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 value added taxes, social security and baby boomers, prescription drugs, aviation and the environment, and flood and wind insurance. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Department of Homeland Security: Better Planning and Assessment Needed to Improve Outcomes for Complex Service Acquisitions. GAO-08-263, April 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-263
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08263high.pdf
• Employment and Training Program Grants: Evaluating Impact and Enhancing Monitoring Would Improve Accountability. GAO-08-486, May 7.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-486
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08486high.pdf
  
• Federal Real Property: Corps of Engineers Needs to Improve the Reliability of Its Real Property Disposal Data. GAO-08-349, May 9.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-349
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08349high.pdf
• Human Capital: Corps of Engineers Needs to Update Its Workforce Planning Process to More Effectively Address Its Current and Future Workforce Needs. GAO-08-596, May 7.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-596
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08596high.pdf
• Interagency Contracting: Need for Improved Information and Policy Implementation at the Department of State. GAO-08-578, May 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-578
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08578high.pdf
• Natural Catastrophe Insurance: Analysis of a Proposed Combined Federal Flood and Wind Insurance Program. GAO-08-504, April 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-504
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08504high.pdf
  
• Offshore Marine Aquaculture: Multiple Administrative and Environmental Issues Need to Be Addressed in Establishing a U.S. Regulatory Framework. GAO-08-594, May 9.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-594
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08594high.pdf
• Value-Added Taxes: Lessons Learned from Other Countries on Compliance Risks, Administrative Costs, Compliance Burden, and Transition. GAO-08-566, April 4.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-566
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08566high.pdf

Correspondence

• Preliminary Observations on the Use and Oversight of U.S. Coalition Support Funds Provided to Pakistan. GAO-08-735R, May 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-735R

Testimonies

• Aviation and the Environment: NextGen and Research and Development Are Keys to Reducing Emissions and Their Impact on Health and Climate, by Gerald L. Dillingham, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Aviation, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-08-706T, May 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-706T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08706thigh.pdf
• Department of Homeland Security: Better Planning and Oversight Needed to Improve Complex Service Acquisition Outcomes, by John P. Hutton, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-08-765T, May 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-765T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08765thigh.pdf
• Employment Verification: Challenges Exist in Implementing a Mandatory Electronic Employment Verification System, by Richard M. Stana, director, homeland security and justice issues, before the Subcommittee on Social Security, House Committee on Ways and Means. GAO-08-729T, May 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-729T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08729thigh.pdf
• Human Capital: Transforming Federal Recruiting and Hiring Efforts, by Robert N. Goldenkoff, director, strategic issues, before the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-08-762T, May 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-762T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08762thigh.pdf
• Medicare: Competitive Bidding for Medical Equipment and Supplies Could Reduce Program Payments, but Adequate Oversight Is Critical, by Kathleen M. King, director, health care, before the Subcommittee on Health, House Committee on Ways and Means. GAO-08-767T, May 6.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-767T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08767thigh.pdf
• Physical Infrastructure: Challenges and Investment Options for the Nation's Infrastructure, by Patricia A. Dalton, managing director, physical infrastructure issues, before the House Committee on the Budget and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-08-763T, May 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-763T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08763thigh.pdf
• Prescription Drugs: Trends in FDA's Oversight of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising, by Marcia G. Crosse, director, health care, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-758T, May 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-758T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08758thigh.pdf
  
• Social Security Administration Field Offices: Reduced Workforce Faces Challenges as Baby Boomers Retire, by Barbara D. Bovbjerg, director, education, workforce, and income security issues, before the Senate Committee on Finance. GAO-08-737T, May 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-737T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08737thigh.pdf