[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57504-57505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22827]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Utilities Service


2014 Farm Bill Implementation Listening Session--Rural Community 
College Coordinated Strategy

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and 
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Public Listening Session.

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SUMMARY: As part of the implementation of the Agricultural Act of 2014 
(commonly referred to as the 2014 Farm Bill), USDA Rural Development is 
hosting a listening session to receive public input about ways USDA can 
help community colleges form partnerships and get funding for local 
economic development. The 2014 Farm Bill directs USDA to work with 
community and technical colleges on a strategy to help them better 
serve the needs of local rural communities.
    The listening session will provide an opportunity for stakeholders 
to voice their comments, concerns or requests regarding this strategy. 
Instructions to register for and attend the listening session are in 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

DATES: Listening session: The listening session will be on Thursday, 
October 9, 2014, and will begin at 2:00 p.m. and is scheduled to end no 
later than 4:00 p.m.
    Registration: You must register by October 7, 2014, to attend in 
person and to provide oral comments during the listening session.
    Comments: A recording of public comments will be available. To 
obtain a copy of the recording, contact Dexter Pearson, 
[email protected]. Written comments are due by October 10, 
2014. Written comments must be submitted electronically via the Federal 
eRulmaking Portal: Regulations.gov (see below).

ADDRESSES: The listening session will be held in Room 107-A of the 
Whitten Building at 14th Street and Independence Ave. SW., Washington, 
DC 20250. We invite you to participate in the listening session. The 
listening session is open to the members of the public who register 
(see below).
    For participants who cannot attend in person, remote participation 
will be available:
    Dial 1-888-469-0566 and enter Conference ID: 3499699.
    We invite all participants to submit comments by any of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments; or
     Orally at the listening sessions; please also provide a 
written copy of your comments online as specified.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dexter Pearson, 202-401-9790, Email: 
[email protected]. Persons with disabilities who require 
alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audio tape, 
etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice 
and TDD).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 7, 2014, the 2014 Farm Bill 
(Pub. L. 113-79) was signed into law. The Secretary of Agriculture and 
the respective USDA agencies, including Rural Development, are working 
to implement the provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill as expeditiously as 
possible to meet the needs of stakeholders. To plan and implement the 
newly authorized Rural College Coordinated Strategy, it is important to 
consult and engage with our stakeholders to learn and

[[Page 57505]]

understand their comments, concerns, or requests.
    Rural Development will hold the Rural College Coordinated Strategy 
listening session on Thursday, October 9, 2014, to receive oral 
comments from groups representing rural-serving community colleges and 
technical colleges. Oral comments received from this listening session 
will be documented. All attendees of this listening session who submit 
oral comments are requested to submit a written copy to help Rural 
Development accurately capture public input. (See the ADDRESSES section 
above for information about submitting written comments.) In addition, 
stakeholders and the public who do not wish to attend or speak at the 
listening session are invited to submit written comments, which must be 
received by October 10, 2014 via regulations.gov, as described above.
    At the listening session, the focus is for Rural Development to 
hear from the public; this is not a discussion with Rural Development 
officials or a question and answer session. As noted above, the purpose 
is to receive public input that Rural Development can consider in order 
to implement the Rural Community College Coordinated Strategy provision 
of the 2014 Farm Bill.
    Rural Development is interested in receiving input on all aspects 
on the implementation of this provision, including, how RD can 
coordinate critical investments in rural community colleges and 
technical colleges involved in workforce training and to impact 
physical, human, social, financial and natural capitol in rural 
communities. Rural Development efforts are to expand our partnerships 
and services for improving the quality of life and more effectively 
serve communities in rural America.
    Date: Thursday, October 9, 2014.
    Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm.
    Location information: United States Department of Agriculture--
Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave. SW.; Room 107-A; Washington, 
DC 20250.
    The listening session will begin with brief opening remarks from 
USDA leadership in Rural Development. Individual speakers providing 
oral comments are requested to be succinct (no more than 3 minutes) as 
we do not know at this time how many participants there will be. As 
noted above, we request that speakers providing oral comments also 
provide a written copy of their comments. (See the ADDRESSES section 
above for information about submitting written comments.) All 
stakeholders and interested members of the public are welcome to 
register to provide oral comments; however, if necessary due to time 
constraints, a limited number will be selected on a first come, first 
serve basis.

Instructions for Attending the Listening Session

    Space for attendance at the listening session is limited. Due to 
USDA headquarters security and space requirements, all persons wishing 
to attend the listening session in person or via phone must send an 
email to [email protected] by October 7, 2014, to register. 
Registrations will be accepted until maximum capacity is reached. To 
register, provide the following information:

 First Name
 Last Name
 Organization
 Title
 Email
 Phone Number
 City
 State

    For participants who cannot make it to the listening session in 
person, remote participation will be available: Dial 1-800-981-3173 and 
enter Conference ID: 0844.
    Upon arrival at the USDA Whitten Building, registered persons must 
provide valid photo identification in order to enter the building; 
visitors need to enter the Whitten Building on the mall side. Please 
allow extra time to get through security. Additional information about 
the listening session, agenda, directions to get to the listening 
session, and how to provide comments is available at the USDA Farm Bill 
Web site found at: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=farmbill.
    All written comments received will be publicly available on 
www.regulations.gov. If you require special accommodations, such as a 
sign language interpreter, use the contact information above. The 
listening session location is accessible to persons with disabilities.

Nondiscrimination Statement

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 
against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the 
bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender 
identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, 
marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all 
or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance 
program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any 
program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all 
prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment 
activities.
    If you wish to file an employment complaint, you must contact your 
agency's EEO Counselor (PDF) within 45 days of the date of the alleged 
discriminatory act, event, or in the case of a personnel action. 
Additional information can be found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_file.html.
    If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of 
discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form 
(PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or 
call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter 
containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your 
completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at 
[email protected]. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or 
have speech disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program 
complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 
(800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish).
    Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, 
please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or 
by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program 
information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please 
contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Dated: September 19, 2014.
Doug O'Brien,
Acting Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2014-22827 Filed 9-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P