[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]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  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.

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

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]
BILLING CODE 3410-18-P