Establishment of the White House Office of Urban Affairs
Signed February 19, 2009·Barack Obama·74 FR 8139
Source
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Plain-language summary
Establishes the White House Office of Urban Affairs within the Executive Office of the President to develop and coordinate a comprehensive federal strategy for urban areas. The Office is tasked with leading policy development on urban issues across executive departments and agencies, ensuring agencies consider the impact of their actions on cities, working with the Office of Management and Budget to make federal spending in urban areas more effective, and engaging with state and local officials, nonprofits, and the private sector. It is directed to coordinate closely with agencies including Treasury, Justice, Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Office will be led by a Director who reports jointly to the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. All executive departments and agencies must cooperate with and support the Office as needed, subject to existing law and available funding.
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Claimed authority
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to take a coordinated and comprehensive approach to developing and implementing an effective strategy concerning urban America, it is hereby ordered
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The order, in full
Executive Order 13503 of February 19, 2009
Establishment of the White House Office of Urban
Affairs
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, and in order to take a coordinated and
comprehensive approach to developing and implementing
an effective strategy concerning urban America, it is
hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. About 80 percent of Americans live
in urban areas, and the economic health and social
vitality of our urban communities are critically
important to the prosperity and quality of life for
Americans. Vibrant cities spawn innovation, economic
growth, and cultural enrichment through the businesses,
universities, and civic, cultural, religious, and
nonprofit institutions they attract. Forward-looking
policies that encourage wise investment and development
in our urban areas will create employment and housing
opportunities and make our country more competitive,
prosperous, and strong. In the past, insufficient
attention has been paid to the problems faced by urban
areas and to coordinating the many Federal programs
that affect our cities. A more comprehensive approach
is needed, both to develop an effective strategy for
urban America and to coordinate the actions of the many
executive departments and agencies whose actions impact
urban life.
Sec. 2. Establishment. There is established within the
Executive Office of the President the White House
Office of Urban Affairs (the “Office”).
Sec. 3. Functions. The principal functions of the
Office are, to the extent permitted by law:
(a) to provide leadership for and coordinate the
development of the policy agenda for urban America
across executive departments and agencies;
(b) to coordinate all aspects of urban policy;
(c) to work with executive departments and agencies
to ensure that appropriate consideration is given by
such departments and agencies to the potential impact
of their actions on urban areas;
(d) to work with executive departments and
agencies, including the Office of Management and
Budget, to ensure that Federal Government dollars
targeted to urban areas are effectively spent on the
highest-impact programs; and
(e) to engage in outreach and work closely with
State and local officials, with nonprofit
organizations, and with the private sector, both in
seeking input regarding the development of a
comprehensive urban policy and in ensuring that the
implementation of Federal programs advances the
objectives of that policy.
Sec. 4. Coordination. In performing its functions, the
Office shall work closely with all relevant executive
departments and agencies, and offices and councils
within the Executive Office of the President, including
but not limited to:
(a) the Department of the Treasury;
(b) the Department of Justice;
(c) the Department of Commerce;
(d) the Department of Labor;
(e) the Department of Health and Human Services;
(f) the Department of Housing and Urban
Development;
(g) the Department of Transportation;
(h) the Department of Energy;
(i) the Department of Education; and
(j) the Environmental Protection Agency.
Sec. 5. Administration. (a) The Office may work with
established or ad hoc committees, task forces, and
interagency groups.
(b) The Office shall have a staff headed by the
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Urban
Affairs (Director). The Director shall report jointly
to the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental
Affairs and Public Liaison and to the Assistant to the
President for Domestic Policy. The Office shall have
such staff and other assistance as may be necessary to
carry out the provisions of this order.
(c) All executive departments and agencies shall
cooperate with the Office and provide such information,
support, and assistance to the Office as the Director
may request, to the extent permitted by law.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to a department, agency, or the head
thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 19, 2009.Reproduced from the Federal Register plain-text record, signed February 19, 2009. Typesetting artifacts are removed; no wording is changed.