GAO’s recommendations database contains report recommendations that still need to be addressed.
GAO’s priority recommendations are those that we believe warrant priority attention.
We sent letters to the heads of key departments and agencies, urging them to continue focusing on these issues.
Below you can search only priority recommendations, or search all recommendations.
Our recommendations help congressional and agency leaders prepare for appropriations and oversight activities, as well as help improve government operations.
Moreover, when implemented, some of our priority recommendations can save large amounts of money, help Congress make decisions on major issues, and substantially improve or transform major government programs or agencies, among other benefits.
As of October 25, 2020, there are 4812 open recommendations, of which 473 are priority recommendations. Recommendations remain open until they are designated as Closed-implemented or Closed-not implemented.
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Recommendation: The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education should improve the usability of Education's websites to ensure that the states and school districts can more easily find and access federal guidance to address lead in school drinking water, by taking actions such as clarifying which links contain guidance; highlighting new or important guidance; improving their websites' search function; and categorizing guidance. (Recommendation 5)
Agency: Department of Education Status: Open
Comments: The Department of Education agreed with this recommendation. The agency said it would identify and include an information portal dedicated to enhancing the usability of federal resources related to testing for and addressing lead in school drinking water. Also, Education said it is interested in increasing coordination across all levels of government and it shares the view expressed in our report that improved federal coordination, including with EPA, will better enhance collaboration to encourage testing for lead in school drinking water. In 2019, Education said it planned to complete work on this recommendation by January 1, 2020. We will consider closing this recommendation when these efforts are complete.
Recommendation: The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education should collaborate with EPA to encourage testing for lead in school drinking water. This effort could include disseminating EPA guidance related to lead testing and remediation in schools or sending letters to states to encourage testing in all school districts that have not yet done so. (Recommendation 7)
Agency: Department of Education Status: Open Priority recommendation
Comments: The Department of Education agreed with this recommendation. Education stated it has held multiple meetings with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and stated that it plans to hold a virtual meeting with EPA to share information and resources about safe drinking water and raise awareness of the importance of testing for lead. Education also stated it is developing a timeline to conduct additional collaboration activities with EPA. Education officials said they are considering joining an EPA-led Memorandum of Understanding to, among other things, encourage schools to test drinking water for lead. We will consider closing this recommendation when these efforts are complete.
Recommendation: The Commissioner of FDA should develop a timeline for updating the risk assessment on arsenic in rice. (Recommendation 1)
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services: Food and Drug Administration Status: Open
Comments: As of August 2020, FDA stated that it will update the risk assessment when more scientific evidence becomes available. In the meantime, FDA noted that it will continue to monitor research in this area, including ongoing work by the National Academies of Sciences (NAS) Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology, which is currently reviewing EPA's work on inorganic arsenic, specifically on EPA's IRIS Toxicological Assessments of Inorganic Arsenic. GAO will assess whether FDA has taken action responsive to the recommendation when additional information becomes available.
