Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO exists to support the Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the performance and ensure the accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the American people. GAO's work covers virtually every area in which the federal government is or may become involved, anywhere in the world. Perhaps just as importantly, our work sometimes leads us to sound the alarm over problems looming just beyond the horizon--such as our nation's enormous long-term fiscal challenges--and help policymakers address these challenges in a timely and informed manner. This testimony focuses on GAO's (1) fiscal year 2003 performance and results; (2) efforts to maximize our effectiveness, responsiveness, and value; and (3) budget request for fiscal year 2005 to support the Congress and serve the American people."

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "In response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the Congress enacted the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act (Stabilization Act) that provided, among other things, $5 billion in emergency assistance to compensate the nation's air carriers for losses incurred as a result of the attacks. Pursuant to a previous congressional request, we monitored the Department of Transportation's (DOT) progress in administering the emergency assistance program. As a result of our work, we reported on the payment process DOT employed to administer the program, details on the losses claimed by the air carriers, and the payments disbursed under the program. Now, Section 824 of the Vision 100 Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act requires that we report on the criteria and procedures used by DOT to compensate air carriers under the Stabilization Act emergency assistance program with a particular focus on whether it is appropriate to compensate air carriers for the decrease in value (asset impairment) of their aircraft after September 11, 2001, and to ensure that comparable air carriers receive comparable percentages of the maximum compensation payable. DOT published its criteria and procedures …

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) primary mission is to protect investors and the integrity of securities markets. Among other things, SEC regulations require companies to file reports with SEC disclosing information that would be considered "material" to a reasonable investor. A matter is material if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable person would consider it important. Environmental risks and liabilities are among the conditions that, if undisclosed, could impair the public's ability to make sound investment decisions. For example, the discovery of extensive hazardous waste contamination at company-owned facilities could expose a company to hundreds of millions of dollars in cleanup costs, while impending environmental regulations could affect a company's future financial position if the company were required to shut down plants or invest in expensive new technology. To monitor companies' disclosures, SEC reviews their filings and issues comment letters requesting revisions or additional information, if needed. Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not have a direct role in monitoring environmental disclosures, the agency notifies companies of potential disclosure obligations and periodically shares relevant information with SEC. The report addresses (1) key stakeholders' views …

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) is meant to provide a consistent approach to evaluating federal programs during budget formulation. The subcommittee asked GAO to discuss our recent report, Performance Budgeting: Observations on the Use of OMB's Program Assessment Rating Tool for the Fiscal 2004 Budget (GAO-04-174) and strategies for improving PART and furthering the goals envisioned by the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA)."

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO is required to annually audit the financial statements of the three funds administered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC): the Bank Insurance Fund (BIF), the Savings Association Insurance Fund (SAIF), and the FSLIC (Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation) Resolution Fund (FRF). GAO is responsible for obtaining reasonable assurance about whether FDIC's financial statements for BIF, SAIF, and FRF are presented fairly in all material respects, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and whether FDIC maintains effective internal controls and FDIC has complied with selected laws and regulations. Created in 1933 to insure bank deposits and promote sound banking practices, FDIC plays an important role in maintaining public confidence in the nation's financial system. In 1989, legislation to reform the federal deposit insurance system created three funds to be administered by FDIC: BIF and SAIF, which protect bank and savings deposits, and FRF, which was created to close out the business of the former Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. GAO was asked by the Chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Financial Services, to discuss the results of its …

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks highlighted the importance of data collection, information sharing, and coordination within the U.S. government. Such efforts are important whether focused on terrorism or as an integral part of a broader strategy for combating money laundering. In this testimony, GAO addresses (1) the challenges the U.S. government faces in deterring terrorists' use of alternative financing mechanisms, (2) the steps that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have taken to implement a May 2003 Memorandum of Agreement concerning terrorist financing investigations, and (3) whether the annual National Money Laundering Strategy (NMLS) has served as a useful mechanism for guiding the coordination of federal efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. GAO's testimony is based on two reports written in September 2003 (GAO-03-813) and November 2003 (GAO-04-163) for the Caucus and congressional requesters within the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, as well as a February 2004 report (GAO-04-464R) on related issues for the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security."

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The increasing diversion of prescription drugs for illegal purposes or abuse is a disturbing trend in the nation's battle against drug abuse. Diversion can include such activities as prescription forgery and "doctor shopping" by individuals who visit numerous physicians to obtain multiple prescriptions. The most frequently diverted prescription drugs are controlled substances that are prone to abuse, addiction, and dependence, such as hydrocodone (the active ingredient in Lortab and many other drugs) and oxycodone (the active ingredient in OxyContin and many other drugs). Some states use prescription drug monitoring programs to control illegal diversion of prescription drugs that are controlled substances. GAO was asked to examine (1) how state monitoring programs compare in terms of their objectives and operation and (2) the impact of state monitoring programs on illegal diversion of prescription drugs. This testimony is based on GAO's report, Prescription Drugs: State Monitoring Programs Provide Useful Tool to Reduce Diversion, GAO-02-634 (May 17, 2002). In that report, the programs in Kentucky, Utah, and Nevada were selected for more in-depth study because they were the most recently established programs at the time."

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether municpal management districts have eminent domain powers (RQ-0228-GA)

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether a home-rule city charter provisions governing the frequency of elections apply to elections implementing a tax freeze under article VIII, ∫ 1-b(h) of the Texas Constitution (RQ-0242-GA)

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Residency requirements for voting in an election in Texas (RQ-0157-GA)

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Obligation of a state agency to pay for the services of an attorney ad litem appointed for a parent under section 107.013 of the Family Code (RQ-0090-GA)

This technical brief is a guide to selecting high-temperature metallic materials for use in process heating applications such as burners, electrical heating elements, material handling, load support, and heater tubes, etc.

Email from Michael Moon to the Dallas Stonewall Democrats about the 2004 Texas Democratic Convention.

Reconciliation report with an ending account balance of $3,247.57 reconciled for the period ending on December 31, 2003.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Charles Riddle. Riddle was born in Rochester, Indiana. Upon graduating from high school in 1945 he enlisted in the US Army in April 1946. He went to Camp Lee, Virginia for basic training and was then sent to the Panama Canal Zone where he worked in the Finance Office for approximately one year before he returned to the United States.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Reuben J. Kammlah. Kammlah served in the Navy aboard the attack cargo ship USS Algorab (AKA-8) as a gunner's mate.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Richard Hamilton. Hamilton joined the Marine Corps in July of 1945. In January of 1946 he was sent overseas as a replacement. He traveled to Tangku in North China, where he remained for the duration of his service. He worked on bridge guard duty, ensuring the bridges remained open. He shares his experiences living and working in China after the war. Hamilton was sent home and discharged in September of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Elbert Dixon. Dixon joined the Marine Corps in November of 1944. He completed radio school. In April of 1945 he went overseas as a replacement. He traveled to Pearl Harbor, and worked as a guard in the brig. They traveled on to Eniwetok, Truk, Kwajalein, Saipan and Guam. Dixon and his unit participated in the Battle of Okinawa, where he served as a radioman with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. Dixon was discharged in August of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Louis Weller. Weller was born in Fowler, Michigan on 3 January 1925. In 1943 he joined the US Marine Corps and reported to San Diego for boot camp. Upon completing boot training, he was assigned to the motor pool in Marine Photographic Squadron 154 (VMD-154) at Kearney Naval Air Station, California. In September 1945 he boarded a transport for Zamboanga, Philippines. Upon his arrival he was assigned to VMB-443. After a short period of time he returned to Zamboanga where he joined VMF-115 of Marine Air Group 12. On 13 October 1945, the squadron went aboard the USS Hydrus (AKA-28) and set sail for Taku, China. Arriving there, the equipment was off loaded and moved to Beijing. In the spring of 1946 the squadron was transferred into Marine Air Group 24 and moved to Nanfang Airfield, China. In July 1946, Weller went aboard the USS General J.C. Breckinridge (AP-176) and returned to the United States. He was discharged soon thereafter.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eugene Zanck. Zanck was born in Chicago, Illinois on 2 May 1927. Upon joining the Marine Corps in early 1945, he took a troop train to Paris Island, South Carolina. He witnessed his first case of racial prejudice during the trip. Upon competing boot training, he was sent to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for two months of infantry training. He then went to Marine Corps engineering school where he was trained in demolition, bridge building, and heavy equipment operation. In January 1946, he boarded the SS Young America (1943) and arrived in China as a member of the 7th Marine Regiment occupation forces. He tells of guarding the roads and railways to prevent destruction by the Chinese communist forces. In November 1946, he flew from Tsingtao, China to Hawaii aboard a Military Air Transport Service plane. He then went by boat to San Diego, where he received his discharge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Joseph Blum. Blum quit school, lied about his age and joined the Marines in December, 1943. He trained as an artilleryman and was deployed overseas to Okinawa. His artillery unit was deactivated and Blum then volunteered for service in the 5th Marine Regiment. After the war, Blum went to China on occupation duty in Beijing. He recalls several incidents involving repatriating Japanese soldiers and skirmishes with Chinese communists.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Barry Crites. Crites was born in Osage City, Kansas on 7 July 1928. After completing high school, he joined the Marine Corps in February 1946. Following boot camp in San Diego, he was sent to Camp Pendleton as part of the 104th replacement draft. He embarked on the troopship USS General J. C. Breckenridge (AP-176) in June 1946 and sailed to Tsingtao, China. He provides a description of his experiences during the transit. He says that Tsingtao was the headquarters of the Sixth Marine Division which was soon disbanded, and he was assigned to the First Division as a sales clerk at the local Post Exchange in Chinwangtao, China. Crites provides several anecdotes from his experiences in Tsingtao and Chinwangtao. He returned to the United States in January 1947 and was discharged at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in California.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Arthur Patcke. Patcke was born in born in Chicago, Illinois on 13 July 1927 and was drafted into the Marine Corps in September, 1945. He describes some of his experiences at boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. He was sent overseas to Tsingtao, China in the middle of 1946, and describes a typhoon that his ship experienced during the transit. He was assigned to a communications company in the 15th Marine Regiment, which was part of the Sixth Marines at the time. He provides details of his experiences in Tsingtao and recalls that he was discharged in the fall of 1946 after 50 weeks active duty.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ed De la Torres. De la Torres joined the Marines around 1945. He traveled to Pearl Harbor, and upon completing basic training, the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan in August of 1945. They traveled to Guam and De la Torres served as a rifleman. He worked to get remaining Japanese off the island. From there he went to Chinwangtao in China and joined an Allied tank unit. Working with the Merchant Marines, De la Torres helped bring in food for the civilian population. He returned home and was discharged in the spring of 1946.