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 defense acquisitions, aviation and the environment, and intellectual property. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Aviation and the Environment: FAA's and NASA's Research and Development Plans for Noise Reduction Are Aligned but the Prospects of Achieving Noise Reduction Goals Are Uncertain. GAO-08-384, February 15.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-384
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08384high.pdf
• Defense Acquisitions: Progress Made in Fielding Missile Defense, but Program Is Short of Meeting Goals. GAO-08-448, March 14.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-448
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08448high.pdf
• Defense Acquisitions: Termination Costs Are Generally Not a Compelling Reason to Continue Programs or Contracts That Otherwise Warrant Ending. GAO-08-379, March 14.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-379
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08379high.pdf
• Intellectual Property: Federal Enforcement Has Generally Increased, but Assessing Performance Could Strengthen Law Enforcement Efforts. GAO-08-157, March 11.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-157
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08157high.pdf
• Tax Policy: Tax-Exempt Status of Certain Bonds Merits Reconsideration and Apparent Noncompliance with Issuance Cost Limitations Should Be Addressed. GAO-08-364, February 15.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-364
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08364high.pdf
• U.S. Coins: The Federal Reserve Banks Are Fulfilling Coin Demand, but Optimal Inventory Ranges Are Undefined. GAO-08-401, March 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-401
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08401high.pdf
• Vehicle Donations: Selected Charities Reported Mixed Experiences after Changes in Vehicle Donation Rules. GAO-08-367, February 15.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-367
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08367high.pdf

Testimony

• District of Columbia Public Schools: While Early Reform Efforts Tackle Critical Management Issues, a District-Wide Strategic Plan Would Help Guide Long-Term Efforts, by Cornelia M. Ashby, director, education, workforce, and income security, 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-08-549T, March 14.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-549T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08549thigh.pdf

Correspondence

• Global War on Terrorism: Reported Obligations for the Department of Defense. GAO-08-557R, March 17.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-557R
• The Nation's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: January 2008 Update. GAO-08-591R, March 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-591R

Happy Fiftieth European Parliament!

Okay, the EU as an institution celebrated its fiftieth birthday last year, but the parliament, as most government bodies took a little longer to form, so today is their fiftieth birthday! When it was started in 1958 there were 142 members, from six countries and they spoke four languages. Now there are 785 members, from 27 countries, speaking 23 languages. Learn more about the history of the parliament in this slide show.

Want to read and hear what they did in celebration? Check out this page.

Want more resources on the EU? Check out the libraries guide.

Coffee Cans and other things

I suppose we could do another economics post or some other important government report. But really, wouldn't you rather read about the history of the Hills Brothers coffee can? Thanks to our friends at Free Government Information (FGI) we now know about another title in the best titles ever contest for government documents.

Hills Bros. Coffee Can Chronology relates the history of the designs on the covers of Hills Bros coffee cans. Why would there be such a report you ask? Well, apparently since the design changed fairly frequently this coffee can is useful for archaeologists trying to determine the age of a site.

Want more unusually titled or unusual titles from government publications? FGI is keeping a running page with these titles and links to their WorldCat records on their site. Hope you all have a wonderful afternoon.

St. Patrick's Day

It is St. Patrick's Day and along with wearing my green sweater I thought I would link you up with a collection of St. Patrick's resources:

• Facts for Features This page links you up with a variety of Census resources on the holiday and the Irish in America. Fun fact, there are 9 places in the US named Dublin, the biggest is Dublin, CA.
  
• White House: President Bush and Prime Minister Ahern met today and issued a couple press releases. First, the quick statements following a private meeting. This was followed by more in-depth remarks at a St. Patrick's day reception.
• Four Leaf Clovers Unlucky? This is actually a USGS release on the nonindigenous water clovers that have four leaves.
• Ireland This is a library guide to Ireland's resources.

Hope you have a great St. Patrick's day!

Federal Reserve's Emergency Weekend Meeting

Hoping to prevent a global financial crisis, the Federal Reserve announced two initiatives designed to "bolster market liquidity and promote orderly market functioning." First, the Federal Reserve Board voted unanimously to create a short-term lending facility to extend credit to "primary dealers" (large investment banks). Second, the Board voted unanimously to loser the primary credit rate from 3 1/2 percent to 3 1/4 percent. Read the press release from the Federal Reserve.

The rare Sunday night action, occurred after the collapse of The Bear Sterns Companies Inc., which is being bought by JPMorgan Chase & Co. for $2 a share. The Federal Reserve Board also approved the financing arrangement for the buyout. Read the press release from JPMorgan Chase.

Read "Fed Takes Broad Action to Avert Financial Crisis" from the Washington Post, "Sunday surprise: Fed steps into credit crisis" from CNNMoney.com, and "Fed Cuts Lending Rate to Financial Institutions to 3.25%" from FOXBusiness.

You might also want to check out CNNMoney.com's special report, Fed Focus, for all news related to the Federal Reserve.

Craving more information? Check out the library's guides on Banking and Business and Economics.