For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 24, 2004
Executive Order Encouraging Innovation in Manufacturing
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, including the Small Business
Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.), and to help ensure that
Federal agencies properly and effectively assist the private sector in
its manufacturing innovation efforts, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Continued technological innovation is critical
to a strong manufacturing sector in the United States economy. The
Federal Government has an important role, including through the Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology
Transfer (STTR) programs, in helping to advance innovation, including
innovation in manufacturing, through small businesses.
Sec. 2. Duties of Department and Agency Heads. The head of each
executive branch department or agency with one or more SBIR programs or
one or more STTR programs shall:
(a) to the extent permitted by law and in a manner consistent
with
the mission of that department or agency, give high priority
within such programs to manufacturing-related research and
development to advance the policy set forth in section 1 of
this order; and
(b) submit reports annually to the Administrator of the Small
Business Administration and the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy concerning the efforts of such
department or agency to implement subsection 2(a) of this
order.
Sec. 3. Duties of Administrator of the Small Business
Administration
. The Administrator of the Small Business Administration:
(a) shall establish, after consultation with the Director of the
Office of Science and Technology Policy, formats and schedules for
submission of reports by the heads of departments and agencies under
subsection 2(b) of this order; and
(b) is authorized to issue to departments and agencies guidelines
and directives (in addition to the formats and schedules under
subsection 3(a)) as the Administrator determines from time to time are
necessary to implement subsection 2(a) of this order, after such
guidelines and directives are submitted to the President, through the
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, for approval
and are approved by the President.
Sec. 4. Definitions. As used in this order:
(a) "Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program" means a
program to which section 9(e)(4) of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 638(e)(4)) refers;
(b) "Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program" means a
program to which section 9(e)(6) of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 638(e)(6)) refers;
(c) "research and development" means an activity set forth in
section 9(e)(5) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
638(e)(5)); and
(d) "manufacturing-related" means relating to: (i)
manufacturing
processes, equipment and systems; or (ii) manufacturing
workforce skills and protection.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be
construed to impair or otherwise affect the authority of the Director
of the Office of Management and Budget with respect to budget,
administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to require disclosure
of information the disclosure of which is prohibited by law or by
Executive Order, including Executive Order 12958 of April 17, 1995, as
amended.
(c) This order is intended only to improve the internal management
of the executive branch and is not intended to, and does not, create
any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or
in 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,
February 24, 2004.
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