173 Matching Results

Search Results

Results: 1 - 24 next
open access

The Federal Food Safety System: A Primer

Description: The combined efforts of the food industry and the regulatory agencies often are credited with making the U.S. food supply among the safest in the world. Nonetheless, many food-related health issues persist. At issue is whether the current U.S. regulatory system has the resources and structural organization to protect consumers from these dangers. Also at issue is whether the federal food safety laws themselves, first enacted in the early 1900s, have kept pace with the significant changes that h… more
Date: September 22, 2010
Creator: Johnson, Renée
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Army Working Capital Fund: Army Faces Challenges in Managing Working Capital Fund Cash Balance during Wartime Environment

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Army Working Capital Fund (AWCF) collected over $16 billion for goods and services provided to customers in fiscal year 2009. Cash generated from sales is used by AWCF to cover its expenses such as paying employees. In light of the Army's changing role in the Middle East, GAO was asked to determine whether (1) AWCF's monthly cash balances fell within the Department of Defense's (DOD) cash requiremen… more
Date: June 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Veterans Affairs: Health Care and Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange

Description: This report provides an overview of health care services and disability compensation benefits available to Vietnam veterans, Children of Vietnam Era veterans, and non-Vietnam veterans exposed to herbicides. This is followed by a discussion of litigation pertaining to Navy veterans of the Vietnam Era who served offshore and were never physically present on Vietnamese soil. The report concludes with a discussion of epidemiologic research conducted to study the health effects of Agent Orange and d… more
Date: September 22, 2010
Creator: Panangala, Sidath Viranga & Weimer, Douglas Reid
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

NASA: Medium Launch Transition Strategy Leverages Ongoing Investments but Is Not Without Risk

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has long relied on the Delta II medium class launch vehicle to launch science missions. Delta II, however, is no longer in production, and no other vehicle in the relative cost and performance range is currently certified for NASA use. Thus, NASA faces a potential gap in the availability of medium class launch vehicles that could cause design chal… more
Date: November 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Public Transit Security Information Sharing: DHS Could Improve Information Sharing through Streamlining and Increased Outreach

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is committed to sharing information with public transit agencies. The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act directed GAO to report on public transit information sharing. This report describes (1) the primary mechanisms used to share security information with public transit agencies; and eval… more
Date: September 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Unauthorized Alien Students: Issues and "DREAM Act" Legislation

Description: Supporters of comprehensive immigration reform have urged the President and Congress to pursue reform legislation. While legislative action on comprehensive reform does not appear likely during the remainder of the 111th Congress, there may be an effort to enact a measure, commonly referred to as the "DREAM Act," to enable certain unauthorized alien students to legalize their status. Multiple bills have been introduced in recent Congresses to address the unauthorized student population. This re… more
Date: September 22, 2010
Creator: Bruno, Andorra
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Securities and Exchange Commission: Action Needed to Improve Rating Agency Registration Program and Performance-Related Disclosures

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In 2006, Congress passed the Credit Rating Agency Reform Act (Act), which intended to improve credit ratings by fostering accountability, transparency, and competition. The Act established Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) oversight over Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSRO), which are credit rating agencies that are registered with SEC. The Act requires GAO to review the… more
Date: September 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Coast Guard Deepwater Acquisition Programs: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress

Description: The term Deepwater refers to a collection of more than a dozen Coast Guard acquisition programs for replacing and modernizing the service's aging fleet of deepwater-capable ships and aircraft. Currently, there are plans to increase and enhance the Coast Guard's fleet through the Deepwater acquisition program. This report details the Coast Guard's budget requests and explains how the Coast Guard has improved its organization and management over the past several years.
Date: October 22, 2010
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Financial Regulation: Clearer Goals and Reporting Requirements Could Enhance Efforts by CFTC and SEC to Harmonize Their Regulatory Approaches

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The conference report accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 directed GAO to assess the joint report of the (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on harmonization of their regulatory approaches. In October 2009, CFTC and SEC issued this report in response to the Department of the Treasury's recommendation that the two agencies assess conflicts in their rules and sta… more
Date: April 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Federal Aviation Administration: Agency Is Taking Steps to Plan for and Train Its Technician Workforce, but a More Strategic Approach Is Warranted

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Since 2006, air traffic control (ATC) equipment outages and failures at Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) facilities have caused hundreds of flight delays and raised questions about FAA's maintenance capabilities. About 6,100 technicians maintain FAA's current (legacy) facilities and equipment and will be responsible for the Next Generation (NextGen) technologies planned for the next 15 years. Safe … more
Date: October 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Servicemember Reemployment: Agencies Are Generally Timely in Processing Redress Complaints, but Improvements Needed in Maintaining Data and Reporting

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) protects the employment and reemployment rights of individuals who leave their employment to perform uniformed service. Concerned with the timeliness of USERRA complaint processing and data reliability of agency reports, Congress imposed timeliness requirements for the Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Justice (DOJ), a… more
Date: October 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Building Security: New Federal Standards Hold Promise, But Could Be Strengthened to Better Protect Leased Space

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The federal government's reliance on leased space underscores the need to physically secure this space and help safeguard employees, visitors, and government assets. In April 2010 the Interagency Security Committee (ISC), comprised of 47 federal agencies and departments and chaired by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), issued Physical Security Criteria for Federal Facilities (the 2010 standards)… more
Date: September 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Sudan Divestment: U.S. Investors Sold Assets but Could Benefit from Increased Disclosure Regarding Companies' Ties to Sudan

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Recognizing the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan, Congress enacted the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (SADA) in 2007. This law supports U.S. states' and investment companies' decisions to divest from companies with certain business ties to Sudan. It also seeks to prohibit federal contracting with these companies. GAO was asked to (1) identify actions that U.S. state fund managers and invest… more
Date: June 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Energy Employees Compensation: Additional Independent Oversight and Transparency Would Improve Program's Credibility

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Congress passed the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) in 2000 to compensate Department of Energy (Energy) workers for illnesses stemming from exposure to hazardous substances while working in the atomic weapons industry. Part B of the act provides a lump-sum payment and medical coverage for certain illnesses, while Part E compensates for impairments and lost wages … more
Date: March 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Child Care and Development Fund: Undercover Tests Show Five State Programs Are Vulnerable to Fraud and Abuse

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) subsidizes child care for low-income families whose parents work or attend education or training programs. In fiscal year 2009, the CCDF budget was $7 billion. States are responsible for determining program priorities and overseeing funds. Providers--who range from child care centers to relatives--… more
Date: September 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Border Security: Better Usage of Electronic Passport Security Features Could Improve Fraud Detection

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In 2005, the Department of State (State) began issuing electronic passports (e-passports) with embedded computer chips that store information identical to that printed in the passport. By agreement with State, the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) produces blank e-passport books. Two foreign companies are used by GPO to produce e-passport covers, including the computer chips embedded in them. At U.S… more
Date: January 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Military Personnel: Sustained Leadership and Oversight Needed to Improve DOD's Prevention and Treatment of Domestic Abuse

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In 2001, the Deputy Secretary of Defense stated that domestic violence will not be tolerated in the Department of Defense (DOD). Despite this posture, DOD's clinical database indicates that 8,223 incidents met criteria for domestic abuse in fiscal year 2009. However, because this database includes only cases reported to military clinical offices, it does not represent all cases. In response to a congres… more
Date: September 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Best Practices: DOD Can Achieve Better Outcomes by Standardizing the Way Manufacturing Risks Are Managed

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Cost growth and schedule delays are prevalent problems in acquiring defense weapon systems. Manufacturing systems has proven difficult, particularly as programs transition to production. In December 2008, the Department of Defense (DOD) issued an updated version of its acquisition policy that reflects earlier consideration of manufacturing risks. A joint defense and industry group developed manufacturin… more
Date: April 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Inspectors General: Continued Actions Needed to Strengthen IG Oversight of the United States International Trade Commission

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Inspectors general (IG) are to provide independent and objective oversight; however, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) has relied on acting and temporary IGs for an extended period of time. GAO was asked to determine (1) the extent of oversight provided by the USITC IG, (2) the budget and staffing resources available for oversight, and (3) how the role of the IG is addressed in th… more
Date: October 22, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Advance Appropriations, Forward Funding, and Advance Funding

Description: pppropriations acts generally make budget authority (or BA) available for use (or obligation) at the start of the fiscal year covered by the act. Sometimes appropriations bills provide a different date for specified budget authority within the act to become first available so that the funding cycle does not coincide with the fiscal year generally covered by the act. There are three types of this kind of budget authority: advance appropriations, forward funding, and advance funding.
Date: November 22, 2010
Creator: Streeter, Sandy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

International Parental Child Abductions

Description: International child custody disputes are likely to increase in frequency as the global society becomes more integrated and mobile. Since 1988, the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction ("Hague Convention" or "Convention") has been the principal mechanism for enforcing the return of abducted children to the United States. This report will discuss the applicability of the Hague Convention and current U.S. laws, both civil and criminal, which seek to address the qu… more
Date: November 22, 2010
Creator: Smith, Alison M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Algeria: Current Issues

Description: The focus of this report is Algeria, a country in North Africa that is increasingly important for U.S. efforts to counter international terrorism as a key partner in the fight against Al Qaeda linked groups. As an energy producer, it also is a significant source of natural gas for the United States and not a major recipient of U.S. aid. This report discusses Algeria's current political conditions and Algeria-related U.S. policy.
Date: November 22, 2010
Creator: Migdalovitz, Carol
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The U.S. Oil Refining Industry: Background in Changing Markets and Fuel Policies

Description: This report begins by looking at the current production capacity of the oil refineries operating in the United States, and the sources and changes in crude oil supply. It then examines the changing characteristics of petroleum and petroleum product markets and identifies the effects of these changes on the refining industry. The report concludes with discussion of the policy and regulatory factors that are likely to affect the structure and performance of the industry during the next decade.
Date: November 22, 2010
Creator: Andrews, Anthony; Pirog, Robert & Sherlock, Molly F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

Description: Much of the debate over U.S. policy toward Iran has centered on the nature of the current regime; some believe that Iran, a country of about 70 million people, is a threat to U.S. interests because hardliners in Iran's regime dominate and set a policy direction intended to challenge U.S. influence and allies in the region. President George W. Bush, in his January 29, 2002, State of the Union message, labeled Iran part of an "axis of evil" along with Iraq and North Korea. This report discusses h… more
Date: September 22, 2010
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Back to Top of Screen