Search Results for keywords:"transparency"

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has finalized changes to its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations to align with the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016. These updates aim to make procedures for accessing information more accessible and clearly outlined for public understanding. The new rule reorganizes SSA's FOIA guidelines, clarifies terms like "commercial interest," and provides extensive details on processing requests, fees, and exemptions. The SSA hopes these changes will improve transparency and efficiency for both the agency and the public.

The U.S. Postal Service announced a change to its previously scheduled meeting, originally set for January 14, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. The meeting took place in Potomac, MD, and was closed to the public. The time for the closed session was moved to 1:45 p.m. Anyone needing more information can contact Michael J. Elston, Secretary of the Board, at the U.S. Postal Service.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases announced a closed meeting for reviewing grant applications. This meeting, to be held from March 5-7, 2025, will take place virtually and is closed to the public to protect confidential information. The discussions during this meeting may involve sensitive trade secrets, patentable material, or personal information, which necessitates privacy. For any inquiries, contact Charlene J. Repique, Ph.D., the Scientific Review Officer at the National Institutes of Health.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has scheduled a closed meeting at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 10, 2025. This meeting will be conducted remotely and/or at the SEC headquarters in Washington, DC. The closed meeting will address topics including the institution and settlement of injunctive actions, administrative proceedings, and resolution of litigation claims. The public is not allowed to attend, and changes to the meeting's time, date, or location will be announced on the SEC's website.

The Department of Health and Human Services has released a statement about improving transparency in the drug approval process by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They examined how long it takes the FDA to review and approve new drug applications. Historically, Congress set a 180-day limit for this process, but recent reviews show that it often takes longer. To improve transparency and accountability, the FDA will now publish detailed timelines of these reviews on its website so the public and Congress can better understand these processes and their impacts.

The Federal Election Commission announced a closed virtual meeting scheduled for January 26, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., with continuation after an open meeting on January 28, 2021. This meeting, held at 1050 First Street NE, Washington, DC, will address compliance matters under 52 U.S.C. 30109, and issues related to civil actions, proceedings, or arbitration. For further details, individuals can contact Judith Ingram, the Press Officer, at (202) 694-1220.

The National Institute of Mental Health is holding two meetings to review and evaluate grant applications. The meetings will be closed to the public to protect confidential information. The first meeting, focusing on understanding mental health disorders through invasive recording and stimulating techniques, is scheduled for March 1, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The second meeting, addressing member conflicts, will take place on March 5, 2021, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Both meetings are conducted via telephone conference calls at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Board of Directors' Governance and Performance Review Committee and Operations and Regulations Committee will hold virtual meetings on March 24 and March 31, 2025, respectively. The meetings, conducted via Zoom, will be partially open to the public, who can attend through provided online links. Open sessions will discuss the approval of agendas, minutes from a previous meeting, and other public matters, while closed sessions will address evaluations of senior management positions. Non-confidential materials for the meetings will be available on the LSC website beforehand, and inquiries can be directed to Cheryl DuHart, the Administrative Coordinator.

The Postal Regulatory Commission has announced that the Postal Service recently filed a request regarding a negotiated service agreement. This notice informs the public about this filing and encourages them to submit comments by March 19, 2025. The request involves amendments to an existing contract that includes services like Priority Mail Express and First-Class Package Service. People can read the public parts of the request on the Commission's website and submit comments using the online system.

The Department of Labor is asking for public comments on a proposed information collection related to managing the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. This request is submitted to the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The information collected will help ensure that funds are properly managed and used exclusively for unemployment benefits. The public can provide feedback on the necessity and accuracy of this data collection by March 21, 2025.