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 the Bank Secrecy Act, embassy security, sexual harassment and assault in the military, and Medicare. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Bank Secrecy Act: Increased Use of Exemption Provisions Could Reduce Currency Transaction Reporting While Maintaining Usefulness to Law Enforcement Efforts. GAO-08-355, February 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-355
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08355high.pdf
• Disaster Cost Estimates: FEMA Can Improve Its Learning from Past Experience and Management of Disaster-Related Resources. GAO-08-301, February 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-301
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08301high.pdf
• Embassy Security: Upgrades Have Enhanced Security, but Site Conditions Prevent Full Adherence to Standards. GAO-08-162, January 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-162
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08162high.pdf
• Forest Service: Better Planning, Guidance, and Data Are Needed to Improve Management of the Competitive Sourcing Program. GAO-08-195, January 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-195
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08195high.pdf
• HUD and Treasury Programs: More Information on Leverage Measures' Accuracy and Linkage to Program Goals Is Needed in Assessing Performance. GAO-08-136, January 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-136
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08136high.pdf
• Information Security: Protecting Personally Identifiable Information. GAO-08-343, January 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-343
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08343high.pdf
• Medicare Part D: Plan Sponsors' Processing and CMS Monitoring of Drug Coverage Requests Could Be Improved. GAO-08-47, January 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-47
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0847high.pdf
• Military Personnel: The DOD and Coast Guard Academies Have Taken Steps to Address Incidents of Sexual Harassment and Assault, but Greater Federal Oversight Is Needed. GAO-08-296, January 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-296
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08296high.pdf

Special and Related Publications

• Bank Secrecy Act: Surveys of Financial Institutions and CTR Users. (GAO-08-385SP, February 2008), an E-supplement to GAO-08-355. GAO-08-385SP, February 21. [Internet only]
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-385SP
• GAO's Performance Plan for Fiscal Year 2009: Mission, Performance Plans, Resources, and Strategies. GAO-08-507SP, February 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-507SP

Correspondence

• Limitations in DOD's Evaluation Plan for EEO Complaint Pilot Program Hinder Determination of Pilot Results. GAO-08-387R, February 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-387R

Presentation by the Comptroller General

• "Addressing Fiscal Sustainability and Fixing the Social Security System: Two Challenges Facing the Nation," by David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, before the AARP Board of Directors Annual Public Policy Meeting, in Washington, D.C. GAO-08-524CG, February 14, 2008 [slides]
  http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d08524cg.pdf