Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Miami, Florida, along with the other 32 federal courthouses completed from 2000 to March 2010 include 3.56 million square feet of extra space consisting of space that was constructed (1) above the congressionally authorized size, (2) because of overestimating the number of judges the courthouses would have, and (3) without planning for courtroom sharing among judges. Overall, this extra space represents about 9 average-sized courthouses. The estimated cost to construct this extra space was $835 million in 2010 dollars, and the annual cost to rent, operate, and maintain it is $51 million. The Ferguson Courthouse specifically included approximately 238,000 extra square feet of space, which GAO estimated increased the construction cost by $48.5 million (in constant 2010 dollars) and an additional $3.5 million annually."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony discusses the U.S. Department of State's (State) efforts to train its personnel. It is based on our report, which is being released today. Because State is the lead U.S. foreign affairs agency, its personnel require certain knowledge, skills, and abilities to equip them to address the global security threats and challenges facing the United States--including the threat of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations, HIV/AIDS and other pandemics, environmental degradation, nuclear proliferation, and failed states. In fiscal years 2006 through 2010, State's funding for training personnel grew by about 62 percent, and the department requested more than $266 million in fiscal year 2011 for programs providing training in professional skills such as foreign language proficiency, area studies, information technology, consular duties, and others needed for the conduct of foreign relations. State's Foreign Service Institute (FSI) is the primary training provider for the department's more than 66,000 Foreign Service, civil service, and locally employed staff worldwide. Our prior work has identified staffing and foreign language shortfalls at State, including challenges the department has faced in filling positions at the mid-level in particular, and in attracting qualified personnel for …

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "GAO identified several factors and challenges that contributed to the Department of Defense’s (DOD) implementation of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 and the results achieved. In contrast to other BRAC rounds that were primarily focused on achieving savings by reducing excess infrastructure, the Secretary of Defense identified three goals for BRAC 2005. Specifically, BRAC 2005 was intended to (1) transform the military, (2) foster jointness, and (3) reduce excess infrastructure to produce savings. These goals and the primary selection criteria’s focus on enhancing military value led DOD to identify numerous recommendations that were designed to be transformational and enhance jointness, thereby adding to the complexity the BRAC Commission and DOD faced in finalizing and implementing the recommendations. Some transformational-type recommendations needed sustained attention by DOD and significant coordination and planning among multiple stakeholders. To improve oversight of implementation of the recommendations, the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) required business plans for each BRAC 2005 recommendation to better manage implementation. In addition, DOD developed recommendations that were interdependent on each other. However, this led to challenges across multiple recommendations when delays in completing one recommendation led …

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "As of February 2013 our performance audits of the TARP programs have resulted in 66 recommendations to Treasury. Of the 66 recommendations, Treasury has implemented 51, or approximately 77 percent. Treasury has partially implemented 7 of the performance audit recommendations--that is, it has taken some steps toward implementation but needs to take more actions. Four performance audit recommendations remain open--that is, Treasury has not taken steps to implement them. Among these open recommendations are 2 recommendations directed at CPP and 2 recommendations directed at the MHA housing programs. Finally, with regard to 2 of the remaining 4 recommendations, Treasury officials told us that they were not planning to take actions to implement them. For the other 2 recommendations, the TARP program evolved and the recommendations are no longer applicable."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In March 2011 and February 2012, GAO reported on 6 areas where the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Congress could take action to reduce overlap and potential unnecessary duplication, and 9 areas to achieve cost-savings. Of the 22 actions GAO suggested be taken in March 2011 to address such issues, 2 were fully implemented, 14 were partially implemented, and 6 have not been addressed. GAO’s February 2012 report identified 18 additional actions to address overlap, potential duplication, and costs savings."

The objective of the ARM Science Board is to promote the Nation’s scientific enterprise by ensuring that the best quality science is conducted at the DOE’s User Facility known as the ARM Climate Research Facility. The goal of the User Facility is to serve scientific researchers by providing unique data and tools to facilitate scientific applications for improving understanding and prediction of climate science.

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, Ken Paxton, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether time spent as a county employee may be considered in determining county longevity pay . when the employee becomes an elected officer (RQ-0127-KP).

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, Ken Paxton, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Disposition of revenue collected pursuant to section 502.403 of the Transportation Code, authorizing an optional county fee for child safety (RQ-0052-KP).

Interview with Yolette Garcia, Assistant Dean for External Affairs & Outreach at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She discusses her career in both radio and television media, as well as her perspectives about the role and future of the media (and social media) and about being a woman in a primarily male field.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with James R. Snellen. Snellen was born 27 September 1926 in Bullitt County, Kentucky. He joined the Navy in April 1944 and went to Great Lakes Naval Training Center for boot camp. He then went to Fort Pierce, Florida for amphibious training as radioman and gunner on LCVPs. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Cofer (APD-62). At Leyte, Snellen saw the USS Mahan (DD-364) and the USS Lidde (APD-60) get hit by kamikazes. Afterwards, he boarded the stricken Lidde and scooped body parts over the side. While landing infantry on Mindoro, he observed the USS Nashville (CL-43) get hit by a kamikaze. In recalling one landing, in which the LCVP got stuck on a reef, Snellen saw the soldiers wading toward shore as a mortar round hit among them, killing them all. He also worked with underwater demolition teams at Borneo and tells of an attack on his ship during which crew shot down two Japanese planes. When Japan surrendered, the Cofer led six hospital ships through mine fields using a Japanese pilot arriving at Wakayama, Japan on 11 September. Upon departing, they sailed to Nagasaki and …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Howe. Howe was drafted into the Navy in August 1943. He went to boot camp in Sampson, New York. From there he went to signal school in Baltimore. From there he went into the Armed Guard division of the Navy in New York City, aboard the Liberty Ship SS Edwin Markham. He served for one year aboard the ship as signalman. They traveled through the Panama Canal picking up sugar from Hawaii and delivering it to the San Francisco Hawaii Sugar Company in California. From there they went to the Philippines for a year and a half. After that Howe was transferred to the USS Baltimore (CA-68) in Hawaii. He served on this cruiser for one year, transferring supplies and ammunition to the islands in the Pacific. He visited Hiroshima after the bomb fell and provides some description of that experience. He was discharged in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Caramello Stramer. Stramer joined the Navy in February of 1942. He completed boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, and he completed training in New London, Connecticut to serve aboard submarines. Stramer provides details on his experiences at both training locations. He served aboard the USS Puffer (SS-268) beginning April of 1943, as the motor machinist mate. He was stationed in the aft engine room, overseeing diesel engines. They went to Brisbane, Australia for additional training and repairs. In September 1943 they made their first patrol in the Makassar Straits. He goes into great detail of torpedoing a ship, coming under attack by the Japanese and other experiences through the Strait. Stramer discusses their other patrols through the South China Sea and around Singapore. Stramer also served aboard the USS Ray (SS-271) beginning July of 1944. He was discharged in December of 1945.

News release documenting Texas monthly sales tax revenue for March 2017 with a general summary and table of local sales tax allocations.

Interview with Bernice Kearney, the news director at KSAT 12 News in San Antonio. She discusses her background and career as a news producer.

Interview with Nora Lopez, metro editor at the San Antonio Express News newspaper. She discusses her childhood and visiting family regularly in Mexico, as well as becoming an American citizen in 2008. She also talks about her education and her career in newspaper journalism.

News release about DART's plans to increase the departure frequency of trains on part of its Red Line in response to projected increases in ridership due to rising gasoline prices.

News release about a prototype streetcar being tested by DART as it explores options for future streetcar projects in Dallas.