January 24, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs (``Department''), is amending its regulation governing the issuance of visas in the ``B'' nonimmigrant classification for temporary visitors for pleasure. This rule establishes that travel to the United States with the primary purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the United States is an impermissible basis for the issuance of a B nonimmigrant visa. Consequently, a consular officer shall deny a B nonimmigrant visa to an alien who he or she has reason to believe intends to travel for this primary purpose. The Department does not believe that visiting the United States for the primary purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for a child, by giving birth in the United Statesan activity commonly referred to as ``birth tourism''is a legitimate activity for pleasure or of a recreational nature, for purposes of consular officers adjudicating applications for B nonimmigrant visas. The final rule addresses concerns about the attendant risks of this activity to national security and law enforcement, including criminal activity associated with the birth tourism industry, as reflected in federal prosecutions of individuals and entities involved in that industry. The final rule also codifies a requirement that B nonimmigrant visa applicants who seek medical treatment in the United States must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the consular officer, their arrangements for such treatment and establish their ability to pay all costs associated with such treatment. The rule establishes a rebuttable presumption that a B nonimmigrant visa applicant who a consular officer has reason to believe will give birth during her stay in the United States is traveling for the primary purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for the child.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, and to allow a second opportunity for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

The Department of Defense is announcing the 2019 rent threshold under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Applying the inflation adjustment for 2019, the maximum monthly rental amount as of January 1, 2020, will be $3,991.90.

The Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) program requires that a notice of the time, place, and nature of each VISA Joint Planning Advisory Group (JPAG) meeting be published in the Federal Register. On January 14, 2020, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) co-hosted a classified VISA JPAG meeting at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The JPAG is co-chaired by MARAD and USTRANSCOM and is convened jointly. The U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission were informed of the JPAG meeting prior to its occurrence, in accordance with VISA program requirements. Participants in the JPAG meeting were required to possess a secret clearance due to the classified nature of the event and attendance at the meeting was by invitation only. MARAD and USTRANSCOM invited participating VISA carriers and representatives of maritime labor organizations to attend the meeting. In addition, representatives from the U.S. Department of Transportation, MARAD, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Department of Defense (DOD) to include the Office of the Secretary of Defense, USTRANSCOM, the U.S. Navy, the Military Sealift Command, and the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, as well as operational elements of Geographic Combatant Commands, were in attendance.

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed revision of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

Under the Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CDFA) number 84.358A, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) awards grants on a formula basis to eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) to address the unique needs of rural school districts. In this notice, we establish the deadline and describe the submission procedures for fiscal year (FY) 2020 SRSA grant applications. All LEAs eligible for FY 2020 SRSA funds must submit an application electronically via the process described in this notice by the deadline in this notice.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces the reopening and extension of the public comment period for the proposed rule titled ``U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements.'' DHS published the rule on November 14, 2019, with a comment period ending December 16, 2019. On December 9, 2019, the comment period was extended to December 30, 2019. DHS will reopen the comment period for an additional 15 days. As part of this rulemaking, DHS will consider comments received during the entire public comment period, including comments received since December 30, 2019.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan and a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area (HGLA), Inyo County, California, and by this notice is announcing its availability. The proposed action is to amend the CDCA Plan to allow for geothermal leasing within approximately 22,805 acres. The proposed action also responds to three geothermal lease applications for 4,460 acres of public lands within the HGLA.

The Internal Revenue Service, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning TD 8584, capitalization of interest.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The IRS is soliciting comments concerning Student Loan Interest Statement.

The Internal Revenue Service, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 8316, Information Regarding Request for Refund of Social Security Tax Erroneously Withheld on Wages Received by a Nonresident Alien on an F, J, or M Type Visa.

This is a notice of the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loans interest rate for loans approved on or after January 17, 2020.

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of an application (Application), filed on December 23, 2019, by Dominion Energy Cove Point LNG, LP (DECP). DECP requests blanket authorization to export both domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) and LNG previously imported by vessel from foreign sources in a total volume equivalent to 250 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas on a cumulative basis over a two-year period commencing on March 2, 2020. DECP seeks to export this LNG from the Cove Point LNG Terminal (Terminal) located in Calvert County, Maryland. DECP filed the Application under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). Protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and written comments are invited.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.

This action deletes services from the Procurement List that were furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review and approval of the information collection listed below.