[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 46 (Thursday, March 9, 2006)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 12275-12276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2362]



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Part IV





The President





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Executive Order 13397--Responsibilities of the Department of Homeland 
Security With Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
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  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 46 / Thursday, March 9, 2006 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 12275]]

                Executive Order 13397 of March 7, 2006

                
Responsibilities of the Department of Homeland 
                Security With Respect to Faith-Based and Community 
                Initiatives

                By the authority vested in me as President 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 America's 
                social and community needs, it is hereby ordered as 
                follows:

                Section 1. Establishment of a Center for Faith-Based 
                and Community Initiatives at the Department of Homeland 
                Security.

                    (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) 
                shall establish within the Department of Homeland 
                Security (Department) a Center for Faith-Based and 
                Community Initiatives (Center).
                    (b) The Center shall be supervised by a Director 
                appointed by Secretary. The Secretary shall consult 
                with the Director of the White House Office of Faith-
                Based and Community Initiatives (WHOFBCI Director) 
                prior to making such appointment.
                    (c) The Department shall provide the Center with 
                appropriate staff, administrative support, and other 
                resources to meet its responsibilities under this 
                order.
                    (d) The Center shall begin operations no later than 
                45 days from the date of this order.

                Sec. 2. Purpose of Center. The purpose of the Center 
                shall be to coordinate agency efforts to eliminate 
                regulatory, contracting, and other programmatic 
                obstacles to the participation of faith-based and other 
                community organizations in the provision of social and 
                community services.

                Sec. 3. Responsibilities of the Center for Faith-Based 
                and Community Initiatives. In carrying out the purpose 
                set forth in section 2 of this order, the Center shall:

                    (a) conduct, in coordination with the WHOFBCI 
                Director, a department-wide audit to identify all 
                existing barriers to the participation of faith-based 
                and other community organizations in the delivery of 
                social and community services by the Department, 
                including but not limited to regulations, rules, 
                orders, procurement, and other internal policies and 
                practices, and outreach activities that unlawfully 
                discriminate against, or otherwise discourage or 
                disadvantage the participation of faith-based and other 
                community organizations in Federal programs;
                    (b) coordinate a comprehensive departmental effort 
                to incorporate faith-based and other community 
                organizations in Department programs and initiatives to 
                the greatest extent possible;
                    (c) propose initiatives to remove barriers 
                identified pursuant to section 3(a) of this order, 
                including but not limited to reform of regulations, 
                procurement, and other internal policies and practices, 
                and outreach activities;
                    (d) propose the development of innovative pilot and 
                demonstration programs to increase the participation of 
                faith-based and other community organizations in 
                Federal as well as State and local initiatives; and

[[Page 12276]]

                    (e) develop and coordinate Departmental outreach 
                efforts to disseminate information more effectively to 
                faith-based and other community organizations with 
                respect to programming changes, contracting 
                opportunities, and other agency initiatives, including 
                but not limited to Web and Internet resources.

                Sec. 4. Reporting Requirements.

                    (a) Report. Not later than 180 days from the date 
                of this order and annually thereafter, the Center shall 
                prepare and submit a report to the WHOFBCI Director.
                    (b) Contents. The report shall include a 
                description of the Department's efforts in carrying out 
                its responsibilities under this order, including but 
                not limited to:

(i) a comprehensive analysis of the barriers to the full participation of 
faith-based and other community organizations in the delivery of social and 
community services identified pursuant to section 3(a) of this order and 
the proposed strategies to eliminate those barriers; and

(ii) a summary of the technical assistance and other information that will 
be available to faith-based and other community organizations regarding the 
program activities of the agency and the preparation of applications or 
proposals for grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and procurement.

                    (c) Performance Indicators. The first report shall 
                include annual performance indicators and measurable 
                objectives for Departmental action. Each report filed 
                thereafter shall measure the Department's performance 
                against the objectives set forth in the initial report.

                Sec. 5. Responsibilities of the Secretary. The 
                Secretary shall:

                    (a) designate an employee within the department to 
                serve as the liaison and point of contact with the 
                WHOFBCI Director; and
                    (b) cooperate with the WHOFBCI Director and provide 
                such information, support, and assistance to the 
                WHOFBCI Director as requested to implement this order.

                Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) This order shall be 
                implemented subject to the availability of 
                appropriations and to the extent permitted by law.

                    (b) This order is not intended to, and does not, 
                create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or in equity by a party against the 
                United States, its agencies, or entities, its officers, 
                employees, or agents, or any other person.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                     March 7, 2006.

[FR Doc. 06-2362
Filed 3-8-06; 11:05 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P