Task Force on Space Industry Workforce and Economic Development

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

Memorandum of May 3, 2010

Task Force on Space Industry Workforce and
Economic Development

Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense[,] the
Secretary of Commerce[,] the Secretary of Labor[,] the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development[,] the
Secretary of Transportation[,] the Secretary of
Education[,] the Director of the Office of Management
and Budget[,] the Administrator of the Small Business
Administration[,] the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration[,] the Chair of
the Council of Economic Advisers[,] the Director of
National Intelligence[,] the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy[, and] the Director of
the National Economic Council

My Administration is committed to implementing a bold,
new approach to human spaceflight. Supported by a $6
billion increase to the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration's (NASA) budget over the next 5 years,
this strategy will foster the development of path-
breaking technologies, increase the reach and reduce
the cost of human and robotic exploration of space, and
help create thousands of new jobs.

NASA's budget also includes $429 million next year, and
$1.9 billion over the next 5 years, to modernize the
Kennedy Space Center and other nearby space launch
facilities in Florida. This modernization effort will
help spur new commercial business and innovation and
provide additional good jobs to the region. While all
of the new aspects of my Administration's plan together
will create thousands of new jobs in Florida, past
decisions to end the Space Shuttle program will still
affect families and communities along Florida's ``Space
Coast.''

Building on this significant new investment at the
Kennedy Space Center and my increased budget for NASA
overall, I am committed to taking additional steps to
help local economies like Florida's Space Coast adapt
and thrive in the years ahead. The men and women who
work in Florida's aerospace industry are some of the
most talented and highly trained in the Nation. It is
critical that their skills are tapped as we transform
and expand the country's space exploration efforts.
That is why I am launching a $40 million, multi-agency
initiative to help the Space Coast transform their
economies and prepare their workers for the
opportunities of tomorrow. This effort will build on
and complement ongoing local and Federal economic and
workforce-development efforts through a Task Force
composed of senior-level Administration officials from
relevant agencies that will construct an economic
development action plan by August 15, 2010.

To these ends, I hereby direct the following:

Section 1. Establishment of the Task Force on Space
Industry Workforce and Economic Development. There is
established a Task Force on Space Industry Workforce
and Economic Development (Task Force) to develop, in
collaboration with local stakeholders, an interagency
action plan to facilitate economic development
strategies and plans along the Space Coast and to
provide training and other opportunities for affected
aerospace workers so they are equipped to contribute to
new developments in America's space program and related
industries. The Secretary of Commerce and the
Administrator of NASA shall serve as Co-Chairs of the
Task Force.

(a) Membership of the Task Force. In addition to
the Co-Chairs, the Task Force shall consist of the
following members:

(i) the Secretary of Defense;

(ii) the Secretary of Labor;

(iii) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;

(iv) the Secretary of Transportation;

(v) the Secretary of Education;

(vi) the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers;

(vii) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;

(viii) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration;

(ix) the Director of National Intelligence;

(x) the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy;

(xi) the Director of the National Economic Council; and

(xii) the heads of such other executive departments, agencies, and offices
as the President may, from time to time, designate.

A member of the Task Force may designate, to
perform the Task Force functions of the member, a
senior-level official who is a part of the member's
department, agency, or office, and who is a full-time
officer or employee of the Federal Government.
(b) Administration. The Co-Chairs shall convene
regular meetings of the Task Force, determine its
agenda, and direct its work. At the direction of the
Co-Chairs, the Task Force may establish subgroups
consisting exclusively of Task Force members or their
designees, as appropriate.

Sec. 2. Mission and Functions. The Task Force shall
work with local stakeholders and executive departments
and agencies to equip Space Coast and other affected
workers to take advantage of new opportunities and
expand the region's economic base.

The Task Force will perform the following
functions, to the extent permitted by law:
(a) provide leadership and coordination of Federal
Government resources to facilitate workforce and
economic development opportunities for aerospace
communities and workers affected by new developments in
America's space exploration program. Such support may
include the use of personnel, technical expertise, and
available financial resources, and may be used to
provide a coordinated Federal response to the needs of
individual States, regions, municipalities, and
communities adversely affected by space industry
changes;
(b) provide recommendations to the President on
ways Federal policies and programs can address issues
of special importance to aerospace communities and
workers; and
(c) help ensure that officials from throughout the
executive branch, including officials on existing
committees or task forces addressing technological
development, research, or aerospace issues, advance the
President's agenda for the transformation of America's
space exploration program and support the coordination
of Federal economic adjustment assistance activities.

Sec. 3. Outreach. Consistent with the objectives set
forth in this memorandum, the Task Force, in accordance
with applicable law, in addition to holding regular
meetings, shall conduct outreach to representatives of
nonprofit organizations; business; labor: State, local,
and tribal governments; elected officials; and other
interested persons that will assist in bringing to the
President's attention concerns, ideas, and policy
options for expanding and improving efforts to create
jobs and economic growth in affected aerospace
communities. The Task Force shall hold inaugural
meetings with stakeholders within 60 days of the date
of this memorandum.

Sec. 4. Task Force Plan for Space Industry Workforce
and Economic Development. On or before August 15, 2010,
the Task Force shall develop and submit to the
President a comprehensive plan that:

(a) recommends how best to invest $40 million in
transition assistance funding to ensure robust
workforce and economic development in those communities
within Florida affected by transitions in America's
space exploration program;
(b) describes how the plan will build on and
complement ongoing economic and workforce development
efforts;
(c) explores future workforce and economic
development activities that could be undertaken for
affected aerospace communities in other States, as
appropriate;
(d) identifies areas of collaboration with other
public or nongovernmental actors to achieve the
objectives of the Task Force; and
(e) details a coordinated implementation strategy
by executive departments and agencies to meet the
objectives of the Task Force.

Sec. 5. Termination. The Task Force shall terminate 3
years after the date of this memorandum unless extended
by the President.

Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) The heads of executive
departments and agencies shall assist and provide
information to the Task Force, consistent with
applicable law, as may be necessary to carry out the
functions of the Task Force. Each executive department
and agency shall bear its own expense for participating
in the Task Force; and

(b) nothing in this memorandum shall be construed
to impair or otherwise affect:

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

(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(c) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent
with applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.

(d) This memorandum is not intended to, and does
not, create any right or benefit, substantive or
procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any
party against the United States, its departments,
agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or
agents, or any other person.
(e) The Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration shall publish this memorandum
in the Federal Register.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

WASHINGTON, May 3, 2010