US Presidency
2001

I want to ensure that faith-based and community groups will always have a place at the table in our deliberations. In a few moments, I will sign two executive orders. The first executive order will create a new office, called the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives. The head of this office will report directly to me and be charged with important responsibilities. He will oversee our initiatives on this issue. He will make sure our government, where it works with private groups, is fair and supportive. And he will highlight groups as national models so others can learn from them. The second executive order will clear away the bureaucratic barriers in several important agencies that make private groups hesitate to work with government. It will establish centers in five agencies Justice, HUD, HHS, Labor and Education to ensure greater cooperation between the government and the independent sector. These centers will report back on regulatory barriers to working with non profit groups, and make recommendations on how those barriers can be removed.