[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 167 (Thursday, August 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53008-53009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18865]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
Solicitation of Nominations for Membership To Serve on Tribal
Advisory Council
AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: HRSA is seeking additional nominations of qualified tribal
officials as candidates for consideration for appointment as voluntary
delegate members of the HRSA Tribal Advisory Council (TAC), which is
being established. Specifically, HRSA requests submissions of
nominations of qualified tribal officials from the Indian Health
Service (IHS) geographic areas of: Alaska; Albuquerque; Billings;
Navajo; Phoenix; and Tucson. Nominations for membership must be
received on or before September 30, 2020. This will allow tribes and
tribal serving organizations from the IHS geographic areas noted above,
the additional time needed to identify qualified tribal officials as
candidates and submit comprehensive nomination packages.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CAPT Elijah K. Martin, Jr. EdD, MPH,
Manager, Tribal Health Affairs, Office of Health Equity, HRSA, 5600
Fishers Lane, Room 13N44, Rockville, Maryland
[[Page 53009]]
20857, 301-443-7526, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The HRSA TAC will be established to engage
in regular and meaningful collaboration and consultation with tribal
officials on policies that have tribal implications and substantial
direct effect on Indian tribes. HRSA, an agency of the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the primary federal agency for
improving health care to people who are geographically isolated, and/or
economically or medically vulnerable. This includes people living with
HIV/AIDS; pregnant women, mothers, and their families; and those
otherwise unable to access high-quality health care. HRSA supports the
training of health professionals, the distribution of providers to
areas where they are needed most, and improvements in health care
delivery. HRSA also oversees organ, bone marrow, and cord blood
donation. It also oversees the National Vaccine Injury Compensation
Program which can provide compensation to individuals in the rare cases
that they are harmed by certain covered vaccinations and maintains
databases that flag providers with a record of health care malpractice,
waste, fraud, and abuse for federal, state, and local use.
The HRSA TAC will be the vehicle for acquiring a broad range of
tribal views, determining the impact of HRSA programs on the American
Indian and Alaska Natives health systems and population, developing
innovative approaches to deliver health care, and assisting with
effective tribal consultation. The HRSA TAC will hold one meeting each
calendar year, or at the discretion of HRSA in consultation with the
Chair. These meetings may be held in-person or virtually. The HRSA TAC
will support, not supplant, any other government-to-government
consultation activities that HRSA undertakes. In addition to assisting
HRSA in the planning and coordination of tribal consultation sessions,
the HRSA TAC will advise HRSA regarding the government-togovernment
consultation process and will help ensure that HRSA activities and
policies that impact Indian country are brought to the attention of all
tribal leaders.
Nominations: A previous notice regarding the HRSA TAC was published
in the Federal Register on February 6, 2020. The deadline for
submissions was extended to July 6, 2020, and while HRSA received
additional nomination packets, it did not receive a sufficient number
of nomination packets to consider for each of the 12 vacant positions.
HRSA is requesting nominations of tribal officials to serve as HRSA TAC
delegate members to fill up to 12 voluntary positions on the HRSA TAC;
one authorized tribal representative (and one designated alternate)
from each of the Indian Health Service geographic areas. HRSA continues
to seek additional qualified nominees, specifically from eligible
tribal officials from the IHS geographic areas of: Alaska; Albuquerque;
Billings; Navajo; Phoenix; and Tucson. The HRSA Administrator will
appoint HRSA TAC delegate members with the expertise needed to fulfill
the duties of the Advisory Council. Nominees will be considered in the
following priority order:
1. Tribal president, chairperson, or governor;
2. Tribal vice president, vice-chairperson, or lieutenant governor;
3. Elected or appointed tribal official; and
4. Designated tribal official.
Interested applicants may self-nominate or be nominated by another
individual or organization.
Individuals selected for appointment to the HRSA TAC will be
invited to serve terms of up to 2 years. Appointed delegate members
will receive per diem and travel expenses incurred for attending HRSA
TAC meetings and/or conducting other authorized and approved business
on behalf of the HRSA TAC.
The following information must be included in the package of
materials submitted for each individual nominated for consideration:
(1) Name of the nominee, a description of the interests the nominee
would represent, and a description of the nominee's experience and
interest in American Indian and Alaska Native access to health care;
(2) evidence that the nominee is a duly elected or appointed tribal
leader or tribal officer, or has been designated with authority to act
on behalf of the duly elected or appointed tribal leader or officer,
and is authorized to represent a tribal government; (3) a written
commitment from the nominee that they will actively participate in good
faith in HRSA TAC meetings; and (4) a current copy of the nominee's
curriculum vitae. Nomination packages may be submitted directly by the
individual being nominated or by the person/organization recommending
the candidate.
HHS endeavors to ensure that the membership of the HRSA TAC is
fairly balanced in terms of points of view represented and that
individuals from a broad representation of geographic areas, gender,
and ethnic and minority groups, as well as individuals with
disabilities, are considered for membership. Appointments shall be made
without discrimination on the basis of age, ethnicity, gender, sexual
orientation, or cultural, religious, or socioeconomic status.
Maria G. Button,
Director, Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2020-18865 Filed 8-26-20; 8:45 am]
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