[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2599-2600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00540]


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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 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 17, 2023 / 
Notices  

[[Page 2599]]



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.

DATES: The EC meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 31 and Thursday, 
February 2, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. EST to 4:00 p.m. EST each day.
    Meeting Agenda: The agenda items may include, but are not limited 
to, welcome and introductions; administrative matters; presentations by 
the Rural Community Economic Development and Agriculture Subcommittees; 
and deliberations and voting of recommendations to be included in an 
interim report. Please check the USDA Equity Commission website 
(https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission) for an agenda 24-48 hours 
prior to January 31st.
    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, 
January 20, 2023, 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, January 20, 2023. Comments submitted after this date 
will be provided to the Equity Commission, 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 February 18, 2023, 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-commissiontoviewtheagendaand/or minutes from this meeting

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 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through 
Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
    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 in spring 2023. A 
final report will be completed by end of year 2023.
    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.

[[Page 2600]]

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

    Dated: January 9, 2023.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-00540 Filed 1-13-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-P