[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 105 (Thursday, May 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46900-46901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11799]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-6465-N-01]


Appointments to the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory 
Committee; Solicitation of Nominations

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
Commissioner, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 
established the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee (HCFAC) 
on April 14, 2015. This notice invites nominations for appointments to 
fill vacancies on the HCFAC.

DATES: All nominations must be received no later than July 15, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Nominations must be in writing using form HUD 95000 
(Application for Membership on the HCFAC, OMB Approval Number: 2502-
0606) and submitted via email to [email protected]. Individuals 
who do not have internet access may submit nominations to the Office of 
the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing Counseling, HUD, Attn: 
Toneisha Basil, 451 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Virginia F. Holman, Housing Program 
Specialist, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of 
Housing Counseling, Office of Outreach and Capacity Building, 
[email protected], telephone number 540-894-7790 (this is not a 
toll-free number). HUD welcomes and is prepared to receive calls from 
individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as individuals 
with speech and communication disabilities. To learn more about how to 
make an accessible telephone call, please visit: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs. Individuals with 
questions may also email [email protected] with ``HCFAC 
application question'' in the subject line.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Authority

    The HCFAC is congressionally mandated to provide advice to the 
Office of Housing Counseling (OHC) (42 U.S.C. 3533(g)(4)). The HCFAC 
provides the OHC valuable advice regarding its mission to provide 
individuals and families with the knowledge they need to obtain, 
sustain, and improve their housing through a strong national network of 
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and HUD-certified counselors. 
The HCFAC, however, does not have any role in reviewing or awarding OHC 
housing counseling grants and procurement contracts. The HCFAC is 
subject to the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. 
L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
    By statute, the HCFAC shall consist of not more than 12 individuals 
appointed by the Secretary (42 U.S.C. 3533(g)(4)(B)). The membership 
will equally represent the mortgage industry, the real estate industry, 
consumers, and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. Each member 
shall be appointed in his or her individual capacity for a term of up 
to 3 years.

II. Nominations for the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee

    HUD is seeking nominations for membership on the HCFAC. Nominees 
shall equally represent the mortgage and real estate industries, 
including consumers and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. 
Nominations may be made by agency officials, members of Congress, the 
general public, or professional organizations, as well as self-
nominations. Nominees must be U.S. citizens and cannot be U.S. 
Government employees.
    All appointed nominees will be serving on the HCFAC in their 
individual capacity, and not in a representative capacity, therefore, 
no Federally-registered lobbyists may serve on the HCFAC.\1\ Individual 
capacity, as

[[Page 46901]]

clarified by OMB, refers to individuals who are appointed to committees 
to exercise their own individual best judgment on behalf of the 
Government, such as when they are designated as Special Government 
Employees as defined in 18 U.S.C. 202.
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    \1\ See 79 FR 47482 (``Revised Guidance on Appointment of 
Lobbyists to Federal Advisory Committees, Boards, and Commissions'') 
(clarifying that federally registered lobbyists may not serve on 
advisory committee, board, or Commission in an ``individual 
capacity.'')
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    Nominations to the HCFAC must be submitted using a HUD-90005 which 
is available on the Office of Housing Counseling's Federal Advisory 
Committee web page at: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/hcc. It is also available at HUD's Client Information Policy Systems 
(HUDClips) at: https://www.hud.gov/guidance. Each nominee will be 
required to provide all the information on HUD-90005. The submission of 
a resume with work experience is optional.
    Nominations should be submitted via email to 
[email protected]. Individuals that do not have internet access 
may submit nominations to the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Housing Counseling, HUD, Attn: Toneisha Basil, 451 7th Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20410. Those who submitted applications previously, and 
those who have been appointed previously, must reapply if they wish to 
be considered for an appointment. Nominations submitted under this 
Federal Register Notice shall remain valid for two (2) years after the 
close of this nomination period. HUD reserves the right to solicit new 
nominations, at any time, to fill HCFAC vacancies.
    All Nominations must be received no later than July 15, 2024.
    HCFAC members will be required to adhere to the conflict-of-
interest rules applicable to Special Government Employees as such 
employees are defined in 18 U.S.C. 202(a). The rules include relevant 
provisions in 18 U.S.C. related to criminal activity, Standards of 
Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (5 CFR part 2635) 
and Executive Order 12674 (as modified by E.O. 12731). Therefore, 
applicants will be required to submit to pre-appointment screenings 
relating to identity of interest and financial interests that HUD might 
require. If selected, HCFAC members will also be asked to complete OGE 
Form 450 (Confidential Financial Disclosure Report).
    Members of the HCFAC shall serve without pay but shall receive 
travel expenses including per diem in lieu of subsistence as authorized 
by 5 U.S.C. 5703. Regular attendance is essential to the effective 
operation of the HCFAC.
    Please note this notice is not intended to be the exclusive method 
by which HUD will solicit nominations and expressions of interest to 
identify qualified candidates; however, all nominees for membership on 
the HCFAC will be subject to the same application process and 
evaluation criteria.

III. Selection and Meetings

    Member selections will be made by the Secretary and will be based 
on the Nominee's qualifications to contribute to the accomplishment of 
the HCFAC's objectives. Membership on the HCFAC is personal to the 
appointee and committee members serve at the discretion of the 
Secretary.
    The estimated number of meetings (in-person or virtual) anticipated 
within a fiscal year is four (4). Additional meetings may be held as 
needed to render advice to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the 
Office of Housing Counseling. The meetings may use electronic 
communication technologies for attendance.
    All meetings will be announced by notice in the Federal Register 
and at Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee website at: 
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/hcc/housing_counseling_federal_advisory_committee. Announcements of the 
meetings will be made using other outreach methods as well.

Julia R. Gordon,
Assistant Secretary for Housing Federal Housing Commission.
[FR Doc. 2024-11799 Filed 5-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P