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 September 11th health screening, the United Nations, the military, water quality, and and bilingual voting. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Bankruptcy and Child Support Enforcement: Improved Information Sharing Possible without Routine Data Matching. GAO-08-100, January 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-100
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08100high.pdf
• Bilingual Voting Assistance: Selected Jurisdictions' Strategies for Identifying Needs and Providing Assistance. GAO-08-182, January 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-182
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08182high.pdf
  
• Defense Contracting: Contract Risk a Key Factor in Assessing Excessive Pass-Through Charges. GAO-08-269, January 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-269
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08269high.pdf
• Federal Acquisition: Oversight Plan Needed to Help Implement Acquisition Advisory Panel Recommendations. GAO-08-160, December 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-160
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08160high.pdf
  
• Influenza Pandemic: Efforts Under Way to Address Constraints on Using Antivirals and Vaccines to Forestall a Pandemic. GAO-08-92, December 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-92
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0892high.pdf
  
• State and Local Governments: Growing Fiscal Challenges Will Emerge during the Next 10 Years. GAO-08-317, January 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-317
  
• Supply Chain Security: Examinations of High-Risk Cargo at Foreign Seaports Have Increased, but Improved Data Collection and Performance Measures Are Needed. GAO-08-187, January 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-187
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08187high.pdf
• Tax Compliance: Qualified Intermediary Program Provides Some Assurance That Taxes on Foreign Investors Are Withheld and Reported, but Can Be Improved. GAO-08-99, December 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-99

Special Publication

• GAO Performance and Accountability Highlights: Fiscal Year 2007. GAO-08-2SP, January 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-2SP
  

Correspondence

• Defense Logistics: The Army Needs to Implement an Effective Management and Oversight Plan for the Equipment Maintenance Contract in Kuwait. GAO-08-316R, January 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-316R
• Force Structure -- Need for Greater Transparency for the Army's Grow the Force Initiative Funding Plan. GAO-08-354R, January 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-354R
  
• Improper Payments: Federal Executive Branch Agencies' Fiscal Year 2007 Improper Payment Estimate Reporting. GAO-08-377R, January 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-377R
• Observations on Implementing the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. GAO-08-274R, December 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-274R
  
• VA and DOD Health Care: Administration of DOD's Post-Deployment Health Reassessment to National Guard and Reserve Servicemembers and VA's Interaction with DOD. GAO-08-181R, January 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-181R

Testimony

• Great Lakes Initiative: EPA and States Have Made Progress, but Much Remains to Be Done If Water Quality Goals Are to Be Achieved, by David C. Maurer, acting director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-08-312T, January 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-312T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08312thigh.pdf
  
• Military Operations: Implementation of Existing Guidance and Other Actions Needed to Improve DOD's Oversight and Management of Contractors in Future Operations, by William M. Solis, director, defense capabilities and management, before the Subcommittees of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-08-436T, January 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-436T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08436thigh.pdf
• Nuclear Nonproliferation: DOE Needs to Reassess Its Program to Assist Weapons Scientists in Russia and Other Countries, by Robert A. Robinson, managing director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-434T, January 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-434T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08434thigh.pdf
• September 11: Improvements Still Needed in Availability of Health Screening and Monitoring Services for Responders outside the New York City Area, by Cynthia A. Bascetta, director, health care, before the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-429T, January 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-429T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08429thigh.pdf
  
• United Nations: Management Reforms and Operational Issues, by Thomas Melito, director, international affairs and trade, before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-08-246T, January 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-246T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08246thigh.pdf

Presentation By The Comptroller General

• "U.S. Financial Condition and Fiscal Future Briefing," by David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, before the National Press Foundation, in Washington, D.C. GAO-08-446CG, January 17, 2008 http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d08446cg.pdf