Month

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Disability Insurance: SSA Can Improve Efforts to Detect, Prevent, and Recover Overpayments (open access)

Disability Insurance: SSA Can Improve Efforts to Detect, Prevent, and Recover Overpayments

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Social Security Administration's (SSA) Disability Insurance (DI) program paid almost $123 billion in benefits in fiscal year 2010 to more than 10 million workers and dependents. The program is poised to grow further as the baby boom generation ages. GAO examined (1) what is known about the extent to which SSA makes overpayments to, and recovers overpayments from, DI beneficiaries who exceed program earnings guidelines, and (2) potential DI program vulnerabilities that may contribute to overpayments to beneficiaries who have returned to work. To answer these questions, GAO reviewed work continuing disability review (work CDR) policies and procedures, interviewed SSA headquarters and processing center officials, visited 4 of 8 processing centers, and reviewed a random nongeneralizable sample of 60 CDR case files across those 4 centers (15 from each)."
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Economic Development: Efficiency and Effectiveness of Fragmented Programs Are Unclear (open access)

Economic Development: Efficiency and Effectiveness of Fragmented Programs Are Unclear

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony discusses the potential for overlap, duplication and fragmentation in economic development programs. In March 2011 and more recently in May 2011 we reported on potential duplication among federal economic development programs; this statement discusses this work. We are involved in ongoing work focusing on economic development programs; if they are administered efficiently and effectively, they can contribute to the well-being of our nation's economy at the least cost to taxpayers. Absent a common definition for economic development, we had previously developed a list of nine activities most often associated with economic development. These activities include planning and developing strategies for job creation and retention, developing new markets for existing products, building infrastructure by constructing roads and sewer systems to attract industry to undeveloped areas, and establishing business incubators to provide facilities for new businesses' operations. Our recent work includes information on 80 economic development programs at four agencies--the Departments of Commerce (Commerce), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Agriculture (USDA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA). Commerce administers 11 of the 80 programs. According to the agencies, funding provided for these 80 programs in fiscal year …
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Financial Education and Counseling Pilot Program (open access)

Financial Education and Counseling Pilot Program

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The federal government has numerous programs designed to improve Americans' financial literacy, some of which are targeted at helping consumers determine whether and when to purchase a home, how to manage a mortgage, and how to deal with setbacks that could limit their ability to make timely mortgage payments. However, as we have reported, little is known about the effectiveness of specific strategies for improving financial literacy. In the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA), Congress created a pilot program to provide grants to providers of financial education and counseling services to prospective homebuyers. Pursuant to HERA, the goals of this education and counseling include increasing the knowledge and decision-making capabilities of prospective homebuyers, identifying successful methods resulting in positive behavioral change for financial empowerment, and educating prospective homebuyers about options for building savings. HERA also mandated that we submit a report to Congress evaluating this grant program, which was later named the Financial Education and Counseling (FEC) Pilot Program. Accordingly, the objectives of this report are to describe (1) the characteristics of the organizations providing services under the FEC program and how they were selected, …
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans: Program Features, Early Enrollment and Spending Trends, and Federal Oversight Activities (open access)

Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans: Program Features, Early Enrollment and Spending Trends, and Federal Oversight Activities

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Individuals applying for health insurance are often denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act appropriated $5 billion to create a temporary pool--known as the Pre- Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) program--to provide access to insurance for such individuals until new protections take effect in 2014. Twenty-seven states opted to run their own PCIPs, while 23 states and the District of Columbia opted to let the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) run the PCIPs for their residents. Initial projections of total enrollment varied from 200,000 to 375,000, and questions have been raised about funding, implementation, and oversight of this new program. GAO examined (1) PCIP features, premiums, and criteria for demonstrating a pre-existing condition, (2) trends in PCIP enrollment and spending, including administrative costs, and (3) federal oversight activities. GAO reviewed PCIP benefits and rates; interviewed officials from selected state PCIPs, HHS, and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which assists HHS in administering aspects of the federally run PCIP; analyzed data provided by HHS and OPM; and examined contracts and interagency agreements. In its comments, HHS emphasized …
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Department of Veterans Affairs: Issues Related to Real Property Realignment and Future Health Care Costs (open access)

Department of Veterans Affairs: Issues Related to Real Property Realignment and Future Health Care Costs

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony discusses lifetime costs of supporting the newest generation of veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates one of the largest health care delivery systems in the nation, providing care to a diverse population of veterans. VA operates about 150 hospitals, 130 nursing homes, and 820 outpatient clinics through 21 regional health care networks called Veterans Integrated Service Networks. VA is responsible for providing health care services to various populations--including an aging veteran population and a growing number of younger veterans returning from the military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Budgeting for this vital health care mission is inherently complex. It is based on current assumptions and imperfect information, not only about program needs, but also on future economic and policy actions that may affect demand and the cost of providing these services. Adding to this complexity, VA has recognized over the years the need to plan and budget for facility modernization, and realign its real property portfolio to provide accessible, high-quality, and cost-effective access to its services. The statement today addresses VA's real property realignment efforts and VA's approach to developing budget estimates for health …
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
DOD Financial Management: Numerous Challenges Must Be Addressed to Improve Reliability of Financial Information (open access)

DOD Financial Management: Numerous Challenges Must Be Addressed to Improve Reliability of Financial Information

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "As one of the largest and most complex organizations in the world, the Department of Defense (DOD) faces many challenges in resolving serious problems in its financial management and related business operations and systems. DOD is required by various statutes to (1) improve its financial management processes, controls, and systems to ensure that complete, reliable, consistent, and timely information is prepared and responsive to the financial information needs of agency management and oversight bodies, and (2) produce audited financial statements. Over the years, DOD has initiated numerous efforts to improve the department's financial management operations and achieve an unqualified (clean) opinion on the reliability of its reported financial information. These efforts have fallen short of sustained improvement in financial management or financial statement auditability. The Subcommittee has asked GAO to provide its perspective on the status of DOD's financial management weaknesses and its efforts to resolve them; the challenges DOD continues to face in improving its financial management and operations; and the status of its efforts to implement automated business systems as a critical element of DOD's Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness strategy."
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Traffic and Vehicle Safety: Reauthorization Offers Opportunities to Extend Recent Progress (open access)

Traffic and Vehicle Safety: Reauthorization Offers Opportunities to Extend Recent Progress

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Traffic fatalities and fatality rates have substantially decreased over the last 10 years, yet far too many people continue to be killed or injured on the nation's roadways. In addition, auto safety defect recalls are on the rise. On average, about 70 percent of vehicles subject to a recall are fixed, leaving the remainder to continue posing risks to vehicle owners, passengers, and pedestrians. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) administers programs that provide grants to states to improve traffic safety and oversees the identification and remedy of vehicle and equipment defects that could pose an unreasonable risk to safety. The upcoming reauthorization of surface transportation programs affords Congress an opportunity to strengthen these grant programs in several ways and to address gaps GAO identified in NHTSA's auto recall process. This statement addresses (1) NHTSA's progress in improving oversight and performance measurement for traffic safety grant programs, (2) NHTSA's oversight of the auto safety defect process, and (3) issues for Congress to consider in reauthorizing funding for traffic and vehicle safety programs. This statement is based primarily on reports GAO has issued since enactment of the Safe, …
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Greensheet (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 306, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (open access)

The Greensheet (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 306, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Free weekly newspaper that includes business and classified advertising.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic Sources for Congressional Staff (open access)

Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic Sources for Congressional Staff

Written for congressional staff, this report identifies and provides details on how to obtain official government sources of information on the legislative process and the rules and procedure of the House and Senate. References to selected CRS products are also provided, as well as a listing of selected titles for supplementary reading.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: Manning, Jennifer E.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 162, No. 22, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (open access)

Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 162, No. 22, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Weekly newspaper from Rusk, Texas that includes local, state and national news along with extensive advertising.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: Whitehead, Marie
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
The Greensheet (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 113, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (open access)

The Greensheet (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 113, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Free weekly newspaper that includes business and classified advertising.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Yoakum Herald-Times (Yoakum, Tex.), Vol. 119, No. 30, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (open access)

Yoakum Herald-Times (Yoakum, Tex.), Vol. 119, No. 30, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Weekly newspaper from Yoakum, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: McCracken, Michael S.
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
The Cuero Record (Cuero, Tex.), Vol. 117, No. 30, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (open access)

The Cuero Record (Cuero, Tex.), Vol. 117, No. 30, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Weekly newspaper from Cuero, Texas that includes local, state and national news along with advertising.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: Rea, Glenn
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 216, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (open access)

Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 216, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Daily newspaper from Sweetwater, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
The Gray Wolf and the Endangered Species Act (ESA): A Brief Legal History (open access)

The Gray Wolf and the Endangered Species Act (ESA): A Brief Legal History

This report provides a brief history of the laws, regulations, and lawsuits related to the wolf's protected status.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: Alexander, Kristina
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
United States Environmental Protection Agency: Consultation Plan (open access)

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Consultation Plan

A document pertaining to the Lead and Copper Rule which is a drinking water regulation that requires monitoring and treatment technique to control lead and copper corrosion in drinking water systems.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: United States. Environmental Protection Agency.
Object Type: Letter
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 146, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (open access)

The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 146, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Daily newspaper from Baytown, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: Gray, Janie
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
The Altus Times (Altus, Okla.), Vol. 112, No. 77, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (open access)

The Altus Times (Altus, Okla.), Vol. 112, No. 77, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Daily newspaper from Altus, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: Bush, Michael
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History
The Express-Star (Chickasha, Okla.), Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (open access)

The Express-Star (Chickasha, Okla.), Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Daily newspaper from Chickasha, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: DeSilver, Debi
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History
Federal Register, Volume 76, Number 144, July 27, 2011, Pages 44751-45162 (open access)

Federal Register, Volume 76, Number 144, July 27, 2011, Pages 44751-45162

Daily publication of the U.S. Office of the Federal Register contains rules and regulations, proposed legislation and rule changes, and other notices, including "Presidential proclamations and Executive Orders, Federal agency documents having general applicability and legal effect, documents required to be published by act of Congress, and other Federal agency documents of public interest" (p. ii). Table of Contents starts on page iii.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: United States. Office of the Federal Register.
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Sapulpa Daily Herald (Sapulpa, Okla.), Vol. 96, No. 221, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (open access)

Sapulpa Daily Herald (Sapulpa, Okla.), Vol. 96, No. 221, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Daily newspaper from Sapulpa, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: Harmon, C. L.
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History
The Greensheet (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 304, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (open access)

The Greensheet (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 304, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Free weekly newspaper that includes business and classified advertising.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Věstník (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 99, No. 30, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (open access)

Věstník (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 99, No. 30, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Weekly Czech and English language newspaper from Temple, Texas published as the official organ of the Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas that includes news of interest to members along with advertising.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: Zavodny, Melanie
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
The Swisher County News (Tulia, Tex.), Vol. 3, No. 29, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 (open access)

The Swisher County News (Tulia, Tex.), Vol. 3, No. 29, Ed. 1 Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Weekly newspaper from Tulia, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with extensive advertising.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: Hooten, Patsy
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History