EXECUTIVE
ORDER
EO 13404
Effective Date: June 12, 2006

Responsible Office: Office of the Administrator
Subject: Task Force on New Americans

 Task Force on New Americans

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, and in order to strengthen the efforts of the 
                Department of Homeland Security and Federal, State, and 
                local agencies to help legal immigrants embrace the 
                common core of American civic culture, learn our common 
                language, and fully become Americans, it is hereby 
                ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Establishment. The Secretary of Homeland 
                Security (Secretary) shall immediately establish within 
                the Department of Homeland Security (Department) a Task 
                Force on New Americans (Task Force).

                Sec. 2. Membership and Operation. (a) The Task Force 
                shall be limited to the following members or employees 
                designated by them at no lower than the Assistant 
                Secretary level or its equivalent:

(i) the Secretary of Homeland Security, who shall serve as Chair;

(ii) the Secretary of State;

(iii) the Secretary of the Treasury;

(iv) the Secretary of Defense;

(v) the Attorney General;

(vi) the Secretary of Agriculture;

(vii) the Secretary of Commerce;

(viii) the Secretary of Labor;

(ix) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

(x) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;

(xi) the Secretary of Education;

(xii) such other officers or employees of the Department of Homeland 
Security as the Secretary may from time to time designate; and

(xiii) such other officers of the United States as the Secretary may 
designate from time to time, with the concurrence of the respective heads 
of departments and agencies concerned.

                (b) The Secretary shall convene and preside at meetings 
                of the Task Force, direct its work, and as appropriate, 
                establish and direct subgroups of the Task Force that 
                shall consist exclusively of Task Force members. The 
                Secretary shall designate an official of the Department 
                to serve as the Executive Secretary of the Task Force, 
                and the Executive Secretary shall head the staff 
                assigned to the Task Force.

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

                (a) provide direction to executive departments and 
                agencies (agencies) concerning the integration into 
                American society of America's legal immigrants, 
                particularly through instruction in English, civics, 
                and history;

                (b) promote public-private partnerships that will 
                encourage businesses to offer English and civics 
                education to workers;

                (c) identify ways to expand English and civics 
                instruction for legal immigrants, including through 
                faith-based, community, and other groups, and ways to 
                promote volunteer community service; and

[[Page 33594]]

                (d) make recommendations to the President, through the 
                Secretary, from time to time regarding:

(i) actions to enhance cooperation among agencies on the integration of 
legal immigrants into American society;

(ii) actions to enhance cooperation among Federal, State, and local 
authorities responsible for the integration of legal immigrants;

(iii) changes in rules, regulations, or policy to improve the effective 
integration of legal immigrants into American society; and

(iv) proposed legislation relating to the integration of legal immigrants 
into American society.

                Sec. 4. Administration. (a) To the extent permitted by 
                law, the Department shall provide the funding and 
                administrative support the Task Force needs to 
                implement this order, as determined by the Secretary.

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

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

(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budget, 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 intended to improve the internal 
                management of the Federal Government. This order is not 
                intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, 
                substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity 
                against the United States, its departments, agencies, 
                entities, instrumentalities, officers, employees, 
                agents, or any other person.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    June 7, 2006.
 

Back to Main Menu