to control aircraft noise, sonic boom, and other environmental effects of civil aviation.

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) (20.205-20.218) --Coordi

nates highways with other modes of transportation to achieve the most effective balance of transportation systems and facilities under cohesive Federal transportation policies pursuant to the Act. FHWA is concerned with the total operation and environment of highway systems, including highway and motor carrier safety. In administering its highway transportation programs, it gives full consideration to the impacts of highway development and travel; transportation needs; engineering and safety aspects; social, economic, and environmental effects; and project costs. It ensures balanced treatment of these factors by utilizing a systematic, interdisciplinary approach in providing for safe and efficient highway transportation.

facilities, equipment, techniques, and methods, with the cooperation of mass transportation companies both public and private; encourages the planning and establishment of areawide urban mass transportation systems needed for economical and desirable urban development, with the cooperation of mass transportation companies both public and private; and provides assistance to State and local governments and their instrumentalities in financing such systems, to be operated by public or private mass transportation companies as determined by local needs.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (20.600-20.602)

Carries out programs relating to the safety performance of motor vehicles and related equipment, motor vehicle drivers and pedestrians and a uniform nationwide speed limit under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 (80 Stat. 718), as amended. Under the authority of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Saving Act (86 Stat. 947), as amended, the Administration carries out programs and studies aimed at reducing economic losses in motor vehicle crashes and repairs, through general motor vehicle programs; administers the Federal odometer law; and promulgates average fuel economy standards for passenger and nonpassenger motor vehicles. Under the authority of the Clean Air amendments of 1970 (84 Stat. 1700), the Administration certifies as to the consistency of Environmental Protection Agency State grants with any highway safety program developed pursuant to section 402 of Title 23 of the United States Code. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was established to carry out a congressional mandate to reduce the mounting number of deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from traffic accidents on the Nation's highways and to provide motor vehicle damage susceptibility and ease of repair information, motor vehicle inspection demonstrations, and protection of purchasers of motor vehicles having altered odometers, and to provide average standards for greater vehicle mileage per gallon of fuel for vehicle under 10,000 pounds (gross vehicle weight).

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) (20.301-20.308) --Promul

gates and enforces rail safety regulations, administer railroad financial assistance programs, conduct research and development in support of improved railroad safety and national rail transportation policy, provide for the rehabilitation of Northeast Corridor rail passenger service, and consolidate government support of rail transportation activities. Railroad Safety: The Administration administers and enforces the Federal laws and related regulations designed to promote safety on railroads; exercises jurisdiction over all areas of rail safety under the Rail Safety Act of 1970, such as track maintenance, inspection standards, equipment standards, and operating practices. It also administers and enforces regulations resulting from railroad safety legislation for locomotives, signals, safety appliances, power brakes, hours of service, transportation of explosives and other dangerous articles, and reporting and investigation of railroad accidents. Railroad and related industry equipment, facilities, and records are inspected and required reports reviewed. Research and Development: A ground transportation research and development program is administered to advance all aspects of intercity ground transportation and railroad safety pertaining to the physical sciences and engineering, in order to improve railroad safety and ensure that railroads continue to be a viable national transportation resource. Transportation Test Center: This 50-square-mile facility, located near Pueblo, CO, provides testing for advanced and conventional systems and techniques designed to improve ground transportation. The facility has been managed and staffed for the Administration by the Association of American Railroads since October 1, 1982. The United States and Canadian Governments and private industry use this facility to explore, under controlled conditions, the operation of both conventional and advanced systems. It is used by the Urban Mass Transportation Administration for testing of urban rapid transit vehicles. Policy: Program management for new and revised policies, plans and projects related to railroad transportation economics, finance, system planning, and operations is provided; appropriate studies and analyses are performed; relevant tests, demonstrations, and evaluations are conducted; and labor/management programs are evaluated. Analyses of issues before regulatory agencies are carried out and recommendations are made to the Secretary as to the positions to be taken by DOT. Passenger and Freight Services: The Administration administers a program of Federal assistance for national, regional, and local rail services. Programs include rail freight service assistance programs; rail service continuation programs and State rail planning; and rail passenger service on a national, regional, and local basis. The agency also administers programs to develop, implement, and administer rail system policies, plans and programs for the Northeast Corridor in support of applicable provisions of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 501), and related legislation.

Research and Special Programs Administration (20.700-20.703)

Responsible for a number of programs involving safety regulation, emergency preparedness, and research and development. Emphasis is given to hazardous material transportation and pipeline safety, transportation emergency preparedness, safety training, and multimodal transportation research and development activities, and collection and dissemination of air carrier economic data.

Maritime Administration (20.801-20.812) Administers programs

to aid in the development, promotion, and operation of the U.S. Merchant Marine; organizes and directs emergency merchant ship operations; administers subsidy programs, through the Maritime Subsidy Board, under which the Federal government, subject to statutory limitations, pays the difference between certain costs of operating ships under the U.S. flag and foreign competitive flags on essential services, and the difference between the costs of constructing ships in U.S. and foreign shipyards; provides financing guarantees for the construction, reconstruction, and reconditioning of ships; and enters into capital construction fund agreements which grant tax deferrals on moneys to be used for the acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of ships; constructs or supervises the construction of merchant-type ships for the Federal government; it helps industry generate increased business for U.S. ships and conducts programs to develop ports, facilities, and internodal transport, and to promote domestic shipping. Administers a War Risk Insurance program insuring operators and seamen against losses caused by hostile action if domestic commercial insurance is not available; Under emergency conditions, charters Government-owned ships to U.S. operators, requisitions or procures ships owned by U.S. citizens, and allocates them to meet defense needs. It maintains a National Defense Reserve Fleet of Government-owned ships that it operates through gen

Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) (20.500-20.514)

Assists in the development of improved mass transportation

eral agents when required in national defense interests. An element of this activity is the Ready Reserve Force consisting of a number of ships available for quick-response activation; regulates sales to aliens and transfers to foreign registry of ships that are fully or partially owned by U.S. citizens; also disposes of Government-owned ships found nonessential for national defense; operates the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY, where young people are trained to become merchant marine officers, and conducts training in shipboard firefighting at Earle, NJ, and Toledo, OH. It also administers a Federal assistance program for the maritime academies operated by California, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Texas.

ing with the laws and regulations, and taking those enforcement actions necessary for fair, effective, and impartial tax administration. Basic IRS activities include ensuring satisfactory resolution of taxpayer complaints, providing taxpayer service and education; determination, assessment, and collection of internal revenue taxes; determination of pension plan qualifications and exempt organization status; and preparation and issuance of rulings and regulations to supplement the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

Office of the Secretary (20.900-20.903) -- Develops and evaluates

public policy related to the transportation industries and their economic regulation; assures that the Department's regulatory programs remain consistent with established policy and maintains oversight of all departmental safety regulatory actions; proposes and coordinates on transportation-related legislation involving the private sector; provides analyses of current and emerging transportation policy issues to assess their economic and institutional implication, particularly with regard to Federal assistance, public trust funds, user charges, nondiscrimination of the handicapped in the provision of public transportation services, and energy and environmental aspects; undertakes studies and analyses to aid in the resolution of safety problems; develops policies to support the Department in aviation and maritime multilateral and bilateral negotiations with foreign governments and participates on the U.S. negotiating delegations; develops policies on a wide range of international transportation and trade matters; furnishes guidance to the United States Trade Representative's Trade Policy Committee in efforts to improve the U.S. balance of payments; coordinates efforts to combat transport-related terrorist acts and drug smuggling; arranges and coordinates cooperative agreements with foreign governments for the exchange of state-of-the-art scientific and technical information; provides assistance to the Agency for International Development's transportation programs in developing countries; and participates on the U.S.-Saudi Arabian Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation. The Assistant Secretary also: develops, coordinates, and carries out U.S. Government policy relating to the economic regulation of the airline industry, including licensing of U.S. and foreign carriers to serve in international air transportation and carrier fitness determinations; processes and resolves complaints concerning unfair competitive practices in international fares, rates, and tariff filings; establishes international and intra-Alaska mail rates; and determines the disposition of requests for approval and immunization from the antitrust laws of international aviation agreements. The Assistant Secretary also administers the essential air service program, which involves: establishing appropriate subsidy levels for subsidized carriers; processing applications to terminate, suspend, or reduce air service below the defined essential level; determining with carrier among various applicants should be selected to provide subsidized service; and continuously reviewing essential air service definitions for each community.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (21.052) Enforces and

administers firearms and explosives laws, as well as those covering the production, use, and distribution of alcohol and tobacco products. The objective of the Bureau's programs is to maximize voluntary compliance with these laws, and to minimize willful and involuntary violations of the laws. To achieve these goals, the Bureau is divided into two basic functions: criminal enforcement and regulatory enforcement. The objectives of the criminal enforcement activity are to eliminate illegal possession and use of firearms, destructive devices, and explosives; suppress the interstate trafficking in illicit distilled spirits; suppress the interstate trafficking in contraband cigarettes; and assist State and local law enforcement agencies in reducing crime and violence. The regulatory enforcement activity determines and assures full collection of revenue due from legal alcohol and tobacco industries; fulfills the Bureau's responsibility in the prevention of commercial bribery, consumer deception, and other improper trade practices in the distilled spirits industry; assists other Federal, State, and local governmental agencies in the resolution of problems relating to industrial development, ecology, and revenue protection; ensures that categories of persons prohibited by law from manufacturing, importing, or dealing in firearms and explosives do not obtain a license or permit; ensures that storage facilities for explosives are safe and secure, to avoid presenting a hazard to the public, and that explosives are properly stored in such facilities; and ensures that the audit trail is preserved to permit the tracing of firearms used in the commission of crimes and full account. ability for explosive materials.

United States Secret Service (21.100) - Detects and arrests any

person committing any offense against the laws of the United States relating to coins, currency, and other obligations, and securities of the United Statesand of foreign governments; detects and arrests any person violating any of the provisions of Sections 508, 509, and 871 of Title 18 of the United States Code; executes warrants issued under the authority of the United States; carry firearms; and perform such other functions and duties as are authorized by law. In addition, subject to the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, the United States Secret Service is authorized to protect the person of the President of the United States, the members of his immediate family, the President-elect, the Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the Office of President, the immediate family of the Vice President, the Vice-Presidentelect, major Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, former Presidents and their wives during his lifetime, widows of former Presidents until their death or remarriage, and minor children of a former President until they reach age 16, and visiting heads of a foreign state or foreign government.

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (21.003-21.007) -- Administers and

enforces the Internal Revenue laws and related statutes, except those relating to alcohol, tobacco, firearms, andexplosives. The IRS mission is to encourage and achieve the highest possible degree of voluntary compliance with the tax laws and regulations and to conduct itself so as to warrant the highest degree of public confidence in the integrity and efficiency of the Service. Accomplishment of this mission involves advising the public of its rights and responsibilities; communicating requirements of the law to the public; assisting taxpayers in comply

APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION (23.001-23.013)-

The Appalachian Regional Commission is a Federal-State governmental agency concerned with the economic, physical, and social development of the 13-State Appalachian region, which includes parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and all of West Virginia. The comprehensive goals of the Commission are to provide the people of Appalachia with the health and skills they need to compete for opportunities and to develop a self-sustaining economy and environment capable of supporting a population with

rising incomes and standards of living and increasing employment opportunities. To accomplish this task, the Commission has concentrated on areas of development in which there remain great needs throughout the region: community development and housing, education, the environment, health and child development, industrial development and management, tourism, and transportation.

mediation; advocating collective bargaining, mediation, and voluntary arbitration as the preferred processes for settling issues between employees and representatives of employees; developing the art, science, and practice of dispute resolution; and fostering constructive joint relationships of labor and management leaders to increase their mutual understanding and solution of common problems.

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (OPM) (27.001

27.013) --Administers a merit system for Federal employment, which includes recruiting, examining, training, and promoting people on the basis of their knowledge and skills, regardless of their race, religion, sex, political influence, or other nonmerit factors. OPM's role is to ensure that the Federal government provides an array of personnel services to applicants and employees. Through a range of programs designed to develop and encourage the effectiveness of the Government employee, OPM supports Government program managers in their personnel management responsibilities and provides benefits to employees and to retired employees and their survivors.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC) (36.001) Maintains

competitive enterprise as the keystone of the American economic system. Although the duties of the Commission are many and varied, the foundation of public policy underlying all these duties is essentially the same: to prevent the free enterprise system from being fettered by monopoly or restraints on trade or corrupted by unfair or deceptive trade practices. In brief, the Commission is charged with keeping competition both free and fair.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

(EEOC) (30.001-30.012) Eliminates discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or age in hiring, promotion, firing, wages, testing, training, apprenticeship, and all other conditions of employment. The Commission also promotes voluntary action programs by employers, unions, and community organizations to make equal employment opportunity an actuality. EEOC also has oversight responsibility for all compliance and enforcement activities relating to equal employment opportunity among Federal employees and applicants, including discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA) (39.001

39.009) --Establishes policy and provides for the Government an economical and efficient system for the management of its property and records, including construction and operation of buildings, procurement and distribution of supplies, utilization and disposal of property, transportation, traffic, and communications management, stockpiling of strategic materials, and the management of the Government-wide automatic data processing resources program. GSA is organized much like a large corporation doing business in a number of different fields. It consists of operating services and supporting staff offices, with functions carried out at three levels of organization: The Central office, regional offices, and field activities. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of these offices.) Various publications and catalogs published by GSA include: 1) The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance published jointly by GSA and the Office of Management and Budget. 2) the Consumer Information Catalog which lists selected Federal publications of interest to consumers. GSA also administers the Federal Information Centers (FIC) which are focal points for information about the Federal government's services, programs, and regulations (see Appendix V of the Catalog for more information on FIC's).

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC) (32.001)

-- Regulates interstate and foreign communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. It is responsible for the orderly development and operation of broadcast services and the provision of rapid, efficient nationwide and worldwide telephone and telegraph services at reasonable rates. Its responsibilities also include the use of communications for promoting safety of life and property and for strengthening the national defense.

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE (GPO) (40.001-40.002)

Executes orders for printing and binding placed by Congress and the departments and establishments of the Federal government. It furnishes blank paper, inks, and similar supplies to all governmental activities on order. It prepares catalogs and distributes and sells Government publications. GPO invites bids from commercial suppliers on a wide variety of printing and binding services, awards and administers contracts, and maintains liaison between ordering agencies and contractors. GPO sells through mail orders and Government bookstores approximately 20,000 publications that originate in various Government agencies, and administers the depository library program through which selected Government publications are made available in libraries throughout the country.

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION (FMC) (33.001) Regu

lates the waterborne foreign and domestic offshore commerce of the United States, assures that United States international trade is open to all nations on fair and equitable terms, and protects against unauthorized, concerted activity in the waterborne commerce of the United States. This is accomplished through maintaining surveillance over steamship conferences and common carriers by water; assuring that only the rates on file with the Commission are charged; conducting analysis and appropriate disposition of agreements between persons subject to the Shipping Act of 1984 and the Shipping Act, 1916; guaranteeing equal treatment to shippers, carriers, and other persons subject to the shipping statutes; and ensuring that adequate levels of financial responsibility are maintained for indemnification of passengers.

INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION (ICC) (41.001

41.002) Regulates interstate surface transportation, including trains, trucks, buses, water carriers, and freight forwarders, transportation brokers, and a coal slurry pipeline. The regulatory laws vary depending on the type of transportation; however, they generally involve certification of carriers seeking to provide transportation for the public, rates, adequacy of service, purchases, and mergers. The ICC assures that the carriers it regulates will provide the public with rates and services that are fair and reasonable.

FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE

(FMCS) (34.001-34.002) -- Represents the public interest by promoting the development of sound and stable labor-management relationships; preventing or minimizing work stoppages by assisting labor and management to settle their disputes through

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS (42.001-42.008) -- Under the organic

law, the Library's first responsibility is service to Congress. One department, the Congressional Research Service, functions exclusively for the legislative branch of the Government. As propriate programs to support, preserve, and present American folklife through such activities as the collection and maintenance of archives, scholarly research, field projects, performances, exhibitions, festivals, workshops, publications, and audiovisual presentations. The Center for the Book was established in the Library of Congress to provide a program for investigating the transmission of human knowledge and to heighten public interest in the role of books and printing in the diffusion of knowledge. Drawing on the resources of the Library of Congress, the Center works closely with other organizations to explore important issues in the book and educational communities, to encourage reading, and to encourage research about books and about reading. Its goal is to serve as a useful catalyst by bringing together authors, publishers, librarians, booksellers, educators, scholars, and readers to discuss common concerns and work toward the solution of common problems. The Library provides technical information related to the preservation and restoration of library and archival material. A series of leaflets on various preservation and conservation topics has been prepared by the Preservation Office. Information and publications are available from the National Preservation Program Office, Library of Congress.

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

(NASA) (43.001-43.002) -- Conducts research for the solution of problems of flight within and outside the Earth's atmosphere and develop, construct, test, and operate aeronautical and space vehicles; conducts activities required for the exploration of space with manned and unmanned vehicles; arranges for the most effective utilization of the scientific and engineering resources of the United States with other nations engaged in aeronautical and space activities for peaceful purposes.

the Library has developed, its range of service has come to include the entire governmental establishment in all its branches and the public at large, so that it has become a national library for the United States. The Library's extensive collections are universal in scope. They include books and pamphlets on every subject and in a multitude of languages. Among them are the most comprehensive collections of Chinese, Japanese, and Russian language books outside Asia and the Soviet Union; volumes relating to science and legal materials, outstanding for American and foreign law; the world's largest collection of published aeronautical literature; and the most extensive collection in the western hemisphere of books printed before 1501 A.D. The manuscript collections relate to manifold aspects of American history and civilization and include the personal papers of most of the Presidents from George Washington through Calvin Coolidge. The music collections contain volumes and pieces--manuscript and published--from classic works to the newest popular compositions. Other materials available for research include maps and views; photographic records from the daguerreotype to the latest news photo; recordings, including folksongs and other music, speeches, and poetry readings; prints, drawings, and posters; government documents, newspapers, and periodicals from all over the world; and motion pictures, microforms, and audio and video tapes. Admission to the various research facilities of the Library is free. No introduction or credentials are required for persons over high school age who wish to read in the general reading rooms; however, certain collections, like those of the Manuscript, Rare Book and Special Collections, Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Divisions, can be used only by those with a serious purpose for doing so. The Library is also responsible for copyrights, which are now registered by the Copyright Office. All copyrightable works, whether published or unpublished, are subject to a system of statutory protection that gives the copyright owner certain exclusive rights, including the right to reproduce the copyrighted work and distribute it to the public by sale, rental, lease, or lending. Works of authorship include books, periodicals, and other literary works, musical compositions, song lyrics, dramas and dramatico-musical compositions, pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works pantomimes and choreographic works, motion pictures and other audiovisual works, and sound recordings. The Library extends its service through an interlibrary loan system; the photoduplication, at reasonable cost, subject to conditions of law, copyright, and deposit, of books, manuscripts, maps, newspapers, and prints in its collections; the sale of sound recordings, which are released by its Recording Laboratory; the exchange of duplicates with other institutions; the sale of printed catalog cards and magnetic tapes, and the publication in book format or microform of cumulative catalogs, which make available the results of the expert bibliographical and cataloging work of its technical personnel; a centralized cataloging program whereby the Library of Congress acquires material published all over the world, catalogs it promptly, and distributes cataloging information in machine-readable form as well as by printed cards and other means to the Nation's libraries; a cooperative cataloging program, whereby the cataloging of data by name authority and bibliographic records, prepared by other libraries becomes part of the Library of Congress data base and distribute them through the MARC Distribution Service; a cataloging-in-publication program in cooperation with American publishers for printing and cataloging information in current books; the National Serials Data Program, a national center that maintains a record of serial titles to which International Standard Serial Numbers have been assigned and serves, with this file, as the United States Register; and the development of general schemes of classification (Library of Congress and Dewey Decimal), subject headings, and cataloging, embracing the entire field of printed matter. The American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress, has a coordinative function both in and outside the Federal establishment to carry out ap

NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION (NCUA)

(44.001-44.002) --The National Credit Union Administration Board is responsible for chartering, insuring, supervising, and examining Federal credit unions and administering the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund. The Board also manages the Central Liquidity Facility, a mixed-ownership Government corporation whose purpose is to supply emergency loans to member credit unions.

NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE

HUMANITIES

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) (45.001-45.023) -- Pro

grams have five basic goals: to foster individual creativity and excellence; to foster institutional creativity and excellence; to preserve the artistic birthright of present and future generations of Americans by supporting survival of the best of all art forms that reflect the American heritage in its full range of cultural and ethnic diversity; to ensure that all Americans have a true opportunity to make an informed, educated choice to have the arts of high quality touch their lives; and with responsiveness to the needs of the field, to provide leadership on behalf of the arts.

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) (45.104-45.158) ..

Promotes and supports the production and dissemination of knowledge in the humanities. The term "humanities" includes, but is not limited to, the study of the following: language, both modern and classical; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology; comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism, and theory of the arts; and those aspects of the social sciences that employ historical or philosophical approaches. The Endowment makes grants to individuals, groups, or institutions--schools, colleges, universities, museums, public television stations, libraries, public agencies, and nonprofit private groups--to increase understanding and appreciation of the humanities.

Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities (45.201) --Coordi

nates the activities of the two Endowments and related programs of other Federal agencies.

national trade and tariffs to the President, the Congress, and other Government agencies. In this capacity, the Commission conducts a variety of investigations, public hearings, and research projects pertaining to the international policies of the United States.

Institute of Museum Services (45.301) Programs assist museums

in maintaining, increasing, and improving their services to the public. The Institute awards grants to support the efforts of museums to conserve the Nation's historic, scientific and cultural heritage; to maintain and expand their educational role; and to ease the financial burden borne by museums as a result of their increasing use by the public. The Institute awards grants to all types of museums, including but not limited to art, history, general, children's, natural history, science and technology, historic houses, zoos and aquariums, botanical gardens and arboretums, nature centers, and planetariums. Contracts and cooperative agreements are provided to national, regional, State or local private nonprofit professional museum organizations, and associations for proposals designed to strengthen museum services.

TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY (TVA) (62.001-62.005)

Conducts a unified program of resource development for the advancement of economic growth in the Tennessee Valley region. The Authority's program of activities includes flood control, navigation development, electric power production, fertilizer development, recreation improvement, and forestry and wildlife development. While its power program is financially self-supporting, other programs are financed primarily by appropriations from Congress.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD (NLRB) (46.001)

Administers the Nation's principal law, the National Labor Relations Act. The NLRB is vested with the power to prevent or remedy unfair labor practices and to safeguard employees' rights to organize and determine through elections whether to have unions as their bargaining representatives.

Veterans Health Administration (64.005-64.022) Provides hospi

tal, nursing home and domiciliary care, and outpatient medical and dental care to eligible veterans of military service in the Armed Forces. Dependents of certain veterans are provided with medical care supplied by non-VA institutions and physicians. The Department conducts both individual medical and health-care delivery research projects and multi-hospital research programs. It assists in the education of physicians and dentists, and with training of many other health care professionals through affiliations with educational institutions and organizations.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) (47.041-47.077)

Promotes the progress of science and engineering through the support of research and education programs. Its major emphasis is on high quality, science-driven research, the search for improved understanding of the fundamental laws of nature upon which our future well-being as a nation depends. The National Science Foundation also supports applied research in several areas. Its educational programs are aimed at ensuring increasing understanding of science at all educational levels and an adequate supply of scientists and engineers to meet our country's needs.

PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (53.001) Seeks to identify and eliminate barriers standing in the way of full social and vocational opportunities for people with physical and mental disabilities; promotes employment opportunities for people with physical and mental disabilities.

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD (57.001) Administers

comprehensive retirement-survivor and unemployment-sickness benefit programs for the Nation's railroad workers and their families, under the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts. The Board participates in the administration of the Social Security Act and the Health Insurance for the Aged Act insofar as they affect railroad retirement beneficiaries.

Veterans Benefits Administration (64.100-64.126) Conducts an in

tegrated program of veterans benefits: The Compensation and Pension Service has responsibility for: claims for disability compensation and pension; automobile allowances and special adaptive equipment; claims for specially adapted housing; special clothing allowances; emergency officer's retirement pay; eligibility determinations based on military service for other VA benefits and services or those of other Government agencies; survivor's claims for death compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, death pension, burial and plot allowance claims; claims for accrued benefits; forfeiture determinations; claims for adjusted compensation in death cases; and claims for reimbursement for headstones or markers. Vocational Rehabili. tation and Education Service has responsibility for: rehabilitation of disabled veterans, readjustment educational benefits for veterans of post-Korean conflict service, and educational assistance for spouses, surviving spouses, and children of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled or die from disability incurred or aggravated in active service in the Armed Forces, or are prisoners of war or are missing in action. Special restorative training is alsoavailable to eligible children. The mission is also to provide credit assistance whereby the housing credit needs of eligible veterans and active duty service personnel may be satisfied by private capital on more liberal terms than generally available to non-veterans Assistance is provided chiefly through substituting the Government's guaranty on loans made by private lenders in lieu of the downpayments, shorter terms, and other requirements generally required in conventional home mortgage transactions. Where private capital is not available in non-urban areas, direct loans may be made. In addition, a system of direct financial grants is operated to help certain permanently disabled veterans to acquire specially adapted housing. VA life insurance operations are for the benefit of service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries. In addition, the VA is responsible for: supervision of the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) Programs for today's service members and veterans. The Veterans' Insurance Act of 1974 (88 Stat. 165; 38 U.S.C. 765-779), effective May 24, 1974, has substantially amended the law provided for the conversion of SGLI to a 5. year nonrenewable term policy known as Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI). At the termination of the 5-year term

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC) (58.001)-

Administers Federal securities laws that seek to provide for investors; to ensure that securities markets are fair and honest; and, when necessary, to provide the means to enforce securities laws through sanctions.

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) (59.002-59.046) -

Aids, counsels, assists, and protects the interests of small business; ensures that small business concerns receive a fair proportion of Government purchases, contracts, and subcontracts, as well as of the sales of Government property; makes loans to small business concerns, State and local development companies, and the victims of floods or other catastrophes, or certain types of economic injury; and licenses, regulates, and makes loans to small business investment companies.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION (ITC) (61.001)

Furnishes studies, reports, and recommendations involving inter