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The information presented on this page contains hyperlinks to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. Please be aware that the U.S. Department of Labor and the Employee Benefits Security Administration do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this information, or endorse any views expressed or products or services offered by the author of the reference or the organization operating the server on which the reference is maintained.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

The Health Care Financing Administration is now the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).  CMS provides health insurance for over 74 million Americans through Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP.

In addition to providing health insurance, CMS also performs a number of quality-focused activities, including regulation of laboratory testing (CLIA), development of coverage policies, and quality-of-care improvement.  CMS maintains oversight of the survey and certification of nursing homes and continuing care providers (including home health agencies, intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded, and hospitals), and makes available to beneficiaries, providers, researchers and state surveyors information about these activities and nursing home quality.

Department of Justice

The Mission of the Department of Justice is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law.  To provide Federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime.  To seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior.  To administer and enforce the Nation's immigration laws fairly and effectively.  And to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.

Department of the Treasury

The Mission of the Department of the Treasury is to promote prosperous and stable American and world economies.  Manage the government's finances.  Safeguard our financial systems.  Protect our nation's leaders, and secure a safe and drug-free America.  And to Continue to build a strong institution.

FirstGov

FirstGov.gov, the official U.S. gateway to all government information and is the catalyst for a growing electronic government. Our work transcends the traditional boundaries of government and our vision is global - connecting the world to all U.S. government information and services.

A powerful search engine and ever-growing collection of topical and customer-focused links connects you to millions of web pages - from the federal government, local and tribal governments and to foreign nations around the world.

On FirstGov.gov, you can search more than 51 million web pages from federal and state governments, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Most of these pages are not available on commercial web sites. FirstGov has the most comprehensive search of government anywhere on the Internet.

FirstGov.gov will help you find and do business with government online, on the phone, by mail, or in person. You may select customer gateways - citizens, business and government - to find exactly what you need.

Internal Revenue Service

The Internal Revenue Service is the nation's tax collection agency and administers the Internal Revenue Code enacted by Congress. Its mission: to provide America's taxpayers with top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and by applying the tax law with integrity and fairness to all.

Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries

The Joint Board, which was established pursuant to section 3041 of ERISA, is responsible for the enrollment of individuals who wish to perform actuarial services under ERISA. The Joint Board is composed of five members, three appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury and two appointed by the Secretary of Labor. In addition, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has one representative with no voting power.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners is the organization of insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the four U.S. territories. The NAIC provides a forum for the development of uniform policy when uniformity is appropriate.

National Association of Securities Dealers

NASD is charged with regulating the securities industry and The Nasdaq Stock Market®. NASD was created in 1938 by the Maloney Act amendments to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Through its many departments and offices, NASD's jurisdiction extends to over 5,400 firms with more than 89,000 branch offices, and over 677,000 securities industry professionals. NASD accomplishes this oversight through the registration, education, testing and examination of member firms and their employees, and through the creation and enforcement of rules designed for the ultimate benefit and protection of investors.

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation protects the retirement incomes of more than 43 million American workers — one of every four working persons — in nearly 38,000 private defined benefit pension plans.

Securities and Exchange Commission

The primary mission of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is to protect investors and maintain the integrity of the securities markets.  The laws and rules that govern the securities industry in the United States derive from a simple and straightforward concept: all investors, whether large institutions or private individuals, should have access to certain basic facts about an investment prior to buying it.

Only through the steady flow of timely, comprehensive and accurate information can people make sound investment decisions.  Each year the SEC brings between 400-500 civil enforcement actions against individuals and companies that break the securities laws.

Typical infractions include insider trading, accounting fraud, and providing false or misleading information about securities and the companies that issue them.  Fighting securities fraud, however, requires teamwork. At the heart of effective investor protection is an educated and careful investor.  Though it is the primary overseer and regulator of the U.S. securities markets, the SEC works closely with many other institutions, including Congress, other federal departments and agencies, the self-regulatory organizations, state securities regulators, and various private sector organizations.

Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration, established in 1953, provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses. With a portfolio of business loans, loan guarantees and disaster loans worth more than $45 billion, in addition to a venture capital portfolio of $13 billion, SBA is the nation's largest single financial backer of small businesses. Last year, the SBA offered management and technical assistance to more than one million small business owners. The SBA also plays a major role in the government's disaster relief efforts by making low-interest recovery loans to both homeowners and businesses.

America's 25 million small businesses employ more than 50 percent of the private work force, generate more than half of the nation's gross domestic product, and are the principal source of new jobs in the U.S. economy.

Social Security Administration

On June 8, 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in a message to the Congress, announced his intention to provide a program for Social Security. Subsequently, the President created by Executive Order the Committee on Economic Security, which was instructed to study the entire problem of economic insecurity and to make recommendations that would serve as the basis for legislative consideration by the Congress.

In early January 1935, the Committee made its report to the President, and on January 17 the President introduced the report to both Houses of Congress and the Social Security Act was signed into law on August 14, 1935. In addition to several provisions for general welfare, the new Act created a social insurance program designed to pay retired workers age 65 or older a continuing income after retirement.

American Savings Education Council

The American Savings Education Council, a coalition of private and public sector institutions, undertakes initiatives to raise public awareness about what is needed to ensure long-term personal financial independence. ASEC's goal is to make saving and planning a vital concern of Americans and in the economic interests of employers.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards

Founded in Denver, Colorado in 1985, CFP Board is an independent professional regulatory organization that regulates financial planners through trademark law by certifying individuals who meet its requirements to use the CFP marks.  CFP Board is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). To receive NCCA accreditation, CFP Board must meet the highest national voluntary standards for private certification set forth by the NCCA, the accrediting body of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (Washington, DC). NCCA was created in 1987 to establish nationally accepted criteria, guidelines and standards for certifying agencies.

Consumer Federation of America

CFA is an advocacy organization, working to advance pro-consumer policy on a variety of issues before Congress, the White House, federal and state regulatory agencies, and the courts. Its staff works with public officials to promote beneficial policies, to oppose harmful policies, and to ensure a balanced debate on important issues in which consumers have a stake.

CFA is also an educational organization, disseminating information on consumer issues to the public and the media, as well as to policy makers and other public interest advocates. Conferences, reports, books, brochures, news releases, a newsletter, and a web-site all contribute to CFA's education program.

Finally, CFA is a membership organization, providing support to national, state, and local organizations committed to the goals of consumer advocacy and education. Most member organizations are consumer advocacy and education groups -- national, state, or local -- or consumer cooperatives -- credit unions, rural electrics, housing co-ops, and other member-owned service organizations.

Employee Benefit Research Institute

Established in 1978, the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed exclusively to data dissemination, policy research, and education on economic security and employee benefits.

International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans

The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans is the largest educational association serving the employee benefits and compensation industry. For almost 50 years, the International Foundation has served as the premier source of education and information to the industry. And because the International Foundation is a nonprofit, non-lobbying organization, benefits and compensation professionals have come to rely on it for objective, accurate and timely information.

Leap Frog Group

Comprised of more than 100 public and private organizations that provide health care benefits, The Leapfrog Group works with medical experts throughout the U.S. to identify problems and propose solutions that it believes will improve hospital systems that could break down and harm patients. Representing approximately 32 million health care consumers in all 50 states, Leapfrog provides important information and solutions for consumers and health care providers.