1.
Herbert C. Hoover Building
–
The Herbert C. Hoover Building is the Washington, D. C. headquarters of the United States Department of Commerce. The building is owned by the General Services Administration, completed in 1932, it was renamed after Herbert Hoover in 1981. Hoover served as Secretary of Commerce and later President, the closest Washington Metro station is Federal Triangle. The White House Visitor Center is in the Hoover Building, in 1928, Congress authorized the purchase of land in what is now known as the Federal Triangle for departmental offices. Louis Ayres, a member of the board, was selected as the architect for the Department of Commerce Building, Ayres, Arthur Brown Jr. and William Adams Delano were charged with forming the west end of the Triangle and creating an open green mall. Construction began on October 4,1927, when Herbert Hoover was the Secretary of Commerce, the building was completed in 1932, at that time, it was the largest office building in the world with over 1.8 million square feet of floor area. The building was renamed after Hoover in December 1981 by act of Congress, democratic Representative John G. Fary of Illinois, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Public Buildings and Grounds brought the bill up for consideration as a favor to Republicans. An aide was quoted as saying, He was a little concerned what some people think of him bringing up a bill to honor Herbert Hoover in the midst of a Republican recession. Only limited upgrades were made to the Herbert Hoover Building after 1932, by 2007, all other buildings in Federal Triangle had been renovated except the Herbert Hoover Building. In 2007, the General Services Administration announced an eight-phase, 13-year, in part, the renovation will provide the building with a modern technology infrastructure, modern offices and energy-saving fixtures, and improved security. The National Capital Planning Commission approved the project in 2007. The phases, each of which is to last 18 months, include, Phase 1 — Construction of swing space to house staff while renovations occur, replacement of the HVAC system cooling towers on the roof. Phase 2 — Renovation of the interior Corridor 1, restoration of the exterior facade. Phase 3 — Renovation of the interior and replacement of the roof on Corridor 2, Phase 4 — Renovation of the interior and replacement of the roof on Corridor 3. Phase 5 — Renovation of the interior and replacement of the roof on Corridor 4, Phase 6 — Renovation of the interior and replacement of the roof on Corridor 5. Phase 7 — Renovation of the interior and replacement of the roof on Corridor 6, Phase 8 — Renovation of the interior and replacement of the roof on Corridor 2. GSAs Federal Building Fund will contribute $605 million toward the renovation, another $225.6 million, provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, funded Phases 2 and 3. Both GSA and the Department of Commerce contributions are dependent upon annual congressional appropriations, the Great Recession provided GSA with $40 million in savings
Herbert C. Hoover Building
–
Herbert C. Hoover Building
Herbert C. Hoover Building
–
Herbert C. Hoover Building, viewed from 15th Street NW near
Constitution Avenue
Herbert C. Hoover Building
–
Herbert C. Hoover Building main entrance, 14th Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW
Herbert C. Hoover Building
–
Relief representing the
United States Patent Office at the Herbert C. Hoover Building.
2.
Constitution Avenue
–
Constitution Avenue is a major east-west street in the northwest and northeast quadrants of the city of Washington, D. C. in the United States. It was originally known as B Street, and its section was greatly lengthened and widened between 1925 and 1933. It received its current name on February 26,1931, Constitution Avenues western half defines the northern border of the National Mall and extends from the United States Capitol to the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. Its eastern half runs through the neighborhoods of Capitol Hill and Kingman Park before it terminates at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, a large number of federal departmental headquarters, memorials, and museums line Constitution Avenues western segment. In Pierre Charles LEnfants original plan for the city in 1791, B Street NW began at 6th Street NW and its eastern segment, which was unimpeded by any water obstacles, ran straight to the Eastern Branch river. Along its entire length, B Street was 60 feet wide, LEnfant proposed turning Tiber Creek into a canal. His plan included cutting a new canal south across the side of the United States Capitol grounds. The Washington Canal Company was incorporated in 1802, and after several false starts substantial work began in 1810, the Washington City Canal began operation in 1815. The canal suffered from problems and economic competition almost immediately. Traffic on the canal was adversely affected by forces, which the builders had not accounted for. At low tide, portions of the canal were almost dry, after the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad built Washington Branch into the city in 1835, competition from railroads left the canal economically unviable. Although the Washington City Canal remained in use after the coming of the railroad, by 1855 it had filled with silt and it remained in this condition throughout the 1860s. In 1871, Congress abolished the elected mayor and bicameral legislature of the District of Columbia, territorial government only lasted until 1874, but during this period the D. C. Board of Public Works enclosed the canal and turned it into a sewer, B Street NW from 15th Street to Virginia Avenue NW was constructed on top of it. Work began in October 1871 and was complete in December 1873 and this reclaimed land — which today includes West Potomac Park, East Potomac Park, the Tidal Basin — was largely complete by 1890, and designated Potomac Park by Congress in 1897. B Street NW extended through the newly created West Potomac Park between Virginia Avenue NW and 23rd Street NW, however, since this area was considered parkland, the street narrowed to just 40-foot in width. But Congress appropriated no money for the design or construction due to the onset of World War I, but after President Warren G. Congress approved funding for design work on June 12,1922, and authorized construction of the Arlington Memorial Bridge on February 24,1925. The 1925 legislation specified that B Street NW be treated as an approach to Arlington Memorial Bridge
Constitution Avenue
–
Signage on the 1900 block of Constitution Avenue NW
Constitution Avenue
–
1818 map of Washington, D.C., showing Tiber Creek
Constitution Avenue
–
1850 map of Washington, D.C., showing the completed (and disused) Washington City Canal
Constitution Avenue
–
Junction of Constitution and Virginia Avenues NW, the western terminus of "B Street" between 1873 and roughly 1897.
3.
Washington, D.C.
–
Washington, D. C. formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D. C. is the capital of the United States. The signing of the Residence Act on July 16,1790, Constitution provided for a federal district under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Congress and the District is therefore not a part of any state. The states of Maryland and Virginia each donated land to form the federal district, named in honor of President George Washington, the City of Washington was founded in 1791 to serve as the new national capital. In 1846, Congress returned the land ceded by Virginia, in 1871. Washington had an population of 681,170 as of July 2016. Commuters from the surrounding Maryland and Virginia suburbs raise the population to more than one million during the workweek. The Washington metropolitan area, of which the District is a part, has a population of over 6 million, the centers of all three branches of the federal government of the United States are in the District, including the Congress, President, and Supreme Court. Washington is home to national monuments and museums, which are primarily situated on or around the National Mall. The city hosts 176 foreign embassies as well as the headquarters of international organizations, trade unions, non-profit organizations, lobbying groups. A locally elected mayor and a 13‑member council have governed the District since 1973, However, the Congress maintains supreme authority over the city and may overturn local laws. D. C. residents elect a non-voting, at-large congressional delegate to the House of Representatives, the District receives three electoral votes in presidential elections as permitted by the Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1961. Various tribes of the Algonquian-speaking Piscataway people inhabited the lands around the Potomac River when Europeans first visited the area in the early 17th century, One group known as the Nacotchtank maintained settlements around the Anacostia River within the present-day District of Columbia. Conflicts with European colonists and neighboring tribes forced the relocation of the Piscataway people, some of whom established a new settlement in 1699 near Point of Rocks, Maryland. 43, published January 23,1788, James Madison argued that the new government would need authority over a national capital to provide for its own maintenance. Five years earlier, a band of unpaid soldiers besieged Congress while its members were meeting in Philadelphia, known as the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783, the event emphasized the need for the national government not to rely on any state for its own security. However, the Constitution does not specify a location for the capital, on July 9,1790, Congress passed the Residence Act, which approved the creation of a national capital on the Potomac River. The exact location was to be selected by President George Washington, formed from land donated by the states of Maryland and Virginia, the initial shape of the federal district was a square measuring 10 miles on each side, totaling 100 square miles. Two pre-existing settlements were included in the territory, the port of Georgetown, Maryland, founded in 1751, many of the stones are still standing
Washington, D.C.
–
Clockwise from top left:
Smithsonian Institution Building,
Rock Creek Park,
National Mall (including the
Lincoln Memorial in the foreground),
Howard Theatre and the
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
Washington, D.C.
–
Map of the District of Columbia in 1835, prior to the
retrocession
Washington, D.C.
–
Ford's Theatre in the 19th century, site of the 1865
assassination of
President Lincoln
Washington, D.C.
–
Crowds surrounding the
Reflecting Pool during the 1963
March on Washington
4.
United States
–
Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
United States
–
Native Americans meeting with Europeans, 1764
United States
–
Flag
United States
–
The signing of the
Mayflower Compact, 1620.
United States
–
The
Declaration of Independence: the
Committee of Five presenting their draft to the
Second Continental Congress in 1776
5.
Geographic coordinate system
–
A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system used in geography that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation, to specify a location on a two-dimensional map requires a map projection. The invention of a coordinate system is generally credited to Eratosthenes of Cyrene. Ptolemy credited him with the adoption of longitude and latitude. Ptolemys 2nd-century Geography used the prime meridian but measured latitude from the equator instead. Mathematical cartography resumed in Europe following Maximus Planudes recovery of Ptolemys text a little before 1300, in 1884, the United States hosted the International Meridian Conference, attended by representatives from twenty-five nations. Twenty-two of them agreed to adopt the longitude of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, the Dominican Republic voted against the motion, while France and Brazil abstained. France adopted Greenwich Mean Time in place of local determinations by the Paris Observatory in 1911, the latitude of a point on Earths surface is the angle between the equatorial plane and the straight line that passes through that point and through the center of the Earth. Lines joining points of the same latitude trace circles on the surface of Earth called parallels, as they are parallel to the equator, the north pole is 90° N, the south pole is 90° S. The 0° parallel of latitude is designated the equator, the plane of all geographic coordinate systems. The equator divides the globe into Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the longitude of a point on Earths surface is the angle east or west of a reference meridian to another meridian that passes through that point. All meridians are halves of great ellipses, which converge at the north and south poles, the prime meridian determines the proper Eastern and Western Hemispheres, although maps often divide these hemispheres further west in order to keep the Old World on a single side. The antipodal meridian of Greenwich is both 180°W and 180°E, the combination of these two components specifies the position of any location on the surface of Earth, without consideration of altitude or depth. The grid formed by lines of latitude and longitude is known as a graticule, the origin/zero point of this system is located in the Gulf of Guinea about 625 km south of Tema, Ghana. To completely specify a location of a feature on, in, or above Earth. Earth is not a sphere, but a shape approximating a biaxial ellipsoid. It is nearly spherical, but has an equatorial bulge making the radius at the equator about 0. 3% larger than the radius measured through the poles, the shorter axis approximately coincides with the axis of rotation
Geographic coordinate system
–
Longitude lines are perpendicular and latitude lines are parallel to the equator.
6.
Deputy Secretary of Commerce
–
The Deputy Secretary of Commerce is a high-ranking position within the U. S. Department of Commerce. It was created on December 13,1979, when President Jimmy Carter sent a letter to the U. S. Senate and nominated Luther H. Hodges, in that capacity, the Deputy Secretary is also a member of the President’s Management Council. In addition, the Deputy Secretary acts as Secretary if the Secretary has died, resigned, or is unable to perform the functions. Rebecca M. Blank was the Deputy Secretary of Commerce until she stepped down on May 31,2013 and she was confirmed by unanimous consent by the U. S. Senate in March 2012. She had been serving as Acting Deputy Secretary since November 18,2010 and she replaced Dennis F. Hightower, who was Deputy Secretary of Commerce from August 2009 to August 2010. Patrick D. Gallagher was appointed Acting Deputy Secretary on June 1,2013, bruce H. Andrews was confirmed as the next Deputy Secretary on July 24,2014
Deputy Secretary of Commerce
–
Incumbent Bruce H. Andrews since July 24, 2014
Deputy Secretary of Commerce
–
Seal of the Department of Commerce
7.
Cabinet of the United States
–
The Cabinet of the United States is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the government serving under the President. Aside from the Attorney General, the heads of the executive departments all receive the title of Secretary, all members of the Cabinet serve at the pleasure of the President, who can dismiss them at will for no cause. There is no definition of the term Cabinet in the United States Constitution. The name comes from a 17th-century usage for a room where advisors would meet. The term principal officers of the departments is also mentioned in the Twenty-fifth Amendment. The executive departments are listed in 5 U. S. C, under the 1967 Federal Anti-Nepotism statute, federal officials are prohibited from appointing their immediate family members to certain governmental positions, including those in the Cabinet. Under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, an incoming administration may appoint acting heads of department from employees of the relevant department and these may be existing high-level career employees, from political appointees of the outgoing administration, or sometimes lower-level appointees of the incoming administration. The heads of the departments and all other federal agency heads are nominated by the President. If approved, they receive their commission scroll, are sworn in, an elected Vice President does not require Senate confirmation, nor does the White House Chief of Staff, which is an appointed staff position of the Executive Office of the President. 21 positions, including the heads of the departments and others. §5312, and those 46 positions on Level II pay are listed in 5 U. S. C, as of 2015, Level I annual pay, was set at $203,700. The annual salary of the Vice President is $235,300, the salary level was set by the Government Salary Reform Act of 1989, which also provides an automatic cost of living adjustment for federal employees. For a full list of people nominated for Cabinet positions, see Formation of Donald Trumps Cabinet, the Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments, listed here according to their order of succession to the Presidency. The following officials hold positions that are considered to be Cabinet-level positions, Department of the Navy, headed by the Secretary of the Navy, became a military department within the Department of Defense. Post Office Department, headed by the Postmaster General, reorganized as the United States Postal Service, National Military Establishment, headed by the Secretary of Defense, created by the National Security Act of 1947 and recreated as the Department of Defense in 1949. Department of the Army, headed by the Secretary of the Army, Department of the Air Force, headed by the Secretary of the Air Force, became a military department within the Department of Defense. Secretary of Foreign Affairs, created in July 1781 and renamed Secretary of State in September 1789, Secretary of War, created in 1789 and was renamed as Secretary of the Army by the National Security Act of 1947. The 1949 Amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 made the Secretary of the Army a subordinate to the Secretary of Defense
Cabinet of the United States
–
James K. Polk and his Cabinet in 1846. The first Cabinet to be photographed.
Cabinet of the United States
–
Abraham Lincoln met with his Cabinet for the first reading of the
Emancipation Proclamation draft, (July 26, 1862).
Cabinet of the United States
–
The
Nixon Cabinet, 1969
8.
Federal government of the United States
–
The Federal Government of the United States is the national government of the United States, a republic in North America, composed of 50 states, one district, Washington, D. C. and several territories. The federal government is composed of three branches, legislative, executive, and judicial, whose powers are vested by the U. S. Constitution in the Congress, the President, and the courts, including the Supreme Court. The powers and duties of these branches are defined by acts of Congress. The full name of the republic is United States of America, no other name appears in the Constitution, and this is the name that appears on money, in treaties, and in legal cases to which it is a party. The terms Government of the United States of America or United States Government are often used in documents to represent the federal government as distinct from the states collectively. In casual conversation or writing, the term Federal Government is often used, the terms Federal and National in government agency or program names generally indicate affiliation with the federal government. Because the seat of government is in Washington, D. C, Washington is commonly used as a metonym for the federal government. The outline of the government of the United States is laid out in the Constitution, the government was formed in 1789, making the United States one of the worlds first, if not the first, modern national constitutional republics. The United States government is based on the principles of federalism and republicanism, some make the case for expansive federal powers while others argue for a more limited role for the central government in relation to individuals, the states or other recognized entities. For example, while the legislative has the power to create law, the President nominates judges to the nations highest judiciary authority, but those nominees must be approved by Congress. The Supreme Court, in its turn, has the power to invalidate as unconstitutional any law passed by the Congress and these and other examples are examined in more detail in the text below. The United States Congress is the branch of the federal government. It is bicameral, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate, the House currently consists of 435 voting members, each of whom represents a congressional district. The number of each state has in the House is based on each states population as determined in the most recent United States Census. All 435 representatives serve a two-year term, each state receives a minimum of one representative in the House. There is no limit on the number of terms a representative may serve, in addition to the 435 voting members, there are six non-voting members, consisting of five delegates and one resident commissioner. In contrast, the Senate is made up of two senators from each state, regardless of population, there are currently 100 senators, who each serve six-year terms
Federal government of the United States
–
The
United States Capitol is the
seat of government for Congress.
Federal government of the United States
–
Great Seal of the United States
Federal government of the United States
–
Diagram of the Federal Government and American Union, 1862.
9.
Economic growth
–
Economic growth is the increase in the inflation-adjusted market value of the goods and services produced by an economy over time. It is conventionally measured as the percent rate of increase in gross domestic product, or real GDP. Growth is usually calculated in real terms – i. e. inflation-adjusted terms – to eliminate the effect of inflation on the price of goods produced. Measurement of economic growth uses national income accounting, since economic growth is measured as the annual percent change of gross domestic product, it has all the advantages and drawbacks of that measure. The rate of economic growth refers to the annual rate of growth in GDP between the first and the last year over a period of time. Implicitly, this rate is the trend in the average level of GDP over the period. An increase in economic growth caused by efficient use of inputs is referred to as intensive growth. GDP growth caused only by increases in the amount of available for use is called extensive growth. The economic growth rate is calculated from data on GDP estimated by countries´statistical agencies, the rate of growth of GDP/capita is calculated from data on GDP and people for the initial and final periods included in the analysis. The rate of change of GDP/population is the sum of the rates of change of four variables plus their cross products. Increases in labor productivity have historically been the most important source of real per capita economic growth, increases in productivity lower the real cost of goods. Over the 20th century the price of many goods fell by over 90%. Economic growth has traditionally been attributed to the accumulation of human and physical capital, the rapid economic growth that occurred during the Industrial Revolution was remarkable because it was in excess of population growth, providing an escape from the Malthusian trap. Countries that industrialized eventually saw their population growth slow down, a known as the demographic transition. Increases in productivity are the factor responsible for per capita economic growth – this has been especially evident since the mid-19th century. Most of the growth in the 20th century was due to increased output per unit of labor, materials, energy. The balance of the growth in output has come from using more inputs, both of these changes increase output. The increased output included more of the goods produced previously and new goods
Economic growth
–
Productivity lowered the cost of most items in terms of work time required to purchase. Real food prices fell due to improvements in transportation and trade,
mechanized agriculture,
fertilizers, scientific farming and the
Green Revolution.
Economic growth
–
GDP real growth rates, 1990–1998 and 1990–2006, in selected countries.
Economic growth
–
Forest in
Indonesia being cut for
palm oil plantation.
10.
United States Department of Commerce and Labor
–
The United States Department of Commerce and Labor was a short-lived Cabinet department of the United States government, which was concerned with controlling the excesses of big business. It was created on February 14,1903, during the administration of Theodore Roosevelt, investigations were the province of its Bureau of Corporations. The department was renamed the Department of Commerce on March 4,1913, the Bureau of Corporations was spun off as an independent agency in 1915, the Federal Trade Commission The United States Secretary of Commerce and Labor was the head of the department. The secretary was a member of the Presidents Cabinet, corresponding with the division of the department in 1913, the Secretarys position was divided into separate positions of Commerce and Labor. In 2011, in response to federal budget-cutting efforts, Senator Richard Burr, sponsored Senate Bill 1116, to date no action on this proposal has been taken beyond referral to committee. Parties Republican Labor and Commerce, Department of
United States Department of Commerce and Labor
–
Seal of the U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor
United States Department of Commerce and Labor
United States Department of Commerce and Labor
United States Department of Commerce and Labor
11.
United States Department of Labor
–
The department is headed by the U. S. Secretary of Labor. In carrying out this mission, the Department of Labor administers and enforces more than 180 federal laws and these mandates and the regulations that implement them cover many workplace activities for about 10 million employers and 125 million workers. The U. S. Congress first established a Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1884 with the Bureau of Labor Act, to information about labor. This bureau was under the Department of the Interior, the Bureau started collecting economic data in 1884, and published their first report in 1886. Later, the Bureau of Labor became an independent Department of Labor and it became a bureau again within the Department of Commerce and Labor, which was established February 15,1903. President William Howard Taft signed the March 4,1913, bill establishing the Department of Labor as a Cabinet-level Department, William B. Wilson was appointed as the first Secretary of Labor on March 5,1913 by President Wilson. Secretary Wilson chaired the first meeting of the International Labour Organization in October 1919, the Federal Employees Compensation Act, signed Sept.7,1916, provided benefits to workers who are injured or contract illnesses in the workplace. Frances Perkins, the first female member, was appointed to be Secretary of Labor by President Roosevelt on March 4,1933. Perkins served for 12 years, making her the longest serving Secretary of Labor, during the John F. Kennedy Administration, planning was undertaken to consolidate most of the departments offices, then scattered around more than 20 locations. Construction on the New Labor Building began in the mid‑1960s and finished in 1975 and it was named in honor of Perkins in 1980. President Lyndon Johnson asked Congress to consider the idea of reuniting Commerce and he argued that the two departments had similar goals and that they would have more efficient channels of communication in a single department. However, Congress never acted on it, in the 1970s, following the civil rights movement, the Labor Department under Secretary George P. Shultz made a concerted effort to promote racial diversity in unions. In 1978, the Department of Labor created the Philip Arnow Award, Department officials said the program was modern and fair and that it was part of ongoing contract negotiations with the local. In August 2010, the Partnership for Public Service ranked the Department of Labor 23rd out of 31 large agencies in its annual Best Places to Work in the Federal Government list. In December 2010, then-Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis was named the Chair of the U. S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, in July 2011, the Department was rocked by the resignation of Ray Jefferson, Assistant Secretary for VETS, in a contracting scandal. On March 4,2013, the Department began commemorating its centennial, tom Perez was appointed as Secretary of Labor on July 23,2013. According to remarks by Perez at his swearing-in ceremony, Boiled down to its essence, did not earn a satisfactory overall grade. Title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations Equal Employment Opportunity Commission National Labor Relations Board Occupational Information Network Ticket to Work Lombardi, labors Voice in the Cabinet, A History of the Department of Labor from Its Origins to 1921
United States Department of Labor
–
The
Frances Perkins Building, which serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Labor.
United States Department of Labor
–
Seal of the U.S. Department of Labor
12.
United States Patent and Trademark Office
–
The USPTO is unique among federal agencies because it operates solely on fees collected by its users, and not on taxpayer dollars. The USPTO is based in Alexandria, Virginia, after a 2005 move from the Crystal City area of neighboring Arlington, the head of the USPTO is Michelle K. Lee. She took up her new role on January 13,2014, on March 13, she formally took office as Director after being nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U. S. Senate. She formerly served as the Director of the USPTOs Silicon Valley satellite office, the USPTO cooperates with the European Patent Office and the Japan Patent Office as one of the Trilateral Patent Offices. The USPTO mission is to maintain a permanent, interdisciplinary historical record of all U. S. patent applications in order to fulfill objectives outlined in the United States Constitution. The legal basis for the United States patent system is Article 1, Section 8, an additional building in Arlington, Virginia, was opened in 2009. The USPTO was expected by 2014 to open its first ever satellite offices in Detroit, Dallas, Denver, the first satellite office opened in Detroit on July 13,2012. In 2013, due to the sequestration, the satellite office for Silicon Valley. However, renovation and infrastructure updates continued after the sequestration, and the Silicon Valley location is due to open in San Jose City Hall in mid-2015. As of September 30,2009, the end of the U. S. governments fiscal year, of those,6,242 were patent examiners and 388 were trademark examining attorneys, the rest are support staff. They are generally newly graduated scientists and engineers, recruited from universities around the nation. They hold degrees in scientific disciplines, but who do not necessarily hold law degrees. Unlike patent examiners, trademark examiners must be licensed attorneys, all examiners work under a strict, count-based production system. For every application, counts are earned by composing, filing, and mailing a first office action on the merits, the Patent Operations of the office is divided into nine different technology centers that deal with various arts. Prior to 2012, decisions of patent examiners may be appealed to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, the United States Supreme Court may ultimately decide on a patent case. Similarly, decisions of trademark examiners may be appealed to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, with subsequent appeals directed to the Federal Circuit, under the America Invents Act, the BPAI was converted to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board or PTAB. In recent years, the USPTO has seen increasing delays between when a patent application is filed and when it issues, to address its workload challenges, the USPTO has undertaken an aggressive program of hiring and recruitment. The USPTO hired 1,193 new patent examiners in Fiscal Year 2006,1,215 new examiners in fiscal 2007, in 2006, USPTO instituted a new training program for patent examiners called the Patent Training Academy
United States Patent and Trademark Office
–
Relief representing the Patent Office at the
Herbert C. Hoover Building.
United States Patent and Trademark Office
–
Seal of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
United States Patent and Trademark Office
–
PTO headquarters in
Alexandria, Virginia
United States Patent and Trademark Office
–
First United States patent
13.
National Weather Service
–
It is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration branch of the Department of Commerce, and is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. The agency was known as the United States Weather Bureau from 1890 until it adopted its current name in 1970, the NWS performs its primary task through a collection of national and regional centers, and 122 local weather forecast offices. As the NWS is a government agency, most of its products are in the public domain, the agency was placed under the Secretary of War as Congress felt military discipline would probably secure the greatest promptness, regularity, and accuracy in the required observations. Within the Department of War, it was assigned to the U. S. Army Signal Service under Brigadier General Albert J. Myer, General Myer gave the National Weather Service its first name, The Division of Telegrams and Reports for the Benefit of Commerce. The agency first became an enterprise in 1890, when it became part of the Department of Agriculture. The first Weather Bureau radiosonde was launched in Massachusetts in 1937, the Bureau would later be moved to the Department of Commerce in 1940. On July 12,1950, bureau chief Francis W, the Weather Bureau became part of the Environmental Science Services Administration when that agency was formed in August 1966. The Environmental Science Services Administration was renamed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on October 1,1970, at this time, the Weather Bureau became the National Weather Service. NEXRAD, a system of Doppler radars deployed to improve the detection and warning time of local storms, replaced the WSR-57. Bob Glahn has written a history of the first hundred years of the National Weather Service. The NWS, through a variety of sub-organizations, issues different forecast products to users, although, throughout history, text forecasts have been the means of product dissemination, the NWS has been using more forecast products of a digital, gridded, image or other modern format. Each of the 122 Weather Forecast Offices send their graphical forecasts to a server to be compiled in the National Digital Forecast Database. The NDFD is a collection of weather observations used by organizations and the public, including precipitation amount, temperature. Specific points in the database can be accessed using an XML SOAP service. The National Weather Service issues many products relating to wildfires daily, for example, a Fire Weather Forecast, which have a forecast period covering up to seven days, is issued by local Weather Forecast Offices daily, with updates as needed. The forecasts contain weather information relevant to fire control and smoke management for the next 12 to 48 hours, such as direction and speed. The appropriate crews use this information to plan for staffing and equipment levels, the ability to conduct scheduled controlled burns, and assess the daily fire danger. Once per day, NWS meteorologists issue a coded fire weather forecast for specific United States Forest Service observation sites that are input into the National Fire Danger Rating System
National Weather Service
–
NWS IMET taking observations in the field.
National Weather Service
–
National Weather Service
National Weather Service
–
Meteorologists preparing a forecast, early 20th century.
National Weather Service
–
An Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS).
14.
Civil Aeronautics Authority
–
The agency headquarters were in Washington, D. C. The Civil Aeronautics Authority Act of 1938 formed the Civil Aeronautics Authority, the agency was renamed in 1940, due to a merger with the Air Safety Board. It became an independent agency under Reorganization Plans Nos. III and IV of 1940, the Air Safety Board had formed in 1938. Other predecessor agencies include the Aeronautics Branch, the Bureau of Air Commerce, the first air accident investigation was the one of the Lovettsville air disaster in 1940. Some duties were transferred to the Federal Aviation Administration in 1958, the National Transportation Safety Board was established in 1967, taking over air accident investigation duties. The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 specified that the CAB would eventually be disestablished, the agency was disestablished on January 1,1985. The remaining tasks were transferred to the Secretary of Transportation except for a few going to the U. S. Postal Service, the agency had its headquarters in the Universal Building in Dupont Circle, Washington, D. C. The agency had moved there by May 1959, previously it had been headquartered in the Commerce Building, and its offices were in several buildings. After moving into the Universal Building, CAB leased space there, by 1968 the agency had acquired an additional approximately 2,000 square feet of space in the same building, resulting in additional rent expenses
Civil Aeronautics Authority
–
Seal and flag of the defunct Civil Aeronautics Board on display in the
National Air and Space Museum
Civil Aeronautics Authority
–
The Universal South Building at 1825 Connecticut Avenue NW. once housed the CAB headquarters
15.
Public Roads Administration
–
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agencys major activities are grouped into two programs, the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program and its role had previously been performed by the Office of Road Inquiry, Office of Public Roads and the Bureau of Public Roads. The organization has several organizations and a complicated history. The Office of Road Inquiry was founded in 1893, in 1905 that organizations name was changed to the Office of Public Roads which became a division of the United States Department of Agriculture. The name was changed again to the Bureau of Public Roads in 1915 and it was then shifted to the Federal Works Agency which was abolished in 1949 when its name reverted to Bureau of Public Roads under the Department of Commerce. With the coming of the bicycle in the 1890s, interest grew regarding the improvement of streets, the traditional method of putting the burden on maintaining roads on local landowners was increasingly inadequate. New York State took the lead in 1898, and by 1916 the old system had been discarded everywhere area, demands grew for local and state government to take charge. With the coming of the automobile after 1910, urgent efforts were made to upgrade, the American Association for Highway Improvement was organized in 1910. Funding came from automobile registration, and taxes on motor fuels, in 1916, federal-aid was first made available to improve post-roads, and promote general commerce. Congress appropriated $75 million over a period, with the Secretary of Agriculture in charge through the Bureau of Public Roads. There were 2.4 million miles of rural dirt rural roads in 1914,100,000 miles had been improved with grading and gravel, the rapidly increasing speed of automobiles, and especially trucks, made maintenance and repair high-priority item. Concrete was first used in 1893, and expanded until it became the dominant surfacing material in the 1930s, from 1917 through 1941,261,000 miles of highways were built with federal aid, and cost $5.31 billion. Federal funds totaled $3.17 billion, and state-local funds were $2.14 billion, the FHWA was created on October 15,1966. In 1967 the functions of the Bureau of Public Roads were transferred to the new organization and it was one of three original bureaus along with the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety and the National Highway Safety Bureau. The FHWA’s role in the Federal-aid Highway Program is to oversee federal funds used for constructing and maintaining the National Highway System and this funding mostly comes from the federal gasoline tax and mostly goes to state departments of transportation. FHWA oversees projects using these funds to ensure that requirements for project eligibility. The FHWA also publishes the “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices”, the MUTCD specifies such things as the size, color and height of traffic signs, traffic signals and road surface markings. The Federal Highway Administration is overseen by an Administrator appointed by the President of the United States by, the Administrator works under the direction of the Secretary of Transportation and Deputy Secretary of Transportation
Public Roads Administration
–
Federal Highway Administration
16.
Federal Works Agency
–
Many influential members of Congress, political scientists, and public administration experts had strongly criticized the proliferation of executive branch agencies as inefficient. On April 3,1939, President Franklin D, pursuant to the Act, President Roosevelt issued Reorganization Plan No.1. FWA created the Division of War Public Service by administrative order on August 3,1942, additional changes came during the war. By Executive Order 9070, the U. S, Housing Authority was moved under the National Housing Authority and redesignated as the Federal Public Housing Authority on February 24,1942. The Public Works Administration, a Depression-era agency which distributed construction loans, the Works Project Administration was abolished, effective June 30,1943, by order of the President to the Administrator of the FWA on December 4,1942. Significant consolidation occurred in period, which finally led to the dismantling of the FWA. DDPW and DWPS were merged by administrative order into a new Bureau of Community Facilities on January 1,1945, in 1947, President Harry S. Truman appointed the First Hoover Commission to study the functions of the federal government and recommend administrative and managerial changes. General Records of the Federal Works Agency, web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. National Archives and Records Administration,1995, Guide to the Warren Jay Vinton Papers, 1932–1969. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, Marist University
Federal Works Agency
–
1939 FWA/WPA plaque celebrating the
Staten Island Rapid Transit (
New York City) grade-elimination project completion.
Federal Works Agency
–
Defense worker housing at
Kearney-Mesa, California, being built by the Public Buildings Administration of the Federal Works Agency in May 1941. Photograph by
Russell Lee.
17.
Federal Aviation Agency
–
The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States is a national authority with powers to regulate all aspects of civil aviation. The FAAs roles include, Regulating U. S, each LOB has a specific role within the FAA. Airports — plans and develops projects involving airports, overseeing their construction, Air Traffic Organization — primary duty is to safely and efficiently move air traffic within the National Airspace System. ATO employees manage air traffic facilities including Airport Traffic Control Towers, Aviation Safety — Responsible for aeronautical certification of personnel and aircraft, including pilots, airlines, and mechanics. Commercial Space Transportation — ensures protection of U. S. assets during the launch or reentry of commercial space vehicles, the FAA is headquartered in Washington, D. C. as well as the William J. The newly created Aeronautics Branch, operating under the Department of Commerce assumed primary responsibility for aviation oversight, in fulfilling its civil aviation responsibilities, the Department of Commerce initially concentrated on such functions as safety regulations and the certification of pilots and aircraft. It took over the building and operation of the system of lighted airways. The Aeronautics Branch was renamed the Bureau of Air Commerce in 1934 to reflect its status within the Department. As commercial flying increased, the Bureau encouraged a group of airlines to establish the first three centers for providing air traffic control along the airways, in 1936, the Bureau itself took over the centers and began to expand the ATC system. The pioneer air traffic controllers used maps, blackboards, and mental calculations to ensure the separation of aircraft traveling along designated routes between cities. In 1938, the Civil Aeronautics Act transferred the civil aviation responsibilities from the Commerce Department to a new independent agency. The legislation also expanded the role by giving them the authority. President Franklin D. Roosevelt split the authority into two agencies in 1940, the Civil Aeronautics Administration and the Civil Aeronautics Board, CAA was responsible for ATC, airman and aircraft certification, safety enforcement, and airway development. CAB was entrusted with safety regulation, accident investigation, and economic regulation of the airlines, the CAA was part of the Department of Commerce. The CAB was an independent federal agency, on the eve of Americas entry into World War II, CAA began to extend its ATC responsibilities to takeoff and landing operations at airports. This expanded role eventually became permanent after the war, the application of radar to ATC helped controllers in their drive to keep abreast of the postwar boom in commercial air transportation. The approaching era of jet travel, and a series of midair collisions and this legislation gave the CAAs functions to a new independent body, the Federal Aviation Agency. The act transferred air safety regulation from the CAB to the new FAA, the FAAs first administrator, Elwood R. Quesada, was a former Air Force general and adviser to President Eisenhower
Federal Aviation Agency
–
FAA Headquarters,
Washington, D.C.
Federal Aviation Agency
–
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Agency
–
FAA Joint Surveillance Site radar,
Canton, Michigan
18.
Economic Development Administration
–
EDA assistance is available to rural and urban areas of the United States experiencing high unemployment, low income, or other severe economic distress. The EDA’s stated mission is to lead the economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth. The EDA’s investment policy is designed to establish a foundation for sustainable job growth and this foundation builds upon two key economic drivers - innovation and regional collaboration. Innovation is the key to global competitiveness, new and better jobs, a resilient economy, EDA encourages its partners around the country to develop initiatives that advance new ideas and creative approaches to address rapidly evolving economic conditions. The EDA is the federal government agency solely focused on economic development. EDA works with communities across the country on economic development strategies to attract private investment. EDA leads a host of multi-agency initiatives with the goal of “breaking down bureaucratic silos”. The current Assistant Secretary is Jay Williams, who was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed on May 14,2014
Economic Development Administration
–
Economic Development Administration
19.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
–
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is an American scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. NOAA warns of dangerous weather, charts seas, guides the use and protection of ocean and coastal resources, and conducts research to improve understanding and stewardship of the environment. In addition to its employees, over 11,000 as of 2015, NOAA research. NOAA plays several roles in society, the benefits of which extend beyond the U. S. economy and into the larger global community. NOAA supplies information to its customers and partners pertaining to the state of the oceans and this is clearly manifest in the production of weather warnings and forecasts through the National Weather Service, but NOAAs information products extend to climate, ecosystems, and commerce as well. A Provider of Environmental Stewardship Services, NOAA is also the steward of U. S. coastal and marine environments. A Leader in Applied Scientific Research, the five fundamental activities are, Monitoring and observing Earth systems with instruments and data collection networks. Understanding and describing Earth systems through research and analysis of that data, assessing and predicting the changes of these systems over time. Engaging, advising, and informing the public and partner organizations with important information, managing resources for the betterment of society, economy and environment. NOAA formed a conglomeration of several existing agencies that were among the oldest in the federal government, NOAA was established within the Department of Commerce via the Reorganization Plan No.4 of 1970. In 2007 NOAA celebrated 200 years of service with its ties to the United States Coast, the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps is a uniformed service of men and women who operate NOAA ships and aircraft, and serve in scientific and administrative posts. And in addition more than a dozen staff offices, including the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology, the NOAA Central Library and this is done through a collection of national and regional centers,13 river forecast centers, and more than 120 local weather forecast offices. They are charged with issuing weather and river forecasts, advisories, watches and they issue more than 734,000 weather and 850,000 river forecasts, and more than 45,000 severe weather warnings annually. NOAA data is relevant to the issues of global warming. The NWS operates NEXRAD, a network of Doppler weather radars which can detect precipitation. Many of their products are broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio, a network of transmitters that broadcasts weather forecasts, severe weather statements, watches. The National Ocean Service focuses on ensuring that ocean and coastal areas are safe, healthy, in 1960 TIROS-1, NOAAs first owned and operated geostationary satellite was launched. Since 1966 NESDIS has managed polar orbiting satellites and since 1974 it has operated geosynchronous satellites, in 1979 NOAAs first polar-orbiting environmental satellite was launched
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
–
Two NOAA
WP-3D Orions
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
–
Logo of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
–
NOAA engineer at work
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
–
Commercial certification authorities
20.
United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce
–
The Deputy Secretary of Commerce is a high-ranking position within the U. S. Department of Commerce. It was created on December 13,1979, when President Jimmy Carter sent a letter to the U. S. Senate and nominated Luther H. Hodges, in that capacity, the Deputy Secretary is also a member of the President’s Management Council. In addition, the Deputy Secretary acts as Secretary if the Secretary has died, resigned, or is unable to perform the functions. Rebecca M. Blank was the Deputy Secretary of Commerce until she stepped down on May 31,2013 and she was confirmed by unanimous consent by the U. S. Senate in March 2012. She had been serving as Acting Deputy Secretary since November 18,2010 and she replaced Dennis F. Hightower, who was Deputy Secretary of Commerce from August 2009 to August 2010. Patrick D. Gallagher was appointed Acting Deputy Secretary on June 1,2013, bruce H. Andrews was confirmed as the next Deputy Secretary on July 24,2014
United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce
–
Incumbent Bruce H. Andrews since July 24, 2014
United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce
–
Seal of the Department of Commerce
21.
Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs
–
The Under Secretary is ex officio the Administrator of the Economics and Statistics Administration. The Under Secretary is appointed by the President of the United States, mark Doms is the current Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs. He was nominated by President Barack Obama on September 13,2012 and he was confirmed by the Senate on January 1,2013 as one of the last acts of the 112th Congress. Prior to his confirmation, he was the United States Department of Commerces Chief Economist and he served in that position from August 2009 through December 2012. As the principal element of the Commerce Department for economic affairs, the Under Secretary oversees the United States Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. With the rank of Under Secretary, the USC is a Level III position within the Executive Schedule, since January 2010, the annual rate of pay for Level III is $165,300. The position was created by an Act of Congress on June 16,1982, the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs is fourth in the line of succession for Secretary of Commerce. Robert G. Dederick, 1982-1983 Sidney L
Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs
–
United States Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs
22.
Bureau of the Census
–
The United States Census Bureau is a principal agency of the U. S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureaus primary mission is conducting the U. S. Census every ten years, in addition to the decennial census, the Census Bureau continually conducts dozens of other censuses and surveys, including the American Community Survey, the U. S. Economic Census, and the Current Population Survey, furthermore, economic and foreign trade indicators released by the federal government typically contain data produced by the Census Bureau. The Bureaus various censuses and surveys help allocate over $400 billion in federal funds every year and help states, local communities, the Census Bureau is part of the U. S. Department of Commerce and its director is appointed by the President of the United States. The Census Bureau now conducts a population count every 10 years in years ending with a 0. Between censuses, the Census Bureau makes population estimates and projections, the Census Bureau is mandated with fulfilling these obligations, the collecting of statistics about the nation, its people, and economy. The Census Bureaus legal authority is codified in Title 13 of the United States Code, the Census Bureau also conducts surveys on behalf of various federal government and local government agencies on topics such as employment, crime, health, consumer expenditures, and housing. Within the bureau, these are known as surveys and are conducted perpetually between and during decennial population counts. The Census Bureau also conducts surveys of manufacturing, retail, service. Between 1790 and 1840, the census was taken by marshals of the judicial districts, the Census Act of 1840 established a central office which became known as the Census Office. Several acts followed that revised and authorized new censuses, typically at the 10-year intervals, in 1902, the temporary Census Office was moved under the Department of Interior, and in 1903 it was renamed the Census Bureau under the new Department of Commerce and Labor. The department was intended to consolidate overlapping statistical agencies, but Census Bureau officials were hindered by their role in the department. An act in 1920 changed the date and authorized manufacturing censuses every 2 years, in 1929, a bill was passed mandating the House of Representatives be reapportioned based on the results of the 1930 Census. In 1954, various acts were codified into Title 13 of the US Code, by law, the Census Bureau must count everyone and submit state population totals to the U. S. President by December 31 of any year ending in a zero. States within the Union receive the results in the spring of the following year, the United States Census Bureau defines four statistical regions, with nine divisions. The Census Bureau regions are widely used. for data collection, the Census Bureau definition is pervasive. Title 13 of the U. S. Code establishes penalties for the disclosure of this information, all Census employees must sign an affidavit of non-disclosure prior to employment. The Bureau cannot share responses, addresses or personal information with anyone including United States or foreign government, only after 72 years does the information collected become available to other agencies or the general public
Bureau of the Census
–
Census headquarters in
Suitland, Maryland
Bureau of the Census
–
Seal
Bureau of the Census
–
A card puncher, part of the tabulation system used to compile the thousands of facts gathered by the Bureau. Holes are punched in the card according to a prearranged code transferring the facts from the census questionnaire into statistics.
23.
International Trade Administration
–
The ITAs stated goals are to Provide practical information to help Americans select markets and products. Ensure that Americans have access to markets as required by the U. S. trade agreements. Safeguard Americans from unfair competition from dumped and subsidized imports and these are, Industry and Analysis, Global Markets, and Enforcement and Compliance. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets, commercial Service Office of Strategic Planning Deputy Director General of the U. S. S. S. Department of Commerce, The ecommerce partner is the Federation of International Trade Associations under which the USCS contributes market research, the ITA was created on January 2,1980 and is headed by the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade. Persons who have held that office are listed below
International Trade Administration
–
International Trade Administration
24.
Bureau of Industry and Security
–
The Bureau of Industry and Security is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce that deals with issues involving national security and high technology. A principal goal for the bureau is helping stop proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the Bureau is led by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security. The mission of the BIS is to advance U. S. national security, foreign policy, items on the Commerce Control List - which includes many sensitive goods and technologies like encryption software - require a permit from the Department of Commerce before they can be exported. To determine whether a permit is required, an Export Control Classification Number is used. S. foreign policy objectives. Where there is evidence suggesting that the export of a dual-use item threatens U. S. security. In addition to security, BISs function is to ensuring the health of the U. S. economy. BIS promotes a strong base that can develop and provide technologies that will enable the United States to maintain its military superiority. BIS takes care to ensure that its regulations do not impose restrictions on legitimate international commercial activity that are necessary for the health of U. S. industry. BIS activities and regulations also seek to adapt to changing global conditions, BIS also should be creative in thinking about how new technologies can be utilized in designing better export controls and enforcing controls more effectively. BIS consults with its oversight committees, and other appropriate Members of Congress, international cooperation is critical to BISs activities. International cooperation, however, does not mean settling on the lowest common denominator
Bureau of Industry and Security
–
Seal of the Bureau of Industry and Security
25.
National Marine Fisheries Service
–
The National Marine Fisheries Service is a United States federal agency, responsible for the stewardship of national marine resources. The agency conserves and manages fisheries to promote sustainability and prevent lost economic potential associated with overfishing, declining species, the National Marine Fisheries Service is a United States federal agency, informally known as NOAA Fisheries. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, exclusive economic zone beyond state waters. The agency also attempts to balance competing public needs for the resources under its management. The NMFS also serves as a law enforcement agency, working closely with state enforcement agencies, the United States Coast Guard. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement is based in Silver Spring, the NMFS regulatory program is one of the most active in the federal government, with hundreds of regulations published annually in the Federal Register. The NMFS also regulates fisheries pursuant to decisions of regional fishery management organizations, the rules were enacted to specifically protect the North Atlantic Right Whale, of which about only 350 remain. Marine gear entanglements and ship strikes are the top causes of right whale deaths. On July 1, the lanes in and out of Boston Harbor were rotated to avoid an area with a high concentration of the right whales. There are eight domestic regional fisheries management councils that make binding regulations for federal waters off various parts of the U. S, the science centers correspond roughly to the administrative division of fisheries management into five regions, with the west coast utilizing two fisheries science centers. The Northeast Fisheries Science Center is headquartered in Woods Hole, Massachusetts and it operates laboratories at five other locations, and an additional marine field station. The primary mission of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center is the management of fisheries on the Northeast shelf, however, it also oversees the operation of the National Systematics Lab, in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution. The Northeast Fisheries Science Center also operates the Woods Hole Science Aquarium in conjunction with the Marine Biological Laboratory, the National Marine Fisheries Service maintains the Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Science Centers are both located in Seattle. The Alaska fisheries Science Center is located on the grounds of the now-closed Naval Station Puget Sound, the Northwest Fisheries Science Center is located adjacent to the University of Washington. This site is home to the Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Science Center Library. This library was founded in 1931, as of 2011, this library contained 16,000 books and subscribed to 250 periodicals. Its subject interests include science, biochemistry, fisheries biology, fisheries management, food science. The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii and it operates several facilities, including facilities for NOAA ships at Ford Island
National Marine Fisheries Service
–
NMFS SE Panama City Laboratory ecologists take a blood sample from a juvenile
bonnethead shark during a Gulf of Mexico Shark Pupping and Nursery Survey off the shores of
Tyndall Air Force Base.
National Marine Fisheries Service
–
Measuring a juvenile bonnethead shark
