[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34473-34474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11405]


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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 (RCED) 
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 Tuesday, June 27 through Thursday, 
June 29, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. EST to 6:00 p.m. EST each day.
    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, June 
13, 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 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, June 13th. 
Comments submitted after this date will be provided to the 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 for inclusion in the meeting minutes.
    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].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission and Subcommittees 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. 10.
    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) also 
reports to the Equity Commission and is focused on issues related to 
rural community prosperity. The Equity Commission delivered an interim 
report and provided actionable recommendations in February 2023. A 
final report will be completed by winter of 2024.
    Meeting Agenda: The agenda items may include, but are not limited 
to, welcome and introductions; administrative matters; introduction and 
presentation of the Agriculture

[[Page 34474]]

Subcommittee and Rural Community Economic Development Subcommittee 
recommendations; and deliberations and voting of recommendations to be 
included in the EC final report. Please check the USDA Equity 
Commission website (https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission) for an 
agenda 24-48 hours prior to June 27.
    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.
    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.
    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its 
agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family or parental status, income derived from a public 
assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for 
prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or 
funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and 
complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Equal opportunity practices in accordance with USDA's policies will 
be followed in all appointments to the Committee. To ensure that the 
recommendations of the Committee have taken in account the needs of the 
diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall include to the extent 
possible, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent 
minorities, women and person with disabilities. USDA is an equal 
opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages 
other than English.

    Dated: May 24, 2023.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-11405 Filed 5-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-P