[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 160 (Monday, August 23, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46982-46983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18089]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
38 CFR Part 9
RIN 2900-AR24
Extension of Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) Application
Periods in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document adopts as a final rule, without change, an
interim final rule amending the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
regulation regarding Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI). The
amendment was necessary in order to extend the deadline for former
members to apply for VGLI coverage following separation from service to
address the inability of former members directly or indirectly affected
by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency to
purchase VGLI.
DATES: Effective September 22, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Weaver, Department of Veterans
Affairs Insurance Service (310/290B), 5000 Wissahickon Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19144, (215) 842-2000, ext. 4263. (This is not a toll-
free number.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An interim final rule amending VA's
regulation regarding the deadline for former members to apply for VGLI
coverage following separation from service was published in the Federal
Register on June 9, 2021 (86 FR 30541).
VA provided a 30-day comment period that ended on July 9, 2021. No
comments were received. Based on the rationale set forth in the interim
final rule, we now adopt the interim final rule as a final rule without
change.
Administrative Procedure Act
In the June 9, 2021, Federal Register notice, VA determined that
there was a basis under the Administrative Procedure Act for issuing
the interim final rule with immediate effect. We invited and did not
receive public comment on the interim final rule. This document adopts
the interim final rule as a final rule without change.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This final rule contains no provisions constituting a collection of
information under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521).
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the
costs and
[[Page 46983]]
benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, when regulation is
necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits
(including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety
effects, and other advantages; distributive impacts; and equity).
Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review)
emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits,
reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility. The
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has determined that this
rule is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order
12866. The Regulatory Impact Analysis associated with this rulemaking
can be found as a supporting document at www.regulations.gov.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Secretary hereby certifies that this final rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-
612. The provisions contained in this final rulemaking are applicable
to individual Veterans, and applications for VGLI, as submitted by such
individuals, and are specifically managed and processed within VA and
through Prudential Insurance Company of America, which is not
considered to be a small entity. Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
605(b), the initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis
requirements of 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604 do not apply.
Unfunded Mandates
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires, at 2 U.S.C.
1532, that agencies prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and
benefits before issuing any rule that may result in an expenditure by
the State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the
private sector of $100 million or more (adjusted annually for
inflation) in any given year. This final rule will have no such effect
on State, local, and tribal governments or on the private sector.
Congressional Review Act
Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.),
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this rule
as not a major rule, as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program number and title
for this rule is 64.103, Life Insurance for Veterans.
List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 9
Life insurance, Military personnel, Veterans.
Signing Authority
Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on August 16, 2021, and authorized the undersigned to sign and
submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for
publication electronically as an official document of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of
the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
PART 9--SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE AND VETERANS' GROUP
LIFE INSURANCE
Accordingly, the Department of Veterans Affairs is adopting the
interim rule amending 38 CFR part 9 that was published at 85 FR 35562
on June 9, 2021, as final without change.
[FR Doc. 2021-18089 Filed 8-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P