[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 29, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 42221-42223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15542]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 29, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents  

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                Executive Order 13731 of June 24, 2016

                
Global Entrepreneurship

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Policy. The American spirit of 
                entrepreneurship is one of our most admired values 
                around the world, and the United States has produced 
                many of the world's most respected businesses and 
                inspiring business creators. At a time when many 
                societies confront extremism, unemployment, and slow 
                economic growth, entrepreneurship holds out the promise 
                of opportunity, prosperity, and security.

                It is in the national interest for the Federal 
                Government to support innovation, global 
                entrepreneurship, and the American private sector. 
                Linking entrepreneurs with capital, new networks, and 
                markets and providing skills and training will allow 
                them to grow their businesses and positively impact 
                their communities. It is also necessary that we help 
                enable our global partners to invest in the tools and 
                infrastructure that make this possible, including high-
                speed broadband; business incubators and accelerators; 
                regional economic development programs and extension 
                services; international people-to-people exchange 
                programs; and the technical, export, and business 
                assistance and mentoring that entrepreneurs need 
                worldwide in order to drive economic growth and job 
                creation.

                This order sets forth the administration and goals of 
                several programs designed to connect American and 
                foreign entrepreneurs with the Federal Government and 
                promote entrepreneurship across the United States and 
                around the world by sharing the knowledge, experience, 
                and connectivity necessary to help develop the next 
                generation of entrepreneurs.

                Sec. 2. Administration of the Presidential Ambassadors 
                for Global Entrepreneurship Program. (a) The Secretary 
                of Commerce (Secretary) shall administer the 
                Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship 
                Program (PAGE Program) to enable individuals who 
                exemplify the spirit of American entrepreneurship and 
                who have proven track records to use their networks, 
                platforms, and voices to support aspiring entrepreneurs 
                and advance public policies that encourage 
                entrepreneurship in the United States and around the 
                globe. Individuals selected for participation in the 
                PAGE Program shall be known as PAGE Members.

                    (b) The PAGE Program shall be administered by a 
                Director, appointed by the Secretary under authorities 
                of the Department of Commerce (Commerce). Commerce 
                shall provide necessary staff, resources, and 
                administrative support for the PAGE Program to the 
                extent permitted by law and within existing 
                appropriations.

                Sec. 3. PAGE Advisory Board. (a) The Secretary shall 
                establish an Advisory Board to advise the Secretary by 
                recommending such priorities, standards, and 
                partnerships as may be beneficial to fulfill the goals 
                of the PAGE Program and to identify potential 
                opportunities for PAGE Members to support the PAGE 
                Program.

                    (b) The Secretary shall serve as Chair of the 
                Advisory Board. In addition to the Chair, the 
                membership of the Advisory Board shall include the 
                Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United 
                States Agency for International Development (USAID), 
                the Administrator of the Small Business Administration 
                (SBA), and the Administrator of the National 
                Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), or their 
                designees, and such other representatives

[[Page 42222]]

                of executive departments and agencies (agencies) as may 
                be designated by the Secretary. Consistent with law, 
                the Advisory Board may consult with industry, academia, 
                and other non-federal entities to ensure that the PAGE 
                Program is continually identifying opportunities to 
                apply innovative practices in effective ways to promote 
                entrepreneurship.

                Sec. 4. Selection of PAGE Members. (a) The Secretary, 
                in accordance with applicable law, shall prescribe 
                appropriate procedures for the selection of PAGE 
                Members. PAGE Members will total no more than 25 at any 
                given time.

                    (b) PAGE Members may participate in the PAGE 
                Program for periods of 2 years, and may be selected to 
                participate for additional periods at the discretion of 
                the Secretary.

                Sec. 5. Responsibilities of Agencies. The Department of 
                State (State), USAID, and SBA are encouraged to work 
                with the Secretary and the Advisory Board to maximize 
                the PAGE Program's benefits to innovation, global 
                entrepreneurship, and the American private sector 
                through the identification of opportunities for 
                entrepreneurs to access capital, education, 
                mentorships, and other services that will help to grow 
                their businesses.

                Sec. 6. Global Entrepreneurship Summit. (a) The 
                Secretary of State shall coordinate the Federal 
                Government's participation in the Global 
                Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), which will focus on 
                connecting entrepreneurs around the world and 
                empowering them to expand their enterprises and build 
                lasting relationships with the United States; 
                increasing global economic prosperity; building secure 
                communities; promoting responsible business conduct, 
                including business practices to encourage greater 
                representation of all people, including women, youth, 
                and minorities; and using innovation to solve pressing 
                global challenges.

                    (b) State shall coordinate with Commerce, USAID, 
                and SBA to identify and carry out programs and 
                activities that will further the goals of the GES to 
                the extent permitted by law and within existing 
                appropriations.

                Sec. 7. Accelerating Entrepreneurship and Economic 
                Opportunity by Expanding Internet Access Globally. 
                State, in coordination with other agencies, 
                multilateral institutions, foreign countries, and 
                stakeholders, shall work to actively promote global 
                Internet connectivity. Specifically, the Global Connect 
                Initiative shall focus on encouraging foreign countries 
                to prioritize Internet connectivity in development 
                plans, promoting the formation of region-specific 
                multi-sector working groups to ensure technical and 
                regulatory best practices, and encouraging the 
                development of digital literacy programs in developing 
                nations.

                Sec. 8. Global Connect International Connectivity 
                Steering Group. (a) In order to ensure a coordinated 
                and consistent approach in agency implementation of the 
                goals set forth in section 7 of this order, there is 
                hereby established a Global Connect International 
                Connectivity Steering Group (Steering Group), chaired 
                by State.

                    (b) The Steering Group shall be composed of a 
                representative from each of the following agencies:

(i) the Department of State;

(ii) the Department of the Treasury;

(iii) the Department of Defense;

(iv) the Department of Commerce;

(v) the Department of Transportation;

(vi) the United States Trade Representative;

(vii) the Small Business Administration;

(viii) the United States Trade and Development Agency;

(ix) the Millennium Challenge Corporation;

(x) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation;

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(xi) the Export-Import Bank of the United States; and

(xii) the United States Agency for International Development.

                    (c) The Chair shall invite a representative from 
                the Federal Communications Commission, and may invite a 
                representative from any other department, agency, 
                component, or office the Chair deems appropriate, to 
                participate as a member of the Steering Group.
                    (d) The Chair shall consult with the following 
                entities in setting the agenda of the Steering Group 
                and ensuring coordination with other Administration 
                policies:

(i) the National Economic Council;

(ii) the National Security Council Staff; and

(iii) the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

                    (e) Not later than 6 months after the date of this 
                order, the Steering Group shall report to the Secretary 
                of State. In this report, the Steering Group shall:

(i) describe the current state of agency procedures, requirements, 
programs, and policies related to the goals of the Global Connect 
Initiative; and

(ii) provide updates on the strategy and the evaluation criteria for 
Federal contributions to the Global Connect Initiative.

                    (f) The Secretary of State may request a periodic 
                update of this report every 12 months thereafter, 
                through 2020, on progress that has been made in 
                achieving the goals of the Global Connect Initiative.

                Sec. 9. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order 
                shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to a department or 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.

                    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with 
                applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.
                    (c) 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 24, 2016.

[FR Doc. 2016-15542
Filed 6-28-16; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P