DOE O 1320.1, Departmental Communications

l 1 I 1 I I l I J t • • U.S. Department of Energy ORDER Washington, D.C. DOE 1320.1 9-26-78 SUBJECT: DEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS 1. PURPOSE. To establish the Department of Energy (DOE) standards on elimi­ nating gender-specific terminology from all DOE communications. 2. SCOPE. The provisions of this Order apply to all elements of the Depart­ ment, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 3. 4. 5. BACKGROUND. An 8-26-77 Presidential Memorandum requested the heads of all Federal executive departments and agencies cooperate in elimi­ nating sex discrimination from their laws, regulations, guidelines, programs, and policies. A copy of the memorandum is attached. The Attorney General, through the Task Force on Sex Discrimination, is coordinating the review and revision process. POLICY. It is the Department's policy that gender-specific termi­ nology will not be used in correspondence, and will be eliminated from revised and newly proposed regulations, directives, laws, guide­ lines, programs, and policies. PROCEDURE. In formulating regulations, directives, laws, guidelines, programs, and policies, and in writing correspondence or communicating with other Government organizations or to the general public, words, statements, and visual examples shall, by the use of sex neutral language, avoid gender-specific references unless such are necessary. Precise terms, such as "his or hers," "the applicant's," "the licensee's," or "the administrator's," should be used to avoid misconceptions supported by the use of gender specifics. FOR THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY: DISTRIBUTION: All Departmental Elements Federal Energy Regulatory Commission WilliamS. Heffelfinger Director of Administration INITIATED BY: Office of Organization and Management Systems • Attachment 1 ~. Page 1 (and Page 2) · Sex Discrimination MMADrand- /or lA• HMill o/ E.uculiw D•~Mrl-u end AI~· Alllllll 2f, JJ77 .Memorar~dum for lhe Heads of Execu· liue DtjHlrtments ond Agencies Today, on the anniversary of the ratifi· cation of the Women's Suffrage Amend· ment, I am requesting the Attorney Gen­ eral and aU the Federal agencies to co­ operate in eliminating sex discrimination from the laws and policies of the United States. This country has a commitment to equality of opportunity for aU citizens, yet a recent report from the Civil Rights Commiuion indicates that sex discrimi­ nation still exists in some Federal laws and policies. Last year the Department of Justice was directed to develop a plan for reviewing and revising Federal laws that discriminate on the basis of sex. At the re­ quest 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 un­ equal treatment based on sex. Some agen­ cies 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 additional information where neceuary and that they develop proposa1a DOE 1320.1 9-26-78 to change any laws, regulations and poli­ cies which discriminate on the basis of sex.

I am directing the Attorney General, as chief law officer of the Federal govern­ ment, to coordinate all of the activities undertaken by the departments and agen­ cies to eliminate sex discrimination. He has sent a letter to each agency today giv­ ing details of the propo~Cd procedures. Where statutory revision or repeal ia necessary, J wiU recommend to the Con­ gress that appropriate legislation be en­ acted. Where executive action will suf­ fice, I will take appropriate steps to en­ sure that benefits and opportunities pro­ vided by the Federal government are made equally available to all, regardless of sex. In taking this action, we intend to re­ tain 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 pro­ vided 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 govern­ ment, which ia actively involved in eliminating sex discrimination in many areas, should not uphold it in othen. It is my hope that the project initiated today will result in such a model and the goal of equal rights and opportunity for all our ci~ns under the law will be realized. jDUIY CAan.a 0 & M Analysts 4 Personnel & Management Analysis Br. Organization & Personnel Division