Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Two bills before Congress would introduce a new legal basis for controls over exports of dual use goods and services. In GAO's view, a new export administration act will need to balance stakeholder interests, assess the national security risks presented by end users, and balance the needs of exporters with foreign policy and national security interests. Both bills seek to balance these interests by involving the departments of Commerce, Defense and State. However, the lack of clear provisions raises questions about the balance between U.S. foreign policy and national security interests with economic interests. The House bill places greater emphasis on protecting foreign policy and national security interests, while the Senate bill emphasizes economic interests. A series of GAO reports suggests that the new legislation alone will not ensure that regulations and practices are implemented as Congress intended. Congress will need to oversee executive branch compliance with the law."

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This report reviews the Farm Credit Administration's (FCA) oversight of the safety and soundness of the Farm Credit System (FCS). GAO found that FCA's oversight and supervision appeared to be timely, comprehensive, and effective. FCA required FCS institutions to take appropriate and timely corrective actions to address any identified weaknesses and closely monitored the institutions' compliance. FCA had special supervisory and enforcement procedures in place and used them when it found more serious weaknesses at FCS institutions. In addition, off-site monitoring efforts included timely analyses of relevant qualitative and quantitative information that allowed FCA to identify, monitor, evaluate, and proactively address risks faced by FCS institutions. FCA follows processes designed to ensure the quality and reliability of its safety and soundness examination process through periodic quality assurance reviews and the Inspector General's audits and inspection reports."

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO reviewed the audit report covering the financial statements of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, Inc. for fiscal years 2000 and 1999. GAO found no reportable instances of noncompliance. The audit report included the auditors' opinions that the financial statements of the corporation were presented fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles."

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO reviewed the audit reports covering the financial statements of the Agricultural Hall of Fame for fiscal years 2000, and 1999. GAO found no reportable instances of noncompliance. The audit reports included the auditors' opinions that the financial statements of the corporation were presented fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles."

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO reviewed the audit reports covering the financial statements of the American Council of Learned Societies for fiscal year 2000. GAO found no reportable instances of noncompliance. The audit reports included the auditors' opinions that the financial statements of the corporation were presented fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles."

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO reviewed the audit report covering the financial statements of The American Society of International Law for fiscal year 2000. GAO found no reportable instances of noncompliance. The audit report contains the auditor's opinion that the financial statements of the corporation were presented fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles."

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO reviewed the audit report covering the financial statements of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society of the United States of America for fiscal year 2000. GAO found no reportable instances of noncompliance. The audit report included the auditors' opinion that the financial statements of the corporation were presented fairly on a modified cash basis of accounting."

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO reviewed the audit report covering the financial statement of the Disabled American Veterans for fiscal year 2000. GAO found no reportable instances of noncompliance. The audit report included the auditors' opinion that the financial statements of the corporation were presented fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles."

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Clarence Schilperoot. Schilperoot joined the Navy in May of 1936. He served as an Electrician’s Mate and joined the Asiatic Fleet in 1940. He was assigned to USS Houston (CA-30). After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Houston joined the American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) naval force at Surabaya. Schilperoot worked aboard the ship until it sank in March of 1942 during the Battle of Sunda Strait. He was captured by the Japanese, and traveled to Surabaya, Singapore and Burma, where he worked on the Thai-Burma Railroad. He remained a prisoner-of war until his liberation in September of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Dallas Clark. Clark enlisted in the Navy in January 1931 in Ashville, North Carolina. He was sent to Norfolk, Virginia for boot camp and after boot camp he went to mechanical school there for about a year. He requested and got duty on the USS Texas where he spent the next six years as a machinist. Clark reenlisted in 1936 and was assigned to the USS Yorktown, being built in Newport News, Virginia. After two years on the Yorktown, he went to optical school in Washington, DC for a year. After finishing school, Clark went back to the Yorktown which was on the west coast at the time. He transferred to the USS Houston when he heard they needed 500-600 men; joining her in Manila. For Moore's first year on board, the Houston cruised in Philippine waters. After Pearl Harbor was attacked, the Houston escorted ships south to the Java Sea area and became part of the naval forces of the joint American, British, Dutch, Australian Command (ABDACOM). Clark talks about the USS Marblehead getting hit while waiting to be refueled off the east coast of Borneo. The …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eugene Crispi. Crispi joined the Navy in February of 1940. He served aboard USS Houston (CA-30). Crispi worked aboard the ship until it sank in March of 1942 during the Battle of Sunda Strait. He swam ashore on Java Island and was captured by the Japanese. Crispi was taken to a POW Camp in Serang, Java, and later to a camp in Jakarta. After 3 years of imprisonment, he was placed into an Army hospital. He returned to the US and was discharged in late 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Eugene Wilkinson. Wilkinson joined the Navy in 1940. He served in the Fire Control Division aboard the USS Chicago (CA-29). After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Wilkinson transferred to the USS Houston (CA-30), where he served as the Forward Rangefinder Operator. They completed convoy duty, transporting American soldiers to various locations in the Pacific. In February of 1942, Wilkinson describes Japanese attacks while escorting a convoy to Timor and participating in the Battle of the Java Sea. On 1 March 1942 during the Battle of Sunda Strait, the Houston was fatefully damaged and sank. Wilkinson was one of the survivors of this attack and sinking, was captured by the Japanese, imprisoned and forced into labor building the Burma railroad. He returned home in November of 1945.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Frank "Ned" Gallagher. Gallagher was born in Watervilet, New York in 1915. He attended Boston University and was inducted into the United States Marine Corps upon graduation in 1939. Upon completion of basic training, he was assigned to the USS Houston (CA-30) as a junior officer of the Marine Detachment. Gallagher tells of the ship participating in the battle of the Java Sea along with HMS Exeter (68). He tells of the ship proceeding through Sunda Strait and encountering a large Japanese landing force. In the ensuing action, HMAS Perth (D29) was sunk as was the Houston. After reaching Java he was captured by the Japanese and placed in a jail in Serang. From there, he and 6 fellow officers were placed on a ship and taken to Ofuna Prisoner of War Camp. He tells of later being taken to Zentseyi POW camp and describes a typical day in this camp. He was later moved to a POW camp in Honshu. He describes the day the guards did not appear, of supplies of food and medical goods being dropped by US planes and realizing that the war was …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John Hilliard. Hlliard went into the Army right after he graduated from high school in August 1943 and was accepted into pilot training. After going through basic training in Wichita Falls, Texas he went to Henderson State College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He was there five months taking college courses and 10 hours of flight training. From there, he went to a base near San Antonio where they put everyone through all kinds of tests, for classification; he was classified as a pilot. Then they were marched across the street and he started more training. He finished that and was sent to Ballinger, Texas for primary flight training and then to San Angelo to fly Vultee BT-13s. Hilliard didn't enjoy flying the Vultee and had a 'personality conflict' with the instructor so he left the aviation cadet program and ended up at Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin as a private where he studied to be a radio mechanic. After graduation, they sent him to Rantoul, Illinois for electronics training and then on to Boca Raton, Florida where he was moved to radar. Hilliard was there when the war ended. …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Martha Hilliard. Hilliard was born in October 1928. She provides a good description of what her home town life was like growing up as a teenager during the war years.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Otto Schwarz. Schwarz was born in Newark, New Jersey, on 6 September 1923, and enlisted in the Navy in October 1940. After basic training in San Diego, he was assigned to the USS Lark (AM-21), a magnetic mine sweeper. The ship sailed to the Philippines where it performed duties as a pilot rescue vessel. Schwarz was soon transferred to the USS Houston (CA-30), the flagship of the Asiatic Fleet. He recounts that the Houston left the Philippines prior to the Japanese attack and sailed to Surabaya, Indonesia where she operated between there and Darwin, Australia. Schwarz recalls participating in the Battle of Makassar Strait on 4 February 1942, during which a Japanese bomb destroyed the after turret killing 48 men. Schwarz also participated in the battles of the Java Sea and Sunda Strait, where HMAS Perth and the Houston were both sunk. He was in the water for thirteen hours, until he was picked up by a Japanese landing barge. He then hauled supplies for Japanese troops in Java between March and early October, 1942. Then he was transported to Burma to work on the Burma-Siam Railway. He …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Stanley Woody. Woody joined the Navy around 1940. He served as a Chief Boatswain’s Mate aboard USS Houston (CA-30). Woody worked aboard the ship until it sank in March of 1942 during the Battle of Sunda Strait. He swam ashore on Java and was captured by the Japanese. He traveled to Singapore and Burma, where he worked on the Thai-Burma Railroad. He remained a prisoner-of war until his liberation in September of 1945. Woody continued his service in the Navy, and retired in the 1990s.

This paper addresses Texas' use of prefabricated bridge elements and systems.

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Combating terrorism and ensuring homeland security have created urgent claims on the nation's attention and on the federal budget. Although an economic recovery seems to be underway, the recession that began last spring has had real consequences for the budget. At the same time, the fiscal pressures created by the retirement of the baby boomers and rising health care costs continue unchanged. However, the surpluses also put the nation in a stronger position to respond to the events of September 11 and to the economic slowdown. The nation's commitment to surpluses will be tested. A return to surplus will require sustained discipline and difficult choices. Because the longer-term outlook is driven in large part by known demographic trends, the outlook 20 years from now is surer than the forecast for the next few years. The message of GAO's updated simulations remains the same as last year: absent structural changes in entitlement programs for the elderly, persistent deficits and escalating debt will overwhelm the budget in the long term. Both longer-term and new commitments undertaken after September 11 sharpen the need for competing claims and new priorities. A fundamental …

A statement of record issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO studied several leading companies in the private sector that have made dramatic changes to their process for acquiring services. GAO found that these changes generally began with a corporate decision to pursue a more strategic approach to acquiring services--from developing a better picture of what the company was actually spending on services to developing new ways of doing business. The Defense Department (DOD), the government's largest purchaser of services, already has some elements in place that are essential to such a strategic approach, such as a commitment by top management to adopting best practices. However, DOD has yet to conduct a comprehensive analysis of its spending on services or thoroughly assess it's current structure, processes, and roles. DOD's size, the range and complexity of the services that it acquires, the capacity of its information and financial systems, and the unique requirements of the federal government are among the factors that DOD will need to consider as it tailors a strategic approach to its diverse needs."

Other written product issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO published its 2001 Performance and Accountability Report, which combines an assessment of its accomplishments in fiscal year 2001 with its plans for continued progress through fiscal year 2003. GAO noted that (1) its financial reporting is reliable, (2) GAO is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and (3) its performance reporting is reliable."

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The collapse of the Enron Corporation and the resulting loss of employee retirement savings highlighted several key vulnerabilities in the nation's private pension system. Asset diversification was a crucial lesson, especially for defined contribution plans, in which employees bear the investment risk. The Enron case underscores the importance of encouraging employees to diversify. Workers need clear and understandable information about their pension plans to make sound decisions on retirement savings. Although disclosure rules require plan sponsors to provide participants with a summary of their plan benefits and rights and to notify them when benefits are changed, this information is not always clear, particularly in the case of complex plans like floor-offset arrangements. Employees, like other investors, also need reliable and understandable information on a company's financial condition and prospects. Fiduciary standards form the cornerstone of private pension protections. These standards require plan sponsors to act solely in the interest of plan participants and beneficiaries. The Enron investigations should determine whether plan fiduciaries acted in accordance with their responsibilities."

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Fugitive felons are ineligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will, upon request, provide law enforcement agencies with the current addresses and Social Security numbers of fugitive felons who are SSI recipients. The Privacy Act of 1974 generally prohibits federal agencies from disclosing to anyone, including other government agencies, information they have on file on individuals. When the head of a law enforcement agency asks SSA for information on an individual as part of civil or criminal investigations, SSA has the authority under the Privacy Act to disclose this information but is not required to do so. The Social Security Act does not give SSA the authority to determine if individuals are ineligible for Old Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance benefits because they are fugitive felons."

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "In the closing months of last year, insurers claimed that they could not afford to continue providing coverage for potential terrorism losses. Considerable debate has taken place on what the federal government can do to keep commercial insurance companies involved in providing terrorism insurance, even without the protection that they normally receive from reinsurance. Insurance companies are withdrawing from the market because they believe that neither the frequency nor the magnitude of future terrorist losses can be estimated. Insurance coverage for terroris is disappearing, particularly for large businesses and those perceived to be at some risk. This withdrawal is happening fastest among reinsurers. Because the insurers' withdrawal has been gradual, the extent of the potential economic consequences is still unclear. What is clear is that without terrorism insurance, terrorist attacks would dramatically increase direct losses to businesses, employees, and lenders. Furthermore, the government's ability to intervene after a future terrorist attack may be hampered by its lack of claims-processing and payments systems. Even without actual terrorist attacks, some properties and businesses have been unable to find terrorism coverage at any price. These problems are likely to increase as …