This testimony provides selected updates, including the status of federal Recovery Act outlays. The report addresses: (1) selected states' and localities' uses of Recovery Act funds; (2) the approaches taken by the selected states and localities to ensure accountability for Recovery Act funds; and (3) states' plans to evaluate the impact of Recovery Act funds. The work for this report is focused on 16 states and certain localities in those jurisdictions as well as the District of Columbia -- representing about 65% of the U.S. population and two-thirds of the intergovernmental federal assistance available. Charts and tables.

This testimony is based on a report being released the same day -- the second in response to a mandate under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The report addresses: (1) selected states' and localities' uses of Recovery Act funds; (2) the approaches taken by the selected states and localities to ensure accountability for Recovery Act funds; and (3) states' plans to evaluate the impact of Recovery Act funds. The auditor focused on 16 states and certain localities in those jurisdictions as well as the District of Columbia -- representing about 65% of the U.S. population and two-thirds of the intergovernmental federal assistance available. Charts and tables.

This report responds to two ongoing mandates under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). It is the latest in a series of reports on the uses of and accountability for Recovery Act funds in 16 selected states, certain localities in those jurisdictions, and D.C. These jurisdictions are estimated to receive about two-thirds of the intergovernmental assistance available through the Recovery Act. This report also responds to a mandate to comment on the jobs estimated in recipient reports. The auditor collected and analyzed documents and interviewed state and local officials and other Recovery Act award recipients. He also analyzed federal agency guidance and spoke with individual federal officials. Illustrations.

This report addresses the following objectives: (1) selected states' and localities' uses of Recovery Act funds; (2) the approaches taken by the selected states and localities to ensure accountability for Recovery Act funds; and (3) states' plans to evaluate the impact of the Recovery Act funds they received. This report is focused on 16 states and certain localities in those jurisdictions as well as the District of Columbia -- representing about 65% of the U.S. population and two-thirds of the intergovernmental fed. assistance available. Dodaro collected documents and interviewed state and local officials. He analyzed fed. agency guidance and spoke with Office of Mgmt. and Budget officials and with relevant program officials at several dep¿ts. Illus.

The consolidated financial statements of the U.S. gov¿t. (CFS) is audited each year. Except for the 2008 and 2007 Statements of Social Insurance, the auditor has been unable to provide assurance on the reliability of the CFS due primarily to inadequate systems and lack of sufficient, reliable evidence to support certain material information in the CFS. Unless these weaknesses are adequately addressed, they will, among other things: (1) hamper the fed. gov¿t's. ability to reliably report a significant portion of its assets, liabilities, costs, and other related information; and (2) affect the fed. gov¿t's. ability to measure the full cost as well as the financial and nonfinancial performance of certain programs and activities. Charts and tables.

The Amer. Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) specifies bimonthly reviews of selected states' and localities' use of funds made available under the act. This testimony is based on the auditor¿s bimonthly work in California, where the Recovery Act provided more than $85 billion -- or about 10% of the funds available nationally -- for program funding and tax relief. This testimony provides a general overview of: (1) California's use of Recovery Act funds for selected programs; (2) the approaches taken by California agencies to ensure accountability for Recovery Act funds; and (3) the impacts of these funds. Charts and tables.

Under the 2009 Recovery Act, the DoJ's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded $2 billion in 4-year Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds to state and local gov'ts. for criminal justice activities. This report examined: (1) how Recovery Act JAG funds are awarded and how recipients in selected states and localities used their awards; (2) challenges, if any, recipients reported in complying with Recovery Act reporting requirements; (3) the extent to which states shared promising practices related to use and management of funds, and how DoJ encouraged info. sharing; and (4) the extent to which DoJ's JAG Recovery Act performance measures were consistent with promising practices. Charts and tables. A print on demand publication.