21st Century Workforce Initiative

Executive Order 13218 of June 20, 2001

21st Century Workforce Initiative

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and laws of the United States of America,
including the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (5 U.S.C. App.), and in order to promote the
study and the development of strategies to address the
needs of the 21st century workforce, it is hereby
ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment of the Office of the 21st
Century Workforce. (a) The Secretary of Labor is hereby
directed to establish within the Department of Labor
the Office of the 21st Century Workforce. The Office
shall provide a focal point for the identification and
study of issues relating to the workforce of the United
States and the development of strategies for
effectively addressing such issues.

    (b) The Office of the 21st Century Workforce shall
gather and disseminate information relating to
workforce issues by conducting summits, conferences,
field hearings, meetings, and other appropriate forums
designed to encourage the participation of
organizations and individuals interested in such
issues, including business and labor organizations,
academicians, employers, employees, and public
officials at the local, State, and Federal levels.
    (c) Among the issues to be addressed by the Office
of the 21st Century Workforce shall be the
identification of the ways in which the Department of
Labor may streamline and update the information and
services made available to the workforce by the
Department; eliminate duplicative or overlapping rules
and regulations; and eliminate statutory and regulatory
barriers to assisting the workforce in successfully
adapting to the challenges of the 21st century.

Sec. 2. Establishment of the Council on the 21st
Century Workforce.

    (a) Establishment and Composition of the Council.

(i) There is hereby established the “President's Council on the 21st
Century Workforce” (Council).

(ii) The Council shall be composed of not more than 13 members who shall
be appointed by the President. The membership shall include individuals who
represent the views of business and labor organizations, Federal, State,
and local governments, academicians and educators, and such other
associations and entities as the President determines are appropriate. In
addition, the Secretary of Labor and the Director of the Office of
Personnel Management shall serve as ex officio members representing the
views of the Federal Government. The Secretary of Labor shall be the
Chairperson of the Council.

    (b) Functions of the Council. The Council shall
provide information and advice to the President through
the Secretary of Labor, the Office of the 21st Century
Workforce within the Department of Labor, and other
appropriate Federal officials relating to issues
affecting the 21st century workforce. These activities
shall include:

(i) assessing the effects of rapid technological changes, demographic
trends, globalization, changes in work processes, and the need for new and
enhanced skills for workers, employers, and other related sectors of
society;

(ii) examining current and alternative approaches to assisting workers
and employers in adjusting to and benefitting from such changes, including

opportunities for workplace education, retraining, access to assistive
technologies and workplace supports, and skills upgrading;

(iii) identifying impediments to the adjustment to such changes by
workers and employers and recommending approaches and policies that could
remove those impediments;

(iv) assisting the Office of the 21st Century Workforce in reviewing
programs carried out by the Department of Labor and identifying changes to
such programs that would stream line and update their effectiveness in
meeting the needs of the workforce; and

(v) analyzing such additional issues relating to the workforce and making
such reports as the President or the Secretary of Labor may request.

    (c) Administration of the Council.

(i) The Council shall meet on the call of the Chairperson, at a time and
place designated by the Chairperson. The Chairperson may form subcommittees
or working groups within the Council to address particular matters.

(ii) The Council may from time to time prescribe such procedures and
policies relating to the activities of the Council as are not inconsistent
with law or with the provisions of this order.

(iii) Each member of the Council who is not an officer or employee of the
Federal Government shall serve without compensation but shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized
by law for persons serving intermittently in Federal service (5 U.S.C.
5701-5707).

(iv) The Department of Labor shall make available appropriate funding and
administrative support to assist the Council in carrying out the functions
under this section, including necessary office space, equipment, supplies,
staff, and services. The Secretary of Labor shall perform the functions of
the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), as
amended, except that of reporting to the Congress, with respect to the
Council in accordance with the guidelines and procedures established by the
Administrator of General Services.

(v) The heads of executive agencies shall, to the extent permitted by
law, provide the Council with such information as it may require for
purposes of carrying out the functions described in this section.

    (d) Termination of the Council. The Council shall
terminate 2 years from the date of this order unless
extended by the President prior to such date.

Sec. 3. Effect on Prior Orders.

    (a) Amendments to Executive Order 13111 of January
12, 1999. In order to ensure the coordination and
nonduplication of advice and information regarding 21st
century workforce issues, section 6 of Executive Order
13111, relating to the functions of the Advisory
Committee on Expanding Training Opportunities, is
amended to read as follows:
    “Sec. 6. Functions of the Advisory Committee. The
Committee shall provide the President, through the
Secretary of Labor (who shall ensure the coordination
of the activities of the Committee with the activities
undertaken pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of the
Executive Order on the 21st Century Workforce
Initiative), an independent assessment of:

(1) progress made by the Federal Government in its use and integration of
technology in adult training programs, particularly in addressing the
problems of adult illiteracy;

(2) how Federal Government programs, initiatives, and policies can
encourage or accelerate training technology to provide more accessible,
more timely, and more cost- effective training opportunities for all
Americans;

(3) mechanisms for the Federal Government to widely deploy and utilize
technology-mediated instruction so all Americans may take advantage of
opportunities provided by learning technology;

(4) the appropriate Federal Government role in research and development
for learning technologies and their applications in order to develop high-
quality training and education opportunities for all Americans; and

(5) such other issues regarding emerging technologies in government
training as specified by the Secretary of Labor.”

    (b) Revocation of Executive Order 13174. Executive
Order 13174 of October 27, 2000, relating to the
establishment of the Commission on Workers,
Communities, and Economic Change in the New Economy, is
revoked.

    (Presidential Sig.)B

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    June 20, 2001.