[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 172 (Friday, September 4, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53483-53484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22039]


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AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

22 CFR Part 205

RIN 0412-AA75


Amendment to ``Participation by Religious Organizations in USAID 
Programs'' To Implement Executive Order 13559

AGENCY: U.S Agency for International Development.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is 
extending the public comment period on the Notice of proposed 
rulemaking entitled ``Amendment to `Participation by Religious 
Organizations in USAID Programs' to Implement Executive Order 13559,'' 
which was published in the Federal Register on August 6, 2015. The 
original public comment period would have ended on September 8, 2015. 
USAID intended to give a 60-day public comment period. Therefore, a 
comment period extension, to October 5, 2015, is appropriate.

DATES: The comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking 
published in the Federal Register on August 6, 2015 (80 FR 47237), is 
extended. Written comments must be received by the extended due date of 
October 5, 2015. USAID may not fully consider comments received after 
this date.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to C. Eduardo 
Vargas, Center for Faith-Based & Community Initiatives (A/AID/CFBCI), 
U.S Agency for International Development, Room 6.07-100 RRB, 1300 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW.,

[[Page 53484]]

Washington, DC 20523. Submit comments, identified by title of the 
action and Regulatory Information Number (RIN) by any of the following 
methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Email: Submit electronic comments to [email protected]. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for file formats and other information about 
electronic filing.
    Mail: USAID, Center for Faith-Based & Community Initiatives (A/AID/
CFBCI), Room 6.07-100, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20523.
    A copy of each communication submitted will be available for 
inspection and copying between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the above 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Brinkmoeller, Director, Center 
for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, USAID, Room 6.07-023, 1300 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20523; telephone: (202) 712-
4080 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USAID published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking entitled ``Amendment to `Participation by Religious 
Organizations in USAID Programs' to Implement Executive Order 13559,'' 
which was published in the Federal Register on August 6, 2015 (80 FR 
47237). This proposed rule is intended to amend 22 CFR part 205, 
Participation by Religious Organizations in USAID Programs, to make it 
consistent with Executive Order 13559. This proposed rule would amend 
USAID's regulations to replace the term ``inherently religious 
activities'' with the term ``explicitly religious activities'' and 
define the latter term as ``including activities that involve overt 
religious content such as worship, religious instruction, or 
proselytization.'' This proposed rule would also clarify that 
organizations who receive USAID financial assistance through subawards 
must comply with the requirements relating to protections for 
beneficiaries and the restrictions on prohibited uses of federal 
financial assistance. This proposed rule would also add language to the 
sections of the rule covering protections for beneficiaries to conform 
more directly to the Executive Order language. This proposed would also 
provide that decisions about awards of Federal financial assistance 
must be free from political interference or even the appearance of such 
interference.
    USAID intended to give a 60-day public comment period, which would 
mirror the comment period given in the related proposed rules of eight 
other federal agencies. Therefore, a comment period extension, to 
October 5, 2015, is appropriate without unduly delaying a final 
rulemaking decision. Accordingly, written comments must be submitted by 
the extended due date of October 5, 2015. USAID may not fully consider 
comments received after this date.

    Dated: August 25, 2015.
C. Eduardo Vargas,
Deputy Director, Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives 
(Acting Director).
[FR Doc. 2015-22039 Filed 9-3-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6116-01-P