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Opinions
Competitive Bidding Requirements Under the Federal-Aid Highway Program
The competitive bidding requirement of 23 U.S.C. § 112 imposes, in addition to procedural rules dictating the process by which bids are awarded, a substantive limitation on state or local bidding requirements that are unrelated to the bidder’s performance of the necessary work.
Section 112’s competitive bidding requirement does not preclude any and all state or local bidding or contractual restrictions that have the effect of reducing the pool of potential bidders for reasons unrelated to the performance of the necessary work. Rather, section 112 affords the Federal Highway Administration discretion to assess whether a particular state or local requirement unduly limits competition.
Generally, state or local government requirements that eliminate or disadvantage a class of potential responsible bidders to advance objectives unrelated to the efficient use of federal funds or the integrity of the bidding process are likely to unduly impede competition in contravention of the substantive component of section 112’s competitive bidding requirement.
Whether the Millennium Challenge Corporation Is Subject to the Open Meeting Requirements of the Sunshine Act
The Millennium Challenge Corporation is not an “agency” for purposes of the open meeting requirements of the Sunshine Act.
Expiration of Authorizations of Appropriations for Social Security Administration Grant Programs
Notwithstanding the expiration of the specific authorizations of appropriations for the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance program and the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security program, the appropriation for administrative expenses of the Social Security Administration remains available to fund those two grant programs. When an agency has legal authority to administer a program and appropriated funds are available for that purpose, the absence or expiration of an authorization of appropriations does not prevent the agency from expending funds on the program unless such a restriction is imposed by statute.
Certification of Peace Corps Response Volunteers for Noncompetitive Eligibility for Federal Employment Under Executive Order 11103
Under Executive Order 11103, which describes a “full term of service” as “approximately two years” for purposes of noncompetitive eligibility for federal employment, the Director of the Peace Corps may not issue certificates of satisfactory service to volunteers in the Peace Corps Response program (“PCRVs”) who serve between three and twelve months.
The Director may not issue certificates of satisfactory service to PCRVs under the exception in Executive Order 11103 for those who do not complete a full term “due to circumstances beyond their control.”
Residence Requirement for Assistant United States Attorneys Under 28 U.S.C. § 545(a)
Under 28 U.S.C. § 545(a), Assistant United States Attorneys must physically reside in or within 25 miles of the district that they serve.
Authority of the Department of Labor to Control the Disclosure of Federal Employees’ Compensation Act Records Held by the United States Postal Service
The Federal Employees’ Compensation Act gives the Department of Labor the authority to control and limit the disclosure of FECA records held by the United States Postal Service, and DOL’s FECA regulations prohibit USPS from disclosing FECA records in a manner inconsistent with DOL’s Privacy Act routine uses.
The Department of Labor’s regulatory regime for FECA records is consistent with and furthers the purposes of the Privacy Act.
Neither the Postal Reorganization Act nor the National Labor Relations Act authorizes USPS to control the disclosure of FECA records.
Requiring Identifying Information for Access to Financial Disclosure Reports During the Period Governed by Section 11(a) of the STOCK Act
A procedure under which prospective viewers are required to provide basic identifying information similar to that described in section 105(b)(2) of the Ethics in Government Act in order to access financial disclosure reports made available under section 11(a) of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act is consistent with both these statutes.
This procedure may be implemented by Executive Branch agencies at the direction of the Office of Government Ethics, pursuant to its authority under section 402 of the Ethics in Government Act to prescribe procedures governing the public availability of financial disclosure reports.
The interim regime established by section 11(a) of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act terminates upon implementation of the permanent public disclosure system on the Office of Government Ethics website required by section 11(b). Section 11(b)(2) makes clear that viewers may not be required to provide identifying information in order to view reports made available through that system.
Exempting the Records of the SEC Fraud Surveillance Team from Reporting Obligations in the Privacy Act
The Securities and Exchange Commission is authorized by 5 U.S.C. § 522a(j)(2) of the Privacy Act to exempt the records of the proposed Fraud Surveillance Team from reporting obligations in 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(3) of the Act.
Assertion of Executive Privilege Over Deliberative Materials Generated in Response to Congressional Investigation Into Operation Fast and Furious
Executive privilege may properly be asserted in response to a congressional subpoena seeking internal Department of Justice documents generated in the course of the deliberative process concerning the Department’s response to congressional and related media inquiries into Operation Fast and Furious.
Duty to Report Suspected Child Abuse Under 42 U.S.C. § 13031
Under 42 U.S.C. § 13031—a provision of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990—all covered professionals who learn of suspected child abuse while engaged in enumerated activities and professions on federal land or in federal facilities must report that abuse, regardless of where the suspected victim is cared for or resides.
The fact that a patient has viewed child pornography may “give reason to suspect that a child has suffered an incident of child abuse” under the statute, and a covered professional is not relieved of an obligation to report the possible abuse simply because neither the covered professional nor the patient knows the identity of the child depicted in the pornography.