FederalDaily - November 22, 2006
Military Draft Proposal Draws Quick Reaction
Republican lawmakers were sharply critical of a plan by incoming House Ways and Means Committee Chairman
Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., to introduce legislation in the 110th Congress that would reinstitute the military
draft. Rangel, who offered similar unsuccessful legislation in 2004, announced his plan on Nov. 19
and it was quickly met with sharp rebukes. Although the all-volunteer military is under strain from
growing demands in Iraq and Afghanistan, GOP lawmakers said a new military draft is not the answer
and is a simple political trick. “It is regrettable that Congressman Rangel would resort to this
sort of inflammatory and divisive rhetoric at a time when the American people are seeking leadership
from their elected officials,” said Rep. Thelma Drake, R-Va. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was
also critical. “The all-volunteer force is capable of defending our nation,” Graham said. “I
believe those who choose to fight the war in Iraq and create a democracy from a dictatorship are making
us safer.” On the Democratic side, soon-to-be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated that a new
draft would not be on the House agenda. Recent polls have shown that about seven in 10 Americans oppose
reinstatement of the draft. To see the Drake press release, go to: http://drake.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=53054
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EPA Destroying Some Library Collections, Group Says
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is dismantling some agency library collections, dispersing
others and even tossing some materials into the trash, said a public employees group. Public Employees
for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) on Nov. 20 said the EPA is frantic to preempt attempts by the
new 110th Congress to keep open libraries that the agency has scheduled for closure. PEER said getting
rid of the material before Jan. 1 effectively will close those libraries before the new Democrat-controlled
Congress can act. The group said the libraries provide unique research assistance for EPA scientists
as they attempt to analyze hundreds of new chemicals for which companies are seeking agency approval.
The EPA plans to shutter 10 percent of EPA’s network of laboratories in a move to save money. “By
its actions, it appears that the appointed management at EPA is determined to actually reduce the sum
total of human knowledge,” said PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. To see more, go to: www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=786
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GAO: Staffing Is Key to DOJ Info Classification Issues
The Department of Justice (DOJ) needs to resolve outstanding staffing issues in order to finish ironing
out kinks that remain in the department’s management of classified and “sensitive but unclassified” information,
said the Government Accountability Office (GAO). In a Nov. 20 report, GAO examined progress made by
DOJ and the FBI in implementing recommendations made by the National Archives’ Information Security
Oversight Office (ISOO) in July 2004 and April 2005. GAO said DOJ and the FBI had made progress on
ISOO’s recommendations aimed at correcting deficiencies in their programs to properly classify
information. But GAO found DOJ had not taken action on one of the most important recommendations—to
address staffing issues. While DOJ said it is attempting to meet staffing requirements by requesting
more funds from an administrative account in FY 2007, GAO pointed out that DOJ still does not know
how many staff it requires for the program because it has not assessed needs. To see more, go to: www.gao.gov/new.items/d0783.pdf
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