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News From Administrative Conference of the U.S. (October 2026)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Administrative Conference of the United States issued the following news release:
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News from ACUS (October 2026)
This monthly newsletter provides a roundup of recent, ongoing, and upcoming initiatives from the Administrative Conference of the United States.
In this issue:
* The 86th Plenary Session.
* Proposed recommendations from committees.
* Recommendation projects currently underway.
Thanks for subscribing. Feedback and suggestions are welcome at info@acus.gov, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.
86th Plenary Session
The 86th Plenary Session
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Administrative Conference of the United States issued the following news release:
* * *
News from ACUS (October 2026)
This monthly newsletter provides a roundup of recent, ongoing, and upcoming initiatives from the Administrative Conference of the United States.
In this issue:
* The 86th Plenary Session.
* Proposed recommendations from committees.
* Recommendation projects currently underway.
Thanks for subscribing. Feedback and suggestions are welcome at info@acus.gov, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.
86th Plenary Session
The 86th Plenary Sessionis scheduled for Thursday, December 10, 2026. Members of the public may observe the plenary session virtually via livestream here.
Proposed Recommendations
Three committees have finalized proposed recommendations for consideration by the Assembly:
* The Committee on Administration and Management met to consider Improving Transparency in the Review of Applications for Licenses and Permits. The Committee's proposed recommendation is available here, and the draft consultant report is available here.
* The Committee on Regulation met to consider Regulatory Warnings. The Committee's proposed recommendation is available here, and the draft consultant report is available here.
* The Committee on Rulemaking met to consider General Permits and Permits by Rule. The Committee's proposed recommendation will be available here, and the draft consultant report is available here.
* The Committee on Adjudication is considering Frontline Decision Making in the Adjudication of Applications. Draft materials associated with the project are available here.
Current Projects Underway
Several other projects are underway that committees will take up in 2027 and 2028. Information can be found on the project webpages linked below.
* Agency Explanations of the Law
* Collection, Use, and Availability of Agency Adjudication Data
* Compliance Assistance Programs
* Discovery in Agency Adjudication
* Improving Access to Information About License and Permit Programs
* Periodic Rules
* Policies on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Agency Adjudication
* Preventing, Detecting, and Resolving Improper Payments in Federally Administered Programs
* Processing Public Comments in Agency Rulemaking
* Regional Administration of Regulatory Programs
* Regulatory Experimentation
* Statements of Agency Organization
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Original text here: https://www.acus.gov/article/news-acus-october-2026
SBA's Million Dollar Pitch Competition to Stream on Prime Video and YouTube
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release:
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SBA's Million Dollar Pitch Competition to Stream on Prime Video and YouTube
Five entrepreneurs will take the stage to compete, alongside Nicki Minaj, Grant Cardone, Joe Gebbia, and Dean Cain on October 20th
October 15, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that its Million Dollar Pitch Competition will stream starting October 20 on Prime Video and YouTube. The high-stakes contest, hosted by Dean Cain and judged by celebrity entrepreneurs Nicki Minaj,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release:
* * *
SBA's Million Dollar Pitch Competition to Stream on Prime Video and YouTube
Five entrepreneurs will take the stage to compete, alongside Nicki Minaj, Grant Cardone, Joe Gebbia, and Dean Cain on October 20th
October 15, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that its Million Dollar Pitch Competition will stream starting October 20 on Prime Video and YouTube. The high-stakes contest, hosted by Dean Cain and judged by celebrity entrepreneurs Nicki Minaj,Grant Cardone, and Joe Gebbia, was taped before a live audience in Washington, D.C., where five finalists pitched their small businesses for a chance to win a portion of a $1 million cash prize pool funded by Clover Network, Inc. (Clover). The show includes a special appearance by President Donald J. Trump and recalls the vision he shared with the nation during The Apprentice, an award-winning show that celebrated the tenacity and vision required to compete and win in business.
"The Trump SBA is thrilled to announce that the Million Dollar Pitch Competition will stream on Prime Video and YouTube reaching audiences across our country and around the world, celebrating 250 years of free enterprise, American exceptionalism, and the hardworking small businesses that make it possible," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "Competing nationally to reach the stage, five exceptional entrepreneurs put everything on the line to earn a share of a $1 million cash prize pool - showcasing the grit, vision, and sacrifice of Main Street leaders who believe in the American Dream. The SBA is proud to highlight the importance and contributions of our nation's small businesses, while inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs, risk-takers, and innovators to build their future."
Launched as part of the SBA's Freedom 250 celebration, the Million Dollar Pitch Competition marks the culmination of a nationwide entrepreneurship contest created to honor the innovation, grit, and economic impact of America's Main Street businesses. The five finalists put their business acumen, growth strategies, and vision to the test - while sharing the personal stories of resilience and sacrifice that brought them to the national stage. The special gives audiences across America and around the world a window into the families, workers, and communities that power our nation's economy from jobs to innovation and growth in every state.
The following national finalists are featured in the Million Dollar Pitch Competition finale:
* Paul Melrose, Compotech, Inc. (Brewer, Maine)
* Lisa and George Winton, Winton Machine (Suwanee, Georgia)
* Dean, Ryan, and Andrew Sonquist, Plas-Tech Tooling Inc. (Garner, Iowa)
* Marshall Sasse, Red River (Gillette, Wyoming)
* Hernan Luis y Prado, VetPowered LLC (San Diego, California)
The finalists competed for five cash prizes funded by Clover:
* First Place: $400,000
* Second Place: $250,000
* Third Place: $150,000
* Fourth Place: $125,000
* Fifth Place: $75,000
To learn more about the Million Dollar Pitch Competition, including more information about how to view the streaming special on Prime Video and YouTube, visit www.sba.gov/freedom250.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://legacy.sba.gov/article/2026/10/15/sbas-million-dollar-pitch-competition-stream-prime-video-youtube
SBA Issues Historic Guidance to Recognize America's Content Creator Economy
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release:
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SBA Issues Historic Guidance to Recognize America's Content Creator Economy
Agency clarifies that qualifying content creators are classified under NAICS 5121 for SBA program eligibility
October 15, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the first federal small-business classification guidance specifically recognizing qualifying content creators within the SBA's lending and contracting framework. Following SBA's recent small business size standards proposal,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release:
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SBA Issues Historic Guidance to Recognize America's Content Creator Economy
Agency clarifies that qualifying content creators are classified under NAICS 5121 for SBA program eligibility
October 15, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the first federal small-business classification guidance specifically recognizing qualifying content creators within the SBA's lending and contracting framework. Following SBA's recent small business size standards proposal,the agency clarified that the nation's 27 million creator-led businesses are classified under NAICS 5121 -- Motion Picture and Video Industries -- for purposes of SBA program eligibility. The clarification reflects the robust growth and evolving business models of America's creator economy.
"American's creators are entrepreneurs who build businesses from original ideas, unique audiences, and content into thriving small businesses that create jobs," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "For the first time, the SBA is recognizing these enterprising content creators within our small-business framework. This historic guidance cuts through outdated classifications and gives qualifying creators greater clarity as they build businesses, create jobs, and compete and build for the future."
"Content creators are small businesses, and always have been," said Daniel Abas, Founder and President of the Creators Guild of America. "Thanks to the vision of the SBA and its leadership, the federal government has unequivocally affirmed this status, and millions of creators stand to benefit. We look forward to our members taking full advantage of the access to capital that the SBA's guidance provides, and are proud that the professional infrastructure established by the CGA has contributed to this outcome. Committed creators like Shira Lazar, founder of Creators 4 Mental Health and a member of our Advisory Board, and Avi Gandhi, CGA's Chair of Government Advocacy, played instrumental roles in advancing this effort. This breakthrough is both a testament to their hard work, and a major step forward in the CGA's mission to help creators."
"With more than 8.5 million American small businesses on TikTok U.S., millions of people turn to our platform every day to discover new experiences, support local favorites, and connect with thriving entrepreneurs, said Nicole Nason, Head of Public Policy at TikTok U.S. "This historic guidance places the SBA at the forefront of the creator economy and establishes clear pathways for modern entrepreneurs to expand their reach, create jobs, and fuel local economies."
Content creator businesses have long been eligible for SBA support when they meet applicable program requirements, but creators previously lacked clear guidance on the NAICS code that best reflects their integrated business models. Because today's creators often produce, edit, distribute, market, and monetize original audiovisual content across multiple platforms and revenue streams, SBA is providing clearer guidance to help them identify the industry group most appropriate for SBA program-eligibility purposes.
The SBA's proposed size standards adopt revisions to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) to simplify the size standards for related motion-picture, video-production, post-production, and distribution activities under NAICS 5121 -- Motion Picture and Video Industries. Creator-led businesses whose principal activity falls within this umbrella--including filmmakers, video producers, podcasters, streamers, gamers, digital publishers, social-media entrepreneurs, creative agencies, and other businesses that produce and distribute original audiovisual content--should begin with NAICS 5121 and identify the applicable six-digit NAICS code within that industry group that best matches their primary business activity.
The SBA also received comments on its proposed size standards rule requesting the issuance of an industry exception for content creators, which would permanently house creator-led businesses. The agency will consider those comments, along with all public feedback submitted on the proposed rule, after the public comment period closes on November 20th.
The SBA is helping qualifying creator-led businesses determine their small-business status and navigate opportunities for SBA-backed financing and other agency resources. The action advances the Trump Administration's commitment to reducing unnecessary regulatory complexity, modernizing government, and ensuring federal programs reflect the evolving needs of America's entrepreneurs.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://legacy.sba.gov/article/2026/10/15/sba-issues-historic-guidance-recognize-americas-content-creator-economy
Inter-American Development Bank: 'Natural Disasters, Adaptation and Default Risk'
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on Oct. 16, 2026, entitled "Natural Disasters, Adaptation and Default Risk."
Here are excerpts:
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This paper studies how sovereign default risk shapes public investment in climate adaptation. We build a sovereign default model in which governments invest in adaptation to reduce disaster damages. Sovereign risk depresses adaptation through two mechanisms: higher borrowing costs and debt overhang under long-term debt. These effects generate feedback between risk and disaster exposure. Using
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on Oct. 16, 2026, entitled "Natural Disasters, Adaptation and Default Risk."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
This paper studies how sovereign default risk shapes public investment in climate adaptation. We build a sovereign default model in which governments invest in adaptation to reduce disaster damages. Sovereign risk depresses adaptation through two mechanisms: higher borrowing costs and debt overhang under long-term debt. These effects generate feedback between risk and disaster exposure. Usinga new panel of adaptation spending from budget records, we show that after catastrophic disasters spreads rise where prior adaptation was low, and that losses are smaller where adaptation budgets recently increased. In our calibration, adaptation yields the largest welfare gains near the default boundary, where financing is tightest.
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View full text here: publications.iadb.org/en/natural-disasters-adaptation-and-default-risk
[Category: IADB]
Inter-American Development Bank: 'Asymmetric Labor Market Responses to External Demand Fluctuations: Evidence From Latin America'
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on Oct. 16, 2026, entitled "Asymmetric Labor Market Responses to External Demand Fluctuations: Evidence from Latin America."
Here are excerpts:
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This paper examines how external demand fluctuations transmit asymmetrically to labor market outcomes in Latin America a region where structural informality and institutional rigidity shape the margins of employment adjustment. Using a balanced panel of 16 countries from 2001 to 2019, we estimate asymmetric impulse-response functions via local
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on Oct. 16, 2026, entitled "Asymmetric Labor Market Responses to External Demand Fluctuations: Evidence from Latin America."
Here are excerpts:
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This paper examines how external demand fluctuations transmit asymmetrically to labor market outcomes in Latin America a region where structural informality and institutional rigidity shape the margins of employment adjustment. Using a balanced panel of 16 countries from 2001 to 2019, we estimate asymmetric impulse-response functions via localprojections with long differences, disaggregating labor market responses by employment category following the ICSE-93 classification. Results reveal a fundamental asymmetry: wage employment does not respond to positive external demand episodes but contracts significantly during negative ones, while self-employment exhibits a countercyclical pattern declining during expansions and expanding as a buffer during downturns. Unemployment plays a minimal role in the adjustment process. Subgroup analyses document substantial heterogeneity within the region: economies with more flexible labor markets and higher trade openness adjust faster and through formal employment margins, while less flexible and more closed economies rely predominantly on self-employment, with more persistent effects. These findings highlight labor market duality and institutional rigidity as the primary conditioners of asymmetric employment adjustment to external demand fluctuations in Latin America, with implications for the design of policies aimed at building more resilient and inclusive labor markets.
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View full text here: publications.iadb.org/en/asymmetric-labor-market-responses-external-demand-fluctuations-evidence-latin-america
[Category: IADB]
EPA Spotlights Historic Environmental Wins Delivered at Record Pace
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Spotlights Historic Environmental Wins Delivered at Record Pace
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Accomplishments webpage and new video spotlight PFAS treatment, wildfire recovery, billions in water-infrastructure investment & more
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today unveiled an updated environmental accomplishments webpage and a new video, together capturing hundreds of wins delivered for American communities since January 20, 2025.
"Behind every one of these wins is a community with cleaner
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Spotlights Historic Environmental Wins Delivered at Record Pace
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Accomplishments webpage and new video spotlight PFAS treatment, wildfire recovery, billions in water-infrastructure investment & more
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today unveiled an updated environmental accomplishments webpage and a new video, together capturing hundreds of wins delivered for American communities since January 20, 2025.
"Behind every one of these wins is a community with cleanerwater, cleaner air, and cleaner land," said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. "That's the mission, and we're delivering on it every single day for Americans across the country."
When Administrator Lee Zeldin was sworn in, EPA inherited backlogs and regulatory actions that stretched beyond the agency's statutory obligations. Since then, EPA has delivered results at every milestone, 100 actions in the first 100 days, 500 by the one-year mark, 100 more by day 600, and more each day since.
Those results include approximately 1.2 billion gallons of drinking water treated for PFAS, 97.5 million pounds of pollution reduced, treated, or eliminated, and more than 13,000 properties cleared after the Los Angeles wildfires so families could return home. EPA has also made $6.5 billion available through WIFIA and billions more to cut lead and PFAS in drinking water. Through the Superfund Solutions initiative, the agency is working to return even more sites to productive use.
Learn more about EPA's historic environmental wins.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-spotlights-historic-environmental-wins-delivered-record-pace
EPA Announces $109 Million WIFIA Loan to Increase Water Supply Reliability in Honolulu, Hawaii
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Announces $109 Million WIFIA Loan to Increase Water Supply Reliability in Honolulu, Hawaii
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WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $109 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, which serves parts of Oahu, Hawaii. This loan will help the Board design and build a large-scale reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant that will provide 1.7 million gallons of water each day to island residents
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Announces $109 Million WIFIA Loan to Increase Water Supply Reliability in Honolulu, Hawaii
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WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $109 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, which serves parts of Oahu, Hawaii. This loan will help the Board design and build a large-scale reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant that will provide 1.7 million gallons of water each day to island residentswhile decreasing pressure on groundwater aquifers. EPA's WIFIA loans enable communities to make critical investments in clean, safe, and reliable water to help advance EPA's "Powering the Great American Comeback" initiative.
"Communities across the country are facing challenges with water infrastructure--from replacing old pipes and pumps, to upgrading service to support growth, to bringing new sources of water online. EPA's WIFIA program is a lending tool that can help communities make investments in water infrastructure that meets local needs and protects public health," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. "We are thrilled that Honolulu is using this $109 million WIFIA loan to create a reliable and renewable source of drinking water to benefit the community."
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply will use WIFIA financing for its Kalaeloa Seawater Desalination Facility Project, which will help convert abundant saltwater into clean and safe drinking water, establishing an alternative drinking water source for the island. This project includes the building of byproduct disposal facilities, a recycled water pipeline, and transmission lines. These new developments will increase supply reliability and reduce reliance on groundwater aquifers. This project will strengthen water resources in central Oahu for the more arid district that the Board serves, west of Honolulu and Pearl Harbor.
"We are pleased to have partnered with the EPA on this WIFIA loan and appreciate their support," said Ernest Lau, Manager and Chief Engineer of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. "This financing will assist in constructing the first seawater desalination facility for our island community."
EPA's WIFIA program provides a powerful financial tool that can significantly accelerate investments in water infrastructure to protect human health and the environment while saving communities millions of dollars. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is opting to make the WIFIA loan a subordinate lien, which means the loan will be second to that of the borrower's senior lien bonds, providing more repayment flexibility. Additionally, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply will utilize the ability to defer principal payments during construction to reduce impact on ratepayers.
WIFIA funding is available to support additional water infrastructure projects: up to $11 billion is available to water systems and another $3 billion is available to State infrastructure financing authorities. EPA is currently accepting letters of interest.
Learn more about EPA's WIFIA Program and water infrastructure investments, including how to submit a letter of interest.
Background
Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan program administered by EPA. The WIFIA program aims to accelerate investment in the nation's water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-109-million-wifia-loan-increase-water-supply-reliability-honolulu-hawaii (TNSmlt)
