USDA Equity Commission; Meeting, 68561-68562 [2023-21918]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 191 / Wednesday, October 4, 2023 / Notices lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 In several sections of both acts, the policies and responsibilities including the collection and use of information necessary to complete real estate title clearance and loan closing are prescribed. Also, the Secretary is authorized to prescribe regulations to ensure that Federal funds are not wasted or dissipated and that construction will be undertaken economically and will not be of elaborate or extravagant design or materials. Information for the RD forms and their usage in this collection package are included in this supporting statement. Need and Use of the Information: The required information is collected by the Closing Agent/Attorney and the field office staff. Forms and/or guidelines are provided to assist in the collection and submission of this information. Most of these forms collect information that is standard in the industry and do not entail additional burdens on the public beyond the time needed to review and understand the forms and fill them out. Description of Respondents: Businesses or other for-profits. Number of Respondents: 1. Frequency of Responses: Annually. Total Burden Hours: 1. Rural Housing Service Title: 7 CFR 1942, Letter of Intent to Meet Conditions for Loan and Grant Agreement Common Forms Package. OMB Control Number: 0575–NEW. Summary of Collection: The Rural Housing Service (RHS), Rural Business and Cooperative Service (RBCS) and Rural Utilities service (RUS) agencies within the Rural Development mission area, hereinafter referred to as Agency, is the credit Agency for agriculture and rural development for the United States Department of Agriculture. The Agency offers offer loans, grants and loan guarantees to help create jobs and support economic development and essential services such as housing; health care; first responder services and equipment; and water, electric and communications infrastructure. The Authorities that allow the Rural Housing Service (RHS), Rural Business and Cooperative Service (RBCS) and Rural Utilities service (RUS), Agencies within Rural Development (RD) are as follows: The RHS is authorized under various sections of Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, to provide financial assistance to construct, improve, alter, repair, replace, or rehabilitate dwellings, which will provide modest, decent, safe, and sanitary housing to eligible individuals in rural areas. The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:21 Oct 03, 2023 Jkt 262001 amended, authorizes the credit programs of the RHS, RBCS and RUS to provide financial assistance for essential community facilities such as construction of community facilities and water and waste systems; and the improvement, development, and financing of businesses, industries, and employment. In several sections of both acts, loan limitations are established as percentages of development costs, requiring careful monitoring of those costs. Also, the Secretary is authorized to prescribe regulations to ensure that Federal funds are not wasted or dissipated. The information collection under OMB Number 0575–New will enable the Agencies to effectively monitor a recipient’s compliance with the conditions set forth in the loan and/ or grant agreement. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1936(b) to make or guarantee loans to eligible entities (Indian tribes, public agencies, cooperatives and nonprofit corporations) so that loans will be provided to individuals and entities for the purposes that predominantly serve communities in rural areas and promote community development, establish new businesses, establish and support microlending programs and create or retain employment opportunities. The Agencies are required to provide Federal financial assistance through its housing and community and business programs. The laws implemented in 7 CFR part 1942, require the recipients of RD Federal financial assistance to collect various types of information. Recipients of awards are required to submit reporting and payment request information to facilitate monitoring of the award and disbursement of funds. Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is of such type and nature that the use of improved information technology, such as data and word processing would not significantly reduce the public burden. Information for each loan/grant application is unique and, therefore, cannot take significant advantage of this technology. Forms have been automated and are available on the USDA Service Center website. Provision of information is faster, however the time for electronic input roughly equals the time for handwriting the form. Description of Respondents: Businesses or other for-profits; Farms; Not-for-profit. Number of Respondents: 1. Frequency of Responses: Annually. PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 68561 Total Burden Hours: 1. Levi S. Harrell, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2023–21907 Filed 10–3–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE USDA Equity Commission; Meeting USDA. Notice of public and virtual meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: 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/equitycommission. 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: Equitycommission@usda.gov. 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 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM 04OCN1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 68562 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 191 / Wednesday, October 4, 2023 / Notices 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/equitycommission) 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/equitycommission. 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:21 Oct 03, 2023 Jkt 262001 attend a tech-check before the meeting. Instructions for registering and participating in the meeting can be found on https://www.usda.gov/equitycommission. 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/equitycommissiontoviewtheagendaand/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 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (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 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Newspapers Used for Publication of Legal Notices in the Southwestern Region; Arizona, New Mexico, and Parts of Oklahoma and Texas Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This notice lists the newspapers that will be used by all Ranger Districts, Grasslands, Forests, and the Regional Office of the Southwestern Region to publish legal notices. The intended effect of this action is to inform interested members of the public which newspapers the Forest Service will use to publish notices of proposed actions, notices of decision, and notices of opportunity to file an objection. This will provide the public with constructive notice of Forest Service proposals and decisions, provide information on the procedures to comment or object, and establish the date that the Forest Service will use to determine if comments or objections were timely. DATES: Publication of legal notices in the listed newspapers will begin on the date of this publication and continue until further notice. ADDRESSES: Roxanne Turley, Regional Administrative Review Coordinator, Forest Service, Southwestern Region, 333 Broadway SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102–3498. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roxanne Turley, Regional Administrative Review Coordinator at (505) 526–0020 or by email at roxanne.turley@usda.gov. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM 04OCN1

Agencies

[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
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