THE WHITE HOUSE
  Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release July 26, 2000

EXECUTIVE ORDER 13163
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INCREASING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, and in order to promote an
increase in the opportunities for individuals with disabilities to be
employed at all levels and occupations of the Federal Government, and to
support the goals articulated in section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 791), it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Increasing the Federal Employment Opportunities for
Individuals with Disabilities.  (a) Recent evidence demonstrates that,
throughout the United States, qualified persons with disabilities have
been refused employment despite their availability and qualifications,
and many qualified persons with disabilities are never made aware of
available employment opportunities. Evidence also suggests that
increased efforts at outreach, and increased understanding of the
reasonable accommodations available for persons with disabilities, will
permit persons with disabilities to compete for employment on a more
level playing field.

(b) Based on current hiring patterns and anticipated increases from
expanded outreach efforts and appropriate accommodations, the Federal
Government, over the next 5 years, will be able to hire 100,000
qualified individuals with disabilities. In furtherance of such
efforts, Federal agencies shall:

(1) Use available hiring authorities, consistent with
statutes, regulations, and prior Executive orders and
Presidential Memoranda;
(2) Expand their outreach efforts, using both traditional and
nontraditional methods; and
(3) Increase their efforts to accommodate individuals with
disabilities. (c) As a model employer, the Federal Government will take the lead
in educating the public about employment opportunities available for
individuals with disabilities.
(d) This order does not require agencies to create new positions or
to change existing qualification standards for any position.

Sec. 2. Implementation. Each Federal agency shall prepare a plan
to increase the opportunities for individuals with disabilities to be
employed in the agency. Each agency shall submit that plan to the
Office of Personnel Management within 60 days from the date of this
order.

Sec. 3. Authority to Develop Guidance. The Office of Personnel
Management shall develop guidance on the provisions of this order to
increase the opportunities for individuals with disabilities employed in
the Federal Government.

Sec. 4. Judicial Review. This order is intended only to improve
the internal management of the executive branch and does not create any
right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or
equity by a party against the United States, its agencies, its officers,
its employees, or any person.
 
 

WILLIAM J. CLINTON
 

THE WHITE HOUSE,
July 26, 2000.