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 aboveground oil storage, prison construction, and international food security. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Aboveground Oil Storage Tanks: More Complete Facility Data Could Improve Implementation of EPA's Spill Prevention Program. GAO-08-482, April 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-482
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08482high.pdf
• DOD Health Care: Mental Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Screening Efforts Implemented, but Consistent Pre-Deployment Medical Record Review Policies Needed. GAO-08-615, May 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-615
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08615high.pdf
• Federal Disability Programs: More Strategic Coordination Could Help Overcome Challenges to Needed Transformation. GAO-08-635, May 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-635
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08635high.pdf
• Federal User Fees: A Design Guide. GAO-08-386SP, May 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-386SP
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08386sphigh.pdf
• Force Structure: Ship Rotational Crewing Initiatives Would Benefit from Top-Level Leadership, Navy-wide Guidance, Comprehensive Analysis, and Improved Lessons-Learned Sharing. GAO-08-418, May 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-418
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08418high.pdf
• Information Security: FDIC Sustains Progress but Needs to Improve Configuration Management of Key Financial Systems. GAO-08-564, May 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-564
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08564high.pdf
• International Food Security: Insufficient Efforts by Host Governments and Donors Threaten Progress to Halve Hunger in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2015. GAO-08-680, May 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-680
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08680high.pdf
• Military Readiness: Joint Policy Needed to Better Manage the Training and Use of Certain Forces to Meet Operational Demands. GAO-08-670, May 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-670
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08670high.pdf
• Prison Construction: Clear Communication on the Accuracy of Cost Estimates and Project Changes Is Needed. GAO-08-634, May 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-634
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08634high.pdf
• Supply Chain Security: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Has Enhanced Its Partnership with Import Trade Sectors, but Challenges Remain in Verifying Security Practices. GAO-08-240, April 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-240
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08240high.pdf
• Veterans' Benefits: Increased Focus on Evaluation and Accountability Would Enhance Training and Performance Management for Claims Processors. GAO-08-561, May 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-561
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08561high.pdf

Correspondence

• Bureau of the Public Debt: Areas for Improvement in Information Security Controls. GAO-08-625R, May 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-625R
• Department of Defense Pilot Authority for Acquiring Information Technology Services under OMB Circular A-76. GAO-08-753R, May 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-753R
• Food and Drug Administration: Agency Complied with Statutory Requirement to Reexamine Condom Labels. GAO-08-565R, April 25.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-565R
• Military Personnel: DOD Needs Data to Determine if Active Duty Service Has an Impact on the Ability of Guard and Reservists to Maintain Their Civilian Professional Licenses or Certificates. GAO-08-790R, May 27.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-790R
• Review of the President's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request for the Defense Health Program's Private Sector Care Budget Activity Group. GAO-08-721R, May 28.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-721R

The Scott McClellan Flap

Scot McClellan, former White House press secretary, will release a new book in June in which he alleges that the White House "manipulated intelligence to justify the war in Iran" (May 30, 2008, NY Times). While current and former administration officials deny this and other allegations, the White House itself remains largely silent. At a "press gaggle on May 28" current press secretary Dana Perino declared that the White House would not prepare a line-by-line refutation of Mr. McClellan's book and that it wasn't in the business of "fact-checking" a memoir.

To learn more about the President and the White House, check out the Government Publication's guide to the presidents.

Congressional Research Service Reports

Congressional Research Service (CRS) is a research agency of Congress and writes reports at Congress's request. These short reports (usually 10-40 pages long) cover recent topics of concern. This week brings us CRS reports on the Syria, national security, health, and much more. While these reports are in the public domain there is no central database available to the public. To get a copy of a CRS report you can request it from your Senator or Representative. This list is compiled from CRS reports discovered by Secrecy News:

• Defense Contracting in Iraq: Issues and Options for Congress
• The National Security Council: An Organizational Assessment
• Homeland Security Department: FY2009 Request for Appropriations
• Japan’s Nuclear Future: Policy Debate, Prospects, and U.S. Interests
• Does Price Transparency Improve Market Efficiency? Implications of Empirical Evidence in Other Markets for the Health Sector
• The “Red-Dead” Canal: Israeli-Arab Efforts to Restore the Dead Sea
• U.S. Nuclear Cooperation With India: Issues for Congress
• Nuclear Weapons: The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program
• Suits Against Terrorist States By Victims of Terrorism
• Syria: Background and U.S. Relations
• China’s Economic Conditions

Interested in historical CRS reports? If you are here at the Boulder campus, check out the LexisNexis Congressional database, which has reports back to 1916.

Not on campus, but still want access to additional reports? The library has a guide linking to various additional sources of CRS reports.

Phoenix Mars Lander

The Phoenix Mars lander (see image to the left) successfully landed on Mars Sunday evening. The hope is that the lander will be able to examine frozen water. Want to see some pictures and learn all about the work? Check out the NASA web site on the Phoenix.

Want some press reaction? Why not check out the Washington Post's "Mars Craft Succeeds in Soft Landing: Phoenix to Begin Search for Signs of Life Beyond Earth."

Want more space resources? Check out the library's guide.

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 combating terrorism, digital television transition, and information security. If you would like to know more about the GAO, check out the library's guide.

Reports

• Defense Contracting: Post-Government Employment of Former DOD Officials Needs Greater Transparency. GAO-08-485, May 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-485
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08485high.pdf
• Digital Television Transition: Majority of Broadcasters Are Prepared for the DTV Transition, but Some Technical and Coordination Issues Remain. GAO-08-510, April 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-510
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08510high.pdf
• Global Nuclear Energy Partnership: DOE Should Reassess Its Approach to Designing and Building Spent Nuclear Fuel Recycling Facilities. GAO-08-483, April 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-483
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08483high.pdf
• Information Security: TVA Needs to Address Weaknesses in Control Systems and Networks. GAO-08-526, May 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-526
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08526high.pdf
• Motor Carrier Safety: Improvements to Drug Testing Programs Could Better Identify Illegal Drug Users and Keep Them off the Road. GAO-08-600, May 15.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-600
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08600high.pdf
• Organ Transplant Programs: Federal Agencies Have Acted to Improve Oversight, but Implementation Issues Remain. GAO-08-412, April 29.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-412
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08412high.pdf

Related Product

• Digital Television Transition: GAO DTV Broadcaster Survey, (GAO-08-528SP, April 2008), an E-Supplement to GAO-08-510. GAO-08-528SP, April 30.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-528SP

Correspondence

• Governmentwide Accounts Payable. GAO-08-711R, May 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-711R

Testimonies

• Capitol Visitor Center: Update on Status of Project's Schedule and Cost as of May 22, 2008, by Terrell G. Dorn, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, House Committee on Appropriations. GAO-08-811T, May 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-811T
• Chemical Assessments: EPA's New Assessment Process Will Further Limit the Productivity and Credibility of Its Integrated Risk Information System, by John B. Stephenson, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, House Committee on Science and Technology. GAO-08-810T, May 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-810T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08810thigh.pdf
• Combating Terrorism: U.S. Efforts to Address the Terrorist Threat in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas Require a Comprehensive Plan and Continued Oversight, by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general, before the Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. GAO-08-820T, May 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-820T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08820thigh.pdf
• High-Containment Biosafety Laboratories: DHS Lacks Evidence to Conclude That Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Can Be Done Safely on the U.S. Mainland, by Nancy R. Kingsbury, managing director, applied research and methods, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-821T, May 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-821T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08821thigh.pdf
• Human Capital: Workforce Diversity Governmentwide and at the Department of Homeland Security, by George H. Stalcup, director, strategic issues, before the House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-08-815T, May 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-815T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08815thigh.pdf
• Information Security: TVA Needs to Enhance Security of Critical Infrastructure Control Systems and Networks, by Gregory C. Wilshusen, director, information security issues, and Nabajyoti Barkakati, acting chief technologist, before the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology, House Committee on Homeland Security. GAO-08-775T, May 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-775T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08775thigh.pdf
• Legal Services Corporation: Improvements Needed in Governance, Accountability, and Grants Management and Oversight, by Jeanette M. Franzel, director, financial management and assurance, before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. GAO-08-833T, May 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-833T
• Low-Level Radioactive Waste: Status of Disposal Availability in the United States and Other Countries, by Gene Aloise, director, natural resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-08-813T, May 20.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-813T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08813thigh.pdf
• Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy: SSA Continues to Approve Applicants, but Millions of Individuals Have Not Yet Applied, by Barbara D. Bovbjerg, director, education, workforce, and income security issues, before the Senate Special Committee on Aging. GAO-08-812T, May 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-812T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08812thigh.pdf
• Personnel Clearances: Key Factors for Reforming the Security Clearance Process, by Brenda S. Farrell, director, defense capabilities and management, 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-08-776T, May 22.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-776T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08776thigh.pdf
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Endangered Species Act Decision Making, by Robin M. Nazzaro, director, natural resources and environment, before the House Committee on Natural Resources. GAO-08-688T, May 21.
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-688T
  Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08688thigh.pdf

Presentation by the Acting Comptroller General

• "Auditing and Advising in a Time of Transition," by Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general of the United States, before the 17th Biennial Forum of Government Auditors, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. GAO-08-842CG, May 21, 2008
  http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d08842cg.pdf