[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 88 (Monday, May 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24890-24891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09792]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Workforce Information Advisory Council

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Request for nominations for membership on the Workforce 
Information Advisory Council.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) invites interested parties to 
submit nominations for individuals to serve on the Workforce 
Information Advisory Council (WIAC) and announces the procedures for 
those nominations. There are vacant positions on the WIAC representing 
State agencies with responsibility for workforce investment activities 
(State Workforce Agency representatives) and representatives of State 
workforce and labor market information (LMI) directors. While this 
notice is directed specifically to obtaining nominations for the 
current vacancies, LMI director and State Workforce Agency 
representatives, individuals qualified for the other five membership 
categories listed below in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section are 
invited to submit nomination materials, and DOL will consider these 
nominees in the event that seats in those categories become available. 
When submitting nomination materials, please indicate the category or 
categories for which the nominee would like to be considered. 
Information regarding the WIAC can be found at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/wioa/wiac.

DATES: Nominations for individuals to serve on the WIAC must be 
submitted (postmarked, if sending by mail; submitted electronically; or 
received, if hand delivered) by June 9, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations and supporting materials 
described in this Federal Register Notice by the following method:
    Electronically: Submit nominations, including attachments, by email 
using the following address: [email protected] (use subject line 
``Nomination--Workforce Information Advisory Council''). The Department 
will not accept nominations by mail, express delivery, hand delivery, 
messenger, courier service, or facsimile.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 15 of the Wagner-Peyser Act, 29 
U.S.C. 49l-2, as amended by section 308 of the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA), Pub. L. 113-128, requires the Secretary 
of Labor (Secretary) to establish a WIAC.
    The statute, as amended, requires the Secretary, acting through the 
Commissioner of Labor Statistics and the Assistant Secretary for 
Employment and Training, to formally consult at least twice annually 
with the WIAC to address: (1) Evaluation and improvement of the 
nationwide workforce and labor market information system established by 
the Wagner-Peyser Act, and of the statewide systems that comprise the 
nationwide system, and (2) how the Department of Labor and the States 
will cooperate in the management of those systems. The Secretary, 
acting through the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Employment 
and Training Administration (ETA), and in consultation with the WIAC 
and appropriate federal agencies, must also develop a two-year plan for 
management of the labor market information system. The statute 
generally prescribes how the plan is to be developed and implemented, 
outlines the contents of the plan, and requires the Secretary to submit 
the plan to designated authorizing committees in the House and Senate.
    By law, the Secretary must ``seek, review, and evaluate'' 
recommendations from the WIAC, and respond in writing to the Council. 
The WIAC must make written recommendations to the Secretary on the 
evaluation and improvement of the workforce and labor market 
information system, including recommendations for the two-year plan. 
The two-year plan, in turn, must describe WIAC recommendations and the 
extent to which the plan incorporates them.
    The Department anticipates that the WIAC will accomplish its 
objectives by, for example: (1) Studying workforce and labor market 
information issues; (2) seeking and sharing information on innovative 
approaches, new technologies, and data to inform employment, skills 
training, and workforce and economic development decision making and 
policy; and (3) advising the Secretary on how the workforce and labor 
market information system can best support workforce development, 
planning, and program development.
    Pertinent information about the WIAC, including recommendations, 
reports, background information, agendas, and meeting minutes, can be 
accessed at the WIAC's website located at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/wioa/wiac.
    The Wagner-Peyser Act, at section 15(d)(2)(B), requires the WIAC to 
have 14 members, appointed by the Secretary, consisting of:
    (1) Four members who are representatives of lead State agencies 
with responsibility for workforce investment activities, or State 
agencies described in Wagner-Peyser Act section 4 (agency designated or 
authorized by Governor to cooperate with the Secretary of Labor), who 
have been nominated by such agencies or by a national organization that 
represents such agencies;
    (2) Four members who are representatives of the State workforce and 
labor market information directors affiliated with the State agencies 
responsible for the management and oversight of the workforce and labor 
market information system as described in Wagner-Peyser Act section 
15(e)(2), who have been nominated by the directors;
    (3) One member who is a representative of providers of training 
services under WIOA section 122

[[Page 24891]]

(Identification of Eligible Providers of Training Services);
    (4) One member who is a representative of economic development 
entities;
    (5) One member who is a representative of businesses, who has been 
nominated by national business organizations or trade associations;
    (6) One member who is a representative of labor organizations, who 
has been nominated by a national labor federation;
    (7) One member who is a representative of local workforce 
development boards, who has been nominated by a national organization 
representing such boards; and
    (8) One member who is a representative of research entities that 
use workforce and labor market information.
    The Secretary must ensure that the membership of the WIAC is 
geographically diverse, and that no two members appointed under clauses 
(1), (2), and (7) above represent the same State. Please note, the 
members whom the Secretary appoints to fill these vacancies will serve 
the balance of their predecessors' unexpired terms, in this case from 
the date of appointment until March 9, 2023. Members of the Council 
will serve on a voluntary and generally uncompensated basis, but will 
be reimbursed for travel expenses to attend WIAC meetings, including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by the Federal travel 
regulations.
    The WIAC is a permanent advisory council and, as such, is not 
governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act's (FACA) section 14, on 
termination of advisory committees. In other respects, however, WIAC 
membership will be consistent with the FACA requirement that membership 
be ``fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented and the 
functions to be performed'' (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 5(b)(2)), as 
specified in Wagner-Peyser section 15(2)(B) & (C), and the requirement 
that members come from ``a cross-section of those directly affected, 
interested, and qualified, as appropriate to the nature and functions'' 
of the WIAC (41 CFR 102-3.60(b)(3)). Under the FACA regulation, the 
composition of the WIAC will, therefore, depend upon several factors, 
including: (i) The WIAC's mission; (ii) the geographic, ethnic, social, 
economic, or scientific impact of the WIAC's recommendations; (iii) the 
types of specific perspectives required; (iv) the need to obtain 
divergent points of view on the issues before the WIAC, such as those 
of consumers, technical experts, the public at large, academia, 
business, or other sectors; and (v) the relevance of State, local, or 
tribal governments to the development of the WIAC's recommendations (41 
CFR 102-3, Subpart B, Appendix A.).
    To the extent permitted by FACA and other applicable laws, WIAC 
membership should also be consistent with achieving the greatest 
impact, scope, and credibility among diverse stakeholders. The 
diversity in such membership includes, but is not limited to, race, 
gender, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
    Nominations Process: Nominations for a representative of lead State 
agencies with responsibility for workforce investment activities, or 
State agencies described in Wagner-Peyser Act section 4 (agency 
designated or authorized by Governor to cooperate with the Secretary of 
Labor), must be nominated by such agencies or by a national 
organization that represents such agencies. Nominations for a 
representative of State workforce and labor market information 
directors affiliated with the State agencies responsible for the 
management and oversight of the workforce and labor market information 
system as described in Wagner-Peyser Act section 15(e)(2), must be 
nominated by the directors.
    To nominate an individual for appointment to the WIAC, please 
submit, to one of the addresses listed below, the following 
information:
     A copy of the nominee's resume or curriculum vitae;
     A cover letter that provides your reason(s) for nominating 
the individual, the constituency area that they represent (as outlined 
above in the WIAC membership identification discussion), and their 
particular expertise for contributing to the national policy discussion 
on: (1) The evaluation and improvement of the nationwide workforce and 
labor market information system and statewide systems that comprise the 
nationwide system, and (2) how the Department of Labor and the States 
will cooperate in the management of those systems, including programs 
that produce employment-related statistics and State and local 
workforce and labor market information; and
     Contact information for the nominee (name, title, business 
address, business phone, and business email address).
    In addition, the cover letter must state the nomination is being 
made in response to this Federal Register Notice and the nominee (if 
nominating someone other than oneself) has agreed to be nominated and 
is willing to serve on the WIAC. Nominees will be appointed based on 
their qualifications, professional experience, and demonstrated 
knowledge of issues related to the purpose and scope of the WIAC, as 
well as diversity considerations. The Department will publish a list of 
the new WIAC members on the WIAC's website at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/wioa/wiac.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Rietzke, WIAC Designated Federal 
Officer, [email protected].

    Authority: Pursuant to the Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933, as 
amended, 29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.; Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act, Pub. L. 113-128; Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, 5 
U.S.C. App. 2.

Suzan G. LeVine,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training 
Administration, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2021-09792 Filed 5-7-21; 8:45 am]
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