[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 2732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing 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 
[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.
    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. 
[email protected].
    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 
[email protected] 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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