A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Despite sizeable tax incentives, private pension participation has remained at about 50 percent of the workforce. For those in a pension plan, there is concern that these incentives accrue primarily to higher income employees and do relatively little to help lower income workers save for retirement. The financial crisis and labor-market downturn may have exacerbated these difficulties. Therefore, we examined (1) recent trends in new private pension plan formation, (2) the characteristics of defined contribution plan participants contributing at or above statutory limits, (3) how suggested options to modify an existing credit for low-income workers might affect their retirement income, and (4) the long-term effects of the recent financial crisis on retirement savings. To answer these questions, GAO reviewed reports, federal regulations, and laws, and interviewed academics, agency officials, and other relevant experts. We also analyzed Department of Labor and 2007 Survey of Consumer Finance (SCF) data, and used a microsimulation model to assess effects of modifying tax incentives for low-income workers. We incorporated technical comments from the departments of Labor and Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation as appropriate."

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In February 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) appropriated $1.5 billion for discretionary grants for capital investments in surface transportation projects of national and regional significance, including highways, transit, rail, ports, and others. The act required the Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop criteria to award these grants--known as the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants--and to meet several statutory requirements. GAO was asked to review (1) the criteria and process used to evaluate applications and award grants, (2) the outcome of the process, and (3) the extent to which DOT communicated information to applicants and the public. GAO reviewed documentation of the award process and selection documentation and interviewed key DOT officials."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "As part of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through its U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) component, is to secure U.S borders against threats of terrorism; the smuggling of drugs, humans, and other contraband; and illegal migration. At the end of fiscal year 2010, DHS investments in border security had grown to $11.9 billion and included more than 40,000 personnel. To secure the border, DHS coordinates with federal, state, local, tribal, and Canadian partners. This testimony addresses DHS (1) capabilities to enforce security at or near the border, (2) interagency coordination and oversight of information sharing and enforcement efforts, and (3) management of technology programs. This testimony is based on related GAO work from 2007 to the present and selected updates made in February and March 2011. For the updates, GAO obtained information on CBP performance measures and interviewed relevant officials."

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Delphi Corporation was a global supplier of mobile electronics and transportation systems that began as part of the General Motors Corporation (GM) and was spun off as an independent company in 1999. Following bankruptcy in 2005, Delphi's six qualified defined benefit (DB) plans were terminated and trusteed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) in July 2009. These terminations culminated from a complex series of events involving Delphi, GM, various unions, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), as well as PBGC. Congress asked us to examine a range of issues related to PBGC's termination of Delphi's DB plans, such as the decision to terminate, the efforts to secure plan assets, the treatment of collective bargaining agreements, and Treasury's role throughout the process. As discussed with Congressional staff members in December 2010, this report includes a timeline of key events leading to the termination of Delphi's plans. The timeline focuses, in particular, on events related to the reasons for GM providing retirement benefit supplements to certain Delphi employees, but not to others, and Treasury's role in those events. We will compare PBGC's process for terminating Delphi's pension …

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Congress created the Farm Labor Housing (FLH) Loan and Grant Program in the early 1960s to support the development of affordable housing for farm workers. In 2010, Congress appropriated $19.7 million for this program, which is administered by the Rural Housing Service (RHS) in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). GAO was asked to examine (1) demand for the FLH program; (2) RHS's processes for ensuring that the program is providing decent housing for eligible farmworkers; and (3) the financial status and financial management of FLH properties. To do this work, GAO analyzed agency data, regulations, and FLH program documentation; convened a group of experts with assistance of The National Academies; selected and inspected 20 properties in five states; and interviewed RHS staff and various stakeholders."

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.

Images taken at a North Texas middle school documenting the food on a lunch tray and the remains on the same tray after the meal was consumed. These images are part of a study to document what food students are eating.