Office of the Secretary June 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Defense Acquisition Performance Assessment Project published a notice of Open Meeting in the Federal Register of June 23, 2005. The document cited a General Information section that should be removed and incorrect contact telephone numbers.

The American Indian Probate Reform Act of 2004 requires the Secretary of the Interior to certify that we developed an informational notice about the Act and its provisions. The Act also requires the Secretary of the Interior to certify that we sent the notice to individual Indian holders of interest in trust or restricted land by direct mail, and published the notice in the Federal Register and newspapers. This certification fulfills this requirement.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, will award up to U.S. $4 million through one or more cooperative agreements to an organization or organizations to improve access to and quality of education programs as a means to combat exploitive child labor among indigenous children in Ecuador. Projects funded under this solicitation will provide educational and training opportunities to indigenous children as a means of removing and/or preventing them from engaging in exploitive work or the worst forms of child labor. The activities funded will complement and expand upon existing projects and programs to improve basic education in the country of interest. Applications must respond to the entire Statement of Work outlined in this solicitation. In Ecuador, activities under these cooperative agreements will provide the direct delivery of quality basic education to indigenous working children and those at risk of entering work, and will result in their enrollment, persistence, and completion of an education or training program.

In notice document 05-10620 beginning on page 30787 in the issue of Friday, May 27, 2005, make the following modification: On page 30787, in the second column, under the heading ``Agency'', the language, ``Key Dates: Deadline for Submission of Application is July 11, 2005.'', should be changed to read, ``Key Dates: Deadline for Submission of Application is July 15, 2005.''. On page 30787, in the second column, first sentence of the ``Summary'', the language ``The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, will award up to U.S. $2 million through one or more cooperative agreements to an organization or organizations* * *'', should be changed to read, ``The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, will award up to U.S. $4 million through one or more cooperative agreements to an organization or organizations* * *''. On page 30791, in the second column, first sentence of the second paragraph of Section II ``Award Information'', the language, ``Up to U.S. $2 million will be awarded under this solicitation'', should be changed to read, ``Up to U.S. $4 million will be awarded under this solicitation.''

The Defense Acquisition Performance Assessment Project is being established in consonance with the public interest and in accordance with the provisions of Pub. L. 92-463, the ``Federal Advisory Committee Act,'' title 5 U.S.C., Appendix 2. The Project will provide to the Secretary of Defense recommendations on how the Department of Defense, in general, and other services can improve the performance of the Defense Acquisition System for major programs. The recommendations will inform the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review and form the basis of an implementation action plan. The Project will consist of a balanced membership of six members who are eminent authorities in the field of Defense acquisition.

Name of Committee: The Defense Advisory Committee on Military Compensation (DACMC). Committee Membership: Chairman: ADM (Ret) Donald L. Pilling. Members: Dr. John P. White; Gen (Ret) Lester L. Lyles; Mr. Frederic W. Cook; Dr. Walter Oi; Dr. Martin Anderson; and Mr. Joseph E. Jannotta. General Function of the Committee: The Committee will provide the Secretary of Defense, through the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), with assistance and advice on matters pertaining to military compensation. The Committee will examine what types of military compensation and benefits are the most effective for meeting the needs of the Nation. Date and Time: Wednesday, July 20, 2005, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (morning session) and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (afternoon session). Location: Crystal City Hilton, 2399 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202. Contact Person: Mr. Terry Mintz, Designated Federal Official, Defense Advisory Committee on Military Compensation, 2521 S. Clark Street, Arlington, VA 22202. Telephone (703) 699-2700. Agenda: On July 20, 2005, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the Committee will discuss various aspects of the military pay and benefits system, specifically concerning issues identified during fact-finding briefings conducted at the June meeting. Procedure: Public participation in Committee discussions at this meeting will not be permitted. Written submissions of data, information, and views may be sent to the Committee's contact person at the address shown. Submissions be received by close of business July 15, 2005. Persons attending are advised that the Committee is not responsible for providing access to electrical outlets.

A meeting of the Board has been scheduled to execute the provisions of Chapter 74, Title 10, United States Code (10 U.S.C. 1464 et. seq.), The Board shall review DoD actuarial methods and assumptions to be used in the valuation of the Military Retirement System. Persons desiring to: (1) attend the DoD Retirement Board of Actuaries meeting, or (2) make an oral presentation or submit a written statement for consideration at the meeting, must notify Inger Pettygrove at (703) 696-7413 by July 8, 2005. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

The Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee is publishing Civilian Personnel Per Diem Bulletin Number 240. This bulletin lists revisions in the per diem rates prescribed for U.S. Government employees for official travel in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and Possessions of the United States. AEA changes announced in Bulletin Number 194 remain in effect. Bulletin Number 240 is being published in the Federal Register to assure that travelers are paid per diem at the most current rates.

Funds are provided for Area Poverty Research Center cooperative agreements for qualified institutions to provide a focused agenda expanding our understanding of the causes, consequences and effects of poverty in local geographic areas or specific substantive areas, especially in states or regional areas of high concentrations of poverty. These cooperative agreements are intended to create a research opportunity for scholars and institutions otherwise unlikely to participate extensively in HHS programs to support the Nation's poverty research effort. I. Funding Opportunity Description

This notice announces a series of public forums that senior officials of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold to obtain public input for the development of the 2007 Farm Bill. The 2002 Farm Bill, officially entitled the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (the 2002 Act; Publ. L. 107-171), authorizes many of the programs operated by USDA such as the farm price and income support programs and expires with the 2007 crop year. Many other key programs specified in the 2002 Act expire at the end of fiscal year 2007. New legislation will need to be enacted prior to the expiration of the 2002 Act. USDA intends to develop recommendations for the new farm bill and believes that public input is essential to the process by which these recommendations will be developed. This process requires an assessment of the performance of current programs operated under the 2002 Act as well as of possible alternative programs for the next farm bill. The public forums will be held at various locations in the United States during 2005. The dates, locations, and times of the forums will be announced by USDA press release (available at https://www.usda.gov). The public will be invited to attend the forums and to present oral comments. The primary topics addressed at the forums will reflect various concerns affecting rural America such as commodity, conservation, and rural economic development issues. However, some forums will be dedicated to other important programs authorized by the farm bill such as food assistance, research, and education programs. Topics for these discussions will be announced via USDA press release. In addition, this notice provides the public the opportunity to comment in writing on key issues that USDA expects to address in the development of its recommendations. USDA will review the public comments received, including any analyses, reports, studies, and other material submitted with the comments, that address the questions specified below.

In notice document 05-10619 beginning of page 30777 in the issue of Friday, May 27, 2005, make the following correction: On page 30777, in the third column, third sentence of Section II ``Award Information'', the language, ``The duration of the project(s) funded by this solicitation is four (4) years'', is incorrect. This sentence should be changed to read, ``The duration of the project(s) funded by this solicitation must be between 30 months and 48 months.''

In notice document 05-10621 beginning on page 30805 in the issue of Friday, May 27, 2005, make the following correction: On page 30805, in the second column, third sentence of Section II ``Award Information'', the language, ``The duration of the project(s) funded by this solicitation is four (4) years'', is incorrect. This sentence should be changed to read, ``The duration of the project(s) funded by this solicitation must be between 30 months and 48 months.''

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 96-463, notice is hereby given that the Independent Review Panel to Study the Relationships between Military Department General Counsels and Judge Advocates General will hold an open meeting at the Hilton Crystal City, 2399 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202, on June 28-29, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Purpose: The Panel will meet on June 28-29, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., to hear testimony of current and former Defense Department officials and the public and to conduct deliberations concerning the relationships between the legal elements of their respective Military Departments. These sessions will be open to the public, subject to the availability of space. In keeping with the spirit of FACA, the Panel welcomes written comments concerning its work from the public at any time. Interested citizens are encouraged to attend the sessions.

The Department of Defense published a document in the Federal Register on May 31, 2005, concerning a meeting on June 15-16, 2005, of the Independent Review Panel to Study the Relationships between Military Department General Counsels and Judge Advocates General. The Panel has decided to cancel the meeting scheduled for June 16.

The Strengthening America's Communities Advisory Committee (the ``Committee'') will convene an open teleconference meeting on Monday, June 27, 2005 to discuss the status of its report and to address other Committee business (as necessary). Members of the public may listen to the meeting by using the teleconference call-in number and pass code provided below.