[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2855-2857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01308]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
15 CFR Part 100
[Docket No. 260108-0017]
RIN 0607-AA70
Streamlining the Regulations Governing the Official Seal of the
Census Bureau
AGENCY: Census Bureau, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: By this rule, the Census Bureau (Bureau) is amending its
regulations that govern the Bureau's official seal. Specifically, this
rule removes unnecessary regulatory language and consolidates all of
the necessary language into a single regulation. This action is
intended to streamline the Bureau's regulations and promote clarity by
eliminating redundancy and potential inconsistencies between the
regulatory language and the underlying statutory language of 13 U.S.C.
3.
DATES: The rule is effective January 23, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Wink, Program Analyst, Policy
Coordination Office, 301-763-6440, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
This action concerns the Bureau's regulations at 15 CFR part 100,
which establish and govern the official seal of the Bureau.
A. Regulatory History
The official seal for the Bureau was first established in a final
rule published on March 16, 1960 (25 FR 2163). That 1960 rule cited 13
U.S.C. 3 as the statutory authority and codified regulations governing
the official seal at 15 CFR part 20. Subsequently, in a final rule
published on June 7, 1985 (50 FR 23947), the Bureau redesignated 15 CFR
part 20 as 15 CFR part 100. However, that 1985 rule was a purely
administrative action, and it made no substantive changes to the
regulations governing the official seal.
B. Description of the Current Regulations
The cited authority for 15 CFR part 100 is ``R.S. 161, as amended,
sec. 3, 68 Stat. 1012, as amended (5 U.S.C. 301, 13 U.S.C. 3).'' Part
100 currently consists of three sections: Sec. Sec. 100.1, 100.2, and
100.3.
[[Page 2856]]
Section 100.1 readdresses the authority for 15 CFR part 100 and
states that ``[p]ursuant to section 3 of Title 13, United States Code,
the Bureau of the Census official seal and design thereof, which
accompanies and is made a part of this document, is hereby approved.''
15 CFR 100.1.
Section 100.2 sets forth a detailed description of the official
seal. See 15 CFR 100.2. Specifically, it states as follows:
Seal: On a shield an open book beneath which is a lamp of
knowledge emitting rays above in base two crossed quills. Around the
whole a wreath of single leaves, surrounded by an outer band bearing
between two stars the words ``U.S. Department of Commerce'' in the
upper portion and ``Bureau of the Census'' in the lower portion, the
lettering concentric with an inner beaded rim and an outer
dentilated rim.
Id.
Section 100.3 addresses custody and affixation of the seal. See 15
CFR 100.3. Specifically, it states that ``[t]he seal shall remain in
the custody of the Director, Bureau of the Census or such officer or
employee of the Bureau as he designates and shall be affixed to all
certificates and attestations that may be required from the Bureau.''
Id.
II. Discussion
The Bureau has determined that it is appropriate to amend 15 CFR
part 100 by removing Sec. Sec. 100.1 and 100.3, and by making some
minor additions to Sec. 100.2, for the following reasons.
Removing Sec. 100.1. As previewed, Sec. 100.1 readdresses the
underlying authority for 15 CFR part 100 and states that, pursuant to
13 U.S.C. 3, the official seal included in part 100 is ``hereby
approved.'' See 15 CFR 100.1. Notably, 13 U.S.C. 3 is already
identified in the authority citation for 15 CFR part 100. Thus, insofar
as Sec. 100.1 reestablishes 13 U.S.C. 3 as the underlying statutory
authority for 15 CFR part 100, it is unnecessary and redundant. And
insofar as Sec. 100.1 ``approve[s]'' the official seal, such language
can be consolidated into Sec. 100.2, as described below. Doing so, and
eliminating Sec. 100.1 as a standalone provision, will reduce clutter
and streamline 15 CFR part 100, thereby promoting clarity and
efficiency.
Revising Sec. 100.2. Section 100.2 contains a detailed description
of the official seal. See 15 CFR 100.2. As particularly relevant, the
description is currently introduced by a single word--``Seal:''. To
account for the removal of Sec. 100.1 and also ensure clarity, the
Bureau is amending the introduction of Sec. 100.2 to instead identify
the seal as the ``approved, official seal of the Census Bureau.'' This
consolidation and clarification will promote simplicity and efficiency.
Separately, the Bureau is also making some minor punctuation
additions to the detailed description set forth in Sec. 100.2 to
promote readability.
Removing Sec. 100.3. Section 100.3 effectively establishes two
rules: (1) that the official seal shall remain in the custody of the
Director of the Bureau (or his designee); and (2) that the official
seal shall be affixed to ``all certificates and attestations that may
be required from the Bureau.'' 15 CFR 100.3. However, the language of
Sec. 100.3 no longer tracks the controlling statute with respect to
either of these rules. As for custody, the current version of 13 U.S.C.
3 provides that ``[t]he seal shall remain in the custody of the
Secretary [of Commerce] or such officer or employee of the Bureau as he
designates.'' (Emphasis added.) And, as for affixation, the current
version of 13 U.S.C. 3, provides that the seal ``shall be affixed to
all documents authenticated by the [Census] Bureau.'' (Emphasis added.)
Upon review, the Bureau has determined that 13 U.S.C. 3 sufficiently
speaks for itself on these issues of custody and affixation. Removing
Sec. 100.3 will eliminate the potential inconsistencies between 15 CFR
part 100 and 13 U.S.C. 3, and will properly encourage readers to
directly review and consult the underlying statutory text.
In sum, the Census Bureau is amending 15 CFR part 100 to consist
solely of a description of the ``approved, official seal of the Census
Bureau.'' The Bureau has determined that such a description constitutes
the core component of 15 CFR part 100, and that the rest of 15 CFR part
100 is unnecessary and appropriate for removal. The Bureau is amending
15 CFR part 100 accordingly to promote regulatory simplicity and to
reduce clutter and the potential for inconsistencies or confusion.
III. Regulatory Certifications
A. Administrative Procedure Act
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Department of Commerce
(Department) finds good cause to waive the prior notice and opportunity
for public participation requirements of the Administrative Procedure
Act for this final rule. The Department considers this rule to be
uncontroversial, and has determined that prior notice and opportunity
for public participation is unnecessary, because this rule only
consolidates the core language of 15 CFR part 100 into one section,
adds some missing punctuation marks, and eliminates unnecessary
language that poses some risk of inconsistency and confusion; the
appropriateness of these minor changes would not be affected by public
comment. For the same reasons, the Department has determined that
delaying the effectiveness of these amendments would be contrary to the
public interest. The language being removed by this rule unnecessarily
poses some risk of inconsistency, confusion, and inefficiency; its
removal will immediately benefit the public at little to no cost. The
Department therefore finds good cause to waive the public notice and
comment period under 553(b)(B) and, for the same reasons, to waive the
30-day delay in effectiveness under 553(d).
B. Executive Orders 12866, 14192, 13132
The Office of Management and Budget has determined this rule is not
significant pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 12866. This rule is an
E.O. 14192 deregulatory action. This rule does not contain policies
having federalism implications as the term is defined in E.O. 13132.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
Because a notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for
public participation are not required to be given for this rule by 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the analytical requirements of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are not applicable. Accordingly,
no regulatory flexibility analysis is required, and none has been
prepared.
D. Paperwork Reduction Act
This rule will not impose additional reporting or recordkeeping
requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.
List of Subjects for 15 CFR Part 100
Administrative practice and procedure, Archives and records, Census
data, Organization and functions (Government agencies), Seals and
insignia.
Dated: January 20, 2026.
George Cook,
Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs performing
the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Director of the Census
Bureau.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Census Bureau amends
15 CFR part 100 as follows:
PART 100--SEAL
0
1. The authority citation for part 100 continues to read as follows:
[[Page 2857]]
Authority: R.S. 161, as amended, sec. 3, 68 Stat. 1012, as
amended (5 U.S.C. 301, 13 U.S.C. 3).
Sec. 100.1 [Removed and Reserved]
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2. Remove and reserve Sec. 100.1.
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3. Revise Sec. 100.2 to read as follows:
Sec. 100.2 Description.
The approved, official seal of the Census Bureau is as follows: On
a shield, an open book beneath which is a lamp of knowledge emitting
rays above in base two crossed quills. Around the whole a wreath of
single leaves, surrounded by an outer band bearing between two stars
the words ``U.S. Department of Commerce'' in the upper portion and
``Bureau of the Census'' in the lower portion, the lettering concentric
with an inner beaded rim and an outer dentilated rim.
Sec. 100.3 [Removed and Reserved]
0
4. Remove and reserve Sec. 100.3.
[FR Doc. 2026-01308 Filed 1-22-26; 8:45 am]
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