Recent GAO reports

CLIMATE CHANGE: Financial Risks to Federal and Private Insurers in Coming Decades are Potentially Significant GAO-07-760T (pdf, 22pp/272kB), April 19, 2007

The above testimony was based on the report below that was released on the same date:

CLIMATE CHANGE: Financial Risks to Federal and Private Insurers in Coming Decades Are Potentially Significant, GAO-07-285 (pdf, 74pp/1.3MB), March 16, 2007

Insurance costs of most weather-related damages are borne by private insurers and two federal programs: the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). For this report, GAO was asked to (1) describe how climate change may affect future weather-related losses, (2) determine past insured weather-related losses, and (3) determine what major private insurers and federal insurers are doing to prepare for potential increases in such losses.


ELECTIONS: All Levels of Government Are Needed to Address Electronic Voting System Challenges, GAO-07-741T (pdf, 55pp/852kB), April 18, 2007

GAO addresses four issues relating to voting systems: (1) contextual role and characteristics of electronic voting systems, (2) security and reliability concerns reported about these systems, (3) experiences and management practices of states and local jusrisdictions regarding these systems, and (4) longstanding and emerging intergovernmental challenges using these systems.

Discusses the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 which, among other things, established the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for election reform.


TITLE INSURANCE: Actions Needed to Improve Oversight of the Title Industry and Better Protect Consumers, GAO-07-401 (pdf, 74pp/1.25MB), April 13, 2007

The report examines (1) the characteristics of title insurance markets across states, (2) factors influencing competition and prices within those markets, and (3) the current regulatory environment and planned regulatory changes.

GAO reviewed laws and market practices in 6 states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, New York, and Texas.


OLDER DRIVER SAFETY: Knowledge Sharing Should Help States Prepare for Increase in Older Driver Population, GAO-07-413 (pdf, 60pp/3.6MB), April 11, 2007

GAO looks at (1) federal government actions in promoting practices to make roads safer for older drivers and states' implementation of those practices, (2) states' assessment of fitness of older drivers and the support provided by the federal government, and (3) initiatives selected states have implemented for older driver safety. Case studies were done in 6 states considered progressive in improving older driver safety--California, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, and Oregon.


FIRST RESPONDERS: Much Work Remains to Improve Communications Interoperability, GAO-07-301 (pdf, 75pp/1.5MB), April 2, 2007

In this report, communications interoperability refers to "the capability of different electronic communications systems to readily connect with each other and thus enable timely communications." Communications interoperability among first responders (emergency personnel such as firefighters, police officers, and ambulance services) is vital. From 2003 through 2005, the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) granted $2.15 billion in funding to states and localities to improve communications interoperability.

GAO's objectives in this study were to determine (1) how much DHS funding and technical assistance have helped to improve interoperable communications in selected states, and (2) the progress made in the development and implementation of interoperable communications standards.

Discusses the SAFECOM program of DHS, which provides interoperability assistance to emergency response agencies, and Project 25 (Wikipedia), a set of national standards for radio communications.