Implementation of HAVANA Act of 2021

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Defense Office of the Secretary 32 CFR Part 49 [Docket ID: DoD-2024-OS-0054] RIN 0790-AL61 AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (OUSD(P&R)), Department of Defense (DoD). ACTION: Direct final rule with request for comments. SUMMARY: This rule implements within DoD (the Department) amendments made by the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA) Act of 2021, which provide authority for the Secretary of State and other agency heads to provide payments to certain individuals who have incurred qualifying injuries to the brain. This rule covers current and former DoD employees, and dependents of current or former DoD employees and is vitally important to those who have experienced such injuries. DATES: This rule will be effective on November 18, 2024 unless comments are received that would result in a contrary determination. If significant adverse comments are received, the Department will publish a timely withdrawal of the rule in the Federal Register . Comments will be accepted on or before November 4, 2024. ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit comments, identified by docket number and/or regulatory identifier number (RIN) and title, by one of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Mail: Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparen…