[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.