debt Ceiling
Gallup Polls:
Amid Debt Clash, Approval of Parties in Congress Low But Steady (July 19, 2011)
Americans, Including Republicans, Want Debt Compromise (July 18, 2011)
On Deficit, Americans Prefer Spending Cuts; Open to Tax Hikes (July 13, 2011)
U.S. Debt Ceiling Increase Remains Unpopular With Americans (July 12, 2011)
Kaiser Family Foundation - Kaiser Health News: Gang Of Six Deficit Plan: Executive Summary (July 19, 2011)
See also: Debt-Ceiling Activity Moves On Multiple Tracks.
Marketplace: Raising the Debt Ceiling (chart of a debt history)
The National Review: Debt Ceiling (articles, analysis)
NewsBusters.org: The Debt Ceiling Debate
Pew Research Center: Public Split Evenly on Urgency of Debt Limit Deadline (July 18, 2011)
See also: The Debt Ceiling Showdown - Where the Public Stands (July 14, 2011)
Politico.com: Debt Limit
Possible New Federal Debt Limit (calculator)
From Fox News.
Reuters MacroScope: U.S. Debt (blog)
See also: Debt Debate Timeline.
SparkNotes: Balanced Budget Debate
U.S. National Debt Clock (estimated)
See also:
Wikipedia: United States Public Debt
Please note Wikipedia's disclaimers.

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Questions?

Events in Libya

(March 2011)

First posted: March 21, 2011

Updated: June 29, 2011
Information about the recent events and international actions concerning Libya.

Jump to:

About the Country
BBC Country Profiles
CIA World Fact Book: Libya
Library of Congress - Country Studies: Libya
Local Library (RCLS) Resources on Libya
U.S. Department of State: Libya - Country Specific Information and Travel Warnings

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
NATO and Libya
Background information, news, videos, press briefings.

News and Special Coverage
ABC News: Libya
BBC: The Middle East
Fox News: The Mideast
Google News: Libya (multiple sources)
MSNBC: Libya
National Public Radio (NPR)
The New York Times: Libya
PBS NewsHour: Libya & the Middle East
The Washington Post: Tracking the Uprising in Libya (map)

From The White House:
Letter from the President on the War Powers Resolution (June 15, 2011)
Remarks by President Obama and Chancellor Merkel in a Joint Press Conference (June 7, 2011)
Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on Libya (March 28, 2011)
Weekly Address: The Military Mission in Libya (March 26, 2011)
The President on Libya: "We Have Already Saved Lives" (March 22, 2011)
President Obama Answers Questions on Libya: "A Testament to the Men and Women in Uniform" (March 21, 2011)
Remarks by the President on Libya: "Today We are Part of a Broad Coalition. We are Answering the Calls of a Threatened People. And We are Acting in the Interests of the United States and the World" (March 20, 2011)
The President on Libya: "Our Goal is Focused, Our Cause is Just, and Our Coalition is Strong" (March 18, 2011)

Other Information
United Nations Security Council: "Security Council Approves 'No-Fly Zone' over Libya, Authorizing 'All Necessary Measures' to Protect Civilians"
Questions?

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami

(March 2011)

First posted: March 11, 2011

Updated: March 21, 2011
Information about the recent earthquake in Japan can be found at the sources below.

Jump to: News | Government Info | Other Websites
               About Earthquakes / Tsunamis | About Japan
               Local Library System Resources


News - Updates, Articles, Special Coverage
ABC News: Disaster in Japan
BBC: Tsunami Hits Japan After Massive Quake (March 11, 2011)
More BBC coverage at this link.
CBS News: Disaster in Japan
The Christian Science Monitor: Asia/Pacific News
CNN: Widespread Destruction from Japan Earthquake, Tsunami
Full CNN coverage at this link. An Impact Map is also available.
Fox News Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
Google News: Japan Earthquake (multiple sources)
See also Google's Crisis page.
Google News: Hawaii Tsunami Waves (from Japan Earthquake) (multiple sources)
The Huffington Post: Japan Earthquake News, Photos, Updates
Kyodo News (Japanese News Network): English Edition
Japanese edition here.
MSNBC: Asia-Pacific News Coverage
National Public Radio (NPR): Japan Earthquake News
PBS NewsHour: Asia-Pacific News Coverage
The New York Times: Huge Quake and Tsunami Hit Japan (March 11, 2011)
See also: NYT's Japan news page for more news.
ScienceInsider: Japan's Earthquake Off the (Seismic Risk) Map (March 11, 2011)
The Times Herald-Record: Devastation in Japan
Twitter: User posts about Japan's Earthquake
United States Geological Survey (USGS): Magnitude 8.9 - Honshu, Japan
More USGS coverage of aftershocks at this link.
The Wall Street Journal: Disaster in Japan
Yahoo News: Japan Earthquake News and Images
YouTube: Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Videos


Government Websites
Congressman Maurice Hinchey: Emergency Assistance Available to Constituents in Japan (March 11, 2011)
For the 22nd Congressional District.
Hawaii Governor: Statement on Japan Earthquake / Tsunami (March 11, 2011)
Japan Embassy (in the United States)
Japan Government: Fire & Disaster Management Agency
Japan Government: Prime Minister
Japan Government: Cabinet Office
Japan Government: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
U.S. Department of Defense: DOD Readies for Potential Japan Earthquake Aid (March 11, 2011)
U.S. Embassy in Japan
Warden Message - Earthquake in Japan (tsunami warnings)
U.S. FEMA Blog: Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Update (March 11, 2011)
From the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
From U.S. State Department:
Earthquake in Japan (March 11, 2011)
Japan Earthquake & Pacific Tsunami
Travel alert.
Japan (General Information)
USAID Responds Immediately to Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 11, 2011)
From The White House:
President Obama: "We Will Stand with the People of Japan" (March 17, 2011)
An Update on Japan from Press Secretary Carney (March 15, 2011)
The Ongoing Response to the Earthquakes and Tsunami in Japan (March 13, 2011)
Statement from President Barack Obama (March 11, 2011)
The Earthquake in Japan and Tsunami Preparedness (March 11, 2011)


Other Websites about the Earthquake
American Red Cross Responding to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami
See also their news page.
Charity Navigator: Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Charities
Consumer advisories, donation advice, and charity organization ratings.
Google Person Finder: 2011 Japan Earthquake
Search for missing persons or file a report. Please note Google's disclaimers.
How Japan's Nuclear Crisis Works
From How Stuff Works.
Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster Email Scams
Consumer advisory from US-CERT / U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Japan Earthquake, Tsunami, and Radiation Event - March 2011
From U.S. National Library of Medicine, Disaster Information Management Research Center.
Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA)
News and reports concerning nuclear power plants and recent earthquake/tsunami damage.
NASA: Map of Earthquake and Tsunami near Sendai, Japan (March 11, 2011)
See also: NASA Imagery of the March 2011 Japanese Earthquake
From National Geographic:
Is Japan Reactor Crew Exposed to Fatal Radiation? (March 17, 2011)
Japan Tsunami: Before and After: Zoomable Satellite Images (March 15, 2011)
Japan Earthquake Not the "Big One"? (March 14, 2011)
Tsunami Pictures: Epic Waves, Earthquake Shock Japan (March 11, 2011)
Japan Tsunami: 20 Unforgettable Pictures (March 2011)
ReliefWeb: Japan's Earthquake
Humanitarian news, information, and analysis.
Scientific American: A Visual Tour of the Massive Earthquake and Tsunami that Hit Japan
Photographs
Twitter: Posts about Japan's Earthquake
Please note: Twitter posts ("tweets") are contributed by users worldwide.
United Nations: Japan Earthquake & Tsunami
Statements, articles, actions, news.
Wikipedia: 2011 Sendai Earthquake and Tsunami
Please note Wikipedia's disclaimers.
World Health Organization: Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
Overview of humanitarian / radiation situations, related reports, and more.


General Information about Earthquakes & Tsunamis
How Earthquakes Work
From How Stuff Works.
How Tsunamis Work
From How Stuff Works.
Largest Earthquakes in the World Since 1900
From United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Learn about Earthquakes
From United States Geological Survey (USGS). See also their earhquake page for kids.
Tsunamis
From National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
For more on earthquakes, please see our Haiti Earthquake guide.


General Information about Japan
About Japan
From Japan National Tourism Organization.
Country Studies: Japan
From the Library of Congress.
World Fact Book: Japan
From the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Japan: Geography and History
From Factmonster.com.


Local Library System (RCLS) Resources on Japan, Earthquakes, Tsunamis
Earthquakes
Tsunamis
Japan - Government
Japan - Guidebooks
Japan - History
Japan - Social Life and Customs


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Questions?

Current Events in Egypt

(January - February 2011)

First posted: February 3, 2011

Updated: February 18, 2011
Information concerning current events and the overall situation in Egypt can be found at the following sources:


News - Articles & In-Depth Coverage
BBC News
Egypt Unrest
CNN News
Current and Past Articles
Egypt in Pictures (photographs)
Google News: Current Stories (multiple sources)
Egypt protests
See also: Egypt uprising, Egypt transition
National Public Radio (NPR) Coverage:
Anti-Government Protests Roil Egypt
The New York Times:
Egypt: News & Articles
PBS NewsHour:
Egypt in Turmoil
The Washington Post:
Special Coverage: Egypt in Turmoil

U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt
Embassy Home Page - News and other information

U.S. Department of State:
"Democracy in the Middle East" (February 17, 2011)
"Situation in Egypt - Information for U.S. Citizens Currently in Egypt" (February 2, 2011)
"Update on the Status of U.S. Citizen Evacuations From Egypt" (February 2, 2011)

USA.gov:
The Current Situation in Egypt

The White House:
"Remarks by the President on Egypt" (February 11, 2011)
"President Barack Obama Reviews His Remarks On Egypt" (February 11, 2011)
"President Obama on Egypt" (February 10, 2011)
"Statement of President Barack Obama on Egypt" (February 10, 2011)
President Obama on Egypt's Future: "Suppression is Not Going to Work" (February 4, 2011)
"Remarks by the President on the Situation in Egypt" (February 1, 2011)
President Obama on the Situation in Egypt: "All Governments Must Maintain Power through Consent, Not Coercion" (January 28, 2011)

Background Information on Egypt:
BBC Country File: Egypt
CIA World Fact Book: Egypt
Library of Congress: Egypt - A Country Study
National Geographic: Egypt
Questions?

Hydraulic Fracturing ("Fracking")
& Natural Gas Extraction

Updated: July 16, 2012
Escalating energy needs around the world require expanded sources of power. While research and development of new and "greener" (more environmentally-friendly) methods and technologies occurs at an increasingly urgent pace to help meet those needs, other methods, each with their own debatable environmental impacts, do exist.

Which process is "best" - especially as the United States seeks to achieve independence from foreign energy sources - is a question which fuels debates among corporations, environmental activitists, legislators, concerned residents near current or proposed fracturing sites, and others.

Among these controversial practices of energy harvesting is a process called hydraulic fracturing (also known as "fracking" or "hydrofracking"). The goal of "fracking" is to extract natural gas and oil stored within Earth so that those materials can be processed and eventually used for producing energy.

What does the procedure entail? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says:

"Hydraulic fracturing (HF) is a well stimulation process used to maximize the extraction of underground resources; including oil, natural gas, geothermal energy, and even water. The oil and gas industry uses HF to enhance subsurface fracture systems to allow oil or natural gas to move more freely from the rock pores to production wells that bring the oil or gas to the surface."

You can read the EPA's full description at this link.

So why the controversy? This article from Columbia University's Earth Institute blog explores potential concerns with the actual fluid and additives used during fracturing: "Hydraulic Fracturing - Potential for Contamination of Drinking Water Sources" (May 3, 2010).

The website for a movie called Gasland also contains a list of possible environmental concerns from the perspective of an investigative filmmaker. The movie TruthLand offers an alternate perspective and responses from the petroleum industry.

To help you become more aware of this topic and the different ideas and technologies being debated, we have gathered the following websites for your consideration:


About Hydraulic Fracturing ("Fracking")
Earthworks: Hydraulic Fracturing 101
Fracking chemicals, Potential for groundwater contamination, Fracking chemical disposal, Hydraulic fracturing best practices, Tips for landowners
From EPA:
Hydraulic Fracturing
Background Information
How Stuff Works: How Fracking Works
National Geographic: Forcing Gas Out of Rock with Water (October 17, 2010)
ProPublica.org: What Is Hydraulic Fracturing?
Color illustration.
What Is Fracking and Why Is It Controversial?
From BBC.
Wikipedia: Hydraulic Fracturing
Please note their disclaimers.


Hearings & Statements
The White House (Executive Order fro President Obama): "Supporting Safe and Responsible Development of Unconventional Domestic Natural Gas Resources" (April 13, 2012)
NYS DEC: DEC Issues Draft Regulations for High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing - Public Hearing Information Announced (September 28, 2011)
NYS DEC: DEC Begins 90-Day Public Comment Period on Draft Hydraulic Fracturing Study (September 7, 2011)
NYS DEC: DEC Report on Recommendations for Permitting of Hydraulic Fracturing Now Online (July 8, 2011)
NYS DEC: DEC Commissioner Appoints Members to Hydraulic Fracturing Advisory Panel (July 1, 2011)
NYS DEC: New Recommendations Issued in Hydraulic Fracturing Review (June 30, 2011)
NYS Assembly: The Remarks Of Speaker Sheldon Silver - Press Conference: Hydrofracking Moratorium Legislation (June 6, 2011)
NYS Assembly: Silver and Assembly Majority Announce Moratorium on Hydrofracking (June 6, 2011)
NYS Assembly: Assembly Moratorium on Natural Gas Well Drilling Permits That Utilize Hydrofracking Reported Out of Committee (May 16, 2011)
Reps. Maloney, Hinchey and Nadler Call for Hearings on Effects of Hydraulic Fracturing of Natural Gas (March 2, 2011)
Links to related letters (PDF format): letter 1, letter 2.
New York State Governor's Office: Executive Order - Statement from Peter Kiernan, Counsel to the Governor (December 11, 2010)
New York City Council: Joint Statement by Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Environmental Committee Chair James Gennaro (Re: Assembly Passes Hydraulic Fracturing Legislation) (November 30, 2010)
NYS Assembly: Assembly Passes Moratorium on Hydrofracking (November 30, 2010)
New York City Council: Hydraulic Fracturing TownHall 2010 (PDF) (August 24, 2010)
NYS Senator Thomas K. Duane: "The Nation: The Next Drilling Disaster?" (June 3, 2010)
See also Senator Duane's Drill Watch page.
Examining the Potential Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing (February 18, 2010)
Energy & Commerce Committee Investigates Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing (February 18, 2010)


News Coverage
From BBC:
"'Fracking' Safe with Strong Regulation, Report Says" (June 28, 2012)
"Experts Say Fracking 'Should Continue with Checks'" (April 17, 2012)
From The Christian Science Monitor:
"With All This Natural Gas, Who Needs Oil? (Can Natural Gas Save America?)" (April 22, 2012)
"Report Cites Fracking-Related Activities as Potential Suspect in Minor Quakes" (April 12, 2012)
"Fracking Study Sends Alert About Leakage of Potent Greenhouse Gas" (February 13, 2012)
"Fracking: Pollution Finding Could Hurt Gas Drilling" (December 11, 2011)
"Interior secretary: 'Fracking' can be safe and responsible" (Video; October 5, 2011)
"Yes, Let' Frack - With Caution" (August 11, 2011)
"Fracking': Did Energy Department Report Clear Up Controversy?" (August 11, 2011)
"Fracking Gas Drilling Technique Ban Passed by NJ Lawmakers" (July 1, 2011)
"'Fracking' for Natural Gas is Polluting Ground Water, Study Concludes" (May 9, 2011)
"New Warning of Poisonous Chemicals in Natural Gas 'Hydrofracking'" (April 17, 2011)
"In Hills Outside Paris, Tapping Vast Oil Reserve Presents Risk But Promises Profit" (December 17, 2010)
"Fracking Debate Prompts EPA Hearing in New York on Gas Drilling" (September 13, 2010)
"EPA to Natural Gas Companies: Give Details on 'Fracking' Chemicals" (September 9, 2010)
"Could Shale Deposits Bring Mid-Atlantic States $2 Trillion?" (July 21, 2010)
"Controversial Path to Possible Glut of Natural Gas" (September 17, 2008)
CNN: EPA on Fracking: "We Can Only Do So Much" (September 17, 2010)
Fox News: Fracking
Google News: Recent Articles on "Hydraulic Fracturing"
See also: FRAC Act, gas fracking
From National Public Radio (NPR):
"Lawmakers Debate Future of "Fracking" in Michigan" (April 26, 2012)
"EPA To Slash Air Pollution From Natural Gas Wells" (April 18, 2012)
"How Fracking Wastewater Is Tied To Quakes" (January 5, 2012)
"EPA Connects 'Fracking' To Water Contamination" (December 8, 2011)
"New York Town Takes Up Fracking Issue" (November 3, 2011)
"English Tremors Blamed On Shale 'Fracking' " (November 2, 2011)
"EPA To Regulate Disposal Of Fracking Wastewater " (October 20, 2011)
"The Trouble With Health Problems Near Gas Fracking" (September 29, 2011)
"Hydraulic Spinning: Oil Industry Favored in Fracking Story?" (September 9, 2011)
"SEC Jumps Into Fight Over Fracking" (August 25, 2011)
"Energy Panel Wants Answers On Gas 'Fracking' " (August 11, 2011)
"As Focus On Fracking Sharpens, Fuel Worries Grow" (July 13, 2011)
Bishops, Nuns And Rabbis Debate Gas Fracking (July 9, 2011)
Gushers Highlight Potential Of Pa. Gas Field (June 26, 2011)
Study Links Methane In Water To Gas Extraction (May 13, 2011)
France Moves To Ban Shale Gas Drilling (May 12, 2011)
GOP Victory Could Boost Natural Gas Drilling (November 11, 2010)
EPA Issues Subpoena To Halliburton On Gas Drilling (November 9, 2010)
EPA Told Gas Drilling Does, Does Not Taint Water (September 13, 2010)
EPA Wants To Know Chemicals Used In Gas Drilling (September 10, 2010)
New Film Investigates 'Fracking' For Natural Gas (June 18, 2010)
Drilling Poses Risk To Pennsylvania Water Supplies (June 16, 2010)
Dispute Over 'Fracking' For Natural Gas (January 8, 2010)
NPR's Useful, But Flawed, Series on Natural Gas (October 16, 2009)
Exploring Shale: The Quest For Natural Gas (September 24, 2009)
Water Contamination Concerns Linger For Shale Gas (September 23, 2009)
Face-Off Over 'Fracking': Water Battle Brews On Hill (May 27, 2009)
From The New York Times:
Natural Gas (news topic page)
"Fracking Did Not Sully Aquifers, Limited Study Finds" (July 9, 2012)
"New Fracking Rule Is Issued by Obama Administration: U.S. Announces Compromise on Fracking Disclosure" (May 4, 2012)
"More on the Link Between Earthquakes and Fracking" (April 15, 2012)
"A New Oversight Panel on Fracking" (April 13, 2012)
"New York's Fracking Deliberations Inch Along" (January 27, 2012)
"The Fracking Divide: Who Will Prevail in N.Y.?" (October 31, 2011)
"On Our Radar: Fracking Protest in Britain" (November 3, 2011)
"Gas Pipeline to Manhattan Stirs Debate in 2 States" (October 27, 2011)
"N.Y. Advisory Panel Delays Report on Fracking" (October 27, 2011)
"Fracking on My Land: Drilling Down on the Family Farm" (October 22, 2011)
"On Our Radar: A New Fracking Frontier" (October 11, 2011)
"State Did Not Rush on Fracking, Commissioner Says" (October 8, 2011)
"On Our Radar: Fracking vs. Drought" (October 6, 2011)
"Doctors Urge N.Y. to Weigh Health Risks of Fracking" (October 5, 2011)
"Expert Says Quakes in England May Be Tied to Gas Extraction" (October 22, 2011)
"Imagining a Blur of Fracking Activity" (September 8, 2011)
"New York State Outlines Fracking Rules" (September 7, 2011)
"Fracking Oversight Raises Staffing Questions" (August 19, 2011)
"Panel Seeks Stiffer Rules for Drilling of Gas Wells" (August 10, 2011)
"Fracking Contaminated a Well, Documents Indicate" (August 3, 2011)
"Fracking Water Killed Trees, Study Finds" (July 12, 2011)
"Safe, Not Sorry, on Drilling" (July 9, 2011)
"Drilling Into New York's Fracking Report" (July 8, 2011)
"Cuomo Will Seek to Lift Ban on Hydraulic Fracturing" (June 30, 2011)
"Cuomo Clarifies Fracking and Nuclear Plans" (June 30, 2011)
"Insiders Sound an Alarm Amid a Natural Gas Rush" (June 25, 2011)
"Fracking and Water: E.P.A. Zeroes In on 7 Sites" (June 23, 2011)
"Texas: Drillers Must Disclose 'Fracking' Chemicals" (June 20, 2011)
"N.Y. Legislature Tightens Rules on Water Withdrawals" (June 20, 2011)
"A 'Golden Age' for Gas? Two Caveats" (June 6, 2011)
"Baffled About Fracking? You're Not Alone" (May 13, 2011)
"Energy Dept. Panel to Revise Standards for Gas Extraction" (May 7, 2011)
"Fracking for Natural Gas With Diesel Violated Law, EPA Says" (April 13, 2011)
"Natural Gas and Clean Water" (March 22, 2011)
"Chemicals and Toxic Materials That Come With Hydrofracking" (March 1, 2011)
"Fracking Companies Injected 32M Gallons of Diesel, House Probe Finds" (January 31, 2011)
"Regulation Lax as Gas Wells' Tainted Water Hits Rivers" (February 26, 2011)
"On Drilling, Paterson Pleases Both Sides" (December 12, 2010)
"New York Governor Vetoes Fracking Bill" (December 11, 2010)
"Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Forbids Gas Drilling" (November 17, 2010)
"Energy, and Plenty of It, for Decades to Come" (November 16, 2010)
"Halliburton Announces Ecofriendly Fracking Fluid, More Disclosure" (November 15, 2010)
"E.P.A. Subpoenas Halliburton on Fracking" (November 9, 2010)
"Fracking for Natural Gas - Economics vs. Environment" (November 7, 2010)
"Pennsylvania: Governor Bans More Gas Development" (October 27, 2010)
"Outlook for Shale Gas in Europe Is Uncertain" (October 14, 2010)
"Questions about Fracturing" (September 20, 2010)
"E.P.A. to Study Chemicals Used to Tap Natural Gas" (September 9, 2010)
"Senate Approves Fracking Moratorium" (August 4, 2010)
"Natural Gas Company's Disclosure Decision Could Change Fracking Debate" (July 15, 2010)
"There's Gas in Those Hills" (April 8, 2008)
NYC.gov: Recent News on Natural Gas Drilling
PBS "Gasland: Will the Boom in Natural Gas Drilling Contaminate America's Water Supply?"(March 26, 2010)
Text and video.
From ProPublica:
Fracking Gas Drilling's Environmental Threat
From ProPublica - includes articles, video and more.
"New Study: Fluids From Marcellus Shale Likely Seeping Into PA Drinking Water" (July 9, 2012)
"New Study Predicts Frack Fluids Can Migrate to Aquifers Within Years" (May 3, 2012)
"EPA Plans to Issue Rules Covering Fracking Wastewater" (October 20, 2011)
"Doctors Ask New York to Study Health Impacts Before Allowing Fracking" (October 6, 2011)
"Pennsylvania Governor Proposes Fee on Gas Drillers" (October 3, 2011)
"Science Lags as Health Problems Emerge Near Gas Fields" (September 16, 2011)
"Who Are America's Top 10 Gas Drillers?" (September 1, 2011)
"Report for Obama Questions Effectiveness of Gas Drilling Regulations" (August 12, 2011)
"N.Y. Enviro Commissioner Expects Little From EPA Fracking Study" (August 9, 2011)
"Does an Old EPA Fracking Study Provide Proof of Contamination?" (August 4, 2011)
"EPA Proposes New Rules on Emissions Released by Fracking" (July 29, 2011)
"State Fracking Rules Could Allow Drilling Near New York City Water Supply Tunnels" (July 14, 2011)
"" (, 2011)
"New York Proposes Permanent Ban on Fracking Near Watershed and State Land" (June 30, 2011)
"EPA Fracking Study to Focus on Five States - But Not Wyoming" (June 24, 2011)
"Former Bush EPA Official Says Fracking Exemption Went Too Far; Congress Should Revisit" (March 9, 2011)
Special Report: "Natural Gas Drilling Debate Heats Up: Read Our Guide" (2011)
Special Report: "Buried Secrets: Gas Drilling's Environmental Threat" (2010)
"Two Companies Seek Trade Secret Status for Fracking Fluids in Wyoming" (November 2, 2010)
"New York Senate Passes Temporary Ban on Hydraulic Fracturing" (August 4, 2010)
"Drilling Company Says It Will List Hazardous Chemicals Used in Fracking" (July 15, 2010)
"Democrats Call for Studies as Industry Assails Proposals to Regulate Hydraulic Fracturing" (July 13, 2010)
"A Fracking First in Pennsylvania: Cattle Quarantine" (July 2, 2010)
"Fracking Tales: Stories From the Frontlines of Gas Drilling" (June 22, 2010)
"Officials in Three States Pin Water Woes on Gas Drilling" (April 26, 2010)
"Pennsylvania's Gas Wells Booming - But So Are Spills" (January 27, 2010)
"A Fracking Mischaracterization" (December 24, 2009)
"New Yorkers Tell State Enviro Department: 'No Fracking Way'" (November 11, 2009)
Scientific American: "With Natural Gas Drilling Boom, Pennsylvania Faces Flood of Wastewater" (October 5, 2010)
See also their podcast: "Fracking to Free Natural Gas?"
From Times Herald-Record:
Fracking Poses Air Pollution Threat, Hinchey Says (April 17, 2012)
Audit Says Safety Oversight Lacking on Fracking Pipelines (March 23, 2012)
NYC Seeks No-Drilling Zone in Sullivan (March 13, 2012)
NY Lawmakers Fight Gas Drilling Waste (February 26, 2012)
State Supreme Court Judge Upholds Community Ban on Gas Drilling (February 22, 2012)
Hinchey Tells NY to Pull Fracking Regulation Plan (January 9, 2012)
Editorial: New Yorkers Thinking about Gas-Drilling Should Keep an Eye on PA. (October 28, 2011)
Reactions to NY's Fracking Regulations Pour In (July 10, 2011)
'Fracking' Ban Omits River Land, Infuriating Foes (July 1, 2011)
State Releases Proposal to Regulate 'Fracking' For Natural Gas (June 30, 2011)
Fracking Bills Languishing in Albany (June 19, 2011)
DEC Shifts Fracking-Rules Timeline (May 29, 2011)
Fracking Foes Outnumber Proponents at Ulster Forum (May 26, 2011)
Fundraiser in Sullivan County Draws Fracking Foes (May 23, 2011)
Congressional Probe Finds Carcinogens in Fracking Fluids (April 17, 2011)
Wayne's World: Animals on Front Lines of Fracking Issue (April 17, 2011)
Hinchey Calls for House Hearings on Fracking (March 3, 2011)
Some Sullivan Farmers Hope Fracking's in Their Future (January 3, 2011)
Drilling for Dollars: The Rush for Gas in Sullivan County (December 2010)
Anti-fracking Group Gathers at the River (September 19, 2010)
Report: Fracking Chemicals in NE Pennsylvania. Water Wells (September 16, 2010)
Gas Drilling Supporters, Opponents Protest before EPA Hearings (September 13, 2010)
From Washington Times:
EPA Study on Fracking and Water Questioned: Industry-Funded Report Finds Flaws (July 10, 2012)


Perspectives on Hydrofracking & Natural Gas Extraction
American Petroleum Institute: Natural Gas
Industrial perspective, pro-fracking. See also their Energy Tomorrow website and their document "Natural Gas is America's New Energy Frontier" (April 2010; PDF)
Environmental Impacts of Gas Well Drilling
Cornell University, New York State Water Resources Institute.
Google Blog Search: Hydraulic Fracturing
See also gas fracking.
Halliburton: Shale Gas Development
Industrial perspective. Includes: "U.S. Shale Gas: An Unconventional Resource. Unconventional Challenges" (PDF) and Global Shale Gas Resources.
MarcellusFacts.com
Industrial perspective. Pro-fracking website/blog from the Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York.
Natural Gas as Panacea: Dubious Path to a Green Future (June 28, 2010)
From Daniel B. Botkin, author via Yale University's Environment 360 website.
Save the Water Table
Anti-fracking blog.
TruthLand
Movie in response to Gasland. From Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA).
Vanity Fair: "A Colossal Fracking Mess" (June 21, 2010)
Investigative article focusing on the negative side of fracking. Includes photos/video.


Related Documents
NYS DEC: DEC Report on Recommendations for Permitting of Hydraulic Fracturing Now Online ("2011 Draft - Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS)"; July 8, 2011)
Committee Democrats Release New Report Detailing Hydraulic Fracturing Products (April 16, 2011)
Congress: FRAC Act - H.R.2766 - Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2009 (Introduced in House)
Department of Energy: Modern Shale Gas Development in the United States: A Primer (PDF) (2009)
Earth Institute, Columbia University: Hydraulic Fracturing - Potential for Contamination of Drinking Water Sources (May 3, 2010)
EPA: Hydraulic Fracturing Research Study Fact Sheet
EPA: The Volunteer Monitor (Spring 2010)
"Monitoring Impacts of New Gas-Drilling Technologies." PDF format.
From New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC):
"Preliminary Revised Draft SGEIS on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program (July 2011) - Horizontal Drilling and High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale and Other Low-Permeability Gas Reservoirs
Strategic Plan for State Forest Management
Draft. September 2010.
Hydraulic Fracturing Considerations for Natural Gas Wells of the Marcellus Shale
Marcellus Shale: Gas Well Drilling in the Marcellus Shale
Misc. Older Documents in the RCLS Library Catalog
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: Marcellus Shale
Scroll down their page for information and related documents.
Questions?

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

July 2, 2010

(Guide Updated: September 21, 2010)
Due to the many ongoing events and new information concerning the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, our coverage of the environmental disaster is now maintained on a dedicated page:

Please click here for our Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill information guide.
Questions?

Greek Debt Crisis & Europe

Updated July 13, 2015
Greece and its national debt, the Euro, the European Union - what is happening, and why should we take note of the situation?

To help you answer those questions and develop a better understanding of Europe's economic conditions, we gathered the following resources along with some background information on Greece and its economy.

About Greece & the European Union (Background, History)

About the Greek Debt Crisis & Europe's Economy

European Union - News & Actions

News & Special Reports on the Crisis - 2015

News & Special Reports on the Crisis - Older Coverage
Questions?

Gulf Oil Spill Resources

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill of April 2010

May 1, 2010

Updated July 2, 2010
Our coverage of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill can now be found at this link:

http://www.thrall.org/special/gulfoilspill.html
Questions?

Iceland Volcano & Eruptions

April 16, 2010

Updated April 19, 2010
Below you will find information and updates concerning Iceland's recent volcanic eruptions as well as general facts about volcanoes and volcanic activity.

About Iceland


About Volcanoes


News & Images of Eruptions

BBC Google News From Iceland NASA National Public Radio (NPR) National Geographic The New York Times Smithsonian Institution U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Wikipedia (please note their disclaimers):
Questions?

Updated: Network Neutrality Guide

April 8, 2010

Links to documents and other information regarding the recent U.S. Federal Court decision in the Internet traffic regulation case (Comcast v. Federal Communications Commission - FCC, et al) can now be found in our Network Neutrality guide.

Check the Government Information are and News section of that guide for information from the FCC as well as the official decision.
Questions?

Updated: Bees & Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) Guide

March 30, 2010

Fresh information concerning the honey bee-endangering disorder known as "colony collapse" have been added to our Bees / CCD information guide:

In the guide's Reports and Studies section there are several new links to recently published articles and reports on CCD.
Questions?

Floods Guide Updated

March 18, 2010

After recent record amounts of snow and rainfall over the past few weeks, areas within and well beyond New York state are experiencing flooding.

To help you keep up with these recent developments or to find contacts and pertinent information which could prove useful, we have updated our Floods information guide.

In addition to local and state news coverage and resources, you will find national updates and links to related items in the library catalog.
Questions?

New York State Budget

March 5, 2010

Links below offer details on the latest New York State budget proposal, proposed funding cuts, and related issues:
New York State Government
News
Other
Questions?

Chile Earthquake Resources

March 3, 2010

Updated March 11, 2010
The following links provide information and updates concerning Chile and its recent earthquake of February 27, 2010 (and subsequent aftershocks).


Background & History
Earthquake, Aftershocks, & Tsunami Information
Special Coverage News & Reports
Government Information
Charities & Humanitarian Assistance
Questions?

Special Coverage Center 2.0

March 1, 2010

Our Special Coverage Center has been redesigned to improve our ability to connect you with key resources on current interests and issues.

In addition to our Special Coverge Guides, we now provide this blog, which you can subscribe to via its RSS feed.

Middletown Thrall Library established the Special Coverage Center to provide quick and easy access to websites and other resources relating to popular topics and important issues.

Fresh topics are periodically added to the Center as events unfold locally and globally.

Included in our Special Coverage guides (and now blog posts) are links to local, state, and national government representatives and agencies providing definitive information and contacts so you may communicate concerns and questions with political leaders connected to your community or surrounding areas.

Library resources are also highlighted.

Please click here to learn more about the Special Coverage Center.
Questions?

From Our Other Blogs...


Please call Thrall's Reference Department at 341-5461
or our use our free Internet reference service
to ask librarians for more information on any topic.

Thrall patrons are also encouraged to explore
our many free databases and encyclopedias.



Special Coverage Center
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