Search Results for agency_names:"Office of the Secretary"

The Department of Defense (DoD) has sent a proposal to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve their plan for gathering information under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This information collection involves forms related to mortuary affairs, which document the arrangements and decisions made by families of deceased military personnel. The forms help the DoD manage the care and transportation of remains, as well as provide military funeral honors. The public has until February 10, 2025, to submit comments on this proposal.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has published an arms sales notice regarding a proposed sale to Poland. The sale includes Airspace and Surface Radar Reconnaissance systems, Airborne Early Warning radars, and electronic intelligence sensors, among other equipment, valued at $1.2 billion. This equipment is intended to enhance Poland's defense capabilities and support U.S. national security goals by strengthening a NATO ally in Europe. The sale involves major American contractors, and there's no anticipated negative impact on U.S. defense readiness.

The Department of the Treasury has issued a notice listing countries that may require participation in, or cooperation with, an international boycott. According to the information available, these countries are Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen. This list is set forth under section 999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Lindsay Kitzinger, the International Tax Counsel for Tax Policy, was involved in the publication of this list.

The Department of Labor has decided to delay the implementation of the Tip Regulations Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) until April 30, 2021. This decision follows a directive for a "Regulatory Freeze Pending Review" to ensure that the rule's legal, policy, and factual issues are fully assessed. Many stakeholders during a public comment period supported the delay, expressing concerns that the rule might have complicated effects on workers, including tip credit application and compliance costs for employers. The decision also allows time to address a legal complaint arguing that certain aspects of the rule are contrary to existing laws.

The Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary issued a notice correcting a previously published document. The correction applies to Notice Document 2020-29193, which was published on January 6, 2021. In this document, the deadline previously listed as “April 1, 2021” in the DATES section should be corrected to “March 8, 2021”. This correction was filed on January 27, 2021.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has updated its procedures under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to include a new categorical exclusion (CX) for certain geothermal resource confirmation activities. This exclusion applies to activities like drilling to confirm a geothermal resource, provided they do not involve resource extraction and meet specific conditions, such as limiting surface disturbance to 20 acres and adhering to reclamation guidelines. This update aims to streamline approval processes while still protecting environmental resources, but it does not apply to geothermal power plant operations, which will undergo further review. Public feedback was considered, and changes were made to clarify the scope and requirements of the CX.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is requesting public input on an information collection proposal related to the Unemployment Insurance State Quality Service Plan. This is part of a performance management system to improve unemployment services. Comments can be submitted until February 16, 2021, via the provided website, and the collection pertains to state, local, and tribal governments. The DOL is seeking approval for this data collection to continue for three years, and it estimates that 53 respondents will contribute a total of 3,975 hours annually.

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness is asking for public comments on their proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The comments should address whether the information collection is necessary, its practical utility, its burden, and how it can be improved or made less burdensome. The proposal includes a system called the Military OneSource Case Management System, which aims to provide comprehensive online information to military members and their families. The deadline for submitting comments is February 18, 2025, and individuals or households are the primary respondents, with an expected 242,711 respondents each dedicating one hour of their time.

The Department of Labor is proposing changes to improve the rules for administrative hearings before its Office of Administrative Law Judges. The main update is to require electronic filing and service of documents, making it easier and more efficient for lawyers and their clients. These rules also allow self-represented individuals to choose between electronic and traditional methods for filing papers. The Department has considered potential impacts and ensured that changes comply with relevant laws and regulations.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has finalized a rule that implements the Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way (PROWAG), as part of its regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This formalizes standards ensuring that new and altered transit stops in public spaces are accessible to persons with disabilities. The rule becomes effective on January 17, 2025, and applies to relevant constructions or alterations started after that date. This regulatory update aims to harmonize public transportation facilities' accessibility with standards already set out by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.