    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [December 20, 2002]
    [Pages 2212-2213]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 2212]]

    Memorandum on the White House Task Force for Disadvantaged Youth
    December 20, 2002

    Memorandum for the Attorney General, the Secretary of Agriculture, the
    Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the
    Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Education,
    the Director of National Drug Control Policy, the Director of the Office
    of Management and Budget, the Assistant to the President for Domestic
    Policy, the Assistant to the President and Director of the USA Freedom
    Corps, the Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office
    of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, the Chief Executive Officer of
    the Corporation for National and Community Service

    Subject: White House Task Force for Disadvantaged Youth

        An unacceptably large number of American youth fail each year to
    develop the academic, social, and citizenship skills necessary to
    succeed in our country. For example, 60 percent of fourth graders from
    low-income families cannot read at grade level, more than 2.6 million
    teens use illicit substances each month, and 400,000 teens commit
    violent crimes each year. Many of these young people grow up in economic
    and social environments that place them at a significant disadvantage.
        The Federal Government has spent billions of dollars over the last
    30 years in a variety of programs to address these issues. A 1998
    analysis by the General Accounting Office has pointed out that there
    were 117 Federal programs administered by 15 departments aimed at
    disadvantaged youth. Some of these programs have been very successful.
    However, overall, the Federal Government's efforts and programs to
    assist disadvantaged young people have been fragmented and not as
    successful as hoped.
        Consistent with my interest in improving the effectiveness of
    Federal programs in general, and in programs for disadvantaged youth in
    particular, in fostering ways that citizen service can bring about
    important change, I hereby direct the following:
        Section 1. Establishment of Task Force. (a) There is hereby
    established, within the Executive Office of the President, the ``White
    House Task Force for Disadvantaged Youth'' (``Task Force''). The Task
    Force shall consist of:
        (i) the Attorney General, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of
    Labor, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Housing and
    Urban Development, Secretary of Education, Director of National Drug
    Control Policy, Director of the Office of Management and Budget,
    Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, Assistant to the
    President and Director of the USA Freedom Corps, Deputy Assistant to the
    President and Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community
    Initiatives, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Corporation for
    National and Community Service (CNCS); and
        (ii) such other Federal officials as the Assistant to the President
    for Domestic Policy may from time to time, on my behalf, designate.
        (b) The Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, or in that
    Assistant's absence, the Assistant to the President and Director of the
    USA Freedom Corps, shall serve as Chairman of the Task Force. The
    Chairman shall convene and preside at meetings of the Task Force,
    determine its agenda, direct its work and, as appropriate with
    particular subject matters, establish and direct subgroups of the Task
    Force that shall consist exclusively of the Task Force members.
        (c) A member of the Task Force may designate, to perform the Task
    Force or

    [[Page 2213]]

    Task Force subgroup functions of the member, any person who is part of
    the member's agency and who is an officer appointed by the President
    with the advice and consent of the Senate, or a member of the Senior
    Executive Service (or, in the case of the CNCS, an employee of the CNCS
    designated by the CEO of the CNCS).
        Sec. 2. Functions of the Task Force. The Task Force shall develop,
    and submit in accordance with section 3 through the Assistant to the
    President for Domestic Policy for my approval, a comprehensive Federal
    response, under existing authorities and programs, to the problems of
    youth failure, with a focus on enhanced agency accountability and
    effectiveness. Objectives shall include: (a) coordinating interagency
    efforts to address the problems of failure among disadvantaged youth;
    (b) developing a unified research plan to identify effective practices
    that help disadvantaged youth; (c) incorporating positive youth
    development practices that help disadvantaged youth; and (d) analyzing
    and quantifying the impact of Federal efforts aimed at disadvantaged
    youth. These objectives shall be carried out consistent with my
    Administration's implementation of performance-based budgeting.
        Sec. 3. Reports. In performing its functions, the Task Force shall
    present to me, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic
    Policy:
        (a) not later than April 30, 2003, a preliminary report of their
    initial overall assessment of the Federal response to failure among
    disadvantaged youth under existing authorities and programs, including a
    work plan that details the goals and objectives for the Task Force and
    evaluates the potential for expanding successful Federal disadvantaged
    youth programs through program consolidation, redirection of resources,
    and elimination of ineffective programs; and
        (b) not later than October 1, 2003, a final report describing the
    actions of the Task Force to respond to the problem of youth failure and
    submitting for my approval the comprehensive Federal response to which
    section 2 refers.
        Sec. 4. Termination. The Task Force shall terminate 30 days after
    the date of the submission of the final report as described in section
    3(b) of this memorandum.
        Sec. 5. General. (a) Agencies and the CNCS shall assist and provide
    information to the Task Force consistent with applicable law as may be
    necessary to carry out the functions of the Task Force. To the extent
    permitted by law, the CNCS shall provide funding and administrative
    support for the Task Force.
        (b) As used in this memorandum, the term ``agency'' means an
    executive department or agency of the Federal Government.
        (c) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or
    otherwise affect the functions of the Director of the Office of
    Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative
    proposals.
        (d) This memorandum is intended only to improve the internal
    management of the Federal Government and is not intended to, and does
    not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable
    at law or equity by a party against the United States, its departments,
    agencies, instrumentalities or entities, its officers or employees, or
    any other person.

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: This memorandum was released by the Office of the Press Secretary
    on December 23.