[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 71 (Monday, April 13, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 20423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07684]



[[Page 20423]]

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U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION

22 CFR Part 708


Sunshine Act Regulations

AGENCY: United States International Development Finance Corporation.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Under the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to 
Development (BUILD) Act of 2018, the U.S. International Development 
Finance Corporation (DFC) adopted the regulations of its predecessor, 
the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). One of these 
regulations implemented the Sunshine Act, which is not applicable to 
DFC. Accordingly, to ensure DFC is implementing and complying with 
applicable regulations, this final rule removes the agency's Sunshine 
Act regulations.

DATES: This rule is effective on April 13, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nichole Skoyles, Administrative 
Counsel, 202-336-8400, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Better Utilization of Investments 
Leading to Development (BUILD) Act of 2018, 22 U.S.C. 9601 et seq., 
created the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) by 
bringing together the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) 
and the Development Credit Authority (DCA) office of the U.S. Agency 
for International Development (USAID). The BUILD Act specified that 
completed administrative actions, including rules, would be transferred 
from OPIC to DFC, see 22 U.S.C. 9686(a), and permitted OPIC employees 
to act in furtherance of that transfer, see 22 U.S.C. 9682. 
Accordingly, OPIC's rules, located in chapter 22 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, were transferred to DFC in a rulemaking published at 84 FR 
37751 on August 2, 2019. Although OPIC's administrative actions 
transferred to DFC, the two agencies have significant differences. To 
facilitate the transition, DFC's Office of General Counsel (OGC) is 
reviewing how these differences impact the agency. As part of this 
review, OGC determined that the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b (``Sunshine 
Act'' or ``Act''), is not applicable to DFC because DFC does not meet 
the definition of ``agency'' under the Act. The Sunshine Act applies 
only to agencies ``headed by a collegial body composed of two or more 
individual members, a majority of whom are appointed to such position 
by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.'' 5 U.S.C. 
552b(a)(1). Only four of the nine DFC board members are appointed by 
the President with the advice and consent of the Senate solely for the 
purpose of serving on DFC's Board. See 22 U.S.C. 9613(b)(2)(iii). The 
remaining five board members hold their position by virtue of 
appointment to a different office and therefore do not count toward the 
majority required by the Sunshine Act's definition of ``agency.'' See 
Whether the Millennium Challenge Corporation Should Be Considered an 
``Agency'' for Purposes of the Open Meeting Requirements of the 
Sunshine Act, 37 Op. O.L.C. (May 3, 2013). Accordingly, the Sunshine 
Act is not applicable to DFC. The U.S. Department of Justice Office of 
Legal Counsel (OLC) concurs with DFC in this determination, which is a 
consistent interpretation held by OLC since at least 1976, and which 
the D.C. Circuit adopted in Symons v. Chrysler Corp. Loan Guarantee 
Board, 670 F.2d 238 (D.C. Cir. 1981). DFC's Board will continue to hold 
at least two public hearings per year in accordance with 22 U.S.C. 
9613(c) and provide public notification for certain projects in 
accordance with 22 U.S.C. 9671(e)(2).

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 708

    Sunshine Act.

PART 708--[REMOVED AND RESERVED]

0
Therefore, under the authority of 22 U.S.C. 9632, remove and reserve 22 
CFR part 708, consisting of Sec. Sec.  708.1 through 708.6.

Kevin Turner,
Vice President and General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, 
United States International Development Finance Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2020-07684 Filed 4-10-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3210-02-P