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 Yellowstone bison, combating terrorism, and youth education and employment. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Combating Terrorism: State Department's Antiterrorism Program Needs Improved Guidance and More Systematic Assessments of Outcomes. GAO-08-336, February 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-336
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08336high.pdf
• Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs. GAO-08-467SP, March 31.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-467SP
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08467sphigh.pdf
• Disconnected Youth: Federal Action Could Address Some of the Challenges Faced by Local Programs That Reconnect Youth to Education and Employment. GAO-08-313, February 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-313
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08313high.pdf
• DOD Pharmacy Program: Continued Efforts Needed to Reduce Growth in Spending at Retail Pharmacies. GAO-08-327, April 4.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-327
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08327high.pdf
• Federal Contracting: Congressional Action Needed to Address Long-standing Problems with Reporting of Advisory and Assistance Services. GAO-08-319, March 31.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-319
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08319high.pdf
• Financial Audit: Special Counsel Expenditures for the Six Months Ended September 30, 2007. GAO-08-541, March 31.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-541
• Homeland Security: Strategic Solution for US-VISIT Program Needs to Be Better Defined, Justified, and Coordinated. GAO-08-361, February 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-361
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08361high.pdf
• Yellowstone Bison: Interagency Plan and Agencies' Management Need Improvement to Better Address Bison-Cattle Brucellosis Controversy. GAO-08-291, March 7.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-291
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08291high.pdf

Correspondence

• Defense Critical Infrastructure: DOD's Risk Analysis of Its Critical Infrastructure Omits Highly Sensitive Assets. GAO-08-373R, April 2.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-373R
• Defense Infrastructure: DOD Funding for Infrastructure and Road Improvements Surrounding Growth Installations. GAO-08-602R, April 1.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-602R
  
• Internal Control: Improvements Needed in SEC's Accounting and Financial Reporting Process. GAO-08-461R, April 1.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-461R
• Military Personnel: Better Debt Management Procedures and Resolution of Stipend Recoupment Issues Are Needed for Improved Collection of Medical Education Debts. GAO-08-612R, April 1.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-612R
• Nuclear Material: DOE Has Several Potential Options for Dealing with Depleted Uranium Tails, Each of Which Could Benefit the Government. GAO-08-606R, March 31.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-606R
• Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Disorders: NIH Supports a Wide Range of Research. GAO-08-454R, April 4.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-454R

Testimonies

• Defense Acquisitions: Assessment of Progress Made on Block 2006 Missile Defense Capabilities and Oversight, by Paul Francis, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senate Committee on Armed Services. GAO-08-608T, April 1.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-608T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08608thigh.pdf
• Defense Acquisitions: DOD's Increased Reliance on Service Contractors Exacerbates Long-standing Challenges, by David M. Walker, then comptroller general of the United States, before the Subcommittee on Defense, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-08-621T, January 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-621T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08621thigh.pdf
• Federal Advisory Committee Act: Issues Related to the Independence and Balance of Advisory Committees, by Robin M. Nazzaro, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-08-611T, April 2.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-611T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08611thigh.pdf
  
• Federal Compensation Programs: Perspectives on Four Programs for Individuals Injured by Exposure to Harmful Substances, by Anne-Marie F. Lasowski, acting director, education, workforce, and income security issues, before a joint hearing of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, and the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, House Committee on the Judiciary. GAO-08-628T, April 1.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-628T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08628thigh.pdf
• Human Capital: Diversity in the Federal SES and Senior Levels of the U.S. Postal Service and Processes for Selecting New Executives, by George H. Stalcup, director, strategic issues, and Katherine Siggerud, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-08-609T, April 3.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-609T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08609thigh.pdf
• Medicaid Financing: Long-standing Concerns about Inappropriate State Arrangements Support Need for Improved Federal Oversight, by James C. Cosgrove, acting director, health care, before the Subcommittee on Health, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-650T, April 3.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-650T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08650thigh.pdf
• NASA: Ares I and Orion Project Risks and Key Indicators to Measure Progress, by Cristina T. Chaplain, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, House Committee on Science and Technology. GAO-08-186T, April 3.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-186T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08186thigh.pdf
• Nuclear Material: Several Potential Options for Dealing with DOE's Depleted Uranium Tails Could Benefit the Government, by Robert A. Robinson, managing director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-613T, April 3.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-613T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08613thigh.pdf