Union leaders assert that those stepped-up efforts are nothing more than crude political retaliation.

There must be stepped-up efforts to attract more high school students to nursing schools.

But beginning about a year ago, its stepped-up effort started to take hold and the potential for great profits is there.

And so far, several advertisers have said they appreciate the stepped-up efforts.

A number of factors, however, point to stepped-up efforts to rescue the Burnhams.

Lower oil prices have led to stepped-up efforts by producers to become more efficient.

With construction scheduled to begin next September, there is a stepped-up effort by opponents to block it.

The order is part of a stepped-up effort to stop employers from hiring illegal immigrants and to open jobs for American citizens.

I find it insulting that "at the county level, stepped-up efforts are under way to educate the public on water conservation."

She called for a stepped-up cooperative effort to "put major traffickers behind bars."