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 real estate tax deductions, public housing, and voters with disabilities. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Army Working Capital Fund: Actions Needed to Improve Budgeting for Carryover at Army Ordnance Activities. GAO-09-415, June 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-415
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09415high.pdf
• Aviation and Climate Change: Aircraft Emissions Expected to Grow, but Technological and Operational Improvements and Government Policies Can Help Control Emissions. GAO-09-554, June 8.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-554
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09554high.pdf
• Biomonitoring: EPA Needs to Coordinate Its Research Strategy and Clarify Its Authority to Obtain Biomonitoring Data. GAO-09-353, April 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-353
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09353high.pdf
• Coast Guard: Administrative Law Judge Program Contains Elements Designed to Foster Judges' Independence and Mariner Protections Assessed Are Being Followed. GAO-09-489, June 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-489
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09489high.pdf
• Defense Infrastructure: DOD Needs to Improve Oversight of Relocatable Facilities and Develop a Strategy for Managing Their Use across the Military Services. GAO-09-585, June 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-585
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09585high.pdf
• Federal Energy and Fleet Management: Plug-in Vehicles Offer Potential Benefits, but High Costs and Limited Information Could Hinder Integration into the Federal Fleet. GAO-09-493, June 9.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-493
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09493high.pdf
• Federal Land Management: BLM and the Forest Service Have Improved Oversight of the Land Exchange Process, but Additional Actions Are Needed. GAO-09-611, June 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-611
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09611high.pdf
• Nuclear and Worker Safety: Limited Information Exists on Costs and Reasons for Work Stoppages at DOE's Hanford Site. GAO-09-451, May 7.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-451
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09451high.pdf
• Public Housing: HUD's Oversight of Housing Agencies Should Focus More on Inappropriate Use of Program Funds. GAO-09-33, June 11.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-33
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0933high.pdf
• Real Estate Tax Deduction: Taxpayers Face Challenges in Determining What Qualifies; Better Information Could Improve Compliance. GAO-09-521, May 13.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-521
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09521high.pdf
• Telecommunications: Broadband Deployment Plan Should Include Performance Goals and Measures to Guide Federal Investment. GAO-09-494, May 12.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-494
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09494high.pdf
• Voters with Disabilities: More Polling Places Had No Potential Impediments Than in 2000, but Challenges Remain. GAO-09-685, June 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-685
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09685high.pdf

Testimonies

• Environmental Contamination: Lessons Learned from the Cleanup of Formerly Used Defense and Military Munitions Sites, by Anu Mittal, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. GAO-09-779T, June 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-779T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09779thigh.pdf
• EPA Chemical Assessments: Process Reforms Offer the Potential to Address Key Problems, by John B. Stephenson, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, House Committee on Science and Technology. GAO-09-774T, June 11.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-774T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09774thigh.pdf
• Scientific Integrity: EPA's Efforts to Enhance the Credibility and Transparency of Its Scientific Processes, by John B. Stephenson, director, natural resources and environment, before a joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and its Subcommittee on Oversight. GAO-09-773T, June 9.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-773T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09773thigh.pdf
• VA Health Care: Overview of VA's Capital Asset Management, by Mark L. Goldstein, director, physical infrastructure, before the Subcommittee on Health, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. GAO-09-686T, June 9.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-686T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09686thigh.pdf
• VA Real Property: VA Emphasizes Enhanced-Use Leases to Manage Its Real Property Portfolio, by David Wise, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. GAO-09-776T, June 10.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-776T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09776thigh.pdf