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Skriven 2006-03-07 23:33:28 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0603075) for Tue, 2006 Mar 7
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Executive Order: Responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security
with Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 7, 2006

Executive Order: Responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security
with Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives



By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws
of the United States of America, and in order to help the Federal
Government coordinate a national effort to expand opportunities for
faith-based and other community organizations and to strengthen their
capacity to better meet America's social and community needs, it is hereby
ordered as follows:

Section1. Establishment of a Center for Faith-Based and Community
Initiatives at the Department of Homeland Security.

(a) The Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) shall establish within
the Department of Homeland Security (Department) a Center for Faith-Based
and Community Initiatives (Center).

(b) The Center shall be supervised by a Director appointed by Secretary.
The Secretary shall consult with the Director of the White House Office of
Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (WHOFBCI Director) prior to making
such appointment.

(c) The Department shall provide the Center with appropriate staff,
administrative support, and other resources to meet its responsibilities
under this order.

(d) The Center shall begin operations no later than 45 days from the date
of this order.

Sec. 2. Purpose of Center. The purpose of the Center shall be to coordinate
agency efforts to eliminate regulatory, contracting, and other programmatic
obstacles to the participation of faith-based and other community
organizations in the provision of social and community services.

Sec. 3. Responsibilities of the Center for Faith-Based and Community
Initiatives. In carrying out the purpose set forth in section 2 of this
order, the Center shall:

(a) conduct, in coordination with the WHOFBCI Director, a department-wide
audit to identify all existing barriers to the participation of faith-based
and other community organizations in the delivery of social and community
services by the Department, including but not limited to regulations,
rules, orders, procure-ment, and other internal policies and practices, and
outreach activities that unlawfully discriminate against, or otherwise
discourage or disadvantage the participation of faith-based and other
community organizations in Federal programs;

(b) coordinate a comprehensive departmental effort to incorporate
faith-based and other community organizations in Department programs and
initiatives to the greatest extent possible;

(c) propose initiatives to remove barriers identified pursuant to section
3(a) of this order, including but not limited to reform of regulations,
procurement, and other internal policies and practices, and outreach
activities;

(d) propose the development of innovative pilot and demonstration programs
to increase the participation of faith-based and other community
organizations in Federal as well as State and local initiatives; and

(e) develop and coordinate Departmental outreach efforts to disseminate
information more effectively to faith-based and other community
organizations with respect to programming changes, contracting
opportunities, and other agency initiatives, including but not limited to
Web and Internet resources.

Sec. 4. Reporting Requirements.

(a) Report. Not later than 180 days from the date of this order and
annually thereafter, the Center shall prepare and submit a report to the
WHOFBCI Director.

(b) Contents. The report shall include a description of the Department's
efforts in carrying out its responsibilities under this order, including
but not limited to:

(i) a comprehensive analysis of the barriers to the full participation of
faith-based and other community organizations in the delivery of social and
community services identified pursuant to section 3(a) of this order and
the proposed strategies to eliminate those barriers; and

(ii) a summary of the technical assistance and other information that will
be available to faith-based and other community organizations regarding the
program activities of the agency and the preparation of applications or
proposals for grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and procurement.

(c) Performance Indicators. The first report shall include annual
performance indicators and measurable objectives for Departmental action.
Each report filed thereafter shall measure the Department's performance
against the objectives set forth in the initial report.

Sec. 5. Responsibilities of the Secretary. The Secretary shall:

(a) designate an employee within the department to serve as the liaison and
point of contact with the WHOFBCI Director; and

(b) cooperate with the WHOFBCI Director and provide such information,
support, and assistance to the WHOFBCI Director as requested to implement
this order.

Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) This order shall be implemented subject to
the availability of appropriations and to the extent permitted by law.

(b) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or
benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by a
party against the United States, its agencies, or entities, its officers,
employees, or agents, or any other person.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE,

March 7, 2006.

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