Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC ›...
Transcript of Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC ›...
![Page 1: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
1
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Regulations Matter:
Issue Spotting &
Comment Drafting
National Tribal Health Conference
September 18, 2019
Akilah J. Kinnison
Lisa L. Meissner
![Page 2: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
2
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Issue Spotting – Tips & Strategies
![Page 3: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
3
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Issue Spotting – Tips & Strategies
General Review Roadmap
1. Review preamble and executive summary
2. Review section-by-section analysis
3. Compare eye-catchers with regulatory text at the end
4. Go beyond the notice, if needed, for assistance and
guidance
![Page 4: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
4
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Issue Spotting – Tips & Strategies
• Ctrl+F Tribe Native 13175
Tribal Rural Others?
Indian Urban
• Look for clear statements
• Look for ambiguity
• Identify areas of conflict
• Compare what is written with what you know to be true
Photo courtesy of Tech Times
![Page 5: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
5
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Issue Spotting – Tips & Strategies
• Pose questions and then look for answers in the proposed text: Does the agency identify a specific problem?
Does the agency offer clear reasoning for its solution?
What evidence/research is relied upon? Does it include
AI/AN programs and populations?
Has the agency addressed potential tribal impacts?
Others?
![Page 6: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
6
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Issue Spotting – Tips & Strategies
What about when there is no reference to Tribal Nations
or Urban Indian programs?
• Silences can make big statements
• Acting without accounting for
sovereignty or trust/treaty obligations
• Prime time to comment
![Page 7: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
7
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Issue Spotting – Tips & Strategies
Valuable Resources on Regulatory Actions
• NIHB! Regulations tracker
MMPC Regulations Workgroup
• HSDW General Memoranda
• Agency fact sheets and policy guidance
• Past comments
• Healthcare and tribal organizations
• Others?
![Page 8: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
8
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Issue Spotting – Tips & Strategies
![Page 9: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
9
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Comment Drafting – Tips & Strategies
• Consider the Purpose(s) of Submitting Comments:
1. Communication with the Agency about responsibility to
Tribes
2. Persuade Agency to take a particular action
3. Establishing standing & a record for litigation
4. Other purposes?
Purposes inform drafting strategy, including content, tone,
and follow-up measures
![Page 10: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
10
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Comment Drafting – Tips & Strategies
• Remember that this is an act of storytelling
– Invoke a powerful indigenous narrative
• Remember the power of stories!
– Explain who you are and where you come from
– Identify the sources of U.S. responsibility to your
community (treaties, trust, etc.)
– Use stories from your community to illustrate your
comments
• Builds understanding, familiarity
• Helps reader visualize what impact will look like
![Page 11: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
11
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Comment Drafting – Tips & Strategies
• Explain why the Agency should do what you are
asking them to do
• Reasons include:
– It is the right thing to do
– It fits with their own goals/benefits them
– It is legally required
Look for the “interest convergence” (cost savings,
alignment with Administration goals, etc.)
![Page 12: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
12
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Comment Drafting – Tips & Strategies
• Explain why the Agency should do what you are
asking them to do
• Reasons include:
– It is the right thing to do
– It fits with their own goals/benefits them
– It is legally required
Look for the “interest convergence” (cost savings,
alignment with Administration goals, etc.)
![Page 13: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
13
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Comment Drafting – Tips & Strategies
• Set ground for litigation
– Administrative Procedure Act (APA) authorizes courts to
set aside agency actions when they are “arbitrary,
capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in
accordance with law”
– Establish standing
– Raise issues before the agency
Preserve your option to file suit down the line even if you
don’t think you will sue.
![Page 14: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
14
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Comment Drafting – Tips & Strategies
• Additional drafting tips:
– Invoke treaties/trust responsibility
– Reach out to your experts!
– Leave enough time for internal clearance
– Tribes are never “stakeholders”
– Invoke consultation
– Align tone with objectives
![Page 15: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
15
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Comment Drafting – Tips & Strategies
• Follow-up measures
– Reach out to agency
– Stay involved in further iterations of a rule
– Reach out to other government partners
– Carefully consider any publicity strategies
Remember that regulations often develop and change over
time—tribes have seen good outcomes through continued
dialogue.
![Page 16: Regulations Matter: Issue Spotting & Comment Drafting › docs › 2019-NTHC › Wednesday-9-18...Akilah Kinnison akilahkinnison@hobbsstraus.com 202-822-8282 Lisa Meissner lmeissner@hobbsstraus.com](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062921/5f033b037e708231d4082e96/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
16
HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLPWASHINGTON, DC | PORTLAND, OR | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | SACRAMENTO, CA | ANCHORAGE, AK
Questions?
Contact info:
Akilah Kinnison
202-822-8282
Lisa Meissner
202-822-8282