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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was established on March 15, 1989, succeeding the Veterans Administration. It is responsible for providing federal benefits to veterans and their families. Headed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, VA is the second-largest of the Cabinet departments and operates nationwide programs for health care, financial assistance and burial benefits. Of the 22.2 million veterans currently alive, nearly three-quarters served during a war or an official period of conflict. About a quarter of the nation`s population is potentially eligible for VA benefits and services because they are veterans, family members or survivors of veterans. The responsibility to care for veterans, spouses, survivors and dependents can last a long time. Two children of Civil War veterans still draw VA benefits. About 184 children and widows of Spanish-American War veterans still receive VA compensation or pensions. VA`s fiscal year 2013 spending is projected to be approximately $140 billion, including almost $64 billion in discretionary resources and nearly $76.4 billion in mandatory funding. The discretionary budget request represents an increase of $2.7 billion, or nearly 4.5 percent, over the 2012 enacted level.
The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) was created by an Act of Congress on June 23, 1860 and opened its doors nine months later on March 4, 1861. With 1,700 employees, GPO is the Federal Government’s primary centralized resource for gathering, cataloging, producing, providing, authenticating, and preserving published U.S. Government information in digital and tangible formats. GPO is responsible for the production and distribution of information products and services for all three branches of the Federal Government, including U.S. passports for the Department of State as well as the official publications of Congress, the White House, and other Federal agencies. In addition to publication sales, GPO provides for permanent public access to Federal Government information at no charge through GPO’s Federal Digital System (www.fdsys.gov) and through partnerships with approximately 1,220 libraries nationwide participating in the Federal Depository Library Program. In December 2014, Congress passed legislation and President Barack Obama signed into law that the U.S. Government Printing Office would now be called the U.S. Government Publishing Office.
The genesis of the National Communications System (NCS) began in 1962 after the Cuban missile crisis when communications problems among the United States, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and foreign heads of state threatened to complicate the crisis further.
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is a Canadian Crown corporation established by an act of Parliament in 1970 to help developing countries find solutions to their problems. We encourage and support researchers and innovators in those countries to find practical, long-term solutions to the social, economic, and environmental problems their societies face. Our goal is to find ways to reduce poverty, improve health, support innovation, and safeguard the environment. We often work with other Canadian government departments and agencies on programs of mutual interest that are aligned with Canadian values and government priorities. Many of these initiatives create opportunities for researchers from Canada and the developing world to collaborate on research of common interest. Most of IDRC’s funding comes from annual appropriations from Canada’s Parliament. IDRC also receives funds from other sources, such as foundations and other Canadian and international organizations that support international development or fund research. IDRC is guided by an international Board of Governors. We report to Canada’s Parliament through the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Our head office is in Ottawa, Canada. Four regional offices help ensure the relevance of our work.
Stockton is the 11th largest city in California, with a dynamic, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural population of over 320,000 residents. Located in California`s great Central Valley, Stockton has grown from a community with rich agricultural roots to an urban destination with an emerging arts and cultural scene, fine dining, shopping, sports, recreation, and family entertainment. Stockton is home to the University of the Pacific, California State University, Stanislaus extension campus, San Joaquin Delta Community College, and the robust and thriving Port of Stockton with direct waterway access to the San Francisco Bay.