Government Documents

National Pollinator Week: June 17-23, 2024

Pollinator Week was first designated as a national holiday in 2007 after the U.S. Senate acknowledged an increased need to recognize issues surrounding the declining pollinator populations.  The federal government has since partnered with organizations like the Pollinator Partnership to grow this week of awareness into a worldwide event. 

Pollinator Week 2024 is a celebration of the vital role that pollinators play in our ecosystems, economies, and agriculture. Under the inspiring theme "Vision 2040: Thriving ecosystems, economies, and agriculture," this year's event urges us to envision a future where pollinators not only survive but thrive.  These essential creatures, including bees, butterflies, moths, bats, beetles, and hummingbirds, are the unsung heroes behind the food we enjoy and the beauty that surrounds us.

- The Pollinator Partnership

Feel free to browse some of our department’s resources and commemorative display as we celebrate Pollinator Week 2024!  Come see what is currently being done to tackle this growing issue, along with what you can do to help as well. The display can be found at the Marx Library on 2nd Floor South with a companion handout and 7-page bibliography "Pollinators and Our Ecosystem" for more information. 

Happy Pride Month! -- LGBTQ+ History in America

The fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States has been decades long, and while that fight is still happening today on many levels, there are also a lot of wins to recognize as well.  Pride Month is an annual celebration of identity and community that is rich in a history of activism and courage. 

While there were certainly many precursor moments, many view the 1969 Stonewall Riots as the impetus for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States, a movement that arose to create a more equal and just society for everyone, no matter their sexuality or gender identity.  On June 28, 1970, only a year after the first Stonewall demonstrations, the first pride parade took place during the Christopher Street Liberation Day celebration.  Hundreds of queer Americans took to the streets to commemorate those who had fought for their community.  While Pride Month has certainly grown in the years that have followed, it will always remain a time to honor those who have come before and continue after.

We invite you now to browse some of our department’s LGBTQ+ resources and our commemorative display as we celebrate Pride Month 2024!  The display can be found at Marx Library on 2nd Floor South with a pamphlet and 6-page bibliography for additional information.

Under the Category "Who Says the Federal Government Doesn't have a Sense of Humor"

NASA's Laser Communications Experiment Streamed from Deep Space (NAS 1.2:L 33/2)

"This 15-second ultra-high-definition video featuring a cat named Taters was streamed via laser from deep space by NASA on Dec. 11, 2023. It was part of the technology demonstration known as Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC), which is attached to the Psyche spacecraft traveling to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Graphics superimposed over the orange tabby cat illustrate several features from the tech demo, such as Psyche's orbital path and technical information about the laser."

Topics in the News -- Some recent reports from the Congressional Research Service:

Campaign Finance Law and the U.S. Supreme Court  (5/31/24)

The American Privacy Rights Act  (5/31/24)

Restrictions on the Use of Journalists for Intelligence Purposes  (5/30/24)

Defense Primer: 80th Anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944  (5/29/24)

Israel and Hamas: Possible International Criminal Court (ICC) Arrest Warrants  (5/23/24)

TikTok and China’s Digital Platforms: Issues for Congress  (5/22/24)

Overview of the National Estuary Program (NEP)   (5/20/24)

The Terrorist Watchlist  (5/20/24)

TikTok: Frequently Asked Questions and Issues for Congress  (5/14/24)

U.S. Review of an Arms Sale to Israel: Issues for Congress  (5/14/24)

Membership of the 118th Congress: A Profile  (5/10/24)

Regulation of TikTok Under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act: Analysis of Selected Legal Issues  (5/9/24)

Immigration: Grounds of Inadmissibility  (5/7/24)

Election Day: Frequently Asked Questions   (5/2/24)

The Federal Status of Marijuana and the Policy Gap with States  (5/2/24)

Legal Consequences of Rescheduling Marijuana  (5/1/24)

Repatriation of Native American Remains and Cultural Items: Requirements for Agencies and Institutions  (5/1/24)

State of the U.S. Economy: Policy Issues in the 118th Congress  (4/30/24)

Federal Role in Voter Registration: The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) and Subsequent Developments  (4/29/24)

Global Human Rights: The Department of State’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices  (4/25/24)

Regulation of Commercial Human Spaceflight Safety: Overview and Issues for Congress   (4/25/24)

The Change Healthcare Cyberattack and Response Considerations for Policymakers  (4/24/24)

Race-Conscious Admissions and Equal Protection in Higher Education   (4/19/24)

Disqualification of a Candidate for the Presidency, Part II: Examining Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment as It Applies to Ballot Access  (4/4/24)

American Indian, Alaska Native, and Tribal Population Data  (4/2/24)