Exchange Visitor Program-Moratorium on Growth in the Au Pair Program, 64213-64214 [2020-22454]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 197 / Friday, October 9, 2020 / Notices SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 59008) [Disaster Declaration #16690 and #16691; North Dakota Disaster Number ND–00082] Cynthia Pitts, Acting Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance. Presidential Declaration of a Major Disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of North Dakota U.S. Small Business Administration. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of North Dakota (FEMA–4565– DR), dated 10/02/2020. Incident: Severe Storms and Flooding. Incident Period: 06/29/2020 through 07/01/2020. DATES: Issued on 10/02/2020. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 12/01/ 2020. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 07/02/2021. ADDRESSES: Submit completed loan applications to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A. Escobar, Office of Disaster Assistance, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW, Suite 6050, Washington, DC 20416, (202) 205–6734. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that as a result of the President’s major disaster declaration on 10/02/2020, Private Non-Profit organizations that provide essential services of a governmental nature may file disaster loan applications at the address listed above or other locally announced locations. The following areas have been determined to be adversely affected by the disaster: Primary Counties: Benson, Grand Forks, McKenzie, Mountrail, Nelson, Wells. The Interest Rates are: Percent For Physical Damage: Non-Profit Organizations With Credit Available Elsewhere ... Non-Profit Organizations Without Credit Available Elsewhere ..................................... For Economic Injury: Non-Profit Organizations Without Credit Available Elsewhere ..................................... 2.750 17:26 Oct 08, 2020 [FR Doc. 2020–22404 Filed 10–8–20; 8:45 am] 2.750 Jkt 253001 Non-Profit Organizations Without Credit Available Elsewhere ..................................... 2.750 BILLING CODE 8026–03–P The number assigned to this disaster for physical damage is 166948 and for economic injury is 166950. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 59008) Presidential Declaration of a Major Disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of New York U.S. Small Business Administration. ACTION: Notice. Cynthia Pitts, Acting Associate Administrator for Disaster Assistance. [FR Doc. 2020–22406 Filed 10–8–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8026–03–P AGENCY: DEPARTMENT OF STATE This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of New York (FEMA–4567– DR), dated 10/02/2020. Incident: Tropical Storm Isaias. Incident Period: 08/04/2020. DATES: Issued on 10/02/2020. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 12/01/2020. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 07/02/2021. ADDRESSES: Submit completed loan applications to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A. Escobar, Office of Disaster Assistance, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW, Suite 6050, Washington, DC 20416, (202) 205–6734. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that as a result of the President’s major disaster declaration on 10/02/2020, Private Non-Profit organizations that provide essential services of a governmental nature may file disaster loan applications at the address listed above or other locally announced locations. The following areas have been determined to be adversely affected by the disaster: Primary Counties: Nassau, Suffolk. The Interest Rates are: SUMMARY: 2.750 The number assigned to this disaster for physical damage is 166906 and for economic injury is 166910. VerDate Sep<11>2014 Percent [Disaster Declaration #16694 and #16695; New York Disaster Number NY–00198] SUMMARY: 64213 Percent For Physical Damage: Non-Profit Organizations With Credit Available Elsewhere ... Non-Profit Organizations Without Credit Available Elsewhere ..................................... For Economic Injury: PO 00000 Frm 00106 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2.750 2.750 [Public Notice 11053] Exchange Visitor Program— Moratorium on Growth in the Au Pair Program U.S. Department of State. Notice regarding the Au pair category. AGENCY: ACTION: The U.S. Department of State (Department) is announcing, effective immediately, a moratorium on program growth in the Au pair category of the Exchange Visitor Program. Specifically, the Department will not designate new sponsor organizations or allow program expansions for existing sponsors. The moratorium restricts the size of the category to calendar year 2019 program participant levels. The Department may consider reallocation among existing sponsors of Forms DS–2019 from any sponsors who cease to operate in the Au pair category while the moratorium is in place. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen S. Hawkins, Director of the Office of Private Sector Exchange Designation, Private Sector Exchange, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, SA–4E, 2430 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20372. Email: JExchanges@state.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Au pair category of the Exchange Visitor Program allows foreign nationals the opportunity to live with American host families and participate directly in their home life. In addition, au pairs attend U.S. post-secondary educational institutions, participate in cultural activities, and provide childcare services. In operation in the United States since 1989, the Au pair program supports public diplomacy efforts by fostering beneficial, personal ties with foreign SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\09OCN1.SGM 09OCN1 64214 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 197 / Friday, October 9, 2020 / Notices youth and offering them a positive view of the United States that they can then share when they return to their home countries. In calendar year 2019, approximately 21,550 au pairs and 15 au pair sponsor organizations participated in the Exchange Visitor Program. In 2016, the Department initiated a comprehensive review of the Au pair category and its regulations (at 22 CFR 62.31). The Department is currently monitoring the development of litigation related to the category, particularly recent challenges to the federal preemption of local law. To ensure that it appropriately addresses these and other developments, the Department is continuing its research and augmenting its category review. While the Department conducts this review, it will allow currently designated sponsors to continue to operate under their present designations in accordance with the regulations under 22 CFR part 62 and reminds the sponsors of their obligations to comply with those regulations. Under 22 CFR 62.6 and 62.12 respectively, the Department may, in its sole discretion, designate applicants as new exchange visitor program sponsors and determine the number of Forms DS–2019 it will issue to each sponsor. Consistent with this authority, the Department has decided to neither accept nor approve new applications from entities seeking Au pair program designation at this time. In addition, the Department will not accept or review new or pending expansion requests from au pair sponsors in business during the 2019 calendar year beyond their actual total participants for that year. At its discretion, the Department may decide to reallocate among existing sponsors Forms DS–2019 from any sponsors who cease to operate in the Au pair program once the moratorium is in effect. The Department expects this moratorium to remain in effect while it completes the above-referenced review of the program and determines next steps, including potential modifications to the program. Marie Royce, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. 2020–22454 Filed 10–8–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–05–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Oct 08, 2020 Jkt 253001 SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD [Docket No. FD 33662 (Sub-No. 2)] BNSF Railway Company—Trackage Rights Exemption—Omaha Public Power District BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(7) for the acquisition of local trackage rights over an approximately 56.65-mile rail line in Otoe and Lancaster Counties, Neb. (the Line) owned by Omaha Public Power District (OPPD). The Line is comprised of two line segments with noncontiguous mileposts: (1) A line segment between milepost 56.3, near College View, and milepost 4.95, near Nebraska City; and (2) a connecting line segment between milepost 0.7, near Nebraska City, and milepost 6.0, near Arbor.1 The verified notice states that the purpose of the trackage rights is to permit BNSF to provide service over the Line to OPPD’s Nebraska City Power Station and to shippers other than OPPD located along the Line. The transaction may be consummated on or after October 25, 2020, the effective date of the exempion (30 days after the verified notice of exemption was filed). As a condition to this exemption, any employees affected by the acquisition of trackage rights will be protected by the conditions imposed in Norfolk & Western Railway—Trackage Rights— Burlington Northern, Inc., 354 I.C.C. 605 (1978), as modified in Mendocino Coast Railway—Lease & Operate—California Western Railroad, 360 I.C.C. 653 (1980). If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of a petition to revoke will not automatically stay the effectiveness of the exemption. Petitions for stay must be filed by October 16, 2020 (at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective). All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 33662 (Sub-No. 2), must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board, either via e-filing or in writing addressed to 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423–0001. In addition, a copy of each pleading must 1 A redacted version of the agreement between BNSF and OPPD was filed with BNSF’s verified notice of exemption. BNSF simultaneously filed a motion for a protective order to protect the confidential and commercially sensitive information in the unredacted version of the agreement, which BNSF submitted under seal. That motion will be addressed in a separate decision. PO 00000 Frm 00107 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 be served on BNSF’s representative, Peter W. Denton, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, 1330 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036. According to BNSF, this action is categorically excluded from environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c), and from historic reporting under 49 CFR 1105.8(b)(3). Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov. Decided: October 5, 2020. By the Board, Allison C. Davis, Director, Office of Proceedings. Regena Smith-Bernard, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2020–22412 Filed 10–8–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD [Docket No. FD 36443] Illinois Central Railroad Company— Trackage Rights Exemption—Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks Illinois Central Railroad Company (IC), a Class I railroad, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(7) to acquire overhead trackage rights on the relocated Brookley Lead, owned by the Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks (TASD),1 which extends from the connection with IC’s rail line at Frascati Interlocking near South Lawrence and Baker Streets to the connection at South Broad Street with IC’s track into the Brookley Field Complex 2 (the Complex), a distance of approximately 1.8 miles in Mobile, Ala.3 IC states that the trackage rights will replace IC’s existing operating rights over TASD’s former Brookley Lead route, which, according to IC, TASD acquired as ancillary track from IC’s predecessor in 1982.4 The verified notice states that the proposed transaction will preserve IC’s rights to access the Complex over the relocated Brookley Lead. The proposed 1 IC states that TASD is a department of the Alabama State Port Authority and a Class III switching and terminal carrier that operates approximately 75 miles of trackage serving the Port of Mobile and the surrounding area. 2 IC states that the Brookley Field Complex is also known as the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. 3 An executed copy of the trackage rights agreement between IC and TASD was filed with IC’s verified notice of exemption. According to IC, the Brookley Lead does not have mileposts. 4 IC states that its predecessor did not seek trackage rights authority for its operations over the Brookley Lead because of the ancillary nature of the trackage involved. IC further states, however, that, because it intends to utilize the rerouted Brookley Lead on an overhead basis to connect its mainline with its own ancillary trackage serving the Complex, it has filed this notice to obtain an exemption for such trackage rights operations. E:\FR\FM\09OCN1.SGM 09OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 197 (Friday, October 9, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64213-64214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22454]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 11053]


Exchange Visitor Program--Moratorium on Growth in the Au Pair 
Program

AGENCY: U.S. Department of State.

ACTION: Notice regarding the Au pair category.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State (Department) is announcing, 
effective immediately, a moratorium on program growth in the Au pair 
category of the Exchange Visitor Program. Specifically, the Department 
will not designate new sponsor organizations or allow program 
expansions for existing sponsors. The moratorium restricts the size of 
the category to calendar year 2019 program participant levels. The 
Department may consider reallocation among existing sponsors of Forms 
DS-2019 from any sponsors who cease to operate in the Au pair category 
while the moratorium is in place.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen S. Hawkins, Director of the 
Office of Private Sector Exchange Designation, Private Sector Exchange, 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, 
SA-4E, 2430 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20372. Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Au pair category of the Exchange Visitor 
Program allows foreign nationals the opportunity to live with American 
host families and participate directly in their home life. In addition, 
au pairs attend U.S. post-secondary educational institutions, 
participate in cultural activities, and provide childcare services.
    In operation in the United States since 1989, the Au pair program 
supports public diplomacy efforts by fostering beneficial, personal 
ties with foreign

[[Page 64214]]

youth and offering them a positive view of the United States that they 
can then share when they return to their home countries. In calendar 
year 2019, approximately 21,550 au pairs and 15 au pair sponsor 
organizations participated in the Exchange Visitor Program.
    In 2016, the Department initiated a comprehensive review of the Au 
pair category and its regulations (at 22 CFR 62.31). The Department is 
currently monitoring the development of litigation related to the 
category, particularly recent challenges to the federal preemption of 
local law. To ensure that it appropriately addresses these and other 
developments, the Department is continuing its research and augmenting 
its category review. While the Department conducts this review, it will 
allow currently designated sponsors to continue to operate under their 
present designations in accordance with the regulations under 22 CFR 
part 62 and reminds the sponsors of their obligations to comply with 
those regulations.
    Under 22 CFR 62.6 and 62.12 respectively, the Department may, in 
its sole discretion, designate applicants as new exchange visitor 
program sponsors and determine the number of Forms DS-2019 it will 
issue to each sponsor. Consistent with this authority, the Department 
has decided to neither accept nor approve new applications from 
entities seeking Au pair program designation at this time. In addition, 
the Department will not accept or review new or pending expansion 
requests from au pair sponsors in business during the 2019 calendar 
year beyond their actual total participants for that year. At its 
discretion, the Department may decide to reallocate among existing 
sponsors Forms DS-2019 from any sponsors who cease to operate in the Au 
pair program once the moratorium is in effect.
    The Department expects this moratorium to remain in effect while it 
completes the above-referenced review of the program and determines 
next steps, including potential modifications to the program.

Marie Royce,
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2020-22454 Filed 10-8-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P
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