[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55795-55796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22290]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Request for Information: Research on the Causes, Characteristics, 
and Consequences of Childhood Hunger and Food Insecurity

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Section 141 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 
provides $10 million to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for research 
on the causes, characteristics and consequences of childhood hunger and 
food insecurity. This notice announces a request for public comments to 
assist the Food and Nutrition Service in determining how best to focus 
these funds on areas and methods with the greatest research potential 
to maximize the return on this investment.

DATES: To be assured of consideration, written comments must be 
submitted on or before October 11, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for 
submitting comments electronically. Comments not submitted 
electronically can be mailed or delivered to: Office of Research and 
Analysis, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
    All comments submitted in response to this notice will be included 
in the record and will be made available to the public at 
www.regulations.gov. Please be advised that the substance of the 
comments and the identity of the individuals or entities commenting 
will be subject to public disclosure.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Carlson, Office of Policy

[[Page 55796]]

Support, Food and Nutrition Service, (703) 305-2017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Most U.S. households have consistent, 
dependable access to enough food for active, healthy living. But some 
American households experience food insecurity at times during the 
year, meaning that their access to adequate food is limited by a lack 
of money and other resources. In 2011, 85.1 percent of U.S. households 
were food secure throughout the year; the remaining 14.9 percent were 
food insecure (see ``Household Food Security in the United States in 
2011'' Economic Research Report No. ERR-141). Children were food 
insecure at times during the year in 10.0 percent of households with 
children. While children are usually shielded from the disrupted eating 
patterns and reduced food intake that characterize very low food 
security, in 2011 children experienced instances of very low food 
security in 1.0 percent of the households with children (374,000 
households).
    The domestic food and nutrition assistance programs of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture increase food security by providing low-
income households access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition 
education. Reliable monitoring of food security and systematic research 
into the underlying causes and consequences of hunger contributes to 
the effective operation of these programs as well as private food 
assistance programs and other initiatives aimed at reducing food 
insecurity.
    In recognition of the need to sustain and expand a solid evidence 
base, Section 141 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 
111-296) amended the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, 
adding a new Section 23, 42 U.S.C. 1769c. The provision includes $10 
million for research on the causes, characteristics, and consequences 
of childhood hunger and food insecurity. The funding becomes available 
on October 1, 2012, and remains available until expended. The purpose 
of the childhood hunger research program, as defined in the statute, is 
to advance knowledge and understanding in the following areas:
    1. Economic, health, social, cultural, demographic, and other 
factors that contribute to childhood hunger or food insecurity;
    2. The geographic distribution of childhood hunger and food 
insecurity;
    3. The extent to which existing Federal assistance programs reduce 
childhood hunger and food insecurity;
    4. The extent to which childhood hunger and food insecurity persist 
due to gaps in program coverage, the inability of potential 
participants to access programs, or the insufficiency of program 
benefits or services;
    5. The public health and medical costs of childhood hunger and food 
insecurity;
    6. An estimate of the degree to which the measure of food 
insecurity underestimates childhood hunger and food insecurity because 
the exclusion of certain households, such as homeless, or other 
factors;
    7. The effects of childhood hunger on child development, well-
being, and educational attainment; and
    8. Other critical outcomes as determined by the Secretary of 
Agriculture.
    Interested parties are asked to address any or all of the research 
topics listed above by considering and responding to the following 
questions:
    1. How adequate is the current state of knowledge in each topical 
area?
    2. Do substantial knowledge gaps remain? If so, what are the most 
important unanswered questions?
    3. Can research using existing data adequately fill critical 
remaining gaps, or are new data collections needed? If new data are 
needed, what kinds of additional data would be most useful and how 
could they be gathered?
    4. Would additional research have a major scientific and 
programmatic impact and contribute substantially to an improved 
understanding of the causes and consequences of child hunger and food 
insecurity?
    In addition, commenters are invited to identify other areas of 
research not addressed in the research topics listed that could offer 
important opportunities to advance the research and knowledge base. 
Commenters are also invited to provide an assessment of relative 
research priorities across topical areas.

     Dated: September 5, 2012.
Robin D. Bailey, Jr.,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-22290 Filed 9-10-12; 8:45 am]
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