[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 106 (Friday, May 31, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 27282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13478]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
38 CFR Part 1
RIN 2900-AI09
Gender Policy for VA Publications and Other Communications
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This document amends regulations of the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) by removing Sec. 1.13 of 38 CFR. This section provided
that VA publications and other communications must avoid using language
refering only to the masculine gender when the feminine gender also was
intended to be included. This guidance was intended to avoid any
incorrect appearance of seeming to preclude benefits for female
veterans, dependents, or beneficiaries. Although, VA is fully committed
to the gender-neutral concepts that were set forth in Sec. 1.13, the
material from Sec. 1.13 is removed since the mandate from that section
is being accomplished through internal issuances.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 31, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Hoffman, Director, Information
Resources Management, Policy and Standards Service (045A3), Department
of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420,
(202) 273-8129.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule consists of nonsubstantive
changes and, therefore, is not subject to the notice and comment and
effective date provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553.
The Secretary hereby certifies that this final rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5. U.S.C.
601-602. This final rule would not cause a significant effect on any
entities since it does not contain any substantive provisions.
Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), this amendment is exempt from
the initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis requirements of
sections 603 and 604.
There are no Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance program numbers
for this regulation.
List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 1
Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Freedom of
information, Government contracts, Government employees, Government
property, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Approved: May 13, 1996.
Jesse Brown,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 38 CFR part 1 is amended
as set forth below:
PART 1--GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), unless otherwise noted.
Sec. 1.131 [Removed]
2. The undesignated centerheading preceding Sec. 1.13 and Sec. 1.13
are removed.
[FR Doc. 96-13478 Filed 5-30-96; 8:45 am]
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