Search Results for keywords:"stakeholder feedback"

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration decided to withdraw a proposed rule that aimed to revise regulations related to the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937. This proposed rule, initially published in January 2024, sought to enhance the quality and equity of registered apprenticeship programs. The withdrawal follows extensive feedback from over 2,000 stakeholders who highlighted the need for further discussion and refinement of proposed changes. The Department plans to continue engaging with interested parties to consider potential future enhancements before introducing a new proposal.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced changes to the funding and payment limits for the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC). The application deadline is extended to January 10, 2025, and the amount of available funding is increased by $650 million, bringing the total to $2.65 billion. Additionally, the payment limit has been raised from $125,000 to $900,000 per person or legal entity, in response to feedback about the high costs of marketing specialty crops. These adjustments are meant to better support specialty crop producers in marketing their products effectively.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, has issued a draft update of the National Cyber Incident Response Plan (NCIRP) and is seeking public feedback. CISA encourages cybersecurity and incident response experts from the public and private sectors to review and comment on the draft by January 15, 2025. This update aims to improve coordination among federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as the private sector, to better handle significant cyber incidents. The draft is available for review online at CISA's website and the federal regulations portal.

Nasdaq BX, Inc. has filed a proposed rule change with the Securities and Exchange Commission to delay the implementation of a new Options Regulatory Fee (ORF) and its methodology, originally proposed in SR-BX-2024-054. This delay means the new fee and its methodology will now take effect on June 1, 2025, and will end on December 1, 2025. The proposal is immediately effective, and the public is invited to submit comments about it by March 3, 2025. For more details, the proposal is available on both Nasdaq BX's and the SEC's websites.

The Cboe BYX Exchange, Inc. has filed a proposed rule change with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 24, 2025, to amend its fee schedule and introduce fees for "Dedicated Cores." The SEC has allowed this proposal to take effect immediately, but it is also seeking public comments about the change. Anyone interested in expressing their views can submit comments through the SEC's website or by email, ensuring they include the file number SR-CboeBYX-2025-001 in their submissions. The deadline for public comments is February 28, 2025.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has announced that starting March 28, 2025, certain taxonomies, validation rules, and rendering files used for filing various FERC forms will be updated to Version 2025-04-01. This update applies to forms including FERC Form Nos. 1, 1-F, 2, 2-A, 3-Q electric and natural gas, 6, 60, and 714. The draft version of these updated files, Version 2025-01-01, is available for download and feedback until March 3, 2025. The new version will incorporate technical enhancements and updates to adapt to newer technologies and standards.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is asking for public comments on a new information collection related to their Research, Development, and Technology (RD&T) Portfolio website. This request is part of the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. The agency seeks feedback on whether the proposed data collection is necessary, the accuracy of its estimated burden, improvements for data quality, and ways to minimize the burden through technology. Comments are due by March 3, 2021, and can be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal, fax, mail, or hand delivery.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is extending the deadline for public comments on a proposed rule to revise the "estimated cost of the assistance" factor used in disaster declarations. This extension, lasting until March 12, 2021, follows a regulatory review memorandum from President Biden's administration. A virtual public meeting will be held on February 24, 2021, to gather feedback on the changes, which aim to update disaster response criteria and consider the economic impact on affected regions. FEMA is seeking input from various stakeholders, including state and local governments, on how these factors affect their ability to manage disasters.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has decided to end its plans to test changes to the U.S. naturalization test. Originally, they planned to implement changes, such as a standardized English-speaking component and a new civics format, but received significant public opposition, including from immigrant advocacy groups. Concerns were raised that the proposed changes might create new barriers instead of simplifying the test, particularly for individuals with lower literacy or formal education. As a result, USCIS will continue using the existing test format.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced an extension for public comments on its proposed intellectual property policy, giving interested parties until February 21, 2025, to respond. These proposals aim to establish flexible intellectual property options for NSF-backed public-private partnerships, ensuring a balanced distribution of intellectual property rights between academic and industrial collaborators. The NSF's proposed options, including licenses for research and commercial use, are designed to foster innovation while adhering to existing federal laws like the Bayh-Dole Act. Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on issues such as the potential impacts on innovation, balance and flexibility in rights distribution, and barriers to adoption.