United South & Eastern Tribes

DOI Environmental Justice Strategic Plan Development Public Listening Sessions
2023-11-30 14:00 - 15:30, 2023-11-30 17:30 - 19:00, 2023-12-01 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event
The Department of the Interior requests your input on the development of: Vision, Goals, Objectives, Implementation Strategies, Priority Actions, and Performance Measures for the Department’s Environmental Justice Strategic Plan.

November 30 at 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern
November 30 at 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern
December 1 at 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern

Learn more and register for an upcoming session.
Contact environmental_justice@ios.doi.gov with any questions.

DOI Environmental Justice Strategic Plan Development Listening Sessions
2023-11-30 17:30 - 19:00 | Virtual Event
The Department of the Interior is excited to announce that it will be hosting three public listening sessions to inform the Department’s development of its Environmental Justice Strategic Plan. See related press release, Federal Register Notice, and more information below.
The Department is hosting three public listening sessions focused and designed to gather input to inform the development of the Department’s Environmental Justice Strategic Plan. President Biden signed Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, which directs Federal agencies to develop an Environmental Justice Strategic Plan that will: “set forth the agency’s vision, goals, priority actions, and metrics to address and advance environmental justice…” To update its Environmental Justice Strategic Plan, the Department is organizing listening sessions in November to obtain public input to: (1) provide feedback to refine draft vision, goals, and objectives (attached), (2) identify implementation strategies, and (3) identify priority actions to advance environmental justice.
Below are the links for registering for the listening sessions. Please share with those that you think would be interested.

November 30, 2023 | 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET
November 30, 2023 | 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. ET
December 1, 2023 | 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET

Listening sessions will be 90 minutes. The sessions will start with an overview and then interested persons will have the opportunity to provide feedback using a variety of engagement tools. Each session will cover the same content. If you require a reasonable accommodation to attend a listening session, please email: Environmental_Justice@ios.doi.gov.
In addition to providing input during the listening sessions, the public may provide written comments to the Department by one of the following methods. We welcome your written comments by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on December 15, 2023.

By email to: Environmental_Justice@ios.doi.gov.
By hard copy to: Environmental Justice, U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance (MS-2629), 1849 C Street NW, Washington DC 20240.

You may access information on the Department’s Environmental Justice program, information on the Environmental Justice Strategic Plan update, and the Department’s 2016 Environmental Justice Strategic Plan at the Department’s environmental justice website at https://www.doi.gov/oepc/resources/environmental-justice. Thank you for your interest as the Department updates its Environmental Justice Strategic Plan.

CDC Grants Governance Board Tribal Listening Session
2023-12-06 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
December 6 at 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Eastern
Register
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would like to request input and feedback from American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and Tribal-serving Organizations on priorities for a newly-established CDC Grants Governance Board. This listening session was requested during the CDC/ATSDR 26th Biannual Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) Meeting, held on September 6-7, 2023.
Background CDC has established a new Grants Governance Board (the Board) to improve how CDC administers grants and to recommend solutions that can be spread and scaled agency-wide. The Board’s primary focus is on domestic, non-research grants and cooperative agreements. The Board’s goals are to reduce the administrative burden on grants recipients and improve the consistency of CDC grants activities. The Board – which is co-led by the National Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce (PHIC) and the Office of Grants Services (OGS) – is internal to CDC and includes staff from across the agency with grants expertise.
Participants will be asked to consider the grants management lifecycle – and especially areas of recipient burden or issues related to the consistency of grants activities – as they provide input on questions including:

What are the major areas of concern or burden?
What are the quick wins the Board can address?
Where are opportunities for innovation?
What activities should be prioritized for the Board over the next year?

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations Tribal Leader Consultation Work Group
2023-12-11 10:30 - 19:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Register
On Monday, December 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be conducting a government-to-government consultation with the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations Tribal Leader Consultation Work Group. The consultation session will be held in person with a virtual option for attendance.

Department of Energy Tribal Consultation
2023-12-11 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
December 11 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern
Register
Monday, December 11, 2023, from 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET – virtual consultation on updating Department of Energy’s (DOE) order and policy governing Tribal consultation and engagement
The deadline for written comments has been extended to January 31, 2024. Written comments should be sent to tribalconsultation@hq.doe.gov.
In the coming months, DOE will finalize a revision of its Order and Policy to support the Department’s increased government-to-government engagement with Tribal governments. DOE looks forward to engaging with Tribal governments on how the provisions included in the Presidential Memorandum on Uniform Standards for Tribal Consultation should be implemented prior to the revision of the Department’s current Order and Policy.

HUD Consultation on Indian Community Development Block Grant
2023-12-12 11:30 | Virtual Event
December 12 at 12:30 pm Eastern
Join the Meeting
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is beginning the rulemaking process on the Indian Community Development Block Grant program regulations (24 CFR 1003) and is hosting a consultation to get feedback from Tribal Nation leaders. Specifically, the Office of Native American Programs is seeking Tribal Nation feedback on these regulations, which have not been updated in nearly two decades. The virtual consultation session will take place on Tuesday, December 12, beginning at 12:30 p.m. EST.
Learn more.

White House IGA Year in Review and the Year Ahead Briefing
2023-12-18 09:00 - 09:30 | Virtual Event
The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Tom Perez, invite you to join the Year in Review and the Year Ahead Briefing on December 18 at 10:00 AM ET. Join to hear from multiple senior Administration officials as they discuss the accomplishments of the past year and share goals, messaging, and priorities for 2024.
Briefing Information
Register here – https://pitc.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItfuCqpj8pG5rgTdN8imQCWNej2nry9nc
When: 10:00-10:30 AM ET on December 18
Where: Virtual (Zoom)

HHS Tribal Consultation on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
2023-12-18 14:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
December 18 at 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm Eastern
Register in advance
(833) 568-8864 (Toll Free)
Meeting ID: 161 992 3419
Passcode: [REDACTED]
For written comments, please use the following SUBJECT LINE: BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW. The deadline to provide written comments for this Tribal Consultation is Thursday, January 4, 2024.

HHS Tribal Consultation on Grants Administration Rulemaking
2023-12-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR) have issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that revises certain provisions of the regulations that govern HHS grants administration. Specifically, HHS is soliciting input on provisions in the NPRM that would require grant recipients to comply with applicable federal statutory nondiscrimination provisions, require HHS compliance with applicable Supreme Court decisions in administering grants, and provide a religious exemption for requirements from certain provisions. HHS will hold consultation virtually on December 19, 2023 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm ET. Interested participants may register for the consultation session here. Written comments will be accepted following the consultation until January 18, 2024. More information on the consultation can be found in the Dear Tribal Leader Letter.

HHS Tribal Consultation on the definition of Indian Tribe
2024-01-09 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-01-11 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-01-17 14:30 - 16:00, 2024-01-18 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Tuesday, January 9 at 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern
Thursday, January 11 at 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern
Wednesday, January 17 at 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Thursday, January 18 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern

Zoom Registration
Please send your written comments and recommendations on which definition of Indian Tribe to include in the updated Consultation Policy by Friday, February 20, 2024 via e-mail to: consultation@ihs.gov with the subject line: DEFINITION OF INDIAN TRIBE.
What definition of Indian Tribe should be included in the updated Consultation Policy: the List Act Definition (25 U.S.C. § 5130); or the ISDEAA Definition (25 U.S.C. § 5304(e))?
Option #1: List Act Definition (25 U.S.C. § 5130): “Indian tribe” means any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as an Indian Tribe.

Executive Order 13175 (“Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments”) defines “Indian Tribe” using the List Act definition. It is also the definition used in the Presidential Memorandum on Uniform Standards for Tribal Consultation (November 30, 2022), the HHS TCP, and all other Federal Tribal Consultation Policies.

Option #2: ISDEAA Definition (25 U.S.C. § 5304(e)): “Indian tribe” or “Indian Tribe” means any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.], which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.

The ISDEAA definition of Indian Tribe includes Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) and is currently utilized in the existing IHS Tribal Consultation Policy.

American Climate Corp Listening Session
2024-01-11 09:00, 2024-01-16 17:00 | Virtual Event
In September, President Biden announced the launch of the American Climate Corps, a groundbreaking workforce training and service initiative that will prepare tens of thousands of young people for good-paying jobs in the clean economy.
Beginning this week, the Biden-Harris Administration will convene a series of virtual listening sessions to hear directly from prospective American Climate Corps applicants and implementing partners. Join the American Climate Corps team and special guests to share your thoughts about how to make the ACC a success.
The first listening session will be held on Thursday, January 11 at 10 am ET. Sign up here.
Additional listening sessions will be held on the following dates:

January 16 at 6 pm ET. Sign up here
January 25 at 6 pm ET. Sign up here
February 1 at 10 am ET. Sign up here

More information about the virtual listening sessions can be found here.

USDA and Department of Energy Listening Session on American Farms, Rural Benefits
2024-01-12 11:30 - 13:00, 2024-01-16 09:00 - 10:30, 2024-01-16 13:30 - 15:00, 2024-01-17 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual Event
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will host a series of listening sessions this winter. The agencies invite perspectives on the benefits and challenges of the rapidly increasing levels of clean energy being sited on agricultural lands and in rural communities.
USDA and DOE seek feedback directly from a diverse set of stakeholders about what the agencies can do through their leadership, program guidance, or research and information sharing to encourage positive clean energy siting outcomes that benefit farmers, rural Americans, the renewable energy industry and others.
Stakeholders can register to participate in public listening sessions that are available virtually by clicking on the selected date and time:
• Government permitting and policy representatives at state, county, and local levels on Jan. 12, 2024, at 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. ET Government Permitting and Policy Representatives, Register Here
• Agricultural producers on Jan. 16, 2024, at 10 – 11:30 a.m. ET. Agriculture Producers, Register Here
• All stakeholders and members of the public on Jan. 16, 2024, at 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. ET. All Stakeholders, Register Here
• Rural electric coops and clean energy developers on Jan. 17, 2024, at 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET. Energy Organizations, Register Here
Stakeholders may submit written comments by Jan. 20, 2024, to CleanEnergySiting@USDA.gov.

USPTO Tribal Consultation on World Intellectual Property Organization IGC Negotiations
2024-01-16 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-01-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Federal Register :: Formal Tribal Consultation on WIPO IGC Negotiations
January 16 at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
January 17 at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Register in advance to participate in one of these webinars. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Department of Commerce, announces a formal Tribal Consultation, and requests written comments on issues involving genetic resources (GR), traditional knowledge (TK), and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs). These topics are being discussed at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Specifically, the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore (traditional cultural expressions) (WIPO IGC) is undertaking negotiations regarding how best to protect GR, TK, and TCEs of Indigenous Peoples.

OVC Virtual Tribal Consultation on the FY 2024 Tribal Set-Aside
2024-01-17 08:00 - 2024-01-18 17:00 | Virtual Event
January 17 and 18 at 1:00 pm – 3:30 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 2024 on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, and Thursday, January 18, 2024, from 1:00−3:30 p.m. eastern time each day.
OVC invites Consultation testimony to be provided by:

an elected Tribal leader,
an appointed Tribal leader, or
someone designated by an elected or appointed Tribal leader. Designation must be provided in writing.

In preparation, OVC presents the OVC FY 2023 Crime Victims Fund Tribal Set-Aside Program report that provides a brief history of the program and how Tribal Set-Aside funds were obligated in FY 2023. An informational Framing Paper on the FY 2024 Tribal Set-Aside provides relevant background and questions for participants at the consultation to consider.
If you are a Tribal leader’s designee and you plan to speak at either day of the Consultation, OVC asks that you provide a Delegation of Authority letter on Tribal letterhead signed by the elected or appointed Tribal leader or have the elected or appointed Tribal leader send an email to ovctribalsetaside@usdoj.gov to confirm your authorization to testify on behalf of the Tribe. Instructions for how to submit your testimony will be available after you register. During the Consultation, Tribal leaders will be called in the order in which their registration was received.

Rescheduled: Department of Treasury | Elective Pay Webinar
2024-01-17 12:30 | Virtual Event
Wednesday, January 17 at 1:30 pm Eastern, the Department of Treasury will host an Elective Pay webinar and provide an overview of the pre-filing registration process.
Register in advance for this briefing.
Earlier this year, Treasury issued proposed Elective Pay and Transferability guidance, which can be found here and here. In addition to the Treasury press release, you can find FAQs and fact sheets that outline key information contained in the proposed guidance. You can also find helpful information on CleanEnergy.gov/directpay. Treasury and the IRS will carefully consider public feedback before issuing final rules.

Indian School Equalization Program Tribal Listening Session
2024-01-17 14:00 - 16:00
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
The purpose of these listening sessions is to advise the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) on the need for possible revisions to 25 C.F.R. Part 39 – Indian School Equalization Program. Under 25 U.S.C. § 2018(a), prior to publishing any proposed regulations and prior to establishing a negotiated rulemaking committee, BIE is required to convene regional meetings to consult with educators at BIE-operated schools and Tribal officials, parents, teachers, administrators, and school board members of Tribes served by BIE-funded schools to provide guidance to BIE on revisions to the regulations. These sessions, along with the previously held sessions, serve that purpose.
Wednesday, January 17 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Mountain
Virtual Session
Register
Wednesday, February 7 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Mountain
Gila River Resorts and Casinos
Room: Acacia CD
5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd.
Chandler, AZ 85226
Wednesday, March 6 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Central
Rushmore Hotel and Suites
Room: Roosevelt/Lincoln
445 Mt Rushmore Rd.
Rapid City, SD 57701
For additional details, please visit our BIE Consultation & Initiatives webpage at: www.bie.edu/landing-page/consultations-initiatives.
WRITTEN COMMENTS: Your written comments are welcomed on the ISEP and ISEP Transportation program by the extended comment deadline of March 31, 2024.
Please E-MAIL your comments to: consultation@bia.gov – SUBJECT LINE: ISEP and ISEP Transportation regulations.

Department of Homeland Security Listening Sessions on Environmental Justice Program
2024-01-19 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-01-23 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
The Department of Homeland Security (Department or DHS) invites comment and feedback from Tribal Nations and indigenous peoples on barriers and challenges, suggestions, and ideas to help advance the Department’s environmental justice program, help DHS conduct meaningful engagement of the public in decision making, and address challenges facing environmental justice communities related to DHS programs and activities. On December 18, 2023, DHS issued a Request for Information (RFI) Federal Register :: Request for Information Regarding Department of Homeland Security Activities and Advancing Environmental Justice, Docket ID: DHS-2023-0048, asking specific questions. The public comment period will be open for 60 days, closing on February 16, 2024.
Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, signed April 21, 2023, defines “environmental justice” as the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, in agency decision-making and other Federal activities that affect human health and the environment so that people:

are fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects (including risks) and hazards, including those related to climate change, the cumulative impacts of environmental and other burdens, and the legacy of racism or other structural or systemic barriers; and
have equitable access to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment in which to live, play, work, learn, grow, worship, and engage in cultural and subsistence practices.

DHS will host three virtual information and listening sessions via Zoom during the public comment period to hear participants’ responses to the questions in the RFI.
Please register to attend one of the information and listening sessions through the links below:

Friday January 19, 2:00-3:30 PM, Eastern Time – Session 1: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gsR3Ue5UR5mxjiBLstD7nQ (-> lnks.gd)
Tuesday, January 23, 2:00-3:30 PM, Eastern Time – Session 2, Tribal and Indigenous peoples: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TnXdmN9ZSDGqy5LxnlKxeg (-> lnks.gd)
Monday, January 29, 3:30-5:00 PM, Eastern Time – Session 3: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fNpD6F9WRiaY5hLPkMYtyA (-> lnks.gd)

For more information on the DHS Environmental Justice Program, please visit www.dhs.gov/dhs-environmental-justice-strategy (-> lnks.gd). For questions, please contact dhsenvironmentaljustice@hq.dhs.gov.

Virtual Engagement Session on Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination
2024-01-22 14:30 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Date: Monday, January 22, 2024
Time: 3:30pm – 5:00pm ET
Location: Virtual
Register
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) invites Tribal Leaders to a virtual engagement session with Biden-Harris Administration leadership to discuss 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.
During this engagement session, Biden-Harris Administration leadership and staff from the White House and Federal Departments will discuss the substance and implementation process the Administration is planning for EO 14112. Tribal leaders are invited to ask questions, provide comments, and share their perspectives on how EO 14112 can best meet the needs of their Tribal Nations.
The agenda for the session is included in the Dear Tribal Leader Letter (DTLL) below. Tribal leaders are welcome to send an questions regarding the session to whcnaa@bia.gov
DTLL | EO Fact Sheet

HHS Maternal Health Stakeholder Briefing
2024-01-23 14:30 - 15:30 | Virtual Event
Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Time: 3:30 – 4:30 PM ET
Register: Please register via this link
In honor of Maternal Health Awareness Day, you are invited to join the Department of Health and Human Services for a briefing on HHS maternal health priorities and activities for 2024 on Tuesday, January 23rd, at 3:30 PM ET. During the webinar you will hear from key agency leaders on Departmental activities that advance equity in maternal health outcomes. Following the presentations, there will be an opportunity for question and answer.
