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U.S. Department of Education

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Functional Statements > Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs

## SECTIONS

I. MISSION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

II. ORGANIZATION

III. ORDER OF SUCCESSION

    IV. FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OLCA COMPONENTS    
                - IMMEDIATE OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY

  V. PRIMARY DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY 

### I. MISSION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Assistant Secretary for Legislation  and Congressional Affairs serves as the principal adviser to the Secretary on matters concerning the Departmental legislative program and Congressional relations.  The Office directs, coordinates, and recommends policy for activities that are designed to:
                - Provide  direction for all legislative activities of the Department.
                - Plan,  develop, and implement the legislative goals of the Department.
                - Establish  effective network of support for these goals among Members of Congress.
                - Manage,  coordinate, and direct the presentation of the Department's legislative program  to Congress.
                -  Coordinate  the collection of and provide information, including testimony, to Congress  about Departmental policies, appropriations, programs, and organization, and  assure the Department's responsiveness to Congressional requests for  information.
                - Inform  and educate the Department with regard to exigencies and nuances of  Congressional policy- and decision-making practices.

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### II. ORGANIZATION

The Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs is under the supervision of the Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs, who reports directly to the Secretary of Education.

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### III. ORDER OF SUCCESSION

In the event that the Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs dies, resigns or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office and the office is thereby deemed to be vacant, as defined by the Vacancies Act, and the President has not designated in writing another individual to act as the Assistant Secretary, the Deputy Assistant Secretary, as the designated “first assistant” under the Vacancies Act, shall perform the functions and duties of the office in an acting capacity.   If both the offices of the Assistant Secretary and the Deputy Assistant Secretary are vacant, or the time period during which the Deputy Assistant Secretary may serve in acting capacity has expired, the individuals listed below the Deputy Assistant Secretary, in the order shown, are authorized to perform the functions and duties of the office of the Assistant Secretary, except for any functions and duties that are required by law to be performed only by the Assistant Secretary or by someone officially acting in such capacity.  

In instances where the office of the Assistant Secretary is filled, but the Assistant Secretary is absent, unavailable, otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the position, and/or there is a disruption in the normal channels of direction and communication, and there is no person  officially serving in an acting capacity, and unless the Assistant Secretary or the Secretary, in writing, designates another individual to perform the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary, the following officials, in the order shown,  are delegated the authority to perform the functions and duties of the office of the Assistant Secretary, except for any functions and duties that are required by law to be performed only by the Assistant Secretary or by someone officially acting in such capacity:
                - Deputy Assistant Secretary (P-12)
                - Deputy Assistant Secretary (Higher Ed)
                - Chief of Staff
                - Principal Advisor

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