HRSA is seeking additional nominations of qualified tribal officials as candidates for consideration for appointment as voluntary delegate members of the HRSA Tribal Advisory Council (TAC), which is being established. Specifically, HRSA requests submissions of nominations of qualified tribal officials from the Indian Health Service (IHS) geographic areas of: Alaska; Albuquerque; Billings; Navajo; Phoenix; and Tucson. Nominations for membership must be received on or before September 30, 2020. This will allow tribes and tribal serving organizations from the IHS geographic areas noted above, the additional time needed to identify qualified tribal officials as candidates and submit comprehensive nomination packages.

The HRSA TAC will be established to engage in regular and meaningful collaboration and consultation with tribal officials on policies that have tribal implications and substantial direct effect on Indian tribes. HRSA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the primary federal agency for improving health care to people who are geographically isolated, and/or economically or medically vulnerable. This includes people living with HIV/AIDS; pregnant women, mothers, and their families; and those otherwise unable to access high-quality health care. HRSA supports the training of health professionals, the distribution of providers to areas where they are needed most, and improvements in health care delivery. HRSA also oversees organ, bone marrow, and cord blood donation. It also oversees the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program which can provide compensation to individuals in the rare cases that they are harmed by certain covered vaccinations and maintains databases that flag providers with a record of health care malpractice, waste, fraud, and abuse for federal, state, and local use.

The HRSA TAC will be the vehicle for acquiring a broad range of tribal views, determining the impact of HRSA programs on the American Indian and Alaska Natives health systems and population, developing innovative approaches to deliver health care, and assisting with effective tribal consultation. The HRSA TAC will hold one meeting each calendar year, or at the discretion of HRSA in consultation with the Chair. These meetings may be held in-person or virtually. The HRSA TAC will support, not supplant, any other government-to-government consultation activities that HRSA undertakes. In addition to assisting HRSA in the planning and coordination of tribal consultation sessions, the HRSA TAC will advise HRSA regarding the government-togovernment consultation process and will help ensure that HRSA activities and policies that impact Indian country are brought to the attention of all tribal leaders.