Responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture and the Agency for International Development With Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

Executive Order 13280 of December 12, 2002

Responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture
and the Agency for International Development 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 social
needs in America's communities, it is hereby ordered as
follows:

Section 1. Establishment of Centers for Faith-Based and
Community Initiatives at the Department of Agriculture
and the Agency for International Development. (a) The
Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator of the
Agency for International Development shall each
establish within their respective agencies a Center for
Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (Center).

    (b) Each of these Centers shall be supervised by a
Director, appointed by the agency head in consultation
with the White House Office of Faith-Based and
Community Initiatives (White House OFBCI).
    (c) Each agency shall provide its Center with
appropriate staff, administrative support, and other
resources to meet its responsibilities under this
order.
    (d) Each Center shall begin operations no later
than 45 days from the date of this order.

Sec. 2. Purpose of Executive Branch Centers for Faith-
Based and Community Initiatives. The purpose of the
agency Centers will 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 services.

Sec. 3. Responsibilities of the Centers for Faith-Based
and Community Initiatives. Each Center shall, to the
extent permitted by law:

    (a) conduct, in coordination with the White House
OFBCI, an agency-wide audit to identify all existing
barriers to the participation of faith-based and other
community organizations in the delivery of social
services by the agency, including but not limited to
regulations, rules, orders, procurement, and other
internal policies and practices, and outreach
activities that either facially discriminate against or
otherwise discourage or disadvantage the participation
of faith-based and other community organizations in
Federal programs;
    (b) coordinate a comprehensive agency effort to
incorporate faith-based and other community
organizations in agency 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 agency 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, each of the two
Centers described in section 1 of this order shall
prepare and submit a report to the White House OFBCI.
    (b) Contents. The report shall include a
description of the agency'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
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, filed
180 days after the date of this order, shall include
annual performance indicators and measurable objectives
for agency action. Each report filed thereafter shall
measure the agency's performance against the objectives
set forth in the initial report.

Sec. 5. Responsibilities of the Secretary of
Agriculture and the Administrator of the Agency for
International Development. The Secretary and the
Administrator shall:

    (a) designate an employee within their respective
agencies to serve as the liaison and point of contact
with the White House OFBCI; and
    (b) cooperate with the White House OFBCI and
provide such information, support, and assistance to
the White House OFBCI as it may request, to the extent
permitted by law.

Sec. 6. Administration and Judicial Review. (a) The
agency actions directed by this executive order shall
be carried out 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 equity by a party against the
United States, its agencies, or entities, its officers,
employees or agents, or any other person.

    (Presidential Sig.)B

THE WHITE HOUSE,

     December 12, 2002.