Recovery Act: One Year Later, States' and Localities' Uses of Funds and Opportunities to Strengthen Accountability (open access)

Recovery Act: One Year Later, States' and Localities' Uses of Funds and Opportunities to Strengthen Accountability

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This report responds to two ongoing GAO mandates under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). It is the fifth in a series of reports since passage of the Recovery Act on the uses of and accountability for Recovery Act funds in 16 selected states, certain localities in those jurisdictions, and the District of Columbia (District). These jurisdictions are estimated to receive about two-thirds of the intergovernmental assistance available through the Recovery Act. It is also the second report in which GAO is required to comment on the jobs created or retained as reported by recipients of Recovery Act funds. GAO collected and analyzed documents and interviewed state and local officials and other Recovery Act award recipients. GAO also analyzed federal agency guidance and spoke with officials at federal agencies overseeing Recovery Act programs."
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Emergency Communications: Establishment of the Emergency Communications Preparedness Center and Related Interagency Coordination Challenges (open access)

Emergency Communications: Establishment of the Emergency Communications Preparedness Center and Related Interagency Coordination Challenges

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This letter formally transmits the briefing in response to a mandate in the conference report (No. 111-298) and senate report (No. 111-31) to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010. In accordance with the direction in those reports, and in consultation with congressional staff, we are reporting on (1) actions taken by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) to establish the Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (ECPC) and (2) challenges OEC and ECPC officials reported that could affect interagency coordination through ECPC. Based on the results of our review, we are not making any recommendations for congressional consideration or agency action."
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Countering Terrorism in East Africa: The U.S. Response (open access)

Countering Terrorism in East Africa: The U.S. Response

This report provides an overview of current U.S. counterterrorism assistance programs and influence operations in East Africa and explores some of the strategies underpinning them. It also provides a brief description of the evolving terrorist threat in the region and explores the various roles of the Departments of State, Defense, Homeland Security, Treasury, Justice, and the U.S. Agency for International Development in implementing counterterrorism programs in the region. The report does not address covert or clandestine operations to collect intelligence or capture or eliminate terrorist targets in the region.
Date: November 3, 2010
Creator: Ploch, Lauren
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Military Personnel: Additional Actions Are Needed to Strengthen DOD's and the Coast Guard's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Programs (open access)

Military Personnel: Additional Actions Are Needed to Strengthen DOD's and the Coast Guard's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Programs

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Sexual assault is a crime with negative implications to military readiness and esprit de corps. In response to a congressional request, GAO, in 2008, reviewed Department of Defense (DOD) and U.S. Coast Guard sexual assault prevention and response programs and recommended a number of improvements. GAO was subsequently asked to evaluate the extent to which (1) DOD has addressed GAO's 2008 recommendations and further developed its programs, (2) DOD has established a sexual assault database, and (3) the Coast Guard has addressed GAO's 2008 recommendations and further developed its programs. To do so, GAO analyzed legislative requirements and program guidance, interviewed officials, and compared database implementation efforts to key information technology best practices."
Date: February 3, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies (open access)

Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies

This list of about 150 congressional liaison offices is intended to help congressional offices in placing telephone calls and addressing correspondence to government agencies. In each case, the information was supplied by the agency itself and is current as of the date of publication. Entries are arranged alphabetically in four sections: legislative branch; judicial branch; executive branch; and agencies, boards, and commissions.
Date: September 3, 2010
Creator: Crane-Hirsch, Audrey Celeste
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Administrative Issues Related to a Change in Majority in the House of Representatives (open access)

Administrative Issues Related to a Change in Majority in the House of Representatives

This report briefly describes how a change in majority leadership in the House of Representatives -- such as the incoming new majority that will assume control of House operations at the beginning of the 112th Congress in January 2011 -- could affect House rules, committees, and administrative and legislative operations.
Date: November 3, 2010
Creator: Petersen, R. Eric; Manning, Jennifer E. & Brudnick, Ida A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
September 11: World Trade Center Health Programs Business Process Center Proposal and Subsequent Data Collection (open access)

September 11: World Trade Center Health Programs Business Process Center Proposal and Subsequent Data Collection

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "From the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) through fiscal year 2010, approximately $475 million in federal funds was made available for screening, monitoring, or treating responders for illnesses and conditions--such as asthma and depression--related to the WTC disaster. Within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) awards funds to and oversees the programs that provide screening, monitoring, and treatment services for responders to the WTC attack. The two largest programs, which we refer to here as the WTC health programs, are the New York City Fire Department's (FDNY) WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program, and the New York/New Jersey (NY/NJ) WTC Consortium. These programs began as screening and monitoring programs, tracking the health status of responders related to the WTC disaster. In December 2005, the Congress first appropriated funds that were specifically available for treatment programs for certain responders with health conditions related to the WTC disaster, and in fall 2006, NIOSH began awarding funds for outpatient and inpatient treatment. According to NIOSH, as of June 30, …
Date: December 3, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cybersecurity: Key Challenges Need to Be Addressed to Improve Research and Development (open access)

Cybersecurity: Key Challenges Need to Be Addressed to Improve Research and Development

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Computer networks and infrastructures, on which the United States and much of the world rely to communicate and conduct business, contain vulnerabilities that can leave them susceptible to unauthorized access, disruption, or attack. Investing in research and development (R&D) is essential to protect critical systems and to enhance the cybersecurity of both the government and the private sector. Federal law has called for improvements in cybersecurity R&D, and, recently, President Obama has stated that advancing R&D is one of his administration's top priorities for improving cybersecurity. GAO was asked to determine the key challenges in enhancing national-level cybersecurity R&D efforts among the federal government and private companies. To do this, GAO consulted with officials from relevant federal agencies and experts from private sector companies and academic institutions as well as analyzed key documents, such as agencies' research plans."
Date: June 3, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Firms Reported in Open Sources to Have Sold Iran Refined Petroleum Products between January 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010 (open access)

Firms Reported in Open Sources to Have Sold Iran Refined Petroleum Products between January 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The United States has imposed multiple sanctions against Iran to deter it from developing its nuclear program, supporting terrorism, and abusing human rights. On July 1, 2010, the President signed into law the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act (CISADA) of 2010. CISADA amends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 (ISA) to require the President to impose three or more of a possible nine sanctions against persons who knowingly sell or provide Iran with refined petroleum products that, during a 12-month period, (1) have a fair market value of $1 million or more or (2) have an aggregate fair market value of $5 million or more. These new provisions regarding the sale or provision of refined petroleum products to Iran apply only to the sale or provision of refined petroleum products made on or after July 1, 2010. Under ISA, one of the sanctions that the President can apply is to bar foreign firms State administers ISA sanctions. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), Iran currently does not have sufficient refining capacity to meet its domestic demand for gasoline. Iran imported approximately 130,000 barrels of gasoline …
Date: September 3, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Questions for the Record Related to Military Compensation (open access)

Questions for the Record Related to Military Compensation

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "GAO testified before a Congressional subcommittee on April 28, 2010, to discuss current issues related to military compensation. This letter responds questions for the record from the hearing. (1) Is the ECI an appropriate index to use to adjust military basic pay rates annually? If not, is there a benchmark that is more appropriate? (2) Please explain what the impact on the Defense budget would be if Congress directed an increase in the pay raise by one percent, or half a percent without offsets. (3) Is there a better metric than the ECI to gauge what an annual pay raise should be? (4) Does the current pay table need adjustment? (5) What do you think the effect of reducing the requirement for entitlement to retired pay below 20 years would be on the ability to retain the personnel we need in leadership positions in the Armed Forces? (6) Last year, the Navy Exchange Service Command generated more than $45 million in dividends. These figures seem to indicate that commissary and exchange benefits are not especially costly to DOD and that service members place a high value on these …
Date: June 3, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Maritime Security: Ferry Security Measures Have Been Implemented, but Evaluating Existing Studies Could Further Enhance Security (open access)

Maritime Security: Ferry Security Measures Have Been Implemented, but Evaluating Existing Studies Could Further Enhance Security

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Ferries are a vital component of the U.S. transportation system and 2008 data show that U.S. ferries carried more than 82 million passengers and over 25 million vehicles. Ferries are also potential targets for terrorism in the United States and have been terrorist targets overseas. GAO was asked to review ferry security, and this report addresses the extent to which (1) the Coast Guard, the lead federal agency for maritime security, assessed risk in accordance with the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) guidance and what risks it identified; and (2) federal agencies, ferry and facility operators, and law enforcement entities have taken actions to protect ferries and their facilities. GAO reviewed relevant requirements, analyzed 2006 through 2009 security operations data, interviewed federal and industry officials, and made observations at five domestic and one international locations with varying passenger volumes and relative risk profiles. Site visits provided information on security, but were not projectable to all ports. This is the public version of a sensitive report that GAO issued in October 2010. Information that DHS deemed sensitive has been redacted."
Date: December 3, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Food Safety: FDA Should Strengthen Its Oversight of Food Ingredients Determined to Be Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) (open access)

Food Safety: FDA Should Strengthen Its Oversight of Food Ingredients Determined to Be Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is responsible for ensuring the safety of most of the U.S. food supply, is not required to review substances, such as spices and preservatives, added to food that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for their intended use. Currently, companies may determine a substance is GRAS without FDA's approval or knowledge. However, a few substances previously considered GRAS have later been banned; and concerns have been raised about the safety of other GRAS substances, including those containing engineered nanomaterials, materials manufactured at a tiny scale to take advantage of novel properties. GAO was asked to review the extent to which (1) FDA's oversight of new GRAS determinations helps ensure the safety of these substances, (2) FDA ensures the continued safety of current GRAS substances, and (3) FDA's approach to regulating engineered nanomaterials in GRAS substances helps ensure the safety of the food supply. GAO reviewed FDA data on GRAS substances and interviewed a range of stakeholders, among other things."
Date: February 3, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Financial Assistance: Ongoing Challenges and Guiding Principles Related to Government Assistance For Private Sector Companies (open access)

Financial Assistance: Ongoing Challenges and Guiding Principles Related to Government Assistance For Private Sector Companies

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The recent financial crisis resulted in a wide-ranging federal response that included providing extraordinary assistance to several major corporations. As a result of actions under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and others, the government was a shareholder in the American International Group Inc. (AIG); Bank of America; Citigroup, Inc. (Citigroup); Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler); General Motors Company (GM); Ally Financial/GMAC, Inc. (GMAC); and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (Enterprises). The government ownership interest in these companies resulted from financial assistance that was aimed at stabilizing the financial markets, housing finance, or specific market segments. This report (1) describes the government's ownership interest and evaluates the extent of government involvement in these companies, (2) discusses the government's management and monitoring of its investments and exit strategies, and (3) identifies lessons learned from the federal actions. This work was done in part with the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) and involved reviewing relevant documentation related to these companies and the federal assistance provided. GAO interviewed officials at Treasury, Federal Reserve, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and the banking regulators, as well as …
Date: August 3, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
NASA: Key Management and Program Challenges (open access)

NASA: Key Management and Program Challenges

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is in the midst of many changes and one of the most challenging periods in its history. The space shuttle is slated to retire this year, the International Space Station nears completion but remains underutilized, and a new means of human space flight is under development. Most recently, the administration has proposed a new direction for NASA. Amid all this potential change, GAO was asked to review the key issues facing NASA. This testimony focuses on four areas: 1) retiring the space shuttle; 2) utilizing and sustaining the International Space Station; 3) continuing difficulty developing large-scale systems, including the next generation of human spaceflight systems; and 4) continuing weaknesses in financial management and information technology systems. In preparing this statement, GAO relied on completed work. To address some of these challenges, GAO has recommended that NASA: provide greater information on shuttle retirement costs to Congress, take actions aimed at more effective use of the station research facilities, develop business cases for acquisition programs, and improve financial and IT management. NASA concurred with GAO's International Space Station recommendations, and has improved some …
Date: February 3, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Medicare Part D: CMS Oversight of Part D Sponsors' Fraud and Abuse Programs Has Been Limited, but CMS Plans Oversight Expansion (open access)

Medicare Part D: CMS Oversight of Part D Sponsors' Fraud and Abuse Programs Has Been Limited, but CMS Plans Oversight Expansion

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Medicare Part D, the voluntary, outpatient prescription drug benefit for eligible individuals 65 years and older and certain individuals with disabilities, is at risk for fraud, waste, and abuse. Part D is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). All Part D sponsors--private companies that operate Part D benefit plans--are required to have programs to safeguard the Part D program from fraud, waste, and abuse. GAO refers to these programs as fraud and abuse programs. This statement discusses CMS's oversight of Part D sponsors' fraud and abuse programs, including its past efforts and planned oversight activities. It is primarily based on the GAO report, Medicare Part D: Some Plan Sponsors Have Not Completely Implemented Fraud and Abuse Programs, and CMS Oversight Has Been Limited (GAO-08-760). The five Part D sponsors GAO reviewed for that report had not completely implemented all of CMS's elements for Part D fraud and abuse programs at that time. CMS agreed with GAO's recommendation in the report that it conduct timely audits of Part D sponsors' fraud and abuse programs. For the 2008 report, GAO reviewed laws, regulation, and CMS documents, …
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress (open access)

U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress

This report discusses Special Operations Forces (SOFs), which are elite military units with special training and equipment that can infiltrate hostile territory through land, sea, or air to conduct a variety of operations, many of them classified.
Date: December 3, 2010
Creator: Feickert, Andrew & Livingston, Thomas K.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Adopting A Long-Term Budget Focus: Challenges and Proposals (open access)

Adopting A Long-Term Budget Focus: Challenges and Proposals

This report focuses on the current federal budget process, including criticisms of that process. This report will provide information on (1) the current horizons used in the budget process, including already existing long-term components; (2) the rationale for increased focus on longterm budgeting; (3) general challenges to long-term budgeting; and (4) an analysis of general proposals that have been made to increase the focus of long-term budgeting in the budget process.
Date: December 3, 2010
Creator: Lynch, Megan Suzanne; Labonte, Marc & Levit, Mindy R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Management Report: Opportunities for Improvements in FHFA's Internal Controls and Accounting Procedures (open access)

Management Report: Opportunities for Improvements in FHFA's Internal Controls and Accounting Procedures

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In November 2009, we issued our opinion on the fiscal year 2009 financial statements of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Our report also included our opinion on the effectiveness of FHFA's internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2009, and our evaluation of FHFA's compliance with provisions of selected laws and regulations for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) created FHFA and gave it responsibility for, among other things, the supervision and oversight of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and the 12 federal home loan banks. Specifically, FHFA was assigned responsibility for ensuring that the regulated entities operate in a fiscally safe and sound manner, including maintenance of adequate capital and internal controls, in carrying out their housing and community development finance mission. HERA requires FHFA to annually prepare financial statements, and requires GAO to audit these statements. HERA established FHFA as an independent agency on July 30, 2008. HERA also abolished, effective within 1 year of the act's enactment, the Office of Federal Housing …
Date: June 3, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Texas Attorney General Opinion: GA-0757 (open access)

Texas Attorney General Opinion: GA-0757

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; Whether the Behavioral Health Unit of the Titus Regional Medical Center is a "private facility" for purposes of section 118.055, Local Government Code (RQ-0795-GA)
Date: February 3, 2010
Creator: Texas. Attorney-General's Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Unauthorized Alien Students: Issues and “DREAM Act” Legislation (open access)

Unauthorized Alien Students: Issues and “DREAM Act” Legislation

None
Date: February 3, 2010
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Rulemaking Requirements and Authorities in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (open access)

Rulemaking Requirements and Authorities in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

None
Date: November 3, 2010
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Taxation of Hedge Fund and Private Equity Managers (open access)

Taxation of Hedge Fund and Private Equity Managers

None
Date: June 3, 2010
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Administration’s Proposal to Reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act: Comparison to Current Law (open access)

Administration’s Proposal to Reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act: Comparison to Current Law

This report discusses the challenges and consequences of reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Moreover, the report outlines the Department of Education's (ED) ideas for reform in the reauthorization. Finally, the reforms are compared to the current policy the ESEA possesses.
Date: August 3, 2010
Creator: Skinner, Rebecca R.; Lomax, Erin D.; Dortch, Cassandria; Kuenzi, Jeffrey J. & McCallion, Gail
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Poverty in the United States: 2008 (open access)

Poverty in the United States: 2008

This report examines poverty in the United States. In 2008, 39.8 million people were counted as poor in the United States - an increase of 2.6 million persons from 2007, and nearly the largest number of persons counted as poor since 1960. The poverty rate, or percent of the population considered poor under the official definition, was reported at 13.2%; this is up from 12.5% in 2007, and is the highest rate since 1997. The recent increase in poverty reflects the worsening of economic conditions since the onset of the economic recession in December 2007. Many expect poverty to rise further next year, and it will likely remain comparatively high even after the economy begins to recover. The incidence of poverty varies widely across the population according to age, education, labor force attachment, family living arrangements, and area of residence, among other factors.
Date: March 3, 2010
Creator: Gabe, Thomas
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library