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 the National Flood Insurance Program, sex offender monitoring, the war on terrorism, and elderly voters. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Best Practices: Increased Focus on Requirements and Oversight Needed to Improve DOD's Acquisition Environment and Weapon System Quality. GAO-08-294, February 1.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-294
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08294high.pdf
• Congressional Directives: Selected Agencies' Processes for Responding to Funding Instructions. GAO-08-209, January 31.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-209
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08209high.pdf
• Convicted Sex Offenders: Factors That Could Affect the Successful Implementation of Driver's License-Related Processes to Encourage Registration and Enhance Monitoring. GAO-08-116, January 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-116
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08116high.pdf
  
• Military Readiness: Navy Is Making Progress Implementing Its Fleet Response Plan, but Has Not Fully Developed Goals, Measures, and Resource Needs. GAO-08-264, February 1.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-264
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08264high.pdf
• National Flood Insurance Program: Greater Transparency and Oversight of Wind and Flood Damage Determinations Are Needed. GAO-08-28, December 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-28
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0828high.pdf
  
• Office of Personnel Management: Improvements Needed to Ensure Successful Retirement Systems Modernization. GAO-08-345, January 31.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-345
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08345high.pdf
  

Special Publication

• Understanding Similarities and Differences between Accrual and Cash Deficits: Update for Fiscal Year 2007. GAO-08-410SP, January 31.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-410SP

Correspondence

• Feasibility of Outsourcing the Management and Operation of the Capitol Power Plant. GAO-08-382R, January 31.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-382R
• Global War on Terrorism: Reported Obligations for the Department of Defense. GAO-08-423R, January 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-423R
  
• Transmission Lines: Issues Associated with High-Voltage Direct-Current Transmission Lines along Transportation Rights of Way. GAO-08-347R, February 1.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-347R

Testimony

• Elderly Voters: Some Improvements in Voting Accessibility from 2000 to 2004 Elections, but Gaps in Policy and Implementation Remain, by Barbara D. Bovbjerg, director, education, workforce, and income security; and William O. Jenkins, Jr., director, homeland security and justice, before the Senate Special Committee on Aging. GAO-08-442T, January 31.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-442T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08442thigh.pdf
• Federal Oversight of Food Safety: FDA's Food Protection Plan Proposes Positive First Steps, but Capacity to Carry Them Out Is Critical, by Lisa R. Shames, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-435T, January 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-435T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08435thigh.pdf
  
• Improper Payments: Status of Agencies' Efforts to Address Improper Payment and Recovery Auditing Requirements, by McCoy Williams, managing director, financial management and assurance, before the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-08-438T, January 31.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-438T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08438thigh.pdf
• Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: Action Is Needed to Avoid the Possibility of a Serious Economic Disruption in the Future, by David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, before the Senate Committee on the Budget. GAO-08-411T, January 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-411T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08411thigh.pdf
• Medical Devices: Challenges for FDA in Conducting Manufacturer Inspections, by Marcia Crosse, director, health care, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-428T, January 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-428T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08428thigh.pdf
  

Presentation By The Comptroller General

• "Saving Our Future Requires Tough Choices Today," by David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, on the Fiscal Wake-Up Tour in Tallahassee, Florida. GAO-08-465CG, January 14, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d08465cg.pdf

Reposted Product

• Freight Railroads: Electronic Supplement on Rates and Other Industry Trends, 1985-2005 (an e-supplement to GAO-07-291R). GAO-07-292SP, August 15, 2007 [Internet only] [Reposted to correct data in figures and tables in the Industry, Commodity, and State sections.] http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-292SP