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###### Department of Commerce

###### International Trade Administration

# AGENCY:

International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

      ( print page 42709)    

# ACTION:

Notice of opportunity for appointment to serve as a District Export Council member.

# SUMMARY:

Due to an unexpectedly high rate of vacancies, the Department of Commerce is conducting a special appointment cycle to fill vacancies on certain District Export Council (DECs) and is seeking nominations of individuals for consideration for appointment by the Secretary of Commerce to those DECs. The DECs are closely affiliated with the U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs) of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS), which is part of the Global Markets unit within the Department's International Trade Administration, and play a key role in the planning and coordination of export activities in their communities.

# DATES:

Nominations for individuals will be accepted from July 13, 2022, through July 27, 2022.

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Please contact the Director of your local USEAC for more information on DECs and the nomination process. You may identify your local USEAC by entering your zip code online at                         *http://export.gov/​usoffices/​index.asp*. For general program information, contact Laura Barmby, National DEC Liaison, US&FCS, at (202) 482-2675.                    

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

District Export Councils support the mission of US&FCS by facilitating the development of an effective local export assistance network, supporting the expansion of export opportunities for local U.S. companies, serving as a communication link between the business community and US&FCS, and assisting in coordinating the activities of trade assistance partners to leverage available resources. Individuals appointed to a DEC become part of a select corps of trade professionals dedicated to providing international trade leadership and guidance to the local business community and assistance to the Department of Commerce on export development issues. DEC members are volunteers. DEC members are not special government employees. DEC members receive no compensation for their participation in DEC activities or reimbursement for travel and other personal expenses.

Nomination Process: Each DEC has a maximum membership of 35.

                    The list of DECs eligible for the appointment of new members in this special cycle and the nomination form will be available on July 13, 2022 at                     *https://app.keysurvey.com/​f/​41627625/​a23c/​.*

If selected, new DEC members appointed under this special appointment cycle would serve the remainder of a four-year term that began on January 1, 2022, and runs through December 31, 2025, or the remainder of a four-year term that began on January 1, 2020 and ends on December 31, 2023. Appointments are staggered so that approximately half of the appointments for each DEC expire every two years, and the need for a balance and fair representation requires that terms be determined at the time of appointment. All potential nominees must complete the online nomination form linked above and consent to sharing of the information on that form with the DEC Executive Committee for its consideration, and consent, if appointed, to sharing of their contact information with other DEC members and relevant government agencies and private sector organizations with a focus on trade. Interested individuals are highly encouraged to reach out to the local USEAC Director to learn more about the DECs and to begin the application process as soon as possible.

Eligibility and Appointment Criteria: Appointment is based upon an individual's international trade leadership in the local community, ability to influence the local environment for exporting, knowledge of day-to-day international operations, interest in export development, and willingness and ability to devote time to DEC activities. Members must be employed as exporters or export service providers or in a profession which supports U.S. export promotion efforts. Members include exporters, export service providers and others whose profession supports U.S. export promotion efforts. DEC member appointments are made without regard to political affiliation. DEC membership is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States. As representatives of the local exporting community, DEC Members must reside in, or conduct the majority of their work in, the territory that the DEC covers. DEC membership is not open to federal government employees. Individuals representing foreign governments, including individuals registered with the Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, must disclose such representation and may be disqualified if the Department determines that such representation is likely to impact the ability to carry out the duties of a DEC member or raise an appearance issue for the Department.

*Selection Process:*                     Nominations of individuals who have applied for DEC membership will be forwarded to the local USEAC Director for the respective DEC for that Director's consideration. The local USEAC Director ensures that all nominees meet the membership criteria. The local USEAC Director then, in consultation with the local DEC Executive Committee, evaluates all nominations to determine their interest, commitment, and qualifications. In reviewing nominations, the local USEAC Director strives to ensure a balance among exporters from a manufacturing or service industry and export service providers. A fair representation should be considered from companies and organizations that support exporters, representatives of local and state government, and trade organizations and associations. Membership should reflect the diversity of the local business community, encompass a broad range of businesses and industry sectors, and be distributed geographically across the DEC service area, and where possible, the Department of Commerce will also consider the ethnic, racial, and gender diversity and various abilities of the United States population.                

For past DEC members seeking reappointment, the local USEAC Director, in consultation with the DEC Executive Committee, also carefully considers the nominee's activity level during the previous term and demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and effectively with other DEC members and US&FCS staff. As appointees of the Secretary of Commerce in high-profile positions, though volunteers, DEC Members are expected to actively participate in the DEC and support the work of local US&FCS offices. Those that do not support the work of the office or do not actively participate in DEC activities will not be considered for re-nomination.

                    The local USEAC Director, in consultation with the local DEC Executive Committee, determines which nominees to forward to the US&FCS Office of U.S. Field for further consideration for recommendation to the Secretary of Commerce. A candidate's background and character are pertinent to determining suitability and eligibility for DEC membership. Since DEC appointments are made by the Secretary, the Department must make a suitability determination for all DEC nominees. After completion of a vetting process, the Secretary selects nominees for appointment to local DECs. DEC members are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Secretary of Commerce.                          ( print page 42710)    

*Authority:*15 U.S.C. 1512 and 4721.                

Laura Barmby,

District Export Council Program Manager.

[FR Doc. 2022-15312 Filed 7-15-22; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P