[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 213 (Thursday, November 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68159-68160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28539]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Establishment of the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain 
Competitiveness and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, DOC.

ACTION: Notice of establishment of the Advisory Committee on Supply 
Chain Competitiveness and solicitation of nominations for membership.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to provisions under the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act, 5 U.S.C. App., the Under Secretary of Commerce for International 
Trade announces the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Supply 
Chain Competitiveness (the Committee) by the Secretary of Commerce. The 
Committee shall advise the Secretary regarding the development and 
administration of programs and policies to expand the competitiveness 
of U.S. supply chains, including programs and policies to expand U.S. 
exports of goods, services, and technology related to supply chain in 
accordance with applicable United States regulations. This notice also 
requests nominations for membership.

DATES: Nominations for members must be received on or before December 
14, 2011.

Nominations

    The Secretary of Commerce invites nominations to the committee of 
U.S. citizens who will represent U.S. companies that trade 
internationally, or U.S. trade associations or U.S. private sector 
organizations with activities focused on the competitiveness of U.S. 
supply chain goods and services. No member may represent a company that 
is majority owned or controlled by a foreign government entity or 
foreign government entities. Nominees meeting the eligibility 
requirements will be considered based upon their ability to carry out 
the goals of the Committee as articulated above. Self-nominations will 
be accepted. If you are interested in nominating someone to become a 
member of the Committee, please provide the following information:
    (1) Name, title, and relevant contact information (including phone, 
fax, and email address) of the individual requesting consideration;
    (2) A sponsor letter on the company's, trade association's, or 
organization's letterhead containing a brief description why the 
nominee should be considered for membership;
    (3) Short biography of nominee including credentials;
    (4) Brief description of the company, trade association, or 
organization to be represented and its business activities; company 
size (number of employees and annual sales); and export markets served;
    (5) An affirmative statement that the nominee is not a Federally 
registered lobbyist, and that the nominee understands that if 
appointed, the nominee will not be allowed to continue to serve as a 
Committee member if the nominee becomes a Federally registered 
lobbyist;
    (6) An affirmative statement that the nominee meets all Committee 
eligibility requirements.
    Please do not send company, trade association, or organization 
brochures or any other information.
    Nominations may be emailed to: [email protected] or faxed to 
the attention of Richard Boll at 202-482-2669, or mailed to Richard 
Boll, Office of Service Industries, Room CC118, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, and must 
be received before December 14. Nominees selected for appointment to 
the Committee will be notified by return mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Boll, Office of Service 
Industries, Room CC118, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; phone 202-482-1135; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background and Authority

    The Committee is being established under the discretionary 
authority of the Secretary, in response to an identified need for 
consensus advice from U.S. industry to the U.S. government on the 
development and administration of programs and policies to expand the 
competitiveness of U.S. supply chains. The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) governs the Committee and sets forth standards for 
the formation and use of advisory committees.
    For purposes of the Committee, the ``supply chain'' refers broadly 
to the combination of goods, services, and technology related to supply 
chain operations. In advising on the development and administration of 
programs and policies to expand the global competitiveness of the U.S. 
supply chains, the Committee shall provide detailed policy and 
technical advice, information, and recommendations to the Federal 
Government regarding:
    1. National, state, or local factors that inhibit the efficient 
domestic and international movement of goods from point of origin to 
destination, and the competitiveness of domestic and international 
supply chains;
    2. Infrastructure capacity, inter- and cross-modal connectivity, 
investment, regulatory, and intra- or inter-governmental coordination 
factors that affect supply chain competitiveness, goods movement, and 
sustainability;
    3. Emerging trends in goods movement that affect, or could impact, 
supply chain competitiveness; and
    4. Metrics that can be used to quantify supply chain performance.

II. Structure, Membership, and Operation

    The Committee shall consist of approximately 40 members appointed 
by the Secretary in accordance with applicable Department of Commerce 
guidance and based on their ability to carry out the objectives of the 
Committee. Members shall represent U.S. companies, U.S. trade 
associations, and U.S. private sector organizations that use or operate 
elements of U.S. global supply chain, with activities focused on the 
competitiveness of the U.S. supply chain and its component goods, 
services, and technologies. Membership shall reflect the diversity of 
goods and services movement activities, including a variety of users 
that ship through the global supply chain, entities that operate 
various parts of the supply chain, and individual academic experts in 
the field. Membership will also be diverse in terms of organization 
size, and geographic location.
    All members will come from the private sector. There will be two 
types of members: (1) Individual experts from

[[Page 68160]]

academia, and (2) representatives of a U.S. industry sector (through a 
U.S. entity or organization). Individual experts will be appointed as 
Special Government Employees (SGEs) under 18 U.S.C. 202 and will be 
required to comply with certain ethics laws and rules, including filing 
a Confidential Financial Disclosure form. The representatives will 
express the views and interests of their industry sector and will 
likely be members of a U.S. entity or organization that is within the 
relevant sector. Because they serve in a representative capacity, they 
will not be SGEs. Prospective nominees should designate the capacity in 
which they choose to serve and identify either their area of expertise 
or the U.S. industry sector they wish to represent.
    Each member of the Committee must be a U.S. citizen, and not 
registered as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration 
Act. Additionally, a member must not be a Federally registered 
lobbyist. No member may represent a company that is majority owned or 
controlled by a foreign government entity or entities.
    Appointments will be made without regard to political affiliation.
    Members shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary from the date 
of appointment to the COMMITTEE to the date on which the COMMITTEE's 
charter terminates (normally two years).
    The Secretary shall designate the Committee Chair and Vice Chair 
from selections made by the members. The Chair and Vice Chair will 
serve in those positions at the pleasure of the Secretary. The 
Department, through the Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and 
Services, may establish subcommittees or working groups from among the 
Committee's members as may be necessary, and consistent with FACA, the 
FACA implementing regulations, and applicable Department of Commerce 
policies. Such subcommittees or working groups may not function 
independently of the chartered committee and must report their 
recommendations and advice to the Committee for full deliberation and 
discussion. Subcommittees or working groups have no authority to make 
decisions on behalf of the Committee nor can they report directly to 
the Secretary or his or her designee. The Assistant Secretary for 
Manufacturing and Services shall designate a Designated Federal Officer 
(DFO) from among the employees of the Office of Service Industries. The 
DFO will approve or call all of the advisory committee meetings, 
prepare and approve all meeting agendas, attend all committee meetings, 
adjourn any meeting when the DFO determines adjournment to be in the 
public interest, and chair meetings when directed to do so by the 
Secretary.

III. Meetings

    The Committee shall, to the extent practicable, the Committee shall 
meet as necessary, but not less than once per year. No quorum is 
required. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the 
Secretary or his designee.

IV. Compensation

    Members of the COMMITTEE will not be compensated for their services 
or reimbursed for their travel expenses.

    Dated: October 31, 2011.
David Long,
Director, Office of Service Industries.
[FR Doc. 2011-28539 Filed 11-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P