    Forces That Will Shape America's Future: Themes from GAO's
    Strategic Plan, 2007-2012 (30-MAR-07, GAO-07-467SP).

    This document describes the forces that are likely to shape our
    nation's future, its place in the world, and the changing role of
    the federal government. This document is an integral part of
    GAO's strategic plan for serving the Congress for fiscal years
    2007 through 2012. Our plan describes our proposed goals and
    strategies for supporting the Congress and the nation in facing
    the challenges of a rapidly changing world. In keeping with our
    commitment to update the plan every 3 years, we have identified
    seven key themes that provide the context for our plan. These
    themes are ensuring the nation's readiness to face changing
    security threats; addressing a range of sustainability challenges
    from fiscal challenges to environmental challenges; maintaining
    economic growth and competitiveness; recognizing global
    interdependencies related to people, information, goods, and
    capital; adapting to societal changes resulting from demographic
    and other shifts; maintaining U.S. citizens' quality of life; and
    managing advancements in science and technology.
    -------------------------Indexing Terms-------------------------
    REPORTNUM:   GAO-07-467SP
        ACCNO:   A67665
      TITLE:     Forces That Will Shape America's Future: Themes from
    GAO's Strategic Plan, 2007-2012
         DATE:   03/30/2007
      SUBJECT:   Accountability
    	     Agency missions
    	     Education
    	     Environmental policies
    	     Financial management
    	     Health care programs
    	     Homeland security
    	     Housing programs
    	     Internal controls
    	     International economic relations
    	     International relations
    	     Performance measures
    	     Population statistics
    	     Program evaluation
    	     Public debt
    	     Quality of life
    	     Reporting requirements
    	     Strategic planning
    	     Transportation

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    GAO-07-467SP

         * [1]Letter from the Comptroller General
         * [2]Ensuring the Nation's Readiness to Address Changing Security
           Threats

              * [3]Terrorism
              * [4]Growing Instability, Rogue Nations, Failed States, and Nuclear
                Proliferation
              * [5]Border and Port Security
              * [6]Transnational and Violent Crime
              * [7]Natural Disasters
              * [8]Infectious Diseases and Public Health
              * [9]Related Issues

         * [10]Sustainability Concerns about Government Policies and Approaches

              * [11]Fiscal Deficits and Debt Burdens
              * [12]Health Care Quality, Access, and Costs
              * [13]Defense and Homeland Security Strategies
              * [14]Social Insurance Commitments
              * [15]Tax Gaps
              * [16]Energy, Environment, and Resource Protection
              * [17]Food and Water Resources
              * [18]Related Issues

         * [19]Maintaining Economic Growth and Competitiveness

              * [20]Education, Skills, and Knowledge
              * [21]Immigration
              * [22]Tax Policy
              * [23]Regulatory Policy
              * [24]Saving and Investment
              * [25]Innovation and Change Management
              * [26]Related Issues

         * [27]Recognizing Global Interdependency

              * [28]Trade
              * [29]Capital Markets
              * [30]Information
              * [31]Transportation
              * [32]Related Issues

         * [33]Adapting to Societal Changes

              * [34]Aging and Life Spans
              * [35]Dependency Ratios
              * [36]Demographic Diversity
              * [37]Income Distribution Gaps
              * [38]Changing Social Behaviors
              * [39]Related Issues

         * [40]Maintaining the Quality of Life for U.S. Citizens

              * [41]Retirement Security
              * [42]Employment
              * [43]Work and Family
              * [44]Urbanization and Sprawl
              * [45]Housing
              * [46]Related Issues

         * [47]Managing Advancements in Science and Technology

              * [48]Productivity and Economic Growth
              * [49]Information and Communications Technology
              * [50]Cybersecurity and Personal Privacy
              * [51]Data Quality and Reliability
              * [52]Space Exploration
              * [53]Humanity and Ethics
              * [54]Elections and Citizens' Involvement
              * [55]Related Issues

         * [56]Governance Implications
         * [57]Appendix I: Interrelationships of Themes and Issues
         * [58]Image Sources

    This document was reissued on April  11, 2007, to add clarifying  language
    on pages 3, 7, and 20, to correct typographical errors on pages 6, 17, 24,
    and 28, and to  add page 33,  Image Sources. The  printed version of  this
    document incorporates these changes.