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Tax Preparer Regulation: IRS Needs a Documented Framework to Achieve Goal of Improving Taxpayer Compliance

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Paid preparers prepare about 60 percent of all tax returns filed, and their actions significantly affect the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) ability to administer tax laws. Previously, GAO found that some preparers made significant errors in preparing tax returns and proposed stricter regulation of preparers. IRS is implementing new requirements for paid preparers that it believes will increase tax com… more
Date: March 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Border Security: DHS's Visa Security Program Needs to Improve Performance Evaluation and Better Address Visa Risk Worldwide

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Since 2003, the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Visa Security Program (VSP) has participated in the visa process by reviewing applications at some embassies and consulates, with the intention of preventing individuals who pose a threat from entering the United States. The attempted bombing of an airline on December 25, 2009, renewed concerns about the security of the visa process and the effecti… more
Date: March 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Refugee Assistance: Little Is Known about the Effectiveness of Different Approaches for Improving Refugees' Employment Outcomes

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In fiscal year 2009, the United States resettled close to 70,000 refugees fleeing persecution in their homelands. To assist in their transition to the United States and help them attain employment, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) provides temporary cash, medical, and other assistance through four different assistance programs. The economic downturn and an… more
Date: March 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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For-Profit Schools: Experiences of Undercover Students Enrolled in Online Classes at Selected Colleges

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Once comprised of local, sole-proprietor ownership, the nation's for-profit institutions now range from small, privately owned schools to publicly traded corporations. Enrollment in such colleges has grown far faster than in traditional higher-education institutions. Moreover, during the 2009-2010 school year, for-profit colleges received almost $32 billion in grants and loans provided to students under… more
Date: October 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Medicaid: Improving Responsiveness of Federal Assistance to States during Economic Downturns

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In response to the most recent U.S. recession, from December 2007 to June 2009, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). To help states maintain their Medicaid programs and provide states with general fiscal relief, the Recovery Act temporarily increased the federal share of Medicaid funding for states. The federal funding states receive for Medicaid is determin… more
Date: March 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Medicare Advantage: Enrollment Increased from 2010 to 2011 while Premiums Decreased and Benefit Packages Were Stable

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Enrollment and spending in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans--the private plan alternative to the Medicare fee-for- service (FFS) program--have more than doubled since 2004. MA plans generally receive larger payments from Medicare than what these plans would require to provide the original Medicare FFS benefit package. Plans must use this additional money to reduce cost sharing, reduce premiums, and offer a… more
Date: October 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Financial Management: NOAA Needs to Better Document Its Policies and Procedures for Providing Management and Administration Services

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a bureau within the Department of Commerce (Commerce). To help achieve NOAA's program goals, it relies on management and administration (M&A) services, such as legal support and information technology. In response to the fiscal year 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act Conference Report, GAO (1) examined how NOAA's M&A services are funded, (2… more
Date: January 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Rail Transit: FTA Programs Are Helping Address Transit Agencies' Safety Challenges, but Improved Performance Goals and Measures Could Better Focus Efforts

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Although transit service is generally safe, recent high-profile accidents on several large rail transit systems--notably the June 2009 collision in Washington, D.C., that resulted in nine fatalities and 52 injuries--have raised concerns. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) oversees state agencies that directly oversee rail transit agencies' safety practices. FTA also provides assistance to transit … more
Date: January 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Biosurveillance: Nonfederal Capabilities Should Be Considered in Creating a National Biosurveillance Strategy

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The nation is at risk for a catastrophic biological event. The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act directed GAO to report on biosurveillance--to help detect and respond to such events--at multiple jurisdictional levels. In June 2010, GAO recommended that the National Security Staff lead the development of a national biosurveillance strategy, which is now under development. This repor… more
Date: October 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Pediatric Research: Products Studied under Two Related Laws, but Improved Tracking Needed by FDA

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In 2007, Congress reauthorized two laws, the Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA) and the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA). PREA requires that sponsors conduct pediatric studies for certain products unless the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants a waiver or deferral. Sponsors submit studies to FDA in applications for review. BPCA is volunt… more
Date: May 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Veterans' Health Care: VA Uses a Projection Model to Develop Most of Its Health Care Budget Estimate to Inform the President's Budget Request

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) health care is determined by Congress in the annual appropriations process. Prior to this process, VA develops a budget estimate of the resources needed to provide health care services to eligible veterans. The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 requires GAO to assess whether the funding requested for VA health care in the… more
Date: January 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Defined Contribution Plans: Key Information on Target Date Funds as Default Investments Should Be Provided to Plan Sponsors and Participants

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "To promote the adoption of appropriate default investments by retirement plans that automatically enroll workers, in 2007 the Department of Labor (DOL) identified three qualified default investment alternatives. One of these options--target date funds (TDF)--has emerged as by far the most popular default investment. TDFs are designed to provide an age-appropriate asset allocation for plan participants o… more
Date: January 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Hearing Loss Prevention: Improvements to DOD Hearing Conservation Programs Could Lead to Better Outcomes

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Exposure to hazardous noise can have negative implications for both servicemember health and readiness. Moreover, in fiscal year 2009, some of the most common impairments for veterans receiving Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits were hearing related, as annual payments for such conditions exceeded $1.1 billion. To examine Department of Defense (DOD) efforts to prevent hearing loss, GAO is reporti… more
Date: January 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Combating Child Pornography: Steps Are Needed to Ensure That Tips to Law Enforcement Are Useful and Forensic Examinations Are Cost Effective

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Justice (DOJ) reports that online child pornography crime has increased. DOJ funds the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which maintains the CyberTipline to receive child pornography tips. The Providing Resources, Officers, and Technology To Eradicate Cyber Threats to Our Children Act of 2008 (the Act) contains provisions to facilitate these investigations and… more
Date: March 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Climate Monitoring: NOAA Can Improve Management of the U.S. Historical Climatology Network

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) maintains a network of weather-monitoring stations known as the U.S. Historical Climatology Network (USHCN), which monitors the nation's climate and analyzes long-term surface temperature trends. Recent reports have shown that some stations in the USHCN are not sited in accordance with NOAA's standards, which state that temperature instruments s… more
Date: August 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Tennessee Valley Authority: Full Consideration of Energy Efficiency and Better Capital Expenditures Planning Are Needed

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the nation's largest public power provider, is a self-financing, federal electric utility with annual revenues of about $11 billion. TVA has financed large capital investments mostly by issuing debt and is subject to a $30 billion debt ceiling imposed by the TVA Act. TVA is governed by a 9-member Board. Within an affirmation requirement for the TVA Board, the TVA Ac… more
Date: October 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Suspension and Debarment: Some Agency Programs Need Greater Attention, and Governmentwide Oversight Could Be Improved

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The federal government spent more than $535 billion on contracted goods and services in fiscal year 2010. One tool for ensuring that agencies are only awarding contracts to responsible sources is the use of suspensions and debarments--actions taken by agencies to exclude firms or individuals from receiving federal contracts or assistance based on various types of misconduct. This report analyzed (1) the… more
Date: August 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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VA Real Property: Realignment Progressing, but Greater Transparency about Future Priorities Is Needed

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has undertaken various planning efforts to realign its real property portfolio, including the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES), creation of a 5-year capital plan, and its newest effort, the Strategic Capital Investment Planning process (SCIP). Through these efforts, VA has identified numerous real property priorities it believes should be co… more
Date: January 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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State and Local Governments: Knowledge of Past Recessions Can Inform Future Federal Fiscal Assistance

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The most recent recession, which started in December 2007, is generally believed to be the worst economic downturn the country has experienced since the Great Depression. In response to this recession, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), which provided state and local governments with about $282 billion in fiscal assistance. The Recovery Act requires GAO to… more
Date: March 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Language and Culture Training: Opportunities Exist to Improve Visibility and Sustainment of Knowledge and Skills in Army and Marine Corps General Purpose Forces

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Department of Defense (DOD) has emphasized the importance of developing language skills and knowledge of foreign cultures to meet current and future needs and is investing millions of dollars to provide language and culture predeployment training to its general purpose forces. DOD has also noted that such training should be viewed as a long-term investment and that training and personnel systems sho… more
Date: October 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Israel's Offshore Natural Gas Discoveries Enhance Its Economic and Energy Outlook

Description: This report discusses Israel's historical dependence on energy imports, and the recent offshore natural gas discoveries that could possibly make Israel a prominent exporter of natural gas. This report also discusses how development of the recently discovered natural gas fields could affect Israel's economy and energy security, and how Israel may or may not consult with the U.S. or other natural gas producting countries while weighing its options.
Date: January 31, 2011
Creator: Ratner, Michael
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Key Indicator Systems: Experiences of Other National and Subnational Systems Offer Insights for the United States

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The U.S. has many indicators on a variety of topics such as the economy and health, but has no official vehicle for integrating and disseminating this information to better inform the nation about complex challenges. Diverse jurisdictions across the U.S. and internationally are integrating and disseminating this information through comprehensive key indicator systems. The Patient Protection and Affordab… more
Date: March 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Defense Biometrics: DOD Can Better Conform to Standards and Share Biometric Information with Federal Agencies

Description: A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Biometrics technologies that collect and facilitate the sharing of fingerprint records, and other identity data, are important to national security and federal agencies recognize the need to share such information. The Department of Defense (DOD) plans to spend $3.5 billion for fiscal years 2007 to 2015 on biometrics. GAO was asked to examine the extent to which DOD has (1) adopted standards and taken a… more
Date: March 31, 2011
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Interagency Collaborative Arrangements and Activities: Types, Rationales, Considerations

Description: This report examines formal interagency collaborative arrangements and activities, which are intended to enhance joint efforts and cooperation among independent federal agencies with shared responsibilities and overlapping jurisdictions.
Date: May 31, 2011
Creator: Kaiser, Frederick M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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