[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13920-13921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2608]



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Part III





Department of Labor





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Office of the Secretary



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Department of Labor's Public Affairs Program; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 52 / Friday, March 17, 2006 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

[Secretary's Order--08-2006]


Department of Labor's Public Affairs Program

1. Purpose

    This Order delegates authority and assigns responsibility for the 
Department of Labor's public affairs program.

2. Authority and Directives Affected

    This order is issued pursuant to the Act of March 4, 1913, as 
amended (37 Stat. 736; 29 U.S.C. 551), and Reorganization Plan No. 6 of 
1950 (15 FR 3174; 29 U.S.C. 551, Note). Secretary's Order 37-65 is 
cancelled.

3. Background

    In 1945, Secretary of Labor L.B. Schwellenbach centralized 
supervision of all information work performed by the Department in the 
Division of Information (currently the Office of Public Affairs, OPA). 
This was done ``to obtain maximum efficiency and economy in the 
dissemination of public information concerning the activities of the 
Department.'' In 1957, Secretary of Labor James B. Mitchell delegated 
more authority and responsibility to the Office of Information to 
ensure centralized coordination and adherence to Departmental policy. 
In 1965, Secretary of Labor W. Willard Wirtz issued Secretary's Order 
37-65 to improve information service to the public. In 2003, the 
agencies' public affairs functions were centralized in the Office of 
Public Affairs to ensure this important function was continued, but in 
a more efficient manner.

4. Scope

    The Department of Labor's public affairs function includes all 
activities that involve the interaction with, and the preparation and 
issuance of information to, the media and the public. Its authority to 
execute such functions covers all aspects of planning, developing, 
implementing, and monitoring informational, educational and promotional 
activities of a public affairs nature. It includes all forms of public 
communication, e.g., oral, written, visual or electronic.
    This Order applies to all Departmental agencies (National and 
Regional Offices). This Order shall not contravene the provisions of 
Public Law 95-452, the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended (5 
U.S.C., App. 3). In addition, the authority and responsibilities 
delegated to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 
Secretary's Order 9-75, section 4 paragraph d(1), pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 
1, shall not be superseded by this Order.

5. Delegation of Authority and Assignment of Responsibility

    A. The Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs is delegated 
authority and assigned responsibility for:
    (1) Supervising, directing and coordinating all Department of Labor 
public affairs activities.
    (2) Serving as the Department of Labor's primary media 
spokesperson; delegating media spokesperson authority to other OPA and 
agency staff members; overseeing the Departmental spokesperson 
function.
    (3) Serving as the primary advisor to the Secretary of Labor and 
all Departmental executives and staff on issues relating to public 
affairs.
    (4) Planning, developing and conducting a comprehensive nationwide 
public affairs program in support of the Secretary's goals and 
initiatives; Departmental policies, programs and activities; and the 
Department's basic mission.
    (5) Establishing, developing and implementing policies, 
regulations, guidelines and standards governing all public affairs and 
information activities carried out by the Department of Labor.
    (a) Developing and implementing policies, guidelines and standards 
governing all informational, educational and promotional campaigns, 
events, etc.; news releases; articles; speeches; publications; and 
other related information activities and products developed and 
prepared by the agencies.
    (b) Developing and implementing all policies, guidelines and 
standards regulating the Department's audiovisual program, including 
audio-video, graphics, photography, exhibits, and other related 
functions (Secretary's Order 6-83).
    (c) Developing and implementing policies, guidelines and standards 
relating to the Department of Labor enterprise communications services 
(Secretary's Order 2-2005).
    (6) Reviewing and approving agency public affairs plans involving 
major national programs and initiatives at the concept stage. If such 
materials are approved, periodically monitoring progress with the 
authority to change or discontinue the activity or production.
    (7) Providing technical advice and assistance to agencies on 
planning, developing, implementing, and monitoring public affairs 
programs and activities.
    (8) Under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security, OPA 
participates in the planning, development and implementation of public 
affairs and communication activities as a part of the Continuity of 
Operations (COOP) that assures the ability of the Federal government to 
continue its essential functions.
    (9) Preparing, approving and disseminating Department of Labor news 
releases; approving publications and audiovisual materials that serve a 
public affairs function, and any other public information materials, 
with the exception of legal, regulatory, interpretive, technical or 
similar material. However, this Order does not supersede the 
implementation of the Office of Management and Budget Statistical 
Directive No. 3 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics relating to the 
production, safeguarding, and implementation of Principal Federal 
Economic Indicators.
    (10) In each region, planning and conducting a comprehensive public 
affairs program as well as providing all support and services required 
by Departmental components.
    B. Department of Labor Agency Heads are delegated authority and 
assigned responsibility for:
    (1) Developing goals and objectives for their agencies.
    (2) Developing agency plans that identify major programs or 
initiatives agencies will focus on during the coming fiscal year and 
providing a brief description of the informational, educational or 
promotional activities planned for each major program and initiative; 
submitting the plans to OPA to assist in carrying out public affairs 
activities.
    (3) Planning and developing activities to inform the public about 
the agencies' laws, policies, programs and activities.
    (4) Planning, preparing and producing a wide range of informational 
materials designed to effectively and efficiently inform the public 
about the agencies' responsibilities and functions, as well as the 
public's rights and responsibilities; producing all such materials in 
accordance with established policies, procedures, guidelines and 
standards; submitting materials to OPA for approval. Informational 
materials subject to such approval do not include legal, regulatory, 
interpretive, technical or similar materials.
    (5) Developing internal procedures to ensure adherence to 
established Departmental public affairs policies, procedures, 
guidelines and standards.
    C. The Solicitor of Labor shall have the responsibility for 
providing legal advice and assistance to all officers of

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the Department relating to the administration of activities under this 
Order. Starting Departmental legal proceedings, representing the 
Secretary and/or other officials of the Department of Labor, and 
determining whether such proceedings or representations are appropriate 
in a given case are delegated exclusively to the Solicitor.

6. Restrictions

    No agency or individual will negotiate or enter into any agreement 
to alter, restrict, limit or control conduct of the Department of 
Labor's public affairs activities. Requests for waivers to this 
restriction must be obtained from the Assistant Secretary for Public 
Affairs prior to action.

7. Re-Delegation

    The authorities described in paragraph 5 may be re-delegated.

8. Secretarial Action

    Any problems or disagreements arising in the application of the 
authorities delegated in this Order that cannot be mutually resolved by 
the Office of Public Affairs and agency officials will be referred 
through the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs to the Secretary of 
Labor for resolution or other appropriate action.

9. Effective Date

    This order is effective immediately.

    Dated: March 10, 2006.
Elaine L. Chao,
Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 06-2608 Filed 3-16-06; 8:45 am]
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