[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: GEORGE W. BUSH (2001, Book I)]
[February 26, 2001]
[Pages 134-135]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 134]]


Memorandum on the Interagency Working Group on Federalism
February 26, 2001

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

Subject: Interagency Working Group on Federalism

    It is hereby ordered as follows:
    Section 1. Establishment. There is established the Interagency 
Working Group on Federalism (the ``Working Group'').
    Section 2. Membership.
    (a) The Working Group shall comprise the following officials:
       (1)   Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, who shall 
            serve as Chairman of the Working Group;
       (2)   Director, Domestic Policy Council, who shall serve as Vice 
            Chairman of the Working Group;
       (3)   Secretary of the Treasury, or an appropriate designee 
            thereof;
       (4)   Attorney General, or an appropriate designee thereof;
       (5)   Secretary of the Interior, or an appropriate designee 
            thereof;
       (6)   Secretary of Agriculture, or an appropriate designee 
            thereof;
       (7)   Secretary of Commerce, or an appropriate designee thereof;
       (8)   Secretary of Labor, or an appropriate designee thereof;
       (9)   Secretary of Health and Human Services, or an appropriate 
            designee thereof;
      (10)   Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, or an 
            appropriate designee thereof;
      (11)   Secretary of Transportation, or an appropriate designee 
            thereof;
      (12)   Secretary of Energy, or an appropriate designee thereof;
      (13)   Secretary of Education, or an appropriate designee thereof;
      (14)   Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or an appropriate designee 
            thereof;
      (15)   Director of the Office of Management and Budget, or an 
            appropriate designee thereof;
      (16)   Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, or an 
            appropriate designee thereof;
      (17)   Counsel to the President;
      (18)   Assistant to the President for Economic Policy;
      (19)   Assistant to the President, Office of Faith-Based and 
            Community Initiatives, or an appropriate designee thereof;
      (20)   Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the Vice 
            President, or an appropriate designee thereof;
      (21)   Deputy Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental 
            Affairs; and
      (22)   Such other officials of executive departments and agencies 
            as the President may, from time to time, designate.
    Section 2. Meetings of the Working Group. The Assistant to the 
President for Domestic Policy or the Director, Domestic Policy Council, 
may convene and preside over meetings of the Working Group.
    Section 3. Functions. The principal functions of the Working Group 
are to:
    (a) Identify initiatives that promote principles of Federalism, such 
as:
       (1)   Federal endeavors which may more appropriately be carried 
            out by State or local authorities;
       (2)   Opportunities for flexible funding streams, regulatory 
            waivers, and other opportunities that increase State and 
            local flexibility, innovation, and accountability;
       (3)   Measures for improving Federal responsiveness to State and 
            local concerns; and
       (4)   Enforcement of rules, orders, and procedures that advance 
            Federalism.

[[Page 135]]

    (b) Draft a new Executive Order on Federalism, which will require 
departments and agencies in the executive branch to adhere to principles 
of Federalism;
    (c) Consult, as appropriate, with State and local officials on 
issues pertaining to Federalism, including, but not limited to, the 
issuance of the new Executive Order on Federalism; and
    (d) Produce a report to the President on recommendations for 
promoting principles of Federalism no later than 6 months after the 
issuance of this directive.

                                                          George W. Bush