Organization and Functions; Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Farm Credit Administration; Organization of the Farm Credit Administration, 3941 [2016-01398]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2016 / Rules and Regulations Done in Washington, DC, this 15th day of January 2016. Gary Woodward, Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Dated: January 20, 2016. Dale L. Aultman, Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board. [FR Doc. 2016–01398 Filed 1–22–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6705–01–P [FR Doc. 2016–01399 Filed 1–22–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 13 CFR Part 121 FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION RIN 3245–AG49 12 CFR Parts 600 and 606 Small Business Size Standards: Employee Based Size Standards in Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade RIN 3052–AD08 Organization and Functions; Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Farm Credit Administration; Organization of the Farm Credit Administration AGENCY: ACTION: Farm Credit Administration. Notice of effective date. The Farm Credit Administration (FCA, we, Agency or our) amended our regulations to reflect internal organization changes and to update a statutory citation for the Farm Credit Act. In accordance with the law, the effective date of the rule is no earlier than 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register during which either or both Houses of Congress are in session. SUMMARY: Under the authority of 12 U.S.C. 2252, the regulation amending 12 CFR parts 600 and 606 published on November 5, 2015 (80 FR 68427) is effective January 25, 2016. DATES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael T. Wilson, Policy Analyst, Office of Regulatory Policy, Farm Credit Administration, McLean, VA 22102– 5090, (703) 883–4124, TTY (703) 883– 4056, or Jane Virga, Senior Counsel, Office of General Counsel, Farm Credit Administration, McLean, VA 22102– 5090, (703) 883–4071, TTY (703) 883– 4056. The Farm Credit Administration amended our regulations to reflect internal organization changes and to update a statutory citation for the Farm Credit Act. In accordance with 12 U.S.C. 2252, the effective date of the final rule is no earlier than 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register during which either or both Houses of Congress are in session. Based on the records of the sessions of Congress, the effective date of the regulations is January 25, 2016. (12 U.S.C. 2252(a)(9) and (10)) mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:57 Jan 22, 2016 Jkt 238001 U.S. Small Business Administration. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) is increasing 47 small business size standards based on a concern’s number of employees. These increases affect 46 industries in North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, and one industry in NAICS Sector 44–45, Retail Trade. SBA retains the size standards for the remaining industries in those sectors and the 500-employee size standard for the Federal Government’s procurement of supplies under the nonmanufacturer rule. As part of its comprehensive size standards review under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, SBA reviewed all 71 industries in NAICS Sector 42, as well as the two industries in NAICS Sector 44–45, that have employee based size standards. The revisions adopted in this rule primarily affect eligibility for SBA’s financial assistance programs, and have no impact on Federal procurement programs. DATES: This rule is effective on February 26, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Jordan, Office of Size Standards, (202) 205–6618 or sizestandards@sba.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 19, 2014 (79 FR 28631), SBA proposed to increase employee based size standards for 46 industries in NAICS Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, and one industry in NAICS Sector 44–45, Retail Trade. The Agency proposed keeping the current size standards for the remaining industries in those sectors. SBA also proposed to retain the 500employee size standard for Federal procurement of supplies under the nonmanufacturer rule (13 CFR 121.406). The proposed rule sought comments from the public on the Agency’s proposals and received seven comments. Generally, commenters SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 3941 opposed the proposed increases to the size standards in the wholesale trade industries. However, while some commenters appeared to be cognizant of the effects of the proposed increases and how they apply to various small business programs and their industries, others did not seem to be aware that the NAICS codes and size standards for the wholesale and retail trade industries do not apply to Federal Government procurement programs and the proposed increases would have no impact on size eligibility for Federal contracts. What follows is a summary and discussion of the comments, their positions and the issues they raise, and SBA’s responses. All comments are available for public review at the Federal Rulemaking Portal, www.regulations.gov. Summary and Discussion of Public Comments to the May 19, 2014 Proposed Rule Two parties submitted identical comments, opposing SBA’s proposal to increase the size standards. The commenters stated that current size standards are already too high, and expanding them will make matters worse. The commenters contended that 98 percent of all businesses (including non-employer firms) have 1–19 employees, and those businesses mostly need loans of $50,000 to $250,000. Expanding the definition of ‘‘small’’ is crippling their ability to get loans, they added. The commenters maintained that the average size of SBA’s loan increased from $182,000 in 2008 to $547,000 in 2013, while the share of loans under $100,000, which they claimed generally go to truly small businesses, decreased from 24 percent to 9 percent. The European Union defines the smallest unit of small business as less than 10 employees, and Australia defines ‘‘small’’ as 1–14 employees under its Fair Work Act, the commenters noted. In addition, they stated that the U.S. Congress defines small business as 20–25 employees ‘‘and rarely as high as 50.’’ The commenters asked SBA to stop focusing on 2 percent of the largest small businesses and refocus on the remaining 98 percent of small businesses because they are the ones who really need the help. The higher size standards, if adopted, will put loan assistance out of reach for most small businesses, they argued. Another commenter that offers startup workshops to entrepreneurs expressed concerns on how SBA defines small business. Specifically, the commenter stated that almost any business with up E:\FR\FM\25JAR1.SGM 25JAR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 15 (Monday, January 25, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 3941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01398]


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FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Parts 600 and 606

RIN 3052-AD08


Organization and Functions; Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on 
the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Farm 
Credit Administration; Organization of the Farm Credit Administration

AGENCY: Farm Credit Administration.

ACTION: Notice of effective date.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Farm Credit Administration (FCA, we, Agency or our) 
amended our regulations to reflect internal organization changes and to 
update a statutory citation for the Farm Credit Act. In accordance with 
the law, the effective date of the rule is no earlier than 30 days from 
the date of publication in the Federal Register during which either or 
both Houses of Congress are in session.

DATES: Under the authority of 12 U.S.C. 2252, the regulation amending 
12 CFR parts 600 and 606 published on November 5, 2015 (80 FR 68427) is 
effective January 25, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael T. Wilson, Policy Analyst, 
Office of Regulatory Policy, Farm Credit Administration, McLean, VA 
22102-5090, (703) 883-4124, TTY (703) 883-4056, or Jane Virga, Senior 
Counsel, Office of General Counsel, Farm Credit Administration, McLean, 
VA 22102-5090, (703) 883-4071, TTY (703) 883-4056.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Farm Credit Administration amended our 
regulations to reflect internal organization changes and to update a 
statutory citation for the Farm Credit Act. In accordance with 12 
U.S.C. 2252, the effective date of the final rule is no earlier than 30 
days from the date of publication in the Federal Register during which 
either or both Houses of Congress are in session. Based on the records 
of the sessions of Congress, the effective date of the regulations is 
January 25, 2016. (12 U.S.C. 2252(a)(9) and (10))

    Dated: January 20, 2016.
Dale L. Aultman,
Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board.
[FR Doc. 2016-01398 Filed 1-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6705-01-P
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