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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 93198-93199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27565]

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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Part 102-117

[FMR Case 2024-03; Docket No. GSA-FMR-2024-0015; Sequence No. 1]

Federal Management Regulation; Updating Transportation 
Management, With Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility 
Language

AGENCY: Office of Government-wide Policy (OGP), General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The United States General Services Administration (GSA) is 
issuing a final rule amending the Federal Management Regulation (FMR). 
This amendment introduces changes specific to Transportation 
Management. Following a comprehensive review, GSA decided to eliminate 
the use of gendered pronouns in this FMR part. The modifications aim to 
ensure the language aligns with the principles of inclusivity, 
particularly concerning gender, and to further incorporate language 
that supports diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility. These 
changes are grammatical and technical in nature and will not result in 
additional costs or related policy changes for agencies.

DATES: This final rule is effective on November 26, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ron Siegel, Policy Analyst, at 
202-702-0840 or gsa-ogp-transportationpolicy@;gsa.gov for clarification 
of content. For information pertaining to status or publication 
schedules, contact the Regulatory Secretariat Division at 202-501-4755 
or gsa.gov">GSARegSec@gsa.gov. Please cite ``FMR Case 2024-03''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Executive Order (E.O.) 13988, Preventing and Combating 
Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation, 
dated January 20, 2021, establishes a policy ``to prevent and combat 
discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, 
and to fully enforce Title VII and other laws that prohibit 
discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.''
    The Federal Government must be a model for diversity, equity, 
inclusion,

[[Page 93199]]

and accessibility, where all employees are treated with dignity and 
respect. While GSA is not aware of any specific instances where 
language in this FMR part has been used to discriminate against an 
employee, GSA believes it is important to prevent any potential 
discrimination or the appearance of it.
    Consistent with the American Psychological Association (APA) Style 
Guide, 7th Edition, Publication Manual Section 5.5 guidance on ``Gender 
and Pronoun Usage'', GSA is replacing gender-specific pronouns, such as 
he, she, his, or her, with more inclusive terminology.

II. Discussion of the Final Rule

A. Summary of Significant Changes

    This final rule removes gender-based pronouns from this FMR part 
and replaces them with more inclusive language. The grammatical and 
technical changes do not alter any definition, operation, or 
interpretation of the FMR.

B. Expected Cost Impact to the Public

    There is no expected cost imposed upon the public as a result of 
this rule since the changes are technical.

III. Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14094

    Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) 
directs agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available 
regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select 
regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential 
economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive 
impacts, and equity). E.O. 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory 
Review) emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. E.O. 14094 (Modernizing Regulatory Review) amends Section 
3(f) of E.O. 12866 and supplements and reaffirms the principles, 
structures, and definitions governing contemporary regulatory review 
established in E.O. 12866 and E.O. 13563. The Office of Management and 
Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has 
determined that this rule is not a significant regulatory action, and 
therefore, was not subject to review under Section 6(b) of E.O. 12866.

IV. Congressional Review Act

    OIRA has determined that this rule is not a ``major rule'' under 5 
U.S.C. 804(2). Title II, Subtitle E of the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (codified at 5 U.S.C. 801-808), also 
known as the Congressional Review Act or CRA, generally provides that 
before a rule may take effect, unless excepted, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. This rule is excepted from CRA reporting requirements 
prescribed under 5 U.S.C. 801, as it relates to agency management or 
personnel under 5 U.S.C. 804(3)(B).

V. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. This final rule is 
also exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(a)(2) because it applies to agency management or personnel. 
Therefore, an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis was not 
performed.

VI. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to 
the FMR do not impose recordkeeping or information collection 
requirements, or the collection of information from offerors, 
contractors, or members of the public that require the approval of the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 41 CFR Part 102-117

    Freight, Government property management, Moving of household goods, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Robin Carnahan,
Administrator of General Services.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, GSA amends 41 CFR part 
102-117 as set forth below:

PART 102-117--TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

0
1. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 102-117 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  31 U.S.C. 3726; 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 40 U.S.C. 501, et 
seq.; 46 U.S.C. 55305; 49 U.S.C. 40118.

0
2. Revise the section heading for Sec.  102-117.240 to read as follows:

Sec.  102-117.240  What is my agency's financial responsibility to an 
employee who chooses to move all or part of their HHG under the 
commuted rate system?

* * * * *

Sec.  102-117.295  [Amended]

0
3. Amend Sec.  102-117.295 by, in paragraph (b), removing the words 
``his/her'' from the second sentence.

[FR Doc. 2024-27565 Filed 11-25-24; 8:45 am]
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