HHS Annual Regional Tribal Consultations: Region 4
2024-08-14 - 2024-08-15 | 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

HHS Annual Regional Tribal Consultations: Region 6
2024-08-20 - 2024-08-22 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States

USDA Forest Service - Tribal Forum - Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Policy
2024-08-20 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event
Please join the USDA Forest Service for an August 20, 2024, Tribal Forum on Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Policies. The USDA Forest Service is pursuing a range of climate change adaptation and mitigation policies to protect, conserve, and manage national forests and grasslands for climate resilience. This Tribal Forum will focus on the first series of policy revisions to address water quality best management practices, water data, recreation fee waivers, and fire management in wilderness, wild and scenic rivers.

Tribal Forum Details
Date: August 20, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Register in Advance: Meeting Registration – Zoom (zoomgov.com)
**If the above registration link does not work, please copy and paste this URL into your web browser: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsd-CvpjkvGo7coWnxDXm9rMTPI25k1Pk**
The Forest Service recently completed a climate-oriented review of national policies and procedures in response to Secretary Vilsack’s Memorandum on Climate Resilience and Carbon Stewardship and the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on Climate Resilient Forests and Grasslands. This review and input received during National Tribal engagement and public comment informed options for climate-adaptive changes to agency policy, guidance, and program implementation involving carbon stewardship, water and watersheds, wildlife, planning, wood product innovation, and outdoor recreation. Please note that opportunities to consult on the ANPR will remain available until its conclusion. More information on the ongoing opportunity to consult is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/tribal-relations/national-consultation#CurrentConsultation. The Forest Service will extend separate invitations to consult on specific climate adaptation and mitigation policy revisions.
The agency is beginning to develop the first in this series of options to modernize and adapt current Forest Service internal guidance and procedures to better anticipate, identify, and respond to rapidly changing conditions associated with climate amplified impacts. The upcoming Tribal forum will focus on an initial set of four potential changes to the Forest Service Manual and Handbook. Over the next several years, we anticipate future opportunities for Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations to engage on additional climate adaptation and mitigation policy reforms.
For more information, or to request consultation on the proposed policies, please contact your regional Tribal relations program manager or Reed Robinson, Director of the Office of Tribal Relations in Washington, DC, at SM.FS.otrtribalcon@usda.gov. Thank you.

Tribal Consultation on Executive Order 14112
2024-08-20 13:30 - 16:30 | Virtual Event
Venue: ZoomGov
Date: August 20, 2024
Time: 2:30-5:30 p.m. ET
Register
On August 20, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) will conduct a Tribal Consultation on the implementation of Executive Order 14112 (EO). The purpose of this consultation will be to receive meaningful input from American Indian and Alaska Native communities to ensure that your views inform how the Department may increase the flexibility of funding, remove barriers and limitations, and reduce administrative burdens to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with applicable law. This consultation will advance the Department’s commitment to working with other Federal agencies to uphold the U.S. Government’s Federal trust responsibility described in Executive Orders 13175 and 14112.
The consultation will be conducted by the Department’s 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 and other Department officials.

DOI Division of Facility Management and Construction Tribal Consultations
2024-08-27 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-08-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
August 27 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Eastern
Register in advance
August 29 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Eastern
Register in advance
The Office of Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs (AS-IA), Office of Facilities, Property, and Safety Management (OFPSM), Division of Facility Management and Construction (DFMC), will be conducting two virtual consultation sessions seeking Tribal oral and written comments and input to a new facilities Operation and Maintenance (O&M) funding formula for how the Federal Government requests O&M funds.
Per the Department of the Interior’s Federal Real Property Profile (FRPP), O&M funds the following:
Operations, which is defined as the costs for services related to the normal performance of functions for which the facility is used (include contracted services when applicable but exclude Federal personnel costs). Examples include but are not limited to utilities, cleaning/janitorial, roads/grounds, and actual operations costs. All services include personnel, equipment and supplies.
Maintenance, which is defined as the recurring annualized costs for planned activities needed to maintain an asset’s functionality and capacity over its expected life. This includes but is not limited to planned and scheduled activities such as inspections, preventive maintenance, refinishing, painting, weatherproofing, and parts replacement. This also includes costs for contracted maintenance services and other expenses and supplies required to perform recurring activities to maintain the asset. Actual repair expenditures are included in the annual maintenance costs. Included are costs for personnel, supplies, and materials.
The current allocation formula for O&M funding as implemented in 1990 was based on having access to a comprehensive asset inventory with component level costing. This approach relies on having granular, current, and accurate data maintained by each individual site for each building.
The DFMC would like to stream-line and make transparent calculating O&M allocations, which includes data that is readily available in the Indian Affairs – Facility Management System (IAFMS), which is currently Maximo.
During these Tribal Consultations, DFMC is requesting your input on what considerations you think should be included in a formula to calculate total O&M needs that will support annual budget requests. Areas of consideration DFMC is seeking input include the following.

Should a formula be based on industry best practice standards and utilize data that is readily available in the Indian Affairs — Facility Management System (IA-FMS), which is currently Maximo, or are Tribes open to new types of facility data being collected if the
information is not in Maximo?
Some calculation factors for the formula being considered are gross square feet (GSF) of
facilities, location (nearest reference city), type of facility, and age of facility. Are these effective factors or are there other aspects that should be taken into account?

The DFMC would also like your input on the distribution methodology. The DFMC proposes that O&M funds will be distributed on a pro rata percentage basis based on the calculated need and the O&M funds that are appropriated.
These one ( 1) hour virtual consultation sessions will provide the opportunity for the Tribal Nations to provide input and comment on the new formula for determining O&M needs for budget requests in future years.

Department of the Interior (DOI) Consultation and Listening Sessions on Proposed Rule: Federal Acknowledgement of Tribal Nations (25 CFR 83)
2024-09-03 12:00, 2024-09-05 14:00 | Virtual Event
Consultation Session on September 3 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Register
Listening Session on September 5 at 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
The DOI will be holding a consultation session for Tribal Nations on Tuesday, September 3 at 1:00 p.m. ET on whether it should reconsider its prior decision to ban re-petitioning under 25 CFR Part 83, “Procedures for Federal Acknowledgment of Indian Tribes.” This section determines the regulations establishing the process and criteria for how the DOI administratively acknowledges Tribal Nations. A listening session will also be held for present, former, and prospective petitioners on Thursday, September 5 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
The DOI initially proposed continuing the ban on re-petitioning and conducted two tribal consultations and one listening session in June 2022. After reviewing the written comments and transcripts of the consultations and listening sessions, the DOI is now proposing to create a limited exception to the ban through the implementation of a re-petition authorization process.

NPS Transcontinental Railroad Tribal Consultation Sessions
2024-09-04 15:30, 2024-09-30 16:00 | Virtual Event
September 4 at 4:30 pm Eastern
Join via MS Teams Link
September 30 at 5:00 pm Eastern
Join via MS Teams Link
The National Park Service (NPS) will be conducting two virtual Tribal consultations sessions to share information on the National Park Service’s multi-year and multi-state effort to study the history, legacy, and impacts of the Transcontinental Railroad. The Transcontinental Railroad program (TCRR) seeks to study, engage, and develop programming that tells the full story of this route.
Program background: In 2019, via the Golden Spike NHP act, Sec. 2205 of Public Law 116-9 (the Dingell Act) Subsection (c) the United States Congress charged the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) with establishing a program that commemorates and interprets the Transcontinental Railroad. This new national program spans three NPS Regions (Regions 3, 4, & 5, (Midwest) Regions 6, 7, & 8 (Intermountain,) and Regions 8, 9, 10, & 12 (Pacific West) as it follows the historic railway connecting Iowa to California at Golden Spike National Historical Park in Utah.
How to engage: As a federally recognized Tribal Nations with connections to the railroad’s complex legacy, they invite you and/or other Tribal representatives to join them in shaping the future of this program. They invite your participation at whatever level you would like to be engaged. They respectfully wish to honor the level of contributions of time and energy you are willing and able to provide.

Visit this project’s planning page on NPS Planning, Environment & Public Comment (PEPC) platform: parkplanning.nps.gov/TCRRstudy to submit comments, find planning documents, and access other meeting links.

The National Park Service looks forward to building and growing their relationship with you. Their goal is to provide a full and inclusive telling of this complex story and codify that Indigenous perspectives are essential to this route’s significance. If you have additional questions, please email them.

USDA Emergency Tribal Consultation on FDPIR Supply Chain Disruptions
2024-09-12 08:00 | Hybrid Event, TN
September 12 at 9:00 am Eastern
Register
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is hosting an emergency Tribal Consultation regarding the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) supply chain disruptions on Thursday, September 12.
In-person (Washington, D.C.) / Virtual (Zoom)
A template proxy letter can be found here. Proxy letters should be addressed to Betsy Rakola, Acting Director for the USDA Office of Tribal Relations, via Tribal.Relations@usda.gov by Monday, September 9.

Department of Treasury Tribal Consultation | Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Program
2024-09-13 12:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
September 13 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
Pursuant to the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, the NPRM proposes revisions to strengthen and modernize the anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) programs maintained by financial institutions—including casinos and other entities that may be owned by Tribes or Native entities.
For more information and proposed questions, please see the attached Dear Tribal Leader Letter or visit the Tribal Consultation page on Treasury’s website. Treasury is accepting written comments received by October 18, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Alaska Time.
Please submit written comments at tribal.consult@treasury.gov.

White House Briefing on the 30th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act
2024-09-13 12:30 | Virtual Event
The White House Office of Public Engagement invites you to a briefing on the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), landmark bipartisan legislation that President Biden has championed for decades.
You will be joined by Jennifer Klein, Director of the Gender Policy Council, Arati Prabhakar, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and other administration officials to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to address gender-based violence as well as new actions that will be announced this week. Please see below for details and a registration link.
White House Briefing on the 30th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act
Featuring: Jennifer Klein, Director of the Gender Policy Council
Arati Prabhakar, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
WHEN: Friday, September 13th, 1:30 PM
WHERE: https://pitc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_5Go5u55HRU2phQMS_TS_zQ (-> whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com)

ACF Annual Tribal Consultation
2024-09-18 12:00 - 15:30 | Virtual Event
September 18 at 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern
Register
During the sessions, ACF leadership will engage with Tribal leaders on issues important to the Tribes and ACF Tribal program priorities. Topics include ACF implementation of EO 14112 and integration processes for the 477 program. Please see this consultation agenda for more information.

SBA Tribal Consultation on HUBZone Program Updates and Clarifications and Potential Reforms
2024-09-23 13:00 - 16:00 | Hybrid Event, TN
Tribal Consultation for HUBZone Program Updates and Clarifications and Potential Reforms
Federal Register :: Tribal Consultation for HUBZone Program Updates and Clarifications and Potential Reforms
AGENCY:
U.S. Small Business Administration.
ACTION:
Notification of Tribal consultation meeting; request for comments.
SUMMARY:
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) announces that it is holding a Tribal consultation meeting in Washington, DC, concerning forthcoming proposed revisions to the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program regulations. The proposed rule would amend the 8(a) Business Development (BD) and size regulations to clarify certain policies. Additionally, SBA requests comments and input on how best to implement the Executive order entitled “Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations To Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination,” which, among other things, calls on agencies to increase the accessibility, equity, flexibility, and utility of Federal funding and support programs for Tribal Nations. SBA is also seeking comments on prospective policy changes addressing joint venture participation in SBA’s programs. Testimony presented at this Tribal consultation will become part of the administrative record for SBA’s consideration when the Agency deliberates on approaches to changes in the HUBZone and 8(a) BD program regulations.
DATES:
The meeting is Monday, September 23, 2024, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Pre-registration for this Tribal consultation meeting is requested by September 16, 2024.
ADDRESSES:
Meeting Locations:

The in-person Tribal consultation meeting in Washington, DC will be held at SBA Headquarters, 409 Third Street SW, Washington, DC 20416.
The virtual portion of the Tribal consultation meeting will be hosted on Microsoft Teams. A subscription to Microsoft Teams is not required to participate. SBA will provide further information, including a direct invitation link to the meeting, upon registration.

Commenters and attendees may participate in-person or remotely at this consultation meeting.
Pre-registration: Send pre-registration requests to attend and/or testify to Chequita Carter of SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW, Washington, DC 20416; Chequita.Carter@sba.gov; or Facsimile to (202) 481-2177.
Comments: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

Email: to Jackson S. Brossy, Assistant Administrator, Office of Native American Affairs, U.S. Small Business Administration, at tribalconsultation@sba.gov.
Mail (for paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions): to Jackson S. Brossy, Assistant Administrator, Office of Native American Affairs, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW, Washington, DC 20416.

HHS/IHS Tribal Consultation on CSC
2024-09-25 12:00 - 16:00, 2024-09-26 09:30 - 12:30, 2024-10-01 08:30 - 11:30, 2024-10-03 11:30 - 14:30, 2024-10-09 12:00 - 16:00 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
September 25 at 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Register
Location: Virtual
September 26 at 9:30 am – 12:30 pm Central
Register
Location: Dallas, Texas
October 1 at 9:30 am – 12:30 pm Eastern
Register
Location: Washington, DC
October 3 at 9:30 am – 12:30 pm Pacific
Register
Location: Seattle, Washington
October 9 at 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Register
Location: Virtual
Please email your written comments and recommendations for this Tribal Consultation to
consultation@ihs.gov. Use the SUBJECT LINE: CSC Methodology for Program Income.
The deadline for transmitting written comments for this Tribal Consultation is
Friday, October 11, 2024.
Over the past 60 days, the Contract Support Cost Advisory Group (CSCAG), made up of Federal
and Tribal members met three times, to discuss needed changes to the existing funding
methodology to address the calculation of CSC on expenditures of program income. The
CSCAG’s charge includes providing advice and recommendations on the Indian Health Service
(IHS) CSC policy, as well as identifying priorities and issues for improvement.
The principles that have been agreed upon by CSCAG members are to take an approach with the
broadest applicability, which aligns as much as feasible with the current CSC policy. During this
timeframe, CSCAG members identified a few areas of agreement, as well as a few areas for
additional discussion. Overall, there remains a considerable amount of work to be accomplished
by the CSCAG and IHS staff to implement a modified methodology.
The IHS is requesting input from all Tribal Leaders, as the implementation of a modified
methodology to negotiate and pay CSC on expenditures of program income can have broad
budgetary implications for Tribes that receive direct services, as well as compacting and
contracting Tribal Nations.
During this Tribal Consultation, they plan to convene three in-person Consultation sessions and
two virtual Consultation sessions to allow multiple opportunities to provide feedback on the
Agency’s proposals to calculate CSC related to expenditures of program income. Details about
the Consultation sessions are provided in the Dear Tribal Leader Letter.
Throughout the CSCAG’s discussions, there were a few recurring topics of particular interest to
this Tribal Consultation. The IHS invites your recommendations and feedback broadly on the
expansion of the CSC policy, as well as the necessary changes required to implement CSC
calculations on expenditures of program income.
Due to the variability of how T/TOs collect program income expenditure data, the IHS is seeking
your recommendations on how to estimate initial amounts, as well as reconcile CSC annually.

CMS Listening Session | Long Term Supports and Services
2024-09-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
September 26 at 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register
The National Indian Health Board is partnering with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to host a Tribal listening session on long term services and supports (LTSS). We invite Tribal leaders, Tribal technical assistants, Tribal health professionals, and Tribal citizens to attend the session and share recommendations and best practices to improve LTSS in Tribal communities. LTSS are a critical part of the Indian health system for Tribal elders and Tribal citizens with disabilities and/or chronic illness. With limited IHS appropriations to support LTSS, reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid can help support LTSS in Tribal communities— please join us to share your thoughts and recommendations. To learn more about CMS’s role in LTSS, visit the LTSS Technical Assistance Center.

DOI and DOJ Roundtable Discussion on : Increasing Media Coverage of the MMIP and HT Crise
2024-09-26 14:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
September 26 at 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
As part of the Federal response to the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations on how to combat the missing and murdered Indigenous persons and Human Trafficking crises, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice are committed to holding a roundtable to discuss best practices regarding the issue of fair and equitable media coverages of these issues, which have been underfunded and under-reported for decades.
This roundtable will provide a venue for dialogue between Tribal leaders, advocates, journalists, and Federal agencies to discuss this issue. The conversation will inform the development of a set of guidelines and best practices called for in the Commission’s report.
For questions, please contact Josh Barnett, Director, Office of Public Affairs, AS-IA, at email joshua.barnett@bia.gov.

Tribal Town Hall: Draft HHS Tribal Data Access Policy and HHS Tribal Epidemiology Center Data Access Policy
2024-09-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
September 27 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Register
On September 4, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced two new policies on data access.   One policy would be for Tribes, and one for Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs).  According to HHS, “the revised documents reflect the input received from Tribal leaders in prior consultation, as well as internal HHS working group experts.” In order to help prepare for the upcoming consultation, NIHB will host a Tribal Town Hall to hold space for Tribes, TECs, and other stakeholders to discuss any needed revisions or support for these policies. NIHB will provide a brief overview of the HHS draft policies and the open it up for discussion on the call.

Treasury Tribal Consultation: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Clean Electricity Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Amount Program
2024-09-27 12:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
September 27 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
The Clean Electricity Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Amount Program promotes cost-saving clean energy investments in low-income communities, on Indian land, as part of affordable housing developments, and directly benefiting low-income households. The proposed rules address the technology neutral version of the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program under 48(e) of the IRS Code. In 2025, 48(e) will be replaced by section 48E(h) and we welcome your comment on the proposed rules. Notably, we are interested in hearing Indian Country’s views on the preservation of certain aspects of 48(e) and additional enhancements proposed in these rules.
For more information and proposed questions, please see the attached Dear Tribal Leader Letter. Treasury is accepting written comments received by October 18, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Alaska Time.
Please submit written comments at tribal.consult@treasury.gov.

Department of Energy: Electric Vehicle Working Group Public Meeting
2024-09-30 12:00 | Virtual Event
September 30 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Register
The DOE is holding a virtual public meeting of the Electric Vehicle Working Group (EVWG), formed by the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to make recommendations to the Secretaries of Energy and Transportation regarding the development, adoption, and integration of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty electric vehicles into the U.S. transportation and energy systems.

OMB Listening Session on Revisions to Uniform Guidance
2024-09-30 12:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
September 30 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
Once your register, you will receive a confirmation email and a unique participant link. If registration is not possible, or if you have trouble registering, please email tribalconsultation@omb.eop.gov.
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is holding a Tribal listening session to provide updated information on the revisions to Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), also known as the Uniform Guidance. This Tribal listening session will be held virtually on September 30, 2024 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM ET.
2 CFR is OMB’s guidance on Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal financial assistance awards. The revision of this OMB guidance was conducted to reduce administrative burden for non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards while reducing the risk of waste, fraud and abuse.
The purpose of this Tribal listening session is for OMB to provide an overview of the changes to the Uniform Guidance, which reduce burden, clarify existing requirements, and provide additional flexibilities to Federal agencies and Federal financial assistance recipients. This listening selection will highlight many of the critical revisions OMB made to the Uniform Guidance with a particular focus on changes that relate to Tribal governments as federal award recipients.
The listening session will also include a comment period for questions and comments. As is custom, we will prioritize Tribal leader participation in this listening session; please note that Tribal listening sessions are not for press purposes.

HHS Tribal Consultation on Updated Draft Tribal and TEC Data Access Policies
2024-10-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
he U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of the Deputy Secretary, is initiating Tribal consultation on two new draft policies: (1) the HHS Tribal Data Access Policy, and (2) the HHS Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC) Data Access Policy . The revised documents reflect the input received from Tribal leaders in prior consultation, as well as internal HHS working group experts. We ask that you please review the enclosed draft policies to offer your comments and recommendations to assist in the preparation of the final policies. Comments are welcome on all aspects of the drafts. Please see this Dear Tribal Leader Letter for full details.
HHS invites you to provide your input and feedback on the draft policies through one or both of the following methods:

Virtual Consultation
Date: October 1, 2024
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM EST
ZoomGov Registration:
https://hhsgov.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsde2grj8uGGIprr2dP29JGZRIFRw3MWc
Written Comment
Please send comments by October 31, 2024, via one of the following methods:
• Email: consultation@hhs.gov
• Subject Line: (please submit comments on each draft separately)
o HHS Tribal Data Access Policy
o HHS TEC Data Access Policy
• Postal Mail:
Bertha Alisia Guerrero, Director
Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs
200 Independence Ave. SW
Mail Stop: 620E
Washington, DC 20201
HHS is also pleased to announce its new Tribal Data Access Website is now live at https://cdo.hhs.gov/s/tribal-data (-> click.connect.hhs.gov). We encourage you to bookmark this link and check it regularly for updates. We will be posting the final HHS Tribal and Tribal Epidemiology Center Data Access Policies, FAQs, and new Division-specific materials here as they are available. We also welcome input during consultation about additional information or features you would like to see on this site.Enclosures:

Dear Tribal Leader Letter
HHS Tribal Data Access Policy
HHS TEC Data Access Policy

Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women Webinar
2024-10-02 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual Event
October 2 at 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern
Register
Please join the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) to learn about national concerns and emerging issues in preparation for the 19th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation this November. This webinar will feature the co-chairs of the NCAI’s Violence Against Women Task Force as they outline key priorities for addressing violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and survivors of violence.

White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council Public Meeting
2024-10-09 09:00 - 20:00 | The Jackson Center, 6001 Moquin Drive NW, Huntsville, AL, 35806, United States
October 9 at 9:00 am – 8:00 pm Central
Register
The WHEJAC will convene an in-person public meeting with a virtual option on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central Time. Meeting discussions will focus on several topics including, but not limited to, workgroup activities, panel discussions, updates from the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and other federal agencies, and new formal charges for the WHEJAC.

FEMA Tribal Consultation to Discuss the NFIP's Community Rating System Redesign
2024-10-10 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Framing Paper
Thursday, October 10 at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Register
Wednesday, October 16 at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Register
FEMA will host virtual Tribal consultations with Tribal Nations to discuss suggested approaches for a redesigned CRS.
The purpose of the redesign is to enhance the CRS’s effectiveness, promote resilience, and mitigate the financial impacts of flooding on communities. CRS Redesign is a multi-year effort intended to take a comprehensive look at the CRS program, exploring both incremental improvements and bold shifts in approach.
FEMA is exploring the future of the CRS with a focus on ways the agency can improve the CRS to:

Incentivize communities to take measurable actions and make sustained progress that reduces current and future flood risk;
Embed equity as a foundation of the Community Rating System program;
Incentivize communities to promote property owners to purchase flood insurance to reduce their financial exposure to flood risk; and
Deliver a community participant-centered and modernized program.

The CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements in the NFIP. The agency is evaluating the CRS’s potential to provide ongoing support for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments’ goals and needs around floodplain management.
