[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 18, 2018)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 65071-65074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27515]



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Vol. 83

Tuesday,

No. 242

December 18, 2018

Part III





The President





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Executive Order 13853--Establishing the White House Opportunity and 
Revitalization Council
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                         Presidential Documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 83 , No. 242 / Tuesday, December 18, 2018 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

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                Executive Order 13853 of December 12, 2018

                
Establishing the White House Opportunity and 
                Revitalization Council

                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. Purpose. Fifty-two million Americans live in 
                economically distressed communities. Despite the 
                growing national economy, these communities are plagued 
                by high poverty levels, failing schools, and a scarcity 
                of jobs. In December 2017, I signed into law a bill 
                originally introduced as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 
                (Act), which established a historic new Federal tax 
                incentive that promotes long-term equity investments in 
                low-income communities designated as ``qualified 
                opportunity zones'' by the Governors of States or 
                territories. In order to further facilitate such 
                investment, my Administration will implement reforms 
                that streamline existing regulations, protect taxpayers 
                by optimizing use of Federal resources, stimulate 
                economic opportunity and mobility, encourage 
                entrepreneurship, expand quality educational 
                opportunities, develop and rehabilitate quality housing 
                stock, promote workforce development, and promote 
                safety and prevent crime in urban and economically 
                distressed communities.

                This order establishes a White House Council to carry 
                out my Administration's plan to encourage public and 
                private investment in urban and economically distressed 
                areas, including qualified opportunity zones. The 
                Council shall lead joint efforts across executive 
                departments and agencies (agencies) to engage with 
                State, local, and tribal governments to find ways to 
                better use public funds to revitalize urban and 
                economically distressed communities.

                Sec. 2. Establishment. There is established a White 
                House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (Council). 
                The Council shall be chaired by the Secretary of 
                Housing and Urban Development (HUD), or the Secretary's 
                designee. The Assistant to the President for Domestic 
                Policy, or the designee of the Assistant to the 
                President for Domestic Policy, shall serve as Vice 
                Chair of the Council.

                    (a) Membership. In addition to the Chair and Vice 
                Chair, the Council shall consist of the following 
                members, or their designees:

(i) the Secretary of the Treasury;

(ii) the Attorney General;

(iii) the Secretary of the Interior;

(iv) the Secretary of Agriculture;

(v) the Secretary of Commerce;

(vi) the Secretary of Labor;

(vii) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

(viii) the Secretary of Transportation;

(ix) the Secretary of Energy;

(x) the Secretary of Education;

(xi) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;

(xii) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;

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(xiii) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration;

(xiv) the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy;

(xv) the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers;

(xvi) the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality; and

(xvii) the heads of such other agencies, offices, or independent regulatory 
agencies as the Chair may, from time to time, designate or invite.

                    (b) Administration. The Vice Chair shall convene 
                regular meetings of the Council, determine its agenda, 
                and direct its work, all under the guidance of the 
                Chair. The Department of Housing and Urban Development 
                shall provide funding and administrative support for 
                the Council to the extent permitted by law and within 
                existing appropriations. The Secretary of HUD shall 
                designate a HUD officer or employee to serve as the 
                Executive Director of the Council, who shall be 
                responsible for coordinating the Council's work.

                Sec. 3. Mission and Function of the Council. The 
                Council shall, to the extent permitted by law, work 
                across agencies, giving consideration to existing 
                agency initiatives, to:

                    (a) assess the actions each agency can take under 
                existing authorities to prioritize or focus Federal 
                investments and programs on urban and economically 
                distressed communities, including qualified opportunity 
                zones;
                    (b) assess the actions each agency can take under 
                existing authorities to minimize all regulatory and 
                administrative costs and burdens that discourage public 
                and private investment in urban and economically 
                distressed communities, including qualified opportunity 
                zones;
                    (c) regularly consult with officials from State, 
                local, and tribal governments and individuals from the 
                private sector to solicit feedback on how best to 
                stimulate the economic development of urban and 
                economically distressed areas, including qualified 
                opportunity zones;
                    (d) coordinate Federal interagency efforts to help 
                ensure that private and public stakeholders--such as 
                investors; business owners; institutions of higher 
                education (including Historically Black Colleges and 
                Universities, as defined by 50 U.S.C. 3224(g)(2), and 
                tribally controlled colleges and universities, as 
                defined by 25 U.S.C. 1801(a)(4)); K-12 education 
                providers; early care and education providers; human 
                services agencies; State, local, and tribal leaders; 
                public housing agencies; non-profit organizations; and 
                economic development organizations--can successfully 
                develop strategies for economic growth and 
                revitalization;
                    (e) recommend policies that would:

(i) reduce and streamline regulatory and administrative burdens, including 
burdens on applicants applying for multiple Federal assistance awards;

(ii) help community-based applicants, including recipients of investments 
from qualified opportunity funds, identify and apply for relevant Federal 
resources; and

(iii) make it easier for recipients to receive and manage multiple types of 
public and private investments, including by aligning certain program 
requirements;

                    (f) evaluate the following:

(i) whether and how agencies can prioritize support for urban and 
economically distressed areas, including qualified opportunity zones, in 
their grants, financing, and other assistance;

(ii) appropriate methods for Federal cooperation with and support for 
States, localities, and tribes that are innovatively and strategically 
facilitating economic growth and inclusion in urban and economically 
distressed communities, including qualified opportunity zones, consistent 
with preserving State, local, and tribal control;

(iii) whether and how to develop an integrated web-based tool through which 
entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders can see the full

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range of applicable Federal financing programs and incentives available to 
projects located in urban and economically distressed areas, including 
qualified opportunity zones;

(iv) whether and how to consider urban and economically distressed areas, 
including qualified opportunity zones, as possible locations for Federal 
buildings, through consultation with the General Services Administration;

(v) whether and how Federal technical assistance, planning, financing 
tools, and implementation strategies can be coordinated across agencies to 
assist communities in addressing economic problems, engaging in 
comprehensive planning, and advancing regional collaboration; and

(vi) what data, metrics, and methodologies can be used to measure the 
effectiveness of public and private investments in urban and economically 
distressed communities, including qualified opportunity zones.

                Sec. 4. Reports. The Assistant to the President for 
                Domestic Policy shall, on behalf of the Council, be 
                responsible for submitting to the President:

                    (a) Within 90 days of the date of this order, a 
                detailed work plan for how, and by when, the Council 
                will accomplish the goals detailed in section 3 of this 
                order;
                    (b) Within 210 days of the date of this order, a 
                list of recommended changes to Federal statutes, 
                regulations, policies, and programs that would 
                encourage public and private investment in urban and 
                economically distressed communities, including 
                qualified opportunity zones;
                    (c) Within 1 year of the date of this order, a list 
                of recommended changes to Federal statutes, 
                regulations, policies, and programs that would help 
                State, local, and tribal governments to better 
                identify, use, and administer Federal resources in 
                urban and economically distressed communities, 
                including qualified opportunity zones;
                    (d) Within 1 year of the date of this order, a list 
                of best practices that could be integrated into public 
                and private investments in urban and economically 
                distressed communities, including qualified opportunity 
                zones, in order to increase economic growth, encourage 
                new business formation, and revitalize communities; and
                    (e) Any subsequent reports that the President may 
                request or that the Council may deem appropriate.

                Sec. 5. Amendments to Executive Order 13845. Executive 
                Order 13845 of July 19, 2018 (Establishing the 
                President's National Council for the American Worker) 
                is hereby amended as follows:

                    (a) Subsection 7(d) of the order is deleted and the 
                following text is inserted in lieu thereof: ``consider 
                the recommendations of the American Workforce Policy 
                Advisory Board (Board) established in section 8 of this 
                order and, as appropriate, adopt recommendations that 
                would significantly advance the objectives of the 
                Council;''; and
                    (b) Subsection 8(b)(i) of the order is amended by 
                deleting the text ``appointed by the President'' and 
                replacing it with the following text: ``appointed by 
                the Secretary of Commerce''.

                Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) The heads of agencies 
                shall assist and provide information to the Council, 
                consistent with applicable law, as may be necessary for 
                the Council to carry out its functions.

                    (b) The heads of agencies shall consider the 
                reports and recommendations of the Council in carrying 
                out their responsibilities related to urban and 
                economically distressed communities.
                    (c) The Council shall terminate on January 21, 
                2021, unless extended by the President.
                    (d) 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

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

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

                    December 12, 2018.

[FR Doc. 2018-27515
Filed 12-17-18; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F9-P