MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES FROM JIMMY CARTER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M00165A002200090005-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2006
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: August 26, 1977
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2006/08/02 : CIA-RDP80M00165A002200090005-7
August 26, 1977
Today, on the anniversary of the ratification of the
Women's Suffrage Amendment, I am requesting the
Attorney General and all the Federal agencies to
cooperate in eliminating sex discrimination from the
laws and policies of the United States.
This country has a commitment to equality of opportunity
for all citizens, yet a recent report from the Civil
Rights Commission indicates that sex discrimination
still exists in some Federal laws and policies. Last
year the Department of Justice was directed to develoF
a plan for reviewing and revising Federal laws that
discriminate on the basis of sex. At the request of
this Administration, Congress has recently appropriated
funds for the Task Force on Sex Discrimination in the
Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice to
implement the plan.
I am now requesting the heads of all Federal agencies
and departments to initiate a comprehensive review of
all programs which they administer in order to identify
any regulations, guidelines, programs or policies which
result in unequal treatment based on sex. Some agencies
have already begun such efforts.
I am requesting that the head of each department and
agency cooperate with the Attorney General in collecting
and furnishing existing information and developing addi-
tional information where necessary and that they develop
proposals to change any laws, regulations and policies
which discriminate on the basis of sex.
MORI/CDF
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I am directing the Attorney General, as chief law
officer of the Federal government, to coordinate all
of the activities undertaken by the departments and
agencies to eliminate sex discrimination. He has sent
a letter to each agency today giving details of the
proposed procedures.
Where statutory revision or repeal is necessary, I will
recommend to the Congress that appropriate legislation
be enacted. Where executive action will suffice, I will
take appropriate steps to ensure that benefits and oppor-
tunities provided by the Federal government are made
equally available to all, regardless of sex.
In taking this action, we intend to retain and possibly
expand any existing protections and benefits provided
for homemakers and families. We believe that offering
opportunity to all should not threaten or diminish the
protection provided those performing special functions in
our society.
Federal law should be a model of non-discrimination for
every state and for the rest of the world. The Federal
government, which is actively involved in eliminating
sex discrimination in many areas, should not uphold it
in others.
It is my hope that the project irritated today will result
in such a model and the goal of equal rights-and oppor-
tunity for all our citizens under the law will be
realized.
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Approved For Release 2006/08/02 : CIA-RDP80MOO165AO02200090005-7
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EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
Routing Slip
ACTION
INFO
DATE
INITIAL
i
DCI
2
DDCI
3
D/DCI/IC
4
DDS&T
5
DDI
6
DDA
7
DDO
-
-!
8
D/DCI/NI
9
GC
10
LC
ii
IG
12
Compt
13
D/Pers
14
D/S
15
DTR
16
A/DCI/PA
17
AO/DCI
18
C/IPS
19
DCI/SS
20
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21
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22
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Approved For Release 2006/08/02 : CIA-RDP80M00165AO02200090005-7