RECORD TYPE: PRESIDENTIAL (TRP NOTES MAIL) CREATOR: Kumiki S. Gibson ( CN=Kumiki S. Gibson/O=OVP [ OVP ] ) CREATION DATE/TIME: 8-JUN-1996 12:50:54.00 SUBJECT: EXECUTIVE ORDER ON EMPOWERMENT CONTRACTING TO: Ron Klain ( CN=Ron Klain/O=OVP @ OVP [ OVP ] ) READ:UNKNOWN CC: Debbie B Bengtson ( CN=Debbie B Bengtson/O=OVP @ OVP [ OVP ] ) READ:UNKNOWN TEXT: When we last spoke about this, you told me that the VP & POTUS did not talk about this at the last lunch and that you prefer the CEB idea (which makes sense since the EO, along with our EZ/EC program, will likely be part of the US Conf of Mayors speech). Anyway, if you still feel like this, outlined below is some language for the memo for the next lunch, whenever that it. (If POTUS & VP go with the CEB idea, we will have to work hard to have something new to say. We can cross that bridge when we come to it.) Anyway, let me know what happens with this: Executive Order on Empowerment Contracting As you know, the President has expressed interest in highlighting the Executive Order on Empowerment Contracting, which he signed on May 21, 1996. You should advise the President that you are working to ensure that it is part of his speech to the U.S. Conference of Mayors on June 22, 1996 and recommend that the two of you convene a (open press) meeting of the Community Empowerment Board, in which you can discuss the Executive Order with the other members of the Cabinet. A. U.S. Conference of Mayors Without question, the President should discuss the Executive Order during his June 22, 1996, address the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Cleveland. This event presents us with an opportunity to highlight new and existing initiatives the Administration is promoting that will benefit cities, including the proposed second round of EZs and ECs, the proposed Brownfields tax incentive, the recently-signed Executive Order on locating Federal facilities to historic districts in central business areas, and the Executive Order on Empowerment Contracting. Moreover, this Executive Order has received support from urban advocates, including the representatives of several mayors and cities. B. Meeting of the Community Empowerment Board In addition, you and the President should highlight the Empowerment Contracting Order (and the launch of the program) by convening a meeting of the Community Empowerment Board, which will be open to the press. This forum is suitable because the CEB is coordinating a number of initiatives designed to help cities, including the proposed second round of EZs and ECs and the proposed Brownfields tax incentive. In addition, a CEB meeting will allow you to involve members of the Cabinet in promoting this initiative, some of whom (including HUD, Labor, and SBA) will help Commerce design the program. Finally, with a focused meeting, we will provide our supporters with an opportunity to applaud the Order. (As you know, we have received the favorable response about the empowerment contracting proposal from advocates of urban economic development, including mayors' representatives, and civil rights and minority business groups, especially when it is cast as one of the Administration's community empowerment (urban development) initiatives.) C. Homeownership Event The President may ask you what you think about highlighting the Executive Order at a homeownership event, as some of his advisors have suggested. They believe that this forum will allow the President to underscore our differences with Republicans in our approaches on both capital gains tax relief and affirmative action. You should advise the President that we will likely lose our empowerment contracting message in such a forum. More importantly, perhaps, we may lose the support of the civil rights and minority business groups if we suggest that this place-based procurement strategy is an appropriate alternative or replacement for traditional (race-based) affirmative action. (As noted above, these groups support this Executive Order insofar as it helps distress communities.)