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Tax Policy: The Research Tax Credit's Design and Administration Can Be Improved

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The tax credit for qualified research expenses provides significant subsidies to encourage business investment in research intended to foster innovation and promote long-term economic growth. Generally the credit provides a subsidy for research spending in excess of a base amount but concerns have been raised about its design and administrability. Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to desc… more
Date: November 6, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Financial Management: Achieving Financial Statement Auditability in the Department of Defense

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Since the first financial statement audit was attempted at a major Department of Defense (DOD) component over 20 years ago, GAO and DOD auditors have continued to report significant weaknesses in the department's ability to provide timely, reliable, consistent, and accurate information for management analysis, decision-making, and reporting. DOD has undertaken a number of initiatives over the years, suc… more
Date: May 6, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Public Transportation: Better Data Needed to Assess Length of New Starts Process, and Options Exist to Expedite Project Development

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The New Starts program is an important source of new capital investment in mass transportation. To be eligible for federal funding, a project must advance through the different project development phases of the New Starts program, including alternatives analysis, preliminary engineering, and final design. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) evaluates projects as a condition for advancement into eac… more
Date: August 6, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Ballistic Missile Defense: Actions Needed to Improve Planning and Information on Construction and Support Costs for Proposed European Sites

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) estimated in 2008 that the potential costs of fielding ballistic missile defenses in Europe would be more than $4 billion through 2015. Planned ballistic missile defenses in Europe are intended to defend the United States, its deployed forces, and its allies against ballistic missile attacks from the Middle East. They are expected to include a missile interceptor site in… more
Date: August 6, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Small Business Administration: Actions Needed to Improve the Usefulness of the Agency's Lender Risk Rating System

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Small Business Administration (SBA) guarantees individual loans that lenders originate. The agency uses its Loan and Lender Monitoring System (L/LMS) to assess the individual risk of each loan, and SBA's contractor developed a lender risk rating system based on L/LMS data. However, questions have been raised about the extent to which SBA has used its lender risk rating system to improve its oversigh… more
Date: November 6, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Millennium Challenge Corporation: MCC Has Addressed a Number of Implementation Challenges, but Needs to Improve Financial Controls and Infrastructure Planning

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Established in January 2004 with a mission to reduce poverty through economic growth, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has committed $6.9 billion for compacts with 19 developing countries. MCC vests compact management with accountable entities in recipient countries, called Millennium Challenge Accounts (MCA). MCAs, with guidance from MCC, allocate resources, oversee and implement a financial … more
Date: November 6, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Foster Care: State Practices for Assessing Health Needs, Facilitating Service Delivery, and Monitoring Children's Care

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Providing health care services for foster children, who often have significant health care needs, can be challenging. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) oversees foster care, but state child welfare agencies are responsible for ensuring that these children receive health care services, which are often financed by Medicaid. In light of concerns about the health care needs of foster childr… more
Date: February 6, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Insurance Reciprocity and Uniformity: NAIC and State Regulators Have Made Progress in Producer Licensing, Product Approval, and Market Conduct Regulation, but Challenges Remain

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Because the insurance market is a vital part of the U.S. economy, Congress and others are concerned about limitations to reciprocity and uniformity, regulatory inefficiency, higher insurance costs, and uneven consumer protection. GAO was asked to review the areas of (1) producer licensing, (2) product approval, and (3) market conduct regulation in terms of progress by NAIC and state regulators to increa… more
Date: April 6, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Highway Trust Fund: Improved Solvency Mechanisms and Communication Needed to Help Avoid Shortfalls in the Highway Account

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Highway Account within the Highway Trust Fund is the primary mechanism for funding federal highway programs. The account-- administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) within the Department of Transportation (DOT)--channels about $33 billion in highway user excise taxes annually to states for highway projects. Although DOT and others projected that the account could run out of funds in … more
Date: February 6, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Surface Transportation: Clear Federal Role and Criteria-Based Selection Process Could Improve Three National and Regional Infrastructure Programs

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "To help meet increasing transportation demands, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) created three programs to invest federal funds in national and regional transportation infrastructure. As requested, this report provides (1) an overview of the goals, funding status, and types of projects and activities funded by the three programs; (2) a… more
Date: February 6, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Medicare: CMS Working to Address Problems from Round 1 of the Durable Medical Equipment Competitive Bidding Program

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In 2007, Medicare spent $8.3 billion for durable medical equipment (DME) and related supplies. To reduce spending, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) required that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) phase in, with several rounds of bidding, a large-scale competitive bidding program (CBP) for certain DME and other items. DME suppliers began bi… more
Date: November 6, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Postal Service: Intelligent Mail Benefits May Not Be Achieved if Key Risks Are Not Addressed

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Over 80 percent of the approximately 200 billion mail pieces processed and delivered by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) last year was sent by commercial mailers that barcode, sort, or transport mail to get lower postage rates. Starting in May 2009, USPS will encourage these mailers to use new barcodes that have increased capabilities as part of Intelligent Mail, a new program. According to USPS, Intellig… more
Date: May 6, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Teacher Quality: Sustained Coordination among Key Federal Education Programs Could Enhance State Efforts to Improve Teacher Quality

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Policymakers and researchers have focused on improving the quality of our nation's 3 million teachers to raise the achievement of students in key academic areas, such as reading and mathematics. Given the importance of teacher quality to student achievement and the key role federal and state governments play in supporting teacher quality, GAO's objectives included examining (1) the extent that the U.S. … more
Date: July 6, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran's 2009 Presidential Elections

Description: This report analyzes and discusses Iran's 2009 presidential election, particularly the campaigns of reformist candidate Mir Hussein Musavi and incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Allegations of vote rigging and election fraud have led to protests by supporters of candidate Musavi and have provoked international attention. This report also discusses the Obama Administration's reaction to the election results. This report also discusses briefly the current relationship between the U.S. and I… more
Date: July 6, 2009
Creator: Addis, Casey L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Federal Role in Rail Transit Safety

Description: On June 22, 2009, two transit trains in Washington, DC, collided, resulting in nine deaths and dozens of injuries. It was the worst crash in the history of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's rail transit system. This crash has raised questions about the safety of rail transit and the government's role in ensuring that safety. Nationwide, rail transit is considered one of the safest modes of transportation. This report discusses the State Safety Oversight Program, which went in… more
Date: July 6, 2009
Creator: Peterman, David Randall & Mallett, William J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Covert Action: Legislative Background and Possible Policy Questions

Description: Published reports have suggested that in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Pentagon has expanded its counter-terrorism intelligence activities as part of what the Bush Administration termed the global war on terror. This report discusses the Department of Defense's (DOD) various counter-terrorist intelligence activities, whether or not they constitute classification as "covert action," and the challenge of clarifying the roles and responsibilities of various intelligence activities wi… more
Date: July 6, 2009
Creator: Cumming, Alfred
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Intelligence Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses the efforts currently underway to improve coordination and encourage better analysis amongst the various agencies within the U.S. Intelligence Community, especially with regard to the ongoing and prominent issue of international terrorism. In particular, this report addresses the false intelligence regarding Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and the current efforts in Iraq and Iran in general.
Date: July 6, 2009
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Project BioShield: Purposes and Authorities

Description: Many potential chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism agents lack available countermeasures. In 2003, President Bush proposed Project BioShield to address this need. The Project BioShield Act became law in July 2004. This report discusses the three main provisions of Project BioShield, funding for Project BioShield, and additional measures that Congress has considered since Project BioShield's implementation to further encourage CBRN countermeasure development.
Date: July 6, 2009
Creator: Gottron, Frank
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Economic Stimulus: Issues and Policies

Description: Recent policies have sought to contain damages spilling over from housing and financial markets to the broader economy, including monetary policy, which is the responsibility of the Federal Reserve, and fiscal policy, including a tax cut in February 2008 of $150 billion and two extensions of unemployment compensation in June and November of 2008. This report discusses this problem as well as certain interventional measures that the government has taken and is considering taking to combat it, in… more
Date: July 6, 2009
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.; Hungerford, Thomas L. & Labonte, Marc
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Mérida Initiative for Mexico and Central America: Funding and Policy Issues

Description: In October 2007, the United States and Mexico announced the Mérida Initiative, a three-year program of U.S. assistance to Mexico and Central America to combat drug trafficking, gangs, and organized crime. This report provides an overview and discussion of the funding provided for Mérida, and presents several issues that Congress may consider as it oversees implementation of the Initiative and shapes its future direction.
Date: July 6, 2009
Creator: Seelke, Clare Ribando & Beittel, June S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Google Library Project: Is Digitization for Purposes of Online Indexing Fair Use Under Copyright Law?

Description: The Google Book Search Library Project, announced in December 2004, raised important questions about infringing reproduction and fair use under copyright law. Google planned to digitize, index, and display "snippets" of print books in the collections of five major libraries without the permission of the books' copyright holders, if any. Google's proposed reproduction and display of copyrighted books was not authorized by the rights holders, who alleged that the Google Library Project infringed … more
Date: July 6, 2009
Creator: Manuel, Kate M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Preserving Homeownership: Foreclosure Prevention Initiatives

Description: This report describes the consequences of foreclosure on homeowners, outlines recent foreclosure prevention plans implemented by the government and private organizations, and discusses the challenges associated with foreclosure prevention.
Date: July 6, 2009
Creator: Jones, Katie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Fundamental Mechanisms of Interface Roughness

Description: Publication quality results were obtained for several experiments and materials systems including: (i) Patterning and smoothening of sapphire surfaces by energetic Ar+ ions. Grazing Incidence Small Angle X-ray Scattering (GISAXS) experiments were performed in the system at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) X21 beamline. Ar+ ions in the energy range from 300 eV to 1000 eV were used to produce ripples on the surfaces of single-crystal sapphire. It was found that the ripple wavelength v… more
Date: January 6, 2009
Creator: Headrick, Randall L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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