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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60808-60809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25270]

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COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED

Notice; Adoption of Operational Name for Agency

AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely 
Disabled.

ACTION: Final Notice; adoption of operational name for agency.

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SUMMARY: The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or 
Severely Disabled has deliberated and voted to adopt U.S. AbilityOne 
Commission as its operational name. The operational name change will 
not affect the statutory name of the agency; however, the name change 
will allow the Committee to take advantage of the strong and unified 
AbilityOne[reg] name. The Committee has decided to adopt an operational 
name in order to ensure greater recognition and transparency as a 
federal agency responsible for implementing and administering a federal 
statute.

DATES: Effective Date: October 1, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely 
Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, 
Arlington, Virginia 22202-3259.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry S. Lineback, Telephone: (703) 
603-7740, Fax: (703) 603-0655, or email CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Summary of Notice

    The Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Act (Pub. L. 92-28), established an 
agency to be known as the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are 
Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee). The purpose of the JWOD Act is 
to generate employment and training opportunities for people who are 
blind or have other severe disabilities in the manufacture and delivery 
of products and services to the federal government. The law requires 
federal agencies to procure certain products and services that are 
produced and provided by community-based nonprofit agencies that are 
dedicated to training and employing persons who are blind or have other 
severe disabilities.
    The Committee is an independent federal agency and consists of 
fifteen members appointed by the President (11 from specific federal 
agencies and four private citizens). The Committee works closely and 
collaboratively with two designated (non-governmental) central 
nonprofit agencies (CNAs): National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and 
NISH (creating employment opportunities for people with significant 
disabilities) to operate the program. In addition, the JWOD Act 
authorizes the Committee to make rules and regulations necessary to 
carry out the Act.
    In 1938, Congress passed the Wagner-O'Day Act so people who are 
blind could manufacture mops and brooms to sell the federal government. 
In 1971, the JWOD Act expanded the Wagner-O'Day Act to include people 
who had severe disabilities and to authorize the program to provide 
services to the government. For decades, the program operated as the 
``NIB/NISH Program'' and/or the ``JWOD Program.'' In 2006, the program 
changed its name to AbilityOne[reg] in order to build a descriptive and 
powerful brand identity, to better convey its employment mission, and 
to link participating nonprofit agencies.
    The name change to AbilityOne has been a tremendous success and has 
resulted in a stronger, more unified program. However, there still 
exists confusion and misunderstanding among federal agencies and non-
federal entities, regarding the status and

[[Page 60809]]

purpose of the Committee. In addition, the name (Committee for Purchase 
From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled) does not independently 
identify it as a federal agency, and the term ``Committee'' is commonly 
associated as being in an advisory capacity.
    Consequently, in order to enhance the ease of identification of the 
Committee as a federal agency responsible for administering the JWOD 
Act, the Committee has voted to adopt U.S. AbilityOne Commission as an 
operational name. In order to ensure that all federal agencies and non-
governmental entities that are familiar with the Committee name are 
able to recognize and transfer their support to the new operational 
name, the U.S. AbilityOne Commission will continue to use the statutory 
name in appropriate circumstances. The dual use will enable the 
Committee to use existing business materials that contain the statutory 
name and to begin using the new name as materials and supplies are 
refreshed in the normal supply cycle.

II. Administrative Procedure Act

    Because this notice merely implements an operational name change of 
a government agency, it relates only to agency organization, procedure 
or practice, and, accordingly, requirements for prior notice and public 
comment do not apply. 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(A). The Committee for good 
cause finds, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), that notice and public 
comment thereon are unnecessary. In addition, and for the same reasons, 
the Committee finds, for good cause, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), 
that this notice should take effect immediately.

III. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final notice does not include a collection of information as 
defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 
Required changes in the references to the agency name are not 
substantive or material modifications to the existing collections of 
information. The applicability date for this change should further 
limit any associated burden. Accordingly, the modifications to this 
collection of information have not been submitted to OMB for review.

IV. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Because this notice is being promulgated without a proposal and an 
opportunity for public comments, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) does not apply. In any event, the technical 
amendments made by this notice will not have a significant impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.

V. Congressional Review Act

    This notice is a notice of agency organization, procedure or 
practice that does not substantially affect the rights or obligations 
of non-agency parties. It is therefore not subject to the Congressional 
Review Act pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801 and 804(1).

Barry S. Lineback,
Director, Business Operations.
[FR Doc. 2011-25270 Filed 9-29-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353-01-P
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