The hourly minimum wage reached its peak value in 1968, when it was worth
$10.57 in real terms, the Congressional Research Service calculated in a
new report. But although the nominal value of the minimum wage has
increased over the years, it has not kept pace with the increase in
consumer prices, and so its real value has fallen. See Inflation and the
Real Minimum Wage: A Fact Sheet, February 26, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42973.pdf
The recent executive order 13636 on cybersecurity was discussed in another
new CRS report, which reviewed the order's provisions, compared it to
pending legislation, and discussed the authority of the President to act
unilaterally in this area. See "The 2013 Cybersecurity Executive Order:
Overview and Considerations for Congress," March 1, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42984.pdf
A 1999 provision to provide public access to scientific data used in
federally funded research (known as the Shelby Amendment) has rarely been
invoked in Freedom of Information Act requests, and so neither the benefits
promised by its advocates nor the concerns of its critics have been
realized to any significant extent, a CRS study found. See Public Access
to Data from Federally Funded Research: Provisions in OMB Circular A-110,
March 1, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/secrecy/R42983.pdf
The prospects for current negotiations between the government of Colombia
and the insurgent Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were
assessed in a new CRS report, which also provided background on the
conflict in that country. See Peace Talks in Colombia, March 1, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42982.pdf
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear challenges to two state laws
that impose restrictions on same-sex marriage. The two pending cases were
discussed by CRS in Same-Sex Marriage and Supreme Court: United States v.
Windsor and Hollingsworth v. Perry, February 20, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42976.pdf
The Equal Rights Amendment that was proposed in 1972 to prohibit
discrimination "on account of sex" was eventually ratified by 35 states,
three short of the 38 states required for adoption. Those ratifications
have formally expired, but some supporters contend controversially that it
would possible "to restart the clock on ratification at the current level
of 35 states." The issues were discussed by CRS in The Proposed Equal
Rights Amendment: Contemporary Ratification Issues, February 28, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42979.pdf
The adequacy of official reporting of government expenditures is a
continuing concern among policy advocates. "Two agencies -- the Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) -- have
never received unqualified audit opinions, which signifies the persistence
of financial problems at these agencies," a new CRS report said. See
Federal Financial Reporting: An Overview, February 27, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42975.pdf
Other noteworthy new and updated CRS products that Congress has directed
CRS not to release to the public include the following.
Issues in Homeland Security Policy for the 113th Congress, February 27,
2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R42985.pdf
Comparison of Rights in Military Commission Trials and Trials in Federal
Criminal Court, February 28, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R40932.pdf
International Law and Agreements: Their Effect Upon U.S. Law, March 1,
2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32528.pdf
Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources, February 28, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42507.pdf
U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production in Federal and Non-Federal
Areas, February 28, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42432.pdf
Securing America's Borders: The Role of the Military, February 25, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R41286.pdf
Army Drawdown and Restructuring: Background and Issues for Congress, March
5, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42493.pdf
U.S. Trade and Investment in the Middle East and North Africa: Overview
and Issues for Congress, February 28, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42153.pdf
Southwest Border Violence: Issues in Identifying and Measuring Spillover
Violence, February 28, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R41075.pdf
Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC): Transfer and Disposal of Military
Property, February 28, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R40476.pdf
Department of Defense Trends in Overseas Contract Obligations, March 1,
2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41820.pdf
Sequestration as a Budget Enforcement Process: Frequently Asked Questions,
February 27, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42972.pdf
Sessions, Adjournments, and Recesses of Congress, February 27, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42977.pdf
Kenya: Current Issues and U.S. Policy, February 26, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42967.pdf
Comparing Medicaid and Exchanges: Benefits and Costs for Individuals and
Families, February 28, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42978.pdf
Brief History of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Efforts in the 109th and
110th Congresses to Inform Policy Discussions in the 113th Congress,
February 27, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R42980.pdf
U.S. Trade and Investment in the Middle East and North Africa: Overview
and Issues for Congress, February 28, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42153.pdf
China's Economic Conditions, March 4, 2013:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33534.pdf
_______________________________________________
Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the
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Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
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