The United States Postal Service (“USPS”), issued a Rule document, inviting public comment on a proposed interim rule to simplify return services. The USPS proposes to reduce “customer confusion” and guarantee dependable administration by adjusting the “total annual volume thresholds” that USPS “Return Services products” have to meet in order to “qualify for Commercial Plus® […]
Robert Bartlett’s new paper The Institutional Framework for Cost Benefit Analysis in Financial Regulation: A Tale of Four Paradigms? does the unthinkable. It goes totally meta and does a cost benefit analysis on the cost benefit analysis regimes of the financial regulators. This endeavor must be rewarded and propagated so that our minds may collectively […]
On August 21–22, 2014, the American Bar Association, Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice hosted the Ninth Annual Homeland Security Institute in Washington, D.C. The Institute included panels on a wide variety of issues including immigration, border security, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the SAFETY Act, government contracting, and the DHS priorities for the upcoming […]
The Section Government Personnel Committee is pleased to host a brown bag lunch entitled “Latest Developments at the Office of Special Counsel,” October 6, 2014, from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Confirmed Panelists include Louis Lopez, Associate Special Counsel, U.S. Office of Special Counsel; Shirine Moazed, Chief, Investigation and Prosecution Division, U.S. Office of Special Counsel; […]
Elisabeth Ulmer, 2014 graduate of Villanova University School of Law, recently received the Irvin Stander Award for Excellence in Administrative Law from the Philadelphia Bar Association for her contributions to Notice and Comment while in law school. Below she discusses the practical benefits of writing for Notice and Comment and how it will impact her […]
In June 2014, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) proposed a rule to amend its labeling requirements under the Energy Labeling Rule. The FTC intends “to expand coverage of the Lighting Facts label, change the current label categories for refrigerators, revise the ceiling fan label design, and require room air conditioner labels on packaging instead of […]
The United States Department of Treasury’sFinancial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued a notice of finding and proposed rule. The Director of FinCEN found that FBME Bank Ltd. (“FBME”), formerly known as Federal Bank of the Middle Ease, Ltd., is a financial institution operating outside of the United States that is of primary money laundering concern. […]
Anna Williams Shavers, the Cline Williams Professor of Citizenship Law at the University of Nebraska College of Law, is preparing to take the helm of the Section for the 2014-2015 bar year. Below, she discusses her top priorities for the Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice during her tenure. 1. As incoming Chair of […]
The Section will hold it’s annual 2014 Administrative Law Conference at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., October 16-17, 2014. The agenda will include the following sessions the Regulatory Flexibility Act: A Guide for the Perplexed, The Future of Agency Guidance Documents and Policy Statements, and TTIP Enhanced Stakeholder Input, to name a few. […]
The General Services Administration (“GSA”) proposes a new rule which would amend the Federal Travel Regulation (“FTR”). GSA’s rule proposes to amend the definition of “Domestic Partnership,” and to add terms and definitions for “Marriage” and “Spouse.” “Domestic partnership” is to be updated to read that same-sex domestic partners: that have a documented domestic partnership, […]
This Wednesday, July 18, 2014, the Section Rulemaking Committee will host a brown bag lunch entitled The Use & Abuse of Agency Guidance Documents from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. in the John Marshall Room of the ABA’s Washington, DC office (1050 Connecticut Ave, NW, 5th Floor). Confirmed panelists include Professor Richard J. Pierce, Jr., George Washington […]
We had the opportunity to talk with Joe Whitley regarding his tenure as Chair of the Section. Below he shares his reflections on the past year and advice on future goals for the Section in the coming years. 1. As Chair of the Section, what were your priorities or goals for the Section this year? […]
Registration is now open for the Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice’s 9th Annual Homeland Security Law Institute on August 21 & 22, 2014 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. This signature program is tailored specifically for those who practice Homeland Security law. Topics this year include What to Expect […]
The Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice will co-host a webinar July 9, 2014 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. with the Center for Professional Development and Section of Labor and Employment entitled NLRB Update: The Impact of Noel Canning, Proposed Representation Rules and Other Developments. Panelists include H. Victoria Hedian of Abato, Rubenstein and Abato, P.A., […]
In light of the recent controversy at the Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”), now is a good time to highlight some of the agency’s efforts to improve services to Veterans. Notably, the VA is planning to create an integrated environmental impact statement (“EIS”) for proposed improvements to and reconfiguration of the VA Black Hills Health Care System […]