Business Department of Agriculture (USDA) Department of Commerce The National Futures Association is a self-regulatory organization authorized by the Commodity Exchange Act; it operates under the supervision of the Commission. The Association is a one-stop information source for all types of registration and disciplinary information regarding firms and individuals in the futures industry. This information includes registration status and employment history; disciplinary actions filed by the Association, the Commission, and the commodity exchanges; and customer complaints filed under the Commission's Reparations Program. The Association's Information Center can be contacted at (800) 621-3570 or, within Illinois, at (312) 781-1410. application for and receipt of loans, loan guarantees, grants, or contracts with or from USDA agencies; applications for and indemnities paid by federal crop insurance; logging (tree harvesting) companies that remove timber from National Forests; certain improvements to farmland; the import or export of agricultural commodities, animals, or plants; and personnel data on current or former USDA employees. The Department of Commerce has information on international trade, social and economic statistics, patents, trademarks, ocean studies, domestic economic development, and some information on minority businesses. Department of Health and The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an enforcement agency of HHS. FDA investigators in the field conduct investigations of drug firms covered under their jurisdiction. Business Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department of Justice Department of Labor HUD's Compliance Division conducts investigations of alleged HUD violations. This division handles investigations of false statements on credit applications for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, mortgagors' certification of no outstanding obligations, cost certificates, and other areas of fraud. HUD, in Washington, D.C., maintains central index files containing information regarding HUD programs and participants, including such individuals and businesses as mortgage companies, developers, and borrowers. The Department of Justice's U.S. National Central Bureau of the International Criminal Police Organization (USNCB-INTERPOL) has direct contact with law enforcement authorities in over 155 INTERPOL member countries. The USNCB, therefore, can request information regarding ownership, previous investigations, and any other information legally releasable. The degree of information available is determined by the laws of the countries from which the information is requested. The Department of Labor has information about the Federal Employees The Department retains substantial data on businesses that have special work programs with it. The Department also maintains substantial information on labor organi- The Office of Labor Pensions Reports Division conducts inquiries into irregularities and complaints on transgressions of the laws administered by the Labor Department. Business Department of State Department of the The Department of State maintains data on import and export licenses. The State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security has information relating to previous investigations conducted by that office. The Department of the Treasury includes a statutory inspector general and the following four law enforcement agencies: • The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) retains (1) data on Within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Criminal Investigation The U.S. Customs Service retains data on businesses that are involved in The U.S. Secret Service maintains records on forgers, counterfeiters, and businesses that have contacted the Service concerning forged or counterfeit obligations of the United States, such as Treasury notes. In addition, the Treasurer of the United States can provide copies of cancelled checks paid by the U.S. Treasury. Business Federal Aviation The FAA maintains records reflecting chain of ownership of all civil aircraft in the United States. These records include documents relative to the manufacture, sale, transfer, inspection, and modification of an aircraft, including the bill of sale, sales contract, mortgage, and liens. The FAA also maintains records on pilots, aircraft mechanics, flight engineers, and other individuals that it certifies in flight safety positions. These records include information on certificates held, airmen medicals, and airmen law enforcement history. Federal Communications The FCC licenses all radio operators in the United States. Individuals or corporate bodies applying for authority to construct new broadcast stations or to change existing stations must also file with the FCC. Information contained in the filings includes details on programming, technical aspects of the proposed facilities, and ownership and financial status. Federal Energy Regulatory Electric utility and natural gas companies are required to file annual Commission Federal Maritime reports with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The reports provide excellent financial pictures of the companies as well as other information, e.g., officers, directors, and stockholders who own more than 10 percent of the company. The Federal Maritime Commission investigates applicants for licenses to engage in oceangoing freight-forwarding activities. Applicants provide information to the Commission covering most aspects of their history, including name, residence, date and place of birth, citizenship of all corporate officers and directors; names of partnership members or individual proprietors; and names of direct holders of 5 percent or more of company stock. General Services The GSA has considerable information on architects, engineers, personal property auctioneers, real estate appraisers, construction contractors, sales brokers, and businesses that contract with the GSA. The GSA also maintains the "GSA Consolidated List," a computerized list of suspended and debarred bidders. Business Interstate Commerce National Aeronautics and The ICC requires interstate trucklines and other shippers to file annual reports on their financial activities. Over 85 percent of NASA's multibillion dollar budget goes to NASA's contractors. Procurement files maintained by its Office of Procurement contain information about a firm and its employees. NASA requires that contractors submit the following data with their proposals: name and qualifications of the contractor and resumes of the personnel who will be directly assigned to the project. The resumes should include educational background, work experience, length of service with firm, and projects on which these individuals have worked. National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) Nuclear Regulatory Resolution Trust Amtrak maintains information on passengers, including reservation histories, method of payment, and dates of travel; the railroad industry; railroad contractors; subcontractors; vendors; and train routes and schedules. The NRC maintains applications and licenses of persons and companies that export nuclear material and equipment from the United States. The NRC determines whether proposed exports would be inimical to the common defense and security and, for certain exports, whether they would be under the terms of an agreement for cooperation, which establishes the ground rules for nuclear cooperation and trade between the United States and the country of destination. The RTC is a federally chartered corporation created to contain, manage, and resolve failed savings institutions and recover funds through the management and ultimate sale of the institutions' assets. The RTC maintains information on failed savings institutions, including their ownership and officers, identities of loan borrowers, contracts, and previous investigations. Securities and Exchange The SEC maintains public records of corporations with stocks and securities sold to the public. These records include the following: |