N-1-3-Love, "GPO Gateway/WINDO Legislation to provide one-stop-shopping online access to federal databases", by James Love*, Congress is considering two bills that would vastly expand public access to federal government databases. Senator Gore's S. 2813, the GPO Gateway to Government, and Representative Rose's HR 2772, the GPO Wide Information Network for Data Online (WINDO), would both provide one-stop-shopping online access to hundreds of federal databases. The two bills are nearly identical. The service would be available free through 1,400 federal depository libraries, and would also be available for subscriptions in homes and offices. Subscriptions would be priced at the government's incremental costs of providing access to the public. Both bills would require GPO to provide access through the Internet. Databases The databases and documents offered through the GATEWAY/WINDO would initially consist of the Federal Register, the Congressional Record, and other core databases, which will be determined after a period of planning and public comment. Examples of the types of databases that could be available through the Gateway/WINDO include: Federal Register White House press releases Congressional Record CENDATA (Bureau of Census FDA Bulletin Board online) National Trade Data Bank DOE Energy MEDLINE AGRICOLA Department of State Dispatch FEC Campaign Contributions Department of Justice JURIS NTIS Research Abstracts SEC EDGAR system House and Senate LEGIS Library of Congress SCORPIO Choices of databases would be based on a combination of technical feasibility, costs, and user interest. The GPO would start with the least costly and the technologically simplest services, making incremental expansions as the program matures. The long-term goal is to provide online access to as many federal databases as possible, limited only by technological and costs constraints. Status of Legislation The Senate bill is referred to the Senate Rules Committee, which is chaired by Senator Ford (a co-sponsor of the bill), and the House bill is in the House Administration Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Rose (the prime sponsor of the house bill). A joint Senate/House hearing on the bills was held on July 23, 1992. Senator Ford has indicated that we may schedule a mark up on the Senate bill in early September. In order to pass this year it is essential that Congress act as soon as possible. What You Can Do The most important thing you can do is to write your Senators and members of the House of Representatives to express your support for the bills. The address for all members of Congress are as follows: Senator John Doe Representative Jane Doe U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515 voice: 202/224-3121 voice: 202/225-3121 Specifically ask that they become co-sponsors of the legislation. For more information, contact the American Library Association at 202/547-4440, or the Taxpayer Assets Project at 202/387-8030. For email copies of the legislation or a fact sheet send a note to love@essential.org *Director, Taxpayer Assets Project