[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2013)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 39539-39542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15942]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 78 , No. 126 / Monday, July 1, 2013 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 39539]]


                Executive Order 13647 of June 26, 2013

                
Establishing the White House Council on Native 
                American Affairs

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, and in order to promote and sustain prosperous 
                and resilient Native American tribal governments, it is 
                hereby ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Policy. The United States recognizes a 
                government-to-government relationship, as well as a 
                unique legal and political relationship, with federally 
                recognized tribes. This relationship is set forth in 
                the Constitution of the United States, treaties, 
                statutes, Executive Orders, administrative rules and 
                regulations, and judicial decisions. Honoring these 
                relationships and respecting the sovereignty of tribal 
                nations is critical to advancing tribal self-
                determination and prosperity.

                As we work together to forge a brighter future for all 
                Americans, we cannot ignore a history of mistreatment 
                and destructive policies that have hurt tribal 
                communities. The United States seeks to continue 
                restoring and healing relations with Native Americans 
                and to strengthen its partnership with tribal 
                governments, for our more recent history demonstrates 
                that tribal self-determination--the ability of tribal 
                governments to determine how to build and sustain their 
                own communities--is necessary for successful and 
                prospering communities. We further recognize that 
                restoring tribal lands through appropriate means helps 
                foster tribal self-determination.

                This order establishes a national policy to ensure that 
                the Federal Government engages in a true and lasting 
                government-to-government relationship with federally 
                recognized tribes in a more coordinated and effective 
                manner, including by better carrying out its trust 
                responsibilities. This policy is established as a means 
                of promoting and sustaining prosperous and resilient 
                tribal communities. Greater engagement and meaningful 
                consultation with tribes is of paramount importance in 
                developing any policies affecting tribal nations.

                To honor treaties and recognize tribes' inherent 
                sovereignty and right to self-government under U.S. 
                law, it is the policy of the United States to promote 
                the development of prosperous and resilient tribal 
                communities, including by:

                    (a) promoting sustainable economic development, 
                particularly energy, transportation, housing, other 
                infrastructure, entrepreneurial, and workforce 
                development to drive future economic growth and 
                security;
                    (b) supporting greater access to, and control over, 
                nutrition and healthcare, including special efforts to 
                confront historic health disparities and chronic 
                diseases;
                    (c) supporting efforts to improve the effectiveness 
                and efficiency of tribal justice systems and protect 
                tribal communities;
                    (d) expanding and improving lifelong educational 
                opportunities for American Indians and Alaska Natives, 
                while respecting demands for greater tribal control 
                over tribal education, consistent with Executive Order 
                13592 of December 2, 2011 (Improving American Indian 
                and Alaska Native Educational Opportunities and 
                Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities); and

[[Page 39540]]

                    (e) protecting tribal lands, environments, and 
                natural resources, and promoting respect for tribal 
                cultures.

                Sec. 2. Establishment. There is established the White 
                House Council on Native American Affairs (Council). The 
                Council shall improve coordination of Federal programs 
                and the use of resources available to tribal 
                communities.

                Sec. 3. Membership. (a) The Secretary of the Interior 
                shall serve as the Chair of the Council, which shall 
                also include the heads of the following executive 
                departments, agencies, and offices:

(i) the Department of State;

(ii) the Department of the Treasury;

(iii) the Department of Defense;

(iv) the Department of Justice;

(v) the Department of Agriculture;

(vi) the Department of Commerce;

(vii) the Department of Labor;

(viii) the Department of Health and Human Services;

(ix) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;

(x) the Department of Transportation;

(xi) the Department of Energy;

(xii) the Department of Education;

(xiii) the Department of Veterans Affairs;

(xiv) the Department of Homeland Security;

(xv) the Social Security Administration;

(xvi) the Office of Personnel Management;

(xvii) the Office of the United States Trade Representative;

(xviii) the Office of Management and Budget;

(xix) the Environmental Protection Agency;

(xx) the Small Business Administration;

(xxi) the Council of Economic Advisers;

(xxii) the Office of National Drug Control Policy;

(xxiii) the Domestic Policy Council;

(xxiv) the National Economic Council;

(xxv) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;

(xxvi) the Council on Environmental Quality;

(xxvii) the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental 
Affairs;

(xxviii) the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation;

(xxix) the Denali Commission;

(xxx) the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs; and

(xxxi) such other executive departments, agencies, and offices as the Chair 
may, from time to time, designate.

                    (b) A member of the Council may designate a senior-
                level official, who is a full-time officer or employee 
                of the Federal Government, to perform his or her 
                functions.
                    (c) The Department of the Interior shall provide 
                funding and administrative support for the Council to 
                the extent permitted by law and within existing 
                appropriations.

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                    (d) The Council shall coordinate its policy 
                development through the Domestic Policy Council.
                    (e) The Council shall coordinate its outreach to 
                federally recognized tribes through the White House 
                Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental 
                Affairs.
                    (f) The Council shall meet three times a year, with 
                any additional meetings convened as deemed necessary by 
                the Chair.

                The Chair may invite other interested agencies and 
                offices to attend meetings as appropriate.

                Sec. 4. Mission and Function of the Council. The 
                Council shall work across executive departments, 
                agencies, and offices to coordinate development of 
                policy recommendations to support tribal self-
                governance and improve the quality of life for Native 
                Americans, and shall coordinate the United States 
                Government's engagement with tribal governments and 
                their communities. The Council shall:

                    (a) make recommendations to the President, through 
                the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, concerning 
                policy priorities, including improving the 
                effectiveness of Federal investments in Native American 
                communities, where appropriate, to increase the impact 
                of Federal resources and create greater opportunities 
                to help improve the quality of life for Native 
                Americans;
                    (b) coordinate, through the Director of the Office 
                of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, 
                Federal engagement with tribal governments and Native 
                American stakeholders regarding issues important to 
                Native Americans, including with tribal consortia, 
                small businesses, education and training institutions 
                including tribal colleges and universities, health-care 
                providers, trade associations, research and grant 
                institutions, law enforcement, State and local 
                governments, and community and non-profit 
                organizations;
                    (c) coordinate a more effective and efficient 
                process for executive departments, agencies, and 
                offices to honor the United States commitment to tribal 
                consultation as set forth in Executive Order 13175 of 
                November 6, 2000 (Consultation and Coordination With 
                Indian Tribal Governments), and my memorandum of 
                November 5, 2009 (Tribal Consultation); and
                    (d) assist the White House Office of Public 
                Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs in organizing 
                the White House Tribal Nations Conference each year by 
                bringing together leaders invited from all federally 
                recognized Indian tribes and senior officials from the 
                Federal Government to provide for direct government-to-
                government discussion of the Federal Government's 
                Indian country policy priorities.

                Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) The heads of executive 
                departments, agencies, and offices shall assist and 
                provide information to the Council, consistent with 
                applicable law, as may be necessary to carry out the 
                functions of the Council.

                    (b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to 
                impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the 
head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                    (c) This order shall be implemented consistent with 
                applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.
                    (d) For purposes of this order, ``federally 
                recognized tribe'' means an Indian or Alaska Native 
                tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that 
                the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as 
                an Indian tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized 
                Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. 479a.
                    (e) For purposes of this order, ``American Indian 
                and Alaska Native'' means a member of an Indian tribe, 
                as membership is defined by the tribe.

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

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    June 26, 2013.

[FR Doc. 2013-15942
Filed 6-28-13; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F3