Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "GAO's work over the past several years has demonstrated that improper payments are a long-standing, widespread, and significant problem in the federal government. The Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (IPIA) has increased visibility over improper payments by requiring executive branch agency heads, using guidance from the Office of Management and Budget, to identify programs and activities susceptible to significant improper payments, estimate amounts improperly paid, and report on the amounts of improper payments and their actions to reduce them. This testimony addresses (1) progress made in agencies' implementation of IPIA for fiscal year 2008, and (2) several major challenges that continue to hinder full reporting of IPIA information. GAO was also asked to provide an overview of Medicare and Medicaid programs' implementation of IPIA. This testimony is based primarily on GAO products, Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit reports, and agencies' fiscal year 2008 reported improper payment information, including information reported by the Department of Health and Human Service's (HHS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). GAO also analyzed fiscal year 2008 governmentwide improper payment information to identify trends and reviewed Medicare and Medicaid programs' reported …

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This letter responds to a request that we provide information on selected personnel practices at the Justice Department. On March 1, 2004, we briefed Congress on the results of our review. This letter transmits information provided during that briefing. Specifically, the slides enclosed in this letter describe (1) Justice's hiring processes for entry-level and lateral (i.e., experienced) career attorneys, (2) the types of monetary awards Justice grants to political appointees and the number of awards granted from 1993 through 2002, and (3) Justice's selection process for the position of the Assistant Attorney General for Administration."

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In 2008, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that it had obtained the voluntary recall of 563 unsafe or potentially unsafe products by the companies that manufactured, imported, distributed, or sold the products--the largest number for the agency in the past 10 years. In the prior year, CPSC announced 472 recalls--which was also an increase from the previous year and included some high-profile recalls of lead-tainted toys--leading some consumer groups to call 2007 the "year of the recall." Consumer products can be recalled for a variety of reasons, including violations of safety standards, incidents of injuries that can occur from the design or manufacture of a product, or other conditions that present an imminent or substantial hazard to consumers. Since 1979 there have been few instances in which CPSC could not obtain cooperation from manufacturers or importers to conduct recalls, either because these companies did not have the financial resources to conduct a recall or because the companies refused to assume responsibility for a recall. This included troubled recalls involving more than 1.5 million imported cribs associated with multiple deaths of children. Another recall of imported tires, …

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony is based on a GAO report (GAO-02-156) that analyzed key characteristics of women and men in management positions, identified the representation of women in management positions in specific industries, and identified salary differences between men and women in full-time management jobs. Female managers in the 10 industries GAO examined were younger, less educated, were more likely to work part-time, and were less likely to be married than were male managers. In five of these industries, GAO found no statistically significant differences between the percent of industry positions filled by women and the percent of management positions filled by women. In four of the industries, women were less represented in management positions. In one of these industries, women were represented in management positions to a greater degree than they were in all positions in the industry. Full-time female managers earned less than full-time male managers in all 10 industries, after controlling for education, age, marital status, and race. GAO was unable to take years of experience into account."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Deepwater Program is intended to recapitalize the Coast Guard's fleet and includes efforts to build or modernize five classes each of ships and aircraft, and procure other key capabilities. In 2002, the Coast Guard contracted with Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) to manage the acquisition as systems integrator. After the program experienced a series of failures, the Coast Guard announced in April 2007 that it would take over the lead role, with future work on individual assets to be potentially bid competitively outside of the existing contract. A program baseline of $24.2 billion was set as well. In June 2008, GAO reported on the new approach and concluded that while these steps were beneficial, continued oversight and improvement was necessary. The Coast Guard has taken actions to address the recommendations in that report. This testimony updates key issues from prior work: (1) Coast Guard program management at the overall Deepwater Program and asset levels; (2) how cost, schedules, and capabilities have changed from the 2007 baseline and how well costs are communicated to Congress; and (3) Coast Guard efforts to manage and build its acquisition workforce. GAO …

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for overseeing the safety and effectiveness of human drugs that are marketed in the United States, whether they are manufactured in foreign or domestic establishments. FDA inspects foreign establishments to ensure that they meet the same standards required of domestic establishments. Ongoing concerns regarding FDA's foreign drug inspection program recently were heightened when FDA learned that contaminated doses of a common blood thinner had been manufactured at a Chinese establishment that the agency had never inspected. FDA has announced initiatives to improve its foreign drug inspection program. In November 2007, GAO testified on weaknesses in FDA's foreign drug inspection program (GAO-08-224T). This statement presents preliminary findings on how FDA's initiatives address the weaknesses GAO identified. GAO interviewed FDA officials and analyzed FDA's initiatives. GAO examined reports and proposals prepared by the agency, as well as its plans to improve databases it uses to manage its foreign drug inspection program."

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "GAO exists to support the Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the performance and ensure the accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the American people. In the years ahead, its support to the Congress will likely prove even more critical because of the pressures created by the nation's large and growing long-term fiscal imbalance, which is driven primarily by known demographic and rising health care trends. These pressures will require the Congress to make tough choices regarding what the government does, how it does business, and who will do the government's business in the future. GAO's work covers virtually every area in which the federal government is or may become involved, anywhere in the world. Perhaps just as importantly, GAO's work sometimes leads it to sound the alarm over problems looming just beyond the horizon--such as the nation's enormous long-term fiscal challenges--and help policymakers address these challenges in a timely and informed manner. The Comptroller General presented testimony that focused on GAO's progress during his first five years in office. He highlighted GAO's (1) fiscal year 2003 performance and results; (2) …

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "To ensure that essential government services are available in emergencies--such as terrorist attacks, severe weather, or building-level emergencies--federal agencies are required to develop continuity of operations (COOP) plans. Responsibility for formulating guidance on these plans and for assessing executive branch COOP capabilities lies with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the Department of Homeland Security. FEMA guidance, Federal Preparedness Circular (FPC) 65 (July 1999), identifies elements of a viable COOP capability, including the requirement that agencies identify their essential functions. This statement summarizes the findings of a February 2004, GAO report, for which GAO was asked to determine the extent to which (1) major civilian executive branch agencies have identified their essential functions and (2) these agencies' COOP plans follow FEMA guidance."

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, resulted in fundamental changes in the way the United States screens airport passengers and their property. One of the most significant changes was the shift from using private screeners to using federal screeners at all but five commercial airports in the United States. These five airports are part of a pilot program, where private screeners perform screening functions. The mission of the Private Screening Pilot Program, as defined by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), is to test the effectiveness of increased operational flexibility at the airport level that contractors may provide. GAO was asked to describe (1) the challenges and limitations of the private screening pilot program, (2) the operational flexibilities TSA has provided to the private screening companies, and (3) the performance of private and federal screeners in detecting threat objects. This testimony is based on our prior and ongoing work on TSA airport passenger and baggage screeners."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony discusses GAO's recently issued report on the North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) and the Department of Defense's (DOD) air sovereignty alert (ASA) operations. According to the National Strategy for Aviation Security, issued in March 2007, and officials from U.S. intelligence agencies with whom we met, air attacks are still a threat to the United States and its people. To address this threat, NORAD and DOD have fully fueled, fully armed aircraft and trained personnel on alert 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at 18 ASA sites across the United States. Of the 18 sites, 16 are maintained by Air National Guard (ANG) units and 2 are maintained by active duty Air Force units. If warranted, NORAD can increase personnel, aircraft, and the number of ASA sites based on changes in threat conditions. The Air Force provides NORAD with personnel and equipment, including F-15 and F-16 aircraft, for these operations. ASA units are tasked to conduct and train for both expeditionary missions (e.g., military operations in Iraq) and ASA operations. This testimony will discuss whether (1) NORAD routinely conducts risk assessments to determine the …

Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Concerns have been raised about the effects of heightened security at two border crossings in Detroit--the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. In the wake of September 11, the U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) increased the number and thoroughness of inspections and questioned all bridge and tunnel travelers, leading to truck wait times that exceeded 10 hours. To decrease wait times, Customs and INS extended shifts, curtailed vacations, brought in more staff, and obtained help from the National Guard and local law enforcement. The U.S. and Canadian governments have agreed in principle to a plan to make the border more secure without impeding traffic flow and trade. In addition to increasing personnel and improving technology, officials are considering pre-approval of low-risk traffic and reverse inspections."

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, John Cornyn, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether, with respect to a contract valued at $25,000 or more in the aggregate for a twelve-month period, a school district may participate in a registered political subdivision corporation created under section 304.001 of the Local Government Code, and related questions.

Photocopy of an envelope addressed to Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus Al Daniels at Dallas, Texas.

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Air ambulance transport is widely regarded as improving the chances of survival for trauma victims and other critical patients. However, recent increases in the number of air ambulance accidents have led to greater industry scrutiny by government agencies, the public, the media, and the industry itself. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and others have called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which provides safety oversight, to issue more stringent safety requirements for the industry. This testimony discusses (1) recent trends in the air ambulance industry with regard to its size, composition, and safety record; (2) recent industry and government efforts to improve air ambulance safety; and (3) potential strategies for improving air ambulance safety. This testimony is based primarily on GAO's February 2007 study on air ambulance safety (GAO-07-353). To update and supplement this 2007 report, GAO analyzed the latest safety information from NTSB and FAA, reviewed published literature on the state of the air ambulance industry, and interviewed FAA officials and industry representatives. GAO provided a copy of the draft testimony statement to FAA. FAA provided technical comments, which GAO incorporated as appropriate."

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In 2001, GAO identified human capital management as a governmentwide high-risk area because federal agencies lacked a strategic approach to human capital management that integrated human capital efforts with their missions and program goals. Progress has been made. However, the area remains high-risk because of a continuing need for a governmentwide framework to advance human capital reform. The importance of a top-notch federal workforce cannot be overstated. The federal government is facing new and growing challenges coupled with a retirement wave and the loss of leadership and institutional knowledge at all levels. The issues facing agencies are complex and require a broad range of technical skills that are also highly sought after by the private sector. This testimony, based on a large body of completed work issued from January 2001 through March 2009, focuses on executive branch agencies' and the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) progress in addressing strategic human capital management challenges in four key areas: (1) leadership; (2) strategic human capital planning; (3) acquiring, developing, and retaining talent; and (4) results-oriented organizational culture. In prior reports, GAO has made a range of recommendations to OPM and …

Application materials submitted to the Texas Historical Commission requesting a historic marker for the Ludwig and Caroline Giese House, in Round Top, Texas. The materials include the inscription text of the marker, original application, narrative, and photographs.

Email to Rick Walker about messages that failed to send, with handwritten email corrections.

Email to Rick Walker informing him that an email he sent failed to send.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Daryl Haerther. Haerther joined the Army in 1944 and was assigned to the 96th Infantry Division a few days after the beginning of the invasion of Okinawa. He was assigned to A Company, 383rd Infantry Regiment. While there, Haerther qualified as a medic and shares several anecdotes from his combat experiences. Eventaully, Haerther was wounded and evacuated to Guam. He was still in the hospital when the war ended and Haerther elected to be discharged in December 1945. Haerther indicates he continues to struggle later in life as a result of some of his combat experiences.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Irving Westbrook. Westbrook joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in early 1940 and went to Idaho. He joined the Navy in January 1942. When he finished training, he was assigned to a degaussing unit in New Orleans as a signalman. He asked to go overseas and was then trained to be a beach master with the Marines. After getting to the Southwest Pacific, Westbrook participated in the invasion of Leyte in October 1944. He remained on Leyte until December 1945, eventually serving as harbor master as he set up a communications station. When he left he Navy, Westbrook joined the Air Force.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Wilbur Simlik. Simlik enlisted in the Marines after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Marine Corps allowed him graduate from college prior to active duty. In May 1943, he headed for Parris Island, South Carolina. After boot camp, he went to Quantico, Virginia for Officer Candidates School (OCS). After graduation and receiving a commission, Simlik’s first assignment was guard officer at a Naval Ammunition Depot on Oahu. He received orders to the 4th Marine Division on Maui. There he was assigned command to about 150 men fresh from boot camp. They soon learned they were going to Iwo Jima. They went ashore as replacement troops on the sixth day. They were guided to an assembly site and parceled out to units in combat. He went to the 25th Marine Regiment, 3rd Battalion, L Company. The only other officer in the unit was wounded and evacuated the next day, leaving Simlik in command of the company. Simlik discusses combat the company faced until they were pulled off the island about 1 5March. He was awarded the Silver Star and went back to Maui to prepare for the next invasion …

Este artículo describe el Festival de Arte de Fort Worth, donde un gran número de artistas hispanos venden sus obras. Se incluye tanto el artículo original en español como la traducción al inglés.