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QUASI-OFFICIAL AGENCIES

National Academy of Sciences-National Academy of Engineering-National Research Council-Institute

of Medicine

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The National Academy of Sciences was established by an act of Congress approved by President Abraham Lincoln on March 3, 1863 (12 Stat. 806).

In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson asked the Academy to organize, under the terms of its charter, the National Research Council as a measure of national preparedness. The Research Council was perpetuated by the Academy on April 29, 1919, in response to a further request from President Wilson, and operates in accordance with Executive Order 2859 of May 11, 1918, as amended by Executive Order 10668 of May 10, 1956.

The National Academy of Engineering was established on December 5,

COURTLAND D. PERKINS.
WILLIAM E. SHOUPP.
EDWARD N. COLE.
J. H. MULLIGAN, JR.
N. BRUCE HANNAY.
ROBERT J. Burger.
BERNARD L. KROPP.

DAVID A. HAMBURG. KARL D. YORDY.

1964, when the Council of the National Academy of Sciences, under the authority of its Act of Incorporation, adopted Articles of Organization bringing the new Academy into being as a parallel organization, autonomous in its organization and election of members and closely coordinated with the Academy of Sciences in its advisory activities.

The Institute of Medicine was chartered by the National Academy of Sciences in 1970.

PURPOSE

The National Academy of Sciences. (NAS) is an organization of distinguished scientists and engineers dedi

cated to the furtherance of science and its use for the general welfare. Although not a governmental agency, the Academy has long enjoyed close relations with the Federal Government. Its congressional charter of 1863 specifies that “. . . the Academy shall, whenever called upon by any department of the Government, investigate, examine, experiment, and report upon any subject of science or art, the actual expense of such investigations, examinations, experiments, and reports to be paid from appropriations which may be made for the purpose, but the Academy shall receive no compensation whatever for any service to the Government of the United States." Thus, no Federal funds are appropriated directly to the Academy, the principal funding mechanism typically being the negotiation of contracts with Government agencies.

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) shares in the objectives and responsibilities of the NAS by bringing to bear the leadership of the Nation's most eminent engineers in sponsoring engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encouraging engineering research, and advising the Federal Government upon request in matters of engineering.

The National Research Council (NRC), which was organized by the NAS to facilitate the participation of a broader representation of scientists and technologists in carrying out its objectives, serves as the principal operating agency of the NAS and NAE. As outlined in Executive Order 10668, the purpose of the Council is to stimulate scientific research and to foster the application of research findings to engineering, agriculture, medicine, and other useful arts, with the object of increasing knowledge, and of contributing in other ways to the public welfare.

The Institute of Medicine was established in recognition of the important and complex problems posed in the provision of adequate health services to all sectors of society. The Institute identifies, for study and

analysis, important issues and problems that relate to health and medicine; initiates and conducts studies of national policy and planning for health care and health-related education and research; responds to requests from the Federal Government and other agencies for studies and advice on matters relating to health and medicine; establishes liaison with the major scientific and professional societies in the field; and disseminates information to the public and the relevant professions.

ACTIVITIES

The Research Council does not maintain laboratories of its own but seeks to stimulate and support the work of individual scientists and engineers and to coordinate investigations dealing with broad problems in research both nationally and internationally. These purposes are carried out through a wide variety of means, including conferences, technical committees, surveys, collection and collation of scientific and technical data, the sponsorship of scientific and technical publications and research organizations, and the administration of public and private funds for research projects and fellowships. The Research Council provides unique means for organizing attacks on scientific and engineering problems which involve many specialized fields and for obtaining disinterested and objective assessments of scientific and technical problems. The effectiveness of the Research Council is dependent on the voluntary, personal participation of thousands of American scientists and engineers who ing generously of their time and effort collaborate in these undertakings, givwithout financial compensation.

The organization directly administers about $50 million annually of funds provided by contributions, grants, and contracts from Federal and State agencies, private industries and foundations, scientific societies, and individuals for support of its committees and conferences, research projects, and

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National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)

955 North L'Enfant Plaza SW., Washington, D.C. 20024

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which tracks are laid, the signaling systems, or the real estate except in the Northeast Corridor (Boston-New York-Washington, Philadelphia-Harrisburg, New Haven-Springfield) and small segments of track in the Northeastern U.S. These Northeastern facilities were purchased under authority of the Railroad Reorganization Act of 1973 and the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976.

Amtrak operates 240 trains daily, between "end-points" designated by the Secretary of Transportation in January 1971 and on routes authorized by the Congress or partially funded by the States, on a contract basis with the following railroads: Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe; Boston and Maine; Burlington Northern; Chessie (Baltimore and Ohio; Chesapeake and Ohio); Canadian National; Canadian Pacific; Central of Vermont; Delaware and Hudson; Grand Trunk Western; Illinois Central Gulf; Louisville and Nashville; Milwaukee Road (Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific); Missouri-Kansas-Texas; Missouri Pacific; Norfolk and Western; Penn Central (which is now part of Consolidated Rail Corporation); Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac; Seaboard Coast Line; Southern

Pacific; Texas and Pacific; and Union Pacific.

Amtrak is governed by a 13-man board of directors. Nine members are selected by the President of the United States, three members are selected by the various railroad companies which own stock in Amtrak. The Secretary of Transportation and the President of Amtrak are ex officio members. Provision was made in the original legislation for four additional board members to be elected by public stockholders should Amtrak decide to issue stock for public purchase. The Corporation is currently managed by a president, eleven vice presidents, and four regional vice presidents.

Amtrak provides more than 90 percent of intercity rail passenger service and serves approximately 480 stations throughout the country over a 26,100 mile route system. Amtrak has assumed the responsibility of employing nearly all station and all service personnel. Railroad employees will continue to actually operate the trains except in the Northeast Corridor. Over 18.6 million passengers rode Amtrak trains in 1976, which represented an increase of 7 percent over 1975. Amtrak currently captures about 18 percent of the common carrier passenger volume between points served by Amtrak trains.

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