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Department of Homeland Security: Billions Invested in Major Programs Lack Appropriate Oversight

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In fiscal year 2007, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) obligated about $12 billion for acquisitions to support homeland security missions. DHS's major investments include Coast Guard ships and aircraft; border surveillance and screening equipment; nuclear detection equipment; and systems to track finances and human resources. In part to provide insight into the cost, schedule, and performance of… more
Date: November 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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International Taxation: Large U.S. Corporations and Federal Contractors with Subsidiaries in Jurisdictions Listed as Tax Havens or Financial Privacy Jurisdictions

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Many U.S. corporations operate globally and have foreign subsidiaries. The subsidiaries may be created, for example, to take advantage of sales opportunities or favorable labor conditions. In some cases they may be used to reduce taxes. GAO was asked to update its 2004 report on large federal contractors with subsidiaries in countries sometimes called tax havens because of low taxes and a general lack o… more
Date: December 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Afghanistan Security: Further Congressional Action May Be Needed to Ensure Completion of a Detailed Plan to Develop and Sustain Capable Afghan National Security Forces

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Since 2002, the United States has worked to develop the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). The Department of Defense (Defense), through its Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A), directs U.S. efforts to develop the Afghan National Army (ANA) and, in conjunction with the Department of State (State), the Afghan National Police (ANP). To follow up on recommendations from GAO's 2005… more
Date: June 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Bilingual Voting Assistance: Selected Jurisdictions' Strategies for Identifying Needs and Providing Assistance

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, contains, among other things, provisions designed to protect the voting rights of U.S. citizens of certain ethnic groups whose command of the English language may be limited. The Department of Justice (DOJ) enforces these provisions, and the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) serves as a national clearinghouse for election information and procedures. The Fann… more
Date: January 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Embassy Security: Upgrades Have Enhanced Security, but Site Conditions Prevent Full Adherence to Standards

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Following the 1998 embassy bombings, the Department of State (State) determined that more than 85 percent of diplomatic facilities did not meet security standards and were vulnerable to terrorist attacks. State's Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has undertaken a program to replace or upgrade the security of these facilities. As of 2007, OBO had constructed more than 50 new embassies and mov… more
Date: January 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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United Nations Peacekeeping: Challenges Obtaining Needed Resources Could Limit Further Large Deployments and Should Be Addressed in U.S. Reports to Congress

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The United Nations (UN) supports U.S. interests in maintaining international security by deploying and operating 16 peacekeeping operations in locations in conflict, including Darfur, Lebanon, and Haiti. Over the past 10 years, the number of deployed UN personnel increased from about 41,000 peacekeepers and civilian staff to about 109,000 in 2008. In this report on the UN's capacity to deploy further op… more
Date: December 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Bankruptcy: Judiciary Should Take Further Steps to Make Bankruptcy Data More Accessible

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "There have been long-standing questions about a lack of comprehensive and reliable information on consumer bankruptcies. The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (Bankruptcy Reform Act) required the federal judiciary's Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) to collect and report certain additional bankruptcy statistics and required the U.S. Trustee Program, which ove… more
Date: December 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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International Climate Change Programs: Lessons Learned from the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme and the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "International policies to address climate change have largely relied on market-based programs; for example, under the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) phase I (2005 to 2007) carbon dioxide emissions reductions were sought by setting a cap on each member state's allowable emissions and distributing tradable allowances to covered entities, such as power plants. Beginning operation in 2002, … more
Date: November 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Entitlement Reform Process: Other Countries' Experiences Provide Useful Insights for the United States

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Looking to the future, our nation faces large and growing structural deficits and escalating federal debt due primarily to rising health care costs and known demographic trends. Slowing the growth of entitlements is an essential part of the solution to these challenges. GAO was asked to identify useful insights from the entitlement reform processes in other countries. Specifically, GAO was asked to anal… more
Date: January 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Indian Health Service: IHS Mismanagement Led to Millions of Dollars in Lost or Stolen Property

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In June 2007, GAO received information from a whistleblower through GAO's FraudNET hotline alleging millions of dollars in lost and stolen property and gross mismanagement of property at Indian Health Service (IHS), an operating division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). GAO was asked to conduct a forensic audit and related investigations to (1) determine whether GAO could substantia… more
Date: June 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Voluntary Organizations: FEMA Should More Fully Assess Organization's Mass Care Capabilities and Update the Red Cross Role in Catastrophic Events

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Voluntary organizations have traditionally played a major role in the nation's response to disasters, but the response to Hurricane Katrina raised concerns about their ability to handle large-scale disasters. This report examines (1) the roles of five voluntary organizations in providing mass care and other services, (2) the steps they have taken to improve service delivery, (3) their current capabiliti… more
Date: September 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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United Nations Peacekeeping: Lines of Authority for Field Procurement Remain Unclear, but Reforms Have Addressed Some Issues

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The United States is the largest financial contributor to United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations--providing about $1.4 billion in 2008 (about 26 percent of the total UN peacekeeping assessed budget)--and has a strong interest in the efficient and effective management of these operations. The size and scope of UN peacekeeping has significantly increased over the past several years and the UN has pur… more
Date: September 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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HUD and Treasury Programs: More Information on Leverage Measures' Accuracy and Linkage to Program Goals Is Needed in Assessing Performance

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This is the second of two reports on the leveraging of federal funds in housing and community and economic development programs. Leveraging involves using a source of funds to attract other funds or combining multiple sources of funds. This report examines (1) the leverage measures and the transparency of the data and methods used to calculate them, and (2) the relevance of such measures in assessing pe… more
Date: January 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Disaster Recovery: FEMA's Public Assistance Grant Program Experienced Challenges with Gulf Coast Rebuilding

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The devastation caused by the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes presented the nation with unprecedented rebuilding challenges. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) grant program is a key tool for providing funds to support recovery, including rebuilding public schools, roads, and utilities. GAO was asked to examine the amount of PA grants FEMA has provided for rebuilding the … more
Date: December 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Rural Economic Development: Collaboration between SBA and USDA Could Be Improved

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Rural Development offices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture both work in rural areas to foster economic development by promoting entrepreneurship and community development. This report discusses (1) the complementary nature of some SBA and Rural Development programs and the extent to which it provides a rationale for the agencies to collaborate, (2) pa… more
Date: September 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Air Traffic Control: FAA Uses Earned Value Techniques to Help Manage Information Technology Acquisitions, but Needs to Clarify Policy and Strengthen Oversight

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In fiscal year 2008, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to spend over $2 billion on information technology (IT) investments--many of which support FAA's air traffic control modernization. To more effectively manage such investments, in 2005 the Office of Management and Budget required agencies to use earned value management (EVM). EVM is a project management approach that, if implemented ap… more
Date: July 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Inspectors General: Actions Needed to Improve Audit Coverage of NASA

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "GAO was asked to review the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) and provide information on (1) the audit and investigative coverage of NASA; (2) the NASA OIG's audit and investigative accomplishments; (3) the NASA OIG's budget and staffing levels, including staff attrition rates; and (4) the results of external reviews of the NASA OIG. GAO obtained info… more
Date: December 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation: Some Steps Have Been Taken to Improve Contracting, but a More Strategic Approach is Needed

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) insures the pensions of more than 44 million workers in over 30,000 employer-sponsored defined benefit pension plans. In response to growing workloads, PBGC has come to rely heavily on contractors to conduct its work. GAO was asked to report on (1) the role that contracting plays in PBGC's efforts to accomplish its mission, (2) the steps PBGC has taken to … more
Date: August 18, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Financing Recovery from Large-Scale Natural Disasters

Description: Two important issues before Congress are (1) securing the nation's capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover/rebuild from natural catastrophe events, and (2) determining whether and how the federal government should intervene in catastrophe insurance markets. This report focuses on this issue at length, taking into consideration the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2004 and 2005; a sequence of tornadoes, wildfire, earthquakes, Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, and the 2008 Midwestern floods; and the fi… more
Date: November 18, 2008
Creator: King, Rawle O.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Senate Committee Party Ratios: 94th - 110th Congresses

Description: This report provides an overview of Senate standing committee sizes and ratios for the 94th and 110th Congresses. Also included are data on permanent select committees with legislative jurisdiction. A table for each Congress shows the party division in the Senate, total number of seats on each committee, number of seats assigned to the majority and minority parties, and, where present, number of seats assigned to independents. The tables also provide the number of majority-minority caucus seat … more
Date: November 18, 2008
Creator: Tong, Lorraine H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Kyrgyzstan: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests

Description: This report examines Kyrgyzstan's uneven political and economic reform efforts. It discusses U.S. policy and assistance for democratization and other programs. Basic facts and biographical information are provided. Related products include CRS Report RL33458, Central Asia: Regional Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests, by Jim Nichol.
Date: June 18, 2008
Creator: Nichol, Jim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Brief Summaries of Federal Animal Protection Statutes

Description: This report contains summaries of federal animal protection statutes, listed alphabetically. It does not include treaties, although it does include statutes enacted to implement treaties. It includes statutes concerning animals that are not entirely, or not at all, animal protection statutes. For example, it includes a statute authorizing the eradication of predators, because one of the statute's purposes is to protect domestic and "game" animals; and it includes statutes to conserve fish, alth… more
Date: December 18, 2008
Creator: Cohen, Henry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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A Virtual Engineering Framework for Simulating Advanced Power System

Description: In this report is described the work effort performed to provide NETL with VE-Suite based Virtual Engineering software and enhanced equipment models to support NETL's Advanced Process Engineering Co-simulation (APECS) framework for advanced power generation systems. Enhancements to the software framework facilitated an important link between APECS and the virtual engineering capabilities provided by VE-Suite (e.g., equipment and process visualization, information assimilation). Model enhancemen… more
Date: June 18, 2008
Creator: Bockelie, Mike; Swensen, Dave; Denison, Martin & Borodai, Stanislav
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Enhancing the DNA Patent Database

Description: Final Report on Award No. DE-FG0201ER63171 Principal Investigator: LeRoy B. Walters February 18, 2008 This project successfully completed its goal of surveying and reporting on the DNA patenting and licensing policies at 30 major U.S. academic institutions. The report of survey results was published in the January 2006 issue of Nature Biotechnology under the title “The Licensing of DNA Patents by US Academic Institutions: An Empirical Survey.” Lori Pressman was the lead author on this feature a… more
Date: February 18, 2008
Creator: Walters, LeRoy B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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