Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "In 2001 and 2002, federal prosecutors indicted the Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and a dozen conspirators on charges of racketeering, extortion, mail fraud, and tax evasion. In March 2003, the mayor was found guilty on 16 counts, and most of the others indicted have pleaded guilty. While the indictment did not refer to any misuse of federal funds, some of the corrupt activities were associated with projects that had received some federal funding in the past. This corruption has raised concerns about the adequacy of monitoring and oversight of the more than $82 million in federal funds Bridgeport has received in recent years. Congress asked us to examine federally funded programs operated by the city of Bridgeport and determine whether and to what extent the respective federal agencies, including program officials and Offices of Inspector General, have heightened program monitoring and oversight in light of the corruption."

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The L. Mendel Rivers Financial building (Rivers Building) in Charleston, South Carolina, has been vacant since it sustained damage in 1999 from Hurricane Floyd. For several years, the General Services Administration (GSA) has been working with the City of Charleston to negotiate an exchange of the Rivers Building and its site for land and a building to be constructed by the City. This report responds to a Congressional request for information on the progress of GSA's efforts to exchange the Rivers Building with the City of Charleston."

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Energy (DOE) contracts with not-for-profit universities and private companies to operate its facilities. As part of the cost of operating these facilities, DOE can reimburse its contractors for the litigation costs associated with cases brought against them. Each year the department spends millions of dollars in such reimbursements. For the most part, litigation expenses involve the costs of outside counsel and resulting judgments and settlements for a variety of types of cases, such as equal employment opportunity, radiation and/or toxic exposure, personal injury, wrongful termination of employment, and whistleblower protections. Rep. Edward J. Markey asked GAO to study the extent to which DOE reimburses its contractors' litigation costs and the process for doing so. GAO obtained information on (1) how much DOE spends to reimburse litigation costs for its contractors, (2) what major criteria DOE uses to reimburse its contractors for litigation costs and how it implements these criteria, (3) what major criteria the Department of Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration use to reimburse their contractors for litigation costs, (4) the extent to which a state university that is a DOE contractor …

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "In May 2003, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a new Circular A-76--which sets forth the government's competitive sourcing process. Determining whether to obtain services in-house or through commercial contracts is an important economic and strategic decision for agencies, and the use of A-76 is expected to grow throughout the federal government. In the past, however, the A-76 process has been difficult to implement, and the impact on the morale of the federal workforce has been profound. Moreover, there have been concerns in both the public and private sectors about the timeliness and fairness of the process and the extent to which there is a "level playing field" for conducting public-private competitions. It was against this backdrop that the Congress enacted legislation mandating a study of the government's competitive sourcing process, which was carried out by the Commercial Activities Panel, which was chaired by the Comptroller General of the United States. This testimony focuses on how the new Circular addresses the Panel's recommendations with regard to providing a better foundation for competitive sourcing decisions, and the challenges agencies may face in implementing the new A-76."

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "As part of its work to improve the management and the performance of the federal government, GAO monitors progress and continuing challenges related to the five crosscutting initiatives in the President's Management Agenda (PMA). The President cited GAO's high-risk areas and major management challenges in developing these initiatives. GAO remains committed to working with the Congress and the Administration to help address these complex issues."

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Restoration of the South Florida ecosystem is a complex, long-term federal and state undertaking that requires the development of extensive scientific information. GAO was asked to report on the funds spent on scientific activities for restoration, the gaps that exist in scientific information, and the extent to which scientific activities are being coordinated."

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; Time at which vacancy is created under the terms of Local Government code section of 22.010(d) in a type A general-law municipality (RQ-0610-JC)

Statement of Electronic Transfer Method filled out by Al Daniels on May 26, 2003. The form of the Texas Ethics Commission documents financial report or personal financial statements.

Email regarding a list of documents needed by task force participants and a draft of the "Draft Voter Empowerment Plan."

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

Interview with Pete Craig, a veteran of the U.S. Army who served in the Pacific Theatre during World War II from Houston, Texas. Craig describes his time as a Private 1st Class in the Infantry, as well as his experiences in basic training and the places he visited throughout the United States. Included at the end of the transcript is a written summarization by the interviewer, Colby Burmaster, which was provided with the two audiotapes of the interview.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Ernest Dege. Dege joined the Navy in 1940. He was stationed on Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. Shortly after the attack, Dege was transferred to Philadelphia to complete schooling on super-heated boilers. Beginning April of 1944, he served as a Fireman aboard USS Wisconsin (BB-64). They traveled to Australia, Guadalcanal and Tulagi.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Merle Ainley. Ainley joined the Navy in September of 1944. He completed Radar School in Hawaii, and served as a Radar Specialist and navigator aboard USS Finch (DE-328). They traveled to Guam, Leyte and maneuvered along the China Coast, with a carrier task force. They transported prisoners-of-war from Taiwan and Formosa to Manila. They traveled to Saipan and completed occupation duty in Hong Kong, completing air sea rescue and charting harbors. He returned to the US and was discharged in June of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Kaney. Kaney joined the Navy in 1942. He completed Fleet Sonar School. He served as operator of sonar equipment for anti-submarine warfare activities aboard USS Finch (DE-328). They traveled to Algiers, North Africa, and escorted ships to Naples, Italy for Operation Dragoon. Kaney was later reassigned to USS Charles S. Sperry (DD-697), where he remained through the end of the war.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Jack Thurmond. Thurmond joined the Navy around 1942. Beginning in December of 1943, he served as an Electrician’s Mate aboard the USS Finch (DE-328). He served in both the European and Pacific theaters. They escorted convoys to Africa, Britain, Pearl Harbor, Guam, Saipan and the Philippines. After the war ended, they transported former POWs from Formosa to Manila. He returned to the US and was discharged in the fall of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with R. Paul Kelly. Kelley was born in Irving, Texas on 21 June 1934. In 1951 he volunteered to join the Navy. After 12 weeks of boot camp in San Diego, he was assigned to the USS LST-887 in Yokosuka, Japan. He spent several months in the Korean theater before being reassigned to LCU-588 in Coronado, California. Sea duty in Korea resumed on the LCU-1273, USS Comstock (LSD-19), and USS Begor (APD-127). He then spent 3 years at the Supply Center in Yokosuka, rated as a yeoman. His next duty was at the 6th Naval District Charleston, the Naval Air Station Guam, went back to sea, then to the 12th Naval District in San Francisco. By now a chief petty officer, one of his duties there was Admiral Nimitz's writer or personal secretary. Most of this work took place in the admiral's home. Kelley relates what a quiet, humble, pleasant man Nimitz was. Kelley then was assigned to the USS Norton Sound (AVM-1), was Master Chief of the Command at Mare Island Shipyard, spent 2 years with US Naval Forces Europe in London, and finished his career at the …