Legislation

(1) Reduce barriers to citizenship and naturalization through continued evaluation of programs, policies, and outreach opportunities. There is a significant gap between the annual naturalization rate and the annual size of the population eligible to naturalize. Commonly cited barriers to naturalization include: a lack of understanding about the naturalization process; a real or perceived inability to meet the English language requirement that is part of the naturalization process; a lack of ability to pay application fees; and a lack of understanding about reduced fees and fee waiver options. To address these barriers, USCIS will strengthen efforts to promote naturalization through citizenship education and outreach, capacity building efforts, and more streamlined naturalization application services. (2) Promote equitable use of AI technology across the Department through the development and application of new guidance as well as intra - agency coordination. With increased use of AI in carrying out DHS's homeland security mission, members of underserved communities may face disproportionate or disparate impacts, such as additional scrutiny or denial of benefits based on the potential for algorithms to operate in a manner that exhibits inappropriate biases in violation of law and DHS policy. To address these barriers, DHS will implement Department - wide policy guidance regarding the equitable use and implementation of AI technology and leverage the ongoing work of the Artificial Intelligence Task Force (AITF) and other internal working groups to establish a framework for trustworthy and responsible AI. (3) Counter domestic violent extremism (DVE) and targeted violence through a public health - informed approach. As the Department continues to tackle DVE threats, members of certain underserved communities (e.g., AMEMSA, Jewish, LGBTQI + and Black communities) continue to have concerns about DVE threats that impact their communities. To address these barriers, DHS will build the capacity of prevention professionals, SO that they can better understand and use data - driven information on how underserved communities are often the targets and victims of domestic terrorists;

To develop its outreach and engagement strategy, USCIS considered input from several recent engagements: On November 1, 2022, USCIS held a stakeholder engagement to provide an overview and gather stakeholder feedback on the new Form N - 648 and its corresponding policy. USCIS collected comments related to improvements that USCIS can legally make through a regulation or policy, and any form changes, regulatory provisions or USCIS policies related to the N - 648 that were a source

On January 11, 2023, USCIS hosted a national listening session on the Proposed Rule to Adjust Certain Immigration Fees. USCIS provided an overview of the proposed rule and reviewed how to submit formal comments. On May 16, 2023, USCIS participated in an engagement hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to educate USDA employees about " " Equity and Nutrition Security Among Eligible Immigrant Families. " " During the engagement USCIS educated USDA staff about the barriers and challenges facing immigrant families in accessing federal programs and highlighted the role USCIS plays through outreach and engagements to ensure stakeholders are well informed about the Final Public Charge Rule. USCIS held stakeholder engagements on January 12, March 3, April 28, and May 31, 2023, to address questions and gather feedback on the naturalization test redesign initiative. For FY 2023, USCIS scheduled and conducted in - person Adult Citizenship Education Training in areas where there are large numbers of LPRs who are eligible to naturalize and areas that are underserved. USCIS will continue to engage with the public, including members of underserved communities; relevant stakeholders; state and local government; and other federal agencies to seek input on ways to further advance equity in applying for naturalization. As part of this effort, USCIS will utilize its expanded cadre of citizenship ambassadors to share information about the naturalization process and how to access information and support. Further, CRCL, in collaboration with USCIS / NWG, will periodically disseminate messaging regarding citizenship and naturalization initiatives to CRCL's network of community stakeholders through the GovDelivery system and monthly CRCL newsletter with an audience of over 10,000 members of the public. Additionally, CRCL, in collaboration with USCIS / NWG, will host a series of Naturalization Test Redesign Information and Listening Sessions with CRCL's network of community stakeholders. (2) Promote equitable use of AI technology across the Department through the development and application of new guidance as well as intra - agency coordination.

During a June 2023 stakeholder listening session on AI and Equity at DHS, stakeholders raised concerns about transparency and disparate impact in DHS's use of AI. Stakeholders also recommended enhancing community engagement on the use and application of AI going forward to build greater trust with communities. Staff consultation with the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, policy development engagement dating back to the 2014 - 15 White House Big Data Papers, literature study, and interagency engagement with colleagues who have faced similar challenges and developed ethical codes and best practices in response, provide a basis for anticipating the challenges to ensuring compliance with applicable law and policy and in using AI to advance equity across all DHS missions. To encourage accountability and responsible use of AI in government programs and processes, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) developed an AI accountability framework ensuring AI is responsible, equitable, traceable, reliable, and governable. According to NIST, how accurately face recognition software tools identify people of varied sex, age, and racial backgrounds depends in part on the algorithm and data used. Results captured in the NIST report, Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT) Part 3: Demographic Effects (NISTIR 8280), found empirical evidence for the existence of demographic differentials across algorithms and developers, with the most accurate algorithms producing many fewer errors; NIST expects those algorithms to have smaller demographic differentials. A key goal of the Department's use of facial recognition technology is identifying and eliminating, to the extent it exists, any improper bias. The Final Report of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (2021) determined that " " unintended bias can be introduced during many stages of the machine learning (ML) process, which can lead to disparate impacts in American society, a problem that has been documented in law enforcement contexts. " " Commission recommendations include the establishment of " " a task force to assess the privacy and civil liberties implications of AI and emerging technologies " " and " " empower DHS Offices of Privacy and Civil Rights and Civil Liberties [ to ] play an integral role in the legal and approval processes for the procurement and use of Al - enabled systems. " "

which includes explicit privacy, civil rights, civil liberties, and equity guidelines (including nondiscrimination provisions). Issue application - specific policy, as appropriate, including a Department - wide policy on facial recognition and facial detection technologies, requiring and enabling the minimization of improper bias in operational use and safeguarding of individuals against disproportionate or disparate impacts based on protected characteristics. Build on the principles articulated in EO 13960, Promoting the Use of Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence in the Federal Government, and leverage the ongoing work of the DHS AI Task Force (AITF) and the DHS AI Policy Working Group by establishing a DHS - specific AI risk management framework, including a focus on trustworthy and responsible AI that protects privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties and advances equity. Where reliance on an algorithm is likely to have a substantial effect on individuals, DHS will enable effective oversight through disclosure of algorithms relied upon, where appropriate; reliance on explainable algorithms when feasible; and placing an emphasis in policy and oversight activities on accountability. Sponsor a CRCL - led Responsible Use Group within the DHS AITF, to establish close coordination between the DHS AITF, the Privacy Office, and the operational and technical staff charged with leading the innovative AI projects sponsored by the AITF. The Responsible Use Group will ensure projects receive timely, tailored compliance and equity - enhancing policy advice and oversight scrutiny. Additionally it will work with the Department's AI Policy Working Group to leverage the lessons learned from this grass roots implementation work to inform policy and practices guiding the AITF projects, and Department - level AI governance policy, respectively. Examine the use and value of AI in meeting language access needs in DHS programs and operations through a new initiative on AI and Language Access. CRCL will convene a symposium on AI and Language Access in Fiscal Year 2024 to explore how various technologies (e.g., large language models) could address DHS mission needs for quality translation and access services while mitigating any potential harm on underserved populations. Incorporate forthcoming OMB government - wide guidance on AI implementation, including review of affected DHS policies protecting the individual rights and safety of the public and our employees, and updating civil rights and general individual protective policies and processes to incorporate additional protections, where appropriate. Over the next five years, continue to engage with members of underserved communities and stakeholder groups to assess the extent to which they report progressively fewer concerns about privacy and disparate treatment and impacts from DHS's AI technology, and address any lingering or novel concerns through additional policy updates.

Implement the DHS Language Access Plan and the DHS Indigenous Languages Plan to ensure that the Department's language access programs are effective. The DHS Language Access Plan applies to all DHS employees and applicable contractors that interact with members of the public. Integrate language access considerations when assessing potential barriers that underserved communities may face in accessing and benefitting from the agency's programs and activities and developing strategies to address the identified barriers. Explore how limited English proficiency impacts access to DHS programs and activities for members of underserved communities, including but not limited to Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander persons, Indigenous migrants of Latin America, and persons with disabilities, and seek to address barriers for individuals who are LEP and belong to multiple such communities. Identify staff member (s) within CRCL to carry out ombudsman - type functions, including regularly interacting with the public, promptly responding to concerns and questions about language access, and coordinating with DHS agencies and other federal agencies. Apply customer experience (CX) principles and practices in advancing language access, establish a schedule of CX initiatives that involve user research, usability testing, and other types of qualitative research. This includes examining touchpoints with the public, including those who are limited English proficient. Disseminate guidance and a framework for all DHS agencies on conducting in - language engagements with persons and communities that are limited English proficient from diverse communities and providing vital documents or materials in these languages to have more meaningful dialogue and effective information sharing for the LEP community. Improve language access for persons seeking humanitarian protection. Advance meaningful language access for Indigenous migrant communities through the following:

advisory councils and committees, and uncertainty that DHS would pursue modifications to unfair practices that might require legislative fixes. To address these barriers, DHS will conduct a review of contract opportunities and grant funding opportunity announcements prior to release to determine how equitable access for tribes can be furthered; examine policy and procedures to identify updates in furtherance of security and the appropriate handling of sacred, ceremonial, or cultural items and conduct training on the same; pursue adequate staffing and other resources where needed to ensure equitable service delivery; ensure Tribal representation in DHS advisory councils, committees, and other groups; and pursue modifications to service delivery, including where legislative fixes are needed. (7) Advance equity for persons seeking humanitarian protection during immigration processing by strengthening programs available to assist them. Stakeholders continue to report concerns about processing delays and access to resources. To address these barriers, USCIS will enhance processing efficiency by leveraging technology, increasing access, and seeking opportunities to reduce fees; and DHS will strengthen resources for non - detained noncitizens released on an alternative to detention program and create process efficiencies across the board. (8) Advance equity in the FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) program to increase participation of undeserved communities. In response to FEMA's 2021 Request for Information (RFI) on FEMA Programs, Regulations, and Policies and associated public meetings, members of the public suggested changes to the IA program. All relevant comments received in response to the RFI, including those received during the public meetings, have been posted to the public rulemaking docket on the Federal eRulemaking portal. To address barriers and suggested changes raised by stakeholders, FEMA will publish an Interim Final Rule (IFR) amending its regulations governing the IA program to increase equity by simplifying processes, removing barriers to entry, and increasing eligibility for certain types of assistance under the program. (9) Advance equity through Community Disaster Resilience Zones. FEMA's National Advisory Council has found that smaller, less affluent communities with fewer resources cannot access funding to appropriately prepare for a disaster, which leads to inadequate response and recovery and little opportunity for mitigation. To address this barrier, FEMA will enhance and expand Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program technical assistance; implement Benefit - Cost Analysis (BCA) enhancements for all relevant mitigation programs, including incorporating equity weights into BCA; and develop a Recovery and Resilience Resource Portal, which provides ideas and information on available funding opportunities for state, local, Tribal, and territorial (SLTT) partners and community decision - makers.

Assess and propose updates to the Department's nondiscrimination policies for external activities, ensuring application of the requirements of the 2023 DOJ Guidance to all covered DHS law enforcement activities, as well as ensuring consistent standards and requirements for law enforcement activities excluded from, or not governed, by the 2023 DOJ Guidance, and other DHS activities as appropriate. Train and ensure DHS law enforcement personnel comply and adhere to the 2023 DOJ Guidance, DHS Policy Statement 500 - 02, and any subsequent policy reaffirming nondiscrimination and prohibiting profiling on the basis of protected individual characteristics in all DHS law enforcement and security activities. Collaborate with community groups to develop training modules to enhance knowledge and cultural competency of frontline workforce.

1. Applying for Naturalization. USCIS began a comprehensive review of policies, regulations, forms, and operations to identify barriers that may impede access to naturalization by underserved communities and is undertaking efforts to reduce or eliminate those barriers. In October 2022, USCIS updated Form N - 648 (Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions) and related Policy Manual guidance. Applicants for naturalization with physical or developmental disability or mental impairments may request an exception to the English and civics testing requirements for naturalization. This form and Policy Manual update streamline the process for applicants to claim and substantiate a disability by eliminating unnecessary and duplicative questions. In March 2023, USCIS updated Policy Manual guidance to allow individuals requesting immigration benefits to self - select their gender marker (" " Male " " or " " Female " ") without the need to provide proof of their gender identity or to match the gender listed on their supporting documentation. This update reflects an important step toward reducing administrative burdens on applicants and increasing accessibility to immigration benefits and services. 2. Accessing Humanitarian Protection During Immigration Processing. DHS improved access to humanitarian protection during immigration processing by addressing language and disability access gaps and enhancing access to legal information and resources. In July 2022, USCIS issued new language access guidance to ensure that LEP individuals seeking asylum who cannot be interviewed in the credible fear screening process are placed into removal proceedings where an immigration judge can apply appropriate language access safeguards as that individual seeks relief. The USCIS Language Services Branch (LSB) has prioritized reaching the most vulnerable populations, including victims of trafficking, in their languages and in a culturally appropriate manner. This work, which spanned two fiscal years and involved multiple language specialists, resulted in approximately 1,000 pages of translation. Additionally, in close collaboration with the Asylum Division and the

Benefit applicants, both overseas and domestic, sometimes have difficulty attending USCIS appointments when the distance needed to travel is long. There are barriers related to transportation, health and safety, and finances. In FY 2023, USCIS's Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations (RAIO) began increasing the use of video technology to conduct I - 589 asylum interviews domestically, and I - 590 refugee interviews internationally, SO that applicants living in remote locations will not have to wait SO long or travel SO far. USCIS is currently drafting a proposed rule that would codify RAIO's flexibility to conduct remote interviews with refugee applicants abroad. In March 2023, USCIS published an extension to the Asylum Interpreter Temporary Final Rule (TFR) that allowed USCIS to provide telephonic interpreters for asylum applicants who speak one of 47 listed languages through September 12, 2023. Telephonic interpreters can also be connected to video interviews SO that remote interviews can be completed. The TFR temporarily reduced barriers for asylum applicants to attend and complete their interviews. There is a significant backlog of pending petitions for U nonimmigrant status due, in part, to the annual statutory cap limiting approvals to 10,000 principal petitions per fiscal year. As this backlog of over 250,000 filings are solely filed via paper and postal mail, USCIS is considering ways to leverage technology to improve processing to provide Employment Authorization Documents and deferred action for U petitioners and their derivatives with pending filings. As noted in the U.S. National Plan to End Gender - Based Violence, immigrant survivors face increased barriers to economic stability. They often encounter delayed processing times when applying for special immigration remedies for GBV victims that were established through VAWA and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, such as the VAWA self - petition, the U nonimmigrant status for eligible victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and qualifying eligible crimes, and the T nonimmigrant status for eligible victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons. Delays in access to work authorization and public benefits for which an individual is potentially eligible, such as housing assistance or health care, can increase vulnerabilities to abuse and undermine recovery and healing. For refugees living in many parts of the world to access the US Refugee Admissions Program, they need to be interviewed and processed by USCIS while they are overseas, which presents many logistical and travel challenges for both the refugees and USCIS staff. When USCIS has no permanent presence in a geographic area, processing occurs when USCIS has the staff to make several international trips to complete different processing steps, thereby increasing the processing time. There are numerous steps involved in processing benefits for refugee populations, such as medical exams, refugee interviews, finalization of the decision, and assurances for placement with domestic resettlement agencies. These steps typically take place sequentially and may take a long time in between steps. Noncitizen workers are particularly vulnerable to workplace abuses including unpaid wages, discrimination, health and safety violations, and reprisals for seeking to improve working conditions. In addition, noncitizen workers are often afraid to report violations to labor enforcement agencies or participate in labor standards investigations for fear of immigration - related retaliation or threats of deportation by their employers.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act requires DHS to permit certain categories of requestors filing petitions and applications to apply for fee waivers, including for " " any fees associated with filing an application for relief through final adjudication of the adjustment of status. " " On September 27, 2022, President Biden issued the Memorandum on Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2023, setting the refugee ceiling at 125,000. Research indicates that whole - person case management (including additional services such as cultural orientation, human trafficking screening, mental health, and other social services) and community programming can lead to positive compliance, better case resolution, and positive health and wellbeing outcomes by stabilizing vulnerable noncitizens in transit. 12

Year - over - year change in number or proportion of applicant cases in compliance (e.g., has properly applied for asylum, is determined to be a refugee as defined under section 101 (a) (42) (A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and is not " " barred " " from receiving asylum). Year - over - year increase in the number of cases adjudicated by USCIS. Track the proportion of " " reopens " " that are granted asylum or other form of relief. Decrease in processing time from USCIS interview to admission to the U.S. (goal is down to three months). Increase in the number of supporting letters provided by labor agencies on behalf of workers at worksites they are investigating.

In response to FEMA's 2021 RFI on FEMA Programs, Regulations, and Policies, and associated public meetings, members of the public suggested changes to the IA program, generally focused on ways to advance equity, including suggestions to expand eligibility within the program and to improve transparency regarding eligibility requirements to those applying for assistance. In response to RFI comments, FEMA updated its policies to accept additional forms of documentation to verify occupancy and ownership requirements to reduce barriers to access experienced by underserved populations. Disaster survivors who have serious needs for emergency food, water, infant formula, diapers, or other essentials may experience a period of hardship due to a lack of access to credit or savings. FEMA will publish an IFR that will establish additional eligible assistance for serious needs. All relevant comments received in response to the request for information, including those received during the public meetings, have been posted to the public rulemaking docket on the Federal rulemaking portal.

The DHS Customer Experience Directorate (CXD) took on several initiatives aimed at simplifying the experience of noncitizens navigating the immigration system, with the goal of improving case management and compliance. The team partnered with ICE to deliver designs for a website, tentatively called the " " ICE Portal, " " providing consolidated information to noncitizens regarding required check - ins, court dates, and other important information. User research will be conducted internally and in partnership with nongovernmental organizations (NGO) to ensure that the website is usable and meets the needs of the intended audience, including individuals who are LEP and individuals with disabilities. Partnering with community organizations to gather user feedback on the design, language, and accessibility helps to understand the needs of noncitizens. CXD has also partnered with CBP to improve the user experience of the CBP One mobile application, by enabling noncitizens to schedule appointments prior to arriving at a port of entry. Finally, CXD convened a multi - agency working group to work on the Secretary's priority to develop and implement a research - driven framework for communications to ensure noncitizens understand what their status and responsibilities are while in removal proceedings.

In April 2023, the Biden - Harris Administration published an evidence - informed, multi - year Alternatives, Rehabilitation, and Reentry Strategic Plan to strengthen public safety by reducing unnecessary criminal justice system interactions SO police officers can focus on fighting crime, supporting rehabilitation during incarceration, and facilitating successful reentry. DHS has committed to carry out the plan's goals of supporting rehabilitation during incarceration and facilitating successful reentry into society for individuals leaving incarceration. Workers who need access to secure areas of the nation's maritime facilities and vessels, such as ports, port facilities and warehouses, outer continental shelf facilities, certain manufacturing facilities, and certain vessels must have a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), as required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act. However, people with criminal history records may be unsure of their eligibility for the TWIC or may be unaware that they can seek redress if they believe their application for a TWIC was initially denied based upon incorrect information. DHS has electronically published general information on the TWIC, guidance on TWIC eligibility (including for those with criminal history records), how to apply for a TWIC, and opportunities to seek redress if a TWIC is initially denied.

Collaborating Agencies: The DOJ Civil Rights Division provides guidance to DHS in implementing Executive Order 13166, Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency. DHS will also collaborate with other federal agencies to exchange best practices, leverage existing resources to serve the same or similar LEP persons or populations, and conduct joint Title VI reviews or investigations, when appropriate.

FEMA revisions will also reflect changes to statutory authority that have not yet been implemented in regulation, to include provisions for utility and security deposit payments, lease and repair of multi - family rental housing, childcare assistance, maximum assistance

limits, and waiver authority. See IA Program Equity Unified Agenda. In FY 2024, FEMA is restructuring and updating the guidance for assigning Public Assistance Program Delivery Managers to ensure better technical assistance for historically underserved and vulnerable applicants. 13

On April 22, 2021, FEMA published an RFI on FEMA programs, regulations, and policies. FEMA sought public input on its programs, regulations, collections of information, and policies for the agency to ensure that its programs, regulations, and policies contain necessary, properly tailored, and up - to - date requirements that effectively achieve FEMA's mission in a manner that furthers the goals of advancing equity for all, including those in underserved communities; bolstering resilience from the impacts of climate change, particularly for those disproportionately impacted by climate change; and environmental justice. FEMA held public meetings and extended the comment period on the RFI to ensure all interested parties had sufficient opportunity to provide comments on FEMA's programs. All relevant comments received in response to the request for information, including those received during the public meetings, have been posted to the public rulemaking docket on the Federal eRulemaking portal. It is anticipated FEMA will conduct additional engagements regarding the RFI input received.

The Equity Task Force worked across the Department to further the aims of other equity - based executive orders, including EO 13988, Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation; EO 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad; and EO 14020, Executive Order on Establishment of the White House Gender Policy Council. For example, in furtherance of EO 13988, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated policy guidance removing the requirement that people requesting immigration benefits submit proof of their gender identity when seeking to change their gender marker, thereby allowing individuals requesting benefits to choose their self - identified gender marker, regardless of the marker displayed on supporting documentation. Pursuant to EO 14008, DHS continued implementing the Civil Rights Evaluation Tool, a data collection and technical assistance tool that helps conduct and advance civil rights compliance evaluations of federally assisted recipients, including environmental justice concerns and civil rights policies and procedures for public - facing programs and activities that have human health or environmental impacts. In furtherance of EO 14020, DHS developed an action plan in furtherance of the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality and co - chaired

In April 2023, the Biden - Harris Administration announced the first - ever Environmental Justice (EJ) Scorecard to assess the federal government's progress in advancing environmental justice, providing public transparency, and increasing accountability for federal agencies. The Phase One scorecard focused on three areas: the Justice40 Initiative, Environmental and Civil Rights Protection, and Institutionalizing Environmental Justice. The DHS EJ Scorecard details DHS's performance in these areas in FY 2022.

FEMA will prioritize assistance for eligible entities that request technical assistance support for resilience or mitigation activities within, or that primarily benefit, a Justice40 community, including a Federally Recognized Tribe or Tribal entity, as identified by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, an Economically Disadvantaged Rural Community (as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 5133 (a) as a small, impoverished community), and / or a Community Disaster Resilience Zone (as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 5136 (a) (1)).

On May 25, 2023, Secretary Mayorkas issued Policy Statement 500 - 02, Reaffirming the Commitment to Nondiscrimination in Department of Homeland Security Activities, adopting the May 2023 DOJ Guidance for Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Regarding the Use of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, National Origin, Religion, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Disability as it applies to federal law enforcement personnel and federal non - law enforcement personnel in the Department's covered law enforcement activities.

Expanded application of the anti - profiling standards to security screening activities by federal law enforcement agencies, such as those performed by Protective Security Officers employed by the Federal Protective Service, is among several notable policy changes resulting from DHS adoption of the updated DOJ guidance.

In 2022, after assessing DHS agency language access plans, CRCL requested that all agencies and offices interacting with the public review and update their language access plans in Fiscal Year 2023, noting that addressing language barriers advances compliance with civil rights and promotes the efficiency and integrity of homeland security operations and programs. These plans will be finalized in Fiscal Year 2024.

Past and recent research like the 2030 Census Request For Information (RFI) has documented the need for and importance of Census Bureau efforts to improve coverage rates for Historically Undercounted Populations (HUPs). For instance, in 2022, the Census Bureau released results from the Post Enumeration Survey and Demographic Analysis, which produced estimates showing that the 2020 Census undercounted some populations (e.g., the Black or African American population, the American Indian or Alaska Native population living on a reservation, young children 0 to 4 years old, etc.), which underscores the value of advancing research to help the Census Bureau accurately count and describe HUPs. Al systems can reflect and amplify systemic and human biases present in the organizations and communities that develop, deploy, and use them. AI systems can also manifest statistical and computational biases. This can cause them to underperform for some groups relative to others, as in facial recognition, or to treat groups differently. Studies have shown that these phenomena have led to disparate outcomes in employment, housing, credit scoring, health care, and finance. Some private sector actors as well as public regulators have indicated the need to adjust their work in response to Al - related bias and discrimination.

Establish and serve as co - chair of the Puerto Rico Geospatial Data Group. A forum for sharing information about all geospatial data activities and resources related to Puerto Rico between stakeholders from geospatial agencies within the federal government, the Government of Puerto Rico, and non - government organizations and industry. 5.4 Promote accountability and accessibility through data transparency and partnerships. Track and evaluate the equitable distribution of above - baseline program federal funding. Through the Census Bureau's Center of Excellence (COE), the Department will leverage data sources to supplement administrative data collected by program administering agencies. This will provide standard services to the Department's agencies to support departmental evaluation of the implementation, outcomes, and impacts of above - base programs and their distribution to underserved communities through the ARP, BIL, IRA, and CHIPS.

The most persistent barrier to the establishment, expansion, and growth of minority business enterprises (MBEs) continues to be access to capital. The U.S. Federal Reserve found that more than half of Black - owned businesses were turned down for private bank loans, a rate twice as high as white business owners. A Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies study found that 6 in 10 Black business owners faced challenges obtaining capital. Over a third of Latino business owners faced the same. Business owners of color were more likely to struggle to access startup funding, growth funding, and capital with affordable interest rates. In 2022, in the U.S., only 1.9 percent of venture capital dollars went to all - women teams; less than. 5 percent went to Black and Brown women; only 12 percent of venture capital decision - makers are women. Innovation fueled economic growth in America for the past century, but since the 1970s, innovation (as measured by fundamental productivity growth) appears to have slowed from an annual increase of 1.9 percent to 0.7 percent. Research shows that innovation in the U.S. could quadruple if women, minorities, and children from low - income families became inventors at the same rate as men from high - income families. According to the USPTO, that increase in inventorship would grow our economy and GDP by an estimated $ 1 trillion. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, fewer than 1 percent of minority - owned businesses export goods or services. For these enterprises, insufficient financial resources often hinder their ability to invest in overseas market exploration, navigate regulatory complexities, and establish international networks.

Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation

4.1 Benchmark and execute our Justice40 commitments. Through NOAA, EDA, and NIST, the Department has laid the foundation for programming and policies to be a part of the Justice40 Initiative, which will reach a larger and more diverse audience. Alongside this Initiative, the Department strives to address the key barriers to economic success and provide greater visibility and transparency in our effort to support communities that are underserved and overburdened by pollution and other impacts of climate change. For example, NOAA's $ 45 million Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Tribes and Underserved Communities funding opportunity provides funding exclusively to Indian Tribes and underserved community organizations, including $ 20 million that is set aside for Tribes. The purpose of this program is to support opportunities for tribes, tribal entities, and underserved communities to meaningfully engage in coastal habitat restoration activities.

4.2 Invest Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds towards climate - related economic development in vulnerable communities. In June 2023 and through IRA, NOAA announced the $ 2.6 billion framework to protect coastal communities and restore marine resources to help vulnerable communities prepare, adapt, and build resilience to weather and climate events. NOAA continues to address the needs of underserved communities through its grantmaking; in addition to the funding previously awarded through BIL, NOAA is leveraging IRA funding to invest up to $ 45 million to advance coastal habitat restoration in underserved and tribal communities as well capacity building support for coastal resilience strategy development. Equity is a priority across NOAA's BIL and IRA implementation. Two key NOAA IRA programs to highlight are:

Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation

NOAA hosted four virtual tribal sessions and two written comment periods and produced two Tribal Input Executive Summary and Response reports to inform the implementation of its BIL and IRA funding programs. NOAA has also worked to ensure that tribes are aware of different funding opportunities. For example, on June 21, 2023, NOAA held a live Q & A session on NOAA's BIL funding opportunity for Tribal Engagement in Regional Ocean Partnerships; and, on July 25, 2023, NOAA hosted a tribal webinar to inform tribes and provide an overview of major IRA funding opportunities through NOAA's Climate Ready Coasts and Communities initiative.

The Department understands that developing equitable programs will be meaningless without inclusive outreach and engagement with the communities we serve and want to build trust with. For instance, following tribal consultations in 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) updated its Tribal Consultation Policy, Consultation Handbook, and Indigenous Knowledge Guidance. These updated policies and guidance will strive to provide meaningful and timely input from federally recognized Indian tribes into NOAA's decision - making process on policy matters that have tribal implications.

In Fall 2022, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that all $ 3 billion in American Rescue Plan dollars had been released across 780 awards through six innovative grant programs. Additionally, EDA committed $ 300 million to American coal communities through its Coal Communities Commitment. Ultimately, EDA exceeded the commitment and awarded $ 551 million to coal communities.

The Department of Commerce is committed to working towards President Biden's Justice40 Initiative to target 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to reach disadvantaged communities that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment. The Department's FY 2022 Phase One Scorecard highlights include nearly $ 535 million in funding for technical assistance and capacity building through NOAA's Urban Heat Island Mapping, Community Climate Studies Program, and the Climate Adaptation Partnerships Program. In centering environmental justice in the Department's decision - making, NOAA conducted two technical assistance outreach events, five tribal Consultations, and addressed 50 related requests for information and listening sessions.

To better support rural and tribal communities, MBDA provided $ 5.7 million in 31 supplemental awards to the Business Center Network for technical assistance to minority business enterprises more than 50 miles from a Business Center in a rural area. NTIA is implementing the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP), a $ 3 billion program to support governments in bringing high - speed internet service to Tribal lands, including telehealth, distance learning, affordability, and digital inclusion initiatives. Under the first funding phase, $ 1.78 billion was awarded to 191 tribal entities since the program began in 2021. The second funding phase, for approximately $ 980 million, was issued on July 27, 2023. As part of EDA's American Rescue Plan funding, the Indigenous Communities program invested $ 100 million to support the needs of tribal governments and Indigenous communities. This program made 51 awards in 25 states and the Northern Mariana Islands. Grantees estimate that these projects will create or save 2,435 jobs and attract $ 28.7 million in private investment. In April 2023, NOAA's Office of Habitat Conservation (OHC) recommended $ 56.4 million, funded by BIL and IRA, in awards for 25 tribal projects to support tribal - led restoration, resilience, and fish passage projects and an additional 22 subawards totaling nearly $ 13 million in funding was awarded to projects that align with tribal priorities, work with tribal members, or restore habitat on tribal - owned lands. For all unsuccessful tribal applicants, OHC staff also offered the opportunity to meet to help those applicants improve their proposals for future competitions.

Congress has passed significant legislation providing funding to and directing the Department to maximize impact to all communities.

The American Rescue Plan funded EDA's $ 1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) and $ 500 million Good Jobs Challenge (GJC) program. For both programs, EDA has made geographic diversity a top priority, and for the first time in history, the Department has its own grant program that invests in industry - led workforce training and registered apprenticeships - focusing on underserved communities, including women and people of color.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law codified MBDA, provided approximately $ 3 billion to NOAA in habitat restoration, coastal resilience, and weather forecasting, and provided nearly $ 50 billion to NTIA to deploy universal, high - speed, affordable internet service so everyone in America can participate in the digital economy.

The Inflation Reduction Act provided NOAA with $ 3.3 billion to build on its commitment to help Americans - including tribes and other underserved communities - prepare, adapt, and build resilience to weather and climate events; improve supercomputing capacity and research; strengthen NOAA's hurricane hunter aircraft and fleet; and upgrade NOAA facilities.

DoD January 2023 Environmental Scorecard. Fully incorporate Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool data into the DoD Climate Assessment Tool.

1. Elevate and standardize the Gender Advisor workforce to further the consideration and application of gender analysis to the Department's plans, operations, activities, and investments. a. Codify roles and responsibilities for the gender advisor workforce in DoD policy guidance (e.g., DoDI). b. Establish and maintain skill expertise identifiers for Service members and DoD civilians. C. Ensure DoD organizations maintain a gender advisory workforce, including Gender Advisors, Gender Focal Points, and WPS Program Managers, implement DoD WPS policy guidance. 2. Expand the understanding, consideration, and application of gender and socio - cultural considerations and their impacts across the Department's plans, operations, activities, and investments in support of national security decision making. a. Incorporate definitions and define gender analysis in DoD policy guidance. b. Train the gender advisory workforce and DoD personnel on steps for conducting gender analyses, as appropriate. C. Conduct gender analysis to inform security cooperation, Theater Campaign Plans, training for U.S personnel, military exercises, and DoD support to the development of Integrated Country Strategies. 3. Work with partner nations to advance gender equity and equality within national security decision - making, engagement, and cooperation with allies and partners globally. a. Update DoD security cooperation guidance and design templates to reflect gender analysis information and to encourage the design and implementation of security cooperation programs relevant to WPS.

Developed and executed the DoD Small Business Strategy and Implementation Plan, highlighting the Department's commitment to fostering a robust and equitable defense industrial base and discussing Department policies on working with small businesses. Achieved a 10.14 percent Small Disadvantaged Business goal in FY 2022, exceeding the year - end goal by 0.64 percent. This achievement advanced the Biden - Harris Administration's whole - of - government approach to expanding contracting opportunities for Small Disadvantaged Businesses. Exceeded its yearly milestone (0.60 percent by January 2023), achieving 0.61 percent of AbilityOne Program contract spending. In FY 2022, DoD procured more than $ 2.5B of products and services from the AbilityOne Program, an increase of $ 125M in FY 2021. DoD contracts with the AbilityOne program to secure the services of approximately 35,000 individuals who are blind or have significant disabilities. The Military Departments and other participating DoD Components submitted their 2023 updates to the AbilityOne Strategic Plans, which will be implemented through the end of the calendar year. DoD continues to participate in the Federal level AbilityOne Representatives Program monthly meetings hosted by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission. Issued a memorandum titled, " " Actions to Support the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, " " that provides a list of actions to promote the awareness of workers ' organizing rights, contractors ' responsibilities, and government authorities when government contract workers are trying to organize the contracting workforce. Baselined Simplified Acquisition Threshold performance within Military Departments and other DoD Components and established goals for FY 2023 and beyond. DoD is on track to issue regular guidance to the acquisition workforce on maximizing small business participation and update and deploy the Office of Small Business Program's Market Research Center of Excellence (MRCOE) in Quarter (Q) 1 of FY 2024. Educating small business professionals on how to use MRCOE to enhance DoD small business utilization through targeted and consistent performance and goal management and institutionalizing the involvement of small business professionals in the earliest stages of acquisition planning through regulation, policy, or guidance are on track for Q3 of FY 2024. Finally, DoD will add

Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation

The DoD is taking steps to implement statutory requirements that will advance equity. The statutory requirements listed below are supported by the Strategies identified in Section 5 and by the Action Areas from the 2022 EAP.

Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation

EERE released its HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize during May 2023. This competition, with $ 7.75M in cash prizes, will help HBCU institutions develop programming to strengthen the participation of K - 12 and community college students in STEM and other associated fields that can lead to potential careers in clean energy industries. It will also give HBCUs the opportunity to create enhanced curricula and programs that will provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and establish partnerships that lead to career opportunities in clean energy. This prize supports President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which directs 40 % of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to flow to disadvantaged communities, by helping to build a diverse STEM pipeline to support the clean energy transition. The prize aims to help HBCUs achieve these goals through two distinct prize tracks, the Inspire Track and the Partnerships Track. HBCUs of all sizes are invited to apply to help foster the next generation of the clean energy technical workforce. Details can be found at the Prize website: HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize HeroX. In FY 2023, EERE's first cohort of 11 students from the Graduate Education for Minority Students fellowship (GEM Fellowship) program, a non - governmental program, started their 10 - week summer internship assignments in various EERE program offices. The goal of the GEM Fellowship program is to enhance the value of the Nation's human capital by increasing the participation of underrepresented groups at the master's and doctoral levels in engineering and science. The FY 2023 program follows EERE's pilot program, which established GEM Fellow cohorts in a partnership pilot between EERE's Building Technologies Office and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. This is the first class of GEM Fellowship students within DOE. EERE's Interagency Agreement with the Army and the MSI STEM R & D Consortium was designed to increase funding opportunities for MSIs. The program has continued to show improved results in R & D awards provided to MSIs, and during FY 2022, EERE provided $ 8.6M in direct funding awards to MSIs for EERE R & D work. For FY 2023, EERE is on target to surpass last year's figures. Through an Interagency Agreement partnership with the National Science Foundation, EERE has initiated a pilot through the Geothermal Technologies Office to support 14 non - academic internships for graduate students in the geothermal industry, with placements for the summer of 2023 within state geological surveys, private industry companies, and National Labs. The

EERE is partnering with the Office of Energy Justice and Equity and NREL to develop STEM faculty from MSIs through the Faculty - Applied Clean Energy Science (FACES) program. The FACES pilot program offers a unique opportunity to foster the growth of STEM faculty from MSIs through exposure to the National Lab systems. By providing valuable on - site experiences, fostering collaboration, and developing scalable educational modules, the program aims to expand DOE funding opportunities for MSI faculty. EERE announced six grand prize winners of the Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize on June 15, 2023. The prize seeks to foster a just and equitable clean energy future by investing in community - led innovation and entrepreneurship programs in areas historically underserved by federal funding. The winning teams in this first - of - its - kind competition received $ 250,000 each for their entrepreneurship, job - training, mentorship, and other solutions to expand clean energy and economic opportunities in underserved communities. The Community Clean Energy Coalition Prize recognized and assisted coalitions supporting underrepresented communities with a prize pool of $ 2.1 million to build capacity and address local energy challenges with clean energy solutions in line with the Justice40 Initiative. EERE announced successful completion of the prize on December 7, 2023. All ten coalitions participating in the prize successfully completed all three phases of the challenge and were awarded $ 205k each in aggregate. The top three coalitions were awarded additional prize bonuses ranging from $ 10k to $ 50k for the strength of their project implementation and vision for the future. The Community Energy Innovation Prize launched in November 2023 is the successor to both DOE's Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize and Community Clean Energy Coalition Prize. The prize program will award up to $ 7.5 million in cash prizes as well as mentorship opportunities to organizations supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, capacity building, and economic development in communities historically underrepresented in climate and energy technology funding. The expanded prize has three tracks: clean energy ecosystem track, manufacturing ecosystem track, and collegiate track.

The NNSA Technology Transfer Program has developed the Introducing Diversity in Entrepreneurial Activities (IDEA) Seminar. This seminar is aimed at STEM students at MSIs to encourage them to participate in the technology entrepreneurial career field. The IDEA seminar introduces them to patents, licensing, and funding opportunities (including SBIR / STTR). The goal is to promote diversity in the next generation of aspiring technology entrepreneurs. This seminar has been given at several HBCUs and to the MSI interns at the various NNSA labs and HQ. iv. Progress on expanding strategic Tribal and stakeholder engagement across DOE programs. The Office of Public Affairs (PA) led the effort to create the Energy Savings Hub. The Energy Saving Hub is available to the public at www.energy.gov / save. The hub is a one - stop shop for homeowners, renters, and drivers to learn how they can save energy, save money, and save the planet. The Energy Saving Hub features something for everyone, including clean energy tax incentives and tips / tricks to conserve energy. In addition to the Energy Saving Hub, DOE also launched a Clean Energy 101 video series that is captioned in both English and Spanish. The series is comprised of short explainers of various clean energy appliances and technologies that qualify for incentives in President Biden's Investing in America agenda, including the basics of clean energy technologies, such as heat pumps, rooftop solar, electric vehicles, and more. In FY 2023, PA also produced a mini documentary on DOE's work with Tribal Nations. https: / / www.instagram.com / p / Cd6ovZ8D4i8 /. DOE established a Justice40 Stakeholder Engagement Community of Practice to establish a standard of care for equitable stakeholder engagement. Participants encompass various DOE program offices.

EJE developed a Stakeholder Engagement Smartsheet in partnership with the Justice40 SE CoP which will track energy justice related stakeholder engagements by program office, technology, region, and attendees. Offices will also upload outcomes from engagements. V. Progress on improving access and equity in DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program. DOE created the Office of State and Community Energy Programs to administer state and community - facing programs, including the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The following bullets outline key accomplishments in WAP since the publication of the April 2022 EAP. On February 3, 2023, DOE published allocations of $ 30M for Weatherization Readiness from the FY 2023 WAP appropriation, an increase of $ 15M from FY 2022. DOE WAP and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) launched a Weatherization Workforce Development Pilot in February 2023 to enhance impact in four communities: Lowell, MA; Roanoke, VA; Chicago, IL; and Warner Robins, GA. The program connects HUD residents to weatherization jobs within Community Action Agencies and sets up residents for careers in green construction. This partnership aims to support the utilization of DOE Weatherization Assistance Program funds by adequately staffing the weatherization programs in local communities. Several of the communities have begun hosting job fairs to share information and recruit HUD residents interested in weatherization work. Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers (SERC) funding is available to WAP grantees, subgrantees, and non - profit organizations to demonstrate innovative technologies and approaches that go beyond the scope of the formula WAP. These grants offer more flexibility than the WAP formula grants and unique opportunities to broaden the impact of WAP. The second round of SERC funding was announced in October 2022. DOE anticipates awarding eleven grantees $ 17M with 2023 SERC funds. The projects will install various renewables, including solar technologies and heat pumps. In June 2022, DOE published WPN 22 - 9, Managing Multiple Funding Streams. This policy update provides clarification on the allowability of braiding DOE funds with other federal and non - federal funding sources to expand and enhance the services provided to low - income households.

The DOE Civil Rights Division launched a technical assistance program for recipients of DOE financial assistance. The program includes both in - person events and webinars related to providing meaningful access for limited English proficient individuals in both DOE - conducted and DOE - financially assisted programs and activities. Additionally, one session provides an overview of the Department's civil rights regulations at 10 C.F.R. 1040 and 1042, which outline compliance requirements for recipients of DOE financial assistance. On February 23, 2023, and February 28, 2023, DOE's Office of Energy Justice and Equity's Minority Business and Workforce Division hosted the inaugural DOE Minority Business and Workforce Connect Summit. This summit offered opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Department of Energy program offices, the National Labs, higher education institutions, financial institutions, and non - profit organizations who are working to realize a just clean energy future to build lasting and generative connections. The Summit allowed participants to learn about how to engage in business with the Department of Energy and to engage with leaders in government and industry to learn more about how the energy industry is responding to historic federal investments in clean energy and communities. For more information, see DOE Minority Business Enterprise Connect Summit Department of Energy DOE's 2023 Minority Business Enterprise Connect Summit Draws Record Attendance and Announces New Partnerships Department of Energy. NNSA and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory manage the NNSA Graduate Fellowship Program (NGFP) and partner with MSIs to recruit highly qualified and diverse students for this program. In 2021, 28 % of applicants hired through this program were from underrepresented minority groups. In 2023, that number increased to 45 %, an increase of 17 %. The diversity of the applicant pool increased, and, as a result, the number of diverse people has meaningfully increased over the past two years. NGFP developed a diverse team of University Relationship Managers to assist with outreach at MSIs. This approach resulted in 20 % of all applications being submitted from an MSI. On July 6, 2023, DOE announced nine states and three Tribal communities as the third cohort to receive a combined total of $ 207.6M in Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants including the Metlakatla Indian Community (Annette Island Reserve), the Native Village of Eagle, and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North and South Dakota. The DOE Energy Justice to the People Roadshow is a series of community listening sessions and workshops dedicated to sharing information about available DOE programs and funding opportunities to support disadvantaged frontline communities and advance U.S. energy security in a just and equitable way. To date, two stops on the DOE Energy Justice to the People

In FY 2023, DOE co - sponsored White House Hispanic Initiative's Hispanic Regional Economic Summit in San Bernardino, CA, to share federal and DOE opportunities related to careers, internships, grants, and financial assistance. On October 12, 2022, EJE met with the Alliance of Hispanic Research Universities. At that time, the Alliance consisted of 21 universities which were both Hispanic - Serving Institutions as defined by Title V of the Higher Education Act and in the top 5 % of universities in the U.S. for research as determined by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The meeting was held to discuss opportunities to increase diversity in the federal work force and DOE's grant recipient pool in accordance with DOE's Justice40 implementation initiatives. In FY 2023, EJE was represented by the Minority Business and Workforce Division at the Annual U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Legislative Summit held in Washington, D.C. The USHCC actively promotes the economic growth, development, and interests of more than 4.7 million Hispanic - owned businesses. During this event, DOE presented to Hispanic owned energy businesses on funding opportunities available through various DOE program offices.

Dialogue between offices concerning CBP implementation, guidance, and their experience. Socialization of CBP requirements within the organization. Feedback from community and industry through engagement at Energy Justice Roadshows, and other targeted community, Tribal, and stakeholder engagement.

Track how funding is distributed to disadvantaged, fossil energy, Tribal, and rural communities. Track Justice40 metrics within BIL and IRA funding awards. Track number of Community Benefits Agreements and Project Labor Agreements entered within DOE - funded projects. Capture the number of community members or stakeholders engaged by - Communities of interest (individually and collectively) Type of Engagement Degree of Engagement Report community ownership in the following ways: Number of clean energy projects with community ownership Total value of community owned clean energy projects and percent owned by communities Total value of annual compensation to communities from community owned energy assets Measure the number of projects using go / no - go contractual elements to ensure project is meeting CBP commitments. Conduct survey of impacted community response / opinion before, during, and after project deployment (mid / long term). Provide an avenue for communities to contact DOE if they are concerned about the implementation of a CBP.

Lack of transparency and consistency across DOE merit review recruitment processes limits the agency's ability to assess overall effectiveness of the merit review process. Lack of participation by underrepresented groups affects the ability of those individuals to establish relationships with DOE personnel and understand how funding applications are evaluated, and what makes an application successful. Lack of reviewers with appropriate expertise impacts the ability to support initiatives relevant to the CBP framework (promoting jobs, Justice40, diversity, and disadvantaged communities). Lack of demographic information collected about reviewers at the registration phase makes it difficult to evaluate issues of implicit bias within panel decision making.

Work with Privacy Act Officers and the Office of the General Counsel to update systems to include demographic data with reviewer registration, which can help the agency analyze how merit review board composition may impact selection outcomes. Create a guidance document for resume screeners to mitigate implicit bias within merit review board selection and increase opportunities for underrepresented individuals to serve on merit review boards. Create and maintain a reviewer landing page to capture departmental opportunities and alert potential reviewers of opportunities to serve as merit reviewers. Expand departmental efforts to reach out to MBEs, MSIs, underrepresented groups, minority organizations, and federal equity leads to increase opportunities for underrepresented individuals to serve on merit review panels and learn more about the DOE merit review process. Create consistency in questions asked in DOE reviewer recruitment registration processes. Improve public awareness and access to DOE program managers. Capture the input of reviewers on the review process and the way proposals are solicited, evaluated, and awarded.

Capture demographic data and skillset information on reviewers to determine which groups necessitate further outreach. Establish guidance for program offices to utilize to reduce bias in the merit review process.

Stakeholders have routinely expressed frustration in accessing DOE opportunities. DOE is underutilizing federal acquisition statutory and regulatory authority to provide procurement opportunities to underrepresented groups.

Deploy a centralized, public - facing DOE business forecast to provide timely access to upcoming opportunities for contracts, financial assistance, and subcontracting. Continue to leverage CBP guidance and sample terms and conditions in DOE FOAs to ensure that recipients use federal investments to fulfill the four priorities of the CBP (investing in America's workforce, engaging communities and labor, advancing DEIA, and implementing Justice40.) Continue to implement policies and procedures for expanding DOE's use of Partnership Intermediary Agreements and Other Transactions Authorities.

Continue to increase outreach to Tribal Nations, underserved communities, and socio - economic small businesses to bolster efforts to increase new entrants to DOE opportunities. Develop and leverage strategic partnerships with external entities (e.g., Minority Business Development Agency, APEX Accelerators (formerly PTACs), and Small Business Development Centers) to support expanded socio - economic and small business supplier base through training and development and access to capital programs. Continue to utilize subject matter experts (EJE, program office representatives) as a resource for the technical review of M & O contractor Diversity Plans to support DOE in their oversight of the M & O contractors. Provide technical assistance to grantees on complying with civil rights laws while carrying out DOE - funded activities. Launch a new Department Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan providing guidance to DOE offices on translation, interpretation, and outreach services for LEP persons seeking access to Department programs to help ensure that LEP communities are informed of DOE activities and funding opportunities. Utilize the Women - owned Small Business (WOSB) Small Business Program Manager to develop strategies for increased gender equity to be informed by increased data analytics, WOSB - centric North American Industry Classification System code assessments, and in collaboration with the SBA WOSB Program, and major facility management contractors. Continue to support on - going efforts for M & O contractors and major site and facility contractors to increase subcontracting opportunities for AbilityOne contractors who employ people who are blind or have significant disabilities. Continue to support ongoing activities to increase socioeconomic achievements in awarding contracts, including subcontracts under the Department's Management & Operating Subcontract Reporting Capability (MOSRC) actions. Continue to collaborate with contractor groups such as the Energy Facility Contractors Group to increase awareness and understanding of procurement flexibilities that can be used to increase opportunities for new entrants and disadvantaged communities.

(1) Investing in America's workforce (2) Engaging communities and labor (3) Advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (4) Implementing Justice40, a federal initiative that sets the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of federal climate and clean energy investments flow to disadvantaged communities.

Current metric collection fails to holistically assess justice outcomes in DOE R & D programs. Current Justice40 metrics do not capture R & D impacts outside of the geographical location where work is being performed. Further, some types of R & D funding (non - competitive / block grants, DOE Laboratory solicitations, Lab field work proposals) do not have metrics in place to monitor and measure project progress. Justice40 metric reporting is hindered by limited coordination and some offices lacking trained and task - dedicated personnel to measure program impacts. The nature of R & D makes outcome - based metric reporting difficult. Outcome - based metrics are data that show the extent and impact of an organization's, program's, or initiative's activities on its customers or beneficiaries. 5 Outcome - based metrics are different from performance metrics, which track the key activities that lead to outcomes, or output or activity data, which describe the organization's actions. 6 Outcome - based metrics are useful for demonstrating accountability, transparency, and efficacy. 7 The benefits of R & D can have long time horizons and broad applications. In general, technology R & D strategy roadmaps lack sufficient consideration of equity or justice. Current roadmaps emphasize technological advancement of high - performance, high - cost technologies that likely will not be affordable to underserved communities. For example, clean energy and energy efficiency programs (e.g., rooftop solar power, weatherization) are not accessible to some underserved and underrepresented communities, especially where there is a reliance upon technology to communicate and access these programs. The unequal

Although inconsistent, several offices across DOE have collected R & D impact metrics, such as the number of peer - reviewed journal articles, patents, licenses, new companies formed, and the amount of follow - on funding received from the private sector. Challenges to these current efforts include: Many of these achievements occur after a project is closed out, when awardees are no longer reporting on the project and have likely moved onto other projects. As a result, many of these outputs are not appropriately attributed to DOE funding. One study of the Web of Science - a public database of scientific articles - found that in some subject areas, as little as 28 % of the articles had any acknowledgements, and of those only 65 % acknowledged funding. 9 If funding is properly acknowledged, web - crawling techniques can be used to extract subsequent impacts. Existing project impact metrics fail to address equity or justice. There are infrequent third - party reviews of evaluation metrics. These reviews are costly, time - intensive, and limited by confidential business information restrictions. There is limited interaction and participation with citizen / community science in the development of DOE R & D strategies and metrics. There have been several approaches across the federal Government to address the foregoing challenges: In the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA - E), there are staff who follow up with past recipients to collect research outputs / publications. In the DOE Office of Science, there is an annual automated reminder to past awardees to update their profile, including information regarding publications. Existing literature shows a lack of equity consideration in R & D metrics. To fill this gap, NREL developed the Justice Underpinning Science and Technology Research (JUST - R) metrics framework - energy justice metrics specifically targeted at early - stage research. 10 Some offices have project - specific metrics. For example, DOE's Building Technology Office requires applicants of some FOAs to provide estimates of energy, cost, and emissions savings using the Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation (RECI) Impact Calculator tool - a spreadsheet - based tool for building code updates in new construction, improvements to existing buildings, and improvements in energy codes compliance. 11 Since climate change disproportionately impacts low - income and minority

Some offices track information regarding equity - based metrics related to either the funded institutions (e.g., MSIs) or individuals (e.g., demographics of PIs). EERE is currently undergoing a third - party review for Justice40 impact evaluation. In addition to hiring outside consultants and creating an internal review team, they are also exploring the use of machine learning tools with natural language processing. Increasingly during the last decade, rapid technical advances have opened opportunities for broader and deeper interaction and participation among individuals, communities, and governments, allowing all levels of government to engage previously uninvolved people in issues affecting their communities and local environments. 13 14 The EPA has established new avenues for citizen science use in their Agency's strategic plan 15 16 from which the DOE could draw inspiration and best practices. DOE showcases eight citizen science projects 17: The Open PV Project, Lantern Live, Geothermal Case Studies and Exploration, Regulatory and Permitting Information Desktop Toolkit, Space Warps, Berkeley Lab Range Hood Roundup, SETI @ home / Astropulse, and Orphan Well Location Survey.

Develop R & D - specific metrics to quantify Justice40 impacts (i.e., workforce development, research outputs) for all project phases including during the award post - project closeout, and secondary impacts beyond the site of performance. Develop automated, easy - to - use systems to capture standard and office - specific metrics and content for all funding (FOAs, non - competitive grants, DOE Laboratory solicitations, etc.) that integrate with Justice40, BIL, and office reporting requirements and are consistent with requirements established for each FOA, including expected follow - up actions, federal financial assistance guidelines, and the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Establish policies and procedures to increase community participation in development of research questions and citizen science in research and development. Identify communities to review proposed R & D metrics framework. Distribute an organizational chart with the DOE communities working in Justice40 R & D reporting, with attention to offices engaging in R & D projects that involve or could engage external EJ communities in R & D.

Establish appropriate R & D metrics. Identify applicable FY 2023 R & D FOAs and solicit program managers to identify baseline metrics that are readily available. Collect and monitor appropriate R & D metrics. Distribute best practices for R & D funding acknowledgements in awardee outputs and how to collect outputs after project closeout. Distribute training material for the automated metric reporting tool. Create a public dashboard or to show DOE R & D funding and outputs from R & D funding, such as the number of publications and expected Justice40 benefits based on the created R & D metrics. The dashboard may be a stand - alone product or integrated into an existing dashboard, such as the Energy Justice (BETA) Dashboard. 19

DOE will ask past awardees to test the user experience and content of the BETA platform developed to collect metrics. Utilize the participants of Justice40 Community of Practice to gather insight on how to develop metrics for their Justice40 programs. Gather feedback during the Energy Justice to the People Roadshow on Justice40 metrics.

A. 2022 Equity Action Plan Update (pursuant to EO 13985): For reference, the 2022 DOE Equity Action Plan can be found here. i. Progress on addressing gaps in data collection to facilitate data - informed decision - making. Office of Management, Office of Acquisition Management (OAM) OAM implemented an agency - wide BIL funding opportunity announcement (FOA) template for BIL and IRA actions to further the Administration's goals to advance equity, provide support for disadvantaged communities, and leverage federal resources to achieve these objectives. The FOA template includes a Community Benefits Plan requirement, along with requirements to collect equity and justice - focused data. OAM, the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), and the National Nuclear Safety Administration are co - leading an Acquisition Forecast Improvement Working Group to establish a centralized, web - based platform capturing all contracting, subcontracting and financial assistance opportunities at DOE and better reach underrepresented businesses in DOE procurement opportunities. ii. Progress on increasing opportunities for new applicants to DOE funding opportunities. Office of Management, OAM OAM implemented a strategy with M & O contractors and major site and facility contractors designed to increase subcontracting opportunities from contractors who employ people who are blind or have significant disabilities (AbilityOne). As a result of this implementation, DOE - wide AbilityOne obligations increased from $ 27.5M in FY 2022 to $ 31.2M in FY 2023, an increase of 13 %. OAM continues to co - lead the Innovative Funding Mechanisms Working Group with the Office of General Counsel, which is exploring innovative mechanisms to increase participation in DOE funding opportunities. The Working Group has focused on Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIAs) and Other Transactions (OT) Authority as possible pathways to reach underrepresented entities and communities. PIAs are best utilized when traditional contractual mechanisms do not provide adequate outreach with non - traditional contractors and can reduce barriers to entry for such entities. DOE has put a Pilot PIA agreement in place to extend the Department's reach to new entrants and non - traditional partners, as well as small business firms, universities, and non - profit organizations. The agency has awarded one project utilizing the PIA mechanism, and additional projects are in the planning phase. Additionally, the agency has developed an OT guide for DOE program offices to increase the utilization of OT Authorities department wide. The agency anticipates that these interventions will increase contracting opportunities with new entrants and non - traditional partners. OAM undertook an initiative in the Office of Headquarters Procurement Services to utilize market research tools such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise - Wide Procurement Provider Lookup Tool, Small Business

The Justice40 Stakeholder Engagement Community of Practice and Office of Community Engagement collected the insights and feedback of stakeholder engagement staff from 24 program offices across DOE. Tribal - specific feedback from a public process. (See DOE's Tribal Consultation Action Plan: POTUS Tribal Consultation Memo - DOE Response and Action Plan - FINAL.pdf (energy.gov)).

Develop a DOE - Wide Relationship Management tool (similar to CRM - Client Relationship Management tool) that would contain essential foundational information about Tribal and disadvantaged community engagement or outreach related to a site, project, or program and be targeted to personnel with direct Tribal and disadvantaged community engagement responsibilities. Improve utilization of tracking system, coordination, and institutional memory of ongoing department - wide Tribal and disadvantaged community engagement. Support capacity building in Tribal Nations and disadvantaged communities through funding, grant - writing and other technical assistance, equitable communication, and improved application processes. Establish Tribal and Disadvantaged Community Engagement Principles and Practices in DOE Policy. Include mechanisms to integrate Tribal Nations and disadvantaged community decision - making into program and project processes. Create onboarding materials for new employees for Tribal engagement and update annual / ongoing training to reflect OPM / DOI & Interagency best practices guidance for Tribal Consultation and engagement. Create onboarding materials for new employees disadvantaged community engagement and update annual / ongoing training. Improve DOE's ability for effective and responsive two - way communication, including Nation - to - Nation communication, for Tribal and disadvantaged communities. Improve communications in Native languages, implementation of Title VI Limited English Proficiency requirements, non - digital formats, and other proven practices for equitable engagement. Modify DOE website to create a central portal for Tribal and community organizations to easily find DOE resources available to them and highlighting this resource on the front page of energy.gov (e.g., Energy Savings Hub).

SC nearly doubled the level of funding support for research awards to Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) from FY 2021 levels (from $ 58.0M in FY 2021 to $ 109.0M in FY 2022). SC nearly doubled the number of new awards to HSIs in FY 2022 (from 71 awards in FY 2021 to 136 awards in FY 2022). In FY 2023, SC established a requirement that all research proposals submitted to SC include a plan for Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research (PIER). PIER Plans describe the strategies and activities the applicants will incorporate into their research projects to promote opportunity, inclusion, and access to STEM research and training for individuals from all backgrounds. PIER Plans are evaluated as part of the merit review process. Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) FECM is collaborating with National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) acquisition professionals to embed societal and community impact criteria into FOAs - whether mandated by BIL or IRA, or program directed - that expand the pool of new entrants (e.g., MSIs) participating in program procurement, acquisition, and development activities. FECM's University Training and Research (UTR) program supports novel, early - stage research at U.S. colleges and universities, with an emphasis on student training. The UTR program has a sub - program dedicated to supporting projects specifically at HBCUs and other MSIs; in FY 2023, FECM made 18 awards totaling more than $ 7M with nearly half (10 awards) going to MSIs (totaling nearly $ 3.5M). (See University Training and Research netl.doe.gov.) FECM held a workshop (April 2023) for potential future grant applicants to provide information about the UTR program and the associated application process. Over 90 people from educational institutions participated. In June 2023, FECM announced up to $ 17.7M in available funding (FOA 3002) for five different areas of interest, including establishing multi - institution collaborations for student exchanges from MSIs, new academic curricula related to geosciences, supporting interdisciplinary training in humanities - driven STEM fields.

Justice40 Research and Development Metrics

and business opportunities resulting from investments via BIL and IRA. DOE co - sponsored the July 2023 WHIAANHPI Regional Economic Summit to share federal and DOE employment and contracting opportunities with AA and NHPI communities and connect with stakeholders on energy justice. In FY 2023, EJE also met with the Small Business Diversity Network focused on AA and NHPI business owners to share opportunities.

D. Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation: Nothing to report.

Low - income communities and communities of color often bear the brunt of the negative environmental, economic, and social impacts of energy infrastructure. Further, these communities often do not have a voice in project development and deployment. The Department has a historic opportunity to advance equity through the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

In an effort to advance equity and justice, spur job creation and, accelerate economic development, DOE now requires CBPs as part of BIL and IRA funding opportunities and loan applications. These plans are based on a set of four core policy priorities:

8 Sunter, Deborah A., Sergio Castellanos, and Daniel M. Kammen. " " Disparities in rooftop photovoltaics deployment in the United States by race and ethnicity. " " Nature Sustainability 2.1 (2019): 71 - 76. 9 Smirnova, N., Mayr, P. " " A comprehensive analysis of acknowledgement texts in Web of Science: a case study on four scientific domains. " " Scientometrics 128, 709 - 734 (2023). https: / / doi.org / 10.1007 / s11192 - 022 - 04554 - 9 10 Dutta, Nikita S., Gill, Elizabeth, Arkhurst, Bettina K., Hallisey, Mary, Fu, Katherine, and Anderson, Kate. " " JUST - R metrics for considering energy justice in early - stage energy research. " " (2023) Web. doi: 10.1016 / j.joule. 2023.01.007. 11 RECI Calculator. " " Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation " " https: / / eere - exchange.energy.gov / Default.aspx? Search = DE - FOA - 0002813 & SearchType =

Current approaches to awarding DOE procurement opportunities lead to inequitable outcomes among economically disadvantaged groups. The Department of Energy, along with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), co - sponsored two nation - wide crowdsourcing campaigns, and found that women - owned small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, minority - owned small businesses, veteran - owned small businesses; Tribal - owned and Native American - owned small businesses; and Historically Under - utilized Business Zone (HUBZone) businesses lack clarity on procurement and subcontracting (and other funding mechanisms) opportunities, processes, and procedures. The Department also found that DOE is underutilizing federal acquisition statutory and regulatory authority to award procurement opportunities to underrepresented groups. Based on these data points, DOE will fully exercise its statutory and regulatory authority to expand opportunities for new entrants and small and disadvantaged businesses in DOE procurements (acquisition and financial assistance).

Current Departmental metrics and their reporting fail to holistically2 assess Justice40 efforts across DOE. Specifically, current Justice40 metrics do not capture R & D efforts and how they advance Justice40 goals and objectives beyond where research is being conducted. To ensure the Department's R & D efforts advance Justice40 goals, DOE will develop a coordinated DOE - wide reporting strategy to implement holistic Justice40 metric development, collection, and evaluation.

2 From Oxford Dictionaries, holistic is defined as being " " characterized by the belief that the parts of something are interconnected and can be explained only by reference to the whole. " " Most Justice40 metrics focus only on the Principal Investigator (PI) who has received Departmental funds. Subcontractors are often omitted from DOE program impact metrics. The Department's approach to data collection creates a gap in assessing overall funding impacts. Research often has far - reaching implications beyond the location where the research is done, and more holistic metrics would permit the tracing of interconnected benefits in communities outside of the PI's place of business.

Currently, DOE lacks a department - wide strategic framework for community engagement. Over the past year, the Justice40 Stakeholder Engagement Community of Practice (Justice40 SE CoP) and Office of Community Engagement (OCE) teams have completed internal assessments to understand Departmental approaches to stakeholder engagement. The Justice40 SE CoP and OCE teams found a lack of an agency - wide framework, which has caused inconsistencies in distributing resources such as technical assistance, funding, and other support mechanisms to underserved communities. Additionally, uncoordinated outreach often means duplicate communications to some Tribal and community entities and no outreach to others. Further, the lack of a formal feedback process fails to incorporate Tribal Nations and community voices in program design and decision - making. To remediate these deficiencies, DOE will develop an agency - wide " " ground game " " to fully engage community entities and Tribes.

Strengthen external civil rights enforcement and proactive engagement activities to increase equitable access to federally conducted and assisted programs and activities_for members of the public; Increase public trust in DOI Law Enforcement by evaluating its workforce, increasing transparency and accountability, and providing mental health and wellness support to law enforcement; Advance equity in contracting practices to include businesses with characteristics that align with the definition of underserved communities, taking incremental steps to ensure the Department's obligated dollars are equitably distributed to underserved communities; Increase opportunities for members of the public to access public lands, prioritizing access to recreation areas and services in underserved communities; and Institutionalize environmental justice and increase the proportion of benefits of the Justice40 initiative covered programs reaching disadvantaged communities to work toward the goal of 40 percent and progress environmental justice further.

Difficulty Finding Opportunities. Through ongoing engagement with small vendors - small, small disadvantaged, women - owned small, service - disabled veteran owned small businesses, businesses located in historically underutilized business zones, and ISBEEs DOI has repeatedly helped vendors who convey that learning about contracting opportunities can be challenging, especially for new or inexperienced businesses. New entrants to the Federal procurement process lack experience and understanding of how to access opportunities and the various methods that DOI uses to procure goods and services. Communication. During DOI's listening sessions, participants indicated frustration with the communication between the Department and vendors, including identifying the appropriate individuals within Bureaus to help them, response rates, and obtaining information about specific opportunities before and after award. In addition, outreach - especially in - person outreach - can be limited by geography and established networks, which may also present barriers for some businesses. Process Complexity. During DOI's listening sessions, participants provided input regarding the complexity of the procurement process, with each step governed by statute and regulations that may differ from commercial contracting. It can be particularly challenging for new or inexperienced businesses to understand requirements, terms and conditions in solicitations, and other elements of the process. Limited opportunities to gain experience and / or training on the process may present barriers to some businesses. Departmental Procedures. Ensuring Departmental processes and policies contribute to an equitable distribution of awards to underserved communities is a critical component to achieving equity in Federal procurement. Based on the barriers identified above - awareness of procurement opportunities and communication with vendors - preliminary review of DOI policy, feedback from listening sessions, and survey results, the Department identified the following process and policy as a focus area for additional targeted review and analysis: Publicizing procurement actions. Communication with vendors throughout the acquisition process, such as communication with vendors who were unsuccessful at securing an award during debriefing.

Increase opportunities for Indian - owned economic enterprises. The Department will continue to monitor performance against annually established ISBEE goals to ensure that benefits previously described are being realized. Additionally, the Department will seek opportunities to collaborate with other Federal partners such as SBA and HHS to increase opportunities for Indian - owned businesses in Federal procurement. Implement policy on communicating with vendors throughout the procurement process, especially with unsuccessful offerors after award. Continue implementation of the vendor communications guidance. Review Departmental procedures and practices related to the length of time that acquisition actions are publicized. The DOI will enhance its current policies to ensure that adequate time is provided for all business types to be competitive. Review Departmental procedures and practices related to contracting vehicles. The Department will develop and implement updated guidance on DOI operational practices, to simplify the process and close the gap of understanding by small and disadvantaged businesses. Collaboration with Federal partners. The DOI will seek out and continue to participate in collaborative opportunities with OMB, SBA, and other Federal departments that focus on Government - wide small business initiatives, including other equity - focused EOs - Executive Order on Establishment of the White House Gender Policy Council - and OMB - led focus groups. Modernize DOI's small business counseling services. Utilize data visualization to publish acquisition data providing greater access to detailed information about DOI's purchasing history and include the most recent acquisition data educating vendors on the use of tools during vendor engagement sessions. Expand digital services utilizing vendor survey information collected to curate digitally available information, resources, and tools for the small business vendors that consider their varying maturity, life situations (such as accessibility for those with disabilities and mobile access through quick - response coding), and experiences in Federal contracting.

Lack of expertise and / or capacity of disadvantaged communities to engage in the Federal grant - making process, or the process of seeking Federal financial assistance as identified through listening sessions and public comments solicited through a Federal Register Notice. The structure of the Department is such that environmental justice activities are distributed across various Bureaus, and the Department's diverse set of missions - protecting natural resources and cultural heritage, providing scientific and other information about these resources, and honoring our nation's trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Island Communities - can make it particularly difficult for community groups or nonprofit organizations from disadvantaged communities to engage with those programs or figure out how to access those funding streams, based on feedback received from community members at broader engagements about federal environmental justice programs. The complexity of the grant process - application forms, timing, process, and requirements - hinders disadvantaged communities from applying for financial assistance, based on feedback received from community members during listening sessions and public comments solicited through a Federal Register Notice. Lack of awareness of the Justice40 Initiative, the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, and the Department's Justice40 Initiative covered programs by some of the underserved and disadvantaged_com we interact with, based on feedback received from community members during engagements with them.

Modify the way existing programs are implemented to emphasize the importance of delivering benefits to underserved communities and design new programs equitably, which will ensure that a greater portion of funds flow to those communities. Examples include: For the ORLP, NPS specified the following criteria for emphasis to be considered in the evaluation of proposals for awards in FY 2023: (1) environmental justice, (2) urban heat map areas, and (3) military outdoor recreation. The LWCF State Assistance Program provides grants to States to support the acquisition of land and the development of facilities for public outdoor recreation. The NPS - revised LWCF State Manual, which lays out the requirements for State participation in the program, asks States to be more intentional in selecting LWCF projects that are in alignment with Justice40 Initiative goals and direct States to use the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool in project selection. In order for States to participate in the LWCF program, they must prepare a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan that outlines how they will implement the program. The NPS will also ask States, through their quinquennial updates, to include underserved communities as they identify recreation issues of Statewide importance and the actions States will take to address them. In implementing the BIL AML Program, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is encouraging States and Tribes to prioritize projects that invest in communities marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution, consistent with the President's Justice40 Initiative. This work will be informed by a planned investigation, per the Department's FY 2022 - 2026 Learning Agenda, into identified sites on Tribal lands that require remediation from prior coal mining activity to determine that which is hindering completing reclamation work and identify potential solutions. In implementing the BIL Orphaned Well program, the Department is requesting States and Federal partners receiving funds through the orphaned well program to prioritize plugging and remediation of wells within 0.5 miles of underserved communities as much as possible under legal authorities to maximize the environmental justice impact.

Revise Departmental and Bureau policies to make environmental justice considerations an essential part of the decision - making process, which will help shape program development and implementation to have a greater focus on environmental justice. Examples include: Update the Department's environmental justice policy as stated in the Departmental Manual to reflect EO 14008, entitled " " Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad " " and EO 14096, entitled " " Revitalizing Our Nations Commitment to Environmental Justice for All. " " Create guidance documents for the use of science and data in environmental decision - making to incorporate data related to environmental justice and Indigenous Knowledge, along with an environmental justice science and data integrated decision model. This work, which helps address the Department's priority learning question: " " How well does DOI collect and document traditional knowledge that informs decisions? " ", which is based on feedback received at numerous listening sessions and through public comments that will result in more equitable outcomes by ensuring that the voices of Indigenous communities and communities with environmental justice concerns are part of the decision - making process. The BLM issued an " " Instruction Memorandum about Environmental Justice Implementation " " and " " Addressing Environmental Justice in NEPA FAQs " " in September 2022. These documents update and formalize best practices while recommending methods for scoping, outreach, and analysis in environmental reviews. These policies will help guide BLM staff in implementing environmental justice and Justice40 Initiative and will serve as examples for other Bureaus to develop policies. Expand outreach and assistance efforts to better meet the needs of underserved communities. Priority learning question 4.4 in the Department's FY 2022 - 2026 Learning Agenda asked, " " How can the Department increase stakeholder engagement to improve environmental justice outcomes for infrastructure investments? " " Examples include: Develop a stakeholder relationship management platform to reduce stakeholder fatigue and help staff across the Department learn about the needs communities identify during engagements and consultations. This will lead to more equitable outcomes by increasing the effectiveness and usefulness of engagements. Provide technical assistance for grant writing and grant writers, which we have learned from listening sessions and public comment is an important tool for reducing the barriers to participating in funding opportunities. Work with on - the - ground partners that can help guide and direct our outreach to communities who need it most. For example, the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations has been working with certain Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) that have facilitated outreach to other NHOs and portions of the community that have not historically applied for or received funding from the Department due to capacity issues or other barriers to participation. This outreach helps inform program design to reach those communities. Use funding provided in the Inflation Reduction Act for outreach regarding permitting environmental reviews and authorizations to perform stakeholder and community engagement, with emphasis on enabling underserved communities to be part of the decision - making process. This will help address a priority learning question in the FY 2022 - 2026 Learning Agenda that inquires how the Department can increase capacity to augment the

Develop and provide training for Departmental staff to improve their ability to work with underserved communities, which was identified through internal discussions with staff as an area of need. Examples include: Develop and host Departmentwide environmental justice training, including on Indigenous Knowledge. Develop a stakeholder toolkit, including an internal needs assessment and gap analysis that enables employees to assess their own skills regarding engagement with communities. Develop a community of practice, mentorship network, and list of DOI employees who work on stakeholder engagement. Develop an environmental justice toolkit site including environmental justice screening and mapping tools compendium for use internally by Department staff. Conduct a geography - focused impact analysis project to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how various Department activities can combine to impact a region. Conduct a Justice40 Initiative covered program pilot evaluation to get a more comprehensive understanding of what is working about a program, what could be modified to remove any identified barriers, and how stakeholders perceive it.

The DOI provided $ 46 million in funding to Tribal communities to address the unique impacts of climate change in Indigenous communities. This initial funding from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and FY 2022 appropriations funded projects and initiatives address and strengthen climate resilience and adaptation; ocean and coastal management; community - driven relocation and protect - in - place activities; and internships and youth engagement. The DOI announced $ 8.5 million in grant awards by the Office of Insular Affairs ' Energizing Insular Communities program to support energy initiatives in the U.S. Territories. This award included $ 1 million to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority for the procurement of hybrid and electric utility fleet vehicles and equipment, and $ 1 million to the American Samoa Medical Center Authority for microgrid, cooling tower, and LED lighting retrofit projects. The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) modified the evaluation criteria for WaterSMART grants to encourage projects that directly benefit disadvantaged communities and support climate change resiliency. The NPS announced $ 192 million in funding for the LWCF - Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP), which enables urban, disadvantaged communities to (1) create new outdoor recreation spaces, (2) reinvigorate existing parks, and (3) form connections between people and the outdoors in such communities. As part of the notice of funding opportunity, NPS modified the evaluation criteria in ORLP grants to encourage States to submit projects focused on environmental justice, addressing heat islands, and support for recreation outside of military facilities. The NPS also created two deadlines for the grant - January 23, 2023, and May 31, 2023 - to encourage States to submit more grants. In standing up the BIL Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells Federal Program, DOI established evaluation criteria to prioritize disadvantaged communities, and ensure projects identify and address any disproportionate burden of adverse human health or environmental effects of orphaned wells on communities of color, low - income communities, and Tribal and Indigenous communities. C. Additional Efforts to Advance Equity The DOI launched a Women's Mentoring Program in 2022 to provide a platform for Department employees who would benefit from accessing a women - centered space. With a mission of fostering meaningful relationships through mentorships in which women build knowledge, confidence, leadership, and skills, this program is run by volunteers. It also addresses Federal workforce gender inequalities and supports the administration's National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality. The Department's procurement staff and Office of the Solicitor collaborated to develop a vendor communications guidance document. This guidance addresses issues identified during public engagement. Specifically, the guidance seeks to improve how information is conveyed to unsuccessful offerors after award. Such meaningful communication supports new entrants and other small and disadvantaged businesses in learning about Government contracting, grow as a business, and being better poised to submit competitive proposals for future acquisitions.

Increased percentage of Justice40 Initiative covered program benefiting investments going to disadvantaged communities. Increased percentage of benefits going to underserved communities. Increased number of technical assistance engagements that target information sharing and assistance to underserved communities, including increased partnerships and joint events with other Federal agencies.

Secretary Haaland announced support for President Biden's establishment of the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in northern Arizona. The new national monument consists of three distinct areas to the north and south of Grand Canyon National Park, totaling approximately 917,618 acres of Federal lands in northern Arizona. The DOI and Department of Housing and Urban Development collaboratively announced support for more Affordable Housing in Nevada. In support of President Biden's Investing in America agenda investing in climate resilience and ecosystem restoration, DOI highlights Typhoon Recovery, Habitat Investments in Visit to Guam. D. Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation The Department set annual goals for all Bureaus and Offices for contracting with the Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEE). These goals set the expectation that the entire Department, not just the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Bureau of Indian Education, consider the use of the Department's Buy Indian Act authority to set aside contracts for Indian - owned businesses in equal measure to the other statutorily required small business categories. The Department also developed and provided training to all Contracting Officers on the use of the Buy Indian Act. The DOI collaborated with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to hold the first - ever joint industry day event focused on outreach to Indian - owned businesses. This event provided a learning opportunity for Indian - owned businesses to grow their understanding of the Government contracting process and to hear from top executives from both agencies about upcoming business opportunities.

Increase compliance reviews with respect to granting Federal financial assistance as well as the Department's and Bureau's actions which affect their interaction with the public. Partner with stakeholders to ensure public civil rights statutes, regulations, and EOs are considered early in all actions and processes to ensure that all are aware of their public civil rights obligations and requirements to comply SO that discrimination does not occur. Build and expand on the Department's and Bureau's efforts to allow access for all members of the public to their programs and activities which include the lands managed by the Department SO that all may participate. Increase the staffing in the DOI Public Civil Rights Office and in the Bureaus to meet the increasing demands for outreach, enforcement, and technical assistance.

Implement a comprehensive Language Access Plan for the Department and all Bureaus in order that persons who may be limited English proficient have access to the Department's and Bureaus ' programs and activities. Improve the Department's and Bureaus ' capacity to provide technical assistance and enforcement by ensuring that all Bureaus can conduct compliance reviews and process complaints of discrimination. Develop and implement a system of surveys for accessibility for persons with disabilities to determine where the Department and Bureaus are not providing access to managed lands and facilities as well as their respective programs and activities.

Continue to improve on the Department's comprehensive Language Access Plan in order that persons who may be limited English proficient have access to the Department's and Bureaus ' programs and activities. After building capacity, conduct compliance reviews of the Department's and Bureaus ' programs and activities to determine which programs and activities are out of compliance and then ensure access to all, while also processing all complaints involving these programs and activities. After determining which programs and activities involving the Department's and Bureaus ' managed lands and facilities need improvement, ensure that they are accessible to persons with disabilities.

Environmental Justice: Secure environmental justice and spur economic opportunity by addressing disproportionate and adverse health and environmental impacts, including from climate change and cumulative impacts, on marginalized and overburdened communities. Implement the Justice40 Initiative to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments (e.g., in clean energy, climate, pollution reduction, and critical infrastructure, flow to disadvantaged communities across rural, urban, and Tribal areas).

Incorporate environmental justice considerations into Department policies and program designs and expand outreach to communities with environmental justice concerns to increase the proportion of the benefits of the Department's Justice40 Initiative covered programs that reach disadvantaged communities.

Environmental Justice: Secure environmental justice and spur economic opportunity by implementing the Justice40 Initiative to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments, flow to disadvantaged communities across rural, urban, and Tribal areas.

To develop these strategies and continued engagement, DOI plans to facilitate early, meaningful, and ongoing involvement with communities that have_environmental justice concerns. The Department will develop a stakeholder relationship management platform to reduce community engagement fatigue and ensure the feedback received is used across the Department. To prepare and enable DOI employees to build relationships with communities, DOI will (1) create a self - assessment tool for DOI employees; (2) establish a community of practice, mentorship network, and list of DOI employees that work on stakeholder engagement; and (3) develop a stakeholder toolkit, including internal needs assessment and gap analysis. The Department will host engagements focused on Justice40 Initiative covered programs with impacted communities; some of these engagements will be part of the White House Campaign for Environmental Justice.

It is the Biden - Harris administration's mission to not just acknowledge this difficult history, but to actively empower our communities to achieve a thriving, equitable future. Our equity action plan puts this mission to work by helping mitigate the impacts of our Nation's historic wrongs while infusing our collaborative efforts with the locally driven input and guidance our work needs to shine. This collaboration is essential for protecting the irreplaceable landscapes we depend on while creating outdoor opportunities for every community, regardless of ZIP Code.

The DOI will use public civil rights compliance review and complaint data for the past 5 years as the evidence base to support its strategies.

A. Removing barriers to access to grant funding and resources for organizations led by and that primarily serve historically marginalized and underserved communities that have faced societal and systemic barriers in accessing and receiving Federal resources, as well as to communities disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and victimization. B. Supporting corrections and reentry programs that seek to reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for justice - involved individuals (including those from historically marginalized and underserved communities and those disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and victimization), including by improving healthcare coverage and continuity of care supports, reducing barriers to obtaining government - issued identification, addressing burdens associated with inability to pay fines and fees, and improving community supervision models to decrease incidence of revocation for technical violations. C. Promoting an inclusive, diverse, and expert law enforcement workforce to strengthen public trust and improve public safety outcomes by removing barriers to representation within Federal, State, Tribal, local, and territorial law enforcement agencies for underrepresented communities. D. Improving the response of law enforcement and criminal justice personnel to crimes that disproportionately affect women, girls, transgender individuals, and gender non - conforming people (including gender - based violence and sex trafficking) by providing and / or supporting: (1) targeted training on how to investigate and prosecute these crimes; (2) training and resources on trauma - informed and culturally responsive approaches, care, and services available to victims; and (3) resources and support for building relationships with and increasing access to services and assistance for historically marginalized and underserved communities. E. Ensuring that underserved communities (including people with LEP and people with disabilities, among others) are aware of and able to access legal services to address environmental crime, pollution, climate change, and other environmental hazards and have help navigating the legal and regulatory landscape necessary to secure access to clean water, air, and other natural resources.

A. 2022 Equity Action Plan Update Pursuant to EO 13985, 2 the Department of Justice published its first ever Equity Action Plan in April 2022. Since then, the Department has made significant progress implementing its equity priorities by improving solicitation processes, increasing opportunities for disadvantaged small businesses located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones, and strengthening mechanisms for community engagement, among others. Specific examples of the Department's ongoing progress in advancing its 2022 equity priorities include: Strengthening efforts to ensure compliance and enforcement of non - discrimination laws. Following review of implementation and administrative enforcement of the non - discrimination provisions set forth in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act ³ and the Safe Streets Act4 in connection with Federal financial assistance, the Department is taking affirmative steps to improve this work. 5 For example, the Civil Rights Division (CRT) and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) created and co - chair a Compliance Working Group to coordinate the implementation and enforcement of these statutes, issue public guidance, revise internal standards, update tools and resources, and conduct public outreach. 6 Enhancing language access for individuals with limited English proficiency. In May 2022, DOJ hired its first - ever Language Access Coordinator (Coordinator). Since then, DOJ's Coordinator has reestablished the Language Access Working Group, which meets regularly, is comprised of representatives from various DOJ components, and provides a platform to support, guide, and oversee components ' efforts to increase meaningful access SO that communities can better access DOJ programs, communicate public safety concerns, and vindicate their rights. For example, DOJ recently published its FY 2022 - 2026 Strategic Plan in Spanish and key excerpts were published in Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Tagalog. In August 2023, the Department also released its updated Language Access Plan, which improves translation and interpretation services, promotes quality assurance of those services, and expands the range of tools available to serve the public. The Department has made significant progress in advancing environmental justice as measured through the agency's performance on the Environmental Justice Scorecard. This progress includes: (1) analyzing how to best enforce the non - discrimination provisions under Title VI; (2) prioritizing environmental justice in DOJ's decision - making processes through the creation of the Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ), development and implementation of a new Comprehensive Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy, and engagement with communities with environmental justice concerns, including Tribal nations; and (3) institutionalizing environmental justice by developing DOJ resources and training, increasing staff capacity, and strengthening

Combating hate crimes and hate incidents. The Department has increased multilingual resources to combat hate crimes through Federal law enforcement action and enhanced training, support, and outreach to State and local partners. For example, DOJ has further prioritized civil rights violations and hate crimes enforcement among the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) field offices. As of September 2023, DOJ launched the United Against Hate program in all 94 U.S. Attorneys ' Offices (USAOs) to help improve the reporting of hate crimes by informing communities on how to identify, report, and help prevent hate crimes, and to encourage trust building between law enforcement and communities. 10 Reforming law enforcement practices. Pursuant to EO 14074, 11 DOJ is executing on more than 90 Executive Order deliverables to advance effective, fair, and constitutional policing; improve conditions of confinement and reentry; promote officer safety and wellness; and improve data collection and analysis. This work includes prohibiting the transfer or purchase of military - style weapons and equipment to State, Tribal, Local and Territorial (STLT) law enforcement agencies (LEAs), administering grants in a manner that is consistent with the adoption of EO 14074 ' s policies, creating accreditation standards to help encourage STLT LEAs to adopt policies consistent with the EO, and working to establish the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database. DOJ also released a Strategic Plan for supporting the goals of the Federal Interagency Alternatives and Reentry Committee, which seeks to safely reduce criminal justice system interactions, support rehabilitation during incarceration, and facilitate successful reentry. 12 Lastly, DOJ has invested in state - and local - level correctional services, including by supporting correctional and educational institutions as they enhance post - secondary educational opportunities in prisons following the reinstatement of Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students in July 2023. The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is also expanding access to Pell Grants within Federal correctional facilities to help incarcerated students earn college credits and / or a college degree. Combating sexual misconduct and gender - based violence. CRT has developed resources to assist Department prosecutors and investigators in understanding how to use Federal civil rights statutes to redress sexual misconduct. 13 DOJ has also produced a report related to sexual misconduct by BOP employees, which offers actionable recommendations to improve

D. Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation

navigating complex legal and regulatory realities as they seek to secure access to clean water, air, and other natural resources.

To advance this environmental justice strategy, the Department has established several annual performance measures and long - term outcome goals that support the achievement of those goals. The long - term outcome goals include opening and / or handling 16 matters that address adverse environmental and public health effects brought under civil rights statutes each year and increasing the percentage of environmental enforcement matters in or substantially affecting overburdened and underserved communities that are favorably resolved. These goals align with the Department's priorities and express the Department's continued commitment to making progress on the important issue of ensuring environmental justice for all communities.

Among other notable initiatives, the Department is responsible for implementing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization of 2022, 14 the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), 15 and the legislation to extend the Not Invisible Act Commission. 16 The below highlights three examples of how the Department is advancing equity through legislation:

In 2023, ATJ, in collaboration with CRT and the Department's grantmaking components, conducted outreach to current recipients regarding DOJ's funding tools, which included discussing funding solicitation language, award conditions, award letters, and application instructions to determine whether those resources were clear, effective, and accessible. Participants noted that the process for applying for Federal funding can be cumbersome, obtuse, and time - consuming for potential applicants, especially applicants with limited resources and expertise in DOJ's processes. In response to this feedback, the Department has, as much as practicable, employed the use of plain language in drafting its solicitation templates, and is currently developing guidance on best practices to simplify application requirements.

Lastly, the Department clarified its guidance SO that State, Tribal, territorial, and local jurisdictions can better leverage Federal funds received under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program and the National Criminal History Improvement Program to support efforts to seal and expunge criminal records. This will represent a critical step forward for returning citizens as they seek to access housing and employment opportunities.

The Equity Action Plan that follows reflects the Department's current efforts to continue this foundational work. The Department remains committed to aiding all people, and particularly historically marginalized and underserved communities, in accessing the Department's programs and resources, navigating complex legal and regulatory hurdles to vindicate their rights, understanding the breadth of the Department's work, and meaningfully engaging with DOJ decision - makers. Moreover, the Department's equity mission statement reflects the commitment to understand and respond to the needs, concerns, and interests of the communities we serve and to ensure that the Department's workforce reflects our increasingly diverse nation.

The Department of Justice's recently published policing guidance emphasizes that:

Expanding agency partnerships in OFCCP's Megaproject Program The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), in concert with other federal agencies will designate additional Megaprojects in FY 2024. Under this designation, OFCCP will engage with a wide range of stakeholders to remove hiring barriers and promote equal employment opportunity in federally funded large construction projects pre - construction including through outreach to underserved populations and the use of apprenticeship and pre - apprenticeship programs. Embedding equity provisions in federal Investing in America (IIA) investments, such as the Good Jobs in Federal Investments: A Toolkit for Employers, Workers, and Government, the MOU between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and DOL, and the MOU between the U.S. General Services Administration and DOL, requiring, preferencing, or encouraging funding applicants to provide supportive services on their projects. Securing equity commitments from localities implementing IIA investments, through place - based strategies. Encouraging DOL grant applicants to develop projects that specifically address each of the Good Jobs Principles, which envision equitable pathways to family - sustaining wages, to promote development of new workforce development models that can be applied to other federal investments. Directing DOL grant applicants to provide more robust and detailed supportive services strategies to develop frameworks that can be applied to other federal investments. Investing in strategies to improve good jobs for care workers: The Women's Bureau (WB), Office of Assistant Secretary for Policy (OASP), and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), are working to identify and maximize utility of data on the Direct Care Workforce. In FY 2024, DOL will continue to expand analyses on care workers who serve people with disabilities and older adults through the DOL - HHS workgroup on direct care workforce. WB, ASP, and the Chief Evaluation Office are collaborating on a research report to explore wages in the Care Workforce, to be published in FY 2024 as well as guidance to help States and localities conduct their own analyses of comparable pay rates for care workers in their respective jurisdictions.

Improving wages and working conditions in key, female - dominated sectors In support of EO 14095, Executive Order on Increasing Access to High - Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and WB are collaborating through an MOU to promote the rights of the care workforce by creating sample employment agreements for domestic workers that provide child and long - term care to negotiate the terms of employment, facilitating compliance and awareness of labor law and best practices, and incorporate language to embed the requirements of relevant worker protection laws. WB will work with elected officials to support investments in care infrastructure, strengthen the majority female workforce that performs essential work, and provide technical assistance through the Good Jobs Great Cities Academy. OSHA Rulemaking in progress: OSHA is currently developing Prevention of Workplace Violence in Health Care and Social Assistance, a standard on workplace violence prevention in the healthcare and social assistance industries, occupations which tend to employ significantly more women than men WB will continue working with HHS to elevate ways to build equity in wages and job quality in female dominated sectors through the DOL - HHS workgroup, and technical assistance to agencies for support services. Reducing caregiving penalties for women and low - paid workers In FY 2024, the WB will continue to expand and tailor the National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP), in collaboration with ICF International and HHS, to develop key analytical tools to evaluate how childcare prices are linked with gender and racial inequality in the labor force. WB is partnering with the Urban Institute to conduct the project, Understanding Equity in Paid Leave through Microsimulation Analysis. This project will provide research and technical assistance to states or local jurisdictions considering paid leave programs, and answer new questions about policy impacts, costs, and benefits of paid leave policies. Eliminating gender - based discrimination in the workplace DOL will contribute key deliverables toward the implementation of the National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality and the National Plan to End Gender - Based Violence, including: In FY 2024, WB will administer its Fostering Access, Rights, and Equity (FARE) grant, focusing the program to support women who have been impacted by gender - based violence and harassment in the world of work. As the federal government makes historic investments in infrastructure, OFCCP intends to develop a best practices document outlining how federal contractors and subcontractors can create safe environments free from gender - based violence and harassment. In anticipation of the FAR Council's rulemaking prohibiting salary history inquiries by federal contractors, OFCCP plans to publish sub - regulatory guidance clarifying how reliance on salary history for hiring and compensation decisions may result in discrimination under Executive Order 11246.

WHD and WB are collaborating with the EEOC and have launched a year - long series of free webinars and outreach events to ensure workers, their advocates, health care providers, and employers understand the workplace rights of new and expectant workers. WHD will continue to promote new requirements that allow nursing employees the time and private space to express breast milk at work as outlined in the PUMP Act through education and outreach efforts to improve worker protections and employer compliance.

DOL's Job Corps launched a pre - apprenticeship initiative to expand career opportunities and pathways for graduates to participate in registered apprenticeship programs in infrastructure, including clean energy and renewable energy manufacturing. There are currently 143 Corps instructors nationwide providing training towards renewable resources and energy. DOL has revamped its Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA) under four Justice40 covered programs to support the development and implementation of sustainable construction and building practices and clean energy technologies, including reference to

Explore options to collect expanded demographic categories for contractors, as permitted by and in accordance with Federal procurement regulations and other laws. Review relevant and available data and develop a strategic outreach plan to improve engagement with underrepresented groups, remove internal barriers to engagement as applicable, and encourage expanded participation in contracting opportunities.

DOL has entered into Memoranda of Understanding with the Departments of Transportation, Energy, Commerce, the Interior, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the General Services Administration to engage in " " cooperative efforts to build sustainable career pathways to meet industry's need for talent and workers ' need for quality jobs, " " and " " to address barriers to opportunity and build an economy that empowers all people, including individuals from underserved communities; " " Through these inter - agency partnerships, over $ 181 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funds include provisions that require, preference, or encourage job quality, worker empowerment, and equity in the use of these federal funds; and Those incentives have been included in 91 Funding Opportunity Announcements. As part of the Department's strategy to advance equity, GJI will continue to provide technical assistance on federal funding opportunities across the Investing in America Agenda to embed job quality, equity, and worker empowerment.

Fewer worker protections; Lower wages; Pre - emptive legislation that prevents strong worker protections; Lack of strong worker coalitions; and Reliance on Federal enforcement due to insufficient State enforcement policies / agencies.

Equity in Environmental Justice: Justice40

Embedding Equity in Key Legislation

Equity in Environmental Justice: Justice40

Collaborating Agencies: DOL is partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collaborate on new data products, such as the National Database of Childcare Prices, as well as draft guidance and technical assistance to federal agencies on maximizing flexibility in funding for support services. DOL also partners with several agencies through its Good Jobs Initiative, to ensure gender equity in Investing in America - funded jobs.

Embedding Equity in Key Legislation

In service of the Justice40 Initiative, federal agencies are working towards delivering forty percent of overall benefits of climate, clean energy, training, workforce development, and other federal investments to disadvantaged communities that have been marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment. [ 1 ] The Department of Labor's Phase One Scorecard identifies DOL's proposed and accomplished initiatives towards this effort, including $ 1.8 billion in funding made available from Justice40 covered programs, and 383 technical assistance outreach events in FY 2022 to provide critical information to workers, employers, and federal, state, and local governments to improve job quality and access to good jobs. Of the proposed initiatives, the Department is currently working towards or has completed the following actions to embed environmental justice into all aspects of its work:

In support of federal Investing in America (IIA) funds, stemming from funds through the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Good Jobs Initiative (GJI) provides critical information to workers, employers, and government agencies as they work to improve job quality and create access to good jobs, free from discrimination and harassment for all working people (with emphasis on underserved communities, including BIPOC individuals, LGBTQ + individuals, women, immigrants, veterans, individuals with disabilities, individuals in rural communities, individuals without a college degree, individuals with or recovering from a substance use disorder, justice - involved individuals, and opportunity youth). In alignment with the Good Jobs Principles, equity provisions have been embedded in all aspects of the GJI:

Disability Policy Priorities: The DOT Disability Policy Priorities highlight work that DOT is undertaking to increase access for people with disabilities across four focus areas: safe and accessible air travel; multimodal accessibility of public transportation facilities, vehicles, and rights - of - way; access to good - paying jobs and business opportunities for people with disabilities; and enabling accessibility of electric vehicles and automated vehicles. Justice40: The government - wide Justice40 Initiative establishes the goal that 40 % of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. At DOT, Justice40 is an opportunity for both the agency and our stakeholders to understand the burdens that result from the lack of affordable, safe multimodal transportation options and how to identify transportation investments that will create benefits that will reverse or mitigate those burdens, inclusive of a meaningful public engagement process that spans a project's lifecycle. Gender Justice: DOT has identified Gender Justice priorities in response to EO 14020. These priorities include strategies to advance gender diversity in certain segments of the transportation sector, address gender disparities in transportation safety, combat human trafficking, improve DOT utilization of small disadvantaged businesses that are both women - and minority - owned, and, increase gender diversity within the DOT workforce. Asian American, Native Hawai'ian, and Pacific Islander Action Plan: DOT's plan, created as part of a government - wide initiative, focuses on assessing perceptions of public transportation; promoting Title VI awareness; improving competitiveness of businesses for federal contracts; and increasing workforce participation rates.

DOCR hosted seven Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) outreach sessions related to DOT's DBE / ACDBE Program regulations, targeting different stakeholders, in July and August 2022. PHMSA has taken an active role in engaging more with MSIs and encouraging them to participate in the Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP). DOT's Infrastructure Workforce Development team held a webinar with about 400 individuals focusing on how local and economic hiring preferences can be used to create a more diverse construction workforce. The webinar included case studies from Seattle, New York State, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

January 2022: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) integrated the Small Business Program Manager into the Acquisition Strategy Review Board for procurement planning and coordination to help identify small business contracting opportunities. January 2022: OST launched a DOT - wide procurement dashboard to raise awareness of contracting opportunities and drive accountability for meeting small and disadvantaged business goals. February 2022: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) began tracking the number of residential and non - residential displacements to ensure displacements, especially in communities with Environmental Justice (EJ) concerns, are reduced across all projects and that mitigation measures are in place to minimize impacts of relocation. July 2022: OST issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to modernize the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession DBE (ACDBE) program regulations to help further level the playing field for small disadvantaged businesses. November 2022: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) held the first meeting of the Women of Trucking Advisory Board, whose work will support women pursuing careers in trucking, expand scholarship opportunities for women in the trucking industry, and enhance trucking training, mentorship, education, and outreach programs for women. December 2022: Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) launched the Master Capacity Building Series Federal Contracting 101. April 2023: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) established a Small Business Program to increase participation of small businesses, including minority and woman - owned small businesses in publicly funded rail projects. LAUNCHING EDUCATION SEMINARS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SEEKING DOT CONTRACTS: Small and minority - owned businesses can face hurdles in obtaining federal contracts. Many businesses without the capacity or resources to receive primary contracts are also unaware of opportunities to work as a subcontractor. To address these concerns, OSDBU launched the Master Capacity Building Series. The initial session hosted more than 500 participants, and the program has reached over 6,400 small and disadvantaged business owners as of June 2023. Technical assistance has contributed to an increase in small disadvantaged business utilization, from 18.2 % of DOT direct contract dollars in FY 2021 to 21.25 % in FY 2022.

Measuring the effectiveness of public involvement is challenging and time - consuming. 13 The practical methods that have been developed to evaluate the success of public involvement activities often fall short of being able to measure the effectiveness of engagement activities and have not yet been applied at large scale. Agencies are often focused on compliance when it comes to public involvement. Measures of inputs, such as number of meetings, are not distinguished from measures of impacts, such as changes to a proposed plan or project. 14 In many cases, important resources such as S / TIPs may be difficult for the public to find and analyze.

6 % of State DOTs and 20 % of Transportation Management Area (TMA) 15 - serving MPOs self - report that they have an equity screening component in their transportation planning and programming processes for all funding sources. Equity screening involves determining and communicating equity priorities through meaningful public involvement and data - driven analysis, measuring equity impacts, and considering those impacts throughout all stages of the transportation planning process. Surveyed State DOTs Surveyed MPOs Agencies reporting they have an equity screening component in planning and programming 6 % 20 % 67 % of State DOTs and 49 % of TMA - serving MPOs self - report that they directly involve underserved communities in selecting projects in their communities. Some describe these processes in formal policies such as Community Participation Plans, which govern how an organization approaches public involvement in compliance with Title VI and other requirements. Agencies reporting that they involve underserved communities in selecting projects

By 2025, increase by 5 % the number of DOT discretionary grant applicants from disadvantaged communities who have never applied for DOT funding before. Work to meet the Justice40 goal that 40 % of the benefits of certain federal investments flow to transportation disadvantaged communities. Increase the number of new projects in disadvantaged communities utilizing formula funds from Justice40 covered programs. Increase the total federal transit grant dollars announced or allocated for rural or Tribal areas.

Through a series of webinars and national and regional convenings, the Thriving Communities Initiative will provide technical assistance to communities and capacity builders in the areas of climate and decarbonization strategies; equitable development to coordinate transportation and housing infrastructure; workforce development; and community wealth building. DOT received public comments on the draft ETC Explorer through an RFI in early 2023, and used the public feedback to enhance the final product to meet stakeholder needs. Public webinars will continue to be held on updates to the ETC Explorer and Justice40 Initiative at DOT.

October 2022: DOT released a guide on Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision - Making to help funding recipients meaningfully involve the public in various stages of transportation decision - making and build their organizational capacities to do SO. December 2022: FHWA surveyed State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) on their inclusion of quantitative equity screenings and meaningful and representative public participation in their Statewide and Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Programs (S / TIPs) in order to help develop a baseline and work toward achieving the related Key Performance Indicator (KPI). February 2023: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a final rule, as required by BIL, updating the Uniform State Highway Safety Grant Program to require NHTSA grant recipients to conduct meaningful public engagement among affected communities, particularly those most significantly impacted by traffic crashes resulting in injuries and fatalities. April 2023: Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, convened the first ever Green Shipping Corridor Network Collaborative Forum with a variety of stakeholders to promote green shipping and environmental justice for the Great Lakes region. September 2023: DOT issued a fact sheet on Title VI and discrimination on the basis of shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics.

1 Department of Transportation Equity Council | US Department of Transportation, https: / / www.trans - portation.gov / mission / department - transportation - ed uity - council. 2 Advancing Equity and Racial Justice Through the Federal Government. The White House, https: / / www.whitehouse. gov / equity / 3 Butrica, Barbara A, et al. Women in Apprenticeships and Nontraditional Occupations in the United States. Urban Institute, 2023. https: / / www.dol.gov / sites / dolgov / files / Nieves - Cartagena % 40DOL.GOV / WANTO - knowl edge % 20Brief / WANTO - knowledge - report - 508 % 20 6.15.23. pdf. Note: the cited research was funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. DOT is conducting a fuller assessment of barriers to jobs in the construc - tion industry as required by Section 25019 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 4 Small Business Credit Survey 2021: Report on Firms Owned by People of Color. Federal Reserve, 2021. https: / / www.fedsmallbusiness.org / survey / 2021 / 2021 - report - on - firms - owned - by - people - of - color. 5 McCloud, Edith. Improving Minority Businesses ' Access to Capital Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). 2021, https: / / opportunity.census.gov / assets / files / 2021 - problem - statements / post - covid / MBDA_ Im - proving % 20Minority % 20Businesses % 20Access % 20 to % 20Capital.pdf 6 Data Bank Contract Data Reports SAM.Gov, https: / / sam.gov / reports / awards / static. 7 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Construction In - dustry: Characteristics of the Employed, 2003 - 20. Apr. 2022. https: / / www.bls.gov / spotlight / 2022 / the - con - struction - industry - labor - force - 2003 - to - 2020 / home. htm. 8 The White House. Fact Sheet: Biden - Harris Adminis - tration Announces New Measures to Promote Equitable Community Development. The White House, 27 Jun. 2023, https: / / www.whitehouse.gov / briefing - room / statements - releases / 2023 / 06 / 27 / fact - sheet - biden - har ris - administration - announces - new - measures - to - pro - mote - equitable - community - development /. 9 Aimen, David, and Anne Morris. Practical Approaches for Involving Traditionally Underserved Populations in Transportation Decisionmaking NCHRP Report, no. 710, Project 8 - 72, 2012, https: / / trid.trb.org / view / 1135054, 10 Madzlan, Mardzuki, et al. Government's Advertising Information Content Strategy in Newspaper Print Advertisement. Jan. 2020, https: / / ir.uitm.edu.my / id / eprint / 43768 / 1 / 43768. pdf 11 Spivak, Jeffrey. 6 Tips for Inclusive Public Meetings. American Planning Association, https: / / www.planning. org / planning / 2019 / mar / 6tipspublicmeetings /. 12 United States Department of Transportation. Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision - Making Oct. 2022, https: / / w.transportation.gov / priorities / equity / promis - ing - practices - meaningful - public - involvement - transpor - tation - decision - making 13 Brown, Bruce, et al. Measuring the Effectiveness of Public Involvement in Transportation Planning and Project Development. Transportation Research Board, 2019. Na - tional Academies Press, https: / / doi.org / 10.17226 / 25447. 14 Brown, Bruce, et al. Measuring the Effectiveness of Public Involvement in Transportation Planning and Project Development. 15 Schedule Census Urbanized Areas and MPO / TMA Desig - nation Census Issues Planning FHWA, https: / / www. hwa.dot.gov / planning / census_issues / ar - eas and mpo tma / schedule / Notes: The percent of TMAs was designated as of Summer 2022, prior to the DOT Secretary designation of new TMAs based on the 2020 Census. 16 Increasing Federal Funding to Community - Based Orga - nizations Prepared for Organizations in the Strong Pros - perous and Resilient Communities Challenge (SPARCC). Enterprise, https: / / www.sparcchub.org / wp - content / uploads / 2022 / 03 / Final - CBO - Memo - March - 2022. pdf 17 Archer, Deborah N. Transportation Policy and the Underdevelopment of Black Communities. 3797364, 4 Mar. 2021. Social Science Research Network, https: / / papers.ssrn.com / abstract = 3797364. 18 Notes: Transportation insecurity occurs when people are unable to get to where they need to go to meet the needs of their daily life regularly, reliably, and safely. 19 Notes: Health Vulnerability category assesses the increased frequency of health conditions that may result from exposure to air, noise, and water pollution, as well as lifestyle factors such as poor walkability, car dependency, and long commute times. 20 Notes: Social vulnerability indicators measure lack of employment, educational attainment, poverty, housing tenure, access to broadband, and housing cost burden as well as identifying household characteristics such as age, disability status and English proficiency. 21 US EPA, OP. Smart Growth and Transportation. 26 Apr. 2013, https: / / www.epa.gov / smartgrowth / smart - growth - and - transportation. 22 Jiao, Junfeng. Understanding Transportation Related Infrastructure Access in 52 Major US Cities. Cooperative Mobility for Competitive Megaregions, 2019, p. 42, https: / / sites.utexas.edu / cm2 / files / 2019 / 04 / Year2_ TransitDeserts.pdf. 23 Bureau, US Census. Vehicles Available. Census.Gov, https: / / www.census.gov / acs / www / about / why - we - ask - each - question / vehicles /. 24 Economic Well - Being of U.S. Households (SHED): Dealing with Unexpected Expenses. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, https: / / www.federalreserve.gov / publications / 2022 - economic - well - being - of - us - house - holds - in - 2021 - dealing - with - unexpected - expenses.htm 25 Multimodal Access to Public Transportation US Depart - ment of Transportation, https: / / www.transportation gov / mission / health / Multimodal - Access - to - Pub - lic - Transportation 26 Chetty, Raj, et al. Race and Economic Opportunity in the United States: An Intergenerational Perspective. https: / / www.nber.org / system / files / working_papers / w24441 pdf. Dec. 2019. 27 Equitable Transportation Community (ETC) Explorer US Department of Transportation, https: / / www.transporta - on.gov / priorities / equity / justice40 / etc - explorer. 28 Early Estimates of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities and Fatality Rate by Sub - Categories in 2020. Jun. 2021, https: / / crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov / Api / Public / ViewPubli - cation / 813118 29 Evaluating Disparities in Traffic Fatalities by Race, Ethnicity, and Income. Sep. 2022, https: / / crashstats. inhtsa.dot.gov / Api / Public / ViewPublication / 813188 30 Rural / Urban Comparison of Traffic Fatalities. May 2020, htps: / / crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov / Api / Public / ViewPubli - cation / 812957. Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES). Aug. 2023, https: / / www.transporta - tion.gov / rural. 31 Air Travel Consumer Report. The Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, 2023, https: / / www.transpor - tion.gov / sites / dot.gov / files / 2023 - 04 / February % 20 2023 % 20ATCR_Revised.pdf. 32 The National Transit Database (NTD) FTA, https: / / www. transit.dot.gov / ntd. 33 DOT's Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity Charter US Department of Transportation, https: / / www.transportation.gov / civil - rights / acte / charter. 34 An Overview of the Americans With Disabilities Act ADA National Network, https: / / adata.org / factsheet / ADA - overview. 35 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law | US Department of Transportation, https: / / www.transportation.gov / biparti san - infrastructure - law. 36 What Is a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)? US Department of Transportation, https: / / www.transporta - tion.gov / osdbu / disadvantaged - business - enterprise / hat - disadvantaged - business - enterprise - dbe. 38 Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Envi - ronmental Justice for All. Federal Register, 26 Apr. 2023, https: / / www.federalregister.gov / doct hnts / 2023 / 04 / 26 / 2023 - 08955 / revitalizing - our - na - tions - commitment - to - environmental - justice - for - all, 37 Disadvantaged Communities - DOE Directives, Guidance, and Delegations, https: / / www.directives.doe.gov / rms_definitions / disadvantaged - communities - 1 39 Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Under - served Communities Through the Federal Government. Federal Register, 22 Feb. 2023, https: / / www.federal - register.gov / documents / 2023 / 02 / 22 / 2023 - 03779 / further - advancing - racial - equity - and - support - for - un - derserved - communities - through - the - federal. 40 What Is an HBCU? White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportu - nity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities, https: / / sites.ed.gov / whhbcu / one - hundred - and - five - his - rically - black - colleges - and - universities /. 41 Rep. Yarmuth, John A. H.R. 5376 - 117th Congress (2021 - 2022): Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. 16 Aug. 2022, https: / / www.congress.gov / bill / 117th - congress / house - bill / 5376 / text. 42 Justice40 Initiative I Environmental Justice, The White House, https: / / www.whitehouse.gov / environmentaljus - tice / justice40 /. 43 Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) FTA, https: / / ww.transit.dot.gov / regulations - and - guidance / trans. portation - planning / metropolitan - planning - organiza - tion - mpo. 44 Public Involvement | US Department of Transportation. 2022, https: / / www.transportation.gov / public - involve - ment. 45 Enrolled in These Institutions Postsecondary Education Descriptive Analysis Report. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, 2007, p. 196, https: / / nces.ed.gov / pubs2008 / 2008156. pdf. 46 What Is the National Environmental Policy Act? | US EPA, https: / / www.epa.gov / nepa / what - national - environmen - tal - policy - act. 47 US EPA, OEJECR. EJ 2020 Glossary. 20 Oct. 2016, https: / / www.epa.gov / environmentaljustice / ej - 2020 - glossary. 48 Small Disadvantaged Business I U.S. Small Business Administration, https: / / www.sba.gov / federal - contract - ing / contracting - assistance - programs / small - disadvan - taged - business. 49 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) FTA, https: / / www.transit.dot.gov / regulations - and - guid - ance / transportation - planning / statewide - transporta - tion - improvement - program - stip. 50 Thriving Communities Program I US Department of Transportation, https: / / www.transportation.gov / grants / thriving - communities. 51 Civil Rights Division Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 9 Apr. 2023, https: / / www.justice.gov / crt / fcs / TitleVI. 52 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) FTA, https: / / www.transit.dot.gov / regulations - and - guidance / transportation - planning / transportation - improve - ment - program - tip. 53 23 CFR Part 450 Planning Assistance and Standards, https: / / www.ecfr.gov / current / title - 23 / part - 450. 54 Executive Order on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government. The White House, 16 Feb. 2023, 3, https: / / www.whitehouse.gov / briefing - room / presidential - actions / 2023 / 02 / 16 / executive - or - der - on - further - advancing - racial - equity - and - sup - port - for - underserved - communities - through - the - feder - al - government /.

February 2022: OST published a toolkit for planning and funding rural and Tribal electric mobility infrastructure. An updated version of the Charging Forward toolkit was published in May 2023, which includes expanded content on electric transit and micromobility. March 2022: DOT piloted a new approach of releasing combined Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) to streamline the process for applicants applying for multiple discretionary grant programs. April 2022: OST launched federal partnerships with key agencies making place - based technical assistance investments. June 2022: OST released the DOT Navigator, a new one - stop shop for communities to access DOT technical assistance and capacity building resources and to get more information to help them apply for DOT funding. July 2022: OST calculated baselines of benefits distribution for Justice40 covered programs with at least one round of funding awarded. October 2022: OST launched the Thriving Communities Program to provide hands - on technical assistance and capacity building support to underserved and overburdened communities using DOT funds and issued a call for projects for place - based initiatives that are co - designed with communities most impacted by poor access and climate change. February 2023: DOT awarded $ 185 million to disadvantaged communities as part of the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program to provide planning and construction grants to communities who have been cut off from opportunities by infrastructure projects. February 2023: OST announced $ 800 million in grant awards for the Safe Streets and Roads for All program to help communities improve roadway safety, especially for the most vulnerable roadway users, benefitting disadvantaged communities who are disproportionately impacted by roadway fatalities.

THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (BIL) AND INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA)

FOUNDATION Goals to advance equity are defined in a strategic plan, building on statutory authorities.

By making equity a priority and supporting that priority with the historic funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), DOT is working to make a system that meets the Department's mission to deliver the world's leading transportation system, serving the American people and economy through the safe, efficient, sustainable, and equitable movement of people and goods.

Establish Department - wide monitoring of recipient compliance with Title VI and meaningful public participation obligations. - December 2023

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provide historic opportunities to advance equity through DOT programs. BIL authorized a total of up to $ 660.8 billion for DOT over five years across dozens of programs and DOT received a total of $ 5.6 billion for four programs under the IRA. DOT is embedding equity across BIL and IRA programs through the various strategies outlined in this Equity Action Plan, including a focus on meaningful public involvement, technical assistance, and data and tools to inform decision - making. Together, BIL and IRA will help create more livable communities and further advance transportation equity.

Develop a methodology to calculate the distribution of burdens (in addition to benefits) for Justice40 covered programs. - September 2024

DOT consists of nine modal OAs and multiple Secretarial offices with different statutory authorities, processes, and cultures DOT's workforce is also geographically distributed across many regional offices nationwide. This can make it hard to drive consistent practices, for equity and other areas, across the Department's policies and programs.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, implementing the Justice40 Initiative, and promoting mobility justice including environmental, gender, and disability rights efforts. The highlighted actions fall under five focus areas, or " " Pillars " ", including four that carried over from the original Equity Action Plan and one new " " Institutionalizing Equity " " pillar:

The Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has made ensuring that underserved communities are prepared to respond to hazardous materials transportation emergencies a top strategic priority. PHMSA expanded its outreach efforts to vulnerable communities by utilizing new strategies, including conferences, workshops, direct stakeholder meetings, and compliance assistance visits. This included a three - day workshop attended by representatives from all 50 states and five U.S. territories. PHMSA's comprehensive stakeholder list will be used to provide targeted grant funding, emergency special permits, technical assistance, and access to data.

In response to Executive Order 13985, DOT issued DOT Order 1000.17 and formed the DOT Equity Council (Council) to guide and oversee the process for institutionalizing equity across the Department's policies and programs, and compliance with related EOs and authorities. The Council convenes quarterly; it will continue to guide DOT's Equity Action Plan and its implementation. Additional areas overseen by the Council include:

1. Improve college access, affordability, and degree completion for underserved students to increase economic mobility. The Department aims to address barriers to college access, affordability, and completion by supporting colleges to enroll more students from underserved groups, including students of color, students from low - income backgrounds, students who are English learners, and others to raise graduation rates and close graduation rate gaps for these student populations, and offer affordable credentials of value that lead to careers offering economic mobility. 2. Implement Maintenance of Equity requirements to ensure historically underserved students have equitable resources for learning recovery. The Department aims to ensure that school districts serving historically underserved student groups, including students of color, students from low - income backgrounds, students who are English learners, students experiencing homelessness, and others have the resources they need to support learning recovery. This includes the allocation of $ 122 billion in ARP funds for Title I schools, and the ARP's Maintenance of Equity requirements to protect high poverty schools from reductions in State and local education funding. 3. Address inequities faced by justice - impacted individuals by expanding access to postsecondary learning opportunities that improve outcomes for communities and reduce recidivism rates. The Department aims to ensure that our society is more just and equitable through supporting better opportunities for education during periods of incarceration and post - release. Current initiatives are set to improve the well - being of people who are incarcerated and increase successful reentry outcomes, smoothing pathways to further education, increasing workforce readiness and engagement, and reducing recidivism and preventing crime. This includes the partnerships that exist between institutions of higher education, correctional agencies, accrediting agencies, and community - based organizations. 4. Advance equity in and through career and technical education. The Department aims to invest in career and technical education to create new and inclusive pathways to well - paying jobs and upward mobility. This includes leveraging data to promote strategies that reduce segregation by gender, race, and ethnicity in high school career and technical education (CTE) programs. 5. Increase mental health resources with an emphasis on underserved communities, from the historic legislation and funding provided by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Affordability: Select and implement new options for debt relief following negotiated rulemaking in October - December 2023, and fully implement the new income - driven repayment plan, SAVE, by June 2024, measuring near - term decreases in undergraduate loan payments and increased participation due to auto enrollment after missed payments. Equitable funding: Release NIAs for Title III / V grant programs to strengthen HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs S (specific grants and timelines TBD pending budget) and implement the new HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs Research Funding grant with awards made by December 2023. Near - term measures include number of technical assistance activities provided to grantees to support implementation of the grants. Completion: Measure engagement with the Raise the Bar initiative through three more summits for approximately 200 attendees each to be held in fall 2023 (on Student Transfer and Credit Mobility Policies), spring 2024 (Holistic Student Advising and Wraparound Supports) and fall 2024 (Career - Relevant Learning Experiences). Implement Postsecondary Student Success Grant Program with awards by December 2023, and measure near - term implementation through the number of technical assistance activities provided to grantees including on evaluation. Tentatively plan to launch new Scorecard dashboards in summer / fall 2024 with user metrics to be developed. Value: Released the final Gainful Employment regulations by November 2023 to take effect in July 2024 and measure near - term implementation with the number of institutions / programs successfully complying with the new reporting requirements. The low - value watch list is tentatively expected to launch in 2025 with user metrics to be developed.

Collecting per - pupil and FTE staff data from States on the LEAs and schools they have identified as serving the highest concentration of students in poverty in FYs 2019 - 2023. This ensures States interrogate their funding systems and levels through a consistent equity framework, provides States with dedicated technical assistance from Department experts, and allows Department staff to become better acquainted with school funding formulae design, with particular emphasis on States serving high numbers of students in poverty. Celebrating progress as States comply with this requirement through a variety of compliance pathways including distributing supplemental payments to high - poverty school districts.

The number of States that have come into compliance with the Maintenance of Equity requirements, thus ensuring that students from historically underserved groups do not experience a disproportionate share of per - pupil spending and FTE staffing cuts. The number of LEAs receiving supplemental payments to address disproportionate per - pupil reductions in State aid.

Improved Completion: The Department re - launched the Raise the Bar: Attaining College Excellence & Equity initiative with a summit this spring focused on data - driven improvement efforts to equitably increase completion rates for students of color and low - income students, published the NIA for the Postsecondary Student Success Grants this summer, which the Department worked to increase from its initial appropriation of $ 5 million to $ 45 million this year, and renewed Project Success, which provides funding to HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs through Federal Student Aid (FSA) in partnership with Guaranty Agencies to increase completion rates and decrease default rates. Increased Value: The Department has reinstated the FSA enforcement office, which was closed under the previous Administration, to better protect student loan borrowers by ensuring that schools are adhering to the federal student aid program rules and delivering quality education to students. 2. Ensured equitable impact of ARP funding for K - 12 students to support student groups most disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, including but not limited to students from low - income backgrounds, students with disabilities, multilingual learners, students experiencing homelessness, and migratory students. The Department implemented Maintenance of Equity ARP Elementary and Secondary School Relief (ESSER) requirements to ensure historically underserved students have the State and local resources necessary for continued recovery. The Department provided guidance, including weekly technical assistance calls with State educational agencies (SEAs) and educational materials, including frequently asked questions (FAQs), optional reporting templates, and webinars, and other targeted supports to States to promote continued equitable investment of State and local resources in K - 12 education in high - poverty communities. The Department continues to work with States to provide technical assistance in using historic investments in Title I, now totaling $ 19 billion annually, along with other permissible funding sources to sustain key activities funded by ARP; this includes increasing academic achievement, supporting students ' mental health, expanding access to preschool, and strengthening teacher recruitment and retention. The Department continues to collect per - pupil and full time equivalent (FTE) staff data from States on the LEAs and schools they have identified as serving the highest proportion of students in poverty in FY19 - 23. 3. Invested in resources to help advance civil rights to identify inequities in educational opportunities as the country grappled with the COVID - 19 pandemic and its effects on students ' academic, social, and emotional development.

The Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has remained committed to advancing equity for underrepresented and disadvantaged student groups and ensuring compliance with civil rights laws within its authority. OCR released fact sheets addressing migratory children ¹, unaccompanied children, students who are English learners, diversity and inclusion activities under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), and Title VI protection from discrimination based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics. OCR also released a Press Release reminding schools of their legal obligations to address discrimination, a Resource Document on confronting racial discrimination in student discipline, and Guiding Principles for creating safe, inclusive, supportive, and fair school climates. Additionally, the Department released a Toolkit for creating inclusive and nondiscriminatory school environments for LGBTQI + students.

The Department updated the OSDBU site to maximize access and opportunity for small businesses to participate. The Department published a resource on the Forecast of Department Contract Opportunities to help ensure that small businesses have access to specific opportunities and requirements. The contents on the contracts information page from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) have been moved to the a new location titled " " Doing Business with the Department " ". The page consolidates information and shares resources related to policies and regulations, contract opportunities, and how the Department equitably supports small businesses.

5. Advanced equity in grant process strategies through funding programs that focused on improving access to high - quality educational opportunities and programs that pursue innovations in teaching and learning with an emphasis on underserved students. Designated the $ 1 billion from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) as the Stronger Connections Grant Program. This enables SEAs to competitively award subgrants to high - need LEAs for activities to support safe and healthy students under ESEA section 4108. Funded 264 grants with $ 1 billion in BSCA funds to more than 40 states to increase the supply of school - based mental health professionals under the School - Based Mental Health Services Grant and the Mental Health Services Professional Demonstration (MHSPD) Grant Program. At least 40 States used " " high poverty " " in their definition of high - needs school. The Department estimates these 5 - year grants will result in an increase of 14,000 mental health professionals. In FY23, nearly 50 percent of the MHSPD grants include a partnership with MSIs, HBCUs, or Tribal Colleges. In a letter to State educational agencies, the Department encouraged states to prioritize funding for districts with high rates of poverty and one of the following a high student - to - mental health professional ratio; high rates of chronic absenteeism, exclusionary discipline, and / or referrals to the juvenile justice system, bullying / harassment, community and school violence, or substance abuse; or students who recently experienced a natural disaster or traumatic event. The Department issued revised non - regulatory guidance to inform SEAs, LEAs, institutions of higher education, schools, educators, partner organizations, and other stakeholders on how they can use evidence - based activities, strategies, and interventions to strengthen education investments. The Department also published a training to inform grantees of sourcing requirements for capital improvements authorized by the Build America Buy America Act (BABAA).

The Department will provide guidance documents and other supports, technical assistance, and office hours to States and engage with State and local leaders on policy implementation.

Education can have a transformational impact on an individual's life - and education plays a vital role in easing an individual's reentry from jail or prison back into society. Studies have found that a postsecondary education helps justice - impacted people who were formerly incarcerated find jobs upon release, support their families, and contribute positively to their communities. Research also shows that access to education in prison lowers the odds of recidivating by 43 percent and saves taxpayers up to $ 5 for every $ 1 spent. 26 However, policies have traditionally exacerbated the barriers that incarcerated people face when attempting to continue their education, including inadequate funding, local labor market trends and employer needs, statutory and administrative restrictions, and a lack of incentives and support to promote participation in education. 27

STRATEGY # 5 - INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, FROM THE HISTORIC LEGISLATION AND FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT.

This Equity Action Plan reflects our efforts to address persistent opportunity gaps and build a better education system than the one we had before the pandemic and embodies the Department's " " Raise the Bar: Lead the World " " agenda. First, thanks to President Biden's historic investments in public education, including providing $ 122 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for Title I Schools, this plan includes supporting State and local efforts to accelerate learning and provide a comprehensive, rigorous, and academically excellent education to every student. Second, we're improving learning conditions with new efforts to elevate, grow, and diversify the teaching profession, leveraging the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act's bold investments to help address chronic absenteeism, better supporting students ' mental health and positive school climates, and advancing robust parent and family engagement in schools. Third, we're focused on creating opportunities for students of all backgrounds to succeed in our globally competitive society and by investing in multilingual learning and reimagining pathways to college and careers. Finally, we are working to increase college affordability and completion SO that all students have access to quality, postsecondary education that leads to careers that provide economic mobility and stability.

Justice40 Initiative (Justice40), to work towards the goal that 40 % of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. Environmental and Civil Rights Protection. EPA's efforts to institutionalize environmental justice.

In March 2022, reached a settlement with Chevron Phillips Chemical Company to install and operate air pollution controls at three petrochemical manufacturing facilities in Texas located in areas of environmental justice concern; monitoring results will be publicly posted, and corrective actions are required if emissions exceed certain thresholds. Took aggressive, early enforcement actions in communities with environmental justice concerns: In August 2022, following negotiations that considered concerns voiced by the local community, secured a preliminary injunction for the Toa Alta Municipal Solid Waste Landfill to take immediate action to address urgent human health and environmental concerns. Issued two Clean Air Act emergency orders to shut down the Limetree Refinery in the U.S. Virgin Islands (June 2021) where residents were sickened by excess sulfur and hydrogen sulfide emissions and to cut hydrogen sulfide emissions from the New Indy plant in South Carolina (May 2021). Provided more enforcement information to communities about facilities, pollution, and enforcement activities through press releases, desk statements, public meetings, and websites focused on specific communities and incidents (e.g., Refinery on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, H2S in South and North Carolina, Toa Alta Landfill in Puerto Rico). Increased efforts to obtain input from communities on potential remedies prior to finalizing settlement agreements. Developed analytical approaches to address environmental justice implications of major regulatory proposals and final rules. For example, For the Oil and Natural Gas New Source Performance Standard proposal (November 2021) and the Supplemental Proposal (November 2022), EPA held virtual trainings (900 + participants) marketed to communities with environmental justice concerns and Tribes to assist their ability to understand and comment meaningfully on the proposal. EPA's proposal included requirements for states to undertake meaningful outreach and engagement with communities with environmental justice concerns as they develop their plans for regulating existing oil and gas sources under the emissions guidelines. In the final nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission standards for trucks, conducted analyses of the number and demographics of the populations living within close proximity to truck freight routes. This final rule will likely result in widespread air quality improvements across the U.S., especially in areas already overburdened by air pollution and diesel emissions, beginning with model year 2027. In July 2023, issued proposed rules to strengthen lead paint standards to protect against childhood lead exposure. Developed a Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in US Communities to advance EPA's work to protect the public from lead with an emphasis on high - risk communities. Announced the allotment of $ 2.865B FY 2023 funds from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for identification and replacement of lead service lines (LSLs). As part of the Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Accelerators, EPA and 4 state partners are working with 40 communities to address existing barriers and accelerate progress towards LSL identification and replacement. The new Accelerator provides targeted technical assistance services to help communities with environmental justice concerns access funds from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law4 and this initiative will prioritize benefits to communities with EJ concerns and promote equity. Provided Spanish Lead Awareness Curriculum for Indian Country.

Proposed stronger requirements5 for the removal of lead - based paint hazards in pre - 1978 buildings and child - care facilities to better protect children and communities from harmful effects of exposure to dust generated from lead paint. Released outreach and educational materials in various languages highlighting the risks of heavy metal exposures primarily to children and pregnant women in products such as spices, cosmetics and cookware. Announced a series of free educational sessions6 on the dangers of lead and ways to reduce and prevent lead exposure in children and across U.S. communities. Published the Renovate Lead - Safe Media Kit to educate about the availability of lead - safe certified contractors and the importance of following do - it - yourself lead - safe work practices in removing lead - based paint. Released an environmental justice toolkit for lead paint enforcement programs that provides strategies, examples, and other information for federal, state, Tribal and local government enforcement practitioners to use during all stages of environmental enforcement and compliance monitoring activities designed to eliminate harmful exposures to lead paint in housing. Issued principles for addressing environmental justice concerns in air permitting and conducted outreach to state and Tribal partners. In the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and Emissions Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Electric Generating Units (EGUs), conducted pre - proposal outreach to environmental justice organizations and representatives of communities affected by pollution from the power sector. Awarded $ 900M in funding for Clean School Buses to support replacement of existing school buses with zero - emission or low - emission buses that reduce exhaust, which is linked to asthma. In June 2023, conducted a public webinar on ways to make bilingual pesticide labeling accessible to farmworkers and conducted outreach and solicited feedback from stakeholders, including the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, farmworker advocacy groups, and the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee. Promoted best burn practices and cleaner technologies. Assisted partners with wood heater changeout programs to meet requirements of New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Residential Wood Heaters, which helps to protect low - income families and communities who rely on wood heaters from wood smoke. Awarded $ 2M among 10 winners for the Cool Communities Challenge. Hosted a national webinar to share innovative and effective communication strategies that inform people of the risks of extreme heat, providing materials in 13 languages and offering ways to keep safe during the hottest days to better reach communities with environmental justice concerns in inner cities and farmworkers, among others. Hosted a prize competition to protect public health, including maternal health, through the Let's Talk About Heat Challenge, focused on innovative communication strategies to warn people of the risks of extreme heat and provide solutions on how to keep safe during the hottest days. Among the winners were messages targeted to people known to be more susceptible to extreme heat, which includes those who are pregnant and children.

Improve access to federal funding and assistance programs for communities with environmental justice concerns. Reduce cumulative environmental and health impacts in communities with environmental justice concerns. Strengthen EPA's external civil rights compliance program and ensure that civil rights compliance is an Agency - wide responsibility. Protect children equitably from exposure to environmental contaminants. (new) Address inequitable access to information and resources to improve engagement and health impacts in rural communities. (new) Ensure public access to EPA programs and activities and ensure full protection from health and environmental harms for people with disabilities. (new) Strengthening community - based participatory science to achieve environmental equity in communities with environmental justice concerns. Improve data and analytic capacity to better identify and remove barriers faced by communities with environmental justice concerns. (new)

subgrants to communities in their regional coverage areas in amounts between $ 100 - 350K. These subgrants will essentially replace EPA's traditional grant programs such as the EJ Small Grants, which would provide such small levels of support directly to communities through a traditional government grant competition and award process. The subawards through the Grantmakers will achieve two equity goals - greatly reducing the burden capacity - constrained communities face when seeking small amounts of funding directly from the federal government, and also increasing the speed with which communities receive an award. EPA plans to make at least eleven (11) Grantmaker awards across the United States with $ 50M each, of which at least $ 40M must be directly subawarded to capacity - constrained communities. EPA anticipates that over the next three years the Grantmakers will make approximately 2,000 subawards in the amounts cited. EPA has announced the eleven (11) recipients of the EJ TCGM awards totaling $ 600M. Launched a new $ 2B Environment and Climate Justice Community Change Grant program with a focus on re - envisioning the application process to ensure equity. In FY 2024, EPA will compete these new Community Change Grants, which will be the vehicle through which approximately $ 2B in IRA funding will flow. Community Change Grants will focus on awarding between $ 10 - 20M to multi - faceted proposals from community - driven collaborations that bring together efforts to deal with legacy pollution, the impacts of climate change, development of local workforces, meaningful engagement, community education - all with a goal of implementing solutions that create positive change on the ground for communities. EPA is implementing several innovative solutions to increase equity through this program. While the EJ TCTACs will focus on providing more basic forms of support to capacity - constrained communities, they will also facilitate communities with higher levels of capacity to access more specialized forms of technical assistance provided by contractors. This contractor - provided technical assistance will offer communities the support they need for planning, project development, financing, etc. in the development of multi - faceted proposals for the Community Change Grant program. Technical assistance by the contractor will also support proposals that receive support to ensure high quality reporting, tracking, and telling the story of how the Community Change Grants catalyzed positive and meaningful change on the ground for the recipient communities. The Community Change Grant program will have a two - stage application process. The first stage will be a more traditional written application that is streamlined to the extent feasible to ease the burden on applicants. Proposals that meet minimum criteria in the paper application will then be invited to an oral presentation that will achieve two goals - minimize the role that professional grant writers play for typically better - resourced communities and allow EPA grants staff to engage directly with community leaders and their partners to investigate the authenticity of the project's community - driven nature and the sustainability ensured by different partners of the project. In addition - to ease the burden on communities - the Community Change Grant will have a 12 - month open application period. This will achieve several equity goals. It will provide communities significantly more time to build the partnerships and multi - faceted proposals sought through this competition. It will allow EPA program staff the opportunity to tailor the competition over the year - long window based upon feedback from prospective applicants and the actual proposals received to ensure that the competition fits the needs and purpose as closely as possible. The rolling application will

Priority Strategy # 2: Reduce Cumulative Environmental and Health Impacts in Communities with Environmental Justice Concerns. 2 EPA will develop and implement a comprehensive workplan to operationalize and address cumulative impacts in EPA's programs and activities so that no community bears a disproportionate share of adverse environmental or public health consequences. Priority Strategy # 3: Strengthen EPA's External Civil Rights Compliance Program and Ensure that Civil Rights Compliance is an Agency - Wide Responsibility. EPA will continue to strengthen EPA's external Civil Rights program and EPA's ability to enforce federal civil rights laws to their fullest extent, including by fully implementing EPA's authority to conduct investigations, compliance reviews, and other compliance and enforcement activities, issue policy guidance, and secure timely and effective resolutions to address discrimination. Priority Strategy # 4: Protect Children Equitably from Exposure to Environmental Contaminants. EPA will protect children's environmental health, especially in communities with environmental justice concerns, by consistently and explicitly considering early life exposures to environmental contaminants and lifelong health in decisions involving human health science, risk assessment, regulations, compliance and enforcement, partnerships, communications, and research. Priority Strategy # 5: Address Inequitable Access to Information and Resources to Improve Engagement and Health Impacts in Rural Communities. EPA will provide financial and technical assistance to small and rural communities to establish and improve services to lower the risk of harm to public health and protect the environment. This strategy focuses on removing barriers to resources and providing impactful improvements for rural communities. Priority Strategy # 6: Ensure Public Access to EPA Programs and Activities and Ensure Full Protection from Health and Environmental Harms for People with Disabilities. EPA will ensure that people with disabilities have meaningful access to EPA programs, activities, and services. Further, this strategy focuses EPA resources on identifying and developing appropriate indicators within the framework of EPA's environmental health disparity indicators to ensure full protection from health and environmental

Number of communities that receive fundamental capacity building assistance through the EJ TCTACs. Number of new grantees and resources flowing to disadvantaged communities through EPA Justice40 programs. Number of successfully completed project elements vs. number of projects unsuccessfully completed resulting in funding returned to EPA. Number of new community - driven partnerships working collaboratively to implement change - making projects on the ground in communities. 10

Fragmentation now systematically structured into government programs, particularly those of US EPA and its co - regulators. There is insufficient coordination and collaboration across EPA's programs, its co - regulators, and its governmental partners. Need to expand the toolkit of methods for analyzing cumulative impacts to include assessment of disproportionate impacts, health disparities, and social determinants of health. Failure of environmental decision - making to incorporate and address historical and structural factors such as redlining, where there is a demonstrated link to negative environmental quality. Failure of government programs to fully appreciate how housing, health care access, transportation, economic development, green space access, climate change, and other issues result in inequitable distribution of cumulative environmental and public health hazard and harm. The need for funding and human resources given that cumulative impact assessment requires engagement with communities and other stakeholders.

Systematic engagement with EPA advisory bodies, including the Science Advisory Board, Science Advisory Committee for Chemicals, National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, Local Government Advisory Committee, Board of Scientific Counselors, Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Committee, and the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee. Continuing engagement with overburdened communities with environmental justice concerns while implementing place - based projects, methods and tools development, and development of polices and regulations. Regular engagement with overburdened communities, governmental partners, stakeholders, and researchers through a variety of forums, including webinars, focus groups and symposiums.

Historically, civil rights enforcement in the environmental sector has been insufficiently resourced, and resource constraints have hindered EPA's ability to fully use its civil rights implementation and enforcement authority to vigorously enforce federal civil rights laws. EPA's civil rights compliance efforts have not fully engaged with internal and external stakeholders and had not fully integrated civil rights compliance throughout EPA programs and activities.

Strengthen its external civil rights workforce through hiring, onboarding, and training of dedicated civil rights staff, both in headquarters and the regions, and retaining the services of contract staff to support the civil rights mission, and the various underlying initiatives outlined below. Initiate and complete proactive pre - award and post - award civil rights compliance activities, including affirmative compliance reviews. Operationalize clear and strong civil rights guidance and provide corresponding training and technical assistance to increase recipients ' compliance with civil rights laws. Conduct timely and effective civil rights complaint investigations and resolutions, even as we work to address a record number of new incoming complaints, and simultaneously meet deadlines. Strengthen federal interagency collaboration and coordination on complaints, compliance reviews, and policy guidance. Increase transparency, enhance engagement with environmentally overburdened communities, and engage all EPA program and regional offices in civil rights compliance activities.

Number of civil rights post - award affirmative compliance reviews initiated annually. Number of civil rights audits initiated annually to ensure compliance with procedural requirements. Percentage of state recipients of EPA financial assistance that have civil rights procedural safeguard elements in place. Number of information sharing sessions and outreach and technical assistance events with communities with environmental justice concerns, community groups, and other partners on civil rights and environmental justice issues. Number of opportunities identified and implemented by program and regional offices to achieve civil rights compliance in their planning, guidance, policy directives, monitoring, and review activities.

Increase in the number of recipients and applicants of EPA financial assistance with procedural safeguards. Increased compliance with civil rights requirements by recipients of EPA funding as a result of a robust affirmative enforcement program, including compliance reviews, pre - award reviews, and post - award compliance activities.

Engagement with stakeholders including the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council and quarterly through National EJ Community Engagement calls. Quarterly meetings with environmental justice and civil rights advocates regarding efforts to strengthen civil rights compliance among recipients and applicants of EPA financial assistance. Participation as requested at national and regional convenings regarding environmental justice and civil rights.

Use available science, research, and policy to strengthen protection for children from the health effects resulting from harmful environmental exposures and reduce environmental disparities for socially vulnerable children. For example, consider available children's environmental health science in conducting risk assessments, including cumulative risk assessments, and other analyses that drive decisions on pollution reduction rules, environmental standards, and guidance. Identify, prioritize, and conduct research to better understand the impact of environmental exposures on children and inform decisions that are protective of children's health for socially vulnerable communities. Devote compliance and enforcement resources to address areas with potential lead exposures to children as noted in the Biden - Harris fact sheet: New Actions and Progress to Protect Communities from Lead Pipes and Paint and in support of the EPA Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S. Communities. Collaborate with federal partners to advance children's health protections under the President's Task Force on Environmental Health and Safety Risks to Children. 19 Integrate children's health considerations into the work of EPA's regional offices to advance environmental justice. Support actions to protect women and children through implementation of EPA's Action Plan as part of the White House Gender Policy Council's National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality. EPA actions relate to promoting gender equity in mitigating and responding to climate change and regulating and reducing exposure to environmental contaminants that pose risks to maternal and children's health. Support actions to protect children's health through EPA's implementation of the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis. EPA actions relate to women's reproductive health risks associated with lead, wildfire smoke, extreme heat, chemical and non - chemical stressors, and the provision of adequate and equitable community - level health care for environmental exposures. Support actions to address health disparities in childhood cancer through EPA's implementation of the Cancer Moonshot. Harmful environmental exposures during childhood, particularly at key life stages (in utero, childhood, adolescence), can impact health later in life and into the next generation. EPA actions relate to preventing exposure to carcinogens and other toxins by compiling data and providing analysis on children's health used to inform Agency risk assessments and regulations and using partnerships and outreach to increase awareness.

Gaps in capacity and coordination within the federal family to support economic revitalization, infrastructure improvements, and other community - specific needs. Rural communities can include underserved persons who experience inconsistent access to safe drinking water and sanitation services, due to either personal resources (e.g., homeowner well or septic system) or lack of ratepayers for public system maintenance or improvements. Rural economies are more dependent on natural resources, which may be disproportionately affected by pollution, chemical exposures, and from climate change. Rural communities may receive inequitable access to information and EPA opportunities (e.g., unreliable internet access). When equity screening information is needed or encouraged for competitive funding opportunities, a lack of robust data can inadvertently disadvantage rural communities ' ability to successfully compete for these resources (e.g., identification of communities in EJScreen and other screening tools). Requirements of funding opportunities, imposed through statute, regulation, or practice, can create additional burdens on rural communities (e.g., to perform a feasibility study). Limited access to resources (materials, skilled labor, expert consultants, etc.) in rural communities can result in more costly project expenses, delayed timelines, and / or incorrectly scoped projects.

Access to scientific and technical assistance is often necessary for successful implementation of community science projects. Many communities with environmental justice concerns lack access to resources (such as funding, training and guidance, equipment loan programs, etc.) to develop and implement community - based participatory science programs. Examples listed below illustrate the benefits to communities of partnering with academic, NGO, or government scientists for technical support. Investment is needed in planning, data infrastructure, and technical support to strengthen data quality and data management to support the use of community - generated data. Anticipated receiving organizations in state, Tribal, and local governments need to be consulted and resourced to integrate and use community science in decision - making. Connecting hubs are needed between communities, technical support providers, and receptors in local, state, and federal government for the creation and use of community science. Resources (e.g., staff, financial, technical) are needed along the full data pathway from community, universities / technical support, to local, state, and federal entities to enable successful integration of participatory science into decision - making.

Charter a Participatory Science Implementation Workgroup under EPA's Science and Technology Policy Council (STPC) to develop approaches, guidelines, tools, and training to implement the EPA Participatory Science Vision. Develop a participatory science implementation guide to serve as a facilitative resource to support the integration and use of data collected by community and volunteer scientists at EPA. Conduct outreach to technical support, and local, state, and federal government receiving agencies and community science groups to ascertain their needs with respect to data quality, data management, and resourcing of technical and staff needs. Conduct research in and with communities through the Community - Engaged Research Collaborative for Learning and Excellence (CERCLE) in Edison, NJ. Fund community science actions through Inflation Reduction Act and / or the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant solicitations such as the opportunity for community - driven partnerships to fund monitoring, sampling, and other scientific projects related to reducing pollution and increasing climate resilience through the Environment and Climate Justice Community Change Grant program.

Revised EPA's pre - award compliance review process for applicants and recipients requesting EPA financial assistance to ensure that all recipients of EPA funding are in compliance with procedural requirements and entered into approximately 90 agreements with recipients to come into compliance with obligations under EPA's nondiscrimination regulation. In August 2022, EPA issued " " Interim Environmental Justice and Civil Rights in Permitting FAQs, " " which gathered existing guidance, technical assistance, and other resources to assist permit writers and reviewers with integrating environmental justice and civil rights into decision - making. Completed jurisdictional review of 47 complaints, accepted 10 of those cases, and to date, have resolved 5, as compared to FY 2020 of only 15 cases accepted. Conducted multiple national public engagement technical assistance sessions, with a future public commitment to hold at least one per quarter to provide transparency of civil rights work and an opportunity for public input. Increased transparency by affirmatively providing information to the public including an interactive Online Docket of all external civil rights complaints filed with EPA since 2014, and corresponding documents. Provided civil rights compliance technical assistance and training to hundreds of EPA financial assistance recipients and other stakeholders both one - on - one and through workshops to encourage compliance.

D. Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation:

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provide needed resources to address burdens that, for too long, have plagued communities with environmental justice concerns across our country, including bearing the brunt of toxic pollution, enduring underinvestment in infrastructure and critical services, and suffering disproportionate impacts from climate change. In just one year, EPA has made tremendous progress in removing barriers affecting our most impacted communities with environmental justice concerns.

Through the historic investment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is delivering more than $ 50 billion to improve our nation's drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure to cities, towns, and territories across the country, many of which are in disadvantaged communities. For example, EPA awarded $ 4 billion to states, Tribes, territories, and the District of Columbia in capitalization grants under the 5 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funded State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs. These programs provide low - cost financing for a wide range of water infrastructure projects from sewage systems to drinking water with nearly half of the funding flowing to disadvantaged communities. 7 Additionally, EPA created a $ 5 billion non - competitive grant program for small or disadvantaged communities to address emerging contaminants, including per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in drinking water systems. 8

With the first wave of funding announced in December 2021, EPA deployed more than $ 1 billion from BIL for cleanup activities at more than 100 Superfund National Priorities List sites across the country. EPA started 81 new cleanup projects in 2022, including projects at 44 sites previously on the backlog. By starting four times as many construction projects as the year before, EPA is aggressively bringing more sites across the country closer to finishing cleanup. In February 2023, EPA announced the second wave of approximately $ 1 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to start new cleanup projects at 22 Superfund sites and expedite other ongoing cleanups across the country.

Through these and other efforts, EPA is working to reach communities with environmental justice concerns throughout the Nation and advance equity and environmental justice. For a deeper dive into, and additional highlights of, EPA's momentous accomplishments for communities across the country through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law page and EPA's " " Year One Anniversary Report " ".

Through the IRA, EPA is investing directly to reduce pollution in frontline communities. This includes, for example, Environmental and Climate Justice Grants to support community - led projects in communities with environmental justice concerns, funding for fenceline monitoring near industrial facilities, and spurring solar development in low - income communities through the Solar for All Grant program. Read highlights of the one - year anniversary of this ambitious legislation and EPA's implementation of programs providing support to communities that unjustly bear the burdens of environmental harm and pollution.

No community should bear a disproportionate share of adverse environmental or public health consequences from the nation's economic and other activities. Pursuant to Executive Order 14096, historically marginalized communities overburdened by the cumulative impacts ¹ ¹ of environmental and social stressors should be afforded the full protection of government agencies and programs. This will be accomplished by leveraging coordination and collaboration in addressing cumulative impacts, with whole - of - government approaches involving multiple programs and agencies. Such efforts will be supported by " " fit - for - purpose " " analytic methods and data appropriate for the decision context involved (e.g., allocation of resources, permitting, enforcement, rulemaking, and standard - setting), consistent with statutory authorities. Government decision - making should address the historical drivers of the inequitable concentration of environmental burden, such as redlining and urban renewal, as well as the inequitable impacts of climate change. These driving principles are at the core of EPA's approach to addressing cumulative impacts in underserved, overburdened and historically marginalized communities with environmental justice concerns, and establishing a pathway to health, equity, sustainability, and resilience.

An effective civil rights compliance program creates accountability to ensure that the actions, policies, and practices of recipients of federal financial assistance comply with civil rights requirements.

To address the identified barriers and to ensure equitable, meaningful, and improved health for communities with environmental justice concerns through civil rights compliance efforts, EPA will:

EPA continues to build upon ongoing efforts under the six priority actions outlined in our 2022 Equity Action Plan, which include addressing cumulative impacts, building the capacity of communities with environmental justice concerns to share their experience with EPA and implement community - led projects, developing EPA's internal capacity to engage communities with environmental justice concerns, strengthening EPA's external civil rights compliance program, integrating participatory science into EPA's research and program implementation, and making EPA's procurement and contracting more equitable.

EPA recognizes the need to protect children's environmental health, 15 especially in communities with environmental justice concerns. EPA strives to protect children from exposures to environmental contaminants by consistently and explicitly considering early life exposures and lifelong health in all human health decisions. Such decisions are made in the context of human health related science, risk assessment, regulations, compliance and enforcement, partnerships, communications, and research.

These strategies are not inclusive of all the actions EPA intends to pursue in our efforts to remove barriers and improve the health and environment of the historically overburdened communities with environmental justice concerns we serve and protect, but rather support and enhance our current foundation of success and efforts to increase equitable outcomes for underserved and overburdened populations. Much of EPA's ongoing work, including for example, permitting, compliance and enforcement activities, financial and technical assistance, and cleanup actions and brownfields remediation, provides daily opportunities to address pollution burdens in historically underserved and overburdened populations. With these strategies, in conjunction with our ongoing efforts and directives, we can achieve more equitable outcomes, including a myriad of pollution reductions, water infrastructure investments, accessibility improvements, capacity building for communities with environmental justice concerns, strengthened results for rural communities and for children, and increased accessibility for people with disabilities and people with limited English proficiency.

Initiated EPA's first compliance review to evaluate impacts of potentially discriminatory activities by EPA financial assistance recipients in communities with environmental justice concerns.

Advancing equity, environmental justice, and civil rights compliance is integral to EPA's mission to protect the health and the environment of all people in the United States and its territories. In its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 - 2026 Strategic Plan, EPA renewed its commitment to the agency's core principles - follow the science, follow the law, and be transparent - while adding a fourth principle, advance justice, and equity. To carry out its mission, EPA is committed to developing and implementing concrete policies and activities to advance equity and environmental justice across its programs. This can only be achieved by acknowledging that many communities across the country have not sufficiently benefitted from EPA's decades of progress in reducing pollution and breaking down barriers to equity. EPA strives to infuse the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals into all EPA programs, policies, and activities. EPA's commitment to equity and environmental justice forms a critical foundation on which to build meaningful engagement with communities with environmental justice concerns; achieve more equitable and just outcomes, including pollution reductions in communities with environmental justice concerns; and deliver other tangible benefits. In remaining faithful to these commitments, EPA is living up to the promise to protect human health and the environment made to all people in the United States and its territories when the Agency was created more than 50 years ago.

Under the leadership of Administrator Michael S. Regan, EPA has deepened its dedication to making equity, environmental justice, and civil rights a centerpiece of the Agency's mission and efforts. Consistent with its FY 2022 - 2026 EPA Strategic Plan, Goal 2, to " " Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights, " " and building on its 2022 Equity Action Plan, EPA identified key priority strategies to guide its programs, policies, and engagements in this updated and revised 2023 Equity Action Plan. Executive Order 14091 directs EPA and other federal agencies to further advance equity and embed environmental justice and external civil rights in a whole - of - government approach. Through following the science and incorporating feedback from community engagement, discussions with the National Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (NEJAC) and agency senior leaders, including the Interagency Lead on the Justice40 Initiative, EPA has identified eight priority strategies, which include four previously identified priorities carried forward from the 2022 Equity Action Plan and four newly identified strategies:

High level highlights of EPA's EJ Scorecard include 28 open Title VI investigation (s) or compliance review (s), the unprecedented inclusion of the goal to advance environmental justice and civil rights compliance in EPA's FY 2022 - 2026 Strategic Plan, and approximately 70 programs covered under Justice40, including the following six EPA Justice40 pilot programs:

Strategy # 3: Strengthen EPA's External Civil Rights Compliance Program and Ensure that Civil Rights Compliance is an Agency - Wide Responsibility.

Deliver Equitable, Accessible and Inclusive Digital Government to the American Public. This strategy supports the whole - of - government equity objectives of Economic Justice and Civil Rights; and it aims to address potential barriers and biases present in public interactions with civic tech. Key actions include advancing human centered design and community - informed user research practices, scaling language access, and ensuring responsible adoption and procurement of Al - enabled technologies. Advance Equity, Economic Security, Sustainability and Environmental Justice through Large - Scale Construction Projects and the Federal Buildings Footprint. This strategy supports the whole - of - government equity objectives of Economic Justice, Environmental Justice, and Housing Justice and Community Investment; and it aims to address barriers to community benefits realized through equitable and sustainable Federal development. Key actions are designed to improve planning and access to local opportunities - like good jobs and cleaner, more climate change - resilient communities, made possible by landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act investments. Advance Equity and Effectiveness of Federal Programs Through Rigorous Review, Evaluation and Continuous Improvement. This strategy supports the whole - of - government equity objectives of Civil Rights, Health Equity, Economic Justice, Global Equality; and it aims to ensure Federal programs are working as intended, particularly programs that provide critical support to the public during emergencies and recovery after disasters. Key actions include scaling the Federal Government's use of evaluations to surface important findings and areas of improvement in the design and delivery of Federal programs. Advance Equitable Access to Opportunity and Federal Resources for Local Communities and Minority Serving Institutions. This strategy supports the whole - of - government equity objectives of Civil Rights and Economic Justice; and it aims to reduce barriers to access for institutions that, through Federal resources, help close critical gaps in capacity and infrastructure for the local communities they serve. Key actions include conducting proactive civil rights compliance reviews of the Federal Surplus Personal Property Donation Program and broadening partnerships - including contracting agreements - between Federal agencies and Minority Serving Institutions.

reduced negative impacts (e.g., false rejection rates in biometric identity - proofing, task completion rates, slow page load times for low - and limited - bandwidth connections) and closing those efficacy gaps across sociodemographic factors increased product efficacy and higher overall scores in usability tests increased digital accessibility fluency and compliance across GSA high - impact products increased number of community - based organizations with active user research pipelines for GSA product testing increased and proportionate participation of users from underserved community groups in GSA product testing at scale increased number of available and platform - integrated non - English languages in high - impact digital services and products

Implement the Good Jobs Initiative partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor to create and support clear pathways for workers to high - quality, good - paying jobs in construction, maintenance, manufacturing, and operations. The actions outlined in the signed Memorandum of Understanding1 aim to support equitable and effective workforce development, including those from nontraditional and underserved labor sources; and improve job quality, standards and metrics on GSA construction sites. Build and release new Geographic Information System (GIS) data - informed public forecasting resources for BIL and IRA related construction projects. GIS is a computer system that analyzes and displays geographically referenced information. It uses data that is attached to a unique location. By providing more visibility and transparency about where and when Federal projects are happening, GSA can help Federal contractors, trade labor, and community stakeholders effectively plan and better connect with opportunities. This effort will help more Americans, including those from underserved communities, with access to quality employment in their communities. Increase contracting opportunities for socioeconomically disadvantaged small businesses across growing markets in construction, clean energy, and sustainability. GSA will take actions aimed to maximize participation of SDB and build its small business contractor base by improving the forecasting process, strengthening relationships with existing contractors, executing its plans for industry engagement and utilizing the Governmentwide Procurement Equity Tool to identify eligible and new businesses ready to bid for work where GSA projects are located.

Continue Leveraging the Federal Thriving Communities Network12 to connect GSA stakeholder communities with additional climate and infrastructure resources. While GSA does not issue grants, it can proactively ensure that the communities we serve are better able to connect with place - based technical assistance and other IRA and BIL resources made available through Federal agency partners like U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Commerce. Complete a study on the impacts of Federal real property disposal. After it is determined that excess real property is no longer needed by the Federal Government, various statutes authorize conveyance 13 to State and local governments and in some cases, to nonprofits at up to 100 % discount for public benefit use. Some of the qualifying uses include public health, homeless assistance, education, park and recreation, correctional, law enforcement, and emergency management. This study will give GSA important new insights on how portfolio disposal decisions affect surrounding communities in the near and long - term.

Establish a plan to conduct proactive reviews for the 56 State Agencies for Surplus Property to ensure their compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, with a goal of 14 SASPs for review each fiscal year. GSA's Office of Civil Rights is responsible for GSA's administration of Title VI and will work to increase equitable access to programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from GSA. Initiate an engagement and outreach plan to raise awareness in local communities about resources available through their State Agency for Surplus Property. GSA

number of completed civil rights SASP compliance reviews increased number of people, communities, and MSIs reached by engagement and public outreach actions increased number of underserved communities, organizations, or geographic areas that that seek to participate in the Federal surplus goods program indicators of reduced burden and improved access where program compliance reviews and any required updates have been implemented Increased number of MSI and HBCUs participating in Federal contracts Increased number of overall Federal contracting dollars obligated to MSIs and HBCUs

Launched an Equity Study on Remote Identity, recruiting 4,000 Americans, to understand potential barriers and demographic disparities in identity verification technologies that are commonly used by the public when accessing Federal services and benefits. Developed and started implementing a roadmap for USAGov and USAGov en Español to streamline content and make it easier for the public to find and access Federal benefits and services across a digital platform that connects people with government information more than 117 million times a year. Vote.gov worked to expand access to voter registration information in communities that, due to language barriers, have not been historically part of the electorate. The platform added several Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) languages including: Bengali, Khmer, Korean, Hindi, Tagalog, and Vietnamese, with Chinese (both simplified and traditional) and its first Alaska Native language, Yup'ik - Akuzipik. Login.gov partnered with Federal agencies and State governments to provide secure, accessible identity verification services for benefits and emergency assistance programs. As an example, the U.S. Department of Labor pilot in Arkansas, helping more than 19,000 citizens of the State verify their identities while applying for unemployment benefits. Advanced public participation and equitable user research practices through user compensation pilots and increased outreach efforts to community - based organizations. Partnered with the U.S. Web Design System to launch new Inclusion Pattern Guidance, a library of design guidance and examples focused on reducing the public's barriers in key digital government interactions and fostering effective, inclusive, and equitable digital experiences.

Leveraged the Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool and Federal Interagency Thriving Communities Network to develop engagement strategies that advance sustainable and equitable development goals and connect communities with resources in large - scale Federal investments made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Established partnerships with the U.S. Department of Labor on the Mega Construction Project Program and Good Jobs Initiative to advance equal opportunity in the construction trade workforce and expand the use of Project Labor Agreements on Federal projects over $ 35 million. Launched the Access - for - All universal design challenge for U.S. architecture students and apprentices to source best national ideas on improving the accessibility and gender inclusiveness of Federal properties. Partnered with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and updated the Art in Architecture program rules to expand public access and artist representation in the millions of dollars of commissioned artworks permanently installed in Federal facilities.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) was designed to address immediate needs related to the COVID - 19 pandemic, with a specific focus on addressing historically disparate outcomes across race, class, and geography that were further exacerbated by the pandemic. To support the Federal Government's exploration of questions about equitable recovery, GSA's Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES) established an ARP Evaluation Portfolio with two core elements: a national evaluation conducted by a third - party research contract, and a portfolio of evaluations conducted by OES, in partnership with agencies and the White House Office of Management and Budget, on ARP - funded programs with equity goals. This body of work explores effectiveness of critical relief programs like Emergency Rental Assistance and Homeowner Assistance Fund. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) provides $ 3.4 billion for GSA's Public Buildings Service, making a significant impact on 26 Land Ports of Entry modernizations along the Canadian and Mexican border. These projects will create new good - paying jobs, bolster safety and security, and make our economy more resilient to supply chain challenges - all while serving as models for sustainability and innovation and improving community livability. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides GSA with $ 2.15 billion for low - embodied carbon materials in construction and renovation projects, $ 975 million for GSA to support emerging and sustainable technologies, and $ 250 million to turn even more GSA facilities into High - Performance Green Buildings and accelerate efforts to achieve a net - zero Federal footprint. These investments will reduce long - term energy costs for American communities, strengthen America's domestic industrial base and catalyze innovation and job growth in homegrown industries that produce next - generation materials, products, and equipment. GSA estimates that these projects will create over 9,500 average annual economy - wide jobs across the length of the projects, support $ 2.8 billion in labor income, and generate nearly $ 1 billion in tax revenue for Federal, State and local governments.

Create new sustainability - focused markets in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Defense. Climate risk adaptation efforts and Federal sustainability goals are positioned to deploy hundreds of millions of dollars in new acquisition opportunities, including those available to small businesses, over the near / medium term. GSA is driving new and emerging market successes in Low Embodied Carbon building materials, Zero - Emission Vehicles and supply equipment, scaling of eco - labels to reduce per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and expediting procurement availability of environmental technologies. Finalize solicitations and awards for new Polaris and OASIS + contracts. 3 These newly launched governmentwide IT and professional services contracts offer more opportunities for small businesses to compete for prime contracts, including small business and socioeconomic set - asides. Since 2015, GSA's current OASIS vehicle has helped Federal agencies obligate more than $ 67 billion. Improve accessibility and reduce administrative burden. GSA committed to reviewing 37 Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) forms and identifying six design changes to appearance and layout (e.g., limiting use of capitalization and italics, continuity of 12 - point font and bolded text for readability) that could make the standard forms easier to navigate for people with dyslexia, limited vision and intellectual disabilities. GSA will redesign FAR forms and launch a public awareness campaign about the updates. For FY 2024, GSA will also increase its pledge to the AbilityOne program, a critical source for buying goods and services from suppliers who support the employment of people with disabilities. Further implement and enhance the Post - Award Engagement (PAE) Strategy. Fiscal Year 2023 sales data for SDBs and SESBs will serve as the Year 1 baseline to evaluate the efficacy of PAE plan activities. Based on analysis, GSA will update actions for post - award interventions that address the phenomena of persistent low or no sales, including: targeted training, matchmaking industry days and technical assistance.

Implementation of Landmark Legislation

Projects implemented under the nearly $ 7 billion made available to GSA through historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) investments are poised to bolster economies with small and local business participation, improve job and jobsite quality for workers and trade labor, address sustainability and environmental justice concerns, and strengthen relationships between levels of government, Tribes, and communities.

Aid the economic success of construction industries, contractors, and labor forces. Governmentwide implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is estimated to create 800,000 good - paying jobs9, but the possibility of critical shortages in construction and craft labor could threaten the timely and successful completion of these projects. 10 GSA is committed to scaling the impact of our BIL and other building modernization investments through collaboration with other Federal agencies and our industry partners.

Achieve equitable and sustainable development impacts through data - driven insights, Federal partnerships and community engagement. New Federal integrated data mapping and urban planning resources, like the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool have provided GSA with deeper insights about community needs and challenges during the project planning process. This includes opportunities for GSA to collaborate directly with State / local governments and communities on ways to address environmental justice concerns, meet development goals, and scale impact through better and more robust coordination between Federal agencies.

9 Macroeconomic Consequences of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Moody's Analytics (November 2021)

We've been partnering across the government as well. Our Office of Government - wide Policy IT Accessibility team helps agencies meet Federal compliance standards while our U.S. Web Design Services offers toolkits and best practices to ensure that Federal websites are accessible for everyone - that includes providing specific resources to support customers in varying socio - economic communities. Through our work with the Department of Labor's Good Jobs Initiative, we're helping improve job quality and create access to good union jobs free from discrimination and harassment for all working people, with an emphasis on people of color, LGBTQ +, women, veterans, immigrants, individuals in rural communities, and individuals with disabilities.

GSA has prioritized engaging in Tribal Consultations in a proactive and meaningful manner throughout Fiscal Year 23. In addition to robust Tribal engagement as part of BIL project planning, GSA hosted the agency's first formal in - person Tribal Consultation event at the Reservation Economic Summit (RES) in April 2023. Over 100 participants joined Administrator Carnahan and GSA leaders for discussions on major topics of interest to Indian Country, including GSA's support of tribes, small business contracting, partnering with GSA to procure electric vehicles, and a pilot program to support Federal buying of carbon pollution - free electricity from Tribal organizations. Also, GSA issued a Guide to Using GSA Solutions and debuted a new search feature that enables buyers to search for Native American business categories in the GSA Advantage! R, GSA eBuy and GSA eLibrary e - tools to find commercial products and services. This will foster greater Native American business participation in the Federal marketplace, help customers more easily meet Buy Indian Act needs, and strengthen the ability for tribes to pursue intertribal commerce efforts.

GSA is committed to institutionalizing the principles of Justice40 - ensuring that the benefits of Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution, advancing equitable and sustainable development, and mitigating the disproportionate burdens faced by underserved communities in the climate crisis. Our Good Neighbor Program helps construction project teams, local governments and communities address common environmental justice challenges - like flooding from aging water systems, heat islands caused by lack of tree canopy, and air pollution from commercial traffic patterns - during the urban planning process. GSA's Environmental Justice Scorecard highlights include 27 Tribal Consultations related to environmental justice from January 2021 to September 2022 and improving environmental justice literacy through training provided to GSA's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Network.

Although technology continues to rapidly evolve, persistent inequities in technology design and delivery - like higher false rejection rates, completion failure rates, and time burdens - disproportionately negatively impact those from historically and socially marginalized communities. Additionally, digital services very often fail to prioritize human - centered design and usability beyond compliance. This means that Americans who likely have a critical need to connect with government information and services through digital platforms also are likely to have the hardest time doing SO. Examples include both lack of access to the newest hardware or good internet, which often means newer digital platforms do not perform as well (because they are not built for older devices or don't work with low bandwidth connections), or software that is not designed to work across all populations, such as lack of plain language impacting populations with limited English proficiency or poorly trained Al models causing biometric systems to perform worse for people with different ages or skin tones. GSA - through its consulting and fellowships offerings such as the Centers of Excellence and the Presidential Innovation Fellows, shared services such as Login.gov and the US Web Design System, and Federal partners in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and United States Digital Service - plays a central role in the responsible development, deployment, and procurement of technologies used by the Federal Government to communicate or interact with the public. 4 GSA is committed to delivering high - impact digital services and products in a manner that improves customer experience, reduces burden, broadens access, and advances civic tech practices that are intrinsically equity - aware and community - informed.

To start, with over $ 6 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, we're making smart investments in GSA - controlled Federal buildings all across the country. We're focused on building spaces that are part of the communities they inhabit, modernizing them so they can easily provide services to the American people, and ensuring their resilience and sustainability. With every investment, we're seeking to address climate change because it's a triple win: creating good jobs, saving taxpayer dollars, and making a healthier future for generations to come. We know that historically underserved communities are too - often disproportionately impacted by climate change, so we're making sure that this triple win benefits everyone.

Increase evidence - based prevention programs, services and supports to children and families leveraging the Family First Prevention Services Act to enable more children to be supported in their own homes. Provide increased guidance to regulated agencies and enforce nondiscrimination provisions to better educate agencies of their responsibilities and available resources to facilitate intact family support and reunification for all families. Intensify technical assistance efforts and issuance of policy guidance to states on ways to disentangle poverty from states ' considerations of child neglect to reduce unnecessary CPS interventions and trauma allowing more children to stay safely within their own families and communities. Provide policy options and practice expectations for child welfare agencies on how they can ensure the most appropriate, stable, family - like and caring placements for children, including appropriate placements for LGBTQI + youth and kinship care, to protect their well - being in foster care and expedite return to their families when feasible / appropriate.

Published draft rules on language access in all health programs and activities funded by the Department. On August 4, 2022, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), proposing comprehensive updates revisions to the Department's regulations implementing Section 1557, the nondiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act. See proposed rule. The proposed rule restores and strengthens civil rights protections for patients and consumers in certain federally funded health programs and affirms protections against discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity, age, and disability. Created a comprehensive structure for implementing HHS's action plan and practices for language access. The Department relaunched the HHS Language Access Steering Committee (LASC), which is comprised of representatives from every HHS agency. The LASC will facilitate the sharing of effective practices and procedures for enhancing language access. Ensured state compliance with language access and effective communication obligations during and after public health emergencies. On April 5, 2023, OCR dispatched a letter to state health officials reminding states of their language access and effective communication obligations under federal civil rights laws to ensure that individuals and families continue to have access to Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage upon the expiration of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act continuous enrollment condition.

CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) engages, and consults states regularly as part of the Quality Improvement Technical Assistance work through the Maternal and Infant Health Initiative (MIHI). Group participants are encouraged to reach out to their beneficiaries to determine barriers to improving quality on metrics, such as attendance at postpartum care or infant well - child visits, transportation issues, or difficulty scheduling. These consultations help inform states of barriers encountered by beneficiaries. HHS OMH and CMS CMCS held a listening session to gather consumer feedback regarding using inclusive maternal language (especially as it relates to the word " " maternal " " and non - binary or gender conforming people). Participants included professionals with direct clinical, research, or system - level expertise on inclusive language or experience in providing affirming care for non - binary and transgender patients. One key takeaway was that Inclusive language is important to make people feel cared for by their providers. NIH sponsored the Connecting the Community for Maternal Health Challenge to encourage and reward nonprofit community - based or advocacy organizations to develop research capabilities and infrastructure to pursue maternal health research projects. The challenge offered approximately $ 3 million in prizes, distributed across multiple phases of the competition to organizations that successfully completed the objectives and requirements of each phase. Three webinars introduced the challenge sponsors at NIH, provided general guidance on proposal submission, and shared the opportunities that participation in this challenge provide. Ongoing webinars are providing guidance to participants in building and sustaining their research activities.

Established guidance for HHS programs to use plain language in funding opportunities. The Office of Grants is formally tracking and reporting readability statistics for all Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) and related public documents. These documents must be easy to read and understand to reach as many potentially qualified applicants as possible. Published an NPRM clarifying nondiscrimination on the basis of sex in certain HHS grants. HHS OCR and Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources published an NPRM which states that, in statutes administered by HHS that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, the Department interprets those provisions to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. This NPRM further builds on HHS ' efforts to ensure access to health and human services in furtherance of President Biden's Executive Orders on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation and Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals.

13 Justice40 covered program (s) 18 funding announcement (s) covered under the Justice40 Initiative $ 4.7 billion in funding made available from Justice40 covered programs

Guidance on Nondiscrimination in Telehealth for people with disabilities and limited English proficient persons: HHS and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a joint guidance document on the protections in federal nondiscrimination laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, regarding access to telehealth for people with disabilities and limited English proficient persons. This document reminded healthcare providers that while telehealth expands healthcare opportunities for individuals who would otherwise be unable to receive healthcare in person, it must be provided in a manner that is accessible to individuals with disabilities. LGBTQ + Behavioral Health Equity Center of Excellence: The Center of Excellence on LGBTQ + Behavioral Health Equity (CoE LGBTQ + BHE) mission is to bring information and resources to the behavioral health field to enhance culturally responsive care and decrease disparities for this population and does so by providing training and technical assistance opportunities for behavioral health professionals. Established HBCU - Connect, a new initiative with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, an Institute within NIH, developed the initiative to inspire the development of environmental health science leaders from diverse backgrounds. HBCU - Connect is a multifaceted effort to strengthen ties between the institute and faculty and students at academic institutions that are often underrepresented in the sciences.

Provided practical and hands - on guidance to HHS offices on identifying actions to ensure opportunity for all. To ensure all staff and offices understand how to assess for opportunities to deliver our services equitably, HHS created learning opportunities and tools for internal use. These include resources for engaging communities and people with lived experience and requirements and opportunities to improve access for people with disabilities. Our assessment tools helped HHS surpass our 2022 - 2023 Agency Priority Goal on equity. Many tools are available publicly, including resources on conducting equity assessments and equity in research and analysis.

Environmental Justice Scorecard (pursuant to section 223 of EO 14008): The President's Justice40 Initiative sets a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments should reach disadvantaged communities that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment. These federal investments address climate change, clean energy and energy efficiency, clean transit, affordable and sustainable housing, training and workforce development, remediation and reduction of legacy pollution, and the development of critical clean water and wastewater infrastructure.

The Phase One Environmental Justice Scorecard provides an update on initial progress made by HHS in implementing the Justice40 Initiative. Metrics and highlights in Fiscal Year 2022 include:

Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation: HHS has key responsibilities in implementing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ' s provisions related to prescription drug costs. HHS is working to ensure that all eligible individuals, particularly seniors and people with disabilities, can feel the benefits of the IRA's health care cost - saving provisions and will be engaging with communities on IRA implementation. HHS along with the Departments of Labor and Treasury, is implementing the No Surprises Act provisions which reduce surprise medical billing. HHS is conducting outreach to ensure that all consumers are aware of their rights and protections under the Act, including making resources available in multiple languages to reach all communities.

Advance sustainable homeownership and wealth generation by reducing appraisal bias and expanding access to homeownership: HUD is dedicated to ensuring all people have access to affordable homeownership and the opportunity to build generational wealth. To better serve individuals and families, HUD has expanded the Family Self Sufficiency program for HUD - assisted residents to initiate a path to realizing their homeownership dreams. HUD will also support current homeowners by combatting the historic impacts of racial bias in the home appraisal process that erodes equity and robs Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities of the opportunity to maintain and grow generational wealth. Reduce barriers and enhance support for protected classes by enforcing fair housing regulations, advancing housing justice, and improving rental assistance: HUD's primary focus in advancing housing justice is to expand the Department's role in proactively supporting and protecting underserved communities through increased Fair Housing Law enforcement and compliance. As detailed within this Equity Action Plan, HUD will enact a dedicated training curriculum to national fair housing partners to ensure that knowledge of Fair Housing protections is widespread and actionable in local communities. Similarly, HUD will employ targeted efforts to engage with key populations, including those impacted by gender - based violence, LGBTQIA + communities, and people impacted by the criminal justice system, to improve the administration and delivery of HUD - assisted programs and services. Reduce racial and ethnic disparities in homeless systems through identifying and addressing barriers to engagement by underserved populations: Promoting equity is a key component in reducing homelessness. People experiencing homelessness are among the most underserved and overlooked - most especially Black, Hispanic, and Native American or Alaska Native people, who experienced increases in homelessness and are significantly overrepresented among this population. Through specialized research and data gathering initiatives, the Agency will continue to improve its ability to better identify, engage, and re - house Black, Brown, Indigenous and other systematically disadvantaged people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. In addition, HUD will expand its work with program and community partners to incorporate the voice and leadership of people with lived experience to create tailored, equitable solutions for individuals ' needs to accentuate a new approach to homelessness relief and further equal access to eviction protection resources. Advance sustainable communities by strengthening climate resilience and energy efficiency, promoting environmental justice, and driving the creation of good - paying jobs: Climate change is a worsening crisis that impacts communities across the United States and the world. Due to historic discrimination and disinvestment, systemically underserved communities often suffer climate change's consequences most acutely, deepening pre - existing societal inequities. The importance of addressing this crisis is reflected in HUD's efforts to create and expand programs that reduce assisted resident exposure to climate - related hazards. While doing so, HUD will improve energy efficiency in HUD - assisted housing and create pathways to good paying jobs. HUD will also improve the Agency's critical disaster recovery assistance through a strategic, data -

HUD will address the high rates of housing instability, homelessness and discrimination faced by LGBTQIA + youth seeking housing and shelter. To do this, HUD will conduct listening sessions with directly impacted youth and advocates, educate grantees about their legal responsibilities, document best practices to address barriers to shelter and housing for LGBTQIA + youth, and put forth guidance clarifying commonly asked questions related to addressing barriers experienced by LGBTQIA + youth. Because of HUD's existing portfolio of programs that focus on the needs of youth experiencing housing instability, including the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program and the Foster Youth to Independence pilot program, HUD is uniquely equipped to educate LGBTQIA + youth about their rights and providers about their responsibilities under the Equal Access Rule and Fair Housing Act, in addition to promoting best practices for improving accessibility to housing and shelter for LGBTQIA + youth. HUD will prioritize regional engagement, focusing on travel by senior leaders to areas that have demonstrated best practices and areas where LGBTQIA + youth are experiencing discrimination and additional clarification of federal laws and best practices are needed. HUD's program leadership will prioritize incorporating education and discussion of barriers experienced by LGBTQIA + people, including youth, into their already planned travel and will also identify specific sites to visit to listen to directly impacted youth experiencing housing instability and providers serving those communities. HUD will develop and promote a website focused on LGBTQIA + equity and housing.

regulations and guidance to identify ways to reduce barriers to HUD programs for people with criminal history records. This review identified opportunities for HUD to update its regulations and guidance to ensure that applicants with criminal history records are screened fairly, using holistic individualized assessments, and to avoid unnecessary denials. HUD published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in October 2023 that would eliminate restrictions on those with prior felony or certain other criminal convictions in FHIP - and FHAP - Funded Testing Programs. HUD will continue to utilize holistic approaches. Provide technical assistance to encourage grantees, Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), and housing owners to use HUD programs to provide housing and services that support people's successful reentry from prisons and jails to the community, which enhances public safety.

Ensure full enforcement of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Access Rule to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Provide updated Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) complaint forms to grantees and conduct training and guidance on using the forms by January 2024. Provide training and technical assistance to grantees and victim service providers about the housing rights of survivors under VAWA and related laws, including information on HUD's resources on credit - building, asset - building, homeownership, and financial literacy. Encourage PHAs and HUD - assisted housing owners to adopt marketing and admissions policies, practices, and services connections or partnerships that proactively reach underserved populations and communities.

Track CoC demonstration participants ' self - reported system performance measures to include exits to permanent housing, returns to homelessness and the number of first time homeless. The review will be conducted to establish technical assistance and training needs to help CoCs improve performance and to promote a community - wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness for all. Using the learnings from the Coordinated Entry demonstration, HUD's SNAPS office will publish guidance for use by all CoCs and communities on topics including but not limited to: Advancing Data Equity; Evaluating and Reimaging Coordinated Entry Assessment Process and Tools using a Racial Equity Lens; Coordinated Entry Process Management; and Knowledge Sharing Strategies on Cultural Humility and Moving Through Analysis Paralysis. Continue to track eviction prevention performance of the program as it continues to grow in impact as grantees expand their programs. The contracted evaluation currently underway will help HUD develop a baseline of effectiveness of current grantees and is

A large body of literature has investigated the relationship between environmental toxins, race, and poverty. Most notably, the 1987 landmark study by Robert Bullard " " Toxic Waste and Race in the United States " " that demonstrated a correlation between the placement of toxic waste facilities and low - income Black and Brown communities Since then, several studies from interdisciplinary approaches continue to asses environmental injustices as demonstrated in Environmental Justice: The Economics of Race, Place, and Pollution or seen in the legacies from redlining and pollution. Researcher Diana Hernandez demonstrates in two papers how weatherization can be a catalyst for reducing the energy burden affecting low - income individuals and ultimately improve health and social outcomes among African Americans. Through the publications Climate Justice Starts at Home: Building Resilient Housing to Reduce Disparate Impacts From Climate Change in Residential Settings and Energy efficiency as energy justice: addressing racial inequities through investments in people and places she finds that Black households, even when disaggregating income, are more likely to live in less - efficient homes, demonstrating the legacy of housing segregation, redlining, and lack of equitable access to financing. These additional energy costs affect utility costs. She poses not just utility assistance but weatherization and green energy improvements as mechanisms to reducing environmental and economic injustices. To complement the body of literature on this topic, the White House Council on Environmental Quality developed the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) using nationally consistent data and an approach that combines environmental and demographic indicators to identify historically disadvantaged communities through an interactive map. The tool measures burdens in eight categories: climate change, energy, health, housing, legacy pollution, transportation, water and wastewater, and workforce development. Individuals seeking careers in the green construction industry often face barriers in accessing training opportunities (including apprenticeships) to become certified and / or qualified for the employment opportunities. The Center for Law and Social Policy asserts that " " women, people with disabilities, youth, and people impacted by the criminal legal system face especially egregious hiring discrimination and inequitable employment opportunities " " and that green investments can create high quality employment opportunities.

Implement the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP), which provides for $ 800 million in grant and loan subsidy funding and $ 4 billion in loan commitment authority provided by the Inflation Reduction Act, to reduce assisted resident exposure to climate - related hazards. GRRP is the first HUD program to simultaneously invest in energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, energy generation, green and healthy housing, and climate resilience strategies, specifically in HUD - assisted multifamily housing. All the investments under the GRRP will be made in affordable housing communities and other historically disadvantaged communities serving low - income families in alignment with the Administration's Justice40 initiative. Launch the development of tools, guidance documents, or case studies on energy and resilience retrofits that have resulted from GRRP funding or other investments in HUD - assisted properties that can support all affordable housing operators in devising strategies to improve the health, safety, and comfort of low - income families before, during, and after extreme weather.

Determine what data are needed to identify and address potential access barriers that may cause disparate outcomes in the use of CDBG - DR funds. Formally institute data collection to identify and address potential access barriers that may cause disparate outcomes in the use of CDBG - DR funds. Produce training and guidance for CDBG - DR grantees on how to use new data collection requirements to identify and address potential access barriers that may cause disparate outcomes in the use of CDBG - DR funds. Host at least two stakeholder convenings to inform future HUD investments and assist communities in developing plans to mitigate climate and disaster risk, while supporting underserved communities.

Increase the dissemination of research products supporting housing production and expanded housing choice and opportunities, with the goal of building support for affordable housing development among investors and policymakers and providing tools to governments and organizations seeking to increase housing opportunities. Dissemination of HUD research products will be tracked by measuring downloads from HUDUser.gov and attendance at related HUD - sponsored events. Measure if each local government that receives Thriving Communities TA achieves at least two major objectives identified in their Technical Assistance plans, supporting the production and / or preservation of housing, by the conclusion of the TA, which will not exceed two years. Bolster capacity building of local governments, state agencies, developers, and property owners, particularly those serving underserved communities to produce and preserve housing through resources provided by PRO Housing grants and Thriving Communities TA, resulting in 20 percent of governments receiving these grants or TA revising their regulations to allow greater density and / or reduce development costs, resulting in the production of more affordable units within 5 - 10 years.

STRATEGY # 3 - Reduce barriers and enhance support for protected classes of people by enforcing fair housing regulations, advancing housing justice, and improving rental assistance.

Barriers to Equity: Legacies of residential segregation and discrimination, which federal, state, and local laws, regulations and policies and have contributed to and exacerbated, persist in our society. Historic disinvestment in people and places have contributed to segregated neighborhoods, mortgage redlining, and lending discrimination, and inhibited wealth - building opportunities for Black and Brown people, immigrants, women, individuals with disabilities, and people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual or other (LGBTQIA +), survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault; survivors of human trafficking; and people involved in the criminal justice system.

Advance Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) Public Comments: In FY 2023, HUD published the Advance Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM): Nondiscrimination Based on Disability in Federally Assisted Programs and Activities of HUD updating regulations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), seeking the public's input on changes that the Agency is considering to its implementing regulations federally assisted and HUD conducted programs and activities. HUD is reviewing over 300 comments received in response to the ANPRM. After full review, HUD anticipates publishing a NPRM under Section 504 by Spring 2024. Related to this rulemaking, HUD will also publish an NPRM: Adoption of Updated Accessibility Standard for the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA).

Assess equity in Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) through Coordinated Entry Equity Demonstration. HUD will assist communities through technical assistance and by issuing guidance to implement and improve coordinated entry systems based on lessons learned that involve more race equity and client - focused approaches. Additionally, HUD will provide an analysis of racial disparities among people experiencing homelessness as it is a critical first step in identifying and changing racial and ethnic disparities in HUD systems and services.

HUD works with Continuums of Care (CoC) nationally that prepare community plans to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are homeless as they move to stable housing and maximum self - sufficiency. As part of our equity focus, SNAPS conducted its second Coordinated Entry Equity Demonstration, deploying teams of technical assistance coaches to 15 Continuums of Care covering a broad range of communities. The goal of the demonstration was to design a more equitable assessment and prioritization process to improve conditions and outcomes for all Black and Brown people. The technical assistance coaching teams included providers with experience in racial equity and housing justice work, coordinated entry design, lived experience of homelessness, and navigating homeless systems and other related disciplines. In partnership with Black and Brown people as well as people with lived expertise of homelessness, CoCs identified system disparities through analyzing local data, agreed upon focus areas, and tested racially equitable coordinated entry system processes in service of significantly transforming the experience and housing stability of those disproportionately represented in local homeless responsive systems. HUD will publish guidance documents created from the learnings in the second demonstration on the HUD Exchange Homelessness Assistance website, and SNAPS will share a synopsis of the findings from the prior two cohorts to scale future improvements and interventions nationally.

Whole - of - Government Equity Objective: Environmental Justice: Secure environmental justice and spur economic opportunity by addressing disproportionate and adverse health and environmental impacts, including from climate change and cumulative impacts, on marginalized and overburdened communities. Implement the Justice40 Initiative to ensure 40 % of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments, e.g., in clean energy, climate, pollution reduction, and critical infrastructure, flow to historically disadvantaged communities across rural, urban, and Tribal areas.

Award funding for the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

Expand the HUD and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Partnership to improve equitable job training and access to good paying jobs in support of climate construction initiatives. Given $ 3.5 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding DOE received, there is a direct benefit to target HUD - assisted residents to take advantage of climate jobs for which there are insufficient number of trained and certified workers to conduct the work.

HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) has undertaken targeted initiatives to improve data collection from homelessness service providers through its Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Starting in FY 2022 and continuing through FY 2023, CPD has updated data collection requirements for race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity to include options for additional race and / or ethnicity detail, gender diversity, and cultural specific identity or different identity at discretion of the individual. As part of this process, HUD engaged in an improved data collection process and as a result, produced resources on the Client - Centered Approach to Recognizing Race and Ethnicity Identifies in Data Collection and Client - Centered Approach to Recognizing Gender Identities in Data Collection for additional guidance.

FHA has taken additional steps through the Office of Single Family Housing (SFH) to support wealth generation activities for prospective and current homeowners. Specifically, SFH expanded access to credit by incorporating a borrower's positive rental payment history into the mortgage underwriting process. Using rental payment history promotes a more inclusive credit evaluation, which in turn can expand homeownership opportunities to first - time homebuyers. This guidance is expected to continue to expand homeownership opportunities for borrowers where a positive rental payment history can make a difference when combined with other assessment factors for determining eligibility for FHA - insured mortgage financing. HUD estimates this policy change will enable more than 5,500 borrowers in a typical year to qualify for an FHA - insured loan.

Under the Biden - Harris Administration, HUD's work to advance equity has aligned with the following strategic goals: promoting equitable development and increasing the supply of affordable housing; advancing sustainable homeownership and wealth generation; reducing barriers and enhancing support for protected classes of people by enforcing fair housing regulations, advancing housing justice, and improving rental assistance.; reducing racial and ethnic disparities in homeless systems through identifying and addressing barriers; and advancing sustainable communities by strengthening climate resilience and energy efficiency, promoting environmental justice, and driving the creation of good - paying jobs. In advancement of our goal to promote equitable development, we have released funding to ensure communities can pair housing investments with infrastructure projects; strengthened our nation - to - nation relationships with Tribal Leaders on housing; conducted research on the impacts of zoning laws; and launched initiatives to bridge the racial wealth gap.

Per the Environmental Justice Scorecard, HUD highlights how the Agency is furthering its efforts to advance environmental justice for communities across America. HUD made program modifications for Justice40 covered programs. Some of those efforts include HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes updating a 2022 Lead Hazard Reduction Notice of Funding Opportunity, making $ 403 million available in funding, to allow additional points for money flowing to historically disadvantaged communities, as defined by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. To advance equity goals, HUD updated the Notice of Funding

Through HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), HUD has delivered key initiatives in support of equitable access to housing resources and protections. Specifically, in FY 2022, FHEO issued a memorandum titled, " " Implementation of the Office of General Counsel's Guidance on Application of Fair Housing Act Standards to the Use of Criminal Records by Providers of Housing and Real Estate - Related Transactions. " " This memorandum supports the Administration's commitment to protect tenant rights and reviewed fair housing principles related to the use of criminal records, highlighted the need for FHEO investigators, Fair Housing Initiatives Program grantees (FHIPs), and Fair Housing Assistance Program agencies (FHAPs) to be aware of the ways in which criminal background screening policies and practices can violate the Fair Housing Act, provided tips for conducting investigations relating to criminal background screening, and set out best practices related to the use of criminal background screening information on applicants or tenants. The issuance of this memo has been followed by the signing of Voluntary Compliance Agreements that serve as an example for requiring more inclusive tenant screening policies by housing providers. In October 2023, HUD published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would eliminate the agency's restrictions on the use of fair housing testers with prior felony convictions or certain other convictions by Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) grantees and Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) agencies. Fair housing testers provide invaluable support to HUD and HUD's fair housing partners by taking part in housing transactions to screen for discrimination.

To fortify support for fair housing, rental assistance, and civil rights, we have greatly increased assistance through housing vouchers, while expanding choice for renters; clarified our authority under the Violence Against Women Act and delivered new resources for survivors; taken direct action to address bias in the home valuation and appraisal system; issued new guidance related to housing for those with criminal records; and encouraged work to better serve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA +) youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability.

Effective October 1, 2022, FHEO and HUD's Office of General Counsel began enforcing the housing protections of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) using the same processes that are used to enforce the Fair Housing Act. HUD is currently preparing to issue a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) to fully implement the compliance review mandate of VAWA 2022. HUD further supported this commitment with issuance of FHEO Notice 2023 - 01 which announced that FHEO will implement and enforce the housing provisions of the Violence Against Women Act consistent with, and in a manner that provides, the same rights and remedies as those provided for in the Fair Housing Act.

In its most recent effort in FY 2023, HUD also developed an LGBTQIA + Fair Housing Toolkit to educate housing providers, tenants, applicants, and other housing consumers about LGBTQIA + fair housing protections, with the goal of advancing housing equity for the LGBTQIA + community. The toolkit, comprised of five online modules, provides an overview of key fair housing laws, regulations, and executive orders related to LGBTQIA + protections, describes specific protected housing rights of LGBTQIA + individuals. The toolkit has been shared through HUD's technical assistance outreach, resulting in stakeholder promotion of the resource. In addition, HUD FHEO has also shared the toolkit on social media, and at fair housing conferences, and at stakeholder meetings.

Historically, local land - use policies, and specifically exclusionary zoning, have prevented Black, Brown, Indigenous, and other systematically disadvantaged people's abilities to secure stable, affordable housing and leverage housing mobility options. Barriers to affordable housing can look different in every community, but they can be caused by zoning decisions, land use policies, or regulations; inefficient procedures; gaps in available resources for development; deteriorating or inadequate infrastructure; lack of neighborhood amenities; or challenges to preserving existing housing stock such as increasing threats from natural hazards, redevelopment that reduces the number of affordable units, or expiration of affordability requirements.

Implement the Thriving Communities Technical Assistance (TCTA) Program through funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and as part of the Thriving Communities Network, an interagency initiative between HUD and the Departments of Transportation, Energy, Commerce, and Agriculture, as well as the General Services Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.

HUD published new guidance for public housing authorities and multifamily housing owners participating in the Rental Assistance Demonstration, providing them with additional tools to repair and build deeply affordable housing.

Barriers to Equity: There are multiple barriers that prevent families from becoming homeowners. Those barriers include lack of capital for the down payment and closing costs; challenging credit history and lack of access to credit; lack of understanding and information about the homebuying process, especially for families for whom English is a second language; and regulatory burdens imposed on the production of housing. Additionally Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous communities, face continued housing discrimination in getting a mortgage. According to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, Black and Hispanic home seekers have the highest denial rates for purchase, refinance, and home improvement loans. In 2020, 16.1 percent of all mortgage applications in 2020 were denied. Among Black borrowers the denial rate was found to be 27.1 percent, whereas the denial rate for white borrowers was 13.6 percent.

Implement the following recommendations from NASA's SDB tiger team to meet and exceed SDB goals and promote equity in procurement awards: Set - aside or reserve all construction requirements from the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) ($ 250K) to $ 5M to the 8 (a) Business Development (BD) Programs. Continue to work throughout the Agency to improve processes to ensure NASA's forecasting tool is as accurate as possible to minimize " " missing " " upcoming acquisitions. Develop an SDB Campaign and Communication Plan. Develop a dashboard which would provide NASA's programs and projects with total amount of SB / SDB dollars their organization is obligating (currently this information is only available at the Center level). Pursue statutory / regulatory changes to permit AbilityOne contractors to be considered SDBs. Increase focused outreach, training, and community engagement in underserved communities (SDB, Women - Owned, Service - Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses; Historically Underutilized Business Zones; HBCU and MSIs) to meet federally mandated small business goals. Develop a Small Business Training Program to expand training for the acquisition workforce to increase knowledge of underserved communities and small business programs, and the specific procurement - related challenges they face. Set aside Product Service Line (PSL) requirements for small businesses, AbilityOne contractors, and the SBA 8 (a) Business Development Program. Develop a strategic plan to address process and / or policy barriers identified by the public in response to RFIs. Implement small business listening sessions. Promote NASA's Acquisition Forecast and Active Contracts Lists to help underserved communities find opportunities.

Training and educating grant applicants and recipients on required policies when administering NASA's grants and cooperative agreement awards by holding six training and education sessions in 2023. Grant applicants and recipients will be equipped with the knowledge required to effectively manage grants and cooperative agreement awards, leading to improved project outcomes, greater compliance with regulations, and strengthened accountability throughout the grant lifecycle. Expand DAPR of grant proposals. A key to increasing participation of underserved communities in NASA grants is ensuring fairness in the selection process. NASA will continue expanding DAPR, supported by the National Academies. To mitigate unconscious bias, names, and identities of reviewers and proposers are kept hidden in select competitions. DAPR increases equity in NASA's solicitation process by decreasing barriers caused by hidden bias. Award Bridge Program Seed Funding (BPSF). The SMD Bridge Program's primary goal is to promote participation of traditionally underrepresented groups in NASA's workforce and STEM disciplines through investment in science and engineering research at Under - Resourced Institutions (URIs). In response to community input and to enable future participation in the Bridge Program, the BPSF awards will fund partnership - development projects with NASA Centers. BPSF seeks to facilitate new and expanded partnerships between URIs and NASA researchers that may grow into Bridge partnerships, reducing barriers to entry and enabling participating institutions to become well - positioned to submit future proposals to the SMD Bridge Program.

Expanded Reach: NASA will target a two percent increase in participation in NASA Grants Policy and Compliance - led engagement events over past events in institutions and organizations serving at least two of the underserved communities ' categories as identified in Executive Order 13985, such as HBCUs, Non - HBCU MSIs, or minority owned businesses. Reciprocal Engagement: NASA will target a two percent increase in the number of selected proposals submitted by institutions from underserved communities and the success of new recipient's selected proposals in remaining compliant with federal and NASA regulations through continued partnership throughout the award's lifecycle. Relationship and Trust Building: Positive training session survey feedback. Dual - Anonymous Peer Review (DAPR): In 2023, a new DAPR process was piloted to include a more comprehensive evaluation of the applicant's background, research, and accomplishments, thus creating equity in the solicitation process. At least 30 of the ROSES 2023 program elements used DAPR, and NASA anticipates broader adoption of DAPR across the agency in the coming years. In addition, two Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) programs (Early - Stage Innovation, and TechFlights) and one Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD) program, Human Exploration Research Opportunities, will also implement DAPR.

Relationship sustainability: Continued positive feedback from pulse - check surveys. Achieving Success: Year - over - year increase in awards being issued to underserved communities as well as the compliance rate of award administration. DAPR: By ROSES - 2026, DAPR will be the default review methodology for NASA ROSES grants, leaving a small number expected to request a waiver and continue using the classic methodology. DAPR will be more widely adopted across NASA for relevant selections. Bridge Program: NASA anticipates awarding $ 2M - $ 4M per year across more than 20 proposals.

The Office of Procurement (OP) and Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) found through Requests for Information (RFIs), polling, and survey feedback that understanding how to initially engage with NASA acquisition points of contacts and awareness of subcontracting goals to potentially pursue subcontracting opportunities were barriers to participation. An example of feedback received: " " Partner with non - profit organizations that work towards fostering specific skills and leadership in underserved communities. Organizations like Black Girls Code, * Code2040, and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) are excellent examples of organizations focused on increasing the representation of underserved communities in STEM fields. " " OP / Grants Policy Compliance (GPC) analyzed proposal submission data from 2019 - 2021 to determine if there was support for feedback received in the June 2021 RFI. The data indicated only 14 percent of proposal submissions were from underserved communities. This submission rate validates limited engagement due to a lack of access and knowledge as a barrier, as identified in the RFIs on barriers in NASA grants and cooperative agreements published in the Federal Register. Overall, NASA issued three RFIs (June 2021;

Justice40: The current EEJ landscape analysis projects that will be completed in 2023 will inform the next EEJ solicitation. The outputs of these projects will include reports, community engagement activities, Geographic Information System (GIS) - enabled tools and data such as the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, and other products that can be used by decision makers in EJ communities, enhancing equity and reducing the unequal burdens they face in access to and use of Earth data. These products will be finalized between June 2023 to early 2025. Outcomes under both Community Action and Climate & Resilience, including metrics such as number of individuals and institutions engaged, geographic extent of impacts, project results, etc., will be shared at various conferences, meetings, and workshops. The Indigenous People's Initiative will conduct three remote sensing trainings, seven outreach presentations, and two learning (Indigenous yarning3) sessions with Indigenous communities. TOPS: NASA TOPS will advance the understanding and adoption of open science with the roll out of an open science curriculum (target 2,000 people to earn a NASA " " Open Science Badge " " designation), and broaden participation in historically excluded communities, including minority serving institutions, through awards, prizes, challenges, and hackathons. VEDA: NASA will increase the number of datasets relevant to climate and EJ from 10 to 15, conduct four community outreach events, and create four new relevant stories (discoveries). SciAct: NASA will continue to increase the projects ' reach (52 million learner interactions in 2022). EIC: The EIC will produce two stories that highlight environmental and climate issues that impact underserved communities and will enable easy access to Earth system data via its virtual website. The EIC will expand to reach new audiences through additional installations in public places.

NASA's GPC completed phase one of its barrier analysis in the fourth quarter of 2022, and took the following actions to address identified barriers: Developed NASA grants resources, including facts sheets. Expanded the posting of Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) to the Agency's Minority Serving Institutions ' Exchange newsletter to enhance accessibility. Standardized NASA NOFO template to ensure consistency and compliance with Federal regulations while reducing the administrative burden on grant applicants. Increased the grant award amount to HBCUs between FY 2021 and FY 2022 by 39.9 percent, or $ 1.36 million. Increased public participation in NASA outreach events to underserved communities between September 2022 and March 2023 by 70 percent. NASA's SMD expanded its Dual Anonymous Peer Review (DAPR) to 19 science solicitations for NASA's Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES), which helps maintain an equitable proposal process. Launched the Bridge Program to increase diversity in NASA's STEM workforce and build capacity at HBCUs and minority serving institutions.

NASA awarded 39 environmental justice proposals totaling $ 6.9 million for up to three years. These proposals included topics of air quality, climate hazards, and extreme heat. As of December 2022, the Agency migrated 75 environmental data sets to the cloud, surpassing the goal of 50 for 2022, to make the data more accessible to the public. Since January 2022, the Agency Applied Remote Sensing Training program has trained almost 28,000 people from all 50 states, three territories, and 159 countries on how to use NASA data to address key environmental issues, surpassing its annual goal of 3,000 people by more than nine - fold. NASA awarded 16 proposals totaling $ 6.5 million over three years for education and training in open science to enable transparent research and data for everyone. As part of NASA's Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Data Equity Access program, the Agency awarded eight proposals totaling $ 11 million over three years to HBCUs to build data science networks with Earth science data. NASA's Community Action and Climate & Resilience programs were added to the Justice40 initiative. These programs help NASA ensure underserved communities have access to resources to combat the effects of climate change and promote an environment free of toxins and pollutants, all part of the NASA's Climate Strategy. NASA opened its first Earth Information Center, providing accessible resources, user - friendly information, and data both online and on - site that can be used immediately by the public and decision makers. This action will help address the barrier of unequal access to Earth information in many underserved communities.

The Agency communicated new harassment reporting requirements to all grantees. NASA developed and updated Language Access Plans at all ten Centers to establish a more equitable communication strategy for reaching LEP populations. NASA completed one Title VI compliance review focused on limited English proficiency. We also completed two Title IX reviews and initiated two additional Title IX reviews. NASA greatly expanded Spanish - language communications, including: Released the second episode of Universo Curioso de la NASA, ranked number one in science podcasts in 15 countries. NASA's Spanish language Instagram and X (Twitter) accounts ranked number one in the Federal Government. Expanded Spanish - language products including an Aeronautics web page and live broadcast in Spanish of the Artemis I launch. B. Environmental Justice (EJ) Scorecard Update (pursuant to section 223 of EO 14008): Demonstrating an increased focus in EJ, NASA's accomplishments in FY 2022 include: tools and resources to advance EJ; 39 new investigator teams working on EJ through research grants; NASA's Health and Air Quality Applied Science Team working with public health and air quality agencies using NASA data and tools for public benefit; and the NASA

C. Additional Efforts to Advance Equity: Examples of recent accomplishments and engagements from which feedback was used to inform this EAP and advance NASA's equity efforts include: ACCESSIBILITY: Among NASA's efforts to increase accessibility are initiatives at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Space Center Houston for Sensory Friendly Hours at visitor centers and numerous STEM materials and programs for students with disabilities. In July 2023, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex was named a Certified Autism Center. EQUITY for LGBTQI + COMMUNITIES: NASA's Office of Procurement held its first virtual LGBTQI + Vendor Equity Forum, connecting more than 220 industry stakeholders and businesses with Federal procurement experts. The Agency also collaborated with Google Arts & Culture to showcase contributions of LGBTQI + employees. EQUITY FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES: NASA's Earth Science Division embarked on an agriculture - focused tour of Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma to learn how satellite data is used, as well as launched NASA Acres which links scientists with agriculture leaders. Other communication tools include a NASA Harvest website, and SMD's " " 3D Thursdays " " Rural Educator Series. EQUITY IN SPACE: NASA's Artemis missions will launch the first woman and first person of color to orbit the Moon. In 2022, NASA Astronaut and U.S. Marine Corps Col. Nicole Mann became the first Indigenous woman to go to space, while NASA Astronaut Dr. Jessica Watkins became the first Black woman to serve a long - duration mission aboard the orbiting laboratory. NASA also produced and released a documentary The Color of Space, which features a conversation between seven current and former Black NASA astronauts. EQUITY FOR TRIBAL NATIONS: NASA held its inaugural Tribal Nations Forum open to all 574 federally recognized tribes as part of our Tribal Consultation Plan. NASA continues to conduct STEM events with Tribal youth, including the First Nations Launch and a partnership with the Choctaw Nation to support science education. GENDER EQUITY: NASA expanded the use of Dual Anonymous Peer Review to minimize the impact of implicit or unconscious bias in the evaluation of proposals. We redesigned space suits to better accommodate women, and launched NASA Women in STEM which mobilized the women of NASA to participate in student engagement activities in their communities. D. Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation: As NASA implements specific legislative requirements, we are embedding equity throughout key processes and points of access, including areas of NOFOs. The Agency has also established an Evidence - Based Policy Making Act web page.

NASA Metrics (award, obligation, small business concern, etc.): As of September 30, 2023, NASA obligated 7.4 percent of funds to SDBs compared to 8.1 percent at the same point in FY 2022. RFIs issued by NASA seeking public input from businesses within underserved communities regarding the effort to advance equity in NASA programs, contracts, and grants (June 2021; April 2023; and June 2023) yielded examples of barriers that include: Inability of businesses within underserved communities to identify solicitation opportunities aligned to their capability and / or opportunities to partner with large businesses for access to subcontracting opportunities. Businesses from underserved communities consider themselves inadequately staffed to perform on NASA requirements. Businesses indicated that there is a lack of understanding with how to engage with NASA acquisition points of contacts. Businesses from underserved communities indicated that they find understanding and complying with Acquisition regulations and processes " " too complex. " " A lack of awareness of businesses in underserved communities of Agency subcontracting goals and the necessity to seek to award contracts to targeted business categories to meet annual goals. A lack of access to capital to cover the costs for outreach to Agency acquisition personnel and for proposal development by businesses within underserved communities. Outreach polling, survey feedback, and recommendations.

In June 2021, NASA received public feedback regarding the Agency's grant programs, regulations, and policies through the RFI process. Further, NASA analyzed proposal submission data from calendar years (CY) 2020 and 2021 to support the feedback received from the June 2021 RFI. NASA found that proposals submitted by organizations from underserved communities represented 13 percent in CY 2020, and 11 percent in CY 2021. NASA determined that these figures demonstrated the reported lack of awareness of NASA programs. In July 2023, NASA issued a second public RFI for feedback on barriers for entities that have engaged with and / or applied but are not yet recipients of NASA awards. The feedback NASA received did not identify any additional barriers preventing underserved communities from partnering with the Agency.

Continue to contribute to the Justice40 Initiative through the Community Action and Climate & Resilience programs to reach disadvantaged communities disproportionately impacted by underinvestment. Community Action includes EEJ, Indigenous Peoples Initiative, and Prizes & Challenges.

Justice40: The products and lessons learned from each, including GIS - enabled tools, will be publicly available and used by underserved communities as well as their partners to inform EEJ - related decision - making at all levels. Fair, equitable engagements with Indigenous communities will be strengthened. Indigenous communities will be empowered to use Earth observation information for their decisions and actions. NASA will incorporate Indigenous knowledge in future work.

Focus Area 4: Equity in Civil Rights Compliance and Accessibility to LEP Populations

Lack of access to NSF staff and solicitations for NSF procurement actions hinder the creation of an equitable and inclusive contracting environment for MSIs and small businesses. The complexity of the Federal contracting framework hinders existing and new entrants from accessing the Federal acquisition process. Entities must be familiar with Federal Acquisition and all supplemental agency guidance. Existing category management practices and best - in - class solutions can negatively impact the ability of disadvantaged entities and new entrants to position themselves for access to compete and secure awards. Data used to validate the application of category management principles demonstrates that small businesses under category management have received a proportionally lower share of spending than others. Large contracts can increase the efficiency of contract spending, eliminate redundant agreements, and reduce administrative burdens; however, this action could adversely impact contracts available for small and disadvantaged entities and equity goals for Federal acquisitions.

Memorandum M - 22 - 03 updated guidance in OMB Memorandum M - 19 - 13, Category Management: Making Smarter Use of Common Contract Solutions and Practices, which guides the use of category management intended to empower the acquisition workforce to pursue the best acquisition strategies that reach underserved small business communities and maximize awards to socioeconomic small businesses. This memorandum references the Government Accountability Office, which, in its November 2020 report, OMB Can Further Advance Category Management Initiative by Focusing on Requirements, Data, and Training, used validated agency data to identify that category management saved more than $ 33 billion in three years. The same validated agency data shows that small businesses have received a proportionally lower share of spending under category management than others. SBA Studies on Contract Bundling, conducted with the University of Washington Evans Schools of Public Policy, found that disaggregation of large contracts provides more opportunities for socioeconomic small businesses to compete for awards.

NSF conducted significant outreach to various federal and international partners on promising policies, practices, and procedures. Held in - person Listening Sessions at McMurdo Research Station (Antarctica) and a series of virtual listening sessions open to all current and former United States Antarctic Program (USAP) community members. Special sessions were reserved for the South Pole and Palmer Research stations, vessels, individuals who experienced sexual assault in the USAP program, and early - career individuals. Recent reports and legislation (CHIPS and Science Act) indicate harassment is pervasive in institutions of higher education and a deterrent to participation in STEM. Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine The National Academies Press, see e.g., p. 40 - 41. Scientific studies / literature and NSF - funded research reflect that remote field work areas / sites are uniquely challenging from a harassment context due to various factors, including difficult physical conditions, layered or otherwise confusing reporting mechanisms, social isolation, and limited communication methods. Dear Colleague Letter: Research on Sexual Harassment and Other Forms of Harassment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Contexts (nsf19053) NSF - National Science Foundation Clancy KBH, Nelson RG, Rutherford JN, Hinde K (2014) Survey of Academic Field Experiences (SAFE): Trainees Report Harassment and Assault. PLoS ONE 9 (7): e102172. Gendered Barriers to Australian Antarctic Research and Remote Fieldwork PLOS ONE Independent Review of Workplace Culture and Change at the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) - DCCEEW

Climate survey data and other information gathered via compliance activities. OECR - Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 Compliance Program NSF - National Science Foundation NSF conducted an initial evaluation of community awareness of the terms and conditions and conference proposal requirements, which informed the next phase of our evaluation strategy. This strategy is discussed under Proposed Metrics. The evaluation of NSF's harassment prevention efforts focused on the Harassment Notification Terms and Conditions and the conference policy. The communications analysis showed that, on average, universities submitting proposals to NSF have adopted an anti - harassment policy and disseminated it through their websites. The analysis also showed that NSF's conference policy positively impacted adherence to the guidance provided by NSF. This finding holds overall and by type of institution (R1 versus R2), but not for all Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). NSF Anti - Harassment Findings Technical Appendix

In August, OECR also released a Dear Colleague letter, which encourages applicants to submit research proposals to NSF - funding opportunities that address the following: Anti - harassment in STEM Education and Research Settings and Workplaces, and Culture Change and Organizational Policy Structure Projects to Create Harassment - Free STEM Education and Research Settings and Workplaces. OECR has also engaged in collaborative discussions and benchmarking with ten (10) federal agency partners to collect information on types of SAHPR support services offered, tracking and reporting incidents, measuring success, and program logistics. In July, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) co - hosted a webinar titled " " How can public access advance equity and learning? " ". NSF also participates in the Year of Open Science, the federal government's interagency effort to promote equity in Public Access and Open Science. OECR has also engaged in collaborative discussions and benchmarking with ten (10) federal agency partners to collect information on types of SAHPR support services offered, tracking and reporting incidents, measuring success, and program logistics. NSF engaged with European stakeholders at the EU Horizon Europe Gender Action Plus Workshop to better understand current practices and focus areas among international research funding institutions to prevent and respond to harassment. B. Environmental Justice Scorecard: (according to section 223 of EO 14008): NSF is advancing environmental justice for communities across America in alignment with the agency's ongoing efforts to implement the Justice40 Initiative. NSF's Phase One Scorecard metrics and highlights in FY 22 included three (3) Justice40 covered program (s), three (3) funding announcement (s) covered under the Justice40 Initiative, and $ 49 million in funding made available from Justice40 covered programs. Future versions of the Environmental Justice Scorecard will provide additional information and updates on the benefits of Justice40 - covered programs. C. Additional Efforts to Advance Equity In the past year, NSF has hosted several webinars and virtual meetings and created an archive of available content, which can be accessed here, to help inform on implementing the Public Access Plan. Advising on fulfilling this plan promotes equal access to knowledge, enables global reach to include disadvantaged communities, provides an open platform for sharing research, and encourages a diverse range of contributions. These actions also facilitate collaboration among researchers and institutions, regardless of their geographic location or financial capacity.

Implement the NSF Accountability Framework via the NSF SAHPR Office to help ensure that individuals who commit sexual assault / sexual harassment are held accountable based on the most relevant organizational policies and legal standards. Extend the reach of NSF harassment prevention efforts to research activities at field sites and on research vessels through targeted outreach, proactive compliance efforts, and policy development.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Asian American Foundation collaborated to support the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders by introducing the " " Demystifying Federal Grants " " webinar series. This series was created to provide valuable knowledge and practical advice to assist community - based organizations in successfully applying for federal grants and accessing resources. NSF's chief diversity and inclusion officer (CDIO) has collaborated with a dedicated team of program directors (PDs) to leverage its review and awards process to ensure the Foundation's funded programs can reach the broad pool of untapped scientific talent. These discussions have yielded critical insights into how NSF can better support the inclusion of underrepresented scientists by emphasizing the importance of more general impact statements in grant applications, ensuring diversity within review panels, and increasing participation of researchers from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). Under the June 2022 Executive Order 14075, Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI +) Individuals, the Office of the Chief Statistician of the United States provided recommendations for Federal agencies on best practices to collect self - reported sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data in federal statistical surveys. In an effort led by the CDIO, a dedicated team of individuals across the agency has developed a pilot survey to collect voluntary, non - personally identifiable SOGI data from within the NSF workforce. These efforts are taking place in concert with the National Council of Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) efforts to pilot the collection of SOGI data in their national surveys. D. Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation: NSF is committed to the principle that a diverse scientific workforce is vital to promoting advances in knowledge, innovation, and the global competitiveness of the U.S. scientific enterprise. Under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, NSF appointed its first CDIO in December. The office of the CDIO is responsible for guiding and leading the Foundation's strategic plans to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) in all NSF - funded activities. In addition to advocating for DEIA within the Foundation's workforce and funded programs, the CDIO is partnering with other agencies and thought leaders to advance the mission of broadening participation in the U.S. science and technology enterprise. The CDIO is guided by the principle that diversity, in all forms, enriches the scientific community, drives breakthroughs, and brings forth lasting solutions to urgent problems.

research results greatly exceed costs " " and that " " any economic burden falling on individual researchers resulting from a zero - embargo publication policy would likely be offset by the greater benefits of increased visibility, consumption, and potential impact that their research would realize. " " The OSTP Economic Landscape report acknowledges that limited transparency on publication costs indicates that many cost implications are based on estimates. An article by then Acting OSTP Director and her colleagues (Nelson, A., Marcum, C., & Isler, J. (2022). Public Access to Advance Equity. Issues in Science and Technology, 39 (1), 33 - 35.) notes that " " eliminating the barriers to discovery and research outputs are critically important to realizing the commitment to equity [ and the ] commitment to providing research, innovation, cures, and improved health and well - being to the nation and the world. " " A report of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) November 2021 meeting in Paris explains the benefits of open science ecosystems related to the equity and sustainable development goals and formally recommends that member states " " collaborate in bilateral, regional, multilateral and global initiatives for the advancement of open science. " " The report recommends the creation of, encouraging or enabling policy environment, to which implementation of NSF's public access plan would contribute, and notes that " " a paywalled method of publication, where immediate access to scientific publications is only granted in exchange for payment, is not aligned with the present Recommendation. " " Input derived from NSF participation in the Subcommittee on Open Science (SOS) and deliverables from the subgroups of the SOS. In addition to recognizing the positive equity impact of public access policies, NSF recognizes potential equity challenges that could arise from public access implementation. The NSF Public Access and Open Science Working Group's Equity of Access subgroup addresses this issue by identifying potential inequities arising from public access guidelines at different implementation phases. The literature points to four specific areas of equity challenges: (1) challenges for researchers and institutions based on resources available for public access implementation; (2) challenges based on methodologies and disciplines based on variation in public access infrastructure; (3) challenges for historically marginalized groups for whom critical issues of reclamation of rights and data sovereignty exist; and (4) challenges for international collaborations due to variation in international regulations and practices in data sharing. To address these challenges, NSF has identified four priority areas to manifest the equity promises of public access policies and minimize challenges. Actions include: Consult with Pls and institutions to understand and respond to potential equity challenges. A key priority is focusing on under - represented and under - resourced institutions and the potential for increases in public access implementation costs. Understanding and measuring investment in public access compliance's financial and non - financial costs must improve. It remains unclear what the magnitude and distribution of costs

The metrics for the entire public access initiative are complex, and metrics for efficacy are unfolding. NSF is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit input from a broad set of communities to identify potential barriers to compliance with NSF Public Access policy. Issues brought to NSF's attention via public engagements, the RFI, and other input (e.g., via agency merit review panels and direct information from Pls) will be addressed, and revised guidance for NSF and the researcher community will be developed. This will ensure that policy implementation does not introduce new or further entrench existing inequities in the research publications / data access space. Following this work, the target date for implementing the first phase of policy changes is December 31st, 2025. By this date, new policies for depositing NSF - supported publications and data will be in effect.

Practical and robust market research provides a solid foundation for an outcome - oriented approach that efficiently meets NSF needs and enables mission success in a way that ensures a resilient vendor base, meets Small Business Administration (SBA) procurement goals, and complies with the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Early, frequent, and constructive engagement with prospective offerors, encouraged by the NSF Vendor Communication Plan, is critical in understanding the marketplace. NSF will require SAM.gov to post all engagement events, including industry days, small business outreach sessions, pre - solicitation conferences, and question - and - answer sessions.

In December, NSF created a new executive position of chief diversity and inclusion officer (CDIO), which was included in the " " CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. " " The primary responsibility of this position is to coordinate NSF's work to advance equity and lead the integration and sustainability of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) into our culture, mission, and all aspects of agency operations and decision - making. Under the CDIO's leadership, we will ensure that equity and DEIA remain priorities, maintain organizational mechanisms for accountability, and advance new initiatives and legislation related to equity and DEIA in the NSF workplace and the STEM enterprise.

NSF's Agency Equity Team (AET) is executing our plan to champion racial equity and advance equal opportunity for underserved communities in accordance with EO 14091. Ongoing activities and new initiatives include improving public access to NSF - funded research, increasing participation in Federal Acquisition Regulation - based solicitation and awards, optimizing demographic data collection in support of equity assessments, addressing sexual and other forms of harassment, and creating opportunities to diversify STEM. NSF has also established the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer and the position of the Chief Diversity Officer in accordance with the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.

Strategy # 2: Increase Participation in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) - based Solicitations and Awards to Promote an Inclusive Contracting Environment

Among NSF's other efforts towards advancing equity, NSF will commit to examining the influence of sexual harassment in higher education institutions on the career advancement of individuals pursuing education and careers in STEM. Recent reports and legislation indicate harassment is pervasive in institutions of higher education and a deterrent to participation in STEM. According to the CHIPS and Science Act, NSF will undertake a follow - up study to the 2018 NASEM study to examine the influence of sexual harassment in institutions of higher education on the career advancement of individuals in the STEM workforce and assess progress in implementing recommendations from the 2018 report.

The 2022 OSTP guidance Ensuring Free, Immediate, and Equitable Access to Federally Funded Research (" " Nelson Memo " ") and the 2021 OSTP Public Access Congressional Report and Economic Landscape. Using available data, OSTP estimates that " " the societal and economic benefits of a change in federal policy toward immediate public access to federally funded

Partner with EEOC to provide training and resources for Federal agencies on conducting barrier analysis and creating action plans. Partner with talent acquisition systems to develop and implement government - wide data standards and business rules for agency access and usage of Applicant Flow Data. Conduct a government - wide barrier analysis project that seeks to create resources to enable agencies to accelerate their ability to uncover, examine, and remove barriers to equal participation at all levels of the workplace. Develop initial guidance for agencies and talent acquisition systems for how AFD should be structured and made available to different roles in agencies.

OPM has held roundtable events with agencies implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The first roundtable served as an exchange of ideas and information on how agencies are utilizing data. In the second roundtable, OPM partnered with the EEOC to share more about conducting barrier analysis. OPM will engage 5 - 8 agencies in a government - wide barrier analysis project to better understand why agencies may or may not be able to uncover, examine, and remove barriers to equal participation at all levels of the workplace.

Some communities have historically been underrepresented in the Federal government workforce. The government is having challenges in securing early career talent and many recent graduates are uninterested in or are unaware of Federal government jobs. Some students and recent graduates from high schools, college students from underserved communities, HBCUs, and other MSIs have expressed a lack of awareness around availability of government jobs and guidance on how to apply for Federal jobs. Many candidates who might consider Federal service are prevented from entering early career talent pipelines as they are unable to accept unpaid Federal job opportunities due to financial concerns.

According to a participant survey following the pilot " " Level Up to Public Service " " event, 63 % of the students expressed interest in pursuing a career in the Federal government before the event, and this figure rose to 78 % after the event. This 15 percentage - point increase in interest indicates that this event enhanced awareness of and fostered interest in careers within the public service sector among college students from underrepresented communities. Students who are aware of Federal job opportunities face challenges with the application process. OPM's ODEIA has partnered with institutions of higher education, including HBCUs and other MSIs, and have collected reports from student participants that have indicated there are challenges accessing and support in submitting applications for Federal internships and early career positions. Specifically, the following challenges have been reported to various Federal Chief Diversity Officers government - wide: Students have limited exposure to or awareness of public service opportunities; Students are experiencing challenges finding appropriate internships that support individual career goals; Students need specific training to complete the Federal application process; Students prefer internship opportunities that support their career goals, while also meeting their financial obligations. OPM, the Department of Labor, and OMB recently developed and launched a new portal on USAJOBS for prospective Federal interns. President Biden also expressed a strong commitment to paid internships as an equity issue in White House Executive Order 14035 and the Guidance on Promoting Internship and Other Student and Early Career Programs in the Federal Government. Additional actions that expose students and recent graduates from diverse backgrounds to Federal career opportunities and provide them with the necessary resources and support to apply for those positions are needed to build a robust pipeline of early career talent.

Conduct outreach events for high school and college students from underserved communities, HBCUs, and other MSIs detailing the availability of Federal jobs and providing guidance on how to apply for them. Conduct a qualitative research study and engage with focus groups that include under - represented candidate audiences. OPM will conduct this study to better understand the motives behind seeking government work, job seeker behavior, applicant needs, and barriers to entry (e.g., distrust, fatigue, clearance debt, incarceration, citizenship issues).

Increase percentage of paid internship opportunities, by utilizing guidance and communications. Improve perceptions of and satisfaction with Federal job opportunities and the Federal hiring process. In 2024, OPM will hire FEB coordinators and create an action plan to engage and partner with institutions and community organizations from all 31 geographic FEB locations to increase awareness of an interest in Federal job opportunities. Longer - Term: Within 10 years, OPM will coordinate with institutions and community organizations from the geographic locations of all 31 FEBS.

OPM has launched " " The Level Up to Public Service " " pilot and has directly engaged with the high school and college students from underserved communities through creating events at schools that serve these populations such as HBCUs and MSIs. The pilot provides guidance about Federal jobs and how to apply for them and will be further expanded in the coming year. To support this strategy, OPM has conducted key informant interviews (KIIs) and other research and engagement with leaders of affinity groups. In 2024, OPM will launch a media campaign that will engage with the general public and will get feedback from focus groups and relevant stakeholders about Federal jobs among underserved populations, including but not limited to people with disabilities, the formerly incarcerated, and those affiliated with MSIs. OPM will focus on engaging with underserved communities from MSIs (EO 14035, Section 7a), persons with disabilities (EO 14035, Section 2a), and formerly incarcerated individuals (EO 14035, Section 2a). OPM will also inform and integrate with complementary efforts including those from the President's Management Agenda.

Federal employees and retirees face increasing health care premiums (as a percentage of income) and difficulty affording paying their share of premiums, as well as health plan copayments and coinsurance. These increases disproportionately impact lower wage Federal employees and retirees as there is no adjustment to reflect differences in family incomes. The government contribution toward FEHB enrollee premium is set in statute. These contributions are the lesser of 72 percent of the weighted average premium of all plans or 75 percent of the premium of the plan chosen by the enrollee. The government contribution formula makes no distinction between the grade or salary level of the Federal employee or the amount of the annuitant's annuity payment. In other words, a Senior Executive enrolled in Blue Cross Basic pays the same self only premium as the GS - 5 enrolled in the same plan, even though the Senior Executive may earn three times the pay of the GS - 5. Similarly, health plan cost sharing at time of service, deductibles, and the maximum out of pocket payment allowed are not adjusted based on enrollee income or grade. The FEHB Program does not currently have information on the family income of individual employees or retirees to enable targeting of the FEHB benefit to those with lower incomes, and further research is needed to understand what factors affect non - enrollment and how employees perceive affordability.

Expanded Agency Access to and Use of Post - Audit Applicant Flow Data (AFD) OPM launched a new reporting capability (Power BI), which includes reporting capabilities and dashboards to support Federal agencies. The use of Power BI expands beyond improved access to AFD and includes broad access to talent acquisition data for agencies and the public, as well as other OPM data products. OPM has established connectivity between most agencies and OPM's Power BI environment. The primary impediment remains building connections between OPM and agencies that operate in the Azure Government Cloud (Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Justice (DOJ), and some elements of Treasury). OPM is currently developing initial guidance for agencies and talent acquisition systems for how AFD should be structured and made available to different roles in agencies, including hiring managers. The guidance aims to establish clear government - wide standards on AFD data structure, access, and use. When agencies adhere to these standards, individuals involved in agency hiring

Healthcare and Insurance Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) Call Letter: On March 1, 2023, OPM issued an annual Call Letter for 2024 FEHBP plans that serve 8.2 million Federal employees, annuitants, and their family members. Priorities for the coming year include requiring health plans to offer expanded fertility benefits, including artificial insemination and coverage of 3 cycles of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) related drugs annually; encouraging closer coordination with Medicare Part D employer group waiver plans for annuitants with FEHB and Medicare; and leveraging reductions in cost sharing resulting from the Inflation Reduction Act. 2023 Employee Wellness Guidance and Ensuring Access to Mental Health Services: In May 2023, OPM issued Employee Wellness Guidance that is designed to foster the mental, emotional, and physical prosperity of Federal employees through workplace wellness tools and resources which can optimize both employee and organizational success. By reframing Employee Assistance Programs as wellness programs, OPM is striving to de - stigmatize the use of mental health services. We also have continued efforts to achieve mental health parity through access to mental health services offered by FEHB Carriers, by working with Carriers to ensure mental health services are reimbursed similarly to physical health services. Carrier Letter on Contraception: In August 2022, OPM issued a Carrier Letter on Contraception reminding Carriers of their responsibilities to offer contraceptive services with no enrollee cost - sharing and updating FEHB guidance to be consistent with guidance from the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Treasury, and Labor on coverage of certain contraceptive services and products, including emergency contraceptives. In particular, the guidance required FEHB Carriers to implement " " exceptions processes " " that enable enrollees to petition for coverage of alternate forms of contraception than those listed in the plan brochure when warranted using expeditious and timely exception processes. In support of Executive Order " " Strengthening Access to Affordable, High - Quality Contraception and Family Planning " ", in the fourth quarter of 2023, OPM will share updated guidance on promoting access to affordable, high - quality contraception. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce DEIA National Engagement for Federal and Non - Federal Employees: OPM hosted a virtual DEIA National Engagement for Federal and Non - Federal employees. The focus of the national virtual event was to share publicly available documents as exemplars to both the private and public sectors that promote promising practices and DEIA in the workforce, as well as highlight the 2023 Gender Inclusion Guidance Document, the DEIA Annual Report, and the

Employee Resource Group (ERG) and Affinity Group Summit: OPM convened the first - ever government - wide Employee Resource Group (ERG) and Affinity Group Summit in April 2022. It was held again in May 2023. This ongoing and annual event is designed to equip Federal employees in ERGs and affinity groups to better support agency efforts to strategically advance DEIA and increase participation in the OPM Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS), an organizational climate survey that assesses how employees jointly experience the policies, practices, and procedures characteristic of their agency and its leadership. DEIA Summit: In December 2022, OPM convened a three - day national event, " " DEIA Summit 2022: A Whole - of - Government Approach to Disability Employment " " to discuss promising practices and strategies to improve employment for people with disabilities in the Federal workforce. DEIA Learning Community for all Federal Agencies: Since July 2021, OPM has led a DEIA Learning Community to support all Federal agencies with implementing promising practices, and worked with agencies as they self - assessed the strengths and challenges related to DEIA practices within their own organizations. Learning community offerings are open to all Federal employees and include webinars, newsletters, office hours, and 24 - hour access to online resources, videos, and templates. DEIA Annual Report: In February 2023, OPM released Government - wide DEIA: Our Progress and Path Forward to Building a Better Workforce for the American People, the inaugural annual report providing a government - wide perspective of DEIA progress. Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council: In September 2022, OPM established the Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council as a coordinated effort to embed DEIA principles across the Federal government. Support for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals: OPM supported formerly incarcerated individuals, justice - involved youth, and those with lived experiences by partnering with organizations to provide information sessions and existing resources on Federal application process and personnel vetting process. During Second Chance Month in April 2022, OPM posted a " " Guide to Federal Employment for Second Chance Applicants. " " LGBTQIA + Gender Identity Guidance: OPM published Gender Identity Guidance to all agencies on Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, 2023. Equitable Healthcare Coverage: Through the FEHB Program, OPM continues to emphasize the importance of equitable healthcare coverage for LGBTQI + employees, beneficiaries and eligible dependents, including advancing comprehensive coverage of gender - affirming care and services.

Early Career Talent Federal Internship Portal: In February 2023, OPM launched the Federal Internship Portal with a webinar featuring a panel discussion with former Federal interns from NASA, HHS, DOI, and EPA, and a live demo of the Portal. Over 1,880 individuals RSVP'd for the event and over 700 attended. The Federal Internship Portal aims to attract early career talent to join the Federal workforce. In rolling out the Portal, OPM conducted outreach to over 700 college and university counselors and academic coordinators to promote Federal internships and the intern experience program. Additionally, OPM focused outreach on minority - serving institutions and outside organizations, including 19 nonprofit organizations focused on promoting equitable access to jobs, higher education, or affinity groups. This has also been included in the OPM Gender Equity and Equality Action Strategic Plan. Guidance on Promoting Internships and Other Student and Early Career Programs in the Federal Government: In January 2023, OPM issued guidance on internships and similar programs including guidance to increase the availability of paid internships, and reduce the practice of hiring interns, fellows, and apprentices who are unpaid in accordance with EO 14035. Pathways Proposed Regulation: In August 2023, OPM proposed to modify the Pathways Program to better meet the Federal government's needs for recruiting and hiring interns and recent graduates. The Pathways Program consists of three programs: Pathways Internships, Recent Graduates, and the Presidential Management Fellowship. OPM is proposing changes to improve and enhance each of these programs, consistent with Executive Order 13562, and to strengthen the Federal government's efforts to recruit and retain early career talent. Federal Recruitment Engagements HBCU and FEB Recruitment Event: OPM convened an open dialogue and exchange of ideas on how Federal agencies can create or support pathways, pipelines, or curriculums to sustain Federal employment for students of HBCUs in partnership with the Atlanta Federal Executive Board (FEB) and the Atlanta University Center Consortium. The conversation included internship opportunities, best practices, challenges, and opportunities to improve recruitment for Federal jobs with the goal of gaining better insight on how Federal agencies can continue to establish, strengthen, and sustain partnerships between HBCUs and Federal agencies. OPM and Department of Commerce Roundtable on Equitable Recruitment and Hiring: In January 2022, OPM and the Department of Commerce hosted a roundtable Reinventing the Federal Workforce, A Roundtable Discussion on Making Government the Model Employer. The conversation included two HBCU Presidents and leaders from a Hispanic - serving and disability advocacy organization. The conversation focused on equitable recruiting and hiring,

Tribal Development and delivery of training modules and uniform standards on Tribal Consultation: On April 17, 2023, OPM in partnership with the Department of Interior held a Tribal Consultation on the development and delivery of training modules on Tribal Consultation as called for in the President Memorandum on Uniform Standards for Tribal Consultation. OPM is working to incorporate the input from the consultation in these training modules to ensure that the Federal government is upholding its nation - to - nation obligations in every tribal consultation. Additionally, OPM played a critical role in developing the Uniform Standards for Tribal Consultation that were detailed in the presidential memorandum. American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Recruitment Event: For the first time, OPM hosted the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Government Relations Council meeting to support recruitment of Native Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) talent to the Federal workforce and strengthen the agency's relationship with Native communities. OPM covered topics such as the DEIA EO, USAJOBS, and internships. Additionally, OPM will participate at the 2023 AISES National Conference by hosting a session on USAJOBS and helping convene a principals - level roundtable. A Customer Experience Approach to Understanding Tribal Nations Experiences Accessing Federal Grants on Performance.gov: In partnership with OMB's Federal Customer Experience team and the U.S. Digital Service (USDS), OPM used human - centered design to understand Tribal Nations ' experiences in accessing Federal grants. Established in Executive Order 14058, this cross - agency effort aims to improve customer experience and the delivery of government services to Tribal Nations. Military Spouse and Veterans Minimum wage Federal agency Implementation Guidance: Release of the $ 15 minimum wage Federal agency implementation guidance, which applies to and brings economic support to veterans and military spouses serving in Federal positions (January 2022). Hiring Guidance for Certain Military Spouse: OPM issued updated hiring policy guidance (Non - Competitive Appointment for Certain Military Spouses) and enabling human resource tools to enhance military spouse access to Federal service (Fall 2022 - Spring 2023). Outreach to the Veteran and Military Community for Feds Hire Vets: OPM continues to facilitate ongoing outreach to the veteran and military community, including the hosting of Feds Hire Vets website, a centralized

Pay Equity: In May 2023, OPM released proposed regulations that would prohibit the use of salary history when setting pay for Federal jobs - an important step to help address gender and racial pay gaps. Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: On September 1, 2023, OPM published regulations pertaining to when, during the hiring process, a hiring agency can request information typically collected during a background investigation from an applicant for Federal employment. The regulations expand the positions covered by the Federal government's " " ban the box " " policy, which delays inquiries into an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer has been made.

Advancing Equity Through Key Regulations

challenges primarily relate to data gaps that limit AFD's ability to be a comprehensive data source, the lack of capacity on the part of staff in Federal agencies to analyze, interpret, and use the data (in conjunction with other materials), and uncertainty on how the data could be used beyond compliance reporting (such as MD - 715 reporting).

In 2022, OPM advanced and embedded equity further into our programs by increasing access to post - audit Applicant Flow Data (AFD); engaging Federal employees to inform the design of a future Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program Decisions Support Tool; finalizing a series of regulations and policy actions that deepen OPM's commitment to leading as a model employer; and implementing major functions to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) across the Federal government, including launching the first Chief Diversity Officers Council.

In March 2023, OPM released updated guidance Advancing Gender Identity Inclusion in the Federal Workplace. The new guidance reflects several changes in law and executive policy that have occurred since this guidance was first written in 2015 and updated in 2017.

OPM is committed to identifying barriers and understanding how paid parental leave (PPL) affects Federal employees and agencies. Available evidence suggests that some eligible Federal employees are not taking the full PPL benefits that are available to them through the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act (FEPLA). FEPLA provides up to 12 weeks of PPL to eligible Federal employees in connection with the birth of an employee's child or placement of a child with an employee for adoption or foster care. On August 10, 2020, OPM issued interim regulations to implement the PPL law, which went into effect on October, 2020. This study will advance equity for Federal employees by assessing any gaps in use of leave by demographic group and examining any effects on women's participation in the labor force. This study is also included in the OPM commitments for the National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality.

A. 2022 Equity Action Plan Update (pursuant to EO 13985): 5 B. Environmental Justice Scorecard (pursuant to section 223 of EO 14008): 8 C. Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation: 8

licensing ensures that community - based, mission - driven lenders can continue to provide access to capital to underserved markets via small dollar loans. These loans can meet the financing needs of underserved borrowers, as well as provide a bridge to more traditional business financing that will allow underserved borrowers to grow and scale their businesses. 3. Expand justice - involved individuals ' access to business development and capital ¹ ³ On September 14, 2023, SBA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would revise regulations to remove certain criminal history questions from preliminary business loan applications. The notice provided a 60 - day period within which SBA received comments from the public and the lending industry regarding the proposal. SBA envisions that the proposed changes to the rule will increase access to capital for justice involved individuals, where previous regulations may have been a deterrent to entrepreneurs with justice involvement. The rule will apply to the 7 (a), 504, Microloan, and Disaster loan programs.

Community Advantage Small Business Lending Companies (CA SBLCs): Effective April 12, 2023, SBA used its regulatory authority to create a new type of SBLC called a Community Advantage Small Business Lending Company, which provided for the conversion of Community Advantage Pilot lenders to fully licensed CA SBLCs with permanent 7 (a) lending authority. The move to CA SBLC included measures borrower application requirements and making the application mobile friendly. Borrower data became integrated automatically and a high - quality customer service support system was made available. From FY 2022 to FY 2023, Community Advantage lending to underserved borrowers increased by 11 percent by total loan count and 23 percent by total loan dollars. Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) Moratorium Rule: On June 1, 2023, SBA opened a window for new applications for SBLC licenses. The application window remained open until July 31, 2023. SBLCs are a category of lenders that are directly regulated by SBA to provide SBA 7 (a) loans nationally. The new SBLCs will help target critical market gaps in SBA lending to underserved small businesses. These institutions have historically lent to businesses that have less access to capital, including to Black, Latino, Native, and rural entrepreneurs, at higher rates. Affiliation and Lending Criteria Rule: On August 1,, 2023, SBA published simplified program rules to increase access and participation.

2 Federal small business procurement goals are set by Congress, which requires that the Federal government shall direct a percentage of spending dollars to small business concerns and certain socioeconomic categories of small businesses. The Small Business Act (Section 15 (g), 15 U.S.C. 644 (g) (1)) includes the various small business procurement goals. 3 The CMLC oversees the category management program established by the Office of Management and Budget in Memorandum No. M - 19 - 13. In FY 2022, the category management program provided guidance for over $ 340 billion in Federal contracts designated as spend under management.

Disaster Loan Program Modifications Rule: SBA completed rulemaking to increase the maximum allowable disaster loan amount to ensure the amount of disaster assistance is sufficient to help disaster victims complete a full recovery. Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act: SBA implemented statutory changes increasing the accessibility of disaster assistance for rural communities. SBA is actively piloting - and is preparing to fully adopt for all disasters - a new Unified Lending Platform that vastly reduces the amount of work for disaster victims and speeds up the process from application to approval. Leveraging a new " " Whole of SBA Approach, " " SBA is fostering an extensive network of partnerships to conduct deliberate customer service campaigns earlier in the disaster response cycle. These partners include local, state, and federal entities such as SBA Resource Partners like Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women's Business Centers (WBCs), the business mentoring organization SCORE, and Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs), as well as Community Navigators, economic development agencies, and emergency managers. Additionally, SBA works with mayors, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), Minority Servicing Institutions (MSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Native American Tribal Nations to optimize recovery resource delivery.

SBA's efforts support environmental justice for underserved communities and the Justice40 Initiative through the SBA Disaster Loan Program, which provides financial assistance to businesses of all sizes, nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters following a disaster and helps small businesses prepare for disasters through mitigation loans. SBA is working to reduce barriers to access the Disaster Loan Program by modernizing the technology disaster survivors use to apply for disaster lending products and disaster assistance. The new platform will provide an enhanced user interface, faster damage verification, and quicker application reviews. SBA began piloting the new platform in August 2023 and plans to launch nationally in 2024. C. Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation: SBA was one of the lead agencies for American Rescue Plan (ARP) implementation of critical COVID - 19 relief and community support. For example, the Community Navigator Pilot Program (CNPP), established by ARP, has successfully attained participation rates for underserved small business owners at rates well beyond traditional SBA programming. Of CNPP clients providing information, at least 80 percent are considered socially and economically disadvantaged.

Since 1958, SBA has licensed and regulated private market investment funds as " " SBICs. " " SBICs invest or lend private capital, plus funds borrowed with an SBA guarantee, to make equity and / or debt investments in small businesses and start - ups.

In alignment with Executive Order (EO) 14091 (" " Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government " "), SBA identifies underserved communities as those populations as well as geographic communities that have been systematically denied the opportunity to participate fully in aspects of economic, social, and civic life. 1 Some SBA programs utilize a specific definition for underserved communities and / or disadvantaged small business as outlined in program statutes and regulations.

SBA's regular engagement with the small business community and its stakeholders helped inform the Equity Action Plan. Through its nationwide network of field and program offices, SBA communicates directly with entrepreneurs via activities such as: training events, small business coaching sessions, office hour calls, and the regulation and policy notification process. SBA also gains insights from Resource Partners, small business trade associations, chambers of commerce and other entities similarly focused on aiding small business growth. SBA's Council on Underserved Communities (CUC) continues to consult directly with the Administrator and SBA executive leaders. The collaboration and input from all these sources are invaluable as SBA continues to formulate meaningful, equity - conscious policies, practices, and strategies that can create opportunities for underserved firms.

Simplify the process for applying for SSI. Complete the Beyond Benefits Study, which explores the barriers to accessing community services to aid the return to self - sufficiency after disability benefits cease. Conduct SSI outreach including stakeholder listening sessions, marketing of program updates, and informing the public about policy updates that affect underserved communities. Centralize representative referral lists to ensure applicants have options to seek representation by an attorney or non - attorney representative. Continue to reach out to unrepresented claimants to prepare them for the hearing process and explain their right to representation. Using CX research practices, learn from our employees about their experiences with working with claimants as they apply to the disability programs. Develop, market, and assess effectiveness of informative materials, including priority language translations, to educate the public and other stakeholders on SSI eligibility and the application process. Complete our regulatory agenda 18 to simplify SSI, particularly our In - Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) policies. Under current policy, ISM refers to reported or estimated assistance with food and / or shelter provided to SSI claimants from others within or outside their households. We determine claimants ' eligibility for and amount of SSI payments, partially based on the amount of ISM they receive. Simplifying ISM policies will make the SSI program easier for the public to understand and less burdensome for us to administer, and reduce the potential for improper payments. Omitting Food from ISM Calculation: Removes food from the calculation of ISM. Food assistance received from others will no longer impact claimants ' benefit eligibility and amount. (NPRM. Feb. 15, 2023. 88 FR 9779.) Expansion of the Rental Subsidy Policy for SSI Applicants and Recipients: Expands rental subsidy exemption currently applicable in seven States nationwide, exempting claimants from ISM from other household members if they pay at least one third of the SSI benefit on rent. (NPRM. Aug. 24, 2023. 88 FR 57910.) Expand the Definition of a Public Assistance (PA) Household: Adds Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to the list of means - tested programs included in our definition of PA households; if every household member receives at least one of the specified types of assistance, we would not reduce SSI benefits due to ISM or deeming from other household members. (NPRM. Sept. 29, 2023. 88 FR 67148.)

In initial claim situations, underpayments stem from benefits that are due back to the date of onset2 ², the first day a claimant meets the definition of disability or statutory blindness. Once an initial claim is approved, the person receiving SSI is paid back to the date of their application or the date of onset if they meet the definition of disability or statutory blindness after they submit their application. These past - due benefits are considered underpayments and may be subject to installments. In post - entitlement situations, underpayments are generally the result of reporting delays. For example, people receiving SSI payments are required to timely report any changes in their medical or non - medical (i.e., income, resources, or living arrangements) circumstances that may impact their payments. When a person receiving SSI payments does not timely report changes that will affect their payment amount, the field office will update the record noting a discrepancy, which may cause an underpayment. If an underpayment exceeds three times the Federal Benefit Rate, the payment due to the recipient is subject to installments. 23

1 SSA. FY 23 Equity Action Plan. Available at, https: / / www.ssa.gov / open / materials / SSA - EO - 13985 - Equity - Action - Plan.pdf 2 LGBTQIA + is an abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more. These terms are used to describe a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. Available at, https: / / gaycenter.org / community / lgbta / 3 SSA. Racial Equity Research, Statistics, and Data Resources. Available at, https: / / www.ssa.gov / policy / about / racial - equity - resources.html. 4 SSA (2023, November). SSI Monthly Statistics. Available at, https: / / www.ssa.gov / policy / docs / statcomps / ssi monthly / 2023 - 11 / table01. html. 5 CDC (2020). Health equity considerations and racial and ethnic minority groups. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services. Available at, https: / / stacks.cdc.gov / view / cdc / 91049. 6 Millett GA, Jones AT, Benkeser D, et al. Assessing differential impacts of COVID - 19 on black communities. Ann Epidemiol. Available at, https: / / www.sciencedirect.com / science / article / pii / S1047279720301769. 7 National Institutes of Health (2021). NCI study highlights pandemic's disproportionate impact on Black, American Indian / Alaska Native, and Latino adults. News Release. Available at, https: / / www.nih.gov / news - events / news - releases / nci - study - highlights - andemics - disproportionate - impact - black - american - indian - alaska - native - latino - adults. 8 Enumeration at Birth (EAB) process with States is an efficient way for parents to obtain an SSN for a newborn during the birth registration process. 9 We define " " underserved communities " " as ZIP codes with a 30 percent or more decline in SSI applications between FY 2019 and FY 2021 and either includes a majority of people of color and / or majority of people living at 150 percent or less of the Federal poverty threshold. 10 A protective filing date is the date that you initially notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) of an intention to apply for benefits. It can be the date you formally file the application, but it can also be established by a prior written or verbal contact by phone, by mail, in person or online. The protective filing date serves as the application filing date for purposes of paying benefits. See SSA Program Operations Manual System, https: / / secure.ssa.gov / poms.nsf / Inx / 0200204007. 11 SSA. What You Need To Know About Your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) When You Turn 18. Available at, https: / / www.ssa.gov / pubs / EN - 05 - 11005. pdf. 12 SSA Regulatory Agenda. Available at, https: / / www.reginfo.gov / public / do / eAgendaMain? operation = OPERATION, GET AGENCY RULE LIST & currentPub = true & agencyCo de = & showStage = active & agencyCd = 0960 & csrftoken = 658DD4794FA07AB6BC7441822FECE5065951E36836E75213B047ACB2F0F1 3DE8B13981D6794EF94B20891882FE03AE69B4C0. 13 National Center for Education Statistics (2007, November). Characteristics of Minority - Serving Institutions and Minority Undergraduates Enrolled in These Institution. Institutions were classified as minority - serving (MSIs) based on either one of two separate criteria: legislation or the percentage of minority student enrollment. SSA is moving away from using the term minority and will reference MSIs as Institutions Serving Students of Color. Available at, https: / / nces.ed.gov / pubs2008 / 2008156. pdf. 14 This action is also pursuant to EO 14031 (Advancing Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders), EO 14041 (White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity Through Historically Black Colleges and Universities), EO 14045 (White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics, and EO 14050 (White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans). Available athttps: / / www.federalregister.gov / documents / 2021 / 06 / 03 / 2021 - 1792 / advancing - equity - justice - and - opportunity - for - asian - americans - native - hawaiians - and - pacific - islanders, s: / / www.federalregister.gov / documents / 2021 / 09 / 09 / 2021 - 19579 / white - house - initiative - on - advancing - educational - equity -

excellence - and - economic - opportunity - through https: / / www.federalregister.gov / documents / 2021 / 09 / 16 / 2021 - 20165 / white - house - initiative - on - advancing - educational - equity - excellence - and - economic - opportunity - for https: / / www.federalregister.gov / documents / 2021 / 10 / 22 / 2021 - 23224 / white - house - initiative - on - advancing - educational - equity kcellence - and - economic - opportunity - for - black, respectively. 15 U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility. Available at, https: / / www.federalregister.gov / documents / 2022 / 09 / 09 / 2022 - 18867 / public - charge - ground - of - inadmissibility. 16 SSA. Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens. Available at, http: / / www.ssa.gov / pubs / EN - 05 - 10096. pdf 17 SSA. Characteristics of Noninstitutionalized DI, SSI, and OASI Program Participants, 2016 Update. Available at, https: / / www.ssa.gov / policy / docs / rsnotes / rsn2022 - 01. html 18 SSA Regulatory Agenda. Available at, https: / / www.reginfo.gov / public / do / eAgendaMain? operation = OPERATION_GET AGENCY RULE IST & currentPub = true & agencyCo de = & showStage = active & agencyCd = 0960 & csrftoken = 658DD4794FA07AB6BC7441822FECE5065951E36836E75213B047ACB2F0F1 3DE8B13981D6794EF94B20891882FE03AE69B4C0. 19 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - The Office of Minority Health. Minority Population Profile: American Indian / Alaska Native. Available at, https: / / www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov / omh / browse.aspx? vl = 3 & lvlid = 62. 20 SSA (2023, November). SSI Monthly Statistics. Available at, https: / / www.ssa.gov / policy / docs / statcomps / ssi monthly / 2023 - 11 / table01. html. 21 SSA. Fiscal Year 2022 Title XVI Payment Accuracy Report. Available at, https: / / ogr.ba.ad.ssa.gov / files / ogr / reports / FY2: Title XVI Payment Accuracy Report 0. pdf. 22 See SSA Program Operations Manual System for an Overview of Onset Policy. Available at, http: / / policy.ssa.gov / poms.nsf / Inx / 0425501200. 23 See SSA Program Operations Manual System for SI 02101.020 Large Past - Due Supplemental Security Income Payments by Installments - Individual Alive. Available at, https: / / secure.ssa.gov / poms.nsf / Inx / 0502101020. 24 A dedicated account is a separate financial institution account that the representative payee of a disabled child under age 18 is required to open, when the child is eligible for large past - due payments (usually any payment covering more than six months at the current benefit rate). 25 SSA (2023, August). Fast Facts & Figures About Social Security, 2023. Available at, https: / / www.ssa.gov / policy / docs / chartbooks / fast facts / 2023 / fast facts23. pdf 26 SSA (2023, August). Fast Facts & Figures About Social Security, 2023. Available at, https: / / www.ssa.gov / policy / docs / chartbooks / fast facts / 2023 / fast facts23. pdf. 27 SSA. Notice of Class Action Order: Ely V. Saul. Available at, https: / / www.ssa.gov / ely / 28 SSA. Notice Of Class Action Order: Thornton V. Commissioner Of Social Security. Available at, https: / / www.ssa.gov / thornton / 29 The Social Security Administration recognizes the importance of identifying and addressing systemic inequities relating to race and ethnicity in the programs it administers. Reporting program - related statistics by race is a critical step toward fulfilling that objective. The tables in this expanded section respond to that imperative; however, the concerns about the collection of data by race still apply. Those concerns are summarized in " " Why Researchers Now Rely on Surveys for Race Data on OASDI and SSI Programs: A Comparison of Four Major Surveys. " " Available at, https: / / www.ssa.gov / policy / docs / rsnotes / rsn2016 - 01. html. 30 For people who either or both have disabilities and lost a spouse to death, and receive survivors benefits, about 60 to 80 percent are White, nine to 25 percent are Black, 10 to 20 percent are Other, and less than 10 percent are Unknown. Social Security Administration (2023, August). Annual Statistical Supplement, Summary Expanded by Race, 2023. Available at, https: / / www.ssa.gov / policy / docs / statcomps / supplement / 2023 / 5a - expanded.html.

1) In the Spring of 2023, we conducted community - based participatory research on barriers faced by people living in the U.S. with disabilities or impairments. We also formed a technical working group (TWG) consisting of people with disabilities who helped design the study, monitored the progress, and reviewed and provided comments on products. We compensated TWG participants while protecting participant eligibility in benefit programs, the first time a Federal agency has done this. Paying lived experience experts, per activity, fostered meaningful relationships with communities served by the Government, and offered unique opportunities for innovative improvements in policy and programming based on data rooted in and guided by lived experience. 2) In the Fall of 2023, we published a Regulatory Agenda ¹ 2 that prioritizes equity, including: a. SSI Simplification - Omitting Food from In - Kind Support and Maintenance Calculations b. SSI Simplification - Nationwide Expansion of the Rental Subsidy Policy for SSI Recipients C. SSI Simplification - Expand the Definition of a Public Assistance (PA) Household d. Intermediate Improvement to the Disability Adjudication Process: Including How We Consider Past Work e. Manner of Appearance at Hearings f. Use of Electronic Payroll Data to Improve Program Administration

1) On September 23, 2022, we published sub - regulatory guidance on self - attestation for change of sex designation for the SSN card application process. 2) On April 20, 2023, we updated quality review instructions and subsequently updated 300 + policies with gender - neutral language in FY 2023.

Barriers to Equity: Eligibility for the SSI program provides access to multiple Federal and State assistance programs. The complexity of our SSI program - driven in part by legislative, regulatory, and sub - regulatory requirements - can create burdens for program applicants and recipients, and our front - line employees who help claimants understand our programs and complete forms. Some of our customers cannot conduct business with us online due to limited access to technology, housing insecurity, lack of credit history, or difficulty understanding the procedures to establish an online account.

The complexity of our SSI program - driven in part by legislative, regulatory, and sub - regulatory requirements - can create burdens for program applicants. Many of our customers may need help to complete the SSI application. Although we have more than 1,200 field offices across the country, some customers, especially those in rural areas or on Native American reservations, may not be able to get to a field office for in - person help. To meet our customers ' needs and advance equity, we are streamlining our regulations, simplifying the application process, and releasing digital tools for electronic form submission to improve an applicant's ability to complete the application process and receive the full benefits for which they are entitled.

Religious, ethnic, and racial minority communities are vulnerable to discriminatory laws, regulations, and practices in their host countries. They are often excluded from political participation and economic development, which make safe and sustainable access to and participation in diplomatic engagements and programs difficult. Department, U.S. government, and diplomatic partners lack a full understanding of what it means to protect the right to freedom of religion or belief, and the intersection between freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression and other human rights and fundamental freedoms, which includes protection of members of marginalized and underserved non - belief communities. There is a lack of statistical hate crime reporting disaggregated by religious or other communities affected. Instability, lack of governance, and lack of U.S. subnational engagement impacts meaningful consultation with human rights defenders, religious actors, marginalized,

Equity Infrastructure: Internal communication, investment in personnel, data capabilities, accessibility requirements, and other resources, as well as technical excellence for equity implementation. External Engagement: Bilateral and multilateral engagements with foreign governments and civil society to support comprehensive legislative, judicial, and regulatory frameworks; and community consultations and / or public engagement with members of marginalized communities to inform foreign policy, programs, and processes.

Generations of discriminatory laws, regulations, and practices have built international, national, and local governance structures and community attitudes that compound systemic racism, discrimination, and xenophobia, which continue to have devastating outcomes for members of marginalized racial, ethnic, and Indigenous communities. These communities are often excluded from equitable access to political participation, employment, and education opportunities and can even face violent suppression and statelessness due to their race or ethnicity. U.S. foreign affairs efforts and national security interests are weakened by a lack of data, attention, and coordination with international partners to address the impact of systemic racism on institutional practices and entrenched norms that contribute to economic inequality, the climate crisis, rising authoritarianism, and other shared global challenges.

When women's rights are viewed as a separate issue from human rights, or gender equality is misconstrued as a threat to the enjoyment of all human rights, the sovereignty of states, or national values and traditions, democracy as both a political system and shared societal commitment to fundamental values cannot flourish. Over the last decade, anti - women's rights movements have become more visible, vocal, widespread, and successful and are often tied to pushback on broader human rights issues. These movements are transnational in nature and associated with or supported by authoritarian regimes that seek to attain or retain power, contributing to global democratic backsliding. Per Freedom House's annual Freedom in the World report, 2022 marked 16 consecutive years of democratic decline. These movements and authoritarian regimes, such as the governments of Russia and the People's Republic of China, strive to dismantle human rights institutions and instruments, employ disinformation aimed to fuel identity politics, and promote discriminatory national legislation - encouraging and supporting other countries to do the same.

Expand support to, and meaningful engagement with women leaders, including by establishing the Department's first Women's Leadership Network; a diverse range of civil society organizations; and journalists to better understand, safely identify, and counter pushback on gender equality, with guidance for Department personnel on inclusive consultations. Enhance Department personnel capacity, training, and understanding of how to advance gender equality through policy development, diplomatic engagement, and foreign assistance programming, including through new and strengthened courses at the Foreign Service Institute.

Number of community consultations and public engagement activities with women and girls focused on better understanding and countering anti - women's rights movements. Number of U.S. public statements, media outreach activities, and private / public diplomacy efforts on the intersections between gender equality and democracy, and their proven benefits to stability and prosperity. Number of joint bilateral and multilateral efforts to combat discriminatory national legislation and / or address the role of technology in global anti - rights movements. Establishment of the Women's Leadership Network and number of participants engaged. Number of Department personnel taking gender equality - focused courses at the Foreign Service Institute.

Build the PD Infrastructure to Embed and Sustain Equity Principles in PD Programs and Activities: The Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs ' Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources (R / PPR) is responsible for helping to build the capacity of the PD workforce to ensure PD practitioners have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to advance the equity agenda as they work to carry out their primary mandate - to inform, influence, and persuade foreign publics. R / PPR has established guidance, built the capacity of PD practitioners to help them plan and execute activities that incorporate intersectional equity principles, and leveraged data and technology to track equity in PD program participation. Enhance the Recruitment of Diverse Participants for PD Programs: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) sponsored a third - party literature review assessment to increase understanding of the barriers underrepresented individuals experience in accessing exchange opportunities and better understand the context in which exchange programs are implemented. An ECA - wide programmatic strategic plan is being drafted to focus on embedding equity principles across the life - cycle stages of exchanges, including increasing and measuring underrepresented participant inclusion through the collection of demographic data across all ECA programs. Promoting Equity through Global Communications and Engagement Strategies: Global Public Affairs (GPA) has expanded its outreach and engagement with underserved communities to include providing live captioning services for deaf and hard of hearing and launching the inaugural Sign @ State Symposium and Minority Serving Institutions Conference. GPA has increased accessibility of U.S. government messaging on high - level policy priorities to underserved audiences worldwide by expanding the breadth of voices engaging with the media, deploying Regional Media Hub teams to more regional summits and events, and increasing translations of press releases and other informational products. GPA also continues to provide inclusive messaging guidance to PD practitioners throughout the Department. Finally, GPA issued guidance to Department communicators to increase access to information on the Department website for persons with disabilities.

Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation

OSDBU and A / OPE have a vested interest in increasing contracting opportunities for small business by monitoring and ensuring regulatory compliance with current policies and have issued specific new policies and training during FY 2023. To further bolster our policy goals, we also added a recognition program in support of key milestones for advancing equity in procurement initiatives. Implementation of the existing procurement policy has resulted in a

Around the world, members of marginalized and underserved communities are on the frontlines of global challenges - from economic and social inequality to the climate crisis to threats to democracy, peace, and stability. Members of marginalized and underserved communities are often excluded from political participation and economic development and subjected to discriminatory laws, regulation, and practices in their countries, which erodes the rule of law and democratic governance. Often, these communities cannot safely and sustainably access and participate in U.S. diplomatic engagements and programs nor inform U.S. foreign policy. Yet in the face of inequality, members of marginalized communities are tackling challenges in their communities and global threats to peace and prosperity. Communities are waiting for us to see them, engage them, listen to them, and amplify their voices. When we work together to mitigate inequity, discrimination, and violence targeting members of marginalized communities and invest in advancing human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, societies as a whole will prosper and our work to advance U.S. national security priorities through foreign affairs will have lasting impact.

2. Scale capital delivery and technical assistance to support small businesses and community assets. Treasury will provide underserved communities the access to capital they need to continue growing markets and building neighborhood essentials. 3. Improve financial health of underserved individuals and communities. Treasury will work to promote financial health for underserved individuals and communities by creating and implementing a National Strategy for Financial Inclusion, providing resources for creating new businesses, and facilitating other capital investments to boost household finances. 4. Ensure all Americans receive income - boosting tax credits for which they are eligible. Treasury will evaluate tax systems, processes, and strategies to make it clearer to all Americans how and when they can take advantage of tax credits. 5. Increase procurement with underrepresented businesses. Treasury will continue efforts to expand procurement opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses that want to do business with the federal government. 6. Ensure environmental benefits of IRA reach underserved and Tribal communities. Treasury will continue working to ensure low - income and underserved communities take advantage of credits and opportunities to generate clean energy, while providing access to well - paying green energy jobs.

Treasury has established the Equity Hub within the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility to lead research and policy analysis that supports the Department in its effort to drive toward a more fair and equitable economy. In recognition of the sovereignty of, and our partnership with, Tribal Nations, Treasury's Office of Tribal and Native Affairs is responsible for advising on departmental issues related to Tribal governments and Native communities, including the administration of $ 30 billion in direct Tribal set - asides to the benefit of over 2.5 million Tribal citizens. The Office also conducts consultations with Tribes and coordinates outreach. As of June 2023, the Office has hosted over 45 formal consultations and 700 Tribal engagement sessions. Treasury has made significant efforts to engage with stakeholders and the public on topics related to equity. For instance, in December 2022, the Department held the first TACRE meeting, with subsequent meetings in March, June, and September 2023. Since their first convening, the Committee established cross - cutting principles and priorities and has submitted 13 recommendations to Treasury. Recommendations are currently under review and address issues such as data transparency, taxpayer access to Direct File, direct engagement with taxpayers who could benefit from tax credits and working with CDFIs to promote diversification through the certification and re - certification processes. The Department collaborated with 12 national Hispanic and Latino organizations to host the first Treasury Department summit on investing in the economic future of the Latino community in June 2023 to elevate challenges and opportunities facing that community. The Latino Economic Summit brought together nearly 100 leaders from the private, non - profit, and government sectors to identify opportunities to unleash the potential of the Latino community and the entire economy. Treasury's Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity (OCRE) continues to work with the White House to encourage the appointment of Latino staff and continues working with community lenders to unlock potential that had previously been sidelined. The result will be economic growth within the Latino community, as well as shared prosperity for everyone. Treasury launched a blog series detailing the origins of racial economic disparities and the implications for the national economy. OCRE has made significant efforts to increase civil rights compliance and equal opportunity throughout the Department with the implementation of a new external civil rights language access plan and complaint tracking system. OCRE also worked with the CDFI Fund to implement pre - award civil rights compliance reviews in their financial assistance award process. Specifically, the CDFI Fund began using a pre - award data collection form in August

Develop a National Financial Inclusion Strategy as a catalyst for reducing disparities and ensuring that consumers, in particular those from underserved populations, including low - income communities, communities of color, women and others, have equitable access to financial information, products, and services that support them in meeting their financial needs and goals, such as by building financial security and wealth, including building financial security and wealth. Engage external and USG stakeholders on specific efforts to promote access to safe, low - cost bank accounts and other financial services and products for financially excluded populations, including justice - involved individuals, New Americans, and Tribal and Native communities. Engage with regulatory agencies, financial sector participants, non - profit, and other non - governmental organizations to explore ways to ensure existing financial regulatory policies and bank practices are responsive to the financial needs of formerly incarcerated individuals and people with criminal convictions. Support the FLEC in efforts to promote information on emerging areas in consumer finance such as digital and crypto - assets, and to improve financial well - being through education and literacy Manage ECIP, which is providing up to $ 9 billion to encourage low - and moderate - income community financial institutions to augment their efforts to support small businesses and consumers in their communities. Provide place - based incentives for solar and wind facilities built in low - income communities through the Low - Income Communities Bonus Credit Program. Finalize the development of the Treasury Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Action Plan to better identify the LGBTQIA + population and to ultimately better understand the impact of Treasury policies on this community.

There is a lack of awareness of and access to the capital and resources needed to develop and initiate projects eligible for IRA green energy credits among historically marginalized and underserved communities. High costs associated with processing paper tax returns at the IRS compete with resources to improve services to taxpayers. Due to a highly complex tax system and the processes to support that complexity, it is difficult for taxpayers to file their taxes independently, without a third - party vendor or tax preparer. As a result, taxpayers spend too much time and money preparing and submitting their tax returns.

Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Treasury supported the economic recovery for communities and individuals impacted by COVID - 19 through the ARP. For example, the Department and the CDFI Fund have deployed historic amounts of capital to CDFIs and MDIs - institutions that have a demonstrated track record of reaching financially underserved borrowers. In addition, through the ECIP, Treasury has made close to $ 8.4 billion in investments in 170 community financial institutions, in addition to over $ 1.73 billion in grants through the CDFI ERP, and a historic $ 226 million investment in 68 Puerto Rican cooperativas, or cooperative community financial institutions. New ECIP reporting data made available in October 2023, reflecting lending in the final six months of 2022, showed that ECIP lenders originated a total of approximately $ 26 billion in loans, of which approximately 75 % went to low - and moderate - income borrowers, borrowers in rural communities and other categories of qualified lending. Approximately one third of their total originations, $ 8.6 billion, were " " deep impact " " loans, made to the hardest - to - serve borrowers, including those that are low - income, residents on Tribal lands and in US Territories and owners of very small businesses. Treasury leveraged the ERA program to create the first - ever nationwide infrastructure to prevent eviction, with more than 12.3 million household payments to families at risk of eviction as of June 30, 2023. This program has been particularly effective at reaching low - income and / or traditionally underserved renters, including Black and women - headed households. By reimagining how the IRS serves families, the IRS delivered half of the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) via monthly payments from July to December 2021. Treasury also collaborated with Code for America, a non - governmental non - profit, to build a streamlined, mobile - friendly portal in English and Spanish to make it easier for families to access the expanded CTC. New Census data released in 2022 showed that the expanded CTC was the leading driver behind a 46 percent decline in child poverty in 2021 - cutting the annual child poverty rate to its lowest - ever recorded level including record lows in Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian, and white child poverty. Additionally, the permanent lifting of restrictions that prevented some Puerto Rican families from receiving the CTC led to 200,000 more Puerto Rican families receiving the credit when they filed taxes in 2022 compared to the year prior. As of September 2023, Treasury has approved 54 out of 56 state and territory applications for SSBCI Capital Programs totaling over $ 8.2 billion in allocations, and has announced approvals of up to $ 73 million corresponding to applications representing 39 Tribes. SSBCI

Develop and execute a strategic plan for outreach and stakeholder engagement among target audiences (including consumers, state and local governments, Tribal leaders, small business owners, and labor), who are least likely to have an awareness of and access to the capital and resources to take advantage of the IRA - related provisions. Work with the IRS to ensure that with its critical, long - term funding from the IRA, the IRS will: Modernize its legacy systems and improve upon antiquated processes to administer the green credits and associated tax provisions of the IRA efficiently and effectively. Improve services to help taxpayers meet obligations and receive tax incentives for which they are eligible by making interactions with the IRS easier and more convenient, improving communications between the IRS and taxpayers, and providing taxpayers with the tools needed to interact with the agency via their preferred communication channels. Quickly resolve taxpayer issues when they arise.

Small, minority - owned, and underserved businesses often do not know how to find suitable federal contracting opportunities. Significant portions of Treasury bureau contracting opportunities are unavailable for small businesses, including U.S. Mint metals and large transformation efforts at the IRS. Contractor onboarding process takes too long (over 90 days) and small businesses lack the infrastructure and equity to float employees in overhead waiting for onboarding. Procurement processes are often opaque and lack clear guidance on how to get started in Government contracting, resulting in difficulties for small and disadvantaged businesses navigating the application process.

Increase access and education to IRA resources through ongoing stakeholder engagement and partnership building. Provide credits to minimize costs associated with renewable energy: Implement the Low - Income Communities Bonus Credit Program as one of the provisions in the IRA directly intended to increase the adoption of and access to renewable energy facilities in low - income and other communities harmed by pollution. Implement novel provisions in the IRA like " " Elective Pay " " which significantly expands the reach of the IRA's credits by allowing many states, local, Tribal, tax - exempt, and other specified entities to invest, claim, and monetize credits directly. This will significantly expand the range of actors undertaking clean energy investments, as well as the range of projects and communities receiving associated benefits through the tax code. Explore options to address the Federal tax status of Tribally chartered corporations, which has been pending for thirty years and impacts Tribal access to clean energy tax credits. Increase access to well - paying, green energy jobs: Implement prevailing wage and apprenticeship provisions for key tax credits. Implement the energy community bonus to increase credit amounts for eligible investments, which will drive investment in coal communities, historical energy communities, and communities that have borne the brunt of pollution.

Number of deliverables completed timely for guidance issued on Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeships, Low - Income Communities Bonus Credit Program, Energy Community Bonus, and Elective PayEnergy Community Bonus, and Energy Community Bonus, and Energy Community Bonus, and Energy Community Bonus, and Energy Community Bonus, and Energy Community Bonus, and Energy Community Bonus Number of online processes completed timely for Low - income Communities Bonus Credit Program Allocations (or allocation awards depending on timing), and Elective Pay and Transferability

Key Legislation that Advances Equity:

Develop procedures to regularly evaluate systems, selection tools, programs, compliance strategies, and treatments for equitability of enforcement actions.

Strategy # 6: Ensure environmental benefits of IRA reach underserved and Tribal communities

When President Biden took office in January 2021, the COVID - 19 pandemic was causing immense economic hardship in communities across the country, particularly for women, rural communities, and communities of color. On March 11, 2021, the President signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) into law to help communities recover and put our economy back on the path to stable growth. The ARP tasked the Treasury Department with implementing major initiatives, such as the Child Tax Credit, Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), Capital Projects Fund (CPF), and Homeowner Assistance Fund. These initiatives have delivered much needed resources to vulnerable families and historically marginalized communities, including those in rural areas, Tribal communities, communities of color, and children living in poverty.

Environmental Justice: Secure environmental justice and spur economic opportunity by addressing disproportionate and adverse health and environmental impacts, including from climate change and cumulative impacts, on marginalized and overburdened communities. Support the goals of the Justice40 Initiative to channel 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments, e.g., in clean energy, climate, pollution reduction, and critical infrastructure, flow to disadvantaged communities across rural, urban, and Tribal areas.

Treasury has hosted multiple roundtables with community - based organizations, Tribal representatives, small businesses, housing developers, and environmental justice advocates, among other stakeholders to inform the Low - Income Communities Bonus Credit Program and IRA implementation to understand access to capital issues and the need for technical assistance to support mission - driven stakeholders who can participate in the clean energy economy.

Treasury is also taking concerted steps to ensure that the economic opportunities created by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the transition to the clean energy economy are shared by all Americans, including communities of color, rural areas, and communities harmed by pollution. For example, the investment tax credit for solar and wind projects includes a substantial bonus for facilities built in low - income communities. According to outside estimates, the IRA will support new clean energy jobs, as well as incentivize the use of registered apprenticeships and the payment of prevailing wages to strengthen America's energy and economic security. And Internal Revenue Service (IRS) transformation will improve customer service, help taxpayers access credits and expenditures that enhance financial security, and promote fairer tax enforcement, all while strengthening the revenue generation that supports the essential work of government.

When all Americans have the tools and resources needed to fully participate in our nation's investments in manufacturing, infrastructure development, and climate transition, economic growth is more broadly shared and our entire economy benefits. The Department is working to deliver capital, tax incentives, housing and workforce support, and community investments that bolster economic opportunity for underserved families, businesses, and neighborhoods with the goal of addressing historical and persistent racial wealth gaps, gender inequity, and other barriers. The Investing in America Agenda, including the American Rescue Plan and other legislation, offers a unique opportunity to address the structural and systemic barriers in our economy that sideline the talent and undermine the productivity of Black, Hispanic, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Native communities, as well as others that have experienced limits on their economic opportunity such as women, the LGBTQIA + community, and rural areas. When we address these barriers, we can unlock the economic potential of communities that have been held back for far too long and build a stronger economy for everyone.

Treasury's Office of Capital Access (OCA), formerly known as the Office of Recovery Programs, continues to implement economic recovery programs with a focus on equitable recovery. As detailed in the White House report on Advancing Equity Through The American Rescue Plan, OCA incorporated numerous equity features into its design of recovery programs. These innovative and equity focused features include streamlining application processes for tenants as part of the ERA program and permitting a wider array of services in disproportionally impacted communities as part of the SLFRF, among other areas. To measure impact and identify opportunities for continuous improvement OCA has conducted extensive research with the General Services Administration's Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES) focused on the efficiency, effectiveness, and equity of its programs. This includes studies evaluating the experience of low - capacity governments with SLFRF reporting and effective ways of communicating to recipients, as well as examining the result of these engagement efforts through studies such as Equity in the Distribution of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

For instance, Treasury is implementing a variety of tax incentives and provisions in the IRA to build a clean energy economy. The IRA increases the amount of the Investment Tax Credit available for solar and wind facilities built in low - income communities, on Indian Land, or directly serving low - income households, as well as additional place - based incentives such as the energy community bonus for eligible investments in legacy coal and energy communities. In addition, Treasury's Office of Community and Economic Development and the CDFI Fund hosted a convening on climate - focused community finance for CDFIs, their partners and investors, and researchers in May 2023. This convening cast a spotlight on an emerging segment of the broader field of community finance that focuses on achieving environmental

2023. The purpose of the form is to collect civil rights compliance data and to use the form to ensure compliance with applicable regulations prior to the approval of financial assistance. Finally, OCRE has also collaborated with OCA to begin planning a pilot program with the purpose of establishing post - award compliance reviews of recipients who received financial assistance from OCA.

has also been issuing awards for formula technical assistance grants to jurisdictions that participate in the SSBCI Capital Program, which will be used to provide legal, accounting, and financial advisory services to underserved and very small businesses. As of August 2023, $ 57 million had been approved for 12 states under the SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program. In addition, $ 125 million was transferred to the Minority Business Development Agency for the Capital Readiness Program, which builds a nationwide network of 43 technical assistance providers to support underserved entrepreneurs in launching or scaling businesses and accessing SSBCI and other government capital programs for small businesses. In October 2023, Treasury announced the availability of an additional $ 75 million in competitive grant funding through the Investing in America Small Business Opportunity Program, available to SSBCI jurisdictions with a more specific focus on reaching very small and underserved businesses aligned with federal legislation such as infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy. Of the nearly $ 10 billion program, $ 2.5 billion in Capital Program funds is reserved to support underserved businesses and incentivize jurisdictions to reach underserved businesses. SSBCI investments are a key part of the Administration's efforts to fuel the small business boom by providing small businesses and entrepreneurs the resources they need to succeed.

Strategy # 6: Ensure environmental benefits of IRA reach underserved and Tribal communities.

Conduct a soft launch of a SEE - AM insert timing that allows program participants to notify USAID of adverse social, economic, or environmental impacts caused by USAID - funded activities. USAID will select at least two Missions from two Regions and finish the draft standard operating procedures based on internal and external consultations. USAID will use the soft launch period to test the efficacy of the draft standard operating procedures and a draft operational policy before finalizing them in advance of a formal launch scheduled for summer 2024. Advance efforts to implement new award terms through the rulemaking process requiring implementing partners to prevent, report on, and address harms against program participants to USAID (e.g., sexual exploitation and abuse, child abuse and neglect; trafficking in persons; social harms, including discrimination, economic, and environmental harms). Continue to train staff and implementing partners in the United States and across all Missions on USAID nondiscrimination provisions. Develop and disseminate the " " Know Your Protections " " document to strategically communicate existing protections to program participants. Revise USAID's operational policy to include a new Social Impact Risk Initial Screening which will assist in identifying where new activity designs could benefit from additional assessments to better understand their social impact and mitigate risks. Strengthen award requirements on nondiscrimination protections for employees of implementing partners (subject to applicable U.S. law) through the rulemaking process. Strengthen technical coordination across relevant portfolios to enable USAID to put in place risk mitigation measures and improve collection of grievances across all complaint types filed by program participants. Sufficiently staff and fund the Agency's External Civil Rights Program to ensure full compliance with requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Increase in early risk identification and mitigation in new activities. Increase in the number of cases received that are successfully resolved through the SEE - AM and USAID uses its learnings from the SEE - AM to improve programs and inform our approach to ' do no harm. ' Increased awareness of the ' Know Your Protections document ' through robust communication strategies and rollout, as well as translating the document into 20 languages to reach all USAID Missions, partners, and program participants. Establish new award requirements on nondiscrimination protections for employees of implementing partners established (subject to applicable U.S. law). Percentage of discrimination complaints processed and resolved efficiently by the External Civil Rights Program in accordance with federal regulations and Department of Justice guidelines.

Adapt A & A training, tools, and resources and enhance messaging that reminds staff to refrain from adding burdensome requirements that exceed the minimum required by regulation. For example, USAID recently issued reminders to staff to limit requests for partner reporting under assistance to what is strictly required under 2 CFR. Strengthen and encourage A & A workforce communication with prospective partners by providing updated guidance on the type of communication that is possible with all firms and organizations. Reduce barriers that discourage local partners from working with USAID. For example, (1) expand USAID Mission efforts to translate assistance solicitations into local languages (as a courtesy, with English versions controlling) and accepting local language concept notes and translating final applications; and (2) increase co - design implementing mechanisms that strengthen organizational capacity for new and local organizations; Explore reducing regulatory barriers to improve access to procurement opportunities and create a broader pool of potential partners. Continue progress to integrate small businesses, including SDBs, more widely into agency policies for planning and programming (ADS 200 series). Offer established training for Agency planners on how to conduct meaningful market research to identify qualified SDBs on a recurring basis. Continue Agency outreach and engagement with

Develop new technical guidance on how to advance racial and ethnic equity among underserved communities in the policy and the program cycle. Scale up implementation of Inclusive Development Assessments (IDAs). An IDA is an assessment tool that guides in - country interviews and research to help identify in a particular country those populations that are marginalized and excluded from access to public services such as health, education, transportation, and or economic opportunities. Through the IDA we are able to analyze the country's social, economic, political, and cultural factors that lead to marginalization, determine access to assets, resources, opportunities, and services. IDA concludes with a summary of the context and provides specific recommendations for USAID to increase inclusion of marginalized groups in their development programmes and policies. Analyze up to 10 Performance Plan and Report (PPR) Key Issue Narratives and identify new opportunities for advancing racial and ethnic equity and support for underserved communities in programming. Establish targets for increased budgetary attributions during the Operational Plan process against all of the following Key Issues: Racial and Ethnic Equity, Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQI +, and Disability. Develop and expand training and technical assistance to build staff capacity to advance racial and ethnic equity and other knowledge gaps. In collaboration with FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSCIF), Alianza Mesoamericana de Pueblos Bosques (AMPB) and Asociación de Mujeres Artesanas de Ipeti Embera (AMARIE) USAID will complete a pilot intervention that promotes cultural rights, preservation of Indigenous language, and the development of ancestral knowledge as part of the intangible cultural heritage of the Indigenous Peoples. Strengthen USAID's ability to incorporate local and Indigenous knowledge, particularly from racial and ethnic underserved communities, into evidence collection and use. A new four - year, $ 5.1 million Local Evaluation and Evidence Support mechanism will provide technical and advisory services to strengthen the organizational and evaluation capacity of local evaluation and research organizations, starting with selected countries in Africa. Through this process, local and indigenous knowledge will be incorporated into evaluations. Provide technical assistance and co - funding to establish seven Indigenous Peoples Advisors at Missions.

Develop Technical Guide to support the Agency to more effectively target racial and ethnic equity in policy, programming and learning released Conduct Inclusive development assessments (IDAs) to inform strategy and activity design in 20 Missions and OUs Disseminate FY2022 and FY2023 PPR Key Issue on Racial Equity findings within USAID and State Department. Launch Three new online training modules to increase the knowledge and skills of USAID staff in conducting social inclusion assessments, designing development efforts, and incorporating best practices into internal operations. Promote Cultural rights and application of ancestral knowledge through a pilot intervention in Panama with FSC Indigenous Foundation. Establish Seven Indigenous Peoples Advisors at USAID / Missions. Launch Local evaluation and evidence support project. This project will strengthen the capacity of local evidence institutions globally, beginning in the Africa region, increasing their ability to perform rigorous evaluations and other evidence activities. In addition to increasing the use of local knowledge in evaluation and research, this project will further USAID's goal of reducing barriers for new, nontraditional and local partners. Develop guidance for strengthening local evaluation capacity to ensure inclusive representation, including marginalized and underrepresented groups, on evaluation teams.

The Agency identified and created a cadre of training, tools, and resources to streamline proposal and evaluation processes. M Bureau provides staff a platform to share innovative practices and systems to streamline procurement processes through the A & A Innovation Community of Practice. USAID updated its Youth Policy and released the new Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Policy in March 2023. USAID released its new LGBTQI + Inclusive Development Policy in August 2023 and Strategic Religious Engagement Policy in September 2023. These policies reiterate the importance of and clarify approaches to inclusion and equity in USAID's programs, for USAID staff and stakeholders. USAID recently announced the launch of the Racial and Ethnic Equity Initiative, and teams are conducting assessments and collecting data from USAID Missions overseas to build a knowledge base of operational practices and best practices that have successfully advanced social inclusion and racial equity in foreign assistance programming. Exposure to these best practices and technical guidance will encourage the adoption of quality equity programs on a broader scale. USAID Missions and Bureaus are now required to report on a new key issue narrative in their annual reports capturing racial and ethnic equity. They also must annually report on the percentage of completed evaluations with at least one local expert on the evaluation team. USAID released the Agency's highest level policy document, the Policy Framework, in March 2023. The Policy Framework emphasizes a commitment to embed DEIA principles across our programs, people, processes, policies, and practices so that development gains are more locally - led and benefit people of all backgrounds and identities. b) Environmental Justice Scorecard (pursuant to section 223 of EO 14008) USAID is not required to complete the Environmental Justice Scorecard. USAID promotes environmental equity and monitors progress through the Global Action for Climate Equity. c) Additional Efforts to Advance Equity Fourteen country - level Inclusive Development Assessments (IDAs), which aim to map the context and needs of marginalized groups through an intersectional lens to improve equity in programming, have been performed across the Agency. The ID Hub's Inclusive Development Activity for Mission Support (IDAMS) has begun work on three additional IDAs and is poised to to scale up these activities in FY 2024. The Office of Civil Rights established the External Civil Rights Division covering Title VI and other relevant civil rights authorities to ensure USAID complies with Title VI requirements under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Division receives and addresses complaints of discrimination in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance The External Civil Rights Division's internal website launched in June 2023, which educates USAID staff on the Title VI legal requirements and statutes and how they apply to USAID programs and partners. In addition to the significant progress made in awarding more funds directly to local entities - which, in FY2022 reached the highest level ($ 1.6 billion) and percent (10.2 percent) in over a decade - USAID has developed a new method to track the extent to which the Agency's programming is locally led. Through a series of consultations, USAID

Current USAID policy regarding nondiscrimination protections for employees of contractors or recipients contains only hortatory (" " strongly encourages " ") language and does not create any mandatory requirements for our implementing partners. There are multiple civil rights statutes and USAID - specific regulations, however, which do require recipients subject to U.S. law to not discriminate against program participants on the bases of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, and disability status. Approximately 70 % of USAID - funded recipients are US - based, and therefore required to comply with federal civil rights statutes and regulations. For the remaining 30 % of recipients and partners, however, USAID's nondiscrimination policies do not create mandatory requirements. USAID's " " Know Your Protections " " document, when established, will inform all employees, contractors, grant recipients and program participants of the Agency's inondiscrimination policies of any foreign aid constituent or program participant.

While the Department of Labor Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP) regulations under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act include an aspirational utilization goal of 7 % of contractor staff being persons with disabilities, there is limited implementation, data, and tracking of this effort at USAID.

USAID is in the process of establishing the ' Know Your Protections " " document, the Social, Economic and Environmental Accountability Mechanism and a Social Impact Assessment mechanism. Since these programs are still being developed, there is no data or evidence to report at this time beyond the legal mandates to establish these initiatives. Once established and operational, USAID will gather and analyze relevant data to further equity objectives. The legal mandates include Federal civil rights statutes and regulations [ specifically, 22 CFR 209 (USAID's nondiscrimination regulation requiring establishment of the External Civil Rights Division and its complaint investigation and reconciliation processes), EO 13985 (Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government), and EO 12250 (Leadership and Coordination of Nondiscrimination Laws managed by DOJ) ].

US Small Businesses: To enhance the consideration given to small business concerns within the Agency's policy framework, it is crucial to also recognize the distinct challenges Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs) face in the federal contracting process. Navigating the proposal process can be time - consuming and may deter SBDs from pursuing contract opportunities when the opportunities seem to be targeted to larger organizations. Additionally, some SDBs might face challenges in accessing networks and expertise needed to comprehensively navigate federal regulations, policies, and compliance standards. As such, SDBs have been historically underrepresented in USAID contracting.

Local organizations: Local organizations, based in the countries and regions where USAID works, 9share many of the same barriers SDBs encounter and face additional barriers, as well, including a lack of familiarity with U.S. regulations and accounting standards, including challenges navigating English language systems and guidance along with requirements for documents to be submitted in English. USAID has made progress expanding direct funding to local partners; in FY 2022, over 10 percent of the Agency's acquisitions and assistance funding was channeled directly through local partners, the highest percentage in at least a decade, up from 7 percent in FY 2021 and an average of 5 percent between FY 2012 through FY 2020. But with an Agency wide target of 25 percent direct local funding, expanded efforts to tackle barriers to partnership are required. To underpin future progress toward the Agency's local partnership goals, USAID is taking a number of actions to achieve greater equity which are detailed below. The Agency is also integrating localization into its guidance, training, and resources to ensure staff have the information and skills necessary to operationalize locally led development throughout all stages of the Agency's acquisition and assistance processes and the Program Cycle. To motivate the adoption of approaches that reduce barriers to local organizations, USAID adopted an Agency - wide target to channel 25 percent of USAID funding to local organizations. Centroamerica Local, which comes with a congressional directive to allocate

In addition, evidence from various small business forums, trainings, and focus sessions yields that the overall SDB community lacks access, information, and opportunities to work with USAID. There is a perception that localization takes priority over SDBs. The Agency's customer service survey revealed a lack of internal training, guidance, and information on the Agency's small business program and its purpose.

USAID Missions and Bureaus often lack the specific expertise and resources required to ensure programming fully incorporates gender equality and inclusive development policies and guidance. Most Missions do not have dedicated advisors for the full inclusive development portfolio, which entails having technical knowledge and expertise related to the challenges and barriers faced by numerous marginalized groups in the local context. In addition, a recent staffing survey identified gaps in the number of Gender Advisors at Missions and their level of effort dedicated to this role. Many Missions do not yet meet the new Gender Advisor level of effort requirement included in the 2023 Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Policy; they have three years to address this gap. Some Mission Gender Advisors are focused solely on gender equality issues, some on gender equality and inclusive development issues, and some gender advisors also cover other areas such as Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) or serve as technical office's AOR / CORs. When additional functions like MEL are added to the Gender Advisors role, they report too broad a workload, which may limit their ability to effectively incorporate gender equality and inclusive development in programming.

Over the past several years, USAID has championed equity across policy, programming, and learning through an inclusive development approach that incorporates considerations relevant to gender equality, social inclusion (e.g. inclusion of underserved populations such as LGBTQI +, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples), and strategic religious engagement throughout policy and the program cycle. Despite these robust efforts, USAID must update policy, guidance, training, and the way evidence is collected to ensure USAID staff possess the tools and skills needed to effectively address inequities faced by historically marginalized racial and ethnic communities impacted by USAID programming. Intersecting identities of underserved groups (i.e. LGBTQI + person of color, or, individual with disabilities who also belongs to a religious minority) makes the importance of understanding these dynamics and social structures all the more crucial.

Internal Program Assessments and an agency policy review identified gaps in USAID's ability to address racial and ethnic inequity due to a lack of institutionalized policies, guidance, and tools. Findings from the report indicated that local knowledge does not adequately inform USAID planning, programming, and learning. This not only reduces the participation of marginalized groups in programming opportunities, but also means that program investments may not be

well aligned with the groups and communities most affected by USAID programs. Data collected through Key Issues Narratives (a required part of the agency's Performance Plan and Reporting process) on Disability, Racial and Ethnic Equity, LGBTQI +, and Indigenous Peoples corroborate this finding, and reveal the need for approaches that account for and address the intersection of inequities among different underrepresented groups. And while in recent years the Agency has implemented an inclusive development approach to guide programming toward more inclusive and equitable outcomes, there remains a lack of comprehensive guidance on programming to support racial and ethnic equity specifically, which may be necessary given the complex systems that have been built over centuries to marginalize racial and ethnic communities.

USAID's Agency Equity Team (AET) is led by senior leaders, managers, and employees from across USAID and has the purpose of facilitating, informing, and advancing Agency progress on equity assessments, action planning, and other Agency DEIA actions. The AET championed the development and implementation of the 2022 EAP and the design of the 2023 Update EAP, and ensured USAID's compliance of EO 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, EO 14901: Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, Presidential Memorandum, and other related DEIA policies.

Several barriers stand in the way of advancing on these ambitious priorities. For instance, as an Agency we often lack certain expertise and dedicated resources needed to develop programs that fully incorporate gender equality and inclusive development policies and guidance. Additionally, we are still building our capacity to apply certain local and Indigenous knowledge to a range of USAID programming, particularly from historically marginalized racial and ethnic communities. The limited resources and capacity is linked to not having dedicated advisors with the full inclusive development portfolio, which includes having technical knowledge and expertise related to the challenges and barriers faced by numerous marginalized groups locally.

Partnering with USAID can be challenging for these groups due to the reasons mentioned. U.S. Government rules, regulations, and processes can be difficult to understand and navigate. Advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility is at the heart of USAID's work, including in how and with whom the Agency partners. Local leadership and ownership are essential for fostering sustainable results across our work. The Agency is working to lower barriers so that all qualified entities can more easily compete for USAID funding.

The five priority action items take these barriers into account and provide a set of steps USAID will take to address them, including developing new guidance to advance equity among racial and ethnic underserved communities and implementing policy requirements to have agency Gender Advisors with the experience and expertise needed to integrate gender equality and women's empowerment across USAID programming. These barriers also highlight the importance of meaningfully engaging the public as part of USAID's commitment to advancing equity. Several offices and teams within USAID prioritizes a relationship with the public to decrease these barriers. For example, USAID's Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) undertakes critical Agency outreach and engagement with small, disadvantaged business (SDB) associations and resource partners to educate on how to work with USAID. OSDBU also leads the agency's efforts to integrate the Federal Small Business Program into agency - wide policy and acquisition planning, expand agency and U.S. small business interaction through training and outreach, and partner with other federal agencies to learn and share best practices.

d) Advancing Equity Through Key Legislation

RD will promote tenant rights, via education, communication, regulation RD will contribute to the government - wide effort to bring more equity to property appraisals.

Provide resources to TEFAP state agencies on identifying and offering kosher and halal appropriate foods to observant communities; creates a webpage to provide information to stakeholders. Strengthen employment and training programs for SNAP participants through rulemaking, grants, and technical assistance to assist state agencies in using outcome reporting measures to support program equity efforts. B. FNS will ensure equitable and consistent access and participation opportunity for eligible populations. Through a new SNAP EBT Modernization Technical Assistance Center, provide technical assistance to retailers interested in offering online purchasing for SNAP participants. And, for WIC, expand online shopping by updating WIC regulations to remove regulatory barriers to online shopping and support a modern food delivery experience. Help close the summer hunger gap for children eligible for free and reduced - price school meals through the implementation of the new rural non - congregate summer nutrition option and Summer EBT. Bridge language barriers to FNS nutrition programs by expanding translation and interpreter access, training FNS and state agency staff, and promoting strategies to address these barriers. Continue to work with Puerto Rico to explore the feasibility of a potential transition from the current capped NAP Federal nutrition block grant to SNAP, in order to meet the needs of the island's population. C. FNS will strengthen program participants ' ability to embrace healthy eating patterns: Update the nutrition standards for School Meals and WIC food packages to reflect the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and in consideration of cultural and traditional foods consumed by program participants. Support school meal operators in improving the nutritional quality of meals through the Healthy Meals Incentive Initiative and other investments. Engage with tribal stakeholders to enhance the food package for the FDPIR. Facilitate fresh fruit and vegetable consumption by participants in several FNS programs. Develop the 2025 - 2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans jointly with the Department of Health and Human Services to provide science - based advice on what to eat and drink to promote health, reduce the risk of chronic disease, and meet nutrient needs. Conduct research to ensure that the 2026 Thrifty Food Plan re - evaluation reflects current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance, as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill.

FNS will engage with stakeholders and program operators through a variety of venues and formats, such as conferences, meetings, and virtual forums, public comment opportunities, and process updates shared online and via GovDelivery, in the implementation of new regulations and the development and sharing of resources and strategies. FNS will conduct and implement feedback from tribal consultations to increase access to USDA nutrition assistance programs and culturally competent nutrition education. FNS will expand and activate its partnership network to increase the reach of MyPlate messages and meet consumers in the spaces in which they live, learn, work, and play. Actions include identifying synergies, linkages, and channels and implementing new strategies that support partnership engagement - particularly among stakeholder organizations that serve historically underserved communities.

Integrate equity into proposal analysis, outreach, scoring, and guidance related to federal investments, including master participating agreements with non - profit organizations (multi - million and multi - year agreements that will leverage BIL and IRA funds to tackle the wildfire and climate crises at scale). Address the barriers to participation posed by cooperator matching requirements by institutionalizing national waivers of policy match requirements for tribes and agreements that will serve disadvantaged communities and designing a process for approving reduction of policy match requirements based on partner capacity. Improve engagement and communication with underserved communities through engagement sessions and the nascent community navigator program, funding robustly networked partners to help hard - to - reach communities identify funding opportunities and navigate grant and agreement processes.

Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations (LEI) will require every officer and agent to attend Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) by Spring 2024 and incorporate this into annual performance measures. CIT is an intensive program that provides officers / agents with the tools to recognize some signs associated with individuals in crisis or who may have underlying mental illness that contributes to their behavior. This will train officers to make mental health referrals as opposed to an arrest in appropriate situations. Evaluate regulatory changes to allow an officer / agent encountering an individual in possession of a controlled substance to write a violation notice with an assigned fine that may be paid in lieu of an appearance in court for criminal charges. Increase the diversity and inclusiveness of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program Advisory Committee (CFLRP).

USDA currently makes most of the food purchases for the FDPIR program, crowding out self - determination and economic development opportunities for the affected tribal entities. Going forward, USDA will support ongoing tribal self - determination demonstration projects for the Food and Nutrition Service and Forest Service, expanding tribal self - determination policies to enable greater self - governance and decision - making A dedicated Office of Tribal Relations Tribal Empowerment Team will increase awareness about Forest Service, RD, and NRCS Inflation Reduction Act opportunities that promote tribal self - determination principles.

Issue Departmental Manual 4330 - 001 (DM - 4330 - 001), Procedures for Processing Program Discrimination Complaints, to establish the process and procedures for administrative complaints of discrimination and set guidance for mission areas and agency offices handling administrative civil rights complaints. Implement streamlined and refined complaint processing mechanisms to meet ambitious quality standards and timeliness targets (225 days) for program complaint processing. Implement a fast - track emergency intervention program complaint process to address critical cases in time to make a difference.

Use a new Program Complaints Task Force to complete adjudication of existing aged case backlog. Complete improvements responsive to Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit, including (1) updating guidance to improve complaint resolution timeliness, (2) reviewing information technology guidance and plans to ensure OASCR can meet federal and departmental requirements, (3) reviewing processes to ensure sufficient documentation and support, (4) assessing compliance with USDA civil rights regulations and policies, and (5) updating the strategic plan. B. OASCR and agency civil rights offices will improve USDA's civil rights infrastructure through evaluation of agency programs. Establish and implement an agency - head civil rights tool and performance evaluation process. Provide oversight for Civil Rights Performance Assessment to ensure mission area and agency leadership compliance with civil rights laws and regulations In FY 2024 OASCR will introduce an annual assessment for mission areas, under secretaries, agency heads, and select staff office directors (Office of Chief Information Officer (OCIO), Office of Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), and Departmental Administration). Improve Civil Rights Impact Analysis (CRIA) capabilities, including by developing and implementing agency - wide technical training. Build a feedback loop from complaints to prospective civil rights improvements, analyzing complaints to shed light on USDA programs, policies, and procedures and inform training, improvements, and communications. Build dashboards to track and monitor program complaints data, civil rights impact analyses, and workforce reporting requirements. C. USDA will foster civil rights community across USDA by bringing together department, mission area, and agency civil rights leaders to establish a community of practice to share processes, resources, and innovation. Conduct coordinated monthly Civil Rights Directors meetings to provide guidance and information sharing. Conduct quarterly listening sessions with individual Civil Rights Directors on resource needs and challenges. D. USDA will develop a comprehensive language access program by establishing and implementing a Department - wide plan that provides resources, transparency, accountability, goals, and objectives for mission areas and offices. Develop Departmental Language Access Plan to cover both federally conducted and federally assisted activities.