National Railroad Passenger Corporation

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation was established by Congress to meet the Nation's intercity passenger transportation needs. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) was created by the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970, as amended (49 U. S. C. 241), and was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia to provide a balanced national transportation system by developing, operating, and improving U. S. intercity rail passenger service. Amtrak operates approximately 300 trains per day, serving over 500 stations in 46 States, over a system of 21,800 route miles. Of this route system, Amtrak owns about 530 route miles in the Northeast and several other small track segments elsewhere in the country. Amtrak owns or leases its stations and owns its own repair and maintenance facilities. The Corporation employs a total workforce of approximately 19,000 and provides all reservation, station, and on-board service staffs, as well as train and engine operating crews. Outside the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak contracts with privately or publicly owned railroads for the right to operate over their track. Under contract, these railroads are responsible for the condition of the roadbed and for coordinating the flow of traffic. In fiscal year 2008, Amtrak transported over 28 million people with 78,000 passengers traveling on Amtrak per day. Also, Amtrak runs commuter trains under contract with several commuter agencies. Although Amtrak's basic route system was originally designated by the Secretary of Transportation in 1971, modifications have been made to the Amtrak system and to individual routes that have resulted in more efficient and cost-effective operations. Although capital funding has increased in recent years, operating budget constraints mean that new service will only be added if a State agrees to cover any operating losses.

National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation promotes the progress of science and engineering through the support of research and education programs. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 U. S. C. 1861-1875). The purposes of the Foundation are to increase the Nation's base of scientific and engineering knowledge and strengthen its ability to conduct research in all areas of science and engineering; to develop and help implement science and engineering education programs that can better prepare the Nation for meeting the challenges of the future; and to promote international cooperation through science and engineering. In its role as a leading Federal supporter of science and engineering, the agency also has an important role in national policy planning. The Board also has a broad national policy responsibility to monitor and make recommendations to promote the health of U. S. science and engineering research and education.

National Security Agency/Central Security Service

The National Security Agency (NSA) was established in 1952, and the Central Security Service (CSS) was established in 1972. NSA/CSS is under the authority, direction, and control of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. As the Nation's cryptologic organization, NSA/CSS employs the Nation's premier codemakers and codebreakers. It ensures an informed, alert, and secure environment for U. S. warfighters and policymakers. The cryptologic resources of NSA/CSS unite to provide U. S. policymakers with intelligence information derived from America's adversaries while protecting U. S.government signals and information systems from exploitation by those same adversaries.

National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence

The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, a temporary, independent Federal entity created by Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232). The Commission was created to conduct a review and provide recommendations to the President and Congress related to the use of Artificial Intelligence for national security.

National Security Council

The National Security Council (NSC) is the President's principal forum for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials. Since its inception under President Truman, the Council's function has been to advise and assist the President on national security and foreign policies. The Council also serves as the President's principal arm for coordinating these policies among various government agencies. The NSC is chaired by the President. Its regular attendees (both statutory and non-statutory) are the Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the statutory military advisor to the Council, and the Director of National Intelligence is the intelligence advisor. The Chief of Staff to the President, Counsel to the President, and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy are invited to attend any NSC meeting. The Attorney General and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget are invited to attend meetings pertaining to their responsibilities. The heads of other executive departments and agencies, as well as other senior officials, are invited to attend meetings of the NSC when appropriate. The National Security Council was established by the National Security Act of 1947 (PL 235 - 61 Stat. 496; U. S. C. 402), amended by the National Security Act Amendments of 1949 (63 Stat. 579; 50 U. S. C. 401 et seq. ). Later in 1949, as part of the Reorganization Plan, the Council was placed in the Executive Office of the President.

National Shipping Authority

National Skill Standards Board

The National Skill Standards Board was created by The National Skill Standards Act of 1994 (108 Stat 192, 20 U. S. C. 5933)), signed into law by President Clinton on March 31, 1994. The Board's purpose as stated in the Act is ``to serve as a catalyst in stimulating the development and adoption of a voluntary national system of skill standards and of assessment and certification of attainment of skill standards: (1) That will serve as a cornerstone of the national strategy to enhance workforce skills; (2) that will result in increased productivity, economic growth, and American economic competitiveness; and (3) that can be used consistent with civil rights laws'' by the stakeholders enumerated in the Act: the nation, industries, employers, labor organizations, workers, students, entry-level workers, training providers, educators and government. The Act also states that this voluntary national system of skill standards will serve: (1) to facilitate the transition to high performance work organizations; (2) to increase opportunities for minorities and women; and (3) to facilitate linkages between other components of the national strategy to enhance workforce skills. __________ Source: Federal Register, (March 25, 1996, [61 FR 12109]).

National Technical Information Service

The National Technical Information Service (NTIS) operates a central clearinghouse of scientific and technical information that is useful to U. S. business and industry. NTIS collects scientific and technical information; catalogs, abstracts, indexes, and permanently archives the information; disseminates products in the forms and formats most useful to its customers; develops electronic and other media to disseminate information; and provides information processing services to other Federal agencies. NTIS receives no appropriations. Its revenue comes from two sources: the sale of technical reports to business and industry, schools and universities, State and local government offices, and the public at large and from services to Federal agencies that help them communicate more effectively with their employees and constituents. The NTIS collection of approximately 2. 5 million works covers a broad array of subjects and includes reports on the results of research and development and scientific studies on manufacturing processes, current events, and foreign and domestic trade; business and management studies; social, economic, and trade statistics; computer software and databases; health care reports, manuals, and data; environmental handbooks, regulations, economic studies, and applied technologies; directories to Federal laboratory and technical resources; and global competitive intelligence. The collection also includes audiovisual training materials in such areas as foreign languages, workplace safety and health, law enforcement, and fire services.

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) was established in 1978 by Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1977 (5 U. S. C. app. ) and Executive Order 12046 of March 27, 1978 (3 CFR, 1978 Comp. , p. 158), by combining the Office of Telecommunications Policy of the Executive Office of the President and the Office of Telecommunications of the Department of Commerce to form a new agency reporting to the Secretary of Commerce. NTIA operates under the authority of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U. S. C. 901). NTIA's principal responsibilities and functions include: --serving as the principal executive branch adviser to the President on telecommunications and information policy; --developing and presenting U. S. plans and policies at international communications conferences and related meetings; --prescribing policies for and managing Federal use of the radio frequency spectrum; --serving as the principal Federal telecommunications research and engineering laboratory, through NTIA's Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, headquartered in Boulder, CO; --administering Federal programs to assist telecommunication facilities, public safety organizations, and the general public with the transition to digital broadcasting; --providing grants through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program to increase broadband accessibility in underserved areas of the United States; and --providing grants through the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program to extend delivery or public telecommunications services to U. S. citizens, to increase ownership and management by women and minorities, and to strengthen the capabilities of existing public broadcasting stations to provide telecommunications services.

National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was established in 1967 and became totally independent on April 1, 1975, by the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 (49 U. S. C. 1111). The National Transportation Safety Board seeks to ensure that all types of transportation in the United States are conducted safely. The Board investigates accidents, conducts studies, and makes recommendations to Government agencies, the transportation industry, and others on safety measures and practices.

National Women's Business Council

The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) was established as an independent advisory council on October 25, 1968 by the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1968 (Pub. L. 100-533). NWBC was created to review the status of women–owned business nationwide; the role of Federal, State and local governments in assisting and promoting aid to, and the promotion of, women-owned business; data collection procedures and the availability of data related to women-owned business; and government initiatives relating to women owned business, including those related to Federal procurement.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS) was originally established by Congress in 1935 as the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), NRCS has expanded to become a conservation leader for all natural resources, ensuring private lands are conserved, restored, and more resilient to environmental challenges, like climate change. NRCS works with landowners through conservation planning and assistance designed to benefit the soil, water, air, plants, and animals that result in productive lands and healthy ecosystems. [https://www.nrcs. usda.gov/about/]

Natural Resources Revenue Office

The Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) ) is entrusted with a fiduciary role, managing an average of $11 billion in annual revenues from energy and mineral leases and other monies owed for the use of public natural resources on the Outer Continental Shelf and onshore Federal and American Indian lands. Revenue sources include royalties, rents, and bonuses generated throughout the life of the lease.

Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation Office

The Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation (ONHIR) is an independent agency responsible for assisting Hopi and Navajo Indians impacted by the relocation that Congress mandated in 1974 for members of the tribes who were living on each other's land. Imposed by the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act of 1974, the relocation was intended to be a temporary process to resolve land disputes among the tribes that had been ongoing for decades. But discord between varying involved parties continued to arise, preventing the desired final resolution, and resulting in the cost of the program ballooning, Congress amending the Act, and various politicians attempting to put an end to ONHIR. [https://www.allgov. com/Agency/Office_of_Navajo_and_Hopi_Indian_Relocation__ONHIR_]

Navy Department

The primary mission of the Department of the Navy is to protect the United States, as directed by the President or the Secretary of Defense, by the effective prosecution of war at sea including, with its Marine Corps component, the seizure or defense of advanced naval bases; to support, as required, the forces of all military departments of the United States; and to maintain freedom of the seas. The United States Navy was founded on October 13, 1775, when Congress enacted the first legislation creating the Continental Navy of the American Revolution. The Department of the Navy and the Office of Secretary of the Navy were established by act of April 30, 1798 (10 U. S. C. 5011, 5031). For 9 years prior to that date, by act of August 7, 1789 (1 Stat. 49), the conduct of naval affairs was under the Secretary of War. The National Security Act Amendments of 1949 provided that the Department of the Navy be a military department within the Department of Defense (63 Stat. 578).

Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation

In 1978, Congress institutionalized the NHS network by establishing the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation to carry on the work of the Urban Reinvestment Task Force. [In April 2005, the Corporation began doing business as NeighborWorks America. ] The Congressional act (Public Law 95-557) charged Neighborhood Reinvestment with promoting reinvestment in older neighborhoods by local financial institutions in cooperation with the community, residents and local governments. Bill Whiteside was named executive director. The act defined Neighborhood Reinvestment's mission as "revitalizing older urban neighborhoods by mobilizing public, private and community resources at the neighborhood level. " [https://nw. org/network/aboutUs/history/default. asp]

Northern Border Regional Commission

The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) is a Federal-State partnership for economic and community development in northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Each year, the NBRC provides Federal funds for critical economic and community development projects throughout the northeast. These investments lead to new job creation and leverage substantial private sector investments.

Nuclear Energy Office

The Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) is a subagency of the Department of Energy. The NE promotes nuclear power as a resource capable of meeting the Nation's energy, environmental and national security needs by resolving technical and regulatory barriers through research, development and demonstration. For further information regarding Office of Nuclear Energy organization and functions, please visit NE’s webpage at https://www.ne. doe.gov/. ____________ Source: https://www.ne. doe.gov/

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses and regulates civilian use of nuclear energy to protect public health and safety and the environment. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was established as an independent regulatory agency under the provisions of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (42 U. S. C. 5801 et seq. ) and Executive Order 11834 of January 15, 1975. All licensing and related regulatory functions formerly assigned to the Atomic Energy Commission were transferred to the Commission. The Commission's major program components are the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, and the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. Headquarters offices are located in suburban Maryland, and there are four regional offices. The Commission ensures that the civilian uses of nuclear materials and facilities are conducted in a manner consistent with the public health and safety, environmental quality, national security, and the antitrust laws. Most of the Commission's effort is focused on regulating the use of nuclear energy to generate electric power.

Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board

The U. S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board was established under the 1987 Nuclear Waste Policy Act amendments. The Board is completely independent; advises both Congress and the Secretary of Energy on technical issues related to nuclear waste management; and it evaluates the technical validity of all activities undertaken by the Secretary of Energy related to the Department of Energy's continuing obligation to manage and develop an approach for the disposition of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. [https://www.nwtrb.gov/mission/nwtrbmission. pdf]