Executive Office of the President November 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is proposing policies and procedures for agencies to develop, issue, and use guidance documents. This Bulletin is intended to increase the quality and transparency of agency guidance practices and the guidance documents produced through them.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), on behalf of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), seeks comment on the interim environmental review of the proposed United States-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The interim environmental review is available at https://www.ustr.gov/TradeSectors/Environment/EnvironmentalRev iews/ SectionIndex.html. Copies of the review will also be sent to interested members of the public by mail upon request.

Under the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 (``IFTA Act''), articles of qualifying industrial zones encompassing portions of Israel and Jordan or Israel and Egypt are eligible to receive duty-free treatment. Effective upon publication of this notice, the United States Trade Representative, pursuant to authority delegated by the President, is designating the Central Delta zone of Egypt as a qualifying industrial zone and expanding the already-designated Greater Cairo and Suez Canal qualified industrial zones under the IFTA Act.

The proposed principles are intended to increase collaboration and consistency within the Federal agencies in support of graduate and postdoctoral education and training in science and engineering. Principles are: Federal Support of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education and Training Is a Critical Investment in the Future; The Federal Investment Portfolio Must Broadly Support Science and Engineering Disciplines; Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars Must Receive Quality Education and Training; Federal Contributions toward Graduate and Postdoctoral Education and Training are Provided in Partnership with Academic and Other Non-Federal Institutions; Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars Should Be Adequately Supported to Encourage Their Pursuit of Science and Engineering Careers; and Federal Agencies Should Collaborate in Areas of Common Interest.

The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) has determined, pursuant to section 421(b)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the Trade Act) (19 U.S.C. 2451(b)(1)), that circular welded non-alloy steel pipe \1\ from the People's Republic of China (China) are being imported into the United States in such increased quantities or under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause market disruption to the domestic producers of like or directly competitive products. Pursuant to section 421(h)(1) of the Trade Act, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is publishing notice of proposed restrictions with respect to imports of the subject circular welded non-alloy steel pipe from China. USTR invites domestic producers, importers, exporters, and other interested parties to submit their views and evidence on the appropriateness of the proposed restrictions and whether they would be in the public interest. USTR also invites interested parties to participate in a public hearing (if requested).

This document provides cost-based and interagency billing rates for medical care or services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): (a) In error or on tentative eligibility; (b) In a medical emergency; (c) To pensioners of allied nations; (d) For research purposes in circumstances under which VA medical care appropriation is to be reimbursed by VA research appropriation; and (e) To beneficiaries of the Department of Defense or other Federal agencies, when the care or service provided is not covered by an applicable sharing agreement. The rates contained in this notice do not apply to sharing agreements between VA and Department of Defense unless otherwise stated. In addition, until such time as charges for outpatient dental care and prescription drugs are implemented under the provisions of 38 CFR 17.101, the applicable cost-based billing rates provided in this notice will be used for collection or recovery by VA for outpatient dental care and prescription drugs provided under circumstances covered by that section. This notice is issued jointly by the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Veterans Affairs.