[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 67386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25475]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0355]


Proposed Information Collection Activity: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of 
Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment 
on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are 
required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each 
proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension 
of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public 
comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the 
information needed to pay benefits to veterans and other eligible 
persons pursuing approved programs of education.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before January 18, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information to 
Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits Administration (20M35), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20420 or e-mail [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 
2900-0355'' in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy J. Kessinger at (202) 273-7079 
or Fax (202) 275-5947.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 
U.S.C. 3501-3521), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of 
information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being 
made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
    With respect to the following collection of information, VBA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of VBA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of VBA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology.
    Title: Verification of Pursuit of Course (Leading to a Standard 
College Degree Under Chapters 32, 34, and 35, Title 38, U.S.C., and 
Section 903 of Pub. L. 96-342), VA Form 22-6553.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0355.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: VA Form 22-6553 is used to verify continued enrollment or 
report changes in enrollment status of claimants receiving educational 
benefits in pursuit of a college course. Schools are required to report 
to VA, when a claimant fails to enroll, has interrupted or terminated a 
program, or has unsatisfactory progress or conduct. VA uses the 
information from the current collection to ensure that schools promptly 
report changes in training and if a claimant's education benefits are 
to be continued unchanged, increased, decreased, or terminated.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions, and State, Local or 
Tribal Governments.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 14,000 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The number of respondents is 
arrived at based on the average number of educational institutions 
using VA Form 22-6553 which had veterans or eligible persons enrolled 
during the last 12 months, and a projected number of trainees. VA 
currently has an average of 6,000 active educational institutions 
(colleges, universities, or other institutions of higher learning).
    Estimated Number of Responses: The frequency of responses for each 
educational institution will vary according to the number of students 
who receive VA education benefits at that school. VA estimates an 
annual average of 14 responses per educational institution. The total 
annual number of response is 84,000.

    Dated: November 3, 2004.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Cindy Stewart,
Program Analyst, Records Management Service.
[FR Doc. 04-25475 Filed 11-16-04; 8:45 am]
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