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 global War on Terrorism, aviation security, the Bank Secrecy Act, and oil and gas leasing. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Aviation Security: Preliminary Observations on TSA's Progress and Challenges in Meeting the Statutory Mandate for Screening Air Cargo on Passenger Aircraft, by Stephen M. Lord, director, homeland security and justice issues, before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-09-422T, March 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-422T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09422thigh.pdf
• Bank Secrecy Act: Federal Agencies Should Take Action to Further Improve Coordination and Information-Sharing Efforts. GAO-09-227, February 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-227
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09227high.pdf
• Defense Acquisitions: DOD Must Prioritize Its Weapon System Acquisitions and Balance Them with Available Resources, by Michael J. Sullivan, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the House Committee on the Budget. GAO-09-501T, March 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-501T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09501thigh.pdf
• Defense Acquisitions: Production and Fielding of Missile Defense Components Continue with Less Testing and Validation Than Planned. GAO-09-338, March 13.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-338
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09338high.pdf
• Department of State: Undercover Tests Reveal Significant Vulnerabilities in State's Passport Issuance Process. GAO-09-447, March 13.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-447
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09447high.pdf
• Federal Financial Assistance: Preliminary Observations on Assistance to AIG, 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-09-490T, March 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-490T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09490thigh.pdf
• Freedom of Information Act: DHS Has Taken Steps to Enhance Its Program, but Opportunities Exist to Improve Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness. GAO-09-260, March 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-260
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09260high.pdf
• Global War on Terrorism: DOD Needs to More Accurately Capture and Report the Costs of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. GAO-09-302, March 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-302
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09302high.pdf
  
• High Speed Passenger Rail: Future Development Will Depend on Addressing Financial and Other Challenges and Establishing a Clear Federal Role. GAO-09-317, March 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-317
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09317high.pdf
• Information Security: Securities and Exchange Commission Needs to Consistently Implement Effective Controls. GAO-09-203, March 16.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-203
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09203high.pdf
• Medicare and Medicaid Participating Facilities: CMS Needs to Reexamine Its Approach for Funding State Oversight of Health Care Facilities. GAO-09-64, February 13.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-64
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0964high.pdf
• Next Generation Air Transportation System: Status of Transformation and Issues Associated with Midterm Implementation of Capabilities, by Gerald L. Dillingham, Ph.D., director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Aviation, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-09-479T, March 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-479T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09479thigh.pdf
• Seafood Fraud: FDA Program Changes and Better Collaboration among Key Federal Agencies Could Improve Detection and Prevention. GAO-09-258, February 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-258
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09258high.pdf
• Small Business Administration: Additional Guidance on Documenting Credit Elsewhere Decisions Could Improve 7(a) Program Oversight. GAO-09-228, February 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-228
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09228high.pdf

Correspondence

• Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting with Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. GAO-09-391R, March 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-391R
• Federal Real Property: Authorities and Actions Regarding Enhanced Use Leases and Sale of Unneeded Real Property. GAO-09-283R, February 17
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-283R

Testimonies

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: GAO's Role in Helping to Ensure Accountability and Transparency for Science Funding, by Patricia Dalton, managing director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, House Committee on Science and Technology. GAO-09-515T, March 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-515T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09515thigh.pdf
• Emergency Management: Actions to Implement Select Provisions of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act, by William O. Jenkins, Jr., director, homeland security and justice, before the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-09-433T, March 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-433T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09433thigh.pdf
• Financial Regulation: Review of Regulators' Oversight of Risk Management Systems at a Limited Number of Large, Complex Financial Institutions, by Orice M. Williams, director, financial markets and community investment, before the Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investments, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. GAO-09-499T, March 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-499T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09499thigh.pdf
• Health-Care-Associated Infections in Hospitals: Continuing Leadership Needed from HHS to Prioritize Prevention Practices and Improve Data on These Infections, by Dr. Marjorie Kanof, managing director, health care, before the Subcommittee on Health, Senate Committee on Finance. GAO-09-516T, March 18.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-516T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09516thigh.pdf
• International Trade: Effective Export Programs Can Help in Achieving U.S. Economic Goals, by Loren Yager, director, international affairs and trade, before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-09-480T, March 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-480T
• Oil and Gas Leasing: Federal Oil and Gas Resource Management and Revenue Collection in Need of Comprehensive Reassessment, by Frank Rusco, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, House Committee on Natural Resources. GAO-09-506T, March 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-506T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09506thigh.pdf
• Tax Compliance: Offshore Financial Activity Creates Enforcement Issues for IRS, by Michael Brostek, director, strategic issues, before the Senate Committee on Finance. GAO-09-478T, March 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-478T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09478thigh.pdf
• Troubled Asset Relief Program: Status of Efforts to Address Transparency and Accountability Issues, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general of the United States, before the Subcommittee on Oversight, House Committee on Ways and Means. GAO-09-484T, March 19.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-484T
  

Presentation By The Acting Comptroller General

• "Challenges Facing the New Administration and the 111th Congress," by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general of the United States, before the JFMIP 2009 Federal Financial Management Conference, in Washington, D.C. GAO-09-510CG, March 12, 2009.
  http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d09510cg.pdf