[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 166 (Monday, August 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52737-52738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18483]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 166 / Monday, August 29, 2022 / 
Notices  

[[Page 52737]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


USDA Equity Commission

AGENCY: USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public and virtual meeting.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the 
rules and regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), that a public 
meeting of the USDA Equity Commission (EC or Commission), Subcommittee 
for Agriculture and the Rural Community Economic Development 
Subcommittee will convene to continue its work reviewing USDA programs, 
services, and policies for the purpose of making recommendations for 
how the Department can improve access and advance equity. The 
Commission and Subcommittee are authorized under section 1006(b)(3) of 
the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2 (the Act) and 
operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 
amended, 5 U.S.C. app. 2.

DATES: The EC meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 21 and 
Thursday, September 22, 2022, from 10 a.m. EST to 5:30 p.m. EST each 
day.

Meeting Access

    The public can participate via a zoom meeting link. Access 
information will be provided to registered individuals via email. 
Detailed information can be found at: https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cecilia Hernandez, Designated Federal 
Officer, USDA Equity Commission, Office of the Deputy Secretary, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 6006-S, Washington, DC 20250-0235; Phone: 
(202) 913-5907; Email: [email protected]. Individuals who use 
telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the FCC 
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) at 7-1-1 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., eastern standard time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed 
an Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for 
Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government and committed to 
creating the USDA Equity Commission as part of his rural agenda and 
commitment to closing the racial wealth gap and addressing longstanding 
inequities in agriculture. Section 1006 of the American Rescue Plan 
directed USDA to create the Equity Commission and provided funds 
sufficient to ensure the Commission is well staffed and positioned to 
deliver on its charge.
    The USDA Equity Commission will advise the Secretary of Agriculture 
and provide USDA with an analysis of how its programs, policies, 
systems, structures, and practices contribute to barriers to inclusion 
or access, systemic discrimination, or exacerbate or perpetuate racial, 
economic, health and social disparities and recommendations for action. 
The Agriculture Subcommittee reports to the Equity Commission and 
provides recommendations on issues of concern related to agriculture. 
The Rural Community Economic Development Subcommittee, (RCED), will 
also report to the Equity Commission and will focus on issues related 
to rural community prosperity. The Equity Commission will deliver an 
interim report and provide actionable recommendations by the fall of 
2022. A final report will be completed by the summer of 2023.
    Meeting Agenda: The agenda items may include, but are not limited 
to, welcome and introductions; administrative matters; introduction of 
the Rural Community Economic Development Subcommittee; and 
deliberations and voting of recommendations to be included in the EC 
interim report. Please check the USDA Equity Commission website 
(https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission) for an agenda 24-48 hours 
prior to September 21st.
    Register for the Meeting: The public is asked to pre-register for 
the meeting by visiting https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission. Your 
pre-registration must state: your name; organization or interest 
represented; if you are planning to give oral comments; and if you 
require special accommodations. USDA will also accept day-of 
registrations.
    Oral Comments: The Commission is providing the public an 
opportunity to provide oral comments and will accommodate as many 
individuals and organizations as time permits. Persons or organizations 
wishing to make oral comments must pre-register by 11:59 p.m. ET, 
September 9, 2022, and may only register for one speaking slot. 
Participants who wish to make oral comments must also be available to 
attend a tech-check the day before the meeting. Instructions for 
registering and participating in the meeting can be found on https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission.
    Written Comments: Written public comments for consideration at the 
meeting will be accepted on or before 11:59 p.m. ET, September 9th. 
Comments submitted after this date will be provided to USDA, but the 
Commission may not have adequate time to consider those comments prior 
to the meeting. The USDA Equity Commission strongly prefers comments be 
submitted electronically. However, written comments may also be 
submitted (i.e., postmarked) via mail to the person listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section by or before the deadline. Written 
comments will be accepted up to 15 days after the meeting.
    Availability of Materials for the Meeting: All written public 
comments received by October 7, 2022, will be compiled into a file and 
available for member review and be included in the meeting minutes. 
Duplicate comments from multiple individuals will appear as one 
comment, with a notation that multiple copies of the comment were 
received. Please visit https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission to view 
the agenda and/or minutes from this meeting.
    Meeting Accommodations: USDA is committed to making its electronic 
and information technologies accessible to individuals with 
disabilities by meeting or exceeding the requirements of section 508 of 
the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended. If you need 
reasonable accommodations, please make requests in advance for 
reasonable accommodations through the meeting

[[Page 52738]]

registration link on https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission. 
Determinations for reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-
case basis.

    Dated: August 23, 2022.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-18483 Filed 8-26-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-P