Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS)

Agencies Should Cooperate with Freedom of Information Ombudsman, Administrative Conference Says

Jun 6, 2014 by Gavin Baker

Federal agencies should do more to cooperate with the government's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) ombudsman, according to recommendations approved June 5 by the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS). The recommendations also called for the ombudsman, known as the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), to continue efforts to assist people who make FOIA requests. The recommendation is a positive step for helping people access public information under FOIA.

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Growing Use of Third Parties to Certify Health and Safety Compliance Raises Troubling Questions

In May, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed two rules to protect the public from the risks of formaldehyde exposure. The first rule sets emissions standards for formaldehyde in composite wood products; the second establishes requirements for third-party certifications of products subject to those emissions limits. The use of third-party programs to assess regulatory compliance is growing as agencies try to stretch scarce resources, raising troubling questions about enforcement of important standards and safeguards.

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International Regulatory Cooperation: Will Harmonization Protect the Public or Prioritize Corporate Profits?

May 3, 2012 by Jessica Randall

A May 1 Executive Order on international regulatory cooperation has raised questions about how regulatory agencies set their priorities. Regulatory cooperation is neither a particularly new idea, nor an inherently bad one – but if not handled carefully, it could undercut the public protections on which Americans depend.

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E-Rulemaking, Contracting on the List of Priorities for New ACUS

May 26, 2010 by Matthew Madia

The new chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) last week discussed potential research priorities for the conference. Chairman Paul Verkuil outlined for the House Judiciary Committee’s administrative law panel several issues ACUS may address when it is reconstituted.

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ACUS Chairman Confirmed

Mar 9, 2010 by Matthew Madia

On March 3, the Senate confirmed Paul Verkuil to serve as chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS). The confirmation was approved by unanimous consent. The term for ACUS chairman lasts five years.

Most recently, Verkuil worked for the law firm Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP. Click here for a bio.

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Congress Votes to Reauthorize Administrative Conference of the United States

The House voted July 14 to reauthorize the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) by accepting an earlier Senate-passed bill. The bill now moves to the White House, where President Bush is expected to sign the legislation. ACUS was a small government agency, abolished in 1995, that advised Congress on reforms to administrative and regulatory processes and saved the government millions of dollars over its life.

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