Commentary: Are National Parks Still Relevant?

On the occasion of the National Parks centennial comes an irreverent question: Are the parks still relevant? Famously christened as America\u27s best idea by writer Wallace Stegner and reaffirmed in Ken Burns\u27 2009 PBS documentary, it seems brazen, if not blasphemous, to pose the question. [excerpt

Health Insurance Exchanges: Organizing Health Insurance Marketplaces to Promote Health Reform Goals

Examines whether and how the proposed health insurance exchange to organize an efficient marketplace would address problems individuals and employers face in buying insurance and thereby increase coverage. Considers lessons learned from earlier efforts

Why New York State Still Needs Single Payer Health Care

Conventional wisdom in the United States holds that our health care system, while costly, achieves some of the best outcomes in the world. A report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), however, conclusively refutes these assumptions. In a survey of current and historical health data for 17 other high-income democracies, the IOM found that the United States ranked dead last in life expectancy among males and second-to-last among females, despite spending substantially more per person on health care than any other nation. In measure after measure, Americans were found to have poorer health and higher rates of disease compared to their peer-country counterparts

Unlocking the Potential of School Nursing: Keeping Children Healthy, in School, and Ready to Learn

Outlines disparities in school nurse staffing; promising policies and funding strategies; the role of school nurses in the educational, healthcare, and public health systems; and the challenges they face. Calls for better coordination between sectors

Enhancing Federal Agency Peer Review

Peer review, the process of reviewing a piece of scientific research for accuracy and reliability, is widely used in government. It serves an important function, allowing government agencies and other groups to assess the validity of research and identify any possible shortcomings. Unfortunately however, it is often not used effectively. This White Paper examines the use of peer review by federal agencies, with a particular focus on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It discusses the existing federal regulatory framework for peer review and recommends various changes thereto designed to improve the effectiveness of peer review. The White Paper was written by J.D. student Ian Petersen, with support from the University of Texas Regulatory Oversight Group (UTROG). UTROG is an unofficial organization at the University of Texas. It is comprised of law students who work with faculty to identify opportunities to enhance public participation in important federal and state regulatory programs. Its positions do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration of the KBH Center, the Law School, or the University of Texas.The Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law, and Busines