Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This report formally transmits our briefing on acquisition management for the European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA). This is one of two products we are issuing in response to congressional October 13, 2009 request that we evaluate the Department of Defense's (DOD) plans for implementing EPAA. We provided congressional staff a draft copy of this briefing in a meeting with them on September 22, 2010. We do not make any recommendations in the briefing. We will issue a final report on broader issues of European missile defense that will include the material in the briefing. That final product will have recommendations, as appropriate. For the briefing we sought to answer two questions: (1) What key acquisition planning and management practices are in place for EPAA? (2) Are there near-term development risks for EPAA?"

News release about DART's Green Line service to the 2011 Cotton Bowl football game.

Transcript of an oral interview with George S. Mixell. Mixell dropped out of high school and joined the Army in November, 1940 at York, Pennsylvania. He was assigned to a heavy weapons company in the 158th Infantry Regiment (Bushmasters) in Panama. Mixell shares several anecdotes about jungle training in Panama, quelling a riot in Panama City, and patrolling around the canal. He was in Panama one year before shipping out to Australia. From Australia, Mixell and the Bushmasters went to New Guinea. He worked along the Kokoda Trail in the Owen Stanley Mountains training with horses. He mentions listening to Tokyo Rose on the radio and being entertained by her. Mixell's job in New Guinea was to provide security for the officers in the Headquarters Company and he located seven Japanese snipers. He had a brief encounter with General MacArthur. Mixell also mentions he spent time in the hospital suffering with malaria and jungle rot. Finally, he shares a few incidents about his life after he was discharged from the service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eugene Cameron. Cameron began training as a Marine Corps aviator in 1942. He was trained as a fighter pilot and was sent to VMF 221 to fly Corsairs. Cameron describes his training and several incidents that took place during that period. His squadron flew off of the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) and flew combat air patrol (CAP) missions and ground support over Iwo Jima, and for an extended period over Okinawa and Japan. Cameron describes several combat missions that he participated in and life aboard ship. He was in the air when the Bunker Hill was badly damaged and landed on the Enterprise. Cameron returned to the US and remained in the Marines after the end of the war. He served in Korea and later became a helicopter pilot.

Transcript of an oral interview with Kevin V. Kerin. Born in Australia in 1925, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force in June, 1943. He received radio training in Ballarat, Victoria. He attended gunnery school in West Sale, Victoria. In East Sale, Victoria he was assigned to an aircraft crew and received operational training. He describes the Beaufort aircraft, the crew configuration, and the training process. In spring 1944 he became a radio operator in Number 7 Squadron and was sent to Higgins Field on the Cape York Peninsula of Australia. He participated in anti-submarine patrols over the Gulf of Carpentaria. His squadron was later moved to Tadji, New Guinea to fly low-altitude bombing and strafing missions to eliminate the remaining Japanese force hidden in the tall grass. He was discharged in early 1946. He studied law at Adelaide University as part of the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Program (CRTS), an educational program for veterans.

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "On May 10, 2010, the President resubmitted to Congress a proposed Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation for Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (henceforth referred to as the U.S.-Russia nuclear cooperation agreement or the agreement) in accordance with the review requirements established under section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (AEA), as amended. The proposed agreement with Russia would, among other things, establish the legal basis for the Department of Energy (DOE) to work with Russia on large-scale development of nuclear energy. The United States has 25 agreements in force for peaceful nuclear cooperation with foreign countries, the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Taiwan. Such agreements provide the framework and authorization for civilian nuclear cooperation but do not guarantee that cooperation will take place or that nuclear material or technology transfers will occur. On May 13, 2008, President Bush originally submitted the agreement to Congress with the statutorily required presidential determination that this agreement would promote, and would not constitute an unreasonable risk …

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This letter formally transmits the briefing in response to congressional direction in a Senate Appropriations Committee Report (S. Rep. No. 110-129) to report on the 10-year trend in House and Senate campaign costs and the percentage of those costs incurred due to rising broadcast advertising rates. Specifically, we are reporting on the extent to which data on House and Senate campaign operating expenditures, especially media-related expenditures, are available and what the data show about the range of estimates of media-related expenditures as a proportion of itemized operating expenditures. On the basis of the results of our review, we are not making any recommendations for congressional consideration or agency action."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, created in 1996, is one of the key federal funding streams provided to states to assist women and children in poverty. A critical aspect of TANF has been its focus on employment and self-sufficiency, and the primary means to measure state efforts in this area has been TANF's work participation rate requirements. Legislative changes in 2005 were generally expected to strengthen these work requirements. Given changes in the number of families participating in TANF over time and questions about whether the program is achieving its goals, this testimony draws on previous GAO work to focus on 1) key changes to state welfare programs made in response to TANF and other legislation and their effect on caseload trends; 2) how low-income single-parent families are faring; and 3) how recent developments in state programs and the economy may affect federal monitoring of TANF. To address these issues, in previous work conducted from November 2008 to May 2010, GAO analyzed state data reported to the Department of Health and Human Services; used microsimulation analyses; surveyed state TANF administrators in 50 states and the …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with William S. Emerson. Emerson joined the Navy in May 1942. He trained as a Naval Aviation Cadet and learned to fly dive-bombers. Emerson joined VB-19 and was attached to the USS Lexington (CV-16) in 1944. He flew missions over Guam and the Philippines and took part in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Emerson was shot down during a mission to bomb an airfield on Iwo Jima. He was rescued by a submarine and rejoined his unit on the Lexington. Emerson was wounded when the Lexington was struck by a kamikaze. After he recovered he became a flight instructor for the remainder of the war. Emerson stayed in the Navy through the Korean War and retired after 25 years.

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The overall goal of the U.S. National Drug Control Strategy, prepared by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), is to reduce illicit drug use in the United States. GAO has issued more than 20 products since 2000 examining U.S.-funded international programs aimed at reducing the supply of drugs. These programs have been implemented primarily in drug source countries, such as Colombia and Afghanistan as well drug transit countries, such as Mexico, Guatemala, and Venezuela. They have included interdiction of maritime drug shipments on the high seas, support for foreign military and civilian institutions engaged in drug eradication, detection, and interdiction; and rule of law assistance aimed at helping foreign legal institutions investigate and prosecute drug trafficking, money laundering, and other drug-related crimes."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "One in four bridges in the United States is either structurally deficient and in need of repair, or functionally obsolete and is not adequate for today's traffic. The Highway Bridge Program (HBP), the primary source of federal funding for bridges, provided about $7 billion to states in fiscal year 2010. This testimony addresses (1) the current state of the nation's bridges and the impacts of the HBP and (2) the extent to which the HBP aligns with principles GAO developed to guide the re-examination of surface transportation programs. This testimony is based on prior GAO reports, updated with bridge data and information provided by agency officials."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Ports, waterways, and vessels handle more than $700 billion in merchandise annually, and an attack on this system could have a widespread impact on global trade and the economy. Within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), component agencies have responsibility for securing the maritime environment. The U.S. Coast Guard is responsible for protecting, among other things, U.S. economic and security interests in any maritime region. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the United States, securing and facilitating trade, and cargo container security. This testimony discusses DHS and its component agencies' progress, and challenges remaining, regarding (1) strengthening risk management (a strategy to help policymakers make decisions about assessing risks, allocating resources, and acting under conditions of uncertainty), (2) reducing the risk of small-vessel (watercraft less than 300 gross tons used for recreational or commercial purposes) threats, (3) implementing foreign port assessments, and (4) enhancing supply chain security. This statement is based on GAO products issued from December 2005 through June 2010, including selected updates conducted in July 2010."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Crime and violence related to drug trafficking in Mexico and Central America have increased in recent years and pose a threat not only to those areas but to the United States as well, particularly along the Southwest border. The Merida Initiative, announced in 2007, provides about $1.6 billion in law enforcement support to Mexico and Central American countries. The Department of State (State) manages the Initiative while other U.S. agencies play key roles in implementation. This testimony addresses (1) the status of Merida program implementation; (2) State's strategy for implementation; and (3) coordination mechanisms in place for Merida. This testimony is based on a new GAO report being released at today's hearing (GAO-10-837)."

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round is the fifth such round undertaken by DOD since 1988 and is the biggest, most complex, and costliest BRAC round ever. With this BRAC round, the Department of Defense (DOD) plans to execute hundreds of BRAC actions affecting over 800 defense locations, relocate over 123,000 personnel, and spend over $35 billion--an unprecedented amount, given that DOD has spent nearly $26 billion to implement the four previous BRAC rounds combined when all relevant BRAC actions have been completed. As with prior BRAC rounds, DOD is required to implement the BRAC Commission's 2005 recommendations within 6 years of their approval by the President and transmittal to Congress. Unlike with prior BRAC rounds, DOD is implementing the BRAC 2005 round during a time of conflict and significant increases to the defense budget to support ongoing contingency operations. Compounding this challenge, DOD is also implementing other extensive worldwide transformation initiatives such as the permanent relocation of about 70,000 military personnel to the United States from overseas; transformation of the Army's force structure from an organization based on divisions to more rapidly deployable, combat brigade-based …

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This testimoney discusses continuing care retirement communities (CCRC), the risks they and their residents face, and their regulation. A growing population of older Americans is seeking options for ensuring that their assets and income in retirement will cover the cost of their housing and health care needs. One option for meeting these long-term care needs is to enter a CCRC, which aims to provide lifelong housing, household assistance, and nursing care in exchange for a sometimes sizable entrance fee and ongoing monthly fees. These communities may appeal to older Americans because they offer an independent lifestyle for as long as possible but also provide the reassurance that, as residents age or become sick or frail, they will receive the care they need within the same community. But choosing to enter a CCRC can be a difficult decision and is not without risk. Moving to a CCRC generally involves a significant financial and emotional investment. Many older Americans sell their homes, which are often their primary assets, to pay the required fees, and, as a result, their ability to support themselves in the long run is inextricably tied to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dean R. Kreek. Kreek joined the Navy in July 1940. He became a musician who played the trumpet in various Navy bands throughout World War II. Kreek was on board the USS Nevada (BB-36) during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was playing morning colors when the attack began. Kreek describes the Nevada getting underway and taking damage. After the attack he was transferred to Yard Tug 142 and later to USS New Mexico (BB-40), which traveled to the Aleutians. Kreek was then sent stateside until he became a member of the first band for the USS Kearsarge (CV-33). He was discharged in July 1946.

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony discusses our work on the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which Congress established on October 3, 2008 in response to the financial crisis that threatened the stability of the U.S. financial system and the solvency of many financial institutions. Under the original TARP legislation, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) had the authority to purchase or insure $700 billion in troubled assets held by financial institutions. As we have seen, since TARP's inception Treasury has chosen to use those funds for a variety of activities, including injecting capital into key financial institutions, implementing programs to address problems in the securitization markets, providing assistance to the automobile industry and American International Group, Inc. (AIG), and working to help homeowners struggling to keep their homes. Today, some of these programs have been discontinued and others are winding down, but others--such as homeownership preservation programs--may continue for some time. Treasury has also seen some participating institutions repay their TARP funds as they recover their financial health. The prospect for repayment from some other institutions, both large and small, remains unclear. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (the act) that authorized …

News release about DART's reduced service schedule in observance the Independence Day holiday.

Transcript of a public hearing held by the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq & Afghanistan held June 21, 2010 in Washington D.C. This hearing includes testimony from two panels of witnesses representing government agencies and private security firms on America's use of private security contractors in Iraq.

Other written product issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This report presents the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) Performance Plan for Fiscal Year 2011. In the spirit of the Government Performance and Results Act, this annual plan informs the Congress and the American people about what we expect to accomplish on their behalf in the coming fiscal year. It sets forth our plan to make progress toward achieving our strategic goals for serving the Congress and the American people. This framework not only shows the relationship between our strategic goals and strategic objectives, but also show major themes that could potentially affect our work."

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Maurice Thoresen. Thoresen joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938. He joined the Coast Guard around late 1939, working shore duty. In the summer of 1941 Thoresen went aboard the USCGC Taney (WHEC-37), serving in the ship’s radio shack. In July they traveled to Honolulu, where they were stationed when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred in December. After 7 December and into 1942, the Taney conducted many depth charge attacks on suspected submarines. Thoresen was later transferred to the island of Samoa, setting up LORAN stations, long range navigation equipment. He returned to the US and was discharged.

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 the transfer of certain funds and positions form the Texas Department of Transportation to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles in section 17.30(b), article 9 of the 2010-2011 General Appropriations Act constitutes an appropriation(RQ-0838-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; The Comptroller of public accounts implementation of article 9, section 17.10 of the 2010-2011 General Appropriations Act, which directs allocation to the Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund(RQ-0844-GA).

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In connection with fulfilling our requirement to audit the financial statements of the U.S. government, we audited and reported on the Schedules of Federal Debt Managed by the Bureau of the Public Debt (BPD) for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009 and 2008. As part of these audits, we performed a review of the general and application information security controls over key financial systems maintained and operated by the Federal Reserve Banks (FRB) on behalf of the Department of the Treasury's (Treasury) BPD relevant to the Schedule of Federal Debt. As we reported in connection with our audit of the Schedules of Federal Debt for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, we concluded that BPD maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control relevant to the Schedule of Federal Debt related to financial reporting and compliance with applicable laws and regulations as of September 30, 2009, that provided reasonable assurance that misstatements, losses, or noncompliance material in relation to the Schedule of Federal Debt would be prevented or detected on a timely basis. However, we found deficiencies involving information security controls that we do …