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Anti-Money Laundering: Opportunities Exist to Increase Law Enforcement Use of Bank Secrecy Act Reports, and Banks' Costs to Comply with the Act Varied, Report to the Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions, Committee on Financial Services, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "Money laundering and terrorist financing pose threats to national security and the U.S. financial system's integrity. The BSA [Bank Secrecy Act] requires financial institutions to file suspicious activity and other reports to help law enforcement investigate these and other crimes. FinCEN [Financial Crimes Enforcement Network] administers the BSA and maintains BSA reports in an electronic database that can be searched to identify relevant reports. Some banks cite the BSA as one of their most significant compliance costs and question whether BSA costs outweigh its benefits in light of limited public information about law enforcement's use of BSA reports. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the BSA's implementation. This report examines (1) the extent to which law enforcement uses BSA reports and FinCEN facilitates their use, (2) selected banks' BSA compliance costs, (3) oversight of banks' BSA compliance, and (4) stakeholder views of proposed changes to the BSA."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Cyber Diplomacy: State Has Not Involved Relevant Federal Agencies in the Development of Its Plan to Establish the Cyberspace Security and Emerging Technologies Bureau
From the Document: "The Department of State (State) leads U.S. government international efforts to advance the full range of U.S. interests in cyberspace, including by coordinating with other federal agencies, such as the Departments of Commerce (Commerce), Defense (DOD), Energy (DOE), Homeland Security (DHS), Justice (DOJ), and the Treasury (Treasury), to improve the cybersecurity of the nation. [...] In June 2019, State notified Congress of its intent to establish a new Bureau of Cyberspace Security and Emerging Technologies (CSET) that would focus more narrowly on cyberspace security and the security aspects of emerging technologies. [...] This report examines the extent to which State involved other federal agencies in the development of its plan for establishing CSET. As part of our ongoing work on this topic, we are also continuing to monitor and review State's overall planning process for establishing this new bureau."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09-22
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Veterans Affairs: VA Needs to Address Persistent IT Modernization and Cybersecurity Challenges, Statement of Carol C. Harris, Director, Information Technology Management Issues, Testimony Before the Subcommittees on Economic Opportunity and Technology Modernization, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives
From the Document: "The use of IT [information technology] is crucial to helping VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] effectively serve the nation's veterans. The department annually spends billions of dollars on its information systems and assets--VA's budget for IT now exceeds $4 billion annually. However, over many years, VA has experienced challenges in managing its IT projects and programs, which could jeopardize its ability to effectively support key programs such as the Forever GI Bill. GAO [Government Accountability Office] has previously reported on these IT management challenges at VA. GAO was asked to testify on its prior IT work at VA. Specifically, this testimony summarizes results and recommendations from GAO's issued reports that examined VA's efforts in (1) modernizing VistA [Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture], a system for the Family Caregiver Program, and VBMS [Veterans Benefits Management System]; (2) implementing FITARA [Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act]; and (3) addressing cybersecurity issues. In developing this testimony, GAO reviewed its recently issued reports that addressed IT management issues at VA and GAO's biannual high-risk series. GAO also incorporated information on the department's actions in response to recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Harris, Carol C.
2020-09-16
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2020 Census: Key Areas for Attention Raised by Compressed Timeframes, Statement of J. Christopher Mihm, Managing Director, Strategic Issues, Testimony Before the Committee on Oversight and Reform, U.S. House of Representatives
From the Testimony: "I am pleased to be here today to discuss the U.S. Census Bureau's (Bureau) progress in preparing for the 2020 Decennial Census. The Census is mandated by the Constitution and provides vital data for the nation. Census data are used, among other purposes, to apportion the seats of the U.S. House of Representatives; redraw congressional districts in each state; and allocate billions of dollars each year in federal financial assistance. Like the rest of the country, the Bureau has been required to respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) national emergency. Resulting delays, compressed timeframes, implementation of untested procedures, and continuing challenges could undermine the overall quality of the count and escalate census costs. Further, compounding factors in some areas, including high rates of COVID-19 and weather events such as Hurricane Laura and wildfires, affect the Bureau's ability to use in-person methods for obtaining responses."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Mihm, J. Christopher
2020-09-10
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Natural Disasters: Economic Effects of Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, Harvey, and Irma
From the Document: "This report examines (1) estimates of the costs of damages caused by hurricanes and hurricanes' effects on overall economic activity and employment in the areas they affected, and (2) actions subsequently taken in those areas to improve resilience to future natural disasters."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09-10
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Veteran Suicide: VA Needs Accurate Data and Comprehensive Analyses to Better Understand On-Campus Suicides, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "VA [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs] established suicide prevention as its highest clinical priority. In recent years, there have been reports of veterans dying by suicide on VA campuses--in locations such as inpatient settings, parking lots, and on the grounds of cemeteries. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review veteran deaths by suicide on VA campuses. This report examines (1) VA's process to track the number of veterans that died by suicide on VA campuses, and (2) steps VA has taken to address these types of suicides."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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2020 Census: Initial Enumeration Underway but Readiness for Upcoming Operations is Mixed, A Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "'In the coming months, the 2020 Decennial Census will begin its operations to count the population of the United States. The success of these operations relies on the [Census] Bureau's preparations, including recruiting and hiring a sufficient work force, developing and testing IT [information technology] systems, and maintaining public trust to ensure participation by developing community partnerships, combating disinformation, and protecting the privacy of respondent data. The Bureau is actively managing these preparations, but faces significant risks that could adversely impact the cost, quality, schedule, and security of the count. Over the past decade, GAO [Government Accountability Office] has made 112 recommendations specific to the 2020 Census to help address issues such as cost estimation, key innovations, and acquisition and development of IT systems. The Department of Commerce has generally agreed with the recommendations. As of February 2020, 28 of the recommendations had not been fully implemented.' GAO was asked to provide regular updates on the 2020 Census. This report examines the cost and progress of key 2020 census operations critical to a cost-effective enumeration, and early warnings, if any, that may require Census Bureau or congressional attention."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-02
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COVID-19: Federal Efforts Could Be Strengthened by Timely and Concerted Actions, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "As of September 10, 2020, the U.S. had over 6.3 million cumulative reported cases of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and over 177,000 reported deaths, according to federal agencies. The country also continues to experience serious economic repercussions and turmoil. Four relief laws, including the CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act, were enacted as of September 2020 to provide appropriations to address the public health and economic threats posed by COVID-19. As of July 31, 2020, the federal government had obligated a total of $1.6 trillion and expended $1.5 trillion of the COVID-19 relief funds as reported by federal agencies on USAspending.gov. The CARES Act includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report bimonthly on its ongoing monitoring and oversight efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This third report examines key actions the federal government has taken to address the COVID-19 pandemic and evolving lessons learned relevant to the nation's response to pandemics."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Information Technology: Selected Federal Agencies Need to Take Additional Actions to Reduce Contract Duplication, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Given that the federal government spends over $90 billion annually on IT [information technology], it is important that agencies avoid spending on duplicative contracts. Such duplication can occur, for example, when an agency awards two or more contracts to the same vendor for the same services. Category management--in which spending is managed by categories such as IT--and analyses of agency spending on products and services (called spend analyses) have been recognized as effective practices for identifying duplicative contracts. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review agencies' efforts to reduce IT contract duplication. GAO determined the extent to which (1) selected agencies' efforts to prevent, identify, and reduce duplicative or wasteful IT contracts were consistent with OMB [Office of Management and Budget] guidance; and (2) these efforts were informed by spend analyses."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-09
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Veterans Community Care Program: Improvements Needed to Help Ensure Timely Access to Care, Statement of Sharon M. Silas, Director, Health Care, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Health, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "In June 2019, VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] implemented its new community care program, the VCCP [Veterans Community Care Program], as required by the VA MISSION Act of 2018. This new program replaced or consolidated prior community care programs. Under the VCCP, VAMC [VA medical center] staff are responsible for community care appointment scheduling. This statement summarizes GAO's [Government Accountability Office] September 2020 report. It describes for the VCCP: (1) the appointment scheduling process that VA established for veterans, (2) the metrics VA used to monitor the timeliness of appointment scheduling, (3) VA's efforts to prepare VAMC staff for appointment scheduling, and (4) VA's efforts to determine VAMC staffing needs."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Silas, Sharon M.
2020-09-30
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Telecommunications: FCC Should Enhance Performance Goals and Measures for Its Program to Support Broadband Service in High-Cost Areas, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives
"Millions of Americans do not have access to broadband. Within the Universal Service Fund, FCC's [Federal Communications Commission] high-cost program provided about $5 billion in 2019 to telecommunications carriers to support broadband deployment in unserved areas where the cost to provide broadband service is high. In 2011, FCC established five performance goals and related measures for the high-cost program. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the high-cost program's performance goals and measures. This report examines: (1) the extent to which the program's performance goals and measures align with leading practices to enable the effective use of performance information and (2) the key challenges selected stakeholders believe FCC faces in meeting the program's goals."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-10
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Human Trafficking: Agencies Have Taken Steps to Strengthen International Anti-Trafficking Projects, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Human trafficking, a multi-billion dollar industry, is a pervasive problem throughout the world. In addition to harming its victims, it imposes social and public health costs and undermines government authority. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on programs conducted by specific agencies, including State [Department of State], USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development], and DOL [Department of Labor], which address trafficking in persons. This report (1) describes recent international anti-trafficking in persons projects that key U.S. agencies have awarded to implementing partners; (2) describes State's Program to End Modern Slavery, and the extent to which State conducted oversight for subaward selection; (3) describes agencies' U.S. international anti-trafficking project evaluation efforts, including actions agencies are taking to address challenges to such evaluations; and (4) examines the extent to which agencies used selected midterm evaluations to strengthen ongoing projects, among other things."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-11
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Rule of Law Assistance: State and USAID Could Improve Monitoring Efforts, Report to the Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues, Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Rule of law strengthens protection of fundamental rights and serves as a foundation for democratic governance and economic growth. According to State [U.S. Department of State], strengthening judicial and legal systems in certain countries is vital to U.S. national security interests. State and USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] allocated over $2.7 billion for rule of law assistance overseas from fiscal years 2014 through 2018. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review monitoring and evaluation of U.S. rule of law assistance around the world. This report examines, among other objectives, the extent to which the agencies followed key practices for monitoring rule of law projects in selected countries, and processes agencies have in place to use evaluations to inform future rule of law assistance."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-11
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Aviation Certification: FAA Needs to Strengthen Its Design Review Process for Small Airplanes, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] is undergoing a major change in how it reviews and certifies the designs of small airplanes. The Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013 directed FAA to streamline its design reviews to improve safety, regulatory cost burden, innovation, and technology adoption. In 2016, FAA shifted from prescriptive design requirements to performance-based regulations. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 directed GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review FAA's implementation of these regulations. This report examines: (1) FAA's implementation of performance-based safety regulations for small airplanes and (2) FAA's efforts to measure the effect of these regulations on safety, regulatory cost burden, innovation, and technology adoption."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-11
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COVID-19: Federal Efforts Accelerate Vaccine and Therapeutic Development, but More Transparency Needed on Emergency Use Authorizations, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the GAO (Government Accountability Office) Highlights: "The U.S. had about 10.3 million cumulative reported cases of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] and about 224,000 reported deaths as of November 12, 2020. Given this catastrophic loss of life as well as the pandemic's effects on the U.S. economy, effective and safe vaccines and therapeutics are more important than ever. The CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act includes a provision for GAO to report on its ongoing monitoring and oversight efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report examines, (1) efforts of Operation Warp Speed to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutic development; and (2) FDA's use of EUAs [emergency use authorizations] for COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines, among other objectives."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-11
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Federal Telework: Key Practices That Can Help Ensure the Success of Telework Programs, Statement of Michelle B. Rosenberg, Acting Director, Strategic Issues, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Telework offers benefits to federal agencies as well as to the federal workforce. These include improving recruitment and retention of employees, reducing the need for costly office space, and an opportunity to better balance work and family demands. In addition, telework is a tool that agencies can use to help accomplish their missions during periods of disruption, including during the current COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. Congress has encouraged federal agencies to expand staff participation in telework, most recently by passing the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 (the act). The act established requirements for executive agencies' telework policies and programs, among other things. This statement provides key practices to help ensure the success of telework programs. The statement is based on GAO's [Government Accountability Office] body of work on federal telework issued from July 2003 through February 2017."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-11-18
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Weapon System Sustainment: Aircraft Mission Capable Rates Generally Did Not Meet Goals and Cost of Sustaining Selected Weapon Systems Varied Widely, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Document: "GAO [Government Accountability Office] examined 46 types of aircraft and found that only three met their annual mission capable goals in a majority of the years for fiscal years 2011 through 2019 and 24 did not meet their annual mission capable goals in any fiscal year as shown below. The mission capable rate--the percentage of total time when the aircraft can fly and perform at least one mission--is used to assess the health and readiness of an aircraft fleet."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-11
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EPA Grants to Tribes: Additional Actions Needed to Effectively Address Tribal Environmental Concerns, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Hundreds of tribal environmental programs operate across the nation to protect human health and safeguard the environment. Many of these programs are supported, at least in part, by EPA grants. Some tribes have raised concerns that a lack of resources threatens their ability to operate tribal environmental programs. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review EPA grants to tribes. This report examines (1) the amount and types of grants EPA awarded to tribes for fiscal years 2014 through 2019; (2) how tribes used these grants; and (3) challenges EPA and tribes identified in addressing environmental concerns through grants, and EPA's actions to address these challenges. GAO reviewed laws, policies, and grant documentation; assessed EPA data on the types and amount of grants provided to tribes; and interviewed EPA officials as well as 10 tribes and one intertribal consortium selected to highlight different EPA regions and grant types, for nongeneralizable information about EPA grants and related challenges."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-10
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Nuclear Waste Disposal: Better Planning Needed to Avoid Potential Disruptions at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "DOE's [Department of Energy] WIPP [Waste Isolation Pilot Plant] is the nation's only deep geologic repository for the disposal of defense-related nuclear waste. DOE suspended operations at WIPP after two accidents in 2014 and resumed on a limited scale in 2017. DOE has initiated two projects to improve WIPP's underground ventilation system and allow full disposal operations to resume. However, DOE estimates WIPP's existing physical space will be full around 2025, and DOE faces a statutory limitation on how much waste can be disposed of at WIPP. Senate Report No. 115-125 accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review DOE's actions to bring WIPP towards full operational status. This report examines DOE's (1) plans to meet needs for physical space at WIPP without exceeding WIPP's statutory capacity, (2) challenges to completing key ventilation projects, and (3) plans for adding physical space at WIPP without interruption to operations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-11
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Global Food Security: Information on Spending and Types of Assistance Provided by the United States and Other Donors
From the Document: "In 2020, the United Nations (UN) reported that nearly 690 million people in the world were undernourished. According to this reporting, the number of undernourished people has increased by 60 million since 2014. Stunting--a condition where children are too short for their age due to poor nutrition in-utero and in early childhood--affected more than 140 million children under the age of 5 around the world in 2019. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is expected to worsen food insecurity levels around the world. In April 2020, the International Food Policy Research Institute estimated that, absent interventions, more than 140 million additional people around the world could fall into extreme poverty in 2020, which would exacerbate global food insecurity. UN projections indicate that 83 million to 132 million people could become undernourished in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has reported that COVID-19's effects on emerging economies could increase emergency food assistance needs by 25 percent. [...] This report examines the amount and types of food security assistance that the United States and other donors have provided globally from 2014 through 2018."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-11-19
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Defense Acquisitions: Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture Would Benefit from Defined Goals and Governance, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Cyberspace is a growing, human-made environment that touches many parts of life, including education, economic development, health, and other public services. For DOD, cyberspace is as important as the traditional land, sea, air, and space warfighting domains. To integrate these disparate cyber systems into a more cohesive capability, U.S. Cyber Command introduced an overarching vision for cyber capabilities known as the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture. The Senate Armed Services Committee included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review the status of the JCWA [Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture]. This report (1) describes the JCWA concept, systems, and planned capabilities; and (2) assesses the extent to which DOD has defined interoperability goals and a governance structure to guide JCWA cyber system acquisitions."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-11
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Defense Intelligence: Comprehensive Plan Needed to Improve Stakeholder Engagement in the Development of New Military Intelligence System, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "Foundational military intelligence--all-source intelligence collected by the Intelligence Community (IC) on other countries' militaries--is a critical element in planning for military operations. The DIA [Defense Intelligence Agency] legacy system for processing such intelligence is unable to meet current needs, and DIA intends to replace it with MARS [Machine-Assisted Analytic Rapid-Repository System]. MARS is expected to transform the way the IC approaches and generates foundational military intelligence. However, agencies can face a wide array of issues in developing a new system of this magnitude, including incorporating feedback from a large number of stakeholders. A committee report accompanying the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2018, 2019, and 2020 includes a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review MARS development. This report (1) describes the initial risks DIA and stakeholders have identified in the development of MARS and the actions DIA has taken to manage risk and (2) assesses how DIA is engaging potential stakeholders in the development of capabilities for the MARS program."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-11
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Coast Guard Acquisitions: Opportunities Exist to Reduce Risk for the Offshore Patrol Cutter Program, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The Coast Guard--a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)--is planning to spend over $12 billion to acquire a fleet of 25 OPCs [Offshore Patrol Cutter]. This is the component's highest investment priority and will help ensure a variety of missions, such as drug and migrant interdiction, are carried out in offshore waters once its aging Medium Endurance Cutters are decommissioned. After Hurricane Michael--a category 5 storm-- significantly disrupted the OPC shipbuilder's ability to continue work in October 2018, DHS granted up to $659 million in extraordinary contractual relief to the shipbuilder. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the status of the OPC acquisition program. This report examines, among other objectives, how the Coast Guard revised the OPC program after Hurricane Michael and the extent to which the program addressed major risks--particularly in the areas of design maturity, schedule, and cost-- before proceeding through key acquisition decisions both pre- and post-hurricane."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-10
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Federal-Aid Highways: States and Local Governments Reported Benefits to Federal Highway Fund Swapping, but Impacts Cannot Be Definitively Determined, Report to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides funding to states to build and maintain the nation's roadways and bridges. States must follow applicable federal standards such as laws that require contractors to pay locally prevailing wages. States can make federal funding available to local agencies for projects, but the ability of local agencies to comply with federal requirements is a well-documented risk area. Some states have established 'fund swapping' programs where local agencies swap proposed federal funding with the state in return for state dollars. FHWA does not directly oversee these programs, and no federal statutes or regulations authorize or prohibit fund swapping. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review swapping of federal-aid highway funds and its impact. In this report, GAO describes: (1) the extent to which states and local agencies engage in fund swapping; (2) factors affecting whether state and local agencies engage in federal fund swapping; and (3) what is known about the impact fund swapping has on prevailing wages paid to workers and other federal requirements."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-10
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Federal Social Safety Net Programs: Millions of Full-Time Workers Rely on Federal Health Care and Food Assistance Programs, Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on the Budget, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Each year millions of wage-earning adults participate in federally funded social safety net programs to help pay for basic needs including health care and food assistance. These individuals may work for employers in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, or be self-employed. They also may work full-time or part-time schedules. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review several aspects of this population. This report examines (1) what is known about the labor characteristics of working adult Medicaid enrollees and SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] recipients and (2) what is known about where adult Medicaid enrollees and SNAP recipients work."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-10
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Consumer Product Safety Commission: Actions Needed to Improve Processes for Addressing Product Defect Cases, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "CPSC [Consumer Product Safety Commission] is responsible for ensuring the safety of thousands of consumer products ranging from children's toys to off-road recreational vehicles. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review CPSC's processes for addressing product safety hazards. Among other objectives, this report examines the extent to which CPSC has (1) taken steps to prioritize and address product safety hazards in a timely and efficient manner; (2) overseen firms' compliance with corrective action plans and taken steps to address noncompliance; and (3) taken steps to assess the effectiveness of different types of corrective actions."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-11
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Puerto Rico Electricity: FEMA and HUD Have Not Approved Long-Term Projects and Need to Implement Recommendations to Address Uncertainties and Enhance Resilience, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria damaged Puerto Rico's electricity grid, causing the longest blackout in U.S. history. It took roughly 11 months after the hurricanes for power to be restored to all of the customers with structures deemed safe for power restoration. Since electricity service has been restored, local entities have undertaken the longer-term task of more fully repairing and rebuilding the grid. GAO [Government Accountability Office] reported in 2019 on challenges hindering progress in rebuilding the grid and recommended that FEMA and HUD [Department of Housing and Urban Development] take actions to address these challenges. This report examines the status of efforts to support long-term grid recovery in Puerto Rico, including actions taken by FEMA and HUD to implement GAO's 2019 recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-11
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Farm Programs: USDA Has Improved Its Completion of Eligibility Compliance Reviews, but Additional Oversight is Needed, Report to the Honorable Charles E. Grassley, President Pro Tempore, U.S. Senate
From the Highlights: "Each crop year, USDA distributes billions of dollars in payments to farmers through programs that, by law, require payment recipients to be actively engaged in farming. These programs provide income support to producers of key crops such as corn, cotton, and soybeans. In September 2013, GAO [Government Accountability Office] found weaknesses in how FSA [Farm Service Agency] implemented regulations to ensure that farmers meet the criteria for being actively engaged and do not receive payments above program limits. GAO recommended that FSA set a plan and time frame for using its tracking system to monitor compliance reviews, which FSA did."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-10
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Financial Audit: Office of Financial Stability's (Troubled Asset Relief Program) FY 2020 and FY 2019 Financial Statements
From the Document: "This report transmits the GAO [Government Accountability Office] auditor's report on the results of our audits of the fiscal years 2020 and 2019 financial statements of the Office of Financial Stability (Troubled Asset Relief Program), which is incorporated in the enclosed 'Office of Financial Stability (Troubled Asset Relief Program) Agency Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2020'. As discussed more fully in the auditor's report that begins on page 19 of the enclosed agency financial report, we found [1] the Office of Financial Stability's (OFS) financial statements for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, and 2019, are presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; [2] OFS maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting for TARP as of September 30, 2020; and [3] no reportable noncompliance for fiscal year 2020 with provisions of applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements we tested."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-11-10
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Biomedical Research: NIH Should Publicly Report More Information About the Licensing of Its Intellectual Property, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] labs conduct research that can contribute to the development of new life-saving drugs. HHS may grant rights to its inventions by licensing the patents to pharmaceutical companies that conduct the additional development activities and testing necessary to bring drugs to market. Public health experts and patients' rights advocates have raised concerns about the prices of drugs developed with federal support. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review HHS's management of its intellectual property. This report examines (1) the extent to which HHS-owned intellectual property has contributed to the development of FDA-approved drugs, (2) what is known about the licenses associated with FDA-approved drugs, (3) factors NIH prioritizes when licensing its inventions and information about licensing it makes public, and (4) steps HHS has taken to protect its rights."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2020-10
