[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 17 (Monday, May 1, 2000)]
[Pages 933-935]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13151--Global Disaster Information Network

April 27, 2000

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, and in order to establish a 
Global Disaster Information Network to use information technology more 
effectively to reduce loss of life and property from natural and man-
made disasters, it is hereby ordered as follows:
    Section 1. Policy. (a) It is the policy of this Administration to 
use information technology more effectively to coordinate the Federal 
Government's collection and dissemination of information to appropriate 
response agencies and State governments to prepare for and respond to 
natural and man-made disasters (disasters). As a result of changing 
population demographics in our coastal, rural, and urban areas over the 
past decades, the loss of life and property (losses) from disasters has 
nearly doubled. One of the ways the Federal Government can reduce these 
losses is to use technology more effectively to coordinate its 
collection and dissemination (hereafter referred to collectively as 
``provision'') of information which can be used in both planning for and 
recovering from disasters. While many agencies provide disaster-related 
information, they may not always provide it in a coordinated manner. To 
improve the provision of disaster-related information, the agencies 
shall, as set out in this order, use information technology to 
coordinate the Federal Government's provision of information to prepare 
for, respond to, and recover from domestic disasters.
    (b) It is also the policy of this Administration to use information 
technology and existing channels of disaster assistance to improve the 
Federal Government's provision of information that could be helpful to 
foreign governments preparing for or responding to foreign disasters. 
Currently, the United States Government provides disaster-related 
information to foreign governments and relief organizations on 
humanitarian grounds at the request of foreign governments and where 
appropriate. This information is supplied by Federal agencies on an ad 
hoc basis. To increase the effectiveness of our response to foreign 
disasters, agencies shall, where appropriate, use information technology 
to coordinate the Federal Government's provision of disaster-related 
information to foreign governments.
    (c) To carry out the policies in this order, there is established 
the Global Disaster Information Network (Network). The Network is 
defined as the coordinated effort by Federal agencies to develop a 
strategy and to use existing technical infrastructure, to the extent 
permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations and 
under the guidance of the Interagency Coordinating Committee and the 
Committee Support Office, to make more effective use of information 
technology to assist our Government, and foreign governments where 
appropriate, by providing disaster-related information to prepare for 
and respond to disasters.
    Sec. 2. Establishment. (a) There is established an Interagency 
Coordinating Committee (Committee) to provide leadership and oversight 
for the development of the Network. The Office of the Vice President, 
the Department of Commerce through the

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of 
State, respectively, shall designate a representative to serve as Co-
chairpersons of the Committee. The Committee membership shall comprise 
representatives from the following departments and agencies:
    (1) Department of State;
    (2) Department of Defense;
    (3) Department of the Interior;
    (4) Department of Agriculture;
    (5) Department of Commerce;
    (6) Department of Transportation;
    (7) Department of Energy;
    (8) Office of Management and Budget;
    (9) Environmental Protection Agency;
    (10) National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
    (11) United States Agency for International Development;
    (12) Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
    (13) Central Intelligence Agency.
 At the discretion of the Co-chairpersons of the Committee, other 
agencies may be added to the Committee membership. The Committee shall 
include an Executive Secretary to effect coordination between the Co-
chairpersons of the Committee and the Committee Support Office.
    (b) There is established a Committee Support Office (Support Office) 
to assist the Committee by developing plans and projects that would 
further the creation of the Network. The Support Office shall, at the 
request of the Co-chairpersons of the Committee, carry out tasks taken 
on by the Committee.
    (c) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall 
provide funding and administrative support for the Committee and the 
Support Office. To the extent permitted by law, agencies may provide 
support to the Committee and the Support Office to assist them in their 
work.
    Sec. 3. Responsibilities. (a) The Committee shall:
    (1) serve as the United States Government's single entity for all 
matters, both national and international, pertaining to the development 
and establishment of the Network;
    (2) provide leadership and high-level coordination of Network 
activities;
    (3) provide guidance for the development of Network strategies, 
goals, objectives, policies, and legislation;
    (4) represent and advocate Network goals, objectives, and processes 
to their respective agencies and departments;
    (5) provide manpower and material support for Network development 
activities;
    (6) develop, delegate, and monitor interagency opportunities and 
ideas supporting the development of the Network; and
    (7) provide reports, through the Co-chairpersons of the Committee, 
to the President as requested or at least annually.
    (b) The Support Office shall:
    (1) provide management and administrative support for the Committee;
    (2) develop Network strategies, goals, objectives, policies, plans, 
and legislation in accordance with guidance provided by the Committee;
    (3) consult with agencies, States, nongovernment organizations, and 
international counterparts in developing Network development tasks;
    (4) develop and make recommendations concerning Network activities 
to the agencies as approved by the Committee; and
    (5) participate in projects that promote the goals and objectives of 
the Network.
    Sec. 4. Implementation. (a) The Committee, with the assistance of 
the Support Office, shall address national and international issues 
associated with the development of the Network within the context of:
    (1) promoting the United States as an example and leader in the 
development and dissemination of disaster information, both domestically 
and abroad, and, to this end, seeking cooperation with foreign 
governments and international organizations;
    (2) striving to include all appropriate stakeholders in the 
development of the Network; and
    (3) facilitating the creation of a framework that involves public 
and private stakeholders in a partnership for sustained operations of 
the Network.
    (b) Intelligence activities, as determined by the Director of the 
Central Intelligence Agency, as well as national security-related

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activities of the Department of Defense and of the Department of Energy, 
are exempt from compliance with this order.
    Sec. 5. Tribal Governments. This order does not impose any 
requirements on tribal governments.
    Sec. 6. Judicial Review. This order does not create any right or 
benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by law, by a party 
against the United States, its officers, its employees, or any other 
person.
                                            William J. Clinton
 The White House,
 April 27, 2000.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., May 1, 2000]

Note: This Executive order will be published in the Federal Register on 
May 2.