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width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/federal.shtml" title="Federal Government">Federal Government</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/State_and_Territories.shtml" title="State Government">State Government</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Local.shtml" title="Local Government">Local Government</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Government/Tribal_Sites/index.shtml" title="Tribal Government">Tribal Government</a></td></tr></table></div> <div class="left_Nav_Box"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="left_Nav_Table" width="126"><tr><td class="left_Nav_Title" colspan="2"><b>Contact Government</b></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Services.shtml" title="Online Services">Online Services</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://origins.usa.gov/external/external.jsp?url=http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa_ict.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=KTOOiSBh" title="Frequently Asked Questions">Frequently Asked Questions</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/questions" title="E-mail">E-mail</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://origins.usa.gov/external/external.jsp?url=http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa_ict.cfg/php/enduser/live.php?p_sid=1f9i_Tni&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD0yMTUzJnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTE*" title="Web Chat">Web Chat</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Directories.shtml" title="Phone">Phone</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Find_Services.shtml" title="In Person">In Person</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://origins.usa.gov/external/external.jsp?url=http://www.forms.gov" title="Forms">Forms</a></td></tr></table></div> <div class="left_Nav_Box"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="left_Nav_Table" width="126"><tr><td class="left_Nav_Title" colspan="2"><b>By Topic</b></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Benefits.shtml" title="Benefits and Grants">Benefits and Grants</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Consumer_Safety.shtml" title="Consumer Guides">Consumer Guides</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Defense.shtml" title="Defense and International">Defense and International</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Environment_Agriculture.shtml" title="Environment, Energy, and Agriculture">Environment, Energy, and Agriculture</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Family.shtml" title="Family, Home, and Community">Family, Home, and Community</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Health.shtml" title="Health and Nutrition">Health and Nutrition</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/History.shtml" title="History, Arts, and Culture">History, Arts, and Culture</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Education_Training.shtml" title="Jobs and Education">Jobs and Education</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Money_Taxes.shtml" title="Money and Taxes">Money and Taxes</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety.shtml" title="Public Safety and Law">Public Safety and Law</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Reference_Shelf.shtml" title="Reference and General Government">Reference and General Government</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Science.shtml" title="Science and Technology">Science and Technology</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Travel.shtml" title="Travel and Recreation">Travel and Recreation</a></td></tr><tr><td class="spacer" colspan="2"></td></tr><tr class="left_Nav_Row"><td class="left_Nav_Side" width="8"><img alt="" height="1" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/clearpix.gif" width="8"/></td><td class="nav_TD" width="118"><a class="left_Nav_Link" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Voting.shtml" title="Voting and Elections">Voting and Elections</a></td></tr></table></div> </div>   <div id="content"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td> <a id="skip_content" name="skip_content"></a> <div id="bread"> <a href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/index.shtml" title="Home">Home</a> > <span><a name="vgn-about-usa-gov-vgn"></a>About USA.gov</span> </div> <h1>About USA.gov</h1> <p>Official information and services from the U.S. government</p> <div><p class="article">Whatever you want or need from the U.S. government, it's here on <a href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/index.shtml" title="USA.gov">USA.gov</a>. You'll find a rich treasure of online information, services, and resources.</p><br class="article"/> <h3 class="article">Our Vision</h3><p class="article">As the U.S. government's official web portal, USA.gov makes it easy for the public to get U.S. government information and services on the web. USA.gov also serves as the catalyst for a growing electronic government.</p><br class="article"/> <h3 class="article">Who "Owns" USA.gov?</h3><p class="article">Many people and organizations have had a hand in creating our comprehensive, <a href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About/Awards.shtml" title="Award-Winning Portal">award-winning portal</a> to government. And the government worked fast—Internet time—to launch it and to keep it responsive to the American people and the world.</p><p class="article">USA.gov is an interagency initiative administered by the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.gsa.gov/" title="U.S. General Services Administration's Office of Citizen Services and Communications">U.S. General Services Administration's Office of Citizen Services and Communications</a>. It got its start when Internet entrepreneur Eric Brewer, whose early research was funded by the Department of Defense, offered to donate a powerful search engine to government. That gift helped accelerate the government's earlier work to create a government-wide portal.</p><p class="article">In June 2000, President Clinton announced the gift from the Federal Search Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by Brewer, and instructed that an official U.S. web portal be launched within 90 days. USA.gov went online on September 22, 2000 under the name FirstGov.gov. The GSA and 22 federal agencies funded the initiative in 2001 and 2002. Since 2002, USA.gov has received an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress. In January 2007, FirstGov.gov officially changed its name to USA.gov.</p><p class="article">So, who "owns" USA.gov? The American people.</p><br class="article"/> <h3 class="article">Help Using USA.gov</h3><p class="article">Use our <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Help.shtml" title="Help">Help</a> page or view our <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About/tutorials/index.shtml" title="Help">online tutorials</a> to learn how to accomplish government tasks and access government information and services through USA.gov.</p><br class="article"/> <h3 class="article">USA.gov News and Media</h3><p class="article">Learn more about USA.gov through our <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About/FirstGov_News.shtml" title="USA.gov News and Media">press releases</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/00spot.htm" title="TV and radio PSA's">TV and radio public service announcements<a></a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Contact/E-mail_subscriptions.html" title="Sign Up for E-mail Alerts">e-mail alerts<a></a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/rss/index.shtml" title="RSS feeds on USA.gov">RSS feeds</a>, and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://apps.gsa.gov/FirstGovCommonSubscriptionService.php" title="Sign Up for E-newsletters">e-newsletters<a></a>.</a></a></a></p><br class="article"/> <h3 class="article">USA.gov Linking Policy</h3><p class="article">USA.gov links to websites that provide useful, timely, citizen-centered government information and services consistent with our <a href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About/Linking_Policy.shtml" title="Linking Policy">linking policy</a>.</p><br class="article"/> <h3 class="article">Other Important Notices</h3><p class="article">USA.gov provides more details on its policies and guidelines with regard to disclaimers of endorsements, web accessibility, free commercial downloads, and privacy and security matters on our <a href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About/Important_Notices.shtml" title="Important Notices page">Important Notices page</a>.</p><br class="article"/> <h3 class="article">Resources for Software Developers</h3><p class="article">USA.gov makes certain data files available to the public on our <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About/developer_resources.shtml" title="Developer Resources page">Developer Resources page<a></a>. USA.gov provides these files solely for our users' information and convenience.</a></p><br class="article"/> <h3 class="article">Customer Satisfaction</h3><p class="article">USA.gov is an Internet portal designed for you. We want to make your experience at our website productive, informative, and satisfying. Customer feedback is the driving force for how we organize and present government information, services, and transactions.</p><p class="article">We participate in an online customer satisfaction survey using the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). This is a survey tool used in the private sector by some of the most successful American businesses. The survey randomly selects visitors to our site and asks them a series of questions about their online experience. The survey results provide us with information about how we measure up against some of the best commercial and government websites, and help us improve the website for you. We thank you for taking the time to fill out the survey when it appears on your screen during your visit.</p><p class="article">If you would like to provide us with more specific comments, suggestions, and personal experiences while visiting USA.gov, please <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.firstgov.gov/questions" title="contact us">contact us</a>.</p><br class="article"/> <h3 class="article">Frequently Asked Questions About USA.gov</h3><p class="article">USA.gov provides answers to other <a href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About/FirstGov_Faq.shtml" title="frequently asked questions about USA.gov">frequently asked questions about USA.gov</a>.</p><br class="article"/> <h3 class="article">Contact Us</h3><p class="article">We invite you to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Contact_Us.shtml" title="Contact USA.gov">contact us</a> with feedback and suggestions about USA.gov to help us serve you better.</p></div> </td></tr></table> </div>   <div id="right_Nav"> <table border="0" class="skip_links"> <tr><td><a id="skip_right" name="skip_right"></a></td></tr> </table>  <div><div id="util"><ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/feedback/EmailFriendForm.jsp?lts=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usa.gov%2FAbout.shtml" title="E-mail this page">E-mail this page</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Contact/E-mail_subscriptions.html" title="Receive updates by e-mail">Receive updates by e-mail</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/rss/index.shtml" title="USA.gov RSS feeds">USA.gov RSS feeds</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/rss/index.shtml" title="R S S feeds"><img alt="R S S feeds" border="0" height="16" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/feed-icon-14x16.jpg" width="14"/></a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About/tutorials/index.shtml" title="Tutorials: Find government info">Tutorials: Find government info</a></li></ul></div><script src="/web/20081216023404js_/http://www.usa.gov/js/en/pageUtilities.js" type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[ ]]></script></div>   <a class="main" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About/Awards.shtml" title="USA.gov Award Page"><img alt="USA.gov Awards" class="box" height="113" longdesc="awards, new, image," src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/awards_new.gif" width="212"/></a><br/><a class="main" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About/tutorials/index.shtml" title="English Tutorials"><img alt="USA.gov Tutorials" class="box" height="201" longdesc="english, tutorials" src="/web/20081216023404im_/http://www.usa.gov/images/usa_gov_tutorial.gif" width="212"/></a>    </div>  </div> </div>   <div id="bottom_Nav"><a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/index.shtml" title="Home">Home</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About.shtml" title="About Us">About Us</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Contact_Us.shtml" title="Contact Us">Contact Us</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/Contact.shtml" title="Contact Government">Contact Government</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216023404/http://origins.usa.gov/external/external.jsp?url=http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa_ict.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=KTOOiSBh" title="FAQs">FAQs</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About/Important_Notices.shtml" title="Website Policies">Website Policies</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About/Privacy_Security.shtml" title="Privacy">Privacy</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/feedback/SuggestLinkForm.jsp" title="Suggest-A-Link">Suggest-A-Link</a> | <a class="bottomnav" href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About/FirstGov_Logos.shtml" title="Link to Us">Link to Us</a></div> <div id="last_Updated">Page Last Reviewed or Updated: November 7, 2008</div>   <div id="footer"> <span><div id="seal"><a href="/web/20081216023404/http://www.usa.gov/About/Great_Seal.shtml"><img alt="The Great Seal - 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