Releases from GAO this week

It is time again for the list of weekly releases from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week they investigated a variety of issues, such as defense, customs, elderly drivers, and nuclear smuggling. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Commercial Aviation: Potential Safety and Capacity Issues Associated with the Introduction of the New A380 Aircraft. GAO-07-483, April 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-483
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07483high.pdf
• Intellectual Property: Better Data Analysis and Integration Could Help U.S. Customs and Border Protection Improve Border Enforcement Efforts. GAO-07-735, April 26. http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-735
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07735high.pdf
• Information Technology: DHS Needs to Fully Define and Implement Policies and Procedures for Effectively Managing Investments. GAO-07-424, April 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-424
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07424high.pdf
• Veterans Benefits Administration: Progress Made in Long-Term Effort to Replace Benefits Payment System, but Challenges Persist. GAO-07-614, April 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-614
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07614high.pdf
• Defense Inventory: Opportunities Exist to Save Billions by Reducing Air Force's Unneeded Spare Parts Inventory. GAO-07-232, April 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-232
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07232high.pdf
• 2010 Census: Census Bureau Should Refine Recruiting and Hiring Efforts and Enhance Training of Temporary Field Staff. GAO-07-361, April 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-361
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07361high.pdf
• Medicaid Long-Term Care: Few Transferred Assets before Applying for Nursing Home Coverage; Impact of Deficit Reduction Act on Eligibility Is Uncertain. GAO-07-280, March 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-280
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07280high.pdf
• Bankruptcy Reform: Value of Credit Counseling Requirement Is Not Clear. GAO-07-203, April 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-203
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07203high.pdf
• Nursing Homes: Efforts to Strengthen Federal Enforcement Have Not Deterred Some Homes from Repeatedly Harming Residents. GAO-07-241, March 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-241
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07241high.pdf
• Inspectors General: Activities of the Department of State Office of Inspector General. GAO-07-138, March 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-138Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07138high.pdf

Correspondences

• Defense Logistics: Army and Marine Corps's Individual Body Armor System Issues. GAO-07-662R, April 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-662R
• Aviation Security: TSA's Change to Its Prohibited Items List Has Not Resulted in Any Reported Security Incidents, but the Impact of the Change on Screening Operations Is Inconclusive. GAO-07-623R, April 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-623R
• Public Health and Hospital Emergency Preparedness Programs: Evolution of Performance Measurement Systems to Measure Progress. GAO-07-485R, March 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-485R
• VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment: Service Contract Management Is Improving, but Challenges Remain. GAO-07-568R, April 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-568R

Testimonies

• Maritime Security: Observations on Selected Aspects of the SAFE Port Act, by Stephen Caldwell, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, before the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-07-754T, April 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-754T
• Department of Homeland Security: Observations on GAO Access to Information on Programs and Activities, by Norman J. Rabkin, managing director, homeland security and justice issues, before the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-07-700T, April 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-700T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07700thigh.pdf
• Commercial Aviation: Programs and Options for Providing Air Service to Small Communities, by Gerald L. Dillingham, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Aviation, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-07-793T, April 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-793T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07793thigh.pdf
• Perchlorate: EPA Does Not Systematically Track Incidents of Contamination, by John B. Stephenson, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-07-797T, April 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-797T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07797thigh.pdf
• Federal Oversight of Food Safety: High-Risk Designation Can Bring Attention to Limitations in the Government's Food Recall Programs, by Lisa R. Shames, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-07-785T, April 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-785T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07785thigh.pdf
• Federal Transit Benefits Program: Ineffective Controls Result in Fraud and Abuse by Federal Workers, by Gregory D. Kutz, managing director, forensic audits and special investigations, before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-07-724T, April 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-724T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07724thigh.pdf
• Capitol Visitor Center: Update on Status of Project's Schedule and Cost as of April 17, 2007, by Terrell G. Dorn, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-07-755T, April 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-755T
• Department of Energy: Observations on Actions to Implement the New Loan Guarantee Program for Innovative Technologies, by James C. Cosgrove, acting director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-07-798T, April 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-798T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07798thigh.pdf
• 2010 Census: Design Shows Progress, but Managing Technology Acquisitions, Temporary Field Staff, and Gulf Region Enumeration Require Attention, by Mathew J. Scire, director, strategic issues, before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-07-779T, April 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-779T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07779thigh.pdf
• Stabilizing and Rebuilding Iraq: Conditions in Iraq Are Conducive to Fraud, Waste, and Abuse, unclassified version of testimony delivered by David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States before a closed hearing by the Subcommittee on Defense, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-07-525T, April 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-525T
• Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Request: U.S. Government Accountability Office, by David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, before the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-07-543T, April 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-543T

Presentations by Comptroller General

• "Transforming Government to Meet the Challenges and Capitalize on the Opportunities of the 21st Century," by David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, at the New School, in New York, New York. GAO-07-813CG, April 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d07813cg.pdf