Executive Order 13254

4869

Presidential Documents

Federal Register
Vol. 67, No. 22
Friday, February 1, 2002

Title 3—

Executive Order 13254 of January 29, 2002

The President

Establishing the USA Freedom Corps
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:
(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

VerDate 112000

08:10 Jan 31, 2002

Jkt 197001

PO 00000

Frm 00001

Fmt 4705

Sfmt 4790

E:\FR\FM\01FEE0.SGM

pfrm01

PsN: 01FEE0

4870

Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 22 / Friday, February 1, 2002 / Presidential Documents
(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.
(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

VerDate 112000

08:10 Jan 31, 2002

Jkt 197001

PO 00000

Frm 00002

Fmt 4705

Sfmt 4790

E:\FR\FM\01FEE0.SGM

pfrm01

PsN: 01FEE0

Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 22 / Friday, February 1, 2002 / Presidential Documents

4871

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.

W
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 29, 2002.
[FR Doc. 02–2638
Filed 1–31–02; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195–01–P

VerDate 112000

08:10 Jan 31, 2002

Jkt 197001

PO 00000

Frm 00003

Fmt 4705

Sfmt 4790

E:\FR\FM\01FEE0.SGM

pfrm01

PsN: 01FEE0