Search Results for keywords:"Federal financial assistance"

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, issued a notice amending a major disaster declaration for the state of Florida. This amendment, released on October 23, 2024, includes DeSoto County as an area eligible for Individual Assistance following a disaster declared by the President on September 28, 2024. The amendment outlines various types of federal financial assistance available to affected individuals and communities, including loans, legal services, and housing aid.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is proposing a waiver for certain Buy America requirements under the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) for infrastructure projects in the Pacific Island territories and Freely Associated States, like Guam and American Samoa. This proposal recognizes the unique challenges these regions face, such as extended delivery times and high shipping costs for U.S.-produced goods due to their geographic isolation. If approved, the waiver, which aims to ease these burdens and support project completion, would be valid for five years, allowing exceptions where necessary for strategic security. DOT seeks public comments on this proposal by December 31, 2024.

The U.S. Department of Education has withdrawn a proposed rule that aimed to change the regulations under Title IX concerning sex-related criteria for participation in male and female athletic teams. The proposed changes, published in April 2023, sparked over 150,000 public comments, with varied opinions, leading the Department to reconsider its position. Due to the volume of feedback and ongoing lawsuits regarding Title IX and gender identity, the Department decided not to finalize this rule at this time, ending the rulemaking process. Complaints about gender discrimination in athletics will continue to be evaluated under the existing Title IX regulations.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is proposing changes to its regulations to align with the updated guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). These changes would update cross-references, implement new rules for loan guarantee programs, and attempt to streamline and clarify requirements for recipients of federal financial assistance. HUD also seeks to better align specific programs like the Housing Trust Fund program with these updates, aiming to reduce administrative burdens and improve efficiency in managing federal financial assistance.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing updates to regulations governing Federal financial assistance programs under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act. The changes aim to align regulations with recent legislation, ensure consistency across the nation, and respond to prior feedback on rulemaking. The proposal includes clarifications on eligible activities, agency responsibilities, and administrative processes to improve program clarity and efficiency. Public comments will be accepted until early 2025, and the updates are meant to enhance management of wildlife and sport fish restoration and related activities.

The Rural Housing Service of the USDA issued a final rule to update regulations for Multi-Family Housing and Community Facilities, aligning them with new federal financial assistance guidelines from the Office of Management and Budget. Significant changes include raising the audit threshold to $1 million for certain federal financial assistance recipients and revising financial language to ensure compliance with OMB updates. Additionally, the rule clarifies exceptions and updates language in specific sections related to applications and financial reporting requirements. These changes are effective from December 6, 2024.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is considering changes to regulations concerning charter services provided by recipients of federal financial assistance. This proposed rule aims to remove specific outdated programs and guidance listed in appendices, update citations, and clarify regulations without making substantive changes. Key revisions include relocating certain information to the FTA website, removing the outdated appendix A list of Federal programs, and clarifying which human service organizations need to register to receive charter services. The proposed changes are intended to streamline processes and reduce administrative burdens without significantly affecting current requirements or imposing economic impacts.