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U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Performance Management Processes

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Commerce's U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) grants patents that protect innovations ranging from new treatments for diseases to new wireless technology applications. Over the last several years, increases in both the volume and complexity of patent applications have lengthened the time between when an application is submitted and when a final decision is made--referred to as pa… more
Date: September 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Group Purchasing Organizations: Services Provided to Customers and Initiatives Regarding Their Business Practices

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Health care providers rely on group purchasing organizations (GPO) to negotiate contracts with vendors of medical products. In 2002, questions were raised about GPOs engaging in potentially anticompetitive business practices such as collecting excessively high contract administrative fees. In 2003, GAO reported that selected GPOs had adopted or revised codes of conduct to respond to the questions about … more
Date: August 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies

Description: This list of about 150 congressional liaison offices is intended to help congressional offices in placing telephone calls and addressing correspondence to government agencies. In each case, the information was supplied by the agency itself and is current as of the date of publication. Entries are arranged alphabetically in four sections: legislative branch; judicial branch; executive branch; and agencies, boards, and commissions.
Date: September 24, 2010
Creator: Crane-Hirsch, Audrey Celeste
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Climate Change: Observations on Options for Selling Emissions Allowances in a Cap-and-Trade Program

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Congress is considering proposals for market-based programs to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Many proposals involve creating a cap-and-trade program, in which an overall emissions cap is set and entities covered by the program must hold tradable permits--or "allowances"-- to cover their emissions. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the value of these allowances could total $300 billio… more
Date: February 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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State and Local Government Pension Plans: Governance Practices and Long-term Investment Strategies Have Evolved Gradually as Plans Take On Increased Investment Risk

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Recent market declines have significantly diminished the asset value of state and local pension plans. Reported unfunded liabilities for these plans are estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars. As a result, in the long term, these governments may need to make significant fiscal adjustments such as modifying employee benefits, or increasing contributions to plans. They may also alter investment … more
Date: August 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Maritime Security: Actions Needed to Assess and Update Plan and Enhance Collaboration among Partners Involved in Countering Piracy off the Horn of Africa

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Somali pirates operating off the Horn of Africa have attacked more than 450 ships and taken nearly 2,400 hostages since 2007. A small number of U.S.-flagged vessels and ships have been among those affected. As Somalia lacks a functioning government and is unable to repress piracy in its waters, the National Security Council (NSC) developed the interagency Countering Piracy off the Horn of Africa: Partne… more
Date: September 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Defense Infrastructure: Army Needs to Improve Its Facility Planning Systems to Better Support Installations Experiencing Significant Growth

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Army is concurrently implementing several major force structure and basing initiatives, including Base Realignment and Closure, Grow the Force, and Army Modularity. The resulting large increase in personnel associated with these initiatives at many installations has required and will continue to require significant facility planning and construction to meet needs. GAO was asked to (1) describe the A… more
Date: June 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Recovery Act: Officials' Views Vary on Impacts of Davis-Bacon Act Prevailing Wage Provision

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) has the broad purpose of stimulating the economy. It includes substantial appropriations for construction projects that, under the act's prevailing wage provision, are subject to Davis-Bacon Act requirements. That is, contractors must pay laborers and mechanics who work on those projects at least the prevailing wage rates set for their lo… more
Date: February 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Nonprime Mortgages: Analysis of Loan Performance, Factors Associated with Defaults, and Data Sources

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The surge in mortgage foreclosures that began in late 2006 and continues today was initially driven by deterioration in the performance of nonprime (subprime and Alt-A) loans. Nonprime mortgage originations increased dramatically from 2000 through 2006, rising from about 12 percent ($125 billion) of all mortgage originations to about 34 percent ($1 trillion). The nonprime market contracted sharply in mi… more
Date: August 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Animal Welfare: USDA's Oversight of Dealers of Random Source Dogs and Cats Would Benefit from Additional Management Information and Analysis

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "For decades, the public has been concerned that lost or stolen dogs and cats could be used in research. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for the licensing and oversight of dealers who provide animals for research. Random source Class B dealers--who generally obtain dogs and cats for research from individuals, pounds, and other … more
Date: September 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Business Systems Modernization: Scope and Content of DOD's Congressional Report and Executive Oversight of Investments Need to Improve

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Since 1995, GAO has designated the Department of Defense's (DOD) multibillion dollar business systems modernization program as high risk, and it continues to do so today. To assist in addressing DOD's modernization challenges, the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (the act) requires the department to, among other things, report specific information about business s… more
Date: May 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Tax Debt Collection: IRS Could Improve Future Studies by Establishing Appropriate Guidance

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In September 2006, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) started the private debt collection (PDC) program for using private collection agencies (PCA) to help collect some unpaid tax debts. Aware of concerns that PCAs might cost more than using IRS staff, IRS began studying the collection costs and performance of PCAs and IRS. In March 2009, IRS announced that it would not renew its PCA contracts based on … more
Date: September 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Alien Smuggling: DHS Needs to Better Leverage Investigative Resources and Measure Program Performance along the Southwest Border

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Alien smuggling along the southwest border is a threat to the security of the United States and Mexico. Within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Office of Investigations (OI)--part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)--is the primary federal agency responsible for investigating alien smuggling along the southwest border. As requested, this report addresses, for the southwest bo… more
Date: May 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Guinea: Background and Relations with the United States

Description: This report discusses the current political conditions in Guinea, as well as the considerable changes to Guinea's political landscape that have taken place over the past two years. The report also discusses U.S. interests and associated policy challenges in Guinea, centering around democratization, counternarcotics issues, regional stability, and socioeconomic development, among other issues.
Date: November 24, 2010
Creator: Arieff, Alexis & Cook, Nicolas
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Special Order Speeches and Other Forms of Non-Legislative Debate in the House

Description: This report briefly discusses non-legislative debate in the House of Representatives, specifically special order speeches, one-minute speeches, and morning hour debate. The purpose of these practices is to permit Members to address the House for specified durations and at specified times of their own choosing, outside the consideration of legislative business.
Date: November 24, 2010
Creator: Palmer, Betsy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Sponsorship and Cosponsorship of House Bills

Description: This report briefly discusses the processes of sponsoring, cosponsoring, and gaining cosponsors for bills in the House of Representatives.
Date: November 24, 2010
Creator: Palmer, Betsy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Leaving Congress: House of Representatives and Senate Departures Data Since 198

Description: Members of Congress leave the House or Senate for a variety of reasons; these may include resignation, death, or chamber action during a Congress, and retirement, electoral defeat, or pursuit of another office at the end of a Congress. This report discusses the number of Senators and Members of the House of Representatives who have left before the conclusion of a Congress since 1989.
Date: September 24, 2010
Creator: Manning, Jennifer E.; Reynolds, Parker H. & Petersen, R. Eric
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Trade Preferences: Economic Issues and Policy Options

Description: Since 1974, Congress has created multiple trade preference programs designed to foster economic growth and development in less developed countries. Congress conducts regular oversight of these programs, often revising and extending them. This report discusses the major U.S. trade preference programs, their possible economic effects, stakeholder interests, and legislative options.
Date: September 24, 2010
Creator: Jones, Vivian C.; Hornbeck, J. F. & Villarreal, M. Angeles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Energy's Water Demand: Trends, Vulnerabilities, and Management

Description: The nation's energy choices embody many tradeoffs. Water use is one of those tradeoffs. The energy choices before Congress represent vastly different demands on domestic freshwater. The energy sector's water consumption is projected to rise 50% from 2005 to 2030. This rising water demand derives from both an increase in the amount of energy demanded and shifts to more water-intense energy sources and technologies. This report discusses this issue as well as related issues that may arise for the… more
Date: November 24, 2010
Creator: Carter, Nicole T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Humanitarian Assistance: Status of North Korean Refugee Resettlement and Asylum in the United States

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Famine killed hundreds of thousands of North Koreans in the 1990s and compelled a large number of others to leave in search of food, economic opportunities, and escape from a repressive regime. This migration continues. Some North Koreans seek resettlement in other countries, such as South Korea and the United States. To promote a more durable humanitarian solution to the plight of North Korean refugees… more
Date: June 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Water and Sanitation Aid: Millions of Beneficiaries Reported in Developing Countries, but Department of State Needs to Strengthen Strategic Approach

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 (the Act) made access to safe water and sanitation for developing countries a U.S. foreign assistance policy objective. The United States provides such assistance mainly through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Act requires the Secretary of State to develop a water and sanitation assistance strategy with the Administrator of… more
Date: September 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Troubled Asset Relief Program: Further Actions Needed to Fully and Equitably Implement Foreclosure Mitigation Programs

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Congress created the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to, among other things, preserve homeownership and protect home values. In March 2009, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) announced the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) as its cornerstone effort to achieve these goals. This report examines (1) the extent to which HAMP servicers have treated borrowers consistently and (2) th… more
Date: June 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Tax Gap: IRS Can Improve Efforts to Address Tax Evasion by Networks of Businesses and Related Entities

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "A taxpayer can control a group of related entities--such as trusts, corporations, or partnerships--in a network. These networks can serve a variety of legitimate business purposes, but they also can be used in complex tax evasion schemes that are difficult for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to identify. GAO was asked to (1) describe what IRS knows about network tax evasion and how well IRS's traditi… more
Date: September 24, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Intelligence Estimates: How Useful to Congress?

Description: National Intelligence Estimates (NIEs) are often of considerable interest to many Members of Congress. NIEs address issues of major national security importance which may require congressional action. However, NIEs have occasionally proved unreliable because they were based on insufficient evidence or contained faulty analysis. This report explores this issue and discusses the NIE process and its relevance to congressional policymaking.
Date: November 24, 2010
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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