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Ensuring Justice for Victims of the Gulf Coast Oil Disaster, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session, July 21, 2010
From the testimony of Kenneth R. Feinberg: "I am in charge of an independent Gulf Coast Claims Facility. Under the arrangement entered into between the Administration and BP, I am designing and administering an independent facility. I am beholden to neither the Administration nor BP. I am really beholden to the people who live in the Gulf and who are in desperate straits and seek financial assistance from this facility. The facility will be up and running next month, in August. It will transition from BP--I give BP some credit. They have paid out already over $200 million in claims. We can do better, the facility, quicker, more efficiently. But unlike 9/11 or some of these other tragedies, there is an infrastructure in place which I will modify." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Conyers, Lamar Smith, Jerrold Nadler, Bob Goodlatte, William D. Delahunt, Howard C. Coble, Robert C. Scott, Steve Cohen, and Tim Rooney.
United States. Government Printing Office
2010
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Small Business Committee Document No. 110-112: Disaster Savings Accounts: Protections for Small Businesses During a Disaster, Hearing before the Subcommittee on Tax and Finance, Committee on Small Business, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, September 17, 2008
From the opening statement of Melissa Bean: "The recent onslaughts of hurricanes in the southeast, wildfires in California, and floods in the Midwest have served as stark reminders that natural disasters have the ability to devastate local economies. These catastrophes have wreaked significant fiscal havoc, particularly on America's small businesses. For entrepreneurs with tight profit margins, natural disasters can have very serious financial consequences. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, creating over 60 percent of our nation's jobs, and it's important that they are able to stay afloat following a natural disaster. Yet, an estimated 40 to 60 percent of small businesses fail to recover from natural disasters. Today's hearing will examine one potential method of mitigating small business risk. The first 48 hours following a natural disaster are critical. They determine whether a small business will be able to mitigate losses, or be forced to close their doors. The SBA plays a critical role in this disaster recovery process. SBA's disaster loan program, for example, provides low interest loans and working capital for businesses. This loan plan has been a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs. By providing the resources necessary for both long and short-term repairs, SBA loans give small businesses the tools they need to get back up and running." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Melissa Bean, Vern Buchanan, Charles G. Brown, Cynthia Murphy, Maryann Mize and Kate Grayson.
United States. Government Printing Office
2008
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Bureau Of Prisons: Management of New Prison Activations Can Be Improved, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "The federal inmate population has increased over the last two decades, and as of July 2014, BOP [Bureau of Prisons] was responsible for the custody and care of more than 216,000 inmates. To handle the projected growth of between 2,500 and 3,000 or more inmates per year from 2015 through 2020, BOP has spent about $1.3 billion constructing five new institutions and acquiring one in Thomson, Illinois. BOP is activating these institutions by staffing and equipping them and populating them with inmates. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was requested to review BOP's activation process of newly constructed and acquired institutions. GAO reviewed, among other things, (1) the extent to which BOP is activating institutions within estimated timeframes and has an activation policy or schedules that meet best practices, and (2) why DOJ [Department of Justice] purchased Thomson and how the purchase affected system wide costs. GAO reviewed BOP budget documents from fiscal years 2008 to 2015 and assessed schedules against GAO's Schedule Assessment Guide. GAO conducted site visits to the six institutions, interviewed BOP officials, and reviewed staffing data from fiscal years 2010 through 2013."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2014-08-22
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Acquisition Oversight: How Effectively Is DHS Safeguarding Taxpayer Dollars? Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, April 22, 2015
This is the April 22, 2015 testimony entitled "Acquisition Oversight: How Effectively Is DHS Safeguarding Taxpayer Dollars?," held before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency of the House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Scott Perry: "The Department of Homeland Security, the DHS, spends billions of taxpayer dollars each year on a variety of programs intended to better secure the homeland, including systems to secure the border, screen travelers, protect cyber infrastructure, and respond to disasters, among other missions. DHS' current major acquisition program ultimately may cost taxpayers over $200 billion. Needless to say, strong accountability and oversight is absolutely necessary to guard against waste, fraud, and abuse. Since its creation, DHS has had its share of acquisition failures. Customs and Border Protection's Secure Border Initiative network, SBInet, and the Coast Guard's Deepwater Program remain models of how not to manage an acquisition program. SBInet alone cost taxpayers over $1 billion, with few results from that investment. Since 2005, watchdogs at the Government Accountability Office have had DHS' acquisition management on its high-risk list. Despite steps taken by DHS to issue an acquisition policy that reflects program management practices and create an office focused on acquisition oversight, programs continue to put taxpayer dollars at risk." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michele Mackin, Chip Fulghum, and Cedric J. Sims.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2015
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Data Center Consolidation: Reporting Can Be Improved to Reflect Substantial Planned Savings, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "In 2010, as focal point for information technology management across the government, OMB's [Office of Management and Budget] Federal Chief Information Officer launched the Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative to consolidate the growing number of centers. As of May 2014, agencies reported a total of 9,658 data centers--approximately 6,500 more than reported by OMB in 2011. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review federal agencies' continuing efforts to consolidate their data centers and achieve cost savings. The objectives were to (1) evaluate the extent to which agencies have achieved cost savings to date and identified future savings through their consolidation efforts, (2) identify agencies' notable consolidation successes and challenges in achieving cost savings, and (3) evaluate the extent to which data center optimization metrics have been established. GAO assessed agency-reported cost savings and avoidance documentation, interviewed agency officials, and assessed data center optimization metrics against prior OMB requirements and goal."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2014-09-25
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Bureau of Reclamation: Availability of Information on Repayment of Water Project Construction Costs Could Be Better Promoted, Report of Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Since 1902, Reclamation has financed and built water projects to provide water for irrigation and various other uses in 17 western states. The costs to construct the water projects including irrigation as a project purpose--a combined total of more than $20 billion--were primarily financed by the federal government, but irrigation districts and other water users that receive project water are obligated to repay the government for their allocated share of construction costs. Reclamation typically enters into multiyear contracts with irrigation districts that establish water delivery and repayment of their share of construction costs over time. GAO [U.S. Government Accountability Office] was asked to provide information on the status of irrigation repayments. This report examines (1) the extent to which Reclamation collects and reports information on construction costs and the status of repayment and (2) the extent to which irrigation districts can repay early and the implications of early repayment. GAO reviewed laws and policies; fiscal year 2012 construction cost repayment and early repayment data; and interviewed Reclamation officials and nonprobability samples of eight irrigation districts and nine individuals knowledgeable about water projects."
United States. General Accounting Office
2014-09-08
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Department of Homeland Security's Proposed Regulations Reforming the Investor Visa Program, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, March 8, 2017
This is the March 8, 2017 hearing on "Department of Homeland Security's Proposed Regulations Reforming the Investor Visa Program" held before the House Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Bob Goodlatte: "In 1990, Congress created the investment visa program in order to bring entrepreneurial talent to the United States, create new jobs, and infuse new capital into our economy, especially in hardhit rural and depressed areas. Unfortunately, over the years, the program has strayed further and further from Congress' intent and has seen its reputation repeatedly tarnished by scandal." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Chuck Grassley, Patrick Leahy, Rebecca Gambler, Sam Walls III, Angelique Brunner, Dekonti Mends-Cole, and David North.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2017
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Federal Broadband Data Sources: Frequently Asked Questions [April 22, 2022]
From the Document: "This report provides an overview of select federal broadband data sources and answers frequently asked congressional questions concerning these sources. The answers to frequently asked questions include links to available funding sources, service maps, provider speeds and technologies, and guidance resources. This report highlights reports and data sources from federal entities, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Census. Types of reports and data sources include federal survey data, congressionally mandated reports, federal assistance data, and select programmatic reports. The Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act [...], enacted in March 2020, highlights congressional interest in accurate broadband data. The FCC is in the process of creating systems and processes for the broadband data collection requirements included in the Broadband DATA Act."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Roan, Rachael D.
2022-04-22
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FY2020 State Grants Under Title I-A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) [April 22, 2022]
From the Document: "The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), most recently comprehensively amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act [...], is the primary source of federal aid to support elementary and secondary education. The Title I-A program is the largest grant program authorized under the ESEA and was funded at $16.3 billion for FY2020. It is designed to provide supplementary educational and related services to low-achieving and other students attending elementary and secondary schools with relatively high concentrations of students from low-income families. Under current law, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) determines Title I-A grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) based on four separate funding formulas: Basic Grants, Concentration Grants, Targeted Grants, and Education Finance Incentive Grants (EFIG). State grants are the total of the allocations for all LEAs in the state under all four formulas. The four Title I-A formulas have somewhat distinct allocation patterns, providing varying shares of allocated funds to different types of LEAs and states. Thus, for some states, certain formulas are more favorable than others."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Skinner, Rebecca; Sorenson, Isobel
2022-04-22
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Specialty Metals: DOD Dissemination of National Security Waiver Information Could Enhance Awareness and Compliance with Restrictions, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Specialty metals--such as titanium, certain steel alloys, and samariumcobalt alloy magnets--are essential to DOD weapon systems due to their unique properties, such as being highly durable. Federal statute requires specialty metals used in weapon systems to be procured from domestic sources or qualifying countries. However, the law allows DOD to waive this requirement in the interest of national security. GAO [U.S. Government Accountability Office] was mandated by a House report accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014 to review DOD's compliance with specialty metals requirements. This report assesses (1) how DOD meets its needs for specialty metals parts and ensures compliance with restrictions, and (2) DOD's process for providing national security waivers for specialty metal procurements and the extent to which it disseminates waiver information throughout the department. GAO reviewed contracts, laws, regulations and DOD guidance, and analyzed a non-generalizable sample of five weapon systems as case studies based on their total 2013 acquisition costs, among other things. GAO also reviewed national security waivers DOD granted since 2009 and interviewed DOD and contractor officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2014-10-16
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EPA Regulations and Electricity: Update on Agencies' Monitoring Efforts and Coal-Fueled Generating Unit Retirements, Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] recently proposed or finalized four regulations affecting coal-fueled electricity generating units, which provide about 37 percent of the nation's electricity supply. These regulations are the: (1) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule; (2) Mercury and Air Toxics Standards; (3) Cooling Water Intake Structures regulation; and (4) Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals regulation. In 2012, GAO [Government Accountability Office] reported that, in response to these regulations and other factors such as low natural gas prices, companies might retire or retrofit some units. GAO reported that these actions may increase electricity prices and, according to some stakeholders, may affect reliability--the ability to meet consumers' demand--in some regions. In 2012, GAO recommended that DOE [Department of Energy], EPA, and FERC [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission] develop and document a formal, joint process to monitor industry's progress responding to these regulations. In June 2014, EPA proposed new regulations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that will also affect these units. GAO was asked to update its 2012 report. This report examines (1) agencies' efforts to respond to GAO's recommendation and (2) what is known about planned retirements and retrofits. GAO reviewed documents, analyzed data, and interviewed agency officials and stakeholders."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2014-08-15
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Ground Radar and Guided Munitions: Increased Oversight and Cooperation Can Help Avoid Duplication among the Services' Programs, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Over the past five years, GAO [Government Accountability Office] has found potential overlap or duplication in DOD weapon system investments. Overlap occurs when multiple agencies or programs are engaged in similar activities. Duplication occurs when two or more agencies or programs are engaged in the same activities. Senate Report 113-44 accompanying the fiscal year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act mandated that GAO examine the military services' ground radar and air-to-ground precision guided munitions programs for potential duplication. Ground radars are sensors used to detect and track targets, and precision guided munitions are weapons intended to accurately engage and destroy enemy targets. This report examines the extent to which potential overlap or duplication exists across the military services' (1) ground radar and (2) air-to-ground precision guided munitions programs. GAO analyzed program documentation on system performance requirements and capabilities and interviewed DOD officials about potential duplication."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2014-12
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Building Partner Capacity: State and DOD Need to Define Time Frames to Guide and Track Global Security Contingency Fund Projects, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "As instability abroad threatens U.S. and foreign partners' interests, the United States has emphasized the importance of building partner capacity to address emerging threats. Congress established GSCF [Global Security Contingency Fund] in fiscal year 2012, and this pilot authority allows State and DOD to pool funds and expertise to address near- to mid-term needs for training, equipping, and enhancing foreign security forces. State and DOD jointly administer GSCF and are required to notify Congress of their intent to transfer funds and initiate GSCF activities before starting project execution. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was mandated to review State and DOD's procedures for managing GSCF. This report (1) describes processes State and DOD have developed to manage the program, (2) describes the status of GSCF projects, and (3) assesses the extent to which State and DOD have clearly defined time frames for GSCF projects. GAO analyzed State and DOD guidance and GSCF documents, and compared GSCF guidance to internal control standards. GAO also interviewed State and DOD officials about GSCF."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2014-11-20
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 6743, Consumer Information Notification Requirement Act
"H.R. 6743 would require several federal agencies to establish standards regarding how financial institutions provide notifications of a data breach to customers. Under the bill, State insurance authorities would be required to enforce those standards. Under the bill, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the Federal Reserve, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would be required to create or update their standards for notifying people about a data breach. Using information from several of those affected agencies, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that the costs to implement the bill would not be significant for any agency."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2018-12-20
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 6730, Injunctive Authority Clarification Act of 2018
"H.R. 6730 would prohibit federal courts from issuing injunctions that restrain defendants from enforcing policies against non-parties to civil actions. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] expects that the bill would limit the issuance of nationwide injunctions. In recent years, district courts have issued dozens of nationwide injunctions that have temporarily stopped the executive branch from implementing immigration, environmental, and other policies. Such injunctions affect the scope of and timeframes for implementing new policies and programs, and sometimes affect the amount and pace of federal spending."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2018-10-19
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Oversight of the FBI and DOJ Actions in Advance of the 2016 Election, Joint Hearing Before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, Second Session, June 19, 2018
This is the June 19, 2018 joint hearing on "Oversight of the FBI and DOJ Actions in Advance of the 2016 Election," held before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Jerrold Nadler: "We have all seen the pictures of immigrant children ripped apart from their parents at the border. These children are not animals. They are not bargaining chips. They are not leverage to help President Trump build his wall. They are children who have been forcibly removed from their parents in our name. Every day that they are separated from their parents is a day we do irreparable harm to their health and well-being. The United States should be better than this. We should not put children in cages. The minute this hearing adjourns, sooner if we can [...] I hope our committees can work together to end this cruel practice without delay." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record by Michael E. Horowitz.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2018
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H.R. 4528, to Make Technical Amendments to Certain Marine Fish Conservation Statues, and for Other Purposes; H.R. 5248, ''Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act''; and H.R. 1456, ''Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act of 2017'', Legislative Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans of the Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, Second Session, April 17, 2018
This is the April 17, 2018 hearing on two bills regarding shark finning, 'Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act' and 'Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act of 2017,' held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans of the Committee on Natural Resources. From the opening statement of Rob Bishop: "We are dealing with three bills that I consider significant, all dealing with fish. [...] The first two that we are going to consider take different approaches to address a really heinous practice of shark finning. Shark finning was made illegal in the United States by U.S. actors both in 2000, and once again in 2010. These two laws, I think, have had an effect, and they have done something that is very positive. Today, we are going to talk about the practice that is done by foreign nations." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Robert E. Hueter, Vance Kondon, Glenn R. Parsons, John Polston, Alan Risenhoover, Edward R. Royce, Darren Soto, and Daniel Webster.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2018
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Security Clearances: Tax Debts Owed by DOD Employees and Contractors
From the Document: "The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) reported that, as of October 2013, over 5.1 million federal employees (civilian and military) and contractors held--or were individuals eligible to hold--a security clearance due to a favorable adjudication. The number of personnel determined eligible for clearance or who currently hold a security clearance underscores the importance of security-clearance adjudicators conducting thorough vulnerability assessments of security-clearance applicants as these clearances may allow government personnel to gain access to classified information that, through unauthorized disclosure, can in some cases cause exceptionally grave damage to U.S. national security. Federal regulations state that these assessments should include a review of a host of factors, including an applicant's financial position and relevant tax-debt information, in addition to other available, reliable information about the person, past and present, favorable and unfavorable. Federal law does not expressly prohibit an individual with unpaid federal taxes from being granted a security clearance; however, delinquent tax debt does pose a potential vulnerability that is to be considered in making a broader determination of whether an applicant should be granted a security clearance. Specifically, federal regulations state that an individual who is financially overextended is at risk of having to engage in illegal acts to generate funds, and that adjudicating officials must weigh an individual's inability or unwillingness to satisfy debts, such as federal tax debts, as they relate to an individual's financial and personal conduct when making the security-clearance determination."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2014-07-28
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Older Americans: Inability to Repay Student Loans May Affect Financial Security of a Small Percentage of Retirees, Statement of Charles A. Jeszeck, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security, Testimony Before the Special Committee on Aging, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Recent studies have indicated that many Americans may be approaching their retirement years with increasing levels of various kinds of debt. Such debt can reduce net worth and income, thereby diminishing overall retirement financial security. Student loan debt held by older Americans can be especially daunting because unlike other types of debt, it generally cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine the extent of student loan debt held by older Americans and the implications of default. This testimony provides information on: (1) the extent to which older Americans have outstanding student loans and how this debt compares to other types of debt, and (2) the extent to which older Americans have defaulted on federal student loans and the possible consequences of default. To address these issues, GAO obtained and analyzed relevant data from the Federal Reserve Board's Survey of Consumer Finances as well as data from the Department of the Treasury, the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Education. GAO also reviewed key agency documents and interviewed knowledgeable staff."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2014-09-10
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 1786, National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act, Reauthorization of 2014
"H.R. 1786 would reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, which was created to improve the understanding of windstorms and their impacts and to develop measures to reduce the damage they cause. The bill also would establish new committees to coordinate the activities of federal agencies participating in the program and to assess developments in efforts to mitigate damage from windstorms. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing H.R. 1786 would cost $21 million over the 2015-2019 period. Pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply to this legislation because it would not affect direct spending or revenues. H.R. 1786 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 1786 is shown in the following table. The costs of this legislation fall within budget functions 250 (general science, space, and technology), 300 (natural resources and environment), 370 (commerce and housing credit), and 450 (community and regional development)."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2014-03-06
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2329, Ensuring Access to Justice for Claims Against the United States Act
"H.R. 2329 would amend the federal judicial code to allow plaintiffs with cases against the United States to file those claims simultaneously in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (USCFC) as well as in District Court. Under current law, the USCFC is prohibited from having jurisdiction over any claim in which the plaintiff has a pending lawsuit against the United States. By allowing plaintiffs with cases that could qualify in both courts to file those suits at the same time, H.R. 2329 would increase the number of lawsuits against the United States, which would probably result in increased payments out of the Claims and Judgment Fund (a permanent, indefinite appropriation for claims and judgments against the United States). CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that enacting H.R. 2329 would increase direct spending by $600 million over the 2016-2025 period; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Enacting the legislation would not affect revenues. Based on information from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC), CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 2329 would not have a significant effect on spending subject to appropriation. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2329 would not increase net direct spending or onbudget deficits by $5 billion or more in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2026. H.R. 2329 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2015-09-29
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S.766, Driver Privacy Act of 2015
"S. 766 would establish that any data collected by event data recorders (EDRs) in motor vehicles are the property of the owner or lessee of the vehicle and would set broad conditions under which such data could be retrieved by others for purposes such as judicial proceedings, investigations, and traffic safety research. The bill also would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to complete a study and a rulemaking about the data collected by EDRs."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2015-04-08
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Opportunity Exists to Improve Transparency of Civil Penalty Fund Activities, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, Committee on Financial Services, House of Representatives
From the Document: "The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, also known as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), has developed a process for administering the Consumer Financial Civil Penalty Fund (Civil Penalty Fund). CFPB deposits collected civil money penalties into the fund to compensate eligible victims and may also use the fund for the purpose of consumer education and financial literacy programs. CFPB has implemented a number of internal controls for managing the fund. For example, CFPB has segregated key duties and responsibilities among staff, which is consistent with internal controls for reducing the risk of management error or fraud. CFPB has also implemented controls for tracking the collection of penalty funds, determining the allocation amount to classes of eligible victims, and monitoring the third-party vendors that distribute the funds. For example, in CFPB's Civil Penalty Fund Rule, the agency outlines a 6-month allocation schedule, which establishes a timeline for funds to be pooled and distributed. In addition, CFPB has written policies that describe roles and the process related to making allocations to consumer education and financial literacy programs. However, according to officials, CFPB did not document the factors the Fund Administrator considered in determining the allocation of funds for consumer education and financial literacy programs for the first allocation period. Federal internal control standards state that it is important to document significant events clearly and completely and to promptly record transactions and other significant events. Documenting the specific factors the Fund Administrator considers each time funds are allocated would make such decisions more transparent and would help to ensure that future allocation decisions are made in a consistent manner."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2014-06
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Defense Headquarters: Guidance Needed to Transition U.S. Central Command's Costs to the Base Budget, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "CENTCOM [U.S. Central Command] is one of six geographic combatant commands that DOD operates to perform its military missions. CENTCOM's geographic region is composed of countries located in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central and South Asia. CENTCOM and each of its service component commands' headquarters are composed of military and civilian personnel and receive millions of dollars in funding each year to accomplish assigned missions. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was mandated to review CENTCOM's resources. This report (1) identifies trends in personnel devoted to CENTCOM and its service component commands since fiscal year 2001 and any steps DOD is planning to take for reducing personnel in the future, and (2) assesses how DOD funds CENTCOM and its service component commands' headquarters costs. GAO analyzed data on authorized positions, temporary personnel, and headquarters costs for CENTCOM and its service component commands from fiscal years 2001 through 2013. GAO also interviewed DOD officials about commands' resources and plans for funding headquarters costs."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2014-06
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Terrorism Insurance: Treasury Needs to Collect and Analyze Data to Better Understand Fiscal Exposure and Clarify Guidance, Report to the Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "Congress passed TRIA [Terrorism Risk Insurance Act] in 2002 to help ensure the availability and affordability of terrorism insurance for commercial property and casualty policyholders after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. TRIA was amended and extended twice and currently will expire at the end of 2014. Under TRIA, Treasury administers a program in which the federal government and private sector share losses on commercial property and casualty policies resulting from a terrorist attack. Because the federal government will cover a portion of insured losses, the program creates fiscal exposures for the government. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review TRIA. This report evaluates (1) the extent of available data on terrorism insurance and Treasury's efforts in determining federal exposure, (2) changes in the terrorism insurance market since 2002, and (3) potential impacts of selected changes to TRIA. To address these objectives, GAO analyzed insurance data, information from 15 insurers selected primarily based on size of insurer, interviewed Treasury staff and industry participants, updated prior work, and developed examples to illustrate potential fiscal exposure under TRIA."
United States. General Accounting Office
2014-05-22
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VA Education Benefits: VA Should Strengthen Its Efforts to Help Veterans Make Informed Education Choices, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "In fiscal year 2013, VA [The Department of Veterans Affairs] provided over $12 billion in benefits for veterans' postsecondary education; however, questions have been raised as to whether some schools are receiving these funds as a result of inappropriate recruiting practices. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine issues related to schools' recruitment of veterans. This report examines (1) how selected schools recruit veterans, (2) veterans' school search and recruiting experiences, and (3) VA's actions to help veterans make informed decisions and to identify inappropriate recruiting practices. For the first question, GAO interviewed officials from 9 schools and reviewed websites of 30 additional schools; both groups were selected for variation in sector (public, nonprofit, and for-profit) and other criteria. For the second question, GAO surveyed a nationally representative group of student veterans, producing results generalizable to the student veteran population. For the third question, GAO reviewed relevant federal requirements and agency documents and interviewed agency officials. GAO also spoke with veteran and higher education organizations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2014-05
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DOD Financial Management: Effect of Continuing Weaknesses on Management and Operations and Status of Key Challenges, Statement of Asif A. Khan, Director, Financial Management and Assurance,Testimony Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Given the federal government's continuing fiscal challenges, it is more important than ever that the Congress, the administration, and federal managers have reliable, useful, and timely financial and performance information to help ensure fiscal responsibility and demonstrate accountability, particularly for the federal government's largest department, the Department of Defense [DOD]. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has previously reported that serious and continuing deficiencies in DOD's financial management make up one of three major impediments to achieving an opinion on the U.S. government's consolidated financial statements. GAO's statement focuses on (1) the effect of continuing financial management challenges on DOD management and operations and (2) DOD's efforts to improve financial management and its remaining challenges. GAO's statement is primarily based on previously issued reports, including GAO's updates on DOD high-risk areas and its audit reports on DOD's financial management, inventory management and asset visibility, weapon system costs, business transformation, and business system modernization."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Khan, Asif A.
2014-05-13
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Disaster Resilience: Actions Are Underway, but Federal Fiscal Exposure Highlights the Need for Continued Attention to Longstanding Challenges, Statement of Chris Currie, Acting Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Multiple factors including increased disaster declarations, climate change effects, and insufficient premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program increase federal fiscal exposure to severe weather events. Managing fiscal exposure from climate change and the National Flood Insurance Program are both on GAO's [Government Accountability Office] High Risk list. GAO has previously reported that building resilience to protect against future damage is one strategy to help limit fiscal exposure. However, in prior reports GAO also identified multiple challenges to doing so. Responsibility for actions that enhance resilience rests largely outside the federal government, so nonfederal entities also play a key role. This testimony discusses (1) resilience-building challenges GAO has previously identified; (2) federal efforts to facilitate resilience-building as part of Hurricane Sandy recovery; and (3) examples of nonfederal efforts to incentivize resilience building. This testimony is based on previous GAO reports issued from 1998 through 2014 related to hazard mitigation, climate change, flood insurance, and preliminary observations from GAO's ongoing work for this committee on federal resilience efforts related to the Sandy recovery. For the ongoing work, GAO reviewed documents such as the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Strategy and a 2012 National Academies study on building resilience. GAO also interviewed officials from FEMA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Currie, Chris
2014-05-14
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Tobacco Products: FDA Spending and New Product Review Time Frames, Statement of Marcia Crosse Director, Health Care, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Health, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "In 2009, the Tobacco Control Act granted FDA authority to regulate tobacco products such as cigarettes. The act authorizes FDA to assess and collect user fees from each tobacco manufacturer and importer for FDA activities related to tobacco product regulation. The act also requires that manufacturers submit information--for example, a statement of the tobacco product's ingredients--to be reviewed by FDA in order to market new tobacco products. FDA reviews the products using a public health standard, taking into account the risks and benefits of tobacco products on the population as a whole, including users and nonusers. The act represents the first time that FDA has had the authority to regulate tobacco products. This testimony highlights and provides selected updates to key findings from our September 2013 report, entitled, 'New Tobacco Products: FDA Needs to Set Time Frames for Its Review Process' (GAO-13-723). This report examined (1) the extent to which FDA spent its tobacco user fee funds, and (2) the status of CTP's [FDA's Center for Tobacco Products] reviews of new tobacco product submissions. GAO [Government Accountability Office] reviewed FDA data on tobacco user fees collected by FDA and spent by all of CTP's offices. GAO also analyzed CTP data on product submissions, including whether specific steps in the review process had been completed. […] In its September 2013 report, GAO recommended FDA establish time frames for making decisions on submissions. FDA plans to identify time frames in spring 2014 and implement them by October 2014."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Crosse, Marcia
2014-04-08
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DOD Financial Management: Actions Under Way Need to Be Successfully Completed to Address Long-standing Funds Control Weaknesses, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "GAO [Government Accountability Office], the DOD [Department of Defense] Inspector General (IG), and others have reported on DOD's inability to provide effective control over the use of public funds (i.e., funds control). Funds control requires obligations and expenditures to comply with applicable law. Funds control weaknesses have prevented DOD from reporting reliable financial information, including information on the use of public funds, results of operations, and financial statements, and put DOD at risk of overobligating and overexpending its appropriations in violation of the Antideficiency Act (ADA). GAO was asked to review the status of DOD's efforts to address its funds control weaknesses. GAO's objectives were to determine the (1) extent of reported weaknesses in DOD's funds control and their effect and (2) status of DOD's corrective actions to address known weaknesses. GAO analyzed 333 GAO, DOD IG, and military department audit reports; DOD reports of ADA violations; and selected DOD financial reports. GAO also examined DOD actions to address audit findings and ADA violations, including actions under DOD's FIAR Plan, and discussed corrective actions on funds control weaknesses with DOD and military department auditors and financial managers."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2014-04
