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:Authority of a sheriff to accept a fee from a private organization that contracts with the sheriff's county to operate the county jail (RQ-0823-GA).

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Under the Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP), the Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for cleaning up about 5,400 sites on military bases that have been closed under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, as well as 21,500 sites on active bases and over 4,700 formerly used defense sites (FUDS), properties that DOD owned or controlled and transferred to other parties prior to October 1986. The cleanup of contaminants, such as hazardous chemicals or unexploded ordnance, at BRAC bases has been an impediment to the timely transfer of these properties to parties who can put them to new uses. The goals of DERP include (1) reducing risk to human health and the environment (2) preparing BRAC properties to be environmentally suitable for transfer (3) having final remedies in place and completing response actions and (4) fulfilling other established milestones to demonstrate progress toward meeting program performance goals. This testimony is based on prior work and discusses information on (1) how DOD allocates cleanup funding at all sites with defense waste and (2) BRAC cleanup status. It also summarizes other key issues that GAO has identified in the …

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Defense (DOD) has numerous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems--including manned and unmanned airborne, space-borne, maritime, and terrestrial systems--that play critical roles in support of current military operations. The demand for these capabilities has increased dramatically. Today's testimony addresses (1) the challenges the military services and defense agencies face processing, exploiting, and disseminating the information collected by ISR systems and (2) the extent to which the military services and defense agencies have developed the capabilities required to share ISR information. This testimony is based on GAO's January 2010 report on DOD's ISR data processing capabilities. GAO reviewed and analyzed documentation, guidance, and strategies of the military services and defense agencies in regard to processing, exploiting, and disseminating ISR data as well as information-sharing capabilities. GAO also visited numerous commands, military units, and locations in Iraq and the United States."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony discusses highlights of GAO's report about the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) efforts to institutionalize the protection of children's health. EPA's mission is to protect human health and the environment. As a result of mounting evidence about the special vulnerabilities of the developing fetus and child, the federal government and EPA took several bold steps to make children's environmental health a priority in the late 1990s. In 1996, EPA issued the National Agenda to Protect Children's Health from Environmental Threats (National Agenda) and expanded the agency's activities to specifically address risks for children, documenting EPA's plans to achieve seven goals, such as (1) ensuring that all standards set by EPA are protective of any heightened risks faced by children; (2) developing new, comprehensive policies to address cumulative and simultaneous exposures faced by children; and (3) expanding community right-to-know to allow families to make informed choices concerning environmental exposures to their children. EPA's Advisory Committee has raised concerns about whether the agency has continued to maintain its earlier focus on protecting children or capitalized on opportunities to tackle some significant and emerging environmental health challenges. For example, the …

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony discusses the U.S. Government Accountability Office's (GAO) budget request for fiscal year 2011. This has put us in a better position to assist the Congress in confronting the many difficult challenges facing the nation. In fiscal year 2009, GAO supported Congressional decision making and oversight on a range of critical issues, including the government's efforts to help stabilize financial markets and address the most severe recession since World War II. In addition to providing oversight for the 2008 Economic Stabilization Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), we continued to provide the Congress updates on programs that are at high risk for waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement or are in need of broad reform, and delivered advice and analyses on a broad array of pressing domestic and international issues that demand urgent attention and continuing oversight. These include modernizing the regulatory structure for financial institutions and markets to meet 21st century demands; controlling escalating health care costs and providing more effective oversight of medical products; restructuring of the U.S. Postal Service to ensure its financial stability; and improving the Department of …

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) allows Part D plans to utilize different tiers with different levels of cost sharing as a way of managing drug utilization and spending. One such tier, the specialty tier, is designed for high-cost drugs whose prices exceed a certain threshold set by CMS. Beneficiaries who use these drugs typically face higher out-of-pocket costs than beneficiaries who use only lower-cost drugs. This testimony is based on GAO's January 2010 report entitled Medicare Part D: Spending, Beneficiary Cost Sharing, and Cost-Containment Efforts for High-Cost Drugs Eligible for a Specialty Tier (GAO-10-242) in which GAO examined, among other things, (1) Part D spending on these drugs in 2007, the most recent year for which claims data were available; (2) how different cost-sharing structures could be expected to affect beneficiary out-of-pocket costs; (3) how negotiated drug prices could be expected to affect beneficiary out-of-pocket costs; and (4) information Part D plan sponsors reported on their ability to negotiate price concessions. For the second and third of these objectives, this testimony focuses on out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries responsible for paying the full cost-sharing amounts required …

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The attempted bombing of Northwest flight 253 highlighted the importance of detecting improvised explosive devices on passengers. This testimony focuses on (1) the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) efforts to procure and deploy advanced imaging technology (AIT), and related challenges; and (2) TSA's efforts to strengthen screening procedures and technology in other areas of aviation security, and related challenges. This testimony is based on related products GAO issued from March 2009 through January 2010, selected updates conducted from December 2009 through March 2010 on the AIT procurement, and ongoing work on air cargo security. For the ongoing work and updates, GAO obtained information from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and TSA and interviewed senior TSA officials regarding air cargo security and the procurement, deployment, operational testing, and assessment of costs and benefits of the AIT."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Secure Border Initiative (SBI) is intended to help secure the 6,000 miles of international borders that the contiguous United States shares with Canada and Mexico. The program, which began in November 2005, seeks to enhance border security and reduce illegal immigration by improving surveillance technologies, raising staffing levels, increasing domestic enforcement of immigration laws, and improving physical infrastructure along the nation's borders. Within SBI, the Secure Border Initiative Network (SBInet) is a multibillion dollar program that includes the acquisition, development, integration, deployment, and operation of surveillance technologies--such as unattended ground sensors and radar and cameras mounted on fixed and mobile towers--to create a "virtual border fence." In addition, command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) software and hardware are to use the information gathered by the surveillance technologies to create a real-time picture of what is transpiring within specific areas along the border and transmit the information to command centers and vehicles."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Federal agencies are increasingly using electronic means to create, exchange, and store information, and in doing so, they frequently create federal records: that is, information, in whatever form, that documents government functions, activities, decisions, and other important transactions. As the volume of electronic information grows, so does the challenge of managing electronic records. Both federal agency heads and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) have responsibilities for managing federal records. As requested, after providing some context about records management in the federal government and the roles of federal agencies and NARA, this testimony describes the challenges of electronic records management and potential means of addressing these challenges. In preparing this testimony, GAO relied primarily on its previous work, supplemented by analysis of publicly available documents."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Defense (DOD) relies greatly on contractors to support its current operations and is likely to continue to depend on contractors in support of future operations. As of December 2009, DOD estimated that over 207,000 contractor personnel were supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. DOD expects to increase the number of contractors as more troops deploy to Afghanistan. The use of contractors in contingencies has challenged DOD in overseeing and managing contractors. This testimony addresses (1) the challenges DOD faces when trying to provide management and oversight of contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan, and (2) the extent to which DOD has made progress in institutionalizing a department- wide approach to managing and overseeing operational contract support. Today's testimony is based on GAO's ongoing audit work in Iraq and Afghanistan, looking at planning for operational contract support and at DOD's efforts to manage and oversee contractors, as well as on recently published related GAO reports and testimonies."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has drawn national attention to the exploration and production of oil and gas from leases on federal lands and waters. The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees onshore oil and gas activities, the Minerals Management Service's (MMS) Offshore Energy and Minerals Management oversees offshore oil and gas activities, and MMS's Minerals Revenue Management collects revenues from oil and gas produced. Interior's oil and gas oversight has long been the subject of audits and investigations by GAO, Interior's Office of Inspector General (OIG), and others. In response to the recent oil spill, the Secretary of the Interior has proposed reorganizing MMS. Over the past 5 years, GAO has issued numerous recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior to improve the agency's management of oil and gas resources--most recently resulting in two reports in March 2010. Overall, GAO's work in this area can be useful in evaluating key aspects of the Secretary's plans to reorganize MMS. In particular, GAO's findings and recommendations can provide guidance on how to achieve effective oversight of federal oil and gas management …

Interview with Frances Hubble Kaiser, a former Kerr County sheriff and justice of the peace from Kerrville, Texas. Mrs. Kaiser discusses about how she was elected as sheriff, including her views on law enforcement and justice. She also describes some of the honors she received over the years, including being chosen for the "Women in Power" program in 1999. The interview transcript includes photos of Mrs. Kaiser and her family, on pages 20-21

This report discusses phase two of the SCience ICe EXercise (SCICEX) Science Plan.

News release about DART's reduced service schedule in observance of the Memorial Day schedule.

Autobiographical timeline of the life of Howard Hall Peacock from 1925-2010.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Mercer. Mercer joined the Navy in October of 1943. He was assigned to the gunnery division aboard the USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95). They transported Marine pilots and their planes to Hawaii. Mercer’s job aboard was ensuring that the 40mm and 20mm guns were in good working order. He describes the guns and how he operated them. They participated in the invasion of Leyte Gulf and Luzon, and he talks about their carrier having several near misses with kamikaze planes. He provides some detail of the flight deck and the catapult to launch the planes. He describes briefly his initiation in becoming a shellback. In February of 1945 they were 20 miles from Iwo Jima and Mercer describes in detail their experiences after getting hit by a kamikaze plane and the carrier sinking. After that he was stationed in California for 15 months and was discharged in the summer of 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fred C. Hinds. Hinds joined the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was trained as a corpsman and was sent to the 23rd Naval Construction Battalion in Hawaii. Hinds was transferred to the USS Cache (AO-67) where he eventually became the ship’s mail clerk and also stood bridge watches. He describes the refueling process and mentions when a carrier had to make an emergency separation. Hinds also discusses witnessing the flag raisings on Iwo Jima and an attack on a nearby tanker at Ulithi by a Japanese mini-sub. His ship was also a part of the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay. He also witnessed a destroyer sink during a typhoon. Hinds was discharged soon after the surrender of Japan.

Transcript of an oral interview with Arelius Hall and his daughter Margaret. He discusses joining the Navy and becoming a Quartermaster on PT-246, being stationed in the Pacific and doing patrols around Bougainville and seeing other damaged PT boats coming into harbour.

Transcript of an oral interview with John J. Stavola. Born in 1921, he joined the Navy in 1942. He trained with the diesel group at the Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. He was assigned to USS LST-37 as a Motor Mac. He remained with the ship for a month after it was transferred to the Greek Navy to assist with the transition. His next assignment was to the USS LST-43. He describes a Japanese air raid on Kwajalein. He also describes witnessing the disaster at West Loch in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and rescuing his Executive Officer. He was sent back to the U.S. to pick up LSMRs. He shares an anecdote about prize fighter Tony Zale at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Virginia. He returned to the Pacific for the invasion of Okinawa. He describes the naval battle for the island of Kerama Retto. He also describes the landing on Okinawa. He talks about picket duty aboard LSMR-191 and other activities in the waters around the island. He also discusses attacks by kamikazes. He returned to the U.S. with LSMR-191 when it was retrofitted as an ammunition carrier. He was discharged in January, 1946. The interview also contains …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Von Dixon. Dixon was born 30 April 1924 in La Junta, Colorado. Upon enlisting in the US Army Air Forces, he went to Randolph Field, Texas for preflight training. He tells of various phases of training at a series of airfields and the type of planes used in the training. Upon graduating and being commissioned in 1943, he was sent to Thomasville, Georgia for training in the P-39 (fighter). After three months training he was sent to New Guinea where he joined the 35th Fighter Group. After flying the P-39 on ground support missions for a period of time, the group received new P-47s. Dixon recalls an accident that occurred during take-off that resulted in him being seriously burned. He tells of the treatment he received and the various hospitals in which he was a patient for five months of recovery. Following his recovery he was sent to Ephrata Army Air Field, Washington as a pilot instructor, flying the P-63 (fighter) for five months. Dixon recounts his experience of successfully bailing out of a disabled P-63. He was sent to Bell Aircraft, the headquarters of the manufacturer, to …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Thomas Hendrix. Hendrix joined the Naval Reserve in 1940 and was commissioned in 1941. He started as an intelligence officer for the 11th Naval District at San Diego until he requested sea duty. Hendrix served on the USS Harris (APA-2) and was at sea during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He describes the damage he saw when his ship returned to Pearl Harbor. Hendrix was then assigned to CINCPAC as a coding officer. He discusses the arrival of Nimitz and his words to the staff. Hendrix describes the demeanor of Nimitz and how he treated the staff. He also talks about how Admiral Spruance interacted with the staff. Hendrix covers the nature of his work as a coder. He requested sea duty again and was transferred to the USS Mitchell (DE-43). Hendrix served as Navigation Officer as his ship escorted oil tankers as part of the At-Sea Logistics Support Group for the remainder of the year. He discusses how the mixed-race crew got along well. The Mitchell was decommissioned in December 1945 and Hendrix left the service in March 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Floyd E. Beeghly. Beeghly joined the Navy in April 1943. He describes his basic training at Farragut, Idaho. Beeghly was sent to the USS Independence (CVL-22) and joined the C and R division. He describes flight operations, his damage control station, and what it was like when his ship was hit by a torpedo. Beeghly left the Navy in February 1946.