[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 25 (Monday, June 24, 2002)]
[Pages 1057-1058]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13266--Activities To Promote Personal Fitness

June 20, 2002

    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 
efficiency and coordination of Federal policies related to personal 
fitness of the general public, it is hereby ordered as follows:
    Section 1. Policy.This order is issued consistent with the following 
findings and principles:
 (a)        Growing scientific evidence indicates that an increasing 
            number of Americans are suffering from negligible physical 
            activity, poor dietary habits, insufficient utilization of 
            preventive health screenings, and engaging in risky 
            behaviors such as abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.
 (b)        Existing information on the importance of appropriate 
            physical activity, diet, preventive health screenings, and 
            avoiding harmful substances is often not received by the 
            public, or, if received, is not acted on sufficiently.
 (c)        Individuals of all ages, locations, and levels of personal 
            fitness can benefit from some level of appropriate physical 
            activity, dietary guidance, preventive health screening, and 
            making healthy choices.
 (d)        While personal fitness is an individual responsibility, the 
            Federal Government may, within the authority and funds 
            otherwise available, expand the opportunities for 
            individuals to empower themselves to improve their general 
            health. Such opportunities may include improving the flow of 
            information about personal fitness, assisting in the 
            utilization of that information, increasing the 
            accessibility of

[[Page 1058]]

            resources for physical activity, and reducing barriers to 
            achieving good personal fitness.
    Sec. 2. Agency Responsibilities in Promoting Personal Fitness.
 (a)        The Secretaries of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human 
            Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development, Interior, 
            Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, and the 
            Director of the Office of National Drug Policy shall review 
            and evaluate the policies, programs, and regulations of 
            their respective departments and offices that in any way 
            relate to the personal fitness of the general public. Based 
            on that review, the Secretaries and the Director shall 
            determine whether existing policies, programs, and 
            regulations of their respective departments and offices 
            should be modified or whether new policies or programs could 
            be implemented. These new policies and programs shall be 
            consistent with otherwise available authority and 
            appropriated funds, and shall improve the Federal 
            Government's assistance of individuals, private 
            organizations, and State and local governments to (i) 
            increase physical activity; (ii) promote responsible dietary 
            habits; (iii) increase utilization of preventive health 
            screenings; and (iv) encourage healthy choices concerning 
            alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and safety among the general 
            public.
 (b)        Each department and office included in section 2(a) shall 
            report to the President, through the Secretary of Health and 
            Human Services, its proposed actions within 90 days of the 
            date of this order.
 (c)        There shall be a Personal Fitness Interagency Working Group 
            (Working Group), composed of the Secretaries or Director of 
            the departments and office included in section 2(a) (or 
            their designees) and chaired by the Secretary of HHS or his 
            designee. In order to improve efficiency through information 
            sharing and to eliminate waste and overlap, the Working 
            Group shall work to ensure the cooperation of Federal 
            agencies in coordinating Federal personal fitness 
            activities. The Working Group shall meet subject to the call 
            of the Chair, but not less than twice a year. The Department 
            of Health and Human Services shall provide such 
            administrative support to the Working Group as the Secretary 
            of HHS deems necessary. Each member of the Working Group 
            shall be a full-time or permanent part-time officer or 
            employee of the Federal Government.
    Sec. 3. General Provisions.This order is intended only to improve 
the internal management of the executive branch and it is not intended 
to, and does not, create any right, benefit, trust, or responsibility, 
substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity by a party 
against the United States, its departments, agencies or entities, its 
officers or employees, or any person.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 June 20, 2002.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., June 21, 
2002]

Note: This Executive order was published in the Federal Register on June 
24.