United South & Eastern Tribes

HHS Briefing for Tribal Communities on Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis
2024-05-28 15:30 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event
Please join ADM Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Dr. Loretta Christensen, Chief Medical Officer at the Indian Health Service (IHS), and Dr. Laura Bachman, Acting Director of the Division of STD Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a briefing on the federal response to syphilis and congenital syphilis in Tribal communities. The briefing will be on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 4:30pm ET.
Briefing for Tribal Communities on Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis
Date: Tuesday, May 28
Time: 4:30-5:00pm ET
Please register at:
https://hhsgov.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsduqurTotH1xNSH08pV3x2-Qx7SEODu0#/registration (-> click.connect.hhs.gov)

HHS Annual Regional Tribal Consultations: Region 2
2024-05-30 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States
Dear Tribal Leader:
I write to invite you to the 2024 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Annual Regional Tribal Consultations that will be held across the country. The Regional Consultations provide regional forums for Tribes to share their views, concerns, and recommendations with HHS officials on health and human services priorities. We hope the consultations will provide a venue for two-way conversations between Tribal leaders and HHS officials.
As in previous years, Regional Consultations will also include opportunities for Tribes to meet one-on-one with regional leadership. These sessions are intended to provide Tribes with time to discuss their specific health and human service issues with HHS officials. Please contact your Regional Tribal Liaison for further information on signing up for a one-on-one session. The contact information for each of the Regions is listed in an appendix to this letter.
Below are the dates for the 2024 Regional Consultations:
May 1-3: Region 10 (Hybrid)
Silver Reef Hotel Casino Resort
4876 Haxton Way
Ferndale, WA 98248
May 14-15: Region 9 (In-person)
University of Nevada – Las Vegas
4505 S Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89154
May 30: Region 2 (Primarily in-person, hybrid option)
St. Regis Mohawk
Akwesasne Mohawk Resort
873 NY-37, Hogansburg, NY 13655
June 12-13: Region 5 (In-person)
Pending
June 20: Region 1 (Virtual)
ZoomGov
June 25-26: Region 7 (In-person)
Bolling Federal Office Building
601 East 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
July 16-17: Region 3 (In-person)
Chickahominy Indian Tribe
8200 Lott Cary Road
Providence Forge, VA 23140
July 29-30: Region 8 (In-person)
Denver Art Museum
100 W 14th Ave. Pkwy
Denver, CO 80204
August 14-15: Region 4 (Primarily in-person, hybrid option)
Eastern Band of Cherokee
Building location TBD
August 20-22: Region 6 (Hybrid)
MetroTech Conference Center
1900 Springlake Dr.
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Additional details are forthcoming, including registration links and agendas, and will be communicated directly through each Region to their area’s respective Tribes, as well as via the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) Tribal Affairs Bi-Weekly Newsletter (please sign up for our listserv here).
Thank you for your continued support of the consultation process. We look forward to your participation and ongoing partnership. In the interim, please contact the IEA Tribal Affairs team at consultation@hhs.gov with any questions.
Respectfully,
Bertha Alisia Guerrero, Director
Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs
Appendix: Regional Tribal Liaison Contact Information

Region 1: Taylor Bryan Turner taylor.bryanturner@hhs.gov
Region 2: Sean Hightower sean.hightower@hhs.gov
Region 3: Melissa Herd melissa.herd@hhs.gov
Region 4: Natalia Cales natalia.cales@hhs.gov
Region 5: Melissa Watt melissa.watt@hhs.gov
Region 6: Julia Lothrop julia.lothrop@hhs.gov
Region 7: Nick Clasen nickolas.clasen@hhs.gov
Region 8: Elsa Ramirez elsa.ramirez@hhs.gov
Region 9: Schuyler Hall schuyler.hall@hhs.gov
Region 10: Priya Helweg priya.helweg@hhs.gov

USDA Tribal Consultation on increased and expanded Tribal self-determination policies
2024-06-03 12:00 - 15:00, 2024-06-03 15:30 - 18:30, 2024-06-05 12:00 - 15:00 | Hybrid Event, TN
USDA Tribal Consultations on Expanding Tribal Self Determination Policies at USDA
(Hybrid: In-person and virtual)
Taking Place during the NCAI Mid-Year at Cherokee, North Carolina
Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Forestry Consultation
June 3 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register
Meat Inspections Consultation
June 3 at 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern
Register
Food and Nutrition Programs Consultation
June 5 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register

All attendees, including those attending in-person, must register/RSVP above. The Zoom link will allow you to choose “Virtual” or “In-Person.”
This will be a formal Tribal Consultation. Tribal leaders and proxies will have the floor in a nation-to-nation consultation. Tribal leaders may formally designate proxies to attend and speak on their behalf, and/or may call on subject matter experts to speak on their behalf during the consultation. Proxies may submit their proxy forms, which are enclosed with this letter to tribal.relations@usda.gov.

FCC Tribal Consultation on Missing and Endangered Persons (MEP) Event Code NPRM
2024-06-03 14:00 - 15:30 | Harrah’s Cherokee Resort and Casino, 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC, 28719, United States
Greetings from the Federal Communications Commission.
We are pleased to announce that on Monday, June 3rd, Office of Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP) staff will hold a Tribal consultation session from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. EDT to coincide with the National Congress of American Indians Mid Year 24 Convention and Marketplace in Cherokee, North Carolina. This session will be an informational presentation and opportunity for Tribal consultation on the Federal Communications Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing that a new “Missing and Endangered Person” (MEP) event code be added to the nation’s Emergency Alert System. Further information about the FCC’s MEP event code proceeding can be found online at www.fcc.gov/MEP.
ONAP is coordinating Tribal consultation on the NPRM to facilitate substantive engagement with federally recognized Tribal Nations and Native Hawaiian Organizations. As part of the consultation process, Tribal leaders are invited to present statements and comments which, at the option of the Tribal leader, ONAP will enter into the formal record for the proceeding with the goal of ensuring that the FCC considers Tribal input on this important issue.
ONAP’s consultation session is available to anyone attending NCAI’s conference on June 3rd and we encourage you to attend and participate. We also invite Tribal leaders to send their statements regarding the FCC’s proposal in advance, if possible, or after the consultation. Please send statements to Native@fcc.gov which is an email inbox monitored by ONAP staff.
These consultations will be facilitated by ONAP, and in addition to Tribal leaders, may be of special interest to communications and broadcasting personnel; social services, public safety and emergency management personnel; Tribal law enforcement; and other interested representatives from your Nation.
Filing Public Comments
We also encourage you to submit written comments directly to the docket for this proceeding via the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System, using the following docket numbers: PS 15-91 and PS 15-94. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024, announcing that public comments were due May 20, 2024, and reply comments are due June 17, 2024.
If you have questions or seek further information please write to Native@fcc.gov, or visit www.fcc.gov/office-native-affairs-and-policy.
Bambi Kraus
Chief, Office of Native Affairs and Policy

U.S. DOJ Tribal EJ Consultation
2024-06-05 12:00 - 14:00, 2024-07-11 13:00 - 15:00 | Hybrid Event, TN
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
June 5 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
During the NCAI Mid-Year 2024 Annual Conference
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
777 Casino Drive
Cherokee, NC 28719
July 11 at 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Virtual
Register
Submit your written comments either by email to OTJ@usdoj.gov or by mail to Office of Tribal Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001 by August 16, 2024.

Tribal Consultation on the Build America, Buy America Act and Tribal Data Sovereignty
2024-06-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader,
On June 13, 2024, from 2-5 p.m. ET, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will conduct a Tribal Consultation on the implementation of the Build America, Buy America Act and Tribal data sovereignty. This consultation advances the Department’s commitment to uphold the federal trust responsibility as described in Executive Order 13175 – Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments and Executive Order 14112 – Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination.
The Tribal consultation will be conducted by the Office of Indian Education and facilitated by the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities.
Register for the Tribal Consultation.
Please follow the registration link above to participate in the consultation. To maintain online security, each attendee must register individually, and registration cannot be transferred to or used by others. Once you have completed registration, an individualized access link for the session will be sent to you with additional information.
Written Comment Period
Written public comments for both topics will only be collected through the TribalConsultation@ed.gov email address. The comment period is now open, and all comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 15, 2024. The Department of Education remains steadfast in its commitment to honor the nation-to-nation relationship and advance Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
A Tribal government may designate information provided during the consultation as “sensitive” and request non-disclosure of the information to the public. Certain federal laws, including the Freedom of Information Act, may require disclosure of information designated sensitive by a Tribal government. Questions about this notice can be sent to TribalConsultation@ed.gov. This consultation is a closed press event.
Background
Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA)

On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act P.L. 117-58 (IIJA) into law. A component of the IIJA is the Build America, Buy America Act (Division G, Title IX of the IIJA) (BABAA).
BABAA establishes for all covered Federal agencies (including the U.S. Department of Education (ED)), the following domestic content procurement preference requirement: “none of the funds made available for a Federal financial assistance program for infrastructure…may be obligated for a project unless all of the iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in the project are produced in the United States.”
At ED, infrastructure and the corresponding BABAA domestic sourcing requirements are generally limited to construction and broadband infrastructure.
After review and a public comment period, ED may waive BABAA requirements when (1) applying the preference would be inconsistent with the public interest; (2) types of iron, steel, manufactured products, or construction materials are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities or of a satisfactory quality; or (3) the inclusion of iron, steel, manufactured products, or construction materials produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25 percent.
For ED, BABAA requirements went into effect as of October 1, 2022.
ED consulted with Tribes on August 23, 2022, regarding BABAA implementation before that implementation date. ED also heard consultation with Tribal Nations through a September 21, 2022, consultation hosted by the White House Council on Native American Affairs and other agencies.
Since that time, OMB has established regulations regarding BABAA implementation, which are available at 2 CFR part 184, and supporting guidance in M-24-02 – Implementation Guidance on Application of Buy America Preference in Federal Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure.

ED has 4 agency-level waivers currently in effect:

Public Interest Tribal Consultation Waiver for Financial Assistance Agreements with Tribes: Applicable 2/7/2024 – 2/6/2025. This waiver applies to federally recognized Tribes, including their governmental arms and instrumentalities, or Tribal organizations (Federal financial assistance recipients who are Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) are included in the scope). The waiver allows the use of non-domestic iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials in infrastructure projects and activities. The waiver applies to grants obligated on or after 2/7/2024, and, in the case of grants obligated before 2/7/2024, but after 10/01/2022, the waiver applies to all expenditures for non-domestic iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials incurred after 2/7/2024.
De Minimis, Small Grants, and Minor Components Waiver: Applicable 7/31/2023 – 7/30/2028. The De Minimis element sets a De Minimis infrastructure project purchases threshold of 5% of total applicable project costs. Applicable project costs are defined as material costs subject to the Buy America domestic content procurement preference up to a maximum of $1,000,000. The Small Grants element applies to awards with total federal funding at or below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, which is currently set at $250,000. The Minor Components element allows infrastructure grantees to use non-domestically produced miscellaneous minor iron and steel components comprising no more than 5% of the total material cost of an otherwise domestically produced iron and steel product. This waiver applies to infrastructure grants obligated on or after 7/31/2023, and, in the case of grants obligated before 7/31/2023, but after 10/01/2022; the waiver will apply to all expenditures for non-domestic iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials incurred after 7/31/2023.
Public Interest Waiver for the Pacific Island Territories of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa: Applicable 1/2/2024 – 1/1/2025. This waiver permits the use of non-domestic iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials in infrastructure projects located within the Pacific Island Territories (PITs) when the total Federal award exceeds the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, currently set at $250,000. The waiver applies to PIT infrastructure grants obligated on or after 1/2/2024, and, in the case of grants obligated before 1/2/2024, but after on or after 10/01/2022, the waiver applies to all expenditures for non-domestic iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials incurred after 1/2/2024.
Public Interest Waiver for Certain Previously Planned Infrastructure Projects: Applicable from 11/3/2023 – 11/2/2025. Waives BABAA requirements for ED awards obligated on or after 11/3/2023 that support (i) contracts that ED grantees entered into prior to 10/1/2022 and/or (ii) contracts entered into before 3/1/2023 resulting from solicitations published before 5/14/2022. For awards and amendments that otherwise meet these criteria but which were obligated before 11/3/2023, the waiver applies to eligible expenditures on or after 11/3/2023.

Listed below are the Department-administered grant programs subject to the BABAA requirements that are more likely to award grants to Tribes or Tribal organizations:

Alaska Native Education (Assistance Listing Number 84.356A)
American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (Part F) (ALN 84.031D)
American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (ALN 84.031T)
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part C
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)- HBCU, TCCU, and MSI Research and Development Infrastructure Program (ALN 84.116H)

Data Sovereignty
High-quality, culturally relevant data collection is critical to meeting the educational needs of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AI/AN and NH) students. In 2018, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ Broken Promises report found that under 2007 guidelines (72 FR 59266), the Department collected data reports only from AI/AN students, who did not indicate that they were ‘multiracial’. This guideline will be updated with the Office of Budget and Management’s (OMB) revisions to Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity. Along with federal data, Tribal Nations have a sovereign right to collect, use, manage, and access their data.
The Department is seeking input from Tribal Leaders and Tribal Education Departments regarding the development, collection, protection, and application of data sovereignty, including as it relates to education, student counts, traditional knowledge, and Native languages.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
FERPA (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99), is a federal law that is administered by the Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) in the U.S. Department of Education (Department) that provides certain rights for parents regarding their children’s education records. When a student reaches 18 years of age or attends an institution of postsecondary education at any age, he or she becomes an “eligible student,” and all rights under FERPA transfer from the parent to the student. FERPA applies to schools that receive funding under any program administered by the Department. Private and faith-based schools at the elementary and secondary levels generally do not receive such funding and are, therefore, generally not subject to FERPA.
FERPA protects “education records,” which are generally defined as records that are directly related to a student and maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution. An “educational agency or institution,” generally means a school district, a public elementary or secondary school, or an institution of postsecondary education such as a college or university.
Under FERPA, an educational agency or institution generally may not disclose personally identifiable information (PII), from a student’s education records to a third party unless the student’s parent has provided prior written consent. However, there are a number of exceptions to FERPA’s general consent requirement that permit a school to disclose PII from education records without consent, but they are not required to do so by FERPA. For more information regarding FERPA, please visit our student privacy website at: https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/ (-> l9nnctdbb.cc.rs6.net). In addition, here are two specific resources that may be helpful:

A Parent Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Letter to UTAH SEA Regarding Disclosures to Indian Tribes-April 2005

The Department supports data transparency consistent with relevant statutory requirements. For example. https://data.ed.gov/ (-> l9nnctdbb.cc.rs6.net) provides access to the Department’s open data.
Consultation Questions
Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA)

What questions do Tribes have about the BABAA requirements? How would you prefer those questions be addressed? Are there particular formats or contexts for responding to questions that would be most useful?
Is your Tribe currently implementing any infrastructure projects using ED funds? If so, have you faced any BABAA-related challenges?
Does your Tribe generally source iron, steel, manufactured products, and/or construction materials from the United States?
Are there particular types of materials that you find particularly challenging to source in the United States?
How can ED assist Tribes in implementing the BABAA requirements?
Has your Tribe made use of an ED agency level BABAA waiver? If so, which one? Do you have any feedback you would like to share in terms of the process? If not, do you plan to use one in the future?
What other recommendations do Tribes have for ED related to BABAA policy, procedures, waivers, and guidance?

Data Sovereignty

The Department uses data to inform its budget, grantmaking, and other decisions. What sources of information or data on the performance and needs of Native American students, teachers, and schools do you believe should inform these processes the Department?
What types of data do you use to gather information about education and/or AI/AN and NH students? Is this public information? If so, please share sources with the Department.
Given existing statutory limitations, what recommendations do you have for promoting educational data sovereignty?
What recommendations do you have for specific federal reforms regarding the use of traditional knowledge in the U.S. educational system?
How can the federal government co-manage data with tribal governments, tribal organizations, and tribal colleges and universities including Native-serving institutions in postsecondary education?

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
How does FERPA impact a Tribe’s and/or Tribal Education Department’s ability to receive student-level data from educational agencies or institutions?

a DOJ Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation on Telemedicine Regulations
2024-06-13 14:00, 2024-06-27 14:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Framing Paper

June 13 at 3:00 pm Eastern
June 27 at 3:00 pm Eastern

If you are interested in attending one or both virtual consultations, please respond to OTJ@usdoj.gov by June 11, 2024, and include the name(s) and email addresses of your representatives. If you do not have reliable access to email you are welcome to join by phone; please call (202) 514-8835 if you will need to join by phone and be sure to leave a contact name and phone number in your message. Written comments will be welcome.

In response to the two March 2023 NPRMs, DEA received at least six comments from Alaskan Native and American Indian (AN/AI) organizations expressing concerns about the proposed telemedicine regulations. Among their concerns was DEA’s assertion that there would be no direct impact on Tribal communities, which they argued was inaccurate. They contended that despite the telemedicine exception for certain Indian Health Services and Tribal practitioners there would still be a substantial direct effect on Tribal communities given the limited practical and legal scope of the exception under 21 USC 802(54)(C).
Based on the comments received regarding the two NPRMs and presentations at the September 2023 Telemedicine Listening Sessions, DEA requests interested Tribal communities and persons to share concerns and feedback regarding the practice of Telemedicine and its impact on Tribal communities.
DEA, in coordination with the US Department of Justice Office of Tribal Justice (OTJ), will be hosting two virtual consultations.

FCC ONAP Tribal Consultation on Missing and Endangered Persons (MEP) Event Code NPRM
2024-06-13 15:00 - 17:00 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States
June 13 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm in Phoenix, Arizona at the Heard Museum (2301 North Central Avenue)
This Tribal consultation will be on the Federal Communications Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing that a new “Missing and Endangered Person” (MEP) event code be added to the nation’s Emergency Alert System. Further information about the FCC’s MEP event code proceeding can be found online at www.fcc.gov/MEP.
To register, please visit ONAP’s event registration page and fill out the requested information: www.fcc.gov/onap-event-registration. After you register, ONAP staff will confirm your registration and provide logistical information by email from Tribal.Events@fcc.gov.
ONAP is coordinating Tribal consultation on the NPRM to facilitate substantive engagement with federally recognized Tribal Nations and Native Hawaiian Organizations. In addition to Tribal leaders, this consultation may be of special interest to communications and broadcasting personnel; social services, public safety and emergency management personnel; Tribal law enforcement; and other interested representatives from your Nation.
As part of the consultation process, Tribal leaders are invited to present statements and comments which, at the option of the Tribal leader, ONAP will enter into the formal record for the proceeding with the goal of ensuring that the FCC considers Tribal input on this important issue. There will be time on the agenda for a discussion and listening session for other Tribal representatives after Tribal leaders have presented their statements and comments during the consultation.
They invite Tribal leaders to send their statements regarding the FCC’s proposal in advance, if possible, or after the consultation. Please send statements to Native@fcc.gov which is an email inbox monitored by ONAP staff.
Filing Public Comments
They also encourage you to submit written comments directly to the docket for this proceeding via the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System, using the following docket numbers: PS 15-91 and PS 15-94. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024, announcing that public comments were due May 20, 2024, and reply comments are due June 17, 2024.
If you have questions or seek further information please write to Native@fcc.gov, or visit www.fcc.gov/office-native-affairs-and-policy.

FCC’s Office of Native Affairs and Policy Virtual Tribal Consultation and Listening Session
2024-06-17 12:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
June 17 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
The FCC is pleased to announce that on Monday, June 17, 2024, the FCC’s Office of Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP) will hold a virtual Tribal Consultation and Listening Session from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT.
To register for this event, please visit the ONAP event registration page and fill out the requested information. After you register, you will receive an email confirming your registration with instructions for joining the session.
About this Event
This Tribal Consultation and Listening Session will focus on the Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing that a new “Missing and Endangered Persons” (MEP) event code be added to the nation’s Emergency Alert System. Further information about the FCC’s MEP event code proceeding can be found online at www.fcc.gov/MEP.
ONAP was directed by the Commission to coordinate Tribal consultation on the NPRM to facilitate substantive engagement with federally recognized Tribal Nations and Alaska Native villages. In addition to Tribal leaders, this consultation may be of special interest to Tribal law enforcement personnel; social services; communications and broadcasting personnel; public safety and emergency management personnel; and other interested representatives from your Nation.

Entering Statements into the Formal Record
As part of the consultation process, Tribal leaders will be invited to present statements and comments which, at the option of the Tribal leader, ONAP will enter into the formal record for the proceeding with the goal of ensuring that the FCC considers Tribal input on this important issue.
They invite Tribal leaders to send written versions of their statements regarding the FCC’s proposal in advance of the June 17th virtual consultation, if possible, or after the consultation. Please send statements to Native@fcc.gov which is an email inbox monitored by ONAP staff.
There will be time on the agenda for a discussion and listening session for other Tribal representatives after Tribal leaders have presented their statements and comments during the consultation. ONAP staff will provide a summary of comments made by such participants for the official record, in accordance with the Commission’s rules for ex parte presentations in “permit but disclose” proceedings.
Filing Public Comments
They also encourage you to submit written comments directly to the docket for this proceeding via the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System, using the following docket numbers: PS 15-91 and PS 15-94. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024, announcing that public comments were due May 20, 2024, and reply comments are due June 17, 2024.
If you have questions or seek further information please write to Native@fcc.gov, or visit www.fcc.gov/office-native-affairs-and-policy.

Department of Defense Listening Session to discuss environmental justice goas and overall implementation approach
2024-06-18 09:00 - 10:30, 2024-06-20 12:00 - 13:30, 2024-06-20 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
DOD EJ Strategy Draft Goals and Approach
The Department of Defense has scheduled three regional virtual listening sessions to discuss DoD’s draft environmental justice (EJ) goals and overall implementation approach, as required under Executive Order (E.O.) 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All. E.O. 14096 requires Federal agencies to engage with the public while developing their EJ Strategic Plans. These listening sessions are designed to gather feedback from federally recognized Tribal Nations on DoD’s draft goals and overall implementation approach.
June 18 at 10:00 am – 11:30 am Eastern (Region East/South/Midwest)
Register
June 20 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern (Region Rocky Mountain/Southwest/West)
Register
June 20 at 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern (Region Alask/Pacific Northwest)
Register

HHS Annual Regional Tribal Consultations: Region 1
2024-06-20 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States

FDA All Tribes Call on the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption Relating to Agricultural Water (Agricultural Water Final Rule)
2024-06-24 14:00 | Virtual Event
June 24 at 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
On May 22, 2024, FDA issued a Dear Tribal Leader Letter inviting all federally recognized Tribes to an All Tribes Call on June 24, 2024, at 3:00pm EST. This call will be to discuss the recently released Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption Relating to Agricultural Water (Agricultural Water Final Rule) issued under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
The rule represents an important step towards enhancing the safety of produce, as agricultural water can be a major conduit for pathogens that can contaminate produce.
During the call, FDA will provide an overview of the final rule and address submitted questions from Tribes and take live comments and questions posed by those in attendance.
The final rule replaces certain pre-harvest agricultural water requirements for covered produce (other than sprouts) in the 2015 produce safety rule with requirements for systems-based agricultural water assessments to determine and guide appropriate measures to minimize potential risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water. Specifically, this rule:

Establishes requirements for agricultural water assessments that evaluate a variety of factors that are key determinants of contamination risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water; this includes an evaluation of the water system, water use practices, crop characteristics, environmental conditions, potential impacts on water from adjacent and nearby land, and other relevant factors;
Includes testing pre-harvest agricultural water as part of an assessment in certain circumstances;
Requires farms to implement effective mitigation measures within specific timeframes based on findings from their assessments. Hazards related to certain activities associated with adjacent and nearby land uses are subject to expedited mitigation; and
Adds new options for mitigation measures, providing farms with additional flexibility in responding to findings from their pre-harvest agricultural water assessments.

The rule also finalizes the dates for compliance with the pre-harvest agricultural water requirements for non-sprout covered produce as follows:

For very small farms: 2 years, 9 months after the effective date of the final rule
For small farms: 1 year, 9 months after the effective date of the final rule
For all other farms: 9 months after the effective date of the final rule

The call is a virtual event. To participate in the call, you must register here. Registration will remain open until the day of the call.
The call will be recorded and posted to the FDA Tribal Affairs webpage.
Additional Information:

FSMA Final Rule on Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water

Please feel free to contact me or FDA’s IGA staff at IGA@fda.hhs.gov if you have any questions.

Office of Hearing and Appeals Tribal Consultation
2024-06-25 11:00, 2024-07-01 15:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
June 25 at 11:00 am Central
Join Zoom link
Meeting ID: 161 603 7373
Passcode: [REDACTED]
July 1 at 3:00 pm Central
Join Zoom link
Meeting ID: 161 558 5067
Passcode: [REDACTED]
The Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) is revising its procedural regulations located in Title 43 of the
Code of Federal Regulations, Part 4. These regulations govern hearings and appeals proceedings before
the Department of the Interior’s administrative tribunals–the Departmental Cases and Hearings Division
(DCHD), the Probate Hearings Division (PHD), the Interior Board of Indian Appeals (IBIA), the Interior
Board of Lands Appeals (IBLA), and the OHA Director’s Office.
Your input is requested on these revisions, through which OHA seeks to:

Promote expeditious and impartial review of administrative decisions;
Reflect changes in the law;
Reorganize and retitle subparts to improve clarity;
Eliminate redundant language and outdated procedures; and
Keep pace with technological and other advancements, including the establishment of a
regulatory framework for an E-filing and case docket management system.

If you have any written input you would like to provide, please send it to doiohacomments@oha.doi.gov
by August 2, 2024, to ensure timely consideration.

National Space Council Tribal Consultation
2024-07-08 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-07-08 12:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
July 8 at 10:00 am – 12:00 am Eastern
Register
July 8 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Register

White House Virtual Consultation on E.O. 14112 Section 4(a) on Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination
2024-07-08 14:30 - 16:30 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, the White House Domestic Policy Council, the White House Office of Management and Budget, and the White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) invite you to a virtual consultation with Biden-Harris Administration leadership on Monday, July 8, 2024, from 3:30pm – 5:30pm ET, on Section 4(a) of Executive Order 14112 on Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination.
(a) Within 240 days of the date of this order, the Director of OMB and the Domestic Policy Advisor shall, in consultation with the head of each agency that is a member of WHCNAA, and in consultation with Tribal leaders or their designees, develop guidance for assessing the additional funding each agency needs for its existing Federal funding and support programs for Tribal Nations to better live up to the Federal Government’s trust responsibilities and help address the needs of all Tribal Nations.
The Executive Order (EO) demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s respect for Tribal sovereignty and its commitment to ushering in the next era of Tribal self-determination and embracing our trust responsibility by directing agencies to:

identify chronic shortfalls in Federal funding and support programs for Tribal Nations and;
submit recommendations to the President describing the additional funding and programming necessary to better live up to the Federal Government’s trust responsibilities and help address the needs of all Tribal Nations.

Date: Monday, July 8, 2024
Time: 3:30pm – 5:30pm ET
Registration link
During this consultation, Biden-Harris Administration leadership will seek Tribal leader feedback on important considerations to include as part of the guidance to federal agencies on how to assess funding needs for Tribal Nations. Tribal leaders are invited to provide comments and recommendations during this session and/or provide written comments and recommendations by Friday, August 9, 2024. Please submit written comments via email at whcnaa@bia.gov.
Tribal leaders are welcome to send any questions regarding the consultation to whcnaa@bia.gov.

Department of Homeland Security Tribal Consultation on the Draft DHS Environmental Justice Strategic Plan
2024-07-08 15:00 - 16:30, 2024-07-10 09:30 - 11:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Draft Strategic Plan

July 8, 2024, 4:00 pm-5:30 pm, Eastern Standard Time
Join the meeting now via Teams
Meeting ID: 215 004 995 667
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Phone (audio only): +1 202-516-6093, 725254450#
July 10, 2024, 10:30 am-12:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time
Join the meeting now via Teams
Meeting ID: 283 976 750 330
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Phone (audio only): +1 202-516-6093 ,292227657#

DHS invites you to consult on the draft DHS Environmental Justice Strategy. Two virtual Tribal consultations will be held in July. The purpose of this government-to-government consultation is to gather Tribal Nations’ feedback prior to finalizing the Environmental Justice Strategic Plan.
Please consider the following questions during your review and our virtual consultations:

How can DHS ensure that the final DHS EJ Strategic Plan adequately addresses the specific
environmental justice concerns and priorities of Tribal Nations?
Are there any key elements or strategies missing from the attached draft Plan that should be
included to better support environmental justice initiatives with Tribal Nations?
What steps can we take to enhance the tribal consultation process with Tribal Nations to
continue to garner input on the DHS EJ Program and address Tribal environmental justice
concerns?

If you require a reasonable modification or a disability-related aid or service to participate in the
virtual consultation meetings, please contact the DHS Environmental Justice Program at
DHSEnvironmentalJustice@hq.dhs.gov no later than Monday, July 1, 2024. For free language
services, including written translation or oral interpretation of this document or the draft EJ
Strategic Plan, or to request this document or the draft EJ Strategic Plan in alternate formats such
as Braille or large print, please contact us at crcl@hq.dhs.gov.
For the agenda, draft EJ Strategic Plan, and more information on the DHS Environmental Justice
Program, please visit www.dhs.gov/dhs-and-environmental-justice.
They request that written comments on the draft DHS EJ Strategic Plan be provided via email by
Monday, July 22, 2024, to DHSEnvironmentalJustice@hq.dhs.gov.

FEMA National Disaster Recovery Framework Tribal Consultations
2024-07-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Framing Paper
NDRF slide deck
July 15 at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Register
July 18 at 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern
Register
FEMA will host virtual tribal consultations with Tribal Nations to discuss the update of the National Disaster Recovery Framework (2016), which explains how the federal government supports disaster impacted Tribal Nations as they recover from disasters and provides a framework to support Tribal Nations planning for and leading their own recovery operations. FEMA’s Interagency Coordination Division (ICD) originally began the NDRF version 3 update in 2021 before strategically pausing at the end of 2022 to align with other ongoing recovery priorities. In February 2024, the effort began again, specifically focused on improving the following five issue areas that partners have identified as important areas for updating – recovery scope, roles and responsibilities, capacity and resources, planning, and data metrics.
Tribal Nations can submit their comments and any questions via email with the subject line “NDRF – Written Comments” to fema-tribal@fema.dhs.gov. Feedback and comments are due by August 9, 2024.

DOI Tribal Consultation on the Progress Act
2024-07-15 15:00 - 18:00, 2024-07-17 13:00 - 16:00, 2024-07-19 14:00 - 17:00 | TN
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
The Department of the Interior released its DTLL announcing its proposed rule amending regulations governing implementation of subchapter IV of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) and the Department’s Tribal Self-Governance Program. The PROGRESS Act called for these updates. The Department has submitted the Proposed Rule to the Federal Register. Once the proposed rule is published it can be found here: https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/indian-affairs-bureau#documents.
The attached letter identifies the Consultation dates and locations as follows:
July 15 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm PT – Seattle, WA – In person meeting
Henry M. Jackson Federal Building
North Auditorium
915 2nd Ave., Seattle, WA 98174
July 17 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm CT – Bloomington, MN – In person meeting
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Auditorium
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
3815 American Blvd E, Bloomington, MN 55425
July 19 – Phoenix, AZ – In person meeting
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
National Training Center Classroom
9828 N 31st Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85051
July 22 – Virtual Zoom Meeting
Register
Written comments must be submitted by August 22, 2024.
****************************************************************
Here is a link to view a plenary discussion that took place during the 2024 Tribal Self-Governance Conference on the PROGRESS Act rulemaking process and the proposed regulations: https://vimeo.com/948087505?share=copy

HHS Annual Regional Tribal Consultations: Region 3
2024-07-16 - 2024-07-17 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States
