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 Audit: IRS's Fiscal Years 2007 and 2006 Financial Statements. GAO-08-166, November 9.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-166
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08166high.pdf
• Financial Audit: Bureau of the Public Debt's Fiscal Years 2007 and 2006 Schedules of Federal Debt. GAO-08-168, November 7.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-168
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08168high.pdf
• Global War on Terrorism: DOD Needs to Take Action to Encourage Fiscal Discipline and Optimize the Use of Tools Intended to Improve GWOT Cost Reporting. GAO-08-68, November 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-68
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0868high.pdf
• Border Security: Despite Progress, Weaknesses in Traveler Inspections Exist at Our Nation's Ports of Entry. GAO-08-219, November 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-219
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08219high.pdf
• Securing U.S. Nuclear Material: DOE Has Made Little Progress Consolidating and Disposing of Special Nuclear Material. GAO-08-72, October 4.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-72
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0872high.pdf

Testimonies

• Terrorist Watch List Screening: Recommendations to Promote a Comprehensive and Coordinated Approach to Terrorist-Related Screening, by Eileen R. Larence, director, homeland security and justice, before the House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-08-253T, November 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-253T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08253thigh.pdf
• Military Personnel: Federal Agencies Have Taken Actions to Address Servicemembers' Employment Rights, but a Single Entity Needs to Maintain Visibility to Improve Focus on Overall Program Results, by George H. Stalcup, director, strategic issues, and Brenda S. Farrell, director, defense capabilities and management, before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. GAO-08-254T, November 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-254T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08254thigh.pdf
• Social Security: Issues Regarding the Coverage of Public Employees, by Barbara D. Bovbjerg, director, education, workforce, and income security issues, before the Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy, Senate Committee on Finance. GAO-08-248T, November 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-248T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08248thigh.pdf
• Human Capital: Telework Programs Need Clear Goals and Reliable Data, by Bernice Steinhardt, director, strategic issues, before the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-261T, November 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-261T
• VA Health Care: Improvements Made in Physician Privileging Policies, but Medical Facility Compliance Has Not Been Assessed, by Randall B. Williamson, acting director, health care, before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. GAO-08-271T, November 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-271T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08271thigh.pdf

Correspondence

• Defense Acquisitions: Department of Defense Actions on Program Manager Empowerment and Accountability. GAO-08-62R, November 9.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-62R
• School Mental Health: Role of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Factors Affecting Service Provision. GAO-08-19R, October 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-19R