Newswise

Vote Is the Endgame for the Health Care Reform Debate, Says Policy Expert

“If the House passes the latest version of legislation this weekend and sends it to the Senate, that will be the key legislative event in the long health care debate, because both chambers have already passed the legislation,” says Timothy McBride, Ph.D., health economist and associate dean of public health at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. “I believe the House will pass the legislation, but the vote will be very close, probably within one vote or two. The House probably has not had a vote this close since the vote on Medicare prescription drugs.”

USDA and NSF International 2010 Food Safety Education Conference to Attract over 600 Food Safety Experts

The USDA and NSF International will be hosting a 2010 Food Safety Education Conference, "“Advancements in Food Safety Education: Trends, Tools and Technologies" on March 23-26, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Ga. More information is available at www.fsis.usda.gov/Atlanta2010.

Failed College Dreams Don't Spell Depression

High school seniors, take note: A wise person once said, “It is better to shoot for the stars and miss than aim at the gutter and hit it.”

Transportation Unionization Rule Is Unfair and Should Change, Says Labor Expert

Kate Bronfenbrenner, Cornell University senior lecturer at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, comments on the pending National Mediation Board rule change that could reduce the threshold for creating unions in the airline industry -- from a majority of all workers in any class to a majority of all votes cast in the union election.

Estimating Ethanol Yields from CRP Croplands

The scramble to find sufficient land for biofuel production has experts eyeing marginal croplands that have been placed in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Now a study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists indicates that plant species diversity and composition are key factors in potential energy yield per acre from biomass harvested from CRP land.

New Analysis of Senate Health Reform Bill and President’s Proposal Signal Significant Legal Changes Ahead

A new analysis of H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed on December 24, 2009 by the United States Senate, was released today by The GW School of Public Health and Health Services, Hirsh Health Law and Policy Program. This new analysis focuses on key legal changes in the Senate-passed legislation and highlights relevant provisions addressed in the President’s health reform proposal (released by the White House on February 22, 2010).

Choosing a College: Easy As 1-2-3

The college acceptance letters have arrived. Now comes the hard part: Which school should you choose? Tom Weede, vice president of enrollment management at Butler University, said it’s difficult for many students to make an objective choice. He offers tips to help students make the smartest decision.