FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:  Kathy Kyle 202.480.2091 kkyle@acus.gov

Government and Private Sector Executives Gather to Launch Administrative Law Agency Supreme Court Justice to provide opening remarks at first Administrative Conference plenary in 15 years

Washington, D.C., December 8, 2010 – Paul R. Verkuil, ACUS Chairman, today announced the 53rd Plenary Session of the Administrative Conference of the United States will be held December 9-10, 2010 at the National Archives.  Justice Antonin Scalia will swear-in the membership and provide opening remarks while Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) will close the program with a keynote address.

“This is a remarkable public-private gathering – an auspicious moment in the Administrative Conference’s history,” said Chairman, Paul R. Verkuil.  “I can think of few forums in government where important Agency and Department officials come together with leaders of the bar, the academy, the business and the public interest community to make government work better.”

The first day of the 53rd Plenary Session will focus on welcoming members, addressing Conference business, swearing-in the membership by Justice Scalia and debate on a recommendation regarding Federal preemption of state law.  The second day will be devoted to the sharing of innovative ideas and mapping the future of the Administrative Conference.  The Agency has also commenced research projects and is developing recommendations on application of ethics rules to government contractors, improving public participation in rulemaking and modernizing laws like the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) for the Internet era.  The reconstituted Administrative Conference has reawakened to a dramatically different world after its decommission 15 years ago.  The 53rd Plenary Session proceedings are subject to FACA and will be open to the public, and in an effort to enhance transparency and citizen engagement, the event will be streamed live over the internet, and all conference materials, to include transcript proceedings, will be posted on the Administrative Conference newly-redesigned website.  Contact the Administrative Conference Designated Federal Official, Scott Rafferty, at comments@acus.gov to RSVP for the event.  About ACUS The Administrative Conference of the United States is an independent federal agency dedicated to improving the administrative process through consensus-driven applied research, providing nonpartisan expert advice and recommendations for improvement of federal agency procedures.  Its membership is composed of innovative federal officials and experts with diverse views and backgrounds from both the private sector and academia.    The Conference is committed to promoting effective public participation and efficiency in the rulemaking process by leveraging interactive technologies and encouraging open communication with the public as well as making improvements to the regulatory process by reducing unnecessary litigation, and improving the use of science and the effectiveness of applicable laws.  Learn more at www.acus.gov. 

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