EXECUTIVE
ORDER
EO 13401
Effective Date: May 01, 2006

Responsible Office: Office of Infrastructure and Administration
Subject: Responsibilities of Federal Depts Agencies w/Respect to Volunteer Community Service

Responsibilities of Federal Departments and 
                Agencies With Respect to Volunteer Community Service

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America and in order to help ensure that the Federal 
                Government supports and encourages volunteer community 
                service, it is hereby ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Designation of a Liaison for Volunteer 
                Community Service. (a) The head of each agency shall, 
                within 20 days after the date of this order, designate 
                an officer or employee of such agency compensated at a 
                level at or above the minimum level of pay of a member 
                of the Senior Executive Service to serve under the 
                authority of the head of the agency as the agency 
                liaison for volunteer community service (Liaison).

                    (b) The Liaison in each agency shall promote and 
                support community service on a voluntary basis among 
                Federal employees, including those approaching 
                retirement; promote the use of skilled volunteers; and 
                facilitate public recognition for volunteer community 
                service.
                    (c) The head of each agency shall prescribe 
                arrangements within the agency for support and 
                supervision of the Liaison that ensure high priority 
                and substantial visibility for the function of the 
                Liaison within the agency under this order.
                    (d) Each executive agency shall provide its Liaison 
                with appropriate administrative support and other 
                resources to meet the responsibilities of the Liaison 
                under this order.

                Sec. 2. Goals and Responsibilities of the Liaison. The 
                Liaison shall foster within the Liaison's agency a 
                culture of taking responsibility, service to others, 
                and good citizenship. Toward that end, the Liaison 
                shall:

                    (a) identify, catalog, and review all activities of 
                the agency that relate to volunteer community service, 
                including, but not limited to rules, orders, grant 
                programs, external relations, and other policies and 
                practices, and make such recommendations to the head of 
                the agency for adjustments as may be appropriate;
                    (b) actively work with USA Freedom Corps to promote 
                volunteer community service among agency employees by 
                providing information about community service 
                opportunities;
                    (c) coordinate within the agency actions to 
                facilitate public recognition for volunteer community 
                service;
                    (d) promote, expand, and enhance skilled volunteer 
                community service opportunities;
                    (e) work with the USA Freedom Corps and the 
                Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to 
                consider any appropriate changes in agency policies or 
                practices that are not currently consistent with OPM 
                guidance;
                    (f) coordinate the awarding of the President's 
                Volunteer Service Award to recognize outstanding 
                volunteer service by employees within the agency; and
                    (g) act as a liaison with the USA Freedom Corps.

                Sec. 3. Administrative Provisions. (a) The USA Freedom 
                Corps shall provide such information with respect to 
                volunteer community service programs

[[Page 25738]]

                and activities and such advice and assistance as may be 
                required by agencies in performing their functions 
                under this order.

                    (b) Executive Order 12820 of November 5, 1992, is 
                revoked.
                    (c) This order shall be implemented consistent with 
                applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.
                    (d) As used in this order:

 (i) ``agency' has the meaning of ``executive agency' as defined in 
section 105 of title 5, United States Code; and

 (ii) ``USA Freedom Corps' means the Director of the USA Freedom Corps 
Office established by section 4 of Executive Order 13254 of January 29, 
2002.

                Sec. 4. Reporting Provisions. (a) Not later than 180 
                days from the date of this order and annually 
                thereafter, each agency Liaison shall prepare and 
                submit a report to the USA Freedom Corps that includes 
                a description of the agency's activities in performing 
                its functions under this order.

                    (b) A Liaison's first report under subsection (a) 
                shall include annual performance indicators and 
                measurable objectives for agency action approved by the 
                head of the agency. Each report filed thereafter under 
                subsection (a) shall measure the agency's performance 
                against the indicators and objectives approved by the 
                head of the agency.

                Sec. 5. Judicial Review. This order is not intended to, 
                and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive 
                or procedural, enforceable by any party at law or in 
                equity against the United States, its departments, 
                agencies, entities, officers, employees, or agents, or 
                any other person.

                 THE WHITE HOUSE,

                 April 27, 2006.
 

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