Notice2023-11405
USDA Equity Commission
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 30, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture Department
Abstract
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), that a public meeting of the USDA Equity Commission (EC or Commission), Subcommittee for Agriculture and the Rural Community Economic Development (RCED) Subcommittee will convene to continue its work reviewing USDA programs, services, and policies for the purpose of making recommendations for how the Department can improve access and advance equity.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 103 (Tuesday, May 30, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34473-34474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11405]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
USDA Equity Commission
AGENCY: USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public and virtual meeting.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the
rules and regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), that a public
meeting of the USDA Equity Commission (EC or Commission), Subcommittee
for Agriculture and the Rural Community Economic Development (RCED)
Subcommittee will convene to continue its work reviewing USDA programs,
services, and policies for the purpose of making recommendations for
how the Department can improve access and advance equity.
DATES: The EC meeting will be held Tuesday, June 27 through Thursday,
June 29, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. EST to 6:00 p.m. EST each day.
Oral Comments: The Commission is providing the public an
opportunity to provide oral comments and will accommodate as many
individuals and organizations as time permits. Persons or organizations
wishing to make oral comments must pre-register by 11:59 p.m. ET, June
13, 2023, and may only register for one speaking slot. Participants who
wish to make oral comments must also be available to attend a tech-
check before the meeting. Instructions for registering and
participating in the meeting can be found on <a href="https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission">https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission</a>.
Written Comments: Written public comments for consideration at the
meeting will be accepted on or before 11:59 p.m. ET, June 13th.
Comments submitted after this date will be provided to the Commission,
but the Commission may not have adequate time to consider those
comments prior to the meeting. The USDA Equity Commission strongly
prefers comments be submitted electronically. However, written comments
may also be submitted (i.e., postmarked) via mail to the person listed
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section by or before the
deadline. Written comments will be accepted up to 15 days after the
meeting for inclusion in the meeting minutes.
Meeting Access:
The public can participate via a zoom meeting link. Access
information will be provided to registered individuals via email.
Detailed information can be found at: <a href="https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission">https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cecilia Hernandez, Designated Federal
Officer, USDA Equity Commission, Office of the Deputy Secretary, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Room 6006-S, Washington, DC 20250-0235; Phone:
(202) 913-5907; Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3d784c485449445e525050544e4e5452537d484e595c135a524b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3b7e4a4e524f42585456565248485254557b4e485f5a155c544d">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission and Subcommittees are
authorized under section 1006(b)(3) of the American Rescue Plan Act of
2021, Public Law 117-2 (the Act) and operates in compliance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. app. 10.
On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order on
Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through
the Federal Government and committed to creating the USDA Equity
Commission as part of his rural agenda and commitment to closing the
racial wealth gap and addressing longstanding inequities in
agriculture. Section 1006 of the American Rescue Plan directed USDA to
create the Equity Commission and provided funds sufficient to ensure
the Commission is well staffed and positioned to deliver on its charge.
The USDA Equity Commission will advise the Secretary of Agriculture
and provide USDA with an analysis of how its programs, policies,
systems, structures, and practices contribute to barriers to inclusion
or access, systemic discrimination, or exacerbate or perpetuate racial,
economic, health and social disparities and recommendations for action.
The Agriculture Subcommittee reports to the Equity Commission and
provides recommendations on issues of concern related to agriculture.
The Rural Community Economic Development Subcommittee (RCED) also
reports to the Equity Commission and is focused on issues related to
rural community prosperity. The Equity Commission delivered an interim
report and provided actionable recommendations in February 2023. A
final report will be completed by winter of 2024.
Meeting Agenda: The agenda items may include, but are not limited
to, welcome and introductions; administrative matters; introduction and
presentation of the Agriculture
[[Page 34474]]
Subcommittee and Rural Community Economic Development Subcommittee
recommendations; and deliberations and voting of recommendations to be
included in the EC final report. Please check the USDA Equity
Commission website (<a href="https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission">https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission</a>) for an
agenda 24-48 hours prior to June 27.
Register for the Meeting: The public is asked to pre-register for
the meeting by visiting <a href="https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission">https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission</a>. Your
pre-registration must state: your name; organization or interest
represented; if you are planning to give oral comments; and if you
require special accommodations. USDA will also accept day-of
registrations.
Meeting Accommodations: USDA is committed to making its electronic
and information technologies accessible to individuals with
disabilities by meeting or exceeding the requirements of Section 508 of
the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended. If you need
reasonable accommodations, please make requests in advance for
reasonable accommodations through the meeting registration link on
<a href="https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission">https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission</a>. Determinations for reasonable
accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its
agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital
status, family or parental status, income derived from a public
assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for
prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or
funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and
complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Equal opportunity practices in accordance with USDA's policies will
be followed in all appointments to the Committee. To ensure that the
recommendations of the Committee have taken in account the needs of the
diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall include to the extent
possible, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent
minorities, women and person with disabilities. USDA is an equal
opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages
other than English.
Dated: May 24, 2023.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-11405 Filed 5-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-P
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