Federal, state, and local authorities are beginning to take steps to adapt to climate change. Federal agencies are beginning to respond to climate change systematically through an Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force formed to recommend key components for inclusion in a national adaptation strategy. Individual agencies are also beginning to consider adaptation actions. For example, in

DOT developed criteria to evaluate TIGER applications, such as improving the state of repair of critical infrastructure, reducing fatalities and injuries, and increasing economic competitiveness by improving the efficient movement of workers or goods. GAO has called for a more performance-oriented approach to funding surface transportation and has recommended that a merit-based competitive approa

According to HUD data, the vast majority of the 309 NSP 1 grantees obligated their funds within the required 18-month time frame. As a result, over 99 percent of NSP 1 funds were obligated as of early October 2010. Also, consistent with HERA criteria, most grantees obligated at least 25 percent of their funds for housing for low-income households. Some grantees with whom GAO spoke modified their

HAC has three primary programs that it uses to meet its goals of serving low-income rural areas: loan funds, technical assistance and training, and research and information. HAC has several types of loan funds. The Rural Housing Loan Fund helps rural organizations finance activities that are key to developing new housing but are often difficult to fund, such as surveying and appraising properties

FEMA has taken steps to ensure Recovery Act PSGP staff consistently follow the Department of Homeland Security's SSI policies and processes, but key actions have not been taken. For instance, FEMA has appointed an SSI Program Manager--responsible for FEMA-wide SSI oversight--and an SSI Coordinator to facilitate the Grant Programs Directorate's use of SSI. Also, the SSI Program Manager provided SS

Changes states made to their welfare programs as they implemented TANF contributed to a significant decline in program participation, but caseloads are starting to increase in many states. The strong economy of the 1990s, TANF's focus on work, and other factors contributed to increased family incomes and a decline in the number of families poor enough to be eligible for cash assistance. However,

As of September 3, 2010, about $154.8 billion of the approximately $282 billion of total funds made available by the Recovery Act in 2009 for programs administered by states and localities had been paid out by the federal government. Of that amount, over 65 percent--$101.9 billion--had been paid out since the start of federal fiscal year 2010 on October 1, 2009. As of July 31, 2010, the 16 states

Reflecting the program's flexibility, the 20 entitlement communities in GAO's sample distributed CDBG funds by various methods, but most used some level of competition in awarding funds. Distribution priorities and practices were based on various assessments of local needs, and in some communities, the funding decisions were also part of the local budget process. To communicate processes and awar

More than half of the transit agencies from which GAO collected data (32 of 55) reported that joint development--in which a transit agency and a private entity partner to create development at a transit station--has been used as a source of funding for transit, while about a third (19 of 55) reported that special assessment districts, tax increment financing, and development impact fees have been

Nationally, TANF work participation rates changed little after DRA was enacted, though states' rates reflect both recipients' work participation and states' policy choices. Although federal law generally requires that a minimum of 50 percent of families receiving TANF cash assistance in each state participate in work activities, both before and after DRA, about one-third of TANF families nationwi