Coordination of United States Government International Exchanges and Training Programs

Executive Order 13055 of July 15, 1997

Coordination of United States Government
International
Exchanges and Training Programs

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 coordination of
United States Government International Exchanges and
Training Programs, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. There is hereby established within the
United States Information Agency a senior-level
Interagency Working Group on United States Government-
Sponsored International Exchanges and Training (``the
Working Group''). The purpose of the Working Group is
to recommend to the President measures for improving
the coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness of
United States Government-sponsored international
exchanges and training. The Working Group shall
establish a clearinghouse to improve data collection
and analysis of international exchanges and training.

Sec. 2. The term ``Government-sponsored international
exchanges and training'' shall mean the movement of
people between countries to promote the sharing of
ideas, to develop skills, and to foster mutual
understanding and cooperation, financed wholly or in
part, directly or indirectly, with United States
Government funds.

Sec. 3. The Working Group shall consist of the
Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs
of the United States Information Agency, who shall act
as Chair, and a comparable senior representative
appointed by the respective Secretary of each of the
Departments of State, Defense, Education, and the
Attorney General, by the Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development, and by
heads of other interested executive departments and
agencies. In addition, representatives of the National
Security Council and the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget shall participate in the Working
Group at their discretion. The Working Group shall be
supported by an interagency staff office established in
the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the
United States Information Agency.

Sec. 4. The Working Group shall have the following
responsibilities:

(a) Collect, analyze, and report data provided by
all United States Government departments and agencies
conducting international exchanges and training
programs;
(b) Promote greater understanding of and
cooperation on, among concerned United States
Government departments and agencies, common issues and
challenges faced in conducting international exchanges
and training programs, including through the
establishment of a clearinghouse for information on
international exchange and training activities in the
governmental and nongovernmental sectors;
(c) In order to achieve the most efficient and
cost-effective use of Federal resources, identify
administrative and programmatic duplication and overlap
of activities by the various United States Government
agencies involved in Government-sponsored international
exchange and training programs, and report thereon;
(d) No later than 1 year from the date of this
order, develop initially and thereafter assess annually
a coordinated strategy for all United States

Government-sponsored international exchange and
training programs, and issue a report on such strategy;
(e) No later than 2 years from the date of this
order, develop recommendations on performance measures
for all United States Government-sponsored
international exchange and training programs, and issue
a report thereon; and
(f) Develop strategies for expanding public and
private partnerships in, and leveraging private sector
support for, United States Government-sponsored
international exchange and training activities.

Sec. 5. All reports prepared by the Working Group
pursuant to section 4 shall be made to the President,
through the Director of the United States Information
Agency.

Sec. 6. The Working Group shall meet on at least a
quarterly basis.

Sec. 7. Any expenses incurred by a member of the
Working Group in connection with such member's service
on the Working Group shall be borne by the member's
respective department or agency.

Sec. 8. If any member of the Working Group disagrees
with respect to any matter in any report prepared
pursuant to section 4, such member may prepare a
statement setting forth the reasons for such
disagreement and such statement shall be appended to,
and considered a part of, the report.

Sec. 9. Nothing in this Executive order is intended to
alter the authorities and responsibilities of the head
of any department or agency.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

July 15, 1997.