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19 plain-English definitions of the agencies, programs, laws and procedures that come up in bills and votes.
AI-AssistedWritten with AI from official sources. The official record always prevails. How we use AI.- Occupational Safety and Health AdministrationOSHA
- Agency
The Labor Department agency that sets and enforces workplace safety and health standards.
- Office of Foreign Assets ControlOFAC
- Agency
The Treasury Department office that administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against foreign countries, groups and individuals.
- Office of Government EthicsOGE
- Agency
The independent agency that oversees the executive branch ethics program, including financial disclosure by senior officials.
- Office of Management and BudgetOMB
- Agency
The White House office that prepares the president's budget, oversees how agencies spend money and run programs, and reviews major federal regulations before they are issued.
- Office of National Drug Control PolicyONDCP
- Agency
The White House office that sets the national drug control strategy and coordinates federal drug policy.
- Office of Personnel ManagementOPM
- Agency
The independent agency that serves as the federal government's human resources office, managing the civil service, federal retirement and the Federal Employees Health Benefits program.
- Office of Science and Technology PolicyOSTP
- Agency
The White House office that advises the president on science and technology and coordinates federal research policy.
- Office of Special Counsel
- Agency
The independent agency that protects federal employees from prohibited personnel practices, takes whistleblower disclosures and enforces the Hatch Act. It is separate from special counsels appointed by the Justice Department.
- Office of the Comptroller of the CurrencyOCC
- Agency
The Treasury Department bureau that charters, regulates and supervises national banks and federal savings associations.
Official site ↗ (opens in a new tab)
In Bills:S.J.Res. 13
- Office of the Director of National IntelligenceODNI, DNI
- Agency
The office that leads and coordinates the 18 agencies and offices of the U.S. intelligence community. It is headed by the Director of National Intelligence.
- Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeUSTR
- Agency
The White House office that develops U.S. trade policy and negotiates trade agreements with other countries.
- Office on Violence Against WomenOVW
- Agency
The Justice Department office that runs grant programs under the Violence Against Women Act.
- Older Americans ActOAA
- Law
The 1965 law that funds services helping older adults live at home, such as home-delivered and group meals, caregiver support and elder abuse prevention.
- Omnibus Bill
- Budget and Tax
A single bill that packages many measures, often several or all of the regular appropriations bills. A smaller package of a few appropriations bills is often called a minibus.
In Bills:H.J.Res. 89
- One Big Beautiful Bill ActOBBBA
- Law
The name commonly used for the 2025 budget reconciliation law, H.R. 1 (Public Law 119-21). It extended and changed the 2017 tax cuts, changed Medicaid and SNAP, raised the debt limit and added money for immigration enforcement and defense.
In Bills:H.R. 1
- Open Seat
- Elections
A seat with no incumbent running, because the member is retiring, running for another office or has left.
- Opportunity Zone
- Budget and Tax
A low-income area where investors can get capital gains tax breaks for investing through a qualified opportunity fund, created by the 2017 tax law.
- Outer Continental ShelfOCS
- Legal Term
The submerged federal lands off U.S. coasts, generally beginning three nautical miles from shore, where the Interior Department leases areas for oil, gas, wind and minerals.
- Outlays
- Budget and Tax
Payments the federal government actually makes in a given year, from budget authority provided that year or earlier.