Economic Development Administration August 19, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Economic Development Administration (``EDA''), U.S. Department of Commerce (``DOC''), is publishing this notice of proposed rulemaking (``NPRM'') to request public comment on proposed updates to the agency's regulations implementing the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (``TAAF'') provisions of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``Trade Act''), and the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (``PWEDA''). The proposed changes to the TAAF program regulations would clarify the process for import-impacted U.S. manufacturing, oil and natural production and service firms to obtain technical assistanceidentified in the Trade Act as ``adjustment assistance''through the TAAF program, reorganize the regulations to make them easier to read and understand, incorporate best practices, and bring the regulations into closer alignment with the program's statutory requirements. The result will be to ease the burden on firms seeking adjustment assistance through the TAAF program and make it easier for Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (``TAACs'') to work with firms. EDA also proposes the elimination of certain TAAF and PWEDA regulations that are unnecessary or duplicative because they describe requirements already established in other regulations or award documentation.