Department of Veterans Affairs September 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Advisory Committee on Disability Compensation (the Committee), is seeking nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment as a member of the Advisory Committee for the 20202021 membership cycle.

The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program has enabled grantees to augment available housing options for homeless Veterans in high-rent burden communities by increasing the rental assistance for up to 2 years before recertification. This notice will establish locations where the SSVF grantees can place Veterans in housing with this rental subsidy.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Veteran's Benefits Information, Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden and it includes the actual data collection instrument.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending and updating its VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) in phased increments to revise or remove any policy superseded by changes in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), to remove procedural guidance internal to VA into the VA Acquisition Manual (VAAM), and to incorporate any new agency specific regulations or policies. These changes seek to streamline and align the VAAR with the FAR and remove outdated and duplicative requirements and reduce burden on contractors. The VAAM incorporates portions of the removed VAAR as well as other internal agency acquisition policy. VA will rewrite certain parts of the VAAR and VAAM, and as VAAR parts are rewritten, VA will publish them in the Federal Register. In particular, this rulemaking revises VAAR concerning Contractor Qualifications, Acquisition of Utility Services, and Contract Administration and Audit Services, and affected parts Definitions of Words and Terms and Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its regulations that contain the requirements for certification of attendance at on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs. This final rule adopts without change a proposed rule implementing a section of the ``Veterans Apprenticeship and Labor Opportunity Reform Act'' (VALOR Act), which eliminated the requirement that veterans and other eligible persons certify attendance at an on-the-job or apprentice training program prior to disbursement of a training assistance allowance. This final rule also eliminates the certification requirement for trainees in a program of apprenticeship or on-the-job training under chapter 30 of title 38, United States Code.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes its adjudication regulations relating to aggravation of service-connected disabilities to more clearly define ``aggravation'' in service- connection claims. The revisions would explicitly confirm a singular definition of ``aggravation'' that includes the requirement of ``permanent worsening.'' The revisions would also include minor organizational and technical changes.

Loan Guaranty Service, 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 extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.