For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 20, 2002
Executive Order Activities to Promote Personal Fitness
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, and in order to improve the
efficiency and coordination of Federal policies related to personal
fitness of the general public, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. This order is issued consistent with the
following findings and principles:
(a) Growing scientific evidence indicates that an increasing
number
of Americans are suffering from negligible physical activity,
poor dietary habits, insufficient utilization of preventive
health screenings, and engaging in risky behaviors such as abuse
of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.
(b) Existing information on the importance of appropriate physical
activity, diet, preventive health screenings, and avoiding
harmful substances is often not received by the public, or, if
received, is not acted on sufficiently.
(c) Individuals of all ages, locations, and levels of personal
fitness can benefit from some level of appropriate physical
activity, dietary guidance, preventive health screening, and
making healthy choices.
(d) While personal fitness is an individual responsibility, the
Federal Government may, within the authority and funds otherwise
available, expand the opportunities for individuals to empower
themselves to improve their general health. Such opportunities
may include improving the flow of information about personal
fitness, assisting in the utilization of that information,
increasing the accessibility of resources for physical activity,
and reducing barriers to achieving good personal fitness.
Sec. 2. Agency Responsibilities in Promoting Personal Fitness.
(a) The Secretaries of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human
Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor,
Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, and the Director of the
Office of National Drug Policy shall review and evaluate the
policies, programs, and regulations of their respective
departments and offices that in any way relate to the personal
fitness of the general public. Based on that review, the
Secretaries and the Director shall determine whether existing
policies, programs, and regulations of their respective
departments and offices should be modified or whether
new policies or programs could be implemented. These new
policies and programs shall be consistent with otherwise
available authority and appropriated funds, and shall improve the
Federal Government's assistance of individuals, private
organizations, and State and local governments to (i) increase
physical activity; (ii) promote responsible dietary habits; (iii)
increase utilization of preventive health screenings; and (iv)
encourage healthy choices concerning alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and
safety among the general public.
(b) Each department and office included in section 2(a) shall
report
to the President, through the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, its proposed actions within 90 days of the date of this
order.
(c) There shall be a Personal Fitness Interagency Working Group
(Working Group), composed of the Secretaries or Director of the
departments and office included in section 2(a) (or their
designees) and chaired by the Secretary of HHS or his designee.
In order to improve efficiency through information sharing and to
eliminate waste and overlap, the Working Group shall work to
ensure the cooperation of Federal agencies in coordinating
Federal personal fitness activities. The Working Group shall
meet subject to the call of the Chair, but not less than twice a
year. The Department of Health and Human Services shall provide
such administrative support to the Working Group as the Secretary
of HHS deems necessary. Each member of the Working Group shall
be a full-time or permanent part-time officer or employee of the
Federal Government.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. This order is intended only to
improve the internal management of the executive branch and it is not
intended to, and does not, create any right, benefit, trust, or
responsibility, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity
by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies or
entities, its officers or employees, or any person.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 20, 2002.
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