Search Results for keywords:"COVID-19 pandemic"

The Secretary of Homeland Security has decided to continue temporary travel restrictions at land ports of entry between the United States and Mexico due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These restrictions limit travel to "essential travel" only, which includes returning U.S. citizens, medical travel, educational travel, work-related travel, and certain other categories. The goal is to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 and protect public health. These limitations do not affect air, freight rail, or sea travel but do apply to passenger rail and ferry travel, and they will be in effect from January 22, 2021, to February 21, 2021.

The Department of Education announced an opportunity for public agencies and private non-profits to apply for grants to operate Equity Assistance Centers. These centers will provide technical help to schools on developing desegregation plans, ensuring all students have a safe and equitable learning environment, and addressing issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The department plans to fund four centers, one in each geographic region outlined, and encourages applications from entities that have not received similar grants recently. Applying organizations must follow specific guidelines and should aim to improve knowledge, change policies, and enhance the capacity to support equal educational opportunities.

The U.S. Copyright Office has amended its regulations to allow the registration of copyright claims in secure tests via secure videoconference due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This interim rule enables remote examinations for secure tests to take place until the national emergency ends, addressing a backlog of over 1,500 pending claims. While in-person examinations are on hold, applicants must still submit necessary documents electronically, and remote videoconferencing will be utilized to review these applications. The situation will be monitored to determine future procedures once regular operations resume.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold a public meeting on Friday, January 15, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting will be an audio-only conference accessible to the public through instructions posted on the EEOC website. The main topic of discussion will be the proposed updates to the Compliance Manual on Religious Discrimination. For more information, individuals can contact Rachel V. See, the Acting Executive Officer, or consult the EEOC’s website.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an interim final rule allowing certain businesses in the 8(a) Business Development program to extend their participation by one year due to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This extension applies to companies in the program on March 13, 2020, as authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and the National Defense Authorization Act 2021. Firms that have left the program since March 13, 2020, can also be readmitted if they notify the SBA and confirm they still meet eligibility criteria. The rule is effective immediately, although the public can comment on the rule until March 15, 2021.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has published a notice regarding a proposed rule change by NYSE National, Inc. This change extends the expiration date of temporary amendments to its rules allowing hearings via video conference from December 31, 2020, to April 30, 2021. These amendments were initially made to accommodate public health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The change aligns with similar actions taken by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and aims to ensure that hearings can proceed safely and without significant delays during the pandemic.

The Department of Education is asking the public for comments on a new information collection related to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). This is needed because over 700 institutions have incorrectly used more than $202 million meant for student aid and institutional costs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department wants to ensure these funds are returned quickly and properly to prevent any further financial issues. Public comments help assess the necessity and efficiency of this information collection while aiming to reduce the burden on respondents.

The Department of Education is seeking an emergency review from the Office of Management and Budget for a new information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This is part of the Randolph-Sheppard Financial Relief and Restoration Payments Appropriation, which aims to provide $20 million in financial relief and restoration grants to blind vendors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The public is invited to comment on the information collection process by April 19, 2021, and further instructions on how to submit comments are provided in the notice. If this request is not approved, the Department will be unable to deliver timely financial assistance in accordance with the legislative mandate.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has received a rule change proposal from the NYSE American LLC that extends the expiration date of temporary amendments to certain rules, allowing hearings to be held via video conference due to COVID-19 public health concerns. These amendments, originally set to expire on December 31, 2020, will now be extended to April 30, 2021, aligning with similar adjustments made by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). This temporary change is intended to ensure that disciplinary hearings can continue safely and without interruption during the ongoing pandemic. The SEC is inviting public comments on this proposed rule change.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released new guidelines for testing alcohols like ethanol and isopropyl alcohol for methanol contamination, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance alerts pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacists about the dangers of using methanol-contaminated alcohols in drug products, which can pose significant health risks. Due to the urgent health emergency, these guidelines were issued without prior public comment and are immediately effective, although they can still receive comments for future updates. The guidance aims to ensure the safe use of pharmaceutical alcohol by focusing on proper identity testing and supply chain oversight.