Veteran Readiness and Employment Program: Delegation of Concurrence for Entitlement Extensions, 66579-66580 [2024-18419]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 159 / Friday, August 16, 2024 / Rules and Regulations public. In some cases, it is not possible to describe even in general terms those techniques without disclosing the very material to be withheld. The Chief FOIA Officer may also withhold records whose release would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions if this disclosure could reasonably be expected to create a risk that someone could circumvent requirements of law or of regulation. (f) Life and physical safety. Under the FOIA Exemption 7(F) (5 U.S.C. 552(b)(7)(f)), the Chief FOIA Officer may withhold records whose disclosure could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual. This protection extends to threats and harassment, as well as to physical violence. § 1662.25 The FOIA Exemptions 8 and 9: Records on financial institutions; records on wells. Exemption 8 exempts from disclosure records about regulation or supervision of financial institutions. Exemption 9 exempts from disclosure geological and geophysical information and data, including maps, concerning wells. § 1662.26 Records available for public inspection. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 Where records are published. Materials SSS is required to publish pursuant to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(1) and (a)(2) are published in one of the following ways: (a) By publication in the Federal Register of Selective Service System regulations, and by their subsequent inclusion in the Code of Federal Regulations; (b) By publication in the Federal Register of appropriate general notices; and/or (c) By other forms of publication, when incorporated by reference in the VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:32 Aug 15, 2024 Jkt 262001 § 1662.28 Publications for sale through the Government Publishing Office. The public may purchase publications containing information pertaining to the program, organization, functions, and procedures of SSS from the electronic U.S. Government Bookstore maintained by the Government Publishing Office. The publications for sale include but are not limited to: (a) Title 50, Chapter 49, of the United States Code (the Military Selective Service Act); (b) Title 32, Subtitle B, Chapter XVI, of the Code of Federal Regulations (Selective Service System Regulations); (c) Federal Register issues; and (d) Legal Aspects of the Selective Service System. Daniel A. Lauretano, Sr., General Counsel. [FR Doc. 2024–18391 Filed 8–15–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8015–01–P DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 38 CFR Part 21 Under the FOIA, SSS is required to make available for public inspection in an electronic format: (a) Final opinions, including concurring and dissenting opinions, as well as orders, made in the adjudication of cases; (b) The Agency’s statements and interpretations of policy that have been adopted but are not published in the Federal Register; (c) Administrative staff manuals and instructions that affect the public; and (d) Copies of records, regardless of form or format, that an agency determines will likely become the subject of subsequent requests, as well as records that have been requested and released three or more times, unless said materials are published and copies are offered to sale. § 1662.27 Federal Register with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register. RIN 2900–AS14 Veteran Readiness and Employment Program: Delegation of Concurrence for Entitlement Extensions Department of Veterans Affairs. Final rule. AGENCY: ACTION: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its regulations to authorize VA Regional Office (RO) Veteran Readiness and Employment Officers (VREO) to delegate their concurrence authority to extend a Veteran’s entitlement to a rehabilitation program. The inability to delegate can delay the delivery of services if a VREO is unexpectedly out of the office for an extended period. A delegation of authority for entitlement extensions would follow other established procedures that allow for delegation of authority to a designee. DATES: This rule is effective August 16, 2024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Loraine Spangler, Policy Analyst, Veteran Readiness and Employment Services (28), 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420, loraine.spangler@va.gov, 202–461–9600. (This is not a toll-free telephone number.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA is amending 38 CFR 21.78(d) to authorize SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 66579 VREOs to delegate their concurrence authority to extend a Veteran’s entitlement to a rehabilitation program. The lack of authority to delegate can delay the delivery of services if a VREO is out of the office for an extended period. A delegation of authority for entitlement extensions would follow other established procedures that allow for delegation of authority to a designee. The total period a Veteran may participate in a Veteran Readiness and Employment rehabilitation program under chapter 31 alone may not exceed 48 months; however, there are situations when VA may extend a Veteran’s entitlement to meet their individual needs. This is not automatically granted, and the Veteran must meet established criteria. Currently, only a VREO can provide the required concurrence for an extension that will exceed the 48-month limitation. VA has general delegation authority under 38 U.S.C. 512(a). This amendment aligns with 38 U.S.C. 3105(b), will decrease approval times for entitlement extensions, and will allow for more timely services to Veterans. Administrative Procedure Act The Secretary of Veterans Affairs finds that there is good cause under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) to publish this rule without prior opportunity for public comment and with an immediate effective date. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), general notice and opportunity for public comment are not required with respect to a rulemaking when an ‘‘agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the finding and a brief statement of reasons therefor in the rules issued) that notice and public procedure thereon are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.’’ The Secretary finds that it is unnecessary to delay issuance of this rule for the purpose of soliciting prior public comment. This final rule will neither amend the substantive content of the regulation cited nor have a substantive impact on the public. Rather, the delegation of authority in 38 CFR 21.78(d) is procedural in nature and within VA’s general delegation authority under 38 U.S.C. 512(a). Consequently, this rule is exempt from the notice-and-comment requirement as a rule of agency organization, procedure, or practice pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A). The APA also requires a 30-day delayed effective date, except for ‘‘(1) a substantive rule which grants or recognizes an exemption or relieves a restriction; (2) interpretative rules and statements of policy; or (3) as otherwise E:\FR\FM\16AUR1.SGM 16AUR1 66580 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 159 / Friday, August 16, 2024 / Rules and Regulations provided by the agency for good cause found and published with the rule.’’ 5 U.S.C. 553(d). For the reasons stated above, the Secretary finds that there is also good cause for this rule to be effective immediately upon publication. Any delay in implementation would be unnecessary for purposes of 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14094 Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) directs agencies to assess the costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, when regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, and other advantages; distributive impacts; and equity). Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review) emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility. Executive Order 14094 (Executive Order on Modernizing Regulatory Review) supplements and reaffirms the principles, structures, and definitions governing contemporary regulatory review established in Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 1993 (Regulatory Planning and Review), and Executive Order 13563 of January 18, 2011 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review). The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has determined that this rulemaking is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866, as amended by Executive Order 14094. The Regulatory Impact Analysis associated with this rulemaking can be found as a supporting document at www.regulations.gov. Regulatory Flexibility Act The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601–612, is not applicable to this rulemaking because notice of proposed rulemaking is not required. 5 U.S.C. 601(2), 603(a), 604(a). lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 Unfunded Mandates The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires, at 2 U.S.C. 1532, that agencies prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and benefits before issuing any rule that may result in the expenditure by state, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more (adjusted annually for inflation) in any one year. This final rule will have no such effect on state, local, and tribal governments, or on the private sector. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:32 Aug 15, 2024 Jkt 262001 Paperwork Reduction Act This final rule contains no provisions constituting a collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3521). word ‘‘Officer’’, the words ‘‘or designee’’. [FR Doc. 2024–18419 Filed 8–15–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8320–01–P Congressional Review Act POSTAL SERVICE Pursuant to subtitle E of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (known as the Congressional Review Act) (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this rule as not satisfying the criteria under 5 U.S.C. 804(2). 39 CFR Part 111 List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 21 Administrative practice and procedure, Armed forces, Civil rights, Claims, Colleges and universities, Conflict of interests, Defense Department, Education, Employment, Grant programs—education, Grant programs—Veterans, Health care, Loan programs—education, Loan programs— Veterans, Manpower training programs, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Schools, Travel and transportation expenses, Veterans, Vocational education, Veteran readiness. Signing Authority Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this document on August 13, 2024, and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Luvenia Potts, Regulations Development Coordinator, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs. For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Department of Veterans Affairs is amending 38 CFR part 21 as set forth below: PART 21—VETERAN READINESS AND EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION Subpart A—Veteran Readiness and Employment 1. The authority citation for part 21, subpart A continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), chs. 18, 31, and as noted in specific sections. § 21.78 [Amended] 2. Amend § 21.78, in paragraph (d), by adding in the first sentence, after the ■ PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 Parcel Processing Categories Simplification Postal ServiceTM. ACTION: Final rule. AGENCY: The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to simplify the parcel processing categories. DATES: Effective November 4, 2024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Jarboe at (202) 268–7690, or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268–7281. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 28, 2024, the Postal Service published a notice of proposed rulemaking (89 FR 53914–53932) to simplify the parcel processing categories by making revisions to the physical standards of the machinable processing category, and consolidating the irregular and nonmachinable processing categories and renaming it ‘‘Nonstandard Parcels.’’ In response to the proposed rule, the Postal Service received three formal responses each containing several comments as follows: Comment: One comment questioned whether the Postal Service intended to reduce the maximum height from 18 inches to 15 inches, and increase the maximum thickness/width from 15 inches to 18 inches? Response: No, the Postal Service is just expressing the industry wide terms of length, width, and height for consistency within the DMM. The Postal Service will also revise the renumbered DMM Exhibit 201.7.5 and USPS Marketing Mail DMM subsection 201.8.4.2a to reflect width and height. Comment: One comment provided that the proposal eliminates the minimum weight for Bound Printed Matter machinable parcels and given that change it appears there is very little Bound Printed Matter that would be nonstandard, except perhaps nonrectangular containers such as mailing tubes, which are rarely used for BPM. Any BPM that is nonstandard would be difficult and likely unproductive to bundle, due to its shape. As a result, it was requested that the Postal Service consider removing the bundling requirement for BPM SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\16AUR1.SGM 16AUR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66579-66580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18419]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 21

RIN 2900-AS14


Veteran Readiness and Employment Program: Delegation of 
Concurrence for Entitlement Extensions

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its 
regulations to authorize VA Regional Office (RO) Veteran Readiness and 
Employment Officers (VREO) to delegate their concurrence authority to 
extend a Veteran's entitlement to a rehabilitation program. The 
inability to delegate can delay the delivery of services if a VREO is 
unexpectedly out of the office for an extended period. A delegation of 
authority for entitlement extensions would follow other established 
procedures that allow for delegation of authority to a designee.

DATES: This rule is effective August 16, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Loraine Spangler, Policy Analyst, 
Veteran Readiness and Employment Services (28), 810 Vermont Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20420, [email protected], 202-461-9600. (This is 
not a toll-free telephone number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA is amending 38 CFR 21.78(d) to authorize 
VREOs to delegate their concurrence authority to extend a Veteran's 
entitlement to a rehabilitation program. The lack of authority to 
delegate can delay the delivery of services if a VREO is out of the 
office for an extended period. A delegation of authority for 
entitlement extensions would follow other established procedures that 
allow for delegation of authority to a designee.
    The total period a Veteran may participate in a Veteran Readiness 
and Employment rehabilitation program under chapter 31 alone may not 
exceed 48 months; however, there are situations when VA may extend a 
Veteran's entitlement to meet their individual needs. This is not 
automatically granted, and the Veteran must meet established criteria. 
Currently, only a VREO can provide the required concurrence for an 
extension that will exceed the 48-month limitation.
    VA has general delegation authority under 38 U.S.C. 512(a). This 
amendment aligns with 38 U.S.C. 3105(b), will decrease approval times 
for entitlement extensions, and will allow for more timely services to 
Veterans.

Administrative Procedure Act

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs finds that there is good cause 
under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) to publish this rule 
without prior opportunity for public comment and with an immediate 
effective date. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), general notice and 
opportunity for public comment are not required with respect to a 
rulemaking when an ``agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the 
finding and a brief statement of reasons therefor in the rules issued) 
that notice and public procedure thereon are impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' The Secretary finds 
that it is unnecessary to delay issuance of this rule for the purpose 
of soliciting prior public comment. This final rule will neither amend 
the substantive content of the regulation cited nor have a substantive 
impact on the public. Rather, the delegation of authority in 38 CFR 
21.78(d) is procedural in nature and within VA's general delegation 
authority under 38 U.S.C. 512(a). Consequently, this rule is exempt 
from the notice-and-comment requirement as a rule of agency 
organization, procedure, or practice pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A).
    The APA also requires a 30-day delayed effective date, except for 
``(1) a substantive rule which grants or recognizes an exemption or 
relieves a restriction; (2) interpretative rules and statements of 
policy; or (3) as otherwise

[[Page 66580]]

provided by the agency for good cause found and published with the 
rule.'' 5 U.S.C. 553(d). For the reasons stated above, the Secretary 
finds that there is also good cause for this rule to be effective 
immediately upon publication. Any delay in implementation would be 
unnecessary for purposes of 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).

Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14094

    Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) directs 
agencies to assess the costs and benefits of available regulatory 
alternatives and, when regulation is necessary, to select regulatory 
approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, 
environmental, public health and safety effects, and other advantages; 
distributive impacts; and equity). Executive Order 13563 (Improving 
Regulation and Regulatory Review) emphasizes the importance of 
quantifying both costs and benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, 
and promoting flexibility. Executive Order 14094 (Executive Order on 
Modernizing Regulatory Review) supplements and reaffirms the 
principles, structures, and definitions governing contemporary 
regulatory review established in Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 
1993 (Regulatory Planning and Review), and Executive Order 13563 of 
January 18, 2011 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review). The 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has determined that this 
rulemaking is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 
12866, as amended by Executive Order 14094. The Regulatory Impact 
Analysis associated with this rulemaking can be found as a supporting 
document at www.regulations.gov.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, is not applicable 
to this rulemaking because notice of proposed rulemaking is not 
required. 5 U.S.C. 601(2), 603(a), 604(a).

Unfunded Mandates

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires, at 2 U.S.C. 
1532, that agencies prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and 
benefits before issuing any rule that may result in the expenditure by 
state, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the 
private sector, of $100 million or more (adjusted annually for 
inflation) in any one year. This final rule will have no such effect on 
state, local, and tribal governments, or on the private sector.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final rule contains no provisions constituting a collection of 
information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3521).

Congressional Review Act

    Pursuant to subtitle E of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996 (known as the Congressional Review Act) (5 U.S.C. 
801 et seq.), the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs 
designated this rule as not satisfying the criteria under 5 U.S.C. 
804(2).

List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 21

    Administrative practice and procedure, Armed forces, Civil rights, 
Claims, Colleges and universities, Conflict of interests, Defense 
Department, Education, Employment, Grant programs--education, Grant 
programs--Veterans, Health care, Loan programs--education, Loan 
programs--Veterans, Manpower training programs, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Schools, Travel and transportation 
expenses, Veterans, Vocational education, Veteran readiness.

Signing Authority

    Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on August 13, 2024, and authorized the undersigned to sign and 
submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for 
publication electronically as an official document of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.

Luvenia Potts,
Regulations Development Coordinator, Office of Regulation Policy & 
Management, Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs is amending 38 CFR part 21 as set forth below:

PART 21--VETERAN READINESS AND EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION

Subpart A--Veteran Readiness and Employment

0
1. The authority citation for part 21, subpart A continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), chs. 18, 31, and as noted in 
specific sections.


Sec.  21.78  [Amended]

0
2. Amend Sec.  21.78, in paragraph (d), by adding in the first 
sentence, after the word ``Officer'', the words ``or designee''.

[FR Doc. 2024-18419 Filed 8-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
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