[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 170 (Thursday, September 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53975-53976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-21915]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Administration for Native Americans; Notice of Meeting

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for 
Children and Families.

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 solicit input on the agency's draft tribal consultation 
policy.

DATES: September 29, 2010.

[[Page 53976]]


ADDRESSES: The Fairfax at Embassy Row, 2100 Massachusetts Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillian A. Sparks, Commissioner, 
Administration for Native Americans, at 202-401-5590, by e-mail at 
[email protected] 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.
    Since 2005, ACF has been working under the guidance of the HHS 
policy issued in 2005 and updated in 2008. Due to the various programs 
administered by ACF and the many requests from tribes for consultation 
for specific programs, as well as specific program mandates for tribal 
consultation, ACF has decided to create an ACF tribal consultation 
policy to help ACF program and regional offices 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 to create a good policy, ACF needs input from 
tribes to ensure that ACF is meeting tribal needs and to establish a 
partnership that can carry into the future.
    Testimonies may be submitted no later than September 21, 2010, to: 
Lillian Sparks, Commissioner, Administration for Native Americans, 370 
L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, 
[email protected].
    ACF assembled a Tribal/Federal Workgroup to develop a draft policy 
and is asking Tribal Leaders to read the draft policy that will be sent 
to them in a letter prior to the scheduled consultation date. At the 
consultation session planned for September 29, 2010, ACF is interested 
in receiving tribal feedback on the policy and in working with tribal 
representatives to further refine a policy that meets both ACF and 
tribal needs, and works towards solidifying the partnership between ACF 
and tribes.
    In addition to the tribal consultation session, ACF will be hosting 
a tribal resources day to provide information about ACF programs, 
funding opportunities and tools on how to use ACF funding to create 
comprehensive community programs. The resources day will take place on 
September 28, 2010, at the same above address. ACF is encouraging 
tribes to send their tribal planning officers or comparable employee to 
attend the tribal resources day.

    Dated: August 26, 2010.
David A. Hansell,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 2010-21915 Filed 9-1-10; 8:45 am]
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