Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support (CSTLTS), CDC/ATSDR Tribal Consultation Session

AGENCY:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION:

Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), announces the 2021 CDC/ATSDR Tribal Consultation Session. CDC/ATSDR will host American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Federally Recognized Tribes for the virtual tribal consultation session. The proceedings will be open to the public.

DATES:

The tribal consultation will be held on August 5, 2021, from 3:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., EDT. Written tribal testimony is due by 5:00 p.m., EDT, on September 7, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Zoom Virtual Tribal Consultation. To register, see CDC web page https://cdc.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsfu-gqDgsGD1rTre7HPjbXyIF3v5jSp4. All elected tribal officials are encouraged to submit written tribal testimony to the contact person and mailing address listed below or by email at Tribalsupport@cdc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Captain Karen Hearod, MSW, LCSW, Director, Office of Tribal Affairs and Strategic Alliances, Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop V18-4, Atlanta, GA 30329-4027; Telephone: (404) 498-0300; Email: Tribalsupport@cdc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This meeting is being held in accordance with Presidential Executive Order No. 13175, November 6, 2000, and the Presidential Memorandum of November 5, 2009, and September 23, 2004, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments.

Purpose: The purpose of the consultation meeting is to advance CDC/ATSDR support for and collaboration with AI/AN tribal nations and to improve the health of AI/AN tribal nations by pursuing goals that include assisting in eliminating the health disparities faced by AI/AN tribal nations; ensuring that access to critical health and human services and public health services is maximized to advance or enhance the social, physical, and economic status of AI/AN people; and promoting health equity for all Indian people and communities. To advance these goals, CDC/ATSDR conducts government-to-government consultations with elected tribal officials or their authorized representatives. Consultation is an enhanced form of communication that emphasizes trust, respect, and shared responsibility. It is an open and free exchange of information and opinion among parties that leads to mutual understanding.

Matters To Be Considered: CDC/ATSDR is hosting this meeting to hold a consultation with federally recognized tribal nations to receive input and guidance on improving the current CDC/ATSDR Tribal Consultation Policy. CDC/ATSDR is seeking feedback on how the agency can improve its policies and practices to better engage with Indian Country through meaningful consultation. This feedback will be used to edit the current CDC's Consultation Policy. The Tribal consultation session will provide opportunities for elected AI/AN tribal officials to speak openly about the public health issues affecting their tribal nations. This consultation session is virtual and open to the public. Elected tribal officials can find guidance to assist in developing tribal testimony for CDC/ATSDR at https://www.cdc.gov/tribal/documents/consultation/Tribal-Testimony-Guidance.pdf. Please submit tribal testimony on official tribal letterhead.

Based on the number of elected tribal officials giving testimony and the time available, it may be necessary to limit the time for each presenter. We will adjourn tribal consultation meetings early if all attendees who requested to provide oral testimony in advance of and during the consultation have delivered their comments. Agenda items are subject to change as priorities dictate.

Additional information about CDC/ATSDR's Tribal Consultation Policy can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/tribal/consultation-support/tribal-consultation/policy.html.

The Director, Strategic Business Initiatives Unit, Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee management activities, for both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.