President Obama: Executive Order 13575, Establishment of the White House Rural Council

• The White House

  Office of the Press Secretary

  For Immediate Release

  June 09, 2011

  Executive Order 13575 - Establishment of the White House Rural Council

       By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America and in order to enhance Federal engagement with rural communities, it is hereby ordered as follows:
   
       Section 1. Policy. Sixteen percent of the American population lives in rural counties. Strong, sustainable rural communities are essential to winning the future and ensuring American competitiveness in the years ahead. These communities supply our food, fiber, and energy, safeguard our natural resources, and are essential in the development of science and innovation. Though rural communities face numerous challenges, they also present enormous economic potential. The Federal Government has an important role to play in order to expand access to the capital necessary for economic growth, promote innovation, improve access to health care and education, and expand outdoor recreational activities on public lands.
   
       To enhance the Federal Government's efforts to address the needs of rural America, this order establishes a council to better coordinate Federal programs and maximize the impact of Federal investment to promote economic prosperity and quality of life in our rural communities.
   
       Sec. 2. Establishment. There is established a White House Rural Council (Council).
   
       Sec. 3. Membership. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture shall serve as the Chair of the Council, which shall also include the heads of the following executive branch departments, agencies, and offices:
   
             (1) the Department of the Treasury;
      
             (2) the Department of Defense;
      
             (3) the Department of Justice;
      
             (4) the Department of the Interior;
      
             (5) the Department of Commerce;
      
             (6) the Department of Labor;
      
             (7) the Department of Health and Human Services;
      
             (8) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
      
             (9) the Department of Transportation;
      
             (10) the Department of Energy;
      
             (11) the Department of Education;
      
             (12) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
      
             (13) the Department of Homeland Security;
      
             (14) the Environmental Protection Agency;
      
             (15) the Federal Communications Commission;
      
             (16) the Office of Management and Budget;
      
             (17) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
      
             (18) the Office of National Drug Control Policy;
      
             (19) the Council of Economic Advisers;
      
             (20) the Domestic Policy Council;
      
             (21) the National Economic Council;
      
             (22) the Small Business Administration;
      
             (23) the Council on Environmental Quality;
      
             (24) the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs;
      
             (25) the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs; and such other executive branch departments, agencies, and offices as the President or the Secretary of Agriculture may, from time to time, designate.
      
       (b) A member of the Council may designate, to perform the Council functions of the member, a senior-level official who is part of the member's department, agency, or office, and who is a full-time officer or employee of the Federal Government.
   
       (c) The Department of Agriculture shall provide funding and administrative support for the Council to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.
   
       (d) The Council shall coordinate its policy development through the Domestic Policy Council and the National Economic Council.
   
       Sec. 4. Mission and Function of the Council. The Council shall work across executive departments, agencies, and offices to coordinate development of policy recommendations to promote economic prosperity and quality of life in rural America, and shall coordinate my Administration's engagement with rural communities. The Council shall:
   
       (a) make recommendations to the President, through the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and the Director of the National Economic Council, on streamlining and leveraging Federal investments in rural areas, where appropriate, to increase the impact of Federal dollars and create economic opportunities to improve the quality of life in rural America;
   
       (b) coordinate and increase the effectiveness of Federal engagement with rural stakeholders, including agricultural organizations, small businesses, education and training institutions, health-care providers, telecommunications services providers, research and land grant institutions, law enforcement, State, local, and tribal governments, and nongovernmental organizations regarding the needs of rural America;
   
       (c) coordinate Federal efforts directed toward the growth and development of geographic regions that encompass both urban and rural areas; and
   
       (d) identify and facilitate rural economic opportunities associated with energy development, outdoor recreation, and other conservation related activities.
   
       Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) The heads of executive departments and agencies shall assist and provide information to the Council, consistent with applicable law, as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Council. Each executive department and agency shall bear its own expense for participating in the Council.
   
       (b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
   
            (i) authority granted by law to an executive 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.
      
       (c) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
   
       (d) 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.
  BARACK OBAMA
  THE WHITE HOUSE,
        June 9, 2011.

President Obama: Executive Order 13540, Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

April 26, 2010

Executive Order 13540 -- on the Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development

EXECUTIVE ORDER

INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON VETERANS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 102 of title I of the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-186) (the "Act"), and in order to establish an interagency task force to coordinate the efforts of Federal agencies to improve capital, business development opportunities, and pre-established Federal contracting goals for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment. The Administrator of the Small Business Administration (Administrator) shall establish within the Small Business Administration an Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development (Task Force).

Sec. 2. Membership. The Administrator shall serve as Chair of the Task Force and shall direct its work. Other members shall consist of:

(a) a senior level representative, designated by the head of the respective department or agency, from each of the following:

(i) the Department of the Treasury;
(ii) the Department of Defense;
(iii) the Department of Labor;
(iv) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(v) the Office of Management and Budget;
(vi) the Small Business Administration (in addition to the Administrator); and
(vii) the General Services Administration; and

(b) four representatives from a veterans' service or military organization or association, who shall be appointed by the Administrator.

Sec. 3. Functions. Consistent with the Act and other applicable law, the Task Force shall:

(a) consult regularly with veterans service and military organizations in performing the duties of the Task Force;

(b) coordinate administrative and regulatory activities and develop proposals relating to:

(i) improving capital access and capacity of small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans through loans, surety bonding, and franchising;
(ii) ensuring achievement of the pre-established Federal contracting goals for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans through expanded mentor-protégé assistance and matching such small business concerns with contracting opportunities;
(iii) increasing the integrity of certifications of status as a small business concern owned and controlled by a veteran or service-disabled veteran;
(iv) reducing paperwork and administrative burdens on veterans in accessing business development and entrepreneurship opportunities;
(v) increasing and improving training and counseling services provided to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans; and
(vi) making other improvements relating to the support for veterans business development by the Federal Government; and

(c) not later than 1 year after its first meeting and annually thereafter, forward to the President a report on the performance of its functions, including any proposals developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) The Small Business Administration shall provide funding and administrative support for the Task Force to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.

(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise effect:

(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; and
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(c) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.) (FACA), may apply to the Task Force, any functions of the President under the FACA, except for those in section 6 of the FACA, shall be performed by the Administrator in accordance with guidelines issued by the Administrator of General Services.

(d) 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.

BARACK OBAMA

THE WHITE HOUSE,
April 26, 2010