[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 65582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26124]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 212 / Friday, November 1, 2013 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 65582]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

7 CFR Part 3550

RIN 0575-AC88


Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule and information collection; extension of public 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: Through this action, the Rural Housing Service (RHS) is 
extending the comment period for the proposed rule, ``Single Family 
Housing Direct Loan Program'' from October 22, 2013 to November 22, 
2013.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule and the information collection 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 must be received on or before 
November 22, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to this rule by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments via the U.S. Postal Service 
to the Branch Chief, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, STOP 0742, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0742.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Submit written comments via Federal 
Express Mail or another mail courier service requiring a street address 
to the Branch Chief, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 300 7th Street SW., 7th Floor, Suite 701, 
Washington, DC 20024.
    All written comments will be available for public inspection during 
regular work hours at the 300 7th Street SW., address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brooke Baumann, Finance and Loan 
Analyst, Single Family Housing Direct Loan Division, USDA Rural 
Development, Stop 0783, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20250-0783, Telephone: 202-690-4250. Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 23, 2013, Rural Development 
published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (78 FR 52460), 
``Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program.''
    In the proposed rule, RHS is proposing to amend its regulations for 
the section 502 direct single family housing loan program to create a 
certified loan application packaging process for eligible loan 
application packagers. Loan application packagers, who are separate and 
independent from the Agency, provide an optional service to parties 
seeking mortgage loans by helping them navigate the loan application 
process. Currently, packagers assisting parties applying for section 
502 direct loans do so under an informal arrangement, which is free 
from Agency oversight or minimum competency standards. This proposed 
rule will impose experience, training, proficiency, and structure 
requirements on eligible service providers. This proposed rule also 
regulates the packaging fee that will be allowed under this process.
    By establishing a vast network of competent, experienced, and 
committed Agency-certified packagers, this action is intended to 
benefit low- and very low-income people who wish to achieve 
homeownership in rural areas by increasing their awareness of the 
Agency's housing program, increasing specialized support available to 
them to complete the application for assistance, and improving the 
quality of loan application packages submitted on their behalf.
    Due to the lapse in federal funding that caused a partial closing 
of federal government operations from October 1 through October 16, 
2013, RHS is extending the public comment period for its proposed rule 
to create a certified loan application packaging process, originally 
published on August 23, 2013, in 78 FR 52460, to November 22, 2013.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 
against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the 
bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender 
identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, 
marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all 
or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance 
program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any 
program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all 
prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment 
activities.)
    If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of 
discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form 
(PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the 
form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information 
requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to 
us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of 
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, 
by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].
    Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech 
disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint 
please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 
or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish).
    Persons with disabilities, who wish to file a program complaint, 
please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or 
by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program 
information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please 
contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Dated: October 25, 2013.
Richard A. Davis,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-26124 Filed 10-31-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P