The Consumer Action Handbook

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U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services
The Consumer Action Handbook provides important
information about a wide range of resources for you, the
consumer. From county government to the companies that
manufacture the products we use, the Handbook is a good
place to look for answers to pressing consumer questions.
It’s also where you can find out how to contact the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services and the many
agencies the department administers. Learn about the latest
benefits from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services, leading-edge cancer research at the National
Institutes of Health, and getting in shape from the
President’s Council on Physical Fitness. Gain insight into
the latest pharmaceutical treatments from the Food and
Drug Administration, and healthier and safer living from
the Centers for Disease Control.
This information is designed to help make government
more responsive and the quality of life the American people
enjoy a bit better. My hope is that in using the
Handbook those goals will be realized more fully.
Sincerely,
Tommy G. Thompson
Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 2001
I am pleased to send you best wishes as you use the Consumer Action
Handbook. This extensive guide can help you make more informed
choices in today's marketplace. With the right information, educated
buyers can help build a more responsive marketplace for the benefit
of all consumers.
The Consumer Action Handbook exemplifies my Administration's
commitment to strengthening and expanding the roles and rights of
consumers in the marketplace. I commend the Federal and private
sector partnerships that have made the Consumer Action Handbook
possible, and I encourage Americans to take full advantage of all it
has to offer.
Sincerely,