For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 30, 2002
Establishing the USA Freedom Corps
Executive Order Establishing the USA Freedom Corps
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as
follows:
Section 1. Policy. Building on our Nation's
rich tradition of citizen service, this Administration's policy is to
foster a culture of responsibility, service, and citizenship by
promoting, expanding, and enhancing public service opportunities for
all Americans and by making these opportunities readily available to
citizens from all geographic areas, professions, and walks of
life. More specifically, this Administration encourages all
Americans to serve their country for the equivalent of at least 2 years
(4,000 hours) over their lifetimes. Toward those ends, the
executive departments, agencies, and offices constituting the USA
Freedom Corps shall coordinate and strengthen Federal and other service
opportunities, including opportunities for participation in homeland
security preparedness and response, other areas of public and social
service, and international service. The executive branch
departments, agencies, and offices also will work with State and local
governments and private entities to foster and encourage participation
in public and social service programs, as appropriate.
Sec. 2. USA Freedom Corps. The USA Freedom
Corps shall be an interagency initiative, bringing together executive
branch departments, agencies, and offices with public service programs
and components, including but not limited to programs and components
with the following functions:
(i) recruiting,
mobilizing, and encouraging all Americans to engage in public service;
(ii)
providing concrete opportunities to engage in public service;
(iii) providing the public with access to
information about public service opportunities through Federal programs and elsewhere; and
(iv)
providing recognition and awards to volunteers and
other participants in public service programs.
Sec. 3. USA Freedom Corps
Council. (a) Establishment and Mission. There
shall be a USA Freedom Corps Council (Council) chaired by the President
and composed of heads of executive branch departments, agencies, and
offices, which shall have the following functions:
(i) serving
as a forum for Federal officials responsible
for public service programs to coordinate and improve
public service programs and activities administered by the
executive branch;
(ii)
working to encourage all Americans to engage in public
service, whether through Federal programs or otherwise;
(iii) advising the President and heads of
executive branch departments, agencies, and offices concerning the
optimization of current Federal programs to enhance public
service opportunities;
(iv)
coordinating public outreach and publicity of citizen
service opportunities provided by Federal programs;
(v) encouraging
schools, universities, private public
service organizations, and other non-Federal entities to
foster and reward public service;
(vi)
studying the availability of public service
opportunities provided by the Federal Government and
elsewhere; and
(vii) tracking progress in participation in
public service programs.
(b) Membership. In addition to the Chair, the
members of the Council shall be the heads of the executive branch
departments, agencies, and offices listed below, or their designees,
and such other officers of the executive branch as the President may
from time to time designate. Every member of the Council or
designee shall be a full-time or permanent part-time officer or
employee of the Federal Government. Members shall not be
compensated for their service on the Council in addition to the
salaries they receive as employees or officers of the Federal
Government.
(i) Vice
President;
(ii)
Attorney General;
(iii) Secretary of State;
(iv)
Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(v) Secretary
of Commerce;
(vi)
Secretary of Education;
(vii) Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
(viii) Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency;
(ix)
Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National
and Community Service;
(x) Director
of the Peace Corps;
(xi)
Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development;
(xii) Director of the USA Freedom Corps
Office; and
(xiii) Director of the Office of Faith-Based
and Community Initiatives.
(c) Chair. The President shall be the Chair
of the USA Freedom Corps Council, and in his absence, the Vice
President shall serve as Chair. The Director of the USA
Freedom Corps Office may, at the President's direction, preside over
meetings of the Council in the President's and Vice President's
absence.
(d) Honorary Co-Chair. The President may,
from time to time, designate an Honorary Co-Chair or Co-Chairs, who
shall serve in an advisory role to the Council and to the President on
matters considered by the Council. Any Honorary Co-Chair
shall be a full-time or permanent part-time employee or officer of the
Federal Government.
(e) Meetings. The Council shall meet at the
President's direction. The Director of the USA Freedom Corps Office
shall be responsible, at the President's direction, for determining the
agenda, ensuring that necessary papers are prepared, and recording
Council actions and Presidential decisions.
(f) Responsibilities of Executive Branch Departments,
Agencies, and Offices.
(i) Members
of the Council shall remain responsible for
overseeing the programs administered by their respective
departments, agencies, and offices. Each such
department, agency, and office will retain its authority and
responsibility to administer those programs according to law;
(ii)
Each executive branch department, agency, or office
with responsibility for programs relating to the functions
and missions of the USA Freedom Corps as described in
section 2 of this order shall be responsible for identifying
those public service opportunities and coordinating with the
USA Freedom Corps Council to ensure that such programs are,
if appropriate, publicized and encouraged by the Council; and
(iii) Upon the request of the Chair, and to
the extent permitted by law, the heads of executive branch departments and
agencies shall provide the Council with relevant information.
Sec. 4. USA Freedom Corps
Office. (a) General. The USA Freedom
Corps also shall be supported by a USA Freedom Corps Office (Office),
which shall be a component of the White House Office. The
USA Freedom Corps Office shall have a Director who shall be appointed
by the President. The Director shall be assisted by an
appropriate staff within the White House Office.
(b) Presidential Recognition to Participants in USA
Freedom Corps Programs. In addition to supporting and
facilitating the functions of the Council listed in section 3 of this
order, the Office shall support the President in providing recognition
to volunteers and other participants in programs and activities
relating to the functions and missions of the USA Freedom Corps as
described in section 2 of this order.
Sec. 5. General
Provisions. (a) The White House Office shall
provide the Council and Office with such funding and administrative
support, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability
of appropriations, as directed by the Chief of Staff to the President
to carry out the provisions of this order.
(b) This order does not alter the existing authorities
or roles of executive branch departments, agencies, or
offices. Nothing in this order shall supersede any
requirement made by or under law.
(c) This order does not create any right or benefit,
substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity, against the
United States, its departments, agencies, or other entities, its
officers or employees, or any other person.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 29, 2002.
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