[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 147 (Friday, July 31, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45599-45600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18812]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 147 / Friday, July 31, 2015 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 45599]]



FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

12 CFR Part 1200

RIN 2590-AA75


Organization and Functions, and Seal Amendments

AGENCY: Federal Housing Finance Agency.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is adopting a final 
rule that makes technical amendments to descriptions of its 
organization and structure and its seal and logo.

DATES: Effective July 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alfred M. Pollard, General Counsel, 
Office of the General Counsel, (202) 649-3050 (not a toll-free number), 
[email protected], 400 Seventh Street SW., Eighth Floor, 
Washington, DC 20024. The telephone number for the Telecommunications 
Device for the Hearing Impaired is (800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Effective July 30, 2008, Division A of the Housing and Economic 
Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA), Public Law 110-289, 122 Stat. 2654 (2008), 
titled the Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 2008, 
amended the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness 
Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.) (Safety and Soundness Act) and 
created FHFA as an independent agency of the federal government. HERA 
provided for the abolishment of the Office of Federal Housing 
Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) and the Federal Housing Finance Board 
(Finance Board) one year after the date of enactment. Those agencies, 
together with the Housing and Urban Development Enterprise mission 
staff, were combined to establish FHFA. FHFA was established to oversee 
the prudential operations of the Federal National Mortgage Association 
(Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), 
and the Federal Home Loan Banks; and to ensure that they operate in a 
safe and sound manner, remain adequately capitalized, foster liquid, 
efficient, competitive and resilient national housing finance markets, 
comply with the Safety and Soundness Act and their respective 
authorizing statutes, as well as all rules, regulations, guidelines and 
orders under those statutes, and carry out their missions through 
activities that are authorized by their respective statutes and are 
consistent with the public interest. FHFA also has regulatory authority 
over the Federal Home Loan Bank System's Office of Finance under 
section 1311(b)(2) of the Safety and Soundness Act (12 U.S.C. 
4511(b)(2)).

II. Description of the Rule

    The final rule makes minor changes to delete references to offices 
within FHFA that no longer exist and to more clearly express the 
ability to create positions and offices within the agency. 
Additionally, FHFA has changed its official logo and seal.

III. Regulatory Impact

Administrative Procedure Act

    In promulgating this final rule, FHFA has determined that notice 
and public comment are not necessary. Section 553(b)(A) of title 5, 
United States Code, provides that when regulations involve matters of 
agency organization, procedure or practice, the agency may publish 
regulations in final form. In addition, FHFA finds, in accordance with 
5 U.S.C. 553(d), that a delayed effective date is unnecessary. 
Accordingly, this rule is effective upon publication.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final rule does not contain any information collection 
requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and 
budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Because no notice of proposed rulemaking is required for this rule, 
the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) do 
not apply. See 5 U.S.C. 601(2) and 603(a).

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 1200

    Organization and functions (Government agencies), Seals and 
insignia.

Authority and Issuance

    Accordingly, for the reasons stated in the Supplementary 
Information, under the authority of 12 U.S.C. 4526, 12 U.S.C. 4512, and 
5 U.S.C. 552, FHFA is amending part 1200 of Chapter XII, title 12 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 1200--ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 1200 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552, 12 U.S.C. 4512, 12 U.S.C 4526.


0
2. Amend Sec.  1200.2 by revising paragraph (f) to read as follows:


Sec.  1200.2  Organization of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

* * * * *
    (f) Other Offices and Departments. The Director may from time to 
time establish or terminate Offices and Divisions of the agency as the 
Director deems necessary or appropriate to carry out FHFA's mission. 
The Director may establish Offices and positions as the Director deems 
necessary and appropriate to support the operations of a federal 
agency, such as a Deputy Director for one or more specified areas of 
responsibility, a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, 
an Office of Information Technology, and such other offices, 
departments, and positions as are necessary and appropriate or may be 
required by statute.
* * * * *

0
3. Amend Sec.  1200.3 by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1200.3  Official logo and seal.

* * * * *
    (a) Description. The logo is a disc consisting of three polygons 
each drawn in a manner resembling a silhouette of a pitched roof house 
and with distinctive eaves under its roof. Each polygon is placed one 
in front of the other, two of which are diminished in size from the 
polygon behind it. Placed

[[Page 45600]]

in the center of the smallest polygon is the acronym for the 
organization, ``FHFA.'' The polygons are encircled by a designation 
scroll having a solid background and containing the words ``FEDERAL 
HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY'' in capital letters with serifs, with two 
mullets on the extreme left and right of the scroll. Upon approval by 
the Director, FHFA may employ variations of the color or shading of its 
logo and seal for specified purposes; these will be available for 
reference on the agency Web site at www.fhfa.gov.
    (b) Display. FHFA's official logo and seal appears below:
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR31JY15.025
    

    Dated: July 27, 2015.
Melvin L. Watt,
Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency.
[FR Doc. 2015-18812 Filed 7-30-15; 8:45 am]
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