[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 57 (Friday, March 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 15284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5896]



[[Page 15284]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Economic Research Service


Notice of Intent of Seek Approval To Collect Information

AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. No. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 
5 CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces 
the Economic Research Service's (ERS) intention to request renewal of 
approval for annual information collection on supplemental food 
security questions in the Current Population Survey, commencing with 
the December 2005 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 May 30, 2005 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Mark Nord, 
Food Assistance Branch, Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic 
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M Street NW., 
Room N-2180, Washington, DC 20036-5831. Tel. 202-694-5433. Submit 
electronic comments to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Application for Annual Food Security Supplement to the 
Current Population Survey, beginning in December 2005.
    Type of Request: Approval to collect information on household food 
insecurity.
    OMB Number: 0536-0043.
    Expiration Data: N/A
    Abstract: The U.S. Census Bureau will supplement the December 
Current Population Survey, beginning in 2005, with questions regarding 
household food shopping, food sufficiency, coping mechanisms and food 
scarcity, and concern about food sufficiency. A similar supplement has 
been appended to the CPS annually since 1995. The last collection was 
in December 2004. Copies of the information to be collected can be 
obtained from the address in the preamble.
    ERS is responsible for conducting studies and evaluations of the 
Nation's food assistance programs that are administered by the Food and 
Nutrition Service (FNS), U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Department 
spends about $46 billion each year 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 Food 
Stamps, Child Nutrition, and WIC programs. These programs, which serve 
1 in 5 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.
    These data 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. This supplemental 
information will be collected by both personal visit and telephone 
interviews in conjunction with the regular monthly CPS interviewing. 
All interviews, whether by personal visit or by telephone, are 
conducted using computers.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this data 
collection is estimated to average 7.6 minutes for each household that 
responds to the laborforce portion of the CPS.
    Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 56,200.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 7,155 hours.
    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 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.

    Dated: March 7, 2005.
Susan Offutt,
Administrator, Economic Research Service.
[FR Doc. 05-5896 Filed 3-24-05; 8:45 am]
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