Hot Topics

Here you will find links to current and ongoing topics of concern to many people. Please be aware that many of the reports are in PDF format.

Current Issues

The Decline in America's Reputation: Why?: A PDF report from the House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight. Based on a series of 10 hearings. Released June 11, 2008.
Gasoline Prices: An excellent webpage from the University of Michigan Documents Center with links to documents related to fuel prices and what can be done about them
Country Report on Terrorism 2007: State Department's annual report on terrorism around the world. Past reports can be found here: http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/
National Intelligence Estimate on Iran: Nuclear Intentions and Capabilities: Unclassified PDF report on Iran's nuclear program
Hearing on Private Security Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan: Includes links to testimony of Blackwater CEO Erik Prince
Hearings before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Sept. 10-11, 2007: General David Petraeus prepared statements: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/pet091007.pdf; Ambassador Ryan Crocker prepared statements: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/cro091007.pdf
Initial Benchmark Assessment Report on Iraq: Released by the White House on July 12, 2007. Includes links to the text of President Bush's press conference and a PDF version of the report.
Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy: Report by the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Justice
Report on the U.S. Intelligence Community's Prewar Intelligence Assessments on Iraq: Be patient; it's long and can take a few moments to load
Iraqi Perspectives Project: The Joint Forces Command's Iraqi Perspectives Project: A View of Operation Iraqi Freedom from Saddam's Senior Leadership
Failure of Initiative: The Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina: You can also read the president's report "The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned"
9/11 Commission Report: The complete report is available in PDF and HTML formats

Continuing Issues

IRS Forms: Tax forms and instructions you can download
Pennsylvania tax forms: Pennsylvania tax forms and instructions you can download; click on "Forms & Publications"
Budget of the United States: Tables from GPO Access
Amount of the Federal Deficit: The federal deficit to the penny
Other Federal Forms: Links to the most frequently requested federal forms; from the University of Memphis Libraries
GovBenefits.gov: Database of government assistance available to individuals
Unsolicited Mail, Telemarketing, and Email: From the Federal Trade Commission, directions on how to reduce junk mail, telephone calls, and spam
Calculators for Investors: From the Securities and Exchange Commission, calculators to help with investing
Household Products Database: From the National Institutes of Health, a database of health and safety information on common household products