81 FR 78701 - Advancing the Global Health Security Agenda To Achieve a World Safe and Secure From Infectious Disease Threats

Executive Office of the President

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 217 (November 9, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 9, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 78701-78706]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27171]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 217 / Wednesday, November 9, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 78701]]

                Executive Order 13747 of November 4, 2016

                
Advancing the Global Health Security Agenda To 
                Achieve a World Safe and Secure From Infectious Disease 
                Threats

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Policy. As articulated in the National 
                Strategy for Countering Biological Threats and 
                implemented in Presidential Policy Directive 2 (PPD-2), 
                promoting global health security is a core tenet of our 
                national strategy for countering biological threats. No 
                single nation can be prepared if other nations remain 
                unprepared to counter biological threats; therefore, it 
                is the policy of the United States to advance the 
                Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), which is a multi-
                faceted, multi-country initiative intended to 
                accelerate partner countries' measurable capabilities 
                to achieve specific targets to prevent, detect, and 
                respond to infectious disease threats (GHSA targets), 
                whether naturally occurring, deliberate, or accidental. 
                The roles, responsibilities, and activities described 
                in this order will support the goals of the 
                International Health Regulations (IHR) and will be 
                conducted, as appropriate, in coordination with the 
                World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture 
                Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World 
                Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Global 
                Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials 
                of Mass Destruction, the International Criminal Police 
                Organization (INTERPOL), and other relevant 
                organizations and stakeholders. To advance the 
                achievement of the GHSA targets and to support the 
                implementation of the IHR within partner countries, 
                each executive department, agency, and office (agency) 
                shall, as appropriate, partner, consult, and coordinate 
                with other governments, international financial 
                institutions, international organizations, regional 
                organizations, economic communities, and 
                nongovernmental stakeholders, including the private 
                sector.

                Sec. 2. GHSA Interagency Review Council.

                    (a) GHSA Coordination and Policy Development. In 
                furtherance of the policy described in section 1 of 
                this order, I hereby direct the National Security 
                Council staff, in accordance with the procedures and 
                requirements in Presidential Policy Directive 1 (or any 
                successor directive), to convene a GHSA Interagency 
                Review Council (Council) to perform the 
                responsibilities described in this order. The Assistant 
                to the President for National Security Affairs, in 
                coordination with the Assistant to the President for 
                Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, shall designate 
                a member of the National Security Council staff to 
                serve as Chair for the Council. The Council shall meet 
                not less than four times per year to advance its 
                mission and fulfill its responsibilities.
                    (b) GHSA Interagency Review Council 
                Responsibilities.

(i) The Council shall be responsible for the following activities:

  (A) Provide, by consensus, policy-level guidance to participating 
agencies on GHSA goals, objectives, and implementation.

  (B) Facilitate interagency, multi-sectoral engagement to carry out GHSA 
implementation.

  (C) Provide a forum for raising and working to resolve interagency 
disagreements concerning the GHSA.

[[Page 78702]]

  (D) Review the progress toward and work to resolve challenges in 
achieving U.S. commitments under the GHSA, including commitments to assist 
other countries in achieving the GHSA targets. The Council shall consider, 
among other issues, the status of U.S. financial commitments to the GHSA in 
the context of commitments by other donors, and the contributions of 
partner countries to achieve the GHSA targets; progress toward the 
milestones outlined in GHSA national plans for those countries where the 
United States Government has committed to assist in implementing the GHSA 
and in annual work-plans outlining agency priorities for implementing the 
GHSA; and external evaluations of United States and partner country 
capabilities to address infectious disease threats, including the ability 
to achieve the targets outlined within the WHO Joint External Evaluation 
(JEE) tool, as well as gaps identified by such external evaluations.

  (E) Provide, by consensus, within 30 days of the date of this order, 
initial policy-level guidance on GHSA implementation.

  (F) Develop a report on an annual basis regarding the progress achieved 
and challenges concerning the United States Government's ability to advance 
the GHSA across priority countries. The report shall include 
recommendations to resolve, mitigate, or otherwise address the challenges 
identified therein. The report shall be transmitted to the President and, 
to the extent possible, made publicly available.

  (G) Conduct an overall review of the GHSA for submission to the President 
by September 2019. The review should include an evaluation of the progress 
achieved during the 5 years of this initiative, as well as any challenges 
faced. The report should also provide recommendations on the future 
direction of the initiative.

(ii) The Council shall not perform any activities or functions that 
interfere with the foreign affairs responsibilities of the Secretary of 
State, including the responsibility to oversee the implementation of 
programs and policies that advance the GHSA within foreign countries.

                    (c) Participation. The Council shall consist of 
                representatives, serving at the Assistant Secretary 
                level or higher, from the following agencies:

(i) the Department of State;

(ii) the Department of Defense;

(iii) the Department of Justice;

(iv) the Department of Agriculture;

(v) the Department of Health and Human Services;

(vi) the Department of Homeland Security;

(vii) the Office of Management and Budget;

(viii) the United States Agency for International Development;

(ix) the Environmental Protection Agency;

(x) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

(xi) the Federal Bureau of Investigation;

(xii) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; and

(xiii) such other agencies as the agencies set forth above, by consensus, 
deem appropriate.

                Sec. 3. Agency Roles and Responsibilities. In 
                furtherance of the policy described in section 1 of 
                this order, I hereby direct agencies to perform the 
                following:

                    (a) The heads of agencies described in section 2(c) 
                of this order shall:

(i) make the GHSA and its implementation a high priority within their 
respective agencies, and include GHSA-related activities within their 
respective agencies' strategic planning and budget processes;

[[Page 78703]]

(ii) designate a senior-level official to be responsible for the 
implementation of this order;

(iii) designate, in accordance with section 2(c) of this order, an 
appropriate representative at the Assistant Secretary level or higher to 
participate on the Council;

(iv) keep the Council apprised of GHSA-related activities undertaken within 
their respective agencies;

(v) maintain responsibility for agency-related programmatic functions in 
coordination with host governments, country teams, and GHSA in-country 
teams, and in conjunction with other relevant agencies;

(vi) coordinate with other agencies that are identified in this order to 
satisfy programmatic goals, and further facilitate coordination of country 
teams, implementers, and donors in host countries; and

(vii) coordinate across GHSA national plans and with GHSA partners to which 
the United States is providing assistance.

                    (b) The Secretary of State shall:

(i) engage Chiefs of Mission, country teams, and regional and functional 
bureaus within the Department of State to promote the GHSA with 
international partners and to facilitate country-level implementation of 
U.S. programmatic activities;

(ii) monitor and evaluate progress toward achieving GHSA targets, determine 
where more work is needed, and work with agencies and international 
partners to identify the partners best placed to improve performance and to 
achieve the GHSA targets for countries the United States has made a 
commitment to assist;

(iii) facilitate implementation and coordination of Department of State 
programs to further the GHSA, as well as provide technical expertise to 
measure and evaluate progress in countries the United States has made a 
commitment to assist;

(iv) coordinate planning, implementation, and evaluation of GHSA activities 
with the U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator at the United States Agency for 
International Development and the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator at the 
Department of State in countries the United States has made a commitment to 
assist;

(v) lead diplomatic outreach, including at senior levels, in conjunction 
with other relevant agencies, to build international support for the GHSA 
with its members, other countries, and regional and multilateral bodies, 
including the Group of 7 (G7), the Group of 20 (G20), the African Union, 
the WHO, the OIE, the FAO, INTERPOL, the Global Partnership Against the 
Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, the European Union, 
the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Association of Southeast Asian 
Nations, the Economic Community of West African States, the Organization of 
Islamic Cooperation, development banks, and other relevant partners;

(vi) work, in conjunction with other relevant agencies, with other donors 
and nongovernmental implementers in partner countries in order to leverage 
commitments to advance the GHSA with partners; and

(vii) coordinate, in conjunction with other relevant agencies, the United 
States Government relationship with foreign and domestic GHSA 
nongovernmental stakeholders, including the private sector, nongovernmental 
organizations, and foundations, and develop, with consensus from the 
Council, an annual GHSA nongovernmental outreach strategy.

                    (c) The Secretary of Defense shall:

(i) facilitate implementation and coordination of Department of Defense 
programs to further the GHSA, as well as provide technical expertise to 
measure and evaluate progress in countries the United States has made a 
commitment to assist;

[[Page 78704]]

(ii) work, in conjunction with interagency partners and the in-country GHSA 
team, with other donors and nongovernmental implementers in partner 
countries in which Department of Defense programs are active in order to 
coordinate and leverage commitments to advance the GHSA with partners; and

(iii) coordinate and communicate, in conjunction with other relevant 
agencies, with defense ministries with regard to the GHSA, including at the 
GHSA Ministerial and Steering Group.

                    (d) The Attorney General, generally acting through 
                the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
                (FBI), shall:

(i) serve, in conjunction with other relevant agencies, as the United 
States Government lead for GHSA targets relating to linking public health 
and law enforcement, and coordinate with INTERPOL on the GHSA and its 
successful implementation;

(ii) facilitate implementation and coordination of FBI programs to further 
the GHSA, as well as provide technical expertise to measure and evaluate 
progress in countries the United States has made a commitment to assist; 
and

(iii) work, in conjunction with interagency partners and the in-country 
GHSA team, with other donors and nongovernmental implementers in partner 
countries in which FBI programs are active in order to coordinate and 
leverage commitments to advance the GHSA with partners.

                    (e) The Secretary of Agriculture shall:

(i) represent, in conjunction with other relevant agencies, the United 
States in coordination and communication with the FAO and OIE with regard 
to the GHSA;

(ii) facilitate implementation and coordination of Department of 
Agriculture programs to further the GHSA, as well as provide technical 
expertise to measure and evaluate progress in countries the United States 
has made a commitment to assist; and

(iii) work, in conjunction with interagency partners and the in-country 
GHSA team, with other donors, contributing international organizations, and 
nongovernmental implementers in partner countries in which Department of 
Agriculture programs are active in order to coordinate and leverage 
commitments to advance the GHSA with partners.

                    (f) The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
                shall:

(i) represent, in conjunction with other relevant agencies, the United 
States at GHSA Ministerial and Steering Group meetings and in working with 
G7 and G20 Health Ministers on the GHSA, and coordinate United States 
Government support for those activities;

(ii) provide overall leadership and coordination for the GHSA Action 
Packages (Action Packages), which consist of country commitments to advance 
and share best practices toward specific GHSA targets, including serving as 
the primary point of contact for the Action Packages, providing support to 
Action Package leaders, and tracking overall progress on the Action 
Packages;

(iii) coordinate United States Government support for and participation in 
external evaluations, including the WHO JEE tool and the Alliance for 
Country Assessments for Global Health Security and IHR Implementation;

(iv) represent, in conjunction with other relevant agencies, the United 
States in coordination and communication with the WHO regarding the GHSA;

(v) facilitate, no less than every 4 years, the request for an external 
assessment, such as the process outlined within the WHO JEE tool, of United 
States Government domestic efforts to implement the IHR and the GHSA and 
work to publish the assessment to the general public; and

[[Page 78705]]

(vi) consolidate and publish to the general public an external assessment 
of United States domestic capability to address infectious disease threats 
and implement the IHR, including the ability to achieve the targets 
outlined within the WHO JEE tool and including the gaps identified by such 
external assessment.

                    (g) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall:

(i) assess the impacts of global health threats on homeland security 
operations; and

(ii) lead, in conjunction with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Agriculture, United States 
Government GHSA activities related to global health threats at U.S. borders 
and ports of entry.

                    (h) The Administrator for the United States Agency 
                for International Development shall:

(i) facilitate implementation and coordination of United States Agency for 
International Development programs to further the GHSA, as well as provide 
technical expertise to measure and evaluate progress in countries the 
United States has made a commitment to assist;

(ii) provide, in conjunction with other agencies, strategic technical 
guidance for achieving GHSA targets; and

(iii) work, in conjunction with interagency partners and the in-country 
GHSA teams, with other donors and nongovernmental GHSA implementers in 
partner countries in which United States Agency for International 
Development programs are active in order to coordinate and leverage 
commitments to advance the GHSA with partners.

                    (i) The Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease 
                Control and Prevention, in coordination with the 
                Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall:

(i) facilitate implementation and coordination of U.S. Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention programs to further the GHSA, as well as provide 
technical expertise to measure and evaluate progress in countries the 
United States has made a commitment to assist;

(ii) provide, in conjunction with other agencies, strategic technical 
guidance for achieving GHSA targets;

(iii) provide, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human 
Services, strategic technical support for and participate in external 
assessments, including the WHO JEE tool, and the Alliance for Country 
Assessments for Global Health Security and IHR implementation; and

(iv) work, in conjunction with interagency partners and the in-country GHSA 
team, with other donors and nongovernmental implementers in partner 
countries in which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
programs are active in order to coordinate and leverage commitments to 
advance the GHSA with partners.

                Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order 
                shall be construed to impair, or otherwise affect:

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

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

(iii) the coordination or implementation of emergency response operations 
during a health emergency.

                    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with 
                applicable law, and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.

[[Page 78706]]

                    (c) This order 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.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    November 4, 2016.

[FR Doc. 2016-27171
Filed 11-8-16; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F7-P