Activities To Promote Personal Fitness

Executive Order 13266 of June 20, 2002

Activities To Promote Personal Fitness

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 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.

    (Presidential Sig.)B

THE WHITE HOUSE,

     June 20, 2002.