Department of Health and Human Services
Orders where directed actors are tied to Department of Health and Human Services · 75 in Obama · 350 all terms.
Roles directed
Orders
75 shown · Obama
Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Pending Repeal
This executive order directs federal agencies to use all available legal authority to waive, delay, or exempt parties from provisions of the Affordable Care Act that impose fiscal or regulatory burdens, while also encouraging state flexibility and interstate healthcare markets. It was issued on President Trump's first day in office with the stated goal of minimizing economic burdens pending congressional repeal of the ACA.
Continuing To Expand Opportunity for All Young People
This memorandum amends a 2014 Obama-era initiative by renaming the 'My Brother's Keeper' program to the 'Task Force on Improving the Lives of Boys and Young Men of Color and Underserved Youth,' expanding its membership to include 23 specified agency heads and officials, adding reporting requirements including annual status reports and biennial reviews, and broadening the scope to explicitly include 'underserved youth' alongside boys and young men of color.
Relating to the Implementation of the Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance
This executive order designates the Department of Health and Human Services as the U.S. Central Authority for implementing a Hague Convention on international child support recovery, effective when the treaty enters force on January 1, 2017. It authorizes HHS to delegate certain functions to state IV-D child support agencies.
Safeguarding the Nation From the Impacts of Invasive Species
This executive order updates and strengthens federal coordination on invasive species by amending Executive Order 13112. It maintains the National Invasive Species Council with expanded membership, adds new priorities including climate change and public health impacts, and mandates a new management plan with specific reporting requirements.
Establishing a Community Solutions Council
This executive order establishes a new Community Solutions Council to coordinate federal community investment programs across agencies, replacing two prior Obama-era councils. The Council is led by two Co-Chairs (one from the White House/OMB, one rotating among eight major agencies every four years) and includes 34+ members spanning nearly the entire Cabinet and key White House offices. It builds on existing place-based initiatives like Promise Zones and StrikeForce, with a mandate to foster interagency collaboration, scale evidence-based practices, and center locally led visions in federal policymaking.
Advancing the Global Health Security Agenda To Achieve a World Safe and Secure From Infectious Disease Threats
This executive order institutionalizes U.S. participation in the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), a multinational initiative to strengthen countries' abilities to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. It creates a new interagency council chaired by National Security Council staff, assigns specific roles to 13 agencies, and mandates reporting and external evaluation requirements through 2019.
Promoting Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
This memorandum establishes a Federal Interagency Reentry Council co-chaired by the Attorney General and the White House Domestic Policy Council Director to coordinate federal efforts reducing recidivism and removing barriers to employment, housing, and reintegration for formerly incarcerated individuals. It directs agencies to review hiring and occupational licensing procedures to avoid automatic disqualification based on criminal records, and requires a federal strategic plan within 100 days.
Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force
This memorandum establishes an interagency Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force to coordinate implementation of federal parity protections ensuring mental health and substance use disorder coverage is comparable to medical/surgical care. The Task Force, chaired by the Domestic Policy Council Director and comprising nine agency heads, is charged with identifying best practices, addressing guidance gaps, and submitting a public report by October 31, 2016.
White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force
This memorandum establishes the White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force, chaired by the Vice President, to coordinate federal efforts to accelerate cancer research, treatment, and prevention. The Task Force includes heads of 14 executive departments and agencies and is directed to produce findings and recommendations on accelerating research, improving patient care, reducing regulatory barriers, and developing public-private partnerships, with a report due to the President by December 31, 2016.
Strengthening the Senior Executive Service
This executive order reforms the Senior Executive Service (SES) by creating a PMC Subcommittee to oversee changes including: capping performance award spending at 7.5%, streamlining hiring processes, requiring SES pay to exceed subordinate GS employees, establishing a 15% rotation goal for SES members, and phasing in talent management and succession planning across all agencies by FY 2018.
Continuance or Reestablishment of Certain Federal Advisory Committees
This executive order continues or reestablishes 40 federal advisory committees until September 30, 2017, transferring FACA compliance responsibilities to designated agency heads and updating administrative oversight for the National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee.
Implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States for 2015-2020
This executive order implements the updated 2015-2020 National HIV/AIDS Strategy, directing federal agencies to develop action plans, coordinate efforts, and report progress on reducing HIV infections, improving care access, and addressing disparities. It establishes a Federal Interagency Working Group and assigns specific responsibilities to lead agencies including HHS, Defense, Justice, and others.
Creating a National Strategic Computing Initiative
This executive order establishes the National Strategic Computing Initiative (NSCI), a coordinated federal strategy to advance U.S. leadership in high-performance computing (HPC) through 2030. It designates lead agencies (DOE, DOD, NSF), foundational R&D agencies (IARPA, NIST), and deployment agencies to pursue exascale computing, post-semiconductor technologies, and public-private collaboration in HPC research and deployment.
Delegation of Certain Authorities and Assignment of Certain Functions Under the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015
This executive order delegates presidential authorities and assigns functions under the 2015 Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) law to specific officials, primarily the U.S. Trade Representative, while reserving certain authorities to the President. It establishes interagency processes for environmental reviews, employment impact assessments, labor rights reports, and implementation planning for trade agreements.
Enhancing Coordination of National Efforts in the Arctic
This executive order establishes an Arctic Executive Steering Committee to coordinate federal Arctic policy across agencies during the U.S. chairmanship of the Arctic Council. It mandates improved interagency coordination, tribal consultation with Alaska Native governments, and a report identifying overlaps and gaps in Arctic policy implementation.
Creating Welcoming Communities and Fully Integrating Immigrants and Refugees
This memorandum establishes the White House Task Force on New Americans, co-chaired by the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and the Secretary of Homeland Security, to develop a coordinated federal strategy for integrating immigrants and refugees into American communities. The Task Force must submit an Integration Plan within 120 days and a status report within one year, with responsibilities including reviewing agency policies, disseminating best practices, and measuring equitable access to services.
Deepening U.S. Government Efforts To Collaborate With and Strengthen Civil Society
This 2014 presidential memorandum directs federal agencies engaged in foreign policy to strengthen collaboration with civil society organizations worldwide, oppose undue restrictions on civic freedoms, and integrate civil society consultation into U.S. diplomatic engagement. It requires annual reporting to the President on implementation progress.
Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
This executive order establishes a government-wide framework to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria by creating an interagency task force, a presidential advisory council, and mandating specific actions including antibiotic stewardship programs in healthcare facilities, strengthened surveillance systems, promotion of new drug development, and international cooperation. It sets concrete deadlines for a national action plan and regulatory reviews to address what the CDC identified as at least 23,000 annual U.S. deaths from resistant infections.
Revised List of Quarantinable Communicable Diseases
This executive order amends the list of quarantinable communicable diseases to include severe acute respiratory syndromes (SARS-like diseases) that pose pandemic potential or high mortality/morbidity risk, explicitly excluding influenza. The update expands federal quarantine authority under Section 264(b) of Title 42 to cover emerging respiratory threats beyond the original 2003 list.
Creating and Expanding Ladders of Opportunity for Boys and Young Men of Color
President Obama established the My Brother's Keeper Task Force, an interagency initiative chaired by the Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary with the Deputy Secretary of Education as Executive Director, to improve life outcomes for boys and young men of color through better coordination of federal programs, data sharing, and public-private partnerships. The Task Force is directed to create assessment tools, evaluate federal policy impacts, and report back with recommendations within 90 days and a status report within one year.
Establishing a White House Task Force To Protect Students From Sexual Assault
President Obama established a White House Task Force co-chaired by the Office of the Vice President and the White House Council on Women and Girls to coordinate federal efforts addressing campus sexual assault. The Task Force must develop recommendations within 90 days and provide annual implementation reports, focusing on improving institutional compliance, transparency, and evidence-based prevention practices at colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid.
Establishing a Quadrennial Energy Review
This memorandum establishes a Quadrennial Energy Review Task Force co-chaired by the OSTP and Domestic Policy Council directors to produce a comprehensive energy policy review every four years, with the first report due January 31, 2015 focusing on U.S. energy infrastructure challenges. The Task Force includes representatives from 23 agencies and is directed to engage stakeholders and recommend executive and legislative actions.
Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change
This executive order directs federal agencies to integrate climate change preparedness and resilience into their operations, programs, and investments. It establishes a new interagency Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, creates a State, Local, and Tribal Leaders Task Force, mandates updated Agency Adaptation Plans, and requires modernization of federal programs to remove barriers to climate-resilient investment.
Continuance Of Certain Federal Advisory Committees
This executive order extends 26 federal advisory committees until September 30, 2015, and makes technical amendments to several prior executive orders governing the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, President's Management Advisory Board, President's Global Development Council, and President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. It also delegates presidential functions under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to designated agency heads.
Expanding National Service Through Partnerships to Advance Government Priorities
This memorandum establishes an interagency Task Force on Expanding National Service, co-chaired by the CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the Director of the Domestic Policy Council. It directs federal agencies to develop partnerships with CNCS to expand national service and volunteer opportunities aligned with the six focus areas of the Serve America Act, and requires specific reports and guidance within set timeframes.
Accelerating Improvements in HIV Prevention and Care in the United States Through the HIV Care Continuum Initiative
This executive order establishes the HIV Care Continuum Initiative and a supporting interagency Working Group to coordinate federal efforts to improve HIV testing, linkage to care, treatment, and viral suppression. It directs agencies to prioritize addressing gaps along the HIV care continuum and requires recommendations within 180 days, with annual progress reports thereafter.
Establishing the White House Council on Native American Affairs
This executive order creates the White House Council on Native American Affairs, chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, to coordinate federal policy across 30+ agencies to support tribal self-governance and improve quality of life for Native Americans. It establishes a formal structure for interagency coordination on economic development, healthcare, education, justice, and environmental protection while mandating three annual meetings.
Delegation of Authority To Appoint Commissioned Officers of the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service
This memorandum delegates presidential authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to appoint commissioned officers of the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service, with term limits of 6 months (or 2 years for specific training programs), and revokes a 2011 memorandum on the same subject.
Engaging in Public Health Research on the Causes and Prevention of Gun Violence
This presidential memorandum directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the CDC and other HHS scientific agencies, to conduct or sponsor research into the causes of gun violence and ways to prevent it. The Secretary must first identify pressing research questions with greatest public health impact and assess existing interventions. The directive is explicitly subject to appropriations availability and does not create enforceable rights.
Improving Availability of Relevant Executive Branch Records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System
This memorandum directs federal agencies to improve sharing of relevant records with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to prevent prohibited individuals from obtaining firearms. It establishes deadlines for DOJ guidance, agency reporting, and creates a working group to coordinate implementation of the 2007 NICS Improvement Amendments Act.
Establishing the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force
This executive order establishes a cabinet-level task force chaired by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to coordinate long-term rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Sandy. The task force is required to produce a comprehensive rebuilding strategy within 180 days of its first meeting, after which it will terminate 60 days later.
Establishment of an Interagency Task Force on Commercial Advocacy
This executive order creates an Interagency Task Force on Commercial Advocacy, chaired by the Secretary of Commerce, to coordinate federal support for U.S. businesses competing for international contracts against foreign firms. The Task Force brings together 15 agencies to prioritize advocacy cases, coordinate senior-level engagement with foreign officials, raise business awareness of available services, and report progress every 180 days.
Establishing the White House Homeland Security Partnership Council
This executive order creates the White House Homeland Security Partnership Council and its Steering Committee to institutionalize collaboration between federal field offices and local partners—including state/local/tribal governments, private sector, and nonprofits—to address homeland security challenges ranging from disaster response to terrorism prevention. The Council advises on priorities, promotes best practices, and convenes annually, while the Steering Committee sets its scope, selects members, and reports to the President yearly.
Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families
This executive order directs multiple federal agencies to expand mental health services for veterans, service members, and military families through suicide prevention programs, community provider partnerships, increased staffing, and a national research action plan on PTSD and traumatic brain injury. It establishes an interagency task force to coordinate implementation and requires specific deliverables including expanded crisis line capacity, pilot projects with community providers, and hiring of 800 peer counselors and 1,600 mental health professionals.
Preventing and Responding to Violence Against Women and Girls Globally
This executive order establishes a multi-year U.S. government strategy to prevent and respond to gender-based violence globally, creating an Interagency Working Group co-chaired by the Secretary of State and USAID Administrator. It mandates coordination across multiple federal agencies, integration of anti-violence programming into existing foreign policy and assistance efforts, improved data collection and research, and periodic reporting with benchmarks, progress reports, and eventual strategy revision.
Establishing Policies for Addressing Domestic Violence in the Federal Workforce
This memorandum directs federal agencies to develop policies addressing domestic violence in the federal workforce. It requires OPM to issue government-wide guidance within 240 days, and agencies to create or update their own policies within specific timelines after that guidance is issued.
Supporting Safe and Responsible Development of Unconventional Domestic Natural Gas Resources
This executive order creates an interagency working group chaired by the Domestic Policy Council Director to coordinate federal agency efforts supporting safe and responsible development of unconventional domestic natural gas resources, such as shale gas. It aims to streamline policy coordination across 13+ agencies while maintaining environmental and public health safeguards.
Establishing a Working Group on the Intersection of HIV/AIDS, Violence Against Women and Girls, and Gender-related Health Disparities
This memorandum establishes a White House Working Group co-chaired by the Advisor on Violence Against Women and the Director of National AIDS Policy to coordinate federal efforts addressing the intersection of HIV/AIDS, violence against women and girls, and gender-related health disparities. The group must convene within 60 days and includes representatives from eight agencies plus advisory roles for State, USAID, and PEPFAR.
National Defense Resources Preparedness
This executive order delegates authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 to various cabinet secretaries for prioritizing and allocating resources (food, energy, health, transportation, water, and other materials) in support of national defense. It establishes frameworks for loan guarantees, industrial base expansion, voluntary agreements, a National Defense Executive Reserve, and labor coordination during emergencies, while revoking and replacing Executive Order 12919 from 1994.
Establishing a White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities
This executive order establishes a White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) within HUD to coordinate federal technical assistance to local communities, helping them compete for federal resources and develop economic strategies. The Council is co-chaired by the HUD Secretary and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, with broad membership across federal agencies.
Improving American Indian and Alaska Native Educational Opportunities and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities
This executive order establishes the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, co-chaired by the Secretaries of Education and Interior, to improve educational outcomes for AI/AN students across all educational settings. It mandates interagency coordination, requires a Memorandum of Understanding between Education and Interior within 120 days, and directs federal agencies to develop four-year implementation plans with annual performance reporting.
Continuance of Certain Federal Advisory Committees
This executive order extends the lifespan of seven federal advisory committees until September 30, 2013, one committee until September 30, 2012, and amends the termination date of the President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability to January 29, 2013. It also delegates FACA compliance functions to agency heads rather than the President.
Reducing Prescription Drug Shortages
This executive order directs the FDA to use existing authority to require earlier notice from manufacturers about drug discontinuances that could cause shortages, expedite regulatory reviews when shortages are threatened, and refer evidence of price gouging or hoarding to the Department of Justice for potential enforcement. It responds to a near-tripling of prescription drug shortages between 2005 and 2010, particularly for cancer treatments and anesthesia drugs.
Establishment of the SelectUSA Initiative
This executive order establishes SelectUSA, a Department of Commerce-based initiative to coordinate federal efforts to attract and retain domestic and foreign business investment in the United States. It creates a Federal Interagency Investment Working Group spanning nearly every cabinet department and major economic agency to promote the U.S. as a business location, serve as an investment ombudsman, and provide information to investors.
Establishment of the White House Rural Council
This executive order creates the White House Rural Council, chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture and comprising 25 federal agencies, to coordinate federal policy and investment in rural communities. The Council is tasked with streamlining federal spending, improving economic opportunities, and enhancing quality of life in rural America through better interagency collaboration.
Delegation of Authority to Appoint Commissioned Officers of the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service
This memorandum delegates presidential authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to appoint commissioned officers of the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service, with commissions limited to 6-month terms. The delegation explicitly prohibits redelegation and preserves presidential appointment authority for longer terms or transfers to the Regular Corps.
Establishment of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Advisory Committees
This executive order establishes two interagency advisory committees—the Senior Intellectual Property Enforcement Advisory Committee and the Intellectual Property Enforcement Advisory Committee—to coordinate federal intellectual property enforcement efforts. Both committees are chaired by the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator and are tasked with developing triennial Joint Strategic Plans required under the PRO IP Act of 2008.
Fundamental Principles and Policymaking Criteria for Partnerships With Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Organizations
This executive order amends Executive Order 13279 to establish constitutional and operational principles for federal partnerships with faith-based and neighborhood organizations. It mandates equal treatment of faith-based providers in federal social service funding while prohibiting religious discrimination against beneficiaries and requiring separation of explicitly religious activities from federally funded programs. The order creates an Interagency Working Group to ensure uniform implementation across agencies and requires a report within 120 days on model regulations and guidance.
Establishing a Task Force on Skills for America's Future
This memorandum establishes an interagency Task Force on Skills for America's Future, co-chaired by the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers and two White House policy assistants, to develop recommendations for improving workforce training partnerships between community colleges, businesses, labor unions, and other stakeholders. The Task Force is charged with identifying scalable approaches to career training, stackable credentials, and public-private partnerships, but has no dedicated funding or enforcement authority beyond voluntary agency coordination.
Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes
This executive order establishes a National Ocean Council to coordinate federal stewardship of oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes, implementing recommendations from the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force. It creates a framework for coastal and marine spatial planning to manage competing uses of marine environments while promoting ecosystem-based conservation. The order directs executive agencies to align their decisions with national ocean policy priorities and to participate in regional planning processes.
Implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy
This memorandum directs federal agencies to implement the newly released National HIV/AIDS Strategy and Federal Implementation Plan. It designates lead agencies (HHS, DOJ, DOL, HUD, VA, SSA), assigns coordination roles to the White House Office of National AIDS Policy and HHS Secretary, and requires specific action plans from lead agencies, DOD, State Department, and EEOC within 150 days.
Optimizing the Security of Biological Select Agents and Toxins in the United States
This executive order directs a risk-based overhaul of how the U.S. regulates dangerous biological agents and toxins (BSAT). It mandates creating a highest-risk "Tier 1" subset of pathogens, revising security regulations, coordinating federal oversight across multiple agencies, and establishing an advisory panel to guide implementation.
Providing Stability and Security for Medicare Reimbursements
This memorandum directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement provisions of newly signed H.R. 3962, which replaced a 21.3% Medicare physician fee cut with a 2.2% increase through November 2010. The Secretary must direct Medicare claims contractors to update payment systems, reprocess affected claims automatically, protect beneficiary access, and reopen the Medicare participation enrollment program through July 16, 2010.
President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition
This executive order renames and reauthorizes the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports as the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, adding nutrition to its mission. It establishes a 25-member advisory council to promote physical activity, fitness, sports participation, and good nutrition nationwide, with emphasis on children, adolescents, and underserved communities. The council is set to terminate after 2 years unless extended by the President.
Establishing the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council
This executive order establishes the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council within HHS, chaired by the Surgeon General, to coordinate federal prevention and wellness efforts. It mandates development of a national health strategy and requires annual reports to Congress through 2015 on progress toward disease prevention goals.
Delegation of Authority to Appoint Commissioned
This memorandum delegates the President's authority under section 203 of the Public Health Service Act (as amended by the Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148) to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to appoint commissioned officers of the Ready Reserve Corps. The delegation is narrowly limited to two specific groups: individuals who received employment offers for the Reserve Corps with appointment dates after March 23, 2010 but were not on active duty, and participants in the 2010 Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program. The authority cannot be re-delegated.
A 21st Century Strategy for America's Great Outdoors
This memorandum establishes the America's Great Outdoors Initiative, led by Interior, Agriculture, EPA, and CEQ, to reconnect Americans—especially children—with nature through community-based conservation, public-private partnerships, and interagency coordination. It mandates listening sessions across the country and requires three reports: an initial strategy report by November 15, 2010, and annual progress reports by September 30, 2011 and 2012.
Respecting the Rights of Hospital Patients to Receive Visitors and to Designate Surrogate Decision Makers for Medical Emergencies
This memorandum directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to initiate rulemaking ensuring that hospitals participating in Medicare or Medicaid allow patients to designate visitors—including same-sex partners and non-family members—with equal visitation rights as immediate family. It also requires enforcement of existing advance directive regulations and requests additional recommendations within 180 days on addressing LGBT patient and family healthcare issues.
Ensuring Enforcement and Implementation of Abortion Restrictions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
This executive order reinforces existing Hyde Amendment restrictions on federal funding for abortion services within the Affordable Care Act, directing HHS and OMB to develop model accounting guidelines for segregating funds in health insurance exchanges and requiring HHS to ensure community health center grantees comply with abortion funding limitations. It was issued to secure support for the ACA's passage by addressing concerns from anti-abortion legislators about federal subsidies potentially covering abortion services.
Establishing a Task Force on Childhood Obesity
This memorandum establishes a Task Force on Childhood Obesity chaired by the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, with membership from multiple Cabinet secretaries and agency heads. The Task Force is directed to develop and submit within 90 days a comprehensive interagency action plan to solve childhood obesity within a generation, though its functions are explicitly advisory only.
Establishing Federal Capability for the Timely Provision of Medical Countermeasures Following a Biological Attack
This executive order directs federal agencies to establish capabilities for rapidly delivering medical countermeasures to Americans following a biological attack. It mandates creation of a U.S. Postal Service-based dispensing model, a federal rapid response system, and continuity plans to ensure mission-essential government functions continue during such an emergency.
Medicare Demonstration to Test Medical Homes in Federally Qualified Health Centers
This memorandum directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a Medicare demonstration program testing the 'medical home' model in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). The program aims to improve care quality and efficiency by having primary care providers coordinate comprehensive, patient-centered care for underserved populations.
Establishing the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues
This executive order establishes a 13-member Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues within HHS to advise the President on ethical questions arising from biomedical and technological advances. The Commission is authorized to conduct research, hold hearings, and issue policy recommendations but cannot approve specific research projects. It is initially set to terminate after two years unless extended by the President.
Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government
This executive order establishes a government-wide initiative to increase veteran hiring in the federal workforce by creating an interagency Council on Veterans Employment, requiring agencies to develop operational plans and designate veterans employment offices, and mandating training for HR personnel and hiring managers on veterans' preferences and special hiring authorities.
Declaration of a National Emergency With Respect to the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic
President Obama declared a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act regarding the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, authorizing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to temporarily waive or modify certain Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, and HIPAA Privacy Rule requirements for the duration of the public health emergency. The proclamation cited rising illness rates threatening to overburden health care resources and required congressional certification and advance written notice when exercising these waiver authorities.
Continuance of Certain Federal Advisory Committees
This executive order continues 15 federal advisory committees for two years until September 30, 2011, superseding a prior Bush administration order. It also delegates presidential functions under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to the heads of designated departments and agencies.
Demonstration Grants for the Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of Alternatives to the Current Medical Liability System
President Obama directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to announce within 30 days that HHS would make available demonstration grants to states, localities, and health systems to develop and test alternatives to the current medical liability system. The memorandum framed medical liability reform as one component of broader health care reform, emphasizing patient safety, reduced defensive medicine, fair compensation, and lower malpractice premiums.
Establishing a White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers
This executive order creates a White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers to coordinate federal assistance for areas hit hard by auto industry job losses. The council includes cabinet secretaries and senior officials across multiple agencies, and is tasked with aligning federal programs to support automotive workers and communities. It automatically terminates after two years unless extended by the President.
Establishment of the White House Office of Health Reform
This executive order establishes a White House Office of Health Reform within the Executive Office of the President to lead and coordinate the Administration's comprehensive health care reform agenda, and directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a corresponding office within HHS. The offices are tasked with policy coordination across agencies, public outreach, state and local collaboration, and monitoring implementation of the President's health reform goals.
Establishing a White House Council on Women And Girls
This executive order creates a White House Council on Women and Girls to coordinate federal policy across agencies on issues affecting women and girls, including pay equity, healthcare access, educational opportunity, and workforce participation. The Council is advisory, composed of Cabinet secretaries and senior officials, and must submit an interagency plan within 150 days.
Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells
This executive order lifts the previous administration's restrictions on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research, directing the NIH to issue new guidance within 120 days. It revokes the August 9, 2001 presidential statement and Executive Order 13435 that had limited such funding.
Establishment of the White House Office of Urban Affairs
This executive order creates the White House Office of Urban Affairs within the Executive Office of the President to coordinate federal urban policy across departments and agencies. The Office is tasked with developing a comprehensive urban policy agenda, ensuring federal spending in urban areas is effective, and engaging with state/local officials and private stakeholders.
Amendments to Executive Order 13199 and Establishment of the President's Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
This executive order renames and restructures the White House faith-based initiative, establishing the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. It adds constitutional safeguards regarding religion clauses, emphasizes accountability and measurable results for federally funded services, and creates a 25-member advisory council with a 2-year sunset provision.
State Children's Health Insurance Program
This memorandum directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to immediately withdraw two 2007-2008 CMS letters that restricted state flexibility in setting income eligibility for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which had caused tens of thousands of children to lose coverage.
White House Task Force on Middle-Class Working Families
President Obama established a White House Task Force on Middle-Class Working Families, chaired by Vice President Biden, to recommend policies on education, work-family balance, labor standards, income protection, and retirement security. The Task Force includes cabinet secretaries and senior White House economic advisors, with annual public reports required starting one year from signing.