Featured Issue Briefs

Foodborne Pathogens Associated with Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

There are a number of foodborne microbial pathogens associated with the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables that can cause illness or death among consumers who eat contaminated produce.

This document summarizes the major foodborne microbial pathogens that may be found in fresh produce, including Cyclospora cayetanensis, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Hepatitis A, Listeria monocytogenes, Norovirus, Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp.

FDA Actions Regarding Produce Safety

For more than a decade, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized the challenge of making fresh produce safer. However, it has relied on voluntary guidelines. This document summarizes a decade of government initiatives that fall short of the mandatory and enforceable federal safety standards needed for domestic and imported fresh fruits and vegetables.

Safe Credit Card Project Regulatory Comment:

In October 2008, the Pew Safe Credit Cards Project shared comments (PDF) based on its recent work on credit cards with the Federal Reserve. Select findings from the project—including information on credit card penalty re-pricing and analysis of credit cards in the market—were included.

Regulating Industry Payments to Physicians

Physicians write more than 2 billion prescriptions a year, an average of 7 for every American. Several states and the District of Columbia have enacted so-called “sunshine laws” setting limits on industry payments to physicians and/or requiring disclosure of the payments. Proposed legislation in both the U.S House and Senate would require industry to disclose “transfers of value” to physicians.

Denied

An issue brief on the lack of access to federal loans by community college students. If you need to take out a loan for college, it is tough to find a better deal than a federal student loan.

AAMC: The Scientific Basis of Influence and Bias

The Association of American Medical Colleges recently published "The Scientific Basis of Influence and Bias" based on a symposium held in June 2007 in Washington D.C.

Overview of Child Welfare Services in Ohio State

Ohio's child welfare system is state-supervised and county-administered.  A number of recent developments and converging trends may have a significant impact on child welfare financing in Ohio.

Overview of Child Welfare Services in Michigan State

Michigan is experiencing severe economic and fiscal problems due primarily to a downturn in the automobile industry, resulting in a budget deficit of approximately $856.4 million at the end of the state's 2007 fiscal year (September 30).  Because of these issues, many of the state's budget bills are still being debated as of the date of this memo.  The human services budget bill, SB 232, was passed by the Senate on August 22, 2007.  The House passed an amended version of the bill on September 6, 2007.  The bill is currently in conference committee.  This memo will summarize those provisions in the bills that are relevant to reform of federal child welfare financing.  When a budget is finally approved and signed by the Governor, this memo will be updated. 

Overview of Child Welfare Services in Washington State

Compared to other states, child welfare is high on the list of legislative priorities in Washington.  This high level of legislative activity can be attributed in part to a number of recent events that are briefly described below.  In addition, the legislature, particularly the House, has a number of experienced champions of children's issues, including Rep. Ruth Kagi, chair of the House Early Learning and Children's Services Committee, and Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, chair of the House Human Services Committee, among others. 

Statement of The Honorable Bill Frenzel, Chairman, Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care

For the last nine months, I have been privileged to chair the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care, a task I share with my colleague, former Representative Bill Gray.  This independent, nonpartisan commission, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, includes some of the wisest and most experienced individuals in the field of child welfare.  You heard from one of them this morning, New York City Commissioner William Bell.  The other members of our Commission are no less impressive.