Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) acquisition program is estimated to cost $245 billion to develop and produce three variants of stealthy fighter aircraft--a conventional takeoff and landing variant for the Air Force, an aircraft carrier variant for the Navy, and a short take-off and vertical landing variant for the Marine Corps and Air Force. A major goal of the JSF program is to reduce costs by maximizing commonality among variants. However, the Air Force conventional variant is being designed with a different aerial refueling method than those used by the two other JSF variants. U.S. fighters use two different methods for aerial refueling. Air Force fixed-wing aircraft are all currently fueled by a boom that extends from a tanker aircraft and is guided into a receptacle. The Navy and Marine Corps fighters use a probe that extends from the fighter to receive fuel when inserted into a drogue, which is a basket-like device on the end of a hose that extends from the tanker. The Senate Armed Services Committee directed that we (1) examine the rationale behind the Air Force refueling decision for its JSF version, (2) determine …

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is conducting a multiyear, multibillion-dollar acquisition of a new trade processing system, planned to support the movement of legitimate imports and exports and strengthen border security. By congressional mandate, plans for expenditure of appropriated funds on this system, the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), must meet certain conditions, including GAO review. This study addresses whether the fiscal year 2005 plan satisfies these conditions, describes the status of DHS's efforts to implement prior GAO recommendations for improving ACE management, and provides observations about the plan and DHS's management of the program."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Since the fall of the former Iraq regime in April 2003, the multinational force has been working to develop Iraqi military and police forces capable of maintaining security. To support this effort, the United States provided about $5.8 billion in 2003-04 to develop Iraq's security capability. In February 2005, the president requested a supplemental appropriation with an additional $5.7 billion to accelerate the development of Iraqi military and police forces. GAO provides preliminary observations on (1) the strategy for transferring security responsibilities to Iraqi military and police forces; (2) the data on the status of forces, and (3) challenges that the Multi-National Force in Iraq faces in transferring security missions to these forces. To prepare this statement, GAO used unclassified reports, status updates, security plans, and other documents from the Departments of Defense and State. GAO also used testimonies and other statements for the record from officials such as the Secretary of Defense. In addition, GAO visited the Iraqi police training facility in Jordan."

Photograph of Joe San Miguel seated behind a panel table and speaking into a microphone as he addresses attendees at the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of Paul Burka seated behind a panel table and in front of microphone as he is part of a panel discussion taking place during the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of Charles Moser standing up at a wooden podium and speaking into the microphone during the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of Kevin Robbins, of the Austin American Statesman newspaper, seated at a table with other guests as they are attending the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin. Robbins is there to accept an award for Sportswriting.

Photograph of Joycelyn Marek seated behind a panel table and speaking into a microphone as she addresses attendees at the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of Phillip A. Berkebile (right) standing with an unidentified man and reviewing notes during the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of Joycelyn Marek standing in front of a laptop as she is seen working on it during a panel discussion, at the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of Jack Sweeney (right) stopping to chat with Bob Carlquist during the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin. Sweeney has been awarded the, "2004 Mayborn Award for Community Leadership, presented to Jack Sweeney of the Houston Chronicle." Jonathan Thompson is seen in the background.

Photograph of Paul Burka seated behind a panel table and in front of microphone as he is part of a panel discussion taking place during the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of Darla Thompson (right) and Jeremy L. Halbriech (left) side-hugging one another during the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin. Thompson was there to accept an award for her dedicated services as as Administration Assistant, Office Manager, Director of Member Services for the Texas Daily Newspaper Association.

Photograph of Bob Terzotis seated behind a panel table and speaking into a microphone as he addresses attendees at the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of W. Lawrence Walker, Jr. (right) awarding Chris Borniger with an award during the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin. Borniger has been award the, "John Murphy Award. 2004. For Excellence in Copy Editing, Presented by the Texas Daily Newspaper Association. Chris Borniger of the Dallas Morning News."

Photograph of Darla Thompson standing behind a bouquet of flowers and smiling as her picture was taken while she was attending the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin. Thompson was there to accept an award for her dedicated services as as Administration Assistant, Office Manager, Director of Member Services for the Texas Daily Newspaper Association.

Photograph of Catherine McHaney (left) and Lorraine Branham (right) seated at a table together during the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of Johnathan Friedland seated behind a panel table and speaking into a microphone as he addresses attendees at the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of an unidentified man standing in front of attendees and giving a presentation at the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of Rick Perry, Texas Governor, standing at a podium and speaking into the microphone as he addresses the crowd of guests attending the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of Jeremy L. Halbreich standing at the wooden podium with "The Driskell" on it, as Halbreich is attending the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of Ross Ramsey (left), Paul Burka (center) and Wayne Slater (right) seen talking with one another during the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of Ken Whalen standing near glass doors in the ballroom of the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.

Photograph of Ken Whalen, seated at a table in front of a microphone during the 2005 Texas Daily News Association annual conference, held at the Driskell Hotel in Austin.