Access America E-Gov E-Zine tells the stories of how federal employees are using information technology to deliver services to the American people and to improve their own productivity. Their work captures the vision of Vice President Al Gore in his book, Access America: Reengineering Through Information Technology.

Home of the Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce, created by Congress to produce recommendations on electronic commerce and tax policy, critical information age issues with global implications.

In December 1999 the Federal Trade Commission established the Advisory Committee on Online Access and Security. The purpose of the Advisory Committee was to provide advice and recommendations to the Commission regarding implementation of certain fair information practices by domestic commercial Web sites. In particular, the Advisory Committee addressed providing online consumers reasonable access to personal information collected from and about them and maintaining adequate security for that information. In accordance with its Charter, the Advisory Committee submitted its Final Report to the Commission on May 15, 2000, and was terminated on May 31, 2000.

Amtrak Reform Council (ARC) is an independent federal commission established under the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997 (ARAA), which gave the Council a statutory mandate: (i) to recommend to Amtrak actions that the Corporation can take to improve its operational and financial performance; (ii) to monitor Amtrak's financial performance in the light of both Amtrak's own goals for financial performance, as established in its strategic business plan, and the statutory requirement that Amtrak be free of the need for operating grants after the fifth anniversary of the enactment of the ARAA; and (iii) should the Council find that Amtrak has not achieved or will not achieve either of its financial targets, then it is to forward to the Congress recommendations for a restructured and rationalized national intercity rail passenger system.

Website for the Antitrust Modernization Commission, a 12-member committee charged to review antitrust laws and provide recommendations regarding issues and possible changes or modernizations. The site includes information about the commission documents collected during their research including meeting notes and hearing transcripts, and a collection of public comments.

This website contains information compiled by the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission regarding the 100-year anniversary of the Wright brothers' initial flight; it includes images, documents, information about national events, the final report of the Commission, and other resources.

Congress authorized the Citizen’s Health Care Working Group as a provision of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act Of 2003. This provision was sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Orrin Hatch of Utah. The mission of the Working Group has been to provide a nationwide public debate about improving the American health care system so that health care “works for all Americans” and to use the results of that debate to provide recommendations for Congress and the President to consider as they work to achieve high quality, affordable health care. Working Group members were named February 28, 2005 and released various sets of recommendations.

On Feb. 1, 2003, Shuttle Columbia was lost during its return to Earth. Investigators have found the cause. Official Board site providing press releases, events, and other information regarding the ongoing investigation.

Welcome to the official website of the Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Facility Needs for Seniors in the 21st Century. This Commission was created by Congress to report on the housing and health needs for the next generation of seniors and offer policy and legislative recommendations for enhancing services and increasing the available housing for this rapidly growing segment of our society.

The Commission on Systemic Interoperability was authorized by the Medicare Modernization Act and established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Its members were appointed by the President of the United States of America and the leaders of the 108th United States Congress, and it held its first meeting on January 10, 2005.

Established by Executive Order 13328 and signed by President George W. Bush on February 6, 2004, the Commission was charged with assessing whether the Intelligence Community is sufficiently authorized, organized, equipped, trained, and resourced to identify and warn in a timely manner of, and to support United States Government efforts to respond to, the development and transfer of knowledge, expertise, technologies, materials, and resources associated with the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, related means of delivery, and other related threats of the 21st Century and their employment by foreign powers (including terrorists, terrorist organizations, and private networks). T he Commission examined the capabilities and challenges of the Intelligence Community to collect, process, analyze, produce, and disseminate information concerning the capabilities, intentions, and activities of such foreign powers relating to the design, development, manufacture, acquisition, possession, proliferation, transfer, testing, potential or threatened use, or use of Weapons of Mass Destruction, related means of delivery, and other related threats of the 21st Century.

The independent Commission on the National Guard and Reserves was charged by Congress to recommend any needed changes in law and policy to ensure that the Guard and Reserves are organized, trained, equipped, compensated, and supported to best meet the national security requirements of the United States. The Commission was established by the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. On January 31, 2008, the Commission delivered its final report to Congress and the Secretary of Defense. That report contains six major conclusions and 95 recommendations, supported by 163 findings. It was informed by 17 days of public hearings, involving 115 witnesses; 52 Commission meetings; more than 850 interviews; and the detailed analysis of thousands of documents.

The creation of the Commission, which was established by House Resolution 1, implements a key recommendation of the independent, bipartisan 9/11 Commission to address the grave threat that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction poses to our country. The Commission assessed the nation's current activities, initiatives, and programs aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism and provided key recommendations.

This website contains information about the Commission on Wartime Contracting (CWC), which was established to study contracting for military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan such as waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement of contracts. The site provides information about the commission's activities and copies of its reports, including two interim reports, five special reports, and a final report on "Transforming Wartime Contracting."

On May 2, President Bush announced establishment of a bipartisan, 16-member Commission "to study and report specific recommendations to preserve Social Security for seniors while building wealth for younger Americans." The Commission will provide bipartisan recommendations to the President for modernizing and restoring fiscal soundness to the Social Security System according to the following principles: modernization must not change Social Security benefits for retirees or near retirees; the entire Social Security surplus must be dedicated to Social Security only; Social Security payroll taxes must not be increased; the Government must not invest Social Security funds in the stock market; modernization must preserve Social Security's disability and survivors components; and modernization must include individually controlled, voluntary personal retirement accounts, which will augment the Social Security safety net.

The bipartisan commission was tasked by Congress to "examine and make recommendations with respect to the long-term strategic posture of the United States." Chaired by former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry, Congress created the Commission as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008. The final report, consisting of over one hundred findings and recommendations, was delivered to Congress and the White House on May 6, 2009.

The COPA Commission, a congressionally appointed panel, was mandated by the Child Online Protection Act, which was approved by Congress in October 1998. The primary purpose of the Commission is to "identify technological or other methods that will help reduce access by minors to material that is harmful to minors on the Internet."

For 155 years, the Smithsonian Institution has had as its mission "the increase and diffusion of knowledge." Given the important questions facing the scientific world today, the existing level of institutional financial and physical resources, the strengths of the Institution's people and its collections, how should the Smithsonian set priorities for scientific research in the years ahead and, in general, carry out its historic mission more effectively? 1) How should scientific research be organized to optimize the use of the Institution's human, physical and financial resources? 2) How should the performance of scientific research by individuals and research departments be evaluated? 3) How can the relationship between research and public programming be enhanced? 4) What suggestions, of any type might the Science Commission have to strengthen research at the Smithsonian? 5) What should be the qualifications of those chosen to lead key scientific research units of the Smithsonian? 6) What should be done to enhance public recognition of Smithsonian science?

Economic Indicators.gov is provided by the Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA), which is the bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce. Many political and business decisions are based upon the economic and demographic information produced by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, US Census Bureau, and STAT-USA. ESA has three primary missions: 1) maintain the highest possible quality Federal statistical system and make improvements where warranted and feasible, 2) communicate a vision of the key forces at work in the economy and of the opportunities they create for improving the well-being of all Americans, and 3) support the information and analytical needs of the Department and the Executive Branch.

This website contains information about the "ExpectMore.gov" initiative to evaluate the performance effectiveness of federal programs using the Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART). The site also contains the database of evaluations and summaries of the initiative's findings.

Congress established the Census Monitoring Board to observe and monitor all aspects of the preparation and implementation of the 2000 decennial census. After the completion of the 200 census, many thoughtful parties continue a sincere debate over the implementation of statistical adjustment as a means of increasing the accuracy of the census and for its use in redistricting and the allocation of government funds and services. On March 1, 2001, the Census Bureau's Executive Steering Committee overseeing the post-census evaluation phase, the Accuracy and Coverage Evaluation (A.C.E.), recommended against adjusting the count. Reasonable people, including leading statisticians, have reviewed the statistical adjustment methodology and have raised legitimate questions. This report attempts to put that methodology into perspective and add to what will be further debate and discussion on how all of us as shareholders can continue to work together to ensure the most accurate census possible.

Helping America's Youth is a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the challenges facing our youth, particularly at-risk boys, and to motivate caring adults to connect with youth in three key areas: family, school, and community. In his 2005 State of the Union Address, President Bush announced a broad effort to engage all Americans in helping young people become healthy adults. He asked Mrs. Laura Bush to lead this important effort, which became known as the Helping America's Youth initiative. President and Mrs. Bush believed that parents and family are the first and most important influence in every child's life. By becoming actively involved in the lives of young people in their community, teachers, mentors, clergy members, neighbors, coaches, and others can support parents and help youth make better choices that lead to healthier, more successful lives.

The National Commission to Ensure Consumer Information and Choice in the Airline Industry was created by the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21), enacted in April 2000, to study the market position and general condition of retail travel agents in today's competitive markets for the sale of air travel services. The commission will examine whether the financial condition of travel agents is declining and, if so, the effect of such a decline on consumers. It also will explore whether there are impediments to information regarding the services and products offered by the airline industry, and, if so, the effects of those impediments on travel agents, Internet-based distributors and consumers.

The Coalition Provisional Authority, called CPA, is the name for the temporary government of Iraq. It is composed of a coalition of more than 40 nations from around the world which represent every continent and race on earth. All of these countries are united in the purpose of achieving a free and stable Iraq which respects the rights of its citizens and is at peace with its neighbors. Once a constitution is in place and democratic elections are held, the CPA will have accomplished its mission and will go home, leaving behind it, God willing, an Iraq that is a decent place for peace-loving citizens to live and exercise the freedoms given to all men by their creator.