[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 32 (Monday, August 16, 1999)]
[Pages 1604-1605]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on the Interagency Group on Insular Areas

August 9, 1999

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

Subject: Interagency Group on Insular Areas

    Issues relating to American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands sometimes 
vary from those relating to the States. Such issues frequently cut 
across agency lines. Since the insular jurisdictions lack the 
representation that a State has in the Federal process, the Federal 
Government has a special responsibility to consider their issues.
    Except for matters that are specifically within the responsibility 
of another department or agency, generally, the Secretary of the 
Interior has responsibility for the matters concerning these territorial 
jurisdictions. With the continued development of the insular areas and 
the extension of most Federal programs to them, the need to improve the 
coordination of Federal programs and policies as they relate to these 
jurisdictions has increased. I, therefore, direct as follows:
    1. There shall be established the ``Interagency Group on Insular 
Areas'' (IGIA) to give guidance on policy concerning these insular 
jurisdictions. The IGIA membership shall consist of senior officials 
selected by the heads of executive departments, agencies, and offices 
that receive a request for representation from the Secretary of the 
Interior (Secretary). The Secretary and the Director of the White House 
Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (Director) shall select the Co-
Chairs of the IGIA.
    2. The IGIA shall work on a continuing basis with the Secretary to 
identify issues concerning these insular jurisdictions and make 
recommendations to the President or other officials as appropriate 
concerning Federal Government policies and programs that raise those 
issues.
    3. The IGIA shall consult with the Governors, Delegates to the U.S. 
House of Representatives, other elected representatives of the insular 
areas, and other Members of Congress as appropriate, on issues of 
concern. In this regard, the Co-Chairs shall schedule a meeting at least 
annually in Washington, D.C., with insular officials and shall schedule 
other meetings in response to requests of the officials.
    4. Executive departments and agencies should coordinate significant 
decisions or activities relating to the insular areas with the IGIA. 
This shall not, however, limit the responsibility of departments and 
agencies to directly fulfill their responsibilities in the insular 
jurisdictions, including their responsibility to respond directly to the 
insular jurisdictions and their representatives.
    5. The Secretary shall periodically, but no less than annually, 
report to the President through the Director on the progress made in 
addressing insular area issues.

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    6. The Secretary shall provide administrative support for the IGIA.
                                            William J. Clinton