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 nuclear security, homeland security, veteran's benefits, and Head Start. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• DOD Personnel Clearances: Improved Annual Reporting Would Enable More Informed Congressional Oversight. GAO-08-350, February 13, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-350
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08350high.pdf
• Emergency Transit Assistance: Federal Funding for Recent Disasters, and Options for the Future. GAO-08-243, February 15, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-243
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08243high.pdf
• Financial Audit: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Funds' 2007 and 2006 Financial Statements. GAO-08-416, February 11, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-416
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08416high.pdf
• Head Start: A More Comprehensive Risk Management Strategy and Data Improvements Could Further Strengthen Program Oversight. GAO-08-221, February 12, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-221
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08221high.pdf
• Hydrogen Fuel Initiative: DOE Has Made Important Progress and Involved Stakeholders but Needs to Update What It Expects to Achieve by Its 2015 Target. GAO-08-305, January 11, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-305
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08305high.pdf
• Medicare Physician Payment: Care Coordination Programs Used in Demonstration Show Promise, but Wider Use of Payment Approach May Be Limited. GAO-08-65, February 15, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-65
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0865high.pdf
• Nuclear Security: Action May Be Needed to Reassess the Security of NRC-Licensed Research Reactors. GAO-08-403, January 31, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-403
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08403high.pdf
• Veterans' Benefits: Improved Management Would Enhance VA's Pension Program. GAO-08-112, February 14, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-112
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08112high.pdf

Testimony

• Department of Homeland Security: Progress Made in Implementation of Management and Mission Functions, but More Work Remains. GAO-08-457T, February 13, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-457T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08457thigh.pdf
• DOD Personnel Clearances: DOD Faces Multiple Challenges in Its Efforts to Improve Clearance Processes for Industry Personnel. GAO-08-470T, February 13, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-470T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08470thigh.pdf
• Health Information Technology: HHS Is Pursuing Efforts to Advance Nationwide Implementation, but Has Not Yet Completed a National Strategy. GAO-08-499T, February 14, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-499T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08499thigh.pdf
• Information Security: Although Progress Reported, Federal Agencies Need to Resolve Significant Deficiencies. GAO-08-496T, February 14, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-496T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08496thigh.pdf
• Information Technology: VA Has Taken Important Steps to Centralize Control of Its Resources, but Effectiveness Depends on Additional Planned Actions. GAO-08-449T, February 13, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-449T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08449thigh.pdf
• Military Readiness: Impact of Current Operations and Actions Needed to Rebuild Readiness of U.S. Ground Forces. GAO-08-497T, February 14, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-497T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08497thigh.pdf
• Primary Care Professionals: Recent Supply Trends, Projections, and Valuation of Services.
  GAO-08-472T, February 12, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-472T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08472thigh.pdf
• Runway Safety: Progress on Reducing Runway Incursions Impeded by Leadership, Technology, and Other Challenges. GAO-08-481T, February 13, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-481T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08481thigh.pdf
• Veterans' Disability Benefits: Claims Processing Challenges Persist, while VA Continues to Take Steps to Address Them. GAO-08-473T, February 14, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-473T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08473thigh.pdf
• Wildland Fire Management: Federal Agencies Lack Key Long- and Short-Term Management Strategies for Using Program Funds Effectively. GAO-08-433T, February 12, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-433T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08433thigh.pdf

Correspondence

• Los Alamos National Laboratory: Information on Security of Classified Data, Nuclear Material Controls, Nuclear and Worker Safety, and Project Management Weaknesses. GAO-08-173R, January 10, 2008.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-173R