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EO 12994Executive OrderClinton · D

Executive Order 12994

Continuing the President's Committee on Mental Retardation and Broadening Its Membership and Responsibilities

This executive order continues the President's Committee on Mental Retardation with expanded membership and responsibilities. It adds federal agency heads to the committee, sets national goals for reducing mental retardation and promoting community participation, and requires annual reports to the President through the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Federal Register Open PDF 61 FR 13047

Impact dates

  1. Reduce occurrence and severity of mental retardation by one-half

  2. Annual report to President through HHS Secretary

Key directives

  • Continue President's Committee on Mental Retardation with expanded membership and responsibilities
  • Committee composition: 9 ex officio federal officials plus up to 21 citizen members appointed by President
  • President designates Chair from citizen members
  • Committee to advise President and HHS Secretary on mental retardation policies and services
  • Committee to make annual report to President through HHS Secretary
  • Federal agencies to designate liaison officers upon Committee request
  • HHS to provide staff, administrative services, facilities and funding
  • Members may receive compensation per 5 U.S.C. 3109 and travel expenses per 5 U.S.C. 5701-5707
  • Committee members with disabilities may be compensated for attendant expenses
  • Executive Order 11776 superseded

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Committee continued with expanded membership
  • Executive Order 11776 superseded
  • Federal agencies must designate liaison officers upon Committee request

Near term (90d)

  • President to designate Chair from citizen members
  • HHS to provide staff, administrative services, facilities and funding

Long term

  • Annual reports to President on mental retardation
  • Ongoing evaluation and monitoring of national policies
  • Goal to reduce occurrence and severity of mental retardation by one-half by year 2010

Risks & tensions

  • Non-binding advisory structure: Committee has no authority over federal agencies (Sec. 6 explicitly preserves agency independence)
  • Vague enforcement mechanism for 2010 reduction goal—no specified metrics or consequences
  • Term limits for citizen members (2 years) may create continuity challenges
  • Funding contingent on 'extent permitted by law' creates uncertainty
Executive Order 12994: Continuing the President's Committee on Mental Retardation and Broadening Its Membership and Responsibilities · Executive Orders