[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 39 (Monday, February 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11114-11115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04178]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 11647]
National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct: Notice of
Opportunity To Submit Written Comments
SUMMARY: On June 16, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced
on behalf of the Biden-Harris Administration that the Department will
soon begin updating and revitalizing the United States' National Action
Plan on Responsible Business Conduct (NAP RBC) for U.S. businesses
operating and investing abroad. This notice provides background and
welcomes written comments concerning this initiative for U.S.
Government agencies to take into account in developing the updated NAP
RBC. Comments may concern issues addressed in the prior (2016) NAP RBC
or other issues suggested as priorities.
DATES: Comments must be received May 31, 2022. Logistics for submitting
comments are described below.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
1. Go to www.regulations.gov/#DOS-2022-0002.
2. Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon and complete the required
fields; and
3. Enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to: ATTN: RBC-NAP, U.S.
Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, 2201 C St. NW, Washington,
DC 20520, Office of Investment Affairs (EB/IFD/OIA), Room 4669.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information
[[Page 11115]]
(e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender
will be publicly accessible. We will accept anonymous comments (enter
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administration is updating the NAP RBC
to show how the U.S. Government encourages businesses to achieve high
standards of responsible business conduct and champions U.S. businesses
that demonstrate best practices in that regard. It will also highlight
what the U.S. Government is doing, including with partners, to
encourage responsible business conduct by U.S. businesses operating and
investing abroad.
The Department of State is leading the update of the NAP RBC in
coordination with the White House and other federal agencies. The
process will involve U.S. private sector, civil society, and workers'
organizations, and will serve to promote RBC by U.S. businesses
operating and investing abroad. The last National Action Plan--the U.S.
Government's first--was published on December 16, 2016. (See 2016
National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct here: https://2009-2017.state.gov/e/eb/eppd/csr/naprbc/265706.htm).
RBC is a broad concept based on growing evidence that businesses
can perform well while doing good, and that governments should create
and facilitate the conditions for this to take place. The principles
underlying this concept are encompassed in the UN Guiding Principles on
Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational
Enterprises. They place importance on three aspects of the business-
society relationship:
Emphasizing and accentuating the positive contributions
businesses can make to economic, environmental, and social progress.
Committing to robust due diligence efforts, including
identifying and mitigating adverse impacts of business conduct, and
remedying abuses where they occur.
Ensuring businesses are aware of and complying with legal
obligations within their supply chains both at home and overseas.
We are updating the NAP in light of the U.S. Government's
commitment to promoting fair play, the rule of law, and high standards
for global commerce in line with democratic values and responsible
business conduct. This includes supporting a foreign policy that
benefits the middle class by ensuring workers' rights and a level
playing field for American workers; protecting the environment;
combating the climate crisis; promoting rights-respecting technology
deployment; and helping U.S. businesses to be global leaders in
promoting respect for human rights and responsible business conduct in
the communities where they operate.
The revitalized NAP will build upon the previous framework. We are
committed to coordinating and advancing policies that promote
responsible business conduct by U.S. businesses operating and investing
abroad, and work with all stakeholders to reach our joint goals.
Further information, including Frequently Asked Questions, is
available on the following website: https://www.state.gov/responsible-business-conduct-national-action-plan/.
For questions concerning this notice, contact the State
Department's NAP RBC team at [email protected].
(Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2656)
Zachary A. Parker,
Director, Office of Directives Management, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2022-04178 Filed 2-25-22; 8:45 am]
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