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Defense Infrastructure: DOD Efforts to Prevent and Mitigate Encroachment at Its Installations, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "DOD [Department of Defense] reports that it faces challenges in carrying out realistic training because of the cumulative effect of outside influences -such as encroachment from urban growth-that GAO [Government Accountability Office] refers to in this report as 'incompatible land use.' In addition, DOD faces similar challenges at its operating installations. House Report 113-102 accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 included a provision for GAO to review DOD efforts to prevent and mitigate encroachment at training ranges. This report assesses (1) how DOD considers this issue when making decisions related to stationing units; (2) the extent to which DOD has policies, procedures, and approaches to identify and mitigate incompatible land use; and (3) the extent to which DOD's guidance and actions to collaborate with external entities in this area are consistent with key considerations for implementing interagency collaborative mechanisms. GAO reviewed DOD guidance and plans and interviewed officials to assess how incompatible land use was considered in stationing decisions and determine how DOD identifies and mitigates incompatible land use. GAO compared key DOD guidance and actions to previously-identified key considerations for implementing interagency collaborative mechanisms. GAO selected nine installations to visit based on factors such as installation size and projected population growth. GAO is not making recommendations in this report. DOD provided technical comments, which were incorporated as appropriate."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-11-14
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Technology Readiness Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Evaluating the Readiness of Technology for Use in Acquisition Programs and Projects
From the Preface: "The U.S. Government Accountability Office is responsible for, among other things, assisting the Congress in its oversight of the federal government, including agency acquisition programs and projects. […] A technology readiness assessment (TRA) is a systematic, evidence-based process that evaluates the maturity of hardware and software technologies critical to the performance of a larger system or the fulfillment of the key objectives of an acquisition program. […] This TRA guide (the Guide) is a companion to GAO's [Government Accountability Office] 'Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide and its Schedule Assessment Guide'. With this Guide, GAO intends to establish a methodology based on best practices that can be used across the federal government for evaluating technology maturity, particularly as it relates to determining a program or project's readiness to move past key decision points that typically coincide with major commitments of resources. Similar assessments can be made by technologists and program managers as knowledge-building exercises during the course of a project to help them evaluate technology maturity, gauge progress, and identify and manage risk. Existing TRA guidance in government agencies and industry may include similar strategies for evaluating technology maturity, but no widely held or accepted process exists for doing so. […] The Guide is intended to provide TRA practitioners, program and technology managers, and governance bodies throughout the federal government a framework for better understanding technology maturity, conducting credible technology readiness assessments, and developing plans for technology maturation efforts."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-08
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Defense Infrastructure: Actions Needed to Strengthen Utility Resilience Planning, Report to the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "DOD [Department of Defense] installations rely on utilities, such as electricity, to accomplish their missions and disruptions can hamper military operations. Senate Report 114- 49 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on DOD-owned utility disruptions. This report (1) describes the number, causes and impacts of utility disruptions caused by the failure of DOD-owned utility infrastructure for fiscal years 2009 through 2015; (2) assesses the extent to which owners and managers of DOD-owned systems have access to utility disruption information; and (3) assesses the extent to which the implementation of a standardized facility condition assessment process provides DOD consistent information about its utility systems. GAO surveyed a representative group of 453 DOD-owned electric, water, wastewater, and natural gas utility systems, evaluated DOD policies and reports, interviewed officials, and conducted interviews with several survey respondents who experienced the most disruptions. To improve utility system information, GAO is recommending that the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps take steps or provide guidance to consistently collect disruption information, and that while the SMS [Sustainment Management System] utilities module is under development, DOD take steps to ensure that the services apply condition standards consistently. DOD concurred with the recommendations to collect disruption data and partially concurred with the other recommendation stating that it would determine if further consistent condition standards are needed."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-11-14
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Coast Guard: Agency Could Better Assess Its Impact on Arctic Capability Gaps and Is Exploring Icebreaker Acquisition Options, Statement of Jennifer Grover, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The retreat of polar sea ice in the Arctic, as reported by the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center, combined with an expected increase in human activity there, has heightened U.S. and other nations' interests in the Arctic region in recent years. Growth in Arctic activity is expected to increase demand for services such as search and rescue and maritime navigation support, which can be a challenge to provide given the harsh and unpredictable weather and vast distances that responding agencies must travel to reach the Arctic. The Coast Guard plays a significant role in U.S. Arctic policy and issued its Arctic strategy in May 2013. This statement addresses the extent to which the Coast Guard has (1) assessed its Arctic capabilities and taken actions to mitigate any identified gaps, and (2) reported being able to carry out polar icebreaking operations. This testimony is based on a June 2016 GAO [Government Accountability Office] report. GAO reviewed relevant laws and policies and Coast Guard documents that detail Arctic plans, among other things. Detailed information on GAO's scope and methodology can be found in the June 2016 report."
United States. General Accounting Office
Grover, Jennifer
2016-07-12
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Foreign Assistance: Selected Agencies' Monitoring and Evaluation Policies Generally Address Leading Practices
From the Document: "All the agencies we reviewed, except DOD, have established M&E [monitoring and evaluation] policies that apply to their major foreign assistance programs. State, USAID [United States Agency for International Development], and MCC [Millennium Challenge Corporation] have agency-wide policies for foreign assistance M&E, while the civilian non-foreign-affairs agencies have policies relevant to their major foreign assistance programs--for USDA, the Foreign Agriculture Service's food aid programs, and for HHS [Human Services], the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). As of August 1, 2016, DOD has not issued M&E policies for its humanitarian and security assistance programs, but DOD is in the process of doing so, according to DOD officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-09-27
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Supplimental Nutrition Assistance Program: Enhanced Detection Tools and Reporting to Combat Recipient Fraud Are in Development, Statement of Kay E. Brown, Director, Workforce, and Income Security Issues, Testimony Before the Subcommittees on Government Operations and the Interior, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "In fiscal year 2015, SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program], the nation's largest nutrition support program, provided about 46 million people with $70 billion in benefits. Fraud has been a long-standing concern in the program, and state agencies are responsible for addressing SNAP recipient fraud. In 2014, GAO [Government Accountability Office] reviewed state and federal efforts to combat SNAP recipient fraud. This testimony summarizes: (1) findings from GAO's 2014 report and (2) the steps FNS [Food and Nutrition Service] has taken since then to address GAO's recommendations. For its 2014 report, GAO reviewed relevant federal laws, regulations, guidance, and documents; interviewed officials in 11 states; interviewed federal officials; tested fraud detection tools using fiscal year 2012 program data, the most recent available at the time of GAO's report; and monitored websites for potential trafficking online. Although GAO's results are not generalizable to all states, the selected states served about a third of SNAP recipient households. For this statement, GAO reviewed FNS's actions to date on its recommendations. In 2014, GAO recommended that FNS reassess its financial incentives for state anti-fraud efforts and tools for website monitoring; establish additional guidance related to EBT [electronic benefit transfer] replacement card data; and enhance the reliability of state reporting. FNS agreed with GAO's recommendations and has been taking steps to address them. GAO is not making new recommendations in this testimony statement."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Brown, Kay E.
2016-06-09
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 313, White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2009
From the Summary: "S. 313 would approve and ratify a settlement agreement between the White Mountain Apache Tribe and the state of Arizona. The agreement would resolve tribal claims to water rights in the state. As part of that agreement, the bill would authorize the appropriation of funds to construct a rural water system to deliver water to tribal lands. The bill also would establish two trust funds for the tribe to protect and restore tribal lakes and forests, conduct certain economic development projects, and operate and maintain the rural water system. Finally, the bill would authorize appropriations for the Department of the Interior (DOI) to operate and maintain the water system until it is conveyed to the tribe. Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing S. 313 would increase discretionary spending by $134 million over the 2010-2019 period and $66 million after 2019. CBO also estimates that enacting S. 313 would increase direct spending by $125 million over the 2010-2019 period and $22 million after 2019. Enacting the legislation would not affect revenues. S. 313 contains intergovernmental mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) because it would require the tribe to enact a tribal water code and prohibit it from objecting to the drilling or use of some wells. CBO estimates that the cost of complying with those mandates would be small and far below the threshold established in UMRA ($69 million in 2009, adjusted annually for inflation)."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2009-11-16
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America COMPETES Act Amendments to the Lacey Act [June 10, 2022]
From the Document: "Section 71102 of the America COMPETES [America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act of 2007] Act, H.R. 4521 (passed the House), would amend the injurious species provisions of the Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. §42). [...] In 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit held in 'U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers v. Zinke' [hyperlink] that the statute did not prohibit interstate shipment of injurious species--that is, shipment between states within the 49 continental United States. The statute identifies certain species as injurious and authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to identify other species as injurious [hyperlink] to human beings; the interests of agriculture, horticulture, forestry; or wildlife or the wildlife resources of the United States. The Secretary may list as injurious any 'species of wild mammals, wild birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), amphibians, reptiles, brown tree snakes, or the offspring or eggs of any of the foregoing.' [...] Section 71102 of H.R. 4521 [hyperlink], as passed by the House, would amend the injurious species section of the Lacey Act. First, it would prohibit 'any interstate transport within the United States.' This provision could be interpreted to prohibit transport across state lines or transport in interstate commerce activity that does not necessarily cross state lines. Second, it would allow the Secretary to issue an emergency designation of any species of wild mammal, wild bird, fish, amphibian, or reptile as injurious and prohibit its import for up to three years."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ward, Erin H.; Sheikh, Pervaze A.
2022-06-10
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Freedom of Information Act: Department of Labor Can Improve Management of Its Program, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "FOIA [Freedom of Information Act] requires federal agencies to provide the public with access to government information in accordance with principles of openness and accountability and generally requires agencies to respond to requests for information within 20 working days. When an agency does not respond or a requester disagrees with the outcomes of his or her request, the requester can appeal a decision or file a lawsuit against the agency. Like other agencies, DOL [Department of Labor] responds to thousands of FOIA requests each year. In fiscal year 2015, the department received approximately 16,800 requests. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review DOL's FOIA processing. GAO's objectives were to determine (1) how the department and its components manage and process FOIA requests, including how they prioritize requests, and the extent that responses to requests have been timely; and (2) how many lawsuits DOL has been subjected to arising from FOIA requests, and the results of those lawsuits. To do so, GAO reviewed DOL reports, policies, guidance, and other documentation; analyzed a random sample of FOIA requests processed by the department in fiscal year 2014; reviewed FOIA-related legal records; and interviewed officials. GAO is recommending, among other things, that DOL establish a time frame to finalize and issue its updated FOIA regulation and take actions to implement required and recommended system capabilities. In written comments on a draft of the report, the department agreed with the recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-06
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Food and Drug Administration: Comprehensive Strategic Planning Needed to Enhance Coordination between Medical Product Centers, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "FDA [The Food and Drug Administration]--an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)--has faced challenges in carrying out its responsibilities to ensure the safety and efficacy of medical products sold in the United States. In 2012, Congress required FDA to develop a SIMP [strategic integrated management plan] for the three centers overseeing medical products that identifies initiatives for improving efficiency, initiatives for workforce development, and measures for assessing the progress of these initiatives. FDA issued the SIMP in July 2013. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine FDA's implementation of the SIMP. In this report, GAO (1) evaluates the extent to which the SIMP serves as a strategic planning document, (2) describes the types of plan initiatives, and (3) describes the mechanisms FDA has to evaluate the effectiveness of its plan initiatives. GAO analyzed FDA documents and spoke to FDA officials to assess the SIMP's development and use, along with the implementation status and evaluation mechanisms used for the SIMP's initiatives. GAO also assessed FDA's plan against leading practices for strategic planning. Finally, GAO analyzed FDA workforce data on hiring and attrition for fiscal years 2012 to 2015. GAO recommended that the Secretary of Health and Human Services direct FDA to engage in a strategic planning process to identify challenges that cut across the medical product centers, and document how it will achieve measurable goals and objectives in these areas. HHS agreed with the recommendation."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-05
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Electronic Waste: DOD Is Recovering Materials, but Several Factors May Hinder Near-Term Expansion of These Efforts, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "DOD routinely disposes of electronics, including items such as computers, cell phones, and copiers, as well as electronics in weapon systems and other equipment. While some usable items are reused, transferred, or donated to other entities, the remaining electronic waste is sent to recyclers. Electronic waste may contain materials that can be recovered, which can reduce the need to procure them through other sources. DLA [Defense Logistics Agency] disposes of DOD's electronic waste. Senate Report 114-49 and House Report 114-102 include provisions for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review matters related to the disposal of DOD electronics and efforts to recover materials from them. This report discusses (1) the extent of DOD's electronic waste that is processed and the types of materials that are recovered from it and (2) DOD's efforts to assess potential opportunities to expand its recovery efforts and factors that could affect expansion. GAO reviewed guidance on electronics disposal, analyzed data on the amount of waste processed and materials recovered, obtained information on efforts to expand material recovery, and interviewed officials. […] GAO recommends that DLA take steps to ensure that strategic and critical materials are included in the development of DOD material declaration standards and guidance. DOD concurred with GAO's recommendation."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-06
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Program Integrity: Views on the Use of Commercial Data Services to Help Identify Fraud and Improper Payments, Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Federal agencies may use commercial data services in conducting program integrity activities designed to identify fraud and improper payments, which pose a significant risk to the integrity of federal programs. For example, federal agencies may obtain commercial data--subject to applicable laws and protections--that identifies individuals' deaths, income and assets, or other information that may help the agency determine whether individuals or entities are eligible for a government program or benefit. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review issues surrounding the use of commercial data in conducting program integrity activities. This report identifies and describes the views of selected agency officials and commercial data service providers regarding (1) reasons selected agencies have used commercial data services in conducting program integrity activities; and (2) factors agencies may consider in determining whether commercial data services meet their information requirements for conducting program integrity activities. To do this, GAO reviewed documents and conducted interviews with federal agency officials and representatives of commercial data service providers selected as part of a nonprobability sample of 12 entities selected to represent a range of program integrity activities and commercial data services. The information and perspectives that GAO obtained are not generalizable to other agencies and providers. GAO is making no recommendations in this report, which incorporates various technical comments from the agencies."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-06
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2022 Summit of the Americas [Updated June 6, 2022]
From the Background: "The Summits of the Americas were established in the early 1990s during a brief period of broad political consensus in the Western Hemisphere. After decades of civil war and military rule, 34 of the 35 countries in the region had established elected civilian democracies. Likewise, following the end of the Cold War, most of the governments in the region had moved away from state-led development in favor of economic liberalization. To build on those shared values and develop a common agenda for the hemisphere's future, President Bill Clinton invited the democratically elected heads of government in the hemisphere to attend the first Summit of the Americas in Miami in 1994. The summit attendees approved a comprehensive plan of action [hyperlink] with 23 separate initiatives, the most prominent of which was an agreement to work toward the creation of a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Although the FTAA was never realized, the negotiating process intensified regional dialogue on trade, leading to numerous bilateral and regional free trade agreements."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Meyer, Peter J.
2022-06-06
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Survey Results from Employees and Executives on Personnel Management and Organizational Culture
From the Background: "This e-supplement presents the results from two GAO [Government Accountability Office] web-based surveys: one survey of all CFPB [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau] employees and another survey of senior CFPB executives. The purpose of these surveys was to obtain their opinions about various aspects of working at CFPB, including questions on (1) hiring, compensation, and retention; (2) employee opportunities, development, and performance management; (3) employee complaint processes; (4) leadership, management, and communication; (5) diversity and inclusion efforts; (6) organizational culture and climate; and (7) employee demographic information. The survey of all CFPB executives covered the same topic areas, but omitted many questions not relevant for executives. […] We conducted this performance audit from September 2014 to May 2016 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-05
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Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program
This webpage provides links to data for the Federal Bureau of Investigations' (FBI) Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program that can be downloaded starting for year 2020 and beyond: "Through the Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Data Collection, the FBI provides data and training that helps keep law enforcement officers safe as they protect the nation's communities. The goal is to provide relevant, high quality, potentially lifesaving information to law enforcement agencies focusing on why an incident occurred, as opposed to what occurred during the incident, with the hope of preventing future incidents. The data collected is analyzed by the LEOKA team and the results are incorporated into the officer safety awareness training the FBI provides for partner agencies."
United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation
2020
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CBO Study: Public Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure
From the Preface: "The nation's transportation and water infrastructure--its highways, airports, water supply systems, wastewater treatment plants, and other facilities--plays a vital role in the economy. Private commercial activities and the daily lives of individuals depend on that physical infrastructure, which is provided by all levels of government in the United States. Concerns about the nation's infrastructure and its ability to support commerce and promote public well-being have prompted calls for greater infrastructure spending. The Congress is currently considering the level of funding for the next several years for important federal infrastructure programs, such as highways, mass transit, and aviation. Crucial to such decisionmaking is information about how much the federal government and state and local governments have spent over time to build, improve, and rehabilitate physical infrastructure, as well as to operate and maintain existing facilities. In response to a request from the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Finance, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) prepared this study, which analyzes recent developments in spending on transportation and water infrastructure, trends in spending for capital and for operations and maintenance by the various levels of government, and the rationale for public spending on infrastructure. This study updates a previous report that CBO published in August 2007, 'Trends in Public Spending on Transportation and Water Infrastructure, 1956 to 2004.' In keeping with CBO's mandate to provide objective, impartial analysis, this report makes no recommendations."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2010-11
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Intelligent Transportation Systems: Urban and Rural Transit Providers Reported Benefits but Face Deployment Challenges, Report to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Public transit providers are adopting electronics and information-processing applications called ITS [intelligent transportation systems] to help improve operations and service. ITS technologies can play an important role in facilitating multimodal choices in a rapidly changing transportation environment. This report describes: (1) the extent to which selected transit providers in large urbanized areas are using ITS, (2) the extent to which transit providers in small urban and rural areas are using ITS, (3) the benefits and challenges these transit providers experience in deploying ITS, and (4) the extent to which transit providers have utilized DOT [Department of Transportation] resources to promote and support ITS. GAO [Government Accountability Office] reviewed DOT's ITS deployment data and ITS studies; interviewed DOT officials and public transit stakeholders; conducted three site visits, selected based on geographic dispersion and DOT recommendations; interviewed 31 transit providers serving large urbanized areas selected for geographic dispersion and use of multiple transit modes; and conducted a national survey of small urban and rural transit providers to obtain information on ITS technologies used. GAO recommends that the Secretary of Transportation develop a strategy to raise awareness of federal resources for ITS deployment in the transit community and include ITS adoption by small urban and rural transit providers in ITS-monitoring efforts. DOT agreed with the recommendations and provided technical comments, which GAO incorporated."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-06
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Homeland Security: Oversight of Neglected Human Resources Information Technology Investment Is Needed, Report to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "DHS's human resources administrative environment includes fragmented systems, duplicative and paper-based processes, and little uniformity of data management practices, which according to DHS, are compromising the department's ability to effectively carry out its mission. DHS initiated HRIT [Human Resources Information Technology] in 2003 to consolidate, integrate, and modernize DHS's human resources information technology infrastructure. In 2011, DHS redefined HRIT's scope and implementation time frames. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review DHS's efforts to implement the HRIT investment. GAO's objectives included, among others, evaluating the progress DHS has made in implementing the HRIT investment. GAO compared HRIT's goals and scope to the investment's actual accomplishments, and compared DHS's planned schedule for implementing strategic improvement opportunities (key areas identified by DHS as needing improvement) against its current schedule."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-02-11
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2014 Sequestration: Opportunities Exist to Improve Transparency of Progress Toward Deficit Reduction Goals, Report to the Chairman, Committee on the Budget, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "In fiscal year 2014, federal agencies implemented the second consecutive year of sequestration reductions to mandatory spending, which are scheduled through fiscal year 2025. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the implementation of sequestration on mandatory accounts and any related effects. This report examines 1) the designation of mandatory accounts government-wide under the President's sequestration order for fiscal year 2014, 2) how selected agencies implemented sequestration and any effects they reported on programs or services, and 3) how continued sequestration of mandatory spending relates to the achievement of deficit reduction goals. GAO analyzed fiscal year 2014 budget data on sequestration; selected a nongeneralizable sample of 6 accounts from USDA, HHS [Health and Human Services], Treasury, and DOT [Department of Transportation] based on the amount of sequestrable budget authority, budget function, and account type; reviewed documentation on sequestration; interviewed budget officials; and reviewed legislation."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-04
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Addressing the Long-Run Deficit: A Comparison of Approaches [June 7, 2022]
From the Summary: "The growth of the national debt, which is considered unsustainable under current policies, continues to be one of the central issues of domestic federal policymaking. Addressing a federal budget deficit that is unsustainable over the long run involves choices. Fundamentally, the issues require deciding what government goods, services, and transfers are worth paying taxes for. Most people would agree that the country benefits from a wide range of government services--air traffic controllers, border security, courts and corrections, and so forth--provided by the federal government. Yet federal government provision of goods and services comprises only a modest portion of the federal budget. Transfers, including interest payments, account for around 75% of the federal budget"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gravelle, Jane; Marples, Donald J.
2022-06-07
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Southwest Border Security: Additional Actions Needed to Assess Resource Deployment and Progress, Statement of Rebecca Gambler, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The southwest border continues to be vulnerable to cross-border illegal activity, with DHS apprehending over 331,000 illegal entrants, and making over 14,000 seizures of drugs in fiscal year 2015. DHS has employed a variety of resources to help secure the border, including personnel, technology -- such as cameras and sensors, tactical infrastructure -- such as fencing and roads, and air and marine assets. This statement discusses (1) DHS efforts to deploy resources on the southwest border and measure the effectiveness of these resources in securing the border, and (2) DHS efforts to develop performance goals and measures for achieving situational awareness and border security. This statement is based on GAO [Government Accountability Office] reports and testimonies issued from September 20 09 through May 2015, with selected updates through February 2016 on DHS enforcement efforts and actions to address prior GAO recommendations. To conduct the updates, GAO interviewed agency officials and reviewed related documentation. […] GAO previously made recommendations for DHS to, among other things, (1) strengthen its management of technology plans and programs and (2) establish milestones and time frames for the development of border security goals and measures. DHS generally agreed and has actions underway to address the recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Gambler, Rebecca
2016-03-01
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Patient Safety: Hospitals Face Challenges Implementing Evidence-Based Practices, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "While millions of Americans benefit from the medical care they receive each year, this care also has the potential to harm patients. Medical care can be unsafe when it leads to adverse events, such as infections. Such adverse events occur even though evidence indicates that some could be reduced or eliminated through implementation of evidence-based patient safety practices. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review information on the implementation of patient safety practices in hospitals. This report describes (1) key factors that affect hospitals' implementation of evidence-based patient safety practices and their reported effects on adverse events; (2) the types of programs health care payers use to promote hospital patient safety and their reported effects on adverse events; and (3) gaps, if any, that experts identify in the available information on patient safety practices. GAO interviewed patient safety experts and officials from six selected hospitals, six selected insurers, and officials from CMS [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services] and AHRQ [Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality]. GAO selected the hospitals based in part on their performance on certain quality measures related to patient safety and selected the insurers because they operated relevant patient safety programs. The information GAO obtained on the hospitals and insurers is not generalizable. GAO also reviewed literature on the field of patient safety research. In commenting on a draft of this report, HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] generally agreed with GAO's findings. GAO also received technical comments from HHS and incorporated them as appropriate."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-02-25
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Data Center Consolidation: Agencies Making Progress, but Planned Savings Goals Need to be Established, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "In 2010, as the focal point for information technology management across the government, OMB's [U.S. Office of Management and Budget] Federal Chief Information Officer launched the Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative to reduce the growing number of centers. Information technology reform legislation was subsequently enacted in December 2014 that included a series of provisions related to the federal data center consolidation effort, including requiring agencies to report on cost savings and requiring GAO [U.S. Government Accountability Office] to annually review agency inventories and strategies. GAO's objectives were to (1) review agencies' data center closures to date and plans for further closures, (2) evaluate agencies 'progress in achieving consolidation savings and describe plans for future savings, and (3) assess agencies' progress against OMB's data center optimization targets. To do so, GAO assessed agencies' data center inventories, reviewed agency-reported cost savings and avoidance documentation, and compared agencies' data center optimization data as of November 2015 against OMB's established targets. […] GAO is recommending that 10 agencies take action to address challenges in establishing, and to complete, planned data center cost savings and avoidance targets. GAO is also recommending that 22 agencies take action to improve optimization progress, including addressing any identified challenges. Fourteen agencies agreed with GAO's recommendations, 4 did not state whether they agreed or disagreed, and 6 stated that they had no comments."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-03
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 5892, Water Resources Development Act of 2010
From the Summary: "H.R. 5892 would authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to study and participate in the construction of more than 200 new water projects. Assuming appropriation of the authorized and necessary amounts, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing H.R. 5892 would cost $1.3 billion over the 2011-2015 period. The bill also would allow the Corps to collect and spend funds contributed by private firms to expedite the evaluation of permit applications. Because the legislation would affect direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. However, based on information from the Corps, CBO estimates that amounts collected and spent for such purposes would total less than $500,000 annually and that the net budgetary impact would be negligible. Enacting the legislation would not affect revenues. H.R. 5892 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). Any costs to state, local, or tribal governments to comply with conditions of federal assistance would be incurred voluntarily. H.R. 5892 would impose a private-sector mandate as defined in UMRA if the Army Corps of Engineers acquires any real estate interests by means of condemnation. CBO estimates that the cost of the mandate, if imposed, would fall well below the annual threshold established in UMRA for private-sector mandates ($141 million in 2010, adjusted annually for inflation)."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2010-09-23
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 1331, Local Water Protection Act
"H.R. 1331 would authorize the appropriation of $200 million each year over the 2020-2024 period for those grant programs. Assuming appropriation of the specified amounts, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing the bill would cost $810 million over the 2020-2024 period and $190 million after 2024 (see Table 1). The costs of the legislation fall in budget function 300 (natural resources and environment)."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2019-04-05
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Immigration Benefits System: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Can Improve Program Management, Report to Congressional Requestors
From the Highlights: "Each year, USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] processes millions of applications for persons seeking to study, work, visit, or live in the United States, and for persons seeking to become a U.S. citizen. In 2006, USCIS began the Transformation Program to enable electronic adjudication and case management tools that would allow users to apply and track their applications online. In 2012, to address performance concerns, USCIS changed its acquisition strategy to improve system development. In May 2015, GAO [Government Accountability Office] reported that USCIS expected the program to cost up to $3.1 billion and be fully operational by March 2019. This includes more than $475 million that was invested in the initial version of the program's key case management component, USCIS ELIS [Electronic Immigration System], which has since been decommissioned. This report evaluates the extent to which the program is using information technology program management leading practices. To perform this work, GAO identified agency policy and guidance and leading practices in, among other things, cost estimation, Agile software development, and systems integration and testing, and compared these with practices being used by the program. [...] GAO is making 12 recommendations to improve Transformation Program management, including ensuring alignment among policy, guidance, and leading practices in areas such as Agile software development and systems integration and testing. DHS concurred with the recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-07-07
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Federal Acquisitions: Use of 'Other Transaction' Agreements Limited and Mostly for Research and Development Activities, Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Federal agencies use a variety of acquisition and financial assistance mechanisms, such as contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, to help meet their missions. Some federal agencies have received authorization to use other transaction agreements, which allow an agency to enter into agreements other than traditional mechanisms, such as contracts. As a result, agencies can customize their other transaction agreements to help meet project requirements and mission needs. As the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported in May 2002, this authority carries risks, however, because such agreements may be exempt from the Federal Acquisition Regulation and other requirements that are intended to protect taxpayers' interests. GAO was asked to review federal agencies' use of other transaction authority. This report describes (1) which agencies are authorized to use other transaction agreements and the extent to which agencies have guidance to implement the authority, (2) why agencies used other transaction agreements and for what types of activities, and (3) the extent to which agencies used other transaction agreements for fiscal years 2010 through 2014. GAO reviewed statutory authorizations, agencies' guidance, and information on agencies' other transaction agreements and use for fiscal years 2010 through 2014, and interviewed officials from each of the agencies authorized to use other transaction agreements."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-01-07
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Arms Sales: Congressional Review Process [June 10, 2022]
From the Summary: "This report reviews the process and procedures that apply to congressional consideration of foreign arms sales proposed by the President. This includes consideration of proposals to sell major defense equipment, defense articles and services, or the retransfer to third-party states of such items. Under the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the President must formally notify Congress 30 calendar days before the Administration can take the final steps to conclude a government-to-government foreign military sale of major defense equipment valued at $14 million or more, defense articles or services valued at $50 million or more, or design and construction services valued at $200 million or more. In the case of such sales to NATO member states, NATO, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Israel, or New Zealand, the President must formally notify Congress 15 calendar days before the Administration can proceed with the transaction. However, the prior notice threshold values are higher for sales to these destinations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kerr, Paul K.
2022-06-10
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 745, Magna Water District Water Reuse and Groundwater Recharge Act of 2009
From the Summary: "S. 745 would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to participate in developing a water project in the Magna Water District in Salt Lake County, Utah. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amount, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing S.745 would cost $12 million over the 2011-2015 period. Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. S. 745 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2010-08-05
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Circumvention Inquiry into Solar Imports [June 8, 2022]
From the Document: "On April 1, 2022, the Commerce Department initiated [hyperlink] an inquiry into whether Chinese manufacturers of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (CSPV) cells and panels are circumventing U.S. measures intended to counteract unfair trade practices. Commerce initiated the inquiry in response to a petition [hyperlink] by Auxin Solar Inc., a U.S. manufacturer, alleging that solar cells and panels imported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam use Chinese-made parts and components to avoid high U.S. tariffs on solar equipment imported directly from China. The investigation has been controversial, including among Members of Congress. Some stakeholders assert that uncertainty about the tariffs could slow deployment of solar energy in the United States while others insist that action is needed to protect U.S. solar manufacturing. While the Biden Administration recently used emergency authorities in effort to support U.S. solar deployment, a final decision in this circumvention inquiry is expected no later than April 2023."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wong, Liana; Casey, Christopher A.; Singh, Manpreet
2022-06-08
