EPA Announces Plans to Restrict Access to Envirofacts

On March 14, 2002 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emailed an announcement to Envirofacts users explaining that it will no longer allow direct access to the Envirofacts databases. In the email to Direct Connect Users, EPA stated that, "As part of our continuing efforts to respond to Homeland Security issues . . . starting April 1, 2002, Direct Connect access will no longer be available to the general public. Direct Connect access to Envirofacts will only be available to U.S. EPA employees, U.S. EPA Contractors, the Military, Federal Government, and State Agency employees."

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Graham Grilled on Possible Regulatory Roll Backs

Rep. John Tierney (D-MA) grilled John Graham, administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), on whether he is seeking to roll back regulation at the request of affected industry at a March 12 hearing in the House Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs.

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House Budget Committee "Balanced" Budget Resolution for FY 2003

The budget resolution that the House Budget Committee marked up and passed by a party line vote (23-18) on March 13, is expected to head to the Floor for debate this week. The budget resolution is not a law, but is a broad outline for spending and tax cuts for FY 2003, which begins on October 1, 2002 and runs through September 31, 2003.

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ICANN: Barriers to Participation; Nonprofit Domain Constituency Expanded

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, a private-sector nonprofit constituting one of the major international Internet technical standards organizations, recently adopted a set of measures that increasingly prevents more public accountability to and participation from the Internet community -- including individuals and nonprofit organizations. It also issued its decision regarding nonprofit Internet domain space.

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GAO Report Identifies Flaws in Government Information Policy

The federal government's plan for managing information is inadequate to meet potential challenges of the post-September 11th environment, as well as broad information challenges the government may face as it becomes more electronic, according to a new report from the General Accounting Office -- the investigative arm of Congress.

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Conference Announcement

RECLAIMING AMERICA: Progressive Strategy for a New Era APRIL 10-12, Washington DC 2002 is a high-stakes year for American democracy. Campaign for America’s Future invites you to join hundreds of citizen and labor activists, policy experts, and progressive political leaders for a national conference on progressive strategy for the new era. For more information visit www.ourfuture.org or call 1-888-748-7010.

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Welcome to the New Look of the OMB Watch Website and OMB Watcher Online

With this new site, we can host public and private forums, and allow you to give greater feedback about the materials we post. We have also added tools that facilitate your getting more involved in public policy matters by not only sending email to Congress, but state and local elected officials, and local news media.

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