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Action Plan to Advance Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity: Closing the Racial Wealth Gap by Addressing Mis-valuations for Families and Communities of Color
From the Executive Summary: "For many Americans, the dream of homeownership and the long-term financial security this investment represents is a dream deferred or unrealized. Homeownership is often hindered by inequities within current home lending and appraisal processes, which research shows disproportionately impact people in communities of color. [...] This 'Action Plan to Advance Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE)' ('the Action Plan') is the blueprint for how all Americans can benefit fairly from the equity built through homeownership. Specifically, this Action Plan: 1. Outlines the historical role of racism in the valuation of residential property; 2. Examines the various forms of bias that can appear in residential property valuation practices; and 3. Describes affirmative steps that federal agencies will take to advance equity in the appraisal process, and outlines further recommendations that government and industry stakeholders can initiate."
Interagency Task Force of Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity
2022-03
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Strengthening the Resilience of Defense Critical Electric Infrastructure: Recommendations for the U.S. Department of Energy
From the Introduction: "The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has significant opportunities to improve collaboration with the electric industry to bolster the resilience of the Defense Critical Electric Infrastructure (DCEI) that serves Critical Defense Facilities (CDFs). Based on insights provided by responsible utilities (RUs) that own or operate DCEI, this report offers specific proposals for progress. Some proposals can be implemented by DOE under its own authorities. Yet, given the inherently public-private and intergovernmental nature of many DCEI challenges, other recommendations would require DOE to partner with RUs, additional industry stakeholders, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and state regulators."
United States. Department of Energy. Office of Electricity. Electricity Advisory Committee
2022-03
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Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Bomb Threat Resource Guide
From the Document: "Having a plan in place makes the response to bomb threats, unattended items, or suspicious items as orderly and controlled as possible, reducing risk and the impact of false alarms on regular activities. Facility supervisors-- such as school, office, or building managers responsible for the facility--should: [1] Review the DHS-DOJ [U.S. Department of Justice] Bomb Threat Guidance [hyperlink] and DHS Training Series Video [hyperlink]. Released by the DHS and the FBI, the DHS-DOJ Bomb Threat Guidance is a quick reference guide that provides facility supervisors with details on pre-threat preparation, threat assessment, staff response guidelines, and evacuation and shelter-in-place considerations. [2] Develop a Bomb Threat Response Plan for their institution or facility. Contact the Office for Bombing Prevention at OBP@cisa.dhs.gov [hyperlink] for more information on planning workshops. [3] Train employees, tenants, and/or visitors to take appropriate actions in the event of a bomb threat and/or identification of an unattended or suspicious item."
United States. Department of Education. White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
2022-03-16?
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Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic for Future Public Health Communications
From the Introduction: "Since September 2020, The Rockefeller Foundation has commissioned Hattaway Communications to conduct quantitative and qualitative surveys on Americans' attitudes towards Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] actions, addressing testing, vaccines, incentives, and mandates. These surveys have provided the public health community with a better understanding of people's attitudes toward the pandemic at major inflection points. This sixth and final survey wave focused on the long-term changes in how Americans think, feel, and act. It examined how living through the pandemic shifted how we view ourselves in relationship to each other and the structures and systems that guide healthcare and policy."
Rockefeller Foundation. State and Territory Alliance for Testing; Hattaway Communications
2022-03-29
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National Grid Energy Storage Strategy
From the Purpose of this Plan: "The Electricity Advisory Committee (EAC), which represents a wide cross section of electricity industry stakeholders, presents here its vision for a national energy storage strategic plan. This document provides an outline for guidance, alignment, coordination and inspiration for governments, businesses, advocacy groups, academics, and others who share a similar vision for energy storage. This strategy addresses applications of electric storage technologies that optimize the performance of the bulk power system (or 'grid') once electric power has been generated and delivered to the network, by capturing and storing electrical energy and delivering it back to the grid. Consideration of alternate methods of storing energy from fuels and other sources is outside the scope of this discussion. This strategy aims to provide a framework of guidance for the Department of Energy (DOE) that is responsive to the broad set of conditions in technology development, business/market enterprise, and public policy that influence commercial investment in energy storage technologies. The plan's strategic activities are targeted at bringing about a minimal set of prudent, low risk investments, and accelerating the adoption of emerging storage technologies. Increasing the rate at which these technologies are deployed will provide the added benefit of further reducing their costs through endogenous technological change and learning."
United States. Department of Energy; United States. Department of Energy. Office of Electricity. Electricity Advisory Committee
2014-01?
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National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Florence, 31 August-17 September 2018
From the Document: "Florence was a long-lived, category 4 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale) that made landfall along the southeastern coast of North Carolina near the upper end of category 1. Florence caused devastating freshwater flooding across much of the southeastern United States and significant storm surge flooding in portions of eastern North Carolina. Florence resulted in 22 direct deaths and was also associated with 30 indirect fatalities."
United States. National Weather Service; United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Stewart, Stacy R.; Berg, Robbie
2019-05-30
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Attitudes on Voting in 2020: Preparing for Elections During a Pandemic
From the Document: "The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented a severe threat to state election plans in 2020 for primaries and for the general election. To conduct an election during a potentially continuing threat from COVID-19, states need to consider how to conduct voter registration and provide voting options. How voters perceive and respond to these measures could affect turnout. RAND authors analyzed responses from 2,389 survey respondents about their expectations for public safety, election integrity, and the preparedness of local officials to manage the November 2020 election in the pandemic context. Responses indicate that both demographic characteristics and political partisanship influence respondent attitudes toward election safety, integrity, and preparedness. Although most voters say they believe that voting will be safe and that their vote will be counted despite the pandemic, those who question election safety and some who question election integrity appear less likely to vote."
RAND Corporation
Kavanagh, Jennifer, 1981; Gibson, C. Ben; Hodgson, Quentin E.
2020
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Assessment of State Voting Processes: Preparing for Elections During a Pandemic
From the Description: "The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented a severe threat to state election plans in 2020 for primaries and for the general election. To conduct an election during the COVID-19 pandemic, states need registration and voting options that minimize direct personal contact and that reduce crowds and common access to high-touch surfaces. Another way to think about preparedness for conducting elections during a pandemic is to consider the flexibility that state election processes afford in terms of where, when, and how voters can get registered and cast votes. Particularly valuable to flexibility in the pandemic context are options that allow for the registration and voting processes to happen remotely or in ways that reduce person-to-person contact. In this report, the authors summarize state election laws on early voting, remote voting, and voter registration and discuss the potential implications of these laws for the execution of the November 2020 general election under conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. This report is part of RAND's Countering Truth Decay initiative, which is focused on restoring the role of facts, data, and analysis in U.S. political and civil discourse and the policymaking process."
RAND Corporation
Kavanagh, Jennifer, 1981; Hodgson, Quentin E.; Gibson, C. Ben . . .
2020
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Options for Ensuring Safe Elections: Preparing for Elections During a Pandemic
From the Description: "The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented a severe threat to state election plans in 2020 for primaries and for the general election. To conduct an election during a potentially continuing threat from COVID-19, states need to consider how to conduct voter registration and provide voting options. Several voting and registration options are available to states to ensure the safety of elections despite the pandemic. These options are outlined in this report, taking into account the factors that officials will have to examine in determining how to conduct the election safely; the advantages and challenges of each approach; and levels of risk regarding safety, integrity, access, and logistics. This report is part of RAND's Countering Truth Decay initiative, which is focused on restoring the role of facts, data, and analysis in U.S. political and civil discourse and the policymaking process."
RAND Corporation
Hodgson, Quentin E.; Kavanagh, Jennifer, 1981; Garg, Anusree . . .
2020
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Database of State Voting Laws: Preparing for Elections During a Pandemic
From the Description: "The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented a severe threat to state election plans in 2020 for primaries and for the general election. To conduct an election during the COVID-19 pandemic, states need registration and voting options that minimize direct personal contact and that reduce crowds and common access to high-touch surfaces. Another way to think about preparedness for conducting elections during a pandemic is to consider the flexibility that state election processes afford in terms of where, when, and how voters can get registered and cast votes. Particularly valuable to flexibility in the pandemic context are options that allow for the registration and voting processes to happen remotely or in ways that reduce person-to-person contact. This tool supplements a companion report and provides state-by-state granular details about voter registration, remote voting, and early voting, including references to relevant state laws. This report is part of RAND's Countering Truth Decay initiative, which is focused on restoring the role of facts, data, and analysis in U.S. political and civil discourse and the policymaking process."
RAND Corporation
Kavanagh, Jennifer, 1981; Gibson, C. Ben; Cherney, Samantha
2020
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Getting to and Sustaining the Next Normal: A Roadmap for Living with COVID
From the Executive Summary: "Covid [coronavirus disease] has been raging for 2 years. Multiple variants have emerged. Worldwide, hundreds of millions of people have been infected, millions have died, and untold numbers have developed long Covid. Covid has disproportionately affected communities of color, those living in poverty, and those in less developed countries. Covid has disrupted education and led to significant learning loss. And, there has been tremendous economic dislocation, millions of people thrust into poverty, and the loss of tens of trillions of dollars from the world economy. Importantly, effective vaccines and therapeutics have helped make progress combatting the virus, but cases and deaths still remain high. As the pandemic enters its third year, two factors have become critical. One is fatigue. People are tired of restrictions used to fight Covid. Simultaneously, the virus continues to surprise experts and make it challenging to anticipate what lies ahead. In all cases, the world must be better prepared. In 2022, it is possible for a new variant of concern to emerge. But greater population immunity increases the probability of a lower disease burden, lower strain on the health system, and fewer deaths, if waning immunity or immune evasion do not become significant factors."
Rockefeller Foundation
Albarracin, Dolores; Bedford, Trevor; Bollyky, Thomas J. . . .
2022-03
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Interdependence of Electricity System Infrastructure and Natural Gas Infrastructure
"On March 30, 2011, the Obama Administration released an official Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future. Overarching goals set forth in the Blueprint included developing and securing American energy supplies, thereby reducing the nation's dependence on foreign fuel sources; and focusing on the expansion of 'cleaner sources of electricity, including renewables like wind and solar, as well as clean coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. . . .' In order to realize these energy goals, the interdependence of the Nation's electric infrastructure and natural gas infrastructure must be recognized and examined, in order to determine whether greater reliability and efficiencies may be achieved."
United States. Department of Energy. Office of Electricity. Electricity Advisory Committee
2011-10-28
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National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Harvey (17 August - 1 September 2017)
"Harvey started as a typical weak August tropical storm that affected the Lesser Antilles and dissipated over the central Caribbean Sea. However, after re-forming over the Bay of Campeche, Harvey rapidly intensified into a category 4 hurricane (on the SaffirSimpson Hurricane Wind Scale) before making landfall along the middle Texas coast. The storm then stalled, with its center over or near the Texas coast for four days, dropping historic amounts of rainfall of more than 60 inches over southeastern Texas. These rains caused catastrophic flooding, and Harvey is the second-most costly hurricane in U.S. history, after accounting for inflation, behind only Katrina (2005). At least 68 people died from the direct effects of the storm in Texas, the largest number of direct deaths from a tropical cyclone in that state since 1919."
United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; United States. National Weather Service
Blake, Eric S.; Zelinsky, David A.
2018-01-23
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Drivers of Institutional Trust and Distrust: Exploring Components of Trustworthiness
From the Webpage: "Trust in many institutions, such as government and media, has declined in the past two decades. Although such trends are well documented, they are not well understood. The study described in this report presents a new framework for assessing institutional trust and understanding the individual characteristics and institutional attributes that affect trust. Analysis is based on a survey of 1,008 respondents conducted through the RAND Corporation's American Life Panel in April 2018. The study makes several key contributions to the field of institutional trust research. First, researchers used a scale that distinguishes between trust and distrust, thus allowing a different understanding of trust. Second, the analysis is a first step toward understanding why people trust institutions. The framework allows exploration of components of trustworthiness--i.e., the institutional attributes that people say they consider important to levels of trust (e.g., integrity, competence). The researchers also analyzed relationships between components of trustworthiness and the individual characteristics of those expressing the level of trust. Third, the survey featured questions about multiple institutions, allowing researchers to make comparisons across institutions. The research provides insights into individual characteristics and institutional attributes associated with institutional trust. This study is a 'first cut' at a complicated concept and at exploring what is needed to rebuild institutional trust."
RAND Corporation
Kavanagh, Jennifer, 1981; Carman, Katherine Grace; DeYoreo, Maria . . .
2020
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American Red Cross: Disaster Assistance Would Benefit from Oversight through Regular Federal Evaluation, Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The Red Cross is the nation's largest nonprofit organization involved in disaster relief. The organization provides services such as sheltering and food assistance, and it has a leadership role in the federal disaster response framework. However, questions have been raised over its ability to respond effectively to large disasters. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine the organization's disaster services. This report addresses (1) the key factors affecting the nature and extent of the Red Cross's disaster services, (2) how it coordinates with the federal government on disaster assistance, and (3) what external oversight exists of its disaster services. GAO reviewed relevant policy documents and federal statutes and interviewed officials from the Red Cross and FEMA; interviewed staff involved in a nongeneralizable sample of three disasters from 2012 to 2014 that varied in magnitude, type, and location; and interviewed officials from federal agencies with a role in Red Cross oversight, six state attorney general offices selected to achieve diversity in their approaches to charity oversight, and several nonprofit organizations. […] Congress should consider establishing a federal mechanism for regular, external evaluations of the Red Cross's performance in domestic disasters. In its comments, the Red Cross neither agreed nor disagreed with GAO's matter for congressional consideration, but noted it is open to participating in additional evaluation activities convened by FEMA or other government partners."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-09
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U.S. Coast Guard National Pollution Funds Center: Improved Controls Needed for Oil Removal Disbursements And Action Needed For Sustainable Funding, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to examine NPFC [National Pollution Funds Center]. This report addresses the extent to which (1) NPFC has designed and implemented internal controls over damage claim and oil removal disbursements to reasonably assure that amounts are appropriately disbursed from the Fund; (2) NPFC has designed and implemented internal controls to reasonably assure that responsible parties are designated and billed, as appropriate, for disbursements from the Fund that are over $500,000; and (3) the Fund was reimbursed for damage claim and oil removal costs in fiscal years 2011 through 2013. GAO also reviewed the Fund's primary source of revenues. GAO obtained and analyzed data on damage claim and oil removal disbursements from fiscal years 2011 through 2013. GAO also obtained and analyzed data on billings and collections for fiscal years 2011 through August 2014 in order to determine which disbursements had been billed and paid. GAO reviewed relevant policies and procedures and interviewed officials and staff at the Coast Guard and EPA."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-09
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2021 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy
From the Document: "Commercial-scale copyright piracy and trademark counterfeiting cause significant financial losses for U.S. right holders and legitimate businesses, undermine critical U.S. comparative advantages in innovation and creativity to the detriment of American workers, and pose significant risks to consumer health and safety. The 2021 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy (Notorious Markets List, or NML) highlights prominent and illustrative examples of online and physical markets that reportedly engage in, facilitate, turn a blind eye to, or benefit from substantial piracy or counterfeiting. A goal of the NML is to motivate appropriate action by the private sector and governments to reduce piracy and counterfeiting."
United States. Executive Office of the President; United States. Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
2022-02-16?
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 1197, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as reported by the Senate Committee on Armed Services on June 20, 2013. From the Summary: "S. 1197 would authorize appropriations totaling $626 billion for fiscal year 2014 for the military functions of the Department of Defense (DoD), for certain activities of the Department of Energy (DOE), and for other purposes. That total includes $81 billion for the cost of overseas contingency operations, primarily in Afghanistan. In addition, S. 1197 would prescribe personnel strengths for each active-duty and selected-reserve component of the U.S. armed forces. CBO estimates that appropriation of the authorized amounts would result in outlays of $613 billion over the 2014-2018 period. The bill also contains provisions that would increase or decrease the costs of defense programs funded through discretionary appropriations in 2015 and future years. Those implicit authorizations would affect force structure, DoD compensation and benefits, DoD's use of multiyear procurement authority, and other programs and activities. CBO has analyzed the costs of a select number of those authorizations and estimates they would, on a net basis, lower the amount of appropriations needed to implement defense programs relative to current law by about $15 billion over the 2015-2018 period. Those savings are not included in the outlays referenced in the previous paragraph because funding for those activities would be covered by specific authorizations in future years."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2013-07-25
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 367, Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2013
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary on April 11, 2013. From the Summary: "Under current law, the Congress can prevent a rule from taking effect by enacting a joint resolution of 'disapproval'. In contrast, H.R. 367 would require enactment of a joint resolution of 'approval' prior to any major rule taking effect. Therefore, H.R. 367 would make the implementation of new major regulations dependent on future legislation. Because CBO does not assume enactment of subsequent legislation in estimating a bill's effect on direct spending and revenues, this estimate addresses the costs and savings that would be realized if anticipated major rules do not take effect. About 85 major rules have been issued per year, on average, over the past five years. Major rules vary greatly in their nature and scope. CBO and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) cannot determine the budgetary effects of preventing all future major rules from going into effect, but we expect that enacting H.R. 367 would have significant effects on both direct spending and revenues. Pay-as-you-go procedures apply because enacting the legislation would affect direct spending and revenues. CBO expects that implementing H.R. 367 also could have a significant impact on spending subject to appropriation, although we cannot determine the magnitude of that effect."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2013-05-17
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Congressional Budget Office Report: FY 2014 House Current Status of Discretionary Appropriations as of July 15, 2013
This document provides information regarding the status of the FY2014 U.S. House discretionary appropriations.
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2013-07-15
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2667, Authority for Mandate Delay Act
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as introduced in the House of Representatives on July 11, 2013. From the Document: "H.R. 2667 would delay for one year certain reporting requirements as well as penalties for certain large employers that do not offer 'affordable' health insurance coverage to their employees (as affordability is defined in the Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148 and the health care provisions of P.L. 111-152). […] Because H.R. 2667 essentially codifies the Administration's recent announcement, CBO and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimate that enacting H.R. 2667 would not affect direct spending or revenues. Therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO and JCT have not yet completed an analysis of the impact that the Administration's July 2, 2013, announcement and other recently issued final rules will have on spending and revenues under current law. That analysis will be released soon. 2 H.R. 2667 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2013-07-16
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 162, Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Act of 2013
This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as reported by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on June 20, 2013. From the Summary: "S. 162 would authorize the appropriation of $40 million annually over the 2015-2019 period for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to state, local, and tribal governments to improve the treatment of mentally ill individuals in the criminal justice system. Those grants could be used to assist veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and to develop programs for correctional facilities. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing S. 162 would cost $95 million over the 2014-2018 period. The remaining amount of $105 million would be spent in subsequent years. Pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply to this legislation because it would not affect direct spending or revenues."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2013-07-23
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Defense Acquisitions: Joint Action Needed by DOD and Congress to Improve Outcomes, Statement of Paul L. Francis, Managing Director Acquisition and Sourcing Management, Testimony Before Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "DOD's acquisition of major weapon systems has been on GAO's [U.S. Government Accountability Office] high risk list since 1990. Over the years, Congress and DOD have continually explored ways to improve acquisition outcomes, including reforms that have championed sound management practices, such as realistic cost estimating, prototyping, and systems engineering. Too often, GAO reports on the same kinds of problems today that it did over 20 years ago. This testimony discusses (1) the performance of the current acquisition system; (2) the role of a sound business case in getting better acquisition outcomes; (3) systemic reasons for persistent problems; and (4) thoughts on actions DOD and Congress can take to get better outcomes from the acquisition process. This statement draws from GAO's extensive body of work on DOD's acquisition of weapon systems and the numerous recommendations GAO has made on both individual weapons and systemic improvements to the acquisition process."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-10-27
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Combating Nuclear Smuggling: Risk - Informed Covert Assessments and Oversight of Corrective Actions Could Strengthen Capabilities at the Border, Statement of David C. Maurer, 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 U.S. Government Accountability Office website: "In its September 2014 report, GAO [U.S. Government Accountability Office] reported that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Operational Field Testing Division (OFTD) conducted 144 covert operations at 86 locations from fiscal years 2006 through 2013. OFTD selected these locations from a total of 655 U.S. air, land, and sea port facilities; checkpoints; and certain international locations. The results of these operations showed differences in the rates of success for interdicting smuggled nuclear and radiological materials across facility types. OFTD officials stated that the results of its covert operations could be used to assess capabilities at the individual locations tested; but not across all U.S. ports of entry and permanent checkpoints. GAO also reported that CBP had not conducted a risk assessment to inform and prioritize factors, such as locations, and types of nuclear materials and technologies to be tested in covert operations. CBP had a $1 million budget for covert operations of various activities-including nuclear and radiological testing-from fiscal years 2009 through 2013. Given limited resources, assessing risk to prioritize the most dangerous materials, most vulnerable locations, and most critical equipment for testing through covert operations, could help DHS inform its decisions on how to use its limited resources effectively. DHS agreed with GAO's recommendation to use a risk assessment to inform priorities for covert test operations, but the recommendation remains open."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-10-27
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Understanding Technical Advancements of 5G [Infographic]
From the Document: "Technical advancements that emerged in the transition from 4G to 5G include decreased latency, improved reliability, and expanded capacity, all of which will support new connected capabilities across the homeland security enterprise."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2022-02
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DOD Financial Management: Continued Actions Needed to Address Congressional Committee Panel Recommendations, Report to the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "A congressional panel examined the capacity of DOD's financial management system for providing timely, reliable, and useful information for decision making and reporting. The panel, in its January 2012 report, included 29 recommendations addressed to DOD in four areas: (1) FIAR [Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness] strategy and methodology, (2) challenges to achieving financial management reform and auditability, (3) financial management workforce, and (4) enterprise resource planning systems implementation. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the status of DOD's actions to implement these recommendations. This report examines the extent to which the recommendations have been implemented. GAO reviewed pertinent legislation, including the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2010 through 2015 as well as the department's FIAR Guidance and FIAR Plan Status Reports. GAO analyzed relevant information and interviewed officials from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the military departments, and two service providers. Using the three status categories developed for GAO's high-risk work--met, partially met, and not met--GAO determined the extent to which DOD implemented the panel's recommendations. GAO is recommending that DOD reconsider the status of three panel recommendations that it determined to be met but that GAO determined to be only partially met. DOD concurred with the recommendation and described planned actions to address it."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-09-28
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Fiscal Outlook: Adressing Improper Payments and the Tax Gap Would Improve the Government's Fiscal Position, Statement of Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, Testimony Before the Committee on Finance, U.S. Senta
From the Highlights: "The federal government continues to face an unsustainable long-term fiscal path. Changing this path will require difficult fiscal policy decisions to alter both long-term federal spending and revenue. In the near term, executive branch agencies and Congress can take action to improve the government's fiscal position by addressing two long-standing issues--improper payments and the tax gap. Over time, these issues involve amounts near or exceeding $1 trillion. Over the past decade, GAO [Government Accountability Office] has highlighted the issue of improper payments--defined by statute as payments that should not have been made or that were made in an incorrect amount (including overpayments and underpayments). GAO has reported for several years that the federal government is unable to determine the full extent to which improper payments occur and reasonably assure that actions are taken to reduce them. The tax gap is the difference between taxes owed and those paid on time, as a result of taxpayers underreporting their tax liability, underpaying taxes, or not filing tax returns. Reducing the tax gap could provide additional revenue. This statement discusses (1) actions needed to address improper payments government-wide and (2) strategies to reduce the tax gap. It is based on GAO's recent work on improper payments, agency financial reports and inspectors general reports, and prior reports on the tax gap, including those with open recommendations or matters for congressional consideration that could potentially help reduce the tax gap."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-10-01
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IRS Whistleblower Program: Billions Collected, but Timeliness and Communication Concerns May Discourage Whistleblowers, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Tax whistleblowers who report on the underpayment of taxes by others have helped IRS [Internal Revenue Service] collect almost $2 billion in additional revenue since 2011, when the first high-dollar claim was paid under the expanded program that pays qualifying whistleblowers a minimum of 15 percent of the collected proceeds. These revenues help reduce the estimated $450 billion tax gap--the difference between taxes owed and those paid on time. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review several aspects of the whistleblower program. Among other things, this report (1) assesses the WO [Whistleblower Office] claim review process, (2) assesses how the WO determines awards, (3) evaluates how the WO communicates with external stakeholders, and (4) evaluates IRS's policies and procedures for protecting whistleblowers. GAO reviewed the files of all 17 awards paid under 26 U.S.C. § 7623(b) through June 30, 2015; reviewed IRS data; reviewed relevant laws and regulations, and the WO's policies, procedures and publications; and interviewed IRS officials, five whistleblowers that independently approached GAO, and nine whistleblower attorneys who were recommended by IRS or other attorneys. Congress should consider providing whistleblowers with legal protections against retaliation from employers. GAO makes ten recommendations to IRS including, tracking dates, strengthening and documenting procedures for award payments and whistleblower protections, and improving external communications. IRS agreed with our recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-10
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Federal Supply Chains: Opportunities to Improve the Management of Climate - Related Risks, Report to the Honorable Matthew Cartwright, House of Representatives
From the Document: "The federal government obligated about $445 billion in fiscal year 2014 for goods and services such as disaster response products and telecommunications. Agencies with missions that depend on the secure and efficient transit of goods and services have had their supply chains disrupted by weather-related events, such as Superstorm Sandy. According to the National Climate Assessment, the severity and frequency of such events is expected to increase. Agencies developed adaptation plans in response to executive orders and implementing guidance issued by CEQ [Council on Environmental Quality's], which coordinates federal environmental efforts. GAO [U.S. Government Accountability Office] was asked to review climate-related risks to federal supply chains. This report examines (1) the extent to which selected federal agencies have identified climate-related risks to their critical supply chains, (2) the extent to which they have identified and implemented actions to manage these risks, and (3) what is known about the federal government's fiscal exposure to such risks. GAO reviewed executive orders; surveyed 24 agencies selected because they account for over 98 percent of federal contract obligations; analyzed their adaptation plans; and interviewed officials from 5 of these agencies selected because of mission and other factors."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-10-13
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Disaster Contracting: FEMA Needs to Cohesively Manage Its Workforce and Fully Address Post-Katrina Reforms
From the Highlights: "FEMA obligated $2.1 billion in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 for products and services, which included almost $770 million from offices responsible for disaster contracting. Providing disaster relief in a timely manner is essential, while adhering to contracting laws and regulations helps safeguard taxpayer dollars. Following Hurricane Katrina, Congress passed PKEMRA [Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006] to improve FEMA's disaster contracting. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review FEMA's disaster contracting practices. This report assesses the extent to which FEMA (1) made efforts to build and manage its contracting workforce and structure since PKEMRA, and (2) adopted PKEMRA reforms and demonstrated good management practices for disaster contracting. GAO analyzed data on FEMA's workforce from fiscal years 2005 through 2014, reviewed workforce guidance, and reviewed 27 contracts--including 16 selected through a random sample and 11 through a nonprobability sample based on factors including high cost--to determine the extent to which PKEMRA provisions were met. GAO also met with contracting officials. GAO recommends, among other things, that the FEMA Administrator establish procedures to prioritize DART's [Disaster Acquisition Response Team] workload, revisit the agreement for oversight of regional contracting officers, and improve guidance on PKEMRA requirements. DHS concurred with GAO's recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2015-09-29
