[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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