[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 4, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68561-68562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21918]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


USDA Equity Commission; Meeting

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. The 
Commission and Subcommittees are authorized under section 22007c of the 
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Public Law 117-169, and operates in 
compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended.

DATES: The EC meeting will be held Tuesday, October 24 through 
Thursday, October 26 from 12:00 p.m. EST to 7:00 p.m. EST each day.

ADDRESSES: 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 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 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

[[Page 68562]]

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 22007c of the Inflation 
Reduction Act of 2022, Public Law 117-169, provides sufficient funds 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 Subcommittee and Rural Community 
Economic Development Subcommittee recommendations; and deliberations 
and voting of recommendations to be included in the final report. 
Please check the USDA Equity Commission website (https://www.usda.gov/equity-commission) for an agenda 24-48 hours prior to October 24.
    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, 
October 9, 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, October 9. 
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.
    Availability of Materials for the Meeting: All written public 
comments received by October 9, 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.
    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.

    Dated: September 28, 2023.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-21918 Filed 10-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-P