This Month at ACUS: April 2022

This series highlights selected ACUS projects. To learn more about ongoing projects, subscribe to our mailing list. 

 

FORUM ON SENATE CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE-BRANCH APPOINTEES 

ACUS and the National Academy of Public Administration hosted a public forum, Advice and Consent: Problems and Reform in the Senate Confirmation of Executive-Branch Appointees, on March 29. Through two virtual panels, leading experts examined the causes and effects of delays in the current process for nominating and confirming agency officials and explored potential reforms. Watch the forum here. 

 

SPRING 2022 PROJECTS 

ACUS committees are considering three projects this spring: Automated Legal Guidance at Federal Agencies, Contractors in Rulemaking, and Improving Notice of Regulatory Changes. Draft reports and recommendations for each project are available at the project pages. 

  • The Committee on Rulemaking met on April 12, 12:00-3:00 p.m. (ET), and will meet on April 25, 2:00-5:00 p.m. (ET) to discuss the recommendation for Contractors in Rulemaking. 

  • The Committee on Administration and Management met on April 5, 12:00-3:00 p.m. (ET), and will meet on April 26, 12:00-3:00 p.m. (ET) to discuss the recommendation for Automated Legal Guidance in Federal Agencies. 

  • The Committee on Regulation met on April 8, 2:00-5:00 p.m. (ET), and will meet on April 22, 2:00-5:00 p.m. (ET) to discuss the recommendation for Improving Notice of Regulatory Changes. 

 

EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE (EAJA) REPORTING 

ACUS released a new report and an updated online database compiling attorney’s fee awards made in fiscal year 2021 under EAJA. Since March 2019, ACUS has been statutorily charged with reporting the amount of EAJA fees agencies award to prevailing parties each fiscal year. Reports and datasets for previous years are available at www.acus.gov/eaja. 

 

INFORMATION INTERCHANGE BULLETINS 

The newest Information Interchange Bulletin, Regulation of Representatives in Agency Adjudicative Proceedings, provides an overview of Recommendation 2021-9, adopted by the ACUS Assembly in December 2021. All past IIBs are available at www.acus.gov/bulletins.