[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 24, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47371-47372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18153]



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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Veteran Listening Sessions on Advancing Racial Equity and Support 
for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Announcement for public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) will conduct 55 
virtual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) listening sessions for 
Veterans August-September 2021 on Advancing Racial Equity and Support 
for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government.

DATES: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will execute 48 site-
specific virtual listening sessions. Below are the dates and locations, 
which may be adjusted due to ongoing developments with COVID-19:

 August 16-17, 2021--San Francisco VA Health Care System (San 
Francisco, CA)
 August 19, 2021--VA Northern California Health Care System 
(Sacramento, CA)
 August 23-24, 2021--Kansas City VA Medical Center (Kansas 
City, MO)
 August 26, 2021--Jack C. Montgomery Medical Center (Tulsa, OK)
 September 13-14, 2021--Charlie Norwood Medical Center 
(Augusta, GA)
 September 15-16, 2021--Robley Rex VA Medical Center 
(Louisville, KY)
 September 20-21, 2021--Hampton VA Medical Center (Hampton, VA)
 September 22-23, 2021--Baltimore VA Medical Center (Baltimore, 
MD)


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Andringa, Office of 
Healthcare Transformation (Mail code 10T), 810 Vermont Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20420, 727-409-1293. (This is not a toll-free telephone 
number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 20, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden issued E.O. 13985 on 
Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through 
the Federal Government.

Consultation With Interested Parties

    Executive Order 13985 requires VA to consult with members of 
communities who have been historically underrepresented in the Federal 
Government and underserved by, or subject to discrimination in, Federal 
policies and programs.
    The term ``underserved communities'' refers to 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, 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, questioning/queer and related 
identities (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who 
live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by 
persistent poverty or inequality.
    VHA will execute listening sessions to gather feedback on:
     Veterans' experiences and perceptions related to 
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) at VA healthcare facilities.
     Ways Veterans feel they can be included.
     Barriers to effective healthcare for diverse Veteran 
populations.
     Unmet needs of diverse Veteran populations.
    Comments received in response to this notice will be evaluated and, 
as appropriate, incorporated into VA's efforts to improve support to 
underserved communities.

Additional Registration Information

    Individual registration: VA encourages individual registrations for 
those not affiliated with or representing a group, association or 
organization.
    Group registration: Identification of the name of the group, 
association or organization should be indicated in your registration 
request. Due to virtual platform meeting limitations of WebEx and the 
statutory mandate that VA consult with certain entities, VA may select 
certain entities to speak or may limit the size of a group's 
registration to allow receipt of testimonies and/or technical remarks 
from a broad, diverse group of stakeholders. Oral comments, testimonies 
and/or technical remarks may be limited from a group, association or 
organization to no more than two (2) individuals representing the same 
group, association or organization. Efforts will be made to accommodate 
all attendees who wish to participate. However, VA will give priority 
to Veterans, family members, caregivers, survivors of underserved 
communities or their representatives who register before September 15, 
2021, at 4 p.m. Eastern, and wish to provide oral comments, testimonies 
and/or technical remarks. The length of time allotted for all 
participants to provide oral comments, testimonies and/or technical 
remarks during the meeting will be no more than 60 minutes total and is 
subject to the number of participants selected to speak, to ensure time 
is allotted. There will be no opportunity for audio-visual 
presentations during the meeting.
    Audio (For listening purposes only): Limited to the first 200 
participants, on a first-come, first-served basis. Advanced 
registration is not required. Audio attendees will not be allowed to 
offer oral comments, testimonies and/or technical remarks as the line 
will be muted.
    Note: Should it be necessary to cancel the meeting due to technical 
issues or other emergencies, VA will take available measures to notify 
registered participants.

Listening Session Agenda

 Welcome and Introduce Team--2 min
 Opening Remarks--VHA Senior Leader(s)--5 mins
 Open comment period--DE&I Facilitator(s)--48 mins
 Closing Remarks--VHA Senior Leader(s)--5 mins
    Site-specific virtual listening sessions. Each location will 
execute six (6) virtual sessions on the dates scheduled above. Each 
session will be approximately 60 minutes. All sessions will be held 
virtually as a WebEx Event. The links to register are available at 
www.va.gov/ormdi. Advanced registration for individuals and groups is 
strongly encouraged. Individuals or groups who seek to speak must 
register by 72 hours before the start of each session. Speakers must 
virtually check-in one hour prior to the listening session to test 
WebEx access and resolve any technical issues. All other comments may 
be submitted in writing during the listening session. Target audiences 
are listed below and include Veterans, family members, caregivers, 
survivors, community leaders and partners, and other representatives 
who provide support to underserved communities:

 Session 1: Racial/ethnic minorities
 Session 2: LGBTQ+
 Session 3: Veterans with disabilities
 Session 4: Women Veterans
 Session 5: Religious minority Veterans and Veterans otherwise 
adversely affected by persistent inequality
 Session 6: Community partners

    Virtual listening sessions for participants from all eight 
locations. General virtual listening sessions will be held on September 
28 & 30, 2021, will be approximately 60 minutes each, and will target 
participants from the eight

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locations listed above who were unable to attend the site-specific 
virtual sessions. The links to register are available at www.va.gov/ormdi.
    Signing Authority: Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
approved this document on August 17, 2021, and authorized the 
undersigned to sign and submit the document to the Office of the 
Federal Register for publication electronically as an official document 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of 
the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-18153 Filed 8-23-21; 8:45 am]
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