[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 5 (Monday, February 4, 2002)]
[Pages 139-141]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13254--Establishing the USA Freedom Corps

January 29, 2002

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as 
follows:
    Section 1. Policy. Building on our Nation's rich tradition of 
citizen service, this Administration's policy is to foster a culture of 
responsibility, service, and citizenship by promoting, expanding, and 
enhancing public service opportunities for all Americans and by making 
these opportunities readily available to citizens from all geographic 
areas, professions, and walks of life. More specifically, this 
Administration encourages all Americans to serve their country for the 
equivalent of at least 2 years (4,000 hours) over their lifetimes. 
Toward those ends, the executive departments, agencies, and offices 
constituting the USA Freedom Corps shall coordinate and strengthen 
Federal and other service opportunities, including opportunities for 
participation in homeland security preparedness and response, other 
areas of public and social service, and international service. The 
executive branch departments, agencies, and offices also will work with 
State and local governments and private entities to foster and encourage 
participation in public and social service programs, as appropriate.
    Sec. 2. USA Freedom Corps. The USA Freedom Corps shall be an 
interagency initiative, bringing together executive branch departments, 
agencies, and offices with public service programs and components, 
including but not limited to programs and components with the following 
functions:

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 (i)         recruiting, mobilizing, and encouraging all Americans to 
            engage in public service;
 (ii)        providing concrete opportunities to engage in public 
            service;
 (iii)       providing the public with access to information about 
            public service opportunities through Federal programs and 
            elsewhere; and
 (iv)        providing recognition and awards to volunteers and other 
            participants in public service programs.
    Sec. 3. USA Freedom Corps Council. (a) Establishment and Mission. 
There shall be a USA Freedom Corps Council (Council) chaired by the 
President and composed of heads of executive branch departments, 
agencies, and offices, which shall have the following functions:
 (i)         serving as a forum for Federal officials responsible for 
            public service programs to coordinate and improve public 
            service programs and activities administered by the 
            executive branch;
 (ii)        working to encourage all Americans to engage in public 
            service, whether through Federal programs or otherwise;
 (iii)       advising the President and heads of executive branch 
            departments, agencies, and offices concerning the 
            optimization of current Federal programs to enhance public 
            service opportunities;
 (iv)        coordinating public outreach and publicity of citizen 
            service opportunities provided by Federal programs;
 (v)         encouraging schools, universities, private public service 
            organizations, and other non-Federal entities to foster and 
            reward public service;
 (vi)        studying the availability of public service opportunities 
            provided by the Federal Government and elsewhere; and
 (vii)       tracking progress in participation in public service 
            programs.
    (b) Membership. In addition to the Chair, the members of the Council 
shall be the heads of the executive branch departments, agencies, and 
offices listed below, or their designees, and such other officers of the 
executive branch as the President may from time to time designate. Every 
member of the Council or designee shall be a full-time or permanent 
part-time officer or employee of the Federal Government. Members shall 
not be compensated for their service on the Council in addition to the 
salaries they receive as employees or officers of the Federal 
Government.
 (i)         Vice President;
 (ii)        Attorney General;
 (iii)       Secretary of State;
 (iv)        Secretary of Health and Human Services;
 (v)         Secretary of Commerce;
 (vi)        Secretary of Education;
 (vii)       Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
 (viii)      Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
 (ix)        Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and 
            Community Service;
 (x)         Director of the Peace Corps;
 (xi)        Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
            Development;
 (xii)       Director of the USA Freedom Corps Office; and
 (xiii)      Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community 
            Initiatives.
    (c) Chair. The President shall be the Chair of the USA Freedom Corps 
Council, and in his absence, the Vice President shall serve as Chair. 
The Director of the USA Freedom Corps Office may, at the President's 
direction, preside over meetings of the Council in the President's and 
Vice President's absence.
    (d) Honorary Co-Chair. The President may, from time to time, 
designate an Honorary Co-Chair or Co-Chairs, who shall serve in an 
advisory role to the Council and to the President on matters considered 
by the Council. Any Honorary Co-Chair shall be a full-time or permanent 
part-time employee or officer of the Federal Government.
    (e) Meetings. The Council shall meet at the President's direction. 
The Director of the USA Freedom Corps Office shall be responsible, at 
the President's direction, for determining the agenda, ensuring that 
necessary papers are prepared, and recording Council actions and 
Presidential decisions.

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    (f) Responsibilities of Executive Branch Departments, Agencies, and 
Offices.
 (i)         Members of the Council shall remain responsible for 
            overseeing the programs administered by their respective 
            departments, agencies, and offices. Each such department, 
            agency, and office will retain its authority and 
            responsibility to administer those programs according to 
            law;
 (ii)        Each executive branch department, agency, or office with 
            responsibility for programs relating to the functions and 
            missions of the USA Freedom Corps as described in section 2 
            of this order shall be responsible for identifying those 
            public service opportunities and coordinating with the USA 
            Freedom Corps Council to ensure that such programs are, if 
            appropriate, publicized and encouraged by the Council; and
 (iii)       Upon the request of the Chair, and to the extent permitted 
            by law, the heads of executive branch departments and 
            agencies shall provide the Council with relevant 
            information.
    Sec. 4. USA Freedom Corps Office. (a) General. The USA Freedom Corps 
also shall be supported by a USA Freedom Corps Office (Office), which 
shall be a component of the White House Office. The USA Freedom Corps 
Office shall have a Director who shall be appointed by the President. 
The Director shall be assisted by an appropriate staff within the White 
House Office.
    (b) Presidential Recognition to Participants in USA Freedom Corps 
Programs. In addition to supporting and facilitating the functions of 
the Council listed in section 3 of this order, the Office shall support 
the President in providing recognition to volunteers and other 
participants in programs and activities relating to the functions and 
missions of the USA Freedom Corps as described in section 2 of this 
order.
    Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) The White House Office shall provide 
the Council and Office with such funding and administrative support, to 
the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of 
appropriations, as directed by the Chief of Staff to the President to 
carry out the provisions of this order.
    (b) This order does not alter the existing authorities or roles of 
executive branch departments, agencies, or offices. Nothing in this 
order shall supersede any requirement made by or under law.
    (c) This order does not create any right or benefit, substantive or 
procedural, enforceable at law or equity, against the United States, its 
departments, agencies, or other entities, its officers or employees, or 
any other person.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 January 29, 2002.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., January 31, 
2002]

Note: This Executive order was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on January 30, and it was published in the Federal Register on 
February 1.