The design of this brochure uses artwork from

GAO’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. Opened

in 1951, the GAO Building is listed on the National

Register of Historic Places. The granite bas-reliefs,

seen on the cover and the inside text, flank GAO’s

G Street entrance and depict workers from various

American industries. They were modeled in 1951

by sculptor Joseph Kiselewski (1901-1988), whose

major work includes portraits of famous lawgivers in

the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol and the

George Rogers Clark Memorial in Vincennes,

Indiana. He is also known for his design of the Good

Conduct Medal awarded to U.S. troops during

World War II. The aluminum panels, which adorn

the elevator lobbies of the GAO Building, are by

Heinz Warneke (1895-1983), a German-American

artist whose work can be seen at Washington’s

National Cathedral and many government buildings

and universities. The panels take as their theme both

weather and scientific fields, such as geology

and astronomy.

OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

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About the artwork in this brochure:
Evaluating public programs that define our

times and shape our lives is the daily work of the

U.S. General Accounting Office. Established in

1921, GAO is an independent, nonpartisan

agency in the legislative branch. It's commonly

called the “investigative arm of Congress” or the

“congressional watchdog” because it examines

how taxpayer dollars are spent and advises

lawmakers and agency heads on ways to make

government more effective and responsive.

GA

AN INTRODUCTION

O:
Over the years, GAO has earned a reputation for

providing Congress with the best information

available to help it make informed policy decisions

— information that is accurate, timely, fair, and

balanced. GAO supports congressional

oversight by:

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policies are working,

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issuing legal decisions and opinions.

GAO's primary mission is to serve Congress, but

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and recommendations. This is why GAO's policy

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Headquartered in Washington, D.C., GAO has

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The agency is headed by the Comptroller General

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You're covering a breaking story on a new weapons system and recall that GAO did a report a

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GAO’S WORK

The Internet

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TIPS

on how to follow
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correspondence that GAO updates on its web site

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The web site also contains several features that

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sketch of GAO's evolving role since its creation

in 1921.

GAO Staff

Agency policy calls for subject area specialists to be

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The Office of Public Affairs

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Office can fax you the executive summary found in

many GAO reports — four or five pages that describe the report’s major findings and recommendations.

Arrangements can also be made for you or your

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Don't hesitate to call us if you think

we can help.

OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

441 G STREET, NW, ROOM 7149

WASHINGTON, DC 20548

(202) 512-4800

www.gao.gov

DESIGNER Theresa Mechem

PHOTOGRAPHER Richard Rockburn