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"...an oasis of harmonious coexistence between nature and human beings." - Yoga & Health Magazine
Questions and Answers
This page has been compiled by our agents from some of the typical questions they are asked before guests book their holiday.
1. I'm travelling alone, will I feel awkward?
2. I'm not sure that I fancy sharing with a stranger. Can I have a single room?
3. Will I be bored?
4. I've never done any Yoga before, is this OK?
5. Where is Ulpotha located?
6. Where do I fly to?
7. How do I get to Ulpotha from the airport?
8. Is Sri Lanka a safe country to travel to?
9. How much money will I need?
10. Food?
11. What medical precautions do I need?
11. Will I need a Visa?
12. What does an Ayurvedic treatment programme consist of?
13. What does the day look like for someone who takes the Ayurvedic package?
14. What is the minimum length of treatment in order to receive a beneficial effect?
15. What choices can I make - would it be extreme? Can the treatment be adjusted to my preferences?
16. Can the wonderful food in Ulpotha still be enjoyed
17. Any more questions?
I'm travelling alone, will I feel awkward?
No, these holidays are perfect for singles! Ulpotha is also great if you come with friends or as a couple but the overwhelming majority of our guests come alone.
I'm not sure that I fancy sharing with a stranger. Can I have a single room?
All the huts at Ulpotha are allocated on a twin share basis. We will match you up as best we can with another guest. There are places for a maximum of 23 paying guests at any one time and no single huts are available.
People are surprised to discover that the huts are spacious and airy and that sharing with someone is actually very pleasant. The unusual jungle noises can be bit strange and its quite reassuring to have a companion sharing your space. In any case - you will find that you don't really spend much time in your hut.
Will I be bored?
There always seems something to do if you want to, yet many people discover that the magic of Ulpotha is about finding enjoyment in simply being. Often guests take loads of books and only read a few pages! Your day can be filled with twice daily Yoga classes, treatments, excursions or walks to special sites surrounding Ulpotha. There are always many interesting people to chat to. However, if you want to be alone - it's easy to find a peaceful spot, like a hammock or a tree house.
I've never done any Yoga before. Is this OK?
The teachers at Ulpotha are teaching all levels of experience and ability. Just go at your own pace and remember - that it's a holiday! If you don't feel like going to Yoga classes that's fine. Everything is optional and you do as much or as little as YOU like! Ulpotha provides yoga mats, wooden blocks, belts, small flat cushions & bolsters in the yoga shala.
Where is Ulpotha located?
In the heart of Sri Lanka by a lakeside at the foot of the Galgiriyawa mountains - off the beaten track. About 1 hours drive North from Kurunagala or 2 hours Northwest from Kandy, and 3 hours from the airport.
Where do I fly to?
Colombo airport in Sri Lanka. Direct flights with Sri Lankan Airlines take about 10 hours. Please be aware that departure tends to be the day before arrival and start of the holiday due to time difference and journey time. In order to ensure the best prices on flights we recommend that you book early. We have an updated list of the best travel agents through which to buy your ticket. We also have block booked seats on some of the more popular holidays. Please contact us for details.
How do I get to Ulpotha from the airport?
We will meet you at the airport and return you to the airport after your holiday. The cost per vehicle (maximum of 4 people) is approximately $100 each way. The transfer cost should be paid to the driver. Please enquire should you wish to be collected or dropped off at a location in Sri Lanka other than the airport.
Is Sri Lanka a safe country to travel to?
There has been a cease-fire between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan Government since February 2002. Whilst the peace talks have stalled over various issues there appear to be no signs of a return to the previous hostilities that affected large parts of the north and east of the country. Ulpotha is a very safe place well away from former trouble hot spots - which were located in the far North and East coast of the island. The great thing is you don't even need to go into Colombo if you don't want to - the transfer from the airport to Ulpotha avoids the city.
As of May 2009, the war in the north is now officially over and the Tamil Tigers have stated they will no longer oppose the government militarily. Anyone travelling to Sri Lanka now is perfectly safe from any terrorist threat.
How much money will I need?
Very little! Once you are in Ulpotha everything is included. Around $100 would be plenty for fees at ancient sites and donations at temples. Bring more if you intend on buying souvenirs etc. Sri Lankan Rupees are best bought at Colombo airport and they are open at all times of the day and night.
The food at Ulpotha is simply delicious and very healthy. It is almost entirely vegan, naturally wheat free, with an abundance of fresh vegetables, organic red rice and tropical fruit freshly picked from Ulpotha's gardens. A good opportunity to detoxify your system without fuss. Special diets can not be catered for but it is fairly easy to pick and choose depending on your taste from the many dishes served at each meal. If there is anything that you feel that you simply can't do without (coffee, a gin & tonic, chocolate and the like) - we suggest you bring it with you.
What medical precautions do I need to take?
Recommended injections are Tetanus and Polio boosters, Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Your GP or travel centre may also recommend Malaria tablets. However Ulpotha is not a known malarial zone and if you intend to only visit Ulpotha and its surrounding regions then Malaria tablets are not absolutely necessary. Though this is a very personal choice and it is up to the individual to make their own decisions on this matter. Please note that the East Pole Foundation can not be held responsible for medical decisions or conditions.
For those wishing to choose alternative ways Ainsworths Homeopathic Pharmacy are a good quality supplier of Homeopathic remedies inc anti malarial remedy available by mail order, tel 020 7935 5330 or from their London shop.
Will I need a Visa?
As of January 1st 2012 all Foreign nationals arriving in Sri lanka for holiday or business will need a visa on arrival. This can be obtained through your travel agent when booking your ticket or online at www.eta.gov.lkt
What does an Ayurvedic treatment programme consist of?
All treatments, regardless of the personalized elements of a treatment that stem from a personal consultation, contain preparatory and elimination therapies. The preparatory therapies are the ones everyone likes and most Ayurveda is known for - oil applications, steam baths, saunas and herbal baths. Elimination therapies on the other hand, are the ones that some - if not most - people will find a little bit more challenging to accept. They consist of what is more commonly known as Panchakarma (ie. the five specialized elimination therapies): inhalation, purgation, emesis (vomiting), enemas and blood-letting. The latter three are very rarely carried out in Ulpotha.
If a treatment is short in length, say the five day Ashinsanaya or one week Sanasuma programmes, then you only have enough time for preparatory treatments that would support inhalation as an elimination therapy. If you have time for the ten day Namaskaraya or two week Samadhiya programme, then you can also undergo purgation. However, the consultation is critical to determine which of the elimination therapies are required. If someone is particularly weak, then they will be subject to much more of the preparatory treatments and very little of the elimination therapies regardless of how long a programme they have chosen. In other words, while you need to be on a long programme to undergo elimination therapies, it's not necessarily the case that you will definitely be subject to them.
For the one week long Sanasuma (Satisfaction), and ten day Namaskaraya (Salutation) programmes, guests will receive treatments everyday. Each day will consist of roughly two hours of treatments. The two week long Aswesilla (Solace) programme will have one or two rest days, while the three week long Samadhiya (Profound) programme will have two or three rest days and the four week Mokshaya (Redemption) programme will have three or four rest days.
If we take an example of the Sanasuma treatment, which is administered over the course of seven days, the first day will consist of a full head and face and body oil application, called Abyanga (a superficial tissue, or relaxing oil application, that soothes the first layer of the body) followed by a herbal bath. Guests will also be given appropriate remedies to take, starting the first day for each day of their treatment - these remedies are meant to facilitate the treatments being received. The second day may consist of oil application that is meant to penetrate to the second layer of the body, which is called Angamarda Abyanga, (no head and face) followed by a sauna or steam bath. The third day will consist of a relaxing body oil application followed by Shirodara oil application on the forehead and head. The fourth day will consist of an inhalation therapy accompanied by a head and face oil application, and a face steam. The fifth day will be a Sarvangadara oil treatment (from a layman's terms, this is a Shirodara but one for the whole body) followed by a steam bath. The sixth day will be a full body oil application carried out using poultices made of a special milk rice consisting of medicinal decoctions followed by a warm water bath. The seventh day is a herbal facial treatment consisting of cleansing scrub, face steam, massage and herbal pack.
What does the day look like for someone who takes the ayurvedic package?
Treatments will typically last for about two hours each day and could be scheduled either in the morning or in the afternoon. They will have the rest of the day to hang out and do other things, including yoga.
What is the minimum length of treatment in order to receive a beneficial effect?
The five day treatment would be the minimum.
What choices can I make - would it be extreme? Can the treatment be adjusted to my preferences?
The healthier a guest is, the greater the opportunity for flexibility. However, if there is a specific ailment, then the options for flexibility are less if a meaningful result is what is required.
Can the wonderful food in Ulpotha still be enjoyed?
Because of the nature of the food in Ulpotha, chances are that guests can enjoy it all with no restriction. The ones that guests have sometimes been told to avoid is pineapple or curd - but one who is told to avoid one can have the other.
Essentially, Ayurveda tries to either increase the healthiness and balance of someone who is healthy and has no specific health issue (prevention), or tries to relieve a specific health problem (cure). If someone is healthy, then the treatments will be more as described above. If someone has a specific health problem, then the chances are greater that their treatment may be different. It may consist of more oral remedies or focus on particular types of therapies (for example, if you have a back ache, your treatments will use more specific types of oleation therapies, where oil applications and body rubs of different kinds will be used to deliver localized relief together with appropriate oral medicines).
Any more questions?
Do feel free to call or email us:
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Tel: +44 (0)208 123 3603
Please be patient when calling the above number as the connection is routed through to us in Sri lanka at no extra charge to yourself. Sri Lanka is 5 1/2 hours ahead of GMT.
Skype username: ulpothavillage


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Easy Chicken Casserole
Comment on this recipe
2 cans chicken noodle soup 2 cans cream of chicken soup 2 cans chicken, drained 1 can evaporated milk 1 package (16 ounces) chow mien noodles
Combine all ingredients in large bowl and mix well. Pour into 9x13-inch dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cover and store leftovers in refrigerator.
Kristin Snowden Hillsdale
Almond Bark Clusters (More recipes)

subset: commoncrawl


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Lantern offers function ... and form
Credit: MCT |
Pack away your old clunky camp light because Snow Peak's Hozuki Lantern is not only functional — it has a sleek design that can hang in your home as easily as a campsite.
Inspired by Chinese paper lanterns, this 100-lumen LED lantern offers three brightness settings and has a candle mode that flickers to set the mood.
It also allows for different setups: The light includes a hook that's great for carrying or hanging on a nearby tree; it can also be flipped upside down for use as a tabletop light.
The lantern's shade is made from silicone rubber, which compresses for easy packing and maintains durability despite its delicate appearance.
The Hozuki Lantern is also lightweight for its size. At 4 inches in diameter and 9.8 inches in height, it only weighs 5.6 ounces.
The lantern is battery powered for full portability and is USB-compatible, so you can power it with your computer. (Mini USB connector sold separately; note that it will power the light but not recharge the batteries.)
The light runs on four AA batteries, which provides up to 80 hours on the low light setting.
A low-battery indicator helps ensure you don't get left in the dark.
Price is $89.95.
To purchase or find online or local retailers, visit snowpeak..com.
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- Farm fresh
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- Cutting the mustard
- Easily hooked on fishing


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April 14th, 2006, 09:57 PM | #1 |
1995 f150xlt with pics
I have a 1995 ford f150 xlt forsale. It has an automatic trans with overdrive and a 351W motor. The truck has 150 000miles on it but The motor and trans runs and shifts great.The body has some rust around the wheel wells but looks nice when it is clean. It has brand new tires, fuel pump, alternator,tune up, brakes, brake lines,belt and headman headers and 2.5in flowmaster dual exhaust that sounds great. 3000obo
call dave at 248 939 2867 here is a picture of the truck (http://i2.tinypic.com/vh6lw3.jpg) Last edited by FordTruck95; April 14th, 2006 at 10:02 PM. |
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TOPIC: Sybian toy
Created by: per2 | The original post for this thread was deleted. |
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anyone have one in the indianapolis area would love for her to try it out! ;)
Medaryville IN |
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well we own one too. The Mrs went for a ride on one while we were camping in Mich at Cherry Lane. She fell off, turned and said I want one now.... Well she got one for our anniv. I went to Wal Mart and bought a LARGE travel bag that it and all the toys fit into. On rollers so we take it to party's when asked. We took it to a local on premise club and they went out and bought one. It was a hit.... Condoms are a must when sharing. The lady must remove it and disgard, then sanitize the ride area with wipes. After wich it's ready for the next orgasm:) Ours with all the toys, bench everything was 1400. Seen them on e bay used but they still go for over a grand. Mr. P
Sheffield Village OH |
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We have one, cost just under $1k when we bought it, price has gone up since. It is designed for women, but I've read on another website about using it on a man for prostate massage and claims of resulting orgasm, although we don't have any experience in this regard. Our female friends consistently struggle to stand or walk for a short time after hitchhiking a ride on it ;) Guess their Sybian-induced multiple orgasms are as strong for them as they are for me, LOL.
Well worth the ride, IMHO, Mrs TF3 |
Saint Paul MN |
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TOPIC: Sybian toy


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recipe reviews for:
"This is potato salad the old fashioned way - with eggs, celery and relish."
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Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina
The Letter to The Grand Duchess Christina was an essay written in 1615 by Galileo Galilei.
Background Information[edit]
Christina, daughter of Charles III of Lorraine and granddaughter of Catherine de' Medici, was the widow of Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany 1587-1609, who had appointed Galileo to the professorship of mathematics at the University of Pisa in 1588.
In 1611 Galileo was informed by a friend, Cigoli, "ill-disposed men envious of your virtue and merits met [to discuss]... any means by which they could damage you." The number of scholars who disapproved with his Discourse on Floating Bodies, or were simply ill-spirited toward Galileo grew, but other than one letter from Niccolo Lorini there was not much discussion about the issue for the remainder of the year.
Late in 1613, Galileo's former student Benedetto Castelli, a Benedictine monk, wrote to Galileo about the events at a recent dinner with the Grand Duke Cosimo II de' Medici. In the course of conversation at the dinner Cosimo Boscaglia, a professor of philosophy, argued that the motion of the Earth could not be true, being contrary to the Bible. After dinner ended, Castelli was called back to answer scriptural arguments against the motion of the Earth from Christina. The monk took on the role of theologian in response, and convinced everyone there except the Duchess (who he thought was arguing mainly to hear his answers) and Boscaglia (who said nothing during this dialogue). [1]
Contents of Letter[edit]
Galileo replied with a long letter giving his position on the relation between science and Scripture. By 1615, with the controversy over the Earth's motion widespread and increasingly dangerous, Galileo revised this letter and greatly expanded it; this became the Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina. The letter circulated in manuscript but was not printed until much later, when the Inquisition had condemned Galileo. It appeared in Strasbourg in 1636 with both Italian and Latin text, as seen in the top right image. It was suppressed in Catholic jurisdictions, as were all works of Galileo at that period which dealt with that subject.[citation needed]
In this letter was a very direct paragraph in which Galileo wrote "I hold the sun to be situated motionless in the center of the revolution of the celestial orbs while the earth rotates on its axis and revolves about the sun. They know also that I support this position not only by refuting the arguments of Ptolemy and Aristotle ... especially some pertaining to physical effects whose causes perhaps cannot be determined in any other way, and other astronomical discoveries; these discoveries clearly confute the Ptolemaic system, and they agree admirably with this other position and confirm it." [2] Galileo stated that the Copernican theory was not just a mathematical calculating tool, but a physical reality. This caused some, including Dominican friar Niccolo Lorini, to complain to the Inquisition, which tried and eventually accused Galileo of suspicion of heresy.
- ^ http://commonweb.unifr.ch/artsdean/pub/gestens/f/as/files/4740/29590_151541.pdf
- ^ http://www.inters.org/galilei-madame-christina-Lorraine Galileo's Letter to the Grand Duchess in 1615
- Stillman Drake (translator and editor) (1957). Discoveries and Opinions of Galileo. New York: Doubleday Anchor Books. ISBN 0-385-09239-3. This has the full text of the letter, with commentary, as well as other short works of Galileo.
- Maurice A. Finocchiario (1989). The Galileo Affair. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-06662-5. This compilation of relevant original documents also includes a 43-page introduction by the author.


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Home Cables Audio/Video Cables Speaker Cables Platinum Eclipse Speaker Cable
WireWorld® Platinum Eclipse® Speaker Cable
Pure Silver Conductors for Unmatched Signal Purity
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WireWorld® Platinum Eclipse® Speaker Cable
What's special about these audiophile cables?
When it comes to audiophile sound, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Platinum Eclipse® speaker cables from WireWorld® feature 18 high-purity silver conductors, stacked per WireWorld's unique Diagonal DNA™ design for unfiltered signal transmission. Unlike conventional cables that often break at the plug, this cable features a carbon fiber boot with heat shrink sealed connectors for maximum durability. Consider these premium speaker cables a safe investment, as they are guaranteed to deliver to you a lifetime of realistic and completely immersive audio. |
- Two wiring options available:
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No Manuals Available -
- Getting Wired: How to Choose the Right Speaker Wire for Your Home Audio System
- What is the Difference Between Cable Shielding and Insulation?
- The Growth and Increased Need for Residential Network Installations
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We do everything we can think of to provide you with the product specs, images and ordering info you need, but if we�re missing something or still have room to improve, please let us know. Your comments, suggestions and questions are the best tools we have for serving you better!


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From ErfWiki
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Page Info
Description | [edit] |
Prince Tramennis sits in a plus maroon and gold chair, holding two documents in front of him, his arms resting on a brown satchel in his lap. Behind him is a red cape on a coat rack.
Text | [edit] |
Prince Tramennis: So what we learn from this is that Ansom was croaked in a false surrender parley.
And then Lord Hamster used a Thinkamancy link to turn the entire mountain into a Dirtamancy trap.


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Separated at birth: Onyx, Haier phones
We thought there was something familiar about this phone from a new U.K. company called Onyx, and our eagle-eyed colleague Kent German spotted the reason why: It looks remarkably similar to the "Elegance" handset introduced several months ago by Haier, the Chinese company of household appliances fame.
Haier, interestingly enough, described its version as a "lipstick-case-sized luxury phone" while Onyx is marketing its "Liscio" for the compact convenience of its 3.5-inch-long handset--perhaps accurately reflecting the difference in high-end standards between the two markets. It would be difficult to label this as a … Read more


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Krell's Modulare—300 lbs of Speaker!
Krell Industries' new Modulare Duo loudspeaker system was the one active exhibit in their suite, playing music from an excellent sampler of audiophile favorites. Todd Eichenbaum, shown standing next to the $35,000/pair, 300 lb system, explained that the separate woofer and satellite units were made of machined billet aluminum, as with Krell's original LAT-1 speaker system, but the Modulare's drivers and passive crossover circuitry have been designed for higher current handling. The low-frequency cabinet contains three 8" aluminum-cone woofers, while the satellite section marries a 1" ScanSpeak ring-radiator tweeter, and a 6.5" aluminum-cone midrange driver.
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More copies of this ISBNThis title in other editionsOther titles in the Inspector Rebus Novels series:Resurrection Men: An Inspector Rebus Novel (Inspector Rebus Novels)by Ian Rankin
Awards2004 Edgar Award for Best Novel
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:Packed off to the remote Scottish Police College for a lesson in teamwork — after hurling a mug at his supervisor's face — Inspector John Rebus finds himself in a snake pit. His classmates, an unruly band of rebel cops known as Resurrection Men, are suspected of orchestrating an elaborate drug heist, and Rebus is recruited by headquarters to get to the bottom of matters. It's no easy task: the investigation threatens to uncover a secret Rebus has spent years trying to conceal, and before long Rebus finds himself in the thick of a scandal with conspirators seemingly everywhere — men who have no problem spilling blood to get what they want.
Review:"Rankin keeps topping his own best work." Kirkus Reviews
Review:"The clever, funny, perfectly pitched dialogue develops the characters and moves the story....Resurrection Men is what good crime fiction should be — a puzzle that challenges the eye, but worth the effort of putting all the pieces in place." Philadelphia Inquirer
Review:"If you haven't experienced Inspector Rebus, this is a good place to start." The Washington Post
Review:"This isn't one of Rankin's top efforts, but even coasting, he leaves most police procedurals at the gate." Publishers Weekly
Review:"For anyone who likes a mystery with literary flair and without a sermon, this is an eminently satisfying read." People
Review:"In Resurrection Men, both police officers, and Rankin, shine." Boston Globe
Review:"This is Rankin at his best, and, boy, that's saying something." Time Out
Synopsis:After hurling a mug at his supervisor, bad boy Inspector John Rebus is sent to a reform school for damaged cops. While there among those known as "Resurrection Men," he joins a covert mission to gain evidence of a drug heist orchestrated by some of his classmates.
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These guys were just told that another truckload is on the way in as they valiantly try to I.D. this batch. Trust me, they are not enjoying this any more than the owners of the bags are at this moment. That look on his face is all terror.
Winter in Iowa = Bags Looking for Passengers
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Blush Callie Hipster Panty 301825This product is no longer available. Please consider one of the Customer-Recommended Replacements above, or try a new search.
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Senior Internship Seminar
special programs - communication department
Purpose of the Program
The Communication Internship Program is designed to provide students with opportunities to explore different career opportunities. The program aids students in acquiring valuable skills and knowledge and in using laboratory equipment not ordinarily available on campus. The program also allows students to integrate academic theory with practical experience. Above all, the internship program attempts to expand a student's understanding of the dynamics of mass communications.
Eligibility for Internships
The program is open to majors in communication who have senior standing and a 3.1 G.P.A. overall (or a 2.8 G.P.A. overall with a 3.2 G.P.A. in the major). In addition, potential interns must have completed a minimum of seven courses in communications at Boston College prior to the beginning of the final year. These seven courses are to include the four basic required courses—Rhetorical Tradition, Survey of Mass Communication, Public Speaking, and Research Methods—a theory course and appropriate preparatory course work necessary for the specific field placement.
Enrollment Procedure
Due to the size and procedures of the program, internship appointments will not be made available during the drop-add period.
Eligible students are invited to apply to Christine Caswell, Director of the Senior Internship Seminar. Applicants for the fall semester will be approved during the weeks prior to pre-registration in the spring; applicants for the spring semester will be approved during the weeks prior to pre-registration in the fall. Forms are available in Maloney Hall 515 and on the Communication Department's web site.
Those students accepted for the program are responsible for securing an appropriate field placement subject to the approval of the Director of the Senior Internship Seminar. Internship credit can only be awarded for a placement that has a professional level of supervision, requires skills consistent with the academic experiences of the intern, and meets the test for an appropriate placement established by the internship program. Communication Internship opportunities will be announced in Major Mail and may also be found on the Boston College Career Center web site and on the department's bulletin board.
Students may enroll in the internship program for one semester or three total credits during their senior year. In order to receive a grade for the course, students must:
- Work 15 hours per week at their placement,
- Meet all deadlines and complete all paperwork for the course.
Interns must write a field research paper. Grading in the internship program is based upon rigorous standards, and superior grades will be awarded only where there is demonstrable proof of superior work.


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News and Events
Webinar (1 of 4): What is Blended Learning?
What are the essential elements of blended learning? What are some instructional models for blended learning and how are they used to individualize and differentiate instruction? This webinar will introduce foundational knowledge about blended learning and provide examples of classrooms that are using blended learning.
A recording of this webinar can be viewed here.
Access session materials here.
In-Person Sessions: Blended Learning Simulation
April 9 OR April 16, 2013, 1:00 – 5:00pm
How does blended learning look and feel in a classroom? What model might be a good fit for my district or school? In this session, participants will experience a blended learning classroom to understand the teacher and student experience. They will also learn about the variables that impact model design and think critically about how this could look in their district or school.
*Note: Seminars on April 9 and 16 will cover identical information. Please register for one day only.
Access session materials here
Webinar (2 of 4): Selecting the Right Digital Content
April 23, 2013, 3:30 – 5:00pm
Selecting the right content is difficult. The burgeoning digital content market is both diverse and complex. Where do leaders begin when evaluating digital content? What types of content are currently available? What are the most important factors to consider when selecting a provider? This webinar will provide background on the different types of products in the market, outline a framework for selecting digital content, and address some of the common mistakes schools make and what leaders can do to avoid them.
A recording of this webinar can be viewed here.
Access session materials here.
Webinar (3 of 4): Creating Your Professional Development Game Plan
April 30, 2013, 3:30 – 5:00pm
How are we asking teachers and leaders to redesign their curriculum and instructional practices around individual student needs? How can principals and academic leaders support their teachers? When a school implements blended learning, what training and support do teachers, administrators and other staff need to ensure a successful implementation? This webinar will explore promising practices for Blended Learning and discuss implications for training teachers and leaders based on evidence gathered from practitioners across the nation. We will share experiences and ideas for blended learning professional development plans, and discuss the opportunities for providing effective training to meet the changing needs of today's teachers.
A recording of this webinar can be viewed here.
Access session materials here.
Webinar (4 of 4): Planning for Continuous Improvement
May 21, 2013, 3:30 – 5:00pm
What are strategies for developing a continuous improvement process that provides timely and regular feedback towards goals and opportunities? How can the continuous improvement process ensure that the district or consortium will monitor, measure, and publicly share information on the quality of its investments? This webinar will explore some effective approaches to ongoing communication and engagement with internal and external stakeholders to make blended learning successful. We will also discuss goal setting and planning processes that lead to successful blended learning implementations.
A recording of this webinar can be viewed here.
Access session materials here.


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Contact Info
Main Street Postal & Business Center
Sherry Bennett
1630 N. Main St.
Walnut Creek, CA, 94596
Phone: 925-934-9318
Fax: 925-934-0287
Contact via Email
Visit our Website
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Our Website
Click below to visit our Website
- Mail Box Rentals
- Notary Service
- Fingerprinting
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- Packaging Supplies
- Custom Packing
- Copy Service
- Shipping FED EX, USPS, UPS
- Business Cards and Stationery
- Rubber Stamps
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
About Us
Main Street Postal & Business Center is a family owned small business serving Walnut Creek for over 27 years at the same location. Our priority is great personal customer service. Everyone on our staff will go out of their way to help you find reasonable and affordable solutions for your shipping needs. Our entire staff is a licensed notary and fingerprinter. The varied services that we offer make it easy for you to accomplish multiple things at one location; in all our busy lives we know this is important! We are open early for your convenience and have street front parking as well as limited parking behind our store. Ship it, fax it, scan & copy it... and so much more. We think outside of the box!
Main Street Postal offers many services including mailbox rental, shipping, crating & custom packing, on & off site packing, package pick-up, printing & engraving services, fax sending & receiving, copies & scans, laminating, document shredding, notary service, fingerprinting, color passport and I.D. photos, and more. We also carry a wide variety of shipping and packing supplies, moving supplies, and office supplies. Please contact us or visit our website for more information!
Mail Pick-Up 4:00 pm
Fed Ex Ground 4:30 pm
FedEx and UPS 5:00 pm


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Bill and Karen (Cunningham) Crocker will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 6 with their family in San Jose, Calif. Bill is retired from the US Navy and healthcare administration, and Karen was the library technician for 23 years at the Sutter County Branch Library in Sutter, Calif.
Bill is the son of Wilson and Clara Crocker, formerly of Fredonia. He was an OBSERVER news carrier during the late 1940s. Karen spent her teen years in Indianapolis, Ind.
The Crockers met in a Riley Hospital for Children research laboratory in Indianapolis in September 1960. They have lived in Yuba City, Calif., for 23 years.
Article Photos
Mr. and Mrs. Bill (Karen) Crocker


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Additional Information
Twitter adds former News Corp president Chernin to board
Twitter has appointed media mogul and former News Corporation president Peter Chernin to its board as it seeks to strengthen its media and entertainment ties.
Peter Chernin: joins the board at Twitter
The micro-blogging platform announced Chernin's appointment via a tweet yesterday.
Chernin replaces former Twitter board member Mike McCue, chief executive and co-founder of personalised media app Flipboard.
The appointment comes as Twitter aims to boost ad sales of the platform and to explore media partnerships. Rather than compete with other media, Twitter maintains it works as a companion service.
Chernin joined News Corporation in 1989 and served as president and chief operating officer between 1996 and 2009. He helped launched US TV service Hulu and runs the film and TV production company Chernin Entertainment.
He also holds a board position at US digital music service Pandora.
Earlier this week, Chernin invested more than $10m (£6.3m) in Base79, the UK online video company that says it is YouTube's largest original programming partner in Europe.
Follow @shearmansThis article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk
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- Global Insight Director Ball & Hoolahan £75,000 + CA + benefits, London


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"The show is great in that it showcases all sorts of students' work," McDermott-Goldie says. "We've got students from all levels of experience. From those just starting out�all the way up to design student."
McDermott-Goldie, who will display at least two pieces
from her collection, says her goal is to do a fashion show every
semester. She hopes that, in this way, "the community can really see [the Design Program]
students' progression over time."
"We wanted to raise awareness
for SFCC's Design Program. We've got some amazing talent with some amazing
teachers," McDermott-Goldie says. "We hope to bolster interest in anyone in attendance, especially with the high school kids. We want them to know
that there's something else to do out there."
SFCC Student Fashion Show
7 pm
Friday, Jan. 28
Donations accepted
The Lodge at Santa Fe
750 N St. Francis Dr.
I participated in the fashion show and was wondering when the pictures were going to be posted, and where?
This was just a preview of the show; we don't have any pictures. I'd contact the design program at the Community College to see if they have photos.


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1 hr ago | Patch.com
Earthquake Expected to Create Aftershocks for Next Few Days
By Bay City News- There were no reported injuries from a powerful earthquake that shook off the coast of Eureka on Sunday night but aftershocks are expected for the region in the next few days.
Trending on the Topix Network
5 hrs ago | The Times of Israel
Hackers demand $300 'ransom' to halt huge cyber attack
At least two major web sites - one Israeli and one American - were disabled for several days last week, as a hacker group held the sites "hostage," demanding a bounty for halting a massive distributed denial of service attack against them.
7 hrs ago | Re/code
Verizon CFO Downplays Impact of Wireless Price War
Verizon's financial chief said that he isn't concerned that recent price cuts in the cell phone service business will hurt his company in the longer term.
11 hrs ago | The Washington Post
SoftBank Said to Ready Broadband Pitch on Merger Resistance
SoftBank Corp. President Masayoshi Son is reframing his argument for consolidation in the U.S. mobile-phone market, heading to Washington this week to advocate for wireless broadband as an alternative to cable.
15 hrs ago | Daily Camera
Grocery 3.0: Boulder County firms riding rising tide of online delivery
As Trader Joe's and Walmart entered the market, the homegrown Alfalfa's and Lucky's expanded with new stores in the northern and eastern parts of the county.
3 Injured in Head-On Collision on River Road, Driver Arrested on Suspicion of Felony DUI
By Bay City News Service A Stockton man was arrested Saturday morning on suspicion of felony DUI following a head-on injury collision on River Road in Sonoma County, the California Highway Patrol said.
Clarksville Meetup group connects friendships
Meetup Clarksville Singles group connects people who are looking to live life to the fullest through friendship.
Syria's Maaloula nuns released Sunday after December kidnapping
A source involved in the negotiations to free them told Agence France-Presse last week that the kidnappers were from a group belonging to the Al Qaeda affiliate Al Nusra Front led by a man called Abu Malek Al Kuwaiti.
Yemen to seek six-region federation as fighting in north leaves 30 dead over past two days
Yemen's interim president has ordered a panel to create a constitution that would divide Yemen into a six-region federation while attacks in the country's northwest continued, leaving at least thirty dead, according to agency reports.
6 tech companies to watch in 2014
From a company that created an app to track public transit buses in real time to a business that built a device to measure how much beer is left in a keg, Indiana startup companies have been emerging as key players in the growing tech industry.
Capitalism Fails In Greater Kansas City Area: Sprint CEO Dan Hesse 'Earns' $49 million
There's mostly celebration in that newspaper article . . . Meanwhile the Wall Street Journal offers a more accurate picture of the telcom in turnaround and now slave to new Japaneses bosses.
Tackle the big challenges that confront Wyandotte County
The high court ruled that cuts in education funding since 2010 led to an unconstitutionally imbalanced playing field between rich and poor schools.
Dona t let Facebook dictate how you feel
After becoming international sensations, Kush Sharma and fifth-grader Sophia Hoffman met again Saturday for a chance to go to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Fitch Affirms Computer Science's IDR at 'BBB'; Outlook Revised to Positive
Fitch Ratings has affirmed Computer Sciences Corp.'s Issuer Default Rating at 'BBB' and revised the Rating Outlook to Positive from Stable.
Massachusetts health care officials struggling to repair the state's hobbled website are looking at the possibility of leasing or buying technology from states with functioning insurance sites.
Watsonville Police Seeking Suspects Involved in Shooting
By Bay City News Service: Two suspects remain at large after shooting at a car in Watsonville on Thursday morning, police said.
Bellevue Meetup hosts St. Patrick's Day dinner at O'Charley's
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in style with the Bellevue Meetup group. The New to Nashville Meetup Group is planning a "Celebrate St. Patrick's Day" dinner at O'Charleys' in Bellevue on Mon.
Before Meeting Andreessen Horowitz, DigitalOcean Met Lots of Blank Stares
When founders and employees at young New York company DigitalOcean opened a few bottles of Armand de Brignac champagne a couple of weeks ago, it wasn't just to celebrate a $37.2 million investment by one of Silicon Valley's major firms.
Survey Finds Bay Area Stores Offering Plethora of Unhealthy Products Aimed at Kids
By Bay City News Service: Public health agencies throughout the Bay Area and the state Wednesday unveiled a new campaign based on the idea that people are only as healthy as the offerings at their nearest store.
Sheriff's Office Asking for Help Finding Man Missing Since February
By Bay City News Service- The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in trying to locate a 27-year-old man who hasn't been seen since Feb. 21. Terrone Carter was reported missing last Friday and was last seen on Feb. 21 driving a green 1994 Dodge Caravan with the license plate 3JRL928, sheriff's officials said.


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Search Result
Search Tags: the washington post
Fairfax teacher placed on leave for alleged racial comment
The attorney for a Fairfax County teacher accused of racially insensitive behavior says his client has been placed on paid administrative leave.
Tags: Fairfax County Public Schools, George C. Marshall High School, Marilyn Bart, The Washington Post
Top Metro salaries total $3.1 million in 2011
Metro commuters know how much it costs to ride the transit system. Here's how much those running it make.
Tags: The Washington Post, Metro, Richard Sarles
Lesbian: Priest denied Communion at mother's funeral
A lesbian from the District says a priest would not allow her to take Communion at her mother's funeral last Saturday because of her sexual orientation.
Tags: Communion, Archdiocese of Washington, The Washington Post
D.C. Council looks to cut cellphone spending
Members of the D.C. Council and about 30 staff members have spent about $61,000 in cellphone bills over the past 16 months because of excessive roaming and data charges.
Tags: D.C. Council, Kwame Brown, Muriel Bowser, Michael Brown, Nyasha Smith, The Washington Post
Holocaust Museum trying to keep important artifact
Some of the most important exhibits at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum could be in jeopardy.
Tags: U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Holocaust Museum, The Washington Post
Domestic violence agency in Washington to close
A domestic violence agency in Northwest D.C. is closing and staff members are working to quickly replace services for clients.
Tags: Washington Empowered Against Violence, WEAVE, The Washington Post, domestic violence
'Extremely Loud' likely to divide audiences
Ann Hornaday, film critic for The Washington Post
Tags: Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Red Tails
Narisetti leaves Post to join Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal says it has hired Raju Narisetti, managing editor of The Washington Post, to head its online news properties.
Tags: Raju Narisetti, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal
Md. woman says hospital denied same-sex visit
A Maryland woman says she was denied the right to visit her same-sex partner at Washington Adventist Hospital.
Tags: Washington Adventist Hospital, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Washington Post, WTTG-TV
Paper: Many in D.C. housing program behind on paying
The Washington Post reports that nearly one in five buyers participating in a city loan program for first-time homeowners is behind on mortgage payments.
Tags: Home Purchase Assistance Program, The Washington Post, mortgage


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Artist: | Devin Miles |
Title: | Never End |
Album: | None (Promo Single) |
Producer: | The University |
Avg Rating: |
Fresh off earning reader approval for the blunted Smoke Break, Devin Miles returns to our pages with yet another brand new promo single. As the title suggests, Never End is a reflection on eternity—specifically with regard to the legacy the Pittburgh emcee hopes to leave in the hip-hop game. Kyle Justice reprises … Read More


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total posts: 38
{recipe} Tofu with Thai Peanut Sauce - a healthy vegan dish bursting with Thai flavors.
Rosemary Garlic Smashed Potatoes - crispy outside, creamy inside, actually healthy. Carb heaven.
Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Swiss Meringue Buttercream - perfect for Valentine's Day.
{recipe} Spinach & Mushroom Pizza Bites - easy and delicious. The perfect last-minute appetizer.
Stop! Don't run! This Brussels sprout pizza will change your mind about this hated vegetable.
Cranberry-lime vodka makes a terrific gift - or just swig it when your family drives you nuts.
{recipe} Red Velvet Peanut Butter Blossoms - a festive take on the classic.
Lavender-Lemon Cupcakes with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting - send summer off in style.
Ramp Pizza - it doesn't get any more seasonal than this! Grab some ramps while you still can and make this simple, flavorful pizza.
Date, Walnut & Gorgonzola Grilled Cheese - one of my favorite salads turned into a sandwich.
Baked Avocado Egg Rolls - a lightened up version of one of my favorite restaurant appetizers.
Fried "rice" - there's not a grain of rice to be found in this healthy remake of the classic Chinese takeout dish. You'll never go back to delivery.
Carrot Cake Cupcakes - my go-to carrot cake recipe. Perfectly moist and not too sweet. Topped with brown sugar cinnamon cream cheese frosting.
Strawberry Basil Smoothie - peppery basil complements sweet strawberries perfectly. A cool refreshing way to start the day.
Peach Bellini Cupcakes - a classic brunch cocktail turned dessert. Fluffy peach-vanilla cake topped with tangy-sweet champagne frosting.
Roasted Cabbage - this simple way to prepare cabbage completely changes the taste.
White Bean, Kale & Quinoa Burgers - how many superfoods can fit in one veggie burger?
Salt Potatoes - a classic central New York dish. Cooking these spuds in heavily salted water results in the creamiest potato you'll ever eat.
Vegan Deviled "Eggs" - these are tasty, easy to make, low-cal and 100% egg and dairy free!
The best ever chocolate frosting - no powdered sugar or complicated beating of egg whites. Just pure, rich, chocolaty goodness.
Irish Soda Bread Muffins - a tender, flaky Irish soda bread in muffin form. Start to finish in 25 minutes and perfect for soaking up all that St. Patrick's Day Guinness.
Healthy Homemade Shamrock Shake - half the cals and carbs, 1/5 the fat and twice the protein as the original!
Creamy Brussels Sprout Dip - convert the Brussels sprout haters in your life with this rich, cheesy dip.
S'mores Cupcakes - banish winter blues with the sweet taste of summer nights around a campfire.
Tiramisu Cupcakes - everything you love about tiramisu (so...coffee & booze) gone cupcake!
Healthy Green Bean Casserole - forget condensed soups, canned beans and heavy cream. This lightened-up, protein-packed version of the Thanksgiving classic is a side dish that shines. {recipe}
Loaded Thai Sweet Potatoes - this spicy take on the twice baked potato is easy, healthy, and oh so delicious.
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus - healthy, easy, and most importantly, no-cook for those hot summer days!
Baked Avocado Fries - simple, healthy, amazing.
Classic Guacamole - I love this so much that it was the first thing I tried to save when I was in a car accident last week.
Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars - the easiest dessert - and biggest crowd-pleaser - you'll ever make.
This cherry pie is a tribute to my favorite Beastie Boy.
Kitchen Sink Cookies - oatmeal pecan chocolate chip cookies taste amazing AND help empty your pantry!
Perfect Oven Fries - all the flavor of French fries, none of the grease.


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When Joe reached the river's edge, he saw a black and gray dog with large panicked eyes looking up at him from the glacier-fed waters. Without hesitation, Joe went into the water. "I held onto the bank with one hand and felt under the water around the dog's back legs. That's when I found the trap," Joe said. "It was chained to the river bottom." Joe worked to free Jake by trying to cut the chain. Joe fought the current and the numbing cold… Finally he was able to cut through the chain and bring the shivering dog up onto the bank. (excerpt from Spring 1998 newsletter for the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce Counties, honoring Officer Joe Hunt's courageous rescue of a family pet caught in a leghold trap) Three-thousand citizens, from Bellingham to Spokane, took to the streets with petitions to gather signatures for Initiative 713. As a show of their support for restricting the use of body-gripping animal traps and poisons used for commerce and recreation in Washington, volunteers kept the pressure on for five months, gathering thousands of signatures every week. Thanks to their incredible dedication, the campaign's initial goal of 235,000 signatures was surpassed and more than a quarter of a million signatures were finally submitted to the Secretary of State's office on July 5th. With a final count of 261,268 signatures, Initiative 713 is assured a place on the November ballot. I-713's successful all-volunteer signature drive reflects the overwhelming support it has received from Washington citizens who acknowledge that steel-jawed leghold traps and other body gripping traps are inhumane and indiscriminate. More than sixty Washington State veterinarians, humane societies, and citizen, animal protection and conservation groups, including Washington Trout and several Audubon chapters, have also endorsed I-713. Body-gripping traps cause agonizing suffering and death to thousands of targeted wild animals and non-target species such as family pets, song birds and endangered species every year. Trappers themselves admit to catching as many as ten non-target species for every target animal trapped. Their web sites even proudly display photos of non-target species inadvertently caught in traps. Trapped animals can suffer from severe injuries for hours and even days. Some animals will resort to chewing off their own legs in order to escape the terror of the vise-grip. Contrary to opponents' claims, I-713 does not ban all trapping. It prohibits the use of cruel traps for commercial and recreational purposes only. Exceptions allow the use of certain body-gripping traps to protect human safety, private property, livestock, or threatened and endangered species or for wildlife research. ALL-OUT VOLUNTEER EFFORT NEEDED FOR FINAL STRETCH Now that I-713 is on the ballot, it's imperative to get the "VOTE YES!" message out to Washington citizens. This is a critical juncture for the campaign and volunteers are needed more than ever. I-713 opponents are well-financed and must be countered with a media blitz prior to the election in November. Volunteers are needed to help educate voters about I-713's common sense and practical restrictions on traps and poisons through letters to the editor, emails lists and mailings. Volunteers are also needed to host house parties and help with fundraising for paid TV and radio ads. If you are interested in getting involved , please contact:
Protect Pets and Wildlife
5200 University Way NE #201
Seattle, WA 98105
Phone: (206)526-0949 Fax: (206)526-0989
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Back to Issue 46 Contents
Back to PAWS Magazine Issues


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Jennie K. Hanson is as comfortable today at a computer keyboard (above) as she once was at her old electric typewriter when she first started writing community news 30 years ago. Her job as a writer was a sideline to her primary career as an elementary teacher in the Cromwell-Wright schools, where she taught for 32 years. Wendy firstname.lastname@example.com
Read the article: Our Neighbors…Jennie K. Hanson


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Braves activate OF Jason Heyward from disabled list
The Atlanta Braves activated outfielder Jason Heyward from the 15-day disabled list on Friday, the team announced.
Heyward wasn't expected back until next week from a broken jaw that sidelined him for a month. He will play center field and bat in the leadoff spot Friday against the Chicago Cubs.
Heyward was hitting the ball well at the time he got hurt. He was batting .366 with five home runs and 15 RBI in the last 21 games that he suited up for Atlanta.
LEMIRE: MLB Power Rankings: Nationals back in top 10 after five-month absence; Red Sox stay No. 1
The Braves are close to wrapping up the National League East, coming into this weekend with a magic number of two.


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Evidence of this reluctance is the failure of "Is It Something I Said?," the Richard Pryor biopic with Wayans attached in the lead, and Bill Condon at one time set to direct. The film has had several false starts over the last few years, and Wayans is no longer confident it will happen. "I hope so, but I doubt it," he says about the likelihood of the film entering production. "Hollywood doesn't want to bet on that kind of movie right now, and it's a shame. I think it's a beautiful movie, and the people who got the money don't understand that Pryor is an icon… studios are scared because they're owned by corporations, and they don't see it."
Wayans had previously collaborated with brother Damon Wayans on a film called "Behind The Smile" that originated from their frustration in getting a Pryor movie off the ground. The comedy-drama, about a frustrated standup comedian, was written and directed by Damon and filmed in 2006, and although it made the festival circuit, it also remains unreleased. When asked about that lost film, he says, "You gotta ask Damon, man. That's like asking Janet if Michael was ever gonna release 'Blood on the Dance Floor II.'" Clearly frustrated with the film's inability to find distribution, Marlon admits, "That was, to me, my best performance, and it's sitting in my brother's house somewhere, possibly the best performance I'll ever put together." When asked if it will be seen any time in the future, Marlon suggested, "Hopefully on VOD. Someone has got to see it."
While "A Haunted House" is Marlon's horror spoof, he's got a background in that genre with the "Scary Movie" series. Though it's clear things ended poorly on one end, he's not sorry. "They stole 'Scary Movie 3' from us, and we just wound up not doing our movie and giving it to them," he says. Now that he's seen trailers for the fifth film, he claims, "They're making chicken, but they don't realize we have the official recipe. I see the trailer, they've got Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan, Heather Locklear, that's some TV shit. That's not a movie, that's 'Celebrity Rehab.'" Even with a number of similar jokes to "A Haunted House," he's got no beef with stealing jokes. "Go see 'A Haunted House,' then go see 'Scary Movie 5' if you want," he asserts confidently. "I guarantee you they ain't got the type of jokes we got."
One potential film Marlon may be involved with, however, is a sequel to one of his more, ah, beloved films. "If 'White Chicks 2' happens, it will be a paranormal event," he jokes, before adding, "I think there's a big enough audience and everybody loves it. We have a great idea, so maybe." Referring to how "A Haunted House" was shot independently and sold to Open Road Films, he suggests, "I think it might be best to gather financing and do it, rather than at a studio."
"A Haunted House" is now playing.
Veronica Payne | August 4, 2013 5:47 PM
I love you an all your families movies ! So much talent please never stop... Veronica in Tulsa!
Sam | April 15, 2013 10:35 PM
I'm not sorry. Sorry about the whole Richard Pryor film, nothing else. The Wayans Bros are overrated hacks, quite probably intelligent people, but it doesn't show at all in their films. I wish they would stop.
Real | January 12, 2013 9:13 AM
This was very interesting. Sad to hear about the stuggles he's had getting his movies off the ground.


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The West at War, edited by Bradley C.S. Watson.
Bradley C.S. Watson, a political science professor at St. Vincent's College, has skillfully assembled eleven essays that examine the current struggle with Islamic jihad from a philosophical perspective too often lacking in other studies. Correctly viewing jihad as an attack on the West and all it stands for, these essays approach the struggle by trying to define the nature of the enemy and the nature of the West, and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of both. Paul Marshall's "Understanding Radical Islam" rightly locates the motives of the jihadists in the history and ideology of Islam, rather than in local grievances such as Palestine or Iraq. Turning to the West, James Kurth and Leon Craig decry the decadence and secularization that have left the West, and especially Europe, vulnerable to the spiritual fervor of Muslim immigrants. But are individualism, democracy, tolerance, and free-market capitalism the true culprits as Kurth and Craig suggest? Other notable essays include David Corey's study of the Christian "just war" tradition, which offers a powerful rebuttal of pacifism; Professor Watson's own "Ethics and Terror," which likewise makes a case for the current war's ethical and moral justification; and Robert Alt's "Media Bias in Iraq," a damning indictment of the way the media's skewed reporting furthers the jihadists' aims.
—Bruce S. Thornton
California State University, Fresno
* * *
This article appeared in the Spring 2007 issue of the Claremont Review of Books


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Universal service is the principle that all Americans should have access to communications services. Universal service is also the name of a fund and the category of FCC programs and policies to implement this principle. Universal service is a cornerstone of the law that established the FCC, the Communications Act of 1934. Since that time, universal service policies have helped make telephone service ubiquitous, even in remote rural areas. Today, the FCC recognizes high-speed Internet as the 21st Century's essential communications technology, and is working to make broadband as ubiquitous as voice, while continuing to support voice service.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 expanded the traditional goal of universal service to include increased access to both telecommunications and advanced services – such as high-speed Internet – for all consumers at just, reasonable and affordable rates. The Act established principles for universal service that specifically focused on increasing access to evolving services for consumers living in rural and insular areas, and for consumers with low-incomes. Additional principles called for increased access to high-speed Internet in the nation's schools, libraries and rural health care facilities. The FCC established four programs within the Universal Service Fund to implement the statute. The four programs are:
- Connect America Fund (formally known as High-Cost Support) for rural areas
- Lifeline (for low-income consumers), including initiatives to expand phone service for Native Americans
- Schools and Libraries (E-rate)
- Rural Health Care
The Universal Service Fund is paid for by contributions from telecommunications carriers, including wireline and wireless companies, and interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers, including cable companies that provide voice service, based on an assessment on their interstate and international end-user revenues. The Universal Service Administrative Company, or USAC, administers the four programs and collects monies for the Universal Service Fund under the direction of the FCC. The FCC's annual monitoring report tracks contributions and disbursements.
The FCC is reforming, streamlining, and modernizing all of its universal service programs to drive further investment in and access to 21st century broadband and voice services. These efforts are focused on targeting support for broadband expansion and adoption as well as improving efficiency and eliminating waste in the programs.
HISTORY OF UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUNDThe Federal Communications Commission was created by the Communications Act of 1934. Universal service was one of the core mandates of that legislation whose purpose included making "available…to all the people of the United States…a rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges.
In 1934, telephone service was considered to be a "natural monopoly," a service best delivered by one company rather than two or more competitors. The U.S. government allowed AT&T, then the monopoly provider, to operate in a non-competitive environment in most areas of the country in exchange for the federal and state government regulation of price and service quality. In areas that AT&;T did not serve, small companies, including cooperatives owned by residents of the local community, provided phone service. The concept of universal service evolved over the decades to mean the development of an infrastructure that provides telephone service to all consumers at a reasonable price. Funding for universal service came from a series of access charges that long distance carriers paid as intercarrier compensation (ICC) to local exchange companies for originating and terminating the long distance calls. Even after the breakup of AT&T in 1982, only interstate long distance companies were required to contribute funds towards universal service.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was the first major re-write of the Communications Act of 1934. It opened up local markets to competition, which changed the dynamics of the existing system of funding universal service. The 1996 Act explicitly adopted principles to guide universal service policy. These include to:
- Promote the availability of quality services at just, reasonable and affordable rates for all consumers
- Increase nationwide access to advanced telecommunications services
- Advance the availability of such services to all consumers, including those in low income, rural, insular, and high cost areas, at rates that are reasonably comparable to those charged in urban areas
- Increase access to telecommunications and advanced services in schools, libraries and rural health care facilities
- Provide equitable and non-discriminatory contributions from all providers of telecommunications services to the fund supporting universal service programs
In addition, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 directed the FCC to formalize what services a company must provide in order to receive funds. For example, an eligible telecommunications company must be able to demonstrate its ability to remain functional in emergency situations. The Act also expanded the universe of companies required to pay into the fund from only interstate long-distance carriers to include all telecommunications carriers (regardless of whether they are wireline, wireless or satellite companies). The Telecommunications Act of 1996 led to the creation of the Universal Service Administrative Company, or USAC, an independent, not-for-profit corporation designated as the administrator of the federal Universal Service Fund by the FCC. The Act also called for the creation of a Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service to make recommendations to implement the universal service provisions of the Act. This Joint Board is comprised of FCC Commissioners, State Utility Commissioners, and a consumer advocate representative.
The Universal Service Fund provides support through four programs:
- High-Cost Support (now known as the Connect America Fund) provides support to certain qualifying telephone companies that serve high-cost areas, thereby ensuring that the residents of these regions have access to reasonably comparable service at rates reasonably comparable to urban areas
- Low-Income Support, also called the Lifeline program, assists low-income customers by helping to pay for monthly telephone charges so that telephone service is more affordable
- Schools and Libraries Support, also known as the "E-Rate," provides telecommunication services (e.g., local and long-distance calling, both fixed and mobile, high-speed data transmission lines), Internet access, and internal connections (the equipment that delivers these services to particular locations) to eligible schools and libraries
- Rural Health Care Support allows rural health care providers to pay rates for telecommunications services similar to those of their urban counterparts, making telehealth services affordable, and also subsidizes Internet access
In early 2009, Congress directed the FCC to develop a National Broadband Plan to ensure every American has "access to broadband capability. The plan was released in March of 2010. The plan highlighted ways that the government could influence the broadband ecosystem including to "reform current universal service mechanisms to support the deployment of broadband and voice in high-cost areas; and ensure that low-income Americans can afford broadband; and in addition, support efforts to boost adoption and utilization."
Consistent with the National Broadband Plan, in February 2011, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to comprehensively reform and modernize the universal service High-Cost program and intercarrier compensation systems to ensure that robust affordable voice and broadband service, both fixed and mobile, are available to Americans throughout the nation. The rulemaking process was guided by four principles rooted in the Communications Act of 1934and the Telecommunications Act of 1996:
- Modernize USF and ICC for Broadband. Modernize and refocus USF and ICC to make affordable broadband available to all Americans and accelerate the transition from circuit-switched to IP networks, with voice ultimately one of many applications running over fixed and mobile broadband networks
- Fiscal Responsibility. Control the size of USF as it transitions to support broadband, including by reducing waste and inefficiency
- Accountability. Require accountability from companies receiving support to ensure that public investments are used wisely to deliver intended results. Government must also be accountable for the administration of USF, including through clear goals and performance metrics for the program
- Incentive-Based Policies. Transition to incentive-based policies that encourage technologies and services that maximize the value of scarce program resources and the benefits to all consumers
In October 2011, the Commission adopted its first rulemaking decision to implement these principles informally called the "USF/ICC Transformation Order." The Commission established the following goals:
- Preserve and advance voice service
- Ensure universal availability of voice and broadband to homes, businesses and community anchor institutions
- Ensure the availability of mobile voice, and broadband where Americans live, work or travel
- Ensure reasonably comparable rates for broadband and voice service
- Minimize universal contribution burden on consumers and businesses
One of the key elements of the Order was to expand the public interest obligations for eligible telecommunication carriers to deploy infrastructure that can provide broadband service in addition to voice service. In addition, the Order created the "Connect America Fund" to replace all existing high-cost support mechanisms. One of the goals of the Connect America Fund is to extend broadband to those Americans that lack service today, while preserving voice service. Another one of the goals of the Connect America Fund is to help make advanced mobile services – including mobile voice and broadband – available in areas that would not otherwise have those services. Implementation of this goal will be through incentive-based, market driven policies such as phase one of the Mobility Fund which uses a competitive bidding process to help expand 3G and 4 G mobile wireless networks in areas where it would be cost effective to develop with a one-time investment from the Connect America Fund.
2014 Universal Service Headlines
- 3/12/2014
Boulevard Nursery School, Brooklyn, NY, et al.: Granted three and denied nine requests for waiver and review of Universal Service Administrative Company decisions under the E-rate program.
Word PDF - 3/12/2014
Central Islip Union Free School District, Central Islip, NY/Jennings School District, Jennings, MO: Granted two requests for review of Universal Service Administrative Company decisions under the E-rate program.
Word PDF - 3/12/2014
Coaxial Cable Television Public Notice: Seeks comment on a January 2014 decision by the Universal Service Administrative Company rejecting revisions to Coaxial's 2011 and 2012 Forms 499-A.
Word PDF - 3/11/2014
IHS/White Swan Appeal Order: Denied IHS/White Swan's request for review of a decision of the Universal Service Administrative Company under the Rural Health Care Program.
Word PDF - 3/7/2014
Rural Broadband Workshop Agenda Public Notice: Announces agenda for March 19 Rural Broadband Workshop.
Word PDF - 3/7/2014
FY 2014 PIA Approval Letter to USAC: Wireline Competition Bureau approves the E-rate Funding Year 2014 PIA FCC Form 471 Review Procedures, subject to further Commission modification of application prioritization.
Word PDF - 3/6/2014
E-Rate Modernization Focused Comment Public Notice: Seeks focused comment on three issues raised in the E-rate Modernization NPRM that merit further inquiry as the Commission moves towards modernizing the E-rate program to meet schools' and libraries' broadband connectivity needs.
Word PDF - 3/5/2014
USAC Recertification Public Notice: Provides guidance to ETCs regarding the process to elect the Universal Service Administrative Company to perform the recertification of ETCs' lifeline subscribers in 2014.
Word PDF
- 2/28/2014
Adak Eagle Enterprises, LLC and Windy City Cellular, LLC Further Extension Order: The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Wireline Competition Bureau extend further limited, interim fixed support in the amount of $33,276 for AEE and $40,104 for WCC monthly, beginning February 2014, for, whichever comes first, a period of no longer than six months or until the Bureaus and/or the Commission complete review of the companies' Petition for Reconsideration and/or Application for Review.
Word PDF - 2/27/2014
Rural Broadband Workshop Public Notice: Announced, per the Technology Transitions Order, a Rural Broadband Workshop to be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 in the Commission Meeting Room.
Word PDF - 2/24/2014
Boston Renaissance School, Boston, MA et al.: Granted requests of 17 applicants, and denied requests of 17 applicants, seeking review of Universal Service Administrative Company decisions, and dismissed two petitions for reconsideration of Wireline Competition Bureau orders, under the E-rate program.
Word PDF - 2/24/2014
Dismissing Waiver Deadline Petitions Public Notice: Dismissed four petitions for waiver of various high-cost universal service filing deadline, where petitioners did not, in response to a Public Notice, express to the Commission continuing intent to pursue their petitions.
Word PDF - 2/21/2014
Ben Gamla Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, FL et al.: Granted 9 requests for review of Universal Service Administrative Company decisions under the E-rate program.
Word PDF - 2/20/2014
Annunciation Elementary School, Denver, CO et al.: Denied 15 requests for review or waiver of Universal Service Administrative Company decisions, and dismissed two petitions for reconsideration of a Wireline Competition Bureau order, under the E-rate program.
Word PDF - 2/20/2014
Skilled Nursing Facility Program Public Notice: Deferral of the Skilled Nursing Facility Pilot Program pending the Commission's consideration of healthcare related proposals in WC Docket No. 10-90.
Word PDF - 2/18/2014
NTUA Wireless, Inc. ETC Designation Order: : Conditionally designated NTUA Wireless as an ETC on the Navajo Nation for areas in which eligible for support in Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I (TMF I); otherwise designated it as eligible for Lifeline-only support on Navajo Nation where not receiving TMF I.
Word PDF - 2/7/2014
Joint Board Appointments Order: Appointed the Honorable Stephen Michael Bloom and the Honorable Chris Nelson to serve on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, and the Honorable Sally Talberg to serve on the Federal-State Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations.
Word PDF - 2/6/2014
Census Tracts Public Notice: Released a list of census tracts in price cap areas potentially suitable for targeted technology transitions experiments, with associated potential support amounts, based on Connect America Cost Model v4.0..
Word PDF - 2/6/2014
Connect America Model v4.0 Illustrative Maps Public Notice: Released maps of illustrative results for Connect America Cost Model Version 4.0.
Word PDF
- 1/31/2014
2014 Telecommunications Reporting Worksheets Public Notice: Release of 2014 FCC Forms 499 and accompanying instructions.
Word PDF 2014 FCC Form 499-A 2014 FCC Form 499-Q - 1/31/2014
TracFone Petition for Waiver Public Notice: Seeks comment on TracFone's petition for waiver of certain Lifeline rules prohibiting the retention of eligibility documentation.
Word PDF - 1/31/2014
Grande Contributions Order: Granted in part Grande's request for review of a 2009 audit decision of Grande's 2005, 2006 and 2007 FCC Forms 499-A by the Universal Service Administrative Company.
Word PDF - 1/23/2014
E-Rate Second Level Protective Order: Adopted procedures to provide more limited access to certain particularly competitively sensitive information that may be filed in the E-rate Modernization proceeding.
Word PDF - 1/23/2014
E-Rate First Level Protective Order: Adopted procedures to limit access to proprietary or confidential information that may be filed in the E-rate Modernization proceeding.
Word PDF - 1/17/2014
Windstream Extension Order: Grants Windstream an extension of 7 days to complete and submit Urban Rates Survey.
Word PDF - 1/17/2014
California Telehealth Network Public Notice: Seeks comment on a California Telehealth Network request for review of a Universal Service Administrative Company Rural Health Care program decision.
Word PDF - 1/16/2014
Frontier Extension Order: Grants Frontier an extension of 7 days to complete and submit Urban Rates Survey.
Word PDF - 1/16/2014
Montgomery County School District, Rockville, MD: Granted Montgomery County School District's request for review of Universal Service Administrative Company decisions under the E-rate program.
Word PDF - 1/15/2014
2014 Benchmarks Public Notice: Released the 2014 HCLS benchmarks.
Word PDF Benchmarks - 1/14/2014
National Lifeline Accountability Database Public Notice: The Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Duty to Query the National Lifeline Accountability Database.
Word PDF - 1/10/2014
Adak-Windy City Interim Support Extension Order: Approved limited, interim relief for Adak and Windy City from certain Commission rules governing high-cost universal service support, to provide the companies with limited additional interim support.
Word PDF - 1/10/2014
Connect America Phase I Challenge Resolution Order: Resolved challenges in the Connect America Phase I challenge process and authorized distribution of approximately $18.7 million in Phase I support.
Word PDF - 1/9/2014
Study Area Boundary Extension Order: Order extending the deadline to file revised study area boundary data from January 13, 2014 to March 17, 2014.
Word PDF


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< Return To Hearing
The Honorable Donna StoneSeptember 12, 2007
The Honorable Donna D. Stone President, Testimony September 12, 2007 Good morning. I would like to thank Chairman Leahy, Ranking Member Specter and the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee for inviting me here this morning to speak to you about the preemption crisis facing states today. My name is Donna Stone and I am a state representative from the state of Delaware and the current President of the National Conference of State Legislatures. NCSL is a bipartisan organization representing the legislatures from the 50 states and the U.S. Territories. I ask that my written testimony be accepted and incorporated into the record. NCSL is troubled by the growing trend in both Congress and federal agencies to pass or promulgate legislation and rules that have a substantial detrimental impact on states because of their intrusively preemptive nature. NCSL has tracked these preemptions in our Preemption Monitor, a publication that we initiated to alert state legislators nationwide to the alarming number of federal legislative and regulatory preemptions. As a result of federal preemption, a large part of the policy jurisdiction of state legislatures and of city and county officials has been lost. States and localities cannot legislate in response to their citizens' needs when the federal government has preempted the policy field. What is lost is the capacity for regional and local self-government. The cornerstone policy of NCSL is our Federalism policy. Set forth in this policy resolution are the building blocks for a sound and robust state-federal partnership. The NCSL Federalism policy makes several important observations about the role of the states and federal government in our federal system of which we should all take note. Specifically, our policy recognizes that individual liberties can be protected by dividing power between levels of government; in other words, division of power between federal and state governments also serves as a check on the power of each. As the Supreme Court properly stated in New York v. United States (1992): "When one level of government becomes deficient or engages in excesses, the other level of government serves as a channel for renewed expressions of self-government." Our Federalism policy also recognizes the importance of state innovation and creativity. As Justice Brandeis wrote in his dissenting opinion in the case of New State Ice Co. v. Liebmann, 285 U.S. 262, 311 (1932)(Brandeis, J., dissenting): Finally, NCSL is committed to the goal of restoring balance to our dual system of government by inviting Congress to reexamine some of its own recent preemptive actions, as well as to scrutinize some of the more recent federal agency actions that have frustrated this policy goal. We at NCSL hope that this hearing will serve as an important first step toward repairing the damage that has been done to states through ill-considered preemptive actions. However, before I address the solutions to this problem, I wish to highlight some of the lowlights of the last several years. Agency Preemptions In August, 2005, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on Roof Crush Resistance. The NPRM contained a federalism assessment required by Executive Order 13132 which stated that the agency had reviewed and analyzed the proposed rule against the criteria contained in the Executive Order and had determined that the NPRM did not have "sufficient federal implications to warrant consultation with State and local officials or the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement." See Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 162 at 49245 (Tuesday, August 23, 2005). The NPRM further stated that "the proposal would not have any substantial impact on the States, or on the current Federal-State relationship, or on the current distribution of power and responsibilities among the various officials." Id. The NPRM then went on to state that "if the proposal were adopted as a final rule, it would preempt all conflicting State common law requirements, including rules of tort law." Id. at 49246. Whether NHTSA recognized that a preemption of this nature would obviously impact states significantly, or whether NHTSA was being disingenuous is unknown. What is known is that there was no consultation conducted with NCSL, state attorneys general or any other state or local government entity, and the NPRM was allowed to pass through the Office of Management and Budget and be published in the Federal Register. The fact that NHTSA did not consult with NCSL prior to this NPRM's publication in the Federal Register is the critical one. Had this language become part of a final rule, NTSHA, a federal agency comprised of unelected civil servants, would have succeeded in establishing state tort law and liability standards. The parameters of state tort law, and more specifically whether to allow lawsuits on certain types of claims, are clearly policy decisions most appropriately crafted by elected state legislators and judges, not by federal agencies. This NPRM most definitely had significant impact on the federal-state relationship and had very substantial impact on every state in the country that allows wrongful death lawsuits in the event of a vehicle rollover. Spurred by concern about this proposed rule, NCSL went one step further. We contracted with the Pacific Institute for Research and Analysis to conduct an analysis of how much a federal preemption of this nature would cost states. The ensuing report found that the financial burden placed on State governments as a result of the preemption provision contained in the NHTSA rule would be between $49 and $71 million per year, primarily as a result of increased state-paid medical and disability costs. Had NHTSA been required to consult with states by something more binding than an Executive Order, this impact would have been known in advance of the NPRM's publication, and efforts to minimize the preemption could have been undertaken. Another important facet of this particular rulemaking that I alluded to earlier is that there was absolutely no statutory authority for the NHTSA preemption contained in the NPRM's underlying statute, which was Section 7251 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005. Instead, NHTSA placed its authority to act in the holding of a 2000 Supreme Court case called Geier v. Honda, Inc., 529 U.S. 861 (2000), which actually upheld the rights of citizens to file common law tort cases in vehicle airbag cases. Conversely, the NHTSA language in the NPRM expressly stated that common law tort lawsuits would be prohibited. I want to thank Senators Leahy and Specter for sending their letter of concern to NHTSA, which echoed the concerns of NCSL on this NPRM. Close on the heels of the NHTSA NPRM came another, even more disturbing proposed rule, this time by the Food and Drug Administration. In December, 2005, the FDA determined that it was time to finalize a rule on prescription drug labeling which had lain dormant for five years. NCSL was aware of this rule, but did not submit comments because the original language of this NPRM expressly stated that there would be no federalism implications because the proposed rule would not preempt state law. See, Federal Register, Vol. 65, No. 247, p. 81103, December 22, 2000. Because of the express statement of non-preemption, the consultation requirements of Executive Order 13132 were not triggered. On December 30, 2006, NCSL learned that the FDA planned to finalize its rule and include a policy statement that the provisions of the prescription drug labeling rule would preempt state product liability laws. NCSL approached FDA officials and asked for three things: a consultation meeting pursuant to the Federalism Executive Order, a copy of the proposed language, and that the FDA re-open the comment period to allow NCSL to file formal comments on this very significant and preemptive change. The FDA ignored the first request. The second and third requests were denied. However, it is interesting to note that during this rule's 5-year dormancy period, the FDA had allowed certain large pharmaceutical companies to submit comments pertaining to preemption after the expiration of the comment period. States, however, were not given the same deference, and the FDA finalized this rule in mid-January, 2006. Once again, unelected federal bureaucrats had succeeded in forming state tort law policy over the objections of the states. Most recently, in early 2007, the IRS issued a revenue ruling concerning Section 162(h) of the Tax Code. Section 162(h) provides for the per diem deduction to any day that the legislature is in session. This section specifies that a legislative day, " shall be any day during such year on which - (A) the legislature was in session (including any day in which the legislature was not in session for a period of 4 consecutive days or less)". Section 162(h)(2)(A). Congress provided no more specificity or limitations in the definition of legislative session. Pursuant to this revenue ruling, the IRS told state legislators that they could not take per diem deductions for days that the legislature was in session, but during which no substantial business was conducted. This interpretation was not based on any statute or existing rule of law, yet it sought to essentially define what would constitute a "legislative day." The unelected IRS officials unilaterally, and without any consultation with states as to the state impact, decided to craft state policy in a manner that preempted many state statutes or constitutions, or both, which specifically define what constitutes a "legislative day." All of these circumstances surrounding the regulatory actions of the NHTSA, the FDA, and the IRS made it abundantly clear to NCSL that something more than an Executive Order on Federalism would be needed to keep agency action in check. We think we know how to bring our federal-state system back into balance. Additionally, the following examples illustrate what happens when there is a lack of agency/state consultations. In the FY 2008 budget, the Administration proposed to make a number of "administrative" changes that would fundamentally alter and substantially reduce federal support for the Medicaid program. Many of these proposals were at one time submitted as legislative proposals and rejected by Congress. In some cases Congress has enacted moratoria on the proposed regulatory actions. In 2007, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has promulgated the following rules that would significantly amend the Medicaid statute without guidance or consideration by Congress and without meaningful consultation with state and local governments or their national associations: NCSL believes the key to the successful implementation of Medicaid and SCHIP is stability in funding and rules of engagement. If the Department of Health and Human Services was required by law to consult with state and local government officials or their national associations, the adverse impact of these agency actions could have been minimized and perhaps avoided. Legislative Preemptions Real ID ACT of 2005 The process whereby the Real ID Act was enacted, as well as the proposed DL/ID standards themselves, ignores the basic principles of federalism that respect diversity without causing division and that foster unity without enshrining uniformity. The Real ID Act of 2005 was added to a must-pass supplemental spending bill for the war on terrorism and tsunami relief. With its enactment, the Real ID Act repealed an existing negotiated rulemaking process for establishing DL/ID standards, in which NCSL participated, and instead put into statute prescriptive mandates. The negotiated rulemaking process would have made the development of standards a partnership instead of a preemption of existing state practices. The process ignored the fact that DL/ID cards have been issued by states for over 90 years under the constitutional authority of the 10th Amendment, and failed to provide state legislators with any notice of congressional intent or opportunity for formal or informal comment prior to the law's enactment. Mr. Chairman and committee members, creative solutions to public problems can be achieved more readily when states are accorded due respect. Uniformity for uniformity's sake does not justify preemption. As you know, at least six states--Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Washington--have enacted legislation stating their refusal to comply with the provisions with the Real ID Act. Vaccine liability exemption - H.R. 2863, defense appropriations rider Drug Administration Revitalization Act. Election Reform - H.R. 811 If members of Congress are better informed about the preemptive impact of legislative proposals, then we believe, based on our experience with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, that fewer provisions preempting state law will be proposed. Even when Congress decides that preemption is necessary, we believe that preemptive language will be more carefully targeted and more narrowly crafted. We think that greater clarity in bill drafting will allow states, courts and the general public to know more precisely when Congress intends to preempt and where the limits are on the scope of the preemption. Proposed Solutions to Excessive Preemptions NCSL believes that the Federalism Executive Order should be codified into statute to protect elected state policymakers from the uninformed actions of unelected federal agency bureaucrats. Additionally, we believe that the provisions of this new law should be extended to legislative actions undertaken by Congress. Specifically, NCSL would like to see a new piece of congressional legislation that contains the following principles: 1. Partnership and enhanced consultation. NCSL would support provisions to provide for consultation with state and local elected officials or their representative national associations prior to the consideration of any legislation or federal regulations that would interfere with or intrude upon historic and traditional state and local rights and responsibilities. 2. Rule of Construction. NCSL would support provisions to ensure that, absent any explicit statement of intent to preempt or absent any irreconcilable conflicts with state law, any ambiguities would be construed in favor of state law. 3. Enforcement. NCSL supports provisions to ensure congressional and agency accountability and enforcement. The point of order in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) has made members of Congress increasingly aware of potential impacts of federal laws and regulations on state and local taxpayers. We believe that a mechanism to ensure this recognition regarding preemption in both the legislative and the regulatory arenas is critical. 4. Legislative Report. NCSL supports efforts to include a federalism assessment in every committee and conference report. This will help members appreciate the potential impact on our levels of government, our taxpayers, and our programs. 5. Agency Impact Statement. Early in the rulemaking process, it is essential to codify the provisions of the Federalism Executive Order to ensure that every federal agency engages in a meaningful consultation process with elected state and local officials or their national associations, as well as with other impacted stakeholders. This will help to determine the potential impact of final administrative rules on our partnership. NCSL believes that these recommendations, taken in the cumulative, will benefit everyone - state and local governments, the federal government and the general public -- because they foster greater transparency, greater cooperation between governmental units and more information sharing all around. NCSL is prepared to work with you, Chairman Leahy, Ranking Member Specter and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to make these policy considerations a legislative reality. I believe that this type of legislation will serve to strengthen and fortify the intergovernmental partnership. My hope is that with your leadership, legislation to address the states' concerns on preemption will be introduced soon so that it can successfully make its way through the legislative process during this session. Thank you for your time today. |