Live Entertainment for National Hispanic Heritage Week and Unauthorized Procurement Action

The Spanish Speaking Program was established as a component of the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Program by presidential proclamation on November 5, 1970. By this action, the Bureau of Mines was authorized to institute a Spanish Speaking Program. A feature of this program, live ethnic music, misrepresented as training rather than entertainment, was procured through use of appropriated funds. However, in the absence of specific authority in statute or regulations, appropriated funds may not be expended to procure entertainment for employees. Therefore, all future entertainment expenses whether or not in connection with Equal Employment Opportunity programs will not be allowed.