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Obama's
peace mission
by DAWN.com - Karachi,Pakistan
DAWN.com
While he promised 'aggressive' mediation after talks with Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday to push the peace process
forward, ...
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Record
stimulus budget passes Japan
from Japan News latest RSS headlines -
Big News Network.com
A record extra budget worth at 13.9 trillion yen (147 billion
U.S. dollars) was passed in Japan's parliament Friday, setting
to reverse the downward trend of the recession-hit economy. The
Japan's lar...
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China's
independently-developed jumbo jets to hit market around 2016
from China
China's independently-developed jumbo jets are expected to hit
the market around 2016, said Wang Wenbin, the assistant to the
general manager of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China.
Wang said the planes' maiden flights are scheduled to take place
between the end of 2014 and the middle of 2015, before hitting
the market around 2016. The appearance and shape of the planes
"will be the same as that seen in the Airbus A320 and Boeing
737", said the experts. The initial plan is for the ...
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German
government approves Magna, Opel deal
from Germany News latest RSS headlines
- Big News Network.com
View larger image Magna International Inc. Chairman Frank Stronach
talks during a news conference in front of the Chancellery in
Berlin, Thursday morning, May 28, 2009. (AP / Franka Bruns)
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Russia,
Japan agree on serious response to DPRK nuclear test
from Russia News latest RSS headlines -
Big News Network.com
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Japanese Prime Minister
Taro Aso have concurred on the need for a strong response to
the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea (DPRK...
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Navy's
Newest Front Line Leaders Readied for Fleet Responsibilities
from U.S. Navy News Headline Stories
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB) New Orleans conducted
a graduation and frocking ceremony for 14 new petty officers
May 29.
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NATO
ends Georgia war games
from ABC News: Breaking Stories
Nearly a month of controversial NATO military exercises are drawing
to an end in Georgia.
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Navy,
Marine Corps Environmental Leaders Honored
from U.S. Navy News Headline Stories
The assistant secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) for installations
and environment presented the annual Department of the Navy Environmental
Awards to 15 Navy and Marine Corps commands during a ceremony
in their honor May 29 at the Navy Memorial in Washington..
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Clinton
backs smart power to solve problems
by San Francisco Chronicle - CA, USA
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York University,
May 13 (To read the full text, go to links.sfgate.com/ZHFV.)
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Britain
renews call to Myanmar to release Suu Kyi
from AP Top International News At 5:48
a... by By VIJAY JOSHI
SINGAPORE (AP) -- Britain renewed its call for Myanmar's military
junta to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying Sunday
that people around the world support her and her followers' struggle
for democracy....
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U.S.,
Japan, S Korea reaffirm position on DPRK
from Japan News latest RSS headlines -
Big News Network.com
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates reaffirmed on May 30 that
the United States, Japan and South Korea, along with some other
countries, will strengthen cooperation to try to resolve the
Korean penins...
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Japanese
ambassador apologizes to ex-POWs
from Japan News latest RSS headlines -
Big News Network.com
WASHINGTON, May 30 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The Japanese ambassador
to the United States directly offered an apology Saturday to
a group of World War II veterans who were prisoners of the Imperial
Japanese...
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Japan
Apologizes for Bataan Death March
from Japan News latest RSS headlines -
Big News Network.com
The Japanese ambassador to the United States apologized in person
today to the 73 surviving POWs of the Bataan Death March in the
Philippines in April 1942 during World War II.
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Obama
moves to curb road-building in forests
from AP Top Science News At 5:42 a.m. EST
by By MATTHEW DALY
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration is ordering a one-year
moratorium on most road-building and other development on about
50 million acres of remote national forests....
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Gates:
Nuclear-armed N. Korea not acceptable
Posted: 09:35 AM ET
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, meets with other world
leaders at a conference Saturday in Singapore.
(CNN) — The United States will not accept North Korea as
a nuclear-armed state, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Saturday
at an international conference.
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Obama:
Sotomayor will serve the nation "with distinction"
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GAO-09-418,
IRS Management: IRS Practices Contribute to Its Resilience, but
It Would Benefit from Additional Emergency Planning Efforts,
April 9, 2009
from GAO Reports
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) collects the revenues that
fund the federal government and issues billions of dollars in
refunds. Consequently, IRS's ability to demonstrate agility and
speed in restoring its functions after a disruption is vital
to the government and the economy. GAO (1) identified the definition
and attributes of organizational resilience; (2) examined the
extent to which these attributes are exhibited within IRS; and
...
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GAO-09-274R,
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Secure Border Initiative
Fiscal Year 2009 Expenditure Plan, April 30, 2009
from GAO Reports
This letter formally transmits the summary of an oral briefing
we gave in response to a mandate in the Consolidated Security,
Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009,
and subsequent agency comments. This mandate required the Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) to prepare an expenditure plan that
satisfied 12 specified conditions, and for the plan to be submitted
to and approved by the House and Senate Appropriations ...
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GAO-09-405SP,
The Nation's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: March 2009 Update, April
30, 2009
from GAO Reports
The new President, the new Congress, and the American people
have been understandably focused on addressing problems with
financial markets and responding to the economic downturn. However,
the nation will need to apply the same level of intensity to
the nation's long-term fiscal challenge. As shown in the figure
below and the attached charts, GAO's updated simulations continue
to show escalating and persistent debt that illustrates the ...
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GAO-09-648T,
Space Acquisitions: Government and Industry Partners Face Substantial
Challenges in Developing New DOD Space Systems, April 30, 2009
from GAO Reports
Despite a growing investment in space, the majority of large-scale
acquisition programs in the Department of Defense's (DOD) space
portfolio have experienced problems during the past two decades
that have driven up cost and schedules and increased technical
risks. The cost resulting from acquisition problems along with
the ambitious nature of space programs have resulted in cancellations
of programs that were expected to require investments ...
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GAO-09-379,
Higher Education: Approaches to Attract and Fund International
Students in the United States and Abroad, April 30, 2009
from GAO Reports
Following September 11, 2001, the number of international students
coming to the United States dropped for the first time in over
30 years. While enrollments have rebounded, the U.S. image has
declined in the Muslim world and elsewhere. To improve global
attitudes toward America, the U.S. government funds higher education
for international students to facilitate exchanges, promote understanding
among peoples in different countries, and ...
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GAO-09-667T,
Health Resources and Services Administration: Many Underserved
Areas Lack a Health Center Site, and Data Are Needed on Service
Provision at Sites, April 30, 2009
from GAO Reports
Health centers funded through grants under the Health Center
Program--managed by the Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)--provide
comprehensive primary care services for the medically underserved.
The statement GAO is issuing today summarizes an August 2008
report, Health Resources and Services Administration: Many Underserved
Areas Lack a Health Center Site, and ...
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GAO-09-663T,
Defense Acquisitions: Charting a Course for Lasting Reform, April
30, 2009
from GAO Reports
Since 1990, GAO has designated the Department of Defense's (DOD)
management of its major weapon acquisitions as a high-risk area;
however DOD's problems delivering weapon systems on time, at
the estimated cost, in the planned amounts, and with the promised
performance go back decades. Congress and DOD have continually
explored ways to improve acquisition outcomes, yet problems persist.
The committee asked GAO to testify on measures needed ...
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GAO-09-256,
Military Personnel: Army Needs to Focus on Cost-Effective Use
of Financial Incentives and Quality Standards in Managing Force
Growth, May 4, 2009
from GAO Reports
To ease the pace of overseas deployments, the President announced
a plan in 2007 to grow the Army's end strength by about 7 percent
by 2013. GAO was asked to evaluate the Army's management of this
growth. Specifically, GAO determined the extent to which the
Army has (1) made progress in growing the force, (2) awarded
cost-effective bonuses to attract and retain enlistees, (3) maintained
the quality of its enlisted force, and (4) directed ...
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GAO-09-438R,
Graduate Medical Education: Trends in Training and Student Debt,
May 4, 2009
from GAO Reports
The federal government invests significantly in medical education
through various programs to help ensure that the anticipated
supply of new physicians meets the nation's health care needs.
Medicare, the federal health care program for elderly and certain
disabled people, subsidizes training for medical school graduates
in hospitals and other teaching institutions by helping to support
the increased costs associated with postgraduate medical ...
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GAO-09-672T,
Recovery Act: GAO's Efforts to Work with the Accountability Community
to Help Ensure Effective and Efficient Oversight, May 5, 2009
from GAO Reports
This testimony discusses GAO's efforts to coordinate with the
accountability community--the Recovery Accountability and Transparency
Board (the Board), the Inspectors General (IGs), and state and
local government auditors--to help ensure effective and efficient
oversight of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery
Act) funds. The Recovery Act assigns GAO a range of responsibilities
including bimonthly reviews of the use of funds ...
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GAO-09-661T,
Information Security: Cyber Threats and Vulnerabilities Place
Federal Systems at Risk, May 5, 2009
from GAO Reports
Information security is a critical consideration for any organization
that depends on information systems and computer networks to
carry out its mission or business. It is especially important
for government agencies, where maintaining the public's trust
is essential. The need for a vigilant approach to information
security has been demonstrated by the pervasive and sustained
computerbased (cyber) attacks against the United States and others
...
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GAO-09-681T,
State Department: Significant Vulnerabilities in the Passport
Issuance Process, May 5, 2008
from GAO Reports
This testimony highlights the results of our March 2009 report
on undercover investigative tests, which confirmed the continued
existence of significant fraud vulnerabilities in this process.
We also provided a letter to you in April 2009, describing our
recent work on passport fraud and summarizing actions the Department
of State (State) has taken to address the prior weaknesses related
to fraud vulnerabilities we identified. We have found ...
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GAO-09-358,
Securities and Exchange Commission: Greater Attention Needed
to Enhance Communication and Utilization of Resources in the
Division of Enforcement, March 31, 2009
from GAO Reports
The Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Division of Enforcement
(Enforcement) plays a key role in meeting the agency's mission
to protect investors and maintain fair and orderly markets. In
recent years, Enforcement has brought cases yielding record civil
penalties, but questions have been raised about its capacity
to manage its resources and fulfill its law enforcement and investor
protection responsibilities. GAO was asked to evaluate, ...
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GAO-09-599,
U.S. Postal Service: Intelligent Mail Benefits May Not Be Achieved
if Key Risks Are Not Addressed, May 6, 2009
from GAO Reports
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, Intelligent Mail is the most complex change ...
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GAO-09-373,
Financial Management: Achieving Financial Statement Auditability
in the Department of Defense, May 6, 2009
from GAO Reports
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, such as the Financial Improvement Initiative ...
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GAO-09-673T,
Architect of the Capitol: Plans for Renovating the Cannon House
Office Building and Garages, May 6, 2009
from GAO Reports
The Cannon House Office Building (Cannon Building)--completed
in 1908--and the East and West House Underground Garages (East
and West Garages)--built in 1968--have deteriorated over time
and will need to be repaired, according to assessments conducted
for the Architect of the Capitol (AOC). AOC plans to renovate
these three facilities over approximately the next 8 years as
part of a long-term effort to reduce maintenance backlogs and
execute ...
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GAO-09-372,
Insurance Reciprocity and Uniformity: NAIC and State Regulators
Have Made Progress in Producer Licensing, Product Approval, and
Market Conduct Regulation, but Challenges Remain, April ...
from GAO Reports
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 increase reciprocity and uniformity, the ...
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GAO-09-325,
Global Positioning System: Significant Challenges in Sustaining
and Upgrading Widely Used Capabilities, April 30, 2009
from GAO Reports
The Global Positioning System (GPS), which provides positioning,
navigation, and timing data to users worldwide, has become essential
to U.S. national security and a key tool in an expanding array
of public service and commercial applications at home and abroad.
The United States provides GPS data free of charge. The Air Force,
which is responsible for GPS acquisition, is in the process of
modernizing GPS. In light of the importance of ...
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GAO-09-571R,
Tax Administration: Possible Implications of Expanding Refund
Offset Provisions, May 7, 2009
from GAO Reports
Millions of federal taxpayers receive billions of dollars in
income tax refunds every year. Many of these refunds are paid
to taxpayers who owe money to the federal government or to their
state or local government. The law allows certain types of debts
to be collected through offsets of federal income tax refunds
before payments are issued to taxpayers--in calendar year 2008,
over $5 billion was deducted from income tax refunds and used
...
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GAO-09-677T,
Hedge Funds: Overview of Regulatory Oversight, Counterparty Risks,
and Investment Challenges, May 7, 2009
from GAO Reports
In 2008, GAO issued two reports on hedge funds--pooled investment
vehicles that are privately managed and often engage in active
trading of various types of securities and commodity futures
and options contracts--highlighting the need for continued regulatory
attention and for guidance to better inform pension plans on
the risks and challenges of hedge fund investments. Hedge funds
generally qualified for exemption from certain securities ...
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GAO-09-670T,
Global Positioning System: Significant Challenges in Sustaining
and Upgrading Widely Used Capabilities, May 7, 2009
from GAO Reports
The Global Positioning System (GPS), which provides position,
navigation, and timing data to users worldwide, has become essential
to U.S. national security and a key tool in an expanding array
of public service and commercial applications at home and abroad.
The United States provides GPS data free of charge. The Air Force,
which is responsible for GPS acquisition, is in the process of
modernizing GPS. In light of the importance of GPS, ...
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GAO-09-613T,
Securities and Exchange Commission: Greater Attention Is Needed
to Enhance Communication and Utilization of Resources in the
Division of Enforcement, May 7, 2009
from GAO Reports
In recent years, questions have been raised about the capacity
of the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Division of
Enforcement (Enforcement) to manage its resources and fulfill
its law enforcement and investor protection responsibilities.
This testimony focuses on (1) the extent to which Enforcement
has an appropriate mix of resources; (2) considerations affecting
penalty determinations, and recent trends in penalties and disgorgements
...
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GAO-09-328,
Financial Management Systems: OMB's Financial Management Line
of Business Initiative Continues but Future Success Remains Uncertain,
May 7, 2009
from GAO Reports
In March 2004, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) launched
the financial management line of business (FMLOB) initiative,
in part, to reduce the cost and improve the quality and performance
of federal financial management systems by leveraging shared
service solutions and implementing other reforms. In March 2006,
GAO reported that OMB's approach did not fully integrate certain
fundamental system implementation-related concepts and ...
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GAO-09-660R,
Statutory Authorities to Prohibit Inspector General Activities,
May 8, 2009
from GAO Reports
This letter provides information Congress requested at the March
25, 2009, hearing entitled The Roles and Responsibilities of
Inspectors General within Financial Regulatory Agencies. During
the hearing, the former Inspector General (IG) of the Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) testified that provisions of the Inspector
General Act of 1978, as amended (IG Act), allow the Secretary
of the Department of the Treasury to prevent the IG from ...
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GAO-09-418,
IRS Management: IRS Practices Contribute to Its Resilience, but
It Would Benefit from Additional Emergency Planning Efforts,
April 9, 2009
from GAO Reports
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) collects the revenues that
fund the federal government and issues billions of dollars in
refunds. Consequently, IRS's ability to demonstrate agility and
speed in restoring its functions after a disruption is vital
to the government and the economy. GAO (1) identified the definition
and attributes of organizational resilience; (2) examined the
extent to which these attributes are exhibited within IRS; and
...
|
|
GAO-09-205,
Federal Rulemaking: Improvements Needed to Monitoring and Evaluation
of Rules Development as Well as to the Transparency of OMB Regulatory
Reviews, April 20, 2009
from GAO Reports
Regulation is one of the principal tools that the government
uses to implement public policy. As part of the rulemaking process
federal agencies must comply with an increasing number of procedural
and analytical requirements. GAO was asked to examine how broadly
applicable rulemaking requirements cumulatively have affected
(1) agencies' rulemaking processes, in particular including effects
of requirements added to the process since 2003, ...
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GAO-09-695T,
Strategic Petroleum Reserve: Issues Regarding the Inclusion of
Refined Petroleum Products as Part of the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve, May 12, 2009
from GAO Reports
The possibility of storing refined petroleum products as part
of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) has been contemplated
since the SPR was created in 1975. The SPR, which currently holds
about 700 million barrels of crude oil, was created to help insulate
the U.S. economy from oil supply disruptions. However, the SPR
does not contain refined products such as gasoline, diesel fuel,
or jet fuel. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 directed ...
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GAO-09-495,
Motor Carrier Safety: Commercial Vehicle Registration Program
Has Kept Unsafe Carriers from Operating, but Effectiveness Is
Difficult to Measure, May 12, 2009
from GAO Reports
To reduce the number of crashes involving commercial motor carriers,
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) within
the Department of Transportation orders unsafe carriers out of
service. To help keep these carriers off the road, FMCSA's voluntary
Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM)
grant program, a small program funded at $5 million per year,
helps states establish information systems connections ...
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GAO-09-322,
Best Practices: High Levels of Knowledge at Key Points Differentiate
Commercial Shipbuilding from Navy Shipbuilding, May 13, 2009
from GAO Reports
Cost growth is a prevalent problem in Navy shipbuilding programs,
particularly for the first ships in new classes. In response
to a mandate in the conference report accompanying the Defense
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008, GAO undertook this review
to (1) identify key practices employed by leading commercial
ship buyers and shipbuilders that ensure satisfactory cost, schedule,
and ship performance; (2) determine the extent to which ...
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GAO-09-292,
Aviation Security: TSA Has Completed Key Activities Associated
with Implementing Secure Flight, but Additional Actions Are Needed
to Mitigate Risks, May 13, 2009
from GAO Reports
To enhance aviation security, the Department of Homeland Security's
(DHS) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) developed
a program--known as Secure Flight--to assume from air carriers
the function of matching passenger information against terrorist
watch-list records. In accordance with a mandate in the Department
of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2008, GAO's objective
was to assess the extent to which TSA met the requirements ...
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GAO-09-83,
Depot Maintenance: Actions Needed to Identify and Establish Core
Capability at Military Depots, May 14, 2009
from GAO Reports
The Department of Defense (DOD) is required, by law, to maintain
a core logistics capability that is government owned and government
operated to meet contingency and other emergency requirements.
Military depots play a key role in maintaining this "core
capability," although in recent years DOD has significantly
increased its use of contractors. At the subcommittee's request,
GAO examined the extent to which (1) DOD has accurately assessed
...
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GAO-09-352,
Military Housing Privatization: DOD Faces New Challenges Due
to Significant Growth at Some Installations and Recent Turmoil
in the Financial Markets, May 15, 2009
from GAO Reports
In response to challenges the Department of Defense (DOD) was
facing to repair, renovate, and construct military family housing,
Congress enacted the Military Housing Privatization Initiative
in 1996. The initiative enables DOD to leverage private sector
resources to construct or renovate family housing. As of March
2009, DOD had awarded 94 projects and attracted over $22 billion
in private financing. DOD plans to privatize 98 percent of ...
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GAO-09-652,
Financial Audit: Congressional Award Foundation's Fiscal Years
2008 and 2007 Financial Statements, May 15, 2009
from GAO Reports
This report presents our opinion on the financial statements
of the Congressional Award Foundation (the Foundation) for the
fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, and 2007. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Foundation. This report
also presents (1) our opinion on the effectiveness of the Foundation's
related internal control as of September 30, 2008, and (2) the
results of our tests of the Foundation's compliance ...
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GAO-09-669R,
Questions for the Record Related to the Implementation of the
Department of Defense's National Security Personnel System, May
18, 2009
from GAO Reports
This letter provides answers to questions for the record. Questions
from Chairman Ortiz include: (1) What steps could have been taken
to roll out NSPS in a more orderly and fair fashion and if NSPS
continues, what steps should now be taken to move forward? (2)
As DOD and OPM leadership hold discussions to determine the overall
framework, scope, and timeline of the review, what guidance or
suggestions would you give to DOD and OPM to include ...
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GAO-09-615,
Military Operations: Actions Needed to Improve Oversight and
Interagency Coordination for the Commander's Emergency Response
Program in Afghanistan, May 18, 2009
from GAO Reports
U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense
(DOD) and the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) have spent billions of dollars to develop Afghanistan.
From fiscal years 2004 to 2008, DOD has reported obligations
of about $1 billion for its Commander's Emergency Response Program
(CERP), which enables commanders to respond to urgent humanitarian
and reconstruction needs. As troop levels increase, DOD ...
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GAO-09-586,
DOD Business Systems Modernization: Recent Slowdown in Institutionalizing
Key Management Controls Needs to Be Addressed, May 18, 2009
from GAO Reports
Since 1995, GAO has designated the Department of Defense's (DOD)
business systems modernization program as high risk, and it continues
to do so today. To assist in addressing DOD's business system
modernization challenges, the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (the Act) contains provisions
that require the department to take certain actions and to annually
report to its congressional committees on ...
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GAO-09-719T,
Seclusions and Restraints: Selected Cases of Death and Abuse
at Public and Private Schools and Treatment Centers, May 19,
2009
from GAO Reports
GAO recently testified before the Committee regarding allegations
of death and abuse at residential programs for troubled teens.
Recent reports indicate that vulnerable children are being abused
in other settings. For example, one report on the use of restraints
and seclusions in schools documented cases where students were
pinned to the floor for hours at a time, handcuffed, locked in
closets, and subjected to other acts of violence. In ...
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GAO-09-701T,
Information Security: Agencies Make Progress in Implementation
of Requirements, but Significant Weaknesses Persist, May 19,
2009
from GAO Reports
Without proper safeguards, federal agencies' computer systems
are vulnerable to intrusions by individuals and groups who have
malicious intentions and can obtain sensitive information, commit
fraud, disrupt operations, or launch attacks against other computer
systems and networks. Concerned by reports of significant weaknesses
in federal systems, Congress passed the Federal Information Security
Management Act (FISMA), which permanently ...
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GAO-09-622,
Foreign Assistance: Measures to Prevent Inadvertent Payments
to Terrorists under Palestinian Aid Programs Have Been Strengthened,
but Some Weaknesses Remain, May 19, 2009
from GAO Reports
The U.S. government is one of the largest donors to Palestinians.
It provided nearly $575 million in assistance in fiscal year
2008. This assistance is provided through the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) and through contributions to
international organizations, primarily the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The Department of State (State) oversees U.S. contributions ...
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GAO-09-400,
DOD Personnel Clearances: Comprehensive Timeliness Reporting,
Complete Clearance Documentation, and Quality Measures Are Needed
to Further Improve the Clearance Process, May 19, 2009
from GAO Reports
The Department of Defense (DOD) personnel security clearance
program has been on GAO's high-risk list since 2005, due to delays
in the process and incomplete documentation. The Office of Personnel
Management (OPM) conducts most of DOD's clearance investigations,
which DOD adjudicators use to make clearance decisions. The Deputy
Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) chairs a Performance Accountability Council ...
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GAO-09-426T,
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Coordinated Federal
Decisions and Additional Data Are Needed to Manage Potential
Economic Impact of Applying U.S. ...
from GAO Reports
This testimony discusses our work on factors that will affect
the potential economic impact of implementing the legislation
applying U.S. immigration law to the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands (CNMI). Although subject to most U.S. laws, the
CNMI has administered its own immigration system since 1978,
under the terms of its 1976 Covenant with the United States.
The CNMI has applied this flexibility to admit substantial numbers
...
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GAO-09-270,
Designated Federal Entities: Survey of Governance Practices and
the Inspector General Role, April 20, 2009
from GAO Reports
For entities that rely on others for funding, effective governance,
accountability, and internal control are keys to maintaining
trust and credibility. In recent years, corporate governance
and accountability have received increased scrutiny and emphasis
in the nonprofit, federal government, and public company sectors.
Governance and accountability problems have also been identified
at designated federal entities (DFE) such as the Smithsonian
...
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GAO-09-674T,
U.S. Postal Service: Network Rightsizing Needed to Help Keep
USPS Financially Viable, May 20, 2009
from GAO Reports
The recession accelerated declines in mail volume in fiscal year
2008 and flattened revenues despite postal rate increases. That
year, mail volume fell by 9.5 billion pieces, or 4.5 percent,
and resulted in a net loss of $2.8 billion as the U.S. Postal
Service's (USPS) cost-cutting did not close the gap between revenues
and expenses. We testified this March before this subcommittee
that USPS's financial condition has continued to deteriorate
...
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GAO-09-705T,
Space Acquisitions: DOD Faces Substantial Challenges in Developing
New Space Systems, May 20, 2009
from GAO Reports
Despite a growing investment in space, the majority of large-scale
acquisition programs in the Department of Defense's (DOD) space
portfolio have experienced problems during the past two decades
that have driven up cost and schedules and increased technical
risks. The cost resulting from acquisition problems along with
the ambitious nature of space programs has resulted in cancellations
of programs that were expected to require investments ...
|
|
GAO-09-608,
Sovereign Wealth Funds: Laws Limiting Foreign Investment Affect
Certain U.S. Assets and Agencies Have Various Enforcement Processes,
May 20, 2009
from GAO Reports
Foreign investors in U.S. companies or assets include individuals,
companies, and government entities. One type of foreign investor
that has been increasingly active in world markets is sovereign
wealth funds (SWF), government-controlled funds that seek to
invest in other countries. As the activities of these funds have
grown they have been praised as providing valuable capital to
world markets, but questions have been raised about their ...
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GAO-09-702T,
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation: Financial Challenges Highlight
Need for Improved Governance and Management, May 20, 2009
from GAO Reports
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) insures the retirement
future of nearly 44 million people in over 29,000 private-sector
defined benefit pension plans. In July 2003, GAO designated PBGC's
single-employer pension insurance program--its largest insurance
program--as "high risk," including it on GAO's list
of major programs that need urgent Congressional attention and
agency action. The program remains on the list today with ...
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GAO-09-711T,
Joint Strike Fighter: Strong Risk Management Essential as Program
Enters Most Challenging Phase, May 20, 2009
from GAO Reports
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program is the Department
of Defense's (DOD's) most costly acquisition, seeking to simultaneously
develop, produce, and field three aircraft variants for the Air
Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and eight international partners.
The total expected U.S. investment is now more than $300 billion
to develop and procure 2,456 aircraft over the next 25 years.
GAO's most recent report in March of this year discussed ...
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GAO-09-243,
Freight Rail Security: Actions Have Been Taken to Enhance Security,
but the Federal Strategy Can Be Strengthened and Security Efforts
Better Monitored, April 21, 2009
from GAO Reports
An attack on the U.S. freight rail system could be catastrophic
because rail cars carrying highly toxic materials often traverse
densely populated urban areas. The Department of Homeland Security's
(DHS) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the federal
entity primarily responsible for securing freight rail. GAO was
asked to assess the status of efforts to secure this system.
This report discusses (1) stakeholder efforts to assess ...
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GAO-09-645R,
Effect of Personnel Reform on the Federal Aviation Administration's
Budget, May 14, 2009
from GAO Reports
Under personnel reform legislation enacted in 1995, the Administrator
of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a new
personnel management system. The system is exempt from most governmentwide
personnel laws, but is subject to change only if the Administrator
consults and negotiates those changes with the exclusive bargaining
representatives of FAA's employees. When FAA and labor cannot
reach an agreement regarding changes ...
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GAO-09-718R,
Responses to Questions for the Record: March 18, 2009, Hearing
on ATC Modernization: Near-Term Achievable Goals, May 20, 2009
from GAO Reports
This letter responds to a congressional request that we address
questions submitted for the record related to the March 18, 2009,
hearing entitled ATC Modernization: Near-Term Achievable Goals.
Our attached responses to these questions are based on a review
of literature on avionics and equipage incentives, interviews
with Federal Aviation Administration officials, interviews with
stakeholders and developers of avionics with knowledge of ...
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GAO-09-550,
Endangered Species Act: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Has
Incomplete Information about Effects on Listed Species from Section
7 Consultations, May 21, 2009
from GAO Reports
The western United States, including vast stretches of federal
land, is home to more than a third of the 1,317 species listed
under the Endangered Species Act. Under section 7 of the act,
federal agencies must ensure that any actions they authorize,
fund, or carry out, whether on federal or private lands, do not
jeopardize listed species. To fulfill this responsibility, the
agencies often must formally consult with the Department of the
...
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GAO-09-699T,
Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Request: U.S. Government Accountability
Office, May 21, 2009
from GAO Reports
In fiscal year 2008, GAO delivered advice and analyses to the
Congress in response to requests from all of the standing committees
of the House and the Senate, as well as over 80 percent of their
subcommittees. The hard work of our staff yielded significant
results across the government, including expert testimony at
over 300 congressional hearings, hundreds of improvements in
government operations, and billions in financial benefits. GAO
...
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GAO-09-374,
Federal Contractors: Better Performance Information Needed to
Support Agency Contract Award Decisions, April 23, 2009
from GAO Reports
In fiscal year 2007, federal agencies worked with over 160,000
contractors, obligating over $456 billion, to help accomplish
federal missions. This reliance on contractors makes it critical
that agencies have the information necessary to properly evaluate
a contractor's prior history of performance and better inform
agencies' contract award decisions. While actions have been taken
to improve the sharing of past performance information and ...
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GAO-09-496,
Federal Transit Administration: Progress and Challenges in Implementing
and Evaluating the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program, May
21, 2009
from GAO Reports
Established in 1998, the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program
(JARC)-administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)--awards
grants to states and localities to provide transportation to
help low-income individuals access jobs. In 2005, the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA-LU) reauthorized the program and made changes, such
as allocating funds by formula to large and ...
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GAO-09-679SP,
U.S. Public Diplomacy: Key Issues for Congressional Oversight,
May 27, 2009
from GAO Reports
Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the U.S. government
has spent at least $10 billion on communication efforts designed
to advance the strategic interests of the United States. However,
foreign public opinion polling data shows that negative views
towards the United States persist despite the collective efforts
to counteract them by the State Department (State), Broadcasting
Board of Governors (BBG), U.S. Agency for International ...
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GAO-09-486R,
Financial Management: DOD Needs to Clarify Its General Gift Fund
Policies to Provide for Effective Oversight, May 27, 2009
from GAO Reports
From fiscal year 2005 through fiscal year 2008, the military
services received about $295 million in monetary and nonmonetary
gifts from individuals and organizations wishing to donate gifts
to the Department of Defense (DOD). Section 2601(a) of Title
10, U.S. Code is a long-standing authority under which the secretaries
overseeing DOD, the military services, and the Coast Guard may
accept a gift on the condition that the gift be used for ...
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GAO-09-535,
Financial Audit: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Funds'
2008 and 2007 Financial Statements, May 28, 2009
from GAO Reports
GAO is required to annually audit the financial statements of
the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) and FSLIC Resolution Fund (FRF),
which are administered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(FDIC). GAO is responsible for obtaining reasonable assurance
about whether FDIC's financial statements for DIF and FRF are
presented fairly in all material respects, in conformity with
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and whether ...
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GAO-09-369,
National Preparedness: FEMA Has Made Progress, but Needs to Complete
and Integrate Planning, Exercise, and Assessment Efforts, May
7, 2009
from GAO Reports
Hurricane Katrina was the most destructive disaster in our nation's
history and it highlighted gaps in preparedness for a catastrophic
disaster. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a component
within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is the lead
federal agency responsible for developing a national preparedness
system. The system includes policies and plans as well as exercises
and assessments of capabilities across ...
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GAO-09-375,
Sponsored Noncitizens and Public Benefits: More Clarity in Federal
Guidance and Better Access to Federal Information Could Improve
Implementation of Income Eligibility Rules, May 19, 2009
from GAO Reports
Federal law restricts noncitizens' access to public benefits,
including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid,
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Supplemental
Security Income (SSI). Further, when noncitizens who legally
reside in this country through sponsorship of a family member
apply for these benefits, they are subject to sponsor deeming,
which requires benefit agencies to combine noncitizens' ...
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GAO-09-409,
Financial Audit: Senate Restaurants Revolving Fund for Fiscal
Years 2008 and 2007, May 29, 2009
|
GAO-09-722R,
Federal Reserve Banks: Areas for Improvement in Information Security
Controls, May 29, 2009
|
GAO-09-694R,
Defense Management: Observations on DOD's Analysis of Options
for Improving Corrosion Prevention and Control through Earlier
Planning in the Requirements and Acquisition Processes, ...
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VIDEO:
Bruce Klingner, Former CIA Deputy Chief of the Korea Issue Group
(1996-2001)
from C-SPAN Recent Video
Bruce Klingner goes over this week's developments in North Korea
and the U.S.-International response. He is the senior research
fellow for Northeast Asia at The Heritage Foundation's Asian
Studies Center.
Length: 30 min.
Published: Saturday at 7:30am (ET)
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VIDEO:
Gregory Garcia, Former Asst. Sec for Cyber Security at DHS (2006-08)
from C-SPAN Recent Video
Gregory Garcia discusses the Obama Administration’s approach
to protecting sensitive computer-based systems in the U.S. Yesterday,
the President released a report outlining his approach including
the creation of a “cyber czar.”
Length: 25 min.
Published: Saturday at 8am (ET)
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VIDEO:
Barbara Slavin, Washington Times, Asst. Managing Editor for National
Security
from C-SPAN Recent Video
Barbara Slavin takes a look at Pres. Obama's recent meetings
with Pres. Abbas and his upcoming trips to Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Length: 36 min.
Published: Saturday at 8:30am (ET)
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VIDEO:
Harold Holzer, Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, Co-Chairman
from C-SPAN Recent Video
Harold Holzer goes over today’s rededication of the Lincoln
Memorial to commemorate the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth
on Feb. 12th, 1809.
Length: 26 min.
Published: Saturday at 9:30am (ET)
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VIDEO:
Lincoln Memorial Rededication
from C-SPAN Recent Video
The Lincoln Memorial was rededicated to mark the 2009 bicentennial
of Pres. Abraham Lincoln’s birth. The memorial was originally
dedicated on May 30, 1922. Speakers include Interior Sec. Ken
Salazar, Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission co-chairman
Harold Holzer, and Tuskegee Univ. Pres. Benjamin Payton. For
more information on C-SPAN’s Lincoln 200 Years programming
initiative, as well as unique Lincoln resources and content,
go to our website
Length:
Published: Saturday at 2pm (ET)
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Our State Senate voted to Override the
Governor's Veto of SB 283 but now we need the House to do the
Great News! Our Nevada Senate voted to
Override the Governor's Veto of SB 283 the Domestic Partnership
Bill at a (14-7) Vote!!
It still has to go through the House, and
it is still going to be a long hard fight. Now more then ever,
we need to contact our House representatives and tell them to
vote to override the Veto.
Please, it will take 10 minutes of your
time. YES WE CAN!!!
To Find Your Assemblymen Contact information
visit:
http://www.facebook.com/l/;http://mapserve.leg.state.nv.us/website/lcb/viewer.htm
Thanks guys!
Heather Brown
President of Young Democrats of Nevada
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Sacramento
Stonewall Democrats Boards & Commissions Workshop
"Get appointed and make real differences in your community!"
What: Informational Meeting
Host: Sacramento Stonewall Democrats
Start Time: Wednesday, June 24 at 6:00pm
End Time: Wednesday, June 24 at 8:00pm
Where: SEIU Building at 14th Street and R Street.
To see more
details and RSVP
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