[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 2732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1009]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Tribal Consultation; Notice of Meeting
AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health
and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice of Tribal Consultation.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS),
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will host a Tribal
Consultation to consult on ACF programs and tribal priorities.
DATES: March 5-6, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Renaissance Hotel, 999 9th Street NW., Washington, DC 20001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillian A. Sparks, Commissioner,
Administration for Native Americans at (202) 401-5590, by email at
Lillian.sparks@acf.hhs.gov, or by mail at 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., 2
West, Washington, DC 20447.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 5, 2009, President Obama signed
the ``Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies on
Tribal Consultation.'' The President stated that his Administration is
committed to regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with
tribal officials in policy decisions that have tribal implications,
including, as an initial step, through complete and consistent
implementation of Executive Order 13175.
The United States has a unique legal and political relationship
with Indian tribal governments, established through and confirmed by
the Constitution of the United States, treaties, statutes, executive
orders, and judicial decisions. In recognition of that special
relationship, pursuant to Executive Order 13175 of November 6, 2000,
executive departments and agencies are charged with engaging in regular
and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in
the development of Federal policies that have tribal implications, and
are responsible for strengthening the government-to-government
relationship between the United States and Indian tribes.
HHS has taken its responsibility to comply with Executive Order
13175 very seriously over the past decade, including the initial
implementation of a Department-wide policy on tribal consultation and
coordination in 1997, and through multiple evaluations and revisions of
that policy, most recently in 2008. Many HHS agencies have already
developed their own agency-specific consultation policies that
complement the Department-wide efforts.
In August 2011, ACF issued its Consultation Policy in partnership
with tribes. This policy will help our program offices and program
office regional presence to better engage Federally Recognized Indian
Tribes in the development or revision of policies, regulations, and
proposed legislation that impact American Indians. ACF firmly believes
that in order to create a good working relationship with tribes, it
starts with requesting and receiving input from the tribes to ensure
that we are meeting their needs and to establish a partnership that can
carry us into the future.
Testimonies may be submitted no later than February 24, 2012, to:
Lillian Sparks, Commissioner, Administration for Native Americans, 370
L'Enfant Promenade SW., Washington, DC 20447.
anacommissioner@acf.hhs.gov.
However, this deadline does not preclude anyone from providing
testimony at the session and we will, to the extent that time allows,
hear your testimony. If you plan on attending to present your
testimony, please provide the name, title, and tribe of the individual
who will be presenting to Kimberly Romine. Ms. Romine may be reached at
Kimberly.romine@acf.hhs.gov or by phone at (202) 205-5603. In order to
facilitate the discussion, we ask that presenters provide a brief
overview of the testimony and include the specific issues to be
addressed at the session. For any tribe unable to attend to present
testimony, please be aware that ACF will keep the testimony record open
for 30 days after the date of the consultation. After 30 days, ACF will
provide written responses to all testimonies received, including those
that were presented in person. To register for the consultation, please
submit your name, tribe or organization, phone, and email address to
Ms. Romine.
In addition to the Tribal Consultation session, ACF will be hosting
a half day Tribal Training and Technical Assistance session to provide
information about ACF programs, and ACF's Integration and
Interoperability Initiative. The Tribal Training and Technical
Assistance session will be held the morning of March 5, 2012, in the
same room as the Tribal Consultation session.
Dated: January 11, 2012.
George H. Sheldon,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 2012-1009 Filed 1-18-12; 8:45 am]
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