[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59768-59770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24172]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs


Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, U.S. 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice of establishment of the Advisory Committee on Data for 
Evidence Building (Advisory Committee) and solicitation of nominations 
for non-Federal membership.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Advisory Committee on Data for 
Evidence Building will be established and will terminate not later than 
two years after the date of the first meeting. The Advisory Committee 
will review, analyze, and make recommendations on how to promote the 
use of Federal data for evidence building. This notice also requests 
nominations for non-Federal members of the Advisory Committee to ensure 
a wide range of member candidates and a balanced Advisory Committee.

DATES: Nominations must be received on or before midnight EST on 
December 4, 2019. The Department encourages nominations submitted any 
time before the deadline. After that date, the Department will continue 
to accept nominations under this notice to fill any vacancies that may 
arise.

ADDRESSES: All nomination materials should be emailed to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lucas Hitt at 4600 Silver Hill Rd., 
BE-

[[Page 59769]]

64, Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20233; phone (301) 278-9223; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Data Strategy offers a ten-year 
vision for how the Federal Government will accelerate the use of data 
to support the foundations of democracy, deliver on mission, serve the 
public, and steward resources while protecting security, privacy, and 
confidentiality. The Strategy supports a coordinated approach to 
Federal data stewardship by establishing more consistent and integrated 
data infrastructure and data practices in order to more fully leverage 
the value of data as a strategic asset.
    In keeping with the Strategy, the Foundations for Evidence-Based 
Policymaking Act of 2018 (the Act), Sec.  101(a)(2) (5 U.S.C. 315(a)) 
directed the OMB Director, or head of an agency designated by the 
Director, to establish an Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence 
Building (Advisory Committee). Pursuant to Section 9(a)(1) of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C., App.), and in 
accordance with Title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, Sec.  102-
3.50(a), notice is hereby given that the Advisory Committee will be 
established and will terminate not later than two years after the date 
of the first meeting.
    Pursuant to authority granted in the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) letter dated September 3, 2019, the Advisory Committee 
will be administered and managed by the Department of Commerce Office 
of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs (OUSEA).
    The Advisory Committee will review, analyze, and make 
recommendations on how to promote the use of Federal data for evidence 
building. Duties include:
    (1) Assisting the OMB Director in carrying out the duties outlined 
under part D of subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44 (which 
concerns access to data for evidence);
    (2) evaluating and providing recommendations to the OMB Director on 
how to facilitate data sharing, enable data linkage, and develop 
privacy enhancing techniques; and
    (3) reviewing the coordination of data sharing or availability for 
evidence building across all agencies.
    The Advisory Committee will submit to the OMB Director, and make 
publicly available, an annual report on its activities and findings.
    The establishment of the Advisory Committee is necessary for the 
Office of Management and Budget to carry out its mission and is in the 
public interest. The Advisory Committee will operate in accordance with 
the provisions of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act 
of 2018 and the FACA and the rules and regulations issued in 
implementation of the FACA.
    The Chief Statistician of the United States shall serve as the 
Chair of the Advisory Committee. Members of the Advisory Committee from 
Federal agencies will be sourced separately from this Notice and will 
be appointed by the Director of OMB. These Federal members are as 
follows: One agency Chief Information Officer; one agency Chief Privacy 
Officer; one agency Chief Performance Officer; three members who are 
agency Chief Data Officers; three members who are agency Evaluation 
Officers; three members who are agency Statistical Officials who are 
members of the Interagency Council for Statistical Policy established 
under section 3504(e)(8) of title 44.
    The U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs is hereby soliciting nominations for the non-Federal 
members of the Advisory Committee. In addition to the members listed 
above, the Director of OMB will appoint at least 10 committee members 
from non-Federal sources. As required by the Act, these members will be 
sourced from State and local governments and nongovernmental 
stakeholders with expertise in government data policy, privacy, 
technology, transparency policy, evaluation and research methodologies, 
and other relevant subjects, of whom--
    (A) at least one shall have expertise in transparency policy;
    (B) at least one shall have expertise in privacy policy;
    (C) at least one shall have expertise in statistical data use;
    (D) at least one shall have expertise in information management;
    (E) at least one shall have expertise in information technology; 
and
    (F) at least one shall be from the research and evaluation 
community.
    Committee members may serve for a term of 2 years or less.
    The Advisory Committee is expected to meet a minimum of three times 
per year, with the possibility of additional meetings as the Chair may 
determine.
    Subcommittees may be formed to address specific issues. 
Subcommittees will report directly to the Advisory Committee.
    Because non-Federal Advisory Committee members will serve as 
Special Government Employees, they will be subject to certain ethical 
restrictions and required to submit certain information in connection 
with the appointment process. An ethics review is conducted for each 
selected nominee; therefore, individuals selected for nomination will 
be required to provide detailed information concerning such matters as 
financial holdings, consultancies, and research grants or contracts to 
permit evaluation of possible sources of conflict of interest.
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Non-Federal 
individuals can self-nominate or be nominated by any individual or 
organization. To be considered for the Advisory Committee, nominators 
should submit the following information:
    (1) Contact Information for the nominee, consisting of:

a. Name
b. Title
c. Organization or Affiliation
d. Address
e. City, State, Zip
f. Telephone number
g. Email address

    (2) Statement of interest limited to 250 words on why the nominee 
wants to serve on the Advisory Committee and the unique perspectives 
and experiences the nominee would bring to the Advisory Committee.
    (3) Resum[eacute] limited to 3 pages describing professional and 
academic expertise, experience, and knowledge, including any relevant 
experience serving on advisory committees and advisory panels, past and 
present;
    (4) An affirmative statement that the nominee is not a Federally 
registered lobbyist, and that the nominee understands that, if 
appointed, the nominee will not be allowed to continue to serve as an 
Advisory Committee member if the nominee becomes a Federally registered 
lobbyist; and
    (5) Optional letters of support. Please do not send company, trade 
association, organization brochures, or any other promotional 
information. Letters submitted should total five pages or less and must 
be formatted in Microsoft Word or PDF. Should more information be 
needed, OUSEA staff will contact the nominee, obtain information from 
the nominee's past affiliations, or obtain information from publicly 
available sources, such as the internet. Nominations may be emailed to 
[email protected]. Nominations must be received on or before midnight 
EST on December 4, 2019. After that date, the Department will continue 
to accept nominations under this notice to fill any vacancies that may 
arise. The Department encourages nominations submitted any time before 
the deadline. The Department is not responsible for any technical 
difficulties submitting a nomination form.

[[Page 59770]]

    A joint OMB and Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs 
selection team will review the nomination packages to identify a set of 
potential members that possesses the balance of qualifications required 
by law, and provide a vetted slate of proposed candidates for 
appointment by the OMB Director.
    The selection team will make recommendations regarding membership 
based on criteria including: (1) Professional or academic expertise, 
experience, and knowledge; (2) stakeholder representation; (3) 
availability and willingness to serve; and (4) relevant experience in 
working in committees and advisory panels.
    Nominees selected for appointment to the Advisory Committee will be 
notified by return email and by a letter of appointment.
    Nomination packages submitted under this Federal Register Notice 
will be considered if vacancies occur over the two years that the 
Advisory Committee will be active.

    Dated: October 31, 2019.
Brian C. Moyer,
Director, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Performing the Non-Exclusive 
Functions and Duties of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2019-24172 Filed 11-5-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-MN-P