[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 2001)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 8499-8500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2852]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 21 / Wednesday, January 31, 2001 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 8499]]


                Executive Order 13199 of January 29, 2001

                
Establishment of White House Office of Faith-
                Based and Community Initiatives

                By the authority vested in me as President of the 
                United States by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States of America, and in order to help the 
                Federal Government coordinate a national effort to 
                expand opportunities for faith-based and other 
                community organizations and to strengthen their 
                capacity to better meet social needs in America's 
                communities, it is hereby ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Policy. Faith-based and other community 
                organizations are indispensable in meeting the needs of 
                poor Americans and distressed neighborhoods. Government 
                cannot be replaced by such organizations, but it can 
                and should welcome them as partners. The paramount goal 
                is compassionate results, and private and charitable 
                community groups, including religious ones, should have 
                the fullest opportunity permitted by law to compete on 
                a level playing field, so long as they achieve valid 
                public purposes, such as curbing crime, conquering 
                addiction, strengthening families and neighborhoods, 
                and overcoming poverty. This delivery of social 
                services must be results oriented and should value the 
                bedrock principles of pluralism, nondiscrimination, 
                evenhandedness, and neutrality.

                Sec. 2. Establishment. There is established a White 
                House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives 
                (White House OFBCI) within the Executive Office of the 
                President that will have lead responsibility in the 
                executive branch to establish policies, priorities, and 
                objectives for the Federal Government's comprehensive 
                effort to enlist, equip, enable, empower, and expand 
                the work of faith-based and other community 
                organizations to the extent permitted by law.

                Sec. 3. Functions. The principal functions of the White 
                House OFBCI are, to the extent permitted by law: (a) to 
                develop, lead, and coordinate the Administration's 
                policy agenda affecting faith-based and other community 
                programs and initiatives, expand the role of such 
                efforts in communities, and increase their capacity 
                through executive action, legislation, Federal and 
                private funding, and regulatory relief;

                    (b) to ensure that Administration and Federal 
                Government policy decisions and programs are consistent 
                with the President's stated goals with respect to 
                faith-based and other community initiatives;
                    (c) to help integrate the President's policy agenda 
                affecting faith-based and other community organizations 
                across the Federal Government;
                    (d) to coordinate public education activities 
                designed to mobilize public support for faith-based and 
                community nonprofit initiatives through volunteerism, 
                special projects, demonstration pilots, and public-
                private partnerships;
                    (e) to encourage private charitable giving to 
                support faith-based and community initiatives;
                    (f) to bring concerns, ideas, and policy options to 
                the President for assisting, strengthening, and 
                replicating successful faith-based and other community 
                programs;
                    (g) to provide policy and legal education to State, 
                local, and community policymakers and public officials 
                seeking ways to empower faith-based and

[[Page 8500]]

                other community organizations and to improve the 
                opportunities, capacity, and expertise of such groups;
                    (h) to develop and implement strategic initiatives 
                under the President's agenda to strengthen the 
                institutions of civil society and America's families 
                and communities;
                    (i) to showcase and herald innovative grassroots 
                nonprofit organizations and civic initiatives;
                    (j) to eliminate unnecessary legislative, 
                regulatory, and other bureaucratic barriers that impede 
                effective faith-based and other community efforts to 
                solve social problems;
                    (k) to monitor implementation of the President's 
                agenda affecting faith-based and other community 
                organizations; and
                    (l) to ensure that the efforts of faith-based and 
                other community organizations meet high standards of 
                excellence and accountability.

                Sec. 4. Administration. (a) The White House OFBCI may 
                function through established or ad hoc committees, task 
                forces, or interagency groups.

                    (b) The White House OFBCI shall have a staff to be 
                headed by the Assistant to the President for Faith-
                Based and Community Initiatives. The White House OFBCI 
                shall have such staff and other assistance, to the 
                extent permitted by law, as may be necessary to carry 
                out the provisions of this order. The White House OFBCI 
                operations shall begin no later than 30 days from the 
                date of this order.
                    (c) The White House OFBCI shall coordinate with the 
                liaison and point of contact designated by each 
                executive department and agency with respect to this 
                initiative.
                    (d) All executive departments and agencies 
                (agencies) shall cooperate with the White House OFBCI 
                and provide such information, support, and assistance 
                to the White House OFBCI as it may request, to the 
                extent permitted by law.
                    (e) The agencies' actions directed by this 
                Executive Order shall be carried out subject to the 
                availability of appropriations and to the extent 
                permitted by law.

                Sec. 5. Judicial Review. This order does not create any 
                right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or equity by a party against the 
                United States, its agencies or instrumentalities, its 
                officers or employees, or any other person.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                     January 29, 2001.

[FR Doc. 01-2852
Filed 1-30-01; 11:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P