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 influenza pandemic, the 2010 Census, and immigration enforcement. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Debt Management: Treasury's Cash Management Challenges and Timing of Payments to Medicare Private Plans. GAO-09-118, January 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-118
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09118high.pdf
• Dietary Supplements: FDA Should Take Further Actions to Improve Oversight and Consumer Understanding. GAO-09-250, January 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-250
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09250high.pdf
• Defense Management: DOD Needs to Increase Attention on Fuel Demand Management at Forward-Deployed Locations. GAO-09-300, February 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-300
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09300high.pdf
• Environmental Protection Agency: Major Management Challenges. GAO-09-434, March 4.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-434
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09434high.pdf
• Immigration Enforcement: Better Controls Needed over Program Authorizing State and Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws. GAO-09-109, January 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-109
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09109high.pdf
• Information Technology: Census Bureau Testing of 2010 Decennial Systems Can Be Strengthened. GAO-09-262, March 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-262
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09262high.pdf
• Influenza Pandemic: Sustaining Focus on the Nation's Planning and Preparedness Efforts. GAO-09-334, February 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-334
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09334high.pdf
• NASA: Assessments of Selected Large-Scale Projects. GAO-09-306SP, March 2.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-306SP
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09306sphigh.pdf
• Nuclear Detection: Domestic Nuclear Detection Office Should Improve Planning to Better Address Gaps and Vulnerabilities. GAO-09-257, January 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-257
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09257high.pdf
  
• Nuclear Weapons: NNSA and DOD Need to More Effectively Manage the Stockpile Life Extension Program. GAO-09-385, March 2.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-385
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09385high.pdf
• Property Management: NASA's Goal of Increasing Equipment Reutilization May Fall Short without Further Efforts. GAO-09-187, January 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-187
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09187high.pdf

Correspondence

• DHS: Organizational Structure and Resources for Providing Health Care to Immigration Detainees. GAO-09-308R, February 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-308R

Guidance

• GAO Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Developing and Managing Capital Program Costs. GAO-09-3SP, March 2009.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-3SP

Testimonies

• 2010 Census: Fundamental Building Blocks of a Successful Enumeration Face Challenges, by Robert Goldenkoff, director, strategic issues; and David Powner, director, information technology management issues, before the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-09-430T, March 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-430T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09430thigh.pdf
• 2010 Census: Little Time Remains to Address Operational Challenges, by Robert Goldenkoff, director, strategic issues; and David Powner, director, information technology management issues, before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-09-408T, March 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-408T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09408thigh.pdf
• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: GAO's Role in Helping to Ensure Accountability and Transparency, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general, before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-09-453T, March 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-453T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09453thigh.pdf
• Climate Change: Observations on the Potential Role of Carbon Offsets in Climate Change Legislation, by John Stephenson, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-09-456T, March 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-456T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09456thigh.pdf
• Defense Acquisitions: DOD Must Balance Its Needs with Available Resources and Follow an Incremental Approach to Acquiring Weapon Systems, by Michael J. Sullivan, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Senate Committee on Armed Services. GAO-09-431T, March 3.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-431T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09431thigh.pdf
• Defense Management: Increased Attention on Fuel Demand Management at DOD's Forward-Deployed Locations Could Reduce Operational Risks and Costs, by William M. Solis, director, defense capabilities and management, before the Subcommittee on Readiness, House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-09-388T, March 3.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-388T
  
• Department of Energy: Contract and Project Management Concerns at the National Nuclear Security Administration and Office of Environmental Management, by Gene Aloise, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-09-406T, March 4.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-406T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09406thigh.pdf
• Department of Homeland Security: Organizational Structure, Spending, and Staffing for the Health Care Provided to Immigration Detainees, by Alicia Puente Cackley, director, health care, before the Subcommittee on Homeland Security, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-09-401T, March 3.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-401T
• Department of the Interior: Major Management Challenges, by Robin M. Nazzaro and Franklin Rusco, directors, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-09-425T, March 3.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-425T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09425thigh.pdf
• Disaster Recovery: Past Experiences Offer Recovery Lessons for Hurricanes Ike and Gustav and Future Disasters, by Stanley J. Czerwinski, director, strategic issues, before the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-09-437T, March 3.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-437T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09437thigh.pdf
• DOD Business Transformation: Status of DOD's Actions on Previous Recommendations for the Defense Travel System, by Asif A. Khan, director, financial management and assurance, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-09-416T, March 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-416T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09416thigh.pdf
• Immigration Enforcement: Controls over Program Authorizing State and Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws Should Be Strengthened, by Richard M. Stana, director, homeland security and justice, before the House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-09-381T, March 4.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-381T
• Information Technology: Census Bureau Testing of 2010 Decennial Systems Can Be Strengthened, by David Powner, director, information technology management issues; and Robert Goldenkoff, director, strategic issues, before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-09-414T, March 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-414T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09414thigh.pdf
  
• Information Technology: Census Bureau Needs to Strengthen Testing of 2010 Decennial Systems, by David Powner, director, information technology management issues; and Robert Goldenkoff, director, strategic issues, before the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-09-413T, March 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-413T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09413thigh.pdf
• NASA: Projects Need More Disciplined Oversight and Management to Address Key Challenges, by Cristina Chaplain, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, House Committee on Science and Technology. GAO-09-436T, March 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-436T
• Systemic Risk: Regulatory Oversight and Recent Initiatives to Address Risk Posed by Credit Default Swaps, by Orice M. Williams, director, financial markets and community investment, before the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises, House Committee on Financial Services. GAO-09-397T, March 5.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-397T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09397thigh.pdf