[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 167 (Thursday, August 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53008-53009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18865]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Solicitation of Nominations for Membership To Serve on Tribal 
Advisory Council

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HRSA is seeking additional nominations of qualified tribal 
officials as candidates for consideration for appointment as voluntary 
delegate members of the HRSA Tribal Advisory Council (TAC), which is 
being established. Specifically, HRSA requests submissions of 
nominations of qualified tribal officials from the Indian Health 
Service (IHS) geographic areas of: Alaska; Albuquerque; Billings; 
Navajo; Phoenix; and Tucson. Nominations for membership must be 
received on or before September 30, 2020. This will allow tribes and 
tribal serving organizations from the IHS geographic areas noted above, 
the additional time needed to identify qualified tribal officials as 
candidates and submit comprehensive nomination packages.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CAPT Elijah K. Martin, Jr. EdD, MPH, 
Manager, Tribal Health Affairs, Office of Health Equity, HRSA, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Room 13N44, Rockville, Maryland

[[Page 53009]]

20857, 301-443-7526, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The HRSA TAC will be established to engage 
in regular and meaningful collaboration and consultation with tribal 
officials on policies that have tribal implications and substantial 
direct effect on Indian tribes. HRSA, an agency of the U.S. Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the primary federal agency for 
improving health care to people who are geographically isolated, and/or 
economically or medically vulnerable. This includes people living with 
HIV/AIDS; pregnant women, mothers, and their families; and those 
otherwise unable to access high-quality health care. HRSA supports the 
training of health professionals, the distribution of providers to 
areas where they are needed most, and improvements in health care 
delivery. HRSA also oversees organ, bone marrow, and cord blood 
donation. It also oversees the National Vaccine Injury Compensation 
Program which can provide compensation to individuals in the rare cases 
that they are harmed by certain covered vaccinations and maintains 
databases that flag providers with a record of health care malpractice, 
waste, fraud, and abuse for federal, state, and local use.
    The HRSA TAC will be the vehicle for acquiring a broad range of 
tribal views, determining the impact of HRSA programs on the American 
Indian and Alaska Natives health systems and population, developing 
innovative approaches to deliver health care, and assisting with 
effective tribal consultation. The HRSA TAC will hold one meeting each 
calendar year, or at the discretion of HRSA in consultation with the 
Chair. These meetings may be held in-person or virtually. The HRSA TAC 
will support, not supplant, any other government-to-government 
consultation activities that HRSA undertakes. In addition to assisting 
HRSA in the planning and coordination of tribal consultation sessions, 
the HRSA TAC will advise HRSA regarding the government-togovernment 
consultation process and will help ensure that HRSA activities and 
policies that impact Indian country are brought to the attention of all 
tribal leaders.
    Nominations: A previous notice regarding the HRSA TAC was published 
in the Federal Register on February 6, 2020. The deadline for 
submissions was extended to July 6, 2020, and while HRSA received 
additional nomination packets, it did not receive a sufficient number 
of nomination packets to consider for each of the 12 vacant positions. 
HRSA is requesting nominations of tribal officials to serve as HRSA TAC 
delegate members to fill up to 12 voluntary positions on the HRSA TAC; 
one authorized tribal representative (and one designated alternate) 
from each of the Indian Health Service geographic areas. HRSA continues 
to seek additional qualified nominees, specifically from eligible 
tribal officials from the IHS geographic areas of: Alaska; Albuquerque; 
Billings; Navajo; Phoenix; and Tucson. The HRSA Administrator will 
appoint HRSA TAC delegate members with the expertise needed to fulfill 
the duties of the Advisory Council. Nominees will be considered in the 
following priority order:
    1. Tribal president, chairperson, or governor;
    2. Tribal vice president, vice-chairperson, or lieutenant governor;
    3. Elected or appointed tribal official; and
    4. Designated tribal official.
    Interested applicants may self-nominate or be nominated by another 
individual or organization.
    Individuals selected for appointment to the HRSA TAC will be 
invited to serve terms of up to 2 years. Appointed delegate members 
will receive per diem and travel expenses incurred for attending HRSA 
TAC meetings and/or conducting other authorized and approved business 
on behalf of the HRSA TAC.
    The following information must be included in the package of 
materials submitted for each individual nominated for consideration: 
(1) Name of the nominee, a description of the interests the nominee 
would represent, and a description of the nominee's experience and 
interest in American Indian and Alaska Native access to health care; 
(2) evidence that the nominee is a duly elected or appointed tribal 
leader or tribal officer, or has been designated with authority to act 
on behalf of the duly elected or appointed tribal leader or officer, 
and is authorized to represent a tribal government; (3) a written 
commitment from the nominee that they will actively participate in good 
faith in HRSA TAC meetings; and (4) a current copy of the nominee's 
curriculum vitae. Nomination packages may be submitted directly by the 
individual being nominated or by the person/organization recommending 
the candidate.
    HHS endeavors to ensure that the membership of the HRSA TAC is 
fairly balanced in terms of points of view represented and that 
individuals from a broad representation of geographic areas, gender, 
and ethnic and minority groups, as well as individuals with 
disabilities, are considered for membership. Appointments shall be made 
without discrimination on the basis of age, ethnicity, gender, sexual 
orientation, or cultural, religious, or socioeconomic status.

Maria G. Button,
Director, Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2020-18865 Filed 8-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P