    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [March 19, 2002]
    [Pages 749-750]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on Designation of Officers of the Department of Health and
    Human Services
    March 19, 2002

    Memorandum for the Secretary of Health and Human Services

    Subject: Designation of Officers of the Department of Health and Human
    Services

        By the authority vested in me as President under the Constitution
    and the laws of the United States of America and pursuant to the Federal
    Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., I hereby order
    that:
        Section 1. Order of Succession.
        During any period when the Secretary of Health and Human Services
    (Secretary), the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the
    officers designated by Executive Order 13250 of December 28, 2001, to
    perform the functions and duties of the office of Secretary have died,
    resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties
    of the office of Secretary, the following officers of the Department of
    Health and Human Services, in the order listed, shall perform the
    functions and duties of the office of Secretary, if they are eligible to
    act as Secretary under the provisions of the Federal Vacancies Reform
    Act of 1998, until such time as at least one of the officers mentioned
    above is able to perform the functions and duties of the office of
    Secretary:

    [[Page 750]]

        Director, Centers for Disease Control; and
        Secretary's Regional Representative, Atlanta, Georgia.
        Sec. 2. Exceptions.
        (a) No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 1 in
    an acting capacity, by virtue of so serving, shall act as Secretary
    pursuant to this memorandum.
        (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this memorandum, the President
    retains discretion, to the extent permitted by the Federal Vacancies
    Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., to depart from this
    memorandum in designating an acting Secretary.

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: This memorandum was released by the Office of the Press Secretary
    on May 9.