[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9081-9082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04533]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Request for Nominations of Members To Serve on the Federal 
Economic Statistics Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Commerce requests nominations of individuals 
to the Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee. The Secretary 
will consider nominations received in response to this notice, as well 
as from other sources. The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
notice provides Committee and membership criteria.

DATES: Please submit nominations by April 12, 2019. The Bureau of the 
Census (Census Bureau) will retain nominations received after this date 
for consideration should additional vacancies occur.

ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations by Email to 
[email protected] (subject line ``2019 FESAC Nominations''), 
or by letter submission to James R. Spletzer, Designated Federal 
Official, 2019 FESAC Nominations, Department of Commerce, U.S. Census 
Bureau, Room 5K175, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233. 
Nominations also may be submitted via fax at 301-763-8609.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James R. Spletzer, Designated Federal 
Official, Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Research and 
Methodology Directorate, Room 5K175, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, 
DC 20233, telephone 301-763-4069, email: [email protected]. 
For TTY callers, please use the Federal Relay Service 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Economic Statistics Advisory 
Committee (the ``Committee'') was established in accordance with the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (Title 5, United States Code, Appendix 
2). The following provides information about the Committee, membership, 
and the nomination process.

Objectives and Duties

    1. The Committee advises the Directors of the Department's 
statistical agencies, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the 
Census Bureau, as well as the Commissioner of the Department of Labor's 
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on statistical methodology and other 
technical

[[Page 9082]]

matters related to the design, collection, tabulation, and analysis of 
federal economic statistics.
    2. The Committee will function solely as an advisory committee to 
the senior officials of BEA, the Census Bureau, and BLS (the agencies). 
Important aspects of the Committee's responsibilities include, but are 
not limited to:
    a. Recommending research to address important technical problems 
arising in federal economic statistics;
    b. Identifying areas in which better coordination of the agencies' 
activities would be beneficial;
    c. Exploring ways to enhance the agencies' economic indicators to 
make them timelier, more accurate, and more specific to meeting 
changing demands and future data needs;
    d. Improving the means, methods, and techniques to obtain economic 
information needed to produce current and future economic indicators; 
and
    e. Coordinating, in its identification of agenda items, with other 
existing academic advisory committees chartered to provide agency-
specific advice, for the purpose of avoiding duplication of effort.
    3. The Committee functions solely as an advisory body under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act.
    4. The Committee reports to the Under Secretary for Economic 
Affairs.

Membership

    1. The Committee is comprised of approximately 16 members who serve 
at the pleasure of the Secretary of Commerce. Members serve renewable 
three year terms. The Committee is currently filling eight seats. In 
future years, the involved agencies will stagger the starting date of 
new members to avoid large numbers of vacancies at one time.
    2. Members shall be selected by the Department of Commerce and 
appointed by the Secretary, in consultation with the Census Bureau, 
BEA, and BLS and under the coordination of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs.
    3. Committee members shall be professionals in appropriate 
disciplines, including economists, statisticians, survey 
methodologists, data scientists, and behavioral scientists who are 
prominent experts in their fields, recognized for their scientific, 
professional, and operational achievements and objectivity.
    4. Membership will represent data users with expertise from the 
public sector, academia, and the private sector. Membership will be 
chosen to achieve a balance that will meet the needs of the Secretary.
    a. Members shall serve as Special Government Employees (SGEs) and 
shall be subject to ethics rules applicable to SGEs.
    b. Members will serve for a three-year term. Members may serve 
multiple terms at the discretion of the Secretary, in consultation with 
the agencies.
    c. Membership renewal will be reevaluated by the Secretary, in 
consultation with the agencies, at the conclusion of each member's 
current term. Factors considered for renewal include: Current needs of 
the Secretary, meeting attendance, and active participation.
    d. Should a Committee member be unable to complete a three-year 
term, at the Secretary's discretion and in consultation with the 
agencies, a new member may be selected to complete that term for the 
duration of the time remaining or begin a new term of three years.
    e. The agencies, by consensus agreement, shall appoint the 
chairperson annually from the Committee membership. Chairpersons shall 
be permitted to succeed themselves.
    5. Committee members are selected in accordance with applicable 
Department of Commerce guidelines.
    6. The Committee aims to have balanced representation, considering 
such factors as geography and technical and scientific expertise. The 
Committee will include members from diverse backgrounds, including 
academia and private enterprise, which are further diversified by 
business type or industry, geography, and other factors.
    7. Members shall not reference or otherwise utilize their 
membership on the Committee in connection with public statements made 
in their personal capacities without a disclaimer that the views 
expressed are their own and do not represent the views of the Federal 
Economic Statistics Advisory Committee, the Census Bureau, BEA, BLS, or 
the Departments of Commerce or Labor.

Miscellaneous

    1. Members of the Committee serve without compensation, but may 
receive reimbursement for Committee-related travel and lodging 
expenses.
    2. The Committee meets once or twice a year, budget permitting. 
Additional meetings may be held as deemed necessary by the Under 
Secretary for Economic Affairs or Designated Federal Official. All 
Committee meetings are open to the public in accordance with the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act.

Nomination Information

    1. Nominations are requested as described above.
    2. Committee members shall be professionals in appropriate 
disciplines, including economists, statisticians, survey 
methodologists, data scientists, and behavioral scientists who are 
prominent experts in their fields, recognized for their scientific, 
professional, and operational achievements and objectivity. Nominees 
must be prominent experts in their fields, and recognized for their 
scientific and professional achievements and objectivity. Such 
knowledge and expertise are needed to advise the agencies on 
statistical methodology and other technical matters related to the 
collection, tabulation, and analysis of federal economic statistics.
    3. Individuals, groups, and/or organizations may submit nominations 
on behalf of an individual candidate. A summary of the candidate's 
qualifications (resume or curriculum vitae) must be included along with 
the nomination letter. Nominees must be able to actively participate in 
the tasks of the Committee including, but not limited to, regular 
meeting attendance, Committee meeting discussant responsibilities, 
review of materials, as well as participation in conference calls, 
webinars, working groups, and special Committee activities.
    4. The Department of Commerce is committed to equal opportunity in 
the workplace and seeks diverse Committee membership.

    Dated: March 6, 2019.
Steven D. Dillingham,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 2019-04533 Filed 3-12-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P