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Skriven 2006-05-10 23:33:14 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0605103) for Wed, 2006 May 10
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Executive Order: Strengthening Federal Efforts to Protect Against Identity
Theft
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 10, 2006

Executive Order: Strengthening Federal Efforts to Protect Against Identity
Theft




By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws
of the United States of America, in order to strengthen efforts to protect
against identity theft, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to use Federal
resources effectively to deter, prevent, detect, investigate, proceed
against, and prosecute unlawful use by persons of the identifying
information of other persons, including through:

(a) increased aggressive law enforcement actions designed to prevent,
investigate, and prosecute identity theft crimes, recover the proceeds of
such crimes, and ensure just and effective punishment of those who
perpetrate identity theft;

(b) improved public outreach by the Federal Government to better (i)
educate the public about identity theft and protective measures against
identity theft, and (ii) address how the private sector can take
appropriate steps to protect personal data and educate the public about
identity theft; and

(c) increased safeguards that Federal departments, agencies, and
instrumentalities can implement to better secure government-held personal
data.

Sec. 2. Establishment of the Identity Theft Task Force.

(a) There is hereby established the Identity Theft Task Force.

(b) The Task Force shall consist exclusively of:

(i) the Attorney General, who shall serve as Chairman of the Task Force;

(ii) the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, who shall serve as
Co-Chairman of the Task Force;

(iii) the Secretary of the Treasury;

(iv) the Secretary of Commerce;

(v) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

(vi) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;

(vii) the Secretary of Homeland Security;

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

(ix) the Commissioner of Social Security;

(x) the following officers of the United States:

(A) the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

(B) the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation;

(C) the Comptroller of the Currency;

(D) the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision;

(E) the Chairman of the National Credit Union Administration Board; and

(F) the Postmaster General; and

(xi) such other officers of the United States as the Attorney General may
designate from time to time, with the concurrence of the respective heads
of departments and agencies concerned.

(c) The Chairman and Co-Chairman shall convene and preside at the meetings
of the Task Force, determine its agenda, direct its work and, as
appropriate, establish and direct subgroups of the Task Force that shall
consist exclusively of members of the Task Force. Such subgroups may
address particular subject matters, such as criminal law enforcement or
private sector education and outreach. The Chairman and Co-Chairman may
also designate, with the concurrence of the head of department, agency, or
instrumentality of which the official is part, such other Federal officials
as they deem appropriate for participation in the Task Force subgroups.

(d) A member of the Task Force, including the Chairman and Co-Chairman, may
designate, to perform the Task Force or Task Force subgroup functions of
the member, any person who is a part of the member's department, agency, or
instrumentality and who has high-level policy or operational duties or
responsibilities related to the mission of the Task Force.

Sec. 3. Functions of the Task Force. The Task Force, in implementing the
policy set forth in section 1 of this order, shall:

(a) review the activities of executive branch departments, agencies, and
instrumentalities relating to the policy set forth in section 1, and
building upon these prior activities, prepare and submit in writing to the
President within 180 days after the date of this order a coordinated
strategic plan to further improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the
Federal Government's activities in the areas of identity theft awareness,
prevention, detection, and prosecution;

(b) coordinate, as appropriate and subject to section 5(a) of this order,
Federal Government efforts related to implementation of the policy set
forth in section 1 of this order;

(c) obtain information and advice relating to the policy set forth in
section 1 from representatives of State, local, and tribal governments,
private sector entities, and individuals, in a manner that seeks their
individual advice and does not involve collective judgment or consensus
advice and deliberation and without giving any such person a vote or a veto
over the activities or advice of the Task Force;

(d) promote enhanced cooperation by Federal departments and agencies with
State and local authorities responsible for the prevention, investigation,
and prosecution of significant identity theft crimes, including through
avoiding unnecessary duplication of effort and expenditure of resources;
and

(e) provide advice on the establishment, execution, and efficiency of
policies and activities to implement the policy set forth in section 1:

(i) to the President in written reports from time to time, including
recommendations for administrative action or proposals for legislation; and

(ii) to the heads of departments, agencies, and instrumentalities as
appropriate from time to time within the discretion of the Chairman and the
Co Chairman.

Sec. 4. Cooperation. (a) To the extent permitted by law and applicable
presidential guidance, executive departments, agencies, and
instrumentalities shall provide to the Task Force such information,
support, and assistance as the Task Force, through its Chairman and
Co-Chairman, may request to implement this order.

(b) The Task Force shall be located in the Department of Justice for
administrative purposes, and to the extent permitted by law, the Department
of Justice shall provide the funding and administrative support the Task
Force needs to implement this order, as determined by the Attorney General.

Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to
impair or otherwise affect:

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

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

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

(c) This order is intended only to improve the internal management of the
Federal Government and is not intended to, and does not, create any right
or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by a
party against the United States, its departments, agencies,
instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any other
person.

Sec. 6. Termination. Unless the Task Force is sooner terminated by the
President, the Attorney General may terminate the Task Force by a written
notice of its termination published in the Federal Register.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE,

May 10, 2006.

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