[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 15921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8969]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Consumer Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request Food Security Supplement to the Current Population 
Survey

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on proposed information collection of supplemental food security 
questions for the September, 1996 Current Population Survey.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 10, 1996.

ADDRESSES: 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 shall 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 appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Michael 
E. Fishman, Acting Director, Office of Analysis and Evaluation, Food 
and Consumer Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302.
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or copies of the information 
collection instruments and instructions should be directed to Michael 
E. Fishman, (703) 305-2117.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Food Security Supplement to the Current Population Survey.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Form Number: None.
    Expiration Date: N/A.
    Type of Request: New Collection of Information.
    Abstract: The U.S. Bureau of the Census will supplement the 
September, 1996 Current Population Survey with questions regarding 
household food shopping, food sufficiency, coping mechanisms and food 
scarcity, and concern about food sufficiency. This supplement was also 
appended to the CPS in April, 1995. These data will be used to develop 
a scale of food security reflecting a range from food secure households 
through households experiencing severe food insecurity. Ultimately, 
this scale will be used to identify the prevalence of poverty-linked 
food insecurity and hunger experienced in the United States. The 
purpose of this project is to provide a consistent measure of the 
extent and severity of food insecurity that will aid in policy decision 
making. The supplemental survey instrument has been developed in 
conjunction with food security experts nationwide as well as survey 
method experts within the Census Bureau. This supplemental information 
will be collected by both personal visit and telephone interviews in 
conjunction with the regular monthly CPS interviewing. All interviews 
are conducted using computers.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 58,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 9 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 8,700 hours.

    Dated: April 4, 1996.
William E. Ludwig,
Administrator, Food and Consumer Service.
[FR Doc. 96-8969 Filed 4-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-M