Federal government policies, National

Advise the federal government on national policies on the control and quality specifications of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals. 

Like capital, labor and many raw materials, scientific and technological capability must be thought of, nurtured and expended, like the valuable and limited national resource that it Is. There Is considerable evidence that this resource Is being used less effectively than It could be, due to a number of Imbalances In Its development and strategic deployment. To some extent, these Imbalances are the direct result of Federal actions to some extent, they result from reactions, in universities and In Industry, to Federal actions. BUT, TO A LARGE EXTENT, THEY APPEAR TO BE INDIRECT AND UNINTENDED RESULTS OF APPARENTLY UNRELATED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND DECISIONS. Since World War II there have been a number of major shifts In the make-up of the national scientific and technological resource and In the way It has been allocated. 

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine. 

In June of 1995, The White House issued Presidential Decision Directive 39 (PDD-39), United States Policy of Counterterrorism. PDD-39 directed a number of measures to reduce the nation s vulnerability to terrorism, to deter and respond to terrorist acts, and to strengthen capabilities to prevent and manage the consequences of terrorist use of NBC weapons. The laws of the United States assign primary authority to the states to respond to the consequences of terrorism the federal government provides assistance as required. 

HSPD - 20 National Continuity Policy. Establishes a comprehensive national policy on the continuity of federal government structures and operations and a single National Continuity Coordinator responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of federal continuity policies. 

The National Environmental Policy Act requires certain procedures for public input on and documentation concerning the preparation of a thorough environmental impact statement regarding activities undertaken by the federal government that have environmental impacts. 

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