Arms Export Control Act:
Purpose and Use of Selected Provisions
NSIAD-86-46BR: Published: Jan 15, 1986. Publicly Released: Jan 31, 1986.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed certain Arms Export Control Act (AECA) provisions designed to improve defense cooperation with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies.
GAO noted that: (1) the President may grant waivers to eligible countries in connection with sales that significantly advance U.S. Government interests in NATO standardization; and (2) originally, only NATO members were eligible for exemption from paying asset use charges and nonrecurring costs, but the President's authority to waive these charges has been extended to include Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. GAO found that: (1) about $1 billion in charges and fees have been waived for nonrecurring costs between fiscal year 1981 and 1985; (2) the number and value of waivers approved varied depending on the type, quantity, and cost of equipment purchased; (3) the Department of Defense sought and received additional benefits as a condition of granting nonrecurring cost waivers; and (4) waiver application denials were based on the country's failure to demonstrate benefits other than standardization and interoperability. GAO also found that: (1) legislation authorized the President to provide, on a reciprocal basis, quality assurance, inspection, contract audit services, and training to individual NATO countries; (2) recent legislation permits the transfer of production items to cooperating NATO allies outside of the previously required foreign military sales (FMS) process; (3) the AECA requires that proposed FMS transfers and direct commercial sales of major defense articles include a sensitivity of technology statement; and (4) the AECA provides a preference to NATO nations by reducing the time during which Congress can object to a proposed FMS transfer.
Oct 26, 2020
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Intellectual Property:
CBP Has Taken Steps to Combat Counterfeit Goods in Small Packages but Could Streamline EnforcementGAO-20-692: Published: Sep 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 26, 2020.
Sep 30, 2020
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Federal Criminal Restitution:
Department of Justice Has Ongoing Efforts to Improve Its Oversight of the Collection of Restitution and Tracking the Use of Forfeited AssetsGAO-20-676R: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020.
Sep 10, 2020
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Federal Tactical Teams:
Characteristics, Training, Deployments, and InventoryGAO-20-710: Published: Sep 10, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 10, 2020.
Sep 8, 2020
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VA Police:
Actions Needed to Improve Data Completeness and Accuracy on Use of Force Incidents at Medical CentersGAO-20-599: Published: Sep 8, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 8, 2020.
Aug 13, 2020
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Anti-Money Laundering:
FinCEN Should Enhance Procedures for Implementing and Evaluating Geographic Targeting OrdersGAO-20-546: Published: Jul 14, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 13, 2020.
Jul 29, 2020
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Federal Prison Industries:
Actions Needed to Evaluate Program EffectivenessGAO-20-505: Published: Jul 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 29, 2020.
Jul 8, 2020
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Gun Control:
DOJ Can Further Improve Guidance on Federal Firearm Background Check RecordsGAO-20-528: Published: Jul 8, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 8, 2020.
Jun 22, 2020
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Federal Prisons:
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May 26, 2020
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Bureau of Prisons:
Improved Planning Would Help BOP Evaluate and Manage Its Portfolio of Drug Education and Treatment ProgramsGAO-20-423: Published: May 26, 2020. Publicly Released: May 26, 2020.
May 12, 2020
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Forensic Technology:
Algorithms Used in Federal Law EnforcementGAO-20-479SP: Published: May 12, 2020. Publicly Released: May 12, 2020.
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