Recognizing and Honoring Women's History, 22327-22329 [2024-06931]

Agencies

• Executive Office of the President

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 63 (Monday, April 1, 2024)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 22327-22329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06931]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 89 , No. 63 / Monday, April 1, 2024 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 22327]]

                Executive Order 14121 of March 27, 2024

                
Recognizing and Honoring Women's History

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Policy. Women and girls of all backgrounds 
                have shaped our country's history, from the ongoing 
                fight for justice and equality to cutting-edge 
                scientific advancements and artistic achievements. Yet 
                these contributions have often been overlooked. We must 
                do more to recognize the role of women and girls in 
                America's story, including through the Federal 
                Government's recognition and interpretation of historic 
                and cultural sites.

                It is the policy of my Administration to recognize and 
                honor the diverse trailblazers--including women and 
                girls--who have contributed to the fabric of our 
                Nation. One of the National Park Service's important 
                functions is serving as the Nation's storyteller by 
                managing a constellation of sites on behalf of the 
                American public that, together, help preserve and honor 
                different chapters in our Nation's history. The 
                National Park Service honors trailblazing women and 
                their contributions to the Nation, from Harriet Tubman 
                and Eleanor Roosevelt, to Rosie the Riveter and Mamie 
                Till-Mobley. Still, women's history is vastly 
                underrepresented in our National Park System, creating 
                an important opportunity to strengthen our Nation's 
                recognition of the role of women in shaping this 
                country.

                This order directs actions that will strengthen the 
                Federal Government's recognition of women's history and 
                the achievements of women and girls from all 
                backgrounds. It builds on steps I have taken to advance 
                equity and equality across the Federal Government and 
                to help tell a more complete story of our Nation's 
                history, including through Executive Order 14020 of 
                March 8, 2021 (Establishment of the White House Gender 
                Policy Council), Executive Order 13985 of January 20, 
                2021 (Advancing Racial Equity and Support for 
                Underserved Communities Through the Federal 
                Government), and Executive Order 14091 of February 16, 
                2023 (Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for 
                Underserved Communities Through the Federal 
                Government). By honoring the women leaders of the past, 
                we tell a more complete story of America and help build 
                a more equal and equitable present and future.

                Sec. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this order:

                    (a) The term ``sites of national importance'' 
                includes National Park ``System units'' as defined in 
                54 U.S.C. 100102 (by reference to 54 U.S.C. 100501), 
                national monuments designated by the Congress or by the 
                President pursuant to 54 U.S.C. 320301, and National 
                Historic Landmarks designated under 36 C.F.R. part 65.
                    (b) The term ``theme studies'' means studies 
                conducted by the National Park Service pursuant to 36 
                C.F.R. 65.5(a) to identify historic properties in the 
                United States that are nationally significant to a 
                specific area of American history.

                Sec. 3. Recognizing and Honoring Women's History. (a) 
                Within 180 days of the date of this order, to 
                strengthen the Federal Government's recognition of 
                women's history, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
                submit a report to the President that:

[[Page 22328]]

(i) includes an assessment of existing sites of national importance that 
are directly related to women's history, whether managed by the Department 
of Defense, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, 
the Department of Commerce, or any other executive branch entity; and

(ii) identifies opportunities within sites of national importance to 
highlight important figures and chapters in women's history.

                    (b) To strengthen the Federal Government's 
                recognition of women's history:

(i) The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct an overview theme study 
specific to women's history that identifies major topics in women's history 
to be addressed by a series of subsequent theme studies. The overview theme 
study and plan for additional studies shall address prominent women and 
girls in key periods of United States history, such as pre-European 
contact, Colonial America, the American Revolution, the abolition and 
suffrage movements, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the Progressive Era, 
the Great Depression and New Deal, World War II and post-war, the civil 
rights and women's rights movements, and contemporary America, among other 
topics. It also shall highlight women and girl leaders in advocacy and 
social movements, defense, diplomacy, education, law, medicine, the 
sciences, conservation and environmental protection, sports, the arts, or 
other professions and disciplines, as appropriate.

(ii) The Secretary of the Interior shall review previously completed theme 
studies and issue a report to help ensure representation of women's history 
in sites of national importance. This review of completed theme studies 
should include, among others, sites of national importance focused on or 
linked with the histories of Latino Americans; Asian Americans and Pacific 
Islanders; African Americans; people of Indigenous descent; and lesbian, 
gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex Americans; as well as 
American civil rights and labor histories. The report shall adopt an 
intersectional approach by including women from different backgrounds and 
communities and shall reflect diversity in factors such as gender, race, 
sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, Tribal 
affiliation, disability, age, geography, income, and socioeconomic status.

(iii) To inform relevant actions the Department of the Interior will take 
over the next 10 years, the Secretary of the Interior shall request 
recommendations from the National Park System Advisory Board on ways to 
improve the recognition of women's history across Federal parks, lands, and 
programs, including through historic designations and national monument 
designations. The Secretary of the Interior shall request that the National 
Park System Advisory Board produce interim recommendations to the Secretary 
within 270 days of the date of this order and produce final recommendations 
within 1 year of the date of this order.

                    (c) The Secretary of the Interior shall make 
                available the findings from the overview theme study 
                and series of subsequent theme studies conducted 
                pursuant to subsection (b)(i) of this section to the 
                Director of the Smithsonian American Women's History 
                Museum and the corresponding council established in 20 
                U.S.C. 80t-2, for consideration, as appropriate, in 
                developing their own exhibits.

                Sec. 4. Implementation. The Secretary of the Interior 
                shall consult with the Assistant to the President and 
                Director of the White House Gender Policy Council, the 
                Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic 
                Policy Council, and the Chair of the Council on 
                Environmental Quality in implementing this order.

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

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

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

[[Page 22329]]

                    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with 
                applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.
                    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, 
                create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or in equity by any party against 
                the United States, its departments, agencies, or 
                entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any 
                other person.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    March 27, 2024.

[FR Doc. 2024-06931
Filed 3-29-24; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P