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 Ryan White CARE Act, the HUBZone Program, federal student aid, State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and private health insurance. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Commercial Vehicle Security: Risk-Based Approach Needed to Secure the Commercial Vehicle Sector. GAO-09-85, February 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-85
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0985high.pdf
• Commuter Rail: Many Factors Influence Liability and Indemnity Provisions, and Options Exist to Facilitate Negotiations. GAO-09-282, February 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-282
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09282high.pdf
• Defense Management: Actions Needed to Address Stakeholder Concerns, Improve Interagency Collaboration, and Determine Full Costs Associated with the U.S. Africa Command. GAO-09-181, February 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-181
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09181high.pdf
• Department of Defense: Additional Actions and Data Are Needed to Effectively Manage and Oversee DOD's Acquisition Workforce. GAO-09-342, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-342
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09342high.pdf
• Federal Land Management: Additional Documentation of Agency Experiences with Good Neighbor Authority Could Enhance Its Future Use. GAO-09-277, February 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-277
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09277high.pdf
• Federal Student Aid: Recent Changes to Eligibility Requirements and Additional Efforts to Promote Awareness Could Increase Academic Competitiveness and SMART Grant Participation. GAO-09-343, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-343
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09343high.pdf
• HUBZone Program: Fraud and Abuse Identified in Four Metropolitan Areas. GAO-09-440, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-440
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09440high.pdf
• Iraq: Key Issues for Congressional Oversight. GAO-09-294SP, March 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-294SP
• Nonprescription Drugs: Considerations Regarding a Behind-the-Counter Drug Class. GAO-09-245, February 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-245
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09245high.pdf
• Ryan White CARE Act: Implementation of the New Minority AIDS Initiative Provisions. GAO-09-315, March 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-315
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09315high.pdf
• State Children's Health Insurance Program: CMS Should Improve Efforts to Assess whether SCHIP Is Substituting for Private Insurance. GAO-09-252, February 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-252
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09252high.pdf
  
• Urban Partnership Agreements: Congestion Relief Initiative Holds Promise; Some Improvements Needed in Selection Process. GAO-09-154, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-154
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09154high.pdf

Correspondence

• Private Health Insurance: 2008 Survey Results on Number and Market Share of Carriers in the Small Group Health Insurance Market. GAO-09-363R, February 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-363R
• Securities and Exchange Commission: Oversight of U.S. Equities Market Clearing Agencies. GAO-09-318R, February 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-318R

Testimonies

• 2010 Census: Communications Campaign Has Potential to Boost Participation, by Robert Goldenkoff, director, strategic issues, before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-09-525T, March 23.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-525T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09525thigh.pdf
• Climate Change: Observations on Federal Efforts to Adapt to a Changing Climate, by John Stephenson, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-09-534T, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-534T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09534thigh.pdf
• Coast Guard: Observations on Changes to Management and Oversight of the Deepwater Program, by John P. Hutton, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-09-462T, March 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-462T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09462thigh.pdf
• Defense Acquisitions: Key Considerations for Planning Future Army Combat Systems, by Paul L. Francis, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-09-410T, March 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-410T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09410thigh.pdf
• Defense Management: Key Challenges Should be Addressed When Considering Changes to Missile Defense Agency's Roles and Missions, by John H. Pendleton, director, defense capabilities and management, before the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-09-466T, March 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-466T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09466thigh.pdf
• Department of Labor: Wage and Hour Division's Complaint Intake and Investigative Processes Leave Low Wage Workers Vulnerable to Wage Theft, by Gregory D. Kutz, managing director, and Jonathan T. Meyer, assistant director, forensic audits and special investigations, before the House Committee on Education and Labor. GAO-09-458T, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-458T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09458thigh.pdf
• HUBZone Program: Fraud and Abuse Identified in Four Metropolitan Areas, by Gregory D. Kutz, managing director, forensic audits and special investigations, before the House Committee on Small Business. GAO-09-519T, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-519T
• Inspectors General: Independent Oversight of Financial Regulatory Agencies, by Gary L. Kepplinger, general counsel, before the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-09-524T, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-524T
• Iraq and Afghanistan: Security, Economic, and Governance Challenges to Rebuilding Efforts Should Be Addressed in U.S. Strategies, by Jacquelyn Williams-Bridgers, managing director, international affairs and trade, before the House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-09-476T, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-476T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09476thigh.pdf
  
• Human Subjects Research: Undercover Tests Show the Institutional Review Board System Is Vulnerable to Unethical Manipulation, by Gregory D. Kutz, managing director, forensic audits and special investigations, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-09-448T, March 26.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-448T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09448thigh.pdf
• Next Generation Air Transportation System: Issues Associated with Midterm Implementation of Capabilities and Full System Transformation, by Gerald L. Dillingham, Ph.D., director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. GAO-09-481T, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-481T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09481thigh.pdf
• Private Pensions: Conflicts of Interest Can Affect Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Plans, by Charles A. Jeszeck, acting director, education, workforce, and income security, before the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, House Committee on Education and Labor. GAO-09-503T, March 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-503T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09503thigh.pdf
• Small Business Administration: Status of Efforts to Address Previous Recommendations on the HUBZone Program, by William B. Shear, director, financial markets and community investment, before the House Committee on Small Business. GAO-09-532T, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-532T
• Social Security Administration: Further Actions Needed to Address Disability Claims and Service Delivery Challenges, by Daniel Bertoni, director, education, workforce, and income security, before a joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support and the Subcommittee on Social Security, House Committee on Ways and Means. GAO-09-511T, March 24.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-511T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09511thigh.pdf
• U.S. Department of Agriculture: Improved Management Controls Can Enhance Effectiveness of Key Conservation Programs, by Lisa Shames, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research, House Committee on Agriculture. GAO-09-528T, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-528T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09528thigh.pdf
• U.S. Postal Service: Escalating Financial Problems Require Major Cost Reductions to Limit Losses, by Phillip Herr, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-09-475T, March 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-475T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09475thigh.pdf