Establishing the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council

Executive Order 13853 of December 12, 2018

Establishing the White House Opportunity and
Revitalization Council

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Purpose. Fifty-two million Americans live in
economically distressed communities. Despite the
growing national economy, these communities are plagued
by high poverty levels, failing schools, and a scarcity
of jobs. In December 2017, I signed into law a bill
originally introduced as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
(Act), which established a historic new Federal tax
incentive that promotes long-term equity investments in
low-income communities designated as “qualified
opportunity zones” by the Governors of States or
territories. In order to further facilitate such
investment, my Administration will implement reforms
that streamline existing regulations, protect taxpayers
by optimizing use of Federal resources, stimulate
economic opportunity and mobility, encourage
entrepreneurship, expand quality educational
opportunities, develop and rehabilitate quality housing
stock, promote workforce development, and promote
safety and prevent crime in urban and economically
distressed communities.

This order establishes a White House Council to carry
out my Administration's plan to encourage public and
private investment in urban and economically distressed
areas, including qualified opportunity zones. The
Council shall lead joint efforts across executive
departments and agencies (agencies) to engage with
State, local, and tribal governments to find ways to
better use public funds to revitalize urban and
economically distressed communities.

Sec. 2. Establishment. There is established a White
House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (Council).
The Council shall be chaired by the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD), or the Secretary's
designee. The Assistant to the President for Domestic
Policy, or the designee of the Assistant to the
President for Domestic Policy, shall serve as Vice
Chair of the Council.

    (a) Membership. In addition to the Chair and Vice
Chair, the Council shall consist of the following
members, or their designees:

(i) the Secretary of the Treasury;

(ii) the Attorney General;

(iii) the Secretary of the Interior;

(iv) the Secretary of Agriculture;

(v) the Secretary of Commerce;

(vi) the Secretary of Labor;

(vii) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

(viii) the Secretary of Transportation;

(ix) the Secretary of Energy;

(x) the Secretary of Education;

(xi) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;

(xii) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;

(xiii) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration;

(xiv) the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy;

(xv) the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers;

(xvi) the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality; and

(xvii) the heads of such other agencies, offices, or independent regulatory
agencies as the Chair may, from time to time, designate or invite.

    (b) Administration. The Vice Chair shall convene
regular meetings of the Council, determine its agenda,
and direct its work, all under the guidance of the
Chair. The Department of Housing and Urban Development
shall provide funding and administrative support for
the Council to the extent permitted by law and within
existing appropriations. The Secretary of HUD shall
designate a HUD officer or employee to serve as the
Executive Director of the Council, who shall be
responsible for coordinating the Council's work.

Sec. 3. Mission and Function of the Council. The
Council shall, to the extent permitted by law, work
across agencies, giving consideration to existing
agency initiatives, to:

    (a) assess the actions each agency can take under
existing authorities to prioritize or focus Federal
investments and programs on urban and economically
distressed communities, including qualified opportunity
zones;
    (b) assess the actions each agency can take under
existing authorities to minimize all regulatory and
administrative costs and burdens that discourage public
and private investment in urban and economically
distressed communities, including qualified opportunity
zones;
    (c) regularly consult with officials from State,
local, and tribal governments and individuals from the
private sector to solicit feedback on how best to
stimulate the economic development of urban and
economically distressed areas, including qualified
opportunity zones;
    (d) coordinate Federal interagency efforts to help
ensure that private and public stakeholders--such as
investors; business owners; institutions of higher
education (including Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, as defined by 50 U.S.C. 3224(g)(2), and
tribally controlled colleges and universities, as
defined by 25 U.S.C. 1801(a)(4)); K-12 education
providers; early care and education providers; human
services agencies; State, local, and tribal leaders;
public housing agencies; non-profit organizations; and
economic development organizations--can successfully
develop strategies for economic growth and
revitalization;
    (e) recommend policies that would:

(i) reduce and streamline regulatory and administrative burdens, including
burdens on applicants applying for multiple Federal assistance awards;

(ii) help community-based applicants, including recipients of investments
from qualified opportunity funds, identify and apply for relevant Federal
resources; and

(iii) make it easier for recipients to receive and manage multiple types of
public and private investments, including by aligning certain program
requirements;

    (f) evaluate the following:

(i) whether and how agencies can prioritize support for urban and
economically distressed areas, including qualified opportunity zones, in
their grants, financing, and other assistance;

(ii) appropriate methods for Federal cooperation with and support for
States, localities, and tribes that are innovatively and strategically
facilitating economic growth and inclusion in urban and economically
distressed communities, including qualified opportunity zones, consistent
with preserving State, local, and tribal control;

(iii) whether and how to develop an integrated web-based tool through which
entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders can see the full

range of applicable Federal financing programs and incentives available to
projects located in urban and economically distressed areas, including
qualified opportunity zones;

(iv) whether and how to consider urban and economically distressed areas,
including qualified opportunity zones, as possible locations for Federal
buildings, through consultation with the General Services Administration;

(v) whether and how Federal technical assistance, planning, financing
tools, and implementation strategies can be coordinated across agencies to
assist communities in addressing economic problems, engaging in
comprehensive planning, and advancing regional collaboration; and

(vi) what data, metrics, and methodologies can be used to measure the
effectiveness of public and private investments in urban and economically
distressed communities, including qualified opportunity zones.

Sec. 4. Reports. The Assistant to the President for
Domestic Policy shall, on behalf of the Council, be
responsible for submitting to the President:

    (a) Within 90 days of the date of this order, a
detailed work plan for how, and by when, the Council
will accomplish the goals detailed in section 3 of this
order;
    (b) Within 210 days of the date of this order, a
list of recommended changes to Federal statutes,
regulations, policies, and programs that would
encourage public and private investment in urban and
economically distressed communities, including
qualified opportunity zones;
    (c) Within 1 year of the date of this order, a list
of recommended changes to Federal statutes,
regulations, policies, and programs that would help
State, local, and tribal governments to better
identify, use, and administer Federal resources in
urban and economically distressed communities,
including qualified opportunity zones;
    (d) Within 1 year of the date of this order, a list
of best practices that could be integrated into public
and private investments in urban and economically
distressed communities, including qualified opportunity
zones, in order to increase economic growth, encourage
new business formation, and revitalize communities; and
    (e) Any subsequent reports that the President may
request or that the Council may deem appropriate.

Sec. 5. Amendments to Executive Order 13845. Executive
Order 13845 of July 19, 2018 (Establishing the
President's National Council for the American Worker)
is hereby amended as follows:

    (a) Subsection 7(d) of the order is deleted and the
following text is inserted in lieu thereof: “consider
the recommendations of the American Workforce Policy
Advisory Board (Board) established in section 8 of this
order and, as appropriate, adopt recommendations that
would significantly advance the objectives of the
Council;”; and
    (b) Subsection 8(b)(i) of the order is amended by
deleting the text “appointed by the President” and
replacing it with the following text: “appointed by
the Secretary of Commerce”.

Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) The heads of agencies
shall assist and provide information to the Council,
consistent with applicable law, as may be necessary for
the Council to carry out its functions.

    (b) The heads of agencies shall consider the
reports and recommendations of the Council in carrying
out their responsibilities related to urban and
economically distressed communities.
    (c) The Council shall terminate on January 21,
2021, unless extended by the President.
    (d) Nothing in this order shall be construed to
impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the
head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (e) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
    (f) 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,

    December 12, 2018.