95-31542. Office of the General Counsel, Requirements Governing the Lobbying of HUD Personnel; Repeal of Section 13 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 250 (Friday, December 29, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67325-67326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31542]



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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT


Office of the General Counsel, Requirements Governing the 
Lobbying of HUD Personnel; Repeal of Section 13 of the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development Act

24 CFR Part 86

[Docket No. FR-4006-N-01]
AGENCY: Office of the General Counsel, HUD.

ACTION: Notification of status of regulations following repeal of 
statutory authority.

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SUMMARY: This document advises the public that the Lobbying Disclosure 
Act of 1995 repealed section 13 of the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development Act. Section 13 established recordkeeping, reporting, and 
registration requirements governing attempts to influence HUD programs. 
It also placed limitations on the fees paid to consultants who are 
engaged to influence the award or allocation of the Department's 
financial assistance. Beginning on January 1, 1996, the public is no 
longer required to comply with section 13 and the HUD regulations in 24 
CFR part 86 which implement section 13. Among other things, the public 
need not submit the annual reports due by January 10, 1996 under 
sections 13 (b)(1) and (c)(1). The public should be aware, however, 
that the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 may impose new requirements on 
those 

[[Page 67326]]
seeking to influence the Department's programs.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 29, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aaron Santa Anna, Assistant General 
Counsel, Ethics Law Division; Office of General Counsel; Room 2158; 
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; 451 Seventh Street, 
SW; Washington, DC 20410-0500; telephone [phone]. Hearing or 
speech-impaired individuals may call HUD's TDD number [phone], 
or 1-800-877-8399 (Federal Information Relay Service TDD). (Other than 
the ``800'' number, these are not toll-free numbers.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 112 of the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development Reform Act of 1989, Pub. L. 101-235, approved 
December 15, 1989, added a new section 13 to the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development Act, 42 U.S.C. 3531, et seq. Section 13 contained 
two principal features. The first established the standards under 
which:

--Persons that make expenditures to influence a HUD officer or employee 
in the award of financial assistance or the taking of a management 
action by the Department must keep records, and report to HUD, on the 
expenditures; and
--Persons that are engaged to influence a HUD officer or employee in 
the award of financial assistance or the taking of a management action 
by the Department must register with HUD, and report to HUD on their 
lobbying activities.

    The second feature imposed limitations on the fees that may be paid 
to consultants who are engaged to influence the award or allocation of 
the Department's financial assistance. Section 13 is codified at 24 CFR 
part 86.
    The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-65, approved 
December 19, 1995) established government-wide lobbying procedures and 
requirements. Sections 11(b)(1) and 24(a) of the new law repealed 
Section 13, effective January 1, 1996.
    The purpose of this document is to advise the public that beginning 
on January 1, 1996, the requirements of part 86 do not apply. The 
public should take special notice that the expenditure and registrant 
reports--due no later than January 10, 1996 under 24 CFR 86.20(c) and 
86.25(c)--need not be submitted. Since the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 
1995 contains new requirements governing lobbying agencies, including 
HUD, the public is advised to become familiar with the provisions of 
the new law.
    The Department plans to issue a final rule removing part 86 in the 
near future.

Other Matters

A. Environmental Impact

    This document is categorically excluded from the NEPA requirements 
of HUD regulations at 24 CFR 50.20(k), which implement section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The notice 
involves internal administrative procedures whose content does not 
constitute a developmental decision nor affect the physical condition 
of project areas or building sites.

B. Executive Order 12606, the Family

    The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under Executive 
Order 12606, The Family, has determined that this document is 
procedural only, and does not have potential for significant impact on 
family-formation, maintenance, and general well-being, and, thus is not 
subject to review under the Order.

C. Executive Order 12612, Federalism

    The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under section 6(a) 
of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has determined that this document 
is procedural only, and does not have substantial, direct effects on 
States, on their political subdivisions, or on their relationship with 
the Federal government, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government.

List of Subjects in 24 CFR Part 86

    Administrative practice and procedure, Lobbying (Government 
agencies), Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: December 26, 1995.
Nelson A. Diaz,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 95-31542 Filed 12-28-95; 8:45 am]
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