AGENCY:

Department of State.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This final rule is issued to adjust the civil monetary penalties (CMP) for regulatory provisions maintained and enforced by the Department of State. The revised CMP adjusts the amount of civil monetary penalties assessed by the Department of State based on the December 2020 guidance from the Office of Management and Budget. The new amounts will apply only to those penalties assessed on or after the effective date of this rule, regardless of the date on which the underlying facts or violations occurred.

DATES:

This final rule is effective on February 2, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alice Kottmyer, Attorney-Adviser, Office of Management, kottmyeram@state.gov. ATTN: Regulatory Change, CMP Adjustments, (202) 647-2318.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, Public Law 101-410, as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, Public Law 104-134, required the head of each agency to adjust its CMPs for inflation no later than October 23, 1996 and required agencies to make adjustments at least once every four years thereafter. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, Section 701 of Public Law 114-74 (the 2015 Act) further amended the 1990 Act by requiring agencies to adjust CMPs, if necessary, pursuant to a “catch-up” adjustment methodology prescribed by the 2015 Act, which mandated that the catch-up adjustment take effect no later than August 1, 2016. Additionally, the 2015 Act required agencies to make annual adjustments to their respective CMPs in accordance with guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Based on these statutes, the Department of State (the Department) published a final rule in June 2016 ^[1] to implement the “catch-up” provisions; and annual updates to its CMPs in January 2017,^[2] January 2018,^[3] March 2019 (delayed due to the Government shutdown),^[4] and January 2020.^[5]

On December 29, 2020, OMB notified agencies that the annual cost-of-living adjustment multiplier for 2021, based on the Consumer Price Index, is 1.01182. Additional information may be found in OMB Memorandum M-21-10, at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/​wp-content/​uploads/​2020/​12/​M-21-10.pdf. This final rule amends Department CMPs for fiscal year 2021.

Overview of the Areas Affected by This Rule

Within the Department of State (title 22, Code of Federal Regulations), this rule affects four areas:

(1) Part 35, which implements the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act of 1986 (PFCRA), codified at 31 U.S.C. 3801-3812;

(2) Part 103, which implements the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act of 1998 (CWC Act);

(3) Part 127, which implements the penalty provisions of sections 38(e), 39A(c), and 40(k) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) (22 U.S.C. 2778(e), 2779a(c), and 2780(k)); and

(4) Part 138, which implements Section 319 of Public Law 101-121, codified at 31 U.S.C. 1352, prohibits recipients of Federal contracts, grants, and loans from using appropriated funds for lobbying the executive or legislative branches of the Federal Government in connection with a specific contract.

Specific Changes to 22 CFR Made by This Rule

I. Part 35

The PFCRA, enacted in 1986, authorizes agencies, with approval from the Department of Justice, to pursue individuals or firms for false claims. Applying the 2021 multiplier, the new maximum liabilities are as follows: $11,803 up to $348,035.

II. Part 103

The CWC Act provided domestic implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction. The penalty provisions of the CWC Act are codified at 22 U.S.C. 6761. Applying the 2021 multiplier, the new maximum amounts are as follows: Prohibited acts related to inspections, $39,693; for Recordkeeping violations, $7,939.

III. Part 127

The Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs is responsible for the imposition of CMPs under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which is administered by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC).

(1) AECA Section 38(e)

Applying the 2021 multiplier, the new maximum penalty under 22 U.S.C. 2778 (22 CFR 127.10(a)(1)(i)) is $1,197,728.

(2) AECA Section 39A(c)

Applying the multiplier, the new maximum penalty under 22 U.S.C. 2779a (22 CFR 127.10(a)(1)(ii)) is $870,856, or five times the amount of the prohibited payment, whichever is greater.

(3) AECA Section 40(k)

Applying the multiplier, the new maximum penalty under 22 U.S.C. 2780 (22 CFR 127.10(a)(1)(iii)) is $1,036,566.

IV. Part 138

Section 319 of Public Law 101-121, codified at 31 U.S.C. 1352, provides penalties for recipients of Federal contracts, grants, and loans who use appropriated funds to lobby the executive or legislative branches of the Federal Government in connection with a specific contract, grant, or loan. Any person who violates that prohibition is subject to a civil penalty. The statute also requires each person who requests or receives a Federal contract, grant, cooperative agreement, loan, or a Federal commitment to insure or guarantee a loan, to disclose any lobbying; there is a penalty for failure to disclose.

Applying the 2021 multiplier, the maximum penalties for both improper expenditures and failure to disclose, is: For first offenders, $20,396; for others, not less than $20,731, and not more than $207,314.

Summary

Effective Date of Penalties

The revised CMP amounts will go into effect on the date this rule is published. All violations for which CMPs are assessed on or after the effective date of this rule, regardless of whether the violation occurred before the effective date, will be assessed at the adjusted penalty level.

Future Adjustments and Reporting

The 2015 Act directed agencies to undertake an annual review of CMPs using a formula prescribed by the statute. Annual adjustments to CMPs are made in accordance with the guidance issued by OMB. As in this rulemaking, the Department of State will publish notification of annual inflation adjustments to CMPs in the Federal Register no later than January 15 of each year, with the adjusted amount taking effect immediately upon publication.

Regulatory Analysis and Notices

Administrative Procedure Act

The Department of State is publishing this rule using the “good cause” exception to the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b)), as the Department has determined that public comment on this rulemaking would be impractical, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. This rulemaking is mandatory and entirely without agency discretion; it implements Public Law 114-74. See 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

Because this rulemaking is exempt from 5 U.S.C. 553, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

This rule does not involve a mandate that will result in the expenditure by State, local, and Tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more in any year and it will not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

This rule is not a major rule within the meaning of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

Executive Orders 12372 and 13132

This amendment will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the National Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 13132, it is determined that this amendment does not have sufficient federalism implications to require consultations or warrant the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement.

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

The Department believes that benefits of the rulemaking outweigh any costs, and there are no feasible alternatives to this rulemaking. Pursuant to M-20-05, OIRA has determined that agency regulations that (1) exclusively implement the annual adjustment, (2) are consistent with this guidance, and (3) have an annual impact of less than $100 million, are generally not significant regulatory actions under E.O. 12866. Therefore, agencies are generally not required to submit regulations satisfying those criteria to OIRA for review. This regulation satisfies all of those criteria.

Executive Order 12988

The Department of State has reviewed the proposed amendment in light of Executive Order 12988 to eliminate ambiguity, minimize litigation, establish clear legal standards, and reduce burden.

Executive Order 13175

The Department of State has determined that this rulemaking will not have tribal implications, will not impose substantial direct compliance costs on Indian Tribal governments, and will not preempt Tribal law. Accordingly, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this rulemaking.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This rulemaking does not impose or revise any information collections subject to 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

List of Subjects

22 CFR Part 35

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Claims
• Fraud
• Penalties

22 CFR Part 103

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Chemicals
• Classified information
• Foreign relations
• Freedom of information
• International organization
• Investigations
• Penalties
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

22 CFR Part 127

• Arms and munitions
• Exports

22 CFR Part 138

• Government contracts
• Grant programs
• Loan programs
• Lobbying
• Penalties
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

For the reasons set forth above, 22 CFR parts 35, 103, 127, and 138 are amended as follows:

PART 35—PROGRAM FRAUD CIVIL REMEDIES

1. The authority citation for part 35 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2651a; 31 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.; Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 584.

2. In § 35.3:

a. Remove “$11,665” and add in its place “$11,803”, wherever it occurs.

b. In paragraph (f), remove “$343,969” and add in its place “$348,035”.

PART 103—REGULATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION AND THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION ACT OF 1998 ON THE TAKING OF SAMPLES AND ON ENFORCEMENT OF REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING RECORDKEEPING AND INSPECTIONS

3. The authority citation for part 103 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2651a; 22 U.S.C. 6701 et seq.; Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 584.

4. In § 103.6:

a. In paragraph (a)(1), remove “$39,229” and add in its place “$39,693”; and

b. In paragraph (a)(2), remove “$7,846” and add in its place “$7,939”.

PART 127—VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES

5. The authority citation for part 127 continues to read as follows:

Authority: Sections 2, 38, and 42, Pub. L. 90-629, 90 Stat. 744 (22 U.S.C. 2752, 2778, 2791); 22 U.S.C. 401; 22 U.S.C. 2651a; 22 U.S.C. 2779a; 22 U.S.C. 2780; E.O. 13637, 78 FR 16129; Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 584.

6. In § 127.10:

a. In paragraph (a)(1)(i), remove “$1,183,736” and add in its place “$1,197,728”;

b. In paragraph (a)(1)(ii), remove “$860,683” and add in its place “$870,856”; and

c. In paragraph (a)(1)(iii), remove “$1,024,457” and add in its place “$1,036,566”.

PART 138—RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING

7. The authority citation for part 138 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2651a; 31 U.S.C. 1352; Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 584.

8. In § 138.400:

a. Remove “$20,489” and “$204,892” and add in their place “$20,731” and “$207,314”, respectively, wherever they occur.

b. In paragraph (e), remove “$20,158” and add in its place “$20,396”.

Editorial note:

This document was received for publication by the Office of the Federal Register on January 11, 2021.

Footnotes