Search Results for keywords:"conflict of interest"

The Department of Defense (DoD) is asking for public comments on its proposal to collect information through a special form to check for conflicts of interest among advisory committee members. This information collection is part of a requirement under the Paperwork Reduction Act, and it aims to identify potential conflicts due to personal interests. The public can send their comments by April 21, 2025. The DoD emphasizes that this survey is voluntary and it will use the input to comply with federal laws on ethics and conflicts of interest.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is creating a new advisory committee called the Strategic and Critical Materials Board of Directors (S&CM BoD). This committee will help strengthen the industrial base and manage materials important for national security, focusing particularly on the National Defense Stockpile program. The committee will have 13 to 20 members, including representatives from various government departments and other experts. Members who are not federal employees will be paid for their work, and the public can submit their views to the committee at any time.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is considering an application from HarbourVest Private Investments Fund and HarbourVest Registered Advisers L.P. for an exemption under the Investment Company Act of 1940. This exemption would allow certain registered investment companies to pay advisory fees in shares of their common stock. Interested parties can request a hearing by emailing the SEC and the applicants by March 14, 2025. The application's details and conditions can be accessed through the SEC's EDGAR system.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is considering granting an exclusive patent license to Cambridge Enterprise Limited, part of the University of Cambridge, to develop and market certain inventions. These inventions involve conductive polymer coated electrodes used for single-cell electroporation in clinical settings. This license would help consolidate patent rights and speed up the commercial development of the invention, which is in line with promoting innovation according to U.S. law. Public comments or applications for this license must be submitted by May 2, 2025, and will be considered by the institute.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration granted an exemption allowing the Associated General Contractors of America, San Diego Chapter, Inc. to lease its training facility to its Apprenticeship and Training Fund under specific conditions. The agreement ensures the Plan pays fair market rent, verified by an independent fiduciary, and that the lease benefits participants by providing effective training facilities. The fiduciary also monitors compliance with the lease terms and any rent increases must adhere to changes in the Consumer Price Index. This exemption is designed to avoid conflicts with ERISA's prohibited transaction rules.

The Investors Exchange LLC (IEX) has proposed changes to its parent corporation's bylaws. These changes would allow the Board of Directors to invite non-voting observers to attend and participate in board meetings. The proposed amendment aims to formally codify existing practices, ensuring clear roles and responsibilities for these observers while maintaining confidentiality and regulatory compliance. This proposal is considered non-controversial and is aligned with similar practices at other exchanges like BOX and MEMX, which also allow non-voting board observers.

The Department of Commerce is asking for feedback on their collection of information regarding the Fishery Capacity Reduction Program. This request is part of efforts to manage the burden of reporting on the public, as mandated by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The main goal of the program is to reduce fishing capacity by compensating fishermen to give up their fishing permits or vessels. The public is encouraged to send their comments by March 23, 2021, to help evaluate and improve the information collection process.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is looking for nominations of qualified individuals to join the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. The goal of this committee is to advise the Secretary and Congress on the VA's management of benefits and services for minority veterans. The committee will explore various topics, including healthcare and outreach programs, and provide recommendations. Nominations must be received by July 15, 2021, and should include specific details about the candidate's qualifications and willingness to serve.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is inviting nominations for individuals to serve on the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee (MHCC). This committee advises on manufactured housing standards and regulations. The Secretary of HUD will appoint 22 members, 21 with voting rights, from three categories: producers, users, and general interest/public officials. Nominations must be submitted by January 2, 2025, and previous applicants do not need to reapply.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a final rule updating regulations for seafood inspection procedures, which were last majorly revised in 1971. The rule aims to improve the consistency and accuracy of seafood inspections by adopting recognized best practices and simplifying procedures. These updates are expected to benefit the seafood industry by modernizing inspection methods and shifting regulatory language to a digital manual. The rule will become effective on January 15, 2025, and aligns definitions with existing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.