WASHINGTON, D.C.A new General Accounting Office (GAO) report examining the impact of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) 10 years after its enactment shows that the federal agencies have made steady improvement toward producing strategic plans, annual plans for the upcoming year, and then reporting on their success in meeting those goals.
Several indicators have been pointing up for the job market, including a steady, if slow, decline in weekly jobless claims, leading many economists to forecast greater job growth this year.
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator S usan Collins (R-ME) today praised Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Tom Ridge for creating a task force that will examine the homeland security grant process to ensure that funds move more quickly to first responders. Portland, Maine Mayor Nathan Smith has been asked to serve on the Task Force.
GPRA requires federal agencies to develop strategic plans with long-term goals and objectives, annual plans with outcome-oriented goals linked to the long-term goals, and annual reports in which they evaluate their success in meeting those goals. According to the GAO report, more federal managers are using strategic planning and goals as outlined by GPRA.
It also would create a one-stop point of access to grant funding, technical assistance, threat assessments and information on best practices and equipment. It further would allow more flexibility in the use of federal dollars to address homeland security needs and provide first responders with funding in a more coordinated and timely manner.
Maine will be represented on the Task Force by the mayor of its largest city, Portland, Senator Collins continued. Portland, home to New Englands second largest seaport, an international jetport that annually processes 1.2 million passengers, and a turnpike utilized by 15,000-25,000 vehicles each day, understands the challenges of homeland security.
