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 gender gap in wages, funding international students in higher education, and telecommunications. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Higher Education: Approaches to Attract and Fund International Students in the United States and Abroad. GAO-09-379, April 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-379
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09379high.pdf
• Telecommunications: Long-Term Strategic Vision Would Help Ensure Targeting of E-rate Funds to Highest Priority Uses. GAO-09-253, March 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-253
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09253high.pdf
• Women's Pay: Gender Pay Gap in the Federal Workforce Narrows as Differences in Occupation, Education, and Experience Diminish. GAO-09-279, March 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-279

Related Products & Special Publications

• The Nation's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: March 2009 Update. GAO-09-405SP, April 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-405SP
• Telecommunications: Information on Participation in the E-rate Program (GAO-09-254SP, March 2009), an e-supplement to GAO-09-253. GAO-09-254SP, March 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-254SP

Correspondence

• Bureau of the Public Debt: Areas for Improvement in Information Security Controls. GAO-09-633R, April 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-633R
• Recovery Act: Consistent Policies Needed to Ensure Equal Consideration of Grant Applications. GAO-09-590R, April 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-590R
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Secure Border Initiative Fiscal Year 2009 Expenditure Plan. GAO-09-274R, April 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-274R

Testimonies

• Acquisition Workforce: DOD Can Improve Its Management and Oversight by Tracking Data on Contractor Personnel and Taking Additional Actions, by John K. Needham, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-09-616T, April 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-616T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09616thigh.pdf
  
• Defense Acquisitions: Charting a Course for Lasting Reform, by Paul Francis, managing director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-09-663T, April 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-663T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09663thigh.pdf
• Financial Literacy and Education Commission: Progress Made in Fostering Partnerships, but National Strategy Remains Largely Descriptive Rather Than Strategic, by Richard J. Hillman, managing director, financial markets and community investment, 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-09-638T, April 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-638T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09638thigh.pdf
• Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Request: U.S. Government Accountability Office, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general, before the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-09-587T, April 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-587T
• Health Resources and Services Administration: Many Underserved Areas Lack a Health Center Site, and Data Are Needed on Service Provision at Sites, by Cynthia A. Bascetta, director, health care, before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. GAO-09-667T, April 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-667T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09667thigh.pdf
• Information Technology: Management and Oversight of Projects Totaling Billions of Dollars Need Attention, by David Powner, director, information technology, before the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-09-624T, April 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-624T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09624thigh.pdf
• Recovering Servicemembers: DOD and VA Have Made Progress to Jointly Develop Required Policies but Additional Challenges Remain, by Randall B. Williamson, director, DOD and VA Health Care, Daniel Bertoni, director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security, and Valerie C. Melvin, director, Information Management and Human Capital Issues, before the Subcommittee on Personnel, Senate Committee on Armed Services. GAO-09-540T, April 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-540T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09540thigh.pdf
• Social Security Administration: Effective Information Technology Management Essential for Data Center Initiative, by Valerie C. Melvin, director, information management and human capital issues, before the Subcommittee on Social Security, House Committee on Ways and Means. GAO-09-662T, April 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-662T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09662thigh.pdf
• Space Acquisitions: Government and Industry Partners Face Substantial Challenges in Developing New DOD Space Systems, by Cristina Chaplain, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, House Committee on Armed Services. GAO-09-648T, April 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-648T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09648thigh.pdf
• Recovery Act: Initial Results on States' Use of and Accountability for Transportation Activities, by Katherine Siggerud, managing director, physical infrastructure, before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. GAO-09-597T, April 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-597T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09597thigh.pdf
• USAID Acquisition and Assistance: Challenges Remain in Developing and Implementing a Strategic Workforce Plan, by Thomas Melito, director, international affairs and trade, before the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-09-607T, April 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-607T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09607thigh.pdf
  
• U.S. Department of Agriculture: Recommendations and Options Available to the New Administration and Congress to Address Long-Standing Civil Rights Issues, by Lisa Shames, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry, House Committee on Agriculture. GAO-09-650T, April 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-650T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09650thigh.pdf
• VA Health Care: Challenges in Budget Formulation and Issues Surrounding the Proposal for Advance Appropriations, by Susan Irving, director, strategic issues, and Randall Williamson, director, health care, before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. GAO-09-664T, April 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-664T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09664thigh.pdf
• Women's Pay: Converging Characteristics of Men and Women in the Federal Workforce Help Explain the Narrowing Pay Gap, by Andrew Sherrill, director, education, workforce, and income security issues, before the Joint Economic Committee. GAO-09-621T, April 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-621T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09621thigh.pdf
  

Reissued Product

• Bureau of the Public Debt: Areas for Improvement in Information Security Controls. GAO-09-633R, April 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-633R