Office of the Secretary – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) is extending through December 16, 2022, the period for interested persons to submit comments to its proposed rule on Airline Ticket Refunds and Consumer Protections.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) is amending its regulations under the Privacy Act of 1974. DHS is updating and streamlining the language of several provisions. In addition, DHS is making minor, technical edits to its Freedom of Information Act regulations.

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 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.

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 Build America, Buy America Act (the Act), which was included in the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The implementation of this law will transform DOT's approach to domestic procurement requirements and is designed to drive significant investment in domestic manufacturing, spur job creation and grow the economy. The Department is taking three concurrent actions: (1) DOT is not extending its temporary waiver for construction materials, making that requirement applicable effective November 10, 2022; (2) in a separate notice, DOT is proposing a narrow waiver for de minimis costs, small grants, and minor components; and (3) in this notice, DOT is proposing to take two actions to help transition to the new construction materials standard. First, for DOT awards obligated on or after the effective date of the final waiver, DOT is proposing to waive the construction materials requirements for any contracts entered into before November 10, 2022. Second, DOT is proposing to waive the construction materials requirements for any contracts entered into before March 10, 2023, that result from solicitations published before May 14, 2022.

The DoD is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meetings of the DoDWC will take place.

This proposed rule would adopt updated versions of the retail pharmacy standards for electronic transactions adopted under the Administrative Simplification subtitle of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). These updated versions would be modifications to the currently adopted standards for the following retail pharmacy transactions: health care claims or equivalent encounter information; eligibility for a health plan; referral certification and authorization; and coordination of benefits. The proposed rule would also broaden the applicability of the Medicaid pharmacy subrogation transaction to all health plans. To that end, the rule would rename and revise the definition of the transaction and adopt an updated standard, which would be a modification for state Medicaid agencies and an initial standard for all other health plans.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness 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 DoD is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Defense Science Board (DSB) will take place.

Defense Human Resources Activity publishes this Civilian Personnel Per Diem Bulletin Number 321. Bulletin Number 321 lists current per diem rates prescribed for reimbursement of subsistence expenses while on official Government travel to Alaska, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the possessions of the United States. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 lodging rate review for Alaska resulted in rate changes for multiple locations.

The DoD is publishing this notice to announce that it is renewing the Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (DAC-DI).

The DoD is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Defense Health Board (DHB) will take place.

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 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 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 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 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of the Secretary, Office of the Chief Information Officer are proposing to seek compliance for an information collection in use without approval.

The Department proposes to require U.S. air carriers, foreign air carriers, and ticket agents to clearly disclose passenger-specific or itinerary-specific baggage fees, change fees, and cancellation fees to consumers whenever fare and schedule information is provided to consumers for flights to, within, and from the United States. The Department also proposes to require these entities to clearly disclose passenger-specific or itinerary-specific fees for adjacent seating whenever fare and schedule information is provided to consumers traveling with young children on flights to, within, and from the United States, and make these fees transactable. The Department further proposes to require that carriers provide useable, current, and accurate information regarding baggage fees, change fees, cancellation fees, and adjacent seating fees if any to ticket agents that sell or display the carrier's fare and schedule information. This rulemaking implements the Executive order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, which directs the Department to take various actions to promote the interests of American workers, businesses, and consumers, including considering initiating a rulemaking to ensure that consumers have ancillary fee information at the time of ticket purchase.

The DoD requests comments on proposed changes to the Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM), United States (2019 ed.). The proposed changes are based on the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act and certain recommendations of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military. Due to the volume of proposed changes, they should be reviewed in their entirety. The approval authority for the changes to the MCM is the President, while the approval authority for the changes to the supplementary materials is the General Counsel of the DoD.

STRLs may implement a direct hire authority for students and recent graduates for occupations which do not require expertise in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). The Professional, Administrative, Assistant, Clerical and Technician Student Employment Program (PAACTSEP) is a student program which permits appointment and noncompetitive conversion to the competitive service for qualified candidates who are enrolled in a qualifying educational institution.

This serves as notice of the proposed adoption of STRL personnel demonstration project flexibilities by an STRL comprised of certain organizations within the U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC), known collectively as the AFC STRL. The organizations comprising the AFC STRL are: the U.S. Army Futures Command Headquarters and Headquarters Components (AFC HHC); the Futures and Concepts Center (FCC); Cross Functional Teams (CFTs); The Research and Analysis Center (TRAC); the Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Headquarters (also known as DEVCOM Headquarters); and the DEVCOM Analysis Center (DAC). The AFC STRL proposes to adopt, with some modifications, personnel demonstration project flexibilities implemented by the Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Army Research Laboratory (ARL); CCDC Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Center (C5ISR); the Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI); the CCDC Armament Center (AC); the Technical Center (TC), U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC); and the Joint Warfare Analysis Center (JWAC). Most flexibilities and administrative procedures are adopted without changes. However, modifications were made when necessary to address specific management and workforce needs. In addition, changes were made based on current law, best practices, and administrative guidance.

Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (``section 22007'') directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide financial assistance for producers and landowners determined to have experienced discrimination in the Department of Agriculture's farm lending programs. To help us design and implement policy to best provide the direct support called for by this provision, USDA is seeking input from the public to ensure that relevant information is considered. Accordingly, USDA is interested in your comments in response to the topics, categories, and questions presented in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as amended, the Department is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to OMB for review. DOT published a Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collections of information on May 10, 2022 (87 FR 28101). DOT received two comments on the 60-day notice which are addressed below. DOT considered the comments and concluded that it will not make any changes to the information collections based on the comments before it submits the ICR to OMB for review. This notice is to allow the public an additional 30 days from the date of this notice to submit comments to the recently published application to reinstate OMB Control Number: 2105-0551, ``Reporting Requirements for Disability- Related Complaints.''