[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9916-9918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3976]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. 050214038-5038-01]


Strengthening America's Communities Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: On February 9, 2005, the President's Domestic Policy Council 
requested the Secretary of Commerce (the ``Secretary'') to form the 
Strengthening America's Communities Advisory Committee (the 
``Committee''). The objectives and duties of the Committee will be to 
provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary, and to develop a 
comprehensive written report of policy parameters to assist in 
implementing the President's Strengthening America's Communities 
Initiative (the ``Initiative''), including advising on its legislation, 
regulations and other guidance. The Committee's report will encompass 
all aspects of the envisioned Initiative, including policy findings and 
declarations, organizational structure, eligibility, program delivery, 
monitoring and performance measures. The Committee is expected to 
deliver its report to the Secretary by May 31, 2005.

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    This notice seeks nominations for persons to serve on the 
Committee. The Committee is intended to have a balanced membership from 
diverse backgrounds and geographical regions, including the private 
sector, state, local and tribal government officials, community-based 
organizations, academia and the research community. Nominees should 
possess an extensive knowledge of, and background in, the fields of 
rural or urban economic, social and community development. Nominees 
should also possess economic, social and community development policy 
experience, leadership and organizational skills. The SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this notice provides additional Committee and 
membership information, as well as the evaluation criteria for 
selecting members and the specific instructions for submitting 
nominations.

DATES: Nominations must be received by the Department of Commerce at 
the address listed below no later than 4 p.m. (e.s.t.) on March 11, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Nominations pursuant to this Request for Nominations may be 
submitted by (i) postal mail, (ii) facsimile, or (iii) e-mail. Please 
submit nominations by postal mail to David A. Sampson, Assistant 
Secretary for Economic Development, Economic Development 
Administration, Department of Commerce, Room 7800, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. Nominations may be submitted via 
facsimile to (202) 273-4723; all facsimiles should be addressed to the 
attention of Assistant Secretary for Economic Development David A. 
Sampson. E-mail submissions must be addressed to [email protected] and 
should include all nomination materials (including attachments) in a 
single transmission. The Department strongly encourages applicants to 
submit nominations by facsimile or e-mail. Nominations sent by regular 
mail may be substantially delayed in delivery, since all regular mail 
sent to the Department is subject to extensive security screening.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Chief Counsel, Economic 
Development Administration, Department of Commerce, Room 7005, 1401 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington DC 20230, telephone (202) 482-
4687.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 3, 2005, the Secretary of 
Commerce and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development jointly 
announced the Initiative. The Initiative proposes to transfer and 
consolidate 18 Federal economic and community development programs from 
the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, 
Housing and Urban Development and Treasury within the Department of 
Commerce (the ``Department''), ultimately comprising a $3.71 billion 
unified grant program.
    By letter dated February 9, 2005, the President's Domestic Policy 
Council requested the Secretary to form the Committee. The Department 
is forming the Committee pursuant to this letter and under the 
authority of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (``FACA'') 
(5 U.S.C. App. 2). The following provides information about the 
Committee, its membership and the nomination process.

Objectives and Duties

    The objectives and duties of the Committee will be to provide 
advice and recommendations to the Secretary, and to develop a 
comprehensive written report of policy parameters to assist in 
implementing the Initiative, including advising on its legislation, 
regulations and other guidance. The Committee's report will encompass 
all aspects of the envisioned Initiative, including policy findings and 
declarations, organizational structure, eligibility, program delivery, 
monitoring and performance measures. The Committee is expected to 
deliver its report to the Secretary by May 31, 2005, although this time 
frame may change. Thereafter, the Committee may be asked to advise the 
Secretary on additional matters relating to the Initiative.

Membership

    Members of the Committee are appointed by and serve at the 
discretion of the Secretary. It is expected that the committee will 
consist of no more than 25 members. No employee of the Federal 
government may serve as a member of the Committee. The Secretary will 
designate a member or members to serve as the Chairperson or Co-
Chairpersons of the Committee. Members are expected to serve for the 
full tenure of the Committee, expected to last two years. The Committee 
intends to have a balanced membership from diverse backgrounds and 
geographical regions, including the private sector, State, local and 
tribal government officials, urban or rural community-based 
organizations, academia and the research community. Members should 
possess an extensive background in the fields of economic, social and 
community skills in these fields. Meeting attendance and active 
participation in the activities of the Committee are essential.

Administrative Provisions

    Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be allowed 
reimbursement for reasonable, Committee-related travel expenses, 
including a per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 
5703 (as amended) for persons serving intermittently in Federal 
government service. Members must undergo a criminal background check. 
Members will serve as ``special government employees'' (``SGEs'') and 
must comply with certain Federal ethics statutes and regulations, which 
include completing a confidential financial disclosure form to identify 
any conflicts of interest (or appearances thereof) between the 
individual's financial affiliations and holdings and his or her service 
on the Committee. Meetings shall be held at the call of the Chairperson 
or Co-Chairpersons (with the approval of the Designated Federal Officer 
(``DFO'')) until the Committee presents its comprehensive report to the 
Secretary; thereafter, the Committee will meet at the call of the Chair 
(with the approval of the DFO) at least annually. The Department and 
its various operating units shall provide the Committee with 
administrative and staff services, support and facilities to the extent 
necessary for the Committee to fulfill its objectives and duties and to 
the extent permitted by law. Once the Committee is officially formed, 
the full text of the Committee Charter may be viewed on the 
Department's Web site at http://www.doc.gov.

Evaluation Criteria and Application Procedure

    This notice requests nominations of persons to serve on the 
Committee. The Secretary may also consider nominations from sources 
other than this Request for Nominations. Self-nominations are 
acceptable. Nominations submitted from sources other than this Request 
for Nominations will be evaluated under the same evaluation criteria as 
those submitted in response to this Request for Nominations. In 
evaluating nominations, the Secretary shall consider the nominee's (i) 
technical expertise, educational background, policy roles and 
leadership skills in the fields of rural or urban economic, social and 
community development, (ii) experience in working with public-private 
partnerships and grant-based economic development, and (iii) such other 
experience and backgrounds as

[[Page 9918]]

the Secretary deems relevant for service on the Committee.
    Each nomination submission pursuant to this Request for Nominations 
must include: (i) The proposed Committee member's name, address, 
telephone and fax numbers, e-mail address (if available) and 
organizational affiliation (if any); (ii) a cover letter describing the 
nominee's qualifications and interest in serving on the Committee; 
(iii) the nominee's curriculum vitae or resume; and (iv) no more than 
three supporting letters describing the nominee's qualifications and 
interest in serving on the Committee. Nominations must be received no 
later than 4 p.m. (e.s.t.) on March 11, 2005. See ADDRESSES for the 
address, facsimile number and e-mail address where nominations may be 
submitted.

Privacy Act

    Section 301 of Title 5 United States Code and 15 CFR part 4, 
subpart B authorize and govern collection of this information. The 
primary use of this information is to allow officials of the Department 
of Commerce and its operating units to review applications and to 
conduct vetting of applicants to make decisions concerning the 
nomination or renomination of candidates for membership on the Advisory 
Committee. Records may be disclosed under the following routine use 
circumstances: (1) To any Federal, State, or local agency maintaining 
civil, criminal, or other relevant enforcement information, if 
necessary to obtain information relevant to a Department decision 
concerning the assignment, hiring, or retention of an individual; the 
issuance of a security clearance; the letting of a contract; or the 
issuance of a license, grant, or benefit. (2) To any Federal, State, 
local, or foreign agency charged with the responsibility of 
investigating or prosecuting any violation or potential violation of 
law or contract; whether civil, criminal, or regulatory in nature; and 
whether arising by general statute or particular program statute; or 
contract, rule, regulation, or order, to protect the interests of the 
Department. (3) To any Federal, State, local, or international agency, 
in response to its request, in connection with the assignment, hiring, 
or retention of an individual, the issuance of a security clearance, 
the reporting of an investigation of an individual, the letting of a 
contract, or any other benefit of the requesting agency, to the extent 
that the information is relevant and necessary to the requesting 
agency's decisions on the matter. (4) To a Member of Congress 
submitting a request involving an individual when the individual has 
requested assistance from the Member with respect to the subject matter 
of the record. (5) To the Department of Justice in connection with 
determining whether disclosure is of the record is required under the 
Freedom of Information Act.
    Collection of this information, including your Social Security 
number is voluntary but failure to furnish it will result in your 
application not being considered. Collection of your Social Security 
number is authorized under Executive Order No. 9397. The Department 
will use this number to distinguish you from other members of the 
public who may have the same or similar name.

    Dated: February 24, 2005.
Theodore W. Kassinger,
Deputy Secretary of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 05-3976 Filed 2-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P