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 federal land management, immigration benefits, and homeland security. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Defense Acquisitions: DOD's Practices and Processes for Multiyear Procurement Should Be Improved. GAO-08-298, February 7.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-298
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08298high.pdf
• Federal Land Management: Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act Restrictions and Management Weaknesses Limit Future Sales and Acquisitions. GAO-08-196, February 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-196
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08196high.pdf
  
• Highway Public-Private Partnerships: More Rigorous Up-front Analysis Could Better Secure Potential Benefits and Protect the Public Interest. GAO-08-44, February 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-44
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0844high.pdf
• Immigration Benefits: Internal Controls for Adjudicating Humanitarian Parole Cases Are Generally Effective, but Some Can Be Strengthened. GAO-08-282, February 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-282
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08282high.pdf
• VA Health Care: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Screening and Evaluation Implemented for OEF/OIF Veterans, but Challenges Remain. GAO-08-276, February 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-276
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08276high.pdf

Correspondence

• Defense Logistics: Army Has Not Fully Planned or Budgeted for the Reconstitution of Its Afloat Prepositioned Stocks. GAO-08-257R, February 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-257R
• The Department of Defense's Civilian Human Capital Strategic Plan Does Not Meet Most Statutory Requirements. GAO-08-439R, February 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-439R
• Military Personnel: Guidance Needed for Any Future Conversions of Military Medical Positions to Civilian Positions. GAO-08-370R, February 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-370R
  

Testimony

• Capitol Visitor Center: Update on Status of Project's Schedule and Cost as of February 7, 2008, by Terrell G. Dorn, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-08-475T, February 7.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-475T
  
• Defense Business Transformation: Sustaining Progress Requires Continuity of Leadership and an Integrated Approach, by David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, before the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, Senate Committee on Armed Services. GAO-08-462T, February 7.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-462T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08462thigh.pdf
• Department of Homeland Security: Status and Accountability Challenges Associated with the Use of Special DHS Acquisition Authority, by John K. Needham, acting director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-08-471T, February 7.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-471T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08471thigh.pdf
  
• Elections: Results of GAO's Testing of Voting Systems Used in Sarasota County in Florida's 13th Congressional District, by Nabajyoti Barkakati, acting chief technologist, applied research and methods, before the Task Force for the Contested Election in the 13 Congressional District of Florida, House Committee on House Administration. GAO-08-425T, February 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-425T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08425thigh.pdf
• Federal Aviation Administration: Challenges Facing the Agency in Fiscal Year 2009 and Beyond, by Gerald L. Dillingham, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Aviation, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-08-460T, February 7.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-460T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08460thigh.pdf
  
• Financial Services Industry: Overall Trends in Management-Level Diversity and Diversity Initiatives, 1993-2006, by Orice M. Williams, director, financial markets and community investment, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Financial Services. GAO-08-445T, February 7.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-445T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08445thigh.pdf
• Homeland Security: Preliminary Observations on the Federal Protective Service's Efforts to Protect Federal Property, by Mark L. Goldstein, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-08-476T, February 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-476T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08476thigh.pdf
• Surface Transportation: Preliminary Observations on Efforts to Restructure Current Program, by JayEtta Z. Hecker, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. GAO-08-478T, February 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-478T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08478thigh.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 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, in Chandler, Arizona. GAO-08-489CG, February 4, 2008 http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d08489cg.pdf
  
• "U.S. Financial Condition and Fiscal Future Briefing," by David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, at the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio. GAO-08-490CG, January 29, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d08490cg.pdf