Office of the Secretary – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Acquisition and Property Management, Office of the Secretary, Department of the Interior are proposing to renew an information collection with revisions.

The DoD is finalizing amendments to apply offsets for payments made by the U.S. Government for medical malpractice claims to potential economic damages only and not to total potential damages. Under this rule total potential damages will no longer be reduced by offsetting most of the compensation otherwise provided or expected to be provided by DoD or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the same harm that is the subject of the medical malpractice claim. Instead, only economic damages will be reduced by offsetting most of the compensation otherwise provided or expected to be provided by DoD or the VA for the same harm that is the subject of the medical malpractice claim. This rule also clarifies future lost earnings may be awarded until the time DoD determines that the claimant is, or is expected to be, medically rehabilitated and able to resume employment; in cases of permanent incapacitation, until expiration of the claimant's work-life expectancy; or, in cases of death, until the expiration of the claimant's work-life expectancy, after deducting for the claimant's personal consumption.

This final rule makes several clarifications and updates the definitions currently used to determine whether a consumer is eligible to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) through an Exchange; a Basic Health Program (BHP), in States that elect to operate a BHP; and for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIPs). Specifically, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and certain other noncitizens will be included in the definitions of "lawfully present" that are used to determine eligibility to enroll in a QHP through an Exchange, for Advance Payments of the Premium Tax Credit (APTC) and Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs), or for a BHP.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, on behalf of the interdepartmental National Invasive Species Council (NISC), proposes to appoint new members to the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC). The Secretary of the Interior, acting as administrative lead, is requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the ISAC.

The Department of Defense (DoD or Department) is giving concurrent notice of a new system of records titled "All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) Report System," AARO-0001, and this rulemaking, which exempts portions of this system of records from certain provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, because of national security. This rule is being published as a direct final rule as the Department does not expect to receive any adverse comments. If such comments are received, this direct final rule will be withdrawn and a proposed rule for comments will be published.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or the Department) is issuing this final rule regarding section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) (section 1557). Section 1557 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in certain health programs and activities. Section 1557(c) of the ACA authorizes the Secretary of the Department to promulgate regulations to implement the nondiscrimination requirements of section 1557. The Department is also revising its interpretation regarding whether Medicare Part B constitutes Federal financial assistance for purposes of civil rights enforcement. Additionally, the Department is revising provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in regulations issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) governing Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE); health insurance issuers and their officials, employees, agents, and representatives; States and the Exchanges carrying out Exchange requirements; agents, brokers, or web-brokers that assist with or facilitate enrollment of qualified individuals, qualified employers, or qualified employees; issuers providing essential health benefits (EHB); and qualified health plan issuers.

This final rule amends the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (Uniform Act) regulations. The revisions are prompted by enactment of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which increased statutory relocation benefits and reduced length of occupancy requirements. This final rule updates existing regulations on the use of those provisions. The FHWA is also updating the Uniform Act regulations in response to comments received during this rulemaking's public comment period and to reflect the agency's experience with the Federal-aid highway program since the last comprehensive rulemaking for the part, which occurred in 2005. The updates include streamlining processes to better meet current Uniform Act implementation needs and eliminating duplicative and outdated regulatory language.

The DoD is publishing this notice to announce that the following meeting of the Defense Advisory Committee on Military Personnel Testing (DACMPT) will take place.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the OUSD(P&R) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the OUSD(P&R) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This notice fulfills an obligation under the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) that requires the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to publish on the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's public internet website, and in the Federal Register, the trusted exchange framework and common agreement developed under the PHSA. This notice is for publishing an updated version of the Common Agreement (Version 2.0).

The DoD has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.

The DoD is publishing this notice to announce that it is renewing the charter of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS).

The Department of Transportation (DOT) seeks to maximize the use of American-made products and materials in all federally funded projects as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's implementation of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). In this notice, DOT is taking action to finalize a temporary general applicability waiver of the requirements of section 70914(a) of the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA), included in BIL, and related domestic preference statutes administered by DOT and its Operating Administrations (OAs) for federal financial assistance awarded by DOT and its OAs for infrastructure projects located in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and American Samoa, collectively referred to as the "Pacific Island territories." The waiver also applies to discretionary grant assistance provided by DOT and its OAs to the Freely Associated States (the Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Federated States of Micronesia) in the Pacific that are subject to a domestic preference statute. As it applies to the Freely Associated States, the waiver does not include BABA, which only applies to infrastructure projects in the United States and its territories. The waiver will provide time for DOT to collect and analyze evidence to determine if a more targeted waiver of these requirements is in the public interest. The waiver allows time for DOT and its OAs to offer technical assistance to potential assistance recipients in the remote communities in the Pacific Island territories and Freely Associated States. The waiver will be reviewed prior to its expiration.

The DoD is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Uniform Formulary Beneficiary Advisory Panel (UFBAP) will take place.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) is requiring automatic refunds to consumers when a U.S. air carrier or a foreign air carrier cancels or makes a significant change to a scheduled flight to, from, or within the United States and the consumer is not offered or rejects alternative transportation and travel credits, vouchers, or other compensation. These automatic refunds must be provided promptly, i.e., within 7 business days for credit card payments and within 20 calendar days for other forms of payment. To ensure consumers know when they are entitled to a refund, the Department is requiring carriers and ticket agents to inform consumers of their right to a refund if that is the case before making an offer for alternative transportation, travel credits, vouchers, or other compensation in lieu of refunds. Also, the Department is defining, for the first time, the terms "significant change" and "cancellation" to provide clarity and consistency to consumers with respect to their right to a refund. The Department is also requiring refunds to consumers for fees for ancillary services that passengers paid for but did not receive and for checked baggage fees if the bag is significantly delayed. For consumers who are unable to or advised not to travel as scheduled on flights to, from, or within the United States because of a serious communicable disease, the Department is requiring that carriers provide travel vouchers or credits that are transferrable and valid for at least 5 years from the date of issuance. Carriers may require consumers to provide documentary evidence demonstrating that they are unable to travel or have been advised not to travel to support their request for a travel voucher or credit, unless the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) publishes guidance declaring that requiring such documentary evidence is not in the public interest.

In a final rule published March 12, 2024, DHS codified the procedures that apply to appeals before the Transportation Security Oversight Board concerning Federal Aviation Administration Airmen Certificates. The rule misstated the editorial action taking place. This document corrects that error.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the DoD is modifying and reissuing a current system of records titled, "DCAA Management Information System (DMIS), RDCAA 590.8." This system of records was originally established by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) to collect and maintain records on audit requirements, programs, and performance and to provide timekeepers with access to time and attendance records. This system of records notice (SORN) is being updated to change the SORN title from "DCAA Management Information System (DMIS)" to "DCAA Portfolio Management System Records." The DoD is also modifying various other sections within the SORN to improve clarity or update information that has changed.

This final rule will revise the Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D), Medicare cost plan, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) regulations to implement changes related to Star Ratings, marketing and communications, agent/broker compensation, health equity, dual eligible special needs plans (D-SNPs), utilization management, network adequacy, and other programmatic areas. This final rule also codifies existing sub-regulatory guidance in the Part C and Part D programs.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Department of the Interior (Department) is adopting the United States Forest Service's (USFS) categorical exclusion for short- term mineral, energy, or geothermal investigations and the Department of the Navy's (DON) categorical exclusion for pre-lease upland exploration activities for oil, gas, or geothermal reserves, (e.g., geophysical surveys) pursuant to section 109 of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to use for proposed Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approval of geothermal exploration operations. This notice describes the limited categories of proposed actions for which the BLM intends to use the USFS and DON categorical exclusions and details the consultation between the respective agencies.