Top Coast Guard Official Asks States to Consider Requiring Boat Licenses 

Admiral Thad Allen discusses boat safety.
(2 minutes, 52 seconds)

Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, waded into murky waters as he asked state legislators to consider efforts to require licensing for the nation's 77 million boaters. Find out more on NCSL's blog, The Thicket at State Legislatures.

The Story Behind California's New Climate Change Law

California Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez discusses the background of his climate change bill.
(2 minutes, 24 seconds)

Speaker Núñez discusses the process of getting his climate change bill through the legislature.
(3 minutes, 22 seconds)

California Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez's 14-year-old daughter was instrumental in the crafting of his sweeping greenhouse gas legislation, the speaker said.
Find out more on NCSL's blog, The Thicket at State Legislatures.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Asks for Stronger Child Sex Crime Laws

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales urged states to strengthen penalties for pedophiles and child pornographers. Find out more on NCSL's blog, The Thicket at State Legislatures.

A New Immigration Age

Demetrios Papademetriou talks about this "Age of Mobility."
(6 minutes)

Demetrios Papademetriou says America has never been a "melting pot."
(6 minutes, 6 second)

Immigration is taking place on an unprecedented scale in places all over the world, President of the  Migration Policy Institute Demetrios Papademetriou told state legislators and legislative staff.  Find out more on NCSL's blog, The Thicket at State Legislatures.

Record-Breaking Year for State Immigration Legislation

Director of NCSL's Immigrant Policy Project Ann Morse discusses state immigration legislation.
(1 minute, 30 seconds)

Director of NCSL's Immigrant Policy Project Ann Morse discusses the history of immigration legislation.
(3 minutes, 40 seconds)

In a typical year, state legislators introduce between 50 and 100 bills about immigration. In 2006, they introduced 570, NCSL policy analyst Ann Morse said at a session about trade policy. Find out more on NCSL's blog, The Thicket at State Legislatures.