Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "A January report by the National Science Foundation (NSF) identified a $5 billion gap between the amount of money that federal agencies reported as research and development (R&D) support and the amount of money that those who did the R&D work reported as spent in 1998. According to NSF, federal agencies earmarked about $72 billion for R&D support in 1998, while those who carried out the R&D reported spending about $67 billion. GAO found that this gap results primarily from annually comparing two separate and distinct types of financial data--federal obligations and performer expenditures--that are not comparable. In addition, R&D funding are collected on a yearly basis, but,in reporting, the period that defines a year can vary. Furthermore, agencies and performers do not always agree on what type of activities fall under the category of R&D. Because the gap results from comparing two dissimilar types of financial data, it does not necessarily reflect poor-quality data, nor does it reflect whether performers are receiving or spending all the federal R&D funds obligated to them. Thus, even if the data collection and reporting issues were addressed, a gap would still …

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Because the military's weapon systems, particularly communication systems, have not been sufficiently interoperable, the services have experienced difficulty in operations ranging from the Gulf War to Kosovo. In Joint Vision 2020, a strategic statement on the transformation efforts of U.S. military forces, the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff recognizes that a joint force is essential to operational success and envisions an interoperable joint force with technologically advanced warfighting capabilities able to dominate any adversary by 2020. This vision also emphasizes the importance of experimenting with new joint warfighting concepts. The Joint Requirements Oversight Council plays a key role in advancing the joint warfighting capabilities of U.S. forces in support of Joint Vision 2020. The Council oversees the joint requirements process by assessing and approving the services' joint requirements and deficiencies. The Council also reviews and approves plans for correcting those deficiencies. Finally, the Council ensures interoperability and that the services have linked their capabilities to Joint Vision 2020. The Chairman of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council and others have identified and begun to address several weaknesses. Because these efforts are in the early stages, it is …

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Federal agencies rely extensively on computer systems and electronic data to support their missions. The security of these systems is essential to avoiding disruptions in critical operations and to prevent data tampering, fraud, and inappropriate disclosure of sensitive information. GAO analyzed information security audits and evaluations at 24 major federal departments and agencies since July 2000. This testimony summarizes (1) the pervasive weaknesses that led GAO to begin reporting information security as a government-wide high-risk issue in 1997, (2) the serious risks that these weaknesses pose at selected agencies and common weaknesses that agencies need to address to improve their information security programs, and (3) the importance of establishing strong agency-wide security management programs and developing a comprehensive government-wide strategy for improvement."

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The extent and quality of federal voter assistance for military personnel and overseas citizens varied considerably during the November 2000 election. The Department of Defense (DOD) has developed some useful information tools, but many overseas military personnel were unaware of them. Moreover, the military services did not always comply with DOD requirements to appoint and train Voting Assistance Officers, brief military personnel on how to go about voting, or maintain enough supplies of voting materials. Lack of emphasis by commanders and limited oversight by service Inspectors General and installation commanders appear to be the chief reasons why some military installations did not fully comply with DOD guidance on how voting assistance programs should be carried out. Many states have worked with DOD's Federal Voting Assistance Program to make it easier for military personnel and overseas citizens to register, obtain ballots, and vote; however, voters continue to face challenges. Information on the precise number of military and overseas absentee votes that local jurisdictions disqualified nationwide in the November 2000 election and the reasons for the disqualification is not available. Many local officials said that they did not track data …

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Federal employees who report waste, fraud, and abuse shouldn't have to fear discrimination and retaliation. Despite laws designed to protect whistleblowers, some have experienced or believed that they have experienced reprisals. Proposed legislation--the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2001--would provide additional protections for federal employees and would provide important data to decisionmakers. First, the act would require agencies to report the number of discrimination and whistleblower reprisal cases. Because of a lack of data, the federal government currently doesn't have a clear picture of the volume of discrimination and whistleblowing reprisal cases involving federal employees. Such data could be a starting point for agency managers to understand the nature and scope of issues in the workplace involving reprisals and discrimination. Second, the act would make agencies and their leaders accountable for providing fair and equitable workplaces. In addition, individuals would be held accountable for their actions in cases in which discrimination has occurred. Finally, the act would require agencies to notify employees in writing of their rights and protections. This provision reinforces existing requirements that employees be notified of the rights and remedies concerning …

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Federal research and preparedness activities related to bioterrorism center on detecting of such agents; developing new or improved vaccines, antibiotics, and antivirals; and developing performance standards for emergency response equipment. Preparedness activities include: (1) increasing federal, state, and local response capabilities; (2) developing response teams; (3) increasing the availability of medical treatments; (4) participating in and sponsoring exercises; (5) aiding victims; and (6) providing support at special events, such as presidential inaugurations and Olympic games. To coordinate their activities, federal agencies are developing interagency response plans, participating in various interagency work groups, and entering into formal agreements with each other to share resources and capabilities. However, GAO found that coordination of federal terrorism research, preparedness, and response programs is fragmented, raising concerns about the ability of states and localities to respond to a bioterrorist attack. These concerns include poor state and local planning and the lack of hospital participation in training on terrorism and emergency response planning. This report summarized a September 2001 report (GAO-01-915)."

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony discusses the Preparedness Against Domestic Terrorism Act of 2001 (H.R. 525). To improve federal efforts to help state and local personnel prepare for domestic terrorist attacks, H.R. 525 would create a single focal point for policy and coordination--the President's Council on Domestic Terrorism Preparedness--within the White House. The new council would include the President, several cabinet secretaries, and other selected high-level officials. H.R. 525 would (1) create an executive director position with a staff that would collaborate with other executive agencies to assess threats, (2) require the new council to develop a national strategy, (3) require the new council to analyze and review budgets, and (4) require the new council to oversee implementation among the different federal agencies. Other proposals before Congress would also create a single focal point for terrorism. Some of these proposals place the focal point in the Executive Office of the President and others place it in a lead executive agency. Both locations have advantages and disadvantages."

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Medicare provides valuable and extensive health care coverage for beneficiaries. Nevertheless, significant gaps leave some beneficiaries vulnerable to sizeable financial burdens from out-of-pocket expenses. Medigap is a widely available source of supplemental coverage. This testimony discusses (1) beneficiaries' potential financial liability under Medicare's current benefit structure and cost-sharing requirements, (2) the cost of Medigap policies and the extent to which they provide additional coverage, and (3) concerns that Medigap's so-called "first dollar" coverage undermines the cost control incentives of Medicare's cost-sharing requirements. GAO found that Medicare's benefits package and cost-sharing requirements leave beneficiaries liable for high out-of-pocket costs. Medigap policies pay for some or all Medicare cost-sharing requirements but do not fully protect beneficiaries from potentially significant out-of-pocket costs such as prescription drug coverage. Medigap first-dollar coverage eliminates the ability of Medicare's cost-sharing requirements to promote prudent use of services."

Application materials submitted to the Texas Historical Commission requesting a historic marker for the Minchen House, in Houston, Texas. The materials include the inscription text of the marker, narrative, and photographs.

Application materials submitted to the Texas Historical Commission requesting a historic marker for the Link-Lee House, in Houston, Texas. The materials include the inscription text of the marker, narrative, and photographs.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Guy Stayton. Stayton joined the Navy in December of 1942. He worked as an Electrician’s Mate aboard a Landing Craft Infantry, the USS USS LCI-400. Stayton provides some details of the ship. He worked in the engine room and shares details of his work aboard the ship. They traveled to England, and he shares his experiences there prior to the invasion of France. They served with the first wave participating in the Normandy Invasion. They delivered the 45th Infantry Division into southern France. Stayton contracted Hepatitis with infectious Jaundice and remained in a Naval Hospital for 5 months. He was then sent back to the US. After recovery he was assigned to the USS LST-387 and the war ended shortly thereafter. He was discharged in March of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with John Bartuck. Bartuck joined the Navy in 1937. He served as a coxswain aboard the USS Langley (CV-1) until it was scuttled in February of 1942, running whaleboats, motor launces and 60-foot officers’ boats. He later served aboard the YMS-9 minesweeper. He then served aboard an attack cargo ship and made the invasion in North Africa in late 1942. Beginning August of 1943, he served aboard the USS Cowpens (CVL-25). After the war Bartuck continued his work in the Navy until 1957, completing 20 years of service.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tom Krauska. Krauska was born 15 December 1919 in St. Louis, Missouri and attended high school in Cleveland, Missouri. He graduated from the University of St. Louis with a Law degree. He was drafted into the United States Army and assigned to the 329th Infantry at Shelby, Mississippi. After basic training, he was assigned to menial tasks such as kitchen police and guard duty. He was soon selected for the Aviation Cadet Training program and sent to a civilian flying school in Fort Worth, Texas. From there, he went to bombardier school at Midland, Texas. Krauska describes methods used to train bombardiers and the use of the Norden bombsight. Upon completion of this training he was sent to Casper, Wyoming for crew training in a B-24 Liberator. His crew was then sent to Langley Field, Virginia for training in low altitude bombing, which consisted of using radar and performing submarine search missions off of the east coast of the United States. Eventually, the crew picked up a new B-24 and flew it to Hawaii where they were assigned to the 11th Bomb Group, 425th Bomb Squadron. They went …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Bennet Reed. Reed was born in Tom Green County, Texas in 1923. In 1943 he was drafted and entered the Navy. Reed was sent to Keyport, Washington to torpedo school. In September he was sent to Guadalcanal and assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 5. In January 1944 Reed was assigned to the USS PT-65 [Editor Note: PT-65 was in Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 4, a training unit in Rhode Island]. He relates that the boat drive screws were often damaged and discusses the methods involved in replacing them. Reed also tells of returning to the United States in December 1944 on leave. In March 1945 he was sent to the Philippines. No longer in a PT boat squadron, he worked as a stevedore. He returned to the United States in January 1946 and discharged.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jack Taylor. Taylor joined the Navy through the V-5 program and went straight to flight training in December, 1942. He earned his wings and a commission in December 1943 and was sent to the fleet. He landed aboard USS Essex (CV-) and was assigned to VF-15 in June, 1944 and participated in raids against targets in the Philippines, on Formosa and the Palaus. Taylor stayed in combat until November before his air group returned to the US. Taylor reigned his commission after the war and went on to found the Enterprise Rent-A-Car company after the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wilbur Weeks. Weeks joined the Navy in July 1940 and was assigned to the USS San Francisco (CA-38) at Pearl Harbor as a deckhand. His pre-war duty involved working with the catapult for the ship’s observation planes. He later maintained guns and was promoted to third-class gunner’s mate. Weeks saw the first wave of enemy planes while his ship was in dry dock, and he boarded the USS New Orleans (CA-32) to help ready the guns. Having no significant damage, the San Francisco quickly readied for carrier protection duty. In the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, the ship sank one enemy ship and disabled another, but by the end of the battle the admiral and the highest-ranking officers had been killed, leaving only a lieutenant commander in charge. After returning to Mare Island for repairs, many crewmembers deserted, but Weeks remained until he was sent to gunnery school. He went aboard the USS Marvin H. McIntyre (APA-129) as a gunner’s mate and was eventually promoted to chief. Weeks returned home and was discharged in July 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Barbara Cameron. Cameron describes her experience on the home front as a child whose older brothers were in the military. Her brother Roger was in the Navy and her brother Victor joined the Coast Guard. Victor wrote home and said that being in the service was much easier than working as a farmhand during the Depression. Cameron’s father worked ten-hour days, seven days a week, making airplane propellers for General Motors. He also tended to his crops and livestock in the mornings, before work. Cameron’s family was shunned by fellow Brethren church members for supporting the military, as her family proudly displayed two stars in their window to represent her two brothers. Both of Cameron’s brothers returned home safely.

News release about discounts on admission for DART customers at the Dallas Zoo.

News release about discounts on admission for DART customers at the Dallas Zoo.

News release about damage done to a section of DART's light rail track being laid ahead of the opening of the future White Rock Station.

News release regarding public meetings about plans for DART's Northwest Corridor rail alignment.