[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 137 (Friday, July 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42469-42470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17585]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Economic Research Service
Notice of Intent To Request Renewal of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Economic Research Service
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) implementing regulations, this
notice announces the Economic Research Service's (ERS) intention to
request renewal of approval for an annual information collection on
supplemental food security questions in the Current Population Survey
(CPS), commencing with the December 2016 survey. These data will be
used: To monitor household-level food security and food insecurity in
the United States; to assess food security and changes in food security
for population subgroups; to assess the need for, and performance of,
domestic food assistance programs; to improve the measurement of food
security; and to provide information to aid in public policy decision
making.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 15, 2015
to be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Alisha
Coleman-Jensen, Food Assistance Branch, Food Economics Division,
Economic Research Service, Room 5-233A, 1400 Independence Ave. SW.,
Mail Stop 1800, Washington, DC 20050-1800. Submit electronic comments
to [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alisha Coleman-Jensen at the address
in the preamble. Tel. 202-694-5456.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement.
OMB Number: 0536-0043.
Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2016.
Type of Request: Intent To Seek Approval To Extend an Information
Collection for 3 Years.
Abstract: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(Pub. L. 104-13) and OMB regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978,
August 29, 1995), this notice announces the ERS intention to request
renewal of approval for an annual information collection. The U.S.
Census Bureau will supplement the December CPS, beginning in 2016, with
questions regarding household food shopping, use of food and nutrition
assistance programs, food sufficiency, and difficulties in meeting
household food needs. A similar supplement has been appended to the CPS
annually since 1995. The last collection was in December 2014.
ERS is responsible for conducting studies and evaluations of the
Nation's food and nutrition assistance programs that are administered
by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture. In Fiscal Year 2014, the Department spent over $104
billion to ensure access to nutritious, healthful diets for all
Americans. The Food and Nutrition Service administers the 15 food
assistance programs of the USDA including the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called the Food Stamp Program, the
National School Lunch Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). These programs, which
serve 1 in 4 Americans, represent our Nation's commitment to the
principle that no one in our country should lack the food needed for an
active, healthy life. They provide a safety net to people in need. The
programs' goals are to provide needy persons with access to a more
nutritious diet, to improve the eating habits of the Nation's children,
and to help America's farmers by providing an outlet for the
distribution of food purchased under farmer assistance authorities.
The data collected by the food security supplement will be used to
monitor the prevalence of food security and the prevalence and severity
of food insecurity among the Nation's households. The prevalence of
these conditions as well as year-to-year trends in their prevalence
will be estimated at the national level and for population subgroups.
The data will also be used to monitor the amounts that households spend
for food and their use of community food pantries and emergency
kitchens. These statistics along with research based on the data will
be used to identify the causes and consequences of food insecurity, and
to assess the need for, and performance of, domestic food assistance
programs. The data will also be used to improve the measurement of food
security and to develop measures of additional aspects and dimensions
of food security. This consistent measurement of the extent and
severity of food insecurity will aid in policy decision-making.
The supplemental survey instrument was developed in conjunction
with food security experts nationwide as well as survey method experts
within the Census Bureau and was reviewed in 2006 by the Committee on
National Statistics of the National Research Council. This supplemental
information will be collected by both personal visit and telephone
interviews in conjunction with the regular monthly CPS interviewing.
Interviews will be conducted using Computer Assisted Personal Interview
(CAPI) and Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) methods.
Authority: Legislative authority for the planned data collection is
H.R. 2642, Sec. 4023 (1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014. This section
authorizes officials and contractors acting on behalf of the Secretary
to cooperate with States, State agencies, local agencies, institutions,
facilities such data consortiums, and contractors to conduct program
research and evaluations of programs authorized under the Agricultural
Act.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this data
collection is estimated to average 7.2 minutes (after rounding) for
each household that responds to the labor force portion of the CPS. The
estimate is based on the number of households that were asked each
question in recent survey years (2013 and 2014) and typical reading and
response times for the questions.
Respondents: Individuals or households.
Estimated Total Number of Respondents: 53,657.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,450 hours. Copies
of this information collection can be obtained from Alisha Coleman-
Jensen at the address in the preamble.
Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of
the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including through the use of
[[Page 42470]]
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments should be sent to the address in the preamble. All
responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public
record.
Signed at Washington, DC, July 1, 2015.
Greg Pompelli,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-17585 Filed 7-16-15; 8:45 am]
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