The Federal Register

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement the revised definitions of ``Construction'' and ``site of the work'' in the Department of Labor (DoL) regulations. In addition, the Councils are proposing to clarify several definitions relating to labor standards for contracts involving construction and make requirements for flow down of labor clauses more precise.

World Radiocommunication Conferences Concerning Frequency Bands Above 28 MHz

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

This document amends our rules to implement domestically various allocation decisions from several World Radiocommunication Conferences (``WRCs'') concerning the frequency bands between 28 MHz and 36 GHz, and to otherwise update our rules in this frequency range. The following actions are the most significant to nonFederal government operations: Implementation of generic mobilesatellite service (``MSS'') allocations in the bands 15251559 MHz and 1626.5 1660.5 MHz (``Lband''); allocation of the band 11641215 MHz to the radionavigationsatellite service (``RNSS''); deletion of unused and limited fixedsatellite service (``FSS'') and broadcastingsatellite service (``BSS'') allocations from the band 25002690 MHz; and upgrade of the Earth explorationsatellite service (``EESS'') allocation in the band 25.527 GHz from secondary to primary. In addition, at the request of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (``NTIA''), we implement various allocation changes for the space scienc

Employee Elections To Contribute To the Thrift Savings Plan, Participants' Choices of Investment Funds, Vesting,

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The Executive Director of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Board) is adopting as final the interim rule the Board published in June 2003 to implement the new Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) record keeping system and to permit the making of catchup contributions by TSP participants who are age 50 and over.

Sale and Issue of Marketable Book-Entry Treasury Bills, Notes, and Bonds--Plain Language Uniform Offering Circular

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The Department of the Treasury (``Treasury,'' ``We,'' or ``Us'') proposes to amend 31 CFR Part 356 (Uniform Offering Circular for the Sale and Issue of Marketable BookEntry Treasury Bills, Notes, and Bonds) by converting it to plain language. We are proposing this amendment to make our marketable securities auction rules easier to understand. This amendment would also make certain minor revisions to better make the auction rules conform to current practices.

LOCAL Television Loan Guarantee Program

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The LOCAL Television Loan Guarantee Board (Board) is issuing regulations to implement the LOCAL Television Loan Guarantee Program (Program or LOCAL TV Program) as authorized by the Launching Our Communities' Access to Local Television Act of 2000 (the Act). Section 1002 of the Act sets forth that the primary purpose of the Act is to facilitate access, on a technologically neutral basis to signals of local television stations for households located in Nonserved Areas and Underserved Areas. The Act establishes a LOCAL Television Loan Guarantee Board (the Board) to approve Guarantees made under the Act. The Board is comprised of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Commerce, or their designees.

This rule establishes eligibility and Guarantee requirements, the application and approval process, as well as the administration of Guarantees made by the Board. Additionally, this rule est

LOCAL Television Loan Guarantee Program

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The LOCAL Television Loan Guarantee Board (Board) announces a 120day application window for the submission of guarantee
applications.

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

[[Page 74463]]
Proclamation 7745 of December 17, 2003

Wright Brothers Day, 2003
By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation
A spirit of exploration and discovery has been a part of the American character since our founding days. Orville and Wilbur Wright exemplified this spirit when they made the dream of human flight a reality on December 17, 1903. On Wright Brothers Day, we honor the vision of these bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio, and celebrate the centennial of manned, powered flight. One hundred years ago, the Wright brothers changed our world with their 12-second, 120-foot flight in North Carolina. Their achievement inspired other aviation pioneers and marked the beginning of a new era of freedom. Since that first flight, aviation and aerospace technology has advanced at a remarkable pace, allowing us to fly across oceans, break the sound barrier, orbit the Earth, land on the moon, and study our universe in a way our ancestors could not have imagined. Each new generation of engineers and other inventors, following in the Wright Brothers' footsteps, continues to move the technology of flight further. Today, air transportation touches the lives of people throughout the United States, and helps unite the American people. Air transportation brings families and friends together, delivers aid to those in need, and facilitates industry and commerce.
As we look to the future, we remember the extraordinary accomplishments of the Wright Brothers. Their determination and innovation continue to inspire us as we embark on the second century of flight.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved December 17, 1963 (77 Stat. 402; 36 U.S.C. 143) as amended, has designated December 17 of each year as ``Wright Brothers Day'' and has authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation inviting the people of the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim December 17, 2003, as Wright Brothers Day.
[[Page 74464]]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty- eighth.
(Presidential Sig.)B
[FR Doc. 03-31593
Filed 12-22-03; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

[[Page 74465]]
Executive Order 13321 of December 17, 2003

Appointments During National Emergency
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and in order to further respond to the national emergency I declared in Proclamation 7463 of September 14, 2001, I hereby order as follows: Section 1. Emergency Appointments Authority. The emergency appointments authority at section 603 of title 10, United States Code, is invoked and made available to the Secretary of Defense in accordance with the terms of that statute and of Executive Order 12396 of December 9, 1982.
Sec. 2. Judicial Review. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies, entities, officers, employees or agents, or any person.
Sec. 3. Administration. This order shall be transmitted to the Congress and published in the Federal Register. (Presidential Sig.)B
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 17, 2003.
[FR Doc. 03-31594
Filed 12-22-03; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

[[Page 74459]]
Presidential Determination No. 2004-12 of December 9, 2003

Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
Consistent with the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 7(a) of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-45) (the ``Act''), I hereby determine that it is necessary to protect the national security interests of the United States to suspend for a period of 6 months the limitations set forth in sections 3(b) and 7(b) of the Act. My Administration remains committed to beginning the process of moving our embassy to Jerusalem.
You are hereby authorized and directed to transmit this determination to the Congress, accompanied by a report in accordance with section 7(a) of the Act, and to publish the determination in the Federal Register. This suspension shall take effect after transmission of this determination and report to the Congress. (Presidential Sig.)B
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, December 9, 2003.
[FR Doc. 03-31591
Filed 12-22-03; 8:45 am]
Billing code 4710-10-P

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

[[Page 74457]]
Presidential Determination No. 2004-11 of December 8, 2003

Determination Consistent with Section 620(q) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, and Section 512 of the FY 2002 and 2003 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Acts
Memorandum for the Secretary of State[,] the Secretary of the Treasury[,] the Secretary of Defense[, and] the Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development
Consistent with the authority vested in me by section 620(q) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, (22 U.S.C. 2370) and section 512 of the FY 2002 and 2003 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Acts, (Public Law 107- 115 and Public Law 108-7), I hereby determine that the furnishing of assistance to Liberia is in the national interest of the United States and waive, with respect to that country, the application of section 620(q) of the Foreign Assistance Act and section 512 of the FY 2002 and 2003 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Acts.
The Secretary of State is authorized and directed to report this determination to the Congress and to arrange for its publication in the Federal Register. (Presidential Sig.)B
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, December 8, 2003.
[FR Doc. 03-31590
Filed 12-22-03; 8:45 am]
Billing code 4710-10-P

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

[[Page 74461]]
Presidential Determination No. 2004-14 of December 11, 2003

Imposition and Waiver of Sanctions Under Section 604 of the FY 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act (Public Law 107-228)
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
Consistent with the authority contained in section 604 of the FY 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act (Public Law 107-228) (the ``Act''), and with reference to the determinations set out in the report to the Congress transmitted herewith, consistent with section 603 of that Act, regarding noncompliance by the PLO and the Palestinian Authority with certain commitments, I hereby impose the sanction set out in section 604(a)(2) ``Downgrade in Status of the PLO Office in the United States.'' This sanction is imposed for a period of 180 days from the date hereof or until such time as the next report required by section 603 of the Act is transmitted to the Congress, whichever is later. You are authorized and directed to transmit to the appropriate congressional committees the report described in section 603 of the Act.
Furthermore, I hereby determine that it is in the national security interest of the United States to waive that sanction, pursuant to section 604 of the Act. This waiver shall be effective for a period of 180 days from the date hereof or until such time as the next report required by section 603 of the Act is transmitted to the Congress, whichever is later. You are hereby authorized and directed to transmit this determination to the Congress and to publish it in the Federal Register.
(Presidential Sig.)B
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, December 11, 2003.
[FR Doc. 03-31592
Filed 12-22-03; 8:45 am]
Billing code 4710-10-P

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

___________________________________________________________________ Title 3--
The President
[[Page 74455]]
Presidential Determination No. 2004-10 of December 6, 2003

Presidential Determination on Waiver of
Conditions on Obligation and Expenditure of Funds for Planning, Design, and Construction of a Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility in Russia
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
Consistent with the authority vested in me by section 1306 of the Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) (the ``Act''), I hereby certify that waiving the conditions described in section 1305 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Public Law 106-65) is important to the national security interests of the United States, and include herein, for submission to the Congress, the statement, justification, and plan described in section 1306 of the Act.
You are authorized and directed to transmit this certification, including the statement, justification, and plan to the Congress and to arrange for its publication of this determination in the Federal Register.
(Presidential Sig.)B
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, December 6, 2003.
[FR Doc. 03-31589
Filed 12-22-03; 8:45 am]
Billing code 4710-10-P

Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

This staff accounting bulletin revises or rescinds portions of the interpretative guidance included in Topic 13 of the codification of staff accounting bulletins in order to make this interpretive guidance consistent with current authoritative accounting and auditing guidance and SEC rules and regulations. The principal revisions relate to the rescission of material no longer necessary because of private sector developments in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

This staff accounting bulletin also rescinds the Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements Frequently Asked Questions and Answers document issued in conjunction with Topic 13. Selected portions of that document have been incorporated into Topic 13.

Processing Requirements for Cancelled Security Certificates

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The Commission is revising its rules governing cancelled securities certificates to improve the processing of securities certificates by transfer agents. The Commission is adopting a new rule under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that will require every transfer agent to establish and implement written procedures for the cancellation, storage, transportation, destruction, or other disposition of securities certificates. This rule will require transfer agents to: Mark each cancelled securities certificate with the word ``cancelled''; maintain a secure storage area for cancelled certificates; maintain a retrievable database of all of its cancelled, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of certificates; and have specific procedures for the destruction of cancelled certificates. Additionally, the Commission is amending its lost and stolen securities rule and its transfer agent safekeeping rule to make it clear that these rules apply to unissued and cancelled certificates.

Allowance for Private Purchase of an Outer Burial Receptacle in Lieu of a Government-Furnished Graveliner for a Grave

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

Public Law 104-275 was enacted on October 9, 1996. It allowed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide a monetary allowance towards the private purchase of an outer burial receptacle for use in a VA national cemetery. Under VA regulation (38 CFR 1.629), the allowance is equal to the average cost of governmentfurnished graveliners minus any administrative costs to VA. The law continues to provide a veteran's survivors with the option of selecting a governmentfurnished graveliner for use in a VA national cemetery where such use is authorized.

The purpose of this notice is to notify interested parties of the average cost of governmentfurnished graveliners, administrative costs that relate to processing a claim, and the amount of the allowance payable for qualifying interments that occur during calendar year 2004.

Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Matching Program

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to continue a recurring computer matching program matching Office of Personnel Management (OPM) records with VA pension and parents' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) records.

The goal of this match is to compare income status as reported to VA with records maintained by OPM.

VA plans to match records of veterans and surviving spouses and children who receive pension, and parents who receive DIC from VA with OPM benefit records maintained by OPM. The match with OPM will provide VA with data from OPM civil service benefit records.

VA will use this information to update the master records of VA beneficiaries receiving income dependent benefits and to adjust VA benefit payments as prescribed by law. Otherwise, information about a VA beneficiary's receipt of OPM benefits is obtained from reporting by the beneficiary. The proposed matching program will enable VA to ensure accurate reporting of income.

Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Matching Program

Tue, Dec 23 2003 11:00:00 GMT

Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to continue a recurring computer matching program matching Social Security Administration (SSA) records with VA pension and parents' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) records.

The purpose of the match is to compare income status as reported to VA with records maintained by SSA. VA plans to match records of beneficiaries who receive pension and DIC with the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) and the Earnings Recording and SelfEmployment Income System (MEF) maintained by SSA.

VA will use this information to update the master records of VA beneficiaries receiving income dependent benefits and to adjust VA benefit payments as prescribed by law. The matching program will enable VA to ensure accurate reporting of income.

Records to be Matched: The VA records involved in the match are the VA system of records, Compensation, Pension, Education and Rehabilitation RecordsVA (58 VA 21/22). The SSA records consist