[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 7, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35828-35829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14365]


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EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Office of National Drug Control Policy


Application of Equity in U.S. National Drug Control Policy

AGENCY: Office of National Drug Control Policy.

ACTION: Request for information.

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SUMMARY: The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is seeking 
comments from the public on whether and to what extent ONDCP's policy 
development process, drug budget review and certification processes of 
the 18 National Drug Control Program Agencies, and Grant Administration 
Programs perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunities for underserved 
communities and individuals from those communities. ONDCP is also 
seeking comments from the public regarding how its future proposed 
policies, budgets, regulations, grants, or programs might be more 
effective in advancing equity.

DATES: ONDCP encourages and will accept public comments on or before 
August 6, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by members of the general 
public and stakeholder organizations by email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ONDCP seeks input according to the processes 
outlined by Executive Order (E.O.) 13985, that requires agencies to 
select certain agency programs and policies and assess whether 
underserved communities and their members, face systemic barriers in 
accessing benefits and opportunities available pursuant to those 
policies and programs.
    E.O. 13985 defines ``equity'' as the consistent and systematic 
fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including 
individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied 
such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native 
American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other 
persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, 
bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with 
disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise 
adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. It defines 
``underserved communities'' as populations sharing a particular 
characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been 
systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of 
economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the 
preceding definition of ``equity.''
    The E.O. requires agencies to assess whether, and to what extent, 
its programs and policies perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunities 
and benefits for people of color and other underserved groups. Such 
assessments will better equip agencies to develop policies and programs 
that deliver resources and benefits equitably to all. The E.O. also 
requires agencies to study strategies for allocating Federal resources, 
consistent with applicable law, in a manner that increases investment 
in underserved communities, and individuals from those communities, to 
address the historic failure to ensure investments are sufficient, 
just, and equal. However, many Federal datasets are not disaggregated 
by race, ethnicity, gender, disability, income, veteran status, or 
other key demographic variables. Furthermore, in carrying out the E.O., 
agencies shall consult with members of communities that have been 
historically underrepresented in the Federal Government and underserved 
by, or subject to discrimination in, Federal policies and programs. The 
head of each agency shall evaluate opportunities, consistent with 
applicable law, to increase coordination, communication, and engagement 
with community-based organizations and civil rights organizations.
    ONDCP is the agency in the Executive Office of the President 
primarily responsible for leading and coordinating the nation's drug 
control policy through the development and oversight of the National 
Drug Control Strategy and the National Drug Control Budget. ONDCP 
recently released the Biden-Harris Administration's Drug Policy 
Priorities for the Administration's first year. The seven priorities 
propose specific and targeted actions to reduce overdoses and promote 
recovery, including advancing racial equity in our approach to drug 
policy, expanding access to quality treatment, reducing the supply of 
illicit substances, and enhancing evidence-based harm reduction 
services that engage and build trust with people who use drugs, among 
others. The priorities emphasize several cross-cutting facets of the 
overdose epidemic, namely by advancing racial equity in drug policy and 
promoting harm-reduction efforts.
    While ONDCP employs experts in policy, public health, and public 
safety, the agency also organizes formal consultations with key 
external stakeholders. These external perspectives are crucial to help 
develop national drug control policy. ONDCP seeks to incorporate more 
perspectives from a wide array of backgrounds, including those most 
impacted by United States' drug policies.
    Through budget review and certification processes, ONDCP aligns 
funding resources for 18 Federal government agencies and departments 
with the National Drug Control Strategy. The President's Fiscal Year 
(FY) 2022 budget request, included a $41.0 billion investment for 
national drug program agencies, representing a $669.9 million increase 
over the FY 2021 enacted level. The largest increases in funding are 
for critical public health interventions like treatment and prevention 
services. Each spring, ONDCP's policy and budget staff develop and 
share budget guidance letters with these agencies. Agencies then review 
the budget guidance letters and submit preliminary budget proposals to 
ONDCP. ONDCP reviews the budget proposals to ensure they meet the 
guidance requirements and, based on the outcome of the review, 
certifies agency budgets. Key information about where drug budget 
investments are directed and the impact for different demographic 
groups (e.g., by race, ethnicity, gender, disability, income, veteran 
status, and more) is not fully known.
    Request for Comments: Pursuant to E.O. 13985, ONDCP is issuing this 
request for information (RFI), to gather data on whether and to what 
extent ONDCP's policy development process, drug budget review and 
certification processes, and Grant Administration Programs perpetuate 
systemic barriers to opportunities for underserved communities and 
individuals from those communities. In addition, ONDCP is issuing this 
RFI to gather information as to how its future proposed policies, 
budgets, regulations, grants, or programs might be more effective in 
advancing equity. Public input, information, and recommendations will 
help ONDCP develop an approach to advance equity in drug policy.
    The work of advancing equity requires a holistic assessment of 
ONDCP practices and policies. The agency welcomes submissions that 
provide resources, tools, and examples of how

[[Page 35829]]

the agency might perform an effective assessment on its Grant 
Administration Programs, ONDCP's policy development process, and 
ONDCP's drug budget review and certification processes, with the goal 
of embedding equity throughout agency practices and policies. 
Submissions might consider questions such as:
     Jurisdictions at the State, local, Tribal, and territorial 
levels have implemented equity assessment tools to inform their 
policymaking or budgetary processes. What are the lessons these 
jurisdictions have learned from implementing or interacting with those 
tools?
     Formal consultations for the National Drug Control 
Strategy often involve direct relationships between ONDCP and the 
consulting group, organization, or subject matter expert. What are 
recommendations on how the agency can broaden its formal consultations 
to gain broader perspectives earlier in the policy development process?
     How might research examine equity in the context of law 
enforcement actions against drug trafficking or transnational criminal 
organizations? Are there existing applicable research frameworks that 
might be applied to ONDCP's Grant Administration Programs or other 
multi-jurisdictional task forces?
     What nationally representative private health, drug or 
crime databases or systems might be leveraged to provide information 
about equitable application of U.S. drug policy and how might access to 
such databases improve equitable responses? Please provide specific 
contact information for follow-up with those in a position to authorize 
dataset access.
     Provide recommendations for ONDCP to involve people who 
use drugs, especially those not typically included in household 
surveys, in the development of National drug control policy.
     What would be your recommendations for short-term and 
long-term goals that ONDCP should take into account to measure progress 
towards equity in drug policy?

(Authority: E.O. 13985, signed by the President on January 20, 
2021.)

Robert Kent,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2021-14365 Filed 7-6-21; 8:45 am]
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