USET OERM Webinar | Learning About Lead Exposure in Tribal Children
2024-06-13 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event
The USET Office of Environmental Resource Management presents
the Learning About Lead Exposure in Tribal Children Webinar
USET’s Office of Environmental Resource Management (OERM) is introducing our Lead Testing program. EPA’s 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities was developed to help schools and child-care facilities to implement a voluntary program for reducing lead in drinking water. This EPA program is focused on promoting voluntary testing of drinking water for lead, taking corrective action if problems are identified, and sharing testing results and plans for reducing lead exposure in drinking water with parents, staff, students, and the community at large.

When:

April 4 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Central/2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
May 9 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Central/2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
June 13 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm /2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern

Who should attend: Tribal Leaders, Health Directors, Education Directors, Education Faculty/Staff, Tribal Administrators, Clinic Staff, Tribal utility workers at USET member Tribal Nations

What: This webinar will cover the following:

Physical properties of lead
Adverse health effects of lead poisoning
Guidance and remediation of lead plumbing from schools and childcare facilities

Registration:
Register today.

Lead Program Summary:
Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal that is globally recognized as a substance that has serious health consequences if consumed, especially for children. The adverse health effects range, from lowered birth weight and slowed physical and mental development in infants, to lowered IQ levels, impaired hearing, reduced attention span, and poor classroom performance in young children. Clean and safe water is essential and paramount to building a sustainable economy, successful educational and public health systems, and most importantly, a healthy and productive environment for children.
The USET Office of Environmental Resource Management (OERM) is introducing our Lead Testing program, which is funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The OERM Lead Testing program has adopted the EPA 3 Ts program for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities. This program was developed to help schools and child-care facilities to implement a voluntary program for reducing lead in drinking water.
Our Lead Testing program promotes voluntary training, testing of drinking water for lead, and taking corrective action if problems are identified. For USET Member Tribal Nation participants, OERM is offering assistance to conduct testing at Tribal schools and child-care facilities. USET will assist with sampling Tribal childcare facilities, and will collect data such as sampling results and facility location on behalf of participating Member Tribal Nations. Member Tribal Nations may store data on a secure USET server that is only accessible by the respective Member Tribal Nation.
We survey Tribal childcare facilities to prioritize the needs of our respective Member Tribal Nation community.
For USET Member Tribal Nations who are interested in participating in our Lead Testing program, please complete the Lead Testing program application.
For more information, please contact USET’s Lead Program team:
Jakira Saunders, Program Manager
Ben Peyton, Senior Technical Assistant Specialist

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.

APHIS Tribal Funding Opportunity Webinar | FY25 Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program
2024-06-17 12:00, 2024-06-21 12:00, 2024-07-08 12:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Registration link
June 17 & 21 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Join link
July 8 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Join link
The APHIS Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program provides funding to help safeguard against, detect, and respond to invasive plant pests and diseases. APHIS worked with other governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, industry organizations, the National Plant Board, State departments of agriculture, and Tribal organizations to develop the FY25 Implementation Plan.
The FY25 plan outlines six strategic goal areas for funding projects:

Enhancing plant pest/disease analysis and survey;
Targeting domestic inspection activities at vulnerable points in the safeguarding continuum;
Enhancing and strengthening pest identification and technology;
Safeguarding nursery production;
Conducting targeted outreach and education; and
Enhancing mitigation and rapid response capabilities.

If you have questions about the webinar, please contact ONTL Program Analyst Denise Salvetti at denise.salvetti@usda.gov.

Office on Violence Against Womne and DOJ | 904 Task Force Meeting
2024-06-17 12:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
June 17 at 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Register
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), U.S. Department of Justice has scheduled a meeting of the 904 Task Force on Research on Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women (hereinafter “the Task Force”). The virtual meeting will take place on June 17, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m (EST).
About the Task Force:
The Task Force is a federal advisory committee that provides advice and recommendations on the U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) program of research on violence against American Indian and Alaska Native Women.
Title IX of the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005), as amended, required the Attorney General to establish a task force to assist the NIJ in developing and implementing a program of research on violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, sex trafficking, and murder. The program will evaluate the effectiveness of the federal, state, tribal, and local response to violence against Indian women and propose recommendations to improve the government response. The Task Force was established on March 31, 2008, and the charter has been renewed every two years since then.

ARPA-E & USDA Rural Energy Innovation Webinar
2024-06-17 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
June 17 at 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Eastern
Register
The webinar is intended to help bring awareness to a number of emerging energy technologies.
The Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) and the USDA Rural Development Innovation Center are convening technology innovators and end-users to highlight select ARPA-E projects and programs for key USDA stakeholders. Both agencies believe that focused engagement with rural stakeholders–including, but not limited to, electric cooperatives and enterprises involved in the agricultural sector–will enhance their ability to deliver innovation that advances economic development and energy security in rural America.
The ARPA-E is a DOE agency that advances high-potential, high-impact energy technologies that are too early for private-sector investment. ARPA-E awardees are unique because they are developing new ways to generate, store, and use energy.
The following projects will be featured in the June 17th Webinar:

Project
URL
Summary

Emrgy
Link
Hydrokinetic energy system in canals and agriculture areas

BladeRunner
Link
Hydrokinetic energy system in tidal/river environments

Quidnet
Link
Geochemical pumped storage

Antora
Link
Thermal energy storage

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

NAP Member Education Sessions: Regarding Reparations
2024-06-18 12:00 | Virtual Event
June 18 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Register
ABFE and Native Americans in Philanthropy welcome you to engage in a gathering of non-profits, philanthropy, and emerging leaders for discussions and collaborative action-building philanthropy rooted in Native traditions and values as we explore the advocacy for responsive and transformative investment in Black and Indigenous communities.
NAP’s curated education sessions of virtual conversations, panels, and speakers represent the diversity of Indian Country, the experiences of Indigenous Peoples in America, and the allies that are working to support these communities. These sessions are designed for NAP members working in philanthropy and will focus on how philanthropy can operate differently to center Indigenous perspectives and values. Through these sessions, NAP is passing the mic to individuals, Tribes, and Indigenous non-profits who are experts in their respective fields. In a celebration of solidarity and liberation, June’s session shares this platform with our partners at ABFE.
ABFE is central to a movement of philanthropic entities, donors, and non-profits to improve outcomes for Black communities and the country. Their mission has prioritized Black communities through their professional development and technical assistance. They are an unwavering voice highlighting the urgency of diversity, equity, and inclusion in philanthropy.

Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee In-Person Training on ACA/IHCIA
2024-06-19 - 2024-06-20 | Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Downton, 319 SW Pine Street, Portland, OR, 97204, United States
June 19-20, 2024 in Portland Oregon
Register
The Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee (TSGAC) is excited to announce they will be hosting an in-person training on the Affordable Care Act/Indian Health Care Improvement Act (ACA/IHCIA) in Portland, OR. The training will be held on June 19-20, 2024, from 9 am to 4 pm both days. The meeting will take place at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Downtown 319 SW Pine Street, Portland, OR 97204.
The Training is targeted for Tribal leaders, Health Directors and front-line health care staff who would like to learn more about opportunities available under the ACA/IHCIA. Specific topics to be addressed during the training include:

ACA/IHCIA 101 Refresher
Opportunities to Increase Health Care Revenues
How to plan for and steps needed to initiate a Tribal Sponsorship program (Reimbursement of Marketplace Premiums and Medicare Parts B & D)
The latest information on CHAP implementation
Open Discussion, including ways for Self-Governance Tribes to get involved

Hotel Lodging:

Booking Link: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Embassy Suites. Please use the following link to make reservations directly.
Phone reservations: Attendees may also make reservations via phone by calling 800-643-7892 and referencing group code 917 or “TSGAC Training on ACA/IHCIA”.

For more information about the training, please contact Cyndi Ferguson, TSGACGAC ACA/IHCIA Project Lead at cyndif@senseinc.com

NIHB All Tribes Call | Supreme Court decision in Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe
2024-06-20 12:30 | Virtual Event
June 20 at 1:30 pm Eastern
Register
Please join the National Indian Health Board for an All Tribes Call to discuss the recent Supreme Court decision in Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe (23-250). They will be joined by key attorneys and policy experts on June 20, 2024, at 1:30pm Eastern Time to discuss the case and the impacts it will have on the IHS budget and the Indian health system. They will also discuss some important legislative actions that must be taken to ensure these costs continue to be paid without impacting other areas of IHS funding.

Rural LISC Raising the Roof Webinar
2024-06-20 14:00 | Virtual Event
June 20 at 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
You are invited to join Rural LISC for the latest “Raising the Roof” webinar on June 20, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. EST where we will focus on federal rural affordable housing and community development policy.
This informative session will cover the status of key bills and funding levels for federal rural housing programs, with insights from staff of Sen. Smith and Sen. Rounds on the Rural Housing Service Reform Act. Rural LISC partner GROW South Dakota will also discuss how these policy initiatives can benefit rural communities.
The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session, offering an opportunity to engage with experts. Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable information and participate in the discussion.

Monthly CDFI Certification Conference Calls
2024-06-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
The CDFI Fund conducts monthly CDFI Certification Conference Calls which are intended to serve as a forum for potential CDFI Certification Applicants, Certified CDFIs, and other CDFI Certification stakeholders to ask questions and discuss CDFI Certification and the CDFI Certification process.
Access InstructionsTo access conference calls participants need to call the toll-free number (800) 369-1639 and dial in the numeric Participant Passcode [REDACTED]. No prior registration is necessary. Please note the dial in process is automated. The conference call will have a moderator to direct the Q&As. Please note all call are Eastern Time (ET).
CDFI Certification Conference Call Schedule

Thursday, February 15, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, March 21, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, April 18, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, May 16, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, June 20, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, July 18, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, August 15, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, September 19, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, October 17, 2024 – 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET
Thursday, November 21, 2024 – 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET
Thursday, December 19, 2024 – 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET

CDFI CONTACT INFORMATION

Have questions/concerns about CDFI Certification?
OCPE Helpdesk
Email: OCPECert@cdfi.treas.gov
Phone: (202) 653-0423
IT Helpdesk
Email: ithelpdesk@cdfi.treas.gov
Phone: (202) 653-0300

EPA Teleconference on upcoming NFO for the American Indian Air Quality Training Program
2024-06-20 14:30 | Virtual Event
The EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) is announcing a teleconference for Tribal environmental professionals and other interested parties to receive information and provide suggestions for the upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity for the American Indian Air Quality Training Program. The event will be held on Wednesday, June 20, 2024, at 3:30 pm ET. After the Notice of Funding Opportunity is published, OAR will host an additional webinar for all prospective applicants interested in applying for the funding opportunity.
Tribal representatives and others interested in participating in the June 20, 2024 pre-Notice of Funding Opportunity teleconference can contact Pat Childers, (childers.pat@epa.gov) OAR Senior Advisor for Tribal Program manager to be provided the appropriate link.

National American Indian Housing Council
2024-06-24 - 2024-06-27 | Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, FL, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, FL, 33314, United States
The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) is excited to host the 2024 Annual Convention and Tradeshow at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida from June 24-27, 2024. The convention includes training sessions that will provide attendees with resources and services directly related to Native housing program administration. This is your chance to learn, network, and share insights in an electrifying, collaborative setting. Early-Bird registration rates are available until May 1st.
All registrations must be submitted prior to June 10, 2024. Register today.

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.

Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance: Wise Practices, a Tribal Behavioral Health ECHO Clinic
2024-06-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. presents the Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance: Wise Practices, a Tribal Behavioral Health ECHO Clinic. Native Psychological Brilliance refers to the intelligence, strengths, balance, innate resources, and resilience of Native people. This no-cost telehealth series will be held on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 1:00 pm Central/2:00 pm Eastern. Each session will be one hour in length.
Who should attend? Tribal Nation health directors, clinic staff, counselors, social workers, physicians, nurses, Tribal Epidemiology Center staff, and anyone supporting Tribal Nation citizens through the health/behavioral health sector are welcome to join.
The one-hour Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance virtual series will provide an opportunity for participants to:

Gain skills on strength-based approaches in partnership with Native People to enhance Native behavioral health,
Discuss ways that Native brilliance is demonstrated and supports behavioral health, and
Learn about Native brilliance examples to share with behavioral health and other health care staff, as well as with local Tribal Nation citizens.

The concept of Native psychological brilliance will be celebrated through Native music videos and Native spoken word performances as part of each session of the Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance series.
Continuing education credits will be provided.
Register in advance for the session.
For questions, please contact Bernice Jordan, Public Health Manager, at bjordan@usetinc.org.

APHIS Tribal Program Webinar Series: Tribal Awareness and Successful Government-to-Government Relations
2024-06-26 12:00 | Virtual Event
June 26 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Join link
Dial-in information:
+1 669- 25-4 5252 US
+1 646- 82-8 7666 US
Meeting ID: 161 274 2018
Meeting Password: [REDACTED]
Those who want to earn AgLearn credit here is the registration link: Forthcoming
Back Up – Microsoft Teams
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 232 545 702 640
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Tribal Awareness and Successful Government-to-Government Relations will provide key insights into cultural awarenesses that align with tribal consultation and government relations goals.

Office of Indian Energy Webinar | Bringing Tribal Clean Energy Projects Online
2024-06-26 12:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
June 26 at 12:00 am – 2:30 pm Central
Register
Join the Office of Indian Energy for the latest updates on the Low-Income Bonus Credit Program, which is now accepting applications for investment tax credits for solar and wind energy facilities on Indian land.
Additionally, learn how the Independent Power Producer (IPP) framework is being used to bring clean energy projects online in Alaska with Northwest Arctic Borough.
Guest speakers will also share technical assistance resources available to Tribes for navigating current clean energy policies, along with a case study on how the Seneca Nation leveraged existing partnerships with their providers to bring renewable energy and broadband projects online.

Treasury Department Office Hours | Homeowner Association Fund
2024-06-26 14:00, 2024-07-03 14:00 | Virtual Event
If your Tribal Nation or Housing Authority needs assistance with the quarterly or annual report or would like to talk through program implementation, Treasury hosts weekly office hours on Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. ET – registration link

Office Hours: Tribal Access to Emerging Private Markets for Forest Resilience or Climate Mitigation
2024-06-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
June 26 at 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Central
Register
July 17 at 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Central
Register
The US Forest Service in collaboration with First Nations Development Institute and the National Indian Carbon Coalition, will co-host live Office Hours for Federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations/Villages, and Tribal Organizations.
This time can be used to answer questions from participants and provide feedback on applications or concepts related to the “Tribal Access to Emerging Private Markets for Forest Resilience or Climate Mitigation” funding opportunity (due August 21, 2024).
Answers and feedback will be given by representatives from the USFS State, Private, & Tribal Forestry, First Nations Development Institute, and the National Indian Carbon Coalition.
Attendees can learn more about this funding opportunity by visiting:

USFS Landowner Support page

Additionally, attendees can find support and resources by visiting:

First Nations Development Institute’s Community Navigator Project
National Indian Carbon Coalition

Center for Indian Country Development Webinar: Survey of Native Nations Informational Session
2024-07-02 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
July 2 at 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Central
Register
Learn about the Survey of Native Nations at the Center for Indian Country Development (part of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis).

The survey gathers tribal government financial statement data – primarily revenues and expenses from fiscal year 2022. Leveraging the resources of the Federal Reserve System, CICD has built a secure survey platform that allows tribes to submit their data while ensuring the information remains confidential. By partnering with the Federal Reserve Bank to serve as a steward of closely held economic data, participating tribal governments benefit from a confidential report of their financial statements in comparison to other local governments, including the aggregated anonymized data of other tribal government participants in the survey when available.

IRS Office Hours | IRA/CHIPS Pre-filling Registration Tool
2024-07-02 11:30 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
The IRS is offering office hours (through Microsoft Teams) to help entities with the pre-filing registration process on the new IRA/CHIPS Pre-filing Registration Tool. Pre-filing registration is a required step for applicable entities and eligible taxpayers to take advantage of elective payment or transfer of credits available in the Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Act. Representatives from the IRS will be available to answer your pre-filing registration questions.
Registration for office hours is open. Registration is required and can be completed by clicking on the links below.

Date
Time
Register

July 2, 2024
12:30-2 p.m. EDT
Register

July 17, 2024
1-2:30 p.m. EDT
Register

July 31, 2024
1-2:30 p.m. EDT
Register

August 14, 2024
1-2:30 p.m. EDT
Register

September 4, 2024
1-2:30 p.m. EDT
Register

September 18, 2024
1-2:30 p.m. EDT
Register

October 2, 2024
1-2:30 p.m. EDT
Register

ASU Webinar | Tribal Self-Determination Law After Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe
2024-07-02 14:00 - 15:45 | Virtual Event
July 2 at 2:00 pm – 3:45 pm Central
Register
Join the webinar for a discussion of the recent U.S. Supreme Court case, Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe, which asks if the Indian Health Service must pay “contract support costs” to support the Tribe’s expenditure of income collected from third parties. The Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, the Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium, and the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice of the American Bar Association will discuss the state of Indian self-determination and self-governance law moving forward.

Department of Homeland Security Tribal Consultation on the Draft DHS Environmental Justice Strategic Plan
2024-07-08 15:00 - 16:30 | 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.
