[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 173 (Friday, September 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50694-50695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19572]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 173 / Friday, September 10, 2021 /
Notices
[[Page 50694]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Economic Research Service
Notice of Intent To Request Renewal of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Economic Research Service, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) implementing regulations, this
notice announces the Economic Research Service's (ERS) intention to
request renewal of approval for an annual information collection on
supplemental food security questions in the Current Population Survey
(CPS), commencing with the December 2022 survey. These data will be
used: To monitor household-level food security and food insecurity in
the United States; to conduct research on 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 November 9, 2021 to
be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: All comments should be submitted electronically to
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alisha Coleman-Jensen at the address
in the preamble. Tel. 202-694-5456.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement.
OMB Number: 0536-0043.
Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2022.
Type of Request: Intent To Seek Approval To Extend an Information
Collection for 3 Years.
Abstract: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(Pub. L. 104-13) and OMB regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978,
August 29, 1995), this notice announces the ERS intention to request
renewal of approval for an annual information collection. The U.S.
Census Bureau will supplement the December CPS, beginning in 2022, with
questions regarding household food shopping, use of food and nutrition
assistance programs, food sufficiency, and difficulties in meeting
household food needs. A similar supplement has been appended to the CPS
annually since 1995. The last collection was in December 2020.
ERS is one of the 13 principal statistical agencies of the federal
government and is responsible for conducting studies and evaluations of
the Nation's food and nutrition assistance programs that are
administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), U.S. Department
of Agriculture. In Fiscal Year 2020, the Department spent about $122.1
billion to ensure access to nutritious, healthful diets for all
Americans. The Food and Nutrition Service administers the 15 nutrition
assistance programs of the USDA including the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called the Food Stamp Program, the
National School Lunch Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). These programs, which
serve 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a year, represent our
Nation's commitment to the principle that no one in our country should
lack the food needed for an active, healthy life. These programs
provide a nutrition 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.
The data collected by the food security supplement 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 other community
food assistance. 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 and was reviewed in 2006 by the Committee on
National Statistics of the National Research Council. This supplemental
information will be collected by both personal visit and telephone
interviews in conjunction with the regular monthly CPS interviewing.
Interviews will be conducted using Computer Assisted Personal Interview
(CAPI) and Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) methods.
Authority: Legislative authority for the planned data collection
are 7 U.S.C. 2204a and 7 CFR 2.67. These statutes authorize the
Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator of the Economic Research
Service to conduct research and collect statistics on the U.S. food
system, consumers, and human nutrition.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this data
collection is estimated to average 7.2 minutes (after rounding) for
each household that responds to the labor force portion of the CPS. The
estimate is based on the average proportion of respondents that were
asked each question in recent survey years (2014-2018), proposed
updates, and typical reading and response times for the questions. The
estimate assumes an 80 percent response rate to the supplement. The
estimated total number of respondents is based on the largest annual
sample in recent survey years.
[[Page 50695]]
Respondents: Individuals or households.
Estimated Total Number of Respondents: 53,901.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,479 hours. Copies
of this information collection can be obtained from Alisha Coleman-
Jensen at the address in the preamble.
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.
Signed at Washington, DC.
Spiro Stefanou,
Administrator, Economic Research Service, United States Department of
Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2021-19572 Filed 9-9-21; 8:45 am]
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