[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 18 (Friday, January 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7574-7575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01935]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be 
provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial 
resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, 
and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be 
properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed revision of the ``Veterans Supplement 
to the Current Population Survey (CPS),'' to be conducted in August 
2021, August

[[Page 7575]]

2022, and August 2023. A copy of the proposed information collection 
request can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in 
the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
Addresses section of this notice on or before March 30, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Erin Good, BLS Clearance Officer, Division 
of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 2 
Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20212. Written comments also 
may be transmitted by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Good, BLS Clearance Officer, at 
202-691-7763 (this is not a toll free number). (See ADDRESSES section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The CPS has been the principal source of official Government 
statistics on employment and unemployment since 1940 (75 years). 
Collection of labor force data through the CPS is necessary to meet the 
requirements in Title 29, United States Code, Sections 1 and 2. The 
Veterans Supplement provides information on the labor force status of 
veterans with a service-connected disability, combat veterans, past or 
present National Guard and Reserve members, and recently discharged 
veterans. Also, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Vietnam veterans are identified 
by location of service. Data are provided by period of service and a 
range of demographic characteristics. The supplement also provides 
information on veterans' participation in various transition and 
employment and training programs. The data collected through this 
supplement will be used by the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans 
Employment and Training Service (VETS) and the U.S. Department of 
Veterans Affairs (VA) to determine policies that better meet the needs 
of our Nation's veteran population.
    In order to make the information for the supplement more relevant, 
twenty-four questions are proposed for addition starting with the 2021 
Veterans Supplement. New questions include items about veterans' 
transition from Active Duty to civilian employment, details about 
working with service-connected disabilities, awareness of VA benefits, 
and work duties while in the Armed forces. In addition, many questions 
were revised; most of these changes were made to streamline or clarify 
language or to update questions to use more current terms. Finally, ten 
questions are proposed for elimination; these little-used questions 
include detailed questions about veterans' experiences with Transition 
Assistance Program workshops, strategies for obtaining employment 
(networking, etc.), and whether veterans receive a monthly check from 
the VA for a service-connected disability. The revised questionnaire 
underwent cognitive testing and expert review.

II. Current Action

    Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the 
Veterans Supplement to the CPS.
    A revision of a currently approved collection is needed to continue 
to provide the Nation with timely information about the labor force 
status of veterans with a service-connected disability, combat 
veterans, past or present National Guard and Reserve members, recently 
discharged veterans, and veterans who have served in Afghanistan, Iraq, 
or Vietnam. In addition, the Veterans Supplement will provide 
information to assist VA and VETS to develop programs and policies that 
smooth veterans' transition into civilian employment, including for 
veterans with service-connected disabilities.

III. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments that:
     Evaluate 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.
     Evaluate 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.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     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, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.
    Title of Collection: Veterans Supplement to the CPS.
    OMB Number: 1220-0102.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Households and individuals.
    Total Respondents: 7,100.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Total Responses: 7,100.
    Average Time per Response: 4.25 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 503 hours.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on January 15, 2021.
Mark Staniorski,
Chief, Division of Management Systems.
[FR Doc. 2021-01935 Filed 1-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P