GAO Releases this week

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is often called the investigative arm of Congress. This week they investigated a variety of issues, such as housing, oil and railroads. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Financial Regulation: Industry Trends Continue to Challenge the Federal Regulatory Structure. GAO-08-32, October 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-32
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0832high.pdf
• Hazardous Materials: EPA May Need to Reassess Sites Receiving Asbestos-Contaminated Ore from Libby, Montana, and Should Improve Its Public Notification Process. GAO-08-71, October 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-71
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0871high.pdf
• Defense Health Care: DOD Needs to Address the Expected Benefits, Costs, and Risks for Its Newly Approved Medical Command Structure. GAO-08-122, October 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-122
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08122high.pdf
• Retirement Security: Women Face Challenges in Ensuring Financial Security in Retirement. GAO-08-105, October 11.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-105
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08105high.pdf
• Stabilizing and Rebuilding Iraq: U.S. Ministry Capacity Development Efforts Need an Overall Integrated Strategy to Guide Efforts and Manage Risk. GAO-08-117, October 2007.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-117
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08117high.pdf
• Tax Administration: The Internal Revenue Service Can Improve Its Management of Paper Case Files. GAO-07-1160, September 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-1160
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d071160high.pdf

Testimonies

• Residential Treatment Programs: Concerns Regarding Abuse and Death in Certain Programs for Troubled Youth, by Gregory D. Kutz and Andy O'Connell, forensic audits and special investigations, before the House Committee on Education and Labor. GAO-08-146T, October 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-146T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08146thigh.pdf

Correspondence

• Improvement Continues in DOD's Reporting on Sustainable Ranges, but Opportunities Exist to Improve Its Range Assessments and Comprehensive Plan. GAO-08-10R, October 11.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-10R
• Ryan White Care Act: Impact of Legislative Funding Proposal on Urban Areas. GAO-08-137R, October 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-137R
• Prescription Drugs: Trends in Usual and Customary Prices for Drugs Frequently Used by Medicare and Non-Medicare Health Insurance Enrollees. GAO-07-1201R, September 7.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-1201R

Presentation by the Comptroller General

• "Keeping America Great: Doing Your Part," by David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, as part of the Presidential Lecture Series at the University of Montana, in Missoula, Montana. GAO-08-178CG, October 9. [text]
  http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d08178cg.pdf
• "Keeping America Great," by David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, at the University of Montana, in Missoula, Montana. GAO-08-179CG. October 9. [slides]
  http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d08179cg.pdf
• "America's Fiscal Future," by David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, before the Society of Professional Journalists, in Washington. GAO-08-170CG, October 4.
  http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d08170cg.pdf

Guidance

• Financial Audit Manual, Volume I. (Audit Methodology) (Exposure draft.) GAO-08-81G, October 2007.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-81G
• Financial Audit Manual, Volume II. (Audit Tools) (Exposure draft.) GAO-08-82G, October 2007.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-82G