EXECUTIVE
ORDER
EO 13266
Effective Date: June 20, 2002

Responsible Office: Office of the Administrator
Subject: Activities To Promote Personal Fitness

        
                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, and in order to improve the efficiency and 
                coordination of Federal policies related to personal 
                fitness of the general public, it is hereby ordered as 
                follows:

                Section 1. Policy. This order is issued consistent with 
                the following findings and principles:

                    (a) Growing scientific evidence indicates that an 
                increasing number of Americans are suffering from 
                negligible physical activity, poor dietary habits, 
                insufficient utilization of preventive health 
                screenings, and engaging in risky behaviors such as 
                abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.
                    (b) Existing information on the importance of 
                appropriate physical activity, diet, preventive health 
                screenings, and avoiding harmful substances is often 
                not received by the public, or, if received, is not 
                acted on sufficiently.
                    (c) Individuals of all ages, locations, and levels 
                of personal fitness can benefit from some level of 
                appropriate physical activity, dietary guidance, 
                preventive health screening, and making healthy 
                choices.
                    (d) While personal fitness is an individual 
                responsibility, the Federal Government may, within the 
                authority and funds otherwise available, expand the 
                opportunities for individuals to empower themselves to 
                improve their general health. Such opportunities may 
                include improving the flow of information about 
                personal fitness, assisting in the utilization of that 
                information, increasing the accessibility of resources 
                for physical activity, and reducing barriers to 
                achieving good personal fitness.

                Sec. 2. Agency Responsibilities in Promoting Personal 
                Fitness.

                    (a) The Secretaries of Agriculture, Education, 
                Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban 
                Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and 
                Veterans Affairs, and the Director of the Office of 
                National Drug Policy shall review and evaluate the 
                policies, programs, and regulations of their respective 
                departments and offices that in any way relate to the 
                personal fitness of the general public. Based on that 
                review, the Secretaries and the Director shall 
                determine whether existing policies, programs, and 
                regulations of their respective departments and offices 
                should be modified or whether new policies or programs 
                could be implemented. These new policies and programs 
                shall be consistent with otherwise available authority 
                and appropriated funds, and shall improve the Federal 
                Government's assistance of individuals, private 
                organizations, and State and local governments to (i) 
                increase physical activity; (ii) promote responsible 
                dietary habits; (iii) increase utilization of 
                preventive health screenings; and (iv) encourage 
                healthy choices concerning alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and 
                safety among the general public.
                    (b) Each department and office included in section 
                2(a) shall report to the President, through the 
                Secretary of Health and Human Services, its proposed 
                actions within 90 days of the date of this order.
                    (c) There shall be a Personal Fitness Interagency 
                Working Group (Working Group), composed of the 
                Secretaries or Director of the departments and office 
                included in section 2(a) (or their designees) and 
                chaired by the Secretary of HHS or his designee. In 
                order to improve efficiency through information sharing 
                and to eliminate waste and overlap, the Working Group 
                shall

                work to ensure the cooperation of Federal agencies in 
                coordinating Federal personal fitness activities. The 
                Working Group shall meet subject to the call of the 
                Chair, but not less than twice a year. The Department 
                of Health and Human Services shall provide such 
                administrative support to the Working Group as the 
                Secretary of HHS deems necessary. Each member of the 
                Working Group shall be a full-time or permanent part-
                time officer or employee of the Federal Government.

                Sec. 3. General Provisions. This order is intended only 
                to improve the internal management of the executive 
                branch and it is not intended to, and does not, create 
                any right, benefit, trust, or responsibility, 
                substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity 
                by a party against the United States, its departments, 
                agencies or entities, its officers or employees, or any 
                person.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                     June 20, 2002.


        

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