    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [August 9, 1999]
    [Page 1420]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on the Interagency Group on Insular Areas
    August 9, 1999

    Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

    Subject: Interagency Group on Insular Areas

        Issues relating to American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the
    Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands sometimes
    vary from those relating to the States. Such issues frequently cut
    across agency lines. Since the insular jurisdictions lack the
    representation that a State has in the Federal process, the Federal
    Government has a special responsibility to consider their issues.
        Except for matters that are specifically within the responsibility
    of another department or agency, generally, the Secretary of the
    Interior has responsibility for the matters concerning these territorial
    jurisdictions. With the continued development of the insular areas and
    the extension of most Federal programs to them, the need to improve the
    coordination of Federal programs and policies as they relate to these
    jurisdictions has increased. I, therefore, direct as follows:
        1. There shall be established the ``Interagency Group on Insular
    Areas'' (IGIA) to give guidance on policy concerning these insular
    jurisdictions. The IGIA membership shall consist of senior officials
    selected by the heads of executive departments, agencies, and offices
    that receive a request for representation from the Secretary of the
    Interior (Secretary). The Secretary and the Director of the White House
    Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (Director) shall select the Co-
    Chairs of the IGIA.
        2. The IGIA shall work on a continuing basis with the Secretary to
    identify issues concerning these insular jurisdictions and make
    recommendations to the President or other officials as appropriate
    concerning Federal Government policies and programs that raise those
    issues.
        3. The IGIA shall consult with the Governors, Delegates to the U.S.
    House of Representatives, other elected representatives of the insular
    areas, and other Members of Congress as appropriate, on issues of
    concern. In this regard, the Co-Chairs shall schedule a meeting at least
    annually in Washington, D.C., with insular officials and shall schedule
    other meetings in response to requests of the officials.
        4. Executive departments and agencies should coordinate significant
    decisions or activities relating to the insular areas with the IGIA.
    This shall not, however, limit the responsibility of departments and
    agencies to directly fulfill their responsibilities in the insular
    jurisdictions, including their responsibility to respond directly to the
    insular jurisdictions and their representatives.
        5. The Secretary shall periodically, but no less than annually,
    report to the President through the Director on the progress made in
    addressing insular area issues.
        6. The Secretary shall provide administrative support for the IGIA.

                                                          William J. Clinton