Presidential politics

Presidential Memorandum–Arctic Research and Policy Act

MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

SUBJECT: Designation of the National Science and Technology Council to Coordinate Certain Activities Under the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (Title I of Public Law 98 373) (the "Act"), I hereby assign to the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) responsibility to coordinate activities assigned in sections 107 and 108 of the Act to the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee, including through committees of the NSTC.

The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

Presidential Memorandum–Arctic Research and Policy Act

MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

SUBJECT: Designation of the National Science and Technology Council to Coordinate Certain Activities Under the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (Title I of Public Law 98 373) (the "Act"), I hereby assign to the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) responsibility to coordinate activities assigned in sections 107 and 108 of the Act to the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee, including through committees of the NSTC.

The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

Presidential Memorandum–Arctic Research and Policy Act

MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

SUBJECT: Designation of the National Science and Technology Council to Coordinate Certain Activities Under the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (Title I of Public Law 98 373) (the "Act"), I hereby assign to the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) responsibility to coordinate activities assigned in sections 107 and 108 of the Act to the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee, including through committees of the NSTC.

The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

Presidential Memorandum–Arctic Research and Policy Act

MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

SUBJECT: Designation of the National Science and Technology Council to Coordinate Certain Activities Under the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (Title I of Public Law 98 373) (the "Act"), I hereby assign to the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) responsibility to coordinate activities assigned in sections 107 and 108 of the Act to the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee, including through committees of the NSTC.

The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

Presidential Memorandum–Arctic Research and Policy Act

MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

SUBJECT: Designation of the National Science and Technology Council to Coordinate Certain Activities Under the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (Title I of Public Law 98 373) (the "Act"), I hereby assign to the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) responsibility to coordinate activities assigned in sections 107 and 108 of the Act to the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee, including through committees of the NSTC.

The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

Presidential Memorandum–Delegation of Certain Functions Under Section 1264 of the Victims of Iranian Censorship Act

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS
                                     THE SECRETARY OF STATE

SUBJECT:    Delegation of Certain Functions Under Section 1264 of the Victims of Iranian Censorship Act (Public Law 111-84, Subtitle D of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010)

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate to the Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, in coordination with the Secretary of State, the functions conferred upon the President by section 1264 of the Victims of Iranian Censorship Act (Public Law 111-84, subtitle D) to make the specified report to the Congress.

The Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

Presidential Memorandum–Delegation of Certain Functions Under Section 3134 of the National Defense Authorization Act

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY

SUBJECT: Delegation of Certain Functions Under Section 3134 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181)

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate to you the functions conferred upon the President by section 3134 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181), to make the specified report to the Congress.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

Presidential Memorandum — Delegation of Certain Functions and Authorities

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

SUBJECT: Delegation of Certain Functions and Authorities

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate to you the following functions and authorities:

The function to make the specified reports to the Congress under 22 U.S.C. 2291-4(c).

The function and authority to waive the provisions of section 1003 of Public Law 100-204 (22 U.S.C. 5202) upon making certain determinations and certifications under section 7034(b) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111-117) and any subsequently enacted provision of law that is the same or substantially the same.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

Presidential Memorandum–The Presidential POWER Initiative: Protecting Our Workers and Ensuring Reemployment

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

SUBJECT: The Presidential POWER Initiative:  Protecting Our Workers and Ensuring Reemployment

Each year Federal civilian employees are injured or fall ill on the job in significant numbers.  Although the Federal Government has made progress in reducing workplace injuries and illnesses in recent years, its workers (excluding those employed by the U.S. Postal Service) still filed more than 79,000 new claims and received over $1.6 billion in workers' compensation payments in fiscal year 2009.  Many of these work-related injuries and illnesses are preventable, and executive departments and agencies can and should do even more to improve workplace safety and health, reduce the financial burden of injury on taxpayers, and relieve unnecessary suffering by workers and their families.

Therefore, I am establishing a 4-year Protecting Our Workers and Ensuring Reemployment (POWER) Initiative, covering fiscal years 2011 through 2014.  The POWER Initiative will extend prior workplace safety and health efforts of the Federal Government by setting more aggressive performance targets, encouraging the collection and analysis of data on the causes and consequences of frequent or severe injury and illness, and prioritizing safety and health management programs that have proven effective in the past.

Under the POWER Initiative, each executive department and agency will be expected to improve its performance in seven areas:

(i)    reducing total injury and illness case rates;

(ii)   reducing lost time injury and illness case rates;

(iii)  analyzing lost time injury and illness data;

(iv)   increasing the timely filing of workers' compensation claims;

(v)    increasing the timely filing of wage-loss claims;

(vi)   reducing lost production day rates; and

(vii)  speeding employees' return to work in cases of serious injury or illness.

Executive departments and agencies (except the U.S. Postal Service) shall coordinate with the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Office of Workers' Compensation Programs to establish performance targets in each category.  The Secretary of Labor shall lead the POWER Initiative by measuring both Government-wide and agency-level performance and reporting to me annually.

Each executive department and agency shall bear its own costs for participating in the POWER Initiative, and nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof.

This memorandum 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.

The Secretary of Labor is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

Presidential Memorandum–Implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

SUBJECT: Implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

As we approach 30 years from the onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States, new actions are needed to prevent HIV infection and better serve people living with HIV.  The actions we take now will build upon a legacy of global leadership, national commitment, and sustained efforts on the part of Americans from all parts of the country and all walks of life to end the HIV epidemic in the United States and around the world.  I am committed to renewing national leadership to fight HIV/AIDS here at home, as we continue our efforts to fight HIV/AIDS around the world.  My Administration has engaged in an extensive process to engage Americans and listen to their ideas for improving our national response to HIV/AIDS.

Today I am releasing a National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States (Strategy) and a National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Implementation Plan (Federal Implementation Plan), which identifies specific actions to be taken by Federal agencies to implement the Strategy's goals.  While agencies already undertake many actions to address HIV/AIDS, successful implementation of the Strategy will require new levels of coordination, collaboration, and accountability.  This will require the Federal Government to work in new ways across agency lines, as well as in enhanced and innovative partnerships with State, tribal, and local governments.  Government cooperation at all levels, moreover, is not enough.  Success will require the commitment of all parts of society, including businesses, faith communities, philanthropic organizations, scientific and medical communities, educational institutions, people living with HIV, and others.  It is also necessary to sustain public commitment to ending the epidemic, and this calls for regular communications between governments at all levels to identify the challenges we face and report the progress we are making.  To these ends, I hereby direct the following:

Section 1.  Role of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP).

(a)  The Director of the ONAP, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), shall be responsible for setting the Administration's domestic HIV/AIDS priorities and monitoring the implementation of the Strategy.  The Director of the ONAP shall convene regular meetings with representatives of executive departments and agencies (agencies) to coordinate HIV/AIDS-related policies, programs, and activities.

(b)  The Director of the ONAP shall annually report to the President on the implementation of the Strategy, including progress in meeting key targets and taking key actions identified in the Strategy and the Federal Implementation Plan.

Sec. 2.  Lead Responsible Agencies.  While the Strategy requires a Government-wide effort in order to succeed fully, certain agencies have primary responsibilities and competencies in implementing the Strategy.

(a)  Designation of Lead Agencies.  Lead agencies for implementing the Strategy shall be:

(i)    the Department of Health and Human Services;

(ii)   the Department of Justice;

(iii)  the Department of Labor;

(iv)   the Department of Housing and Urban Development;

(v)    the Department of Veterans Affairs; and

(vi)   the Social Security Administration.

(b)  Lead Agency Implementation Plans.  Within 150 days of the date of this memorandum, the head of each lead agency shall submit a report to the ONAP and the OMB on the agency's operational plans for implementing the Strategy.  The plans shall assign responsibilities to agency officials, designate reporting structures for actions identified in the Federal Implementation Plan, and identify other appropriate actions to advance the Strategy.  The plans shall also include steps to strengthen coordination in planning, budgeting for, and evaluating domestic HIV/AIDS programs within and across agencies.  Lead agencies are encouraged to consider, and reflect in their plans, steps to streamline grantee reporting requirements and funding announcements related to HIV/AIDS programs and activities.

(c)  Ongoing Responsibilities of Lead Agencies.  The head of each lead agency shall:

(i)    designate an official responsible for coordinating the agency's ongoing efforts to implement the Strategy;

(ii)   develop a process for sharing progress reports, including status updates on achieving specific quantitative targets established by the Strategy, with relevant agencies and the ONAP on an annual basis, or at such other times as the ONAP requests; and

(iii)  in consultation with the OMB, use the budget development process to prioritize programs and activities most critical to meeting the goals of the Strategy.

Sec. 3.  Role of the Secretary of Health and Human Services.  The Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary), or the Secretary’s designee, shall be responsible for improving coordination of domestic HIV/AIDS programs and activities across the Federal Government.

(a)  Coordination within the Department of Health and Human Services.  The Secretary, or the Secretary's designee, shall develop and implement specific plans and procedures for improving intra-departmental coordination and collaboration on HIV/AIDS care, research, and prevention services.

(b)  Coordination with Other Agencies.  The Secretary, or the Secretary's designee, shall be responsible for convening interagency efforts to improve coordination of HIV/AIDS programs and activities.  This may include collaboration with governmental and nongovernmental entities to achieve the Federal Government's implementation and research priorities in the areas of highest impact.

(c)  Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA).  PACHA, which was established by Executive Order 12963 of June 14, 1995 (Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS), as amended, shall monitor the implementation of the Strategy and make recommendations to the Secretary and to the Director of the ONAP, as appropriate, concerning implementation.

Sec. 4.  Responsibilities of Other Agencies.  All agencies that support HIV/AIDS programs and activities shall ensure that, to the extent permitted by law, they are meeting the goals of the Strategy.

(a)  Department of Defense.  Within 150 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the ONAP and the OMB a plan for aligning the health-care services provided by the Department of Defense with the Strategy, to the extent feasible and permitted by law.  The plan shall address, in particular, HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment.

(b)  Department of State.  Within 150 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of State shall submit to the ONAP and the OMB recommendations for improving the Government-wide response to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic, based on lessons learned in implementing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program.

(c)  Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Commission).  Within 150 days of the date of this memorandum, the Chair of the Commission shall submit to the ONAP and the OMB recommendations for increasing employment opportunities for people living with HIV and a plan for addressing employment-related discrimination against people living with HIV, consistent with the Commission's authorities and other applicable law.

Sec. 5.  General Provisions.

(a) The heads of executive departments and agencies shall assist and provide information to the Director of the ONAP, consistent with applicable law, as may be necessary to implement the Strategy.  Each agency shall bear its own expense for carrying out activities to implement the Strategy.

(b)  Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)   authority granted by law to a department or agency or the head thereof, or to other executive branch officials; or

(ii)  functions of the Director of the OMB relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(c)  This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(d)  This memorandum 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.

Sec. 6.  Publication.  The Secretary is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA