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 climate change, border security, FDA oversight of food safety, and digital television transition. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Border Security: Summary of Covert Tests and Security Assessments for the Senate Committee on Finance, 2003-2007. GAO-08-757, May 16.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-757
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08757high.pdf
• Climate Change: Expert Opinion on the Economics of Policy Options to Address Climate Change. GAO-08-605, May 9.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-605
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08605high.pdf
• Compact of Free Association: Palau's Use of and Accountability for U.S. Assistance and Prospects for Economic Self-Sufficiency. GAO-08-732, June 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-732
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08732high.pdf
• Federal Real Property: Property Conveyances between the District of Columbia and the Federal Government Await Completion, and Development Will Take Many Years. GAO-08-684, June 13.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-684
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08684high.pdf
• Military Personnel: Army Needs to Better Enforce Requirements and Improve Record Keeping for Soldiers Whose Medical Conditions May Call for Significant Duty Limitations. GAO-08-546, June 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-546
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08546high.pdf
• National Response Framework: FEMA Needs Policies and Procedures to Better Integrate Non-Federal Stakeholders in the Revision Process. GAO-08-768, June 11.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-768
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08768high.pdf

Correspondence

• Global War on Terrorism: Reported Obligations for the Department of Defense. GAO-08-853R, June 13.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-853R

Testimony

• 2010 Census: Plans for Decennial Census Operations and Technology Have Progressed, But Much Uncertainty Remains, by David A. Powner, director, information technology management issues, and Mathew J. Scire, director, strategic issues, before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives. GAO-08-886T, June 11.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-886T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08886thigh.pdf
• Compact of Free Association: Micronesia Faces Challenges to Achieving Compact Goals, by David B. Gootnick, director, international affairs and trade, before the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, House Committee on Natural Resources. GAO-08-859T, June 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-859T
• Compact of Free Association: U.S. Assistance to Palau, Accountability Over Assistance Provided, and Palau's Prospects For Economic Self-Sufficiency, by David B. Gootnick, director, international affairs and trade team, before the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, House Committee on Natural Resources. GAO-08-858T, June 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-858T
• Digital Television Transition: Broadcasters' Transition Status, Low-Power Station Issues, and Information on Consumer Awareness of the DTV Transition, by Mark L. Goldstein, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-881T, June 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-881T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08881thigh.pdf
• Emergency Management: Observations on DHS's Preparedness for Catastrophic Disasters, by William O. Jenkins, Jr., director, homeland security and justice, before the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-08-868T, June 11.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-868T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08868thigh.pdf
• Employment Verification: Challenges Exist in Implementing a Mandatory Electronic Employment Verification System, statement for the record by Richard M. Stana, director, homeland security and justice issues, before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, House Committee on the Judiciary. GAO-08-895T, June 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-895T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08895thigh.pdf
  
• Federal Aviation Administration: Efforts to Hire, Staff, and Train Air Traffic Controllers Are Generally on Track, but Challenges Remain, by Gerald L. Dillingham, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Aviation, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-08-908T, June 11.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-908T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08908thigh.pdf
• Federal Oversight of Food Safety: FDA Has Provided Few Details on the Resources and Strategies Needed to Implement its Food Protection Plan, by Lisa R. Shames, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-909T, June 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-909T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08909thigh.pdf
• International Trade: The United States Needs an Integrated Approach to Trade Preference Programs, by Loren Yager, director, international affairs and trade, before the Senate Committee on Finance. GAO-08-907T, June 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-907T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08907thigh.pdf
• Supply Chain Security: Challenges to Scanning 100 Percent of U.S.-Bound Cargo Containers, by Stephen L. Caldwell, director, homeland security and justice, before the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. GAO-08-533T, June 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-533T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08533thigh.pdf