Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen is welcoming a federal rule permanently removing a business reporting requirement for U.S. companies and individuals.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, issued a final rule removing the requirement for U.S. companies and persons to report beneficial ownership information under the Corporate Transparency Act. The reporting requirement still applies to foreign entities and persons.

Last year, Allen joined 19 other conservative secretaries of state in signing a letter encouraging President Donald Trump to eliminate the requirement.

“As Secretary of State, I have advocated for Alabama’s small business owners, and I am proud of the work we have accomplished. I firmly believe in cutting government red tape where we find it,” Allen said.

“From championing legislation to remove costly business filing requirements to pressing the federal government to do the same, I have shown my support for Alabama business.”

Allen is Alabama’s 54th secretary of state. In addition to serving as the state’s chief elections official, the secretary of state’s office has more than 1,000 duties under Alabama law.