[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 29 (Monday, July 21, 1997)]
[Pages 1081-1082]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13055--Coordination of United States Government 
International Exchanges and Training Programs

July 15, 1997

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, and in order to improve the 
coordination of United States Government International Exchanges and 
Training Programs, it is hereby ordered as follows:
    Section 1. There is hereby established within the United States 
Information Agency a senior-level Interagency Working Group on United 
States Government-Sponsored International Exchanges and Training (``the 
Working Group''). The purpose of the Working Group is to recommend to 
the President measures for improving the coordination, efficiency, and 
effectiveness of United States Government-sponsored international 
exchanges and training. The Working Group shall establish a 
clearinghouse to improve data collection and analysis of international 
exchanges and training.
    Sec. 2. The term ``Government-sponsored international exchanges and 
training'' shall mean the movement of people between countries to 
promote the sharing of ideas, to develop skills, and to foster mutual 
understanding and cooperation, financed wholly or in part, directly or 
indirectly, with United States Government funds.
    Sec. 3. The Working Group shall consist of the Associate Director 
for Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Information 
Agency, who shall act as Chair, and a comparable senior representative 
appointed by the respective Secretary of each of the Departments of 
State, Defense, Education, and the Attorney General, by the 
Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, 
and by heads of other interested executive departments and agencies. In 
addition, representatives of the National Security Council and the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall participate in the 
Working Group at their discretion. The Working Group shall be supported 
by an interagency staff office established in the Bureau of Education 
and Cultural Affairs of the United States Information Agency.
    Sec. 4. The Working Group shall have the following responsibilities:
    (a) Collect, analyze, and report data provided by all United States 
Government departments and agencies conducting international exchanges 
and training programs;

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    (b) Promote greater understanding of and cooperation on, among 
concerned United States Government departments and agencies, common 
issues and challenges faced in conducting international exchanges and 
training programs, including through the establishment of a 
clearinghouse for information on international exchange and training 
activities in the governmental and nongovernmental sectors;
    (c) In order to achieve the most efficient and cost-effective use of 
Federal resources, identify administrative and programmatic duplication 
and overlap of activities by the various United States Government 
agencies involved in Government-sponsored international exchange and 
training programs, and report thereon;
    (d) No later than 1 year from the date of this order, develop 
initially and thereafter assess annually a coordinated strategy for all 
United States Government-sponsored international exchange and training 
programs, and issue a report on such strategy;
    (e) No later than 2 years from the date of this order, develop 
recommendations on performance measures for all United States 
Government-sponsored international exchange and training programs, and 
issue a report thereon; and
    (f) Develop strategies for expanding public and private partnerships 
in, and leveraging private sector support for, United States Government-
sponsored international exchange and training activities.
    Sec. 5. All reports prepared by the Working Group pursuant to 
section 4 shall be made to the President, through the Director of the 
United States Information Agency.
    Sec. 6. The Working Group shall meet on at least a quarterly basis.
    Sec. 7. Any expenses incurred by a member of the Working Group in 
connection with such member's service on the Working Group shall be 
borne by the member's respective department or agency.
    Sec. 8. If any member of the Working Group disagrees with respect to 
any matter in any report prepared pursuant to section 4, such member may 
prepare a statement setting forth the reasons for such disagreement and 
such statement shall be appended to, and considered a part of, the 
report.
    Sec. 9. Nothing in this Executive order is intended to alter the 
authorities and responsibilities of the head of any department or 
agency.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
July 15, 1997.

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:15 a.m., July 18, 
1997]

Note: This Executive order was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on July 17 and it was published in the Federal Register on 
July 21.