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The National Science Foundation (NSF) is requesting public comments on a proposed information collection related to its Merit Review Survey for the years 2021 and 2023. This survey aims to evaluate the experience of applicants and reviewers in the NSF's merit review process, focusing on aspects like satisfaction, perceptions of burden, and the quality of reviews. The survey will target 87,000 participants for each survey round, with an expected response rate of 40%. Comments are invited on the necessity, accuracy, and methods of the information collection, and should be submitted within 30 days of the notice's publication.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finalized a rule that changes how it selects H-1B visa petitions submitted by employers. This new rule prioritizes selecting petitions based on the highest wage level offered for the job, rather than through a random lottery system. By ranking potential H-1B workers based on their salary offers, DHS aims to ensure that visas are more likely to go to highly skilled workers filling important roles, thus supporting economic recovery and protecting U.S. workers' wages. This rule is set to take effect on March 9, 2021, and aims to better align the H-1B program with the intention of hiring more qualified and valued international employees.

The Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is inviting public comments on the continuation and extension of different information collection requests (ICRs) related to employee benefit plans. These ICRs cover various topics, including health plan enrollment notices, multiple employer welfare arrangements, and reporting procedures for top hat plans, among others. The public can submit their comments by March 7, 2025, and these comments will assist the Department in assessing the impact and effectiveness of these information requirements. The ICRs aim to help reduce the public's reporting burden and improve the understanding of the Department's data collection needs.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is updating an existing system of records managed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and renamed it to "NIH Loan Repayment Records." This update also includes proposed exemptions for some records from certain requirements of the Privacy Act, intended to protect the identity of those who provide information in confidence. The system is used to manage and evaluate educational Loan Repayment Programs, which help repay loans for individuals conducting biomedical and behavioral research. Public comments on these changes can be submitted until March 15, 2021, and the new system will be effective after any feedback is addressed.

In December 2024, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. issued a proclamation to establish the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument in Pennsylvania. This monument commemorates the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, the first Federal off-reservation boarding school for Native children, notorious for its role in forcibly assimilating Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children. The proclamation acknowledges the historical trauma inflicted by the Federal Indian boarding school system and aims to promote healing and reconciliation by preserving the site's history. The monument will be managed jointly by the National Park Service and the U.S. Army, with a focus on ensuring that the story incorporates Tribal perspectives and acknowledges the resilience of Indigenous communities.

The Department of Education is inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year 2021 under the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program—Television Access Projects. This initiative aims to improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities by enhancing access to video programming through high-quality audio description and captioning. Eligible applicants include state and local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Applicants must demonstrate how their projects will increase the availability and quality of described and captioned educational content, particularly for children with disabilities and English learners.

The Department of State has updated the Exchange Visitors Skills List, which identifies countries that need people with certain specialized skills. This list is used to see if someone in the U.S. on a "J" nonimmigrant exchange visa must spend two years in their home country before applying for other U.S. visas. This updated list replaces the previous version from 2009 and incorporates factors like a country’s GDP and migration rates to decide which skills are necessary. This list helps with U.S. foreign policy and doesn't require the usual public comment process due to its relation to foreign affairs.

The U.S. Department of Labor is updating the civil monetary penalties it can impose, based on inflation, as part of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. This requires an annual review and adjustment of penalty amounts to ensure they keep pace with inflation. These updates are set to take effect on January 15, 2021, and apply to penalties assessed after this date. Different divisions within the Department, such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety and Health Administration, are involved in overseeing these changes, which aim to maintain their deterrent effect.

The Department of Education has announced that it is accepting applications for the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Program for fiscal year 2021. This program provides grants to doctoral candidates to support dissertation research conducted abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. Eligible institutions of higher education must compile and submit applications through the G5 system. The total estimated funding available is $4,274,500, with approximately 90 awards ranging from $15,000 to $60,000 expected to be made. Applications must be submitted electronically unless an exception is granted.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is introducing a new system of records to be managed by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within its Administration for Children and Families. This system, titled ORR Unaccompanied Children Bureau Child Abuse or Neglect Investigation Records and Central Registry, aims to document cases related to child abuse or neglect at ORR facilities and maintain a registry to vet individuals who may work with unaccompanied children. The information stored will be used for investigations and to ensure that those with a history of abuse or neglect are not allowed to work or volunteer in positions involving direct contact with children under ORR care. Importantly, the data recorded will not be shared for immigration enforcement purposes without prior written consent from the individual concerned.