SBA Tribal Consultation on HUBZone Program Updates and Clarifications and Potential Reforms
2024-09-23 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | 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.

NPS Transcontinental Railroad Tribal Consultation Sessions
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.

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, 2024-10-16 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.

Social Security Administration Tribal Consultation
2024-10-15 13:00, 2024-10-17 09:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
October 15 at 2:00 pm Eastern and
October 17 at 10:00 am Eastern
RSVP to AIAN.EC@ssa.gov and let them know which date (October 15th or October 17th) you plan to attend. You will receive the Framing Questions and Agenda documents as an attachment with your calendar invite.
Their Tribal Consultation Call to Action Plan expanded partnerships across federal agencies to Urban Indian Organizations sharing their objective to increase Video Service Delivery sites, promoting Native language initiatives, and providing free monthly training webinars on SSA programs and policies. They seek to learn the pros and cons of the proposed framing questions to provide direct input into SSA policies, procedures, and priorities and to assist in providing strong consultations, round table discussions, and listening sessions.
If you wish to provide comments in writing, by November 29, 2024, please send written comments to Social Security Administration at AIAN.EC@ssa.gov.

Department of Justice Tribal Consultation on funding for Tribal public safety and criminal justice systems
2024-10-22 17:30 - 19:00, 2024-10-30 14:45 - 16:15, 2024-11-04 14:00 - 16:00 | Multiple Locations
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Framing Paper
Register for one of the sessions below.
October 22 at 2:30-4:00 pm Alaska Time
Southcentral Foundation, Mt. Ahklun Building Gathering Room
4501 Diplomacy Dr.
Anchorage, AK 99508
This consultation session will be held in coordination with the Alaska Intertribal Technical Assistance Working Group meeting. Up-to-date information can be found on the meeting information page, linked above.
October 30 at 12:45-2:15 pm Pacific
MGM Grand Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
This consultation session will be held in coordination with the National Congress of American Indians 81st Annual Convention & Marketplace, please check above link for up-to-date information.
November 4 at 3:00-5:00 pm Eastern
Virtual
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 992 705 570 911
Passcode: [REDACTED]
November 6 at 3:00-5:00 pm Eastern
Virtual
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 992 641 662 771
Passcode: [REDACTED]
November 19-21, 2024
Tribal leaders have the option of addressing the enclosed framing paper in their oral testimony at this annual consultation under the Violence Against Women Act.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
This consultation session will be held in coordination with the 19th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation. In addition to oral testimony at the event, Tribal leaders may provide written comments by the deadline below.

OVC Tribal Consultation on Tribal Set-Aside from the Crime Victims Fund
2024-10-23 12:00 - 16:00, 2024-10-24 12:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Framing Paper
October 23 and 24 at 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm each day
Register
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) will host a virtual Tribal Consultation on the Tribal Set-Aside from the Crime Victims Fund for Fiscal Year 2025 on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, and Thursday, October 24, 2024, from 1:00−5:00 p.m. eastern time each day.
OVC invites Consultation testimony from representatives of Federally recognized Tribes, including:

elected Tribal leaders;
appointed Tribal leaders; or
individuals authorized to testify by an elected or appointed Tribal leader.

If you have been designated by a Tribal Leader to testify, OVC asks that you email a Delegation of Authority letter on Tribal letterhead signed by the elected or appointed Tribal leader to ovctribalsetaside@usdoj.gov.
All participants who plan to testify will receive instructions for how to deliver your testimony after you register. During the Consultation, Tribal leaders will be called on to testify in the order in which their registration was received.
Each registrant will receive a reminder email the week before, and day before, the Consultation session.

NAFOA Listening Session on GWE
2024-10-24 13:00 - 14:15 | Virtual Event
On October 24th from 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. Eastern Time, NAFOA will host a listening session to discuss the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion (GWE) Act’s recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). NAFOA actively encourages tribal leaders and stakeholders to participate and share feedback in preparation for the Treasury’s Tribal Consultations scheduled for next month. You may submit advance questions or comments on the proposed GWE rules via the registration form.
The listening session will begin with introductions from members of the Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee (TTAC) and their advisors, who will give brief updates on the NPRM. Following the updates, NAFOA will host a listening session to answer questions and receive comments from tribal leaders on the proposed rules and regulatory changes.
Live comments during the listening session are preferred, but attendees may use the Q&A function. Anyone who cannot attend the listening session may also submit comments or questions to nicholas@nafoa.org.

ACF Early Childhood Development Virtual Listening Session
2024-10-24 14:30 | Virtual Event
October 24 at 3:30 pm Eastern
Register
ACF, through the Office of Early Childhood Development, is gathering input on the Tribal Integrated Early Education Services (TIEES) legislative proposal. It would give Tribal Nations more flexibility to integrate early childhood funding streams into a single coordinated, culturally grounded, and Tribally driven program (Child Care and Development Fund, Head Start, and Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting).

FERC Consultations with Federally Recognized Tribes on Whether to Conduct a Rulemaking to Revise the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures
2024-10-28 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-11-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
FERC Notice of Tribal Consultation
FERC Notice of Petition for Rulemaking
AITCE Petition for Expedited Rulemaking to Adopt Commercial Readiness and Withdrawal Penalty Rules for Tribal Energy Development

FERC Consultations with Federally Recognized Tribes on Whether to Conduct a Rulemaking to Revise the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures

Dates/Times: Monday, October 28, 2024 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm ET, and Monday November 4, 2024 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm ET
Comments Due on Notice of Petition for Rulemaking: Monday, November 4, 2024

Tribal Nation Transmission Program Listening Session
2024-11-06 12:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
November 6 at 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Central
Register
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is hosting several virtual listening sessions with multiple sectors including communities, Tribal Representatives, Independent System Operators (ISOs), Regional Transmission Operators (RTOs), Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs), utilities, and state agencies to solicit diverse perspectives and feedback about the intersection of transmission planning processes and energy equity. These listening sessions are part of the Inclusive Transmission Planning Project, an initiative by DOE’s Grid Deployment Office. For more information on the project, listening sessions, and other available dates visit the project website.
