Rule2026-11752
Grants for the Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot; Rescission
Primary source
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Published
June 11, 2026
Effective
July 13, 2026
Issuing agencies
Veterans Affairs Department
Abstract
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is rescinding its regulations that govern the Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot (RVCP) grant program because the statutory authority for this program has expired. Removing these provisions will ensure that VA's regulations accurately reflect current law and programs, eliminate potential confusion regarding the availability of the RVCP grant program, and promote regulatory clarity and transparency. This is a deregulatory action in furtherance of Executive Order 14219, which requires that Federal regulations reflect the best reading of underlying statutory authority.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 112 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 112 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35413-35414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11752]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
38 CFR Part 64
RIN 2900-AS76
Grants for the Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot; Rescission
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is rescinding its
regulations that govern the Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot (RVCP)
grant program because the statutory authority for this program has
expired. Removing these provisions will ensure that VA's regulations
accurately reflect current law and programs, eliminate potential
confusion regarding the availability of the RVCP grant program, and
promote regulatory clarity and transparency. This is a deregulatory
action in furtherance of Executive Order 14219, which requires that
Federal regulations reflect the best reading of underlying statutory
authority.
DATES: This rule is effective July 13, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Kaboli, Executive Director,
Office of Rural Health, (319) 338-0581 X 63-3863.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 5, 2010, the President signed into
law the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010
(2010 Act), Public Law (Pub. L.) 111-163. Section 506 of the 2010 Act,
codified as a note to section 523 of title 38, United States Code
(U.S.C.), required VA establish a two-year pilot program to assess the
feasibility and advisability of using community-based organizations and
local and State government entities to assist veterans who are
transitioning from military service to civilian life in rural or
underserved communities and their families. Section 506(d) of the 2010
Act authorized that the pilot program be carried out through the award
of grants to community-based organizations and local and State
government entities. VA implemented section 506 as the Grants for the
Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot (RVCP) program in regulations in part
64 of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). 78 FR 12617
(February 25, 2013). Such regulations became effective on March 27,
2013.
Under 38 CFR 64.4(c), the two-year grant program period was
determined to begin on the date that the RVCP grants were awarded. VA
subsequently awarded the RVCP grants. On September 29, 2016, section
108 of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of
2016, Public Law 114-228, amended section 506(g)(1) of the 2010 Act to
extend the deadline for the report on the pilot program to September
30, 2017. Since that time, the authority for the RVCP program has not
been extended or renewed.
The RVCP grant program was authorized as a temporary pilot
initiative to assist veterans transitioning from military service to
civilian life in rural or underserved communities and their families by
coordinating outreach and services through community organizations.
With the expiration of statutory authority and completion of all grant
activities, VA no longer has the legal authority to administer or
implement this program. Accordingly, 38 CFR part 64 no longer has any
legal effect, and removing and reserving part 64 is necessary to ensure
that VA's regulations remain current and accurate.
Administrative Procedure Act
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs finds that there is good cause
under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to publish this rule without
prior opportunity for public comment and with an immediate effective
date. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), general notice and opportunity
for public comment are not required with respect to a rulemaking when
an ``agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the finding and a
brief statement of reasons therefor in the rules issued) that notice
and public procedure thereon are impracticable, unnecessary, or
contrary to the public interest.''
This rule rescinds regulations for a program that is no longer
authorized. VA has no discretion in whether to continue to implement
this program or
[[Page 35414]]
its regulations. These regulations in 38 CFR part 64 are now obsolete.
Thus, the Secretary finds it is unnecessary to delay the issuance of
this final rule for purposes of soliciting prior public comment.
Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14192
VA examined the impact of this rulemaking as required by Executive
Orders 12866 (Sept. 30, 1993) and 13563 (Jan. 18, 2011), which direct
agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory
alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory
approaches that maximize net benefits. The Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs has determined that this rulemaking is not a
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866, as
supplemented by Executive Order 13563. This final rule is a
deregulatory action under Executive Order 14192.
Economic Impact: VA does not anticipate any costs or transfers to
be associated with this rule. This action is deregulatory under
Executive Order 14192 because it removes an obsolete grant program from
the Code of Federal Regulations whose statutory authority has fully
expired and whose operations ended years ago. Eliminating 38 CFR part
64 reduces unnecessary regulatory text, improves clarity about which VA
programs remain active, and prevents confusion among stakeholders who
might mistakenly believe the RVCP grant program is still authorized.
Because the program has no current grantees, obligations, funding, or
administrative activity, rescinding the regulation imposes no costs and
produces modest qualitative benefits by streamlining VA's regulatory
code. In line with Executive Order 14192's directive to modernize and
update agency rules, this action cleans up outdated provisions and
enhances transparency by ensuring VA's regulations accurately reflect
current law and agency practice.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Secretary hereby certifies that this final rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-
612). This certification is based on the fact that the grant program is
no longer in effect or authorized by law. Therefore, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 605(b), the initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis
requirements of 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604 do not apply.
Unfunded Mandates
This final rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local,
and Tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of
$100 million or more (adjusted annually for inflation) in any one year.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This rule rescinds the program requirements at 38 CFR 64.10 and
64.16 constituting collections of information under the provisions of
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), and no new
or revised collections of information are associated with this rule.
Assistance Listing
The Assistance Listing number and title for the program affected by
this document is 64.038, Grants for the Rural Veterans Coordination
Pilot.
List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 64
Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Disability benefits,
Government contracts, Grant programs--health, Grant programs--veterans,
Health care, Health records, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
Veterans.
Signing Authority
Douglas A. Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on June 5, 2026, and authorized the undersigned to sign and
submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for
publication electronically as an official document of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Gabriela DeCuir,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Veterans
Affairs.
PART 64--[REMOVED AND RESERVED]
For the reasons stated in the preamble, and under the authority of
38 U.S.C. 501 and 523 note, the Department of Veterans Affairs removes
and reserves 38 CFR part 64.
[FR Doc. 2026-11752 Filed 6-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on June 11, 2026.
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