Executive Order 13299 Interagency Group on Insular Areas
Bush, George W. (2003-12-05). Executive Order 13299 Interagency Group on Insular Areas. Federal Register.
- Has attachment: File:BPAKJ9ZC.pdf
Abstract: The Interagency Group on Insular Areas (IGIA) was originally established by Presidential memorandum dated August 9, 1999. The IGIA was reestablished by Executive Order 13299, dated May 12, 2003. This Executive Order was superseded by Executive Order 13537 dated April 14, 2010.
President Bush, on May 8, 2003, signed Executive Order No. 13299 to establish the IGIA and provide for deliberation within the Executive branch on issues of consequence for our four territories. The Secretary of the Interior is the chairman. The IGIA consists of the heads of the executive departments and the heads of such agencies as the Secretary of the Interior may designate. The Executive Order directs that the IGIA shall:
· provide advice on establishment or implementation of policies concerning the four U.S. territories to the President (through the Office of Inter-Governmental Affairs in the White House) and the Secretary of the Interior,
· obtain information and advice concerning insular areas from governors and other elected officials in the insular areas through meetings, at least annually, in a manner that seeks their individual advice and does not involve collective judgment or consensus advice or deliberation,
· obtain information and advice concerning insular areas, as the IGIA determines appropriate, from representatives of entities or other individuals in a manner that seeks their individual advice and does not involve collective judgment or consensus or deliberation, and
· at the request of the head of any agency who is a member of the IGIA, unless the Secretary of the Interior declines the request, promptly review and provide advice on a policy or policy implementation action affecting one of the insular areas proposed by the agency.
The IGIA as a Consultative Body
The Interagency Group on Insular Areas is a consultative and collaborative body with the task of obtaining advice and information on policy issues that the insular areas face individually and as a group. The Executive Order states:
· Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative proposals.
The IGIA was intended to act as a deliberative body and does not make executive, legislative or judicial decisions. It does not take positions on proposed legislation or policy on behalf of the Administration and cannot compel any member agency to take any action or adopt any particular position.
Instead, the IGIA provides a forum and mechanism for the elected leaders of the insular areas to frame issues for and participate in IGIA discussions leading to the formulation of Federal policy and work with Federal agencies that, in turn, work with them. Thus, island leaders have a channel of communication for voicing their concerns.
The provisions of the Executive Order and the fact that the IGIA has no dedicated budget or staff make it clear that the IGIA is intended to be a consultative and collaborative body, not a decision-making body.
